Leaving a toxic work environment may be good for your mental health—but thriving as an entrepreneur or leader requires more than courage; it demands community, balance, and access to opportunity.

In this final episode of the four-part series, No Health, No Wealth — Economic Justice & Health Equity, host Niasha Fray brings the conversation full circle with an honest, solutions-driven discussion about how mental health, economic mobility, and systemic justice intertwine in the lives of Black entrepreneurs and professionals.

🎙️ Featuring:

• Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards — Associate Professor at Duke University, scholar, researcher, author, and nationally recognized voice on race, culture, and health equity. ➤ Learn more at DrBentleyEdwards.com ➤ Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/DrBentleyEdwards
• Farad Ali — Economic development leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for minority business advancement whose expertise spans public-private partnerships, capital access, and workforce equity. ➤ Connect on LinkedIn: Farad Ali

Together they explore:

• 💭 Why mental health is critical to economic success and sustainability
• 💰 The hidden costs of layoffs, venture bias, and restructuring
• 🧩 How economic mobility and community wealth drive generational stability
• 🩺 What collective action can look like for health equity and economic justice

“We want to talk about physical health, but we need to really deal with this mental health. It’s important because that also determines if you can be successful in your economic space.” — Farad Ali

💡 Why Listen

If you care about Black entrepreneurship, equitable wealth building, mental health, and systemic change, this conversation connects the dots between policy, practice, and personal resilience—and will leave you inspired to lead with purpose.

📨 Next Steps & Bonus Content

🔹 Listen to all four episodes of the series at NiashaFray.com/podcast or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and YouTube. 🔹 Subscribe to my newsletter at NiashaFray.com or follow me on Substack at substack.com/@niashafray for deeper insights on this series and a sneak peek at the next and final series of the season. 🔹 Follow Niasha Fray Consulting LLC on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and YouTube for future episodes, events, and collaborations.

🤝 Series Sponsor

Special thanks to Barron J. Damon, Creator and Host of Giving While Black — A podcast that uplifts, amplifies, and celebrates Black philanthropy.

“The impact that philanthropy can have on our health is well researched and documented. I am delighted to sponsor Series 4 of Questions You Didn’t Ask and look forward to additional conversations and collaborations.” — Barron J. Damon

What does it really take for Black entrepreneurs—and especially Black women—to build sustainable businesses and generational wealth? In this episode of Questions You Didn’t Ask, host Niasha Fray sits down with Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards and Farad Ali to unpack the realities of economic justice, health equity, and entrepreneurship in our communities.

From the barriers of delayed payments and lack of access to capital, to the myth that “Black people don’t support Black businesses,” this conversation sheds light on the systems and structures that shape success and struggle. Dr. Bentley-Edwards explores why some Black women are leaving toxic workplaces for entrepreneurship, and why mental health, physical health, and economic health must all be part of the equation. Farad Ali breaks down his “3 Ms” of entrepreneurship—money, markets, and management—and what it means to thrive in business without losing yourself.

This is the third episode in our No Health, No Wealth series. If you missed Episodes 1 and 2, go back and catch up to hear the foundation of this powerful conversation. And don’t miss what’s ahead—our series finale is coming soon, where we’ll close out this journey with even deeper insights into health equity and economic justice.

🎧 Tune in, share with a friend, and join the conversation. Because building wealth, health, and justice isn’t just personal—it’s collective.

Series Sponsor Shout-Out This series is sponsored by Barron J. Damon, MM, ACC, CNC, CNE, Managing Partner of The Business of Life CC, LLC and host of the Giving While Black podcast. His work highlights the power of Black philanthropy, legacy building, and justice-centered giving—values that connect directly to the themes of economic justice and health equity explored in this series. Learn more at givingwhileblackpodcast.com.

What if your zip code determined your health, wealth, and life expectancy? In this episode of Questions You Didn’t Ask, host Niasha Fray explores the deep ties between economic justice and health equity with guests Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards (Duke University) and Farad Ali (entrepreneur and community leader).

