Bridge To U:

Respecting your culture and becoming an advocate is an immersive learning experience. There is a time and a place for everything. Afro-centric education, and music are gateways to understanding knowledge about who you are as a Black person. 

"There are no psychological tricks to takeaway someone’s ability to choose. Modeling, choosing the right timing and advocating in bite size approaches will help you shift perspectives."

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

Connect with Kelly Blackmon: LinkedIn | Youtube| Website|

Or email with feedback or questions: [email protected]

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Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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Nicky Verd is an International Keynote Speaker and leading thinker on driving innovation and digital transformation through personal disruption. She is Author of the hit book “Disrupt Yourself Or Be Disrupted.” Nicky was recognized by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Digital Disruption and Future of Work. She is also the Brand Ambassador for Southern Africa Startup Award.

Shame is powerful and it can hold you back from expressing your talent. What do you do when you are ashamed of your own talent? After an emotionally exhausting and crippling divorce, Nicky sought out to become the human disruptor. She needed to heal first before she could go out with her big mission in the world. She took time to do this before bleeding on to other people. Her process involved mentors who had successfully overcome similar obstacles, like Sara Jakes. 

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Nicky Verd: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Website

Or email with feedback or questions: [email protected]

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Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Produced by Breadfruit Media

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"Don’t be afraid to experiment with video storytelling. Trust your gut and avoid being a perfectionist."


Black Leadership influences what we see and hear in the media. When sharing positive Black stories, aligning yourself with leaders who can help you amplify your message is a must. It is not always about money, but a lot of times, it is. Your passion and love for what you do will help you to deliver quality results to those who are watching. Make your message universally accessible and can be understood even without language by using motion pictures, and timely creatives.

About Edie Clarke
Edie Clarke has worked for a TV director/producer, on a short film, as a production coordinator for 2 major TV networks, then later as an Art Department Manager at Sony Pictures Imageworks. She is now an independent video producer at Virtually in Sync.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Edie Clarke: LinkedIn | Youtube

Email with feedback or questions: [email protected]

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Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Produced by Breadfruit Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I just had to bring these ladies back for a joint episode and when you listen to it you will understand why.

Jessica Reed is a writer, youth educator, and proud ice cream lover from Detroit, Michigan. She first appeared in episode 4.

Jennifer Tomlinson is a college Professor of African American Studies and Interim Dean of Learning Support. She first appeared in episode 6.

In this episode we discussed: 

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Monique with feedback or questions: [email protected]

Produced by Breadfruit Media

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Produced by Breadfruit Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“I think what happens is the more you learn about yourself and embrace it, it is not a surprise but people can no longer use it against you as a weapon, when you honor it and decide whether you like it or not. When I say I don't like that trait about myself, it doesn't matter whatever family, friend, spouse, eco-worker, boss points it out, you say, hey, I agree with you and I am working on that. They don’t have power in that anymore. You have taken your power back because you are not judging yourself. You are not attaching shame. You are not attaching guilt or regret to who you are because you are not meant to be perfect anyway…”

Many people are not truly happy and feeling fulfilled and they are not being honest with themselves about their feelings. Becoming your own project means you honor your feelings, and give yourself space and time to process them. Hold up a mirror to yourself and be honest about what you see. It is through this healing and processing journey that you connect to deep feelings of sisterhood and love.

About Tierra Destiny Reid
Tierra Destiny Reid has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and plenty of stories to tell; however, like many of us, she did not always know how to take the next step and make her voice heard. After publishing her first book, The Power of Peace in a Pause, Tierra Destiny Reid discovered the power of sharing her voice through self-publishing. She was spirit-driven to help others like her: people with powerful stories who may be intimidated by the idea of publishing their own writing. She founded Legacy Publishing Coordinators (LPC), a boutique publishing company and a division of TDR Brands International that encourages others to share their own voices through self-publication.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Tierra Destiny Reid: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Website|

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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Alternative environments and exposure at an early age prime individuals to live a life of nonconformity, and challenge the status quo. This early foundation helps to create a pathway to self-discovery. When your environment is predominantly different from people that look like you, it can create feelings of disassociation of self and a disconnect to your Black culture and heritage. However, when you are exposed to other environments that affirm who you are, it can build a bridge to self and others.

About Walter Gainer II
Walter Gainer II is a problem-solving creative that helps people and businesses develop their brands, manage projects, and create content that tells stories.

