Bold N Unbound is a podcast born from a season of discovering what it truly means to live free. For years, I carried things I was never meant to carry. From past hurts, fear, expectations, labels, etc. But I’ve learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s choosing to move forward anyway!
Somewhere along the journey, I found freedom. Not because my circumstances changed, but because I did.
Today, I believe that true freedom gives us the courage to embrace who God created us to be and the confidence to walk in our purpose.
This show is an invitation to honest conversations about faith, life, growth, healing, and everything in between. We’ll laugh, reflect, ask hard questions, celebrate victories, and encourage one another to live boldly!
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I hit record on Bold N Unbound with equal parts excitement and nerves, and I’m starting exactly where I am: not perfectly on time, not fully “ready,” but willing. If you’ve ever felt called to do something bigger than your comfort zone, this launch is for you. I share the real backstory behind my first platform, the She Bold Crew podcast, what I learned by building it from nothing during the pandemic, and why I knew it was time to step into a new season with a new name.
We get honest about what courage actually looks like day to day. For me, it means releasing the need to control every outcome, loosening my grip on plan A through Z, and choosing faith over fear when intrusive thoughts try to talk me out of my purpose. I talk about the freedom that comes when you stop chasing perfection and start focusing on obedience, growth, and the journey itself. These are the conversations I love most: the kind with substance that leaves you stronger than when you came in.
I also open up about the life transitions that shaped this return, from raising two sons as a single mom to helping my oldest navigate a new high school chapter and processing my youngest son’s autism diagnosis. Add work, going back to school for a communications degree, and a spiritual “wilderness season,” and you’ll understand why this restart matters so much. If you’re craving a faith-based podcast about purpose, personal growth, parenting through change, and learning to show up anyway, you’re in the right place.
Subscribe to Bold N Unbound, share it with a friend who needs a push toward their next step, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What’s one thing you know you need to start even if it feels uncomfortable?
Welcome to the Bowden Unbound podcast. It's your girl Smiley B, and I am super excited and super nervous, but super excited to introduce you guys to my new podcast, Bowden Unbound, Conversations Rooted in Courage, Freedom, and Purpose. And yeah, it's been a minute. It's been tough getting to this point. Not just today, but in general. I don't even know where to start. But we can start with today. Listen, I pride myself on trying to be on time, but sometimes it just does not work like that. But we're here, nevertheless, and we're gonna get into it. Yeah, so it's been a while. For some of those who know and who's been rocking with me for quite some time, you'll recognize me from the Shibo Crew podcast, which was a podcast that started back in 2021 during the pandemic. I felt called to create a platform where we can bring laughter and just encouragement during a really tough time. It was a really tough time for a lot of people. And it just seemed like what was the right thing to do at that time. And it was totally an experience for the books, starting from knowing nothing about podcasting, any of that. Literally just got that gut feeling. It was something that I was supposed to be doing. And I did some research, purchased as much equipment as I could, and kind of just went from there. And on the Shibo Ku podcast, it was me and two other hosts. Shout out to Eva G and Taj. They're doing great. But of course, certain seasons run their course, and everybody kind of just went their separate ways, and that's perfectly fine. Everybody's doing great. And so couldn't be happier about that. But yeah, so for those who have been a part of this journey since 2021, that is the backstory there. But I would say the last time we really recorded and released content under the Shi Boku name was 2024, which
just was a pivotable time in my life at that time. I feel like where that ended was right where it was supposed to. I feel like the Lord was shifting me and getting me prepared for another season in my life. And I needed to take time to focus on being a mom, focus on myself, just my health and well-being, and just kind of refocusing in on the Lord and what it is that He has for me. And in that time that I was going through that journey is where the bowed and unbound concept came in. Podcasting has always brought a sense of joy to me whenever I think about it. I love nothing more than to have conversations with substance and with the intent to pour into other people. And just I feel that there's so much healing in conversation that we don't really speak about, or just even people don't really realize that there is healing in conversation. And one thing I will say is even as a young girl, I've always been told you talk too much. And growing up, I always looked at it as a bad thing. Oh, that's annoying to some people. You talk a lot. But I believe that was just a way for the enemy to try to discourage me from my purpose. I've always spoken with just love and light. And I've always seeked to gain more knowledge and wisdom within every conversation that's had. Of course, there's humorous conversations, there's not too serious conversations, but there's always, like I said, a purpose within conversations that you have, even within yourself. Like I believe in that. So um now that I've done a lot of healing and just self-reflection of who I am as a woman today, I realize my purpose and what I am supposed to be doing. And so I'm just excited to be back in the space. It's different, it's uncomfortable, but I'm learning that's right where the Lord wants me to be. Like He wouldn't have me nowhere else. Like I said, even with today, getting prepared to come and record this episode, there was just a lot of little stumbling boxes. Hair went a little over time, and then makeup went a little bit over time, and just getting from point A to point C just took a bit more time. But at the end of the day, I still made it here and safely, and I'm thankful for that. And I believe that sometimes we give the enemy too much credit. I'm not even gonna say that was the enemy trying to even get in my way of that. I feel like that was just the Lord testing me. You've been sitting on this, you've been working on this for almost a year now. In December, it'll be a year since I formally decided, okay, I'm going to do another podcast. I'm going to do this thing, even if it's by myself. And I feel as though that was just the Lord testing me, like it's not going to be easy. You're going to have to just show up and do what you said you're going to do. And I'll do the rest. And so I'm trusting that. Yeah,
I'm here. As far as just reflecting on me as an individual and the things that I wanted to see the Lord change in my life, as far as being more courageous, walking more by faith, and not allowing just like the intrusive thoughts, just different doubts about myself and different things to stand in the way. Once you are certain of something, there's going to be multitude of things that try to make you feel uncertain about that thing. And I'm just one of those people, like, I'm very much a stickler for having to know what's next. I have to know plan A through Z, and then I have to have a Z through A. Like, if that doesn't work out, what's next? Type situation. And that's just how it's been for me. Coming from the upbringing that I've come from, I've kind of prided myself on being like that because it was like, oh, if I prepare myself for it not to work out, or if I prepare myself for this, at least it will soften the blow and the impact of just the disappointment. But a part of just being courageous and fearless is just freeing yourself from those expectations of just life and just being a human in general. Nothing ever really is always just gonna work out how you plan it, no matter how hard you plan, especially because your plan is not the Lord's plan. So I had to realize that in a lot of aspects of my life because it's just me. So when things don't go as planned, it's like I only have myself to blame. And it's like, where did I go wrong? But there are reasons for everything. And I truly believe that. And so if something didn't work out, doesn't mean that it's not gonna work out later or whatever, but it just may not be for right now. And so trying to plan ahead and be like A B, it's not healthy, first of all. It's not healthy, causes me so much anxiety. It just never works out like that. And sometimes it does, but then again, it's always something on the back end that has you like, oh, I could have done this so differently. So again, that's where the courage comes from. Just being fearless in a sense of like doing what I feel called to do, making sure that I seek guidance and clarity from the Lord on everything that I do and going with it. At the end of the day, what's the worst that could happen? You're disappointed? Okay, that's fine. You'll get over that. And it'll just make you stronger in the end of the day. I just had to really lean more on that and understanding like I'm not gonna get anywhere by being fearful. I'm not gonna get anywhere by living in doubt and what-ifs, and oh, but I don't know what's next. Okay, do it and figure it out as you go and just trust the Lord that He's gonna lead you in the right way. And even with doing this thing by myself, it's like I said, it's not the most comfortable for me. But at the end of the day, everything that is meant for you is outside of your comfort zone. The Lord didn't mean for this to feel comfortable, and that's how I know that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing because I'm not comfortable, I'm not doing what is normal for me. And I love that. And it's a day-to-day journey, and I'm excited to take you guys on that