Verbally Effective

Whether you have been naughty or nice this year, here's an episode all of you can enjoy on this Christmas Eve. Founder of non-profit The Dividend, Tim Green tells us about growing up in White Haven being the only boy with six sisters. His roots are centered in music where he and I share our own rendition of the classic "Christmas Song" that will bring joy to your heart. Tim and I also discuss how Bridge Builders played an instrumental role in nurturing his desire for teaching. Being a UT Knoxville grad, Tim was very active on campus where the African American population consisted of less than 10 percent. You can only imagine the many experiences that a person will endure on their journey. Tim shares a pivotal moment in his life that changed his entire trajectory. From that moment, his non profit The Dividend was established. He breaks down his curriculum of social emotional learning, the role "GRIT" plays in teaching and how he started his Brunch & Convos series. Towards the end we indulge in current even

Do you still have the exact group of friends you grew up with? Well get ready to meet the SQ901 comprised of childhood friends who are now in business together. Their social brand is deeply rooted in friendship while providing positive vibes and diversity. Known for their signature Silent Party Events, the SQ901 breaks down why party goers are drawn to this unique atmosphere. As these gentlemen plan for 2019, I find out the other side to their stories. For example, by day you can find Bucci Bucci handling business as a project manager in his family’s general contracting business and Bryant in his role as the Bursar at the Memphis Institute of Barbering. And let’s not forget about the many excursions they take to Miami which is definitely one of the highlights of the pod. Although very entertaining, I can definitely witness the importance of male friendships which they speak on in great detail. We even dive deep into some well-known bromances with a game called “Bros You Know.” Take a listen to episode

When I received the phone call from my producer SunAh that Jamond Bullock wanted to meet on location for the podcast I was extremely excited. I've been watching Jamond flourish over the years being a masterful artist where he mixes and matches colors that would seem senseless together creating a flow of visual harmony. He is the founder of Alivepaint which is a visual arts company where you can see him painting live at weddings, concerts, fundraisers or painting large scale public art murals. You may have seen one of his beautiful murals throughout the city of Memphis where he uses his gift to create illustrative stories. On the podcast we begin with Jamond’s love for art growing up in Frayser and later graduating from LeMoyne Owen College. He shares how he was able to go from being an art teacher for Shelby County Schools to doing what he loves on a full time basis. The scope of his projects range from working with the likes of rapper T.I., providing pieces for Netflix movies and countless community based c

Episode XLV | "MELODIC" by Ena Esco

We define psychology as the study of behavior and mind. My guest for episode 44, Justin Dodson, is an expert in this field practicing as a mental health therapist who is currently pursuing his PhD. I wanted this UT Chat alum to come on Verbally Effective Podcast to share his insight as we often hear the term “mental illness” quite a bit lately. How do you know if you have mental issues? Are you bipolar? What is anxiety really? At what point do you need to get a prescription? These are just some of the topics we discuss in addition to the many stigmas that come along with seeking professional help. We even tap into where it all begins at the adolescence phase of your life. Justin even shares a few breakthrough experiences he’s had in his life dealing with bullying and racial profiling. I would say this is one of those episodes you definitely want to listen to from beginning to end so you don’t miss anything.

In part one of my podcast episode with the legendary Howard Q aka The Teflon Don, we discuss some of the developmental stages of his life and career. Howard was a gypsy of sorts being an army brat growing up in the Westwood area. His love for music ignited at a very young age as his father was a musician. Upon graduating from Hillcrest, he ventured off to college at Tennessee State University majoring in computer science. As a member of the band at TSU, Howard quickly transitioned from carrying crates for local DJs to becoming one of the founding members of Voice Entertainment. Howard shares quite a few memories during his college years but one duly noted is his initiation into Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Listen closely as he also describes how he navigated the delicate balance of corporate life and the underground world of nightlife which birth the Collegiate Connection. If you’re in my age range you may remember frequenting Denim & Diamonds back in the day hearing Howard on the mic whose words would make

The inaugural Verbally Effective Podcast live show was definitely one for the books. Held at my alma mater, Lemoyne Owen College, I had 6 dynamic panelists in the areas of activism, music and collegiate royalty. Topics on the agenda included social media, voting and music. Tune in and hear some insightful discussion in a live setting during LOC's homecoming.

