Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood

Ep. 57 - Community is an Extension of You

This week, I am joined by Katryna Howard.
Katryna Howard, aka Kat, (pronouns she/her) is a connector, creator, diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, and hype woman for her community. Residing in Brooklyn, New York by way of the Bay Area, CA, Fairfield 707 to be exact, Kat claims space in this world as a Black and Salvadoran woman, somebody’s auntie, and an Aquarius.
When I asked Kat what she wanted the Real Fam to get out of our conversation, she said, 
That as life ebbs and flows, there may be moments of pause, setbacks, or figuring it out and that's okay. As I am commanding spending more of my time pouring into endeavors that replenish me outside of my professional career, I want to inspire others to be curious and explore what existing in the multi-hyphenate could look like for you.
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Stay in Touch with:
↳ Pull up on her Instagram @katt_daddy
↳ Email her directly
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 56 - Not Every Event Has to Have Alcohol

This week, I am joined by Rahimeh Ramezany.
Rahimeh Ramezany (RAH-hee-may) (RAM-eh-zaun-nee) is a multiethnic, visibly Muslim American woman, and is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Intercultural specialist. Rahimeh believes that no matter how big or small, all of us have spheres of influence to push for greater inclusion, equity, and intercultural understanding. Her work is focused on addressing the experiences of marginalized ethnic, racial, and religious communities in the United States, in order to create change on an individual, interpersonal, and systemic scale.
Rahimeh and I had a chance to talk about her experience living as a visibly Muslim American woman, working in DEI as such, navigating stereotypes about Muslims, especially women who wear hijab, and how some tips to planning an inclusive event. 
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Stay in Touch with:
  🧕🏻 Website: https://rahimehramezany.com/ 
  🌀 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rahimehramezany/ 
  💜 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rahimehramezany 
  📣 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CJAoqNev01bcXdBCRXAyw
  🧠 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahimeh-ramezany/
  📬 Email list: https://rahimehramezany.com/join-email-list
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Sources Mentioned in Episode:
Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome by Ruchika Tulshyan & Jodi-Ann Burey
Why You Should Not Bring Your Full Self to Work - Jodi-Ann Burey
Folx, events & Orgs mentioned in the episode:
Mess in A Bottle
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 55 - My Safety is My #1 Priority

This week, I am joined by Katrina Strohl (pronouns: They/She/He). 
Katrina is Black, Sāmoan, and Queer. They serve others through their work in psychological safety as a Psychological Safety Consultant, mental health advocacy, and boundary strategy for people who share their identities or their lived experiences. Katrina’s work also includes their podcast Absolutely Not!, the weekly live podcast dedicated to providing examples of setting personal boundaries at work and the vocabulary needed to name harm in those spaces.
When I asked Katrina, “What do you want the Real Fam to get out of our conversation?” They want you to walk knowing that “You deserve relationships built on trust, safety, and respect.” We spend some time talking about how to build these kinds of relationships, the importance of psychological safety,  as well as the lie of "professionalism.”
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Katrina on Linkedin
↳ Katrina’s podcast 🎧 Absolutely Not!
↳ Work with Katrina
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 54 - Have You Heard of Social Journaling?

This week, I am joined by Alex Oh and Nikolay Borisov Co-founders and Partners at Ohlay, an engagement design company. Their current work explores the intersection of personal development and company culture, asking: how do people connect more deeply with themselves, with their work, with others, and within their communities? They believe in a world where people show up more fully in every aspect of their lives — people who lead with heart and purpose, and where meaningful work and connections are the norm.
In our conversation, we talked about their work at Ohlay, we have a little social journaling session (don’t worry they will explain what that is), and explored further this idea of connection: with ourselves, with others, and within our communities.
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Learn more about Ohlay
↳ Ohlay on Instagram
↳ Alex on Linkedin
↳ Nikolay on Linkedin
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 53 - Surviving to Thriving

