In 1984, Bishop Cornelius Bowser experienced a major transition: he decided to leave gang- and street-life behind and turn his life over to Christ. In this episode, we talk about the years that preceded and the years that followed that momentous decision. We cover his growing up in The Coast—a neighborhood in San Diego that was the home of the West…

In this episode, I talk with DJ Nu-Mark, world-renowned producer, turntablist, and member of the legendary hip-hop group Jurassic 5. He has a brand-new cookbook/memoir out, called Amu Nu. In describing the book, he offers some stories about his beloved mother and extended family, and we talk about how it all came together. He also touches on his ti…

Prior to her performance at Dizzy's Club, I had the pleasure of talking with Lebanese-Canadian drummer, composer, producer, and educator Sanah Kadoura. This week's episode encompasses that conversation. We discuss the Arabic and popular American music that was prevalent during her growing up in Calgary, Canada. Sanah talks about her role as an arti…

In this episode, I sat down with Brooklyn’s own Tayo and Cynthia Giwa, the husband and wife filmmaking team and creators of Black-Owned Brooklyn. Their current documentary, “The Sun Rises in The East,” is streaming now on Amazon Prime. We talked in detail about the filmmaking process and the vital role that current elders play in preserving black h…

In this episode, we celebrate the legendary Los Angeles community leader, mentor, jazz pianist, and composer Horace Tapscott. Among my guests are former members of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, founded by Tapscott in 1961, and others who appreciate his contributions to the culture. Tune in to hear poets Kamau Daáood and Anthony Joseph; saxophon…

For this episode, I sat down with a former Hoover High basketball backcourt teammate. Back then, he went by Keith Williams; later in life, he changed his last name to Barksdale, in recognition of his biological father. Together we reminisced about our time in high school and his stellar career as one of the best overall athletes ever to play at Hoo…

While traveling on the East Coast, I stopped by the Jersey City apartment/studio of jazz drummer and composer Nic Cacioppo, to discuss his jazz journey. In this interview, he talks about the influence of his parents, both classically trained musicians. Nic has been blessed to play with jazz greats like Slide Hampton, Gene Perla, Wallace Roney, Davi…

Myka 9 is one of the most prolific MCs of all time. In this interview, he talks in depth about the components of thought and influence that shape his rhyme style. His entire approach is inflected with jazz, with random sounds sparking melodies and harmonies. These are overlaid and interwoven with an extensive vocabulary. In 2022 the folks at Medium…

Dr. T. Ford is a venerable elder in San Diego. As part of my series dedicated to documenting elders, we sat down together to discuss her upbringing—how her parents showed her at an early age what black excellence looked like, and how she carries their influence and example in all she does. (Her great-great grandmother, who shared her own wisdom, li…

For this episode, I sat down with two incredible ultra-runners: Hannibal Smith, who has appeared on this podcast before and is a trainer and co-owner of NXPT Fitness; and Regina Peters, who is also a trainer at NXPT and, like Hannibal, has competed in 100-mile marathons. Together we discussed the preparations involved in taking on the Spartan Race,…

In this episode, I sat down with Layli Long Soldier in her Albuquerque studio to talk about her upbringing. I spoke with the Oglala Lakota poet, writer, artist, and activist about some of the history of broken treaties experienced by Native peoples. We discussed the 2022 documentary "Lakota Nation vs. United States," a film in which she plays a maj…

In this episode, I talk with John Williams about his unique approach to coaching, training, and mentoring athletes. At the core of his teaching is the Hippocratic oath. He discusses how he adapts and adjusts to various athletes from different athletic discipline, including NFL players, ballerinas, and even exotic dancers. He touches on his approach…

Tongo Eisen-Martin is the current Poet Laureate of San Francisco, his hometown. He's also an educator and an activist. We talk about the influence of his activist mother and the role she played in his life. Tongo discusses major issues in the city, including gentrification, homelessness, and mass incarceration, all of which have impacted his writin…

To mark the release of his new album, THIS, I sit down with tenor saxophonist and composer JD Allen. We talk extensively about what went into making the album, the musicians he chose for the project, and the meanings behind some of its track titles. JD also explains why incorporating electronics was vital to the album's sound. We discuss THIS's bol…

In this episode, I talk with Tamar Greene, who plays George Washington in the current Broadway production of "Hamilton." We discuss his upbringing in Rochester, NY, and—thanks to his parents—his early exposure to the arts. His Jamaican-born father—Ras Courtney, a well known reggae DJ—helped shape him musically and influenced his appreciation for cu…

For this episode, I sat down with the Jazzcat himself, LeRoy Downs, to talk about all things jazz. Born and raised in LA, listening to KDAY, it wasn't until he saw artists like Roy Hargrove and Terence Blanchard that he was pulled into the music that changed his trajectory. Traveling back in time, he took a deep dive into the history of the music a…

In my follow-up interview with Lynell Allen, we talk about his growing up on the Coast and spending time at the local rec center and boys' club. We delve into his father's influence and the time Allen spent with adults starting at a very early age. He offers an honest appraisal of prison life and advice to those coming up about the prison system. L…

In this episode, I join jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Omer Avital in his beautiful, intimate studio in Brooklyn, NY. Born in Givatayim, Israel, to Moroccan and Yemeni parents, Omer studied classical guitar from age 11 before eventually shifting to acoustic bass. We talk about his 1992 arrival in New York, where he shook up the city playing…

In this episode, I sit down with one of the greatest Pop Warner running backs of all time, as well as one of the best pop lockers in San Diego history and an OG from the West Coast Crips. We discuss his upbringing, his dad's influence, and the tension he felt between sports and the pull of the streets. We talk about gang culture and the way it robb…

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Lehman, visionary alto saxophonist and composer, to discuss his project "Ex Machina," a collaboration with the grammy-nominated Orchestre National de Jazz (ONJ). We talk in detail about his approach to composing and how the process varies according to the size of the group he's composing for—big bands versus q…

In this episode, I interview Chicago-based investigative journalist Yohance Lacour. Our conversation ranges from his upbringing—books he was given by his parents, the influence of an uncle, and his early awareness of the African-American experience—to his ten-year incarceration for selling drugs. We also discuss his podcast, "You Didn’t See Nothin’…

During this episode I sat sown with local San Diego film maker Rose Sanchez to do my first ever collaboration interview. We go back and forth interviewing each other. She recently graduated from SDSU as a film studies major so I asked her several questions about why she wants to be a film director, her inspirations and future goals. She asked me ab…

In this episode I sat down with Jahsun Edmonds aka Oluwo Ifakolade, head priest of Idin Kaa Ifa Temple in Los Angeles. We discussed his recent journey to Nigeria for the World Ifa Orisha Festival. He explains the importance of traveling to the homeland of Yoruba culture and what it was like to experience sacred sites, festivals and rituals. Jahsun …

In this episode I talk with mc's and producers of the hip-hop group NMS (Nephlim Modulation Systems). We discuss they're upcoming album NMS 3- Liberation Is The Only Thing Left. Their two previous albums NMS 1- Woe Thee O' Land Whose King Is A Child 2003 and NMS 2- Imperial Letters Of Protection 2005 are available on all platforms. We talk in-depth…

In this episode I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for a celebration, It was Baba Eusi's 98th birthday. Friends, family, former students and many others who walked with him in the struggle gathered to pay homage to one of Guyana's greatest treasures. These are their testimonies. Eusi Kwayana, formerly Sydney King (born April 4 1925) in Lusignan, Guyana…

In this episode, I sit down with musician, bandleader, professor, and historian Mausiki Scales. We talk about his growing-up years in Gary, Indiana, where he was raised in a household that promoted education and black excellence. He shares what it was like for him, as a teenager, to meet the likes of James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Gwendolyn Brook…

In this episode, Mestre Roxinho and I discuss his childhood in Bahia, playing soccer and living on the streets. We talk about the strong sense of cultural identity instilled in him by his mother—his first hero and the rock of the family—which helped him navigate the extreme racism in Brazil. Metalworking, not capoeira, was what he learned first fro…

In this episode, musician Nduduzo Makhathini and I talk extensively about African spirituality and cosmology and their influence on his creative process. We discuss the effects of apartheid in South Africa and what it was like for him to grow up in racialized townships. American jazz was an early inspiration; we touch on the legends—including Andre…

A lawyer by trade, Andrea Guerrero approaches the law with an eye toward change. In this episode, she shares how being multilingual and multicultural—she was raised in Mexico—has helped to shape her outlook on life and her work. Guerrero is known in her community as an organizer, someone who walks what she talks and is willing to fight for clients …

Interdisciplinary artist Brett Cook's current exhibit, at The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, is profound. In this episode, we talk about the history of some of the installations, including the stunning self-portrait that greets visitors as they enter. Brett explains in detail why and how the show, a collaboration with choreograph…

Philadelphia born and Pew Fellowship recipient, King James Britt (his real name) is a 30+ year, producer, composer and performer in the global advancement of electronic music. As a composer and producer, his practice has lead to collaborations with the likes of De La Soul, Madlib, Kathy Sledge, director Michael Mann (Miami Vice) and many others, as…

In this episode, I discuss legendary saxophonist John Coltrane with talented historians, writers, and, of course, musicians. One of those musicians, Charles McPherson, knew Coltrane personally. Coltrane's signature album A Love Supreme and his groundbreaking song "Giant Steps" are singled out for attention, and we talk about his classic quartet wit…

Bobby Ray Jones Jr. grew up in a two-parent household in Compton, CA. In this episode, I talk with him about how home, sports, academics, and being an introvert all helped keep him busy and out of trouble in his youth. Bobby excelled first in track, then in basketball. At the legendary Dominguez High School, he overlapped three years with Tyson Cha…

In this episode, we hear how Ivy Newman developed her passion for entrepreneurship as a young child. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, she grew up in a strong religious household, her mom a deacon in the local church. Ivy describes what it was like living immersed in black excellence and attending schools led by black teachers and principals, …

Andre Hardy and Yogi have been friends since childhood. In this conversation, we discuss how they met and how sports, family, and community—three of the things that have mattered most in my own life—brought them together and kept them together through the years. They touch on their high school and college athletic careers, and Andre's career as an …

Musical intro sung by legendary underground Hip-Hop MC Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship. Origins and influences are featured in this episode's conversation with Dwight Trible, including his love and appreciation for jazz drummer extraordinaire Brian Blade and his collaboration with the great Kenny Garrett, whose album "Sounds from the Ancestors" he p…

In this episode, Anthony Joseph discusses growing up in a culturally rich community, raised by his grandparents, playing soccer and eating mangoes. We talk about his move to the United Kingdom in his early twenties—a completely different world for him to learn to navigate—where he met legendary UK poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. He shares about his musi…

In this episode, I sit down with Kaira Jewel Lingo to talk about her dedicated interweaving of mindfulness and social justice. She reflects on the influence of her parents, a black mom from Chicago's westside and a white dad from southern Texas who worked in the Civil Rights movement. She shares about her childhood years in Kenya, including the exp…

A mythic figure in the Southern California arts scene, Kamau Daáood is a performance poet, educator, and community arts activist. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he was instrumental in transforming Leimert Park into a cultural center and is widely acknowledged as a major force driving L.A.'s Black cultural renaissance. Kamau was a member of the Wat…

When I was just a kid, my mom took me to the Jack Murphy Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers, to see Lincoln vs. Clairmont in the CIF High School Football Championship. In the early 80s, the CIF final was always played at Jack Murphy and was a very big deal. I was there to see Lincoln's star quarterback, Rodney Hill. He was only 5'6" and couldn…

What happens to the brain and body when pushed to the brink? In this episode, Hannibal Smith relates his experience running 100 miles in 24 hours—his mind-state as he began the race and the struggles he encountered as he ran. He also shares his history with NXPT Fitness Gym, from member to coach and owner; we discuss his friendship with co-owner Da…

During this episode Cynsere talks in-depth about his involvement with Peace on the Street, a not for profit organization committed to empowering the East Harlem community with Zen arts, Martial arts and Zen meditation. Cynsere is also heavily involved in All Kings, an organization committed to supporting and empowering men impacted by the criminal …

I had the pleasure to sit down and dialogue with one of today's top innovators in music, Damion Reid. In this episode we discuss his early influences on the drums, one of which was learning and being mentored by legendary Jazz drummer, Billy Higgins. Damion discusses how he developed his sense of value for the elders, and a deep respect for history…

From Lords cricket ground to central saint martins art college to Spitalfields market and now to the world. With sustainability and upcycling being the buzzwords of the moment, Kervin Marc Designer of Tag 3 Militaire, artist and upcycling extraordinaire for years have reworked military materials. Using kit bags, tents and all manner of discarded ex…

In this episode we discuss- His upbringing in San Francisco The influence of his parents and the presence of a strong father His Capoeira journey and being called by the ancestors to preserve this culture The famous 1983 trip to Brazil with Mestre Acordeon What it's like being a Mestre of Capoeira Angola His continued work in the community as an Ac…

Orko Eloheim, mixes the virtuosity of John Coltrane with the psychedelic approach of Jimi Hendrix, wrapped up in the afrofuturism of Sun Ra. With more than 20 projects working with innumerable artists such as Bigg Jus, Divine Styler, Myka 9, Aceyalone, Saul Williams, Rick Rubin Gonjahsufi & I Self Devine. In this episode we discuss his upbringing i…

In this episode we discuss his growing up in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles. His two Ethiopian parents kept him involved in various activities to make sure he didn't get with the wrong crowd. He started martial arts at age 6 due to his obsession with Bruce Lee. At age 15 he joined Capoeira Batuque under Mestre Amen. Capoeira then became the a…

After a very successful interview with Eso Won Books co-owner James Fugate back in October 2021, I thought it would be a great idea to have him back for a part 2. The first half of this episode we go in depth about our shared love and passion for Jazz Music. We talk about some of his favorite albums, artists and what it was like to see this great m…

Although it may appear Smith is a new voice on the scene, he is widely recognized as an adept performer, accomplished composer, and inspired educator. This spring, Smith welcomes his newest release, In Common III. The boundary pushing album features some of the most important and talked about musicians in the world - Matt Stevens, Kris Davis, Dave …

In this episode we discuss his career as an Actor, Director, Choreographer and how those different artistic expressions helped him navigate the world. We also talk in depth about what it was like to travel with a deaf theatre company without knowing any sign language goin in. Professor Stephen Buescher is an actor, director, and teaching artist who…