From Chains to Links

In this season finale of From Chains to Links, hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton reflect on the incredible journey of the podcast, celebrating its role in elevating Black innovation, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. They dive into the impact of storytelling, mental wellness in business, and the power of collective economics - while hinting at exciting new projects on the horizon. With humor, honesty, and deep insights, they explore how innovation isn't just about tech but also about people, culture, and the stories we share. This isn't goodbye—it's just the beginning of something even bigger!

In this unapologetically Black and joyful episode, we break down ten things we love about Black people. From the way we hook up our food, to the rhythm in our DNA, the joy in our laughter, and the power in our resistance—this is a celebration of culture, legacy, and truth. Join hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton as they talk about the deep roots of our music, the art of the clapback, and why dancing anywhere is simply non-negotiable. If you love us, you'll love this episode. And if you don't? We got plenty of clapbacks for you. Tune in for a necessary conversation on Black excellence, resilience, and joy.

As DEI programs are stripped away and historical narratives are rewritten, what's really happening to Black communities? In this episode, we dive into the quiet yet deliberate erasure of Blackness in America, the myth of meritocracy, and why economic and political solidarity are more crucial than ever. Hosts Our hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton break down the systemic forces at play and ask the critical question: If Black people have always led the movement, who will lead the next rebellion?

In this episode of From Chains to Links, we explore the intersections of faith, spirituality, and black innovation. Our hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton engage in a deep conversation on redefining spiritual practices, embracing the divine feminine, and how these practices can inspire black entrepreneurship and generational wealth creation. From ancestral connections through music to personal reflections on faith beyond the church, this episode offers a fresh perspective on seeking without fear and building a spiritual home. Join us as we reimagine what it means to thrive—both spiritually and as a community.

Entrepreneurship isn't just about success—it's about failing, learning, and pivoting. In this episode, Ifeoma Ike and Dr. Kelly Burton get real about the challenges of building a business, from how the wrong team can cost you everything to the financial mistakes and tax pitfalls that trip up entrepreneurs. They break down the emotional toll of entrepreneurship while sharing the hard-earned lessons no one talks about. If you're thinking about starting a business or already in the game, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now!

What happens when Black creatives lose yet another digital platform? In this episode, Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton explore the TikTok ban, the fight for Black ownership in the digital realm, and the larger conversation about who truly profits from our culture. From the déjà vu of the Vine shutdown to the systemic barriers that prevent us from building our own, we delve into the realities of digital homelessness, the power of Black creativity, and the urgent need for trust, community, and equity. Is this a setback—or the beginning of something greater? Tune in as we discuss what's next.

In this vibrant and thought-provoking episode of From Chains to Links, co-hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton dive into a lively discussion on the top 10 ways entrepreneurs, creators, and visionaries can thrive in 2025. From prioritizing wellness and renewing passports to cultivating meaningful connections and embracing creativity, Ifeoma and Kelly serve up wisdom, humor, and practical advice to help listeners elevate their lives and careers. With powerful reflections on forgiveness, generosity, and getting in the flow, this episode is an inspiring call to action for anyone ready to embrace a new chapter. Tune in for candid insights, laughter, and a reminder that 2025 is yours to claim!

In this candid and thought-provoking episode of From Chains to Links, hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton explore the interconnected themes of rest, reset, and the evolving fight for equity in a multicultural democracy. Through heartfelt reflections, sharp humor, and powerful insights, they tackle everything from the historical contributions of Black communities to modern movements for justice to the importance of prioritizing rest as a revolutionary act. With discussions on building intentional communities and reimagining the path to liberation, this episode inspires listeners to embrace rest, reclaim their power, and reimagine the future.

In this episode of From Chains to Links, Ify sits down with true renaissance man Luke Cooper—investor, successful startup founder, lawyer, professor, and more. Luke shares the big lessons he's learned throughout his career, highlights the immense opportunity in investing in Black founders, and unpacks how cultural differences create barriers to capital for Black entrepreneurs. His incredible story makes this a conversation you want to listen to and share with a friend.

In this episode of From Chains to Links, policy expert and social justice warrior David Johns joins Ify and Kelly to explore the intersection of queer rights and social justice. A family conversation, the squad highlights real dynamics impacting queer leaders, youth and organizers. The conversation also tackles the impact of the “anti-woke” backlash on organizations advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community. Join us for this poignant, timely, and deeply insightful conversation you won't want to miss.

