Moving Forward: Your Story Matters

We often know people by their titles, their work, or what we see on social media. But how much do we really know about the person behind all of that? That’s where my conversation with Dr. Renae Bryant begins.

Renae is an educator, author, speaker, consultant, professor, and podcast host. She began her career as a bilingual special education instructional assistant, and her journey since then has taken her through many different roles in education and leadership. I wanted to know more about that journey.

We talked about where Renae comes from, some of the experiences that have shaped her, and why telling our own stories is so important. We also talked about identity and belonging, finding your voice, and how easy it can be for other people to form an idea of who we are without really knowing us.

Our conversation also took us into leadership, educational branding, and the relationships we build along the way. Renae has created several spaces that bring people together, including Leadership Book Chat and The Your Story Matters Podcast. For her, connection isn't just part of the work. It matters personally.

We also spent time talking about sister circles and why women need other women in their lives who will support them, celebrate them, and sometimes push them. I've had the opportunity to be part of one of the communities Renae created, so this part of our conversation was especially meaningful to me. What I enjoyed about our conversation is that we didn't just talk about what Renae has accomplished. We talked about the person behind all of those accomplishments.

And maybe that's something we can all think about. How much of our story do people really know? And how much of it are we willing to tell? I hope you'll listen to my conversation with Dr. Renae Bryant.

🎙️ Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope

Every person has a story. Every story has the power to encourage someone else.

Until next time...keep moving forward.

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Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

The Hidden Hungry, Finding Purpose, and Living Out Loud

Sometimes we find our purpose in the most unexpected places.

For Enid Borden, the road included dreams of becoming a folk singer in Greenwich Village, journalism, government service, nonprofit leadership—and eventually a calling she never could have predicted: helping end senior hunger in America.

In this episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, I sit down with Enid, Founder and CEO of the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger, for a conversation that is about so much more than food.

We talk about the older adults Enid calls the "hidden hungry"—people who may be struggling quietly and whose stories can easily go unseen. We talk about dignity, loneliness, isolation, and the importance of simply knowing that someone sees you and cares.

Enid also shares what nearly three decades of this work have taught her about the way we value older adults—and why she believes younger generations need to be part of the conversation.

But one of my favorite parts of our conversation is Enid's own story.

We share a connection to Alfred University, and I loved hearing her reflect on how those years helped her find her voice. We also talked about the twists and turns that came afterward—and the things that may have felt like failures at the time but ultimately helped lead her to her purpose.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Enid's unexpected journey to finding her purpose

• Who the "hidden hungry" are and why they can be so easy to overlook

• The connection between hunger, loneliness, dignity, and human connection

• What decades of advocacy have taught her about creating change

• Why generations need one another

• Finding purpose at any age—and having the courage to "live out loud"

Enid reminded me that we don't have to have our entire lives figured out.

Sometimes we have to try something. Sometimes it won't work. Sometimes what feels like a failure may simply be pointing us in another direction.

And if we're willing to keep trying, keep caring, and keep showing up, we may just find the work we were meant to do.

"Try it. Live out loud."

I hope you'll join us for this very special conversation.

Every person has a story. Every story has the power to encourage someone else.

Until next time...keep moving forward.

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Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

Helping Young People See: “I Can Do This. I Belong Here.”

Who saw something in you before you were able to see it in yourself?

For Dr. Leena Bakshi McLean, it was a grandfather who made mathematics come alive through everyday experiences and a high school science teacher who recognized her potential.

In this episode of Moving Forward, Leena joins Linda to share the experiences that shaped her journey as an educator, author, and founder of STEM4Real. She reflects on how her family connected mathematics to culture, why relationships with students and families transformed her teaching, and how those experiences strengthened her belief in multiple pathways to success.

Leena also discusses the inequities that prevent many students from accessing meaningful STEM learning. Too often, hands-on science, engineering, and robotics experiences are reserved for students already identified as advanced or high-achieving. Through STEM4Real, Leena works to make STEM culturally responsive, relevant, and accessible to every learner.

In This Episode

Linda and Leena explore:

• The people who first recognized Leena’s potential

• How culture, identity, and relationships shape learning

• Why one chapter in a student’s life should never define their future

• The importance of expanding access to meaningful STEM opportunities

• How educators and leaders can help young people see themselves as problem-solvers and innovators

About Dr. Leena Bakshi McLeanDr. Leena Bakshi McLean is an educator, author, and founder of STEM4Real, an organization committed to making STEM education equitable, culturally responsive, and meaningful for all students. She is the author of STEM4ALL and the children’s book There’s Something in the Water.

Leena encourages young people to observe the world around them and ask:

“How can I make this better?”

Every person has a story. Every story has the power to encourage someone else.

Listen to Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and YouTube Podcasts.

Until next time...keep moving forward.

Follow us on:

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Facebook

LinkedIn

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez