Creative Roots Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Support the show Thanks for listening! If this episode hit home, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share it with a fellow creative on their journey.  Where to find us: Website: www.creativerootspodcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CreativeRootsPodcast IG/TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/creativeroots.podcast https://www.tiktok.com/@creativeroots.podcast Facebook: http...

Send us Fan Mail Chef Darius J is BACK! And what better way to kick off our annual Thanksgiving episodes than bringing a familiar face back to the table? This time around, Chef DJ joins us to talk about his latest venture: Sage & Citrus! We get into his new restaurant, the grand opening, and what it's been like stepping into this next chapter of his culinary journey. But you know every bu...

Send us Fan Mail Surprise! This week, Tae isn't on camera, and Deana G is taking over! That's right! Deana takes the lead as we welcome Harry, owner of Carrie's Floral Designs, for a conversation about business, flowers, friendship, and the connections that bring a community together. Harry shares the story behind his business, the journey that brought him to where he is today, and...

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest thing holding your business back…is you? Today on Creative Roots, I sit down with Emi Kirschner of Ceraluna Consulting, an intuitive strategic advisor who helps service-based founders pursue profit without sacrifice and leadership without burnout. We also get a surprise visit from Dyme Witherspoon of Dyme Digital Media, a returning guest, friend to both of us,...

Send us Fan Mail We were supposed to have a little one-on-one conversation… but Shamar and Deana made it to the studio, so you already know how that went. This week on Creative Roots, the three of us sit down for a conversation about where we've been, what's still coming in 2026, and where we could take Creative Roots in 2027. We start with a quick look at how Creative Roots has been goi...

Send us Fan Mail Let's Talk About This Live! | Creative Roots Christmas LIVE It's that time again! We're getting ready for our Creative Roots Christmas LIVE, and this year, we're bringing it back with a little more holiday spirit! Deana G., Shamar, and I sit down to talk about our upcoming Christmas LIVE, happening December 12th from 2 PM–5 PM at Charlotte Podcast Studio - aka...

Send us Fan Mail I sat down with Shaleiah Sanders, founder of Life For The Hopeless Foundation, for a conversation about what it really means to show up for your community. For more than five years, Shaleiah has been advocating for people in need and working to raise awareness around mental health, behavioral health, and access to resources-particularly within underserved communities. Her organiza...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when your own life becomes a documentary? In this episode of Creative Roots, I sit down with Brian Daye, writer of By Any Other Name: An Opus to James Baldwin . We spend time diving into the play, the inspiration behind it, and the many layers of James Baldwin’s life and work. But the conversation goes beyond the stage. We talk about how the different aspects of Baldw...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes you have to stop and celebrate the wins. I sat down with Ollie Crooms again, but this time, we weren't talking about what could happen.  We were talking about what DID happen. Eight Ball has been award-nominated and award-winning multiple times, has surpassed 15,000 views on YouTube alone, and is now available on OMNI TV Plus! In this conversation, we talk about wha...

Send us Fan Mail What if we told you there's more to a maple tree than maple syrup? Nicole Bentler from Pocono Maple Water reached out to Creative Roots as a potential guest, and we're so glad she did! Nicole introduces the Creative Roots team to something that may be new to many of us: maple water.  The naturally occurring sap collected from maple trees before it becomes maple syrup. Sh...

