Ms. Wanda's Full Circle Radio

Advocacy, Leadership & Black Youth How do we empower Black youth to use their voices, advocate for themselves and become leaders in their communities? On this episode of Ms. Wanda’s Full Circle Radio , Ms. Wanda welcomes Lorreen Pryor, President and CEO of the Black Youth Leadership Project (BYLP), and members of her team for a conversation about supporting Black students and families. In this...

For the final episode of the 2026 Full Circle Men on the Move series, Ms. Wanda sits down with Hakeem Croom — certified life and leadership coach, speaker, educator, entrepreneur, transformational storyteller, author and founder and CEO of Defying All Odds. Born and raised in Harlem, Hakeem’s life story is one of resilience, determination, faith and purpose. His journey is captured in the document...

We’re kicking off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with our friend Reverend Tammie Denyse, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Carrie's Touch , as they celebrate an incredible 20 years of serving Black women and families impacted by breast cancer. Rev. Tammie shares the personal journey that inspired Carrie's Touch, the importance of making sure Black women are seen and supported throughout their br...

What does it really mean to create a safe community? This week on Full Circle Men on the Move, Ms. Wanda sits down with Khaalid Muttaqi — Chief Operating Officer of Advance Peace, community safety advocate, and the writer, director and producer of the powerful documentary The Paradox of Safety . Khaalid shares the personal journey that shaped his life's work, from growing up in a strong Black...

What happens when life takes you through grief, responsibility, sacrifice and seasons you never expected — and then asks you to figure out who you are on the other side? In this Men on the Move conversation, Ms. Wanda sits down with Craig C. Carlisle, a father of five, writer, music producer, engineer, podcaster and man of faith. Nearly 14 years after losing his wife to cancer, Craig opens up abou...

In the second installment of the Full Circle Men on theMove series, Ms. Wanda sits down with Sacramento native Attorney George H. Jones, Esquire for a candid conversation about justice, business, legacy, family and service. George is a criminal defense and civil rights attorney withmore than 40 years of experience in the legal profession. He is also chairman of the board of the California Black Ch...

The Men on the Move series is back on Full Circle! Throughout September, each Saturday we'll introduce you to men who are making an impact in their communities—not only through their professional accomplishments, but through their leadership, experiences, values and commitment to making a difference. We kick off the series with Jay King —President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, s...

On this episode of Full Circle , we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our longtime partners at Sierra Donor Services (SDS) . Ms. Wanda sits down with Cristian Morales, Senior External Affairs Coordinator , to talk about the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month, his personal connection to organ donation, and why increasing awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation is especially importa...

What happens when food, culture, community, and entrepreneurship come together? There’s a seat at the table for everyone. On this episode of Ms. Wanda’s Full Circle Radio , I’m joined by Melissa Muganzo, Founder of Mindy’s Kitchen, Ling Luc, Chief Marketing Officer for Mindy's Kitchen and Sydni R. Bell, founder of Naturals Night Out , to talk about the 2nd Annual Salad and Sip Soirée —a unique...

This week on Full Circle , Ms. Wanda welcomes back playwright, director, actor and educator Anthony D’Juan for a conversation about his creative journey and his new play, Us & The Rest of ’Em , making its world premiere at Celebration Arts September 11–27 . Written in 2021, the play explores the everyday lives of a Black Sacramento family—love, conflict, generational dynamics and the challenge...

THE INTERNET DOESN’T REWARD HIDDEN EXPERTISE. And if you listened to Saturday's Full Circle, you know exactly what Jessica Walker meant. What a conversation!!! For TWO HOURS, Jessica Walker aka @jawspeaksdigital took us inside the world of digital strategy, content creation, visibility, AI, storytelling, personal branding, monetization and the business of being seen. And this wasn't “just...

In the second hour of Full Circle's quarterly partnership with Sierra Donor Services, we welcome Judy & Brad Barroso, parents of donor hero Trevor Barroso, and founders of Trevor's 2nd Chance Foundation. After the loss of their son Trevor, the Barroso family made the courageous decision to honor Trevor's legacy by advocating for organ donation and supporting donor and recipient fam...

Full Circle continues our important quarterly partnership with Sierra Donor Services, bringing awareness to the life-changing impact of organ, tissue, and eye donation through real stories from people whose lives have been forever changed. In this episode, Ms. Wanda welcomes Shawntay Gorman McBrewer and her son, Malachi. Shawntay is an artist, activist, and community advocate whose greatest role i...

On this episode of Full Circle , Ms. Wanda welcomes Dr. Pamela Peters, a parenting and wellness expert, certified life coach, and trusted mentor with more than 20 years of experience helping individuals, families, educators, and leaders reach their full potential. Dr. Peters shares her journey of transforming personal challenges into a life dedicated to empowering others through coaching, counseli...

What does it take to turn a dream into a thriving community gathering space? This week on Full Circle, Wanda Smith sits down with entrepreneur and community builder Renee Jōneck, owner of Jōneck's Wine Bar in Sacramento. More than just a place to enjoy a glass of wine, Jōneck's has become a welcoming destination where conversations flourish, friendships are formed, and community is cultiva...

On this week's episode of Full Circle , we welcomed representatives from two powerful programs operating under the same mission-driven organization: Saving Sarah's Daughters and the Youth Violence Conflict Resolution Seminars (YVCRS) . During the first hour, guests Mashal and Natania shared the vision behind Saving Sarah's Daughters , a program dedicated to empowering young women and g...

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Ms. Wanda welcomes Christian Jacobs, LMFT , Founder and CEO ofEmpath Health Collective, for a deeply insightful conversation on the mental health needs of Black men and boys. Christian brings clinical expertise, lived experience and cultural understanding to topics that are often overlooked ormisunderstood. Together, we explore How depression shows up dif...

This week on Full Circle, we welcome Nichole D. Alexander, Founder and Executive Director of Scholars for Purpose, Inc., a nonprofit committed to empowering single parents through education resources, mental wellness support, and prevention-focused programming. Nichole shares her powerful personal journey as a single parent navigating college at an HBCU, and how those experiences shaped her passio...

This week on Full Circle , we welcome Valene Byrd , Founder and Program Director of ART-TISM, an inclusive arts program dedicated to creating safe, sensory-friendly spaces where children of all abilities and their families can learn, create, and connect. As a special needs parent, educator, and artist, Valene’s work is rooted in lived experience and a deep commitment to ensuring neurodiverse child...

In this powerful conversation, Full Circle welcomes leaders from the Sacramento Valley Section of the National Council of Negro Women to discuss the urgent need for awareness, advocacy, and action during Black Maternal Health Week. Observed nationally from April 11–17, Black Maternal Health Week was founded to bring attention to the disparities impacting Black mothers in the United States and to u...

This powerful episode of Full Circle brings together voices from Sierra Donor Services to explore the life-saving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation—and why this work matters now more than ever. Through a blend of facts, lived experiences, and heartfelt storytelling, this conversation challenges listeners to rethink legacy, community responsibility, and the power of a single decision. Featu...

The transition from high school to college can be overwhelming for many students and families. Navigating course requirements, financial aid, academic planning, and transfer pathways often leaves students unsure of how to move forward. In this episode of Full Circle, Ms. Wanda sits down with Dr. Camille Wise, Director of the City Scholars Program at Sacramento City College, to discuss a new initia...

Have a business idea but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’ve launched your business but need support building a stronger foundation. On this episode of Full Circle , host Ms. Wanda talks with Shayla Walker , founder and CEO of Sistah Soul Brunch & Mixer , about the Venture Soul Entrepreneurship Program —a new initiative designed to support early-stage Black entrepreneurs. This hands-on pr...

We’re kicking off Women’s History Month with an inspiring conversation featuring Sisters in Success (S.I.S.) at San Joaquin Delta College. S.I.S. is a mentorship and cultural enrichment program dedicated to supporting Black/African/African American female students through intentional programming, sisterhood, and culturally responsive engagement. Led by Program Director Dr. Malika Hollinside, the i...

As we kick off American Heart Month, this powerful first-hour conversation on Full Circle centers on a story that is both deeply personal and profoundly instructive. Susan and Don Leonard join the show to share how a sudden cardiac arrest changed their lives—and how quick thinking, preparation, and love made survival possible. Susan experienced sudden cardiac arrest at home, a moment that came wit...