SPACE & TIME

Send us a textWe are all under the same Sun. From Praia to Lagos, so much remains the same. It's always fascinated me how much, from Nigeria to Barbados to Jamaica to Angola to Guinea to Mozambique to Haiti to Senegal to Cape Verde, felt like a simulation. All these black men with the same disposition and mannerisms and bluetooths hanging out of their ear. I can't describe to you how funny all these cultures collectively are to me. Separated but you can't hide the roots. But are real conversations actually happening? Are these black men saying, “I'm going through it right now, I'm really struggling with ____”? Not so much that I've seen. We have to give people permission to be themselves sometimes. To say, “you can say how you actually feel and still be manly.” I guess that's one of my missions here. Anyway, Tomi & I sat down to put it on the line & air some dirty laundry. “You can't ruin a true connection by saying how you feel.” I believe that to my core. “The Brothers” (2001) served as the inspo for this one here, hope you enjoy. -WV 

Send us a text“Finding Love After Love &… A Baby”What does modern dating really sound like? Are we saying what we feel—or just thinking it? Inspired by André 3000's “Where Are My Panties” skit, this episode explores dating dynamics & more. “Where are all three good men?!” I hear women say. Are both genders looking in the same place & for the same things? If you passed your perfect match, would either of you notice? Can love find you again after love…and a baby? The Love Below: The Night Before. Pull up a chair.-WV 

Send us a text"Yeah, I'm Changing" – In a world overflowing with noise, distractions, and expectations, how do you stay focused on your own growth? This episode explores the challenge of evolving while being bombarded by external stimuli—balancing self-work with the chaos of life. Tune in for reflections on change, resilience, and the ongoing journey of becoming.

Send us a textWandering the streets of Providence, where art meets asphalt, "Black Bourdain: The Creative Capital" is a journey through conversation, connection, and the poetry of the everyday. From random run-ins to deep musings, one stranger—a 23-year-old navigating love, loss, and the uneasy road back to romance—reminds us that the city, like the heart, is always under construction.

Send us a textIn this episode, Will & Lu are joined by DJ (Dennis Leggett), co-founder of East33, a creative arts & wellness space in East Providence, RI. We explore the power of accountability in personal and professional growth, discussing how Black men can level up through self-discipline, mentorship, and strategic mindset shifts. Enjoy! Subscribe & Rate the podcast, thanks in advance! Accountability & Growth: How Black Men Can Level Up

Send us a textWhat if every misstep was fate's design,weaving wrongs into what's meant to be?Maybe the universe never gets it wrong—only rearranges destiny.

It's been a journey, very proud of this one and to see how far I've come. I love when I get the urge to go back and listen to a random episode, it's easy to forget why I chose to do this, but on days like that, I remember. It's my therapy, it's one of my creative outlets. Never thought I would have people from different corners of the globe listening to me. Thank you to anyone who has listened or subscribed or rated the podcast, means a lot to me. Leave a message soon, tell me where you are. Thank you to Lu for DP-ing this episode, you didn't know what to make of my abstract directions but you trusted me. What you hear is pure unbridled expression bursting at the seam. I want to put things out that make me nervous a bit. Ok, to the next 50 and beyond!!–Will

Can friends mix business and stay friends? In “Risking It All: Business, Friendship, and the Balancing Act,” we break down five common reasons business with friends fails and five ways to increase chances of success. From setting boundaries to staying accountable, this episode is your guide to balancing partnerships and profits. May the odds be ever in your favor! 

If someone tells you "you're all talk," how does that affect you? Does it? Two black men in white snow talking life and what it means to get out of your own way. Listen up, follow, subscribe, and anything else they say to do that you should do, peace. 

Are you alone or are you lonely? Are you being loving or are you in love? So many things go into being with someone versus not being with anyone. This is just one person's attempt at trying to make some sense of it. Hope you get something from it, enjoy! –Wilson 

Meditation, guided or not, and green noise is something I use just about daily to help me with all the stimuli that comes with daily life. Sit with yourself a bit and hear what there is to be heard. This one was for me. Hope you enjoy, too. 

Take a stroll with Calu (Lu) and myself as we discuss everything from mourning rituals to aliens and what freedom looks like. This one was really fun to make and listen back to. Enjoy! PSA: Rate & Subscribe! 

On this episode I'm joined by my good friend Jordia as we discuss upbringing, art, blackness, adult responsibilities, how we choose to be seen in the world and so much more. Welcome back and enjoy! 

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 1. Empty spaces filled with love & joy, not empty words, please 2. I don't like the same things I liked before 3. As I let go of the need to arrange my life, the universe brings abundant good to me —Deepak Chopra4. There are no wrong notes; some are just more right than others. —Thelonious Monk5. “Stop being so considerate in situations where you aren't even considered” 6. “Not my will, but yours be done” [Jesus after praying to God to see if there was any way to avoid the suffering ahead before submitting] 7. “A mighty struggle between love and its nemesis, fear.” [RIP  AS] 8. “I'm trying to play the truth of what I am. The reason it's difficult is because I'm changing all the time.”  —Charles MingusTHIS EPISODE IS ABOUT THE WILL TO CHANGE AGAINST A SEA OF RESISTANCE. CAN WE ACCEPT NEW VERSIONS THAT CONTRAST ONES WE'VE KNOWN OUR WHOLE LIVES? 

What's the happiest you've ever been? “Are you in love with life & is life loving you back?” What does happiness look like to you? “You have to be ready to lose all illusions of yourself” “If we don't work on ourselves, who are we going to work on?” “To have a new conversation, you have to have a new awareness of who you are.” “Stay away from people who act like a victim in a problem they created..the answer to that is, spend more time with people with whom you have a common future than a common past.” 

1. "My therapist and I walk into a bar..” 2. “I'm not even fully honest with you..” 3. “I didn't know how much I was suffocating in my own space” 4. 11 steps to let go... of the past 5. “Happiness is continuing to desire what we already have” 6. “Alright, fate, whattaya got for me?!” 7. I Am Not My Season. Everything is Still Here. 

Man needs something to keep the hands busy & sustain the soul. I love working with numbers in insurance & real estate but I missed this. My mother further instilled the love of plants present at birth. I always wanted to have a garden à la Vito Corleone & grow plants & even something edible but it seemed daunting at times. Being here & working face to face is something I missed after the pandemic & becoming an entrepreneur. This review made me smile & remember why I wanted to be here. Stop in soon & shop local from a black owned biz. Q designed this sanctuary for everyone & it shows every day. We're just complicated house plants.Come visit us at Emerald City Plant Shop

We spoke to my sister Samantha, who resides in North Carolina and just finished an accelerated program at Elon University to receive her RN, about the journey, all the ups and downs, and the most important question....would she do it again? Tune in to find out. We love you, Sa, and are so proud of you! 

Episode 38 Finds Wilson & Q talking about some of the difficulties surrounding the holidays, but also, some of the good. Learning to love people from afar and some of the ways people show us love versus how we are actually asking them to show it. Listen, rate the show, and leave a comment if you're brave. Ok, enjoy the episode! 

Listen to Q & I's discussion at Emerald City about what it takes to make things & why it's so hard to be consistent & keep making. 

The beginning of a working career and the ending of a life. Life has its rhythm, pay attention to it. The world doesn't stop for any of us but some people will for a brief time to remember the life we lived, make sure you make it worthwhile. Live life! RIP Alejandro Hinojosa 

"In the symphony of distant voices, two strangers embarked on a serendipitous journey through the ethereal wires of connection. Over the subtle hum of the phone line, laughter became the bridge that spanned the gap between their separate worlds. Through the alchemy of conversation, they unraveled tales of life's undulating tapestry – the crests of joy, the troughs of sorrow. Yet, at the heart of it all, a shared realization emerged, as they marveled at the cosmic comedy woven into the fabric of existence. In the realm of unseen threads, their voices merged, crafting a transient harmony that danced through the wires, transcending the distance that once divided them." (thank you to the universe for writing this perfect depiction of what this episode felt like) November 16, 2023

Amiri Baraka was a prominent African American poet, playwright, and political activist known for his contributions to the Black Arts Movement. His work often explored themes of black identity, social justice, and empowerment.Baraka's advocacy for cultural and economic self-determination can provide valuable insights into the importance of financial literacy and economic empowerment for black individuals. Baraka's writings and activism resonate with contemporary efforts to promote financial independence and wealth-building among black communities.This episode serves as a platform to inspire and inform listeners about the critical role of financial empowerment in the pursuit of social and racial justice, drawing inspiration from Amiri Baraka's legacy.#AmiriBaraka #UZADUmoney #financialliteracy

365 little days. But it can change your whole life. This episode is so special to me already and I hope the people that were part of it feel the same. We laughed, we cried, we laughed some more. It's easy to focus on the bad in the world but we must remember that we got love and because of that, we are rich! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone there and some that couldn't be in person, all are deeply appreciated, all my love. –Wilson 

PEACE TO THE PERSECUTED EVERYWHERE. WHY ANARCHY WHEN WE CAN SEE? WHY DESTRUCTION WHEN WE CAN TOUCH? WHY UPHEAVAL WHEN WE CAN FEEL? MAYBE SOMEDAY WE'LL ALL BE FREE.. 

In today's episode, we explore the empowering concept I was given of 'Operating From The F*** You Position.' Tune in as we delve into the mindset and strategies that allow you to approach relationships and interactions from a position where you don't necessarily need the other person. Discover how this perspective can lead to greater self-confidence, authentic connections, and personal growth. Join us for valuable insights and practical tips on navigating life with a newfound sense of self-reliance.

Power to the people. Power to all people. Power to my people. There can never be peace until the past & present injustices are rectified, or at least attempted. The earth will always be unsettled until that day comes. Godspeed, Africa! 

Welcome back, it's been a while but I am excited to be back with a new episode. Join me this week as I explore the intricate balance between making a living and crafting a meaningful life. 

Before I was reduced to sing song, I saw all kinds of mating, most were two-night stands trying to last a season–Tony MorrisonTo some of my teachers in the language: Nikki Giovanni, James Baldwin, Eartha Kitt, Nina Simone, Lauryn Hill, Ruby Davis, Ossie Davis, & Maya Angelou,I thank you. I pray more now to understand than to be understood I pray now to learn how to love than to be loved–Lauryn Hill [intro provided by Sabrina Vaz. Surprise, Sabrina] 

What does that omnipresent term "financial freedom" really mean? It may mean something different to everyone but you must figure out what it is to you. Without the fundamentals in finances, you very well could end up right where you started, or worse. They say most people when they make a buck, they spend 10, we've all been that person, but which of us will change? "I cannot afford to waste my time making money" https://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

Ambient sounds across the Atlantic. I'm satiated with gratitude. Rest in power Virgil, Takeoff, Tyre, and anyone else who left us too soon; guide us home, but not too soon. Just some ideas from my mind, hope you enjoy. –Wilson6:51PM 2/12/23https://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

Join me and one of my oldest and best friends, Julio, as we discuss our friendship, life's ups and downs, business, conflict, how black men should treat one another, and much more. Let's build more. Let's build together. Let's make it pure. Lead with love and unity. Peace. Hope you enjoy.  "Why's it so hard to forgive our own people?" "Why do you think they say don't work with family in our community?" https://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

Below are some of my favorite things I've learned about money, some I wrote, most I didn't, hope you enjoy the episode……..You can acquire money but if you don't know what to do with it and how to grow it then you will find a way to lose it…….. Cause you just have patterns and behaviors and habits that's connected to poverty, not wealth…….. Your money in your hand does not make you wealthy, your mind does. ….People become disengaged when they don't make money …….discipline will bring you the freedom that you want ……if you have nothing to look forward to, you don't have anything to be excited about…….i wanna see the family stronger, i wanna see the money longer ……Most people don't know how to get money, few people know how to keep it …….A broke mind finds excuses, a wealthy mind finds a way………But the money wiping the tears away………To be honest, y'all financial situation's my biggest motivation and how you should take that statement is based on what you makin ……..Understand that those who are offended by wealth will never attain it……The average person pays 40% of their lifetime income in taxes, you're basically working 40% of your life for free………..Conversations changes compensations ……..Take a chance or work for someone who did………We'll waste a whole bunch of time trying to save a little bit of money, we'll waste a whole lot of time, making a little bit of money Stop thinking of this as being moneyIt's just money, I'ma make moreNo, no, no, no, no, noPlease de-condition yourselfIt's not just moneyIt's happinessIt's the difference between happy, being happy and sadIt's the difference between having a home and living on the streetsThat's what it is, it's not just moneyIt's so much more than thathttps://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

It's 1:43AM, December 31st, 2022. I just finished this episode. This one is instantly one of my favorite things I've ever put together. I don't want to say too much more than that. I hope you enjoy this half as much as I enjoyed piecing it together and hearing the final product. I'm so grateful for life, “I swear it by the old gods and the new,” adieu and anew all in one. Welcome 23. https://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

I'm joined on this episode intro by my sister Samantha, we discuss music, top album of the year, at least for myself, scenic routes, keeping friendships as you get older, I read Alex's piece she wrote for me back in the day, Missed Connections, and I set up my car convos with two of my other dear friends, Charlene & Michelle. I know they had no idea what would come of what we made but here's some of it, even if not in entirety, but exactly as it should be, I love you all, thank you!!https://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

Mise en place is a French culinary phrase which means "putting in place" or "gather". It refers to the setup required before cooking. YOU MUST RESPECT PUTTING EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE. ONE OF THE REASONS I STARTED THIS PODCAST IS SO I COULD BRING TO LIFE THE INTIMATE DINNER CONVERSATIONS THAT I'D HAD FOR YEARS WITH MY FRIENDS. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT A TERRIFIC MEAL WITH GREAT CONVERSATION AND OF COURSE A GLASS OF A CAREFULLY SELECTED WINE BOTTLE. EVEN THE MAGIC OF THE KITCHEN WITH SAID GLASS IN HAND WHILE THE MUSIC IS PLAYING AND THE FOOD IS BEING PREPPED AND THE GREAT DIALOGUE HAS ENSUED, IS SOMETHING I CHERISH. THIS IS AN ODE TO THE ROMANCE OF LIFE AND MY ROMANTIC FRIENDS.THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED BACK IN JULY WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS AND WE ENDED UP BEING ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE I'D MET WHO WORKS AT THIS RESTAURANT. I'VE SPOKEN AD NAUSEUM HOW MUCH ANTHONY BOURDAIN ENHANCED MY LOVE OF MOST OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: WRITING, TRAVELING, CONVERSING, AND MOVIES. WE COVER LOVE, MONEY, RACISM, AND MUCH MORE. I'LL SEE YOU AT THE CHEF'S TABLE. For a dinner date, I eat light all day to save room, then I go all in: I choose this meal and this order, and I choose you, the person across from me, to share it with. There's a beautiful intimacy in a meal like that. —Anthony Bourdainhttps://www.instagram.com/uza.du/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2FD44WiAwmCdFpthILc53A

Who & what is God to you? How does God talk to you? Is it through a number, a billboard, a song, or perhaps a TikTok. Is God in all the things you are connected to most in this world? Does God have a gender? Does your life path number bring you closer to God? What color is your Jesus? Join us as we tackle these lighthearted dinner convos for all to hear and think about what they think. Godspeed. We seek out  God to give language to things we don't understand. We can understand but not fully comprehend loss. One year removed, we love you and miss you daily, I hope you're proud of us. Forever in our hearts. Andreza Barbosa Amado Semedo 

In the bio of the podcast, it talks about how one of our main driving forces is the disparity that exists between the African-American community and others. While the issues have persisted for far too long and have been tackled from those far more qualified, we think it's important for all of us to have these conversations, and have them often; if we are going to make headway. The title is derived from W.E.B. Du Bois' seminal book, The Souls of Black Folk, which was a pivotal moment for the study of Black people in America. The health of the African-American community is an epidemic and we have to have honest conversations about it, so if we offended you in any way, we meant every word. Hope you enjoy, see you next episode.

We talk about this in the episode, but friendship relationships aren't regarded with the same seriousness as romantic relationships and that's a shame, cause it has the potential to hurt us just as bad when it goes wrong. Add “Black” to the conversation and it takes a different angle. This is just two friends hashing out their past mistakes and trying to find ways to maintain connectivity and rise above what they've been taught and become. What does therapy mean in the black community? I want to be conformed to love Show me what to do againShow me how to win your loveI want to be conformed to loveSo I can perform loveI want to be conformed to loveSo I can make more loveI want to be pure pure loveSo I can restore loveSo I can make more love–Ms. Lauryn Hill [Conform to Love]

I take great pride in planning birthday gatherings, in many ways, not just to commemorate another year of life, but to celebrate the people who currently hold space in my life, it's always interesting to see how the personnel shifts in some ways and remains constant in others. Some months back I first told a couple of the friends you'll hear on this episode about this Japanese term that I loved, Ichigo Ichie, often translated as "for this time only, never again," the idea of cherishing the uniqueness of each gathering because even if the same cast is reassembled, the moment will always be different; I touch on this at some point in this episode also and hearing it back makes me really appreciate this notion even more. I hope the day finds you and keeps you well. Hope you enjoy. Talk soon. -Wilson 

We must each find our way to cope in this world. All living things will transition into another form. Mourn and honor and proceed, you have no choice. We need to hold space for our past selves, there is much to learn from them. We share years and beds with people who we consider dead to us when it's over. I hate that. Love hard and try to remember harder and make art. ________________________________‘ Long ago, it must be I have a photograph Preserve your memories They're all that's left you ‘ Dipset aka Dippy 10/17/07 – 10/17/22

I saw something recently about us spending most of our adult lives un-learning things we were taught by people who didn't know much about said thing. I don't know if any of this holds true more than the subject of money. They said if you are born in extreme poverty, that you have a 4% chance of making it out of it. The first thing you must change is your mind or it doesn't matter how much money you make, you will be broke again and again. How much does not going through the same things you saw/see people going through mean to you? You will earn exactly how much you deserve is what a colleague says. Do you agree with this? "Most people, if they make a buck, they spend 10" #money #malcolmx #martinlutherking

TOPICS: -D.C. & Atlanta -North Carolina -Predominantly black locations -Brother Harold -Shadow-banned -Farrakhan -Nas (untitled) -John Lennon -“Free speech” -“We Are Victims of Genocide (reading) -Depopulation -Muammar Gaddafi-AIDS pandemic in Africa & black community -Slavery -Haiti paying reparations to France -African artifacts in European countries Brother Don Muhammad told the minister about the presentation / He sat back and smiled / Black on black lies is worse than black on black crime / The Jews share their truth on how to make a dime / Most black men couldn't balance a checkbook / But buy a new car talking 'bout "how my neck look?" / Well, it all looks great / 400 years later we buyin' our own chains–Saint Pablo  (Ye) 

You can hear one of my kindreds and I wax poetic about sustainable fashion, the importance of the # 7, the color orange, Kanye, black esteem, and much more. Keep people around you that assist you with your dreams. Who's holding you accountable? Find out what you want in this life and figure out the price you're willing to pay for it. Only good things.#sustainablefashion #kanye #fashion 

i & i “Ethiopia shall soon stretch forth its hands unto God" (Psalm 68:31)they buried our kings and tried to burn the books. they betrayed Garvey for rice and peas. truth in this world is a dangerous thing. i feel an immense responsibility. overstand and relay. these people breathed life into me, i just want to do the same for their memory. one of the greatest orators the world has known, i thank you for all you did for us, i strive to speak with any semblance of your passion, one love! –WVbody and mind in oneness with soul. i & i. But my hand was made strong By the hand of the almighty We forward in this generation Triumphantly None but ourselves can free our minds Cause all i ever have redemption songs —Robert Nesta Marley “BE black. buy black. think BLACK. and all else will take care of itself”    #MarcusGarvey 

