So many of us hold ideas we love, a script, a podcast, a book, a creative project that keeps tapping us on the shoulder but something gets in the way of actually beginning. Fear. Perfection. Comparison. Not knowing the "how." Or simply believing we need everything in place before we take the first step.

In this episode, I sit down with Valerie Frugé, an actor, audio producer, and creative who is developing a limited series rooted in history and storytelling, and Steve Moreno, a music enthusiast and host of the upcoming podcast Nostalgic Jamz, who brings a deep passion for the songs that shaped us. Both of them have been carrying powerful ideas for years and both are now choosing to move from intention into action.

Together, we talk honestly about what holds us back, why starting often feels so heavy, and what shifts when you finally give yourself permission to begin. We explore fear, perfection, comparison, and the stories we tell ourselves that keep us stuck. And we talk about support, how the right conversation, the right question, or the right person can open the door to momentum.

This episode is for anyone sitting on a dream… anyone who knows there's more they want to create… and anyone standing in that uncomfortable space between knowing and doing.

🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and You Tube.
It's time to move toward the thing you keep thinking about.

• The first step doesn't have to be big, it just has to be real.

• Fear shows up when something matters, not when we're unqualified.

• Comparison keeps us stuck in our heads; community helps us move.

• Perfection is a distraction from purpose.

• Support and accountability make starting possible.

Steve Moreno is an actor, audio producer, and creative based in Los Angeles. With years of experience in voiceover, comedy, and audio production, including work with Comedy Central, he brings a deep love of storytelling and collaboration to every project. He is currently developing a limited series inspired by historical events in Los Angeles, focusing on themes of identity, justice, and community.

Valerie Frugé is a creative, dancer, and lifelong music enthusiast based in Los Angeles. A self-described Xennial with a deep love for 70s–2000s music, she is the host of the upcoming podcast Nostalgic Jamz, where she explores the stories, memories, and meaning behind the songs that shaped a generation. Passionate, thoughtful, and rooted in connection, Valerie brings music and storytelling together in a fresh, grounded way.

Dr. Debra Griffith is an executive coach, consultant, and host of the Do Better with Debra podcast. As Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, she leads the network's equity, belonging, and postsecondary strategy. Through Do Better Executive Coaching, she supports women of color leaders navigating transitions and designing lives and careers anchored in clarity, power, and purpose.

🌐 Learn more at Do Better Executive Coaching
🔗 Connect with Debra on LinkedIn

Jasmine Brett Stringer, MAPP, is a dynamic keynote speaker, award-winning author, television personality, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with Jasmine LLC. Known for her vibrant presence and grounded wisdom, Jasmine blends the science of positive psychology with real-world experience to help individuals and organizations flourish.

In this episode, Jasmine and I talk about the R.E.S.T. framework she created, born out of one of the hardest seasons of her life, while studying positive psychology and caring for her father through illness. Her framework, designed especially with Black women in mind, reframes rest not as a luxury but as a necessity for our healing and wholeness.

Together, we explore how recovery, emotional agility, support, and time can transform the way we lead and live. Jasmine shares what it means to practice emotional agility, redefine strength, and reclaim time as an act of self-preservation. This conversation is an invitation for every woman holding so much to pause, breathe, and give herself permission to rest.

🎧 Available now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Key Takeaways

• Rest is not a reward—it's a requirement for your well-being.

• Emotional agility helps us feel, name, and move through emotions with awareness.

• Support means offering what's in your toolkit and receiving help with grace.

• Reclaiming your time is an act of self-love, not selfishness.

About Jasmine Brett Stringer
Jasmine Brett Stringer, MAPP, is a keynote speaker, award-winning author, television personality, and Founder & CEO of Carpe Diem with Jasmine LLC. Through her signature frameworks, A.C.I.R., R.E.S.T., and Seize Your Life. she helps people build emotional agility, overcome overwhelm, and unlock joy. Jasmine's clients include the Federal Reserve Bank, Land O'Lakes, Airbnb, General Mills, Bayer, and the University of Minnesota. Based in Minneapolis, she holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and brings both warmth and rigor to her work helping others flourish.

🔗 Connect with Jasmine on LinkedIn
🌐 Learn more at jasminebrettstringer.com

About Dr. Debra Griffith
Dr. Debra Griffith is an executive coach, consultant, and the voice behind the Do Better with Debra podcast. She currently serves as Chief Equity Programs Officer at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, where she leads the network's equity strategy focused on college readiness, belonging, and postsecondary success across 25 schools serving more than 13,000 scholars. With over 25 years in education and leadership, Debra now supports women of color leaders navigating transitions and leading transformative change.

🌐 Learn more at Do Better Executive Coaching
🔗 Connect with Debra on LinkedIn