Diversity Conversations W/ Eric Ellis & Tommie Lewis

RE-RUN: Enjoy this previously recorded episode of Diversity Conversations. For nearly two hours, a fellow passenger insulted Dr. Tommie Lewis on a flight to Mexico. How did he stay so calm? Tommie joins Eric Ellis to share the story—and the emotional intelligence tools he put into practice to protect his peace, maintain his boundaries, and recognize the pain behind another person’s behavior. At th...

When someone asks, “How are you?” do you feel free to give the real answer? Eric Ellis and Dr. Tommie Lewis explore what becomes possible when we move beyond appearances and make room for honest conversations. Through personal stories of friendship, business setbacks, and the pressures behind visible success, they reveal how being real can deepen trust and create more meaningful connections. This...

Who are you becoming while you wait for your circumstances to change? In this deeply personal episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis and Dr. Tommie Lewis explore how faith can reshape the way we move through life’s challenges. Eric opens up about recognizing emotional numbness and finding renewed hope through an unexpected church experience. Tommie offers an honest challenge: how do we mov...

Who are you beyond your titles, achievements, and the story you’ve told about yourself for years? After facilitating the Breakthrough Collective, Dr. Tommie Lewis brings that question to his conversation with Eric Ellis. Together, they reflect on old stories, the expectations we place on ourselves, and the freedom that comes with being honest about where we are now. Then Tommie shares a personal s...

What would you do if you were trapped on a plane beside a hostile stranger who repeatedly insulted you, touched you without permission and tried to provoke a reaction?  On his way to Cancún, Dr. Tommie Lewis faced exactly that situation for nearly two hours. But instead of matching hostility with hostility, he remained grounded, protected his boundaries and made a powerful decision: no one was goi...

What happens when winning a political argument becomes more important than preserving our values—or our relationships? In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis explores how political tribalism can reduce complex human beings to labels, distort the way we see those who disagree with us, and tempt us to excuse behavior from our own side that we would condemn in others. Inspire...

What does it truly mean to remain undefeated when life brings health scares, unexpected setbacks, personal struggles, and moments that make you question who you are? In this deeply personal episode of Diversity Conversations, Dr. Tommie Lewis and Eric Ellis explore why being undefeated does not mean winning every moment or avoiding failure. It means continuing to learn, showing up with faith, and...

What if the conversations that could most improve our lives aren’t the ones dominating television and social media? In this solo episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis explores seven meaningful conversations that can strengthen our relationships, deepen our sense of purpose, and improve the quality of our lives. From building community and learning to receive help to practicing forgiveness...

As artificial intelligence, layoffs, retirement, and generational shifts reshape the workplace, how do we navigate change without losing our sense of identity, purpose, or value? In this episode of Diversity Conversations, Dr. Tommie Lewis speaks with Anyah Land, Certified Executive Coach and founder of SOAR Growth Consulting, about one of the most significant workforce transitions of our time. Dr...

What does it truly mean to be undefeated?  It doesn’t mean that life has been easy, that you have never failed, or that you have never been knocked down. It means choosing to get back up every time life challenges you.  In this episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis shares deeply personal stories of rejection, disappointment, perseverance, faith, and transformation. From being overlooked a...

Negativity can easily dominate our attention, shape the stories we tell ourselves, and influence how we see the future. But protecting our hope and joy does not mean ignoring life’s challenges—it means refusing to let those challenges define us. In this inspiring episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis is joined by Gisele Marcus, Vice Dean and Professor of Practice at Olin Business School a...

What does freedom really mean? In this special Diversity Conversations episode, Eric Ellis explores the powerful connection between leadership, freedom, purpose, and community . Freedom isn't just something we celebrate. It's something we choose to use... It is the opportunity to become who we were created to be. Through personal stories, reflections on leadership, entrepreneurship, char...

Epilepsy affects millions of people around the world, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood neurological conditions. In this episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis welcomes author, speaker, advocate, and epilepsy awareness champion Charles McClinon for an honest conversation about living with epilepsy, recognizing the signs, navigating daily life, and choosing resilience in the face...

