A chemist slips into dark alleys after midnight (Dr. Zafra Lerman), climbs to an attic, and teaches a seminar that could cost her freedom. By morning, she is back on the university circuit, lecturing in plain sight. That contrast frames our conversation with Dr. Zafra Lerman—scientist, educator, and peace builder—whose work proves that knowledge can be both shield and bridge.

We start with her clandestine support for Soviet refuseniks: smuggling journals, collecting CVs, and hosting secret classes so isolated scientists could stay connected to a global community. From there, we explore how a childhood in a resource-poor Israel forged values of service, creativity, and grit, captured in a birthday letter that set her life’s compass. Those values later shaped the Malta Conferences, where scientists from across the Middle East—Israel, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and the Gulf—met with Nobel laureates to tackle shared problems like water scarcity, air pollution, climate change, and science education. In those rooms, propaganda gave way to proximity; former “enemies” discovered collaborators.

If you believe science can be a common language that outlives the loudest slogans, this story will stay with you. Listen, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Subscribe for more conversations that turn courage into action and ideas into impact.

Website: https://www.zafralerman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zafralerman/

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A single line from The Orange Blossom sets the tone: history isn’t distant—it breathes through our workplaces, classrooms, and homes. From that vivid reading, we sit down with educator, author, and cultural competency expert Jebeh Edmunds to explore how belonging is built step by step, not by slogans. Jebeh Edmunds offers a grounded plan to beat overwhelm—circle your top three priorities and move—and shows how scenario practice and simple language can transform tense moments into teachable ones.

We unpack psychological safety in concrete terms. It’s not a poster; it’s the feeling you don’t have to defend your hair or your lunch, the trust that leadership will address harm quickly and transparently, and the space to do your best work without shrinking yourself. Jebeh explains why recruitment without retention is a revolving door, and how managers can stop the spin with follow-through, clarity, and consistent repair. Her three C’s—Check, Correct, Connect—create a daily rhythm: check names and assumptions, correct bias and harm, connect beyond signs to real relationships.

Jebeh's journey—award-winning teacher to host of Cultural Curriculum Chat—adds heart and muscle to the playbook. She shares how to fold culture into literacy and history so students learn skills and see themselves, why asynchronous trainings helped her scale impact without burnout, and how joy keeps the work honest: dancing in the kitchen, family calls, and time to write. Along the way, we highlight practical ideas for nonprofits and arts groups, everyday actions families can take, and the moments that define success: when someone says “I’ll do better” and then proves it.

Ready to turn values into practice? Press play, pick your three priorities, and tell us the first change you’ll make. If the conversation resonates, subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

Website: https://jebehedmunds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063708180388

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jebeh01/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd22jkdaivSe6Qp-W0WOriA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturallyjebeh_/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jebeh-edmunds-3b9334101

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We sit with Donna Jones- Simmons —the co‑founder and architect of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women—to trace how a simple idea became a movement that documents excellence, accelerates careers, and reframes what leadership looks like across Canada. From five published books (with a sixth on the way) to fireside chats and biennial galas, Donna shows how visibility plus documentation turns into promotions, board seats, and public recognition.

We dig into her work at ACCES Employment, where speed mentoring connects newcomers directly to employers and the Speak English Cafe demystifies workplace language, idioms, and nuance. The results are tangible: faster hiring, stronger integration, and higher confidence. Donna also shares selection criteria for honourees—community leadership, impact with Black girls and women, and a track record of service—while explaining why archiving stories matters as much as awarding medals. When achievements are searchable and shareable, opportunity grows.

The conversation tackles tokenism head‑on. Donna’s approach is practical: lead with your business value, advocate for yourself, and turn identity debates into outcomes. She outlines mentoring tactics that build self‑advocacy, how to reframe tough questions without losing your voice, and why staying on topic earns respect. You’ll hear personal lessons on balance (including a legendary two‑graduations‑in‑one‑day story), the power of seizing hard opportunities, and what’s next: a trades symposium, continuing fireside chats, and Donna’s milestone as the first Black president of the Rotary Club of Toronto in 115 years.

If you care about mentorship, newcomer employment, inclusive leadership, and the future of Black excellence in Canada, this conversation is a masterclass in building systems that last. Listen, share with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help more people find these stories.

www.100abcwomen.ca

Like and follow Donna Jones- Simmons on:

Facebook: 100ABC Women www.facebook.com/100abcwomen

Instagram: @100_abcwomen www.instagram.com/100_abcwomen

Twitter: @100abcwomen

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What if organization wasn’t about spotless rooms, but about a life that works when it counts? We sit with Janet Taylor—organiser, corporate trainer, and host of “Got Clutter? Get Organized”—to unpack how a layoff became a launchpad, why safety and boundaries protect both client and pro, and how one small step can reset a day, a home, and even a career. Janet takes us behind the scenes of corporate webinars, reveals the simple habits that fight burnout, and shares the moment a surprise email led to a crown on the Rachel Ray Show!

Janet’s philosophy flips common myths: neatness isn’t the goal—function is. She explains how to build systems that help you find things the first time, save money by stopping duplicate buys, and reclaim attention for what matters. We get real about hoarding boundaries and ethics, why she partners with mental health pros in those cases, and how a “gentle nudge” builds trust without judgment. From repurposing heirlooms—a travel trunk turned coffee table—to creating a monthly bill routine that paid off debt, her stories show how clarity eases stress, grief, and decision fatigue.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a gentle nudge, and leave a quick review—what’s the one small step you’ll take today?

