Trendlines

The rise of Black-owned wineries is more than a matter of representation; it's also a matter of economic opportunity. The wine industry contributes billions to the U.S. economy. As Black-owned wineries gain prominence, they create jobs, contribute to economic growth, and empower communities. Brands like McBride Sisters Wine, the largest African-American-owned wine company in the U.S., and Mouton Noir Winesare the only two black-owned wineries sold in Arkansas, exemplifying the possible economic impact and empowerment.

I will never forget the day President Trump invited me to the White House. Not once, but twice. I attended a conference in Washington, D.C., the Presidential Sites Summit, in 2018. I made it pretty public that I got to tour the White House, but I didn't share with many that a few days later, I met President Trump, the First Lady (and Betsy Devos, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Steven Mnuchin, and Kellyanne Conway). Many did not accept the invitation to attend, but I am so glad I did.

This past week brought announcements of expansions and renovations for three major landmarks in Little Rock: the Clinton Presidential Center, the new venue for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and the historic Boyle Building. These updates spurred me to reflect on the city's robust developmental blueprint, valued at nearly a billion dollars. But these projects? They're just beginning.

There's a part of my life that I've held close to my chest, a transformative and deeply personal story. I'm a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, a title I've often hesitated to share openly, not out of shame but a complex blend of modesty and reverence for the experience. But today, as I'm heading to Bowdoin College for a returning fellows conference, I feel encouraged to share more about this chapter of my life. If you're interested in knowing the details, you're in the right place.

After a two year hiatus, Trendlines is back! This season will feature audio recordings of my blog, interviews, and informal conversations on topics that matter.

This surge of excitement surrounding Barbie showcased nostalgia, curiosity, and for some of us, a hopeful anticipation of witnessing an icon's transformation.The trailers promised a fresh take on Barbie—a figure not defined by fashion or aspiration but one of depth and humor. Expectations were high, and the film appeared poised to shatter norms. However, as the narrative unfolded, a disheartening realization set in: the Barbie Movie seemed unable to transcend its legacy. Barbie is still trapped in their box.

Last week I was hit by an ad that said The Chicks were coming to Simmons Arena. I will not be the first or last Black American with a bad relationship with Country music, but I was intrigued and got tickets to the show. If I ever had the tenacity to sing karaoke, you would hear me sing every single word of "Landslide" by heart. But most importantly, I faintly remembered them being featured in Advocate - the leading source of LGBT news - and abandoning "Dixie" Chicks to be on the right side of a divided country. Few artists can claim to have defied convention, weathered the storm of controversy, and emerged stronger than ever. Fewer still can claim to have done so in the traditionally conservative landscape of country music. Last night, I witnessed just that: The Chicks performing live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Known formerly as the Dixie Chicks, their concert was more than a display of musical talent – but was a surprising example of the power of progressive messages in music - and inspired this blog post.

I won't lie; I had a blast on the 4th of July this year. It was the first time I forgot about COVID, the insurrection, Donald Trump, Kaepernick, Trayvon Martin, Women's Rights, mass shootings, and the recent disinformation tweet from our Governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

I've witnessed a steady rise in the sharing economy, with platforms like Airbnb pioneering a revolution in how we think about travel and accommodation.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a futuristic concept anymore. It's woven into every facet of our lives, revolutionizing sectors from finance to healthcare to entertainment. It's making our lives easier, our jobs more efficient, and even our entertainment more immersive. But with all its remarkable capabilities, one pressing question remains: Could AI be used for good? That's the central theme we'll explore today, taking our cues from popular media, specifically the TV series Westworld, and real-world applications.

In our contemporary society, escaping the pulsing rhythm of technology's heartbeat is nearly impossible. One could even venture to say that we live in a world shaped and defined by our digital inventions. Standing at the forefront of these is Artificial Intelligence (AI), a paradigm-shifting technology that can redefine what we thought we knew about intelligence, consciousness, and our interaction with machines.

What began as an indulgent, virtual way to hang out became a thrilling, substantive and hilarious season of Saana and Nate's little podcast. As the podcast goes on hiatus, the hosts take a look back at what worked, what didn't and what they talked through on each episode so far. Tune in for the inaugural season recap!

If you’re a fan of “The Bachelor” or just a person paying attention in America, then you know “cancel culture” is all the rage. Literally. On this episode, Nate and Saana recap the latest controversy to rock the beloved reality tv show and mull over what cancel culture is, and perhaps what it should be. Part 1 of 2!

President Biden (man, that feels good, doesn’t it?) takes the reins as our country struggles to get control of the coronavirus. Americans are grappling with so much and it’s taken a toll on our collective mental health. On this episode, we talk about the importance of mental health, our own journey over the last hellish 12 months, and our hopes for mental health being given its due place in our national response to coronavirus under the leadership of President Biden (seriously, feels great).

Not embarrassed to say we are obsessed with Netflix's hit show "Bridgerton!" The runaway hit has been renewed for 7 more seasons and we are HERE FOR IT! There's no doubting the aesthetic charms of the Duke of Hastings, but we also celebrate the marvelous Shonda Rhimes and get up to speed on what Hollywood is doing to increase representation and share the experiences of women, people of color, and the LGBT communities. But mostly we swoon over the Duke of Hastings, tbh.

We had an entirely different podcast prepared until our hallowed Capitol was under siege by domestic terrorists on January 6th, 2021. Listen in as we make sense of - to the best of our ability - the timeline of events, the systemic failures that failed to prevent such an act, and our concerns moving forward from one of the darkest days in modern American history.

We had to look far and wide for a registered Republican who wasn’t part of the QAnon/alternative fact/there-was-widespread-fraud-in-the-election!! crowd but we got there! Please welcome Chris Michaels, a principled conservative, author, and former pastor living in North Carolina. On the third episode of our “Drop a Pin -

In a continuation of the “Drop A Pin

Nate and Saana introduce “Drop A Pin,” a series exploring perspectives and trends across the political spectrum - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and everywhere in between. Let's get to know Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia, a Democrat and political manager from Little Rock, Arkansas.

We all know dating is the wooOOOooorst (Jean Ralphio voice)!!! Saana and Nate have different experiences finding love in the time of corona.

Unexpected losses and razor-thin wins have seemingly left the Democratic Party in disarray. Join us as we review key data on split voters, analyze the err, the lively debates between progressives and centrists, and pay homage to the amazing Stacey Abrams for showing us how it’s done.

We feel profound joy, relief, and optimism following the win of President Elect-Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. Join us as we chat about what this means to us and why, and what our hopes are for the country moving forward. Music by: Hinkik - Skystrike [Electro House] Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Music provided by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/xpi6JpoKDCs

Get to know Saana and Nate. Music by: Island by MBB https://soundcloud.com/mbbofficialCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/Island-MBBMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/6by8zhaG04Y