Black women, we need to have an honest conversation about how we treat each other. 💯 In this episode, I'm diving deep into the ways we police, judge, and tear each other down - and why we need to do better. ✊🏾

From workplace dynamics to social media behavior, from speech policing to celebrating each other's downfalls, it's time to examine our own actions and ask ourselves: are we lifting each other up or pulling each other down? 🤔

This isn't about perfection - it's about accountability, growth, and building the supportive community we all deserve. 💪🏾✨

TIMESTAMPS: ⏰(00:00) - Introduction: The Hard Truth About Black Women 🗣️(02:08) - Why We're Amazing (But Also Our Own Worst Enemy) 👑(04:19) - The Perfectionism Problem 🎯(08:22) - The Mirror Effect: What Triggers You Says Something About You 🪞(11:25) - Historical Context: Crabs in a Barrel & Workplace Dynamics 🏢(15:36) - The Exposure Problem: Limited Circles, Limited Thinking 🌍(17:27) - Being Called an "Oreo" and Speech Policing 🗣️(22:11) - Pick a Side: Representation vs. Reality ⚖️(24:30) - Time for Self-Examination 🔍(27:21) - SELF-CHECK QUESTIONS: ❓(27:35) - Workplace Dynamics 💼(30:00) - Speech & Authority Policing 🎤(32:02) - Social Media Behavior 📱(33:50) - Personal Relationships & Friendships 👭🏾(36:51) - Supporting Other Black Women's Content 💗(39:29) - Final Thoughts: Check Your Heart ❤️

Join the conversation in our private Facebook community 👥 where we continue these important discussions in a safe space.

What's your biggest takeaway? Let me know in the comments below. 👇🏾💬

In this solo episode, I'm getting real about undercharging and the psychological damage it causes. From a $1,000 insult to learning my worth - this is the conversation Black women NEED to have about money, value, and self-respect.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Why undercharging messes with your psyche AND your bag
• The real cost of taking projects that underpay you
• How I went from imposter syndrome to confident pricing
• The psychological warfare of letting others determine your worth

📍 CHAPTERS:(0:00) - Introduction & Episode Overview(1:05) - Welcome to Coffee No Cream(2:40) - The $1,000 CBD Website Insult(5:51) - My Web Development Origin Story(8:16) - The $600/Hour White Boy Lesson(10:37) - Why Undercharging Costs You MORE Than Money(13:02) - From Web Girl to Systems Engineer(15:26) - The Psychology of Pricing Yourself Low(17:45) - The Scope Creep Trap (And How to Avoid It)(20:08) - My Financial Services Client Transformation(22:32) - Building Confidence Through Proper Pricing(24:55) - Using AI to Understand Your True Value(27:24) - Working with People Who Value What You Do(28:04) - Wrap Up & Final Thoughts

☕ ABOUT COFFEE NO CREAM:Coffee No Cream is unapologetically dedicated to Black women. We share "Coffee No Cream moments" - those experiences that happen to us in business and life just because we're Black women.

🔗 CONNECT WITH US:

• Join our Facebook Community

• Subscribe for weekly episodes
• Share your own Coffee No Cream moments in the comments

💬 LET'S TALK:What's your biggest struggle with pricing yourself? Drop a comment and share your experience - this money conversation affects all of us.

#BlackWomen #Entrepreneurship #KnowYourWorth #Pricing #BusinessTips #CoffeeNoCream #WomenInBusiness #SelfWorth #BusinessMindset #BlackBusinessOwners #BlackFemaleBusinessOwners

Tracy Walker (@atmarshalsweat) shares her jaw-dropping Coffee No Cream moment from her first law office job - and the strategic response tactics she's developed over years in corporate America.

