Welcome to another episode of Champagne Connection, where we toast to resilience, legacy, and the power of telling your truth. In this inspiring conversation, your host, Stephanie E Wilson-Coleman, PhD—also known as the Empowerment Doctor—sits down with Derek Gilliard, a retired federal communications lead whose career has spanned five U.S. presidents and a breadth of history-making experiences.

Derek’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. From advising for the Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, to working with Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, he’s witnessed—and shaped—major shifts in American history from inside the system. He shares candid stories of adapting to wildly different political climates, the challenges he faced as a Black federal employee, and the defining moments that tested his integrity—especially during the turbulent Trump years, which inspired his book, The Longest Four Years of My Life: A View from the Field by a Black Fed in the Trump Administration.

Throughout this episode, Derek opens up about learning from civil rights legends, how faith and community helped sustain him, and what he hopes future generations can learn from both his writing and his lived example. The conversation is set to the soulful music of Terisa Griffin, who reminds us that “life is too short to drink cheap champagne”—a sentiment echoed by Stephanie throughout.

So pour yourself something worthy, settle in, and be inspired by a story of courage, conviction, and the importance of speaking your truth—no matter the cost.