From the Concrete Podcast

Alex Ivany is an acclaimed editor known for standout work including The 13th, Queen Sugar, and Jay-Z and Beyonce's “Family Feud” from the Grammy-nominated album 4:44. In this From the Concrete episode, he reflects on how his photographer mother sparked his creative lens from childhood, how film school deepened his love for storytelling, and how his desire to connect to his roots fueled his commitment to elevating Black culture ...

Lekeith “Dashawn J” Williams-Jones is an independent filmmaker best known for his viral short film Urgency, which has garnered over 800,000 views on YouTube—making it one of the most-watched Black short films on the platform.

A writer, producer, and director—and proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University—Lekeith has been carving his own path with relentless hustle, vision, and creativity.

In this episode of From The Concrete,...

Raashi Kulkarni is a force to be reckoned with — a phenomenal composer and classically trained pianist whose work spans superhero television, Disney films, and award-winning documentaries. Her independent albums Raashi and Afterglow both topped the iTunes World Music Charts, showcasing her distinct ability to blend cinematic storytelling with global sound.

Raashi joins From the Concrete to share her journey as a creator, composer, ...

The legendary and hilarious showrunning duo John D. Beck and Ron Hart join us on From The Concrete to share their incredible journey — from meeting at Syracuse University to creating their very own Disney Channel Original Series, Liv and Maddie.

Beck and Hart pull back the curtain on their early days in the writers’ room, landing their first network job, and writing for some of our all-time favorites including Hey Arnold!, The Hughl...

Writer and Producer Stephanie McFarlane joins From the Concrete to share her inspiring journey from NYU Tisch School of the Arts to becoming an accomplished Supervising Producer on CBS’s hit series FBI. Stephanie opens up about her bold leap into writing, how rejection fueled her rapidly growing social media platform, and the lessons she’s learned navigating the entertainment industry.

In this episode, Stephanie gets real about exc...

You don’t want to miss this inspiring conversation with Emmy award-winning veteran producer Angela Renee Nichols, whose faith and foresight led her from the world of advertising to the biggest stages in daytime TV. In this episode of From the Concrete, Angela opens up about how she landed her first gig on The Ricki Lake Show, what it was like producing for legends like Queen Latifah, Steve Harvey, and Jennifer Hudson, and how divin...

Host and journalist Sárah Lee joins From the Concrete’s Briana Elmore to share her inspiring journey—from her early days on the radio in Decatur, Illinois, to interviewing icons like Michael B. Jordan and Pharrell. From working with brands like AT&T to starting her podcast Set Up 4 Success in her bedroom, the Hampton University graduate teaches us the importance of intentionality and staying the course, even when life complicat...

Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Daniel “D Smoke” Farris joins From The Concrete’s Briana Elmore to talk about his journey from Inglewood to international acclaim. From his breakout Run to Subtitles video series to three studio albums, D Smoke opens up about faith, navigating the music industry alongside family, and how he’s harnessing martial arts as a form of self-care and healing. He also shares why Inglewood, CA remains a...

Stand-up performer, writer, and director Rochee Jeffrey joins From The Concrete to share her remarkable journey—from leaving Jamaica as a child to writing on hit shows like Grown-ish and becoming an award-winning producer behind the acclaimed Yes, We Cannabis, starring Richard Kind and Method Man.

In this raw and inspiring episode, Rochee opens up about harnessing creativity from scars and not wounds, releasing her own projects ...

Social media star Austun Reid joins From the Concrete’s Briana Elmore to talk about the highs, the hustle, and the healing behind his rise to over 900,000 views. From viral skits to real-life connections with Kevin Hart and Will Packer, Austun reveals how he manifested his role in Fight Night and Bel-Air, built bonds with stars like Coco Jones, and why mental health matters more than ever in a digital-first world.

Don’t miss thi...

Introducing From the Concrete Podcast!

From the Concrete is a brand-new, exciting podcast that gives flowers to culture’s changemakers — while they can still smell them. 

Hosted by Briana Elmore and produced by the award-winning company Dirt-Stained Roses Productions, this series goes beyond highlight reels to spotlight the real, unfiltered stories behind Grammy-nominated artists, Oscar-nominated filmmakers, award-winning sho...