Not 4 Prophets Podcast

How to Spot a Scoundrel Amongst Colleagues: Manipulating Systems for Personal Gain

Not all harm comes from "the system”, sometimes, it shows up much closer to home. In this episode, we dive into a tough but necessary conversation: what happens when people inside your organization use racial justice language and DEI frameworks for personal gain? What happens when shared trauma is manipulated, accountability is dodged, and liberatory language becomes a shield against critique?

We explore:

• The subtle ways colleagues co-opt justice work for self-advancement.
  
  
• What to do when someone uses "white supremacy" language to avoid responsibility and accountability.
  
  
• How to protect your own integrity without being labeled divisive.
  
  
• Why it's so painful when people you thought were aligned show their true intentions.
  
  

We also name the very real dynamics that happen when non-Black people of color weaponize racial justice rhetoric to gaslight, deflect, or exempt themselves from doing their part, often at the expense of Black colleagues.

 

RESOURCES

Are you a woman leader who is depleted, exhausted and looking for a way out? Check out Trenia's limited series podcast The Burnout Rescue Plan. Click here to listen.

Want to chat with David? Visit https://strivequity.com/

If Not A 9-5 Or Entrepreneurship, Then What? Finding The Third Way

We know the cost of assimilating. We’ve felt the exhaustion of constant resistance. So what else is there?

In this episode, we explore “The Third Way”, a growing movement among Black leaders who are choosing imagination over burnout, dignity over martyrdom, and global vision over boxes that don’t fit. What does it mean to lead on your own terms?

Together, we dig into:

• The ideas, influences, and frameworks reshaping Black leadership, across borders and screens
  
  
• How abolitionist, expat, and decentralized movements are pushing us to dream differently
  
  
• The power of retreat, coaching, and community as tools for unlearning
  
  
• What it looks like to build something instead of always fixing something
  
  

RESOURCES

Are you a woman leader who is depleted, exhausted and looking for a way out? Check out Trenia's limited series podcast The Burnout Rescue Plan. Click here to listen.

Want to chat with David? Visit https://strivequity.com/

What’s a leadership model you’re craving that doesn’t yet exist where you work? DM us on LinkedIn or share your thoughts using #Not4Prophets.

 

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Losing Yourself in a Job vs. Strategic Code-Switching for Survival

“You’ve changed.”
But... have you really? Or have you just learned to survive?

In this episode, we’re diving into the nuance and necessity of code-switching, compartmentalization, and adaptation, not as signs of betrayal, but as sacred acts of self-preservation. For many Black professionals, especially in predominantly white or high-pressure environments, shifting how you show up is not about inauthenticity, it’s about making it through.

So let’s talk about it:

• What does it really mean to be strategic vs. inauthentic at work?
  
  
• How do you know when you’re protecting your peace... or slowly losing yourself?
  
  
• Who gets to define authenticity, and why is that so loaded?
  
  
• What toll does long-term compartmentalization take on the body, mind, and spirit?

RESOURCES

Are you a woman leader who is depleted, exhausted and looking for a way out? Check out Trenia's limited series podcast The Burnout Rescue Plan. Click here to listen.

Want to chat with David? Visit https://strivequity.com/

What Does The Current Political Landscape Mean For Black Leaders?

Welcome to Season 3! We’re kicking things off with a timely and raw conversation about the current political landscape and how it is impacting Black leaders.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the ripple effects of the post-2024 election climate and what it means for Black folks in positions of leadership. As social justice fatigue deepens, DEI funding disappears, and political tensions rise, the stakes are shifting fast, and often quietly.

So we’re asking:

• What does leadership actually look like when the external support dries up but the expectations don’t?
  
  
• How are Black leaders being positioned as symbols, shields, or scapegoats?
  
  
• What pressure is being put on Black leaders to hold credibility, carry justice, and stay employed in increasingly hostile or indifferent environments?
  
  
• And what survival strategies are we still using that might keep us afloat—but are slowly burning us out?
  

RESOURCES

Are you a woman leader who is depleted, exhausted and looking for a way out? Check out Trenia's limited series podcast The Burnout Rescue Plan. Click here to listen.

Want to chat with David? Visit https://strivequity.com/

 

Black Americans vs Other POCs Understanding of Race & Oppression

Episode Description

In this episode, Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn dive into the intricate dynamics of how non-Black Americans, people of color, and Blacks who did not grow up in predominantly Black communities experience and understand race and oppression. They explore personal stories, the impacts of anti-Blackness, and the complexities of solidarity within diverse communities. Trenia also shares her work with Sustainable Leadership Consulting and Coaching, helping women leaders recover from burnout and improving organizational culture.

 

In This Episode:

00:00 - Introduction by Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn
02:13 - David shares his personal journey growing up in a white suburb and learning about Blackness
04:50 - Trenia discusses her strong sense of identity as a Black woman from the Midwest
10:05 - The shock of non-Black people using the N-word and cultural appropriation
12:35 - The diversity of the Black experience and the misconception of a monolithic Black culture
17:39 - The impact of African Americanness on solidarity and support within communities
21:23 - The proximity to whiteness and its influence on experiences of people of color
24:25 - Experiences with non-Black people of color in nonprofit spaces
31:41 - The global perspective on oppression and the focus on Palestine
37:34 - Reflections on the 2020 uprising for racial justice and its aftermath

 

Episode Links:

• Trenia Parham https://www.treniaparham.com
• David DeVaughn's StrivEquity Consulting

How Classism Impacts Black People Working in Nonprofits

Episode Description:

In this episode, Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn delve into the complex issue of classism within the nonprofit sector. They discuss how class disparities manifest in nonprofit organizations, impacting both the internal dynamics and the external work being done in communities. Trenia and David share personal experiences and insights into the often overlooked intersection of class and race in this field.

 

In This Episode:

[00:01] Introduction and overview of today's topic

[02:03] David's experience with classism growing up and in the nonprofit sector

[05:43] Trenia's background and perspective on class dynamics

[10:30] The impact of class assumptions on nonprofit work and solutions

[14:35] Organizational structure and class stratification

[19:45] Challenges of working in nonprofits with class disparities

[22:52] The role of funding and maintaining the status quo

[26:19] Class and salary dynamics within nonprofits

[30:26] Opportunities for ground-level staff to move up and decision-making roles

[32:36] Final thoughts and call to action for listener feedback

 

Episode Links:

• Are you a woman in leadership or founder that's depleted and exhausted? Join me for Rest. Reset. Reimagine. A virtual Retreat on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Click here to learn more and register.
• StrivEquity Consulting

When White People Fail Up in Nonprofits

Episode Description: In this episode, Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn delve into the phenomenon of white people failing upward in the nonprofit sector. They explore the dynamics and impact of this trend on Black staff and people of color, sharing personal experiences and strategies for navigating such challenging environments. The discussion highlights the disparity in how mistakes and failures are treated based on race, and the systemic issues that allow for such inequities to persist.

 

In This Episode:

• 00:00 - Introduction: Trenia and David introduce the episode's topic and share personal insights.
• 01:58 - Sustainable Leadership: Trenia discusses her company and its mission to help women leaders recover from burnout and work sustainably.
• 02:44 - White People Failing Upward: Trenia and David describe their experiences with white colleagues who are allowed to fail repeatedly and still advance.
• 06:13 - Latitude in Failure: The latitude given to white employees to experiment and fail without severe consequences.
• 08:49 - Impact on Black Staff: How these dynamics affect black employees and their career prospects.
• 14:27 - Organizational Dynamics: The subtle ways white people justify failures and shift blame.
• 20:20 - Coping Strategies: Trenia and David share strategies for navigating these challenging dynamics.
• 26:14 - Realigning Work: Practical advice for documenting roles and building relationships to mitigate the impact of incompetent leaders.
• 31:24 - Final Thoughts: The importance of re-evaluating your position in an organization that perpetuates these dynamics.

 

Episode Links:

• Are you experiencing burn out? Join Trenia for the Rest. Reset. Reimagine Retreat for women leaders & founders. Click here to learn more and register.
• StrivEquity Consulting
• Not 4 Prophets LinkedIn Page

How Black Leaders Can Be Better Managers Of Black Staff

Episode Description:

In this episode, hosts David DeVaughn and Trenia Parham dive into the complexities of managing Black staff within nonprofits. They discuss the unique challenges and strategies for creating supportive, equitable work environments. Drawing from personal experiences and professional insights, they explore how to foster a positive, empowering atmosphere for Black employees and tackle the difficult conversations around managing underperformance as a Black leader and leadership dynamics.

In This Episode:

• 00:01 - Introduction by Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn
• 00:38 - David shares about StrivEquity Consulting LLC and their free eBook "17 Insights to Leading More Equitably."
• 01:50 - Initial thoughts on managing Black staff
• 03:34 - Creating a comfortable atmosphere for Black employees
• 06:12 - Experiences with Black staff and leadership dynamics
• 11:15 - Managing Black staff differently and setting expectations
• 19:53 - Addressing underperformance among Black employees
• 25:51 - Emotional burden and support for Black staff in social justice work
• 32:06 - Negative experiences with Black leaders and managers
• 39:54 - Reflecting on positive support and growth opportunities

 

Episode Links:

• StrivEquity Consulting LLC
• Free eBook: 17 Insights to Lead More Equitably
• Sustainable Leadership Coaching & Consulting: https://www.treniaparham.com