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A Wide Open Space
A Wide Open Space is a Womanist podcast for Black women of faith who are committed to the journey of flourishing. Hosted by Rev. Dr. Neichelle Guidry, this show sits at the intersection of faith and personal development, offering a decidedly progressive space where Black women are unapologetically centered.
Every episode, we explore the mindsets, practices, and rituals that help us root down and rise up - personally, professionally, and spiritually. Through scripture, storytelling, and soul work, each episode offers a devotional reflection, honest conversation, and a practical exercise designed to help you get 1% better every day.
Whether you're navigating a significant life transition or seeking to re-create your life from within, this podcast is your invitation to partner with God in creating a life you genuinely love. This is for the ambitious, faith-filled Black woman who takes her work and purpose seriously and wants to become her most healed, most authentic, and most excellent self.
Welcome to your Wide Open Space - where transformation meets tradition, and where Black women flourish freely.
A Wide Open Space
Own Your Story
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Scripture: Luke 8:47
Summary: The only way to begin writing a new chapter is to own the one you're in. In this episode, we explore the powerful moment in Luke 8:47 when a bleeding woman does something radical: she declares her story publicly, even though she could have slipped away quietly after being healed.
When we don't own our stories, we replay them endlessly, placing blame on ourselves and others for events that happened long ago. We can't make meaning of our stories as long as we continue to be oppressed by them. But when we claim authorship of our stories, we transform from victim to author.
I share my journey of recovering after two difficult vocational traumas - experiences that were somewhat public and that people suggested would make it hard for me to get another job. I talk about the constant remembering, the replaying of hard stories, and the moment I realized this wasn't pushing me forward. I had to own my story, so I could focus on what was in front of me, not what was behind me.
Drawing from Susan L. Taylor's wisdom that "our stories are our gifts to the world," we explore how owning your story is critical to accessing your personal power.
Exercise: The episode concludes with the Story Audit exercise - a powerful practice for writing one challenging experience from three perspectives (victim, survivor, and author) to help you move from being defined by what happened to you to being empowered by how you grew through it.
Connect With Me
Want to go deeper? Visit www.revneichelle.com to explore my work, my ministry, and how we can grow together.
Let’s stay connected! Follow me on Instagram and Substack for more inspiration and continued conversation.
Ready to transform? Apply for coaching - I work with ambitious Black women who are ready to partner with God to create lives they love.
Questions? Feedback? Just want to say hello? Drop me a line - I’d love to hear how this podcast is landing in your life!