A long way from the block

What happens to the brain and body when pushed to the brink? In this episode, Hannibal Smith relates his experience running 100 miles in 24 hours—his mind-state as he began the race and the struggles he encountered as he ran. He also shares his history with NXPT Fitness Gym , from member to coach and owner; we discuss his friendship with co-owner Dan Hark and how their synergy has been a vital com...

During this episode Cynsere talks in-depth about his involvement with Peace on the Street,  a not for profit organization committed to empowering the East Harlem community with Zen arts, Martial arts and Zen meditation.  Cynsere is also heavily involved in All Kings, an organization committed to supporting and empowering men impacted by the criminal justice system.  You will also hear why as an Al...

I had the pleasure to sit down and dialogue with one of today's top innovators in music, Damion Reid.  In this episode we discuss his early influences on the drums, one of which was  learning and being mentored by legendary Jazz drummer, Billy Higgins.  Damion discusses how he developed his sense of  value for the elders, and a deep respect for history and the ancestors.  We talk about how he...

From Lords cricket ground to central saint martins art college to Spitalfields market and now to the world. With sustainability and upcycling being the buzzwords of the moment, Kervin Marc Designer of Tag 3 Militaire, artist and upcycling extraordinaire for years have reworked military materials. Using kit bags, tents and all manner of discarded ex-military findings. Marc has on display the histor...

In this episode we discuss- His upbringing in San Francisco The influence of his parents and the presence of a strong father His Capoeira journey and being called by the ancestors to preserve this culture The famous 1983 trip to Brazil with Mestre Acordeon What it's like being a Mestre of Capoeira Angola His continued work in the community as an Activist an Elder

Orko Eloheim,  mixes the virtuosity of John Coltrane with the psychedelic approach of Jimi Hendrix, wrapped up in the afrofuturism of Sun Ra. With more than 20 projects working with innumerable artists such as Bigg Jus, Divine Styler, Myka 9, Aceyalone, Saul Williams, Rick Rubin Gonjahsufi & I Self Devine. In this episode we discuss his upbringing in South East San Diego and his early influenc...

In this episode we discuss his  growing up in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles. His two Ethiopian parents kept him involved in various activities to make sure he didn't get with the wrong crowd. He started martial arts at age 6 due  to his obsession with Bruce Lee.  At age 15 he joined Capoeira Batuque under Mestre Amen.  Capoeira then became the art that introduced him to all the other t...

After a very successful interview with Eso Won Books co-owner James Fugate back in October 2021,  I thought it would be a great idea to have him back for a part 2.  The first half  of this episode we go in depth about our shared love and passion for Jazz Music. We talk about some of his favorite albums, artists and  what it was like to see this great music live for the first time.  In the second h...

Although it may appear Smith is a new voice on the scene, he is widely recognized as an adept performer, accomplished composer, and inspired educator. This spring, Smith welcomes his newest release, In Common III . The boundary pushing album features some of the most important and talked about musicians in the world - Matt Stevens, Kris Davis, Dave Holland and Terri Lyne Carrington. ​Smith has dev...

In this episode we discuss his career as an Actor, Director, Choreographer and how those different artistic expressions helped him navigate the world. We also talk in depth about what it was like to travel with a deaf theatre company without knowing any sign language goin in.  Professor Stephen Buescher is an actor, director, and teaching artist who has designed and led movement training curriculu...

Mestre Malandro is a Capoeirista (practitioner of capoeira) based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over 20 years of experience, Malandro is adept at various styles of capoeira. He specializes in Capoeira Regional, a methodology created by Mestre Bimba in Bahia, Brazil. He has been featured as a capoeira consultant, fight choreographer and background talent in indie and blockbuster films, most n...

Best known for his work with the avant-garde  hip-hop group  Antipop Consortium, New York MC Beans rocks a bugged-out style based mostly on a high-speed delivery and extremely dense rhyme schemes, generally backed by intricate  production loaded with bizarre time signatures, spastic sound effects, and beats that are either extremely bare-bones or overwhelmingly complex. Unsurprisingly, he remains...

