No, You First: Recent Episodes
No, You First (Amanda Smith)
The time is now to re-focus your energy on what really matters, you--unapologetically and with conviction. By doing the work on ourselves first, we become stronger and more present for others--especially to those that mean the most. There are levels to this evolution; a complex process and a journey that I am excited to take with you. On this podcast, you‘ll hear from some of the brave as they share their stories of life presenting real-life challenges, awakenings, and set-backs--the journey from being to thriving.
There is a false belief that the success we see from others happens overnight or the struggle is an irrelevant part of one's journey. This perception couldn't be further from the truth and this week, I sit down with Life Coach, Amanda Thomas who shares her journey through homelessness and financial hardships to come back in the most major way to now helping others.
It's Women's History Month and it's time to celebrate! Special guests, Raffinae LaJuan and C. Nichole, founders of Wombillee, a break-through, feminine health care line designed for women by women, graced the show this week to discuss the importance of womb care, which is the very essence of core health for women. You'll also learn the strong mission behind their brand, which stemmed from a series of life-altering events for the dynamic duo. The mic drop moments are infinite as they share their self-care journey of self-love, determination, and bravery.
While we still have a way to go, mental health and wellness are finally starting to take a front seat in our discussions in the workplace and family settings. Unfortunately, when it comes to men and how they're managing their self-care rituals, the practice is still quite taboo. Special guest, Joshua Morgan Sr., and former NFL wide receiver provide keen insight on why men have such a hard time embracing self-care. You will also hear his personal struggles and comebacks-- along with a poignant message about self-worth for today's youth.
How do you begin to pick up the pieces when you've lost everything? That is the question that I asked my next guest, Warwick Fairfax, who was next in line as the heir to carry on the family's dynasty-- a media business that spanned over 150 years. His takeover cost the family $2.52 billion dollars and an end to a legacy. Hear his remarkable story of tested resilience and soul searching.
For some, change is a welcoming pursuit of all things imaginable, while others are filled with much angst of the unknown. I'm beyond excited to introduce to you my old friend from my #media tribe and special guest this week, Amanda White, MBA, Senior Marketing Audience Insights Manager for #AmazonPrimeVideo, who explains why change is such a critical tool for growing and staying relevant.
Family secrets, addiction, mental health... All things we've been conditioned to keep quiet and bury. Little do we realize, your trauma still shows up at work, at home, and in your relationships with other people. It still shows up in how you manage your Self-Care. Special guest, Camille Tuutti, Entrepreneur, Storyteller, Editor and Host of the "Let's (Not) Talk About It" podcast where she talks loudly about mental health and trauma with the hopes of destigmatizing these events in our lives that keep us from thriving.
"You have to trust the process. That is the process," explains my next guest, Terrance Hutchinson, CEO of Diabetic Cuisine Spices and Your Best Lifestyles. Making better eating choices and incorporating more nutritious foods are primary components to Self-Care. Hear this Fitness & Nutrition expert share how the foods we eat play a major part in our overall mental and physical performance.
Serial Entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of Get Sh!t Done, Alex Batdorf will grace the No, You First podcast this week to provide a no holds barred approach to finding what it is you are passionate about and prioritizing your life to fulfilling your utmost desires. Also known as your "Superpower Sidekick," she will remind you that your excuses are just that... And, it's time to get to work.
Lessons learned are cultivated by some of our biggest mistakes, and it will be up to you to recognize the teachable moments that challenging times will bring. Hear from the "No BS" therapist and clinical social worker, Dr. Courtney Tracy, who will share her personal drug addiction and abuse story. Her rock bottom was that thing that propelled her forward and is now dedicating her life to helping others.
Did you know that the pursuit of happiness is a choice and will require action on your part to manifest? Ashlee Braxton, Entrepreneur, Life Coach, and Host of The Happy Choice Podcast will grace the show as our first guest to break into Season 2. Learn how you can live purposely on your terms while creating the right headspace to thrive. You'll also learn the personal story behind Ashlee's relentless quest to bring this awareness to others.
