RISE Urban Nation: Amplifying Black & Pan-African Voices Worldwide

Recorded live at the Encanto Experience inside Marathon Barbershop on Imperial Avenue, this bonus episode brings together culture, community, and corporate transformation. Taryell Simmons and Zeke Corley host a powerful conversation with Idara Ogunsaju about rebuilding confidence in women within enterprise systems and shifting organizational structures that silently erode leadership potential.

Idara, founder of The Antorge Group, explains how her Confidence Ecosystem Framework™ examines how structure, culture, and growth systems either sustain or diminish confidence over time. Through system-level transformation and change management expertise, her firm partners with enterprise leaders to eliminate systemic barriers, fuel sustainable advancement, and strengthen leadership pipelines.

This episode also explores the significance of the Encanto Experience as a culturally rooted professional development space that centers creators, community leaders, and changemakers. Special thanks to Brooke Collins for organizing Encanto and to Marathon Barbershop for hosting this live recording in a space rich with culture and art.

If you’re watching on YouTube, take a moment to notice the artwork behind us. If you’re listening, links to Encanto and The Antorge Group are included below so you can experience the movement next year.

• The Antorge Group: https://theantorgegroup.com
• Instagram: @anthorgegroup
• Encanto Experience: https://www.kpbs.org/events/2025/10/17/experience-encanto-two-day-art-stroll-and-artisan-market
• Marathon Barbershop – Imperial Avenue 

Listen to Idara’s previous feature on RISE Urban Nation to hear more of her personal leadership journey.

• Host: Taryell Simmons
• Co-Host: Zeke Corley (Same Business Different Day Podcast)
• Guest: Idara Ogunsaju
• Music: Will Maker
• Production: RISE Urban Nation Media

Special Acknowledgment: Brooke Collins (Encanto Experience Organizer)

Venue Host: Marathon Barbershop, Imperial Avenue

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

In this powerful episode of RISE Urban Nation Podcast, host Taryell Simmons sits down with Constance “Serenity Sage” English, founder of the UnYes Movement and Siblings United Visitations, to explore how she transformed foster care trauma into a faith-rooted national reform movement. Serenity shares her journey from being silenced and separated from siblings to becoming a bold advocate for family preservation, sibling restoration, and healing-centered systems change. Drawing on her lived experience, spiritual grounding, and visionary leadership, she introduces the UnYes Movement as a reversal of every harmful label placed on foster youth—a resounding YES to identity, belonging, faith, and justice. This conversation is a call to action for leaders, advocates, and changemakers to move beyond awareness into restoration, and to help build communities where children are seen, heard, and never alone again.

Links & Resources:

🌐 Website: https://unyes.org/

• https://suvisitations.org/

📱 Follow: @SerenitySage | @UnYesMovement

🎙️ Host: Taryell Simmons – RISE Urban Nation

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Constance “Serenity Sage” English

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation Media

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

In this inspiring episode of RISE Urban Nation, host Taryell Simmons sits down with Sharon D. Brown, LCSW — wellness educator, self-carepreneur, and founder of Self-Care U Academy. Sharon shares her journey from burnout to breakthrough and how she turned her pain into purpose by teaching others “the power of pause.” Learn practical strategies to transform stress into success, integrate self-care into your daily grind, and build wealthy habits that honor your health and hustle.

About Sharon: 

Sharon D. Brown, LCSW is a self-care strategist, licensed mental health professional, and the

visionary founder of Self-Care You Academy. With over two decades in the mental health field,

Sharon now specializes in helping individuals, especially leaders and entrepreneurs sustain their

success while safeguarding their well-being. Her journey began with a personal

reckoning—realizing that self-care isn’t just a luxury but a vital foundation for leadership and

legacy.

Through her integrative approach, Sharon blends her signature wellness boosters, self-care

pillars, and mindset mastery to help high-achievers thrive under pressure and navigate burnout.

Whether creating transformative workshops or sharing her self-care strategies, Sharon’s

message is clear: when we heal individually, we elevate collectively.

She is dedicated to equipping others with the tools to turn stress into strength and align their

ambitions with holistic wellness. In her words, “Life begins when you breathe, move, and heal.”

