Finding Purpose in Chaos: Leadership, Faith & Real Life Lessons with Peaches Griffin

What does it really take to build a meaningful life in a world that feels uncertain, expensive, and constantly changing? 

In this powerful and deeply relatable episode of Ask Dr. Sujay, Peaches Griffin shares her raw, honest perspective on navigating life, leadership, and purpose as a young Black woman in today’s world. 

From growing up in a small town to launching—and later closing—her own bakery, Peaches opens up about the reality behind entrepreneurship, including a hard truth many don’t talk about: sometimes turning your passion into your job can take the joy out of it. Instead, she shares a more grounded approach—building a life that aligns with your values, your lifestyle, and your long-term vision. 

Now working in the nonprofit space supporting youth aging out of foster care, Peaches gives a behind-the-scenes look at the real challenges many young people face—from housing and healthcare to simply having a safe place to land. Her work highlights the importance of community, compassion, and meeting people where they are—something she believes is missing in many systems today. 

This episode also dives into navigating financial pressure, rising costs of living, and the emotional weight of trying to “hold it together” in turbulent times. Peaches shares practical insights on saving, making intentional choices, taking a pause when needed, and redefining success in a way that actually supports your life—not just your image. 

Through it all, her message is clear: you don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need to stay aligned, stay grounded, and keep moving forward. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, questioning your path, or trying to build something meaningful in today’s world, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and a renewed sense of hope. 

Hit play and discover how to lead with purpose—even in the middle of uncertainty.

Learn more, explore Soul Care resources, and connect with Dr. Sujay at DrSujayGlobal.com

Submit questions and topics at AskDrSujay.com 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Do you ever wonder how faith fits into leadership or how to lead with both power and purpose? If you're looking for wisdom that bridges culture, confidence, and calling, then this podcast is for you. Here's Global Diplomat, Business Strategist, and Women's Empowerment Icon. Your host, Ambassador Susan Johnson Cook.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

Welcome to Ask Dr. Sujay. We are so delighted to have you join us today. And we're getting quite a buzz around the country and around the world. So thank you for making this almost one of the number one listen to podcasts around the world. And we're so excited today. I'm coming to you from Bemidji, Minnesota. And I'm talking with Peaches Griffin, a millennial. And we're going to talk about what matters to millennials in these times: positioning, passion, profit, pausing. What are the things that a millennial is thinking about to make life happen for them and make life matter for them, but not only for themselves, but what she's thinking about doing and what she is doing for others. So this is an exciting broadcast, and I want you to stay tuned. It's been amazing what is happening. And if you just come to me at askdrsujay.com, you may be just one of the lucky ones to get that full day complimentary VIP day. So stay tuned and listen in for Peaches Griffin, Bemidji, Minnesota. Well, hello, welcome to Ask Dr. Sujay. This is the second show of the day, but it's an exciting show. I am in Bemidji, Minnesota. It's my delight to visit my eldest son, who is a doctor here at the hospital. He's a hospitalist in internal medicine, but also the love of his life is with him. This is Pete Jesus Griffith. Welcome. Thank you. Welcome. So you're from Iowa. Keycuck, Iowa. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

And so what was it like growing up in Keykuk? Oh gosh. Growing up in Keokuk is similar to being in Bemidji. It's a very small town. A lot of diversity. My favorite thing about growing up in Keokuk, though, is the river. So we grew up on the Mississippi River, so I grew up fishing in the river with my family and swimming a few times. But yeah. So this is what I saw in the Mississippi as well, isn't it? Yes, so Bemidji is the type of headwaters of the Mississippi. And for those who aren't aware, the Mississippi is the fourth largest river in the world. So it's kind of a big deal.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

It is a big deal. So I've met your family and met you. You're 30-something. Yes. And today there's a lot going on in the world. They're what we call turbulent times, tough times, not a lot of diversity happening. In fact, DEI has been eliminated in many places. What's it like as a young black woman growing up in these times?

