The Invisible Men

This week, Ian and Nique are joined by Dr. Irvin Scott – director of the Leadership Institute for Faith and Education at Harvard University and former deputy director for K-12 education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with over twenty years of experience working as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and chief academic officer. Dr. Scott describes the core elements of what it means to raise three African-American boys: Bibles, books, and balls – all of which transcend race and help affirm one's place in the world. Dr. Scott believes fatherhood is critical to human flourishing and explains that policymakers need to address what is causing the absences of fathers, particularly in African-American communities. Watch the full episode to hear the impact that a ninth-grade English assignment had on his academic development and to hear his words of advice to “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: www.invisible.men

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Shelby Steele – author, columnist, documentary maker, and Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Shelby shares how growing up in the milieu of the civil rights movement caused him to be intellectually engrossed in debates about race and America from an early age. His father, despite lacking even a high education himself, pushed Shelby to believe that black people could overcome barriers and achieve great things in life with the right opportunities and the proper attitude. Later, Shelby describes how white guilt – the idea that white people today are guilty of all past historical injustices – is the most powerful force in western culture. Watch the full episode to hear Shelby describe the impact this has on black America and to hear his words of advice to “Darryl.”

In this special episode, Ian and Nique engage in a one-on-one conversation about key takeaways from the Tokyo Olympics. They also share their reaction to a recent bill signed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown that eliminates the need for students to test proficient in reading, writing, and math in order to graduate high school. Their discussion centers around “Darryl's” likely reaction to both events. Watch the full episode to hear how Ian and Nique would explain these events to “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by James Hill — software development architect, entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, and inventor of a new crypto technology called BracketChain. James and his wife started a company in 2014 called Alambda systems, a successful venture that currently has partnerships with Boeing, Microsoft, and Peraton. James runs a software-developing academy and focuses his efforts toward helping implement traditional approaches of investing, like short-selling, by using crypto technology. James shares how his upbringing in a majority white neighborhood inspired him to “bulldoze through” any misguided racial stereotypes and fueled his desire to succeed in both technology and business. Watch the full episode to hear James describe the impact that a summer job had on his personal development and to hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Scott Hilton-Clarke — the founder of Inspiration Laboratories, a firm devoted to inspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives to step into their greatness and realize their visions for the future. Scott is a Founding Member of the Board of Governors for the University of Trinidad and Tobago and a graduate of Harvard Business School. He has spent over 25 years helping companies raise their levels of impact through cultivating leadership acumen and enhancing workplace synergy one department, one manager, one contributor at a time. Scott's passions go beyond the workplace. He imagines a world where children are encouraged to dream and cultivate their own greatness so they can confidently bring what makes them extraordinary to the world. Watch the full episode to hear Scott describe how a near-death experience shaped his perspective and to hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Barry Johnson — the chairman and founder of Bedowin360 Capital with over thirty years of experience spanning Wall Street, Media, and the Obama Administration. Barry shares how his experience of growing up in segregated Alabama during the 1960s “living a foot in two worlds” shaped his path toward becoming a “possibilitist”— someone who uses his or her appreciation for human difference to celebrate the prospect of future opportunities. Originally on track to become a professional violinist, Barry switched gears and attended Yale University after a friend explained that he could share stories using his art in ways that do not necessarily appear to be about art. Following a few years on Wall Street, Barry attended Harvard Business School where he wondered what would happen if he intersected his business training with the world of story-telling. This sparked his beginning at The Walt Disney Company and later at Black Entertainment Television as President of a Microsoft joint venture. Watch the full episode to hear Barry describe why “the journey of life” is about being content with not always knowing what comes next, and to hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

Join Ian and Nique this week for the second half of their two-part discussion with Harvard professor, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and early-stage investor Roland Fryer. In this episode, Roland shares how, following the murder of Walter Scott, he was inspired to build the best dataset possible to assess how race shapes police interactions in America today. Roland assembled a team to partner with police departments across the U.S. and build a state-of-the-art dataset on policing. His findings shocked many. While large racial gaps persisted on lower-level uses of force during police interactions, even after accounting for potential causal factors apart from race, Roland's team also found no racial differences in rates of police shootings across race. Roland shares how, in the wake of this research, he encountered resistance within academia as he sought to give an accurate telling of full the story painted by his data analysis, being encouraged by elite economists top exclude unpopular findings from his published papers. Watch the full episode to hear about Roland's groundbreaking research on the determinates of successful charter schools and how he used that research to launch a new curriculum, “Reconstruction,” which seeks to teach kids a proper understanding of their place and potential in this world.

This week, Ian and Nique launch a two-part discussion with Harvard professor, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and early-stage investor Roland Fryer on Roland's journey to academia (part 1) and why his principled approach to research has disrupted long-held assumptions within the social sciences about policing, mobility, and race (part 2). In this first part of the conversation, Roland shares how his exposure to economics in college sparked an academic passion in him that had lay dormant until that point. Roland became enthralled with economics because it empowered him to use the best research tools available to study the most important and difficult social questions — topics such as policing, education, health, and the drug epidemic. Later, Roland shares how a pivotal encounter with one of his economics professors at the University of Chicago, in which he engaged in a “no holds barred” debate on race, inspired the intellectual honesty he approaches his research with today, as well as the teaching methods he has used in his classroom. Watch the full episode to learn more about Roland's story and to hear his words of advice for “Darryl.

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.brennancenter.org/experts/theodore-r-johnson (Theodore (Ted) Johnson) — director of the fellows program at the Brennan Center for Justice, White House Fellow, and author of “https://www.amazon.com/When-Stars-Begin-Fall/dp/0802157858 (When the Stars Begin to Fall: Overcoming Racism and Renewing the Promise of America).” Ted's upbringing mirrored the duality that animates the discussion in his new book: Ted was raised in a majority-White neighborhood but attended a majority-Black school, his father modeled a desire to “wrestle” with injustice in the world but his mother emphasized individual kindness and intellect, and his grandparents were sharecroppers in “Jim Crow” era South Carolina and yet they fiercely believed in the promise of the American Dream. This duality inspired Ted to advocate a love for America that, in his words, “chastises and then goes off and dies in wars for her.” Later, Ted shares his concern that, today, terms like “structural racism” and “critical race theory,” which originated in the academy and have very specific meanings, have been weaponized by both sides of the political aisle and used to divide Americans. He also explores why institutions like faith, family, and education have lost the trust of so many vulnerable Americans and how we can restore strong institutions that propel the uplift of a new generation. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Ted's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/tobeequal?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Ward Connerly) — a former member of the Board of Regents at the University of California, owner of a family business, and a self-described “child of the color-blind God.” Ward began his work in the public square early as the student body president of California State University in Sacramento, where he fought against housing discrimination and contributed toward the passing of the Rumford Fair Housing Act. From there, a career of accomplishment in the private sector, and periodic work with former California Governor Pete Wilson, paved the way for Ward's appointment to the University of California Board of Regents. It was here that Ward first learned about affirmative action, which he quickly recognized as a violation of the civil rights movement and the constitution. Ward was instrumental in banning several forms of race-based discrimination across the state of California in the 1990s, and he continues to fight for equality under the law today. Ward shares the core principles that led him to fight for equal rights for all Americans, and he shares why he is deeply concerned that affirmative action policies have reinforced the wrongful belief that black Americans' accomplishments could not have existed outside of preferential treatment under the law. Later, Ward argues that growing conversations centered on “equity” are undermining our nation's commitment to “equality” as the founders understood it. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Ward's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined for a second time by https://twitter.com/BobWoodson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Bob Woodson) — president of the Woodson Center and most recently, founder of 1776 Unites — to discuss his new, best-selling volume of essays “https://www.amazon.com/Red-White-Black-Rescuing-Revisionists/dp/1642937789 (Red, White, and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race Hustlers).” Bob shares how his involvement early in the civil rights movement caused him to realize that many of the policies the left has proposed in response to the civil rights movement actually harm low-income black Americans while benefitting elites. Today, Bob sees the same trend playing out before his eyes — with the message of what “race hustlers” taking the reins of culture and funneling resources toward elites at the expense of the most disadvantaged. Bob's inspiration for assembling a coalition of black leaders to write essays for “Red, White, and Black” was to restore the promise of the American dream in the public eye and advocate for an approach to American history and contemporary policy that truly uplifts the cause of the most vulnerable.  Later, Bob unravels how the G.I. Bill is an example of a successful government effort to empower vulnerable Americans to pursue a better life. The G.I. Bill helped millions of Americans who had failed to access quality education in their youth access much-needed support to build a new, successful life through military service. It offered service men and women a chance to pursue higher education without restrictions on universities or areas of study, which helped usher in a burgeoning black middle class. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Bob's journey toward founding 1776 Unites. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/jasonrileywsj?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Jason Riley) — a prolific columnist at the Wall Street Journal, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and author of the forthcoming book “https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Biography-Thomas-Jason-Riley/dp/1541619684 (Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell),” which is now available on Amazon. Jason discusses the work and legacy of Thomas Sowell, an economist and public intellectual whose research has unearthed the cultural and behavioral characteristics that can engender the uplift of a new generation of vulnerable Americans. It was encountering Sowell's work in college that launched Jason on the path toward developing his current framework for understanding issues of economics and race. Jason laments the fact that Sowell's work has not been celebrated in the public eye as much as scholars who are far his intellectual inferiors, and he notes the importance of ushering in a new generation of young academics to follow in Sowell's tradition. With conversations on critical race theory, reparations, and affirmative action receiving renewed national attention, Sowell's framework for understanding the behavioral and cultural determinates of human capital development is more important to our national health than ever. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Jason's journey toward being Sowell's biographer and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/drantbradley?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Anthony Bradley) — a Research Fellow at the Acton Institute and professor of religious studies at the King's College, where he directs the Center for the Study of Human Flourishing. Anthony discusses the importance of developing a data-centered outlook on black success in America. Anthony grew up in the well-off black suburbs of southwest Atlanta, where he was surrounded by countless examples of black men and women who had built meaningful careers by merging a deep desire for progress with a strong moral grounding. After hearing “The Firing Line” mentioned by Michael J. Fox's character in “Family Ties,” Anthony began watching William F. Buckley's show regularly. It was watching this show that first introduced Anthony to the work of Thomas Sowell, which would later inspire him to incorporate a data-centered approach in his outlook on human progress. From policing, to the racial wealth gap, to marriage, Anthony walks Ian and Nique through myriad facets of the human experience and explains why a data-centered approach is crucial to the study of human flourishing. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Anthony's acronym “D.A.V.E.,” and why it holds important encouragement and wisdom for “Darryls” in the 21st century.

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by David Hackney — a Washington State Representative, Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, and former attorney for the Department of Justice. Two pivotal moments during David's freshman year at Cornell changed his outlook on education inspired him to steward the opportunities in front of him. The first was advice from a recent graduate who had thrived socially on Cornell's campus but was only able to find a job as an Assistant Manager at Burger King because he did not apply himself academically: don't take a Cornell education for granted. The second was a mentorship with an older student who taught David how to balance academic pursuit with strong social connections. These experiences inspired David to work tirelessly to pursue a path that ultimately led him to Harvard Law School and an early career as an attorney for the Department of Justice. The capstone of David's career was his recent election to the Washington State House of Representatives — where he currently serves the men and women of south King County. Later, David shares the work he is doing to reform policing in Washington state and his vision for a renewed relationship between police and the communities they serve. David believes that police have lost the trust of communities with high rates of crime. Recognizing that good policing cannot happen without the consent of a community, David believes there are steps policymakers must take to reform their methods of contact with community members and build trusting relationships. However, he also argues that calls to “defund” the police are ineffective and unhelpful. Per David, we need more and better policing, not less. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about David's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/jvnewton?lang=en (Jonathan Newton) — the pastor at Jordan River Ministries, an attorney for the federal government, and an adjunct professor at Howard University. Jonathan discusses his journey from the Bronx to Harvard Law School, and ultimately the Environmental Protection Agency, where he served as an attorney for nearly twenty years. An upbringing in the Bronx gave Jonathan the drive and desire to build a better life. However, it wasn't until Jonathan completed Army training and reconnected with the church during a brief sabbatical from college that he found the direction to channel his drive and guide him toward a fulfilling career. Later, Jonathan shares what he has learned from his recent battle with a stroke. Jonathan's journey of recovery over the past few years has inspired him to advocate for greater awareness among black men around the risks of stroke and lifestyle changes that can minimize a person's risk of stroke. Chief among these lifestyle changes is sleeping more. When Jonathan was a student at Harvard Law School, it seemed perfectly normal to only sleep a few hours each night — but Jonathan has since learned that such a small amount of sleep is not nearly sufficient. Today, Jonathan is a strong believer in getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Jonathan's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/signcurve?lang=en (Yaya Fanusie) — a former CIA agent and a national security expert in finance technology. Yaya discusses how his education, international travel, spiritual journey grew him from a teenager with a distrust of America and a race-centric view of the world to an advocate for the advancement of core American principles at the CIA and beyond. Yaya was raised in California, where he was deeply influenced by movements that taught him his “blackness” was the core part of his identity. Later, as he travelled to Zimbabwe and Ghana through his studies, Yaya met many black Americans who had left the US in search of a national home where their “blackness” would be a more central part of their identity. Yet, Yaya found that most of these people had not found peace in their new home. This experience, combined with Yaya's recent conversion to Islam, caused him to learn that peace cannot be found by a change in external circumstances, but only through internal moral clarity and the embrace of universal principles. Later, Yaya shares his pathway from teaching to studying Al Qaeda's recruitment techniques as a counterterrorism expert at the CIA, and how the teachings of W. Deen Mohammed helped him develop a proper sense of patriotism. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Yaya's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://seekingeducationalexcellence.org/charleslove/ (Charles Love) — Assistant Executive Director of Seeking Educational Excellence and author of the forthcoming book, https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1642938416?tag=simonsayscom (Race Crazy). Charles discusses how his upbringing and adult life in Gary, Indiana shaped his view of the greatest challenges facing black Americans. Charles did not pay much attention to politics as a young adult. But he became concerned during the Obama presidency as a rift grew between the real-life experiences of middle-class black Americans and the rhetoric of race-based victimhood that seemed to prevail. Today, Charles believes the greatest need in impoverished minority communities is not more government programs, but more entrepreneurship and a renaissance in private giving toward mission-based nonprofits. Most importantly, Charles advocates for more successful black men to demystify success for the next generation in vulnerable communities by preaching what they practice in mentor relationships. Later, Charles discusses how his work with Seeking Educational Excellence (SEE) is paving pathways to power for black boys and girls by advocating for quality STEM education in schools. In the words of Charles, “how you see a problem will dictate the methods you use to fix it.” SEE believes the core problem of poverty in minority communities is an insufficient pipeline funneling black men and women into great jobs — so they help more black boys and girls access a quality STEM education. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Charles's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by http://davidmahan.com/ (David Mahan) — Policy Director at the Center for Christian Virtue and founder of Frontline Youth Communications. David shares how “God's people, God's power, and God's principles” helped him and his wife build a life of success and community impact after a difficult start as teenage parents living in poverty. As David and his wife connected with a strong church community, they found the moral compass and support network they needed to place their family on a path of restoration — a path that took David from cleaning people's homes to testifying before U.S. Congress on pressing policy issues. Today, David's career is dedicated to helping more young men and women who find themselves walking down a perilous path become connected with strong faith communities and begin to rebuild their lives. Later, David discusses how to restore a culture of strong and involved fatherhood in America — especially within impoverished communities. David laments the dearth of adults who have built strong families that are willing to invest in young men and women in impoverished communities. He calls on more role models to build ministries and community outreach programs to speak truth to kids who are struggling to identify the best path for their lives. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about David's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://thefederalist.com/author/delanosquires/ (Delano Squires) — an Author at the Federalist and a long-time public servant. Delano shares how his growing faith journey and upbringing in an interconnected family from the West Indies have been center points of his journey as a writer. A computer engineering major in college, Delano was inspired to begin his writing career as the tragic murder of MVF NFL quarterback Steve McNair prompted him to reflect on how deeply the decisions of fathers affect their families. Since then, Delano has become increasingly convinced that human flourishing in America hinges on the revitalization of strong families and faith communities. Of increasing concern to Delano is the tendency of elites today to “raise the ceiling while giving lip service to the floor.” Specifically, Delano laments how many elites project language of oppression and avoid discussing central challenges like fraying families and communities, even as they build strong and stable families in their own lives. Delano responds to this challenge by calling on men who care more about their communities than their public reputation to speak publicly about the importance of fatherhood. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Delano's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men).

