Fieldnotes of a Black Woman Scholar

In this reflective Fieldnotes episode, Dr. Mildred Boveda and Dr. Venus Evans-Winters pause to share how they’ve been showing up for themselves this summer. From the beaches to the quiet corners of our homes, we discuss the intentional self-care rituals that grounded us, restored us, and helped us reconnect with our purpose as educators, scholars, and Black women navigating layered commitments. We also offer a brief update on what’s ahead for the podcast and how our creative and scholarly energies are aligning for the upcoming season. Whether you're holding space for rest, reinventing your wellness routine, or simply curious about how two Black feminist scholars find balance—this episode is for you. 🌀 Tune in and take what you need.

In this episode of Writing What I Like: Fieldnotes of a Black Woman Scholar, Dr. Mildred Boveda (YouTube: @mboveda) and I are joined by Dr. Raymond Adams, a Black male social work professor whose research sheds critical light on prostate cancer and the health experiences of Black men. Dr. Adams brings a powerful voice to the intersection of public health, wellness, and academic life—unpacking the ways that systemic inequities shape Black men’s access to care, and how his scholarship is both a personal and political act of resistance. Together, we explore how Black men navigate wellness in the context of racialized medicine, how Dr. Adams brings his research into the classroom to shape a new generation of social workers, and why education must contend with the embodied realities of the communities it aims to serve. This conversation reminds us that health justice is, in fact, educational justice, and that the academy must be a space where both can thrive. Tune in as we talk research, resistance, and rewriting the script on Black men's wellness—one fieldnote at a time.

In this episode, Dr. Venus Evans-Winters and Dr. Mildred Boveda (Youtube @mboveda) sit down with Dr. Erica McCray—educator, researcher, and leader—to discuss the powerful roles of mothering and daughtering in shaping our work and wellness in academic spaces. Together, they explore how intergenerational care and personal identity influence educational leadership, equity-focused research, and the pursuit of balance in high-pressure environments. Dr. McCray reflects on her lived experiences and shares how she integrates care, legacy, and advocacy into her scholarship and professional life. This is a rich, intimate conversation for anyone invested in justice, healing, and the ways Black women lead and nurture across generations. Listen in as we honor the unseen and transformative labor of Black women in education and beyond.Reflection questions: How have your experiences as a mother or daughter (or son/father) shaped your values and vision in education and leadership?In what ways does your personal identity influence your approach to research, especially around equity and inclusion?What practices help you maintain wellness and balance while supporting others in academic spaces?What legacy do you hope to pass on to those who see you as a mentor or academic mother?

In this episode, we journey into the heart of Black feminist research and healing through the lens of storytelling. Together, we, Dr. Mildred Boveda and Dr. Evans-Winters, reflect on the power of narrative as a method of resistance, a source of knowledge, and a sacred tool for personal and collective transformation. Drawing from our own lives and the legacies of Black feminist scholars and creators, we explore how storytelling shows up in our work and why it matters now more than ever. We also turn inward with a conversation about journaling—how it anchors our thoughts, reveals our truths, and supports the deep inner work required to write, research, and resist. Whether you're a writer, scholar, educator, or seeker, this episode invites you to pick up the pen and begin again. Tune in for reflection, laughter, and a few words from Mildred (@mboveda on YouTube) and me as we ask: What stories are we still afraid to tell? And what becomes possible when we write anyway?Journaling Prompt: “Write about a time you reclaimed your voice through telling your story.”

Graduate school can be a physically and mentally isolating experience, but building a supportive community is essential for academic success and personal well-being. ‪@DrVenusEvansWinters‬ discusses strategies for fostering meaningful connections among graduate students through collaboration, mentorship, and collective care. Strategies include navigating academic power dynamics, forming writing and accountability groups, and prioritizing mental wellness through community care. I highlight how students can bridge disciplines, uplift marginalized voices, and use writing as a tool for connection. Additionally, digital platforms and virtual networks are explored as resources for fostering academic solidarity beyond institutional walls. Hosted by a professor, researcher, writer, and clinical therapist specializing in trauma, this series offers insights and practical tools for creating a strong, affirming, and engaged graduate student community. Join the conversation and reimagine academia as a space of shared growth, resilience, and transformation.

In this episode of Writing What I Like: Fieldnotes of a Black Woman Scholar, we explore how toxic work environments and systemic oppression impact mental health and creativity. Discover how writing can be a transformative tool to process these challenges, resist burnout, and reclaim your voice. Join me, Dr. Venus Evans-Winters, as I share practical exercises and strategies to empower you to turn your experiences into powerful narratives of resilience and resistance. 

Welcome to the podcast, where we explore the intersection of writing, mental health, and well-being through the lens of education and spirituality. In today's episode, Dr. Venus Evans-Winters discusses how to identify your purpose in life and the role of mindfulness in this process. Identifying your purpose in life is a journey, not a destination. It's an ongoing process of self-discovery and growth. By reflecting on your values, passions, and strengths and incorporating mindfulness practices, you can uncover your unique purpose and live a true life. Grab your reflection journals!

Recently, in our culture, there has been an overemphasis on writing for public consumption and profit. Academic writing privileges content that addresses "somebody else's problem" instead of writing for personal growth and imagination. This trend can overshadow the profoundly transformative potential of writing when it's approached as a tool for personal healing and authentic relationship building. Mindfulness awareness allows us to write from a place of authenticity and presence. As we observe our thoughts and emotions, we gain insights into our true selves, much like how staying present in the moment helps us navigate life's complexities. Dr. Venus Evans-Winters shares three questions to consider when researching and writing for personal awareness and social change. Grab your journals and pens for this episode.

"Post" Pandemic Welcome Back! Dr. V discusses her journey over the last months and years after deciding to reclaim rest. She provides insights into her commitment to Collective Healing, Learning, and Laboring. Listen to learn some of the strategies she implemented as a professor, clinician, and solo-entrepreneur to bounce back from the pandemic and heal in the midst of it all. 

Create your writing goals with the SMART method. Learn how to set SMART writing goals and starting setting writing goals that are stated in a way that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. Dr. V walks you through her method of setting SMART writing goals. Grab your writing journal and pen and set your writing goal today!

This 90 Day Challenge introduces you to the practice of dating yourself! Date yourself in order to get to know yourself. By dating yourself, you actually bring out your creative genius, because you become more aware of what it takes to entertain yourself. Break boredom by coming up with creative ways to be with yourself. Join us for this group challenge.

Join the 90 Mindfulness Journaling Challenge! In this challenge, you will practice three pages of journaling daily for three months. You will discover in this practice a method for increasing mindfulness and creativity. Yes, increase self-awareness by opening up your creative pathways. Use writing as a mindfulness practice and a path to self-discovery, reducing anxiety, depression, and even loneliness.

In this episode, Dr. Venus Evans-Winters discusses knowing your audience. She also discusses how she approaches finding her voice in her writing. Knowing your audience requires you to engage in self-reflection and conversations with those most likely to respect your ideas and perspectives.

Get a sneak-peek into Dr. V's online coaching course, "Write Like A Scholar, Write for Impact"! In this episode, learn about your (mis)conceptions about who is a writer.

In this brief fieldnote, I guide you to your purpose! Well, not quite, but I do prompt you to consider how your life purpose can and should be connected to your writing; and how writing can lead you to envision your life purpose.

Struggling to find time to write? In this episode, Dr. Venus Evans-Winters shares practical strategies for carving out time to write, even in the midst of a busy schedule. Tune in for actionable tips and insights on prioritizing your writing and making consistent progress.

The role of silence in Dr. V's writing rituals. Silence is golden! Silence (meditation) takes practice. This fieldnote caps of the 4 part series dedicated to mindfulness writing. Leave comments about your mindfulness practice!

Mindfulness for writers is an important practice that can help bring forth and acknowledge one's conscious and unconscious emotions. Mindfulness is a useful personal and professional tool for critical scholar.

Mindfulness for writers. What role can mindfulness play in creativity and scholarly writing? Dr. V provides some tips for becoming a mindful writer.

In this fieldnote, Dr. V discusses how to push pass fear and tell your truth to become a fearless writer!

Dr. V describes her motivation for writing, when she writes, and how to become a writer.

My reflections on the movie "The Hate You Give" and Black Girls' Trauma

Background history on my coming to understand education as a liberatory pursuit. I discuss my history of learning about education from liberation as a sociology major and my study of Septima P. Clark and citizenship education.

In this Fieldnote, Dr. V (me), discusses who she is as a scholar and identifies intellectual activists who have influenced her as a pedagogue and intellectual. Listen to think about who you are as a scholar and how education has influenced your identity.

This episode or "fieldnote" is the introduction episode to (W)riting What I Like! by Dr. Venus Evans-Winters.