Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood

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Joy isn’t a perk you earn at the end of your to-do list—it’s a practice you build in the middle of real life. 

In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan sits down with Jennice Chewlin—Latina mom, workplace wellbeing strategist, and founder of Chewlin Group—to unpack why joy at work is not “toxic positivity,” but a strategy for connection...

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What if you’re not stuck—just scared?

In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I sit down with Shauntelle Carnegie—multi-creative, employee experience strategist, and founder of Black Girl Season—to talk about the role of joy when life feels heavy.

Shauntelle opens up about navigating grief, breaking out of old narratives, and discovering that s...

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What does it mean to find joy in the middle of problems that should never have existed in the first place?

In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I sit down with Louis Byrd, Chief Architect of Responsible Innovation at Zanago Design, to talk about how doing the hard, often frustrating work of fixing broken systems can still be a source of joy ...

What if the thing that’s been missing from your pursuit of joy isn’t more achievement, motivation, or “thinking positive”—but a deeper reconnection to your own body?

In this grounded, expansive conversation, Jonathan Dumas sits down with somatic coach Abe Medoff to unpack how embodiment, breath, and emotional range aren’t just self-help buzzwords—they’re the sustainable infrastructure beneath real joy. Abe reframes joy not as a fle...

What if joy wasn’t a bonus after surviving the grind—but the intentional practice that sustains the work, heals the wounds, and builds community?

In this stripped-down minisode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas shares powerful highlight moments from two women doing the internal and external work—Melany Del Carpio and Kenisha Coon. They unpack how ritual, self-expression, boundary-setting, and radical co...

What if the biggest risk in your career isn’t walking away, but staying in a job that drains your soul? In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas sits down with Tiffany LeNoir—former tech‑sales leader, mom, and children’s‑book author—to explore why she left a six‑figure role without a backup plan, how she navigated the guilt and fear that followed, and why choosing rest can be your most radica...

How do you keep choosing joy when your heart keeps breaking?

In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I sit down with Mimi Gonzalez—host of griefsense, Gen-Z storyteller, and grief worker—to explore how we carry loss, build legacy, and still find our way back to joy.

Mimi shares what it’s like to live with 36 funerals by age 29—and how grief reshaped her relationship with creativity, community, and rest. We t...

What does it really take to push through fear, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome—and still choose joy?

In this episode, I’m joined by DJ, professor, and bestselling author Amani Roberts for a grounded, honest conversation about the creative process, the emotional power of music, and the kind of joy that only shows up after you’ve risked something real.

We talk about:

• How nostalgia and music help us...

Annual tradition, honest conversation.

Each July 4th I return to Frederick Douglass’ 1852 address to check the pulse of American freedom. In this replay runback I share a partial reading of the speech’s most searing passages—followed by my own reflections 

📤When have you felt both pride and discomfort on the 4th?

Share your story via voice note, DM, or tag @HighlyVisiblePod—I may feature your perspective in next year’s runback: ht...

What happens when joy feels like a luxury you didn’t earn? In this powerful conversation with life coach and facilitator Ashmi Patel, we explore the quiet ache of perfectionism, inherited guilt, and the radical practice of feeling good—on purpose.

Ashmi shares how growing up as the daughter of immigrants shaped her relationship to joy, rest, and self-worth. From late-diagnosed ADHD to healing through creativity and coaching, she in...

What if fitness wasn’t about chasing numbers—but about reclaiming joy in your body?

In this episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, I’m joined by Brandon Howard, a personal trainer, health coach, and founder of Howard Power Fitness. Together, we explore what it means to feel at home in your body—regardless of weight, appearance, or arbitrary milestones.

Brandon shares how years in the fitness industry taught him tha...

What if joy isn’t something we chase, but something we return to?

In this season's opening episode of our new theme, On Joy, I reflect on what it means to slow down, pay attention, and remember joy—not the loud or curated kind, but the quiet, complex, deeply human kind.

Through personal reflection, spiritual tension, generational memory, and a whole lot of pondering, this video essay sets the tone for a season-long exploration of j...

What’s good y’all! It’s your boy, Jonathan Dumas. I’m dropping in with a quick check-in for my Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood fam.

We’ve been cooking behind the scenes, and I’m excited to announce that WE COMIN BACK! New Seaon, On Joy, is dropping next month! This new season is all about exploring the real, messy, sacred places where joy shows up—in our minds, our bodies, our communities, and even in the mundane moment...

Authenticity isn’t about oversharing or performing—it’s about practicing your values daily. And in this episode, we’re getting real about what it means to truly show up, reject the performance trap, and redefine success on our own terms.

I’m joined by Alawna Ozoka—certified life & leadership coach, bestselling author of Awareness Put Me On, and all-around truth teller. We dive into:

✅ Finding contentment in a chaotic world 🌍 ✅...

How do you choose yourself in a world that asks you to sacrifice your essence? In this soulful and empowering episode of Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood, Jonathan sits down with Candice, a Dream Doula, to explore what it means to embrace your authenticity, navigate societal pressures, and birth your dreams into reality.

From the challenges of being a multi-passionate creator to redefining time and success, this conversa...

In this heartfelt episode of Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood, Jonathan Dumas welcomes author and creative Jocelyn Chung to discuss her newly released children's book, When Love Is More Than Words. Together, they journey through themes of storytelling, generational love, and finding authentic voices amid personal growth. Jocelyn shares the origins of her book, revealing how it began as a deeply personal poem and evolved ...

In this soul-nourishing episode of Highly Visible & a Little Misunderstood, host Jonathan Dumas welcomes back Aizaiah Yong, a practical theologian, educator, and writer known for his profound insights on leadership and community. As they dive deep into the essence of authenticity, they explore its many layers—from personal journeys marked by multicultural heritage to the theological and philosophical dimensions of living a true...

In this engaging podcast episode, host Jonathan Dumas is joined by his long-time friend and political science enthusiast, Gustavo, to dissect the critical stakes of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The episode dives into debates about the economy, immigration, democracy, and more, contrasting the platforms of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The conversation highlights the importance of political ...

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After a long break, Highly Visible & A Little Misunderstood is back with a brand-new series, Performing Authenticity. In this first episode, host Jonathan Dumas sits down with authenticity coach Betty Chan to dive into a deep and hilarious conversation about what it truly means to be “authentic” in a world full of pressure to conform. Is it possible to be our real selves, or are we al...