Videos

California is facing a crisis—and it’s not just about recruitment. In this powerful episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, we dive into the alarming data and lived experiences of Black teachers across California. Despite making up just 5% of the educator workforce statewide, Black educators are often isolated, undervalued, and subjected to toxic, anti-Black school cultures. Drawing on findings from a 2023 statewide report surveying 128 Black educators, this episode highlights common themes: being the only Black staff member, being viewed as unqualified, and navigating workplaces riddled with microaggressions and racial bias. More importantly, it amplifies the voices of those who are organizing for change—those who remain in the classroom and those who have been pushed out. We explore what real educator retention work looks like—beyond recruitment—and why addressing anti-Blackness is key to transforming school systems. If you care about education justice, this …

In this eye-opening episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, we tackle the deeply troubling and often overlooked practice of soft expulsion in early childhood education. From repeated calls to parents to pick up their child early, to outright suspensions and expulsions of toddlers, Black children—some as young as two years old—are being pushed out of preschools at alarming rates. This episode explores how implicit bias, adultification, and systemic racism show up in early learning environments and how developmentally normal behaviors in Black children are pathologized while the same actions in white children are ignored or nurtured. We highlight the dangerous consequences of labeling toddlers as “aggressive” and call attention to the urgent need for anti-racist, developmentally-informed approaches in preschool and early learning settings. If you're an educator, parent, or advocate for Black children, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and inspire …

When Work Stress Follows You Home | Black Educator Wellness, Emotional Burnout & Family Impact What happens when the version of you that walks through the front door is unrecognizable—even to your own family? In this powerful and emotional clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, we dive deep into the unseen toll of emotional burnout, compassion fatigue, and workplace stress that many Black educators carry home. You’ll hear a raw reflection from a former educator who began noticing how his emotional exhaustion affected his relationship with his spouse and children. This story isn’t just about burnout—it’s about identity, healing, and the quiet ways we lose parts of ourselves in toxic work environments. If you’re a Black teacher, school leader, or educator struggling with work-life balance, emotional regulation, or navigating trauma from oppressive school systems, this conversation is a must-watch. ✨ Topics covered: Black educator burnout, emotional labor, racia…

What does it mean to try to do liberatory work inside a system designed to break you? In this searing clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Jamilah Pitts invokes the words of Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde to name the spiritual and emotional cost of working in toxic educational spaces. She breaks down how racism, even when unnamed, functions to derail your purpose—and how self-care for Black educators isn’t luxury, it’s preservation. This moment is for every educator who’s been gaslit while trying to build something better. #teachingcommunity #education #teachers #podcast #author #liberation It’s a reminder that healing isn’t optional, and neither is truth-telling. Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educat…

What was the situation that caused you to leave #education ? That's the question I ask during every #interview . This was the first time that I heard a guest describe school as violent and I can't agree more. It may sound extreme, no one is physically getting harmed, but what about the emotional and mental damage that is done to students and educators every day? It's time for us start calling the education system what it is and not what we want it to be. #mustwatch #wellness #teachingcommunity #podcast Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk…

Imagine how differently you would think about teaching if you had completed internships abroad. The way that we function as educators in the United States would be shaped so much differently if we were required to teach in India, Spain, South African, anywhere outside of the country. #education #podcast #blackvoices #spelman Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

Schools and districts expect miracles when they hire consultants to undo years of harm and toxic culture but how is that even possible. This is the conversation that we have to have especially as consultants. Are we able to fully undo years of harm independently, especially when so many people move in and out of a school or district all of the time. #education #teachingcommunity #teacherappreciationday #policy #teachers Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #Subscri…

What happens when the harm doesn’t come from the system—but from another Black woman in leadership? In this bold and necessary clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, host Dr. Asia Lyons reflects on the painful, often hidden truth: not all skinfolk are kinfolk. There’s an unspoken assumption that Black educators automatically align—that we protect one another, uplift one another, and share the same vision for our students. But in this conversation, that myth is unpacked with honesty and nuance. This is a must-watch for every Black educator who has ever experienced betrayal, silencing, or harm from someone who was supposed to have their back. #education #blackwomenpodcasts #wellness #leadership #podcast Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKU…

How does becoming a global citizen change the way you teach? Jamilah Pitts shares how her experiences traveling to Beijing, the Middle East, and Cape Town while studying at Spelman College transformed her vision of education forever. Jamilah reflects on how Spelman cultivated not just her leadership, but her deep love for the world—and how those global experiences shaped her approach to teaching, justice, and community-building. For Black educators, dreamers, and change-makers, this clip is a reminder: your story, your passport, and your purpose are deeply connected. #podcast #wellness #healing #racialtrauma #teachers Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #B…

