Succeeding Over All Roadblocks Lifecast

A welcome message from host, entrepreneur, and speaker Kesha Whitaker to introduce the Succeeding Over All Roadblocks (S.O.A.R.) Lifecast. On the show, she will share her personal experiences as well as in-depth interviews with close friends who have overcome life-changing moments. Follow the S.O.A.R. Lifecast on: Facebook: @soarlifecast Twitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and LibsynSupport the show

So far 2020 has been a tumultuous year globally and for me on a personal level. In this solo episode, I talk about quarantine life, the impact of losing my father, my pet, Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many more.  Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on: Facebook: @soarlifecast Twitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Available on: Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and Libsyn Email me at soarlifecast@gmail.comSupport the show

Born in Grenada and raised in Canada, Roger Caesar went from shy guy to three-time champion as an award-winning, international speaker. In this episode, my fellow Distinguished Toastmaster and I talk about the power of being vulnerable and sharing your story to connect with people whether on the stage or in your everyday life.  Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on:Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecastInstagram: @soarlifecastEmail me at soarlifecast@gmail.com Connect with RogerLinkedIn: Roger Caesar Instagram: caesar.empire rogercaesar.com caesartransport.comSupport the show

Words matter. Sometimes it's what you say, other times it's how you say it. Most times, it's both. In this solo episode, I share a personal experience where two words had a profound effect on me. Then I break down the situation using principles in the book, The Four Agreements. Mentioned in this episode: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on:Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecastInstagram: @soarlifecastAvailable on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and LibsynEmail me at soarlifecast@gmail.comSupport the show

Professional indoor volleyball legend Danielle Scott is a 5-time Olympian and 2-time silver medalist who is also a survivor of domestic assault. She was hospitalized for stab wounds suffered while defending her sister Stefanie, who was allegedly murdered by her husband of 14 years. He went on the run and was found and arrested 36 days later. Danielle is an advocate against domestic violence and talks about her experience, how she maintains a positive outlook, what she's been up to since retiring from pro volleyball, and balancing life as a single mom. Connect with Danielle Scott Twitter: @dscottarruda Instagram: @danielle02scott Web: www.daniellescottvolleyball.com Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on:Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecastInstagram: @soarlifecastAvailable on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and LibsynEmail me at soarlifecast@gmail.com  Support the show

Celebrity chef, blogger and healthy budgetnista Almetria Turner joins me to share how she broke an unhealthy cycle with food and obesity to lose 177 pounds naturally through lifestyle and fitness changes. She began to inspire and help others, becoming an international influencer, author and brand ambassador. Almetria has maintained the weight loss for nearly 10 years and is the founder of Fit and Finally Free, a lifestyle, fitness and weight management company that provides personal training, along with lifestyle and wellness coaching. She has been featured on "The Today Show," in Women's Running Magazine, Redbook Magazine, TBN, Yahoo Health, The Huffington Post, The Daily Mail UK, CNN, and was even a finalist in Nashville during the nationwide search for Season Nine of Masterchef. Connect with Chef Almetria Turner Facebook: Fit and Finally Free Twitter: @fitandfinallyfree Instagram: @fitandfinallyfree Web: fitandfinallyfree.com Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on: Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecastAvailable on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and Libsyn Email me at soarlifecast@gmail.com  Support the show

Election Day is fast approaching and so much is at stake for the nation. We must take a seat at the table whether it is running for office, casting our vote, supporting candidates, or being an advocate on issues that matter. Joining me is Mike Bland, the National Director of Leaders of Color (LOC). LOC is a program that prepares black and brown leaders across the country for public office with extensive training and support. Its vision is of a nation where Black and Latino communities are represented by elected officials who not only look like them but are tireless advocates for quality education. Mike shares his experiences growing up around politics, working on historic campaigns, running for city council in New Jersey at the age of 22, and drops gems on what’s going in these political streets. Connect with Mike Bland Twitter: @politico_bland Web: Leaders of Color Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on: Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and Libsyn Email me at soarlifecast@gmail.comSupport the show

To close out Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Carolyn Hardy joins me to share how she beat breast cancer, along with pearls of wisdom about life and business. As President/CEO of Chism Hardy Investments and Henderson Worldwide Investments, she is an author, serial entrepreneur and a woman of many firsts.  She broke into the all-boys club at J.M. Smucker, moving up the ranks to become the first African-American woman plant manager and later was the first African-American female Vice President at Coors. She took it to the next level when she purchased Hardy Bottling, making her the first African-American woman to own a major brewery. In this episode, I find out what drives her, where her strength and courage comes from, and how she broke through in male-dominated industries. Connect with Carolyn Hardy Instagram: @carolynchismhardy LinkedIn: Carolyn Hardy Web: www.carolynchismhardy.com Book: Look Up: Five Principles for Intentional Leadership Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on: Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and Libsyn Email me at soarlifecast@gmail.comSupport the show

Award-winning journalist Kontji Anthony is on the podcast to talk about her fascinating career in television, the qualities of inner beauty, and how she is facing a particular roadblock in her life. Kontji is a main co-anchor at WMC-TV Action News 5 in Memphis, Tennessee. Over the past 15 years, she has come into the homes of millions and has more than two decades of combined experience anchoring, reporting, producing and writing for network news television stations across America. Kontji has aired reports on the Today Show, conducted interviews for the E! News Network, performed live on CNN, and appears as a guest announcer on regional radio. During the episode, we take you inside one of our "brunch" conversations where we swap stories, and she opens up for the first time publicly about the disappointment and grief she felt after a devastating loss. Connect with Kontji Facebook: @Kontji Twitter: @Kontji Instagram: @Kontji LinkedIn Web: www.kontji.com Connect with the SOAR Lifecast on: Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, YouTube and Libsyn Email me at soarlifecast@gmail.comSupport the show