Teye Sa Thiosanne African Drum and Dance Company is a San Diego based non-profit organization that provides performances and programs in West African song, music, and dance.  The company has been in existence since 1988 and has been consistent in providing the community with cultural expression.  Teye Sa Thiosanne means keepers of the tradition in the Senegalese Wolof language.  In this episode El...

Several years ago Jamie was invited as a guest to attend a conference at the Dr. Martin Luther King Center, in Atlanta. It was there where he was introduced to the iconic Bahamian evangelist and ordained minister, Dr. Myles Munroe. Jamie was asked to tell his story about losing his eyesight and going blind due to a rare brain tumor. He was given one year to live. After hearing it, Myles encouraged...

I was recently invited to Rise Up Academy to teach a podcast workshop and give the students some basic skills and tools on storytelling and finding some heroes and inspirational people in their family and community to interview. While I was there I had the pleasure of working with the school's educational consultant Mrs. Jayne Joyner. The school's  philosophy is to provide a healthy and...

Born in Texas and raised in  Wyoming. In this in-depth interview Elder Babu talks about his grandfather who was a slave and a sharecropper his entire life and how his mother and father wanted to carve out a different path for their kids.  Babu was a  high school basketball star in Cheyenne and his 1961 team won the Wyoming State Championship, he was an All-State player that year.  We talk in detai...

In this episode I talk with one of the most prolific mc's from one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time, Hprizm aka High Priest, one of the founding members of Antipop Consortium. We discuss his upbringing in Queens, NY and how he later went on to hone  his skills as an mc and poet at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. We talk about how the group was formed with fellow members Beans, M. Sayyid a...

   Raised in Berlin, Charlene Mosley is an Oscar-nominated, San Diego- based fine artist, illustrator, concept artist and muralist. She received her BA in Studio Arts from San Diego State University with a minor in German Studies.    Charlene's current work portrays figures and faces of various backgrounds immersed in organic natural elements such as plants and animals. She uses vibrant expre...

    Doshin Hannya Michael Nelson Roshi is the founder and abbot of Integral Zen.  Doshin started studying Zen in the late 60’s, but without the guidance of a good teacher, he was confused and discouraged by the teachings.  In earnest he began studying other meditative practices and martial arts which were difficult but less obscure.  It wasn’t until he met JunPo Kando Denis Kelly, Roshi that the d...

  Garcia Gung Fu Institute      Owner and operator of New York City's premiere Jeet Kune Do & Kali school with classes held Monday - Saturday to students of all ages.    Expert martial arts teacher based in East Harlem, with over 20 years experience focusing on teaching self-defense to students ages 5 - adult.    As Sifu of the Garcia Gung Fu Institute we pride our self with offering the...

      My first interview with Yogi has been my most downloaded and listened to podcast so far. It resonated with so many different people and received so much positive feedback I was excited that he agreed to do a part two.      In this episode I talk with Yogi about some of the most influential people from my youth that came from Highland Park such as Ricky Williams, Charles Steel, Titus Fisher a...

Originally from Philly and now owner of FIVESPACE records, an independent record store specializing in hip-hop vinyl and cassettes located in San Diego.  In this episode we discuss his early roots in Philly and what brought him to the west coast. We talk about the importance of hip-hop music and how it shaped his life.  Sir Froderick approaches both  his collage artwork and music with a closely re...

Mzee Kadumu Moyenda was born on May 18, 1951 and grew up in New York City where he attended elementary, junior high and high school. He completed two years at Westchester Community College in Valhala, New York, after which he transferred to San Diego State University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in African/Black studies receiving his bachelor degree in 1986.  His varied background i...

Michael Brunker is a renowned leader in business, nonprofit, and youth development environments who holds more than 40 years of experience in empowering people and teams to exceed all expectations, including their own. No matter the management and strategic issue, Michael can devise a proven strategy that will give organizations a key, sustainable advantage toward making significant impact to thei...

 Carl Hancock Rux's work crosses the disciplines of poetry, theater, music, and literary fiction in order to achieve what one critic describes as a "dizzying oral artistry...unleashing a torrent of paper bag poetry and post modern Hip-Bop music; the ritualistic blues of self awakening." Carl Hancock Rux is an American poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, recording artist, actor, th...