MANN-O-LOGUES is where life and leadership converge. Through intimate conversations with diverse leaders, we explore how the moments that define us—our discoveries, breakthroughs, and pivotal decisions—forge our leadership DNA. And how leading transforms how we move through the world.
This isn't about leadership theory. It's about the real stories behind the lessons—the experiences that became clarity, the questions that sparked innovation, the crossroads that revealed purpose. Each episode reveals the beautiful intersection where personal narrative meets professional impact.
MANN-O-LOGUES exists to inspire you forward. Whether you're stepping into leadership for the first time or reimagining what it means after decades in the field, these conversations offer fresh perspective, lived wisdom, and the reminder that the most authentic leadership flows from who we are, not just what we do.
MANN-O-LOGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E10: DIVINE DETOURS: LEADING WITH CHARACTER, SERVICE, AND AUTHENTICITY This episode explores the intersection of life and leadership through Jackson's unique lens as a Black male educator who has navigated spaces where he was often "the only one." With vulnerability and wisdom, he shares pivotal moments that shaped his leadership philosophy—from being hospitalized by stress during a job search, only to wake up to an unexpected assistant principal offer, to standing firm on difficult decisions that tested his integrity and courage. Jackson pulls back the curtain on the realities of educational leadership, discussing the challenges of work-life balance, the weight of equity work, and the critical importance of authentic relationships with students, staff, and families.
Throughout the conversation, Jackson weaves together themes of faith, family, and professional excellence. He introduces his personal leadership framework—the Three Cs and a P (Character, Competency, Consistency, and Passion)—while offering practical, actionable advice for leaders at every stage of their journey. Whether discussing how to navigate parent meetings where his authority was questioned based on race, sharing strategies for building genuine student relationships, or reflecting on the mentorship that shaped him and the mentorship he now provides, Jackson's insights are both deeply personal and universally applicable.
19 Jan 2026
SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND SECOND CHAPTERS with The Parkers
MANN-O-LOGUES S1E9 SERVICE, SACRIFICE, AND SECOND CHAPTERS with The Parkers: This powerful episode of MANN-O-LOGUES is an intimate conversation with Retired Master Sergeant Lachrisha L. Parker and Retired Sergeant First Class Reginald "Reggie" Parker about service, sacrifice, and second chapters. This unique dual-military couple brings a combined 52 years of honorable service to the nation, offering profound insights into what happens when a couple has dedicated decades to the Army—how they navigate identity when the uniforms come off, how a military marriage works when both partners wear rank, and how you discover new purpose when the missions that defined your entire adult lives come to an end.
19 Jan 2026
LEGACY IN ACTION: EDUCATION, EQUITY, & ENDURANCE with Dr. Troy Boddy
MANN-O-LOGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E8 LEGACY IN ACTION: EDUCATION, EQUITY, & ENDURANCE: In this episode, Dr. Troy E. Boddy embraces the legacy of service he was born into—education, mentorship, advocacy, community, and social justice. He shares insights on leading transformational change amid resistance, drawing from his remarkable journey from reading teacher to principal to Director of Equity Initiatives for one of the DMV's largest school districts. He reflects on the pillars that have anchored his leadership across three decades. Filmed at the hidden gem that is the Sandy Spring Slave Museum, this episode examines what it means to lead with both courage and endurance.
19 Jan 2026
LEADING WITH HEART AND JUSTICE with Charima Young
MANN-O-LOUGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E7 LEADING WITH HEART AND JUSTICE: Throughout the conversation, Charima Young explores what drives her passion for advancing equity and justice, how she navigates different perspectives while staying focused on what matters most, and the intentional steps leaders can take to create change that empowers others to carry the work forward. She discusses the essential leadership traits that inspire community engagement, the structures needed to ensure partnerships thrive beyond individual leaders, and what distinguishes those who create temporary improvements from those who build lasting legacies.
19 Jan 2026
FROM MIRACLE TERRITORY TO RAISE THE BAR with Dr. Andraé Townsel
MANN-O-LOGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E6 FROM MIRACLE TERRITORY TO RAISE THE BAR. In this powerful episode of MANN-O-LOGUES, Dr. Sundra Mann sits down with Dr. Andraé Townsel, a three-time superintendent who has transformed educational leadership across Michigan, Maryland, and Connecticut. Dr. Townsel shares his remarkable journey from being a student witnessing gun violence at a critical age to becoming the CEO of Hartford Public Schools—the very district that declined to hire him years earlier. With candor and wisdom, Dr. Townsel addresses the challenges he's faced—from being typecast as a disciplinarian because of his size and being viewed as "too young" for leadership roles. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Townsel reveals his "Raise the Bar Philosophy"—set the bar, meet the bar, exceed the bar, and raise the bar—which has guided his personal and professional success.
19 Jan 2026
FINDING STRENGTH IN THE STRUGGLE with James LeBlanc
MANN-O-LOUGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E5 FINDING STRENGTH IN THE STRUGGLE with James LeBlanc: In this deeply moving episode of MANN-O-LOUGUES, James LeBlanc, Director of Community Impact, author, and motivational speaker, whose journey from struggle to strength embodies the transformative power of resilience and grace-filled leadership.
James's professional journey mirrors his personal transformation. After holding over 50 jobs across various industries, he found his calling in workforce development through consistent volunteer work that caught someone's attention. Today, with 14 years of sobriety and 13 years in workforce development, he leads with servant leadership—never asking others to do what he hasn't done or wouldn't do himself.
Throughout the conversation, James shares how his struggles became his strengths. His understanding of rock bottom informs his empathy for clients. His experience with job instability drives his focus on retention over mere placement. His journey from resentment to forgiveness shapes his leadership philosophy of extending grace—recognizing that people's "best" varies daily and that sometimes just showing up is the victory.
19 Jan 2026
FROM CHARGE NURSE TO THE DAD DIFFERENCE with Dr. Deborah Higdon
MANN-O-LOUGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E4 FROM CHARGE NURSE TO THE DAD DIFFERENCE with Dr. Deborah Higdon: Dr. Deborah Higdon takes listeners on an inspiring journey through her remarkable leadership evolution—from being the youngest head nurse at Presbyterian University Hospital to becoming a pioneering advocate for father engagement in education. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Higdon reveals the turning points that shaped her leadership philosophy: learning to have courageous conversations after becoming a "recovering coward," experiencing a serious health crisis that taught her the importance of self-care, and discovering that leadership isn't about positional power but authentic relationships. She offers practical wisdom on emotional intelligence, setting boundaries, and the importance of leading with integrity while staying true to yourself.
This episode is a masterclass in transforming challenges into opportunities, understanding that leadership comes at a cost, and recognizing that sometimes the most impactful work emerges from our willingness to speak uncomfortable truths.
19 Jan 2026
CULTIVATING FREEDOM THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP with Prof. Cathy House
MANN-O-LOUGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann S1E3 CULTIVATING FREEDOM THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP: This episode celebrates a leader who has mastered the art of simultaneously building businesses while building people, building curriculum while building ventures, building family while building community impact. Professor Cathy House embodies the truth that the most powerful form of leadership is teaching others to lead, and that lived experience transforms education from theoretical to transformational.
Her 30-year journey as both entrepreneur and educator challenges the false dichotomy between "those who do" and "those who teach." Professor House does both, demonstrating that practitioners make the most credible teachers and that teaching deepens your understanding of practice. Her students don't just learn about entrepreneurship—they learn from someone navigating the same challenges, celebrating the same wins, and committed to their success as both professor and fellow entrepreneur.
19 Jan 2026
TRAILBLAZING CHAMPION REIMAGINING AMERICAN HISTORY with Honorable Ventris Gibson
A trailblazing champion reimaging American history, The Honorable Ventris C. Gibson served as the 40th Director of the United States Mint, becoming the first African American to hold the position. From Vietnam-era United States Navy Veteran to Senior Executive Status Appointments, Mrs. Gibson has shattered glass ceilings, opened doors, and been a steady force for diversity and inclusion.
“I seem to pick things that women have not traditionally gone into, like Air Traffic Control. Now it's happening, but back in the 60s and 70s, that was not the norm.”
19 Jan 2026
BUILDING COMMUNITY WHILE PRESERVING HISTORY with Rev. Timothy Warner
MANN-O-LOGUES with Dr. Sundra Mann - S1E1: Rev. Timothy B. Warner has dedicated his life to building communities with moral purpose, from his unexpected journey as a bacterial geneticist to becoming a nationally recognized community engagement leader. In this episode, Rev. Warner shares how being raised by the community shaped his approach to leadership across diverse roles. We explore his pioneering Neighbor to Neighbor Campaign, his work exposing hidden pockets of poverty in one of America's wealthiest counties, and his vision for the Heritage Emory Grove Community Development Corporation. Rev. Warner reflects on the essential leadership skills for managing relentless change, the interconnection between moral purpose and organizational success, and the personal costs and blessings of leadership on family life. He offers wisdom for new leaders entering community building and encouragement for seasoned leaders who may be weary in their well-doing.
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