Podcast
Black-Liberation.Tech
Hosted by Renée Jordan, Ph.D. · EN
Black-Liberation.Tech: Academic & Career Coaching for the Digital Age
Your academic and career journey shouldn't require leaving your culture at the door. Tailored for high-achieving Latinas, Afro-Latinas, Black women, and girls, the Black-Liberation.Tech podcast is your strategic guide to navigating school (Grades 6–PhD), career pivots, and the evolving tech landscape.
Hosted by Dr. Renée Jordan—an ecosystem builder, educator, and instructional technologist—this podcast transforms complex tech concepts and institutional roadblocks into practical, everyday strategies. Whether you are a DIY learner advocating for yourself in elite spaces, an early-stage professional charting your career, or a mother guiding her daughter's future, this is your space.
Tune in as we tackle:
AI Literacy & Prompt Engineering: How to use AI as a personal thinking buddy to reduce cognitive load, rather than a shortcut.
DIY Learning Strategies: How to navigate challenging classes, ask the hard questions, and survive the "messy middle" without burning out.
Academic & Career Strategy: Securing scholarships, building portfolios, and identifying your non-negotiables early on.
Grounded in the African philosophy of Ubuntu ("I am because we are"), this podcast is a tool for collective liberation. Stop merely consuming technology and start creating your future. Listen in to build your skills, and join an ecosystem committed to your success.
Explore the Black-Liberation.Tech Ecosystem:
Access the Free Open Educational Resource (OER): Black-Liberation.Tech
Join the Patreon Community for Exclusive Coaching: patreon.com/BlackLiberationTech
Partner with Jordan Nuance LLC for Your Organization: jordan-nuance.com
33episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Secret to Better AI Responses
1w ago00:11:37Tap to summarizeContext, Purpose, and Follow-Up QuestionsIn Part 4 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, Dr. Renée Jordan explores one of the most important concepts in AI literacy and prompt engineering:Why do some prompts produce more useful responses than others?Listeners compare a simple prompt with a more detailed prompt and discover how context, interests, goals, and purpose help Janiyah GPT provide more personalized career suggestions.The episode also introduces Step 4 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab: Investigate Further.Students learn how to move beyond initial career suggestions by asking follow-up questions that uncover educational pathways, certifications, internships, apprenticeships, volunteer opportunities, and skill-building experiences.Along the way, Dr. Jordan introduces an important research habit:Strong researchers rarely stop after the first answer.They continue asking questions, exploring possibilities, and seeking deeper understanding.By the end of this episode, students will understand how stronger prompts and thoughtful follow-up questions can transform AI into a powerful research and career exploration tool.Part of the Black-Liberation.Tech Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series.Explore the Black-Liberation.Tech Ecosystem:Access the Free Open Educational Resource (OER): Black-Liberation.TechJoin the Patreon Community for Exclusive Coaching: patreon.com/BlackLiberationTechPartner with Jordan Nuance LLC for Your Organization: jordan-nuance.com
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Using AI to Explore Ag-STEM Careers
3w ago00:05:46Tap to summarizeIn Part 3 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, Dr. Renée Jordan demonstrates what happens after you submit your Career Discovery Prompt to Janiyah GPT.Using interests in technology, artificial intelligence, design, helping people, community impact, and AI literacy, Dr. Jordan walks through the results generated by Janiyah GPT and reflects on three Ag-STEM career pathways:• Agricultural AI Education Specialist • Community Resilience Planner • Global Food Security SpecialistListeners will learn how AI can help identify connections between their interests, values, and potential career pathways. Along the way, Dr. Jordan models how to review AI-generated suggestions critically and thoughtfully rather than simply accepting them at face value.This episode reinforces an important lesson:AI is not choosing your future. AI is helping you explore possibilities.By the end of the episode, students will better understand how strong prompts can generate personalized career recommendations and how reflection can help them identify pathways that align with their goals, interests, and communities.Part of the Black-Liberation.Tech Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series.Explore the Black-Liberation.Tech Ecosystem:Access the Free Open Educational Resource (OER): Black-Liberation.TechJoin the Patreon Community for Exclusive Coaching: patreon.com/BlackLiberationTechPartner with Jordan Nuance LLC for Your Organization: jordan-nuance.com
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From Interests to Careers
4w ago00:14:27Tap to summarizeIn Part 2 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, Dr. Renée Jordan guides students through the exciting world of Ag-STEM careers while introducing the foundations of prompt engineering.Students explore career pathways across agriculture, environmental science, animal sciences, artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainability, health, food systems, and data science. From Agricultural Data Scientists and Drone Operations Specialists to Veterinarians, Climate Scientists, and Food Safety Specialists, this episode highlights how Ag-STEM careers combine innovation, problem-solving, and community impact.Listeners will also learn how to create stronger prompts for Janiyah GPT by providing context, interests, goals, and purpose. Rather than asking vague questions, students discover how thoughtful prompts can lead to more personalized career exploration and deeper learning.By the end of this episode, students will be prepared to: • Explore Ag-STEM career sectors aligned with their interests. • Recognize the connections between agriculture, technology, health, sustainability, and community impact. • Understand why context matters when working with AI. • Build their first career discovery prompt using Janiyah GPT.This episode is part of the Black-Liberation.Tech Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, designed to help students use AI as a thinking partner while exploring future pathways.Explore the Black-Liberation.Tech Ecosystem:Access the Free Open Educational Resource (OER): Black-Liberation.TechJoin the Patreon Community for Exclusive Coaching: patreon.com/BlackLiberationTechPartner with Jordan Nuance LLC for Your Organization: jordan-nuance.com
