The Next Stop is the Best Stop

In this episode we have esteemed T&T natives, Michele McIntosh Ross & Mikalla Hodges on set to discuss everything Trinidad & Tobago. Jason and I ask the ladies about their culture growing up on the island, what they love, what they miss, and what they can live without when it comes to Trinibago. This episode blossomed out of the previous episode about black expats. Tameka made it clear...

In this episode, we explore the expat desires from a few perspectives. We discuss the individual research we conducted, where we'd like to live as an black expat and why. Tony chimes in to share his experiences in Mauritius and Paris. The panel mentioned places like Panama, Canada, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, Ghana, Spain, Germany, Scandinavia, Singapore, Mexico, and Portugal to live. Impor...

Join us on this episode as we explore the world through the eyes of Rasheed Stevens, founder of the Youtube channel Underground Retail. Rasheed shares with us his passion for the history of fast food restaurants, vacant retail buildings, and the nostalgia of stores from the past. Jason and I revel in this conversation because it ties so nicely with urban planning woes we are both familiar with. Ra...

In this episode, our special guest, Matilda Larson, discusses her journey as a member of a First Nations tribe, going to college, and working her way into the field of community planning. With her we dive into the plight of those who live on reservations and the external threats to their ancestral lands. We also touch on Matilda's work in rural NY State and how she works to improve the quality...

Join us on this episode about the Great Migration that many African Americans took between the 1910's and the 1970's. The heart of the conversation is about how trains were heavily utilized during this time period to assist with uplifting many African Americans out of Jim Crow to a better life up North and out West. However, in today's time, though there are more opportunities there ar...

In this episode, we catch up with fellow planner Chris Silveira who is currently a transit planner in Snohomish County for Community Transit. He is the manager of the Swift BRT program and has had a myriad of experiences implementing transit solutions. We discuss transit planning from an east vs west perspective. We also touch on issues of funding, ridership, public trust, and the need for politic...

Gen-X series Part 2 Such a special episode speaking with my girl Ayanna Floyd. We explore her world beginning in Toledo, OH and journeying to Los Angeles, CA. We follow the ups and downs that black writers face, dating in Hollywood, and we dive into the notions of the Writers' and Actors' Strikes. There's also a bonus nugget where we discuss adoption and Ayanna's take on what prosp...

We're back! We've started off ending our hiatus with a welcomed conversation with my good friend Dr. Monica Minton. She talks about her walk through life as a Gen-X'er on a non-traditional path. We touch on being a single mom in high school, the education she obtained while working full-time , getting her Ph. D, taking care of her parents, as well as her unconventional path to love. We...

This episode features special guest Haythem Shata , a civil engineer who has extensive expertise on the watersheds and stormwater management within Atlanta, GA. We take a deeper dive into how Atlanta developed along ridges and how the lowlands in between (and the people living there) suffered due to flooding and environmental injustices. We also touch on biosolids, water treatment centers & th...

In this episode we dive into the A in STEAM with guest (and good friend) Shayla Johnson, owner of Scarlet Crane .  She talks about her education and career journey at Georgia Tech and the Art Institute of Chicago.  Shayla gives us insight into the world of the arts, how she's made a career of the arts, and what she would have done differently. Scarlet Crane Georgia Tech School of Industrial De...

In this episode we welcome my mentor Tony Abraham to talk about how to bridge the wealth gap in Black America.  We all share our sentiments about education in the US, STEM vs STEAM, wealth gap, the black middle class, average students, trade schools, etc....We go around the world in this episode discussing how to change the lives of most Black Americans.  Here are referenced links: Maria...

In this episode, we look back on all of the various topics we touched in 2022.  We also give some hints about 2023's lineup.   Got ideas?  Hit us up at nextstopbeststop@gmail.com Music courtesy of Music by Penguin Music January Toxic Jobs….Toxic Minds February The Drama of Transit Planning March Do You Know Your Ancestors April Momma We Made It! Convo with Clarissa May Humans a...

In this episode, we interview my personal nephrologist, Dr. Sheldon Shore.  He provides insights on chronic kidney disease (including kidney stones), treatment, & lifestyle management.  Additionally, we speak about the insurance industry here in the US and how we should move forward in a manner that supports all involved parties.   Here are some links related to the episode: Chr...

In this episode, we crack open the history of Five Points in Atlanta.  Many today know it as the nucleus of the MARTA transit system.  However, in the past it's been so much more (slave auction site) than meets the eye.  As developers eye Five Points and the remainder of south Downtown Atlanta for gentrification, we wanted our audience to know the perils of developing so rapidly tha...

In these times where many are contemplating what history should be taught, I thought it was a great time to learn real history from the person I'm the closest to....my mom.  In this episode, Mary gives us a glimpse into her past of growing up in the segregated South in the land of Jim Crow.  She shares what it was like attending segregated schools and growing up as a sharecroppers' daugh...

This episode is all about....you guess it---TRANSIT!  So what does happen when three transit geeks walk into a bar?  Take a listen and find out!  We welcomed guests Bakari Height, MARTA Army colonel, and Jerrel Leonard, Regional planning manager in Charlotte, two professionals who share their experience as transit gurus.   MARTA Army connects: MARTA Army Twitter Instagram Jerre...

In this episode we discuss the high-pitched current events about guns laws and abortion rights.  We also briefly discuss the impact of less than impactful transit systems and what role it plays in the populace's reluctance to return to work. Here are links that discuss abortion and the history of the anti-abortion movement: Aid Access White Supremacy & Anti Abortion Anti Abortion Movement

In this episode, we take time to reflect on current events and the craziness of the world.  We recorded before the tragedy in Texas.  Here are some links you may find helpful: Elon Musk Buffalo Shooting Midterm Elections

In this week's episode (our 10th) we have my best friend Clarissa Goodlett ( @clarissagood )  with us to discuss our time in college and our crazy travel adventures.  We also discuss our experiences attending PWI's (Predominately White Institutions) as minorities.   Clarissa is currently the Communications Director at MDC in the Raleigh Durham area.  She graduated from Georgia...

In this brief episode, we discuss Tameka's passion for Genealogy.  We also include a snippet from our conversation with Lyn May, former press secretary for former Mayor Maynard Jackson, PBS host, and genealogy enthusiast.    Find your ancestors using the following links: https://www.ancestry.com/ https://www.familysearch.org/en/

We're back with Episode 8 where we discuss all of the intricacies that go along with planning for transportation in the US.  We discuss why it's hard, takes so long, and what are the uphill battles that we have to fight as planners.  We also discuss other countries and why they are so good (and fast) at developing other modes of transit. Bloomberg article "Why US Infrastructure Costs So...

In today's episode, we discuss the trio that often creates a domino effect in life--->Toxic job---->Poor Mental Health--->Great Resignation.  We talk about the recent death of MARTA's CEO.  We also talk about how our own mental health was affected while working at certain jobs and what resources could have helped.  Then we end with talk of humans evolving to find other ways...

Season Greetings! We close out the year by tying all of our previous episodes together to create words of wisdom for 2022.  We discuss what we would like to do differently in 2022, how we should look at the "variants" as a way to re-evaluate our purpose on this Earth, and lastly how we should ready ourselves for the inevitable changes in life our daily life (there's no turning back pre-COVID)...

In this episode we lightly discuss the upcoming mayoral runoff in Atlanta. We also tackle our experiences with Diversity & Inclusion efforts at work that have left us frustrated and disillusioned.  We offer our opinions on how the inhabitants of this country can become a little more acquainted with each other..... willingly . Here are some links to the documents/media we referenced during...

This week we explore the two Infrastructure bills moving through Congress: $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill $3.5 Trillion Build Back Better Infrastructure Bill We talk about what's in each bill, the differences & what does it mean for transit.  Take a look at this article to get more information. Aerial trams in Bolivia SEPTA Transit In Philadelphia Acela Amtrak train Maglev tra...