Corner Table Talk

"My father said that when you look at the cultural traditions of people, the European cultural tradition is a generation makes a mask. They put it up on the wall, put a glass box around it, and they point to it and say that's the greatest mask that's ever been made. The African tradition is every generation makes their own mask. So what we see with this constant creativity, this constant improvisation is a very human, African, homo sapiens tradition of not taking something and classicizing it to the point that nothing can be created beyond it and the generations after just have to kneel. It's about moving the culture forward."  Raoul Roach My guest is Raoul Roach, the son of the iconic and internationally revered jazz musician, Max Roach. Born in 1924, Max was firmly entrenched in activism, civil rights, and the social justice movement of the sixties and seventies. As a result, growing up, Raoul had a strong interest in social activism, being exposed to and mentored by some of the most pivotal black figures of that period, including Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, and Alvin Ailey.Born and raised in New York City by age fifteen, Raoul was cutting his teeth working for his legendary dad, first as an office assistant, a roadie, and eventually Max's road manager, before ultimately producing several of his concerts. As a 40-year upper echelon executive of the music industry, Raoul has worked with the biggest names in entertainment from Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Anita Baker. Raoul helmed the successful turnaround of Jones's Qwest Records as the organization's co-executive director.Raoul also co-founded and pioneered Harry Belafonte's social justice entertainment enterprise, Sankofa.org, as the organization's co-executive director along with Gina Belafonte. Raoul executed the recruitment of artists and celebrities such as; Usher, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Jesse Williams, John Legend, Common, Dave Matthews, Carlos Santana, Michael B Jordan, T.I., and many more in coordination with grassroots organizations and activists to produce, films, music videos, social media campaigns, PSA's, concerts and major festivals. These initiatives raised resources for non-profit organizations as well as awareness to impact social movement and social justice.Currently, Raoul is coordinating along with his siblings Max Roach 100, an 18-month international centennial celebration of his father's music and life that includes film, documentaries, social media, concerts, exhibitions, new and previously unreleased recordings. Experience the groundbreaking sounds of bebop pioneer and virtuoso composer Max Roach, whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him. "American Masters – Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes" premieres Friday, October 6 at 9/8c on PBS. HOW WE MOVE Stay tuned to the end of the guest interview when international speaker, writer and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and highlights some of the interesting people, places and things that have her attention.   Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It's hard to hire female chefs. It's hard to hire African American chefs because there's just not as many people interested in it, which I'm like, yeah, and that's why we need to promote it, and that's why we need to give them opportunities far beyond what might seem reasonable because we want them to be the heroes so everyone else can look up to them.  Then we can actually bring real diversity into our kitchens."  Curtis Stone Curtis Stone is one of the busiest chefs in the country between running his restaurants, appearing in countless television shows like Top Chef Masters (host), Netflix's Iron Chef, and Fox's Crime Scene Kitchen (judge), being a New York Times best-selling author of six cookbooks, and growing Kitchen Solutions, a collection of top-selling and best-reviewed cookware on HSN. Obsessed with food from a young age, Curtis credits his mom and grandmother as his cooking and baking mentors. Following his passion, he began his culinary career as an apprentice at the Savoy Hotels five-star restaurant in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Three years later at the age of 21, he moved to Europe and sought out Britain's most celebrated chef (often referred to as the first celebrity chef), Marco Pierre White, to further his education and classical training for eight years. During that time, he was approached to co-host a television show, Surfing the Menu, traveling around Australia visiting food producers and cooking their produce. The show caught the eye of US producers that led to another television gig, Take Home Chef, and a subsequent move to the US settling in Los Angeles. Today, Los Angeles-based Curtis' Michelin-starred restaurants include Maude in Beverly Hills named for his paternal grandmother serving refined, seasonally-focused Southern Californian cuisine, and Gwen Butcher Shop & Restaurant in Hollywood named for his maternal grandmother where he partnered with his brother, Luke Stone, to create an old-world, European-style butcher shop and an elegant restaurant using fire-based cooking techniques.  Please join me, your host, Brad Johnson, and Curtis on Corner Table Talk as we learn more about what motivates him beyond creating beautiful and delicious food, sharing his philosophy and knowledge, and how he directs his actions to bring joy and create a positive community around him. HOW WE MOVE Stay tuned to the end of the guest interview when international speaker, writer and diplomat Ambassador Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz) spends a few moments unpacking the discussion and highlights some of the interesting people, places and things that have her attention.   Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"My journey has really been following the path throughout the African diaspora, on five continents, chasing the knowledge of essentially how through slavery, Africa changed the global culinary conversation."  Alexander Smalls Alexander Smalls began his illustrious career as a restaurateur in the nineties and furthered my appreciation for low-country cuisine when he opened Café Beulah, his first restaurant with its butter-toned walls displaying framed sepia-toned family photos.  That's how I remember that room, it was elegant and it was beautiful. Alexander, of course, was an immaculate host.  Prior to his restaurant career, after starring in Porgy and Bess performing at the Houston Grand Opera, where the production and Mr. Smalls won a Tony and a Grammy, he reluctantly left that stage telling the New York Times in 2020, "an operatic career was my dream, but I was not able to break that glass ceiling as an African American male."  Alexander reinvented himself as a chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author, winning a James Beard Award for Between Harlem and Heaven. Several restaurants followed, including Minton's and The Cecil in Harlem, created with the rising culinary talent JJ Johnson. Using African inspiration to create a global table, the restaurant was crowned Esquire Magazine's "Best New Restaurant of the Year" in 2014. Inspired by his world travels tracing the African diaspora's cooking techniques and culinary foodways, Alexander's newest venture is Alkebulan, the first dining hall in the world showcasing and celebrating African food. With locations in Dubai and London, he plans to bring the concept to multiple cities.  Please join me, your host, Brad Johnson, in welcoming Alexander, who has emerged as one of the most important voices in the African-American culinary journey, to Corner Table Talk.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What we saw right away, and I would say that to anybody who engages in the fantasy of going into the restaurant business, in the end, it is not about the concept, it's about the people that work with you, work for you. Because if we didn't understand it was about the people, we would have died with one restaurant. I don't care how good your concept is."  Rick Rosenfield Who doesn't like pizza? Whether a folded, oily, gooey slice consumed while standing at almost any pizza shop in New York City or at Mozza in LA where Nancy Silverton found a way to make pizza new again, this staple of the American diet is not showing any sign of slowing. My guest, Rick Rosenfield, certainly knows his way around a conversation about pizza.  In 1985, this southside Chicago native and former federal prosecutor and defense attorney, teamed up with friend, Larry Flax, left their law practice in Los Angeles, and launched California Pizza Kitchen as an affordable, upscale pizza concept. Their first location  on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, put the West Coast in the national pizza conversation and through their own ROCK hospitality culture - respect, opportunity, communication, kindness - they quickly grew to 250 locations in the US and abroad. Stepping down in 2011 from leadership at CPK when it was acquired by a private-equity firm, Rick recently announced plans to return to the restaurant world with the introduction of ROCA, a specialty, Roman-style, street food pizza take-out and delivery concept, now open in Pacific Palisades and soon to open in Marina del Rey, on the west side of Los Angeles. Using premium toppings and a three-day cold fermented dough allows for the dough to appear thick like focaccia but light and airy on the inside. When reheated, it's crisp but still light and airy.  Please join me, your host, Brad Johnson, in welcoming and learning more about Rick, a true legend in the restaurant industry, to Corner Table Talk.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Everything is in a cycle, and the cycle is dictated by the audience's needs and wants, the studio's needs and wants in terms of the financial bottom line, right? Those two very evolving organisms are always trying to sync into the right gear. So, I don't worry anymore because it always comes back around. You're in this long enough, you just go, all right, this is a cycle, it'll come back around."  Stephanie Allain Stephanie Allain of Homegrown Pictures, is a prolific film and television producer dedicated to creating content by and about women and people of color with authentic stories, depictions, and representation. She began her career in the mid-80s as a reader at the elite talent agency, CAA, a job that required reading scripts and books submitted to the agency and providing coverage of the material, often the first barrier for further consideration and development.  In her next position at Columbia Pictures, as one of only two African-American readers,  a young USC student found his way to her under the guise of interest in a job. Instead that student, John Singleton, pitched her Boyz in the Hood and the rest, as they say, is history. Stephanie worked with John Singleton on five movies: Boyz N the Hood (1991), Poetic Justice (1993), Higher Learning (1995), Hustle & Flow (2005) and Black Snake Moan (2006). She also produced Something New, Peeples, Beyond The Lights, Dear White People, French Dirty, Burning Sands, Juanita and Really Love. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards with wins from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Film Independent Spirit Awards, NAACP and others. A few of her projects currently in production include her first documentary Untitled Billy Preston, and a limited series for HBO, Sula by Toni Morrison. Amid a brilliant career, Stephanie became the first black woman to co-produce the Academy Awards (2020) and made history again by becoming the first woman of color to be named as President of the Producer's Guild of America (2022). Please join me, your host, Brad Johnson, on Corner Table Talk with this inspiring woman and Hollywood powerhouse. * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I have to say at some point I did have to see that resume. There was a point where if you were a newcomer, I had too much to do. I had people come in my office. When I got on a little further into the business. Rodney King came to my office because he wanted me to do a project with him. Sweetest, kindest, nicest man you ever wanna meet. Those kind of adventures, have filled my life. But Brad, you do know me also, that if nobody's there, I will talk to a chain link fence."  Dolores Robinson Dolores Robinson may not be a household name, but I can assure you she is Hollywood royalty. A youthful 86 years of age, Dolores has been defying the odds her whole life. Finding herself single in 1974, she packed up her two kids into a green Volvo station wagon and headed west from Philadelphia to California to start a new life.  College-educated, she accepted a job as a receptionist in a talent agency, quickly working her way up to a full-fledged agent. Just two years later, she founded her own management company, Dolores Robinson Entertainment, and became a trailblazing talent manager and power player who made her name when there were few women, much less women of color, with any influence on the business side of showbiz. She helped launch the careers of Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tea Leoni, Emilio Estevez, Mariska Hargitay and, of course, her own daughter, Holly Robinson Peete. The Personal Managers Hall of Fame inducted Dolores in 2017 acknowledging her as the first black female manager in film and television. Dolores may be recognizable to some after appearing on Hallmark Channel's Meet the Peetes, a reality show with her family, Holly Robinson Peete, husband Rodney Peete, and one of my all-time favorite people on the planet, son Matt Robinson, along with her grandchildren.  I asked Dolores to join me, your host, Brad Johnson, on Corner Table Talk to talk about her life, career, and share some of her wisdom from 40-plus years spent in the City of Angels.  Photo Credit: Hallmark Channel * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Miami has always been a unique place, right? In comparison to the rest of the states.  I feel like I'm in a different country and it's just so Caribbean, it's so island. So  the city is special in that way. Today there's this boom and the energy has shifted toward culture. And when I say culture, a cultural perspective of Miami being showcased as much as Latin culture is known here in the city. So that's been very exciting to see from  a food and beverage, perspective."  Jamila Ross While we have had a fair number of well-known guests on our program, part of our mission is to also talk to people you may not know yet, but we think you will soon. In fairness, the dynamic duo on the show today, Jamila Ross and Akino West, are not total strangers to media coverage. Their wedding in 2021 during the height of the pandemic was covered in the New York Times Style section. Attention as a budding hospitality power couple began buzzing in 2018 where they purchased a building in Miami's historic Overtown to open their first venture, the cool, chic, 22-room bed and breakfast, The Copper Door that captured the attention of Vogue.  Akino and Jamila West met as culinary students at Johnson and Wales in North Miami, and both possess impressive culinary pedigrees. Jamila worked in management as part of the LA-based hospitality group, SBE, and Akino as a chef in esteemed kitchens such as the local Miami institution, Michael's Genuine, and as an intern at the three-Michelin-star restaurant, Noma, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Noma has been ranked as the number one restaurant in the world for multiple years. In 2021, the couple opened Rosie's, a brunch focused pop-up restaurant, serving a feel-good, soul food brunch with subtle Italian nuances and classic techniques. It became a huge hit. Recently, Rosie's found a permanent home in the hip-insider Miami neighborhood, Little River. I can tell you from having experienced Akino's food and Jamila's skilled and detail-focused hospitality, these are two people to watch. Join me, your host, Brad Johnson, along with these two talented entrepreneurs making a name for themselves and illuminating the way forward for the next generation, on Corner Table Talk.   * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"When I do anything, I like to break all the bricks. What was here before Lincoln Center was old San Juan Hill, a very affluent or a very popular Afro-Caribbean, Afro Latino area. It just spoke to me. It was like, I'm supposed to be here. I'm supposed to revive the stories of the people and give a voice to the inaudible and that's what the restaurant does. It tells a story of New York, but not the New York that I guess the affluent think of. For me, it's the story of immigrants, it's Puerto Rican it's Dominican, it's Jamaican, it's Nigerian, Senegalese, like all these things for me made New York special."  Kwame Onwuachi As a 40-year veteran of the restaurant industry, it gives me so much pleasure to see the mainstream recognition and opportunities for success afforded to the talented generation of people of color pursuing careers in hospitality. This group of entrepreneurs and chefs is making a name for themselves illuminating the way forward for the next generation. My guest, Kwame Onwuachi, has racked up a pretty impressive list of accolades including one of Food and Wine's Best New Chefs, Esquire Magazine's 2019 Chef of the Year, and The San Francisco Chronicle said that Kwame was the most important chef in America. That's a big title and quite an accolade. He is also the creator of the Family Reunion, an annual multi-day event that takes place in Middleburg, Virginia and celebrates diversity in the hospitality community. In September, 2021, Kwame hosted the esteemed James Beard Awards having previously won the Rising Star Chef of the Year award in 2019. He is also the author of a memoir, Notes from a Young Black Chef, that is being adapted into a feature film. Raised in New York City, Nigeria, and Louisiana, Kwame most recently opened Tatiana restaurant at Lincoln Center in New York City.   Join me, your host, Brad Johnson, and Kwame as we learn more about this young talent on Corner Table Talk.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Remember, 1992 was the year that Naughty by Nature had a huge song called O.P.P. It was a megahit. Jonathan [Editor-in-Chief] asked me if I wanted to write an article about Treach from Naughty by Nature. I was like, heck yeah. He didn't tell me that Albert Watson was shooting the cover, the famous photographer Albert Watson, and he didn't tell me that my story was gonna be the very first cover story for Vibe Magazine."  Kevin Powell Finger on the pulse is often used to describe someone who has the ability to read the ongoings of culture, synthesize the information, and in the case of my guest Kevin Powell, write, speak, produce, and publish work that chronicles our collective experience. Many people remember him from the early nineties in the MTV series, The Real World, where he was an original cast member. I became aware of Kevin when he joined Quincy Jones as a senior writer and part of the editorial team at the startup and groundbreaking Vibe Magazine. Since then, Kevin is the author of fifteen books including his new collection of poetry, Grocery Shopping with My Mother. In the works is a biography of Tupac Shakur, utilizing Kevin's treasure trove of interviews and conversations, several gathered while a senior writer at Vibe, and his first documentary film, titled "When We Free The World," about healthy manhood vs. toxic manhood, about fathers and sons.  Following in the footsteps of Toni Morrison and Nikki Giovanni, Kevin is a writer in residence at Prairie View A&M University in Texas for the 2022 - 2023 school year. As a highly involved human and civil rights activist, he is a leader in the movement to redefine manhood away from sexism and violence; has a deep responsibility to mentorship and development of people of every age as agents of change; and is committed to voter education and empowerment. Kevin is a longtime proud resident of Brooklyn, New York and it was great catching up with him. Join me, your host, Brad Johnson, and Kevin as we honor one of the most celebrated political, cultural, literary, and hip-hop voices in America on Corner Table Talk.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I been honest I've had my heart broken like promise I been decolonizing my closet I been intentional with my dollars I been   I been learning boundaries I been done with jobs payin hourly I been thinking a lot more while I'm showering I been putting my 10,000 hours in I been thinking bout ownership I been thinking bout how nah I don't really think I want the sh*t I been thinking bout meaning I been thinking bout us  I been thinking bout freedom    I been thinking bout loyalty  I been loving more openly  I been collecting more royalties I been flourishing whether or not you notice me  Excerpt from I Been by Def Sound  Watch videoAnybody who has lived in Los Angeles, loves music and quality programming, is aware of KCRW, the listener supported NPR station that streams worldwide. They play an eclectic mix of music that often can't be heard anywhere else. As a fan of the station, I love what they do. I've discovered so many artists and new music there. One day, I heard a track by my guest. I was really taken by the flow and the lyrics of what I was hearing. The track titled I Been is by Def Sound, hip-hop artist, published poet, and designer with his own line of clothing. Born and based in South Central Los Angeles, Def describes the music as a synthesis of hip-hop and his Afro-Latino roots using music and poetry as a healing mechanism while weaving together a tapestry of triumph, levity, ancestry and power. As an extra special treat, my son, multi-platinum recording artist and songwriter, Bryce Ross Johnson aka Bryce Vine, agreed to join me on the podcast as co-host in between tour dates. Together we spoke with Def about being a young artist, Los Angeles, life, and art. Join me, Brad Johnson, for this inspirational conversation exploring the story and rise of Def Sound as he pursues his dreams. * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.comFor more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"If you go back 500 years, West Africans knew hibiscus to be a powerful medicinal plant, full of antimicrobials, full of antioxidants, natural source of vitamin C. It's a natural aphrodisiac. They would make a tea from this flower, and this was part of their ceremony and their traditions. Then around 500 years ago, the transatlantic slave trade starts, and bodies and spices are stolen from the continent of Africa. This flower, the hibiscus flower, takes physical roots in the Caribbean islands, but the people who knew what to do with it were transported along with it in the bottom of ships."  Jackie Summers A couple of years ago, I read an article about Jackie Summers being the first African American in the United States be granted a license in 2011 to make liquor, post-prohibition. Prohibition ended in 1933, almost 80 years ago. That is a story in and of itself, possibly for another day. After a cancer scare that turned out to be a benign tumor in his spine, Brooklyn-based Jackie quit his job as an advertising executive and with no formal training or background in the beverage industry, began to make Sorel Liqueur.Jackie's story is inspirational, full of stops and starts, including 623 attempts to fine tune the recipe, a period of homelessness, a hurricane that destroyed his first distillery, reneged deals from investors that led to a several year shutdown for Sorel,  getting knocked down and having the determination to get back up, guided by the spirit of his ancestors, and a strong desire to bring Sorel, a widely known but never before, distilled and distributed beverage with its roots in Africa to people all over the world.In 2021, Jackie took a major step towards realizing that goal when he teamed up with powerhouse Fawn Weaver, owner of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and the Tennessee-based Nearest Green Distillery.In less than a year back on the market, Sorel Liqueur is receiving glowing accolades and major beverage industry awards. Jackie himself was named among "Drink Innovators of the Year" (Food & Wine Magazine), several times "100 Most Influential Bar Industry Figures" (Drinks International Magazine), and included on the Imbibe 75 list. His writing has been published in various outlets, James Beard-nominated and winner of "Best Food Essay" (Association of Food Journalists).Join me, your host, Brad Johnson, and Jackie for this inspirational conversation. on Corner Table Talk. * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Unapologetic in her due process, not waiting, not stopping, not pausing. If we don't do that, it won't get told. It won't get bought. We all know that we've submitted our various original pieces over the decades, mind you. Just sit down and do it ourselves, tell our stories and presume, not governed by the dollar but by the authenticity of the narrative, that there is an audience waiting."   Ambassador Shabazz               Coming of age born smack in the middle of the baby boomer generation means growing up in America during and following the Civil Rights movement. The children of that time lived through a country in turmoil. Aside from the battle against the disenfranchisement of African Americans, war and assassinations wreaked havoc on the collective social consciousness while culture evolved as culture does, despite the growing pains along the way. My guest, Toni Ann Johnson, is a baby boomer and award-winning author. Her latest work titled Light Skin Gone to Waste was awarded the 2021 Flannery O'Connor Award and features stories that “delve into how racist ideas burrow into black and white families and infect them for generations. This linked collection is inspired by Johnson's experience growing up in a middle-class black family, living in a white working-class town in mid-century upstate New York.” The stories begin in 1962 amid the tumult of desegregation, while detailing the divide between class, race, gender, and how they affect this family. I related to this excellent book on multiple levels. Toni Ann's meticulous development of these characters and her recall of cultural touchstones are rich and spot on. Previous works include the novel Remedy for Broken Angel, nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and Homegoing that won Accents Publishing's inaugural novella contest. As a screenwriter, she is a two-time winner of the prestigious Humanitas Prize for her screenplays. Ruby Bridges and Crown Heights. I have admired Toni Ann's work for some time. It gives me, your host Brad Johnson, great pleasure to welcome her to Corner Table Talk. * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My only competition was myself. And I just kept saying, You just need one spot. You just need one scholarship. So, when it was my turn, I danced for Jesus, honey. I danced like I had never danced before.      