Confessions of a Native Son

Alana and I catch up on all things BVE, while also discussing why I feel like a walking contraction, amongst other things :) Order my book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur” here: https://amzn.to/3gme7kg Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZf If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

Today on the show, I'm joined by longtime friend and Naval Academy classmate, Alana Abernethy, to discuss our book, “Black Veteran Entrepreneur: Validate Your Business Model, Build Your Brand, and Step Into Your Greatness.” The book releases this month on Amazon, so Alana and I decided to jump on the podcast and talk about our journey bringing it to life, as well as our plans for the future. Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZf If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

I'm excited to share an interview I had with two amazing active duty Sailors , Damon and Damo from the Podcast Permission to Speak Freely, where they share sea stories and have unfiltered conversations about current events, policies, and everyday life as a service member. It's not everyday you get to have an unfiltered conversation with two black senior enlisted, especially as a civilian, so I thought it would be great for us to fellowship on the show and talk through some of our perspectives about leadership, race, and other topics we're interested in. Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZf Subscribe to Permission To Speak Freely here: https://bit.ly/3q7V3HV If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

Why I think we should rebrand assault rifles for what they really are.Connect with me Instagram @ironmikesteadman or Linkedin “IRON” Mike SteadmanFollow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

In the words of Muhammad Ali, “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

Lets talk about Black History Month....Connect with me Instagram @ironmikesteadman or Linkedin “IRON” Mike Steadman

I'm in sprint to get the first draft submitted of Black Veteran Entrepreneur. Connect with me Instagram @ironmikesteadman or Linkedin “IRON” Mike Steadman

I share why I'm grateful this holiday season. Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfwww.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

I discuss “The Black Man's Burden,” and the weight of responsibility that comes with carrying it. Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE

I share my thoughts on why Roger Bannister breaking the 4-minute mile is my new mental model for success. Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Resources: “What Breaking the 4-Minute Mile Taught Us About the Limits of Conventional Thinking” by Bill Taylor: https://bit.ly/3kMO4SiPreserving the Warrior Ethos by H. R. MCMASTER: https://bit.ly/3Fqc99IFollow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

I'm joined by fellow Marine Infantry Officer and English professor at the United States Naval Academy, Thomas Scheuman. We discuss his deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, the literature of war, and the importance of veterans bearing witness to the realities of combat. Subscribe to my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfSupport Thomas's organization PB Abbate here: https://www.pbabbate.org/3D Battalion 5th Marines Fallen Warriors Tribute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okg87WT0SDMIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

I share my thoughts on being selected to participate in the Hoover Institutes Veteran Fellowship Program at Stanford University (VFP). To learn more about the Hoover Institutes VFP Program at Stanford University, click here: https://hvr.co/3BEVBZTSubscribe to my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

I sit down with my Navy Boxing Teammate Antone Aku, to discuss his childhood, his time in the SEAL Teams, and his future as an entrepreneur.Leave a comment on today's show on my Substack at https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

The BEST podcast is for impact investors, community leaders, and institutions, and committed to economic empowerment and support of Black Entrepreneurs in America, and who are willing to provide patient capital in the form of grants, or either low interest or interest-free loans.My hope is that through The BEST Podcast, you'll get a better understanding of the Black Entrepreneur Experience, and how through resilience, Black Entrepreneurs are continuing to create opportunities for themselves and their communities. We want you to understand the impact that patient capital can have on their businesses, and emphasize that more patient capital will allow more black entrepreneurs to Survive and Thrive.Subscribe to The BEST Podcast here: https://thebestpodcast.substack.com/welcomeSubscribe to the show on iTunes: https://apple.co/398zcrdSubscribe to the show on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3CjGDbBLeave a comment on today's show on my Substack at https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

I share my thoughts on Higher Education and discuss the Wall Street Journal article, “College Was Supposed to Close the Wealth Gap for Black Americans. The Opposite Happened,” By Rachel Louise Ensign and Shane Shifflett.Subscribe to the show's newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE Follow me on Twitter here: https://bit.ly/38CkyZfIf you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com or visit my website www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.comArticles Mentioned in Today's Episode:“College Was Supposed to Close the Wealth Gap for Black Americans. The Opposite Happened” By Rachel Louise Ensign and Shane ShifflettRead it here: https://on.wsj.com/2Vsh60nSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:Dope Coffee: A lifestyle brand that pairs urban Black Culture with innovative product offerings in the coffee industry. We are not a coffee brand for Black people. We are a coffee brand that seeks to elevate Black culture through a lifestyle of premium coffee and candid conversation. As an investor and advisor, I couldn't be more proud of Dope Coffee and encourage you to place your order today at www.realdope.coffeeIRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody that's black.

