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.

In this episode I interview April Karli regarding the counseling needs of Christian clients and obstacles to receiving care.

April Karli is a lifetime resident of Austin, Texas. She has been a pastor at Austin Mustard Seed for six years. As a PK (pastor's kid) she spent her life in the church, and has served in leadership roles in a variety of churches throughout her adult life. April has a heart for people who have been wounded by their experiences in church settings and longs to see them find healing. She's been married to Matt for 27 years. They have two grown daughters and two dogs. She prefers tea over coffee.

Austin Mustard Seed: https://www.austinmustardseed.org/

April's socials: Insta: https://www.instagram.com/aprilkarli/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@aprilkarli

Resources:

These are therapists and resources who are Christians, and licensed therapists, who write and talk about the intersection of mental health and faith:

Aundi Kolber https://aundikolber.com/

Chuck DeGroat https://www.chuckdegroat.net/

Broken to Beloved https://www.brokentobeloved.org/

The mental health counseling field is evolving at lightning speed, and today’s students are stepping into a landscape rich with new opportunities—and new challenges. In this episode of Project I Am – Mentoring Moments we dive deep into Emerging Trends in Mental Health Counseling, exploring the cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of our profession.

Join us as we break down:

· The rise and permanence of telehealth counseling

· How AI-powered tools are augmenting therapy—and raising ethical questions

· The growing legitimacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy

· The explosion of wellness coaching and its impact on traditional counseling

· New ethical codes, legislation, and how counseling students can prepare for the changing landscape

This episode is packed with research-backed insights, recent ethical guidelines, and practical advice to help you stay informed, competent, and ahead of the curve.

Whether you’re a counseling student, intern, or early-career professional, you’ll leave this episode with a clearer vision of the future—and your place in it.

In this guided meditation, you’ll be invited to cultivate self-compassion, self-acceptance, and inner peace through a series of powerful affirmations. Life is a journey of growth, and no matter your past, you are worthy of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Through gentle affirmations, deep breathing, and a moment of stillness, this meditation will help you:

· Release self-judgment and embrace your journey with kindness

· Let go of past mistakes and step into self-acceptance

· Develop a more positive self-concept and inner peace

Allow yourself this time to reconnect with your heart and nurture the love you so freely give to others. You deserve healing, happiness, and self-love.

Find a quiet space, take a deep breath, and let’s begin.

We’ve all been there—chasing perfection, believing that if we just fix one more thing about ourselves, we’ll finally be happy, successful, or enough. But what if I told you that perfection is not only overrated, but a complete myth?

In this episode of Project I AM, we’re breaking down why the pursuit of perfection is a trap that keeps us stuck, exploring the psychology behind growth, and sharing real-life stories of people who found freedom in imperfection. Drawing from research by Brené Brown, Carol Dweck, and Kristin Neff, we’ll uncover why healing and self-improvement are lifelong journeys—not destinations.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t enough until you “got it right,” this episode is for you. It’s time to let go of perfection and embrace the messy, beautiful process of growth. Tune in and take the first step toward freeing yourself from the perfectionist mindset.

Available wherever you get your podcasts. Let’s grow together!

In this 10-minute guided meditation, we invite you to take a seat at the head of your inner table—the place where all parts of you are welcome. From the strong and capable parts to the ones that feel messy, uncertain, or even difficult to acknowledge, every part of you has a place, a purpose, and a voice.

With gentle curiosity and deep compassion, you’ll learn to embrace the parts that may have been silenced, to comfort the ones that struggle, and to invite in any missing pieces of yourself that long to be seen. Through mindful awareness, self-acceptance, and the healing presence of your higher self, this meditation will help you integrate all aspects of who you are.

No part of you is too much. No part of you is unwelcome. There is space for everyone at the table.

Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin