Gaining Greater Perspective with Herb Wakefield - a podcast by Jessica Sun

from 2021-04-23T10:00

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Listening to others’ stories and sharing your own are powerful ways to create change in your life. Hear about Herb’s variety of experiences and what inspires him--and inspire new ideas within yourself.

Herb is a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University studying organic chemistry. His array of experiences include attending a majority black high school, speaking at a meeting with members of the Obama Administration about education, playing D3 football in Ohio, resolving racial issues at a Predominantly White Institution, and rebounding from losing his father at 22. He is also the co-host of The NuBlack Podcast, where he and Taaj Davis have conversations about anything and everything that can mold, challenge, or shift perspectives.

Quotes to remember: 

“Literally you’re watching someone you love, die… it’s a hard task to do but you do it because you love the person.” 

“If you try to go faster than your pace, that’s how burnout happens.” 

“There’s so much life out there and there are so many experiences to have.”

Takeaways:

  • We often need to mourn before a loved one dies
  • Grieving the loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things you will do
  • We can work through the impostor syndrome
  • When we’re hitting a wall, it helps to take a break, take a step back, and come to it with a fresh mind later on
  • Simple grounding techniques can help you move out of dwelling and back to the present
  • It’s important to share your stories, both positive and negative

What you’ll learn:

  • On Herb’s grieving process of losing his father to lung cancer
  • Dealing with impostor syndrome and being a black researcher in STEM
  • The idea of having a short memory and how it can be useful in challenging times
  • How Herb addressed a racist incident on campus in a creative way
  • Why and how to be well-rounded as a person
  • What inspired Herb to podcast

Mentioned on the podcast: 

Further episodes of Guru Please

Further podcasts by Jessica Sun

Website of Jessica Sun