SPEAKER_01 2:58

Well, it depends upon how much time you have. Well, the short answer. So the short answer is, you know, everything that's going on in the world, it affects everything. So for instance, I work in nonprofit and the federal government has implemented all these new policies. And so just with our some of our friends, we've had to remove language and add things in.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

Tell us what you do because that's important.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Yes. So I'm the director of executive operations at a nonprofit that serves youth and families. And so yeah, we just had to rewrite a lot of our friends. And then also I went to the sorted day to pick up a beauty item that I regularly buy. About three times the price that it usually is.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

So you're saying it plus the gas for the car that you drive. Yep. So all of those little things that it's big things when you want to limit your budget. So you work with in a very particular genre. You help young people who have blown out of the foster system. Yep. And what do you do with them?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Oh gosh. So when they arrive to us, we provide what's called wraparound services. So we basically do an intake and see what they need. And that covers everything. So from housing, if we need to get them healthcare appointments set up, if they don't have vital documents, we offer them food, a hot meal as they come in, and then food to take home with them. We have showers on site, laundry. So we really try to take the role of like a parent. Yeah, be a home for them. So what is the age that people stayed out? 24. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

On their 25th birthday, we can no longer service them. Wow. So even things like health insurance and some of the basics that you would probably get under a family. What happens to them? Are you able to provide some of the basic needs? Health care, and then you provide shelter. Well, what else?

SPEAKER_01 4:42

So we can try to get them signed up with health insurance, but we don't provide or you know pay for it at all. Right. But so basically we pull resources. We pull resources from the federal state government, the county, the city government, and then also from just other organizations in the community.

SPEAKER_02 4:58

So at 24, some of them may have started college or may not. But do you try to help them complete their undergrad or their education? We do.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

And honestly, that happens sometimes, but usually it's just as simple as trying to get their GED. A lot of these kids have come from terrent situations, so they don't even have their GED. Some of them haven't even started high school sometimes. So we really just try to meet them where they're at and try to help them get to the next step, whatever that is for them.

SPEAKER_02 5:25

So you've lived in big cities, small cities, been in Atlanta, which is our capital of a lot of African Americans, but you've also been in small towns. What is the common denominator and what is it that attracts you to either place?

SPEAKER_01 5:40

The common denominator is the people. I experience nice people everywhere I go. I also feel like I attract that nice energy as well. But the difference between living in a city like Atlanta and living in a city like Montreal Burning for me is culture. And for me, culture, a big part of culture is food. So in Atlanta or another large city, you have access to everything. Yeah. I can eat, you know, Ethiopian for breakfast and Chinese for dinner and soul food for lunch at one point. And up here it's pretty much strictly just American style food.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

But you were an entrepreneur in the food industry as well. Tell us what you did if you are a pastry shelf, yes. And tell us exactly what that is.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

Yeah, so food is important to me. That's why I referenced it, but it's a just a big part of my life. So I opened a bakery in Atlanta in 2020. Um, and then I subsequently closed it in 2022. Honestly, probably the best decision of my life was closing it. Why is that? Well, I think that people sometimes align, they say that whatever your passion is is what you should do with your life. And I don't think that's the case. I think you should do with what aligns with the things that you want out of life. Not so much what you're passionate about. When you turn your passion into your job, sometimes you end up losing the thing that you not solve it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:03

You got the budget and you have all because you actually had a brick and mortar place. You do. So you had bills, you had budgets, you had all of the things that kind of weigh you down. So you don't really get to enjoy your passion. So if you had five tips for someone who is thinking about starting a business, what's tip number one?

SPEAKER_01 7:23

The number one tip I would say is make sure that it aligns with the lifestyle you want to live. If you know that you want to be living in the same town forever, you can start a business better than having be more hands-on on the ground. But if you want to travel all the time, a bakery isn't, you know, the best job for you, or something similar.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

Um what where do you find resources say you are gonna stay in this town, but you have this dream and you're passionate? Where do you start? Where do you start?

SPEAKER_01 7:55

I would say start with talking to yourself and just figuring out what exactly you want to do. What about savings?

SPEAKER_02 8:02

How much is enough to have? Do you need like six months before you launch out in an independent?

SPEAKER_01 8:08

I would say as much as possible. Okay. As much as possible. Six months is a good start, but you also have to think about the things that are gonna come up that you aren't expecting.

SPEAKER_02 8:17

Because you can't anticipate where the challenges are gonna be. All you know is you have this big dream, right? You want to do it, but you don't know what that their taxes, and then maybe a lien on the property that you rented. So all of those things. So you close your business, you kind of have an idea of where you want to go, that you want to travel. Uh-huh. What's my next? What does it take to be your next? Well, I think for your next, you actually you have to pause. Which is why we do sit by by the sea. Yeah, pause. Send by the sea. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

Yes, pause and don't do anything for at least a year, I would say. So that's what I did. I closed my business August 22. My only goal was to do absolutely nothing for a year. So that's what I did. I got a job that, you know, I didn't really love, but it was ended up being great anyway. And paid the bills and kept you afloat. Absolutely. And it helped me into my next step. I would say pause and in that pause. Start thinking about what you would like your next step to be. And question it why so that you can really think about options. And then as you get closer to that year, start narrowing things down and start creating a plan. I would say almost a year to the day when I told myself that I was taking a year, that I light switch went off and I got up and I got back to work.

SPEAKER_02 9:34

You know, I think that's the good part of living now with my generation. They pretty much did one thing and kind of stood right close. My parents definitely one thing, and you didn't fear some there. But you work to have options. And when you have some choices, that gives you a freedom that you didn't even know you needed or wanted. So that's okay. What's a dream for you?

SPEAKER_01 9:56

Dream for me. So I am in school right now, working on um my bachelor's social work, and I'll get my master's normally guide for become a therapist. Do you think the work you're doing now treatments up with that desire? Oh, absolutely. You know, when the youth come in and we're able to like help them and give them things, they can actually focus on things like their mental health. Before you're just in survival mode, and they already think about your goals if you're hungry.

SPEAKER_02 10:20

That's true.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

That's true. Absolutely a catalyst for me.

SPEAKER_02 10:24

So you also fell in love. So what is one of your dreams actually marrying and then also give the masters?

SPEAKER_01 10:30

Yes, yes. So one of my dreams is to have a family. So mother than masters and manually. Yes. Okay. Yes. Probably in that world. Well, marriage, masters, okay. Motherhood is, I think, the plan. Okay. But yeah, that's a goal of mine.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

So you mentioned taking a year and pausing. You work during yours. What do you say to the person who wants to just take a gap year? Should they have had enough savings to just sometimes people want to do nothing for three months.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

Maybe you go to a foreign country. Yeah. What's your formula to now? I think you're gonna have to do whatever your budget allows for. We don't want to put yourself in a more stressful situation because you won't actually get to rest if you don't have the funds for it. Yeah. So just whatever your budget allows, or you could chop down some of your bigger expenses, maybe move out of that really nice apartment, or maybe don't get that really nice car.

SPEAKER_02 11:20

Or even maybe hold on Starbucks for a year or something. Absolutely. Or some expensive coffee that you've been spending maybe$50 a week, putting that in your savings or something. So you have to make choices for choice to have options.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

Okay, so now the world that we're living in, temperature back to question number one. A government that seems suppressive, you're fortunate to work for another woman and a black woman. Yes. Is there an advantage to working for a woman?

SPEAKER_01 11:50

Honestly, my last two bosses have been women, and I think female bosses, women bosses get a bad rep. But they are so kind and compassionate, and they have empathy for you. Also, they've both been millennial women as well. So they're both a little bit older than me, but they still have that. Are you a Gen Zer? I'm a millennial, but I'm one of the younger millennials.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

Okay, so what's the range? I don't know. I'm a generation W before hence Y and Z.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

What's the range? So a millennial roughly is about 45 to 29. Okay. And then Gen Z would be like 28 to about 14 or so. Okay. So it's about 15 years, they would take a few years.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

Do they have a name for those who are 14 and under yet? I think it's Gen Y. Okay. I think it's Gen Y. Okay, sounds good. Yeah, I'm Generation W. Really, we didn't have letters back then. We were just mom and pop. So now they call me Auntie or Ms., which is great. So if you had to send a message to Washington, just as an American black woman in your series who's trying to keep things together, what would you say to those who are making decisions on our lives? I would say make the decisions with us in mind.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Don't make decisions based on the people around you, because the people around you are also insulated from a lot of the problems that the decisions you're making. Just keep everyone in mind and also the people that are less fortunate than you.

