Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood

In this season finale of Money Unmasked, Jonathan closes out the journey with a solo reflection on what this season actually uncovered beneath the surface of money, ambition, fear, and hope. From the opening kitchen table to the final conversation with Ain Bailey, this season has been about more than finances — it has been about identity, devotion, power, repair, and the future we are quietly building through our choices.   Jonathan reflects on the nine conversations that shaped the season, including the language and insight shared by Rahkim Sabree, Dr. Tiona Sykes, Meenadchi, Reni Eniola, Rita Zhang, Aja Chavez, Amity Paye, Tai Wiggins, and Ain Bailey. Each guest helped surface a different layer of the same question: what are we really after when we pursue money? Along the way, Jonathan names the stories he inherited, the fears he has been carrying, and the ways this season challenged him to rethink what it means to want more without losing himself.   Together with listeners, he revisits the season’s biggest threads: Money as identity, safety, and permission The role of fear, obligation, and guilt in financial decisions What it means to resist forgetting after making it Why money is not neutral, but deeply tied to systems, power, and choice How generosity, repair, and devotion shape the future we are practicing now The difference between chasing money and building a life that feels true   This finale is part confession, part closing statement, and part invitation. Jonathan speaks honestly about the resentment, fear, and self-protection that shaped his relationship with money, while also naming the deeper shift this season offered: the possibility of a more honest, generous, and expansive relationship with abundance.   If this season has been about unmasking money, this episode is about naming what was underneath all along.   🎧Listen to Previous Episode: What Are You Devoted To? Money, Imagination & the Future (with Ain Bailey)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In this episode of Money Unmasked, Jonathan sits down with Ain Bailey, founder of New Seneca Village and creator of We Outside, for a conversation about devotion, restoration, and what it really means to resource leadership for the future. Ain brings a powerful and expansive lens to money: one rooted in spirituality, collective care, nature, and the belief that money is simply a shared agreement about how resources move. Throughout the conversation, Ain shares how their work supports leaders in stepping out of urgency and into restoration, not as escape, but as preparation to engage the world more truthfully and with greater capacity. Jonathan and Ain explore: Why futurism is a sacred practice, not just a mindset How money can be used to preserve and expand life rather than extract from it The difference between hoarding resources and allowing money to flow What it means to practice giving, receiving, and reciprocity in real time Why restoration has to be foundational, not occasional, for sustained leadership How devotion shapes the future we are already creating through our choices The relationship between nature, imagination, and leadership that lasts Ain also opens up about their own money story — from fear around retirement and scarcity, to a more intentional practice of giving, trust, and moving money in alignment with their values. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build a future worth having without burning yourself out in the present, this conversation will stay with you.   Connect with Ain Bailey: Connect on LinkedIn: Visit NewSenecaVillage.org  Listen to the We Outside Podcast  🎧Listen to Previous Episode: Reparations, Repair, and the Stories We Tell (with Amity Paye) Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In this episode of Money Unmasked, Jonathan sits down with Amity Paye — VP of Narrative Change at Liberation Ventures, the accelerator for the Black-led movement for racial repair and reparations in the United States — for the season's most expansive, systems-level conversation.   If this season has been about getting honest with what we're really pursuing when we pursue money, this episode zooms out to ask a bigger question: what would it mean for a whole society to pursue repair?   Amity brings her background as a journalist, labor organizer, racial justice communicator, and narrative strategist to break down what reparations actually means — far beyond the "just cut the check" framing that dominates the public conversation. She shares the international framework for reparations, the latest data on what's been distributed and where the movement stands, and what it means to build a genuine culture of repair.   Together, Jonathan and Amity explore:   What reparations actually includes beyond monetary payments The four components of reparations under international definitions What $41 million distributed tells us — and doesn't tell us — about progress How narrative change is as central to repair as policy change What the racial wealth gap looks like and why reparations may be the only effective way to close it What a "culture of repair" actually looks like in everyday life How storytelling shapes what people believe is possible — and impossible The connection between individual money stories and collective money systems   This is the episode that ties everything together — personal, relational, systemic, and historical. It belongs on your most important playlist.   Connect with Amity Paye: LiberationVentures.org    Resources Mention in the Show (If you purchase any of the books below I get a small commission): LiberationVentures.org    🎧Listen to Previous Episode: Money, Belonging, and the Cost of the “Right Things” (with Aja Chavez)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In this episode of Money Unmasked, Jonathan sits down with Aja Chavez for a raw, relatable conversation about class, identity, and the quiet pressure to have the "right things" — the right shoes, the right neighborhood, the right financial story — as a way of proving you belong. Aja's story spans class contrast, debt, the dopamine hit of spending, and the shame that follows. She talks openly about growing up with two very different sides of her family, the messages she absorbed about what money meant for safety and status, and how those early lessons shaped her adult relationship with spending, debt, and self-worth. Jonathan and Aja dig into: What it felt like to grow up navigating class difference within her own family How the pressure to have the "right things" shows up in everyday spending decisions Debt, guilt, and the cycle of spending as emotional regulation The shame of hiding purchases or financial choices from people you love What it looks like to start rewriting the story you inherited about money and belonging The difference between wanting things and needing to belong How class shapes what we think we deserve — and what we're afraid to ask for If you've ever bought something to feel okay, hidden a purchase out of shame, or wondered why financial advice never accounts for how lonely it is to not belong — this conversation is for you.   Connect with Aja Chavez: Connect with Aja on LinkedIn  🎧Listen to Previous Episode: Saying Yes to Abundance Without Selling Out (with Meenadchi)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In this episode 7 of our Money Unmasked series, Jonathan sits down with Meenadchi — author, healer, and practitioner of transformative and liberatory work — for one of the most spiritually expansive and deeply rooted conversations of the season.   Meenadchi challenges the idea that money is the enemy, reframing the real culprit as extraction — the economic logic that says some people's labor, land, and life can be taken without reciprocity or repair. Drawing on their background in collective care, ancestral wisdom, and community-rooted abundance, Meenadchi offers a different vision: one where resource, reciprocity, and joy coexist without requiring anyone to sell out their values or their people. Together, Jonathan and Meenadchi explore: The distinction between money and extraction — and why it matters What it means to say yes to abundance without compromising your integrity or your community How inherited narratives around scarcity, sacrifice, and survival shape what we feel entitled to have The spiritual and ancestral dimensions of our money stories What collective wealth and resource-sharing look like in practice The tension between wanting more and feeling guilty for wanting more How unconditional love and money can actually exist in the same sentence This is the conversation for anyone who has ever felt like wanting abundance was somehow a betrayal — of your roots, your politics, or your people. Connect with Meenadchi: Discover Your Money Magic: https://meenadchi.squarespace.com/discover-your-money-magic - A free, fun way to understand how healing your relationship with money will amplify your role in social change work. Email: [email protected]  Website: http://meenadchi.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meenadchi/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/with.meenadchi/  Purchase her book - Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication: https://co-conspirator.press/Decolonizing-Non-Violent-Communication     🎧Listen to Previous Episode: Financial Trauma, 835 Credit Scores & What Safety Really Means (with Rahkim Sabree)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In this episode of Money Unmasked, Jonathan sits down with Rahkim Sabree — financial therapist, speaker, cultural translator, and author of Overcoming Financial Trauma — to dig into the question underneath all of our money behavior: what are we really chasing when we chase financial security?   Rahkim unpacks how growing up without financial language, then landing in the banking industry, then becoming a certified financial coach shaped and reshaped his entire understanding of money. He shares what it felt like to hit an 835 credit score and still not feel safe — and why that gap between the number and the feeling is exactly where the real work begins.   Together, Jonathan and Rahkim explore: Why financial literacy alone cannot undo the harm that financial systems have caused What learned helplessness looks like in communities that have been failed by the system generation after generation How our childhood money moments — the Scholastic Book Fair, the store brand sneakers, the food stamps — live in our nervous systems long after we've "made it" Why a dysregulated person is a profitable one, and how corporations and advertisers bank on that The three E framework: Exposure, Experience, and Education — and why order matters What it looks like to begin healing financial trauma instead of just managing financial behavior How quantum theory, Dr. Resmaa Menakem, Dr. Joy DeGruy, and The Body Keeps the Score all informed Rahkim's approach If you've ever hit a financial milestone and still felt anxious, behind, or unsafe — this conversation will name what's happening and give you language for it.   Connect with Rahkim: Website: https://www.rahkimsabree.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RahkimSabree  Instagram: @RahkimSabree  Overcoming Financial Trauma by Rahkim Sabree   Resources Mentioned in the Show (I get a small commission when you purchase using my affiliate links): Overcoming Financial Trauma by Rahkim Sabree Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy My Grandmother's Hands by Dr. Resmaa Menakem Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza PowerNomics by Dr Claude Anderson The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk  The Debt Trap: The Hidden Brain Podcast    🎧Listen to Previous Episode: What Are You Willing to Trade for Freedom? (with Tai Wiggins)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected]

