The GR8TNESS Router

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. reconnects with her graduate school roommate turned powerhouse scholar, entrepreneur, and global speaker — Dr. Cierra M. Robinson.

A proud St. Louis native and three-time HBCU alumna, Dr. Robinson shares her journey from winning fifth-grade oratorical contests to shaping the future of higher education and entrepreneurship. With honesty and humor, she opens up about faith as foundation, family as fuel, and resilience as a non-negotiable.

Together, Zena and Dr. Robinson explore the role of authenticity in leadership, the hustle born from legacy, and the calling to lift as we climb. This is more than a conversation — it’s a masterclass in purpose, perseverance, and planting seeds for generational impact.

💫 Whether you’re an entrepreneur, student, or leader-in-the-making, this episode will remind you that knowing who you are and whose you are is the true blueprint for success.

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Connect with Dr. Cierra Robinson on LinkedIn

Visit LaidOffLemonade.com to learn more about Zena C's book

In this soul-nourishing chapter of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. welcomes her cousin and guiding light, Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton, for a rich conversation on what it means to become.

From the sacred stillness of a back porch prayer to building a global brand rooted in healing, Dr. E unpacks the real work behind purpose: trusting the call before the path is clear. Together, they explore the intersections of divine timing, identity, obedience, and the quiet power of being well-loved.

Whether you’re navigating a pivot or waiting on a promise, this episode will remind you that transformation isn’t a destination—it’s an unfolding.

💫 Listen closely. The business of becoming is already in motion.

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Connect with Dr. Deborah Egerton on LinkedIn, Instagram, or learn more about her work at DeborahEgerton.com

What happens when you finally stop shrinking and start speaking?

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Dr. Davia Crutchfield joins us for a deeply honest, spiritually grounded conversation on clarity, calling, and becoming. She opens up about how language, identity, and obedience intersect—and why your voice might be the very thing God is waiting on.

📖 From the power of journaling to the pain of playing small, Dr. Davia shares what it means to honor your truth—and how faith, fear, and frameworks are all part of the journey.

🎧 Tap in and step forward—your next chapter may be waiting on your “yes.”
🔍 Search “The GR8TNESS Router” wherever you get your podcasts.

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Connect with Dr. Davia J. Crutchfield on LinkedIn, Instagram or learn more about BL&CK at visitandblack.com

Scandinavia House | A Celebration of Doug Crutchfield

National Nordic Museum | A Celebration of Dancer Doug Crutchfield

There’s a particular kind of grief that comes from being left behind not because you did something wrong—but because you were finally being real.

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Zena C. holds space for the quiet ache of being cut off, edited out, or misunderstood for choosing authenticity. Anchored by Langston Hughes’ iconic poem Mother to Son, this reflection invites listeners to consider what it costs to shrink, and what it could mean to stop.

From middle school memories to grown-folks clarity, this episode is a reminder that not all disconnection is loss—and that sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is let people go… and stay true to yourself anyway.

If you’ve ever traded a piece of yourself to belong—or felt discarded for simply being—this one is for you.

What happens when the systems you’re trained to trust… start to show their cracks?

In this episode, Zena C. is joined by Civil Rights Attorney and Community Advocacy Educator Jonathan Barry-Blocker, JD, for a powerful conversation on identity, justice, and protecting your peace while doing the work.

From courtroom realities to community wisdom, Jonathan breaks down what it means to advocate with integrity—and still be whole. He shares how growing up in a deeply rooted Black family, navigating predominantly white institutions, and surviving the mental toll of overperformance shaped his perspective on boundaries, law, and liberation.

This episode is for anyone carrying the weight of excellence, service, or expectation… and learning how to set it down without letting go of who they are.

🎧 Stream Episode 0012 on all major platforms
Release Date: 5/22/25

Connect with Attorney Jonathan Barry-Blocker on LinkedIn

🗓️ Released on the 5-year remembrance of Zena’s father’s passing

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What if the truth you’ve been waiting for… asks for something in return?

What if clarity doesn’t just set you free—but sets you apart?

In this episode, Zena C. reflects on the hard-earned wisdom passed down by her father, through one of his favorite poems and the life he lived with deep conviction.

This is more than a message—it’s a memorial.
A tribute to legacy. A meditation on loyalty.
And a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful shift begins not with a plan… but with a whisper.

💜 Released in honor of Dr. Thomas E. H. Conway, Jr (1949–2020)
🍋 Laid Off Lemonade available at LaidOffLemonade.com

What does it really take to build a life of impact?

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Dr. Peter Eley shares his powerful journey—from a small town in North Carolina to the leadership ranks of higher education. Through resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to access, Dr. Eley shows how legacy isn't about titles—it's about lifting others along the way.

From math to mentorship, from family sacrifices to global opportunities, Dr. Eley’s story reminds us:

• Why ownership and responsibility go hand in hand
• How access and exposure can change the course of a life
• Why living out loud is the truest form of leadership

🎧 Tune in now and be inspired to walk in your purpose, unapologetically.

Connect with Dr. Eley on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or via his website drpetereley.com

You ever hear a phrase so many times it loses meaning?

Then one day… it hits different?

In this episode, we’re unpacking the deceptively simple wisdom of “make good choices” — a phrase I used to shrug off, but now hold close when life gets foggy, fearful, or full of friction.

Inspired by the poem Invictus and grounded in the real, raw truth of personal pivots, this episode is a reflection on agency, quiet decisions, and the power of choosing yourself — even when the world doesn’t clap for it.

This isn’t advice. This isn’t instruction.
This is perspective — for the moments when it’s time to bet on you.

🎧 Press play if you’ve been stalling on a shift, sitting in silence, or standing at the edge of something new.

What do sneakers, literature, and legacy have in common?
In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Dr. Jemayne Lavar King shares how a lifelong love of sneakers and storytelling evolved into a groundbreaking academic lane, a thriving cultural brand, and a mission to redefine what’s worthy of study.

From chasing his dream pair of Ewings to teaching college courses on sneaker culture, Dr. King invites us into his world—a world where hip-hop, literature, and authenticity collide.

This episode is for the visionaries, the culture-builders, and the ones writing their own story—one step at a time.

Tune in now!

To learn more about Dr. King’s work at the intersection of culture, literature, and identity, explore his innovative coursework and scholarship through Virginia State University’s “Sneaker Stories” archive.

You can also connect with him directly on LinkedIn and experience the cultural depth of his brand by visiting solefoodbrand.com.

Two roads diverged… and twenty years later, we’re checking in on the one we chose. In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. revisits Robert Frost’s classic poem with fresh eyes—and lived wisdom. What does it really mean to take the road less traveled? What if the path isn’t the point at all? Through personal stories, poetic reflection, and powerful questions, this episode explores the importance of who you ride with, how you check in with yourself, and why the ride—not the road—is what shapes you.

Whether you’re a self-navigator, a silent passenger, or an intentional co-rider, this one’s for you.

Tap in. Let’s ride.