Rise and Love, Family.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on what it really means to build community when conflict, friction, and messiness come up. I talk through the difference between calling people out and calling them in—and why accountability, context, care, and restoration matter if we actually want community to be sustainable. I don’t expect perfection from anyone — I damned sure don’t fit the bill — I want folks to stay connected while each of us continues to grow.

Rise & Love, Family! I meandered my way to the park and the found my way to sharing about my recent personal development framework as well as updates about my goals and my “Franken-finger”. After you tune into this episode make sure to tap in with me on Threads!

Rise & Love, Family! I had all these intentions for what I wanted to talk about / do on one of my few days off from work, but things didn't necessarily work out the way that I intended. Once I shed some of those expectations and channeled what was really on my heart, it came together quite naturally. Tune in for another one of my personal self-reflections followed by some encouragement for you.

Do you know who Oregon Freddy is? Well if not, you’re about to find out! After running into him at our shared co-working space Oregon Freddy obliged my request to interview him on the spot! That’s definitely cool guy behavior. Make sure you check out his content over at www.oregonfreddy.com and stay tuned for more content like this!

We’re doing a crossover episode with the Willamette Block Party, the project that has been the focus of my creative attention for the past 6 weeks. It’s a project that aims to highlight all things Black in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where I live. Shout out to the homies, Ray White and Allie Saunders, for collaborating with me on this. Stay tuned for more to come!

On this episode, I talk about how I’ve been faking the funk by not being honest about the self-censorship, mischaracterization, and censorship that I’ve faced in my personal and professional lives. I take concrete steps to truly reclaim my narrative the best way I know how — through rhyme.

Rise & Love, Family! On this episode from May 31st:  I hit pause—literally. I pulled over at a "secret location" to do some real-time reflection after a tough moment at home with my wife. We’re navigating different communication styles—me, the storyteller who paints the full picture; her, direct and to the point. And when tension shows up, it’s easy to miss each other. So I unpack what it means to invest in understanding—how to stay grounded in love when things get hard, how to meet in the middle without losing yourself, and how to come back to the ground rules that keep us connected. This isn’t advice. It’s just me being real, reflecting out loud, and sharing what I’m learning in hopes it helps you reflect on your own relationships too. More love, less ego. More peace, less pride.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME. I was feeling some of that energy prior to sitting down for this episode’s reflection. Interestingly enough, it came about from my seeing posts, stories, and reels from creators, leaders, coaches and facilitators that usually inspire me and help me to feel I’m on the right path. I fell into the trap of comparing and then the doubt started to creep in. Before I got caught up in it, I reminded myself about my capability, my potential, and the purpose of what I’m doing. Additionally, I drilled down into my approach to facilitation, coaching, and perspective-sharing through a lot of my content. I offer up insights, information, and perspective, with an open mind and heart, walking alongside folks towards development. We’re on the way together.

Rise & Love, Family! On this episode from March 17th, I share some of my reflections on marriage using art as a reference point. Shout out to Bob Ross! I talk through some of the steps that my wife and I are taking to grow within our marriage, and how we sometimes struggle to navigate conflict. As opposed to my giving insight or answers, I'm trying to figure it out in real-time through this verbal self-reflection. If my message resonates with you please let me know.

On this episode, I talk about self-censorship, rediscovering my voice, and staying grounded by my purpose.

The only constant in life is change, and I’ve been making some changes in my life recently. I won’t say that I have a new outlook on life, but I do have more clarity. In the last episode I talked about my struggle to “protect my peace” in relationships with people. Moving to a new location is something that is helping me to protect my peace as I’m getting acclimated to this new phase in my life.

On this episode:

• It's time to get festive in this bih!

  • We gonna take u back in time...

  • Shout out to the Hudsons

• Make sure that I'm off work on a day that I'm normally off work. :/

• The power of positive thinking

• Speaking of basketball

• Building things up on the family front

• I gotta work on my mobility and flexibility

• I feel blessed and highly favored

Let's start with the fact that the audio for this "episode" is straight-up boo boo. I tried very hard (painstakingly so) to alter and edit the recording to make it audible. So that it was a complete and utter loss, I decided to mixdown the video with captions embedded AND I've decided not to post this one onto my main audio podcast feed. That's what I get for not bringing the proper equipment along for this trip.

Vlogging on the nature path because I needed to get my mind, body and spirit right. On this episode:

• My hair got chopped in preparation for a special occasion

• Commentary on running

• Shout out to folks getting active and enjoying the weather

• And MORE

Wazzup? Wazzup? Wazzup!? On the road (again) for work. Decided to hit record on my camera and mic. Sorry my voice sounds hollowed out, but I figured that was better than the background sound from my car. On this episode:

• F.W. Eye

  • Shout out to Forest Whitaker

• Work work work work work

  • The money is not money-ing (Ew)

• Tune in to my life

• Venturing into other forms of content creation

• And MORE

I'm in a silly mood during this long commute to work prior to having the 4th of July off. I talk a bit about "Skadoosh-iary Services" -- I have no idea what that means, but it sounds kind of cool. On this episode:

• Brainstorming, writing vows, and recording, oh my!

• Video Diary / Journal

  • Goodness forbid, if something happens to me, I hope my family can access all the years worth of recording I've done that kind of chronicle my life.

• Continuing to focus my focus

• Reflecting on Juneteenth celebrations

• And MORE

On this episode:

• Is this a VLOG?

  • Followed by a number of focus areas that aren't necessarily covered in this podcast/series

• My character flaw is being a Renaissance Man / spreading myself too thin

• Shout-out to getting started though

• Quick reflection on Juneteenth

• My brain is doing “stuff”

• And MORE

I NEEDED to get outside. I have been spending way too much time indoors and in vehicles that I wanted to commune with nature. Oh, and I needed to get myself used to holding a microphone in the style of an interviewer as I was getting ready to attend some Juneteenth events. On this episode:

• Happy Super Belated Father's Day

  • Shout out to my "son" Jeff

  • Shout out to Upward Bound

• On Navigating a Rocky Road (no dairy)

• Preparing to be on my correspondent “ish”

• And MORE

Shout out to late great John Witherspoon for inspiring the title of this episode. If you know, you know… and if you need a hint: Boomerang. Speaking of boomerangs, we’re back at it with another late episode. Topics include: integrating into an established family, failing at Valentine’s Day, and Super-Blackitty-Black-Black History Month.

Starting this one off with a too long intro and some bloopity-bloops as I try to intro the video. Continued my routine of just hitting record whenever I have the ability to do so. On this episode:

• Go on and dust your shoulders off

• Ball really is LIFE

  • Shout out to 'Hank the Tank', Jeff, Griff, and my other southern Oregon hoop fam

  • Time for some play-by-play

• A Lesson in 'Stick-with-i-tude'