How to Stay Unscathed When Systems Are Designed to Shut You Out

What does it mean to truly thrive when systems were never built to support you?

In this episode of Pamela Price Unfiltered, I sit down with Dr. Mia Settles-Tidwell—executive coach, author, and former university administrator—to discuss her groundbreaking book, Unscathed: A Harm Reduction Strategy for Women of Color in the Workplace. From her years of navigating executive roles in the UC and CSU systems to her work empowering women of color to rise above institutional barriers, Dr. Settles-Tidwell brings powerful insights and practical strategies to the table.

We’re diving deep into:
- How to identify institutional traps and stand in your power
- What it truly means to be an “Activist at the Table”
- The hard lessons learned from KBJ’s confirmation hearings and what they reveal about racial and gender bias
- Assessing risks and confronting the well-laid traps designed to keep us from thriving

We also expose the active dismantling of the Department of Education under Project 2025 and the fight to protect Title IX rights. The attack on civil rights protections is happening now, and understanding how these shifts impact educational equity is crucial for anyone committed to justice and accountability.

Dr. Settles-Tidwell’s story is one of resilience, strategy, and hard-won wisdom. Whether you’re a woman of color striving to succeed in systems stacked against you, an ally committed to dismantling barriers, or simply someone seeking clarity and empowerment—this conversation is for you.

Listen, learn, and emerge unscathed.