The Back to Me Podcast

It’s National Career Development Month, and we’re going global! To launch our International Career Development Series, we’re exploring student success abroad with Dr. Ainsley Carry, whose more than 30 years in higher education include serving as Vice President for Student Affairs at Auburn University, the University of Southern California (USC), and, most recently, the University of British Columbia. Born in New York to immigrant parents and raised in Miami, Dr. Carry shares how his experience as a University of Florida football player sparked a love of learning. From the playing field to university leadership, he reflects on the transf...

What if your interest in building things could become a career dedicated to improving lives? As we wrap up our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Ian Sequeira, Vice President of Port and Marine for U.S. West at AECOM. Raised in a Christian home in India, Mr. Sequeira developed an early interest in construction and a commitment to serving others. He shares how his journey as an international student in Oklahoma led to a career in civil engineering and project management, that was shaped by his faith, perseverance, and unexpected opportunities. Discover the education, professional credentials, and...

What if a high school field trip introduced you to your future career and eventually brought you back to teach the next generation? As we continue our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Steve Borio, Automotive Technology Instructor and Ford ASSET Instructor at Cerritos College. With 30 years of automotive experience, including 27 years at a Ford dealership, Mr. Borio shares how an early visit to Cerritos sparked his interest in the field. Along the way, he discovered that helping others learn the job was just as rewarding as working on vehicles. He introduces the Ford ASSET program, an earn...

Ready to explore working with your hands and using your brain in ways you never expected? As we continue our “Built to Move” Trade and Transportation series, we welcome Stephen Shute, HVAC/R Organizer at United Association (UA) Local 250 and Industry and Technology Instructor at El Camino College. With 44 years of experience in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, Mr. Shute shares the opportunities for career growth in this essential trade. From residential systems to commercial and industrial facilities, aerospace, and medical environments, he reveals a field that reaches far beyond keeping homes comfortable. Discover how to pursue this pathway thro...

What does it mean to prepare students not only to earn a degree, but to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce? This month, we introduce ‘Built to Move,’ our new Trade and Transportation series! In this episode, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, Associate Dean in the College of Professional and Continuing Education at California State University, Long Beach, returns to share how higher education, workforce development, international education, and industry partnerships can work together to create meaningful career pathways for traditional and nontraditional learners. Discover how students can build English-language skills alongside discipline-specific training, earn self-paced AI certificates, and translate work and li...

As September comes to a close, we want to recognize National Suicide Prevention Month. Our founder and host, Yoli Tamu, introduces The C.L.E.A.R. Pathway™ and explores five practices for moving forward: Clarity, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Action, and Reciprocal Relationships. This episode is a compassionate reminder that clarity is not the absence of background noise, it is the decision to keep listening to your own calling anyway. Whether you are beginning college, reconsidering your career pathway, feeling weighed down by expectations, or preparing for your next opportunity, this episode offers practical reflection and encouragement to help you be...

The good news is that there is no replacement for being human. In the final episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Christine White, Assistant Professor of Practice and the Director of Partnerships and Growth Initiatives at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. In addition, she serves as the Managing Director of the MS in Marketing program. Through an annually refreshed curriculum and a reverse career fair where students present their own brands to prospective employers, Haslam’s MS in Marketing program helps students build confidence, career-ready skills, and prof...

As headlines raise serious questions about AI safety and human control, this conversation invites students to move beyond fear and consider how they can help shape technology with responsibility, curiosity, and care. In this week’s episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Will Croushorn, an AI product leader, educator and the force behind Wendy’s FreshAI, a real-world drive-through AI experience that has handled more than 100 million customer interactions. Mr. Croushorn challenges students to see this moment not simply as a threat, but as a possible human renaissance. Discover what it to...

As we continue our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we are joined by Nicholas Beaudoin, Director of AI Programs at Caltech’s Center for Technology and Management Education. He works across industry and education to make artificial intelligence practical and useful for organizations, and he emphasizes that there is no single route into an AI-related career. In this episode, Nicholas explores the expanding range of AI opportunities available to students, including roles in writing, technical documentation, and project management — not only engineering and coding. He encourages students to follow their curiosity, explore passion projects, participate in hackath...

