Stop, Look & Listen

What happens when a hurricane hits not just homes but history? 

On this powerful episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with cultural strategist, oral historian, filmmaker, and author Majella Mark to discuss preserving Caribbean memory in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

From her Grenadian roots to the lasting impact of the U.S. invasion of Grenada, Majella shares how her parents’ embrace of Black American history shaped her global lens. She breaks down her work leading the modern rebuild of Carriacou’s people-founded museum—balancing preservation with a future-focused approach that refuses to glorify colonial architecture.

Majella also touches on:

🌊 The Rising from the Waves project documenting post-hurricane recovery
🗣️ The power of oral history to capture everyday voices
🧠 Trauma support and therapy as part of cultural rebuilding
📖 Her upcoming feminism book “Cats are Trash Human Beings” (releasing March 8)
🎬 A film exploring Connecticut’s Black migration, tobacco labor & connections to Martin Luther King Jr.
💙 A forthcoming coffee-table book tracing indigo’s cultural threads across Africa, the Caribbean & the Gullah Geechee communityThis is a conversation about memory, migration, identity, and the responsibility we all have to document our own stories before they disappear.

Follow Majella Mark:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majellamark/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majellamark/
Website: https://www.majellamark.com/

🎧 Join LeTroy Gardner and the Stop, Look & Listen family of shows now at:
👉 www.pushplaypods.com

If this conversation moved you, like, comment, and subscribe—and start archiving your own history today.

What if the solution to a hidden crisis started in your garage? 🛠️

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Luke Mickelson, author and founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), to tackle the heartbreaking reality of child bedlessness and how one simple act of service sparked a global movement. 🌎

Growing up in Kimberly, Idaho, Luke learned the value of community early. But it wasn’t until a church conversation revealed local children sleeping on the floor that everything changed. What started as building a bunk bed with the Boy Scouts became a life-altering mission after delivering a bed to a 6-year-old girl who had never had one, sleeping instead in a “nest” of clothes.

That moment ignited SHP’s growth from a garage project to a worldwide nonprofit with:
🛏️ 430+ chapters
🌎 48 states & 4 countries
👧🏽 160,000+ children currently on the waiting listLuke shares how a feature on Returning the Favor hosted by Mike Rowe accelerated SHP’s expansion, how anyone can start a chapter through SHPbeds.org, and why service unites people beyond politics or background.💡

His message? You don’t need money or extra time to make an impact. Start by sharing the mission so families know hope—and a bed—are within reach.

This is more than a conversation. It’s a call to action.

🔗 Connect with Luke:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHPLuke
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shpluke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukemickelson/
Website: https://shpbeds.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lukemickelson5338🎙️

Join LeTroy Gardner and the Stop, Look & Listen family of shows now on:
👉 www.pushplaypods.com

What happens when a chart-topping voice trades the stage for shaping young minds? This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with the legendary Sybil, the powerhouse behind timeless hits like Walk On By and Don't Make Me Over.

Sybil takes us on a heartfelt journey from her upbringing in Paterson, to her college days at North Carolina A&T State University, to performing on international stages. She opens up about navigating the music industry, transitioning from independent labels to major platforms, and ultimately discovering a new calling in education.

🌟 In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The story behind her biggest hits
• Lessons learned from the music industry
• Why education became her next stage
• How she continues to inspire through purpose and passion

From Billboard charts to the classroom, Sybil proves that your voice can echo far beyond the mic. 

Follow Sybil:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sybilsings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sybil.lynch.9/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sybil-lynch-newman-ba4b5112/

🎧 Join LeTroy Gardner and the Stop, Look & Listen family of shows now on www.pushplaypods.com

🌟 What does it really take to build a world-class music festival from scratch?

On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, 🎙️ host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Billie-Jo Aasen, CEO of The Festival Company and the visionary behind Mudfest, Canada’s largest motorsports and music festival. 🚜🎶

Billie-Jo shares her journey from a tiny Canadian town to producing major festivals across North America, breaking down the risks, planning, and people-first culture behind her success. She also pulls back the curtain on the realities of festival management, lessons from industry missteps, and how Mudfest grew into a family-friendly, community-driven experience.

Beyond the stage, Billie-Jo opens up about how motherhood reshaped her perspective and inspired her growing commitment to youth mental health advocacy, proving that real impact extends far beyond the festival grounds. 💙🧠

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, festival lover, or community builder, this episode is packed with inspiration, hard-earned lessons, and gems you don’t want to miss. 💎🎧 Tap in, subscribe, and share if you believe music, leadership, and live experiences can truly change lives.🎙️ 

Explore our full family of shows at 👉 www.pushplaypods.com

🔗 Connect with Billie-Jo Aasen
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billiejobryce
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billie-jo-aasen-59428931/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billiejoaasen/
🌐 Website: https://thefestivalcompany.com/

Join LeTroy Gardner for this powerful conversation on Stop, Look & Listen—stream this episode and more now at www.pushplaypods.com.

