Local Color: A Baltimore Podcast

Host Jason V. sits down with guests Nic Koski of Common Ground Coffee Shop and Will Swanson of MOM's grocery store for a live show recorded at Red Emma's in Baltimore. If you've been keeping up with local and national news, you'll know there's a huge wave of activity surrounding labor and unions. On this episode, you'll hear two local stories of workers' efforts and their results.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore City Councilman Eric Costello of the 11th District moved to Baltimore after finishing school in upstate New York and worked for the General Accountability Office as an IT analyst. After a stint as President of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, Costello combined his analyst background with his passion for service to make a successful bid for City Council.   Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born and raised in West Baltimore just steps away from Penn-North, State Senator Antonio Hayes was a civil servant before he began serving the state of Maryland in earnest. The longer he worked to better the lives of the people in the 40th District, the more they trusted him to do so. As a state senator, he works alongside other governing bodies to make Baltimore and Maryland a more wonderful place to live. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason V. concludes the two part series with Kirk Shannon Butts, Curation and Public Art Manager of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts. In Part 2 of his interview, Kirk discusses his return to Baltimore, advice for artists looking to “please” others, recent projects and exciting new projects on the horizon.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On an all new episode of Local Color, host Jason V sits down with Kirk Shannon Butts, Curation and Public Art Manager of the Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts. A fixture of Baltimore's arts scene, if you're at a trendy art opening for one of Charm City's next big artists, chances are Kirk is the curator. To some he's a friend and colleague; but to many in Baltimore, he's the mentor that pushes them to be their best selves, keep honing their craft, and tell their story with authenticity. This is Part 1 of a two part series! Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore City Councilwoman Odette T. Ramos of the “Fabulous 14th” District talks about her path to City Council, the highs and lows of civil service and how residents can and should work with the Baltimore City Council to realize goals for their community. Ramos also discusses current events, like the ongoing BGE controversies, and her support for Hampden's Common Ground Workers. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artist Brian Bailey's trajectory in the art world is one many aspiring creatives would envy. A little over a year after pursuing his passion, he's monetized his talent, secured PR representation and his calendar is consistently booked for events he's hosting, or events where he's the talent. But behind his success is the relatable story of setbacks, doubts and soul searching, all in the pursuit of artistic expression.   Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Jason V. hosts a panel discussion with Dr. Johnny Graham of Howard University and Vic Carter of WJZ 13 about the history of Juneteenth, its impact on Black American culture and the state of Black business and commerce in Baltimore City at the Juneteenth Luncheon at The Center Club Baltimore. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria Buggs is an award winning nurse, entrepreneur and two time combat veteran. Victoria grew up in Gary, Indiana, and at 18 decided to serve her country and joined the armed forces. After an honorable discharge from a celebrated 20 year career in the military, she opened the Center for Health Educators and Safety Specialists, providing courses and certifications on CPR, AED and other life saving training. Victoria believes anyone and everyone should know life saving skills, and though she's no longer in uniform, she continually dedicates herself to public service. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelli Redmond Bagby of Mova Nature Juice Bar discusses her early life in Baltimore City, the painful life event that lead her to healthy eating and why salads and fresh pressed juices are more similar than they are different. *This episode is branded content for Tastewise Kids, and features ads as well as a brief interview with Linda Richardson, Development Director of Tastewise Kids. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason V. talks with entrepreneur Tony Jia. When he was young, Tony's parents moved from Beijing, China to North America, living first in Vancouver, Canada then putting down roots in Fairfax County, Virginia. As those roots took hold, so did the idea of entrepreneurship take hold in Tony's mind. Using his passion for building things and the spirit of his business-minded father, Tony took the less traveled path to find himself and build businesses that protect and celebrate Asian identity.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonya Miller Hall is currently Senior Advisor of Arts and Culture in the Baltimore Mayor's Office. Tonya returned home to Baltimore after building a PR career in New York City. Though NYC gave Tonya many professional experiences, coming home to Charm City gave her one experience she never expected — her name in the local paper. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason V.'s conversation continues with brothers Donta and Will Henson, the founders of Los Hermanos Tequila. The brothers had each taken a different path in life, but they shared a love of tequila. The pandemic brought them back together, and they decided to turn their passion into a business. They named their tequila brand after the unbreakable bond of their brotherhood. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brothers Donta and Will Henson are the founders of Los Hermanos Tequila. They'd each taken a different path in life, but they shared a love of tequila. The pandemic brought them back together, and they decided to turn their passion into a business, naming their tequila brand after the unbreakable bond of their brotherhood. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DaQuan Brown, founder of Woo's Miracle Moss, learned about sea moss while researching holistic medicine to help his grandmother recover after a surgical procedure. He took his knowledge of the subject and turned it into a business, where he packages and sells sea moss and educates clients on alternative medicine. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Names hold power in our lives, and life has a weird way of moving in a circle. For A'Lelia Bundles, her name shaped her life, and in turn, her life circled back to her name. She's the great great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, but it was something she kept to herself because she wanted to be her own person. In this revisited conversation, listen as we talk about A'Lelia's childhood in Indianapolis, making her own way in media and journalism, and how from graduate school to the present day, A'Lelia carries and protects the stories of her ancestors as well as her own story. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fran Ngong worked in corporate America and suffered from venous insufficiency and extremely dry skin. After discovering shea butter, Fran decided to start a business, Fran's Organic Bodycare, that shares the wealth of “good health” with the world. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Jason V. sits down with Elizabeth Byler, founder of Eden Environments. Listen as Elizabeth talks about the culture shock of moving to the U.S. from East Africa, their inspiration to start their own business, and the “invisible” world of size inclusive and trauma informed interior design. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the year comes to a close, I want to replay my interview with (now outgoing) Your Public Radio President and CEO, LaFontaine E. Oliver. In January 2023, he'll join New York Public Radio as their President and CEO. I want to personally thank LaFontaine (among others who are current and former WYPR employees) for taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to distribute my podcast through Your Public Studios. It's already led to great opportunities and from an analytics standpoint...things are looking up! I'm hard at work on new episodes and ideas for 2023. Happy (almost) New Year! Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason V. talks with Lisa Snowden, founder and editor in chief of The Baltimore Beat, a Black owned and operated nonprofit newspaper. Lisa grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, and after receiving her degree in journalism, she started her career on TV Hill. After years of honing her craft including a stint in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lisa launched, then re-launched, The Baltimore Beat to provide local Black stories by local Black journalists, in an industry that routinely struggles with representation in the newsroom.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore rapper and singer Beth Banger channels her inner “fire sign” to bring listeners fresh and engaging music and lyrics. Her most recent project, It Girl, completes a trifecta of albums that were made during pivotal moments in her life.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media comedian Nkunim Owusu started making comedy videos to send to friends, and they encouraged him to share his talents with the world. When one of his videos got more than 24 million views on TikTok, he decided to continue making content. Nkunim's unique brand of comedy touches on anime, video games, and sports - all centered around the Black experience.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Jason talks with Cara Sabin, CEO of Sundial Brands, a Unilever company. They discuss Cara's adventures in marketing and how her role as CEO factors into the operation of the Madam by CJW haircare brand. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entrepreneur and "attorney in recovery” Tashira Halyard of Politics and Fashion talks about her early days hustling in the world of law, explains why she had to break the cycle of putting everything before her health, and she drops some gems for those looking to scratch the itch of entrepreneurship. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology has a weird way of slowly pushing us to a future we'd only see in sci-fi movies as kids, while still maintaining and rooting us in tradition. For hundreds of  years ailing people sought the help of energy healers, traveling far and wide to seek healing from “experts.” Nowadays a Google search or YouTube video can bring you the same relief our ancestors risked their lives to receive. Enter Jessica “Jet” LaShea, who runs “Reiki Healing Hope," a Reiki and ASMR YouTube channel with over 23 million views to date. Listen as the Arlington native talks about her life growing up in Virginia, the winding path she took to get where she is today, and why she thinks more than ever, Black people are comfortable seeking and practicing more traditional and esoteric forms of worship.