The EPND Podcast closes out Season 1 with a powerful sit down with champion of restorative justice, Jason Rivers. Jason discusses navigating the struggles of finding identity being raised in a multi racial household. He opens up about persevering through numerous trials including the murder of his brother, Anthony Rivers. He talks about keeping his brother’s legacy alive and turning tragedy into triumph and atonement by starting the AR3 Summer Basketball League in his honor. Jason Rivers is currently the Managing Director of Tandem Ed, whose mission is to “educate our communities to reclaim our stories and spaces.”

Instagram: @jayrivers.3

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Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride

Music Composition by theycallmejeff

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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Disclaimer: There isn’t any manual for the job of parenting, you kind of just figure it out as you go. In this episode Brother Jason sits down with his oldest child Kaila. Kaila gives her perspective on meeting Jason, her thoughts on him marrying her mother and all of the changes that came with that. The two keep it real about the ups and downs of their relationship and the process of making this family thing work one way or another. Listen and learn. Our family is a work in progress. Stay tuned. Kaila is an amateur model, poet, singer, and artist. You can check her out on Twitter: @kaiwaRavi, Instagram: @kaiwaravi or Soundcloud: Kaiwa Ravi

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride

Music Composition by theycallmejeff

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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They say the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. In this episode one half of the EPND Podcast, Brother Jason seeks to tap into his roots by sitting down with his father, Craig Orr. They talk about the family history and the impact of the Great Migration that brought his mother and father from Mississippi and Tennessee up to St. Louis, Missouri. The two discuss life lessons, fatherhood and much more on this reflective episode of the Extraordinary People Next Door podcast.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride

Music Composition by theycallmejeff

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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On this episode of the EPND Podcast Amil and Jason sat down with musical and visual artist, entrepreneur and change maker and Chicago native, Khufu El. The conversation ranged from the Black experience growing up in Chicago during the height of the crack era to the history and impact of house music in Chicago. Brother Khufu details his journey from the streets to Spirtual path. Follow the brother Khufu on Instagram @waterstar7.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook

Music Composition by theycallmejeff

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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The Extraordinary People Next Door Podcast sits down with artist, activist, educator, Farooq Al-Said. They discuss his journey from Toronto to Miami to Pittsburgh to New York and back. Farooq details the influence of Hip-Hop in his evolution, Pittsburgh Hip-Hop history, and activism. They celebrate the release of his latest project “The Kid With the Golden Arms”.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook 

Music Composition by theycallmejeff  

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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In this episode of the EPND Podcast Amil and Jason sat down with educator, writer, lecturer, and co-founder of #HipHopED , Timothy Jones (@tdj6899). They were joined by special guest Dr. Tyra Good (@tyrathegooddr),Assistant Professor of Practice in Education at Chatham University where she also facilitates culturally sustaining school and university partnerships. The discussion centered around their educational journeys and using hip hop to engage this generation’s children.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook 

Music Composition by theycallmejeff  

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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In this episode, Amil and Jason sat down with community activist and organizer Dina “Free” Blackwell (@FreeBlackwell). Free Blackwell is the Executive Director of Homewood Renaissance Association and the House of Manna. She detailed growing up in Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood, her growth into consciousness, and spiritual journey. We celebrated the life of her late husband, Reverend Freedom Blackwell and were joined by her son who offered a young person’s perspective to the discussion.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook 

Music Composition by theycallmejeff  

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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In this episode, Amil and Jason sat down with community activist and organizer Dina “Free” Blackwell (@FreeBlackwell). Free Blackwell is the Executive Director of Homewood Renaissance Association and the House of Manna. She detailed growing up in Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood, her growth into consciousness, and spiritual journey. We celebrated the life of her late husband, Reverend Freedom Blackwell and were joined by her son who offered a young person’s perspective to the discussion.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook 

Music Composition by theycallmejeff  

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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In this episode of the EPND Podcast, Amil and Jason sit down with Charles X. Cook. Charles details growing up a promising athlete in the Washington D.C. area during the apex of the Crack Cocaine epidemic. He describes the highs and lows of his journey into entrepreneurship, motivational speaking, and becoming a published author.

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook 

Music Composition by theycallmejeff  

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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Jason and Amil, hosts of the EPND Podcast, interview Hip-Hop Pioneer Paradise Gray. In this interview he details his extensive history with the rap group X-Clan and the Latin Quarter nightclub. Other topics include growing up in the Bronx in the 1970s and 1980s. Paradise discusses how Hip-Hop has evolved and where it is headed! 

Audio Engineering by Zafir McBride & Amil Cook 

Music Composition by theycallmejeff  

Executive Production by Jason Orr & Amil Cook

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