This episode marks two major milestones for the podcast. First and foremost, it's my 100th episode! The release of this episode completes my "Road to 100" challenge I started over a year ago. The second milestone, the release of this podcast comes with the news that I have partnered with 88.1 WYPR to distribute the podcast on their network, Your Public Studios. The content of the podcast will stay the same, but things will inevitably change so I can bring you consistent, and consistently quality content. Thank you to everyone who has been a guest, gave me advice and helped me along the way!

Stephen Towns is your quintessential "small town boy" who moved to the big city. His hometown of Lincolnville, South Carolina has a population of less than 1500, according to the 2020 Census. Sick of working retail and factory jobs, Stephen moved from his hometown to Columbia, then to DC and finally to Baltimore to find work. Along the way Stephen found himself in his art, and celebrates the divinity and perseverance in the African diaspora in all of his work.

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We've all met Ernest Shaw before. Multiple times in fact, the thing is a lot of people don't KNOW that they've met him. They've met him the way they've met Tom Miller, Megan Lewis, McKinley Wallace, and countless others in Baltimore City. You've walked, driven, and in other manners passed by murals that were painted by Ernest, murals that in my opinion immortalize his contributions to Charm City. Listen as we talk about the good and bad of 70s and 80s Baltimore, his encyclopedic knowledge of West African culture and its connections to Black American culture, and the importance of creativity as an image maker and an educator.

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Starting the new year off right with a brand new episode of the podcast! Ucheoma is a digital artist and creator of the web series Vibe Check. It's all about checking in with yourself, de-calcifying your 3rd eye, and the eternal battle between good and geese. Because geese are evil. We also talk about Uche's childhood, how he got into art, and when he was at a crossroads in his life, the universe sent him not one but TWO messages to follow his heart.

Episode art: Ucheoma Uzosike (IG: @ucheomaaa)

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It's been a while since I've looked outside of Charm City for a guest, and after months of following Tynesha (tie-neesha) on IG, I decided to reach out for an interview. They're from Norfolk, VA, about 30 minutes from Virginia Beach. Norfolk is about a 4 hour drive from Baltimore, and the military town has its own culture and vibe. Listen as we talk about Tynesha's childhood in Norfolk, her ventures up north for college, the hustle it took to keep the lights on, and working with the biggest names in media.

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Audio from the live show with me, MTR Network's Rob Lee and Thomas James, local legend and culture protector. We discuss the work that went into curating "Repercussions", an exhibition of abstract black art. We also talk about the genre of art itself and how it fits into the African diaspora. Enjoy!

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It's been scientifically studied (and proven) that being in nature, hearing nature "sounds" and feeling sunlight on your skin helps elevate your mood and is good for your mental health. Couple that with a nice hike to get the heart rate going, and I guarantee you'll feel better after only an hour outdoors. Justin Tucker aka Trailhead Justin probably spends more of his day outdoors than indoors, going on day hikes, riding bikes through trails, kayaking....if it's outdoors, he's interested. Listen as he talks about growing up in Woodlawn (and why he feels that area is purposefully "neglected" by the state), the complete 180 he made when he was living in New York and working in fashion, how he got into the "outdoors" lifestyle, and the impact BIPOC collaboration has on opening up the lifestyle for others.

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Otis Glenn is a native of East Baltimore, DDH to be exact. It's a term I've heard a few times, and when I sat down with the owner of Therapy BRND (a mental health focused clothing brand) we talked about the origins of the term. We also talk about the pivotal moments in Otis's life that lead to him starting his clothing line, the importance of continuing acceptance of mental health issues (and wellness) in the black community, anime (which seems to be a running theme as of late). and advice for those wanting to start their own clothing line.

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Though her stage name is synonymous with Baltimore's music and arts scenes, DJ Trillnatured (real name Jess Hyman) wasn't always a party dog, or even a DJ. In fact as she tells it, she had to FORCE herself to be more outgoing during her teens and early 20s. DJing became a creative outlet for the love of music that churned inside her, and it's allowed her to give back to her community. Listen as Jess talks about growing up in Harford County, the reason why she made the decision to "step out" socially, and why the most important thing for her....was learning how to count.

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When you close your eyes and think of the word "archive"....what do you see? Maybe grainy black and white films, or sitting in front of a microfiche machine scrolling through old periodicals. More importantly, what do you feel? Looking back at any institution's history is bound to stir up negative feelings, but that isn't the goal of archivist and photographer Deyane (Dee-yawn) Moses. A 7 year veteran of the US military, what began as a longing for a connection to her Carribean heritage and culture put Deyane on a path of exploration and discovery of the spotted history of Maryland's most celebrated art school. Listen as she talks about her anger at being denied the knowledge of her family's history, the struggles (and bright spots) of her time in the military, and her journey from servicemember to an MFA graduate of MICA, all while putting the school's history under a microscope.

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If you tried to describe Joyell Arvella in two words, I'd say it's impossible. It's impossible to fit all of the travelling, experiences good and bad, selflessness and dedication to impact into a two word description of Joyell. But if you HAD to describe her in two words, like for some weird reason it's a hypothetical life or death situation? For me, only two words come to mind: incredibly compassionate. Though, Joyell admits: some times she wishes she could turn her empathy off.

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