Born and raised in Fort Worth, TX, known to most as Chef Tam, she is the owner of Chef Tam's Underground Cafe. Nestled in the heart of Memphis, TN, Chef Tam's restaurant is one of few that has voluntarily decided to go full take out during this novel pandemic. Growing up in Texas she married young and was heavily involved in church becoming a youth pastor. After graduating college with a business and marketing degree, she attended beauty school and opened a hair salon. Tune in to find out the re...
Jul 13, 2020•52 min
Memphis native Brent Hooks comes from a legacy of racial justice activism. Brent is a young capitalist whose work ethic and education speaks volumes in creating the leader he is today. He grew up in a very diverse environment with him often being the only black male in many settings. Take a listen as Brent walks us through the importance of being civically engaged, relationship building and some very strong advice for budding entrepreneurs. He also shares some of his favorite reads that have sha...
Jun 29, 2020•55 min
Orange Mound native, Alexis Cole, is a saxophonist and highly decorated beauty queen. Having low self-esteem growing up, her mother always challenged her to go beyond. Alexis had a very cultured upbringing staring on the piano and transitioning to the saxophone in the 6th grade. She entered the pageant world at the age of sixteen and won the title of Miss Black Memphis. Alexis was also crowned Miss UAPB in 2013-14, Miss Black USA in 2019 and currently working towards the Elite Miss Tennessee Ear...
Jun 22, 2020•41 min
Michael Butler Jr. is controlling the narrative through his lens. He is a self-taught cinematographer, photographer and content creator. The only boy with four sisters, Mike grew up in South Memphis. He headed to the navy after graduating from Wooddale High School in pursuits of traveling the world. After those four years of discover Michael eventually made his way back to Memphis. He shares why he picked up a camera after battling with depression. Scouring YouTube University to perfect his craf...
Jun 15, 2020•58 min
Growing up in Cherokee Heights as an only child, Rachel Knox has always had a love for the arts. It was no surprise she thrived in theatre arts while attending Houston High School and later majored in Fine Arts with a concentration in Costume Design and Technology at the University of Memphis. Upon graduation, Rachel accepted a role with Arena Stage in DC where she mastered the craft of the creative effects of audience strategy. A year later, she moved back to Memphis as the Manager of Teacher P...
Jun 08, 2020•39 min
East St. Louis, IL native Cory Sparks has built a well-respected name among media and entertainment influencers over the past twenty years. Growing up in the inner city and traveling heavily during his upbringing, Cory was an athlete in school who always had an interest in music. His entry into the business was through radio where he doubled as an on-air talent and promotions manager in Nashville. Cory gravitated heavily towards the promotions side of the business and eventually started his own ...
Jun 01, 2020•58 min
Originally from Fairfax, VA, essayist and memoirist Leta McCollough Seletzky is deeply rooted in Memphis, TN. At the tender age of three she moved to the city known as the home of the blues with her mom who worked as a reporter for the Commercial Appeal. After graduating from Craigmont High School, Leta ventured off to college as Political Science and French major at Northwestern University. She later entered into law school in Washington DC and suddenly felt the need to tell her father's story....
May 26, 2020•1 hr 1 min
South Memphis native Crystal Mercedes has been making waves since hitting the DJ scene in 2008. Although her aunt and uncle were djs, playing the baritone at Colonial Middle School and being on the Color Guard at Overton High School was where her love and understanding for music began to broaden. She entered UT Chattanooga as a Communications major and started djing in August of 2008. Crystal admits it was a rough start but later discovered she did not have be in the clubs to dj. She was booked ...
May 18, 2020•47 min
You may be familiar with the Directory of Business Diversity and Compliance for the City of Memphis, Joann Massey. However, do you know about Lil JoJo from North Memphis? There is so much behind a name that it deserves a podcast to tell the entire story. Raised by her Godparents in New Chicago, Joann faced desegregation along with many other traumatic events and transitions. As she entered high school, she felt misunderstood as many of us do when we are not allowed to be our authentic selves. Th...
May 11, 2020•1 hr 11 min
From launching his business, Massage on the Go, when he was 25 to now having more than 450 therapists in 50 states, Samuel Nelson has proven that hard work and resilience are key ingredients in the recipe for success. Sam grew up in the Bethel Grove community playing football for White Station HS and hustling bootleg cds, candy and gucci apparel out of his trunk. Although he attended college as a bio-chemical major, Sam told his parents he was leaving college for a year to attend massage school....
May 04, 2020•33 min
It's not often that your backup plan becomes the Master Plan. This is exactly what happened to entrepreneur Megan Mottley. Her daughter was preparing to attend an international school trip to Japan and Megan started a fundraiser selling cookies that manifested into an empire. Growing up in North Memphis, Megan was very studious and involved in extracurricular activities at Raleigh Egypt High School. She is a graduate of University of Memphis and decided to teach after graduation. Her English bac...
Apr 27, 2020•34 min
Chef Desmond Robinson (Chef D.Arthur) is a native of Memphis, TN by way of Whitehaven. Coming from a family of amazing culinary talent, cooking has been a passion of his since he was a child. After graduating from the University of Memphis in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, D.Arthur went through a period in life where he had to figure things out before beginning his culinary education at the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Following a short time in A...
Apr 20, 2020•50 min
In this season of uncertainty we have a newfound respect for our educators. Meet Angela Janelle Jones! A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelors in English, a Master’s in Education from Union University and currently a Doctor of Education candidate at the University of Memphis, Angela is a stellar individual: personally and professionally. In 2013, She took a leap of faith to start her own family preparatory academy-Paideia Preparatory Academy. Prior to her entrepreneur journ...
Apr 13, 2020•31 min
My guest for episode 114 is Dr. Stacy L. Spencer, Senior Pastor of New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, a multi-site congregation with church plants in Collierville, TN, and Idutywa, South Africa. Take a listen as Dr. Spencer speaks of his humble beginnings in the 80's working in tobacco fields in rural Olmstead, Kentucky. He learned many life skills growing up but most of all empathy for others. As a student in high school, he was involved in a plethora of activities including ...
Apr 06, 2020•50 min
Patrick Newman is a Memphis native graduating from Hamilton High School, Univ of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (B.A. History) where he played baseball, Freed Hardeman University (Master’s in Education) and also Success School of Real Estate. Patrick has been able to gross millions of dollars in three totally different industries: Education, Real Estate and Entertainment. Throughout his career as an athlete, educator, and entrepreneur, Patrick has experienced a tremendous amount of success. He holds Hig...
Mar 30, 2020•57 min
Rosalyn is determined to let her light shine. This Memphis native continues to build on a strong acting resume that includes work in network television and feature films, in addition to commercial work with global brands such as FedEx, Dell Computers and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She grew up in her hometown playing flute in marching band and concert orchestra and singing in her church choir. By the time she was selected to be a vocalist with the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers®, her f...
Mar 23, 2020•1 hr 18 min
Meet filmmaker and artist Chassidy Jade; a professional video editor and multi‐talented creative from Delray Beach, Florida and Memphis, Tennessee and with nothing more important to her than producing high quality and diverse independent projects. Tune in to episode 111 as Chassidy breaks down the cost of being a boss in the world of editing.
Mar 16, 2020•53 min
After a fifteen-year corporate career with various Fortune 500 companies, Summer Owens decided to use her life's challenges to help other overcome theirs. She is the founder and CEO of S.O. What! LLC and author of Life After Birth: A Memoir of Survival and Success as a Teenage Mother. She wears many other hats in addition to being named the President of the University of Memphis National Alumni board. Although she has achieved great success, Summer's greatest challenge and accomplishment has bee...
Mar 09, 2020•54 min
Jasmine Worles is a Memphis native who has pushed for fluid communication between grassroots communities and local government and has been named a Rising Star by the American Society of Public Administration. She is on a continued mission to use her skill to bring the voices that matter most in Democracy to the decision making table. Jasmine currently serves as the Strategic Planning Advisor to the Chief of Staff of Shelby County Schools. Take a listen to episode 109 and let Jasmine walk you thr...
Mar 02, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Standing 6'8, John Best aka "Brother John" serves as the General Manager for the Department of Broadcast Services (88.5FM & C19-TV) of Shelby County Schools. In a short matter of time, John has transformed these media entities into a powerhouse for students to create content for radio, TV, photography, podcasts, graphic arts and digital media. Originally from New Jersey, John moved to Memphis at the age of sixteen. As a Whitehaven High School graduate, Best was known for his basketball skill...
Feb 24, 2020•1 hr 21 min
Orange Mound native Virginia Awkward has been a certified trainer for nearly one year, but her love for health and fitness started as a Memphis-area athlete at Craigmont High School. She is deeply rooted in the community with her father being a retired fireman and mother running Ernestine and Hazel's for many years. Virginia has a B.S in Psychology from Christian Brothers University and has been in law enforcement for over 15 years. Virginia shares some of the challenges involved with being in a...
Feb 17, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Today I'm taking you down memory lane with the "Best of 2019" snippets. My guests last year were extremely transparent discussing the highs and lows of their pursuits and I wanted to share a piece of their podcasts with all of you. Take a listen and enjoy the guests from episodes 50-100!
Feb 10, 2020•1 hr 55 min
Growing up as a kid in Raleigh Phillip DeWayne did not have aspirations of becoming a chef. Playing the symbols in the band and eventually landing a role as the basketball manager for the Raleigh-Egypt Pharaohs encompassed his world during those days. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Memphis for a short while but later began working at the Peabody as a dishwasher. This is where his life abruptly changed. An Austrian chef by the name of Andreas from Vienna gave Phillip the opportuni...
Feb 03, 2020•55 min
My guest for episode 104 is author and writing professional Jae Henderson. She currently spearheads the PR and social media for several businesses and nonprofits as President of Put It In Writing Professional Writing Service & PR. Jae is a Memphis native and proud graduate of Treadwell High School and The University of Memphis. As you listen to Jae's journey, you'll discover what motivated her to become an accomplished author of 9 books and counting. You'll also understand how her broadcasti...
Jan 27, 2020•59 min
Whitehaven native and real estate finance guru Al Pickett is my guest for episode 103. Currently residing in Houston, TX, Al continues to attract clients and build a trustworthy company brand recognized throughout the community via interruptive marketing and advertising campaigns. Since a youth, Al was fascinated with numbers and discovered it made perfect sense to bet on himself. At the age of twenty-four, he purchased his first company in a strategic buyout and “quintupled” the revenue in the ...
Jan 20, 2020•49 min
As a real estate agent, tax professional, and credit counselor, Crystell Oliver is more than a successful serial entrepreneur. Her passion for entrepreneurship and others is part of what can be attributed to her success and the growth of Dream Team Solutions, LLC. The road to entrepreneurship was not easy, as it took many failures and lessons for Crystell to realize her calling. On episode 202 Crystell talks about dealing with the duality of being an entrepreneur, toxic relationships, and a DUI ...
Jan 13, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Born to sharecroppers in Batesville, MS, my radio colleague Bobby O'Jay walks us through his 47 years in the radio industry. After seeing his cousin Melvin Jones come home in a fancy ride in 1965 after sharing he was on the radio, Bobby immediately began practicing his radio voice. His first chance was presented in 1972 at the age of 18 when he received a phone call for his first gig in Montgomery, AL. From that moment, Bobby's voice was heard in numerous markets such as Milwaukee, Houston, Dall...
Jan 06, 2020•1 hr 43 min
Here we are at episode 100!!! Ena Esco shares with her producer SunAh some of the pivotal moments that brought her to Memphis, to radio and to podcasting. Memphis has been very good to Beaumont, TX native Ena Esco. Upon graduating from Millington-Central High School, Ena attended LeMoyne-Owen College where she was a Dubois Scholar and president of her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Beta Tau chapter. In 2000, she was crowned Miss LeMoyne-Owen College and graduated cum laude with a degr...
Dec 30, 2019•52 min
Brandon Adams aka DJ B.A. #nogenre has become one of Memphis’ most respected turntablist in the city. Born in Raleigh NC and raised in Youngsville NC, the United States Navy brought Brandon to Memphis by way of Millington on his 5th deployment two years ago. He began djing in 2010 while stationed in Jacksonville, FL and quickly put those controllers to use. After receiving orders overseas in late 2010, he found his way forward being immersed in a melting pot of cultures in Manama Bahrain. It was...
Dec 23, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Kontji Anthony is an award-winning news broadcaster who is currently the evening anchor for WMC Action News 5. She has literally lived in every time zone including Iowa, California, North Carolina and Tennessee. Having Caribbean roots, Kontji grew up in New York outside of Manhattan where she received an amazing dose of culture attending Broadway plays, radio city music hall, statue of liberty and the likes. Kontji eventually moved to Washington, DC where she took up communications at Howard Uni...
Dec 16, 2019•1 hr 5 min
