You don’t get extra credit for doing it the hard way.

In this special episode of The Mediocre Black Woman, Empress Theadora is joined by Qubilah Huddleston , creator of Black Women Get to Be, for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, perfectionism, and the quiet violence of over-performing.

Together, they explore how Black women are conditioned—through education systems, corporate culture, and even creative spaces—to believe that suffering, exhaustion, and doing everything “the hard way” are prerequisites for worthiness. Using the Magician archetype from the Tarot as a grounding lens, this episode examines what it actually means to work with the tools we already have, ask for help, and reclaim our voice without guilt.

Qubilah shares her personal journey through academic burnout and the unraveling of perfectionism, while Thea reflects on creative sustainability, bodily wisdom, and learning to stop betraying herself in the name of excellence. The conversation weaves through topics like:

* Retiring the “Superwoman” cape

* Why hard work ≠ higher value

* How burnout disconnects us from creativity and community

* Setting boundaries at work and in our spiritual practices

* Choosing presence over performance

This episode is an invitation to Black women who are tired—tired of proving, tired of carrying, tired of being exceptional at the expense of their bodies and joy. It’s a reminder that liberation doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from doing differently.

Thank you Jacquie Verbal, Netta Fei, NO LIMITS NO BARRIERS, A.J., Golden Jaye, and many others for tuning into my live video with Qubilah Huddleston! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Resources From Today’s Conversation

Letting Go of Innocence by Prentis Hemphill

Learn about human design and get your free report

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themediocreblackwoman.substack.com/subscribe