In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. sits down with Dr. Erica N. Hilton, a Strategic Communications + Media Scholar and Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications at Hampton University, for a conversation that bridges scholarship, strategy, and soul.

With a career spanning higher education, national nonprofits, and digital activism, Dr. Hilton shares how her journey from aspiring publicist to award-winning educator revealed a deeper calling: to teach, to advocate, and to communicate for good.

Together, they explore what it means to take the pause in a world that demands instant responses, the lessons learned from moments of redirection, and how passion can guide us toward a purpose-filled life.

This episode is about resilience, discernment, and the power of aligning personal truth with professional calling.

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Connect with Dr. Erica Hilton on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericahltn/] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ericahltn/]

Ep. 0019 | Find Your Passion, Follow Your Purpose

What does it mean to keep creating when everything around you feels like it’s collapsing?

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. is joined by Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins, Equity, Liberation + Authenticity Scholar and Founder of Ashley Gaddy Enterprises, for a candid conversation on resilience, authenticity, and the storms that shape us.

From her early lessons in social justice to navigating systems not designed with her in mind, Dr. Gaddy Robbins reflects on what it takes to stand firm, speak truth, and center humanity even in the most turbulent seasons.

This is not just a conversation about leadership. It’s about finding joy, protection, and power when the storm refuses to let up.

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Connect with Dr. Ashley Gaddy Robbins on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleygaddyenterprises/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dr.ashleygaddyrobbins/?hl=en] or by visiting her at ashleygaddyenterprises.com [http://ashleygaddyenterprises.com/]

Ep. 0018 | In the Midst of the Storm

In this illuminating chapter of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. sits down with scholar, author, and trailblazing university president Dr. Brian L. Johnson. From his roots in Durham, North Carolina, to becoming the first minority president in Warner Pacific University’s history, Dr. Johnson shares the lessons, pivots, and defining moments that shaped his purpose-driven path.

With honesty and depth, he opens up about:

 * The faith and encounters that clarified his calling
 * The pivotal rejection that redirected him from law school to academia
 * The resilience built by remembering where he came from
 * How mentorship, integrity, and preparation remain cornerstones of leadership

Dr. Johnson reminds us that purpose isn’t static — it evolves, it pivots, and it proves itself through resilience. This is a conversation for anyone navigating their own calling and searching for the courage to keep pressing forward.

Because the greatest story you’ll ever live is the one where you remember the good, so it can prepare you for the greater.

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Connect with Dr. Brian Johnson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-johnson-ph-d-004a8425/], Twitter [https://x.com/drbrianjohnson1] or visit intersectionoffaithandlearning.com [http://intersectionoffaithandlearning.com/]

Ep. 0017 | The Greatest Seven-Letter Word

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. reconnects with her graduate school roommate turned powerhouse scholar, entrepreneur, and global speaker — Dr. Cierra M. Robinson.

A proud St. Louis native and three-time HBCU alumna, Dr. Robinson shares her journey from winning fifth-grade oratorical contests to shaping the future of higher education and entrepreneurship. With honesty and humor, she opens up about faith as foundation, family as fuel, and resilience as a non-negotiable.

Together, Zena and Dr. Robinson explore the role of authenticity in leadership, the hustle born from legacy, and the calling to lift as we climb. This is more than a conversation — it’s a masterclass in purpose, perseverance, and planting seeds for generational impact.

💫 Whether you’re an entrepreneur, student, or leader-in-the-making, this episode will remind you that knowing who you are and whose you are is the true blueprint for success.

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Connect with Dr. Cierra Robinson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cierra-r-6bb7a7b/]

Visit LaidOffLemonade.com to learn more about Zena C's book

Ep. 0016 | Lift as You Climb: Faith, Family & Leadership

In this soul-nourishing chapter of The GR8TNESS Router, host Zena C. welcomes her cousin and guiding light, Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton, for a rich conversation on what it means to become.

From the sacred stillness of a back porch prayer to building a global brand rooted in healing, Dr. E unpacks the real work behind purpose: trusting the call before the path is clear. Together, they explore the intersections of divine timing, identity, obedience, and the quiet power of being well-loved.

Whether you’re navigating a pivot or waiting on a promise, this episode will remind you that transformation isn’t a destination—it’s an unfolding.

💫 Listen closely. The business of becoming is already in motion.

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Connect with Dr. Deborah Egerton on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-deborah-egerton-805a4611/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/enneagramjedi/], or learn more about her work at DeborahEgerton.com [https://www.deborahegerton.com/]

Ep. 0015 | Divine Timing & The Business of Becoming

What happens when you finally stop shrinking and start speaking?

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Dr. Davia Crutchfield joins us for a deeply honest, spiritually grounded conversation on clarity, calling, and becoming. She opens up about how language, identity, and obedience intersect—and why your voice might be the very thing God is waiting on.

📖 From the power of journaling to the pain of playing small, Dr. Davia shares what it means to honor your truth—and how faith, fear, and frameworks are all part of the journey.

🎧 Tap in and step forward—your next chapter may be waiting on your “yes.”
🔍 Search “The GR8TNESS Router” wherever you get your podcasts.