In episode 5 of Money Unmasked, Jonathan sits down with Tai Wiggins, first-gen corporate leader, sales strategist, financial wellness educator, and founder of Debt Down Assets Up and First Gen Corporate, to explore the real tradeoffs that come with chasing money, stability, and freedom. Tai has coached hundreds of clients through debt payoff and financial resilience, but her own story is shaped just as much by layoffs, career pivots, and the pressure of navigating corporate spaces without a playbook.   Together, Jonathan and Tai unpack what it means to build a life where money is not just about survival, but about choice, confidence, and alignment. Tai shares how three layoffs between 2020 and 2024, including one during maternity leave, pushed her to rethink security, success, and what she actually values. They also talk about first-gen identity, the emotional toll of uncertainty, and why financial wellness is about much more than numbers on a spreadsheet.   In this conversation, they explore: Why Tai chose the volatile corporate tech path over a more stable government route How layoffs can shake your sense of identity, safety, and future planning What it means to be first-gen corporate and first-gen entrepreneurial at the same time The difference between financial literacy and emotional readiness How money can amplify who you already are instead of changing you Why freedom, not just income, is often the real pursuit underneath the paycheck What we’re willing to trade for security, peace, and a better life   If you’ve ever wondered whether the thing you’re chasing is actually money, or whether it’s freedom, this conversation will give you a lot to sit with. Tai brings honesty, warmth, and sharp insight to the question of what it really costs to build a life on your own terms.   Connect with Tai Wiggins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tainycole/ https://tainycole.gumroad.com/ https://tainyc.substack.com/   🎧Listen to Previous Episode: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-wpr4q-1abcdbf    Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In episode 4 of our Money Unmasked series, Jonathan sits down with financial empowerment coach and educator rita zhang, founder of Community Roots Financials, to talk about money as something we feel in our bodies, hearts, and spirits—not just in our budgets and spreadsheets.   rita works with low‑income, immigrant, and communities of color, and she’s less interested in “perfect” financial literacy than in what it means for people to feel powerful, seen, and self‑determined in their financial lives. Together, she and Jonathan explore how stress, guilt, and anxiety around money are often coping responses to systems that were never designed with us in mind—and how slowing down to actually feel those emotions can become a deeply liberatory practice.   They get into: How rita went from racial and immigration justice organizing to financial empowerment coaching Why she thinks of her work less as “finance” and more as holding space for people’s wisdom to emerge The quiet courage it takes for working‑class and first‑gen folks to name what they truly want—not just what they need to survive How grind culture and capitalism convince us we’re “not doing enough,” even when we’re doing everything The idea of class straddlers: being the “bridge” generation between low‑income roots and a different material reality What it means to see yourself as one drop in the ocean and the whole ocean when it comes to healing, money, and lineage   If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting more rest, more joy, or more “non‑essential” spending—or if you’ve felt behind because you don’t speak the language of traditional finance—this conversation offers a gentler, more honest way to think about money, power, and healing.   rita closes with an invitation rooted in self‑compassion: meet yourself exactly where you are, take one next step that feels possible, and let that be enough. Connect with rita zhang / Community Roots Financials: Website: https://www.communityrootsfinancials.com/  Community Roots Financials on Linkedin  Follow on Instagram: @communityrootsfinancials  Resources Mentioned in the Show (If you purchase any of the books below I get a small commission): Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey Learn more about “Class Straddlers”   🎧Listen to Previous Episode: Redefining a "Good Life" at 30 (with Dr. Tiona Sykes)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In episode 3 of our Money Unmasked series, Jonathan sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Tiona Sykes to unpack what happens when money, hustle culture, and our sense of worth all get tangled together. Tiona shares how growing up with the message that “nothing in life is free” shaped her belief that safety only comes from working multiple jobs and constantly grinding. Now 30 and in a season of employment transition, she reflects on what happens when that grind stops, the anxiety that surfaces, and how easy it is to feel like you’re failing even when your life looks “good” from the outside. Together, Jonathan and Dr. Sykes explore: How family stories (“you have to earn everything”) and hustle culture form our earliest money scripts The pressure to always be doing more, making more, and optimizing more—and how that erodes joy The guilt of wanting more when you were raised to “just be grateful” and not ask for too much What travel, community, and non‑U.S. cultures have taught them about money, happiness, and consumption The quiet grief and anxiety that show up around bills, debt, and time, even when the numbers technically “work” How to start redefining a “good life” at 30 in a way that honors your values, nervous system, and relationships—not just your bank account If you’ve ever looked at your life on paper and thought, “I should feel more secure than this,” or wondered what you’re actually chasing when you chase more money, this conversation will feel like exhaling with a friend who gets it. At the end, Jonathan and Tiona invite you to name your own story around enoughness and success: When you think about money right now, what emotions come up first? What would a “good life” at this stage actually look like for you? Connect with Dr. Tiona Sykes: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiona-sykeslmft/  Resources Mentioned in the Show (If you purchase any of the books below I get a small commission): Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel Here is the Emotions/Feelings Wheel 🎧Listen to Previous Episode: Building Wealth That Actually Feels Good (with Reni Eniola aka xoReni)   Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

In episode two of our Money UnMasked series, Jonathan sits down with financial educator and content creator Reni Eniola aka xoReni to talk about money, emotions, and building wealth in a way that actually feels good—not restrictive, shame-filled, or overwhelming. Reni bought her first house at 23 and has since become a trusted voice on financial literacy, career development, and “adulting” online. But beneath the milestones and the numbers, Reni is most interested in the emotional relationship we have with money—especially how childhood experiences quietly shape the way we save, spend, hustle, and dream as adults. Together, Jonathan and Reni explore: How her parents started teaching her about money at age four—and the stories that left an imprint What she thought money would give her when she bought her first house, and what it actually did Why so many of us think we have a “money problem” when what we really have is an emotional or identity story The tension between taking bold risks and having a financial safety net What people are really pursuing when they say they want “financial freedom” How to start relating to money from self-worth and self-compassion instead of fear and self-judgment If you’ve ever felt behind with money, ashamed of what you “should know by now,” or overwhelmed by all the rules and advice, this episode offers a gentler, more honest way to think about wealth, security, and the kind of life you want to build. At the end, Jonathan and Reni invite you to reflect on your own story: Money represents When I think about money, I feel Your answer might show you what you’re actually pursuing when you pursue money. Timestamps (Approx.) 0:00 – Intro & why this conversation matters in Money Unmasked 3:00 – Who Reni is and how she became “Reni the Resource” 7:00 – Learning about money at four years old: early lessons & family influence 13:00 – Buying a house at 23: what she hoped money would give her 20:00 – Emotions, identity, and why “just budget better” isn’t enough 28:00 – Financial risk vs. safety nets in entrepreneurship 36:00 – What people are really chasing when they chase financial freedom 44:00 – Practical ways to start healing your relationship with money 52:00 – Jonathan’s reflection & audience invitation Connect with Reni: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@xoReni  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoreni/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@xoxoreni  Website: renitheresource.com Check out the Don’t Go Broke Collective Accountability Group Don’t Go Broke Trying Podcast:  Listen on Youtube or Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods  Resources Mentioned in the Show (If you purchase any of the books below I get a small commission): Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey The Trauma of Money by Chantel Chapman The Debt Trap: The Hidden Brain Podcast  Everything but Money by Jessica Morehouse Steph & Den Free Budget Template  Money for Couples with Ramit Sethi I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi 🎧Listen to Previous Episode: What Are We Really Pursuing When We Pursue Money Stay Connected: 📺Join our Community on Youtube 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter  👉🏾Buy me Ko-fi ☕️ 🔗All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲Follow us on Instagram  🕰️ Follow us on TikTok    Credits: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Highly Visible, A Little Misunderstood—where we explore life's most complex conversations with curiosity, vulnerability, and zero pressure to perform. In this season premiere, host Jonathan Dumas invites you into an intimate exploration of money that goes far beyond budgeting and financial literacy. What are we really pursuing when we pursue money? Is it freedom, safety, status, or something deeper? This season—Money Unmasked—explores the tension between needing money and not wanting money to define who we are. Through personal stories, reflections on childhood lessons, and four intentional lenses (Identity, Relationships, Values, and Society), Jonathan examines how money shapes our fears, our relationships, and our sense of worth. In this episode, you'll hear: Jonathan's reframing of poverty and enoughness through his brother Reggie's wisdom: "We aren't broke—we just don't have money right now." The unintended lessons about money he inherited from his mother's generosity Why money is spiritual, emotional, and deeply connected to our unconscious fears The moral tension of success: "If we make it, how do we refuse to forget the systems that kept others out?" An invitation to share your own relationship with money This is not a season of solutions. It's a season of questions—the kind you ask at your kitchen table late at night with people you trust. If you've ever felt conflicted about wanting more while fearing what that means about you, this season is for you. Complete the sentence in the comments: "Money represents ___" or "When I think about money, I feel ___" Your responses may appear anonymously in the season finale as we reflect on what shifted together. Timestamps 0:00 — Introduction, Team Updates & Welcome to Myron Bobrick Ozaki 1:30 — What This Season Is (And Isn't) 1:43 — The Guiding Question: What Are We Really Pursuing? 2:46 — Reggie's Wisdom: "We Aren't Broke, We Just Don't Have Money Right Now" 3:40 — Inherited Lessons: What His Mom Taught About Money 5:37 — Money Is Emotional, Not Neutral 11:13 — Four Lenses: Identity, Relationships, Values, Society 11:42 — The Big Questions Holding the Season 13:05 — Audience Prompt: "Money Represents " or "When I Think of Money, I Feel " 15:06 — Closing Question & Invitation 📬 Stay Connected: 📺 Join us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod 📬Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter: https://heyjonathandumas.com/hvlmpod 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod 🔗 All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📲 Instagram & TikTok: @highlyvisiblepod Production: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Socials & Community: Myron Bobyrk-Ozaki Email: [email protected] 