Brand strategist extraordinaire Dana James Mwangi is this week's guest. Dana is the founder and co-partner of Cheers Creative, a globally recognized brand strategy, web and graphic design agency that takes its clients into the stratosphere!  She has presented on some of the largest stages, is called on frequently as a thought leader and has been featured in countless publications including Forbes, Essence, and top tier industry magazines. She also has one of the top selling website themes on the market. Recently, this busy wife and mom of three was hand picked by Google as a Digital Coach for Memphis, Tennessee, where she is teaching courses to help Black and Latinx entrepreneurs automate and scale their businesses. She opened up about every area of her life and shared ways we can reinvent and brand our TRUE selves at any age! Mentioned in this episode: Marisa Peer Dr. Nina Ellis-Hervey Harlem's Fashion Row The Lip Bar Missy Russell Beauty Connect with Dana James Mwangi Instagram: @cheerscreative & @danajamesmwangi Twitter: @cheerscreative & @danajamesmwangi Web: www.cheerscreative.com | www.danajamesmwangi.com Connect with SOAR Lifecast Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: Support the show

What could have been fatal for me was actually the wake up call I needed to make my dreams happen. In this solo episode, I open up about an accident that inevitably led me to the Olympics and beyond. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 5 Episode 9 Romans 12:17-21 Connect with SOAR Lifecast Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecastSupport the show

Taking stock of the highs and lows of 2020 and finding ways to be grateful through it all. Support the show

New Jersey Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson joined me to talk about the events that turned her into a community advocate and led to her becoming a rising political star in the state legislature. Covered in this episode: The story that made her run for elected office How to become an advocate for your community The significance of Black women as a voting bloc  How to hold elected officials accountable How to support the best candidates Contact Asw. Verlina Reynolds Jackson Website  Support her campaignSupport the show

Zen goddess Dorian Spears is a community leader, advocate and thought leader in the non-profit world. She is a self-described empath, who practices and teaches the art of self-care, setting boundaries, and breaking generational curses. Dorian shares her story and ways you can find peace in the midst of the pandemic. Mentioned in this episode: Shine mobile app - Daily self-care rituals  Connect with Dorian Spears Instagram: @dorian_901 LinkedIn Connect with SOAR Lifecast Facebook: @soarlifecastTwitter: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecastSupport the show

Let's toast to season one with the SOAR Lifecast Virtual Happy Hour: Single Ladies Edition!This is a real talk conversation with my sister circle about dating, careers, debunking myths about black women, true sisterhood and the life challenges we've SOARed over. Plus, we talk about being childless vs. childfree in our 30s and 40s.Part 1 is all about Dating and Careers.  Watch the full episode on YouTube Be sure to subscribe! Support the show

This is a real talk conversation with my sister circle about dating, careers, debunking myths about black women, true sisterhood and the life challenges we've SOARed over. Plus, we talk about being childless vs. childfree in our 30s and 40s. Part 2 is all about Overcoming Roadblocks and a Sister Circle Moment. Watch the full episode on YouTube Be sure to subscribe! Support the show

This is a real talk conversation with my sister circle about dating, careers, debunking myths about black women, true sisterhood and the life challenges we've SOARed over. Plus, we talk about being childless vs. childfree in our 30s and 40s. Part 3 is all about living Childless vs. Childfree Watch the full episode on YouTube Be sure to subscribe! Support the show

Actress and author Karyn Parsons, star of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air kicks off Season 2 and Black History Month. We had a conversation about the cultural significance of the ground-breaking show, an unexpected roadblock she faced after the show ended, and how she is shining a light on unsung heroes in Black history. Note: This is not the norm, but I want to acknowledge that the audio quality on my end sounds a little distant, but Ms. Parsons' is fine and the message is too great not to share. The extended video interview is available on YouTube. Many thanks to episode sponsor Goodness Gracious Luxe Cookies! Get your cookie fix at GGLUXECOOKIES.COM. Connect with Karyn Parsons and Sweet Blackberry Instagram: @karynparsons | @swtblackberry Website: www.sweetblackberry.org Connect with SOAR Lifecast Facebook: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Twitter: @prototype10 | @soarlifecastSupport the show

Drs. Sonya and Yvonne Johnson are two educators using their gifts to help their students learn about all of the contributions of African-Americans that surround them everyday. The sisters co-authored a children's book, The Ride of Pride, highlighting African-American inventors. Yvonne later authored the novel Manifested Dreams. We talked about the importance of the two books and the sometimes challenging journey they took to follow their dreams.Connect with Sonya and Yvonne Facebook: Ride of Pride | Manifested Dreams Instagram: @rideofpride | @manifested_dreams Website: www.rideofpride1.comConnect with SOAR Lifecast Facebook: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Twitter: @soarlifecastSupport the show

Former pro tennis player Jennifer Migan is uber-talented and accomplished, yet struggled with self-sabotaging behaviors. The writer and public speaking coach is also the host of The Players Lounge Podcast. We had a very candid conversation about the ways we have let self-sabotage creep into our lives, how to stop it and start living in our full potential.Connect with Jennifer Instagram: @jennifer_migan | @theplayersloungepodcast Podcast:  The Players Lounge Website: www.thespeechouse.coConnect with SOAR Lifecast Facebook: @soarlifecast Instagram: @soarlifecast Twitter: @soarlifecastSupport the show