Episodios
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Daman Harris, author of The Antiracist School Leader, a guide for school and organizational leaders to develop cultural competence and responsiveness through practical, everyday actions. We explore Daman's inspiration for the book and the strategies he suggests for leaders who face resistance when introducing antiracist policies from staff, parents, or the wider community. Dr. Harris shares insights on fostering meaningful conversations about race and equity among educators, even those hesitant to engage.
Throughout our discussion, Daman emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and provides guidance for leaders embarking on an antiracism journey. He explains the concept of homophily and its impact on diversity work, underscoring why understanding this dynamic is essential. Daman also discusses the value of continuous professional development in sustaining an antiracist school culture and shares advice for keeping staff motivated in this ongoing effort. For school leaders dedicated to integrating antiracist practices in their schools or districts, Daman's book is a must-read.
To learn more, visit https://damanharris.com or reach out to Daman directly at [email protected].
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Coach Carlos Johnson, author of Power Engage, a transformative book that guides teachers on how to teach like a coach, blending compassion with accountability for their students. We discussed Carlos' unique definition of engagement, which he views as a deeper, more committed process than mere involvement. He also shared the inspiration behind his concept of "performance-based relationships" and his creation of the Future Man Success Prep course. Carlos explained how he helps teachers develop a "classroom coach" model, recognizing how coaches earn the admiration of their players through strong relationships and positive expectations. By adopting this coaching mindset, teachers can unlock greater potential in their students. Carlos also reflected on his time as a principal, where he achieved remarkable goals through a focus on compassion and accountability. We wrapped up with his advice to educators and school leaders looking to transform their school culture. To connect with Coach Carlos, visit his website: https://carlosjohnson.org.
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Angie Freese, author of Meant for More: Real Talk about Classrooms Built on Dignity, Authenticity, and Connection. Angie’s passion for transforming education is undeniable, and her book offers a powerful roadmap for addressing educational inequity while fostering meaningful, relevant learning experiences. We dive into what inspired her to write Meant for More, explore the brave steps educators can take to create lasting change, and discuss how those outside the education system can support teachers while challenging faulty narratives. Angie also shares what "dignity" truly means in the context of her work. Whether you're an educator, leader, or someone invested in the future of education, this conversation is filled with actionable insights and hope. You can also join Angie’s virtual book study on skillsforce.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about creating classrooms where every student thrives!
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In this episode, I sit down with Ari Gerzon-Kessler, an educator whose groundbreaking work focuses on uniting teachers and families to create stronger, more collaborative learning environments. Ari’s approach centers on one key principle: listening to understand. By letting go of judgment and getting curious about what families truly want from educators, he’s building meaningful partnerships that prioritize students' success. The results? Not only are students thriving, but teachers are rediscovering the joy in teaching and choosing to stay in their roles longer. Ari shares his research-backed methods, the ripple effects of these powerful collaborations, and the transformative impact on school communities. Tune in to hear how you can apply these insights and be inspired by Ari’s book, On the Same Team, now available on Amazon. Don’t miss this episode—it’s a game-changer for anyone invested in education!
Connect with Ari on LinkedIn or via email at [email protected].
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In this episode, I’m thrilled to interview the authors of Little Learners, Big Hearts: A Teacher's Guide to Nurturing Empathy and Equity in Early Childhood—Christine Mason, PhD, Orinthia Harris, PhD, Randy Ross, and Jill Flanders. These remarkable women are leaders in their fields and together contribute to the Center for Educational Improvement (CEI), founded by Dr. Mason, with Jill Flanders serving as Executive Director. Their book equips teachers with tools to nurture empathy and equity in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of raising a new generation of anti-racist children to achieve true equity. If you're curious about your own implicit biases, explore Harvard's Implicit Bias Assessments. We all have biases—recognizing and reducing their impact is key to fostering change in ourselves and those around us.
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing a very pregnant Genesis Amaris Kemp. Genesis was someone working in the gas industry in corporate America, when she realized the industry wasn't holding up to the principles of DEIB. Yes, she was a woman of color in a predominantly white men's world and she had a seat at the table but she was the only one and she didn't feel like her contributions were taken very seriously. So what did she do? She wrote the book, Chocolate Drop in Corporate America, to call attention to the issue. Genesis is a deeply spiritual person who has suffered four major losses in the past four years, including a child. She shares how she is still smiling and how her faith helps her withstand those losses with selflessness rather than selfishness. Check out her Gems podcast and visit her website at https://genesisamariskemp.net. You can, of course, contact her there, but give her some time to respond because she is about to give birth to her second child any day now.
