The Culture Soup Podcast®️

In this episode, I take time to reflect on 5 lessons I've learned over the past five years of running my professional private coaching practice. We are celebrating NSC Coaching's 5th anniversary all this month, and we are also observing International Coaching Week. Listen for what I learned along this journey so far about perseverance, determination, focus, relationships and other important lessons that you can take away for your journey as well. I also tease a big announcement that's forth coming. It's a special episode, so tune in!

In 2019, I did what many corporate types would call "the unthinkable." I walked away from opportunities at a Fortune 10 after being "surplussed" without a job lined up. Sure, I had opportunities externally. Yes, I had a seedling of a business that I had started, but I wanted to take the time to think through my next step methodically. I had a mission that only a few were aware of, and that drove me to seek out the one thing that I needed to activate it. Could I do it and remain in corporate? I had interested organizations telling me that I could do both-pursue my calling to author books and speak across the country and internationally and work for them. But I knew that would eventually cause friction. I'd lived it already. That one piece was missing that would activate my mission, and a scroll through Instagram and an ad from a longtime sisterfriend and former client would ultimately become the the gateway to my destiny. I let that sisterfriend turn the tables on me this week, and I thought it would be great to finally share my story: how I went from there...to here, five years later with a thriving, global executive and personal coaching and consulting practice, a publishing journey that has been extraordinary and the speaker tour that began in 2015 and has yet to end. What took me from a 25+ year-long career in strategic communication, agency side, agency owner, and client side to here? I pass Valorie Burton, MAPP, MCC the mic on my show, The Culture Soup Podcast ® as she featured me in her global preview call for The Coaching and Positive Psychology (CaPP) Institute. That is where I earned my certification that would tee me up for credentialing at the world's most respected coaching organizations, International Coaching Federation. I began with her Coach Training Intensive (CTI). So it's befitting that I allowed Valorie to throw back the covers on my purpose-driven story. My pen as my sword, my speaking as my munitions, evidence-based coaching, I discovered, would ultimately become my armor. Join me and Val for this inspiring and powerful conversation about what it actually takes to take on coaching as a profession in this special, extended video edition of The Culture Soup Podcast ® brought to you in part by The CaPP Institute. We're continuing to celebrate the five years anniversary of NSC Coaching, and six years for the podcast with this exclusive rebroadcast of "Conversation with a Coach", and it streams everywhere Thursday afternoon.

Where have I been? What have I been up to, you ask? This episode will catch you up, and drop some Nuggets that you probably weren't expecting.

The Culture Soup Podcast LIVE: Yes Please! A C-Suite Chat We're kicking off a series that will take us into fall... The Culture Soup Podcast®️ presents A C-Suite Chat, where we highlight voices from my new book, Yes Please! 7 Ways to Say I'm Entitled to the C-Suite. This episode, we are featuring Kecia Kelly DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, SVP and Chief Nursing Officer at one of the largest healthcare networks in the nation. Dr. Kelly and I discuss

This special episode is dual streamed and sponsored by The Culture Soup Podcast(r) and PR Yourself Podcast with Leah Frazier who is my guest host for today's show. It is a replay of the DFW Book Signing for Yes Please! 7 Ways to Say I'm Entitled to the C-Suite. It was recorded before a live audience. Listen to part one of the Fireside chat between myself and Leah and then tune in to Part 2 on TCSP After The Show, exclusively on Apple Podcasts. It includes more of the conversation, my reading from the book and the Q&A, which took a surprising and delightful turn. TCSP After the Show is available on a subscription basis. Subscribe today! #YesPleaseBook #TCSPAfterTheShow #TheCultureSoupPodcast

Yes Please! Release Day Launch Event Be a part of the crucial conversation as award-winning, best selling 3X author L. Michelle Smith is joined by guest host Condace Pressley, host of Perspectives/WSB-Atlanta for an in depth fireside chat about the new book Yes Please! 7 Ways to Say I'm Entitled to the C-Suite: Secrets Women of Color Need to Know Now to Find their Happy and Win in an Exclusive Corporate Culture. We will also welcome special guest Dr. Jeff Gardere, "America's Psychologist" who penned the foreword for the new release. Yes Please! is a leadership development tool and coaching guide that is grounded in applied positive psychology and neuroscience that supports women of color in finding happiness in the midst of the uniques challenges they face as women of color. #YesPleaseBook #LiveEvent #BookLaunch #WomenLeaders