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Connect with Dr. Davia J. Crutchfield on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davia-j-crutchfield/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/drdavia/] or learn more about BL&CK at visitandblack.com [http://visitandblack.com/]

Scandinavia House | A Celebration of Doug Crutchfield [https://www.scandinaviahouse.org/sh/films/a-celebration-of-doug-crutchfield/]

National Nordic Museum | A Celebration of Dancer Doug Crutchfield [https://nordicmuseum.org/events/encomium-for-doug-crutchfield]

Ep. 0014 | Faith, Frameworks & Finding Your Voice

There’s a particular kind of grief that comes from being left behind not because you did something wrong—but because you were finally being real.

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Zena C. holds space for the quiet ache of being cut off, edited out, or misunderstood for choosing authenticity. Anchored by Langston Hughes’ iconic poem Mother to Son, this reflection invites listeners to consider what it costs to shrink, and what it could mean to stop.

From middle school memories to grown-folks clarity, this episode is a reminder that not all disconnection is loss—and that sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is let people go… and stay true to yourself anyway.

If you’ve ever traded a piece of yourself to belong—or felt discarded for simply being—this one is for you.

Ep. 0013 | Let Them Live. And You Be, Too.

What happens when the systems you’re trained to trust… start to show their cracks?

In this episode, Zena C. is joined by Civil Rights Attorney and Community Advocacy Educator Jonathan Barry-Blocker, JD, for a powerful conversation on identity, justice, and protecting your peace while doing the work.

From courtroom realities to community wisdom, Jonathan breaks down what it means to advocate with integrity—and still be whole. He shares how growing up in a deeply rooted Black family, navigating predominantly white institutions, and surviving the mental toll of overperformance shaped his perspective on boundaries, law, and liberation.

This episode is for anyone carrying the weight of excellence, service, or expectation… and learning how to set it down without letting go of who they are.

🎧 Stream Episode 0012 on all major platforms
Release Date: 5/22/25

Connect with Attorney Jonathan Barry-Blocker on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/attyjbarryblocker/]

Ep. 0012 | Ask The Question Anyway

🗓️ Released on the 5-year remembrance of Zena’s father’s passing

— — —

What if the truth you’ve been waiting for… asks for something in return?

What if clarity doesn’t just set you free—but sets you apart?

In this episode, Zena C. reflects on the hard-earned wisdom passed down by her father, through one of his favorite poems and the life he lived with deep conviction.

This is more than a message—it’s a memorial.
A tribute to legacy. A meditation on loyalty.
And a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful shift begins not with a plan… but with a whisper.

💜 Released in honor of Dr. Thomas E. H. Conway, Jr (1949–2020)
🍋 Laid Off Lemonade available at LaidOffLemonade.com [http://laidofflemonade.com/]

Ep. 0011 | When Clarity Costs You Something

What does it really take to build a life of impact?

In this episode of The GR8TNESS Router, Dr. Peter Eley shares his powerful journey—from a small town in North Carolina to the leadership ranks of higher education. Through resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to access, Dr. Eley shows how legacy isn't about titles—it's about lifting others along the way.

From math to mentorship, from family sacrifices to global opportunities, Dr. Eley’s story reminds us:

 * Why ownership and responsibility go hand in hand
 * How access and exposure can change the course of a life
 * Why living out loud is the truest form of leadership

🎧 Tune in now and be inspired to walk in your purpose, unapologetically.

Connect with Dr. Eley on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-eley-13012438/], Twitter [https://x.com/drpetereley/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gospelprofessor/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/eleypm] or via his website drpetereley.com [https://www.drpetereley.com/]

Ep. 0010 | Building Legacy Through Access and Authenticity

Where purpose meets process. One conversation at a time.

Greatness isn’t random—it’s built through purpose, process, and perseverance. The Gr8tness Router is where deep, real conversations uncover the why behind success—not just what people do, but what drives them and how they navigate the journey.

Hosted by Zena C., this podcast moves beyond inspiration into practical insight, blending thought-provoking interviews with personal reflections to help listeners apply key lessons in their own lives.

Season 1: The Doctor’s Journey

Doctors don’t just wake up with a title—they are crafted through discipline, decisions, and defining moments. This season, we sit down with Black Doctors across disciplines—PhDs, MDs, JDs, Ed.Ds, ClinSciDs— to explore the wisdom, struggles, and breakthroughs behind their journeys.

But the conversation doesn’t stop there. In solo episodes, Zena C. unpacks key takeaways, shares hard-hitting insights, and breaks down how we can all apply the principles of greatness—no matter our field.

Why Listen?

🔹 Real stories. Real strategies. No fluff.
🔹 Conversations that connect purpose to process.
🔹 Actionable takeaways to help you navigate your own journey.
🔹 A fresh, engaging, and authentic space for learning and growth.

Whether you’re chasing your next milestone, pivoting in life, or just hungry for deeper conversations, The Gr8tness Router is here to connect you to the wisdom, resilience, and mindset behind success.

New episodes drop on Thursdays. Subscribe and let’s get to work. 🎤✨

Zena C

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