It's easy to slip through life playing it safe. This week's guest challenges you to change your mind to wonder... if you were good at something the first time, maybe it wasn't hard enough. Erin Haztikostas sits down with LeRon Barton, a writer, author, 3x TEDx Speaker, and a fellow professional pot-stirrer to challenge your thinking about many things - from how you see race in America to how you think about the word, "failure".  The interview starts out fast and furious, as LeRon gets straight into discussing how, before they hit record, Erin challenged him to update his website. Erin explains that, much like her high school basketball coach, she's the most forthright with people she cares about.  Erin moves on to ask about LeRon's earlier years, growing up in the Midwest in Kansas City. LeRon talks about his experiences growing up as a black man in the Midwest, including getting the "talk" from his mom as she explained key things he needed to know to survive as a black man.  He discusses his experience at the time of the horrific murder of James Byrd Jr. He then reflects on the situation as it is today, and the tightrope he has to walk every day just to exist.   Erin asks how LeRon sees America compared to other countries in the world from the lens of race inequality. LeRon uses the lens of the industrial prison complex and explains how there are more black men in prison in the US than there are female prisoners in the world.  She then asks how people in everyday life can act in ways that are supportive of less privileged people. LeRon explains that even small changes can make a huge difference. For example, people playing devil's advocate over race issues are never helpful, and people needn't act surprised at a black person's accomplishments or skills.  As someone who has given multiple TED Talks, including his first talk, "How I Overcame My Fear of Stuttering", Erin is curious to ask about LeRon's stutter. He tells Erin he's had a stutter since her was young, so it is something he has simply learned to live with and not let it affect his life or his goals. LeRon explains that he started writing, but always kept the topic of stuttering close to his chest because it was too personal. To LeRon, though, a TED Talk is supposed to come from things personal and close to you, and for him that's stuttering.  He discusses feeling like he couldn't be a speaker because of his stutter, but after realizing he's not a quitter, and that the reason he's never failed is because he never quit trying, he decided to do his first TED Talk on his stutter.  Erin's final question to LeRon follows on from the talks of racial inequality. She asks LeRon to finish the phrase "I'll know we've made significant progress, and I can rest in peace, when I see X." LeRon says: "I'll know we've made significant progress when a black man or woman is president or CEO without it being a big deal." Website: leronbarton.com Linkedin: LeRon L Barton Twitter: @MainlineLeRon TED Talks: "How I Overcame My Fear of Stuttering", "The Power of Sharing Your Story" and "The Vital Importance of Documenting the Moment" If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Follow Nicole on LinkedIn:   Follow Erin on LinkedIn:   Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @   We even share more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible). Get your own copy of Erin's book by searching "You Do You Ish" in amazon or going to   Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to   We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @   Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @   We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsustainable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "The people we care about the most are the ones we should serve the most. And you don't serve by holding things back." "You can get anything you want in this world if you ask for it in the right way." "When you grow up in a situation like that, you learn who's full of it and who's not." "We would read about things and see images, but the savagery of this crime made us think it could happen to us." "I endure in spite of racism." "There are more black men in prison in America than there are female prisoners across the entire world." "America will say 'we hate white supremacy', but America practices it every day." "Playing Devil's Advocate is essentially saying 'I don't believe what you're saying is credible." "If I'm not going to be believed then why should I tell you? I'll just keep things bottled up." "I've always felt a TED Talk is something that should truly come from you." "FAIL: First Attempt In Learning." "If you are good at something the first time, then it wasn't hard enough." "When I truly started to embrace who I was, I was able to look at my stutter and see that it's a part of who I am."