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Names hold power in our lives, and life has a weird way of moving in a circle. For A'Lelia Bundles, her name shaped her life, and in turn, her life circled back to her name. She's the great-great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker, but she kept that to herself because she wanted to be her own person. Listen as we talk about A'Lelia's childhood in Indianapolis, making her own way in media and journalism, and how from graduate school to the present day, A'Lelia carries and protects the stories of her ancestors and her own story as well. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This interview is the result of running into Jerome at the Juneteenth pop-up in Reservoir Hill. Think of it as a follow up to his first interview with the podcast back in 2020. If you haven't listened to that episode, go back and check it out so you can get the full picture and see the evolution of Jerome as an artist and as a man. On this episode, we talk about self-exploration, the blurred lines of a brand and an identity and about Jerome's upcoming solo exhibition, “It'll All Make Sense.” Be sure to check out “It'll All Make Sense,” from September 1st to October 2nd at The Alchemy of Art, 1637 Eastern Ave. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ada Pinkston has been a mainstay in Baltimore's arts scene for quite some time now. She's got the CV, performance pedigree, and enough Ws in the “grants received” column to stand next to anyone in the DMV that calls themselves an “artist.” Listen as Ada talks about her childhood and travels all over the country, what influenced her move to Baltimore and why she stayed, advice for would-be grant applicants, and much more! Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every once in a while you meet someone that has an infectious energy to them. They live life passionately, and when you interact with them you can't help but catch the fever and believe anything is possible. Maurice is one of those individuals, one with so much energy I could feel it through our Zoom interview. Listen as he talks about growing up in the city and county (then city again), the highs and lows of attending a prestigious HBCU, and how Maurice finds solace in internet memes, social media, and hip hop.  Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vision, passion, and love are three flames of the same fire that burns inside us. In order to have vision you must be passionate and love what you're doing; in order to love you must be passionate and have vision for a long term commitment. Passion is something that you can't manufacture, and the vision and love for fashion design is what Yele passionately puts into her creations at Yelestitches. Listen as she talks about moving from Nigeria to Baltimore, how early success motivates her to work harder, and some words about the DMV's entrepreneur scene. Local Color is hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the country took one shameful, regressive step back to a time when anyone who wasn't a white man was a second class citizen. I typically have levity for most situations but in just one afternoon the Supreme Court snatched away a woman's rights and bodily autonomy. Several states across the nation have trigger laws that are now active, making a woman's choice with her body illegal. I'm privileged enough to live in a state that views women's rights as human rights...but the overturning of Roe v. Wade will have economic and systemic effects that ripple through our communities. I could go on at length about my disappointment in my elected officials and how they've failed all of us, but instead I turn to the grassroots organizers and activists who've quietly done the work for the sake of empowering their community. Tanay Lynn Harris is an activist that's dedicated her life to reproductive justice. Listen as we talk about her first exposure to the (lack of) reproductive justice in the U.S., how activism before social media had a little more accountability, and her co-founding of The Bloom Collective, a network dedicated to holistic and culturally competent reproductive and familial care. Local Coloris hosted and produced by Jason V. and is distributed by Your Public Studios. The views expressed are solely Jason V.'s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all have life experiences that are direct results of our actions and choices, and others that seem unrelated but when you think hard enough, you find the connection from a choice made ages ago. People also come into and leave our lives depending on those choices, and my guest Lindsey Brown had someone extremely special come into her life and leave just as quickly. Listen to her story and decide for yourself...were they a guardian angel? A serial entrepreneur looking to help the next generation of bootstrappers? Or just a helping hand when someone needed it most? Whatever the case, the Newark native has an amazing story to tell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you follow the podcast on Instagram you'll know I got food poisoning after returning from my honeymoon….ironic right? While I regain my strength and put the finishing touches on the next episode, I'm rebroadcasting my episode with pastry chef and entrepreneur Amanda Mack. Enjoy!

At long last, I got the chance to catch up with Josh Stokes about 3 years after our first interview. In that time he's released new projects, one of them produced entirely in his mobile recording studio. In 2022, Josh is focused on making more meaningful connections with his audience, and gearing up for a feat of strength for any performing artist: going on tour.

Paris Brown always had an eye for opportunities community and collaboration, and she uses those skills everyday as Associate Publisher for The Baltimore Times. The hyper local newspaper has been around for decades and boasts a circulation in the tens of thousands, in a time when digital media dominates. Listen as we talk about Paris's childhood in New York, her HBCU experience, and the history of The Baltimore Times. Break music: eu-IV

Simone is the founder of Charm City Table, one of Baltimore's wildly successful food blogs. Back before food blogging was a viable income stream, Simone just enjoyed happy hour with friends and taking pictures of the delectable plates of food. Eventually she started documenting her adventures, and now CCT boasts nearly 100k followers on Instagram. Listen as Simone talks about the ins and outs of the foodie/blogger industry, her brutally honest take on a business she knows can do better, and why she "unbiased" reviews aren't her approach to her work.

How many museums do you think are in the United States? What about the most prevalent type of museum? I assure you the answer to both of these questions will astound you, and those answers are provided by my guest Dr. Schroeder Cherry. In addition to his work in museum education and preservation, Dr. Cherry is a painter and puppeteer. We talk about his childhood growing up in Washington, DC, how his love for puppets predates Sesame Street, and the bright future of Baltimore's arts scene.

This is the first episode I'm releasing with WYPR's new podcast platform Your Public Studios and I couldn't have asked for a better guest. If you've been listening for a while you'll know I'm a big fan of anime and videogames, and Twitch streamer and cosplayer Nicki Nanami matches my nerd energy. We talk about life for Nicki in both of those worlds, prioritizing mental health over the social media rat race, and what inspires her to continue to build her brand in the face of online trolls.

Join Jason V. for Local Color, a podcast distributed by Your Public Studios. Local Color is dedicated to telling the stories of Black artists, business owners, and community leaders in Baltimore City and in the DMV. If you're looking for insightful interviews, heartfelt stories, and sometimes a good laugh, this is the podcast for you. Listen to Local Color on March 23 and every other Wednesday after that. Available wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 101 marks the beginning of a new journey for the podcast. First and foremost, I'm publishing on Wednesdays now :D Second, I'm partnering with Baltimore's NPR station, 88.1 WYPR who will distribute the podcast on their digital platform, "Your Public Studios". Before my first episode is "officially" launched on the platform, I had the opportunity to talk to WYPR's President and General Manager, Lafontaine Oliver (thanks Jamyla!). He talks about growing up in southeast DC, climbing the ranks of commercial and public radio, and we also talk about the goal of their podcast platform, and how my and other locally produced podcasts will help achieve that goal.

This episode marks two major milestones for the podcast. First and foremost, it's my 100th episode! The release of this episode completes my "Road to 100" challenge I started over a year ago. The second milestone, the release of this podcast comes with the news that I have partnered with 88.1 WYPR to distribute the podcast on their network, Your Public Studios. The content of the podcast will stay the same, but things will inevitably change so I can bring you consistent, and consistently quality content. Thank you to everyone who has been a guest, gave me advice and helped me along the way! Stephen Towns is your quintessential "small town boy" who moved to the big city. His hometown of Lincolnville, South Carolina has a population of less than 1500, according to the 2020 Census. Sick of working retail and factory jobs, Stephen moved from his hometown to Columbia, then to DC and finally to Baltimore to find work. Along the way Stephen found himself in his art, and celebrates the divinity and perseverance in the African diaspora in all of his work.

We've all met Ernest Shaw before. Multiple times in fact, the thing is a lot of people don't KNOW that they've met him. They've met him the way they've met Tom Miller, Megan Lewis, McKinley Wallace, and countless others in Baltimore City. You've walked, driven, and in other manners passed by murals that were painted by Ernest, murals that in my opinion immortalize his contributions to Charm City. Listen as we talk about the good and bad of 70s and 80s Baltimore, his encyclopedic knowledge of West African culture and its connections to Black American culture, and the importance of creativity as an image maker and an educator.