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, 🎙️ host LeTroy Gardner sits down with legendary multihyphenate Hakim Green of Channel Live—artist, activist, scholar, and cultural architect—for a powerful conversation about legacy, purpose, and the soul of hip-hop. 🌍🔥

Hakim takes us back to East Orange, New Jersey, sharing how early hip-hop influences shaped his worldview, his time as a background dancer for Naughty by Nature, and the journey that led to forming Channel Live. 🎧 We dive deep into the making of the iconic track “Mad Izm,” the influence of trailblazers like KRS-One, and how true lyricism became a tool for education and empowerment. 🧠🎶

Beyond the mic, Hakim opens up about his work in education, activism, and cannabis advocacy, including his mission-driven initiatives 24 Hours of Peace and Mad Izm Inc., all aimed at uplifting communities and preserving hip-hop’s original intent. ✊🏾🌱

Whether you’re a die-hard hip-hop head or passionate about social change, this episode delivers real gems, real history, and real talk. 💎🔥

👇 Connect with Hakim Green:
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrhakimgreen/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hakimgreen
🌐 Website: https://www.madizminc.com/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/madizm🎧 Subscribe, like, and share if you believe hip-hop should educate, elevate, and liberate.

🎙️ Tap into our full family of shows at www.pushplaypods.com

What happens when life hits you head-on—and you refuse to stop? 💥

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host Troy (LeTroy) Gardner sits down with the unstoppable KELZtango for a powerful, unfiltered conversation about resilience, creativity, and purpose. After surviving a serious car accident, KELZtango opens up about his unexpected journey into rap, navigating the music industry, and why mental health and community are non-negotiable. 🧠

From debating age and relevance in hip-hop to breaking barriers and teasing upcoming projects 🚀, this episode is all about growth, persistence, and betting on yourself—no matter the odds.

👉 Tap in, get inspired, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

👇 Connect with KELZtango:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelztango/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KELZtango/featured🎧

Join LeTroy Gardner and the Stop, Look & Listen family of shows—now streaming at www.pushplaypods.com

What happens when a country boy from Georgia follows curiosity all the way around the world? 

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Dr. Djelani Hamm—mindset coach, author, educator, and African travel consultant—for a powerful conversation about purpose, culture, and transformation.

From chasing dreams in music and acting 🎶🎭 to discovering his life’s calling through international travel, Dr. Hamm shares how exploring the world—especially Senegal (visited 20 times!)—completely reshaped his worldview. With deep roots in World Arts & Culture, Dr. Hamm reflects on identity, global connection, and what’s next as he approaches retirement 🛤️.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to explore beyond your comfort zone, this episode is for you. 🌍✨

👇 Connect with Dr. Djelani Hamm:
🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wm.h.948
🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djelanihamm/
🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djelanihamm/#
🔹 Website: https://www.djelanihamm.com/🎧

Join LeTroy Gardner and the Stop, Look & Listen family of shows—now streaming at www.pushplaypods.com

What happens when a real estate investor stops chasing just the money and starts building with purpose? 👀🏡

In this week’s episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Fuquan Bilal, Chief Visionary Officer of NNG Capital Fund, to unpack his incredible 25-year journey from real estate hustler to community-focused leader.Fuquan reveals the light bulb moment that transformed his mission—from stacking profits to uplifting underserved communities through affordable housing for low-income families, seniors, and battered women. 🌍❤️

You’ll also hear how NNG Capital Fund thrives through multifamily investing and luxury spec homes, plus Fuquan’s expert insights on:
🔹 Navigating market cycles
🔹 Effective risk management
🔹 Building wealth with purpose
🔹 Empowering others through education

This is a must-listen for investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about making impact-driven decisions. 💼✨👇

Connect with Fuquan Bilal:
💻 Website: https://nngcapitalfund.com/
📸 IG: https://www.instagram.com/fuquanal/
📘 FB: https://www.facebook.com/fuquanal
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fuquanal/

Join LeTroy Gardner for this powerful conversation on Stop, Look & Listen—and explore more shows at www.pushplaypods.com 🎧🔥

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Marcus “Skalez” Braxton — entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and the definition of resilience in motion. 💯🔥

From growing up in one of Washington DC’s toughest neighborhoods to rising as the CEO of a thriving digital streaming company, Marcus opens up about his remarkable transformation. He shares:

✨ His journey from the streets to entrepreneurship
♟️ How chess sharpened his discipline and mindset
📚 The powerful story behind writing Sunroof Hitters while incarcerated
💡 What drives him to maximize every opportunity and inspire his community

This is an episode packed with transparency, redemption, and purpose. If you need motivation to rewrite your story — this one’s for you. 🙌

🔗 Stay Connected with Marcus Braxton

🎥 YouTube: youtube.com/@BlockBoySportsTalk
📚 Book: Sunroof Hitters on Amazon
📧 Email: [email protected]
📱 Social: @marcuslbraxtonsr | @SunroofHittersPage

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