Collection A Celebration of Black Thought Leaders

Explore a captivating collection of articles and podcasts that shine a spotlight on the brilliance and contributions of Black thought leaders. Discover inspiring stories, thought-provoking insights, and impactful conversations that showcase the powerful voices shaping our world today. Join us in celebrating the diversity of perspectives and the positive change driven by these remarkable individuals.

72 min watch

Liberate Yourself From the Scale: A Refreshing Take on Body Positivity with Ronald Young Jr. (Episode #163)

Ronald Young Jr. is an emerging voice in the body positive movement, and he’s leading us to new places on this old topic. His insights on common sense and honesty are like piano wire stretched tight between two important pins, and his boundless good humor is a hammer striking an incredibly beautiful note of wisdom for us all to carry forward. If you or someone you love struggles with their weight, this conversation will provide leaps of insight, and plenty of smiles.

43 min listen

Love, Fear, and Courage: Choices that Lead to a Future of Radical Optimism with Kiarra Danielle Lucas (Episode #156)

If you had any doubt about the next generation coming up in colleges today, Kiarra Danielle Lucas will fill you with confidence in Gen Z. Today we all get a new perspective on how children can practice a kind of radical optimism, in the worst circumstances, and use it to build remarkable futures for themselves and others. Kiarra is an 18-year-old inspiration for anyone who thinks their circumstances limit their potential and her vision for the future might be just the spark you need to find exactly what you are built to contribute.

33 min read

Image: collaged image of 3 Gee's bend quilts made of various colors of fabric

Generations of Love Sewn into the Quilts of Gee’s Bend

In a tiny community tucked in a bend in the Alabama River, quilters are carrying on a tradition over a century old. In the past few decades, their quilts have moved from bedroom cupboards to the walls of museums across America! Here's their beautiful story.

55 min listen

4,000 Years of Wisdom and We’re Still Learning with Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde (Episode #152)

Dr. Pamelo Ayo Yetunde demonstrates why we are right to look for answers to our modern problems in timeless wisdom, some of it thousands of years old. She brings together her insights from the world’s greatest wisdom traditions, philosophies, and religions to help others find peace-of-mind, timeless truths, and clarity amid the often daunting chaos in our times.

60 min listen

Our Lives are Only Limited By the Space We’ve Had to Explore with Christal Brown (Episode #145)

Many of us rush through our days, weeks, and lives, chasing goals and just trying to get everything done. But all that activity can blind us to the fact that our goals come from the notions of “influential others” in our lives, and not from what lights us up as individuals. Christal Brown is a master in helping others discover and structure a personal vision that is all their own, and one that will be a central source of joy, no matter the ups and downs in the journey.

58 min listen

Why Kids Can’t Change Until Adults Do with AJ Crabill (Episode #126)

Dr. Lynda talks with AJ Crabill about getting where we want to be by resisting the urge to focus on the strategies most familiar to us, and instead identifying the outcome we want and finding the most effective strategy from there. Through his work improving student outcomes by keeping “collectivism” in the center of the table, AJ has found some secrets that we can all use to come together in all kinds of boardrooms—schools, businesses, and communities—and even around the kitchen table.

55 min listen

Reintroducing Yourself as You Are, Not as You Were with Cheldin Barlatt Rumer (Episode #115)

Communication is a struggle for most of us. Either we don’t really know when to keep quiet, or we can’t muster the courage to speak up. Our guest, Cheldin Barlatt Rumer, is an expert in seeing our communication landscape, in every moment, with fresh eyes. She has some inspiring perspectives on how we elevate the voices of others, re-introduce ourselves to others after all we’ve been through, and how we can re-imagine the role of the internet in our lives as a tool for communication that can help us thrive.

Image: Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, whose work on the show grew to a diversity campaign within NASA

Boldly Going Where No Black Woman Had Gone Before: How Star Trek Changed NASA

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) changed far more than the television game. As one of the only black women on the small screen at the time and with words of encouragement from Martin Luther King Jr., this champion for diversity changed not only the history of science fiction, but the history of space exploration. Her work became undeniable proof that if you can see it, you can be it.

From Roots to Reading Rainbow: Celebrating the Legacy of LeVar Burton

At some point you’ve probably heard the kind voice of LeVar Burton: a trailblazer, education champion, and inspiration to us all. Whether you’re familiar with his work or not, his story provides a vision we can all use to improve ourselves and the world around us.

5 min read

Image: Diving with a purpose divers surveying a ship wreck

Uncovering a History Lost at Sea: The Slave Wrecks Project

Can you imagine being able to discover your own history? Black divers and maritime archaeologists are diving to the depths of shipwrecks to recover stories that had been missing from our world history, until now.

5 min read

Source: Three older women smiling walking in a neighborhood with GirlTrek. One is giving a thumbs up, the others are waving

Does Walking Have the Power to Save Lives and Uplift Communities?

Have you noticed that the first steps to solving our biggest problems are often right there in front of us, so clear that they're invisible? GirlTrek is turning the simple act of walking around the block into a revolutionary way to save lives and improve the safety of communities! Here's how.

Image: Painting of three black women's faces

Principal Wayman’s Recipe for Changing Schools and Lives

Want to get the best out of every unique child? Build a system of support that includes at least one caring adult in every child's life. Here is one of the most powerful TED Talks you will ever have the pleasure of watching!

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