Hey I'm Listening With Dr. Joan

We are often confronted with temptations that seek to derail us from God's path. However, when we are armed with the strength and discernment provided by His love, we can resist those temptations, stay true to our convictions and draw closer to Him. By relying on God's love and continuous growth and maturation in the word we can recognize what the garden, serpent, and fall look like in our...

In a world filled with uncertainties, unlocking the timeless wisdom found within scripture can bring clarity, guidance, and strength. Applying God's Word to everyday life involves several key practices that help us integrate its teachings into our thoughts, actions, and relationships. By immersing ourselves in the teachings of God, we gain a compass to navigate life's intricacies, finding...

Playing small is a self-imposed limitation that prevents individuals from reaching their full potential. Despite the many gifts and talents of the members of the Black community, we are constantly playing small and shying away from our strengths. Stepping out of the confines of playing small requires embracing vulnerability, one's unique strengths, and daring to take risks. Only by embracing t...

Being a person of color in the entertainment industry brings forth a complex tapestry of experiences and challenges. Despite significant strides toward diversity and inclusion, systemic barriers persist. There is a constant need for a person of color to prove their worth. However, compared to decades ago, there has been growth and their presence and talent continue to redefine the industry inspiri...

When passion meets perseverance, weariness becomes a testament to relentless pursuit. The pursuit of the good tired is a relentless drive to exhaust all possibilities and find fulfillment in the fatigue of accomplishment. The quest for wealth and money has placed many in a state where they feel burned out with no sense of purpose or fulfillment. How can you follow your passion despite the wearines...

Life is a state of consciousness, and unless you change your state of consciousness nothing else changes. There comes a time when you transition from being mentored to becoming a mentor, from being served to serving, and from being a student to a teacher. Understanding and being conscious of these different facets of life’s journey helps you know when to embrace the new and shed the old. In this e...

“You only live twice: Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face”. There is a realization about the purpose one ought to fulfill when faced with the possibility of actual death. You realize that you’re not living for anyone else but yourself and you have to take a chance on yourself. Rather than trying to find meaning in the near-death experience, take a chance to live, and co...

Some of our beliefs are rooted in fear and the routine of those before us. Questioning why you do what you do can lead to change, and also lead to reaffirming what you already believe, strengthening your beliefs even more. Take a moment to reflect on your life, what are some of the beliefs and things you need to let go of? In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Bianca Hughes a...

The Black Community often conceal the traumas they face to avoid oversharing. As a result, certain expectations have been placed on Black people to be strong and perfect while denying them of the chance to be vulnerable. When we share our stories and experiences as a people, we can create healing communities that would help others experiencing traumas heal or even avoid trauma altogether. Creating...

Connecting with self is essential for living authentically. It requires you to be attentive and attuned to what is going on inside of you, to know who you are, and have a positive relationship with yourself. Knowing the depths of who you are means understanding your own make-up, and being aware of the various dimensions that make up your being and this helps you make the choices that keep you on y...

We are sometimes unaware that we are in a perfectionist zone. You set excessively high personal standards, are overly critical of yourself, battle the sense of not being enough, have imposter syndrome, procrastinate because you want to get it perfect while setting unrealistic expectations, and constantly move the goalpost. These are traits of being in the perfectionism zone. How do you free yourse...

The consistent and exhausting circle of trying to be enough, and trying to be perfect comes from a fear of judgment or disapproval from others and the feeling of not being enough. Pursuing perfection prevents you from being your authentic self and keeps you from seeing the value in all you have done despite your high achievement. Overcoming perfectionism requires a lot of personal work, self-accep...

Understanding the phase of life you're in, gives you perspective to your current situation. Sometimes your past can help you understand your present by positioning you to see patterns that might otherwise be invisible in the present or future. Likewise, your present or future can give you a better understanding of the past. When you understand the phases of your life, you learn to make the rig...

Whether you’re looking to build a stronger network or seeking career guidance, mentorship is a great way to settle in Canada as a newcomer. You can seek mentorship through Professional Networking Events, Industry Meetups, and volunteering to give back to the community. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Chidi Iwuchukwu about Mentorship for Newcomers in Canada Chidi Iwuchuk...

When experiencing life's challenges and obstacles, it is sometimes difficult to be hopeful beyond the situation and look at the future. In such a season, more than ever, one needs a change of perspective and foresight to go through the challenges with the hope that they would come out better in the end. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Chidi Iwuchukwu about Navigatin...

Starting afresh in a new country comes with excitement, challenges, and culture shocks. There are different reasons people immigrate to other countries; however, Resilience, a Change of Mindset, and being community minded/driven are some of the top things needed when immigrating to Canada. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Chidi Iwuchukwu about Starting Afresh As A New Im...

We experience adversities at different points in our lives. Some of these adversities can create traumatic experiences, change the course of our lives and point us to a new direction, people, or location. How do you push past the adversities life throws at you and make it to the other side? In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Chidi Iwuchukwu about Overcoming Life's Adve...

Representation is evidence of the equality of opportunities and an outcome of a strong belief in diversity and inclusion. The Black community continues to lack leadership representation, making it harder for them to express their authenticity, cultivate their talents, and seek refuge from predominately white spaces. How can there be greater Black leadership representation? In this episode of Hey,...

Mentors provide insight into specific professional situations, negotiation tactics, opportunities, and career path goals. Choosing the right person to be your mentor is important based on your career goals and your relationship with them. However, seeking mentorship for the first time can be an unsettling procedure, leaving you with questions such as, "How do you ask to be mentored?" How...

Leadership is often associated with leading others–how leaders serve them, empower them, and motivate them. An important aspect of leadership is Self- Leadership, taking the position of a leader in your life, knowing that you can overcome the challenges that may come and your past does not have permission to dictate your future. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Jecara Ri...

Every human has a belief system that shapes how they view the world. It affects every aspect of their life including their finances and the amount that they feel comfortable with. It is important to understand the beliefs we hold on to concerning our finances so as to break out of a lack mentality to that of abundance. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Jecara Rivera about...

Success strategies are plans that guide your personal growth in achieving what you want. This includes forming habits that support your success or letting go of habits that hinder your success. Self-leadership is a crucial success technique discussed in this episode; having a developed sense of who you are, what you can do, and where you are going coupled with the ability to influence your communi...

A movement for holistic safety would be one where we value everyone, where a connection is critical, and where all factors are considered for our well-being and we continue to show up as our full selves daily. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks with Dr. Nneka A Movement for Holistic Safety Dr. Nneka Jones Tapia is the Managing Director of Justice Initiatives at Chicago Beyond....

How do we create policies that would reduce the harm caused by the incarceration system? Do all crimes deserve incarceration? How do we stop the normalization of the social response to trauma? When do we start to speak about our cumulative experiences as a Black Nation? We have to start speaking about these issues if we desire a change in our world and healing among the Black Community In this epi...

Healing the Black Nation starts with Education; a firm understanding of who we are, and where we come from, knowing that our history did not start with enslavement and we have value. Connection is healing and is needed to heal the Black Nation, we need to incorporate more space to connect with ourselves in order to connect with other people. In this episode of Hey, I’m Listening, Dr. Joan speaks w...