What if joy isn’t a destination but something already living inside you? In this heartfelt and deeply grounding conversation, Jonathan sits down with tech leader, DEIB advocate, and proud mom Tamara Wall to explore joy through the lens of motherhood, legacy, and healing.   This is one of the conversations that never made it out during the Joy season—so bringing it to you now feels especially meaningful.   Tamara opens up about: • Motherhood as both healing ground and harvest • Breaking cycles and creating a different future for her children • Embracing Black joy as resistance • Finding joy even when grief or isolation try to take the lead • Teaching her kids that joy isn’t earned—it’s deserved   Jonathan reflects on his own upbringing, the legacy of joy passed down through his family, and the power of small moments that stay with us. There’s even a special moment featuring a voicemail from Jonathan’s mom that captures the heart of the entire episode: joy, love, and the quiet reminders that carry us forward.   If you’ve ever struggled to hold joy in a heavy season… If you’re a parent trying to raise kids with intention… If you’re healing your inner child… Or if you’ve simply forgotten that joy belongs to you— this conversation will meet you right where you are.   Joy is your birthright. Let this episode remind you of that.   💬 Join the Conversation! Finish the sentence: “Joy is…” Drop a comment or send a voice note → https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur   🤝🏾 Connect with Tamara Wall • LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarawall/ • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/theerealtam    📚 Resources & Links Get Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us by Anna Malaika Tubbs → https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9781250876690 Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey → https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9780316365215   📬 Stay Connected: Join us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod  Get updates, behind-the-scenes content, and first access to the upcoming newsletter: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f Buy me Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Instagram: @HighlyVisiblePod All links → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   🎛️ Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

📺 HELP US HIT OUR SEPTEMBER SUB GOAL ON YOUTUBE → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod  What is joy really—and how do we keep returning to it, even when life feels heavy? In this season finale of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas reflects on a whole season of On Joy—pulling together the most honest takeaways, tender moments, and practical tools from every guest. No fluff. No toxic positivity. Just real-life ways to practice joy in the middle of struggle, work, community, and everyday life. We revisit conversations with Brandon Howard on joy in the body, Amani Roberts on creativity as muscle, Abe Medoff on somatics, Mimi Gonzalez on grief and creativity, Jennice Chewlin on joy as strategy at work, Ashmi Patel on joy guilt, Tiffany LeNoir on belonging, Louis Byrd on solution-oriented peace, and Shauntelle Carnegie on “joy-stacking” when life feels heavy. Jonathan also shares his own confession—how he accidentally turned joy into a KPI—and what it took to re-learn joy as a practice, not a performance. ✨ What you’ll take away: The body-first question that helps joy stop hiding Why joy ≠ happiness (and how to tell the difference) Simple micro-practices to return to joy at home, at work, and in community A reframe: joy and struggle can coexist without guilt If you’re new here—start with these fan favorites: Tiffany: Quitting Wasn’t the Risk–Staying Was → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-dumas-podcast/id1501526441?i=1000718924815  Abe: The Hidden Practice That Makes Joy Sustainable → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-talk-with-dumas-podcast/id1501526441?i=1000721049878  We revisit conversations with: Brandon Howard → Ep 91 | What If Joy Has Nothing to Do With the Scale? Ashmi Patel → Ep 92 | Joy Without Guilt: Unlearning Perfectionism & Generational Pressure Amani Roberts → Ep 93 | Fighting Fear, Doubt & Worry—And Creating Anyway Mimi Gonzalez, @griefsense → Ep 94 | Grief Isn’t the End—It’s the Remix Louis Byrd → Ep 97 | Finding Joy in the Mess and Fixing Problems That Shouldn’t Exist Shauntelle Carnegie → Ep 98 | “What If You’re Not Stuck—Just Scared?” Jennice Chewlin → Ep 99 | Joy at Work Isn’t a Perk—It’s a Strategy 💬 Join the Conversation What’s one small way joy has found you this season? Send a voice note → https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur 🚨 Help us hit our YouTube sub goal (125 by end of September)! Tap the Linktree and subscribe on YouTube → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 📬 Click to Join our community + get free stickers → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod ☕️ Click to Support the show on Ko-fi → https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected] 

📺 HELP US HIT OUR SUB GOAL BY SUBSCRIBING TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE!  Joy isn’t a perk you earn at the end of your to-do list—it’s a practice you build in the middle of real life.  In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan sits down with Jennice Chewlin—Latina mom, workplace wellbeing strategist, and founder of Chewlin Group—to unpack why joy at work is not “toxic positivity,” but a strategy for connection, trust, and sustainable impact. We get into: how to stop confusing joy with happiness, why “design for joy, not just efficiency” changes meetings and morale, and what happens when leaders start small (think: human openers, meaningful celebrations, and collaborative “show & tell” lunches). Jennice shares the story of her dad biking across the border to med school—a masterclass in how struggle and joy can coexist—and we talk “mudita” (the joy we feel for someone else’s win), sport-as-reset (soccer/basketball), and how joy fuels collective healing and liberation without ignoring pain. If you’re a people leader, culture-builder, or just a burnt-out human trying to feel human again at work, this one’s for you. 💬 Join the Conversation 📝 Finish this: “Joy at work looks like ______.” Keep it concrete (who, where, when). Bonus points if you share the song you’ll play to kick it off. Drop a voice note if that’s easier → https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur 🤝🏾 Connect with Jennice Chewlin LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennicechewlin  Website → https://www.chewlingroup.com/  Email → [email protected]  📚 Resources & Links Get Your Copy of The Lightmaker’s Manifesto   Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey   📺 Watch & Subscribe on Youtube → Hit subscribe for full video episodes, clips, and live chats. 📬 Click to Join our community + get free stickers ☕️ Click to Support the show on Ko-fi Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected] 

📺 HELP US HIT OUR SUB GOAL BY SUBSCRIBING TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE!  What if you’re not stuck—just scared? In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I sit down with Shauntelle Carnegie—multi-creative, employee experience strategist, and founder of Black Girl Season—to talk about the role of joy when life feels heavy. Shauntelle opens up about navigating grief, breaking out of old narratives, and discovering that sometimes we’re not stuck at all—we’re just afraid to move. Together, we explore how humor, levity, and the small daily practices of care can create space for joy, even in the hardest seasons. We ask: ✨ What if joy isn’t linear—but layered, like survival itself? ✨ How do we find joy without guilt when life feels like too much? ✨ And how can humor become a form of healing? This conversation is tender, real, and a reminder that joy isn’t just a fleeting feeling—it’s a practice that sustains us. 🤝🏾 Connect with Shauntelle Carnegie Connect with Shauntelle on LinkedIn  Looking for a supportive community of Black women? Check out Black Girl Season on LinkedIn  📚 Resources & Links Check out Spill See where your favorite apples rank on Apple Rankings  Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]