In this episode, we dive deep into:✅ The "practically white" comment that changed everything (4:44)✅ Tracy's "level of unbotheredness" strategy (27:15)✅ How to handle workplace microaggressions without losing your sanity (29:28)✅ The CC email power play that backfired spectacularly (31:20)✅ Why your parents' advice about "keeping the trash can lid closed" is everything (56:40)✅ Financial independence as your secret weapon (45:58)

Key Moments:

• The othering begins: "They don't see you as Black" (8:09)
• Growing up in predominantly white spaces (12:49)
• The dress code double standard drama (21:17)
• Corporate gymnastics & mental health toll (37:12)
• "They couldn't make me mad if I had a plan" (40:37)
• Physical toll: Sleep, burnout, reality TV numbness (48:09)
• "You need white people to tell you you're good enough?" (50:07)
• Final advice for young Black women entering corporate (53:04)

Key Takeaways:

• People see your worth before you do - that's why they pick at you
• Strategic silence can be more powerful than clapping back
• Having money in the bank changes how you allow yourself to be treated
• Always have an exit plan

Find Tracy: TikTok @atmarshalsweat (search "ThinkingOutLoud")

Connect with Coffee No Cream:🔗 Join our private Facebook community🎧 Listen on all podcast platformsDon't forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this message!

Stop waiting for someone else to give you a chance. It's time to give yourself one.

In this episode, I'm sharing the skill that changed my life - the art of learning how to do something. From teaching myself clothing manufacturing to building a six-figure web development business, I'll show you how to break free from fear and start betting on yourself.

What You'll Learn:

• Why most jobs aren't as complicated as they seem
• Free resources to learn almost anything (including library secrets!)
• How learning new skills builds unshakeable confidence
• Real examples of complex projects I figured out with zero experience
• Why waiting for permission is keeping you stuck

Free Resources Mentioned:

• Udemy (free through most libraries)
• LinkedIn Learning (free through some libraries)
• Harvard free courses
• YouTube University

Episode Breakdown:(0:00) - Intro: Stop Waiting, Start Learning(2:47) - The Skill That Changed Everything(4:32) - My Clothing Line Journey: Learning in Real Time(8:45) - Building Confidence Through New Skills(11:24) - From Bankruptcy to Web Development(14:22) - Taking on Projects to Learn(16:45) - Free Resources You Can Use Today(21:30) - Real Example: Complex Financial Services Project(23:15) - Give Yourself a Chance

Connect with Coffee No Cream:🔗 Join our private Facebook community

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave us a comment if you want to say "hey!'

#CoffeeNoCream #BlackWomen #SelfEducation #CareerAdvice #Entrepreneurship #BlackWomenInCorporateAmerica

Are you exhausted from constantly trying to prove your worth at work? In this deeply personal episode, I share my raw, unfiltered journey from toxic corporate environments to building a successful six-figure business - and the costly mistakes I made along the way.

✅ How to recognize when you're "swimming upstream" in the wrong environment✅ The difference between proving yourself vs. building for yourself✅ Why I went bankrupt (and how to avoid my mistakes)✅ Practical steps to transition out of toxic work situations✅ How to document your wins and build confidence

Timestamps if you're short on time:

(00:00) The harsh reality: Bankruptcy, foreclosure, and throwing money at problems(04:30) My background: From St. Louis to advertising dreams(08:45) College years: Building the "perfect" resume(12:20) First job reality check: Microaggressions and termination(15:40) Neiman Marcus: When prestige isn't enough(18:30) The big agency: 700 people, one Black woman on professional track(22:15) Toxic dynamics: Sitting in my car crying(26:45) Christmas morning breakdown: Finding Joyce Meyer(30:20) The clothing line: Forcing the wrong business model(35:50) Moving to California: The "proving myself" trap continues(42:10) Success that felt like failure: Vanessa Williams & high-end clients(45:30) Rock bottom: Filing bankruptcy and losing my condo(48:20) The dream that changed everything: I Need A Black Hairstylist(52:40) Building The Rebel Geek: Finally in my lane(58:15) The Toyota vs. Lexus moment: Why I started this podcast(61:30) PRACTICAL ADVICE SECTION: Finding support systems and therapy(63:45) The CYA journal method(65:20) Building your emergency fund(67:10) Documenting achievements(68:50) Creating your Plan A-Z journal

• Stop forcing yourself into spaces that don't fit
• Document everything - both problems AND achievements
• Money in the bank = confidence in negotiations
• Creative outlets reduce anxiety and open opportunities
• Your background connects in ways you can't imagine

Join our Facebook Community

Follow the podcast for more Coffee No Cream Moments

Resource Mentioned:

"Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer

This episode is for you if you're

• feeling stuck in a toxic work environment,
• constantly trying to prove yourself, or
• ready to transition to something that actually fits who you are.

