Stop Believing In Things That Don't Believe In You: Asymmetrical Vulnerability with Kwesi Robertson

Kwesi A. Robertson shares about his journey through corporate America, pop culture, and the experiences that shaped his awareness of social justice. He describes recognizing the patterns that led him to recognize why access to vulnerability isn't a level playing field, noting how popular self-help and success narratives often hide an "underbelly" that ignores systemic barriers while blaming individuals for the negative outcomes they experience. Kwesi defines social justice as a form of love and a foundational lens for understanding reality, urging listeners to seek connection, shared language that actually acknowledges the complexity of our experiences, and shared responsibility to build spaces where everyone can fully show up. This Personal Journeys Segment Of Social Justice Origin Stories Includes: -The pitfalls of performative vulnerability, why accessing it isn’t the same for everyone, and how it’s directly linked to systems of power, privilege, and inequity in our workplaces and communities. -The false promise of "universal" self-help advice that ignores systems of oppression. -How systemic barriers shape—and limit—opportunity beyond individual effort -Turning anger and isolation into justice, community, and collective action -Using pop culture and personal history to understand and advance true social justice Connect with Kwesi on LinkedIn: Www.linkedin.com/in/kwesirobertson MORE SOCIAL JUSTICE ORIGIN STORIES EPISODES    • Social Justice Origin Stories   💬 SHARE YOUR STORY OR FEEDBACK Your voice helps shape this community and may be featured in a future episode. Email: [email protected] Leave a Voice Note: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.co... or https://www.speakpipe.com/socialjusti... Or leave a comment below 🔔 If you haven't already...SUBSCRIBE to Social Justice Origin Stories here on YouTube!    / @socialjusticeoriginstories   ❤️ SUPPORT THE PROJECT Support this work by becoming a patron:   / socialjusticeoriginstories   🔔 Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube & turn on notifications:    / @socialjusticeoriginstories   🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Wherever You Get Your Podcasts: https://pod.link/1771268991 Instagram:   / socialjusticeoriginstories   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstor... LinkedIn:   / social-justice-origin-stories   LinkedIn (Relando):   / relandothompkinsjones   About Social Justice Origin Stories: Social Justice Origin Stories is a storytelling project that highlights personal stories and defining moments that have inspired individuals and organizations to labor for equity and social justice. Through truth-telling: the honest sharing of their experiences, storytellers teach us about themselves, enabling us to learn about ourselves and our world through their stories. By reconnecting with pivotal moments of activation in their lives, they invite us to do the same. Every journey has a beginning. What's yours? Connecting people across experiences. Sharing stories that inspire action. ----- Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones. 00:00 Packing Up the Persona 00:53 Rage at Vulnerability 01:26 Who Gets to Be Seen 02:28 Not Written for Me 03:28 Questioning the Boundaries 04:22 Self Help Underbelly 05:51 Justice Beneath Anger 07:00 Show Intro and Mission 08:11 Meet the Guest Kwesi 15:31 Activated by the Book 21:41 Body Cost of Success 25:55 Family Roots and Unlearning 31:27 Weighted Vest at Work 37:45 Writing Finds Community 42:30 Pop Culture as Justice Lens 48:27 Learning Black History Playbook 52:08 Choosing Justice Forward 53:56 Advice With Conditions 55:51 Pop Culture Empowerment 58:05 Leaving The Corporate Arena 01:00:56 Building Community Tables 01:03:23 Ego Death And Accountability 01:07:22 Ubuntu And Shared Wealth 01:15:01 From Fear To Action 01:19:25 Defining True Social Justice 01:27:41 Fireflies And Love Signals 01:32:44 Future Generations Green Book 01:38:04 Closing And Ways To Connect #SocialJusticeOriginStories #Storytelling #Podcast #Vulnerability #SelfHelp #xmen97 #WatchMen #LovecraftCountry #CorporateAmerica #workplaceculture #PersonalGrowth #AsymmetricalVulnerability #SocialJustice #OriginStories #Equity #Inclusion #DEI #PopCulture