James Beard Award-winning chef and author Ashleigh Shanti joins This Conversation Matters host Sheree R. Curry for a conversation about Black Southern food, culture and creativity. Shanti explores how geography, migration and family traditions have shaped distinct cuisines across the South and why foods once dismissed as inexpensive or working-class fare are increasingly being celebrated on high-end menus.

The Our South: Black Food Through My Lens author also challenges the expectation that Black chefs must connect everything they create to their ancestry. Sometimes, she says, a chef should simply have the freedom to create. Shanti also reflects on Top Chef, her James Beard Award and being named to the TIME100 Next.

See the video version on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Takeaways

• Culinary inspiration from family and regional influences
• The importance of preserving and celebrating regional cuisine and cultural history Community support is crucial for small businesses
• Recognition and accolades are significant milestones for chefs

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Good Hot Fish
• 03:05 Early Culinary Influences
• 05:23 Our South: Black Food Through My Lens
• 07:51 Regional Cuisine and Cultural Significance
• 18:55 The Shift in Culinary Narratives
• 23:05 Preserving Cultural History Through Food
• 28:19 Top Chef Experience
• 30:39 Building a Community
• 31:09 Winning Restaurant Wars
• 33:53 Charlotte's Culinary Scene
• 36:42 Exploring Asheville
• 38:38 Accolades and Recognition
• 42:24 Food as Medicine
• 45:20 Cultural Heritage and Food
• 49:16 Planning a Podcast Episode

This conversation with attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armostrong highlights the community's response to Operation Metro Search and the ongoing fight for police accountability.

See the full episode on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Nurturing a child's natural talent is essential for success, says YouTuber Ami McClure of the @MightyMcClures. She's mom to twins Ava and Alexis and son Jersey.

See the full episode of our interview with her and husband Justin McClure on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Justin McClure of the @MightyMcClures and dad of the McClure Twins shares the journey of building a business while learning digital marketing and editing at night. The positive impact on his kids is evident, and they are proud of the mark they've made by being positive.

Find full episode on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Ami McClure of the @MightyMcClures and mom to the McClure twins, emphasizes the need to maintain personal identity and style even after becoming a parent, in order to show children that life doesn't end after having kids.

Find full episode on the "This Conversation Matters" podcast and on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Michael Tucker emphasizes the need for individuals to manage their careers proactively and communicate their aspirations to their employers.

Find full episode on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Mentorship is valuable. Michael Tucker shares what a mentor told him. What advice from your career mentor still resonates with you?

https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Civil rights attorney and Racial Justice Network founder Nekima Levy Armstrong joins This Conversation Matters for a wide-ranging discussion on police accountability, corporate responsibility, immigration enforcement and what she sees as growing threats to American democracy. 

Drawing on her decades as an activist and legal advocate, Levy Armstrong reflects on the legacy of George Floyd’s murder, the long history of civil rights, and the systemic factors shaping current events. She also breaks down the federal charges following her arrest at the Cities Church ICE protest,  why she believes public pressure is often necessary for holding institutions accountable, and where she finds hope despite a challenging political climate.  

Follow This Conversation Matters on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia

In this episode:

• Nekima Levy Armstrong's journey into civil rights law and activism  
• The lasting impact of George Floyd's murder and citizen-recorded video  
• The history, strategy, and impact of the Target boycott  
• The Cities Church ICE protest, Operation Metro Surge, and federal charges against protesters  
• Historical Impact Video evidence is helpful but not sufficient for justice
• Faith, corporate accountability, and civic engagement  
• Why Levy Armstrong believes hope requires vigilant actione.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 07:05 Early Activism and Civil Rights Advocacy
• 13:26 Impact of Slavery and Black Codes
• 16:45 Political Parties and Systemic Disenfranchisement
• 19:10 Generational Wealth and Political Pawns
• 27:22 Challenges to Democracy and Systemic Disruption
• 31:55 Accountability and Constitutional Rights
• 34:27 The Impact of Video Evidence
• 38:20 The Power of Public Pressure
• 46:52 Corporate Accountability and Boycotts
• 53:26 The Weaponization of the Department of Justice
• 01:06:06 The Fight for Racial Justice
• 01:10:05 Advice to the Public

Justin and Ami McClure built one of YouTube's best-known, wholesome family brands through the McClure Twins and their YouTube channel, The Mighty McClures. In this episode of This Conversation Matters, they share how they've navigated raising twin daughters Ava and Alexis, along with their son Jersey, in the digital age, balancing business with family life, protecting their children's privacy and how social media has shaped the experiences of Generation Alpha.

Whether you're a parent, educator, entrepreneur or content creator, their conversation with host Sheree Curry offers thoughtful insights into the opportunities and responsibilities that come with sharing family life online. See more episodes on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia or wherever you find your podcasts.

Stay for the bonus interview with one mom, and how her home-schooled children used social media to enhance their learning. And the bonus "Beyond the Story" interview produced by NABJ-MN student representations in collaboration with Power1047.fm and All About the Culture.

In this preview clip, General Counsel Michael Tucker speaks about the importance of mentoring others: Each One, Teach One.

Hear the full episode wherever you find your podcasts, or watch the video version on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia