Shift Out Loud with Tracy Spears Tracy Spears

Dr. Dwayne Jenkins won’t just help you to play bigger — he’ll also teach you how to live fully and authentically. Dr. Jenkins is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist recognized for his expertise in advanced laproscopy and robotic surgery. 
Twenty years as a cancer surgeon has taught him this above all: the most powerful medicine flows from the heart, not the hands. Now, Dr. Jenkins is on a mission to teach a generation the power of meditation and self acceptance. His own journey of self acceptance took a winding path through the Southern Baptist faith, marriage, and Alcoholics Anonymous, before he finally embraced his identity as a gay man.
Dr. Jenkins shares how he found an oasis of inclusivity in the middle of the Bible Belt, why you NEED to learn about Substack, and what trees can teach us about building community.
Listen now to discover:
How he shifted away from his Southern Baptist upbringing and continues to cultivate a self-affirming spaceHow letting go of shame has allowed him to heal and to make a bigger impactHow to strengthen your subconscious mind — and how it will benefit you!  
Guest bio: Dr. Dwayne Jenkins is a gynecologic oncologist and partner in a multi-specialty cancer practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He writes about faith, wellness, and spirituality in his Substack newsletter, The Art of No Hard Conversations, and hosts the Words of Love with Dr. Dwayne podcast. He wants to lead a group of high-performing tree huggers dedicated to service and self care.
Timestamps:
01:42  Intro
03:30  Meet Dr. Dwayne Jenkins 
06:15  Mycelia
07:59  Healing & embracing identity
12:00  Tulsa & inclusivity
13:34  “Coming out of the gay sober closet”
17:02  Coming in with intention
19:31  Substack & authorship
24:52  Self awareness, spirituality & the subconscious
28:42  Shifting to a new chapter
38:19  Respecting your own humanity
42:34  Personal ecosystems & detaching lovingly
55:18  Find Dr. Dwayne
Links:
Dr. Dwayne Jenkins
https://www.drdwaynemd.com 
https://drdwaynemd.substack.com 
https://open.spotify.com/show/5hx1EzNkCPT9UlkP6cFoYg?si=6d34efff27af4ed3&nd=1 
TikTok: @drdwaynemd 
Instagram: @drdwaynemd 
The Influential Voice: Saying What You Mean for Lasting Legacy by Tricia Brouk
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit https://tracyspears.com
Visit my resource library for tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game!

CONTENT NOTE:  This episode deals with intimate partner violence and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Barb Jordan is not only an excellent example of how to play bigger, she’ll inspire you to move about the world a little bit differently. Barb is a three-time NCAA Division 2 softball champion who also played and coached softball for Team USA for eight years and was part of the 1996 Olympic Women’s Softball team, among other athletic accomplishments.
But Barb’s most important shift has been founding Always Bev, a platform with the mission to educate and empower individuals with the skills that can help them prevent crime and violent attacks. Always Bev was created in honor of her Barb’s sister Beverly, who was tragically murdered by her fiancé.
As an in-demand Personal Safety Expert, Barb helps others recognize warning signs, predict unwanted behavior, and protect themselves. Her podcast, Always Bev: The Ripple Effect, is both a learning tool and an inside look at the reality of intimate partner violence. In this conversation, Barb shares the heartbreaking story of her sister’s death, how she healed from the lingering effects of that trauma, and key insights into the minds of predators.
Listen now to discover:
What it was like to make history as part of the first Olympic Women’s Softball teamThe warning signs you shouldn’t ignore and why you need to trust your intuitionHer experience speaking to the student body at Washington State University after the Idaho 4 murdersGuest bio: Barb Jordan is the founder of Always Bev, a platform through which she shares her passion of educating others on personal safety at home, on campus, and in social environments. Her commitment to preventing violence against others with her astute teaching style has captivated audiences across the country. 
Timestamps:
04:04  Meet Barb Jordan
05:03  Sports & politics
08:58  Dugout story & the Olympics  
13:45  Post-Olympics career
15:33  Beverly’s story
20:21  Therapy, trauma & healing
30:09  Always Bev & warning signs
33:22  Building awareness
35:45  The Idaho 4 & predators
41:05  Takeaways & working with Barb
44:21  Remembering Bev & next shifts
Links:
Barb Jordan
https://www.alwaysbev.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barb-jordan-82719180
http://www.facebook.com/AlwaysBeVigilant
Twitter: @BarbJordan_AB
Instagram: @always_bev
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Visit: https://tracyspears.com
Find tools that will help you play bigger: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so y

