The Human Side Podcast

Growing up between Chester and Ithaca shaped everything Sheena Solomon thought she knew about identity, community, and opportunity. In this conversation, she opens up about teenage motherhood, raising her children, and what it means to break cycles without losing yourself in the process. It’s not about perfection. It’s about persistence, perspective, and purpose. Business Inquiries: contact@solonq...

Strength isn’t the absence of emotion. It’s the courage to feel. In this episode of The Human Side Podcast , we sit down with Ryedell for a deeply honest conversation about faith, loss, and the emotional expectations placed on young men. From a young age, many men are taught that strength means silence — that emotions should be hidden, suppressed, or ignored. But the truth is, emotional honesty is...

Before she was Deputy Mayor, Sharon Owens was an athlete, a mom, and a young woman trying to find her place in Syracuse. Today, she’s one of the city’s most visible leaders, carrying both the expectations and criticisms that come with it. She sat down with us to share her journey, the lessons sports taught her, and the importance of protecting your mental health in public life. This isn’t politics...

On June 24th, Shinyrra Thomas lost her 15-year-old brother to gun violence in Syracuse, New York. In this conversation, she opens up about her grief, her anger, and the deep desire to create something better for her children and her community. This episode is not about answers—it’s about being heard. It’s about what it means to carry loss and still show up. It’s about stopping a cycle before it ta...

Not every story begins in safety. In this powerful episode of The Human Side , we sit down with Dr. Emad Rahim—author, educator, and genocide survivor. Born in a Cambodian concentration camp, Emad’s earliest memories are marked by trauma, displacement, and violence. But this is not where his story ends. With raw honesty and deep insight, Emad shares how he transformed pain into purpose, using educ...

Some losses change everything. They shift the way you see the world, the way you move through life, and the way you carry love. In this deeply moving episode of The Human Side Podcast, we sit down with Sade, a woman navigating life after the tragic loss of her husband, Daquan. To many, he was just a statistic—but to Sade, he was a protector, a provider, and a powerful presence whose impact still e...

What does it mean to start over with nothing but your siblings, your story, and your strength? In this moving episode of The Human Side Podcast, we sit down with Sharifeh, who fled Afghanistan and began a new life in Syracuse. Her story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and quiet bravery—the kind it takes to build a life from scratch in a new land. We explore: 🔹 The reality of fleeing home in sear...

We’re honored to continue The Human Side Podcast with stories that reveal the raw resilience of the human spirit. In this powerful episode, we hear from Katie Stagger , a survivor of domestic violence whose courage and advocacy redefine strength. After enduring years of abuse, Katie’s life changed forever when her ex-husband attempted to take it. Her journey through recovery, fear, and hope is a p...

After serving 17 years in prison , Rashawn Sullivan emerged with a mission—to help others find purpose, redemption, and a new path forward. In this powerful episode of The Human Side Podcast , Rashawn shares his incredible journey from incarceration to mentorship, the lessons he learned behind bars, and how he's now working to change lives at Hillbrook Youth Detention Center. We dive deep into: 🔹...