In this powerful episode, I reflect on a personal story shared by a listener — one that captures the suffocating silence many professionals of colour face in the workplace. From subtle power dynamics to outright racialised control, we unpack how racism is often embedded structurally, not just personally. This episode explores how to navigate such environments with dignity, awareness, and self-preservation.

Key Themes:

• Structural racism and workplace hierarchies
• White fragility and power dynamics
• The emotional labour of code-switching and silencing
• Black professional isolation
• Strategies for protecting your mental wellbeing

Referenced Works:

• 📘 Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
• 📘 Living While Black – Guilaine Kinouani
• 📘 Brit(ish) – Afua Hirsch
• 📄 Harvard Business Review: "The Cost of Code-Switching"
• 📄 TUC Report: Racism at Work (UK)

Wellbeing Resources:

• Black Minds Matter UK
• Mind: Support for Racism and Mental Health
• Race Equality First
• ACAS: Dealing with Discrimination at Work

Listener Shout-Out:
Thanks to everyone who tuned in to our last episode on “How to Bounce Back from a Personal Crisis”, requested by Sade. The episode reached new wavelengths! I’ve had so many thoughtful questions come through, and I’m working through them slowly — keep them coming!

🎧 If you haven’t already, check it out!

Have you ever felt like life knocked the wind out of you? You’re not alone—and this episode of Empowerment Junction is here to remind you that bouncing back is possible.

Inspired by one of our listeners, we take a deep dive into how to rebuild after personal crises. Drawing from the insights of renowned crisis manager Judy Smith, author of Good Self, Bad Self and the real-life inspiration behind the hit show Scandal, we explore how to regain control, rebuild confidence, and move forward with strength and clarity.

This conversation is packed with practical strategies, expert perspectives, and words of encouragement to support your recovery and growth. Whether you're navigating loss, burnout, or a major life shift, this episode will help you find your footing again.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe—we’re now on YouTube, Spotify, Goodpods, and all major platforms.

Episode Resources:

1. Book: Good Self, Bad Self: Transforming Your Worst Qualities into Your Biggest Assets by Judy Smith
   Available on Amazon

2. TEDx Talk: Judy Smith – The Power of Owning Your Mistakes

3. Article: Psychology Today – 10 Ways to Bounce Back from a Crisis

4. Podcast Recommendation: The Resilience Podcast – Real Stories of Overcoming Adversity

5. Free Worksheet: Personal Crisis Recovery Map – download from our show notes or website

In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, I share the story of my late mother, whose delayed diagnosis and treatment reveal the devastating consequences of being invisible in a healthcare system that too often fails Black women.

Drawing inspiration from Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, we confront the dangerous myth that Black women feel less pain—a lie rooted in historical racism and perpetuated in modern medicine. I share my own lived experience of becoming a mother and navigating a system where being seen, heard, and believed isn’t always a given.

This episode is both a tribute and a call to action. We unpack the statistics, expose the biases, and arm you with tools to advocate for yourself and those you love. Because your pain is real. Your health matters. And your voice must be heard.

• Uterine Cancer and Ethnicity (UK)

  • Black women in England are twice as likely to die from womb cancer as white women.
    Source: Cancer Research UK & Office for National Statistics

• Black Women’s Confidence in the NHS

  • 78% of Black women in the UK don’t believe their health is as equally protected by the NHS as white women’s.
    Source: Five X More Campaign

• Maternal Mortality in the UK

  • Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die during or shortly after childbirth compared to white women.
    Source: MBRRACE-UK Report, 2023

• Uterine Fibroids in Black Women

  • Up to 80% of Black women develop fibroids by age 50, often with more severe symptoms and fewer treatment options.
    Source: NHS UK - Fibroids

• Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men – Caroline Criado Perez

• Medical Apartheid – Harriet A. Washington

• The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women – Anushay Hossain

• Birthrights Report: Systemic Racism, Not Broken Bodies (2022) – birthrights.org.uk

• PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)
  Offers support and advice if you’re not being heard by NHS providers.
  Find your local PALS

• Five X More – Black maternal health awareness and advocacy
  https://fivexmore.com

• Tommy’s Charity – Support and research for pregnancy loss and maternal health disparities
  https://www.tommys.org

• Birthrights – Legal support and advocacy for respectful maternity care
  https://www.birthrights.org.uk

📚 Relevant Resources & NHS Data🔍 Key Statistics & Reports📘 Recommended Reading🛠️ Health Advocacy Tools.

Welcome to Series 1 of Debunking the Lies That Bind. In this opening episode, we take a bold step into the deeply rooted narratives that have shaped women's lives — the ones passed down through education, culture, and even the silence of history.

We’ll challenge the myth that a woman’s value lies in how she conforms, not in how she contributes. We’ll revisit powerful moments like Charles Moore’s lens on injustice and Katherine Switzer’s defiant marathon, asking: What else have we inherited without question?

This is the beginning of unlearning — and of finding truth in our voices.

Episode Resources:

1. The Lies That Bind (Rethinking Identity) Kwame Anthony Appiah) Creed, Country, Colour, Class Culture..

2. We Should all be Feminist:

A personal and powerful essay from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the bestselling author of Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun.

‘I would like to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently.

3. Charles Lee Moore (March 9, 1931 – March 11, 2010) was an American photographerknown for his photographs documenting the Civil Rights Movement. Probably his most famous photo is of Martin Luther King Jr.'s arrest for loitering on September 3, 1958. It is this photo that sparked Moore's involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

4. Kathrine Virginia Switzer (born January 5, 1947)[1] is an American marathon runner, author, and television commentator.[2]

In 1967, she became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an officially registered competitor.[3] During her run, the race manager Jock Semple assaulted Switzer, trying to grab her bib number and thereby remove her from official competition. After knocking down Switzer's trainer and fellow runner, Arnie Briggs, when he tried to protect her, Semple was shoved to the ground by Switzer's boyfriend, Thomas Miller, who was running with her, and she completed the race.[3]

As a result of her run, the AAU banned women from competing in races against men.[4] It was not until 1972 that the Boston Marathon established an official women's race.[5]

In a world that often feels overwhelming and chaotic, protecting your inner peace is not a luxury—it's a necessity.

This episode dives deep into the vital practice of setting spiritual boundaries to safeguard your energy, emotional well-being, and connection to your true self. Inspired by a listener's experience of navigating a challenging friendship while prioritizing their peace, we explore spiritual boundaries, why they're crucial for your mental and spiritual health, and the common signs that indicate a need for them.

Learn practical and actionable strategies to set these boundaries effectively and without guilt, empowering you to say no, protect yourself from energy drainers, and stay centered amidst external pressures. We also address how to navigate the world's constant noise and negativity without letting it consume you, offering empowering perspectives and analogies to help you cultivate an inner sanctuary.

Additional Resources:

• For further exploration on setting healthy boundaries, consider reading books like "Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend, or "Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself" by Nedra Glover Tawwab.
• To deepen your understanding of spiritual well-being, explore practices like mindfulness and meditation through apps like Calm or Headspace. Engaging in regular journaling using prompts focused on your values and energy levels can also be incredibly beneficial.
• If you're struggling with guilt when setting boundaries, look into resources on codependency and people-pleasing, such as books by Melody Beattie or online support groups. Remember that prioritizing your well-being is an act of self-respect, not selfishness.
• For biblical perspectives on peace and managing anxiety: Reflect on passages like Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:27, and Isaiah 26:3. Consider exploring commentaries or discussions on these verses for deeper understanding.