This episode of the Self Care Oasis Podcast is pure fire! I got deep with Dr. Nikki Coleman — psychologist, sexologist, and a Black woman who is absolutely redefining what it means for us to live fully, joyfully, and unapologetically. If you’ve ever felt stuck in burnout, starving for more pleasure, or tired of the old narratives weighing you down, this is the conversation you need in your life.

What Went Down: Highlights from Our Real Talk

* Pleasure Isn’t Just for After the Work’s DoneDr. Nikki Coleman dropped this gem: pleasure is a pathway to liberation. We get into why waiting to “earn” pleasure is a trap, especially for Black women, and how flipping the script is radical (08:44).

* Who Told You Who You Are?We unravel all that negative programming and talk about making a new choice—actually, remembering who you were before everybody tried to tell you otherwise (05:05).

* Slow Down, Sis…Seriously, did you know most of us are disconnected from our own bodies? We talk about how to gently come back to yourself and why tuning in is where real self care starts (11:01).

* Escapism vs. Embodied PleasureLet’s be real: zoning out is not the same as lighting yourself up from the inside. We go there! (14:16)

* What Does REAL Joy Feel Like?Performing happiness for the ’gram or buying brunches isn’t the same as being deeply nourished. We unpack how to tell the difference and why it matters (17:35).

* From Womb Healing to Erotic LiberationWe get vulnerable about generational trauma, the power of reconnecting with our wombs, and how pleasure—at every level—is for us, right now (34:34; 25:13).

* Liberation Is an Inside JobYou have permission. Seriously. Nobody is going to hand you a gold star for living small. Dr. Nikki Coleman and I want you to walk away from this episode knowing your pleasure is yours to claim (37:18).

Self Care Oasis is the gateway to your softer life glow-up via Self Devotion, wellness travel, and early semi-retirement. Join 2400+ Self Devotion Divas who are proactively creating the life they love by becoming a free or paid subscriber. Plus get FREE access to the Oasis Vault containing resources and tools to support your journey from burnout to better boundaries and shameless bliss!

Want More? Here’s How to Connect with Dr. Nikki Coleman

If you loved Dr. Nikki Coleman’s wisdom, go follow her right now! She created the Pleasure Pursuit Journal a yearlong guided practice for women finally ready to make pleasure a priority. She also offers therapy, group programs (the Sanctuary), and some of the most soulful content you’ll find.

* Peep her site: drnikkinows.com

* Find her everywhere: @drnikknows

Stay Connected with Me and the Oasis Community

I’d love nothing more than to hear how you’re reclaiming your pleasure and showing up for yourself, day by day. Find me and the Oasis community on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Drop your questions, joy moments, or even just a “hey girl!” DM.

Don’t Forget to Subscribe & Leave a Comment!

I know you felt that energy and insight so hit subscribe on the Self Care Oasis Podcast. If you vibe with the show, take a quick second to leave a comment.

Tell us what shifted for you, what you crave more of, and invite a friend to tune in with you next week. We grow and glow together!

You are the boss of your own joy. Give yourself full permission, right now, to live lit up from the inside. The world was made for your pleasure—don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Grateful for you, always can’t wait for you to join us again.

How do you keep your calm and lead with clarity when chaos threatens to throw your whole world off balance?

Founders today are not just building businesses—they’re facing an onslaught of industry instability, mounting internal pressure, and a relentless need to perform under stress. The panic in your body can feel like a physical force, leaving you scrambling for control, hypervigilant, or ashamed of your own reactions.

Top Moments & Episode Highlights

* Chaos as the Default—But Not Your Destiny:Olivia Denton Thomas and I take you through what it looks like to embrace the fact that chaos is always lurking, but panic doesn’t have to run the show. We dig into why preparation—emotionally, mentally, physically—is the flex for founders who want to move from fear to fierce agility (02:23).

* Preparation over Panic:I share what I learned in my NASA disaster recovery days—because your nervous system deserves a contingency plan, not just your business. Let’s talk crisis response, backup plans, and the power of knowing yourself and your triggers (05:55).

