Coffee No Cream

Erin Braxton

A podcast celebrating Black women's unique journeys in business. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate climber, or finding your path, we share authentic "Coffee No Cream Moments" – those distinctly Black girl experiences that become catalysts for growth, bold action, and powerful career pivots. No complaints – just real stories and celebrations of resilience from those who truly understand the walk.

  1. FEB 11

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 41 - Black ER Doctor Turns Burnout Into 7-Figure Speaking Career

    In this episode of Coffee No Cream, Erin sits down with Dr. Pamela Buchanan, an ER physician who shares what it’s really like to be a Black woman doctor in America. From being called the N-word by patients during the pandemic to navigating daily micro and macroaggressions in the emergency room, Dr. Buchanan opens up about the emotional toll of practicing medicine in today’s climate. But this isn’t just a story about racism in healthcare. It’s about burnout. It’s about boundaries. It’s about redirecting and pivoting. After years in the ER and the height of COVID, Dr. Buchanan made a pivot. What started with a TEDx talk turned into a speaking career, consulting work, and her first seven-figure year. In this conversation, we discuss: Racism in the ER and how she handled it in real timePhysician burnout and mental health in medicineWhy Black female doctors face unique pressuresThe mindset shift from employee to entrepreneurHow she built a high-income speaking businessWhy your job should be your first investorIf you are a high-achieving Black woman feeling burned out, overlooked, or ready for something more, this episode is for you.🔗 Connect with Dr. Pamela BuchananText STRONG to 55444 to download her speaker guideFind her on LinkedIn✨ Join the Coffee No Cream CommunityIf you’re ready to move from toxic corporate to your own thing, click here to learn more. ⏱️ Timestamps(00:00) “The N-Word Doctor” (00:37) Introduction to Dr. Pamela Buchanan (02:48) First Coffee No Cream Moment (Resident Experience (04:39) “You’re the Nicest…” – In the ER (06:37) How Do You Keep Going After That? (08:59) Pandemic ER Experience & COVID Denial (11:34) “The N-Word Doctor Says I Got COVID” (14:52) Racism Became More Blatant After 2020 (17:54) Micro vs. Macro Aggressions in Medicine (21:06) Every Shift Comes With Something (24:23) Missouri, Rural Medicine & Exposure Gaps (27:30) Entrepreneur Pivot Begins (28:39) Burnout in the ER (30:21) From TEDx to Paid Speaking (32:40) Investing $40K in Herself (33:50) Building a 7-Figure Business (38:19) Fear, Rejection & The Numbers Game (40:49) “You’re Not Selling, You’re Serving” (44:16) Your Job Should Be Your First Investor (45:49) Time Management & The Power Hour (49:28) Why Community Matters (51:06) Her TEDx & Physician Mental Health (52:36) The Purpose Prescription (53:41) What Self-Care Really Looks Like (1:00:48) How to Connect With Dr. Pamela (1:01:35) Closing

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 4

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 40 - Why Black Women Can’t Build Businesses to Prove Themselves

    So many Black women know something has to change at work. Some are thinking about starting their own business. Some do not know what they want to do yet. But the feeling is the same. What you are doing now is not sustainable. In this episode, Erin shares the real story of her first business FAIL. Not the highlight reel. Not the boss narrative. The truth. Erin talks about how fear ran her business. How trying to prove herself shaped her bad decisions. How validation, workplace trauma, and silence led her to build a business that looked impressive but was not sustainable. This episode is for Black women who are thinking about doing their own thing. It is also for those already in business who can feel fear showing up in their decisions. Erin shares this story because she did not have a community when she started. And she does not want Black women building in silence anymore. If you are serious about building something for yourself and you already know what you want to do, Erin is opening a small, paid cohort for Black women who are ready to move. This is not a space to hide. It is a space to work.👉🏿 You can learn more about the community👉🏿 Not quite ready for the community, but needs some clarity to get in motion? Book a Motion Hour 👉🏿 Join our private Facebook groupIf this episode resonated, please like, share, and subscribe.And if you have questions about the clothing line or my journey, leave them in the comments. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Why Something Has to Change (02:30) Why I’m Sharing This Story (04:30)Starting a Business in a Different Era (07:00) Being Undervalued at Work and Needing Validation (10:00) The Clothing Line and Wanting to Look Legitimate (13:30) Doing the Fun Stuff and Avoiding the Real Work (17:00) Ignoring My Gut and the Internet Opportunity (20:00) When Fear Took Over Completely (23:00) Bankruptcy and Sitting With the Fallout (25:30) The Shift That Changed Everything (28:00) Why Community Matters Now

    29 min

  3. JAN 28

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 39 - Black Women Left Corporate, Now What?

