ADmire!

Ever wonder what it takes to run a 51,000-capacity NASCAR track? Lori Warren knows firsthand. As Richmond Raceway's first female president in its 77-year history, her journey to motorsports leadership began unexpectedly in childhood, standing on her grandfather's shoulders as he directed cars into parking spots at the very venue she now oversees.Curious about the changing face of motorsports leadership? Listen now to discover how unexpected paths can lead to innovation in American racing, and why the in-person NASCAR experience continues to draw fans in an era of high-definition broadcasts and digital distractions.Join the conversation...tune in today.Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe.

Steve Jones, founder and CEO of pocstock, a global stock platform joins us on ADmire! to take us through his journey from Barbados to the U.S. His entrepreneurial mindset and the creation and curation of the first stock media company built from the ground up to represent people of color.Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe.

In the ADmire! Season 5 opener we talk with Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Cardiologist, author, entrepreneur and women's health advocate. She has launched Adesso, a med-tech company that aims to significantly lower women's cardiovascular disease risk. We take a deep dive into the demographics, societal and environmental factors that have made heart disease in women one of the nation's largest health issues and the ideas Dr. Suzanne is proposing to reverse the trend. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe.

Guys like Dave Alpern, President of  the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) NASCAR team are the reason I started this podcast. In one of my personal favorite shows to date, Dave talks faith, purpose, management style, Joe Gibbs, NASCAR and fast cars. All with a transparency that you don't see very often in business but you'd like to.Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe.

My guest is Stacy Spikes, co-founder and CEO of the nation's first theatrical subscription service, Movie Pass. Stacy is also founder of the Urbanworld film festival and author of Black Founder, The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider. Recently named by USA Today as one of the 21 most influential Blacks in technology, Stacy joins me to talk about his background, breaking into the music business, surviving the ebbs and flows of being an entrepreneur. Along the way he has plenty of advice for would be entrepreneurs. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe.

Ward Clayton, author of the new book The Legendary Caddies of Augusta joins ADmire! host Larry D. Woodard to talk about growing up in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina with its great sports and coaching culture, falling in love with sports and sports writing, working for the PGA and making sense of LIV Golf. He explains how the caddies of Augusta National story found him and the emotional connection that has developed over the years. He talks about the new book.Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe.

ADmire! Podcast host Larry D. Woodard sits down with World Rugby Hall of Famer turn MMA fighter Phaidra Knight and they discuss how it felt to knock out Halle Berry, raising pigs, chasing dreams and giving back.

In this episode I chop it up with Adobe's Chris Duffey about the Metaverse, AI and the future of life as we know it on planet earth. (I bet that got your attention)

Host Larry D Woodard and Chicago treasure, Yvette Moyo, go "there". That's right, they explore Yvette's career and in the process deal with the realities of being black and in business.

For those of us of a certain age, Rodney Allen Rippy was one of the first people in the world to really go viral. His ads for Jack in the Box in the early 70's made him instantly recognizable everywhere. This is a great American story. Buckle up and tune in!

Dr. Ford, President of Dillard University in New Orleans, teaches America that her birthplace Gahanna rhymes with Banana and gets serious about the task of teaching the next generation of leaders and the many benefits of HBCU's. 

Tracy Gardner talks about the inspiration and process he went through creating his new food lifestyle brand PairCraft. This is a fascinating story about how he used his training as an engineer to fuel his passion for great food and wine pairings.

Author Marcia Mogelonsky talks about her new children's  book Little Owl in the Big City based on the true story of a Northern Saw-whet owl found in the boughs of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree last year. Delightfully illustrated by Jill Alexander and worthy of consideration to be a new holiday tradition.

Bill Lester, one of only a handful of black men to race in NASCAR's Cup Series talks about his new book Winning in Reverse, chasing dreams and the importance of gratitude.

Media executive and publishing entrepreneur, Keith Clinkscales puts his award-winning career into perspective in this candid conversation about how HBCU's, hip-hop and social unrest helped to shape his career.

My guest is Joseph Wooten, keyboard player and vocalist for the Steve Miller Band, front man for his own group The Hands of Soul.  Speaker, author and philanthropist. We discuss his activism and his holiday music.

Jesse Iwuji talks about chasing dreams. College football, Naval Officer, NASCAR Driver, Entrepreneur. You will understand why his hard work and positive attitude are allowing him to live the dream.

My guest is Technologist, Media Entrepreneur, Author and Film Producer  B Keith (B.K.) Fulton talks about his media company Soulidifly Productions, the importance of controlling your own narrative and why companies should do good while doing well.

My guest is Pepper Miller, a recognized market researcher, author, thought leader and Black American subject matter expert. Pepper holds nothing back as we get into issues on race, the advertising industry and our current racially charged environment.

This week's guest Jack Belsito is a beverage industry veteran having worked at P&G and Pepsi and led Snapple, RC Cola, Motts and VOSS. He is currently Managing Partner at First Beverage. He shares insights on the industry and our far-reaching talk covers Race in America, the COVID-19 pandemic and everything in-between!

My guest this week is Ben Kennedy, Managing Director of Racing Operations and International Development for NASCAR and great grandson of NASCAR founder, Bill France, Sr. Ben talks about being born into racing's first family, becoming a race car driver and how the sport is navigating during the COVID-19 pandemic and racial tensions in the U.S.

Renetta McCann is Chief Inclusion Experience Officer for the Publicis Groupe. She is one of the leading innovators and most influential executives in the advertising, marketing and media industries, with a global reputation for not only building brands, but also the organizations and leadership to sustain them. Renetta credits her remarkable sense of discovery, curiosity, a solid support system and a stubborn streak with helping her succeed in the Advertising and Media business.