*ACTIVATION WARNING: Brief mention of suicide in this episode.*
One of my lowest career moments was my second year working as an Admission Counselor. I had lost all drive and motivation to succeed. I was constantly exhausted and I felt like I was terrible at my job. One day after a particularly exhausting event, I remember walking to my car and sitting in the driver’s seat. I just sat there just trying to breathe. I decided to call my mom and before I know it, I’m sobbing. 
I don’t remember specifically what I said to her, but I do remember that I referred to myself as “worthless” and “horrible.” 
I will never forget that phone call.
Pretty soon after that, I transitioned out of that role,  then that institution altogether. 
Thinking back to that time, I know I could have done better in the role, but so much of how I navigated the institution itself (the systems, the rules, the politics, etc.) was just me surviving. Although I left the institution, bits of those feelings of worthlessness and horribleness followed me to a few other organizations I worked at. It wasn’t until I made the decision to find MY community that I was actually able to move out of survival mode and learn what it meant for me to have a thriving career.
This week, I am joined by the amazing, Katherine Castro, proud mother of two Chamorro-Panamian-Italian children, co-founder of Parenting Backwards, board member of Finadenne, and social justice advocate to talk about her own story of surviving in the world of tech and her process to becoming a thriving multi-hyphenate badass. Katherine also drops her three golden tips for navigating organizations that were not designed for employees of color and how she started a community where the sole purpose is for DEIB practitioners to “give and receive.”
As mentioned at the top, there is some brief conversation about suicide in this episode. If you're in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Katherine on LinkedIn
↳ Contact Katherine 📧
↳ DEIB Community Group on LinkedIn 🤝 
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Sources Mentioned in Episode:
Article: How my LinkedIn Post Turned Into a Job
 
Folx, events & Orgs mentioned in the episode:
Check out Finadenne and the dope work they are doing!
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 52 - How About Saying, ”Hello”

This week, I am joined by Dr. Wilfredo Alvarez.
Dr. Alvarez is an Associate Professor of Communication and Media, and Co-Coordinator of Communication and Social Justice at Utica University, and we can add the author to the list of things that Dr. Alvarez does because I had a chance to chat with him about his new book "Everyday Dirty Work: Invisibility, Communication, and Immigrant Labor."
He explores how Latin American immigrant janitors communicate in predominantly White academic institutions from marginalized standpoints. Specifically, it takes a look at how custodial workers perceive, interpret, and thematize periodic messages regarding race, ethnicity, and other intersecting identities, and how those messages and overall communicative experiences affect both their work and personal lives.
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Dr. Alvarez on Twitter
↳ Dr. Alvarez on Instagram
↳ Dr. Alvarez on Linkedin
 
Wanna Read Dr.Alvarez’s Book 📚? Click this link to grab your copy.
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 51 - Journey Back To Self

This week, I am joined by Mika Gainer. 
Mika is a meditation teacher and somatic coach who blends spiritual-scholar-activism into the workplace and beyond as an everyday practice and lifestyle. She helps folks discover how to un-pretzel emotional opposites in their pursuit of prosperity to experience the ultimate inclusive reality. Her work as a Liberation Designer, helps folks identify subtle ways to create spaces that authentically open up their inner leadership.
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Connect with Mika on Linkedin
↳ Schedule some time with Mika
↳ Visit the Soma Praxis Studio
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Sources Mentioned in Episode:
Advantages of Nose Breathing Vs. Mouth Breathing
Skill n Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to create a just world
 
Folx, events & Orgs mentioned in the episode:
Michelle Cassandra Johnson
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 50 - It’s All a Part of the Journey

This week, I am joined by Morenike Williams
Morenike Williams is an experienced senior legal executive, with over 14 years of experience navigating top law firms and corporations, both domestically and internationally. Despite having objective success, Morenike realized she was unfulfilled, so she embarked on a transformational journey to redefine what success looks like for her and has found fulfillment in rewriting her own story and journeying with others as they do the same.
 
