DO BETTER Revolution Podcast with Debra

About DO BETTER Revolution Podcast with Debra

We're all still becoming. Do Better with Debra is a podcast about the experiences that shape us, change us, and remind us who we are. Through honest conversations with people from all walks of life, Dr. Debra Griffith explores the moments that define us, the lessons that stay with us, and the stories that continue to shape our lives. Together, these conversations help us make sense of our experiences and better understand who we are, how we got here, and where we're going. If you've ever heard someone's story and thought, "I've felt that too," or "I've never had the words for it," you're in the right place. Because sometimes someone else's story helps us better understand our own.

Publisher

Debra Y. Griffith, Ed.D.

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Apr 2023

Latest episode

6 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Aug 2026

   Who's Taking Care of You? Leadership isn't a solo journey.

   Who's taking care of you? As leaders, we're often the people everyone depends on. We solve problems. We support our teams. We pour into students, colleagues, friends, and family. But who pours into us? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kevina Brown and Samantha Hernandez, two leaders I've known and admired for years. We talk about the people who saw something in us before we could see it ourselves, how those moments shaped the leaders we've become, and why even experienced leaders need spaces where they can be honest, supported, and reminded of their worth. What I found most fascinating was how different our stories were, yet they all led us to the same place. Kevina shared how, as one of only a handful of Black students in her elementary school, her second-grade teacher cast her—a little Black girl—as the king in the school play. She said, "In that single action, she gave me wings." Sam talked about the mentors who saw potential in her long before she believed it herself and how those experiences shaped the way she now leads and serves students. Listening to both of them reminded me that leadership doesn't begin with a title. It begins with someone believing in us. And sometimes, years later, we still need someone to remind us of who we are. I also realized we weren't just talking about leadership. We were talking about the people everyone else depends on. Who's taking care of them? I hope this conversation reminds you that leadership was never meant to be a solo journey. About the Guests Dr. Kevina Brown Dr. Kevina Brown has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as Community Relations Specialist and a part-time lecturer at San José State University. Throughout her career, she has been committed to student success, educational leadership, and creating spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. A proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., she believes leadership begins with helping people feel seen, heard, and valued. Samantha F. Hernandez Samantha F. Hernandez serves as Director of Student Engagement, Director of Student Needs, Undocumented Student Liaison, and Advisor to Student Government at a California community college. A Latina and first-generation college graduate, Samantha has dedicated her career to ensuring students have the support they need to thrive. Since 2019, she has led the growth of her college's basic needs program, expanding resources for food security, housing, financial stability, and wellness. She believes education changes lives when students feel safe, seen, and empowered. About the Host Dr. Debra Griffith is the founder of Do Better Coaching & Consulting, where she coaches senior leaders, develops executive teams, and partners with organizations to build stronger leadership and healthier workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of leadership experience across higher education and 6–12 education, she has dedicated her career to helping leaders navigate complexity, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change. Through her podcast, coaching, consulting, and speaking, Debra creates conversations that help people make sense of the experiences that shape who they become. She believes leadership is deeply personal, our greatest lessons often come through one another, and we are all still becoming. Connect with Debra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debragriffith Learn more about executive coaching, consulting, speaking, and the ROOTS leadership community: https://www.dobettercoachingandconsulting.com

2. 

