Everything's Not Black & White

What happens when life’s maps completely shatter? In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian sit down with veteran Texas trial attorney Tad Nelson to discuss human crisis, resilience, and starting over. Drawing from over 30 years in family and criminal law, Tad shares a raw look at how people survive major transitions, why men emotionally "check out"...

In this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, Lachandra and Brian sit down with corporate veteran, executive coach, and author Tami Chapek. With nearly 25 years of experience climbing the ranks at major brands like J&J and Edwards Life Sciences, Tami shares what corporate success looks like from the inside—and why it so often leads to burnout and dissatisfaction. The conversation...

Can multiple truths coexist in one conversation? In this episode of Everything’s Not Black & White , hosts Lachandra and Brian sit down with Dr. Hoai Julie Pham , a PhD historian and CEO of Curiosity Based. From her journey as a Vietnamese refugee to her work helping global organizations, Julie explains why replacing judgment with curiosity is the ultimate leadership skill. We dive into the &q...

Lachandra and Brian sit down with wellness strategist Elizabeth Wangugi Etienne (Ellie) to explore the vital connection between rest and human-centered leadership. Challenging "hustle" culture, Ellie discusses longevity thinking, the art of recovery, and reframing burnout as a natural grieving process. This conversation offers a roadmap for reclaiming personal agency and serves as a prev...

In this episode, Lala and Brian move beyond the headlines to explore the human stories behind the current crisis in Iran. They are joined by human rights activist Zolal Habibi, a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, who shares her deeply personal connection to the struggle for freedom. Zolal discusses the haunting parallels between the 1988 massacre—which claimed her father’s life...

In this episode of Everything's Not Black and White, hosts Lala and Brian sit down with Lauren Goché, a principal real estate broker and "witch with wifi," to pull back the curtain on the systemic inequities of the housing market. From the historical violence of redlining and restrictive covenants to the modern-day "fuckery" of private equity buyouts, Lauren explains why h...

In this episode, Lala and Brian sit down with Donna Pope, Executive Director of Heart to Heart Adoptions, to peel back the layers of the adoption experience. From the gut-wrenching grief and "placement" decisions of birth mothers to the complexities of raising three sons as a single adoptive mother, Donna provides a masterclass in empathy, honesty, and "self-determination." Whe...

This episode moves beyond the "binary" of accessibility to explore the lived reality of disability advocacy. Hosts Lachandra and Brian are joined by Jenna Odenberg —Bush Fellow, author of Within My Spokes , and founder of Above and Beyond with U . Jena shares her journey from navigating rural Minnesota in a manual wheelchair to a 20-year career as a music educator. From the "fixed m...

In this episode of Everything’s Not Black and White , Lachandra sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley Jr., a biomedical scientist and CEO of the STEMM and Cancer Health Equity Foundation, to discuss the life-saving necessity of measurable equity. Dr. Manley shares his harrowing personal experiences with medical racism—from witnessing his mother’s mistreatment to navigating a recent surgical recovery wh...

Hosts Lala and Brian welcome Daniel Stoffel, a beloved family member, successful young businessman, and owner of West Oak Salon. Daniel shares his lifelong passion for the beauty industry—from styling Barbie heads to opening his own salon—and the profound impact his LGBTQIA+ identity had on building his business with the very "audacity to be me." He discusses the unique challenges and im...

Join Lala and Brian as they sit down with Nigerian-American psychotherapist and author Agatha Peters, founder of Beautiful Sunshine Therapy and author of Trapped in Their Script. Agatha shares her inspiring journey from working in the ER to starting her own culturally sensitive practice, focusing on helping people break free from the burden of cultural and family expectations. This eye-opening con...

Hosts Lala and Brian welcome the incredibly multi-hyphenate artist Leslie Battle to the show. Leslie, a comedian, dancer, writer, and poet, discusses her diverse career journey, from singing at a Bengals game during her 26 years in the US Army to her latest creative endeavors. She shares insights on overcoming her tendency to bury the lead about her accomplishments, the power of embracing new skil...

