What A Word!

Brian Lee is currently a pilot for American Airlines, currently assigned to the Embraer 190 fleet of aircraft. He is soon to transfer to either the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 in the very near future. The journey to this point in his career however, was a long and sometimes stressful one.

Brian was born in the Bronx, NY raised by his mother who had major aspirations for her son. While deplaning after a flight to Jamaica while he was a child, he peered into the flight deck of the airplane he was riding on. The flight crew saw this and invited him up, sat him down in the Captain’s seat, and had him enjoy the view. From that day forward Brian knew what he wanted to become a pilot. He attended A Philip Randolph Campus High School in Harlem and after graduating in 2009, went straight to the University of North Dakota to begin his quest in Commercial Aviation. During his junior year of studies, the same school employed Brian as a Flight Instructor to help bring up and teach the students coming after him, and to also build his own flight hours for his long term goals. In the second year of employment as a Flight Instructor, he accepted an internal position of a Check Instructor in the UND Aerospace Standards Department. This small group was tasked with administering checkrides, or flight examinations, to the students under Examining Authority granted by the FAA. In 2014, Brian finally gained momentum toward his main goal by getting hired by his first airline, Envoy Air (formerly known as American Eagle Airlines). He spent five years at Envoy, with his final year serving as the Assistant Chief Pilot helping to supervise the hundreds of pilots based both in the New York and Miami domiciles.

Most recently in November 2019, Brian finally started at his dream airline, American Airlines where he currently serves. Brian will be the first to say that his almost 17 year long journey definitely had its bumps in the road. Whether those bumps be financial, failures or naysayers, he is a living testament that you can achieve whatever you want to regardless of the background you come from or the environment that you are in. At first, his goal was just to be able to fly and see the world, but after a few years, he learned that he helps to not only see the world, but connect the world; especially when it needs it most. Social Media: Instagram @blee0824 Closing Word: Follow Your Heart featuring Soren Kierkegaard;Steve Jobs; Alan Watts

Episode 10 of the What A Word! Podcast features a special Father’s Day emphasis conversation. Our guest Michael Olisemeka aka “Mike O the poet” is a creative storyteller and shares his insights on relationships that are challenged by life’s circumstances. Mike O has the gift of using words to create powerful imagery and evoke intense emotion. He is also an in demand photographer for events not limited to conferences, weddings, engagement shoots and portraits. Mike O loves creative word play and has hip hop offerings; releasing a number of rap singles over popular instrumentals. Closing Word: Mike O the Poet “Me vs. Dad.” Website : ThisisMikeO.com ; Semekapro.com Social Media IG:thisismikeO ; semekapro ; Twitter: @semekapro , thisismikeO Facebook: Michael Olisemeka; Youtube: thisisMikeO ; LinkedIn: Michael Olisemeka

Sian Morson is a creative technologist and storyteller. An accomplished entrepreneur, Sian has founded 3 tech companies and has been at the forefront of technology for the past 15 years. Sian was named one of 3 winners of the L’Oreal Women in Digital Award in 2015 for her app Cast Beauty and has been named to several lists highlighting her work in technology. She is the author of the best-selling Learn Design for iOS with Sketch as well as Design for iOS Development. She has written and contributed to Urban Geekz, Black Enterprise, and Politic 365 among others. Sian’s educational background includes graduation from New York University’s Tisch School of the arts with a bachelor’s degree in Film & Television and a master’s degree in Electronic Art from Middlesex University in London. A sought-after speaker, she has graced the stages of MoDev, SXSW, and Black Tech Week among others. She is regularly called upon to speak about topics ranging from diversity, to design and investing. Sian has been featured globally in publications including the Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Essence, Black Enterprise, and Inc. Magazine. Closing Word: President Barack Obama’s Commencement Speech to the Class of 2020

Our guest is Akintola Jiboyewa. Akintola Jiboyewa is an actor that brings a distinct image and strong presence to any screen. We talk about the challenges and joys of being selected for acting roles and the importance of staying committed to one’s craft. With a Caribbean and Nigerian heritage, Akintola (pronounced uh-kin-tuh-la) began acting at Lincoln High School for Performing Arts in New York. Shortly after graduation he was accepted into the Negro Ensemble Company. There he honed his skills and developed a love for deep preparation in various off Broadway productions.

To pay the bills while acting, Akintola worked as a Crisis Interventionist at the Lorge School in Manhattan, providing classroom support to students with emotional disabilities. This experience influenced his future choice of roles.

After guest appearances on LAW AND ORDER S.V.U (NBC), BLUE BLOODS and PERSON OF INTEREST (CBS) Akintola landed the leading role as the cool, no-nonsense Det. Garry McFadden on one of INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY's (ID) marquee crime series, I AM HOMICIDE.

Over the years, Akintola developed a reputation for being immensely prepared for each role and collaborating selflessly with cast members. Akintola will be starring in the afro-futuristic sword and sorcery trilogy set in ancient Kemet called,"Protector of the Gods"as General Bomani. Production begins summer, 2020. Resume Film: about the people, Supporting Role; the creed, Supporting Role; All Rise, Supporting Role; black movie night, Supporting Role; the tombs; Supporting Role; uncle kills, Lead; back for good, Supporting Role. Resume Television: The Code, Guest Star; Blue Bloods, Guest Star; I am homicide, Series Regular, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Guest Star; Person of Interest, Guest Star; Gotham, Co-Star; The Blacklist, Co-Star; The Enemy Within, Co-Star; Killision Course, Guest Star; Scorned: Love Kills, Guest Star. Social Media: IG @akbluez; Facebook Akintola Jay. Closing word “Get Back Up!” by Dr. Eric Thomas

This episode’s guest is Dr Seanna-Kaye Denham Wilks . While this episode was recorded a number of weeks ago, Dr. Denham Wilks’ observations and instructions are still relevant for those of us dealing with challenging times during the Covid 19 pandemic. You will be encouraged and inspired. She is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years experience in the treatment of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders in children and adults. She serves as the Chief Experience Officer of one of the largest hospitals in NYC and has a passion for mentorship. An ordained Elder, Dr. Denham Wilks is in ministry with her husband Pastor Wilks, and they are the parents of a terrific two year old son. I believe you will also be blessed and encouraged by the Closing Word: “To Revive” written and performed by Cliche Darling, Spoken Word Artist

Our guest credits the Church with not only providing opportunities for public speaking but also messages that appeal to both the intellect and the emotive dimensions of humanity. Mrs Avery Boyd personifies not only elegance and grace but has the gift of keeping listeners engaged and inspired whenever she reads or recites words not limited to poetry and Bible verses. Mrs. Avery Boyd is a gifted orator, family matriarch and a lover of words that inspire. We are honored to have her as a guest. She tells listeners what accounts for her passion, effectiveness, her gift and her ability to engage listeners with wonderful words of life. Facebook: Avery Boyd-Jimenez

Timothy Golden is from, Philadelphia, Pa. He has served as Professor of Philosophy at Walla Walla University in Washington from 2015 to the present. He is a member of the Speakers Bureau at Humanities and an Actor at the Red Door Project. He is a graduate of the Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where he served on the editorial board of the Thurgood Marshall Law Review. After law school, he was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, and was an Assistant Public Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia from 1993-1995. From 1995-2006, he practiced law in Philadelphia as a sole practitioner, concentrating primarily on criminal defense (both trial and appellate), and civil litigation, litigating several cases before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He also practiced law as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where he represented indigent criminal defendants who appeal their conviction and sentences. After practicing law, he pursued a career in academic philosophy, returning to graduate school in 2004, earning a M.A. in philosophy in 2006, and a Ph.D in philosophy in 2011 from the University of Memphis. His areas of scholarly research are 19th and 20th Century Continental Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion/Philosophical Theology, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy and Literature, and African-American Philosophy/Critical Race Theory. He is the author of And the Word Was Made Flesh: Frederick Douglas and the Philosophy of Religion (Lexington Books, Under Contract), Subjectivity, Transcendence and the Problem of Onto-Theology (Palgrave Macmillan, Unser Contract), and he is the editor of both Racism and Resistance: Essays on Derrick Bell (SUNY Press, Under Contract), and Solidarity, Striving, and Struggle, The Moral, Political, and Religious Thought of Frederick Douglass (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Under Contract). He has also authored a book chapter entitled “Two Forms of Transcendence: Justice and the Problem of Knowledge, in Pursuing Trayvon Martin: Historical Contexts and Contemporary Manifestations of Racial Dynamics (Lexington Books, 2012). He is also the author of Looking for a Miracle, “ Freedom in Christ,” and “Back to Basics, three separate week-Long, Sabbath School styled, lesson studies on religious liberty. He was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church on April 6, 1991 and since then he has been an active member. He is an ordained Elder and well sought after speaker on Religious Liberty and Public Affairs Issues. Closing by Erica Fraser, Author. Resources mentioned in the episode: Books: https://www.amazon.com/Bill-Cosby-Right-Black-Middle/dp/0465017207; Website: https://m.youtube.com/results?search_query=Self+destruction#menu; Books: https://www.google.com/amp/s/theterrorofknowing.com/2019/07/10/review-les-miserables-by-victor-hugo/amp/; Books: https://www.google.com/m?q=frederick%20douglas; https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ralph+bunche&sprefix=ralph+bunch&ref=nb_sb_ss_organic-diversity_1_11; https://www.amazon.com/s?k=derrick+bell+faces+at+the+bottom+of+the+well&sprefix=derrick+bell&ref=nb_sb_ss_organic-diversity_2_12; https://www.amazon.com/New-Jim-Crow-Incarceration-Colorblindness/dp/1595586431

