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Coffee No Cream

Coffee No Cream

By: Erin Braxton
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 A podcast celebrating Black women's unique journeys in business. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate climber, or finding your path, we share authentic "Coffee No Cream Moments" – those distinctly Black girl experiences that become catalysts for growth, bold action, and powerful career pivots. No complaints – just real stories and celebrations of resilience from those who truly understand the walk.Erin Braxton Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Coffee No Cream Ep. 30 – Make It Make Sense (Part 2): Black Women Clash at Work

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 30 – Make It Make Sense (Part 2): Black Women Clash at Work
    Nov 26 2025
    In Part 2 of this Make It Make Sense series, we continue the honest conversation about why Black women clash and experience conflict with each other in the workplace. Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gipson, Dr. Lydia Bullock, and Natasha Williams return to break down the root causes of tension between Black women at work, including insecurity, trauma, jealousy, leadership challenges, and the pressure to prove ourselves.We discuss how conflict shows up, how to navigate difficult Black women coworkers, how to protect your peace, and how to recognize when we may be contributing to the problem without realizing it. This conversation is about healing, accountability, and learning how to support each other in professional spaces.If you missed Part 1, listen here.You can also join our private Facebook group created exclusively for Black women. It is a safe space where we continue conversations like this. The link is below.👉 ⁠Get Our Free Courses Database ⁠👉 ⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Facebook Community ⁠Connect with Natasha Williams⁠LinkedIn⁠🔗 ⁠Take the Cost of Black Excellence survey ⁠Connect with Dr. Lydia Bullock on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠LinkedIn⁠Connect with Dr. Kwanza Falaka⁠Girlfriend Therapy Inc⁠⁠Girlfriend Therapy Podcast⁠⁠Girlfriend Therapy IG⁠⁠Girlfriend Therapy Storefront⁠⁠Dr Dr Dr Podcast ⁠⏰ Timestamps(0:00) Intro: Continuing the Conversation(0:29) Why Are Black Women Mean to Each Other at Work?(2:49) Dr. Kwanza on Handling the Mean Coworker(5:47) When Conflict Is Not Conflict(6:26) Dr. Lydia on Growing as a Leader(8:58) Reporting to a Difficult Black Woman in Leadership(9:59) Why We Must Get to Know Each Other at Work(11:12) Choosing the Right Black Woman Mentor(13:25) Why Some Black Women Arrive Traumatized(15:12) Working With Guarded or Standoffish Black Women(17:18) Accepting People As They Are(21:07) What the Research Shows About Black Women at Work(22:37) The Drawbridge Attitude in Leadership(23:19) Competition, Scarcity, and Survival Mode(24:07) Early Work Experiences and Standing Out(27:38) Understanding Different Struggles and Motivations(28:01) Workplace Trauma Stories(32:12) When the Bully Does Not Know She Is the Bully(33:24) Finding Mentorship Outside the Workplace(36:37) The Power of Self-Awareness and Healing(37:01) A Team Story on Emotional Maturity(41:19) Should You Recommend Someone You Had Issues With?(45:55) What Do We Do With Difficult Black Women at Work?(48:08) Speaking to the Mean Girl Directly(51:37) Healing, Growth, and Internal Work(52:15) Support vs Poor Performance(53:25) Lightning Round: Scarcity Mindset(56:33) Lightning Round: Colorism(58:54) Are Lighter-Skinned Women Treated Better?(1:00:30) Older vs Younger Black Women(1:01:45) Ego vs Insecurity(1:03:40) Mindset Shift Black Women Need(1:09:01) Insecurity Stories From Each Guest(1:11:21) Closing Thoughts
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Coffee No Cream Ep. 29 – Make It Make Sense (Part 1): Black Women vs Black Women At Work