Website: http://www.janetmtaylor.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/janetmtaylorbiz

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/janetmtaylor

YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/janetmtaylor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/janettheorganizer

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetmtaylor1

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A simple swim cap shouldn’t decide who gets into the water. That’s where our guest, inventor and author Tess Padmore, begins—transforming a personal challenge after a brain aneurysm into a patented headwear line designed for textured hair, chemo-sensitive scalps, alopecia, bald heads, and anyone who needs comfort, warmth, and confidence to participate. The story widens fast: disability-informed design choices, university partnerships that replace dollars with resources, and a feedback loop that turns customers into co-designers. Each detail points to something bigger—how inclusive products restore access to health, joy, and community.

We dig into the realities of living and working with a traumatic brain injury—what breaks, what blooms, and why resilience isn’t just grit but smart boundaries and rerouted problem solving. Tess shares how journaling rebuilt her voice, how she learned to ask for clarity when cognition shifted, and how lowering inhibition unlocked a new kind of leadership. Her practical playbook for founders is gold: research before spend, treat local universities as your R&D lab, iterate with real users, and measure success by choices you create, not vanity metrics.

By the end, “all you need is a head” reads like both a promise and a welcome. We talk joy—family, music, nerdy film love—and the global genealogy that helped Tess claim her voice and purpose. If you care about inclusive design, disability entrepreneurship, water safety, and the power of one determined builder to widen the circle, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the push to build the thing they can’t find, and leave a review to help more listeners discover thoughtful, human-centred stories like this.

Website: http://eggheadsoques.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eggheadsoques

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/eggheadsoques

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/tesspadmore

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What if the real fix for broken systems isn’t a better press release, but a better way to heal? We sit down with mediator and lawyer Leah Brown—founder and CEO of the Wayfinders Group—to unpack how leaders can move from fire-fighting to genuine repair when conflict, crisis, or scandal hits. Leah’s journey from aspiring violinist to M&A deal-maker to boardroom mediator reveals a throughline: she’s at her best bringing order to chaos and giving people language for what they’re afraid to say.

We also get practical about leadership in the storm: how to mediate at board level without retraumatizing participants, what to do when legal and PR responses fall short, and the daily disciplines—supervision, flotation therapy, sea-air walks—that keep practitioners resourced and safe. If you care about rebuilding trust, advancing ethical leadership, and turning conflict into a catalyst for cultural change, this conversation offers both a blueprint and a nudge to act.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague who leads through change, and leave a review with one insight you’re taking into your team this week.

Website: https://leahtalks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahtalks_

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahbrown-frsa/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leahtalks_

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Ever been praised in public and panicked in private? That tension sits at the heart of our conversation with author, engineer, and international speaker 'Tine Zekis—who boldly reframes “imposter syndrome” as the byproduct of imposter systems. We move from naming the forces that sap confidence to rebuilding a mindset and strategy that raise pay, expand options, and restore a sense of belonging at work.

We dig into practical salary negotiation tactics—anchoring to the upper half of market data, framing contributions as outcomes, and collaborating on total compensation when base salary stalls. "Tine’s mantra, “know you’re worthy,” decouples identity from pricing so you can sell services with clarity and ask bigger without apology. We also explore patterns among mid‑career Black women: overperformance without promotion, self‑blame, and the moment you realize it’s time to move where your value is recognized. Her three gems—Believe it, Show it, Get it—offer a crisp playbook you can use this week.

This is purpose‑driven career design at its best: when Black women win, everyone wins. If you’re ready to pivot with less fear, negotiate with more data, and build wealth with intention, you’ll leave with mindset shifts, scripts, and next steps. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs the nudge, and leave a review to help more people find these strategies.

Website: https://tinezekis.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tinezekis

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GettingBlackWomenPaid

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinezekis/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinezekis/

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Kevin Wayne Johnson transforms our understanding of leadership through his powerful personal journey that began at just three and a half years old. Growing up caring for his younger brother with a mental disability while his Marine father served overseas, Johnson learned that leadership extends far beyond authority—it's fundamentally about caring for others who can't fully advocate for themselves. This foundation was reinforced years later when his own son was diagnosed with autism, further cementing his belief in leadership's emotional dimension.

Drawing from 34 years in the federal government and seven years running his leadership development firm, Johnson articulates a refreshing philosophy that challenges conventional approaches. "Leadership with a servant's heart" emerges when intellectual capabilities align with emotional intelligence—where expertise meets empathy, and acumen meets compassion.

Johnson shares a particularly moving story from his time as chief of staff at the Department of Defence, where he witnessed his boss repeatedly disrespect a lieutenant colonel during staff meetings. After the third incident, the officer simply said "pass" when it was his turn to speak—a powerful illustration of how disrespect shuts down engagement and innovation. This experience reinforced Johnson's commitment to accountability and respectful leadership.

Want to transform your leadership approach? Discover how combining mind and heart can revolutionize your team's performance and create a culture where people truly thrive by listening to this podcast.

You can connect to Kevin Wayne Johnson using the following platforms:

Website: http://www.thejohnsonleadershipgroup.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinwaynejohnsonpage

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwaynejohnson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writingforthelord

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/writing4thelord

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