
The Blackstage
By The Blackstage

The BlackstageMar 26, 2021

Virginia Lowman

John B. King Jr.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., joins The Blackstage to discuss his journey.

Jacques Morel
Cultural commentator and host, Jacques Morel joins Blackstage to discuss recent deaths in the Hip Hop community.

Dr. Lonise Bias
Dr. Lonise Bias, mother of basketball legend Len Bias, discusses the power of healing.

Michele Ghee
Michele Ghee, CEO of Ebony Magazine joins the podcast to discuss her journey and the relaunch of an iconic brand.

Marcus Stanback
Marcus Stanback, founder of Daily Growth Yoga, talks us through the journey of yoga, wellness, entrepreneurship, vulnerability and impacting the youth.

Dr. Ruth and Dr. Mary-Andrée
Dr. Ruth and Dr. Mary Andrée unpack all things sex, body image, and health education.

Adriano Espaillat
US Congressman Adriano Espaillat joins the podcast to discuss his journey, politics, race, and the next generation of leaders.

Khalil Kain
Actor Khalil Kain joins the podcast to discuss his 30+ career, the 30th anniversary of Juice, and his friend, Tupac.

Owners: The Series
For episode 6 of Blackstage we partnered with Moorelight Studios to bring to the platform “Owners,” an original series and official selection of American Black Film Festival.
“Owners” follows Terence, a 30-something who is tired of feeling the constraints of being a minority in the workplace. He decides to start his own company to become an owner, but his decision to do so erupts his life into chaos.
Creator, Writer, Executive Producer: DeAngelo Moore
Director: Leonex
Director of Photography: Gerard Pickett

HipHopEd
7 years after their original conversation, Dr’s Ian P Levy, Emily Bailin Wells, Edmund Adjapong, and Brian Mooney join a virtual round table to discuss HipHopEd, Race, and Healing.

Dossé-Via
Astrologer, model, mother, and entrepreneur, Dossé-Via, discusses heritage, love, and ScorpioMystique.

Jason Reynolds
New York Times bestselling author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds, shares his story into how he became the top American author of our time.

Lilly Workneh
Award-winning journalist, speaker and strategist, Lilly Workneh, shares her journey in creating meaningful and mission-driven media.

Jonathan Jackson
Creative visionary, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur, Jonathan Jackson, shares his journey to co-founding media company, Blavity.

Felecia Hatcher
CEO of Black Ambition, Felecia Hatcher, discusses the importance of investing in Black led organizations and companies.

Kadidja Dosso
Kadidja Dosso, founder and CEO of Dosso Beauty, and Black Ambition HBCU Prize Winner on the power of Black women entrepreneurs and building legacy.

Rashiid Coleman and Vincent Cobb II
Co-founder’s of Summer House Institute, Rashiid Coleman & Vincent Cobb II, share the secrets of how to build and maintain a successful partnership as entrepreneurs.

Reuben Ogbonna
Reuben Ogbonna, co-founder and Executive Director of the Marcy Lab School shares his leadership journey and his views on the future of the American education system.

A. Walton Smith
A. Walton Smith, founder and CEO of Black Woman Owned discusses the importance of investing in Black women, their businesses, and their futures.

Travis Mason
From flying cars to bitcoin mining, 776 Operating Partner Travis Mason shares his journey in technology and policy.

Jelani Anglin and Gabe Leader Rose
Founders, Jelani Anglin & Gabe Leader Rose, share how they built Good Call - a 24/7 hotline (833-3-GOODCALL) that anyone can call if they or a loved one get arrested.

Sherrell Dorsey
Sherrell Dorsey, founder and CEO of The Plug discusses Black innovation, Black owned media, and how consistency is key to any start up.

Davon Johnson
Davon Johnson, architect and production designer, discusses setting the vision, knowing your history and following your dreams.

Jerelyn Rodriguez
Jerelyn Rodriguez, Co-Founder & CEO of The Knowledge House, shares how her South Bronx-based nonprofit is committed to building a diverse pipeline of tech talent by investing in communities.

Brittany Young
Founder of B360, Brittany Young shares how growing up in Baltimore inspired her to build an organization where young adults acquire life skills to secure educational and career opportunities and change the negative perceptions of dirt bike riding while doing it.

Archie Clay III and Tajh Crutch
Founders of WearBrims, Archie Clay III and Tajh Crutch share their story starting from humble beginnings to building a business that became the first Black-owned luxury hat brand to be sold in Nordstrom stores.