Ever finally get that sponsor and your high hopes are dashed because they just didn't deliver? My conversation with Dr. Christopher Butts, Learning & Development and DEI expert and a voice in my upcoming book Yes Please! 7 Ways to Say I'm Entitled to the C-Suite...we delve into the idea of sponsors who just aren't cutting the mustard and more reasons why Black women are stalled on their way to the C-Suite in droves. Check out part 2 of my conversation, and be sure to preorder the Kindle version of the book on Amazon leading up to pub day on Jun 15. Also, don't miss next week's episode where special guest host Condace Pressley of WSB-TV in Atlanta turns the mic around on me and special gues Dr. Jeff Gardere, America's Psychologist for a lively conversation about the book! #TheCultureSoupPodcast #YesPleaseBook #WomenLeaders

I grabbed some much needed catch-time with my friend Dr. Christopher Butts, Learning & Development and DEI Expert to talk about themes from my upcoming book, Yes Please! 7 Ways to Say I'm Entitled to the C-Suite. He is one of the expert voices in the book, and we discuss the pitfalls of sponsorship, especially for Black women and other women of color and what allies can do to step up fill these crucial gaps. We get pretty specific too. I hope you're ready.

Everyone is so concerned about getting that elusive sponsor, but what happens after you get one? I talk about it with Dr. Diana B. Allen, women-in-tech empowerment advocate and senior cyber security expert in part 2 of our conversation which began in Ep 177. We get down to business with this conversation, and you won’t want to miss it. It will stream live on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and TheCultureSoup.com Thursday and the audio will stream wherever you get you podcasts. Also, if you are on Apple Podcasts, don’t forget to subscribe to our bonus content called TCSP After the Show & Duets. We’ll be posting another one of our favorite shows to the archive with a guest we all know and love. Subscribe to find out who it is. One hint—-he can find out all about your great granddaddy and where your people originated. It’s a classic. Check it out!

Let's take a look back at my conversation with one f the world's most loved historians, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This takes us back to Episode 51 where we discuss his hit show Finding Your Roots and his journey to the show.

Let's talk CULTURE...and when I say culture--I mean the ARTS! I'm throwing it back to one of my favorite episodes as I wrap up a year-long engagement with one of my favorite clients, Lyric Opera Chicago and round the corner on my last term on the board of Opera America. One of the most acclaimed mezzo sopranos of our time is joining me on The Culture Soup Podcast®, and I’m so proud to call her friend! She debuted at the Metropolitan Opera, She’s sung for multiple Presidents. She is on the faculty at Juilliard. She even sang at the home going of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and she is on a mission to tell the story of Black people in opera. Meet the prolific and lovely Denyce Graves-Montgomery! She is the Founder of the Denyce Graves Foundation of which I am an advisory board member, and she is dedicated to telling the stories of Black people in Opera that you’ve never heard before. Tune in on Thursday to hear our conversation where we talk about the importance of seeing Black people in all aspects of Opera…from the stage to the composers, librettists and directors. We also talk about the importance of telling Black stories and seeing Black artist play characters that aren’t historically cast that way. It’s on this throwback episode of The Culture Soup Podcast®.

You probably saw the huge dustup over the two phenomenal women's NCAA basketball players who engaged in the same kind of trash talking that men do in sports and somehow wound up trending for days. ...and how one player was held to a different standard? Some would argue that even the First Lady stepped it in. Why was all of this even a topic of conversation? I discuss this issue along with other hot topics in personal development, advocacy and cause-driven storytelling with one of my "Day Ones," Lola Vinson, professional women's personal development coach and communications expert. Join us on Thursday for The Culture Soup Podcast, live here on LinkedIn and across all my socials as well as streaming everywhere you get your fine podcasts--ask Spotify, Alexa or Siri to play the show. They've got ya! #womensleadership #personalcoaching #womensissues#TheCultureSoupPodcast

Women+ leaders in tech have access to sponsors, at the same rate as their male counterparts. That isn't the issue. It's that once women have sponsors, what happens next is often very different. There is also some discrepancies in titles between the genders. Both become obstacles for women leaders who are looking to walk in their power in rooms and at tables as they aspire to E- and C-Suite roles. That's a preview of just a couple of the findings in new research from Dr. Diana B. Allen, Empowerment Champion and Senior Cyber Security Expert. She is also yet another of my fantastic ELC Strategic Pathways sisters. Catch part one on of her episode of The Culture Soup Podcast on Thursday! #podcastsofLinkedin #womenintech #womenleaders

In this current touch-and-go environment, both economically and socially, what should leaders consider now? I speak to inclusive leadership & psychological safety expert Sacha Thompson, ACC the founder of The Equity Equation and faculty member of SOAR Women’s Leadership Academy about it. Join us Thursday March 16, streaming everywhere podcasts play, and live at noon across all of my social platforms. And don’t forget to subscribe to the bonus content, TCSP After the Show & DUETS. Sacha and I are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated...and we have a little Soror talk.

Mid- career, mid life...and in the middle. I'm talking about my generation... Gen X. So much attention is paid to the Boomers and the Millennials and now Gen Z...but make no mistake, we are trending upward--that is when we place some intention behind it. Thursday, I'm talking to fellow ELC adjunct faculty member Adrion Porter who is a Gen X expert when it comes to mastering the middle. He is also faculty for SOAR Women's Leadership Academy and kicks off a series where I'm introducing each of my team members to you so that you'll know what to look forward to as you apply and enroll. Have you done that yet? Chop chop! lmichellesmith.com/soar Adrion joins Thursday on The Culture Soup Podcast. PLUS: Subscribe to our bonus content! Brand new episodes of TCSP After the Show & DUETS is avaiable beginning Mar 9.

BONUS CONTENT IS HERE! Beginning this month, you will be able to subscribe to gated content from the show. In fact, the conversations may surprise you. Since most of my shows spur additional conversation about some of the most random things, I intend to share. Introducing TCSP After the Show and DUETS. You may have guessed what both are all about, but you'll need to subscribe and listen to the trailer to hear details. I'll give away this much: during one of them, since many of my guests are musically inclined or music fanatics (after all music is culture and deeply a part of my brand), we will pick and random tune and sing it together. After the Show... well, that's where it gets deep... or totally off the rails. We'll also have special offers on services and products including my books and unfettered access to archived episodes. Curious? There is much more to come... so stick around for more deets!

What if you could predict the success of a company based on stock price and revenue based on the mindsets of their leaders?It's already happening, and there are huge implications for all of us, but especially women and women of color. It's everything you haven't yet learned about fixed and growth mindsets...and put some machine learning with it. Prepare to have your mind blown.

This week's episode is all about the message that keeps on giving. It's the message that organization after organization continues to ask for. It's all about knowing your value and how it's a powerful tool in your life and leadership aspirations. We dive in deep as I broadcast from Washington D.C. at the Executive Leadership Council's Mid-level Management Symposium where I delivered the talk twice--once as a keynote in a standing-room only session of about 200+ professionals and once virtually to hundreds more. Be enriched.

Ever considered how language can be leveraged to dictate the rules of a culture? Tonight's episode of The Culture Soup Podcast® is a Coaching Corner episode, and we discuss exactly how that it happens in world events and the workplace and what that works to the detriment of those who are not centered. We also take a deeper dive into today't #YesPlease Ask Me Anything question: How do you get opportunity to pursue you instead of the other way around. Get your journals ready to explore your actions on both topics, and I will also share some of NSC Coaching news and the latest on my recent and upcoming speaking and book signing experiences. Episode 172 drops later tonight. Ask Siri, Alexa, Google or Spotify to play the latest episode of The Culture Soup Podcast®, so simply look for it on any of the great podcast platforms. Thanks for your patience. We had to navigate some tech issues, but we're here!! #tech #culture #executivecoaching

Today's show begins with a special message from me from the #NABJNAHJ22 Convention as I prepare for my booksigning this afternoon at Caesar's Palace. Then we dive deep on a topic that seems to have some people in their feelings. That topic is the browning of America.Let's face it, some people just despise the thought that our country is changing, but the numbers don't lie, so what does that mean for media and the way people consume it? That is shifting too. But with today's touchy environment, how has it impacted how this message is being received in the corporate realm?I talk to my friend, media and marketing insights expert Adriana Waterston . She discusses how the temperature has shifted even in the corporate towers. While there has absolutely been a desire to do more with their content as it pertains to inclusion, some have resisted what's real—and that's the data.The data doesn't lie.We also learn what these multicultural audiences are saying about the content they are seeing and how it impacts their feelings. It's from some research that you will learn more about in my upcoming book, Yes, Please! 7 Ways to Say I'm Entitled to the C-Suite: Secrets Women of Color Need to Know Now to Find Their Happy and Thrive in an Exclusive Corporate Culture, as we look at the power of positive emotion to impact one's success.