I’m Shirl – a writer, podcast host, and the creator of Shades of Strong® and the Support Languages™ framework. My work supports Black women who are tired of carrying everything alone and being praised for surviving what nearly broke them.

Through my podcast (Shades of Strong, 137,000+ downloads), my Support Languages™ quiz, and my upcoming book, I help Black women name the kind of support they’ve been missing and finally stop struggling in silence.

Everything I create is rooted in lived experience. I’m building a movement that’s personal and communal – one that gives Black women real language, real tools, and real permission to rest, receive, and be held for once.