Episode 25: Valeisha Butterfield On Audacity, Dating After Divorce & Why Humility Is Dead

Joy Taylor sits down with Valeisha Butterfield, Obama administration alum, Recording Academy's first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, and founder of Seed Media. Get ready for a raw, wide-ranging conversation on audacity, the death of humility, entrepreneurship, dating post-divorce (with a hiking story that will have you screaming), sisterhood, and what it means to be a Black woman in this moment.   0:00 — Intro: Joy introduces Valeisha and teases the topics1:02 — Audacity: Redefining the word and why mediocre men have it in abundance3:02 — The case against humility: "I am not humble before other humans"4:40 — Working loud: Taking credit for your work and not letting anyone swoop it6:50 — Playing the game strategically in corporate and political spaces7:44 — Valeisha's mom moment: The audacity to take your full maternity leave9:29 — The girlboss myth and why the conversation is exhausting11:34 — How scared are we? Living in unprecedented times12:20 — Why Valeisha isn't afraid: People move where culture moves13:44 — Is culture in a good place? Music, art, film, and who we're platforming17:07 — Empowering creators: Pick up the camera, don't wait for the green light19:27 — Young people, their time, and learning to live with less23:18 — Valeisha's shift from corporate to entrepreneurship26:57 — The one thing Joy and Valeisha cannot stand: Wasted time27:33 — Dating after divorce: The lover girl problem29:38 — Love bombing — why it's a red flag AND why it feels so good33:14 — Meeting your kids: The story of the restaurant ambush39:00 — Men in their midlife era, online illusions, and the gender war myth44:00 — Dating apps — what worked, what didn't, and a hiking story gone left58:40 — What's keeping Valeisha centered right now1:00:02 — Boundaries as a muscle: Saying no to protect your peace1:02:17 — Women relationships as the key to survival1:06:27 — Black women, solidarity, and a direct charge to non-Black women1:12:24 — Closing: Something has to give, and we have to be ready1:13:47 — OutroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.