In this powerful and reflective episode, Coach LA is joined by Michael “Chief” Peterson—playwright, performer, advocate, and the first-ever Poet Laureate of New Britain, CT. Known for fusing poetic artistry with social responsibility, Chief delivers insight on how creativity can serve as both a healing force and a call to action.

Together, they explore:

The intersection of poetry and purpose

Chief’s journey from personal struggle to community impact

What it really means to stay committed when the path gets tough

The role of men in healing spaces

Why storytelling still matters in the digital age

💬 As part of Coach LA’s BET on SELF framework, this episode emphasizes the power of Tenacity and Empowerment—especially when you’re on the brink of a breakthrough.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:

“You’re getting close… that’s why it’s getting tough”—the resistance is part of the growth

Language and lived experience are powerful tools for change

Healing requires authenticity, especially for Black men and creatives

Don’t just perform—transform through intentional self-investment

Art can be activism. Your voice matters.

👤 GUEST BIO – Michael “Chief” Peterson:

A native of New Britain, CT, Chief is a family man, community advocate, and the playwright and actor behind the one-man show “I Wish Life Had Training Wheels.” He uses his gift of poetry to shine light on social injustice, healing, and hope. Appointed as New Britain’s first Poet Laureate, Chief’s legacy is rooted in truth, love, and action.

📲 CALL TO ACTION:

Rewatch the replay and tap into the truth.

Subscribe, share, and connect with us on IG:

🔗 @Conversations_withCoachLA

🧠 Ready to BET on SELF? email: admin@weroclives.com

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

In this unfiltered and powerful episode, Coach LA sits down with creative entrepreneur and branding/institutional change expert James Lambert III to explore the real meaning of networking in today’s world. Together, they unpack the myth behind “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” and dig deep into how authenticity builds better business, deeper trust, and sustainable opportunities.

From launching the No Filter series to redefining how professionals connect without performance pressure, James shares his journey, lessons learned, and the energy it takes to create meaningful, non-transactional relationships.

Whether you're a creative, entrepreneur, or someone tired of surface-level networking—this conversation will shift your mindset and help you build connections that actually matter.

Real relationships > strategic alliances: Authenticity isn’t a liability—it’s leverage.

85% of jobs come through networking—but only when you show up aligned.

No Filter Energy: Learn how James curates spaces that invite real talk and safe vulnerability.

BET on SELF framework in action: Use Boundaries, Energy checks, and Trust to guide your connections.

Tips for introverts/empaths: Build without burnout.

How to shift from performing to being in professional spaces.

🎧 Tune in and redefine what networking can look like when you lead with purpose instead of pretense.

➡️ Follow @therapist_coachla and @3rdexposure
💬 Share this episode, leave a review, and tag us with your biggest takeaway!
#ConversationsWithCoachLA #BETonSELF #NoFilterEnergy #AuthenticNetworking #BlackEntrepreneurs #UrbanHeat981

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

Introduction

Welcome to another insightful episode of Conversations with Coach LA! Today, we explore the delicate balance between Purpose, Passion, and Paychecks—debunking myths and discovering how to achieve holistic success in both career and personal life.

Guest Introduction

Joining us is Comedy Bae, a talented comedian and entrepreneur who shares her journey of navigating the comedic world while building her own business empire. She brings a unique perspective on balancing passion with practicality and the challenges faced along the way.

Key Discussion Points

Navigating Comedy and Entrepreneurship: Comedy Bae discusses the intricacies of managing a comedy career alongside entrepreneurial pursuits. She shares anecdotes and strategies for maintaining creativity while handling business responsibilities.

Mental Health Challenges: As a female entrepreneur, Comedy Bae sheds light on the mental health challenges often overlooked in the pursuit of success. We delve into strategies for self-care, resilience, and overcoming obstacles in a demanding industry.

Success on Her Own Terms: Discover Comedy Bae’s inspiring journey to success. She shares pivotal moments, lessons learned, and the importance of defining success on personal terms rather than societal norms.

Takeaways

This episode encourages listeners to reflect on their own journeys of purpose and passion. We discuss practical tips for achieving balance, prioritizing mental health, and aligning career goals with personal values.

Join the Conversation

Don’t miss out on this enriching discussion! Hit play and engage with us in the comments section. Share your thoughts on balancing passion with practicality and your own journey to achieving fulfillment in life and work.

Stay Connected

Follow Conversations with Coach LA for more inspiring episodes on personal growth, empowerment, and navigating life’s challenges with resilience and optimism.

Episode Credits

Host: Coach LA

Guest: Comedy Bae

Producer: Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives LLC

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

What if your money struggles weren’t just about dollars—but about unhealed wounds, inherited beliefs, and societal pressure?

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Coach LA, financial educator James Leveque joins us to unpack the emotional layers of financial trauma and what it really takes to break cycles of scarcity. From his journey as a Boston Public Schools educator to launching the Talk2Em Guide to Financial Literacy, James shares insights on how mindset, community, and education intersect to redefine success.

We also explore the hidden toll financial stress takes on men, especially during Father’s Day and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and why seeking help is not a weakness—it’s strategy.

Whether you’re working on healing your relationship with money or ready to take your next empowered step toward financial clarity, this episode offers practical wisdom and a whole lot of heart.

If this conversation spoke to you, let this be your BET on SELF moment.

✨ Seek financial clarity.

✨ Reach out for therapy.

✨ Find the community that sees you.

📲 Text/call 617-539-6448

📧 Email admin@weroclives.com

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

Join licensed psychotherapist and radio host Lakisha "Coach LA" Austin on Conversations with Coach LA this Sunday, June 8th at 10pm, for an empowering conversation with author and entrepreneur Vick Breedy. This episode marks the beginning of Series 3 in Season 7, themed “Redefining Success: Personal, Professional & Financial Growth.”

Together, they’ll explore how hustle culture perpetuates burnout, particularly for Black women, and how redefining success through self-care, purpose, and alignment is the key to sustainable growth.

This episode will be broadcast on Boston’s only Black-owned media station, Urban Heat 98.1FM, and streamed on iHeartRadio.

Tune in and discover how to activate your Bounce Back Magic.

Learn more at VickBreedy.com and CoachLA.com.

• A 2022 Gallup study revealed that 76% of workers experience burnout at least sometimes. The American Psychological Association found women, especially women of color, experience higher rates of stress due to workplace microaggressions and invisible labor. Redefining success through a trauma-informed and values-aligned lens is essential to sustainable well-being.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

• 80% of women report struggling with negative self-talk at least weekly (Girlguiding UK, 2022).
• Research shows women are twice as likely to ruminate, often leading to lower self-esteem (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001).
• Black women face additional challenges due to racialized expectations and "strong Black woman" tropes.

It’s all about flipping the script in your mind. “Mind Over Matter: Reframing Negative Self-Talk” featuring @theloudestmouthintheroom is a powerful reminder that you deserve to speak to yourself with grace, love, and confidence. You are not your inner critic. Join me and Jennifer Charles, host of The Loudest Mouth in the Room Podcast, for a real convo on overcoming self-doubt and negative thoughts. We’re breaking it all down—confidence, reframing, and the power of your voice.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

In this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, we’re unlocking The Confidence Code — because your voice matters and your presence deserves the room.
Special guest Author, and aspiring mental health clinician, Siedah Moore joins us to break down how racial scripts, microaggressions, and imposter syndrome affect confidence, especially for Black women.

• Key findings discussed:
  • 60% of women regularly experience self-doubt at work (KPMG, 2022).
  • Women are more likely to attribute their success to luck rather than ability.
  • Among Black women, this is compounded by stereotype threat, double consciousness, and the need to "code-switch" to survive in predominantly white spaces.
• Coach LA and Siedah discuss how perfectionism, rooted in survival mechanisms, undermines confidence and prevents women from taking risks.
• The concept of "internalized oppression" is introduced to show how structural racism becomes internalized self-critique—where one begins to censor or second-guess oneself before others even have the chance to do it.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media

In this episode’s Coach’s Corner, Coach LA highlights how imposter syndrome disproportionately affects high-achieving women, particularly Black women navigating predominately white institutions. Citing data from Harvard Business Review, she notes that this internalized self-doubt often leads to burnout, overcompensation, and a disconnection from purpose.

Coach LA offers actionable strategies to break free from the cycle—through self-validation, creative outlets like poetry, and community healing.

Are you questioning your worth in rooms you’ve already earned a seat in?
Let this episode be your reminder: You are enough. Your voice matters. And your journey is valid. Tune in as Lyrical Faith and Coach LA challenge the lie of inadequacy and affirm the power of inner truth.

This is what it looks like to BET on SELF.

🎙️ This episode is for every high-achiever who’s ever felt “not enough.”
Let’s rewrite that lie—with truth, power, and purpose.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on your notifications so you never miss a new episode—dropping every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. You can also listen live every Sunday at 10PM on Urban Heat 98.1FM or via iHeartRadio.

Want to join the conversation or share your story? We’re always looking for inspiring voices! Email us at admin@weroclives.com to be considered as a future guest.

This show is brought to you by Resiliency and Optimism Changes Lives, LLC, where we champion self-awareness, mental wellness, and transformational growth through therapeutic coaching and community empowerment. If you're looking for a therapist or support on your healing journey, visit our website or reach out—we're here to help you BET on SELF:
🌱 Believe. Empower. Transform.

Because when you bet on yourself, you invest in your peace, your power, and your purpose.

Opening Theme song created by Daniel Laurent www.daniellaurent.com

Closing Theme Song created by Nancia produced by Jay Hunt -SmokeHouse Media