Send us Fan Mail Marcus Scott is in the building! Award-nominated actor, award-winning Best Male Lead, producer, and an all-around great guy to be around, Marcus joins Tae on Creative Roots and gets right to it. We talk about the realities of pursuing a career in the film industry, what it means to remove compassion for the industry, and the importance of continuing to sharpen your craft. Marcus o...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes, getting to the next level is about putting yourself in the right rooms. Tae sits down with Jennifer Starr-director, producer, actress, and film lover-for a conversation that started at the Queen City Triple Feature with a surprising discovery: they had both worked on the same short film, Eight Ball . And the connections didn't stop there. During the premiere, Tae a...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when childhood, culture, and imagination come together? This week on Creative Roots, Tae sits down with Zenzi Hodge, a children's book author, dedicated mother, and creative originally from the Virgin Islands. With two books under her belt, The Never Snowy Christmas and I Am , Zenzi joins us for a conversation that quickly turned into more than a discussion about...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a special one because we're introducing something we've been building behind the scenes: Studio 212 (pronounced two-twelve). Shamar and Tae sit down to discuss the vision behind our newest creative space and the endless possibilities it offers. Whether you're a photographer in need of a professional studio, an entrepreneur looking to host a workshop,...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a celebration - 10 years of Alan Lux Studios! A decade in business is no small feat, and today, Tae sits down with Shamar to reflect on the journey behind the milestone. From the highs and lows of entrepreneurship to the lessons learned through perseverance, this conversation is packed with honest experiences and hard-earned wisdom. We talk about what it really tak...

Send us Fan Mail Natasha Oates is back! Earlier this year, Natasha joined us for a powerful conversation surrounding mental health. This time, she returns to tackle a topic that affects countless creatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals: Imposter Syndrome . How many business opportunities, creative ideas, and dreams have been left on the table because of fear? Together, we explore the many ways...

Send us Fan Mail Deana G is back in the lead seat! This episode, Deana sits down with two special guests, Fantah Hooker and Trayshaun, the writer and director behind A Blues 4 Mama . What began as a teacher's passion for passing knowledge to the next generation has grown into a powerful stage production that challenges audiences to think, reflect, and connect. We discuss the journey of bringi...

Send us Fan Mail If you've been thinking about attending the Empowered Podcasting Conference, this episode is your inside look at everything you need to know. Tae sits down with Jason Cercone to talk about what makes the Empowered Podcasting Conference different from the typical industry event. We discuss why Charlotte was chosen to host the conference, who it's designed for, and why the...

Send us Fan Mail This episode, Tae sits down with Caroline Rena, Spiritual Alchemist and host of the Awakening Soul Divinity Podcast, for a conversation centered on self-awareness, personal growth, and what it truly means to be in tune with yourself. Awakening Soul Divinity is a space for conversations about being human - our lived experiences, emotional truths, and what unfolds when we stop tryin...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about family, memories, and meaningful conversation. Shamar takes the lead as he sits down with his cousin, Quintin, host of TEA with Q, for a conversation filled with laughter, reflection, and appreciation. Together, they revisit cherished memories of their grandmother and the role she played in shaping their lives. Quintin shares how her encouragement helped...

Send us Fan Mail For our Juneteenth episode, we welcome Dr. Lisa Collins from Oregon for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation. Dr. Collins joins us to discuss her book, her short film, and her involvement in launching the Portland chapter of Coming To The Table, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more just and truthful society by acknowledging, understanding, and healing fro...

Send us Fan Mail When I say this episode is long for a reason, I mean it. Despite being nervous from the very first phone call, Sherry accepted the invitation to join us on Creative Roots Podcast - and what unfolded was a conversation neither of us expected. Sherry, owner of Sherry Denise Designs, is known for creating custom brooch ties for women and connecting with customers through pop-up shops...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a little different!  Deana G takes over the lead seat! Deana invited this episode's guest and leads the conversation with Tinesha Matthews, a natural hair stylist turned content creator whose journey into content creation started with a heartfelt Mother's Day reel dedicated to her mother. Since then, she hasn't looked back. Together, Deana and Tinesh...

Send us Fan Mail We’re closing out Mental Health Awareness Month with a powerful conversation that’s been a long time coming - 6 months, to be exact. This episode, we sit down with Brittnee Isaac, founder of Mama’s Block, to talk about creating real spaces for women and mothers to show up fully as themselves. Mama’s Block was built out of what was missing from many women’s groups: authenticity, fr...

Send us Fan Mail As we continue Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Deloris Calhoun-Wright, author of A Child In The Middle . This conversation goes far beyond the pages of the book. We dive head first into the reality of growing up between two separate households and the emotional weight placed on children when the adults around them are still trying to figure things out themselves. A...