Plattinum Passport

Clenise Platt
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Places & Travel

The podcast will be your passport to conversations and adventures around the globe to encourage and inspire a relentless pursuit of your destiny, an exploration of the planet and an engaging life experience from the cradle to the grave and beyond. Together, let’s travel to Destination: Life Inspired!

  1. 6d ago

    UNLEASH: THE POWER OF RELEASING YOUR CREATIVITY IN THE WORLD

    What happens when you get two visual artists and four authors together to talk about the power of creativity?  Dr. Annette Craig-Wilson, Michelle Richardson, Alison Schoew, Heather Sweeney, and Dr. Martha M. McClenney share their unique creative journeys and how creativity has emerged in different forms throughout their lives.  In this conversation they share why it is important to be intentional about making time to be creative.  They also talk about the health and wellness benefits of allowing creativity to be unleashed in our lives personally, professionally and even physically and cognitively.  Allow this discussion to inspire you to be intentional about your own creative journey and to unleash your creativity in your world! ABOUT THE GUESTS ANNETTE CRAIG-WILSON, DSL After a distinguished 38-year career in the financial services industry, Dr. Annette Craig-Wilson retired as Vice President and Retail Sales Manager at TowneBank in Norfolk, Virginia. She holds advanced degrees in Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, and a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership, and is committed to developing others through faith-based teaching, coaching, and mentorship. She is a best-selling author, certified life and leadership coach, mentor, consultant, and the founder of both Craigwil Ministries Inc. and Craigwil Consulting LLC, “The Coaching Company”. Her goal is to help individuals to live and lead with greater passion and purpose. Find out how to purchase her books (and her granddaughters’ books) and connect with Annette at: www.craigwilministriesinc.com www.craigwilconsultingllc.com MICHELLE RICHARDSON Michelle has exhibited and sold her work in galleries, through commissions and at art festivals. She has received a number of awards and recognitions for her work. She chose not to use her creative abilities to mirror the noise of the world. Instead, she chooses to create from a place of clarity, compassion, and conscious resistance. She aspires to offer something deeper--intentional art of substance with relevant messages that causes people to think, rethink, act and react. View Michelle’s art and stay informed about her exhibits and more at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CiAJbx7gB/ https://www.instagram.com/michellezart?igsh=NzR0NzAwMGU2YnQw ALISON SCHOEW Alison is a writing instructor at The Muse Writers Center in Norfolk, Virginia, where she coaxes both local and international students to celebrate their inner writer.  She loves to help engender the prism effect – such different perspectives from the same thing! – that emerges when a people write to the same prompt and then share their work, salon-style, for some positive feedback. Stay connected to Alison at:  https://www.facebook.com/alison.schoew   HEATHER SWEENEY  Heather is the author of the award- winning memoir, Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage. She writes about divorce, life as a military spouse, parenting, and women's health. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, HuffPost, Business Insider, TODAY.com, Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Healthline, Reader's Digest, Electric Literature, and Military.com, among many others. Camouflage is her first book.   For more from Heather, visit https://heathersweeney.substack.com/. You may also purchase her book online at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F316HJTD?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback   MARTHA MCCLENNY WILLIAMS, PHD Martha is a retired educator who grew up on her family farm in Southampton County. Family farming gave her a deep appreciation for working the land, beautiful farms and all types of gardens. During her career as an educator, Dr. Williams served on many community service projects and on several boards in leadership roles. Serving on the Norfolk Botanical Garden board of directors provided her an opportunity to participate in the unfolding history of the garden. After hours of collaboration and research, she captured the inspiring story of the WPA Gardeners in her book, WPA Original Gardeners, in May 2016. In January 2023, she published First Gardeners for young children. Dr. Martha Williams is the Norfolk Botanical Garden Historian and currently spends her time writing and painting. Martha’s books are available at the Norfolk Botanical Garden Bookstore and online at: https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000274688235/Martha-M-Williams-First-Gardeners THE UNLEASH EXPERIENCE  UNLEASH is a unique, immersive one-day experience designed to ignite the creative spirit hosted by The Plattinum Institute. UNLEASH blends artistic creativity with deep personal expression, tailored specifically to help attendees discover and refine their unique voice. It is designed for writers and creatives of all skill levels—from beginners to published authors.  The day includes activities, conversations with artists and professional writers from a variety of backgrounds, genres and publishing experiences.  Follow The Plattinum Institute at https://www.instagram.com/theplattinuminstitute/ to view photos, videos and more from the UNLEASH 2026 Experience.

