Movement Makers Podcast With Nikki Groom

This week, I’m joined by psychotherapeutic counselor, Grace Quantock. Grace is an amazing coach and writer who specializes in helping people live well in tough times, and manage complex trauma and chronic illness without burnout or blame.   In this episode, Grace joins me for an insightful conversation about what it means to live well in trying times, the importance of reclaiming your self-agency, and how to navigate burnout while you fight for social change.

My guest today, Dr. Nika White, says, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not just a checkmark for good business; it’s a way to transform the world.” As an award-winning management and leadership consultant, keynote speaker, published author, and executive practitioner for DEI efforts across the business, government, nonprofit, and education, Nika helps organizations break barriers and integrate diversity into their businesses.   The heart of Nika’s work, which you’ll hear all about in this episode, addresses the ability to create transformative environments with intentionality around inclusion. During our conversation, Nika breaks down what it means to be an inclusionist and shares how you can become a true ally, no matter where you are on your DEI journey.

If you’ve been running a business in the online space for any length of time, you’ll know that a lot of people use outdated marketing methods when promoting things like summits—methods that, quite frankly, feel manipulative rather than relational. In today’s episode of the Movement Makers podcast, I invite Dawn Serra, CEO of Radical Summits, onto the show to talk about how entrepreneurs can create successful, ethical, and inclusive online events and summits that prioritize relationship-building over getting butts in seats.  When Dawn speaks, everything she says is gold. We also talk about manipulative marketing practices, anti-capitalist pricing, accessibility, and why list building shouldn’t be our only focus.

What happens when your career, or your business, becomes your entire identity? Boundaries get blurred, you feel guilty saying no, you avoid conflict, and your happiness becomes defined BY your work, and how successful you are—or are not. Joining me for a conversation about how to uphold your boundaries and level up your influence, is executive presence coach and founder of Copper + Rise, Joanna Lovering.  In this episode, Joanna opens up about her childhood and her relationship with her mother, her relationships at work, in her career, and as a business owner, and dissects the enmeshment that connects them all. We also talk about how we can choose to show up differently, develop a sense of agency, and determine our true priorities. 

Brand Scientist and digital diplomacy advisor N. Chloé Nwangwu joins me on the podcast this week. Chloé is the founder of NobiWorks, a brand awareness consultancy, and a writer and researcher who has advised everyone from small island nations and the first refugee delegation to the UN to small, black-owned mom-and-pop shops. She’s passionate about helping people overcome systemic barriers to visibility, influence, and success and bridge the gap to where they’re meant to be. In this conversation, we talk about Chloé’s experience as a mediator during the Yemen Civil War, the reality of invisibility taxes for underrepresented BIPOC and women-led businesses, her issues with “niching”, and a different way to think about generating influence.

I have a special episode for you this week! Brooke Monaghan is the host of the podcast Transcend Your Dichotomy. She recently invited me to be a guest on her show to talk about owning your message and making a bigger impact in your work and in the world. Brooke was gracious enough to allow me to share our conversation on this week’s episode of the Movement Makers podcast. During our conversation, you’ll hear us discuss some of the challenges folks experience around visibility and how it’s important that we encourage them to step into their full potential without the fear of making mistakes.

Tune into this episode to discover how neuroscience helps us better understand why people behave the way they do - especially when it comes to motivation and reward - and how we can use those insights to engage audiences. Kendall earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University, where she researched the cognitive neuroscience of learning, memory, and decision-making. She went on to launch FathomCo to support companies that are working to make meaningful progress on the world’s biggest issues—including education, health care, climate change, and DEI. Listen in to learn more about how you can make a bigger impact by using human behavior, science, and creativity to inform your next steps as a business leader.

Have you ever wanted to write a book? In this episode, Bryna Haynes joins me to talk about book publishing for world changers like you. Bryna is the Founder and CEO of WorldChangers Media. As a nationally known book strategist, speaker, ghostwriter, and editor with over 15 years of experience in the field of transformational nonfiction, Bryna has helped hundreds of thought leaders, teachers, and enlightened entrepreneurs to deliver their messages through bestselling, impact-driven books. Tune in to hear how great books can not only change lives, but also topple outdated paradigms and build movements—and why you shouldn’t wait for the perfect time to start writing. 

Heather R Younger is the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. She is also a highly sought-after keynote speaker, a diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, and one of the world's leading experts on listening at work.  In this episode, Heather joins me for a conversation about mastering the art of active listening to ensure the people we interact with feel heard and valued. And we discuss why it’s the choices we make that help us develop the fortitude we need to persevere—even in uncertain times. Plus, Heather offers advice for listeners who want to get their foot in the door as successful speakers and consultants. Do not miss this episode!

Brooke Monaghan is a business coach, consultant, and podcaster who helps entrepreneurs and leaders bring their greatest gifts to the world, align with their values, and honor the lifestyle they want. She loves working with business owners who see and do things differently, because she believes that quality alone makes folks uniquely equipped to challenge the status quo and add incredible value. In this episode, Brooke joins me to talk about what it means to unlearn the conditioning that encourages entrepreneurs to ditch their instincts, intuition, and integrity in favor of seeking a “savior” who will teach them how to do business the “right way”. And she shares the importance of trusting in yourself, so you can take strategic action toward your larger vision.

In this episode, I'm joined by regenerative business designer and holistic business coach, Helen Tremethick. Helen works with entrepreneurs who are ready to show up more fully and authentically in their lives and businesses. Since 2011, she has worked with hundreds of business owners using a proprietary methodology that combines contemporary business strategy, value-based business models, and a hefty dose of what makes you unique.  We talk about Helen’s life on a permaculture farm in the Canadian countryside, as well as what it means to go from being stuck to beyond sustainable, how to identify your Key Personal Indicators, and what it means to create a thriving business ecosystem.

Jadah Sellner joins me for a conversation about growing your business without hustling. In this conversation, Jadah offers alternatives to the hustle culture while stressing the importance of having a self-care menu in order to grow your business and nourish your life.  Jadah is a best-selling author and has recently released her latest book, She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life. She is a business coach, sought-after international keynote and TEDx speaker, and host of the Lead with Love® Podcast. She’s been featured in O: The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, CBS’s The Doctors TV, and on the cover of Women’s World. Jadah is on a mission to redefine the future of work by leading with love in business and life. 

Liuba Gretchen Shirley is the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, the nation’s first Political Action Committee dedicated to electing progressive moms up and down the ballot, as well as the Founder and CEO of Vote Mama Foundation, the leading source of research and analysis about the political participation of mothers in the United States.  In this episode, Liuba joins me for a conversation about normalizing mothers of young children running for office, how to encourage political empowerment, advocating for family-friendly policies, and supporting women in their mission to take up space at the congressional table. 

Cher Hale is the founder and director of Ginkgo PR, an agency using public relations to create a more equitable media landscape. Cher joins me this week for a conversation about expanding the visibility of your business and brand by being a podcast guest. Cher is here to share some of her expertise and knowledge on the topic by helping you pitch your story and your message. We also discuss the reality of diversity and inclusion in the PR space. As a Taiwanese-Black American woman, Cher is passionate about leveraging the power of the media to take back narratives that have been traditionally told for historically-excluded authors and entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Greg Faxon, one of my earliest podcast guests, returns to the show! Greg helps coaches fill their client roster and increase their income with honest sales and marketing. He’s also the author of Don't Let the Fear Win: How to Get out of Your Own Way & Grow Your Business… Fast.  Greg joins me for a conversation about simplifying your business in order to foster growth. He shares why he decided to quit social media marketing and discusses how understanding your coaching archetype can help you reach your highest potential as a business owner. This is an insightful episode you don’t want to miss. 

Today, we’re talking about how to use your personal setbacks as fuel for your entrepreneurial endeavors. Dr. Masachs Boungou is the author of The Power of Personal History: Turning One’s Life Tragedies Into Triumph, in which he shares his moving story of escaping civil war in the Republic of the Congo, going on to become a Fulbright Scholar at Brandeis University, and recently receiving his Ph.D. in Global Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Masachs has gone through personal tragedies, set-backs, and hard-won triumphs. He has come out the other side determined to create a better future for himself and inspire others to do the same. This interview is a reminder to view your history as more than just your past, but instead a way to propel you forward and create the future you desire.

We’re back after a short summer break, and I’m joined by Elsa Isaac, an NYC-based fashion and image stylist who believes style is all about self-expression. In fact, she empowers all her clients to celebrate their individuality through the way they dress. Today, we discuss the relationship between confidence and style, how style can work as an extension of your brand, and how to get started with personal style for yourself.  Elsa has built a noteworthy portfolio, having bestowed her stylish magic on everyone from Marie Forleo to Lenny Kravitz, Katie Couric, and Kris Carr. Her passion is helping successful career women and entrepreneurs revamp their wardrobes in order to create show-stopping ensembles that flatter their unique body shapes and lifestyles.

Amy Walsh is an artist, educator, and the Founder of the Bureau of Tactical Imagination, where she helps unconventional small business founders learn the skills of branding and creative processes, so they can make a meaningful contribution to the culture while building tiny-but-mighty businesses.  In this episode of the podcast, Amy joins me for a discussion about what it means to build a visionary brand and be the creative director of your own business. She also shares how you can strengthen your creative confidence, and explore different ways of running and marketing your small business.

In this episode of the podcast, Tiffany Yu joins me for a conversation about disability advocacy, economic justice, and collective liberation. She talks openly about how she came to own her personal disability story, and highlights how we can embrace adversity in even the most difficult of circumstances. Tiffany has been named one of the "100 most influential Asian Americans of 2017," one of "100 visionary leaders," and a "women of influence" honoree. She has been featured in Marie Claire, Forbes, the Guardian, the Ford Foundation, and The Wall Street Journal, and has spoken at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, TEDx, and Harvard.  Tiffany is an incredible spokesperson for inclusion and allyship, and developing pride around disability. In this episode, she shares how her obstacles are the greatest things that have ever happened to her, and how everyone can be an ally for disability justice. 

Becoming an inclusive leader is not a final destination. It’s a lifelong learning experience and commitment. When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion work, many of us are practicing and are bound to make mistakes.  In this episode, Jennifer Brown, award-winning DEI advocate, author, and speaker, joins me for a discussion about DEI work and leadership. She shares how to embrace DEI from a humanistic perspective in both our personal and professional lives, and reinforces that all of us have the power to make a difference. As the Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC), a certified woman- and LGBT-owned firm, Jennifer and her team design and execute inclusion strategies that have been implemented by some of the largest companies and nonprofits in the world.