Black Womaning in Corporate America®

Episode 36: Underbelonging™—The Hidden Corporate Experience for Black Women | Crystle Johnson, Part 2

Nicole S. Palmer continues her conversation with Crystle Johnson, founder of Kinory® and creator of Underbelonging: the hidden experience of being included in corporate spaces without ever feeling fully seen. Crystle defines Underbelonging and explains why so many Black women spend their careers shrinking themselves, overperforming, and carefully calibrating how they show up at work. Together, Nicole and Crystle examine how Underbelonging manifests in corporate America, including within DEI roles, where practitioners are often caught between executives and employees without meaningful decision-making authority. The conversation explores why organizations must move beyond performative commitments toward greater clarity and accountability, and how Kinory is creating spaces where Black women can experience genuine belonging through community dinners, workshops, retreats, and courageous conversations. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:41 Part Two Intro 01:46 Defining Underbelonging 03:04 Why It Resonates 04:41 Origins Through Kinory 07:19 Taking Up Space 09:42 Kamala As Case Study 12:15 DEI Caught In Middle 15:58 Corporate Honesty 17:26 What Comes Next 19:05 Protecting The Work 21:32 Make Your Own Table 23:58 Where To Find Crystle 25:53 Retreat And Resources 27:47 Closing And Outro To learn more about Crystle: Visit Kinory: https://kinory.co/ Follow Her on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/crystlejohnson Connect With Her on Instragram: https://instagram.com/kinory.co Find Her on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kinory.co

Episode 35: Black Womaning in Corporate America® With Crystle Johnson

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one compromise, one expectation, and one “I’ll just push through” at a time. In this episode of Black Womaning in Corporate America®, founder of Kinory® Crystle Johnson joins host Nicole S. Palmer for an unfiltered conversation about burnout, belonging, and the moment she realized her job was something she did—not who she was. From corporate leadership to building a global community for Black women in Mexico, this conversation explores identity, rest, and the courage to imagine a different future. Whether you’re questioning your next career move or simply trying to remember who you were before work consumed so much of your life, this episode is a reminder that your value has never been defined by your title. 00:00 Welcome 00:44 Meet Crystle Johnson 02:13 An Origin Story of Belonging 04:47 Why Kinory Exists 05:44 The Courage to Center Black Women 08:45 Recognizing Burnout 09:50 FMLA, Recovery & Finding Mexico 13:49 Your Job Is Not Your Identity 17:03 The Truth About Corporate DEI 20:06 Racism, Visibility & Obsession 22:45 Building Kinory in Mérida 25:32 Casa Kinory & A New Vision 28:14 Why Every Exit Needs a Plan 30:25 Don't Leave Your Benefits Behind 33:46 Coming Next Week... 34:17 Outro

Episode 34: Black Womaning in Corporate America With Dr. Chelsey Green

Dr. Chelsey Green on Leading The GRAMMYs, Finding Your Voice & Protecting Creators What does it mean to find your voice—and trust it enough to use it? In this powerful Black Music Month conversation, Nicole S. Palmer sits down with Dr. Chelsey Green: artist, educator, advocate, and the first Black woman and youngest person ever elected Chair of the Recording Academy® (The GRAMMYs®). From her early roots in church and classical music to leading at the highest levels of the music industry, Dr. Green shares how creativity, courage, and community shaped her journey. Together, Nicole and Chelsey explore what it means to lead with purpose, advocate for equity, protect creators in the age of AI, and remain connected to joy in a culture that often rewards burnout. More than a conversation about music, this is a conversation about visibility, voice, wellness, faith, and the courage to believe in yourself before anyone else does. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, executive, educator, or simply someone trying to navigate life with authenticity, this episode is filled with wisdom you’ll want to revisit again and again. In This Episode 00:00 Podcast Welcome00:41 Meet Dr. Chelsey Green02:17 Music Roots and Calling04:53 Village and Mentors05:35 Path to the GRAMMYs Board09:06 Equity and Representation10:47 Black Music Month and Voice12:50 AI, Music, and Creator Rights18:29 Inspiring the Next Generation19:17 Rebuilding Community20:44 The Power of In-Person Connection21:34 Choosing Joy Over Burden23:08 Workplace Breakdown and Perspective25:54 The System Versus Self29:13 Presence, Therapy, and Gratitude32:09 Living an Abundant Life Now33:11 Believe and Trust Yourself35:43 When the Inner Voice Wins36:40 Where to Find Dr. Green37:20 Final Thanks and Outro Connect with Dr. Chelsey Green Website: https://www.chelseygreen.com [https://www.chelseygreen.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchelseygreen/ [https://www.instagram.com/drchelseygreen/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreenProjectTGP [https://www.facebook.com/GreenProjectTGP] YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChelseyGreenProject [http://www.youtube.com/user/ChelseyGreenProject] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4gYJdJNkyrYyocVfI9LZUM [https://open.spotify.com/artist/4gYJdJNkyrYyocVfI9LZUM] Continue the Conversation What resonated most with you from this episode? Was it the conversation around AI and creator rights? The reminder to prioritize joy? The challenge to trust your inner voice? Or Dr. Green’s reflections on leadership, community, and purpose? Join the conversation in the comments and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that their voice matters. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and follow Black Womaning in Corporate America® for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, visibility, wellness, and navigating systems not built with us in mind. Want to go deeper? Explore the book that inspired the podcast, Playing the Game While Black Womaning in Corporate America®, available wherever books are sold. Learn more at BlackWomaning.com.

Episode 33: Black Womaning in Corporate America with Dr. Lisa Pittman

Travel as Self-Care: Dr. Lisa Pittman on Boundaries, Burnout Prevention & Black Women’s Wellbeing Host Nicole S. Palmer welcomes Dr. Lisa Pittman, a licensed psychologist and certified travel coach based in the DC metro area, to discuss travel as an intentional form of self-care for Black professional women. Dr. Pittman shares her background, including living in Singapore, visiting all 50 states, all seven continents, and 114 countries, and explains how her therapy experience informs coaching focused on maintaining balance and optimal functioning. To contact Dr. Pittman… * Email: Lisa@traveldocta.com * Website: https://thetraveldoctallc.com * LinkedIn: Dr-Lisa-Pittman * IG: thetraveldocta * Blog: TravelDocta.com

Episode 32: Black Womaning in Corporate America With Nicole S. Palmer

When Delays Become Data In this episode of Black Womaning in Corporate America, host Nicole S. Palmer continues April’s focus on burnout and self-regulation by revisiting a past “story time” that reveals burnout patterns through chronic unresponsiveness.