The Power to Persist

The Power to Persist

By Lamell McMorrisDocumentaryEntrepreneurshipSelf-Improvement
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The Power to Persist episodes

  • Burnout Is a Signal: How to Rest, Reset, and Persist
    In this episode of The Power to Persist, Lamell McMorris addresses the rising epidemic of burnout, reframing exhaustion not as a weakness but as a human signal that we are carrying too much alone. This conversation is for anyone who has been running on empty and wondering why rest no longer feels like enough. Burnout is showing up in our homes, workplaces, classrooms, and communities, especially for those trying to

     

    Lamell offers a grounded path forward through three essential practices: focus, vulnerability, and agility. What truly deserves your energy today? What shifts when you tell the truth about what you are carrying? And how can you adjust your pace without losing your purpose? These are practical habits that help protect your peace, strengthen your mindset, and build real resilience over time.

     

    At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful reminder: resilience is not about pushing through at all costs. It is about responding with honesty, wisdom, and care, honoring your limits, and leaning into community. If you have been feeling stretched thin, this episode will meet you there. 
     

     

     

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    Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorrias.com/the-power-to-persist

     

    7 min
  • “Praying With Your Feet”: A Life of Faith and Justice with Rabbi Steven Jacobs
    On this episode of The Power to Persist Podcast, Lamell McMorris sits down with longtime friend Rabbi Steven Jacobs for a powerful conversation shaped by nearly 30 years of trust, friendship, and a shared commitment to justice—featuring commentary from Rabbi Philip Lazowski.

     

    Rabbi Jacobs has spent a lifetime at the intersection of faith and moral courage, confronting antisemitism, racism, and extremism with conviction and compassion. Together, he and Lamell explore the historical bond between Black and Jewish communities, the tensions shaping that relationship today, and the urgent need to rebuild trust through honest dialogue.

     

    This conversation leans into complexity. It explores solidarity, pain, faith, and leadership—and what it truly means to pursue peace in divided times. Rabbi Lazowski’s contrasting perspective adds depth, grounded in the same commitment to dignity and shared humanity.

     

    What can we learn when we choose conversation over division? What becomes possible when we make room for complexity without losing our commitment to one another?

     

    If you care about faith, justice, and the future of Black-Jewish relations, this is a conversation worth your time.

     

     

    Follow Lamell McMorris 

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lamellmc/
    Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LamellMcMorris/playlists
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    Purchase your copy here: https://www.lamellmcmorris.com/the-power-to-persist

    49 min
  • 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 

    11 min
  • 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

    47 min
  • 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

    45 min
  • "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
    40 min
  • 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

    14 min
  • 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

    41 min
  • 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

    1 hr 2 min
  • 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 

    7 min

About The Power to Persist

From the publisher's feed

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…