The Big Time Talker Podcast is sponsored by Speakermatch, the United States largest online speakers bureau. We thought it would be good to check in with Speakermatch CEO Bryan Caplovitz to see what happens when all the conferences and venues where speakers do presentations get shuttered by a global pandemic; how are speakers and planners adapting online, is it working, how are contracts being handled, and when will things get back to normal. Subscribe to the Big Time Talkers Podcast at the iTunes store, Stitcher and wherever you get your podcasts. And, ask Alexa to play the "Big Time Talkers Podcast with Burke Allen" and we'll be there for you!

What is the role and responsibility of journalists in the midst of a global pandemic, historic unemployment and racial unrest rocking the foundation of America, all at once? A former small-town publisher and university professor of journalism, and raised in a newspaper family, Tony Hylton fully understands the responsibility to use freedom of the press to hold public officials accountable. "The First Amendment is not to serve nosy reporters but to protect We the People's right to know what their governments (at all levels) are up to. Tony says It's not complicated. "The press is facing a credibility crisis. Fake News is a term taking hold in the public's mind. It's time for reporters to report and stop preaching." Tony's connection with the honorable profession of journalism has taken many forms - Editor/publisher of the Hinton (WV) Daily News (now Hinton News); visiting professor of journalism at Susquehanna University; public relations practitioner for a national trade association in Washington; Communications Director for AARP, Virginia and Public Information Officers for a major U.S. Army headquarters in the Republic of Vietnam. His political experience includes serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates.  Visit him online at www.tonyhylton.com.   The Big Time Talker Podcast is a service of Speakermatch.com. Subscribe at the Apple iTunes store, Stitcher or ask Alexa to play the "Big Time Talker with Burke Allen".

Today's guest on the Big Time Talker Podcast TJ Griffin is at-risk youth mentor, program provider, and educator. He is an entrepreneur, community leader and the founder at The Vision Program which provides programs for at-risk and incarcerated youth as well as trainings for youth-care staff. TJ is a highly sought after motivational speaker, educator, and accredited trainer, TED Talk speaker, and actor recently starring in the film CHOICES based on the true story of speaker and author Ron James. TJ has been featured in many local and national publications such as SUCCESS magazine. He was also a former recording artist manager in the music business and has worked with the likes of film director Zack Snyder, Queen, Fat Joe, rapper-actor ICE T and America's Got Talent winner Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. What drives TJ is his dedication of making our community better by mentoring, teaching and inspiring our youth to believe in themselves and tap into their amazing potential and purpose....so we thought he'd be the perfect person to have this very candid conversation about race in America.  We were right. Visit TJ online at www.thevisionprogram.com

Dr. Vanessa Weaver has spent over three decades of her life devoted to teaching diversity and inclusion to corporations and organizations across America.  Now, with America rocked again by race riots and police brutality caught on camera, Dr. Weaver wades into the discussion on institutional racism, how politics play a role, her surprising comments on conservatives and most importantly, what needs to happen to bring real change. It's a discussion you won't want to miss on this Big Time Talker Podcast, a service of SpeakerMatch. Visit Dr. Vanessa Weaver online at www.alignmentstrategies.com.

As America's cities burn, we find ourselves looking for answers. Today's guest Joe Coleman was in Washington DC during the race riots of the 1960's, and served his country as a Vietnam-era soldier in the Air Force.  After a long career with the legendary Platters, Joe now is a member of the Voices of Classic Soul, singing alongside former members of the Drifters, Four Tops and Temptations. He also is a principal in DITV (Diversity and Inclusion Television) and works with companies all over the world on their diversity and inclusion platforms and practices.

This is a very powerful conversation, and couldn't come at a better time on the Big Time Talkers Podcast, powered by Speakermatch.com. Subscribe today at the Apple iTunes store, Stitcher or ask Alexa to play the Big Time Talkers Podcast with Burke Allen.  

Visit Joe Coleman at www.voicesofclassicsoul.com.

The Big Time Talker Podcast, powered by Speakermatch.com welcomes leadership consultant Kelly Langston to the show!  Kelly has spent over two decades leading organizations large and small, and now she helps other leaders do the tough stuff with compassion, morals, and ethics. Check out what Kelly has to say about our political leadership during the pandemic, how you can be a better leader in volunteer situations like church and the PTA and check out her bold leadership guidance on Zoom meetings! Ask Alexa to play the Big Time Talker Podcast with Burke Allen, or subscribe at iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your audio fix. Thanks for listening!

Humor is a tricky thing, especially when times are tough...like now. The Big Time Talker Podcast, powered by Speakermatch.com, brought in some expert help to figure out those boundaries.   Join us as we chat with humorist Dave Samson from FunnyGuy.com; Dave explains the difference between a humorist and a comic, talks about humor in advertising, has tips on when to be, and not be, funny and lots more! Learn how to be funny, on today's show, available on your Alexa device by asking it to play "The Big Time Talker Podcast with Burke Allen"...or subscribe now at the iTunes store and Stitcher!

Dr. Boyd Purcell is the guest on today's Big Time Talker Podcast, powered by Speakermatch.  Boyd touches on the role religion and spirituality can play during these uncertain times, how a loving God could unleash a pandemic on his people, the concept of hell and the afterlife and much more. Dr. Purcell is the author of "Spiritual Terrorism" and "Christianity Without Insanity". Visit him online at www.christianitywithoutinsanity,.com.

in 2008, USPS carrier Meiko Patton decided to diversify her income. She wrote a book called "How A Postage Stamp Saved My Life", and then figured out how to market it and lots of other things using Facebook Messenger and QR Codes.  The book hit #1, and now Meiko is showing lots of folks how to "furlough-proof" their lives during the pandemic by making big bucks with Facebook Messenger. It's a unique strategy, and we dive into it on today's Big Time Taker podcast, a service of Speakermatch.con. Subscribe at the Apple ITunes store or ask your Alexa device to play the "Big Time Talker Podcast with Burke Allen".

As a 23 year African American male with handicapped siblings in Cincinnati Ohio, you'd think that today's guest Josea Stanford would be the last person you would expect to have a positive attitude as he begins his adult life in the post-pandemic era. You'd be wrong. Find out how this graduate of the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, philanthropist and Forex trader and investor sees the world, his place in it, and how older folks can better relate to people of his generation in today's Big Time Talker podcast, powered by Speakermatch.com.  Subscribe now at the ITunes store, or ask Alexa to play the Big Time Talker Podcast with Burke Allen. Visit Josea online at www.joseastanford.weebly.com.  Thanks for listening, and have a great Memorial Day!