Let me tell yall something. Chick-fil-a not the only place that gives you SUPERB customer service. I will bet you my last Cheez-It that I can tell you another location that's just as good with the service. This spot is called Derita Dairy Bar & Grill. Let's meet the owner Devin, shall we? This episode is special for her. She opened one year ago today and I wanted to salute her and drop the episode during Juneteenth for the homie! We dive into how it was starting the business in a pandemic, h...
Jun 19, 2021•58 min•Ep. 73
WGN is back at it with Volume 7, part 1. I'm kicking this off with Eugene Bennett, owner of Shaded Media LLC. The company specializes in producing short form content that’s easy to consume. Over the last 10 years Eugene has worked diligently on showcasing his work to the masses and the work he's created has been met with huge praise. We sit down to talk about his journey in the field and what it takes to bring a client's vision to life. Not only does he produce quality content for others, but he...
Jun 15, 2021•48 min•Ep. 72
Link In Bio Since this was supposed to be the first year for the CIAA in their new host city of Baltimore I wanted to talk about how that transition was within the past year-- and since COVID pretty much put that to a halt and what did it mean for the next couple of contractual years for the tournament. The only way to get those answers I had to bring back Ben Baxter, who holds a position as the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications within the CIAA to discuss the pivot that had to ...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 71
This week we're talking to Sheena Pickett, the owner of Alpha Male Nail Care here in the CLT community. Sheena brings 8 years of knowledge and experience as a nail technician and offers her services as a safe space for the fellas to feel comfortable and relax. I came across her business when a friend gave her a glowing endorsement on her services and I wanted to experience my first manicure & pedicure for the first time-- and she didn't disappoint. Our discussion leads to the reason she deci...
Mar 04, 2021•53 min•Ep. 70
Link In Bio This week we are talking with Barry Greene, owner of Shades Of Moss--plant shop serving the CLT Community. During the pandemic, Barry found joy in collecting and learning about plants and once an opportunity presented itself to open up his own shop he took a leap of faith and went for it. On this episode Barry takes the time to talk about some of the misconceptions about Men and dealing with plants, some of the most popular plants to start out with, some of the do's and don'ts when c...
Feb 25, 2021•39 min•Ep. 69
This week we are talking with Danette & Kat, collectively known as @materialcurls , bka D.I.Try Experts as they say lol. This all started when Danette bought her first home and realized how expensive things could be regarding renovations; then the went off in her head and said "you know what?, I'll just do this myself, but let me get my homie Kat to help!" After watching YouTube videos for assistance they quickly realized how some in the D.I.Y community would just show the good stuff and nev...
Feb 18, 2021•49 min•Ep. 68
This week I am chatting with singer & songwriter Lillian Blanche out of CLT, NC. I've had the pleasure of seeing Lillian grow in to her own since deciding to get back into music almost 7 or 8 years ago. I wanted to talk to her about her journey and what made her want to get back into music again? We discuss, the identity of the "musical" scene in CLT today versus 10 years ago. We also touch on topics she want to discuss in her music along with the pros and cons of doing pursuing music indepe...
Feb 04, 2021•28 min•Ep. 67
Happy New Year Folks! This season is going to be a good one. Definitely talking plenty more people who are on the upswing with their brands & products. Before we do that I want to do a quick recap on things that stuck out for CLT on 2020 and name a few entities that I think have next in 2021. I couldn't do this by myself so I brought the homie Shameika on the pod to talk about it with me. Shout Out to the folks mentioned below in this episode on who to watch for in 2021. Just a few on the ra...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 63
Welcome to Volume 6 of the WGN. Hey folks. I’m Back! We’re talking to Noel Pipkin, founder of Barre Belle Ballet here in CLT. Barre Belle is a nonprofit organization that is a portable dance studio designed to provide universal access to the art of dance in the CLT communities and schools. Noel found her love for ballet at a very young age. She credits ballet being a focal point in her development into adulthood and saw an opportunity and a need to create these opportunities here in CLT. She sit...
Nov 25, 2020•43 min•Ep. 62
This week I had the privilege of talking to Chef Oscar Johnson & Chef Darryl Cooper (aka Coop), owners of Jimmy Pearls, a pop-up restaurant located at 7th Street Market in uptown CLT. Originally from Hampton, VA, these two didn't formally meet until attending Johnson & Wales, where their culinary journey started for them. With Jimmy Pearls they have a unique style to seafood, but with a flare of soulfood mixed in. On this episode we discuss the story they want to be told through their co...
