Verbally Effective

Did you know that up to 40% of the food supply in the U.S. is wasted, and up to 21% of Tennessee landfills are made up of wasted food. Locally, restaurants are second only to households in their generation of food waste in Memphis. As a program of Clean Memphis, Project Green Fork (PGF) contributes to a more sustainable Mid-South by helping local restaurants reduce their environmental impact. Ali Manning and Leann Edwards join me for episode 270 to discuss their mission of eliminating food waste via the 901 Save the Food Challenge. During this challenge, local restaurants collaborate with the organization on best practices and new strategies for updating their food waste management.

South Memphis native Carol Coletta is president and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership and named of the 100 most influential urban planning experts. She is leading the relaunch of a nonprofit to develop, manage and program six miles of riverfront and five park districts along the Mississippi River. Carol has been living in downtown Memphis since 1977 and is extremely passionate about the city. After traveling the world, Carol has studied and immersed herself in the art of building community. She discusses what prompted the need to redesign Tom Lee Park and the many experiences we can expect for the opening kicking off September 2nd. You'll learn some of the biggest lessons and strongest allies she's encountered throughout this project. Lastly, Carol shares with us the many hats she wears such as being a mother, dog mom, lover of cities and cancer survivor. Be sure to RSVP for the opening of Tom Lee Park on tomleepark.org.

North Memphis native Chef Eli Townsend sat down with Ena Esco for a live Verbally Effective podcast at the historic Cossitt Library in downtown Memphis last week. Chef Eli shared the intricate details of his upbringing including how his love for cooking began and opening a restraunt. Not only is Eli the owner of Dos Hermanos Cafe, he is also the President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and currently Mr. MidSouth Pride. Tap in and get inspired!

From Aretha Franklin, Al Green and Isaac Hayes to Three 6 Mafia, 8Ball & MJG and Yo Gotti, Memphis has always been fertile soil for producing music superstars. Entering that arena with all the aspirations of a young Al Green is rising singer/songwriter and Memphis native, Kendrick P. Like so many before him, Kendrick P. began singing in his grandfather’s church, learning to play piano and drums along the way. Today, Kendrick’s single, Get What You Give sits at #46 on Billboard’s Urban Radio Chart and is trending all over Shazam. The accompanying video, as well as several others (Don’t Look Back and Fake Love) are currently in rotation on BET Jams, Yo MTV, BET Soul and Music Choice. Kendrick is dropping his new project "Years & Tears" on August 18th on all platforms. Take a listen as Kendrick discusses his upbringing in East Memphis, his approach with this new body of work and when he fell in love with hip hop.

The annual Southern Heritage Classic Cultural Celebration is amongst us and I thought it would be fitting to have the founder, Fred Jones Jr. sit down with me for a live podcast at the historic Cossitt Library. Growing up in the Cleaborn Homes housing community in the Memphis area, Fred attended Booker T. Washington High School active in baseball, basketball, track and band. A severe football injury derailed his hopes of receiving a scholarship to college which led him to taking on jobs such as caddying for the Memphis Country Club and working at a florist on Vance. Fred had a gift for numbers which led him to receiving a job in the auditing department at Union Planters Bank and where he began their management program ultimately receiving BBA from Memphis State in 1971. At this point Fred made a transition and started working for Issac Hayes with Stax Records handling his finances. Having discovered a knack for putting together entertainers with large audiences in the most attractive venues, he started worki

Kontji Anthony is the CEO and co-founder of Youdle. Before Kontji became a technologist, she was the main co-anchor at WMC-TV in Memphis where she worked for 17 years. Kontji sits down with Ena Esco for a live podcast recording at the historic Cossitt Library. She shares that her goal is to scale the tech industry and make Memphis a destination for all things tech. With only 3% of AA in this industry, Kontji makes it her mission to advocate on the importance of teaching kids to code at an early age. In this conversation, you'll hear about Kontji's transition from news to tech, her relationship with family and why she chose Memphis as her home.

Take a listen to the live podcast with actor and social entrepreneur, Bertram Williams Jr. recorded live at Cossitt Library on June 29th. We discussed his passion for food justice coupled with his "Big Farma" persona that he's using as a tool to reach the youth. We also hit on the intricacies of the SAF/AFTRA writer's strike and how it has affected his work with P Valley. Esco's Pop Talk entered the discussion tackling topics such as Drake receiving a key to Shelby County and the current Memphis Mayoral Race. You'll definitely enjoy Bertram's take on unity in Memphis and making sustainability sexy. Bertram also shares his outlook for his Patreon platform in addition to continuing the Mamas Sundry podcast. Enjoy!

