Five with Fry

What Should Your City Council Member Be Doing for You? Ever wonder what your city council member actually does—or should be doing? In this episode of Five with Fry , Dr. Jen Fry sits down with Councilwoman Shontel Lewis of Denver’s District 8 to break it all down. As the only Black woman and the first openly queer Black woman on Denver’s City Council, Lewis brings both lived experience and politic...

Think board games are just innocent fun? Not so fast. In this raw and hilarious episode of Five with Fry , I’m diving into the very real emotional chaos of tabletop games, starting with the time 10-year-old me absolutely lost it during a game of Monopoly with my mom. (There were tears, screams, and the entire board ended up on the brown carpet.) Board games aren’t just about passing the time. They...

Who gets saved, and who gets sacrificed? In this episode of Five with Fry , Dr. Jen Fry digs into the uncomfortable—but essential—question at the heart of college coaching: Who is deemed “worth saving” when things get tough? Drawing from a powerful panel at the Drake Group Symposium, Jen unpacks how race and gender show up in retention decisions, especially when it comes to Black women coaches. Th...

In the final installment of our three-part series, Kierra Pelz and I dig into one of the most overlooked but critical parts of leading well: proactive communication . Because let’s be honest: it’s one thing to put out fires. It’s another thing to build a culture where fewer fires happen in the first place. We discuss how communication shapes team culture from the ground up and what leaders can do...

In Part 2 of our conversation, Kierra Pelz and I pick up right where we left off — digging deeper into what it really takes to handle tough conversations with care, clarity, and confidence. This episode is all about learning how to slow down and show up, especially when emotions are high. We explore the power of the 24-hour rule : a simple but powerful practice that gives people space to cool off,...

The so-called “prank” on Shedeur Sanders during the NFL Draft wasn’t funny. It was calculated cruelty disguised as humor. In this Bonus Fryday episode, I unpack what really happened when a 21-year-old adult used stolen confidential information to humiliate someone for views, clout, and laughs. This wasn’t some harmless joke. It was a public act of disrespect, with real consequences for dignity, tr...

In this episode of Five with Fry , I’m joined by my good friend Kierra Pelz — a passionate coach, gym owner at Premier Academy, and a powerhouse in the world of cheerleading. Kierra shares her journey from reluctant participant to strong leader, and together, we dig into one of the trickiest parts of coaching and leadership: managing difficult conversations. We talk about the unique challenges wom...

Welcome to Secure the Damn Job , a special series on Five with Fry where I break down what actually works when you're applying for jobs. Sponsored by Hyreable (the career development wing of JenFryTalks), this three-part series covers cover letters, resumes, and interviews with real talk, real strategy, and zero fluff. Whether you're making a career move or entering the workforce, I’m he...

Today’s college athletes are navigating a storm of pressures that previous generations never had to face, and it's costing lives. In this powerful and urgent episode of Five with Fry , Dr. Jen Fry takes a hard look at the mental health crisis devastating college athletics, sparked by the heartbreaking death by suicide of LSU football player Kyren Lacy. It’s a wake-up call we can’t afford to i...

Welcome to Secure the Damn Job , a special series on Five with Fry where I break down what actually works when you're applying for jobs. Sponsored by Hyreable (the career development wing of JenFryTalks), this three-part series covers resumes, cover letters, and interviews with real talk, real strategy, and zero fluff. Whether you're making a career move or entering the workforce, I’m he...

Welcome to Secure the Damn Job , a special series on Five with Fry where I break down what actually works when you're applying for jobs. Sponsored by Hyreable (the career development wing of JenFryTalks), this three-part series covers cover letters, resumes, and interviews with real talk, real strategy, and zero fluff. Whether you're making a career move or entering the workforce, I’m he...

How to Handle the Emotional Side of Entrepreneurship (and Why Community Matters) Let’s be honest—entrepreneurship is an emotional rollercoaster. In this episode of Five with Fry , I’m back with my mentor Ty Smith for part two of our conversation, and we’re getting into the real stuff: the emotional weight of building something from scratch and how to keep going when things get hard. We talk about...

In this bonus episode of Five with Fry , I’m diving into a recent viral moment from the track world that’s got everyone talking—and not for the right reasons. A female athlete was caught on camera deliberately striking another runner during a relay race, then followed it up with a classic “non-apology” that did more harm than good. Sitting next to her parents, she delivered an implausible story ab...

Avoiding the Traps of Overconfidence: Five Lessons for New Entrepreneurs with Ty Smith What if the biggest obstacle to your startup’s success is… you? In this episode of Five with Fry , I sit down with veteran lean startup consultant Tyrome "Ty" Smith to unpack the common missteps that trip up new entrepreneurs—like overconfidence, skipping market research, and asking the wrong questions...

The Soft Skill That Will Make or Break Your Career We hear a lot about hard skills—degrees, certifications, technical know-how. But what about soft skills? You know, the ones that actually determine whether you thrive in your workplace. In this episode of Five with Fry , we're talking about the soft skill that people love to avoid: conflict management. Too often, conflict gets labeled as a wo...

When a Fun Volleyball Trend Becomes a Lesson in Consent What happens when a seemingly harmless sports tradition gets people fired up about consent? In this episode of Five with Fry , we’re talking about clipping —a popular trend in volleyball where players pin decorated clothespins onto each other. Sounds fun, right? But what happens when a player doesn’t want to be clipped? What happens when a yo...

Not Everything is Meant for You—And That’s Okay Let’s talk about Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show —the performance that had some people on their feet and others scratching their heads. Was it a cultural masterpiece, or did it just not land for you? Either way, that’s completely okay —because not everything is meant for everyone. On this episode of Five with Fry , we’re diving into the mix...

What does it really mean to be an ally in 2025? In this episode of Five with Fry , I sit down with Dr. Victoria Farris to unpack how "Good Girl" conditioning holds white women back from stepping fully into anti-racism work. Dr. Farris, an expert on social conditioning, breaks down how ingrained behaviors—like the fear of making waves or the need for approval—can lead to silence when it m...

Let’s be honest— feedback can be tough. Whether you're receiving it or giving it, it’s not always easy to navigate. But what if we stopped seeing feedback as something to fear and started using it as a tool for growth? In this episode of Five with Fry , I’m sharing my own journey from hating feedback to embracing it as a catalyst for change. Inspired by Wes Kao’s expertise in communication, I...

We need to talk about boundaries —especially in families. Why is it that when someone sets a boundary with their parents, it’s often seen as disrespectful ? In this episode of Five with Fry , I’m diving into the intense online debate sparked by a simple request: a young woman asking her smoking mother to step outside. The backlash? Unreal. But it reveals something deeper—why do so many people beli...

This episode delves into the significance of hardships in shaping meaningful relationships. It discusses how navigating through challenging times reveals the true character of individuals and enriches bonds of trust and vulnerability. • Importance of experiencing hardship to know someone deeply   • Hardship reveals vulnerability and shapes meaningful relationships   • The misconception of healthy...

This episode emphasizes the importance of self-care and active political engagement during turbulent times. We explore how personal boundaries, emotional awareness, and strategic voting can help navigate the complexities of current politics. • Prioritizing personal self-care in chaotic times  • Ignoring emotional distress damages health and relationships. • Political apathy harms communities and e...

Life’s tough moments can actually be our biggest opportunities to grow. In this first episode of Five with Fry , I’m diving into why we shouldn’t shy away from challenges. I’ll share my own journey, from Five Minutes with Fry on YouTube to launching this podcast, and explore how embracing “hard” moments can lead to stronger relationships and personal breakthroughs. We’ll talk about why difficultie...