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesstovall/ (James Stovall), the co-founder and former CEO of Little Bird HR. James founded Little Bird in 2016 to provide software, employee benefits, and HR support to New York City charter schools. After five years of empowering charter schools in the city, Little Bird was bought in 2020 by one of the largest firms in the industry. Essential to James Stovall's decision to found Little Bird: a desire to leverage his experience working in the charter school sector to pursue his long-term dream of building a company that could address root problems he had observed in education. One crucial part of James' early story: witnessing his mother exemplify a remarkable spirit of grit and resiliency as she rejected welfare benefits available to a single mother like her and got a job as an insurance agent to build a better future for her children. Later, James discusses the importance of overcoming prevalent racial narratives that instill feelings of helplessness and undermine personal agency. James has done so by fixing his mind on the open doors in front of him, and not the closed doors — keeping a steady focus on his own goals and the opportunities within his reach rather than ruminating over the barriers that stand in his way. Tune into the full episode to hear more about James' story and his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.tysonmendes.com/attorneys/christopher-l-campbell/ (Chris Campbell) — world champion wrestler, Olympic bronze medalist, and a practicing attorney. Chris shares how a deeply-engrained sense of intestinal fortitude empowered him to push through academic and athletic barriers and carve a pathway to success in wrestling and law. For example, Chris was unable to compete in high-school wrestling his junior year after his mother declined to sign a permission slip, so he travelled 45 minutes every day to a local junior college to train with men. In his senior year of high school wrestling he won a state championship and was recruited by Olympic champion Dan Gable. Later, Chris persevered through academic challenges and doubt to earn an amazing score on the LSAT and gain admissions to law school even as several people told him he wasn't cut out to be an attorney. Chris also shares how his school's emphasis on providing all students with exposure to holistic opportunities in academic, athletics, and music at a young age opened the door for Chris to identify his passion for athletics. In particular, it was one little league football coach who shaped Chris's love for sports through his quiet, character-based approach to coaching. Tune in to the full episode to learn more of Chris's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by one of America's greatest wrestlers — https://www.leekemp.com/ (Lee Kemp) — who reflects on a life of challenges and achievement both inside and outside wrestling. According to Lee, “I was given up for adoption at birth and was institutionalized until the age of five,” when he was adopted. Lee shares that his adopted father, who left the south for Cleveland in search of a better life, taught him the values of hard work and respect from an early age. Amid the racial unrest of the 1960s, Lee's family moved from Cleveland to a rural Ohio farming community. There, Lee watched his father build a thriving farm while also holding a full-time job. It was at this time in his life that Lee was introduced to the sport of wrestling. Wrestling has informed one of Lee's core beliefs: the reward of winning one battle is earning the privilege to fight another battle. Later, Lee discusses his experience in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter decided to boycott the Summer Olympics in Moscow — dashing Lee's hopes of becoming both a multi-time world champion and an Olympic champion. Tune in to the full episode to learn more of Lee's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/JohnHMcWhorter?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (John McWhorter) — public intellectual, Professor of Linguistics at Columbia University, and author of two forthcoming books, https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Nasty-Words-English-Forever/dp/0593188799 (9 Nasty Words) and The Elect. Much like Ian and Nique, John was a graduate student at Stanford University as news of the Rodney King assault swept the nation in the early 1990s. John shares how he grew to feel alone in this time — becoming deeply impacted by the disjunction between a culture that was telling him he should feel just as much of a victim as Rodney King and a personal life experience that spoke to a much different reality. This dichotomy shaped John's intellectual journey as he, a Ph.D student in Linguistics, began to explore the long-term negative effects of movements seeking to associate “real blackness” with a posture of victimhood. Later, John discusses prevailing expectations for black scholars and leaders to speak primarily about issues of race, despite their other interests and expertise. As an academic at heart, John finds great joy in growing and deepening his work in Linguistics apart from conversations on race. Yet, he continues to weigh in as an authority on such issues out of a sense of duty — because the challenges facing Americans today are serious and American children need to be taught to develop a sense of purpose, identity, and agency rooted in their own personhood, even in the midst of any barriers they might face. Tune in to the full episode to learn more of John's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/myron-white-50281827/ (Myron White) — an original member of the cast for “The Invisible Men” who has built a distinguished career in finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership while serving in the Army Reserves for more than two and a half decades. Myron shares how one third-grade teacher at his Catholic school in New Orleans played an especially important role in his early development — imparting in him a sense of confidence even as he wrestled with the challenge of being the only African American child in his class. This self-confidence led Myron to chase after goals that others told him were out of his reach, ultimately landing him at Harvard Business School and in a successful corporate career. Later, Myron brings a surprise guest on the show: A young man named Cory who Myron has been mentoring for several years after first meeting in church choir. Cory shares with Ian and Nique how Myron's mentorship helped him identify a passion for business, architecture, and design and pursue a college degree that would open doors for him to build a career in those fields. When asked about how he reconciles narratives of black victimhood with the examples of successful black Americans, Cory offers the following words of wisdom: “If God is with us, then who is against us? So what are we settling for?” Watch the full episode here to hear more about Myron and Cory's stories. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.knox.edu/news/knox-names-20th-president (Andy McGadney) — the newly announced President of Knox College and a long-time leader in higher education. Andy speaks of the critical role of education in the paving pathways to opportunity for black Americans today. As a child, Andy was raised in Connecticut but his family had deep roots in the south. Andy's parents — both graduates of HBCUs — moved from Mobile, Alabama to Connecticut in search of better job opportunities than black college graduates could find in the south in the 1960s. It was witnessing the tremendous impact his mother, a first grade school teacher, had on her students that first sparked Andy's passion for education. This passion ultimately led Andy to pursue two graduate degrees and build a career in higher education administration. Later, Andy discusses the role colleges should have in facilitating free and civil discourse across the ideological spectrum today. Contrary to the strict enforcement of intellectual orthodoxy happening on some campuses, Andy believes liberal arts colleges should be the best places in America to engage in respectful dialogue on the most difficult and contentious questions of the day. Colleges should cultivate an environment where differences of opinion are the starting point of conversations, not the endpoint. And students should feel free to share their true viewpoints while also carrying an open-minded spirit and a willingness to have their minds changed. Tune in to the full episode to learn more of Andy's story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, https://www.ozy.com/ozy-tribe/eugene-s-robinson/1318/ (Eugene S. Robinson) joins Ian and Nique to discuss his multifaceted career as a journalist, author, musician, editor of OZY Media, and MMA Connoisseur. As a child, Eugene was driven by the New York “hustle” culture to pave a path to a better life for himself and his family. From Brooklyn to Stanford University, Eugene's intellect and zeal propelled him into a plethora of exciting jobs and opportunities. Eugene shares pivotal moments — from starting a snow shoveling business as a young boy to discovering his knack for music and writing at Stanford — that laid the groundwork for his career. Later, Eugene discusses how mastering martial arts prepared him to respond to adversity from a place of strength rather than fear. Watch the full episode to hear Eugene's advice for “Darryl” and his unorthodox “speed round” answer, where he compares MMA Fighter Jon Jones to Abel in the Old Testament narrative of Cain and Abel. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/in/cliff-barber-b33a5765?challengeId=AQF7EX9vlq0HAwAAAXerlNdKX0g8BnqvbjJzfo068-V9GfisizxpLnEFEvTutFZmevOhAieJGARh8G3vpuTR9rjKw3vQdMMRNA&submissionId=1b1a5bbf-df45-6416-1bcd-7bc6c555ee0f (Cliff Barber) — Chief Strategy Officer of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a former investment fund manager. Combining knowledge from his impressive corporate background and extensive experience in ministry, Cliff discusses the centrality of faith in shaping his upbringing, and he shares his passion for addressing “spiritual poverty” in vulnerable communities. Cliff's upbringing in a deeply faithful family and his experience in prison ministry cause him to reflect on how black Americans for generations have leaned on faith to knock through the barriers standing in front of them. Cliff believes this history informs the great potential for faith to be the nexus of revitalization in black communities around the country today. Later, Cliff shares one pivotal moment in his life: Stepping away from his home in the south side of Chicago to attend a science fair downstate where he was inspired by many high achieving students. This set him down a path of constant self-improvement and dedication. Watch the full episode to discover the advice Cliff has for “Darryl” in 2020. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://barrylawsonwilliams.com/about-barry (Barry Lawson Williams) to discuss the importance of building black representation on corporate boards across the United States. When it comes to corporate America, Barry's life exemplifies the vision, character, and insight worthy of a career business executive who has served on 14 public company boards. A few years ago, Barry conducted a https://barrylawsonwilliams.com/bcd-time-capsule (study) with 50 top black executives in the United States and found five common themes with timely insights into how we can pave the way for a new generation of black corporate leaders. Consistent with his own experience, all of the directors Barry interviewed shared that they had gained their prominent positions through a rich network of relationships — highlighting the need for current leaders to leverage their social capital to recruit and place more black men and women in positions of corporate leadership. Barry also shares the unique challenges he faced as a black student at Harvard in the 1960s — and the power he experienced by embracing his race in the predominately white arena of Harvard. Watch the full episode to discover the advice Barry has for “Darryl” in 2020, and to learn why Barry has adopted the habit of writing a letter to his children each year. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of “The Invisible Men,” please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/vlee21?lang=en (Vernon Lee) to discuss the role of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for the uplift of black Americans. Vernon is a partner at the https://themarathonfund.com/ (Marathon Fund), an organization dedicated to supporting a new generation of underrepresented entrepreneurs with high potential for growth. Vernon argues that we need stronger institutions to act as a “pipeline” for minority Americans, teaching them the skills they need to be successful in their ventures. Most importantly, Vernon contends that black entrepreneurs need more opportunities to fail. Black men and women are much less likely than their white peers to be given a second chance by investors when one of their businesses fails. But any well-seasoned entrepreneur knows that a failed business can be an incredibly valuable asset in building a successful enterprise in the future. Later, Vernon shares how he grew into an entrepreneurial mindset in his own life. From running a paper route in middle school to being inspired by “Puppy Combs” to start a successful party-promotion venture in college, a few early touchpoints inspired Vernon to pursue entrepreneurship as a long-term career. Importantly, Vernon's life journey has closely mirrored the characteristics of successful black men outlined in Brad Wilcox and Ronald Mincy's “Black men making it in America” https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/black-men-making-it-in-america-the-engines-of-economic-success-for-black-men-in-america/ (report) — from following the success sequence closely to participating in a faith community and serving in the military. Watch the full episode to hear more of Vernon's story and find out what his advice to “Darryl” is.

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by someone who is actively modelling a path of excellence for young men in the 21st century. https://twitter.com/ravarora1?lang=en (Rav Arora) — a current student at University of the Fraser Valley and an up and coming writer whose work has been published in leading outlets such as City Journal and the New York Post — joins the show to discuss his intellectual development and path to prominence amid the current culture of identity politics. Rav shares how a high school teacher helped channel his passion for thinking about social problems by introducing him to the work of Thomas Sowell. Rav had experienced discrimination and prejudice during his youth. But public intellectuals like Thomas Sowell and Coleman Hughes helped him think more deeply about the root of social challenges in western nations, and the opportunities for minorities to pursue lives of excellence in spite of these challenges. Inspired by these figures — Rav's worked has now reached hundreds of thousands of people.  Later, Rav discusses instances of racism he has experienced in recent months from progressive actors who claim that Rav is pushing an “alt right” agenda by challenging prevailing ideologies on white privilege and racism. Some people have gone so far as to label Rav “self-hating” for adhering to his beliefs. Watch the full episode to learn more about Rav's story and hear his advice for “Darryl” in 2021. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

With the job market fundamentally changing, how can we build pathways for a new generation of black men and women to unleash their passion and build a successful career? In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://www.tedcomd.com/about-tedco/staff/troy-lemaile-stovall (Troy Stovall), the CEO of Maryland TEDCO — an organization founded by the state of Maryland in 1998 to fund early stage tech companies. They discuss the evolving skills marketplace and the role of four-year college degrees. Troy firmly believes that education is an essential component of empowerment, but he also argues that we have become too rigid in our thinking about education. Rather than seeing the bachelor's degree as the only path to success, Troy believes we should first help more “Darryls” identify their passion before thinking about the skill-based or academic pathway to achieve their goals. Later, Troy discusses his upbringing and shares how a deep faith commitment helped him find a moral rooting in something much larger than himself and taught him that, while he cannot control how other people view him, he does have control over how he carries himself. Troy notes the importance of teaching black children these principles as they face acts of discrimination that may feel paralyzing. Further, Troy argues that we must help children connect with examples of successful men and women who can broaden their understanding of what is possible for them to achieve. Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

