Nothing To Lose But Yourself

My guest on the podcast this week is actor Jonathan Burke. He can be seen on Seasons 1, 2, and the upcoming Season 3 of Prime Video’s hit comedy series, “Harlem,” in the recurring role of ‘Eric. 

Jonathan and I chat about his childhood and start in acting in Baltimore, the arc of his career to date and the blessing of having loving family, strong/wise Black women who poured into him early in life and the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in life. 

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My guest on the season 5 premiere of the podcast is Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey. Dr. Nii is a political journalist, Pepperdine University professor and prominent convener in the fields of dialogue and social change. He is the author of Kamala, The Motherland and Me, his story of the Vice-President's trip to Africa and his experience of both the continent and Madame Vice President. 

In our wide ranging conversation we talk about his childhood and youth in Oakland, California, his career as a journalist, and yes Vice-President Harris sharing who she is versus who share has been portrayed to be. 

This is an important conversation on the eve of the most consequential election in our nation's history. 

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My guest on the podcast this week is Darnell L. Moore. Darnell is a media maker, educator, writer and thought leader and the author of the 2019 Lambda Literary Award winning memoir, No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black & Free in America, which was listed among the New York Times 100 Notable Books and was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers' pick. He is currently Vice President of Inclusion Strategy for Content and Marketing at Netflix and was the former Head of Strategy and Programs at Breakthrough US. 

In our wide ranging and intimate conversation, Darnell and I chat about the critical importance of self-reflective work as the companion piece to social justice work, his transition to Los Angeles from the east coast, the power of love to transform our social movements and individual lives and the continuing impact of his book No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black & Free in America.

Darnell has also been an advocate for gender equity and sexual diversity and we also chat about the importance of not only pointing out injustice and oppression, but also the necessary work of examining the ways in which each of us may be complicit in oppressing others.

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My guest on the podcast this week is Marija Abney. Marija is a South Carolina native who moved to NY to pursue an arts education at The AIley School at Fordham University and went on to earn her MA in performance studies from NYU. 

Marija is an actress and dancer who has appeared as a Dora Milaje in "Black Panther" and "Wakanda Forever" as well as "Avengers Inifinity War" and "Avengers End Game," and was featured in Tubi's "A Killer Romance" and "Twisted Marriage Therapist."

In many ways though, her most impactful contribution to "the culture" is founding The Soapbox Presents and launching a wildly successful series of "stoop concerts" in Harlem that builds loving community and attracts crowds of over 3500 people per event. The series is so successful it caught the attention of legendary singer-songwriter Babyface who asked to participate and entertained the crowd with a pop up performance of "Whip Appeal."

We chat about her artistic journey, art as activism, and what it was like to work with the late Chadwick Boseman.

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My guest on the podcast today is singer-songwriter-producer and recording artist Gordon Chambers. Gordon is a success story in the music industry. His solo albums have been nominated for Independent Soul Album of the Year by Soultracks.com. His #1 hits as a lyricist include: Anita Baker’s Grammy- winning hit “I Apologize”, Brownstone’s Grammy-nominated “If You Love Me”, Angie Stone’s “No More Rain (In This Cloud)”, the Grammy-nominated theme of Set It Off “Missing You” (performed by Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan). Yolanda Adams’ “Someone Watching Over Me” and The Isley Brothers’ recent comeback smash “Just Came Here To Chill.” He has written for over 75 recording artists, including household names Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Brandy, Trey Songz, Usher, Jamie Foxx, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle and Marc Anthony. 

 In our wide ranging conversation, we chat about Gordon's upbringing in New Jersey, the concept of Black excellence, his successful career in music and the power of Love and the embrace of Blackness.

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My guests on the podcast this week are the historic and dynamic country music group O.N.E. the Duo. These talented ladies are the first Black mother/daughter duo in country music history and they drop their debut album this summer.

In our wide ranging and insightful conversation, I speak to the ladies about the pros and cons of working together, the relationship between mother and daughter, how they've been received in country music circles and the contributions of RZA of Wu-Tang Klan as a Dad and co-parent as well as his professional input and support of their careers. We also chat about Tekitha (the Mom) about her business acumen and approach to the business side of the entertainment industry.

It's an eye opening and engaging conversation with two talented Black women who are making their mark in country music and beyond.

O.N.E. the Duo website
Official YouTube Channel

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My guest on the podcast this week is Dr. Michael A. Lindsey. Dr. Lindsey is a noted scholar in the fields of child and adolescent mental health, as well as a leader in the search for knowledge and solutions to generational poverty and inequality. He is the Dean and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work at NYU Silver School of Social Work, and an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow.

In our wide ranging conversation, Dr. Lindsey and I chat about his call to serve the world in the field of social work, being raised by a single Black Mom, and the mental health crisis facing Black young people today.

Dr. Lindsey provides insights, tools and more to help those who are trying to navigate these difficult times. He speaks to parents about how to observe our children and make sure to truly check in with them and ask how they are doing and what's on their minds. Most importantly, Dr. Lindsey provides hope and access to resources that can help in an emergency and access to treatment and intervention when necessary.  This is a conversation with a brilliant Black man committed to the well being of our young people and communities and to ending generational poverty and inequality.



988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline

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My guest on the podcast this week is the dynamic, engaging, and successful journalist and storyteller Naimah Jabali-Nash.  Naimah collaborated with acclaimed director, Stanley Nelson,as a producer on Netflix’s Crack: Cocaine, Corruption, Conspiracy, and her work on the sports journalism series, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel earned her five Emmy Awards and two PeabodyAwards. Most recently Naimah served as a director and producer on the 1619 Project documentary series. for Hulu. 

In our wide ranging conversation, Naimah and I chat about the importance of family, her journey to producing and directing, navigating the industry as a Black woman and the power of storytelling to inform and to transform the world.

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My guest on the podcast this week is Raheim Johnson. Raheim is a native of Philadelphia, PA and a son to a single mother of four who at an early age developed a strong desire to travel and see the world. He took his first international trip in the summer 2013 to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and from there it was history.  Fast forward 6 years later and I’ve been to over 50+ countries across 5 continents with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

In our wide ranging conversation, Rahiem and I chat about growing up being raised by a single parent, the first time he traveled internationally, and the power of travel to open our eyes to all the possibilities that life holds and travel as a platform to help us discover and fall in love with our own humanity.

This is an insightful conversation with a dope young brotha who's doing his entrepreneurial thing!

TrayTableSeatBack
Raheim's Instagram
TrayTable Instagram

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My guest on the podcast today is NaTasha Yvette Williams. Natasha is one of the few African American women to consistently star in major roles on Broadway such: Mama Morton in the  critically acclaimed Broadway hit Chicago with Brandy, Ms Sophia in The Color Purple with Fantasia, A Night with  Janis Joplin as Aretha Franklin, and currently as Sweet Sue in Some Like it Hot which has garnered her a Tony Award nomination. 

In our wide ranging conversation, we chat about her childhood and the influence of her parents, her LOVE of math and how it relates to her career as a performer, her successful career on stage and screen, her relationship to Blackness, and the role of faith and love in her life. 

It’s a warm conversation with a talented, passionate, and dynamic human being engaged in doing the work she is called to do.

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