We’re looking forward to introducing you to Deneen L Garrett. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Deneen L, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m being called to step fully into amplifying the voices of Women of Color, Black women especially—unapologetically and on bigger stages—through writing, speaking, coaching annnddddd, Hot off the press, I’m building a community—more to come. For years, I questioned whether my story or message was “enough.” Now I know the very experiences I once minimized are the ones that inspire others to rise, lead, and live boldly.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Deneen L. Garrett—a Cultural Alchemist who shift-shapes culture through storytelling. I’m a Dream Lifestyle™ Coach, speaker, podcaster, and writer dedicated to helping Black women and Women of Color live their dream lives now—not later, not when it feels safe, not “someday.” I also advocate for and amplify Black art and Black artists, especially Detroit artists.
I lead by example, modeling what’s possible: traveling the world, attending transformative events, and immersing myself in Black art and culture. These experiences fuel my creativity and authenticity, reminding women that a dream lifestyle isn’t something to postpone—it’s available in the present moment.
My podcast, Women of Color: An Intimate Conversation, is a 100 Best Women’s Empowerment podcast that amplifies the resilience, brilliance, and dreams of Women of Color. My writing has been featured in Medium, Culturs, and Hope Magazines, and I collaborate with both individuals and organizations to translate empowerment into strategy—helping women live boldly and organizations create environments where they thrive.
I’ve recently partnered with the College Art Association (CAA) to host an exciting new series, Black Women in Art: Restorying the Canon, on the CAA Conversations Podcast. In this groundbreaking project, I spotlight the voices and brilliance of Black women in art, reshaping the way art history is told and celebrated.
Work With Me
I’m available for speaking, writing, podcasting, and Dream Lifestyle™ coaching. I bring bold storytelling, actionable strategies, and transformative experiences to audiences worldwide.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that once stayed small to stay safe. In my early life, caution and invisibility were survival tools—but today, they only limit the reach of my vision. I am releasing fear, self-doubt, and the need for external validation. I am not here to please; I am here to guide, to lead, and to spark transformation.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The one I said no longer serves me, fear of visibility. For a long time, I was reluctant to step fully into the spotlight—sharing my story, my ideas, my truth. A surprise to many who know me, I sometimes shrank or chose not to take up space. Being an introvert factored into that, too.
For Black women, stress and invisibility often go hand-in-hand—we are expected to endure, to carry, and to silence our needs. But I’ve learned that silence serves no one. Not showing up is the real risk.
Today, I step boldly into writing, speaking, coaching, and podcasting because I know my visibility empowers other Black women to rise, claim their space, and design their own Dream Lifestyles™—unapologetically and on their own terms.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, though it’s a refined version—strategic, polished, and intentional. I show up publicly to educate, inspire, and empower. But behind the scenes, I’m reflective, evolving, and deeply committed to growth. I’m a coached who is also coached. My coach challenged me to schedule a recurring block of time for self love/self care. It will take practice to use those 5 hours every week loving on me.
Whether I’m traveling, speaking, or engaging with Black art, I bring more of my authentic self into everything I do, because true empowerment comes from wholeness—owning every part of who we are.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I want to be remembered as a woman who dared to live boldly and made it her mission to show others how to do the same. Through my Top 100 podcast, my writing, and my coaching, I helped Women of Color—especially Black women—dream unapologetically, lead authentically, and live courageously.
Most of all, I hope people say: She didn’t just talk about creating a Dream Lifestyle™—she lived it. And she gave us permission to live ours too.
I also want my life to reflect love and partnership in a way that inspires others. I hope people see not only how I lived fully as an individual, but also how I shared my life in a way that honored community, collective growth, and the beauty of walking boldly with a significant partner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://deneenlgarrett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deneensdreamlife/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deneenlgarrett/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeneensDreamLife
- Other: https://www.womenofcoloranintimateconversation.com/
Image Credits
Photos taken by me
