In this episode, I speak with writer, storyteller and diversity advocate, Leesa Renee Hall.

Leesa Renee Hall is my sister-writer and sister-storyteller. Her Patreon page is one of my favourite accounts - I devour every piece she publishes. After writing half a million words over 365 consecutive days, Leesa discovered that words can help one find their true purpose. Leesa helps spiritual and business leaders use curious inquiry to question their views on diversity so they can become effective leaders and create truly inclusive communities, companies, and corporations. She teaches that the only way you can have hard conversations around systemic oppression is to first breakthrough your inner oppression using the combination of curious inquiry and expressive writing.

Like me, Leesa has had the unique experience of having her work go viral in recent months, when she published a blog post called '#ExpressiveWriting Prompts to Use If You’ve Been Accused of #WhiteFragility #SpiritualBypass or #WhitePrivilege'. I've heard story after story of people using these writing prompts in their personal practice, in their teams, with their families and in their communities to help unpack their white fragility and become braver in conversations about race.

In this episode, Leesa and I really grappled with what it means for us to be black women who write about identity and race - while trying to defy and decenter the white gaze. It's a must listen.