The GR8TNESS Router

NOTE: This episode contains a strategic "f-bomb" or two...hence the "explicit language" tag. Forgive me in advance and ENJOY! — ZC How many brilliant ideas are sitting in drafts right now? In this installment of The Gr8tness Router, host Zena C. sits down with Shirley Sampson, Founder of Fathom & Flourish, Business Strategist, and Accountability Coach…for an honest conversation about entrepren...

What if the greatest leadership lesson isn't found in a title…but in the lives you've helped transform? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Zena C. welcomes one of the people most responsible for shaping her academic and professional journey: Dr. Kandace L. Harris. An educator, media scholar, administrator, mentor, and advocate, Dr. Harris has spent her career helping students recognize the gr...

What if the thing you're building isn't just a business…but a space for restoration? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , host Zena C. sits down with Sherry Waters, founder of Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary, community chaplain, spiritual director, and stewardship coach. Through a conversation rooted in service, healing, and community care, Sherry shares how a simple green chair became the catalyst...

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , host Zena C. sits down with Dr. Erica N. Hilton, a Strategic Communications + Media Scholar and Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications at Hampton University, for a conversation that bridges scholarship, strategy, and soul. With a career spanning higher education, national nonprofits, and digital activism, Dr. Hilton shares how her journey from aspi...

What does it mean to keep creating when everything around you feels like it’s collapsing? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. is joined by Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins, Equity, Liberation + Authenticity Scholar and Founder of Ashley Gaddy Enterprises, for a candid conversation on resilience, authenticity, and the storms that shape us. From her early lessons in social justice to naviga...

In this illuminating chapter of The GR8TNESS Router , host Zena C. sits down with scholar, author, and trailblazing university president Dr. Brian L. Johnson. From his roots in Durham, North Carolina, to becoming the first minority president in Warner Pacific University’s history, Dr. Johnson shares the lessons, pivots, and defining moments that shaped his purpose-driven path. With honesty and dep...

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , host Zena C. reconnects with her graduate school roommate turned powerhouse scholar, entrepreneur, and global speaker — Dr. Cierra M. Robinson. A proud St. Louis native and three-time HBCU alumna, Dr. Robinson shares her journey from winning fifth-grade oratorical contests to shaping the future of higher education and entrepreneurship. With honesty and humo...

In this soul-nourishing chapter of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. welcomes her cousin and guiding light, Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton, for a rich conversation on what it means to become. From the sacred stillness of a back porch prayer to building a global brand rooted in healing, Dr. E unpacks the real work behind purpose: trusting the call before the path is clear. Together, they explore th...

What happens when you finally stop shrinking and start speaking? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , Dr. Davia Crutchfield joins us for a deeply honest, spiritually grounded conversation on clarity, calling, and becoming. She opens up about how language, identity, and obedience intersect—and why your voice might be the very thing God is waiting on. 📖 From the power of journaling to the pain...

There’s a particular kind of grief that comes from being left behind not because you did something wrong—but because you were finally being real. In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , Zena C. holds space for the quiet ache of being cut off, edited out, or misunderstood for choosing authenticity. Anchored by Langston Hughes’ iconic poem Mother to Son , this reflection invites listeners to consid...

What happens when the systems you’re trained to trust… start to show their cracks? In this episode, Zena C. is joined by Civil Rights Attorney and Community Advocacy Educator Jonathan Barry-Blocker, JD, for a powerful conversation on identity, justice, and protecting your peace while doing the work. From courtroom realities to community wisdom, Jonathan breaks down what it means to advocate with i...

🗓️ Released on the 5-year remembrance of Zena’s father’s passing — — — What if the truth you’ve been waiting for… asks for something in return? What if clarity doesn’t just set you free—but sets you apart ? In this episode, Zena C. reflects on the hard-earned wisdom passed down by her father, through one of his favorite poems and the life he lived with deep conviction. This is more than a message—...

