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The Right Questions

How Do I Go From Ideas to Action?

Ep. 23

It was the winter of 2019, life was going great, and 2020 was looking bright! After finishing his doctoral program, Deazell Johnson felt at the top of his game, ready to move into his first teaching experience and satisfied with the opportunities he had manifested. Then, life happened! The pandemic hit, and soon after, in a span of only two weeks, he lost two family members to non-COVID-related deaths. Deazell felt himself slipping back into a dark place he thought he had overcome; where financial, racial, & homophobic hardships left him anxious and depressed. At this point, feeling stuck inside all of this loss, Deazell’s accomplishments didn't mean anything to him. Life was tough, it was difficult to manage his mind, he was going in circles, and making little progress. With 2021 right around the corner, Deazell decided it was time to make changes in his life. The following day, he discovered The Right Questions Podcast for the first time... That was the turning point! 


We are thrilled to bring servant leader Deazell Johnson Ed.D to the show; he is an Adjunct Faculty Member at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), and California Lutheran University. Deazell is also an Academic Advisor & Mentor at California State University, Northridge. He holds a BA in Screenwriting, an MA in Educational Administration in Higher Education, and an EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from California State University, Northridge. 


In this episode, Deazell helps us answer today's question, How Do I Go From Ideas to Action? We talk about intersectionality, the power of habits, consistency, self-value, and the importance of being open-minded and receptive to people's thoughts and guidance. Deazell also talks about his identity, his experiences with intersectionality as a queer black male, and the pressure of finding a role model. 


The way Deazell has absorbed, repurposed, and consistently applied our content and suggestions to improve his mind and life has been deeply moving for us to hear about. His story is uniquely inspiring and demonstrates, in concrete ways, how to take our ideas and put them into action. Deazell provides so much raw honesty and value, this episode is definitely a must-listen! 


Some Questions We Ask:

  • You mentioned that the podcast came around at a time when you were looking for something. Could you talk about that? (10:21)
  • Have you developed a question yourself? What questions are you using to guide you, and how are those working to transform you? (19:09)
  • You mentioned breaking out of your mental prison, and that ties right to building change resilience. What actions can you share with us that you're doing and have done? (38:54)


In This Episode, You Will Learn:

  • Deazell's ups and downs. From manifesting a dreamed reality to having to start all over again (11:29)
  • How asking the right questions gave Deazell a new perspective and helped him rise (15:05)
  • The power of committing to ourselves (25:13)
  • Forming a habit. From comfort to courage zone (32:31)
  • How Deazell went from idea to action (43:15)


Connect with Deazell:


Connect With Bridget Sampson:


Connect With Todd Parker:


Sampson Coaching and Consulting:

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