A Bright Idea

This week, I'm joined by Malik Roberts, also know as, Top Shelf Leek.In this episode, Malik and I talk about his music career and the importance of his early musical influences. We get into how he taught himself how to make music - a skill that’s actually harder than it seems and how 2020 was a turning point where he discovered he could turn his passion into a lucrative career. 

Later, he shares his experience on the evolving lands...

In this week’s episode, we are joined by my dear friend..A contemporary artist from Pittsburgh, PA, Lewis Pell to talk about the idea of “the starving artist” and why this concept doesn’t exist anymore. We discuss how Lewis went from trying to climb the corporate ladder in the environmental science industry to becoming a full time artist. 

Sponsors:

Chosen Advisory Group: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/bilal-...

In this week's episode, we are joined by Bryan Myers, the CEO of Solidcore, a boutique fitness studio that’s redefining what it means to build strength - mentally and physically. With over 130 locations across 25 states and DC, Bryan went from being a loyal Solidcore client to becoming its CEO, steering the company through remarkable growth while staying true to its core mission. Bryan and I talk about his unconventional path to e...

In this episode, we are joined by Aisha White, a dog groomer and owner of Haus Pups in based in Towson, Maryland. Aisha shares her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood marked by homelessness to finding her passion in dog grooming. She discusses the pivotal role animals played in her life, her dreams of becoming a veterinarian, and the various jobs she held before establishing her own business. Aisha shares her passion for...

In this week's episode I sit down with Rebecca Caesar, founder of Tinted Health, a platform designed to enhance representation in healthcare. Rebecca shares her journey through the healthcare industry, her experiences as a Black woman in leadership, and the motivation behind creating Tinted Health. In this episode, we dive into the importance of diversity, cultural sensitivity training for providers, and how technology can empower ...

Over 27 million adults in the United States with a mental illness are untreated, according to Mental Health America. Out of that number, only 1 in 3 Black adults seek help. One of the biggest barriers that adult with mental illness face is the out of pocket cost of treatment. In this episode of A Bright Idea, Jessica Smith, founder of the Mental Health Emergency Fund, is helping people in the Baltimore area afford therapy and med...

In this episode of A Bright Idea Podcast, I sit down with Cedric Singleton, managing partner at J.Galt Financial Suite. We discuss the importance of building business credit, the differences between corporate and entrepreneurial environments, and the common pitfalls that small businesses face. Cedric shares insights from his extensive corporate career and emphasizes the need for effective management, simplified business planning, a...

Joining us is Dumi Mabhena, the founder of Shanda Studio - An AI- powered app that streamlines podcast production, making content creation effortless. Through Shanda Studio, users save time and effort editing their podcast through Shanda Studio’s text based audio editing and publishing features.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Dumi Mabhena was inspired by the lack of diverse local stories in his home country and wanted to democratize p...

Welcome back for season 3 of A Bright Idea Podcast! In this episode of A Bright Idea, I reflect on my journey as an entrepreneur and podcaster. There was no other person who could help me tell this story but my sister, Kayla. Join us to discuss our childhood in Pittsburgh, the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in us, and my transition from media sales to launching her podcast. Our conversation highlights the importance of storytelli...

Tori, an investor at Vera Equity, specializes in early-stage enterprise software and AI startups. She earned her MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. During her time at Wharton, Tori was awarded the inaugural Hettie Simmons Love fellowship and the Edward B. Shils/Leonard L. Zeidman Fellowship in Entrepreneurship. She also held key positions as Mana...

On this week’s episode - we are joined by Doug Adams the owner of ⁠New Brooklyn Farms⁠. New Brooklyn Farms is an independently owned and operated urban farm and green event space, located on a formerly vacant residential lot in the heart of the Washington DC suburb Mount Rainier, MD.During his off time from his advertising career, Doug Adams made smoothies and juices made of natural ingredients. He sold his smoothies and juices at ...

When was the last time you read newspaper?
According to a 2022 survey conducted by the media insights projects, 44% of Gen Z report never received news and information from traditional sources compared with 45% of younger millennials and 31% of older millennials.
Kelsey Russell is looking to change that.
Kelsey Russell is a content creator and full time graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University. Through her...

On this week's episode- we’re Joined by the founder of Chosen Advisory Group, and Wealth Management Advisor Bilal Afolabi

Bilal was born in Togo, Africa, and moved to Hartford, Connecticut at 8 years old.

Bilal started his wealth management journey at 19 years old through a nationally ranked internship program at Northwestern Mutual. He was the number one intern in the Northeast, ranking Top 10 nationally out of twenty five hun...

Sometimes inconveniences can form brilliant ideas. In Arsha Jones's case it was the fact that her go-to wing spot and mambo sauce was no longer down the street. Arsha Jones- founder of Capital City Mambo Sauce was born and raised in Washington, DC. When she and her family moved to the suburbs, Arsha began making her own mambo sauce in her kitchen. Realizing she could give back to her community by creating “a taste of home,” Ar...

Jan Receski is the founder and CEO of @OnPar Now. A state-of-the-art indoor golf instruction and practice space located in the newly renovated Terminal building in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jan wasn’t always a golfer.. the first time she ever picked up clubs was in a golf elective in college.. but after a 30 year career with The Hillman Company, a prominent Pittsburgh Family office where she worked in Data sy...

On this week’s episode of a bright idea, we are joined by Zsameria Rayford - founder of Swapdc . Swap DC is a creative recycling event in Washington, D.C. That fosters a diverse community around swapping clothing for residence who want to reduce reuse and live a more sustainable life. Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 8 to 10% of global missions according to the United Nations economic commissions. Swap DC a...

On this week's episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Tye Barrett, the owner of Amami, an Italian leather handbag brand based in Los Angeles. Tye’s mission to celebrate individuality and self-love shines through her brand’s collection ‘Me’. From climbing the corporate ladder at Disney and Warner Brothers to embracing her unique path as a single parent, Tye’s story is one of resilience, self-acceptance, and empowerment....

Job hunters listen up! we’re delighted to introduce Cassandra Whitlow, CRS a highly accomplished Recruiter, Career Coach, and Author.Cassandra began her career at IBM in Information Technology, later transitioning to Human Resources and Recruiting where she found her true passion. Her extensive experience spans across Fortune 500 companies in diverse industries like telecommunications, banking, transportation, and insurance.Driven...