Mark Goldstein, Labor & Employment partner at Reed Smith, shares his inspiring journey of overcoming mental health challenges while navigating the high-pressure world of BigLaw. In this episode of B.S.: Beyond Stereotypes, Mark opens up to Merle Vaughn about his battle with OCD, anxiety, and depression and how vulnerability and resilience have not only shaped his personal and professional life but also inspired his mental health advocacy in the legal profession.

Jesus Torres, senior trial attorney with Wilshire Law Firm, shares his journey from growing up in a farming community in Oxnard, California, to becoming a successful trial lawyer. In this episode of B.S.: Beyond Stereotypes, Jesus and Merle Vaughn talk about his transition from defense counsel to plaintiff’s counsel, his dedication to pro bono work, and his passion for helping the underrepresented.

While Sashi Brown pursued a career in law, he always held a deep love for sports. When he learned of a niche sports practice at WilmerHale, he discovered he could combine his passion for sports with his legal expertise. In this episode of BS: Beyond Stereotypes, Merle Vaughn chats with Sashi about his unique career in sports, his commitment to education, and the impact of the Rooney Rule in the NFL.

With a career that started in the legal field, including a stint at the White House, Adrian Miller pivoted to follow his passion for soul food—and has turned that into a celebrated career. In this episode of BS: Beyond Stereotypes, Merle Vaughn sits down with Adrian, a “soul food scholar,” James Beard award winner, and a voice for social justice, to “dish” on the importance of relationships, kindness, and the complex layers of Juneteenth.

John Iino's law firm journey took him across the globe to Japan, where he was excited to connect with his roots. This experience set the stage for a career that would see him rise to the heights of the legal profession, not just as a lawyer, but as a champion for diversity and inclusion. In this episode of BS: Beyond Stereotypes, he chats with Merle Vaughn about diversity, identity, and leadership.

With dreams of becoming an NAACP lawyer, Richard Gray set his sights on law school at an early age. After interning with the legal defense fund, he changed directions to focus his law school experience on courses he found interesting—leading him to urban education courses that “spoke to him.” As a result, Richard has applied his legal training to education reform. In this episode, he and Merle Vaughn discuss the evolution of critical terms in our social vocabulary, the generational shifts that shape our worldviews and the potency of education as a tool for change.

Mindy Gulati, Texas-based Civil Rights and DEI activist, was raised in Utah by grandparents who taught her the importance of standing up for herself and the rights of others. In this episode of B.S.: Beyond Stereotypes, Mindy shares her unique family story and explores her commitment to feminism and social equity.

Paul Watford recently made the unusual decision to step down from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals bench to return to private practice as a partner with Wilson Sonsini. In this episode of BS: Beyond Stereotypes, Paul shares what motivated him to make that decision and many others he has made throughout his inspirational professional journey.

Sonya Passi’s fierce advocacy to raise awareness of gender-based violence began when she was a teenager in the UK. Thinking she wanted to become a human rights lawyer, she went to Berkeley Law where she started her first nonprofit. In this episode of BS: beyond Stereotypes, Sonya discusses her activist work and its evolution to today. She also shares her personal journey as a lesbian woman choosing love over the traditional cultural expectations of her parents.

Moving to the States from the Caribbean to go to college was an eye-opening experience for Michelle Silverthorn—she went from being a member of the majority to being “the only.” In this episode of BS: Beyond Stereotypes, Michelle talks with Merle Vaughn about stereotypes, belonging, and inclusion and why she is committed to the work of change. They also explore how Michelle transitioned from practicing law to delivering a TEDx, making over 100 speeches per year, and founding her own diversity consulting firm.