Upcoming Episodes
From Burnout to Boundless Living: How Black Women Navigate Professional Burnout
In episode three of the I've Been Thinking...podcast we chat with Dr. Taniqua Miller a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist with a special focus on midlife/menopause health. After 14 years of practice, Dr. Miller took a step back from clinical care to center herself and her journey of burnout. She is a wife, mother of three children, and the founder of TaniquaMD, an educational platform for women in midlife. She shares how she navigated the pain and shame of burnout, the specific challenges Black women face when navigating professional pause, and how she created a life, and company, that now supports her in living a boundless life.
About Taniqua Miller, MD
Dr. Taniqua Miller received her undergraduate degree in psychology at Yale University. After completing her medical degree at Harvard Medical School, she went on to complete her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. As a 1st generation college graduate and physician, she is a committed educator and advocate for underrepresented medical students and physician trainees. She has been recognized by the Emory School of Medicine and the Association of Professors in Gynecology and Obstetrics for her teaching excellence and innovative curriculum development. After 14 years of practice, Dr. Miller took a step back from clinical care to center herself and her journey of burnout. She tells her own story of professional burnout to empower other women over 40 to live a boundless midlife. She is a wife, mother of three children, and the founder of TaniquaMD, an educational platform for women in midlife. In her spare time, she loves to sleep, visit the beach, and hang out on the couch with her family.
Leadership, Innovation, and Racial Equity in Liver Heath
Donna R. Cryer, JD Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Global Liver Institute.
Dealing with professional anxiety, career fear, and work worry
With tech layoffs and job offers being rescinded, all against the backdrop of an impending recession and a never-ending pandemic, career anxiety is at an all-time high. We're talking all about professional anxiety, career fear, and work worry with Clinical Psychologist, Author, and Content Creator Dr. Jessica Borushok, Ph.D., C.Psych. Dr. Jessica helps busy minds get unstuck, out of their own way, and back to their best selves. Through one-on-one work in private practice and her popular course, Busy Mind Reboot: 30 Days to Your Best Self, Dr. Jessica has helped hundreds of productive procrastinators, overwhelmed high-achievers, recovering perfectionists, and self-proclaimed "control freaks" transform their relationship with their thoughts and optimize their world.
As an award-winning author and recognized expert in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dr. Jessica has co-authored numerous books and self-growth tools, including The ACT Deck. She has been featured in The List TV, Art of Charm Podcast, Thrive Global, and The Good Men Project.
Follow Dr. Jessica at any one of the links below.
Therapy: https://www.busymindreboot.com
Website: https://www.busymindpsychologist.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theacttherapist
TikTok: @theacttherapist
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU32xZFYYe0D2CQD9g4AawA
Effortless Authenticity in the World of Tech with Tia Lee Fowlkes
One of my favorite guests to date, Tia Fowlkes joins the podcast to share how she navigates bringing her authentic self to every space she occupies. Tia is a recent Computer Science graduate of Michigan State University.
While her minor was in business, she entered the tech industry to explore her passion for customer satisfaction and fostering a culture of diversity & inclusion. Tia joined Google in February 2021 as program manager for the Beta Testing team within Google Hardware.
As a Detroit native, she spends her free time making websites, sewing, and raising her french bulldog, Zeus! Tia is also a freelance website designer who helps students and professionals improve their resumé by transferring it to their personal website. She also helps small businesses that are looking to establish their website before an upcoming launch.
You can receive a free consultation at www.tialeefowlkes.com.
Lessons Learned 2020
When we chose November 7, 2020 as the date to have this panel discussion, Lessons Learned, I knew we would be post-election and that it would inform a conversation with fellow Women of Color. What I did not anticipate is that just a few hours before recording, we would find out that we would be living through the knowledge that the First Woman of Color would be named to Vice President-elect.
With a global pandemic, massive changes in the dialogue around race and equality, and industry on the verge of collapse, 2020 brought many painful inflection points for many. For Bryetta Calloway, Actress, Singer, Producer, and Storyteller, it also gave birth to a podcast, I've Been Thinking..., that would be a place of painful, fun, cathartic, and necessary conversations. With these conversations spanning issues such as arts and advocacy, diversity in theatre and Hollywood, and how to navigate an ever-shifting global economy, she has built a tribe of amazing Black and Brown voices that are engaging, exciting, and empowering. With less than two months left in what is a historically painful year, she is bringing together a group of Black and Brown women who have challenged her, inspired her, and encouraged her. This FREE event is a must-attend for anyone looking to attach language to the lessons this year has brought and, more importantly, to share how these lessons, painful, powerful, and positive, will inform the way we show up in 2021.
Listen to a very special episode featuring:
Artist and Founder of Jalloh Studios, Mariama Jalloh
Actress and Founder of Black Girls Do Theater, Renee Harrison
Actress, Brennyn Lark
Actress, Ashley Versher, and
Actress and Activist, Nikita Chaudhry
Musical Theatre Careers post COVID-19 with Maggie Bera of Actor Aesthetic
Musical Theatre Careers post COVID-19 with Maggie Bera of Actor Aesthetic
As an actor, there is so much uncertainty in trying to build a career and for many artists, 2020 has meant an unplanned pause in your career. Maggie Bera, the creative mind behind Actor Aesthetic is an NYC based actor, blogger, and podcaster who has dedicated hours to helping actors prepare for a career and navigate the industry. Maggie is such a clear voice to thousands of young actors trying to understand their place in this ever-changing career. Maggie shares with us how adaptability is the career-defining trait of our industry. To learn this new industry is the next best step for those who want to still pursue a career in the theatre.
Episode Notes
Maggie Bera is an NYC-based actress with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Texas State University. Regionally she's performed at the Fireside Theatre, Theatre Under The Stars, and Connecticut Repertory Theatre. Maggie has also guest-starred in Showtime's The Big C starring Laura Linney, and has appeared in numerous commercials, print and radio ads. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.
In 2017, Maggie created Actor Aesthetic - a blog, podcast, and online learning community - to continue educating artists pursuing a career in the theatre industry. She currently has four online courses available, including The Essential Guide to Instagram for Actors, Build Your Audition Book, How To Successfully Submit To Casting Directors (Without An Agent Or Manager), and The Ultimate Guide To Preparing For Musical Theatre College Auditions (In 5 Steps!). In early 2020, she wrote her first e-Book, Marketing 101 For Actors: An Actor’s Guide To Successful Branding, and has since taught her workshop, An Actor’s Online Presence, to college programs in the United States.
Building A Corporate Future Based on Equity and Inclusion with Kaylan Clemons
Building A Corporate Future Based on Equity and Inclusion with Kaylan Clemons
Navigating the experience of being a Woman of Color in business can be difficult and not always easy to explain. Kaylan Clemons brings to our platform a shared experience with many other women of color in trying to navigate the unspoken but often career-defining challenges of being incorporated into the corporate culture but not necessarily included. How does one navigate showing strength but not being labeled difficult or showing leadership without being called controlling? How does one bring their authentic self to their work when that is not often understood or appreciated? Kaylan and I chat about this unique path.
Part 2 with Nicole Johnson: Coming to terms with racial trauma and why now is the time to edify our collective experiences
In Part 2 of my conversation with Nicole Johnson, we delve deeper into the carried trauma of racial injustice. Her recounting of the times in which she has faced and survived racial gaslighting and oppression in the workplace is one that many will find both enlightening and sadly familiar. How does one navigate the betrayal of supposed allies? What does it take to get the point of accountability for the spaces and places that invite Black actors in only not to be safe spaces for them? How do we do the work of healing ourselves enough to be a part of the solution? Nicole Johnson, an artist, storyteller, and advocate walks us through her personal experiences with racial trauma, how she's working through her own healing and why her new initiative EDIFY is her commitment to equipping others with the tools to bring equity to all the spaces they inhabit.
About M.O.V.E: In her junior year of high school Nicole Javanna Johnson established Javanna Productions a non-profit 501c3 organization that presents a yearly effort entitled M.O.V.E. (Motivation Opportunity Vision Entertainment). In this effort, members are given the resources, encouragement and platforms needed to creatively raise funds and awareness for social issues and causes. Through M.O.V.E Practical Learning curriculums and artistic production activities, members of all ages participate in civics, artistry and community service in after school, summer programming and week-long traveling intensives year round.
Website: https://www.proudtobeamover.com/
Instagram: @proud2bamover
Part 1 with Guest Nicole Johnson: How Black Artists can connect art and social justice to make change
Nicole Johnson is an artist, storyteller, and facilitator who has dedicated much of her career to helping artists dig deeper into their own stories and leverage them for social change. As one deeply connected to spaces and places where social justice is being actively discussed, Nicole brings a unique perspective about how Black actors and artists can be more comfortable claiming their authentic creative space while holding the systems we navigate accountable.
During this episode we discuss her production company and the M.O.V.E. initiative she founded which helps young artists learn how to move for the causes they care about artistically; the reckoning of our creative industry; and why now more than ever the need for honesty and transparency is critical for healing our creative sector.
