Podcasts can create space to heal, connect, and grow. Many offer unfiltered conversations about mental health, lifestyle, and identity with Black women in mind. They amplify voices that deserve to be heard and highlight stories that inspire resilience. These shows build community, one episode at a time. The 21Ninety Awards celebrate that power. This year, the Wellness Podcast of the Year category shines a spotlight on the creators who use their platforms to nurture wellness, spark dialogue, and empower Black women worldwide. From exploring the science of self-care to sharing personal stories that feel like conversations with a trusted friend, these podcasts remind us that wellness is a journey best taken together.
First Place: She’s So Lucky
Coming in at first place are Les Alfred and the She’s So Lucky podcast. Alfred launched the show in 2018 under the original name Balanced Black Girl.
“I had the idea to start my podcast where I could introduce my audience to other women who looked like them, who were sharing wellness information,” Alfred explained.
The show began with a strict wellness focus and in that space, Alfred built a loyal audience but she found herself wanting to bring in new voices. The show has now grown into a mix of lifestyle, mindset, and self-help. The shift was accompanied by the recent rebrand as She’s So Lucky. As the audience expanded, younger Gen Z listeners connected with the show in meaningful ways.
“Hearing stories from young women who chose to attend a certain college or take their health seriously because of something they heard on the show always makes me remember why I do what I do,” Alfred said.
Consistency drives her success.
“You just have to keep showing up every single week,” she said. “What makes me lucky is my sense of discipline and willingness to show up even when I don’t feel like it.”
That dedication secured She’s So Lucky Pod the title of Wellness Podcast of the Year.
Second Place: Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls goes beyond podcasting and is a thriving community focused on the wellness of Black women and girls. Founded by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, it offers trusted, accessible conversations about mental health.
“The Therapy for Black Girls team is grounded in the belief that Black women and girls deserve to be well,” Dr. Joy said. “It is our honor to produce a podcast that has become so central to conversations about Black women’s wellness.”
Community response has shaped the show. Listeners often share how episodes helped them tend to their mental health or strengthen relationships.
“The podcast has always centered the conversations our community feels are most important,” Dr. Joy added. “I’m most proud of how engaged our community is and how willing they are to ask for what they need resources and support about.”
The future holds more growth. A YouTube channel launches this fall, and the team is building deeper connections through Patreon. Dr. Joy describes both as extensions of the mission to meet listeners where they are and make wellness resources easier to access.
Third Place: Your Body Knows
Hosted by somatic life coach and storyteller Shanetta McDonald, Your Body Knows helps women, especially women of color, return to their bodies. The podcast is all about trusting intuition and embracing healing from the inside out. Through a mix of storytelling, coaching insights, and embodied practices, the podcast guides listeners toward mindfulness, self-trust, and wellness rooted in care and compassion. For McDonald, this award carries deep meaning.
“To be recognized by Blavity and 21Ninety means the world to me and my community! It also affirms that the work I’ve poured into creating a space for women of color to feel seen, heard, and supported is resonating in the way I always hoped it would,” she shared. “I share this award with every woman who’s shared her story on the podcast, and every listener who’s felt less alone because of it.”
McDonald launched the show in 2020 to amplify the stories and well-being of women of color, and the mission has grown alongside her. After a rebrand and relaunch this year, McDonald now integrates her work as a Somatic Life Coach more intentionally, creating opportunities for listeners to not only hear about healing but feel it in their bodies.
Looking ahead, she plans to expand the podcast with visual storytelling and in-person events, broaden her coaching practice, and develop a forthcoming book centered on healing and embodiment. With every step, Your Body Knows continues to grow as a platform for collective wellness and personal transformation.
About the Awards
This year’s 21Ninety Awards shifted from product-based categories to people-focused recognition. Instead of highlighting only what we use, the awards celebrate the women shaping beauty, wellness, and lifestyle culture from within.
Winners were selected for their impact on their audiences, their ability to create space and community, and their dedication to representation. We also looked at innovation, consistency, and cultural influence. Above all, nominees had to reflect 21Ninety’s mission of empowering Black women through beauty, wellness, and lifestyle.
This approach ensures that changemakers, community builders, and unsung heroes get the spotlight for the impact they make every day.