Crossroads & Callings

What happens when a lifetime of corporate execution meets an unexpected, life-altering halt? In our Season 1 finale of Crossroads + Callings , host Chimere Brown is joined by Jennifer Alexander, a powerhouse IT program delivery lead currently steering initiatives in the energy sector. Jennifer is a master of managing complex, global corporate scopes —but in this episode, she steps into her most vu...

How do you leverage a background in analytical chemistry and corporate sales into a diversified portfolio of successful businesses? In this episode of Crossroads + Callings , host Chimere Brown welcomes Jeff Osuji, co-founder and CEO of Eventnoire and Entrepreneur in Residence at 1871. Jeff discusses his upbringing as the son of Nigerian immigrants, explaining how early discipline, a relentless wo...

"Trouble doesn't last always." — Ashonti Sharkey How do you find your voice when you feel silenced by your circumstances? This week, Chimere Brown welcomes Ashonti Sharkey , the visionary behind “Work of Arch” and the viral “Makeup Monday” movement. While Ashonti is a master of aesthetic strategy, her personal journey is a testament to the grit required to move from victimhood to victory. Why you...

"My body is only a reflection of how I feel on the inside... I want my light to shine every time I step on stage." — Alicia Williams What do you do when the "long-suffering" of life feels like too much to endure? Alecia Williams joins the podcast to share her raw journey from being "done with God" to finding Him again on the bodybuilding stage. This episode is a masterclass in resilience for anyon...

“I just believe that God designed me for this type of stuff.” In the 18th episode of Crossroads + Callings , host Chimere Brown sits down with the ultimate "Renaissance Woman," Tamika “Mimi” Smith. As an award-winning creative producer, professional singer, and the founder of EyeKan Studios, Tamika has mastered the art of blending soul with strategy. Tamika’s journey is a masterclass in divine ali...

What happens when you realize that in order to build something to last, you have to be willing to start over? In this episode of Crossroads + Callings , I’m joined by Troy Martin—a man who masterfully balances the worlds of high-stakes corporate implementation and cinematic art. By day, Troy manages complex financial data solutions; by night, he is a filmmaker and the 2022-2025 SAIC Tower Artist i...

How do you bridge the gap between Sunday worship and high-stakes commercial success? In this episode of Crossroads + Callings , host Chimere Brown sits down with the multi-talented Paul Hall—drummer, singer, producer, and the creative force behind the Verzatile Band. Paul has shared the stage with icons like Lupe Fiasco, Avery Sunshine, and Syleena Johnson, but his journey began in the church. We...

How do you stay true to your vision when the world is trying to label you? In this episode of Crossroads + Callings , I’m joined by Chicago’s own G. Green—a renaissance man, curator, and the visionary behind the SVNGRN art gallery and the global lifestyle brand Nobodies a Nobody. G. Green isn’t just an artist; he’s an ecosystem builder. From the streets of Chicago to the galleries of Miami and NYC...

What does it take to reshape an entire industry? In Episode 14, host Chimere Brown welcomes Troy Pryor—a multi-award-winning producer and founder of Creative Cypher. Troy takes us behind the scenes of his 20-year career, sharing how he successfully pivoted from athletics to entertainment and why he is committed to building bridges for Black and Brown creators. This conversation is a masterclass in...

In this episode of Crossroads + Callings, host Chimere Brown sits down with licensed architect and community advocate Deon Lucas to discuss the powerful transition from corporate prestige to community-driven purpose. Deon, the Director of Design for Beehyyve and co-founder of E.G. Woode, shares his journey from growing up on Chicago’s West Side to working for the legendary firm that designed the S...

What do you do when the rug is pulled from under you? In Episode 12, Chimere Brown welcomes serial entrepreneur and three-time founder AdeOla Fadumiye to explore what it truly means to be a “builder”. AdeOla shares her vulnerable transition from being an unemployed graduate in a recession to creating a life of agency. She reflects on the “season of silence,” the power of asking for a sign, and how...

“Pressure does not break you, it produces you.” This powerful belief is at the heart of Crystal Marshall’s mission. After nearly a decade serving as Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President of Media Sales at BET, Crystal made the radical choice to choose her health and her vision over her corporate title. In this episode, Crystal joins host Chimere Brown to discuss her “robust” care...

How do you find your voice when your world falls apart? In this powerful episode of Crossroads + Callings , host Chimere Brown sits down with Brittany Gold—IT project manager, wellness advocate, and author—to discuss the “shell shock” of divorce and the beautiful “glow up” that followed. Brittany shares how she transitioned from losing her identity in the roles of wife and mother to reclaiming “th...

In this powerful episode of Crossroads and Callings, host Chimere Brown sits down with Tonyael Miller (Coach T), a certified personal trainer, author, and motivational speaker, to discuss the transformative power of movement. Tonyael shares her deeply personal journey of turning pain into purpose, starting with her 2012 diagnosis of postpartum depression. Learn how Tonyael bypassed traditional med...

How do you transition from a decades-long corporate career to founding a groundbreaking nonprofit and leading as an AI strategist? In this episode of Crossroads and Callings, host Chimere Brown welcomes Mickey Bryant, a powerhouse who has mastered the art of merging passion, profession, and purpose to equate to profit. Mickey discusses her extensive background in instructional design and how she l...

In this special “Techsgiving Edition” of Crossroads + Callings, host Chimere Brown sits down with a powerhouse panel of senior leaders to explore The Power of the Pivot . Recorded live at the annual Techsgiving Summit—a non-profit dedicated to bridging the gap for underrepresented talent in tech—this episode dives deep into how non-linear career paths, rejection, and strategic leaps can lead direc...

Jesse Jarrett, a true master of the pivot, joins host Chimere Brown for an inspiring conversation on moving from survival mode to purpose mode. In this powerful episode of Crossroads + Callings, hear the incredible story of Jesse Jarrett, a veteran who successfully transitioned from the US Air Force to an executive role leading high-impact marketing campaigns for billion-dollar brands. Jesse unpac...

Are you letting your job title define your worth? In this pivotal episode of Crossroads + Callings, Host Chimere Brown sits down with thought leader, community builder, and former sales executive Hasani Henderson to discuss what it truly means to be “The CEO of Self.” Hasani shares the candid story of his journey from being a “one of one” Black tech professional to becoming a community advocate wh...

Welcome back to Crossroads + Callings, the podcast where we prove that your deepest frustrations can lead you directly back to your purpose. In this episode, “When Art Intimates Life,” host Chimere Brown sits down with artist extraordinaire, Blake D. Lenoir, a multidisciplinary muralist and creative visionary. Most know Blake for his powerful public art, like the two-part Chicago mural series, “A...

In this transformational Season 1, Episode III of Crossroads + Callings, host Chimere Brown welcomes the insightful Eunice Vashti (4th Generation Tailor, Corporate Strategist, and Partnerships Leader for a luxury hotel group). Eunice opens up about her most profound crossroad moment: facing an “ego death” after a life-altering transition. What got her through? The ultimate truth: “Suffering is a c...

What happens when a 20-year career in corporate sales leaves you empty, and a terrifying health crisis forces you to redefine everything? Host Chimere Brown welcomes K’ntrice Yvonne, Interior Designer, Confidence Coach, and founder of iDesign Styles. K’ntrice shares the two massive “Crossroads Moments” that led to her profound life transformation: The ICU Awakening: Lying in the ICU while six mont...

Welcome to Crossroads & Callings, Season 1: The Found Path! In this premiere episode, host Chimere S. Brown formally introduces the podcast’s mission: helping you convert life’s biggest challenges into your highest purpose. Chimere opens up about her personal crossroads—navigating six corporate layoffs—and her journey to transform that pain into a platform for good. Then, we dive into a powerful c...