The Black Experience

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The ground is shifting — and Washington voters just sent a message.

Make sure to SUBSCRIBE, like, and drop a comment to keep these deep-dive conversations alive.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
2:51 Seattle Mayoral Race
7:57 Democratic Socialist. What does it mean?
12:41 King County Executive Race
15:43 Promises Made V. Promises Kept
20:07 New York City Mayoral Race
22:38 Gen Z & Millennials Hot Topics
29:49 Closing Statements/Outro
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Former State Rep. Jesse Johnson returns as we unpack one of the most surprising local election cycles in years — from Katie Wilson taking the Seattle mayoral seat, to Girmay securing King County Executive, to Zohran Mamdani’s upset in NYC.

We break down what these wins mean for everyday people and why the issues Gen Z and Millennials care about — cost of living, job stability, Seattle safety, natural-disaster readiness, and the rising political divide — are shaping the future of Washington State.

We close with actionable steps for what comes next now that the ballots are counted & results are in.



#seattlepolitics #washingtonelections #costofliving

What if being “mediocre” was the most radical thing a Black woman could be? 🔥 

In this powerful episode of The Black Experience Podcast, I sit down with Goddess Theadora, the visionary behind The Mediocre Black Woman — a movement redefining what it means to be enough. Before you dive in, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more transformative conversations every Wednesday.

Goddess Theadora opens up about breaking free from perfectionism, creating safe spaces for Black women to rest and be real, and how her platform challenges societal expectations with authenticity and grace. This episode is full of wisdom, healing, and real talk about growth, self-worth, and rediscovering joy in your own pace and power.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:16 – Who is The Mediocre Black Woman?
1:21 – How the 2024 Election Sparked a Movement
2:22 – Growing Up & Learning to Stop Dimming Your Light
4:49 – Perfectionism, Burnout & Listening to Your Body
7:07 – Healing, Anger & Lessons from Divorce
10:12 – Building Safe Spaces for Black Women to Be Themselves
13:35 – The Real Meaning Behind “Mediocre”
16:16 – Beliefs, Boundaries & Unlearning the Need to Explain
22:01 – The Mood, Music & Message of The Mediocre Black Woman
24:03 – Advice for Black Women Who Feel Like They’re Not Enough
25:47 – Outro: You Are Already Enough


The Mediocre Black Woman Website:
https://themediocreblackwoman.com/


Substack:
https://substack.com/@themediocreblackwoman?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page




#TheBlackExperiencePodcast #TheMediocreBlackWoman #GoddessTheadora

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From pro basketball courts in Europe to designing one of Seattle’s most inspiring streetwear brands — Terrell Jovon’s story is all about faith, hustle, and self-belief. In this episode of The Black Experience Podcast, Terrell shares his journey from playing overseas basketball to launching his clothing line, HIM & HER Apparel. We talk about the meaning of hustle, lessons from failure, fatherhood, community, and what it takes to stay grounded in today’s social media era. 
If you believe in creating your own lane and staying motivated, hit that like button and subscribe for more powerful stories every week.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Welcome back to The Black Experience Podcast
00:30 – Meet Terrell Jovon: From Seattle to the world
01:00 – Basketball beginnings & playing overseas
02:25 – How fashion became a passion
03:00 – The struggles of starting a clothing brand
04:00 – “Hustle is in me”: The story behind HIM & HER Apparel
05:30 – Early grind: Selling candy at 9 years old
06:20 – Growing up around Seattle legends (Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Isaiah Thomas)
07:40 – Seattle basketball culture & talent
09:00 – The meaning of “Hustle” for everyday people
10:10 – Creating the “HER” brand: Honoring women
12:30 – Fatherhood, communication & raising sons
14:00 – Social media, violence & lost values
16:00 – Lessons from mistakes & growth through failure
18:30 – Entrepreneurship reality check: Why most quit early
20:40 – The importance of leaving your city to grow
22:50 – Projects, collaborations & what’s next for Terrell Jovon
24:20 – Advice to the younger generation
25:00 – Closing thoughts: Stay humble, stay hustling

Terrell Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/h.i.m_hustleinmeclothing/

HustleInMe:
https://hustleinme.com/

#hustle #entrepreneurship #streetwear #fatherhood #blackcreatives

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What truly drives Gen Z to chase their purpose? 🚀


👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs motivation today!


 In this inspiring episode, Kwabena — student, athlete, and speaker — opens up about his journey from high school leadership to life at UW and how he stays grounded through it all. 


From lessons on perseverance to advice for the next generation, this conversation is packed with wisdom you’ll want to hear.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
2:10 Fall SZN Icebreaker
3:37 Meet Kwabena
10:42 Recapping 2025
17:01 Goal Setting & What's Your Why?
22:35 Kwabena's Dream
26:50 Advice To The Younger Generation
29:50 Connect w/Kwabena & Outro
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#genz #motivation #selfgrowth

Before The Black Experience became what it is today, this was the very first episode ever filmed — back when I was still in college.

🎥 If you’re new here, make sure to SUBSCRIBE, like this video, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode!

0:00 — Intro & Finals Week Energy
0:25 — Meet Tima: Musician, Student, Leader
2:00 — Growing Up Sierra Leonean-American & Coming to Western
4:40 — Being Black at a Predominantly White College
7:00 — Joining BSU & Finding Community
10:57 — Starting Her Band ‘Kitty Obsidian’ & Breaking Stereotypes in Music
16:37 — College Advice, Reflection & Staying True to Yourself
19:51 — Outro & Graduation Shoutout 🎓


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#collegeexperience#blackstudents#musicandculture
#theblackexperiencepodcast#collegevlog

Out of all the issues he tackled, police accountability, housing reform, and juvenile justice stand out. Former State Rep. Jesse Johnson reveals the one he’s most passionate about: creating apprenticeship pathways for young people.

👉 Hit subscribe, like, and the bell to stay updated with powerful stories every week!

In this short clip, Jesse explains why building pre-apprenticeship programs is his proudest achievement, how trades can rival college as a pathway to wealth, and why hands-on skills are key to breaking cycles of inequality.


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#careerpathways #tradeskills #youthopportunity #wealthbuilding⁠

What does it take to be the youngest state legislator while balancing family, leadership, and legacy?

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode!

In this conversation, Jesse Johnson shares his journey from the Obama campaign to the passage of groundbreaking police accountability laws, tackling housing insecurity, and addressing generational wealth gaps.

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https://linktr.ee/ermiashagos⁠

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https://buymeacoffee.com/tbewithermias⁠

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:41 Meet Jesse Johnson
5:19 Entering Politics At A Young Age
11:40 Can We Agree To Disagree?
19:40 Mi'Chance Dunlap-Gittens
24:39 More Young Men Turning To The Trades
28:04 Managing All The Responsibilities
31:42 Advice To The Younger Generation
34:30 Connect With Jesse 
35:22 Outro
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NY TIMES Article on Jesse Johnson:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/us/washington-inslee-police-reform.html

#leadership #generationalwealth #equity

Starting a coffee business in Seattle—the home of Starbucks—sounds impossible. But that didn’t stop Efrem Feseha.

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In this inspiring throwback episode, Efrem shares how he founded Boon Boona Coffee, from being rejected by banks to years of hard work at festivals and local shops before finally opening his first café. His story is one of persistence, community support, and honoring the deep cultural roots of coffee.

Full Episode:
https://youtu.be/pyaGEXi9U40?si=tv2wLPQAS3VrPTff


👉 Subscribe, like this video, and share it with a friend who needs inspiration.


Efrem’s journey shows that if you can build a coffee brand in Seattle, you can do it anywhere. Don’t miss this story of resilience, culture, and creativity.


#entrepreneurship #coffeeculture #foundersjourney #boonboona

What does it take to balance faith, music, and a 9-5 while chasing your dreams? 
👉 Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss a conversation that inspires action.

In this episode, Andre Cole opens up about growing up with faith, his career in the music industry alongside legends, and the lessons he’s learned working with ultra-successful people. We also dive into his football journey, building a business while working a full-time job, and his advice for the next generation.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
2:30 Meet Andre Cole
7:50 Does The Spiritual Journey Get Easier?
14:07 Music & Entertainment Industry
23:30 Lessons Learned From Ultra-Successful People
28:52 Semi-Pro Football & NFL 
33:45 How To Start A Business 
36:55 Whats Next For Andre?
39:47 Advice To The Younger Generation
43:47 Connect With Andre/Outro
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#faith #musicindustry #entrepreneurship #podcast #motivation

What advice would you give your younger self?

In this inspiring 10-minute clip, resilience coach, author, and national speaker Ken Miller drops wisdom for the next generation. He talks about the power of forgiveness, why it’s critical to choose the right friends and partners, how to avoid the trap of drugs, and the importance of finding a mentor who pushes you to grow.

Ken emphasizes the need to embrace your truth, curiosity, and strengths, reminding us that the choices you make today shape the life you live tomorrow. His message is raw, real, and packed with lessons you won’t forget.

If this resonates, don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share — it helps us spread these conversations that truly matter.

Get His Book Here:
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Ken-Journey-League-Prison/dp/1966170009


Full Episode:
https://youtu.be/o2_q63l-jFs?si=OpFB33wnS-Na9O36

Link to all platforms:
⁠https://linktr.ee/ermiashagos⁠


One-time donation:
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#lifeadvice #forgiveness #mentorship #choosethewrongcrowd #blackvoices