Starting the new year off right with a brand new episode of the podcast! Ucheoma is a digital artist and creator of the web series Vibe Check. It's all about checking in with yourself, de-calcifying your 3rd eye, and the eternal battle between good and geese. Because geese are evil. We also talk about Uche's childhood, how he got into art, and when he was at a crossroads in his life, the universe sent him not one but TWO messages to follow his heart. Episode art: Ucheoma Uzosike (IG: @ucheomaaa)

It's been a while since I've looked outside of Charm City for a guest, and after months of following Tynesha (tie-neesha) on IG, I decided to reach out for an interview. They're from Norfolk, VA, about 30 minutes from Virginia Beach. Norfolk is about a 4 hour drive from Baltimore, and the military town has its own culture and vibe. Listen as we talk about Tynesha's childhood in Norfolk, her ventures up north for college, the hustle it took to keep the lights on, and working with the biggest names in media.

Audio from the live show with me, MTR Network's Rob Lee and Thomas James, local legend and culture protector. We discuss the work that went into curating "Repercussions", an exhibition of abstract black art. We also talk about the genre of art itself and how it fits into the African diaspora. Enjoy!

It's been scientifically studied (and proven) that being in nature, hearing nature "sounds" and feeling sunlight on your skin helps elevate your mood and is good for your mental health. Couple that with a nice hike to get the heart rate going, and I guarantee you'll feel better after only an hour outdoors. Justin Tucker aka Trailhead Justin probably spends more of his day outdoors than indoors, going on day hikes, riding bikes through trails, kayaking....if it's outdoors, he's interested. Listen as he talks about growing up in Woodlawn (and why he feels that area is purposefully "neglected" by the state), the complete 180 he made when he was living in New York and working in fashion, how he got into the "outdoors" lifestyle, and the impact BIPOC collaboration has on opening up the lifestyle for others.

Otis Glenn is a native of East Baltimore, DDH to be exact. It's a term I've heard a few times, and when I sat down with the owner of Therapy BRND (a mental health focused clothing brand) we talked about the origins of the term. We also talk about the pivotal moments in Otis's life that lead to him starting his clothing line, the importance of continuing acceptance of mental health issues (and wellness) in the black community, anime (which seems to be a running theme as of late). and advice for those wanting to start their own clothing line.

Though her stage name is synonymous with Baltimore's music and arts scenes, DJ Trillnatured (real name Jess Hyman) wasn't always a party dog, or even a DJ. In fact as she tells it, she had to FORCE herself to be more outgoing during her teens and early 20s. DJing became a creative outlet for the love of music that churned inside her, and it's allowed her to give back to her community. Listen as Jess talks about growing up in Harford County, the reason why she made the decision to "step out" socially, and why the most important thing for her....was learning how to count.

When you close your eyes and think of the word "archive"....what do you see? Maybe grainy black and white films, or sitting in front of a microfiche machine scrolling through old periodicals. More importantly, what do you feel? Looking back at any institution's history is bound to stir up negative feelings, but that isn't the goal of archivist and photographer Deyane (Dee-yawn) Moses. A 7 year veteran of the US military, what began as a longing for a connection to her Carribean heritage and culture put Deyane on a path of exploration and discovery of the spotted history of Maryland's most celebrated art school. Listen as she talks about her anger at being denied the knowledge of her family's history, the struggles (and bright spots) of her time in the military, and her journey from servicemember to an MFA graduate of MICA, all while putting the school's history under a microscope.

If you tried to describe Joyell Arvella in two words, I'd say it's impossible. It's impossible to fit all of the travelling, experiences good and bad, selflessness and dedication to impact into a two word description of Joyell. But if you HAD to describe her in two words, like for some weird reason it's a hypothetical life or death situation? For me, only two words come to mind: incredibly compassionate. Though, Joyell admits: some times she wishes she could turn her empathy off.

Jackie Downs works at the Baltimore Office of Promotions and Arts as the Arts Council Director. I'd tell you what that means, but then you wouldn't listen to the episode and you should. Why? Because the Queens, New York native tells great stories from growing up in the Big Apple, how much she DISLIKED the career she went to college for, and as someone who has worked in both Baltimore and Washington D.C., the cultural differences that help and hinder the D and the M in the DMV.