Verbally Effective

Do you still have the exact group of friends you grew up with? Well get ready to meet the SQ901 comprised of childhood friends who are now in business together. Their social brand is deeply rooted in friendship while providing positive vibes and diversity. Known for their signature Silent Party Events, the SQ901 breaks down why party goers are drawn to this unique atmosphere. As these gentlemen pl...

When I received the phone call from my producer SunAh that Jamond Bullock wanted to meet on location for the podcast I was extremely excited. I've been watching Jamond flourish over the years being a masterful artist where he mixes and matches colors that would seem senseless together creating a flow of visual harmony. He is the founder of Alivepaint which is a visual arts company where you can se...

Episode XLV | "MELODIC" by Ena Esco

We define psychology as the study of behavior and mind. My guest for episode 44, Justin Dodson, is an expert in this field practicing as a mental health therapist who is currently pursuing his PhD. I wanted this UT Chat alum to come on Verbally Effective Podcast to share his insight as we often hear the term “mental illness” quite a bit lately. How do you know if you have mental issues? Are you bi...

In part one of my podcast episode with the legendary Howard Q aka The Teflon Don, we discuss some of the developmental stages of his life and career. Howard was a gypsy of sorts being an army brat growing up in the Westwood area. His love for music ignited at a very young age as his father was a musician. Upon graduating from Hillcrest, he ventured off to college at Tennessee State University majo...

The inaugural Verbally Effective Podcast live show was definitely one for the books. Held at my alma mater, Lemoyne Owen College, I had 6 dynamic panelists in the areas of activism, music and collegiate royalty. Topics on the agenda included social media, voting and music. Tune in and hear some insightful discussion in a live setting during LOC's homecoming.

My guest and I for episode 41, Mickell Lowery, go way back. Back to our days as business majors at our beloved HBCU, LeMoyne Owen College. It was great catching up with Mickell as he has been busy making major moves. We touch on quite a few things such as his upbringing and how he made the decision to become a Magician. As a proud graduate of LOC, we dispel all stigmas associated with our historic...

Atlanta native Cynthia Daniels has leveled up the event planning world in the city of Memphis. Although she’s only been here for less than a decade, her impact is explosive. You may have been to one of her signature events such as Memphis Black Restaurant Week, Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professionals, Level Up Conference, Black Christmas Expo or Black Bridal Expo. She has built an empire of oppo...

The life of a woman is filled with a never ending balancing act. Giving everyone and everything an equal amount of time is impossible! At the end of the day, prioritization is key to keeping our sanity. My guest for episode 39, Jerica Phillips, shares how she accomplishes this very thing while recognized as a leading journalist on WMC Action News 5. Jerica and Ena cover a wide range of topics incl...

Media insiders are fully aware of the challenges faced with the sense of urgency placed upon having the most up to date news at any given second. Today there are so many platforms to rely on to seek information. My guest for episode 38, Jessica Gertler, has witnessed the evolution of TV news as it engages in a delicate dance with social media. Being a California native, Jessica has adapted well to...

Being an entrepreneur has its rewards. But when you're able to invest in your community and create opportunities for the disenfranchised, the rewards are more fruitful. Orange Mound native, Kelvin Woods, is my guest for episode 37. He is the founder and co-owner of The Tee Shirt Lab, a screen-printing and apparel decoration company. Kelvin walks us through growing up attending Overton High School...

Sociology is the study of development, structure and functioning of human society. My guest for episode 36, Wendy Marie, holds a SOCY PhD and is currently an Assistant Professor at her alma mater University of Memphis. Although she eventually worked her way into this position, the road was filled with many peaks and valleys. At four months, Wendy was adopted by a white working class couple and rai...

After meeting my guests for episode 35, The Dudley Boys (Mario and Carlos), I soon discovered that the art of "checking" is a sport. You may have seen them come down your Instagram timeline with a two sided screen displaying their victim of choice on one side and them ruthlessly lashing out checks on the other side in a video. We laugh and joke because this art form is amusing especially if you ar...

Music is a way of life for my guest for episode 34 Tonya Dyson. This singer/songwriter is the founder of NeoSoulVille which is a Memphis lifestyle marketing and event production firm that caters to the “soulful” side of life. Take a listen as Tonya gives us a rich lesson in music history with the birth of Stax Records and Hi Records. As many of you know, the recording industry is filled with numer...

Memphis definitely lives in my guest for episode 33. DeVonte Payton wears the "M" proudly as he advocates for engagement and development in the community involving schools, families, nonprofits, and private sector. As you take a listen to his journey you'll find that the road hasn't always been easy. While many of us were enjoying our college years in our late teens, DeVonte was shaping his work e...

Cultured can be defined as being refined, educated and polished. My guest for episode 32, Rhobb Hunter Jr., definitely fits into those categories. He's lived in multiple cities and countries throughout the world and is part owner of Robusto by Havana Mix cigar lounge in the heart of downtown Memphis. You many have seen him on the reality show “Bar Rescue” that offers professional expertise and ren...

Many of you may know my guest for episode 31 for his contributions with the Memphis music scene and the Shelby County school system. However, Peppa's story begins growing up in the South Memphis community. As a graduate of White Station High School he was introduced to the music business early on by DJ Paul. This relationship flourished into artist management and Peppa becoming the Vice President...

Nothing but good vibes ever since I met my soror Tiffany Dotson. And if you know her, you would know that she is one of Lil Wayne's biggest fans. He actually inspired her to get 26 tattoos. Her love of art has a story behind it. And her love for music goes even deeper. Tiffany is one of the few award winning female promoters in the city of Memphis. Although this is a male dominated industry, TDOT...

The law can be interpreted in so many ways. It seems as though the world we live in today forces us to understand and sometimes challenge the law as it stands. In episode 29, Ena sits down with her soror Victoria Young who is currently approaching her last year of law school at University of TN College of Law. They discuss her road to law school as a native Memphian in addition to various projects...

East St. Louis native, El Mac, lightens up episode 28 with an array of topics. He begins with his start at Memphis State University as a marketing/journalism student who was pledged into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as a freshman. At this time in life social media was at its beginning stages and El was an eager participant. Hence, El's daily "HOT TOPIC" on facebook. He talks us through how he develo...

Many are called but few are chosen. I've been seeing the term "BOSS" thrown around lately as if this is something easy. In episode 27, you get a chance to meet a real boss who wears many hats. Chef Ragan is a serial entrepreneur, chef, mother and wife. Although she makes it looks easy please believe the grind is not for the faint of heart. Ragan tells us how her story began as a teenage mother who...

One Love Theo is an international independent artist from Trelawny, Jamaica specializing in reggae/dancehall music. Theo moved to the states at the tender age of eleven and began his musical journey. Although he's lived in quite a few states, he calls Memphis,TN home. In episode 26, Theo discusses growing up in Jamaica, his transition as an immigrant to the US and being accepted as a reggae/danceh...

There are numerous variables that go into blogging. I didn't realize this until I met lifestyle blogger and visual content creator Kim Thomas. Although the blogging community in Memphis is currently in its growth stage, the opportunities are endless. Kim walks us through the many components that make up a successful blog which doesn't always mean thousands of followers on social media. Engagement...

Police brutality is a hot topic amongst our community. But do we ever really get a chance to hear the perspective from an actual law enforcement officer? In episode 24, Ena sits down with law enforcemenet detective Hayward Anderson to discuss police brutality, the opioid crisis and how social media can lead to solving numerous crimes.

Episode XXIII | "LAYERS" by Ena Esco