Words of the Year Check-in with Allison S. Weiss and Marissa Garza
ReImagining Community with Garland
We’re back for our quarterly check-in! This episode, Garland, Marissa, and Allison get real about how 2025 is treating them—emotionally, creatively, and professionally. The crew dives into the words of the year they each picked, how those intentions are holding up (or, in some cases, getting a remix!), and the rituals keeping them grounded in these all-over-the-place times. From Topple-inspired metaphors for emotional balance to morning walks and “letting go” as a radical act, you’ll find sharp honesty and truly relatable reflections. We chat about how consuming less (media,...
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Community-Owned, Community-Fed: The SoLA Food Co-Op Story with Bahni Turpin
ReImagining Community with Garland
In this energizing episode, Garland Fuller dives into a radically authentic conversation with Bahni Turpin—acclaimed actress, community leader, and founder of the SoLA Food Co-Op in South L.A. Bahni shares her journey from artist to changemaker, breaking down how lived experience and community theater opened her eyes to food injustice and inspired tangible solutions. From her roots in New York to establishing a home and purpose in South L.A., Bahni reveals what it really takes to build a member-owned food co-op in a city shaped by food deserts and systemic inequities. She opens up about the...
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Season 1, Looking Back
ReImagining Community with Garland
We’ve reached the end of an incredible first season of ReImagining Community! In this special finale, Garland Fuller and Marissa Garza look back on the moments that shaped the season, the conversations that challenged and inspired us, and the powerful ways our community is growing. More than just a recap, this episode is about honoring the stories, connections, and impact that have come from building this space together. What’s Inside This Episode? 🔥 Kicking Things Off (00:01:07) Garland and Marissa reflect on what it took to launch this podcast, the energy behind each episode,...
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ReImagining Workplaces: Empathy and Belonging with Farzana Nayani
ReImagining Community with Garland
In this episode of ReImagining Community, host Garland Fuller sits down with diversity, equity, and inclusion expert Farzana Nayani for a conversation that’s equal parts insightful and action-driven. Farzana shares her journey into human-centered consulting, breaking down how personal growth fuels impactful leadership. They explore the Know-Heal-Lead model, the power of empathetic leadership, and why psychological safety is non-negotiable in today’s workplaces. From self-awareness to building trust, this episode is packed with real talk on what it takes to create meaningful change. Farzana...
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Building Community and Empowering Entrepreneurs with Ronda Jackson
ReImagining Community with Garland
Welcome back to ReImagining Community, the podcast where we highlight the Black and Brown changemakers shaping our communities through bold ideas, collaboration, and intentional action. Your host, Garland Fuller, is here to bring you powerful conversations that inspire action and impact. This week, we’re sitting down with Ronda Jackson—a powerhouse entrepreneur, community builder, and advocate for personal and professional transformation. From her roots in Chicago to the creation of Paint On Purpose and her impactful third Saturday events, Ronda shares the lessons and insights that...
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Navigating Multicultural Spaces with Jennifer Taylor
ReImagining Community with Garland
How do we create spaces where multicultural identities can thrive? In this episode of Reimagining Community, host Garland Fuller sits down with Jennifer Taylor, a leader with over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate who has dedicated her career to fostering belonging and amplifying diverse voices. Jennifer unpacks the complexities of navigating cultural identities in professional and community spaces, sharing insights from her work with Ambiculture Advisors, Swirls, and SIPA. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how cultural nuances influence business...
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Facing Fear & Finding Strength in Community
ReImagining Community with Garland
In this solo episode of ReImagining Community, host Garland Fuller takes on a topic that’s all too real: fear. Whether it’s fear of failure, ridicule, uncertainty, or even success, these invisible barriers keep too many of us from stepping into our power. Garland shares her own journey of pushing past these fears, breaking down how embracing community and collaboration can make all the difference. She also dives into her love of reading and how books can create shared experiences—shouting out The Solidarity Shelf, a flexible book club model started by her friend Marissa Garza. This...
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Building Community Connections Through Digital Storytelling
ReImagining Community with Garland
In this episode of ReImagining Community, host Garland Fuller sits down with Eugenia Chien, a strategic planning powerhouse with over a decade of experience shaping how communities connect and engage online. From launching Muni Diaries to leading initiatives at PopSugar and Meta, Eugenia has seen firsthand how digital storytelling can strengthen communities, amplify voices, and foster meaningful partnerships. Together, Garland and Eugenia break down the evolution of online engagement—from throwing ideas at the wall to refining strategies that create real impact. They discuss the...
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Embracing Transformation: Words of the Year and Building Community in 2025
ReImagining Community with Garland
Embracing Transformation: Words of the Year and Building Community in 2025 In this episode of Reimagining Community, host Garland Fuller dives into a vibrant and thought-provoking conversation with Marissa Garza, her systems strategist and podcast producer, and Allison Weiss, founder of CRE Recruiting. Together, they explore the transformative power of words, rituals, and intentional community-building for 2025. From their chosen Words of the Year to their professional goals, the discussion unpacks how reflection and connection pave the way for personal and collective growth. Tune in as they...
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Navigating Leadership with Kim Brown
ReImagining Community with Garland
Building Bridges and Creating Impact: A Conversation with Kim Brown In this episode of Reimagining Community, host Garland Fuller dives into an inspiring conversation with Kim Brown, Managing Partner at Housing Impact Partners and President of AAREP LA. Together, they explore Kim’s remarkable career in commercial real estate and her transformative leadership journey within AAREP LA. From tackling affordable housing challenges to creating third spaces that empower Black professionals, Kim shares invaluable insights on servant leadership and community advocacy. This episode is a must-listen...
info_outlineOn Episode 017, Garland interviews Aiko Bethea of RARE Coaching & Consulting.
Highlights of Episode 017:
- Aiko Introduction - 01:25
- Growing up bi cultural - 04:42
- Racial identity awareness - 07:55
- From Law into DEI - 10:14
- Community - 15:00
- Urgency in the work - 19:45
- Fear in the workplace - 22:45
- What do we do now? - 28:45
- What’s next - 34:30
- Inclusion drive my work - 38:29
- Full Circle - 38:45
- Afterthoughts - 39:27
Aiko is a leader, builder, and connector. She successfully navigated leadership roles in government, philanthropic. and corporate sectors. In each sector she created new roles to meet growing organizational needs and visions for evolving. She currently reports to the COO of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute where she leads Diversity & Inclusion. In this inaugural role, she developed and implemented the first enterprise-wide diversity and inclusion strategy. Her expertise in change management, building alliances and collaboration is reflected in her ability to scale impact.
Aiko is also principal and founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, a consulting practice focused on coaching leaders and organizations to remove barriers to inclusion. Her practice integrates operations, leadership coaching and education strategies that yield measurable outcomes.
For over seven years, Aiko was with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she served as Deputy Director of Grants & Contracts Management. She led a cross-functional team responsible for compliance and due diligence review of $550M of annual investments. She developed and implemented lean workflow process, and facilitated change management throughout the organization.
Aiko has served on several boards and provided pro bono training for nonprofit boards on governance, strategic development, and operational efficiency. She speaks nationally and locally on matters relating to leadership, diversity and inclusion, and organizational development. Aiko currently serves as Board President of the Seattle Children’s Theater. She is a leadership coach for The Coaching Fellowship, a global leadership program for women committed to social impact work. She is also a leadership coach for the Executive Mentoring and Peer Program for Women in Bio (WIB).
Aiko earned her BA from Smith College in Northampton, MA and her Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of the Hudson Institute of Coaching at Santa Barbara and is an ICF certified coach. Aiko is a Certified Diversity Professional and is licensed to practice law in Georgia. She spends much of her time learning from her two young sons.
HBR: https://hbr.org/2020/06/what-black-employee-resource-groups-need-right-now
Connect with Aiko:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aikobethea/
Twitter: @AikoBethea
IG: @rare_coach
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RARECoach
// Connect with and learn more about your host, Garland Fuller:
Web: garlandfuller.com
Instagram: @FullCircleWithGarland
LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/garlandfuller
Mailing list: http://rebrand.ly/Garland-Podcast
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/garland)