Together, they reveal how manufactured adversity—from overpriced corner stores to disappearing clinics—creates what Dr. Bentley-Edwards calls “health deserts.” They also challenge the myth of resilience, calling for solutions that address both urgent needs and the root causes of inequity.

✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why “convenience taxes” keep Black communities paying more for less
• How health deserts shape maternal health, chronic disease, and survival
• The role of social capital, financial literacy, and generational wealth in thriving communities
• Why true equity requires both immediate support and long-term systems change

This episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in community transformation, social justice, and health equity.

🎧 Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform—and don’t forget to leave a review.

Sponsored by Barron Damon | Giving While Black Podcast

Series 4 is proudly sponsored by Barron Damon, Professional Certified Philanthropic Coach and host of the Giving While Black Podcast. Discover how strategic philanthropy can fuel growth, engage employees, and create lasting impact.

👉 Learn more: GivingWhileBlackPodcast.com | businessoflifecc.com

What happens when where you live determines how long you live? When a full-time paycheck still doesn’t cover the basics? When the cost of being poor—or being Black—comes with hidden fees that erode both health and wealth?

In this powerful series opener of Questions You Didn’t Ask Season 4, host Niasha Fray sits down with two changemakers at the intersection of equity, policy, and community impact:

• Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards — Associate Professor at Duke University School of Medicine, Co-Director of the CTSI Center for Equity in Research, and Associate Director of Research at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity. Her groundbreaking work examines how structural racism, culture, and gender shape health and education outcomes.
• Farad Ali — Executive leader, investor, and board member with over 30 years advancing economic mobility and wealth equity. His leadership in finance, higher education, and community development has created access to capital, jobs, and investment in Black and Latino communities nationwide.

Together, they unpack:

• Why “No Health, No Wealth” and “No Wealth, No Health” are more than slogans—they’re realities driving inequities in America.
• The “Black tax” and “poverty tax,” and how manufactured adversity keeps families and communities in cycles of struggle.
• How economic stress translates into health stress—and why health equity cannot exist without economic justice.
• Real-world solutions, from equitable investment and CDFIs to community-led economic development that is transformational, not transactional.
• What it takes to move beyond survival to true thriving.

This episode challenges assumptions, centers lived experiences, and demands a shift from charity to justice. Because health equity means more than access to care—it means ensuring every community has the resources, opportunities, and freedom to live their healthiest lives.

✨ If you believe in a future where thriving—not just surviving—is possible for everyone, this conversation is for you.

This finale episode turns ideas into action! Dr. Paul J. Fleming shows how to move from “we should” to “we do” — with concrete steps leaders and everyday people can use to build safer, healthier communities.

Why listen? If you care about health equity, safer neighborhoods, and real solutions that last — this episode gives clear, usable steps, not just theory.

What you’ll hear:

• How prevention thinking fixes root causes, not just symptoms.
• The next steps after the “Get Yo People” model — how to organize for action.
• Practical ways to shift resources, change systems, and support care-first responses.
• A direct challenge: imagine the world you want, then take one small step with others.

Sponsor shoutout: Thanks to Chanelle R. Walker, M.Ed. and Professional Inspiration for supporting this season and centering teacher wellness. Learn more at professional-inspiration.com.

Read more / preorder (support indies): Preorder Dr. Paul J. Fleming’s Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything. Order via Bookshop.org or directly from Johns Hopkins University Press.

Listen • Share • Act: If this moved you, please: subscribe, rate us, and share with someone who should hear this. Small actions multiply.

Accessibility: Transcript available.

This week on Questions You Didn’t Ask, we go beyond quick fixes to uncover what true prevention-first systems can look like for public health and community wellness.

Niasha sits down with Dr. Paul Fleming to explore the deep connections between health equity, social justice, and systemic reform. Together they highlight:

✔️ Why prevention—not punishment—is the key to healthier, safer communities.

✔️ Care-first emergency response models that reduce harm and build trust.

✔️ Real-world lessons from Durham, Denver, and Flint.

✔️ Practical tools and frames you can use to advocate for change right now.

This isn’t just theory—it’s a roadmap for justice-centered solutions that save lives, restore dignity, and build sustainable impact.

🙌🏾 Update For Our Listeners: You’ll notice ads in this episode (and across our full catalog). 🎉 That’s because Questions You Didn’t Ask is now officially monetized on RSS.com’s PAID system! Each ad you hear directly fuels our work to advance health equity. Every play matters. Every partnership builds impact. 🤝🏾

📌 Ways to Engage & Take Action:

1. Read: My latest Substack post — Authoritarianism Is Here (and We’re…) — connecting troop deployments in DC, attacks on education, deportations, and harassment of elected leaders with actionable steps for change → https://niashafray.substack.com/p/authoritarianism-is-here-and-were
2. Listen & Share: the series!
3. Organize a “Get Yo People” listening party to binge the series and mobilize your local community of friends family colleagues or freedom fights.
4. Partner: From sponsored podcast segments to equity-focused campaigns, we’re ready to co-create meaningful collaborations → niashafray.com/partnership-opportunities
5. Support: Fuel the mission one ☕️ at a time → buymeacoffee.com/niashafray0

💡 Quick Takeaway: When we center prevention, care, and justice—we don’t just heal communities, we transform them. 🚀

"You may be fighting one fight, but all our fights are connected. When we separate them, we lose power."

In this episode of Questions You Didn’t Ask, Niasha Fray and Dr. Paul J. Fleming explore how solidarity across movements—like immigrant rights and racial justice—is essential in dismantling systemic injustice. They challenge privileged individuals to act beyond awareness and offer tangible frameworks to take meaningful steps forward.

What Awaits You:

• How privilege without action perpetuates inequity
• Practical strategies: the “Get Your People” model
• Applying prevention thinking to address root causes
• Using imagination to envision a better, equitable society

Sponsored by: Chanelle R. Walker, M.Ed., the Teacher Wellness Guru and CEO of Professional Inspiration, whose excellence in educator wellness (including her TEDx talk The Elephant in the Classroom) powers this series. Learn more at www.professional-inspiration.com

Listen & Engage:

• Listen now on your favorite podcast platform including YouTube
• Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/niashafray

In this powerful kickoff to Beyond the Band-Aid: Prevention, Power & Public Health Equity, Niasha Fray sits down with longtime friend and fellow justice-centered public health leader, Dr. Paul J. Fleming – Associate Professor of Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan and author of the upcoming book Imagine Doing Better: Why Policies Backfire and How Prevention Thinking Can Change Everything (Hopkins Press – available for pre-order now).

From growing up in suburban Illinois, to serving in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua, to challenging the roots of health inequities, Dr. Fleming shares his journey toward “prevention thinking” – a framework that goes beyond quick fixes to address the root causes of injustice. Together, Niasha and Paul unpack:

• Why prevention-first policies save lives and resources
• How poverty, politics, and power shape community health
• The role of intersectionality, diversity, equity, and inclusion in public health
• How privilege and identity impact the fight for social and economic justice
• Why centering minoritized communities is key to lasting change

This episode is more than a conversation – it’s a call to reimagine what’s possible when we lead with imagination, equity, and collective action.

🔗 Pre-order Dr. Fleming’s book: pjfleming.com/imaginebetter

🔗 Follow Dr. Fleming: pjfleming.com | LinkedIn

Support the Series Sponsor: Special thanks to Chanelle R. Walker, M.Ed. – The Teacher Wellness Guru, CEO of Professional Inspiration, LLC. Learn more at professional-inspiration.com.

Join the Conversation & Stay Connected: 💬 Subscribe, rate, and share Questions You Didn’t Ask on your favorite podcast platform. 📩 Sign up for the Niasha Fray Consulting LLC newsletter: niashafray.com/contact

Find Niasha Fray Consulting LLC on:

🔗 LinkedIn: Niasha Fray Consulting LLC

🔵 BlueSky: @nfconsultingllc.bsky.social

📰 Substack: @niashafray