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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of The Your Story Matters Podcast, I have a  conversation with Dr. Jennifer Cheatham. Dr. Cheatham currently serves as a senior lecturer and the faculty chair of Harvard University’s Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader. She served in education for close to 30 years working in both public education and public education serving non-profits. She served in various roles as teacher, reform coordinator, program manager, coach, executive director of curriculum and instruction, chief of instruction of Chicago Public Schools and finally superintendent of Madison Metropolitan School District for six years before transitioning to lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Along with Christina Grant and Ross Wiener, Dr. Cheatham is the co-editor of the book, Superintendent as Civic Leader: Stewarding the Future of Public Education.

I am so excited for you to get to know and learn from Dr. Jennifer Cheatham.

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HGSE Superintendent as Civic Leader Program applications due 10/8/26

Book: Superintendent as Civic Leader: Stewarding the Future of Public Education

AASA School Administrator Magazine Sept. 2026 Issue Featuring Dr. Jennifer Cheatham's article, A New Leadership Paradigm: Superintendent as Civic Leader: Uniquely positioned to restor public trust and reimagine public schooling's next era

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. Today, I have a conversation with Dr. Martin Yousef. Dr. Yousef is the Associate Dean at the University of La Verne’s LaFetra College of Education. With more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in higher education, Dr. Yousef brings a unique blend of academic, operational, and human resources expertise to his work. His career spans key roles including professor, academic administrator, chief operating officer, and HR leader, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of how institutions function and thrive. Dr. Yousef has led major initiatives in academic operations, curriculum innovation, and program development, with a focus on designing high-quality, student-centered learning experiences across modalities. He is deeply committed to building and sustaining strategic partnerships, particularly with community colleges, K–12 districts, and regional organizations, to expand pathways, strengthen leadership pipelines, and advance educational equity. His research interests include online learning, generational preferences in education delivery, leadership styles, change management, and the role of HR in talent development and retention. He is also one of the co-designers of the one year old, still new Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Program.

I am so excited for you to learn about and from Dr. Martin Yousef today! 

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University of La Verne Doctorate in Educational Leadership Program

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast features a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. If you haven’t already, follow The Your Story Matters Podcast on your favorite podcast platform so you know when the episodes drop. We can also find the The Your Story Matters Podcast on YouTube at the Dr. Renae Bryant Channel, so please like and subscribe. 

On this episode of The Your Story Matters Podcast I have a conversation with Dr. Cynthia Rapaido. Dr. Rapaido has over 30 years of experience in K-12 education, having served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and board member. A researcher, coach, award-winning leader, and author, Dr. Rapaido holds an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education and a M.A. in Educational Administration. Her dedication extends to higher education, where she has contributed as a faculty lecturer, dissertation advisor, IRB board member, university field supervisor, placement coordinator and program co-director. Her passion for teaching and mentoring is evident in her continuing role as an educator and educational leadership coach. She was commended by the ACSA and received the 2013 California Secondary Co-Administrators of the Year award. In 2014, the National Association of Secondary School Principals recognized her as a finalist for the Assistant Principal of the Year award for the State of California. She is the author of the award-winning book, How to Step Up Your School Leadership Game.

I am so excited for you to get to know and learn from Dr. Cynthia Rapaido today. 

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How to Step Up Your School Leadership Game 

All Author Website: Dr. Cynthia Rapaido

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast features a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I have a conversation with Amanda Jones. Amanda is the author of the best selling book, That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America and is featured in the Emmy Award nominated documentary, The Librarians. Amanda has been an educator for 25 years, at the same middle school she attended as a child. She has served as President of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians and won numerous awards for her work in school libraries, including School Library Journal Librarian of the Year. A sought-after keynote speaker, Amanda is a frequent volunteer for state and national library associations, as well as a co-founder of the Livingston Parish Library Alliance and founding member of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. She lives in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. I am so excited for you to be inspired by Amanda Jones today. 

Amanda Jones Official Website

LinkTree

Book Amanda Jones as a Speaker

The Librarians Documentary

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast, I have a conversation with Christen A. Irving. Christen is the Founder and CEO for Irving Media Consultants, the Director of Revenue and Audience Engagement for Black Voice News and an inspirational speaker. She and Irving Media Consultants are hosting the Small Business Sustainability Summit on Friday, August 28th from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM in Riverside. I am so excited for you to learn from and about Christen Irving today. 

