#115 Playing Big with Mahogany L. Browne
Hi! New here? Welcome to the Uplifters! I'm Aransas Savas. I've spent the last 20 years at the intersection of behavior change research and coaching. On The Uplifters Podcast, we share diverse stories of women who have found something beautiful on the other side of the hard stuff. Despite self-doubt and fear (and honestly, who doesn't have those?), they've done big, brave things anyway, and show us how we can too!
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I just bet on myself. I kept betting on me. I refused to believe folks when they said I didn't belong or I shouldn't write about this. I refused to believe outside of my own body and my own voice. Usually, if you tell me no, that's when it's a yes.
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Today’s Featured Uplifter: Mahogany L. Browne
There's a moment in
’s novel Chlorine Sky that hit me hard: "Who are you playing small for?" As I read, I found myself thinking about all the ways the world teaches us to play small. Stay quiet. Don't take up too much room. Wait for permission. Mahogany heard all these messages, too, but she decided to bet on herself anyway.As Lincoln Center's inaugural poet in residence and founder of the Woke Baby Book Fair and Black Girl Magic Ball, Mahogany teaches us through her life and work how to play big, so big that we build a platform others can stand on beside us.
Her Courage Practice: Refusal
Mahogany has mastered the art of saying no to other people's limitations while saying yes to her own expansiveness. It starts with her writing practice: getting out of the way of the poem trying to be written, refusing to edit while creating, trusting that the truth wants to emerge through her.
It's how she processes feedback (listening only to people who want her to succeed, not those trying to make her small). It's how she responds to rejection (turning every "no" into fuel for the next "yes"). It's how she creates community (building the spaces she needed rather than waiting for someone else to invite her in).
Every time she refuses to play small, she gives permission for others to do the same. Every space she creates becomes a place where someone else can discover their own voice.
Listen to this if:
You're tired of shrinking yourself to make others comfortable
You want to find your voice
You struggle with processing critical feedback
You want to understand how opposition can become fuel
You're ready to create the spaces and opportunities you wish existed
References mentioned in the interview:
Mahogany's books Chlorine Sky, Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice, Chrome Valley
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison - the book that changed everything for young Mahogany
- Mahogany’s Substack
Lift Mahogany Up:
Follow
on Substack for her latest thoughts and workBuy two copies of her books (gift one!) and start a book club discussion
Attend or support the Woke Baby Book Fair
Invite her for conversations and speaking engagements that matter
Share her work with the truth-tellers in your life
Create spaces in your own community where marginalized voices can be heard – be part of the ripple effect that says everyone deserves to play big
Check out the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple
Related Episodes
If you loved Mahogany's story about refusing to play small, check these out next:
On Creating Spaces Where Everyone Can Thrive:
Shelley Zalis, The Female Quotient Founder: How she transformed being "the only woman in the room" into creating Girls' Lounges at major conferences worldwide
Kate Tellers, The Moth: Building stages where every story matters and helping people find their voice through storytelling
Gail Tifford, #SeeHer Movement: Ensuring young girls see themselves represented in media so they can envision bigger possibilities
On Turning Opposition into Opportunity:
Shannon Eastin, First Female NFL Referee: How she handled criticism and doubt while breaking barriers in professional sports
Maysoon Zayid, Comedian & Disability Advocate: Using comedy to transform how we think about disability and difference
Kathrine Switzer, Boston Marathon Pioneer: The woman who changed history when officials tried to physically remove her from the race
On Betting on Yourself When No One Else Will:
Jenny Jing Zhu, Entrepreneur and Author: How she built an empire after immigrating with barely any English
Cleyvis Natera, Award-Winning Author: Leaving a lucrative business career to write fiction full-time
Daisy Auger-Dominguez, Workplace Culture Expert: Breaking barriers as the first in her family to become an executive
On Writing Your Own Story:
Rebecca Soffer, Modern Loss Founder: Transforming grief into a platform that helps millions navigate loss
Alison Mariella Désir, Running While Black Author: Changing the running industry through diversity and inclusion
Susan McPherson, Social Impact Strategist: Connecting brands with purpose and amplifying underrepresented voices
On Building Sustainable Service (Not Martyrdom):
Kerry Brodie, Emma's Torch Founder: Creating culinary training for refugees that transforms lives while building community
Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer: Fostering workplace belonging at scale while maintaining your own wellbeing
Dr. Aziza Shad, Cancer Care Advocate: Expanding global healthcare access through sustainable, scalable solutions
Perfect for Your Next Dinner Table Poem Discussion:
Dinée Dorame, Indigenous Sports Advocate: Exploring identity and belonging through her Grounded Podcast
Christina Testut, Children's Author: Channeling body image struggles into empowering literature for young readers
Katie Horwitch, WANT Founder: Transforming negative self-talk into a movement for women's empowerment
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