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

Summary

In this episode of the Rise Urban Nation podcast, Taryell Simmons and Amervis López Cobb explore the journey of leadership through the lens of psychological safety and personal experiences. Amervis shares her story of overcoming adversity as a teen mom and navigating corporate environments, emphasizing the importance of creating safe spaces for dialogue and the need for leaders to be vulnerable. The conversation delves into frameworks for empowerment and healing, highlighting how personal growth can lead to impactful leadership. The episode serves as a call to action for leaders to prioritize psychological safety and to recognize the diverse needs of their teams. In this conversation, Amervis López Cobb and Taryell Simmons explore the essential elements of effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of psychological safety, vulnerability, and the ENOUGH framework. They discuss transformative leadership experiences, the significance of listening, and the need for emerging leaders to trust their instincts and amplify their voices. The dialogue highlights the impact of leadership on personal and organizational growth, advocating for a culture of openness and accountability.

Resources/Mentions:

• Amervis’ website
• YouTube: @amervisauthor
• Amazon
• LinkedIn

Free Audiobook — Leading with Psychological Safety (on YouTube)

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Amervis Lopez Cobb

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 heartfelt episode, Taryell Simmons sits down with Charmaine Casimir to discuss how faith fuels purpose. Charmaine shares her spiritual awakening, lessons from writing her four books of empowerment, and the mission behind her movement to help others see their value and worth. Her story is one of resilience, obedience, and encouragement for anyone searching for meaning in their journey.
 

Key Takeaways:

• You can rise from pain and step into purpose.
• Faith is a guiding light for finding self-worth.
• Empowerment begins when you recognize your divine value.
   

Connect with Charmaine Casimir:

🌐 Website: charmainecasimir.wixsite.com/powerful-petals-1

📧 Email: [email protected] | [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @empowermentjourney1

📘 Facebook: Charmaine Casimir

▶️ YouTube: @EmpowermentJourney1

💬 WomenSpeakers: Charmaine Casimir Profile

Credits:

🎙 Host: Taryell Simmons

🎶 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 of Rise Urban Nation, host Taryell Simmons engages with Alex Dumas, a keynote speaker and global movement leader, discussing his journey from feeling like an outsider to empowering others with confidence and leadership skills. They explore themes of belonging, personal growth, and the importance of community, while also delving into Alex's frameworks for success, including the WIN framework and the concept of building a bigger bubble. The conversation emphasizes the significance of sharing one's story and the impact of supportive relationships in personal and professional development.

Takeaways

1. Your story matters and your voice matters.
2. Life doesn't happen to you, it happens for you.
3. Building confidence is a gradual process, brick by brick.
4. Surround yourself with people who elevate you.
5. The WIN framework consists of Worth, Intention, and Network.
6. Finding love can be a transformative experience.
7. It's important to confront internal barriers to growth.
8. The Bigger Bubble concept encourages expanding your vision and community.
9. Success is often a collaborative effort, not a solo journey.
10. Embrace the struggles as part of your growth journey.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Empowerment and Belonging
• 04:45 Alex Dumas: A Journey of Resilience
• 11:57 The Turning Point: Finding Love and Purpose
• 17:47 Transformational Growth Through Adversity
• 23:39 Shifting Mindsets: From Ducks to Eagles
• 25:05 Navigating Professional Spaces with Confidence
• 27:35 Building the Bigger Bubble: Expanding Your Network
• 33:38 The WIN Framework: Worth, Intention, Network
• 44:04 Empowering Voices: Advice for the Undervalued
• 45:35 Future Aspirations: Taking Over the World

Call-to-Action:

🔥 Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation, share this episode, and visit speakeralexdumas.com to explore Alex’s leadership programs and speaking engagements.

Credits:

🎙 Host: Taryell Simmons

🎧 Guest: Alex Dumas

🎵 Music: Will Maker

🎬 Production: RISE Urban Nation Podcast Team

🎙️ 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. 🔥

As a leading motivational speaker in Milwaukee, Nicholas Dillon is an entrepreneur on a mission to pursue his passion and build a legacy of influence. Thousands of individuals from the community to corporate America have learned from Dillon's expertise in leadership, professional development, entrepreneurship and personal empowerment.