   6 May 2026

   Boundaries Aren't Selfish

   *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69a4eb13-4238-8328-a410-2d5e93741292-85" data-testid= "conversation-turn-52" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> What does it look like to stop abandoning yourself just to keep the peace? In this episode of Do Better with Debra, I'm joined by Rebekah Tayebi for a real and honest conversation about boundaries, what they are, why they feel so hard, and what it actually takes to live them. This is not a conversation about "just saying no." This is a conversation about patterns. Conditioning. And the cost of being the one who always shows up for everyone else but yourself. Rebekah is a therapist, mindfulness teacher, and parent coach who brings both clinical insight and lived experience into her work. Together, we explore how people-pleasing gets formed, how early relationships shape our need to be seen and liked, and why so many of us wait until we're completely depleted before we finally set a boundary. We talk about how boundaries live in the body, the fatigue, the resentment, the disconnection and what it means to start listening to those signals instead of overriding them. Rebekah shares the difference between internal and external boundaries, and why both are necessary if we want to stay connected to ourselves while being in relationship with others. We also go into the realities of boundaries at work, the fear of being seen as difficult, the pressure to overperform, and the moment when you realize you don't have to stay in environments that don't value you. This conversation is honest, layered, and at times uncomfortable because it asks you to look at yourself. If you've ever felt like setting a boundary makes you selfish… If you've ever said yes when you meant no… If you're tired of carrying more than your share… This episode is an invitation to pause and ask yourself: Where am I leaving myself? My hope is that you hear something that helps you come back to yourself, not perfectly, but intentionally. Key Takeaways Boundaries are not selfish; they are how we come back to ourselves People-pleasing is often rooted in early experiences of needing to be seen, loved, or safe The body signals when a boundary has been crossed, through fatigue, resentment, and disconnection Internal boundaries (what we allow ourselves to hold onto) are just as important as external ones Workplace environments often reward overextension, but you still have a choice Setting boundaries can feel awkward and messy and that's part of the process About Rebekah Tayebi Rebekah Tayebi, LCSW, is a therapist, mindfulness teacher, and parent coach with over eighteen years of experience working with teens, adults, and families. Her work is rooted in relationship, honesty, and practical tools that support lasting change. She specializes in developmental trauma and integrates mindfulness, embodiment, and trauma-informed practices into her work. Rebekah is also a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and leads Yoga for Trauma Recovery workshops. She is the co-author of The Wanderlust Warrior Project and has developed curriculum for teens and young adults, with published work in Elephant Journal and Breathe Together. Her approach is grounded, compassionate, and real, helping people reconnect to themselves and build the skills needed for healing. Website: https://satyafamilycoaching.com/ About the Host Debra Y. Griffith, Ed.D. is an executive coach, consultant, and the voice behind Do Better with Debra. She currently serves as Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools in Los Angeles, where she leads system-wide strategy focused on belonging, college readiness, and postsecondary success. With more than 25 years in education and leadership, Debra supports women of color leaders navigating complexity and change, without abandoning themselves in the process. Connect with Debra Website: www.dobetterexecutivecoaching.com LinkedIn: Debra Y. Griffith, Ed.D. Instagram: @dobetterwithdebra

3. 

   8 Apr 2026

   Protect Your Energy: Healing Survival Mode, Honoring Capacity, and Learning to Choose Ease

   What does it look like to stop living in survival mode and actually listen to what your nervous system has been asking for all along? In this episode of Do Better with Debra, I'm joined by Zabie Yamasaki for a deeply grounding, expansive conversation about healing, boundaries, and learning how to choose ease in a world that rewards overextension. This is a conversation about slowing down, honoring capacity, and remembering that rest is not collapse, it's care. Zabie shares her journey as a survivor, healer, educator, and mother, and how her lived experiences shaped the work she now offers to others. We talk honestly about trauma, hypervigilance, and the ways survival mode can quietly become our baseline, especially for women of color, caregivers, and those working in systems that demand constant giving. We explore how boundaries live in the body, why "boundary work is nervous system work," and what happens when we stop overriding the signals our bodies send us. Zabie reflects on the moments that led her to write Protect Your Energy, a book that reads less like instruction and more like a restorative inhale, gentle, spacious, and deeply affirming. This conversation weaves together stories of loss, resilience, activism, and healing, while naming the exhaustion so many of us carry but rarely say out loud. We talk about toxic work environments, the pressure to overperform, redefining success, and learning to ask for and receive, what we deserve. If you are tired, carrying too much, or questioning whether another way is possible, this episode is an invitation to pause. You don't need to fix anything. You don't need to do more. You just need to listen. My hope is that you hear something that reminds you that your body is wise, your capacity matters, and you are allowed to choose yourself, without guilt. Key Takeaways Survival mode often shows up quietly and can become normalized over time Boundary work is not just cognitive; it lives in the nervous system and the body Rest is not collapse it can be restorative when practiced with intention Honoring capacity requires slowing down and learning to trust bodily cues Healing does not require perfection or completion; it can happen right in the middle About Zabie Yamasaki Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT is the founder of Transcending Trauma through Yoga and a nationally recognized trauma-informed yoga instructor, resilience educator, consultant, and keynote speaker. Her work centers nervous system regulation, embodied healing, and supporting trauma survivors through accessible, compassionate practices. Zabie's yoga as healing curriculum is implemented at over fifty college campuses and trauma agencies across the country, including the University of California system, Stanford, Yale, USC, Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University. She is the author of multiple books and healing tools, including Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and children and sees her sensitivity and softness as her greatest strength. Connect with Zabie: Instagram: @transcending_trauma_with_yoga Website: zyamasaki.com About the Host Debra Y. Griffith, Ed.D. is an executive coach, consultant, and the voice behind Do Better with Debra. She currently serves as Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools in Los Angeles, where she leads system-wide equity strategy focused on belonging, college readiness, and postsecondary success. With more than 25 years in education and leadership, Debra supports women of color leaders navigating transition, complexity, and change, without abandoning themselves in the process. Connect with Debra: Website: www.dobetterexecutivecoaching.com LinkedIn: Debraygriffith Instagram: @dobetterwithdebra Subscribe to Do Better with Debra on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Contact DO BETTER Revolution Podcast with Debra

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.