Support is Sexy

Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and mental health. Founder/CEO  Jean Ibañez Payne of TI Verbatim Consulting shares how to build humane, people-first cultures—without outsourcing leadership to HR—and her courageous journey as a military sexual trauma survivor choosing healing, daily. Highlights "Going to work shouldn't suck": why culture starts at the top , not in H...

In this powerful conversation, Life Coach Jelan Agnew, LCSW shares how ICU-level burnout during 2020 became her wake-up call to design life on purpose. She walks us through the mindset shifts that took her from overachievement and overload to presence, sobriety, and self-permission—ultimately moving to Mexico and reshaping her work from one-to-one therapy into coaching, workshops, and speaking. We...

Episode theme: Self‑care on your terms, scaling with intention, and growing a modern wellness brand without burning out. Guest: Stephanie Morimoto — CEO & Owner of Asutra ; partner with Venus Williams ; champion of practical self‑care. What you'll learn What "self‑care on your terms" looks like (micro‑rituals you can actually keep). Why Stephanie bought a business she loved—and how she knew she's...

In this powerful and timely episode, I'm honored to connect with historian JerriAnne Boggis — Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire — for a deeply resonant conversation about history, healing, and holding onto the truth. JerriAnne shares her personal journey from Jamaica to New Hampshire, the legacy of Black women trailblazers, and the 450-year untold story of Black lives...

What an absolute JOY it was to reconnect with my sister-friend and former colleague from our Essence magazine days, the brilliant storyteller and explorer Tara Roberts! 🧡 Tara is someone I've admired for decades—not only for her sharp editorial mind and deep heart, but also for her fearless pursuit of meaningful storytelling. And in this conversation, we dive (pun intended!) into her latest trans...

In this inspiring episode of  Support is Sexy , host Elayne Fluker speaks with Gina Diaz — immigration and real estate attorney, entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and advocate for women's empowerment. From being deported twice as a child before finally settling in the U.S., to becoming a single mother at 19, to beating ovarian cancer in her early 30s, Gina's journey is a testament to resilience and f...

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, I speak to my brilliant friend Dr. Zoe Shaw, author of the upcoming book— Stronger in the Difficult Places— about what she calls Complex Shame. Dr. Zoe defines Complex Shame as "a hidden emotional wound many women carry from childhood or relational trauma." Dr. Zoe Shaw is a licensed psychotherapist, motivational speaker, podcast host of Stronger In...

As an executive coach, speaker and facilitator of leadership development workshops, I lean into my specialty around Soft Skills -- which are non-technical skills such as empathy, emotional intelligence, adaptability and resilience -- and teach on the topic in diffferent forums.  One place I teach is as an instructor is on LinkedIn, where I have over 78,000 followers and where one of my courses on...

Anna Radulovski is author of Chief in Tech: How Women Are Breaking the Silicon Ceiling and Leading with Impact  and she is the Founder and CEO of WomenTech Network — a global community with 150,000 members across 179 countries. WomenTech Network provides mentorship, career development, and networking opportunities connecting women with industry leaders at top companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and...

Laid off? Worried about being laid off? You are not alone! It's a tough time and we're all experiencing it together. In the first two months of 2025, approximately 221,812 Americans have lost their jobs—a 33% increase compared to the same period in 2024*. These losses are across every sector, from government jobs to the private sector, hitting us all hard. There are no easy answers on when it will...

Marcia Dawood is the author of Do Good While Doing Well  and the host of The Angel Next Door Podcast, where she interviews angel investors and helps her listeners learn more how people got started investing in startup companies. Marcia holds investments in over 50 early-stage companies and funds, is a venture partner with Mindshift Capital and she's a member of Golden Seeds , one of the largest an...

Uncertainty -- like change -- is constant. But during certain times in our lives, Growth Mindset Coach Cole Baker-Bagwell says it may be more pronounced. In this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Cole shares how tapping into a growth mindset allows you to be resilient, reinvent and remain open to the possibilities.   Learn more about Cole Baker-Bagwell at https://colebakerbagwell.com/

After taking some time off and navigating many major life changes, I'm excited to be back and doing something I love! Hosting the Support is Sexy podcast and having conversations with incredible women around the world (while reminding you of the importance of embracing support in your life no matter how ambitious you are) is such a joy. I'm grateful to be back and back at it!  Whether you're a new...