My guest and I for episode 41, Mickell Lowery, go way back. Back to our days as business majors at our beloved HBCU, LeMoyne Owen College. It was great catching up with Mickell as he has been busy making major moves. We touch on quite a few things such as his upbringing and how he made the decision to become a Magician. As a proud graduate of LOC, we dispel all stigmas associated with our historic institution. Being that we just celebrated homecoming, we both were reminiscing on the good ole days on campus where it all began. Quite a few Kappa and AKA stories were shared. Fast forward to today. Mickell is the newly elected Shelby County Commissioner for District 8 in Memphis. He discusses his role and how he plans to make an impact. Fully decorated with numerous accolades throughout his career, Mickell breaks down the referendums on the table for the upcoming election and stresses the need to vote on November 6.

Atlanta native Cynthia Daniels has leveled up the event planning world in the city of Memphis. Although she’s only been here for less than a decade, her impact is explosive. You may have been to one of her signature events such as Memphis Black Restaurant Week, Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professionals, Level Up Conference, Black Christmas Expo or Black Bridal Expo. She has built an empire of opportunities under Cynthia Daniels & Co. to make an economic influence this city has not seen in a long time. As you will hear on episode 40, Cynthia truly believes that black excellence should be celebrated in a city comprised of majority African Americans. You will also notice that I wanted to dig a little deeper into what shaped this powerful woman. This podcast is full of fun facts about Cynthia’s upbringing in Atlanta, her academic experience at Alabama A&M University, pledging Delta Sigma Theta, her short-lived music career and the reasons behind her pivotal transition to Memphis, TN. We even delve into her

The life of a woman is filled with a never ending balancing act. Giving everyone and everything an equal amount of time is impossible! At the end of the day, prioritization is key to keeping our sanity. My guest for episode 39, Jerica Phillips, shares how she accomplishes this very thing while recognized as a leading journalist on WMC Action News 5. Jerica and Ena cover a wide range of topics including some very personal chapters never publicly exposed. From growing up in the church to becoming a mother at a very young age, Jerica beat the odds at every level both personally and professionally. Take a listen as my Soror and I delve into sisterhood, going viral and natural hair chronicles. This UT Knox Alum also touches on her work with Black Girls Code, Project Homeless Connect and the Code Crew Community. We even had time to share a few words regarding Kanye West recently attending the White House in addition to rapper Fabolous being indicted on domestic abuse charges. Towards the end of the podcast,

Media insiders are fully aware of the challenges faced with the sense of urgency placed upon having the most up to date news at any given second. Today there are so many platforms to rely on to seek information. My guest for episode 38, Jessica Gertler, has witnessed the evolution of TV news as it engages in a delicate dance with social media. Being a California native, Jessica has adapted well to the southern comforts of Tennessee. This UT Knoxville alum has fully embraced Memphis as a proud citizen and as a reporter on WREG news. We discuss quite a few stories she’s covered that were unforgettable in addition being more health conscious and her many “Dog Mom” adventures. The episode closes with Ena and Jessica playing a game entitled “Real News vs. Fake News” examining headlines from Memphis, pop culture and politics.

Being an entrepreneur has its rewards. But when you're able to invest in your community and create opportunities for the disenfranchised, the rewards are more fruitful. Orange Mound native, Kelvin Woods, is my guest for episode 37. He is the founder and co-owner of The Tee Shirt Lab, a screen-printing and apparel decoration company. Kelvin walks us through growing up attending Overton High School and having a gift for the arts. He attended UT Chattanooga and caught the entrepreneur bug very early in college. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate america but soon walked away after acquiring equipment to start a t shirt company at the age of 24. He's been excelling ever since opening locations in Nashville, Memphis and currently exploring other markets to penetrate. Kelvin is a family man and Christian who keeps his eyes on the prize. Take a listen as Kelvin talks about some of struggles and successes he's encountered as a minority business owner, his creation of Black Art*ish and sitting on the Board o

Sociology is the study of development, structure and functioning of human society. My guest for episode 36, Wendy Marie, holds a SOCY PhD and is currently an Assistant Professor at her alma mater University of Memphis. Although she eventually worked her way into this position, the road was filled with many peaks and valleys. At four months, Wendy was adopted by a white working class couple and raised in Memphis, TN. Her story begins with identifying the obvious differences both internally and externally. Upon graduating UofM, Wendy worked as a case manager and transitioned into the world of nightlife as a VIP hostess. It was here at the nightclub where she discovered people were using this social space to create and maintain identity. In 2012, she began her graduate studies at the University of Maryland. Her dissertation examined the effects of ideologies about race, family, and national belonging on Korean adoptee's identity formation. Wendy is very active in the Korean adoptee community where in Memph

After meeting my guests for episode 35, The Dudley Boys (Mario and Carlos), I soon discovered that the art of "checking" is a sport. You may have seen them come down your Instagram timeline with a two sided screen displaying their victim of choice on one side and them ruthlessly lashing out checks on the other side in a video. We laugh and joke because this art form is amusing especially if you are not the person being targeted. In addition, what makes this comedy duo different is that one member has a disability that he utilizes as his super power. Their chemistry is amazing. This is comedy in its purest form. But what I learned from the Dudley Boys is that this skill is very lucrative and can also be a gift and a curse. Their inboxes are often flooded with requests as a result of this newfound fame. Take a listen as Mario and Carlos discuss paid promotions, video appearances, family, topics they stay away from and bringing positivity to the city of Memphis.

Music is a way of life for my guest for episode 34 Tonya Dyson. This singer/songwriter is the founder of NeoSoulVille which is a Memphis lifestyle marketing and event production firm that caters to the “soulful” side of life. Take a listen as Tonya gives us a rich lesson in music history with the birth of Stax Records and Hi Records. As many of you know, the recording industry is filled with numerous stories of talented artists having to navigate their way through unmerited contracts. Much has changed since then however Ena and Tonya discuss many parallels that are still seen today in the music business from generating multiple streams of income to cultivating an acceptance for original music. Tonya also describes the significance of her recent trip to Cuba and how when she returned home she was robbed blind. As a result, she is now a resident at the South Main ArtSpace Lofts which is home to creatives of all disciplines to live and work.

Memphis definitely lives in my guest for episode 33. DeVonte Payton wears the "M" proudly as he advocates for engagement and development in the community involving schools, families, nonprofits, and private sector. As you take a listen to his journey you'll find that the road hasn't always been easy. While many of us were enjoying our college years in our late teens, DeVonte was shaping his work ethic and starting a family. This UofM graduate walks us through his passion for education, career changes, unemployment, "downtown living" and his love for craft beer. He also has a major announcement to share with everyone regarding his next move with charter schools.

Cultured can be defined as being refined, educated and polished. My guest for episode 32, Rhobb Hunter Jr., definitely fits into those categories. He's lived in multiple cities and countries throughout the world and is part owner of Robusto by Havana Mix cigar lounge in the heart of downtown Memphis. You many have seen him on the reality show “Bar Rescue” that offers professional expertise and renovations to businesses. Also, discover how he moved to Memphis to assist his father Rhobb Sr. in penetrating the $20 billion cigar industry. Of that $20B, African Americans only capture 2%. As a result, there are huge plans underway to grow the business. Take a listen as he enlightens us on tales from the Far East, side effects of the cigar industry and their upcoming cigar festival.

Many of you may know my guest for episode 31 for his contributions with the Memphis music scene and the Shelby County school system. However, Peppa's story begins growing up in the South Memphis community. As a graduate of White Station High School he was introduced to the music business early on by DJ Paul. This relationship flourished into artist management and Peppa becoming the Vice President of Def Jam South and being very instrumental in Yo Gotti's career. Take a listen as Peppa gives the raw and uncut stories of Memphis artists breaking into the business and how he continuously reinvents himself within the industry. As of today, Peppa has found a bigger purpose which is philanthropy. He walks us through how he developed the billboard campaign for Shelby County Schools in addition to improving school registration through his community engagement projects. Although Peppa is heavily involved with the school system, his love for music has not wavered. On Sept 2nd, Peppa is presenting the Memphis Lege

Nothing but good vibes ever since I met my soror Tiffany Dotson. And if you know her, you would know that she is one of Lil Wayne's biggest fans. He actually inspired her to get 26 tattoos. Her love of art has a story behind it. And her love for music goes even deeper. Tiffany is one of the few award winning female promoters in the city of Memphis. Although this is a male dominated industry, TDOT has excelled with flying colors. Her artist showcase series entitled "Speakerboxx" has featured many talented artists from the city and is now currently "on road." Take a listen to episode 30 as Tiffany walks us through growing up in Germantown, being a classically trained pianist, college life, being an educator and lastly her love for the music business.

The law can be interpreted in so many ways. It seems as though the world we live in today forces us to understand and sometimes challenge the law as it stands. In episode 29, Ena sits down with her soror Victoria Young who is currently approaching her last year of law school at University of TN College of Law. They discuss her road to law school as a native Memphian in addition to various projects she has in the works. She is about to open Spincult in the heart of the Medical District on August 25 which is an indoor cycling studio. In addition, she will host the first edition of Le Dîner en Blanc Memphis on next Saturday, August 4, 2018 for over 1000 guests. As you listen to this epidsode you will see how Victoria has made it a priority to promote the culture and rich soulful history of the city.