Verbally Effective

Memphis native Darryl Sanford has been playing music all of his life. From playing the drums at the age of two and later matriculating to the piano, Darryl developed an ear for music. Darryl teaches music theory and is also a member of the legendary Bar-Kays. Darryl first started playing for churches as a teenager and has been playing for churches and choirs in the city of Memphis ever since. By t...

Event promoter and Manager of the PC Band, Jeromy "Pep" Thomas, joined me for a live interview on WYXR for Black Music Month. Hailing from West Memphis, AR, Pep's gift for music began in the church. He developed the PC Band ten years ago with four additional members consisting of singers and musicians. The letters "PC" stands for Perfect Combination which describes the PC Band's diverse style rang...

New York native and Sustainable Funding Coach, Stormi Banks joins me for Ep 260!!! Stormi is the founder of Pink Print, a digital consulting firm helping women entrepreneurs gain access to funding to start or scale their business. PInk Print has helped more than 10K women entrepreneurs gain access to over $5M in business funding. Take a listen as Ena and Stormi discuss how she established the Pink...

We are ushering in Black Music Month with an AMAZING talent! With over a decade of experience in the entertainment field; Keia Johnson has made a name for herself as the multifaceted Artist that attacks each opportunity with gusto and her signature smile. Known for her bigger than life laugh and sultry voice Keia is no stranger to the Entertainment business. Officially starting her singing career...

South Memphis native, Laquita Jones, is a Carver High School Graduate, Author and Serial Entrepreneur is one Memphis' most impressive and vibrant faces in the entertainment and business arena. For over 10 years, Xclusive Memphis has assisted with marketing and promotions for countless celebrities; as well as educating, empowering and equipping aspiring and new entrepreneurs who need help with bran...

Holly Springs, Ms native, Cj Nevels, is an actor and entrepreneur with three years of experience on the stage and aspires to take on the film industry. His journey began at New Direction Church where he was featured in a Christmas play. What started as an act of service for the church, led to an aspiration for a career. Take a listen as Ena and CJ discuss the acting scene in Memphis, facing fears...

I recently had the opportunity to interview the student who helped Tom Shadyac with finding Memphis Rox in 2018, Chris Dean along with Executive Director, Zach Rogers and PR, Alex Williams. Listening to Chris tell his story about growing up in South Memphis and finding a strong connection with rock climbing was definitely insightful. Find out how Memphis Rox is enriching the community and travelin...

On episode 255 we sit down with Flip My Life founders Marybeth Conley and Rick Woodall. You may remember Marybeth Conley gracing your television screens weekday mornings for Live at 9 on WREG news. Although MBC never wanted to be in broadcasting, her career spans over forty years with a start at a CBS affiliate in sales. Within three months, she quickly began her on-air journey known for asking th...

Dr. Vernell Bennett-Fairs began her tenure as the 13th president of LeMoyne-Owen College on January 5, 2021. Dr. Bennett-Fairs is the second woman chosen to lead the only historically black college in Memphis, TN. Dr. Bennett-Fairs’ career spans 26 years in higher education. She is a trained vocalist and orator who has served as an associate professor and college administrator. However, her most c...

I had the pleasure of chopping it up with sports journalist, writer and podcaster Parish Sharkey and artist, producer and radio personality Nicole Covington today on WYXR for Verbally Effective Live. We talked all things Memphis including Grizzlies, Tigers, WWE, Music and Culture. WYXR is in the midst of the Spring Pledge Drive and we happily raised over $200 during the show. Tune in now to check...

Jamal Whitlow joins Ena for a second time around live on WYXR for Verbally Effective. Jamal is the founder of Privileged brand in addition to being the creator of LOL Music Festival. Take a listen as Jamal and Ena tackles Memphis culture and politics in the beginning and ends with deets on LOL Music Festival.

Eureka McAfee is a South Memphis native who is currently the Principal at Alcy Elementary School. She is a graduate of LeMoyne Owen College and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Eureka begins the podcast with how the two of us first met when she and Coach Nedra Brown came to Millington, TN on a volleyball recruitment visit. McAFee talks about growing up in South Memphis being very active...

