Black Men Speak Podcast

What happens when a passion for drawing becomes a career—and then evolves into creating stories that inspire the next generation? Join Keith Dent for a special LIVE conversation with Akeem S. Roberts, an award-winning illustrator, cartoonist, author, and creative force whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and who has helped bring memorable characters and stories to life for young readers. We'...

What does it take to change the trajectory of a young man's life? In this powerful episode of Black Men Speak, we sit down with Lewis Spears, founder and executive director of Kismet of Kings, to discuss his remarkable journey from the Booker T. Washington Housing Projects in Jersey City to earning a degree from Harvard—and why he chose to return home to invest in the next generation. Lewis shares...

What does it take to build more than a business—to build a movement? In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Lindor, founder and CEO of The Gentlemen's Factory, to discuss his mission of creating spaces where Black and Brown men can thrive personally, professionally, and economically. Jeff shares how his journey from banking, healthcare, and public service led him to launch an organization centered...

Over the past 15+ years, Jae Henderson has built products alongside food chemists, cowboys, software developers, designers, and politicians — a career path that's taken him from Capitol Hill to Sweden to a Nevada distillery. He calls it magic: people of different expertise and different starting points, all arriving somewhere together. He's the person people call when they have an idea and no clue...

What began as a collection of handwritten letters from his beloved grandmother became an extraordinary journey through family history, race, resilience, and the enduring power of love across generations. Walter shares how his grandmother's unwavering faith, quiet strength, and simple words of encouragement helped shape his identity and inspired him to preserve a story that is both deeply personal...

In this podcast episode, Rashawn Davis , Executive Director of The Citizen Service, shares how everyday people can become catalysts for change and why civic engagement is more important than ever. Rashawn Davis is a nonprofit leader, writer, and public speaker focused on strengthening democracy, advancing civic technology, and inspiring public leadership. A Newark native, he made history at 21 yea...

What does courage look like when the world refuses to see your humanity? In this powerful episode, Steven A. Holmes discusses Black masculinity, family, race, love, and liberation through the lens of World War II and his gripping novel Black Messiahs

In this powerful episode of Black Men Speak, we sit down with Aaron Johnson, founder of The Chronically Undertouched Project, to unpack a silent crisis affecting Black men—the lack of safe, intentional human touch. Drawing from his viral TED Talk and documentary Dark and Tender, Aaron shares how years without platonic connection can lead to isolation, depression, and emotional disconnection, and w...

Too many of us are grinding… but not building. On this Pinnacle of Color episode of Black Men Speak, we're talking about the shift from hustle to legacy — what it really takes to move from short-term money to long-term wealth. We sit down with Joe Coleman and Vernon Garret, founders of  C&G Luxury Candles in Richmond, Virginia — breaking down how a vision becomes a brand, and how a brand becomes s...

In this episode of Black Men Speak, we explore the lived experiences of biracial Black men raised in environments where Black culture, community, and mentorship were limited—or completely absent. From identity confusion to delayed self-discovery, we unpack how isolation impacts confidence, masculinity, and belonging. Dr. Corey Clay is an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist based in West Seattle...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Thomas, the acclaimed novelist behind Man Gone Down and winner of the International Dublin Literary Award, to discuss his powerful memoir The Broken King. In a raw and deeply personal conversation, Thomas reflects on fatherhood without the polish often found in parenting narratives, confronting the trauma, racism, and family history that shaped his upbring...

With a recent tik-tok video about Black Men's appearance at a Ruth Chris Steakhouse going viral, it would be a perfect time to talk about Black Male etiquette. In a world where perception can open doors—or quietly close them—Black men often find themselves navigating an unspoken standard: be excellent, but also be exceptional. Be confident, but not intimidating. Be authentic, but not "too much." S...

In this episode of Black Men Speak, we sit with Ryan K Brown Jr., who confronted loss head-on—and discovered how unprepared our systems are to care for grieving families once the hospital lights dim. What began as a medical crisis exposed deeper emotional and systemic gaps, where strength was assumed, silence followed, and support was scarce. Through his grief, Ryan Brown Co-Founded The Andreas Fo...

In this episode of Black Men Speak, we sit down with Sylvester K. Johnson, Senior Capital Access Manager of Propeller , to unpack the real money moves Black entrepreneurs must master to build businesses that last. Sylvester brings a grounded, no-nonsense perspective on financial literacy — breaking down why so many entrepreneurs struggle not because they lack hustle, but because they lack financia...

In this powerful episode of Black Men Speak, we sit down with the author of Black Cherokee to unpack the rarely told story of Black and Indigenous identity in America. Through history, ancestral truth, and courageous storytelling, our guest explores what it means to exist at the intersection of Blackness and Cherokee heritage—while navigating belonging, erasure, and legacy. This conversation dives...

Bryce Savoy is an Oakland-born rapper, entrepreneur, and filmmaker whose work centers on authenticity, community, and resilience. As the founder of Neighborhood Diamonds, both a record label and lifestyle brand, Savoy is dedicated to discovering and elevating hidden talent—a philosophy inspired by his late father, affectionately known as Big Bryce. In a transformative ten-month period, Savoy exper...

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Arthur L. Burnett, one of America's leading urologists and author of "The Manhood Rx," pulls back the curtain on men's sexual health and reveals why erectile dysfunction is far more than an embarrassing bedroom problem—it's often the first warning sign of serious cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions. Dr. Burnett dismantles th...

In April 2025, Kwame Terra became known as "The Big Stepper" when he set an unofficial world record by walking 2 million steps in 30 days—averaging 66,667 steps daily, or about 35 miles per day. This challenge was designed to raise awareness about health disparities in Black communities and raise $2 million to support the development of the bEHR Health app and related programs. Founded in 2021, bE...

Legendary author Walter Mosley joins the podcast to discuss his latest Easy Rawlins mystery "Gray Dawn," the 17th installment in a series that has captivated readers for over three decades. We explore how Easy has evolved from post-war Los Angeles to present day, the moral complexities of his characters, and Mosley's unwavering commitment to telling stories that reflect the full humanity of Black...

In the episode, we discuss Black Male Trauma and how it can be reduced holistically with my guest Ron Martin. Ron Martin is the Founder and CEO of Cope and Chill. He is an Anxiety Relief and Mind-Body Balance Coach who helps high-functioning, healing people break free from anxious overthinking and finally feel safe in their own skin. Through his Inner Calm Mastery program, he guides them to calm t...

For the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we only focused on the broken levees and the broken lives as a result. What about the triumphs? In this episode, we will a new generation of dreamers, doers, and builders who refused to be defined by tragedy. Born and raised in New Orleans' Ninth Ward, Spencer Davis is a proud native New Orleanian and graduate of the University of New Orleans, wher...

Aaron Robertson who is a writer and translator from Italian. His nonfiction debut, The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America (FSG, 2024), was a finalist for the 2024 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History and the 2025 Zora Award for Nonfiction. It was also named a best book of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, TIME, and elsewhe...

In our first Pinnacle of Color Series, I will be speaking with Al-Shakise Anderson, CEO of BWS Massage Concierge and Financial Services Leader. Too often, the story of Black male success has been limited, overlooked, or defined by others. In this episode of Black Men Speak, we tackle what it really means to break generational barriers — and how Black men are rewriting the playbook on wealth, leade...

In this episode, we will talk with Dr. Okey Enyia , a health policy executive, government relations leader, and scholar-activist whose work sits at the intersection of public health, advocacy, and equity. He is the author of his second forthcoming book The John Henry Health Equity Playbook: A Four-Year Policy Agenda for Black Men, which lays out a bold roadmap to improve health outcomes, strengthe...