Content Warning: Discussion of workplace discrimination, financial hardship, and toxic work environments.

#BlackWomenInBusiness #CareerTransition #Entrepreneurship #ToxicWorkplace #CoffeeNoCream #ProfessionalGrowth #BusinessOwner

What You'll Learn:📍 CHAPTERS:💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS:🔗 CONNECT WITH ME:📝 MENTIONED RESOURCES:

If you're a Black woman who's been dismissed, interrupted, or silenced in the workplace, this episode is for you. Executive coach Karen Donaldson returns with her powerful ACT Framework to give you the exact words to say when someone tries to shut you down.

What You'll Learn:✅ The ACT Framework for workplace advocacy (Advocate, Communicate, Thrive)✅ Exact scripts for when someone shushed you in a meeting✅ How to handle bad performance reviews with confidence✅ When to address microaggressions in the moment vs. later✅ Powerful vs. powerless language that changes everything✅ How to know when it's time to leave vs. set boundaries

Featured Expert:Karen Donaldson - Executive Coach who's worked with C-suite executives, politicians, and athletes. Her confidence training has helped leaders at every level advocate for themselves with power and precision.

Episode Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction: When advocacy becomes necessary(5:43) The ACT Framework explained (Advocate, Communicate, Thrive)(8:58) Step 1: Know your value and what you need(14:14) Setting intentions and boundaries before problems start(19:10) Building your case with facts and documentation(25:28) Handling microaggressions that get minimized(32:05) What to do when they shush you in a meeting (EXACT SCRIPTS)(36:01) Zoom meeting version of the response(38:12) Whether to follow up after calling it out(42:13) Preparing for performance reviews with documentation(48:27) Powerful vs. powerless language in the workplace(51:23) Deciding when to stay vs. leave a toxic situation(54:40) Where to find Karen Donaldson

Connect with Karen:🌐 karendonaldsoninc.com📱 @therealkarendonaldson🎓 globalconfidenceacademy.com

Join the Coffee No Cream Community:🔗 Facebook Group🎧 Subscribe for weekly episodes