Cheryl Dorsey
Cheryl Dorsey, a trailblazer in the social entrepreneurship movement, and the president of Echoing Green, shares her journey.

Devin Allen
American photographer, photojournalist, and activist based in Baltimore, Devin Allen, shares how he turned his pain into his passion.

Jordan Stockdale
Executive Director of New York City’s Young Men's Initiative, Jordan Stockdale, shares how he found his passion to support and provide positive impact the lives of young people.

Ritchie Torres
In 2020 Ritchie Torres became the first gay Afro Latino elected to Congress. As he navigates the the weight of history on his shoulders in the midst of global pandemic he shares his journey from the Bronx to Washington.

Ricco Siasoco
Writer, educator, and activist Ricco Villanueva Siasoco joins Blackstage to discuss the history of racism against Asian Americans in the US and how to combat AAPI hate.

Moses Ingram
Queen’s Gambit’s breakout actress Moses Ingram shares her journey from West Baltimore to Yale University to Hollywood.

Alex Hill
Food blogger and culinary instructor Alex Hill shares her journey into becoming a chef, the lack of diversity in the food industry, and overcoming imposter syndrome.

Mayor Brandon Scott
Baltimore’s city’s Mayor Brandon Scott joins the podcast to discuss his family history, his love for the city he serves, and why he always will remain unapologetically himself.

Dr. Travis Bristol
University of California, Berkeley’s Dr. Travis Bristol discusses his incredible journey navigating the world of education with empathy as both a student and a change maker.

Jamira Burley
Activist and administrator Jamira Burley, the Head of Youth Engagement and Skills at the Global Business Coalition, joins Blackstage to discuss her journey as well as the importance of championing Black women.

Natasha S. Alford
The Grio’s Vice President of Digital Content & Senior Correspondent, Natasha S. Alford discusses her journey in discovering her passion, what it means to “meet the moment”, and the state of Black owned media.

Dr. Amanda Washington Lockett / Arthur McFarlane III
In a first ever conversation with each other Dr. Amanda Washington Lockett, great-great granddaughter of Booker T. Washington and Arthur McFarlane III, great-great grandson of W.E.B. DuBois discuss building a brighter and better future for Black Americans.

Monique Doughty
Monique Doughty aka “Nurse Mo” shares her journey in becoming a global travel nurse turned well-being focused entrepreneur.

Jamiles Lartey
The Marshall Project’s Jamiles Lartey discusses his journey in finding his true calling and what to expect in the new era of politics.

Marcus Fitts
Founder of District Triathlon, Marcus Fitts discusses his mission to encourage, inspire, support and increase the diversity of participation in triathlon and endurance sports.

Lauren E. Banks
Lauren E. Banks, actress and activist, who currently stars on Showtime's crime drama, City On A Hill, discusses her journey to dedicating her life to storytelling and why Breonna Taylor deserves justice.

Taryn Finley
Editor of HuffPost Black Voices, Taryn Finley, discusses the power of the Black collective, Howard University, and what it truly means to having a seat at the table.

Denzel Whitaker
Actor and Entrepreneur, Denzel Whitaker discusses his acting journey from Great Debaters, Training Day and Black Panther to what it truly takes make it in Hollywood.

Imani Ellis
Founder of The Creative Collective NYC and CultureCon conference - Imani Ellis shares her story and her vision to create “brave spaces” for all creatives color.

Shemar Woods
A presidential election, a pandemic, and global calls for justice - the sports world is at the intersection of it all. Philadelphia Inquirer’s Director of Digital Sports Shemar Woods discusses what’s next for sports and his journey into sports journalism.

Andrew Nguyen
Founder of the O Agency and the Build Your Own Brand Conference, Andrew shares in a candid conversation how he defied life expectations and built a multi-million dollar business.

Hope Wiseman / Dr. Tara Conley
At the age of 25, Hope Wiseman became the youngest dispensary owner in the United States. She and professor Tara Conley discuss how the cannabis business must be used for social good.

Quincy Ledbetter
Words from the wise - Quincy Ledbetter, filmmaker, musician, photographer, on staying the course in your path.

Ronald Draper
Ronald Draper, founder of RD showroom, discusses how became the first Black-Artist to own a showroom in the Bronx.

Laolu Senbanjo
Laolu Senbanjo joins Blackstage as our inaugural guest. The Nigerian-born visual artist, musician, activist and human rights attorney shares his journey and the power in storytelling.