We all have truths that shape our individual life journeys. The Our Truth, Our Journey (OTOJ) podcast showcases the powerful, lived experiences of women who have settled into who they are, their path to self-discovery…and what remains to be uncovered. Join Lacey Tezino and Yvonne Harris as they explore the messy, imperfect process of understanding our own personal truths, and how to keep moving forward when what we believe to be true about ourselves changes.

We recently caught up with Angela Hucles Mangano, President of Soccer Operations for the Houston Dash. Angela’s storied soccer career includes being a 4-year All-ACC player at the University of Virginia and a 2-time gold medal winner with the US National Soccer Team

Angela opens up about some of the pivots she has made in her career and how they were not always easy or desired, but they led to her greatest career successes. While she no longer plays soccer, Angela is always an athlete at heart. She approaches her career with a healthy competitive spirit, always striving to be her best and to bring her team (and her colleagues) along with her. Let’s all tap into our inner athlete!

Connect with Angela across the social channels, and stay tuned for the launch of her new podcast, The Pivotal Breakthrough with Angela Hucles Mangano. 

Optional Paragraph: Thanks for listening to this segment of our journey! Subscribe to our podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We understand that often, we can feel isolated and alone, like life is only happening to us. We invite you to share your unique story with our listeners. Your journey, your imperfect mess may just be the inspiration that someone else needs to stay the course. Until next time, remain open to receiving greater understanding of your truth.

As we recently transitioned from one calendar year to another, OTOJ had powerful conversations with women to explore approaching this transition ‘softly’ as opposed to starting the new year with speed and super high expectations.  The information shared in the conversations is not anchored to the new year; the wisdom shared is evergreen and applicable at any time, during any season.

We were honored to spend time with Joni D. Goodman, a leadership catalyst, speaker, and author of the award-winning new book, “Rappel: Break Through To A Better You.” Inspired by a literal leap rappelling 15 stories down a building for charity Joni created a five-step framework for courageous, values-driven growth: Reflect, Relate, Reason, Recognize, and Rejoice.

Joni challenges us to determine if we are busy running from our own lives. Are you externally focused, in constant states of over-giving, over-functioning, and over-stimulation? If so, take time to pause, get grounded, and come home to yourself.

We encourage you to connect with Joni across the social channels. You will find her sharing some great advice or even some great dance moves. Her energy is like sunshine!

As we navigate the human experience of finishing a calendar year, and starting a new one…we explore approaching this transition ‘softly’ as opposed to starting the new year with speed and super high expectations.

We were honored to spend time with Hope Malveaux, MBA, M&A Culture Due Diligence Expert, Workplace Culture Architect, and Co-Author of Culture is the Answer. Hope thrives during times of change, and she views each new year, new season as an opportunity for reinvention.

2025 was ‘a year’ for so many of us. Hope shares how some of her burdens were so heavy that she had no choice but to let them go.  She knows that she deserves peace and rest. Hope’s act of release created a softness in her life that allowed her to focus on mentorship and helping others win. 

Resilience is Hope’s word for the year. OTOJ will wish another word for her: reaping. We believe for Hope to reap in goodness what she has sown into the lives of others.

As we navigate the human experience of finishing a calendar year, and starting a new one…we explore approaching this transition ‘softly’ as opposed to finishing the year strong, and starting the new year with speed and super high expectations.

As we prepared to enter 2026, we were honored to gain some powerful insights from Eileen Morris, Artistic Director for The Ensemble Theater in Houston. Eileen is the life source that powers The Ensemble’s mission to preserve African American artistic expression and enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community.

Listening to Eileen we are reminded of the power in simplicity. One of her most important reminders to all of us, is to just breathe. Your breathe is cleansing, clarifying, and calming. As we navigate the coming year, let’s remember the strength, the force that rests in all of us…. our breath.

As you tap into your own personal creative power, we hope that will extend to greater support for our creative community. The Ensemble Theater is in its 49th season, referred to as Rooted in Destiny. Check out the upcoming productions: The Bluest Eye, Choir Boy, Who All Over There?, and Get Ready.  Lacey and Yvonne will meet you at The Ensemble! 

We were honored to spend some time with Jenet Dove, LPC. Jenet is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with clients who seek to heal from perfectionistic tendencies, in search of balance and self-peace. Therapy For Perfectionist In Houston Texas | Jenet Dove

Our conversation with Jenet is so rich, and deep, and life-affirming…we decided to share it the form of micro episodes. 

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, change your language. Often, Black women default to terms like tired and exhausted to describe how we are feeling. And while those words may be a part of what we are experiencing, they are not the essential descriptors needed to get much needed help and support…especially from a licensed professional. Let’s normalize words like sad, lonely, depressed, and maybe even scattered. It is ok to feel, and admit to feeling, those emotions. Welcome to being human. A valuable, worthy human!

