konversations

Serving up food, heritage and culture. Toriano Fredericks, owner of Euro-African restaurant Boricua Soul, speaks with Tobias Rose about the challenges of owning and operating a restaurant. Learn how Boricua Soul pivoted their business in March 2020, the lessons Fredericks has learned so far as a restaurant owner and his beliefs about the future of the restaurant business. We also hear the story of how Boricua Soul came to be, their values as a family-run business and their journey to owning a brick and mortar in the historic American Tobacco Campus in Downtown Durham, North Carolina. 

Biostatistician by day and festival runner by night! Cicely Mitchell, artistic director of SummerStage at Golden Belt Campus, sits down with Tobias Rose to discuss how she turned her passion for jazz music and art into the Art Of Cool Festival in downtown Durham. Mitchell shares how her idea for a small jazz event became  a major festival featuring artists like Anderson Paak. Mitchell also shares her journey as an HBCU alum and how it has impacted her career. Finally, hear how 2020 allowed her to pause and her thoughts about the future of music festivals. 

Creating space for community is harder than it sounds. Tobias Rose and Erin Kauffman, executive director of Durham Central Park, discuss the challenges of retaining the Park's identity while Downtown Durham continues to experience gentrification. In March 2020, the Park faced its biggest challenge yet from the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about the Park's pandemic pivot, including significant changes to how they budget, fundraise and host events. Wrap up with Kauffman's words of wisdom as a nonprofit leader and her vision for the future of the Park.

How did higher education adapt to the societal changes caused by the pandemic?  Michael J. Schoenfeld, vice president of public affairs and government relations at Duke University, sits down with Tobias Rose to discuss how it felt to manage a global brand during a worldwide health crisis. Schoenfeld shares how his team navigated decision-making during this time and his thoughts on the unexpected division caused by mask mandates. Schoenfeld also speculates about the lasting impact of the pandemic and the truths it has revealed about human nature.

From learning how to teach virtually to caring for the mental health of our young people, teachers are the unsung heroes of the pandemic. Caroline Brickhouse, 2021 Durham Public School teacher of the year, joins Tobias Rose to discuss the challenges of primary education during the pandemic. We also hear her thoughts on returning to the classroom and the unexpected involvement of politics. Teaching digital native students, Brickhouse also speaks about her efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation in the classroom. 

Traveling during a global pandemic? Tobias Rose speaks with Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority CEO Michael Landguth about how he managed one of the top 10 large airports in North America during the pandemic lockdown. Hear Landguth's thoughts about the future of the airport industry and some of the business innovations that he believes will remain post-pandemic. Learn about his journey to airport CEO and hear why he believes airports are economic engines in our society.

How do you approach music from a business standpoint? As an entrepreneur, musician and writer, Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo is the epitome of a one man band. Since becoming friends in 2005, he and Tobias Rose have been thought collaborators on entrepreneurship and hip hop. Hear Skyzoo's unique approach to the business of music and how he continues to pursue the music he wants to make. He also discusses how he pivoted his business during the pandemic, including increasing his streaming efforts and building a studio in his basement. Skyzoo speaks about the future of the music industry and the making of his most recent album “All the Brilliant Things.”

Fighting with love for social, economic and environmental justice for all Durham residents. Durham City Council Member DeDreana Freeman sits down with Tobias Rose to discuss how it felt to govern the City of Durham during a pandemic. They look to the future by discussing the long-term effects of the pandemic on cities and predicting what Durham will look like in 2040. Freeman also provides insight into her personal journey in politics and hopes for the Durham community she represents.

In this episode we talk about Durham's housing crisis and the politics around it. John White is a former lobbyist based in Durham and has participated in multiple political campaigns. Kristi is a business consultant who is currently working in the cannabis industry on legislation. 

Dubelyoo and Tobias sit down again to discuss their perspectives on the future and the role of the artist in diversity and inclusion. 

This one starts in the middle of our intros (we were live baby...).

*Recorded from a Live Broadcast and a Studio Audience: Tobias Rose and Maseo from De La Soul hold a live broadcast of konversations from Durham, North Carolina at WeWork on Black Wall Street. Their conversation covers a range of topics from music, business and cultural intellect.

Phonte of the Foreign Exchange sits with Tobias Rose to discuss everything from HBCUs to spirituality and the creative process.