📺 HELP US HIT OUR SUB GOAL BY SUBSCRIBING TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE!  What does it mean to find joy in the middle of problems that should never have existed in the first place? In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I sit down with Louis Byrd, Chief Architect of Responsible Innovation at Zanago Design, to talk about how doing the hard, often frustrating work of fixing broken systems can still be a source of joy and purpose. Louis shares how he stays grounded while working on solutions to issues that overwhelm most people, the surprising ways joy shows up in that process, and why influence isn’t always about the loudest voice in the room. We get into: 🌍 Impact without burnout — why joy is a renewable fuel for long-haul work 🧩 The “sphere of influence” mindset — and how to use it when change feels impossible 🤝 The quiet power of presence — influencing others without having to push or persuade Whether you’re a changemaker, a problem-solver, or someone wrestling with the weight of the world’s mess, this conversation is a reminder that joy isn’t a distraction from the work — it’s what keeps us in it. 📺 Watch Previous Episode on Youtube   💬 Join the Conversation How have you found joy in work that feels heavy or frustrating? Drop a comment or send a voice note → Submit your bit of joy ✨ 🤝🏾 Connect with Louis Byrd Connect with Louis on LinkedIn  Responsible innovation & products on Zanago  Homeowner? Stay organized & Financially ready with Kataba  📚 Resources & Links To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other by Viet Thanh Nguyen WATCH: Surviving For Closure: Documentary 📬 Join our community + get free stickers ☕️  Support the show on Ko-fi (one-time donation) Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]    #Podcast #BlackJoy #HighlyVisiblePodcast #Joy #ResponsibleInnovation #Housing #HousingJustice #RealEstateTransparency #DesignThinking #ProblemSolving #EthicalTech #AIEthics #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Community #Creativity #Midwest #Fatherhood #BlackPodcasts #BlackPodcaster #BlackPodcast

What if the thing that’s been missing from your pursuit of joy isn’t more achievement, motivation, or “thinking positive”—but a deeper reconnection to your own body? In this grounded, expansive conversation, Jonathan Dumas sits down with somatic coach Abe Medoff to unpack how embodiment, breath, and emotional range aren’t just self-help buzzwords—they’re the sustainable infrastructure beneath real joy. Abe reframes joy not as a fleeting mood, but as a resource: something that emerges when we give ourselves permission to feel, release, and reclaim the parts of us that were taught to be shut down. Together they explore: 🫁 Somatics 101: What it really means to move out of your head and back into the aliveness of your body. 🌱 Joy as resilience: Why feeling your full emotional spectrum (not just the “positive” stuff) increases capacity, connection, and meaning. 🔄 The shame-to-allyship shift: How to humanize the protective parts of yourself that once kept you safe, without vilifying them—and begin allying with them instead. 🧠 Emotional range as practice: The same muscles that help you process anger, grief, or fear unlock your ability to hold joy. 🤝 Being present for others: What it looks like to show up embodied in someone else’s grief or celebration—how to move from headspace to heartspace. 🌳 Abe’s own revealing moments: From near-miss encounters in the woods that yank him into presence, to how community and deep belonging fuel his current season of embodied joy. This episode is for anyone who’s tired of “hustle happiness,” curious about what it would feel like to really be seen (by themselves and others), or ready to start practicing presence in a way that sticks. 💬 Join the Conversation! What’s one moment today where your body told you something your mind wasn’t? Drop a comment below or send a voice note →https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur 🤝🏾 Connect with Abe Medoff •  On LinkedIn   • Interested in Abe as a somatic coach?  📺 Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod  📬 Join our community + get free stickers https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f ☕️ Support the show on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]    #Podcast #BlackJoy #HighlyVisiblePodcast #Somatics #Joy #Embodiment #EmotionalIntelligence #Breathwork #MentalHealth #Healing #SustainableJoy #Trauma-informed #BlackMen&Emotion #Community #Connection #JonathanDumas #AbeMedoff #Presence #PersonalGrowth #Self-Awareness

What if joy wasn’t a bonus after surviving the grind—but the intentional practice that sustains the work, heals the wounds, and builds community? In this stripped-down minisode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas shares powerful highlight moments from two women doing the internal and external work—Melany Del Carpio and Kenisha Coon. They unpack how ritual, self-expression, boundary-setting, and radical commitment to joy become both armor and repair in lives filled with equity work, identity navigation, and creative evolution. What You’ll Hear: Melany’s morning and evening rituals that center her—ceremonial matcha, “rest is resistance” card pulls, and the symbolic cleansing to offload energy from work. How self-expression (clothes, tattoos, intention) becomes a practice of alignment, intuition, and reclaiming presence. Kenisha’s framing of joy as survival, transformation, and sustainable fuel for justice and equity work. The difference between community that drains vs. community that holds you accountable and amplifies belonging. Practical boundary language and the real mechanics of choosing joy while showing up in heavy systems. The connective thread between identity, purpose, and choosing yourself in seasons of uncertainty. Guests: Melany Del Carpio – Coach-in-training, creative self-expression advocate, and ritual practitioner. LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanydelcarpio/  Kenisha Coon – Equity strategist, author, consultant, and joy-as-repair practitioner. Instagram →  @kenishacoon (https://www.instagram.com/kcoon9288/?hl=en) Website → https://www.kenishacoon.com/ Kenisha Coon’s Memoir, And Then She Persisted → https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9798888385968  💬 Join the Conversation! What small intentional ritual keeps you grounded? Drop a comment or send a voice note → https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur   📬 Join our community + get free stickers https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f   ☕️ Support the show on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Catch us on Youtube 📺: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod     Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]    #Podcast #BlackJoy #HighlyVisiblePodcast #OnJoy #RestCulture #WorkingMoms #MentalHealth #BlackPodcastCommunity #Joy&Career #BlackCreators #JoyRituals #RestIsResistance #Self-Expression #EquityWork #CommunityBuilding #RadicalJoy #MentalHealth #IntentionalLiving #IdentityReclamation #PersonalBranding #AuthenticLeadership #BoundarySetting #PodcastHighlights #Anti-Racism #JoyAsResistance #BurnoutRecovery

What if the biggest risk in your career isn’t walking away, but staying in a job that drains your soul? In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas sits down with Tiffany LeNoir—former tech‑sales leader, mom, and children’s‑book author—to explore why she left a six‑figure role without a backup plan, how she navigated the guilt and fear that followed, and why choosing rest can be your most radical act of self‑care. Tiffany and Jonathan dive deep on: Undoing the Hustle: Code‑switching, performance pressure, and the moment she realized her worth wasn’t tied to a quota. Quit with a Strategy: What it really takes—financially and emotionally—to leave a stable job without knowing what comes next. Motherhood & Meaning: The unexpected joy of watching her toddler share her own book at daycare, and why family can’t be replaced. Reclaiming Your Voice: From “pod voice” to authentic speech, how Tiffany un‑learned corporate patterns to show up fully herself. Rest as Resistance: Why resting now—before burnout breaks you—is the bravest, most transformative choice you can make. Whether you’re a Black woman in tech, a working parent, or anyone wrestling with a career impasse, this conversation will remind you that joy isn’t a prize for later—it’s your birthright today. 💬 Join the Conversation! Have you ever faced that crossroads—“stay the course” or “bet on myself”? What fears held you back? What unexpected freedom came when you finally said, “I deserve rest, I deserve joy, I deserve me”? Drop a comment below or send a voice note → https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur 🤝🏾 Connect with Tiffany LeNoir • LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanylenoir/ • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tharrisonlenoir/   📚 Resources & Links • Get a copy of Mama Made Time  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey 📬 Join our community + get free stickers https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f ☕️ Support the show on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]    #Podcast, #BlackJoy, #HighlyVisiblePodcast, #OnJoy, #Burnout, #RestCulture, #CareerJoy, #TechIndustry, #BlackWomenInTech, #BlackWomeninSales, #WorkingMoms, #CareerPivot, #MentalHealth, #BlackPodcastCommunity, #QuitWithoutBackupPlan,#Joy&Career, #BlackCreators, #CorporateBurnoutRecovery

How do you keep choosing joy when your heart keeps breaking? In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I sit down with Mimi Gonzalez—host of griefsense, Gen-Z storyteller, and grief worker—to explore how we carry loss, build legacy, and still find our way back to joy. Mimi shares what it’s like to live with 36 funerals by age 29—and how grief reshaped her relationship with creativity, community, and rest. We talk about the weight of cumulative trauma, the loneliness of being a highly visible griever online, and the radical act of turning grief into art. We also unpack: The moment she walked away from a C-suite job to protect her nervous system Why cooking and creating can feel like “cocoa butter for the soul” The pressure of “healing for content” in a social media world What it means to build legacy instead of chasing a brand How joy still finds its way through the cracks—even if it takes time This isn’t a conversation about “getting over it.” It’s about being with it. And letting your life expand to hold both grief and joy at once.   📤How has grief reshaped your relationship with joy? Send a voice note or message: https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur   🤝🏾 Connect with Mimi Gonzalez LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimigonzalez TikTok & YouTube → @griefsense Newsletter “The Sala” (grief + creativity) → https://griefsense.com Grief-Sense podcast → https://linktr.ee/griefsense 📚 Resources & Links HINDZSIGHT on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@Hindzsight “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers (book)  🔔 Stay Connected & Support the Show Subscribe & Share to keep these conversations alive Join our email list + get free stickers: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod All links: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]  #Podcast #BlackJoy #HighlyVisiblePodcast #OnJoy #GriefAndJoy #MentalHealth #BlackJoy #GenZCreators #griefsense #LegacyNotBrand #Creativity #PodcastInterview #CreativeProcess #MentalHealth #JoyAsResistance #BlackPodcasts #BlackPodcaster #BlackPodcastCommunity