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AI Is Not the Driver — You Are
Jun 1500:15:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée Jordan introduces the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab with Janiyah GPT. This first part invites students to explore agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, health, food systems, sustainability, and community impact as connected pathways for the future.Listeners will learn the difference between using AI as a thinking partner and using AI on autopilot. Through reflection questions, students begin identifying their interests, values, and goals so they can use Janiyah GPT with clarity and purpose.This episode is especially for students who are curious about STEM, agriculture, technology, community service, food, health, the environment, data, design, or building things — and who want to explore future pathways without letting AI do the thinking for them.Explore the Black-Liberation.Tech Ecosystem:Access the Free Open Educational Resource (OER): Black-Liberation.TechJoin the Patreon Community for Exclusive Coaching: patreon.com/BlackLiberationTechPartner with Jordan Nuance LLC for Your Organization: jordan-nuance.com
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Building My Lane in STEAM, AI & Education
May 2400:14:35Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Renée Jordan returns with a deeply personal episode reflecting on the journey that led to the creation of Black-Liberation.Tech. From a STEM magnet program in elementary school to working in IT, teaching high school biology, earning a PhD in Instructional Technology, and building an Open Educational Resource ecosystem focused on AI literacy and digital empowerment, this episode is both a testimony and an invitation.In this conversation, Dr. Jordan shares:how curiosity shaped her interdisciplinary pathwaywhy representation in STEAM matterslessons learned from setbacks, persistence, and pivotsthe role of community, mentorship, and Ubuntu in her journeyhow AI can function as a “thinking partner” rather than a shortcutwhy Black, Afro-Latina, and Latina girls and women belong in tech spacesthe importance of culturally responsive digital literacyhow Black-Liberation.Tech was created to support learners, families, educators, and future innovatorsThis episode also serves as a reintroduction ahead of upcoming summer workshops with students and communities exploring STEAM, AI, career exploration, and digital futures.Whether you are a student trying to find your lane, an educator supporting the next generation, or someone learning to navigate emerging technologies with confidence, this episode is a reminder that your journey matters—and that you do not have to fit a traditional mold to thrive in tech-saturated spaces.“Don’t wait for someone else to open the door—build your own.” Listener Reflection QuestionsWhat experiences first sparked your curiosity about technology, creativity, or problem-solving?Where have you been taught to think too narrowly about your future possibilities?What interdisciplinary interests might actually be clues to your future pathway?How has community shaped your educational or career journey?What does it mean to use AI as a “thinking partner” rather than a replacement for learning?How can culturally responsive technology spaces help more students feel seen and empowered?What would it look like to “build your own lane” instead of waiting for permission?Which setbacks in your life later became redirections or growth moments?How do your lived experiences shape the way you approach innovation and learning?What kind of future do you want technology to help create for your community?
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Balancing School, Work & Burnout
May 1000:14:35Tap to summarizeStaying Grounded During the DIY HustleThe beginning of a journey often feels exciting. The finish line brings celebration.But the middle? The middle is where many dreams get tested.In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée reflects on what it means to persist through the “messy middle” of academic, professional, and personal growth—especially for students and early-career professionals balancing heavy course loads, financial pressure, side projects, internships, caregiving responsibilities, and burnout.Drawing from her own seven-year Ph.D. journey while working full-time, Dr. Renée shares practical and liberation-centered strategies for sustaining momentum without sacrificing your health, peace, or identity.This conversation explores:Why slow progress is still valid progressThe importance of pacing and sustainable ambitionTaking fewer classes without shameRest as maintenance, not lazinessBreaking overwhelming goals into smaller winsProtecting your peace while pursuing your purposeLetting creativity and joy exist alongside responsibilityAsking for help, extensions, and support when neededChoosing completion over perfectionFor anyone building while tired, stretching resources, and trying to move forward without burning out:This episode is your reminder that success does not require constant suffering.Liberation Lens ReminderGrinding is not the only path to growth. Rest, strategy, pacing, and self-compassion are forms of wisdom too.Reflect Mode QuestionsWhat part of your current hustle needs adjustment right now: your pace, expectations, schedule, or self-compassion?Have you ever felt pressure to move faster than your mind, body, or finances could realistically sustain?What is one small “winnable step” you can complete this week to rebuild momentum?What would change if you stopped equating rest with failure?Which parts of yourself have been neglected while chasing productivity?What does sustainable success look like for you—not performative success, but real sustainability?Are you giving yourself permission to grow at a pace that protects your health and peace?What is one boundary you need to set in order to continue your journey without burnout?You are allowed to build your future without abandoning your health, your peace, or your humanity.
