Dearest GFFs!

Welcome to the weekend (or whatever day you’re reading this - you know it’s always OK to do you). How are you doing?!

Before we dive in with this week’s Get Free, a little housekeeping…

Welcome to our new subscribers! Getting free isn’t about the big, one-off acts, but the daily ways we clear the path to live the life we really want; whether that’s breaking the shackles of the doom scroll, taking time to celebrate our wins, or speaking up when it comes to our point of view. It’s great to have you here! A note: I don’t take myself seriously (hello GIFs) but I DO take getting free seriously. So, if you have questions, thoughts or comments you’d like to share, drop us a line at [email protected].

We’ve talked about this in a past Get Free: it’s OK to ask for help - so I’m asking for yours! Please take five minutes to complete this survey that will help shape a work-life resource for this community. If you’ve already submitted yours - thank you! If you haven’t, I’d be so grateful. The Work-Life Survey closes on Monday. Please and thank you!

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The path to this week’s Get Free is sponsored by the letter “I” and the words “Don’t” and “Know.” The way these words have been falling off my tongue, it’s like my mouth can’t hold water. And you know what? It’s freeing! Let me explain.

Unless you’ve been in hiding the last seven days, we’ve had some cultural moments and discussions we really can’t ignore. Specifically, I’m talking about the fallout from the America’s Next Top Model documentary and the Hot Mess Express that is the BBC and the BAFTAs’ handling of the N-word being uttered while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented at the British awards ceremony. Both situations center people of color. Both generated A LOT of column inches and think pieces. And both created openings for conversation.

Here’s the thing: do I have thoughts and opinions on both of these topics? Yes. Have people outside of my group chat asked me about them? Again, yes. Have I engaged in open conversation about either subject? No.

My answer - along with a shaking head and a raised eyebrow - has simply been: “Yea… I don’t know.”

In these heightened moments, there can be pressure to offer a thought, an opinion, or a nugget of understanding. But this time? I just said I don’t know and kept it moving. Was this a cop-out? Maybe. But my nerves and my brain space were left free and clear because honestly? I didn’t have the capacity to engage in the nuance needed to do the discussions justice.

If you have small people in your life, raise a hand ✋🏾 (that’s the mamas, the papas, the nanas, the pop-pops, the tias, the tios, and the play cousins). What do you do when said small person asks for something for the 50-11th time?

“Muuuuuuummmmmmmmm! Where is my (insert item)?”
“Aunnnnnnnnnntttttttiiiiiiieeeeeee! Have you seen my (insert item)?”

Friends, if the situation isn’t life-threatening, the answer is: “I don’t know.” (This goes for your littles AND the bigs in your life!)

I’ve got to say, I’ve perfected the art of saying this with warmth, love, and a smile so sweet there’s never a hint of: Dear Child: We are not doing this today. Love you, mean it!

While I’m being a little tongue-in-cheek here, there is a serious point. Saying I don’t know is a great way to help a young person in your life understand it’s OK if THEY don’t know something. It demonstrate how to be honest about what we do and don’t know. After all, learning is a gift.

We can’t talk about “I don’t know” without mentioning how it can help us Get Free in the workplace. Using these three words could save your business, save you hours, or shift your company culture.

We have all, at some point, worked with a know-it-all. The colleague who isn’t open to feedback. The boss who asks for your opinion even though they already know what they want to do. (Sidenote: please don’t be either of these people.)

But you know what’s powerful in the workplace? Openly and honestly saying: “I don’t know.”

Here’s what it can do:

• Make space for others: Saying I don’t know (without snark or annoyance) opens up opportunities for others to fill in the gaps with their knowledge and expertise. They get to flex different muscles, and you get to learn something new. Win-win.

• Build innovation: Leaders, if you’re taking up all the air in the room because everything has to be done your way (even if the last time “your way” actually worked was in the age of internet dial-up), then you’re blocking true innovation. Good ideas come from anywhere. Make space and let that happen by staying curious, asking questions, and clearing the way.

• Leading with “I don’t know” calms the nerves. When you say it, you immediately relinquish all expectations of yourself in that moment. It can also buy you time. For example:

“I don’t know, but let me see what I can find and get back to you” keeps dialog open and doesn’t force you into a corner of saying something you’ll regret later.
“I don’t know, but I’d like to hear your thoughts on this” leads with curiosity and allows others to step into the space. 

Now the pressure is off. You don’t have to fill the silence. You’ve signaled the next action step without overpromising or talking just for the sake of it. I don’t know for the win!!

So that’s the Get Free assignment for this week: in a moment when you would usually feel pressed to give an answer or direction - be it at home or at work - experiment with saying, “I don’t know.” See how you feel. Notice what conversations open up. Pay attention to where adding, “I don’t know - tell me what you’re thinking,” leads.

I would love to hear what you experience. Email [email protected] or, if you’re reading this in your inbox, hit reply. I’ll share comments in next week’s newsletter. Remember, we don’t gatekeep here.

🚀The Get Free Power Lift: Suggest, Support, Succeed!🚀

Something a little different this week: instead of traditional recommendations, I’m using this section for shoutouts - people in my feeds and timelines getting free on their terms through work and creative endeavors. Part of being in community is how we show up for each other, so show some love and check out these good people! Know folks stepping out and getting free? Let me know so I can share in a future edition [email protected]

🧠Learning Alert: Closing The Narrative Gap

Editorial strategist Christabel Nsiah-Buadi from Your Podcast Pipeline has opened the doors to her signature program, Closing The Narrative Gap. I’ve had a sneak peek of this one and it’s powerful. CTNG is all about finding your story anchor and clarifying your message so it travels consistently across platforms as you build your business and brand. It all kicks off March 16. Follow the link for details and to sign up.

🛎️New Business Alert: Type C Studios 

If you work in media, you know it’s been A TIME over the last year or so. But true creativity will never be crushed, so it was GREAT to see the launch of Type C Studios this week, created by the unstoppable N’Jeri Eaton, Tonja Thigpen, and Anhelo Reyes. Audio, video, and strategy all under one roof. We love to see it. Click the link to follow and learn more.

🏆Winner Alert: Our Ancestors Were Messy 

If you’re an OG to the newsletter, you’ll recall Our Ancestors Were Messy was one of the first GFG podcast recommendations. One of the best history podcasts you’ll ever listen to, created and hosted by Nichole Hill - now an Ambie Best Indie Podcast winner for 2026. Go listen. You won’t regret it.

🎵 Soundtrack for the week: We’re building up a nice little The Get Free Guide playlist! Click and enjoy!

✨ If you’ve got a recommendation drop me a line. ✨

If you got something out of this issue of The Get Free Guide, give us a follow or a shout out on Instagram and share the love with a friend. We don’t gatekeep around here!

See you next Friday!