Soapbox Diaries: Recent Episodes
Tina Bryson
Soapbox Diaries features real stories of race, resistance, and resolve. This show is a platform for guests to have authentic conversations exploring issues at the intersection of politics, black identity, community, history, the arts, and much more.
Our guest today is Chanel Minnifield. Channel is an actress and vegan influencer. She is the host of the TV Show, “Yes! That’s Vegan.”
Our guest today is Jaria Gordon, executive co-director of Kids Make It Institute, a STEAM youth nonprofit. She is also a founding member of Commonwealth Alliance Voter Engagement.
Our guest today is Dr. Howard Conyers an aerospace engineer with NASA who designs facilities for testing rocket engines. But he is also known for his work to document the history of Blacks in barbeque.
Our guest today is David Laurenvil, a first-generation Haitian transplant from the Little Haiti Burroughs of Miami, Florida. David is a seasoned businessman, restauranteur, scientist, and researcher focused on community empowerment, self-determination, and the creation of a wealth-minded nation for young people living in Lexington, KY.
Our guest today is Greg Harbut. Greg is the owner of Harbut Bloodstock which specializes in finding top-class broodmares for his clients, many of whom are overseas. He was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, where he inherited his love for thoroughbreds and the industry from his forefathers. Greg is a third generation horseman, following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather Will Harbut, groom to the famous racehorse Man o’ War.
Our guest today is Keith Alexander. Keith is a Pulitzer Prize winning D.C. crime and courts reporter for The Washington Post. He was also recently named the technical editorial advisor for Howard University’s The Hilltop, the nation’s oldest black collegiate newspaper.
Our guest today is Mike Goodwin. He’s a full-time comedian from South Carolina. Mike uses his ability to merge leadership and laughter, to help meet his goal of leaving places and people better than he found them. His comedy style leaves audiences laughing hysterically and completely inspired, without a foul or vulgar word spoken. He’s appeared on America’s Got Talent, Dry Bar Comedy, Lifetime, and BET.
Our guest today is Crystal Wilkinson, the 2021-22 Kentucky Poet Laureate. She is the first African-American woman to hold this position. In addition, she is the author of the newly released, “Perfect Black.” It is said that Perfect Black combines Crystal’s deep love for her rural roots with a passion for language and storytelling in this compelling collection of poetry and prose about girlhood, racism, and political awakening, imbued with vivid imagery of growing up in Southern Appalachia.
Our guest today is Dr. Michael Robinson, pastor of Total Grace Baptist Church, here in Lexington, and also author of the new book Black Conscious Christianity. He is a man on mission for God with a ministry that aggressively pursues the disregarded, disposed, despised and denied of society.
Our guest today is Gerard Morrison. He is the creative force behind the annual John Coltrane Music Edu-tainment Festival in Hamlet, NC.
John Coltrane was born just 6 miles from my hometown. Coletrane, an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, is an iconic figure of 20th-century jazz. He was born in Hamlet in 1926.
Our guest today is Roszalyn Akins, the executive director of Black Male Working Academy and Dean of Scholars at the Carter G. Woodson Academy.
She is working to close the achievement gap which is a problem not only for African American students, but the entire country.
According to Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO of PolicyLink, In the United States, a black public school student is suspended every four seconds, while every 27 seconds a black high school student drops out of school. Black students are also 3.5 times more likely than white students to be suspended or expelled. Within this group, black male students fare the worst.
Akins is working to change that.
Our guest today is Jamaal Bell, the creative director behind the films “A Reading of The Letter From Birmingham Jail” and “Free to Ride.”
I am on my soapbox today about using your creativity to bring others into the story. Great storytellers know how to engage an audience and bring them along on the journey. It can be from the standpoint of pure entertainment, or it can raise awareness and activism around issues that just need to be illuminated. Our guest today is one of those types of storytellers.
This is Part 2.
Our guest today is Jamaal Bell, the creative director behind the films “A Reading of The Letter From Birmingham Jail” and “Free to Ride.”
I am on my soapbox today about using your creativity to bring others into the story. Great storytellers know how to engage an audience and bring them along on the journey. It can be from the standpoint of pure entertainment, or it can raise awareness and activism around issues that just need to be illuminated. Our guest today is one of those types of storytellers.
