Verbally Effective

White Haven, TN native Candace Spicer joins me for EP 172 of the Verbally Effective Podcast. She's an author, model, actress and creator of the new Memphis based reality show Bluff City Bellas. Tune in as Candace walks us through her journey dealing with insecurities, her thoughts on the evolution of the modeling industry and why she developed an online reality show in the Bluff City.

East Memphis native, Mille Manny is waking up the industry with his Hip-Hop immersed R&B vocals. He just happens to be the youngest ever guest on the Verbally Effective Podcast. Millie found his passion for music at the age of fourteen and has had two songs featured on NBA2K21 in addition to making his television debut in the Lifetime reality TV show, Ms. T’s Music Factory. This young crooner has...

Whitehaven, TN native Deric "Sleezy" Evans began his love for comedy at a very young age. This actor, comedian and radio personality earned a Bachelors degree in Human Performance Sports Science from Tennessee State, and secured a coveted membership in the world famous Aristocrat of Bands. Deric discusses very humble beginnings in the comedy game once he graduated college. However he continued to...

Tune in to South Memphis Legend IBN Young AKA Playa Fly as he gets Verbally Effective with Ena Esco on Ep 169. Playa Fly is an artist, writer, musician, and entertainer who became a certified hood celebrity at the age of 21. Many of us still to this day recite verbatim Memphis anthems such as “Gettin It On,” “Crownin Me,” and “Nobody Needs Nobody.” He talks of his close relationship with his grand...

West Memphis, AR native Carmeon Hamilton is HGTV's most recent and only African American Design Star: Next Gen Winner. Carmeon exists in a space where there are eighty percent Whites and two percent Blacks often being one of very few in her profession. Her love for design flourished when she was in college as a RA and rearranged her space with a hot pink and zebra theme. She immediately changed he...

Frayser native Dr. Bobby White is the Founder and CEO of Frayser Community Schools - a Charter Management Organization designed with the intent of positively transforming schools with the support of the community to build Family Centered Schools in Frayser// and Memphis Communities as a whole. Take a listen as Dr. White walks us through his journey of becoming a single parent to a child with a dis...

Jason “Jay” Anderson hails from City of Smiles - Grenada Mississippi. At a young age Jay had an affinity for science, music, and business. After becoming a hall of fame graduate of Grenada High School, he jumped headfirst into corporate America as the youngest African American human resource representative for Lennox International Incorporated. Jason thrived in this arena fast tracking into fields...

It's all about balance for episode's 161 guest Meridith Miller Rucker. Having a strong support system has aided this South Memphis native in accomplishing a plethora of goals. Meridith is currently the Director of Program Development for Bridges, yoga instructor, writer, wife, and mother. She discusses navigating through private institutions during her formative years that was very rewarding acade...

Meet Whitehaven, TN native and fashion designer Prep Curry. When he arrived in Los Angeles, California with only $6 to his name to work on his dream of becoming an accomplished fashion designer, he had no idea where his journey would lead. Five years later, history has been made as Prep Curry has grown his craft from creating bowties and pocket squares to become the first African American designer...

Finance professional and podcaster, Willams D. Brack, is originally from the Delta of Greenwood, MS. Growing up he faced much adversity moving to Chicago, IL for a few years and coming back to the midsouth with family in Memphis, TN at the age of thirteen. He learned a plethora of life skills at a very early age and excelled in academics and sports graduating summa cum laude from Carver High Schoo...

Mike Ware, Jr. is an entrepreneur who is part owner of Chuckles Comedy House and the Cockeyed Rooster. He was born and raised in Whitehaven, TN and graduated from Overton High School in 1998. Mike received a chorus scholarship to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and majored in Communications. Upon graduation, he began working in radio sales at WRBO where he gained his confidence in building r...

South Memphis native, Larry Dodson, has experienced a total reset since the pandemic. From writing a book, to becoming a spokesperson for Guidance Whiskey, Larry has created many opportunities for himself. It all began in South Memphis at Carver High School when he started a group called the Temprees. Once he graduated, he joined the Bar-Kays and began his entertainment journey. On this episode yo...

White Haven native, Jimmy Stokes II, is ready to wake up the city of Horn Lake, MS. He is currently the City Planning Commissioner for Ward 5 and Pastor at Northeast Side Church of Christ. Her grew up as a preacher's kid and always knew he would one day become a pastor. He proposed to the love of his life his senior year in college and officially started his ministry after graduation. These days J...

East Memphis native, Nia Dorsey, is a model, actress, writer and entrepreneur. 2021 has started with a bang being featured in British Vogue, Vanity Fair and the recent season of VH1's Basketball Wives. Take a listen as Nia walks us through her formative years playing sports in high school, attending University of Memphis and how she started taking her role in the modeling and the entertainment ind...

Felicia Jarrell is a walking goldmine of resources for those who want to step out of their comfort zones to pursue their calling and create generational wealth. She is the owner of Goldmine & CoCo which is a luxury stationery business featuring hand-drawn images everyday African American women. Felicia is also a six-figure luxury business coach providing aspiring eCommerce startups and veteran ent...

Jasmine Wilson moved to Memphis about eight years ago and knew she would have many opportunities in the city, but had no idea she would fall in love with both its soul and the people. She is currently a business coach, healthcare/non profit expert, and recently elected as West Tennessee Vice Chair for the Tennessee Democratic Party. Jasmine comes from a military and multigenerational household soa...

Henry Reaves III roots reach back to Benton County, MS and White Haven, TN. He is the owner of one of the largest African American law firms in the country, Reaves Law Firm, PLLC. Henry was raised in a middle class military family living in various time zones including California and Japan. Life was good until the crack epidemic infiltrated his world. Unfortunately, Henry's father fell victim and...

Latrivia Welch is the President and CEO of RiverHouse Publishing, LLC, an indie publishing house for self-published authors spending her time helping people realize their artistic dreams through literature. She currently represents over 75 authors nationally. Welch is the founder of the Russian Romance genre which includes a black heroine lead. If you find this interesting, please take a listen as...

From corporate employee to full-time entrepreneur, Dana James Mwangi's journey began within Parkway Village community in southeast Memphis, Tennessee. Dana describes herself as that "art kid" during her formative years. After graduating college, Dana jumped right into the world of digital design working a few corporate gigs learning the tricks of the trade. She also freelanced at the time building...

Growing up in South Memphis at College and McClemore, James Alexander was a music legend in the making. Just a stone's throw away from Stax Records, James played football and was a part of a band while attending Booker T. Washington High School. Immediately after graduating high school, he was on a plane with his bandmates headed to New York City to play his very first gig at the Apollo Theatre wi...

Meet Orange Mound native and certified dietitian/nutritionist Ryan Zuber. Take a listen as "Your Favorite Nutritionist" shares his remarkable journey of how he entered the nutrition field on EP 152. Many don't know that it was because of his wife's illness that he challenged himself to learn and do everything he could to save her life. And he did just that. As a result, Ryan has been of service to...

Huntsville, AL native, Ali Manning, moved to Memphis about eleven years ago and hasn't looked back. She made that move must three weeks after graduating from Alabama A&M landing her dream job as a food scientist. She later started Umami Food Consulting and created Food Science 4 Kids. Take a listen as Ali breaks down her expertise as a food scientist and how this field has yielded many opportuniti...

So many times we continue to fight the current of our passions. That's exactly what my guest for episode 150 did until he broke free. David Quarles, IV is one of the most sought after interior designers and jewelry artists in the mid south and beyond. Being of African/Afro-Caribbean, European, and Indigenous-American descent, he allows appreciation of culture to influence how he views the world. H...

North Memphis native, Michalyn Easter-Thomas, was elected to the Memphis City Council District 7 seat in November 2019. She speaks of fond memories growing up in the Vollintine-Evergreen community as she matriculated through the Memphis City school system. Michalyn took her educational quest to a new level graduating from Christian Brothers University and later attending Columbia University of New...

Jeremy Pierre comes to the Bluff City from the Crescent City, where he was prepped at the storied St. Augustine High School. Continuing his education in the city of New Orleans, he graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, broadcast concentration. Jeremy launched his reporting career as an intern at NBC affiliate WDSU Channel 6. After worki...