In this powerful episode, we sit down with Franchesca "Fancy" Vargas—CEO of Elevate PR Management, serial entrepreneur, community organizer, and art curator who's changing the game in Seattle's creative economy.

🎯 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

• How a children's protest during the BLM movement sparked a PR empire

• The "mothership" business model: Managing 6 interconnected impact-based businesses

• Why collaboration over competition is the key to sustainable success

• How to use art as a tool for social change and community healing

• Navigating tokenization and maintaining authenticity in corporate spaces

• The power of generational mentorship and learning from community elders

• Self-taught grant writing strategies for creatives and organizers

• Balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship (4 kids + 6 businesses!)

📍 ABOUT FANCY VARGAS:

Fancy is the founder of Elevate PR Management, Events by Elevate, CULTIVATE the Collective, and Black Love Market. As an Afro-Latina entrepreneur and first-generation American, she's dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices through strategic PR, art curation, and community-driven events. Her work has impacted hundreds of local artists and transformed how Seattle approaches cultural programming.

Join us for an incredible conversation with Philip "Sharp Skills" Jacobs - a hip-hop artist, author, racial equity consultant, and entrepreneur who's redefining what it means to build a creative empire.

In this episode, Philip shares his journey from community college to founding Rebel Firm, a creative consultancy that spans music production, book publishing, and racial equity work. Discover how he's using innovative tools like his board game "Reveal the Elephant" to help Fortune 500 companies have difficult conversations about race, why he released three vinyl records in one month, and how 10+ years of stock market investing changed his relationship with his art.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- How to build a product ecosystem that generates multiple revenue streams

- Why mental toughness is the most important skill for the next decade

- The psychology behind using games to discuss racism in the workplace

- How to balance artistic integrity with business strategy

- Investment strategies for creatives and entrepreneurs

- The evolution from idealism to battle-tested wisdom

Welcome back to another episode of "Just A Conversation" - where we highlight and amplify the incredible work happening in our community.

Today I'm joined by Michael-Shawn Dugar, Seattle-based journalist and author of the new book "The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks - A Curated History of the Legion of Boom Era." This is his first book, and the stories he uncovered will give you chills.

Mike spent two years researching this era, conducting countless interviews with players, coaches, and staff. He literally maxed out Google Docs' character limit with his research (1.3 million characters!). The dedication shows in every page.

In this conversation, we dive deep into:

• The real brotherhood that made the Legion of Boom special

• Why Super Bowl 49 hurt so differently than a regular loss

• Brandon Browner's essential role that fans don't know about

• How Doug Baldwin's endorsement gave him confidence to tell these stories

• The writing process during paternity leave (midnight to 4am sessions)

• Why research is the cure for writer's block • How this era put Seattle on the global sports map

This isn't just a sports conversation - it's about commitment, brotherhood, research, fatherhood, and the power of storytelling.

📚 Get "The Franchise: Seattle Seahawks" wherever books are sold

Michael Huang is the founder of Milli Agency, Vice Chair of the Seattle Film Commission, and a former professional breakdancer who's revolutionizing how creative agencies operate.

Learn how this Taiwanese-American entrepreneur built a social impact agency using hip-hop culture principles, why he left Madison Avenue success to start over in Seattle, and how he's helping transform the Pacific Northwest into a major film destination.

This interview covers:

- Entrepreneurship

- Social impact business models

- Creative industry insights

- Seattle Economic Development

- Film production incentives in Washington

- Hip-Hop culture in business and leadership strategies

Join us for a powerful conversation with two community change makers who are literally transforming lives in the Puget Sound region every single day. Jimmy Brown, Executive Director of Build to Lead (serving 1,800+ students and community members since 2021), and Anthony Curtis, Founder/CEO of Black Equality Coalition, share raw insights on grassroots organizing, youth empowerment, and building sustainable community impact.

What You'll Learn:

How to start serving your community without overthinking it

The difference between direct service and coalition building

Real challenges of securing funding vs. creating impact

Why "jumping off the plane and building the parachute on the way down" works

How to stay connected to your "why" as you grow

Key Programs Discussed:

Build to Lead's POWR framework (Prosperity, Opportunity, Wellness, Empowerment, Resilience)

Workforce development for diversion youth

Community events that grew from 60 to 700+ people

Financial literacy for elementary students

Perfect for: Community organizers, nonprofit leaders, youth workers, anyone wanting to make real change in their neighborhood.

Discover the inspiring journey of Tyrah Majors, morning news anchor at KOMO-TV Seattle, as she shares her path from San Diego child model to major market television success. In this in-depth conversation, Tyrah reveals the strategies behind her career progression from market 125 to market 12, her approach to work-life balance with a 2:30 AM schedule, and how she built multiple revenue streams as a journalist, children's book author, and university professor.

Key Topics Covered:

- Breaking into broadcast journalism and internship strategies

- Navigating market transitions and geographic moves

- Building personal brand while maintaining journalistic integrity

- Managing demanding schedules and self-care practices

- Creating children's books and teaching opportunities

- Representation and diversity in media

When teachers wrote off Ivery Rhodes as "just another Black misguided kid with no future" they had no idea he'd become the change agent our schools desperately need.

Ivery's story isn't just about overcoming obstacles—it's about becoming the mentor he needed, creating the village that raised him, and proving that when you lead with love and high expectations, transformation is inevitable as he serves as a Principal at Garfield High School.

This conversation will challenge how you think about education, community responsibility, and what it really takes to create lasting change.

In this powerful conversation, Assistant Principal Ivery Rhodes breaks down:

✅ Why 58 out of 102 Seattle schools are classified as "highest need"

✅ How he went from homeless to Harvard-level leadership

✅ The real difference between community problems vs school problems

✅ Why there's a critical shortage of Black and brown educators when representation matters most

✅ His blueprint for dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Matt McAlman, drummer for Marshall Law Band and the cinematic folk-pop band OK Tiger, as he shares the real truth about making it in the music industry. Discover how Fremont Fridays transformed from a pandemic necessity in an empty parking lot to one of Seattle's premier music festivals, attracting 650+ artist applications!

Key Topics Covered:

- What it really takes to be in a professional band

- Music industry business advice for aspiring musicians

- The 5-year journey of Fremont Fridays

- OK Tiger's creative process and new music

- Building community through music

- Seattle's music scene insights

Building Champions: The Donald Watts Jr. Method

Ever wonder why Seattle consistently produces elite basketball talent? If you look at the Watts family - you'll find three generations who've helped contribute to the culture of Pacific Northwest basketball from the SuperSonics era to today's college stars.

Why This Matters for Basketball Development:

Donald Watts Jr. isn't just the son of SuperSonics legend Slick Watts or father of Maryland's Isaiah Watts. A former UW basketball great and someone who helped architect one of Seattle's most successful basketball training programs, with a proven track record of developing college-bound players through his revolutionary approach at 'Watts Basketball Academy'.

What You'll Learn About Elite Player Development:

- The exact shooting mechanics that made Donald lead the Pac-10 in three-point percentage

- Why Seattle players have a different basketball IQ than anywhere else in the country

- The training philosophy that consistently produces college scholarship recipients

- How to build fundamentals that translate to elite performance under pressure

- The mental approach that separates good players from great ones

- What college coaches really look for in recruits (insider perspective)

From Puerto Rico to Pacific Northwest Hip-Hop Royalty - This is the "BeatsByCotto" Story

In this episode, we sit down with Cotto (BeatsByCotto), the producer behind hits for 'BigXThePlug', Afroman, 03 Greedo, LaRussell and many more. Discover how he transformed from a college soccer player to accumulating 850+ production credits in just 5 years.

What You'll Learn:

- How the 2020 pandemic became his breakthrough moment

- The internship at Sage Studios that changed everything for him

- Why he believes "scared money don't make money"

- His approach to building authentic artist relationships

- The business side of beat making and royalties

- Why in-person collaboration beats remote work

and so much more...