The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators

What happens when you're doing everything leading a school, serving your community, answering the phones, teaching mathand still feel like you're drowning? In this Exit Interview live show, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Joy Delizo-Osborne, who shares the real reason she left her role as a founding principal: her doctor said quit, and her wife offered her a puppy if she finally did. This conversati...

What happens when an educator's deep love for liberation collides with the realities of traditional schooling? In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Jamilah Pittseducator, author, yoga teacher, and founder of She Imprintsto explore her journey through the education system and beyond. Jamilah shares how her childhood experiences with Bl...

In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Josephine Ampaw-Greene a licensed family therapist and former educatorto explore what it truly means to sustain wellness while navigating the demands of education and racial battle fatigue. Josephine shares her unique journey from paraeducator to residential school teacher to therapist and...

In this special episode recorded live at Quince Coffee House, Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Jenna Greenwood to explore her inspiring journey of self-discovery, family legacy, and finding community beyond traditional educational spaces. Jenna shares stories about growing up influenced by her grandmother, Marie Greenwood, Denvers first Black tenured teacher, and navigating her own complex identity w...

In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , host Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Jason B. Alleneducator, activist, and policy advocateto discuss the systemic barriers Black students and educators face in traditional school systems. Jason shares his personal journey from school administrator to special education teacher, revealing how he fought against discriminato...

In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with award-winning educator and advocate Keisha Rembert to discuss her journey in education, the challenges Black educators face, and the importance of racial literacy, affinity spaces, and wellness. Keisha reflects on her 17-year career as a middle school educator, emphasizing how she initially resiste...

In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Dr. Adrienne Davenport , a veteran educator, administrator, and author, to talk about career transitions, leadership, and the realities of being a Black educator . Dr. Davenport shares how she unexpectedly entered the field of education, her journey from teacher to administrator, and why she made t...

In this powerful and reflective episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators , Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Najmah Ahmad to discuss her nearly 20-year journey through education, from working in nonprofits and higher education to leadership roles in school districts and national policy. Najmah candidly shares her experiences navigating systemic challenges, microaggressions, and the...

In this episode of 'The Exit Interview,' host Dr. Asia Lyons welcomes  Dr. Damia Thomas , who brings over two decades of experience in urban education. They discuss retention challenges in education, emphasizing the importance of work environment, culture, and kindness over monetary incentives. Dr. Thomas shares her journey from starting as a teacher to becoming a school principal and  a...

In this episode of The Exit Interview Podcast for Black Educators,  Dr. Asia Lyons  and guest host  Stacey Taylor Brandon  welcome  Dr. Shawn Ginwrigh t, a thought leader in education and youth development. Dr. Ginwright discusses his revolutionary concept of healing-centered engagement and the importance of self-reflection for Black educators dealing with racial battle fa...

When the school nurse has to check your blood pressure three times, you know you're in trouble. In this episode of the 'Exit Interview' podcast, I archive the story of Dr. LaShaune Stitt. Dr. Stitt recounts her journey from childhood dreams of teaching to pioneering spaces for young men of Color, and the community-centered approaches that defined her work. Amidst these achievements, she opens up a...

In this episode of The Exit Interview, host Dr. Asia Lyons engages in a deep conversation with Octavia Raheem about the transformative power of rest. Octavia Raheem, an accomplished author, rest restorative coach, and former public school teacher, shares her journey from traditional education to becoming a leader in wellness and restorative practices. The discussion explores the importance of rest...

In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons interviews Kwame Sarfo-Mensah and discusses his transformative journey from aspiring professional athlete to dedicated educator. Kwame discusses his initial pivot to becoming a math teacher and the various challenges he faced in his early teaching years, including a lack of support and job security in Philadelphia...

In this episode of 'The Exit Interview, a podcast for Black educators,' Dr. Asia Lyons hosts Shatiera Porte'e, a school counselor, author, coach and education consultant. Shatiera shares her experiences working tirelessly in education during the COVID pandemic, reflecting on the challenging conditions that led to burnout and her decision to leave traditional education spaces. The discussion highli...

In this deeply engaging episode, Dr. Asia Lyons and Sarah Graham discuss the highs and lows of teaching, the systemic issues within public and charter schools, and the importance of culturally responsive and liberatory education. Sarah shares her personal journey, insights into creating inclusive curriculum, and the urgent need for rest and self-care. This episode is a must-listen for educators an...

In this episode of The Exit Interview, hosted by Dr. Asia Lyons, Julia Berry shares her transformative journey from wanting to be a teacher, doctor, and dancer as a child to becoming an educator focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Julia outlines her path from excelling in math and engineering, realizing her passion for teaching, to teaching youth in correctional and treatment facili...

In this episode of The Exit Interview, Dr. Asia hosts  Langston Jacobs , a Black male educator who shares his journey and the challenges he faced as a dean of culture in a charter school. Langston discusses his strategies for creating a supportive school environment, the impact of his role on his own mental and physical health, and the significant effects on his family. He reveals how he rede...

In this episode of 'The Exit Interview,' host Dr. Asia Lyons talks with therapist and researcher Jason Shankle about the importance of creating sacred spaces and emotional boundaries, particularly for Black educators facing racial battle fatigue. Jason shares his journey in education and psychology, and offers practical strategies for coping with racial battle fatigue. The conversation delves into...

In this episode, Dr. Asia Lyons hosts Asha von Liebtug, an inspiring educator from New Jersey, who shares her journey from student to teacher and beyond. Asha delves into the impact of her grandmother's influence, her teaching experiences in various educational settings, and her passion for curriculum development. She emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and holistic education, while als...

In this episode of 'The Exit Interview' podcast, hosted by Dr. Asia Lyons, Dr. Adrienne Smith shares her compelling journey as a Black educator. From humble beginnings working in fast food to overcoming hurdles in her pursuit of higher education, Dr. Smith details her experiences teaching in diverse environments, including Alaska. She highlights the importance of cultural competency, listening to...

In this episode of 'The Exit Interview,' hosts Dr. Asia Lyons delves into the often-overlooked aspects of early childhood education with guest Brittney Carey. We discuss the crucial role of early education, the challenges Black educators face in ECE, and the systemic issues that affect the retention of dedicated teachers in this field. Brittney shares her journey into education, insightful experie...

In this episode of 'The Exit Interview,' I sit down with Vanity Jenkins, a dedicated educator and advocate for culturally relevant pedagogy. We dive into Vanity's journey from sports management to education, her experiences teaching in the Mississippi Delta, the challenges Black educators face, and the importance of historical context and systemic changes in education. Vanity shares invaluable ins...

In this episode, of the Exit Interview, host Dr. Asia Lyons speaks with Sherinda Bryant, a former educator, about her journey and experiences in the field and love for Afrofuturism. They delve into the challenges faced by Black educators, the need for supporting Black students, and the creation of Bryant's Afrofuturism Discovery Academy. The conversation highlights the emotional and systemic hurdl...

This episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators takes a deep dive into the rarely discussed aspect of educator retention, specifically focusing on the Black educators who leave traditional education spaces. Featuring Jalisa Evans, a former teacher turned advocate, this powerful discussion uncovers the challenges, systemic issues, and personal stories behind Black educators' decis...

In celebration of Mental Health Month, Stacey Taylor-Brandon is back on The Exit Interview to talk about how her work supporting mature Black women was birthed out of her own desire to heal from the racism-related stress and racial battle fatigue she experienced as administrator and social worker in a Denver Area School District. Listen as she discusses ways that you can work toward your own heali...