Episode 41

Shut Down, Not Shaken Part 21 (The Strong Friend)

Published on: 23rd October, 2025

Cristin Candice speaks to the women who always have it together, the dependable ones, the fixers, the strong friends.

What happens when she gets tired? When the one everyone leans on realizes she has no one to lean on herself? Cristin explores the quiet exhaustion that comes from carrying others, the fear of being perceived as weak, and the cultural and emotional weight of strength, especially for Black women who have been taught that vulnerability is a luxury they can’t afford.

This conversation invites listeners to rethink what real strength looks like, not as constant doing, but as the courage to pause, to ask for help, and to receive care without guilt. Cristin shares insights from her evidence-based coaching work and her own experiences navigating leadership, motherhood, and rest in uncertain times.

Being strong doesn’t mean you never get tired. It means you know when to stop pretending you’re not.

Reflection Questions

What would it look like for you to ask for and receive help this week?

How can you model softness and rest as a form of leadership in your own circles?

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About the Podcast

At Ease: For Colored Girls Who Fled Corporate When Six Figures Wasn't Enough
At Ease is a podcast for black women who have decided to trade hustling for fuller, bolder lives. Whether you quietly quit, took a leap of faith, pursued passion over a paycheck, or are building a side hustle, join Coach Cristin as we redefine success by re-shaping our minds. Cristin combines her lived experience and thought work to help women reconnect with their bodies, combat burnout, and build businesses.

About your host

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Cristin Babb

Cristin is a certified professional coach, dynamic speaker, and international
presenter. As Founder of Cristin and Co., a boutique consulting and
coaching firm that leverages HR Solutions, Team Management, and Leadership
Coaching to help business owners build diverse teams and opt out of hustle culture. Some of her previous clients include Jelani Travel, Stephanie Dodier (Going Beyond the Food Academy), and Jefferson University College of Population Health.

When she’s not consulting or coaching, Cristin can be found at the playground
with her twin boys or traveling either solo or with a group of friends.

After earning her undergraduate degree in Marketing from Hampton University,
Cristin received an MPA from Old Dominion University. As a lifelong learner, she
has gone on to become a certified mediator and coach and most recently earned
a certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the
The University of Southern Florida. As a multi-passionate entrepreneur, she has led
workshops with hundreds of women and teens in Trinidad and Tobago and Cape
Town, South Africa.