Who Got Next? The Podcast

This week WGN is talking to Ryan Jorel, founder and organizer of Black Fathers Rock here in the CLT community. Within the BFR movement he organize an annual event (self titled) that defines the mission of the organization; which is to change the narrative and dispel the notion that all black fathers are absent while providing resources to help strengthen the black family. We talk about what life is like for him now since becoming a father and some of the narratives that still plague the black community. Sit back and enjoy because this conversation definitely hit on some important topics surrounding us as BLACK MEN in America! #WhoGotNextCLT #CLTure

This week we are talking to Dr. Lisa Folden, Physical Therapist, and owner of Healthy Phit Physical Therapy & Wellness Consultants, LLC here in Charlotte. She provides a number of services for her clients to assist them with their goals that pertains to their individual health. In our discussion we talk about the challenges and politics she faced while starting her practice here. Dr. Folden also talks about why she decided to become a physical Therapist and why she choose to help her patients focus more on maintaining a healthy lifestyle for yourself personally and not just dieting. I also ask her what does she think about body shaming? I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. Hope you all do as well!

This week is WGNs bonus episode so we’re going to have some fun with this one. I invited Nikki to sit down and talk about what  is keeping her attention in music and television. If you follow Nikki on her IG she is appreciated for her critiques and honest reviews on both fronts. So we talk about several and get her take on them on this week’s pod! Definitely a great conversation! Thank you again Nikki! #WhoGotNext #CLTure

This week we're talking to Skinny Jay. He hails from South Central LA but definitely has made his presence known here in CLT. He shows love for his Cali roots but he definitely waves the CLT flag high and wants to do his part in elevating those around him to be a force here through collaborative efforts. Some will say Skinny is "the connector", and others will say he is just a laid back individual who loves the creative spaces the city has to offer. Through his experiences and expertise Skinny developed over the years it has allowed him to create several avenues like his brand CreativityXCollaboration, Skinny & Friends, and a slew of partnerships that brings up and coming brands and companies together to build bigger opportunities in business. If something is poppin' in CLT better believe Skinny will be there cheering you on, or he will create the platform; either way he wants everybody to win. We sit down and discuss the movement and what's next for him moving forward! Make sure to give him the nod when you see him. His flowers are coming real soon! #WhogotnextCLT #CLTure

This week we are talking to J Cannon and Jus Coop, who are collectively knows as The Firm. Not only is this their group name but both are heading the label The Firm Music Group here in CLT. These two brothers formed a bound while attending college and reconnected when they both ran into each other here in the city. We sit down and touch on the new project called Story Behind Bars and the inspiration behind it. The project gives an introspective look into the highs and lows they both experienced through their life journeys both individually and collectively. Throughout the discussion we talk about their start, the music scene in CLT, the launch of their label and vision for it, and who curved J Cannon at his prom?! Lol#WhoGotNext #CLTure

Email: [email protected]

This week WGN is talking to Teresa Hopson,  Painter & Arts Advocate here in CLT. Her work highlights the beauty, strength, mythology, and experiences of African-American women. She is the founder of Singing In The Dead Of Night, an art exhibit that will be presented in September here in CLT and will focus on work from other African American women across the country who shares the same sentiments as Teresa. We sit down and discuss what you should see at SITDON and steps it will take for CLT to be a heavy hitter in the art scene in the future. #WHOGOTNEXTCLT #CLTure 

For more information please follow her website www.teresachristine.com

This week we are talking to Desmond Wiggan, Jr., Co-Founder and CEO of BatteryXchange, Inc. His company created a portable a charging station (or Kiosk) for your mobile devices that can be placed anywhere around the city. Desmond and I sat down to discuss how the idea came about when him and his business partner Aubrey Yeboah was living in China studying to get their MBA. They saw a problem and quickly went to work on identifying a solution. This is where the idea was birthed and executed. Along with the BatteryXchange's origin story we chat about what it takes to run a business on tech-- and the patience you need to adequately fund a project of this magnitude. Also being an alum of a HBCU he breaks down the full circle moment partnering the company with his alma mater Winston Salem State. Take a listen. BatteryXchange is ready to CHARGE the future! #WhogotnextCLT #CLTure

WGN IS BACK WITH VOLUME 8! We are starting the season off with news reporter Lexus Wilson of Queen City News (formerly Fox46 in CLT.) We talk about the moment she realized in college that journalism would be her career choice and how it has grown in a short period of time after graduating. Wilson also speaks on the importance of maintaining relationships in the news industry and the need to be on your "A" game throughout your journey; especially as an African-American woman in News. In closing we chat about her outside endeavors with her company Lexus Communications and the doors it has opened for her since touching down in CLT a few years ago. Its not all business with Lexus. We get a little bit of insight on what she is watching and listening to nowadays to pass time when she is not in from of a the camera. Take a listen and get to know Lexus "with a Lexus" Ha!

I entered uncharted territory for the last show of Volume 7. Had the pleasure of meeting Nikki Eason during her event where she was screening the premier of The Androgynous Model, where individuals are looking for a chance to compete for opportunities to be apart of a community that works with companies who are looking for models to help promote their products; who are Androgynous Models. In our sit-down Nikki educates me on what Androgyny means and her journey in creating the show and the giving a voice and platform for those who represent the culture and artform. We also talk about the misconceptions of the term as well. I don't want to give much away but this was definitely and enlightening conversation and Nikki definitely helped me to understand what the term means and entails for the those models specifically in the fashion industry.

On the latest WGN episode I circled the block again and chopped it up with Food Content Creator Cory for DailySpecialCLT. I got to know him on a previous episode during the Quarantine Edition and wanted to see how things were now with him a little over a year. Since then Cory has gained more exposure for the work he does in highlighting the delicious food you can find here in the city. We also discuss his favorite food trucks and restaurants; along with the new venture EAT BLACK CLT he helped to create with a few others, and being reluctant to the word "Influencer." #WhoGotNext #CLTURE

Email: [email protected]