What happens when a white coworker crosses every line, and you still keep your cool?

In this episode of Coffee No Cream, host Erin Braxton sits down with Dr. Kwanzaa Falaka, a federal-contractor program manager and founder of Girlfriend Therapy, who shares the shocking moment an older colleague tried to physically confront her at work, and what she learned about protecting her peace, her power, and her paycheck.

Together, Erin and Dr. Kwanza unpack how Black women can stay calm at work when chaos hits: setting boundaries, using “quiet clapbacks,” teaching people how to treat you, and knowing when it’s time to walk away.

💬 “They want the smoke, but I don’t give it to them.”

If you’ve ever dealt with toxic coworkers, micro-aggressions, or silent leadership, this one’s for you.⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(03:42) Meet Dr. Kwanzaa: background & role

(05:19) The “special project” setup

(08:13) Early red flags & “dirty cookies”

(10:51) Coworker conflict starts to escalate

(15:44) The confrontation in the hallway

(17:25) Leadership looks away

(20:15) Reporting it up the chain (HR/EEO)

(22:59) Processing the trauma & planning an exit

(26:22) Fighting for yourself without losing your cool

(30:59) Boundaries that actually work

(32:00) Prepared responses you can use

(37:01) Quiet clapbacks: calm, professional checks

(44:01) Dealing with older, threatened coworkers

(49:48) Walking away to protect your peace

(52:04) How she’d handle it today

(54:49) Passing the lessons to her daughter

(55:32) Be ready to pivot & move on

(56:13) Reputation, patterns, and toxic players

(58:34) Teach people how to treat you

(01:04:30) Friends at work: keep it professional

(01:09:30) Options & mentorship as lifelines

(01:15:33) Networking, coaches, and career tactics

(01:18:49) Real mentors vs. “internet coaches”

(01:19:43) Final take: stay calm, keep your power

Get in touch with Dr. Kwanza Falaka

Girlfriend Therapy Inc

Website

YouTube

Instagram

Storefront

Dr Dr Dr Podcast

Dr Kay IG | Loc'd In GrayDr. Kwanza's Bookstore

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