In a world full of influencers and misinformation and before you let someone’s words shake your confidence, your clarity, or your sense of self—pause.

In this Side Salad, we unpack a truth most of us learn the hard way:

position does not equal qualification.

From bosses and parents to leaders, pastors, friends, and celebrities, we’re often taught to trust the loudest voices in authoritative spaces. But what happens when confidence masks insecurity… or access gets mistaken for insight?

This episode challenges you to consider the source without dismissing the message—because sometimes wisdom arrives through imperfect messengers, and sometimes discernment matters more than agreement.

This is a conversation about balance.

About listening without surrendering your power.

About growth that requires both courage and humility.

Pull up a seat.

This Side Salad might sit with you longer than you expect. 🥗

Girl + Boy Doesn’t Equal Sex is a Side Salad conversation that challenges one of the most quietly damaging assumptions in our workplaces and social spaces: that the mere presence of different genders automatically introduces sexual tension.

In this episode, we step into the Human Resources lens—not to police behavior, but to examine human dynamics, boundaries, and professionalism at their core. We talk about why mature, high-functioning teams are built on trust, respect, and clarity—not suspicion or avoidance—and how projecting sexual narratives onto everyday interactions undermines cohesion, inclusion, and performance.

This conversation is for leaders, teammates, and culture-shapers who understand that accountability doesn’t require discomfort, and that men and women can coexist, collaborate, and even care about one another without it being sexualized. Because when we stop assuming intent, we create space for healthier environments where people can show up fully—and do exceptional work.

Not everything needs to be “managed.” Some things just need to be understood.

Disclaimer: This conversation is framed through a heteronormative lens, simply because that is the most commonly referenced dynamic in workplace discussions. That said, the principles explored here—boundaries, professionalism, respect, and the ability to coexist without sexualization—apply equally to same-sex interactions and any workplace relationship where assumptions can undermine trust and cohesion.

In the journey of podcasting, I’ve learned something unexpected.

If your goal is views, comments, and engagement, the obvious move is to sit across from someone with a large following. That makes sense in today’s world. But I’ve also learned that some of the most compelling, meaningful stories don’t come from people chasing attention at all.

This episode is one of those moments.

I sat down with Terrence Lestelle—a 75-year-old attorney, athlete, and thinker. He doesn’t look like me. He didn’t grow up in my generation. He isn’t building a brand or cultivating an online presence. In fact, he has no interest in any of that.

And yet, our conversations—on the basketball court and at the table—have been some of the most authentic I’ve experienced.

Terry shares perspectives shaped by decades of lived experience, history, and reflection. Conversations like this remind me why I started The Salad Bowl Podcast in the first place. I always walk away carrying new thoughts, new questions, and a deeper appreciation for connection across difference.

I didn’t chase the algorithm with this guest—but I believe this is a conversation worth your time.