EP 90: Guard Your Joy

from The Conscious Entrepreneur | Leadership, Self-Awareness & Mindset

by Alex Raymond

Published: Mon May 26 2025

Show Notes

Guarding your joy while leading high-stakes work is not optional. It is the only way to last.

Dr. David Johns sits down with Alex Raymond for a conversation on what it means to lead without losing yourself. What keeps you grounded when the work feels endless? How do you stay in the fight without letting it consume you?

Drawing from his journey, from growing up in Inglewood to serving in the Obama White House and now leading the National Black Justice Coalition, Dr. Johns shares how his leadership is shaped by purpose, community, and a deep sense of responsibility. He talks about centering the voices that are too often excluded, especially in education, and calls out the difference between performative gestures and true accountability. He reflects on the emotional cost of this work, the need for spaces that restore rather than drain, and why joy is something worth protecting at all costs. The episode also touches on his podcast, Teach the Babies, and his belief that love and dignity must be foundational in any conversation about democracy and schooling.

For entrepreneurs trying to lead with both heart and backbone, Alex and Dr. Johns’ conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to choose between ambition and integrity, and that doing the hard thing doesn’t mean doing it alone.

Episode Breakdown:

Meet Dr. David Johns

Who Are You Beneath the Work?

Purpose, Passion, and Leadership Philosophy

Centering the Most Marginalized

Guarding Your Joy and Protecting Your Peace

The Power of Community

What It Means to Nourish Yourself

Why He Launched Teach the Babies

Education, Democracy, and the Fight for Equity

Real Allyship vs Performative Action

From Ally to Accomplice