He grew up in Charleston SC, traveled to China, got a scholarship to play soccer in college when America still looked at it as a White sport. He was homeschooled while in high school and took dual credit classes to get college credits.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Walter Gainer II: LinkedIn | LinkedIn Walter Gainer II| Twitter Bosslocks| Twitter Walter Gainer II|

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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Fatsani Dogani is a nurse, published author, entrepreneur, speaker, healthcare consultant, and also considers herself a global citizen. Born in Malawi and now based in California Fatsani was blessed with the opportunity to live in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom.

As a self professed  global citizen Fatsani goes by the adage that our experiences shape our opinions and it is only through opening ourselves up to our biases that we can create the opportunities for discourse that can help us forge ahead as a society. She admits that she held her own biased  opinions about African Americans that were acquired through her own misguided misconceptions.  Watching the Netflix Documentary 13th provided her with a different lens in which to view her fellow black man/woman. Having a black husband and two black sons has also given her a different way of viewing the lived american experience. 

Comparing the Black experience of American and African peoples are born out of ignorance. But when you have an eye-opening experience in understanding the history of a people, you can have more empathy, compassion and understanding of their journey. Seek to understand, don’t compare your story to another person’s story, share what you learn with others and stay open to learning.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

Connect with Fatsani Dogani: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Dogani, PHD

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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"Colorism and hair influence who you date and marry..."

The power of identity and understanding oneself can lead to connecting and understanding other people. Hair is a powerful part of the way Black people view and see themselves. 

About Judy McCutcheon
For the past 20 years, Judy McCutcheon worked extensively within the Caribbean region, North and Central America, teaching middle managers how to find new revenue streams, lead effectively in their teams, and increase their company’s bottom line. She has  also worked with them to find solutions to their personal financial struggles.

She is the Managing Partner of Go Blue Inc a management consulting firm that focuses on middle managers and helps them lead their people effectively so they can impact the bottom line in a positive way.

Her background is in Organizational Psychology and Accounting and she has written over 100+ articles on finance.

Her clients include the University of the West Indies- Open Campus, Grenada Electricity Corporation, Grenada Airport Authority, Digicel Grenada to name a few.

She is an active member and past President of the Rotary Club of Grenada and calls herself the Badass Coach.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Judy McCutcheon: LinkedIn | Website|

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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Have you ever considered yourself to be an activist? You may be one already and aren’t aware of it. There is nothing more challenging than moving through life without intention and that includes activism. 

We thrive on creating what Micky Scottbey Jones calls Brave Space. 

In this episode, I discuss:

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

Or email with feedback or questions: [email protected]

Produced by Breadfruit Media

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Produced by Breadfruit Media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever wondered why Black people and nations seem to have difficulty doing business with each other? Dr. Melida Harris Barrow dissects the patterns that Black people have been educated to serve instead of create and build. In addition, many black nations, particularly in Africa, tend to do business with the country of the colonizer as opposed to doing business with each other, such as within Latin America and the Caribbean. One must understand the truth in order to identify gifts, talents, collaborate  and successfully do business with each other.

About Dr. Melida Harris-Barrow

Dr. Melida Harris-Barrow is the President and CEO of the 6th region Global Chamber of Commerce. Born in Panama City, Panama, and headquartered in the United States Miami, Florida,she has over the past twenty-six years, served in various capacities in government, international business and private organizations and is known from her accomplishments in entrepreneurship, humanitarianism, social and political development. Today Dr, Barrow is the universal peace ambassador for Panama, an author, motivational speaker, life coach, international bestseller, talk show host, philanthropist, CEO of love truth and peace, World Trade and investment foundation, and Harris Business Enterprise.  Among her specialties are international economic investment & trade Development, Sustainable Economic Development through Entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment through entrepreneurship.

In her capacity as a social and political activist, Dr. Barrow has used expertise to address pressing issues that affect the Caribbean, the Americas, and Africa as well as matters pertaining to human rights and justice for all.  Being an astute communicator, Dr. Harris Barrow is often called upon to speak at various functions, trade organizations, economic development organizations (EDOs), businesses, corporations’ conventions, universities, churches, among others. She is an advocate for personal and professional development and is known for empowering leaders to play their part in advancing the welfare of the human race.

Listen to the episode and share your biggest insight or learning moment.

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Connect with Dr. Melida Harris Barrow: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook |

Connect with Monique Russell: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.