Category: Podcast

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 25: Flower to the People: The Blunt Truth — With Tucky Blunt, Co-Owner, Blunts + Moore, World’s 1st Social Equity-Owned Cannabis Dispensary

As the legal cannabis industry has expanded across the US over the past decade, green is the most prominent color seen in this space. In addition to the color of the flower, sales are projected exceed $30 billion in the US by 2023 and legal cannabis is said to support over 240,000 American jobs.

The colors that aren’t seen as frequently in the industry are black and brown. In an attempt to counter this history of disparity, many states and cities have implemented social equity programs in connection to the legalization of medical or adult cannabis use. Tune in as Tucky Blunt discusses navigating the cannabis business, the importance of education and networking within the industry, and his big plans for the future (hint hint: Forbes cover)!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 24: The Currency of Leadership is Transparency — With Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) Commissioner and mayoral candidate, Esteban “Steve” Bovo, believes he is best fit to be the next leader of Miami and what his vision for the County entails!  We discuss the importance of transparency in government,  updates on the SMART Plan, his thoughts on socialism in local government, stimulating the economy, and much more!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 23: Vision Without Action is a Daydream. Action Without Vision is a Nightmare — With Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier Suarez

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) Commissioner and mayoral candidate, Xavier L. Suarez, believes he is best fit to be the next leader of Miami and what his vision for the County entails!  We discuss addressing racial tension and protests in light of recent events, education and afterschool programs, the SMART Plan and BayLink, the brain drain, being hands on and connecting with constituents, stimulating the economy, and much more!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 22: Power of the Purse: Keeping Jobs and Profits in Miami-Dade County — With Miami-Dade County Mayoral Candidate Alex Penelas

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) mayoral candidate, Alex Penelas, believes he is the most qualified candidate to run the 7th most populous county in the United States!  Penelas has a passion for public service and improving people’s quality of life.  We discuss his thoughts on income inequality, sea level rise, the brain drain, equity in contraction, traffic, local job creation, and much more!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 21: Good Leaders Must First Become Good Servants — With Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava

In April 2019 Commissioner Levine Cava announced she was running for Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Deeply concerned by the prosperity gap, threat of sea level rise, and widespread distrust in County government, she set out to be #AMayorWhoCares about these and many other pressing issues facing our County. Her vision focuses on building efficient and effective county-wide transit, solving the affordability crisis, bringing quality jobs, addressing gun violence in our communities, preparing for sea level rise, and improving residents’ quality of life. As #AMayorWhoCares, Commissioner Levine Cava is committed to creating a County government that works for all.

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 20: Hone Your Craft; Leverage Your Gifts; Take Your Competitive Advantage — With New York Radio and Media Legend Fred ‘Bugsy’ Buggs

This is one of my most anticipated podcast episodes! My next guest is not just family, but someone who I personally and professionally admire. He is a glowing example of focus and preparation meeting opportunity and someone who is dominating and enjoying great success in a space that I, too, hope to achieve one day! I am honored to introduce the legendary Fred ‘Bugsy’ Buggs, one of New York’s most popular and well respected radio and media personalities! 

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 19: To the Window, To the Wall; Make All Your Haters Crawl — With Grammy Award-Winning Producer, Artist, and International DJ Lil Jon

I’m am SUPER crunk (hint hint!) about this episode! Today’s guest is one of the most prominent figures in music and pop culture, a crossover multi-platinum selling household name, and one of the most recognized entertainers in the music industry. In case you haven’t guessed yet, I’m referring to the legendary, Grammy and Billboard award winning rapper, songwriter, front man of one of my favorite rap groups — Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz –, a fire record producer, and an insanely talented international DJ: Jonathan Smith AKA Lil Jon!!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 18: You Were Not Born To Be Someone Else: Carve Your Own Niche; Blaze Your Own Trail — With Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan

Good leaders are trailblazers, making a path for others to follow. Great leaders, however, inspire their people to reach higher, dream bigger, and achieve greater. I had such a great time and was honored to be joined by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Barbara Jordan, a walking community treasure chest of knowledge, insight, and experience.

Commissioner Jordan has enjoyed a distinguished 35-year career with Miami-Dade County, serving in numerous capacities including as a Public Administrator, Assistant County Manager, and Vice Chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Commission. She been the people’s voice of reason over the years and demonstrated the political will to take on the known challenges of her community.

Tune is as we discuss industry diversification for an improved economy, funding for infrastructure investment, and address the brain drain, crime, community re-investment, and accountability and transparency. She also drops gems on leadership qualities necessary for long-term success, what she’d tell her younger self, and her dream plan if she had a 100% chance of success!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 17: Leadership Efficiency: Those Who Destroy the Status Quo Win — With Brandon M. Harris, Global Head of Financial Products Marketing at Bloomberg

Organizations that destroy the status quo win. Whatever the status quo is, changing it gives you the opportunity to be remarkable. Today’s episode features my former Wharton classmate and super witty friend, Brandon Harris.  Brandon has had a rewarding and impressive 13 year career at Bloomberg, now serving as their Global Head of Financial Products Marketing.

Hope without a strategy doesn’t generate leadership. Leadership comes when your hope and your optimism are matched with a concrete vision of the future and a way to get there. Tune is as we discuss why Brandon chose Marketing over Consulting or Investment banking, how he rose in the corporate ranks (Hint: Closed mouths don’t get fed!),  why he hates office “face time” and the notion of 30- and 60- minute meetings, his self-reflection and thought processes when evaluating his professional happiness, and his slight obsession with SETT (superstition, efficiency, travel, and technology), plus more!

Posted in: Podcast Season 2

EP 16: Breaking The Grass Ceiling Bud Naked: Cannabis Social Equity — With Madison Shockley III, SEOWA Co-Founder and Entrepreneur

Many of us may recognize my next guest, Madison Shockley III, from his role as Fred on “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl”. The viral web series challenged the archetypes generally available for Black people in entertainment, especially women, who are often cast as sassy, power hungry, angry or motherly figures — sometimes a combination of them all — but rarely awkward.

What most of us may not know is that, through his organization SEOWA (Social Equity Owners and Workers Association), this actor-turned-cannabis entrepreneur, is at the forefront of activism pertaining to LA’s Social Equity Program (SEP). Cannabis criminalization and its enforcement has had long-term, adverse impacts on Los Angeles, particularly for low income and minority communities.  The SEP is one tool LA is using to begin to acknowledge and repair the harm caused by the War on Drugs and the disparate enforcement of cannabis prohibition.