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The Rest Revolution: My Conversation with Demetria Lucas on Ratchet & Respectable

Writer's picture: Amanda Miller LittlejohnAmanda Miller Littlejohn

The Rest Revolution on Ratchet & Respectable with Demetria Lucas

I recently had the honor of joining Demetria Lucas on her podcast Ratchet & Respectable, and let me tell you—this conversation was one for the books. We laughed, we reflected, and we got real about what it means to prioritize rest in a world that constantly demands more from us.


When Demetria first came across The Rest Revolution, she thought it was a timely topic for her audience. What she didn’t expect? To see herself in the book. Like so many high-achieving Black women, she initially thought, This is for other people—I rest, I take care of myself. But as she read, she started taking notes, underlining passages, and realizing just how deep the exhaustion and overwork patterns run in all of us.


The Weight of Expectation

We talked about the pressure—especially for Black women—to always be "on." From working through illness (even shingles!) to pushing through exhaustion just to meet a deadline, the idea that we have to be twice as good for half as much is so ingrained that rest can feel like a radical act of defiance.


I shared my own story from The Rest Revolution—how I found myself working from my hospital bed after giving birth. At the time, it didn’t seem extreme; it felt necessary. That’s the scary part—when exhaustion is normalized, we stop questioning it.


Breaking the Cycle

Demetria and I also explored the social conditioning behind our need to overwork. I shared insights from my research and interviews, including how cultural narratives and systemic structures reinforce burnout. We talked about Michelle Obama making headlines for simply not attending an inauguration, and how a Black woman setting a boundary somehow becomes breaking news.


But perhaps the most powerful part of our conversation? Demetria’s realization that even when we intellectually know we need to slow down, actually doing it is a different story. The guilt, the fear of losing momentum, the expectation to always be producing—these things don’t disappear overnight.


How Do We Start Resting—For Real?

If you’ve ever struggled with slowing down, this episode is for you. We talked about how rest isn’t just about taking a nap—it’s about rewriting the narrative we’ve been handed. It’s about unlearning the idea that our worth is tied to how much we produce.

So, if you’ve ever felt guilty for taking a break, if you’ve ever pushed yourself past your limits, or if you just want permission to rest without apology—this episode is for you.


🎧 Listen to my conversation with Demetria Lucas on Ratchet & Respectable: Listen here




📖 Grab your copy of The Rest Revolution:


And if this episode resonates with you, let’s keep the conversation going—comment, share, and tag me (@iamamandamillerlittlejohn) and Demetria (@DemetriaLLucas) on Instagram.


The revolution starts with us. It's happening....

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© 2025 by Amanda Miller Littlejohn

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