  2. Mar 21

    KEEP YOUR CHIN UP: A MOVEMENT THAT STARTED WITH A DREAM & A PRAYER

    In this special Podcasthon episode of the Plattinum Passport Podcast, tune in to see what happens when you have only a dream and a prayer and some pretty fantastic family members who believe in the dream and the power of prayer too.  Hear about how The Keep Your Chin Up Organization, Inc., a nonprofit organization, has impacted not just their local community, but the world. Learn about the organization’s commitment to building a community of L.O.V.E. that brings people together to do good things—including KYCU Community of L.O.V.E. scholarships for young people who have overcome life obstacles and have a dream to continue their education.   ABOUT THE KEEP YOUR CHIN UP ORGANIZATION Keep Your Chin Up (KYCU) started with nine prose pieces and nine talented high school students willing to dream big with the founder, Clenise Platt. Together they created the Keep Your Chin Up book. The goal was to provide an opportunity for the students to showcase their talents and to raise $2000 for a Keep Your Chin Up Scholarship. On the morning of September 11, 2001, when America was called upon to keep her chin up, the first Keep Your Chin Up Scholarship was distributed. The tiny project became an official 501(c)3--The Keep Your Chin Up Organization, Incorporated. KYCU develops and supports programs and projects that promote literacy, leadership development, overcoming obstacles, self-value, civic engagement, and education. To find out more about the organization and to join the L.O.V.E. Revolution visit https://www.theplattinumgroup.com/give. To be a part of the KYCU Community of L.O.V.E. Scholarships, give at Cashapp: $KYChinUp or PayPal: chcgplatt@aol.com. ABOUT THE KYCU FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS   CLINTON & HATTIE PLATT  For 35 years Clinton worked at a leading telecommunications company. When he retired, he started CHCG Telephone Installation and Repair. Hattie Platt has more than 30 years of management experience in the financial services industry. In her spare time, she enjoys interior design and gardening. Clinton and Hattie have been married for more than 50 years and have participated in and taught programs focused on marriage and family. They have both been and remain active in their community and church. Clinton and Hattie serve on the Founding Board of the Keep Your Chin Up Organization. GABRIEL PLATT   Gabriel has worked at a leading telecommunications company in several leadership roles for more than 20 years. Gabriel graduated from Old Dominion University with a B.S. in Psychology, and he studied strategic leadership for his master’s degree at Regent University. He has a passion for sports and music and is a percussionist and pianist. He and his family reside in Chesapeake, Virginia. Gabriel is a talented speaker and provides insight and presentations on leadership, faith, and talent and professional development. He serves on the Founding Board of the Keep Your Chin Up Organization. CLENISE PLATT Clenise is an author, podcast host, speaker, educator and entrepreneur.  She is the President and CEO of the Plattinum Group, a leadership and life development brand that helps people show up more fully engaged in their work and their lives. Through coaching, keynotes, and immersive learning, Plattinum empowers individuals and organizations to grow with clarity, courage, and purpose. She is also the founder and CEO of the Keep Your Chin Up Organization. Clenise is passionate about making a difference in the world and the Keep Your Chin Up Organization is her love letter to the future.

