She_Been_Ready The Podcast

01/22/2025

In May 2000, Octavia Butler published an essay in Essence magazine in which she talked about a few rules for predicting the future. Pictured here are a few quotes and below are a few pieces of her advice.
- Learn from the past
- Respect the law of consequences
- Beware of your perspective
- Count on surprises
Notable in her essay is acknowledgment of a student’s misquote, a lie of omission really, cutting her quote short of the of glimmer of hope just around the comma’s bend.
When asked, “Do you believe we are all just doomed”, she said, “No”. She went on…“I mean there’s no single answer that will solve all of our future problems. There’s no magic bullet instead there are thousands of answers-at least. You can be one of them if you choose to be.”

The students refusal to complete report the complete quote was likely a refusal to take personal responsibility; declining the invitation to choose to be one of the answers. I hope that we are all in our own ways, finding it in ourselves to choose accountability for the future we want to build. That we are all, in our own way, choosing to be our own version of one of the answers.

01/20/2025

11/06/2024

IT IS IN TIMES SUCH AS THESE, WHEN THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE TENDER AND NERVES FRAYED MUST STAND UP, BE CLEAR, AND REMEMBER WHO WE ARE.

WHO WE ARE AND OUR WORK FOR JUSTICE IS NEEDED NOW, MORE THAN EVER!

11/05/2024

It’s a big day. There will be no outcome by the end of the day. We will have to hold ourselves with grace and generosity until we know the final outcome. But what we do know, always, is that we have always had what we need to do what we need to do and to be well. And that is no different now. We gon’ be all right!

09/24/2024

Well, it is official. I have been a bit quiet, internal, as I’ve allowed the news, the honor, of my election to the presidency to settle with me. I do not take lightly the awesome responsibility, the obligation, but most importantly, the opportunity to lead for an inclusive, equity-centered psychology that envisions wellness as a priority, as our birthright. Wellness as a manifestation of justice; our commitments as a society to “do right by one another” and the incredible resource of the field of psychology to support us in making that so.
I continue to be so incredibly grateful for the generosity, care, and labor of the team of colleagues, across the career lifespan (including our amazing students), who gave of their energy, time, and effort to support the campaign. And I look forward to the work that I will do with our colleagues across our wonderful association to ensure that we continue to give our psychology away and make the world a better place with it!

07/01/2024

SECURE YOUR VIRTUAL SEAT for an inspiring conversation this Wednesday! Join Dr. Wendi, along with APA Past-Presidents Drs. Melba Vasquez (2011) and Rosie Phillips Davis (2020), for a discussion on women’s leadership within the APA. Explore their journeys, challenges, and visions for a more inclusive future in psychology.
Register now to secure your spot: bit.ly/JulyWWW

06/30/2024

Last night was the first evening I spent in San Francisco during Pride. I did not know they spread this beautiful light spectrum across The Castro in such magnificent, unapologetic glory. Well, really the only word for describing it is … PRIDE.

06/14/2024

Dr. Wendi S. Williams, 2024 American Psychological Association President-Elect Candidate, embodies a vision that places psychology at the forefront of shaping our collective future and wellness.

With a deep understanding of the challenges we face—from health crises to educational disparities, climate change, and beyond—Dr. Wendi sees the APA as a beacon of hope. Her candidacy is built on a commitment to elevate diverse voices, collaborate on innovative solutions, and lead with unwavering purpose.

Dr. Wendi’s leadership will empower psychologists to harness their expertise and influence for the greater good, co-creating pathways to address pressing global issues. She invites all APA members and supporters to join her on a transformative journey towards achieving wellness and resilience for all. Together, they will champion “Radically Well Together,” ensuring psychology’s vital role in shaping a brighter tomorrow

Join the movement and support Dr. Wendi S. Williams for 2024 APA President elect!

06/08/2024

The said I need to write statements. No one said anything about wearing shoes. Happy Friday.

04/08/2024

Repost from
•
Humbled and privileged to announce that I’ve been invited to be a distinguished speaker at this year’s Western Psychological Association Conference in San Francisco, April 25-28!

Join me as I delve into the topic ‘On Refusal and Recovery: Black Women and Girls Lead Anyway’. Despite challenges, Black women and girls continue to lead, and we’re all better for it. Drawing from insights in my book ‘Black Women at Work: On Refusal and Recovery’ and discussions from my podcast ‘She Been Ready! The Podcast’, I’ll explore how Black girls navigate silence in educational systems and emerge as powerful leaders.

Register now and let’s connect! Learn more at westernpsych.org.

03/12/2024

All I can tell you is that everyone deserves an . The experience with her was the height of professionalism, the quality of the photos I had not even imagined were possible. The experience of looking at yourself, and doing a double take because someone saw the beauty in you and pulled it out. I travelled 3000 miles to get an image of the real me. . That’s the post.

12/21/2023

OPINION | Black Women in 2023: Win, Lose or Draw
A Review. A look back at this year’s triumphs, challenges, and moments that remain caught in between. *******************Link in Bio******************. As a lover of popular culture, for the many examples it provides of that which makes us all simply human, I was glad to do a 2023 year-in-review on Black Women for . Give it a read. What highlights of the year would you include in your year in review for Black women? Is it a version of our two steps forward and one step back keeping us busy fighting with oppressive systems rather than just simply living our lives? I wonder.

10/31/2023

A LITTLE REMINDER, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE BEING TARGETED, UNDERMINED, AND SIMPLY MESSED WITH AT WORK.
IT’S NOT YOU.
IT’S THEM. Appreciative of post.

09/14/2023

When smarter, faster, stronger works, it works. !ThePodcast Repost from
•
The WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike continues to have Hollywood in a chokehold more than four months after The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and unions failed to reach an agreement. With fall TV underway, several daytime talk shows have announced their returns, with some such as “The Drew Barrymore Show” and “The Talk” sparking backlash and others like “Sherri” and “Tamron Hall” continuing with no drama outside their studios.

The WGA is not picketing “Tamron Hall” or “Sherri” because the shows are not struck work. Executives at “Sherri” confirm that the show does not and never has employed WGA writers.

Why? Because, unlike some of her counterparts, Shepherd is a seasoned stand-up comic who has mastered the art of thinking on her feet and concocting her own material. She doesn’t rely on scripts written by others as someone like Barrymore, who has made her career as an actress, does.

Similarly, Tamron Hall is a journalist, and her skill set lends itself to being original. It’s all part of her brand and her talent and the major reason why the WGA has no issue with the show proceeding. These women are uniquely suited to continue without disruption.

On Sept. 1, Shepherd, an Emmy-winning host and SAG-award-nominated actress, showed her support for the SAG-AFTRA strikes when she picketed with Viola Davis and Niecy Nash in Los Angeles and shared photos and video on Instagram.



🎥

09/01/2023

It is the constant and persistent burden of having to do the work on top of the work. The “work on top of the work“ that Black women do. Unfortunately, this was a part of Coco’s experience, as well. She deserves better than straining her voice and exerting her energy in the middle of her game to get the ref to ref right. But, she does. And she persists. We persists. .l

08/18/2023

Sometimes the aggression that experience is this. And sometimes it is it’s familiar subtle cousin, on the same familial line, unsuccessfully masking an underlying hot aggression. Beneath the undermining, the shushing, movement of goal posts, making her a perpetual outsider, and passing her over is a white hot aggression that she exist at all. That she survived. That she thrives. And that, at least, in this situation, she DECIDES. This is what puts their sights on her and she stares it down! Now, who else wants to go to jail?