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988.

We were honored to spend some time with Jenet Dove, LPC. Jenet is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with clients who seek to heal from perfectionistic tendencies, in search of balance and self-peace. Therapy For Perfectionist In Houston Texas | Jenet Dove

Our conversation with Jenet is so rich, and deep, and life-affirming…we decided to share it the form of micro episodes. 

Focusing on yourself is essential to your mental wellness. It is a selfless act, not a selfish one. And when you are able to give yourself the gift of time...do you even know what do to with it?!? Just like we map out our work schedules to the minute, we need to learn how to maximize our ‘me time.’  Get clear about how you may be able to create your very own 107 Days to manifest exciting newness into your life.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988.

We were honored to spend some time with Jenet Dove, LPC. Jenet is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with clients who seek to heal from perfectionistic tendencies, in search of balance and self-peace. Therapy For Perfectionist In Houston Texas | Jenet Dove

Our conversation with Jenet is so rich, and deep, and life-affirming…we decided to share it the form of micro episodes. 

During the year-end holidays, and other times throughout the year, the number of women who experience loneliness peaks. If this happens to you, or someone you know, be honest about what you are feeling and share your needs with your trusted circle. It is important that we find common language for loneliness. The descriptors are not only fatigue, exhaustion, overwhelm and isolation. We all have to find the courage speak the words that may not be in frequent rotation…but these could be the words that are key to our healing. 

And remember, just keep going!  Your mental health matters, and your will get through this, and all of your seasons, if you just keep going!

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988.

We were honored to spend some time with Jenet Dove, LPC. Jenet is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with clients who seek to heal from perfectionistic tendencies, in search of balance and self-peace. Therapy For Perfectionist In Houston Texas | Jenet Dove

Our conversation with Jenet is so rich, and deep, and life-affirming…we decided to share it the form of micro episodes. 

In this segment, we explore the loneliness endemic, and how finding your community and cultivating sisterhood are a part of the antidote. And if you find yourself overexplaining your value and hustling for your worth, stop it!  You are already more than enough.

Thanks for listening to Our Truth, Our Journey! Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We understand that often, we can feel isolated and alone, like life is only happening to us. We invite you to share your unique story with our listeners. Your journey, your imperfect mess, may just be the inspiration that someone else needs to stay the course. Until next time, remain open to receiving greater understanding of your truth.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988.

During the month of October, we were honored to spend some time with Jenet Dove, LPC. Jenet is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with clients who seek to heal from perfectionistic tendencies, in search of balance and self-peace. Therapy For Perfectionist In Houston Texas | Jenet Dove

While the month of October is widely recognized as Mental Health Month, this subject matter is evergreen. We are intentionally releasing this content a little later for a few reasons: 1) We believe in normalizing conversations related to mental health, which in part is supported by continuing conversations on this topic apart from a monthly recognition; 2) We know that the year-end holiday season can be mentally and emotionally challenging for many people in our lives, some who may be afraid, or ashamed, to admit this as a part of their personal truth; and 3) The information shared may cause you to reconsider your mental health journey as your close out this year, and look forward to a new year.

Our conversation with Jenet is so rich, and deep, and life-affirming we decided to share it the form of micro episodes. 

In this segment, Jenet poses the question, “What good is a sense of responsibility if you are depleted?” We also discuss the highs and potential pitfall of tuning out.  And we spend some time of the ‘e’ word that many of us know far too well….exhaustion.

Thanks for listening to Our Truth, Our Journey! Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We understand that often, we can feel isolated and alone, like life is only happening to us. We invite you to share your unique story with our listeners. Your journey, your imperfect mess, may just be the inspiration that someone else needs to stay the course. Until next time, remain open to receiving greater understanding of your truth.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing 988.

In this episode, Lacey and Yvonne learn more about the journey of Wendy Lewis Armstrong, CPA, and focus on Calling in New Prosperity & New Beginnings. Wendy is a Vice President of Internal Audit, and a well-regarded leader in her community. She is a game changer and glass-ceiling breaker in every aspect of her life! Listen as she shares how she gives herself permission to say ‘yes’ to new projects and opportunities, while balancing her willingness to be held accountable for managing her capacity and maintaining personal boundaries. Wendy still creates vision boards (love it!) and measures her success one day, one step at a time. She reminds us that we are all perfectly imperfect and that tears are good. Keep bringing your rainbows and sunshine, Wendy! 

Thanks for listening to this segment of Our Journey! Subscribe to this podcast on your favorite streaming platform. We understand that often, we can feel isolated and alone, like life is only happening to us. We invite you to share your unique story with our listeners. Your journey, your imperfect mess, may just be the inspiration that someone else needs to stay the course. Until next time, remain open to receiving greater understanding of your truth.