Liberation isn’t fixed … it’s fluid

We’re kicking off February with a powerful conversation with the incredible Pam Benson Owens. Alongside co-host Sue Marriott, they explore what it means to live with purpose, navigate systemic challenges, and find liberation in everyday choices. Pam shares her wisdom on the role of self-care in activism, the courage it takes to engage in difficult conversations, and how fear shows up in DEI work. This episode dives deep into the intersection of personal and organizational growth, touching on themes of vulnerability, belonging, and the evolving landscape of diversity and identity. Sue and Pam also tackle honest conversations about race and privilege, the “messy middle” of personal transformation, and why pacing yourself is essential for long-term impact.

“Liberation is a lot of things… sometimes it is my ability not to raise my voice in anger, some days liberation is saying no. Sometimes liberation is the freedom to realize that I don’t always have to make it my mission to have a deep opinion about something. I have really enjoyed that the idea that liberation isn’t fixed, it’s fluid…” – Pam Benson Owens
Time Stamps for The Power of Liberation: Courage, Identity & Growth with Pam Benson Owens (257)

10:03 Engaging with difficult conversations

14:57 The importance of self-care in activism

25:12 The role of fear in DEI work

39:44 Balancing vigilance and connection

50:01 Embracing the messy middle of growth

56:22 Next steps: Pacing and purpose

About our Guest – Pamela Benson Owens 

Pamela Benson Owens is the President and CEO of Edge of Your Seat Consulting, Inc and retired from the CEO of Six Square in September of 2024. For more years than she cares to admit to, Pam has owned Edge of Your Seat Consulting, a unique consulting firm that is dedicated to assisting for-profit, nonprofit, and faith-based entities. The major focus of Edge of Your Seat Consulting, Inc., is to provide methodologies that help manage perceptions and narratives about complex and challenging issues with courage and strategic passion. She is an

advocate and ambassador for healthy organizational cultures and communities. Pam often leverages humor and honest storytelling to create memorable and applicable strategies for sustainable and substantive change. She serves the community in a variety of capacities with the intentional motive of building a stronger and more equitable community. Pam serves on several non-profit boards, is the co-chair of the Black Fund a partnership with Austin Community Foundation, joyfully serves on the faculty of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at Austin Community College, is often a guest lecturer at institutions of higher learning and thrives on the opportunities her consultancy work paves the way to assist organizations to be stronger by navigating the nuances of organizational culture. She is a proud Texas A&M Aggie where she earned a degree in Journalism and a certification in Diversity Education and completed her graduate work at St. Edwards University with a master’s in Human Services with a concentration in Conflict Resolution/Mediation. Pam has also completed coursework at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, holds a certification in DEI from Cornell, is Hogan and Daring Leadership certified, is a self-professed book nerd and lifelong learner, has a new book called The Lessons of Lists, has an online coffee business with all four members of her family called 4TheCultureCoffee, that directs a percentage of the proceeds back to BIPOC nonprofit organizations in the Central Texas region, and you can hear her weekly on her Podcast, Rooted. She resides in Austin with her spouse, Arlyn, and two exceptionally amazing kids, Preston, and Allyson.

Resources for The Power of Liberation: Courage, Identity & Growth with Pam Benson Owens (257)

PamelaBensonOwens.com – Website, information & resources

The Lessons of Lists – book by Pam Benson Owens

Pamela Benson Owens: Aligning with Influence – ATX Woman article

Find her on Instagram – @pamelabensonowens @edgeofyourseatconsulting & @4theculturecoffee

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