Col. Hobbs and I discuss the final days of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, the Narrative in the Media, and where we go from here as a Country. Leave a comment on today's show on my Substack at https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, visit www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com to sign-up for our newsletter on substack at the following link: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.comArticles Mentioned in Today's Episode:The War in Afghanistan Is What Happens When McKinsey Types Run Everything by Matt StollerRead here: https://bit.ly/2WIk8hkTrying to Find the Signal in the Noise of Afghanistan by Sean Patrick HughesRead here: https://bit.ly/3kJecNjSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:Dope Coffee: A lifestyle brand that pairs urban Black Culture with innovative product offerings in the coffee industry. We are not a coffee brand for Black people. We are a coffee brand that seeks to elevate Black culture through a lifestyle of premium coffee and candid conversation. As an investor and advisor, I couldn't be more proud of Dope Coffee and encourage you to place your order today at www.realdope.coffeeIRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody that's black.

My long-time friend, fraternity brother, and fellow Marine, Phillip Jones, joins the show to discuss how we can build bridges of social capital within our community. Leave a comment on today's show on my Substack at https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, visit www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com to sign-up for our newsletter on Substack at the following link: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.comSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:Dope Coffee: A lifestyle brand that pairs urban Black Culture with innovative product offerings in the coffee industry. We are not a coffee brand for Black people. We are a coffee brand that seeks to elevate Black culture through a lifestyle of premium coffee and candid conversation. As an investor and advisor, I couldn't be more proud of Dope Coffee and encourage you to place your order today at www.realdope.coffeeIRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody that's black.

I'm joined by fellow Afghan War Veteran, Author, and Army Green Beret, Herb Thompson, to discuss our feelings on the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. Let me know what you think of today's episode by subscribing to my Substack at https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE and leaving a comment. For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, sign-up for our newsletter on substack at the following link: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE , I haven't had time to update my website, so head over to substack if you want to subscribe. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.comSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:Dope Coffee: A lifestyle brand that pairs urban Black Culture with innovative product offerings in the coffee industry. We are not a coffee brand for Black people. We are a coffee brand that seeks to elevate Black culture through a lifestyle of premium coffee and candid conversation. As an investor and Advisor, I couldn't be more proud of Dope Coffee and encourage to place your order today at www.realdope.coffeeIRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody that's black.

Why do we care so much about vanity metrics, even when common sense tells us otherwise? Let me know what you think of today's episode on by subscribing to my Substack at https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, sign-up for our newsletter on substack at the following link: https://bit.ly/2Xc2TVE , I haven't had time to update my website, so head over to substack if you want to subscribe. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, just shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.comSpecial Thanks to Our Sponsors:Dope Coffee: A lifestyle brand that pairs urban Black Culture with innovative product offerings in the coffee industry. We are not a coffee brand for Black people. We are a coffee brand that seeks to elevate Black culture through a lifestyle of premium coffee and candid conversation. As an investor and advisor, I couldn't be more proud of Dope Coffee and encourage to place your order today at www.realdope.coffeeIRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody that's black.

I open up about the negative thoughts that have been playing in my head and how I'm replacing them with new soundtracks, day by day. Let me know what you think of today's episode on Instagram @ironmikesteadman or Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2Uyh6eJBooks Mentioned:Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking by Jon Acuffhttps://amzn.to/3inpZAJFor all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Dope Coffee: A lifestyle brand that pairs urban Black Culture with innovative product offerings in the coffee industry. We are not a coffee brand for Black people. We are a coffee brand that seeks to elevate Black culture through a lifestyle of premium coffee and candid conversation. As an investor and advisor, I couldn't be more proud of Dope Coffee and encourage to place your order today at www.realdope.coffeeIRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

I open up about how I'm constantly moving the goalposts and my struggles with being present. For all of our listeners and Superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Real Dope Coffee: Place your order today at www.realdope.coffee, we've got to start supporting our own businesses. It's black and veteran-owned, is the epitome of economic empowerment.IRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

My criticism and revelation regarding the conscious capital movement. Am I wrong or am I right? Let me know on instagram @ironmikesteadman or Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2Uyh6eJFor all of our listeners and Superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Real Dope Coffee: Place your order today at www.realdope.coffee, we've got to start supporting our own businesses. It's black and veteran-owned, is the epitome of economic empowerment.IRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