What does it really take to push through fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome—and still choose joy? In this episode, I’m joined by DJ, professor, and bestselling author Amani Roberts for a grounded, honest conversation about the creative process, the emotional power of music, and the kind of joy that only shows up after you’ve risked something real. We talk about: How nostalgia and music help us reconnect with ourselves The disappearance of R&B groups and what it says about culture and community Amani’s COPPERS framework for moving through fear, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and worry Why joy often arrives after the mess, the risk, and the discomfort If you’ve ever been stuck in your head, second-guessed your next move, or wondered if the thing you’re building is even worth it—this episode is for you.   🗣️ Share with us: What’s one song that brings you back to joy? Drop it here: https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur   🤝🏾Connect with Amani Website: https://www.amaniexperience.com Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxkCZxjdP3E8pe2cA6S4m2g  Instagram: @amaniexperience   📚Resources Mentioned The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups (book)   DJ's Mean Business: One Night Behind the Turntables Can Spin Your Company's Success (book):    🔔 Stay Connected & Support the Show Subscribe & Share to keep these conversations alive Join our email list + get free stickers: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod All links: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]    #Podcast #BlackJoy #HighlyVisiblePodcast #Creativity #MusicHealing #R&B #PodcastInterview #CreativeProcess #MentalHealth #FearAndJoy #JoyAsResistance #BlackPodcasts #BlackPodcaster #BlackPodcastCommunity

Annual tradition, honest conversation. Each July 4th I return to Frederick Douglass’ 1852 address to check the pulse of American freedom. In this replay runback I share a partial reading of the speech’s most searing passages—followed by my own reflections  📤When have you felt both pride and discomfort on the 4th? Share your story via voice note, DM, or tag @HighlyVisiblePod—I may feature your perspective in next year’s runback: https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur    📚Resources Mentioned A Nation’s Story: “What, to the Slave, is the 4th of July?” - National Museum of African American History & Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/nations-story-what-slave-fourth-july ‘What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?”: Descendants Read Frederick Douglass’ Speech | NPR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBe5qbnkqoM&t=37s   🔔 Stay Connected & Support the Show Subscribe & Share to keep these conversations alive Join our email list + get free stickers: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod All links: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]  #HighlyVisiblePodcast #PodcastCommunity #PodcastCommunity #RestIsResistance #FrederickDouglass #FourthOfJuly #BlackHistory #HighlyVisiblePodcast

What happens when joy feels like a luxury you didn’t earn? In this powerful conversation with life coach and facilitator Ashmi Patel, we explore the quiet ache of perfectionism, inherited guilt, and the radical practice of feeling good—on purpose. Ashmi shares how growing up as the daughter of immigrants shaped her relationship to joy, rest, and self-worth. From late-diagnosed ADHD to healing through creativity and coaching, she invites us to rethink the stories we’ve been told about what we deserve. If you’ve ever felt guilty for slowing down, choosing yourself, or daring to enjoy your life—this one’s for you. 🌀 Topics we explore: How perfectionism and people-pleasing block joy Guilt around rest and success (especially for children of immigrants) The emotional weight of “earning” your joy Creative healing and honoring your needs What joy looks like outside of achievement 📤 Have you ever felt like you had to earn your joy—or that it came at a cost? Maybe you felt guilty for feeling good while others were struggling, or found it hard to celebrate something that came easily. Where do you think that feeling came from?: https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur    🤝🏾 Connect with Ashmi Email: [email protected]  Website: https://ashmipatel.com/  All Feelings Welcome (Substack): https://ashmipatelcoaching.substack.com/subscribe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashmi-patel/     📚 Resources Mentioned Rick Rubin – The Creative Act (book)  https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9780593652886  Ross Gay – Inciting Joy (book)  https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9781643753959  Ross Gay – The Book of (More) Delights  https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9781643756356  🔔  Stay Connected & Support the Show Subscribe & Share to keep these conversations alive Join our email list + get free stickers: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod All links: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]  #HighlyVisiblePodcast #OnJoy #JoyWithoutGuilt #CreativeHealing #PodcastCommunity #OnJoy #JoyWithoutGuilt #PerfectionismRecovery #CreativeHealing #PodcastCommunity #ChildrenOfImmigrants #ADHDWomen #PeoplePleasingRecovery #RestIsResistance

What if fitness wasn’t about chasing numbers—but about reclaiming joy in your body? In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I’m joined by Brandon Howard, a personal trainer, health coach, and founder of Howard Power Fitness. Together, we explore what it means to feel at home in your body—regardless of weight, appearance, or arbitrary milestones. Brandon shares how years in the fitness industry taught him that most people don’t just want muscle—they want to feel better, move easier, and live with more freedom. We talk about vanity goals, body image, performance culture, and how self-awareness and grace can transform how we approach movement and strength. This episode is an invitation—to slow down, listen inward, and return to joy… on your terms.   💬 Join the Conversation! When do you feel most at home in your body? Tell us about a moment of body joy—no numbers, no pressure. Just you, being fully you.  📩 Submit here: https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur   🤝🏾 Connect with Brandon Howard: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: Howard Power Fitness 📚Resources from Convo Dr.K with @HealthyGamerGG > https://www.healthygamer.gg/  It’s Been a Minute with Brittany Luse > https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ne24yyz4jstbSYRUM2Qlw?si=155af6ac5aeb48d5  🔔 Stay Connected & Support the Show Join our email list + get free stickers: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @HighlyVisiblePod All links: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod 🎛️ Production Credits Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas Co-Produced & Additional Editing: Reggie Hall Contact: [email protected]  #HighlyVisiblePodcast #OnJoy #BodyJoy #FitnessJourney #BlackJoy #HowardPowerFitness #PodcastCommunity

What if joy isn’t something we chase, but something we return to? In this season's opening episode of our new theme, On Joy, I reflect on what it means to slow down, pay attention, and remember joy—not the loud or curated kind, but the quiet, complex, deeply human kind. Through personal reflection, spiritual tension, generational memory, and a whole lot of pondering, this video essay sets the tone for a season-long exploration of joy in all its forms—emotional, embodied, resistant, communal, and mundane. This isn’t a guide. It’s an invitation. To listen. To breathe. To feel. Joy is still possible. And you’re still here. ✨ Submit your story of joy for a chance to be featured in this season: https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur   🎧 Subscribe & Share the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod ☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod 📩 Join the email list for updates + free stickers: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f 📺 Subscribe to us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod 📱 Follow us: Instagram + TikTok → @HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ All Platforms: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   🎛️ Production Team Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall 📬 Email: [email protected]

What’s good y’all! It’s your boy, Jonathan Dumas. I’m dropping in with a quick check-in for my Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood fam. We’ve been cooking behind the scenes, and I’m excited to announce that WE COMIN BACK! New Seaon, On Joy, is dropping next month! This new season is all about exploring the real, messy, sacred places where joy shows up—in our minds, our bodies, our communities, and even in the mundane moments of everyday life. In this short solo episode, I’m sharing: – Why it’s been quiet on the audio side (but not on YouTube 👀) – What’s coming in Season 3 – How you can be part of the new season by sharing your stories of joy ✨ We’re inviting you to share what’s bringing you joy! ✨ Whether it’s a voice memo, a journal reflection, a favorite quote, a sketch, or a sound that feels joyful—send it our way. You might just hear yourself on a future episode! 📣 Submit your joy story here → https://form.smartsuite.com/sszxz4mn/sxwLOAg7ur  📺 P.S. We’re also on YouTube! Tap in, subscribe, like, comment—it helps us keep these conversations flowing. Catch up on our vault episodes here → https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod  #HighlyVisiblePodcast #OnJoy #JoySeason #PodcastUpdate #StorytellingPodcast #BlackPodcasters #JoyfulLiving #EverydayJoy #PodcastCommunity #HighlyVisibleAndALittleMisunderstood

Authenticity isn’t about oversharing or performing—it’s about practicing your values daily. And in this episode, we’re getting real about what it means to truly show up, reject the performance trap, and redefine success on our own terms. I’m joined by Alawna Ozoka—certified life & leadership coach, bestselling author of Awareness Put Me On, and all-around truth teller. We dive into: ✅ Finding contentment in a chaotic world 🌍 ✅ Why rest is resistance—especially in a world that glorifies hustle ✅ The tension between performance culture and authenticity ✅ How to practice self-compassion & give yourself permission to be YOU ✅ The power of community, boundaries, and protecting your peace We’re keeping it real, unfiltered, and unapologetically human in this one. If you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing, perfectionism, or feeling stuck in a version of yourself that no longer fits, this conversation is for you. 💬 Join the Conversation! 🔥 What’s one way you’re practicing authenticity today? Drop a comment below or leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify—we’d love to hear from you! 📌 Connect with Alawna Ozoka: Website: AlawnaOzoka.com  IG & LinkedIn: @AlawnaOzoka   📚 Buy Alawna's Book, "Awareness Put Me on": https://www.awarenessputmeon.com/   🎧 Listen, Subscribe & Share! If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to like, comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. And as always, keep showing up as YOU. 🙌🏾✨ 🚨 Join Our Community: Don’t forget to subscribe and sign up for our email list in the YouTube description. Be part of the conversation and get exclusive content, updates, and free stickers to rep the pod!Join our email list: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f    📺 Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod    Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]   #Authenticity #PerformingAuthenticity #Podcast #SelfAwareness #Healing #BlackJoy #RestIsResistance #Coaching #RealTalk #HighlyVisiblePodcast

How do you choose yourself in a world that asks you to sacrifice your essence? In this soulful and empowering episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan sits down with Candice, a Dream Doula, to explore what it means to embrace your authenticity, navigate societal pressures, and birth your dreams into reality. From the challenges of being a multi-passionate creator to redefining time and success, this conversation dives deep into the art of self-alignment. Candice shares her journey from an identity crisis to coining the transformative title of Dream Doula, helping others nurture their passions without abandoning their essence. Together, they tackle dream blocks, discuss the revolutionary act of choosing joy, and unpack how Afro-futurism reframes time and creativity. Plus, practical advice on managing competing visions and staying rooted in your soul’s calling. 🎧 Tune in for inspiration, tools, and gems to help you step boldly into the life you deserve. 🚨 Join Our Community: Don’t forget to subscribe and sign up for our email list in the YouTube description. Be part of the conversation and get exclusive content, updates, and free stickers to rep the pod!Join our email list: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f  Whether you’ve ever questioned if you’re truly being yourself, or are curious about the messiness of authenticity, this episode is the perfect place to start. Connect with Candace: Website: https://www.candacethedreamdoula.com/daily-cup-of-joy  Download Joy Hub App on Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-joy-hub/id6737627917  Download Joy Hub App on Google Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.createcommunity.joyhub&pli=1    📺 Watchon Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod  Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]   #Podcast #HighlyVisiblePodcast #Authenticity #PerformingAuthenticity

In this heartfelt episode of Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas welcomes author and creative Jocelyn Chung to discuss her newly released children's book, When Love Is More Than Words. Together, they journey through themes of storytelling, generational love, and finding authentic voices amid personal growth. Jocelyn shares the origins of her book, revealing how it began as a deeply personal poem and evolved into a testament of family care and unspoken love. The conversation flows from light-hearted memories of family and cultural idiosyncrasies to profound reflections on reclaiming one’s voice and navigating past versions of oneself with empathy. Jonathan and Jocelyn delve into their shared experiences of growth, identity, and the complex process of revisiting past work with grace. Join them for an enriching dialogue that inspires creatives, writers, and anyone seeking to embrace the raw, unpolished beauty of their journey. Plus, get a glimpse into how intergenerational relationships shape who we are and how we love. Listen in and reconnect with the power of storytelling, community, and self-compassion. ✨ Head to https://www.magicmind.com/highly and use code HIGHLY20 that gets you 48% off your 1st subscription or 20% off one time purchases 🧠 ✨ 🚨 Join Our Community: Don’t forget to subscribe and sign up for our email list in the YouTube description. Be part of the conversation and get exclusive content, updates, and free stickers to rep the pod!Join our email list: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f  Whether you’ve ever questioned if you’re truly being yourself, or are curious about the messiness of authenticity, this episode is the perfect place to start. Connect with Jocelyn: Buy her book, When Love is More Than Words: https://bookshop.org/a/79820/9780593533574 Website: https://www.jocelynchung.com/  Instagram: @JocelynSChung - https://www.instagram.com/jocelynschung/    📺 Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod    Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Video Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]   #Authenticity #Podcast #HighlyVisiblePodcast #PerformingAuthenticity #AuthenticityJourney #BeYourself #RealTalk #DeepDive #TrueSelf #AuthenticLiving #PodcastCommunity #StorytellingPodcast

In this soul-nourishing episode of Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood, host Jonathan Dumas welcomes back Aizaiah Yong, a practical theologian, educator, and writer known for his profound insights on leadership and community. As they dive deep into the essence of authenticity, they explore its many layers—from personal journeys marked by multicultural heritage to the theological and philosophical dimensions of living a true life. Aizaiah opens up about his family roots, being raised in an immigrant household, and how this has shaped his vision of unity and compassion. Together, they discuss the struggle to stay grounded amidst societal noise and how authenticity is more than just an individual pursuit; it’s a communal practice of supporting each other's growth and wholeness. They also touch on the importance of finding or creating spaces where one can be fully seen and nurtured, even in the face of societal and religious challenges. Aizaiah shares wisdom from his work, upcoming books, and the role of spirituality as a means of reconnecting with oneself. Jonathan reflects on the importance of recognizing when your environment no longer serves your growth and shares personal stories of transformation. This episode will leave you with practical insights, a renewed sense of hope, and the courage to embrace your unique journey. Be prepared to pause, reflect, and, most importantly, breathe. ✨ Head to https://www.magicmind.com/highly and use code HIGHLY20 that gets you 48% off your 1st subscription or 20% off one time purchases 🧠 ✨ 🚨 Join Our Community: Don’t forget to subscribe and sign up for our email list in the YouTube description. Be part of the conversation and get exclusive content, updates, and free stickers to rep the pod! Join our email list: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f  Whether you’ve ever questioned if you’re truly being yourself, or are curious about the messiness of authenticity, this episode is the perfect place to start. Connect with Rev. Dr. Aizaiah Yong: Website: Spiritedrenewal.org Books:  Purchase Multiracial Cosmotheandrism: A Practical Theology of Multiracial Experiences Preorder Trauma & Renewal:Toward Spiritual, Communal, and Holistic Transformation  Preorder Sacred Parenthood: Spiritual Practices for the Highs and Lows of Parenting    📺 Watchon Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod    Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]   #Authenticity #Podcast #HighlyVisiblePodcast #PerformingAuthenticity #AuthenticityJourney #BeYourself #RealTalk #DeepDive #TrueSelf #AuthenticLiving #PodcastCommunity #StorytellingPodcast

In this engaging podcast episode, host Jonathan Dumas is joined by his long-time friend and political science enthusiast, Gustavo, to dissect the critical stakes of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The episode dives into debates about the economy, immigration, democracy, and more, contrasting the platforms of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The conversation highlights the importance of political participation, the impact of policy differences, and the potential consequences of either candidate's victory. Gustavo also shares his personal journey as a first-generation immigrant and lawyer, enriching the political discussion with unique perspectives. The episode is packed with in-depth analysis, heated debates, and practical insights for voters. ✨ Head to https://www.magicmind.com/highly and use code HIGHLY20 that gets you 48% off your 1st subscription or 20% off one time purchases 🧠 ✨ 🚨 Join Our Community: Don’t forget to subscribe and sign up for our email list in the YouTube description. Be part of the conversation and get exclusive content, updates, and free stickers to rep the pod! Connect with Gustavo: Need a lawyer? Email Gustavo for support. Gustavo Boldrini on Linkedin  Thanks for watching Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood! Your support keeps us going and growing. 👍🏾 Enjoyed the Episode? Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and insightful discussions! Hit the notification bell 🔔 to stay updated on our latest episodes. #PresidentialElection2024 #Podcast #HighlyVisiblePodcast #Immigration #KamalaHarris #HarrisforPresident #RealTalk #DeepDive #Democracy #PodcastCommunity #Economy #Politics Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]   *All credit for me and Gustavo becoming best friends goes to Lindsay B

📧 Want a FREE sticker? Join our email list After a long break, Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood is back with a brand-new series, Performing Authenticity. In this first episode, host Jonathan Dumas sits down with authenticity coach Betty Chan to dive into a deep and hilarious conversation about what it truly means to be “authentic” in a world full of pressure to conform. Is it possible to be our real selves, or are we always “performing”? 🤔 Jonathan and Betty don’t hold back as they share personal stories, reflect on the messiness of self-discovery, and explore the challenges of being “real” in professional spaces and everyday life. From code-switching to the impact of reclaiming identity, this episode has all the gems. 💎 In this fun yet reflective conversation, Jonathan and Betty explore: How authenticity is not static, but a messy, ongoing journey. The subtle ways we “perform” every day without realizing it. The impact of code-switching and how it shapes our sense of self. Practical ways to reclaim your story and show up more intentionally. 🚨 Join Our Community: Don’t forget to subscribe and sign up for our email list in the YouTube description. Be part of the conversation and get exclusive content, updates, and free stickers to rep the pod! Whether you’ve ever questioned if you’re truly being yourself, or are curious about the messiness of authenticity, this episode is the perfect place to start. Connect with Betty: Website: https://www.heybettychan.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettychan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachbettychan  📺 Subscribe to Youtube Thanks for listening Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood! Your support keeps us going and growing. 👍🏾 Enjoyed the Episode? Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories and insightful discussions! Hit the notification bell 🔔 to stay updated on our latest episodes. #Authenticity #Podcast #HighlyVisiblePodcast #PerformingAuthenticity #AuthenticityJourney #BeYourself #RealTalk #DeepDive #TrueSelf #AuthenticLiving #PodcastCommunity #StorytellingPodcast Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