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In this episode, I had the distinct pleasure to interview Dr. Susan Jackson, a close collaborator with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, founder of the flow concept. With a PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Sue has extensive experience in the sports, performance, and health industries. In this conversation, we talk about what flow is and why it's an important experience to understand. Sue covers the characteristics of being in flow and some things we can do to make flow more likely to occur for us in our lives and performance tasks. Sue has written the recently released Amazon #1 bestselling book, Experiencing Flow: Life Beyond Boredom and Anxiety, and shares her motivation for writing it and what you'll get when you read it. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and know you will, too. If you'd like to learn more about Sue and her work or contact her for more information, you can do that here,
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In this episode, I had the joy of interviewing Kealah "Coach Kiki" Parkinson. Coach Kiki is a master at her craft of emotionally intelligent communications coaching. We talked about conquering one's fear, as Kealah went from being painfully shy to becoming a public speaker! We discussed developing your key mantra and your BMT Index, both trademarks held by Kealah. She defined what a communication coach is and what they do. We talked about the fight-or-flight response and how that affects communication. Kealah shared her favorite tools for processing feelings and distinguished between processing and managing feelings. The BMT Index stands for body, moods, and thoughts. Coach Kiki is also working on her pilot program called, "The Four Corners of Feelings" and she's looking for some people willing to go through her beta program to co-create with her what this program will look like. She knows how important emotions are in communications, both in one's personal and professional life. You can follow her on Substack at We Build Better Humans | Coach Kiki Kealah Parkinson | Substack, or visit her website to sign up for the Four Corners of Feelings pilot program, take her coaching eligibility quiz, or contact her about her expertise or services.
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alison Schmidt, PhD, BCC. Among other things, Alison is the CEO of unconvention™, and a graduate of the Academy of Choice's Board Certified Coaching program. I recently became aware of Alison's rebrand to unconvention and wanted to have her on the show to talk about it. Alison most definitely has some interesting unconvention qualities. In this episode, we discuss how she decided on her rebranding, what unconvention means to her, her use of "un" words in coaching, my personal unwords, her podcast "unconversations," and how she works with her clients to help them discover what is unique about themselves, often the very things they have gotten criticized for in the past. Once discovered, a person learns to lean into those qualities and lives a life filled with passion, purpose, and authenticity. To contact her for more information or for coaching yourself, check out her website at unconventionllc.com [email protected].
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In this episode, I continue the conversation with Dr. Charles Dent about how mental health interventions can be tailored to resonate more deeply with Black men, considering the intersection of masculinity, cultural identity, and mental well-being. We discuss how to advocate for great access to culturally competent mental health services for Black men and what steps people can take to break down the barriers to seeking help. You can reach Dr. Dent through his website, Max Out Coaching for more information.
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In this 2-part episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Charles Dent, an educator, counselor, coach, and pastor. Charles utilizes Choice Theory and Reality Therapy in his work and has penned several books: When a Woman Gives Up Her Heart, 42 Days: Becoming a Powerful Person of Patience, How to Overcome the Predator of Your Faith, Date Rape at 11 AM Sunday, and 42 Habits of Successful Parents. Charles is a Black man living in the south committed to creating bridges between faith-based communities and mental health clinics to better serve the African American population who has been disenfranchised by the medical system. We discuss the unique mental health challenges Black men face and how systemic issues and economic disparities contribute to these challenge, how mental health professionals can better understand and address the culture stima surrounding mental health particularly among Black men and how the community, family, and faith can strengthen their support systems. You can reach Dr. Dent through his website, Max Out Coaching. Tune in next week for part 2.
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In this episode, I was delighted to speak with Kate Varness, a Clarity Coach who helps women find their path through life's transitions. She does this with an astrological tool called Human Design. Learning your Human Design assists you to understand yourself better and figure out the best ways to respond during transitions based on your specific traits and strengths. It was fascinating to me, especially when Kate delved into an example of some work she did with a consultant who was struggling with overwhelm. Kate offers our listeners a free video called How to Find Your Way In. It's a 2-part method to identify where you are and where you're going. You'll also learn why it's so important to intentionally shift during life transitions, and how to prepare for your next adventure with confidence and support. You can reach Kate for more information at [email protected].
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In this episode, I get to chat with Nichole Meade about her creation, Mindful Self-Intelligence. Nichole created her concepts from a variety of disciplines, including quantum physics, Shamanism, Buddhism, science, and mathematics, of all things. Nichole describes herself as a rainbow unicorn in a ones-and-zeroes world, which makes her a breath of fresh air for me. Listen in to discover Mindful Self-Intelligence and how to solve for the f(me) or the function of me. Nichole also shares her thoughts about discovering oneself so people can be the best and most aligned version of themselves for themselves, but also, for "all the things." She discusses finding ways that work for her that start as a way, become a transitional the way, on the way to simply being her way. This is not your regular conversion. If you want to take a dive into a converstion you probably won't have in your everyday life, have a listen. Should you want to reach out to Nichole to continue the conversation, the best way to do that is on LinkedIn.
