Not Your Gratitude Project + Boss It or Toss It: Vacation Edition

In this episode of Just US, Liz Nolley and Kere Thomas dive into a letter from “Not Your Gratitude Project,” a high-performing Black woman whose boss keeps hitting her with the same undermining line: “You should be thankful you even have a job.” And whew…Liz and Kere are immediately triggered—because they’ve lived it.

They break down why that phrase isn’t “just a joke,” but a classic corporate gaslighting and intimidation tactic meant to control behavior and shrink confidence. From documenting every incident (and every win), to pulling receipts, gathering third-party praise, and getting HR involved when necessary, they outline real strategies to protect your peace and your career. They also talk about reading the room: is this one manager, a toxic culture, or a warning sign about layoffs? And no matter what—keep your “corporate go bag” ready: updated resume, active network, and a financial cushion.

Then the episode shifts into a lighter (but still very real) round of Boss It or Toss It: Vacation Spots Black Folks Love (Besides Martha’s Vineyard)—with hot takes on Atlantic City, Dubai, Jamaica, cruises, Miami, Vegas, Ghana, and the undefeated favorite: staying home.

Come for the coaching, stay for the laughs, the culture, and the mic-drop moments.

Episode 4: “Up In Here” – Navigating Your Career Without Losing Your Mind

In this laugh-out-loud and deeply practical episode of Just Us, Liz Nolley and Kere Thomas tackle a question many Black women are asking right now: How do I navigate this chaotic job market without burning out or blowing up at work?

From adopting an entrepreneurial approach to managing your career, to using AI tools to uncover transferable skills and new career pathways, Liz and Kere offer real strategies you can use today. Along the way, they unpack purpose, side hustles, career pivots, and the power of reframing your day job as a means—not the mission.

And because music is self-care (until it’s not 😅), the episode wraps with a hilarious and painfully accurate list of “Songs You Should NOT Listen to on Your Way to Work When You’re Already Stressed.”

Come for the career coaching, stay for the culture, the stories, and the laughs. This episode is equal parts strategy session and group chat energy.

In this powerful and relatable episode of Just Us with Kere & Liz, the hosts dive deep into what it truly feels like to be a Black woman navigating today’s volatile corporate landscape. Liz opens by reflecting on her decades as a “corporate Jackie Robinson”—often the first and the only Black woman in executive spaces—sharing the unspoken rules and real-life lessons she created her coaching practice to pass down.

The featured Readout Letter comes from “Stressed Out Corporate Canary,” a Black woman manager worried about looming layoffs and the disappearing presence of Black women in senior leadership. Kere and Liz break down the meaning behind being a “canary in the coal mine,” tackle myths around job security, and offer grounding, actionable advice: detach emotion from corporate decisions, document everything, build community, and create your “freedom fund” to layoff-proof your life.

Then, the duo turns to their fan-favorite segment: Boss It or Toss It, rating how Black corporate professionals are portrayed across movies and TV. From Boomerang and The Cosby Show to Living Single, Insecure, Empire, Black-ish, Girlfriends, and Abbott Elementary, they unpack what Hollywood gets right—and very wrong—about Black leadership, ambition, style, and everyday office culture.

Filled with humor, honesty, cultural callouts, and coaching gems you’ll want to write down, this episode reminds listeners that while the corporate world may shake, Black women have always found a way to “make a dollar out of 15 cents.” And on Just Us, no one has to navigate it alone.