Shows
Black Men We KnowEpisode 8: Jamoki DantzlerWhat a perfect time to talk with this month's guest Jamoki Dantzler, a Licensed Professional Counselor! We visited his childhood as a military brat in Germany and all over the US before moving on to his desire to embrace his Black identity and his efforts to find parent-approved role models, like the Fresh Prince (so timely!). We laughed at how, for both of us, Black stand-up comedy inspired and attracted us in the 80s, and how we both harbor unrealized dreams of stand-up careers. And we eventually, gravitated towards big questions like why Black kids so often don't seek...2022-04-2459 min
Black Men We KnowBlack Men We Know: IntroAfter six months and six full episodes, it's time for another run at the intro. So join me for the intro and then join us each month as we talk work and life with black men who are making it in the US today. Thanks for checking this out! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/blackmenweknow/support2022-04-0804 minBlack Men We KnowEpisode 7: Raphael OgoeIn this episode, we get to talk with an architect, a profession that has held my admiration and interest since I was a kid. My guest was architect and artist Raphael Ogoe of Rafagoe Studio https://rafogoe.com. In this eye-opening conversation, the Ghanaian-American designer walks us down his path to today, from his childhood passions and early views on America to his move from Accra to New Jersey for study and his awakening to race and racism in the US to his experience studying and working in architecture. While his work on Philly's Museum of the American Revolution a...2022-03-111h 02Black Men We KnowEpisode 6: Todd SingletonIn this episode, I talk with IT executive at Microsoft Todd Singleton. Today, a lot of our assumptions about what a computer engineer looks and acts like have changed dramatically since the days of bad fashion and pocket protectors in the 1980s. But Todd's story will stomp all over many of the assumptions that you have left. We talk about his leadership role with Microsoft's Azure Group and previous roles at IBM and Google but also about the lack of African-American IT workers in Silicon Valley. We take a whirlwind trip through Todd's international childhood, as a military brat...2022-02-081h 02Black Men We KnowEpisode 5: Judge Kenneth Garrett IIIIn this episode, I talk with another Black Nascar fan. But he's also a Judge for the Jackson County Circuit Court. Beyond explaining in plain English what exactly he does as a judge (can't we all use a refresher?), we chat about his path to this position and what he tries to do with it, both on and off the bench. We explore his challenges in making it to college, let alone law school and his experiences as one of a tiny number of Black men and women in law school and, and of even fewer Black judges. The...2022-01-041h 01Black Men We KnowEpisode 4: Jason DukesIn this month's episode, our third full episode (!), I talk with Jason Dukes of Captain's Chair Coaching (https://captains-chair.com). He takes us through his journey from organizing neighborhood bicycle races as a kid to running race tracks for NASCAR to his most recent endeavor as an executive and life coach. We talk about race in the world of racing (ha ha ha), supportive family and friends who didn't understand his accomplishments, the importance of just showing up as a black man, tons more. So please tune in and enjoy!--- This episode is sponsored...2021-12-031h 00Black Men We KnowEpisode 3: Brandon Calloway of G.I.F.T.In this second full episode, I'm chatting with Brandon Calloway, cofounder of G.I.F.T. (Generating Income for Tomorrow) in Kansas City, Missouri. There is some feedback from my airpods and a squeaky chair. But, more importantly, there is also a great introduction to this amazing organization that gives grants to local entrepreneurs trying to start or grow businesses in the redlined neighborhood where my grandma used to live. We talk about Brandon's path through the military and a career in the fitness industry to non-profit sector, a very special eighth grade teacher, talking big money with big...2021-11-081h 03Black Men We KnowEpisode 2: Sam FrenchIn this episode, the first full episode of the show, I talk with carpenter and craftsman Sam French of Gill Clear Country Woodworks in Gill Massachusetts about the beautiful woodwork that he created to fulfill a commission for the new Nielson Library at Smith College, a building designed by the famous designer Maya Lin. We also chat about his journey to now and about topics such as the transmission of a craft, taking risks, and defining success. But of course we also explore difficulties and difficult realizations related to growing up as an African American male in the US and...2021-10-0653 min