About Me
My name is Phoenix Xiahna
Phoenix Xiahna Totesau-Johnson (she/her) is a Caribbean-American educator, mentor, mental health advocate, and the founder of AsToldByPhi—a platform devoted to reflection, wellness, and intentional living.
As a queer Black woman and first-generation college graduate, Phoenix leads from lived experience—infusing her work with both empathy and structure. Through her years in New York City’s nonprofit and education sectors, she’s supported Black and Brown youth in building confidence, navigating change, and showing up for themselves fully.
In 2022, she released the 52 Weeks of Getting It Together digital planner, a tool designed to help people organize their lives with clarity, grace, and purpose. Most recently, she launched Campus to Career: The Manual, a guide created to help students and emerging professionals ease the anxiety around “what’s next” and step into their futures with more confidence and direction.
Phoenix’s work bridges self-awareness and strategy. Whether she’s mentoring young women, designing resources, or curating content for AsToldByPhi, her mission stays the same: to help others find peace, build alignment, and grow with intention.
This space was built for becoming—and she hopes you find growth and peace here.​
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The Journey of AstoldbyPhi
AsToldByPhi was started by Phoenix Totesau-Johnson, also known as Phoenix Xiahna in 2016. She started it while she was in HS and initially wanted it to be her page her she started her makeup skills. This dream didn't last long and it wasn't until she reached college where AsToldByPhi started to revive itself. Years later it manifested itself into a platform that discusses health in all of its forms but specifically mental health.
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This change occurred in 2018 after she discovered that she was able to use her platform in such a way to discuss an important topic in her life which was her health.
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It wasn't until 2019 that the first transformation occurred to AsToldByPhi and it's image which is what you see today.
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Six years after, Phoenix has watched her platform turn into a business, a passion and a piece of her life that allows her to share out her story, help others and continue the conversation about mental health.
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After a hiatus in 2022, She returned in 2025 with a refined "Why" and more knowledge to share out with the world.
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She still has a long way to go but knows that this is only the beginning.
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September 2017
June 2018
May 2020
June 2025
"I hope you find growth & peace here"
I said that to myself one quiet day in November 2019, not knowing it would become the heartbeat of AsToldByPhi. Back then, I didn’t have a full plan—I just knew that anyone who came across this space should leave feeling a little more grounded, a little more seen, and a little more in tune with themselves.
What started as my own place to reflect has grown into a soft, intentional corner of the internet—one that honors your journey, holds space for your becoming, and invites you to move through life with care.
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