Checkbox Other with Nikki Innocent

If you grew up going to DARE programs in school or you remember the "Say No To Drugs" tagline, this episode is for you. It's a reeducation around marijuana, it's effects and it's possibility. Our guest is Dru Ledbetter, co-founder of Building A Life Legacy (BALL), ThePot Boston and Flower Xpress, all cannabis centric enterprises prioritizing the needs and support of the community and the opportunity to reinvest in legacy building through the booming cannabis industry. As a former leader in the nursing industry, Dru shares her on the ground knowledge of the true impact of marijuana and it's healing potential for all too common struggles like postpartum depression, insomnia, and many inflammatory conditions. Dru and Nikki talk about the complicated history of drug legislation that has disproportionately incarcerated Black and brown men, many of whom are still incarcerated today while businesses, run predominantly by white men, reap profits from the same actions. Finally, Dru shares her experiences as a Black woman cannabis founder and the built in hurdles that create additional resistance for so many WOC like her from being able to fully step into the potential of this industry.

What did you learn about cannabis growing up? How has your understanding about and relationship to cannabis changed since it became more socially acceptable? We want to hear from you: nikkiinnocent.com/jointheconversation

How many times in your life have you been forced to choose between two options and neither of them felt like they fit? In this episode, Kt McBratney joins Nikki to talk all about rejecting the binary and the fact that we are conditioned to think and operate in a binary world when really we're intended to live within a spectrum. They dive into what Kt calls "disrupting the status bro", turning the ripple effect into tidal change and building a business that celebrates and connects us through the non-traditional stops on our path. Kt shares their experience of fundraising in the VC space with their co-founder as nonbinary and female founders of a company centering the experience of women and nonbinary folks. Kt is the co-founder and chief brand officer at Owntrail, the human and story centric alternative to LinkedIn's digital resume oriented culture. Connect with us over on OwnTrail: https://owntrail.com/invite/25235FBB

We'd love to hear about the twists and turns on your trail that have lead you to where you are today: nikkiinnocent.com/jointheconversation

Do you struggle with self doubt when you are trying something new or getting noticed for the contributions you are making to the word? That feeling as though you don't belong or you will be found out as an imposter is all too common, so much so that at least 75% of women have experienced imposter syndrome in their careers. You are not alone, but the funny thing about imposter syndrome is that you do feel so isolated and individually unworthy. In this episode, Nikki demystifies the all-too-common experience of imposter syndrome and offers rituals, practices and alternative approaches to redefining your relationship with imposter syndrome, self doubt and any limiting beliefs about yourself and your worth. You'll get to be a fly on the wall of a live interview that Nikki did with fashion art NFT, Eyes of Fashion, whose mission is centered around the empowerment of women and other historically excluded groups.

Have any imposter syndrome questions or stories to share? Reach out to us would love to hear from you nikkiinnocent.com/jointheconversation

If you are looking for direct support to overcome imposter syndrome join us for an upcoming live group coaching session nikkiinnocent.com/group or book a private session with Nikki nikkiinnocent.com/coaching

For many of us, the message growing up was "make sure you follow the right path" but what does that really mean? Does that mean spending your time doing what other people expect of you or following your interests, strengths and passions? With Millennials now stepping into senior levels of leadership, the largest generation is redefining what success looks like. It looks like following your own path forward and embracing a non-traditional journey to step into your unique potential.

In this episode, OwnTrail co-founder and CEO, Rebekah Bastian talks about organically creating a new networking and community building platform for women that centers the importance of embracing your unique journey in this life. Nikki and Rebekah nerd out on all things inclusive leadership, the future of work, women's leadership and even spend a bit of time talking about NFTs and web3.

If you're looking to make meaningful connections and build your network, OwnTrail is what you've been looking for. This episode is the first in a duo of episodes featuring the co-founders of OwnTrail to hear more about how their paths lead them to creating this new, thriving collaborative networking community!