Oct 12, 2020•4 min•Ep. 61
Although I have a podcast of my own I would be remiss to not acknowledge another podcast that is on the grind making their mark in the CLT Community. Had a chance to chop it up with Jumpman Jones, Jukebox Johnny, and James aka Jellyfish of the K!ck!n $#!T Podcast. We talk about how the podcast was created and what topics they liked to discuss with their listeners. We definitely touch on the landscape of podcasting in CLT and what it means to have diverse content between different platforms repre...
Oct 08, 2020•43 min•Ep. 60
This week WGN had the opportunity to talk with Bubba, one of the founders of Bank City Bike Club here in CLT. We discussed how the formulation of the bike club started, the importance of staying active, the misconceptions of cycling amongst African Americans, and how he saw a path for the bike club to be formed into a bona fide business. He also breaks down what type of bike you will need when you are cycling for long periods of times. In closing, don’t think your HUFFY you’ve had since grade sc...
Oct 01, 2020•45 min•Ep. 59
This week we’re talking to Salim and Kimani, co-founders of Ascend Apparel LLC. In 2017, the company established themselves as a luxury brand and pushing the envelope of creating products with quality material for consumers across the globe. In our conversation Salim and Kimani discuss how their awkward introduction with one another while attending WSSU lead to a friendship that catapulted into a partnership. They also touch on how their partnership works within the company and the importance of...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 58
One thing CLT has is a variety of places to eat and when I say "Eat" I'm talking about "Good Eating" around here. This week I had the pleasure of speaking to Cory Wilkins, founder of DailySpecialCLT, that consists of letting us know what restaurants consumers need to check out here in the CLT community. Cory is a foodie and he wanted others to know about these places as well. What started out as trying to find the food specials turned into an opportunity to help restaurants promote their brand v...
Aug 31, 2020•51 min•Ep. 57
Let’s be honest. We all know how demanding the liquor business can be. It’s not for the faint of heart. Got to have thick skin to get into this type of business, but it looks like Taylor is on the path of crushing all those barriers. This week I had the pleasure of speaking to Taylor R., the owner of Redd Rose Vodka. We discuss how Redd Rose was born and the inspiration behind the name. We talk about her goals and aspirations on what she EXPECTS Redd Rose to do, the legacy she wants to create fo...
Aug 06, 2020•44 min•Ep. 56
This week I am talking with a fellow Fay State alum , and the owner of TYME, an artisan that specialize in hand made candles and fragrant products. We discuss what inspired her to create her business and touch on KNOWING YOUR CUSTOMER as an aspiring entrepreneur; which is extremely important when growing your business. We also the importance of building a brand and marketing products in different environments, and being open to CHANGE! So sit back, light a candle, and take a listen. You have not...
Jul 30, 2020•42 min•Ep. 55
This week we are getting into some ART! I’m talking with artist Leon Parker who resides here in CLT. We discuss how he got started and the emergence of the art scene here in and the exposure it’s giving to those who are starting to cook with church grease and bubbling under the radar. He gives his opinion on the cultural impact the BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL had on not just the CLT Community but other cities across the U.S. I couldn’t let this brother leave without telling me about what influences...
Jul 23, 2020•41 min•Ep. 54
On this week’s episode WGN is chatting with Deanna Taylor, a Queen City native, and Editor-in-Chief for It’s the Block, a new digital publication designed to be a cultural resource for people of color who operates in the creative space and entrepreneurship here in Charlotte community. Her and I discuss what It’s the Block will mean for us in the future and touch on the many changes the city has gone through in the past several years. Deanna wears many hats outside of her newly appointed position...
Jul 16, 2020•42 min•Ep. 53
This week I am talking to Renee, event planner, business consultant, and owner of Socialight, Inc. Renee talks about the moment she decided to leave her job in education and build her company full time. We also discuss the pros and cons on starting your business and how important it is to build your clientele in the beginning so business can be sustained long term; COVID is definitely an example. This sista is definitely grinding it out and she has testimonials to prove it. Also listen to her ta...
Jul 09, 2020•42 min•Ep. 52
This week WGN is talking to the newly appointed Head Coach of Hopewell High School, JaRon Goodson. Goodson gets his shot at leading the Hopewell Titans after gaining a wealth of experience as an assistant coach for the West Charlotte Lions the past 4 years. He discusses why Hopewell HS was the a great decision, betting on himself, and taking a leap of faith and relocating from Fayetteville after a brief stint at Cape Fear HS. He also talks about what is was like coaching a year's NBA Lottery Dra...
