Episode 0

In this episode, Marshall and Jerry Colonna, your hosts, explore the importance of storytelling as a catalyst for belonging and understanding. They delve into the concept of Reunion, emphasizing the need for diverse narratives that represent different experiences and foster empathy and compassion.

Jerry and Marshall call for active listening, dialogue, and holding space for stories that deserve love, safety, and belonging. They explore how good leadership can transform lives, inviting leaders to consider their own journey of self-discovery and the impact it has on others. 

Get ready to challenge your perceptions and discover the transformative potential of embracing diverse voices and perspectives.

Key Questions for Leaders to Consider:

1. How can storytelling foster a sense of belonging and understanding within your organization or community?
   
2. What steps can you take to create spaces for diverse narratives and experiences to be heard and valued?
3. Are you actively listening and holding space for stories of those who deserve love, safety, and belonging?
   
4. How can you cultivate a culture of radical self-inquiry among your team or community?
5. In what ways can you leverage the power of storytelling to unlock empathy, compassion, and meaningful connection in your leadership journey?
   

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Episode 1

Welcome to The Reunion Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories that shape us, the struggles that push us, and the path to finding belonging in a world that often leaves us feeling lost. In this episode, Jerry Colonna and Marshall Pollard, along with guests Leticia and Erika, embark on a deep dive into the power of ancestral connections and the healing that comes from rediscovering our roots.

Through a series of personal anecdotes and thought-provoking conversations, they navigate the complexities of family dynamics, the desire for love and belonging, and the transformative journey toward self-actualization. Erika and Leticia unpack the depths of their pasts and uncover the stories that shape who they are.

As leaders, we invite you to reflect on these questions:

1. Who am I? How do I identify? Who and what that might relate to that identity have I not seen? How did it benefit me, or my family, including my ancestors not to see or recognize such things? Which stories of my family of origin have we chosen to remember and which have we chosen to forget?
2. To whom do I belong? To whom did my parents belong? What is it that tells me I belong to my family? What does it feel like to know that I belong? Among whom of my ancestors might have been left behind or forgotten?
3. What is your work to do? How have I been complicit in and benefited from systemic othering? What would I have to give up that I love that might make me feel safe and I belong so that others might feel the same way? How might I create systemic belonging for others? Whose stories should I be listening to? 
4. Join us on this enlightening journey as we seek a grand reunion, where our stories converge, and true belonging is found. Listen in, journal, and discover the power of reuniting with the past to shape our present and future.
   

Episode 2

Welcome back to the Reunion Podcast, where we dive deep into the quest for belonging and explore the connection between ancestry, origin, and the desire for reunion. In this episode hosts Marshall Pollard and Jerry Colonna invite guests Grant and Darryl to share their experiences of seeking belonging in the face of division and systemic discrimination.

Grant's story showcases the triumph and arrival he feels by breaking the curses of his forefathers, while living in a system designed to benefit him. Darryl, on the other hand, confronts the harsh reality of being trapped in systems that fail to protect his people and his sense of place. The episode explores the connection between place and identity, the impact of intergenerational legacies, and the profound need for belonging and safety.

As you listen to this episode, consider the following questions:

1. How does the physical geography of a place impact the sense of belonging and division within a community?

2. How can stories of ancestry and origin shape one's quest for love, safety, and belonging?

3. In what ways can individuals confront systemic othering and work towards a greater reunion?

4. What responsibility do leaders have in addressing disconnection and promoting inclusivity within their organizations and communities?

Join us as we navigate these important questions and strive for a world that embraces connection, understanding, and belonging.

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