Reclaiming Rest and Resilience: A Journey in Equity, Authenticity, and Self-Care

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In this heartfelt episode of The Equity Hour, host Dr. Tami Dean returns to share an honest reflection on balancing personal wellness with the work of equity and social justice. Reflecting on the challenges and expectations often placed on women, especially those from marginalized communities, Dr. Dean opens up about her own journey to prioritize rest, set boundaries, and give herself the same grace she readily offers to others.

Dr. Dean discusses powerful themes from previous guests, including Katie O'Malley's (S2:E3) candid conversation on mental health and Katie Piotrowski's insights on burnout (S1:E22) . Through these reflections, Dr. Dean calls for a greater awareness of mental health and self-care in high-stakes environments. She emphasizes the need to “check on your strong friends” and reminds us that showing up authentically includes taking time for self-care.

Join Dr. Dean as she recommits to releasing two episodes per month, bringing fresh interviews with inspiring educators, leaders, and change-makers dedicated to creating equitable spaces. This episode is an invitation to embrace imperfection, recognize the power of rest, and lean into community support. Listen, reflect, and discover how to take your own next step in the journey of equity and self-advocacy.

Key Takeaways:

• Embracing rest and resilience as part of the equity journey
• Honoring personal boundaries and redefining productivity
• Insights from previous guests on mental health, burnout, and workplace well-being
• The power of storytelling and using one’s voice to foster community and connection

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Episode Transcript

Tami (00:00):
Hello.

(00:00):
Hello everyone.
And welcome to a long awaitedepisode of the equity hour.
With me, your host, Dr.
Tami Dean.
I am.
So happy to be back in the spacerecording and.

(00:21):
Reaching out to you.
Um, This episode I'm, I'mcalling.
From my heart.
I, this has been something I'vebeen thinking about and
pondering and.
Working on putting out into thespace.
For a minute and.

(00:42):
Those of you that have beenlistening.
Know, I talk a lot about showingup as your true self and using
your voice.
To provide space for others todo that.
And.
In the first episode of thisseason.
Katie O'Malley shared.
A very touching story about herown challenges.

(01:05):
with mental health and her workenvironment.
And.
The response was overwhelmingand in support in feeling
similar and.
In that vein.
I want to share some things withyou today.
I had thought about putting thisout on mental health awareness
day, and then that came andwent.

(01:26):
Um, but anyway, here we are.
And so.
I Get so much joy speaking withthe guests on my podcast and
interacting with educators.
And business professionals onhow we make a more equitable and
just environment.
How do we support each other?

(01:47):
How do we build this community?
And it is my greatest hope that.
Any of you listening will have atakeaway from an episode, will
learn something from thisepisode or any of the episodes
that you feel like you can do ortry or hear or see yourself.
In one or more of the episodes.

(02:08):
And so.
I say all that today.
Um, is I'm sure a lot of uswomen, especially, and even
women from marginalizedcommunities we're always
expected.
Uh, we just get things done.
We do it.
We keep plowing forward.
Uh, we can high function intrauma.

(02:32):
In challenge in.
So many aspects of our livesand.
Uh, it's no secret that, youknow, I believe in therapy, I
have a therapist.
Um, I'm so grateful for her.
And my journey.
It's also brought me someawareness around.

(02:53):
Myself and how much grace.
And thoughtfulness I give toothers, but don't always give
that to myself.
And so some of that of course isrooted.
In shame around not doing enoughor I should be doing, or I could
be doing.
And, you know, that really fitsthe narrative to being a woman.

(03:18):
And.
We talked about a book, a coupleof few episodes back with Katie.
Piotrowski on burnout.
And I read the book and if youhaven't, I highly recommend you
read it, but it talks about thatas well.
Right.
We just keep doing and being allthe things for all people.
And so I say all of that to cometo.

(03:40):
There has been, you know, a gapin my episodes and I have them
recorded.
I have some recorded, I need toedit them and put them out.
And.
Um, I haven't been in a placewhere I had the capacity to do
that.
And.
I.

(04:01):
Wanted to make sure when I putit out, it was right and good.
And.
In a self-reflection andtransparency, because I think
that is part of awareness and apart of this journey that we've
talked about is, uh, I justneeded to do the thing and get
it done and do it.
And.
So, this is my message to youall.

(04:22):
Sometimes you just need to dothe thing and do it, and it
doesn't have to be perfectbecause we're not perfect.
And we're human.
And I say all this to like, saycheck on your strong friends.
Um, Because we will often seem.
Like we have all the thingstogether and we're doing it, but
really in the background.

(04:43):
Uh, there might be somechallenges.
And so.
It is nothing to shy away from,or be ashamed of if you need to
take some rest.
To take care of yourself.
Uh, Part of.
Being your true self asadmitting when you need that
rest.
And so that's what I did.
I took some rest and, just somerealization I would love, love,

(05:08):
love, love to put out an episodea week.
And that is just not in mycapacity right now.
So I'm going to.
Scale it back to where we were,where it was obtainable.
I'm going to do two episodes amonth.
I have some amazing.
Interviews already recorded thatI'm going to be putting out and
finally sharing over theairwaves.

(05:30):
thank you for my guests, foryour patience.
I'm excited to share your voice.
And your, thoughts and work withthe world.
Some great.
Wonderful guests.
In the wings ready to come up.
So.
I say all that to say.
I always want to walk the walkand talk the talk.

(05:51):
And this is me sharing that withyou.
And so from the bottom of myheart, thank you for listening
to my podcast.
Thank you for staying with me onthis journey.
Thank you for sharing this withothers.
And I appreciate all of myguests that have been on those
of you that are yet to come.

(06:14):
And please don't hesitate toreach out to me if there is
something you're interested in,or if you're doing some of this
work and.
You'd like to come on thepodcast and share it with the
world.
I appreciate all the workeveryone does.
And I am.
Looking forward to.

(06:34):
getting back in the saddle forlack of a better, better word
and interacting.
Back with you all again.
So.
Use your voice.
Share your story.
Uh, because often when we shareour story, people can find
community and find.
Themselves in it too.
So thank you so much forlistening.

(06:54):
Be sure to subscribe.
So you don't miss any futureepisodes.
It would mean a lot.
If you share this with others,that this podcast would speak
to.
Take care and have a great daywherever you are.
And remember.
To use your voice.