 In this episode, hosts Lala and Brian are joined by their brilliant friend and business partner, April Wu, founder of InSphere Consulting. April shares her transformative journey from navigating strict cultural expectations and career burnout to finding her voice and launching her own company. She opens up about the immense pressure of a score-based definition of success she experienced growing u...

  Join hosts Lala and Brian as they welcome their friend, leadership advisor Brian John, to discuss a crucial topic: cognitive wellbeing in the workplace . Brian John shares his personal journey and professional expertise, explaining how a leader's mental state directly impacts an organization's culture. The conversation challenges the idea of a "perfect" leader and advocates f...

Join us as Shanise Pearce, a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, public speaker, and health equity advocate, shares her extraordinary journey of resilience and purpose. From confronting her mortality to discovering the power of community support and self-care, Shanise’s story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring. In this heartfelt conversation, she discusses overcoming the emotion...

On this episode of Everything's Not Black & White, we sit down with Hady Mendez, a NY-based Amazon best-selling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. Hady, the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, shares how her personal journey has shaped her mission to empower underrepresented employees to self-advocate, self-promote, and ascend into leadership roles. From her creative passion for s...

In this powerful episode, we meet Elisabeth, a surrogate who gave life to two children for a special couple and chose to stay closely involved in their lives. Her journey is one of courage, compassion, and redefining family, as she navigates co-parenting across two households with unwavering love and empathy. Elisabeth’s story challenges traditional ideas of family, offering a fresh perspective on...

In this episode, we sit down with an extraordinary guest, Dr. Leslie Powell Ahmadi, who shares her captivating journey from pursuing a Ph. D. in foreign language and culture education at The Ohio State University to unexpectedly falling in love with an Iranian doctoral student in agronomy. As a Black American Christian, she never imagined marrying Mahmoud, a Muslim man, and moving to Iran. Yet, sh...

In this podcast episode, we explore Ashley Brooks' inspiring journey and her groundbreaking book. Ashley's work sheds light on how community-driven civic environments impact personal development and well-being. Ashley's thesis takes us on a qualitative research adventure, using co-design and service design to create inclusive spaces. What makes Ashley's work unique is her dedic...

In this episode of our podcast, we have the privilege of hosting Lizzie Bronte, a remarkable individual who hails from Cameroon and embarked on a life-changing journey to the United States due to political turmoil in her home country. Lizzie shares her heartfelt experiences of adapting to a new culture while cherishing her deep love for Cameroon. She also courageously opens up about her personal s...

In this captivating podcast episode, we're joined by Lori Lutz, a distinguished expert in unlocking human potential for high performance, both in personal and professional spheres. Lori's profound insights center on the idea that every individual possesses a unique source of power within them. Join us as we delve into Lori's wisdom and discover how, by collectively connecting the in...

In this deeply inspiring episode, we sit down with Ella Williams, one of the visionary founders of Posh Teatime Co., a social enterprise and luxury teatime experience company based in central Ohio. Ella opens up about her journey from facing homelessness, hunger, and poverty in her youth, compounded by her mother's battle with mental illness, to becoming a successful entrepreneur, educator, a...

In this compelling episode we're thrilled to welcome Chanel Hughley, author of the poignant memoir, "When His Mistress is His Mother - A Cautionary Tale." Chanel opens up about her past relationship with James, a man who seemed like the perfect partner—funny, kind, and committed. Yet, as they transitioned from dating to marriage, Chanel found herself competing for James' attent...

Join us as Tracy Teuscher sheds light on the daunting threats bees face, from habitat loss and pesticide exposure to climate change. Her insights offer a deeper understanding of the urgency behind bee conservation efforts. But it's not all grim news—Tracy also empowers listeners with actionable steps they can take to make a positive impact. From planting bee-friendly gardens and supporting lo...

In this impactful episode, we explore a compelling event that occurred during a fundraiser for Kaleidoscope Youth Center, held at Land Grant. Initially intended as a joyous occasion to celebrate and support the center, the day took an unexpected turn when a hateful Nazi far-right group, fully masked, armed, and resolute in spreading their toxic ideology, decided to protest the event. As a result,...