    In 2025, over 319,000 Black women lost their jobs, while 365,000 white men gained jobs during the same period. As DEI initiatives are rolled back and federal and public-sector jobs are cut, many Black women are being forced to reconsider what stability, safety, and success really look like. In this solo episode, Erin Braxton speaks directly to Black women who don’t want to return to corporate but don’t yet know how to move forward. This conversation is not about hustle culture, overnight success, or internet gurus promising easy money. It’s about reality, preparation, and clarity. Erin breaks down: ✅ Why forced career pivots feel different than “dream” pivots ✅ How scrolling and sales culture prey on fear during moments of instability ✅ The truth about entrepreneurship as responsibility, not freedom ✅ The three things you must assess before working for yourself: capacity, transferable leverage, and support ✅ Why community matters when you’re building something on your own ✅ How entrepreneurship creates flexibility for Black women considering remote work or living abroad Erin also shares why she’s opening a small, vetted Coffee No Cream community for Black women who are serious about starting and sustaining a business, and what makes this space different from surface-level courses and programs. This episode is for women who are done dreaming and ready to be honest about what it really takes to move forward. 🔗 Interested in the Coffee No Cream Community? Book a free 15-minute conversation. 🔗 Need clarity before you move?Book a Motion Hour ⏰ TIMESTAMPS (00:00) — Black women, job loss, and what’s really happening (01:10) — Why many of us don’t want to go back to corporate (02:05) — Forced pivots vs “dreaming” about entrepreneurship (03:30) — Scrolling, sales culture, and false promises online (06:10) — The reality of entrepreneurship (it’s not easy money) (08:20) — Entrepreneurship as responsibility, not freedom (10:45) — Capacity: time, emotional bandwidth, and finances (14:30) — Transferable leverage and putting yourself out there (18:10) — Personal brand, visibility, and being discoverable (22:40) — Why support and community matter when building alone (26:10) — Goldman Sachs cohort and the power of vetted rooms (29:20) — Considering leaving the U.S. or working abroad (32:10) — Why entrepreneurship creates geographic freedom (35:00) — Who the Coffee No Cream community is (and is not) for (38:40) — What the community will actually help you do (41:30) — How to apply and what the March cohort looks like (44:00) — Final thoughts: protect your mind and move with intention

    36 min

  4. JAN 21

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 38 - A Stroke at 39: The Silent Crisis Facing Black Women

    What happens when your body forces you to stop? In this episode of the Coffee No Cream Podcast, we talk openly about stroke, stress, and the health risks Black women face far earlier than many realize. This conversation centers on a stroke at 39 and what it reveals about how stress, pressure, and survival mode show up in Black women’s bodies. Black women are disproportionately affected by stroke, often younger and with more severe outcomes. Yet these stories are rarely centered or taken seriously. This episode is not about fear. It is about awareness, honesty, and listening to what our bodies are telling us before it is too late. Coffee No Cream is a judgment-free space where Black women share real experiences and the lessons that come from them. This conversation is one every Black woman needs to hear. Listen. Reflect. And take yourself seriously. ☕ Join the Coffee No Cream Community 🔹 Need clarity on your next move? ⁠⁠Motion Hours⁠⁠ are 1:1 sessions with Erin designed to help get you in motion, think clearly, stop spiraling, and decide your next step, without pressure to blow your life up. ⁠https://coffeenocream.com/motion⁠ 🔹 ⁠⁠Coming Soon⁠⁠ I’m building a private space for people who don’t want to wait alone. No specific details yet, just intention.If you want to be the first to know, visit ⁠https://coffeenocream.com/community⁠ 🔹 ⁠⁠⁠Join the Facebook community ⏰ TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (03:14) Stroke Stats and Black Women (07:32) Sheri's story (28:26) Setting Up a Healthcare Advocate (48:26) Stroke Symptoms (01:01:27) Close

