Best Blavity Inc Podcasts (2024)

1
From Idea to Launch: The Story of Blavity Inc.'s "Home and Texture" Media Brand 9:03

1+ y ago9:03

9:03

In this mini episode, Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity Inc., takes us behind the scenes of the launch of their new home and decor media brand, "Home and Texture." Morgan shares how she and her team identified a gap in the market for a media brand that focused on the intersection of culture and home design, and how they went about bringing this vision …

1
The Ins and Outs of Franchise Ownership: A Chick-fil-A Case Study 30:33

1+ y ago30:33

30:33

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a franchise owner? Is it possible to have complete entrepreneurial independence and the ability to make an impact on your local community? If so, you’ll want to hear my conversation with Kareem Edwards. Kareem got his start at Lehman Brothers, Kraft, and Google — and then went on to open his first …

1
How to Win Nine-Figure Government Contracts: A Guide to Scaling Your Business 38:11

1+ y ago38:11

38:11

Are you intimidated by the thought of government contracting? Not sure where to start? On this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, I sit down with Denise Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Services, a construction management firm based in Denver, Colorado. Burgess has served on the Board of Directors of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce …

1
The When and Why of Hiring a CFO For Your Business 52:25

2y ago52:25

52:25

Shondra Washington is an emerging fund manager, investment banker and co-founder of TBC capital, an education-first advisory and consulting firm focused on fractional CFO’s business development and strategy services for venture-backed companies and small business owners. She is now the CEO of Black@. With her experience in finance and advising star…

1
Jordan Calloway on 'Fire Country,' Playing Superheros and Real-Life Heroes 19:08

2y ago19:08

19:08

After starring in The CW's 'Black Lightning,' Jordan Calloway's next project is 'Fire Country' on CBS. He talks about the CBS drama, what he hopes to do in this next stage of his career and much more.By Opening Act

1
Amirah Vann Talks 'A Jazzman's Blues' and Reflects on 'Underground' and 'HTGAWM' 25:33

2y ago25:33

25:33

Amirah Vann takes revisits her roles in OWN's 'Queen Sugar,' ABC's 'How to Get Away with Murder,' WGN's 'Underground' and more, while also discussing her character in Netflix's 'A Jazzman's Blues' and what it meant to join the project.By Opening Act

1
How to Save Time and Automate Your Business With These 18 Tools 31:31

2y ago31:31

31:31

One of the most important things about working smart is learning how to automate and delegate to increase your efficiency. In this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, Morgan shares her favorite go-to tools to grow her companies, automate her processes and save hours on big projects. From Asana to Lucidchart, these tools are crucial to maximizi…

1
Syreeta Singleton on Working With Issa Rae and What's Next For Their Hit Show 'Rap Sh!t' 30:49

2y ago30:49

30:49

HBO Max's 'Rap Sh!t' showrunner Syreeta Singleton joins us to talk about some of season 1's biggest moments, what could happen in a potential second season, working alongside Issa Rae and much more.By Opening Act

1
MeKai Curtis On 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Season 2, Fan Theories And Going From Disney to Starz 23:42

2y ago23:42

23:42

Ahead of the season 2 premiere of 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan,' MeKai Curtis teases what to expect, breaks down some of the biggest season 1 moments, discusses his transition from Disney XD star to more mature material and discusses what he really thinks of some of the fan theories that pop up online.…

1
Kadeem Hardison Talks New Series 'Moonhaven,' Reflects on 'A Different World' Almost 30 Years After Last Episode 19:31

2y ago19:31

19:31

Kadeem Hardison stops by to chat about this new series Moonhaven, which recently debuted on AMC+. He also reflects a bit on his career, and of course, the iconic A Different World, which will see its final episode turn 30 next year.By Opening Act

1
Emmy Raver-Lampman Talks New Film 'Gatlopp' and 'The Umbrella Academy' Season 3 24:21

2y ago24:21

24:21

Emmy Raver-Lampman talks about her new film, 'Gatlopp,' which she filmed during the pandemic and was recently released digital and demand. She also talks about doing more TV and film work in recent years after spending years on stage, and of course, speaks on 'The Umbrella Academy' season 3, which recently returned on Netflix.…

