What does it take to leave a two-decade career in social services and step into a university classroom with your compassion intact? We sit down with Monica King, a former case manager turned instructor in human development and family studies, to explore how real-world practice can transform how we teach, learn, and serve. Monica shares how she builds courses that prioritize student autonomy and executive function, why she invites current events and policy debates into class, and how she balances flexibility with clear boundaries when the midnight texts come in.

This conversation travels from the nuts and bolts of equitable practice to the personal ground that makes it urgent. Monica talks candidly about parenting a neurodivergent teen, measuring success by well-being rather than benchmarks, and resisting the bureaucratic impulse to say no when a humane yes keeps a family afloat. We unpack equality versus equity, the limits of “treat others as you want to be treated,” and the power of translating research into action without getting lost in academic machinery.

We also get practical about digital life: teaching discernment in a world of misinformation, valuing online friendships as real relationships, and bridging generational gaps in tech fluency. Monica’s advocacy with a local Pride group in a conservative county highlights what it looks like to hold space for difference, even when it draws heat. Through it all, her core message stays steady: care clearly, set honest boundaries, and meet people where they are so they can grow.

If you care about social services, higher education, DEI, parenting, or simply staying human in systems that make it hard, this episode offers grounded tools and a hopeful lens. Listen, share it with a friend who’s navigating a pivot, and leave us a review so more curious people can find the show.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

Start with a hunch, bet on yourself, and learn fast enough to outrun fear. That’s the energy Crystal Washington brings as she walks us through her journey from high-performing corporate marketer to entrepreneur, technologist, and futurist whose client list spans mom-and-pop shops to Microsoft and Google. She doesn’t sell hype; she teaches people how to think clearly about technology, remove jargon walls with humor, and take intentional steps that actually move the needle.

We dig into the difference between being nice and being kind, and why boundaries are essential if you want your work to align with your values. Crystal shares how she says no without guilt, how she protects her mission to be a “good ancestor,” and why arguing is a time sink while thoughtful disagreement unlocks learning. You’ll hear her framework for leadership—care about people, stay curious, then be decisive—and how that triad helps teams navigate uncertainty, adopt new tools, and build trust without getting stuck in endless analysis.

The conversation stretches across history and foresight. Crystal’s deep family research informs her present-tense choices: tell the whole truth, learn from it, and design a future worthy of the next generation. We talk about the pain of trying to help people who resist change, the art of choosing counsel wisely, and the small rituals that keep you grounded on big stages (including why she speaks in sparkly sneakers). If you’re craving practical, human-centered strategies for embracing technology, setting better boundaries, and leading with courage, this is a masterclass in clarity and action.

Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a nudge toward decisive kindness. If this resonated, leave a review and tell us: what intentional action are you taking this week?

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

What if the hardest topics in life became the ones that made you feel most alive? We sit with researcher, professor, and mom Jenn Sorotovich as she traces an uncommon arc—from teaching adult development and death and bereavement to coordinating an ALS clinic—and explains how grief, grit, and real-world practice reshaped her idea of success. The stories are intimate and vivid: a hospice patient savoring the warmth of a hand on her arm, another insisting on lipstick before the day begins. These moments don’t just tug at the heart; they rewire how we value time.

Jenn pulls back the curtain on academia’s pressure cooker—tenure clocks, lack of maternity leave, and the myth of “work-life balance.” She advanced fast, then chose purpose over prestige, moving into clinical leadership where each three-month check-in with ALS patients underscores the urgency of now. Along the way, she unlearned perfectionism and people-pleasing, embraced average days as victories, and modeled repair and honesty for her students and kids. We get practical insight into building psychologically safe classrooms, navigating hot-button topics with care, and turning applied learning into meaningful growth.

If you’re wrestling with outdated systems, craving a more humane pace, or wondering how to spend the one resource you can’t refill, Jenn’s outlook offers both clarity and courage. Expect candid talk about motherhood, policy gaps, end-of-life care, and the mindset shifts that make room for joy. Listen for the challenge she issues to women everywhere: reject narrow scripts, claim your choices, and stop waiting for permission.

If this conversation moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—then tell us: what will you stop waiting for today?

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff