In this episode, hosts Lala and Brian are joined by their brilliant friend and business partner, April Wu, founder of InSphere Consulting. April shares her transformative journey from navigating strict cultural expectations and career burnout to finding her voice and launching her own company. She opens up about the immense pressure of a score-based definition of success she experienced growing up in China and how that mindset followed her to the United States.

April reveals how a near-breaking point in a high-pressure corporate job became the catalyst for her to redefine success on her own terms. This raw and honest conversation explores the importance of self-trust, honoring your ambition, and making your own path. It’s a powerful story of survival, hope, and discovering that the most important blueprint is the one you create for yourself.

InSphere Consulting

LinkedIn

Join hosts Lala and Brian as they welcome their friend, leadership advisor Brian John, to discuss a crucial topic: cognitive wellbeing in the workplace. Brian John shares his personal journey and professional expertise, explaining how a leader's mental state directly impacts an organization's culture.

The conversation challenges the idea of a "perfect" leader and advocates for authenticity and vulnerability. The discussion explores how companies can move beyond empty promises and create a truly safe and supportive environment. Discover the key pillars of cognitive wellbeing and learn why a focus on self-leadership and genuine connection is essential to building a thriving workplace.

Brian John LinkedIn

Brian John Instagram

Join us as Shanise Pearce, a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, public speaker, and health equity advocate, shares her extraordinary journey of resilience and purpose. From confronting her mortality to discovering the power of community support and self-care, Shanise’s story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring. In this heartfelt conversation, she discusses overcoming the emotional toll of cancer, advocating for healthcare equity, and finding strength in vulnerability. Her courage and insights will leave you inspired to take action in your own life and support others in theirs.

Susan G. Coleman
LinkedIn
Brave Path
American Cancer Society: Making Strides
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Month
Women's History Month

On this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, we sit down with Hady Mendez, a NY-based Amazon best-selling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. Hady, the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, shares how her personal journey has shaped her mission to empower underrepresented employees to self-advocate, self-promote, and ascend into leadership roles. From her creative passion for street art photography to her transformative work with incarcerated women, Hady offers heartfelt stories and insights into leadership, cultural identity, and driving change within organizations.

Hady Mendez LinkedIn
Boldly Speaking LLC
Hady Mendez Instagram
ERG Leadership Conference
Book: Awareness Put Me On: Leading By Choice, Thriving By Design
Latinas: Front and Center Podcast

In this powerful episode, we meet Elisabeth, a surrogate who gave life to two children for a special couple and chose to stay closely involved in their lives. Her journey is one of courage, compassion, and redefining family, as she navigates co-parenting across two households with unwavering love and empathy. Elisabeth’s story challenges traditional ideas of family, offering a fresh perspective on connection and selfless commitment. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the boundless ways we define family and the transformative power of love.
Surrogacy

In this episode, we sit down with an extraordinary guest, Dr. Leslie Powell Ahmadi, who shares her captivating journey from pursuing a Ph.D. in foreign language and culture education at The Ohio State University to unexpectedly falling in love with an Iranian doctoral student in agronomy. As a Black American Christian, she never imagined marrying Mahmoud, a Muslim man, and moving to Iran. Yet, she did and her four years living there were filled with experiences that transformed her life—discovering the culture, teaching at a university, raising children, and witnessing the profound beauty and challenges of her new environment. Join us as she reflects on love, identity, and navigating life in a foreign land.

Dr Leslie Powell Ahmadi
Not Without My Daughter
LinkedIn Dr Leslie Powell Ahmadi
*Book release coming in 2025: Road Between Two Hearts: A Black American Bride Discovers Iran

In this podcast episode, we explore Ashley Brooks' inspiring journey and her groundbreaking book. Ashley's work sheds light on how community-driven civic environments impact personal development and well-being. Ashley's thesis takes us on a qualitative research adventure, using co-design and service design to create inclusive spaces. What makes Ashley's work unique is her dedication to centering the voices and needs of Black and Indigenous Women of Color (BIWOC) in public spaces. Through interviews, surveys, and collaboration, she empowers these women to shape inclusive spaces that celebrate their culture, enhance safety, promote learning, and honor their holistic identities.

ashleymilanbrooks.com
An Intersectional Lens
LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram

In this episode of our podcast, we have the privilege of hosting Lizzie Bronte, a remarkable individual who hails from Cameroon and embarked on a life-changing journey to the United States due to political turmoil in her home country. Lizzie shares her heartfelt experiences of adapting to a new culture while cherishing her deep love for Cameroon. She also courageously opens up about her personal struggles with domestic abuse, shedding light on the importance of organizations like Just Like You Global. Lizzie's unwavering support for this organization, dedicated to empowering survivors and combating domestic abuse and human trafficking through comprehensive support, education, and advocacy, adds a poignant layer to her inspiring story. Join us as we delve into Lizzie's incredible journey of resilience, cultural exploration, and her mission to foster a world free from violence and exploitation.

Just Like You Global Foundation
Cameroon