Videos

In this episode, I sit down with educator and bibliophile Kamye Hugley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamyehugley/) to explore what happens when Black women in education refuse to stay quiet in the face of harm. Kamye traces her journey from her grandmothers 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 administrators 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 aga…

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 liste…

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Ashlee Saddler shares her journey from mental health professional to educational leader, and the unique challenges she faced as a Black woman in predominantly white school systems. Dr. Saddler opens up about the emotional and physical toll of leadership, including her battle with breast cancera diagnosis she links to the relentless stress and self-sacrifice demanded of Black educators. Through candid storytelling, Dr. Saddler and host Dr. Asia discuss the systemic barriers, microaggressions, and expectations placed on Black women in education, as well as the importance of community, self-advocacy, and wellness. Listeners will hear about the power of mentorship, the necessity of setting boundaries, and the ongoing fight for equity and recognition in schools. This episode is both a testimony and a call to action: to honor the lived experiences of Black educators, to believe their stories, and to create spaces where they can thriven…

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #blackvoices #neurodivergent #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #viralpodcast #mustwatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #realtalk #PodcastLife #youtubepodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #listennow #subscribenow

This episode was dropped by Yaa Yaa on the Untenured Podcast! Enjoy! We in Denver ya'll! First time on the West Coast AND first time with a black female podder at our UNtenurED mic telling her truth, and officially, UNmutED! We talk about the revolutionary need for black educator REST, spades or uno?, the power of bell hooks, why fiber matters, her response to "Angry black woman" and teaching social justice to 6th graders and all the ways Dr. Lyons' in her multihyphenate dopeness is buidling community and centering healing. So grab yo water, clean yo glasses and tap in to another conscious convo for the culture - we aint LYIN' when we say Dr. Lyons is bringing it with this episode. Untenured Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCbgvlLwqIiFU1YSD3Cv-rXA Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combating racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.c…

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Oakland educator Whitney Redd reflects on how her years in after-school programs, youth shelters, and mental health work shaped her approach to teaching with heart, structure, and intention. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Whitney reframed discipline into joyful structure—a classroom culture grounded in positive reinforcement, trust, and student voice. “As a teacher, I already have power,” she shares. “I don’t need to enforce it—I need to build it.” Whitney speaks candidly about leading a third-grade class of 39 students, navigating inequities in school systems, and the emotional toll placed on Black teachers who are expected to do it all. Yet her story is alive with joy, humor, and fierce commitment to her students’ brilliance. Now through The Redd Method, Whitney supports other educators in pairing accountability with compassion and data with care. Her conversation reminds us that liberation in the c…

In this impactful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Oakland educator Whitney Redd (https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-redd-b700a183/)  discusses how her experience in after-school programs, youth shelters, and mental health settings has shaped her approach to teachingcombining 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 dont 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…

Whatever you do for your healing you do for your transformation. Yes and yes! Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combating racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #blackvoices #storytellingpodcast #shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #viralpodcast #mustwatch #educatortalk #talkthattalk #realtalk #podcastlife #youtubepodcasts #newpodcastalert #listennow #subscribenow #teachertraining #selfcare #tranformation #healing

Dr. Ware discusses how her experience of being “invited into education” transformed her life, the lessons she gained from teaching at Spelman College, and the hurdles she encountered as a Black woman principal facing racialized challenges. She shares her experience of the trauma from being pushed out, her journey to healing, and how she turned her recovery into the impactful professional development series, Radical Self-Care. This approach helps educators reconnect with themselves, reprogram their minds for wellness, and regain joy in the classroom. #podcast #teachertraining #denver #healing #selfcare #wellness #interview

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia sits down with Dr. Franita Nita Ware, educator, author, and the brilliant mind behind Warm Demander Teachers. Together, they trace Dr. Wares unexpected journey from substitute teacher to scholar, exploring the purpose, joy, and community that fueled her path. Dr. Ware shares how being invited into education changed her life, the lessons she learned teaching at Spelman College, and the challenges she faced as a Black woman principal navigating racialized experiences in Denver. She opens up about the trauma of pushout, her path to healing, and how she transformed her recovery into the powerful professional development series Radical Self-Carea framework that helps educators reconnect to themselves, rewire their brains for wellness, and reclaim joy in the classroom. Listeners will gain insight into the warm demander teaching approachbalancing care with high expectationsand how sch…

"I was a shell and it was just like me going through the motions, you know?" Yes, many Black educators know exactly what Candice Renee Person MScEd - MFA means. What good is it to have Black educators in your schools to diversify your teaching staff if they have been harmed by the systems they support? Are the Black educators you know well? Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

Candice Renee Person’s 20-year journey as an educator is a testament to resilience, grief, and liberation. From her first unprepared days as a NYC Teaching Fellow to building joyful special education classrooms, leading equity work, and now launching a digital nomad life, her story shows what it means to honor your gifts and reimagine what’s possible. #podcast #teacherlife #wellnessjourney #wellness #healing #teacherlife #liberation

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 beyondeach chapter shaped by resilience, grief, discovery, and a fierce commitment to both education and community. 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 how family circumstances, especially the loss of her mother, shaped major moves in her career. Listeners are taken inside her experiences teaching in challenging special education settings, including building a thriving, joyful classroom in an aut…

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

From “publish or perish” to “learn to liberate,” Dr. Lance Bennett shares how he reimagined higher ed to serve actual people. We unpack the community care roots of his model (yes, the Black church is a blueprint), the role of therapy and mentorship in big career shifts, and why being well can mean picking Option B or C over the plan you wrote. Come for the origin story of The People’s Institute; stay for the reminder that joy and learning don’t need permission. The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, hosted and produced by Dr. Asia Lyons #podcast

From publish or perish to learn to liberate, Dr. Lance Bennett shares how he reimagined higher ed to serve actual people. We unpack the community care roots of his model (yes, the Black church is a blueprint), the role of therapy and mentorship in big career shifts, and why being well can mean picking Option B or C over the plan you wrote. Come for the origin story of The Peoples Institute for the Common Good; stay for the reminder that joy and learning dont need permission.

This episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators is a masterclass in reclaiming purpose, honoring your calling, and choosing wholeness over hustle. If you've ever been called too much for simply doing what's right, this one is for you. In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with transformational leader Dr. Mary Hemphill for a powerful conversation about the cost of caring deeply inside systems that weren't built for us. From returning to teach in her childhood classroom to leading statewide academic reform, Dr. Hemphill shares how purpose, pressure, and policy collided in her journey and how her exit became a path to liberation. Together, they explore: The tension between being vigilant and being labeled a vigilante Why transformational Black educators are often placed in the most broken schools How systemic neglect and adult complicity show up in schools (especially for Black boys) The challenge of leading…

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow