Longtime collaborator Layla Abdullah-Poulos join Tariq. The two talk about the impact of COVID-19 and take a look at the new normal, sheltering in place. They talk about the impact hoarding, and the economic slowdown is having on already distressed communities, and share differing opinions on whether or not the way we engage social media will change: will it make us more honest about our lives, or will we continue to edit?-- as Layla says.

Drop a line at [email protected]

Guest- Layla Abdullah-Poulos

Host/Producer- Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Allston Night Owl by Blue Dot Sessions https://bit.ly/2Pb3Ms1

Got Real by Splasher

Image

Bridging The Gap in Community Inc.

As much as things continue to change in life, we continue to see patterns that remain the same. The patterns of attitude and work ethic continue to produce success. Drawing on examples from Kobe Bryant, John Henry, Derrick Coleman and more, this episode takes a look at what it means to commit to a goal, what it means to work hard, and why attitude determines altitude.

Host/Producer- Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Allston Night Owl by Blue Dot Sessions https://bit.ly/2Pb3Ms1

Image

Tariq I. El-Amin

Evan Carmichael Kobe Tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuDeo9USwzM&t=1s

Bill Cosby Himself

[Charlie Rose] - Malcolm Gladwell - https://youtu.be/eQzfEVeXzgw

NOTE-- Our apologies for the variations in the audio level. There were technical difficulties that weren't caught until the interview had been completed, however we felt the conversation was too important to not share.

Kim Foxx is a first in the history of the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Her distinction is not only a result of her being the first African American elected to lead the 2nd largest State's prosecutors office in the nation, but because of the stance she has taken in making an office that has historically been associated with little more than trying and convicting people--one that can be an advocate for social justice.

SA Foxx was a major contributor to the legislation that expunged the criminal records of individuals convicted of certain marijuana related crimes, now that its sale has been legalized by the Illinois state legislature (Jan 01, 2020). Prior to state legislation that went into effect this year (2020), her office stopped prosecution of individuals charged with driving on suspended license, due to failure to pay parking tickets back in 2017. And her stance on bond reform, where she advocates that people who pose no threat to the public should not languish in jail because they are poor.

We talk about the office, how her life experiences impact the way she approaches her position, the need to confront the problem of race, the F.O.P., the Jussie Smollet case--how it has been politicized and what it really means, and what it means to be a public servant.

Guest- Kim Foxx, Cook County States Attorney

Host/Producer- Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Allston Night Owl by Blue Dot Sessions https://bit.ly/2Pb3Ms1

Image

Tariq I. El-Amin

The theme is Bridging The Gap, and our guest is Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, an American civic, corporate and faith leader who shares insights on the formation of Masjid Warith-ud Deen (Irvington, NJ), the benefit of prayer in achieving a balanced life, and some little known corporate history that involves him being the first degreed engineer to ___________ at a particular fortune 500 company. Listen to the episode to find out. :-)

Guest- Wahy-ud Deen Shareef

Host/Producer- Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Allston Night Owl by Blue Dot Sessions https://bit.ly/2Pb3Ms1

Image

Wahy-ud Deen Shareef

Dr. King's legacy is often reduced to the famous "Dream" speech, but the real power of his voice, his commitment to his faith was not only in his rejection of racism, but in his rejection of economic exploitation and militarism. The address heard in this work are not in order, but they certainly sound like they could be. Dr. King's message was so consistent and sound that moving the beginning to the end, or the middle to the beginning took nothing away from it at all.

Dr. King was a truth teller, in a world that couldn't handle the truth.

Music

Tariq I. El-Amin

Dr. King's "Why I Oppose Vietnam" & "The Three Evils of Society" are used here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8d-IYSM-08&t=2017s

Nothing screams democracy like free and open election. And with the 2020 Presidential election around the corner lets take a look at how the democracy we think we have is influenced by news outlets, controlled by private interest. While we're at it, let's examine a few instances of our government's abandonment of its allegiance to democracy when foreign democracies don't benefit the United States, think Iran, Congo, and Haiti.

Host/Producer- Tariq I. El-Amin

Image

Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Got Real- Splasher

https://bit.ly/35ZDjlx

New Year, new decade, and a new way of thinking. Tariq and Layla discuss some shifts in mindsets that can produce a better 2020.

*Follow us on FB, IG, and Twitter @btgwithtie

Guest/Associate Producer- Layla Abdullah Poulos

Host/Producer-Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

The Kyoto Connection: Feel the Magic http://bit.ly/2xjv7MN

Image

Tariq I. El-Amin

On July 5, 1852 Frederick Douglass delivered a speech that would become known as "What to the Slave Is The Fourth of July?" Delivered in Corinthian Hall, Rochester, New York addressing the Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society.

It is equal parts homage, rebuke, and a message of hope to a nation early in its growth that it could live up to the lofty ideals upon which it was founded.

Read by Tariq I. El-Amin

In this episode we examine Resistance, undetected and out in the open. Sometimes what appears to be resistance is really just the same old exploitation.

Host/Producer/Engineer-Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Benjamin Banger-- Whistle (Instagram (@BenJaminBanger)http://smarturl.it/hjfi20)

J-Serius-- Muslim Black American

Allston Night Owl by Blue Dot Sessions

https://bit.ly/2Pb3Ms1

Image

https://flic.kr/p/UHNfdS

This episode is commentary on the impact and perception of Black History Month. BHM is almost one hundred years old and I argue that its only having half of the potential impact on our national consciousness. If Black History Month were really used as the educational platform it is, would there be a need for a Black Lives Matter movement? Would the nation be properly sensitized to the cancer of White Supremacy and White Privilege and be working amend its conduct?

Host/Producer-Tariq I. El-Amin

Music

Benjamin Banger-- Whistle (Instagram (@BenJaminBanger)http://smarturl.it/hjfi20)

Allston Night Owl by Blue Dot Sessions

https://bit.ly/2Pb3Ms1

CNN Black White and Blue America 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuASG9C7Jb4

Raw Story

Published on Jan 20, 2016

via Fox News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD3vLCENhOg

Image

LifeStar Communications