David Altschul, President and Founder of Character is a gem of a guest.We discuss how character and story are at the heart of every great brand but also a handy way to make sense of the world we live in.What a smooth ride when David's behind the wheel. You don't want to miss this special episode of ADmire!

Actor, Producer, Activist Gina Belafonte is Executive Director of Sankofa an organization started by her father: singer, songwriter, activist actor, Harry Belafonte. Gina discusses growing up and her journey in her quest to be of service. We also talk about self care in this COVID-19 pandemic. You can support Sankofa by donating at www.sankofa.com 

Roosevelt Bouie has had a storied career in basketball from winning 4 consecutive High School Titles at Kendall, his winning ways at Syracuse University where as a 7' Center and ½ of the Louie and Bouie Show, to professional basketball in Italy where he played in Italy's top league for more than a decade winning both a league and European championship. He has gone on to be an entrepreneur, a sports broadcaster and one of Syracuse's great sports ambassadors. Roosevelt talks about playing for Syracuse, the young Kobe Bryant, the competitive Italian League, on being a person of character and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My guest is Gender Economist Katica Roy, the CEO and founder of Denver-based Pipeline, an award-winning SaaS company that leverages artificial intelligence to identify and drive economic gains through gender equity. Join me as Katica discusses the steep climb ahead as companies move toward gender equity and how Pipeline software is part of the solution.

I'm joined on the podcast by Ed Lewis, Magazine publisher and entrepreneur, he co-founded Essence, a magazine specifically targeted to black women and went on to serve as CEO and publisher of Essence Communications, Inc. for three decades. In the 1980s and 1990s. We talk about his early years, founding the magazine, its success, the pandemic and its disproportionate effect on people of color and self care. 

As a PGA Tour player, Larry Rinker played in over 500 tour events, played in all of the majors, Join us as he discusses the Tour then and now, his experience playing with Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and others and his role in the band Jake Trout & The Flounders which included Peter Jacobsen, Mark Lye and the late, great Payne Stewart.

John Rogers is Chairman, Founder, Co-CEO and Lead Portfolio Manager of Ariel Investments and investment firm with over $10 Billion under management. John discusses his background, passion,how he's coping during the pandemic, companies he's keen on post pandemic. We even get in a little politics. Don't miss this episode of ADmire!

Paula Boggs served as an officer in the U.S. Military, she also was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, and a partner at the first of Preston Gates & Ellis. She was a Vice President at Dell Corporation, as well as Executive Vice President, General Council and Secretary of the Starbucks Corporation.She is on the board of Avid Technologies a voting member of The Recording Academy and a recording artist, front-person for her group The Paula Boggs Band. We stuff as much as we can into our half hour conversation. Check out her music at http://www.paulaboggsband.net/

I welcome to the show NC State's Dereck Whittenburg who recounts his early development, winning national championships in high school and college, coaching, producing, philanthropy and focusing on what's important during these trying times. 

My guest for this special extended episode is Bernie Swain. He is the co-founder with Paula Swain and Harry Rhoads Jr. of Washington Speakers Bureau, a lecture agency which represents many prestigious authors, politicians, journalists, athletes, and business leaders. He is author of the book What Made Me Who I Am. He talks about his humble beginnings, starting the company, exceptional clients, leadership, character and honesty.

My guest, Nancy Hill, is the founder of Media Sherpas, and a former President and CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's) We talk diversity and gender inclusion, agencies weathering the storm and keeping sane during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A conversation with Evan Goldberg, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Oracle NetSuite. Evan talks about his path Oracle NetSuite, starting a cancer research foundation, being an entrepreneur and coping and family life during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Don McPherson was an All-American quarterback, who led Syracuse University to an undefeated season and was runner-up in the Heisman trophy vote. He went on to play professionally in the NFL and CFL and to become a sought after speaker, feminist and social activist. His new book is entitled You Throw Like A Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity.

My guest is Donna Orender. Donna is a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She was formerly senior vice president of the PGA and president/commissioner of the WNBA. We talk about her drive, her business journey and her work empowering women and girls.

Mike Jones is a commercial photographer whose iconic photographs of Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and Snoop Dogg are etched in our memory banks talks about getting his start as a commercial photographer and drops some knowledge about coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We continue with Dr. Jen Welter, the first female to coach in the NFL. Welter was the first woman to play running back in a men's professional football league. She played 14 years in women's professional football winning four National Championships. Jen talks about succeeding in Football and her work growing female participation in football in schools across the country.

Dr. Jen Welter is the first female to coach in the NFL. Welter was the first woman to play running back in a men's professional football league. She played 14 years in women's professional football winning four National Championships. Jen talks about succeeding in Football and her work growing female participation in football in schools across the country.

I welcome Dick Vitale to the podcast. Dick Vitale has to be the easiest interview on the planet. Dick talks about his career, the Big East, giving back, staying relevant and his passion projects.

My first guest, Jerome "JYD" Williams played in the NBA for 9 years. He has followed that up with a big life in basketball. He currently works with BIG3 basketball as president of their youth initiative YOUNG3. Jerome talks about YOUNG3, giving back and Kobe Bryant's legacy.

In this episode we are joined by entrepreneur, media personality, writer and speaker Brandon Steiner. Brandon talks about his career, being an entrepreneur and gives out some sage advice for the times we live in.

I talk to Rishad Tobaccowala Speaker, Advisor, Digital Guru and Author of the new book Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data. We talk about his career, our digital age and we get his thoughts about what's in store for us post COVID-19.

Retired NBA Player and current President of BIG3 Basketball's YOUNG3, Jerome "JYD" Williams, talks NBA, BIG3, Covid-19, Kobi's legacy and on being a role model.