What if the problem isn’t leadership… but the system around it?

As we close out Women’s History Month, we’re proud to spotlight a conversation that speaks directly to the realities, challenges, and strength of women in leadership.

In this powerful episode of the Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast, host Dr. Sito Narcisse sits down with Dr. Catherine Barnes, President of Sudden Impact Solutions LLC and author of “Sister, Why You Hate Me? Ending the Cycle of Sister to Sister Destruction,” to unpack the real, unspoken challenges women face in leadership.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level motivation and dives into the deeper realities:

Women are asked to lead… then criticized when they do

High performers are elevated… then targeted

Success can cost you your identity

Leadership systems rely on policies—but ignore people

Many of us are carrying beliefs we learned from good people… that no longer serve us

And too often, leaders would rather double down than admit they were wrong

Dr. Barnes shares how these patterns didn’t start today—they’ve been conditioned over time. From the idea that there’s “only room for one,” to the lack of support among women in leadership spaces, these cycles continue to repeat… unless we choose to break them.

Her work focuses on helping organizations, leaders, and communities heal, grow, and create healthier relationships—especially among women navigating leadership, identity, and connection.

This episode explores:

The hidden pressure and targeting of women leaders

The myth of “only one seat at the top”

Losing yourself in your title and reclaiming your identity

Why policies don’t solve people problems

The importance of intentional leadership

How unlearning is just as powerful as learning

Why accountability builds trust—and ego destroys it

Featuring insights from:

Dr. Catherine Barnes

President of Sudden Impact Solutions LLC

Author of “Sister, Why You Hate Me? Ending the Cycle of Sister to Sister Destruction”

Order her book: https://book.sisolutionstoday.org/

About the Podcast

The Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast challenges traditional thinking in leadership, education, and personal growth—creating space for honest conversations that push transformation.

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What does it really take to lead, fail, and create lasting change in education?

On this powerful episode of the Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast, Host Dr. Sito Narcisse and Guest co-host Tatiana Echevarria sit down with education leader and former superintendent Joshua Starr to unpack the real truths behind leadership, system change, and success.

From teaching in Brooklyn classrooms with the most vulnerable students to leading large school systems, Joshua Starr shares the moments that reshaped his thinking—and ultimately defined his leadership journey.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

• Why failure is required for greatness and every successful leader has faced it

• The critical difference between being “nice” vs being truly kind in leadership

• Why education challenges aren’t about kids—but about adult decisions

• How chasing trends, politics, and pressure is hurting school systems

• Why the best leaders stay focused, steady, and disciplined

• The career advice that changed everything:

“Don’t chase the job. Chase the change.”

Joshua Starr also breaks down how real leadership requires courage—the courage to confront data, make tough decisions, and stay committed to what works even when the system pushes you in another direction.

This is more than a conversation about education.

It’s a masterclass in leadership, purpose, and impact.

If you’re an educator, leader, policymaker, or someone striving to make a difference—this episode will challenge how you think about success.

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What does it really take to fix education in America?

In this powerful episode of the Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast, host Dr. Sito Narcisse sits down with former New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza for an honest conversation about leadership, equity, and the future of public education.

Carranza has led some of the largest and most complex school systems in the United States, including:

• New York City Department of Education — the largest school district in America with 1.1 million students

• Houston Independent School District

• San Francisco Unified School District

In this conversation, Carranza breaks down what education leaders must unlearn in order to transform public schools and ensure every student receives a high-quality educational experience, regardless of their ZIP code.

The discussion explores some of the most pressing issues facing public education today, including:

• why education systems struggle to deliver equity

• how leadership decisions impact millions of students

• the challenge of providing the same high-quality education across rural, suburban, and urban districts

• the stark contrast between the cost of educating students and the cost society pays when systems fail them

From rural communities to the largest urban school systems like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia, education leaders face the same mission: ensure every student supported by public tax dollars has access to opportunity.

This episode challenges educators, policymakers, and leaders to rethink how we build school systems that truly serve every child.

If you care about education reform, leadership, and the future of public schools, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🎙 Host: Dr. Sito Narcisse

🎙 Guest: Richard Carranza

Former Chancellor — NYC Department of Education

CEO — Carranza Educational Consulting

Chief of Strategy & Global Development — IXL Learning

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