Black Businesses Matter (BBM) Podcast

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Episode 33 Guest Name: Melanie Jefferies   Guest Business: Milhouse Development, LLC Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with Melanie Jefferies, who is currently the Executive Vice President of the Midwest Region at Milhouse Engineering and Construction and a Principal Owner of M...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Episode # 32 Guest Name: Empress Guest Business: Third Eye Soul Kitchen Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with Empress Xia Nei, the Executive Chef, and owner of Third Eye Soul Kitchen. She is also the creator of Oakland Fungi. Empress tells the story of how Third Eye Soul Kitch...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Episode #31 Guest Name: Danielle Jeter Guest Business: AOI Events & PR Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with Danielle P. Jeter, founder & CEO of AOI Events & PR. From Philadelphia, Atlanta, to Miami, Danielle has been able to build relationships in multiple differe...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Episode #:  30 Guest Name: Steve Bacon  Guest Business: Belief Theory Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with Steve Bacon. Steve is an Executive Life Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and Author of Start Here: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life. He details the defining moments in his life...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Episode # 29 ”Some relationships are not built to last” says Larvetta  L. Loftin  Guest Name: Larvetta Loftin  Guest Business: The L3 Agency Summary Style  EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, We kick off season 3 with Larvetta the founder of The L3 Agency and the host of the show. Larvetta emphasizes...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name:  Melvin Graham  Guest Business: RSI Productions  (formally Render Squad Industries) Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with our first  film producer, Melvin Graham. Melvin is a Navy veteran. After completing his time, he went on to earn a degree in media arts and bec...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name:  Cassandra Cummings  Guest Business: Stocks & Stilettos Society  Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with the founder of Stocks & Stilettos Society, Cassandra Cummings, a company whose sole focus is financial advising and helping minorities build wealth. Cassa...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I  talk with the chief economic inclusion officers and general council for the YWCA, Robert Johnson. He is a double threat being  a lawyer and entrepreneur. Robert is a partner in two businesses with the main focus of pouring back into the community. The first is t...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Q EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk to not one, but two, amazing companies who both got their start on Juneteenth of 2021. The co-founders of Moor’s brewery, Jahmal Johnson, Anthony Bell  and Damon Patton share their journey to creating a national brand for black people by black people. Forg...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I  talk with the founder, Cecelia Harrison who was able to leverage her housing choice voucher from the Chicago Housing Authority(CHA)  to build a successful STEM business- ReveNEWcycle.com, a medical billing company.  Her company helps doctors to get paid expediti...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. Guest Name Show Notes on audio Episode #23 Guest Name:  Monica Abernathy Guest Business: A Polished Work Summary Style EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I talk with the visionary and founder of A Polished Work who not only founded the business but owns the building where she operates the company. ...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I  talk with the tech co-founder Horace Flournoy of SWAYBrand.com. He shares his inspiring journey of a great childhood from a middle-class two-parent home defined by sports, family and video games.  Growing up, he shares how he had fortunate opportunities to advan...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I get to interview my dear friend, entrepreneur and millionaire real estate broker who has closed approximately 100 million dollars’ worth in real estate and her accidental journey into real estate development and entrepreneurship.  Sheila was born in Uganda, East...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I get to interview my first ever duo on this podcast, Jessica E. Boyd + Steven M. Hughes, co-founders of Journey Black Home. This power couple sits down with me and discusses their journey in sharing the black experience of travel. They explain how they started. Th...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I sit down with my friend and mentor, also dealmaker and visionary, Charles Johnson. Charles shares his journey and how he was considered the “dealmaker”. He discusses the advantages to learning at a black school, and working in a minority company. We learn more ab...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY WELCOME back to Black Businesses Matter! We are launching season 2 with our very own host and CEO, Larvetta L. Loftin. Larvetta and Black Businesses Matter’s Associate Producer, Dion Warr, both sit down and reflect on season 1 and its highs and lows. We discuss some lessons we learned throughout the journey,...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this Episode of Black Businesses Matter, I get to talk with hair trailblazer, Forbes coveted 30 under 30, shark tank participant, and co-founder of CurlMix Kimberly Lewis. We get to share Kim’s amazing story on the place of pivoting and talk about thriving black businesses. We get to hear Kim’s journey be...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I bring in a guest who is a disrupter in the pest solution industry. Her company is woman and minority-owned that provides pest solution services and products in the commercial and residential area. She is also an informational technology professor. Robiar and I ge...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY This episode is sponsored by AONMeetings.com In this episode of Black Businesses Matter Podcast, Pepper and I get to speak on her involvement in the business when it comes to brands. She has been helping large companies better understand and engage Black America so that they can have loyal customers and a po...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY This episode is sponsored by AONMeetings.com In this episode of Black Businesses Matter Podcast, I sit down with author, public speaker, and lead pastor John F. Hannah. We discuss John’s vision he had for himself and his journey as a juvenile probation officer to becoming a large impacting lead pastor. We ta...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY This episode is sponsored by AONMeetings.com  In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, Steve and I talk about his newest business announcement as the c-founder of  FLOURYSH- The Premier Spot to Discover & Shop Black-Owned Brands. For Community. For Culture. For Real [F With Us]. We discuss Steve’s jou...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I welcome Black Forbes lister and Queen Midas, Germaine Bolds-Leftridge, on the podcast. We talk about her company GBL Sales Inc., where she helps beauty brands grow into multimillionaire brands. We discuss what a broker is and why black businesses matter.  Lastly,...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I sit down with a dear friend of mine. Irfan and I discuss his childhood, how his anger plays into it, and how this google alum switched careers. We also talk about how culture plays into his business, and why black businesses matter. IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I welcome my first guest from our holiday break, Avigail Schlosser.  Avigail and I get real about culture in the space of marketing and what that means to the clients they serve. We discuss the positions that people of color should be in, the obstacles they face, a...

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300. EPISODE SUMMARY In the episode of Black Businesses Matter (BBM) Podcast, it’s just me! I get to reflect on last year's wins and discoveries. I talk about the Black Forbes List and how amazing it is to see so many black businesses thrive. I also get to share some of my favorite episodes here on BBM Podcast and thank you...