First off...L4L!  Got a Manchester Lancer in the house!!!! Haha  

Today's company is the epitome of dreams fulfilled.   

This former collegiate track & field star has combined her love of fitness, performing, and people to become a force in quite a few lanes.  

Still conquering the fitness world (@getfitwithnik), Broadway, television, and more...you've seen her and didn't even know she was reppin that 804, but she is.  

Her story was so good that we had to make it our first two parter.  

So here it is...part one...of my interview with Ms. Nikki Kimbrough.   

-Source

*In my Kris Parker voice* 

"The episode starts when I log onto Zoom." 

💯  

Hip Hop is one of the pillars of my life.  

90s hip hop in particular.  

Today's company hit the scene during that time and gave us an anthem that still bangs today.  

And oddly enough, he has a connection to Richmond as well.  

We talked about his: 

-days as a kid from East Orange, New Jersey 

-connection to Naughty by Nature 

-introduction to KRS-1 -activism 

-music 

-top 5 MCs and more.  

We even got a few classic hip hop stories from back in the day, before many of us really knew what the culture would become.  

Oh and did I mention he dropped some BARS? Yep.  

Spark the Izm, I'm off to Channel Live...with Hakim Green.  

-Source

Over my years of playing sports in the 804, from childhood to adulthood, I have met a lot of good people.  

Many of them I most likely would have never had the chance to meet any other way; let alone kick it with, week in and week out.  

Today's company is an example of this.  

Born in Korea.  

Family made their way to the U.S. when he was a child. 

And after years of living all over the country, he landed in Richmond.  

He is the owner of K-Town Kitchen and Bar; and aside from being a Washington football fan, he is a good guy. 

No, really.  We talked: 

-business 

-COVID-19 

-growing up Asian in America 

-sports ...and much more.  

Show some love to my guy, Yong Shin.  

-Source

Whether you are pro-military or anti-military, one thing remains the same; those individuals who put themselves in harm's way for the betterment of others deserve your appreciation.   

Respect.  

Well...today's company has served in the Marine Corps for over 25 years.  In that time, he has risen through the ranks; from private to military advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.  

Read that again. Yep.  

We got into a bit of everything:  

-his early days of service 

-the roles of our military branches 

-life in Manila 

-balancing family and duty  

-travel 

-how things have changed since the beginning of his career ...and more.  

Great conversation and perspective.   

Give a warm welcome and big salute to David Baumer. 

#ThankYouForYourService 

-Source

Survive and advance. 

That's how we make it through this thing called life.  

This episode's company has survived some challenging times over the years.

Whether writing songs or singing them, this episode's company has always been standing beside some VA greats and holding his own.

His current single, "The Truth", is steadily climbing the U.K. charts, right past some of the biggest names in Soul/R&B music.

Some folks head out to Hollywood for a good time, and others go for a long time.

...and more.

Whether he is trading bars with the likes of Joell Ortiz,