In this opening episode of our “AI With Purpose: Student Pathways to What’s Next” series, we welcome Dr. Stephen Sutton, Vice Chancellor Emeritus for Student Affairs at UC Berkeley. Recorded shortly before his retirement, this timely conversation explores what students need to thrive in an AI-influenced world. With four decades of leadership in student affairs, Dr. Sutton explores students’ understandable concerns about AI, including job uncertainty, unclear academic expectations, and access gaps. Discover why critical thinking, responsible AI use, cultural understanding, and equity matter as technology expands opportunity while also creating new barriers. Don’t miss his encouragement for students t...

Whether it’s your first year or your last, finding your community on campus is an important part of helping you stay engaged and motivated while you pursue both your academic and professional goals. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr. T Gage, Counseling Coordinator for Umoja-UBAKA at Laney College in Oakland, California. Dr. Gage shares how intentional guidance and a “my brother’s keeper” mindset can help students not only enroll in college, but truly thrive there. Find out how she models time management and accountability while helping create a space for students ages 16 to 83—where every studen...

School is back in session and we hope you had a restful summer! Have you mapped out your game plan for the semester yet? If not, get ready to be inspired by two student athletes who are learning the benefits of preparation, discipline and leadership both on and off the court! In this week’s episode, we are joined by Chris Plantey and Laolu Kalejaiye, two Business majors and Basketball Point Guards at Lincoln University in Oakland, California. Find out how friendships, mentorship, and genuine care from their coaches have made their student-athlete experience more meaningful. In addition to keeping up...

Congratulations, Graduates! As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, our host and founder, Yoli Tamu invites you to pause and reflect on the difference between performing for approval and living with purpose. Using her personal freshman-year story as the backdrop, she explores how boredom, peer pressure, and the desire to fit in can quietly shape our choices if we’re not paying attention. If you have ever felt caught between image and authenticity, this episode will challenge you to look beneath the surface, trust your values, and choose a more intentional way of living. Yoli completed her M.Ed. in...

Our ‘Campus Care Collective’ series for Mental Health Awareness Month continues with Elise Sturdivant, Vice President of Student Affairs at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead. Mrs. Sturdivant shares how higher ed chose her after growing up surrounded by educators, advocates, admissions recruiters, and financial aid support that helped her feel she belonged, even as a young mom in college. Now serving as the only African American woman at her college, she leads with cultural awareness, visible presence, and a deep commitment to the whole student through positive intelligence coaching, nervous system regulation, and early alerts that help stud...

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we continue our ‘Campus Care Collective’ series with Dr. Jerell Hill, Dean of Counseling and Guided Pathways at Los Angeles City College. This Education Leader, author, and international speaker feels privileged to transform student struggles into strength. From full academic scholarship recipient to administrative healer, Dr. Hill shares lived wisdom from his new book, "Developing Conscious Gratitude in Schools.” He teaches aspiring educators how to shift students from burdens to brilliance and recognize that "the wound is the data," not the problem. Find out how to use your struggle as the beginning of progress while Dr. Hi...

It's Mental Health Awareness Month, and we're launching our “Campus Care Collective” series with William Middlebrooks, Deputy Athletic Director, Leadership Strategist, and Basketball Program Director at Lincoln University in Oakland, California. From college basketball player to high school coach at age 18, Coach Middlebrooks shares how mental health fuels athletic success and lifelong prosperity. He warns against desperation-driven sports decisions while coaching parents to prioritize personal value over financial prospects. Through programming designed with his wife, athletes build mental resilience, conflict resolution, organizational skills, and real-world grounding through jobs and community service. After leading teams to championships, he teaches true success bala...

This Financial Literacy month has truly been inspiring our students to take their financial futures to the next level! Our ‘Money Masterclass’ series continues with Eric Clay, Financial Wellbeing Coach at Operation HOPE, who turned his own student credit struggles into a mission teaching families how to build credit health that lasts. Mr. Clay reveals how credit tells your life story and breaks down the 65% revolving vs. installment credit strategy. Discover why skipping rent-builders for smart revolving credit beats debt traps every time. Plus, tap into Operation HOPE's free services for budget plans that include purchases you love and business plan...

Our ‘Money Masterclass’ series for Financial Literacy Month continues with Anika Jackson, USC Annenberg Professor of Digital Media Management, founder of Your Brand Amplified, and co-host of Mediascape and Zen Power Hour. This entrepreneurship powerhouse shares how she went from club promoter to thriving brand-builder by teaching clients and students to first know themselves as a brand. Ms. Jackson breaks down her proven system and explains how she turned her ‘side hustle’ into scalable success without hiring a team too quickly. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, learn how to amplify your authentic voice across niches and take advantage of her AI clo...

We’re back from Spring Break and we hope you had some time to rest! Financial Literacy Month is here and our ‘Money Masterclass’ series of well-sought after financial educators and professionals are going to make you want to share them with all of your friends! This series opens with Patricia Kelly, University of California, Santa Cruz Lecturer, Speaker, and Financial Literacy Advocate, who is also the mastermind behind the popular course, COWL52 Personal Finance and Investing that is now available throughout the University of California system. From initially 30 students to now over 1,000 students enrolled, this former Wall Street Analyst shares...

Our ‘Women Leading with Heart’ series for Women’s History Month closes powerfully with the return of Dr. Theresa Price, CEO and Founder of The National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) - home of the renowned Black College Expo and Latino College Expo. This beloved community trailblazer shares her philosophy and secrets to living and investing in a spiritually filled life. She believes being smart is not enough, but being overprepared and well-rounded can ensure you thrive in a world not designed for everyone’s success. Find out how you can thrive with NCRF’s holistic wraparound services, student-athlete programs, financial literacy...

Our ‘Women Leading with Heart’ series for Women's History Month continues with Dr. Khalilah Doss, the Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management at California State University, Fullerton. This first-generation Jamaican track scholar became an educational trailblazer who simply wanted to “be who I needed.” Dr. Doss shares why seeing the humanity in students—as someone’s children—guides every decision she makes. She models heart-led leadership and relationship-building with a deep commitment to ensuring students never feel like a bother—only seen, valued, and supported. Find out why asking for help, admitting “I don’t know,” and understanding that see...

Women’s History Month continues with our ‘Women Leading with Heart’ series! In this week’s episode, we spotlight an emerging change-maker in education, the Assistant Director of the First Gen Scholars Program at Jackson State University, Ms. Shandell Lewis. She is a first-generation college graduate, former counselor, and passionate advocate for Mississippi education that is bridging K-12 and higher ed to empower the next generation. Drawn to Jackson State’s standalone first-gen program, she brought her K-12 lens to fill critical gaps—modeling transparent engagement rooted in her own first-gen journey and counseling expertise. Find out how she builds student agen...

To wrap up our Love Series, “Rooted in Love”, we dive into agape love—selfless, unconditional care for others with LaMar-Octavious L. Scott, Vice President of Student Affairs at LeMoyne-Owen College. As a leader at the fifth oldest HBCU, Mr. Scott shares his journey from early ministry roots to helping students develop unapologetic critical thinking and global cultural understanding. Spirituality is weaved into campus life through weekly schoolwide spiritual pauses rooted in liberation theology, prayer, and relational depth that welcomes tough questions like “How does this campus connect to your spirit and your personal goals?” Mr. Scott reminds us that you’re nev...

As we continue our ‘Rooted in Love’ series, this week’s episode explores the power of conviction and community love with Marita Asamoah, a first-generation Political Science major at Coppin State University. Born in the Bronx and raised partly in Ghana, Marita brings a global perspective to student leadership as Vice President of the NAACP and Chief Justice of Coppin’s SGA Executive Board. Dedicated to creating change where she sees injustice, she pours her energy into building bridges between students, faculty, and the broader community. Rooted in love for her people and her purpose, Marita reminds us that community love mea...

