Pause On The Play
222 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 55 ratingsPause On The Play® is where you are challenged to examine your beliefs, question your predisposed notions, and consider realities you may be unfamiliar with in order to understand that they too are real. Erica Courdae and co-host India Jackson have real conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion, visibility, mindset, and everything in between.
Topics include imperfect allyship®, imposter syndrome, company culture, and how you can feel more aligned and empowered in your business marketing. Let's go beyond the surface and move into action, today.
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Episodes
Life and Business On Your Own Terms with Tasha Booth
June 07, 2022 07:00 - 45 minutes - 62.6 MBBusiness and life come with a lot of prescribed standards for how things should be done. But following the shoulds can lead to burnout when those paths don’t feel authentic to ourselves. What would it be like to have the freedom to decide for yourself how you want to do life and work? Tasha Booth (she/her) and Erica discuss making your own choices and setting your own standards in business and life. In this discussion: How living life on your own terms shows up in your busin...
Regenerative Systems of Change: Going Beyond Sustainability with Helen Tremethick
May 31, 2022 07:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBSystems like patriarchy, capitalism, productivity, and urgency are extensions of white supremacy that support no one but especially don’t support those that have been historically and currently disenfranchised and marginalized by those same systems. We all interact with these systems, but we don’t have to actively participate in them. There are ways to run our businesses and our lives that actively work against these oppressive systems and work toward equity. Helen Tremethick (s...
Niching Down: Aligning Your Actions With Your Aspirations with Chelsea Stevenson
May 24, 2022 07:00 - 43 minutes - 60.1 MBGetting clear on your niche can help your business flourish. Finding your niche can mean more than honing your service offerings and ideal client avatar. Niching down can help you express your values in your business. But the way that niching is talked about and taught in the mainstream can become a matter of chasing money and be out of alignment with your values. Chelsea Stevenson joins Erica for a conversation about what it has really meant to niche down her business and how...
VIP Days, Burnout, and the Beauty of Boundaries with Jordan Gill
May 17, 2022 07:00 - 55 minutes - 76.3 MBYou can do things differently. You can define success for yourself in a way that accounts for your whole self and wellbeing and not just the work you do for others. You don’t have to be grinding and hustling every hour of every day. Being burned out is not a badge of honor. Jordan Gill joins Erica for a conversation about VIP days and how implementing them has supported both their businesses and their lives. In this discussion: How VIP days create natural boundaries for you ...
Urgency Is Not Welcome To This Show
May 10, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MBWith a neverending news cycle churning out information, it can be easy to feel like you have to react immediately. We feel the urgency of needing to say something, do something, to fix the problem we’re now aware of. So often, the issues you’re reacting to existed long before you acknowledged them. And the fix can’t be immediate. Erica discusses reacting with urgency to the events of the day, how it leads to burnout, and how it can pull you away from your values. In this discuss...
Supporting Our Children As They Explore Gender and Identity with Mackenzie Dunham
May 03, 2022 07:00 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MBChildren should be able to explore their expression and identity as part of growing up. So how do we best support them and prioritize their needs as they navigate that journey? As adults, how can we do better for the children in our lives? How can adults deprogram the sometimes harmful ideas and beliefs they grew up with? Mackenzie Dunham joins Erica for a conversation about what it takes to create supportive, affirming spaces for kids. In this discussion: Why we need to norm...
How Imperfect Allyship® Shows Up For Black Women with Paula Edgar
April 26, 2022 07:00 - 44 minutes - 60.9 MBWe can be Imperfect Allies® to people who live, look, and love like us, as well as to those who are demographically different from us. What supports us when we give and receive Imperfect Allyship® from each other from within our communities? What do we need when those who are different from us on paper want to support us? Paula Edgar joins Erica for a dynamic conversation about what can happen when Black women are allies to one another and Paula’s passion for supporting and prio...
Imperfect Allyship®: Why Social Change Needs Space For Imperfection
April 19, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBImperfect Allyship® is more than just a phrase. And it’s an entire thought process, action framework, and a way of being. Imperfect Allyship® is a movement. Imperfect Allyship® is a nuanced and layered concept that requires commitment, collaboration, and vulnerability. But it also doesn’t have to be that complicated. India joins Erica to dig into the meaning of Imperfect Allyship® and how it comes to life in action. In this discussion: Coming to a working definition of Imperf...
Building a Collaborative Company Culture with Rebecca Teaff
April 12, 2022 07:00 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBHiring and retention are at the top of mind for many business owners, large and small, as the Great Resignation forces us to rethink work and company culture. And you can’t talk about hiring, retention, or company culture without talking about values. Rebecca Teaff joins Erica to discuss how getting explicit about her values has shaped her hiring process, company culture, and allowed her to successfully retain team members and hire during this tumultuous time. In this discuss...
Cultivating, Building, and Scaling Sustainable Career Pathways with Maurice Jones of OneTen
April 05, 2022 07:00 - 46 minutes - 63.5 MBNot having a college degree has become a huge hindrance for people not only being able to get a job, but to get a sustainable job with opportunities for advancement. And it’s a significant roadblock to advancement for Black people. Maurice Jones of OneTen joins Erica and India to discuss the realities of the job market and how OneTen is working to evolve the employment ecosystem to open up pathways of sustainable achievement for Black people. In this discussion: How degree re...
Truth, Self-Worth, and Imposter Syndrome
March 29, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutes - 19.7 MBImposter Syndrome is a term that many of us are way too well acquainted with. But what if it's not what you thought it was? What if it is the fear of you being so much more than you ever dreamed? Erica shares her thoughts about what Imposter Syndrome is and isn’t and how it shows up as we expand what we think is possible and embrace our next best selves. In this discussion: Why imposter syndrome is so persistent for Black and brown people What we’re really afraid of when ...
Giving-Back and Imperfect Allyship® with Emily Thompson
March 22, 2022 07:00 - 51 minutes - 71.1 MBImperfect Allyship® applies to more than just race and gender. And we need space to think about how our allyship efforts intersect with creating systems of collaboration, support, and giving back. Emily Thompson joins Erica to discuss how Imperfect Allyship® shows up in her work and life, the systems she has put in place to make allyship feel easeful, and her December collaboration with Pause on the Play®, The Community in support of the L-CMD Research Foundation. In this discus...
Make The World Your Playground Of Possibilities with Gary Ware
March 15, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 67.6 MBMany of us want to have the capacity to be more creative, to be better communicators, and to be able to tap into our empathy. Improvisation can be a tool to broaden your capacity in all of these areas, giving you a playground to expand what you think is possible with a sense of levity and play. Gary Ware and Erica discuss how to use improvisation skills to bring energy and joy to your work and to access your empathy and communication skills. In this discussion: How improvisat...
How Creating Equitable Systems Can Support Freedom In Your Life and Business with Adrienne Dorison
March 08, 2022 08:00 - 53 minutes - 74.2 MBWe hear about systems of oppression all the time, but it’s possible and necessary to reclaim systems as a structure that can create freedom. Systems can create frameworks that generate freedom in more than just your business. These systems are a part of mindset shifts that extend outward and support how you navigate your life and your relationships. Adrienne Dorison joins Erica for a conversation about the Run Like Clockwork framework and how systems can create and support freedo...
Finding The Courage to Dream Big
March 01, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 39.4 MBSome people have the wherewithal in them to dream big, to think that anything can be possible, that things that they’ve never witnessed, things that they thought were out of reach, can be possible. And some don’t. Often, the same person will experience both at different times. Erica and India come together to have a conversation about envisioning the impact you want to make and believing in what’s possible. In this discussion: How our backgrounds influence what we can conce...
Is Urgency Using You As An Agent Of White Supremacy?
February 22, 2022 08:00 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MBWhere are you playing a role in giving or receiving urgency and its harmful side effects? Urgency isn’t about whether or not something is time-sensitive. Urgency is about demanding something before it’s actually due, creating unreasonable expectations and unhealthy environments in its wake. And if urgency is about saving your time and resources, who’s paying the price for the reclamation? Erica breaks down what urgency is and isn’t, how it intersects with white supremacy, and ...
Reconsidering Our Understanding of Identity with Lucia Doynel
February 15, 2022 08:00 - 43 minutes - 60 MBWhat assumptions do you make about yourself? What assumptions do you make about others? The assumptions about identity that we make about ourselves and each other are often not supporting us in our lives, or in our efforts to be visible and make the types of impact that we want to make in the world. Lucia Doynel joins Erica for a conversation about identity, assumptions, and the stories we tell about ourselves and others. In this discussion: The layers of identity and the box...
The Case For Being Selfish with Dr. Marcuetta Sims
February 08, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 68.4 MBCan being selfish be a good thing? Selfishness actually needs to be incorporated into our lifestyles in order to support the work that we are designed and purposed to do. We cannot do the things that we want to do, the things that we need to do, and create the types of changes that we want to create if we’re pouring from an empty, cracked, chipped, broken cup. Dr. Marcuetta Sims joins Erica to make the case for being selfish. In this discussion: Why Dr. Sims is reclaiming t...
Radical Curiosity: The Intersection of Brain Science and DEI with Eric Bailey
February 01, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 68.7 MBHow does brain science connect with communication and relationship building? And how does that intersect with empathy? Utilizing brain science has the potential to shift conversations and dynamics around race, diversity, empathy, and healing. Eric Bailey joins Erica for a discussion of how brain science influences our relationships, our imperfect allyship, and how both are ongoing processes. In this discussion: Conversational principles for when you don’t agree The brain scie...
Five Diverse Perspectives On Amplifying Your Influence
January 25, 2022 08:00 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBWhat does it mean to amplify your influence? If everyone has the capacity to influence others, no matter how small their circle might be, how do we consciously amplify our positive impact? Five members of the Pause on the Play® the Community, share what amplifying their influence means to them, based on their contexts, experiences, and opinions. In this discussion: Five perspectives on amplifying your influence How being in community influences how you show up in the world ...
Commodification and Fetishization in Romance Writing with Tasha L. Harrison
January 18, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 69.7 MBHow do we refer to people? Are those words they would use to refer to themselves? Food comparisons are commonly used in writing when describing black and brown skin tones for humans. But how does it feel to be talked about as if you were a commodity? Romance author Tasha L. Harrison returns to discuss problematic -isms and word choices that show up in writing and how those choices condition you to take those unconscious attitudes out into the world with you. In this discussion...
Not Just Networking: How Community Can Transform Your Business
January 11, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBThe start of a new year feels like it gives a lot of possibilities and opportunities to figure out what you want to do, what you want to partake in, and what you have access to that you weren’t aware of or hadn’t thought about, and that includes community. To welcome 2022, Erica and India answer some of your frequently asked questions about Pause on the Play® The Community. In this discussion: How private communities can minimize the social media noise Why communities can be ...
Making DEI Values Explicit in the Coaching Industry with Jennifer Voss, CEO of Martha Beck Inc
January 04, 2022 08:00 - 55 minutes - 76.6 MBReconsidering your normal means questioning the ways things have always been done, in your life and in our culture. It could be as simple as questioning why you respond “I’m fine,” when you’re not, or it could be making bigger transitions in your business to make your work more accessible, so more people gain the tools and training to impact their communities. Client Jennifer Voss, CEO of Martha Beck, Inc. joins Erica and India to discuss making organizational shifts in pursuit ...
Alternative Spiritual and Wellness Tools for BIPOC with Cynthia Davidson
December 28, 2021 08:00 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBWhat happens when we don’t feel as though we have access to healing? When there is shame or stigma or a lack of knowledge about modalities that are available? Healing does not come in one flavor. It does not show up in one way, and everything does not work for everyone. Sometimes we have to find other options to support our healing journeys. Cynthia Davidson, owner of Intuitive Essentials, joins Erica for a conversation about how spirituality and wellness can play a part in heal...
The Wedding Industrial Complex: Where Is the Love in the Love Industry with Shannon Collins
December 21, 2021 08:00 - 47 minutes - 64.8 MBWeddings are an industry that is supposed to be built on love, joy, happiness, and connection. But the actions being taken within the Wedding Industrial Complex are often anything but. And this isn’t about overzealous brides or missed music cues. Photographer Shannon Collins joins Erica and India to discuss the Wedding Industrial Complex and how the industry needs to change to be more inclusive and accessible so it truly celebrates love in all its forms. In this discussion: H...
Living and Leveraging Your Values As An Entrepreneur with Jeraud Norman
December 14, 2021 08:00 - 48 minutes - 66.3 MBChoosing to live through your values can be charting a new path. Doing things differently from the way you were taught is powerful behavior modeling. Jeraud Norman joins Erica to discuss how his experiences in corporate settings made him want to change how he did things, how he runs his business, and how he interacts with everyone in his life. In this discussion: Why unlearning hustle culture requires openness and vulnerability How choosing to operate with integrity and hum...
How Essentialism Can Help You to Reconnect with the Change You Want to Create
December 07, 2021 08:00 - 12 minutes - 16.9 MBEssential can mean being more minimalist, getting down to only the things you need. But there’s also a conversation around what is essential in the actions you do or don’t take, and why it’s important to pause and reconnect with that. Erica asks a key question to help you assess what’s essential and what you may be ready to let go of, and gives you her take on what’s essential, and what isn’t. In this discussion: How reconnecting with your values allows you to discern what’s es...
Why White Men Have The Power To Become Agents of Change with Andrew Horning
November 30, 2021 08:00 - 53 minutes - 72.9 MBIt’s not always easy to have conversations about what needs to be changed, and the roles we consciously or unconsciously play in those changes. But it is important to be aware of the role you can actively play, or choose to opt out of, when it comes to shifting our reality to foster equity. Andrew Horning joins India and Erica to discuss why white men need to be agents of change, how he advocates for everyone to be contributors to change, and how to build emotional resilience wh...
Consumerism - Having More By Shopping Less
November 23, 2021 08:00 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBMany people resist the call to vote with their dollars because they assume it will cost more or that they’re being encouraged to buy more. But spending intentionally, with businesses and brands that align with your values, can actually save you money in the end. Erica and India discuss how minimalist practices have changed their relationship to spending and consumerism from where they buy their groceries to using the “good” china. In this discussion: How minimalism can counte...
Leading From The Heart: Connecting Curiosity and Compassion with Audrey Cavenecia
November 16, 2021 08:00 - 49 minutes - 67.4 MBThere are plenty of examples out there of what not to do when it comes to leadership. But we need more highlights of people doing it well, and clarity on the benefits of good leadership, not just to the person leading, but to everyone around them who is impacted by their choices. Audrey Cavenecia joins Erica and India to discuss leading from the heart, with compassion and curiosity, and what to do when we’re missing the mark. In this discussion: Why leadership doesn’t just appl...
Positive Organizational Psychology For Innovative Humans with Dr. Kim Perkins
November 09, 2021 08:00 - 42 minutes - 59.1 MBIn the current climate, the words positive and organization can feel like they don’t belong together. But the reality is, positive change within organizations is possible, and we have an opportunity to reimagine the relationships between employees, and organizations or companies. Kim Perkins joins Erica to discuss positive organizational psychology and how that shows up in the work she does, and they get into the nitty-gritty of shaping change within organizations. In this discu...
Reconsidering How You Vote With Your Dollars
November 02, 2021 07:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBEvery time you take out your wallet is an opportunity to put your values in action. Investing in DEI doesn’t always have to be a major initiative. Adjusting your daily actions with your values in mind can be an easy way to put those efforts into your everyday life. Erica and India work through what it means to vote with your dollars and why it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. In this discussion: How the choices you make on everyday spending can support your values ...
Why It's Time To Get Clear On What You Expect From Your DEI Work
October 26, 2021 07:00 - 13 minutes - 18.7 MBCreating a brand that’s rooted in your values and the impact you want to make in the world is a must, and using DEI as the basis for the way that you do all things is absolutely necessary. But are you clear on your expectations for the outcomes of this work? Erica asks two key questions to help you get clear on your goals and your timeline for integrating DEI into your business. In this discussion: Why DEI has to inform the decisions and processes of your whole brand How to...
The Intersection of Public Image and Company Culture
October 19, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBEveryone has a way that they want their brand to be positioned and perceived. But is that the same as your company culture? The two often get conflated, and while there is overlap, they are different concepts that will require their own goals and actions to support them. Erica and India break down the confusion over culture versus image. In this discussion: What company culture is Why you need to develop company values, not just brand values Elements of your public image ...
Advocacy and Equity in the Healthcare System with Dr. Nicole Rochester
October 12, 2021 07:00 - 49 minutes - 68.4 MBWhen you’re ill, you hope that you will be cared for with compassion, consideration and competence. But that’s not always what happens. People of marginalized identities often confront racism, bias and lack of accountability when interacting with the medical system. Dr. Nicole Rochester joins Erica to discuss health advocacy and why it is necessary for creating health equity. In this discussion: What a health advocate does Why we need health advocacy and equity How bias a...
You Can't Heal A Wound In An Infected Environment
October 05, 2021 07:00 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBSometimes it’s just time to move on. But it can be hard to judge when a situation has moved beyond the ability to heal, especially if you’re the kind of person who always wants to see the good in people and situations, or when you find yourself asking “am I just being too sensitive?” Erica recounts her experience with an environment that turned toxic and how she knew it was time to let go. In this discussion: Erica’s story of how an environment slowly changed from a positive ...
Creating Company Culture Based on Connection and Possibility
September 28, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.9 MBAre you able to connect with your team outside of the trauma and adrenaline? Or is it only when things are wrong? Are you able to connect when things are filled with ease or even joy? Erica and India discuss the lack of human connection they’re noticing among teams and the hazards of only bonding when something goes wrong. In this discussion: What trauma bonding is and how it impacts company culture Why adrenaline-fueled moments don’t have to be a bad thing How to ask yo...
African-American Vernacular - What's Good English with E.K. Powell
September 21, 2021 07:00 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBWhen you think about reconsidering your normal, do you think about language? And not just specific word choices, but about how our language is perceived? Erica and India are getting into it with E.K. Powell, creator of the What’s Good English TikTok account and YouTube channel. They dig into African American Vernacular English (AAVE), the perceptions of it, appropriation of it, and an unpopular opinion or two. In this discussion: The origins of African American Vernacular Eng...
How to Hire in an Intentional, Ethical, and Considerate Way
September 14, 2021 07:00 - 20 minutes - 27.8 MBThere are a lot of conversations happening about hiring, how to do things differently and how to shift the narrative of how hiring has to be done. Erica brings you three key questions to ask yourself, or your team, as you’re planning out your goals for the fall and beyond, so you can have clarity and intention in the shifts you make to grow your business. In this discussion: Why you need to shift your network Three prompts to consider as your begin changing your practices ...
3 Ways to Get Back on Track by Reconnecting with Your Why
September 07, 2021 07:00 - 14 minutes - 19.5 MBAs we start looking towards the fourth quarter and even into 2022, it’s a good time to check in with how your values are aligning with your goals and your actions. Erica brings you three key questions to ask yourself, or your team, as you’re planning out your goals for the fall and beyond, so you can have clarity and intention in the shifts you make to grow your business. In this discussion: Three questions to answer to create authentic, cohesive messaging Avoiding pandering ...
Diversify Your Network Without Tokenizing the Folks You Wish to Attract
August 31, 2021 04:01 - 28 minutes - 39.6 MBSo, you want to diversify your network authentically. Where do you begin? The process can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not quite sure how to define your goals. Those efforts can also lead to tokenism without thoughtful consideration given to the people behind the demographics. Erica and India return to break down the concept of network diversification with actionable and, yes, authentic steps to help you broaden your associations as well as cultivate greater awareness o...
Three Things to Consider When You’re Ready to Do Things Differently
August 24, 2021 04:01 - 18 minutes - 25.2 MBYour desire to amplify communities and help organizations, or consume diverse sources of media and participate in truly inclusive events can have a meaningful impact––if you’re willing to examine the intentions behind those goals. Erica offers three prompts designed to help folks reflect on their motives and raise self-awareness on the path to doing things differently. In this discussion: Acknowledging the use of and meaning behind self-centered “I” statements Recognizing u...
Psychographics vs Demographics: Honoring Values Over Statistics
August 17, 2021 04:01 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MBFrom news stories to social media ads, general statistical indicators such as age, race, gender, and income still provide the basis for evaluating others––whether consciously or unconsciously. Why, when we can do so much better? Erica and India lead by example, offering a primer on how to replace those quantitative, often reductive, demographics with psychographics, a more insightful, qualitative way of understanding folks by honoring their values, interests, lifestyle choices, an...
The Power of Saying "No"
August 10, 2021 04:01 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MBNaomi Osaka. Simone Biles. What do they have in common beyond their elite athletic achievements? They’re the latest in a growing number of Black women who’ve publicly pushed back against an unrelenting narrative that minimizes their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing––their humanness. Erica celebrates the power and courageousness of invoking the word NO! in a world that continues to label Black women as both too much and never enough. In this discussion: Acknowledging Bl...
Transparent Communication: a Values-Based Leadership Approach
August 03, 2021 04:01 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBLeadership is less this is what I do, and more this is my way of being. But how to fully express that principle throughout your business, your brand, your life? Transparent communication can get you there. You already know we’re keen on the power of conversation here Pause On The Play. A strategy of open dialogue telegraphs your values to those you work with, for, and around. Erica breaks down five essential, actionable steps that will ensure every aspect of your business is al...
Examining Our Relationship to Language and Implicit Bias with Hanneke Antonelli
July 27, 2021 04:01 - 45 minutes - 62.1 MBHey guys, where do you stand on language usage? If you aren’t already picking apart the previous sentence, it’s time to cultivate greater awareness around the societal and cultural conditioning that lurks beneath seemingly innocuous words and phrases. Erica and India are joined by author and award-winning life coach Hanneke Antonelli to examine the impact our word choices have on promoting implicit gendered, ableist, and racist biases, among others. They also provide steps for inc...
Finding the Language to Talk About Mental Health and Trauma as Members of The Black Community
July 20, 2021 04:01 - 51 minutes - 71.2 MBEveryone’s mental health journey is unique to their history, personality, and access to support. But as divergent as our paths might seem, no one ever truly walks alone. Erica and India combine full transparency with softness in this intimate look at their personal relationships with trauma and healing. They share the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of their experiences with anyone struggling to express complex feelings. CONTENT DISCLOSURE: This conversation cov...
Four Questions to Consider Before You Take Action
July 13, 2021 04:01 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MBWanting to make an impact is amazing! Action for action’s sake, however, is unproductive. Before attempting to create change, imperfect allies need to first get clear on their motivations, their timing, and the intended beneficiaries of their efforts. Erica returns with a swift solo conversation to provide four foundational questions for everyone to ask before moving into action. In this discussion: Values as the standard by which all actions are measured The perils of fear...
Challenge the Politics in Your Workplace with Jeff Harry
July 06, 2021 04:01 - 44 minutes - 61.8 MBVersions of the same narrative have cropped up everywhere lately: no one wants to work anymore! Don’t be fooled; behind the headline lies the story of what may be the largest migration of workers out of corporate America in history. Whether you’re reluctantly headed back into the office after 15+ months of working from home or giving serious thought to calling it quits, there’s no denying that something has shifted in our collective attitude about “work.” The question is, what’s ...
Building Entrepreneurial Legacies: a Q&A with Erica and India
June 29, 2021 15:30 - 28 minutes - 39.5 MBHow much do you know about the powerhouse duo behind Pause On The Play The Community? How much do Erica and India know about each other? It’s time for another round of revealing Qs and intersecting As. As membership inquiries and interest in their values-based approach to visibility continue to grow, Erica and India take this opportunity to reintroduce themselves to new folks and those who’ve followed these discussions for a while. In this discussion: Divergent experiences an...