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https://irvingmedia.net

Flyer for 8/28/26 Event: https://bit.ly/4wU7esd

Ad: Classroom Dynamics Podcast: A Teacher Podcast with Adam Todd

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. This week I have a conversation with Dr. Talisa Sullivan. Dr. Sullivan is an instructional and transformational leader with twenty-five years of experience serving K–12 schools, county offices, and universities across Southern California. Her journey has carried her through classrooms, alternative and comprehensive schools, district and county systems, and higher education spaces in Riverside, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties, always with a focus on students and communities who have been historically marginalized. Along the way, she has become known as a bilingual educator, equity-driven strategist, and compassionate mentor who helps schools design learning environments where every learner is seen, valued, and supported to succeed. She is the author of the Quantum 10 Framework, founder of the Q10 Conference and the Transformational Leadership Consulting Service and serves on the Mosaic Legacy Foundation Board, a non-profit started by retired Riverside County Office of Education Superintendent, Dr. Judy White. Talisa also has a new book coming out soon. I am excited for you to get to know and learn from Dr. Talisa Sullivan today.

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IG: @dr.sulli

Transformational Leadership Consulting Services

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this 50th  episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I have a conversation with Dr. Yvette Smith. Dr. Yvette Smith Mason is the recently retired Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Professional Development where she served for ten years at Wayne County Public Schools in Goldsboro, North Carolina. She retired on June 30, 2025 with 32 years of active education experience. Now she serves at Newport News PS in VA as Executive Director of Human Resources. She is a highly awarded leader and was awarded Dr. Mason the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award, which was designed to empower transformational education leaders for North Carolina Public Schools.  

I am so excited for you to get to know and learn from Dr. Yvette Smith today.

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories.  On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I have a conversation with Danna Thomas. Danna Thomas is the author and founder of Happy Teacher Revolution: a global initiative to support the mental health and wellness of educators. The organization has supported thousands of teachers across the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Brazil, Senegal and now Ireland by providing educators with the time and space to feel, deal, and be real about the social-emotional demands of the job. When she’s not playing saxophone in Baltimore, Danna lives on her converted school bus, “Begonia,” as she continues her own journey of claiming and sustaining joy. 

I am so excited for you to learn from and about Danna Thomas and the Happy Teacher Revolution today.  

IG: @dannathomas @happyteacherrevolution @happyteacherfoundation

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Happy Teacher Revolution

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I speak with Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph.D. Dr. Eakins is an experienced educational leader with over fifteen years of experience in K–12 and higher education. He has served as a teacher, special education director, school principal, and adjunct professor. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Eakins focuses on creating learning environments where all students feel accepted, supported, and included. He is the author of multiple books, including What Are You Bringing to the Potluck? How School Leaders Set the Table for a Community of Belonging and Meaningful Classroom Management: Adapting Your Teaching to Build Culture and Community. Additionally, Dr. Eakins hosts the "Leading Equity Podcast" and is the founder of the Purposeful Teaching Academy. His work centers on student success, school leadership, and building a strong sense of belonging in schools. I am so excited for you to learn about and from Dr. Sheldon Eakins today.  

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IG: @sheldoneakins

IG: @eakinsfitness

Purposeful Teaching Academy

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Our brains are hardwired for connection and stories. This podcast is all about amplifying both. Now more than ever our stories matter. Each week The Your Story Matters Podcast will feature a new guest sharing their "why" and stories. On this episode of the Your Story Matters Podcast I have a conversation with Sophie Tran. Sophie Tran has served as Communications Director and Field Representative for Assembly District 65 in California, a Vietnamese language freelance interpreter, Vietnamese television host for VietFace TV, SBTN, and Little Saigon TV, as well as a media buyer and planner for Chereen Media Advertising Agency. If that isn’t enough she is also a model, wife, mother, author and co-creator of the Award Winning Mommy & Me Vietnamese YouTube show and Podcast with her sister Jennifer Tran. Learn how her family legacy influenced their show and how they became Silver YouTube Award Creators.

I am so excited for you to learn about and from Sophie Tran today.

YouTube: Mommy & Me Vietnamese

Mommy & Me Vietnamese Book

Spotify: Mommy & Me Vietnamese

Apple Music: Mommy & Me Vietnamese

FB: Mommy & Me Vietnamese

FB: Sophie Tran

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