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:
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40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
AI Isn’t Guessing — You Are Leading
Mar 300:16:08Tap to summarizeIn Part 3 of the Janiyah GPT Workshop Walkthrough, we explore a powerful truth:AI is not magic. It mirrors the clarity you bring to it.In this episode, we walk through a live demo comparing two prompts:A vague career question A detailed, identity-centered, values-driven questionThe difference? Transformational.When the prompt was broad — “I like Biology, Technology, and Art. What jobs fit me?”Janiyah suggested strong interdisciplinary careers like:Biomedical IllustratorUX Designer in Health & BiotechMedical AnimationEnvironmental Data ArtistBut when the prompt became specific and culturally grounded —“I'm interested in Human Anatomy & Physiology, AI-enhanced imagery, Afro-Futurism, and supporting grassroots movements…”The output shifted from career suggestions to cultural architecture.Emerging roles included:Community Health Tech Story ArchitectAfro-Futurist Bio-Data VisualizerAI is not here to define you.It is here to respond to the clarity, culture, and conviction you bring.When you get specific, you don’t just get better answers.You build futures that reflect you.
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For the Girlies Who Double-Check: AI Bias, Scholarships & Strategy
Feb 2500:20:31Tap to summarizeIn Part 2 of the Janiyah GPT Intro Workshop series, we move beyond using AI — and into questioning it.This episode walks through two powerful prompts:✔ How do we prevent AI from reinforcing stereotypes in STEM? ✔ What are AI’s limitations when giving scholarship and college information?If you’ve ever thought:“What if AI leaves out people like me?”“Can I trust this scholarship information?”“How do I verify without wasting time?”“Is AI repeating the same systemic biases we’re trying to break?”This episode is for you.We explore:How bias sneaks into STEM career suggestionsRepresentation audits for facilitators and parentsDeficit vs. asset framingInterdisciplinary career pathwaysScholarship verification frameworksHow to avoid AI hallucinationsHow to question AI confidently and strategicallyAI is not neutral. And literacy is not passive.For Latinas, Afro-Latinas, Black women and girls — verification is protection. And protection is strategy.
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For the Girlies Who Think Ahead: AI Literacy, Strategy & Self-Definition
Feb 2200:20:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, we introduce Janiyah GPT — an AI Literacy & Career Coaching Co-Pilot designed to support Latinas, Afro-Latinas, Black women and girls in using artificial intelligence as a tool for empowerment, not replacement.This is not about becoming a coder overnight.This is about learning how to:Ask better questionsProtect your dataRecognize biasAlign technology with your valuesDesign futures where you see yourself representedWe walk through:What AI literacy actually meansWhy AI is shaping hiring, admissions, and mediaHow to use prompts strategicallyWhy questioning AI mattersA safety framework: Verify → Think → ProtectLightweight prompts and Deep Dive prompts for real-world explorationIf you’ve ever wondered:“Am I behind in AI?”“How do I use this without losing my voice?”“Where do I fit in tech?”“How do I prepare without burning out?”This episode is for you.AI is not magic. But with clarity and strategy, it can be powerful.
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Using AI, the Internet, and Initiative Without Feeling Like You’re Cheating
Feb 700:31:58Tap to summarizeWhat do you do when it feels like everyone else already knows what they’re doing—and you’re still figuring it out?In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan answers questions for learners who are curious, self-directed, resourceful, and often learning outside traditional structures.We talk about:What it really means to feel “behind” (and why you probably aren’t)How to use tools like AI and the internet as learning partners—not shortcutsStaying motivated when there are no deadlines, grades, or feedbackAdvocating for yourself when institutions aren’t meeting your needsTurning DIY learning into portfolios, projects, and proof you can showIf you’ve ever taught yourself something because the system didn’t, this episode is for you.You’re not cheating. You’re not behind. You’re building skills the system doesn’t always know how to measure—yet.Continue the conversation at Black-Liberation.Tech, and leave your questions or learning stories in the comments.
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Navigating Learning, Resources, and Burnout
Jan 2800:23:02Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a class offers little structure, no homework, and minimal guidance—but still expects mastery?In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan responds to questions that center listeners who are motivated, capable, and deeply invested in their education—yet navigating the uncertainty of self-directed learning.Together, we explore what it really means to take ownership of your learning without feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or burnt out. This conversation reframes DIY learning as a professional and liberatory skill, not a shortcut or a burden.In this episode, we discuss:How to identify what you should be learning when there are no assignments or clear instructionsHow to take charge of your education without feeling like you’re doing everything aloneThe critical difference between being self-directed and being unsupported—and how to protect your peaceHow to evaluate tutorials, videos, and online resources in an age of information overloadHow to know whether your DIY learning is “working” This episode is for learners who value excellence, cultural grounding, and purpose—and for anyone quietly wondering if they’re doing enough or doing it “right.”If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I learning—or just surviving?”—this conversation is for you.Listen, reflect, and reclaim your agency.
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How to Trust Yourself When the Path Isn’t Clear
Jan 1900:23:00Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you’re capable, curious, and doing “everything right”… but the next step still feels unclear?In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan responds to five powerful questions from listeners who identify with Ashley—high-achieving, thoughtful, and quietly unsure—and opens the door for those who identify with Jasmine, who may be navigating uncertainty in real time.Together, we explore:How to tell the difference between fear and a real signal to pivotWhich skills matter before you know your final career destinationHow to make choices without disappointing your family—or yourselfWhat to do when you’re interested in too many thingsHow to trust yourself when the next step isn’t obviousThis episode is not about rushing to clarity. It’s about learning how to listen to yourself, recognize patterns, and move forward with intention—even when the map isn’t finished yet.If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing well, but I still feel unsure,” this conversation is for you.Leave your questions or reflections in the comments. Read the Q&A with Dr. Renée blog under the Careers tab at Black-Liberation.Tech Join the conversation inside the Black Liberation Tech community on Patreon
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Answering the Quiet Questions High-Achieving Women Ask
Jan 1200:19:53Tap to summarizeWhat if you know you’re capable—but you don’t feel confident yet?In this Q&A-style episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan returns to a core theme from Season 1—“I did it because I can”—and answers the quiet, thoughtful questions that high-achieving women often carry but don’t always say out loud.This episode is for you if you’re doing well on paper, staying curious, and moving forward—but still wondering:How did she know she could before she had proof?Is it okay that I don’t feel confident yet?What if I’m interested in more than one path?What if I don’t have a five-year plan?What happens when the path I chose doesn’t fit anymore?Rather than offering quick fixes or pressure-filled advice, this conversation centers reflection, permission, and evidence already present in your life. Dr. Jordan shares personal stories, mindset shifts, and coaching insights to help you recognize that uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re behind—it often means you’re paying attention.Whether you’re a student, early-career professional, or someone navigating a pivot, this episode invites you to slow down, reflect, and trust the next honest step.Explore related Q&A blog posts under the “Careers” tab at Black-Liberation.Tech Leave your questions or reflections in the comments—future episodes are shaped by what you want to explore next.
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Be the “Challenging” Student: Why Your Questions Belong in the Classroom
Jan 500:04:46Tap to summarizeWhat if being labeled a “challenging” student wasn’t a bad thing—but a sign that you’re taking ownership of your learning?In this short segment from the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan speaks directly to students navigating college classrooms that feel unclear, unstructured, or intimidating. When there’s no homework, vague lectures, or silence after complex material, it’s easy to assume you are the problem.You’re not.Being a “challenging” student doesn’t mean being disrespectful—it means disrupting silence with curiosity, asking questions out loud, and refusing to stay confused alone. In this episode, Dr. Jordan breaks down how to use digital notes to capture questions in real time, how to advocate for clarity with professors and TAs, and why your questions often represent many others in the room.This segment is especially for Black girls, Latinas, and Afro-Latinas learning to trust their intellectual voice and claim space in academic environments that weren’t designed with them in mind.DIY Takeaway: Write your questions as you read. Bring them to class. If clarity doesn’t come, seek it—office hours, tutoring, or digital tools. Your understanding is worth the effort.
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Your Hand Has a Memory: The Study Hack College Classes Don’t Teach You
Jan 200:03:04Tap to summarizeWhen your class has no homework and no structure, passive studying isn’t enough.In this short segment from the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan shares a powerful DIY learning strategy for students navigating challenging STEM and technical courses: your hand has a memory.Instead of just reading, highlighting, or watching solution videos, this episode introduces a diagram-first, write-it-out method that helps you see how systems work—whether you’re studying biology, coding, engineering, or data concepts.You’ll learn:Why drawing processes strengthens memory and understandingHow to turn diagrams into self-designed homeworkWhy mistakes on paper are part of real learning (don’t erase them!)How to study with intention when professors don’t provide a roadmapThis segment is especially for students who are creative, visual learners—but expected to perform at a high academic level without much guidance.DIY takeaway: If you can draw it, label it, and explain it—you know it.Listen, try it this week, and take control of your learning.
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How to Use AI to Bring Your Project to Life
Dec 3100:27:27Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we wrap up Lesson D2.1: Embracing Digital Literacies by moving from reflection into action.I walk listeners through how to use digital literacies intentionally to design, build, and promote a meaningful project in their personal, academic, or professional life.This episode features a real-time demonstration of how I used ChatGPT as a thinking partner (not a replacement for thinking) to develop my Social Media Marketing Plan as a professional project. I model how the same prompts can be adapted for two different target audiences to show how digital tools must be used with context, clarity, and purpose.We also cover:· How to generate project-specific prompts using ChatGPT· How to search for video tutorials, blogs, and women-led resources· How to organize tasks, set deadlines, and track progress· How to connect with mentors and experts through professional DMs· How to share your work and engage others without waiting for perfectionBy the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear roadmap for using digital literacies as tools for liberation, not overwhelm—and a reminder that your project doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.Whether you’re a learner, educator, career-changer, or creative, this episode will help you turn ideas into action—one prompt, one connection, and one step at a time.
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