Truth is often framed as something fixed. A fact. A moral rule. Something you either tell or avoid.

But lived truth is far more complicated.

In this episode, we explore how our relationship with truth is shaped early in life, through family dynamics, cultural expectations, and the environments that taught us what was safe to say and what needed to stay hidden. We unpack how curiosity creates room for understanding, while certainty can shut conversations down. And we examine the tension between honesty and discernment, especially in relationships, leadership, and work.

We talk about the cost of truth. When telling it damages trust. When withholding it erodes integrity. And how delivery, timing, and audience matter just as much as the truth itself.

The conversation also turns inward. Toward body awareness, self reflection, and the quiet signals that tell us when something is misaligned. Toward the challenge of being honest with ourselves, especially when past truths no longer fit who we are becoming.

This episode invites listeners to reflect not just on what they believe is true, but how those truths were formed, whose expectations they carry, and what context they may be missing.

1. 00:00 Exploring the Concept of Truth
2. 01:36 Childhood Perspectives on Truth
3. 06:16 Family Dynamics and Truth
4. 11:29 Curiosity and Understanding
5. 18:09 Navigating Relationships and Truth
6. 23:58 The Role of Vulnerability
7. 30:37 Trust and Its Impact on Truth
8. 36:38 The Cost of Truth
9. 43:57 Body Language and Communication
10. 50:23 Self Reflection and Honesty
11. 57:11 The Intersection of Truth and Context

Content warning: this episode includes discussions of trauma, abuse, and mental health. Please listen with care.

Forgiveness is complicated. In this episode, we explore what it really takes to move through anger, grief, and the stories we carry from childhood into a place of freedom and self-compassion. Hanisha and Brittany share how forgiveness has evolved for them, shaped by trauma, agency, boundaries, and the unexpected clarity that comes with distance and perspective.

Together they explore what many of us quietly wrestle with:

• What do we do with the parts of childhood we wish we could rewrite?

• How do we navigate forgiveness when no apology is coming?

• What does self-forgiveness look like when our own patterns hurt us most?

• How does discernment grow out of painful experiences?

• Why does forgiveness sometimes feel like betrayal of our younger selves?

This conversation asks us to slow down, look inward, and honor the hard-earned wisdom that comes with surviving, reframing, and ultimately choosing what to carry forward.

00:00 Introduction to Forgiveness

02:47 The Evolution of Forgiveness

06:54 Agency and Forgiveness

08:19 Complex Relationships and Forgiveness

12:34 Lessons from a Difficult Past

19:22 The Journey of Self-Discovery

24:43 Reframing Trauma and Forgiveness

30:00 Finding Freedom in Forgiveness

33:10 Embracing Life’s Challenges

34:50 The Impact of Childhood Experiences

36:44 Understanding Burnout and Workaholism

38:41 The Importance of Self-Compassion

40:43 Forgiveness and Personal Growth

45:28 The Complexity of Forgiveness

49:40 Learning Through Mistakes

52:16 Self-Compassion in Neurodiversity

57:06 Finding Freedom in Forgiveness

In this episode of At the Root of It, Mike joins to explore how feedback shapes us in the workplace and at home. Together we talk about the moments that felt abrasive, the patterns we carried from childhood, and the cultural and gender dynamics that make feedback feel complicated.

We unpack why some feedback stings, how trust and psychological safety transform the way we hear it, and why vulnerability sits at the core of giving and receiving feedback. Mike shares stories from design critiques, mentorship experiences, and the influence of his own upbringing. Hanisha reflects on navigating feedback as a woman of color in tech, being labeled aggressive, and learning to ask clarifying questions and regulate emotional reactions.

If you have ever struggled with the delivery of feedback, the silence after feedback, or the internal voice that feels like old conditioning, this conversation brings clarity and compassion to one of the most universal human experiences.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Feedback Dynamics

03:00 The Role of Feedback in Professional Growth

05:40 Navigating Personal Feedback and Relationships

08:50 The Art of Delivering Feedback

12:03 Gender Dynamics in Feedback Reception

14:47 Building Trust for Effective Feedback

17:52 Feedback and Personal Growth

20:41 The Impact of Upbringing on Feedback Reception

23:59 Emotional Intelligence in Feedback

26:47 Conclusion and Reflections on Feedback

32:42 Navigating Feedback: The Art of Receiving and Giving

39:40 Trust and Vulnerability: Building Connections in the Workplace

45:59 Cultural Dynamics: Communication Styles Across Borders

52:27 The Importance of Detailed Feedback

57:54 The Root of Feedback