With an authentic approach rooted in his transformative journey, Dillon fosters an environment of self-belief and purposeful living. His engaging programs equip aspiring leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs with practical strategies and motivational insights to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve remarkable growth.

• Guest: Nicholas Dillon
• Host: Taryell Simmons
• Topic: Understanding the Sexy Side of Fear with Mindset
• Website: nicholasdillon.com
• Wellness Center: believewellnesscenter.com
• Instagram & LinkedIn: @nicholasdillon

Call-to-Action: Subscribe to RISE Urban Nation, leave a review, and connect with Nicholas for coaching and speaking engagements.

Music: Will Maker

Production: RISE Urban Nation Podcast Team

🎙️ 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. 🔥

Experience Encanto is currently seeking sponsorships and in-kind contributions to support our October 17th Art Stroll.

Our most immediate needs include:

• Marketing and promotional support
• Media contacts and press coverage opportunities
• White twinkle/holiday lights
• Event supplies and equipment rentals (e.g., tents, lighting, AV)
• Food and beverage donations for guest experiences
• Artist submissions and volunteer staffing support:
  Experience Encanto: Volunteer Participation Interest Form

Brooke's Bio: Brooke N. Collins is a strategy and operations leader with 15+ years of experience driving change management initiatives that strengthen organizational culture, optimize systems, and deliver measurable results. As Founder of HumanBn Strategies and a Fractional Chief Wellbeing Officer, she partners with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations to translate vision into action, designing scalable programs and solutions that elevate workforce performance and employee experience.

Her work has supported global brands including Chevron, MGM, Blue Cross Blue Shield, American Express, and Berkshire Hathaway, where she has led initiatives that align strategy, streamline operations, and drive enterprise-wide adoption of wellbeing and employee engagement programs.

Brooke also serves as Wellbeing Chair for Ignite MED, where she applies her expertise to support women in medicine through mentorship, resilience training, and community-building efforts.

Raised in the coastal town of Steilacoom, Washington, Brooke enjoys exploring local art scenes,  admiring architecture, and sharing deep-belly laughs with friends and family.

Connect with Brooke: 

• Website:  Visit Experience Encanto: Art Stroll to learn more and explore how you can get involved.(https://encanto.sistercitiesproject.org/)Email: [email protected]
• Instagram:  (@experience.encanto)
• Follow us on Instagram for updates

Dasean Bio: Originally from San Diego. I went to University City High School. I am married with three kids. Elina 6, Eden 3 and Kebru 1.

In 2004, I received a full scholarship to the University of Southern California where I competed on both the football and track teams and later earned the title of NCAA Track All American. I tore my ACL in 2005. Track coach took my scholarship while I was rehabbing. Had to move out of my apartment and get a job all on crutches. Lost a girlfriend and was told that I should think about transferring because the coach thought I would not make it back. That same coach decided not to redshirt me because he didn’t think that I could make it back.

2006 was the one of the best years of my life. Fought to get my scholarship back and started my college promotions company Trojan Man Entertainment.  Trojan Man Entertainment or  TME (www.TeamTME.com), an entertainment company that  managed, promoted, and produced large private events for college campuses and other  organizations. By acquiring and building relationships with music industry executives and campus leaders, I expanded the company network to over five universities in three states.

In 2008, I graduated from USC with a bachelor's degree  in Sociology and a minor in Business Advertisement and went on to work in the sales and marketing sector. After returning  to San Diego in 2009 to work as a Financial Planner for Strategic Wealth Associates, I noticed a gap in the availability of meaningful networking opportunities, especially for young professionals and new entrepreneurs in the area. To bridge this gap, I founded and led Tasteful Tuesdays (http:/www.tastefultuesday.com), a monthly networking group and mixer that enables participants to connect with other professionals  and increase their business through a structured, positive and professional word-of-mouth event. 

Dasean is now a commercial real estate developer.

Connect with Dasean: 

• Instagram: TheImperialHussleCenter

🎙️ Credits:

• Host: Taryell Simmons
• Guest: Brooke Collins
• 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. 🔥

Hope Wiseman, CEO and founder of WISECO, is an entrepreneur and advocate for equity in the cannabis industry. In 2018, at just 25 years old, Hope made history as the youngest Black woman in the U.S. to own a cannabis dispensary, launching Mary & Main in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Under her leadership, Mary & Main has become a community pillar for education, access, and opportunity in the local cannabis community, earning her features in Black Enterprise, ESSENCE, and other leading publications.

In 2025, Hope expanded her mission by launching Legal and Licensed, a first-of-its-kind platform to support Black and brown cannabis entrepreneurs. Legal and Licensed connects members to resources, expert industry leaders, and a thriving community, empowering them to navigate and succeed in this complex, ever-changing industry. Hope’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and economic empowerment continues to make her a respected voice and leader in cannabis entrepreneurship.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The story behind Hope’s entry into the cannabis industry
• Major challenges Black entrepreneurs face in regulated industries
• How she stayed resilient despite licensing, funding, and compliance barriers
• The mission and impact of her platform Legal and Licensed
• Strategies for building a community-centered business
• Advice for young Black entrepreneurs navigating uncharted territory
• Why purpose and faith are essential to sustainable success

🔗 Connect with Hope Wiseman:

1. Instagram: @iamhopesodope
2. Kiss My Grass Documentary: Tribeca Festival Selection
3. Website: legalandlicensed.com
4. Threads: @iamhopesodope
5. LinkedIn: Hope Wiseman
6. YouTube: @HOPESODOPE

🎧 Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Hope Wiseman

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. 🔥

Follow Patrika at patrikaalis.com and subscribe to Destination: Journey on your favorite podcast app. Be sure to subscribe to RISE Urban Nation and share this episode with a friend!

Credits:

• Host: Taryell Simmons
• Guest: Patrika Alis Cheston
• Music: Will Maker
• Production Team: 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. 🔥

Garnett Rogers Sr. is a visionary poet and founder of Hussle Hard Publishing. His book The Transition is a raw, spiritual reflection on life, loss, and redemption, offering a poetic lens on the human condition. Through platforms like YouTube’s Influence The Masses, Garnett is spreading light through literary ministry.

Highlights in This Episode:

1. How growing up in Sacramento shaped Garnett’s early identity
2. The story behind The Transition and its impact
3. Why Garnett calls himself a modern-day John the Baptist
4. Using poetry and publishing as tools for healing and elevation
5. Advice for creatives navigating pain, purpose, and publishing

Links Mentioned:

• 🌐 Website: husslehardpublishing.com
• 📺 YouTube: Influence The Masses
• 📖 Book: The Transition by Garnett Rogers Sr.

If this episode spoke to your spirit, be sure to rate, subscribe, and share with someone who needs these words today. Follow us on all platforms and join the movement to uplift the culture, one story at a time.

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Garnett Rogers Sr.

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. 🔥

Taalib Saber is an attorney, educator, and founder of The Saber Firm, whose mission is to use the law as a tool for liberation and legacy-building. From mentoring youth to advising athletes and artists on protecting their name, image, and business, Taalib shares how purpose and passion fuel his work beyond the courtroom. Tune in to hear his inspiring journey, hard-earned lessons, and what it truly means to protect your power.

Subscribe and share the RISE Urban Nation Podcast! Connect with Taalib at thesaberfirm.com or follow him on Instagram @thesaberfirm.

 Connect with Taalib:

• Website: www.thesaberfirm.com
• IG: @thesaberfirm
• LinkedIn: Taalib Saber
• Book a consult:  www.thesaberfirm.com/book-a-consult

Credits:

Host: Taryell Simmons

Guest: Taalib Saber

Production: RISE Urban Nation

Music: Will Maker

🎙️ 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. 🔥

Subscribe, leave a review, and visit https://poplme.co/djdocsd/share to connect with DJ Doc and explore his services.

Credits:
Host: Taryell Simmons
Guest: Thomas “DJ Doc” Howard
Music: Will Maker
Produced by: 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. 🔥