Ayodele Speaks

New survey data released by DonorsChoose states that “Black male teachers spend more time mentoring and counseling students than any other demographic.” This is great. And, I wonder, by spending so much time with students, are they missing out on opportunities for personal growth and professional development. I discuss this and more in this episode. Enjoy

Self confidence can be defined in a lot of different ways under many different circumstances and situations. When thinking about self-confidence is the face of ambiguity, uncertainty, complex, what are the ingredients for self-confidence? Well, I explore a few, such as emotional intelligence, lives experience and others) in this episode. Take a listen.

In this episode, part 2, I share some new thinking about how I hope to better communicate my pain to others AND how to create brave spaces where Black men can more effectively come to terms with and manage their “pain”.

I have been away for a bit, so I decided to drop a two part series on the topic of pain. In the this episode, I share my recent experience coming to terms with pain. It's not that I've never felt pain, its just that the way I classify it has been heavily influenced by my upbringing and socialization in these here United States of America. Take a listen.

Sounds like a simple question. Yet, it is difficult for me to answer. In this episode I explain why. Enjoy!

In this episode, I reflect on some advice my chiropractor gave me concerning how best to prevent a chronic injury from occurring. Spoiler Alert: Their answer was less stress in your life, not a new stretch or strength routine.

Im in the process of launching a project that will expand the services and reach of BMEsTalk, while deepening our impact. All that said, I'm learning a lot while on this journey. Take a listen.

In this episode I talk a bit more about my journey to cultivating my inner voice. No one talks to me more than myself.

I respond to title of this episode and more in this week's episode.

I want my tree to full of successful Black men educators inspired to reach their full potential.

Let's celebrate. It is now ok for us men to admit we took an “L” (a loss, failed, came up short). This is definitely progress, but we still are having a hard time asking for help. I'm having a hard time asking for help. Even when the stakes are at their highest.

I haven't been completely honest with myself. I was afraid that I wasn't smart enough. I was afraid that I didn't have the skills or know how to lead a team of adults. I was afraid that I would not be able to work with colleagues that didn't see/view instruction the way I did.

As a large Black man, I am always conscious of the way I inhabit physical spaces. That awareness, I'm learning, has kept me safe AND has stunted my growth. Take a listen.

It's been two weeks of virtual learning and my 7 year old daughter is falling apart. In this episode, I explain more and share my solution, for now.

In this episode, I share a little bit of my learning journey to ensure that ALL Black men in education feel welcome, seen and valued on our affinity spaces.

In this episode, I share what I learned “ear-hustling” a conversation my wife had with one of her clients. The three practices are: Noticing, Holding Space and Accountability. Tap to hear more.

In this episode, I share my gratitude for the College Park Parks & Rec facilitating fabulous youth sport leagues around the city.

In this episode, I talk about professional development opportunities and accompanying stipends (or loan forgiveness) that are offered to Black educators in exchange for long term commitments to work in a particular type of school or district.

In this episode, I reflect on some critical feedback James and I received concerning the delivery of the BMEsTalk Leadership Lab. The feedback pushed us to examine what we do in the lab and rethink the way we describe the work. The sharp, yet constructive feedback from past participants was needed, welcomed and was the fuel we needed to take the lab to next level. Take a listen.

Black Male Educators are DOPE! Research statistically proves our positive impact on students. However, in this episode, I stress the need for a new narrative that talks about why we are so dope.

In this episode, I talk about the challenge of parenting a 7 year old when my default is to always encourage her to push through the pain.

In this episode m, I explore the quote, “I'd rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardner a war”.

I drop my kids off to school in the mornings and pick them up. Are they missing out on life lessons not having to walk to school or ride the bus.

In this episode, I talk about the importance of Black men fellowshipping with one another and it being the doorway to lasting relationships, greater self examination and self improvement.

In this episode, I talk about feeling the like an imposter when I am among a new group of Black men. This one is interesting. Enjoy!

In this episode, I talk about the work of Tena Okun, a Racial Equity Trainer, whose work centers around “white supremacist culture”. I discuss how I am beginning to integrate her work with mine.

In this episode, I talk about confidence/certainty, mental wellness and the “yips”.

In this episode, I talk about what's missing in the workforce development industry and how that is harming Black people, specifically educators.

In this episode, I talk about how schools will never become equitable places of learning if the people running them avoid exploring their own identity.

In the episode, I share why I think we will be returning to hybrid, if not 100% virtual learning by Labor Day.

In this episode, I talk about ways I built healthy relationships with students before I meet them in person.

In this episode, I talk about a recent conversation I had with a friend who has a teenage daughter failing pre-Algebra. She can't seem to understand why, since her daughter is testing through the roof on math aptitude assessments. I provide a possible explanation.

In this episode, I spend some time talking about the benefits Black educators (and their students) receive when they consistently engage in Racial Affinity Groups

In this short episode, I express my gratitude for all the youth Summer Camp administrators and leaders. I have a 7 year old daughter and during the summer of 2020, my household experienced cabin fever. So this summer, with camps open, my daughter has a safe place to make new friends, learn about the history of Black artists, swim and exercise all that energy God gifted her.

In this episode, I talk about how some people feel the need to say they like you, just prior to saying how they don't like your stance on a particular topic or the way you handled a situation. Are they afraid that if they disagree with me, I would take that as an attack on my personhood? What's up with that?

In this episode, I talk how there is more to leading in education, than becoming a school principals. I never wanted to be one and I'm finding many other Black men in education who feel the same way.

In this episode, I talk about the healing that power of the Truth and Reconciliation process.

In this episode, I talk about the incomplete truth that teachers and educators have the summer off.

In this episode, I share a short conversation Natasha (my wife and President/CEO) and I had concerning the responsibility incubators, non-profits, and other entities have when trying to support people of color and people from under resourced communities, with entering “professional” spaces that have historically been unwelcoming to them.

In this episode, I talk about the awkwardness of attending play dates and other social activities with my daughter and being one of 2 (or only) guy there.

In this episode, I talk about an awakening I had one day listening to the song “Cranes in the Sky” by Solange. It started me down a path of thinking that my self care practices needed to include exercising more self compassion.

In this episode, I spend a moment reflecting on my experience participating in a Black centered affinity group. Over the course of four (4) 75-min meeting, all we did was bask in our Blackness and it felt great!

In this episode, I reflect on a recent Facebook post from a school leader seeking advice on how to honor/remember students who tragically died in a car accident at their upcoming graduation ceremony. I “give flowers” to our school leaders facing challenges like these every year while trying to build equitable world-class learning communities.

In this episode, I talk about the necessary task all sales people and consultants do at some point in their career - cold calling. I get really nervous every time I sit down to go thru my aspiring client list. Tap play to listen to how I navigate through each call and a success story from the other week.

In this episode, I share my thoughts on a comment I heard a school board member make during a recent board meeting concerning high students having access to a wider variety of courses via the districts virtual school platform.

In this episode, I react to seeing a very deficit minded social media advertisement that was intended to invite Black professionals to start their journey towards becoming a teacher. Very disappointed. Take a listen.

In this episode, I share about how I am using Spring Break to vision the next steps in my work with Black Male Educators. I want to design, build and lead a learning and leadership institute. I'm using the Camelback Ventures and Echoing Green fellowship applications to help me move my vision from the back of my head onto paper (or the computer screen). Writing has never been easy for me, but I have learned over the years to welcome an optimistic attitude during the process.

In this episode, I talk about how transformation begins when we start infringing upon and crossing personal boundaries. The topic of this episode comes from a passage in a book called Sexual Intelligence authored by Dr. Marty Klein.

In this episode, I share a brief story about an interaction I recently had with a neighbor and how I used the statement, “I wish you well,” to save my day.

In this episode, I answer the question, “How do you get Black Male Educators to be open, honest and authentic during your BMEsTalk professional learning experiences?”

In this episode, I share a recording of a short phone conversation I had with one of the BMEsTalk Leadership Lab participants reflecting on his experience in the first workshop. He is an Assistant Principal in Atlanta.