Stop, Look & Listen

What were you doing at eight years old? DJ Switch Ghana was winning a national talent competition and launching a career that would take her to stages around the world. 🌟 On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with award-winning DJ, producer, and philanthropist DJ Switch Ghana to discuss her remarkable journey from rural Ghana to becoming one of Africa's most re...

What inspired Simone Green to create her empowering anthem "Black Queen," and how did her battle with breast cancer change her outlook on life? On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with singer, songwriter, and activist Simone Green for a powerful conversation about music, resilience, and purpose. Simone discusses the success of her charting single "Black Queen,...

What if the secret to surviving the music industry isn’t just talent but ownership?  On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Detroit guitarist, songwriter, and producer Tim Bowman to talk about music, money, and building a career that lasts. Tim shares stories from his early days playing in church, studying music theory on scholarship, and touring with legend...

What if the scariest thing isn’t the house… but your own mind? On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, LeTroy Gardner sits down with filmmaker Joseph Mbah to talk about his new psychological horror thriller Whispers Bind, now streaming on Roku, Samsung TV, and Fawesome. 🎥 Joseph shares the inspiration behind the film, building suspense through psychological fear, and what it takes to create i...

Can Salt Lake City produce the next wave of hip-hop artists? Obeeyay thinks so. 🎶🔥 On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, LeTroy Gardner talks with Salt Lake City artist Obeeyay about his journey from studio engineer to performer and how growing up with seven older siblings helped shape his sound and competitive mindset. Obeeyay shares the artists that influenced him, including Michael Jack...

What happens when a once-in-a-lifetime love story becomes a book you have to tell? ❤️📖 On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with author, artist, and storyteller Debora Masterson to dive deep into her powerful new novel, Freedom Quest: A Love Story. Inspired by her real-life relationship with musician Craig Ingraham, this conversation uncovers a journey of love...

🔥 What does it take to keep FUNK alive across generations? On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with guitar legend Marlon “The Magician” McClain to break down a career that helped define the sound of funk, soul, and beyond. From the roots of Portland’s iconic Albina music scene to global stages, Marlon shares how Pleasure was born, the influence of mentors lik...

On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, R&B vocalist Yvette Michelle pulls up for a conversation that bridges the golden era of ’90s music with her bold return today.  Yvette opens up about her journey from a strict Pentecostal upbringing to finding her voice in the church choir while secretly chasing her dreams behind the scenes. She breaks down how she caught the attention of Funkmaster...

On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, we sit down with Grammy-nominated soul powerhouse Eric Roberson to unpack the heart, healing, and honesty behind his latest album, Beautifully All Over the Place. From turning failed relationships into timeless music to finding inspiration in everyday family moments, Eric reveals how chaos and creativity go hand in hand.  He opens up about: 🔥 His unique...

What really happened behind the scenes of one of R&B’s most iconic groups? 👀🎶 In this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Abdul Ra’oof of The S.O.S. Band to uncover the untold stories behind the music that defined a generation. From falling in love with music in junior high 🎺 to becoming the voice behind timeless records, Abdul shares his journey—from Alba...

What happens when a thriving business success story suddenly turns into a $1.5 million legal battle? In this powerful episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Executive Director of Black Theater United Kettia Ming to talk about the highs, the setbacks, and the ultimate reinvention of her career and life. 🎙️ Kettia shares how she built Smarter...

On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with former NFL fullback and longtime NFL running backs coach James Saxon. A proud Battery Creek High School product from Beaufort, South Carolina, Saxon shares how Lowcountry culture, discipline, and fierce high school rivalries helped shape the mindset that carried him to the NFL. Saxon reflects on being selected in the 6t...

What happens when a hurricane hits not just homes but history?  On this powerful episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with cultural strategist, oral historian, filmmaker, and author Majella Mark to discuss preserving Caribbean memory in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. From her Grenadian roots to the lasting impact of the U.S. invasion of Grenada, Majella shares how h...

