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© 2025 SpeakUP! International Inc.
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SpeakUP! International Inc. is your go-to podcast for inspiring stories, insightful interviews, and educational content that empowers listeners. Join us as we delve into diverse topics with a focus on uplifting black and brown voices, promoting creativity, and fostering personal and professional growth.
164 Episodes
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What if organization wasn’t about spotless rooms, but about a life that works when it counts? We sit with Janet Taylor—organiser, corporate trainer, and host of “Got Clutter? Get Organized”—to unpack how a layoff became a launchpad, why safety and boundaries protect both client and pro, and how one small step can reset a day, a home, and even a career. Janet takes us behind the scenes of corporate webinars, reveals the simple habits that fight burnout, and shares the moment a surprise email l...
A simple swim cap shouldn’t decide who gets into the water. That’s where our guest, inventor and author Tess Padmore, begins—transforming a personal challenge after a brain aneurysm into a patented headwear line designed for textured hair, chemo-sensitive scalps, alopecia, bald heads, and anyone who needs comfort, warmth, and confidence to participate. The story widens fast: disability-informed design choices, university partnerships that replace dollars with resources, and a feedback loop th...
What if the real fix for broken systems isn’t a better press release, but a better way to heal? We sit down with mediator and lawyer Leah Brown—founder and CEO of the Wayfinders Group—to unpack how leaders can move from fire-fighting to genuine repair when conflict, crisis, or scandal hits. Leah’s journey from aspiring violinist to M&A deal-maker to boardroom mediator reveals a throughline: she’s at her best bringing order to chaos and giving people language for what they’re afraid to say...
Ever been praised in public and panicked in private? That tension sits at the heart of our conversation with author, engineer, and international speaker 'Tine Zekis—who boldly reframes “imposter syndrome” as the byproduct of imposter systems. We move from naming the forces that sap confidence to rebuilding a mindset and strategy that raise pay, expand options, and restore a sense of belonging at work. We dig into practical salary negotiation tactics—anchoring to the upper half of market data...
Kevin Wayne Johnson transforms our understanding of leadership through his powerful personal journey that began at just three and a half years old. Growing up caring for his younger brother with a mental disability while his Marine father served overseas, Johnson learned that leadership extends far beyond authority—it's fundamentally about caring for others who can't fully advocate for themselves. This foundation was reinforced years later when his own son was diagnosed with autism, further c...
What happens when a fashion model becomes a union carpenter? She discovers there are no work clothes designed for women's bodies and decides to revolutionize the industry. Meet Brenda Max Cumby, founder of Gott Street Blues, whose remarkable journey spans fashion runways and construction sites. Brenda's story begins with childhood defiance of gender norms – stealing her brother's red Tonka truck while simultaneously developing a love for fashion by watching her mother's impeccable style. Thi...
What if being single isn't something to fix, but a powerful season for growth and self-discovery? Trauma therapist and empowerment coach Fanny Tristan joins us to challenge everything you thought you knew about singlehood for women of color. Drawing from her experiences as both Black and Latina, Fanny shares how growing up "on the margins" gave her unique insights into systems of oppression that shape our relationships with ourselves and others. She reveals the journey that led her to create...
Ryan Downey, Executive Director of East Atlanta Kids Club, whose journey from latchkey kid to community leader is rooted in resilience, purpose, and a belief in opportunity for all. Growing up in the south suburbs of Atlanta, Ryan often relied on the kindness of neighbors, friends, and coaches—an early lesson in the power of community support. Today, he channels that same spirit into building programs that give young people access to mentorship, sports, and educational opportunities they migh...
What happens when adolescents lose their passion for reading, and how do we bring it back? Dr. Valcine Brown, a veteran educator who recently completed her PhD in education, is tackling this challenge head-on with innovative research and classroom practices. Reading used to be magic. Remember that feeling of getting lost in a book? Too many adolescents don't – they find reading "boring," a sentiment Dr. Brown has found to be universal across different countries. Her research explores how "mi...
