What does it mean to be a "late bloomer" who still builds an extraordinary life on her own timeline? Adia Zuri May—entertainment attorney, Howard University alum, and the woman who took a wild leap from Chicago to LA without ever having been there—opens up about redefining success, hiring a dating coach, and finally claiming the love she always wanted. Her journey from corporate ladder-climbing to harvest season wisdom led her to understand that "comparison is the thief of joy" and that sometimes you have to unblock your emotional pipes before love can flow. "The jig is up," she tells host Maura about the moment she decided to invest in her personal life with the same intentionality she brought to her career, embodying the courage it takes to bet on yourself at any age. But this conversation goes beyond professional achievements. Adia breaks down why she reconnected with a man she met at LAX airport 13 years ago, how working with dating coach "Spicy Mari" taught her to clear emotional baggage, and why believing truly is seeing when it comes to manifesting your deepest desires. From creating a pipeline for Howard University students to Hollywood careers to learning that failure is "the juice that makes you say I'm not staying here," her insights hit different when you realize she's living proof that your timeline doesn't have to look like everyone else's. Whether you feel behind in love, career, or life in general, Adia's story reminds you that sometimes the best things happen when you finally decide to bet on yourself.
Welcome back to Women in Progress with Maura Chanz, a show about the women we're becoming and the shared wisdom of those navigating change, growth, and new chapters in life. Here's what we're talking about with Adia Zuri May—entertainment attorney, Howard University alumna, and the woman who made the leap from Chicago to LA without ever having been there before, chasing a dream that felt impossible but necessary.
The Harvest Phase: How Adia describes this season of her life after years of planting seeds in her career, and why she finally feels free to sample opportunities she couldn't pursue while she was still building.
Late Bloomer Mentality: Why Adia considers herself a late bloomer, how comparison became the thief of joy, and what it means to evolve on your own timeline when everyone else seems to be hitting milestones first.
Hiring a Dating Coach: The decision to work with "Spicy Mari" and apply the same intentionality to finding love that she brought to her career, plus the difference between dating coaches and matchmakers.
Emotional Plumbing: Adia's analogy for why you need to clear emotional baggage before love can flow—because blocked pipes prevent the energy from moving freely.
The Jig Is Up Moment: That season when Adia realized she'd been investing in everyone and everything except her own personal life, and why she decided it was finally time to focus on herself.
Believing Is Seeing: How Adia could always visualize her entertainment law career clear as day but struggled to see love for herself until she did the internal work to shift her mindset.
Control vs. Surrender: Why dating felt riskier than career-building—because you can control your professional effort and outcomes, but relationships require vulnerability with another person's choices.
Building a Pipeline: How Adia and her sister created a bridge for Howard University students to access Hollywood careers, solving the information gap they experienced as young professionals from Chicago.
Belonging in Every Room: The evolution from imposter syndrome to knowing you deserve to be at any table, and how Adia draws on her ancestors' strength when she needs confidence.
The Freedom of Not Giving a F*ck: What it means to sign off on caring about things that aren't big rocks in your life, and why this freedom comes with wisdom and experience.
And if that didn't convince you, here are the quotes from Adia Zuri May that hit different:
"The jig is up. It's time to invest, Adia, in yourself."
"You can have everything, you just can't have it all at the same time."
"I didn't see him coming. That's the beauty of it."
"You belong there regardless of who's at the table and what's happening."
"Comparison is the thief of joy."
"If you have emotional baggage, it will block your pipes. The love can't flow to you because of the block."
"Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing."
"It's out of love, not fear. We want to always try to operate out of love."
Connect with Adia:
Instagram: azmesq
Website: adiamay.com
Connect with Maura:
Instagram: @maurachanz
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