What does it really take to build a life of impact? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , Dr. Peter Eley shares his powerful journey—from a small town in North Carolina to the leadership ranks of higher education. Through resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to access, Dr. Eley shows how legacy isn't about titles—it's about lifting others along the way. From math to mentorship, from...

You ever hear a phrase so many times it loses meaning? Then one day… it hits different? In this episode, we’re unpacking the deceptively simple wisdom of “make good choices” — a phrase I used to shrug off, but now hold close when life gets foggy, fearful, or full of friction. Inspired by the poem Invictus and grounded in the real, raw truth of personal pivots, this episode is a reflection on agenc...

What do sneakers, literature, and legacy have in common? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Dr. Jemayne Lavar King shares how a lifelong love of sneakers and storytelling evolved into a groundbreaking academic lane, a thriving cultural brand, and a mission to redefine what’s worthy of study. From chasing his dream pair of Ewings to teaching college courses on sneaker culture, Dr. King invites...

Two roads diverged… and twenty years later, we’re checking in on the one we chose. In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , host Zena C. revisits Robert Frost’s classic poem with fresh eyes—and lived wisdom. What does it really mean to take the road less traveled? What if the path isn’t the point at all? Through personal stories, poetic reflection, and powerful questions, this episode explores the...

What happens when the plan you had for your life no longer fits? In this episode of The Greatness Router , I sit down with Dr. Joseph N. Cooper , a leading scholar in sport leadership, education, race, and culture. We talk about pivoting with purpose, embracing identity shifts, and why challenges aren’t always obstacles—they’re sometimes invitations. From post-athletic career identity crisis to be...

What if what you know —what you’ve experienced —is only part of the story? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , we’re challenging the way we see the world, the way we listen, and even the way we judge ourselves. Using a timeless story as our guide, we’ll unpack what happens when certainty clouds understanding—and why perspective isn’t about being right , but about being open . Get ready to que...

What if losing your voice meant losing your connection to the world ? In this episode of The Greatness Router , Dr. Kelli Uitenham, CCC-SLP , speech-language pathologist and founder of Brain Talk Foundation , shares how speech therapy is about more than words—it’s about restoring identity, independence, and connection . We dive into the silent epidemic of brain injuries , how they impact everythin...

We spend so much time trying to be whole —unshaken, unblemished, unbreakable. But what if the very thing you see as a flaw is actually what makes you valuable ? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router , Zena C. shares the story of The Flawed Vessel—a powerful reminder that purpose can be disguised as imperfection. 💡 Ever felt like you’re losing more than you’re gaining? Like no matter how much you...

What does it truly mean to MOVE? In action? In resistance? In rhythm? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, I sit down with Dr. Frederick Engram Jr., critical race scholar and author of Black Liberation Through Action and Resistance: Move , to explore the power of movement—as liberation, as transformation, and as a cultural force. 💡 We dive into: ✔️ The moment Dr. Engram pivoted from law to aca...

Every morning, the lion wakes up. Every morning, the gazelle wakes up. Both are running—but for different reasons. The real question is… what’s making YOU run? Survival? Growth? Fear? Purpose? Let’s talk about it. Release Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025 -- -- -- Visit LaidOffLemonade.com by 12/28 to secure your signed copy of my book.

Greatness isn’t just about the title—it’s about the journey. In Season 1 of The Gr8tness Router , we’re diving into The Doctor’s Journey, exploring the real stories behind Black doctors—PhDs, MDs, Ed. Ds, JDs, and more. But this isn’t just about degrees—it’s about purpose, process, and perseverance. 💡 What does it really take to earn those letters? 💡 What moments almost made them quit? 💡 And wh...

🎙️ Greatness isn’t random—it’s built. Welcome to The Gr8tness Router , where purpose meets process, one conversation at a time. We’re not here for surface-level success stories. We’re here to break down the mindset, the pivots, and the real work behind greatness. Through thought-provoking interviews and deep solo episodes, host Zena C. explores the why behind success—not just what people do, but h...