Embracing Uncomfortable Conversations with Erika Stallings

Erika Stallings is no stranger to uncomfortable conversations. In fact, she invites them as she fearlessly confronts workplace and healthcare inequities and leads the dialogue around hereditary breast cancer for Black women. Erika is a writer, health advocate, and attorney. She has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, O Magazine, and NPR. Her most recent article appears in The Cut, Racism at My Job Literally Gave Me PTSD. We chat about Erika’s advocacy on behalf of Black women both in the workspace and in healthcare, and her article, When Black Women Go From Office Pet to Office Threat. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc021 Topics Covered:  Why Erika began writing about race and the workplace Erika’s article in ZORA, When Black Women Go From Office Pet to Office Threat Erika’s experience of the office pet to office threat phenomenon in her own career and how she handled it The importance of having a personal board of directors and the value of peer mentorship How Erika balances speaking out against workplace injustices and workplace retaliation Erika’s efforts to increase awareness of hereditary breast cancer among women of color BRCA2 gene mutation and its risks for developing cancer Options available for individuals with BRCA gene mutation Erika’s decision to get a preventative mastectomy Erika’s courage in talking openly about inheriting BRCA2 gene mutation Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.