* Let’s Reframe the Shame:We get candid about that urge to control, shame around the moments you freeze or panic, and why you must treat every “I didn’t know better” as an opportunity, not a character flaw. It’s not an identity, it’s just information (12:14).

* The Power of the Pause:Holding your ground, even when your internal alarms are blaring, is a skill. I walk you through how to take a sacred pause, stand ten toes down in stillness, and give yourself the gift of an actual choice—instead of letting pressure make decisions for you (19:13).

* Identity, Community, and Celebrating Your Progress:We talk about building an environment (internal and external) that supports your most grounded, capable self. And yes, we high-five ourselves for every tiny win—because celebration builds resilience like nothing else (26:38).

* Soul Print, Not Just Fingerprint:I bring it home with “know your crisis management blueprint”—your soul print. Who are you, really, when the heat is on? How do you want to show up next time? Know your vibration, protect your peace, and don’t absorb anyone else’s panic (35:06).

Segments from This Episode

* From Hustle to Wholeness: How to drop the hypervigilant founder act and lead regulated from within.

* Disaster Recovery—But Make It Nervous System Chic: Lessons from NASA and how to apply redundancy, contingency, and backup strategies to your daily rituals.

* Celebration as Self-Regulation: Making joy, acknowledgment, and self-esteem your everyday fuel.

* Visibility, Vulnerability & Reframing Imperfection: Why repair builds more trust than perfection ever could—and how to let the world see the “messy middle.”

Connect with Us!

Love what you heard? Pull up and connect with me, Samantha Gregory, over at Self Care Oasis on Substack for my newsletter and more episodes. Find me on YouTube at Samantha Gregory and on LinkedIn under the same name as well as TikTok. Let’s start a conversation about your burnout breakthroughs or your own rituals for staying in your power.

Olivia Denton Thomas is a founder and advocate for self devotion as the anchor in times of chaos. Guided by mentorship and experience, she champions resilience and intentional self care as the foundations of effective leadership. Connect with Olivia at https://wintentional.com and follow her journey on and LinkedIn.

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.

You can spend 35 years as a healthcare executive and still feel completely lost when you finally become the patient.

Dana Sherwin joined the Self Care Oasis podcast to share her powerful journey from being a high-level healthcare consultant to navigating a life-threatening blood cancer diagnosis. Her story is a wake-up call for anyone who puts their career and family responsibilities ahead of their own physical well-being.

In a world where we often give away our power in the medical space, Dana highlights why we must reclaim our sovereignty and act as the lead coordinator of our own care.

Self Care Oasis is the gateway to your softer life glow-up via Self Devotion, wellness travel, and early semi-retirement. Join 2400+ Self Devotion Divas who are proactively creating the life they love by becoming a free or paid subscriber. Plus get FREE access to the Oasis Vault containing resources and tools to support your journey from burnout to better boundaries and shameless bliss!

Here are the essential takeaways from her experience:

📍 Don’t ignore the small signs. Dana pushed symptoms aside for years because she was busy being productive. Those minor pains were actually early warnings of a serious blood disorder.

📍 A primary care physician is a non-negotiable baseline. Relying solely on specialists or yearly OBGYN visits can leave dangerous gaps in your health monitoring. You need someone looking at the big picture of your blood work and history.

📍 Become the CEO of your own health. The healthcare system, insurance companies, and employers do not teach us how to navigate care. You have to take agency and lead the process yourself.

📍 Master the 15-minute window. Doctors are often stretched thin with very little time per patient. Learning how to communicate effectively and advocate for your needs is a vital skill for survival.

Self-care is more than just a luxury; it is about having the autonomy and power to navigate the healthcare system with confidence. When you prioritize self-devotion, you gain the tools to stay equipped even in a crisis.

How are you taking charge of your health journey this week? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

Watch the full video:

Enter the Oasis: The Gateway to Your Pleasure, Inner Power, and Prosperity aka Bliss!

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