In this raucous episode of From Chains to Links, hosts Ify and Kelly are joined by technologist and long-time social justice advocate Jamaa Bickley-King who rips the bandaid off and shares his thoughts on the role media has played in our democracy, the limitations of artificial intelligence, and makes bold predictions about what will be extinct in the next decade. Along the way, he offers advice on how we can best harness the power of technology to advance the Black community. Buckle up for a lively and insightful conversation that will have you laughing and shaking your head the entire episode!

In this episode of From Chains to Links, entrepreneurs Rahama Wright and Danielle Toussaint bring valuable insights on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur in today's political climate. An empowering dialogue with best practices and real-life experiences, Rahama and Danielle stress the importance of working across the African diaspora to build Black wealth and economic independence—and why it's important we get out of our own way. It's gems on gems on gems.

In this heartfelt episode of From Chains to Links, Kelly Burton and Ifeoma Ike are joined by Erin Horne McKinney and Cici Battle to tackle the unique challenges of being Black women founders and entrepreneurs. A raw, honest reflection into the costs of leadership, each guest shares tips on how to prioritize self-care, establish boundaries, and put oneself first while still standing in the gap for others. This vulnerable conversation is the perfect pillow for all those who need a safe place to rest and remind themselves of their power.

How do we ensure Black people don't miss out on yet another industrial revolution? In this episode of From Chains to Links, technologist and startup advisor Tyrome ‘Ty' Smith drops invaluable insights on what startup founders need to understand today for success tomorrow. He breaks down the biggest mistakes founders often make and highlights the urgent needs and pressing opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and technologists. Tune in for an episode packed with practical advice and forward-thinking strategies to help Black innovators thrive.

In this episode of From Chains to Links, Ify sits down with innovation support leaders LaKisha Greenwade, Alisha Gordon, and Dr. LaTanya White, who each invests in ensuring entrepreneurs are equipped with the tools to thrive.. Together, they explore how we need to reimagine wealth creation, see the wealth is rest and village, and unpack the obstacles standing in our way. It's a rich, powerful conversation about the state of Black entrepreneurship and the real case studies of economic empowerment and building with community.

In this episode of From Chains to Links, we welcome pioneering startup founder Tiffany Norwood and Jaret Riddick, a research engineer with over 20 years in the defense industry. Together, we dive into the evolution of Black people in tech, the relationship between racial equality and national security, and the vital role of imagination and dreaming in ensuring that Black people fully embrace our divine right to innovate.

In this episode of From Chains to Links, we sit down with Katrina Gamble, a political and movement strategist and social scientist, to explore what research reveals about how Black people view the state of our political systems. We explore what Black voters want and need, how to keep political momentum going after elections, and the critical importance of investing in movements beyond just "get out the vote" efforts. It's a powerful conversation about the future of Black political power and strategy that you absolutely don't want to miss.

Join Kelly and Ify in a lively, fast-paced episode of From Chains to Links, where they go back and forth with podcast regular political commentator and NYT bestseller Bakari Sellers. The trio dives into everything, from the crucial difference between pepper sauce and hot sauce to serious discussions about the U.S. Supreme Court, elections, and civil rights. Along the way, they tease, laugh, and unapologetically talk shit. It's a perfect blend of humor and hard-hitting conversations you won't want to miss!

Bonus episode featuring From Chains to Links' Hosts Kelly Burton and Ifeoma Ike, with nuggets around the unique experience of being Black, creative and an entrepreneur. Hosts invite the audience to think about the "whole Black entrepreneur" and how this podcast seeks to spark new social conditions where we can fully live out innovation--from ideation to failure to repair to growth. And do so with loving networks and circles of opportunity.

The Civil Rights Movement is not the only Black movement, but it stands out with distinction for many reasons, including the way activism was more visible, thanks advancements in television usage and access which made the realities of segregation and brutality towards Black lives hard to ignore. Movements have proven to be both inspiring and have yielded some gains, but debates around how effective they are can prove to be emotional and tense. As with the rise of modern Black movements since the fatal tragedy of the murder of Trayvon Martin, questions around the purpose of sustainability of racial justice movements continue to spark passion and differences in theory and goals within Black spaces. Season 1 concludes with a spirited conversation with Two-time NY Times best-selling Author, Civil Rights Activist, Attorney, Entrepreneur, Legislator, and overall Prolific voice of the Culture, Bakari Sellers exploring the following questions: Do we need a modern day civil rights movement, and if so, how do we build it? Who leads the movement? And how do we tap into a sense of unified purpose to continue the progress of past movements?

