The Power to Persist
The Power to Persist Podcast with Dr. Lamell McMorris brings you candid conversations with changemakers, leaders, and innovators who embody resilience, justice, and transformative leadership. Through powerful stories and actionable insights, Lamell shares the habits and mindset that help you rise above challenges and create lasting impact. New episodes every other Tuesday.
Episodes
We’ve all heard the famous saying—if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. But in this deeply personal solo episode of the Power to Persist, host Lamell McMorris asks a much more critical question: what actually happens once you earn your seat in the room?
McMorris breaks down the hard-learned lessons of stepping into high-stakes rooms starting at age twenty-six, explaining why simply getting invited i...
In this solo episode of The Power to Persist, Lamell McMorris finally tells, in full, a story he's kept mostly private for twenty-six years: how he came to help lead Redeem the Dream, the August 2000 march on Washington against police brutality and racial profiling, alongside Reverend Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III. Prompted by young organizers asking him whether marches actually change anything, Lamell walks through the we...
n this special episode of the Power to Persist, host Lamell McMorris sits down in Woodlawn on the South Side of Chicago with civic leader Dorri McWhorter. The President and CEO of the Executives Club of Chicago and former head of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago shares her journey from accounting partner to social impact pioneer. McWhorter argues that non-profit is merely a tax status rather than a business model, showing how applying acq...
In this special, high-energy episode of the Power to Persist, host Lamell McMorris addresses the students of Birmingham Schools to deliver an empowering message on what it truly takes to thrive in an unpredictable world. Drawing on his personal experiences and the core principles of his book, McMorris breaks down how establishing daily, intentional practices early in life creates the foundation for lifelong success, self-determinat...
As the NAACP convenes this week in Chicago for its National Convention, there could not be a more timely conversation than this one. In this powerful episode of The Power to Persist podcast, host Lamell McMorris sits down with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson for an intimate discussion on the front lines of modern civil rights leadership. The conversation begins with a personal reflection on legendary Chicago journalist Vern...
On this episode of the Power to Persist, host Lamell McMorris speaks directly to the graduating class of 2026, addressing the pressure and anxiety surrounding rapid technological disruptions like AI. Reframing this era of transformation as an arena for opportunity, McMorris challenges corporate America to build stronger bridges of mentorship and practical experience for graduates entering vital industries like energy, infrastructur...
To celebrate Juneteenth and the historic opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, host Lamell McMorris welcomes Incoming Executive Vice President Michael Strautmanis back to Chicago's South Side. Far from a traditional archive, this privately funded "hope machine" utilizes world-class green spaces and local hiring pipelines to expand what the next generation believes they can achieve.
Throughout the episode,...
In this episode, Lamell McMoriss dives into the pressure and anxiety of trying to hold it all together during uncertain seasons. Lamell emphasizes that true resilience is not a "solo sport" but a team effort built on vulnerability—admitting that you are human and honestly asking for help when you're tired. Learn why forming a trusted inner circle is crucial, transforming your mental health into something you...
On this episode of the Power to Persist, Lamell welcomes John Hudson, Chief External Affairs Officer of Entergy, and close friend for a candid conversation. John details his rise in the Fortune 500 utility sector and the dogged determination instilled by his father. The discussion dives into the constant industry tension between sustainability and profitability. John outlines the utility’s "obligation to serve"...
In today’s episode of The Power to Persist, Lamell McMorris reframes loneliness as a common, human experience and a starting point for resilience, especially for Gen Z, a highly connected generation reporting high emotional isolation amid economic instability, student debt, housing challenges, and widening inequality. McMorris argues the pandemic was a defining chapter that disrupted key years for learning connection, leaving...
On this episode of Power to Persist, host Dr. Lamell McMorris brings on political advisor Ashley Etienne, former Senior Adviser to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The two dive into Etienne’s journey from Houston to Washington, D.C. and her deep commitment to represent her community at the highest levels of power. Etienne...
In this special end-of-year message, host Lamell McMorris reflects on the challenges of 2025, emphasizing that resilience is no longer just a personal virtue—it's how we rise, lead, and grow together.
Drawing on his personal journey from the south side of Chicago to advising CEOs, McMorris shares his insights on what separates organizations that "bend witho...
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