Ask JBH with Janice Bryant Howroyd

Dr. Cheryl Wood is an international speaker, author, and empowerment coach who went from spending 15 years as a legal secretary to building a successful speaking business and helping women around the world find their voice, own their expertise, and step into leadership. From overcoming fear and rejection to building confidence, resilience, and purpose, Cheryl shares lessons drawn from her own jour...

Dr. Nicholas Epley is one of the world’s leading experts on human behavior and connection. As a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and author of A Little More Social, his research explores why people misunderstand each other, avoid connection, and underestimate the power of simple human interaction. In this episode, Dr. Epley breaks down the science behind loneliness,...

Harvard professor and leading public health researcher Dr. David R. Williams brings decades of work into sharp focus, challenging how we understand health, equity, and responsibility. Grounded in one of the most comprehensive bodies of research in the field, his work confronts a question many would rather avoid: why do Black Americans experience worse health outcomes, even when income, education,...

What if the distance between you and your goal is not the goal, but the way you see it? Dr. Emily Balcetis, Associate Professor of Psychology at NYU and TEDx speaker viewed by millions, studies how perception shapes performance. Her research has been featured in Forbes, Time, and Scientific American . In this Ask JBH episode, she reveals why focus is about perspective, how to turn fear into fuel,...

On this episode of Ask JBH, Arian Simone shares a fearless journey shaped by faith, grit, and purpose. From early lessons in entrepreneurship at Florida A&M University to rebuilding her life after homelessness in Los Angeles, she reflects on the moments that clarified her calling. Those experiences led her to found the Fearless Fund, the first venture capital fund built by women of color for w...

Jensine Larsen, award-winning digital entrepreneur, international journalist, and the former founder of World Pulse, recognized the internet's potential as a lifeline long before social platforms were seen as mere tools for influence or profit. She saw it as a space where women without access to traditional power could still be seen, heard, and connected. This episode explores how digital empo...

Shaka Senghor joins Ask JBH for a thoughtful exchange about freedom, accountability, and the inner work required to change the direction of your life. A bestselling author and resilience expert, Shaka’s perspective is shaped by lived experience, including a childhood marked by instability and 19 years of incarceration. Author of How to Be Free and Writing My Wrongs , Shaka shares how literacy, jou...

Pastor Greg Ford, Lead Pastor of One Church, joins Ask JBH for a thoughtful conversation on faith, leadership, and building community in a divided world. From planting a church while working five jobs to leading with humility and courage, Pastor Greg shares how presence, love, and listening shape meaningful leadership. Together, we explore how faith shows up in work, culture, and moments of uncert...

Born in Pondicherry and shaped by a life that spans India, France, and Silicon Valley, Navi Radjou brings a worldview that blends humanistic coaching, ecological thinking, and deep cultural intelligence. A longtime advisor to global leaders and co-author of acclaimed books like Jugaad Innovation, From Smart to Wise, and The Frugal Economy, his work has placed him on the Thinkers50 list of the worl...

Kelley Cornish’s journey is one of purpose, faith, and service. From her roots in Aiken, South Carolina, where family and faith shaped her early values, to her role now as President and CEO of the T.D. Jakes Foundation, Kelley has carried a through line of integrity and impact. We talk about how her foundation’s mission of financial inclusion, education, and community transformation guides her wor...

Comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid brings laughter, honesty, and heart to every stage she steps on. From co-founding the New York Arab American Comedy Festival to delivering one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time, Maysoon has built a career on turning challenge into charm and advocacy into art. In this conversation, she shares how humor became her superpower, th...

Sarah Kunst has never been afraid to take a leap. From building her career at Apple and Chanel to stepping boldly into venture capital when very few women of color were in the room, she’s been rewriting the playbook for what leadership and ownership look like. Today, as Managing Director at Cleo Capital and a trusted voice in business media, Sarah is investing in the next generation of founders wh...

Dr. Sandro Galea is one of the world’s leading voices on public health. As the founding dean of the new School of Public Health at Washington University, he’s shaping how we think about health not just as individual wellness, but as the conditions we create together. A physician, scientist, and author of more than 20 books, Dr. Galea’s work reminds us that health is deeply connected to justice, eq...

Panache Desai joins Ask JBH with a radical reminder: you are already whole. From his grandmother’s meditation room to London’s East End, Panache’s journey shows us that crisis can be a calling, struggle can be a teacher, and wholeness is our birthright. In this conversation, he shares how to befriend your ego, honor your feelings without fixing yourself, and remember your worth in a world obsessed...

Chris Denson is an award-winning innovation advocate, bestselling author, and former comedian who blends humor with sharp business insight. From the White House to Fortune 500 companies, he’s helped leaders break rules, spark creativity, and turn bold ideas into reality. He’s the author of Crushing the Box and host of the Innovation Crush podcast, and he returns to Ask JBH to share fresh lessons o...

Change doesn’t have to feel like struggle. It can feel like strategy. In this Ask JBH episode, we sit down with Katy Milkman, a Wharton professor and author of the bestselling book How to Change , whose work is transforming the way people approach habits, discipline, and growth. From procrastination to purpose, Katy brings fresh insight into how small choices and smart design can unlock real trans...

Jack Kornfield is one of the most influential figures in bringing Buddhist mindfulness to the Western world. A former monk trained in Thailand, India, and Burma, he later co-founded both the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Center. With a Ph. D. in clinical psychology and decades of teaching under his belt, Jack brings ancient wisdom into real, modern life. He’s the author of beloved boo...

Dr. David Eagleman, Stanford neuroscientist, bestselling author, and host of The Brain on PBS, joins this episode to break down the science behind how the brain rewires itself throughout life. From sensory perception to daily habits, this conversation explores how people can expand their thinking, shift perspective, and tap into unrealized potential. With over 120 academic publications, bestsellin...

From cattle rancher to business psychologist, Dr. Camille Preston’s unconventional journey led her to help leaders optimize their potential in today’s hyper-connected world. As the founder of AIM Leadership and author of Rewired , she tackles technology overwhelm and champions authentic leadership. In this conversation, we explore the hidden costs of being "overwired," practical strategies...

Minda Harts, CEO of The Memo LLC and bestselling author of The Memo and Right Within , is rewriting the playbook for workplace equity. A leading advocate for women of color, she helps organizations build real trust and inclusion through her Seven Trust Languages framework. Her insights on self-advocacy and authentic leadership have empowered professionals to reclaim their power and thrive in space...

Ask JBH welcomes Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, a former Harvard professor behind the university's most popular course on Positive Psychology. His bestsellers  Happier  and  The Joy of Leadership  have transformed how we understand fulfillment. We explore the surprising relationship between happiness and difficult emotions, why embracing failure fuels growth, and how self-discipline actually increases jo...

America's favorite financial educator, Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista, joins Ask JBH with her expertise on personal finance and wealth building. Her NYT bestseller Get Good with Money has helped millions of women transform their relationship with money. Creator of the Live Richer Movement, she's guided over two million women to save and manage hundreds of millions of dollars collectiv...

Joining Ask JBH, bestselling author Gretchen Rubin brings her insights on happiness and human nature. Her books, including  The Happiness Project ,  The Four Tendencies , and the recent release  Secrets of Adulthood,  have sold millions of copies worldwide. Host of the popular Happier podcast and creator of the award-winning Happier app, Gretchen brings research-backed strategies to help people bu...

We sit down with Dr. Pamela Gurley, whose remarkable journey from Army veteran to federal executive to literacy champion exemplifies courage in action. After reaching the heights of government service at the Department of Defense and State Department, Dr. Gurley boldly stepped away in 2020 to pursue her passion. Her book "I Am Not A Stereotype: I Am H.E.R." challenges societal boxes, while...

Dr. Jen Douglas, former Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford School of Medicine and mental wellness expert, pulls back the curtain on perfectionism in this revealing conversation. Beyond the organized, high-achieving face we recognize, Dr. Douglas uncovers perfectionism's surprising hidden masks - from procrastination to relationship struggles. Through her 15+ years of experience, she expl...