PODCAST · society
Everything's Not Black & White
by Brian and Lala
Life isn’t black and white—and neither are the issues shaping our lives and communities. Hosted by LaLa and Brian, Everything's Not Black & White is a podcast dedicated to exploring the nuanced gray areas between opposing viewpoints. Behind every strong opinion is an individual's story, backstory, and lived experience that shaped how they see the world. Join us as we trade knee-jerk reactions for curious questions. We dive into today’s trending topics to understand why people feel the way they do, creating a space for respectful, honest dialogue that bridges divides instead of deepening them. Hit follow to join the conversation and discover the space in between. An LBB Edutainment Production.
Episodes
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Facing The Truth In The Mirror - Varsey Laurelle
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian sit down with cultural change strategist and executive coach Varsey Laurelle for an uncompromised conversation on Facing the Truth in the Mirror. Varsey shares why traditional DEI and HR frameworks often fall...
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I Took That Spark And Ran - Flobo Boyce
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian travel deep into the gray area with multi-hyphenate entertainer, host, and comedian Flobo Boyce. Growing up in a West Indian household in Brooklyn, Flobo was raised with strict expectations around stability…
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The Practical Value of Intuition - Michelle Scott
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian sit down with intuitive leadership coach Michelle Scott to explore how high-impact leaders can move past overthinking and step into true alignment. Drawing from a personal health crisis that forced her to slow...
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Love Something Other Than Yourself - Tad Nelson
Send us Fan Mail What happens when life’s maps completely shatter? In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian sit down with veteran Texas trial attorney Tad Nelson to discuss human crisis, resilience, and starting over. Drawing from over 30 years in family and criminal...
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Leadership reDEFYned - Tami Chapek
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian sit down with corporate veteran, executive coach, and author Tami Chapek. With nearly 25 years of experience climbing the ranks at major brands like J&J and Edwards Life Sciences, Tami shares what corporate...
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Multiple Truths Can Coexist - Dr. Hoai Julie Pham
Send us Fan Mail Can multiple truths coexist in one conversation? In this episode of Everything’s Not Black & White, hosts Lachandra and Brian sit down with Dr. Hoai Julie Pham, a PhD historian and CEO of Curiosity Based. From her journey as a Vietnamese refugee to her work helping global...
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Beyond Burnout: The Nap Concert Revolution - Elizabeth Wangugi Etienne
Send us Fan Mail Lachandra and Brian sit down with wellness strategist Elizabeth Wangugi Etienne (Ellie) to explore the vital connection between rest and human-centered leadership. Challenging "hustle" culture, Ellie discusses longevity thinking, the art of recovery, and reframing burnout as a...
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Neither War Nor Appeasement - Zolal Habibi
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lala and Brian move beyond the headlines to explore the human stories behind the current crisis in Iran. They are joined by human rights activist Zolal Habibi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, who shares her deeply personal connection to…
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Housing Is A Right - Lauren Goché
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Everything's Not Black and White, hosts Lala and Brian sit down with Lauren Goché, a principal real estate broker and "witch with wifi," to pull back the curtain on the systemic inequities of the housing market. From the historical violence of redlining and...
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Adoption’s Healing Heart - Donna Pope
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lala and Brian sit down with Donna Pope, Executive Director of Heart to Heart Adoptions, to peel back the layers of the adoption experience. From the gut-wrenching grief and "placement" decisions of birth mothers to the complexities of raising three sons as a...
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Above and Beyond - Jenna Odenberg
Send us Fan Mail This episode moves beyond the "binary" of accessibility to explore the lived reality of disability advocacy. Hosts Lachandra and Brian are joined by Jenna Odenberg—Bush Fellow, author of Within My Spokes, and founder of Above and Beyond with U. Jena shares her journey from...
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Humanizing the Healthcare System - Dr. Eugene Manley Jr.
