The Booce Teaches Podcast

Episode 0: Introducing The Booce Teaches Podcast

Welcome to the official overview of the Booce Teaches Podcast! Learn about the podcast's guests, episode structure, and impetus for creation!

Episode 1: Introspective Dreaming with Rev. Dr. John W. Kinney (Dean Kinney)

In this episode, the unwavering dreamer, Rev. Dr. Kinney, shares an introspective look and bird's eye view into his educational journey as he shares lessons from elementary school through undergraduate school to graduate schools. He delves into his professional experience from a tutor to a lecturer to a professor to the Dean of the School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Our conversation spans across topics from education to career to youth to family to music, movies, and culture.
Trigger Warning: Brief mention of Black death

Episode 2: Recovering Confidence and Difficult Truth-Telling

In this episode, the effectual truth seeker and teller, Dr. Bassard, shares sobering honesty about her journey from the mountaintop of academic high school achievements to the culture shock of undergraduate life in a state other than her home. But even that experience had respite bright spots. She delves into her professional experience as what she describes as "an accidental scholar," from a graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University to a lecturer to a Rutgers University Ph.D. student to a professor to the current Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Rhodes College. Our conversation celebrates how truth-telling and teaching can be healing, transformative, and open doors of opportunity.
 
Trigger Warning: Death and police brutality mentioned

Episode 3: Divine Intervention: The Curious Pursuit of Artistry and Education with Dr. T

In this episode, renowned Broadway artist/actor, director, and professor Dr. Tawyna "Dr. T" Pettiford-Wates opens the conversation with a powerful secondary school story that demonstrates her curious commitment to the inquiry process of life along with the unwavering support of her parents. She describes her purpose work as a bridge builder to connect peoples, groups, and perspectives that would not connect by any other means. For Dr. T, “being an excellent educator is an artistic practice.” Her journey to education was by way of an invitation to share her artistry with young Black girls in the Hill District, where August Wilson set his plays. In the same manner, her mentor encouraged her to pursue doctoral work where scholar and activist Angela Davis was a part of her dissertation committee. Then she follows with life-changing stories of her purpose confirmation work of racial conciliation with her theatre company, The Conciliation Project. Dr. T's love for curiosity and education has offered her the opportunity to be a professor to many all over the world, with the longest tenure at Virginia Commonwealth University as Professor of Graduate Pedagogy, Acting, and Directing. Listen to the joy and laughter between Tawyna (Dr. T) and Tanya (soon to be Dr. B) as Dr. T drops too many pearls of wisdom to count.

Episode 4: Creating Space: Keeping the Door Open for Others with Dr. Paula Johnson

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Paula Johnson, the principal of Landstown High School in Virginia Beach, which happens to be the host's alma mater. Dr. Johnson's passion for math and education began at a young age, leading her to become a tutor for the Upward Bound program. She shares her savvy strategy for landing her first teaching position with the help of Virginia State University's Career Services. Drawing from her own experiences, she offers valuable advice on navigating the job market when starting out as a teacher and shares interview tips she received from one of her doctoral mentors. The conversation continues as Dr. Johnson shares her journey back home to Landstown after years of teaching and leadership at other schools. She discusses the routines of being an administrator and concludes on a positive note - nothing brings her more joy than supporting and witnessing her students' success. Their conversation ends with Dr. Johnson reminding the host that she's from Brooklyn, and of course, she likes Hip Hop :-)

Episode 5: The Right Fit is Never too Late with Dr. Nathaniel West

In this episode, Dr. Nathaniel West, Director of the Master of Arts in Christian Education, the Director of Formation and Counseling, and an Assistant Professor of Christian Education at the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and the host's self-proclaimed life coach. The conversation opens with Dr. West’s declaration, that at age 17, he knew he was going to be a professor. As the conversation continues, he shares his educational journey from earning an accounting degree to earning his doctorate in counseling to becoming a professor as he interweaves the thread of writing’s importance. Their conversation ends in laughter as Dr. West and the host talk about their favorite cookout songs!

Episode 6: The Shift: Death of the Ego with Andrew Blackmore

In this episode, we delve into the impact that high school guidance counselors can have on the dreams and aspirations of their students. Our host is joined by Andrew Blackmore, who is not only a high school guidance counselor but also a former AVID counselor! Blackmore shares his personal journey and how he learned to let go of his ego, which changed the trajectory of his life. He also talks about his educational background and how he earned his psychology and counseling degrees. As the conversation progresses, we hear about Blackmore's unique perspective on mentorship and how he's come full circle in his career, moving from being a high school guidance counselor to changing industries and then returning to the field of counseling. Finally, the episode wraps up with a fun discussion about the 90s rap scene.

Episode 7: A Heart of Gratitude is Enough with Lisa Hope

In this episode, we hear from Mrs. Lisa Hope, a proposal manager and federal contractor, who shares her journey as a non-traditional student in her 30s, who already has a family. Lisa credits her peaceful home life as a space where she could flourish and thrive as a graduate student, wife, mother, and human being. She breezed through her undergraduate studies but yearned for a more fulfilling graduate school experience. Lisa's career breakthrough happened while living in Nevada, where she worked for a federally recognized tribe as a grant writer. During her tenure, Lisa created over a dozen jobs and raised millions of dollars in grant funding. She describes that time as one of her "life-defining moments" because she truly enjoyed the work she was doing, and it was rewarding to create job opportunities. Lisa also talks about how wisdom is her superpower, and how discovering it brought about liberation. The conversation concludes with her reminiscing about a shared mentor and discussing her top five favorite movies of all time!

Episode 8: Be Authentic | The Sacred Blueprint with Professor Omiyẹmi Green

In this episode, Professor Omiyẹmi Green brings her grounded spirit to this conversation. She reflects on her secondary and college journey as a focused and inquisitive student. She offers life-changing wisdom about self-and-purpose discovery that will remind listeners of their inner knowing. She brings flesh to the bones of curiosity through her teaching, scholarship, and artistry.  Through this conversation, she invites us to bear witness to her full-circle journey from an undergraduate student at the College of William and Mary to her tenured professor career at the College. She invites us to bring the entirety of who our ancestors were, who we are, and what we will become to each academic and life moment. Finally, like the other episodes, we conclude with our favorite game of Top-Five.

Episode 9: Longing to Belong | All Roads Lead to Purpose with Revs. Megan DeWald and Abigail Rusert

This episode, taped during the holiday season, has an air of hope permeates the conversation. In this episode, Reverends Megan DeWald, Director of the Institute for Youth Ministry (IYM), and Abigail Rusert, Associate Dean for Continuing Education, both at Princeton Theological Seminary, offer a breath of fresh air as they share the complexities that life brings as we navigate who we are becoming. They provided sheer openness as they unvarnished the lacquer of perfection as students and later professionals. Our conversation invites us all to walk through the challenging moments of school life, laugh as we stumble through vocational awareness, and sigh with bated breath as we reflect and wonder about the infinite possibilities of what could be. As always, we conclude with our favorite game of Top-Five.