Today’s interview is with Dr. Maya Patrice Byfield. Dr. Maya Byfield is the daughter of Jamaican parents born in Queens, New York. After graduating from Oakwood University with a BS in Biology, Dr. Byfield received her MS in Biomedical Sciences and Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. She conducted her Post-Doctoral associate work in Neuroscience at the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine. She is currently a Tenured Professor of Biology and Principal Investigator of NSF S-STEM LEAPS and BOUNDS Scholarship program at Seminole State College of Florida.

As Project Director of Seminole State College’s groundbreaking STEM Research Program since 2010, Byfield has forged partnerships with some of the region’s most prominent institutions, allowing students to gain valuable experiences in Central Florida’s emerging biotechnology industry. Dr. Byfield was featured in the PBS Stories of Champions segment of American Graduate Day 2015 and awarded as one of the Top 100 Inspiring Women in STEM in the nation by Insight into Diversity Magazine.

Dr. Byfield is also founder and director of Phenomenal STEM(ist). For bright minds with the potential to become America’s next generation of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) leaders, Dr. Maya Byfield AKA the Phenomenal STEMist is a bridge between innate talent and real-world opportunities. A role model to female and minority students, she helps a wide cross-section of young people chart promising futures. Closing by Tahlia Sharpe. Resources mentioned during this interview: website: https://www.phenomenalstemist.com/ Social Media: Instagram @phenomenalstemist Facebook: Maya Byfield Youtube: Dr. Maya Byfield

Joshua “Femi” Korode aka JFK is an attorney (former prosecutor), content creator, worship leader, emcee and a recording artist. He shares his thoughts on how moral outrage can serve as a catalyst to social justice. Born and raised in Lagos Nigeria, Joshua has experienced life as an immigrant and it informs his perspective on life in America. Our program closes with a special word from Spoken Word Artist Mrs. Avery Boyd.

Today’s guest is Bridgette M. Bennett. She is the Founder and CEO of the Bennett Law Center which opened its doors in 2011 in Groveland, Florida. The firm focuses exclusively on Immigration & Nationality Law, with an emphasis on removal defense, waivers, and family & humanitarian cases. The firm is community-centric and is dedicated to serving the immigration needs of their local and global clientele. Bridgette strongly believes in education as a means of addressing many of the issues facing non-citizens today. Prior to moving to Lake County, Bridgette, lived in Washington, DC for over 10 years, where she was a Senior Research Manager at the Corporate Executive Board. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Government from Georgetown University in 2000. Bridgette is currently a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, the Lake and Marion County Bar Associations and the South Lake County and Leesburg Chambers of Commerce. She was recipient of the Caribbean American Association of Lake County’s Community Service Award in 2012 and the Women’s Council of Realtor’s Royal Ascot Model Citizen Award in 2009. Bridgette received the South Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Anne Dupee Gem of the Hills award for outstanding contribution to the community in 2018. Her passion for entrepreneurship was taken to the next level when she graduated from Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business Program in Spring 2017. She was also awarded the BBIF’s Championship Entrepreneurship Award for excellence in managing a high growth law firm. Bridgette is an enthusiastic special events planner of family “stay-cations” and cruises, a passionate aficionada of fine Caribbean, Asian and Italian cuisine and an avid reader of historical fiction set during the English Regency (early 19th century). The Bennett Law Center is located at 302 W. Orange Street, Groveland Fl 34736

https://www.facebook.com/bennettlawcenterllc/ The Immigrants Bridge Show Monday to Friday 7pm - 7:30 p.m on Facebook Live ; (352)557-8989; [email protected]; http://www.bennettlawcenter.com/