This is a conversation rooted in what it means to have your soul connected with someone else who sees you, uplifts you, and wants to see you succeed. I sat down with my good friend, Dawn.

Dawn C. Benjamin is the CEO of Sistah Encourage Me, LLC. a women's empowerment company. She is a Life Coach, Author and Motivational Speaker that elevates women to discover their purpose, embrace their authentic self and over some the vicious cycle of fear & failure! She believes there are gifts inside you that haven’t been tapped into yet. She is believer of the word of God, affirmations to speak over your life and never giving up on your dreams.

Dawn is a woman of faith, courage, patience, and persistence. She holds herself accountable to God to uplift other women.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sistahencourageme/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawn.benjamin.37

Welcome to the Reclaim Your Voice podcast, where we celebrate 20 episodes of inspiring conversations and powerful stories of self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth. As we mark this milestone, we're excited to present a special episode that takes a unique approach to self-defense - one that goes beyond the physical and explores how empowerment can be the best form of protection.

This episode is purely about love and what it's like to know someone for so long as a friend and evolve into a loving relationship with hem.

Romi and Jenny, two friends for the past 16 years turned into a wild, passionate, and fun movie script love story. Soon they will both be living together in Austin where Romi currently lives as a Mama, Identity Coach, Makeup Artist, and Podcast Cohost. Jenny owns a Web Development company and is currently prepping her move to Texas with her 16-year-old pup Joey. They both enjoy music, movies, fitness, yummy food, camping, traveling, all things 90s, adventures, and so much more. Stay tuned for what’s to come after the great big move! #jeromi

Lauren is an Accredited Financial Counsellor Canada, a Joyful Money Coach, and speaker. She works with people wanting to improve their relationship with money and specializes in variable earning. Lauren believes that you can start feeling good about your money now.

Learn more about Lauren and her work: www.elbiecoaching.com

In this eye-opening episode, we delve deep into the world of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies and spotlight their predatory practices . Join us as we uncover the truth behind the glossy facade of promise and prosperity often presented by MLMs. Though it can be a way of some to succeed it can also leave folx in a worse financial situation than when they started.

If you love what you are hearing, continue to support my podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimyourvoice_podcast/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC0GZlwZ_L7CrUiN4-7-WeQ

Your invite to the Woman Warrior Community here! https://woman-warrior-community.mn.co/share/tiKfN2PwHLZR-FYw?utm_source=manual

Sequoia is a speaker, mental transformation coach, and consultant working predominantly out of the Washington, DC area. Sequoia first discovered her passion for mindset as a Division I, walk-on basketball player over a decade ago through the world of athletics. Sequoia attended the University of Maryland where she earned her undergraduate degree in Neurobiology & Physiology and a Master’s in Education. While spending most of her formal career as a science teacher, dean of students, and assistant principal, she simultaneously honed in on her passion for mindset on her own and incorporated the lens of personal growth and mindset exploration in every position that she has held. Sequoia founded Cycle of Love Mindset Coaching where she utilizes her experiences in education, athletics, and personal development to speak, inspire, consult and coach youth, adults, teams, and organizations. Clients of Cycle of Love Mindset leverage the power of their minds and awareness of belief and thought patterns to develop culture and habits of reflection as a means to reach any individual, team, or organizational goal or dream.

Instagram: @_cycleoflove_

Website: www.cycleoflovemindset.com

Email: sequoiaaustin@cycleoflovemindset.com

My friend Jeff Harry is back as we delve into the crucial topic of male allyship and explore how men can actively contribute to advancing gender equality and social justice. He shares personal stories and insights, offering practical advice on how men can become effective allies in various spheres of life. From the workplace to relationships, from addressing toxic masculinity to amplifying marginalized voices, we explore the multifaceted nature of allyship and its potential to reshape societal norms.

Tune in to this powerful episode as we explore the intersection between race and personal safety, and join us in fostering a culture of empathy, allyship, and positive change. Linda and I dive deep into the intersection between race and personal safety, exploring the challenges, experiences, and triumphs that come with navigating this complex landscape.

We share personal stories, insights, and reflections, shedding light on the unique perspectives that arise when race intersects with personal safety. We explore the impact of systemic inequalities, biases, and cultural dynamics on individuals from marginalized communities, as well as the resilience and empowerment that can emerge from these experiences.

Through our candid dialogue, we aim to foster understanding, compassion, and a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and safe society for all.

Linda Leu (she/her/anything respectful) is the Executive Director at IMPACT Bay Area, a non-profit offering violence prevention programs including full-force self-defense. Linda is passionate about supporting others in finding and using their voices and embodying their power. Prior to IMPACT, Linda used her voice as a legislative and policy advocate and organizer. She has also loved working to directly help individuals recover from trauma, teaching trauma-informed mindfulness and yoga to youth and adults in the juvenile justice system and other institutions. At IMPACT, she's excited to be able to combine her love for non-profit leadership, people empowering themselves, and addressing trauma. Linda is proud to have facilitated collaborations that created IMPACT trainings for Women of Color, AAPIs and Interrupting Oppression. Linda serves on the board of directors of Acta Non Verba Youth Urban Farm Project, which empowers young people and advances food sovereignty and education.

Link to the IMPACT website: www.impactbayarea.org

In this episode, Petra and I dive deep into how developing our friendship and building trust led to some beautiful conversations around race and allyship.

Petra Vega (She/ Her/ Ella) is a Queer, Black Puerto Rican from a tiny town in Upstate, NY who after years of being told she should be seen and not heard at home and in the world, decided to reclaim her voice. After learning about the multi-layered systems of oppression that were operating within and outside of her, Petra began doing the inner and outer work of questioning, healing and disrupting. As the Founder of Create More Possibilities, LLC, Petra helps marginalized nonprofit leaders in transforming the self-doubt that is getting in the way of them leading in a way that feels good for them and their team. As a Liberatory Leadership Coach, Emergent Strategist, Facilitator, and Radical Social Worker, Petra weaves an anti-oppression approach, trauma and healing tools, with playful possibility to support marginalized folx in leading from a place of liberation, not perfection.

Links:

https://createmorepossibilities.com/

https://www.instagram.com/createmorepossibilities/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/createmorepossibilities/

Christina and I tap into a range of topics that go into what it means to get connected to your spirituality.

Christina Vo is a writer who previously worked for international organizations , including UNICEF, the World Economic Forum and Solidaridad, in Vietnam and Switzerland. After spending time abroad, she moved to San Francisco where worked as a donor relations writer for the University of California, San Francisco, and then launched a boutique floral design business. Christina is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she is working on her second memoir. The Veil Between Two Worlds, which will be published in April 2023, is her first book.

CW: Mention of suicide

On this Mother's Day episode, Amy and Leslie speak in a real and honest way about their relationships with their toxic Asian mothers and their journey in navigating through them within their cultural confines. While Asian women tropes have been prevalent throughout media, they break down the history of toxic Asian women tropes and how they are "accepted" through the cultural idea of "han" (恨). Given the cultural expectation of indebtedness to one's parents, Amy and Leslie speak to the unrealistic sacrifices they have made and the guilt that they each experienced through their intergenerational trauma, and how they each fought against this toxicity. Through these reflections, one can better understand how to choose peace for oneself.

Sienna is an experienced yoga teacher and international health coach dedicated to uplifting underserved communities by healing WOMEN. She focuses on supporting entrepreneurial women in their missions to bring massive change to the world by helping them create space (and time) for healing and overall healthier lifestyles.

Her and I get into a conversation of how to simplify preparing meals that taste good and are nourishing for your body.

Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to heal workplaces, help teams build psychological safety and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges by embracing a play-oriented approach to work. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, Huffpost, Shondaland, & Wired. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Over the past 15 years of facilitation and speaking, Jeff’s main goal has been to help work suck less by assisting leaders in building a playground workplace atmosphere that motivates their staff to do their most vibrant work.

Annie Tan is a writer, special education teacher, activist, storyteller, and cousin of Vincent Chin, whose 1982 killing led to an Asian American movement. Annie's work has been featured in Huffington Post, New Republic, and twice on NPR's The Moth Radio Hour. Annie is currently working on her first book, a memoir about being a daughter of Chinese immigrants, languages, family, and Asian American legacy. Follow Annie at @annietangent and annietan.com.

Stories from the Stage show that aired March 20th: https://www.facebook.com/StoriesFromTheStage/videos/238155075334933 and full episode at https://www.pbs.org/video/defining-moment-s2nyet/

PBS Asian Americans link: https://www.pbs.org/video/it-reminds-me-i-have-legacy-live-h7xfxb/

Moth Story, Remembering Vincent and Drumstick, Please!

Romi is a mom growing, healing and exploring her identity.

Romi pulls no punches in this episode of what it's like being in the perceived glitz and glamour of a reality show and the exploitation she faced in the aftermath.

She was born and raised in Pasadena. Romi fell in love with makeup, so attended the MUD Studio LA in Burbank. A few years after, she took part in a reality TV show on Showtime for a few years while continuing her career in beauty. When she became a mom to her daughter, she decided to get out of LA and moved to Austin where she currently resides and is still in the beauty and makeup industry.

Amy Yvonne Yu is an immigrant who came to America at the young age of 10 by herself on a plane. She considers herself the most culturally confused person she knows: British, born in Hong Kong, lives in California, born to a traditional Chinese family, "adopted" by hippies that ran the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, and raised herself since the age of 19 due to extreme negligence from her biological family. While her story is on the extreme spectrum, this is the story of many willing/unwilling immigrants worldwide. In this episode, she breaks down all the hardships of being an immigrant and the history of her ancestor coming to America fresh off the boat during the Cultural Revolution. It would be this same ancestor who escaped a life of human trafficking that sealed Amy's fate here in California. She also speaks to the effects of the trauma of a generation of Chinese that fled China during the Cultural Revolution and how that impacts lives in Hong Kong to this date.

In this episode, she breaks down all the hardships of being an immigrant and the history of her ancestor coming to America fresh off the boat during the Cultural Revolution. It would be this same ancestor who escaped a life of human trafficking that sealed Amy's fate here in California. She also speaks to the effects of the trauma of a generation of Chinese that fled China during the Cultural Revolution and how that impacted lives in Hong Kong even to this date.

If you love what you are hearing, continue to support my podcast:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimyourvoice_podcast/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC0GZlwZ_L7CrUiN4-7-WeQ

Your invite to the Woman Warrior Community here! https://woman-warrior-community.mn.co/share/tiKfN2PwHLZR-FYw?utm_source=manual

Robyn Tamanaha is a Japanese American Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Orange County, CA. She has been a therapist for almost 10 years and has her own private practice where she specializes in helping people who are living with Bipolar Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder hop in the driver's seat, manage mood changes and triggers, and live a fulfilling and balanced life. She also helps to build community by running a clinical consultation group for Asian American & Pacific Islander therapists who reside throughout the United States. In addition to her role as a therapist, she is the creator and host of two podcasts, Books Between Sessions podcast and Open Mind Night podcast. Her mission with both of her podcasts is to help people not feel so alone in their struggle with mental health and mental illness.

On this episode, Robyn and I dive into how an unexpected encounter changed the trajectory of her career path and set a different course in her life.

Website: https://robyntamanahatherapy.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/robyntamanahatherapy/

You couldn't get enough of part 1 of this episode and it may have crossed your mind "that couldn't happen to me". Listen to part 2 as Brandi's provides insight into the symptoms of being in a cult-like environment. Know what to look for so you don't give away your sense of self and autonomy.

This episode 1 of 2 breaks down how covert behaviors in the world of "do-gooders" can suddenly leave you feeling empty and before long losing sight of what you intended to create in the first place.

Do you ever catch yourself getting codeswitch fatigue? This week I am talking to Jennifer Nagel about how we be codeswitching and who sometimes we don't realize we are doing it.

Ed and I had a heart-to-heart conversation about power struggles with our children and what breaking patterns of intergenerational trauma can look and feel like.