1
Simone Missick on 'All Rise' Being Rescued by OWN and Revitalizing the Legal Drama 20:22

2y ago20:22

20:22

On the heels of 'All Rise' season 3's premiere on OWN, Simone Missick chats about the show being revived by the cable network after its CBS cancellation, what its like being on the legal drama after two fast-paced action series and what her perception is of playing a character in the justice system during these times.…

1
Sasha Lane on 'Conversations With Friends' and Going From Indie to the MCU's 'Loki' 24:16

2y ago24:16

24:16

On the heels of the 'Conversations With Friends' season finale, Sasha Lane drops by to talk about the show, appearing in Marvel Studios' 'Loki,' how the pandemic and racial reckoning changed her perception, the projects she wants to take on next and more.By Opening Act

1
Ron Cephas Talks About the Legacy of 'This Is Us' and His Recent Tony Nomination 31:39

2+ y ago31:39

31:39

Ahead of the series finale of 'This Is Us,' Ron Cephas Jones drops by to chat about the series, the finale, playing William, how the show became a television anomaly and so much more. He also talks about his recent Tony Award nomination for Clyde's.By Opening Act

1
How to Scale your Business Revenue, Hire a Team, and Live a Balanced Life 6:01

2+ y ago6:01

6:01

Today, I have a fun announcement…WorkSmart+ is officially open! ✨ https://www.worksmartadvisor.com/launch ✨ The doors are open for you to join my new membership network that offers you my signature process to scale your business revenue…on repeat. WorkSmart is for CEOs, small business owners, & solopreneurs that are ready to escape the grind, deleg…

1
Javicia Leslie On Playing a Superhero and What She's Looking Forward to Next 32:42

2+ y ago32:42

32:42

Javicia Leslie stops by 'Openinig Act' to talk about the most recent season of Batwoman on The CW, the community of Black actors in Hollywood and what else she's working on that she's very excited about.By Opening Act

1
Serial Entrepreneur Touré Roberts Teaches us How to Find Balance in Life and Business 37:44

2+ y ago37:44

37:44

In this episode, I sit down with serial entrepreneur Touré Roberts to learn more on finding balance in life and business. Pastor Touré shares his story as an entrepreneur in tech and how he transitioned to a congregation founder and community builder. His tips for rebalancing your mindset through the ups and downs are crucial for anyone working to …

1
Brian Tyree Henry Breaks Down The White Fashion' Episode of 'Atlanta' and Cultural Theft 30:14

2+ y ago30:14

30:14

On a special episode, this week we are joined by the always booked and busy Brian Tyree Henry, who breaks down the most recent episode of FX's 'Atlanta' which takes a shocking look at cultural appropriation, theft and influencer social justice. He also talks about the show returning for so long and how that has impacted him as an actor.…

1
How Nashville is Changing the Game for Young Black Professionals 45:21

2+ y ago45:21

45:21

In this series, Morgan interviews top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about leaping into entrepreneurship. For this episode, Morgan sits down with Jasmine Sweet, lifestyle blogger, iHeartR…

1
Jabari Banks Talks 'Bel-Air' Season 1, Season 2 Hopes and His Journey So Far 26:11

2+ y ago26:11

26:11

Bel-Air' star Jabari Banks, one of the biggest breakout stars of 2022, joins us to talk about his start in Hollywood and making his major TV/film debut with the role. He also breaks down some of the biggest moments from season 1 of the show, teases some things he hopes happens in season 2 and much more.…

1
Ludacris On 'Karma's World' and If He Thought His Career Would Always Look Like This 13:39

2+ y ago13:39

13:39

Ludacris stops by 'Opening Act' to chat about the new season of his Netflix series, 'Karma's World,' which recently dropped new episodes. We also talk to him about getting move involved with television and film behind the scenes as a producer, and if 2000s-era Ludacris would have ever predicted what 2020s Chris Bridges would do.…