The Digital and Innovation Economy is in the midst of a technological revolution—one in which Black people have the best chance of not only getting in the water, but on the front side of the wave. Emerging Black technologists face new terrains as pioneers among pioneers, as well as old habits and beliefs which aren't welcoming to the possibilities of an inclusive digital landscape. Nevertheless, breakthroughs happen, thanks to trailblazers committed to not being the only Black visionary in a still very undiversified world. Join From Chains to Links and guest Latoya Peterson, Cofounder, CXO, and Director for the Culture at Glow Up Games as her pioneering journey in new media and gaming provides major keys for how rising talent can succeed in the digital economy while still being authentic to themselves and the culture.

The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” doesn't explicitly factor in how much that village will cost. The price of just “being Black” is expensive. And for many creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs, the cost of growth and expansion is unaffordable. Although one of the brief responses to the murder of George Floyd was a slight uptick in public and private commitments, data reveals that funding to Black entrepreneurs still severely lagged in comparison to what white spaces received. Institutions gained a lot of clout and exposure being connected to the brand of Black activism and movement, but not that most have departed from their public promises, Black entrepreneurs seeking to build impactful ventures are lumped back into the traditional models of funding and support—which includes tokenizing and the VC quest for the next “unicorn” in tech and business. Former NYC Deputy Mayor and current CEO of Robin Hood Foundation, Richard Buery, Jr., challenges the From Chains to Links community to question whether these standards yield sustainable results, and how bridging imagination with capital interventions helps us build the villages we deserve

The height of the COVID-19 pandemic made folks aware of a very rare fact: our modern understanding of vaccines is because of an underknown man named Onesimus. Sold into slavery and gifted to a Puritan Minister, it was observed that Onesimus was unscathed by ravenous smallpox, taking the lives of colonizers in the late 1700s. Onesimus shared how in his home country on the continent of Africa, they administered an inoculation, which shielded him from the disease. This precursor to the modern-day vaccine would ultimately save countless lives through the American colonies, and that knowledge still saves lives today.From medicine to fashion, violence, theft, and erasure have resulted in Black contributions being intentionally invisible, treating Black communities as foreigners to their own innovations. To add insult to injury, Black culture and indigenous and native ways of being—often an offspring of being and survival—are praised when others adopt and appropriate with no attribution to Black genius. Cultural Sustainability Vanguard Dominique Drakeford explores with From Chains to Links how we ensure that the current and future generations of innovators are able to make their mark—and possess it.

We're celebrating the middle of our launch season with a special conversation with our very own co-host Ifeoma Ike, author of The Equity Mindset. Ifeoma shares why she developed a gumbo of interviews, practical tools, and disruptive strategies to support those invested in building spaces where marginalized communities are ignored and harmed. Providing a vulnerable account of writing with a disability, maneuvering the publishing world, and creating space for underlooked equity architects, Ifeoma's journey is a must for visionaries and entrepreneurs alike seeking to use words to spark change.

Society makes it hard for Black people to imagine liberation or freedom outside of our experience in White America. Because so much of our existence is a product of resistance and survival, even our creative spaces consciously and subconsciously speak to a relationship with oppression or designing solutions to issues Black people didn't create. But if we could imagine a “state of nature” outside of racism or white supremacy—one that does not limit our fullness to narrow, exoticized, or romanticized tropes of our African origins or American journey, but rather pays homage to and embodies them—what might that look like? And how might we reverse-engineer back (or forward) into a fresh and compelling vision for ourselves? From Chains to Links sits with the brilliant Intelligent Mischief team—Aisha Shillingford, Artistic Director, and Terry Marshall, Founder & Executive Creative Director—who share how imagining whole, well-Black-beings is a crucial part of visioning and world-building.

How much do we really credit Black people with the innovation of freedom and liberation? The significance of the Underground Railroad is not only how it freed enslaved Black people, but how leaders like Harriet Tubman and unknown conductors innovated safe, trusting and liberatory pathways and spaces for Black bodies. From Chains to Links is joined by Jeff Lindor Founder, CEO of Gentlemen's Factory, Inc, for a powerful exploration of liberatory practices, the power of spacebuilding, and the ways environment impacts innovation as Black visionaries build out their dreams.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been a staple of corporate America for the past several decades, with peak attention at the height of movements challenging the lack of safety of Black lives post the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020. At an unprecedented rate, Black leadership was visible across industries and as a result, institutions began confronting generations-old practices which created barriers for marginalized communities. But as power concedes nothing, “anti-woke” efforts conspired assaults all the way up to the Supreme Court. Furthermore, many racial justice advocates have long called out the shortcomings of DEI and its cousin affirmative action—neither of which have remedied the second-class citizenry of Black people in America. Thus, our first episode tackles the real question: “what's next for racial justice advancement?”From Chains to Links kicks off with policy expert, professor and Senior Fellow at Brookings Institute, Andre M. Perry, author of the book Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities.