Thank You For Saying NO

Welcome back, everyone, to a brand-new season of Thank You For Saying NO! We're kicking off the year with a solo episode that's all about setting intentions for 2024. In the spirit of the TYFSN podcast, we're not talking traditional resolutions. Instead, it's about what we want to let go of this year—what we're saying NO to. Kenya dives deep into her own journey and shares what she’s letting go of...

In this illuminating Rejection Reflections we are joined by the remarkable Kate Young. Kate's journey is a testament to the transformative power of rejection, and she shares her inspiring story of how a missed job opportunity became the catalyst for her dream career. Kate candidly recounts her experience of enduring multiple rounds of interviews, investing time and energy into a position she was h...

In this week's Rejection Reflections, we sit down with Arielle Nissenblatt, a podcast guru who wears many hats in the podcasting world. Ariel shares a profound moment in her life when she faced a pivotal decision. She had dreams of studying ancient Jewish history in Spain, but when that opportunity didn’t work out a surprising opportunity presented itself. A chance to live and teach geography in C...

In this week's Rejection Reflections, we have the privilege of sitting down with Gerald Walden, Esq. Gerald takes us on a journey of resilience and determination, showcasing how a series of challenging "NO" moments shaped the trajectory of his career and life. From law school rejections to overcoming hundreds of job application denials, Gerald's story is a testament to the transformative power of...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with the incredible Kavita Kukar to explore the profound journey of self-discovery that emerged from a pivotal "NO" moment—a breakup. Kavita candidly shares her experience, revealing how the end of a significant relationship became a catalyst for her personal transformation. It's a story of resilience, empowerment, and the unwavering pursuit of self-worth.  ...

On this week's Rejection Reflections, we're joined by a remarkable guest, Les Alfred, the dynamic host of the Balanced Black Girl podcast. Les shares her incredible journey of transformation and resilience, revealing how a pivotal NO moment in her life led to the creation of a powerful platform that celebrates wellness and community. Prepare to be inspired by Les Alfred's journey from a failed fit...

On this week's Rejection Reflections, we sit down with Andrea Sager, founder of Legalprenuer. Andrea talks about a pivotal moment many of us can relate to: getting fired from a job. Rather than letting this setback define her, Andrea turned it into an opportunity to rediscover herself and her true calling. Tune in to hear how she harnessed the emotions of disappointment and uncertainty to fuel her...

On this week's Rejection Reflections, we sit down with Gerard Edwards, founder of Podcast Radio. In this inspiring conversation, Gerard recounts how a heartbreaking "NO" in his career led to the creation of a thriving and influential company, Podcast Radio. Gerard's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. He shares the gripping story of working tirelessly to help build a radi...

On this week's Rejection Reflections, we sit down with Anna DeShawn, host of Queer News, an award winning podcast, and founder of The Qube, a network producing podcasts centering & celebrating race & sexuality. In this episode, Anna Deshawn shares her incredible journey of transforming rejection into resilience. Anna, a visionary entrepreneur, divulges the story of how a pivotal "No" in he...

In this week's Rejection Reflections, we sit down with Latoya Coleman from the That Wasn’t In My Textbook podcast. In this episode, we dive into an inspiring journey of transformation and resilience. Latoya talks about how a group blog falling through led her to create her podcast on her own. Throughout this conversation, the pair talk about how how a group blog falling through led Latoya to creat...

In this week's Rejection Reflections, we sit down with Gillian Tietz, the creator of Sober Powered. Gillian shares her personal journey, beginning with a pivotal moment in her career when she was passed over for a long-anticipated promotion. Gillian harnessed this setback as a catalyst for profound change. Whether you're seeking career inspiration or are on your own journey of self-discovery, this...

We’re starting a weekly drop of shorter TYFSN interviews called Rejection Reflections. Every Monday morning we’re going to release a ten minute or less episode. These are impromptu interviews with people who have an inspiring Thank You For Saying NO moment. That means we record these episodes anywhere and everywhere! I hope they inspire you and help you start your week off on a positive note.   In...

In this episode of the Thank You For Saying NO podcast, we're joined by the incredible Bimma Williams, who shares his journey of leaving Nike to start his own business, Claima. Bimma talks about the challenges he faced along the way, and how he used his experiences to fuel his passion for starting Claima. He also offers valuable insights into what it takes to succeed as a business owner. Kenya and...

In this episode of Thank You For Saying NO, Justin Davis shares his experience with NOs in relationships and the valuable lessons he's learned from them. From pushing through fears of letting people in to navigating boundaries to communicating effectively, Justin and Kenya explore the power of NO and how it can lead to healthier relationships. Tune in to hear Justin’s expert advice and learn how t...

In this episode, actress and podcast host Sam Valentine shares her experiences and insights on the entertainment industry and how that led her to create the podcast One Broke Actress. From navigating Hollywood to building a successful podcast, Sam's expertise and charisma shine through. Her Thank You For Saying NO moments are relatable, inspiring, and informative!  Join us for an engaging conversa...

PEEWEE joins Kenya on Thank You For Saying NO to talk about her journey becoming an international female leading DJ. The pair talk about learning to pay attention when things are aligning, even if it’s not how they expected life to work out. PEEWEE talks about how NOs motivate her to work harder. PEEWEE opens up about how she finds stability in the unknown. Kenya and PEEWEE discuss finding the rig...

Drew Morgan joins Kenya on Thank You For Saying NO. He talks about how not getting a job in South Africa led him to become an attorney, which eventually led him to become a comedian. He gets into how growing up in a small town in Tennessee with a population of about 600 people shaped who he is today. Drew talks about the struggles he encountered when he took the leap from being a public defender t...

Zev Taublieb joins Kenya on Thank You For Saying NO to talk about his journey becoming the outstanding professional soccer player he is today. His soccer career is inspiring and his passion for the game has led him to play all over the world. Zev talks about how he didn’t let being told “no” every step of the way stop him from pursuing his dream of playing professional soccer. Kenya and Zev discus...

Malik Yusef joins Kenya on Thank You For Saying NO to talk about his journey becoming the legend that he is today. As a multi-Grammy, Emmy, Peabody, and Tony awards winner, Malik has a footprint in music, spoken word, fashion, film, television, and the fine arts. Malik talks about growing up in the Southside of Chicago and how that shaped who he is. The beauty of two people having different journe...

Iyla joins Kenya on Thank You For Saying NO to talk about her journey becoming the successful artist that she is and the hurdles she had to overcome along the way. Iyla tells the story of how working at a cupcake shop led her to become a successful artist. Yes, you read that right. A cupcake shop! Iyla opens up about the NOs in her career. Kenya and Iyla discuss her decision not to go to college a...

Listen to this trailer to learn more about the podcast and the host! TYFSN is about finding a way to be thankful when we’ve been told “no.” The word “no” is supposed to be reflective of all of life’s unexpected turns. Whether it’s rejection from a job, a relationship ending, having to pick up your life and make a move you didn't want to, losing someone close to you, any sort of life altering event...