Are business leaders in today's climate naturally drawn to a “cutthroat” approach to management and growth, or do the concerning behaviors often seen in large corporations stem from a misunderstanding about what is necessary to survive in the business world? In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Gervase Warner, the President and CEO of the Massy Group — one of the largest conglomerates in the Caribbean which now holds nearly 60 companies and employs more than 12,000 people. Gervase shares how he grew to understand that businesses do not need to embrace a “mean and nasty” approach to thrive — that a company can deliver strong financial results while holding firm to its core principles and seeking to become a “force for good” in the world. Later, Gervase shares a deeply personal and powerful story about how he found freedom by embracing forgiveness in the wake of a deeply traumatic experience. Gervase now believes widespread forgiveness is the key to generating cultural and political renewal — especially in countries with a long history of injustice like Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Gervase holds this belief so firmly that he advocated for forgiveness on the TEDx stage just few years ago. Watch the full podcast to hear Gervase's story and what advice he has for “Darryl” in 2020. Please find Gervase's TEDx talk at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ-NkuFlibI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ-NkuFlibI) Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: https://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

Many scholars, public figures, and activists have noted the striking divide between the economic outcomes of black and white Americans. But what lies at the root of these differences is a difficult question. In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/wil_da_beast630?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Dr. Wilfred Reilly), an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, to discuss how ideological uniformity in academia has influenced the public debate on race in America. Reilly notes that two problematic narratives have dominated the debate over what accounts for racial differences in recent years—one attributing different outcomes to structural racism and the other pointing to genetics. Contrary to these ideologies, Reilly has been inspired by economist and public intellectual Thomas Sowell to focus on social and behavioral characteristics that can engender the uplift of a new generation. He highlights a striking diversity of outcomes between ethnic groups within the same race that suggests a more complicated picture. In other words, careful analysis reveals that family, faith, free enterprise, and hard work do still matter. Why is this viewpoint scarcely acknowledged in the public narrative? Reilly suggests that political and ideological uniformity in academia has caused a stagnation of ideas and resistance against non-traditional theories. Tune into the full episode to learn more about Reilly's book, https://www.amazon.com/Hate-Crime-Hoax-Lefts-Campaign/dp/1621577783 (Hate Crime Hoax), and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: http://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men).

