Cage Free Voices Radio

Raya Bidshahri works with governments, investors, EdTech companies, and education providers to ideate and execute revolutionary education models for the 21st-century world. Featured by the BBC as one of the most influential and inspiring women globally, she is a global thought-leader on the future of work and education.

Karen Fleshman is a mentor, activist, entrepreneur, attorney, author, educator, proud San Franciscan, and a single soccer mom. In 2014, she founded Racy Conversations, a workplace workshop facilitation company, to inspire the antiracist generation. Hundreds of workplaces nationwide have benefitted from Racy Conversations workshops. She is currently seeking a publisher for her first book White Women We Need to Talk: Doing Our Part to End Racism.   As a white woman, Karen experienced sexual harassment, wage gap, and glass ceiling from white men in the workplace, but she noticed the most harmful workplace behavior came from white women who viewed her as a threat to their proximity to white men in power. She worked for diverse organizations leading diverse teams, largely reporting to women of color, who were excellent mentors and role models. Emulating them, she learned how to relate across difference as equals and build relationships based in trust.   Mentoring young adults of color launching corporate careers in tech, Karen came to understand that racism is the underlying problem in our society, everything she had learned growing up about race and racism was harmful and inaccurate, she was part of the problem, and she needed to change.   Inspired by Mike Brown, BlackLivesMatter, and her mentees, in 2014, Karen vowed to stop preparing young adults of color for the workplace and start preparing the workplace for young adults color by sharing what she had learned. This was the genesis of Racy Conversations.   Karen's passion projects are police accountability activism, building interracial sisterhood and raising antiracist children. She serves on the workgroup overseeing implementation of the US Department of Justice recommendations for ending bias at SFPD. She hosts interracial sisterhood events throughout the United States. Her 2018 video Dear White Women: No More Permit Patties received 7MM views. Alongside her Women’s March sisters, she was arrested five times disrupting the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. In June 2020 he was featured on Nightline speaking to other white moms about how she talks with her kids about race.   She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (BA), the University of Texas (MA) and New York Law School and is admitted to practice in New York.  

*Sensitive content discussed.  Parental Discretion advised.   Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, author of the memoir, Journaling Fame: A Memoir of a Life Unhinged and On Record, and owner of communications firm, Full Scale Media. As a writer, Allison has published articles on women's interests and business that have appeared in various international publications and in University newsletters. Allison has also conducted, published and syndicated in-depth interviews with newsmakers from: film, television, recording, politics, publishing, health and international affairs. Her articles, essays and excerpts from her many interviews have been re-published by: Yahoo omg!, MSN Wonderwall, San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times Blog, HollywoodReporter.com, DrudgeReport.com, Toronto Sun, W.E.N.N., Seattle Post-Intelligencer, UCLA FEM Magazine, Jewish Living Magazine, Social Life Magazine. Allison has written feature stories on and promotional pieces for Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, Obama advisor David Plouffe, Oscar winning actress Mo’Nique, rock legends Gene Simmons and Bret Michaels, model turned-author Jenny McCarthy, spiritual guru Deepak Chopra and renowned Harvard Professor and bestselling author, Dr. Andrew Weil to name just a few. She has been quoted in The New York Daily News and notable personalities like Giuliana Rancic, Kristin Chenoweth, Busy Philipps and Kourtney Kardashian have all tweeted and blogged about Allison’s written work as a journalist. Political figures like Ron Paul and Ralph Nader have re-published their interviews with Allison on their official websites. Allison’s prolific public relations career has included client bookings and media placements in/on: Good Morning America, Nickelodeon News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, US Weekly, The New York Post, The Tyra Banks Show, Redbook Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Mashable, Fox Business News, and MSNBC.   Find out more about Allison Kugel by visiting: https://www.allisonkugel.com/

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Mac Wells graduated with a B.A. in Music from Wilberforce University and later trained with one of the top acting coaches in Atlanta, Georgia, Dwayne Boyd.  Mac Wells is known for his role in HBO’s Lovecraft Country . He is one of the actors to portray characters for both Marvel Studios and DC Entertainment Universe. Mr. Wells also played Agent Dirk Ellis in Doom Patrol and Sinzell Johnson in Black Lightning.

The UNGA Conference 2020 was held virtually, on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, in the margins of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly. The UNGA Conference 2020 is organized by the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF), in partnership with the JWF’s Global Partners, Member States of the United Nations, UN organs and agencies, and civil society organizations around the world.

