Podcast: Author, culture critic, and activist Luvvie Ajayi Jones

This week it is our pleasure to interview Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Luvvie is an author, a sought-after speaker, and a podcast host who thrives at the intersection of comedy, technology, and justice. She penned the New York Times bestselling I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual. Her latest book is Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual. And she has her own social media network, Luvvnation, a community with curated conversations, opportunities to connect, and challenges to help us transform and do better in every area of our lives.

Who is a professional troublemaker? Professional troublemakers are the necessary truth-tellers in the room, Luvvie puts forth. “They are not nice-to-haves, they are have-to-haves.” Because without them, groups and organizations can find themselves in a heap of mess. Their willingness to speak up makes them essential—though they are not always welcome, because some people are not comfortable with hearing the truth.

Rabbi Rami asked her for a couple of examples on how people can encourage their inner troublemaker and slay the fear that is holding them back. She suggested:

• “Fake the Funk”: Not quite there yet with your confidence? Elevate it by placing a personal statement on your computer or desk, so your eyes can fall upon it every couple of hours. How will you make the world better?
• Follow bold people on social media: Watching other people be bold is a way to make being bold normalized for you.
  

“You have the right to be audacious,” says Luvvie. “You have the right to take up space and to use your voice. ... you do not have to wait until you are gray to have that.”

Listen to the whole podcast to learn more from Luvvie on how to become more fearless, fierce, and act-oriented.

Keep reading: “Luvvie Ajayi Jones’ Guide to Professional Troublemaking”

And check out her website to learn more about her work. If you want to hear her TED Talk, click here.