Guarding your joy while leading high-stakes work is not optional. It is the only way to last.

Dr. David Johns sits down with Alex Raymond for a conversation on what it means to lead without losing yourself. What keeps you grounded when the work feels endless? How do you stay in the fight without letting it consume you? 

Drawing from his journey, from growing up in Inglewood to serving in the Obama White House and now leading the National Black Justice Coalition, Dr. Johns shares how his leadership is shaped by purpose, community, and a deep sense of responsibility. He talks about centering the voices that are too often excluded, especially in education, and calls out the difference between performative gestures and true accountability. He reflects on the emotional cost of this work, the need for spaces that restore rather than drain, and why joy is something worth protecting at all costs. The episode also touches on his podcast, Teach the Babies, and his belief that love and dignity must be foundational in any conversation about democracy and schooling.

For entrepreneurs trying to lead with both heart and backbone, Alex and Dr. Johns’ conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to choose between ambition and integrity, and that doing the hard thing doesn’t mean doing it alone.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Meet Dr. David Johns

01:58 Who Are You Beneath the Work?

05:14 Purpose, Passion, and Leadership Philosophy

07:10 Centering the Most Marginalized

11:13 Guarding Your Joy and Protecting Your Peace

14:44 The Power of Community

21:18 What It Means to Nourish Yourself

23:48 Why He Launched Teach the Babies

27:10 Education, Democracy, and the Fight for Equity

30:52 Real Allyship vs Performative Action

36:36 From Ally to Accomplice

Links

Connect with David Johns:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdavidjohns/

Website: https://nbjc.org/

Connect with Alex Raymond:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afraymond/

Website: https://amplifyam.com/

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