On this special, unscripted episode of Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas reflects on the sobering aftermath of the election, expressing raw emotions and exploring the reality of communal responsibility, identity, and hope in challenging times. With guest Isaiah Young, a practical theologian, they delve into the meaning of community, the impact of institutions, and how we remain true to ourselves amid societal upheaval. Jonathan’s heartfelt words remind us of the importance of standing together, feeling all the emotions, and the necessity of rest, strategy, and resilience. This episode invites listeners into a space of honest reckoning and collective reflection. Tune in for a conversation that both challenges and uplifts.   Ways to support the show: 👉🏾 Buy me Ko-fi ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/highlyvisiblepod   Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: HighlyVisiblePod 🎥 TikTok: HighlyVisiblePod 🎙️ Podcast: https://linktr.ee/highlyvisiblepod   Production: Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Co-produced & Additional Editing by: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected] #PresidentialElection2024 #Podcast #HighlyVisiblePodcast #Immigration #KamalaHarris #HarrisforPresident #RealTalk #DeepDive #Democracy #PodcastCommunity #Economy #Politics

Your boy Jonathan is back and giving us all the updates! After a brief hiatus (we know y’all missed him), Jonathan is dropping some big news – he’s making the jump back to corporate America! 🎉 Tune in to hear all about his job search journey, the highs, the lows, and why he’s ready for a new challenge after years as a solopreneur. But that’s not all! Jonathan is spilling the tea on the latest happenings with the show, including the launch of the podcast on YouTube 📺. Subscribe to the channel and help him hit affiliate status by the end of the year! Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HighlyVisiblePod   Plus, don’t miss out on exclusive behind-the-scenes content and some of the funniest moments from Jonathan on TikTok and Instagram. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highlyvisiblepod IG: https://www.instagram.com/highlyvisiblepod/   And here’s a little teaser: on October 24th, we’re diving deep into the buzzword of the decade—authenticity. Are we truly being ourselves, or just putting on a show for the 'gram? 🤔 We’ve got some incredible guests lined up to share their stories, and yes, there will be some oversharing moments you won’t want to miss. Sign up for the newsletter to get some dope stickers and stay in the loop on all things Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood. Sign up for the email list: https://highlyvisiblepod.ck.page/684e1e911f   Tune in, stay real, and as always, thanks for the support, fam! 🙌

Jonathan and guest, Betty Chan, an authenticity coach, discuss various topics including their experiences as entrepreneurs, issues of burnout, and the importance of taking regular rest. Betty shares her belief in 'gentle leadership' and the value of allowing oneself the freedom to simply exist, such as her concept of 'potato days' - where one intentionally does nothing to reset and recharge. The conversation also delves into understanding the importance of acknowledging and giving voice to inner judgments and learning how to navigate self-doubts. Betty emphasizes her goal to develop an authenticity-based coaching system that helps individuals navigate their unique career paths and manage personal expectations while maintaining balance. The conversation is deep, philosophical yet profoundly practical as they explore authenticity, the meaning of work, self-care practices, and the struggles of entrepreneurship. Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   Connect with Betty: Website: https://www.heybettychan.com/ Connect with Betty on LinkedIn  Connect with Betty on IG   Support the show:   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Jonathan engages in a deep and emotional conversation with Brieanna Lightfoot Smith, the founder of Brands by Brie. Throughout their conversation, Brianna pulls from her personal experiences, including navigating miscarriages while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the role of faith in her life and business. She seeks to encourage listeners that their current struggles are not the end, and that they should embrace patience and purpose on their journey. She stresses the importance of authenticity and vulnerability and discusses the critical role of community and mentorship in entrepreneurship. She emphasizes balancing work and personal life, debunking the notion of the 'solopreneur' and reframing business as a space for collaboration and mutual support.   Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   Connect with Brieanna: Website: www.brandsbybrie.com @blightfootsmith on Instagram @blightfootsmith on Youtube Brieanna Lightfoot Smith on LinkedIn   Support the show:   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]  

Jonathan continues the series 'Entrepreneuring While B(IPOC)lack'. He engages in a vibrant discussion with Jerry Fu, a career coach for Asian men and leaders. The conversation touches on various themes including coping with job insecurities, pivoting career paths, establishing a coaching business, the challenge of managing a full-time job alongside a side hustle, the importance of integrity and honesty in relationships and business, and the essence of balancing personal life with entrepreneurial aspirations. Jerry Fu also delves into the concepts of visibility, vocalization, and value within his coaching framework. A must-listen episode for individuals aiming to gain insightful perspectives on navigating career and life challenges.   Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   Connect with Jerry: Website: www.adaptingleaders.com  Jerry Fu on LinkedIn   Support the show:   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Jonathan connects with the creative force that is Crystal Pope, a stylist, strategist, and personal vibe catcher who infuses the worlds of fashion, social media, and wellness to create a unique brand. From enlightening discussions on the realities of being an entrepreneur of color, the significance of values in their work, to how their identity plays a role in entrepreneurship - you're in for an hour packed with candid conversations on what it means to chase your own vision while navigating the complex world of business ownership.   Resources for the Show Connect with Crystal: Website: http://crystaltoogeekd.com  Instagram: @crystaltoogeekd X (Twitter): @crystaltoogeekd   Ways to support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

Dive into an insightful conversation about racial identity, bridging the opportunity gap, entrepreneurship among BIPOC, and the issues and initiatives concerning foster care alumni and transracial adoptees. Listen to our host, Jonathan Dumas share personal experiences and learn about Grace Yung Foster's groundbreaking project, the Inclusion Initiative. This podcast episode deeply explores the nuances of living between cultures, struggling for equity, and the importance of lived experiences in shaping one's path.   Resources for the Show Connect with Grace: Website: https://theinclusioninitiative.com/  LinkedIn: Grace Yung Foster   Ways to support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Sources for Highly Visible Story of the Week: AP - Detroit on track to record fewest homicides since 1966, officials say Detroit (WXYZ) - City of Detroit on track to see fewest number of homicides in nearly 60 years The Detroit News - Detroit on pace for fewest homicides since 1966; officials credit this program 6 Community Partners selected for neighborhood Community Violence Initiative contracts Community Orgs: Detroit Peoples Community Detroit 300 New Era Community Connection Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, Denby Neighborhood Alliance, and Camp Restore Detroit Friends and Family FORCE Detroit The Cave of Adullam Transformation Academy (CATTA)   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

Join host Jonathan Dumas in intriguing discussions with Olanike A. Mensah, founder of Mosaic Consulting. They share experiences of being Black entrepreneurs, emphasizing the value of their identities in shaping their businesses and fostering inclusivity in workplaces. Olanike reveals her expertise in advising equity strategies, providing services like audits and coaching tailored to clients' needs. She also looks forward to launching a program for equity leaders in organizations, aiming to instill more fairness in enterprises. Find her on LinkedIn and Instagram under #mosaic4equity, or visit https://www.mosaic4equity.com/  for more details. Resources for the Show Voting Rights Act An appeals court has struck down a key path for enforcing the Voting Rights Act by Hansi Lo Wang, NPR Appeals court says private citizens, civil rights groups can’t sue under Voting Rights Act by Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill   Connect with Olanike on socials: Website: https://www.mosaic4equity.com/  IG: @mosaic_4equity LinkedIn: Olanike Mensah   Support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

In this episode, host Jonathan Dumas engages in a stimulating conversation with fellow career coach and business owner, Ashmi Patel. They share their experiences with ADHD, higher education, and the radical shift to entrepreneurship. Ashmi highlights the importance of self-compassion, reframing failure, and resisting capitalist pressures. She offers insights into her coaching philosophy and how she utilizes creativity to promote personal growth. They both reflect on how aligning their careers with their values enhances their sense of fulfillment, and the importance of showing up authentically.   Resources for the Show Humanitarian Crisis in Congo The Ghost in your Phone - Throughline Podcast Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara White Malice by Susan Williams The Congo from Leopold to Kabila by Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo de Witte The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination by Stuart A. Reid King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild Free Palestine & Cease Fire Resources Stay up to date with Bisan on TikTok Palestine Resources & Info guide created by @hina 5 Calls App to call your reps Social Change Map by Deepa Iyer Connect with Ashmi on socials: Website: AshmiPatel.com  IG: @AshmiPatelCoaching LinkedIn: Ashmi Patel Schedule a chat with Ashmi   Ways to support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

In this engaging conversation, Alyson Kaneshiro, shares her journey in becoming an entrepreneur, driven by her passion for education and a dissatisfaction with traditional systems. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing individual learning differences and implementing a tailored approach to education. Alyson champions the use of universal design within an equity lens in education. Shedding light on her own journey of understanding her identity, she emphasizes the necessity for inclusivity, cultural understanding, and critical thinking in classrooms. While highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces and building solidarity across differences.   Resources for the Show Humanitarian Crisis in Congo The Ghost in your Phone - Throughline Podcast Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara White Malice by Susan Williams The Congo from Leopold to Kabila by Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo de Witte The Lumumba Plot: The Secret History of the CIA and a Cold War Assassination by Stuart A. Reid King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild Connect with Alyson on socials: Website: learningspecialist.net LinkedIn: Alyson Kaneshiro Schedule a chat with Alyson   Try Magic Mind ✨ Head to Magicmind.com/visible and use code VISIBLE20 to get your pack of Magic Mind 🧠 ✨   Ways to support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Theon Freeman, a dynamic entrepreneur with various roles such as an event producer, strategist, wedding officiant, and a deacon, speaks about his experience in venturing into entrepreneurship. With diverse experiences from tech startups to community work at the Center for Social Innovation, Theon shares his journey through highs and lows, and the importance of community, culture, and connection in shaping his path. He discusses the significance of leaning into discomfort, embracing authenticity, and acknowledging the value of 'dark' or difficult moments. He also emphasizes pursuing a life of joy and shares his future aspiration to create healing-centered events. Resources for the show: Stay up to date with Bisan on TikTok Palestine Resources & Info guide created by @hina 5 Calls App to call your reps   Catch up with Theon on socials: IG: @TheoniusFree Officiant IG: @MarriedByThee LinkedIn: Theon Freeman   Try Magic Mind ✨ Head to Magicmind.com/visible and use code VISIBLE20 to get your pack of Magic Mind 🧠 ✨   Ways to support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

We back! New theme exploring entrepreneurship through the lens of BIPOC folks from all walks of life. The High Visible story of the week touches on recent political events regarding Israel and Palestine, providing some key definitions and underscoring his call for accountability. Then, Jonathan kicks the new theme off by exploring the his own challenges and joys of being an entrepreneur. With a background of his own experiences, Dumas criticizes celebrity entrepreneur culture and highlights the stress entrepreneurship places on relationships and personal well-being. Despite this, he embraces the satisfaction and empowerment that the entrepreneurial journey brings. He stresses the importance of community, authenticity, and equity in his business endeavors. In his journey, Dumas traces his own personal growth, grappling with insecurities, and newfound strengths. Resources for the show: Stay up to date with Bisan on TikTok Palestine Resources & Info guide created by @hina   Try out Magic Mind ✨ Head to Magicmind.com/visible and use code VISIBLE20 to get your pack of Magic Mind 🧠 ✨   Ways to support the show:   👉🏾  Join our email list for FREE stickers 📧   👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community   👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Email: [email protected]

🎙️ Join us on this special episode as we delve into a timeless piece of American history, Frederick Douglass's powerful speech, "What, to the slave, is the 4th of July?" 🗣️ In this thought-provoking episode, I'll read the eloquent words of Frederick Douglass as he passionately challenges the celebration of Independence Day during a time of slavery and sit with the unsurprising fact that his words still resonate today. Don't miss out on this enlightening podcast - hit that play button and join the conversation! 🎧   Join our email list for a FREE gift 🎁   Stay in Touch with us on IG @highlyvisblepod Ways to support the show:    👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community    👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Music: Chris Carr (@prodchriscarr) Show art: Tyler Barnett (@tylermisha) Email: [email protected]

Join me in an empowering conversation with Austin Walker, a remarkable guest who shares his personal journey of redefining black masculinity and its relationship with wellness. Gain inspiration to break free from societal expectations and discover your own path. Explore diverse outlets for wellness and expand your reference for personal growth. Challenge norms, embrace empowerment, and redefine what black masculinity means for you. Tune in to unlock the transformative power of ownership and self-expression. Keywords: black masculinity, wellness, personal growth, empowerment, self-expression, black identity, health, redefine, societal expectations, diverse outlets, personal journey, ownership, transformative power.   Catch up with Austin on socials: Website: https://www.austinwalkercoaching.com/  IG: austin.walker.29 LinkedIn: Austin Walker, ACC   Support LGBTQ+ Life:  Click to donate to the Trevor Project Click to donate to the Human Rights Campaign   Donate to my family’s GoFundMe    Stay in Touch with us on IG @highlyvisblepod Ways to support the show:    👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community    👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️   Production & Contact Details: Hosted, Produced & Edited by: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Music: Chris Carr (@prodchriscarr) Show art: Tyler Barnett (@tylermisha) Email: [email protected]

Join me in this empowering episode as we sit down with Elijah Seay to discuss our personal journeys of defying societal stereotypes of black masculinity. In this candid conversation, we explore the freedom and empowerment that comes with embracing our authentic selves and choosing how we present ourselves to the world. Through engaging dialogue and heartfelt discussions, we aim to create a warm and positive energy that leaves listeners feeling seen, heard, and understood. Tune in as we embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, fostering greater self-awareness along the way. Don't miss this enlightening episode that challenges norms and celebrates the diverse expressions of black masculinity.   Catch up with Elijah on socials: IG: eseay3 LinkedIn: Elijah Rogeay Seay Contact Elijah: [email protected]    Donate to my family’s GoFundMe    Stay in Touch with us on IG @highlyvisblepod Ways to support the show:    👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community    👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️    👉🏾  Follow us on IG @highlyvisiblepod   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Music: Chris Carr (@prodchriscarr) Show art: Tyler Barnett (@tylermisha) Email: [email protected]

This week I sit down with, Patrick Sutton, we delve into the layers of masculinity and challenge societal norms as the basis for our understanding of what it means to be a man. We specifically explore black masculinity and how it can often be overshadowed by external expectations. By focusing on the "hows" rather than the "whats", we aim to develop a deeper understanding and mutual respect for a neutral standard of what black masculinity truly looks like. Join us as we navigate this complex topic and strive towards a more inclusive understanding of masculinity. Catch up with Patrick on socials: IG: iampatrickladonis LinkedIn: Patrick Sutton Watch episode 101 of SCALES: The Webseries on Youtube   Please support my family’s GoFundMe   ✨ Head to Magicmind.co/dumas and use code DUMAS20 to get your pack of Magic Mind 🧠 ✨   Stay in Touch with us on IG @highlyvisblepod Ways to support the show:    👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community    👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️    👉🏾  Follow us on IG @highlyvisiblepod   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Music: Chris Carr (@prodchriscarr) Show art: Tyler Barnett (@tylermisha) Email: [email protected]

I sit down with Highly Visible's inaugural intern, Reggie Hall, to talk about his intersectional identities of being a Black masculine man. Reggie shared vulnerably about his growth in understanding gender and why humans can learn a lot from animals when it comes to breaking down stereotypes. We close out our conversation with a story that forever shaped his view of the world and his Black skin. Hint: it involves a gas station, torn meniscus, and a tow truck.   Please support my family’s GoFundMe   ✨ Head to Magicmind.co/dumas and use code DUMAS20 to get your pack of Magic Mind 🧠 ✨   Stay in Touch with us on IG @highlyvisblepod Ways to support the show:    👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community    👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️    👉🏾  Follow us on IG @highlyvisiblepod   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Music: Chris Carr (@prodchriscarr) Show art: Tyler Barnett (@tylermisha) Email: [email protected]

Introduction to our opening theme exploring the nuance and complexity of Black Masculinity. Over the next few weeks, we will be discussing what it means to be masculine; what it means to be Black and masculine; and, how we step into our full humanity and experience the full range of emotions and being.   Hope yall join in on the convo!   Show LInks: Senators supported by NRA and how many gun deaths per state Demand your representative give back or donate NRA contributions Please support my family’s GoFundMe Stay in Touch with us on IG @highlyvisblepod ✨ Head to Magicmind.co/dumas and use code DUMAS20 to get your pack of Magic Mind 🧠 ✨ Ways to support the show:    👉🏾  Click to join our Patreon Community    👉🏾  Buy me Ko-fi ☕️    👉🏾  Follow us on IG @highlyvisiblepod   Production & Contact Details: Produced & Edited: Jonathan Dumas (@highlyvisiblepod) Production help: Lindsay Dumas Marketing and Production Intern: Reggie Hall Music: Chris Carr (@prodchriscarr) Show art: Tyler Barnett (@tylermisha) Email: [email protected]