Photo by Victoria Gomez.
Birthed from back-to-back discriminatory work experiences, the podcast Werk Stories has become a vital space for Black women and women of color to share their workplace experiences.
Created by Joi Louviere, the podcast seeks to empower women through storytelling and community support. By collaborating with therapists, HR professionals, and employment lawyers, Werk Stories provides actionable advice to help women navigate and change their industries.
Louviere’s journey to creating Werk Stories is rooted in her passion for storytelling.
“My storytelling desire has been there since I was a teenager,” Louviere says.
After earning degrees in journalism from Hampton University and Georgetown University, she traveled the world for over three years, during which she worked in communications and social media for nonprofits.
Her travels and work experiences highlighted the many stories that needed to be told, leading her to nonprofit work focused on children and college access. However, Louviere couldn’t escape the workplace bias, discrimination and overall racism present in the nonprofit world.
Louviere’s breaking point came while working at a nonprofit where she faced constant targeting based on her gender and race.
“There was a lot of targeting based on me being a woman. Other women there experienced similar things,” she says. “And then I’m a Black woman, so it kind of gives you that double the fun of the interactions that you go through and how people assume things and just the way you’re treated because of that.”
Despite excelling in her job and receiving raises and promotions, she was never treated well.
Realizing that many women lacked a safe space to discuss their workplace traumas, Louviere decided to create one.
“I need to create the dream space that I would have wanted to process my trauma,” she says.
Louviere’s podcasting journey began with a pitch contest at CultureCon, a conference for creatives of color. Her off-the-cuff submission won her mentorship through Acast, a production company, and provided her with the tools and connections to launch Werk Stories.
The podcast features two types of episodes: storytelling episodes where women share their workplace experiences, and educational episodes with experts offering advice on various topics. Louviere emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, ensuring that Werk Stories is open to all women of color.
“I really wanted to make sure that it wasn’t just talking about Black women. I wanted to make sure that I was open for all women of color,” she says.
Werk Stories is available in concise, 30-minute episodes, making it accessible for listeners with busy schedules. The podcast, along with its Instagram page, serves as a resource for women seeking community, advice and inspiration.
Louviere’s efforts have resonated with many, creating a natural community of support.
“This gives people a moment to be soft when we’re expected to be so strong. People can just kind of relax,” she says.
In her advice to other women of color facing similar challenges, Louviere emphasizes the importance of trusting one’s instincts.
“When you know you’re in a space that is soul-sucking, it is taking your energy, it is changing your personality,” she says. “I need people to be proactive about getting out of that situation.”
The community has grown organically, with listeners engaging in conversations and sharing their work wins on the podcast’s Instagram page.
Louviere envisions Werk Stories as more than just a podcast. She dreams of hosting in-person events and workshops to help women navigate their careers.
“I see it being like pop-ups in a community, where you can actually go and get a workshop about salary negotiation,” she says.
For Louviere, the ultimate goal is to see a world where Werk Stories is no longer needed.
“I said I would love for there to be a day where this isn’t needed,” she says. “It’s irrelevant.”
