Black Women Talk Work

By Myriha BurceSociety & Culture Business Careers

Black Women Talk Work episodes

March 03, 2022Ep 38: A Conversation On Black Writers, Black Resistance, And Telling The Stories Of Our Youth - Renée Watson, Co-Author Of The 1619 Project: Born On The Water, Talks Her Journey To Becoming A Writer
This week's episode features Renée Watson, #1 New York Times Bestselling author, educator, and community activist. With a focus on Black youth and particularly Black girls, Renée's poetry and fiction explores themes of home, identity, and the intersections of race, class, and gender. Her children's books and novels for teens have received international recognition and awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award and the Newbery Honor. Renée most recently co-authored the children's adaptation of Nikole Hannah-Jones' Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project, titled The 1619 Project: Born on the Water. Listen as we discuss Renée's journey to becoming a writer, including how a school assignment led to her first published novel portraying the experiences of Black youth during Hurricane Katrina, and how her upcoming book, Maya's Song, was an opportunity to honor one of the biggest influences on her career, Maya Angelou. We also discuss the importance of Black writers staying true to their vision and continuing to tell our stories, even amid legislation and national movements that seek to limit their ability to do so. To learn more about Renée's work visit: www.reneewatson.net Keep up with Black Women Talk Work:

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50 min
February 18, 2022Ep 37: A Conversation On Being Black And Missing In The US - How Natalie And Derrica Wilson Are Bringing Awareness To Black Missing Person Cases And The Systems That Fail Them
Today's episode features Natalie and Derrica Wilson, founders of the Black and Missing Foundation.
Natalie and Derrica's work championing the voices of the Black and missing and their families was recently highlighted in a four-part HBO Max documentary series by Emmy-Award Winning Geeta Gandbhir and award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien. Listen as we discuss the critical roles of law enforcement, media and community in bringing awareness and resolution to the cases of missing Black people, as well as how Natalie and Derrica utilize their expertise in these areas to mobilize and provide support to families through the foundation. We also discuss the power and necessity of being willing to be the individual fire starter for change in our communities and how you can support the work of the Black and Missing Foundation. Flyers of Current BAMFI Cases:

Tiffany Foster

Marvin Lloyd II

Zion Foster

Eodis Harris III

Sherrian Howe

Paris Williamson

Click here to make an online donation to the Black and Missing Foundation. Additional show notes at blackwomentalkwork.com
54 min
February 02, 2022 Ep 36: A Conversation On Self Care for Black Women - Author Oludara Adeeyo Talks Writing Her First Book And Making The Pivot From Magazine Editor To Social Worker
This week's episode features Oludara Adeeyo, former editor at Cosmopolitan and XXL, current psychiatric social worker and author of the new book, Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept and Prioritize Your Mind, Body and Soul. Oludara made the decision to embark on her own radical self-care journey after walking away from the media industry due to burnout and workplace racial trauma. After embracing a new career path that better aligned with the life path that she wanted, she found her way back to writing to author this self-described "love letter to Black women everywhere." Listen as we discuss Oludara's personal experience and learnings while writing her debut book, generational shifts in self-care for Black women and how that is reflected in how we are showing up in the workplace, and how putting her happiness first led her to the beautiful next phase of her career journey.
59 min
January 06, 2022 Ep 35: A Conversation On Making Media Equitable - How Latoya Drake, Head Of Media Representation At Google, Created A Role To Elevate Underrepresented Voices In The World Of Media And Tech
This week's episode features Latoya Drake, Head of Media Representation at Google. Latoya landed in the world of media after pivoting from her path to law school and quickly finding herself immersed in the world of messaging, soundbites and ultimately becoming the voice and face for global corporations. Inspired by the quote, "I am a voice in this world and I deserve to be heard" from 90s tv show "A Different World," Latoya has built a career elevating underrepresented voices and creating a more inclusive and equitable media ecosystem. Listen as we discuss how Latoya identified the need for her current role at Google amid the challenging social and media landscape of 2020, her take on higher education addressing DEI and the importance of a multicultural lens in the media industry as a former Adjunct Instructor at NYU, and why she advises Black women to chase the role not the company.
49 min
November 01, 2021 Ep 34: A Conversation On Dance, Diversity And Bringing The Arts To Brooklyn - International Dance Icon Dwana Smallwood Talks The Journey To Professional Dance And Building Legacy Through The Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center
This week's episode features Dwana Smallwood, International Dance Icon and Founder and Executive Director of the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center in Brooklyn, New York. Dwana spent more than a decade as the Principal Dancer of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and founded the dance program for the prestigious Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Listen as we discuss her journey into the world of dance at the professional level, her perspective on race, diversity and inclusion in the dance and entertainment industry as a whole, the importance of the arts and artistic expression in the development of young Black girls, and her commitment to bringing dance back to her community in Brooklyn amid the pandemic.
55 min
October 20, 2021 Ep 33: A Conversation On "Deeper Than Work" - Author, Podcaster and Career Coach, Dorianne St Fleur Talks Her New Book and Designing Your D.R.E.A.M. Career
This week's episode features Dorianne St Fleur, career and leadership coach, founder of Your Career Girl, a digital career and leadership platform for women of color, and author of her newly released book, Deeper Than Work. Dorianne spent more than 15 years in corporate as an HR and DEI Leader, working for global companies like Goldman Sacks, AT&T, and most recently, Google. Amid the pandemic, Dorianne made the decision to walk away from corporate and dedicate this next phase of her career to scaling Your Career Girl and helping other women design the career of their dreams. Listen as we discuss the experiences throughout Dorianne's corporate HR career that shed light on the need for a platform like Your Career Girl, the ups and downs of transitioning full-time into entrepreneurship, and the actionable strategies and insights for working women of color offered in her new book, Deeper Than Work.
43 min
October 06, 2021 Ep 32: A Conversation On Being A Balanced Black Girl - Founder and Host Les Alfred Talks Creating The Top-Rated Health Podcast and Digital Platform Dedicated to Black Women
This week's episode features Les Alfred, founder and host of Balanced Black Girl, the top-rated health podcast and digital platform connecting Black women to Black women health and self-improvement experts. After entering the workforce full-time after college, Les began to notice the impact of a more sedentary lifestyle on her physical health and fitness, which led her to prioritizing wellness within her own life and planting the seeds to how she could help other Black women do the same.

Listen as we discuss what building the Balanced Black Girl brand has taught Les about her own relationship with health and wellness, how leaving behind the overachiever mindset has been critical to scaling her business while working a full-time job, and the importance of detaching from mainstream definitions of self-care and curating a self-care routine that is personal to one's own physical and mental health needs.

40 min
September 22, 2021 Ep 31: A Conversation On "The Other Black Girl" - Author Zakiya Dalila Harris Talks Writing Her First New York Times Best Seller
This week's episode features Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of the New York Times Bestseller, that is also being adopted into an upcoming Hulu series, "The Other Black Girl."

Listen as we discuss Zakiya's journey to writing her first novel, including how her own experiences in the workplace influenced the story and character development, the masterful genre-bending that she executes throughout the novel, and ultimately what she hopes readers takeaway about racism, privilege, diversity, predominately white work spaces, and the Black women who navigate these dynamics everyday.
30 min
June 18, 2021 Ep 30: A Conversation with 826CHI - How Actress Sherri Saum Found Her Creative Voice and Her Advice To Young Creatives Striving To Do the Same
Host Myriha Burce recently had the pleasure to interview Actress Sherri Saum for 826CHI's annual fundraiser. With a career spanning 20 years in the entertainment industry, notably starring in the groundbreaking Freeform T.V. show, The Fosters, Sherri has grounded her career in her passion for creative and inclusive storytelling. Listen as we discuss her development as an actress on her path to Hollywood, how her identity as a Black woman impacts her art and ability to embody a given role, her experience telling the story of Lena Adams on The Fosters, and much more. For those of you not familiar with the organization, 826CHI is a non-profit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center dedicated to amplifying the voices of Chicago youth. The organization's annual a literary festival called Prologue, happened earlier this spring, with multiple sessions featuring authors, artists, performers and influencers and of course, the 826CHI students. Head over to 826CHI.org to learn more and get involved.
48 min
June 18, 2021 Ep 29: A Conversation On Social Anxiety, Racial Trauma and Embracing Healing as Black Culture: Psychotherapist Dr. Akua Boateng Talks Black Mental Health in the Now
This week's episode features Dr. Akua Boateng, Licensed Psychotherapist and Mental Health Consultant. Before Mental Health Awareness month wrapped up, Dr. Akua was gracious enough to speak with us about all things mental health, but particularly dealing with anxiety as the world opens. Listen as we discuss addressing social anxiety as the summer kicks off and how to mentally and emotionally cope if you must report back to an office setting soon. We also reflect on the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, with Dr. Akua offering some great insight into the long-term mental health effects of racial trauma, embracing healing in our communities and the importance of humanizing our own bodies while living in a system that does not.
39 min