Are you holding something back? Are you staying quiet when there's a part of you aching to speak up? I hope this lesson I recently received about self-expression encourages you to open up, use your voice and find your peace. 

Exactly one year ago today I recorded a podcast episode from the beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and shared that I was determined to relocate to the country and start my next chapter there. Well, one year later -- here's how I made that happen, and the lessons I've learned along the way! You'll also notice that I've updated the name of the podcast from Support is Sexy to The Elayne Fluker Show ....

I'm here, on the beach in Mexico, taking the first step toward my dream of living in this beautiful country full-time. I'm exploring the possibilities -- and I'm encouraging you to do the same. Where are you standing still in your life when you know deep down it's time to make a move. Where are you settling when you could be soaring? Now is the time to dream of the possibilities, and put a plan in...

Eduardo Placer is the Founder and CEO of Fearless Communicators® —which is diverse, inclusive, public speaking coaching business that works with emerging and accomplished thought leaders on what they say and how they say it. Fearless Communicators® teaches clients how to bring their whole body, mind, heart and spirit to a moment and channel their message in service of an audience.      Originally...

Nzinga Shaw is a global DEI Strategist who has worked in the space of DEI for 20+ years. Nzinga has hands-on experience and knowledge of inclusion & diversity, equity, accessibility, change & crisis management, human capital management, talent acquisition, organizational planning, employee relations, branding, and community engagement. She is the President and Global Practice Head of ZRG Partners,...

Does social media have you stressed out? How do you know what platform needs your focus? Do you need to be everywhere?   These are some of the questions I asked social media and branding expert Altimese Nicole. Altimese is the founder of The EZER Agency -- a Black woman-owned, MBE Certified public relations and digital marketing agency that helps clients showcase sincere storytelling through digit...

"Who's going to take care of me when I'm old?" As someone who is childfree (and who is also primary caregiver for my elderly parents), I have often asked myself this question. In fact, the question gave me lots of anxiety. That is until I came across a recent article featuring Childfree Wealth Specialist Jay Zigmont. Jay Zigmont is an Advice-Only, Fee-Only, Fiduciary, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™....

Actress and Emmy-award winning voiceover talent  Andia Winslow is co-star of Amazon's #1 new series "A League of Their Own" (where she plays "Esther") and star of the award-winning indie film "Playing Through" -- where she plays history making golfer Ann Gregory. A retired pro-golfer, elite athlete and wellness advocate, Andia talks to us on this episode about being open to the possibilities, rema...

Trey Anthony is a visionary creator who uses the unique blend of comedy, theater, motivational talk, and her own life experiences to inspire and lift up others.  Trey's sold-out hit play, 'da Kink in My Hair, grossed millions and broke box office records across Canada, the United States, and England after it premiered in 2001. It was named one of the top ten plays in Canadian theatrical history an...

Maintaining your health and wellness is more important than ever -- physically and mentally. But what does it mean to be fit for life? How does your health affect your ability to be successful? And what are the best tips for staying motivated? On this episode of the podcast, I dive in with my special guest and good friend Mark Jenkins, who has more than 40,000 of fitness training and has worked wi...

Money is a part of our everyday lives -- and with current inflation and housing fluctuations and gas-price hikes, it's the topic of daily conversations around our kitchen tables. So why do so many of us struggle to talk about it?   If you have money questions and you want to get some insight from an expert on what you should be thinking about at this stage of your life, listen to my candid "money...

Candace Doby is the founder of the Can-Do Company — which is a speaking and coaching business dedicated to helping emerging leaders activate personal courage in order to perform to their potential in work and life. They've helped over 25,000 emerging leaders across the U.S. conjure their courage and take worthwhile risks … risks like speaking up with an unpopular opinion in a meeting of like minds...