Welcome to Paynesville!

Mr. Ryan Griffin: Shhhh! Just Watch...

Sit back and relax and listen as I have a conversation with one of my oldest friends, Ryan Griffin while we answer questions based on Old School Classics.  Our Ode to Hip Hop! Music removed to uphold copyright laws.  Playlist  Friends  Whodini If My Homie Calls Tupac I Need Love  LLCoolJ Ain't No Half Steppin'   Big Daddy Kane Ruff Neck   McLyte Flashlight  Parliment I Ain't No Joke  Eric B & Rakim   See how you can support Ryan's efforts with Black Men and high blood pressure through...

Cookies & T: Marina Thomas Cultural Icon & Author

Announcing Welcome to Paynesville's newest podcast Cookies & T where we spotlight change makers while sharing our favorite baked treats!  Conversation with Marina Thomas--Cultural Icon, Memory Coach, Educator, and Author  Marina Thomas believes that she is here to help Women, especially Nubian, remember who they are.  Organizing gatherings and practicing ancient traditions of healing through Sister Circles and Waistbead parties, Women are challenged to remember their roots and take action ...

Cookies & T: Amika Adams I InventHER Extraordinaire

Announcing Welcome to Paynesville's newest podcast Cookies & T where we spotlight change makers while sharing our favorite baked treats! Conversation with Amika Adams I--InventHER Extraordinaire, Graphic Artist, Female Encourager, and Dancing Machine discussing the process of going from divorce to patented inventor. During the trials of life she danced, reinventing herself and has been transformed like Cinderella.  The effect of attending these dancing sessions reminded her of her worth ...

Season 1 Special Episode: The Danger of An Educated Black Woman

Join me  as I converse with Educated Black Females  and their take on their obstacles during their journey as Educators.  Stephanie Spivey, New Orleans, LA native  and Toi Robinson-Trice, New York native and Atlanta transplant who both currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have had the honor of working with them to change generations of our children. Educators by heart, yet passionate and vocal about impacting systemic change to build bridges out of poverty. "So my passion is ...

Season 1 Chapter 3: Bally Boys to Men: A Lesson in Growth & Survival Part 2

Join us as we stroll down Memory Lane with two more members of the Bally Boys crew, Ermias Alemayehu in Los Angeles, California and Abdur Ali in Ann Arbor, Michigan as we discuss school, growing up in the late 80's, and social issues. "So politicians, they want to do whatever they can to try to get people [with] emotional explosive issues to try to get folks. I mean, that's the bottom line because you notice they don't make a big deal of these situations until it's election time. And when t...

Season 1 Chapter 3: Bally Boys to Men: A Lesson in Growth & Survival Part 2

Join us as we stroll down Memory Lane with two more members of the Bally Boys crew, Ermias Alemayehu in Los Angeles, California and Abdur Ali in Ann Arbor, Michigan as we discuss school, growing up in the late 80's, and social issues. "So politicians, they want to do whatever they can to try to get people [with] emotional explosive issues to try to get folks. I mean, that's the bottom line because you notice they don't make a big deal of these situations until it's election time. And when t...

Season 1 Chapter 3: Bally Boys to Men: A Lesson in Growth & Survival Part 1

Join us as we stroll down Memory Lane with two members of the Bally Boys crew, Sie "Tito" Singleton in Las Vegas, Nevada and Derrick Dickerson in Ypsilanti, Michigan as we discuss school, growing up in the late 80's, and social issues. "Looking back now, you know, as I'm raising [my children], I understand. And the importance parental advising as well as participation. They were really into our education, and my mother and I speak a lot about that till this day. My mother sometimes looks b...

Chapter 2 Black Lives Matter in the Era of Colorblindness Bonus Episode

Owner & Founder of KingVillz music, my former student Dionte' Villia' is doing it big!  Excelling academically, accomplished athlete, and fighting social injustice.  Listen as he gives his take on Black Lives Matter & what needs to be done in order to make real change. "That's what Black Lives Matter is--that fight for people to understand, because there's some ignorant people that don't want to, they don't want to open their eyes to the reality that we have to face.  Black Lives Matter is ...

