The City Sculptors Podcast

What happens when a conversation about an economic gap turns into a movement for change?

In this episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Brandon Calloway, Founder and CEO of Kansas City G.I.F.T., for a conversation about entrepreneurship, access to capital, and the power of investing in local businesses.

Kansas City G.I.F.T. began with a simple idea: talented Black entrepreneurs already have the vis...

What happens when you walk away from the career that looks successful to pursue the work that feels purposeful?

In this episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Casie Murph, “Murph the Barber,” master barber, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of The BeVel Barber Lounge in Kansas City.

After spending 20 years in corporate America as an IT professional, Casie made the decision in 2017 to ...

What does it take to build a stronger city? According to Clyde McQueen, it starts with investing in people.

In this episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Clyde McQueen, President and CEO of the Full Employment Council (FEC), to discuss how workforce development has become one of the most powerful tools for creating economic opportunity across the Kansas City region.

With more than three decades of...

What does it really take to create safer, stronger communities?

In this episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Murray Woodard, Director of COMBAT, to discuss the power of prevention, community partnerships, and investing in people before problems arise.

From youth development and substance use treatment to neighborhood revitalization and public safety, Murray shares how COMBAT is working to address...

The City Sculptor's Podcast brings the heat — literally. Clemente Luna, owner of Luna Heating & Cooling, sits down to talk about what it took to build his business, what keeps him going, and why Kansas City has his heart. From the grind of entrepreneurship to the pride of being a local business owner who invests in his community, Clemente's story is proof that some of the most important city-builders never run for office....

Mayor Watson didn't come to the seat to maintain the status quo — she came to build something. The first Black woman elected mayor in Kansas City, Kansas history sits down with The City Sculptor's Podcast to talk legacy, leadership, and what it really means to develop a city without leaving your community behind. We cover everything from her path through education and nonprofit work, to the real talk on stadiums, housing, bud...

What do you do when the space you need doesn't exist? You build it. In this episode of City Sculptors, host Alexis Williams sits down with Deejay Nimrod, co-founder of the Outsiders Social Club, a Kansas City hub designed for creatives, thinkers, and culture-builders who never quite fit into traditional spaces. After returning to Kansas City, Deejay and co-founder Ellen Nimrod recognized a gap in the community and turned that reali...

Dr. Howard has spent his career at the corner of faith and action — facilitating re-entry sessions, serving returning citizens, and challenging Kansas City communities to take second chances seriously. In this episode, he opens up about the road that shaped him, the spiritual convictions that drive him, and the hard truths about what it takes to break cycles of incarceration. He speaks plainly about accountability, the gaps i...

What does it take to build a safer, more equitable city from the inside out? In this episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson — a Kansas City native who has spent her career at the intersection of justice, public safety, and community transformation.

From her roots in one of Jackson County's most challenged neighborhoods to serving as Kansas City Mayor ...

In this episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Councilwomen Melissa Patterson Hazley for a powerful conversation on leadership, policy, and the future of Kansas City.

From her roots in Kansas City Public Schools to her background in educational psychology and research, Councilwoman Patterson Hazley shares how her journey shaped her approach to public service and community impact. She offers insigh...

The City Sculptors Podcast by Twelfth Street Heritage returns for Season 2 with a powerful story of resilience, passion and purpose.

In this episode, host Alexis Williams sits down with Kansas City native and Executive Chef Jayaun Smith, a visionary whose journey into the culinary world began out of necessity and transformed into a thriving career.

Raised by a single mother who had him at just 14 years old, Chef Jayaun learned early ...

The Season 1 finale of The City Sculptors Podcast is a full circle moment.

In this final episode, we turn the spotlight on the woman who created the platform and guided every conversation this season. Host Alexis Williams steps into the guest seat for a powerful and personal conversation about vision, leadership, and the work happening behind the scenes to shape Kansas City’s future.

Alexis is the Chief Operating Officer of Twe...

Join us as we talk with Shell West, the passionate founder of Show Me You Care KC! Since 2019, Shell has been dedicated to uplifting the Kansas City community through powerful outreach programs. Discover the inspiration behind her incredible generosity and hear how her non-profit is actively making a difference by feeding the homeless, equipping students with Back to School essentials, creating "Once Upon a Prom" magic for high sch...

In Episode 13 of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with Andy Rieger, the visionary behind the revival of Kansas City’s iconic pre-Prohibition distillery, J. Rieger & Co. After leaving a successful career in private equity and investment banking, Andy returned home in 2014 to restore his family’s historic brand. What began as a bold leap away from spreadsheets has since transformed into one o...

In this thought-provoking episode of The City Sculptors Podcast, host Alexis Williams sits down with actor, activist, and entrepreneur Malik Yoba for an in-depth conversation about the intersection of purpose, business, and community.

From co-founding Iconic 32, a social enterprise that merges pop culture with social impact, to launching Yoba Development, Malik has dedicated his life to empowering people and building communities fro...

The City Sculptors Podcast by Twelfth Street Heritage takes you behind the scenes of development and community building. Join host Alexis Williams as she interviews industry leaders, visionaries and local change-makers shaping the future of our neighborhoods. From innovative housing solutions to community-driven projects, discover how cities evolve one block at a time.

In this episode, we sit down with Jason, a visionary leader whos...