Cage Free Voices Online Learning is connecting students around the globe.  Thanks to our partnership with Set Them Free Initiative, on August 15th, 10th grade CFV Ambassador, Alistair Berry and 6th grade CFV Online student, Makayla Calhoun, will be interviewing Set Them Free Initiative students, Zeynep Girdap and Yusuf Burak to discuss Human Rights violations in Turkey.  "Refugee Children, Migration and Integration," is an episode that is eye-opening;  allowing us to see through the lens of children who have been directly impacted by persecution and turmoil in Turkey.     Yusuf Burak Akay, born in Antayla,Turkey, is a 7th grade student who left his home country behind due to persecution on July 28th, 2018.  He made the transition to Greece and is now in Finland.      Zeynep Girdap is a rising senior here in the United States at Smithtown High School East. Her mission is to raise awareness and advocacy through her work with Youth Island YouTube Channel while participating in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

What makes up one cell anyway and why do we need to know about our cells?  Can't scientists just take care of understanding the human body? Well, studying our cells helps us understand how the body functions and what can and cannot go into our bodies to maintain good health.  Do you eat organic foods or lots of junk food?    Our students in Cage Free Voices Online Learning respond to these questions after participating in a full length lesson on cells.     *We do not own the science images in this video

We interrupt your daily scheduled programming to bring to you a message on the state of our children from Founder and CEO of Cage Free Voices, Bathsheba Smithen.   *We do not own the rights to the music in this episode.

Grandma Wura is back at it again.  Tune in for this lesson on discipline.

If you are looking to expand your presence in the region and meet with over 10,000 educational professionals including key buyers and decision makers, GESS Dubai is the event you cannot afford to miss. With our visitor audience coming from 87 countries, GESS Dubai is truly global in its reach, with visitors from across the globe recognising the benefits of attending. GESS Dubai is the only way to reach out to such a targeted audience of global education buyers. This year’s exhibition welcomed over 500+ educational suppliers from 40 countries showcasing the very latest and most innovative educational products and solutions. The international presence was once again supported by national pavilions from the UK, USA, China, Korea, Finland, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, with new additions to the show from India, Singapore and Taiwan.   

Enjoy this mix of hip-hop and Afrobeat by Bathsheba Smithen featuring Sey Byth, and produced by PhynestBeat.

Marcus Murphy is an actor and model who resides in Washington, D.C. He is 24 years old and has been doing entertainment for the past five years. His first introduction to the entertainment industry was a print ad known as K2 Zombie. That print ad opened doors for acting.   After working diligiently, Marcus' acting coach, Kelsey Collie, worked to train Marcus and as a result he was booked for his first job at DCTV.  The film was called, "Through the Eyes of the Children," where he played the lead actor. In addition, Marcus has played supporting roles in the award winning series, The Beat and Path, Walk of Shame, Black Eyed Children--where he was a fan favorite--Gehenna, Lake House, Welcome to America, Slumber Party Slaughter Party,  Writers Block and Black Dad. Murphy is currently working on a feature film called, The Pk’s, A Bum Rap, and Path of the Beast.  In this episode, Marcus discusses the importance of persistence and grit as he reveals his own personal story where he is forced to make a family decision that would determine the course of his trajectory as a individual who needs to show up both professionally and emotionally.

B-TheMovement's purpose was birthed in their dorm room after participating in the “Geeked up” challenge. Terrence and Terry were tired of the usual videos being posted glamorizing societal “norms” of drugs, sex, and other negative images. They decided to don their suits and perform a short video telling the world that it is ok to be young and educated, while working to achieve our goals. The video went viral with over 50,000,000 views in its first few days on social media.  Due to the massive response, Terry and Terrence decided to start a movement for youth promoting positive intellect. We believe in the old adage "It takes a village to raise a child". They affiliate themselves with people from all cultures, nationalities, and other social barriers. The mission starts in our own communities, uplifting youth while joining hands with other diverse groups, showing our generation something greater can be achieved together. B-TheMovement is quoted, "If we join hands together and touch youth of all colors, we can be a movement that personifies excellence of children from all backgrounds and nationalities. Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream that one day we would all join together for a greater good. We embody his philosophy and are doing our part to make our nation greater." Read more about BtheMovement: http://wtvr.com/2016/02/22/vcu-students-black-excellence-video-goes-viral/

Eighteen-year-old, Jeyhan Turker, discusses the pain of relational inconsistency in his original music video, Games.  We have all fallen prey to someone that is unreliable or struggles with committment.  Where do you land on the relational spectrum?  Are you loyal, consistent, in Jeyhan's shoes or struggling with your relationships?

Allison Propps, a spoken word artist based out of Southern Maryland, bares all in this episode as she discusses the obstacles she faces when exposing her true self to audiences.  In the process, she has learned that regardless of the unspoken and clearly stated opinions, she must stand in her truth against all odds.   Teachers & Homeschool Parents: Help your student(s) or children discover who they are by downloading the following lesson.  (This lesson is best carried out with a group of students) https://www.dropbox.com/s/yc9u89fozuwq78b/Lesson%20for%20CFV%20Radio%20Episode%2051-%20Who%20Do%20People%20Say%20I%20AM.pdf?dl=0 

Sixteen-year-old, singer and poet, Stacey Baffour-Danso talks about her struggle with self-image and her fight to overcome depression in order to set others free. Stacey Baffour-Danso is an aspiring singer and writer from New Jersey. She is a junior in high school and has been singing in her school choir for years. She is also apart of her church's youth ministry, Kingdom Business Youth Ministry at First Baptist Church of Hillside. With the ministry, she has sang, danced, and acted at many different events for the past four years. Being raised in the church, she has always found it in her nature to be generous. In the future, she hopes to study psychology in college and become a psychiatrist to use her profession to give back to her community and provide care for impoverished mentally disabled people.  Teachers & Homeschool Parents: Use the following lesson to discuss body image with your student(s)- https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_-pi2p-ZZEs7lJQUr6JeeV5f1oZTqqZv (Contact cfvradio@cagefreevoices.com to purchase the entire curriculum)  

Emmanuel Benton (aka Manny Benton) is a worship leader at Lifepoint Church in Waldorf, MD. He is also an emerging pop/worship artist.  His debut single, "I Look To You" was released last July.   Manny was raised in Fort Washington, MD. and has worked in the field of sporst journalism for seven years--covering the Washington Redskins.  His work has been highlighted by both local and national media outlets, including the Washington Post and ESPN.   In this episode, Manny discusses how and when he discovered his purpose. Through his story, we quickly learn ways to identify passion and that one can pursue his or her dreams by taping into personal truths --even at an early age.   Find out more about Manny Benton here:  Facebook: @mannybentonmusic Instagram and Twitter: @manny_benton

The Town of Indian Head Parks and Recreation partnered with local organizations, Phenomenal Young Women, Inc.; Cage Free Voices, LLC; and REAL Women, Inc. to host the nationally recognized mural project "Girl Noticed". Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community's responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl. The image of three women/girls was drawn in charcoal along with the words "NOTICE ME", on a large exterior wall. The individuals chosen represents many others like them.The weekend of events began on Friday, June 15th from 6 to 10 pm with creative workshops and Saturday, June 16th from 7 am to 5 pm with mural design, music performances and food vending. This was an event for all of Southern Maryland.  Girl Noticed is a nationwide mural project building and maintaining a world better informed about the positive impact the simple act of “noticing” a girl has. Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community’s responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl.  We extend a sincere thanks to CEO & Founder, Lori Pratico for all she is doing to ensure women and girls are acknowledged. Find out more about the organizations by visiting the websites below:   REAL Women: www.realwomenrock.org Girl Noticed: www.girlnoticed.com  Phenomenal Young Women: http://www.phenomenalyoungwomen.org/  Cage Free Voices: www.cagefreevoices.com 

The Town of Indian Head Parks and Recreation partnered with local organizations, Phenomenal Young Women, Inc.; Cage Free Voices, LLC; and REAL Women, Inc. to host the nationally recognized mural project "Girl Noticed". Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community's responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl. The image of three women/girls was drawn in charcoal along with the words "NOTICE ME", on a large exterior wall. The individuals chosen represents many others like them.The weekend of events began on Friday, June 15th from 6 to 10 pm with creative workshops and Saturday, June 16th from 7 am to 5 pm with mural design, music performances and food vending. This was an event for all of Southern Maryland.  Girl Noticed is a nationwide mural project building and maintaining a world better informed about the positive impact the simple act of “noticing” a girl has. Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community’s responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl.  We extend a sincere thanks to CEO & Founder, Lori Pratico for all she is doing to ensure women and girls are acknowledged. Find out more about the organizations by visiting the websites below:   REAL Women: www.realwomenrock.org Girl Noticed: www.girlnoticed.com  Phenomenal Young Women: http://www.phenomenalyoungwomen.org/  Cage Free Voices: www.cagefreevoices.com 

The Town of Indian Head Parks and Recreation partnered with local organizations, Phenomenal Young Women, Inc.; Cage Free Voices, LLC; and REAL Women, Inc. to host the nationally recognized mural project "Girl Noticed". Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community's responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl. The image of three women/girls was drawn in charcoal along with the words "NOTICE ME", on a large exterior wall. The individuals chosen represents many others like them.The weekend of events began on Friday, June 15th from 6 to 10 pm with creative workshops and Saturday, June 16th from 7 am to 5 pm with mural design, music performances and food vending. This was an event for all of Southern Maryland.  Girl Noticed is a nationwide mural project building and maintaining a world better informed about the positive impact the simple act of “noticing” a girl has. Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community’s responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl.  We extend a sincere thanks to CEO & Founder, Lori Pratico for all she is doing to ensure women and girls are acknowledged. Find out more about the organizations by visiting the websites below:   REAL Women: www.realwomenrock.org Girl Noticed: www.girlnoticed.com  Phenomenal Young Women: http://www.phenomenalyoungwomen.org/  Cage Free Voices: www.cagefreevoices.com 

The Town of Indian Head Parks and Recreation partnered with local organizations, Phenomenal Young Women, Inc.; Cage Free Voices, LLC; and REAL Women, Inc. to host the nationally recognized mural project "Girl Noticed". Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community's responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl. The image of three women/girls was drawn in charcoal along with the words "NOTICE ME", on a large exterior wall. The individuals chosen represents many others like them.The weekend of events began on Friday, June 15th from 6 to 10 pm with creative workshops and Saturday, June 16th from 7 am to 5 pm with mural design, music performances and food vending. This was an event for all of Southern Maryland.  Girl Noticed is a nationwide mural project building and maintaining a world better informed about the positive impact the simple act of “noticing” a girl has. Girl Noticed makes the bold statement that it is a community’s responsibility to yield to the greatness in every girl.  We extend a sincere thanks to CEO & Founder, Lori Pratico for all she is doing to ensure women and girls are acknowledged. Find out more about the organizations by visiting the websites below:   REAL Women: www.realwomenrock.org Girl Noticed: www.girlnoticed.com  Phenomenal Young Women: http://www.phenomenalyoungwomen.org/  Cage Free Voices: www.cagefreevoices.com 

  In today’s society, schools are struggling to keep their grasp on the minds of today’s youth as they compete with readily accessible information that is both helpful and harmful to the untrained eye.  As technology rapidly changes, social unrest intensifies, bullying concerns increase, and fear creeps into school hallways, we are in dire need of champions that understand not only the academic needs of our students but the social and moral needs as well.  With her combined experience in hospitality and education, Tajala Battle-Lockhart discusses ways to combat school chaos as she seeks to change the educational agenda by running for Charles County Board of Education.   Mrs. Tajala “Taj” Battle-Lockhart is a successful Hospitality Industry Professional for 26+ years.  A Certified Hospitality Educator, CEO of Simply Consulting, LLC, Co-Founder of Phenomenal Young Women, Inc., Lead Adjunct Instructor for the Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts Department and Member of the Hospitality Advisory Board at Prince George Community College, Vice President of Kingsview Homeowners Board of Directors, and Business and Workforce Development Committee Chair for Women of Action Charles County.  Recently retired as a Career Technical Trainer, for MJLM at the DOL, Woodland Job Corps Center.  The last five years, she managed the Hospitality Program and facilitated hospitality curriculum’s that offered youth the opportunity to obtain industry-recognized certifications. Her passion has always been to deliver quality instruction to ensure that every student that entered the program transitioned into long-term job placement opportunities with reputable companies such as MGM, Marriott, and Four Seasons.

Andrea Davis is the Chief Architect of Entyse Lyfe Weddings & Events, an event planning company. Entyse Lyfe Weddings & Events is now is an award-winning wedding and event company that specializes in day of coordination. The company serves the Washington DC Area, which includes Northern Virginia, Maryland (from Baltimore to Lexington Park) and-- of course--our Nation's Capital.  In this episode, Andrea discusses the importance of clear communication in relationships and her overall experience witnessing relational dynamics as an event planner.  She provides several tips on how to build and maintain a healthy love life and what her company is doing to help couples keep their spark. Find out more about Entyse Lyfe and their upcoming Couple's Date Night by visiting www.entyselyfe.com. 

Singer-songwriter and author, Elbie Williams III (also known as Elbie Smoov), bears his heart in this episode as he discusses the story behind his lyrics in his original song, "Listen to My Heart."  His hope is that in his vulnerability, young women and young men will understand the importance of transparency in relationships. Originally from PG County, MD. Elbie Smoov grew up in the church singing in the choir and listening to ''Oldies but Goodies.  He primarily played sports and gained a full football scholarship to Delaware State University.  After performing at on-campus talent shows and events, then tearing his UCL in his senior football season, Elbie made the decision to pursue music full-time by collaborating with local DMV artists.  He recently performed at the Filmore.  Find out more about E. Smoov on Instagram at elbie_smoove.  

In this episode, Cage Free Voices Ambassador, Corey Wise, talks about his spiritual journey after his amazing performance at our CFV Radio Talent Showcase. Listen in to hear from an artist who uses his music to discuss his love for God. Corey Wise has been featured on Rapzilla and has an album releasing in July.