Beyond Normal

Everybody wants to work with creators. Fewer brands understand how to do it well.

Bree Flemings is the founder and CEO of Jem Social, a platform built to connect brands with creators and make those partnerships easier to manage.

In this episode of The Beyond Normal Podcast, Bree joins Kenny Groom to talk about her journey from DJ and content creator to building a technology company inside the growing creator economy.

Bree shares how losing more than $30,000 in DJ bookings during the pandemic pushed her deeper into content creation and helped her recognize how resilient the creator business could be. That experience eventually led her from building a local DJ booking service to creating a marketplace connecting brands and creators.

The conversation gets into one of the biggest problems Bree sees today: brands want creator partnerships, but many still don't have the strategy or education needed to make them work.

Kenny and Bree discuss why follower count isn't everything, the opportunity in working with smaller creators, how brands should think about creator ROI, and why content creation and influencer marketing aren't necessarily the same thing.

Bree also gets candid about building Jem Social. She explains why finding paying customers was harder than building the original technology, how the company continued adjusting its strategy, and why founders can hurt themselves by trying to solve too many problems at once.

Her advice for builders is simple: solve one problem first.

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Shari “Sunni” Faircloth, founder and creative director of Sunni Aesthetics, to talk about creativity, authenticity, and building a brand that feels like you.

Sunni shares how working behind the scenes in Atlanta’s film industry shaped her approach to storytelling. She explains why the story behind a brand matters, how small visual details influence the way people experience a business, and why founders do not need a massive budget to create something memorable.

The conversation also explores why creatives struggle to price their work, how one strong idea can become an entire content ecosystem, and why AI should be used as a resource instead of a replacement for original thought.

If you are building a brand in a time when everything is starting to look and sound the same, this episode will challenge you to return to what makes your story yours.

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Mbere Monjok, Technical Program Manager at Google, to talk about building real value in this new AI wave.

Mbere shares the biggest mistake she sees founders make: leading with "we're AI-powered" instead of the problem they actually solve. She digs into where AI is delivering real ROI right now (turning unstructured, messy data into dashboards and decisions), why founders should treat AI as a thinking partner rather than just an input-output tool, and what trustworthy AI actually requires when the tech gets things wrong.

The conversation also covers opportunity for Black founders in this moment, why distribution can outperform product, and why founders should choose quality over speed for the long game.

If you're a founder trying to figure out what's signal and what's noise in AI right now, this episode will hit home.

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Ty Smith, co-founder of Big Stage Energy and founder of Optical Diversity Telecom, to discuss how conferences, networking, and strategic relationships can create real business opportunities and career growth.

Ty shares his journey from enterprise telecom sales into building a conference community focused on helping professionals gain access to the right rooms, build meaningful relationships, and navigate industry events with more intention.

The conversation explores conference culture, the hidden value of networking, how relationships accelerate business development, and why access is one of the most overlooked advantages in entrepreneurship and technology.

If you’re interested in networking, entrepreneurship, business development, conferences, or building stronger professional relationships, this episode delivers practical insights and valuable perspective.

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Can the NBA afford for LeBron James to retire?

In Part 2 of this Beyond Normal Media conversation, Kenny Groom and Less Bless dive into one of the biggest questions facing professional basketball. As international stars continue to dominate the league and player brands become larger than ever, what happens when the NBA's biggest attraction eventually walks away?

From LeBron James' economic impact to the rise of Victor Wembanyama, player empowerment, and the future of American basketball, this episode explores the intersection of sports, business, entertainment, and global culture.

In this episode, we discuss:

🏀 Why LeBron's value extends far beyond basketball
💵 The economic impact superstar athletes have on cities and franchises
🎟️ Why entertainment may now be just as important as winning

Whether you're a sports fan, business leader, or simply curious about how entertainment drives billion-dollar industries, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on the future of professional sports.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring business, media, sports, and culture through a different lens.

#LeBronJames #NBA #SportsBusiness #SportsEntertainment #Basketball #BusinessOfSports #BeyondNormalMedia

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What if professional sports are closer to Hollywood than we want to admit?

In Part 1 of this Beyond Normal Media conversation, Kenny Groom sits down with sports personality Less Bless to explore how the business of sports has evolved beyond wins and losses. From television rights and fan loyalty to franchise value and media narratives, this episode asks whether today's biggest leagues are built as much for entertainment as they are for competition.

The conversation explores why WWE and the NBA may have more in common than most fans realize, how cities build lifelong sports identities, and why markets like Charlotte are still searching for theirs.

In this episode, we discuss:

🏈 Is professional sports becoming entertainment first?
📺 How TV deals shape modern sports
🌎 The difference between sports culture in Charlotte, Baltimore, and other 
💰 How leagues monetize passion through branding, storytelling, and media

If you enjoy conversations about sports, business, branding, and culture, this episode will challenge the way you think about the games you watch.

Subscribe for more conversations exploring business, media, sports, and the ideas shaping what's next.

#SportsBusiness #NBA #NFL #SportsEntertainment #BusinessOfSports #Charlotte #BeyondNormalMedia

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Calvin Robertson, enterprise UX design leader, educator, and founder of Jubileague, to discuss how human-centered design, leadership, and technology can come together to create better experiences for people.

Calvin shares his journey leading UX and innovation initiatives across organizations like Corning, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and the Federal Reserve while also building platforms focused on gaming, mentorship, and community impact.

The conversation explores the role of empathy in technology, how design shapes the way organizations operate, and why meaningful innovation starts with understanding real human needs instead of simply building more features.

If you’re interested in UX design, leadership, innovation, technology, or building more human-centered systems, this episode delivers thoughtful insights and practical perspective.

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Marcus Wade, founder of Genesis 1 Technologies and co-founder of Waste Wise Innovation, to discuss how faith, technology, and sustainability can come together to solve real-world problems.

Marcus shares the story behind the Topper Stopper, a smart recycling system that uses barcode verification, AI, and rewards-based engagement to reduce recycling contamination and improve sustainability outcomes for universities, venues, and businesses.

The conversation explores startup culture in Charlotte, the role of analytics in product innovation, and how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can create meaningful impact across industries and communities.

If you’re interested in sustainability, AI, entrepreneurship, or founder journeys rooted in purpose, this episode delivers valuable insights and inspiration.

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Dana Duckworth to talk about what it really means to bet on yourself after layoffs.

Dana shares her journey of navigating career uncertainty, rebuilding confidence, and stepping into new opportunities with intention. From handling unexpected transitions to trusting your own value, this conversation is filled with honest lessons for founders, professionals, and anyone facing change.

If you’ve ever had to pivot, rebuild, or remind yourself of your worth, this episode will hit home.

Listen in as we discuss resilience, career growth, leadership, and why your next chapter may require you to choose yourself first.

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In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, Kenny Groom sits down with Ronnell Richards, founder of Business & Bourbon, to discuss the power of authentic selling and relationship-driven business growth.

Ronnell shares how his experience in sales leadership shaped his belief that the best salespeople succeed not by talking more, but by listening better. Through his community-focused networking platform, he’s helping professionals build deeper relationships that lead to real opportunities.

The conversation explores how entrepreneurs and sales professionals can strengthen their networks, build trust with clients, and create meaningful conversations that lead to long-term success.

If you’re looking to grow your business through stronger relationships instead of traditional sales tactics, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

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