The Invisible Men

In this episode of  The Invisible Men , Ian and Nique speak with Jorge Elorza, former mayor of Providence and CEO of Democrats for Education Reform. Jorge shares his evolution from traditional Democrat to school choice advocate, explains the promise of a new federal education tax credit, and unpacks why many in his party resist reform. He calls for a cultural shift in Democratic politics—towa...

In this episode of The Invisible Men , Ian and Nique speak with Derrell Bradford, President of 50CAN, about a game-changing federal tax credit bill that could reshape American education. They discuss how the program would allow families—especially low-income ones—to use privately funded scholarships for things like private school tuition, SAT prep, or tutoring. Bradford explores the political divi...

In this episode of  The Invisible Men , Ian and Nique speak with political analyst and advocate Gianno Caldwell about the personal and political dimensions of urban violence, broken families, and misguided public policy. Caldwell shares the tragic story of his younger brother’s murder in Chicago and reflects on growing up amid poverty, fatherlessness, and crime—conditions he argues are worsen...

In this episode of the Invisible Men , Ian speaks with Andre Fowlkes, co-founder and president of Start Co., about what it really takes for young people—especially in underserved communities—to succeed. Andre introduces the concept of the “social envelope,” a holistic framework that includes not just skills and credentials, but also social capital, support systems, and exposure to opportunity-rich...

In this episode of the  Invisible Men , Ian and Nique engage in a conversation with author Thomas Chatterton Williams about race, identity, and the complexities of navigating a mixed-race background. Williams shares his personal experiences growing up with a black father and a white mother, exploring how these dynamics shaped his understanding of race and class. The discussion delves into the...

In this episode, Ian and Nique discuss the evolving landscape of higher education, discussing the shifting dynamics of college admissions, meritocracy, and the challenges students face today. They reflect on the complex and often frustrating process of applying to colleges, particularly the pressures placed on students by restrictive admissions policies. The conversation then shifts to a broader c...

Ian and Nique are joined by Dumisani Washington to discuss the historical and ongoing challenges of racial integration, education, and black self-determination. Dumisani shares insights from his upbringing, emphasizing black excellence and the effects of integration on black institutions, and reflects on how his name change and spiritual journey led to the creation of the Institute for Black Solid...

In this conversation, Ian and Nique delve into the historical context and contemporary implications of the Moynihan Report, discussing the decline of family structure in the black community and its impact on community cohesion, life outcomes, and neighborhood life. They explore the media's role in sensationalizing the report, personal narratives surrounding family dynamics, and the importance of e...

In this episode of the  Invisible Men , Ian engages in a deep conversation with Clifton Duncan, a classically trained actor and playwright. They explore Clifton’s unique upbringing across different cultures, his journey of racial awareness, and the complexities of navigating identity within the acting community. Clifton shares his experiences in theater, the impact of racial dynamics, and a p...

In this episode, Nique and Ian discuss Harvard economist Roland Fryer’s proposal to transition from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence (MEI) in corporate and educational contexts. They explore the implications of this shift, the challenges posed by current educational disparities, and the importance of merit in creating opportunities. The conversation hig...

In this episode of the Invisible Men , Ian and Nique engage with Devon Westhill, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, discussing his personal journey growing up as a mixed-race child in the South, the dynamics of race and education, the role of single mothers, and the importance of social safety nets. The conversation also delves into the distinction between equal opportunity and equity...

In this episode of the Invisible Men , Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors engage in a deep conversation with Darius Jones, founder of the National Black Empowerment Council. Darius shares his upbringing in a family of educators involved in the civil rights movement, which shaped his understanding of race and empowerment. He discusses the importance of political engagement and the need for effective black l...

Philip Abode, the lead pastor of Crossover Bible Church and executive director of Crossover Preparatory Academy, joins Ian and Nique to discuss his life journey, the role that faith played in his upbringing, and his work to promote North Tulsa’s flourishing. The conversation highlights the comprehensive community development initiatives he and his colleagues have implemented, including youth sport...

Erec Smith, a research fellow at the Cato Institute, joins Ian and Nique to discuss his life journey, “wokeism,” and the effects and future of DEI initiatives. Erec shares his experiences as a chief diversity officer and critiques the current state of DEI, arguing that it has strayed from its original purpose. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities facing DEI in the future,...

Michael Bowen, a founding member of Free Black Thought , joins Ian and Nique to discuss themes ranging from race, identity, and the important intellectual diversity within the black community. The conversation delves into Michael's early awareness of race, the cultural significance of jazz and the Black Arts Movement, his experiences in college and fraternity life, the role of black engineers, edu...

Sarah Bond, the president of Xbox, and Bruce Bond, her father, join Ian and Nique to discuss their relationship, lessons learned from their lives and careers, and their experience of race in America.

Bob Woodson, founder of the Woodson Center, joins Ian and Nique to discuss his career, the future and history of the civil rights movement, and how to promote equal opportunity for all Americans. Subscribe for more episodes of The Invisible Men .

This week, Ian and Nique are joined by Dr. Irvin Scott – director of the Leadership Institute for Faith and Education at Harvard University and former deputy director for K-12 education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with over twenty years of experience working as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and chief academic officer. Dr. Scott describes the core elements of what it...

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Shelby Steele – author, columnist, documentary maker, and Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Shelby shares how growing up in the milieu of the civil rights movement caused him to be intellectually engrossed in debates about race and America from an early age. His father, despite lacking even a high education himself, pushed Shelb...

In this special episode, Ian and Nique engage in a one-on-one conversation about key takeaways from the Tokyo Olympics. They also share their reaction to a recent bill signed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown that eliminates the need for students to test proficient in reading, writing, and math in order to graduate high school. Their discussion centers around “Darryl’s” likely reaction to both events....

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by James Hill — software development architect, entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, and inventor of a new crypto technology called BracketChain. James and his wife started a company in 2014 called Alambda systems, a successful venture that currently has partnerships with Boeing, Microsoft, and Peraton. James runs a software-developing academy and focuses his...

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Scott Hilton-Clarke — the founder of Inspiration Laboratories, a firm devoted to inspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives to step into their greatness and realize their visions for the future. Scott is a Founding Member of the Board of Governors for the University of Trinidad and Tobago and a graduate of Harvard Business School. He has spent ove...

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Barry Johnson — the chairman and founder of Bedowin360 Capital with over thirty years of experience spanning Wall Street, Media, and the Obama Administration. Barry shares how his experience of growing up in segregated Alabama during the 1960s “living a foot in two worlds” shaped his path toward becoming a “possibilitist”— someone who uses his or her ap...

Join Ian and Nique this week for the second half of their two-part discussion with Harvard professor, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and early-stage investor Roland Fryer. In this episode, Roland shares how, following the murder of Walter Scott, he was inspired to build the best dataset possible to assess how race shapes police interactions in America today. Roland assembled a team to partner w...

This week, Ian and Nique launch a two-part discussion with Harvard professor, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and early-stage investor Roland Fryer on Roland’s journey to academia (part 1) and why his principled approach to research has disrupted long-held assumptions within the social sciences about policing, mobility, and race (part 2). In this first part of the conversation, Roland shares how...