Pause On The Play
Pause On The Play® is where you are challenged to examine your beliefs, question your predisposed notions, and consider realities you may be unfamiliar with in order to understand that they too are real. Erica Courdae and co-host India Jackson have real conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, visibility, mindset, and everything in between. Topics include imperfect allyship®, imposter syndrome, company culture, and how you can feel more aligned and empowered in your business marketing. Let's go beyond the surface and move into action, today.
Trailer · Tue, September 26, 2023
Pause & Explore: Rediscovering Your Existing Resources
Erica and India discuss their intentions for the shows Pause on the Play® and Flaunt Your Fire®. After nearly 300 combined episodes, they pause to explore how to use them as continued resources and how to stay in the loop about future projects. Ready to dive deeper? Keep in touch and find out what we’re up to at pauseontheplay.com
Tue, September 12, 2023
Decolonizing Health and Nutrition with Dalina Soto
Diet culture is everywhere. What we consider healthy. What we consider unhealthy. The foods that we’re taught are good for us and the ones that we’re told to stay away from. How we think about food, health, and wellness is shaped by a culture steeped in white supremacy culture. There is so much more nuance available to us around food, health, wellness, and culture–not to mention enjoyment–when we break down the binary of good vs. bad foods, healthy vs. unhealthy people. Dalina Soto, MA, RDN, LDN joins Erica for a conversation about diet and wellness culture, why ancestral and cultural foods too often get left out of the conversation, and the policy and systemic influences on what we think of as “healthy” food. In this discussion: Why we need to expand binary thinking about nutrition and health How nutritional guidelines in the US leave out large swaths of cultural and ancestral foods The impacts of stress and other social determinants of health on the body, and why that’s a policy failure not a personal one Taking guilt and shame out of doing what you can with what you have when it comes to food Connect with Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN: Your Latina Nutritionist Instagram: @your.latina.nutritionist TikTok: @yourlatinanutritionist Resources: "Anotha One" Hood Feminism , Mikki Kendall Fearing the Black Body , Sabrina Strings Ready to dive deeper? Connect with values-aligned entrepreneurs and employees across titles and industries inside The Pause on the Play® Community . Join a network of individuals committed to making their values explicit, evolving the way they show up for themselves and each other, and growing their influence together. Get access to community conversations, live Q&As and workshops, and our whole library of evergreen resources. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, August 29, 2023
Accidental Entrepreneurship, Success, and Owning Your Values with Amanda McKinney
So often, our goals and the way we feel about success come from what we’re supposed to want, what we’re supposed to do, and how we’re supposed to act and feel once we achieve those goals. But being truly satisfied with our achievements means defining success outside of the “shoulds.” Amanda McKinney joins Erica for a replay from a live conversation within The Pause on the Play Community about success, accidental entrepreneurship, and maintaining a balance between your business and your life. In this discussion: Why it’s essential to pause and consider what you actually want from your business Why you can’t separate your values from the way you do business How to bring your values into the way you build your business Connect with Amanda McKinney: Website Why Not You?: An Accidental Entrepreneur's Guide To Success FREE Guide to Defining Success Instagram: @theamandamckinney Resources: 173. Diverse Perspectives: Reconsidering the Meaning of Success Ready to dive deeper? If you want to participate in live conversations like this one with Amanda, join us in The Pause on the Play Community . Inside the Community, you’ll get access to live conversations, workshops, community conversations and Q&As, plus our whole library of evergreen resources. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, August 08, 2023
Tokenism and Gaslighting at Work with Gabi Day
How do your identities impact the way you show up at work and how you interact with work culture? How we move through the world is influenced by white supremacy, colorism, and capitalism, and it can have profound impacts on our working life and our physical and mental health. And while none of us can extract ourselves entirely from these systems, it may be possible–even necessary–to say enough is enough and forge a new path. Gabi Day joins Erica for a conversation about identity, work, capitalism, and her journey out of the corporate world to entrepreneurship. In this discussion: How toxic educational and work environments impact mental and physical health How tokenism and gaslighting uphold systems of oppression Making the personal political by showing up with your values in life and work Connect with Gabi Day: Bright Body TikTok: @itsgabiday Instagram: @mybrightbody Resources: What is gaslighting? Examples and how to respond . Mind in Motion Therapy on Instagram: @minds_in_motion_therapy Blair Imani on Instagram: @blairimani Imani Barbarin on Instagram: @crutches_and_spice Ready to dive deeper? How do I share my values when they aren’t related to my work? We’ve been conditioned to show up to work as our “professional” self and leave our personal beliefs behind. But the truth is, values inform every area of our life, so why try to compartmentalize? Each month in The Pause on the Play® Community , we explore one specific way to make your values more explicit. Our curated connections and learning experiences will help you challenge harmful norms, show up as an imperfect ally®, and live in alignment. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, July 25, 2023
Bringing the Body Back to the Whole Self with María-Victoria Albina
Have you ever felt like you betrayed yourself? We live in a culture that teaches us to forsake our own wants in favor of serving others. We operate from a place of “I’m fine,” and get stuck in functional freeze, even when from the outside it appears we’re successful. María-Victoria Albina joins Erica for a discussion about resentment and obligation, setting and holding standards, and tending to your nervous system as you pursue embodiment and change. In this discussion: Changing the narrative on obligation Why setting standards and boundaries is a part of a self-reclamation How our nervous systems get stuck in functional freeze Why pushing too hard for ourselves to change can backfire Connect with María Victoria Albina: Website Instagram: @victoriaalbinawellness Feminist Wellness Podcast Anchored: Overcoming Codependency Resources: Embodiment, Agency, and Choicefulness with María-Victoria Albina Download María-Victoria’s Free Meditations and Exercises Ratchet and Respectable Podcast Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole , Susan Cain Ready to dive deeper? Change happens best when you have support. Find a community of like-minded individuals committed to helping each other show up and own their values in T he Pause on the Play Community . Members get access to community conversations, office hours, Q&As with Erica and India, live workshops, our library of resources and replays, and more. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, July 11, 2023
Letting Go to Make Space
As seasons shift, our thoughts may turn to growth and transformation. And it’s worth taking a pause to consider what you might need to let go of in order to continue to grow. Erica shares her thoughts on releasing the ideas and narratives you no longer want to hold, creating space to grow, and affirmations to support you along the way. In this discussion: Identifying and releasing the ideas and narratives that you no longer want to hold Integration and gratitude as you evolve and grow Affirmations to support you as you identify what you need to release Ready to dive deeper? Considering how you want to evolve and grow happens best with support. You can connect with values-aligned individuals across titles, industries, and experiences inside The Pause on the Play® Community . Evolve the way you show up for yourself and others while growing your influence and amplifying your impact on your journey of Imperfect Allyship®. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, May 30, 2023
Letting Go of Perfectionism in Goal-Setting with Betsaida Lebron
Goal-setting can bring out the perfectionist in many of us. When our goals don’t account for our imperfect humanity, it leads to burnout and feeling like a failure. Getting stuck in the mentality that there is one course of action or one right way to do things doesn’t honor what we learn and experience along the way, even when things don’t go to plan. Betsaida Lebron joins Erica to discuss setting J.A.N.K.Y goals that allow for imperfection, changing course, and getting outside of your comfort zone to make real change. In this discussion: How improv and play can help you manage fear and get outside your comfort zone Setting goals that account for your humanity and capacity How perfectionism in goal-setting holds us back Why changing course doesn’t mean starting over How making sure your goals are aligned with your values helps you shape real change CONNECT WITH BETSAIDA LEBRON: ImprovEQ Instagram: @playfulleader Connect with Betsaida on LinkedIn READY TO DIVE DEEPER? We’ve been conditioned to show up to work as our “professional” self and leave our personal beliefs behind. But the truth is, values inform every area of our life, so why try to compartmentalize? Each month in The Pause on the Play® Communit y we explore one specific way to make your values more explicit. Our curated connections and learning experiences will help you challenge harmful norms, show up as an imperfect ally®, and live in alignment. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, May 30, 2023
Letting Go of Perfectionism in Goal-Setting with Betsaida Lebron
Goal-setting can bring out the perfectionist in many of us. Getting stuck in the mentality that there is one course of action or one right way to do things doesn’t honor what we learn and experience along the way, even when things don’t go to plan. Betsaida Lebron joins Erica to discuss setting J.A.N.K.Y goals that allow for imperfection, changing course, and getting outside of your comfort zone to make real change. In this discussion: How improv and play can help you manage fear and get outside your comfort zone Setting goals that account for your humanity and capacity How perfectionism in goal-setting holds us back Why changing course doesn’t mean starting over How making sure your goals are aligned with your values helps you shape real change Connect with Betsaida Lebron: ImprovEQ Instagram: @playfulleader Connect with Betsaida on LinkedIn Ready to dive deeper? We’ve been conditioned to show up to work as our “professional” self and leave our personal beliefs behind. But the truth is, values inform every area of our life, so why try to compartmentalize? Each month in The Pause on the Play® Communit y we explore one specific way to make your values more explicit. Our curated connections and learning experiences will help you challenge harmful norms, show up as an imperfect ally®, and live in alignment. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, May 16, 2023
Your Values Come with You: Shaping Company and Brand Values and Culture
Your values are the foundation for every single thing that you do. Yet sometimes, we think we have to leave those values at the door when we go to work, whether in our own businesses or as team members for others. But your values come with you wherever you go. Erica and India discuss rethinking how your values show up in your business, getting explicit about them, and why being clear on your values helps you build lasting relationships with your team, your clients, and your audience. In this discussion: Why it’s important to understand how your personal values show up in other areas of your life Building the foundations of company values and brand values How using psychographics allows your audience to evolve with you and build real relationships with your business and your brand Ready to dive deeper? Take a pause with your team to consider how your values can be infused into your work and company culture with the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Get clarity on what your values are, why they matter, and how you can move forward integrating them into your work. Learn more about the Masterclass and how to sign up at pauseontheplay.com/explicit
Tue, May 02, 2023
Capacity, Responsibility, and Community in Shifting Systems
Doing the work of shifting systems toward equity and equality can take a massive toll physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s easy to feel like you’re not doing enough when you’re working against systems that existed long before you. But it’s important to remember that it’s not your debt to pay. Erica shares a reminder about the debts that we owe, and the importance of doing the work in community. In this discussion: Why you can’t internalize the debts created by preexisting systems Honoring both your capacity and responsibility as you do DEI work Why community and interdependence are vital to paying the systems’ debts Resources: Tabitha Brown’s Instagram post Ready to dive deeper? None of us are meant to do this work alone. And not only should we not do it alone, we need to do it in community. Inside of The Pause on the Play® Community is a space for interdependence and support as you navigate your Imperfect Ally® journey. The Community offers member discussion, workshops, resources, Q&As, and more to help you along the way, and so that you can witness others’ journeys as well. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, April 18, 2023
More Than Labels: Aligning Your Clients with Your Values with Cher Hale
When you’re working toward creating more equity in your business, it can be tempting to use demographic labels to diversify your client list and work with underrepresented communities. But assessing a potential client for fit is about more than labels. Guest host Cher Hale discusses why she chose to shift her business to working exclusively with underrepresented voices, how she sets and keeps her boundaries around client fit, and how she supports clients on their DEI journeys. In this discussion: Cher’s process for evolving her ideal client and how she vets for values alignment Why demographic labels and DEI awareness aren’t enough to make someone a client candidate The combination of criteria and direct questions that Cher uses to assess for fit Why Cher says it’s important to acknowledge the limits of your ability to support your clients Connect with Cher Hale: Gingko PR Ready to dive deeper? We’ve been conditioned to show up to work as our “professional” self and leave our personal beliefs behind. But the truth is, values inform every area of our life, so why try to compartmentalize? Each month in The Pause on the Play® Community , we explore one specific way to make your values more explicit. Our curated connections and learning experiences will help you challenge harmful norms, show up as an Imperfect Ally®, and live in alignment. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, April 04, 2023
Building Your Thought Leadership in the Speaking Industry with Danielle Tucker
Getting involved in the speaking industry is one way to build your thought leadership and support yourself or your business. But that journey isn’t the same for everyone. There is more work that needs to be done to make the speaking industry more equitable. Danielle Tucker joins Erica for a conversation about the speaking industry, building thought leadership, and how people of color can be more visible and get paid well for what they do. In this discussion: Where more accountability and responsibility are needed to bring equity to the speaking industry Why making change in the industry requires collaboration between speakers of color and allies in positions of influence How to build your visibility in ways that feel good and support your goals What it means to be a thought leader in a beneficial and impactful way Connect with Danielle Tucker: Professional Speaker Websites Expansive Thought Leadership Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn Resources: Danielle’s 25 Speaking Essentials Checklist Ready to dive deeper? If you want support in broadcasting your brilliance join Danielle and the other amazing members of The Pause on the Play® Community . Get the knowledge and support you need to bring your voice to the world in a community that is working together and invested in each other’s success and wellbeing. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, March 28, 2023
Leadership Is An Action, Not A Trait
We tend to think of being a leader as something someone is or isn’t. But a concept of leadership that focuses only on the individual misses the inherently social nature of being a leader. Erica discusses what it means to be in leadership, why leadership is social, and why leaders must consider the collective whole. In this discussion: How the common conception of leadership reinforces white supremacy culture Why leadership is inherently social Why leadership requires acknowledging and working toward the collective good We tend to think of being a leader as something someone is or isn’t. But a concept of leadership that focuses only on the individual misses the inherently social nature of being a leader. Erica discusses what it means to be in leadership, why leadership is social, and why leaders must consider the collective whole. In this discussion: How the common conception of leadership reinforces white supremacy culture Why leadership is inherently social Why leadership requires acknowledging and working toward the collective good Resources: What Is Leadership? Kevin Kruse Understanding Leadership , W.C.H. Prentice Ready to dive deeper? The Pause on the Play® Community is a space where we come together and share with one another what we are experiencing, what we’re feeling, and what we’re doing to be different and do better. Sharing these stories and experiences gives us an opportunity to connect on a deep human level and be reminded of the hope and the possibilities in humanity. Learn more about our community at pauseontheplay.com/community What Is Leadership? Kevin Kruse Understanding Leadership , W.C.H. Prentice Ready to dive deeper? The Pause on the Play® Community is a space where we come together and share with one another what we are experiencing, what we’re feeling, and what we’re doing to be different and do better. Sharing these stories and experiences gives us an opportunity to connect on a deep human level and be reminded of the hope and the possibilities in humanity. Learn more about our community at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, March 21, 2023
Towards Liberation: Building a Business Based on Your Values with Jeffrey Shiau
While many business owners want to do business differently, there is no one-size-fits-all checklist for building a business that supports collective liberation. But there is plenty of shame, guilt, and expectation around how to do business. Yet shame and guilt can actually stifle our growth and perfection is neither a reasonable goal nor expectation. Jeffrey Shiau joins Erica for a conversation about building a liberatory business, what it means to honor your capacity and the humanity of your team, and why we need to reclaim pleasure and care as we work toward liberation. In this discussion: How small business owners’ identity and values are impacted by white supremacist, patriarchal culture Why we have to let go of shame and expectations of perfection for ourselves and others What it means to honor your capacity and the capacity of your team Why we need to re-humanize our business relationships Connect with Jeffrey Shiau: Unconventional Agency Instagram: @UnconventionalAgency Resources: Read Emergent Strategy , by adrienne maree brown Ready to dive deeper? If you want to support change, break barriers, and vote with your dollars, you can make a financial contribution to support the show. Your contributions help offset the costs of production, show notes, and article writing, and keep the Pause on the Play® podcast a free resource for 200 episodes and counting. Take action toward being part of a more equitable future by making your donation at pauseontheplay.com/show
Tue, March 14, 2023
Beyond Acknowledgment: Connecting with the Land and Environment
Many of us live lives that are disconnected from the land and our environment. The process of learning about the traditional stewards of the land you’re on, and honoring the environment can have impacts that go beyond land acknowledgments. India joins Erica for a discussion about acknowledging and honoring the land, what Erica has learned about gardening, and how she’s evolving in her work and relationships. In this discussion: What Erica and India have learned since researching whose land they’re on How growing and tending plants has evolved Erica’s relationship to the land and her ancestors How Erica’s professional training has impacted her personal relationships and the way she shows up for her children Ready to dive deeper? When we’re thinking about topics that aren’t widely discussed, it can be challenging to know where to search for information, or even the right questions to ask. And that’s where the power of community comes in. In The Pause on the Play® Community , we ask questions, and share our journeys, resources, and knowledge. There is so much power and opportunity for growth in being in community with people who share your values and allow you to reconsider your normal. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Find out whose land you’re on: https://native-land.ca/ Learn more about caring for plants with Hilton Carter , The New Plant Parent , and The Plant Rescuer
Tue, March 07, 2023
Embodiment, Agency, and Choicefulness with María-Victoria Albina
Labels like co-dependent, perfectionist, and people-pleaser get used constantly. We’re told we shouldn’t be those things. But for many of us, those labels stem from survival skills we learned in our early lives. And reliance on labels can actually undermine our ability to heal from these behavioral patterns. María-Victoria Albina joins Erica for a discussion of survival skills, authenticity, embodiment, agency, and choicefulness within the systems of white supremacist patriarchy, colonization, and capitalism. In this discussion: How labels like codependent, perfectionist, and people-pleaser undermine healing Why problematizing the survival skills many of us learned as children is problematic in itself How white wellness’s emphasis on authenticity diminishes the multi-faceted nature of being human How our nervous systems impact embodiment, agency, and choicefulness Connect with María-Victoria Albina: Website Instagram: @victoriaalbinawellness Feminist Wellness Podcast Anchored: Overcoming Codependency Resources: Download María-Victoria’s Free Meditations and Exercises Ready to dive deeper? Joy and connection can provide powerful counterbalances to the systems of white supremacy. We need reminders that it is possible to recenter, repair, and restore what has been stolen, damaged, or degraded by white supremacy. Counterbalances that remind us that we never have to allow our humanity to be on the table for negotiation provide us access to action that move us further away from white supremacy. We are addressing these counterbalances and navigating change together in The Pause on the Play® Community . If you’re looking for a supportive, centering space on your journey, learn more about The Community at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, February 28, 2023
Word Choice Is an Opportunity to Match Your Impact with Your Intent
There are words that we use so often that we rarely stop to consider the impact that they can have. The word but is often used when we discuss things like Black History Month. “It’s important but, it’s the shortest month of the year…” The word but negates what comes before it. When you use the word but you may be negating the lived experiences and realities of others without even realizing it. For the final episode of Black History Month, Erica discusses why we need to be more conscious of when we use but . In this discussion: How the word but negates experiences and realities A case for keeping history, heritage, and cultural months on the calendar Why using the word but doesn’t soften the impact of your words How to use language as a clue to how you’re processing Resources: Learn more about land acknowledgments at native-land.ca Listen to Erica and E.K. Powell on African American Vernacular English Ready to dive deeper? Any time that we discuss language and word choices, it’s important to consider how it impacts people and the intended or unintended harm that can happen when we are not mindful with one of our most important resources: our words. Inside The Pause on the Play® Community , we have our guide to problematic language and alternatives, which is a crowdsourced document that you can learn from and contribute to, so we can all work on recognizing that our language is powerful. This is one of the many resources available to Community members, along with community conversations, office hours, workshops, and more. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, February 21, 2023
Celebrating Black Innovation and Joy in Black History Month
Black History Month often curtails the true scope of Black history to a few key periods of time, but Black history is much more than the history of enslavement or the Civil Rights Movement. Black history is full of innovation and joy, and it’s being made all around us. Erica and India discuss the importance of recognizing and celebrating Black joy during Black History Month, and all year long. In this discussion: Why it’s vital to recognize the throughline of innovation and joy in Black history in America Why it’s necessary to amplify Black innovators and creators working in spaces outside of music, movies, or sports Why allies need Black friends, not just educators How to witness, support, and share Black joy Resources: Listen to POTP Episde 94. Celebrating Black Joy for Black History Month Learn more about Ron Finley, the Gangsta Gardener Ready to dive deeper? Podcasts, books and articles are the places that we start, but they have to become a part of how you take action, part of how you learn and unlearn so that you can live, lead, and love in a more equitable way. You can support change, break barriers, and vote with your dollars via a financial contribution to the Pause on the Play® podcast. Your contribution goes towards podcast production, show notes, and article writing expenses necessary to continue providing this free resource to those seeking to take action and create a more equitable future. You can learn more and submit your contribution at the dollar amount of your choice at pauseontheplay.com/show
Tue, February 14, 2023
Community and Interdependence as Counterbalances to White Supremacy
Getting clarity on how you want to be in community–whether one-on-one, in a group, or taking time to process on your own before coming back to the group–helps create interdependence by fostering a community of choice that benefits that collective whole. Erica digs into showing up as yourself and how fostering interdependence creates counterbalances and safety nets as we navigate liminal spaces, planning for the future as we understand the present. In this discussion: Why you need clarity on how you want to show up in community How interdependence founded on active choice benefits the collective whole How interdependence creates counterbalances and safety nets that support our forward movement Resources: Listen to Ixchel Lunar on Decolonizing Time and Relearning Indigenous Cyclical Time Ready to dive deeper? The Pause on the Play® Community is about more than just business, it’s about connecting with people in a holistic landscape, where you are allowed to show up exactly as you are in that moment. The community fosters interdependence and provides support as we navigate counterbalances and create safety nets, as a way of life. Join the conversation at https://pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, February 07, 2023
Biases in Health Care and Medical Gaslighting: A Conversation with Andrea Nakayama