This is Part 1.
Our guest today is Ricardo Franklin, a gun violence activist and community outreach coordinator with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. His role involved fostering the connection between the community and law enforcement.
I am on my soapbox today about reducing gun violence which is at epidemic proportions in our nation. In many instances, the debate centers around the second amendment, but there is so much impact that gun violence has on our society at large. In Lexington, one mother chose to act. After her death, her son Ricardo stepped up to continue the work she started.
Our guest today is Jasmin Graham, a marine biologist with the Mote Marine Laboratory and specializes in the study of sharks, skates, rays and their evolution. She is also the co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS).
I am on my soapbox today about breaking the mold. There are times when people may have a view of what you should or should not do or be, but I’m encouraged by people that choose to follow their passion, chart their own course, and forge a path for others.
I am on my soapbox today about the transformational power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). As an HBCU alum, I am grateful that our schools set the bar high and we reached for it, transforming the dreams of our ancestors into reality.
Our guest today is Jared Bryson, founder of WeAreHBCUs, whose mission is to strengthen the cultural legacy of Historically Black Colleges & Universities and develop HBCU students. Jared is also a graduate of the esteemed Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
Nicole Barnett is the author of a new book titled "Out of the Mouths of Babes." In this 31-day devotional, she shares light-hearted stories about motherhood with insights for spiritual growth.
As a postpartum depression survivor and clinical social worker by training, Nicole also engages in maternal mental health advocacy, education, and support.
I am on my soapbox today about being the change you want to see. Many times we complain about why things are not the way we want them to be, but most of us never take the next step not only to actively change the narrative, but also to be active in creating space to make the change we want to see. That is why I am excited to hear from our guest today.
Kennisha Fisher is the creator of a YouTube show for preschoolers called “Learn This with Miss Fish.”
I'm on my soapbox today about reclaiming our history. Where are the monuments that celebrate our African heritage. Who will tell our story today and for the generations that will follow?
That is why I am so excited to kick off Season 5 of Soapbox Diaries with Gabrielle Miller, an instructor candidate with Diving with a Purpose, where she collaborates with other Black divers to discover and document shipwrecks of the slave trade. She is also a third-year doctoral student with an emphasis on African Diaspora Archaeology at the University of Tulsa.
Earth Day is this week. Our guest on this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries is Ariel Green, host of the Sustainable Brown Girl podcast, a community created to connect and inspire women of color to live more sustainably.
https://www.sustainablebrowngirl.com/
Our imagination has to be big enough that we are not contained by what this world says should be our place. On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, we are pleased to have Sean and Tia Edwards, the owners of Fresh Bourbon Distilling Company in Lexington, Kentucky, proclaimed by the Kentucky Senate as the first African Americans to produce bourbon in the state of Kentucky since slavery.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Leslie Covington, Executive Director of The Carying Place that serves working families with children who are experiencing homelessness.
The pandemic has had an impact on everybody, but people who were already struggling are facing even more challenges. Even when the economy has recovered, there will still be families who need assistance, who need advocates that champion creative ways to address issues like poverty and homelessness. The Carying Place is doing that.
Our guest today is Vince Bingham, he and his wife Chantel, are owners of His Will My Hands Entertainment, an independent film company in Lexington. We will be discussing his creative journey and his vision to diversify storytelling content and creation.
I learned about my next guest when she was battling leukemia. I am glad that she is here to share her own story with us.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), a social policy and advocacy organization. This is the FINAL episode in our Women’s History Month series highlighting four Phenomenal Women in one Amazing Family.
After reaching the age of 18, 20 percent of children who were in foster care will become instantly homeless. Less than 3 percent of children who have aged out of foster care have a chance to earn a college degree. My guest today is fighting to change that.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Lesley Jones Sessler, a nationally recognized and award winning educator and regional specialist with Foster Success. This is the third episode in our Women’s History Month series. We discussed her fight for children on the margins.
"Kasserian Ingera" is a Masai greeting. It means "And how are the children?" The traditional answer is "All the children are well." Their reason for being meant protecting the young and the powerless.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Elsa Jones, a child development specialist and advocate. This is the second episode in our Women’s History Month series. We discussed the value of high-quality preschool for all children as well as Elsa's life experience in a fourth generation civil rights family.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Natalie Jones, she has been involved professionally in the world of fine art for more than 45 years. Natalie kicks off our celebration of Women’s History Month with a series that highlights four phenomenal women in one amazing family. I interviewed William Jones III in Season 1 and this season we will learn more about his accomplished mother and three sisters.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is the incomparable and talented Tanya Torp, Executive Director at Step By Step, Inc which encourages and equips young, single mothers. We will be discussing the power of knowing your own worth and advocating for the value of other people.
Our guest today is Sydney Satchell, a Paralympian for Team USA. Sydney is on the sitting volleyball team. The 2021 Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for this summer in Tokyo. We will discuss her journey and hopefully inspire you to overcome any obstacles that you may be facing in your own life.
It is reported that 44,000 people in Louisville, Kentucky live in areas where there are limited options for affordable, nutritious food, and more than 120,000 are food insecure.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Shauntrice Martin, the founder of #feedthewest and owner of Black Market KY – two food justice initiatives in the West End of Louisville.
This is our debut of Season 4. Today’s guest on Soapbox Diaries is Frank X Walker, former Kentucky Poet Laureate and author of the new book, Masked Man: Black, Pandemic and Protest Poems. We discuss his creative work in response to coronavirus and this summer’s protests, as well as his take on where America goes next.
On this week’s episode of Soapbox Diaries, our guest is Dr. Jerika Ross, a licensed psychologist. She is the owner of Therapy 419, a private practice which specializes in women's health and identity. In this world filled with so many daily traumas, today we will be discussing mental health in the Black community.
Our guest today is Wayne Riley, founder of the Laurel County African American Heritage Center. We will be discussing the power of history to shape the next generation and how to move from under the shadow of tragic events in the past.
**This episode was recorded prior to the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Judge Melissa Moore Murphy, Fayette District Court Division 4, joins us to discuss next steps for those wanting to stay engaged following the general election. We discuss criminal justice reform, the power of the vote, and how to fight against despair after election losses. Plus, a quick lesson on the structure of the judiciary.
The national buying power of Blacks in 2019 was $1.4 trillion, but a dollar stays in the Black community just 6 minutes. Our guest today is working to change that. Ashley Smith is co-founder and COO of Black Soil: Our Better Nature, a statewide agritourism company with a mission of reconnecting Black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. Episode 2 of 2
Production intern Jaleyah Northington continues conversation with Ashley Smith, co-founder and COO of Black Soil: Our Better Nature, a statewide agritourism company with a mission of reconnecting Black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. Catch the full episode where we discussed the power of cooperative economics in the Black community.
The national buying power of Blacks in 2019 was $1.4 trillion, but a dollar stays in the Black community just 6 minutes. Our guest today is working to change that. Ashley Smith is co-founder and COO of Black Soil: Our Better Nature, a statewide agritourism company with a mission of reconnecting Black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. Episode 1 of 2
Production intern Jaleyah Northington continues conversation with Melanie Kirkwood-Marshall, a literacy educator and doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Catch the full episode where we discussed the impact of multi-cultural children’s literature and where we still have work to do.
Our guest is Melanie Kirkwood-Marshall, a literacy educator and doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. We’ll discuss the impact of multi-cultural children’s literature and where we still have work to do. Plus, Kirkwood-Marshall provides a list of notables to surprise the booklover in your life this holiday season.
Production intern Jaleyah Northington continues conversation with Dawn Runyon, coordinator of Green Dot in Lexington, Kentucky. Catch the full episode where we discuss the impact of intervention in reducing violent interactions and how we can change the culture.
Everette Sands has spent 25 years coaching college football. As the force behind the creation of The WES Foundation, he harnesses the power of athletics to guide youth on the path of success in many of life's arenas.
Dawn Runyon, coordinator of Green Dot in Lexington, Kentucky, discusses the impact of intervention in reducing violent interactions and how we can change the culture.