What would happen if we responded to bullies with kindness instead of confrontation? Kim Fraser's groundbreaking approach turns traditional anti-bullying strategies upside down, with remarkable results! Growing up in the Bronx, Fraser experienced bullying firsthand and once resorted to faking an epileptic seizure to escape her tormentors. Today, as an author, former teacher, and counselor, she's developed a revolutionary method that disarms bullies through unexpected compassion. In her book ...
What does it truly mean to "do the work" in the arts world? Paulina O’Kieffe-Anthony answers this question through her remarkable journey from shaking like a leaf during her first spoken word performance to becoming an award-winning curator and advocate who's secured over a million dollars for arts organizations. This conversation sparkles with insights about the transformative power of artistic expression. Paulina shares how poetry literally took her "everywhere" after being introduce...
Have you ever sensed there's more to reality than what meets the eye? Ellen Edmondson's extraordinary journey from logical federal executive to spiritual messenger began with profound loss—her mother's passing just months before her son's birth—triggering questions that would transform her understanding of life's purpose. Through meditation intended simply to process grief, Ellen unexpectedly discovered her intuitive abilities awakening. "I started having these amazing mystical experiences,"...
The threads of African-Canadian history weave a story of resistance, resilience, and remarkable achievement that spans centuries—yet these vital narratives remain largely untold in mainstream historical accounts. Elise Harding-Davis changes that through her lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting Black Canadian history. As a seventh-generation Canadian whose family has been in Canada since 1798, Harding-Davis brings personal connection to her work as a historian, author, and former c...
What happens when personal experience with discrimination fuels a lifelong commitment to equity work? Mr. Rohan Thompson, Director of People and Equity for the County of Dufferin, takes us on his remarkable journey from youth worker to systems change leader. Rohan reveals how childhood mentors who kept him "on the straight and narrow" inspired his mission to pay it forward. This calling led him through various roles working with at-risk youth before stepping into pioneering equity leadership...
What would you do if you discovered your teacher's pension wouldn't be enough to sustain you after retirement? For Queen D Michelle, the answer came in a life-changing decision to leave Atlanta behind and start fresh in Mexico's Lake Chapala region. Her remarkable journey reveals how necessity can become the catalyst for profound personal transformation. Queen D Michelle's story begins with a practical problem faced by many retired educators. After 27 years in the classroom, she found hersel...
"We are not what the system has told us we are," declares Tina Garnett, a powerful voice in the fight against systemic oppression. As a seventh-generation Black Canadian descended from Charlotte and James Handy, Garnett brings three decades of experience championing marginalized communities to this profound conversation about resilience, purpose, and transformation. Garnett's journey through racism began in London, Ontario, as part of one of the few Black families in the area, before taking ...
Half of a woman's life is spent in perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause—yet these critical transitions remain under-researched, underfunded, and shrouded in unnecessary taboo. That's what drove Amita Sharma, after suffering in silence through her own hormonal journey, to create Nourishdoc: a holistic wellness platform empowering women through these transformative years. "I was too scared to speak up," admits Sharma, despite her impressive education and successful career. "I thought p...
What if embracing radical empathy could transform not just your life, but the lives of those around you? Join us as we explore this profound concept with the remarkable Moy Fong, an award-winning entrepreneur whose journey of leadership and empathy began at the young age of 19 when she became a mother. Moy shares her inspiring story of resilience, illustrating how her entrepreneurial spirit was born out of the need to secure a better future for her family. Discover how her experiences fueled ...
Visionary entrepreneur Micah Elechi takes us on a transformative journey from his early days as a graphic designer in Nigeria to becoming a leading force in tech innovation with Macklemore Solutions . Hear how Micah's determination to overcome employment challenges led him to create AfriLink, a groundbreaking platform empowering African youth by bridging the gap between skilled individuals and job opportunities. His story is a powerful testament to the impact of mentorship and the vital role ...
Nicole Osbourne-James, a renowned free thinker and accidental stand-up comedian, reveals her fascinating journey from the spoken word poetry scene of the 1990s to the dynamic world of comedy. Unpacking how her evolution as a young mother propelled her into comedy's broader expressive realm, Nicole shares insights into the role of spoken word in activism and community engagement. Her initiatives, like the Black Media Network Conference, showcase the power of grassroots efforts in social change...
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