In this opening episode of The Awakening Woman: Ready to Thrive, Florence Ukpabi invites you into the sacred space between burnout and rebirth — the threshold. This isn’t just another self-help show; it’s a call to remember your truth, reclaim your rhythm, and begin again.

We explore:

Why burnout isn’t failure — it’s a sacred signal

How systems of performance and extraction disconnect us from our essence

The deeper invitation of COVID, AI, and motherhood

What it means to trust your inner knowing and choose life on your terms

Whether you’re a mother, a seeker, or a woman rising from exhaustion, you’re not alone.

Giveaway details + full resources in Substack post

Welcome, welcome to the final episode of Becoming YOU Beyond Deconstruction. Now that I’m into the third year of sharing my deconstruction and deconditioning journey here, I thought that going back and revisiting the idea of faith and how my understanding of faith has shifted and changed would be a nice way to bring things to a close.

I actually started drafting my thoughts for this episode back in January, it’s taken me this long to put them together and feel in the place where I can share it.I am excited to do so today.This episode gets a little emotional and raw at times, but it’s not surprising as I not only share some of the shifts and changes that I have been experiencing and how they have informed my understanding of faith, trust, spirituality and life but also where this is taking me next.

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode and I also want to say a huge thank you for being a part of this podcasting journey with me. I hope you will continue joining me as I share written posts via Substack.NB. After recording the episode I realised that the audio wasn’t the greatest but it still is fine to listen to, it was such an honest and raw episode that I knew I didn’t want to record it again even if it doesn’t sound 100% perfect.

Lastly, I have a favour to ask, I would love for you to consider leaving a comment or if not liking or sharing this post. Much LoveFlorence O. x

Posts and Episodes Mentioned

* EP14 Exploring Embodiment

* EP10 God Who are You

* Second Awakening

* Letting Go of Toxic Faith

Awakening Coaching

You can also find out about working with me through Coaching and Guidance Support here.

Welcome back to another episode of "Becoming YOU Beyond Deconstruction". In this episode, I had a conversation with Laura Lewis, a Substack writer, author, and creator of "The Whole Woman Oracle Deck and Guidebook" on embodiment.

This is a topic that I feel very strongly about. Even though working somatically is becoming more popular, it doesn't necessarily equate to what embodiment is. Laura and I allowed our conversation to take its path. We explored the idea of embodiment, our experiences of it, the challenges and joys of it, and how it can help support our individual and collective healing.

Laura candidly shared her realisation of how New Age spirituality stopped her from living as an embodied, responsive human being, how she stumbled upon Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and how this, in turn, enabled her to develop a deeper relationship with her body.

Please take a moment to listen, like and share this post. Comments are open as usual for podcast episodes, I would love to read (hear) your thoughts on this topic.

Meet Laura

Laura, a mother of three beautifully wild children, describes herself in her own words as being a woman filled with an undying devotion to her own becoming. Searching for the muse in every stolen moment, her writing has been an avenue for weaving her own meaning into the world, enabling her formerly starved soul to grow satiated once again.

Her fondest wish is that her words might offer some sustenance to those women who are still hungry and howling for more.

You can meet with and connect with Laura on either one of her Substack publications:

* The Whole Woman

* An Ode to Devotion

You can also order The Whole Woman Oracle Deck and Guidebook at special pricing for the Christmas season by clicking the image below.

Welcome back to Becoming YOU Beyond Deconstruction and a deep, reflective, and empowering conversation with my episode guest Ronna Detrick.

After leaving a faith she had grown up with and a 20-year marriage to a pastor she took with her the stories of women yearning to be seen, heard, and honoured apart from doctrine and dogma. Ronna's journey is a testament to the courage required to step away from the familiar and confront questions that challenge the very foundations of our identity, in particular as women.

In this conversation, we delve into the intricate process of unravelling beliefs and external definitions of self-worth and embracing the profound sovereignty that lies within. We examine the subtle and not-so-subtle ways Patriarchy has shaped us touching on aspects of feminism, feminist theology, and the power of storytelling in reshaping the narrative of women's lives.

