Black Girl Brilliance: Stories of Success & Resilience
Black Girl Brilliance: Stories of Success & Resilience is a podcast that feels like a series of intimate girl chats, designed to empower and inspire Black girls and women. Hosted by Nicole Beverly, Founder of iFlourish this podcast bridges the gap in resources that reflect our unique experiences by sharing the personal and professional journeys of remarkable Black women. These conversations are a safe space to listen, learn, and relate to stories of resilience, triumph, and brilliance.
Whether you're navigating a career not typically led by Black women or simply seeking inspiration, this podcast is for you. Join us as we celebrate our voices, uplift our stories, and empower each other to thrive.
Why Listen? Learn from real-life examples of resilience, gain insights on leveraging your unique strengths.
Tune in to Black Girl Brilliance: Stories of Success and Resilience and join a community dedicated to empowering Black girls and women to shine brightly and break every barrier. Listen now and start your journey to brilliance and resilience!
Check out our latest episodes!! Activate your Brilliance with our online curriculum with questions and activities below.
Advocate for Her: Dr Jonisha Brown
In this powerful episode of Black Girl Brilliance, Dr. Jonisha Brown shares her journey from physician to advocate after experiencing a life-threatening heart attack just 10 days postpartum that was initially dismissed. Through her story, she sheds light on the realities Black women face in healthcare and how her experience led her to create meaningful change through her advocacy. This conversation highlights the importance of being seen, heard, and supported, while reminding us that our stories can become a powerful force for impact.
I’m That Girl: Deziree Patterson
In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, Deziree Patterson shares her journey from growing up in a rural North Carolina town as one of the few Black girls in advanced classes to becoming a leader at Per Scholas in workforce development and community partnerships. She reflects on resilience, proving doubters wrong after being told she wouldn’t get into UNC Chapel Hill, and the power of mentorship, community, and believing in your path. Through her work helping adults transition into tech careers and her leadership with iFlourish, Deziree reminds us that relationships, authenticity, and purpose can open doors you never imagined. Her story is a powerful reminder that even when the path looks uncertain, you can still rise and be that girl.
No Permission Needed: Sheridan Labbe
This episode explores resilience, confidence beyond approval, and why Black women must stop downplaying their talents. Sheridan Labbe, Creative Strategy Manager at Credit Karma and Founder of Untamed, shares her journey of learning to be present, vulnerable, and unapologetically creative. She reminds us that the very passions we minimize are often our greatest gifts. If you think what you love to do or your skills aren't that special, this conversation is your sign that it absolutely is.
Serving in Purpose: MaShonna Hughes
In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, MaShonna shares how Project Outpour is restoring dignity to unhoused neighbors through care, choice, and compassion. She explains how offering mobile showers and a shopping-style experience for toiletries centers autonomy and respect while challenging stereotypes about who experiences homelessness. MaShonna reflects on her own season of uncertainty after a leap of faith, when community support carried her through and shaped her leadership. Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience, love, and purpose can grow from even the hardest moments.
Owning your Seat in Sports
and Partnerships: Evanna Howell
In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, we sit down with Evanna Howell, Senior Partnerships Account Manager for 23XI Racing, NASCAR team. Evanna shares how she carved her path in the highly competitive world of sports, using networking, continued education, and intentional mentorship to rise and thrive. She breaks down the power of strategic partnerships, the financial landscape behind major sports organizations, and why women must own their seat at every table. This conversation is a masterclass in confidence, preparation, and purpose.
Now Claim Your Brilliance
Seeing yourself in the story and stepping into your future
1. Question: How does Evanna Howell’s work with NASCAR show that there are many careers in sports beyond being an athlete?
Activity→ List 3 careers in sports you learned about from this episode (examples: marketing, partnerships, event planning, communications, operations). Circle the one you want to learn more about.
2. Question: How did Evanna Howell claim her seat in the sports industry, even in spaces where she may not have always been represented?
Activity → Write down one space (school, sports, clubs, leadership, creative spaces) where you want to feel more confident speaking up or showing up.
3. Question: Why are partnerships important in sports and business, and how did relationships help Evanna grow in her career?
Activity→ List 2 people you could partner with right now (a friend, mentor, teacher, teammate) to help you reach a goal.
Brilliance in Bloom: April Booker on Food Justice, Community Gardens, and Purpose
In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, host Nicole Beverly sits down with April Booker, founder and executive director of Zealous Empowering Nurture (ZEN), to explore how a pandemic pivot transformed into a thriving nonprofit addressing food insecurity in Charlotte. April shares her journey from following her husband's basketball years in college, to discovering her own purpose through community gardening during COVID-19.
Now Claim Your Brilliance
Seeing yourself in the story and stepping into your future
1. Question: How did April Booker turn her passion or talent into something that continues to grow and evolve?
Activity→ Write down one passion or interest you have. How could it grow into something bigger over time (a project, business, club, or creative idea)?
2. Question: What choices did April make to stay true to herself and her goals as she continued to grow?
Activity→ Write about a time you had to make a choice that helped you grow or try something new, even if it felt uncomfortable.
3. Question: What was one small step April took that helped her idea or career begin to bloom?
Activity→ Write one seed you can plant this month—a small action you can take toward something you want to create or become.
Now Claim Your Brilliance
Rooted in Resilience: Nicole Beverly's Journey & Founding iFlourish
In our very first video podcast episode of Black Girl Brilliance, Executive Director and Founder Nicole Beverly sits down with her mentee and Advisory Council member, Kemi Asunramu, for an intimate and powerful conversation about the journey that led her to create iFlourish. From her personal experiences as a Black woman to the defining moments that shaped her passion for mentorship and empowerment, Nicole shares how resilience, purpose, and community laid the foundation for iFlourish. Tune in to hear how she turned challenges into opportunities, built a space for Black girls to thrive, and why this work is more than just a mission—it’s a movement.
Seeing yourself in the story and stepping into your future
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What problem did Nicole notice in her community, and how did she turn that problem into a purpose?
Activity → Write down one problem you notice at school, at home, or in your community that you wish someone would help solve.
2. What skills, passions, or experiences helped Nicole start iFlourish and Black Girl Brilliance?
Activity → Circle 3 things you enjoy or are good at doing. How could one of those help someone else?
3. Founders don’t start perfect—they start brave. What small step did Nicole take to begin, even before everything was figured out?
Activity → Write one small step you could take this month to start something (a club, a project, a video, a journal, an idea).
Higher Learning + Higher Purpose: Dr. Chelsea Smith
In this episode, Dr. Chelsea Smith shares her inspiring journey as a first-generation college student, navigating challenges and celebrating triumphs that shaped her career path. She discusses how her personal experiences fueled her passion for supporting underrepresented students of color in higher education. Dr. Smith emphasizes the importance of authentically being yourself, no matter your role, position, or environment, while offering valuable insights into representation, resilience, and advocacy in creating equitable opportunities for all students.
Crowning Confidence x Ashley Allston
In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, Ashley Allston, founder of My Doll, shares her journey of self-love and embracing her natural hair. Inspired by her own experiences and the stories of Black women around her, Ashley created My Doll to help young Black girls see their beauty and power. Join us as she discusses the impact of representation, self-discovery, and the community of Black women and girls who inspire her mission.
Brilliance Behind the Bench: Judge C. Renee Little
In this episode of Black Girl Brilliance, Judge C. Renee Little shares her inspiring journey from aspiring lawyer to NC 26th District Court Judge. She discusses the challenges and realizations of being a Black woman in law and how resilience has fueled her success and advocating for youth and families. Judge Little also reflects on her commitment to justice and uplifting her community. Tune in for an empowering conversation on learning yourself, breaking barriers, and defining greatness.
Arts x Education: Angelica Jackson
In this episode, we sit down with Angelica Jackson, Co-Founder of PISOTA, the first charter school in Charles County, Maryland. Angelica shares her journey of building an arts-focused school from the ground up, the challenges she faced, and how her resilience and passion for arts shaped her path. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about leadership, community, and the power of education
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