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Don’t Lose Yourself on the Way Up
May 500:13:38Tap to summarizeNaming Your Non-Negotiables EarlyWhen you’re just starting out, every opportunity can feel urgent.Internships. Projects. Free resources. New spaces. It can feel like you have to say yes to everything just to get your foot in the door.But here’s the truth:Not every open door is meant to be walked through at the cost of yourself.In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée explores what it means to identify your non-negotiables early—especially for women, and girls navigating academic, digital, and professional spaces.Through real experiences from her doctoral journey, she breaks down the difference between flexibility and self-erasure, and shares the values you must protect as you grow:Protecting your cultural identity and voiceTaking up space and asking questions with confidenceSetting boundaries around time, energy, and privacyStaying connected to community while advancingThis episode also expands the conversation on boundaries in real, everyday ways:Knowing when to ask for extensions instead of burning outPrioritizing quality over perfectionUnderstanding that “free” opportunities can still come with hidden costsLearning when to say no—even when something looks prestigiousBecause success is not just about getting in the room.It’s about remaining whole once you get there.Liberation Lens Reminder:The goal is not just access. The goal is alignment, dignity, and sustainability.Reflect Mode:Before your next opportunity, ask yourself:What is one boundary, value, or part of your identity that I will not negotiate—no matter how “good” the opportunity looks?This episode is for anyone who is:building while tirednavigating new spacescarrying family dreamslearning in real timetrying to grow without losing themselvesYou are allowed to rise with your identity intact.Continue this reflection inside the Black-Liberation.Tech OER with our workbook prompts and AI-supported reflection tools.
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Balancing Progress, Rest, and Purpose Through the Hard Parts
Apr 2000:11:04Tap to summarizeWhat do you do when you’ve made it past a major milestone—but you’re exhausted?In this final episode of the Q&A series, Dr. Renée Jordan shares what it really takes to sustain momentum through the hardest parts of a long journey. Drawing from her experience earning a PhD while working full-time, she offers a grounded, honest perspective on resilience, flexibility, and balance.This isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about moving forward with intention.You’ll learn:Why remembering your “why” is critical when motivation fadesHow tracking your progress can help you keep goingWhy rest, joy, and celebration are essential—not distractionsHow flexibility includes adjusting your goals and protecting your quality of lifeBecause resilience isn’t just about endurance—it’s about sustaining yourself along the way.
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You Don’t Have to “Go Into Tech” to Be in Tech
Apr 1300:07:28Tap to summarizeDo you have to “go into tech” to benefit from it?In this episode, Dr. Renée Jordan challenges the idea that tech careers are limited to computer scientists or engineers. Drawing from her own journey—from biology to education to instructional technology—she explores what it means to work in a technology-saturated world.This conversation reframes tech as something you engage with across fields—not just something you specialize in.You’ll learn:Why tech isn’t just for those who build it—but for those who use itHow everyday roles (like teaching) are deeply connected to technologyWhy expanding this definition opens doors for more women and girlsHow AI tools can support exploration—even if “tech” isn’t your goalBecause in today’s world, learning how to use technology is part of building your future.
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Processing Feedback Without Losing Your Voice
Apr 1000:10:05Tap to summarizeHow do you receive critical feedback—without losing yourself in the process?In this first episode of a 3-part Q&A series, Dr. Renée Jordan reflects on a pivotal moment from her doctoral journey: navigating major revisions after her prospectus defense while staying grounded in her purpose.This conversation explores the tension between growth and self-preservation—especially for women and girls navigating academic and professional spaces.You’ll learn:How to separate structural feedback from identity-level compromiseWhy not all feedback is meant to be acceptedHow to refine your work without erasing your voiceA mindset shift that turns feedback into strategy—not self-doubtThis episode is for anyone learning how to evolve their work while staying aligned with who they are.Because growth should expand your voice—not silence it.
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