Mindset on Resilience

In Episode 38 of Mindset on Resilience , we sit down with Vernon Wright—speaker, author, and educator—who shares his unexpected journey from the corporate world to the field of education. Initially unsure if he belonged in education, Vernon soon realized that his path was leading him exactly where he was meant to be. After transitioning from the classroom to facilitating professional development,...

In this episode of the Mindset on Resilience, we sit down with Antoine McClain to discuss the ups and downs of his transition from a highly recruited athlete to playing in the NFL and eventually finding his purpose beyond the game. Antoine shares how his vision and discipline not only helped him excel at Clemson under Dabo Swinney and win a Super Bowl with the 2012 Baltimore Ravens, but also guide...

In Episode 36 of Mindset on Resilience , we’re joined by Sofia Gonzalez, an educator and U.S. Department of Education School Ambassador from the Chicagoland area. Sofia began her teaching career in 2009 at a second-chance charter school in inner-city Chicago, where education meant much more than academics—it was, for some students, the difference between life and death. Her experiences in this cha...

In Episode 35 of Mindset on Resilience , we are joined by Dr. Max Weinberg, owner and consultant of Belonging LLC, author, and former principal. Now a leadership coach for principals across Chicago, Dr. Weinberg's journey into education was deeply rooted in his experiences as a young person. Witnessing classmates and community members being singled out based on their appearance ignited his pas...

In Episode 34 of Mindset on Resilience , we are joined by Logan Taylor, also known as Mr. Y.B. Normal?—a speaker, author, education consultant, and most importantly, a dedicated father to three amazing children. Growing up without his parents and raised by his resilient grandmother, Logan learned early on that in order to be the great father he aspired to be, he first had to become a great person....

In Episode 33 of Mindset on Resilience , Edward DeShazer, the Executive Director of Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy, shares his journey from a troubled student to a transformational leader. As a student, he struggled with the traditional school system, finding himself suspended over 30 times and expelled three times. Labelled as a "special ed" student, he faced numerous behavior ch...

In this episode of Mindset on Resilience, we’re joined by three exceptional educators who collectively have almost 50 years of experience and continue to make an impact in the world of education. Rasaan Rohan has spent 20 years in education and is a proud Howard graduate. With multiple nominations for Teacher of the Year and recognition as Professional of the Year, Rasaan is a firm advocate for ma...

In Episode 031 of Mindset on Resilience , we are joined by educator, speaker, and coach E. Josiah Kenty, a former college football player who now plays for championships every day off the field. He opens up about life after football and the journey to rediscover his "why" once the game was over. With a deep passion for helping others see and reach their potential, Josiah reflects on the...

In Episode 30 of Mindset on Resilience, we sit down with Dr. Atkins, Principal of Westlawn Middle School, a state and national school of character. Dr. Atkins' passion to become an educator was sparked at a young age and never changed. After nine years in the classroom, she felt called to make a broader impact, leading her to become an assistant principal. Her desire to shape the lives of stud...

In Episode 029 of Mindset on Resilience, Jackie Hudgins, Director of Accountability and former school counselor shares about her own adverse childhood experiences and how they shaped her passion for advocating not only for the students she serves but also for the adults in the room. She emphasizes that scars are part of your story, and forgiveness is a crucial element in the healing process. Jacki...

In Episode 028 of Mindset on Resilience, Dr. Will Moreland, shares his transformative journey from the streets of Compton, CA, to becoming an international speaker, author, and success coach. Raised by his grandmother, who instilled in him values of faith, character, and integrity, Will faced a different kind of education outside his home—one that almost led him to jail. However, an unexpected opp...

In Episode 027 of Mindset on Resilience, we’re joined by Bennie Williams, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Multicultural Student Center at Canisius University. He shares his education journey, starting in his hometown of Buffalo at his alma mater, Canisius University, a place known for cultivating leaders. Bennie originally aspired to be a lawyer, but fell in love with education and...

In Episode 026 of Mindset on Resilience, we are joined by William Winfield, Speaker and Education Consultant, who shares his powerful story of overcoming adversity. Raised by a single mother and eventually placed in foster care for a short stint, William faced immense challenges at a young age. His early experiences impacted his ability to engage in school, leading to academic struggles that were...

