Given Name

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Karen (@karenrunsthings) McFarlane's father chose her name on purpose. He wanted her to have less friction in the world than an ethnic name would bring. It worked. Mostly.

Karen is Jamaican, a marketing professional, podcast host of The E Word, and the voice behind the LinkedIn newsletter Better on Purpose. Her name means pure. And she carries it that way.

We talk about the Karen trope, which she is genuinely unbothered by because she knows they are not talking about her. We get into Blaren, the concept of the Black Karen, which she has also left on the table. And we talk about what happens when you sound one way on paper and the room recalibrates when you walk in.

Her name was chosen for clarity. She turned it into a brand.

This is part one of two. Same name. Very different stories.

(The whole episode is worth it. But find 41:41.)

Shauntelle's first name is my middle name. Her middle name is my first name, spelled differently. We are name dopplegangers and this conversation felt like it.

She grew up in Arkansas as the only Shauntelle in a sea of Channels and C/Shantels, with a name spelled exactly as it sounds. Her name means stone. Strength. Rock. And once we started pulling on that thread, what it means to carry a name rooted in strength, and what happens when that name is called, the conversation went somewhere neither of us expected. When someone calls Shauntelle's name, they are literally calling for strength and she comes as a stone to answer.

This one feels like good kitchen table talk. Warm, easy, and then suddenly very deep.

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Ifoma Genevieve is back! The conversation continues with the same warmth, laughter, and curiosity that made Part One so special.

Together, we explore the perceptions people have of our names, what it means to carry a certain energy into every room we enter, and how identity is communicated long before we introduce ourselves. Ifoma also shares what it's been like living in South Korea, where she's never needed a "coffee shop name" because people simply learn her given name.

To close the episode, I included a special moment we almost left on the cutting room floor—a tribute to her beloved dog, Hammie. It was one of those beautifully unexpected moments that reminded me why I love these conversations so much.

I hope this episode leaves you smiling, reflecting, and maybe even thinking about the energy your own name carries into the room.

Some conversations feel less like interviews and more like taking a walk with someone. That's exactly what this one was.

This week, Ifoma Genevieve (@ifomagenevive) joined me for a thoughtful, honest conversation about identity, family, and the stories our names carry. We laughed, reflected, asked big questions, and even admitted that we're "travel buddies" on this journey of becoming who we are.

In Part One, we explore belonging, emotional labor, creativity, and the beauty of staying curious about ourselves.

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What does it mean to answer to more than one name?

On Given Name, sociologist Dr. Shanae explores identity through the stories behind our names, discovering how culture, family, and community shape the people we become.

This week, Dr. Shanae sits down with Demetrius (@afreshmusic), a South Side Chicago native, for a conversation that's equal parts thoughtful and hilarious. Together, they explore the story behind his name, the role of nicknames, growing up in Chicago, family traditions, and the ways our communities influence not only what we're called, but how we understand ourselves.

*Keep up with Given Name Podcast on socials ⁠@awkward_phd ⁠on ig, threads, and TikTok, and ⁠Given Name Podcast⁠ on FB*

Saria's name means princess and laughter. She'll tell you she's always been both.

In this episode, I sit down with Saria (@SariatheCEO), founder of Manifest Your Purpose, to talk about a name rooted in Genesis, a marriage that introduced her to a language where her name can't be pronounced, and a lifetime of hearing herself called across nations and translations.

We also talk about intentional naming, the philosophy she and her husband used when choosing names for their children, and the moment at the end of our conversation where we land on nommo — the power of a word and what it means when your name enters a room.

This one is warm, grounded, and full of meaning. Just like her name.

On Given Name, sociologist Dr. Shanae explores identity through the stories behind our names.

In this episode, Dr. Shanae sits down with Dra. CarolLaine M. Garcia to explore the relationship between names, identity, and decolonization. Together, they discuss the meaning of CarolLaine's name, the significance of spelling and pronunciation, numerology, values, and how reclaiming a name can become an act of reclaiming identity.

Rather than seeing a name as something we're simply given, this conversation asks what happens when we intentionally choose to honor it as it was meant to be spoken, written, and lived.

Topics include identity, names, decolonization, numerology, organizational psychology, culture, values, and belonging.

⚠️ A quick note before you listen: The audio quality in this episode isn't my favorite. Sometimes meaningful conversations happen outside of perfect recording conditions, and this was one I couldn't leave on the cutting room floor. I hope you'll stay with us, Pilar's story is worth hearing.

What can a name reveal about the life someone builds?

On Given Name, sociologist Dr. Shanae explores the stories behind our names and how they shape our identity, family, culture, and legacy. Every conversation begins with a name, but it almost always uncovers something deeper.

In this episode, Dr. Shanae sits down with Pilar (@Pilar232), a social justice advocate whose name represents strength, stability, and support. Together, they explore her family's journey during the Great Migration, her parents' love story in Harlem, and how those experiences shaped her commitment to social justice, community, and fighting discrimination.

The conversation also explores Black family history, motherhood, intentional parenting, and the care that goes into naming children. Pilar shares why she chooses to live between two cities to protect her personal life while continuing her advocacy, and how she thoughtfully named her own children with connection and purpose. Find more information about Pilar on her website TPME.org

If you've ever wondered how names influence identity, preserve family legacy, and connect us to the stories that came before us, this episode is for you.

Topics: Identity • Meaning of Names • Black Culture • Black History • Great Migration • Harlem • Family Legacy • Social Justice • Discrimination • Motherhood • Parenting • Naming Traditions • Sociology • Storytelling • Community

About Given Name
Given Name is a podcast hosted by sociologist Dr. Shanae, exploring identity through the stories behind our names. Through conversations about culture, family, history, and belonging, each episode reveals how a name can become the doorway to understanding ourselves and one another.

Some names tell one story. Others carry generations.

La'Vonne (@keystoujours) joins me to talk about family, Baltimore, the DMV, Howard University, artistry, motherhood, and preparing to name her child. What began as a conversation about her name became a beautiful reminder that our identities are shaped long before we're born and continue long after we're gone.

For the full two-hour conversation, join the Patreon.

Jamaican naming traditions, family nicknames, financial legacy, and the power of intention all come together in this conversation with Dr. Severine "Dr. Sev."

We explore how names change across countries and cultures, why she believes naming a child is never about the parent, and how her work empowering women through financial education reflects the same care, stewardship, and legacy that thoughtful naming requires.

View full episodes on Patreon

Skool finance community for women: https://www.skool.com/wealth-warriors-community-1025/about