Told she was too young. Told it was her deodorant. Told to pray it away. Three Black women share what breast cancer really looks like and what life looks like after.

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Black History Month, the Aunties sit down with three incredible women from Black Women Rising, the UK charity supporting women of colour through every stage of a cancer diagnosis. Founded eight years ago with eight women in a room in Peckham, it now supports 950. This is honest, funny and full of hope.

⚡ Misdiagnosed at 27 with a toddler: "You're too young for cancer"

⚡ Chemo myths, herbal "cures" and why everyone suddenly becomes a doctor

⚡ Fighting for a mastectomy, implants, scars and loving your body after

⚡ Family reactions, "cancer for clout" and the rule: you get one cry

⚡ Cancer ghosting, losing people and becoming a new version of yourself

⚡ PLUS: our Lyric Hammersmith live show, the Blacklisted Honours, Kelso's "man before child" take and we run to the comments on Coach Anwar

This one is for every Black woman who has ever been brushed off, and every one of us who has been scared to say the word.

💗 Black Women Rising UK: blackwomenrisinguk.org | IG: @blackwomenrisinguk

📞 Need to talk? Macmillan Support Line: 0808 808 00 00 (free, 7 days)

⚠️ Our guests share personal experiences, not medical advice. Always speak to your GP or oncology team.

🎙️ New episodes every [DAY]

📩 Email us: [EMAIL]

📲 Follow us: [HANDLE]

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to Extra Aunties + meet our guests

01:30 What is Black Women Rising?

02:30 Three diagnosis stories

08:30 "Am I gonna die?" – first reactions

10:30 Cultural myths: "Chemo isn't for Black people"

14:00 Soursop, vitamin C & CBD – everyone's a doctor

16:30 Why chemo isn't one-size-fits-all

19:30 Fighting for a mastectomy

21:00 The BRCA gene explained

24:30 Mastectomy vs lumpectomy

27:00 Implants, scars & body image after surgery

31:30 The "dark passenger": fear it'll come back

33:45 Family reactions & "you get one cry"

36:45 "You got cancer for clout"

40:00 Cancer ghosting & losing people

43:00 Grieving who you were

43:45 Peer support at Homerton Hospital

47:00 How Black Women Rising started

50:30 Why fear-based campaigns don't work for us

53:45 Can you reduce your risk?

56:30 "Get good at disappointing people"

59:00 How to support the charity

1:00:45 What the Aunties have learned from guests

1:06:30 Advice for aspiring health presenters

1:12:15 Auntie-vention: stop messing with our food!

1:13:30 Our Lyric Hammersmith live show – thank yous

1:20:15 The Blacklisted Honours 2026

1:24:45 Enemy of progress: Kelso's "man before child" take

1:30:15 Chrisean & Blueface, Sacha Baron Cohen & Drewski

1:33:15 Run to the comments: Coach Anwar

1:55:00 Bye bye now

#BreastCancerAwareness #BlackWomenRising #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackWomenAndCancer #BreastCancerSurvivor #YourAuntiesCouldNever #BlackBritishPodcast #BlackWomenPodcast #BlackWomenOver40 #CancerSupport #HealthIsWealth #BlackWomensHealth #UKPodcast #BlackBritishWomen #MastectomyJourney #CheckYourBreasts #AuntieVibes

If he hasn't committed in three months, he's not confused — he's just not choosing you.

Dating and relationship coach Anwar White, the "fairy godbrother of dating," sits down with the aunties to break down why so many good Black women are stuck in the dating trenches, and what to do about it. From strategic vulnerability and the 3-month rule to why our "type" is really our trauma, this one is a whole free coaching session. Plus, Anwar diagnoses the aunties using the four dating archetypes from his new book, Girl, Get Your Guy.

⚡ Never ask a man "what are we?" — here's what to say instead

⚡ The 3-month rule and the 2-year rule: when to walk away

⚡ "Our types are our traumas" — and why butterflies are really anxiety

⚡ Should Black women date everybody? The numbers behind it

⚡ Noelle, Tia, Violet or the Perfect Girl — which dating archetype are you?

⚡ Auntie-ventions: she's letting him pay for law school… then leaving. Strategy or scam?

This is for every Black woman who's been told she's "too independent" and never once been shown how to receive.

📖 Girl, Get Your Guy by Anwar White — out 2 February. Pre-order: www.girlgetyourguy.com

#YourAuntiesCouldNever #BlackWomenPodcast #BlackBritishPodcast #DatingAdvice #BlackWomenDating #DatingCoach #AnwarWhite #GirlGetYourGuy #DatingOver35 #DatingOver40 #RelationshipAdvice #SoftLife #DatingStrategy #BlackLove #UKPodcast #Situationship #HealingJourney #BlackWomenOver40

She put her grown son out after years of verbal abuse. Was she wrong, or had she finally chosen peace?

A.K., Farah and Nana discuss the guilt, expectations and pressure placed on Black mothers. When does protecting your child become accepting behaviour you would tell anyone else to walk away from?

