This week, I’m coming to you from a very human place. My body is scared. My hands are shaky. My nervous system is loud.

Instead of pretending I’m okay or skipping an episode, I wanted to show up gently — exactly as I am.In this short, honest conversation, I talk about:

• what anxiety feels like in the body

• how fear can shrink your world

• the guilt that lingers after a mistake

• why avoidance is a normal response

• how to show up softly when you don’t feel strongIf you’re in a season where everything feels tender or overwhelming, I hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone, you’re not failing, and you’re allowed to be human.Take a breath with me. We’ll get through this one gently.

In this episode, I explore the stories of public figures who have lived with bipolar disorder — from Lil Nas X and Selena Gomez to Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and Demi Lovato.

Not as gossip. Not as spectacle. But as human beings navigating their minds under the brightest lights imaginable.

This is a soft, reflective walk through crisis, diagnosis, stigma, and healing — woven with my own experience of living with bipolar I.

A reminder that none of us are alone, and that treatment, compassion, and understanding can change everything.

TW: mental health, bipolar disorder, mania, stigma

This week, I unpack the myth of the “strong survivor” — and the even heavier myth of the “strong Black woman.” No trauma dumping, no graphic details. Just truth, tenderness, and community care.

We explore the pressure to perform strength, the emotional cost of being everyone’s anchor, and what it means to reclaim softness as a form of power. If you’re tired of being the strong one, this space is for you.

You deserve rest. You deserve care. You deserve to be human.

In this episode, I try to break down the most common misconceptions that harm survivors of domestic violence — and the truths they wish people understood. No graphic details, no trauma dumping. Just clarity, compassion, and community care.

Together we’ll explore why leaving is a process, how social entrapment keeps survivors isolated, what abuse can look like behind closed doors, and what real support actually feels like. If you’re a survivor, someone who loves a survivor, or someone who wants to show up with more understanding, this space is for you.

You deserve safety. You deserve softness. You deserve a life that honors your spirit.

Follow Ruby:

Instagram — @awkwardishpodcast | @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject

TikTok — @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject

YouTube — awkwardishpods | awkwardrube

Hey friends, it’s Ruby — welcome back to Awkwardish. Today’s episode is a little different… it’s just me, giving you a real life update. We’re talking Red Petal Project, my bipolar I diagnosis, and what the future of this channel looks like. It’s honest, it’s raw, and yes… it’s awkward in all the best ways. Let’s get into it.

If anything in this episode stirred up big emotions, please reach out to someone you trust or a qualified mental health professional for support. You deserve care and connection. 988 is also a wonderful resource, and they are available 24/7, by call or text, even if you don’t have phone service.

Follow Ruby:

Instagram — @awkwardishpodcast | @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject

TikTok — @awkwardrube | @redpetalproject

YouTube — awkwardishpods | awkwardrube