In this episode, Danielle sits down with Jeremy May, executive coach and President of the International Coaching Federation Maryland chapter, to explore the intersection of curiosity, unconscious bias, and conscious leadership. What begins as a conversation about coaching quickly moves into a deeper reflection on judgment, faith, identity, and the courage it takes to examine our own belief systems. Jeremy shares how his religious upbringing shaped his early worldview and how practicing curiosity helped him confront internal bias and expand his perspective. Together, they unpack what it means to “go to the balcony” in tense moments, how privilege and identity influence how passion is perceived, and why curiosity is essential to building trust across difference. In a time when polarization can narrow our thinking, this conversation invites leaders to slow down, ask better questions, and engage culture with humility and accountability.

If you have ever felt defensive in a difficult conversation, judged for your perspective, or unsure how to bridge differences without abandoning your values, this episode will resonate. Curiosity is not about giving up your stance. It is about deepening your awareness so you can lead with integrity instead of reaction. You will walk away with practical ways to manage emotion, challenge bias, and stay grounded when conversations get hard.

Guest Bio

Jeremy May is an executive coach and leadership development facilitator with over eight years of experience supporting leaders and teams. He currently serves as President of the International Coaching Federation Maryland chapter, where he helps cultivate a strong coaching community rooted in growth and connection. Jeremy’s background includes frontline leadership in banking and extensive facilitation in areas such as unconscious bias and inclusive leadership. His work centers on conscious leadership, emotional intelligence, and the transformative power of curiosity.

What You’ll Learn

How to recognize judgment in yourself without shame and turn awareness into intentional action

A practical framework for “going to the balcony” to gain perspective in emotionally charged moments

Why curiosity is essential to addressing unconscious bias and expanding your worldview

How identity and privilege shape how passion and emotion are perceived in professional spaces

A powerful shift from making statements to asking questions when inviting others into growth

Resources Mentioned

International Coaching Federation

Listen to Jeremy's TEDx talk, Apathy to Advocacy: Embracing a World of Equity and Inclusion

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Camille Mazelev, entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of Cultivated Woman, to explore curiosity as a lifelong leadership practice. Together, they unpack how curiosity shapes personal growth, strengthens culture, and creates space for equity and inclusion in workplaces that often resist change. Camille reflects on her experience as an educated Black woman in corporate America, where asking “why” was both her strength and a source of tension. This conversation moves from executive coaching insights to lived experience, naming how curiosity builds psychological safety, challenges outdated systems, and invites us to reconsider whose perspectives are missing in the room. At a time when burnout, division, and fear can narrow our thinking, this episode reminds us that curiosity is not a soft skill. It is a courageous one.

If you have ever felt dismissed for asking hard questions, shut down in a meeting, or unsure how to engage across difference, this conversation is for you. Curiosity can feel risky, especially when you are the only one in the room who looks or thinks differently. This episode offers you a way to practice curiosity without losing yourself, so you can grow, build trust, and lead with intention rather than fear.

Guest BIO

Camille Mazelev is an entrepreneur, strategist, and certified life and engagement coach. She is the founder of Cultivated Woman, a holistic support enterprise for women entrepreneurs, and the creator of Savvy Butter Beauty, a luxury skincare line for sensitive skin. Camille holds an MBA and certifications including PMP and CCXP, and she brings a rare blend of business, finance, psychology, and lived experience to her work. She is passionate about helping women build legacies with clarity, confidence, and community at the center.

Key Takeaways

• A practical way to pause and ask whose perspective is missing before making decisions

• How to navigate resistance when your questions disrupt the status quo

• Why celebrating your growth strengthens confidence and reduces burnout

• How to let fear ride in the passenger seat while you stay in the driver’s seat of your leadership

Resources Mentioned

• Cultivated Woman

• Savvy Butter Beauty

• camillemazelev.com

• Camille Mazelev on Instagram

• Camille Mazelev on LinkedIn

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Kai Stowers (he/him), a leadership coach and consultant who supports teams in navigating conflict with empathy, curiosity, and clarity. Together they explore the deep connection between curiosity and compassion, especially in moments of cultural tension and political polarization. Kai reflects on his journey from chemist to coach, his experience introducing mindfulness in corporate spaces, and lived experience as a white, queer, trans leader learning and unlearning in real time.This conversation does not shy away from the realities of division, identity, and high stakes leadership. Instead, it asks a grounded and challenging question: What becomes possible when we choose effectiveness over being right? At its core, this episode invites leaders to examine how instinct, values, and vulnerability shape workplace culture, trust, and accountability.If you are leading in a polarized environment, this conversation will feel familiar. You may be navigating conflict on your team, holding space for different social identities, or struggling to stay open when your own values feel challenged. You might want to foster inclusion and psychological safety, but feel unsure how to move forward without losing yourself. This episode offers practical reflection and emotional clarity for staying curious while honoring your boundaries.Guest BioKai Stowers (he/ him) is a leadership development coach and consultant who partners with leaders and teams to navigate conflict in constructive and growth-oriented ways. With a background in chemistry and corporate mindfulness, Kai brings both analytical depth and grounded compassion to their work. As a queer and trans leader, he draws on lived experience to support organizations in holding complexity, building empathy, and moving beyond polarization toward more inclusive and effective cultures.What You’ll LearnHow curiosity operates as a bridge between empathy, compassion, and effective leadershipWhy polarization is a human response to perceived threat and how to work with it intentionallyA practical leadership reframe: Do you want to be right, or do you want to be effective?How to recognize when you are triggered and create space before respondingWhy long term cultural change requires engaging people beyond the “true believers”Resources MentionedMy Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa MenakemTNG Worklife podcast, https://tngworklife.substack.com/ Kai’s newsletter at kaispeaks.substack.com

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Melissa Miura, a coach for sustainability and social impact professionals, to explore curiosity as a cultural practice. Together they unpack what it means to ask questions without agenda, to listen before speaking, and to move through difference with grace. Melissa reflects on growing up in Hawaii within a deeply layered cultural landscape, navigating identity on the continent, and unlearning dominant business norms that prioritize selling over relationship. This conversation invites us to rethink leadership, belonging, and accountability in a time when culture feels polarized and conversations about equity and inclusion can feel fragile. At its core, this episode asks: What would change if we led with curiosity instead of certainty?

If you have ever felt unsure how to enter a conversation across difference, this episode is for you. You might want to stay open and connected, but worry about saying the wrong thing or being misunderstood. Melissa offers a grounded, human approach that helps you move from fear to intention. You will walk away with a clearer sense of how to stay present, extend grace, and hold yourself accountable without shutting down.

Guest BIO

Melissa Miura is a business and leadership coach for sustainability and social impact professionals. She supports clients in building regenerative practices that give back more than they extract, aligning their work with long term impact for people and planet. Raised in Hawaii within a richly diverse cultural environment, Melissa brings a deep commitment to curiosity, relational accountability, and honoring the interconnectedness of community, land, and leadership.

Key Learnings

• How to ask questions without turning them into subtle sales tactics or attempts to control outcomes

• Ways to approach conversations about culture and identity with humility and accountability

• How pausing before reacting can strengthen trust and psychological safety

• Why unlearning dominant norms around productivity and persuasion is essential for regenerative leadership

• How to discern when to stay engaged in hard conversations and when to step back with care

  
  

  Connect with Melissa Miura on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamiura/

In the premiere episode of Unpacked: Culture Chronicles, equity strategist and executive coach Danielle Marshall shares the inspiration behind launching her podcast. Danielle dives into the power of curiosity as a tool for bridging divides and fostering meaningful connections across cultures.

Acknowledging the challenges of a polarized world and the loneliness many feel today, Danielle reflects on the hope and potential that come from building relationships across lines of difference. She offers stories, insights, and practical strategies to help listeners take the first steps toward deeper connections—starting with curiosity.

Tune in to this inspiring introduction to the series, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to join a growing community of curious listeners.