Three Stores, Two Cotton Gins, and One Remarkable Life

"Reverend and Representative" Johnny Shaw, growing up in Laconia, TN, as the youngest of 11, was the golden voice of the church choir. He has become the voice urging citizens to vote for change by representing District 80 of Tennessee since January 2001.

From being rejected for having a "Black Voice" to spreading Black Gospel Music globally through his Shaw’s Broadcasting, his story is inspiring. In this candid conversation, he exp...

The ability to just show up and do what others have not tried will give you the confidence to break new ground. Civil Miller-Watkins is the Vice-Chair of the Fayette County School board, a mother, grandmother and politician.

Over the years, she has contested for a couple of offices that many black women do not even think about running for. Although she did not win some of the elections, she came out with life lessons that can help ...

Managing people is one of the hardest things that you do as a leader. Every day leaders complain about their teams and try to create new ones as though that would solve the problem.

In this episode, Justin L. Harris, a certified Human Resources Professional and Practitioner with over 20 years of experience, shows us that there is a better way to manage people and lead them towards productivity. Throughout the podcast, he echoes the...

All the way from Downtown ‘no place’ in Tennessee to becoming Professor of Christian Education, Spiritual Formation, and Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS), Rev. Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield has traveled a long way on the winding course of life.

His journey from being an accountant to becoming pastor, church administrator, fraternity president, professor, author, and mentor will inspire you to embrace the changes th...

Pamela Marshall is an extraordinary woman, who at 19 started anchoring the news on WBBJ Channel 7 in Jackson Tennessee. She went on to excel in many top positions and today she shares her life experiences and shows us how believing in your God-given gift, mixed with forgiveness and empathy can help you become the best version of yourself.

One of the things we struggle with the most is forgiveness. Many times, we find it difficult t...

Ida Prewitt Suggs was born in Stanton, Tenn., the second of 11 children, and the eldest daughter. When Ida’s parents couldn’t afford to send her to college, she had to figure out how to make her big dreams come true! In the meantime, she inspired her siblings, and became a woman of influence, a leader and an amazing woman of God.

Over the course of her incredible life, she’s touched many lives, and in this podcast, she shares what ...

Angela Lee is a leader, mentor, and inspirational figure within her community. Having worked for 10 years managing her own AT&T store in Michigan, she moved to Tennessee and is making an impact in the community she spent time in growing up. Inspired by the life of her grandparents, Angela has been a beacon of hope within the neighborhood, serving as the president of the Concerned Citizens of the Douglas Community.

By the end of thi...

Steven Dale Jones is an American multi-award-winning songwriter, composer and lyricist. His work has resulted in over 150 cuts and over 20 million records sold by artists including Bonnie Raitt, George Strait, Alabama, Reba McEntire, John Legend, Kenny Rogers, Diamond Rio, and Mindy McCready.

On top of that, he has earned nine ASCAP awards, a Grammy nomination and a Dove Award.

Steven Dale Jones hails from a musical family and attr...

Travelius "Trell" Harris is more than just an engineer. He is a world traveler and founder of the Alita A. Watkins Memorial Scholarship, a nonprofit organization established in 2010 which awards scholarships to deserving graduating students, in memory of his mother. He is also the owner of Annie Lue Estates, a real estate business established in 2013 that provides affordable housing to well over 100+ individuals.

In 4th grade, Trel...

Sherron Burgess is the Senior Vice President and Global Chief Information Security Officer at BCD Travel, the second largest travel company in the world.

BCD operates out of 109 countries, and it is Sherron’s responsibility to ensure cyber security for the entire global operation.

Sherron is just one of two African American women who hold this title, and she is the youngest (still in her 30’s). Sherron attributes her success to t...

Overview:

Pug Fuller grew up in Brownsville, TN where he accelerated through school and began studies at the University of Tennessee at just 16 years of age.

When he started at UTKnoxville, in 1968, there were about 120 African American students out of 25,000. He received a B.S. in education and three master’s degrees.

Pug spent many years teaching and in administrative roles at and after a stint working in a video lab, he develope...

From the age of 7, Joshua Trotter has always wanted to become a businessman.

When he was 12, he approached his mother and told her of his to become an entrepreneur.

Joshua’s mother Katrecia Miller, gave him some leg work to complete to ensure he was serious about his venture. After weeks of research, Joshua had an industry he was interested in: candle making. He presented a business name, completed his product research, and calcula...

Rev. Roger Anthony Hopson has a lot to share when discussing how to get from there to here.

As the oldest in his family, Rev. Hopson talks about how his brother Vincent is his best friend and how they had a blast spending time together, both in school and outside it.

His story proves that even if a person thinks he has planned his life all out, things can change in the blink of an eye .

Listen to Rev. Hopson’s remarkable story abou...

Being the 7th out of the 8 siblings, and the younger brother of Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson, Reginald Bond has a lot of wonderful and exciting experiences to share.

Aside from enjoying being the youngest in the family for 14 years before his lovely baby sister arrived, Reginald is also very vocal about his love for farm life. He loves the smell of fresh air and nature but in Texas Reginald started getting into different jobs which grea...

Dr. Dorothy Granberry has a lot to share when talking about getting from there to here.

As a middle child with parents who fully supported her education, she was able to overcome any adversities that came her way.

Dr. Granberry has played a key role in bringing history alive and generating more awareness of the African American community and their contributions.

Her life story proves that money should not be an obstacle to receivin...

Vincent Hopson is a remarkable member of his household. Born in Savannah, TN, yes, there is one in Tennessee, Vincent has dedicated his life to his family. When things went topsy-turvy, he stood steadfast in the face of adversity—taking life one day at a time. His experiences dealing with an injury at work and then with his wife’s onset of dementia made him realize the importance of humility and how pursuing a godly life can make d...

Dr. Jo Zanice Bond’s love for learning has taken her far. Hailing from Brownsville, TN, she found herself pursuing a Ph. D. and eventually becoming a professor at Tuskegee University. Her life experiences opened her eyes to the importance of persistence, and revealed why ‘elbow grease’ pays off eventually. It also showed her the big responsibility of nurturing young minds and the importance of the African diaspora in her school com...

Meet child #1 in the Bond family, Dr. Norma Jean Bond Burgess. She’s someone who has built a fulfilling career in academia and has been a great inspiration to her family and each student and colleague she has interacted with.

But what really pushed Dr. Burgess to this point? She reflects on the guiding principles in her life, her role as the Bond family’s oldest child, and how she reframed the way she views leadership in this newes...

Meet child #3 of the Bond family, Attorney Linda Bond Edwards. Entering law school at the exciting age of 35, Linda went through a faith-filled journey that led her to different corporate positions and from Illinois to Hawaii, and from California to Connecticut.

She believes the path that God set out for her is far more perfect than what she could ever plan for herself... and this has guided her throughout a life well-lived.

Hear m...