Season 2 kicks off with No, You First Podcast Host, Amanda Smith who shares keen insight on the evolution process of positive changed behavior. Listeners will have a better understanding of what to expect once they've decided to fully commit to themselves first on their self-love-fest journey.
The balancing act between career, family, and self-care has taken on a new set of challenges in this current, blended world. Carving out time for ourselves is next to impossible. However, it is the single most critical practice that you could do for yourself to show up fully amongst those who matter most. Special guest, Melissa van Herksen, Entrepreneur, Business Mentor, and Clean Beauty Advocate, Beautycounter, joins the show to shed light on how she balances her life and overall wellness. With a rich career in the beauty business, she also talks about how the industry is becoming more conscious of diversity and equal representation.
You’ve set the goal, developed your plan... Ready, Set, STOP? What happened? Way too often we get this notion in our head that we’re not good enough, the timing is not right, or insert here the myriad of excuses that become planted in our gut and fester—preventing us from following our passions. Truth is, there will always be competing circumstances that we have to juggle, and what may be required is a nice reality check, coupled with a nice hard kick in the you know what to get us going. Easier said than done for sure. In this episode, Go For It, we will learn from International Keynote Speaker and Executive Career Coach, Dr. Cheryl Wood, who will share transformational insight for channeling our inner thought process to empower and take that risk.
Are you the fixer, the provider, or fearless leader amongst your tribe, caring for everyone else and ignoring the warning signals of your body? How is that working for you? Featuring Stephanie Sinkfield, Author, Entrepreneur, MarComm Expert, and a Strong Friend who knows this Life all too well, learn unique insight into maintaining your BOSS moves while keeping your self-care and wellness intact. You will also hear Stephanie's #selfishmoment story of rebounding from loss, which leaves many of us stuck and unmotivated.
There comes a time when you look around at your life and realize that something must change for a better outcome, but for many, that’s easier said than done. In this episode, you’ll hear from Vildana Sunni Puric, aka, Sunni And The City, author and radio personality for one of Washington D.C.’s hottest radio and television stations, who will share her personal story of overcoming poverty, hunger, and an escape from a refugee camp to seek a more fulfilling life of endless opportunities. You will also hear some of her #selfishmoments, as she explains the mindset shift that she had to take to shine amidst the turmoil around her.
Self-doubt is a prominent behavior that sometimes rears its’ ugly head and prevents us from leveling up in our personal lives and within our careers. When we look at the characteristics of many great leaders, there is a healthy dose of bravery that reigns supreme, but where does that motivation come from? My special guest, Amy DuBois Barnett, Senior Vice President and General Manager, BET Digital knows this concept all too well. As an award-winning content and branding expert for major media brands, you will learn what it takes to get out of your own way and start living your life on your own terms.
Have you ever wondered what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes? How did it make you feel? Did you feel anything at all? My special guest on this episode is none other than the conjurer of learning innovation and talent development guru, Elliott Masie who is a leading advocate of Empathy, in which most of his work is centered around. My sit down with him was uniquely insightful, as we went beyond this new buzzword and unlocked the root of what it really means to be an empathetic leader.
For many, a life-time can be spent going down the purpose-finding journey and oftentimes, fear of the unknown and acceptance of our inner talents are the culprit. You are what you believe and what you believe will be the foundation for the decisions you make....and don't make. So, Do It Scared!
My special guest this week, Sonya Lowery, Founder & Chief Adventure Officer, World Next Door is the epitome of "living on your own terms" and shares unique insight into her #selfishmoment story of self-discovery that turned her passion for adventure into a business that has given countless others an experience of a lifetime.
Today’s economy has its’ own unique set of challenges and while the way we work and conduct business has changed significantly, the demand to stay relevant in this ever-changing job market has many professionals struggling to find the time to put the period at the end of each day—and ultimately, are getting burnt out. Special guest, Walt Sanderson, VP, HR Business Partner & Diversity Officer, SiriusXM + Pandora provides key insight into wellness in the workplace and how businesses can adopt an empathetic culture.
There’s good enough and then there’s Badass! And the process in between takes a relentless mindset and a solid motivation shift that doesn’t quit. On this episode, my special guest, Emilie Aries, CEO & Founder of Bossed Up, knows this concept all too well and has worked with leaders across multiple industries to level up in both, their careers and personal lives. Aries will share her #selfishmoment story of staying resilient through a toxic relationship, which was the turning point that started her Bossed Up journey and propelled her work in empowering others.
We can train leaders on the technical aspects of business strategy, but how do you train a leader on exemplifying passion and empathy, critical qualities that are missing throughout teams across a multitude of industries. We tend to forget that we work with human beings who do not always possess and on/off switch with their feelings. Special guest, Rashim Mogha, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Skillsoft, has been empowering leaders for most of her career. We will sit down with Rashim as she shares her strategies for effective teambuilding during these times of uncertainty.
Wouldn’t it be nice if success was turnkey? Meaning, just thinking about our aspirations was that thing that drove our success. What if I shared that you are right? That thinking and envisioning what you want to accomplish is the starting point in achieving your end-goal. On this episode, my special guest Janell Stephens, Founder of Camille Rose, a leading multi-billion-dollar company specializing in textured hair, was just a thought at one time, and has evolved into something far more special. Stephens will join me on this podcast to share her personal story of how Camille Rose came to be, along with the #selfishmoments she had to embrace to achieve household name status in the hair and skincare industry.
Changed behavior comes with vulnerability, self-discovery and an acceptance of the work needed to occur to achieve desired outcomes. On this episode, Peeling Back the Layers, we will examine the concept of self-assessing and learn from seasoned Learning & Development Leader, Anthony Eredia who will share the different levels to self-auditing and how you can apply your revelations to achieve a new level of clarity.
Covid-19 has posed many challenges for us all, but nothing like those who may be trapped with their abuser and suffering from domestic violence. In 2002, the D.C. area was on pins and needles, as a serial killer terrorized the city and neighboring jurisdictions. Mildred Mohammed, Ex-wife of the D.C. serial sniper lived in this terror first-hand, as this was her day-to-day life. She has since been an advocate for all victims of abuse and will join me as my special guest to tell her story.
Many people find themselves at a crossroad of shrinking themselves to fit in and being challenged with the thought of touting their brilliance, to not come across as boastful or egocentric. In this episode, Amplify You, we will learn from seasoned creative strategist and host of Phim Chats, a platform designed to showcase other creative spirits and thought leaders doing good in the world. Phim will share how to become fully present while amplifying your superpower that lies within--no holds barred.
During this episode, we will examine the art of poetry—a written and verbal expression that provokes a multitude of emotions that are experienced by the writer as well as the reader throughout the creative process. Special guest, award-winning poet, writer, and learning strategist, Carrie Addington will share her personal, inner process for writing and explain how poems can be used as a vessel of change.
The odds are against you. It may seem as though there is no one else in which to turn. The only thing left is YOU. The only option left is you, along with a change of mindset to persevere and not quit. Why? Because you can’t. My special guest, Poet Taylor, DMV Media Maven, knows this course all too well and will share insight on what’s it takes to just push through when like many of us sometimes, that’s the only option.
With any major process that involves change, comes a shift in the way we think, which guides our decision making; bringing us closer to our personal and career goals. For many, this is the hardest part of the behavioral changing process and one that we will unpack on this episode, as host Amanda Smith sets the stage of what's to come on future shows.
Host, Amanda Smith provides an overview of what's to come for the No, You First Podcast, providing insight into her talent development background and motivation behind the show.