Morenike and I talk about how it is ok for our life plans to evolve and sometimes change, defining what success means to us, and what advice we might give to our younger selves about happiness.
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
 
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Check out Morenike's website at Revisioncoaching.com
↳ Email Morenike at info@revisioncoaching.com
↳ Follow Morenike on Linkedin
↳ Follow Morenike on Instagram
↳ Follow Morenike on Facebook 
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Sources for the show:
Interview with director of, Twenty Something, Aphton Corbin
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 49 - Pay It Forward

I had a 2nd-grade teacher, Mrs. Duffy, who I thought didn’t like me very much. She would always call on me in class even though I was INCREDIBLY shy, tell me to pay attention when she noticed me daydreaming, and I would get extra work when no one else in my class did. So, I was really nervous when my mom and I sat in front of her at my parent-teacher conference (I don’t know if they still call them those). I fully expected Mrs. Duffy to tell my mom what a bad student I was, but the opposite happened. With a smile and hint of joy that I did not know Mrs. Duffy possessed, shared that I was an absolute joy to have in her class and how well I was doing. So well, in fact, that she recommended my mom consider moving me up a grade after Christmas break. Although I didn’t end up moving up to the 3rd grade (I didn’t find out that this was an option for me till years later, but would have preferred to have moved up tbh), Mrs. Duffy continued to invest in my development. She provided me with books my peers didn’t get, spent extra time with me to ensure I understood the higher level of material she had begun to give me and provided additional resources for my mom so I could do them at home.
I have been thinking about Mrs. Duffy, along with many others in my life, who have mentored and sponsored my educational journey, as well as my career and the impact is obvious. I can say without a doubt that I would not be who I am or be where I am without them and their influence; I recognize the privilege I have because of this. Sponsors and mentors advocate for you, provide you with additional resources and insight and grant you access to opportunities you otherwise would not have had.
Although I have had some great mentors and sponsors, I have also been on the other side of the spectrum. It is a long, difficult and lonely journey to navigate and figure out the intricacies of education and career on your own. My guest this week knows this feeling well, also. Sherylle Francis is an attorney, founder, and owner of Sherylle Francis, P.A. She is also among an extremely small minority of Black, Female, lawyers in the US (less than 4%, to be exact).
Sherylle and I spend some time talking about her career in law, pipeline issues within the legal profession, and what is to gain in having more diversity within the legal profession. Her pitch for folks considering the legal field: “Do it because we need you!”
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Sherylle on Linkedin 
↳ Sherylle’s Website
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com

Ep. 48 - Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean Access

I used to be one of those folks that needed my calendar to be full. I had a lot of pride in how full my calendar was. If there was any space on it, I felt like I was slacking off or missing out. The idea of ‘rest’ was foreign to me, plus I am doing the things I enjoy and love, right? What I didn’t realize, while I was burning the candle on both ends, was that even the things that you enjoy at first can just be coping mechanisms.
By having a full calendar, all I was doing was trying to outwork my trauma. Which is always a losing battle. In all honesty, it took an entire pandemic for me to sit my butt down and learn the difference between peace and boredom (Still trying to figure this one out, tbh). But, I have found peace and boredom can actually go hand in hand.
My guest this week, Cristin Dent, shared her own journey with learning the difference between peace and boredom and why she will do whatever it takes to protect her boundaries. We also talk about what “outworking your trauma” can look like and why forgiveness doesn’t give access.
 
CLICK TO TAKE THE PODCAST SURVEY
 
Stay in Touch with:
↳ Check out Cristin’s website
↳ Email Cristin 📧
↳ Cristin’s Youtube 📺
 
Ways to support the show:
   👉🏾  Have you joined the Real Fam yet?
   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️
   👉🏾  Follow us on IG @RTWDPodcast
 
Sources for the show:
Betterhelp.com
Therapyforblackgirls.com
Talkspace.com
 
Production & Contact Details:
Producer: Jonathan Dumas (@rtwdpodcast)
Production help: Lindsay Dumas (@lindsaymariedumas)
Additional editing support: (Bijoy Ahmed)
Music: Tony Deras (@tonesterderas)
Show art: Lia Osley (@liabedrawing)
Email: RTWDPodcast@gmail.com