SpeakUP! International Inc.

Ellington Brown

SpeakUP! International Inc. is your go-to podcast for inspiring stories, insightful interviews, and educational content that empowers listeners. Join us as we delve into diverse topics with a focus on uplifting black and brown voices, promoting creativity, and fostering personal and professional growth. 

  1. The truth no one expected. The Spiritual Trap of Overgiving

    4d ago

    The truth no one expected. The Spiritual Trap of Overgiving

    SPIRITUAL TRAP OF OVERGIVING   During our latest episode of SpeakUP! International, we sit down with the incredible Rev. Dr. Denise Gillard, pastor, transformational coach, and entrepreneur. Dr. Gillard starts the podcast by reading a beautiful, quiet excerpt from her children’s book, Music from the Sky, before diving into a much braver conversation. What happens when a strong, capable woman keeps giving until there is nothing left? From her roots in Oakville, Ontario, to a life-altering wake-up call in the ICU while caregiving for her husband, Denise shares how she broke free from the spiritual trap of being needed. If you are a leader, a caregiver, or a Christian woman running on empty, this episode is your permission to stop overgiving and start healing. Learn about her *Whole Woman Reset* and discover what a truly aligned, impactful life looks like.   Share this with someone who needs it today, and leave a review telling us how you are moving from depletion to overflow!   We invite you to enjoy our latest addition to our podcast collection.  https://youtu.be/M6mc0HBheIM (video) www.speakuppodcast.ca               (audio collection)  You can reach Dr. Gillard using the following link:  wordwalkglobalministries.ca  Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    54 min
  2. Black people don’t support each other.

    Jun 8

    Black people don’t support each other.

    That’s the exact line a potential funder threw in Roger Dundas’s face when he was trying to launch a new venture. For most, it would be a door slammed in their face. For Roger, it became pure, unadulterated fuel. In this explosive new episode of the SpeakUP! International podcast, we sit down with Toronto-based entrepreneur and ByBlacks co-founder, Roger Dundas, to dismantle this myth and expose the raw reality of building a Black media empire in Canada. Why You Need to Listen to This Episode: The Birth of a Movement: Travel back to the early 2010s, where blatant mainstream bias and the sudden collapse of a vital publication left Black Canadian stories completely erased. Discover how ByBlacks rose from those ashes.Mission vs. Survival: It’s easy to talk about community; it’s brutally hard to fund it. Roger pulls back the curtain on the operational grit, inbound marketing, and bulletproof strategy required to keep a mission-driven business alive.Real Journalism over Celebrity Gossip: Find out why ByBlacks deliberately rejects the cheap highs of celebrity clickbait to invest in long-form journalism that actually reflects lived experiences and tackles real community issues."We didn't need another gossip column. We needed a mirror. And we needed an economic engine for Black-owned businesses." Are you ready to change the narrative? If you care about Black Canadian entrepreneurship, independent media, and concrete, practical ways to build fierce local economies, you cannot afford to miss this conversation. You can reach Roger Dundas using the following link: https://byblacks.com/ Listen now to SpeakUP! International. Don't just listen, watch, subscribe, share, and leave a review. Let’s make sure these stories are too loud for the mainstream to ignore. You can watch the podcast in its entirety by clicking on the following link:   https://youtu.be/_t4-86YwJTA?si=sLLNQsLIwXNhEY6e (YouTube) Enjoy our audio and video collection using the following links: https://www.youtube.com/@speakupinternational (YouTube) https://www.facebook.com/speakupintl (Facebook) Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    1h 6m
  3. How To Survive The Chardonnay You Hate!

    Jun 1

    How To Survive The Chardonnay You Hate!

    A formal White House event, a glass of wine she never wanted, and a President calling her by name while she’s trying to keep it together. That’s how our conversation with Dr. Trudi Michelle Morrison begins, and it only gets more honest from there. We talk about what recognition can mean when you’re a Black woman in spaces where you’re treated like a symbol before you’re treated like a person, and how long it can take to understand the quiet strategies operating around you. If you care about civil rights, diversity and inclusion, accessible workplaces, or what resilient leadership looks like under pressure, press play. Subscribe, share this conversation with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. You can view the podcast if you like: https://youtu.be/QKNW8ZI-B9A Connect to Mr. Morrison please go to LinkedIn and search for Trudy Michelle Morrison. Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    59 min
  4. FIRED AT 63. NO WARNING. NO MERCY!

    May 25

    FIRED AT 63. NO WARNING. NO MERCY!

    What happens when the career you’ve built suddenly vanishes, and you realize—with terrifying clarity—that you could be broke by 65? Most people would panic. David Nassif decided to build a compass. In this episode of SpeakUP! International, we sit down with David to unpack an extraordinary story of resilience, reinvention, and financial survival. After traditional job hunting felt like a dead end, David stopped drifting, bet entirely on himself as an independent sales agent, and completely revolutionized his relationship with money. Whether you are navigating an unexpected career shift, planning for retirement, or simply looking for a clearer, calmer approach to personal finance, this conversation will leave you with concrete steps and a mindset you can deploy at any age. Don't miss this masterclass in turning a setback into a setup for financial freedom! For a better understanding of the One Page Wealth Compass, check out the following links: Free PDF: www.onepagewealthcompass.com/free Book: https://www.amazon.com/One-Page-Wealth-Compass-Nearly-Millionaire/dp/B0GCNSGRLG   Watch the podcast here! https://youtu.be/cR2OtnUM_wo Website:  https://onepagewealthcompass.com/ Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    45 min
  5. Dr. Beverly-Jean M. Daniel: We Were Not Built To Break

    May 18

    Dr. Beverly-Jean M. Daniel: We Were Not Built To Break

    One careless “you can’t” can stick to a young person for years, but it can also light a fuse. We’re joined by Dr. Beverly-Jean Daniel, scholar, educator, and advocate whose work spans more than 35 years at the intersection of race, equity, and urban education. She shares what it was like migrating from Trinidad and Tobago at 16 and hearing, for the first time, that her goals were unrealistic, not because of grades, but because of who she was.    The heartbeat of her book, We Were Not Built to Break. Dr. Daniel explains why attacks on Black history and the constant pathologizing of Blackness are not random, and why she teaches Black youth to see themselves as the blueprint and to stand in their greatness. We also talk about how the old advice to “work twice as hard” can fail younger generations, and what it looks like to work smarter by understanding systemic barriers, naming power, and protecting your sense of self.  Dr. Daniel also takes us inside the realities of higher education in Canada as a Black woman professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, where credentials do not erase anti-Black racism or gendered stereotypes. Then we get practical with The Bridge program she founded at Humber College: the wraparound, hub-and-spoke supports that move students from crisis and withdrawal risk to retention, academic confidence, and even the honour roll. We unpack “stop out” versus “drop out,” the danger of OSAP debt with no diploma, and what happens when Black student success disrupts the stories people expect.  If you care about education equity, Black student retention, community mentorship, and real strategies that change outcomes, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway.  You can reach Dr. Daniel by using one of the links below: LinkedIn:   linkedin.com/in/dr-beverly-jean-m-daniel-ph-d-34a26114  Canadian Scholars: https://canadianscholars.ca/product-category/child-and-youth-care/ Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    1h 6m
  6. Your bills might be eating your future!

    May 11

    Your bills might be eating your future!

    Is your bank account suffering from "death by a thousand cuts"? Most of us are overpaying for our basic existence without even realizing it. In this episode, Rita and I sit down with Kirby D. Wilson, a North Carolina based financial strategist and entrepreneur, to learn how to turn those "dead weight" expenses into serious leverage. What We’re Diving Into: The "Bills To Bags" Blueprint: Kirby explains how she helps households and business owners across the US and Canada slash costs on telecom, energy, and healthcare.The Origin Story: How the pressure of first-time homeownership led Kirby to uncover the hidden money systems they never taught us in school.Escaping the "Not Broke" Trap: Why the "if it’s not broke, don’t fix it" mindset is actually costing you thousands in hidden fees and outdated rates.Shifting from Consumer to Strategist: A deep dive into using credit to build opportunities rather than funding shopping sprees.Generational Wealth: Tackling student loan stress, common borrowing pitfalls, and why financial literacy is the ultimate head start for the next generation.Most people aren't broke; they're just overpaying for a life they haven't optimized yet. Listen now and stop guessing with your money! Website: www.speakuppodcast.ca (audio) (video) Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    52 min
  7. Phoebe Trotman: Never Quit On A Bad Day

    May 4

    Phoebe Trotman: Never Quit On A Bad Day

    A bad day can wreck your plans, but it should not get to make your decisions. We sit down with Phoebe Trotman, multi Hall of Fame soccer player, entrepreneur, author of the Never Quit On A Bad Day book series, and a coach who brings athlete-level clarity to real life.    We dig into what a “champion mindset” actually means. Phoebe explains why obstacles are not a stop sign, how growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone, and why “control the controllables” can save your mental energy when everything feels noisy.   The conversation gets real when we move into hard seasons and grief. Phoebe shares how a simple gratitude practice helped her keep going when life felt gutting, and why community, accountability, and small steps forward matter more than a perfect plan.  To view this podcast click here: https://youtu.be/J-D7Uehn7Uk If you care about resilience, leadership, personal development, and building consistency that lasts, this one is for you. Subscribe to SpeakUP! International, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the mantra you are choosing today. Below are other platforms avaiable to connect to Ms. Trotman: Website:  https://neverquitonabadday.com/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/neverquitonabadday YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@NeverQuitonaBadDay Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/neverquitonabadday Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    49 min
  8. Success Without The Mask

    Apr 27

    Success Without The Mask

    Money can buy comfort, but it cannot buy a life that feels like yours. We sit down with Kenneth G Alexander, award-winning entrepreneur, author of The Successful Man: A New Vision of Masculinity, and a former US Marine, to pull apart the story many boys inherit early: make money, achieve status, suppress emotion, and you will be “successful”. Kenneth explains how that doctrine of patriarchy and cultural programming trains men to chase external validation, then wonder why their relationships feel thin and their inner world feels flat.  We go personal and practical. Kenneth shares how being raised by a resilient single mum shaped his view of strength and service, why the “tough guy” mask becomes armour for survival, and how emotional suppression turns into anger, distance, and silent stress. We also talk about the moment success stops working, the midlife wake-up call, and what it means to reframe masculinity as presence: building a safe emotional space at home, not just providing a paycheque. Along the way, we touch on lessons from the Marine Corps, what travel across 45+ countries reveals about shared human needs, and why the global chase for more never seems to create enough.  Kenneth closes with a clear framework for men’s wellness and men’s mental health: become healed, whole, and present. That means naming childhood wounds, aligning mind body and spirit, learning the language of feelings, and defining success on your own terms before the world defines it for you. If you have ever asked yourself, “Is this all there is?” this conversation offers a grounded way forward. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Website: https://kennethgalexander.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennethgalexander Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennethgalexander/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethgregalexander/ Thoughts on the podcast? Send us a text message. Support the show

    1h 10m
See All (188)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

SpeakUP! International Inc. is your go-to podcast for inspiring stories, insightful interviews, and educational content that empowers listeners. Join us as we delve into diverse topics with a focus on uplifting black and brown voices, promoting creativity, and fostering personal and professional growth. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ellington Brown
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    188
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SpeakUP! International Inc.
  • Show Website
    SpeakUP! International Inc.