A proud North Memphis native, Tikeila Rucker is a mother of three. She is a dedicated educator, social, and civil rights activist, and a catalyst for change. With a passion for justice and equality, she has been actively involved in shaping her community for over a decade. Having served as the former President of the United Education Association of Shelby County (UEA), the local teachers' union, Tikeila has an extensive background in advocating for educational equity and uplifting the voices of teachers and students. Her experience as an educator has given her a deep understanding of the challenges within the education system and a determination to create positive change. As a servant leader Tikeila has consistently demonstrated her commitment to fostering community engagement and promoting social progress. Whether it's in the classroom, a boardroom, or on the streets, she is unwavering in her pursuit to shift the trajectory of civil and social justice in Memphis, TN. By forging meaningful relationships, r

Memphis native Darryl Sanford has been playing music all of his life. From playing the drums at the age of two and later matriculating to the piano, Darryl developed an ear for music. Darryl teaches music theory and is also a member of the legendary Bar-Kays. Darryl first started playing for churches as a teenager and has been playing for churches and choirs in the city of Memphis ever since. By the time he entered his twenties, he started breaking into secular music by playing for a jazz band and then eventually breaking off into the r&b and neo-soul scene in the city of Memphis and surrounding areas. After playing for many of the artists and singers in the city, he started playing for more mainstream artists in jazz and r&b, such as Shalamar, Howard Hewitt, Euge Groove, Kim and Kayla Waters, Alexander O’neal, and would eventually become a member of the legendary funk group The Bar-Kays. Darryl Sanford’s main motivation is to be a light and spread positivity through the power of music.

Event promoter and Manager of the PC Band, Jeromy "Pep" Thomas, joined me for a live interview on WYXR for Black Music Month. Hailing from West Memphis, AR, Pep's gift for music began in the church. He developed the PC Band ten years ago with four additional members consisting of singers and musicians. The letters "PC" stands for Perfect Combination which describes the PC Band's diverse style ranging from R&B to Blues. Their recent hit "Turn 'er Loose" is a huge sensation that is beloved by fans across the globe. Take a listen as Ena and Pep discuss a range of topics such as touring the U.S., creating new music, hacking social media's algorithm and his dual role as a manager and band member.

New York native and Sustainable Funding Coach, Stormi Banks joins me for Ep 260!!! Stormi is the founder of Pink Print, a digital consulting firm helping women entrepreneurs gain access to funding to start or scale their business. PInk Print has helped more than 10K women entrepreneurs gain access to over $5M in business funding. Take a listen as Ena and Stormi discuss how she established the Pink Print which is a well oiled machine for grant funding. Stormi shares that only 1% of women seek out grant funding for their business which led to her providing this much needed service. You'll also learn about some of the challenges Stormi has faced as an entrepreneur in addition to her goal of scaling the Pink Print.

We are ushering in Black Music Month with an AMAZING talent! With over a decade of experience in the entertainment field; Keia Johnson has made a name for herself as the multifaceted Artist that attacks each opportunity with gusto and her signature smile. Known for her bigger than life laugh and sultry voice Keia is no stranger to the Entertainment business. Officially starting her singing career after returning from American Idol, she has made local headlines and National ones alike. An Entrepreneur and Artist, she sings, acts, and creates experiences. Take a listen as Ena and Keia discuss the many adjustments involved growing up in a military family, navigating and building your brand in a new city and the business side of entertainment.

South Memphis native, Laquita Jones, is a Carver High School Graduate, Author and Serial Entrepreneur is one Memphis' most impressive and vibrant faces in the entertainment and business arena. For over 10 years, Xclusive Memphis has assisted with marketing and promotions for countless celebrities; as well as educating, empowering and equipping aspiring and new entrepreneurs who need help with branding and financial education. Take a listen as Ena and Laquita discuss the motivation behind Xclusive Memphis as she navigates this entertainment space in a male driven industry. You'll understand how Laquita approaches gatekeepers and fosters relationships while building such a premier brand. Laquita has most recently been chosen to be a part of the For(bes)The Culture 2023 class that represents black excellence who uplift black and brown communities through their crafts and philanthropic efforts. Also, be sure to tap in to Laquita's upcoming September 23rd conference, Girls + Gifts + Goals.

Holly Springs, Ms native, Cj Nevels, is an actor and entrepreneur with three years of experience on the stage and aspires to take on the film industry. His journey began at New Direction Church where he was featured in a Christmas play. What started as an act of service for the church, led to an aspiration for a career. Take a listen as Ena and CJ discuss the acting scene in Memphis, facing fears and finding purpose. You don't want to miss the segment "Change Roles" as CJ portrays two extremely different characters on the spot. ACTING CREDITS: “Married to a Cheater, In Love with a Husband” written by Bianca Richmond “When Mama is Gone” written by Kendrick Ross “Detours 2” written by Erica Jackson “Invisible Me” by Marcia West “The Dinner” by Basial “Something She Can Feel” by Terrell Monger

I recently had the opportunity to interview the student who helped Tom Shadyac with finding Memphis Rox in 2018, Chris Dean along with Executive Director, Zach Rogers and PR, Alex Williams. Listening to Chris tell his story about growing up in South Memphis and finding a strong connection with rock climbing was definitely insightful. Find out how Memphis Rox is enriching the community and traveling abroad with a purpose. Memphis Rox Climbing + Community is the nonprofit climbing gym in South Memphis founded by filmmaker Tom Shadyac in 2018! Since its opening, Memphis Rox has committed to providing opportunities for the local community to engage in healthy, active lifestyles through rock climbing, clean eating, travel, and outdoor exploration. In addition to 36,000 square feet of state of the art climbing, Rox offers a range of programs including climbing classes for all ages and experience levels, fresh and free meals, transitional housing, a low-cost sundry store with essential staples and free menstrual pr

On episode 255 we sit down with Flip My Life founders Marybeth Conley and Rick Woodall. You may remember Marybeth Conley gracing your television screens weekday mornings for Live at 9 on WREG news. Although MBC never wanted to be in broadcasting, her career spans over forty years with a start at a CBS affiliate in sales. Within three months, she quickly began her on-air journey known for asking the most genuine questions. Nowadays, Marybeth has joined the love of her life Rick Woodall and has started a new chapter. So what do a 40-year award-winning contractor and a 40-year Emmy-winning broadcaster do when they get a second chance at their first love? They develop a project that gives others a second chance. Flip My Life takes abandoned houses and renovates them back into homes for people returning to their communities from prison. It tells the stories of good people who have done bad things, and are working hard to redeem their lives. Tune in to Ep 255 to hear more about Marybeth and Rick's journey and the

Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs began her tenure as the 13th president of LeMoyne-Owen College on January 5, 2021. Dr. Bennett-Fairs is the second woman chosen to lead the only historically black college in Memphis, TN. Dr. Bennett-Fairs’ career spans 26 years in higher education. She is a trained vocalist and orator who has served as an associate professor and college administrator. However, her most cherished role is that of student advocate. Previously, Dr. Bennett-Fairs served as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Delta State University. A native of Lorain, Ohio, Dr. Bennett-Fairs began her postsecondary career at Kentucky State University as a non-tenure tract Instructor of Music. Dr. Bennett-Fairs’ career spanned 20 years at KSU where her final role was as the Vice President for Student Affairs. Dr. Bennett-Fairs is a HBUC alum of Fisk University where she sang and traveled worldwide with the esteemed Jubilee Singers. She also joined the Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. while attendin

I had the pleasure of chopping it up with sports journalist, writer and podcaster Parish Sharkey and artist, producer and radio personality Nicole Covington today on WYXR for Verbally Effective Live. We talked all things Memphis including Grizzlies, Tigers, WWE, Music and Culture. WYXR is in the midst of the Spring Pledge Drive and we happily raised over $200 during the show. Tune in now to check out Parish, Nicole and Ena live on the radio for a good cause.

Jamal Whitlow joins Ena for a second time around live on WYXR for Verbally Effective. Jamal is the founder of Privileged brand in addition to being the creator of LOL Music Festival. Take a listen as Jamal and Ena tackles Memphis culture and politics in the beginning and ends with deets on LOL Music Festival.

Eureka McAfee is a South Memphis native who is currently the Principal at Alcy Elementary School. She is a graduate of LeMoyne Owen College and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eureka begins the podcast with how the two of us first met when she and Coach Nedra Brown came to Millington, TN on a volleyball recruitment visit. McAFee talks about growing up in South Memphis being very active in sports and dance. She later matriculated to LeMoyne Owen College majoring in Education while playing volleyball. After graduation, Eureka began her teaching journey at Carnes Elementary pouring into the kindergartdners. Fast forward over two decades later, Eureka is now the Principal at Alcy Elementary providing value and structure. Eureka's gift of connecting with her students and staff is evident and recognized by MSCS. She has been coined "The Rapping Principal" and her videos have gone viral over the internet. Tap in to Eureka's amazing journey and discover how she's making a difference in the Memphis educatio