I shot this episode last month at my uncle's place, 574 Restaurant & Lounge, with the help of my cousin, Cindy, thank you. In the episode we cover fear and what it does to hopes and dreams. We talk about the cemetery being filled with all the unrealized ambitions of people who thought they had more time. I need to do all the things I want to do, to be fully used up, to be UZADU. If we cross paths and you help me in any form, thank you in advance. All praises to Dick Gregory, your existence was a gift to mankind. Give the episode a listen and share it if it's somewhat helpful in any way. I just want to create good while I'm here. God is a woman. If we're throwing pronouns at divinity. That's it. Good day. [rate and review if you haven't already, thank you kindly]

do you create and release? i'm trying to be better with that. i once read: "if the plane goes down, i want my hard drives with me, no one will be putting out a lame posthumous album." do you agree? i do but not sure, i'd want the right person to interpret my work but therein lies the dilemma. to the ones who earnestly inquired about new episodes, i appreciate you. i'm always creating, the issue is the final product and release. welcome back. send me things you've made. be well. –Wilson 

[Dedicated to King Qudus Kafo]Our parents will never hear who we truly are when we're with our friends. They'd shutter and scoff at the posture. Feel fright of the monster. They forget they were us one day. And we'll do the same someday. Who will keep our stories alive? The nights we look unrecognizable to our responsible future selves? They shake their heads but we act like black is the only thing that matters in fact. Listening to Mobb Deep brought me comfort, they wouldn't expect that. “What up, Black, hold your head wherever you at,” I can't hear that line without thinking of you, and I always told you, too. Show the culture. I speak truth cause that's what I saw in you. I descended upon this land and asked them to help with your ascension. This life thing is just the dash in between arriving & departing they said, you made it look really good while in it; transition easy, beloved. and what of all my wild friends / and the times i've had w them / we'll all fade to grey soon on the tv stationQudus Kafo May 31, 1985 — Jan 24, 2022voice credits: Julio Goncalves, Edson Evora, Jerome Fonseca, Qudus Kafo 

Many of us grew up thinking that certain moments needed to be respected in a very strict way. They can't be tarnished with “insensitivities” that show a lack of respect. The epitome of this surrounded death and the processes that proceeds it. The older I get, the more I realize how archaic and unfounded much of these things are. My maternal grandmother passed away on November 27 and it's been beyond difficult as expected. But the time we had to grieve her even before she left has allowed us to cope in a way we wouldn't have otherwise. And as close as we already were, it has brought our main tribe that much closer together. I'm eternally grateful that I grabbed my camera and mic and whatever else I needed to capture moments that will allow me to keep the spirit of this singular woman alive. I wanted to do something that honored her correctly. Us not  mentioning our departed makes us hurt much more than we have to, let's speak and sing about them. Like I heard one time: “no one comes out of this alive.” So live a life worth being remembered; Mama certainly did that, and we'll spend the rest of ours thanking her for it. Andreza Barbosa Amado Semedo2/4/41  – 11/27/21

no fear. no fear.‘it's frustrating when you just can't express yourself / and it's hard to trust enough to undress yourself / stand exposed and naked / in a world full of hatred' [Better In Tune With the Infinite, Jay Electronica] i think about these lyrics as i release this episode. i release this just as i see myself, the way i let my mind wander and it says exactly what i want to in the end. without fear of judgment. without too much editing to be more palatable. come as you are. thank you to every single person who lent their effort to this one; let us meet again in late October. 

London, 1971“The artist is not free to do what he wants to do, the artist is free to do what he has to do” – JBJimmy Baldwin & Nikki Giovanni in conversation has always been one of my favorite things. As the great Donny Hathaway put it before covering Superwoman by Stevie Wonder: “from the black pool of genius.” And that's exactly how I feel about these two. Like I talk about in the intro, if you put yourself out in the world just as you see it and feel it, you'll always find an audience, step out on fear. That price paid for us that Baldwin talks about is never lost on me. Learn yourself and change yourself, I'm trying. Below is Giovanni's words that pierced my soul from the first time heard. “Because I love you, I get least of you, I get the very minimum”