Plus, a woman sets off on a 20-hour drive to confront a man who won’t answer her messages. The Aunties have questions, starting with: what happens when you have to drive home?

We also get into reparations, Britain’s slavery history, racial justice, Hasan Piker’s interview, co-parenting and whether staying together for the children actually helps them. And yes, we’re revisiting the argument that upset the comments: are beards makeup for men?

No guests this week. Just your favourite Aunties, honest opinions and plenty to debate.

Tell us in the comments: can you love your child and still tell them they can’t live with you?

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Being “ladylike” and the rules girls grow up with

03:00 Driving 20 hours for a man who won’t reply

13:00 A mother puts her adult son out

16:00 Why is the mother being blamed?

22:00 Meet the Aunties and live show chat

28:00 Welcome to the Family: Buy Back Brixton

30:00 Britain’s slave trade register

32:00 The Aunties challenge arguments against reparations

39:00 What should reparations actually involve?

46:00 An invitation to come and debate the Aunties

49:00 A Mississippi case and questions about justice

58:00 News narratives, state violence and accountability

1:00:00 Britain, slavery and whose history gets told

1:05:00 Hasan Piker, political interviews and Palestine

1:14:00 A mum carries the baby and everyone’s food

1:16:00 Co-parenting: can you change the dynamic?

1:20:00 Should parents stay together for the children?

1:26:00 Should women dress differently for their partners?

1:27:00 Unwanted touching and personal boundaries

1:28:00 Are beards makeup for men? We answer the comments

Subscribe to Your Aunties Could Never for more conversations about relationships, motherhood, Black culture and the stories that get the group chat talking.

Share this episode with someone who needs to join the conversation.

Trillary Banks joins the Aunties for an honest conversation about family loyalty, public judgement and supporting her mother through a prison sentence following a fatal car accident. Trillary explains why she refuses to abandon her mum, while acknowledging the lives lost and the pain experienced by the families involved. Can you love someone, stand beside them and still accept that what they did was wrong? The conversation also explores the pressure on women to marry and have children, fertility, intentional dating, distrust, the realities of the UK music industry and why some people struggle to celebrate another person’s success.

Your favourite Aunties, Ak, Farrah and Nana are back with another packed episode, joined by Aaron Dale, founder of Raising Boys 2 Men and author of the new book The Co-Parent: A Toolkit for Parenting Together, Apart.

AUNTYVENTION

🫂 Is he a good dad? A father cancelled his daughter's birthday mid celebration after she got her period, leaked and was too embarrassed to continue. He then took away $250 of her birthday money to teach her about "consequences". Her mum and family were furious. Was this parenting or punishment without compassion?

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

💐 NACK Clothing, celebrating African identity and culture through fashion.

💐 Vatika Naturals, bringing more than 140 years of heritage and natural ingredients to haircare for diverse hair types.

💐 Nubian Jak Community Trust, following the unveiling of a blue plaque in Westbourne Park celebrating the history and legacy of Notting Hill Carnival.

💐 Your Aunties Could Never LIVE at the Lyric Hammersmith! Book your tickets now!

ENEMIES OF PROGRESS

🚩 A stepmother forcing her stepchild to call her "Mum". You can build a loving relationship with a child, but can you demand the title?

🚩 Joanna Wietrzyk, after the Hyrox world champion continued competing after soiling herself mid race. How badly do you need to win?!

🚩 Black girls walking barefoot down the street! Farrah and AK witnessed heels in hands and bare feet on the pavement and couldn't believe their eyes. Some traditions must be preserved. Gen Z, Gen Alpha ... fix up.

🚩 The Lindsay Clancy case, from the campaigning for her freedom to the doxxing of the Black male juror who reportedly held out against a not guilty verdict. We unpack race, sympathy, mental health, the treatment of that juror and whether the three young children who died are being lost in the conversation.

This is the honest conversation you won't hear anywhere else.

www.yourauntiescouldnever.com

Your favourite Aunties, Ak, Farrah and Nana are back with another packed episode, joined by actress Tahirah Sharif and Marvin and Tazer from 3ShotsOfTequila.

We catch up with Tahirah about her role in the new 50 Cent produced series Fightland, Tazer reflects on another huge R&B Slow Jams with Chuckie at Magazine London, and Marvin has stories from his latest trip to Jamaica.

AUNTYVENTION

🫂 Ladies, are we sometimes too handsy with men? Touching arms and chests, pinching bums, all passed off as harmless flirting. If we know unwanted touching isn't okay, why do we sometimes assume men are fine with it? And men, do you need to speak up more when you're uncomfortable?

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

💐 Shan the Brand, for her brilliant coverage travelling across the Caribbean and taking us along for the journey.

💐 E Man, for the hilarious content exposing some truly shocking gaps in the British public's general knowledge.

ENEMIES OF PROGRESS

🚩 Humanoid robots! Tahirah wants a word with the people designing robots to look increasingly human. Why do we need them to look like us, and are we casually paving the way for the robot uprising?

🚩 Taking your relationship drama to the internet. Marvin asks why private relationship problems need to become public content, including Serayah sharing what led to the end of her relationship with Joey Bada$$.

🚩 The Royal Family, for honouring Dolly Parton following her death while facing questions about their own charitable spirit, including reports of NHS ambulances being charged to park on royal land.

🚩 Zeze Millz's comments about men and predatory behaviour caused an internet frenzy. But are we more outraged by how she said it than by the uncomfortable realities behind the conversation?

This is the honest conversation you won't hear anywhere else.

Watch and listen now.

YouTube. Apple Podcasts. Spotify.

www.yourauntiescouldnever.com

Your favourite Aunties, Ak, Farrah and Nana are back with another packed episode, joined by author and journalist Symeon Brown and musician Blue Sevenz.

AUNTYVENTION

🫂 Are we scared to celebrate our wins? After performing with Fat Joe at one of Jay Z’s recent shows, Jadakiss admitted it was one of the happiest nights of his life, but being that happy scared him. Why do we sometimes struggle to enjoy our wins without fear or doubt creeping in?

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

💐 Trevor Nelson, sending love to the legendary DJ and broadcaster as he recovers from surgery following a brain tumour diagnosis. After decades championing R&B, soul and Black music, we’re happy he’s doing well.

💐 Vic Mensa, from legal troubles to sobriety to using his platform to explore Black history, politics and Pan Africanism. Now he’s launching The Vic Mensa Show, bringing music, politics and culture together. Loving his growth.

💐 Marcia Hutchinson, author of The Mercy Step, for pushing through years of rejection to finally release her acclaimed debut novel.

ENEMIES OF PROGRESS

🚩 Seedless fruit! Grapes were bad enough, but now M&S are selling seedless oranges. Where have all the seeds gone?!

🚩 Black Excellence? With Symeon Brown, author of The Good, the Black and the Boujee, we ask whether Black Excellence is a problem.

🚩 The UK and our Black British music legacy. With Blue Sevenz making his musical comeback, why don’t we preserve and celebrate UK Black artists?

🚩 Trevor Phillips, for using a piece about the National Theatre’s The Story to bring Jason Arday into another discussion about truth, race and fabricated narratives.

RUN TO THE COMMENTS

🏃🏾‍♀️ We return to Jason Arday and some of the criticism of our own coverage. How do we discuss accountability while recognising the scrutiny Black academics can face?

This is the honest conversation you won’t hear anywhere else.

Watch and listen now.

YouTube. Apple Podcasts. Spotify.

www.yourauntiescouldnever.com

Your favourite Aunties, Ak, Farrah and Nana are back with another packed episode, joined by Melissa Berry, aka Mel Boss Lady, executive coach, leadership expert and founder of PowHer Collective.

AUNTYVENTION

🫂 Following the devastating death of Professor Jason Arday, the Aunties reflect on the media storm that surrounded him, racism, accountability and our own responsibility when criticism becomes a public pile on. Jason died aged 41, shortly after resigning from Cambridge amid allegations he denied, with his family condemning what they described as a sustained campaign of harassment.

💸 And how do you actually ask for your money back? Apparently Gen Z are losing serious money because they find chasing friends for what they owe too awkward. Group dinners, holidays, concert tickets... when does being polite become being out of pocket?

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY

💐 Adrian and Tara Thorpe, for showing the internet what 23 years of marriage and knowing how to take a joke looks like. After Adrian's comments about Tara's edges and bum had social media ready to defend her honour, the couple handled the whole thing with jokes, banter and a 24 hour deadline for everybody to get their think pieces off.

ENEMIES OF PROGRESS

🚩 The NHS and TfL, as nurses reportedly faint in sweltering wards and London bus drivers take action over cab temperatures reaching around 40C.

🚩 The white dad who told his mixed race son his Afro fade was "too urban". His son loved his haircut. Dad clearly had other ideas.

🚩 Blueface, Chrisean and maybe all of us, because at some point we have to discuss why we keep making the wrong people famous. A livestream involving a 21 year old dark skinned woman descended into colourism, racism and her being put out of Blueface's car at 4am.

🚩 Jan Leeming, for criticising Charlene White and for claiming Black, Asian and other non white people have an easier route to success.

🚩 Loose Women, as separate claims from Chrystal Rose and Nadia Sawalha raise questions about who gets a voice on the panel and what happens when women don't fit the show's preferred mould.

🚩 Afroman, after accusing Africans of selling Black Americans' ancestors into slavery and describing Africans in America as arrogant and disrespectful.

RUN TO THE COMMENTS

🏃🏾‍♀️ Are Black British women stiff, stush and unfriendly? You lot had plenty to say after our April Jackson conversation, including some Black British women agreeing that our American sisters might just have us beat when it comes to warmth and sisterhood.

This is the honest conversation you won't hear anywhere else.

www.yourauntiescouldnever.com