Conversations With Carole

Carole Copeland Thomas

"Conversations with Carole" is meant to build a community where we can talk about current and historical issues relevant to our times. I've been in the cross culture business for many years and celebrate the past work I've done in radio. It made sense NOW to move the conversation to a podcast format where we can all get involved!=====As an award-winning keynote speaker, trainer, and global thought leader, since 1987, Carole Copeland Thomas moderates the discussions of critical issues affecting the marketplace. She has her pulse on the issues affecting working professionals and regularly consults with industry leaders. She has spent 36 years cultivating relationships and partnerships with local, national, and international sponsors, including Walmart, Amtrak, and Emirates Airlines. Carole is the past president of The National Speakers Association -New England Chapter and was on the leadership team of Black NSA. Carole is a blogger and social media enthusiast using various technology platforms to enhance her business development activities.  Carole has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Black Enterprise, ABC Radio, and CBS News. She is the author of eight books and is the Past National Vice Chair of the National Black MBA Association Carole is a 28-year member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and an active member of Black NSA. She won the President Emeritus Award for the leadership role she played during the 2017-2018 NSA New England Chapter Year. Visit Carole's website at www.carolecopelandthomas.com.

  1. 3d ago

    9/30/2026 EPISODE #61 FINANCE BY DAY, COMMUNITY BY HEART--MEET VERONICA WILLIAMS

    What happens when the child who once attended summer camp returns to help lead the organization that shaped her life? This week on Conversations with Carole, I welcome my longtime friend Veronica Williams, a financial analyst by day and a passionate community advocate beyond her professional role. As Co Chair of the Board of Directors for Lena Park Community Development Corporation in Boston, Veronica is helping shape the next chapter of an organization close to both our hearts. Our conversation explores the difference between your career and your calling, the leadership lessons she learned through the AME Church, and the lasting impact of a place where young people found friendship, encouragement, and a safe haven. Now, Lena Park is looking ahead, and an important leadership opportunity takes center stage. The organization is searching for its next Executive Director. Veronica shares her vision for a leader who understands the community, thinks strategically, builds strong partnerships, and helps advance Lena Park’s work in affordable housing and community programming. Could that leader be you or someone you know? We also discuss her hopes for stronger youth programs, meaningful connections with older residents, and a future that brings people together across generations. Join us for a warm, inspiring conversation about giving back, stepping into leadership, and investing in the community that helped you grow. Explore Lena Park and its Executive Director opportunity at www.lenaparkcdc.org. RESUMES ARE DUE BY OCTOBER 10, 2026 Please share this episode with someone who cares about community leadership. You could help connect Lena Park with its next Executive Director!

  2. Sep 18

    9/18/2026 EPISODE #60 SISTERHOOD, SUCCESS, AND SERVICE: A CONVERSATION WITH LINDA TURNBULL

    Conversations with Carole is back in action, and this week’s episode is one you will not want to miss. My guest is Linda Turnbull, a remarkable business leader, human resources professional, entrepreneur, woman of faith, and community advocate. Together with her husband, Clayton, Linda owns and operates 30 Dunkin locations in Boston, Quincy, and Logan Airport, along with a manufacturing facility in Roxbury. Their organization has grown from one location to a thriving enterprise employing approximately 500 people. Linda takes us behind the scenes of that extraordinary journey. She shares the grit, commitment, teamwork, and strong people practices required to build and sustain a successful business. She also explains why every entrepreneur and business owner should include a strong human resources strategy in their business plan. But Linda’s story extends far beyond business success. She is deeply committed to strengthening the community, developing women, and helping others discover their purpose. During our conversation, Linda introduces two exciting women’s events sponsored by Bethel AME Church in Boston. The Significant Women’s Weekend takes place September 25 through September 27, 2026. This inspiring experience will celebrate sisterhood, wellness, faith, purpose, and the extraordinary legacy of Rev. Dr. Gloria White Hammond. Activities will include Pearls and Denims, a wellness experience, meditation, a sound bath, meaningful conversations, worship, and opportunities to build new relationships. The Bethel Women’s Conference will take place October 24, 2026, at Simmons University. The conference will offer women an opportunity to explore healing, personal growth, purpose, networking, and becoming the best version of themselves. Both events are open to the community. Women of every background are welcome. As Linda reminds us, women spend so much time caring for their families, careers, churches, businesses, and communities that they do not always make time to care for themselves. These events offer an opportunity to pause, rejuvenate, recalibrate, and move forward with renewed clarity. Listen to this powerful episode of Conversations with Carole and discover what can happen when business leadership, faith, sisterhood, and community service come together. ===================== COMPLETE CONFERENCE INFORMATION AT: www.BethelAME.org/significant www.BethelAME.org

  3. 09/14/2025

    9/14/2025 EPISODE #58 Words Matter: Eight Words & Phrases That Can Get You Into Trouble

    In today’s episode of Conversations With Carole, we explore the power of language and the unintended consequences of everyday words and phrases. What you say may seem harmless, but the impact on others can be lasting, offensive, or dismissive. Carole breaks down eight common words and phrases that can trigger negative reactions, create distance, or reinforce harmful stereotypes. She explains why these expressions are problematic, shares cultural context, and offers better alternatives that promote respect and inclusion. The eight words/phrases discussed include: “You people” – why this collective phrase often sounds derogatory.“People of color” – how usage depends on context and confidence.“Colored people” – why this outdated term is unacceptable in the U.S. today.“Articulate” – how it can feel condescending when applied selectively.“Poor communities” – the hidden implications behind labeling.“Safe neighborhood” (or its opposite “crime-ridden”) – the coded language of geography.“Idyllic life” – how this phrase privileges some lifestyles while dismissing others.“Broken home” – why this term can be inaccurate and painful, and what to say instead .Carole draws from history, current events, and personal experience to demonstrate how these words can alienate others—even when not intended. By choosing more accurate and respectful language, we can create conversations that connect rather than divide. ===================================== Discover how Carole can support your organization with keynote speaking, leadership training, and consulting solutions—visit www.carolecopelandthomas.com

  4. 08/29/2025

    8/28/2025 Episode #56 – The Best and the Brightest with Medical Student Logan Brown

    Recorded LIVE in Roxbury, Massachusetts outside of Logan's favorite Boston eatery, Merengue Restaurant, ========================== In this episode of Conversations with Carole, Carole Copeland Thomas continues her Best and the Brightest series by spotlighting LOGAN BROWN, a rising fourth-year medical student at the University of Michigan. Originally from Detroit, Logan spent the past year in Boston as a Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital, conducting groundbreaking work in women’s cardiology under Dr. Emily Lau. As she prepares to return to Ann Arbor to complete her final year of medical school, Logan reflects on the mentors and community she found in Boston, the challenges of preparing for residency applications, and her aspirations to serve diverse communities through medicine. Logan shares wisdom about perseverance, faith, and believing in one’s purpose—even when the journey feels overwhelming. Beyond medicine, listeners will get a glimpse of her creative side as an avid event planner, her love for the film Best Man Holiday, and her dreams of future travels across Africa, Thailand, and Mexico City. This inspiring conversation captures the voice of a determined young leader on the brink of a career in medicine. Logan Brown truly represents the best and the brightest. Key Highlights Logan’s research year in Boston at Massachusetts General HospitalThe upcoming residency application process and the path to Match Day 2026How faith and self-belief sustain her journey in medicineThe importance of representation and diversity in healthcarePersonal insights: event planning, favorite movies, and global travel goals

  5. 08/06/2025

    8/6/2025 EPISODE #55 Art, Ancestry, and Advocacy: GYNECOLOGY ART EXHIBITION with LILLY MARCELIN