Links & Resources:

• 🌐 Website: https://selfcareyouacademy.com
• 📱 Follow: Instagram | LinkedIn

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Sharon D. Brown, LCSW

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation Media

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

Meet Malcolm Ali a.k.a. Mr. Purchase Order 

GovCon Expert, Entrepreneur, #1 best selling author, AI Alchemist and motivational speaker

Malcolm "Mr. Purchase Order" Ali is a nationally certified procurement expert, government contracting strategist, and business coach who helps minority-owned businesses win government contracts and scale with confidence. As the founder of ProcureForce, Inc., Malcolm has helped entrepreneurs secure millions in public sector contracts through targeted certifications, AI-powered tools, and step-by-step coaching.

Links & Resources:
🌐 Website: https://www.mrpurchaseorder.com
📘 Books: Big BIDness | TrapGPT
📱 Follow: Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Credits:
Host: Taryell Simmons
Guest: Malcolm “Mr. Purchase Order” Ali
Music: Will Maker
Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

In this episode, we sit down with Coach Anthony Cudjo—founder of Human Optimization 3.0 and host of the FitnessRx Show—to unpack the power of transforming your beliefs, optimizing your body and mind, and unlocking your divine intelligence. Tune in to hear how trauma became the foundation of his power and how you can reclaim yours.

SHORT BIO:

Founder and Head Coach at Human Optimization 3.0 (H3O), Anthony Cudjo (AKA “Coach Cudjo”), is the leading expert in performance by optimizing various aspects of life, including physical, mental, and emotional health. Boasting over three decades of experience in business consulting and executive coaching, he is widely recognized as the “Teacher of Teachers” and “Leader of Leaders” for his work empowering individuals and communities to reach their full potential by achieving harmony in spirit, mind, and body. Coach Cudjo is a graduate of Dale Carnegie and the Landmark Forum, and holds certifications as an Advanced NLP Practitioner, personal trainer, life coach, nutritionist, and metabolic specialist. A former professional athlete, he has also hosted the FitnessRX Show on ESPN radio, where he shared his expertise in health and wellness with a wide audience.

Connect With Anthony: 

Website: https://urh3o.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-cudjo-a2928567/
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Humanoptimization3.0
• Instagram: Instagram.com/Humanoptimization3.0
• Youtube: Youtube.com/@Humanoptimization3.0

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Coach Anthony Cudjo

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

About the Guest:

Lisa Ascolese, known as “The Inventress,” is the CEO and founder of Inventing A to Z, LLC, a full-service invention and product development company. As the sole owner of her business, Lisa helps inventors and entrepreneurs turn mental inventions into real, market-ready products — guiding ideas from a simple napkin sketch all the way to the marketplace.

With a belief that “when you think it and believe it, it can be done,” Lisa supports inventors through every phase of the process, including graphic design, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, marketing, and licensing.

Lisa is also the founder of the nonprofit AOWIE — Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs, which uplifts and supports women innovators. In addition, she launched Inventors Spotlight TV, a shopping network dedicated to showcasing innovative products, and hosts The Inventress Podcast, where she highlights inventors, entrepreneurs, and their journeys.

Episode Description:

What does it take to bring a product from concept to QVC? In this episode of the RISE Urban Nation Podcast, host Taryell Simmons sits down with Lisa Ascolese, The Inventress — a trailblazing product developer, author, and founder of Inventing A to Z. With over 25 years of experience helping entrepreneurs launch products seen on QVC, HSN, and major retailers, Lisa shares her journey, the challenges of scaling inventions into businesses, and practical advice for turning ideas into income. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or curious thinker, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to build.

Resources & Mentions:

• 🌐 Website: https://inventingatoz.com
• 📺 Inventors Spotlight TV: https://inventorsspotlighttv.com
• 📘 Book: The Inventress’s Guide to Inventing The Right Way
• 📧 Contact: [email protected]

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Lisa Ascolese

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

In this powerful episode of RISE Urban Nation, host Taryell Simmons sits down with Dr. Sherece Y. West-Scantlebury—philanthropic visionary, equity advocate, transformational strategist, and retiring President & CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

With more than 33 years of leadership in public policy, community development, and values-aligned investing, Dr. West-Scantlebury reflects on her journey shaping systems across Arkansas and the nation.

