Episode 16

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Published on:

13th May 2026

We Stopped Codeswitching and This is What Happened

You've heard Mel talk about stopping the performance. But what does it actually look like when you do?

In this episode, Mel sits down with career development and leadership coach Torriel Harris for a conversation that gets real about what happened when two Black women decided to stop code switching in their businesses, their branding, and how they show up every single day.

Links:

Torriel's Command the Room, Sis Program: torrielharris.net/ctrs

TikTok about President of Heritage Foundation: tiktok.com/t/ZP8pSQgt6/

Book a Digital Brand Audit: mellynated.com/digitalbrandaudit

Join the rebellion on Substack: substack.com/@mellynated

Subscribe to the YouTube channel: youtube.com/@melanieldenny

Be a Codeswitch Rebellion guest for season 2: mellynated.com/podcast

Timestamps:

0:00 — Introduction & Guest Overview

1:06 — Show Intro

1:45 — Welcome, Torriel Harris

2:17 — Torriel's Work & Why She Chose It

2:52 — Torriel's Journey: New York, California & Back

5:39 — How Her Business Was Born

6:13 — Fear of Niching Down to Black & Brown Women

7:53 — The Business Coach Who Pushed White Male Role Models

9:05 — Dealing With Trolls & Staying in Your Lane

10:12 — The Stats: Promotion Disparities for Women of Color

12:52 — The Movement to Get 1,000 Black & Brown Women Promoted 1

4:03 — Torriel's Personal Journey of Self-Acceptance

15:08 — Rejecting White Standards of Professionalism

16:15 — The Anti-Racist Art Center That Changed Everything

18:32 — Redefining What Professionalism Actually Means

21:17 — "Professionally Dope" — Knowing Your Zone of Genius

22:54 — Authentic Marketing: What You See Is What You Get

24:35 — The Layoff & The Journey Back to Self

27:26 — Self-Acceptance & Personal Branding as Identity Work

33:22 — Torriel's Program: Command the Room Sis

35:32 — Stop Downplaying Your Greatness

37:08 — Black Women Carry the Weight of the World

38:18 — Black Women as Catalysts for Change (The TikTok)

39:23 — Own Your Accomplishments

40:28 — Wrap Up & Season 2 Preview

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About the Podcast

Codeswitch Rebellion
For the ones who are done performing professionalism
Codeswitch Rebellion is a thought-provoking podcast for Black women who are tired of editing themselves to be seen, heard, or taken seriously.

Hosted by personal branding strategist, Melanie L. Denny, this show explores authenticity, identity, visibility, and personal branding without the pressure to perform professionalism, dilute your voice, or shrink your presence.

Through raw solo reflections and conversations with bold thinkers, creators, and leaders, Codeswitch Rebellion challenges the myths we’ve been taught about credibility, success, and what it means to “sound professional.”

This is a space for reclaiming your voice, honoring your rhythm, and building a brand rooted in who you actually are.

If you’re done code-switching for comfort and ready to show up whole, you’re in the right place.

About your host

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Melanie L. Denny

Melanie L. Denny, also known as Melly D, is a personal branding consultant who helps Black women stop performing professionalism and start showing up with bold authenticity.

Her core belief is simple: your identity is the strategy.

With over a decade of experience guiding professionals and entrepreneurs through visibility, messaging, and positioning, she is known for helping her clients build brands rooted in who they actually are, not who they were conditioned to be.

As the host of Codeswitch Rebellion, Melanie leads truth-telling conversations unpacking identity, authenticity, visibility, and storytelling...and what it means to show up with integrity, authority, and bold authenticity so you can attract better clients and bigger opportunities.