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 29 – Make It Make Sense (Part 1): Black Women vs Black Women At Work
    Nov 19 2025
    Why do Black women struggle so deeply with each other in the workplace? In this first part of my Make It Make Sense series, I am joined by three incredible women: Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gibson, Dr. Lydia Bullock, and Natasha Williams from the UK. Together, we unpack the painful, complicated, and often unspoken truth about Black women’s relationships with each other at work.We discuss:• competition, scarcity, and insecurity• internalized oppression and generational wounds• colorism and “prove you are Black enough” dynamics• jealousy, favoritism, and tokenism• why some Black women police each other• painful Coffee No Cream moments• how childhood wounds follow us into the workplace• the real reasons some Black women clash with other Black womenThis conversation is raw, emotional, eye-opening, and necessary.Part 2 will be available next week.If this episode resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe.You can also join our private Facebook group created exclusively for Black women. It is a safe space where we continue conversations like this. The link is in the description.👉 Get Our Free Courses Database 👉 Join the Coffee No Cream Facebook Community Connect with Natasha WilliamsLinkedIn🔗 Take the Cost of Black Excellence survey Connect with Dr. Lydia Bullock on Instagram or LinkedInConnect with Dr. Kwanza FalakaGirlfriend Therapy IncGirlfriend Therapy PodcastGirlfriend Therapy IGGirlfriend Therapy StorefrontDr Dr Dr Podcast ⏰ Timestamps(00:00) Mashup Open: The Complaints, The Hurt, The Truth(01:12) Welcome to Coffee No Cream and Series Introduction(03:26) Meet Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gipson(04:11) Meet Natasha Williams from the UK(04:58) Meet Dr. Lydia Bullock(05:32) First Question: Black Women About Black Women at Work(05:57) Dr. Bullock on Excitement, Competition, and Insecurity(07:09) Natasha on Scarcity, Power, and Being the Only One(08:37) Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gipson on When It Is Beautiful and When It Is Not(09:42) Erin on Corporate Experiences and Coffee No Cream Moments(10:21) Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gipson’s Story: The Bullying Accusation(18:23) Processing the Accusation: Jealousy, Projection, Immaturity(20:03) Why Some Black Women Do Not Trust Kindness at Work(22:47) Dr. Bullock: “I Am Going Through That Right Now”(24:13) Senior Black Women Seen as Unapproachable(25:00) Like, Share, and Subscribe, plus Facebook Group Info(26:46) Policing Each Other: Identity, Tone, and “How Black Are You”(29:08) Competition Versus Community in Black Women’s Work Dynamics(29:47) Slavery, Conditioning, and the “Only One Gets In” Mindset(31:16) Dr. Bullock’s Story: The Award and the Public Undercutting(34:12) Mean Girl Dynamics, Internal Work, and Jealousy’s Roots(38:53) Dr. Bullock: “I Used to Be Jealous and Here Is What I Learned”(40:41) Insecurity Versus Authentic Connection Among Black Women(41:51) Erin on Breaking Up With a Friend Over Meanness(43:41) The “You Talk Like a White Girl” Trigger(44:22) Natasha on Accent, Identity, and UK Workplace Projection(46:12) Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gipson on Family Competition Versus Support(46:34) Natasha on Colorism, Family Messages, and Workplace Impact(49:18) Natasha’s Coffee No Cream Moment with the Cleaner(50:06) Natasha’s Second Story: Hiring a Black Woman Who Turned on Her(54:47) When It Becomes Personal: Standards Versus Familiarity(56:06) Erin on Accountability and Why It Gets So Ugly(57:31) Internal Wounds and Expecting Lower Standards From Each Other(58:49) Dr. Kwanza Falaka-Gipson: Mindset Versus Reality in Workplace Conflict(59:49) Natasha: Unhealed Wounds and DEI Misconceptions(01:01:38) Erin on Generational Trauma and Why Compliments Were Withheld(01:05:51) Dr. Bullock on House Versus Field Dynamics in Modern Workplaces(01:05:51) Episode Close: Why This Became a Two-Part Episode
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Coffee No Cream Ep. 28 – They Told Me Stop Talking: Why Black Women Must Keep Talking

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 28 – They Told Me Stop Talking: Why Black Women Must Keep Talking
    Nov 12 2025

    They said these conversations should happen in private.That talking about how Black women treat each other in the workplace would “put a target on our backs.”But Erin Braxton isn’t backing down. In this powerful solo episode of Coffee No Cream, she responds to real viewer comments, from accusations of being “elite” to painful truths about how Black women sometimes harm one another at work.This episode sets the stage for next week’s highly anticipated panel with Dr. Kwanzaa Falaka, Dr. Lydia Bullock, and Natasha Williams, a new series exploring the complicated dynamics between Black women in professional spaces and in life.If you’ve ever been the only Black woman in the room, felt misunderstood by other women who look like you, or just want to understand where the hurt comes from, this conversation is for you.Videos referenced in this episodeEpisode 13Episode 15Episode 21https://youtu.be/bdHiDYngh4w✳️ Join the Conversation:Send your story or question for the panel to heygirl@coffeenocream.com🕒 Timestamps(00:00) Your reaction could be hurting another Black woman
    (01:35) Why Erin created Coffee No Cream
    (03:45) “This conversation should be private” — addressing the comment
    (07:10) Speaking up even when it costs you
    (09:25) What this platform is (and isn’t)
    (11:40) Setting boundaries for comments & community respect
    (15:00) “Regular vs. Elite” Blacks — the division we didn’t create
    (20:35) What the comments reveal about Black women at work
    (24:10) The stories that shocked Erin the most
    (29:15) Are we the problem? Self-reflection and accountability
    (33:30) Why silence won’t protect us
    (35:00) Get ready for next week’s panel: Black women vs. Black women at work👉 ⁠Get Our Free Courses Database ⁠

    👉 ⁠Join the Coffee No Cream Facebook Community ⁠

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    34 mins
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