What 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 instructions
• How to take charge of your education without feeling like you’re doing everything alone
• The critical difference between being self-directed and being unsupported—and how to protect your peace
• How to evaluate tutorials, videos, and online resources in an age of information overload
• How 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.

What 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 pivot
• Which skills matter before you know your final career destination
• How to make choices without disappointing your family—or yourself
• What to do when you’re interested in too many things
• How to trust yourself when the next step isn’t obvious

This 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

What 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.

In 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 perfection

By 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.

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we continue our Embracing Digital Literacies (D2.1) lesson by moving from reflection to creation.

This video focuses on Part 3: Creating Your Project Plan—where digital literacy becomes actionable. You’ll learn how to take an idea you care about and turn it into a clear, doable digital project using intentional planning, research, and connection.

We walk through:

• How to define your project title, purpose, and expected outcomes
• How to break a big idea into manageable, step-by-step tasks
• How to choose digital tools that actually support your goals
• How to find and learn from Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women who’ve already completed similar projects
• How digital projects can support your academic, professional, or community goals

Using real-world examples from AI literacy, academic coaching, career coaching, and social media marketing, this lesson shows how community-centered digital projects are built with intention—not overwhelm or perfectionism.

Whether you’re planning a:

• Social media marketing campaign
• Podcast or YouTube channel
• Digital portfolio or website
• Educational resource or community initiative

This episode helps you shift from “I have an idea” to “I have a plan.”

What You’ll Learn in This Video

• How to clarify your goals before choosing tools
• How research and discovery are digital literacy skills
• How to use platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram to learn from experts
• How to see your project as a living process—not a one-time assignment

Reflection Prompt for Viewers

What is one digital project you’ve been thinking about but haven’t started yet? What would be your first small step after watching this video?

Explore More

• Visit Black-Liberation.Tech for free lessons (English & Spanish)
• Subscribe for more lessons on digital literacy, online safety, and AI education

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan continues the Embracing Digital Literacies (D2.1) lesson by walking listeners through two powerful forms of digital interaction: streaming and teaching.

We explore how going live, sharing video, hosting workshops, and teaching online can be more than content creation—they can be acts of visibility, community care, and professional empowerment. Drawing from reflective prompts and real-world examples, this episode invites listeners to think critically about how they use streaming platforms and digital teaching tools to engage others, share knowledge, and build meaningful impact.

Centering the work of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women across media, business, tech, and education, this conversation highlights how culturally grounded storytelling, community building, and ethical use of digital tools can transform audiences into learners—and learners into collaborators.

This episode is for educators, creators, students, professionals, and anyone curious about how to show up online with intention—whether you’re teaching one person or streaming to many.

Episode Highlights / Key Takeaways

• Streaming as connection, not performance: How live-streaming and video sharing can foster dialogue, trust, and community rather than just visibility.
• From audience to community: Why the most impactful streamers prioritize safe spaces, interaction, and moderation.
• Teaching beyond classrooms: How blogs, podcasts, webinars, and tutorials function as modern teaching tools.
• Digital teaching that sticks: What makes online teaching effective—clarity, cultural relevance, storytelling, and care.
• Liberation-centered digital practice: Using streaming and teaching to resist gatekeeping, center marginalized voices, and democratize knowledge.
• Tools as partners, not replacements: How AI, platforms, and analytics can support—but never replace—judgment, ethics, or humanity.

Reflective Questions for Listeners

1. How do you currently use streaming or video—professionally, creatively, or personally?
2. Think of a time when sharing something live or recorded helped you connect with others. What made it effective?
3. What feels exciting about streaming? What feels vulnerable or challenging?
4. When you teach online—formally or informally—what helps people stay engaged?
5. Who are you teaching for when you share knowledge digitally?
6. What tools or platforms could help you teach or stream more intentionally?
7. How can streaming or teaching become part of your portfolio, legacy, or community impact?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan continues our journey through Lesson D2.1: Embracing Digital Literacies. This week, we explore two essential skills for thriving in today’s digital world—promotion and publicizing—and what they look like through a liberation-centered lens.

Together, we examine reflection prompts designed to help learners and their mothers/guardians think deeply about how they show up online:

How do you promote yourself, your work, or your vision?

How do you amplify causes, events, and community initiatives?

What are the opportunities—and what are the risks?

Dr. Jordan also shares a guided online search featuring powerful examples of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women who are reshaping business, marketing, PR, and digital communication. Listeners will learn how women such as Mabel & Shaira Frias (Luna Magic), Lala Inuti Ahari, LaToya Shambo (Black Girl Digital), Brittany Chavez (Shop Latinx), Janel Martinez (Ain’t I Latina?), Zakiya Larry, and others use authentic storytelling, community building, culturally centered strategies, and cross-platform amplification to promote and publicize with impact.

This episode invites listeners to reflect, write, and reimagine how they can use digital tools ethically—and powerfully—to share their gifts, strengthen their voice, and build opportunities rooted in purpose and cultural pride.

Episode Highlights

• Reflection questions to help learners understand their current online habits and future digital goals.
• Real-world examples of Black and Afro-Latina entrepreneurs, creators, PR strategists, and marketers who promote and publicize effectively.
• How authentic storytelling becomes a radical act of representation.
• Why community-driven marketing outperforms generic promotion.
• Digital safety reminders: verifying before trusting, protecting personal information, and keeping identity-centered boundaries.
• How daughters and mothers can use these skills to build projects, portfolios, and powerful pathways together.

In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renee Jordan continues the Digital Literacies lesson series by focusing on one essential skill: Connection. Building on a live session originally shared on social media, Dr. Jordan reflects on how she connects with colleagues, scholars, and collaborators across digital platforms — and how those connections have opened real doors for research, workshops, academic collaborations, and professional growth.

Drawing from personal examples, including reaching out to colleagues on LinkedIn after conferences, strengthening relationships through digital follow-up, and navigating collaborative opportunities that emerged unexpectedly, Dr. Jordan illustrates how intentional connection functions as both a digital literacy and a long-term professional strategy.

She also discusses the challenges of networking digitally — from remembering where you met someone, to creating sustainable follow-up systems, to filtering out bots and maintaining safe boundaries. Finally, Dr. Jordan highlights examples of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women in tech whose digital presence and community-building practices offer powerful models of how to nurture networks with impact, authenticity, and care.

Listeners are encouraged to choose a digital literacy for their own project, reflect on how they connect with others online, and consider how digital tools can support their personal, academic, and professional journeys.

Episode Highlights

• A deep dive into the digital literacy Connect and why it matters.
• Personal examples of meaningful digital networking that led to:
  • a successful workshop proposal,
  • collaboration across institutions,
  • extended partnerships and paid opportunities.
• Practical strategies for remembering where and how you met people online.
• Discussions on expanding your network through:
  • livestreaming,
  • LinkedIn,
  • conferences,
  • academic spaces,
  • and careful vetting of followers to avoid bots.
• A reminder about digital safety: Never share personal identifiable information with generative AI or strangers online.
• A guided example search featuring Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women leaders in tech whose online networks thrive because of:
  • authentic storytelling,
  • safe digital community-building,
  • targeted engagement,
  • mentorship and sponsorship,
  • platform diversity,
  • and sharing resources generously.
• An invitation for listeners to reflect and choose a digital literacy for their upcoming personal, academic, or professional project.

Reflective Questions for Listeners

1. How do you currently connect with others online, whether professionally or socially? What platforms feel most natural to you — and why?
2. Think back to a time when an online connection opened a door for you. What made that connection meaningful or effective?
3. What challenges do you experience when trying to build or maintain digital connections? How can you create systems that help you follow up intentionally?
4. Which digital tools (LinkedIn, livestreaming, messaging apps, academic platforms) could help you expand your network in a way that aligns with your goals?
5. Looking at the example women highlighted in this lesson, what practices do you want to adopt or adapt for your own digital presence?