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Stay A While

Stay A While

By: Tommi A. Vincent
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If food is a love language then this podcast is virtual soul food. Host Tommi A. Vincent is a NFL wife, chef, life-coach and domestic violence survivor who found her recipe for healing was through using food as medicine. Stay A While with those who hunger for connection as human beings, who have faced the impossible, and are still standing to tell their stories. Your presence is welcome. So take a seat at the table and make yourself at home. It’s time for some comfort food for your soul.Copyright Tommi A. Vincent Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Redefining Play: Dr. Mimi Nartey on Leadership, Equity, Sports, and Building Belonging

    Redefining Play: Dr. Mimi Nartey on Leadership, Equity, Sports, and Building Belonging
    May 27 2026
    Take a seat… and stay a while. In this powerful and purpose-driven episode of Stay A While, we welcome Dr. Mimi Nartey—an interdisciplinary scholar, former professional athlete, social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and visionary leader whose work is transforming the way communities think about sports, health, and belonging.

    From representing Ghana on the world stage in the FIFA Women's World Cup to leading national initiatives that reimagine sports fields as essential public health infrastructure, Dr. Mimi Nartey’s journey is both inspiring and deeply impactful.

    As the Founding President of Playing for Keeps Association, Mimi is building public-private partnerships that create equitable access to high-quality sports and play spaces for underserved communities—proving that where children play matters just as much as where they learn.

    This conversation explores leadership, systems change, motherhood, purpose, empowerment, and the transformative power of investing in people and place.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Why sports and play are essential to public health and youth development
    • Building equitable communities through infrastructure and belonging
    • Transitioning from elite athlete to social entrepreneur and philanthropist
    • Leadership lessons from competing on the world stage
    • The intersection of science, education, policy, and community impact
    • Parenting, identity, and navigating leadership as a woman of influence
    • What it means to create legacy-driven work that changes lives
    About Our Guest:

    Dr. Mimi Nartey is an interdisciplinary scholar, former professional soccer player, philanthropist, and the Founding President of Playing for Keeps Association.

    A former member of Ghana’s national women’s soccer team, Mimi represented her country in the FIFA Women's World Cup and earned a silver medal at the African Women’s Cup of Nations.

    Her academic and professional work spans public health, climate science, women’s empowerment, youth development, and social innovation. She holds degrees from Columbia University and has lectured at institutions including University of California, Los Angeles, Occidental College, and Loyola Marymount University.

    Through her leadership, storytelling, and advocacy, Mimi continues to champion a future where every child—regardless of zip code—has access to safe, dignified spaces to play, grow, and dream.

    Learn more about the ways Dr. Nartey is transforming the play field at Play for Keeps

    This episode is for:
    • Women leaders and entrepreneurs building purpose-driven work
    • Changemakers focused on equity, youth development, and impact
    • Parents and community advocates invested in the next generation
    • Athletes transitioning into leadership and philanthropy
    • Anyone passionate about creating systems that serve people with dignity
    At the Table:

    At Stay A While, we believe some of the most meaningful conversations happen when vision meets humanity.

    Dr. Mimi Nartey reminds us that leadership is not only about achievement—it’s about creating pathways for others to thrive.

    Her story is a masterclass in purpose, innovation, and what becomes possible when we invest in communities with intention and care.

    Because every child deserves more than survival. They deserve a place to belong.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Built Through the Battle: Leilani Caamal on Injury, Discipline, and Unshakable Belief

    Built Through the Battle: Leilani Caamal on Injury, Discipline, and Unshakable Belief
    May 20 2026
    Take a seat… and stay a while.

    In this powerful episode of Stay A While, we sit down with Leilani Caamal—former collegiate football standout, linebacker for the Golden State Storm, and one of the most decorated players in women’s football.

    A 5-time NAIA National Champion with Ottawa Flag Football, Leilani’s story is one of resilience, grit, discipline, and unwavering determination.

    But this conversation goes far beyond football.

    We talk about persevering through injury, the mental fortitude required to compete at an elite level, balancing a full-time career while training full-time, and the steadfast faith in Jesus Christ that continues to anchor her through every challenge and victory.

    This episode is for anyone who has ever had to fight through setbacks while still showing up for the calling on their life.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • The rise and future of women’s football
    • What it takes to become a championship-level athlete
    • Navigating injury recovery and rebuilding confidence
    • Mental toughness, discipline, and perseverance under pressure
    • Balancing full-time work with elite athletic training
    • Staying grounded through faith and purpose
    • The advice Leilani would give her younger self
    About Our Guest:

    Leilani Caamal Leilani Caamal is a former collegiate football standout and linebacker for the Golden State Storm in the Women's National Football Conference. Known as one of the most dynamic players in the sport, Leilani is a 5-time NAIA National Champion with Ottawa Flag Football and continues to inspire athletes through her resilience, leadership, and relentless work ethic.

    Off the field, she balances a demanding professional career while continuing to train and compete at an elite level—demonstrating what true commitment and sacrifice look like in pursuit of greatness.

    This episode is for:
    • Women athletes and competitors striving for excellence
    • Anyone navigating setbacks, injuries, or seasons of rebuilding
    • Leaders balancing ambition, discipline, and personal growth
    • Young women pursuing dreams in sports and beyond
    • Those seeking encouragement to keep going when life gets hard
    🍽️ At the Table:

    At Stay A While, we believe some of life’s greatest lessons are born in the moments that test us most.

    Leilani’s journey reminds us that perseverance isn’t about never falling—it’s about choosing to rise again with courage, conviction, and belief.

    Her story is a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and trusting the process even when the outcome isn’t yet visible.

    Because sometimes the greatest victories happen long before the scoreboard ever changes.

    📲 Stay Connected:
    • Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, life, resilience, and legacy
    • Share this episode with an athlete or dreamer who needs encouragement
    • Join the conversation online and tag us while you listen or watch
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • Transforming Grief Into Purpose: April Simpkins on Mental Health, Healing, and Honest Conversations

    Transforming Grief Into Purpose: April Simpkins on Mental Health, Healing, and Honest Conversations
    May 13 2026
    Take a seat… and stay a while.

    This episode is held with tenderness, intention, and deep respect. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we welcome April Simpkins—Ambassador for National Alliance on Mental Illness, Founder & CEO of Paragon Strategy Partners, and co-author of By the Time You Read This.

    April is also the mother of Cheslie Kryst, whose brilliance, compassion, and light impacted so many.

    What follows is not just a conversation—it is a courageous offering.

    Through unimaginable loss, April has chosen purpose. With grace and clarity, she shares how she has transformed grief into advocacy—helping families, leaders, and organizations better understand mental illness, remove stigma, and create space for honest, life-affirming conversations.

    This episode is for anyone navigating grief… for anyone silently struggling… and for those committed to showing up with greater awareness, compassion, and care.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Transforming personal loss into purpose-driven advocacy
    • Understanding the complexity of mental illness and hidden struggles
    • How to support loved ones navigating mental health challenges
    • The importance of removing stigma and creating safe conversations
    • What leaders and organizations must know about mental wellness at work
    • Honoring legacy while choosing to move forward with intention
    About Our Guest:
    April Simpkins April Simpkins is a nationally recognized mental health advocate, Ambassador for National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Founder & CEO of Paragon Strategy Partners.

    She is the co-author of By the Time You Read This, a deeply moving and honest account that offers insight into the space between outward strength and internal struggle.

    Drawing from her lived experience and her extensive career in human resources, April works to equip organizations, families, and communities with the tools needed to approach mental health with empathy, awareness, and action.

    This episode is for:
    • Women leaders and professionals navigating high expectations and internal pressure
    • Families seeking understanding and connection around mental health
    • Organizations committed to building psychologically safe workplaces
    • Anyone seeking language, tools, and compassion around grief and healing
    🍽️ At the Table:
    At Stay A While, we believe there is healing in being seen and heard. April reminds us that behind every smile, there may be a story we cannot see. And in choosing to speak, to listen, and to care—we create space for life-saving connection.

    This conversation is an invitation:

    To check in.
    To reach out.
    To hold one another with greater tenderness.

    ______________________________________________________________
    The NAMI HelpLine provides the one-on-one help and information necessary to tackle tough challenges that you, your family or friends are facing.

    Call, Text or Email with the HelpLine M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET
    988 crisis service available 24/7
    Call1-800-950-6264



    TextText “NAMI” to 62640



    In a crisis? Call or Text 988
    https://www.nami.org/
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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