Best Rodney Max Podcasts (2024)

1
A Decade at a Time: Shelley Learns About Life from Clyde Smith 34:26

7h ago34:26

34:26

In this episode, Shelley continues sharing the profound influence that Clyde Smith had on his life while he was growing up in segregated Birmingham. Mr. Smith, a white man, took Shelley into his home when he was a young child. Mr. Smith taught Shelley some key secrets to life and that to be respected, one had to give respect first. Follow us and co…

1
A Decade at a Time: More About the Smith Family 37:58

2h ago37:58

37:58

In this week’s episode, we continue sharing Shelley’s life story a decade at a time leading up to his 90th birthday. Today, Shelley tells us about his life with the Smith family, how he lived in a basement and continued his studies at Irondale Elementary. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

1
A Decade at a Time: Shelley leaves the Stables 39:05

3d ago39:05

39:05

Today we continue telling Shelley’s life story, one decade at a time. Let’s head out to the back porch and head back to the 1930s and 40s in Birmingham, Alabama and talk about Shelley’s life with the Smith family. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

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A Decade at a Time: Shelley's Life in the 1930s 35:28

11d ago35:28

35:28

Hello, Plumbliners, and welcome to Season 7 of Shelley’s Plumbline. So Shelley and I looked at the calendar, and we realized that by the time we finish this season, we will be close to Shelley’s 90th birthday. So, in season seven, we will take you to the back porch and take you through Shelley’s life, one decade at a time. Today, we’ll look at Shel…

1
A. H. Parker High School 100th Anniversary Dedication Speech 33:08

18d ago33:08

33:08

Hey, Plumbliners. In the year 2000, Shelley gave a speech at AH Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, on the occasion of the school’s 100th anniversary. This is the very same school that Shelley graduated from. This is the school where Shelley began his career in journalism, broadcasting, and performing. Today we feature a recording of that sp…

1
A meeting with a Grand Knight of the KKK, A Minister of the Nation of Islam and the Executive Director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews 31:57

1M ago31:57

31:57

In 1993, Shelley hosted the Shelley Stewart Show, Survival in the 90s. It was a talk show on television that ran for 13 episodes. Today, we feature the audio from an extraordinary episode that featured a conversation with three very different people on the same stage. The discussion featured Lamarse Washington, Executive Director of the National Co…

1
Back Porch: Race, Racism and Happiness 25:11

2M ago25:11

25:11

Hey, Plumbliners. This is Mark Jamroz, producer of Sheley’s Plumbline. Today, Shelley and I sit down for another edition of the “Back Porch.” Think of it as “Shelley Unplugged” as we discuss a few of our experiences learning about race and racism. Then we touch upon the topic of happiness. Stayed tuned. I think you’re really going to like it. Follo…

1
Black Republicans 36:43

2M ago36:43

36:43

Today, Shelley takes on the tough topic of black participation in politics as he interviews Raynard Jackson. At the time of the interview in 1998, Mr Jackson was Chairman of the Americans for a Brighter Future and an outspoken black Republican. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

1
Freeborn Slave: Diary of a Black Man in the South 31:27

2M ago31:27

31:27

Today, Shelley shares an interview with Birmingham resident Karen Ameen. The interview took place in 1996, shortly after Ms. Ameen published the book Freeborn Slave, Diary of a Black Man in the South. The book is a collection of memoirs dictated by her great-grandfather, Jasper Rastus Nall, an individual who was born at the end of the Civil War. Fo…

1
Internalized Racism (Rebroadcast) 37:06

2M ago37:06

37:06

Hey, Plumbliners... Shelley was feeling a bit under the weather this week, so he asked me to find one of your favorite episodes of Shelley's Plumbline and rebroadcast it. Well, it turns out our very first episode was one of the most popular, and we released it a little over one year ago. Happy Anniversary to us! Please enjoy -- and be informed! Thi…

1
An Interview with Fred Shuttlesworth 38:45

2M ago38:45

38:45

Today, Shelley shares a very special interview from 1991 with the one-and-only Fred Shuttlesworth. Reverend Shuttlesworth co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was instrumental in the 1963 Birmingham Campaign with Martin Luther King. Shuttlesworth participated in the sit-ins against segregated lunch counters in 1960 and took p…

1
The Genocide of Black Culture 34:19

3M ago34:19

34:19

This week’s episode draws on an interview from 1991 with playwright Edward McRay. He goes deep into the finer points of African culture, history, and the limits of the American educational system. Cultures must share their histories to increase understanding. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

1
Excerpts from the InsideOut Documentary 34:30

3M ago34:30

34:30

Today we have a very special edition of Shelley’s Plumbline. In 2002, Shelley visited two prisons in Alabama and spoke with inmates about their stories and turned it into the documentary Inside Out. And those stories speak for themselves. They are powerful. They are moving. They are profound. Stay tuned. Follow us and continue the conversation on F…

1
The Back Porch: Instinct and the Inner Voice 23:06

3M ago23:06

23:06

Hello, Plumbliners, and welcome to Season 6 of Shelley’s Plumbline. Shelley and I have been talking about changing the format of the Plumbline for some time, so we thought today we would give that a try. We call this format The Back Porch. Think of it as “Shelley Unplugged.” Today, Shelley and I are going to discuss instinct and the inner voice tha…

1
Your Vote is Your Voice. Are You A Republican or a Democrat? 36:00

3M ago36:00

36:00

So here we are – another major election is just half a year away. Today’s podcast features a show from 1996. Stay tuned as Shelley explores the questions that remain the same then as they are today: What do you believe? Who do you support? Who will you vote for? Your vote is your voice. If you do not speak, someone else will. Follow us and continue…

1
An interview with Park Scott on the Bahai Faith 40:49

4M ago40:49

40:49

Today, Shelley shares an interview from 1991 with Park Scott, Senior. He discusses the Bahai Faith and how it seeks the oneness of humanity, the elimination of prejudice and a harmony between science and religion. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

1
Wake Up, Everybody, Part 2 23:32

4M ago23:32

23:32

By popular demand, Shelley and Teddy Pendergrass continue to share the message: Wake Up, Everybody. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

1
Wake Up, Everybody 25:47

4M ago25:47

25:47

Today, Shelley shares a simple message. Wake up everybody. It’s time to think ahead. Wake Up, Everybody. The time is now. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

1
Did Malcolm X Teach Us Something or Are We Doing the Same Thing Now? 39:41

4M ago39:41

39:41

Today, we share Malcolm X's famous Ballots or Bullets address. The message rings true: The key to freedom lies in economic prosperity. Economic opportunity for all is the tide that will lift all boats. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.By Shelley Stewart

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Celebrating Powerful Women 29:07

5M ago29:07

29:07

Today Shelley celebrates National Women’s Month with some personal reflections on the strong women he has known in his life, from his mother Mattie C whom he saw murdered when he was five years old, to Oprah and Kamala Harris. Stay tuned as we celebrate the power of women. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn…

1
Hate Crimes, Rebroadcast. 37:44

5M ago37:44

37:44

Hey, Plumbliners… Shelley has been in the hospital the past couple of weeks, so he asked me to rebroadcast a previous episode. I looked back in the archives at one of my favorites. It’s from episode 5 of season 1 and it features an interview with attorney Rodney Max discussing Hate Crimes. Please enjoy. And if you’re so inclined send your thoughts …

1
Texas’ Identity Crisis + Houston & Kansas State Recap | Ep #10 29:43

5M ago29:43

29:43

DJ Augustin, Royal Ivey, and Nick Shuley are back to discuss Texas’ recent loss against a very physical Houston team, followed by their hard-fought win against Kansas State. The guys give their thoughts on the team’s identity crisis, Dylan Disu’s consistency, and what they need to do to finish the season strong and guarantee themselves a spot in th…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Shelley Reflects on Black History Month and Racism in America 27:48

5M ago27:48

27:48

As we come to the end of Black History Month, Shelley looks back on the last three episodes and shares his personal insights on the overt and not so overt signs that racism are still evident in America today. Stay tuned as the plumbline seeks the truth. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Excerpts from "Remembering Slavery" 37:22

5M ago37:22

37:22

Today we continue telling more stories of Black history, as we share an excerpt from the recording, “Remembering Slavery: African Americans Talk About Their Personal Experiences of Slavery and Emancipation,” published by The New Press, in conjunction with the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. Stay tuned and you’ll hear the words …

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Early Slave Rebellions 32:01

6M ago32:01

32:01

Hey, Plumbliners. Before we begin with this week’s episode, we’d like to thank you for the emails! We received an email from a teacher in Washington state. She says, … My class has been learning about the Children's March recently, and one student asked whatever happened to Shelley the Playboy after watching the documentary "Mighty Times." That led…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Horace Huntley and the Dangers of Cultural Annihilation 40:09

6M ago40:09

40:09

Here at the beginning of Black History Month, we welcome you to season 5 of Shelley’s Plumbline. Since it is Black History Month, Shelley and I did some research. According to a recent article in Axios, “…lawmakers in 30 states have proposed new restrictions during the past year on what schools can teach about the nation's racial history…” Accordin…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: Stories About The Godfather of Soul, James Brown 28:26

6M ago28:26

28:26

Today we bring Season 4 to an end as we shine the spotlight on the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. James was a controversial character to be sure, but he became good friends with Shelley and always admired Shelley’s belief in the power of education. When James released the song Don’t Be A Dropout, he couldn’t wait to play it for Shelley and Shelley…

