Consider this a gardener's guide to getting unstuck. In this episode, Zenica breaks down the real reason so many of us feel out of rhythm, stuck, or questioning ourselves: we’re trying to skip the season we’re actually in.

Using a powerful gardening metaphor (and one very dramatic basil plant), she explores the four phases of growth—planning, planting, cultivating, and harvesting—and why everything changes when you stop fighting the season you’re in.

You’ll hear:
 • why planning feels productive but often becomes procrastination
 • what happens when you miss the natural rhythm of your creative spark
 • the messy, uncomfortable truth about the planting season
 • how to keep showing up when there’s no visible progress
 • and the confidence required to walk boldly into your harvest

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get moving, this is it. The harvest isn’t coming if you never get dirty. Let’s lean into the season we’re actually in—and disrupt the noisy, busy world by moving in alignment, not anxiety.

You do not have to quit your job to be free! So many ambitious women say they want more freedom...more time, more creativity, more space to breathe, but they are waiting for permission to claim it. It's time for you to stop living in the freedom gap. This is what I call that space between the freedom you want and the freedom you have access to right now.

In this episode, Zenica breaks down why so many women, especially Black women, struggle to set boundaries or trust their decisions and unpacks how the authoritarian nature of traditional work environments impacts your confidence and decision making. 

Email Zenica and share your micro permission and rituals at [email protected]

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this week we’re tackling a crisis that too often goes unseen at work. On this episode, Zenica sits down with advocate, author, and survivor Melody Gross to explore how domestic violence impacts women far beyond their homes and how this toxic behavior impacts workplaces.

They unpack the parallels between toxic relationships and toxic work cultures, and the small but powerful ways we can “sit with survivors” to create safer spaces for our colleagues.

If you lead teams, care about culture, or want to be part of disrupting harm at work and beyond, this conversation will open your eyes — and your heart.

You've heard me say things like “HR is for the company, not the employee.” But is that the full story? In this powerful conversation, HR expert Heather Holland joins me to bust the biggest myths about HR, explain how to protect yourself in toxic workplaces, and share what every woman should know about documentation, boundaries, and building allies.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
03:12 Challenging HR Norms
05:42 Navigating Direct Communication in the Workplace
08:37 Experiences with HR and Workplace Bullying
11:27 Understanding HR's Role and Responsibilities
13:51 The Importance of Documentation
15:40 When to Engage HR
18:06 The Burden on Employees
20:45 Intangible Factors in Workplace Dynamics
23:03 The Power of Documentation
25:47 Addressing Microaggressions and Comments
26:40 Addressing Unprofessional Comments
30:50 Leveraging HR for Career Growth
34:37 Navigating HR Concerns

In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, we’re revisiting one of the most powerful episodes of the Dare to Disrupt podcast. In this deeply personal episode, Zenica shares how she rebuilt her confidence, reclaimed her peace, and learned to trust her own worth after enduring workplace bullying at her dream job. Whether you’re healing from a toxic environment or supporting someone who is, this replay is a reminder: you can survive...and thrive too!

This week’s episode almost didn’t happen and that's probably a good thing. Because while I was sulking about having to pivot yet again, I came across a trend called The Great Lock-In, and it reminded me of something I’ve seen in my own life and with my clients: transformation doesn’t come from coasting. It comes from deciding to lean in, even when it would be easier to lean out.

In this episode, I’m introducing you to the "DUMB method," my simple framework for setting goals to help close the gap from where you are to where you want to be without overthinking or overcomplicating.

If you’re tired of piling on more goals that leave you feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this is your invitation to dumb it down, lock it in, and crush Q4 with intention.

I want to hear from you! Email me your DUMB goal with the subject line “I’m Locking In” so I can celebrate with you (and maybe even shout you out on the next episode). My email address is [email protected]. 

And if you want a little extra, I’ve recorded a bonus audio track where I share my own lock-in goal and strategy for this last quarter of the year. To get it, just email me or DM me the word BONUS and I’ll send it your way.

Ever feel like you've given it your all, but you've hit a wall? And now you've got nothing left? In this episode, Zenica shares two moments from her own journey of navigating workplace bullying and growing this very podcast that left her feeling exactly the same way. She shares what she learned about separating pain from suffering in the stories we tell ourselves, shifting from outcomes to outputs, and reconnecting with purpose. If you’re in a season where it feels like nothing’s working, consider this your pep talk: you’re not failing, you’re just not finished.

And if you’re a woman working a 9-to-5 but thinking like an entrepreneur, I want to hear from you. I’m building something new just for you, and I’d love to invite you for a virtual coffee chat. Send me an email to [email protected] with “coffee chat” in the subject line so we can dream and build together.

Let's be real...job hunting in 2025? Let’s be real—it feels a little like the Hunger Games out here. Between endless applications, interview anxiety, and rejection fatigue, it’s easy to lose confidence (and your sanity).

That’s why I sat down with executive coach Alison Begor to talk about how to navigate the search differently. From managing rejection and spotting red flags to reframing interviews so you feel empowered—not desperate—you’ll walk away with practical strategies and a reminder that you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you.

Whether you’re actively in the hunt or just storing up tools for the future, this episode will help you protect your peace while pursuing your next opportunity.

Learn more about Alison’s work here: https://alisonbegor.com/
Get the "Black Girls Burnout Too" Masterclass: https://www.zenicachatman.com/burnout-masterclass

School maybe over, but your learning isn’t. This mini pod is your reminder that  continuous learning is the ultimate glow-up, because it sparks confidence, connection, and creativity. 

Drop your voice in the survey and email me at [email protected] to tell me your “extra credit” goal for the season. Bonus: fill it out the survey by Friday for a chance to win a pumpkin spice latte on me. 

Remember recess? Swing sets, jump ropes, and that sweet break from the classroom grind? Turns out, that little slice of joy wasn’t just for kids — it was the original reset button.

In this episode, Zenica shares why recess never stopped being good for us, we just stopped giving ourselves permission to take it. From sharper focus and emotional regulation to stronger connections and movement that feels fun (not forced), you’ll learn how to bring recess back into your life as a grown-woman  and how to use it as an antidote to overwork and burnout.

Whether it’s a walk around the block, a laugh with a friend, or ten minutes to breathe between meetings, your brain, body, and spirit still crave recess. Tune in and take the pop quiz! Email me and let me know which one you're focusing on this week.