Jul 02, 2020•28 min•Ep. 51
A new week. Which means NEW episode! This week I’m speaking with Kisha, a journalist, speaker, and writer here in the CLT Community. We discuss how she was able to turn her experiences in Corporate America into side hustle, which eventually flourished into a passion and presented her opportunities outside of a 9-5. We touch on her being a mother, the good and the bad of taking control of your finances, and of course….where does she CLT going in the near future. #WhoGotNextCLT #CLTure #Quarantine...
Jun 25, 2020•39 min•Ep. 50
This week we are speaking to Lorri Lofton, creator and founder of Gracefully5417. Since relocating to CLT from Alabama several years ago, Lorri has built a brand that allowed her to establish a network with local companies and organizations throughout the city, and created partnerships in efforts to link them with the community; probably in ways they never thought were possible. To me, she always been a go-getter and one who not only talks that talk, but definitely walks it too. On this week’s e...
Jun 18, 2020•50 min•Ep. 49
This week I’m chopping it up with ladies of the Headwraps and Lipsticks Podcast, located here in CLT. Sharelle and Sierra found their way to CLT after getting their education from North Carolina A&T State University. Although both were enrolled at the same time, their friendship didn’t come to fruition until crossing paths on Twitter awhile back, which led to the creation of the podcast. We discuss how the podcast was started, the importance of communicating, who they form their topics, and ...
Jun 11, 2020•47 min•Ep. 48
This week we are talking Corey Weaver, aka C Weave, bka @Picman704. He is a photographer here in the CLT community who is making a name for himself with his work. Only shooting for a short period of time you would think this brother been shooting for decades; that’s how polished his work is. In this episode we discuss how he turned this extracurricular activity into a business, and the importance of making your clients feel comfortable and knowing they’re in good hands. We also take time to talk...
Jun 04, 2020•38 min•Ep. 47
This week I finally got a chance to chop it up with the homie Tank. We had a lot to discuss. We talk about what it was like growing up in CLT during the 90's & early 2000's, and making his path into the music/entertainment industry in High School after a black business owner taking a chance on him after he saw his drive and persistence as a teenager. Since Tank is a CLT native, who better to speak on the progressions and the identity of the city than this brother? He let me know his love for...
May 28, 2020•47 min•Ep. 46
Since we're still in the house I had to pull up on Ohavia Phillips and talk about how she ventured into the land media entertainment. She discusses taking a leap of faith in leaving her steady paying job to purse her dream of being in media independently and talking about the stories and creating content she enjoys putting out into the world. In addition, we chat about the "OH SHOW" and the meaning of a FACTORY RESET! Don't want to give it all away but she definitely is a ball of energy and posi...
May 21, 2020•44 min•Ep. 45
I'm back to business! I will not take that long of break again, but the break was definitely needed. Unfortunately I am not in a studio but I'm thankful for technology. This is a special quarantine edition and I'm starting this off with one my partners DJ Dexter Dynamite, and 1/4 of The FRESH!MEN. A lot of you may know him rocking some of the best parties in the QC and not know when this all started for him. We take a dive into his DJ journey and how it all started, all while maintaining a his j...
May 14, 2020•50 min•Ep. 44
This week we're talking to the homie (), VP of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance here in Charlotte. His job is important to the city because it focuses on how selling CLT to potential businesses thinking about relocating to the city. With rapid growth transpiring here it's great to get an in depth look on how that process takes place; he dubs his gig as "working for the mob" (dont worry, he explains this lol). We also touch on small black businesses, blacks investing in stocks, and homeowners...
Nov 27, 2019•48 min•Ep. 43
On this week's episode I'm talking to Ms. Jessica, Radio Personality of Charlotte's own Power 98, and co-host of The Morning Maddhouse. We discuss what it means to be ready for your opportunity when your # is called. She talks about her journey going from part time at Power 98 while working in the school system up to the moment she got the call to work full time. Ms. We also get the full scoop on one her radio encounters that went "viral"! You all pull up a seat and let's listen to the Girl Next...
Nov 20, 2019•38 min•Ep. 42
Had the opportunity to sit down and chop it up with my OG Darryl Hines, owner of Velocity Boutique & Velocity Denim in Charlotte. Although D. Hines is making major strides in retail, this wasn't always the case. We talk about what prompted him on opening up Velocity and what it takes to make a business flourish. Having almost 10 years of ownership D. Hines takes a moment to discuss having the vision and fortitude on starting his business after leaving Corporate America. His philosophy is alw...
Nov 14, 2019•45 min•Ep. 41