About M.O.V.E: In her junior year of high school Nicole Javanna Johnson established Javanna Productions a non-profit 501c3 organization that presents a yearly effort entitled M.O.V.E. (Motivation Opportunity Vision Entertainment). In this effort, members are given the resources, encouragement and platforms needed to creatively raise funds and awareness for social issues and causes. Through M.O.V.E Practical Learning curriculums and artistic production activities, members of all ages participate in civics, artistry and community service in after school, summer programming and week-long traveling intensives year round.
Website: https://www.proudtobeamover.com/
Instagram: @proud2bamover
Faith, Race, and Influence: A Conversation with Myunique Ferguson of @instagramforbelievers
You may not know her name but Myunique Ferguson is the woman behind a popular Christian Instagram account @instagramforbelievers. She is a blogger, youth pastor and reluctant social media influencer who has created a space where more than 80,000 believers access inspiration, hope and community. However, as the country reeled from the heightened focus around race and justice, Myunique discovered that balancing her desire to highlight social justice with her commitment to creating a space for believers to be connected more difficult than anticipated. How does one navigate the desire to show-up fully in the spaces and places where they are called.
Myunique is a woman whose love of God and faith has pushed her to be honest about the things and causes she believes are at the heart of a nation at the cusp of change. She shares with us how she navigated showing the Black face behind the popular Instagram account, the difficulty navigating those who don't want their faith tainted by "politics" and why she believes that her mission and purpose hasn't changed despite the ever-changing times.
Black Women in Business: The Struggles, Wins, and Hope for the Future with Guest Sammetra Daniels
Sammetra Daniels joins the I've Been Thinking...platform to share a candid conversation about the nuances of being Black in business. We discuss how the current focus on diversity and inclusion in the workplace is shifting the conversations around perceived equity in business; what sustainability in diversity and inclusion work looks like for Black people; and why doing the "work" of educating within the spaces we occupy is a balancing act that must be navigated carefully.
Sammetra shares her history growing up in a predominantly Black community just outside the tech epicenter on the West Coast and how she has grown comfortable occupying more spaces as her most authentic self.
Navigating Hollywood as a Black Actress with Guest Ashley Verver
Pursuing a career in the arts can be riddled with heartbreak, restarts, and tons of self-reflection. The ability to tenaciously pursue your creative path while navigating the specific challenges of being a woman of color can be even tougher. Luckily, there is a community of amazing Black actresses and performers committed to uplifting and facilitating space for their fellow sisters.
Ashley Versher is an amazing film, tv, and stage actress who spent time with me chatting about the unique sisterhood of Black Actresses and why this is a moment to be even more committed to authenticity of self, experience, and expression through our craft. Speaking with Ashley was a bit like coming home. She's that rare mix of thoughtfulness, genuineness, and love of the industry. We discuss how to be a part of the change of the industry we love all while taking care of ourselves emotionally and mentally.
The Black Femme Creative Journey to Agency and Authenticity with Guest Doriana Diaz
Somewhere at the intersection of Black femme art, creative and personal agency, and Black Womxn wellness you'll find visual artist and Brand owner Doriana Diaz. Doriana spent some time chatting with us on the I've Been Thinking platform. Her assuredness in who she is as an artist and a womxn is an example of the space many Black female creatives are finding themselves. With newfound agency as the collective affirmation around the Black experience continues to grown Doriana shares her insights on how to be rooted in your creative work, how to stay true to your authentic voice, and the power of never questioning the audience and communities you serve. She is an absolute shining jewel in the Black digital creative space.
What it Means to be a Black or Brown Woman in Business with Guest Kastoory Kazi
While much of the country grapples with racial justice, equity in the business space, and a shifting narrative around diversity and inclusion, Black and Brown women are creating and holding space for the amplification and the affirmation of their experiences in life and in business. Guest Kastoory Kazi shares with us her experiences as an Indian woman navigating the business world. We discuss the unique challenges women of color face when navigating career growth, authenticity in their work lives, and the nuances of being a Brown versus Black woman in business. Kastoory is a skilled marketer working at the intersection of creative and growth marketing for many years in NYC. She's an amazing businesswoman and a friend.
Helping Actors and other Creatives Navigate a Career Pivot in the Midst of COVID-19 with Guest Eli Bohemond
In this episode of I've Been Thinking we have an in-depth discussion with International Career Coach, Altruist, and Recovering Management Consultant Eli Bohemond. With Broadway closed until 2021 and the entertainment industry on an indefinite hold many artists are struggling to find ways to pivot careers in the short-term to meet their financial needs. Eli shares the ways creatives can navigate the ambiguity and uncertainty of the current job market. Eli helps us identify the skills and abilities that creatives have that can be transferrable to the job market today. We discuss the power of leaning into your authentic artistic personality and why the desire to do more during this forced downtime may not be the best use of your time and energies. Trust me, you'll learn a lot and walk away with tangible steps to implement today!
About Eli Bohemond: After navigating 5 successful career transitions from management consulting, business development, start-ups, and higher education, Eli’s spent the last 6 years supporting 2K+ individuals across 90 countries with purposeful career and life transitions of their own. He’s built, inspired, and led teams of 100s of career coaches to support 1000s of career changers in landing meaningful jobs with a 93% placement rate at global companies like WeWork in NYC and SEVEN Career Coaching and Hult International Business School in London. He is a co-founder of Your Career Strategy and a top-ranked workshop facilitator who is striving to make coaching more accessible to millions of people.
LinkedIn: : https://www.linkedin.com/in/elicareercoach/ I
nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamelibohemond/
Website: www.yourcareerstrategy.com - coming soon
Calming Your Busy Creative Mind with Guest Clinical and Health Psychologist Dr. Jessica Borushok
Is your mind clamoring with all the stimuli from the world around you? As creatives, our minds are fertile ground for imagination and innovation but, has your busy creative mind been in overdrive lately? Dr. Jessica Borushok, The Busy Mind Psychologist, stops by the I've Been Thinking podcast to help us get unstuck from our busy minds so we can live our best and most authentic lives.
Finding Authenticity in Your Art with Guest Edwin Aguila
We have musician and actor Edwin Aguila on the podcast sharing his journey to being an authentic artist. In middle and high school, Edwin used writing as a way to channel his feelings of being bullied. However, it was near his graduation that he discovered the love for performing which has led to his work in an off-Broadway production and the release of his very own full-length hip hop album. Edwin shares how his love of New York and his heritage fuel him to be authentic in his art.
Navigating the BIPOC Experience in Hollywood with Guest Carolina Vazquez
Today we sit down for a conversation with Carolina Vazquez. Carolina discusses how she is viewing the current momentum around diversity and equity within the entertainment industry as a Chicane/Chicanx cinematographer living in LA. Born and raised in Santa Monica, California, Carolina grew up with a wild imagination and extremely visual gift of oral storytelling. She decided to take her skill of scaring kids with haunting tales at Halloween to New York City where she attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Is Wellness Attainable in 2020? A Discussion with Wellness and Business Expert Jess Glazer
We have a conversation with the amazing Jess Glazer on this episode of I've Been Thinking. She shares her tips for leading a life centered around wellness and how she is personally navigating a year filled with constant challenges and helps us approach the idea of being well in all areas of our life. Jess is a full-time entrepreneur (business coach), CEO, speaker, philanthropist, and former celebrity personal trainer based in NYC
Navigating the Unknown when Talking about Race and Hollywood with Guest Melissa McDonald
We have an open and honest conversation with LA-based performance artist Melissa McDonald about how to navigate the difficulties that come with non-people of color trying to understand and address systemic racism and oppression. Melissa is an Irish/Salvadoran American who's personal work confronting race and culture has her facing her own privileges as a white-presenting person while working to navigate the sharp learning curve of being an ally to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color.
Being a Part of the Transformation of an Industry with Guest Nikita Chaudhry
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Showing Up and Doing the Important Work Every Day with Guest Mariama Jalloh
We have the great privilege of chatting with Mariama Jalloh, a NYC based community strategist and digital curator. As the founder of Jalloh Studios, she is also creating safe spaces for Black women artists and creators to cultivate sisterhood, share resources, and collaborate.
Taking a Fresh Look at Theatre and Racial Identity with Maya Richardson
Maya Richardson (she/her) is an actress, singer, writer, and activist using the digital space to explore racial identity and artistic expression. We sat down with Maya to discuss how she is navigating her goal to be an unrelentingly authentic artist all while championing the communities and causes that matter most to her. You'll love her beautiful soul and genuineness. Instagram: @mayarichardsun
The Power of Finding Your Creative Tribe with Guest Patrick Ladonis
We have the chance to sit down with producer, writer, and actor Patrick Ladonis, a multi-hyphenate in his own right. He is the creative mind behind the new hit web series, SCALES, a show about three friends who continue to face the struggle of balancing their lives with their careers and relationships with those they love. Patrick shares his creative journey, how he has embraced his unique and authentic voice in his work, and how he has cultivated a tribe of creatives to bring his visions to life.
A Love Letter to Black Women in Theatre with Guest Renee Harrison
Renee Harrison, actor and the founder of Black Girls Do Theatre has lovingly created an online community and curation of culture and resources for black identifying women in theater with her digital platform @blackgirlsdotheatre. In this episode of I've Been Thinking we grapple with the questions of sisterhood, community, and a reckoning about racial equity in our current global terrain.