1
How to Create a Business that Leaves a Legacy 1:00:26

2+ y ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Welcome to our new series: At Home in Nashville In this series, Morgan sits down with a few top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship. In this episode…

1
How to Monetize Your Brand as a Travel Content Creator 45:46

2+ y ago45:46

45:46

Welcome to our new series: At Home in Nashville In this series, Morgan sits down with a few top entrepreneurs in her new city, Nashville, to learn about their business journey, chat about the growing community of entrepreneurs in Nashville, and what advice they have for listeners thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship. In this episode…

1
Sheryl Lee Ralph On ‘Abbott Elementary’ Changing TV, Broadway’s new Era and The ‘Moesha’ Legacy 30:26

2+ y ago30:26

30:26

The iconic always booked and busy Sheryl Lee Ralph is now one of the stars of Quinta Brunson ‘Abbott Elementary,’ on ABC one of the biggest and most promising broadcast network sitcoms in ages. She talks about the new series, playing an educator and the importance of the education field amid the pandemic. She also talked about her own Broadway lega…

1
How to Get on Your First Board 51:17

2+ y ago51:17

51:17

Lucinda Duncalfe, serial tech founder, CEO, and non-profit board member, is an expert when it comes to founding companies, navigating the executive search process, and coaching other executives. With more than 20 years of experience in the tech world, she brings insight into the progress made thus far—and the progress still to go to improve diversi…

1
Corbin Bleu On Winning 'The Real Dirty Dancing,' Returning to 'High School Musical' and More 28:29

2+ y ago28:29

28:29

This week, Corbin Bleu became the inaugural winner of Fox's 'The Real Dirty Dancing.' He spoke to us about the competition, what he learned about dancing and himself, representation in film/television, his upcoming return to 'High School Musical,' reuniting with Monique Coleman and continuing a partnership with her and much more.…

1
Brandy Talks Career Longevity and Her 'Queens' Touring Hopes 16:52

2+ y ago16:52

16:52

With decades in the game, iconic roles in projects like 'Moesha' and stellar music and acting careers — Brandy is a modern industry gem. She sits down with us this week to talk about the season finale of ABC's 'Queens,' what she hopes happens if the show gets a season 2 and more. She also gives advice to aspiring Black creatives and walks us throug…

1
We're launching our first WorkSmart Retreat! 2:47

2+ y ago2:47

2:47

We have an announcement! We're launching CEO Spring Break - a first-of-its-kind retreat this April in Nashville, Tennessee. Listen to this quick episode to hear about the event, who it's for, and how you can get involved. Make sure to join the waitlist https://www.ceospringbreak.com/ to find out as soon as registration opens and tickets go on sale!…

1
Nicole Ari Parker Talks 'And Just Like That...' and the Evolution of Black Stories 20:14

2+ y ago20:14

20:14

Nicole Ari Parker makes a splash on 'The Sex and the City' revival seres, 'And Just Like That...,' which is on HBO Max. She talks about being in the new series, her recent 'Chicago P.D.' role, if she'd be in a remake of any of her past projects and much more. The actress also talks about working with husband Boris Kodjoe on his directorial debut an…

1
How to Get Media Coverage for Your Business in 2022 14:15

2+ y ago14:15

14:15

In this week’s episode of the WorkSmart podcast, Morgan covers everything you need to know about getting media coverage for your business in the new year. Pitching your company is key to building your brand—but the secret is pitching well. To start, you need to make your goals for gaining media coverage clear and intentional. Why do you want the pr…

1
Tyler Lepley On 'Harlem,' 'P-Valley' and Mirroring Real-Life Experiences In His Work 27:09

2+ y ago27:09

27:09

Since starring in Tyler Perry's 'The Haves and the Have Nots,' Tyler Lepley has gone on to star in Starz's 'P-Valley,' and most recently, the male lead in Amazon Prime Video's 'Harlem.' Lepley talks to us about being in the Black women-centric series, how his real-life experiences have informed both of hs portrayals in 'P-Valley' and 'Harlem,' what…