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Everything’s Not Black and White, Lachandra sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley Jr., a biomedical scientist and CEO of the STEMM and Cancer Health Equity Foundation, to discuss the life-saving necessity of measurable equity. Dr. Manley shares his harrowing…
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The Audacity To Be Myself - Daniel Stoffel
Send us Fan Mail Hosts Lala and Brian welcome Daniel Stoffel, a beloved family member, successful young businessman, and owner of West Oak Salon. Daniel shares his lifelong passion for the beauty industry—from styling Barbie heads to opening his own salon—and the profound impact his LGBTQIA+...
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Escape the Narcissist's Script - Agatha Peters
Send us Fan Mail Join Lala and Brian as they sit down with Nigerian-American psychotherapist and author Agatha Peters, founder of Beautiful Sunshine Therapy and author of Trapped in Their Script. Agatha shares her inspiring journey from working in the ER to starting her own culturally sensitive...
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Don't Deny Your Greatness - Leslie Battle
Send us Fan Mail Hosts Lala and Brian welcome the incredibly multi-hyphenate artist Leslie Battle to the show. Leslie, a comedian, dancer, writer, and poet, discusses her diverse career journey, from singing at a Bengals game during her 26 years in the US Army to her latest creative endeavors.…
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An Immigrant's Blueprint for Success - April Wu
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, hosts Lala and Brian are joined by their brilliant friend and business partner, April Wu, founder of InSphere Consulting. April shares her transformative journey from navigating strict cultural expectations and career burnout to finding her voice and launching…
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Cognitive Wellbeing In The Workplace - Brian John
Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Lala and Brian as they welcome their friend, leadership advisor Brian John, to discuss a crucial topic: cognitive wellbeing in the workplace. Brian John shares his personal journey and professional expertise, explaining how a leader's mental state directly impacts an...
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Healing Beyond the Diagnosis - Shanise Pearce
Send us Fan Mail Join us as Shanise Pearce, a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, public speaker, and health equity advocate, shares her extraordinary journey of resilience and purpose. From confronting her mortality to discovering the power of community support and self-care, Shanise’s story...
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You Are Enough - Hady Mendez
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, we sit down with Hady Mendez, a NY-based Amazon best-selling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. Hady, the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, shares how her personal journey has shaped her mission to empower...
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Surrogacy: A Labor of Love - Elisabeth Tate
Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, we meet Elisabeth, a surrogate who gave life to two children for a special couple and chose to stay closely involved in their lives. Her journey is one of courage, compassion, and redefining family, as she navigates co-parenting across two households…
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Road Between Two Hearts - Dr. Leslie Powell Ahmadi
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with an extraordinary guest, Dr. Leslie Powell Ahmadi, who shares her captivating journey from pursuing a Ph.D. in foreign language and culture education at The Ohio State University to unexpectedly falling in love with an Iranian doctoral student in...
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An Intersectional Lens - Ashley Brooks
Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, we explore Ashley Brooks' inspiring journey and her groundbreaking book. Ashley's work sheds light on how community-driven civic environments impact personal development and well-being. Ashley's thesis takes us on a qualitative research adventure, using...
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Chasing Dreams Not Lions - Lizzie Bronte
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of our podcast, we have the privilege of hosting Lizzie Bronte, a remarkable individual who hails from Cameroon and embarked on a life-changing journey to the United States due to political turmoil in her home country. Lizzie shares her heartfelt experiences of...
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Live Your Vision - Lori Lutz
Send us Fan Mail In this captivating podcast episode, we're joined by Lori Lutz, a distinguished expert in unlocking human potential for high performance, both in personal and professional spheres. Lori's profound insights center on the idea that every individual possesses a unique source of…
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Steeped in Success - Ella Williams
Send us Fan Mail In this deeply inspiring episode, we sit down with Ella Williams, one of the visionary founders of Posh Teatime Co., a social enterprise and luxury teatime experience company based in central Ohio. Ella opens up about her journey from facing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in…
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When His Mistress is His Mother - Chanel Hughley
Send us Fan Mail In this compelling episode we're thrilled to welcome Chanel Hughley, author of the poignant memoir, "When His Mistress is His Mother - A Cautionary Tale." Chanel opens up about her past relationship with James, a man who seemed like the perfect partner—funny, kind, and committed....
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Bee The Change - Tracy Teuscher
Send us Fan Mail Join us as Tracy Teuscher sheds light on the daunting threats bees face, from habitat loss and pesticide exposure to climate change. Her insights offer a deeper understanding of the urgency behind bee conservation efforts. But it's not all grim news—Tracy also empowers listeners...
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Unapologetically Us - Erin Upchurch
Send us Fan Mail In this impactful episode, we explore a compelling event that occurred during a fundraiser for Kaleidoscope Youth Center, held at Land Grant. Initially intended as a joyous occasion to celebrate and support the center, the day took an unexpected turn when a hateful Nazi far-right...
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Journey Of Resiliency - Lamar King
Send us Fan Mail Join us as we delve into Lamar's inspiring story of triumph over adversity, having overcome the daunting obstacle of foster care to become a remarkable and successful young man. Born to a mother who was only 17 and battling addiction, Lamar's early years were filled with...
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My Word Was My Bond - Coach Jim Cleamons
Send us Fan Mail Only four men have won 10 or more NBA championship rings and Coach Jim Cleamons is one of them. He's played ball with some of the greats like Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, and Wilt Chamberlain. As a coach, he's worked with legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille…
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Walk Toward Justice - Brandi Lust
Send us Fan Mail Trigger warning: This episode discusses sexually predatory behavior. Trust is one of the most important aspects of a relationship. When that trust is violated, it can cause feelings of confusion, hurt, and anger. This is especially true when the perpetrator is supposed to be a...
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Healing With Nature - Tracy Teuscher
Send us Fan Mail We are experiencing a time of deep, cultural trauma. Our collective nervous systems are on overdrive and it's causing many health challenges - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Its impact on nature can also be felt and seen in devastating ways. Our guest today,...
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Owning Your Legacy - Jordan Nishizaki
Send us Fan Mail Every day, news headlines remind us just how much many politicians want to erase parts of our history. Despite their fruitless efforts, the many atrocities our ancestors have experienced can never be forgotten. Those legacies often become the fuel that ignites our passion for...
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Strengthening a Hackable Mindset - Stephanie Domas
Send us Fan Mail Do you use Alexa or Siri for digital assistance? Odds are, you do. More than 42% of the global population uses digital assistants for tasks from the very mundane to the mind-boggling complex. What you may not know is that through using these convenient systems, you have freely...
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The Culture Of You - Karen Marie Hewitt
Send us Fan Mail There is great power in knowing yourself, celebrating yourself, and allowing others to do the same. With so much volatility, uncertainty, chaos, and ambiguity in our society today, it is so important, now more than ever, to center and respect the dignity of every person and their...
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Filming Through An Inclusive Lens - Zach Cobb and Aujie Baker
Send us Fan Mail Representation matters in all aspects of life, especially in storytelling. When you see people who look, sound, and think like you on the big and small screen, it feels validating. We talked with Zach Cobb and Aujie Baker, two budding creatives in the film industry about their…
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Becoming A Brave Philanthropist - Sophia Fifner
Send us Fan Mail *Trigger warning* - This episode mentions sexual assault. It takes courage to stand up for something you believe in, especially when you've experienced trauma. Sophia Fifner never let fear or her past stop her from empowering and helping others. Her bold and triumphant journey…
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Thriving on the Other Side of Cancer - John and Sherri Snoad
Send us Fan Mail "Cancer leaves your body, never your mind." The perspectives from both the survivors and the caregivers can vary wildly, especially in how you remember what happened. Join us as we talk with our friends John and Sherri Snoad, as they share their very personal journey from…
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When Forever Doesn't Last - Christian Family
Send us Fan Mail According to the CDC, there is one divorce in America every 42 seconds. The contributing factors are anything from isolation, financial strain, and political division to domestic violence, lack of communication, and differing beliefs. If things are going badly, you shouldn't feel...
