The Boundary Breakers Podcast: Hosted by Patty Williams-Downs

In the Season 2 Finale of The BoundaryBreakers Podcast, I’m joined by Lereca Monik, the visionary Founding Chief External Affairs Officer of the Breakthrough Collaborative and the founder of LM Philanthropy. Lereca’s story shines with resilience, love, and impactful leadership. We explore her early life, deeply rooted in a community of service, her journey through personal hardships, and her path to self-discovery and self-love. Lereca shares her commitment to inspiring others, leading with compassion, and making a lasting difference through philanthropy and education. Tune in to discover how your unique gifts and talents can be a force for positive change in your community and beyond.

In this episode of the BoundaryBreakers Podcast, I’m thrilled to sit down with Carol Haddock, the former Director of Houston Public Works and a dedicated champion for the Houston community. Carol reflects on her inspiring journey from a small Texas town to overseeing one of the largest public works departments in the nation. We discuss how her early love for engineering and community service shaped her approach to leadership, and she shares insights from pivotal moments, including Hurricane Harvey. Tune in to hear how Carol’s steadfast commitment to infrastructure, community, and people-first leadership has paved the way for a stronger Houston!

In this episode of the BoundaryBreakers Podcast, I talk with Christa Stoneham, the dynamic President and CEO of the Houston Land Bank. We dive into her incredible journey, from her family’s deep roots in activism, to becoming one of the youngest community land bank CEOs leading transformative real estate development in Houston. Christa shares how she's breaking boundaries through her focus on affordable housing and environmental justice in historically excluded communities. We talk legacy, empathy, and what it means to use real estate as a tool for social change. You don’t want to miss this conversation!

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In this episode of the Boundary Breakers Podcast, I sit down with Erin Mulpur, the System Director of Global Patient Services at Houston Methodist. Erin shares her incredible journey, from growing up on a reservation in Montana to transforming the international patient care journey. We dive deep into her passion for patient safety, belonging, and ensuring every voice is heard—especially for international and non-English-speaking patients. Erin’s story is one of resilience, compassion, and relentless dedication to improving the healthcare experience for all.

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Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.breakingbounds.com/⁠

In this episode of The Boundary Breakers Podcast, Jessica Dandridge-Smith, Executive Director of The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans joins us to explain how each of us can play a role in building an equitable, sustainable world. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it! Jessica opens up about the role Hurricane Katrina played in shaping her personal journey and her deep commitment to climate justice. We dive into how her experiences have driven her to fight for water as a human right and create lasting change in vulnerable communities. Jessica’s passion for developing sustainable, equitable climate solutions through policy and community is truly inspiring.

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Visit our Website: ⁠⁠https://www.breakingbounds.com/

In this episode of "The Boundary Breakers Podcast", I am joined by Laif Afseth, President of Amegy Bank. Laif shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Dallas to leading one of the largest banks in Texas. We discuss his passion for increasing access to the resources small businesses need to thrive, building inclusive programming that meets the needs of Houston's diverse entrepreneurial landscape, and providing capital financing to historically excluded communities. Laif opens up about how his origins and core values of empathy and inclusivity guide his leadership and the bank’s mission to create opportunities for all. Tune in to learn how Laif and Amegy Bank are transforming Houston’s business landscape!

Instagram: @pattydowns_breakingbounds

Visit our Website: ⁠⁠https://www.breakingbounds.com/

Patty Williams-Downs is thrilled to kick off Season 2 of the Boundary Breakers podcast. With over 20 years of experience breaking barriers and advocating for social good, Patty's career has been dedicated to co-powering with leaders and amplifying the voices of those who are using their unique gifts and talents to transform the world. As the founder of BreakingBounds Enterprises®, Patty brings her wealth of experience from Teach for America and OneGoal Houston into each episode.

In this season, Patty continues her mission to amplify the voices and stories of purpose-driven leaders who are addressing the world's most pressing challenges. Join Patty as she builds a community of Boundary Breakers through inspiring and transformative conversations.

The first episode of Season 2 is out on September 25th. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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Visit our Website: https://www.breakingbounds.com/

Meet Stephanie Tsuru, the innovative Co-Founder and CEO of SheSpace, a dynamic co-working, events & meeting space in Houston, Texas where bold women gather to foster community and propel their dreams forward. Join us on “The Boundary Breakers Podcast: Hosted by Patty Williams-Downs” as we delve into the transformative power of community, proximity, and genuine relationship-building in the world of business.

Stephanie envisioned SheSpace as more than just a physical space; its a sanctuary of inspiration, vitality, and authenticity, tailored to nurture the dreams of female entrepreneurs and help them thrive.

If you are a female entrepreneur looking to join a community of like-minded women or simply need a space away from home to focus on achieving your career goals, look no further than SheSpace! Discover how you can become part of this empowering community by visiting shespacehtx.com/membershiptoday!

Kim Roxie is the pioneering Founder and CEO of LAMIK Beauty. With a strong e-commerce presence, and a quickly growing brick-and-mortar footprint, LAMIK Beauty is revolutionizing the make-up industry, particularly for women of color. In this episode of “The Boundary Breakers Podcast: Hosted by Patty Williams-Downs”, discover how LAMIK Beauty breaks the status quo and continuously challenges industry norms to reveal internal beauty through clean, vegan, cruelty-free make-up products.

Kim built LAMIK with a belief that no one should have to sacrifice their health for beauty by creating clean, vegan, cruelty-free beauty products.

Whether you are an investor seeking opportunities in the make-up industry or a woman of color in search of make-up brands that prioritize both your health and beauty, LAMIK Beauty offers a transformative experience. Explore their innovative range of products by visiting: https://lamikbeauty.com/

Marvin Pierre is the visionary Founder and CEO of Eight Million Stories. Based in Houston, Texas, Eight Million Stories is a pioneering non-profit committed to dismantling the school to prison pipeline. In this episode of “The Boundary Breakers Podcast: Hosted by Patty Williams-Downs”, discover how Eight Million Stories is reshaping narratives and empowering youth to defy systemic barriers. 

Marvin teaches us that understanding business fundamentals and believing in an organization’s mission are not only compounding concepts, but essential ingredients to driving profound change in our communities.

Ready to make a difference? Join us in supporting Eight Million Stories’ mission today by visiting: https://www.eightmillionstories.org/getinvolved