In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming Dr. Asia Lyons to the podcast to talk about her early childhood in Detroit, her teaching career, transitioning out of the K-12 classroom, racial battle fatigue of Black educators, the need to center wellness of Black educators, and so much more! To learn more about Dr. Asia's work, you can visit her website at lyonseducationalconsulting.com or follow her on Instagram (@hellodrasia) and LinkedIn. You can also subscribe to the Exit Interview podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all other streaming platforms. To learn more about Identity Talk Consulting and the professional development services that we offer, visit our website at https://identitytalk4educators.com. STAY CONNECTED WITH KWAME: 👉🏾 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/kwamtheidentityshaper 👉🏾 YouTube: / @kwamesarfo-mensah5785 👉🏾 LinkedIn: / https://linkedin.com/in/kwamesarfomensah LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 👉🏾 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 👉🏾 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO SIGN UP FOR AN E-COURSE WITH KWAME! 👉🏾 https://eduspark.world/profile/9312b128-7573-440d-8d78-fb24cc4fa066/creator SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDENTITY TALK NEWSLETTER! 👉🏾 https://identitytalk.kit.com/9e744003e9 READ MY BOOKS! 👉🏾 “Learning to Relearn” - https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Relearn-Supporting-Identity-in-a-Culturally-Affirming-Classroom/Sarfo-Mensah/p/book/9781625316226 👉🏾 “Shaping the Teacher Identity” - https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Teacher-Identity-Lessons-Define/dp/1723480835 VISIT THE IDENTITY TALK APPAREL SHOP! 👉🏾 https://the-identity-talk-apparel-shop.creator-spring.com/ TO SEND A DONATION: 👉🏾 CashApp - https://cash.app/$idtalk4ed 👉🏾 Venmo - https://venmo.com/u/kwamesm 👉🏾 PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kwamesm _________________________________________________________________________________________ Timestamps: 0:00-1:23 - Welcome to IDTALK4ED LIVE 1:24-3:47 - Podcast Subscription Reminders & Learning to Relearn Promo 3:48-6:02 - Introducing Dr. Asia Lyons 6:03-12:15- Dr. Asia's Early Upbringing & Start in Education 12:16-16:33 - Dr. Asia's K-12 Schooling Journey 16:34-19:23 - Dr. Asia's Early Years as a Classroom Teacher 19:24-20:23 - Identity Talk Consulting Promo 20:24-29:23 - Transitioning out of K-12 Classroom Teaching 29-24-35:17 - Racial Battle Fatigue & Its Impact on Black Educators (Part 1) 35:18-35:55 - Thaddeus' Nature Notebook Promo 35:56-37:55 - Racial Battle Fatigue & Its Impact on Black Educators (Part 2) 37:56-53:08 - Advice for New Black Teachers, Normalizing Wellness Days for Black Students 53:09-56:03 - How to redesign education and center Black Educator's voices 56:04-57:53 - How do you stay true to the teacher in you? 57:54-59:44 - How to connect with Dr. Asia 59:45-1:00:29 - Thank Yous & Goodbyes BIO: Dr. Asia Lyons is the founder and lead consultant for Lyons Educational Consulting LLC, a consulting and coaching firm that supports schools and other non-profits through equity auditing of their programming, co-creation of culturally responsive programming and curriculum, and job-embedded coaching. Prior to founding Lyons Educational Consulting, Dr. Lyons worked as a K-12 educator for over 10 years. She also served as the Equity in Schools Specialist in a Denver based non-profit, a role in which she worked with schools and non-profit partners across the Denver Metro Area to provide communities with resources to support the closing of the access gap for BIPOC youth. In addition to her work in coaching and consulting, Dr. Lyons is an adjunct instructor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado – Denver. She obtained her doctorate in Leadership for Educational Equity, where her research focuses on the ways that racism-related stress crosses over from Black educators to their families. Finally, Dr. Lyons is the co-host of The Exit Interview, a podcast focusing on the lived experiences of former Black educators.

In this episode, I had the honor of interviewing Sofia Gonzalez, who opened up about her early upbringing in Chicago, her Mexerican heritage, the inspiration behind her non-profit journey and education advocacy work, working through teacher trauma, and so much more ! To learn more about Sofia's work, you can visit her website at sofiaspeaks.com or follow her on Instagram (@_sofiaspeaks) and LinkedIn. To learn more about Identity Talk Consulting and the professional development services that we offer, visit our website at https://identitytalk4educators.com. STAY CONNECTED WITH KWAME: 👉🏾 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/kwamtheidentityshaper 👉🏾 YouTube: / @kwamesarfo-mensah5785 👉🏾 LinkedIn: / https://linkedin.com/in/kwamesarfomensah LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 👉🏾 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 👉🏾 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO SIGN UP FOR A E-COURSE WITH KWAME! 👉🏾 https://eduspark.world/profile/9312b128-7573-440d-8d78-fb24cc4fa066/creator SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDENTITY TALK NEWSLETTER! 👉🏾 https://identitytalk.kit.com/9e744003e9 READ MY BOOKS! 👉🏾 “Learning to Relearn” - https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Relearn-Supporting-Identity-in-a-Culturally-Affirming-Classroom/Sarfo-Mensah/p/book/9781625316226 👉🏾 “Shaping the Teacher Identity” - https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Teacher-Identity-Lessons-Define/dp/1723480835 VISIT THE IDENTITY TALK APPAREL SHOP! 👉🏾 https://the-identity-talk-apparel-shop.creator-spring.com/ TO SEND A DONATION: 👉🏾 CashApp - https://cash.app/$idtalk4ed 👉🏾 Venmo - https://venmo.com/u/kwamesm 👉🏾 PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kwamesm _________________________________________________________________________________________ Timestamps: 0:00-1:02 - Welcome to IDTALK4ED LIVE 1:03-3:30 - Podcast Subscription Reminders & Learning to Relearn Promo 3:31-5:55 - Introducing Sofia Gonzalez 5:56-10:35 - Inspiration for becoming an educator 10:36-20:24 - Mexerican heritage & impact on education advocacy work 20:25-21:25 - Identity Talk Consulting Promo 21:26-25:57 - Sofia's K-12 Schooling Journey 25:58-33:51 - Project 214 & Non-Profit Journey 33:52-34:29 - Thaddeus' Nature Notebook Promo 34:30-40:06 - Inspiration behind her creativity 40:07-51:15 - Working Through Trauma & Birth of National Speaking Tour 51:16-55:25 - The moment that Mrs. G and Sofia became one 55:26-56:28 - How do you stay true to the teacher in you? 56:29-57:36 - How to connect with Sofia 57:37-58:20 - Thank Yous & Goodbyes BIO: Sofia Gonzalez is a High School AP English teacher, Nonprofit Leader, and Education Activist from Illinois. She has been in the field of education for 15 years and has a deep passion for students & teachers who are disadvantaged. She’s a sought-after keynote speaker & podcast host who is known for her cutting-edge presentations and dynamic illustrations with a message that’s infectious. She has received national teacher recognitions and nominations such as 2019 Top Educator of the Year with the National Society of High School Scholars, 2021 Golden Apple Nominee for Teaching & Excellence and 2022 Authenticity Award with Latinx Education Collaborative. She is also a nonprofit Lead Visionary for Project 214 which promotes education in underserved areas for students and teachers on the margins. An alum in various spaces like Fulbright, Latinos for Education, Urban Leaders Fellowship, and the US Department of Education, Sofia's passion and energy towards education equity remains a leading voice for the 21st-century classroom at a national and international level.

In this episode, I had the honor of welcoming my good friend Benita Gordon to the podcast to share about her early upbringing in Virginia, her HBCU experience at Hampton, her natural hair journey, entering the world of microschooling, and so much more! To learn more about Benita's work, check out the Education Concierge Podcast and follow her on Instagram (@theeduconcierge) and LinkedIn. To learn more about Identity Talk Consulting and the professional development services that we offer, visit our website at https://identitytalk4educators.com. STAY CONNECTED WITH KWAME: 👉🏾 Instagram: / https://instagram.com/kwamtheidentityshaper 👉🏾 YouTube: / @kwamesarfo-mensah5785 👉🏾 LinkedIn: / https://linkedin.com/in/kwamesarfomensah LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: 👉🏾 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/identity-talk-4-educators-live/id1509599570 👉🏾 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/23k0HRkXxi1OJSahtqS7xO SIGN UP FOR A E-COURSE WITH KWAME! 👉🏾 https://eduspark.world/profile/9312b128-7573-440d-8d78-fb24cc4fa066/creator SUBSCRIBE TO THE IDENTITY TALK NEWSLETTER! 👉🏾 https://identitytalk.kit.com/9e744003e9 READ MY BOOKS! 👉🏾 “Learning to Relearn” - https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Relearn-Supporting-Identity-in-a-Culturally-Affirming-Classroom/Sarfo-Mensah/p/book/9781625316226 👉🏾 “Shaping the Teacher Identity” - https://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Teacher-Identity-Lessons-Define/dp/1723480835 VISIT THE IDENTITY TALK APPAREL SHOP! 👉🏾 https://the-identity-talk-apparel-shop.creator-spring.com/ TO SEND A DONATION: 👉🏾 CashApp - https://cash.app/$idtalk4ed 👉🏾 Venmo - https://venmo.com/u/kwamesm 👉🏾 PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/kwamesm __________________________________________________________________________________________ Timestamps: 0:00-1:01 - Welcome to IDTALK4ED LIVE 1:02-3:33 - Subscription Reminder & Learning to Relearn Promo 3:34-5:36 - Introducing Benita Gordon 5:37-13:10 - Inspiration for becoming an educator 13:11-16:20 - HBCU Experience at Hampton University 16:21-20:44 - Early years as a teacher in Virginia 20:45-26:00 - Natural Hair Journey 26:01-30:38 - Making the shift to microschooling 30:39-31:16 - Thaddeus' Nature Notebook Promo 31:17- 35:17 - Treating students as our customers 35:18-41:15 - The role of microschooling in current sociopolitical climate 41:15-47:18 - Accreditation process for microschools 47:19-48:19 - Identity Talk Consulting Promo 48:20-57:13 - Unpacking Ghana ASCD International Education Summit Experience 57:14-59:27 - How do you stay true to the teacher in you? 59:28-1:01:31 - How to connect with Benita 1:01:32-1:02:07 - Thank Yous & Goodbyes BIO: Benita Gordon is an innovative education leader, entrepreneur, and founder of Global Education Concierge. With a deep passion for personalized learning and transformative educational experiences, she spearheads initiatives to empower students and educators alike. As the host of The Education Concierge Podcast and founder of Miami MicroLearn Hub, Benita is a go-to expert in non-traditional education models, education technology integration, and consulting for innovative school design and management. In addition to her work in the U.S., Benita serves on the board of Amie Academy Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational development in underserved communities. In this role, she supports Amie Academy in Sierra Leone, expanding educational access and fostering sustainable change. Focusing on leveraging technology, personalized learning journeys, and operational excellence, Benita collaborates with educators and leaders to reimagine education globally.