67 years. Zero women of color in Coon Rapids City Hall. Thuba Nguyen is here to change that.

The daughter of a Vietnam War refugee — brought to America by the act that reunited children of Black servicemen — Thuba went from a refugee camp to preschool classrooms to the State Capitol. Now she's knocking on doors in a city that's never seen a candidate like her.

She gets real about code-switching on the campaign trail, the empty storefronts draining Coon Rapids, private equity buying up family homes — and the moment she was told never to question her patriotism. "Broken ceilings require broken glass. And glass cuts."

The primary is Tuesday, August 11.

Learn more: thubaforcoonrapids.com | @NguyenforCoonRapidsMayor

Civic Tuesday on the Inner Circle Podcast — where we amplify, empower, and elevate all things civics. Follow, rate, and share.

10,000+ people. 100° heat. Four nightclubs packed beyond capacity. And nobody was counting.

Liberia turned 179, and the diaspora showed OUT.

So which city really came out on top? Minnesota? Philadelphia? The DMV? California?

Tonight, Abe, Ms. B, and Yahri rank the biggest Independence Weekend celebrations across North America, relive the WizKid moment, call out the cities that denied parade permits ("we remember you when you come looking for our votes"), and ask a bigger question: How much money did the Liberian community generate this weekend—and why aren't we measuring our own economic impact?

The data is priceless. The celebration was unforgettable. And with Liberia's 180th Independence just one year away, the planning starts now.

The Inner Circle Podcast — where we Amplify, Empower, and Elevate the culture.

Snow, Hennessy, and Independence Day. How did Liberians turn Minnesota into Monrovia's second capital? The story of the "Liberian Weekend Off," why nobody who visits ever leaves, and a $1.6B economic footprint nobody's counting. Happy 26 — this one's on you

Division isn't just painful—it's expensive. While other communities turn their cultural celebrations into economic engines, we're splitting one holiday into multiple competing events and wondering why the sponsors, vendors, media, and crowds never reach their full potential.

Tonight, we count the real cost of disunity: the money left on the table, the memories never created, and the opportunities our community keeps letting slip away.

Ms. B paints a powerful picture of what one unified July 26 celebration could become, explores why trust remains the biggest obstacle, and shares a personal story of an opportunity she watched pass her own family by.

One line captures the entire conversation:

Organized money is organized power. Divided, we all lose.

Tomorrow: Monrovia to Minneapolis – Part 2.

#InnerCirclePodcast #ThePriceOfDisunity #July26 #LiberiansInMinnesota

One Independence Day. Multiple events. No unified plan.

With Liberia's 179th Independence Day just days away, the Inner Circle Podcast asks the question many in the community have been asking: Why can't we come together for July 26?

The conversation gets real. The city denied the parade permit. The canceled Lone Star vs. Minnesota United match sparks fresh questions about planning and leadership. The longtime I.E. vs. Barrolle tradition is missing, leaving many wondering how one of the community's most cherished rivalries became another casualty of division.

Guest Peterson brings a different perspective, pointing to Chicago's Ghana Fest—three decades of sustained community collaboration—and asks why Minnesota can't build something with that same longevity.

From ego and old rivalries to cliques, trust, and the leadership vacuum few want to address, the panel examines what continues to pull the community apart—and whether a unified July 26 celebration is still possible.

Then comes the question that changes the conversation:

Should the community stop supporting competing events until organizers commit to building one celebration together?

Tomorrow: We move from emotion to economics. How much opportunity is our community losing because of division? Vendors. Sponsors. Hotels. Restaurants. Artists. The numbers may surprise you.

Minnesota is shaping up to be the place to celebrate Liberia’s 179th Independence Day — and we break down everything happening this weekend.

Wizkid headlines Tribeville Fest at The Armory on Friday. The Independence Day Parade and Day in the Park take over Sunday. But one major event is no longer happening: the Liberia Lone Star vs. Minnesota United match was canceled after visa denials.

Tickets were already sold. So where are the refunds?

Plus: Katt Williams, a Lake Minnetonka yacht party, Spain wins the World Cup, Justin Bieber’s halftime performance gets a 6 out of 10, the LeBron GOAT debate gets heated — and Ms. B drops a bombshell about July 26, 2027.

New episodes all week as we count down to the 26th.

Amplify. Empower. Elevate.

There's a classroom on your son's phone — and nobody hired the teacher.

Nearly one in four young men in America report feeling lonely every day. The number of men with no close friends has exploded over the past generation. Meanwhile, millions are turning to YouTube personalities, TikTok influencers, and online "alpha male" gurus for answers about success, relationships, masculinity, and purpose.

So who's really raising our young men?

This week, Abe, Yahri, and Ms. B dive deep into the manosphere: Andrew Tate, alpha-versus-beta culture, masculinity influencers, the loneliness epidemic, and why so many young men feel disconnected from community, friendship, and mentorship.

The conversation gets personal when the panel tackles a question that stopped everyone in their tracks:

"When was the last time you cried?"

It gets heated. It gets honest. And nobody leaves the conversation the same way they entered it.

The Inner Circle Podcast — where we amplify, empower, and elevate the conversations that matter.

Follow, rate, and share with a parent, mentor, coach, or anyone helping raise the next generation of young men.

Everybody wants to be an entrepreneur in 2026—but what business actually makes sense?

Abe, Ms. B, and Yahri debate the hottest businesses to start, buy, and grow right now, from food trucks and home healthcare to childcare, beauty services, and creative brands. The conversation tackles rising childcare costs, America's aging population, immigrant entrepreneurship, and whether owning a business is becoming more important than climbing the corporate ladder.

If someone handed you $100,000 today, what would you build?

Amplify. Empower. Elevate.

Your city council decides your property taxes, your police budget, the parks your kids play in, and the future of your community — yet most people couldn't name a single member.

Tonight, Charles Boakai, a first-time candidate for Champlin City Council Ward 4, joins the panel on the opening day of candidate filing for the November 3 special election. He lays out his vision for public safety, a community center, lower property taxes, and representation in one of Minnesota's fastest-changing suburbs.

But the panel doesn't let him off easy. Abe, Peterson, and Yahri press him on the questions every candidate eventually faces: How do you lower taxes while expanding services? What should city government actually prioritize? And where does the money come from?

Recorded live July 14, 2026.

Amplify. Empower. Elevate.

Jay-Z just closed a three-night run at Yankee Stadium — Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Nas, Eminem, and Rihanna all on one stage. But who built who? Abe says Jay-Z is the blueprint for Black ownership. Ms. B says Jay-Z became Jay-Z with Beyoncé — and that a real leader would be creating more billionaires, not dissing them. Yahri drops the take nobody saw coming.

Then the conversation gets bigger: in an industry worth trillions, how much do we actually own? From music and nightlife to media and entertainment, the panel explores whether we're building wealth or simply funding someone else's dream.

The discussion then turns serious: Nolan Wells, the 18-year-old found dead off Horn Island after a July 4 boat trip with friends. The panel wrestles with what the story means — and agrees on one thing: the autopsy will talk.

Plus: the Fenty buyback rumors, the scarcity mindset, and why "when you're up there, don't let another one in" may be costing us more than we realize.

New episodes Monday through Thursday, 7:30 PM CST.

Amplify. Empower. Elevate.