Ladies Leading

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This five-episode podcast highlights the work and personal lives of some of the pioneering women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News. The discussions focus on the racism and sexism they endured while simultaneously working for more fair and balanced coverage and better mentoring.

Ava Thompson Greenwell


    • Jun 28, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Ladies Leading

    Ep. 040 Farewell to Ladies Leading Podcast and on to Something New?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 32:50


    Ladies Leading Host Ava Thompson Greenwell is joined by her family members as she announces a new direction for the podcast.  Can you say pause? You can use this link to listen (or relisten) to previous episodes.

    Ep. 039 Daschell Phillips Hills is a Journalist Who Loves Fact and Fiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 29:31


    Managing Editor Daschell Phillips works with a variety of writing genres – including the sacred and the secular.

    Ep. 038 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Expert Stefanie Hicks Breaks Down the Fundamentals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 52:23


    Diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI, are the buzz words in many workplaces.  Corporate leader Stefanie Hicks breaks down what it means, why it's important in every industry and how to assess whether your companie's DEI plans are more than just talk.

    Ep. 037 Author Deborah Douglas Combines Travel and Black Protest History

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 44:46


    Journalist Deborah Douglas has traveled many writing roads.  This time, her journey has prompted her to write the first book to cover the offcial civil rights trail in the South. 

    Ep. 036 Author Sheryl Lewis Offers Some Pearls of Wisdom for this Mother's Day Special

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 31:12


    Sheryl Lewis is the author of From the Kitchen Table: Words of Wisdom, Acts of Love, and Food for the Soul.  She says her life has been deliciously full because of her love for family.  

    Ep. 035 Orthopaedic surgeon Surrenthia Parker is making history and building the future

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 29:12


    Surrenthia Parker is one of the first Black women orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S.  She is listed as a pioneer in The History of Black Women in Orthopaedic Surgery website.  Although still low, she says she is seeing progress as the number of Black women surgeons grows.

    Ep. 034 Essence Magazine's New Top Leader Danielle Cadet Wants to Shake Things Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 33:05


    Taking the editorial helm of Essence Magazine has been a "pinch me" moment for Danielle Cadet.  Like many who have ascended to high-profile positions in legacy media,  she's juggling the pros and cons of social media.

    Ep. 033 Marvinetta Penn Works to put Black Girls in the Spotlight

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2023 32:35


    Global Girls executive director and founder Marvinetta Penn wants Black girls to be the center of attention.  For more than two decades, Penn has been building self esteem through the arts. 

    Ep. 032 Publisher Julia Royston on the Secrets of Writing a Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 35:09


    Have you always wanted to write a novel or a memoir? Publisher Julia Royston coaches would-be authors on how to succeed.  This year she is celebrating 15 years in the publishing business. You can learn more about her offerings here.

    Ep. 031 Fashion Designer Nathalie Loma Opens A Store on Chicago's Magnificent Mile

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 18:09


    Nathalie Loma wants to go global with her wedding and evening gown designs.  She credits her seamstress mother for sewing into her a spirit of creativity.  Take a look at her exquisite designs. 

    Ep. 029 SPECIAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EPISODE with Marcia Walker-McWilliams

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 31:59


    Today marks the official start of Black History month in the U.S. Marcia Walker-McWilliams, a black history baby, is all grown up now and taking the lead on teaching the public about the treasures of embracing Black history for survival.

    Ep. 028 New Year, New Wardrobe? Maybe not, if you're businesswoman Vivian Killebrew

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 31:57


    Consignment shop owner Vivian Killebrew explains how "Stepping Out on Faith"  tested her faith during the pandemic and what led her to full-time entrepreneurship.

    Ep. 027 Ghost writer Lisa Frazier Page Writes Memoirs about Famous Folks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 32:21


    Journalist turned author Lisa Frazier Page became a New York Times best selling author with The Pact in 2003.  Since then she's been the ghost writer for several famous people, including mathematician Katherine Johnson of Hidden Figures fame and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock.  She explains what keeps her writinng.

    Ep. 026 **SPECIAL THANKSGIVING EPISODE with Matriarch Lillie Parsons

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 31:33


    Ninety-year-old Lillie Parsons gives us something to chew on this Thanksgiving.  She talks turkey about the importance of good parenting and love for family.

    Ep. 025 Speech Pathologist Cathy Runnels Talks About Vocal Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 38:43


    If your voice is your money-maker, you know you can't make a living if you lose your voice. Nationally recognized voice and communications strategist Cathy Runnels provides tips on how to enhance and preserve your speaking voice regardless of age.  Her company,Accent on Speech, provides services that help with delivery, dialect reduction and other impediments. 

    Ep. 024 American Medical Association Speechwriter Nikitta Foston

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 36:58


    Nikitta Foston discusses how her journalism background serves her well in her new role as senior speechwriter for the American Medical Association and why she decided to launch her personal podcast, Pivotal Moment.

    Ep. 023 Dr. Hazel Glasper Says Our Dental Care is Facing a Crisis!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 35:22


    Dr. Hazel Glasper wants us to prioritize our dental health and understand that the mouth is the gateway to overall health. Listen to how she is influencing her industry through “Teach Me Dental,” a movement she founded to save lives..

    Ep. 022 Santrice Martin Gets to Give Away Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 36:44


    Santrice Martin has just joined the c-suite as COO of the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation.  She shares the secret sauce on how to access money from foundations like hers and what it's like working for an organization whose primary job is to give money.  Learn more by going to: https://ilchf.org/grantees-applicants/  

    Summer 2022 Survey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 2:23


    Now it's your turn to tell me your thoughts about The Ladies Leading Podcast.  Go to https://ladiesleading.net/ to tell me what you think and make guest recommendations. Once you take the survey get a special code at the end and get your free e-book: Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News.  It'll make for great summer reading.    

    Ep. 021 First Black Woman Navy Pilot Brenda Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 34:06


    Lt. Cmdr. Brenda E. Robinson started flying planes in the Navy and then transitioned to commercial airlines.  Now she's passing along her love for technology to the next generation.

    Ep. 020 Pioneering Law Professor Joyce Hughes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 32:45


    Law Professor Joyce Hughes is one of the first Black women to earn tenure at a predominately white university.  Her recent retirement brought both rejoicing and regrets.

    Ep. 019 Diversity Leader Dr. Sharon Robinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 36:31


    Dr. Sharon Robinson talks about the crisis in the physician ranks and why it's now more important than ever to recruit and retain medical doctors of color.

    leader diversity sharon robinson
    Ep. 018 Hair Tool Inventor Sonya Gilkey

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 42:50


    Sonya Gilkey explains what it takes to follow your dream of being an inventor and an entrepreneur.

    Ep. 017 Meet the leader of the National Press Club

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 41:09


    Lisa Matthews is only the second Black woman to ever lead one of the most prestigious journalism organizations in the world.

    Ep. 016 Are you bougie or just an introvert?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 48:06


    Jeri Bingham works to educate and celebrate  introverts and those who want to better understand them. Where do you fit?

    Ep. 015 Get Your Mind Right in 2022!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 46:50


    Psychologist Inger Burnett-Zeigler explores ways for Black women to recognize their unique trauma and seek emotional healing.

    Ep. 014 What's the News for NBC's Sheinelle Jones?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 40:20


    NBC Today Show Co-Host Sheinelle Jones has a new venture focused on a rarely-talked-about topic among Black women.  Find out  how she juggles a demanding career with family life and where she finds inspiration.

    Ep. 013 Tennis Professional Katrina Adams Making History

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 29:58


    Katrina Adams started playing tennis at six years old and later rose to the highest level of the U.S. tennis governing body.

    making history katrina adams tennis professional
    Winter 2021 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 2:31


    Wishing you well during this holiday season and sharing some exciting new programming for 2022. 

    Ep. 012 Restaurateur Lenice Levy Thriving During the Pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 34:43


    Lenice Levy and her husband own a restaurant that's doing more than just surviving.  After two decades as black business owners, they know the secret sauce to the recipe of success.

    Ep. 011 Civil Rights Activist Roslyn Brock Takes on New Role

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 29:36


    Former NAACP Chair Roslyn McCallister Brook has taken on a new leadership role that allows her to use her civil rights activism background to influence diversity, equity and inclusion around the world.

    Ep. 010 - Judge Melynee Leftridge On Her Love for the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 34:48


    Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge discusses why she loves her job and what she wishes more people knew about the legal system. The Atlanta resident explains what it's like to run a political campaign and how her immediate family members support professional aspirations.

    Ep.009 - Mergers and Acquisitions Leader Jennifer Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 34:44


    Jennifer Green is one of the few Black women in the U.S. to reach the top rungs of the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 Company.  As a vice president at Yum! Brands, she leverages a “servant” leadership style to help others like herself thrive. Learn what she thinks it takes for more Blacks and other people of color to thrive in corporate America.

    Ep. 008 - Louisville City Councilwoman Jessica Green on Breonna's Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 45:15


    Attorney and Louisville City Councilwoman Jessica Green co-wrote Breonna's Law to ban no-knock warrants after the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police.  She talks about going on CNN to talk about the legislation right after giving birth and how she handled an egregious situation with a white male colleague. In addition, she founded a law firm that takes a unique approach to help families better navigate the legal and social services systems.

    Ep. 007 - Covid 19 Expert Dr. Jennifer Cunningham Erves

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 44:40


    Covid- 19 researcher Dr. Jennifer Cunningham Erves studies black communities' responses to the call for vaccinations.  She explains how the corona virus vaccine was fast-tracked and why participation from more people of color in clinical trials is important to the future of medicine.

    Ep. 006 - Tech and Social Impact Leader Lauryn Nwankpa

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 48:49


    Welcome to the new season of Ladies Leading.  Financial Technology leader Lauryn Nwankpa is charting a new path in the social impact space at Dave, a digital banking service.  Learn how she leads and the strategies she uses to mentor, inspire and make time for herself.  She recently became a board member of ChargerHelp!, a Black woman-owned ­­­­company that provides on demand repair of electric vehicle charging stations. Nwankpa was recently featured in NYC FinTech Women.

    Summer 2021 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 2:24


    Hear an update on Ladies Leading, some exciting changes on the horizon and details on how to recommend a guest for the podcast.

    Ep. 005 Black Women Managers' Impact on Television News

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 37:24


    In this fifth and final episode featuring the groundbreaking new book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News, we learn how the women featured make a difference in journalism. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell leads a discussion with several Northwestern University women students of color about the news managers' impact on coverage, the newsroom's impact on their personal lives and how the #MeToo Movement has influenced how they operate.

    Ep. 004 Black Women News Managers and Fear of Making A Mistake (FOMM)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 24:43


    This fourth of five episodes focuses on the management careers of the women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Televisions News. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell and several Northwestern University women students of color discuss how the women leaders navigated suppression of self, the angry black women stereotype and other byproducts of marginality. Learn more by going to https://ladiesleading.net

    Ep. 003 Black Women News Managers' Microaggression Experiences

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 25:56


    This third of five episodes explores the newsroom experiences of the women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell and several Northwestern University women students of color discuss the managers' experiences and responses to the various types of microaggressions the news managers endured. Learn more by going to https://ladiesleading.net

    Ep. 002 Ida B Wells' Connection to 21st Century Black Women Journalists

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2021 27:45


    This second of five episodes provides a brief history of the pioneering journalism careers of black women news managers such as Ida B. Wells, Mary Shadd Cary and Charlotta Bass. These women laid the foundation for the management careers of the 40 women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Televisions News. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell and several Northwestern University women students of color discuss how the managers' family lives and educational backgrounds contributed to their newsroom leadership styles.

    Welcome to Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 37:11


    This first of five episodes provides an introduction to the professional and personal lives of 40 women featured in the groundbreaking new book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Televisions News. Key concepts such as FOMM (fear of making a mistake) and ITS (intellectual theft syndrome) are discussed by author Ava Thompson Greenwell and several Northwestern University women students of color. Learn more by going to https://ladiesleading.net

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