What if the solution to a hidden crisis started in your garage? 🛠️ This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Luke Mickelson, author and founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), to tackle the heartbreaking reality of child bedlessness and how one simple act of service sparked a global movement. 🌎 Growing up in Kimberly, Idaho, Luke learned the value of community ear...

What happens when a chart-topping voice trades the stage for shaping young minds? This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with the legendary Sybil, the powerhouse behind timeless hits like Walk On By and Don't Make Me Over. Sybil takes us on a heartfelt journey from her upbringing in Paterson, to her college days at North Carolina A&T State University, to performing...

🌟 What does it really take to build a world-class music festival from scratch? On this episode of Stop, Look & Listen, 🎙️ host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Billie-Jo Aasen, CEO of The Festival Company and the visionary behind Mudfest, Canada’s largest motorsports and music festival. 🚜🎶 Billie-Jo shares her journey from a tiny Canadian town to producing major festivals across North America,...

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, 🎙️ host LeTroy Gardner sits down with legendary multihyphenate Hakim Green of Channel Live—artist, activist, scholar, and cultural architect—for a powerful conversation about legacy, purpose, and the soul of hip-hop. 🌍🔥 Hakim takes us back to East Orange, New Jersey, sharing how early hip-hop influences shaped his worldview, his time as a background dancer f...

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, 🎙️ host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Jimmy Rios, CEO of Rios Business Advisors and Next Level Credit, for an inspiring and practical conversation every entrepreneur needs to hear. Raised in Queens, NY by Colombian immigrant parents, Jimmy shares how his family’s entrepreneurial roots, lessons from his father, and a relentless problem-solving mindset shaped hi...

What happens when life hits you head-on—and you refuse to stop? 💥 This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host Troy (LeTroy) Gardner sits down with the unstoppable KELZtango for a powerful, unfiltered conversation about resilience, creativity, and purpose. After surviving a serious car accident, KELZtango opens up about his unexpected journey into rap, navigating the music industry, and why mental...

What happens when a country boy from Georgia follows curiosity all the way around the world?  This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Dr. Djelani Hamm—mindset coach, author, educator, and African travel consultant—for a powerful conversation about purpose, culture, and transformation. From chasing dreams in music and acting 🎶🎭 to discovering his life’s calling th...

What happens when a real estate investor stops chasing just the money and starts building with purpose? 👀🏡 In this week’s episode of Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Fuquan Bilal, Chief Visionary Officer of NNG Capital Fund, to unpack his incredible 25-year journey from real estate hustler to community-focused leader. Fuquan reveals the light bulb moment that transform...

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Marcus “Skalez” Braxton — entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and the definition of resilience in motion. 💯🔥 From growing up in one of Washington DC’s toughest neighborhoods to rising as the CEO of a thriving digital streaming company, Marcus opens up about his remarkable transformation. He shares: ✨ His journey from the stre...

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, 🎙️ LeTroy Gardner sits down with 18-year-old filmmaker Austen Hamel, whose journey from shooting short films at age 10 to premiering his first feature film “The Wanted” is nothing short of inspiring. 🌟 Austen opens up about: 🎬 His creative process and storytelling approach 👨‍👩‍👦 The impact of family support on his filmmaking dreams 🏔️ The unique challenge...

Join host LeTroy Gardner on this week’s edition of Stop, Look & Listen as he sits down with the dynamic and multifaceted Joshua PK White! 🎤 As the CEO of Jay White Enterprise, Joshua wears many hats — DJ, producer, engineer, author, minister, and music consultant — all while staying rooted in his faith. 🙌 Born and raised in Miami as a preacher’s kid, Joshua shares how his upbringing fueled h...

This week on Stop, Look & Listen, host LeTroy Gardner sits down with Kenneth L. Johnson, the Emmy Award–winning sound designer and founder of Artistry in Sound. 🌟From growing up in South Central LA to crafting the soundscapes of some of Hollywood’s biggest productions, Kenneth shares his incredible journey — one of resilience, reinvention, and representation. 🙌🏾🎙️ In this episode: Escaping...