    Guest: Lilly Marcelin, Founder & Executive Director of the Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP) Host: Carole Copeland Thomas Episode Length: ~43 minutes Original Air Date: August 5, 2025 Featured Event: Call and Response: Gynecology Art Exhibition Location: Urban Farming Institute of Boston Date & Time: Saturday, August 9, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM Tickets: $20 | urbanfarminginstitute.org Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Carole Copeland Thomas sits down with Haitian-born activist and visionary leader Lilly Marcelin, founder of the Resilient Sisterhood Project (RSP), to explore the intersection of art, medicine, Black history, and reproductive justice. What begins as a conversation about an upcoming art exhibition evolves into a profound journey through the untold stories of Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy—three teenage enslaved girls subjected to brutal gynecological experiments in the 1840s by Dr. James Marion Sims, often lauded as the “father of modern gynecology.” Marcelin shares how her early work with survivors of gender-based violence led her to uncover the silenced reproductive struggles of Black women—both past and present. She recounts the birth of the Resilient Sisterhood Project and its commitment to lifting the veil on generational medical inequities and racism through education, advocacy, and the arts. The conversation highlights the upcoming Call and Response exhibition, featuring haunting and humanizing portraits by New York-based artist Jules Arthur. With six original paintings of Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy, the exhibit reclaims their stories and invites attendees to witness history through an unapologetically Black and feminist lens. This episode is a tribute to resilience, remembrance, and the sacred power of storytelling. Don’t miss it. Links Mentioned: Resilient Sisterhood Project: rsphealth.orgUrban Farming Institute of Boston: urbanfarminginstitute.org

  6. 07/12/2025

    7/12/2025 EPISODE #54 SWIPE: Take OnThe Trolls-Online Self Defense with Nicola Millington

    In this powerful and practical episode of Conversations With Carole, meet Nicola Millington—visionary PR strategist, cultural curator, and author of the timely and transformative new book, SWIPE: Mastering the Art of Handling Trolls and Protecting Your Peace. From the bustling energy of the Notting Hill Carnival to the calm confidence of digital self-defense, Nicola brings 25 years of communications wisdom to the screen and the page. This episode takes listeners on a journey through Nicola’s multicultural roots in Guyana and the UK, her philosophy of legacy business building, and the hard-won lessons that shaped her groundbreaking workbook, SWIPE. Designed to empower individuals and small business owners alike, the book offers real-life case studies, including the viral TikTok post on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and introduces a practical five-step SWIPE method:  Stop. Weigh. Investigate. Protect. Educate/Exit. Whether you're a Gen Z creator, a concerned parent, or a business leader fighting for your digital reputation, this episode arms you with tools, insight, and courage. Why Young People Should Read This Book: Mental Strength in a Digital World: In an age of online aggression, SWIPE gives young people strategies to navigate trolls, protect their mental health, and preserve their peace.Practical Digital Wisdom: Nicola offers timeless guidance infused with cultural depth and lived experience. From decoding digital aggression to identifying bot behavior, SWIPE is a survival guide for digital natives.Bridging Generations: With youth depression and loneliness rising alongside internet use, SWIPE is more than a book—it’s a bridge between analog wisdom and digital resilience.Empowerment Through Storytelling: The book includes nine relatable case studies, making it a must-read for young leaders, creators, and everyday users navigating the fast-paced world of online engagement.================================================= Where to Purchase the Book at Nicola’s Website:  https://www.marketingwithlovedigital.co.uk/swipe-landing-page Or in the UK purchase at Amazon

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

"Conversations with Carole" is meant to build a community where we can talk about current and historical issues relevant to our times. I've been in the cross culture business for many years and celebrate the past work I've done in radio. It made sense NOW to move the conversation to a podcast format where we can all get involved!=====As an award-winning keynote speaker, trainer, and global thought leader, since 1987, Carole Copeland Thomas moderates the discussions of critical issues affecting the marketplace. She has her pulse on the issues affecting working professionals and regularly consults with industry leaders. She has spent 36 years cultivating relationships and partnerships with local, national, and international sponsors, including Walmart, Amtrak, and Emirates Airlines. Carole is the past president of The National Speakers Association -New England Chapter and was on the leadership team of Black NSA. Carole is a blogger and social media enthusiast using various technology platforms to enhance her business development activities.  Carole has been featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Black Enterprise, ABC Radio, and CBS News. She is the author of eight books and is the Past National Vice Chair of the National Black MBA Association Carole is a 28-year member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and an active member of Black NSA. She won the President Emeritus Award for the leadership role she played during the 2017-2018 NSA New England Chapter Year. Visit Carole's website at www.carolecopelandthomas.com.