Tales From The Shaker

What does it really mean to leave a legacy?

This week on Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Jenell Ross, President of Bob Ross Auto Group, for an inspiring conversation about family, leadership, philanthropy, and the responsibility that comes with success.

As a trailblazing African American woman in the automotive industry, Jenell is carrying forward an extraordinary family legacy while creating one of her own.

Following the loss of her mother to breast cancer, Jenell helped transform grief into purpose through the Norma J. Ross Memorial Foundation, extending her family’s commitment to service and community impact.

As a breast cancer survivor of more than 20 years, this conversation was especially meaningful to me.

Together, we explore what it means to lead with intention, honor those who came before us, and build something that will outlive us.

Because true legacy isn’t just what we leave behind. It’s the lives we touch along the way.

Pull up a chair. There’s always room for one more at the Shaker! 

WATCH, LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to Tales from the Shaker for authentic conversations that inspire us to live, love, and lead with purpose.

Tell us in the comments: What does legacy mean to you?

This week on Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with attorney, community organizer and former political candidate Morgan Harper for a candid conversation about civic engagement, economic opportunity, community and the power of showing up.

Morgan brings a particular passion to the disparities in economic opportunity—the reality that where you start, where you live and what resources you can access can profoundly shape the opportunities available to you. We talk about what those disparities mean for individuals, families and communities, and why economic participation and political participation are often connected.

One of the most important things I’ve taken from Morgan’s work is simple: don’t count people out.

What about the young voter? The first-time voter? The person who has become disillusioned with politics? The neighbor who doesn’t believe their vote will make a difference?

Perhaps the work isn’t simply identifying likely voters. Perhaps it’s creating more of them.

Morgan shares her journey from law to community organizing and politics, what she’s learned along the way, and why reaching people at the grassroots level still matters.

This is about opportunity, access and making sure more of us understand that our voices belong in the process.

Pull up a chair. We’re talking community, participation, economic opportunity—and what can happen when more people have a chance to show up and be heard.

On this episode of Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Christian hip-hop artist, creative and community voice Taelor Gray for a thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation about faith, religion, culture and community.

We talk about what it means to question and deconstruct some of the religious ideas we’ve inherited without abandoning the deeper questions of faith and purpose. Taelor shares his perspective on reaching individuals that traditional institutions have too often struggled to reach—and in communities of color Black men in particular.  Relationship has to come before  rhetoric. 

Demia is a brilliant strategist, inspirational speaker, and the creator of the spoken album Words of Activation. In this episode, we explore the power of intentional words—not simply as affirmations, but as tools that shape our purpose, identity, beliefs, and choices.

This conversation is filled with truth, wisdom, laughter, and the ease that comes from sitting across from someone who knows you well. We talk about what it means to speak life over ourselves, challenge the stories that limit us, and use our voices to activate what is already within us.

Pull up a chair and join us at the Shaker.

What if caring for yourself isn’t separate from your faith—but a sacred expression of it?

In this episode of Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Taylor Dunlap: wife, mother, creative, and co-pastor of Garden City Church East alongside her husband. At the time of our conversation, Taylor was more than 30 weeks pregnant with her fourth child, Asher, whom she joyfully welcomed just a few weeks ago.

Taylor speaks candidly about navigating the grief of losing her father, nurturing a growing family, co-leading a church, and making space for her own creativity and well-being. At the heart of our conversation is her powerful belief that wellness can be worship—that tending to our minds, bodies, spirits, and emotional lives can be an act of gratitude and reverence.

This is a tender and life-giving conversation about grief and new beginnings, ministry and motherhood, and learning to honor both what we carry and what we need.

Sean Walton, Jr. Esq: 

Some people practice law. Others redefine justice.

This week on Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with Columbus attorney Sean Walton—a nationally respected civil rights and personal injury attorney whose work has helped shape accountability in some of the region’s most significant cases. But this conversation goes far beyond the courtroom.

Sean shares how purpose, family, and community have shaped his life as a husband, father, entrepreneur, and advocate. Through his philosophy of the Five Ts, he challenges us to think differently about stewardship, leadership, and using our gifts to create lasting impact.

This is a conversation about courage, conviction, and legacy. Whether you’re passionate about justice, building a business, leading your family, or serving your community, you’ll leave challenged to think differently about about the legacy you're building inspired to live with greater purpose. 

Walking in Freedom: Choosing the Life You Were Meant to Live with Caroline Bennett. What does it really mean to live free?

In this inspiring episode of Tales from the Shaker, I sit down with the incomparable Caroline Bennett—motivational speaker, cultural artist, singer, and two-time TEDx presenter—for a conversation that will challenge you to rethink purpose, identity, and the courage to become who you were created to be.

Caroline shares the experiences that shaped her journey and the mindset that has empowered her to lead with authenticity rather than approval. Together, we explore what it means to embrace your uniqueness, break free from expectations, and discover that true freedom begins with intentional choices.

In this special season 4 finale of Tales from the Shaker, Davia is joined by her husband, Eric, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about their life together. They revisit their first date as college freshmen and reflect on how their relationship has grown through different stages of life—raising children, navigating loss and health challenges, and supporting each other’s dreams. 

Their discussion touches on what commitment really looks like over time, the comfort of deep friendship, and the importance of being present for  the ordinary days, the dark times, and the milestone moments. They share favorite memories from their travels, the lessons learned along the way, and the gratitude they feel for the life they’ve built.

With openness and hope for the years ahead, this episode offers a warm look at partnership and the beauty of continuing to grow together.

In this gripping episode of Tales from the Shaker, Angela Clark bravely shares her journey from survivor to advocate. She recounts the terrifying experience of being kidnapped at gunpoint and assaulted by her estranged husband—an ordeal that could have stolen her future but instead fueled her purpose. After surviving unimaginable violence, Angela earned degrees in criminal justice and now fights for victims’ rights and awareness. Our conversation explores resilience, recovery, and the power of reclaiming your voice. Angela’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, healing and hope are still possible.

In this moving episode, Davia sits down with storyteller, breast cancer veteran, and advocate Asha Miller to explore how language and narrative can shape healing. Together, they discuss racial disparities in treatment and outcomes, the courage it takes to love your body again after cancer, and what it means to truly care for those still in the fight. Asha’s story reminds us that survival isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, cultural, and deeply human.