Dare to Disrupt with Zenica Chatman

Zenica Chatman

The podcast that challenges black women to redefine success and re-imagine their work/life balance equation. 

  1. 11/19/2025

    Your Harvest Won't Show Up If You Never Get Dirty

    Consider this a gardener's guide to getting unstuck. In this episode, Zenica breaks down the real reason so many of us feel out of rhythm, stuck, or questioning ourselves: we’re trying to skip the season we’re actually in. Using a powerful gardening metaphor (and one very dramatic basil plant), she explores the four phases of growth—planning, planting, cultivating, and harvesting—and why everything changes when you stop fighting the season you’re in. You’ll hear:  • why planning feels productive but often becomes procrastination  • what happens when you miss the natural rhythm of your creative spark  • the messy, uncomfortable truth about the planting season  • how to keep showing up when there’s no visible progress  • and the confidence required to walk boldly into your harvest If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get moving, this is it. The harvest isn’t coming if you never get dirty. Let’s lean into the season we’re actually in—and disrupt the noisy, busy world by moving in alignment, not anxiety.

    16 min

  2. 10/29/2025

    Closing the Freedom Gap: Reclaim your time (even with a day job)

    You do not have to quit your job to be free! So many ambitious women say they want more freedom...more time, more creativity, more space to breathe, but they are waiting for permission to claim it. It's time for you to stop living in the freedom gap. This is what I call that space between the freedom you want and the freedom you have access to right now. In this episode, Zenica breaks down why so many women, especially Black women, struggle to set boundaries or trust their decisions and unpacks how the authoritarian nature of traditional work environments impacts your confidence and decision making.  Email Zenica and share your micro permission and rituals at zenica@zenicachatman.com

    15 min

  3. 10/22/2025

    Disrupting Domestic Violence: A Silent Crisis In Our Workplaces

    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this week we’re tackling a crisis that too often goes unseen at work. On this episode, Zenica sits down with advocate, author, and survivor Melody Gross to explore how domestic violence impacts women far beyond their homes and how this toxic behavior impacts workplaces. They unpack the parallels between toxic relationships and toxic work cultures, and the small but powerful ways we can “sit with survivors” to create safer spaces for our colleagues. If you lead teams, care about culture, or want to be part of disrupting harm at work and beyond, this conversation will open your eyes — and your heart.

    32 min

  4. 10/15/2025

    The Truth About HR: What They Don't Tell You With Heather Holland

    You've heard me say things like “HR is for the company, not the employee.” But is that the full story? In this powerful conversation, HR expert Heather Holland joins me to bust the biggest myths about HR, explain how to protect yourself in toxic workplaces, and share what every woman should know about documentation, boundaries, and building allies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 03:12 Challenging HR Norms 05:42 Navigating Direct Communication in the Workplace 08:37 Experiences with HR and Workplace Bullying 11:27 Understanding HR's Role and Responsibilities 13:51 The Importance of Documentation 15:40 When to Engage HR 18:06 The Burden on Employees 20:45 Intangible Factors in Workplace Dynamics 23:03 The Power of Documentation 25:47 Addressing Microaggressions and Comments 26:40 Addressing Unprofessional Comments 30:50 Leveraging HR for Career Growth 34:37 Navigating HR Concerns

    37 min

  5. 10/09/2025

    Rewind: I Survived (and you will too)!

    In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, we’re revisiting one of the most powerful episodes of the Dare to Disrupt podcast. In this deeply personal episode, Zenica shares how she rebuilt her confidence, reclaimed her peace, and learned to trust her own worth after enduring workplace bullying at her dream job. Whether you’re healing from a toxic environment or supporting someone who is, this replay is a reminder: you can survive...and thrive too!

    20 min

  6. 10/02/2025

    DUMB It Down To Lock It In: A Simpler Way to Finish Strong This Year

    This week’s episode almost didn’t happen and that's probably a good thing. Because while I was sulking about having to pivot yet again, I came across a trend called The Great Lock-In, and it reminded me of something I’ve seen in my own life and with my clients: transformation doesn’t come from coasting. It comes from deciding to lean in, even when it would be easier to lean out. In this episode, I’m introducing you to the "DUMB method," my simple framework for setting goals to help close the gap from where you are to where you want to be without overthinking or overcomplicating. If you’re tired of piling on more goals that leave you feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this is your invitation to dumb it down, lock it in, and crush Q4 with intention. I want to hear from you! Email me your DUMB goal with the subject line “I’m Locking In” so I can celebrate with you (and maybe even shout you out on the next episode). My email address is zenica@zenicachatman.com.  And if you want a little extra, I’ve recorded a bonus audio track where I share my own lock-in goal and strategy for this last quarter of the year. To get it, just email me or DM me the word BONUS and I’ll send it your way.

    13 min

  7. 09/24/2025

    Pep Talk: When it Feels Like Nothing's Working

    Ever feel like you've given it your all, but you've hit a wall? And now you've got nothing left? In this episode, Zenica shares two moments from her own journey of navigating workplace bullying and growing this very podcast that left her feeling exactly the same way. She shares what she learned about separating pain from suffering in the stories we tell ourselves, shifting from outcomes to outputs, and reconnecting with purpose. If you’re in a season where it feels like nothing’s working, consider this your pep talk: you’re not failing, you’re just not finished. And if you’re a woman working a 9-to-5 but thinking like an entrepreneur, I want to hear from you. I’m building something new just for you, and I’d love to invite you for a virtual coffee chat. Send me an email to zenica@zenicachatman.com with “coffee chat” in the subject line so we can dream and build together.

    21 min

  8. 09/18/2025

    How to Job Hunt Without Losing Your Mind

    Let's be real...job hunting in 2025? Let’s be real—it feels a little like the Hunger Games out here. Between endless applications, interview anxiety, and rejection fatigue, it’s easy to lose confidence (and your sanity). That’s why I sat down with executive coach Alison Begor to talk about how to navigate the search differently. From managing rejection and spotting red flags to reframing interviews so you feel empowered—not desperate—you’ll walk away with practical strategies and a reminder that you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you. Whether you’re actively in the hunt or just storing up tools for the future, this episode will help you protect your peace while pursuing your next opportunity. Learn more about Alison’s work here: https://alisonbegor.com/ Get the "Black Girls Burnout Too" Masterclass: https://www.zenicachatman.com/burnout-masterclass

    28 min
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4.9
out of 5
8 Ratings

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The podcast that challenges black women to redefine success and re-imagine their work/life balance equation. 

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