Ronna graciously shares her wisdom, depth of understanding and her journey of courageously stepping away from the confines of patriarchal norms towards the sovereign woman who has always longed to exist.

I hope you enjoy the episode.

Meet Ronna

Ronna Detrick embarked on a transformative journey two decades ago when she left the confines of the church, taking with her the stories of women yearning to be seen, heard, and honoured apart from doctrine and dogma. Her inspiring career has spanned human resources, executive leadership, coaching, and spiritual direction, all while advocating for the empowerment of women.

With a strong background in feminist theology, Ronna's insights illuminate the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and life lessons, resonating with those navigating deconstruction and personal growth. Her courageous step away from patriarchal norms exemplifies the power of authenticity and self-discovery.

Ronna is also the author of "Rewriting Eve: Rescuing Women's Stories from the Bible and Reclaiming Them as Our Own." which can be purchased in all good online bookstores including Amazon UK and the US*.

You can connect with Ronna on her website or her Substack Rewriting with Ronna Detrick.

*Affiliate links

Welcome back to another episode of Becoming YOU Beyond Deconstruction. A few months back, I was invited to share my experience of deconstructing Christianity as a Black British Woman. Though the post was never published, I have been wanting to share it as a podcast episode so here it is.

Please note that I talk about some topics that may be difficult or triggering such as inherent racism, slavery and colonisation. I feel like these things need to be said at the very least because they have impacted my own “deconstruction” journey but also knowing that they continue to impact the lives of others like me.

Comments are open here for you to share your thoughts and reflections, however, if you do choose to leave a comment, please be mindful of the above.

Mentioned in this Episode

Not Everyone Who Deconstructs is American

Thank you!

I truly appreciate you being a loyal subscriber to this publication. Your support matters, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or leaving a pledge. You can also show your support by buying me a Coffee, sharing with friends or leaving a review on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to the podcast.

Florence O.

Answering some of life’s biggest questions for yourself is a big part of the work of Becoming YOU beyond Deconstruction. It’s about rediscovering what you truly believe and think, who you really are beyond the conditioning and norms that you previously accepted.

Join me in today’s episode as I explore probably one of the biggest questions we can ask ourselves - why am I/you/we here on this planet?

It’s highly likely that your why to date has been wrapped up in social, cultural and religious expectations, from a deconstructing perspective, how much of your why and sense of purpose revolved around the business of your and others’ salvation?

But maybe all this has done is obscure your most authentic WHY.

So today I am reflecting on my journey of answering this question, what has come out for me:

* Why do I believe I am here?

* What is humanity’s purpose/role on this planet?

* What are things that stop us from embracing our Why?

* How this exploration has challenged, triggered and is recreating me.

It’s another deep reflection, where I talk about lots of things from human evolution to the ego and with some astrology thrown in lol.

Comments are open here for you to share your thoughts and reflections.

Mentioned in this Episode

Jas over at here is her post on exploring Chiron placements.

You may also be interested in some previous posts that touch on similar themes:

* The Life Purpose Question

* The Pregnant Feminine

* A Different Take on Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth

* The Ego Isn’t Your Enemy

Enjoy!

Thank you!

I truly appreciate you being a loyal subscriber to this publication. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber of Unfolding or leaving a pledge. You can also show your support by buying me a Coffee, sharing with friends or leaving a review on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen to the podcast.

Comments are open on this post, so feel free to share your thoughts and reflections.

Florence xoxo

It’s been a while since my last podcast episode and one of the reasons why, which I also wrote about previously is the realisation that I need more space around this journey of Becoming. Life can be unpredictable and challenging, and on top of that when you are doing the healing work of returning to authenticity, old wounds and unanswered questions resurface along the way all requiring gentleness, time and space.

This podcast episode explores the issue of how to live in a world where pain and sorrow exist, how God can fit into this picture now my beliefs have changed and how this influences and impacts WHO I am being and HOW I live and can thrive despite it all.

If you've ever felt let down by God during dark times, feel like you can no longer trust God or even questioned the existence of the Divine due to the presence of suffering in the world…

If you have ever struggled to find hope or light again in the midst of pain and wondered, God, where are you? It’s OK, you are not alone.

In this episode, I share what has helped me navigate all of the above and more and how this has allowed me to heal some of my own God and faith wounds and make room to create an image of God that brings me hope, comfort and peace.

Mentioned in this Episode

God as Mother

God as Thought

Greater Works than These

The Dangers of Second Coming Theology

You may also be interested in these recent posts:

* Difference between Spiritual and Religious Practice

* Faith as a Feeling

Thank you!

I truly appreciate you being a loyal subscriber to this publication. It’s definitely not always easy to share such an intimate personal journey of reconstruction. If you do receive value from being here, please take a moment to review the podcast on iTunes or you can pledge support to the publication, become a paid subscriber or even Buy me a Coffee.

Until next time, comments are open. I would love to hear from you.

Today I am sharing a beautifully organic and rich conversation I recorded with my dear friend Joanna Oliver last year. I didn’t think it would make it because the recording quality was so bad (I’ve learnt my lesson) even the professional that I reached out to couldn’t help me but I think I’ve done a good job of cleaning it up over the last couple of days.

The focus of this conversation is on Identity and reclaiming our identity, deciding for ourselves who we are and who we want to be in the face of others’ desires, projections, beliefs and expectations. Jo does a great job of exploring the intricacies and nuances of this using her lived experience as a black woman of mixed parenting as she unfolds, delayers, questions and comes back to who she is beyond conditioning, religion and race.

The timestamps below are prior to me adding the intro so are off by about 30 seconds but it gives you a good indicator of how fantastic the conversation is/was:

5:08 - The origin of conditioning as it relates to understanding and shaping our identity. Identity formation as projections, assimilation and core essence

12:34 - Navigating when other people struggle to accept how you see yourself

18:00 - The Ego’s role in regulating and strengthening our identity vs the popular notion that the ego is bad

23:30 - Learning to be reflexive as a way to counteract reactivity

25:00 - Creating space to BE by reconnecting to the rhythms of Life

33:00 - “Are you still a Christian?” and when people try to protect/warn you from alternative spiritual pathways

39:30 - Becoming Sick of yourself as a turning point towards congruence

40:10 - Being Courageous when it comes to walking out your Deconstruction/Deconditioning Journey

Thank you!

A special thank you to everyone who has left a review on the podcast on iTunes, can see them in the backend but they will not be publically viewable until a certain number of reviews are received. If you enjoy the pod but haven’t yet left a review, please do so - simply head over to iTunes.

Other ways you can show appreciation and support for the work is to Buy me a Coffee, leave a pledge to support this publication or become a paid subscriber and lastly don’t forget to share on your social media profiles.

PS. You can also find me hanging out on Instagram trying to make this whole marketing thing work - so seriously, help me out and share the love. K!

About Joanna

A mum to three children, Joanna Oliver has a diverse professional background, including within universities, charities, social care and therapeutic communities. Having left school aged fifteen and qualifying as a Youth Worker, BA (Hons) in Advertising, Media and Marketing, Masters in Therapeutic Child Care, Masters in Education and Post Graduate qualification in Professional Supervision, Joanna’s work involves empowerment, enablement and promoting personal and social agency.

Joanna’s academic career led to giving talks at university conferences, including in Milan, Padua, Thessaloniki, Seville and the UK, a doctoral study related to collaborative working between statutory and independent sectors and a current doctoral study, related to experiences of black young men who are autistic, within the criminal justice system. In her various roles, Joanna undertakes ghost-writing, proofreading and editing books/copy/social media, delivers training, professional supervision and mentoring, mainly related to personal/professional growth and development, including in equality, diversity and inclusion and writing funding bids. Joanna has recently set up a community interest company, ‘Chameleon Collaborative’, which consolidates her professional expertise, to provide services for the good of individuals and community organisations.

Contact Joanna by Email - joliverconsultancy@hotmail.com

Websites - www.consultachameleon.com • www.consultachameleon.co.uk

Search Joanna Oliver – for Facebook and LinkedIn (and check pages/groups)

Search Consultachameleon – for Instagram and YouTube