What inspired you to get into the education side of technology?
 2
00:00:03.703 --> 00:00:08.274 I'll be honest I, I actually didn't set out to work in Ed-tech.
 3
00:00:08.541 --> 00:00:12.245 I had worked in commercial products.
 4
00:00:12.245 --> 00:00:15.615 I had worked on consumer products, wearable devices.
 5
00:00:15.782 --> 00:00:19.419 So going to a new vertical or as we call it,
 6
00:00:19.419 --> 00:00:22.856 or a new segment was just sort of how I had navigated my career.
 7
00:00:22.856 --> 00:00:27.427 But now that I've landed in education, I really can't imagine leaving it.
 8
00:00:27.427 --> 00:00:30.930 Working in education is just such a privilege
 9
00:00:31.131 --> 00:00:35.135 to create things that can impact the next generation.
 10
00:00:35.168 --> 00:00:40.168 And so when you bring values and you bring an inspiring North Star
 11
00:00:40.907 --> 00:00:44.511 into that job and education, and then you actually get to see
 12
00:00:44.511 --> 00:00:47.881 the positive impact that you're having in the lives of young people.
 13
00:00:47.881 --> 00:00:49.749 Like, I don't know where you would go from here
 14
00:00:49.749 --> 00:00:53.520 in terms of bringing your heart into the job.
 

2025 SXSW Conference
Interviewed in Austin, TX but works in Seattle, WA USA.

Each day is different—some mornings I’m deep in game design or planning new features, and other times I’m building partnerships or launching esports pilots with schools. I get to lead a team that brings learning to life through Minecraft, helping students stay curious and joyful. In my role, I’m surrounded by kind, heart-forward people who share a mission to make a real impact.

Head of Minecraft Education

You don't belong here. You're not smart enough and you haven't done enough.

Fulfillment

Passion

How And Why I Work In Education Technology

Do you have any advice for, like, people like me or like younger?
 2
00:00:03.636 --> 00:00:04.738 A lot of people talk
 3
00:00:04.738 --> 00:00:08.608 in this world about what's my passion and I have to follow my passion,
 4
00:00:08.608 --> 00:00:11.745 and I think that's too big of a word sometimes.
 5
00:00:11.745 --> 00:00:14.047 Yeah. It's heavy. It's heavy,
 6
00:00:14.047 --> 00:00:15.548 and it's almost as if, like.
 7
00:00:15.548 --> 00:00:19.019 Well, if I don't know what my passion is, then I'm failing or I'm dadada.
 8
00:00:19.386 --> 00:00:23.356 And I tell people, your purpose can just be having a good day.
 9
00:00:23.590 --> 00:00:28.094 Your purpose can be finding the joy in whatever little thing
 10
00:00:28.495 --> 00:00:31.765 and having your coffee and saying hello to someone in this and that.
 11
00:00:32.132 --> 00:00:34.834 So let go of these big lofty things,
 12
00:00:34.834 --> 00:00:39.205 is number one, just find a way to make sure that every day
 13
00:00:39.539 --> 00:00:43.109 has something that's given you a sense of peace and joy.
 14
00:00:43.309 --> 00:00:44.677 And then try out things.
 15
00:00:44.677 --> 00:00:48.415 I've changed my careers more times than I can count on my hands.
 16
00:00:48.648 --> 00:00:50.550 Trying things out isn't failure.
 17
00:00:50.550 --> 00:00:54.587 Trying things out is success because you learn from them new skills.
 18
00:00:54.954 --> 00:00:57.023 But then you also figure out, I like doing this.
 19
00:00:57.023 --> 00:00:57.891 I don't like doing that.
 20
00:00:57.891 --> 00:01:00.193 I like doing this, I don't, so try things out.
 21
00:01:00.193 --> 00:01:03.530 Just because you committed to a career, I want to frickin medical school.
 22
00:01:03.830 --> 00:01:06.166 And then I left it after ten years.
 23
00:01:06.166 --> 00:01:09.169 I'm doing very well right now, and as I was saying,
 24
00:01:09.569 --> 00:01:11.771 it wasn't a bad thing to do that.
 25
00:01:11.771 --> 00:01:13.473 So try things out.
 26
00:01:13.473 --> 00:01:14.240 Be a hustler.
 27
00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:16.609 I used to go and make things and sell them,
 28
00:01:16.609 --> 00:01:20.480 even without needing money, just because I like the art of the hustle.
 29
00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:23.483 Of the knowing you can go and figure things out.
 30
00:01:23.550 --> 00:01:24.584 Don't have ego,
 31
00:01:24.584 --> 00:01:28.521 there was a point in my life when, after I got my divorce the second time,
 32
00:01:29.089 --> 00:01:32.358 even though I was a highly paid individual in a company,
 33
00:01:32.358 --> 00:01:34.661 I had, like too much debt and stuff like that.
 34
00:01:34.661 --> 00:01:36.496 I used to Uber drive on the side.
 35
00:01:36.496 --> 00:01:38.598 I went and worked at a restaurant on the side.
 36
00:01:38.598 --> 00:01:42.902 I have no ego when it comes to being a responsible parent
 37
00:01:42.902 --> 00:01:46.372 and doing the things that you need to do, you need to let that stuff go.
 38
00:01:46.372 --> 00:01:47.140 No ego.
 39
00:01:47.140 --> 00:01:49.676 Hustle, get out there, try things out.
 40
00:01:49.676 --> 00:01:51.044 And then I think you're going to land
 41
00:01:51.044 --> 00:01:54.013 in something that, you know, hopefully gives you life.
 42
00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:57.684 Make sure you land in something that you feel you want to wake up
 43
00:01:57.684 --> 00:02:01.855 in the morning to do, rather than kind of live by default.
 44
00:02:01.921 --> 00:02:03.990 And with your light not shining.
 

2025 SXSW Conference
Interviewed in Austin, TX but works in Minneapolis, MN USA.
advanced-degree
career-change

Build your network. It's important to be a person of increase. When you meet someone, make sure they walk away with value from you. Don't just wait to network when you need something. The best way to make connections that will benefit you in the future is to make sure you're benefitting others and helping them too.

I was born in Egypt to a family that didn't see value in women. I was essentially left behind by my parents because I was born a girl. I was always sad as a child so I decided to pursue medical school so that I could help other children feel good.

Every day, I work to weave equity and inclusion into the fabric of our global company. I lead with heart, strategy, and urgency—whether I’m reviewing diversity metrics, shaping policy, or mentoring young talent. I collaborate with leaders to design inclusive systems and launch programs that open doors to education and careers. It’s about healing corporate culture so everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Foundation President & Global Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer

You're not worthy because you're not a doctor anymore.

Exploration

Explore, Hustle, And Find Whatever Makes You Happy

Are there any other points in life which you had a similar epiphany?
 2
00:00:03.303 --> 00:00:03.870 You know,
 3
00:00:03.870 --> 00:00:08.870 I think I always knew at a very young age I wanted to be free and just do-
 4
00:00:09.309 --> 00:00:14.309 I don't like people telling me what to do. But what I realize is that, where you start
 5
00:00:14.781 --> 00:00:17.117 may not be where you end and
 6
00:00:17.117 --> 00:00:21.254 you may be so entrenched in this you're missing out on opportunities to get here.
 7
00:00:21.321 --> 00:00:25.558 So, for example, if I said I'm not going to look at anything else,
 8
00:00:25.558 --> 00:00:26.960 all I want to do is play guitar.
 9
00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:29.963 I might miss out on some opportunities or I might blow up just as a guitarist.
 10
00:00:29.963 --> 00:00:31.564 But if you had told me
 11
00:00:31.564 --> 00:00:35.068 I was going to have this, highly successful stock market education company
 12
00:00:35.268 --> 00:00:36.569 I don't know nothing about the stock market.
 13
00:00:36.569 --> 00:00:39.205 What are you talking about? I'm not interested in that stuff.
 14
00:00:39.205 --> 00:00:42.776 But because I met somebody who stayed on me
 15
00:00:42.909 --> 00:00:46.780 and would not let up I started gradually coming over here,
 16
00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:49.315 and it just took off and I was like, wow, you know, it's
 17
00:00:49.315 --> 00:00:52.552 okay to have more than one passion and more than one interest, you know?
 18
00:00:52.552 --> 00:00:53.686 There's nothing wrong with that.
 19
00:00:53.686 --> 00:00:57.457 And it's also okay to pivot from something. Like, I still play guitar.
 20
00:00:57.457 --> 00:00:59.692 I love playing guitar. I play every day.
 21
00:00:59.692 --> 00:01:02.328 And I realize I can have multiple passions, right?
 22
00:01:02.328 --> 00:01:05.331 But I do realize anything that I've been really, really good at,
 23
00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:08.668 I had to have concentrated effort in it at some point,
 24
00:01:08.668 --> 00:01:10.036 So everything that I got good at,
 25
00:01:10.036 --> 00:01:14.274 I spent a certain amount of time just boom, just focused on that one thing.
 26
00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:16.810 And then I realized, man, you put the time in
 27
00:01:17.877 --> 00:01:19.446 the results will come.
 

2024 PGCO Roadtrip
entrepreneur
career-change

I'd recommend trying to intern with a stock market education company or brokerage company, regardless of what degree you obtain.

I start my day at 7 a.m. with an hour-long workout. I'll spend the next hour checking and responding to emails. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. I conduct live training classes that teach beginners how to trade and invest in the stock market. After breaking for lunch, I'll have a meeting with my software development team. Then, I spend the afternoon meeting with prospective clients.

Founder & CEO

I'm not paying for you to pursue guitar as a career.

It’s Okay To Have Multiple Passions

Can you talk a little bit about why it's important, especially for you
 2
00:00:03.470 --> 00:00:07.874 to give support to women and minorities who are in the food industry?
 3
00:00:08.108 --> 00:00:09.676 Yes so, you pose a good question.
 4
00:00:09.676 --> 00:00:13.446 So my background is that I've been a lawyer for 22 years, right?
 5
00:00:13.446 --> 00:00:17.050 So I started off as a prosecutor, a white collar crimes prosecutor,
 6
00:00:17.317 --> 00:00:19.753 prosecuting mortgage fraud and real estate fraud.
 7
00:00:19.753 --> 00:00:24.424 And while I was prosecuting, I still used my entrepreneurial, you know,
 8
00:00:24.457 --> 00:00:28.461 assets in order to build a company while I was still working as a lawyer.
 9
00:00:28.528 --> 00:00:31.531 Most people think that you have to do one or the other.
 10
00:00:31.698 --> 00:00:33.366 I tend to believe that.
 11
00:00:33.366 --> 00:00:35.802 Why not do everything that's interesting to you?
 12
00:00:35.802 --> 00:00:38.304 Because that is what the journey of life is about.
 13
00:00:38.304 --> 00:00:43.043 When you say advocacy things that I stand for, part of my advocacy for women
 14
00:00:43.309 --> 00:00:48.309 and minority women is to understand that what you do in life is simply what you do.
 15
00:00:49.249 --> 00:00:50.583 It's not who you are.
 16
00:00:50.583 --> 00:00:52.719 So you kind of have to step into all parts of you,
 17
00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:55.822 which means that you have to do a lot of quiet studying about yourself
 18
00:00:56.056 --> 00:00:59.993 to not just learn about what your passion is, but what your purpose is.
 19
00:00:59.993 --> 00:01:03.029 And it just so happens that my purpose is to embrace life
 20
00:01:03.329 --> 00:01:07.434 and live it and run as fast as I can to get things done, not just for me,
 21
00:01:07.534 --> 00:01:11.004 not just for my son, but for all the people that look like me
 22
00:01:11.004 --> 00:01:13.273 and for all the people that have a long way to go
 23
00:01:13.273 --> 00:01:15.075 who want to be in the position that I'm in.
 

2024 PGCO Roadtrip
entrepreneur
advanced-degree

My day starts with waking up early, quiet time, light exercise, shower and dress, and morning coffee. Then I read emails and go over my plan of attack for the day. I head to my bakery for the first few hours. I talk with guests and staff. I work on marketing and sales, and return emails. Then I start on my law practice clients. I read, draft, and create contracts. I'll also talk or meet with law firm clients. I wrap up my day by having dinner with a client or an employee and head home by 10 p.m.

Attorney & Entrepreneur

Putting Time Into All Of My Interests And Passions

So there's a lot of, you know, kids, adults even.
 2
00:00:04.471 --> 00:00:09.009 That are still trying to find their passion trying to find their itch.
 3
00:00:09.309 --> 00:00:13.680 So would you tell people on how they could find their, their itch?
 4
00:00:14.047 --> 00:00:16.116 You got to ask them what do you like to do?
 5
00:00:16.116 --> 00:00:18.685 I don't care if you like gaming, gaming is a job.
 6
00:00:18.685 --> 00:00:19.819 If you beta tester
 7
00:00:19.819 --> 00:00:24.124 or you get into the gaming, it doesn't matter what you like, it's
 8
00:00:24.357 --> 00:00:26.793 do you have the passion, do you have the desire,
 9
00:00:26.793 --> 00:00:29.929 or do you have the, willingness to just go through?
 10
00:00:30.030 --> 00:00:32.265 You know, it depends on what the person wants to do
 11
00:00:32.265 --> 00:00:36.369 and if they're willing to do it and to get with the right people that can,
 12
00:00:36.369 --> 00:00:40.874 either mentor them or guide them in some kind of way, and they not feel
 13
00:00:40.874 --> 00:00:45.874 intimidated in not knowing because it's okay to ask questions if you don't know.
 

2025 PGCO Hub Interviews
formerly-incarcerated

I spent 26 years in prison. It wasn't how I expected my life to go but I used my time in prison to turn my life around, better myself, and work towards reentry. Now I devote my career to helping others going through the same thing.

I work with people who are navigating the challenges of reentry after incarceration. Whether I’m coaching someone who just came home after 30 years or guiding a young first-time offender through a program, my goal is to help them avoid more time behind bars and rebuild their lives. It’s tough work—sometimes they fight me because they’re still fighting themselves. But when they realize I’m on their side and they can see a future for themselves, that’s when I know I’m where I’m meant to be.

Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Support & Encouragement

Advice For Career Explorers

As you know, I'm Dr. Ronald Gamble.
 2
00:00:02.168 --> 00:00:07.168 I'm a Theoretical Astrophysicist here, my research is focused on studying
 3
00:00:07.173 --> 00:00:10.176 black holes. The other half of my job is I'm
 4
00:00:10.176 --> 00:00:13.179 the director of the Cosmic Pathfinders program.
 5
00:00:13.513 --> 00:00:16.383 It's an early career professional development program.
 6
00:00:16.383 --> 00:00:18.385 It's open to all areas of STEM.
 7
00:00:18.385 --> 00:00:23.385 To reinvigorate why we are here, talking to each other, giving them access to NASA.
 8
00:00:23.456 --> 00:00:27.027 To showing them how to get, competitive internships, fellowships,
 9
00:00:27.293 --> 00:00:30.864 navigating grad school and then ultimately getting them jobs here.
 10
00:00:30.864 --> 00:00:33.767 So that's that's part of the reason why we have the program.
 11
00:00:33.767 --> 00:00:36.903 And there's over 600 strong in there and we started this year.
 12
00:00:36.903 --> 00:00:39.806 So yeah, really excited about that.
 13
00:00:39.806 --> 00:00:42.108 Yeah, I know one thing is really interesting.
 14
00:00:42.108 --> 00:00:45.111 When I was reading up a little bit on your bio and I was like, sheese,
 15
00:00:45.211 --> 00:00:46.913 how do you get into this?
 16
00:00:46.913 --> 00:00:50.283 I'm curious about how, your interest kind of led you to being where you are?
 17
00:00:50.283 --> 00:00:52.886 Because I mean, a lot of us know we can be lawyers
 18
00:00:52.886 --> 00:00:56.623 and we can be medical doctors, but I wonder what it's like to be
 19
00:00:56.623 --> 00:00:57.357 a little black boy
 20
00:00:57.357 --> 00:00:58.825 and be like you could be an astrophysicist, though.
 21
00:00:58.825 --> 00:00:59.893 Like I'm curious about just
 22
00:00:59.893 --> 00:01:02.095 how did you get to the point of I want to be an Astrophysicist?
 23
00:01:02.095 --> 00:01:05.832 Well, I looked at some of those careers and I'm honestly nothing against them.
 24
00:01:05.932 --> 00:01:09.702 We need our own lawyers, I might need some one day, you know,
 25
00:01:10.203 --> 00:01:13.206 but to me they they didn't capture my interest.
 26
00:01:13.506 --> 00:01:17.544 And so looking at physics and looking at astronomy,
 27
00:01:17.877 --> 00:01:21.881 things that are weird in space, things that are unknown, the mysterious things.
 28
00:01:21.948 --> 00:01:24.517 But not only the weird stuff, but how do we talk about it?
 29
00:01:24.517 --> 00:01:27.020 And so in high school, I looked up.
 30
00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:30.023 Okay, well, what is there an equation for a black hole?
 31
00:01:30.190 --> 00:01:31.891 Realized, yes there is.
 32
00:01:31.891 --> 00:01:34.127 Didn't understand anything in the book
 33
00:01:34.127 --> 00:01:37.363 and then I went back to my physics teacher there in high school,
 34
00:01:37.363 --> 00:01:39.199 and I asked them, Hey, do you know about black holes?
 35
00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:41.935 And he said, No, but you should go to college.
 36
00:01:41.935 --> 00:01:46.406 And I'm like, okay. So I went to the
 37
00:01:47.107 --> 00:01:50.143 illustrious North Carolina, A&amp;T State University.
 38
00:01:50.643 --> 00:01:52.979 Go Aggies.
 39
00:01:52.979 --> 00:01:55.782 I in undergrad I studied physics and fine arts.
 40
00:01:55.782 --> 00:01:59.452 I was a double major, so I have a fine arts minor in studio design and painting.
 41
00:01:59.619 --> 00:02:01.654 So that's kind of where the passion started.
 42
00:02:01.654 --> 00:02:06.326 And then it really drove home the beauty in that complex math.
 43
00:02:06.326 --> 00:02:08.261 So that's what really got me.
 44
00:02:08.261 --> 00:02:11.397 And so, you know, now at home, I've got a floor to ceiling
 45
00:02:11.397 --> 00:02:14.901 chalkboard where I do all of my work kind of there.
 46
00:02:14.901 --> 00:02:16.936 And it's like, my science studio.
 47
00:02:16.936 --> 00:02:19.873 I get to create whatever I want in the math. One of the other things
 48
00:02:19.873 --> 00:02:23.009 I'll add to that that motivated me is not seeing anybody like me.
 49
00:02:23.076 --> 00:02:27.647 I would say probably the first theoretical physicist that looked like me
 50
00:02:28.047 --> 00:02:32.118 was probably in grad school and it wasn't at my university, it was somewhere else.
 51
00:02:32.185 --> 00:02:34.120 You know, doing great things, of course.
 52
00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:38.758 But to me he felt inaccessible, I couldn't ask him questions every day
 53
00:02:38.992 --> 00:02:39.959 like I wanted to.
 54
00:02:39.959 --> 00:02:43.062 So I was like, okay, well, let me be that person.
 55
00:02:43.062 --> 00:02:46.499 And I guess I guess I got to step up. And so it's one of those things
 56
00:02:46.499 --> 00:02:49.836 again, like going to college, like you all have experience.
 57
00:02:49.869 --> 00:02:51.404 It's like you got to press on, you got to move on.
 58
00:02:51.404 --> 00:02:54.440 Even if you don't see the example, you can be the example.
 59
00:02:54.440 --> 00:02:57.443 And then now moving forward, I got students looking at me like,
 60
00:02:58.111 --> 00:03:01.114 I'm now that theoretical physicist that they're looking at.
 61
00:03:01.181 --> 00:03:04.651 And I'm like, okay, well, I don't want to do the same thing that I experienced.
 62
00:03:04.784 --> 00:03:06.219 I want to be accessible.
 63
00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:08.488 And so I try to make it intentional.
 

In this field, you need to have a "can't stop, won't stop" attitude. I applied to NASA multiple times before I was finally offered a position—and it wasn't even one I applied for! I sent a cold email and went the extra mile to prepare a slide presentation of my work. Be prepared. There's always somebody watching you. A lot of the times, you won't even know an opportunity exists because it's being saved for the right person. You can be the right person. Be confident, persistent, and resilient.

I spend my time diving into the mysteries of black holes as a theoretical astrophysicist at NASA. My work balances cutting-edge research on relativistic jet emissions with mentoring early-career scientists through the Cosmic Pathfinders program. Whether I’m analyzing data, speaking at conferences, or guiding students toward careers in space science, my goal is to expand our understanding of the universe while inspiring the next generation​.

Theoretical Astrophysicist

Inspiration

Why I Became A Theoretical Astrophysicist

How do you navigate that?
 2
00:00:01.634 --> 00:00:05.505 You know, realizing, okay, this is my purpose, I don't care
 3
00:00:05.505 --> 00:00:10.310 who's leading the nation, this is what I want to do to help America.
 4
00:00:10.543 --> 00:00:13.680 Look, positions come and go, but purpose lasts forever.
 5
00:00:13.747 --> 00:00:16.116 Barack Obama was president for eight years.
 6
00:00:16.116 --> 00:00:20.520 He said that the most important thing that he's going to do
 7
00:00:20.520 --> 00:00:23.823 is probably in the next post eight years of his life.
 8
00:00:23.890 --> 00:00:25.959 And so he built the Obama Foundation,
 9
00:00:25.959 --> 00:00:28.261 where it's continuing the work of My Brother's
 10
00:00:28.261 --> 00:00:30.730 Keeper and expanding opportunity for boys and young men of color.
 11
00:00:30.730 --> 00:00:33.800 It's continuing the work to let girls learn across the country
 12
00:00:33.800 --> 00:00:36.069 through the Girls Opportunity Alliance and Mrs. Obama.
 13
00:00:36.069 --> 00:00:39.272 It's helping to create a million more Barack and Michelle Obama's
 14
00:00:39.272 --> 00:00:42.308 through leadership programs in the United States, Europe and Asia.
 15
00:00:42.308 --> 00:00:45.678 And so your position changes, but your your purpose doesn't.
 16
00:00:45.745 --> 00:00:48.915 I've been in government, I've been in the private sector.
 17
00:00:48.915 --> 00:00:50.383 I've been in nonprofit.
 18
00:00:50.383 --> 00:00:52.185 My purpose has stayed the same.
 19
00:00:52.185 --> 00:00:54.754 And I think that's something that we all have to keep in mind
 20
00:00:54.754 --> 00:00:57.557 because otherwise you'll fall apart when your position changes.
 21
00:00:57.557 --> 00:00:59.859 Oh lord, I'm not president of the student body anymore.
 22
00:00:59.859 --> 00:01:01.227 Oh lord, I lost that election.
 23
00:01:01.227 --> 00:01:03.997 Instead of thinking, You know what? That happened for a reason.
 24
00:01:03.997 --> 00:01:04.998 I'm going to take what I learned.
 25
00:01:04.998 --> 00:01:05.832 I'm going to take the wins, I'm
 26
00:01:05.832 --> 00:01:07.434 going to take the losses, and I'm going to move it
 27
00:01:07.434 --> 00:01:10.236 into another position to advance my my purpose.
 

My path worked out for me but my original goal was to be a journalist. I did a lot of internships and part-time jobs, and learned that I loved working on Capitol Hill and with nonprofits. The most important thing is to have a clear north star of how you want to leave the world a better place. Then get the education, skills, and training you need to achieve your goals. You also have to be willing to course correct, try new things, and always be open to education in formal and informal settings.

I lost a brother to gun violence, which has helped propel my mission to help young Black men. I ended up leading My Brother's Keeper for the Obama administration, where I helped to build safe and supportive communities for boys young men of color.

The best part of my job is spending time with our members, volunteers, grantees, partners, and alumni. In my visits, I often join with Members of Congress to celebrate new investments and to learn what’s working, what’s not, and how we can improve. The rest of my time is spent working with our staff to develop and implement strategic plans, ensuring we are good stewards of taxpayers resources, monitoring our financial and operational reform, forming new partnerships, and reporting on progress.

The Importance Of Purpose

When you look at my degree, it says Ph.D.
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00:00:02.335 --> 00:00:03.503 in psychology.
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00:00:03.503 --> 00:00:06.840 So people just they see me as a psychologist.
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00:00:07.107 --> 00:00:12.107 But then with being a therapist, there is a whole world of, you know,
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00:00:12.112 --> 00:00:17.112 clinical psychologists and psychiatrists and, are you a licensed psychologist?
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00:00:18.018 --> 00:00:18.451 Right.
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00:00:18.451 --> 00:00:21.054 And can you practice in the state that kind of goes
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00:00:21.054 --> 00:00:23.056 into all of all of those areas.
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00:00:23.056 --> 00:00:24.991 Me, I didn't choose that path.
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00:00:24.991 --> 00:00:29.991 You know, I chose, yes, general psychology degree, but with a focus on the media.
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00:00:31.398 --> 00:00:36.398 So the vast majority of my doctoral coursework and really a lot of my master's
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00:00:36.469 --> 00:00:40.573 work is centered around the media and Internet and technology.
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00:00:40.807 --> 00:00:43.143 So I always like to make that distinction.
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00:00:43.143 --> 00:00:46.146 But also being a psychologist,
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00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:50.050 you learn a lot about human behavior, right?
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00:00:50.050 --> 00:00:52.118 And so that's where I've been able
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00:00:52.118 --> 00:00:55.121 to really penetrate in that space of mental health,
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00:00:55.221 --> 00:00:56.756 even as a media psychologist, that
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00:00:56.756 --> 00:01:00.527 I've got to find a way to serve my people when it comes to mental health.
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00:01:00.527 --> 00:01:02.429 Like, I can't negate that.
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00:01:02.429 --> 00:01:06.566 And so I did some of the extra work of that, right, whether it's, you know,
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00:01:06.566 --> 00:01:11.566 getting certified as a mental health crisis provider, the reading that I do the
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00:01:11.805 --> 00:01:16.805 the podcast, the being in community with other clinical psychologist
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00:01:17.444 --> 00:01:22.444 so that I'm always just informed and that I feel you know, just
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00:01:22.549 --> 00:01:26.352 credible in the things that I speak to and when it comes to mental health.
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00:01:26.352 --> 00:01:31.124 So it's ever evolving for me, like literally I say on a day to day
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00:01:31.124 --> 00:01:35.995 basis, I'm still figuring it out and I want people to get okay with that.
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00:01:36.029 --> 00:01:36.830 You know what I'm saying?
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00:01:36.830 --> 00:01:41.830 Like, I want us to be okay with not having this picture perfect, you know, career.
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00:01:42.902 --> 00:01:46.039 But you just you go where life is calling
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00:01:46.039 --> 00:01:49.576 you to go and and life is whispering
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00:01:49.576 --> 00:01:52.612 constantly. Like I said, the whispers from me working with people
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00:01:52.612 --> 00:01:57.450 in the mental health space started before I even really knew what psychology was.
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00:01:57.584 --> 00:01:58.918 But I also
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00:01:58.918 --> 00:02:02.856 have carved out a lane for myself, too, which I think is really important, right?
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00:02:02.856 --> 00:02:07.856 It's being obedient to your calling and the passion.
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00:02:08.394 --> 00:02:09.229 What drives you?
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00:02:09.229 --> 00:02:12.499 What gets you excited to get up out of the bed each morning?
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00:02:12.499 --> 00:02:15.735 You know, you got to constantly feed that.
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00:02:15.735 --> 00:02:20.573 And in that are so many rewards, all of that is just literally
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00:02:20.573 --> 00:02:25.573 showing up in excellence, hopefully, you know, and just bringing all of you
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00:02:26.079 --> 00:02:30.984 and authenticity to the table every single day and the rewards will meet you.
 

As a media psychologist, my day typically revolves around exploring how TV, film, and social media shape perceptions and influence learned behaviors. Whether I’m analyzing the psychological effects of mass media, conducting research, or engaging in conversations about the intersection of media and behavioral science, my work is all about uncovering how what we consume shapes who we are.

Passion

How And Why I Work In Education Technology

How And Why I Work In Education Technology

Allison Matthews

857 videos on Passion: