Season 2
Episodes
Episode 25: The Acceptable Version of Me: Navigating Identity, Expectations, and Professional Legibility
What does it mean to be seen as “acceptable” and who gets to decide?
In this episode, Dr. Eric Louérs-Phillips reflects on growing up as a Black man whose family instilled pride, discipline, and high expectations...
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Episode 24: Why Leaders Need Coaching and Community
Leadership can be isolating.
Even for experienced leaders.
In this episode, Ja’Bette and Linda explore the power of executive coaching and leadership communities in helping leaders reflect, grow, and navigate...
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Episode 23: Why Supporting Women-Owned Businesses Matters
Entrepreneurship can be exhilarating.
It can also be isolating.
In this episode, Ja’Bette and Linda talk honestly about the realities of building businesses as women — including the importance of supporting...
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Episode 22: Leading the Next Chapter: Reinventing After a Lifetime of Leadership
After decades of leadership in public education — including directing large systems, shaping policy, and leading teams of hundreds — Dr. Linda Chambers chose to step into entrepreneurship.
Why?
In this episode, Linda...
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Episode 21: Back2theWater: From Fear to Freedom — Stories from the Retreat
What happens when Black women choose courage over fear—and step back into the water together?
Recorded after the Back2theWater retreat in Cartagena, Colombia, this episode centers the voices of women who once avoided...
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Episode 20: Back to the Water: Drowning Disparities, Water Safety & the Fight for Equity
Drowning is not random. It is patterned by history, access, and inequity.
In this powerful opening episode, we examine the racial and socioeconomic disparities that make drowning a persistent and preventable...
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Episode 19: The Ripple Continues: Mentorship Through the Eyes of a Mentee with Gracie Armstrong
In this final installment of our Mentorship Series, we bring the conversation full circle. You’ll meet Gracie Armstrong—a parenting student whose journey reflects courage, growth, and the transformative power of...
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Episode 18: Paying It Forward: The Art of Mentorship and Sponsorship
In this heartfelt continuation of our Mentorship Series, Dr. Pollard reflects on the importance of paying it forward. We explore what mentorship looks like in action—from her role as a mentor to emerging and seasoned...
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Episode 17: The Shoulders We Stand On: Mentorship in Dr. DeRionne Pollard’s Journey
Before becoming the first woman to lead the American Association of Community Colleges, Dr. DeRionne Pollard was a student with big dreams and powerful mentors who believed in her potential. In this first episode of...
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