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Dr. Kiley Callaway about his work with couples in his congregation. As a pastor with a degree in pastoral counseling, Kiley is a certified Mental Freedom practitioner who uses that and Choice Theory psychology with those who come to him for help. He shares how he does that, along with some successes his clients have achieved. We also talk about how both Choice Theory and Mental Freedom, while not associated with any religion, can be supported by biblical scriptures. Kiley's counseling license allows him to work across all states so if you are interested in pastoral counseling that is underpinned by Choice Theory and Mental Freedom, you can contact him through his website, Christian Counselor | Be Transformed Christian Counseling | Gering (betransformedcounseling.org).
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In this episode, Kim talks about the challenge experienced by couples when one person is upset about something the other person does. They miscategorize the problem as the other person's instead of their own. The problem lies with the person who is most upset by it. If you own the problem, then it's your responsibility to fix it. This puts you in the driver's seat. Otherwise, you are powerless to fix it while waiting for your partner to change. Additionally, Kim discusses not staying in relationships where you are not receiving even the bare minimum you want. More of Kim's views on couples can be found in her book, Secrets of Happy Couples.
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In this episode, I was fortunate to be able to interview a colleague and fellow coach, Elizabeth Overstreet. Elizabeth functions primarily as a coach for couples. We had a great conversation talking about attachment styles and how they affect relationships, the evolution of relationships, and why we often resist healthy relationships. Listen to the end to hear two "secrets" Elizabeth shares that can enhance relationships. If you'd like to reach out to her, you will find her at her website: https://elizabethoverstreet.com. You can also read her book, Love Can Be Messy But You Don't Have to Be.
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kelvin Troy Johnson, founder of Love Coach Atlanta and author of Secrets of the Mind of a Man. Given that much of my audience is female, I thought you might be interested in the information Kelvin shares. I noticed him on TicToc and liked what he was saying so I was honored when he was brave enough to say "yes" to being interviewed by a total stranger. The conversation was entirely fun and enjoyable for me. I found we agree on many things and just say it differently. What I particularly loved is that he isn't that dating coach out there trying to help men scam women into dating without commitment. Kelvin is the coach who works with women to understand what men want and how you can know, and benefit from, that yourself. Men are simple; men are visual. What they say is usually what they mean and they are attracted with their eyes first, and then their brain. Listento the end to hear the compettling offer he made for our audience members. Then, if you want to learn more from Kelvin, you can look him up at By Kelvin | Love Coach Atlanta, follow him on TicToc or order his book here.
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In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Priyanka Venkataraman, who gave up a thriving OBGYN practice to be the best mom she could be for her son. She is not looking back! When Priyanka's wonderful nanny had to leave after 1.5 years, she realized something had to give and she knew she wanted to be there for her family. She spent a year working on herself with her own parenting coach before becoming a parenting coach herself. She specializes in working with busy, professional moms like herself who might be looking for some answers about navigating this things called parenting that no one is ever prepared for. You can find her at Wayfinding Moms, where she offers an initial 30-minute free session, to discover what she can offer you.
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In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking a second time to the author of The Golden Ticket, Irena Smith. Irena was on the show last month to talk about her new book and I wanted her to return to talk about parenting, particularly parenting neurodiverse kids; she has three of them! We talk about the importance of realizing that going to an Ivy League School isn't what's best for everyone and isn't the "Golden Ticket" many parents have come to believe it is. She implores parents to think about the stress added to a child's life by their parents' unwaveringly high expectations for their child's academic achievements. There are other ways to have a great life other than attending a top-20 school. Irena also shares a major life change she made since the last time I interviewed her that has allowed her to live more authentically in alignment with her values. She is a serious writer, maintaining not one, but two, Substacks. You can check them out here: Personal Statements and The Golden Ticket (is not what you think). You can also have the opportunity to hear her speak about navigating the college entrance process with your child at her virtual August presentation through the Library Speakers Consortium. You will find the information you need, as well as being able to register, here.
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In this episode, I had the opportunity and pleasure to interview two guests from last season, Amy Reid and Heather Harrison. Heather and Amy are a modern-day, queer couple attempting to navigate the nuances of life with four kids in a blended family, with other co-parents, thriving careers in college teaching, side hustles in coaching, and a burgeoning real estate investment portfolio. In this episode, we talk about how they navigate their high-paced life, while also discussing the beautiful gift of surrogacy they gave to a very good friend, that then, gave back to them, formed a community and added to the love that's in the world.
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