Today we’d like to introduce you to Nishia McRay.
Nishia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Detox The Culture was born from one of the hardest, yet most transformative seasons of my life. In June 2024, I was in a traumatic accident that left me hospitalized for 95 days, followed by another 90 days in physical therapy. But through it all, my body fought for me. It kept me safe. I was never sick. I never faced major complications. It was in that stillness that I realized my body had always protected me… but had I been protecting it?
That experience changed how I see everything especially what I put in, on, and around my body. I started reading ingredient labels, researching hormone disruptors, and learning how many products marketed to Black and Brown communities are filled with harmful chemicals. This sparked not only a personal shift, but a deeper desire to advocate for health equity and clean access for communities that are often overlooked.
That’s when I created Detox The Culture a solo-run wellness platform rooted in education, intention, and healing. It’s not just about non-toxic swaps; it’s about detoxing from toxic people, places, patterns, and products. I use my platform to teach others how to make clean, informed choices and embrace soft living in a world that rarely makes it easy for us to do so.
Alongside that mission, I create intentional spaces for healing through community wellness meetups, retreats, and an online sisterhood that’s growing with every story shared. I believe that detoxing is both personal and collective and no one should have to do it alone.
I don’t want people to feel pressured to change everything at once. My motto is: start small. Because one day you’ll look up and those small lifestyle shifts will have become part of who you are. Through my journey, I hope others feel inspired to begin theirs to make conscious swaps, to access what’s truly toxic in their lives, and to protect the body that’s been carrying them all along.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road but a purposeful one. In June 2024, I was involved in a traumatic hiking accident while visiting Phoenix, Arizona, that left me hospitalized for 95 days and in physical therapy for another 90 days. That experience didn’t just pause my life it changed it. I went from constantly moving and pouring into others, to needing to relearn how to care for myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Healing while trying to build something new came with a lot of challenges. I started Detox The Culture while still recovering, and as a solo founder, that meant wearing every hat from educator and content creator to event planner and advocate. There were moments I doubted if people would take my message seriously or if I could sustain something while still figuring myself out.
Building an online presence is tricky. You can have the best content, but if the Instagram or TikTok algorithm isn’t feeling you that day? It can be frustrating. But I remind myself that even if it doesn’t always reach thousands, the right message will always reach the right people.
So no, it hasn’t been easy. But every challenge from my healing journey to learning how to show up consistently has made me more grounded in my mission. I’m still growing, still learning, and still choosing to move with softness and purpose. That’s what Detox The Culture is all about.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m the founder and face behind Detox The Culture a solo-run wellness platform where I educate and empower people, especially Black and Brown communities, to make non-toxic lifestyle shifts that support healing, balance, and health equity.
I’m originally from Miami and proudly rooted in a family base out of Charlotte. I moved to Minnesota in 2022 to take a role in Community Impact and Foundation with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. So community-building and education have always been part of my personal DNA. I’ve always had a deep desire to help others and to ask myself: What can I do to leave a positive impact whether big or small?
Through Detox The Culture, I specialize in making clean living real, relatable, and accessible. I break down wellness in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming or performative. I focus on swaps, storytelling, and showing that detoxing isn’t just about what you buy it’s about what you’re willing to let go of: toxic people, patterns, and products.
What I’m most proud of is that I built this while healing from a traumatic accident. I turned pain into purpose and created a space that blends soft living, health advocacy, and healing all while still being rooted in community.
This summer, I’m co-hosting a half-day Rooted & Radiant wellness retreat on August 23rd here in the Twin Cities with Anabelle from Brown Yogi Girl. It’s an extension of this work a chance to bring people together for movement, mindfulness, and meaningful conversations about healing.
What sets me apart is that I’m not doing this from a place of perfection I’m doing it from experience. I’ve lived the before and after. My work isn’t just about clean ingredients; it’s about clean intentions. And I hope when people come across my page, they feel inspired to start wherever they are, one intentional choice at a time.
What were you like growing up?
I’m the oldest daughter of four siblings so basically I came out the womb leading group projects and passing out snacks. Being the oldest definitely shaped me early on. I’ve always been the go-to for advice, the organizer, and the one making sure everyone else is good (even when I wasn’t). It taught me to be responsible, empathetic, and also a little bossy… but in a loving way.
As an Aquarius, I’ve always had a natural pull toward leadership and wanting to make an impact. I’ve also got that “selective social butterfly” energy I’m reserved at first, but if your vibe is right and we click? Oh, the extrovert in me will pop out. I’m definitely the friend who’s quiet at the table until something funny or spicy happens and then I’ve got the jokes and the opinions.
I’ve always been curious about people how they think, what motivates them, and why they are the way they are. That led me to study psychology in undergrad and later get my master’s in sport psychology. I’ve always been fascinated by how the mind and body connect, especially in high-performance spaces and in healing.
And honestly, my faith in God has kept me grounded through all of it. I’ve always been highly intuitive the friend who can feel when something’s off before anyone says a word. Now I know that’s discernment, and it’s helped me move through life with more intention, empathy, and peace.
Growing up, I was the girl who loved deep talks, music, journaling, and randomly giving pep talks in the group chat. I still am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://detoxtheculture.kit.com/5d046d8122
- Instagram: @detoxtheculture
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonishia-m-35654b108/