    1h 2m

  5. JAN 14

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 37 - HR Can Be Unsafe for Black Women, Even When You Work In the HR Department

    What happens when HR isn’t safe, even for Black women who work in HR? In this episode of Coffee No Cream, Erin Braxton sits down with Tai Robinson, an HR professional who shares a Coffee No Cream moment that challenges the idea that HR is a neutral or protective space for Black women. Tai talks candidly about reporting racially charged behavior, being dismissed, and ultimately being labeled “messy” for doing her job. Her story exposes how power works inside organizations, who HR is really designed to protect, and why proximity to the system does not guarantee safety. This conversation is for Black women who: 👉🏿 Have been told they were “stirring the pot” for speaking up 👉🏿 Work in HR or closely with HR and expect better 👉🏿 Have experienced gaslighting, minimization, or silence after reporting issues 👉🏿 Are navigating toxic workplaces and trying to protect their peace This is not about complaining. It’s about clarity, boundaries, and understanding the game so you can move differently. ☕️ Coffee No Cream is a judgment-free space where Black women share the moments that happen simply because we are Black — and what we learn from them. Connect with Tai Robinson Buy the bookTai's TikTok 🔹 Need clarity on your next move? ⁠Motion Hours⁠ are 1:1 sessions with Erin designed to help get you in motion, think clearly, stop spiraling, and decide your next step, without pressure to blow your life up. https://coffeenocream.com/motion 🔹 ⁠Coming Soon⁠ I’m building a private space for people who don’t want to wait alone. No specific details yet, just intention.If you want to be the first to know, visit https://coffeenocream.com/community 🔹 ⁠⁠Join the Facebook community ⏰ TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro and what this episode is really about (03:31) Meet Tai Robinson, HR professional and author (04:16) How Tai transitioned into HR (06:30) HR as a power structure, not a safe space (08:45) Reporting racially charged behavior to leadership (11:45) Being labeled “messy” for doing the job (13:30) What happens when Black employees trust you in HR (15:40) When raising concerns puts a target on your back (18:50) Knowing when a workplace is no longer survivable (20:30) Retaliation, mobbing, and forced exits (23:30) Allies, isolation, and who really shows up (27:00) Why HR protects the organization first (31:45) When and if HR should ever be trusted (34:00) Seeking support outside of your job (36:15) Therapy, documentation, and protecting yourself (38:30) Legal options, EEOC realities, and missed deadlines (44:30) Why many cases never move forward (47:45) The cost of stress on Black women’s health (52:30) Choosing peace over proximity to power (56:45) What Tai wants Black women to know before they speak up (59:45) Final reflections and closing thoughts

    1h 21m

  6. JAN 7

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 36 - Why Black Women Procrastinate Leaving Toxic Jobs

    In Part 4 of The Corporate Code Series, Erin breaks down The Wait Code. So many Black women say they want to leave toxic jobs and make moves, and yet years go by, nothing changes, and we’re still “getting ready to get ready.” In this episode of Coffee No Cream, Erin Braxton breaks down why Black women procrastinate career changes they already know they need to make, and how waiting slowly becomes a lifestyle. This isn’t about being reckless.It’s not about quitting without a plan.And it’s not about motivation.It’s about the quiet ways we convince ourselves to wait: ✅ Waiting on a promotion or bonus ✅ Waiting to feel more confident or qualified ✅ Waiting for permission, validation, or the “right time” ✅ Waiting because someone else already did it ✅ Waiting because life feels too busy, too uncertain, too heavy Erin demystifies the excuses in real time and challenges the idea that waiting is always strategic, especially when you already know a job is harming you. If you’ve been telling yourself “I’ll make a move later” for years, this conversation is for you. ▶️ The Corporate Code Series Videos mentioned The Boundary CodeThe Head CodeThe Access Code 🔹 Need clarity on your next move? Motion Hours are 1:1 sessions with Erin designed to help get you in motion, think clearly, stop spiraling, and decide your next step, without pressure to blow your life up. 🔹 Coming Soon I’m building a private space for people who don’t want to wait alone. No specific details yet, just intention.If you want to be the first to know, visit ⏰ TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (06:26) Are you waiting on a magical blessing? (10:07) Are you waiting to qualify yourself? (12:21) Is imposter syndrome causing you to wait? (15:46) Are you waiting because the market is saturated? (18:43) Are you waiting until you have more time? (24:11) Are you waiting on social approval? (29:36) Are you waiting on money?

    35 min

  7. 12/31/2025

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 35 - The Moments That Changed How Black Women See Work

    In this final episode of the year, Erin reflects on the moments, conversations, and patterns that defined Coffee No Cream in 2025. From memorable Coffee No Cream moments to stories about stress, workplace dynamics, and hard-earned lessons, this episode brings together highlights from across the year to explore what Black women are really navigating at work. Erin also shares recurring warnings, key takeaways from Connect with Coffee No Cream ► ⁠⁠⁠Join the private Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠ ► ⁠⁠⁠Access 2,000+ free educational resources ⁠⁠⁠ ► ⁠⁠⁠Book a Motion Hour with Erin⁠⁠⁠ to figure out your next step ⏰ Chapters(00:00) Intro (02:10) Best Coffee No Cream Moments of 2025 (30:02) The mental and physical effects of discrimination stress (45:48) The best lessons, quotes, and warnings (01:04:56) Until 2026... Full YouTube Episodes In Recap Episode 1 - My Coffee No Cream Story Episode 3 - Monique McKinney Episode 4 - Dr. Lydia Bullock Episode 5 - Erin Norman Episode 10 - Karen Donaldson on Shushing Episode 13 - Tracie Walker Episode 16 - Valencia Dantzler Episode 17 - Stephanie Davis Episode 18 - Abby The Attorney Episode 22 - The Boundary Code Episode 23 - The Head Code Episode 26 -- Natasha Williams Episode 27 - The Access Code Episode 32 - Ashley Morgan Episode 34 - Tammy Triolo

    1h 7m

  8. 12/24/2025

    Coffee No Cream Ep. 34 - Black Women Leaders Are Treated as Support Staff at Work

    In this episode of Coffee No Cream, Erin sits down with DEI expert Tammy Triolo to talk about a familiar workplace contradiction: Black women lead, carry responsibility, and drive outcomes, yet are often treated like support staff instead of decision-makers. They unpack how Black women are relied on for emotional labor, problem-solving, and stability at work, while authority, recognition, and permission to lead are quietly withheld. This conversation isn’t about confidence or effort. It’s about how power is assigned, denied, and redistributed in professional spaces. If you’ve ever felt responsible without being respected, this episode will resonate. Connect with Coffee No Cream ► ⁠⁠Join the private Facebook group ⁠⁠ ► ⁠⁠Access 2,000+ free educational resources ⁠⁠ ► ⁠⁠Book a Motion Hour with Erin⁠⁠ to figure out your next step Connect with Tammy Triolo Website TikTok Timestamps (00:00) Intro and framing the conversation (04:45) Tammy’s background and how her work connects to this topic (10:12) What “main character energy” really means for Black women (16:08) Having power everywhere except at work (22:30) Being expected to support instead of lead (29:05) When leadership is present but not acknowledged (36:40) The empathy scorecard and how Black women are evaluated (44:55) Emotional labor as a silent expectation (52:20) Being relied on without authority or protection (59:10) Over-functioning as a survival strategy (1:06:45) Over-preparing and over-performing to stay safe (1:14:30) Why Black women stay too long in unhealthy work environments (1:22:10) Fear, money, and walking away from disrespect (1:29:35) When being “needed” replaces being valued (1:36:50) Reclaiming agency without over-explaining yourself (1:44:20) Redefining leadership on your own terms (1:51:40) Final reflections and what Black women deserve at work

    2h 14m
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Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

A podcast celebrating Black women's unique journeys in business. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate climber, or finding your path, we share authentic "Coffee No Cream Moments" – those distinctly Black girl experiences that become catalysts for growth, bold action, and powerful career pivots. No complaints – just real stories and celebrations of resilience from those who truly understand the walk.

Information

  • Creator
    Erin Braxton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Erin Braxton
  • Show Website
    Coffee No Cream

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