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Renewing Your Mind - Asia McGarrah
Send us Fan Mail Discussing mental health in many families isn't always easy to do. Speaking openly about matters of the mind still feels taboo, especially in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. Join us as our guest, Asia MG McGarrah, shares her personal account of working...
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Prevailing Over Wounding Words - Rondalyn Morrow
Send us Fan Mail "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." We all heard this as kids, yet negative words continue to cause deep, emotional pain... especially in marriages. Our special guest, Roni Morrow, shares her inspirational journey of overcoming an emotionally...
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Intentionality is Beautiful - Jocelyn Armstrong
Send us Fan Mail It takes a personal commitment from all of us to make the world a better place. Intentionality is beautiful and has the power to change the world! Our guest this episode knew early on that she wanted to make a difference and leave a lasting impact. Listen as DEI practitioner and...
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Moving Toward The Future - Morgan Harper
Send us Fan Mail The political scene has become increasingly divisive and confusing, leaving many to wonder if things will ever change. Our guest this episode is Morgan Harper, a new voice entering the scene and running for the U.S. Senate representing Ohio. Listen as Morgan discusses why she's…
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You Are Enough - Shanon Phillips
Send us Fan Mail Join us as we speak with Shanon Phillips, a Self-Care Advocate, as she shares her experiences to promote faith, gratitude and introspection. Shanon's message will help empower you on your very own self-care journey. Power Seeds Podcast IG Shanon Phillips IG Power Seeds Podcast...
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Be The Change - Karen Thomas
Send us Fan Mail Take an adventure with our guest Karen Thomas as she explains how she has remained civically engaged throughout her entire life. Her adventures are amazing and her travels have taken her from the small town Ashland, Ohio all the way to a elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Listen in…
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The Jordan Rules
Send us Fan Mail Brian and La discuss a friendship that Brian had with a young African American man named Joddi Jordan at their place of employment in the early 90's. Their friendship helped Brian realize there are two set of rules in the United States that vary depending on ones ethnicity.…
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Do Everything With Love - Kierra Williams
Send us Fan Mail Brian and Lala welcome Kierra Williams to the podcast where she shares her journey of choosing love over hate and how that choice has empowered her life. ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY - Prime Video Stacey Abrams Cleo Wade Kierra Instagram Kierra LinkedIn Tibetan Buddhism…
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Stroke Of Inspiration - Kelly Studebaker
Send us Fan Mail Brian and Lala welcome Kelly Studebaker to discuss her life after having a stroke and how she's used life's challenges to triumph and thrive. Americans with Disabilities Act F.A.S.T. Kelly Studebaker Instagram CDC Tribal Strength Fitness World Stroke Day Types of Strokes Stroke...
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Battle For My Mind Amidst Personal Growth
Send us Fan Mail Lala and Brian venture into the thought process of a former supporter (Brian) of conservative ideology into his transition into a new way of thinking.
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White Privilege: Yes, It Exists
Send us Fan Mail Brian and Lala share insights on what White Privilege really is and how it should be used to support historically underrepresented groups. Stanford Study Whitening a Resume Joy DeGruy What is White Privilege Name Discrimination on Applications Study Origins and Stereotype of…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Life isn’t black and white—and neither are the issues shaping our lives and communities.
Hosted by LaLa and Brian, Everything's Not Black & White is a podcast dedicated to exploring the nuanced gray areas between opposing viewpoints. Behind every strong opinion is an individual's story, backstory, and lived experience that shaped how they see the world.
Join us as we trade knee-jerk reactions for curious questions. We dive into today’s trending topics to understand why people feel the way they do, creating a space for respectful, honest dialogue that bridges divides instead of deepening them.
Hit follow to join the conversation and discover the space in between.
An LBB Edutainment Production.
HOSTED BY
Brian and Lala
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