A podcast for Black educators, by Black educators
The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators
The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators is a storykeeping and archival project that documents the experiences of Black educators who have left or are reimagining their place within traditional education systems.
Hosted by educator, researcher, and Liberated Educators Lab founder Dr. Asia Lyons, each episode invites a Black educator to reflect on what brought them into education, what ultimately pushed them toward change, and where their brilliance, care, and expertise have taken th…
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89
June 9, 2026
Community, Calling & The Climb with Dr. Nadia A. Bennett
Dr. Nadia A. Bennett doesn't just talk about leading; she's lived it, from an air mattress on the floor of a Philly apartment to founding her own national education consulting firm, When Brown Girls Lead. In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, I sit down with Dr. Nadia for a raw, spirit-filled conversation about what it actually takes to climb the educational ranks as a Black woman. Dr. Nadia shares the unlikely moments that shaped her path: a stranger's advice in
90
June 30, 2026
Pressing the Reset Button with Dr. Jamita Horton
What happens when the system tells you that you "care too much"? For Jamita Horton, Ed.D, that moment in a Milwaukee principal's office was the beginning of a decade-long journey of pressing reset on her classroom, her career, and ultimately herself. In this episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Horton takes us from Sunday school teacher's aide to kindergarten teacher to assistant principal, unpacking how rigid behavior management, a lack of mentorship, and the slow erasure of her identity pushed
91
July 10, 2026
When Equity Work Become a Cage with Dr. Danica Moore
Danica Moore, Ed.D. knew she was meant to teach before she even had a lesson plan, from sharpening skills with second graders at 10 years old to taking over her Sunday school class on a dare. With nearly 20 years in education, she's worn every hat: special ed teacher, ESL specialist, reading and math coach, equity facilitator, district office leader, and now founder of Fortified Educational Practices and Program Director for the National Freedom Schools Partnership. But this episode isn't jus
92
July 21, 2026
Different Countries, Same Story with S. Jae Ali
S. Jae Ali, EdM, has taught in Charlotte, Chicago, China, and Brazil, and every classroom taught her something the next one couldn't fix. In this episode, the South Side Chicago native and former educator gets honest about the racism she faced in her teacher prep program, the mental health toll of toxic leadership, the thrill of watching struggling students soar, and why she ultimately walked away from the classroom. From COVID lockdowns in Zhengzhou to a private school in São Paulo where she wa
Recent
92
July 21, 2026
Different Countries, Same Story with S. Jae Ali
S. Jae Ali, EdM, has taught in Charlotte, Chicago, China, and Brazil, and every classroom taught her something the next one couldn't fix. In this episode, the South Side Chicago native and former educator gets honest about the racism she faced in her teacher prep program, the mental health toll of toxic leadership, the thrill of watching struggling students soar, and why she ultimately walked away from the classroom. From COVID lockdowns in Zhengzhou to a private school in São Paulo where she wa
91
July 10, 2026
When Equity Work Become a Cage with Dr. Danica Moore
Danica Moore, Ed.D. knew she was meant to teach before she even had a lesson plan, from sharpening skills with second graders at 10 years old to taking over her Sunday school class on a dare. With nearly 20 years in education, she's worn every hat: special ed teacher, ESL specialist, reading and math coach, equity facilitator, district office leader, and now founder of Fortified Educational Practices and Program Director for the National Freedom Schools Partnership. But this episode isn't jus
July 5, 2026
Being Committed without Being Consumed
Black educators don't have to lose ourselves to show we care. From Letters from the Lab There’s a particular kind of quiet that can arrive after a Black educator leaves a school. Not peace, exactly. Not at first. The calendar changes first. Your…
90
June 30, 2026
Pressing the Reset Button with Dr. Jamita Horton
What happens when the system tells you that you "care too much"? For Jamita Horton, Ed.D, that moment in a Milwaukee principal's office was the beginning of a decade-long journey of pressing reset on her classroom, her career, and ultimately herself. In this episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Horton takes us from Sunday school teacher's aide to kindergarten teacher to assistant principal, unpacking how rigid behavior management, a lack of mentorship, and the slow erasure of her identity pushed
June 22, 2026
Community as a Survival Strategy
From Letters from the Lab When I asked Dr. Nadia A. Bennett what advice she would give Black women moving into educational leadership, she did not begin with certification, strategy, or a five-year plan. She said, “Find and keep community.” That …
89
June 9, 2026
Community, Calling & The Climb with Dr. Nadia A. Bennett
Dr. Nadia A. Bennett doesn't just talk about leading; she's lived it, from an air mattress on the floor of a Philly apartment to founding her own national education consulting firm, When Brown Girls Lead. In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, I sit down with Dr. Nadia for a raw, spirit-filled conversation about what it actually takes to climb the educational ranks as a Black woman. Dr. Nadia shares the unlikely moments that shaped her path: a stranger's advice in
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July 5, 2026
Being Committed without Being Consumed
Black educators don't have to lose ourselves to show we care. From Letters from the Lab There’s a particular kind of quiet that can arrive after a Black educator leaves a school. Not peace, exactly. Not at first. The calendar changes first. Your…
June 22, 2026
Community as a Survival Strategy
From Letters from the Lab When I asked Dr. Nadia A. Bennett what advice she would give Black women moving into educational leadership, she did not begin with certification, strategy, or a five-year plan. She said, “Find and keep community.” That …
May 31, 2026
Parent Entitlement is a Black Educator Retention Issue
From Letters from the Lab When Melissa Leonard-Goodlett, EdD. talked about working in a school run by parents, the first image that came to mind was a screenshot. Screenshots from a group chat I was never supposed to see. A Black mother let me kn…
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