Sienna & Slate

Creative flow doesn't happen by accident. It is cultivated through the rituals, boundaries, and intentional practices that protect our attention, energy, and sense of purpose. In this episode of Sienna & Slate, we explore why creativity is not simply about waiting for inspiration. Instead, it grows from the small, consistent rituals that help us stay grounded, present, and connected to the wor...

Confidence does not always come first. Sometimes, creativity begins when you are willing to show up before you feel ready. In this episode, we explore why waiting to feel confident can keep you stuck, and how action, curiosity, and courage create the momentum you need. Whether you are building something new, stepping into leadership, sharing your voice, or simply trying to grow, this conversation...

We’ve been told for years to chase work-life balance. Balance your ambition with rest. Balance productivity with self-care. Balance work and home. But what if the reason balance feels so hard to achieve… is because balance was never the right goal to begin with? In this episode, we explore why the traditional idea of balance often leaves capable, driven people feeling frustrated, fragmented, and l...

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the fine line between being capable and doing too much. What happens when your strengths—your reliability, competence, and drive—start turning into overfunctioning? We unpack how overfunctioning can quietly show up in your work, relationships, and daily life, often disguised as “just being responsible.” From taking on more than your share to struggling...

Reflection can help you grow—but what if it’s actually making you feel stuck? In this episode, we explore how self-reflection can quietly turn into self-doubt, overthinking, and loss of confidence. If you’ve ever replayed conversations, questioned your decisions, or felt paralyzed by your own thoughts, you’re not alone. We break down the difference between healthy reflection and destructive overth...

We’ve been taught to treat pressure as proof of importance. To confuse urgency with obligation. To carry more than is ours — quietly, constantly, without question. In this episode, I explore the subtle but powerful distinction between pressure and responsibility — and how collapsing the two shapes our work, our bodies, and our capacity to rest. This conversation is about: Why pressure so often mas...

Season 2, Episode 1: When Urgency Replaces Authorship What happens when everything feels urgent — and nothing feels intentional? In this opening episode of Season 2, we unpack how constant urgency quietly erodes authorship over our work, our time, and ourselves. When deadlines, metrics, and external demands dictate the pace, we stop creating from purpose and start producing from pressure. This epi...

Welcome back to the Sienna & Slate Podcast. This season begins with a return — not from absence, but from listening. After a pause, we’re coming back with greater intention, clearer discernment, and a theme that continues to surface in our work, our community, and our own lives: creativity. In this opening episode, we invite you to rethink what creativity actually is. Not as talent, productivi...

In this episode of the Sienna and Slate podcast, Jennifer Polk discusses how to transition to life after the Ph. D., why it's important to celebrate things you achieve outside of your studies or work, and how to find ways to bring more happiness into your life, even when you're busy with your career. Key Points: Finding Safe Spaces: The conversation begins by highlighting the need for spaces where...

This thought-provoking shortcast is all about the importance of lifelong for educators. The inspiration for this shortcast came from a conversation that I had with a mentor who said we can't be innovative in our teaching or thoughts when we have stopped learning and growing. This emphasizes the need for educators to be not only excellent teachers but also exemplary students. This resonated for two...

This episode features Dr. Keo in conversation with Dr. Melvin Murphy and Lukas Velush about their book, "Crossing the Race Line: One Murder, Two Strangers, and a Journey to Healing and Change." The Spark of Connection: The conversation begins by introducing Melvin and Lukas, who met while working at Microsoft. The book's backstory emerges from the murder of George Floyd and the global response. A...

Welcome to this shortcast episode. Today, we're diving deep into the ever-present struggle of burnout. We all know the feeling: caught in a relentless cycle of expectations, responsibilities, and societal pressures. This constant grind can lead to a debilitating state – burnout. Research on burnout is vast, and the personal stories are even more so. Burnout is real, and the feelings associated wit...

This episode of the Sienna and Slate podcast features Dr. Nicholas D. Hartlep, who chairs the Education Studies Department at Berea College. Dr. Hartlep discusses his journey as a person of color in academia and his experiences with battle fatigue. Here are the key points: Early Experiences of Race and Education: Dr. Hartlep discusses his personal experiences of being adopted and how they inform h...

Let me introduce Dr. Rick Wallace, who is the CEO and founder of Visionatics Institute. he is a personal life enhancement advisor, life strategist, consultant, and counselor. His works include 26 profound books on societal issues like The World of Black Wealth, The Undoing of the African American Mind, and much more. Here are a few takeaways from our conversation: The importance of knowing one's "...

In this inspiring episode of "Sienna and Slate," I had the pleasure of conversing with the remarkable Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston, an esteemed educator with extensive experience in various educational roles. From being a teacher and charter school principal to becoming a professor at St. Mary's College of California, Dr. Luz has devoted herself to the field of education, specializing in human develo...

Greetings from Sienna & Slate again! We address a sincere query from a community member who is struggling to balance their dejected need to alter the system from within with the toll it has taken on their identity as a researcher in this special episode. Join us as we explore the depths of cognitive dissonance, straddling borders, and negotiating identities within the oppressive framework of a...

Join me in this captivating episode as I speak to Dr. Rose Aslan, a transformational life coach and academic. Dr. Rose shares her personal journey of leaving academia and finding a slower, more intentional life. We explore her academic background and the challenges she faced, including a lack of support and moments of doubt. Through perseverance and self-discovery, she found her unique path to suc...

Join me, Dr. Keo, in this inspiring episode alongside the incredible Dr. Norrine Russell, founder of Vessel Coaching for Students. Driven by innovation, she has crafted a unique coaching approach for neurodiverse students, transforming challenges into triumphs. Dr. Russell's journey, from university-level teaching to founding the largest student coaching practice, Russell Coaching, is a testament...

Hey there, welcome to Sienna and Slate! We've been blown away by the love for our podcast, and you've asked for more chats on genius, resilience, and well-being. So, here's a quick episode where I open up about feeling a bit out of place during a recent event, a feeling that many of us might get during the holidays. I chat about the importance of embracing your authentic self and finding joy in im...

As we continue our week-long series on the common mistakes that can derail an academic's hopes for a rejuvenating and realigning holiday break, let's take a moment to recap our journey so far. On Day 1, we explored the challenge of "The Holiday Hustle," where we discussed the pitfalls of overworking during the holidays. Day 2 brought us "The Time Tension," underlining the significance of effective...

In this week's series, we've been diving into the common mistakes that can thwart an academic's holiday intentions of rejuvenation and realignment. On Day 1, we talked about "The Holiday Hustle," exploring the challenge of overworking during the holidays. On Day 2, we tackled "The Time Tension," discussing the importance of well-structured time management for a fulfilling holiday break. Today, on...

As we continue our journey through the common mistakes that can hinder academics' intentions of using the holidays for rejuvenation and realignment, we've arrived at the secon pitfall: "Poor Time Management" or what we're playfully calling "The Time Tension" 🕰️. In case you missed our first email on Overworking During the Break, also known as "The Holiday Hustle," where we tackled the challenge of...

Hello there, this week are talking about the Five mistakes that can sabotage academics' intentions of using the holidays for rejuvenation and realignment: The first mistake that we are going to talk about is Overworking During the Break or what we are calling breaking the holiday hustle. I’m Keondria McClish Boyd and having been in academia for years I became an academic well-being coach to tackle...

Hi there, as the leaves change and the air turns crisp, we find ourselves really on the brink of the holiday season. For many of us academics, this time of year can be a whirlwind of stress and competing demands, leaving little room to plan and enjoy the holiday season.  The holidays can often be stressful due to overwhelming to-do lists and competing demands and desires. We try to finish the seme...

In this captivating episode of Sienna and Slate, join me, Dr. Keo, as I have the pleasure of sharing space with an extraordinary individual who made history at NASA. We welcome Sharon McDougal, the first black woman to serve as a spacesuit technician, crew chief, and space shuttle crew escape equipment process department manager. Our conversation is filled with excitement as we delve into the deep...