What if we valued being heart smart just as much as being book smart? 🖤 In this moving clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Jamilah Pitts shares why cultivating empathy in the classroom matters more than test scores—and why true education must start with the heart. Jamilah reflects on her journey as an educator committed to liberation, wellness, and justice for her students. In a world obsessed with achievement, she reminds us that building emotional intelligence, compassion, and critical consciousness is the real work. #teachingcommunity #healing #wellness #education ✨ If you're a Black educator, parent, healer, or anyone who believes education should be about more than survival—this message is for you. ✨ 🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real conversations about healing, wellness, and Black educator resilience. Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.lin…

What does it cost a Black educator to stay in a system that refuses to heal? In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Asia Lyons is joined by Jamilah Pitts—writer, educator, wellness leader, and global traveler—to share her unfiltered story of love, harm, resistance, and renewal. Jamilah traces her path from a joyful third grader who dreamed of teaching, to a seasoned educator navigating toxic schools and internalized oppression within leadership. She reflects on the weight of carrying students' liberation in her heart while fighting to protect her own humanity. Together, Asia and Jamilah name the violence that often goes unspoken in education spaces and envision what it means to center healing, wholeness, and radical self-trust. This is not just a story about leaving—it's a blueprint for reclaiming wellness, honoring truth, and refusing to shrink. #podcast #wellness #healing #blackvoices #education #community

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 Black women teachers inspired her dream to teach, and how her international work, from Boston to the Dominican Republic to India, shaped her vision of education as a tool for healing and activism. She opens up about the emotional toll of navigating toxic school environments, the complexities of internalized racism among leadership, and the moment she chose her own wellness over a broken system. Throughout the conversation, Jamilah offers a deep call to center healing in our schools, reimagine leadership, and honor the full humanity of educators.

What does it actually look like to live a life rooted in authentic wellness and liberation as a Black educator and leader? In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, Dr. Mary Hemphill—leadership expert, author, and visionary—breaks down what it means to be well from a place of radical self-awareness and intentional freedom. Dr. Hemphill challenges us to rethink wellness not as something we consume, but as something we create—by choosing ourselves, reclaiming our time, and making empowered decisions aligned with our mental, physical, spiritual, and professional well-being. She reminds us that before we practice self-care, we must first embody self-awareness—and that true wellness is being as close to your freedom as possible. If you're a Black educator, administrator, or changemaker ready to reclaim your autonomy and advocate for your healing, this clip is your invitation to begin. #leadership #wellness #teachers #blackvoices #healingjourney #healing #stori…

What does it really mean to be well as a Black educator or professional in today's world? In this powerful clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, we dive deep into the true meaning of wellness—not as a trend, but as a form of liberation. Wellness isn’t just bubble baths and breaks. It’s autonomy. It’s self-awareness. It’s the ability to make decisions rooted in your freedom—mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and professional. This video explores the essential connection between self-awareness and self-care, and why awareness must come before action. For Black educators navigating systems that often restrict freedom, understanding and advocating for your own well-being is a radical act of self-preservation and resistance. #freedom #wellnessjourney #professional #education #selfcare #selflove Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about c…

In this clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, we unpack the complex and often disappointing experiences many of us have had transitioning from K-12 education into the nonprofit sector. What happens when a nonprofit promises liberation, wellness, and equity—but delivers more of the same burnout, silencing, and disillusionment? We explore how nonprofit workspaces, often led by inspiring executive directors and powerful mission statements, can still replicate the same oppressive systems educators tried to escape. For so many Black educators and professionals of color, nonprofits seemed like a place for healing and purpose-driven work. But what do you do when your voice is still stifled, your mental health deteriorates, and the promised culture of liberation turns out to be performative? We reflect on these hard truths and offer space for collective truth-telling. Whether you’re a former educator, a nonprofit employee, or someone seeking liberatory spaces to work…

In this powerful clip from The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, therapist and educator Josephine Ampaw-Greene shares a transformative reflection on wellness, self-worth, and accountability. She reminds us that being well is not about perfection—it's about understanding that our value is not diminished by our past mistakes. Through a lens of healing and growth, Josephine explores how Black educators, especially those navigating racial battle fatigue and burnout, can hold space for both accountability and self-compassion. This video is essential viewing for teachers, principals, school counselors, and education leaders invested in educator wellness, racial healing, and trauma-informed care. If you’ve ever struggled with imposter syndrome, shame, or feeling defined by your failures, Josephine’s words offer a liberating perspective: "This feels like a dumpster fire... but it doesn't change my personhood." #wellness #podcast #healing #education #therapy #therapist Check out…

Josephine Ampaw-Greene, LCSW, MFTC, MA, delves into the journey from survival to thriving for Black educators and their families. Drawing from her expertise in trauma-informed care and identity-based therapy, Josephine emphasizes the importance of community care practices—such as rest as resistance, active play, and authentic conversations—to foster healing and empowerment.​ If you're a Black teacher, school leader, or family member navigating burnout, racial battle fatigue, or emotional exhaustion, this conversation offers invaluable insights. Learn how to support yourself and your loved ones in reclaiming joy, building resilience, and embracing humanity beyond the challenges.​ Josephine Ampaw-Greene is the founder of Ampaw Psychotherapy & Consulting in Aurora, Colorado, where she specializes in trauma therapy for historically underserved communities. Her approach centers on culturally responsive, strengths-based healing, making her a pivotal voice in educational and mental health …

In this clip, Josephine Ampaw-Greene shares a powerful, accessible tool for managing stress and nervous system dysregulation — especially during high-stakes moments in schools. As a former school social worker, Josephine reveals how keeping a bottle of ice water nearby helped her stay grounded: holding an ice cube in her hand was a simple yet effective way to regulate intense feelings like panic, anxiety, or overwhelm during the school day. This video is a must-watch for Black educators, school counselors, social workers, paraprofessionals, and trauma-informed practitioners looking for practical wellness tools to use in real time. If you work in education and feel the weight of burnout, secondary trauma, or racial battle fatigue, this somatic regulation tip could be your next go-to strategy. 🎯 Keywords: nervous system regulation, somatic healing, trauma-informed education, educator wellness, Josephine Ampaw-Greene, stress relief for teachers, grounding techniques, Black educators, s…

In this deeply honest and reflective clip, Josephine Ampaw-Greene shares a moment every educator can relate to — the day none of her students turned in their homework. Frustrated and burned out, Josephine was met with compassion and wisdom from a mentor, Dan Hoffman, who helped her pause, reflect, and write out all her strengths as a teacher. That act of grounding and affirmation has stayed with her and continues shaping how she navigates challenging educational moments today. This video is for Black educators, school counselors, principals, paraprofessionals, and higher ed professionals who are holding it all together while often being the emotional backbone of their schools. Josephine’s story is a reminder that we are allowed to slow down, reflect, and acknowledge the brilliance we bring to our classrooms — especially when things feel heavy. Black educators, teacher burnout, mental health in education, educator wellness, classroom challenges, affirmations for teachers, reflective…

What do we do when we put on the oxygen mask and the plane still going down? That's the question that we need to continually be asking ourselves. It may be time to eject our seat out of the plane do something else as a career or whatever situation we find outselves in that isn't giving us joy. #wellnessjourney #healingjourney #healing #therapy #therapist Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

When will we give herself permission to rest? How do we take our time and not jump from on degree to another, one job to another, one way to prove ourselves to another. What are we rushing for? Who are we rushing for? #wellnessjourney #healing #slow Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4PffXHvuIlLE0CKUEa8/view?usp=sharing #teachers #educators #wellness #retention #education #healing #storytime #Podcast #BlackVoices #StorytellingPodcast #Shorts (for YouTube Shorts) #ViralPodcast #MustWatch #EducatorTalk #TalkThatTalk #RealTalk #PodcastLife #YouTubePodcasts #NewPodcastAlert #ListenNow #SubscribeNow

"If we’re not talking about the racism happening at work, we wouldn’t have anything to talk about." In my doctoral research, I heard this from two different families—one couple, one mother-daughter. Both were supporting Black educators facing racism in their workplaces. Their entire relationships had been swallowed up by processing harm. 💬 Every conversation: “She said this to me... What should I say next?” 💔 No room left for laughter, hobbies, or connection. This is what racism-related stress does—it spills over, crosses over, and takes up space we desperately need for healing. 🎧 Tune into the latest episode of The Exit Interview where I talk with family therapist Josephine Powell about boundaries, burnout, and Black educator wellness. Check out the podcast's website: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com/ Instagram: @hellodrasia LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons/ Learn more about combatting racial battle fatigue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7KXbRlf6Dpnl4P…

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 educator—to 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 business owner. She opens up about the importance of pausing, setting boundaries, embracing joy, and why "being well means not pretending to be well." Together, they unpack how career identity intersects with self-worth, how to support educators experiencing racism-related stress, and what families can do to create restorative spaces for their loved ones working in schools. Key Topics Covered: How to decide how much of your identity belongs to your career Creating trauma-informed practices that center joy and authenticity The impact of racism-related stress on educators and their famil…

The impact of racism-related stress on educators and their families The role of community and family in educator wellness Practical regulation tools for teachers, like the ice cube trick How Josephine builds a teaching practice that launches therapists of color Why leaving education isnt a failureits a transition toward wholeness