In the aftermath of Rodney King's assault by police officers in the 90s and his attackers' subsequent acquittal, Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors grew weary of a public narrative proclaiming that black men in America were doomed to failure under an oppressive system. A feeling of invisibleness struck both Ian and Nique who were then Harvard Business School classmates as the stories of men like them became increasingly ignored in the public eye. So they launched “The Invisible Men,” a documentary telling the stories of amazing black men at Harvard University who achieved success by leaning on the core principles of family, faith, free enterprise, and entrepreneurship. Today, Ian and Nique have resurrected “The Invisible Men” as a video podcast. In their inaugural episode, Ian and Nique share their inspiration behind launching “The Invisible Men” documentary in the 90s and discuss why — 30 years later — their message of agency and empowerment is needed more than ever. Integral to the story of “The Invisible Men” is “Darryl,” a 16 year-old black teenager Ian and Nique imagined in the original documentary, who lives in the urban city of Forgotten, USA and desires to build a better life for himself but sometimes feels that success is out of his reach. Ian and Nique asked each of the men in their original documentary to advise “Darryl” on how he can forge a path to excellence and empowerment. Join Ian and Nique today for episodes of “The Invisible Men” every week as they hear the stories of incredible men and learn what advice they have for “Darryl” in 2020! Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: https://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by https://twitter.com/BobWoodson?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Bob Woodson), president of the Woodson Center and prolific champion for upward mobility, to discuss an “inspirational and aspirational” message Bob is crafting through the https://1776unites.com/ (1776 Unites) project. Amid a popular narrative of despair and victimhood around race in America, 1776 Unites celebrates America's long legacy of black excellence and offers a “look forward” to how all Americans can become agents of their uplift. 1776 Unites does not discount or ignore a history of injustice against black Americans, but rather chooses to focus on what we can do to generate an environment of upward mobility for future generations. Ian and Nique speak with Bob about his ten “Woodson Principles” for uplift, and they discuss how the core principles upon which America was founded will play an integral role in the movement of our nation toward greater equality and opportunity. 

Early https://www.vox.com/2020/8/3/21334149/murders-crime-shootings-protests-riots-trump-biden (data) suggest the US is on track to see the highest year-to-year murder increase in history this year, reminding us that a majority of gun violence goes unreported and unaddressed. While reasons for this vary, the result is that a very small number of “bad actors” can cause devastating harm to underserved communities. In this episode, https://twitter.com/ralphaclark?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Ralph Clark), the CEO of ShotSpotter, joins Ian and Nique. Ralph discusses how he combined his path of serial entrepreneurship with groundbreaking technology to equip police with the tools they need to improve the safety of underserved communities while building trust through a “guardian” model of policing. One crucial element to Ralph's journey: having a person outside of his family—in this case, a nun teaching at a Catholic school Ralph attended—show genuine interest and investment in his success. Ralph also shares how one lunch he had in high school with a successful black executive demystified success and helped him internalize the possibility of upward mobility in his own life. Tune in to hear Ralph's words of wisdom for “Darryl.” Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: https://www.invisible.men/ (www.invisible.men)

How should young Americans respond to structural barriers as they seek to carve out a place for themselves in the world? In this episode, Brown University economist https://twitter.com/GlennLoury?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor (Glenn Loury) joins Ian and Nique to discuss how a foundation of grit can shape a new generation of black excellence. Glenn was raised on the south side of Chicago in a working-class family. Despite some obstacles in his youth, a professor at his community college discovered Glenn's academic gifts and helped him gain admittance to Northwestern University. At Northwestern, a world of opportunity opened to Glenn, but his road to success wasn't easy. With three children to father, a full-time class load, and a full-time job at night to balance, Glenn's story is a testament to the power of grit in helping people surmount steep obstacles. Looking back, Glenn's advice to similar Americans looking to build a better life is to find a spiritual foundation for their life and anchor key life decisions to the “success sequence.”

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Will Crossley — a man who not only embodies black excellence himself but is helping children build pathways to excellence in their own lives. Will Crossley is president of The Piney Woods School, a historically African-American prep school in rural Mississippi and an institution that has been empowering black Americans to pursue their vision of excellence for generations. Ian and Nique dig into Piney Woods' unique model of forming children's character, grit, and self-efficacy in addition to providing an outstanding academic education. An alumnus of Piney Woods himself, Will talks about how the gift of a quality education, along with the influence of his mother and a strong church community, was instrumental in helping him find his vocation and build a meaningful career.