Drppodcast

Dr. Shayla Walker is a licensed clinical social worker, professor, workshop facilitator, and public speaker. With bachelor and master degrees in social work (BSW and MSW) and a PhD in Transformative Social Change, she brings over a decade of experience addressing mental health, belonging, racial justice, and restorative healing. Known for blending scholarship with authentic lived experience, Dr. Walker delivers engaging, relatable, and transformative experiences for higher education institutions, nonprofits, state agencies, conferences, and corporate DEI initiatives.

Maya Dionne is a bestselling author, widow coach, and CEO/Founder of Purpose2Platform LLC and Widows DO Bounce Back LLC. With over 20 years of experience in IT and writing, she blends technology, creative strategy, and behavioral psychology to empower writers in building their platforms in one business; and helping widows create lives they truly love in the other.Through Purpose2Platform, Maya helps aspiring authors take their books from concept to bestseller, offering coaching, project management, and marketing services. Her work has been featured on national widowhood advocacy stages like Camp Widow, she has accomplished 5 bestselling books as a solo and collaborative author, and she has written for major publications such as Parents and Bumble. Maya has also been featured on FOX, WUSA9, The CW, and CBS, sharing her message with widows worldwide.As a coach at Finding #NextYOU, she provides transformational support for widows, helping them heal with intention, rediscover their purpose, and move forward with

Sharvette Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Productions, is more than a business leader and marketing consultant; she’s THE PLATFORM BUILDER®. Her vision, ingenuity, and extensive 25-year background in corporate America at Capital One Bank, coupled with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University, have crystallized her reputation as a foremost authority in the marketing landscape.Sharvette’s unique approach, encapsulated in her trademarked framework THE PLATFORM BUILDER®, has become a beacon for small businesses seeking to amplify their brand.Sharvette has been featured in publications such as Yahoo! Finance, AARP, Huffington Post, HOPE for Women Magazine, CBNation and Sista Sense Magazine. She has authored seven book collaborations. Since 2008, her radio show “The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show” has produced over 770+ episodes and has been a platform for marketing insights, powerful conversations, and interviews, resonating with listeners and viewers across multiple audio and live-streami

CiNease Freeman is a Richmond, Virginia-based colorectal cancer survivor and advocate, diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer in June 2022 at the age of 28. She is active in raising awareness, particularly around the rise of young-onset colorectal cancer, and is featured in national campaigns.

Dr. Cary L. Goodman has a sincere passion to empower faith communities to operate at their fullest capacity in areas of health promotion, advocacy programs, outreach and development. For over 18 years, he has been dedicated to establishing and expanding health programs across the United States by building the capacity to address health disparities that greatly impact congregations and the communities they serve by strategically leveraging faith-based and community partnership to impact sustainability. Currently, Cary serves as the Faith Based Program & Engagement Consultant for The Balm In Gilead, Inc. where he works diligently at the intersection of faith and public health nationally to address the burden of various diseases the impact African American communities. A highly skilled strategist and national speaker adept at leading relationship building and engagement opportunities, he has forged various faith based and public health community partnerships and coalitions. An ordained minister, Cary deems h

Elmer Dixon, a longtime activist for racial justice, grew up a witness to the Civil Rights Movement and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Seattle, WA in the 60s.He was one of the founders of Seattle's chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1968. Only 17 at the time, he helped to shape a new world, a new place, a new country, where all people were respected, regardless of color and position in life.Now Dixon runs his own business in Seattle and . is a diversity trainer who speaks about his experiences with the Black Panther Party. He is the author of Die Standing: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant; a memoir that can help instruct today's social justice activists on how to organize the community based on the successful strategies of the Black Panther Party to achieve change in a continued climate of police brutality, institutional racism, and vast socioeconomic discrepancies for Black and Brown people.

Edna Elaine Glover is a retired schoolteacher from South Carolina School Districts. Teaching social studies to high school students, her career spanned 30 years. Ms. Glover grew up in the era of segregated schools and the Jim Crow South. She was among the few African American teachers that were hired to teach in integrated schools post segregation. Ms. Glover received a Bachelor of Arts from South Carolina State University and a master’s degree in education from The Citadel in Charleston. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Recently, she has taken up quilting as a treasured journey of preserving her mother’s legacy.

Miyoshi Juergensen, PhD (she/her/hers) is an educator, scholar, and practitioner whose work centers Black educational history, teacher leadership, and equity-driven school and community improvement. A former classroom teacher and district leader, Dr. Juergensen brings more than two decades of experience in education and a deep commitment to understanding how Black educators have historically built, sustained, and visioned caring and consequential schools and communities under conditions of constraint.Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Juergensen’s research explores Black teacher leadership in segregated and marginalized schooling contexts, the intellectual histories of Black educators in the U.S. South, and how these traditions inform contemporary improvement efforts in schools, particularly those serving historically underserved communities. For her, Black History Month lasts 365 days, as she emphasizes that Black history

Erin Poyant is the founder of #hATTRNextGen™, a community-driven movement focused on raising awareness of V122I hereditary amyloidosis within the Black community. Inspired by her late father’s journey with the disease and her own experience as a gene carrier, Erin’s work centers on honoring legacy while encouraging earlier understanding and more informed family health conversations.In another capacity, Erin works with the Amyloidosis Research Consortium (ARC), supporting healthcare providers and systems with education and resources that enhance understanding of all forms of amyloidosis. Together, her community advocacy and professional experience reflect a commitment to improving awareness, access, and equity across the amyloidosis landscape.

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 38 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity of faith institutions in the United States and Africa to eradicate health disparities by promoting health education and services within their local communities.Born in the heart of the south, this Lincolnville native always shares a special love for South Carolina. Dr. Seele received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science from Clark Atlanta University in 1976 & 1979, respectively, later receiving her Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of New Rochelle, NY, in 2007.As a pioneer and community activist, Dr. Seele is known for her work in forging public health & faith-based partnerships for engaging individuals in health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Time Magazine 100, who named Dr. Seele One of the Most Influenti

Bishop Dickie L. Robbins is a dynamic visionary, community leader, public speaker, preacher, teacher, husband, and father.Bishop Robbins is a strong believer in equipping the believer to embrace the truth of who they are in Christ. They are to influence the world around them by having signs and wonders following them. The life of the believer should be such an example, of who Christ is, that those perishing are drawn to Christ by the life they live.Along with his wife, Bishop Robbins founded and is currently the Senior Pastor of Life In Christ Ministries in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Joanne Mitchell-McLaren is a Lifelong Patient Advocate and Educator, Clinical Expert and Rare Disease Specialist. Her overall goal is to prepare and provide patients and caregivers with the awareness, support and education they need as it relates to their health. She has provided tools, education and encouragement that patients need to feel confident to have courageous conversations with their health care providers; in hopes to empower them to make the best decision and to use their voice to advocate for themselves.Patient advocacy is her birth right. She believe the greatest gift one can provide is the gift of a servant, especially to those with vulnerabilities in our community regardless of their diagnosis, neighborhood one resides in or any other health disparity reason.

Lawrence C. Harris is a nationally recognized Youth Empowerment Speaker with a dynamic voice for teens and young adults facing self-doubt, insecurity, and internal barriers. Through his powerful lived experience—overcoming childhood abuse, Autism, and complex PTSD—Lawrence has helped thousands of young people build unshakable self-worth and rise above challenges that once held them back.

Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, Inc., a not-for-profit organization, is a phenomenal trailblazer. Dr. Seele is celebrating over 38 years of providing vision and leadership in areas of technical support to strengthen the capacity of faith institutions in the United States and Africa to eradicate health disparities by promoting health education and services within their local communities.Born in the heart of the south, this Lincolnville native always shares a special love for South Carolina. Dr. Seele received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science from Clark Atlanta University in 1976 & 1979, respectively, later receiving her Doctor of Humane Letters from the College of New Rochelle, NY, in 2007.As a pioneer and community activist, Dr. Seele is known for her work in forging public health & faith-based partnerships for engaging individuals in health promotion and disease prevention interventions. Time Magazine 100, who named Dr. Seele One of the Most Influenti

Kaye Woodard is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-Founder of Livalytics, Inc. - a system that combines biometric analytics and health insights to help businesses and individuals achieve measurable performance improvements.Her experience includes leading process improvements that deliver measurable results—most notably, playing a key role in launching the iconic Redbox video 'robot,' which transformed video rental through automation and logistics innovation. This experience reinforced her belief in the power of technology to enhance customer experience while improving business performance.Building on this expertise, she designed Livalytics. Livalytics reflects her commitment to data-driven optimization, empowering organizations to support healthier, more productive teams while maximizing their return on investment.

Tanya Simmons Reid is a visionary leader, communications strategist and mental health advocate. In 2018, she founded Skyrocket Communications, Inc. to help organizations "rise brilliantly" in their ability to serve clients, customers and communities. Under her leadership, Skyrocket Communications also produces signature events and apparel that spark awareness, drive change and foster meaningful conversations.With a distinguished career spanning communications, marketing, business development, branding, sales, donor engagement, media relations and event management, Tanya has built a reputation for delivering innovative solutions that amplify impact and achieve measurable success.Committed to addressing mental health disparities in Black and Hispanic communities, Tanya launched the SoundMinds Mental Health Awareness & Solutions Conference on July 15, 2021. Held annually during Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this advocacy initiative brings critical conversations to the forefront and provid

Cary L. Goodman, a native of Richmond, VA, has a sincere passion to empower faith communities to operate at their fullest capacity in areas of health promotion, advocacy programs, outreach, and development. For over 16 years, he has been dedicated to establishing and expanding health programs across the United States by building the capacity to address health disparities that greatly impact congregations and the communities they serve by strategically leveraging faith-based and community partnerships to impact sustainability.Currently, Cary is a Program & Strategic Development Consultant for The Balm In Gilead, Inc., where he works diligently at the intersection of faith and public health nationally to address the burden of various diseases that impact African American communities. A highly skilled strategist and national speaker adept at leading relationship building and engagement opportunities, he has forged various faith-based and public health community partnerships and coalitions. With a sincere pas

Delores Fedrick is a multifaceted public health leader with over 50 years of pharmaceutical and medical sales, grant writing, nonprofit administration & public health literacy experience. She is the author of The Complete Guide to Developing Nutritional Skills: A One-Stop Dietary Solution for the Entire Family and Diverse Literacy Levels (First and Second Editions). She is passionate about ensuring everyone has adequate information to live healthy lives. 

Bio of Janet M. Taylor, Owner, Totally Organized, Inc. For the past 28 years, I have been assisting clients in creating a space that attracts more abundance, love, and happiness in their lives. My expertise includes transforming cluttered rooms into functional and creative spaces, organizing the personal and professional spaces of executives, and downsizing offices.As a speaker, I have presented at the Philadelphia Home Show and conducted workshops at the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ Annual Conference. In 2020, I gave a webinar for a corporate client in New York that was attended by over 600 people.I have also hosted and produced the weekly podcast “Got Clutter? Get Organized with Janet” for over a decade, which has received over 1,000,000 downloads and was ranked the Number 2 Organizing Podcast. The show covers a variety of topics, including how to get organized before getting married, how to be an organized pet owner, and how to organize your pantry for better health.In addition to my speaking and p

Craig Ascue is a humble visionary leader, entrepreneur, and community builder rooted in the Gullah Geechee heritage of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. As CEO of Ascue’s Paint and Body Shop, a second-generation collision repair business founded by his father in 1968, Craig blends tradition, technical excellence, and team leadership. Since taking the helm in 1995 after graduating from South Carolina State University with a degree in Marketing, Craig grew the company’s revenues, maintained consistent profitability, and in 2007 relocated operations to a 10,000 sq. ft. modern facility. Craig did this while assisting his father in developing the now Ascues Automotive Complex in Mt Pleasant, S.C. His team of 16 technicians and administrative professionals continues to uphold a reputation for integrity, excellence, and community commitment as they repair cars daily. They have been consistently voted Best Body Shop in Mt Pleasant, S.C. for several years.In 2020, Craig found Ascue Capital to explore and formalize the fam