We’ve all had one at work. That person.

The one who hypes you up in meetings… but “forgets” to cc you on the important email. The one who congratulates you on your promotion — with just a little too much emphasis on “Wow, that’s surprising.” The one who says, “I’m just being honest,” right before they absolutely are not.

Your workplace frenemy.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Wendi Williams, co-author of Frenemies in the Academy: Relational Aggression among African American Women Academicians, to unpack what happens when friendship and rivalry collide at work. The current President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Williams bridges the worlds of psychology, education, and leadership with clarity, compassion, and transformative insight. With more than two decades of experience spanning higher education and the nonprofit sector, she has dedicated her career to advancing the well-being, leadership, and liberation of Black women and girls—and, by extension, all who seek to lead with purpose in uncertain times.

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For too long, suicide and mental health struggles have been shrouded in silence within our communities. Yet the statistics tell a sobering truth: suicide rates among Black women have more than risen—they have accelerated, doubling among young Black females aged 15 to 24 over the last two decades, and continuing to climb during the pandemic years.

To explore this public health concern we are talking with Dr. Kamesha Spates, the William S. Dietrich II Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Africana Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. A first-generation college graduate, she bridges Africana studies, psychiatry, and sociology to advance racial and health equity. Her work—recognized with national awards—examines anti-Black racism, suicidality, and the mental health of Black communities

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The digital sphere, notably Instagram, has birthed a vibrant movement: plus‑size Black women are emerging not just as fashion influencers but as powerful agents of representation, rewriting beauty norms with courage and creativity. Before hashtags defined the era, trailblazers like Mia Amber Davis, Gabi Fresh, and Chastity Garner Valentine were already forging the path—bringing plus‑size beauty into view, creating authentic communities, and igniting style revolutions on Instagram feeds. Now influencers such as Kelly Augustine, Musemo Handahu, Lauren‑Nicole, Alissa Wilson, Simi, and Ireanna are seen as more than content creators—they’re culture makers. Their daring fashion, relentless empowerment, and visible self-love redefine societal perceptions of beauty.

Today we talk with Dr. Regina Duthely whose research looks at how Black plus-size fashion influencers—from bloggers to Instagram trailblazers—shake the very foundations of mainstream beauty ideals. Dr. Duthely is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She specializes in Black feminist rhetorics, African American rhetorics, and multimodal composition and rhetoric. Her research examines the ways that marginalized people, particularly Black women, engage in subversive rhetorics of protest and resistance.

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