Podcasts about Darden

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Rory McDonald. McDonald's research focuses on how firms compete and innovate effectively in new technology-enabled markets. Drawing on a mix of in-depth fieldwork and archival data, he studies how executives develop viable strategies in these contexts and how they obtain resources that improve their chances of success. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with McDonald about his background, what led him to Darden, how the Strategy course fits into the Darden core curriculum, his popular electives, “Disruptive Strategy” and “Disruptive Innovation,” his current research interests and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Rory McDonald. McDonald's research focuses on how firms compete and innovate effectively in new technology-enabled markets. Drawing on a mix of in-depth fieldwork and archival data, he studies how executives develop viable strategies in these contexts and how they obtain resources that improve their chances of success. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with McDonald about his background, what led him to Darden, how the Strategy course fits into the Darden core curriculum, his popular electives, “Disruptive Strategy” and “Disruptive Innovation,” his current research interests and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Blake Dietrick-Siefert. Blake is a student in Darden's Full-Time MBA Class of 2027, and we talk with her about her background in professional basketball, her decision to pursue an MBA, how her career goals have evolved during her first year, what she's looking forward to in her second year and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tristan Gess. Tristan is a first year student in the Part-Time MBA Class of 2028, and he is Co-President for his class. We talk with Tristan about his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, what he's enjoyed about his first year, how he decided to take on a leadership role and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Grace Haffner. Grace is a first year student in Darden's Full-Time MBA Class of 2027, and she also applied to Darden through the Future Year Scholars program, Darden's deferred enrollment program for current undergraduates or students in their final year of a masters program who are yet to enter the workforce. We talk with Grace about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, how she figured the right time to go back to school, her plans for the summer ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ellen Johnson. Ellen is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2026, and she was also a recent member of the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA) leadership board. We talk with Ellen about her decision to pursue an MBA, what it's like to change jobs during the program, the program-wide student newsletter she curated, The Executive Edit, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of The Industrialist, Jeremy Mercer sits down with retail real estate veteran Dave Cheatham to discuss the changing business landscape surrounding college athletics, NIL, and the broader evolution of real estate strategy.With more than 30 years of experience and over $3 billion in retail transactions, Dave has advised some of the nation's largest brands including JCPenney, Hobby Lobby, Aldi, Gap, Darden, CVS Pharmacy, and Signet. Throughout his career — including leadership roles at CB Richard Ellis, Staubach Retail, and X Team Retail Advisors — he has become known for helping shape corporate real estate strategies, executing large-scale retail rollouts, and mentoring the next generation of industry leaders.Jeremy and Dave dive into how NIL is reshaping college sports, how universities and brands are adapting, and why understanding market dynamics matters more than ever. The conversation also explores the parallels between sports and real estate - from stadium developments and student housing demand to long-term investment strategy and navigating changing economic cycles.This episode is a practical discussion on leadership, adaptability, relationship-driven business, and what it takes to stay ahead in industries that are constantly evolving.

In this episode of the Brandon Hall Group™ Excellence at Work podcast, host Rachel Cooke, COO of Brandon Hall Group, sits down with Lisa Cannell, Senior Managing Director of University of Virginia Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning, for a conversation that is equal parts strategic wake-up call and practical playbook. Lisa brings 25 years of HR and organizational development experience across corporations and higher education, and what she offers is not a technology perspective on AI but a deeply human one. Her argument is simple and urgent: organizations are getting AI adoption wrong not because they lack tools or talent, but because they are underestimating the people challenge at the center of it. This conversation covers why CHROs are sitting on a rare strategic opportunity, what most organizations are missing in their AI rollouts, and how Darden is helping leadership teams move beyond pilots and into transformation.

Your website traffic might be down. But that doesn't mean your business is. In this episode of The Localist, Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Pam Darden, VP of Accounts and Revenue at Infomedia, to answer real audience questions about small business websites in the age of AI. Pam has worked with small business clients for over 10 years. She knows what actually works, and what is quietly costing you customers. They cover why you still need a website even if traffic has dropped, how AI is pulling information about your business from places you never thought to check, what to put on your site so AI includes you in the conversation, how to track sales when analytics no longer tell the full story, and whether vibe coding is ever a good idea for a small business. If you have a website and are not sure if it is working, this episode will show you exactly where to look.  

Steven A. Darden (Diné/Navajo and Cheyenne) is an artist, human rights advocate, business owner, and traditional practitioner. He is a long-time commissioner to the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, and currently serves as the vice-chair. Steve is a Luce Foundation Indigenous Knowledge Fellow. He sits on the council of elders for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.

In this week's episode we began by discussing Clear Admit's events hosted in Atlanta. The annual MBA admissions fair, which included the majority of the top US-based MBA programs, also included several panel discussions. A great way to kick off the new admissions season. Graham then noted that Clear Admit is hosting several MBA application overview events in May, on May 19 and 20, this upcoming week, followed by events on May 26 and 27. Again, the majority of the leading MBA programs participate in these valuable events. Signups are here: https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham highlighted a new Clear Admit careers deep-dive piece that explores the reasons why the top MBA programs on the West Coast have been graduating more candidates into the tech sector. Graham also highlighted a new Dean at McCombs, who appears to have a very impressive resume. Graham continued with the Real Humans Alumni series. This week focuses on three alumni IMD / BCG, Judge / Bain and Tuck / Amazon. For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected one ApplyWire entry and two DecisionWire entries: This week's first MBA admissions candidate is from Vietnam and seeking an MBA in Europe, focused on finance. This week's second MBA applicant is deciding between Johnson, Darden and Ross, among other options. This week's final MBA candidate is seeking a career in New York City in investment banking. They have offers from Ross, Johnson and Stern. This episode was recorded in Philadelphia, USA and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who've been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Andrew Katz. Andrew is a student in Darden's Full-Time MBA Class of 2027, and we talk with him about his decision to pursue an MBA, what he's enjoyed about his first year, climbing Mt. Everest in the summer before starting at Darden, his start-up venture, Katalyze LLC, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Mike Dorsey. Mike is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2027, and he is the newly elected President fo the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA). We chat with Mike about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what he's enjoyed about his first year, why he decided to pursue a student leadership role, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professors Marc Ruggiano and Rob Phillips. In this hour-long conversation, we talk with Ruggiano and Phillips about what Darden means by ethical AI as well as some of the ethical considerations across the AI value chain.  For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professors Marc Ruggiano and Rob Phillips. In this hour-long conversation, we talk with Ruggiano and Phillips about what Darden means by ethical AI as well as some of the ethical considerations across the AI value chain.  For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Christina Zhu. Christina is a second year student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2026. We talk with Christina about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her Darden, her global experiences as a Darden student, what she'll be doing after graduation and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jesse Byrnes. Jesse is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2027, and he is also the newly elected Executive Vice President for the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA). Jesse is a journalist, and he is a recipient of Darden's Batten Media Fellowship, a full tuition and fee scholarship focused on professionals engaged in the media. We talk with Jesse about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what attracted him to a leadership role, what he's looking forward to in the months to come and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Jill Darden, founder of Fort Worth Black News and a respected journalism pioneer, has passed away. Community members and local organizations are remembering her lasting impact on journalism and advocacy. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. We are continuing to see MBA programs release their final decisions. This upcoming week, CMU / Tepper, Johns Hopkins / Carey, Dartmouth / Tuck, Indiana / Kelley, IESE, Michigan / Ross, Notre Dame / Mendoza, Georgia / Terry and Imperial Business School are releasing final decisions. MBA programs are also continuing to their next admissions rounds, including Ohio State / Fisher, Imperial Business School, BYU / Marriot, Georgia Tech / Scheller and UCI / Merage. Graham highlighted upcoming Clear Admit events. On May 11, Clear Admit is hosting our in-person admissions event in Atlanta. Most top MBA programs are scheduled to attend. We are also hosting several Application overview events in May, on May 19 and 20, and May 26 and 27. Signups for these events are here: https://www.clearadmit.com/events We are also hosting our monthly Livestream on YouTube on Tuesday, this week at 12 pm ET. Subscribe here to be notified as soon as we jump online: https://www.youtube.com/@ClearAdmitMBA Graham continued with the Real Humans Alumni series. This week focuses on three alumni from Tepper / Merck, Jones / Barclays and Stern / Microsoft. Graham also highlighted a recently published podcast featuring an in-depth Q&A Georgetown / McDonough's Anne Kilby. For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three DecisionWire entries: This week's first MBA admissions candidate wants to focus on MBB, and has offers from Darden, Haas and Foster. They want to be in Seattle, post MBA. This week's second MBA applicant is deciding between Johnson and Tepper. They want to do investment banking. This week's final MBA candidate is deciding between Fuqua and Stern, while still on the waitlist for their top choice, Columbia. This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who've been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Raj Venkatesan. Raj is a member of the Marketing faculty at the Darden School of Business, and he is also one of the Academic Directors for UVA's MS in Business Analytics program. We talk with Raj about the MSBA program, how the faculty keep the curriculum current, the program's upcoming fifth and final module, some of his favorite MSBA capstone projects and more. We also find time to discuss his Digital Marketing elective and how he's incorporated AI into that course. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Raj Venkatesan. Raj is a member of the Marketing faculty at the Darden School of Business, and he is also one of the Academic Directors for UVA's MS in Business Analytics program. We talk with Raj about the MSBA program, how the faculty keep the curriculum current, the program's upcoming fifth and final module, some of his favorite MSBA capstone projects and more. We also find time to discuss his Digital Marketing elective and how he's incorporated AI into that course. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode, Johnson City Judge candidate Stephen Darden shares his extensive experience in local government, his vision for justice, and the importance of community service. Discover how his background, faith, and work ethic shape his approach to serving Johnson City and the judicial system.Key TopicsSteve Darden's campaign and community involvementThe role and responsibilities of General Sessions Court judgesFairness and integrity in the courtroomChallenges facing the local court systemThe impact of faith and character on judicial decision-makingResourcesSteve Darden for Judge Website - http://stevedardenforjudge.comSteve Darden Facebook Page - https://facebook.com/stevedardenforjudgeBuy your next home, or list your current home with us!https://www.thecolinandcarlygroup.com/Be a guest on the Johnson City Living Podcast: https://www.johnsoncityliving.com/guests?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf_qLsH2l73s8fTV40Oebx8kSAGlIFS_y50ij7CRneeNX3I6NzzfQMUKP-7hw_aem_xHCpTZ5r_cOfc22X1DNvmw

In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. We are continuing to see MBA programs release their final decisions. This upcoming week, MSU / Broad, Yale SOM, USC / Marshall, NYU / Stern, Indiana / Kelley, Washington / Olin and Maryland / Smith are releasing final decisions. MBA programs are also continuing to their next admissions rounds, including USC / Marshall and Washington / Olin. Graham highlighted upcoming Clear Admit events. On May 11, Clear Admit is hosting our in-person admissions event in Atlanta. Most top MBA programs are scheduled to attend. We are also hosting several Application overview events in May, on May 19 and 20, and May 26 and 27. Signups for these events are here: https://www.clearadmit.com/events We then discussed the recently published U.S. News & World Report Rankings for 2026. Stanford moved to the top spot, and Wharton now sits at number two. Finally, Graham continued with the Real Humans Alumni series. This week focuses on three alumni from Owen / Amazon, IESE / Kearney and McCombs / Cold Cycle Coffee (own startup). For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three DecisionWire entries: This week's first MBA admissions candidate is deciding between McCombs, Kelley, Anderson and Foster. They want to be in Washington State or California in the long run. This week's second MBA applicant is from Ghana and is seeking a career in investment banking. They are choosing between Darden, Goizueta and Owen. This week's final MBA candidate is from Brazil and is pivoting to investment banking. They are choosing between Booth and Stern. This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who've been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!

BUSINESS CONFERENCE AGENDAMEADOWBROOK BAPTIST CHURCH APRIL 12, 2026 AT 4:00 PMCall to Order and Opening Prayer•  Approval of Previous Business Conference Minutes - Scott Jenkins•  December 7, 2025, Annual Church Conference and Budget Presentation•  December 21, 2025, Budget Vote•  January 4, 2026, Administrative Council and Officers Vote• Membership Update - Scott Jenkins• First Quarter Financial Report - David Cozart• Administrative Council Updates•  Financial Update - Cliff Neel, Courtney Powell, Rondia Woodell•  Personnel - Rachel Braugh, Willie Thomas, Bob Vetter,•  Facilities Update - Mary Betke, James Head, Steven Lewis• Administrative Council Motion to sell 140 Darden Dr property - Bob VetterThe Administrative Council moves that Meadowbrook authorize the sale of the property at 140 Darden Drive.• Missions/Ministries Update - David Cozart• Adjournment and Closing Prayer

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Jared Harris. Harris' research centers on the interplay between ethics and strategy, with a particular focus on the topics of corporate governance, business ethics and interorganizational trust. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Harris about his background, what led him to Darden, how he has incorporated AI in the core Strategy course, why he thinks his Business Ethics Through Literature elective may be more important now than ever and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Jared Harris. Harris' research centers on the interplay between ethics and strategy, with a particular focus on the topics of corporate governance, business ethics and interorganizational trust. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Harris about his background, what led him to Darden, how he has incorporated AI in the core Strategy course, why he thinks his Business Ethics Through Literature elective may be more important now than ever and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Friday has rolled around again which means it is time to scramble out another audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. This time around there is a big focus on municipal budgeting because the purpose of Town Crier Productions is to focus on the details of revenues and expenditures with a hope toward greater community understanding. At least, that's the way this version of Sean Tubbs is programmed.In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council has adopted a budget for the next fiscal year that increased the real property tax rate by a penny, one fewer cent than had been proposed (full story below!)* Albemarle Supervisors have a few remaining decisions to make for the county's FY2027 budget (read the story)* Albemarle and Charlottesville commemorate Dark Sky Week (read the story)* A preview of the Week AheadShout-out / PSA #1: Friends of JMRL Book SaleThe Friends of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library's Spring Book Sale is running now through this Sunday from 10:00am to 7:00pm each day at Albemarle Square Shopping Center. Additionally, April 11th and 12th are ½-price days. Choose from thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, games and puzzles, with restocking occurring throughout the sale. Proceeds benefit our regional public library system. Visit jmrlfriends DOT org for more informationCharlottesville goes with penny increase on real property tax rate rather than twoNote: The podcast edition of this budget story is stitched together from several reports. This is a consolidated version used for a script and lacks hyperlinks and other resources.One of the most important duties of governing bodies in Virginia localities is to adopt a budget for each fiscal year.For Charlottesville City Council, the process began this year on March 2 when Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders introduced a budget that was built on a two-cent increase in the real property tax rate to an even $1 for every $100 of assessed property.Since then, there have been several work sessions in which Sander's recommended budget gradually became the one that Council adopted on April 9.These were mostly held on Thursdays beginning on March 5 with a work session dedicated to the Vibrant Community Fund on March 12. That's the process through which the city provides money to nonprofit organizations.Informal budget hearingOn March 19, the city held an informal public hearing during what is billed as the Community Budget Forum.The only speaker was Jim Moore who said he has eight rental properties within Charlottesville.“I tend to try to keep my rents a little below market, and I have some tenants that really can't afford much more than that,” Moore said.Moore said the property assessment for one of those rental units increased by 74 percent from 2021 to 2025. He asked for the city to lower the anticipated rate increase.The budget forum ended up being more like a work session with staff presenting information to the City Councilors on potential ways to lower the rate. But first, budget director Krisy Hammill explained why the two cent real property rate increase had been proposed.“Most of the new revenue for the tax increase was put in the budget to offset the deeper transit investments, the increased match for the schools, and also the impacts of collective bargaining,” Hammill said.That two cent tax increase generates $2,467,724 a year.To help eliminate one of those pennies, Hammill said staff were comfortable projecting slightly higher revenue forecasts and also showed some ways to reduce revenue, including less funding for Charlottesville Area Transit, tapping into a reserve fund, and eliminating funds for Council Strategic Initiatives.“One other option would be to move the schools back to the original 2 million that we had originally built the budget around, thus reducing their increase by $569,000,” Hammill said.The budget anticipates hiring ten additional drivers for Charlottesville Area Transit. Under one potential scenario to reduce funding, money would be in place to hire five in July and the other five would be hired in January as well as additional mechanics and supervisors. That might also mean scheduled service improvements might be delayed.City Manager Sam Sanders said this would defer spending and Council would have to build positions into next year's budget. That would create a structural imbalance that would have to be addressed.“Any creation of a structural imbalance is a risk,” Sanders said. “The question is how much of a risk are you willing to take. When you create the imbalance this year and solve it this way next year, you're saying that your reassessment should be higher to start with. And you can't guarantee that.”Councilor Jen Fleisher said she liked the idea of limiting the real property tax rate increase to a penny as a middle ground option.Councilor Natalie Oschrin said she did not support delaying expanded transit.“I appreciate coming up with the CAT adjustment scenario to try and make it fit,” Oschrin said. “I would prefer not to do that since it just kind of kicks the can down the road a little bit.”Oschrin said she could support using the reserve and eliminating additional funding for Council's strategic initiatives.Councilor Michael Payne said he could support a one penny tax rate increase but said the risk to split funding for CAT personnel would be too high.“I don't like in the past when we've set ourselves up with kind of fiscal cliffs,” Payne said.Mayor Juandiego Wade also said he could support a penny increase.“I appreciate the work that I've done to kind of bring back because we've been hearing from residents about the, the cost of living, the, the tax increase and this I believe is a good, won't satisfy everyone,” Wade said. “But I think it's a good, good compromise if we decide to go in this direction.”No decisions on tax rate at March 26 CIP work sessionThe March 26 work session dealt with the Capital Improvement Program.That's the portion of the budget that sets out what a locality expects to spend on infrastructure over the next five years.“The CIP plan for 27 is just over $47 million with $196 million over the five years,” Hammill said. “If we were to look in terms of dollars spent, education is the highest in this plan, followed by transportation and access, and then affordable housing coming in third.”There were no major changes in this year's CIP. The Charlottesville Planning Commission had a work session on the capital budget in late November and later had a public hearing in December.The five-year CIP currently includes $500,000 a year for a line item called Parks and Recreation Master Plan Implementation. Sanders said that number will increase in the years to come because the master plan adopted by Council in March 2025 had a $78 million price tag over ten years.“We know that those numbers need to be dramatically different if we're going to come anywhere close to that,” Sanders said. “But we now have an assistant city manager here who's going to be working with the team to try to figure out how do we allocate better over the next five year cycle.”Part of the plan calls for major changes to Market Street Park, Court Square Park, Washington Park, and Tonsler Park. Sanders said each will be expensive and staff still needs to work out the timing.Parks and Recreation Director Riaan Anthony said the department will seek grants in addition to tax dollars to pay for the various projects.“In order for us to get there, we have to right size our department and the city,” Anthony said. “We are working in partnership with Public Works, reaching out to their department to say hey, do you have any resources?”There was further discussion of the parks and recreation master plan at the April 6 City Council work session.March 26 work sessionAt the March 26 session there was a further discussion on the possibility of a one cent sales tax increase, what to do with anticipated payment-in-lieu fees for student housing projects, as well as miscellaneous discussions.Toward the end, Sanders hit reset on the discussion of the tax rate. On March 19, there had appeared to be consensus to limit the increase to a penny but Council still had to make decisions.“We're looking for you to finalize what scenario we are actually going with for offsetting, for addressing the fact that you're stepping back from two cent increase on the real estate tax to a one cent increase on the real estate tax,” Sanders said.However, that discussion did not happen at the meeting. Instead, Councilors sent suggestions to Sanders and Hammill via email on how to offset the funding if they wanted to proceed.April 2 wrap-upThe April 2 budget work session was described as a wrap-up session.“The items that are open for discussion that we're looking for answers on is closing out the review of the Vibrant Community Fund process and how Council is looking to utilize your Strategic Initiatives fund,” Sanders said.The Vibrant Community Fund process had been covered at the March 12 work session. This is how nonprofit organizations seek funding from Charlottesville. The full report can be seen here.Mayor Wade wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page regarding the penny increase on the real estate tax rate.“We had initially looked at a two cent tax increase, but we saw options where we could do one,” Wade said. “And I just want to make sure if you, if we have that information we can bring them make sure everyone's on the same page with that. And if I can get a head nod or yes from everyone as we go down the line, make sure we are all okay with that.”As the meeting began, Council had a $228,000 gap to fill if they wanted to go with a penny increase. Hammill displayed the math on a spreadsheet, a spreadsheet made available to the public after I asked for it.The real public hearings on April 6After multiple budget work sessions, Charlottesville City Council held the final set of public hearings on April 6 for the budget for Fiscal Year 2027 as well as the real property tax rate.The only speaker for the tax rate hearing was Richard Spurzem of the development company Neighborhood Properties who urged caution when increasing taxes.“Many communities have a history of reducing the tax rates when assessments go up,” Spurzem said. “For instance in Waynesboro in 2023 they reduced their tax rate from 90 cents to 77 cents.”Spurzem said Charlottesville is increasing the tax burden for business and he said that might lead to investors deciding to go somewhere else. He said the Development Code has so far led to no approvals for major buildings and the current student housing projects of the Verve and the Blume might be the last.“I don't know who's going to build hotels that are going to compete with the brand new hotels that UVA has built on Ivy Road and out at Darden,” Spurzem said.After the public hearing for the tax rate, budget director Krisy Hammill explained that the amended budget is for just over $280 million, higher than what had been recommended by City Manager Sam Sanders on March 6.In addition to including higher revenue forecasts, staff found several line items in the budget that will not be spent down in FY2026 so that money will be added to the FY2027 at around $910,000 in available revenue.“It includes a few accounts that generally we carry over from year to year, including Historic Resources, Sister City Funds, the citywide reserve, the Council Strategic Initiatives account, money or donations that have been received and unspent for the Grand Illumination, the Councilor discretionary funds, the Minority Business Fund and also the job fair,” Hammill said.Two people spoke during the public hearing on the budget including former Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker. She said people are beginning to feel the effects of an increased tax burden and said the city is not expanding the Charlottesville Homeowner Assistance Program fast enough to provide relief.“A lot of low income families are being pushed out and middle income families are struggling,” Walker said. “There are a lot of wealthy people in Charlottesville. We know that they can afford the increase, but because you all are not expanding it at the rate that you need to be, it is not as it was intended to work.”Walker also called on more accountability for Charlottesville City Schools.A second person wanted to know why health care for employees has increased 15 percent and why funding for public transportation is going up 17 percent.“And yet when I see the buses pass here, there, and everywhere, there's not many people riding the buses,” said Richard Finley, a recent Charlottesville resident. “Before you increase so dramatically, do you do an audit or an evaluation of the ridership on the buses?”Finley also asked if the city had ever tried to require the University of Virginia to make a payment in lieu of taxes to cover the cost to use municipal infrastructure.Councilor Lloyd Snook said under state law, a locality cannot compel such a payment but that an institution could make one voluntarily.April 9 adoptionCouncil held a special meeting on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. to formally adopt the tax rates and the budget for FY2027. The deadline under Charlottesville charter is April 15.While there were no surprises, the meeting gives a glimpse into some of the details of how taxation works in Virginia. Changes in Richmond can affect what happens in localities for years to come, such as when a former governor campaigned on elimination of the “car tax.”“The City gets about $3.5 million from the state every year,” said Charlottesville Commissioner of Revenue Todd Divers. “That's kind of what's left over from Governor [Jim] Gilmore's attempt to eliminate personal property tax. They tried it for a while, ran out of money, and then they sort of froze the amounts to all the localities, and that's the amount we get.”The city uses that $3.5 million to offset a percentage of everyone's personal property taxes. Council has to agreed to that number and this year it has been set at 31 percent.“Essentially, if your vehicle qualifies, if it's a personal use vehicle, 31 percent of your tax bill will be paid by the state,” Divers said.Council voted unanimously to approve that number.Next was a resolution to adopt the FY2027 budget and tax levy. City Manager Sam Sanders had some remarks and said that this has been another challenging budget year as he seeks ways to fund spending desired by the City Council.“I continue to talk about Charlottesville as a place that punches above its weight class,” Sanders said. “Every budget cycle is a reminder of that, because we are dedicated to the idea that we are that community and that we want to try to do as many things as we possibly can.”Sanders said the idea of a tax rate increase is hard for many and it weighs on him to have brought one forward.“My goal is always to help you not go but so far in any pursuit that you have as you change that rate, because it does go into the pockets of individuals who have difficulties in our community,” Sanders said.The advertised budget was for a two cent increase, but Council moved that down to one penny throughout the course of their work sessions.Then there was the vote.“We have a budget,” Wade said. “Thank you so much. So, do you like take a month's vacation?”“About an hour,” Hammill said.This reporter knows the feeling.Shout-out / PSA #2: Gretchen Walsh to speak at Emily Couric Leadership Forum on April 27This year's recipient of the Emily Couric Leadership Forum's leadership award is Olympic swimming champion Gretchen Walsh. She will be the speaker at a luncheon to be held at the Omni Hotel Charlottesville on Monday, April 27th at noon. Walsh, a 2025 UVA alum, is one of the most accomplished swimmers of her generation, holding 13 world records across long-course and short-course competition. Online ticket sales for the luncheon begin on Monday, March 23rd. For more information, visit, Emily Couric Leadership Forum dot OrgA rudimentary week ahead to fill a two minute gap in audio This week's edition is a little short so that's a good a time as any to look ahead to what's coming up the week of April 13. Monday the 13th!Let's start with the University of Virginia Board of Visitors who meet the evening of April 15 for a reception and again on April 16 for business. Committees that will convene include the Finance group and the Audit, Risk, and Compliance panel.In Albemarle, the Places29-Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee on Monday will hold a community meeting for a proposed rezoning that would allow for 15 townhouses on a one-acre parcel.On Tuesday, the Albemarle Planning Commission will discuss changes to the county's rule on importing fill dirt and will hold a public hearing on a special use permit for a 400-person religious assembly hall right at Interstate 64's Exit 107 in Crozet.On Wednesday, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors will hear what “big moves” staff wants to make to implement a new Comprehensive Plan. Will lighting reform to protect the Dark Sky be on the list?In the evening, there will be a public hearing on increases of Development Fees as well as the tax rates for the current calendar year. A reminder that this includes a proposed 15 cent increase in the personal property tax rate. Then a public hearing on the budget, but Supervisors will wait a week before finally adopting the document.On Thursday, Albemarle County will hold a public meeting on the future of a pocket park on Hillsdale DriveIn Charlottesville, the Economic Development Authority meets on Tuesday and continue to do so off camera with no recording. Later on the Planning Commission meets and will have a public hearing on Community Development Block Grant funding. The Planning Commission will also take action on a special exception and get a report on a study of student housing fees.Next week the Housing Advisory Committee and the Board of Zoning Appeals will meet.More details in the Week Ahead newsletter that will go out on Sunday.Hello anyone who made it to this line! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Alys Herbert and Katie Williams. Alys and Katie are Second Year students in UVA Darden's Full-Time MBA Class of 2026, and they also led the Student Tutoring program this year. We talk with Alys and Katie about their journeys to Darden, what drew them to the Tutoring program, how many students take advantage this resource, their advice for future MBA students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Chris Clark and Rose Khouri. Chris and Rose are First Year students in UVA Darden's Executive MBA Class of 2027, and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with them about the recent Professional Advancement Course, as well as their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, how their career goals have evolved during their first semester in the program and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

On this week's episode of "Sights + Sounds Picks," Host Jeneé Darden and Producer Porfirio Rangel give their arts and culture suggestions happening in the Bay Area.

Search has changed more in the last two years than in the previous seven combined. Is your small business still getting found? This episode is a live recording from the first ever Localist Lab event, a free live marketing series for small business owners hosted by The Localist. Our speaker is Pam Darden, Director of Account Development at Infomedia, who breaks down exactly how the rise of AI search tools like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews and Perplexity is changing the way customers find local businesses, and what you can do right now to make sure you are still showing up. Pam covers why getting cited by AI is now just as important as ranking on Google, what the E-E-A-T content guidelines mean for your website, how to structure your content so AI can actually quote you, and why the fundamentals of good SEO have not changed even though the platforms delivering customers to you have. If you own a small business and you want practical, actionable steps you can take to improve your visibility in the age of AI search, this episode is exactly that.

In this week's MBA Admissions podcast we began by discussing the current state of the MBA admissions season. We are continuing to see MBA programs release their final decisions. This upcoming week, UPenn / Wharton, London Business School, Stanford, MIT / Sloan, UVA / Darden and Vanderbilt / Owen are releasing their Round 2 decisions. MBA programs are also continuing to their next admissions rounds, including Cambridge / Judge, Berkeley / Haas, UPenn / Wharton, Northwestern / Kellogg, Georgetown / McDonough, Texas / McCombs, UVA / Darden, Vanderbilt / Owen, Minnesota / Carlson, Arizona / Carey, Chicago / Booth and Rice / Jones. Graham highlighted the Spring MBA applicant survey that Clear Admit is conducting. You can access the survey here: https://bit.ly/surveymba26 Graham then noted upcoming Clear Admit events. On May 11, Clear Admit is hosting our in-person admissions event in Atlanta. We are also hosting several Application overview events on May 19 and 20, and May 26 and 27. Signups for these events are here: https://www.clearadmit.com/events Graham then highlighted an MBA admissions tip that focuses on choosing between several MBA program offers. Finally, Graham continued with the Real Humans Alumni series. This week focuses on two alumni from Kellogg / PepsiCo and London Business School / Meta. For this week, for the candidate profile review portion of the show, Alex selected three DecisionWire entries: This week's first MBA admissions candidate wants to work in Consulting and be on the West Coast, post MBA. Their offers include Darden, Mendoza, Goizueta and Merage. This week's second MBA applicant is deciding between Johnson and Scheller. They want to be in the northeast, post MBA. This week's final MBA candidate is deciding between Fuqua and IESE. They are from Latin America and are focused on Health Care. This episode was recorded in Paris, France and Cornwall, England. It was produced and engineered by the fabulous Dennis Crowley in Philadelphia, USA. Thanks to all of you who've been joining us and please remember to rate and review this show wherever you listen!

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Justin Hopkins. Professor Hopkins has taught various courses across Darden's programs and at the UVA Law School including electives on financial reporting and financial statement analysis. He has authored a number of cases helping students to gain a deeper understanding of the content of financial reports, the economic drivers of a firm's financial condition, and the governance characteristics of a company. We talk with Hopkins about his background, what led him to Darden, what drew him to Accounting, how Darden approaches teaching Accounting in the core curriculum, his recent paper on white collar crime prosecutions and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours' faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Justin Hopkins. Professor Hopkins has taught various courses across Darden's programs and at the UVA Law School including electives on financial reporting and financial statement analysis. He has authored a number of cases helping students to gain a deeper understanding of the content of financial reports, the economic drivers of a firm's financial condition, and the governance characteristics of a company. We talk with Hopkins about his background, what led him to Darden, what drew him to Accounting, how Darden approaches teaching Accounting in the core curriculum, his recent paper on white collar crime prosecutions and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

We're celebrating our one-year anniversary! We'll hear from the co-writers of the hit musical "Co-Founders" about their big show coming up soon in Oakland. Then, we'll revisit Host Jeneé Darden's interview with Tony Award-winning actor Francis Jue. And we'll look back at some our favorite and funny moments from the past year.

On this week's Extra Serving, NRN editor in chief Sam Oches and executive editor Alicia Kelso discuss the latest restaurant industry news, including Burger King's new ad campaign, Darden's impressive sales performance, and Fat Brands' lifeline in the midst of its bankruptcy proceedings. First up is Burger King, which introduced a new advertisement during the Oscars ceremony that crowned its customers as the new “king." The ad, narrated by president Tom Curtis, acknowledges that Burger King had lost its way over the years and lost sight of what its guests really wanted from the brand. The campaign harkens back to Domino's 2010 campaign in which it claimed that its pizza “sucked.” Curtis and Restaurant Brands International executive chairman J. Patrick Doyle were each with Domino's at that time and seem to be ripping a page right from its playbook in an attempt to jump start Burger King's performance. Sam and Alicia discuss the new campaign and whether they think it could help the chain capture market share from McDonald's and Wendy's. Next up is Darden, which reported consolidated same-store sales growth of 4.2% in its most recent quarter. Most impressive was the company's LongHorn Steakhouse brand, which registered 7.2% same-store sales growth. What seems to be going right for Darden — and does it suggest anything more broadly about the full-service sector? Sam and Alicia discuss. Then they tackle the Fat Brands saga, the latest episode of which includes CEO Andy Wiederhorn stepping aside as the portfolio company navigates through Ch. 11 bankruptcy proceedings. What should the restaurant industry learn from this mess? Finally, Sam and Alicia introduce a new segment, Quick Fire, where they swiftly tackle additional headlines from the week, which this week included Maggiano's turnaround strategy, CAVA's first Ohio location, Chipotle's cilantro lime sauce, and Raising Cane's 1,000th location. For more on these stories: Burger King crowns its guests as the ‘New King'Darden Restaurants' sales continue to growFAT Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn steps down during remainder of bankruptcy process

An old rejected filing has come to light from Kouri Richins defense team where Richins' lawyers ask for the court to appoint a lawyer for Kouri Richins' Mom, Lisa Darden. Was Darden the mastermind in Eric Richins' murder? Why did the unexpected opiate OD death of Darden's lover Trudy Moore look so similar to Eric Richins' murder from Fentanyl? And what did the investigation into Lisa Darden's involvement in the murder of Eric Richins turn up? Let's talk about it!Get access to exclusive content & support the podcast by a Patron today! https://patreon.com/robertaglasstruecrimereportThrow a tip in the tip jar! https://buymeacoffee.com/robertaglassSupport Roberta by sending a donation via Venmo. https://venmo.com/robertaglassBecome a chanel member for custom Emojis, first looks and exclusive streams here: https://youtube.com/@robertaglass/joinShow Notes:Fox News "Lisa Darden Search Warrant" - https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/document-5.pdf#:~:text=On%205%2F8%2F2023%2C%20Detectives%20served%20a,was%20recovered%20and%20identified%20asMeghann Cunniff “Kouri Richins, Mother, Brother Discuss Poison Love Note Claims…“ - https://youtu.be/tB0593kvMzI?si=kpUL-Of5VJSBtDL5Daily Mail "EXCLUSIVE: Moscow mule victim left written INSTRUCTIONS for his family to 'check out' his now accused killer wife 'if anything happens to him' - and had suspected her of cheating but stayed in the marriage for his three children " - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12073983/Moscow-mule-victim-told-family-blame-wife-happened-him.htmlFox 13 "Did Kouri Richins Mother Help Her Daughter Commit Murder?" - https://www.fox13now.com/news/crime/investigation-shows-kouri-richins-mother-possibly-helped-kill-daughters-husbandKUTV "Kouri Richins' mother, Lisa Darden, investigated in 2006 death of 'romantic partner" - https://kutv.com/news/local/kouri-richins-mother-lisa-darden-investigated-in-2006-death-of-romantic-partner-lisa-darden-eric-richins-summit-county-sheriffs-office-murder-homicide-drug-overdose KUTV "'She's innocent': Kouri Richins brother says he talks to sister every day" - https://youtu.be/PS_NUMoC9Rc?si=8hsmHbPSvtqlISdMCourt TV "Kouri Richins Other Fatal Overdose in the Family" - https://youtu.be/OSPTekPxIhc?si=qELH-67BiHYdIwqTGood Morning America "Family of Mom Accused of Murdering Husband & Writing Book on Grief Speaks Out " - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPG44QGdsIs48 Hours "The People Vs. Kouri Richins" - https://youtu.be/ie2DflEVCq4?si=jkf3tD5KdYRzXoLl Court TV “Utah V Kouri Richins Closing Arguments” - https://youtu.be/sCzeuPcs_oQ?si=0S-wOUaKySxPY1cqNewsworthy Women “Creepy Coincidence..” - https://newsworthywomen.com/2026/03/21/new-twist-richins-mom-tied-to-20-year-old-case/Court TV “Jury Sees Bodycam in Response..” - https://youtu.be/L9ueYFSW-qY?si=GL_p-dABlOU9NEbpGertrude “Trudy” Moore Obituary - https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/news-journalonline/name/gertrude-moore-obituary?id=26046460NY Post “Kouri Richins' Mom's Lesbian Lover..” - https://nypost.com/2026/03/20/us-news/kouri-richins-moms-lesbian-lover-also-died-of-suspicious-overdose-and-was-found-foaming-at-the-mouth/ Daily Mail “Wealthy Author's..” - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/crime-desk/article-15661175/kouri-richins-mother-lover-mysterious-overdose-death-utah.htmlRead Kouri Richins “Walk the Dog” letter here- https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23980331-kouri-richins-walk-the-dog-letter/Roberta Glass True Crime Report "Did Mom Commit Murder?" - https://www.youtube.com/live/XSlo4NlQFAU?si=3GjyLQ5wiBcOlEWlRoberta Glass True Crime Report "Kouri Richins Murder Trial Day 1" - https://www.youtube.com/live/-TxYhmchMkM?si=SVgsLBDEaCq9HL5G&t=26284Thank you Patrons!Beth, Shelley Safford, Carol Mumumeci, Therese Tunks, JC, Lizzy D, Elizabeth Drake, Texas Mimi, Barb, Deborah Shults, Ratliff, Stephanie Lamberson, Maryellen Sudol, Mona, Karen Pacini, Jen Buell, Marie Horton, ER, Rosie Grace, B. Rabbit, Sally Merrick, Amanda D, Mary B, Mrs Jones, Amy Gill, Eileen, Wesley Loves Octoberfest, Erin (Kitties1993), Anna Quint, Cici Guteriez, Sandra Loves GatsbyHannna, Christy, Jen Buell, Elle Solari, Carol Cardella, Jennifer Harmon, DoxieMama65, Carol Holderman, Joan Mahon, Marcie Denton, Rosanne Aponte, Johnny Jay, Jude Barnes, JenTheRN, Victoria Devenish, Jeri Falk, Kimberly Lovelace, Penni Miller, Jil, Janet Gardner, Jayne Wallace (JaynesWhirled), Pat Brooks, Jennifer Klearman, Judy Brown, Linda Lazzaro, Suzanne Kniffin, Susan Hicks, Jeff Meadors, D Samlam, Pat Brooks, Cythnia, Bonnie Schoeneman-Dilley, Diane Larsen, Mary, Kimberly Philipson, Cat Stewart, Cindy Pochesci, Kevin Crecy, Renee Chavez, Melba Pourteau, Julie K Thomas, Mia Wallace, Stark Stuff, Kayce Taylor, Alice, Dean, GiGi5, Jennifer Crum, Dana Natale, Bewildered Beauty, Pepper, Joan Chakonas, Blythe, Pat Dell, Lorraine Reid, T.B., Melissa, Victoria Gray Bross, Toni Woodland, Danbrit, Kenny Haines and Toni Natalie.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Anna Caughron. Anna is a Program Manager with Darden's Institute for Business in Society, and we talk with her about the Golub Capital Board Fellows program.  The Board Fellows program connects Darden students with local nonprofit organizations for a unique opportunity in board service. Fellows serve as non-voting board members while simultaneously participating in classroom courses in board governance. In addition, Golub Capital Board Fellows have a lasting impact on their nonprofit partners by completing a meaningful project for their nonprofit over the course of the program.  For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Andy Wiederhorn is out at FAT Brands. Darden continues to outperform the casual-dining segment. And a Midwest buffet chain is shrinking its footprint.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jim Collins and Jennifer Windus. Jim and Jennifer are Career Coaches with Darden's Professional Degree Programs Career team, and we talk with them about the Professional Advancement Course, a required, career-focused course that takes place during January term in the first year of the Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA programs. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Charlie Meyer. Charlie is a second year student in Darden's Full-Time MBA Class of 2026. He is also the President of Net Impact at Darden. We talk with Charlie about what led him to Darden, what drew him to Net Impact, his experience with the Golub Board Fellows program and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Aaron Hines grew up on construction sites learning the trade from his grandfather before ever imagining he would run a remodeling company. Today he leads Dallas-based Darden Hines Design + Build, delivering projects that range from whole home remodels to swimming pools. In this powerful conversation, Aaron shares the lessons that reshaped how he runs his business and how he thinks about leadership. He reveals the mindset shifts that helped him break out of the owner operator trap and build a company designed to grow far beyond the owner. In this episode you will learn: How Aaron built a community of industry peers who challenge him and support his growth The approach he uses to turn everyday decisions into processes his team can follow How Aaron forecasts the direction of his business so he can plan the future with confidence The way Aaron celebrates wins inside his company and why it fuels long term momentum The best piece of business advice Aaron has received and how it shaped the way he leads Listen to the episode to learn more. Resources: Visit the Darden Hines Design + Build website here.

Recorded in Atlanta during the Art Papers symposium: Fire Ecology Artist Antonio Darden joins Duncan MacKenzie and Brian Andrews in Atlanta, where the conversation opens with one of the most arresting images in Darden's recent work: an alien laid out on an autopsy table. What begins as a discussion of a strange installation quickly unfolds into a deeply personal exploration of grief, memory, and the ways artists translate trauma into form. Darden describes the work Last One Left, a project that emerged from a cascade of personal losses: the deaths of his mother, brother, and father, leaving him the final surviving member of his immediate family. The alien body becomes a surrogate figure, a way to approach unbearable realities obliquely. Humor, conspiracy culture, and pop imagery become tools for making painful subjects accessible without dulling their impact. As Darden explains, confronting audiences with a literal body can shut down reflection, but a grey alien opens a space where grief can be processed at a distance before it lands. The conversation moves through the complicated emotional landscape that shaped these works: family histories stretching from Trinidad to New York, the lingering trauma of police violence after his brother's death in Atlanta, and the strange burden of becoming the keeper of a family archive of memories, objects, and stories. Darden reflects on what it means to inherit not only possessions but also responsibility for the narrative of a family's past. From there, the discussion shifts to Darden's increasingly theatrical performance practice. He recounts a recent performance staged in an entirely blacked-out theater that blended wrestling mythology, Atlanta rap history, gospel music, cinematic references, and sculptural staging into a chaotic and emotional ritual. Undertaker imagery, Pastor Troy, Lil' Kim, and The Naked Gun collide in a deliberately excessive spectacle meant to mirror the overwhelming density of memory and grief. Throughout the conversation, Darden describes his work as a kind of mental montage. Cars, hip-hop, conspiracy theories, television shows, and family trauma coexist in the same symbolic landscape. Rather than separating high and low culture, he embraces the full range of references that shape lived experience. The episode also turns toward the future, as Darden reflects on fatherhood and the challenge of raising a young son while carrying the weight of family history. In contrast to the losses that haunt his work, his son's creativity and confidence offer a different kind of legacy. What emerges is a portrait of an artist using humor, spectacle, and cultural collage to navigate the most difficult questions of survival, responsibility, and memory. Name Drop List: Antonio Darden – https://www.antoniogdarden.com Craig Drennen – https://craigdrennen.com Jared Christian – https://www.instagram.com/jaredchristian Devonté Hynes – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dev_Hynes Blood Orange – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Orange_(musician) Young Thug – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Thug Shawty Lo – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawty_Lo Pastor Troy – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastor_Troy Lil' Kim – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil%27_Kim John P. Kee – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_P._Kee Gillian Anderson – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillian_Anderson Dana Scully – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Scully The X-Files – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X-Files Tupac Shakur – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur Michael Jackson – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_%26_Order:_Special_Victims_Unit Olivia Benson – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Benson Gordon Ramsay – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_Nightmares Kanye West – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanye_West Bound 2 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bound_2 The Ponderosa Twins Plus One – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ponderosa_Twins_Plus_One The Undertaker – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertaker Priscilla Presley – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priscilla_Presley Leslie Nielsen – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Nielsen The Naked Gun – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Naked_Gun Cyclops – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclops_(Marvel_Comics) X-Men '97 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Men_%2797 Radcliffe Bailey – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radcliffe_Bailey Art Papers – https://www.artpapers.org/ Fire Ecology – https://www.artpapers.org/fire-ecology/  

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with friend of the podcast, Whitney Kestner. Whitney is current co-leading Darden's Admissions team, and we talk with her the recent announcement of waves for our Round 3 Full-Time MBA deadline, recent rankings highlights for Darden, forthcoming resources for admitted students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Episode Overview In this episode, John Kitchens sits down with Connie Alexander and Gene Darden to unpack the real power of getting in the right rooms. From masterminds and industry events to late-night strategy conversations that change the trajectory of your business, this conversation dives deep into why collaboration—not isolation—is the real growth engine for agents. Connie and Gene share the story behind launching the Further Together event in Birmingham, an agent-led gathering designed to bring real estate professionals together to share ideas, strategies, and momentum for the year ahead. They break down how events like this are created, why agents need them now more than ever, and how one room can completely change your career. If you've ever wondered whether attending events, masterminds, or networking rooms actually matter, this episode is a powerful reminder that the right conversation at the right time can unlock your next level. As John says: sometimes the lesson you need is already in the room—you just have to show up. Key Topics Covered The Power of Getting in the Right Room Why the biggest breakthroughs often happen in conversations outside the stage How mastermind environments accelerate growth and collaboration The value of surrounding yourself with agents who want others to win The Story Behind the "Further Together" Event Why Connie and Gene launched an agent-led event for the Birmingham real estate community Creating a space where agents can collaborate regardless of brokerage Designing an event focused on growth, learning, and real conversations Why Events Matter More Than Ever How isolation limits growth for entrepreneurs and agents The importance of community in a rapidly changing real estate industry Why relationships—not tactics—often create the biggest breakthroughs Breakthrough Moments from Industry Events Connie's life-changing experience at a Tom Ferry event that shifted her perspective on real estate as a business Gene's first Kitchen Table mastermind experience and how it expanded his vision The unexpected relationships and opportunities that come from simply showing up Designing a Successful Real Estate Event How Connie and Gene approached building the Further Together event Aligning the vision, budget, speakers, and experience Why collaboration and clear roles make events successful The Future of Real Estate Collaboration Why AI, shifting consumer behavior, and industry changes make collaboration essential How events help agents adapt faster and stay ahead The importance of learning from agents at every stage of the business Resources & Mentions Further Together Birmingham Event → https://furthertogether26birmingham.ticketspice.com/further-together-2026-birmingham Seven Figure Strategy Call → 7FigureCall.com John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach Kitchen Table Mastermind Final Takeaway The right room can change everything. One conversation. One relationship. One idea you hadn't considered. That's why the best agents invest in getting around people who think bigger, share openly, and push each other forward. As Gene puts it: "You never know which conversation is going to change your business. But you'll never find it if you don't get in the room." And as Connie reminds us: "This is an industry built on relationships—and that includes the relationships we build with each other." Because in real estate—and in life—we truly go further together. Connect with Us: Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time!

SUMMARY In this engaging conversation, Reggie Darden shares his journey into martial arts, discussing his early influences, the impact of iconic figures like Bruce Lee, and his experiences with Kempo training. The discussion also touches on the technical aspects of podcasting and the challenges faced in balancing technology with content creation. In this conversation, Reggie Darden shares his unique journey through martial arts, starting from his childhood fascination with karate to his experiences in the military and his exploration of various martial arts styles, including Capoeira. He discusses the challenges and joys of cross-training in multiple disciplines, the sense of community within martial arts, and his motivation to start a podcast to share stories and insights from the martial arts world. He also discusses the joys of storytelling through podcasting, the impact of martial arts on personal growth, and the importance of community. The conversation also touches on the evolution of Reggie's podcast, 'My Empty Hands,' and the significance of embracing fear to pursue new opportunities.   TAKEAWAYS Reggie has been interested in martial arts since childhood. He started formal training in the early 90s. Influenced by martial arts films, especially The Perfect Weapon. Bruce Lee's impact on martial arts is undeniable, but he feels he's overrated. The Perfect Weapon inspired Reggie to pursue Kempo. Reggie's father had concerns about martial arts being dangerous. Reggie enjoys the technical side of podcasting. Reggie watched martial arts classes for nearly a year before training. Reggie trained intensely once he officially started karate. He joined the army and sought martial arts training on base. Capoeira classes offer a unique and energetic experience. The martial arts community fosters instant connections among practitioners. Cross-training can blur the lines between different martial arts styles. Podcasting about martial arts was inspired by other shows. Reggie enjoys sharing stories from various martial artists. Inspiration can come from unexpected places. Embrace fear as a motivator for action. Life is too short to hesitate on your passions. Start today instead of waiting for the perfect moment. Community support is vital in martial arts and beyond.   To connect with Reggie Darden: www.myemptyhands.net   Join our EXCLUSIVE newsletter to get notified of each episode as it comes out! Subscribe — whistlekick Martial Arts Radio

