Episodes

Kai Hamer's journey from aspiring rapper to special education teacher to parent engagement director is a love letter to the Bronx. Starting in shelters and after-school programs, she spent 10+ years teaching in her own neighborhood, collecting kids from behind soda machines, visiting grandmothers w…

This conversation is a testament to how classroom teaching can birth movements that extend far beyond what we could ever imagine.In this episode, Dr. Asia sits down with Latoya Turner, M.A., a Detroit-born educator, author, and filmmaker who spent 13 years in the classroom before pivoting to crea…

What does it mean to be the only Black teacher at the table year after year?In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Monika Robinson, a former public school teacher, instructional coach, nonprofit leader, and founder of Reparat…

This episode with Whitney Tolliver is essential listening for educators at any stage of their career, administrators who wonder why they can't retain staff, and anyone who's ever sacrificed their well-being for a job that demands perfection over presence.In this powerful episode of the Exit inter…

In this episode, Dr. Asia Lyons interviews Khiara "Mills" Mills, a licensed therapist and former school counselor, about her journey through education, mental health, and personal growth. Mills shares how setting boundaries became a cornerstone of her healing, both professionally and personally. Sh…

In this episode, Dr. Asia welcomes Jeanine L. Williams, PhD, a retired educator turned ancestral medicine woman, for a powerful conversation about liberation, sovereignty, and healing beyond academia. Dr. Williams shares her journey through higher education, the challenges of navigating oppressive …

In this episode, I sit down with educator and bibliophile Kamye Hugley to explore what happens when Black women in education refuse to stay quiet in the face of harm.Kamye traces her journey from her grandmother's urging to be a teacher, to a Teach For America placement that threw her from third …

In this impactful episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Ashlee Saddler shares her journey from being a mental health professional to becoming an educational leader, highlighting the unique challenges she faced as a Black woman in mostly white school systems. She discusses the emotional and physical to…

In this impactful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Oakland educator Whitney Redd discusses how her experience in after-school programs, youth shelters, and mental health settings has shaped her approach to teaching, combining heart, structure, and intentionality. After …

In this heartfelt episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia interviews Dr. Franita Nita Ware, an educator, author, and creator of Warm Demander Teachers. They discuss Dr. Ware's unexpected journey from substitute teacher to scholar, focusing on her purpose, joy, and com…

In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia sits down with Candice Renee Person, a 20-year veteran educator, organizer, writer, and soon-to-be digital nomad. Candice shares a deeply layered journey that spans classrooms in New York City, Massachusetts, Kentucky, V…

In this episode of the Exit Interviewer Podcast for Black educators, Dr. Asia Lyons interviews Dr. Lance Bennett, an educator and founder of The People's Institute for the Common Good. Dr. Bennett shares his journey from community college in Philadelphia to earning his doctorate and working in high…

What happens when the bad kid becomes the kind of educator the system never saw coming? In this episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Asia sits down with Aurelius Raines II, whose unorthodox path into education began not with a degree, but with curiosity, care, and disruption. From aftercare teacher t…

What does it cost to teach with integrity in a system that demands your silence? In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Akil Parker, a former finance major turned math educator, tutor, and founder of All This Math, to explore his 20-year journey through classr…

In this episode of the Exit Interview podcast for Black educators, host Dr. Asia Lyons interviews Dr. Mary Hemphill, an accomplished educator, leader, and founder of The Limitless Leader. Dr. Hemphill shares her journey from growing up in a family of educators in New York to becoming a third and fo…

In this episode of "The Exit Interview," host Dr. Asia Lyons welcomes Amanda Miller Littlejohn, executive coach, brand strategist, and author of "The Rest Revolution." The conversation centers on the pervasive issue of burnout, especially among Black educators and high-achieving professionals. Aman…

What happens when a Black educator survives a natural disaster, a political awakening, and a broken school system all in the same year?In this profoundly moving episode of The Exit Interview, Colorado State Representative Jennifer Bacon recounts how her early teaching career in New Orleans duri…

What happens when you're doing everything, leading a school, serving your community, answering the phones, teaching math, and still feel like you're drowning? In this Exit Interview live show, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Joy Delizo-Osborne, who shares the real reason she left her role as a foundi…

What happens when an educator's deep love for liberation collides with the realities of traditional schooling?In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Jamilah Pitts, educator, author, yoga teacher, and founder of She Imprint, to explore h…

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 educati…

In this special episode recorded live at Quince Coffee House, Dr. Asia Lyons interviews Jenna Greenwood about her inspiring journey of self-discovery, family legacy, and finding community outside traditional educational settings. Jenna recounts stories of her upbringing, influenced by her grandmoth…

In this compelling episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, host Dr. Asia Lyons interviews Jason B., an educator, activist, and policy advocate, to explore the systemic barriers faced by Black students and educators in traditional schools. Jason shares his journey from school a…

In this episode of "The Exit Interview," Dr. Asia Lyons welcomes Keisha Rembert, an experienced middle school educator, award-winning teacher, and current higher education faculty member. Keisha shares her journey from a legacy of educators in Chicago to her 17-year career teaching middle grades, h…

In this episode of "The Exit Interview," host Dr. Asia Lyons welcomes Dr. Adrienne Davenport, a veteran educator, administrator, author, and instructional coach. Dr. Davenport shares her unique journey into education, which began as a second career after initially pursuing work as a paralegal. She …