Blanche Brown is an art therapist, community activist, poet, and storyteller. Today, we will be discussing how important the arts are for our mental health as a means to express what is going on in our heads and in our hearts.
Production intern Jaleyah Northington continues conversation with Jade Merritt, founder and president of Mikey's Miracle Foundation.
Jade Merritt, founder and president of Mikey's Miracle Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and their families during their fight against cancer.
Michael Morrow is a historian and genealogist from Russellville, Kentucky. He is also an archivist and curator at the SEEK Museum (Struggles for Emancipation and Equality in Kentucky). Today we will be discussing how to honor our ancestors by keeping our history alive. We will also learn about a community built by enslaved people in Western Kentucky who were freed and given property in the 1830s.
Ralph Hodge, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church of South Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, helps us observe Juneteenth with a discussion on black wealth, domestic terrorism, effective propaganda, and Confederate monuments. Plus, recommendations on a number of must read books.
Missy Hagans, a 2020 Census recruiter, discusses the many facets of our daily lives impacted by census data. She makes the case for why it is critical for communities of color to be counted accurately.
Professor Anthony Hendricks is the Director of the Center for Biblical Unity at Williamson College. Today we will be discussing hard conversations we need to have in the church around race relations and biblical unity.
Our guest today is Dr. Marcus Bernard, an associate professor in the College of Agriculture Communities, and the Environment at Kentucky State University. Today we will be discussing the history and work of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund as well as implications for residents.
Adrienne Hunter is the CEO and Founder of Servant Manor, a nonprofit social service agency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is building a second career as a wealth strategist and relationship coach. She discusses how she accomplished her goals and made her dreams a reality.
Trevor Claiborn, aka Farmer Brown, discusses the plight of black farmers. He is a Small Farm Assistant with the College of Agriculture, Communities, and the Environment at Kentucky State University. Claiborn is working to support local black farmers and engage the next generation in the economics of agriculture.
David Cozart is the Director of the Father Initiative with the Lexington Leadership Foundation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19.7 million children, more than 1 in 4, live without a father in the home. Children raised in homes where the father is not present are at greater risk of encountering a host of problems, from poverty and incarceration to teen pregnancy and childhood obesity. To help counteract that, the Fatherhood Initiative seeks to “restore, equip and deploy fathers and male leaders in families, the faith community and throughout Lexington’s communities.”
Whit Whitaker is an accomplished vocalist and actor. He was named executive director of the historic Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center in August 2019. The Detroit native is no stranger to the arts community in Central Kentucky. He discussed the importance of the arts in African American communities, and how to get involved with a local cultural arts center.
Angela Medlin, founder of FAAS (The Functional Apparel & Accessories Studio), is changing the face(s) of the apparel industry. Originally from North Carolina, this multifaceted designer relocated to the west coast where she built a successful career designing and directing for renowned global brands that include Nike/Jordan, Adidas, The North Face, Levi Strauss & Co., Eddie Bauer, and Cross Colours. She shares her journey of following her own creative path and working to prepare the next generation of diverse designers in an unprecedented ‘learn while doing’ program.
Robert David is the youth and gang prevention coordinator in Danville, Va. In just over one year, he created an innovative program that has gained national attention and impacted the deadly gang violence in the city. The program was awarded the President’s Award from the Virginia Municipal League: the highest honor in the state for a local government's innovation solutions. He discusses how his faith and his grandmother's dying directive helped him discover his God-given purpose.
Tiffany Fisher, founder of The Fisher Projects and author of "I'm All In," is a 1990 graduate from Richmond Senior High School. She discusses her plan to reach girls and women with a positive message of upliftment. The author and speaker shares about finding your purpose and getting beyond the fear that holds us back. Fisher is featured on the second of four episodes that will highlight Richmond Sr. grads in a series called "Homecoming."
Maurice Stuart, a member of the Hamlet City Council and 1989 graduate from Richmond Senior High School is the first guest on Season 2 of Soapbox Diaries. He talks small town memories, historically black colleges, and issues that are important in this election. Stuart is the first of four episodes that will highlight Richmond Sr. grads in a series called "Homecoming."
Today's guest is Johnathon Davis, managing partner at JT Davis Asset Management.
