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This week I am joined by Laurie-Anne Batraville. Laurie-Anne is the founder and Head Coach of For Colored Girls Health Well, which was established in 2019. Laurie-Anne is an athlete, an author, a trainer and a published microbiologist. Although the  Colored Girls Health Well is a company that welcomes everyone, Laurie-Anne explains that statistics show that Black Women tend to be more affected by heart related diseases and she wanted to provide a safe mental and physical space for Black Women and Women of Color to not only train, but have fun and accountability at the same time. Laurie-Anne walks us through the importance of strength, conditioning and mobility training and inspires us to make it part of our daily routine. www.yolanderobinson.com/epsiode33

 This week I am joined by the founder of the award-winning salon, Hill Studio. Allison is a creator and a curator that has cultivated a unique space for women of color to connect and nurture not only their hair, but their community and their growth. Allison is driven by passion and community. She feels as though we are all given a gift and a direction and that it's important for us to spend the time that we have pursuing those gifts and passions. Like many of us in this period, Allison has had to take pause herself, and walks us through her own required navigation. In doing so, she reminds us  of the power of having clarity on the true essence of our work or passion. This clarity then opens the door to the alignment of our energy and our spirit, which makes it easier to evaluate and navigate the pivots we need to make.  www.yolanderobinson.com/episode32

This week I am joined by Valerie Ritchie the founder of the Vibrant Life Collective. This on-line yoga community is dedicated to Black Women and Women of Color, who want to replenish their souls through yoga and meditation To Valerie, yoga is a gateway to self-discovery, growth and pursuing passions. It connects our minds, bodies and spirits and is a tool on our journey to figuring out our infinite potential.  In our chat Valerie walks us through a basic understanding of yoga and the way it builds our strength, flexibility and balance on a gross muscle level as well as internally.  We also explore the benefits of meditation and mindfulness and how valuable it is when we bring our minds and bodies to the present moments. Valerie reminds us that wellness is a necessity and not a luxury, and that it's a radical act of self-preservation, care and love.www.yolanderobinson.com/episode31

For this week's conversation I am joined by Dr. Marie-Ange Janvier. Marie-Ange is a certified clinical engineer that works at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, Canada. Marie-Ange has been making ripples in the field of biomedical engineering regionally, nationally and internationally. In addition to being a licensed engineer in Ontario and Quebec she is the Chair of the Canadian Board of Examiners for Clinical Engineering, the Chair of the Bilingual Affairs Committee in the Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society and the North American Regional Group Representative for the Council of Societies in the International Federation for Medical and Biomedical Engineering which is a Non-Governmental Organization for the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Marie-Ange's skills and experience have uniquely positioned her to follow through on a number of her passions. She is not only passionate about research, teaching and mentorship, but also in facilitating medical equipment donations to her home country of Haiti and other developing nations. www.yolanderobinson.com/episode30

 This week I am joined by R. Danielle Scott. She is a Speech and Language Pathologist that is driven by faith,  intention,  passion and purpose. She walks us through the role and scope of a Speech and Language Pathologist and the various communities that SLPs serve. We also spend time discussing what parents should do if they suspect that their child may have speech and/or language challenges. We discuss how easily fear, shame or denial can creep in and cripple the decision making and action of parents. Danielle inspires parents to take things one day at a time and start by meeting their child where they are at and taking actionable steps from there. She walks us through the red flags that parents should look out for, the steps that can be taken towards getting a speech and language assessment, and actionable beginning steps if an assessment and/or SLP services are not readily available. Danielle also reminds parents that communication is more than just about speaking, and how to go about stimulating early communication and to create environments that are speech and language rich. www.yolanderobinson.com/episode29

This week I am joined by award-winning writer and producer Trey Anthony. Trey is the first black woman in Canada to have a television series on a prime time network. Her works include the plays 'da Kink in My Hair and How Black Mothers Say I Love You.  Trey is a former writer for The Comedy Network, Global TV, OWN and has recently joined the writing team of the television show, Unconventional. Trey, who has won four NAACP awards, and delivered a popular viral TED talk is also a contributing writer for the Huffington Post.Trey's passion for her work is fueled by the desire to see Black women's stories depicted authentically on stage and on screen in a way that would appeal to not only her, but to her community. In addition to discussing the creation and impact of her works, we also discuss experiences that are common to many Caribbean immigrant families and the impacts that are felt, in many cases, for generations. We also jump into the story behind her inspiration for her new book 'Black Girl in Love (with herself): A Guide to Self-Love, Healing, and Creating the Life you Truly Deserve.  www.yolanderobinson.com/episode28

In this week's conversation I am joined by Stacey Martin Bafi- Yeboa. Stacey is a visionary with a unique design background. Her time as a professional performing artist and dancer on Broadway in New York City is what sparked her passion to design. Her company has recently transitioned from Kania Couture Inc. to Stacey Martin Lifestyle Inc. Stacey is driven by providing men and women with clothes that allow them to move freely in who they are. She believes that we need to be willing to take away the limits of our roles and the titles we may hold, and know that evolving is part of what helps us to get to the highest expression of ourselves. Stacey believes that our clothes should be a tool to allow our light to shine and should exude the essence of whoever are or want to be. Stacey encourages listeners to 'take a moment.' To take time to be in the current moment and appreciate where they are, who they are, what they have accomplished and to remember the importance of appreciating our everyday moments. www.yolanderobinson.com/episode27

For this week's conversation I am joined by the CEO of Black Girls RUN!, Jay Ell Alexander.  Black Girls RUN! began as a blog in 2009 where the co-founders journaled about their running experiences. As the popularity of the blog increased and an initial call out brought out a few hundred women, BGR moved from being a blog to  becoming a community. BGR is now a 250, 000 -strong organization that tackles the growing obesity epidemic in the African-American community and encourages, motivates and provide resources to help black women practice a healthy lifestyle. Jay Ell shares with listeners the impact that BGR has had on her career and life, and the passion that she has for getting more Black women healthier and on the pavement. www.yolanderobinson.com/episode26

For this week's conversation I am joined again by Latasha Strachan. Latasha's essence revolves around being a student, a teacher and a coach. She is driven by authenticity and her passion is in spiritual and emotional wholeness in women seeking empowerment. On this episode Latasha joins me on the Shifting Perspective platform to discuss two very special words: passion and purpose. We discuss what these words mean to us, where to start if you are unsure where your passions and purpose lie, as well as the power of activation that comes in sisterhood when discovering, exploring and living in your purpose and passion. 

For this week's conversation I am joined by Dr. Florence Janvier. Florence is a Figure Athlete in natural bodybuilding with a Ph.D. Degree in Public Health. Florence inspires busy professional women to manifest their dream body by changing their mindset through her weekly videos on her Youtube Channel Ladyfloflo. After her 3 years fat loss transformation, Florence won the Women’s Overall Figure title after competing for her fist  time and prepping during the COVID pandemic!  Florence reminds us of the power of vision, intention and commitment, and inspires us to do the inner work needed to achieve our goals.

For this week's conversation, I am joined by Niclair Russell. Niclair is a wife, a daughter, a sister-friend, an educator and a momma bear of two beautiful girls. She is originally from the island of Providenciales, TCI and now resides in the UK. Although Niclair wears many hats, the common thread is her desire to be the best version of herself in all the roles she holds. She believes that we have all been created with purpose and for a purpose. We discuss that sometimes finding that purpose takes us through life's plot twists and how important it is for us to be open to moving outside of our comfort zones, being willing to embrace change and transition, and to trust that life's detours often have a purpose. She reminds us of the importance of embracing and owning our stories and that when we are brave enough to do so, we often give people permission to do the same.www.yolanderobinson.com/episode23

For this week's conversation I am joined by Dr. Cheryl Ingram aka Dr. CI. Dr. CI has dedicated her professional career to solving issues of discrimination and oppression in workplaces and educational institutions. She is the CEO and founder of Inclusology, which is a software company that is working to build the world's greatest benchmarks for DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion). She is also the CEO and Founder of Diverse City LLC which is a diversity equity and inclusion consulting firm that works with organizations and companies such as Netflix, Uber, Foursquare, University of Washington and others to help them build sustainable and fair DEI Practices. She recently published a book called Soulful Words that is a guide to help institutions how to navigate issues of discrimination. Although these challenges are not new, With all that is going on in our world today it highlights the importance of us all having a basic understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity and this is a field that Dr. CI  has been training and coaching in for over 20 years. www.yolanderobinson.com/episode22

For this week’s conversation I am joined again by Nicole Cox. Although we love to get together to have chats that shift perspective on parenting and education, this week we leave that topic entirely to discuss the recent unexpected passing of Chadwick Boseman, his life, his work and his impact. Nicole, being a huge comic book movie fan, walks us through the impact of the movie Black Panther. We also discuss representation, the impact of the superhero world on children and adults, and the power of sharing one’s gifts with the world in a way that inspires and brings hope to others. **Spoiler alert: We discuss a number of aspects from the plot of the movie. 

For this week's conversation I am joined by Latasha Strachan. Although she wears many hats, Latasha's essence revolves around being a 'student-teacher-coach.' She is driven by authenticity and her passion for spiritual and emotional wholeness in women seeking empowerment. A few years ago, Latasha was inspired to start a project that has now turned into a beautiful book entitled “The Little Project: Little Changes That Will Change Your Life."  In our conversation we discuss finding your passion, walking in your purpose, self-awareness, sisterhood, patience, honoring your seasons and so much more.www.yolanderobinson.com/episode20

For this week's conversation I am joined by Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Tameika Meadows. Tameika strongly believes that when you help a child succeed, you help a whole family. Tameika currently practices as a freelance consultant, behavior coach, and Autism Specialist for schools, organizations, and adult day programs located in and around Georgia. Tameika shares the power that knowledge, honesty, practicality and accountability have in providing interventions. We also discuss the challenges of parenting during this period.  Many parents have been on emotional rollercoasters for months. Tameika reminds us of the importance of making decisions based on the 'now' and not what things 'should be' or what we 'want them to be,' and the role that being willing to adapt and be flexible has in our ability to manage this period. She also reminds us that we cannot pour from an empty cup, and that all parents should take some time to step back, remind themselves that they do not need to be superman or superwoman, and take things one moment at a time. www.yolanderobinson.com/episode19

On this week's conversation I am joined by communications specialist Katherine Beneby II. Katherine shares the vision she had for the concept of a 'Human Library' in the Bahamas. The original concept of the 'Human Library' originated in Denmark and creates a space where attendees can 'borrow' people instead of books. Katherine, with the help of her colleagues, adapted this experience for the Bahamian context to create "The Bahamian Exchange.' Each year at 'The Bahamian Exchange'  participants have the opportunity to sit in groups of no more than 5 for 15 minutes and ask features anything they want. These features are people who are from different backgrounds and experiences. The space welcomes tough questions, varying viewpoints and opinions for respectful dialogue. Over the last 4 years this event has not only developed minds, but fostered connections and opportunities. Katherine Beneby is also a speaker, trainer and coach and owns her own business, KBII Communications.Visit www.yolanderobinson.com/episode18

Jaqueline Henry is a primary school teacher that resides on the island of Grand Turk,  which is the nation's capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. She is  driven by a passion to see her students believe in themselves and their success. In August of 2016, Jaqueline Henry received a wake up call that led her to make her health a number one priority.  Over the last 4 years, Jaqueline has lost a total of 265 lbs naturally and safely through focusing on 70% nutrition, 30% activity and 100 % faith. Her transformation and success have inspired many to join her and she now provides strategies and training programs through her company: JH You Can Do It Fitness. Visit: www.yolanderobinson.com/episode17

For this week's conversation I am joined by Creative Arts Psychotherapist, Nicollette Williams. The first in her field in Barbados, and amongst the first in the Caribbean, Nicollette shares how she uses dance, drama, music, art and play therapy as psychological interventions and on paths to healing. Nicollette discusses the power of non-verbal therapy and the way in which she helps her clients and patients tap into their subconscious to begin with the 'here' and 'now' and make choices in line with their needs and desired pathways forward.

For this week's conversation I am joined by Lisa Joseph. Lisa's tenure in education spans 28 years and in all areas of the education spectrum from early childhood to tertiary level. With many schools reopening in person or virtually around the globe, there is much to consider for our students and children. Although physical health is at the top of that list, Lisa sheds life on the importance of creating emotionally safe learning spaces for our students and the role planning, persistence and patience have in our ability to do so. 

For this week's conversation I am joined by Counselling Psychologist Nicole Lynch. Nicole, a Barbadian, travels around the Caribbean with organizations such as UNICEF and OECS  on projects related to improving the psychosocial learning environment for children, adolescents and teachers. In this period, like so many of us, she has had to take pause and be intentional about her personal and professional pivots. Pivots often take us into uncomfortable and unknown territory and require us to draw on our courage as we confront our fears. Nicole reminds us that the word 'courage' has a Latin root and originally meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart." She weaves this into the way she inspires us to bring our whole selves to the world, and shares the impact this has on our relationships and our personal sense of peace.