1
How NE-YO Created a Business Legacy Beyond the Music 42:46

2+ y ago42:46

42:46

In this episode, Morgan sits down with Grammy-winning artist, songwriter, and angel investor, NE-YO. Morgan and NE-YO have a beyond the music conversation about the realities of the music industry, what his day-to-day team looks like, his investment strategy, and he shares his advice as a veteran in the industry for artists and creatives who want t…

1
Wesley Snipes On 'True Story,' The 'Blade-Killer' Project He's Working On and More 25:43

2+ y ago25:43

25:43

With a career spanning decades, Wesley Snipes is one of the most revered actors in Black Hollywood. The actor took on his biggest TV role to date opposite Kevin Hart in Netflix's 'True Story.' He talks about the twists in that show, the legacy of 'Blade,' the upcoming project he has that he refers to as the "'Blade'-killer,' what he hopes the next …

1
Paula Patton Talks 'Sacrifice,' Playing Legal Eagles And Why She Loves Multiple Genres 20:28

3y ago20:28

20:28

Though she's most known for her roles in cult classic Black rom-coms and films such as 'Precious' and 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol,' Paula Patton is making one of her biggest moves into television to-date with the BET+ original series 'Sacrifice.' She spoke to us about this new role, the would-be 'Law & Order: SVU' role that almost made he…

1
Jay Ellis On The Legacy Of ‘Insecure’ and Making TV That Sticks With You 28:40

3y ago28:40

28:40

As ‘Insecure’ wraps ups its fifth and final season at HBO, Jay Ellis chats with us about what initially intrigued him about the role of Lawrence, what it’s been like to see the show become a pop culture phenomenon, and ultimately what he hopes the show is remembered for. With him set to make a huge splash in film soon, including his role in ‘Top Gu…

1
William Jackson Harper On 'Love Life' and Showing All Facets Of Blackness On-Screen 26:53

3y ago26:53

26:53

Theatre-bred Emmy nominee William Jackson Harper has one of the most diverse resumes as they come, with critically-acclaimed turns in 'The Good Place' and 'The Underground Railroad' ahead of him leading season 2 of HBO Max's rom-com anthology series, 'Love Life.' He talks to us about the upcoming season, how he selects his roles and what he hopes c…

1
Brett Gray On Manifesting 'On My Block' And Why It's All About The Journey 34:52

3y ago34:52

34:52

As 'On My Block' wraps its run on Netflix, Brett Gray chats with us about all the steps in his journey that led to the series and how he and his castmates broke ground for diverse representation in YA. He also looks ahead to what's next for him in this phase, including if he plans to bring his music and acting careers together.…

1
Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins On The Final Season Of 'Dear White People' And Her Next Chapter 28:42

3y ago28:42

28:42

Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins is one of the breakout stars of 'Dear White People' and is set to conclude her arc as fan-favorite Joelle in this fourth and final season She spoke to us about the show, its legacy, how her early roles have impacted her career and what's to come next in her career as the show wraps its run.…

1
Mack Wilds Revisits Early Projects and Talks About Being A Part of Broadway History 25:55

3y ago25:55

25:55

Mack Wilds is known for a plethora of roles, including his roles as a younger actor in projects such as 'The Wire' and '90210.' With a bevy of projects coming soon including Apple TV+'s 'Swagger,' 'Thoughts of a Colored Man' on Broadway and his own short film premiering at Urbanworld, he chats with us about his career moments both past and present.…

1
How to Start Building Your Personal Brand and Monetizing Your Content as a Black Creator 42:05

3y ago42:05

42:05

In this episode, Morgan sits down with her friend and 2019 WorkSmart alum Ernest B. James to discuss the creator economy and monetizing content. EJ opens up about the lessons he learned in the program and how he’s grown and transformed his business over the past two years. As the Founder and Chief Management Officer of Noire Management, a full-serv…

1
Michael Evans Behling On 'All American,' Career Goals And 5AM 27:23

3y ago27:23

27:23

Michael Evans Behling has taken the world by storm as one of the stars of The CW's hit drama series, 'All American.' He spoke to us about the series, his start in Hollywood, career goals, what he hopes to explore in the time to come as Jordan Baker and much more.By Shadow and Act

