Podcast & Pause: An Unbook Club For Black Educators - March 2026 Episodes

In this episode of "The Exit Interview," host Dr. Asia welcomes Josephine, a family therapist and former educator, for a candid conversation about wellness, education, and community. Josephine shares her journey from working as a para in special education to earning dual master's degrees in education and social work, and eventually founding her own group therapy practice. She discusses the importance of self-care, resisting burnout, and building supportive communities—especially for Black educators facing racial battle fatigue and workplace stress. Josephine explains her innovative group practice model, which emphasizes mentorship, professional growth, and encourages clinicians to develop their own dreams rather than live in someone else's. She offers practical advice for educators and their families on setting boundaries, prioritizing well-being, and supporting one another through challenges. The episode also touches on the value of rediscovering hobbies, maintaining healthy relat…

In this episode of "The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators," Dr. Asia Lyons and guest host Stacey Taylor-Brandon welcome Dr. Shawn Ginwright, a renowned thought leader in education and the creator of the "healing centered engagement" framework. The conversation centers on the challenges Black educators face, particularly around racial battle fatigue, systemic oppression, and the burden of care—especially for Black women in education. Dr. Ginwright discusses his influential book, "The Four Pivots," which encourages a shift from constant outward activism to intentional self-reflection and self-care. He emphasizes the importance of creating "micro diets" of wellness—small, regular acts of self-care—and urges educators to give from their excess rather than their essence to avoid burnout. The episode also explores how leaders can integrate healing practices into educational systems, moving beyond reactive support to proactive, asset-based wellness structures. Throughout th…

In this episode of The Exit Interview, host Dr. Asia Lyons engages in a deep conversation with Octavia Raheem about the transformative power of rest. Octavia Raheem, an accomplished author, rest restorative coach, and former public school teacher, shares her journey from traditional education to becoming a leader in wellness and restorative practices. The discussion explores the importance of rest for Black educators, the systemic challenges they face, and the necessity of self-care. Raheem passionately discusses the interplay between creativity, rest, and holistic well-being, offering practical steps for educators to integrate rest into their lives. Make sure to order her new book, Rest Is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness.

In this episode, Dr. Siobhan Flowers, a licensed psychotherapist and educator wellness strategist, joins Dr. Asia Lyons and Kevin Adams on the 'Exit Interview' podcast. They discuss burnout and mental health in black educators, dissecting the systemic and institutional barriers contributing to dissatisfaction and fatigue. Dr. Flowers shares her unique approach towards wellness, stressing the importance of mind-body connection, self-regulation strategies, and mindfulness. She provides pragmatic steps for educators to integrate self-care processes into their daily routines. Additionally, they examine the implications of shifting DEI efforts in Texas and ways educators have adapted to these constraints. The episode is peppered with personal experiences, a deep focus on values, and practical advice, making a compelling conversation about the importance of wellness and self-comprehension in the challenging realm of education.

Asia and Kevin’s interview with Dr. William Smith of the University of Utah were so saturated with wisdom that we returned him for part II! Dr. Smith shares his wisdom in this conversation, doing a deep dive into Racial Battle Fatigue. He discusses a litany of topics, including his rebuttal of the notion that Racial Battle Fatigue is analogous to post-traumatic stress disorder and the various manifestations of RBF, behavioral, psychological, and physiological. He reveals that addressing racism as Black educators and their communities experience it requires an honest look back over centuries, as opposed to reading a book or having a community circle in professional development. Get out your notebooks; Dr. Smith is going to take you to school with this one

This is a real special episode of the Exit Interview! Asia and Kevin talk with Dr. William A. Smith, professor of Education and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah. Dr. Smith, who developed some of the most profound research around the concept of Racial Battle Fatigue, shares his research, insights and experiences tracking this phenomenon. In this profound and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Smith discusses a veritable library of topics, so many that we decided to expand this conversation to two parts (Part II will be out this summer–stay tuned!). He shares his perspectives on the positioning of school leaders and teachers in regard to revolutionary action. He shares his thoughts on Black representation in film as a pacifying force. He names the genocidal actions taken against Black people both past and present. Throughout this conversation with this next level scholar, the learning is strong, the struggle In contextualized, and the inspiration is total. Tune in!