The Power to Persist

By Lamell McMorris

The Power to Persist Podcast with Dr. Lamell McMorris brings you candid conversations with changemakers, leaders, and innovators who embody resilience, justice, and transformative leadership. Through ... more

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FAQs about The Power to Persist:

How many episodes does The Power to Persist have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.

The Power to Persist episodes:

April 21, 2026 Mental Health Is Resilience: What We Can All Learn from Gen Z About Mental Health
In this episode, Lamell McMoriss dives into the pressure and anxiety of trying to hold it all together during uncertain seasons. Lamell emphasizes that true resilience is not a "solo sport" but a team effort built on vulnerability—admitting that you are human and honestly asking for help when you're tired. Learn why forming a trusted inner circle is crucial, transforming your mental health into something you can navigate through network and community, not isolation.

The conversation covers the burden felt by listeners, from young graduates feeling like failures to professionals facing their first layoff, all carrying the same weight. By focusing on small, daily practices like "micro rest" and setting boundaries, you can begin to rebuild your mental resilience from the inside out.

You are not alone, you are built for this moment, and together, we will persist.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/

Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist
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11min
April 09, 2026 John Hudson's Energy: Power, Persistence, and Community
On this episode of the Power to Persist, Lamell welcomes John Hudson, Chief External Affairs Officer of Entergy, and close friend for a candid conversation. John details his rise in the Fortune 500 utility sector and the dogged determination instilled by his father. The discussion dives into the constant industry tension between sustainability and profitability. John outlines the utility’s "obligation to serve" all customers and his efforts to promote energy equity in underserved communities.

Hudson breaks down the billions of dollars in new opportunities driven by AI data centers and renewable infrastructure. John recounts his non-linear career path, stressing the crucial agility needed to pivot during down moments. He attributes his persistence to a strong network of mentors and friends who help reframe challenges. This episode is a masterclass in resilient leadership and building an ecosystem for community success.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/

Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist
...more
47min
April 07, 2026 Basketball Legend Kevin Johnson’s Story Doesn’t Stop on the Court - It Evolves.

In this episode of The Power to Persist, Lamell McMorris sits down with former the NBA All-Star and the first Black mayor of Sacramento to unpack what it really takes to build a life of impact beyond one chapter.
Kevin shares the mindset that carried him from the NBA to public service, rooted in work ethic, focus, and dogged determination. He reflects on what he calls the “Larry Bird lesson,” why the greats show up early to sharpen their edge, and breaks down the mentality behind his legendary dunk on Hakeem Olajuwon, a moment that captures the importance of fearlessness and preparation.

The conversation also explores leadership, resilience, and the responsibility that comes with influence. That same drive now fuels Kevin’s work in the community, from supporting Black bookstores across the country through the National Association of Black Bookstores, founded with his brother to honor their mother, to creating opportunity through Fixins Soul Kitchen and his commitment to second chance employment, local hiring, and community impact is part of the foundation, not an afterthought.

Kevin closes with a powerful reminder on resilience inspired by Reverend Jesse Jackson. You don’t stop. You keep kicking. This episode is about reinvention, discipline, and the habits that allow you to keep building, no matter where you start.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/

Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist
...more
45min
March 24, 2026 "Resilience is Not Optional": A Book Talk with Lamell McMorris and The Executives' Club of Chicago
In this episode of The Power to Persist, host Lamell McMorris takes listeners inside his live conversation at The Executives' Club of Chicago to explore the core habits of lifelong resilience from his book. In this conversation moderated by Cortney Hall (NBC Chicago), Lamell asserts that resilience is "not optional anymore" in the current disruptive social and technological landscape. He reveals the profound, and sometimes challenging, habits necessary for persistence, citing the personal journey that led him to write the book.

Lamell discusses the liberation found in embracing vulnerability, explaining that letting go of the need to have all the answers frees both the leader and those they lead. He connects the habits to the modern workplace, detailing why cultivating agility—the ability to be nimble and flexible—is crucial for adapting to the age of AI. Finally, Lamell pays tribute to his mentor, the late Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., reflecting on the profound examples set by Jackson's "dogged determined" spirit and incredible work ethic that Lamell has modeled throughout his career.

Follow Lamell McMorris

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/

Purchase your copy here:https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist
...more
40min
March 10, 2026 Loneliness Isn’t Weakness: How Gen Z Can Rebuild Connection with Attitude, Network, and Faith
In today’s episode of The Power to Persist, Lamell McMorris reframes loneliness as a common, human experience and a starting point for resilience, especially for Gen Z, a highly connected generation reporting high emotional isolation amid economic instability, student debt, housing challenges, and widening inequality. McMorris argues the pandemic was a defining chapter that disrupted key years for learning connection, leaving lasting social aftershocks, and explains that loneliness is also structural and cultural, not just personal.

McMorris emphasizes coalition-building and community as essential, then shares three habits to combat Gen Z’s loneliness; Attitude (shifting the internal story), Network (building a real support circle beyond social media), and Faith (believing connection is still possible). In practice, this could looks like reaching out, joining aligned communities, opening up to one safe person, and staying open to hope.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/
Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist
...more
14min
February 24, 2026 From the South Side to Wall Street: John Rogers on Black Wealth & Economic Justice
Lamell McMorris welcomes John Rogers, founder, Chairman, and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments, for a deep dive into Black wealth, economic justice, and leadership. Rogers shares the dogged determination and work ethic that led him to build the first Black-owned mutual fund company and establish the "slow and steady wins the race" investment philosophy. He discusses his commitment to fighting for economic fairness as a corporate board director, even when it’s difficult. Rogers also highlights the powerful network of South Side Chicago luminaries, from his parents to Reverend Jesse Jackson, who inspired his career and his commitment to community service through initiatives like the Ariel Community Academy.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/
Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist
...more
41min
February 10, 2026 The Nucleus of Power: How White House Strategist Ashley Etienne Learned to Play Big
On this episode of Power to Persist, host Dr. Lamell McMorris brings on political advisor Ashley Etienne, former Senior Adviser to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris.

The two dive into Etienne’s journey from Houston to Washington, D.C. and her deep commitment to represent her community at the highest levels of power. Etienne's journey exemplifies exceptional work ethic as she recounts pursuing the hardest assignments, which she felt forced her to grow rapidly. Her success as a communications juggernaut is a testament to her agility as a "pure strategist" and problem-solver in high-stakes political environments.

This conversation also highlights her dogged determination to never accept no, leading to a remarkable career that broke glass ceilings. McMorris and Etienne end the conversation by highlighting the importance of faith and the role it has played in both of their lives and their success.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/

Purchase your copy here:
The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist#order-section
...more
1h 2min
January 27, 2026 The Quiet Resilience of Gen Z
Join host Lamell McMorris on The Power to Persist Podcast as he explores why Gen Z is one of the most quietly resilient and resourceful generations ever. This episode examines the financial and social disruptions Gen Z has faced—from rising costs and financial anxiety to pandemic-era isolation—and how they’ve turned fragments into new roadmaps.

Through adaptability and Agility, Gen Z has learned to move quickly in a constantly shifting world. Their Work Ethic shows up in side hustles, online skill-building, and creating multiple paths to stability. At the same time, their willingness to embrace Vulnerability has made mental health and balance essential—not optional—parts of persistence.

This episode reframes resilience through the lens of Gen Z—quiet, consistent, and unbreakable.

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamellmcmorris/

Purchase your copy here: The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience
...more
7min
January 13, 2026 Navigating the Challenges of Higher Education and Entrepreneurship with Dr. JD LaRock
Welcome to The Power to Persist podcast with your host Lamell McMorris. In this episode, Lamell sits down with Dr. JD LaRock, President & CEO of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and former Northeastern professor, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on the forces reshaping education and access in America.

With higher education under intense scrutiny, AI rewriting the rules, and corporate commitments to equity quietly unraveling, Lamell and JD dig into what opportunity really looks like today—especially for underserved communities. They explore why public frustration with college has reached a tipping point, how HBCUs continue to serve as anchors of purpose and leadership, and why entrepreneurial education may be one of the most powerful tools for economic mobility.

The conversation also tackles the promise and pitfalls of AI in education, the reality behind post-2020 corporate pledges, and the mindset young people need to navigate an uncertain future.

This episode is a masterclass in Agility and Focus—two habits essential for persisting when the landscape keeps shifting.

Follow Lamell McMorris
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LinkedIn
Purchase your copy here: The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience
...more
43min
December 30, 2025 End of Year Message
In this special end-of-year message, host Lamell McMorris reflects on the challenges of 2025, emphasizing that resilience is no longer just a personal virtue—it's how we rise, lead, and grow together.

Drawing on his personal journey from the south side of Chicago to advising CEOs, McMorris shares his insights on what separates organizations that "bend without breaking." He recounts his inspiring visits to Morehouse and Miles College, where he spoke with the next generation of leaders, encouraging them with the simple, powerful message: "So can you."

Lamell calls on listeners to honor their journey, reflect on the moments that tested them, and step into 2026 with clarity, courage, and conviction. "This is a message for everyone still showing up, still trying—that's the true definition of resilience."

Follow Lamell McMorris
Instagram
Youtube
LinkedIn
Purchase your copy of:
The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits for Building lifelong Resilience
...more
8min

FAQs about The Power to Persist:

How many episodes does The Power to Persist have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.