Next Move with Dee

In this episode, I break down the origins of the “angry Black woman” label and how it still shows up today. Especially in professional spaces where confidence, preparation, and direct communication can be misinterpreted. Because a lot of what you’re reacting to isn’t just about her. It’s about a narrative that’s been attached to Black women long before we ever stepped into these rooms. I share a m...

In this episode of Next Move with Dee, we’re getting into something most people experience but don’t know how to navigate in real time: How to respond when something inappropriate happens without losing control of how you’re perceived. Because here’s the truth: Being right is not the same as being effective. In high-stakes healthcare environments, your response doesn’t just address the moment — it...

The mental toll of microaggressions is something many Black women and women of color in healthcare experience—but rarely talk about openly. In this episode, I break down what it actually feels like to carry these interactions day after day, how it impacts your confidence, and how it can quietly shift how you see yourself as a provider. This is not just about what happens in the moment. It’s about...

In healthcare spaces, there are moments when something happens , and you pause and think: Did that really just happen? Not every interaction is overt racism. But many Black women and women of color working in clinical environments recognize when something about an interaction doesn’t sit right. In this episode of  Microaggression Mastery , we break down the three common types of microaggressions t...

This episode is part of the March series, where we’re breaking down microaggressions in healthcare spaces and how women of color can navigate them with clarity, composure, and authority. In this episode of  Next Move with Dee , Dr. Dee Rayford, DNP, CRNA discusses one of the most common comments many women of color encounter in professional environments: being told they are “very articulate.” At f...

In this episode, I break down a clinical experience that forced me to confront a difficult reality. Anesthesia training is not just about skill. It is also about power, perception, and narrative control. After being publicly humiliated by a preceptor and watching grace be distributed differently among students, I began to recognize how reputation can be shaped without you in the room. Some environ...

Confidence in the workplace isn’t about being loud, dominant, or having all the answers. In this episode of Next Move with Dee , I talk honestly about what developing confidence actually looked like for me as a CRNA—from navigating high-stakes environments to being assessed before I ever spoke. I share how transitioning from bedside nurse to provider reshaped my understanding of leadership, calm u...

Confidence isn’t something you’re given — it’s something you decide. In this short episode, I talk about why waiting for permission keeps capable people stuck, how decisiveness builds self-trust, and what it looks like to choose clarity over perfection. This episode is for anyone who already knows what they want to do — but hasn’t said yes to themselves yet.

This is Next Move with Dee — a podcast covering honest conversations about anesthesia and navigating high-pressure careers with confidence, boundaries, and clarity. Some episodes will be public. Some will be exclusive to Patreon members. If you’re here, you’re already thinking about your next move.