Shawna Suckow is a coach, consultant, and speaker with some serious knowledge of the customer mindset. As a former corporate buyer, she became fascinated with how organizations marketed and sold to her.
Her first book, Planner Pet Peeves: Straight Talk for Meetings Industry Suppliers to Understand How Planners Really Think, Act and Buy, aimed at helping organizations better understand how their target customers think. Her fifth book, The Roaring Twenties: Marketing & Selling Better in the Post-Pandemic Decade: Creating Strategies for Shifting B2B and B2C Consumer Behavior, was named by Forbes.com as a top marketing book of 2022.
In this episode of Shift Out Loud, Shawna and I dig into the evolution of buyers and how savvy brands are building authentic connections. We also discuss how she shifted from NEVER wanting to be in front of an audience (even sabotaging her own chance of becoming her high school’s valedictorian) to becoming a full-time Certified Speaking Professional — and joining an elite group of just 17% of the world’s speakers!
Listen now to discover:
How she launched her speaking career — and the key insight that helped her become a successful speakerHow story marketing has shifted and why brands need to create a Story MosaicHow she navigated MAJOR shifts during the pandemic and came out even strongerShawna Suckow has 20 years of specialized knowledge in consumer behavior, sales, and marketing, and has built her career around helping humans and organizations stand out, build trust, and inspire action. As a speaker, consultant, and coach, she helps clients and audiences craft and tell their stories through her Story Mosaic Strategy.
Timestamps:
01:42  Intro
03:44  Meet Shawna Suckow
05:12  World Series of Poker & competition
11:15  Certification & shift to speaking full-time
14:40  Shawna’s books
19:14  What buyers want
25:24  Who is getting it right?
27:03  Pandemic shifts
35:01  Ecosystem shifts
38:56  Next shifts
Links:
Shawna Suckow
https://www.shawnasuckow.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnasuckow
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=shawna+suckow&crid=31N2LIUY2JJEA
Instagram: @shawnasuckow
Twitter: @ShawnaSuckow
28pants@gmail.com
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com
For tools that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community, visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker
Twitter: @tracylspears
Instagram: @tracylspears
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!

Mimi Brown is an award-winning motivational leadership speaker and the CEO of AMP Up Success. Through her training and coaching services, Mimi works with individuals and organizations to amplify their communication and leadership so they can make an influential impact on the world. 


In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I sit down with Mimi to discuss her transformational journey from working in the corporate world, to running her own successful business, to returning to corporate… on her OWN terms.


Tune in as we explore what she loves most about having accountability partners, what she’s discovered about the unreality of reality television, and how she deals with speaking on some of the biggest stages — including the National Speakers Association!


Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover: 
How Mimi became an in-demand keynote speaker and the importance of identifying your core messagesHow to create your ideal boundaries and “slay your demanding dragons”What Mimi learned from her experience appearing on The Biggest Loser  
Guest bio: Mimi is CEO of AMP Up Success and the author of three books, AMP Up Your Success: 52 Tips Every Leader Should Know, AMP Up Sales: 71 Tips to Skyrocket Your Revenue, and Be A Communication Rockstar: 52 Tips To Gain Connection, Skyrocket Confidence, Reduce Conflict. She was awarded Michigan’s Elite 40 Under 40 and Michigan Meetings and Events Magazine’s Best Speaker of 2020. She has been a media personality on WDIV’s Live In the D and a contestant on NBC’s Biggest Loser.


Timestamps:
01:39  Intro
02:42  Meet Mimi Brown
03:42  Experience of Tulsa
05:52  Becoming a keynote speaker
08:58  National Speakers Association
10:34  Behind the scenes of The Biggest Loser
17:01  Accountability partners & personal ecosystems
20:42  Setting your boundaries intentionally
22:33  Shifting into entrepreneurship
28:14  Manifestation
30:56  Chipotle story
34:04  Getting clarity on what you want
37:26  Divorce, corporate return & what’s next
43:06  Ghana & final advice


Links:
Mimi Brown
https://www.ampupsuccess.com 
Instagram: @heymimibrown 
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com 
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 


—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 
Twitter: @tracylspears 
Instagram: @tracylspears 


If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential. Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!

When you decide to play bigger, you can create positive impact that ripples far and wide and empowers others to play bigger, too. In this episode of Shift Out Loud, I speak to someone who has built the heart of her community — and works every day to keep it beating strong. 


Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is the founder and owner of Tulsa-based Fulton Street Books & Coffee, which she created as a safe space for Black and Brown folks to build community, change their city through civic discourse, and increase intergenerational literacy. Before opening this incredible space, Onikah worked on criminal justice policy initiatives under the office of Colorado state senator Mike Johnston, then helped to launch the George Kaiser Family Foundation’s Birth through Eight Strategy, which focused on creating a cycle of opportunity for Tulsa’s most vulnerable families. 


During this conversation, we dig into the importance of inclusive spaces, the nuances of effective allyship, and the beauty of loving your identity.


Ready to play bigger? Listen now to discover: 
Why Onikah chose to return to the United States after falling in love with traveling Why she decided to open a bookstore in the middle of the pandemic — and how her space vitally serves her communityHow Onikah will continue to shift out loud and create amazing impact in Tulsa and beyondGuest bio: Onikah Asamoa-Caesar is the founder and owner of Fulton Street Books & Coffee in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fulton Street Books & Coffee was created to center the stories, narratives, and lived experiences of Black folks, Brown folks, and marginalized communities. 


Timestamps:
01:41  Intro
03:05  Meet Onikah Asamoa-Caesar
05:28  Loving Black identity
07:04  Traveling as a Black woman
10:44  Returning to the States & Teach for America
15:59  Evolving life’s work
19:23  Why open a bookstore?
25:53  Expanding in Tulsa International Airport
27:15  The Ally Box & Book Club For a Cause
30:55  What’s next?
33:34  Family history
38:38  Little & Lit


Links:
Onikah Asamoa-Caesar
https://www.fultonstreet918.com 
Instagram: @fultonstreet918 
Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 
Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com 
Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 
—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 
Twitter: @tracylspears 
Instagram: @tracylspears 
If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential! Watch these episodes on Youtube! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, and ring the bell for notifications so you never miss an episode!

When you begin to think and play bigger, it can transform not only your own life, but the lives of those around you — your family, your team, your community, and even beyond. 


As the founder of the transformative global nonprofit Women Empowering Nations (WEN), Carlisha Bradley is playing bigger and making a difference on a global stage. She’s served as a trusted advisor to aid organizations, non­profits, schools, leaders, foreign governments, and diplomats around the world, and has learned how to effect powerful change for the women and girls that she serves. 


In this conversation, we talk about the incredible impact of Carlisha’s international work, her inspiring background in public education, and why I would love for her to run for office someday!


Listen now to discover: 
How struggling with her identity suppressed Carlisha’s voice — and the influential events that helped her find her identity and purposeHow to advocate effectively so that you can achieve your desired results  How to best support WEN as they empower girls around the world  
Guest bio: Carlisha Williams Bradley is an acclaimed nonprofit leader, education advocate, and social enterprise consultant. Carlisha lends her spirit, expertise, and voice as an advocate for women and girls worldwide as the founder of Women Empowering Nations, a nonprofit devoted to the educational and leadership development of girls. With her consultancy, Amplify for Women, she calls other destiny-driven women to follow in her footsteps and be the change. She is the bestselling author of Choosing Faith Over Fear: 14 Days of Life-Changing Lessons.


Timestamps:
01:39  Intro
04:28  Meet Carlisha Bradley
07:50  Hallmark movies & twin motherhood
15:11  Journey of self-discovery
19:08  Igniting her passion
22:28  Surprising stories
25:10  How to support WEN
26:28  Why Carlisha does this work
29:22  Working for the Board of Education 
36:06  Emotion, passion & presence
39:50  Politicians & regaining our progress
44:43  What’s next


Links:
Carlisha Bradley
https://carlisha.com 
http://wenations.org 
https://www.amplifyforwomen.com 


Discover your tactical leadership toolkit: https://www.exceptionalleaderslab.com 


Interested in working with me or having me speak at your event? Find more information at https://tracyspears.com 


Want tools and insights that will help you play bigger in your life, at work, and in your community? Visit my resource library: https://tracyspears.com/blog 


—
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracylspears 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracySpearsSpeaker 
Twitter: @tracylspears 
Instagram: @tracylspears 


If you love the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review — this will help others discover how to play a bigger game and step into their fullest potential.