Ep. 26 - Jamie Okh

Voice, Heritage, and Returning to Story

In this episode of Moving Forward, Linda Anderson speaks with Jamie Okh, a civil rights leader, strategic communications expert, former federal investigator with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Founder and Creative Director of Stories by Jamie.

Jamie spent more than a decade investigating systemic discrimination in housing and lending, working to enforce civil rights protections and help institutions change practices that caused harm to families and communities. During the 2018–2019 federal government shutdown, she also became a national spokesperson for federal employees and their families, helping the public understand the human impact behind policy decisions.

In this conversation, Jamie reflects on the experiences that shaped her voice — including the influence of her Russian heritage and the storytelling traditions passed down by her grandmother. She shares how those early roots in storytelling eventually resurfaced after years of public service and leadership.

Now the mother of two young boys, Jamie speaks about the ways motherhood has deepened her understanding of justice, responsibility, and the stories we pass to the next generation.

Together, Linda and Jamie explore:

• What heritage and family stories teach us about identity and resilience

• Lessons learned from years investigating discrimination and advocating for fairness

• The importance of credibility and communication during times of crisis

• How motherhood influences leadership and perspective

• Why returning to storytelling became a meaningful next chapter

As Jamie reflects during the conversation:

“Moving forward doesn’t always mean becoming someone new — sometimes it means returning to the voice that was always yours.”

Jamie’s journey is a reminder that moving forward doesn’t always mean leaving parts of ourselves behind. Sometimes it means reconnecting with the voice and passions that were there from the very beginning.

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Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez