The Robert Wesley Branch Show: Recent Episodes
Robert Wesley Branch
A roundtable of wisdom, where people from all across the planet, from all walks of life, and from all religious and sacred traditions, convene for spiritual conversation. Real people. Raw talk. Relevant issues.
An update on the late author Otis Randolf ("Shadows Behind the Rainbow"), known in real life as Nolan McClinton.
This is a story of the sacred pilgrims you meet on that narrow road less traveled. "For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20, 1599 Geneva Bible) This is a story of a sacred trinity of power: they are active in your life, look for them, cultivate their power, and direct that Divine energy into manifesting good things for yourself, for those you love, and for those within your sphere of influence.
Brother Marvin (Full Podcast). This is a story of bad blood between a father and son; of the trauma we are born into and the trauma we fall into along our journey; of coming back from addiction; of Bipolar Disorder and the divided soul; of the compromises we make in order to keep going in life; and of how your character governs your talent.
My beloved sister, friend, and co-host in this space for 7 years, departed her body (and this life) the other day, leaving those of us who loved her with the sweet memories of her beautiful soul. This is a moment we had on March 6, 2010, some 10 years ago, in our first season of podcasting together. May your music never end, Ms. Maiesha Rashad: eternal rest in peace, power, and paradise! And thank you for being a most treasured part of my life since 1990.
If I could have chosen a biological younger brother, it would be Dwayne: we are from the same soul group. I am old enough to see myself in him. We are strong soldiers on the road less traveled. It had been seven years since our last one-on-one, brother to brother, but as with all souls that are knit together as ours, it always feels just like yesterday when last we spoke. These are the moments I most treasure in life.
Father-Son Chronicles.Chapter Five: Trust Issues. This is a story of a father trying to teach his sons what he is still learning himself. (Seven Minutes and Twenty-Seven Seconds) [Best enjoyed with your ‘beats’ headphones.]
Father-Son Chronicles.Chapter Four: Father, Can You Spare Some Time? This is a story of brothers grappling with their physically and emotionally absent fathers. [Best enjoyed with your ‘beats’ headphones.]
Father-Son Chronicles.Chapter Three: What Becomes of a Son Deferred? This is a story of a husband and father who is about to have a courageous (and long overdue) conversation with his biological father who did not raise him to manhood.
Father-Son Chronicles. Chapter Two: When the Son Becomes the Man of the House. This is a story of a young brother – the firstborn of five children – who assumed the role of father-figure, helping his single mother raise his three sisters and one brother. (Five Minutes and Fifty Seconds) [Best enjoyed with your ‘beats’ headphones.]
Father-Son Chronicles. Chapter One: Letting Your Father Off the Hook. This is a story of a grown-ass man, waiting for his father to say: “I wasn’t there for you. And I’m sorry.” (Three Minutes and Two Seconds) [Best enjoyed with your ‘beats’ headphones.]
This is my 261st episode. This podcasting journey (which began for me on February 6, 2010) has led me to another sister-from-another-mister: Ms. La Tonia Taylor, author of “My Juicy Rebirth: A Journey to Healing the Feminine Through Pleasure & Sacred Process.” (Full Interview) Featuring co-host Michele Wilson. Respect and honor to our ancestor, beloved sister Audre Lorde. [Best enjoyed with your 'beats' headphones.]
This is my 262nd episode. And in ten seasons of podcasting, this is one of the brothers whose spirit I most enjoy. In conversation with artist and author Ray Rosario: “Practicing Love: Reflective Times & Critical Thinking.” (Full Interview) Featuring co-hosts Michele Wilson and Darren Dante Bonner. [Best enjoyed with your 'beats' headphones.]
Catch and Release. This is the story of how you catch souls – and when you release them. And these souls are caught in the doing of your ministry; in other words, you living your authentic life out loud – in the process, you will catch souls. And every soul you catch has a shelf life – in your life! This is also the story of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The First Agreement: be impeccable with your word! And this is, too, the story of one of my Agreements with myself.
This is the story of a seven-year cycle. Seven symbolizes spiritual perfection (“Number in Scripture: Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance” by E.W. Bullinger). This is also the story of a few earth angels I’ve known along the way. This is the story of how you wake up each day and find meaning in your life. [TRWBS #258 – University of Success VI: How to Accept the Challenge of Success – April 20, 2019.]
This is the story of Mansa Abubakari II, 9thEmperor of Mali – a visionary, a risk-taker, a man whose dream was not deferred. [TRWBS #249 – Bread Upon the Waters – February 3, 2018.]