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Guest Website: www.jtdavisky.com/
Today's guest is Dr. Shambra Mulder, an educator and experienced advocate for public schools.
Soapbox Diaries on Facebook: @soapboxdiaries
Guest Website: www.abundantlivingpsychologicalandcoachingservices.c….abundantlivingpsychologicalandcoachingservices.com/about-us.html
Today's guest is Sarah Clark Newby, the first African-American teacher to desegregate Fayette County Public Schools.
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Host Email: tinabryson.soapboxdiaries@gmail.com
Today's guest is Judge Pamela Goodwine who was elected to the Kentucky Court of Appeals to serve Division 1 of the 5th Appellate District. Judge Goodwine was the first African-American female judge in Fayette County, Kentucky.
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Host Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Today's guest is Wilbur Hackett, the first African-American team captain in the history of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in college football.
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Today's guest is William Jones III. His father, William Jones Jr., was the first African-American to graduate from the University of Kentucky's College of Arts and Sciences in 1958. He was also involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The March on Washington took place August 28, 1963, this episode discusses his father's achievements at UK and in the Civil Rights Movement.
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For more information on the Bone Marrow Registry see the Icla Da Silva Foundation at icla.org or visit BeTheMatch.org.
Today's guest is Devine Carama, an indie hip hop artist and activist. He is also the director of Believing in Forever, a nonprofit that hopes to inspire and encourage youth advancement through art, leadership, education, and community service. His annual coat drive, “A Coat To Keep The Cold Away,” seeks to collect 3,000 new coats for youth in Kentucky.
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Show Email: soapboxdiaries@gmail.com
Guest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelievingInForever/
Guest Website: www.believinginforever.com
Today's guest is Rev. Jim Thurman, Kentucky Commander of the National Association of Black Veterans. He discusses the history of African-Americans in the U.S. military and his work to serve veterans. The Vietnam Vet has worked notably on issues facing female vets and vets that are homeless.
Volunteers are needed to help veterans in Kentucky. For more information, contact Rev. Thurman at 859.421.5851.
VA Hotline for Homeless Vets is 1.877.424.3838.
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Show Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Guest Website: http://www.kynabvets13.com/
Guest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NabvetsKyStCmd
National Website: https://nabvets.weebly.com/
National Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NabvetsInc/
Today's guest is Jim Embry, the executive director of Sustainable Communities Network. Embry has his roots in activism having grown up with a mother who was president of the local chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). His discusses his time as a student activist at the University of Kentucky and how his role as an activist has evolved.
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Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Today's guest is Abdul Muhammad, president of the Lexington-Fayette Branch of the NAACP. He reflects on life experiences growing up as a young man in Chicago, encounters with law enforcement, and the power of the ballot box.
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Show Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Guest Facebook: www.facebook.com/NAACPLexington/
Guest Website: www.lexnaacp.net/
Today's guests are Fayette County Councilwoman Angela Evans and Kentucky State Representative Attica Scott. In the spirit of Shirley Chisholm, Evans and Scott made room for themselves at the political table in the Bluegrass. They join Tina to discuss the political landscape and how to be a part of the process.
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Show Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Guest's Website: http://atticascott4ky.com/
Guest's Facebook: www.facebook.com/StateRepresentativeAtticaScott/
Guest's Website: www.lexingtonky.gov/council-district-6
Guest's Facebook: www.facebook.com/EvansDistrict6/
Today's guest on Soapbox Diaries is Debora Logan-Lawson, the editor of The Lextropolis, a digital magazine with an urban influence. Logan-Lawson discusses diversifying media voices in the marketplace.
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Show Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Guest Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/thelextropolis/
Guest Website: www.thelextropolis.com/
Today's guest on Soapbox Diaries is Le Datta Grimes, co-writer and co-producer of the upcoming documentary “Invented Before You Were Born.” Grimes discusses her research on Rosenwald Schools and how that journey led her to an amazing community of descendants of freed slaves who formed towns in the 1830s that continue to this day.
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Show Email: soapboxdiaries50@gmail.com
Guest Facebook: www.facebook.com/Invented-Before-…348431588709838/
Guest Website: www.bibbfilm.com/