In Episode 025 of Mindset on Resilience, we sit down with Ty Blocker, Director of Student Services, who brings 25 years of experience in education to the table. Ty shares the importance of helping and supporting students with overcoming barriers beyond the classroom. Reflecting on his own high school experience, he talks about the counselor who believed in him and how this encouragement led him to...

In Episode 024 of Mindset on Resilience, we are joined by Sheree Hardrick, Director of Federal Programs and Founder of G.I.R.L.S Supporting G.I.R.L.S. She shares her inspiring journey from being raised by her loving grandmother, who instilled in her the values of hard work and dedication. Without her mother consistently in her life, Sheree became what she didn’t have by becoming a positive role mo...

In Episode 023 of Mindset on Resilience, we are joined by Jerrod Smith, founder of The Fight Club coaching program. He shares his story of overcoming early trauma that stemmed from his parents’ separation, and the troubling path which led to being incarcerated for five years. Jerrod opens up about the importance of confronting and unpacking your trauma, emphasizing the significance of fighting fro...

In Episode 022 of Mindset on Resilience, Jared Scott opens up about dealing with trauma at a young age, having lost two friends to suicide and experiencing his parents' separation. For a long time, he avoided sharing his true feelings, believing vulnerability to be a weakness, and instead turned to music to spread hope. Jared discusses the dangers of suppressing emotions, which can lead to dep...

In Episode 021 of Mindset on Resilience, Jeremiah Brown shares his journey from seeking external validation in the NFL spotlight to discovering his true identity and purpose. Through a personal journey of self-discovery, Jeremiah shares how he navigated the transition from athlete to empowering others to develop their own identity, emphasizing that football was what he did, not who he is. Tune in...

In Episode 020 of Mindset on Resilience, we talk to Carlos Malave about the restorative power of relationships. Carlos shares his journey of navigating his relationship with his father, who was a product of the school-to-prison pipeline. Drawing parallels between the masks we wear and his culture of dancing, Carlos highlights how we often dance around issues rather than confront them directly. He...

In Episode 019 of Mindset on Resilience, Mr. David Bobo shares the importance of resilience and how to bounce back from adversity. He discusses the significance of showing up and remaining relentless, no matter what challenges life presents. Emphasizing the value of taking small steps along the journey, he reminds us that "smooth seas never made a good sailor." Drawing from his own exper...

In Episode 018 of Mindset on Resilience, Dr. Joshua P. Smith, a faith-based licensed professional counselor, joins us to discuss the vital topic of men's mental health. Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for men to address their mental well-being and encourages men to speak out rather than remain in the silence that feels safe. He highlights the need for men's voic...

In Episode 017 of Mindset on Resilience, Allison Moore shares a refreshing perspective for navigating the different chapters of our story. Our lives are a working draft. We’ll always have work to do and more chapters to live out. The Executive Director of the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation and Co-Founder of ThriveWay, shares her path to impacting the lives of thousands of students and adults thr...

In Episode 016 of Mindset on Resilience, Nate Evans Jr. reveals the epiphany that sparked his healing journey. After experiencing many traumatic events, he found an escape from it all on the basketball court, but later discovered it was a bandaid covering a much larger wound. Instead of dealing with the issue, he chose to run from the pain which led to him losing multiple basketball scholarships....

In Episode 015 of Mindset on Resilience, Caleb Wesco delivers a masterclass in utilizing words to shape how we see the world. As we travel through peaks and valleys in life, he gives us all a reminder that we’ve survived 100% of our worst days. Tune in to hear the highly sought-after Mindset Expert and creator of the Let’s Get Motivated Experience, serve a full course of motivation needed as we wa...

In Episode 014 of Mindset on Resilience, Lytrice Washington-Murray discusses the power of leading by example; emphasizing the importance of modeling behavior and core values. Always striving for her good to be better and her better to become best, she recognizes the pursuit of self-improvement is a journey that never ends. Tune in to hear the proud principal of Sumter Central High School share val...