This is the story of the beginnings of Blaxploitation. This is also the story of, perhaps, the biggest "pusherman" in your life - and the drug he is selling you: white gold, also known as sucrose, processed and refined sugar. This is, too, the story of the Dominican sugar plantations in the Caribbean - and the slave labor camps that keep workers in a perpetual state of poverty, so that Americans (and others) can indulge their sweet tooth 24/7. [TRWBS #233 - Sugar Blues - April 15, 2017.]
This is the story of the roots of race in America, beginning in Europe, with Carl Linnaeus, Johann Blumenbach, then moving stateside with Thomas George Morton, and Louis Agassiz – and their scientific racism. This is also the story of race, class, and poverty in the United States, with an extended conversation about neighborhood life on the south side of Chicago. How exactly do we pull a young brother up out of the drug-dealing hustle and place him solidly into the middle class – on the right side of the law? What is the science and spirit of that? This is also the story of white privilege and white patriarchy. This is also the story of the ruling class – on this planet and in this country. This is, too, the story of how brothers have to learn how to father one another. A lot of men don’t need another brother, they need a father, and they need to be fathered. And you, brother, are all they have. We’re talking about that. This is a story of liberating you from indoctrination. How exactly do you uplevel a slave mentality? This is also the story of being a Black person and working (in business) with other Black people: tis not an easy thing sometimes. This is a real, raw, and relevant conversation on race – for mature audiences and seasoned minds only. [TRWBS 234-237 – The Roots of Race – April 22-May 20, 2017.]
Are you being educated or are you being indoctrinated? Featuring the groundbreaking work of educator Jane Elliott and her infamous Blue Eye/Brown Eye experiment. Special guest: former educator Judy Martin Coles discusses her years teaching in classrooms throughout the Washington, D.C. area. Dante’s Word of the Week. (Enlightenment).
RWB Talks. The Execution of Ray Jasper. Examining the prison-industrial complex through the abolitionist writings of Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau’s work “Civil Disobedience.” Also, telling the crime and punishment story of former death row inmate Ray Jasper, who was executed by the state of Texas in 2014.
Ray Jasper’s Letters from Death Row. Examining two letters written (to Gawker.com) by death row inmate Ray Jasper, who was executed by the state of Texas in 2014. In those letters, Ray Jasper writes profoundly of the prison-industrial complex, racism in America, and the spiritual teachings that sustained him during his 15 years on death row in the state of Texas.
Brother Shakoure Char returns to continue our conversation on the pre-school to prison pipeline, with special emphasis on his story of (at age 18) being convicted (using the felony murder rule) and sentenced to 23 years “behind the wall.” Released 18 months ago (at the time of this recording), Shakoure shares on the state of his consciousness as a teen: how he gravitated toward the “street life,” how there was a lack of access to older Black male mentorship in his life, and how he used his years in prison to complete two undergraduate degrees, as well as a Master’s Degree.
In this episode: Writer-podcaster-recovering television producer Robert Wesley Branch; television executive producer and business development consultant Michele Wilson; civil rights investigations supervisor, singer-songwriter Dante Bonner; and jazz singer-songwriter and music producer Mai Maiesha. [The Robert Wesley Branch Show #222: Pre-School to Prison Pipeline: Breaking the Soul Ties II - originally broadcast on Saturday, November 5, 2016] #TheRobertWesleyBranchShow #KeepItConscious #RealRawRelevant
RWB Talks. Because he refused to “snitch” on his co-conspirators, 18-year-old Reno was sentenced (under the felony murder rule) to life without the possibility of parole, and he has been serving his time for over 20 years now, at one of the 27 “correctional” institutions in the state of Maryland. Revisiting the history of the Lorton Reformatory (in Lorton, Virginia), a prison where one of my uncles did some time, back in the 70s.
The conversation continues after “Life Without the Possibility of Parole,” as we introduce our “Pre-School to Prison Pipeline: Breaking the Soul Ties” series. Centering up on an article – “The Prison Industrial Complex” – by Eric Schlosser, published in the December 1998 issue of “The Atlantic” monthly magazine.
An enlightened brother calls in to share his eye-opening wisdom on the state of affairs in the Black community and the prison-industrial complex. Afterward, we welcome brother Shakoure Char, who spent 23 years “behind the wall” – having been imprisoned since he was a very young man. Released 18 months ago, Shakoure speaks passionately about what it took to survive his prison experience; how he attained two bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree while still inside the prison system; and why young Black men are gravitating to the streets and what their parents can begin doing about it. In the midst of brother Shakoure’s candid and poignant sharing, a mother of a young Black son calls in, seeking solutions for how to handle her son’s weed smoking and escalating trouble with the law.
In this episode: Writer-podcaster-television producer Robert Wesley Branch; television executive producer and biz dev consultant Michele Wilson; and civil rights investigations supervisor, Dante Bonner.