While teaching full time at a university social work program in Florida, Shimon Cohen recognized a gap in the stories being told about the profession. Social workers on the frontlines of justice work—those building community, challenging systems, and reimagining what care could look like—often went unheard in traditional settings. He envisioned a podcast that would center these voices: a space to elevate real stories of social change and highlight practitioners pushing boundaries in their work.
In March 2018, Shimon released the first episode of Doin' The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change, launching what would soon become a trusted platform for learning, connection, and critical reflection. As the audience grew, so did the vision. Listeners weren't just tuning in—they were asking for more. They wanted deeper engagement with the content and the opportunity to learn directly from the people featured on the show.
That demand sparked the expansion of Doin' The Work into continuing education. Today, the platform offers both podcast episodes and CE-eligible courses designed for social workers, counselors, therapists, educators, advocates, and other helping professionals committed to anti-oppressive practice, equity, and liberation. Our content is rooted in real-world practice, shaped by a deep belief in justice, and guided by practitioners doin' the work every day.
Doin' The Work exists to educate, affirm, and stand beside justice-centered practitioners, without sanitizing the truth or asking them to shrink.
Meet Our Team
Shimon Cohen, LCSW
Founder, CE Director, Host & Instructor
Shimon Cohen (he/him) is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and the creator of Doin' The Work. With over 20 years of experience in clinical practice and social work education, Shimon brings a deep commitment to racial justice and liberatory practice. He holds a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and has worked across various settings, including schools, nonprofits, and universities.
Shimon launched Doin' The Work in 2018 to spotlight the voices of social workers and helping professionals advancing social change in their communities. In addition to producing and hosting the podcast, he develops and teaches continuing education content that reflects the values at the heart of the show. Shimon also maintains a private therapy practice specializing in helping men in recovery.
Shimon's work has been published in The New Social Worker magazine and in Teaching Activities for Social Work (Springer Nature, 2025), a textbook for social work educators. His work has also been cited in peer-reviewed scholarship including Social Work Education (Taylor & Francis), Social Sciences (MDPI), Applied Learning in Social Work Education (Simmons University), and Oxford Bibliographies in Social Work (Oxford University Press). He has been featured on The Social Work Podcast with Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW, and has presented at national conferences and universities including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, University of Kentucky, University of Buffalo, and Virginia Commonwealth University. He has also delivered workshops for organizations including United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Shimon serves as an adjunct lecturer at NYU Silver School of Social Work and has previously taught at Columbia University School of Social Work, University of Kentucky, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Shimon also serves as the Board President of EduExito, Inc., a nonprofit supporting education in rural areas of the Dominican Republic. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and their dog.
Charla Yearwood, LCSW
Social Work Consultant & Instructor
Charla Cannon Yearwood (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and speaker committed to justice-driven mental health care. She is the founder of Connected in Community and has over 15 years of experience in the field. Charla integrates liberation psychology, trauma-informed care, and social justice frameworks into her therapy, teaching, and research.
Her work centers the healing and empowerment of marginalized communities, particularly Black clients and others impacted by systemic harm. She brings her clinical insight and values-aligned approach to the continuing education courses featured through Doin' The Work, helping other professionals deepen their skills in anti-oppressive and affirming care.
Charla is the lead guest editor and author of the framing editorial for the Advances in Social Work special issue "Dismantling White Supremacy in Social Work Education" (2021), which has been cited in more than a dozen peer-reviewed social work journals. She has presented at universities including the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Buffalo, and has delivered workshops for NASW-NYS and Indiana University School of Social Work.
Outside of work, Charla enjoys life with her husband, two children, and their growing crew of pets.
Erin St John, LCSW
Instructor
Erin St John (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the University of South Florida with a master’s degree in Social Work. Erin has previously resided in Colorado and Florida before moving to Connecticut in 2025. She has previous experience working as a School Social Worker, a community-based therapist, and an outpatient therapist prior to establishing her own private therapy practice.
Erin currently owns and operates Humans Helping Humans Counseling LLC and specializes in working with queer, neurodivergent, and chronically-ill/disabled populations. As a queer, AuDHD human who lives with chronic illness and disability herself, Erin is passionate about working with these vulnerable populations. Erin is also trained in EMDR therapy, as well as Safe and Sound Protocol, and operates with a trauma-informed and polyvagal-informed lens.
Traditional approaches reinforce the status quo.
At Doin’ The Work, we’re doin’ something different.
