Reclaimed Personas

Join us for an insightful conversation with Vera Ahiyya, a dedicated educator and author with a passion for representation in children's literature. Coming from a lineage of educators, Vera's upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for education. However, she observed a disheartening lack of recognition for Black, female educators and the absence of inclusive children's books that mirrored her experiences. Determined to address this disparity, Vera turned to social media to gather recommendations for books that authentically represented the diverse backgrounds of her students. Today, her social media channels serve as platforms for sharing, discussing, and celebrating inclusive literature, bridging the gap for educators and students seeking representation and cultural understanding. In our discussion, Vera candidly shares moments of feeling invalidated, recounting instances where her ideas were dismissed in the workplace. To reclaim her authenticity, she embraced her playful side by wearing tutus daily, earning her the endearing moniker "The Tutu Teacher." Despite grappling with impostor syndrome, Vera emerged as a sought-after voice on issues of inequality and injustice, propelled by her unwavering belief in doing what is right. Through it all, Vera acknowledges the profound influence of Black women in her life, both within her family and the education community, in shaping her identity and professional journey. Don't miss this episode as we delve into Vera's inspiring story of empowerment and advocacy in education.

Reclaimed Personas welcomes shark scientist, PhD student, and non-profit co-founder, Jaida Elcock. In this episode, we dive into the world of marine science with Jaida, a passionate Ph.D. student breaking barriers and making waves in her field (all puns intended!) From her childhood love of nature nurtured by watching wildlife shows with her family to facing stereotypes and racial taunts in predominantly white spaces, Jaida's journey is one of resilience and determination. Now, as she pursues her PhD, she is not only carving a path for herself but also creating opportunities for others through the innovative nonprofit, Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), which she founded with three other shark scientists. Through her engaging and quirky animal fact videos on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, Jaida has amassed a significant following. Her personal brand is deeply rooted in her identity, driven by a desire to provide representation for young girls of color in the sciences—something she yearned for but did not see growing up. Don't miss this episode as we explore Jaida's journey, from overcoming stereotypes to building a professional social media presence that empowers and uplifts underrepresented voices in marine science.

Reclaimed Personas welcomes educator, writer, activist, and Executive Director of EduColor, José Vilson. In this episode, José discusses how, for almost two decades, he has been expanding his online voice and presence in the education space. He speaks about being an early adopter of new social media platforms in order to help shape the dialogue of those spaces and to carve out room for other educators—especially those of color. José also shares how his personal brand is deeply informed by his identity and life experiences—from his Dominican and Haitian ancestry to his appreciation of Hip Hop as a unique form of knowledge that he leverages from the classroom to education policy spaces. José speaks about his refusal to compromise on his identity or his principles—a commitment that has sometimes led to him ruffling feathers throughout his career. Subscribe on YouTube Follow on Spotify Subscribe on Apple

This is Episode 0 of Reclaimed Personas. Meet Phillipe Charles and learn about the thesis project literature he reviewed that helped him shape his thinking for this podcast series. Phillipe breaks down research about personal branding, the Black professional experience, and online impression management.