Black Businesses Matter (BBM) Podcast

Walking into a gym can feel intimidating, especially when you are unsure where to start or whether you belong.  On this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with Tiffany Vann-Cole, founder of Fitness Boutique by Tiffany, a former professional dancer, IFBB Bikini Pro, certified personal trainer, Pilates instructor, and holistic health coach. As Tiffany brings year...

What does it take to develop champions on the basketball court and prepare young athletes for success beyond the game? On this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with Coach Andre Lewis, head coach of the Kenwood Academy High School girls basketball program in Chicago, to discuss the connection between basketball, education, mentorship, leadership, and the busin...

It is possible to create opportunities for young people to grow, compete, and see a future beyond what they thought possible. On this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with Imani Cobb and Endigo Allen, co-founders of Black Onyx Allstars, a Chicago-based nonprofit competitive cheer organization creating opportunities for young people through athletics, leadersh...

Women’s sports are growing, creating new opportunities for athletes, media professionals, content creators, and businesses. But as the industry evolves, important questions remain: Who gets to tell these stories, whose voices are heard, and who has the authority to shape the narrative? On this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with Maya Reese, an Emmy-winning...

What can a neighborhood’s businesses tell us about its culture, its people, and the community it sustains? On this episode of Black Businesses Matter, host Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold talks with Joabe Barbosa about exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, challenging outside perceptions, and understanding the people and businesses that make each community distinct. Joabe’s project of running every public...

What happens when local policies and housing ordinances are created without a single seat at the table for community-based real estate owners? In this special episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold addresses the critical shift in Chicago's housing landscape alongside guest Ebony Lucas, an Illinois-licensed real estate and estate planning attorney, investor,...

Black Businesses Matter is entering a new chapter. In Season 12, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold talks about taking BBM beyond a podcast by building the team, strengthening systems and creating new ways for businesses and audiences to connect. At the center of the season is Culture Is Currency, a look at the intersection of sports, culture, business and community. Larvetta also discusses the Storyteller...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Businesses do not stay relevant by doing the same thing forever. In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold, CEO of The L3 Agency, explores what it means to pivot with purpose and build a business that can adapt to changing technology, customers, markets, teams, and communities. In this episode, y...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. What happens when Black entrepreneurs stop thinking only about building individual businesses and start thinking about building an entire business ecosystem? In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with James Parker, CEO and Founder of 1921 Coworking, Inc. and 1921 Incubat...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Most entrepreneurs know how to start a business. Far fewer know how to build one that can grow beyond them, create opportunities for others, and stand the test of time. In this episode Larvetta L. Loftin-Arnold sits down with Marc Brooks, Founder and CEO of Hyde Park Hospitality, to explore the evolution of entrepreneurship...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. A catering company can serve amazing food and still lose the room if the operations fall apart. We sit down with Nicole Jordan-Reed, founder of Nicole Jordan Catering in Chicago, to talk about what actually makes events feel seamless: leadership, systems, and the kind of customer service that guests remember long after the...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. A lot of products claim to be “game changers," but this one is literally patented. We’re sitting down with Cecilia Towns-Scott, a south side Chicago attorney, founder, wife, and mom who spent ten years building Honor , a sustainable period and bladder leak brief designed for how life actually moves. Her innovation is s...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. The work keeps changing, the tech keeps changing, and the expectations on leaders keep rising, but nobody tells you what to do with the human side of it. I’m joined by Laura E. Knights, LCSW, an executive coach and leadership strategist, to talk about what it really takes to lead and grow as a Black professional and as a Bl...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. A website can look perfect and still do nothing for your business. That’s the problem we dig into with Lenora Blackamore, CEO of Mecca Marketing Group Incorporated, a Black-owned marketing and web development firm with deep roots in digital technology going back to the 1990s. We talk about what separates a site that simply...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. The South Side story most people never hear is the one built on ownership, pride, and neighbors choosing each other on purpose. We’re joined by Ghian Foreman , President and CEO of Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative, to talk about what it really takes to generate community wealth in Chicago’s Mid-South Side an...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. A tiny restaurant can hold a whole neighborhood together if the intention is right. We’re back in the studio for Season 11, and we’re joined by Chef Chloe Gould, the owner of Dixie Pura Kitchen, a Black-owned restaurant tucked into Chicago’s Bronzeville community. Chloe doesn’t just cook, she translates. Her “Southern meets...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. AI is loud right now, but Kim Rudd is clear on what still wins: imagination, systems, and real service. We’re sitting down with the CEO of Rudd Resources to unpack what it takes to grow a sustainable communications agency, especially when your work is rooted in Black community impact, cultural perspective, and relationship-...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. We kick off Season 11 by naming the changes we’re making across our agency and our show, and why pivoting can be a sign of strength. We unpack what sustainable growth really looks like for Black founders, from systems and tools to community support and long-term legacy.  • Season reset and why pivoting yields profit  • L3 A...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name: Susanne Mariga Guest Business:  The Mariga Group EPISODE SUMMARY  In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Susanne Mariga, CPA, Fractional CFO, and CEO of The Mariga Group, a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business firm named the 2021 Profit First Professional Firm of the Year. Growing up...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name: Dr. Lakeba Hibbler Williams Guest Business:  Fresh Hope Counseling Center EPISODE SUMMARY  In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast , we chat with Dr. Lakeba Williams, Director of Fresh Hope Counseling Center, LLC (FHCC), a multidisciplinary behavioral health practice she founded in 2012 to help in...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name: Jannice Newson Guest Business:  Lillian Augusta Beauty Episode Summary In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast , we chat with Jannice Newson, social entrepreneur and Co-Founder & CEO of Lillian Augusta Beauty, a company creating plant-based hair extensions that merge beauty and sustainability....

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name: Marc Alexander Guest Business:   Lite Raise EPISODE SUMMARY  In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Marc Alexander, visionary entrepreneur, Co-Founder & CEO of Lite Raise, and Founder of Lite Tuition. Through his ventures, Marc is transforming how nonprofits fundraise, engage co...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name: Rachel Bernier-Green , Guest Business:   EJ Consortium EPISODE SUMMARY  In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Rachel Bernier-Green, the Founder & CEO of EJ Consortium, a serial social entrepreneur, and a recovering public accountant who has devoted the past decade to building b...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name: Jayla Head  Guest Business: Advaco Collective Care & Consulting EPISODE SUMMARY  In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast , we chat with Jayla Head, a psychotherapist, speaker, writer, and founder of Advaco Collective Care & Consulting, a mental health consultancy providing compassionate, i...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name:  Canetha Amour-Porter Guest Business:  Amour Women Work Community and Amour Women Foundation EPISODE SUMMARY  In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Canetha Amour-Porter, visionary entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of the Amour Women Work Community and the Amour Women Foundation. C...