Listen Now

Blanca and Rai talk with Latina mother, teacher, and performer Gina Quinones about her identity evolution as an Afro-Latina and how the arts community is long overdue for a reckoning on race.

In this episode of W.O.C. at Work, Rai and Blanca sit down with community activist, social worker, and NYC City Council candidate, Shanequa E. Moore to discuss the unmet needs in our communities surrounding fair housing and access to quality education. They also talk about why Shanequa decided to run for office after decades as a nonprofit executive, and how Black and Brown women can better show up for each other in the political arena.

Financial and investment advisor, Tiffany Hawkins of The Momentum Advisors, joins Rai and Blanca for a conversation about women of color and our money. Why is there a wealth gap between white women and women of color, and what can we do about it today? Listen to find out how women of color can grow our wealth! 

Rai and Blanca sit with activist, leader, wife, mom, and all-around badass, Carmen Perez about her identity as a Chicana woman. She also discusses Black and Brown co-conspiratorship and how this differs from allyship. Carmen also reveals never-before discussed details about her time as a primary organizer for The Women's March and how white, liberal women failed the women of color on that organizing team.

Thinking about getting the covid vaccine? Want more information about what this vaccine is and how it was developed? Rai and Blanca talk with Dr. Kre-a family medicine physician, entrepreneur, and an encourager to working wives everywhere. Listen as she discusses how to get the most out of your doctor's visits, why she was originally hesitant about the vaccine (but changed her mind), and how to delegate unwanted tasks to focus on your true heart's desires.

Blanca and Rai sit down with Dr. Hasina Mohyuddin, a scholar and DEI professional at Vanderbilt University, to hear her story of being a Muslim woman in America. She shares her research with us about the effects of Islamaphobia on children. We also discuss what your workplace can do right now to support its Muslim workers.

In this episode of W.O.C. at Work, Rai and Blanca reflect on the last 12 months and the wild and crazy ride that was 2020. They discuss the joys, collective difficulties, and lessons learned. The hosts also discuss the state of Black and Brown mental health after last summer's uprisings.

So much of DEI work is about trying to convince white people about the ills of racism and their role in it. But who in our communities is doing the work of attending to us? Who's supporting people of color, advocating for the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual health of the folks bearing the brunt of racism? In this second season of WOC at Work, Blanca and Rai talk with community-based workers and activists who have made it their business to directly support and uplift communities of color

In this final episode of the season, Rai and Blanca discuss the state of education during the current Covid crisis. How has the landscape changed?  Who will inevitably be left behind as parents and school districts scramble to educate students under the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic. And what will the hosts (both educators) be doing with their own children this fall?

Black women are three to four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women.  This isn't due to health issues or poverty.  The number one reason for this disparity is racism! Join Rai and Blanca as they talk with Teree Fruga-one of only a handful of Black midwives in the entire state of Texas.  Hear Teree breakdown how Black women can advocate for ourselves and our babies and why Black midwives matter!

Do you have a mentor? Would your work life benefit from a sponsor instead?In this episode of W@W, Rai and Blanca talk with Dr. Nadina Rosier about the difference between sponsorship and mentorship and how women of color can benefit from each. Dr. Rosier has 20 years of senior-level consulting experience in providing pharmacy benefits management expertise to over 400 private and public sector employers. Also, you do not want to miss her WOW story!It might be the "wowest" one yet! Want early access to the next episode? Become a member now at thenorthstar.com!

This is what it looks like when WOC take up space and walk in the power of who they are. Rai and Blanca talk with Melanie Hart about traversing white-dominant education spaces as a confident woman of color. Melanie also reveals what it looks like to take off that cape and rest to help heal from a traumatic event. Can't wait for the next episode? Join thenorthstar.com now for early episode access.

Diversity is a major buzzword in today's work environments. But what does it mean to be a truly equitable workspace where leaders of all races, genders, and belief systems can show up as their authentic selves and thrive?  In this episode, Rai and Blanca talk with Sweet Joy Hachuela who is Co-Founder and Partner of The Medici Group where she oversees major accounts for the firm. Prior to founding the Medici Group, alongside global thought leader, Fran Johansson, she was the managing director of Springboard Partners for Cross-Cultural Leadership and served as a Diversity Consultant for JPMorgan Chase.  Sweet Joy and the hosts talk about real representation, as well as the pressures of raising children and leading organizations in the midst of a global pandemic.  Can't wait for the next episode? Become a member at thenorthstar.com for access to next week's full podcast episode!

Feel stuck in a job that you know doesn’t serve your needs, but not sure you can walk away? In this episode of WOC at Work, Blanca and Rai talk with Dr. Amber Field about what it looks like to listen to your inner spirit when you know it’s time to move on. Amber talks with the hosts about how she walked away from a “big job” in a white-dominant organization and rested in the fact that even without the titles, salary, and accolades, she-all by herself-was enough.

In this episode of W.O.C. at Work, Rai and Blanca talk with Erica Hamilton, an accomplished business and non-profit executive with many years of experience in C-Suite positions. Erica talks with the hosts about how women of color can set up their "portfolio life" and ensure that the life they're living is the life they've purposely envisioned and designed.  Take out a pen and a pad because you're going to want to take notes on this one!

In this first episode of W.O.C. at Work, Rai and Dr. Blanca Ruiz introduce themselves and the work that is near and dear to their hearts. They share their stories and talk about what it's like to operate as mothers, wives, women of color, and leaders in several spaces. In this episode, Rai and Blanca deal with intersectionality, tone policing, and the importance of white women doing the work of racial justice.

When Rai and Blanca began recording these podcast in January, the country was in a very different place. There was no pandemic and a new wave of BLM had not swept the country. They were engaged in racial justice work, but much of the country was not. In this preview episode Rai and Blanca discuss why today's climate is ripe for paying close attention to the stories of women of color and their experiences in the workplace.

Listen as Rai King and Dr. Blanca Ruiz introduce The North Star's new podcast. First episode airs July 7th!