Discover the untold stories behind statewide initiatives such as ALICE in AR, Excel by 8, ForwARd Arkansas, and the Arkansas Enterprise Capital Grant Fund—and how Dr. West-Scantlebury leveraged philanthropy, equity, and lived experience to build lasting, generational impact.

Whether you’re a nonprofit CEO, emerging executive coach, philanthropic leader, or community advocate, this episode offers a masterclass in courageous leadership, legacy building, and systems transformation.

Links & Resources:

🌐 Website: www.executivewestcoaching.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherece.west

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westscant/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherece-west-5737305/

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Dr. Sherece Y. West-Scantlebury

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

How it all started

The granddaughter of a sharecropper raised in an Amish community, Renee's journey with EHN began in her pre-teen years in Madison, Wisconsin.

Growing up in a city that prioritized the future of under-served youth, she had the opportunity to participate in the Summer Youth Employment Program. Through this initiative, she gained firsthand experience working in diverse environments—from organizing a library for the Madison Urban League to assisting an office manager at Norrell Temporary Services. These experiences ignited her passion for helping others, strengthened her love for organization, and fueled her drive for excellence.

Over time, these early traits were nurtured and refined, laying the foundation for her leadership and professional development—ultimately shaping her path to business ownership.

Connect with Renee:

• 📍 Website: www.executivehelpnow.org
• 📧 Email: [email protected]
• 📱 Instagram: @executivehelpnow
• 🗓 Book a consult: link to BOOKING HERE

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Renee Hastings

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

In this episode, Taryell Simmons and Jamarquan Houston dive into the art of building a brand that reflects who you truly are. As a first-generation college graduate, mental health provider, and visionary entrepreneur, Jamarquan’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and liberation. He shares how his work bridges communication and accessibility through leadership, liberation, and legacy, helping professionals and entrepreneurs alike turn purpose into prosperity.

Key Takeaways:

1. Authenticity is your brand’s greatest asset
2. Leadership begins with self-awareness and service
3. Storytelling can transform both your business and your community
4. Building equity means building systems of belonging

Connect with Jamarquan Houston:

• Website: allmylinks.com/Stairkeepers
• LinkedIn: Jamarquan Houston
• Email: [email protected]
   

Call-to-Action:
Visit Upper Class Agency to learn how to grow your brand with authenticity. Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation for more stories of purpose, leadership, and transformation.

Credits:
Host: Taryell Simmons
Guest: Jamarquan Houston
Music: Will Maker
Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥

About the Episode:
In this episode, Taryell Simmons and Ryan Koriya dive deep into the art of rewiring the mind for purpose, creativity, and emotional freedom. Ryan — also known as The Soul Mechanic — shares his journey from Zimbabwe to the global stage, where he now helps individuals and organizations heal emotional patterns, build authentic brands, and lead from the heart.

Key Takeaways:

How hypnosis and mindfulness can accelerate personal growth

Practical steps to integrate healing into your creative process

Building authentic brands that connect on a soul level

Turning emotional mastery into your superpower

Connect with Ryan Koriya:

1. Website: www.RyanKoriya.com
2. Email: [email protected]
3. Music: Terminal-1
4. Coaching & Marketing: Soul Mechanic VIP Coaching | Soul Mechanic Marketing
5. The Attraxion Playhouse: attraxion-playhouse
6. ZimXcite: Zimbabwean Culture & Merch
7. Instagram: @ryankoriya
8. Facebook: Attraxion Playhouse
9. LinkedIn: Ryan Koriya
10. YouTube: Ryan Koriya Video
11. TikTok: @iseeheartsmusic

Credits:
Host: Taryell Simmons
Guest: Ryan Koriya
Music: Will Maker
Production: RISE Urban Nation

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the RISE Urban Nation Podcast—where we amplify Black and Pan-African voices, stories, and strategies shaping the future of business and culture.

If this episode inspired you, make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Stay Connected:
🌐 RISEUrbanNation.com
📲 Instagram: @RiseUrbanNation
🎥 YouTube: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation
🔗 Linktree: All Links

Unite. Uplift. Ignite. 🔥