What does it mean to lead with integrity when the room wasn’t built for you?

What does authenticity look like when others are filtering you through their biases?

In one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had, I sat down with Dr. Rachelle Smith—counselor, scholar, higher ed leader, wife, mother, and truth-teller.

We explored:

✅ The emotional labor of being a Black woman in academia

✅ Why code-switching can’t protect us from bias—and why authenticity is essential

✅ Her groundbreaking research on inclusive excellence, identity, and institutional growth

✅ Balancing career, family, and spiritual life in a culture of overwork

✅ What it really means to lead from your moral core

Rachelle’s wisdom is a gift. Her courage is a call to all of us in leadership, education, and advocacy.

Shame is a silent weight many of us carry — a belief that we are somehow flawed, broken, or unworthy of love. In this powerful and compassionate episode of Project I Am, Dr. David J. Schlosz unpacks the profound impact of shame on our mental and emotional well-being and offers a path toward healing through the courageous practices of confession and authenticity.

Drawing on research from shame experts like Brené Brown and June Tangney, personal therapy stories, and real-life media examples including Jonah Hill’s Stutz and Demi Lovato’s journey of truth-telling, this episode explores how sharing our stories in safe spaces can transform our lives. David highlights why empathy is the antidote to shame, what makes a space truly “safe,” and how living authentically — even when it’s costly — leads to freedom and wholeness.

This episode is both a heart-opening invitation and a practical guide for anyone longing to break free from the grip of shame and step into a more authentic life.

Whether you're a therapist, a seeker, or someone on a healing journey, this episode will meet you with truth, grace, and hope.

In this powerful episode of Project I Am, Dr. David J. Schlosz explores one of the most transformative practices in personal growth and mental health today: embracing and integrating all the parts of ourselves. Drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Polyvagal Theory, and somatic therapies, David invites you to rethink your inner world—not as broken or fragmented, but as a system of valuable, protective parts that are longing to be seen, heard, and healed.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize the different parts of yourself—like the Inner Critic, the Perfectionist, and the Inner Child
• Bring curiosity and compassion to even the most difficult emotions
• Build trust with protective parts that may be keeping you stuck
• Lead your inner system from a place of Self-energy: calm, confident, and compassionate

This episode is packed with real-life client stories, current research, and practical steps you can use today to bring your whole self to the table. Whether you’re a therapist, leader, or someone on a healing journey, this conversation offers tools and insights to move from inner conflict to inner harmony.

“Every part of you belongs. Every part has a voice. And you are the leader they’ve been waiting for.” – Dr. David J. Schlosz

Tune in now and start leading your inner system with compassion and courage.