In this inspiring episode, Eric Ellis and Dr. Tommie Lewis welcome executive coach, speaker, and business leader Alberto Ortiz, PhD , for a conversation about leadership, purpose, education, organizational culture, and creating a meaningful legacy.  Drawing from his personal journey, Alberto shares how discipline, passion, and lifelong learning shaped his leadership philosophy after taking on adul...

 In this solo episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis explores the powerful connection between character, trust, leadership, and personal growth.  From lessons learned in sports, health, and professional leadership development, Eric shares why true leadership begins with self-awareness, accountability, and the willingness to continuously grow. He discusses the importance of psychological sa...

In this episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis and Tommie Lewis sit down with Gary Prater, Director of Business Development at Ingage Partners, for an insightful discussion about leadership, trust, relationships, workplace culture, and the power of human connection. Gary shares the lessons that shaped him growing up in Forest Park, the influence of his mother, the importance of character,...

In this episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis and Tommie Lewis welcome Amma Gatty, Founder and Executive Director of Culture Encounters, for an inspiring conversation about culture, belonging, immigration, community building, and the power of human connection. Originally from Ghana and now based in Richmond, Virginia, Amma shares her personal journey as a newcomer to the United States and...

 This week on Diversity Conversations, communication strategist, CEO, and author Lee Caraher joins Eric Ellis and Tommie Lewis for a powerful conversation on leadership, workplace culture, communication, trust, personal branding, and the hidden cost of toxic leadership. Lee Caraher is the CEO of Double Forte, a national strategic communications and PR agency, and the author of: • Millennials &...

In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis and Tommie Lewis sit down with Pamela Bevins-Pippin, M.A., Director of STEM Education and Soft Skills for STEM at Hampton University, for a deeply human conversation about cultural intelligence, empathy, leadership, family, and connection. Pamela shares how caring for her older brother with cerebral palsy shaped her understanding of d...

In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations, Eric Ellis and Tommie Lewis sit down with Lisette Martinez Peacock, Chief EDIB Officer at the National Audubon Society, to explore leadership, belonging, cultural awareness, and the future of inclusion work in today’s rapidly changing world. Lisette shares her personal journey growing up Puerto Rican in Detroit, the childhood experience that sha...

In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations , we explore why most leaders fail — and what it actually takes to fix it. We sit down with leadership consultant and talent expert Dr. Melanie Buford to unpack one of the most misunderstood challenges in organizations today: 👉 Leadership problems are rarely technical… they’re human.  ✨ “You can’t solve people problems with technical solutions....

What if storytelling wasn’t just entertainment… but a bridge to identity, culture, and leadership?  In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations, we are joined by the extraordinary storyteller, oral historian, and author Wendy Shearer , who takes us on a deeply moving journey through cultural memory, resilience, and the transformative power of story.  From her Guyanese heritage to her work...

What do great leaders actually do when nothing goes as planned?  In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations , hosts Tommie Lewis and Eric Ellis dive into the real, unfiltered side of leadership—where plans fall apart, expectations shift, and growth becomes unavoidable.  Through honest stories and real-life moments, they explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty with clarity, resilience...

What do you do when life feels uncertain, overwhelming, or emotionally heavy?   In this special episode of Diversity Conversations , what began as a leadership dialogue evolved into a deeply personal and inspiring conversation on hope, joy, healing, feedback, faith, and the power of finding your own sound .  Co-host Eric Ellis takes the audience on a heartfelt journey through:   Why joy must be ch...

What happens when a certification process meant to create opportunity begins to reopen old wounds? In this powerful episode of Diversity Conversations , Eric Ellis and Tommie Lewis welcome Yajaira Morphonios , Founder & CEO of Strategic Alliance Consultants , for a timely discussion on the evolving reality of DBE recertification , leadership under pressure, and the emotional toll many disadvan...