We are excited to share with you the next interview in our “Beyond the Page” series featuring Janet Stickmon.
What happens when a doctor prescribes “having fun” as treatment for chest pain? For wellness coach and ethnic studies professor Janet Stickmon, this unexpected prescription became a turning point in understanding how joy functions as essential medicine—particularly for those experiencing racial battle fatigue.
Stickmon introduces us to the powerful concept of “counter-hegemonic armor,” the protective skills marginalized people develop to navigate systems of oppression. But unlike traditional armor, which merely shields, this framework serves a dual purpose: protection and rejuvenation. “There’s this beautiful duality,” Stickmon explains. “There’s being able to develop skills to properly take care of yourself… but also what is one doing to make sure they’re nourished, filled, and rejuvenated—not just simply drained.”
For coaches working with BIPOC clients, this perspective transforms practice. Traditional coaching approaches often dive straight into self-care without acknowledging systemic factors. Through her program Center Joy PWR, Stickmon creates space where professionals of color can heal racial battle fatigue while reconnecting with joy. She shares her personal journey—how simply naming her experience as racial battle fatigue provided immediate liberation, and how that doctor’s unusual prescription revealed she’d lost connection with fun altogether.
The most actionable takeaway? “Treat joy as if it were a daily vitamin that you have to take,” Stickmon advises. This isn’t about waiting for happiness to happen but consciously integrating joy rituals into daily life. For coaches from privileged backgrounds, she emphasizes cultural humility over cultural competency—ongoing self-reflection about biases rather than presumed expertise.
Whether you’re experiencing racial battle fatigue yourself, supporting clients who are, or simply seeking a more balanced approach to personal wellness, Stickmon’s framework offers both practical tools and profound insights. Listen now to discover how protecting yourself can also help you thrive—and why abundance means having “the amount of health, wealth and love that you require to live a joyful life.”
In this episode, I talk with Janet about her article published in our June 2025 issue.
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