Vanessa Bell CallowayLeaving her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and following her dream, Vanessa Bell Calloway arrived in New York City in the late 70s with grit and determination to pursue a career in the arts. With $50 to her name, Vanessa spent a day of zigzagging the streets by foot starting at Times Square 42rd Street all the way to 95th Street, applying for jobs to support herself. Late that night, she landed her first job at The Cellar, my father's popular Upper West Side restaurant. The connections she made there opened opportunities that helped launch Vanessa's career.  Fast forward more than a few decades and Vanessa Bell Calloway, as she is known since marrying prominent anesthesiologist Anthony Calloway 34 years ago, has enjoyed a career that spans the stage, both big and small. She has earned eight NAACP Image award nominations and won the NAACP Theater Award for Best Actress for her critically-acclaimed role as Zora Neale Hurston in Letters from Zora. She was an original cast member in the Broadway hit, Dream Girls and her resume encompasses a screen career that begins with the daytime soap opera, All My Children, to roles in Coming to America, What's Love Got To Do With It, and Crimson Tide. along with several TV credits. Most recently, Vanessa stars in the BET mini-series, The Black Hamptons, as the shrewd matriarch, Carolyn Britton. Trust me, you do not want to mess with Vanessa's character!  As busy as Vanessa is with work, she and her husband, Tony, find time to travel and recently spent time yachting in Italy at the invitation of Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his gracious wife, Cookie. We hear about that inspirational experience as will as their trip to Martha's Vineyard last summer and their strong team approach to marriage. As South LA residents and long-time commercial property owners in Leimert Park, Vanessa discusses the changes in the neighborhood over the past several years.  Join me, your host Brad Johnson, at the corner table for a glimpse into the world of my lovely, long-time friend and her journey! * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.comFor more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An 'icon' is much more known than a celebrity. They are someone who leaves a mark on history. They have a strong depth of significance. They are a person who is well known, and who people look up to. Jayne Kennedy Overton embodies that description breaking barriers when she became the first woman of color in the late 70s to host THE NFL on CBS, a national sports show, on what Bob Costas credited as being "the template for modern studio shows." The ease of her manner as an interviewer, whether talking to a young Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Joe Namath, or Muhammad Ali, along with a sincere intimacy in her tone, body language, and steady eye contact, was completely disarming. Managing to demonstrate both knowledge of subject while projecting the ability to not take herself too seriously, this Ohio-raised former beauty queen is undeniably charismatic.  Recently, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC inducted Jayne into the annuls of media pioneers, honoring her alongside luminaries, Diahann Carroll, Nat King Cole, Nichelle Nichols, The Supremes, and Don Cornelius. Next to the wall with the honorees is a quote from Oprah Winfrey “we used to gather around the tv and jump up and down, ‘colored people on tv, colored people on tv.'” Raising her daughters, Jayne has been quiet for awhile but as she begins "Jayne 2.0", we sat down to reflect on Jayne's roots and journey as a trailblazer, her convictions, milestones, motherhood, as well as what's ahead.  Join me, your host Brad Johnson, at the corner table! Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is a monument but a standing memory? An artifact to make tangible the truth of the past. My body and blood are a tangible truth of the South and its past. The black people I come from were owned by the white people I come from. The white people I come from fought and died for their Lost Cause. And I ask you now, who dares to tell me to celebrate them? Who dares to ask me to accept their mounted pedestals?You cannot dismiss me as someone who doesn't understand. You cannot say it wasn't my family members who fought and died. My blackness does not put me on the other side of anything. It puts me squarely at the heart of the debate. I don't just come from the South. I come from Confederates. I've got rebel-gray blue blood coursing my veins. My great-grandfather Will was raised with the knowledge that Edmund Pettus was his father. Pettus, the storied Confederate general, the grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, the man for whom Selma's Bloody Sunday Bridge is named. So I am not an outsider who makes these demands. I am a great-great-granddaughter.Caroline Randall Williams "You Want a Confederate Monument? My Body Is a Confederate Monument"  NY Times Op-Ed (2020) Such is the powerful, articulate, unabashed voice of guest, Caroline Randall Williams, whose family roots display an impressive cultural richness. She is the daughter of best-selling author Alice Randall, with whom she co-wrote the award-winning Soul Food Love cookbook and Avon Williams III, a well-known former diplomat who served as acting Principal Deputy Counsel of the Department of the Army, and first cousin to former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Caroline's grandfather was a prominent civil rights lawyer and former Tennessee state senator, Avon N. WIlliams Jr.. She is also the great-granddaughter of scholar Arna W. Bontemps, the African-American poet, novelist and noted member of the Harlem Renaissance. Yet this cultural royalty is juxtaposed against her DNA verified results. She is the great-great granddaughter of Edmund Pettus, US senator of Alabama, senior officer of the Confederate States Army and grand dragon of the Klu Klux Klan. A gifted writer, Caroline is able to bridge history with current conditions, articulating it in a way that causes you to sit there shaking your head and say, those are the right words. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Caroline is a multi-genre writer, educator, performance artist, and Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University. As the host of the new Discovery+ show Hungry For Answers (produced by Viola Davis), Caroline travels the United States uncovering the fascinating, essential and often untold Black stories behind American food.Join me, your host Brad Johnson , at the corner table for an explorative conversation with Caroline discussing her heritage, accomplishments and pursuits, along with acknowledgement of privilege, self-expectation and thoughts on contemporary issues, connecting the past with the present.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson Medium: Corner Table Media E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Theme Music: Bryce Vine Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The massive challenges that Tommy has faced in life have been no match for his soaring talent and indomitable spirit. If he had lady parts, my search would be over."  Jim Carrey, comedian and actorIn preparing for this episode with Tommy Davidson, I read Tommy's memoir, Living in Color: What's Funny About Me, which recounts his personal triumphs having been abandoned as an infant, adopted and raised by a Caucasian family in Washington D.C. during the Civil Rights Movement, his sustainability in Hollywood and his experience with race in this country. I met Tommy some thirty years ago in NYC and in the years since, I'd run into Tommy here and there in Los Angeles. He was always warm and made me feel like he and I had a special bond. I think aside from his incredible ability to make people laugh, being kind is just a natural for him. What I didn't know was Tommy's life story and all I can say is you can't read his book and not come away with a profound appreciation for the gift that Tommy is to all of us.A true showman from a young age, Tommy Davidson's exceptional range – from stand-up comedy and acting to versatile music accomplishments – have earned him a reputation as an extraordinary performer. Best known as one of the stars of the hit television show In Living Color, his visibility allowed him to become a household name known for his innovative talent. Join me, your host Brad Johnson ,  at the corner table for an intimate conversation with Tommy Davidson that reveals the human dimensions of the man behind the name.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson Medium: Corner Table Media E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"In Miami, all roads lead to Craig."  Virgil Abloh, fashion designer, artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear No one of our generation has played a more influential role in defining, redefining and shaping the culture in Miami than Craig Robins. Craig is a visionary in the truest sense of the word, nothing short of brilliant. However, it was his unpretentious personal warmth and willingness to engage with this unknown restaurateur in the 80s that established our connection, one that has endured through his astronomical rise over the past four decades. As the CEO and President of Dacra, the real estate development company he founded in 1987, Robins focuses on developing creative communities that integrate art, design and architecture to accelerate asset value creation and enrich urban life. Dacra has spearheaded some of the most successful and transformative commercial, residential and mixed-use projects in Miami's history, including South Beach, the Lincoln Road area, Allison Island and the Miami Design District, an 18-square block neighborhood dedicated to fashion, design and art that incorporates the work of emerging and established architects, public art, Michelin restaurants and stores by the world's most significant luxury brands. In 2005, the neighborhood's rapid renewal inspired the creation of Design Miami/ (Jun) in Basel, Switzerland and subsequently Design Miami/ Basel (Dec) in Miami, design fairs that have evolved into the world's premier global forum for collectible design. Robins is the Chairman of the show, which he owns in partnership with MCH Swiss Exhibition, the producers of Art Basel. Join me, your host Brad Johnson , and Craig as we discuss his family life growing up, how a year studying abroad in Spain broadened Craig's view of urban design and inspired his citizen-of-the-world perspective. We learn about the three mentors in his career, the importance of historical buildings in preserving and reflecting culture, and how Craig's love of art, design, architecture and sense of community melded into his business philosophy and storied journey.  * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson Medium: Corner Table Media E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So why does what we eat matter? A growing body of science in the field of cognitive nutrition shows that the “food-brain connection is actually one of the most powerful drivers of our overall well-being. What we eat matters not only for our physical health but for our cognitive and mental health, affecting our risk of anxiety and depression. The science is clear: we can eat our way to better brain health,” says Arianna Huffington, Founder of the The Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global. Our guest, Tracye McQuirter, is a transformative leader in the field of plant-based nutrition and black women's health, and has been helping people go vegan for more than 30 years. She is the founder and CEO of 10 Million Black Vegan Women, a public health intervention to help one million black women go vegan each year for the next ten years.Based in Washington, DC, McQuirter is the author of Ageless Vegan and By Any Greens Necessary, the first vegan diet book for black women, as well as the creator of the first free African American Vegan Starter Guide. The New York Times cited her work as a key factor driving the rise in veganism among African Americans, who are the fastest growing vegan demographic. Tracye has a Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition from New York University. In this episode, host Brad Johnson explores with Tracye some fundamental questions about veganism such as the difference between vegan and plant-based, the benefits of veganism not just for self but for the planet, and the events that sparked her path to veganism.  Tracye elaborates on the grace and compassion necessary to give yourself in the process of eating more vegan understanding that it's not a sprint, it's your personal journey, but that every vegan meal counts.  We also learn about the program Tracye founded to support black women who want to learn more about veganism and move in that direction. Join us at the corner table! * * * Instagram: Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn: Brad Johnson Medium: Corner Table Media E.Mail:  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"With the recent stress of the environment and the virus, there's a great deal of hopelessness and a sense of a lot of insecurity around the future," says Sally Greig, our guest this week. Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is a part of physical well-being.Sally is a psychotherapist and clinical social worker providing psychotherapy for adults and children. Her primary focus and specialty is treating and diagnosing symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. Her clientele is diverse, multicultural and from various ethnic communities. Born in Georgia, Sally moved to Los Angeles as a teenager. She received her Bachelor's degree from California State University and graduate degree from USC with clinical training and internships at USC and UCLA. Sally and her husband, Dr.Lloyd Greig, are avid art collectors and their philanthropic endeavors and willingness to devote their time to issues affecting the community are well known.Join host, Brad Johnson and Sally as they discuss mental health and its importance at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. With the alarming rise in child suicide rates, Sally explains the contributing factors, the trauma children experience, as well as how to watch for warning signs, and the importance of extra-curricular activities that give children a sense of joy. Sally also discusses why men can be reluctant to therapy and how practicing mindfulness, staying present and not futurizing negative outcomes help alleviate stress. Learn about one of Sally's other talents, her background vocals, specifically "gibberish vocals', on Lionel Richie's good time anthem, All Night Long (All Night). Join us at the corner table! * * * Instagram Corner Table Talk  and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn Brad Johnson Medium Corner Table Media E.Mail  brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLC  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of Black Music Appreciation Month and singer, songwriter Phyllis Hyman, our guest is Glenda Gracia, the executrix for The Estate of Phyllis Hyman and the former founding Executive Director of the Black Music Association responsible, along with other music execs, for lobbying then President Jimmy Carter to launch the perennial celebration of Black Music Month and host an inaugural celebration on the White House lawn in June, 1979. As one of the people who knew her best, Glenda managed the uber-talented singer with the impeccable and distinguishable voice, Phyllis Hyman from 1985 until her untimely passing in June, 1995. Glenda had a unique relationship with Phyllis who felt like she was always struggling to have her voice heard. "Phyllis was one of the most extraordinarily bright people that I know. I'm gonna say she was genius. She had very significant ideas about the way she wanted to do things and who she wanted to be." says Glenda "I wanted to always honor that." Today, Glenda continues to uplift Phyllis' legacy. In 2021, a little over four decades from the launch of Phyllis Hyman, the Old Friend: The Deluxe Collection 1976 - 1998, a nine-disc box set that rounds up all of Hyman’s studio albums cut across the Buddah, Arista and PIR labels, was released.Join host, Brad Johnson and Glenda as they reminisce about their personal experiences with Phyllis (including track interludes) who was a frequent visitor to Brad's late father, Howard's NYC's Upper West Side restaurant, The Cellar. Glenda, an accomplished business woman, describes how she became Phyllis' manager and her shared experiences with the complex and troubled artist. We also hear about Glenda's deep dedication to personal transformation through the study of mysticism and sacred teachings on her way to a certification as a Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, learning that while paths are many – truth is one. Join us at the corner table! * * * Instagram Corner Table Talk and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn Brad Johnson Medium Corner Table Media E.Mail brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLC See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Mother’s Day, Yvonne Durant's life took an interesting turn while dining with her twin sister, Yvette, at the popular restaurant, The Cellar, on NYC's Upper West Side. "My eyes started to wander across the room to the front of the entrance. When a flash of orange [jumpsuit] caught my eye. I remember thinking Harry Krishna and going back to my salad. I think Yvette whispered 'Miles Davis just came in.'" recalls Yvonne. What ensued was romantic, frantic, and unforgettable.In her audio memoir, Quite the Contrary, On Life, Work, and Loving Miles Davis, Yvonne vividly portrays a unique coming-of-age story as a trail-blazing career woman who was determined to design her course and succeed on her terms while maintaining her sanity in life, work, and love including an intimate account of her love affair with jazz legend, Miles Davis. It’s a rare glimpse into the life of That Girl or Mary Tyler Moore from an African-American perspective.Yvonne was one of the few Black women writing ads for major brands in the ‘70s and ‘80s, beginning her career in New York City. Ultimately, she won a position at a global ad agency in Milan, Italy. While her career was exciting, it was a challenge to be self-defining in a Mad Men world that had little experience with or respect for Black experience.Join host, Brad Johnson and long-time friend, Yvonne, as they recall the shared experience of NYC's Upper West Side in the 80's, Yvonne's interest and expertise in etiquette, her pioneering career journey as a copywriter and Audible editor including her experience in Milan, Italy. Yvonne provides an insightful look into her relationship with Miles that provides a peek into what it's like dating someone so creatively gifted and a celebrity as well as the moments that made it so special. Join us at the corner table!Play Audio Book TrailerPhoto Credit: Audible Originals, LLC * * * * * * Instagram Corner Table Talk and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn Brad Johnson Medium Corner Table Media E.Mail brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making plant-based dishes fun and indulgent while honoring Southern foodways through the lens of her beloved Virginia childhood memories, Chef Shenarri Freeman, aka “Shenarri Greens,” is Executive Chef of Cadence, a plant-based restaurant with Southern soul in New York’s East Village. Chef Shenarri, a 2022 James Beard Award nominee - Emerging Chef, fully embraced veganism in 2017 as a means of putting her health first and taking control of her well-being. The result was a dramatic physical and mental transformation. At Cadence, her Southern Fried Lasagna salutes the fact that this Italian dish is a staple in many Black households, including her family’s while growing up, as it is a shortcut to cooking during long work weeks. Chef Shenarri’s Palm Cakes are a love letter to the salmon cakes her mother served for breakfast, and her Smoked Grits are an affectionate nod to her grandmother, nicknamed the “Queen of Grits.” In fact, Chef Shenarri’s earliest memories are of sitting in her grandma’s lap and snapping pea pods while her grandma did her hair. Cadence is part of Overthrow Hospitality, a mission-driven, plant-based restaurant and bar group founded by Ravi DeRossi, who is also Co-Founder of Death & Company, and a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur. With its motto “Eat. Drink. Start a Revolution.,” it is reimagining drinking and dining in New York through inclusivity, sustainability and compassion. Join host, Brad Johnson and Chef Shenarri as they discuss why this rising star adopted veganism and the health benefits. her views on plant-based meat substitutes like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger, her determination when faced with new challenges, and Shenarri's career journey balancing her ethos with the compromises needed to helm a successful restaurant. Photo Credit: Sen Floyd Productions * * * Instagram Corner Table Talk and Post and Beam Hospitality LinkedIn Brad Johnson Medium Corner Table Media E.Mail brad@postandbeamhospitality.com For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ Corner Table™ is a trademark of Post & Beam Hospitality LLC © Post & Beam Hospitality LLCSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Brad Johnson turns over his hosting duties to guest host, James Beard nominated reporter for Eater Los Angeles, Mona Holmes, who turns the proverbial table on Brad Johnson to find out more about this career restaurateur and entrepreneur, along with his recent endeavor as podcast host of Corner Table Talk. His career started in the mid-seventies at his father, Howard's legendary NYC Upper West Side restaurant called The Cellar and spots like the Twenty Twenty restaurant and cabaret, where he partnered with superstar songwriter, producers, Valerie Simpson, and the late Nick Ashford. Johnson also opened the New Orleans style hotspot Memphis in New York, before moving to Los Angeles in the late eighties. Johnson made his Los Angeles debut opening the famed Roxbury in 1989 that had such an impact on club and nightlife culture, and was immortalized in the 1998 cult classic film starring Will Ferrell, A Night at the Roxbury. Following Roxbury, Brad opened Georgia in 1993 with a diverse group of partners including former Laker, Norm Nixon, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Lou Adler, Connie Stevens and model turned restaurateur, Alvin Clayton. In 2012, Brad opened Post & Beam in a historic black neighborhood in South LA that has evolved into a LA Times Gold Award-winning (2020), James Beard-nominated national finalist for Restaurant of the Year (2022).During the pandemic, Brad launched a podcast after feeling the need to record diverse voices and their stories in an authentic way. The podcast, Corner Table Talk, is focused on Food + Drink + Culture and has featured an amazing range of guests including Ta-Nehisi Coates, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Fab Five Freddy, and Regina King.Johnson’s writing has been published in various publications including Oxford American (Spring Food Issue 2021: Peasant Food), James Beard Foundation, and Eater LA.Having bussed tables, pulled out chairs for countless guests over the years, shaken many hands, struggled through slow nights, and co-hosted Oscar parties, learn about Brad and his journey into the restaurant business following in his father's footsteps, opening his first restaurant borrowing "street money" and his experience creating culturally significant and diverse restaurants. Photo Credit: Frank Louis Photography for Ambassador Digital Magazine Please follow @CornerTableTalk For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The actor, Clifton Powell has appeared in over 100 feature films and television shows with some of his most memorable roles being in major movies such as Clifton's role as Ray Charles' longtime band manager and friend, Jeff Brown, in Ray (for which he received an NAACP Image Award nomination), or as Cutty, with his cold whispering taunting of Lorenz Tate in the cult classic, Dead Presidents, or Selma, and Clifton's portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King. Once you watch Clifton Powell on the screen, you do not forget him.Sharing the same hometown as Marvin Gaye, host Brad Johnson has known this Mayfair Northeast, Washington, DC native since the late eighties, when they crossed paths in Los Angeles at the start of Clifton's career. Over the years, in his interactions with Clifton, he's the same humble, cool, warm and engaging person he was then. That's not to say he hasn't grown with Hollywood, fatherhood, marriage, age, and life experience, we're all constantly evolving, aren't we?Brad has been looking forward to sitting down and reconnecting with his friend, Clifton Powell. In this episode, they discuss how Clifton's career has taken him places he never would have imagined despite not having a plan, his journey into an acting career, his experience hitting rock bottom 8 years ago and how it was the best thing that happened to him. Clifton connects Dr. Martin Luther King's The Drum Major Instinct speech to life in Hollywood and the danger of fame while also sharing some thoughts about "The Slap" and his son, Clifton Powell Jr. dating Sasha Obama. Join us at Corner Table Talk! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the way to Cleveland, Ohio to continue earning his chemistry and physics degree after his university in Senegal shut down due to student strikes, a young Pierre Thiam was waylaid in New York City having been robbed of his father's savings within one week of arriving. His introduction into New York City's restaurant world, borne out of necessity for survival and to avoid sharing the unfortunate news with his father, was where he found his calling. Today, Chef Pierre Thiam is a celebrated chef, restaurateur, award-winning cookbook author, lecturer, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Senegal, he is known for his innovative cooking style, modern and eclectic, yet rooted in the rich culinary traditions of West Africa. He is the chef and owner of critically acclaimed Harlem restaurant, Teranga, which serves fast-casual West African fare directly sourced from farmers in the region. Recently, he moved to the Bay Area to raise his family.Pierre is the author of three cookbooks including, The Fonio Cookbook, released in October 2019. He has won numerous awards and accolades for his cooking and advocacy.His company Yolélé advocates for smallholder farmers in the Sahel by opening new markets for crops grown in Africa. The company’s signature product, Yolélé Fonio, a resilient, restorative and nutritious ancient grain, is found in Whole Foods, Target, Amazon, and other retailers across America. Chef Pierre and host Brad Johnson explore a variety of subjects including his journey through the restaurant ranks, the rise in popularity of West African food, his mission to bring the ancient miracle grain, fonio, to America and beyond, and how soul food reminded him of home with its rich flavors, an example of how the culture and food of Africa migrated to the Caribbean and America hundreds of years ago and survives today. We learn why Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor was a hero for Pierre and his belief in "new humanism", which guided his actions when the pandemic struck. Join us at Corner Table Talk! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Platt, one of America's most beloved food critics, has been the chief food critic for New York Magazine since 2000. The son of a career US diplomat posted to Taiwan, Hong Kong and elsewhere, Adam and his hungry brothers (including actor Oliver Platt) grew up devouring dim sum in Hong Kong, giant platters of Peking duck in Beijing, fresh-baked croissants in Paris and pierogi on the snowy streets of Moscow. Mr. Platt is a graduate of the American School in Japan, Columbia University School of Journalism, and Georgetown School of Foreign Service.During the course of his career in the magazine business, Mr. Platt has contributed to many publications including Esquire, Condé Nast Traveler and The New Yorker. His writing has been nominated for various awards and he was the recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award for his restaurant reviews in 2009.Published in 2019, Mr. Platt's memoir, The Book of Eating, Adventures in Professional Gluttony, is a self-deprecating, wildly hilarious and irreverent memoir of a globe-trotting life lived meal-to-meal. Highly recommended!Join Adam and host, Brad Johnson, for an entertaining conversation around Adam's unusual upbringing traveling and living internationally, his family's embrace of restaurants as a window into culture, and where the term "scowling boiling owl" originated. Sharing his journalistic style and role of the food critic today in a digital world, Mr. Platt provides insights into his profession and the state of the restaurant industry. Join us at the corner table for a fun account of a life well traveled, well fed, and well lived.Photo credit: Deborah Feingold * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hailing from a family of restaurateurs, Cyrus Batchan recently opened Camphor, a French-Indian inspired neighborhood restaurant in the downtown LA Arts District. As the founder of No.8 Hospitality, Cyrus has conceived and operated several nightlife concepts and restaurants including: Lock & Key and Nightshade in Los Angeles; Larrea in Las Vegas; and Skylight Nha Trang and East West Brewing Company in Vietnam. Nightshade, now replaced by Camphor in the same location, collected impressive accolades such as ‘Best New Restaurant’, ‘World’s Best Restaurants” and ‘Best Bites/Dishes’ from Robb Report, Eater, Food & Wine, and GQ, among others.In November, 2021, an LA Weekly article reported that “In the last 18 months, Koreatown Lock & Key bar owner Cyrus Batchan has endured mandatory closures and re-openings, multiple fires and robberies. He’s come face to face with endless insurance company battles as well as the vandals that ransacked and stole everything out of his beloved neighborhood bar including the light fixtures. Still, he says 'the universe is on his side'."Intrigued by his optimism, international footprint and resilience, host Brad Johnson sits down with Cyrus to learn more about his background, inspiration and experience as a restaurateur. Sharing the same occupational DNA, Cyrus and Brad expand upon the unique yet necessary traits of a successful restaurateur and the meaning of hospitality. Join us at the corner table for a journey into the mind of a restaurateur! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Franklin Sirmans, the Director of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) advocates that art can significantly contribute to personal and societal wellness. Located on Miami's beautiful Biscayne Bay, PAMM's mission is to promote artistic expression and the exchange of ideas advancing public knowledge and appreciation of art, architecture, design, reflecting the diverse community of its pivotal geographic location at the crossroads of the Americas. Through a Miami lens, the museum aspires to be the very best at presenting art from Latin America and the Caribbean, modern and contemporary, inclusive of the African diaspora. Franklin started his career writing for hip-hop oriented magazines before his early life experiences led him to the art world as a career. Since joining PAMM in 2015, Franklin has overseen the acquisition of more than a thousand works of art and pursued his vision of PAMM as “the people’s museum.” Prior to his appointment, he was the department head and curator of contemporary art at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) from 2010 until 2015. Join Franklin and host, Brad Johnson, for an intriguing and expansive conversation around the curation, ambassadorial and fundraising role of a museum director as well as the uniqueness created by PAMM's location in Miami. Hear Franklin's view of Jean-Michel Basquiat's works posthumous rise in popularity and value as well as other exhibits that broaden our views and experiences. Throughout the conversation, he articulates how art plays a wellness role in our lives including personal development, community building and inclusion in a global conversation. Join us at the corner table for a fascinating journey into the art world! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bryant Terry is a James Beard Award-winning food activist, chef, educator and the author renowned for his efforts to create a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system. "A large part of my mission...is to move Afro-diasporic food focus from the margins closer to the center of our collective culinary consciousness and to put its ingredients, cooking techniques, and flavor profiles into wider circulation," says Bryant. Bryant is currently the chef-in-residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, where he creates programming that celebrates the intersection of food, farming, health, activism, art, culture, and the African Diaspora. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post and on CBS This Morning and on NPR's All Things Considered. San Francisco Magazine included Bryant among the 11 Smartest People in the Bay Area Food Scene and Fast Company named him one of 9 People Who Are Changing the Future of Food. Join Bryant and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss his grandparents' agrarian roots and pride in their cultural food, as well as where he first learned about veganism and food activism. Learn the significance of the Sankofa bird and Bryant's quest to explore Black foodways around the world through divergent voices in Bryant's book, Black Food. We also hear his views on food justice and empowering people in the community to be a part of the solution as well as the importance of intergenerational communication passing on best practices. Join us at the corner table!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earning the trust and respect of NBA greats such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant to create award-winning iconic photos is only part of what Andrew Bernstein does. As the longest tenured NBA League photographer, he has covered 40 NBA Finals and 38 All-Star Games as the senior NBA photographer and is currently the official photographer for the LA Lakers, LA Clippers, LA Kings and LA Sparks. In 2018, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Award recipient collaborated with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant on the worldwide bestselling book “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” a unique look at Bryant’s 20-year career through Andy’s lens. Previous books include “NBA Hoop Shots: Classic Moments From a Super Era” published in 1996 and “Journey To The Ring” co-authored with Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson in 2010. In addition to his photography, the warm and affable Andy hosts a weekly podcast, "Legends of Sports", discussing life behind the scenes with some of the biggest names in the world of sports. Join Andy and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss how he developed as a photographer dedicated to honing his craft, his notable career and how he married two passions to capture iconic moments in time. Andy shares stories with some of the greats and the mutual respect built over a decades long career including his special relationship with LA Laker Kobe Bryant collaborating on his best-selling book. * * * Follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode originally aired on January 20, 2022, a few days before the tragic death of Regina’s son, Ian Alexander, Jr. Out of respect for Regina, Ian Sr. and their family, we stopped featuring and unpublished the episode upon learning the news. This is the re-release of the episode. With a desire to create art and be involved with stories that speak to her, the talented Regina King has a career spanning decades, both in front of and, more recently, behind the camera. Having earned 109 nominations, 59 wins and counting, including an Oscar, a Golden Globe and 4 Emmy Awards, Regina is in demand and making history. In 2019, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Regina has had many memorable feature film roles such as Cuba Gooding Jr.’s wife ‘Marci’ in the blockbuster film Jerry Maguire, as well as How Stella Got Her Groove Back with Angela Bassett, the hit action thriller Enemy of the State opposite Will Smith, and Boyz N the Hood written and directed by the late John Singleton. For Regina's performance in Barry Jenkins' screenplay adaptation of James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk, she won an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. She also had an Emmy Award-winning role in the HBO series, Watchmen. Regina's current project is portraying Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress (1968) in the feature Shirley. Over the past few years, Regina has stepped behind the camera directing episodes of critically acclaimed television series such as NBC’s award-winning THIS IS US, ABC’s Scandal, and HBO's Insecure among others. With her directorial feature film debut, One Night in Miami, based on the screenplay from Kemp Powers, Regina made history being the first black female director to debut a film at the 77th Annual Venice International Film Festival. Join Regina and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss her approach to work and the connection the audience feels with the realness she brings to her characters, the recent transition to directing, and her new role as Shirley Chisholm. Regina walks us through her experience directing One Night in Miami from first reading the script to connecting with the families of the four icons in the film. With less than 40 hours to prepare, we learn the story behind her giving the opening monologue for the 2021 Academy Awards show against the backdrop of the previous year. Join us! * * *Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The beachfront resort, Bruce’s Beach, run for and by Black residents of the community, located in Manhattan Beach, was one of the first enclaves of Black leisure in the Los Angeles area during the Jim Crow era. Willa and Charles Bruce bought the land in 1912 and despite harassment and violence from white neighbors, it thrived until the 1920s when the city council used eminent domain to seize the property for use as a park. The land sat unused for years until it was transferred to the state in 1948, then the county, and along the way turned into a park. Roughly a hundred years later in 2021, and worth an estimated $75 million, the descendants of the Bruces were awarded their land back through state legislation unanimously approved, a milestone in the fight for reparations and the return of land stolen from people of color. Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson, an independent historian, heritage conservationist, third generation Californian, and a 2021–22 Getty Conservation Institute Scholar in Residence based in Los Angeles, shares some of her research on Bruce’s Beach included in her most recent book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era (University of Nebraska Press). The book was awarded the 2020 Miriam Matthews Ethnic History Award by the Los Angeles City Historical Society for its exceptional contributions to the greater understanding and awareness of regional history. Her work on Bruce’s Beach, has been foundational to a current public policy initiative to rectify 1920s racist actions which chased Black people out of the area. Living the California Dream…has been optioned by actors Brad Pitt and Viola Davis’ production companies in a joint venture with Amazon to produce a scripted TV series. Join Dr. Jefferson and host Brad Johnson as they discuss how African Americans pioneered the nation’s “frontier of leisure” in Southern California in conjunction with their growing population in the region during the nation’s Jim Crow era (1900s to 1960s); the significance of leisure in pursuing the full range of human experience, fulfillment and dignity; and the meaning of spatial justice. We also hear from Dr. Jefferson about some of her other projects including Santa Monica’s Belmar History + Art and the Angels Walk LA Central Avenue heritage trail which both reconstruct and reinsert the historical African American experience in the regional landscape and American identity; upcoming exhibits; and on-going field trip programming for underserved youth. Join us at the corner table! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: brad@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 27 years as the chief editor of Essence magazine and the visionary credited with building the brand, Susan Taylor left publishing to devote her life to building an organization that is devoted to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty among African Americans. A community-mobilization movement, National CARES Mentoring Movement is the only organization dedicated to providing mentoring, healing and wellness services on a national scale for Black children. Susan is the best-selling author of four books, and editor of eight others, a fourth-generation entrepreneur, who grew up in Harlem working in her father’s clothing store. At 24, she founded her own cosmetics company, which led to the beauty editor’s position at Essence, the publication she would go on to shape as chief editor into a world-renown brand with more than 8 million readers. Ms. Taylor authored the magazine's most popular column, In the Spirit—the first in a mainstream U.S. magazine to champion spiritual growth as a pathway to total well-being and a meaningful life. Ms. Taylor is a recipient of more than a dozen honorary doctorates and hundreds of awards, including presidential citations, Image Awards and the NAACP President's Award for Visionary Leadership. She is the only African American woman to be recognized by the Magazine Publishers of America’s Henry Johnson Fisher Award—the industry's highest honor—and the first to be inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame. In this episode, Susan and host, Brad Johnson, having known each other since Brad was 15 years old, share an intimate conversation about life philosophy, the benefits of self-care and taking time to be still, the confluence of experiences and self-confidence that led to becoming Editor-In- Chief of Essence, the importance of unity and community organization, the value of elder’s wisdom, the unprecedented rise in black child suicide, and her highest calling to provide wellness, mentoring and opportunity to today’s vulnerable youth through her organization. Join us at the corner table! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-time friend of Ambassador Shabazz (eldest daughter of Malcolm X), Dr. Julius Garvey is the only surviving son of the founder of the United Negro Improvement Association, the Honorable Marcus Garvey, and activist and journalist, Amy Jacques Garvey. In this episode, he shares insights with host, Brad Johnson and the Ambassador on topics including his view on the current world order being out of balance, spirituality being replaced by scientific materialism, the Euro-centric distortion of history, African civilization being the starting point of all civilizations, and the concept of a return to social entrepreneurship as part of an African mindset. Born in Jamaica in 1933, Dr. Garvey attended school in Jamaica before attending McGill University earning his undergraduate and medical degrees. As a highly accomplished surgeon and medical professor, Dr. Garvey has held a number of positions in his career including teaching at Columbia University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, as well as holding several leadership positions including Chief of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery at Queens Hospital Center and Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. Dr. Garvey has lectured in Agroecology in South Africa, Ghana, Namibia, Jamaica and Trinidad, while also lecturing annually at the Global Health Catalyst Summit since 2016. Continuing to honor his father's legacy, Dr. Garvey lectures on his legendary father's life and teachings known as Garveyism. Marcus Garvey was a human and civil rights hero deported to Jamaica having been falsely charged and convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud when his civil rights activities in the United States caught the attention of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Known as the "Father of Black Nationalism", he was heavily involved in promoting the Universal Negro Improvement Association formed in 1914 that stressed pride among people of African descent across the globe, excellence of character, and racial unity among African-Americans. Currently, there is a petition drive to exonerate The Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Sr. posthumously. One hundred thousand signatures (100,000) are required during the month of February 2022 to obligate President Biden to address the request. For more information, visit JusticeforGarvey.org Join us at the corner table for a fascinating conversation! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the highly accomplished Paula Williams Madison, converses with host, Brad Johnson, on topics including the evolution of fake news from the perspective of an award-winning journalist and media executive, her position on "Defund the Police" having formerly served as VP of the Los Angeles Police Commission, and tracing her ancestral roots documented in both a book and documentary film.As an African-American with Jamaican and Asian ancestry, Paula grew up in Harlem, attended Vassar, became a powerhouse media executive who spent 22 years at NBC Universal (NBCU), and is on the Board of her family's investment company that is the majority shareholder in The Africa Channel, a cable and streaming channel focusing on the lands, people, culture, and history of Africa, seen in the USA, Caribbean, Canada and South America. Paula currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Madison Media Management LLC and 88 Madison Media Works Inc.Named one of the "75 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America" by Black Enterprise Magazine and included in the Hollywood Reporter's "Power 100", Paula has also been recognized as one of the "Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business" and awarded the Historymaker Award by the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles.As author and executive producer, respectively, of the book and documentary Finding Samuel Lowe, Paula tells the story of her journey to connect with her Chinese grandfather's descendants in China. Additionally, she serves on several boards including the Black Filmmaker Foundation, the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles, The Advisory Board of Advanced Journalism Studies - Morgan State, and The Advisory Board of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the creator of the annual Golden Globe Awards and donates millions to over 70 entertainment-related charities, as well as funding scholarships and other programs for future film and television professionals. Join us at the corner table!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With her smooth, velvety voice, the R&B/Soul singer Meli'sa Morgan is known for her string of urban contemporary hits starting in the mid–1980s through the mid–1990s. Meli'sa began her singing career at nine years old as a member of the Starlets of Corona gospel choir. She went on to study music and theatre at The Juilliard School Performing Arts Conservatory in New York. Meli'sa built a career including collaborations with other performers such as Najee, Kashif, Freddie Jackson, Valerie Simpson, and Mary J. Blige as well as launching a solo career. Meli'sa gained experience as a backup singer with Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, and Melba Moore before releasing her solo debut album Do Me Baby (1985) on Capitol Records. The title track, her cover of the Prince original, topped R&B charts for three weeks. Meli'sa's most notable songs include "Do You Still Love Me" (1986), "Fool's Paradise" (1986) and "Still in Love With You" (1992). To date, she has two Top 20 Albums and four Top 5 hits. Still performing, songwriting and acting, Meli'sa's current work includes her role as Nana in the movie, Footprints of an Angel, as well as releasing the accompanying title track. Meli'sa's next live performance is Valentine's Day at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club with saxophonist, Marion Meadows. Tune in to hear Meli'sa and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss the building blocks of Meli'sa's career, the experience she gained performing at The Cellar in the early days, Brad's father's popular live venue on NYC's Upper West Side, including the lessons learned and why Brad temporarily fired her. We learn about her experience with the music industry's less than transparent accounting and her advice. On a personal note, hear Meli'sa's life philosophy, how she enjoys spending time between her homes in Queens, NY, South Carolina, and Aruba, and her engagement to the man who won her heart. Join us!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inspired by his mother's missionary travels and a college professor's dare, Nathan Fluellen set out to travel the world in 2004 and thus far, has visited 60 countries and six continents. In his latest series with the Africa Channel, Escape With Nate: In Search of Black Utopia, Nate sits down with today’s top Black travel influencers and celebrities and explores how travel opens the doors for people of color. Fearless and with a big appetite for adventure and the exploration of other cultures, Nate started out filming his adventure travel to share in his video blog and his audience blossomed. Evangelizing the enormous economic, social and cultural benefits of travel, Nate landed as creator, executive producer and host of the Telly Award winning series, Africa Channel's World Wide Nate, focusing on adventure, food, and culture. Running with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, swimming with jellyfish in Palau, defying gravity while descending Conveyor Quay Tower in Montreal, Canada, and hanging out with Koala bears in South Australia, Nate inspires and educates others with a desire to experience the world. As a fitness enthusiast, Nate does boxing training, yoga, surfing and rock climbing and includes eating a balanced meal as a core principle of fitness. His clean diet includes foods high in protein and low in carbs. He’s incorporated this lifestyle into his travels, sharing his Train Hard Thursday workouts and cheat day meals on Fried Chicken Friday with his social media followers. Listen in as Nate and host, Brad Johnson, discuss Nate's philosophy as a citizen of the world, a few of his most unique experiences around the world including participating in the Masai Olympics, his inspiration to travel the world with his Mom and encouraging others to do the same with their parents. Bringing travel adventures to his friends and community, we hear about the search for a black utopia and what that means to different people, how African Americans are viewed by other black people around the world, the hospitality extended and desire to be in their presence. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Street-art and hip-hop pioneer, Fred Brathwaite, aka Fab 5 Freddy, is a cultural influencer whose career encompasses graffiti artist, rapper, an internationally exhibited painter, video and TV-commercial director, screenwriter, film scorer, actor, lecturer, television personality, and creative director of museum exhibits. Along with friends and contemporaries, Futura 2000, Keith Haring, Lee Quinones and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fab was a key player in New York’s 1980’s downtown cultural scene instrumental in elevating graffiti into a disruptive movement that would eventually give birth to street art. In addition to his visual art, Fab directed numerous hip-hop music videos and he was the original host of YO! MTV Raps, the groundbreaking TV show that accelerated hip-hop culture globally. In 2019, a feature length documentary Fab produced and directed for Netflix titled, “Grass is Greener” was released examining the history of cannabis, music and criminal justice in America. Inspired by the documentary, he launched a social equity cannabis brand in 2021 called, B Noble, named for Bernard Noble, who was arrested in Louisiana and sentenced to 13 years of hard labor for possessing the equivalent of two joints. In this episode, Fab and host, Brad Johnson, discuss his childhood memories and the influence of his father and bebop jazz musician friends’ civil rights conversations, his exposure to fine art, and his quest to find a way for his ideas in the music and art worlds. Discussing more recent activity, we learn about Fab’s cannabis brand, B Noble as well as his role as Creative Director of Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop at Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop). * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With affordable housing reaching crisis levels, Ken Lombard, having led numerous successful real estate investments and business ventures that fostered economic improvement and urban renewal in underserved minority communities throughout the United States, is on a mission to improve lives and strengthen communities through innovative solutions that start with quality affordable housing. In November, 2021, Ken joined Bridge Housing as CEO. Bridge is a leading nonprofit developer, owner and manager of affordable housing in California, Oregon and Washington. With his previous C-suite positions in organizations including Seritage Growth Properties (NYSE: SRG), MacFarlane Partners, Capri Capital Partners and Capri Urban Fund, Starbucks, and Johnson Development Corporation with partner Earvin "Magic" Johnson that brought entertainment complexes, coffee houses, restaurants, and retail centers to minority communities in more than 65 cities and 17 states, Ken is a well-respected businessman and visionary who believes passionately in inclusion and providing opportunity to others. Listen in as Ken and host, Brad Johnson, discuss Ken's mantra of not accepting the status quo and contemplating the possibilities, speaking up when you see inequities or lack of representation, being a good listener absorbing information, and using finesse once you're invited into circles of influence and capital. Throughout his career, he is often the only African American in the room and we learn where his self-confidence, family history of uplifting others and civil rights activism played into his career as well as where his interest in real estate began. From a broader perspective, Ken is an advocate of African American entrepreneurship and ownership, offering his vision of his responsibility and others who have achieved success to reach back and provide opportunities to entrepreneurs and businesses in the African American community while, in return, requiring their commitment to hard work and integrity. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philly-raised and Harlem-based, Earl Monroe is a Hall of Fame basketball player voted one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history along with being 1968 Rookie of the Year, a four-time NBA All-Star and a member of the 1973 New York Knickerbocker Championship team. After a successful career in basketball, Earl spent more than 30 years in the entertainment business, producing off-Broadway musicals and running his own record and publishing company. He won the coveted Peabody Award for producing the critically acclaimed documentary "Black Magic", which helped launch the ESPN series, “30 for 30,” and the ESPN 10-part series, “Basketball, A Love Story”. As a restaurateur, Earl was involved with two restaurants, The Commissary and The Earl Monroe Restaurant/River Room. With two honorary Doctorates, Earl is a frequent motivational guest lecturer, and authored two books, his autobiography, “Earl The Pearl, His Story,” and a self-help book, "Getting Back In The Game." He now runs Reverse Spin Entertainment Group, a entertainment, sports and consulting firm. His most recent venture is the opening of the Earl Monroe New Renaissance Basketball Charter School, in the Bronx, NY. In addition to the basic high school curriculum, the school is focused on the supporting roles around basketball such as operations, facilities management, broadcasting, journalism, and digital media. Join Earl and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss Earl's tremendous basketball career including his time at Winston-Salem State College, the impact of Coach Clarence 'Bighouse' Gaines, adapting to a new role when joining the NY Knicks, and the relationship he has with his teammates to this day. We learn about Earl growing up in Philly where his grandmother ran a speakeasy next door to his house, and the violent incident he witnessed that caused him to shun violence his whole life. With giving back as one of his guiding lights, Earl discusses his namesake basketball school including the opportunities, support and people involved that are making a difference. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please email: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Joe Randall, a national treasure and master craftsman with over 55 years of experience, is referred to as the "Dean of Southern Cooking". He and his close friends and colleagues, Edna Lewis, Leah Chase, Patrick Clark, along with the late Hercules, George Washington's enslaved cook, were honored at the Smithsonian Institute of National Museum of African American History and Culture, where his cookbook "A Taste of Heritage: the New African American Cuisine" and his 40-year-old colander are on permanent display. In the late 90s, he adopted his signature uniform trimmed with handwoven Kente cloth from Ghana, as a show of pride in his rich heritage. Chef Joe has been a faculty member of four universities sharing his talent, experience and enthusiasm teaching students the craft and systems of restaurant excellence. Eventually, he created the "Chef Joe Randall Cooking School" where he preached the gospel of authentic southern cuisine to two generations during its 16-year tenure. He has multiple honors, founded the Edna Lewis Foundation to commemorate her contributions, and was a founding board member of Southern Food Alliance. As a student and teacher of hospitality all his life, Chef Joe, and host, Brad Johnson, walk through some of the unique history and Chef's attempts to elevate the visibility of African Americans in the culinary industry. We hear first-hand knowledge of cooking with the legendary Edna Lewis, Leah Chase and Patrick Clark, all trailblazers in the culinary world. Chef Joe also explains the complicated relationship that African Americans have with the hospitality industry, being pigeonholed into cooking "Soul Food", and the impact of not being recognized as contributors to American cuisine over the years. He implores young people seeking a culinary career to go the extra mile in order to know your craft and rise in the industry. Recognizing that opportunities are opening up, we applaud this trailblazing, warm, kind spirit so generous with his wisdom and guidance, fighting for his community and highlighting other's success over a lifetime. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The esteemed James Beard Foundation (JBF) navigated shifting tides over the past few years as restaurant culture, including toxic work environments and reprehensible behavior, came into sharper focus. To their credit, ongoing calls for diversity and inclusion led to the cancellation of the annual James Beard Awards in 2020 and 2021 to allow for a period of self-examination, an internal audit, and changes to the policies and procedures of the Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars in the culinary world. With a passion for cultural inclusiveness, Liberian-born and New York-based Dawn Padmore joined JBF as Vice President of Awards in 2021, having had extensive experience in culinary events and a decades-long history of working with the James Beard Awards. In her role, Dawn works with the volunteer committees, JBF staff, and trustees to shape the future of the Awards, including the 2022 Awards to be held in June 2022. Prior to joining JBF, Dawn gained extensive experience as part of teams conceptualizing and producing culinary events and festivals such as the New York City Wine and Food Festival and Harlem EatUp!, an annual festival of food and culture that showcases the talents of Harlem-based and nationally acclaimed chefs and personalities. During COVID, with the festival canceled, Dawn served as producer on a one-hour televised Harlem EatUp! fundraising special on ABC7 New York. Listen as Dawn and host, Brad Johnson, discuss the revitalized and more equitable James Beard Awards' focus, policies, categories and application process (Open Call deadline is 11/30/21). Dawn's enthusiasm is encouraging and reflects a commitment to accessibility. We also learn a bit more about this upbeat and affable woman who immigrated from Liberia during a coup d'état, the draw to New York City, her career path leading to her position with JBF, and her other talent as an accomplished, classically trained soprano who was invited to sing at the inauguration of the Republic of Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female African president, and performed for Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Bishop Desmond Tutu. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ambassador Nicole Avant, the high-level political powerhouse, former ambassador to the Bahamas, philanthropist and wife of Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, began her career in the music industry before getting involved in politics supporting the campaigns of candidates like Harold Ford, Jr. and President Barack Obama, in his run for the Senate and presidency . Nicole grew up in Beverly Hills, the daughter of Clarence Avant, the former chairman of Motown Records and entertainment industry mogul known as "The Black Godfather", and Jacqueline Avant, former Ebony Fashion Fair model and philanthropist. With social and business skills learned from her parents, a degree in Communications, and her savvy instincts, she became the co-chair for the Obama presidential campaign in Southern California raising millions from entertainment, business and philanthropic circles. Nicole produced the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, “The Black Godfather” for Netflix, directed by Reginald Hudlin, charting the exceptional and unlikely rise of her father, a rainmaker in music, film, TV, and politics. Appearances in the documentary include Bill Withers, Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron, and Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, to name a few. The film was nominated for several prestigious awards including being named one of the Top 5 Documentaries of 2019 by the National Board of Review. Most recently, Nicole joined George Clooney and a host of Hollywood A-listers to partner with the Los Angeles Unified School District to found The Roybal School of Film and Television, part of an effort to drive transformational change and access to jobs across the entertainment industry for students from underserved communities. Listen as Nicole and host, Brad Johnson, discuss her upbringing in Beverly Hills, her mom's emphasis on education, art and history including celebrating the heroes and victories in black culture. Nicole shares the incident of adversity when she was very young that became the initial inspiration behind making "The Black Godfather." She describes her thoughts meeting the Obamas and we learn about her daily practice of positive mindfulness and paying it forward through service to others including some of her philanthropic efforts to give access to underserved youth. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2015, having experienced the lack of food media coverage of South Los Angeles' emerging food scene, host Brad Johnson, the restaurateur behind Post & Beam in South LA, took a chance at getting a response and contacted Sam Sifton at the New York Times to somewhat playfully bring attention to the situation. Sam took the message to heart resulting in the article, "A Belle Epoque for African American Cooking" by Jeff Gordinier, which stated "a new generation of black chefs and cookbook authors has been reinventing, reinterpreting and reinvigorating what’s thought of as African-American food." A child of Brooklyn and a graduate of Harvard University, Sam started his career as a freelance reporter while working as a public-school teacher in New York. Eventually he landed at the New York Times and has served in a number of leadership positions including food editor, national news editor and culture editor, and was for a number of years the newspaper's restaurant critic. He is the author of three cookbooks: "Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well"; "See You on Sunday: A Cookbook for Family and Friends"; and "The New York Times No-Recipe Recipes Cookbook." Today, Sam is an assistant managing editor at The New York Times, responsible for the coverage of culture and lifestyle, and the founding editor of New York Times Cooking. Join us to hear how Sam and Brad, as well as their fathers, could have crossed paths many times in their lives having shared similar experiences, despite being from different backgrounds. Sam discloses where his education began for culturally diverse food, people and the ritual of gathering to share meals. We learn about the role of inclusion, truth and storytelling as he describes his thoughts on the power of the New York Times to make us better. A truth-seeker and bridge-maker, Sam's desire to welcome diversity shines through. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October, David Chang the ever-evolving icon-chef, media creator, and founder of Momofuku returned to the screen in the Hulu documentary series “The Next Thing You Eat,” to speak with scientists, foodies, and chefs about how the food industry is innovating to address issues of climate change, health, food scarcity, and more. He also released his second cookbook, Cooking at Home: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Recipes (And Love My Microwave) written with Priya Krishna, a food reporter for The New York Times and contributor to Bon Appetit and The New Yorker among others, and the author of the best-selling cookbook, Indian-ish. Since opening Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City in 2004, David has been honored with six James Beard Awards, including Outstanding Chef, a GQ Man of the Year Award and was included on the Time 100 list of influential people. His cookbook, Momofuku, and his memoir, Eat a Peach, are New York Times bestsellers. In 2018, David founded Majordomo Media and launched The Dave Chang Show podcast. He is also the host of two Netflix original documentary series, "Ugly Delicious", and "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner". Join the thought-provoking conversation between David and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss David's recent move from New York to Los Angeles accompanied by a change in diet, the future of food and the independent restaurant, rethinking cultural stereotypes, and how David changed course on a failing noodle bar that propelled him to success. David and Brad go deep on cultural differences, letting your work speak for itself, the food issues we face in the world and what we should be doing to address them along with David's most recently published no-recipe cookbook and Hulu series focused on the future of food and the impact of the choices we make. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the World Series is upon us, Adam Katz, one of the top-tier Major League Baseball (MLB) agents, and host, Brad Johnson, sit down to talk baseball. Adam rose to prominence as an agent in the 80's and 90's representing four of the league's MVP award winners: Sammy Sosa (1998), Ken Caminiti (1996), Mo Vaughn (1995) and Willie McGee (1985). Adam joined Wasserman’s Team Sports group in 2006 and currently serves as Executive Vice President and Co-Managing Executive of Baseball. In his almost 40 years representing over 200 players, he has finalized roughly 600 major league contracts, many of them market-setting, for players from over 15 countries. His experience across different markets is unmatched in the industry. Adam's clientele is a diverse roster of over 40 Major and Minor League baseball players, including Hanley Ramirez, Jeff Samardzija, Kenley Jansen, Kenta Maeda, Yulieski Gurriel, Billy Hamilton, Bartolo Colon, Jose Quintana, Yasmani Grandal, and Lourdes Gurriel, as well as representing Aaron Boone throughout his career as player, broadcaster, and manager of the New York Yankees. Adam is included in Forbes Sports Agents 2020 list with over $640 million in contracts and is consistently ranked as one of the top baseball agents. Join Adam and Brad, long-time friends, as they discuss the business of being a sports agent in baseball, what it entails, the skill set that has worked for Adam, the value of mentorship in his career, and what it was like testifying to Congress about performance-enhancing drugs sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Sammy Sosa. On a more personal note, we learn about Adam's background, values instilled in him, how he found his way into the industry, his connection to Bill Withers, and how LL Cool J allegedly once stole his date. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JJ Johnson is a James Beard Award-winning chef, TV personality and author best known for his barrier-breaking cuisine informed by the Caribbean flavors of his upbringing. Chef JJ’s signature cooking style combines culturally relevant ingredients and classical technique with a global point of view.At FIELDTRIP, his made-to-order rice bowl shop that debuted in 2019, Chef JJ highlights rice as a hero ingredient and showcases it in recipes sourced from around the world. FIELDTRIP’s first outpost opened in Harlem and has since grown to two additional locations including Rockefeller Center and Long Island City. As one of the only fast casual restaurants on Esquire’s “America’s Best New Restaurants” list in 2020, FIELDTRIP utilizes sustainable ingredients and ethically sourced vegetables and proteins, creating an accessible, flavorful, and diverse dining experience. The brand’s motto, "Rice is Culture,” was born out of Chef JJ’s belief that rice is the universal ingredient that connects us all and can be found at the center of the table in almost every community.Chef JJ is a Mastercard Ambassador and a television host on Just Eats with Chef JJ available on most cable networks.Join Chef JJ and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss the inspiration behind Fieldtrip and its menu, the process in choosing a first location in Harlem, and the blending of cultural flavors in composed bowls and its beverage program, his views on expansion plans, choosing locations and concerns as New York City fights to bring the economy back. As a voice for change, Chef, a talented writer, shares his thoughts on the article he wrote for Esquire magazine, "If You're Saying Black Lives Matter, Then Spend Your Money at Black Businesses" including how to better support the efforts of minority entrepreneurs and businesses to uplift them to expand opportunities for his generation and the next. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith L. Black M.D., named one of the “21 Most Important People of the 21st Century” by Esquire Magazine, is among an elite group of neurosurgeons in the world who have performed more than 8,000 brain tumor operations. The precision of his surgical skill enables him to remove tumors that often have been considered inoperable. Not satisfied to merely remove difficult brain tumors, Dr. Black’s greater goal is to obliterate brain cancers and find cures for debilitating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Since founding the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute and the Department of Neurosurgery at Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Black has had many significant scientific and clinical achievements, gracing the covers of Time ("Heroes of Medicine") and Newsweek magazines in honor of his and the team's accomplishments. He has written hundreds of research articles, presented his findings at over 500 national and international meetings including invited talks at TEDMED and Google’s “Solve for X” lecture series, and received multiple patents for his novel scientific innovations. Join the down-to-earth, humble and incredibly informative Dr. Black and host, Brad Johnson, as they dive into wide-ranging topics including advances in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer’s and dementia, living with viruses, and the use of scorpion venom in brain surgery. Hear how Dr. Black approaches medical research, what makes a “great” vs. “okay” scientist, the mystery of the brain, applying his passion and the rewards of his calling, the relationship between science and spirituality, and finding balance in his life. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man of many pursuits, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, the legendary NBA Hall of Famer with the distinction of being one of The Top 50 NBA Players, led the NY Knicks franchise to its only two championships (1970 and 1973). Today, as the color commentator for the Knicks on the MSG Network, he delivers solid sports analysis and well-seasoned talking points courtside while being a fan favorite for his rhyming rhetoric and trademark bold, retro fashion style. The eldest of nine children, raised in the racially segregated Atlanta of the 1950s, Mr. Frazier learned leadership early on between helping to care for his siblings, quarterbacking his high school football team, and strong family values instilled in him. He pursued basketball after realizing there were no professional black quarterbacks. As co-captain of the Southern Illinois University basketball team, Walt led the team to victory in the 1967 NIT Championship. Drafted 5th overall by the NY Knicks, Walt was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team during the 1967-68 season. He went on to become a 7-time NBA All-Star and posted one of the greatest performances in NBA playoff history during Game 7 of the 1970 NBA championship series, beating the LA Lakers. The game is recognized by many as the greatest game seven ever played. Aside from sports broadcasting, Walt splits his time between NYC and St. Croix where he runs a gentleman's farm and manages several rental properties he owns. For nine years, he was a partner with Ark Restaurants in Clyde Frazier's Wine and Dine restaurant . Unfortunately, the restaurant recently closed permanently due to COVID. Mr. Frazier has written eight books, with the latest focused on health and fitness, eating healthy, exercising regularly and practicing yoga. Early in his career, he formed The Walt Frazier Foundation, and has generously supported youth mentoring and education for 50 years. Host Brad Johnson, as a native New Yorker, was a teenager and idolized Walt when he played for the Knicks. Listen as Walt and Brad discuss Walt's upbringing and early motivation to succeed, what advice his Knicks teammates shared with him as a rookie, his love of the Caribbean and a description of a typical day as a gentleman farmer. Hear how he earned the nickname "Clyde", the beginning of his love for fashion, as well as his transition from arguably being the best player in the Knicks franchise history to his life after basketball, and how he manages his life post-career. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ramon Hervey II, a model of resiliency and entrepreneurship, spent the last four decades journeying through multiple facets of the entertainment industry providing services in public relations, executive producing, artist management, live event production and brand consulting. Ramon began his career in public relations gaining valuable experience working as an executive at Rogers & Cowan, one of the entertainment industry’s oldest and most prestigious public relations companies, and Motown Records, before starting his own firm, Hervey & Company. The list of those he's worked with reads like the "Who's Who" of entertainment including Bette Midler, Richard Pryor, Natalie Cole, George Benson and Herb Alpert. Hervey eventually expanded into artist management with rock n' roll icon Little Richard as his first client in the mid-80s, followed by recording star/actress (and future wife) Vanessa Williams, and multiple Grammy Award-winning songwriter/ producer and recording artist, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, along with a host of other award-nominated and award-winning actors, musical acts, comedians, as well as world class athletes, Muhammad Ali and Bruce Jenner (aka Caitlyn Jenner). Ever the entrepreneur, Hervey produced multiple live music events and helmed the Los Angeles-based music production/club entity, R & B LIVE productions, which he created in 1991 with partner, Bill Hammond. During the four-year span of the live club venture, Hervey produced over 160 shows featuring the industry’s most celebrated R&B, contemporary jazz, gospel and rap/hip hop artists and musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Chaka Khan, The O’Jays, The Ohio Players, and Al Jarreau. Join Ramon and host Brad Johnson, as Ramon offers sage advice to the younger generation, gives credit to some of the ground-breaking individuals who advanced black culture to a mainstream audience, and discusses how he adapted his business plan to the changing needs of an industry. He tells the story of how he met his ex-wife, Vanessa Williams, during a turbulent time in her blossoming career. Finally, as someone who spent their entire adult life around fame, Ramon discloses his upcoming book project, titled "The Fame Game," where he uses case studies to position fame as a reward and tool, rather than the destination. * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legendary Suzanne de Passe, Co-chair of de Passe Jones Entertainment with her business partner, Madison Jones, is an entertainment business executive and award-winning producer and writer. Raised in Harlem, the daughter of Jamaican parents, Suzanne’s upbringing was filled with strong family values and an eclectic range of experiences from private school to international travel and exposure to the arts. Her belief in herself blossomed and through a chance encounter with the iconic Berry Gordy, Suzanne began her career at Motown Records as Creative Assistant where she became instrumental in signing and developing a number of artists including: The Jackson Five, the Commodores, Teena Marie, Thelma Houston, Stephanie Mills, Rick James, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Subsequently, Mr. Gordy promoted Suzanne to President of Motown Productions, the television and film arm of the company, where she executive produced and wrote, among others: MOTOWN 25: YESTERDAY, TODAY FOREVER followed by MOTOWN RETURNS TO THE APOLLO, both winning Primetime Emmys for Best Variety Show. Suzanne has served as Executive Producer of a number of highly acclaimed mini- series and television shows including LONESOME DOVE, THE JACKSONS: AN AMERICAN DREAM, THE TEMPTATIONS, SISTER SISTER, SMART GUY, ZENON: GIRL OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY and it’s two sequels, along with SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO for five seasons. She was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing the screen play, LADY SINGS THE BLUES and, in addition to her two Emmy Awards, she is the recipient of a Golden Globe, 5 NAACP Image Awards, 3 Peabody Awards and a number of other awards and honors. Join Suzanne and host, Brad Johnson, as they discuss her journey from Harlem to Hitsville to Hollywood; the reverence she has for Berry Gordy and Ruth Bowen, both mentors in her career; the limo ride that changed her life; what traits she feels contributed to her success; the need to celebrate all parts of black culture on screen, the lack of diversity in institutional Hollywood, particularly the authority to greenlight; and how people are becoming their own networks for entertainment content. Join us! * * * Please follow @CornerTableTalk on Instagram and Facebook For more information on host Brad Johnson or to join our mailing list, please visit: https://postandbeamhospitality.com/ For questions or comments, please e.mail: info@postandbeamhospitality.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.