ROOTED: Recent Episodes
Pamela Benson Owens
Candid, teachable moment centered, deeper, honest. Rooted focuses on topics that help you get more clarity around what you think, believe, and value in order to live more wholeheartedly.
The Request for Resilience- leaders, managers, supervisors, bosses- stop! Stop asking your employees and teams to be resilient. Not one more pep talk about resilience! They are tired, burned out, and need less pep talks about resilience and more space to explore what can be adjusted, tweaked and changed for sustainable success. Don't be an accomplice to the Great Resignation!
A Soul Talk with Kimberly Holiday
We are rounding out the last Wednesday of Black History Month with a history making powerhouse! Kimberly Holiday, the first Black female councilwoman in Pflugerville will talk about what it means to be a community leader, wife, mother, advocate, daughter, friend and ambassador of joy with an unrelenting faith. You don’t want to
miss this!
A Soul Talk with Dr. Courtney Robinson
Pinch me I'm dreaming folks! Today on the Rooted podcast you will be inspired and moved by Dr. Courtney Robinson. Real talk- I've been fan girlin' on her for a long time. She's an outspoken advocate and change-maker who experienced parental incarceration during childhood and turned her experience into a movement! Dr. Courtney Robinson is the founder of the Excellence & Advancement. For over a decade she has dedicated her life to researching the impact of schooling, race and incarceration. As a result she has actively and passionately been breaking the school-to-prison pipeline in Texas with her heart and soul. She's tiny and fierce and the epitome of a rainmaker. Check out her organization at: https://breakthepipeline.org/contact/
A Soul Talk with Terry P. Mitchell
Hold on to your seats! I'm talking with Terry P. Mitchell- community activist, serial entrepreneur, ambassador of Black liberation and the queen of navigating hard conversations. Tune in to learn more about Terry, what inspires her, what makes her tick, and her vision for the future!
She was the very first guest on my podcast. And- from the day I met her, she has single handedly challenged me, inspired me, scared me, uplifted me, and insisted on excellence from me. President Colette Pierce Burnette is the perfect person to kick off Black History Month on the Rooted podcast. During this real, raw and redemptive podcast she shares her lessons learned, her unrelenting faith, some highlights and some challenges along her journey and does so with the same energy and vigor that she approaches life each day. You are in for a treat! Oh, and let me just say, thank you for all that you've done to show us what strength, grit and grace looks like.
It's becoming a dying art form. Critical thinking is a skill set that must be practiced and embraced. During this podcast we will explore the formula for being stronger critical thinkers and what is get us when we do.
On this podcast we take a look at success. I am sick and tired of the notion that success is something that is passive. My success, as I've defined it for only me is laced with habit, intention, and a lot of hard work. Listen in as I share some success hacks to help you align with your calling and purpose.
Today on the Rooted Podcast we will explore the things that fly out of our mouths that are credibility crushers and ways to flip those common statements into something that cultivates solid and sustained credibility.
Yes, it's real. The last year has been rough and when operating in survival mode for so long, other unfortunate patterns can surface. During this podcast I will talk about some tools I'm using to actively mitigate self-sabotaging behaviors.
Today on Rooted- geez, stop! With all the chaos, workplace trust is at an all time low. This isn't okay. During this quick hit podcast I share with you some things to consider when it comes to building workplace trust.
Do Your Co-Workers Trust You? During this podcast we will explore the red flags you need to be aware of when our co-workers don't trust us. Are you often left out of the loop? Do your teammates scrutinize and check your work? Hmmm- they may not trust you worth a darn. Listen in.
Leadership pit stop. Ohhh my leaders! I know it’s hard out here in these leadership streets but we are making some critical errors in leading our teams to healthy productivity. Let’s talk about the 7 mistakes I’m hearing from you most often. And just because I’m sharing these doesn’t mean I don’t get trapped in some poor leadership moments my darn self.
Leadership is hard. During this podcast I will do a rapid fire list of the seven things I keep seeing leaders do that is problematic. Listen, reflect and adjust if you are responsible for leading human beings.
The Importance of Self Regard- awww honey self-esteem only gets you halfway there. During this podcast we will explore the importance of self-regard, how to strategize our way to going beyond self-esteem, and how to build a solid inner wall of embracing your total self... all of you in ways that will shield you from being around people that are not meant for you.
When Your Boss Hates You- this episode focuses on the tactical ways you can address a hard situation- your boss ain't liking you. And- how to navigate it or exit with a quickness.
Navigating Workplace Conundrums- I rarely do this because well... it's my business. However, I've gotten a lot of calls from people needing coaching on these workplace mishaps. During this podcast I will give you the language to use when a co-worker takes credit for your work, acts a fool, a boss asks you to do a project last minute and other stuff that may come up in your workplace.
The Power of Observation: This world is a distracting place, isn't it? This podcast is an invitation to lean into the power of observation. To practice the art of being fully present and sitting in a posture of learning from everything and everyone you encounter.
Emotional Intelligence - over the last few months I've been astonished by the lack of emotional intelligence I experience in professional spaces. In particular, I've been traumatized, triggered, disrespected and dismissed by white women in a variety of ways. The bottom line is, emotional intelligence is a choice- choose wisely.
Can't Have it All! During this podcast we will explore that long time notion of having it all. I say, naw- nope you can't. I'm exhausted from being exhausted and it's time we normalize rest and wholeness.
The Busy Backlash- It has gotten out of hand- busyness. On this episode we will explore the societal norm of being so darn busy all the time and my invitation for you to stop being busy about certain things that aren't serving any of us well. If you are wearing busy as a badge of honor, listen in.
From the day I interacted with this soul I knew it was on. Bri Jenkins is a force. An ambassador of truth, authenticity, social justice, and a variety of other attributes that bubble from her soul with the ease of a flower blooming in the spring. During this podcast I am beyond thrilled to share with my listeners profound revelation, advice, invitation, extreme discernment and wisdom that comes from the Bri. You'll need a notepad for this one.
Be a Quitter- the longer I live, the more I realize how many opportunities I have to unlearn some things. Growing up quitting was frowned upon, a demonstration of weakness. That's crap. There are some things we need to quit. As a matter of fact, we need to be quality quitters! During this podcast I will share with you my list of things I've actively worked to quit doing and as always, I encourage you to make your own list and get to work!
In a twist of fate, I'm sitting down with the entire team from Full Humanity to have a real and raw discussion about a day in the life of being a Black woman, and a woman who navigates doing anti-racism work. If you want to hear some real answers on everything from being in survival mode, to the rules of engagement around decolonizing your mind and habits, tune in!
Peace Episode 2- All roads lead to worthiness and willingness. Peace is a verb.
Guest: Missy Strittmatter
Peace Episode 1- This is truth on fire! Listen in as we talk about what peace really is, how to define it for ourselves and what is required in order to get it.
Guest: Missy Strittmatter
When I was growing up, I would hear the elders in my family say, "um... you ain't grown!". I've been trying to be "grown" ever since. And let's be clear- I am grown but have had to define what that is for me and then practice behaving accordingly. Today on this podcast I am going to share my, "you aren't grown list" so that you can start building your own!
This podcast is packed full of wise nuggets from two people amazing people who have helped learn to see the lessons to be learned, the things I might need to let go of, and what mindset I need to leverage in order to live life well. Rachel Davis is back alongside with ever steady and always ready Melanie Manning to talk about what lessons have been learned especially in this last year and what they had to break up with in order to be congruent with the lives the want to lead. Tune in, you won't be sorry.
Destination Addiction, it's a thing. On this episode of Rooted we will explore the seductive nature of destination addiction and how the pandemic, for all that it did that was harmful, also ended up being a gift in unimaginable ways. When we are forced to pump the break and pause, we can remove the conditioning of always looking to the future and start living fully in the present.
Being You: The Rules of Engagement- a few years ago a friend said to me that the word "authentic" or being your "authentic self" wasn't her favorite sentiment. I've thought about it for a while and now realize that the concept is flawed. People say that freely but it often means be your authentic self with conditions, or up until a certain point. With that said, my truth is that being my authentic self has been challenging, painful and sometimes hard work. Yet and still- it's the way to go. During this podcast I will share my 13 rules of engagement around being you, fully.
I thought we were done with the R Series but this one had to be done. As I inventory my life and those around me, I am concerned about how many of us are just remaining. Yep- remaining is the first cousin of surviving and it does damage. During this podcast I will share with you the latest entries to my personal strategic plan and why it is so important to gut check yourself on growing and thriving.
Release - It's a big word and it's also a liberating word. Over the last few months I've really examined what I need to release from my life in order to be whole and at peace. During this podcast I will share with you what I've released and invite you to take some time to write your own release statements as well.
Healing. We throw that word around a lot lately. There are all types of healing but the most critical one is doing the work to heal ourselves. But heck, what does "do the work" even mean. Rooted Podcasters let me suggest that you not do anything while you listen to this one. The one and only Fatima Mann, the healer responsible for why my healing path has moved from bath bombs to uncompromising self-love, will get real, raw, and uncensored about the healing path, what stands in the way of us really doing it, and how to confront our pain.
We've got 20 on it! That's right folks, we are celebrating our 20 year anniversary today and nobody is more surprised than we are. During this special edition podcast we explore some questions that our listeners submitted and talk about what we've learned, what's really important and what does our future look like. Arlyn Owens- this is twenty. I cannot imagine this journey with anybody else, period.
Radical Civility- nothing says radical civility like not completely cussing out a racist. Oh and I don't mean the overt, loud and violent racists, I mean the covert, toxic white liberal, quoting MLK once a year, change up the dialect to seem relatable, thinks Kim Kardashian invented corn rolls, let me pray with you only when you are in your model minority code shifting self and not when you are scared that your man could get shot by the police kinda racists. And yet in still, I believe that radical civility is the way forward. Civility has nothing to do with being nice- that's bullshit. It's a choice and a mindset. During this podcast I will talk openly about my approach to not throat punching folks, period.
Rejection- Over the years I've experienced rejection and it's been a paralyzing thing for so long. Last year however gets the prize for the most frequent occurrences of rejection I have ever experienced or felt since I've been on the earth. One day recently the light bulb went off and after years of struggling with the feelings associated with rejection, the heaviness lifted. Why? I finally realized that rejection is a gift. Yep- you read that right. I will share with you the gifts that rejection brought forth to me and encourage you to explore this for your self.
Our Body- this one was hardest for me in the series. When you are keenly aware that you are by far not the standard of beauty in this country, it can do a job on your mind in unimaginable ways. My body image issues created some friction in my marriage and the entire topic is downright touchy. And-I've practiced my way to accepting every single part of my body, what it has done for me, and how to make sure I don't perpetuate the body hate and shame that I carried for a long time to my children. Overweight, Underweight (um this has never happened to me but I hold space for those who experience it), bumps, bruises, illnesses and surgeries, rolls and curves, scooping up my breasts into a bra each day, and battle scars too right? Let's explore how to hold all of those things and be unapologetic about the tug of war we experience as a result of societal norms and how not to let that suck the life out of us.
Our Past- everybody has a past. Trust me when I say, my guy bestie alone could tell you stories about me back in the day that would be questionable and possibly concerning. Yet here I am, still navigating life and taking the past as the springboard to my present and future. I laid down guilt and shame long ago, I stopped letting one chapter define me, and I consider every single solitary moment and mistake a source of momentum. On the episode we will explore having no more apologies about our pasts and we will do so together. There is nothing like a courageous comeback from a past that taught us a lot!
Our Minds- awwww yes- the mind can be a battlefield can't it? That inner self critic, I call mine Paula, can be beast to overcome. And- that inner critic has me apologizing for stuff about myself that I should ultimately be proud of. Have you ever tracked how often you allow negative self talk to take over? I did, and the results were a personal strategic plan to stop Paula in her tracks, period. During this session we will explore some steps on how to tell your inner critic to sit the hell down and shut up. We will practice our way to not allowing negative self talk to rule us in ways that render us painfully unproductive and living in fear.
I'm coming out on the other side of an extremely difficult and painful year. Like many of us, we could not have anticipated the fallout that is still to come from a pandemic and social unrest. But, if you had told me that the most difficult pain for me has come from not being able to openly share my pain in front of trusted people in my life, I would have called you a liar. Let's get rooted in how to untangle ourselves from being in denial about our own pain, how to dismount from people who don't have the capacity to hold your pain, and how to do so unapologetically.
Being clear and honest saves everybody time. I am the first to uplift, recognize, and extend accolades to people but I'm also the very first to the scene when it's time to share honest, raw and perhaps difficult information. Always polite, firm and friendly, but honest. We've been conditioned to not speak up, not share our truth in the name of keeping the peace. How in the world is that peace if your truth is burning up inside of you? Let's talk about candor as a code of honor.
Why are we still talking about confidence as adults? Well, because we need to. There is nothing worse than being grown and still having to navigate through a crisis of confidence. This doesn't happen by mistake. The world is full of should of signals, it breeds comparison, competition and an unhealthy focus on flaws. During this podcast we will explore confidence and why it's critical for you to do the hard work of liking and accepting yourself.
Oh buckle up for this. I've brought together a few folks on my personal Board of Directors to have an honest talk about what true contentment looks like. We will share about how we had it wrong, what divorce reveals, why you can't assign your happiness to someone else to oversee, why boundaries from the bullshit is critical and sometimes lonely, how realizing that if you have to tiptoe around your friends, they must go, and why contentment is not optional.
Nothing says a hearty conversation like one with Catenya McHenry- the brains behind the Fuck Fear Podcast. After 25+ years of friendship, hard conversations, gut wrenching adulting moments, face planting into stuff that's made for movie level trauma, we sit down to have a real conversation about courage- like real, raw, ouch kind of courage.
What is Winning? During this raw and real podcast we talk to Dr. Rachel Davis about what does it mean to win in wellness an wholeness and why doing so is so challenging for us.
Adulting: Difficult People- Awww nawww they didn't! The last year has been a study in people walking around the earth completely unfiltered and creating harm by mouth. Let's get rooted in how to navigate challenging relationships and interactions
Adulting: Stress and Anxiety- Stress will kill you-period. Let's get rooted in how we may be wiring ourselves to be addicted to stress and what to do about it.
Adulting: Navigating Trauma- Ugh. As we think about 2020 and our reset of 2021 there is an opportunity to pay attention to our brains. That's right- our brains on trauma. Let's get rooted in how trauma shows up for us and the behaviors that can be a barrier to living as the best versions of ourselves.
Adulting: Self-Discipline- As adults we come face to face with multi-tasking, work life "balance" (no such thing) and defining success. Our cultural norms tells us we are supposed to want. Let's get rooted in how to best navigate self-discipline.
Adulting: Friendships- Geez. This adult friendship thing is harder than middle school friendships! It's sometimes hard to determine who is in your circle let alone who is in your corner. Let's get rooted in how to best navigate our friendships.
There is absolutely no closure on this topic and I am just one voice. This podcast speaks to my experience as a black woman and the complex nuances associated with simply existing in my skin each and every day. If you are looking to be convinced and persuaded that the challenges I face are real, don’t bother listening. This is my experience. It is valid and real.
Relationships Part II: After our relationships podcast we received more questions. So, we are back for round two! Listen in as we tackle questions about intimacy, raising kids, secrets, expanding horizons, and advice we would give to younger couples! Whew- you didn't hold back Rooted Podcasters! Tune in as we tackle your questions and more!
Sometimes we are so busy being in relationships that we don't talk about relationships. For the first time ever, we are stopping to get rooted in what we've learned about each other and ourselves about being in a relationship. I am overjoyed that my special guest is the one and only, Arlyn Owens. We decided to finally answer the questions we are asked most often about our relationship. Tune in and get rooted in relationships!
Manifesting- The word empowerment is throw around like confetti. Instead of waiting for someone to empower us, what would it look like if we subscribed to the notion of manifesting the life and existence we want in this world? Let's get rooted in how we manifest our lives.
Clinging to Comfort- Have you heard the saying, get comfortable with being uncomfortable? Let's explore the benefits and challenges of clinging to comfort and what we may consider as we navigate our lives.
Forgiveness- the concept of forgiveness is steep. It's an ongoing quest as we are imperfect beings, in a world that often rather shame and blame than offer compassion. We then heap doses of shame onto ourselves and forget that we are worth forgiving ourselves the same way we forgive other people. Let's get curious about forgiveness and the importance of it.
Healing is a courageous act. It’s like thinking you are well into a workout class when the instructor yells, okay that was the warm up! It can be exhausting and gut wrenching but on the other side of real healing is pure liberation and weightlessness. During this podcast I share my strategies for doing the ongoing work of healing.
It’s a weird time. We’ve been social distancing, isolating and adjusting to a new normal under one roof. During this time I started exploring some questions and I now want to share those five questions with you to explore for yourself!
Morgan Susan Taylor helps women find their voice in sex, resolve resentment and guilt so that they can get back to love.
Join us for a real talk about the weight of weight. Among women it's the topic that keeps coming up. Why? Men are not sitting around talking about what's on the scale or how their thighs giggle! Expert and founder of Women's Successful Living and Bodyworks Health and Wellness Center, Pearl Knapp- Chiarenza will discuss this topic and we will also hear from Allyson Owens, a 12 year old who has a few words to share as well. You don't want to miss this multi-generational discussion.
Nothing says hard times like a cancer diagnosis, caring for a Mom with a cancer diagnosis, being a working Mompreneur, managing chemo and three surgeries. When Fayruz Benyousef, founder of FBC and a nonprofit consultant and strategist was faced with this and more, she selected perhaps the most powerful strategy of her life- to surrender control and remain in a space of gratitude. As we close out 2019, listen to her story and be inspired to stay in the game of life going into 2020 and beyond.
Patrick Felder is no stranger to the intersection of change and innovation that exists in corporate America. He is also no stranger to the complexities of navigating said world as an Human Resources executive and a black male one at that! Tune in to hear more about his strategies for navigating corporate America, the necessity to be mindful of how you lead, and the highs and lows of remaining relevant.
Zakiya Larry walks in a room and you immediately feel like you can fly. As Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Quest Media Training, her role is to do one thing- Elevate. But guess what? While she can teach you how to master the media, her first stop is to do a soul gut-check to make sure her client are clear on their identity. Without that, elevation cannot occur. She's giving us her secrets and more on this podcast! Listen and learn folks.
Colette Pierce Burnette- She is both fierce and family oriented. Visionary leader and student focused. A beacon of all things social justice and a sneakerhead. Listen in as President Colette Pierce Burnette shares her story about lessons learned, pages turned and how the soul of her beloved HBCU churns!