The following is an open love letter to the sport of boxing and a reminder to myself, why I started IRONBOUND Boxing.For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Real Dope Coffee: Place your order today at www.realdope.coffee, we've got to start supporting our own businesses. It's black and veteran-owned, is the epitome of economic empowerment.IRONBOUND Boxing: A nonprofit organization based in Newark, NJ that provides free amateur boxing training, entrepreneur education, and employment opportunities to youth and young adults. You can support the cause by visiting www.IRONBOUNDBoxing.org and making a donation today. Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

I discuss the complexity of race relations between Native-born African-Americans and African Immigrants, with my fraternity brother and fellow Naval Academy graduate Jude Akpunku Jr.You can purchase Jude's book "The Dangers of A Single Story" here: https://amzn.to/3jR5ldtFor all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Real Dope Coffee: Place your order today at www.realdope.coffee, we've got to start supporting our own businesses. It's black and veteran-owned, is the epitome of economic empowerment.Sincerely Bade: Visit their website at www.sincerelybade.com, to order handmade, pain-relief, wellness products. I know the CEO of the company, she just so happens to be my girlfriend, so I'll put in a good word for you.Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

Predominately white universities spend an abundant amount of money and resources recruiting young black men, but what's the point if there are no systems and infrastructure in place to ensure they succeed and graduate once they're there?For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Real Dope Coffee: Place your order today at www.realdope.coffee, we've got to start supporting our own businesses. It's black and veteran-owned, is the epitome of economic empowerment.Sincerely Bade: Visit their website at www.sincerelybade.com, to order handmade, pain-relief, wellness products. I know the CEO of the company, she just so happens to be my girlfriend, so I'll put in a good word for you.Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

In this episode, I discuss the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Underground Railroad'' by Colson Whitehead, along with the Amazon Series directed by Berry Jenkins. Resources mentioned in this episode:The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead ( Support small businesses by purchasing it from a local Independent bookstore)The TV Series is available on Amazon Prime Visit our website:For all of our listeners and superfans tuning in all over the world, head over to ConfessionsofANativeSon.com and sign-up for our newsletter. If you like this type of dialogue and are interested in booking me to speak at your organization, you can contact me through the website. Just click the tab that says "Book Me to Speak," fill out your contact information, and someone from my team will get back to you ASAP.Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:Real Dope Coffee: Place your order today at www.realdope.coffee, we've got to start supporting our own businesses. It's black and veteran-owned, is the epitome of economic empowerment.Sincerely Bade: Visit their website at www.sincerelybade.com, to order handmade, pain-relief, wellness products. I know the CEO of the company, she just so happens to be my girlfriend, so I'll put in a good word for you.Message me on Linkedin or shoot me an email at Mike@weareironbound.com, Special shoutout to my Co-Producer Mike Loyd and the team from the Gifted Sounds Network. Rooting for everybody black.

In the following episode, I sat down with my longtime friend, fellow Marine and Naval Academy graduate, Huy Troung. As a first-generation Vietnamese American who immigrated to America at an early age, Troung brings a unique perspective on the American experience.

Seventeen-year-old Newark resident and THRIVE graduate Méchelle Kelsick makes the case for an "Afrikan" Centered Education. This is an episode you don't want to miss...

How one black man overcame hurt, anger, and trauma by learning to forgive....

In this 1960 conversation with host Nathan Cohen on the CBC-TV program Encounter, Baldwin incorporates history and culture to try to explain the modern-day relationship between white people and "the Negro" in the United States.

In the following episode, Rutgers-Newark Alumni and Third Year Harvard Law School Student, Mo Light, shares his experience as a Muslim American.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and businessIn today's episode, I sit down with Teo Hunter, Co-Founder of Crown & Hops Brewing Co. Teo is unapologetically black. His team is dedicated to preserving culture, expansion of the palate, and community building through world-class beer. They believe it's important to create spaces for communities of color, creatives, innovators, influencers, and craft beer connoisseurs. In the following episode, Teo and I discuss the craft beer landscape for black American's, his struggles and challenges of running a black-owned craft brewing company, and the 8 trillion gain in GDP America can achieve, by closing the racial wealth gap. As always, I appreciate you for sharing your time with me and I hope you enjoy today's show.