  3. 10/19/2025

    NAVIGATING RECOVERY WHEN THE STRUGGLE IS REAL IN THE WORKPLACE

    Earlier this Summer, Clenise served as the moderator for the Renewals’ Reset Experience. We continued the conversation during a live recording of the Plattinum Passport Podcast for those who attended the event. During this episode, The Reset Experience Convener and speaker Kaetrena Davis Kendrick highlights her research on low morale experiences and workplace abuse and neglect, and Steven Adams and Sarah Hightower discuss the significance of curiosity and nervous system regulation in recovery from workplace trauma. They each share their personal workplace experiences and self-preservation tools to support and expand recovery from workplace harm and neglect. ABOUT KAETRENA DAVIS KENDRICK Kaetrena earned her M.S.L.S. from the historic Clark Atlanta University School of Library and Information Studies. Kendrick’s research on low-morale experiences in library workplaces is recognized as groundbreaking and validating for library employees at all levels. In her daily and long-term work, Kendrick has transformed library programs, services, and culture via creativity, leadership, and advocacy. She is committed to centering well-being, creativity, and empathy in the workplace and promoting career clarity and rejuvenation to workers. In 2019, Kendrick was named the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Academic/Research Librarian of the Year, and she is the 2024-2025 Follett Chair with the Dominican University School of Information Studies. As founder of Renewals, she is the creator of Renewers Communities and is the creator of and Convener for the Reset Experience. Learn more about her work at renewalslis.com. ABOUT STEVEN ADAMS With 25 years of experience as a librarian, educator, speaker and workshop facilitator, Steven creates dynamic learning experiences sparking introspection and group cohesion. His research and workshop design projects explore the role of curiosity in creating and sustaining engaging workplace cultures. He is currently the Librarian for The Graduate School at Northwestern University and has an additional appointment as the Faculty Mentor for Northwestern’s 7th class of Posse Scholars. Prior to Northwestern, Steven served as Princeton University’s Biological and Life Sciences Librarian and Psychology Librarian, and as a Reference Librarian at the Atlanta University Center’s Woodruff Library. Steven received his B.A in Biology and his M.L.S. from Clark Atlanta University. He also holds a certificate in Instructional Design from Langevin Learning Services. Outside of his professional activities, Steven is doing work in Evanston, IL to address issues that affect children, such as poverty, hopelessness, uneven educational opportunities through the life span, and intersectional oppression (racism, sexism, homophobia, class bias, etc.). Steven is on the Board of Foundation 65, which raises funds and leads initiatives which support schoolteachers in Evanston, Illinois. He has a long history of mentoring children, adolescents, and young adults, and has participated in “Big Brother and Sister” programs in Georgia, New Jersey and Illinois.   ABOUT SARAH HIGHTOWER Sarah Hightower is a licensed therapist with more than 17 years of experience in mental health. She currently works with diverse populations in private practice at Blue Heron Counseling Services, LLC, and previously worked in community-based outpatient, and inpatient treatment settings. The heart and soul of her practice is maternal mental health and postpartum support with a fierce devotion of supporting and affirming the lived experiences of Black and brown women and birthing people with intersecting identities. Sarah has received extensive training in maternal mental health from Postpartum Support International (PSI), and trauma and nervous system regulation from Somatic Experiencing International (SEI). She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her 3 children. When she’s not chauffeuring her kids around, Sarah enjoys reading, hiking, jigsaw puzzles, and practicing her French.

  4. 08/31/2023

    TRAVEL WELL WITH THE PLATTINUM PASSPORT TRAVEL PANEL

    The Plattinum Passport Podcast Travel Team is back again!! They kicked us off last year with travel tips for the Fall and Winter. In this episode, the conversation comes full circle with their ideas for Summer and Fall travel, budget-friendly travel tips, the best times to travel during the Summer and Fall, and a list of things to think about when planning your next travel adventure. Andrae Marable, Cathy Parsons and Scott Warren also share their favorite summer spots, their best travel experiences this year and more!  ABOUT ANDRAE MARABLE  At the age of 21, Andrae J. Marable set a goal to travel across the United States with a focus on exploring the food, wine, and spirits of each state. He believes food, wine, and spirits all reflect things like the history, heritage, traditions, and values of a people and place and what they are passionate about. His travels have taken him to all 50 states and multiple cities in Canada and Europe. To share his passion and experiences with others, he founded The Pack Roadtrip Travel Club in 2014. In 2015, he was named the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Portsmouth Small Business of The Year Award Winner. Throughout the year, he coordinates winery tours and food excursions in the Virginia and Washington DC area. He enjoys taking people off the beaten path to experience something new and broaden their horizons. Contact Andrae Marable, CTA at thepackroadtriptravelclub@gmail.com or  757-805-5759 Find out more at http://www.thepacktravelclub.com ABOUT CATHY PARSONS Hello, my name is Cathy Parsons. I am a member of the Plattinium Passport Travel team and live in the Northern Maryland/Delaware area. I started in the travel industry in 1998, as a natural fit being raised as an Air Force child and having the opportunity to travel to many destinations and experience several different cultures as a child. I took a few years off to work in the corporate world as the Director of Sales for Hilton and Marriott, but soon realized that my passion was in selling travel and working with customers to curate amazing travel experiences that leave them with a lifetime of memories. At Best Vacations LLC, I focus on Caribbean and International travel, both by land and by sea. This is an exciting and sometimes challenging time in the world of travel. Now, as we all are coming out of the Covid pandemic, we are collectively trying to find our new ground. Asking ourselves, who and what we really are after stopping everything for two years. Finding balance is important as we take control of our destiny, our finances, our health and dare to dream! This is why we are here with the Plattinium Passport Travel Team! It is our hope and our prayer that each episode will help you on your journey to freedom, inner peace, exploration, success, and good health.  Contact Cathy Parsons, ACC at Cathy@BestVacationsllc.com or 443-593-4000  Check out her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BestVacationsLLC       ABOUT SCOTT WARREN Scott Warren, CMP is the Convention Sales Manager and serves on the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) meetings and conventions team where he assists meeting planners to enhance and elevate social, religious and fraternal (SMERF) meetings. Scott’s expertise in the destination marketing industry also extends to events supervisor, convention center sales management, and visitor center management where he oversaw the first LEED certification for existing visitor center facilities. He is a graduate of Oglebay Venue Management School and became a Travel Marketing Professional in 2016 with the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). Scott holds a M.Ed. from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and a BA Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. A native and lifelong resident of Virginia Beach, Scott enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife, two boys and their adopted rescue dog, Max. Contact Scott at sawarren@visitvirginiabeach.com or 757.385.6654 Find out more at VBMEETINGS.COM

  5. 08/24/2023

    ONE FOR THE BOOKS

    Gary Anderson walked into his eighth-grade science class ready to teach his students. When he left a few years later, it was his students who had schooled him. Gary’s students changed the trajectory of his career and life. Listen as Gary details how they helped him discover his true passion and inspired him to go back to school. He also shares how his quest to invest in the success of his students led him to launch three nonprofit organizations, what caused him to run his first IRONMAN Race at 52 and more! ABOUT GARY ANDERSON Gary Anderson is a retired educator. He served as a school psychologist in public education for 37 years. He has founded 3 nonprofit organizations involving Read Aloud programs and is passionate about increasing literacy leading to a lasting, positive impact on children, families, and the community. He is married to Debbie, his college sweetheart, and they reside in Portsmouth, Virginia. In addition to his work with All District Reads, one of his other great passions is spending time with his 13 grandchildren. Click below to find out more about All District Reads and the student book clubs. https://alldistrictreads.org/

  6. 07/06/2023

    PAGING DOCTOR SHONNA JOHNSON

    For Dr. Shonna Johnson, there were several twists and turns and aha moments on her way to realizing her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. Today she has a robust practice in her hometown consisting of patients from two months old to 102 years old. In this episode, not only does Dr. Johnson, a breast cancer survivor, give us a peak into her life as she tenaciously pursued her dream, she also offers tips for selecting a primary care doctor and being proactive about personal health and wellness. ABOUT SHONNA JENE JOHNSON, MD Dr. Johnson earned her medical degree from the University of Virginia in 2003. She completed family medicine residency training with Riverside Health System and Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007. Dr. Johnson is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Johnson views her family medicine practice as more of a personal mission than a job.  Dr. Johnson was a participant in the inaugural class for the Riverside Leadership Institute. Her group’s capstone project was selected as the overall winner and was implemented into the health system as the current E consult and enhanced referral system. As the physician lead for this project, this has become a passion of hers to help patients get the care they need from specialists and to help with the back log of referrals. Dr. Johnson also serves on the Culture and Communication Committee as well as the Primary Care Steering Committee. She was recently selected to serve on the Medication Reconciliation Committee. she is the Physician lead for the Outpatient division.  Dr. Johnson enjoys caring for patients of all ages and has a special interest in diabetes care and women’s health. A Hampton native, Dr. Johnson still lives in the area and appreciates its beautiful water views. In her free time, she enjoys playing and listening to music. Dr. Johnson has been married to her childhood sweetheart for 27 years and they have an adult daughter and son.

  7. 06/29/2023

    A LEADERSHIP JOURNEY: SONIA ALCÁNTARA-ANTOINE

    The leadership series continues with Sonia Alcántara-Antoine. Sonia is not only the CEO of Baltimore County Public Library (MD), but she recently became the President of the Public Library Association (PLA) which has almost 9,000 members in communities around the United States and Canada. PLA is the largest association serving public library professionals. In this conversation, Sonia shares her leadership journey and the importance of not being afraid to say yes, building a strong network, overcoming imposter syndrome and becoming confident enough to show up unapologetically as your authentic self. . . even in spaces where there aren’t a lot of folks that look like you. ABOUT SONIA ALCÁNTARA-ANTOINE Sonia Alcántara-Antoine is the CEO of Baltimore County Public Library (MD), overseeing 19 branches, 550 dedicated staff, and a budget of $45 million. She was recently named one of the Top 100 Women in Maryland. Prior to joining Baltimore County Public Library, she was director of Newport News Public Library (VA) and held leadership positions at Virginia Beach Public Library (VA) and Enoch Pratt Free Library (MD).  She is the president of the Public Library Association and is on the board of the Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators. Sonia is proud to be an American Library Association Spectrum Scholar, and holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Old Dominion University. Sonia is a renowned speaker and thought leader on the art and science of library leadership, actively shaping the profession for today and tomorrow.  Click below to find out more about Sonia and the Public Library Association. https://www.ala.org/pla/about/people/board/alcantara-antoine

  8. 06/21/2023

    THE GREAT ESCAPE

    Have you ever thought about just up and leaving it all behind? Your work, your belongings, your home . . . EVERYTHING?!!! Would you actually do it? In 2022 LaShon and Steven McKay ACTUALLY did! And so began a brand new life adventure for the couple.  ABOUT LASHON & STEVEN MCKAY Steven and LaShon McKay have been married since 1998. They have two adult children, and two granddaughters with a third on the way. Steven served in the US Army and has worked primarily in security and corrections since leaving the military in 1999. His last position was as the Quality Control Supervisor with Newport News Juvenile Services where he worked for 13 years. LaShon worked with several institutions in the field of finance. Her last position was at Old Dominion University.  After some research in January 2021, Steven and LaShon decided to plan for an early retirement and travel and live abroad. The original plan was to leave after 2-3 years, but after the pandemic and rapidly increasing home values, they accelerated their timeline. At the end of February 2022, they quit their jobs, and sold their home and moved to Ecuador on March 31st. To document their experiences, the McKay’s began a Youtube channel in September 2022. Their audience has grown steadily, and they also have two additional channels focused on their hobbies.   Steven contacted Plattinum Passport to share the couple’s story after he saw a piece about the podcast on the local news on the ABC affiliate, WVEC-13. You may follow Steven & LaShon on their journey at https://youtube.com/@LivingLovingAbroad. Click here to see Clenise’s interview about the Plattinum Passport podcast with WVEC -13 anchor Ashley Smith.

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About

The podcast will be your passport to conversations and adventures around the globe to encourage and inspire a relentless pursuit of your destiny, an exploration of the planet and an engaging life experience from the cradle to the grave and beyond. Together, let’s travel to Destination: Life Inspired!

Information

  • Creator
    Clenise Platt
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2022
  • Show Website
    Plattinum Passport