In this episode of Behind the Mic Bites, we revisit a powerful conversation with Detavio Samuels, CEO of REVOLT, founder of Offscript, and board member at Ben & Jerry’s—a brand known for its bold stance on activism, justice, and community-first business.

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On this special Mandela Day episode of Behind the Mic Bites, we honor Nelson Mandela's legacy and the impact of a free South Africa through the voice of Johannesburg-based creator Big Warra, co-host of The Sobering Podcast. 🎙️🇿🇦

Host Wize Grazette reflects on the South Africa his generation knows, one shaped by post-apartheid freedom and opportunity, and brings us an exclusive clip that didn’t make it into the full Behind the Mic episode. Big Warra shares his journey from Limpopo to Johannesburg, the cultural influences that shaped him, and how growing up in a democratic South Africa opened doors to music, media, and creative entrepreneurship.

This episode explores:

Building an events brand and thriving in post-apartheid South Africa

Celebrate Mandela Day 2025 with us and get a deeper understanding of what freedom means for today’s South African creatives.

Follow Wize on Instagram and Twitter: @TheRealWize

Tap in with Big Warra and The Sobering Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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In this debut episode of Behind the Mic Bites, Wize Grazette breaks down how to repurpose podcast content to extend your reach and grow your audience without burning out.

Featuring clips from our convo with full-time content creator and #CareFreeBlackGirl co-host Leslie Latrice, we explore how to turn your existing podcast episodes into new content for YouTube, socials, and more.

Whether you're a podcaster looking for smart podcast content strategy tips or a creator curious about how to reuse podcast episodes, this bite-sized episode gives you actionable ideas like:

🎧 Leslie shares how 8+ years of content on YouTube helped her discover the power of looking back and reusing her own gems, and how being a veteran turned full-time creator shaped her voice in the space.

💡 If you're asking “how do I repurpose my podcast?”, this episode has the blueprint. Perfect for creators ready to build consistency, stay visible, and keep their podcast feed fresh.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow @TheRealWize for more creator insights.

📍 Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network

🎧 Produced by The Indie Creative Network + Storytime Studios

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We’re closing out Season 1 of Behind the Mic with none other than Detavio Samuels, CEO of REVOLT and Offscript Worldwide. In this episode, Detavio takes us through his journey from growing up in Denver and nearly going down the wrong path, to becoming one of the most influential leaders in Black media today.

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This week on Behind the Mic, I’m joined by Anna Uche-Eme of The First Gems Podcast. We talk about her move from LA to Atlanta, her time working in Haiti, and how a tight cousin bond turned into a growing podcast brand. From public health to pop culture, Anna breaks down what it means to build something meaningful as a first-gen Nigerian-American.

🎶 B-Sides Track of the Week:

“Spending Time With You” – Janet Jackson

💽 Listen to our B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EysXGOWrzoQ3Zmp34VWLx

Chapters

00:22 Celebrating Black Music Month

00:59 Introducing Today's Guest: Anna from The First Gems Podcast

01:50 Anna's Background and The First Gems Podcast

04:24 Anna's Journey to Atlanta and Career Highlights

13:30 Rapid Fire: This or That Music Edition

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow the playlist on Spotify.

Watch all episodes of The First Gems on YouTube and stream on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Follow Anna: @annam.e

Follow The First Gems: @thefirstgems

Behind the Mic: Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network

Hosted by Wize Grazette

Produced by The Indie Creative Network

Edited by Storytime Studios

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This week on Behind the Mic, I’m joined by fellow REVOLT Podcast Network veteran and media powerhouse, Lalaa Shepard. Lalaa is the creator of The Progress Report, one of Atlanta’s most respected platforms for hip hop and culture. From her early days working with Cincinnati artists to building genuine relationships in Atlanta’s music scene, Lalaa’s journey is rooted in hustle, intention, and community.

B-Sides Track of the Week:

Lalaa shares “Hot Boyz” by Kai Cash — a standout track from one of her favorite emerging artists.

Lalaa opens up about how her upbringing and work ethic shaped her path from college to the strip clubs of Atlanta where she learned the real mechanics of the music business. She breaks down how The Progress Report became an essential stop for artists, producers, and tastemakers in Atlanta’s hip hop ecosystem.

In the rapid-fire game Overrated or Underrated, we get her take on the blog era, media training for artists, women rap collectives, and more.

Featured Quote:

"I’m just a student of the game. I’ve been in love with music and journalism since I was a little kid."

Chapters:

00:52 Meet Lalaa Shepard

01:26 Lalaa's Journey in Music and Journalism

03:18 The Progress Report and Atlanta's Music Scene

05:25 Challenges and Inspirations

14:36 Rapid Fire: Overrated or Underrated

16:22 Lalaa's Love for Sports

Don’t forget to subscribe to Behind the Mic wherever you listen or watch podcasts. Leave us a five-star rating, drop a review, and hit that like button on YouTube. We’re building this community with your support.

Follow Lalaa Shepard:

Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube: @LalaaShep

Website: TPR Media Group

Instagram: @TheProgressReport101

Behind the Mic: Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network is hosted by me, Wize Grazette. Special thanks to The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios for editing and producing this podcast.

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On this episode of Behind the Mic, I’m joined by Mokgethwa, aka Big Warra and a whole bunch of other akas, co-host of The Sobering Podcast, one of South Africa’s most respected Hip-Hop podcasts. We dig into the pod’s 10-year journey, what it took to build from scratch, and how Big Warra’s curiosity growing up in Limpopo shaped his love for music, media, and storytelling.

B-Sides Track of the Week:

Rapid-Fire Game:

Featured Quote:
"AKA was a star before he was a star. He always carried himself like one."

Chapters:

Follow Big Warra on Instagram and X: @Big_Warra

Credits:

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We're switching things up this week with a special update from Behind the Mic: Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network.

As Season One winds down, I’m sharing what’s next: Behind the Mic is taking a break starting at the end of June, but we’re not disappearing. Starting in July, tune in for our new summer series: Behind the Mic Bytes. Each week, we’ll revisit standout moments from past episodes, with a monthly focus on themes like Disability Pride, Back to School, Wellness, and Fashion & Culture.

🔊 To give you a taste of what’s coming, I pulled a few of my favorite clips:

— NeAndre Broussard on showing up with light and purpose

— Lynae Vanee on finding clarity at Spelman and redefining Black history

— Freddie on how HBCUs shaped her confidence and career

— And a throwback from our “Attitude Era” with Krista B talking wrestling and growing up in Bed-Stuy

Let’s close this season strong, June is both Black Music Month and Pride Month, so trust me, we’re going big with these final guests. Then catch me all summer with a few bonus drop-ins and updates. Hit subscribe, leave a review, and share your favorite Behind the Mic moments with us.

Chapters

00:28 Special Episode Announcement

00:50 Upcoming Content Overview

01:28 Personal Reflections and Inspirations

02:15 HBCU Experiences and Impact

04:44 Career and Personal Growth

05:45 Wrestling Memories

06:35 Season Recap and Future Plans

🎧 Host: Wize Grazette

🎙 Powered by: REVOLT Podcast Network

🎛 Produced by: The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios

Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your fix.

Follow me @TheRealWize on X and Instagram.

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On this episode of Behind the Mic, I sit down with poet, educator, and storyteller Lynae Vanee—whose voice hits like a sermon and a cipher at once. You’ve seen her on Parking Lot Pimpin’, but now she’s stepping into a new lane with her REVOLT show The People’s Brief, premiering May 20th.

B-Sides Track of the Week:

Lynae shares a slept-on gem from Cameo’s Word Up album “You Can Have the World.” It’s her daily reminder that dreaming big is never too much.

From there, we talk about the woman who changed everything for her, Coach Ray and how Spelman sharpened not just her skills, but her sense of self. She opens up about what HBCUs really teach you and why her EARTHGANG feature was both unexpected and unforgettable.

“We shouldn’t be teaching Black kids how to plug into the real world—we should be teaching them how to disrupt it.” – Lynae Vanee

Chapters

00:44 – Introducing Today's Guest: Lynae Vanee

00:59 – Lynae Vanee's New Show on REVOLT

02:18 – Lynae's Inspirational Playlist Pick

03:43 – Coach Ray: A Key Influence in Lynae's Journey

05:38 – Choosing Spelman and the HBCU Experience

09:37 – EARTHGANG Collaboration: A Poetic Journey

11:38 – Rapid Fire Round of Rank It

If you’re feeling the episode, subscribe, rate us five stars, and watch The People’s Brief on REVOLT.

📱 Follow Lynae Vanee: @LynaeVanee

🎧 Tap into the B-Sides Track of the Week playlist on Spotify.

🎙️ Behind the Mic is hosted by Wize Grazette.

🎛️ Produced and edited by The Indie Creative Network and Storytime Studios

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Learn more about Krista B in this bonus extended clip from Krista's latest episode on Behind the Mic: Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network.

Watch all of Season 1 of Behind the Mic: Powered by REVOLT Podcast Network on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOCTSuUwMT0fyOeExh2Sm6xhTdIhHZzSj

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