Tyra joined the Ohio Justice & Policy Center team as a paralegal in Jan. 2018. After several months of successful outreach on OJPC’s behalf, Tyra’s role adapted to better describe her gifts and passion: She became OJPC’s first Community Outreach Strategy Specialist. Before joining OJPC, Tyra spent 23 years incarcerated for murder and robbery, crimes she did not commit. Tyra used her time in prison constructively to educate herself. A sixth grade dropout, Tyra eventually earn her GED, obtaine...
Dec 13, 2022•12 min•Ep. 153
Dr. Topeka K. Sam spent time in federal prison and, upon her release, vowed to fight on behalf of the women she left behind. Topeka founded The Ladies of Hope Ministries, whose EPIC Vision is to End Poverty and Incarceration of women and girls globally. She was among the first to publicly highlight Ms. Alice Marie Johnson’s story and fight for her freedom, first during the Obama Administration’s historic clemency effort and then again during the Trump Administration’s tenure. President Trump com...
Nov 21, 2022•39 min•Ep. 152
MNTN (pronounced Mountain) built the first-of-its-kind, self-serve software for buying connected TV that puts performance first. The MNTN platform makes it easy for brands to buy connected TV ads across the top 150 streaming networks like Discovery+, ESPN, CNN, Hulu, PlutoTV and more. Intuitive Self-Service Platform: MNTN’s platform makes it easy to buy, manage, optimize and measure your CTV campaigns. Simply select your target, input your KPI goals, upload your creative and watch our AI-driven ...
Sep 07, 2022•34 min•Ep. 151
Darnell Smith is a CPG and alcohol industry veteran and cannabis entrepreneur, innovator and advocate. Smith is the founder and CEO of MXXN, a non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused spirits brand that is evolving today’s cocktail culture and disrupting the alcohol and cannabis industry. MXXN is the first product launch of MOJO Ventures, which is part of the digital + creative consultancy MOJO he founded that has done extensive work for Procter & Gamble Ventures, Barcardi’s Incubation group, Pepsico...
Jul 28, 2022•32 min•Ep. 150
Mirthell, is the Founder and CEO of the Onyx brand. For years, he worked as a pastor and marriage & family therapist, but it was his dream to one day work with his family. One day in 2015, he took the giant leap and quit his job; he never looked back since. Now, the family has a multi-million dollar enterprise, which includes a YouTube Original talk show, Onyx Family Dinner (featuring guests such as Jemele Hill and Emmanuel Acho), an animates series, Onyx Monster Mysteries (which has been di...
May 12, 2022•41 min•Ep. 149
Also, the host of the hit podcast, Wrongful Conviction features interviews with men and women who have spent decades in prison for crimes they did not commit, some even sentenced to death. He started his journey to fight the system's injustice last 1993 when he helped a young kid win his case for a non-violence first offense cocaine possession charge for which he served 15 years to life. He also shared statistics that listeners will be shocked that the United States incarcerates black people at ...
Feb 19, 2022•58 min•Ep. 148
Steve is president, special counsel to the CEO of Comcast Cable. He works with executives on a number of important initiatives, including leadership development, strategic planning, diversity, equality, and inclusion, and digital equality. He has enjoyed many affiliations, including his recent board service with Hormel Foods, Shaw Communications, and W.W. Grainger. Steve is active in the academic arena at the University of Denver and serves on the board of New Leaders, which focuses on the leade...
Feb 10, 2022•21 min•Ep. 147
Laws criminalizing HIV must be changed to Cathcart up to facts and science. What you will learn: How Fear Drive modern HIV Laws in Ohio Why Current HIV Laws are against public health Interest How marginalized communities are hurt by HIV criminalization Why current HIV Laws in Ohio aren’t aligned with Science
Jan 22, 2022•32 min•Ep. 146
Isoul Harris is the Editor and Chief of EDTION. Edition’s mission to uplift and amplify Black creatives across industries. Isoul brings a vast array of expertise in the space – from serving as a multimedia content producer, to fulfilling award-winning journalist roles in which he was able to tell powerful stories disrupting cultural narrative. Prior to joining EDITION, Isoul served as the editor-in-chief at UPTOWN, where furthered the national magazine’s mission profiling affluent African Americ...
Jan 08, 2022•41 min•Ep. 145
Kern Alexander is a veteran turned business mogul. Learn about his unexpected Cannabis journey and how his passion for helping veterans lead to a multi million dollar business. US Military Veteran Kern Alexander discusses how he founded and scaled The Higher Collection, an Oakland-based cannabis distribution and delivery company.
Jan 01, 2022•46 min•Ep. 144
As Founder and Managing Member of Genesis Companies, Karim oversees the firm and it’s strategic direction. Karim enjoys focusing on forging new partnerships and pushing innovation in our operations and investment approach. Karim’s experience as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs and a private equity investor at General Atlantic Partners, allowed Karim to develop the investment acumen he now devotes to Genesis’ financial strategies. Karim holds several advisory seats in local...
Dec 04, 2021•35 min•Ep. 143
Alexys Feaster is the Founder and CEO of The Kinship Advisors, a strategic advisory company launched in January 2021, focused on creating alliances within the sports, entertainment, and other industries, who are committed to personal development, social justice, strategic business expansion and sustaining impact in underserved communities. The Kinship Advisors provides intentional collaboration to close the gaps with culturally connected business and brand strategy, innovative program developmen...
Nov 20, 2021•54 min•Ep. 142
Phaedra Ellis Lamkins is the CEO of Promise, a payment technology platform that simplifies how people manage government payments like utilities, child support, parking tickets and more by offering customizable plans and providing digital payment options. The organization has secured funding from a wide array of investors including Roc Nation, Starbucks, Bumble, Kapor Capital, XYZ, First Round, and many more. Promise secured 20 million dollars in its Series A collectively raising 50 million dolla...
Oct 20, 2021•51 min•Ep. 141
Nick Hamilton , founder of Nitecast Media , as a guest speaker for your podcast Disruption Now! Nick Hamilton is the founder of Nitecast Media and a single father raising a young autistic son. He is an expert in balancing work and parenting, especially in maintaining a strong bond with your child. Nick founded Nitecast Media during the pandemic and has been in the journalism industry for over 10 years. He has all the tips on how to build your business during the pandemic and staying in touch wit...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 140
Changing the narratives of what our kids learn is not only disruptive, but it's a long overdue change. On top of that, changing the system to adapt to the individual needs of kids is the way to guarantee that future generations can move forward. Ryan MacDonald and Rebecca Wolfe are working hard to change how things are being done for the better.
Aug 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 139
We interviewed John Rogers, Founder, and Co-CEO of Ariel Investments about his journey and his recommendations to close the racial income gap in America. What You will learn -Why long-term investors and corporate leaders should view addressing economic inequality and improving diversity as critical forms of risk management. -John’s family connection to the Tulsa massacre and how we can close the racial economic gap. -Why we must change the narrative from Supplier Diversity to Business Diversity ...
Jul 27, 2021•31 min•Ep. 138
Former VP of Sales & Business Development at Med1 Healthcare Group, where Yaya was instrumental in building a solid company footprint in several African and Caribbean countries. Prior to Med1, he worked as VP of Product at Rally Health (formerly known as Audax Health). As a relatively early member of the product group, Yaya defined the strategy, definition, execution and optimization of the wellness platform for major payers. Yaya also held the Director of Product role at IAC Advertising, wh...
Jul 14, 2021•29 min•Ep. 137
RareBreed Ventures is a pre-seed fund that invests in exceptional founders outside of large tech ecosystems, earlier than everyone else. Unlike other pre-seed funds, RareBreed takes a concentrated portfolio approach by writing checks of up to $250K as the first or one of the first investors. McKeever "Mac" Conwell II is the founder and managing partner of RareBreed Ventures. We speak with Mac about the path that led him from founder to Venture Captial. Mac is a former software engineer and a two...
Jul 07, 2021•32 min•Ep. 136
Clarence Wooten is a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur with a track record of success spanning back to 1999 when his debut Internet startup, ImageCafe.com, was acquired for $23 million by Network Solutions (Nasdaq: NSOL) just 7-months after it launched. Wooten has now started Revitalize Ventures Studio whose mission is to change the complexion of tech by building breakout software startups with black founders and diverse teams. Learn more https://revitalizeventures.com/the-story In this Episode y...
Jun 30, 2021•40 min•Ep. 135
The barriers for diverse artists are real but so are the opportunities. Learn how to create opportunities outside of traditional models. Fireside Chat from the Art and Equity Summit with artists Mark Phi and Jay Kalagayan. Jay B. Kalagayan (MeSseD creator, writer and publisher) has been a writer of plays, cartoon strips, reviews, articles, humorous event calendars, promotional materials, fundraising appeals and grants. A Xavier University graduate from Erie, PA, Jay is founder of Know Theatre of...
Jun 23, 2021•32 min•Ep. 133
Reed has nearly 30 years of experience in the film and TV industry — and over 50 movies under her belt — as an Emmy-winning casting director and producer. She is behind the breakout movie roles for some of Hollywood's brightest stars, including Halle Berry, Samuel J. Jackson, and Jamie Foxx. Her credits include School Daze, Poetic Justice, Malcolm X, and 125 episodes of In Living Color. When you reach those places where the decision is, “Do I do it? Do I say something? Do I take the role? What i...
Jun 16, 2021•34 min•Ep. 134
We believe that black art should mean black equity. Art has always been an effective tool for social change, but black and brown artists haven’t always gotten the equity they deserve. For too long, equity has gone through black and brown artists, but not to them. We seek to disrupt that trend and in doing so disrupt the trend of black and brown wealth creation. This is a summit for black and brown artists, art collectors and allies to connect, network, expose their art to potential investors. Ro...
Jun 09, 2021•37 min•Ep. 132
Noelle Silver is a technical evangelist at heart and enjoys spreading the good news about what it’s like to work in the field of emerging technology. She is passionate about Mindful Leadership, work-life harmony and empowering people to achieve their potential through technology. She empowers and inspires minorities to be successful in the technology industry and AI through career coaching and workshops. She also specializes in helping brands develop skills for Amazon Alexa. She has spent many y...
Jun 02, 2021•23 min•Ep. 130
Nina Turner grew up the oldest of seven children to working class parents in Northeast Ohio. Turner has dedicated her life to fighting for the underserved, working class and working poor. In 2020, as national co-chair of Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, Nina built support nationwide for progressive policies like the Green New Deal and health care as a human right in the form of Medicare for All. Nina is now running for Congress for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District.
May 26, 2021•34 min•Ep. 131
Actor, Filmmaker and Poet David Bianchi created the first spoken word NFT. The NFT focused on the continuing injustice of police brutality in America. His piece was sold for over $12,000 and all funds went to the George Floyd Memorial fund. David was interviewed on Forbes regarding his spoken word NFT.
May 18, 2021•21 min•Ep. 129
ZuCot Gallery the largest African-American owned fine art gallery in the Southeast. ZuCot’s mission is to promote original works of art by living African American artists and provide both novice and seasoned collectors with meaningful and unique services that enhance the art collecting experience. After earning his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tuskegee University, Onaje M. Henderson began his corporate career with one of the “big five” consulting firms working with major communication and h...
May 12, 2021•19 min•Ep. 128
Damian Hoskins is the General Manager of Elementz an organization focused on providing hope and catalyzing change for the young people in the urban core through hip-hop culture.
May 05, 2021•37 min•Ep. 127
In 2014, Jabari had the idea for a genre amplification company and launched COLORS Worldwide, Inc., an ecosystem designed to incorporate multiple underserved genres through live events, festivals, and content creation.
Apr 28, 2021•56 min•Ep. 126
Ryan Wilson is co-founder of The Gathering Spot, a private membership club focused on black entrepreneurship. Wilson talks about how they expanded despite social distancing amid the pandemic. Ryan Wilson is the Co-Founder and CEO of TGS Holdings, a consumer lifestyle and hospitality company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company’s holdings consist of The Gathering Spot, a private membership club; and A3C, a music, tech, and film conference and festival. At the age of 24, Ryan and his business par...
Apr 22, 2021•35 min•Ep. 125
Manny has had the opportunity to work with brands and mentors to hone and develop skills in brand management & growth, sponsorship consulting, retail development, strategic planning, account management and brand activation – across a diverse portfolio of categories including: Technology, professional sports, sporting goods, financial services & insurance, retail, tourism, telecommunication, food industry, and health/medical Industry. Manny enjoys helping others find purpose in their work...
Apr 14, 2021•24 min•Ep. 124