Jury selection just wrapped in one of the most anticipated murder trials of 2026. On February 23rd, Kouri Richins goes to trial for allegedly poisoning her husband Eric with fentanyl—and the case could go either way.The prosecution has bombshell evidence. Google searches for lethal fentanyl doses. Texts to her boyfriend wishing Eric would "go away." A Valentine's Day sandwich that allegedly contained fentanyl and left Eric reaching for an EpiPen. Nearly $2 million in insurance policies prosecutors say she took out without his knowledge. A jail letter prosecutors describe as witness tampering instructions.But the defense just landed a devastating blow. Robert Crozier, the man prosecutors say supplied the fentanyl through Kouri's housekeeper, recanted his statement in October 2025. He now claims he sold OxyContin, not fentanyl, and was "out of it" during his original interview. No fentanyl was ever found in the home.The trial will last five weeks. Over 100 witnesses. More than 1,000 exhibits. And several key pieces of evidence the jury won't hear—including Kouri's claims that Eric was abusive and a domestic violence expert the judge barred from testifying.There's also the shadow of Kouri's mother. Lisa Darden's romantic partner died of an oxycodone overdose in 2006. Darden had recently been named beneficiary. She was present the night Eric died. No charges filed.Today we break down what both sides will argue, where the weaknesses are, and what eight jurors will have to decide. This isn't a simple case. The evidence cuts both ways—and the verdict is far from certain.#KouriRichins #TrueCrimeToday #EricRichins #MurderTrial2026 #FentanylPoisoning #UtahCrime #TrialPreview #WitnessRecantation #SummitCounty #TrueCrimeNewsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

The Kouri Richins case looks like an open-and-shut murder. A Utah mom allegedly poisons her husband with fentanyl, attempts to collect insurance money, writes a children's book about grief. Case closed, right?Not even close.As trial begins on February 23rd, the evidence that seems most damning keeps shifting. The prosecution's key witness—the man who allegedly supplied the fentanyl—now says he never sold fentanyl at all. He claims he was detoxing during his original police interview and doesn't remember what he said. No pills were ever recovered from the Richins home.But that's not the hidden layer that haunts this case.Kouri's defense tried to introduce evidence that Eric was abusive—that he'd given her a black eye. The judge excluded it. A domestic violence expert was barred from testifying. Whatever truth exists about their marriage, the jury won't hear that side.Then there's Kouri's mother, Lisa Darden. In 2006, Darden's romantic partner died of an oxycodone overdose—shortly after naming Darden as her estate's beneficiary. The detective investigating Eric's death wrote that it's "possible" Darden was involved in planning Eric's death. She was present the night he died. No charges have been filed.This episode breaks down what's hidden beneath the headlines: the recanted witness, the excluded evidence, the mother's shadow, and the financial desperation that may have driven everything. We examine both the prosecution's architecture and the defense's grenades.Eight jurors will decide Kouri's fate. But they won't have the full picture—and neither will you unless you hear what got left out.#KouriRichins #HiddenKillers #EricRichins #FentanylMurder #LisaDarden #WitnessRecantation #UtahMurderTrial #TrueCrimePodcast #ExcludedEvidence #SummitCountyJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

Trial begins February 23rd. Kouri Richins faces charges she allegedly poisoned her husband Eric with fentanyl. Defense attorney Bob Motta breaks down what the defense has to work with—and where the prosecution is exposed.Robert Crozier, the alleged fentanyl supplier, recanted his original statement in October 2025. He now claims he sold OxyContin, not fentanyl, and was "detoxing" during his 2023 interview. The recantation creates a significant credibility issue for the prosecution's drug supply chain narrative.No fentanyl was ever recovered from the Richins home. The evidence linking Kouri to the drug is entirely testimonial. Bob explains how the defense will exploit that gap.The judge excluded evidence that Eric was allegedly abusive and barred a domestic violence expert from testifying. That ruling removes a key defense narrative—but Bob analyzes whether alternative approaches exist.Prosecutors will present Kouri's Google searches: "lethal dose of fentanyl," "luxury prisons for the rich," "permanently delete information from iPhone." Devastating on their face—but Bob explores possible reframings.The "Walk the Dog" letter allegedly found in her jail cell appears to contain witness tampering instructions. The defense says it's fiction from a 65-page manuscript she was writing. The judge partially admitted it.Lisa Darden—Kouri's mother—adds another dimension. Her romantic partner died of an oxycodone overdose in 2006 shortly after naming Darden as beneficiary. A detective wrote it's "possible" she was involved in planning Eric's death. She was present the night he died.Five weeks. 100+ witnesses. 1,000+ exhibits. This is the defense perspective.#KouriRichins #EricRichins #RichinsTrial #FentanylPoisoning #TrialPreview #DefenseStrategy #WitnessRecantation #LisaDarden #UtahMurder #HiddenKillersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

Kouri Richins goes to trial February 23rd on charges she allegedly poisoned her husband Eric with fentanyl. The prosecution has over 100 witnesses and 1,000 exhibits. But defense attorney Bob Motta says this case has vulnerabilities that could create reasonable doubt.Robert Crozier—the man prosecutors say supplied fentanyl to Kouri's housekeeper—recanted in October 2025. He now says he sold OxyContin, not fentanyl, and was "detoxing" during his original statement. The judge still denied bail, but that recantation matters at trial.No fentanyl was ever recovered from the Richins home. The only physical evidence is what was in Eric's body. Everything linking Kouri to the drug is testimony—and the defense will attack that testimony's credibility.The judge excluded evidence that Eric was allegedly abusive and barred a domestic violence expert from testifying. Bob analyzes what that exclusion costs the defense and whether alternative strategies exist.Prosecutors will present Kouri's Google searches after Eric's death: "lethal dose of fentanyl," "luxury prisons for the rich," "permanently delete information from iPhone." Bob explores whether any defense framing can survive that evidence.The "Walk the Dog" letter allegedly found in Kouri's jail cell appears to contain witness tampering instructions. The defense says it's fiction from a manuscript she was writing. The judge partially admitted it.And there's a shadow: Lisa Darden, Kouri's mother. Her romantic partner died of an oxycodone overdose in 2006 after naming Darden as beneficiary. A detective wrote it's "possible" she was involved in Eric's death.This is the defense playbook before trial begins.#KouriRichins #KouriRichinsTrial #EricRichins #FentanylMurder #UtahTrial #RobertCrozier #DefenseStrategy #WitnessRecantation #TrueCrime #HiddenKillersJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.