Side Porch Stories – Episode 2: Girl, You Got This
Sponsored by the Intimate Partner Betrayal Alliance
Raising visibility for the hidden trauma of betrayal in intimate relationships.
www.ipbawareness.org
When life is falling apart and all you hear is “Girl, you got this,”—what happens when you actually don’t?
In this second episode of Side Porch Stories, Lisa N. Alexander invites us to the proverbial side porch for a tender, truth-telling moment about pressure, performance, and the quiet unraveling so many women endure behind closed doors.
From a mama trying to manufacture a Christmas miracle to a woman whispering about her finances on a recorded line… these are the stories we rarely hear out loud.
This episode is a love letter to the women who:
- Smile through panic
- Perform through exhaustion
- Clench their teeth while people call them strong
Lisa reminds us that sometimes strength looks like telling the truth: “I don’t got it today.” And that truth? It can be holy. And it can set us free.
So pull up a chair. You snap the green beans. She’ll make the tea.
This one’s for the women holding it all together with duct tape and prayer.
Girl, You Got This – Tea Blend
A soothing blend of peppermint, chamomile, and lemon balm—for the woman holding it all together with duct tape and prayer. This cup is meant to exhale with you.
Transcript: Episode 2 – Girl, You Got This!
In Episode 2 of Side Porch Stories, Lisa N. Alexander delves into the quiet, often invisible pressures women face, especially during the holiday season. From financial strain to emotional labor, she shares real-life stories of women trying to keep up appearances, protect their children, or simply survive the day. This transcript includes heartfelt moments, cultural critique, and a clear-eyed look at what it means to perform strength when you’re barely holding on. Read the full transcript below for deeper insight into the stories behind the tea.
Note: This transcript includes references to financial hardship, emotional distress, domestic tension, and survival performance. Reader discretion is advised.
Click to read the full transcript
This episode of Side Porch Stories is brought to you by the Intimate Partner Betrayal Alliance.
Raising visibility for the hidden trauma of betrayal in intimate relationships.
Learn more at www.ipbawareness.org
Side Porch Stories: Girl, You Got This
Hey everybody.
Welcome to my proverbial side porch.
I’m Lisa N. Alexander, founder of This Woman Knows—
and today, I’m your side porch aunty,
here to share a story or two.
This is where secrets and stories get told…
in housecoats and bonnets.
Where bras and shoes are optional—
because there’s no company to impress here.
That’s front porch energy.
This summer audio series invites you to slow down.
To listen.
To laugh a little.
To maybe even learn a thing or two… from real-life stories.
Like the time I met a mama who did everything she could
to give her kids a good Christmas—
but still came up short.
Or how she’d sworn she’d moved on—
but left the door cracked open,
just in case he decided to come back.
This episode is about pressure.
The pressure to perform.
To stay.
To prove.
To hold it together.
It’s about what we’re told—
and what we’re expected to do—
even when we’re falling apart.
So pull up a chair.
You snap the green beans—
I’ll make the tea.
(soft smile pause)
You ready?
Alright.
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