Random Tandem

Jerez Giles' new album At the Mountain Top releases on Friday, December 22. All of his verses are without explicit lyrics. The release is four days before his fifth anniversary with Kyla Upshaw. Rez' 33rd birthday will be on December 23. On this episode, we pay homage to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. We also dive into how faith and family dynamics have contributed to Rez' continued personal maturation. We're grateful to Sonis Music Studios for hosting this episode. Thank you to Jorden Lewis for filming and editing.

Ali Brightwell is a financial consultant and co-founder of Infinity and Beyond Leads. IABL is a new startup that assists businesses with generating leads. Brightwell attends various networking events throughout New York and New Jersey. His business skills are evenly matched with his effective communication. In Brightwell's world, handshakes equal freedom. Those handshakes have led to a future of financial independence.

Ian Sacks is a full-time sports reporter for KELO-TV in South Dakota. But the pandemic stalled his career path for almost two years. After applying 170 times, only a few interviews occurred. Sacks went back to college. He attended Arizona State University and earned his master's degree in Sports Journalism. It was the last necessary building block to stabilize an uncertain future. Sacks has established himself in a precarious industry. The combined experience in producing and on-air experience will keep him relevant for years to come in the world of sports media.

Gabriella Osso is constantly giving reassuring feedback to her students. Osso has an unconventional educating technique to keep the classroom tone upbeat. The class aura gets active, especially when students respond with correct answers. A health scare that started when Osso was first hired became the ultimate test of her mental fortitude. Co-host Vernon Thomas related to the classroom elements of this episode because of his current occupation at a daycare.

Jayne Caldwell has a new podcast, "The Jelly Jay Zone." The affable and soft-spoken podcaster is a former Legend's Football League Champion. She became a businesswoman after retiring from football. Her newest business venture is "Not Another Detox Tea," a drink serving women with bloating and digestive issues. Caldwell's closest friend is former teammate Quincy Hewitt. Together, they sell Not Another Detox Tea and run the fitness app YaBish!. Women love using the app to focus on the booty muscles and strive for a slim/fit figure. YaBish! also focuses on mental stability to complement its exercise routines. This was our most entertaining episode to date.

Melvin Banks is at the happiest point in his life. After recording short stories on YouTube, the next opportunity is voiceover acting. Twitch streaming is his main gig. Engaging with fellow streamers in real-time invites the audience to have civil debates about everything from sports to relationships. But this episode reveals the struggles of growing up as an outsider. Banks relates to a large number of adolescent boys feeling disconnected at school and in their communities.

Before becoming an analyst in consulting, Jinjer Pearce started working at JP Morgan Chase right out of college. She is the sister of our second guest Max Pearce. Both siblings unironically prioritize business and fitness. Jinjer won a state championship in track with Rye Country Day and became a captain for the Women's Track team at Cornell. After choosing a different path from private banking, she travels domestically to help colleagues complete team projects. My co-host Vernon Thomas analyzed her portfolio to determine how someone with her accomplishments in business and track, markets themselves to hiring managers.

Max Pearce is an artist who also happens to be a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. "Hops" Pearce blew up on Vine and YouTube for dunking videos at Main Street Park in Tuckahoe, New York. This was partially leveraged as an opportunity to participate in the NCAA Dunk Contest. Pearce was the first Division III player to do so. On this episode, we reminisce on how enrolling in an elementary level art class resulted in a diversified portfolio. We also cannot overlook his business with former teammate Derrick Ansah. Flynance is an essential business for youth athletes to map out their careers. Want to learn more about it? Pearce shared his vision for the company's continued influence. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

This Purchase Senior’s Startup Is Set to Be a Slam-Dunk (westchestermagazine.com)

Phazione McClurge joins DT & VT as the show's first guest. McClurge is a former NFL Draft prospect who now plays for the Frisco Fighters of the Indoor Football League. We talk about his journey from not being selected to the NFL and having to pivot careers. Outside of playing football, McClurge is an entrepreneur with World Financial Group. Financial literacy is an essential life skill that is often overlooked in the process of building wealth. McClurge offers tidbits on finding mentors and the nuances of budgeting.

To learn more about World Financial Group, you can contact him at [email protected].