THE MELANIN PEARLS PODCAST
Stagione 3
di Yvette Schmitter and Ericka Shoulars
In this episode, we will shine a light on Niani Skinner who joined the ranks of FDNY in 2019. There are more than 11,000 firefighters and fire officers in the New York Fire Department, making it the nation’s largest. Black women have played a major role in the fire service ever since the 1800’s when a slave named Molly Williams served as a volunteer firefighter in New York City. African American women continue to play a significant role in the fire service nationwide. Today, there’s a total of 134 women in FDNY comprising of 1% of the 10,000 fire fighters. This episode we shine a light on Niani to hear about her trail to Black excellence. Black excellence.
In this episode, Yvette and Ericka discuss the importance of your tribe, building your tribe, how it evolves and the varying roles people play. It’s important to note, your tribe is not you “squad.” Your tribe is a small group of people who want the best for you, are there for you, refills your well, tells you about yourself and vice versa. The level of vulnerability and intimacy that comes with a tribe makes it impossible to have a gaggle of people in it. During this episode, Yvette and Ericka share how they’ve built their tribes and who’s in it.
In this episode, Yvette and Ericka tackle the elusive question of “how can you do it all?” But it’s more about not doing it ALL but doing the right things for you. Stephen Covey reminds us that learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities comes down to one thing: focus. What do we truly value? He asks us to consider: “If you were to pause and think seriously about the ‘first things’ in your life — the three or four things that matter most — what would they be?” "It is that a meaningful life is not a matter of speed or efficiency. It’s much more a matter of what you do and why you do it, than how fast you get it done.” — Stephen R. Covey
The confirmation hearings of Judge Jackson highlighted what highly qualified Black women go through every single day in the workplace. Hostility and devalued for the breadth and depth of experience, and talent they bring. This episode, Yvette and Ericka dive into the disparities on the Supreme Court and how for the first time in over 115 years, a Black woman is nominated to be seated on the Supreme Court.
Being 'The Only Woman In The Room' is not the same as being the only Black woman in the room - while all women can face sexist discrimination at work, the stakes for Black women have always been much higher. In this episode, Yvette and Ericka share their experiences and a few tips on how they handle being the “only” in the room/concert/meeting and/or event. "My mother would look at me and she’d say, 'Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last,'" "That’s why breaking those barriers is worth it. As much as anything else, it is also to create that path for those who will come after us." – Kamala Harris, VP of United States
EP35 is full of practical tools and self-reflection questions, that can help create a 'shift' towards positive change. It is our hope through our experience and strategies on how we started to see 'the bigger picture' in our pain and use it to catapult our growth.
Nevertheless, she persisted. The definition of perseverance is “persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” This episode is dedicated to notable women who persevered through incredible odds. “A woman is like a tea bag. She only knows her strength when put in hot water.” – Nancy Regan
The world premiere of the “Black Excellence Spotlight” with the Melanin Pearls. Each quarter Yvette and Ericka will highlight Black men and women who demonstrate and represent Black excellence. The inaugural episode highlights Stacy-Ann Burke, Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting. “I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent for racism or sexism. And that’s how I operate my life. – Oprah Winfrey”
Join Yvette and Ericka as they highlight women out there doin' their damn thing! From inventions to freedoms we enjoy but are unaware of who paid the price for them. we are going to share elevate those who deserve it the most. “Define Goal. Take Action. Stay Focused. Expect Success. Nothing Less. – Michele Ruiz”
In this episode, Yvette and Ericka will share what it means to be Black to them.