The Art of Drinking Water
What The Art of Drinking Water Is
The Art of Drinking Water is a women-centered emotional wellness nonprofit that guides women from exhaustion to restoration — and from restoration to leadership — through storytelling, stillness, and voice.
It is more than a podcast. It is a four-season movement with:
- 32 podcast episodes organized into 4 seasons.
- 4 audiobooks (one for each season) plus a full collection.
- Guided journals & reflection tools for each chapter.
- Women’s story circles, workshops, and retreats.
- Mission-aligned products that fund access and scholarships.
The Problem We’re Responding To
Women — especially Black women and women of color — are carrying extraordinary emotional, spiritual, and relational labor. They are leading families, workplaces, ministries, and communities while quietly running on empty.
- Chronic burnout and stress.
- Invisible caregiving and emotional load.
- Limited spaces for rest, grief, and emotional honesty.
- Pressure to be “strong” rather than supported.
The result is depletion, stalled dreams, and communities that lose the voices of women who are meant to lead from overflow, not lack.
The Four-Season Framework
Our work follows the movement of water — from drought to ocean. Each season has 8 chapters (episodes), together forming a 32-chapter journey:
Season 1 · The Flow Within (Dry)
Recognizing depletion and telling the truth about exhaustion.
Season 2 · The Refill (Gentle Rain)
Rest, boundaries, nourishment, and learning to receive without guilt.
Season 3 · The Flow Forward (River)
Calling, courage, identity, and moving in alignment with who you are.
Season 4 · The Source (Ocean)
Wholeness, legacy, leadership, and living from overflow.
Each season becomes a podcast arc, an audiobook, and the spine for circles, retreats, and reflection tools.
What We Offer (Beyond the Podcast)
Core Programs
- 32-episode narrative audio journey.
- Four full-length audiobooks.
- Interactive journal & seasonal guides.
- Women’s story circles (virtual and in-person).
- Workshops & retreats for organizations and communities.
- Future “Water Women” facilitator training track.
Mission-Aligned Products
- Ritual & stillness items (candles, carafe sets, altar pieces).
- Journals, notebooks, pens, bookmarks, paper goods.
- Herbal teas, scent & wellness items.
- Apparel & wearables (scarves, tees, totes).
- Gift sets at $15, $30, and $60 tiers.
- Digital offerings: guided audio, QR postcards, PDFs, mini-courses.
- Seasonal collections: affirmation calendar & ritual boxes.
Who We Serve
We serve women who are holding entire worlds together, with a special focus on:
- Black women and women of color in leadership and caregiving roles.
- Women 25–65 navigating burnout, transition, or identity shifts.
- Nonprofit staff, educators, organizers, and faith leaders.
- Corporate ERG cohorts (Women, BIPOC, Caregivers, Emerging Leaders).
How We Fund the Work
We use a hybrid model that combines earned revenue with philanthropy:
Product sales & gift sets Digital products & audiobooks Workshops & speaking Seasonal collections Wholesale & corporate gifts Grants & donations
Grants and donations are focused on:
- Scholarships and reduced-cost access for women.
- Podcast & audiobook production.
- Travel, lodging, and meals for retreats, speaking, and story circles.
- Staff & facilitator stipends to prevent burnout in the work itself.
- Conferences, training, and professional development.
Three-Year Financial Snapshot
All numbers are realistic nonprofit estimates and will be refined as vendor quotes and contracts are finalized.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $342,000 | $485,000 | $645,000 |
| Total Expenses (incl. podcast, travel, meals, lodging, scholarships) |
$348,000 | $430,000 | $565,000 |
| Net | ($6,000) deficit | $55,000 surplus | $80,000 surplus |
Year 1 includes heavy investment in production and infrastructure. Surpluses in Years 2 and 3 are directed toward reserves, scholarships, and expansion.
Infrastructure & Readiness
Behind the scenes, we maintain a private leadership portal called The Reservoir. It houses:
- Board packet & governance documents.
- Grants & funding center.
- Communications and brand kit.
- Four-season program library and facilitator guides.
- Meeting archives, policies, and compliance records.
This infrastructure helps us stay organized, transparent, and ready for partnership and growth.
Why This Work Matters — and How You Can Join Us
Women are holding entire worlds together from an empty place. The Art of Drinking Water offers a well: a way to tell the truth about depletion, to receive care without shame, and to step into leadership with a full heart and an anchored spirit.
When you partner with us — as a funder, collaborator, host site, or amplifier — you are not just supporting a podcast. You are helping build:
- A four-season emotional wellness journey.
- A movement of women leading from overflow.
- A library of stories, tools, and rituals that will outlive us.
Next steps can include: grant partnerships, sponsored cohorts, corporate gifting, product collaborations, hosting a story circle or retreat, or supporting our Scholarship & Access Fund.