Uncut Gems with Jay Floyd
Uncut Gems with Jay FloydBe rare on purpose.Uncut Gems is a raw and reflective podcast for those who’ve been told to tone it down, shrink their shape, or smooth out their edges. Hosted by Jay Floyd—tech leader, certified coach, speaker, and storyteller—this show drops weekly “gems” born from real-life experience, faith, trauma, leadership, and growth.Whether you’re a creative, a professional, a believer, or just someone in process, this podcast is a reminder that you were never meant to be polished into someone else’s version of success. Your pain, pressure, and path all hold value—and this space is designed to help you embrace the truth of your uncut self.Expect personal stories, reflective challenges, spiritual insight, and occasional heat—from a host who’s walked through fire and came out with clarity.
Episodes
Ever notice how some people hold everything together without making noise about it? They're the human equivalent of a bassline in music—not always noticed until they're gone, when suddenly everything falls apart.
This episode dives deep into the power of quiet leadership and the essential role of steady, consistent contributors who don't seek the spotlight. Drawing from my experience as a tech leader, I share the story of an...
When professionals are misaligned with their roles, it's not about lacking talent but being placed in the wrong story. The path to authentic success comes from recognizing your unique shape and leaning into it rather than contorting yourself to fit predetermined expectations.
• The Rock initially failed as a smiling, high-energy baby face despite his wrestling pedigree
• His career transformed when h...
Motion sickness provides a powerful metaphor for finding spiritual steadiness in a chaotic world, revealing how cognitive dissonance between stillness and movement creates disorientation in both physical and spiritual realms.
• Personal experience with car sickness when reading comics as a passenger but never when driving
• Scientific explanation: motion sickness occurs when eyes focus on stillness while ...
Have you ever wondered what a long-gone voice would say about our increasingly polarized world? That's the question I explore in this deeply personal episode about my brother Julius - a true paradox of a human being whose absence I feel more acutely as our society grows more binary.
Julius was no ordinary kid growing up in the Cleveland projects. Born four years before me in 1972, he embodied contradicti...
The invisible war raging through our society isn't about politics or technology—it's about the fundamental duality of human nature. In this thought-provoking exploration, Jay Floyd breaks down how we're collectively torn between two powerful forces: the cold, calculating, results-driven side that dominated much of the 20th century, and the warm, empathetic, relationship-centered approach that has gained...
We spend too much time posting, watching, and scrolling with hopes of sparking change, when real impact starts in the mirror through internal alignment rather than external noise.
• Introduction to a three-part series called "The Real Reach" exploring how true influence begins with clarity, proximity, and identity
• Being informed is not the same as being aligned—we need to filter information t...
Childhood trauma doesn't simply vanish when the moment passes—it silently shapes our lives for years, even decades. Standing at the edge of a high school swimming pool at 14, my heart pounding as I faced away from the water, I was about to confront a fear that had controlled me since I nearly drowned at age five.
For years, I'd expertly masked my terror of water. I hid behind the stereotype that &qu...
Jay Floyd shares the dramatic story of his childhood drowning experience at age five, exploring how this traumatic event shaped his life and psychology.
• Growing up in Cleveland after his parents' bitter divorce
• Living with cousins in a low-income neighborhood where kids roamed freely without supervision
• Visiting a public pool despite not knowing how to swim
• Experiencing drowning and a...
Sharing your story holds the power to inspire and connect with others. This episode emphasizes the importance of documenting personal narratives in our digital age while challenging listeners to reflect and embrace their journeys.
• The value of personal narratives
• Relating and connecting through shared experiences
• Balancing social media usage to foster storytelling
It’s time to take a...
In a world where change is constant, finding our footing can feel overwhelming. Join us as we unpack the complexities of navigating change fatigue, especially during swift leadership shifts. Our host shares personal experiences, illustrating the importance of fostering agency in our personal lives and how our choices today can shape a better future.
We dive into the intricacies of impulsive leadership and its...
Ever wondered how tribalism shapes our interactions in the digital world? Join me, Jay Floyd, as I weave together personal stories and cultural critiques to unwrap this complex topic. Picture me sipping a Chick-fil-A frosted coffee while my kids are off to Ninja Camp, setting the stage for a lively conversation about Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance. I dive into the heated Kendrick versus Drake debate, que...
This episode dives into Jay Floyd's journey of publishing his first fiction novel while celebrating Black History Month. He shares insights on the importance of storytelling, representation, and finding one's voice in the publishing world.
• Understanding the significance of Black History Month
• Introduction to the coloring book "Burnt Sienna"
• The inspiration behind the book&...
Have you ever considered that your life, with all its intricacies and challenges, makes you as unique and captivating as a live performance by Prince? Join me as we embark on a journey to uncover what it truly means to be in "rare form." Inspired by the iconic scene from "Purple Rain," we reflect on how each of us, much like Prince on stage, embodies a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Our conversation is...
Discover the transformative power of communication as we unravel the distinction between honesty and transparency with your host, Jay Floyd. How can embracing transparency redefine personal and professional relationships? In this episode, Jay promises to guide you through the nuances of being not just honest, but transparently open about your intentions, feelings, and mistakes. We explore the profound impact this can ...
What if the key to unlocking your full potential lies in transforming your deepest pains into your greatest strengths? Join me, Jay Floyd, as I share my transformative journey across the realms of technology, writing, music, and acting, highlighting how personal hardships have fueled my creativity and personal growth. From leading in the tech space as a data engineering manager to writing books like "The Poet Who...
What if you could silence the sideline critics and finally take control of your life’s steering wheel? Today, I'm sharing insights from my latest book, "The Driver's Seat: How to Get Out of the Backseat of Your Life and Drive in Your God-Given Purpose." We’ll uncover why it's vital to cut the ties holding you back and courageously step into the driver's seat of your life. Forget about tho...
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