Love in college can feel like the biggest story of your life, but what if it’s actually the classroom where you learn who you are? In this week’s episode of our ‘Rooted in Love’ series, our host and founder, Yoli Tamu takes you back to her years at Howard University to share real experiences with dating, music, and self‑discovery on and off campus, from supper‑club stages to difficult conversations and hard breakups. Through honest reflections on intimacy, expectations, jealousy, and the difference between healthy love and distracting love, she unpacks five key lessons and turns them into practic...

For our annual ‘Love Series: Rooted in Love’ kickoff, we explore the power of self-love with Dr. D’Wan Carpenter, a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and founder of DJC Medical Group. Blending evidence-based lifestyle medicine with faith, Dr. Dee shares how balance, preparation, and spiritual grounding can help prevent and even reverse chronic conditions like heart disease and obesity. Through her seven wellness pillars, one including spirituality, she guides us toward sustainable habits, from mindful meal prep to measurable health goals. Find out about her community initiatives and how you can explore lifestyle medicine as a career. Dr. De...

We’re wrapping up our “Honor Your Gifts and Say Yes” series with a powerful conversation on turning vision into real opportunities for students. Dr. William Syms, Vice President of Student Services, Enrollment Management and Equity Initiatives at West Los Angeles College (WLAC), shares how his journey has shaped his passion for advocacy and college access. He unpacks a bold Vision 2030 plan for students and explains how guaranteed admission in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) helps remove application barriers and why helping students find their identity at WLAC is central to building authentic relationships for their future. Discover how to...

We’re back for the new semester, celebrating our 200th episode as we continue the “Honor Your Gifts and Say Yes” series! This week, we honor a trailblazer turning hardships into leadership legacy! We are thrilled to invite back the reigning Miss Coppin State University and graduating Health Science scholar, Catherine Trumata-Addey. Catherine urges students to reach beyond Coppin State and build their own legacies through leadership. Find out why it is important to step out of your comfort zone by developing your public speaking skills, befriending your professors, and building your vocabulary, in order to maintain confidence and show up for...

We hope everyone had a restful, peaceful, and joy-filled Thanksgiving! This year has given us all reason to pause, reflect, and identify our own personal calling amidst uncertain times. In this week’s episode, we welcome educator, author, and wellness consultant, Stacey Y. Clark. Stacey shares how she’s helped clients ages 17 to 70 connect their purpose to an authentic life they truly enjoy living. In her book, “Confidence in Full Bloom: A 30-Day Guide to Growing Unshakable Confidence in Uncertain Times”, she unpacks three phases of personal growth—self-worth, self-efficacy, and self-love—to help listeners make the most of their course sylla...

Have you ever been misunderstood for simply being outspoken? In the final episode of our “Owning Your Strength” series, we’re joined by Director, Producer and LMU MFA candidate, Taja Dominique. Taja shares how she transformed her outspoken spirit into creative projects, mentorship, and by founding her own company, InspiredbyTaja Productions.⁠ Raised by artistic parents and supported by powerful mentors, she has used storytelling, film, and activism to not only uplift Oakland artists and youth in her community, but humanize them and their stories. Discover why knowing yourself, planning ahead, and creating with integrity and courage are essential to owning your str...

When was the last time you seriously considered building agency for yourself? In this episode of the “Owning Your Strength” series, we’re joined by Dell Ivy, Program Manager for Student Experience at the University of Houston’s CT Bauer College of Business. As a second-generation college graduate, Dell draws from his journey as a TRIO Coordinator and the child of nontraditional college graduates. He highlights the importance of building agency, finding mentors, expressing your voice, and staying intentional inside and outside the classroom. Dell shares practical advice for navigating parental pressures, building reputation after setbacks, and embracing mentorship and autonomy...

Life’s challenges are inevitable, but what if you could face them with an invincible spirit? In this episode of the “Owning Your Strength” series, our host and founder, Yoli Tamu explores five powerful ways to tap into your inner strength. Whether you’ve felt your inner powerhouse before or not, these practical strategies will help you build confidence and resilience, no matter what comes your way. Tune in to discover how to trust your journey, and remember that ‘this too shall pass’.⁠ ⁠ Yoli completed her M.Ed. in Cross-Cultural Teaching at National University, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical...