1
Shelley's Life In Music: Stories About...Guess who? 28:12

6M ago28:12

28:12

Since Shelley was a DJ and radio personality, he was instrumental in helping grow the careers of numerous well-known talented singers and musicians. During Season 4 we have covered stories about many of these musical giants who started as business associates of Shelley’s and blossomed into deep friendships. We shared stories about BB King, Sam Cook…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: "The Big O," Otis Redding. 34:52

6M ago34:52

34:52

On today’s episode we continue sharing stories from Shelley’s fascinating life in music as he tells us about his personal and professional relationship with Otis Redding. Otis was a chauffeur for another band when he was discovered during a break at the recording studio in Muscle Shoals. Shelley was fortunate enough to be the first DJ to play Otis’…

1
Cincinnati Recap & Chris Johnson Talks Signing with Texas | Ep. #9 1:01:21

6M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

DJ Augustin, Royal Ivey, and Nick Shuley are back to break down Texas’ hard-fought 74-73 victory over Cincinnati, as well as reflect on their loss to Texas Tech and breakdown how much of an impact Dylan Disu’s return has had on this team. In the show's second half, the guys are joined by Texas Longhorns’ Guard Chris Johnson. They discuss how he ori…

1
Hosea Williams: Did the Dream of Dr. King Become A Nightmare? 35:34

7M ago35:34

35:34

Hey Plumbliners. The theme of Season 4 has been about Shelley’s life in music. But this week, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we’re going to rebroadcast our podcast from Season 1 on Hosea Williams. Hosea Williams was a very close friend and associate of Dr King and was instrumental in organizing the Movement. Please enjoy this special …

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Shelley's Reflections on Rosa Parks and the Rosa Parks Day Award. 25:59

7M ago25:59

25:59

On December 1, 2023, Shelley received the Rosa Parks Day Award for Leadership, Commitment to Civil Rights, Voting Rights, and Civic Service. Rosa Parks Day is December 1st because that was the day, in 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. In today’s podcast, Shelley reflects on the award and on his…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: Bobby "Blue" Bland 28:57

7M ago28:57

28:57

In this week’s episode, we continue exploring Shelley’s friendship with another major blues artist – Bobby “Blue” Bland, or “Blue” as Shelley called him. Like many blues, soul and R&B artists, Shelley traces Blue’s work back to his Gospel roots. In fact, there are hints of those notes in many of his most popular songs. Stay tuned and learn how Blue…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: Lou Rawls, Did You Pray Today? 24:35

7M ago24:35

24:35

Today we continue to explore Shelley’s life in the music world as we take a look at Lou Rawls. Lou, like Sam Cooke, was born and raised in the Chicago area and crossed paths with Sam Cooke as they sang in gospel groups before moving into R&B, Jazz, and Soul. Since Shelley was a popular radio personality, he had a hand in promoting the careers of bo…

1
Ze'Rik Onyema Talks Being Recruited by Rodney Terry TWICE & Marquette Recap | Ep. #8 43:26

7M ago43:26

43:26

DJ Augustin, Royal Ivey, and Nick Shuley are joined by Texas Longhorns’ Forward Ze'Rik Onyema. They discuss how Ze'Rik was recruited twice by Rodney Terry, why he transferred to Texas from UTEP, the chemistry within Texas’ big lineup, and his favorite things to do outside of basketball. Before talking to Ze'Rik, the guys break down Texas’ 86-65 los…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: A Slice of Soul Heaven with Johnnie Taylor 27:16

8M ago27:16

27:16

Today, Shelley talks about his personal and professional friendship with the Philosopher of Soul, otherwise known as Johnnie Taylor. As the PR director for Redwal Music Company, Shelley had the opportunity to spend time with Johnnie, as well as other music greats on that label, including Otis Redding. We’ll get to Otis in a future podcast. Both Joh…

1
Texas vs. Wyoming Recap & Marquette Preview (ft. Gerry Hamilton of On3 Sports) | Ep. #7 51:28

7M ago51:28

51:28

DJ Augustin, Royal Ivey, and Nick Shuley are joined by Gerry Hamilton, Senior National Recruiting Analyst for On3 Sports, to recap Texas’ game against Wyoming and preview their upcoming matchup against a Shaka Smart led Marquette team. They also discuss the pros and cons of Texas’ small and big lineups, how Dylan Disu coming back will affect the te…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: Unknown Stories About Ray Charles 23:25

8M ago23:25

23:25

We continue to explore Shelley’s life in music, as Shelley shares stories about his relationship with Ray Charles. Ray is definitely an icon in the blues world, known for his trademark Ray Ban sunglasses. In fact, it’s generally acknowledged that Ray was the first blind musician to wear sunglasses, setting a trend for future musicians. But Ray will…

1
Kadin Shedrick Talks Transferring to Texas & Playing at Madison Square Garden | Ep. #6 44:42

8M ago44:42

44:42

DJ Augustin, Royal Ivey, and Nick Shuley are joined by Texas Longhorns’ Forward Kadin Shedrick. They discuss why he initially decided to transfer from Virgina, playing in the Empire Classic Tournament at Madison Square Garden, and what his goals are for this season. Before the guys talk to Kadin, they recap and give their thoughts on Texas’ last fe…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: Stories About Riley "B.B." King. 27:31

8M ago27:31

27:31

Two of the most popular episodes of Shelley’s Plumbline were Episode 1 of Season 2, "The Final Interview with Eddie Kendricks." A lot of folks also liked Episode 2 of Season 2 … about Shelley’s life scouting for musical talent on the Chitlin' Circuit. So to kick off Season Four, we’re going to give you more stories about Shelley’s life in music – t…

1
Shelley's Life in Music: A Conversation About Sam Cooke 25:47

8M ago25:47

25:47

Today as we continue to explore Shelley’s life in music, we feature a conversation about Sam Cooke, one of Shelley’s dear friends. In fact, Shelley was so close to him that Sam was the godfather to one of his children. Aside from being a very good friend, Sam and Shelley shared the same mission: to use the power of music to bring people together. T…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: An Open Forum Discussion on William Raspberry, Racism and Economic Power 36:09

9M ago36:09

36:09

From time to time, Shelley would conduct an open forum during his show, and listeners would call in. Today’s episode features a discussion from 1996 with Shelley and a listener regarding a speech given by William Raspberry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Washington Post. The discussion focuses on how racism is often used as an excuse o…

1
The Major Impact of Mental Health on Startup Success - Sançar Sahin of Oliva 42:22

9M ago42:22

42:22

Sançar's Sahin, Co-founder at Oliva, a B2B2C startup that provides on-demand therapy, coaching, and classes. It has previously worked with employees of companies like HubSpot and Sifted. Oliva focuses on effective process matching to build a value-based platform. In today’s episode, Sançar shares his personal story of experiencing burnout while wor…

1
Max Abmas Talks Transferring to Texas & Their Goals for This Season | Ep #5 40:35

8M ago40:35

40:35

DJ, Royal, and Nick are back and are joined by Texas Longhorns guard Max Abmas. They discuss what made him decide to transfer to Texas, how Texas differs from Oral Roberts, and what his goals are for this season. After talking to Max, the guys give a quick update on what they’ve been up to, as well as give their predictions for Texas’ season. YouTu…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: An Interview with Tommy Wrenn, Foot Soldier in the Movement. 40:13

9M ago40:13

40:13

Today we continue our exploration of one of the many organizers in the Movement who had great influence but were not as well-known. This episode features an interview from January of 1998 when Shelley sat down with Tommy Wrenn. Active in the movement in both Birmingham and Selma, Wrenn worked as a field staffer for the Dr King's Southern Christian …

1
Community Finance Platform for Underserved Communities - Rodney Williams of SoLo Fund 39:12

9M ago39:12

39:12

In today's episode, I speak to Rodney Williams, who's the co-founder, chairman, and president of SoLo Funds, which is a B-Corp-certified community finance platform that's now used by more than 1 million users. Members can borrow and lend money between themselves rather than go to traditional lenders, loan sharks, or banks. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [01:16…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Yvonne Willie, Author of The Boy Who Didn't Want to Be Black 27:25

9M ago27:25

27:25

Today’s episode features an interview from 1998 with the author of The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Be Black, Yvonne Willie. She and Shelley discuss the role of racial identity and self-worth, revealing that internalized racism is a learned behavior. Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.…

1
Creating partnerships between social entrepreneurs and corporations - Mark Horoszowski of Moving Worlds 42:49

9M ago42:49

42:49

Mark Horoszowski, the CEO and co-founder of Moving Worlds, a platform that's supporting social enterprises by connecting them to corporate content and pro-bono professionals that can really help them get ahead. In today’s episode, we discuss how their platform can help social entrepreneurs or if you're in a corporation, how you can actually work wi…

1
Shelley's Plumbline: James Armstrong and His Story of the Integration of Graymont School 33:55

10M ago33:55

33:55

Today we continue to share little-known stories of the struggle during the early 60s with an interview with James Armstrong. He recounts the many artificial obstacles city officials presented him when he attempted to enroll his children in Graymont School in Birmingham, Alabama, at a time when it was segregated. He prevailed, however, and his sons …

1
Shelley's Plumbline: Dr. Vincent Harding Discusses the True Meaning of the Struggle 37:36

10M ago37:36

37:36

Today, we feature an interview with author and historian Dr. Vincent Harding. A social activist, he was perhaps best known for his work with and writings about Martin Luther King Jr., whom Harding knew personally. In this episode, Dr Harding sits down with Shelley and talks about not only the Black struggle – but how several different vectors of so…

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