Systemic biases can have profound impacts on how we receive medical care and support. Members of marginalized communities may be brushed off, misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated within the medical system, sometimes with catastrophic effects.Andrea Nakayama joins Erica for a discussion about bias, medical gaslighting, a systems approach to health, and how to advocate for yourself in medical settings. In this discussion: The three tenets of functional medicine How systemic and implicit biases show up in medical care The sometimes subtle impacts of medical gaslighting Three steps to advocate for yourself in medical settings Connect with Andrea Nakayama: Website Instagram: @andreanakayama Meet Andrea Nakayama | Founder and Lead Instructor for FxNA The 15-Minute Matrix Podcast Ready to dive deeper? When we’re confronting biases and gaslighting, it can be easy to second-guess ourselves based on what we’ve been conditioned to think. That’s where having a space to navigate what’s happening, what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling, and having a soundboard can be immensely helpful. The Pause on the Play® Community can be that place. Learn more at https://pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, January 31, 2023
Reflection Pause: Where We Are and Where We've Been
A new year is often a time of reflecting on the past and planning for the future, but it’s important to remember that where we are right now matters. And as content creators, it matters that you share what’s going on with you and not forget yourself in the process of interviewing others or providing value through teaching. Erica and India get together to share where they are right now and why it’s important for content creators to let their audiences get to know them. In this discussion: Why content creators should share their personal experiences Erica and India’s experiences becoming homeowners How Erica put her values into action through her recent move A different take on boundaries and how that’s helping Erica navigate online dating Resources: Watch The Banker Use OfferUp Buy Nothing Project Ready to dive deeper? If you’ve enjoyed the conversations on this podcast, you may want the chance to ask Erica or India your questions, and you have the opportunity to do that in The Pause on the Play® Community . You’ll also get to meet and be in community with a global group of values-driven individuals and join conversations and get feedback on situations in your work like hiring or marketing and in your life, like voting with your dollars or the messy middle of moving or online dating. Learn more at https://pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, January 24, 2023
Charging Your Worth as a WOC and Being an Imperfect Ally
“Charge your worth.” It’s a common refrain, but it can carry a different weight for members of the BIPOC Community in ways that make it difficult to resonate with. And unpacking it isn’t always an easy process. In this replay from Elaine Lou Cartas’s Color Your Dreams podcast, Erica, India, and Elaine unpack what it means to charge your worth as women of color and allies, the importance of women of color and allies working together, and how charging what you’re worth impacts how you can give back and be accessible to your community. In this discussion: Why “charge your worth” gets complicated for members of the BIPOC community Why accounting for your needs in your pricing is about more than literal costs How being clear on your values supports your offers, content, and knowing when it’s time to make a shift How “cancel culture” misses the nuance in accountability and Imperfect Allyship® Connect with Elaine Lou Cartas: Elainelou.com Color Your Dreams Podcast Join the Color Your Dreams Newsletter Instagram: @elainelou_ Ready to dive deeper? Listening to conversations is passive. World-changing impact and transformation happen when you take part in the conversations, get feedback, share your stories and experiences, and get support in integrating your values and discoveries into your life and business. The Pause on the Play® Community is a space to do just that. Learn more at https://pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, January 17, 2023
A Broader Perspective on the Beginner's Mindset with Parker Stevenson
Sometimes it feels like you have to know everything. Or at least pretend that you do. It takes self-awareness and vulnerability to admit that we don’t know what we don’t know. But adopting a beginner’s mindset, and reminding ourselves that there is always something out there to learn, keeps us open to opportunities and connections along our journeys. Parker Stevenson joins Erica for an honest conversation about approaching the world, your business, and your clients with a beginner’s mindset. In this discussion: Defining a beginner’s mindset How ego and fear get in the way of leading with a beginner’s mindset How balancing confidence and a beginner’s mindset can help you navigate challenges The positive impact of approaching client relationships with a beginner’s mindset Connect with Parker Stevenson: Instagram: @evolvedfinance Financial Foundations Audio Course - Evolved Finance Ready to dive deeper? When you’re considering brand visibility or your Imperfect Allyship® efforts, your mindset will show up. Having a beginner’s mindset and being open to what’s possible really does make a difference. In T he Pause on the Play® Community , a beginner’s mindset is a focal point of our community. We’re all beginners. We’re always learning. There’s always something valuable for each and every one of us has that we can learn from, and there’s so much beauty in doing it together in community. Learn more at https://pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, January 10, 2023
Independence vs Interdependence: What's the difference?
In the United States, we live with a cultural narrative of hyper-independence. We make it on our own. But there is nothing we do that isn’t in some way supported by someone else. The often invisible labor of others allows us to perpetuate the lie that we are independent. Humans are interdependent by nature and communities can’t exist without interdependence. Erica and India discuss how interdependence shows up in The Pause on the Play Community, in their work, and in their lives, from collaboration to compost. In this discussion: How concepts of community, collaboration, and interdependence have shaped The Pause on the Play® Community The myth of American exceptionalism and the truth of interdependence How fostering interdependence also supports equity and inclusion in your DEI efforts How interdependence can show up in your community Ready to dive deeper? The Pause on the Play® Community is creating an environment where interdependence is fostered willingly and joyfully through community conversation, workshops, Q&As, co-working sessions, resources, and events like Collaboration Speed Dating. Our members thrive through sharing with and supporting one another on their personal and professional journeys, where their experiences and perspectives are valued, and where no one is reduced to an elevator pitch. Learn more at: pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: OfferUp ShareWaste Too Good to Go
Tue, January 03, 2023
Examining Interdependence vs Individualism
Participating in modern society is interdependent by nature. But in the United States, individualism and exceptionalism are part of the dominant narrative of how we relate to success, failure, and each other. Erica discusses how the winter holidays can be a useful illustration of how interdependence and individualism show up for us in school, work, and in our relationships and communities. In this discussion: Defining individualism and interdependence How the holidays provide a foil for observing these paradigms in our lives Three questions to help you define where and how individualism and interdependence are showing up for you Ready to dive deeper? Interdependence does not have to be cumbersome or heavy. In The Pause on the Play® Community , you can join us for Collaboration Speed Dating, our answer to traditional networking events where we connect the diverse membership of the community with people seeking guests and collaborators, to share opportunities with each other, and to support each other’s work. These fun, fulfilling, and supportive events are just one way that we explore interdependence within the community. Join us for full access to events, conversations, Q&As, workshops, and our library of evergreen resources and replays. Learn more at: pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: White Supremacy Culture , Minnesota Historical Society Individualism - White Supremacy Culture
Bonus · Tue, December 06, 2022
We Are On Pause Until 2023.
If you’ve taken in the last few episodes, you may be aware that inside The Pause on the Play® Community , we have a curated exploration called Create Space to Take Care of Yourself. This month, we’re leading by example and taking some time to care for ourselves, so the podcast will be on pause until January 3, 2023. In the meantime, dig into the archives, continue to vote with your dollars, and you’re always welcome to connect with us inside The Pause on the Play® Community .
Tue, November 29, 2022
Reconsider the Holidays and Social Programming
Fall and winter holidays are steeped in traditions for many of us, from Thanksgiving turkey to Christmas lights. Whether they came into our lives with our families of origin or through later relationships, it’s worth considering how those traditions do or don’t align with our values, and if we can reshape them, or shape new traditions that honor our values and the history behind these celebrations. Erica and India discuss Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in the context of history, in the lives of children, and how they’re reconsidering traditions in their own lives. In this discussion: Why we need to consider the histories behind holidays like Columbus Day and Thanksgiving How schools perpetuate holiday myths and Christian narratives Balancing childhood wonder with transparency and honesty in our relationships with children Giving context to Indigenous People’s Day and Thanksgiving Ready to dive deeper? When you’re in the process of reconsidering your normal and questioning how your values show up in your life and work, it’s always helpful to have support. The Pause on the Play® Community was designed to foster these kinds of conversations and considerations with office hours, Q&As, community conversations, and resources available to members on the Imperfect Ally® journeys. Learn more at: pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, November 22, 2022
Pausing Is A Privilege
Creating space to pause is vital to our well-being and to the ability to make the impact we want to create by participating meaningfully in change. But pausing isn’t accessible in the same ways to everyone. In many ways, the ability to pause is a privilege. Erica and India discuss the intersection of pausing and privilege, with some key examples of how those concepts have shown up in their lives and in the lives of people around them. In this discussion: Why the word “pause” is central to the Pause on the Play® brand and podcast What it means to pause in our lives How privilege shows up in the ability to pause The intersection of pausing, privilege, and generational trauma Ready to dive deeper? Join The Pause on the Play® Community for our newest curated exploration, Create Space to Take Care of Yourself. This evergreen collection of resources and workshops, including Ixchel Lunar’s “Decolonizing Time: Centering the R.E.S.T. Recipe,” journal questions and prompts, and the Allyship Meditation Sound Bath to help support you in taking care of yourself. Creating space to pause and care for yourself is a privilege, but it is so important when we do have the ability to create it. Learn more about this curated exploration and all the benefits of Community membership at: pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, November 15, 2022
Creating Space To Take Care Of Yourself
Many of us struggle to give ourselves time and space that isn’t taken up with work, family, friends, television, music, anything to distract us from silence. But reconsidering your normal, and living with your values and the impact you want to create, takes time. It requires that we learn how to get comfortable with stillness, and to care for ourselves. India and Erica discuss how they make space to reconsider their normal and to care for themselves, and share their thoughts on handling their schedules, getting comfortable being by themselves, and honoring your nervous system when things are tough. In this discussion: How India and Erica approach taking real time off for rest Why doing nothing and staying in the present with ourselves is so hard What the culture gets wrong about our nervous systems How to build in time to live your values Ready to dive deeper? In The Pause on the Play® Community , members have on-demand access to Ixchel Lunar’s workshop called “Decolonizing Time: Centering the R.E.S.T. Recipe.” Ixchel shares how our concept of time has been colonized, stolen, commodified, and outsourced, and how we can liberate our flow and create conditions to partner with time rather than getting caught in the hustle. This workshop is just one of the evergreen resources available to Community members, along with live workshops, Q&As, co-working hours, and conversation with others on their journeys of Imperfect Allyship®. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, November 08, 2022
Autonomy, Personal Ownership, and Consent: A Conversation With Shannon Collins
While many of us are familiar with discussing consent in the context of sexuality, consent shows up in so many other areas of our lives. Consent may seem like a simple yes or no, but there are layers to what makes up true consent, and access to it can be a privilege. Shannon Collins interviews Erica about how consent shows up in everything from health to hair to raising kids, even in our entertainment. In this discussion: How Erica defines consent in this moment How Erica is reprogramming consent in her life and in the lives of her kids through modeling imperfection and accountability When consent is an illusion or a privilege How consent shows up in DEI work, entertainment, and in the salon Connect with Shannon Collins: www.shannoncollins.com www.youthphoria.org Instagram: @shannoncollinsphoto Ready to dive deeper? Members like Shannon Collins make The Pause on the Play® Community what it is. Community members have on-demand access to the replay of Shannon and Stacie Lampkin’s workshop, “Sharing about kids online: Do you have their consent?” In this workshop, Stacie and Shannon cover the basics of consent and boundaries when posting about kids online, and encourage participants to re-examine their approach to how they share about children in online spaces. This is just one of the evergreen resources available to community members, along with our conversations, screenings, Q&As, co-working hours, and more. Resources: Read Don't Touch My Hair! , Sharee Miller Read You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain , Phoebe Robinson
Tue, November 01, 2022
Decolonizing Time and Relearning Indigenous Cyclical Time with Ixchel Lunar
Many of us are accustomed to viewing time as a resource we never seem to have enough of. The pace of our lives pushes us to constantly “make the most” of our time. That pace has a profound impact on us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But other ways of relating to time, outside the colonial paradigm, are possible. Ixchel Lunar and Erica discuss decolonizing time, relearning Indigenous cyclical time, and how to build a relationship with time where it is a friend, rather than a pressure. In this discussion: The four categories of colonial time How colonization and dominator culture separate people from place How to begin to build a friendship with time through prioritizing joy, pleasure, and connection to the natural world Why we have to accept the discomfort of liminal spaces as we journey toward decolonization Connect with Ixchel Lunar: Ixchel.Love Subscribe to Dragon Letters Instagram: @ixchel.love Ready to dive deeper? Actions that create the impact you seek happen when you are in community, when you are in conversation with others, and you allow yourself to be open and willing to discuss what's possible. It’s not always easy, but it is necessary. Having conversations where you are learning, unlearning, and relearning alongside your community are why The Pause on the Play® Community exists. And sometimes on your journey to Imperfect Allyship®, it’s also necessary to pause and take care of yourself. That’s why we offer resources like our Allyship Sound Bath Meditation to help rest and soothe your nervous system. Resources like this and our whole library of evergreen replays and workshops are accessible on your schedule as part of your membership in The Pause on the Play® Community. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Watch Dr. Brittney Cooper on The Racial Politics of Time , and read Eloquent Rage Learn more about Australian Indigenous thinker Tyson Yunkaporta
Tue, October 25, 2022
How To Reconsider Imposter Syndrome
People talk about imposter syndrome all the time, in relation to how they feel at work or in social situations or just in life. But do you know where the term comes from? Erica revisits episode three of the podcast and gives her perspective on what imposter syndrome really is and how it can show up in our lives. In this discussion: The popular conception of what imposter syndrome means Why imposter syndrome may have more to do with who you’ve had to be than who you’re becoming How imposter syndrome shows up in the journey of allyship Ready to dive deeper? In the next curated exploration within The Pause on the Play Community , we’re discussing creating the space to take care of yourself. Real self care goes way beyond a hashtag and a bubble bath. We’ll be in community conversation about integrating taking care of yourself into your values and how you want to create impact in the world. Join us and get access to the community conversations and support, Q&As with Erica and India, live office hours, and our library of evergreen resources and replays. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Read “The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention,” Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes
Tue, October 18, 2022
Profit Without Oppression: Getting into Nuance with Kim Crayton
There has been a lot of conversation about dismantling systems of oppression over the last few years. But too often, this conversation stalls before turning into action. It’s not enough to have language to explain concepts and systems of supremacy, disrimination, and exploitation or to simply take in information. Kim Crayton joins Erica for a wide-ranging conversation about why she’s done with call outs, why dismantling systems isn’t enough, and how she’s envisioning and creating alternative systems through Profit Without Oppression. In this discussion: Why Kim is no longer interested in calling out harm How academic theories like white guilt and fragility inhibit action Why Kim doesn’t use the term ally How Kim is envisioning a future that is supremacy free, coercion free, discrimination free, and exploitation free Connect with Kim Crrayton: Linktr.ee Preorder Profit Without Oppression: A Blueprint for Building an Antiracist Organization Ready to dive deeper? Inside The Pause on the Play® Community , action is really the thing. While conversations are essential to understanding what’s happening, reconsidering your normal, and envisioning what’s possible; it has to translate to action. If you want to be in community with others committed to taking action to create impact, join us in The Pause on the Play® Community . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Read Audre Lord Read The Wealth of Nations , Adam Smith Read the Powell Memo: Attack on American Free Enterprise System
Tue, October 11, 2022
Ditching Business-As-Usual with Racheal Cook
Business and work culture are always changing. And with more people pursuing entrepreneurship, whether they’re following their passion or because running their own business is the only way to juggle work and life, there are more opportunities for us to impact how we do work. To create the change we want to witness, and cultures that are more inclusive, more supportive, and more adaptable, we have to learn to reconsider our normal in work and in life. Racheal Cook joins Erica to discuss the impact on her business of reconsidering her normal and getting explicit about her values. In this discussion: How reconsidering your normal supports your business in being proactive, not reactive How a society-wide shift toward self-employment and entrepreneurship creates opportunities to dramatically reshape work culture How integrating her values into her business created more ease for Racheal and her team Why we need to stop relentlessly scaling up and putting celebrity entrepreneurs on pedestals Connect with Racheal Cook: The CEO Collective Promote Yourself to CEO Podcast Instagram: @racheal.cook Ready to dive deeper? Providing space for people to Reconsider Their Normal is one of the reasons we started The Pause on the Play® Community . Having a place, and community support, to be able to reevaluate and decide what feels like the best next choice for you, for where you want to go, the kind of impact you want to create, and the legacy you want to leave behind is what The Community is made for. Community members get access to conversations, Q&As with Erica and India, office hours, workshops, and our entire library of evergreen resources and replays. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Racheal recommends Victoria’s Secret: Angels and Demons Listen to Racheal on the definition of success on the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast Listen to Pause on the Play® Community members on their definitions of success on the Pause on the Play® podcast
Tue, October 04, 2022
What We Learned About Creating Partnership Programs with Laura Sprinkle
Many of us are familiar with affiliate partnership programs and how they can help market our businesses and grow our audiences. And partner programs can be an appealing way to bring your offer to a wider range of people without having to use marketing methods that aren’t in alignment with your values. But advice about building an affiliate program can be disingenuous, making it sound overly easy or even exploitative. Laura Sprinkle interviews Erica and India about the development of the Pause on the Play® Community, why they chose to have a partner program rather than focus on traditional marketing, how they designed a values-driven affiliate program, and what they’ve learned in the process. In this discussion: Why Erica and India developed Pause on the Play® as a podcast and a community How their affiliate program built off of the organic sharing they already had in order to form partnerships based on values and equity Common practices and misconceptions for affiliate programs that Erica and India wanted to disrupt How the program reinforces reciprocal relationships of giving and receiving Connect with Laura Sprinkle: LauraSprinkle.com Rock Your Affiliate Program Instagram: @imlaurasprinkle Ready to dive deeper? We often discuss integrating our personal values into our businesses. We’ve been conditioned to show up to work as our “professional” self and leave our personal beliefs behind. But the truth is, values inform every area of our life, so why try to compartmentalize? Each month in Pause on the Play® The Community we explore one specific way to make your values more explicit. Our curated connections and learning experiences provide a space where you can ask questions, challenge assumptions, and process current events in real time. Members get access to monthly curations, workshops, live Q&As, community discussion, and our full library of evergreen resources and replays. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, September 27, 2022
Getting Comfortable Breaking the Rules of Business with Brooke Monaghan
When it comes to our businesses, there are a lot of rules and “right” ways to do things that we’re told are just how it’s done if we want to succeed. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can choose to do things differently. Brooke Monaghan joins Erica to discuss how she shows up in her business, reconsiders her normal, and rejects the rules in order to create sustainable, values-driven businesses for herself and her clients. In this discussion: How to begin to differentiate what narratives are yours and which aren’t Why we need to decouple success and sacrifice How embodying your values combats hustle culture How perfectionism shows up in the way we commit to narratives that aren’t working Connect with Brooke Monaghan: Instagram: @Briggsmonaghan Transcend Your Dichotomy Podcast Free self-guided workshop Ready to dive deeper? The conventional thinking that says your values are separate from your business doesn’t serve anyone who is in business, or even us as consumers. Values are the underpinning for the actions you take, the conversations you have, and the impact you create in your business. If you’re ready for more conversations about reconsidering your normal in business and in life, join us at Pause on the Play® The Community . Members get access to community conversations, Q&As with Erica and India, live workshops, and evergreen access to our whole library of resources and replays. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Erica recommends The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself , Michael A. Singer Listen to Pause on the Play® Ep 3: Is It Imposter Syndrome? Listen to Pause on the Play® Ep 153: Truth, Self-Worth, and Imposter Syndrome
Tue, September 20, 2022
Values Hijacking, Capitalism, and Systemic Change with Tara McMullin
Many of us are aware of how our business values can get co-opted by the values and structures of capitalism. What may be less obvious is how our personal values can also be influenced by capitalist thinking. Capitalism is more than an economic system. Capitalism is a fundamental part of our politics, culture, and how we navigate our personal and professional lives. Tara McMullin joins Erica to discuss the far-reaching impacts of capitalism on our lives, the gamification of our values and goals, how our values get co-opted by imperatives for efficiency and productivity, and how we can begin to cultivate awareness and make choices that truly align with our values. In this discussion: Why capitalism is more than an economic system How the gamification of our lives keeps us striving for more “points” How capitalism creates the lens we use to shape our values How the system impacts how we view ourselves and our work How to build awareness and begin deconstructing the narratives of the system in your life Connect with Tara McMullin: What Works Instagram: @tara_mcmullin Twitter: @taragentile Preorder What Works: A Comprehensive Framework to Change the Way We Approach Goal Setting Ready to dive deeper? We all have things we think we “should” be doing, and those influences can get in the way of acting in alignment with our values, especially when we aren’t sure how to take our values from static words to actions. Taking action with your values allows them to become guiding principles on how to respond, make choices, and create impact in your life and with your brand. Members of Pause on the Play® The Community have evergreen access Erica and India’s Jackson’s workshop, Reconsidering What You Know About Values, where you’ll find support in understanding how leading with your values can shift your brand and your life. Get access to the workshop and our entire library of evergreen resources by joining at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Tara’s thoughts have been influenced by Games: Agency as Art , C. Thi Nguyen Listen to C. Thi Nguyen on the Ezra Klein Show Listen to C. Thi Nguy
Tue, September 13, 2022
Ancestral Trauma, Inner Child Wounds, and Healing with Evelyn Huynh
Every one of us has an inner child, where our subconscious minds store emotional experiences from childhood. And those experiences and emotions shape the lens we bring into the present. For members of the BIPOC community, inner child wounds often intersect with the ancestral and generational traumas of the community. Healing is not easy work, especially when healing hasn’t always been accessible or normalized in the community. But it is possible. Evelyn Huynh and Erica discuss inner child wounds, ancestral trauma, and possibilities for healing. In this discussion: Why comparing, downplaying, and minimizing your inner child wounds impedes healing How inner child wounds intersect with ancestral trauma, especially in the BIPOC community Where inner child wounds and generational trauma most often show up in our lives How inner child wounds impact our Imperfect Ally® journeys Connect with Evelyn Huynh: Evolve with Evelyn Tiktok: @evolvewithevelyn Evolve with Evelyn Podcast Book a Spark Session with Evelyn Ready to dive deeper? Healing is no small feat. It requires time and effort, but it also requires that you allow your body, mind, spirit, and soul to rest. Giving your nervous system a break allows you to be able to continue doing the work of healing. Members of Pause on the Play® The Community have evergreen access to our Allyship Sound Meditation Concert, created by Natasha Freeman of Lucid Living RVA. A sound meditation helps your nervous system relax and supports you in being able to access restorative rest. Get access to the Meditation Concert and our entire library of evergreen resources by joining at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, September 06, 2022
Legal Agreements: Integrating Your Values and Creating Consent with Autumn Witt Boyd
Most of us understand the concept of consent when it comes to bodily autonomy and permission. We know what it means to agree to or decline physical interaction. But consent has implications in many areas of our lives and businesses, and it can become confusing to consider how a broader definition of consent impacts the actions we take in relationship to each other. Autumn Witt Boyd joins guest host India Jackson for a discussion of how consent applies to legal agreements and contracts that we make in our businesses and how approaching your agreements through the lens of consent impacts your relationships with your clients for the better. In this discussion: How the cultural conversation about consent has increased and expanded Why getting informed consent for your agreements improves your client relationships Why it’s key to get consent and set expectations through values-forward community and group agreements How to handle an agreement you didn’t consent to Where to begin auditing your contracts and agreements for values and consent Connect with Our Autumn Witt Boyd: Instagram: @awbfirm How to Write Your Own Contract Guide Use code PLAY for 20% Off Templates Ready to dive deeper? Expanding our concepts of consent is part of the journey of an Imperfect Ally®. If you’re looking for support and community for your journey, Pause on the Play® The Community has resources, conversations, office hours, live Q&As with Erica and India, live workshops, and recordings. Members also have evergreen access to the replay of a workshop on consent facilitated by community members Shannon Collins and Stacie Lampkin. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Autumn recommends Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You , Rachel Brian
Tue, August 30, 2022
Conscious Communication in Life and Work with Elaine Lou Cartas
Communication in the workplace can be fraught. Bringing together groups of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can create situations ripe for conflict and miscommunication. But we can shape workplace cultures where people feel witnessed, appreciated, and respected. Elaine Lou Cartas joins Erica and India for a discussion about creating space for difficult conversations in the workplace, the importance of behavior modeling from leaders, and how conscious communication deepens our relationships. In this discussion: How our backgrounds inform our communication styles Why it’s important to obtain consent and create context for providing feedback Why leaders need to be aware of the communication styles they model to their teams How conscious communication deepens our relationships at work and in life Connect with Our Elaine Lou Cartas: Elainelou.com Color Your Dreams Podcast Join the Color Your Dreams Newsletter Instagram: @elainelou_ Ready to dive deeper? We all need access to support on our Imperfect Ally® journeys. In Pause on the Play® The Community , we strive to create a space where members have the ability to be open, honest, and transparent, to share their experiences and expertise, to amplify others, and receive support from the community. Join us to get access to conversations, community, office hours, Q&A with Erica and India, live workshops, and our entire library of recordings and resources. If you are ready to be part of the Community, we are ready for you. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Listen to India and Erica on the Color Your Dreams podcast, discussing Charging Your Worth and Imperfect Allyship®
Tue, August 23, 2022
Misconceptions of Slang, Tone Policing, and TikTok with EK Powell
Tone policing is a way of invalidating what someone is saying because of how they’re saying it. It goes beyond literal tone–too loud, too brash, too animated–and extends to using slang or African American Vernacular English and beyond. It often assumes that the speaker is uneducated, rendering their opinions or experiences as null and void. EK Powell joins Erica to discuss tone policing and respectability politics, how content creators are pushing back and influencing media, and why you can’t address everybody. In this discussion: How respectability politics and tone policing create an obligation to assimilate How content creators are pushing back against respectability politics How calling words slang or jargon applies different implied value to language Why showing up authentically means you can’t address everybody Connect with Our EK Powell: Instagram: @whatsgoodenglish TikTok: @whatsgoodenglish YouTube: What’s Good English Support EK Powell on Patreon Contact EK Powell Ready to dive deeper? Pause on the Play® The Community has the resources that support you and other values focused individuals in creating change and impact in our world together. Join us for conversations that address the questions and challenges that come up as you’re navigating visibility and values, Imperfect Allyship®, and the impact you want to create. Membership gets you access to live office hours, Q&A sessions with Erica and India, workshops, and our entire library of evergreen replays and resources. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Listen to EK Powell on African American Vernacular English The origin of the term “Sea-Lioning”
Tue, August 16, 2022
Diverse Perspectives: Reconsidering the Meaning of Success
Success is difficult to define. Everyone has their own take on what it means, and there is often a difference between how we think about success and how it shows up in reality. India and Erica discuss how they have defined success in the past, how the meaning of success has evolved, and share the perspectives of members of the Pause on the Play® Community. In this discussion: How the definitions of success we’re exposed to early in life create narratives of how we perceive ourselves and others Why we need diverse perspectives on the meaning of success Eight community members share their working definitions of success Connect with Our Contributors: Elaine Lou Cartas Mim Jenkinson Kim Wensel EK Powell Jetty Nieuwenhuis Sean McMullin Emily Souder Shannon Collins Ready to dive deeper? The last thing we need is another echo chamber, perpetuating a single perspective on how we should live, love, and earn. If you know there’s more than one definition of and path to success, but haven’t found a place that encourages this diversity and divergence, good news: your search is over. READY TO FIND YOUR PEOPLE? Join us inside The Pause on the Play® Community Where entrepreneurs and brands reconsider “normal” in life and work. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Subscribe to the Pause on the Play® Newsletter Listen to Kim Wensel and Erica discuss the evolution of Pause on the Play® Listen to E.K. Powell on African American Vernacular English Listen to Jetty Nieuwenhuis on Unlocking Your F*ck It Factor Read Emily Souder on Defining Success at Mother Hustle Listen to Shannon Collins on Using Your Visibility and Influence from Behind the Camera Listen to Shannon Collins on the Wedding Industrial Complex Listen to Amenah Arman on Bad Art Read <a href="https://bookshop.org/boo
Tue, August 09, 2022
Integrated Values, Grounded Growth, and Marketing with Amy Jacobus
When you decide that you want to make an impact and create change with your brand and your platform, you have to get clear on your values. And those values have to be explicit to you, your team, your clients, and your audience. Amy Jacobus reconnects with Erica to reflect on how refining and implementing her values throughout her company has impacted her business, and how it continues to grow and shape her brand. In this discussion: How reconsidering her normal allows Amy to create sustainable, and effective marketing plans for her clients How making her values explicit has impacted Amy’s relationships with her team and her clients Why you have to be willing to question, reconsider, and shift your values over time How reconsidering the norms of your industry helps you align with your values Connect with Amy Jacobus: Amy Jacobus Marketing Instagram: @amyjacobus Ready to dive deeper? Values have been touted as something you should have, but no one has really told you what to do with them. Taking a static word and turning it into action is the sweet spot where values become guiding principles on how to respond, make choices, and create impact with your brand. Join Pause on the Play, The Community , and get access to Erica and India’s workshop, From Implicit to Explicit: Reconsidering What You Know About Values and learn why identifying your values can change everything in and around your brand, you’ll uncover ways that traditional ideal client workshops and tools aren’t helpful and how leading with your values can shift the way you approach your brand. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, August 02, 2022
Maroon Communities: The History of Black Brilliance and Freedom with Dr. Crystal Menzies
There is so much history that we don’t learn in school. Colonial and white supremacist historical narratives rarely acknowledge the history of Black resistance and rebellion, or the free Black communities created by Maroons, some of which still exist to this day. Dr. Crystal Menzies joins Erica to discuss the past and present of Maroon communities, what they have to teach us about communal care and collective responsibility, and why we need accessible, intergenerational education. In this discussion: The history of Maroon communities and how they sustain their cultures to this day How Maroon communities implement communal care and accountability Why we need to learn about the resistance and rebellion of Black people Why education needs to be intergenerational and in community Connect with Dr. Crystal Menzies: EmancipatED Instagram: @emancipate_ed Ready to dive deeper? Pause on the Play, The Community was created as a space to be able to share information, to allow people to connect with one another, to amplify what is important to them, and support one another in becoming the change that we want to create. In the community, we have conversations where you learn about something that you were unaware of, and how you can shift what’s possible, what can come up in the future if you allow yourself to dream a little bit bigger, to be willing to listen a little bit more intently. If you would like to be a part of these conversations, if you would like to be in a room with other people that are values-aligned and looking to reconsider their normals, this is the place for you. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Learn more about Queen Nanny of the Maroons Watch In Search of Voodoo: Roots to Heaven
Tue, July 26, 2022
Common Misconceptions About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work
We often discuss misconceptions that people have around various topics like marketing, community, visibility and branding, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work. And it’s important to regularly revisit these topics, to dig in, debunk, and recenter the myths and misconceptions that come up with them. India Jackson joins Erica to discuss common misconceptions about DEI work, from getting stuck on the right way to engage to why it’s vital to move from consuming information and into action. In this discussion: How perfectionism shows up when we get attached to there being one way to do DEI Why community is vital to moving DEI work from consumption to action Why DEI efforts require deep internal work and tangible action How a diversity of lived experiences, history, and culture impacts DEI globally Ready to dive deeper? Being in community is one of the cornerstones that can support your DEI efforts. This is what can take you from consuming information to having conversations about what you’ve learned and forming powerful and intentional actions that you can move forward with. This is how we create change, and this is how we can do it in community with one another. Pause on the Play, The Community facilitates a space for these powerful conversations, being able to reconsider your normal, learning from one another, and knowing that you’re not alone in your journey. If you’re ready to join, visit pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Hood Feminism , Mikki Kendall Eloquent Rage , Brittney Cooper Kimberlé Crenshaw Listen to Kay Fabella on DEI in the US and Abroad Listen to Erica on Why You Can’t Operationalize DEI
Tue, July 19, 2022
This Isn't My Norm: Reconsidering Mental Health with Therapist Amenah Arman
Reconsidering your normal is essential to clarifying and living your values. But it isn’t a one and done process. Reconsidering your normal is a journey that holds space for where you’ve been and what’s possible in the future. Amenah Arman joins Erica to discuss how reconsidering her normal has impacted how she shows up in her business, in her values, and in her mission. In this discussion: How getting clear on your values helps you evaluate belief systems and come into alignment with your mission Why reconsidering your normal is an ongoing process that will evolve over time Why we have to normalize suspending judgment and not oversimplifying the lived experiences of BIPOC individuals Why some systems need an overhaul not an update Using anger and frustration as a generative force Connect with Amenah Arman Sane in the Membrane TikTok: @sane.in.the.membrane Instagram: @sane.in.the.membrane Ready to dive deeper? If you’re ready to reconsider your normal and what you know about values, join Pause on the Play, The Community for Implicit to Explicit: Reconsidering What You Know About Values. Erica and India will discuss why you have to establish shared meanings and definitions, how behavior modeling showcases your values through your actions, how common business practices like ideal client profiles contribute to dehumanizing who you want to attract to your business, and more. Community membership gets you access to this workshop and our full library of past workshops and Q&As, along with community discussion and support. Learn more pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Listen to Amenah Arman on Flaunt Your Fire® discussing Bad Art: Challenging the Negative and Perfectionist Narrative Reconsider Your Normal T-shirt
Tue, July 12, 2022
Are Standard Ideal Client Profiles Racist? with India Jackson
Most business owners have been told at some point that they need to have an ideal client profile. These profiles are meant to be tools to figure out who we’re marketing to and who we’re selling to. But in practice, they create a Frankenstein of demographics that don’t reflect real people. These amalgamations of traits are also heavily rooted in white supremacist structures, ignoring whole humans for what we think are the most desirable pieces. India Jackson joins Erica to discuss how these profiles go wrong, and why rooting your marketing in your values allows you to attract the customers, clients, and collaborators you really want. In this discussion: How ideal client profiles reinforce stereotypes and biases by forcing us to make assumptions based on demographics Why ideal client profiles are inherently exclusionary and racist How using your values to guide your client relationships gives you freedom to evolve Why values-based ideal clients are better customers and collaborators Ready to dive deeper? If you’re ready to be in action with your values, Pause on the Play, The Community is offering an opportunity to dive deeper and question what values really are, and what’s really happening when they’re touted as something you need to have, but you’re not sure what to do with them. Join us for From Implicit to Explicit: Reconsidering What You Know About Values. Erica and India will discuss why pausing to establish shared meanings and definitions is an important part of understanding what your values are across your team and your life, as well as why personal values are so important for leaders. Get access to this workshop, replays, community discussions, and more by joining the Community at pauseontheplay.com/community Resources: Listen to Chelsea Stevenson on using your values to inform your ideal client
Tue, July 05, 2022
Company of One? Why Company Culture and Values Still Matter
When we are the only person working for our brand, we can have a false sense of not having anyone to answer to, no reasoning that needs to be vetted before we make decisions. But if we don’t create culture for ourselves, are we deprioritizing the importance of having an understanding of our company culture? Erica shares her perspective on why it’s important to establish a company culture, even when you’re a company of one. In this discussion: How to define the scope of your team Why your values are the foundation of your company culture How defining your values and company culture eases decision making How being explicit in your values positively impacts your growth Ready to dive deeper? If you’re ready to shape your company culture for yourself and the team you’ll create, Pause on the Play, The Community is a place to explore what’s possible. Get access to Q&A sessions, workshops, and a supportive community as you define your values. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, June 28, 2022
The Integration of Personal and Professional Life with Guest Host India Jackson
Learning for the sake of learning is never the thing. Talking for the sake of talking doesn’t do it either. Conversations and content are the places we start, but they have to become part of how you create action, how you learn and unlearn, so you can move through the world in a more equitable way. India interviews Erica about what she’s integrating in her life and her practice of Imperfect Allyship®. In this discussion: Why confronting perfectionism means digging into the narratives you have about yourself and your work How reconsidering your normal extends to Erica’s parenting Why community is essential to integration Ready to dive deeper? If you want to be in conversation with others committed to integration and being Imperfect Allies®, Pause on the Play® The Community , gives you the opportunity to show up, learn new things and new ways of being that you can integrate into your allyship. Join a supportive community who are in action to change themselves and the world around them for the better. Learn more at PauseOnThePlay.com/Community Resources: Listen to Erica interview India about what she’s integrating on the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast Listen to Amenah Arman on Bad Art: Challenging the Negative and Perfectionist Narrative on the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast
Tue, June 21, 2022
Confessions On Diversity In The Workplace With Damion Taylor
What can happen when we take the time to actually talk about the challenges that we're experiencing at work, the way that we're feeling, the things that we're experiencing, and ways that we can do it differently? We need to bring forward the experiences that we’re told, implicitly or explicitly, that we shouldn’t discuss if we want to make progress. Damion Taylor joins Erica and India to discuss how we talk about challenges at work. In this discussion: Why discussions of DEI need to go beyond the theoretical How zero-sum games keep marginalized people from pursuing collective action Why we need to be okay with asking for help Why we have to play to the gray areas in order to improve workplace culture Connect with Damion Taylor: Professional Confession Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts Prometheus Digital Studio Connect with Damion on LinkedIn Ready to dive deeper? Conversations are the cornerstone of connection and change. When we learn, unlearn, and support one another, we can become part of creating equity and impacting the world in a positive way. Pause on the Play®, the Community is a space where people who are seeking to change the world, to learn from each other, and to reconsider their normal come together for conversation and accountability. Be part of creating the outcomes you want to see by joining us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, June 14, 2022
Why You Can't Just Operationalize DEI
As we move away from some of the urgency that surfaced in 2020 around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, it remains vital to continue doing the work. DEI isn’t a box you can check and say you’re done. You can’t schedule learning and unlearning. Erica discusses why DEI is an ongoing project that requires emotional investment and openness and why it can’t just be operationalized. In this discussion: Why DEI has to be the lens through which you do all things Why DEI can’t be an intellectual exercise How committing to learning and unlearning requires an emotional investment How noticing when you’re defaulting to ingrained assumptions creates opportunity for growth Ready to dive deeper? Being clear on your values and the impact you want to create helps you use diversity, equity, and inclusion as a lens. You need to be explicit about who you support, what you support, why you support it, and how your actions are aligned with that. If you want support in getting that clarity, so that you can get closer to embodying your values in your life and business, join the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit . Resources: Jennifer Voss of Martha Beck, Inc discusses the process of transitioning from scholarships to awards in Episode 141: Making DEI Values Explicit in the Coaching Industry
Tue, June 07, 2022
Life and Business On Your Own Terms with Tasha Booth
Business and life come with a lot of prescribed standards for how things should be done. But following the shoulds can lead to burnout when those paths don’t feel authentic to ourselves. What would it be like to have the freedom to decide for yourself how you want to do life and work? Tasha Booth (she/her) and Erica discuss making your own choices and setting your own standards in business and life. In this discussion: How living life on your own terms shows up in your business Why following prescribed paths leads to burnout Why your launch needs to keep accessibility and inclusivity in mind Why Imperfect Allyship® is more than what’s noticeable on the surface Connect with Tasha Booth: TashaBooth.com The Launch Guild Instagram: @thetashabooth Ready to dive deeper? In order to create freedom and set new standards in your business and in your life, you have to be clear on what matters to you and the impact you want to create. You have to be in alignment with what you value and why. If you want guidance in getting explicit about what you support and to align your actions with that, join the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit . Resources: Listen to Erica’s conversation with Amy Porterfield on Imperfect Allyship®
Tue, May 31, 2022
Regenerative Systems of Change: Going Beyond Sustainability with Helen Tremethick
Systems like patriarchy, capitalism, productivity, and urgency are extensions of white supremacy that support no one but especially don’t support those that have been historically and currently disenfranchised and marginalized by those same systems. We all interact with these systems, but we don’t have to actively participate in them. There are ways to run our businesses and our lives that actively work against these oppressive systems and work toward equity. Helen Tremethick (she/they) joins Erica for a conversation about resisting oppressive systems in your business and building a business that is rooted in equity and ethics. In this discussion: The lies we tell ourselves that are tied to white supremacy and capitalism What capitalism means as a system What building regenerative systems mean in business and our communities Why the act of noticing is the first step toward change Connect with Helen Tremethick: HelenTremethick.com Instagram: @HelenTremethick Love and Badassery on Facebook Ready to dive deeper? In order to build ethical, equitable businesses, it is vital to name your values. Naming your values requires you to be in alignment with what matters to you and why. If you’re clear on your values, you can chart a course that resists oppressive systems and prioritizes what truly matters to you and the impact you want to create. If you want support in learning to lead through your values and getting explicit about what you support and how your actions are aligned with that, join us for the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit . Resources: Helen’s conversation with India Jackson about Building A Bad-A** Brand Voice
Tue, May 24, 2022
Niching Down: Aligning Your Actions With Your Aspirations with Chelsea Stevenson
Getting clear on your niche can help your business flourish. Finding your niche can mean more than honing your service offerings and ideal client avatar. Niching down can help you express your values in your business. But the way that niching is talked about and taught in the mainstream can become a matter of chasing money and be out of alignment with your values. Chelsea Stevenson joins Erica for a conversation about what it has really meant to niche down her business and how her values inform all of her business decisions, from the services she offers, to how she attracts her ideal clients. In this discussion: How your values inform your niche and the clients you want to reach How niching down in alignment with your values helps your business thrive Why niching down has to be about more than demographics Why you need to go deeper when envisioning your ideal clients Connect with Chelsea Stevenson: Hennapreneur Cardamom and Clove Henna Facebook: @hennapreneur Instagram: @hennapreneur.official Ready to dive deeper? To find your niche, you have to know your values. Being clear on this means you can chart a course in your business that prioritizes your values and the impact you want to have. Being explicit about who you support and how your actions align with that can help your business thrive. If you want support in learning to lead through your values, join us for the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more about leading through your values at pauseontheplay.com/explicit . Resources: Erica and India discuss Psychographics vs Demographics A video on Jobs to be Done Theory
Tue, May 17, 2022
VIP Days, Burnout, and the Beauty of Boundaries with Jordan Gill
You can do things differently. You can define success for yourself in a way that accounts for your whole self and wellbeing and not just the work you do for others. You don’t have to be grinding and hustling every hour of every day. Being burned out is not a badge of honor. Jordan Gill joins Erica for a conversation about VIP days and how implementing them has supported both their businesses and their lives. In this discussion: How VIP days create natural boundaries for you and your work How VIP days allow you to be more present for your clients and in your life How VIP days support you in your Imperfect Allyship® Why you need to stop apologizing for what you need to be great Connect with Jordan Gill: Systems Saved Me Instagram: @SystemsSavedMe Ready to dive deeper? Getting clear on your values helps you understand and recognize what you need in order to be the most effective version of yourself in your business and in your life. To be in alignment with what matters to you and why, so you can chart a course that prioritizes your values and the impact you want to create, you need to be explicit about those values. If you want support in getting clarity on what you support and how your actions are aligned with that, sign up for the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more about leading through your values at pauseontheplay.com/explicit .