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to take inventory of our inner strength as we prepare to navigate societal challenges with resilience and joy! In the first episode of our new series, “Owning Your Strength,” we are joined by Kwynn Townsend Riley, Director of the Office of Black Student Services at Loyola Marymount University. This award-winning poet, author and first-generation graduate shares how overcoming doubt and honoring her inner strength helped her forge an authentic community, nurture Black student pride, and support social justice on campus. Through her own poetry, cultural events and programs like the Umoja Alliance and Th...

This week for our “Ready, Set, Leap” series, our host and founder, Yoli Tamu welcomes the very student who first inspired her to begin serving college students years ago! In this episode, we meet Rwanda Carter, ASW, PPSC, Psychiatric Social Worker for LAUSD’s Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP). Born in Belize and raised in Watts, Rwanda shares how her parents’ sacrifices inspired her to uplift her community, build belonging, and lead with purpose. She recalls finding her voice through campus organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Summer Engineering Experience for Kids (SEEK)—programs that nurtured h...

As part of our ‘Ready, Set, Leap’ series, we welcome back Feminine Energy Therapist and Master Energy Healing Yogi, Dr. Zerri Gross. In this week’s episode, Dr. Z reveals how to identify and balance your feminine and masculine energies to boost both self-awareness and social awareness. Discover how masculine energy—driven by production, action, and survival—helps you get things done, while feminine energy—rooted in presence, alignment, and supportive connection—encourages you to slow down, see the bigger picture, and grow sustainably. Learn why vulnerability is one of your greatest strengths and how embracing the “Be-Do-Have” mindset can elevate your plann...

This month, we introduce our ‘Ready, Set, Leap’ Series! Dr. Brunson from Spelman College opened the series with an inspiring episode for future educators. In this week’s episode, our founder and host, Yoli Tamu challenges us to embrace change and take bolder risks as we step into the next chapter with faith and intention. Quiet the inner critic, strengthen your focus, and build the resilience needed to rise when our principles and character are being tested. Yoli shares five powerful ways to move beyond comfort zones, prepare for the inevitable curveballs, and turn stumbles into opportunities to grow. Yoli comple...

The landscape of education is evolving in the midst of policy changes across the country. In this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Fatima Brunson, Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Education at Spelman College. Dr. Brunson shares how federal shifts are reshaping learning environments, disproportionately impacting students and educators. Despite this politically charged climate contributing to student and faculty stress, Dr. Brunson highlights the resilience of future educators committed to authentic transformation, justice, and culturally relevant pedagogy. Find out how she empowers students in her class to navigate funding losses, dispel policy myths, and craft student-led policy briefs of al...

Let’s talk about empathy! Do we really want to understand each other? As we wrap up Suicide Prevention Month, we welcome back Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Clifton Bright, Jr. for an honest dive into the challenges people face with their feelings in today's world. Clifton unpacks three distinct types of empathy to emphasize their value, especially in times of crisis, and guides us through the art of listening to understand rather than simply respond. Don’t miss the unforgettable story he shares about a survivor who jumped off a bridge and lived, illuminating what it truly takes to show up f...

As we continue to honor Suicide Prevention Month, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Alexander Dorsey returns to share practical insights on mental health, suicide prevention, and supporting college athletes. With six years in private practice, Alex discusses how to recognize warning signs of suicidal thoughts in yourself, friends, and loved ones while introducing the Stanley-Brown Safety Plan as a tool for staying safe during moments of crisis. We also explore how self-care, body awareness, and daily wellness practices can reduce the risk of suicidal ideation—offering guidance, encouragement, and a reminder that you are valuable, you are needed, and you are no...

School is back in session, and you may be feeling that familiar wave of overwhelm. So, how are you managing your stress? In today's episode, we are joined by Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Psychotherapist, Samantha Tubbs-Crews, who shares actionable steps for evaluating "how big is your situation?"—so you can tackle challenges without spiraling into panic, even when grades and goals feel daunting. Find out how small choices today shape your future well-being as we dig into the risks of using alcohol or drugs for stress relief. Get ready to start the year with confidence and take your next st...