From Chains to Links

In this season finale of From Chains to Links , hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton reflect on the incredible journey of the podcast, celebrating its role in elevating Black innovation, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. They dive into the impact of storytelling, mental wellness in business, and the power of collective economics - while hinting at exciting new projects on the horizon. With...

In this unapologetically Black and joyful episode, we break down ten things we love about Black people. From the way we hook up our food, to the rhythm in our DNA, the joy in our laughter, and the power in our resistance—this is a celebration of culture, legacy, and truth. Join hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton as they talk about the deep roots of our music, the art of the clapback, and why dancin...

As DEI programs are stripped away and historical narratives are rewritten, what’s really happening to Black communities? In this episode, we dive into the quiet yet deliberate erasure of Blackness in America, the myth of meritocracy, and why economic and political solidarity are more crucial than ever. Hosts Our hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton break down the systemic forces at play and ask the c...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, we explore the intersections of faith, spirituality, and black innovation. Our hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton engage in a deep conversation on redefining spiritual practices, embracing the divine feminine, and how these practices can inspire black entrepreneurship and generational wealth creation. From ancestral connections through music to personal refl...

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about success—it’s about failing, learning, and pivoting. In this episode, Ifeoma Ike and Dr. Kelly Burton get real about the challenges of building a business, from how the wrong team can cost you everything to the financial mistakes and tax pitfalls that trip up entrepreneurs. They break down the emotional toll of entrepreneurship while sharing the hard-earned lessons...

What happens when Black creatives lose yet another digital platform? In this episode, Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton explore the TikTok ban, the fight for Black ownership in the digital realm, and the larger conversation about who truly profits from our culture. From the déjà vu of the Vine shutdown to the systemic barriers that prevent us from building our own, we delve into the realities of digital...

In this vibrant and thought-provoking episode of From Chains to Links, co-hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton dive into a lively discussion on the top 10 ways entrepreneurs, creators, and visionaries can thrive in 2025. From prioritizing wellness and renewing passports to cultivating meaningful connections and embracing creativity, Ifeoma and Kelly serve up wisdom, humor, and practical advice to hel...

In this candid and thought-provoking episode of From Chains to Links, hosts Ifeoma Ike and Kelly Burton explore the interconnected themes of rest, reset, and the evolving fight for equity in a multicultural democracy. Through heartfelt reflections, sharp humor, and powerful insights, they tackle everything from the historical contributions of Black communities to modern movements for justice to th...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, Ify sits down with true renaissance man Luke Cooper —investor, successful startup founder, lawyer, professor, and more. Luke shares the big lessons he’s learned throughout his career, highlights the immense opportunity in investing in Black founders, and unpacks how cultural differences create barriers to capital for Black entrepreneurs. His incredible stor...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, policy expert and social justice warrior David Johns joins Ify and Kelly to explore the intersection of queer rights and social justice. A family conversation, the squad highlights real dynamics impacting queer leaders, youth and organizers. The conversation also tackles the impact of the “anti-woke” backlash on organizations advocating for the LGBTQIA+ com...

In this raucous episode of From Chains to Links, hosts Ify and Kelly are joined by technologist and long-time social justice advocate Jamaa Bickley-King who rips the bandaid off and shares his thoughts on the role media has played in our democracy, the limitations of artificial intelligence, and makes bold predictions about what will be extinct in the next decade. Along the way, he offers advice o...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, entrepreneurs Rahama Wright and Danielle Toussaint bring valuable insights on what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur in today’s political climate. An empowering dialogue with best practices and real-life experiences, Rahama and Danielle stress the importance of working across the African diaspora to build Black wealth and economic independence—and why...

In this heartfelt episode of From Chains to Links, Kelly Burton and Ifeoma Ike are joined by Erin Horne McKinney and Cici Battle to tackle the unique challenges of being Black women founders and entrepreneurs. A raw, honest reflection into the costs of leadership, each guest shares tips on how to prioritize self-care, establish boundaries, and put oneself first while still standing in the gap for...

How do we ensure Black people don’t miss out on yet another industrial revolution? In this episode of From Chains to Links , technologist and startup advisor Tyrome ‘Ty’ Smith drops invaluable insights on what startup founders need to understand today for success tomorrow. He breaks down the biggest mistakes founders often make and highlights the urgent needs and pressing opportunities for Black e...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, Ify sits down with innovation support leaders LaKisha Greenwade, Alisha Gordon, and Dr. LaTanya White, who each invests in ensuring entrepreneurs are equipped with the tools to thrive.. Together, they explore how we need to reimagine wealth creation, see the wealth is rest and village, and unpack the obstacles standing in our way. It's a rich, powerful conv...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, we welcome pioneering startup founder Tiffany Norwood and Jaret Riddick, a research engineer with over 20 years in the defense industry. Together, we dive into the evolution of Black people in tech, the relationship between racial equality and national security, and the vital role of imagination and dreaming in ensuring that Black people fully embrace our d...

In this episode of From Chains to Links, we sit down with Katrina Gamble, a political and movement strategist and social scientist, to explore what research reveals about how Black people view the state of our political systems. We explore what Black voters want and need, how to keep political momentum going after elections, and the critical importance of investing in movements beyond just "get ou...

Join Kelly and Ify in a lively, fast-paced episode of From Chains to Links, where they go back and forth with podcast regular political commentator and NYT bestseller Bakari Sellers. The trio dives into everything, from the crucial difference between pepper sauce and hot sauce to serious discussions about the U.S. Supreme Court, elections, and civil rights. Along the way, they tease, laugh, and un...

Bonus episode featuring From Chains to Links' Hosts Kelly Burton and Ifeoma Ike, with nuggets around the unique experience of being Black, creative and an entrepreneur. Hosts invite the audience to think about the "whole Black entrepreneur" and how this podcast seeks to spark new social conditions where we can fully live out innovation--from ideation to failure to repair to growth. And do so with...

The Civil Rights Movement is not the only Black movement, but it stands out with distinction for many reasons, including the way activism was more visible, thanks advancements in television usage and access which made the realities of segregation and brutality towards Black lives hard to ignore. Movements have proven to be both inspiring and have yielded some gains, but debates around how effectiv...

The Digital and Innovation Economy is in the midst of a technological revolution—one in which Black people have the best chance of not only getting in the water, but on the front side of the wave. Emerging Black technologists face new terrains as pioneers among pioneers, as well as old habits and beliefs which aren’t welcoming to the possibilities of an inclusive digital landscape. Nevertheless, b...

The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” doesn’t explicitly factor in how much that village will cost. The price of just “being Black” is expensive. And for many creatives, innovators, and entrepreneurs, the cost of growth and expansion is unaffordable. Although one of the brief responses to the murder of George Floyd was a slight uptick in public and private commitments, data reveals that...

The height of the COVID-19 pandemic made folks aware of a very rare fact: our modern understanding of vaccines is because of an underknown man named Onesimus. Sold into slavery and gifted to a Puritan Minister, it was observed that Onesimus was unscathed by ravenous smallpox, taking the lives of colonizers in the late 1700s. Onesimus shared how in his home country on the continent of Africa, they...

We’re celebrating the middle of our launch season with a special conversation with our very own co-host Ifeoma Ike, author of The Equity Mindset. Ifeoma shares why she developed a gumbo of interviews, practical tools, and disruptive strategies to support those invested in building spaces where marginalized communities are ignored and harmed. Providing a vulnerable account of writing with a disabil...

Society makes it hard for Black people to imagine liberation or freedom outside of our experience in White America. Because so much of our existence is a product of resistance and survival, even our creative spaces consciously and subconsciously speak to a relationship with oppression or designing solutions to issues Black people didn’t create. But if we could imagine a “state of nature” outside o...