Coffee No Cream is a podcast unapologetically dedicated to Black women, sharing the tools and strategies we need to thrive in professional spaces.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Michele Forbes, VP of Talent Acquisition, to discuss the devastating physical impact toxic workplaces have on Black women's bodies. From chest pains and migraines to panic attacks and depression, we share our raw experiences of how workplace racism and microaggressions literally make us sick.Michele opens up about a soul-crushing performance review where her manager told her there was "nothing" she did right, the gaslighting that followed, and how it affected her confidence for years. We dive deep into the "broken rung theory" - why Black women struggle most with getting that first promotion - and discuss what happens when DEI disappears and we're left to advocate for ourselves.Key Topics Discussed:💔 Physical symptoms of workplace stress (chest pains, migraines, panic attacks)🪜 The "broken rung theory" and promotion challenges for Black women🌀 Gaslighting and confidence erosion in toxic work environments🗣️ Why advocating for yourself often backfires🎭 The false security of DEI and what happens when it's gone🧠 Finding therapy and healing from workplace trauma🔄 When to pivot, leave, or create your own path📚 Book recommendations for professional growthMichele's Career Journey: Intern → AAE → AE → HR Assistant → HR Generalist → Recruiter → Senior Recruiter → Manager → Director → VPThis isn't just about workplace politics - it's about survival, health, and reclaiming our power. If you've ever felt your body responding to workplace stress, this episode is for you.📚 RESOURCES MENTIONEDBooks: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho, "The Four Agreements" by Miguel RuizConnect with Michele Forbes on LinkedIn🎯 COFFEE NO CREAM MISSIONSharing the real experiences of Black women in business to help us cope, heal, and thrive. You're not alone in this journey.Like❤️, Subscribe & Share if this resonated with you. Help another Black woman feel less alone by sharing this episode.Facebook Community InstagramTikTok📺 CHAPTERS(00:00) - Cold Open: "She looked at me and said NO"(02:09) - Welcome & Introduction to Coffee No Cream(07:19) - Meet Michelle Forbes: From Advertising to VP(08:34) - Coffee No Cream Moment: The Devastating Performance Review(12:25) - Recognizing Racial Bias in Workplace Treatment(14:34) - The Broken Rung Theory: Why First Promotions Are Hardest(17:58) - Gaslighting & Confidence Erosion: "You Used to Be So Confident"(21:21) - Physical Symptoms: When Stress Lives in Your Body(26:35) - Working Hard But Never Getting Credit(28:13) - Advocating for Yourself: Mission Impossible?(33:28) - DEI's False Security & The Wild Wild West(35:12) - Social Media as the Only Recourse(37:11) - Health at 50: Learning to Manage Stress & Anxiety(40:12) - The Cycle: Leave, Find New Job, Repeat(42:08) - Therapy & Healing: Finding Your Real Life(46:51) - Bad Relationship Energy: Chasing Companies That Don't Want You(50:41) - Creating Your Own Path vs. Corporate America(52:22) - Advice for Young Black Women Entering the Workforce(58:28) - Connect with Michele & Final Thoughts

In this eye-opening episode of Coffee No Cream, host Erin Braxton sits down with longtime friend and veteran nurse Sheryl Davis to discuss a shocking coffee no cream moment that challenges everything you'd expect about racial bias in healthcare.Sheryl, a seasoned nurse with over 30 years of experience, shares the surprising story of a Black patient who refused treatment from her - not because of her qualifications or bedside manner, but because she wanted a white nurse instead. This unexpected twist opens up a deeper conversation about internalized racism, colorism, and the complex dynamics Black women face in professional settings.From navigating workplace politics with natural hair to experiencing light-skin privilege in the hospitality industry, Sheryl's stories reveal the layered realities of being a Black woman in healthcare. This honest conversation tackles uncomfortable truths about how bias shows up within our own community and the grace required to handle these situations professionally.Join us for a thought-provoking discussion about representation, professionalism, and the ongoing challenges Black women face in medical fields.Chapters:(0:00) - Introduction & Erin's Recent Medical Experience(7:36) - Meet Sheryl Davis: 30+ Years in Nursing(9:01) - The Coffee No Cream Moment: When a Black Patient Refused Care(14:18) - The Patient's Age & Mental State(18:12) - Comparing Experiences: White vs. Black Patients(25:34) - How Sheryl Handled the Situation(29:00) - Generational Perspectives on Racial Bias(32:15) - The Name Game: Sheryl vs. Cheryl(34:47) - Speaking "Properly" as a Black Professional(40:14) - Hair Politics in Healthcare Settings(46:10) - The Crown Act & Workplace Policies(54:24) - Kitchen Table Talk & Professional Boundaries(58:32) - Colorism in Promotion & Patient Care(1:00:27) - The Hotel Story: Light Skin Privilege Exposed(1:05:06) - Advice for Young Black Women Entering Nursing(1:19:13) - Reading the Room & Professional Representation(1:25:37) - Tattoos, Scrubs & Workplace Evolution(1:32:15) - Where to Find Sheryl(1:37:19) - Closing ThoughtsAbout Coffee No Cream:This podcast is unapologetically dedicated to Black women, sharing our "Coffee No Cream moments" - those experiences that happen to us simply because we're Black women. Subscribe for real conversations about navigating bias, microaggressions, and workplace dynamics while building confidence and community.Connect with Sheryl DavisSheryl's FacebookSheryl's Instagram

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