Prepare For Takeoff

Cannabis Meets Culture | Prepare For Takeoff | Episode 143 The cannabis industry is generating billions in revenue, but who is actually building wealth? On this episode of  Prepare For Takeoff , host Terry L. Cyrus sits down with  Bonita “Bo” Money , film and television producer, cannabis entrepreneur and founder of the National Diversity & Inclusion Cannabis Alliance. They discuss cannabis ow...

From overcoming childhood adversity in Los Angeles to becoming a distinguished military leader, federal government engineer, successful entrepreneur and champion for Black economic empowerment, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Ken Evans, MBA, has built an extraordinary career defined by resilience, leadership and service. In Episode 142 of Prepare For Takeoff, host Terry L. Cyrus explores...

From a young boy in Columbus, Mississippi who dreamed of flying to becoming a  FedEx Express Boeing 767 Captain and President of Literary Engineers , Andre Lewis has built an extraordinary career. His journey reflects perseverance, mentorship and a lifelong commitment to empowering others. In Episode 141 of  Prepare For Takeoff , host  Terry L. Cyrus  explores Andre's journey from receiving a pres...

From growing up in a military family to becoming a college president, political scientist, author and professor, Dr. Joseph L. Jones has built a career defined by scholarship, perseverance and a commitment to advancing Black excellence. In Episode 140 of Prepare For Takeoff, host Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Dr. Jones, Executive Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Southern Center for Studies in Public...

In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II, Founder and Principal of PlūsUltré LLC and Co-Host of The Next Move Business Playbook, to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and perseverance. Dr. Nunery reflects on his journey from growing up in New Jersey to building a distinguished career spanning banking, the National Basketball...

In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with E. Michelle Watson, Author and Founder & CEO of IngenuiTea™ Gourmet Tea and Spice Company. They discuss her journey from growing up in Connecticut to serving more than 20 years in the United States Air Force. Michelle shares how she began building her business before retiring and how her family’s multigenerational connection...

Dr. Darryl Scriven has built a career at the intersection of higher education, entrepreneurship and the future of HBCUs. In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Dr. Scriven, Executive Director of Centers and Institutes at Florida A&M University. They discuss his journey from growing up in Jacksonville to attending FAMU and earning his PhD in philosophy from Purdue...

In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Kerri-Ann T. Thomas, CEO of Movement Schools and Owner of Brooklyn Tea ATL, to discuss her journey from teacher to education leader and entrepreneur. Kerri-Ann shares how growing up in Brooklyn and attending Spelman College and Columbia University shaped her perspective, aspirations and leadership journey. She discusses educatio...

In this episode of  Prepare For Takeoff , Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Nathalie Heywood, Founder and CEO of Heywood Smith Consulting and Vice President of Growth and Partnerships at pocstock. Nathalie shares her journey from growing up in the Bronx with strong Jamaican roots to building a career across advertising, business development and entrepreneurship. She discusses the power of curiosity, e...

From Southwest Atlanta to the C-Suite: Redefining Success and Happiness | Craig Robinson In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Craig Robinson for a powerful conversation about his journey from Southwest Atlanta to the C-Suite and what success, leadership and happiness really mean. Craig shares lessons from growing up in Atlanta, attending MIT and Harvard Business Sc...

From Adversity to Purpose: The Power of Knowing Your Worth | Delbert Richardson on American History & Identity In Episode 133 of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Delbert Richardson , community scholar, storyteller, educator, and curator of the award-winning The Unspoken Truths American History Traveling Museum , for a powerful conversation about Black history, identity, self-...

In Episode 132 of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Courtney Lang, JD , health justice attorney and Founder of Langco + Partners . They have a powerful conversation about healthcare advocacy, health equity, representation, leadership and creating systemic change. Courtney shares her journey from Washington, DC to law school and a career in healthcare advocacy. She explains how her...

Stories Create Change: The Power of Storytelling | Kelli McLoud-Schingen on Theater & Identity In Episode 131 of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Kelli McLoud-Schingen, Artistic Director of World Stage Theater Company, for an inspiring conversation about storytelling, identity, theater, leadership, culture, and purpose. Kelli shares her journey from Chicago to building an int...

In this episode of  Prepare For Takeoff , Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Robert Clifton Jr., Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Contender. Together, they explore how culture, creativity and authenticity have shaped one of advertising's most respected agencies. From his upbringing in Portsmouth, Virginia, to creating campaigns for some of the world's biggest brands, Robert shares how a pa...

In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Terry L. Cyrus sits down with James Breedlove, President of Bridge Builders Foundation Los Angeles, to discuss how leadership, mentorship and collective action can transform communities. A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, James shares how growing up in Watts and Carson, the example set by his father, a probation officer and his own car...

In Episode 128 of Prepare For Takeoff , Terry L. Cyrus sits down with Dr. Kim McNair, Founder and CEO of Kim McNair Productions, accomplished entrepreneur, event producer, author and leadership advocate. From her early days in New Jersey and a successful modeling career to building a nationally recognized event production company, Dr. Kim shares the pivotal moments that shaped her entrepreneurial...

In this episode of  Prepare For Takeoff , retired U.S. Army Colonel of Infantry Jonathan Griffin, Sr. reflects on the power of brotherhood and servant leadership. He shares how being initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated through the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter at Benedict College in Fall 1981 laid the foundation for a lifetime of leadership, service and excellence. Griffin explains how...

In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Leah Turner, Ph. D. shares how BMX racing with her brother and playing sports in north central Ohio helped shape the resilience, determination and competitive mindset that have defined her journey. Dr. Turner reflects on earning a volleyball scholarship to West Virginia State University, helping her team go from last place in the conference to winning a conf...

What does it take to build a career at the highest levels of radio while making a lasting impact on the communities you serve? In this episode, Skip Dillard shares the journey that took him from a curious high school student in Greensboro, North Carolina to one of the most respected radio programming executives in the country. Inspired by his grandfather's love of music, Skip developed an earl...

From creating  The Hip Hop Assault , the first Hip Hop mix show in West Virginia radio history, to becoming one of New York City's most respected DJs and radio personalities, DJ Jon Quick's journey is a powerful example of what can happen when talent, preparation and persistence meet opportunity. DJ Jon Quick shares how he broke into the New York City radio scene, built a respected brand a...

Chris Mercado joins Prepare For Takeoff to share his incredible journey from growing up in the Bronx and Harlem to becoming a respected force in radio, music, advertising and technology. As Creative Services Director for Emmis Communications, Chris was responsible for all aspects of audio production for three major radio stations, including Hot 97 and WBLS. During the conversation, he reveals how...

Bunmi Giwa-Bello, Co-Founder & President of BlackHouse, joins Prepare For Takeoff to discuss her inspiring journey from Massachusetts to helping build one of the culture’s leading boutique experiential agencies in New York City. Bunmi reflects on the importance of faith, family, mentorship and community in shaping her path. She also shares how her early experiences prepared her for the fast-pa...

Candace McIntyre, Human Resources Director for the Washington Nationals, joins Prepare For Takeoff to discuss her inspiring journey from Southeast Washington D.C. to working for a Major League Baseball organization. During the conversation, Candace reflects on growing up in a close-knit family and how those early experiences helped shape her values, confidence and work ethic. She also discusses th...

In this inspiring episode of  Prepare For Takeoff , Raymond L. Hamlin, Esq. shares his remarkable journey from Long Branch, New Jersey, to becoming one of the region’s most respected trial lawyers and advocates for justice. As a founding partner of Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley Law Firm, Raymond reflects on the early influences that shaped his path, the importance of brotherhood through Omega Psi Phi...

In this episode of Prepare For Takeoff, Crystal Hadnott breaks down what it takes to sustain success at a high level. She is a PhD, entrepreneur, author and endurance athlete who built her career on discipline, purpose and consistency. Crystal shares how she helps leaders scale impact without burnout, speaking from real experience and proven results. Through her work as CEO at CH Philanthropy &amp...