journey with me. But yeah, that's where the courage comes in at. And once you learn that being more courageous in life, it gives you a sense of just freedom and liberation. I can't truly say once I began to allow myself to just be a little bit more courageous with the little things, it just has provided me so much of a sense of I literally can do anything. And the outcome is not my main focus. At the end of the day, it's about the journey. And going on this journey in itself has just taught me so much, and it's just so much beauty in that. And so, how dare I even just hold myself back or, you know what I'm saying, miss out on just a journey of lessons and just learning how to love myself more and just being more resilient when things don't go right. Like I said again, even just with today is a perfect example. I booked an hour and a half studio session to record this segment because I already knew I need at least 20 minutes to get the nerves out. But no, I was 45 minutes late. So I'm left with not a comfortable amount of time, but enough time to do what I need to, what needs to be done. And I'm still gonna do it. I'm still gonna show up. I've made it this far. Why not? You know, I'm gonna have to do it under pressure or whatever, but I'm still gonna do it. And so again, I'm excited for myself because the old me would have been like, oh no, I don't have time to check my makeup. And it's just really, again, just a fear of what? Being perfect? No, that's that was never, it was never gonna be the case. Again, being courageous brings a different sense of just freedom and like I said, liberation and just feeling empowered that this is just the start. This is just the start, and it's gonna be
so much greater later. Purpose comes in where once you're learning to be more courageous and walk by faith and you're fearless of those things, you're no longer bound by by limitations, by expectations, by relationships. You're no longer bound by the fear of failure. Those things bind you and keep you in such just like a mental cell. It truly does. And again, it just causes so many anxious thoughts when it's like, for what? But when you are free of those things that have just been holding you down and weighing you down mentally, physically, emotionally, you're able to spend the time that you need to really figure out what it is that is your purpose. I feel like my purpose has always just been like in my face. I've always been the friend who, when it comes to encouraging somebody, when it comes to comforting somebody, when it comes to empowering somebody or educating, like that's just my second nature. I've always been one to jump into doing that. And I've always been really great at it, even at even at a young age. And I'm not saying that to toot my own horn. These are things that people have said to me in my presence and when I wasn't around. I've just truly been blessed to be able to be that person. And it's crazy because I haven't always been able to be that person for myself. I don't give myself enough grace. I don't feel like I'm as encouraging to myself. And sometimes I don't love myself as much as I should. But doing that for other people has always been like a second nature to me. So when I say my purpose has always been in my face, it's always just been who I am. I just simply didn't really understand that. And I'm so grateful, and it just truly opened my eyes to really see, okay, this is what it is. And that's really where this concept comes from: bold and unbound, courage, freedom, purpose, just having conversations, creating relationships, and helping to just be of some sort of light to other people. That's truly what it's about. And yeah, that's truly what excites me. It makes me feel good. I don't know what the next day brings. I don't even know what my next segment is gonna be or who's gonna be my first guest or any of those things. But what I do know is that I'm here and I'm doing the damn thing. And it's just it feels good. It feels good. Like I said, the Shibo Crew podcast was the start. It was really me learning certain
things that I needed to learn and getting that experience, meeting new people, the conversations that we had on that platform was amazing. And I still listen back to some of those conversations just to reflect on where I started. But yeah, though this is a new name, it's just me, the concept is a bit different, the heart behind it is still the same. And I think that is truly what matters. I feel as though the time that I took the hiatus from podcasting and releasing content was truly needed, and it happened in the perfect time. A lot of things have transitioned in my life. And those who do know me know I'm a single mama, two who are now 14 and 7. And so I have a freshman this year. It's one of those things. Again, I'm learning how to navigate having a teenage son, but yeah, it's exciting. He's super excited, new experiences, a new school. So in this last year and a half, we have moved so that my oldest son, he's I want to go to a new school, I want to experience some changes. So we made the move that we needed to make so that he can go to the school that he desired to go to, and it's going good so far. My youngest son is seven, he's a second grade, absolutely love him. Last summer we got an autism diagnosis, and that was rough. That took a lot of just spending time with the Lord, I would say. Just really seeking the Lord on directions there because I feel as though being a parent, you never know what's next. However, when you're dealing with a child that has special needs, it's even more nerve-wracking. I feel like you're just kind of like clutching yourself because you really don't know what to expect, and you're just doing the best that you can. And so I kind of just went into educating myself, trying to do as much research, talking to specialists because in my mind it became a thing of what is the quality of life for my child. And so that in itself have taught me a lot, even too, because I had to learn patience. I had to learn to do things differently as a mother. And like I said, trying to work, I'm also back in school, guys. Y'all know I always, I'm always doing the most, and that's probably not the best either. But I am back in school to get my degree in communications, and I would say that you know working and going to school and trying to be a mom and do all these things, it just really was like a lot. And so I already kind of struggled with patience and having patience with my kids sometimes, but having a child on the spectrum have just gave me a another just outlook on just being a mother and how to show up for my children and how to understand them, even when they don't know how to express themselves in the best way. So, you know, like I said, we we moved, we had uh autism diagnosis, we're transitioning in a lot of ways. I got my oldest going to high school. So it's just it's been a lot. But again, it never left my mind, it never left my heart and my thoughts of getting back to this thing. And so I'm excited to be here. I'm excited to bring you guys on the journey. I'm excited to have new guests, new conversations, and just to
document the further growth and the different perspectives that's gonna come. I'm excited for it all, honestly. I'm excited for the hiccups and things of that sort. And again, this is something that is truly a day-to-day journey, just really truly locking in and honing in and keeping my focus on what it is that the Lord has for me. I have spoken on the last platform about just my spiritual journey and partnering alongside God, and that's truly where my focus is. I still am wanting to entertain, and of course, I still want to bring what is needed to grow the platform. But if it's not what the Lord has called for me to do, then it's just not something that I'm interested in because honestly, if it wasn't for the Lord, I would not be here. Literally would not be here. And that definitely frees me of a lot of the anxiety because a lot of what I feared is surface level stuff. It doesn't truly matter in the end. It's never easy making a transition, doing things by yourself. It's gotten very lonely. You know, the wilderness season, baby. That's another another episode, another segment. But I'm telling you, everybody who is striving to be closer to the Lord, you will be taken through a wilderness season. And when I say everything that you knew, people, places, and things that was your comfort zone, all of that, relationships non-existent, truly a tough time. But I can say that I appreciate it. I can honestly say that it has made me a better person, a stronger person, a more resilient person. I'm able to look at things more clearly. I'm able to just have more clarity on certain things. And just in a matter of the prayer, things that I had seeked answers for clarity on for years, literally. I'm in a place where I can truly just pray, and the Lord reveals those things to me. And like I said, hindsight is always 20-20, and just even reflecting on those things. And it's a bittersweet thing because, of course, you miss who you used to be. You miss those old relationships and you miss those those old connections and different things of that sort. However, there's so much to be grateful for, so much excitement for what's to come that the good outweighs the bad in the end. So it truly is just a blessing all the way around. It truly is a blessing. And yeah, I'm
excited. I got some exciting things that I've been working on. I got some merch that I've been working on. I'm hoping to be able to get those samples in. I've been off the scene for enough time, but I've been working. I've been praying, I've been brainstorming, strategizing, and I know I've said it a few times, but I'm just excited to see where this is gonna go and the impact that it will have. And yeah, so stay tuned, stay locked in with me. Definitely always been an interactive type of platform. So I'm always looking for feedback, I'm always looking for interesting topics. Yeah, we're gonna make it do what it do. And I'm truly thankful and blessed and excited for what's to come. So keep watch, guys. Thank you again for tuning in to my first episode of the Bold and Unbound Podcast. It's your host, Molly B, and until next time.