Whether you are aware or not, last October I launched another podcast called "The Transition," where I demystify the entrepreneurial experience for veterans and military spouses. I have the privilege of hosting this podcast for Bunker Labs, a national network of veteran and milspouse entrepreneurs dedicated to helping the military-connected community start their own business. Here I am with a background in history & American Studies, yet I've found myself cultivating entrepreneurship with veterans and military spouses, through Bunker Labs, and urban communities, through IRONBOUND Boxing and our THRIVE initiative. To give you a sample of what you can expect, I've decided to release Episode 1 on this Show, released on October 1st, 2020. For the inaugural episode, I interviewed Michelle Loyd, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer for the iconic Dope Coffee, one of the sponsors for Confessions of A Native Son. And even if you're not a veteran, I believe you'll still get value from the show. So if you're a listener, and an aspiring or first-time business owner, I encourage you to Subscribe to the Transition on Itunes, Spotify, or your favorite podcast hosting platform.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.With the legalization of recreational marijuana in 15 states and the opening of medical dispensaries all across the country, the rapidly growing cannabis industry is plagued with more questions than answers from black Americans, with regards to criminalization and equity in the space.  To get a better understanding of the landscape, I invited on the show Jacquie Cohen Roth, Founder & CEO of Tea Pad, a social enterprise and a professional networking group for the cannabis industry. Tea Pad is a change-maker, whose mission is to break down barriers to entry and to empower people to participate in the cannabis industry - no matter gender or race. Tea Pad is actively challenging the industry to walk the talk of diversity and inclusion. In the following episode, Jacquie and I discuss the history of marijuana in the United States, the criminalization laws that led to mass incarceration, and the systemic racism plaguing today's cannabis industry.  This topic is very near to my heart, as a black American who's witnessed countless young black men & women go to prison for selling marijuana. While black Americans continue to fight for representation in the military and corporate America, the cannabis industry is repeating the same pattern of systemic exclusion. As always, I appreciate you for sharing your time with me and I hope you enjoy today's show.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman, a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, and the riots that took place all across the country this summer, there's been increased attention to the challenges that black entrepreneurs face with regards to access to capital.  With less than 1% of venture capital going to black founders,  and black small businesses unable to access traditional bank loans without a proven track record of success. As black entrepreneurs, we face significant challenges with regards to raising capital for ourselves and our communities. To discuss this issue with me, I invited on the show Elizabeth L Carter, a social enterprise and community capital securities attorney with significant experience in business law, nonprofit law, urban planning, community development, and government relations and policy. Through her firm Elizabeth L Carter Esq, LLC she assists small businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofits with the legal compliance of raising capital from both accredited and non-accredited investors. Together, we discuss the systemic inequalities in fundraising, the current challenges faced by entrepreneurs of color, and cooperative economics. As a black entrepreneur and leader of a small business incubator in Newark, NJ, this conversation is near and dear to my heart, and I enjoyed having it with her. As always, I appreciate you for sharing your time with me and I hope you enjoy today's show. 

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.It feels good to be back on the pod after a bit of break. I've taken the last few months to do some reading, get ahead on my interviews, and get refocused. I'm excited about this podcast and the opportunity to continue creating engaging content for all of you. We're now officially in Season 2 of Confessions of a Native Son. To help me kick this Season off, I invited on the show a good friend of mine and fellow entrepreneur, Yusuf Henerinques,  Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of TruGenomix, a precision genomics company developing solutions for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans. As a former Combat Medic, Yusuf's personally witnessed the wreckage of the “invisible wounds of war” and their effects on military service members and those around them. At Truegenomix, Yusuf and his team are studying the effects of Trauma, and how it can alter humans DNA. His research has profound implications not only for veterans, but also for the black community and the hundreds of years of generational trauma passed down through the Human Genome. Like me, Yusuf has a deep love for black people. Although originally from Jamaica, After leaving the military, Yusuf attended Howard University, where he studied biochemistry. He went on to earn a Masters in Public Health from John Hopkins University.  Although veterans are the primary focus of his research, he's also studying the effects of racism within the U.S. Healthcare system. He's well versed in science and history, and we have a great discussion about the challenges black American's face from a public health perspective, the effects of PTSD within the black community, and how are our elders have been right all along. As always, thanks for sharing your time with me and I hope you enjoy today's show.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.In 1965 at the University of Cambridge, two of the foremost American intellectuals, James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr., were challenged with the question: ‘Has the American Dream been achieved at the expense of the American Negro? The following is a bonus episode featuring the debate, as well as an introduction from yours truly. I ask that you listen to the debate with an open mind, discuss it amongst your peers, and appreciate the discourse of these two-man. www.ConfessionsofANativeSon.com

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.In preparation for Season 2 of "Confessions of a Native Son," I've decided to share with you bonus material that has shaped my perspective on how I view the world, particularly as a black male. In the following episode, I share with you a speech of the controversial civil rights leader, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, commonly known as Malcolm X. Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement. He is best known for his time spent as a vocal spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Malcolm X is an icon within the black community and on April 3, 1964, he delivered one of the most epic speeches of all time, "The Ballot or the Bullet." This is one of the top 10 American speeches of all-time, and I go out of my way to listen to it at least twice a year. I believe his speech is relevant just as much today, as when he first delivered it. If this is your first time listening to Malcolm X, I ask you to open your ears and open your minds.

Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.It's been a long hard road to get here, but we've finally come to the end of Season of 1 Confessions of a Native Son. For this final episode of the season, I bring back fellow Marine Veteran and Entrepreneur Mike Loyd, CEO of Dope Coffee and the Executive Producer of this show. Mike and I discuss what it means for us to be free black men in today's society, and how we've leveraged entrepreneurship, authenticity, and our unapologetic attitudes towards race, to carve out our own spaces in the world.  We don't fit inside the traditional box of black men, veterans, and business owners, nor do we want to. We believe that we change the world, and the change starts with how we show up to it.  Through our lens of unapologetic free black men, we discuss the challenges black American's face from an economic perspective, what we've learned in our own entrepreneurial journeys,  and how we can inspire others to also "Lift As They Climb." We also take some time to reflect on this season and acknowledge the growth in both of us over the course of the show. When we started this show, we had no idea where it would lead us and who would listen. Now that we've found our audience, we're excited to continue the journey with you all and push the envelope on our discussions of race, culture, and business. I make an important announcement towards the end of the show and give you a sneak peek of what you can expect from Season 2, which drops on January 7th.  Don't worry, I've got some bonus episodes I'll release over the new few months, to keep you occupied.  I also strongly encourage you to go back and listen to the first 15 episodes of this season if you haven't done so already.  I believe they are some of our best work.  As always, I truly appreciate you for sharing your time with me and I hope you enjoy today's show.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.In the following episode, I sat down Tracey Fetherson, a former Marine logistics Officer and current MBA Student at Northwestern's Universities Kellogg School of Business. I knew of Tracy through a mutual friend and decided to reach out to her on LinkedIn to gauge her interest in being a guest on my show.  As an African-American female Marine officer, Tracey brings a perspective we've yet hear on this platform.  As challenging as it is for a black man to be a Marine officer, I can only imagine how challenging it must be for a female. I give Tracey the space to express her truth, sharing what led her to join the Marine Corps in the first place, the wall that she held up her entire time in service, and how she's using the lessons learned from her leadership experience to uplift men and women of color in her own way.  I also ask Tracey how she handled the deaths of Michael Brown and  Freddy Gray, as an active duty Marine officer, and how feels about the recent police killings of George Floyd. Tracey and I talk a lot about how important it for us to have spaces where we can feel comfortable and be vulnerable.  Over the course of our discussion, Tracey expressed thoughts, feelings, and emotion's she's never made public until now,  and for that I am truly thankful. It was pleasure to have her as a guest and I hope that you enjoy our discussion as much as I did. As always, I truly appreciate you sharing your time with me and I hope you enjoy today's show.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host "IRON" Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.In the following episode, I finally close out the Always Faithful series, where I share my experience as an African-American Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. Talking about this material has been physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting for me, with that being said, I'm happy to share it with you all. Between this episode and the 3 previous ones, I've logged over 10 hours of audio on my experience, which is humbling and amazing at the same time. For me, this series has been very therapeutic for me, and I hope you've been able to learn and grow from it. After recording and releasing the 5-hour behemoth that is Ep.22, where I detail my Afghan war experience and getting relived in combat, I knew I needed some support-up for this final episode of this series. In order to assist me, I brought back my brother from another mother, Mikoto Yoshida, from Episode 18. "Confessions of An Asian-American." Miko interviews me about what is like returning home from Afghanistan After being relieved, how I managed to cope, and what led to my return to my Battalion after a brief stint with the Marine Corps Boxing Team (If you even want to call it that). I confess to Miko that I felt I didn't have what it took to lead Marines anymore and how I may or may not have been suffering from some form of PTSD, ultimately resulting in a fear of leading again. I managed to push through the shame and embarrassment and ultimately rebuild myself, while simultaneously helping others. The truth is none of that what have not been possible if it wasn't for one amazing Company Commander and a peer group of lieutenants who helped me regain my courage. If you've been following me this far, this is an episode you don't to miss. I also can assure not 5 hours either. As always, thank you for spending your time with me and I hope you enjoy the show.

What's going on everyone, Welcome to another edition of Confessions of a Native Son, I'm your host Mike Steadman. I'm a Marine Corps Veteran, Entrepreneur, and Aspiring author, who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging dialogue about race, culture, and business.In the following episode, I address the most difficult subject matter of this show, my combat deployment to Afghanistan. Five months into my six month deployment, I was relieved of command. This is my first time telling this story and my most audacious confession.