SPEAKER_02 13:23

Diversify your pool of people around you so that you can hear what the real Americans say because the people who are walking beside you are living the same lifestyle as you. But there are others who are hurting. And this is an example of someone who's doing pretty well, but just having to hold it together. There's a whole generation who are not in this interview who aren't keeping it together and not able to pay the gas and not able to pay the rent. Absolutely. And not able to put food on their table. So we're just saying, think of others. And I think that that makes a difference in this world. Absolutely. So we always try to end on a word of hope.

SPEAKER_01 14:00

Yeah. What are you hopeful about? I'm hopeful about the future. I think as a collective, as a as humans on this earth, we've become more compassionate and empathetic. And I think that just gives me so much hope. And I hope that the people in charge will have a piece of that too and use it to me.

SPEAKER_02 14:21

Impact. Where do you want to make a difference?

SPEAKER_01 14:26

Oh, how do you want to make a difference? I want to make a difference mainly by being myself and by being myself. Holding space for people, holding space for people that maybe haven't had that before or are used to it. I want to do the micro work and just be in my community and give back and and help people in that way. I don't need to be, you know, on top of the world or seen, but I want to do the the important work to me. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 14:54

Now you've experienced my last person, you've experienced Saila by the sea of enzyme. What's your testimony? Why should someone your age or even another age, why should they come to Saila by the sea?

SPEAKER_01 15:06

Just behind that camera. I would say the most important thing to me about going to Salon by the Sea is the beautiful community of women. The support that comes out of those early days is something that I've just never felt before. And you have women of all ages. And so when you're around women of all ages, you get wisdom from different perspectives. And I think when you get wisdom from different perspectives, it allows you to think differently as well. And then also you get rest. And it's so important.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

Rest is important for renewal. And it's been my joy and honor to have you join AskDr. Sujay. Now you know we can't get it all in one conversation, but you can write to me at askdrsujay.com, and we have other questions that we'll be able to answer for you. Or if you want to know about our soul care cards or things that we're doing, go to my website, drsujlobal.com, and we'd be glad to hear from you. Thank you so much for sharing this time. It's been my honor to have you with us. I'm excited, excited, and delighted. And next time, join us, perhaps Dr. Suj. Thank you so much. Oh, this was so exciting to sit with the millennial, to sit in their home surroundings, to have the family dog there. It was just such a wonderful, warm, inviting conversation. And we have to have these intergeneral conversations. We need to know what millennials are thinking, what Gen Zers are thinking, and what they're doing. Because not only are they the generation of tomorrow, we're intersecting and interacting with them today. So Peach's Griffin has been delightful, and we just wish her well, and we wish you well. We know we couldn't cover everything today. You may have some other concerns or questions or even some topics you want us to cover. Write to me at askdrsujay.com. And also you may be one of the lucky ones to win that VIP Day with me, a$15,000 value, but you might be one of the ones whose names we pick out. So leave your name, leave your contact information, and join us again for Ask Dr. Sujay at AskDrSuoj.com. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 17:24

So that's it for today's episode of Ask Dr. Sujay. Head on over to Apple Podcasts iTunes or wherever you subscribe to listen to the show. One lucky listener every single week who posts a review on Apple Podcasts or iTunes will win a chance in the grand prize drawing to win a$15,000 private VIP day with Dr. Sujay herself. Be sure to head on over to AskDrSujay.com and pick up a free copy of Dr. Sujay's gift and join us on the next episode.