Underground Magnolia Podcast

This episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast features Nyla Choates, youth activist, entrepreneur, and author. The 19-year-old founded the nonprofit My Roots are Rich when she was in high school. The Milpitas, California based organization combats systemic racism by holding a range of self-pride and literacy workshops across the country. In 2021, she organized a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in her hometown. Just a year later,...

Saxophonist Andre Ward, who has been on the contemporary jazz scene for over 25 years, joins Underground Magnolia Podcast to talk about  his latest album, "Africa Rising" and his storied background.  

The Chicago native discusses the following:

• "Africa Rising," as a whole, tells a story about love and relationships to a conscious beat of Black Excellence. 
• Retellings of The Emotions' 1977 classic...

This episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast features Lenny Green, the host of the popular syndicated radio show, “The Quiet Storm with Lenny Green.”

Listen in to hear Lenny discuss the following:

• Meaning of "Quiet Storm" 
• Artists he spins during show
• Genre being more than just celebrating romantic love 
• Recognizing "Quiet Storm" radio stars of the past
• Recording show at homebase station, WBLS in New Yor...

Taliah Givens, Senior Director of the United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) Student Professional Development Programs,  joins Underground Magnolia to tell listeners all about the organization's: 

• Invitational Student Leadership Conference
• Entrepreneurial Division
• Scholarships/Internships
• Career Fairs
• 80-year history of providing college scholarships and additional resources
• HBCUs and other institutions they represent
• Vice Presi...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and on this episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast, Tyra Valteau Sorapuru, a Mental Wellness Coach and Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 30 years, joins in to discuss effective tools for all around healthy living.  

We discuss the following: 

• Balancing your feelings 
• COVID-19 forcing African Africans and other People of Color to seek help
• Helping  family and friends who need me...

In this episode, host/producer, Desireia Valteau, is back with Part 4 of the long-awaited addition to the series, "Chasing DNA & Family Roots: Being Creole (Louisiana)." 
 
 Desireia interviews, Dr. Wendy Gaudin, a professor of 22 years in the disciplines of History and African American and Diaspora Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana, the renowned HBCU in New Orleans. She specializes in race, racial mix...

Jazz pianist, bandleader, and educator Hey Rim joins this episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast (recorded Dec 2022) to talk about her latest album "Groovitude," that's packing a punch on the jazz charts.

Listen in as we discuss:

• Why the album's dedicated to her father 
• Standard jazz songs, original music, and Korean songs featured
• Working with Grammy-winning jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington
• How fame...

This episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast shines the spotlight on jazz musician T.S. Monk, also the son of jazz legend Thelonious Monk.

After a decade plus recording absence, he’s back with  the live album “Two Continents, One Groove.” 

The prolific jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader discusses:

• Why it took so long to release a new project.
• The meaning of the album's title.
• His band's contribution, includin...

On this episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast, Doctor Bob Lee discusses: 

• His longstanding career at WBLS, one of the most influential radio stations in the nation and the Black community.
• Being the President, Founder & CEO of the Make the Grade Foundation (https://makethegrade4u.org/), a non-profit that provides mentoring, tutoring, and aid to students of all ages in the NY tri-state area.
• Being the  author of several books...

This episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast features Lorraine Lionheart, a singer and songwriter heating up the global music scene. 

Hailing from Botswana in Southern Africa and based in the UK, she boasts a sound that fuses traditional African music with contemporary Afropop. The sexy singer already has four independent albums and several singles under her belt that explore a new-ish African beat called amapiano.

In addit...

On this episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast,  Cynthia Hardy discusses how to excel in business, especially for Black Women, Women, and People of Color, 

Cynthia is the CEO and Founder of the Atlanta-based Pivot Global Partners. Her company is a global professional service firm offering, “change design and implementation services to mid-sized and larger organizations." Pivot Global raises a company’s performance, f...

On  this episode of Underground Magnolia Podcast, Melba Moore discusses: 

• New song, “So In Love,” from her upcoming "Imagine" album, which is slated for release in April 2022.
• New music on her daughter's independent record label. 
• Becoming an "Auntie" to younger audiences thanks to DJ's such as D-Nice.
• Legendary recording and stage career:
  • Released over 20 albums since 1970 and earned several R&...

On this episode,  real estate broker Caitlin Coakley breaks down the complicated real estate market that’s been hot for sellers but has put buyers in a tailspin.

Based in the greater Seattle area, Caitlin is a third-generation realtor with 15 years of experience. She even obtained her real estate license in Washington state while still in high school. This go-getter has since risen through the ranks to found her own real estate comp...

This episode features astrological predictions and  insights for the New Year with modern mystic Lani Moran, the founder of Astrocast, who is also a sought-after open format DJ and content creator.

Astrocast Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astro.cast/
Website: https://www.astrocastofficial.com/

Contact:
Underground Magnolia website: (https://www.undergroundmagnolia.com/)
Instagram: @UMPodcastDV (...

This episode is a wide-ranging conversation with Dr. LaReesa Ferdinand, a board-certified OB/GYN for close to twenty years and the founder and CEO of The Estrogen Doctor company (based in the Greater Orlando, Florida area).

We will tackle topics including (in this order):

• Differences between women over 40 and women under 40. 
• Helping women live not just longer but fulfilled lives with energy and vitality.
• Menstruation (Wh...

On this episode, Tommy Miles, the host of the popular OWN network show  "Ready To Love," talks about the new season in D.C. , love connections on the show, dating tips, and  how to make a marriage work. Nephew Tommy also discusses his new venture - a grits company, Just Good Gritz (https://justgoodgritz.com/).

Contact:
Underground Magnolia website: (https://www.undergroundmagnolia.com/)
Instagram: @UMPod...

This episode highlights Rae Shaw, the director and screenwriter of the upcoming web series Black Kung Fu Chick. 

Set in South Los Angeles, the web series is about a young African American girl (played by up-and-coming actress Taylor Polidore), who needs guidance with achieving her goal of becoming a doctor. One of her teacher's (played by Chinese actor Peter Boon Koh) gives her the boost she needs to reach her dreams both profe...

This episode highlight's Ella's Eve Cosmetics, an e-commerce makeup brand founded by sisters Melissa Polanco and Lissa Martinez.

Polanco and Martinez are proud Latinas repping their Dominican heritage in an industry that is offering up more and more beauty brands by Women of Color for Women of Color.

The host catches up with  Polanco to discuss how the company started, the importance of Latina and WOC owned beauty brands,  ...

This third part episode features Dr. Tukufu Zuberi, who served as host of PBS’ History Detectives from 2003-2011. 

The Professor of Sociology & Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania does a deep dive regarding the complexity of race and identity. He takes DNA tests to task and even goes so far to say that they are a "joke" and are NOT the answer to finding one's roots. 

Listen now to this lively and con...