1
From Freelancer to Agency CEO 44:12

3y ago44:12

44:12

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by WorkSmart alum and professional ghostwriter, Nakia J.S. Thomas. In 2014, Nakia founded a small writing company that organically transformed and grew into what’s now a six-figure full-service creative agency. Today, as the founder and CEO of Few Editorial & Creative Suite, she and her team partner with high-pr…

1
How Pantora's Founder Andrea Pitter Promoted Herself Out of the ‘Day to Day’ and Became Her Business’ Chief Visionary 37:00

3y ago37:00

37:00

In this series, Morgan sits down with small business owners and WorkSmart alumni to explore how they have scaled their businesses, grown their teams, and adjusted their business models to achieve new levels of success. Andrea Pitter, Designer and Founder of Pantora Inc. joins us this week to share more about her entrepreneurial journey. Andrea is a…

1
How to Scale Your Agency to the Next Level 52:59

3y ago52:59

52:59

We're kicking off a multi-part Entrepreneur Series, highlighting WorkSmarters and their business journeys from hiring a team to scaling their revenue. Over the coming weeks, you'll get to listen in on conversations between Morgan service- and product-based entrepreneurs. They'll talk about their business models, their team structure, and why they j…

1
Erika Alexander On Black Women-Led Comedies, Investing in Black Creatives and Being Our Own Superheroes 49:11

3y ago49:11

49:11

The iconic Erika Alexander is always booked and busy. Recently seen in 'Wu Tang: An American Saga,' 'Run The World' and more, she's also busy producing behind the scenes under her Color Farm Media banner. Through this, she's produced projects such as 'John Lewis: Good Trouble.' She spoke to us about activist art, NFTs, the key to longevity, what 'L…

1
Building a Venture-Backed Media Company from Scratch 38:02

3y ago38:02

38:02

Have you ever wondered what it's like to build a media company in the modern age? Or perhaps what the future of content creation will look like? In today's episode of WorkSmart, Morgan chats with Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, co-founders and co-CEOs of theSkimm. They share how they grew The Skimm to one of the most influential media platforms …

1
Daveed Diggs On The Second Wave of ‘Hamilton’ and Bringing ‘Blindspotting’ to TV 30:17

3y ago30:17

30:17

Fresh off of his Emmy nomination of the Disney+ TV film version of ‘Hamilton,’ David Diggs is also one of the minds behind the ‘Blindspotting’ television series, which is a sequel of sorts to his critically-acclaimed film of the same name. Diggs talked to us about those two projects, early moments from his career that have stuck with him, playing F…

1
Luke James Talks Balancing Music and Acting, Powerful ‘The Chi’ Storylines and More 22:57

3y ago22:57

22:57

Primarily known solely as a singer and a performer earlier in his career, Luke James has since made a huge move into television and film from ‘The New Edition Story’ to ‘Star' and much more. Currently seen on 'The Chi' and making his debut on Broadway in the fall, the triple threat talks about why he decided to get into acting, working through the …

1
Keith Powers On 'The Tomorrow War,' His First Job and Comedy Series Ambitions 29:53

3y ago29:53

29:53

Keith Powers has indisputably been one of Hollywood’s rising actors — from ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ to ‘The New Edition Story,’ to ‘Famous in Love’ and much more. As he takes on Amazon’s summer blockbuster ‘The Tomorrow War,’ Powers revisits his very first on-screen gig and he takes us through some of his biggest roles so far and previews Netflix’…

1
Tiffany Haddish On Creating Opportunities Across the Industry 17:10

3y ago17:10

17:10

Tiffany Haddish became a household name after her scene-stealing role in 'Girls Trip' and has been booked and busy ever since. Leading up to her role opposite Oscar Issac in potential awards contender 'The Card Counter,' Haddish talks about one gig that continues to pop up for her — host. We dive in with the actress-comedian to chat about 'Friday N…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Blavity Inc Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide