From the show
Navigating corporate America is a game, and no one knows the rules better than we do. The Black Womaning in Corporate America® podcast, hosted by Nicole S.
Palmer, is your guide to understanding and thriving within the complex, often unspoken rules of the workplace. Each episode blends candid storytelling, sharp insights, and actionable strategies to help Black women break through the biases, microaggressions, and systemic barriers that pervade professional spaces.
From decoding office politics to claiming your rightful seat at the table, this podcast does not just share advice. It empowers you to rewrite the rules on your own terms.
Your voice matters. Your journey is worth celebrating.
And this space was built for you.
Episodes
Latest Episode
October 1, 2026 · 11m
Last year, we sat down with cruciverbalist Jan Buckner-Walker ahead of the release of Black Crosswords: In Our Own Words. We could think of no better way to celebrate its first birthday than by sharing our BWICA conversation with Jan about the story behind the book. Jan talks about her path from journalism and law to crossword construction, creating puzzles for The Washington Post, Essence, and Ebony, and why Black representation in crossword culture matters. Chapters 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:44 Meet Jan Buckner-Walker 01:29 Why Black Crosswords Matter 02:51 Jan’s Origin Story 03:27 From Law to Puzzles 04:12 Kids Across, Parents Down 04:57 Breaking Into Syndication 06:19 Representation in Crosswords 07:10 Essence and Ebony Crosswords 08:03 Making Crosswords Welcoming 09:59 The Book Finally Happens 10:27 Why Black Crosswords Matter Now 11:07 Closing Thoughts Learn more about Jan Buckner-Walker and Black Crosswords: - Website: - LinkedIn: Jan will also celebrate Black Crosswords: In Our Own Words, Volume 2 at Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2026. Event details:
More Episodes
Sep 24, 2026 · 12m
Host Nicole S. Palmer closes her conversation with Dr. Wendi Williams, 2026 President of the American Psychological Association and founder of The Well.In Part 4, they discuss workplace harm, recovery, boundaries, nervous-system reset, and Dr. Williams’ work through The Well to help Black women move beyond survival toward healing, joy, and becoming abundantly well.They also explore community care, accessible tools, and reconnecting with the parts of ourselves that work and trauma can force us to abandon.Chapters00:00 Welcome to BWICA00:41 Previously on BWICA02:02 What’s Next for The Well02:43 The Well Podcast04:22 Frameworks, Retreats & Reset05:22 When Work Lives in the Body07:39 Nicole’s Closing Reflection09:07 No Shame, Only Care10:29 Finding the Little Girl Again11:11 Connect With Dr. Wendi11:56 ClosingLearn more about Dr. Wendi Williams and The Well:Website: drwendiwilliams.comInstagram: @drwendiwilliamsLinkedIn: Dr. Wendi WilliamsThe Well newsletter: wellwithdrwendi.substack.com
Sep 17, 2026 · 17m
Host Nicole S. Palmer continues her conversation with Dr. Wendi Williams, 2026 President of the American Psychological Association and founder of The Well.In Part 3, they redefine the “mountaintop,” explore the difference between a job and a calling, and unpack what it means to build a life around joy, purpose, and a sense of self that exists beyond work.00:00 Welcome to BWICA00:41 Redefining the Mountaintop02:53 You Were Not Born to Do a Job05:31 Little Girl Dreams07:19 Fear as a Compass09:11 Building The Well12:25 Staying in Corporate Differently13:31 Emotional Detachment at Work14:51 Replaceable at Work15:44 The ROI of Black Labor16:31 ClosingLearn more about Dr. Wendi Williams and The Well:Website: drwendiwilliams.comInstagram: @drwendiwilliamsLinkedIn: Dr. Wendi WilliamsThe Well newsletter: wellwithdrwendi.substack.com
Sep 10, 2026 · 13m
Host Nicole S. Palmer continues her conversation with Dr. Wendi Williams, 2026 President of the American Psychological Association and founder of The Well.In Part 2, they explore boundaries, rest as self-respect, the stereotypes and projections placed on Black women, and why centering Black women can become a pathway to broader freedom.The conversation also examines DEI rollbacks, racism, burnout, and what it means to start choosing yourself.00:00 Welcome to BWICA00:41 Previously on BWICA01:02 Black First, Woman Second02:01 Holding Your Own Boundaries03:43 Rest as Active Respect05:01 Why Center Black Women07:19 Black Women as Workplace Canaries08:29 How Racism Hurts Everyone10:30 Moving Toward the Life You Want 12:41 This One Is Mine13:20 ClosingLearn more about Dr. Wendi Williams and The Well:Website: drwendiwilliams.comInstagram: @drwendiwilliamsLinkedIn: Dr. Wendi WilliamsThe Well newsletter: wellwithdrwendi.substack.com
Sep 3, 2026 · 15m
Running Away From Your Life: Dr. Wendi Williams on Rest, Boundaries & The WellHost Nicole S. Palmer welcomes Dr. Wendi Williams, counseling psychologist, educator, author, founder of The Well, and president of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Williams shares how years of higher-education leadership left her exhausted and “running away” from her life during breaks, ultimately prompting her to leave academia and create The Well. Together, they unpack the bargain Black women are often asked to make between achievement and self-preservation, why depleted leaders cannot lead well, and why rest is ultimately about more than recovery. It is about respecting yourself enough to hold your boundaries.00:00 Podcast Intro00:41 Meet Dr. Wendi Williams 01:35 Nicole’s Full-Circle Moment03:16 The Origin of The Well04:10 Running Away From Your Life09:22 Why Depleted Leaders Can’t Lead Well12:22 Rest, Boundaries & Self-Respect15:04 Closing & SubscribeLearn more about Dr. Wendi Williams and The Well:Website: drwendiwilliams.comInstagram: @drwendiwilliamsLinkedIn: Dr. Wendi WilliamsThe Well newsletter: wellwithdrwendi.substack.com
Aug 29, 2026 · 19m
Marry Your Talent, Not Your Title: Loosening Your Soul from Corporate LabelsNicole S. Palmer and Lynnae Brown unpack what it means to separate your identity from your job title and “marry your talent, not your title.” They discuss reframing “I am” into “I serve as,” recognizing that your skills and impact travel with you, and building a comprehensive CV that captures everything you’ve actually done, not just what appeared in your job description.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:41 Previously On Recap02:17 Marry Talent Not Title03:27 Loosen Your Identity05:13 DEI Titles and Reinvention05:57 CV Exercise With AI09:12 CV vs Resume Explained12:21 Agency and Staying by Choice13:44 Nicole’s Corporate Reset16:28 How to Reach Lynnae18:37 Closing and SubscribeLearn more about Lynnae Brown’s work:- Visit her website: lynnaebrown.com - Connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lynnaebrown.
Aug 20, 2026 · 12m
The Rules Were Never Unwritten | Lynnae Brown, Part 3What happens when everyone at work seems to know the rules except nobody will actually say them out loud?In Part 3 of Nicole S. Palmer’s conversation with workplace navigation consultant and strategist Lynnae Brown, they unpack the power, politics, coded communication, and unspoken expectations that can shape a Black woman’s career regardless of how well she performs.Because sometimes the variable changes.Sometimes the work was never the problem.And sometimes the rules were never unwritten. They were simply never spoken to you.Chapters00:00 Podcast Welcome00:41 Previously On01:51 When The Variable Changes03:10 Petty Grudges In Power04:54 Nice, Polite Culture Codes06:20 Clarity Versus Gaslighting07:23 No One Explains The Game08:29 Pretty Privilege And Preference11:11 What Truly Belongs To You11:35 Final Thoughts And OutroThis is Part 3 of a four-part conversation with Lynnae Brown on Black Womaning in Corporate America®.Playing the Game While Black Womaning in Corporate America is available wherever books are sold.#PlayingTheGame #BlackWomaningInCorporateAmerica #BWICA
Aug 13, 2026 · 11m
Marry Your Talent, Not Your Title | Black Womaning in Corporate AmericaWhat happens when your job title becomes part of your identity?Nicole S. Palmer continues her conversation with workplace navigation consultant and strategist Lynnae Brown about why Black women in corporate America should “marry” their talent, not their title. Together, they unpack the danger of tying self-worth to a role, what happens when workplace power shifts, and why your talent remains yours even when the title does not.Chapters00:00 Podcast Welcome00:41 Meet Lynnae Brown02:22 Marry Your Talent, Not Your Title03:08 Why Titles Are Volatile04:35 Nicole’s Breaking Point07:33 Lynnae’s Catalyst Story09:58 The Core Distinction10:12 Next Episode Tease10:29 Final Thanks and OutroLearn more about Lynnae Brown’s work:- Visit her website: lynnaebrown.com - Connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lynnaebrown.
Aug 12, 2026 · 37m
Taking Rocket Mortgage Fight to the U.S. Supreme CourtHost Nicole S. Palmer welcomes returning guest Zara Northover for a special update on Northover v. Rocket Mortgage. Northover shares that the Michigan Supreme Court declined to review her appeal after eight months, and she is now preparing a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court within the 90-day window following the May 22, 2026 decision. She recounts key moments that sparked her legal fight, including workplace threats and receiving a “gorilla” birthday card, and discusses navigating the process as a pro se litigant while also pursuing a separate federal case. The conversation highlights documenting issues, using medical leave for mental health, and learning legal basics, plus upcoming projects including her book The Cost of Justice, a legal-navigation tech startup, speaking engagements, and ways listeners can follow updates and support.00:00 Podcast Intro00:41 Guest Returns Update02:56 Michigan Supreme Court Decision03:37 Taking It to SCOTUS04:26 Why She Keeps Fighting09:17 Rocket Mortgage Backstory10:43 From Trauma to Legal Tech15:12 Medical Leave and EEOC Clock16:55 New Book The Cost of Justice18:22 What the Book Covers19:39 Faith And Authenticity20:36 Balancing Lawsuit And Life21:41 Know Your Rights Advocate22:53 Despair And Faith Talk23:44 Why Fighting Matters25:32 Case Updates And Petition27:33 Tools For Self Advocacy29:54 NDA Freedom And Truth32:32 Trust God Build Business34:33 Support Subscribe And Events36:50 Podcast Outro And BookLearn more about Zara Northover, follow her work, and stay connected to the ongoing Northover v. Rocket Mortgage case:• Zara Northover: https://zaranorthover.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaranorthover/• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaranorthover/• Moving in Faith: https://www.movinginfaith.com/• Support Zara’s work through Faith It Forward: https://www.movinginfaith.com/products/faith-it-forward• Follow Delnic Media’s ongoing Case Files coverage: https://news.delnicmedia.com/northover-v-rocket-mortgage/
Aug 6, 2026 · 25m
Marry Your Talent, Not Your Title (Part 1) | Black Womaning in Corporate America®Nicole S. Palmer talks with guest Lynnae Brown, a consultant and strategist specializing in workforce navigation to help people make work sustainable. Brown shares her background training people in mental health recovery to work in social services, and explains her concept “Marry Your Talent, Not Your Title,” warning that titles can’t capture full value and that layoffs for profit make tying identity to a role risky. She recounts leaving a decade-long position after pandemic burnout, concerns about returning in-person with vulnerable populations, and receiving student loan forgiveness, then consulting nationally before grant cancellations disrupted the field. The conversation also distinguishes self-accommodation from self-advocacy and touches on the long recovery from toxic workplaces, teeing up a deeper discussion in part two.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:44 Meet Lanay Brown02:21 Marry Talent Not Title02:37 Origin in Social Services05:36 Titles Worth and Layoffs06:47 Burnout Turning Point08:23 COVID Work Shift10:40 Leaving After Loan Forgiveness11:22 Consulting Then Funding Cuts12:28 From Social Work to Corporate12:47 Trauma Informed Management13:29 Self Accommodate vs Advocate14:44 Code Switching Survival17:37 Healing After Toxic Jobs21:07 Abusive Relationship Mindset22:17 Exit Strategy Playlist24:06 Part Two Teaser and Wrap