The GR8TNESS Router

Ep. 0021 | Steep, Soak & Serve

What if the thing you're building isn't just a business…but a space for restoration? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. sits down with Sherry Waters, founder of Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary, community chaplain, spiritual director, and stewardship coach. Through a conversation rooted in service, healing, and community care, Sherry shares how a simple green chair became the catalyst for creating one of Charlotte's most beloved spaces for reflection and connection. From her early career in television news to decades serving nonprofit organizations, Sherry reveals the breadcrumbs that led her toward social entrepreneurship and the creation of a tea lounge designed to help people slow down, reconnect, and be restored. Together, they explore stewardship, resilience, meaningful connection, spiritual discernment, and the courage required to honor a vision that doesn't look like anyone else's. At its heart, this conversation is about creating space…for yourself, for others, and for the healing work we're all called to do. Find Sherry online at http://www.ienate.com/ [http://www.ienate.com/] or the tea bar at http://www.thepaulineteabar.com/

Ep. 0019 | Find Your Passion, Follow Your Purpose

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. sits down with Dr. Erica N. Hilton, a Strategic Communications + Media Scholar and Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications at Hampton University, for a conversation that bridges scholarship, strategy, and soul. With a career spanning higher education, national nonprofits, and digital activism, Dr. Hilton shares how her journey from aspiring publicist to award-winning educator revealed a deeper calling: to teach, to advocate, and to communicate for good. Together, they explore what it means to take the pause in a world that demands instant responses, the lessons learned from moments of redirection, and how passion can guide us toward a purpose-filled life. This episode is about resilience, discernment, and the power of aligning personal truth with professional calling. – – – Connect with Dr. Erica Hilton on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericahltn/] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ericahltn/]

Ep. 0018 | In the Midst of the Storm

What does it mean to keep creating when everything around you feels like it’s collapsing? In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. is joined by Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins, Equity, Liberation + Authenticity Scholar and Founder of Ashley Gaddy Enterprises, for a candid conversation on resilience, authenticity, and the storms that shape us. From her early lessons in social justice to navigating systems not designed with her in mind, Dr. Gaddy Robbins reflects on what it takes to stand firm, speak truth, and center humanity even in the most turbulent seasons. This is not just a conversation about leadership. It’s about finding joy, protection, and power when the storm refuses to let up. – – – Connect with Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleygaddyenterprises/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dr.ashleygaddyrobbins/?hl=en] or by visiting her at ashleygaddyenterprises.com [http://ashleygaddyenterprises.com/]

Ep. 0017 | The Greatest Seven-Letter Word

In this illuminating chapter of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. sits down with scholar, author, and trailblazing university president Dr. Brian L. Johnson. From his roots in Durham, North Carolina, to becoming the first minority president in Warner Pacific University’s history, Dr. Johnson shares the lessons, pivots, and defining moments that shaped his purpose-driven path. With honesty and depth, he opens up about: * The faith and encounters that clarified his calling * The pivotal rejection that redirected him from law school to academia * The resilience built by remembering where he came from * How mentorship, integrity, and preparation remain cornerstones of leadership Dr. Johnson reminds us that purpose isn’t static — it evolves, it pivots, and it proves itself through resilience. This is a conversation for anyone navigating their own calling and searching for the courage to keep pressing forward. Because the greatest story you’ll ever live is the one where you remember the good, so it can prepare you for the greater. – – – Connect with Dr. Brian Johnson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-johnson-ph-d-004a8425/], Twitter [https://x.com/drbrianjohnson1] or visit intersectionoffaithandlearning.com [http://intersectionoffaithandlearning.com/]

Ep. 0016 | Lift as You Climb: Faith, Family & Leadership

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. reconnects with her graduate school roommate turned powerhouse scholar, entrepreneur, and global speaker — Dr. Cierra M. Robinson. A proud St. Louis native and three-time HBCU alumna, Dr. Robinson shares her journey from winning fifth-grade oratorical contests to shaping the future of higher education and entrepreneurship. With honesty and humor, she opens up about faith as foundation, family as fuel, and resilience as a non-negotiable. Together, Zena and Dr. Robinson explore the role of authenticity in leadership, the hustle born from legacy, and the calling to lift as we climb. This is more than a conversation — it’s a masterclass in purpose, perseverance, and planting seeds for generational impact. 💫 Whether you’re an entrepreneur, student, or leader-in-the-making, this episode will remind you that knowing who you are and whose you are is the true blueprint for success. – – – Connect with Dr. Cierra Robinson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cierra-r-6bb7a7b/] Visit LaidOffLemonade.com to learn more about Zena C's book