"It's all about who you know" but in the last few years our ability to network and connect with others has been put to the test – the isolation, the reliance on technology, a shift in career priorities and workplace values have all changed the game. In this episode, Nikki discusses the transactional nature of traditional networking, the shift towards authenticity and relationship in modern networking and ways to approach networking if it's something you dread.

If you're looking for more networking support, join us for one of our career lounge group sessions where you can meet others looking for authentic connection and a more inclusive future: www.nikkiinnocent.com/group

If the pandemic has you battling cabin fever or wishing you could hop on a plane to head on vacation or to relocate, this episode is for you! Margo Gabriel, freelance writer and new cookbook author did just that, in the fall of 2020 she took the leap and is now an expat living in Lisbon Portugal. Margo shares her story all about leaning into uncertainty to discover opportunities beyond her wildest dreams, from finding her new home due to an airline offer to extend her layover in Portugal to a dinner conversation and homesickness sparking her creation of her new cookbook and Haitian cuisine pop-up series. In this episode, Nikki & Margo dive into the dynamics of growing up in America with an international perspective as children of immigrants, their love for and the impact of the richness of Haitian cuisine in their lives and the transformative power of moving to a new environment that allows your creativity to flourish and as a result you are able to stand more fully in to expansive power you were meant to bring into being in your lifetime.

Get 50% off Margo's freelance checklist/pitch template and check out her book over on the shownotes page: https://www.nikkiinnocent.com/podcast/podcast-episodes/margogabriel

How often are you doing things because you feel like you "should?" Not because you want to, or need to, but because you feel the pressure to do it in order to avoid criticism, gain approval or to meet other people's standards. If you don't do what you "should do" how does it impact your relationship with your self worth, self confidence and motivation?

If you have been trying to find your footing coming out of the last couple years and you find yourself striving for and/or falling short of your expectations, the end of the year can add even more stress and pressure to your plate. If you let go of the need to do anything in particular to be worthy, release the word "should" from your vocabulary, imagine what your life would be like.

This episode is all about gaining clarity around when and how "should" comes up in your life, what patterns arise and how it is tied to some other belief that oftentimes isn't in alignment with your values. If you are looking to tap back into your intuition and follow your authentic path forward, this episode is for you!

If you've ever doubted yourself, wondered if you are enough or battled feelings of imposter syndrome, the world around you has had you question your self-worth. What would your life be like if you operated with the knowledge that you are born worthy and nothing you can do or say will take that away? In this episode, Dr. Adia Gooden, licensed clinical psychologist and self-worth specialist joins Nikki to discuss the key components of building your self-worth and four practices can truly revolutionize your relationship with yourself.

If you want to invest more in your self-work journey, share your story or figure out how you are uniquely positioned to shine, learn more nikkiinnocent.com/coaching.

In the world of self-improvement and professional development we are so caught up in where things need to be fixed and we miss the beauty that is around us. We are encouraged to buy things to find our fulfillment and strive for things to reach happiness.

During the holiday season, things tend to get more complicated, you are pressured to do more, buy more, and give more. What if this year, you gave yourself permission to do the opposite? Instead of more, you did less, you focused on simplifying. After the last two years, we're all running on less fuel than we usually have available to us, burnout is at an all time high and still somehow our expectation of achievement hasn't faltered.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, this episode is for you!

Need a helping hand, let's work together: www.nikkiinnocent.com/coaching

Ever wish you could have learned about diversity, equity and inclusion in school instead of in the headlines? This week's episode features Kiana Pierre-Louis lawyer, professor and the co-creator of the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion major at Bentley University, the first ever at a business university. Kiana shares her experience of co-creating the curriculum with a cross functional team, advocating for the major within a historically white, male dominated school and industry and the key steps that helped her and her co-creators get it past the finish line. Nikki & Kiana talk about the experience of being overlooked as the only woman of color speaking on a panel, Kiana's pivotal social justice work in her local community in response to discrimination her children experienced as young as five years old and her powerful modern approach to integrative education by bringing the classroom into real life experiences and vice versa.

If you're interested in learning more about how you can integrate diversity, equity and inclusion principles into your journey, work with Nikki today.