Leadership Minute 9: Positivity

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 11: The Grind

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 10: Be Coachable

30 1- Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 10: Be Coachable

30 1- Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 11: The Grind

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 9: Positivity

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 7:Trust

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 7:Trust

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 8:Confidence

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 4: Listen

30 1-Minute Lessons from my Leadership Journey 

Leadership Minute 5: Problems

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey

Leadership Minute 6: Fix Your Face

30 1-Minute Lessons from My Leadership Journey 

Chapter 1 Racial Inequality and Effects on Social & Economic Mobility Episode 6

Professional Spotlight featuring Monique Moore, Transformational Life Coach, Business Owner, Fitness Enthusiast residing in Indianapolis, Indiana  "Her Light Stay Lit: shout out to all the women out there who are working on themselves, who refuse to be stagnant.  Who refuse to be complacent and comfortable who aren't settling for safe--really getting out there and digging into why they are the way they are and dealing with past issues, dealing with traumas and showing up as their authentic ...

Chapter 1 Racial Inequality and Effects on Social & Economic Mobility Episode 5

Professional Spotlight featuring Tonya Mitchell, Buyer & Manager at Boutique in Portland, Oregon. "Knowledge is power so inequality in education is unfair and unjust because knowledge is power and everybody deserves that power to be their best selves." Ms. Mitchell advocates for equity for all in all areas.  She supports young women in the workplace in the fight against “good ol’ boys club" practices. 

Chapter 1 Racial Inequality and Effects on Social & Economic Mobility Episode 4

Professional Spotlight featuring Tony Jackson, Behavior Modification Technician in Charlotte, North Carolina.  "I'll leave you with a quote and that quote is: 'It's easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men'. -Frederick Douglass". Mr. Jackson is an advocate for young men considered to be "at-risk" and works tirelessly to influence their lives through mentoring and coaching. Mr. Jackson will attend Howard University in the Fall to gain more knowledge on how to serve these ...

Chapter 2 Black Lives Matter in the Era of Colorblindness

Spotlight on three Professionals and their take on Black Lives Matter and Colorblindness Winifred Muhammad, School Counselor and Harlem Native, currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina  "No, you are absolutely right. You talked about colorblindness.  The reason why we continue to say black lives matter is because too many people don't want to acknowledge us as black people. They want to say that we're all the same and everybody's lives matter, but in essence, other races have not en...

Chapter 2 Black Lives Matter in the Era of Colorblindness

Spotlight on three Professionals and their take on Black Lives Matter and Colorblindness Winifred Muhammad, School Counselor and Harlem Native, currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina  "No, you are absolutely right. You talked about colorblindness.  The reason why we continue to say black lives matter is because too many people don't want to acknowledge us as black people. They want to say that we're all the same and everybody's lives matter, but in essence, other races have not en...

Chapter 2 Black Lives Matter in the Era of Colorblindness

Spotlight on three Professionals and their take on Black Lives Matter and Colorblindness Leah Chapman, Clinical Therapist from Ann Arbor, Michigan "A means of honor and respect of my people that have not been given to us throughout time. It's a leveling of the playing field. I think that as we go through this movement, that there needs to be an acknowledgement of white supremacy and hatred. It needs to be an acknowledgement of the carnage that's been left behind." Ms. Chapman is Owner &...

Leadership Minute 3

Leadership Minute 2

Leadership Minute 1

30 1-Minute Lessons from my Leadership Journey. 

Gwen Shannon Season 1 Chapter 1: Episode 3

Chapter 1 Racial Inequality and Effects on Social & Economic Mobility Professional Spotlight featuring Gwen Shannon, Educational Leader, Retired Principal, and Mentor in Charlotte North Carolina. "My biggest fear I think was, could I do it? Could I do the job? You have some great role models out there and you see the great they've done, what successes they've had, and you want to measure up out became that. When I took me out of the picture, it wasn't about me. As long as I did the work, t...

Shawn Hurt Season 1 Chapter 1: Episode 2

Chapter 1 Racial Inequality and Effects on Social & Economic Mobility Professional Spotlight featuring Shawn Hurt, Principal, Turnaround Specialist, Author, and Consultant  "You're holding yourself accountable. So everybody who works in the building is held accountable. There were a lot of people who liked it because now, they knew that they would be held accountable for their work...the flip side to it is that people who have been getting over for many, many years and collecting a check--...

Sonya Payne Season 1 Chapter 1: Episode 1 (Debut)

Chapter 1 Racial Inequality and Effects on Social & Economic Mobility Professional Spotlight featuring Sonya Payne, Care Taker and Social Worker in Ann Arbor, Michigan. And Sister to Podcaster.  "And then don't stop learning. Keep learning. And keep sharing because if you don't learn, then you can't teach. And if you can't teach, then you can't help. I think, I don't think it'll ever be a perfect system. I think it will always be a puzzle piece missing in there, but you still have to work...