Tue, May 10, 2022
Urgency Is Not Welcome To This Show
With a neverending news cycle churning out information, it can be easy to feel like you have to react immediately. We feel the urgency of needing to say something, do something, to fix the problem we’re now aware of. So often, the issues you’re reacting to existed long before you acknowledged them. And the fix can’t be immediate. Erica discusses reacting with urgency to the events of the day, how it leads to burnout, and how it can pull you away from your values. In this discussion: How discomfort and urgency are related How urgency undermines addressing root causes with long-term solutions Why being consistent in your values and your actions in support of them mean doing less damage control when things do go wrong Ready to dive deeper? How are your values playing out through your actions? Where do you want more clarity, alignment, and understanding as you navigate choices, from who you hire to where you shop? Being clear on this means you can chart a course that prioritizes your values and the impact they can create. Leading through your values means being explicit about what you support and how your actions are aligned with that. If you want support as you consider and clarify what matters to you and why, join the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit .
Tue, May 03, 2022
Supporting Our Children As They Explore Gender and Identity with Mackenzie Dunham
Children should be able to explore their expression and identity as part of growing up. So how do we best support them and prioritize their needs as they navigate that journey? As adults, how can we do better for the children in our lives? How can adults deprogram the sometimes harmful ideas and beliefs they grew up with? Mackenzie Dunham joins Erica for a conversation about what it takes to create supportive, affirming spaces for kids. In this discussion: Why we need to normalize therapy from a young age How parents and caregivers can open conversations about gender identity Actions parents and caregivers can take to support trans and gender-expansive kids Connect with Mackenzie Dunham: Wild Heart Society Camp Wild Heart Podcast Instagram: @Wild.Heart.Society Ready to dive deeper? Getting clear on your values supports you in your life and in your business. If you’re ready to get explicit about what you support and how your actions are aligned with that, join India and Erica for the Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . You’ll chart a course that prioritizes your values and the impact they can create through every person you hire and the business you buy from. These decisions shape how you live and the legacy you leave. Learn more about leading through your values at pauseontheplay.com/explicit .
Tue, April 26, 2022
How Imperfect Allyship® Shows Up For Black Women with Paula Edgar
We can be Imperfect Allies® to people who live, look, and love like us, as well as to those who are demographically different from us. What supports us when we give and receive Imperfect Allyship® from each other from within our communities? What do we need when those who are different from us on paper want to support us? Paula Edgar joins Erica for a dynamic conversation about what can happen when Black women are allies to one another and Paula’s passion for supporting and prioritizing Black women. In this discussion: How Imperfect Allies® within the Black community can use institutional and situational privilege to support other Black people How reparenting themselves and receiving mentorship can help Black women get comfortable with receiving support Why Black women need advocacy and allyship from each other What non-Black Imperfect Allies® can do to make change for Black women Connect with Paula Edgar: PGE Consulting Twitter: @PaulaEdgar Connect with Paula on LinkedIn Ready to dive deeper? Imperfect Allyship® requires you to get clear on your values and take action in alignment with what matters to you. Every person you hire and every business you buy from brings you closer to or further away from your values. To get support in clarifying what matters so you can chart a course that prioritizes the impact you want to create, sign up for the From Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit
Tue, April 19, 2022
Imperfect Allyship®: Why Social Change Needs Space For Imperfection
Imperfect Allyship® is more than just a phrase. And it’s an entire thought process, action framework, and a way of being. Imperfect Allyship® is a movement. Imperfect Allyship® is a nuanced and layered concept that requires commitment, collaboration, and vulnerability. But it also doesn’t have to be that complicated. India joins Erica to dig into the meaning of Imperfect Allyship® and how it comes to life in action. In this discussion: Coming to a working definition of Imperfect Allyship® How perfectionism gets in the way of allyship How Imperfect Allyship® supports DEI efforts Why allyship goes across lines and demographic checkboxes Ready to dive deeper? If you’re seeking connection and community on your journey of Imperfect Allyship®, join us at Pause on the Play®, The Community , where you can expand your awareness and get support, understanding, and share experiences at the intersection of learning and evolution. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community PauseOnThePlay.com/Community
Tue, April 12, 2022
Building a Collaborative Company Culture with Rebecca Teaff
Hiring and retention are at the top of mind for many business owners, large and small, as the Great Resignation forces us to rethink work and company culture. And you can’t talk about hiring, retention, or company culture without talking about values. Rebecca Teaff joins Erica to discuss how getting explicit about her values has shaped her hiring process, company culture, and allowed her to successfully retain team members and hire during this tumultuous time. In this discussion: How to use culture fit interviews in your hiring process Why your team needs to collaborate on defining your values Why infusing your company culture with your values will touch every part of your business Examples of the actions you can take as a business owner to take your values from implicit to explicit Connect with Rebecca Teaff: Redstart Creative Facebook: @RedstartCreative Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn Ready to dive deeper? Leading with your values requires being explicit about what you support, the company culture you’re seeking to create, and how your actions align with that. To get support and insight into how you can do company culture and hiring differently, join us for the From Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit
Tue, April 05, 2022
Cultivating, Building, and Scaling Sustainable Career Pathways with Maurice Jones of OneTen
Not having a college degree has become a huge hindrance for people not only being able to get a job, but to get a sustainable job with opportunities for advancement. And it’s a significant roadblock to advancement for Black people. Maurice Jones of OneTen joins Erica and India to discuss the realities of the job market and how OneTen is working to evolve the employment ecosystem to open up pathways of sustainable achievement for Black people. In this discussion: How degree requirements create systemic barriers to advancement and reinforce wealth gaps How small businesses can shift their hiring and advancement practices to support a more equitable workforce Why we need to shift to a skills-based hiring process rather than checking boxes with credentials Four elements of a sustainable job Connect with Maurice Jones: OneTen Connect with Maurice on LinkedIn Twitter: @MauriceOneTen Ready to dive deeper? Every hiring decision you make shapes your company culture and can bring you closer to your values. But first, you have to get explicit about what you support and how your actions align with that and support those you are seeking to impact. If you want support on getting clear on what matters so you can chart a course that prioritizes your values and the impact they can create, join us for the From Implicit to Explicit Masterclass . Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit
Tue, March 29, 2022
Truth, Self-Worth, and Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome is a term that many of us are way too well acquainted with. But what if it's not what you thought it was? What if it is the fear of you being so much more than you ever dreamed? Erica shares her thoughts about what Imposter Syndrome is and isn’t and how it shows up as we expand what we think is possible and embrace our next best selves. In this discussion: Why imposter syndrome is so persistent for Black and brown people What we’re really afraid of when we experience Imposter Syndrome How to embrace the next best version of you Ready to dive deeper? If you want support in embracing the next best version of you and expanding what you think is possible, join Pause on the Play®, The Community for accountability, community, and commitment to Imperfect Allyship® in creating real change. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, March 22, 2022
Giving-Back and Imperfect Allyship® with Emily Thompson
Imperfect Allyship® applies to more than just race and gender. And we need space to think about how our allyship efforts intersect with creating systems of collaboration, support, and giving back. Emily Thompson joins Erica to discuss how Imperfect Allyship® shows up in her work and life, the systems she has put in place to make allyship feel easeful, and her December collaboration with Pause on the Play®, The Community in support of the L-CMD Research Foundation. In this discussion: Why Imperfect Allyship® requires space and self-awareness Why a company culture of giving back starts with a core of caring How to give yourself and your team space to find out what matters How to build systems to support giving back Connect with Emily Thompson: Being Boss Almanac Supply Co. *affiliate link Instagram: @beingbossclub @almanacsupplyco Ready to dive deeper? In order to create systems of collaboration and Imperfect Allyship®, you have to be clear on your values. Join Erica and India From Implicit To Explicit Masterclass , where you’ll have the space you need to get explicit about your goals and what you support and shape your company culture through your values.
Tue, March 15, 2022
Make The World Your Playground Of Possibilities with Gary Ware
Many of us want to have the capacity to be more creative, to be better communicators, and to be able to tap into our empathy. Improvisation can be a tool to broaden your capacity in all of these areas, giving you a playground to expand what you think is possible with a sense of levity and play. Gary Ware and Erica discuss how to use improvisation skills to bring energy and joy to your work and to access your empathy and communication skills. In this discussion: How improvisation and play helps you be present How improv builds your empathy and communication skills Why improv provides a container to safely release and work through difficult emotions Why you need to give yourself permission to play Connect with Gary Ware: Breakthrough Play Connect with Gary on LinkedIn Instagram: @GaryWare Ready to dive deeper? Leading from a place of empathy, curiosity, and play requires you to be clear on your values and what you support so you can build transparency and trust with your team. Join up for the From Implicit To Explicit Masterclass where we help you lead through your values, get explicit about what you support, and align your actions with your values and goals as you shape your company culture.
Tue, March 08, 2022
How Creating Equitable Systems Can Support Freedom In Your Life and Business with Adrienne Dorison
We hear about systems of oppression all the time, but it’s possible and necessary to reclaim systems as a structure that can create freedom. Systems can create frameworks that generate freedom in more than just your business. These systems are a part of mindset shifts that extend outward and support how you navigate your life and your relationships. Adrienne Dorison joins Erica for a conversation about the Run Like Clockwork framework and how systems can create and support freedom. In this discussion: How systems prevent burnout and support freedom in your life and your business How transparency about your workload and capacity benefits you and your team Why leaders need to commit to embodying their values to shift toxic workplace paradigms Connect with Adrienne Dorison Run Like Clockwork Instagram: @RLClockwork Ready to dive deeper? In order to create systems that support your freedom, you have to get clear on what matters to you. Leading through your values means being explicit about what you support and how your actions are aligned with that. Join us for the From Implicit To Explicit Masterclass where we help you lead through your values, get explicit about what you support, and align your actions with your values and goals as you shape your company culture.
Tue, March 01, 2022
Finding The Courage to Dream Big
Some people have the wherewithal in them to dream big, to think that anything can be possible, that things that they’ve never witnessed, things that they thought were out of reach, can be possible. And some don’t. Often, the same person will experience both at different times. Erica and India come together to have a conversation about envisioning the impact you want to make and believing in what’s possible. In this discussion: How our backgrounds influence what we can conceive of as possible How to help yourself and others dream bigger The feelings and fears that get in the way of claiming possibilities Ready to dive deeper? Connecting with a community can help you expand what you believe is possible. Pause on the Play® the Community will lend you courage when you need it, in community with others who all desire to create impact from a place of equity. If this is the type of support and community you are seeking, learn more at: PauseOnThePlay.com/Community People think they know what to expect, but they haven't met you yet. Bi-weekly India Jackson, co-founder of Pause on the Play®, has conversations exploring branding and visibility. Own your values and amplify your influence by giving the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast a follow today.
Tue, February 22, 2022
Is Urgency Using You As An Agent Of White Supremacy?
Where are you playing a role in giving or receiving urgency and its harmful side effects? Urgency isn’t about whether or not something is time-sensitive. Urgency is about demanding something before it’s actually due, creating unreasonable expectations and unhealthy environments in its wake. And if urgency is about saving your time and resources, who’s paying the price for the reclamation? Erica breaks down what urgency is and isn’t, how it intersects with white supremacy, and how it impacts our stated commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In this discussion: How urgency skews priorities and reinforces power imbalances Why your benchmarks need context, and why some things may not need them at all How urgency circumvents clear expectations and communication How urgency impacts relationships and environments Ready to dive deeper? Urgency loves to show up and dismantle the work you’re doing to reconsider your normal and figure out how things can be done better. From Implicit To Explicit is a masterclass that helps you identify where you want to be better, where you want to grow, where you want to evolve, and what truly matters to you so you can take action through a lens of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Learn more today at pauseontheplay.com/explicit People think they know what to expect, but they haven't met you yet. Bi-weekly India Jackson, co-founder of Pause on the Play®, has conversations exploring branding and visibility. Own your values and amplify your influence by giving the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast a follow today.
Tue, February 15, 2022
Reconsidering Our Understanding of Identity with Lucia Doynel
What assumptions do you make about yourself? What assumptions do you make about others? The assumptions about identity that we make about ourselves and each other are often not supporting us in our lives, or in our efforts to be visible and make the types of impact that we want to make in the world. Lucia Doynel joins Erica for a conversation about identity, assumptions, and the stories we tell about ourselves and others. In this discussion: The layers of identity and the boxes we put ourselves and others in Why calls for diversity are contradicted by pressure to assimilate How other people’s assumptions and projections about us show up in person and online Why turning comparison into inspiration is helpful Connect with Lucia Doynel: Free Masterclass: 5 Steps To Creating High Quality Photos Of Yourself Instagram: @theLucias Ready to dive deeper? When reconsidering your understanding and assumptions around identity, it’s so important to be clear on your values, what matters to you, and how you can lead from a place of clarity, understanding, and empathy. From Implicit To Explicit is a masterclass to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more today at pauseontheplay.com/explicit Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand. Don’t miss her conversation with Lucia Doyne l about having the confidence to show up authentically so you can amplify your influence and create lasting impact.
Tue, February 08, 2022
The Case For Being Selfish with Dr. Marcuetta Sims
Can being selfish be a good thing? Selfishness actually needs to be incorporated into our lifestyles in order to support the work that we are designed and purposed to do. We cannot do the things that we want to do, the things that we need to do, and create the types of changes that we want to create if we’re pouring from an empty, cracked, chipped, broken cup. Dr. Marcuetta Sims joins Erica to make the case for being selfish. In this discussion: Why Dr. Sims is reclaiming the word selfish Why Black women are so prone to overwork and self-neglect Why we need models of self care Why selfishness is integral to thriving How to set boundaries that demonstrate how you want to be treated Connect with Dr. Marcuetta Sims: Worth, Wisdom, and Wellness Center Instagram: @WorthWisdomWellness , @DrMarcuettaSims Ready to dive deeper? At Pause on the Play® the Community we are taking action alongside other imperfect allies and digging into why self-care is essential to making lasting impact. Learn more and join us at www.pauseontheplay.com/community Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, February 01, 2022
Radical Curiosity: The Intersection of Brain Science and DEI with Eric Bailey
How does brain science connect with communication and relationship building? And how does that intersect with empathy? Utilizing brain science has the potential to shift conversations and dynamics around race, diversity, empathy, and healing. Eric Bailey joins Erica for a discussion of how brain science influences our relationships, our imperfect allyship, and how both are ongoing processes. In this discussion: Conversational principles for when you don’t agree The brain science of defensiveness and why we can’t learn until we calm down How the illusion of certainty thwarts allyship Two questions to engage in discussion with radical curiosity Connect with Eric: EricMBailey.com The Walking Meeting Facebook: @BaileyStrategicInnovationGroup , @EricMBailey Connect with Eric on LinkedIn Twitter: @Eric_M_Bailey Instagram: @Eric_M_Bailey The Cure for Stupidity: Using Brain Science to Explain Irrational Behavior at Work Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards, and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, January 25, 2022
Five Diverse Perspectives On Amplifying Your Influence
What does it mean to amplify your influence? If everyone has the capacity to influence others, no matter how small their circle might be, how do we consciously amplify our positive impact? Five members of the Pause on the Play® the Community, share what amplifying their influence means to them, based on their contexts, experiences, and opinions. In this discussion: Five perspectives on amplifying your influence How being in community influences how you show up in the world Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, January 18, 2022
Commodification and Fetishization in Romance Writing with Tasha L. Harrison
How do we refer to people? Are those words they would use to refer to themselves? Food comparisons are commonly used in writing when describing black and brown skin tones for humans. But how does it feel to be talked about as if you were a commodity? Romance author Tasha L. Harrison returns to discuss problematic -isms and word choices that show up in writing and how those choices condition you to take those unconscious attitudes out into the world with you. In this discussion: Examples of how problematic language and tropes illustrate the -isms in romance How whiteness shows up as the default in media Why readers struggle with “unlikeable” heroines Taking publishing’s problems with race public Connect with Tasha: TashaLHarrison.com Wordmakers Writing Community Twitter: @TashaLHarrison Instagram: @TashaLHarrison Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, January 11, 2022
Not Just Networking: How Community Can Transform Your Business
The start of a new year feels like it gives a lot of possibilities and opportunities to figure out what you want to do, what you want to partake in, and what you have access to that you weren’t aware of or hadn’t thought about, and that includes community. To welcome 2022, Erica and India answer some of your frequently asked questions about Pause on the Play® The Community. In this discussion: How private communities can minimize the social media noise Why communities can be so much more than traditional networking groups How making live and pre-recorded content more accessible is a part of imperfect allyship What types of member events and workshops can support your DEI evolution Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® The Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, January 04, 2022
Making DEI Values Explicit in the Coaching Industry with Jennifer Voss, CEO of Martha Beck Inc
Reconsidering your normal means questioning the ways things have always been done, in your life and in our culture. It could be as simple as questioning why you respond “I’m fine,” when you’re not, or it could be making bigger transitions in your business to make your work more accessible, so more people gain the tools and training to impact their communities. Client Jennifer Voss, CEO of Martha Beck, Inc. joins Erica and India to discuss making organizational shifts in pursuit of embodying your values and building diversity, equity, and inclusion organically. In this discussion: Why shifting from scholarships to awards creates major impact How focusing on values first builds the foundation for effective DEI work Why sustainability is a key value for Jennifer and Martha Beck, Inc How starting with what you’re already doing well builds momentum for the long-term Connect with Jennifer: Martha Beck Wayfinder Life Coach Training Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, December 28, 2021
Alternative Spiritual and Wellness Tools for BIPOC with Cynthia Davidson
What happens when we don’t feel as though we have access to healing? When there is shame or stigma or a lack of knowledge about modalities that are available? Healing does not come in one flavor. It does not show up in one way, and everything does not work for everyone. Sometimes we have to find other options to support our healing journeys. Cynthia Davidson, owner of Intuitive Essentials, joins Erica for a conversation about how spirituality and wellness can play a part in healing and tools that BIPOC communities may have access to that may not be as well known. In this discussion: How multiple healing modalities can complement each other The mindset shifts around healing that Black and brown communities need How Cynthia’s own experience with Human Design made her want to share it, and how it shaped the way she offers it within her community Connect with Cynthia: Intuitive Essentials Instagram: @Intuitive_Essentials Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards, and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, December 21, 2021
The Wedding Industrial Complex: Where Is the Love in the Love Industry with Shannon Collins
Weddings are an industry that is supposed to be built on love, joy, happiness, and connection. But the actions being taken within the Wedding Industrial Complex are often anything but. And this isn’t about overzealous brides or missed music cues. Photographer Shannon Collins joins Erica and India to discuss the Wedding Industrial Complex and how the industry needs to change to be more inclusive and accessible so it truly celebrates love in all its forms. In this discussion: How industry norms dehumanize service providers and take the love out of the love industry Whose stories get centered by the Wedding Industrial Complex How COVID changed weddings and how Shannon works Connect with Shannon: Shannon Collins Photography Youthphoria Instagram: @ShannonCollinsPhoto Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards, and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, December 14, 2021
Living and Leveraging Your Values As An Entrepreneur with Jeraud Norman
Choosing to live through your values can be charting a new path. Doing things differently from the way you were taught is powerful behavior modeling. Jeraud Norman joins Erica to discuss how his experiences in corporate settings made him want to change how he did things, how he runs his business, and how he interacts with everyone in his life. In this discussion: Why unlearning hustle culture requires openness and vulnerability How choosing to operate with integrity and humanity has impacted Jeraud’s business How Jeraud is writing new stories about money and entrepreneurship by prioritizing his family and personal wellbeing Connect with Jeraud: Jeraud Marketing Instagram: @jeraud_gave LinkedIn: @JeraudNorman Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, this is the podcast for you!
Tue, December 07, 2021
How Essentialism Can Help You to Reconnect with the Change You Want to Create
Essential can mean being more minimalist, getting down to only the things you need. But there’s also a conversation around what is essential in the actions you do or don’t take, and why it’s important to pause and reconnect with that. Erica asks a key question to help you assess what’s essential and what you may be ready to let go of, and gives you her take on what’s essential, and what isn’t. In this discussion: How reconnecting with your values allows you to discern what’s essential 5 key areas of what is, and isn’t, essential Ready to dive deeper? From Implicit To Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is a framework to get clear on what matters to you as a human and how it informs the way you show up professionally. Learn more about Pause on the Play® the Community and join to get access to community conversations, monthly workshops and Q&As with India Jackson and Erica Courdae, and on-demand replays of prior workshops and masterclasses. Listen to the Flaunt Your Fire® Podcast where India Jackson and her guests explore visibility and the art of owning your power as you align your brand, have conversations that disrupt industry standards, and defy stale marketing advice. If you are ready to amplify your influence and create lasting impact, you are in the right place.
Tue, November 30, 2021
Why White Men Have The Power To Become Agents of Change with Andrew Horning
It’s not always easy to have conversations about what needs to be changed, and the roles we consciously or unconsciously play in those changes. But it is important to be aware of the role you can actively play, or choose to opt out of, when it comes to shifting our reality to foster equity. Andrew Horning joins India and Erica to discuss why white men need to be agents of change, how he advocates for everyone to be contributors to change, and how to build emotional resilience when discomfort shows up. In this discussion: What it takes to be a change agent Why white men resist change How white people can use their voices to shape change How to build resilience and stamina Learn more about Andrew Horning: AndrewHorning.co Grappling: White Men’s Journey from Fragile to Agile Elephant Talk Podcast The Hoffman Podcast The Hoffman Institute Keep the dialogue going: It is essential to reconnect with the fact that you as an individual are a part of the collective whole of humankind. In Pause on the Play® the Community , we’re building emotional resilience and reconnecting with what is essential.
Tue, November 23, 2021
Consumerism - Having More By Shopping Less
Many people resist the call to vote with their dollars because they assume it will cost more or that they’re being encouraged to buy more. But spending intentionally, with businesses and brands that align with your values, can actually save you money in the end. Erica and India discuss how minimalist practices have changed their relationship to spending and consumerism from where they buy their groceries to using the “good” china. In this discussion: How minimalism can counteract consumerism’s scarcity mindset Why making intentional purchases can save you time and money Questions to help you consider what to let go of, and what to bring into your life Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community Connect with Erica and India: Pause on the Play® Community Subscribe to the Newsletter LinkedIn: Erica Courdae, India Jackson
Tue, November 16, 2021
Leading From The Heart: Connecting Curiosity and Compassion with Audrey Cavenecia
There are plenty of examples out there of what not to do when it comes to leadership. But we need more highlights of people doing it well, and clarity on the benefits of good leadership, not just to the person leading, but to everyone around them who is impacted by their choices. Audrey Cavenecia joins Erica and India to discuss leading from the heart, with compassion and curiosity, and what to do when we’re missing the mark. In this discussion: Why leadership doesn’t just apply to your career How curiosity and compassion can shift the leadership paradigm of dominance and control Why diversifying your company’s visuals is a simple but important part of DEI Why we need love at work and in our leadership Learn more about Audrey Cavenecia: Amplify Voices Amplify Voices: Conversations from the Heart podcast Unlikely Leadership podcast Facebook: @audreycavenecia Keep the dialogue going: Clarity on your values can give you perspective on the decisions you are making and why. The From Implicit to Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass is where you can assess if you are making the impact you desire to create, and how to course-correct if not. Learn more at pauseontheplay.com/explicit
Tue, November 09, 2021
Positive Organizational Psychology For Innovative Humans with Dr. Kim Perkins
In the current climate, the words positive and organization can feel like they don’t belong together. But the reality is, positive change within organizations is possible, and we have an opportunity to reimagine the relationships between employees, and organizations or companies. Kim Perkins joins Erica to discuss positive organizational psychology and how that shows up in the work she does, and they get into the nitty-gritty of shaping change within organizations. In this discussion: How positive organizational psychology can help us reimagine work Why creating change sometimes means doing less How focusing on forward momentum can hinder systemic change Why we perceive change as loss and how to cope Learn more about Kim Perkins: Facebook: @ThisIsKimPerkins LinkedIn: @KimPerkins1 Winner Take None Keep the dialogue going: DEI work can be infused with joy and positivity! Join Pause on the Play® The Community this month and be part of the discussion on voting with your dollars and how to make supporting brands and businesses that align with your values a fun, joyful process. Join us at: pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, November 02, 2021
Reconsidering How You Vote With Your Dollars
Every time you take out your wallet is an opportunity to put your values in action. Investing in DEI doesn’t always have to be a major initiative. Adjusting your daily actions with your values in mind can be an easy way to put those efforts into your everyday life. Erica and India work through what it means to vote with your dollars and why it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. In this discussion: How the choices you make on everyday spending can support your values Why voting with your dollar is about where you don’t spend your money too How customers and consumers hold power to make change Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community Connect with Erica and India: Pause on the Play® Community Subscribe to the Newsletter LinkedIn: Erica Courdae , India Jackson
Tue, October 26, 2021
Why It's Time To Get Clear On What You Expect From Your DEI Work
Creating a brand that’s rooted in your values and the impact you want to make in the world is a must, and using DEI as the basis for the way that you do all things is absolutely necessary. But are you clear on your expectations for the outcomes of this work? Erica asks two key questions to help you get clear on your goals and your timeline for integrating DEI into your business. In this discussion: Why DEI has to inform the decisions and processes of your whole brand How to get clear on the outcomes you want and expect from your efforts Why discomfort is necessary to the process Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, October 19, 2021
The Intersection of Public Image and Company Culture
Everyone has a way that they want their brand to be positioned and perceived. But is that the same as your company culture? The two often get conflated, and while there is overlap, they are different concepts that will require their own goals and actions to support them. Erica and India break down the confusion over culture versus image. In this discussion: What company culture is Why you need to develop company values, not just brand values Elements of your public image that you can control Where company culture and public image overlap Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, October 12, 2021
Advocacy and Equity in the Healthcare System with Dr. Nicole Rochester
When you’re ill, you hope that you will be cared for with compassion, consideration and competence. But that’s not always what happens. People of marginalized identities often confront racism, bias and lack of accountability when interacting with the medical system. Dr. Nicole Rochester joins Erica to discuss health advocacy and why it is necessary for creating health equity. In this discussion: What a health advocate does Why we need health advocacy and equity How bias and prejudice impact care and patient outcomes Steps to take to advocate for yourself or your loved ones in healthcare settings To learn more about Dr. Rochester: Your GPS Doc Instagram: @theGPSDoc Connect with Dr. Rochester on LinkedIn Dr. Rochester’s TEDx Talk: Overcoming Invisibility: the Doctor-Patient Relationship Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/communit
Tue, October 05, 2021
You Can't Heal A Wound In An Infected Environment
Sometimes it’s just time to move on. But it can be hard to judge when a situation has moved beyond the ability to heal, especially if you’re the kind of person who always wants to see the good in people and situations, or when you find yourself asking “am I just being too sensitive?” Erica recounts her experience with an environment that turned toxic and how she knew it was time to let go. In this discussion: Erica’s story of how an environment slowly changed from a positive to a toxic space Her process of evaluating when to speak up and when to let go A framework for determining what your path to healing might look like What you and your team can do now to make sure you respond in keeping with your values when challenges arise Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, September 28, 2021
Creating Company Culture Based on Connection and Possibility
Are you able to connect with your team outside of the trauma and adrenaline? Or is it only when things are wrong? Are you able to connect when things are filled with ease or even joy? Erica and India discuss the lack of human connection they’re noticing among teams and the hazards of only bonding when something goes wrong. In this discussion: What trauma bonding is and how it impacts company culture Why adrenaline-fueled moments don’t have to be a bad thing How to ask your team about their values to facilitate connection How values-based bonds improve employee retention Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, September 21, 2021
African-American Vernacular - What's Good English with E.K. Powell
When you think about reconsidering your normal, do you think about language? And not just specific word choices, but about how our language is perceived? Erica and India are getting into it with E.K. Powell, creator of the What’s Good English TikTok account and YouTube channel. They dig into African American Vernacular English (AAVE), the perceptions of it, appropriation of it, and an unpopular opinion or two. In this discussion: The origins of African American Vernacular English The concise, expressive grammar of AAVE Who gets a pass when they say words “wrong” Why recognizing, celebrating and crediting AAVE is important To learn more about E.K. Powell: TikTok: @WhatsGoodEnglish What’s Good English on YouTube Instagram: @nodoz88 To learn more about code-switching, check out Episode 115 : Challenge the Politics in Your Workplace Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at: pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, September 14, 2021
How to Hire in an Intentional, Ethical, and Considerate Way
There are a lot of conversations happening about hiring, how to do things differently and how to shift the narrative of how hiring has to be done. Erica brings you three key questions to ask yourself, or your team, as you’re planning out your goals for the fall and beyond, so you can have clarity and intention in the shifts you make to grow your business. In this discussion: Why you need to shift your network Three prompts to consider as your begin changing your practices Why you need to know how your opportunity benefits the candidate How to expand your concept of workplace safety Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, September 07, 2021
3 Ways to Get Back on Track by Reconnecting with Your Why
As we start looking towards the fourth quarter and even into 2022, it’s a good time to check in with how your values are aligning with your goals and your actions. Erica brings you three key questions to ask yourself, or your team, as you’re planning out your goals for the fall and beyond, so you can have clarity and intention in the shifts you make to grow your business. In this discussion: Three questions to answer to create authentic, cohesive messaging Avoiding pandering Creating the basis to support expanding your business Keep the dialogue going: Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and changemakers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community
Tue, August 31, 2021
Diversify Your Network Without Tokenizing the Folks You Wish to Attract
So, you want to diversify your network authentically . Where do you begin? The process can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not quite sure how to define your goals. Those efforts can also lead to tokenism without thoughtful consideration given to the people behind the demographics. Erica and India return to break down the concept of network diversification with actionable and, yes, authentic steps to help you broaden your associations as well as cultivate greater awareness of the world around you. In this discussion: Defining authenticity and diversity in the context of network development Identifying new-to-you sources for information, art, and opinion Vetting your roster of go-to experts Avoiding the pitfalls of tokenization Reconsidering your normal Connecting to a variety of opportunities KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Concepts are better explored in community. Actions are more lasting when taken alongside other imperfect allies. Connect with a cohort of entrepreneurs and change makers at the intersection of values and visibility. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, August 24, 2021
Three Things to Consider When You’re Ready to Do Things Differently
Your desire to amplify communities and help organizations, or consume diverse sources of media and participate in truly inclusive events can have a meaningful impact––if you’re willing to examine the intentions behind those goals. Erica offers three prompts designed to help folks reflect on their motives and raise self-awareness on the path to doing things differently. In this discussion: Acknowledging the use of and meaning behind self-centered “I” statements Recognizing urgency and its effects on your motive Examining the duality of your intentions Honoring the evolutionary process of doing differently KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Become part of a support system that honors your evolution as an imperfect ally. Inspired suggestions, honest feedback, and open dialogue exist when you’re part of Pause On The Play The Community. You’re never alone in this work. Join us at pauseontheplay.com/community Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, August 17, 2021
Psychographics vs Demographics: Honoring Values Over Statistics
From news stories to social media ads, general statistical indicators such as age, race, gender, and income still provide the basis for evaluating others––whether consciously or unconsciously. Why, when we can do so much better? Erica and India lead by example, offering a primer on how to replace those quantitative, often reductive, demographics with psychographics , a more insightful, qualitative way of understanding folks by honoring their values, interests, lifestyle choices, and opinions. In this discussion: An introduction to demographics vs psychographics Acknowledging the role demographics plays in clarifying our own biases How traditional media, social media, and marketing have all contributed to the heavy reliance on demographics over psychographics Embodying our roles as “influencers” to promote broader use of psychographics How the evolving nature of an individual’s values is more accurately reflected in psychographic data Integrating psychographic awareness into personal and professional relationships KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Ready to level up your understanding and use of psychographics? Join Erica Courdae and India Jackson for one of their final masterclasses of the year! From Implicit to Explicit: Leading Through Your Values is a small-group virtual event that supports entrepreneurs and leaders as they explore, identify, and integrate values throughout their brand or business. Details at pauseontheplay.com/events . Need guidance but can’t attend either of the masterclass sessions? Book a private session with the team. Details at https://pauseontheplay.as.me/explicit . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, August 10, 2021
The Power of Saying "No"
Naomi Osaka. Simone Biles. What do they have in common beyond their elite athletic achievements? They’re the latest in a growing number of Black women who’ve publicly pushed back against an unrelenting narrative that minimizes their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing––their humanness. Erica celebrates the power and courageousness of invoking the word NO! in a world that continues to label Black women as both too much and never enough. In this discussion: Acknowledging Black exhaustion Unpacking internal resistance to saying “no” Amplifying our worth and value as people, not commodities, out loud Reclaiming our autonomy related to our physical, emotional, and mental well-being Creating safe spaces for ourselves and others to own their “no” Witnessing Black women and honoring us in our everyday existence *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Explore worlds outside of your normal, witness and honor the beauty of alternative versions, and learn by example how to live out loud. Join Erica Courdae and India Jackson at Dropping The Veil , their 3-day virtual event featuring a diverse panel of guests. Thursday, August 12 through Saturday, August 14. Details at pauseontheplay.com/events . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, August 03, 2021
Transparent Communication: a Values-Based Leadership Approach
Leadership is less this is what I do, and more this is my way of being . But how to fully express that principle throughout your business, your brand, your life? Transparent communication can get you there. You already know we’re keen on the power of conversation here Pause On The Play . A strategy of open dialogue telegraphs your values to those you work with, for, and around. Erica breaks down five essential, actionable steps that will ensure every aspect of your business is aligned and embodies your core beliefs. In this discussion: Defining the concept of leadership Exploring the power of vulnerability and transparency Why engaging your team in the dialogue strengthens working relationships Considering core values when working with outside service providers Why aligning team evaluation methods is important to values integration Living team values out loud Creating space for challenging conversations and inviting honest feedback *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Here’s your invitation to join Erica Courdae and India Jackson in transparent conversation. Dropping The Veil , is their 3-day virtual event featuring a diverse panel of guests who have chosen to be more of who they are out loud in order to demonstrate what’s possible. Thursday, August 12 - Saturday, August 14. Details at pauseontheplay.com/events . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, July 27, 2021
Examining Our Relationship to Language and Implicit Bias with Hanneke Antonelli
Hey guys, where do you stand on language usage? If you aren’t already picking apart the previous sentence, it’s time to cultivate greater awareness around the societal and cultural conditioning that lurks beneath seemingly innocuous words and phrases. Erica and India are joined by author and award-winning life coach Hanneke Antonelli to examine the impact our word choices have on promoting implicit gendered, ableist, and racist biases, among others. They also provide steps for incorporating inclusive language into everyday exchanges, complete with a teachable moment in real time. In this discussion: The lifelong process of deprogramming from historically acceptable, offensive language How your word choice impacts others Cultivating an awareness of cultural and community nuances The power of accountability and accepting feedback Establishing boundaries around what words or phrases you will and won’t accept Questioning word usage and a subsequent course correction in real time *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING When you’re in conversation with others, you gain perspective, question conditioning, and create change. These moments don’t happen unless you feel comfortable talking, sharing, and being yourself in a shame- and blame-free space. Here’s your invitation to join Erica Courdae and India Jackson at Dropping The Veil , their 3-day virtual event featuring a diverse panel of guests. Details at pauseontheplay.com/events . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, July 20, 2021
Finding the Language to Talk About Mental Health and Trauma as Members of The Black Community
Everyone’s mental health journey is unique to their history, personality, and access to support. But as divergent as our paths might seem, no one ever truly walks alone. Erica and India combine full transparency with softness in this intimate look at their personal relationships with trauma and healing. They share the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of their experiences with anyone struggling to express complex feelings. CONTENT DISCLOSURE: This conversation covers physical, mental, and sexual trauma, including sexual violence and its aftermath. Please take care of yourself with this material. Neither Erica Courdae nor India Jackson is a mental health professional. Their insights are provided for conversational purposes only and not meant to diagnose or treat physical and/or mental health issues. In this discussion: Language to support individual narratives around mental health, especially for Black and Brown folks Examples of physical and emotional responses to “big T” traumas Effects of generational trauma Honoring rest and recovery as part of the healing process Self-directed education on topics related to mental wellbeing Numbing and what happens in the absence of access to such activities Experimenting with healing modalities and personal practices The right vs the privilege to seek support and pay that forward *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Cause and effect take on a whole new meaning within Pause On The Play The Community . Here, Erica and India guide members through the process of picking a cause to support. Members can positively impact their chosen cause - say, mental health - via activities that support its purpose and visibility. Spark honest, transparent, and vulnerable conversations about healing with fellow community members at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, July 13, 2021
Four Questions to Consider Before You Take Action
Wanting to make an impact is amazing! Action for action’s sake, however, is unproductive. Before attempting to create change, imperfect allies need to first get clear on their motivations, their timing, and the intended beneficiaries of their efforts. Erica returns with a swift solo conversation to provide four foundational questions for everyone to ask before moving into action. In this discussion: Values as the standard by which all actions are measured The perils of fear-based motivation Timing and the benefit of long-term efforts over scattered acts Connecting the steps and sustaining momentum *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Accountability is one of the greatest gifts that Pause On The Play The Community has to offer. Turn your desire to make an impact into tangible change - in your business, your community, the world. Join our values-based hub for entrepreneurs and change makers today. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, July 06, 2021
Challenge the Politics in Your Workplace with Jeff Harry
Versions of the same narrative have cropped up everywhere lately: no one wants to work anymore! Don’t be fooled; behind the headline lies the story of what may be the largest migration of workers out of corporate America in history. Whether you’re reluctantly headed back into the office after 15+ months of working from home or giving serious thought to calling it quits, there’s no denying that something has shifted in our collective attitude about “work.” The question is, what’s the next step on this path toward building a more holistic, empathetic workplace for all? Erica and India invite Jeff Harry to share his ideas around the bold new future of work. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that when we know our worth, we can exact pressure on the corporate status quo and create lasting change. In this discussion: Code-switching and its effects on Black and Brown workers How corporate shaming and gaslighting feed claims of worker laziness What does “professionalism” look like going forward? The toxicity inherent to old-guard corporate culture The racist origins of corporate productivity metrics The power of visibility Shifting workplace dynamics in favor of labor How to challenge the corporate structure *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Possibilities unfold when we challenge the status quo. Power evolves when we engage in conversation with folks whose perspectives differ from our own. We call this “community.” Embrace what’s possible by joining us at http://pauseontheplay.com/community . OUR GUEST Website LinkedIn -@jeffharryplays Instagram - @jeffharryplays TikTok - @jeffharryplays Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and plays to help teams/organizations navigate difficult conversations and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges through embracing a play-oriented approach to work. For his work, Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2020 and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, & Shondaland. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 29, 2021
Building Entrepreneurial Legacies: a Q&A with Erica and India
How much do you know about the powerhouse duo behind Pause On The Play The Community? How much do Erica and India know about each other? It’s time for another round of revealing Qs and intersecting As. As membership inquiries and interest in their values-based approach to visibility continue to grow, Erica and India take this opportunity to reintroduce themselves to new folks and those who’ve followed these discussions for a while. In this discussion: Divergent experiences and common themes throughout Erica and India’s relationship The triumphant, continual journey from grief to growth Black entrepreneurship and the importance of living by example Black hair and identity politics in the workplace Honoring ancestors and building generational legacies *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Turn powerful conversations into lasting legacies. Create the change you want to see by joining our values-based hub for entrepreneurs and change makers at Pause On The Play The Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 22, 2021
Making Impact Through Everyday Actions
Impact. Much like diversity, it's a word that’s often (and sadly) overused. Erica lends clarity to a term that has become a buzzword in some circles rather than a meaningful intention. She also challenges imperfect allies to make moves that extend beyond their brand, their business, and their social media engagement. Small acts rather than grandiose gestures are the true momentum-builders of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this discussion: What does impact look like in action? Taking action even when no one’s watching What is saviorism and how to avoid perpetuating it Witnessing the kindness of others Rewarding folks for their quiet, meaningful efforts Supporting those who often go unseen *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING We often get stuck in our own cycles of inactivity because we can't quite figure out where to start on our own. At Pause On The Play The Community , you’re invited to explore imperfect action together with entrepreneurs, thought-leaders, and change makers. Create lasting impact in your business, your community, the world with conversations, resources, and expert guidance from Erica Courdae and India Jackson. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 15, 2021
Values, Visibility, and the Benefits of Belonging to a Community
Ready to integrate your values into your brand? Pause On The Play The Community members engage with this transformative work all the time. Erica and India invite community-curious folks inside their interactive hub to explore the benefits of membership. Learn more about resources and exclusive features that make this network a remarkable, judgment-free space where folks connect the dots between values and visibility. Already a member? Erica and India share tips that help you make the most of your community connections and co-create what you want and need to receive. In this discussion: Community overview and origin story; The “Start Here Challenge” - an onboarding experience unlike any other; Not another Facebook group; Permission to participate authentically; Community above coursework; and The app and additional digital tools. *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING You’ve taken the tour. Now join us to connect, share, lead, and learn. Erica Courdae and India Jackson created Pause On The Play The Community as an interactive, shame- and blame-free space where like-minded folks engage in authentic conversations and create innovative, values-aligned solutions alongside each other. Make a lasting impact on your business, your community, and the world. Build your network with Pause On The Play The Community. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 08, 2021
Accessing Your Innate Feminine Power and De-Programming Patriarchy with Amy Young
Personal integrity and professional success are not mutually exclusive. If you’re searching for a real-life example of whole-hearted values integration, look no further than Amy Young. As a coach and leader, Amy supports wide-awake women in accessing their innate feminine power through a process of patriarchal de-programming she calls "The Undoing." Erica and India welcome Amy to share details of her journey away from the safe, false persona she’d created into the filter-free, transparent business owner and advocate she is today. Amy’s transformation demonstrates how guided self-reflection, the resolve to incorporate feedback, and the ability to quit even lucrative relationships benefit anti-racist, anti-bias outcomes and ultimately support innovative business practices. In this discussion: Identifying our core values via deeper personal assessment; Questioning early lessons about our productivity vs. our worth; Breaking up with hustle culture; The perils of spiritual and emotional bypassing; Accepting people’s rejection of the authenticity in our message, our methods; Business evolution and the DEI journey; The privilege to explore discomfort; and Permission to play with business structuring and conduct profitable experiments. *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show GUEST CONTACT & BIO Website: https://amyyoungcoaching.com/ Amy Young is a coach and leader who supports wide awake women in accessing their innate Feminine Power. She does this through a process of Patriarchal De-Programming she calls "The Undoing". KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Amy’s journey represents the kind of transformation synergies we foster at our From Implicit to Explicit: Leading Through Your Values Masterclass . We’d love to see you at our next virtual small group session on June 9th. Join Erica Courdae and India Jackson as they: Help you evaluate the intersection of your personal and professional values and ethics, Allow you to identify the values and ethics of your clients and your team, Identify which values need to show up in your brand, and Pinpoint specific traits your ideal clients hold based on the alignment of your values. Move into that space where you’re finally able to innovate and make leadership decisions based on your values. We’re honored to help you get there. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 01, 2021
One Year Later: Allyship Beyond The Black Square
What have you learned in the year since George Floyd’s murder? Has your allyship evolved beyond performative activism like posting a black square on social media in solidarity with Blackout Tuesday? Or reflexively adopting initiatives for fear of being “canceled”? A lack of intentionality causes more harm than good, and actions that aren’t 100% aligned with values don’t promote lasting change. Erica and India take this anniversary to examine the co-opting of Blackout Tuesday’s original intent and offer examples of genuine, supportive actions that imperfect allies can take instead. In this discussion: How uninformed use of hashtags and other campaigns distort social media algorithms and drown out the Black and Brown perspectives you wanted to amplify Are your efforts raising awareness or assuaging your guilt? Debunking “cancel culture” myths Calling out urgency, again Decolonizing your thoughts, actions, and reactions Why your values must inform your responses Allyship can be fun! *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Stay purposeful! Join us at Pause on the Play The Community for encouragement and accountability. Our vibrant, virtual space is a hub of entrepreneurs and change makers connecting at the intersection of values and visibility. Receive the guidance you need as well as on-demand tools to support your imperfect allyship. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 25, 2021
Creating a Nonprofit to Support the Causes That Matter Most to You with Hannah Lowe Corman
What does it mean to suddenly identify with a group you never thought you’d become part of - and how to begin turning those challenges into opportunities for greater communal consciousness? Erica and India are joined by Hannah Lowe Corman, co-founder, and president of L-CMD Research Foundation. According to Hannah, 7,000 diseases currently classify as rare, meaning fewer than 200,000 cases recorded in the US. Her son, Austin, is one of those affected. Hannah shares the ways in which Austin’s reality has shaped her allyship both with families navigating rare diseases as well as with fellow members of Pause On The Play The Community. In this discussion: About LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy Navigating the logistical aspects of setting up a non-profit Humanizing foundations Exploring the energetic ties that bind communities and inspire action Riding the “bar graph of emotional capacity” Reframing mission statements to purpose statements Resources for vetting and giving to non-profit organizations *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show GUEST CONTACT & BIO Website: https://www.lcmdresearch.org IG: https://www.instagram.com/lcmd.foundation Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundationLcmd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LCMD.foundation Hannah Lowe Corman is the co-founder and president of the L-CMD Research Foundation , which she helped establish in order to urgently translate scientific research into treatments and ultimately a cure for this fatal childhood disease. She is also an independent artist and yoga teacher living and working in Houston, Texas with her husband and two sons. In what seems like a prior life, she was a healthcare banker helping nonprofit healthcare institutions obtain financing. KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Visit pauseontheplay.com/community for details about our latest workshops and information on how you can join us. Learn more about LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy and give if you can at lcmdresearch.org. Activate Amazon Smile on your Amazon app! Every time you shop, Amazon donates to your favorite organization at no additional cost to you. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 18, 2021
Who Is Your Outrage On Behalf Of?
You’re fired up! But who, exactly, is that rage on behalf of? Erica and India unpack the myriad issues lurking beneath heaps of social outrage carried out in the name of advocacy for underrepresented or marginalized communities. What can imperfect allies do to prevent creating more harm than good? Get curious about their motivations before slinging unsolicited vitriol! Erica offers three questions to help folks evaluate rather than act on impulse. In this discussion: Why allyship is not a self-centering pursuit; Checking assumptions about what marginalized communities want and/or need; Is your anger justified or just personal?; What the woke white wave gets wrong about calling each other out; and Communicating empathy over sympathy. *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Catch up on these related POTP discussions: POTP103: Four Questions To Ask When You’re Feeling Outraged POTP105: Focus On The Right Things Join us in Pause On The Play The Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 11, 2021
Normalizing Same-Sex Parenting and Adoption in the Classroom with Steve Disselhorst
Erica and India are back with guest Steve Disselhorst to explore the simple, creative ways that educators and allies can build more inclusive school environments where same-sex parenting and adoption are normalized. As a specialist in personal and professional leadership development and consulting for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Steve brings a wealth of career-based knowledge to the conversation. However, his role as father to two adoptive children is at the heart of the experiential wisdom he shares with Erica and India. Steve is the author of the memoir Determined To Be Dad: A Journey Of Faith, Resilience, and Love and currently serves on the San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission. This is more than an anecdotal conversation; this is a lesson in cultivating DEI for generations to come. In this discussion: Recognizing and celebrating intersectional identities at home and at school; What is heterosexism, and how does it undermine DEI; Why visibility is important both within marginalized communities and outside of them; Creating collaborative environments in schools; COVID-19 effects on DEI activities within school systems; and What allies can do today to foster more inclusive classrooms within their communities. *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Get Steve's book at your local bookstore or from his website, Determined To Be Dad: A Journey Of Faith, Resilience, and Love. https://www.stevedisselhorst.com/book Join us in Pause On The Play The Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 04, 2021
Diversity In Publicity: Centering The Thought Leadership and Stories Of BIPOC Voices
Nearly a year after this discussion from episode 62 of Pause On The Play, the question remains: why haven’t we seen or heard more stories about people of color by people of color? A lot has happened since Erica and India first welcomed Cher Hale, a Taiwanese Black American and owner of Ginkgo Public Relations , to discuss the necessity of centering Black and Brown voices – in business and elsewhere – to allow for diverse perspectives, fair pay, and self-determination of our legacies. The conversation may be from the archives, but Erica and India return to provide updated context, inviting everyone to revisit this long-standing and ongoing issue. In this discussion: the vulnerability of being a speaker or creative service provider and asking for fair compensation what makes a thought leader or influencer and who determines who gets that label the cautious optimism needed to create and sustain meaningful change microaggressions, tokenism, and incorrect assumptions about similarities in experiences *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show KEEP THE DIALOGUE GOING Part of “publicity” is allowing people who need to have their stories told to tell their stories! How do you hold space for other people to share their stories? What does publicity look like for you? We explore these multilayered questions in Pause On The Play The Community . If you’re ready to have deeper conversations around such topics as publicity, we’d love to have you in our virtual space, where you can engage with others and create a more holistic strategy going forward. What a relief to discover that you don’t have to do this work on your own. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 27, 2021
Focus On the Right Things
Are you concentrating on the issues that truly matter? Or rehashing trivial controversies? Take a moment before answering; consider the nonsense over which some folks have expended so much energy lately (refer back to this recent conversation for a prime example). These decoy “debates” flood social feeds and shift focus away from the issues that continue to put Black and Brown bodies in literal danger. In this solo conversation, Erica returns with guidance to help you combat the lure of Trojan horse outrages and return your awareness to the right things. In this discussion: Recognizing the harm caused by media distractions Cutting through the noise to get at what’s really going on Acknowledging feelings of discomfort and fear Returning attention to the issues that matter *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show Keep The Dialogue Going Need support on your journey? Pause On The Play The Community can help. Join our virtual space where similar conversations are taking place, where you can engage with others who are butting up against some of these same challenges. In The Community, you’ll work with members who are also taking steps forward. What a relief to discover that you don’t have to do this work on your own. If you're seeking that support, please come on over to Pause On The Play The Community . We genuinely are a community; we want you to be a part of that with us. We want you to be a part of removing stigmas and creating real change and connection so we can all cross lines and recreate boundaries to support and not separate. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 20, 2021
Do Your Associations Reflect Your Values?
Here we are again: another Black man murdered; more excuses made on behalf of the “fine, upstanding” officer who pulled the trigger. This latest tragedy begs the question: how big are the blinders that prevent folks from taking an accurate measure of their family members, friends, or peers? In this solo conversation, Erica offers steps for auditing our personal and professional connections. She reminds us that passive affiliations are just as important as those we actively cultivate - and “not knowing” someone’s temperament or true character is no longer an option. In this discussion: Attention focused on Minnesota, again Calling out institutional gatekeepers Confronting your complicit associations Three questions to help you assess your connections *** Visit the website for the full articles at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/show Keep The Dialogue Going We do this deep work daily here at Pause On The Play. You can too. We love being able to cross lines and recreate boundaries with you, supporting you and not keeping us separated. Let's continue together, getting more people to drop the veil and challenge their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Our From Implicit to Explicit masterclass is coming up. If you want to work directly with Erica and India Jackson - as well as your very own small-group cohort - to audit your personal and professional connections, define your values, and create lasting change, join us over at PauseOnThePlay.com/events . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 13, 2021
Four Questions to Ask When You’re Feeling Outraged
The recent social media controversy swirling around a particular white female empowerment brand isn’t new. But, if the “influencer’s” bad behavior is shocking to you, then the question isn’t, how could she? Instead, ask yourself, why am I so surprised? In this solo discussion, Erica proposes a series of questions to help us redirect that attention toward profound introspection rather than performative outrage. In this discussion: Old habits, new controversy It’s not the bad behavior; it’s what comes next Questions to ask yourself that support imperfect action, imperfect allyship Collecting data through engaged watching and listening Moving from outrage to introspection so we can do the work *** Visit the website for the full article at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep103. Keep The Dialogue Going Ready to put Erica’s propositions into practice? Join Pause On The Play The Community to support your imperfect action and strengthen imperfect allyship. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 06, 2021
Supporting With Empathy: White Supremacy and Othering During Tragedy
In the wake of yet another mass shooting after the horrific hate crime in Atlanta which impacted the AAPI community, Erica and India confront the disturbing adversarial reactions they’ve seen some white people direct at underserved communities. They also use this opportunity to outline positive steps you can take to champion empathy and understanding within your sphere of influence and support humans in those affected communities. In this discussion: The effects of othering on marginalized communities How accusatory tactics deflect from concentrating on your own work Performative vs. empathetic action The (sometimes free) economics of support The myth of limited resources *** Visit the website for the full article at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep102. Keep The Dialogue Going Join us over at Pause On The Play The Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, March 30, 2021
From Implicit to Explicit: Align Your Values With Action
So often, people think of values work as a one-and-done activity. Not so! As we transition through our many iterations, the values we hold dear transform, becoming more developed and recognizable. However, the full scope of our personal growth is often lost on us in a forest of nuance. In this solo conversation, Erica plots her own evolutionary process - from cosmetology school to DEI professional - highlighting moments that reinforced her commitment to the work. In this discussion: Musings on conversational camaraderie and solo topics Our values in our backstories and everyday experiences The beauty industry as a microcosm of systemic racism Living our beliefs in the name of good trouble *** Visit the website for the full article at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep101. Keep The Dialogue Going Our next From Implicit to Explicit masterclass is filling up fast. The journey begins Thursday, April 22nd. Head over to Pause On The Play to sign up. Want to see what past participants are saying about this program? Visit our Instagram feed to check out the conversation. Acknowledging and trusting our evolutionary journey is a vital piece of this work. Our values define us and it’s these beliefs that we send out into the world through our words and our actions. Making that connection is one of the principle reasons why Erica and India lead From Implicit to Explicit. We would absolutely be honored for you to participate in and experience, firsthand, the process, allowing Erica and India to accompany you as you wrap your brain around the values that matter most to you and ways in which you chose to project them out into the world. It’s truly a transformative experience. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, March 23, 2021
How to Create a Give-Back Strategy for Your Brand
Supporting a favorite cause - and acknowledging that support - is an essential part of who you are and how you choose to show up. For some, an unlimited choice of causes to support can lead to overwhelm and an inability to pick just one . So, how do you create a give-back component in your business? How do you vet the companies and organizations? How do you ensure that your assistance has the desired effect? Erica and India share best practices and examples from both their individual and combined give-back activities. In this discussion: How to align your values with your give-back initiative Debunking the “correct way to give” myth The why behind Erica’s and India’s individual and combined support efforts Actionable steps for advancing your give-back actions *** Visit the website for the full article at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep100. Keep The Dialogue Going One of our favorite features of becoming a member of Pause On The Play The Community is the onboarding process (yes, really!) because you get to pick a cause. Our algorithm allows you to connect with other people aligned with that same cause more easily. Join us today over at Pause On The Play The Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, March 16, 2021
A real life example of centering and its impact on a Black woman
In 2019, Erica and India got together to discuss India’s experiences at Afropunk, the summer festival of Black art and music. In the midst of what she describes as a place of love and support and people coming together celebrating their own identities, she also had an encounter that shook her - something she might once have considered part of the normal experience of being a Black woman. Looking back on the event revealed to India just how far she’d come on her DEI journey, and now, Erica and India bracket their original conversation with fresh appreciation and the wisdom of hindsight. In this discussion: An introduction to the unique experience of Afropunk Festival What it means for people within marginalized identities to feel safe and joyful in their self-expression Taking up space in ways that help you feel whole, and in ways that are problematic Finding language to describe everyday experiences you now see in a new light Practicing awareness in spaces where you’re not the intended audience Measuring progress on the DEI journey, even when growth is not immediately recognizable *** Visit the website for the full article at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep99. Keep The Dialogue Going Examine the nuances of your DEI journey and learn how to put those experiences into words. Join us over at Pause On The Play The Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, March 09, 2021
Weaving Story, Experience, and Humor Into the Way You Communicate with Jon Goode
Point of view is what connects your content to your people. Inviting people into your personal lived experience while providing space for theirs to breathe allows both sides to appreciate the other. Authentic content hits that sweet spot - the intersection of what we share, where we’re similar, and where our experiences diverge - every time. It allows both creator and audience to agree and, perhaps more importantly, how to disagree in a way that keeps the dialogue going. Award-winning spoken word poet Jon Goode joins Erica to discuss and demonstrate strategies for utilizing lived experience, creative narrative, and humor to foster a stronger connection - even in moments of dissent - with your audience. In this discussion: An introduction to Jon Goode and his work How to let go of pretense in everything you create Musicians and musical works that demonstrate exceptional communication tactics Agreeing to disagree - and still engage in effective dialogue Sharing insight versus contrarianism Serving meaning and message Storytelling through the lens of Black experience Getting comfortable with rejection Connect with Jon Goode Mydas Conduit Instagram Facebook The Moth Jon Goode is an Emmy nominated writer raised in Richmond, VA and currently residing in Atlanta, GA. Jon’s work has been featured on CNN, HBO, BET, VH-1, TVOne, and used by several other networks and corporations. Jon’s work earned him the 2006 Promax Gold for the best copyright in North America. His collection of poems and short stories, Conduit, was #1 on Amazon for 16 weeks. Jon's debut novel, Mydas, was released on Sept 14th 2020. It debuted as a #1 new title on Amazon.com. Jon is a Fellow of AIR Serenbe and the current host of The Moth, Atlanta. *** Check out our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep98. Keep The Dialogue Going Learn how to craft content that delivers your message through a variety of creative strategies and media. Join us over at Pause On The Play The Community as we continue to examine the lessons Jon shared during our March 2021 theme of the month. Be sure to rate + re
Tue, March 02, 2021
Breaking free from limiting labels is a revolution with romance author Tasha Harrison
Noted romance and erotica author and editor, Tasha Harrison joins Erica to discuss attracting people to your community through authenticity. Part of that involves letting people in to know who you are, what it is that makes you the individual and the human that you are that can't be manufactured or replicated by someone else. Simply put, it’s your personality. When preparing this topic for Pause On The Play, Erica knew immediately that her friend, Tasha, who is also the creator of the #20kin5Days writing challenge and the Wordmakers Writing Community, was exactly who she wanted to talk with about it. Tasha and Erica also unpack misconceptions surrounding Black romance, showing up as you are with your full voice, and refusing to be categorized by other people’s expectations. In this discussion: Attracting people to your work and your community Unleashing authentic personality The people-pleasing trap Building better communities Why pro-Black isn’t anti-white Fostering a healthy listening, learning environment Self-preservation over false choices Breaking free from limiting labels Connect with Tasha Harrison Website Instagram Twitter Wordmakers Community Hi! I'm Tasha L. Harrison! I'm a romance and erotica author, freelance editor, and creator of the #20kin5Days writing challenge and the Wordmakers Writing Community. When I was 11 or 12 years old, I wrote a 20 line poem for my grandmother as a present for Mother’s Day. The title of this bit of iambic pentameter was "Grandmother, If You Lived in Biblical Times” and it told the story of how she would have been present and influential at all the big moments like the Great Flood, The Fall of Jericho, In the Lion’s Den with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo, etc. My mother helped me decorate and frame this masterpiece and it lived on the entry table at my Grandmother’s house for years. While this wasn't the first thing I wrote, it was the first thing I remember when people ask me ”have you always wanted to be a writer?” Side note: I memorized that poem and can still recite it from beginning to end. If you meet me IRL and there's a glass of whiskey in my hand, I might just rattle if off if you ask nicely. I no longer write faith-based poetry, but I do write about characters who know each other biblically. My erotic and romantic fiction allows me the space to explore the human condition and suss out what happens when that chemical known as love and lust hits our bloodstream and how it impacts our lives. **
Tue, February 23, 2021
Showing up for DEI in the U.S. and Abroad with Kay Fabella
DEI consultants are not a monolith. Erica and her guest, Kay Fabella, a DEI and remote team consultant based in Spain, discuss how personal experience, geographical location, and cultural context influence individual approaches to the work, while highlighting some of the key differences in anti-racism efforts abroad versus those in the US. In this discussion: The value of embracing a multi-hyphenate identity Wholeheartedly engaging in the DEI journey The importance of contextually appropriate DEI educational materials Problems inherent to applying a US-centric DEI strategy to global conversations when it comes to language, context, and culturally readiness Creating safe spaces for people to do the work Reconsidering your normal for a stronger foundation Showing up as a DEI practitioner - the personal is professional Questions to consider before engaging a DEI professional for your business Connect with Kay Fabella Website Podcast Whitepaper As a Forbes-featured DEI Consultant & Remote Team Strategist, Kay Fabella has worked with companies like the IMF, Philips, Red Hat, and PepsiCo, to improve inclusive communication between diverse team members, to retain top talent and reduce turnover, and to build a culture of belonging to prepare companies for the future of work. A Filipina American in Spain since 2010, Kay draws from her lived experiences as a “multihyphenate” woman of color, a daughter of immigrants, and an immigrant herself to build bridges for belonging. She believes that more inclusive workplace cultures start with psychological safety to share non-linear stories — to embed empathy, expand worldviews, and increase employee engagement and innovation. While she finalizes her first book on DEI, you can listen to her industry insights and interviews on her 5-star podcast: Inclusion in Progress. *** Check out our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep96. Keep The Dialogue Going Visit Kay’s website and download the whitepaper The Future of Work Culture: How Big Tech is Redefining DEI in a Remote World Join Pause On The Play The Community, a safe space to be a part of conversations like this one. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, February 16, 2021
Growing Anti-capitalist Economies Through Small Actions with Kate Strathmann
For business owners who want to transition away from the white supremacist structure of capitalism towards more equitable economic solutions, it can be difficult to know where to even begin. Erica is joined by multi-disciplinary business owner and self-described free spirit Kate Strathmann to discuss approachable actions that business owners can take in support of an anti-capitalist operating strategy - without destroying their profitability. In this discussion: Capitalism’s relationship to white supremacy What is an anti-capitalist business? Moving beyond private wealth generation Anti-capitalist business models such as cooperatives, and profit-sharing Expanding access Fostering transparency Connect with Kate Strathmann Wanderwell Consulting & Bookkeeping kate@wanderwellconsulting.com Kate Strathmann is a multi-disciplinary business owner and rebellious spirit. She is the owner and director of Wanderwell, a consulting and bookkeeping practice that grows thriving small businesses while investigating new models for being in business. Wanderwell integrates financial expertise with an empathic, vision-forward approach, and leads with the belief that businesses can help create a more just world that centers people, community, and the environment. *** Check out our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep95. After the Episode Sign up for Kate’s email newsletter at Wanderwell Consulting & Bookkeeping . Integrating anti-capitalist strategies into your business can be tricky to navigate alone. Get the support you need to make an impact and remain emotionally whole on the journey by joining Pause On The Play The Community. Become a part of the change that you want to see. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, February 09, 2021
Celebrating Black Joy for Black History Month
Erica invites you to approach Black History Month by taking time to learn about Black joy. The full article is coming soon at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep94. *** After the Episode Download the Imperfect Allies Evaluation Checklist to continue your journey at EricaCourdae.com . Join the Pause On The Play Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, February 02, 2021
An Irreverent Q and A with Erica and India
If you’re in search of a little fun on this journey, Erica and India have gotcha covered. There has been a lot of heaviness in the world lately. Your nervous system could probably use a break. To lighten the mood, Erica and India play a few rounds of Q & A with an assist from PodDecks. It’s your typical chat between two friends and colleagues - only recorded for posterity. This discussion includes: Conversational icebreakers Deep thoughts and shallow inquiries A tangent on potato chips Belly laughs Innuendo Personal *ahem* grooming revelations Take a time out and laugh along. The work will be there when you return. *** After the Episode Laugh a little (or a lot), then join others on this journey. Apply to become a member of our community: pauseontheplay.com/community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, January 26, 2021
Become More Sustainable Without Sacrificing Profit with Shannon Kenny
February is sustainability month at Pause On The Play! In advance of our deep dive into all things related to sustainability, Erica and India speak with Shannon Kenny, a business sustainability expert who’s approach provides a practical antidote to glossier influencer-based efforts. In This Episode: What role equity can play in advancing eco-conscious products and policy How goods-based businesses and service-oriented companies can take the lead and thrive by modeling best practices and providing access How to reframe the 2 biggest perceived obstacles to sustainability: cost and convenience Examples of entry-level actions that support continuous, comprehensive change How to message your imperfect sustainability actions in your marketing Shifting culture by making more sustainable choices Connect with Shannon Kenny mamaeco.com Instagram Facebook Pinterest Shannon Kenny is a Sustainable Business Consultant who helps eco-conscious businesses become more sustainable without sacrificing profit. Growing up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad instilled a deep sense of environmental responsibility within her, and in 2017, she turned that conviction into her career with the launch of Mama Eco, a business dedicated to helping eco-conscious people make better decisions for the environment. Shannon has spoken at sustainable events as well as been on panels with thought leaders in the environmental world. And has been featured in several publications, including USA Today, MarketWatch, mindbodygreen and Grateful. *** Check out our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep92. After the Episode Visit MamaEco for your copy of Shanon’s Six Simple Steps To Make Your Service Business More Sustainable . Join Shannon, Erica, and India for an exclusive workshop on sustainability, in support of our theme of the month for February, when you join the Pause On The Play Community . Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, January 19, 2021
Self vs Community
A new year ushers in fresh opportunities to replace tired either/or thinking with a resounding both, and! Erica breaks down the what, why, and how of self vs community efforts and offers a more comprehensive, holistic approach for advancing your anti-racism practice. Discussion includes: Applying concepts of self and collective to diversity, equity, and inclusion work Concurrent roads to lasting change Decentering our actions Recognizing DEI work as an ongoing effort Asking questions in a way that acknowledges our experiences or bias Visit our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep91. *** Imperfect allies don’t have to deprogram alone. It’s beyond time to get to work for the collective, to create the change we ALL want to be a part of. Both, and y our allyship! Join the Pause On The Play community and do the work with us! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, January 12, 2021
Preventing Human Trafficking Through Education with Brittany Dunn, Safe House Project
The United States holds a dubious distinction as one of the top three worst countries in the world with regards to human trafficking. In support of January’s designation as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month , Erica and India are joined by Brittany Dunn, chief operating officer of Safe House Project . Armed with uncomfortable data, the trio explores misconceptions and hidden realities that keep human traffickers operating at large -- often in plain sight. Brittany also provides actionable steps we can take to spot, report, and prevent human trafficking in our own communities. Safe House Project offers OnWatch™ Training , a free online program that teaches allies how to recognize the signs of sex trafficking. Connect with Safe House Project Safe House Project Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Brittany Dunn has the honor of helping lead Safe House Project as the Chief Operations Officer. Prior to Safe House Project, Brittany Dunn spent 10 years in International Business Development at CareerBuilder.com working around the world. Brittany Dunn has a B.A. in Economics and English from Wellesley College. She has her MBA, and graduated top of her class from Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is a military spouse, mother of two, continual learner, world traveler, and protector of the vulnerable. Check out our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep90. *** Now, it’s your turn. Anyone interested in joining us “on watch” can complete the modules at your own pace by checking out OnWatch™ Training . Pause On The Play Community members can participate in the group training on Monday, January 18 at 12:00PM ET. Not already a member? Apply here: http://www.pauseontheplay.com/community Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Fri, January 08, 2021
Responding to the Insurgency on the Nation's Capitol
We need to talk. After watching this full insurgency on the national capitol in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021, we didn't want to just leave that there and not acknowledge it. When these kinds of things go down, there can be so many questions that come up for people and we wish that we had some clear answers for you. It is impossible to talk about what's happening now without looking at the history of how we got here... So let's talk. *** For more support and a safe space to have these conversations, join us in the Pause On The Play community. Apply at pauseontheplay.com/community .
Tue, January 05, 2021
Disability Allyship with Jennifer Sarrett
In the marathon that is allyship, disability awareness can feel like miles added on mid-race. But there’s no finish line for allies - only growth. Anti-ableism expert Jennifer Sarrett, PhD., joins Erica and India in challenging the conventions that keep disability advocacy on the outskirts of DEI discussion and provides helpful tools for advancing the cause. The discussion includes: Definitions of common terms A look at the disabled community Practicing vs perfecting allyship Ally vs co-conspirator Connect with Jennifer Website Instagram Twitter Jennifer Sarrett has 12 years experience in higher education teaching and training about concepts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is bringing this expertise to the private sector. In addition to focusing on the foundational concepts behind discrimination, privilege, and inequity, she and her subject area experts also specialize in specific areas of DE&I, such as disability and anti-ableism. www.disruptiveinclusion.com Check out our full show notes for more at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep88 . *** Ready to deep dive into accessibility? Join the community conversation. Apply to pauseontheplay.com/community . Learn to do differently and expand your impact. Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, December 29, 2020
Honoring Your 2020 Experience
As December winds down, we’re getting dangerously close to being bombarded with new year’s resolutions. But rather than speeding into 2021 looking only to the future, Erica and India are here to help you reflect on your 2020 evolution. They each share their top leadership and allyship lessons from the year and provide recommendations for witnessing your own growth and ensuring you’re leading with your values in the coming year. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep87 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, December 22, 2020
Spreading The Wealth Through Partnerships
When you know your values it’s easier to see how you align with others. It’s easier to see the value in their programs and services. And it makes recommending them a natural and obvious decision. And when you do so, the money will flow - both to you and within groups of people whose values align with your own. Whether you have a list of 40 or 400, you can benefit from strategic partnerships like affiliate programs. In this live POTP Community recording, Erica and India are joined by Laura Sprinkle to talk about: How partnerships have the potential to redistribute wealth, Getting over the discomfort of making the ask, and Increasing your capacity to receive. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep86 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, December 15, 2020
More Questions Than Answers
Maybe it’s human nature to want answers to your questions. But maybe, just maybe, it’s a product of white supremacy. On this episode, Erica shares the most common questions that motivate individuals to engage in DEI work and why they often find themselves asking more questions than getting the answers they came for. Though racism and bigotry can feel all-consuming, Erica leaves listeners with tips on how small business owners can effect change much bigger than themselves. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep85 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, December 08, 2020
The ROI On DEI - A Tell All
When we think about investing in our businesses, we typically consider what we’ll get out of it when doing so. Will our audience grow? Will our revenue increase? Will we meet our goals faster? These returns on investment aren’t wrong to have as a motivator, but they do look different for DEI work. On this episode, Erica and India discuss: The reason a traditional ROI measurement is ineffective for DEI work, Why you have to be willing to engage on a personal level even when the business is funding it, and What surprising results their clients have seen when committing to this work. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep84 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, December 01, 2020
You’re Not Doing It All And That’s Okay, Keep Going
DEI work is emotional work. From shame and discomfort to assumed expectations about what’s “good enough,” our feelings can actually prevent us from making the change we wish to be a part of. In this episode, Erica is joined by her client, Kelsey Murphy of Whiskey & Work, to talk about her allyship journey. They talk about: The motivation for Kelsey to engage in DEI work, What it looks like to be an imperfect ally when you hold yourself to perfectionist standards, The burnout many people experienced after entering this work at a sprint pace, and How Kelsey’s commitment to allyship is manifesting in her business plans. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep83 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, November 24, 2020
Gratitude + Giving Thanks To You
It's the holidays, but let's do it our way. Erica shares what she is grateful for, and her view on what the holidays can mean. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep82 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, November 17, 2020
The Results Are In—What’s Next?
Joe Biden has been declared the next President of the United States. With that also we’re gaining a woman of color, Kamala Harris, as VP—something many of us never believed we see in our lifetime. Whether you’re celebrating or mourning, now is the time to think about what’s next. In this solo episode, Erica Courdae shares five questions we should all be considering as we take ownership of our values and take action in our businesses. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep81 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, November 10, 2020
Representation Matters, Especially in Mental Health
Mental health still carries stigma in many communities across the U.S. It’s a conversation many aren’t comfortable having, therefore continuing the shame and silence around the topic. People of color especially struggle to access necessary and adequate mental health and wellness support. Today, Erica and India are joined by therapist, Amenah Arman , to discuss why it’s so important to receive support from someone who looks like you. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep80 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, November 03, 2020
Voting Observations on Election Day Eve
Living in the same state doesn’t mean you’ll have the same voting experience. On this episode, Erica Courdae and India Jackson explore that truth by each sharing what it was like on the first day of early voting in Maryland. Their vastly different experiences show that what we may consider normal isn’t so for everyone. Now, more than ever, we should reconsider what “normal” is and whether it’s a benchmark for ourselves or a hindrance to recognizing privilege. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep79 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, October 27, 2020
Cultures Of Creativity Require The Courage To Fail
As entrepreneurs we categorize ourselves as “creatives” and “non-creatives,” equating our creative potential with our job title. That begs the question: are creativity and artistry the same thing and can we all learn to be more creative as adults? Erica and India are joined by Genein Letford, best-selling author and global speaker on creative and financial literacies. She believes creative thinking, paired with financial entrepreneurship education, are critical skills for everyone in the workforce. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep78 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, October 20, 2020
Evaluate Your Efforts With The Imperfect Ally's Checklist
If you aren’t being explicit with what you believe in, you can’t assume others will know. On this episode, Erica gives a sneak peek into her Imperfect Ally Checklist , which provides important questions for all values-driven businesses to consider. These questions will help you evaluate whether you’re doing the best you can do right now in the spaces you facilitate, events you curate, and communities you lead. They’ll also remind people of what matters to you and hold the door open to imagining how you can do better. Get yours today at https://www.ericacourdae.com/ Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep77 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, October 13, 2020
Rejecting Hustle Culture And Its Racist Roots
Can we grow businesses we love without the hustle and burnout so often associated with success? That’s the question many of us have as Covid-19 has saddled us with increasing tasks and decreasing levels of support. On this episode, Erica and India are joined by business growth strategist and member of the Pause on the Play community, Racheal Cook . Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep76 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, October 06, 2020
Money Talks, But It’s Not The Only Path To Wealth with Jacquette Timmons
Join me as India and I have a live podcast recording with Pause on the Play The Community alongside our special guest Jacquette Timmons about voting with your dollars, money choices, and how wealth is different than you might think it is (like who has it and how to get it). Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep75 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, September 29, 2020
Why DEI Work Isn’t Just For White Women
Join me as I talk with India about the fact that DEI work is for all of us in creating more equity and inclusion in our lives and businesses. Breaking down preconceived notions and {re}considering our normal is work we all need to engage in. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep74 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, September 22, 2020
There Is No Anti-Racism Fast Track + How To Check Yourself
Join me as I talk about the journey of anti-racism and how you have to check yourself when it inadvertently becomes the "me"show. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep73 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, September 15, 2020
Your Vote Matters- What You Can Do If You're Feeling Stuck
Join me as India and discuss some questions to ask yourself when you're feeling stuck and need to be moved into action. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep72 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, September 08, 2020
Being Active Right Now Is A Necessary Choice
Join me on my birthday (September 8th🥳) as I talk about being active, the privilege of free speech in the private sector, and voting. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep71 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, September 01, 2020
Helpful Questions To Answer Before Hiring A DEI Coach
Join me as India and discuss some questions to ask yourself helpful things to consider before deciding to work with a DEI coach. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep70 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, August 25, 2020
Brand Alignment Is A Conscious Choice
Join me as India and I have a live podcast recording with Pause on the Play The Community about the messy middle of brand alignment. And that it is a conscious choice to step into what feels good for you at that moment. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep69 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, August 18, 2020
What Brand Alignment Is And How It Is An Evolution
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about brand alignment. What it is, what it isn't, and how it is an evolution not a destination. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep68 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Wed, July 22, 2020
An Interview with an Ally + Community Member with Kelli Manzano
Join me as I talk with my guest Kelli Manzano about allyship in the current social climate, and her experience being a member of Pause on the Play: The Community. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep67 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, July 14, 2020
Now What - Your Brand After The Black Square
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about how your brand needs to keep moving after The Black Square was posted on Instagram and things to consider for what's next. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep66 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, July 07, 2020
A Reminder of What Imposter Syndrome Is and Isn't
Join me as I revisit one of the most impact episodes I've had that dives into my take on imposter syndrome and how it is different than what you've been told it is. It's a major topic of interest right now, and this will help to keep you in action! Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep64 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 30, 2020
Equity Isn't Pie - Supporting Pride Month AND Black Lives Matter
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about how your ethics need to intersect and what it means to honor that space of duality. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep64 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 23, 2020
What the Fashion Industry Needs to Know About Allyship
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about some of the takeaways of an allyship webinar for fashion brands that included over 550 people live! Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep63 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 16, 2020
Why Haven't We Been Hearing Stories From POC?
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson and Cher Hale of Ginkgo Public Relations about the disparities around money and opportunities for POC to tell their stories and receive increased visibility. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep62 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 09, 2020
You Will Leave People Behind
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about how your DEI journey can cause you to leave people behind, and you need a support system to hold you up. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep61 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, June 02, 2020
Why Your Questions Aren't Harmless
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about the things to ask yourself before you ask your questions. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep60 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 26, 2020
Building A Diverse Team Requires Getting Clear on Your Values
Join me as I talk with my co-host India Jackson about what it means to look inclusive as a business, what faux inclusivity is, and how to not fall into the last category. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep59 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 19, 2020
"It's A Trip" - A Client's DEI Journey with Casey Berglund
Join me as I talk with my client Casey Berglund of Worthy & Well and the Let Your Body Lead movement. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep58 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 12, 2020
Don't Write Someone Else's Truth + Other Unhelpful Assumptions
Join me as I talk my co-host India Jackson about how you can't assume what someone else's truth is, and how it undermines the value of conversation + connection. Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep57 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to rate + review the podcast!
Tue, May 05, 2020
How Being Vulnerable + Inclusive in Business is Necessary with Alissa Carpenter
Join me as I talk with Alissa Carpenter, author of How to Listen and How to Be Heard: Inclusive Conversations at Work , about how the landscape is changing for what business interactions look like. We discuss how you can create better relationships + conversations with co-workers and those you serve. https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep56 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! Be sure to share, rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 28, 2020
What Are Community Guidelines with Morgan Hamel
Join me as I talk with my guest Morgan Hamel of The Garment about why and how your values impact your business. You need to get clear on the reason you do what you do, how it ties into the values and impacts your business. https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep55 Need support as you evaluate the beliefs, ethics, and values for you and your business? Book a Consultation Call to talk with Erica about your goals in a complimentary session. Be sure to share, rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 21, 2020
It's Time to Own Who You Serve + Why with Cher Hale
Join me as I talk with Cher Hale of Ginko Public Relations about what it looks like when you identify and work with your ideal clients....and how it feels when you don't. https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep54 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB Be sure to share, rate + review the podcast!
Tue, April 14, 2020
What Is An Inclusivity Statement with Samantha Brooks
Join me as I talk with my guest Samantha Brooks of Train 2 Thrive Wellness about how inclusivity is an action and the first step in crafting an inclusivity statement for your business. https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep53 Need support as you evaluate the beliefs, ethics, and values for you and your business? Book a Consultation Call to talk with Erica about your goals in a complimentary session. Let's talk today! Be sure to share, rate + review the podcast!
Bonus · Tue, April 07, 2020
Giveaway for a free ticket!
Want to enter the giveaway? Go visit Instagram and search @ericacourdae or visit https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ppAClJilG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Tue, April 07, 2020
Why Your Business Needs Clear Values Now
Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about why it is more important now than ever to get clear on your business values and how they influence the impact you create. https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep52 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB Be sure to share, rate + review the podcast!
Tue, March 31, 2020
Don't Let Fear Define You with Emily Souder
Join me as I talk with Emily Souder of https://www.nestingspacellc.com/ about feeling the fear and doing the things anyway. https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep51 Want to be supported in doing the damn thing by other business owners looking to see you succeed? Now is the time to join Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB Check out the show notes and the link to by Emily's new book, Sparks , at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/ep51
Tue, March 24, 2020
Normal Is A Lie with Michelle Kuei
Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep50 Join me as I talk with my guest, Michelle Kuei of Elevate Life Coaching , about her story and how it ultimately led her to coaching. We discuss how the word normal is subjective, expectations, and the inner gremlin that spews limiting beliefs. Visit Michele today at https://elevatelifecoaching.org/ and on IG @elevatelifecoach Instacart helps you get back your time while having your favorite snacks delivered right to your door. To get $10 off your first order today visit https://inst.cr/t/dHJyHcoGF
Tue, March 17, 2020
Not All Coaches Are Created Equal
Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep49 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about what makes you an actual coach and not just someone that adopted the title. Learn more about Pause on the Play: The Community https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTBhttps://inst.cr/t/dHJyHcoGF
Tue, March 10, 2020
3 Mindsets Derailing Your DEI Work
Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep48 Join me as I talk about my discoveries last week from being a speaker + attendee at Alt Summit in Palm Springs, CA. I talk about the 3 mindsets that are getting in the way of results in your DEI work, and 2 things that show what values and community can do to foster equity. These all contribute to why India and I started our own community, Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB
Tue, March 03, 2020
Behind The Scenes Of Building An Inclusive Community
Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep47 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about what brought us to start our own brand new community, Pause on the Play: The Community. Visit https://www.pauseontheplay.com/community to join today! HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB
Tue, February 25, 2020
What is Pause on the Play with Kim Wensel
Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep46 Join me as my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, and I are interviewed by Kim Wensel of Pattern of Purpose about the origins of Pause on the Play and some of the insider info you've never heard before about the brand. HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB
Tue, February 18, 2020
Why Every Visibility Strategy Benefits From Mindset Work
Check out the show notes at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep45 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about how mindset work supports your visibility, marketing, and strategy work. HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB Need support as you evaluate the beliefs, ethics, and values for you and your business? Looking to move into imperfect action toward your goals? Build a more visible brand by creating a marketing strategy to get you in front of your people? Coaching + consulting is a great way to be supported, create integration within your efforts, and receive accountability. Book a Consultation Call to talk with Erica + India about your goals in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, February 11, 2020
How Ideal Client Work Is The Foundation For Everything
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep44 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about how ideal client work the way that we do it sets the stage for everything else in your business. Sign up for the next Ideal Client Magnet Workshop today at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/events/icw-april-2020 HoneyBook is the answer to getting your back office in line for all the ideal clients rolling in. To get your account set up today and get 50% off, visit http://share.honeybook.com/fQVTB
Tue, February 04, 2020
Showcasing Your Community Online with Flaunt Your Fire
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep43 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, how showcasing your community can bring up people's individual sensibilities. And how it's necessary to still do the thing anyway! Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, January 28, 2020
How To Avoid Burnout As An Imperfect Ally
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep42 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about avoiding burnout when you are on your journey of allyship, mindset and visibility. We talk about what self-care is and isn't to us. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, January 21, 2020
An Imperfect Ally's Live Coaching + Consulting Session
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep41 Join me as I talk with my guest today about when being an imperfect ally comes and challenges you to step fully into the role. This is a live coaching + consulting call where I talk a young lady through something that came up for her and what her next steps could be. Listen in to hear the entire conversation! Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, January 14, 2020
3 Questions To Evaluate Where You Participate
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep40 Join me as I talk about the 3 questions that help you evaluate what groups, communities, and events to participate in for 2020! 1. Why does this matter to you? 2. What changes for you if these things aren't present? 3. Are these things present in your business + actions for others to evaluate? Ready to get your evaluation checklist? Click below! https://www.ericacourdae.com/checklist
Tue, January 07, 2020
Why Standard Ideal Client Exercises Aren't Inclusive
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep39 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about ideal client exercises and how most are not inclusive. We discuss how it is important to dive into the psychographics of your ideal client and audience while going beyond surface societal indicators. Ready to get your seat and join us for the upcoming Ideal Client Magnet Workshop? It's on Thursday, January 16th from 12pm-2pm EST. Grab your seat today! https://www.ericacourdae.com/events
Tue, December 31, 2019
A Recap For 2019 - Intuition, Community, and Connection
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep38 Join me as I do a recap around 2019, and look forward to 2020 through the lens of 3 important pillars. Intuition, Community, and Connection. Ready to dive deeper and decide who your client is on a deeper level? Take your seat at the virtual table with Erica + India for two hours to work through the very first step we take our clients through in the POTP 2:1 client system. This experience is nothing like how you've done an ideal client assessment before! Our combined experience + viewpoints provide individualized support to give you tangible actions that you can use immediately to attract and converse with your ideal clients! You’ll also get extra time for a live Q&A session. Join our virtual Pause on the Play workshop to identify your ideal client using our signature approach that's gotten our clients impactful results today! https://www.pauseontheplay.com/events/icw
Tue, December 24, 2019
A Different Kind of Ideal Client Workshop
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep37 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about our new Ideal Client Workshop coming up on Thursday, January 16th, 12pm-2pm EST. We'll discuss how this is nothing like any ideal client exercise you've ever done before, and how it will change how you find and work with the clients meant just for you. Ready to find your ideal clients, and help them find you? Click the link below to get your seat in the room! https://www.pauseontheplay.com/events/icw
Tue, December 17, 2019
The Journey of An Imperfect Ally with Tara Newman
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep36 Join me as I interview Tara Newman of The Bold Leadership Revolution and The Brave Society about her journey with imperfect allyship, how it has expanded her leadership, and how she has been supported through her evolution by working with me. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, December 10, 2019
When 2 Is Better Than 1
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep35 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, as we talk about our 2:1 services in Pause on the Play. We discuss how we serve our clients differently and how we close gaps while working together. We go into what makes us different and uniquely qualified to do what we do for you so you get results toward your goals. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, December 03, 2019
It's Time To Get Clear On Your Values
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep34 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about getting crystal clear on your values and why they are a an initial and basic step to understand what to do in your business, why to do it, and how to execute it. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, November 26, 2019
Six Mindsets That Can Slow Your Growth
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep33 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, the mindsets that slow or stop your growth. We discuss how you can break through these barriers to get your business on track, and the support you need to do it. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, November 19, 2019
The Four Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep32 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about the four mistakes that you can make in your business or brand, and how to move forward from them. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, November 12, 2019
Four Myths That Hold Brands and Business Owners Back
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep31 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about myths told to business owners and debunking these falsehoods. These are statements that don't lead to growing your brand or converting your clients. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, November 05, 2019
The Foundation Of Your Brand Is Your Story
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep30 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about starting with your why and how your story builds the foundation for your marketing, business, and everything else you do for your clients. Need support as you evaluate your ethics and beliefs in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? Looking to evolve into an imperfect ally? Build a more visible brand? A coaching + consulting session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility of transformation in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, October 29, 2019
How Your Story Influences Your Mindset & Visibility
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep29 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about how your story shapes your mindset and how visible you allow yourself to be. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, October 22, 2019
3 Questions To Find Your Why
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep28 Join me as I give you 3 questions to reconnect with your why as we move toward the end of 2019 and into planning for 2020. These will help you to reconnect you to the roots of all the actions you take in your business, and illuminate the support you need to reach your goals. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, October 15, 2019
Live From She Podcasts
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep27 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about our experience at She Podcasts live in Atlanta, GA. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, October 08, 2019
A Reintroduction To Erica + India
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep26 Join me as my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, and I reintroduce you to who we are and the why behind what we do. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, October 01, 2019
Visibility + Mindset Rapid Fire
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep25 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, as we give you some insight into who we are and why we're here. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, September 24, 2019
Imposter Syndrome: It's Not What You Think
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep24 Join me as I talk with my co-host, India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire, about imposter syndrome. We dive into what it is, what it isn't, and why you just have to do the thing. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Conversation Call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, September 17, 2019
How To Take Up Space
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep23 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire about what it means to take up more space...and to be aware of taking up space that isn't for you. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book A Little Chat call to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk today !
Tue, September 10, 2019
Afro Punk Reflections
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep22 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of Flaunt Your Fire about her experience and takeaways from Afro Punk in Brooklyn. We'll discuss black culture, taking up space, self-awareness, and more. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, September 03, 2019
This Is A Workshop
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep21 Join me as I flashback to the first episode of The Conversation Workshop to give you a peek into what being in the room feels like. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, August 27, 2019
Authenticity Is An Action
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep20 Join me as I talk about authenticity and why it is important. Stepping into the action today is important, so let's explore the reasons to start now. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, August 20, 2019
Mindsets To Deprogram & Dismantle
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep19 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about how shifts in mindset can be used to make change happen in life and business. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, August 13, 2019
A Trip To The Museum
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep18 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about our trip to the NMAAHC and out takeaways. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, August 06, 2019
DEI Breakdown Interview
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep17 Join me as I'm interviewed by India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about DEI, what it means, and how it comes to life. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, July 30, 2019
Say The Word Racist
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep16 Join me as I talk about how important it is to call things as they are...especially when the word is charged like the word racist. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, July 23, 2019
Audience Q&A with India Jackson
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep15 Join me as I dive into audience questions with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about visibility, public image, and perceptions. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, July 16, 2019
Nothing Is New
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep14 Join me as I talk about how racism, fear, and what we're encountering is a cycle we have to break. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, July 09, 2019
Let Go Of What Isn't Yours
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep13 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about visibility, mindset, fear, and how it all shows up in business. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, July 02, 2019
Visibility & Mindset
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep12 Join me as I talk about how visibility & mindset show up in bringing your imperfect allyship into your business and brand. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, June 25, 2019
A Journey In Imperfect Allyship with Lee Chaix McDonough
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep11 Join me as I talk with Lee Chaix McDonough of Caravel Coaching #imperfectallyship and her journey of awareness and action. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, June 18, 2019
Process As You See Fit
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep10 Emotional labor and processing your process as an imperfect ally are in the conversation for this week. What comes up as you move forward, and how to keep yourself whole emotionally are important to consider and discuss. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, June 11, 2019
I Was Taught Differently
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep9 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about the ties of appearance with being appropriate, work ethics and programming, and more. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, June 04, 2019
Vote With Your Dollars with Stacey Harris
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep8 Join me as I talk with Stacey Harris of The Stacey Harris and Uncommonly More about why voting with your dollars and taking care of home first is a necessity. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space for your business? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in a complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, May 28, 2019
You Can Do This
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep7 Join me as I talk about imperfect allyship and why the time to start is now. Ready to join us in The Conversation Workshop and be a part of the conversation? Reserve your seat for one of the upcoming ones at https://ericacourdae.com Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in this complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, May 21, 2019
And Then There Were Three
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep6 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry and our friend Jaleel Tamir about black culture, making things ok to make it through, what beauty is standardized, and more. Ready to join us in The Conversation Workshop and be a part of the conversation? Reserve your seat for one of the upcoming talks at https://ericacourdae.com Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in this complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, May 14, 2019
You Can't Come For This Ride
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep5 Join me as I talk about when you are evolving and you realize those around you are going through an evolution as well. How you maneuver through this space and decide the best path for you is important to discuss. Need support as you make these moves through your unpacking and evolving in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space? A one-on-one coaching session is a great way to be supported and receive accountability. Book a Tea Time Chat to explore the possibility in this complimentary session. Let's talk https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, May 07, 2019
I Forgive Me
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep4 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about subconscious programming playing into past transgressions, forgiving yourself, white guilt being a version of victimhood, and much more. Ready to join us in The Conversation Workshop and be a part of the conversation? Reserve your seat for one of the upcoming ones at https://ericacourdae.com
Tue, April 30, 2019
Is It Imposter Syndrome?
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep3 Join me as I talk about what imposter syndrome is, how it can show up, and why it may look different than you expected. Ready to join us in The Conversation Workshop and be a part of the conversation? Reserve your seat for one of the upcoming ones at https://ericacourdae.com
Mon, April 22, 2019
Perceptions Of Perfection and Generational Stories with India Jackson
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep2 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about generational stories of black beauty and the perception of perfection. Ready to join us in The Conversation Workshop and be a part of the conversation? Reserve your seat for one of the upcoming ones at https://ericacourdae.com
Mon, April 22, 2019
Authenticity & Cancel Culture with India Jackson
Full show notes and transcript at https://www.pauseontheplay.com/potp/ep1 Join me as I talk with India Jackson of India Jackson Artistry about cancel culture, fear and judgment, and more. Ready to join us in The Conversation Workshop and be a part of the conversation? Reserve your seat for one of the upcoming ones at https://ericacourdae.com
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