Episodes

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. She discusses the challenges of working in behavioral schools, the importance of self-care and core values, and how grief and resilience shaped her path. Listeners will gain practical insights on wellness, the power of boundaries, and supporting Black educators in schools.

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 systems, and the importance of community care and ancestral wisdom. Together, they discuss the need for Black educators to reclaim their wholeness, set boundaries, and embrace self-care. The episode offers inspiration and practical advice for anyone seeking healing, empowerment, and a deeper connection to their roots.

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 grade to Head Start mid-year, to a Head Start classroom tucked in a portable with coyotes underneath and systems that treated early childhood like babysitting instead of brain-building. She shares the heartbreak of referring students for support only to be ignored, the letter she wrote to a district leader that quietly shifted hiring practices, and her time teaching high school intensive reading, where one administrator's careless comment about test scores pushed seniors out of school entirely. Together, Kamye and I discuss how these moments accumulate as racial battle fatigue and weathering and why, for Kamye, remaining silent feels like violence against herself. This episode invites list…

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 toll of leadership, including her breast cancer diagnosis, which she attributes to the constant stress and self-sacrifice required of Black educators. Through honest storytelling, Dr. Saddler and host Dr. Asia explore systemic barriers, microaggressions, and the high expectations placed on Black women in education. They emphasize the importance of community, self-advocacy, and wellness. Listeners will learn about mentorship, setting boundaries, and the ongoing fight for equity and recognition in schools. This episode serves both as a testimony and a call to action: to honor the experiences of Black educators, believe their stories, and foster spaces where they can thrive, not just su…

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 being diagnosed with ADHD, Whitney redefined discipline as creating joyful structure, fostering a classroom environment built on positive reinforcement, trust, and student voice. As a teacher, I already have power, she states. I don't need to enforce it, I need to build it." Whitney openly shares her experiences leading a third-grade class of 39 students, tackling systemic inequities, and addressing the emotional challenges faced by Black teachers expected to do it all. Despite these challenges, her story is filled with joy, humor, and a fierce dedication to her students' brilliance. Through Thee Redd Method, Whitney now helps other educators balance accountability with compassion and data w…

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 community that fueled her career. Dr. Ware discusses how her entry into education changed her life, the lessons she learned at Spelman College, and the challenges she faces as a Black woman principal navigating racialized experiences in Denver. She shares her experiences with the trauma of pushout, her healing process, and how she turned her recovery into the Radical Self-Care framework—an impactful professional development series helping educators reconnect with themselves, rewire for wellness, and find joy in teaching. Listeners will learn about the warm-demander approach, which balances care with high standards, and how schools can build cultures based on authenticity, rest, and community. W…

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, Virginia, and beyond. Each chapter is shaped by resilience, grief, discovery, and a fierce commitment to both education and commu Candice opens up about her unexpected entry into teaching through the New York City Teaching Fellows program and the steep learning curve of working in special education without adequate preparation or support. She reflects on the vital mentors and assistants who kept her grounded during her toughest first years, and on how family circumstances, especially the loss of her mother, shaped major career moves. Listeners are taken inside her experiences teaching in challenging special education settings, including building a thriving, joyful classroom in an autism…

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 higher education administration. He discusses the importance of community colleges, mentorship, and the value of learning for its own sake. Dr. Bennett reflects on his initial ambition to become a university president, the traditional and alternative pathways to that role, and why he ultimately chose a different direction. He explains how his educational philosophy—prioritizing critical thinking and community impact over purely workforce preparation—led him to step away from the presidency track. Influenced by mentors and personal experiences, he realized the importance of flexibility and being open to new opportunities. Now, Dr. Bennett leads The People's Institute for the Common Good, an…

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 to museum-based innovator, Aurelius shares how his early struggles with school shaped his radical approach to teaching and why his students thrive because of it. Together, they unpack what it means to teach without permission, learn outside the lines, and reimagine what a science education can look like when rooted in joy, justice, and relevance.

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 classrooms, charter schools, and community spaces. Akil shares honest reflections on being pushed out of schools for challenging harmful norms, the emotional toll of being separated from students he deeply cared about, and the moment he realized he was no longer working for the system but for the kids. From surviving toxic school cultures to creating culturally rooted math content for families, Akil's story is both a warning and a call to action. Whether you're a Black educator facing similar challenges or someone interested in true retention, this episode is a raw reminder: real education centers the child, not the institution.

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 fourth grade teacher in her hometown, and later moving into school administration and state-level leadership in North Carolina. The conversation explores Dr. Hemphill’s deep sense of calling to education, her commitment to serving her community, and the challenges she faced as a Black woman navigating various roles in education. She discusses the importance of representation, mentorship, and intentionally supporting students and families from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Hemphill recounts her experiences as a principal in turnaround schools, her unexpected transition to directing statewide computer science initiatives, and the lessons she learned about leadership, adaptability, and the value of…

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. Amanda shares her personal journey with burnout, the societal pressures of overachievement, and the importance of reclaiming rest as a form of resistance and self-care. Key topics include: The origins and impact of burnout, particularly in the context of systemic challenges facing Black educators. The trap of "Black excellence" and how overworking can be a trauma response rather than a true measure of worth. The necessity of self-discovery and alignment—knowing what energizes and drains you, and how misalignment leads to exhaustion. Practical steps for recovering from burnout, such as prioritizing rest, taking sabbaticals if possible, and rebuilding life outside of work. The vital role…

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 during Hurricane Katrina became a catalyst for her journey into law, education reform, and public service. Reflecting on her experience as a young Black educator with Teach For America, she vividly recalls the chaos and trauma of evacuating during the storm, witnessing the devastation, and volunteering at a Red Cross shelter, where she saw her students arrive with little more than plastic bags of belongings. Jennifer shares the inequities she witnessed in the aftermath, including the erasure of Black educators, the rise of charter schools, and the criminalization of Black youth, all of which shaped her understanding of systemic racism in education. Her reflections unpack the historical and po…

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 founding principal: her doctor said quit, and her wife offered her a puppy if she finally did. This conversation is not a highlight reel. It's a profoundly human exploration of what it costs to stay in systems that praise your sacrifice but ignore your spirit. Joy reflects on burnout, Black women's addiction to care, and how hard it is to believe the job isn't your identity. She also offers a glimpse into her now as CEO of Student Achievement Partners, where she's rewriting the rules of leadership, bringing equity and literacy into the same sentence, and finally choosing joy (and dogs). If you've ever felt pulled between purpose and survival, this episode is your mirror and your permission s…

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 her journey through the education system and beyond. Jamilah shares how her childhood experiences with Black women teachers inspired her dream to teach, and how her international work, from Boston to the Dominican Republic to India, shaped her vision of education as a tool for healing and activism. She opens up about the emotional toll of navigating toxic school environments, the complexities of internalized racism among leadership, and the moment she chose her own wellness over a broken system. Throughout the conversation, Jamilah offers a deep call to center healing in our schools, reimagine leadership, and honor educators' full humanity.

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 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 grandmother, Marie Greenwood, Denver's first Black tenured teacher, and her experiences navigating her complex identity within predominantly white institutions. She also offers valuable insights into college affordability and scholarships, using her financial aid expertise to support students and families. Lastly, Jenna emphasizes the importance of wellness, mindfulness, and creating inclusive spaces like Quince Coffee House, which she co-owns and serves as a lively community hub.

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 administrator to special education teacher, highlighting his fight against discriminatory practices that unfairly place Black students in special education without adequate support. He discusses how systemic racism shapes discipline policies, the challenges Black educators encounter with certification hurdles, and the broader impact of anti-Black policies in education. Additionally, Jason talks about his shift from classroom teaching to policy work, emphasizing the importance of community-led solutions, Black educator retention, and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. This episode is essential listening for those committed to educational equity, policy change, and fostering environment…

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, highlighting the importance of student voice, co-teaching, and authentic relationships in the classroom. The discussion examines the challenges faced by Black educators, such as lack of recognition, the emotional toll of being overlooked, and the process of leaving educational spaces. Keisha talks about her advocacy for recruiting and retaining teachers of color, emphasizing the success of affinity spaces and racial literacy training in Illinois. Both Dr. Lyons and Keisha stress the need for ongoing personal and professional growth, the importance of wellness and rest, and community care. The episode also covers Keisha’s current research on Black belonging in Hispanic-serving institutio…

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 discusses her experiences teaching elementary and middle school, her transition into administration, and the challenges and rewards of serving as a principal in multiple districts. Dr. Davenport reflects on the importance of seizing opportunities, the value of moving between districts for professional growth, and the necessity of self-care and support systems for administrators. She candidly addresses her decision to leave administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the significance of following one’s intuition and prioritizing well-being. The conversation also explores strategies for retaining Black educators, including the need for better recruitment, support, and leader…

In this powerful and reflective episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Najmah Ahmad to discuss her nearly 20-year journey through education, from working in nonprofits and higher education to leadership roles in school districts and national policy. Najmah candidly shares her experiences navigating systemic challenges, microaggressions, and the often overwhelming toll of racial battle fatigue. Listeners will hear how Najmah's desire to support people in moments of transition shaped her career and led her to create transformative programs for young people, such as leadership curricula and paid internships. She also opens up about the pivotal moment when her physical health forced her to confront the toll her work was taking on her mind, body, and spirit, leading her to decide to leave traditional education spaces and build her own consulting business. This episode explores themes of wellness, self-liberation, and the importance…

In this episode of "The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators," host Dr. Asia Lyons welcomes Dr. Demia Thomas, an accomplished educator and leader with over two decades of experience in urban education. Dr. Thomas shares her journey from growing up and teaching in Brooklyn, New York, to holding roles including teacher, principal, and district leader across several states. She discusses the challenges and rewards of working in urban schools, the importance of transformative leadership, and her commitment to fostering inclusive, high-achieving school cultures. The conversation delves into Dr. Thomas’s experiences as a principal, including the complexities of school culture, leadership transitions, and the impact of race and ego in education systems. She highlights the significance of data-driven decision-making, emotional intelligence, and building trust within school communities. Dr. Thomas also reflects on her time founding and leading an all-girls charter school, the impor…

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…