Christie Taylor was born in Washington D.C., and in the early 1970’s moved with family to West Tennessee. Her early years fostered in her a strong affinity for music performance and radio. Her love of “all things artsy” led to her pursuit of a Communication Degree with concentration in Radio, TV, and Film; and later graduated with a Bachelor in Drama TV and Film Performance from Oral Roberts Unive...

Cleveland, Ohio native, Jarrett Stephens, is the Athletic Director and the Men's Head Basketball Coach at Southwest TN Community College. Jarrett shares his story of often being the only black person growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland. His senior year he and his mom attended a HBCU College Fair where he was recruited on a choir and baseball scholarship to LeMoyne Owen College. Stephens shares...

Jennifer Elaine (Jenn) is a Professional Fine Artist blessing homes and offices with aesthetically dope Black art around the world. Originally from Louisville, KY, Jennifer she relocated to Memphis, TN in 2010 and has embraced the city with her creativity and ambition. God revealed her passion and natural talent of painting in the summer of 2015 after her ankle was fractured in three places making...

Get into this DEEP CUT with the President of UNAPOLOGETIC Label, Kid Maestro. Learn more about the journey of this phenomenal creative and how the new OUTERSPACEMANE studio was formed. Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Kid Maestro moved to Memphis and planted himself deep into the creative community of the city. A few years later, Kid joined IMAKEMADBEATS as he formed Unapologetic a...

Keenan Shotwell is a native Memphian and believes in the power of music to make people realize and celebrate all that they have in common with other people. He began playing music at a young age and practiced music at the Jackson Studios during the early 90s. Keenan mastered the piano and organ while a student at the University of Memphis. As his skills grew and his talent flourished, he began mak...

Byhalia, MS native Tori Thompson is the Queen of Conversation and Host of Tea Time with Tori. Thompson has always had a love for writing, poetry and singing as she navigated through Southwind High School. She later matriculated to the University of Memphis as a Communications major where she began talk show Tea Time with Tori. Her show became a huge success with attendees discussing taboo topics n...

Ena sits down for a second time on the podcast with Government Official Antonio Parkinson the TN House Representative for District 98. Take a listen as Representative Parkinson discusses his work in Nashville in addition to his reactions to the Tyre Nichols video.

Kelvin "York" Brown is the owner and master trainer at IAmFitness Memphis LLC training center and the founder of non-profit Boyz To Men Strength Training and Mentoring Program. Kelvin has been in the fitness industry for over twenty years focusing on nutritional science. I was able to witness him in action at his boot camp session this past Saturday for an on location podcast. It was fascinating t...

Currently the President/CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission, Paul Young has his eyes set on being the next Mayor of Memphis. With a background in city planning, community development and affordable housing initiatives, Paul feels that he is the best candidate to elevate Memphis to the next level. Take a listen as Ena sits down with Paul to discuss key issues affecting the city such as infrastru...

Marco Pavé has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition Category for Requiem for the Enslaved which tells the story of 272 slaves sold to pay the debts of Georgetown University. Featuring hip-hop artist Marco Pavé, trumpeter Jared Bailey, and Simon on piano, Requiem for the Enslaved explores the sacred and historical, and honors the lives of those bought and sold....

Chasity Monroe, the owner of Pink Noire Beauty Supply and Cosmetics, one of the few Black-owned beauty supply stores in Memphis, Tennessee, hopes to reclaim the Black beauty industry through her corporate and consumer perspectives. Estimates from The Black Owned Beauty Supply Association (BOBSA) show the Black haircare and cosmetics industry is worth about $9 billion. However, less than 5% of the...

I had the best time chopping it up with Illustrator/Designer Mia Saine. This Arlington, TN native's family purchased land and bartered with one another in the 90’s. Mia actually grew up in the midst of development in Arlington which welcomed new classes of people and many adjustments. She is the youngest of three siblings and was greatly influenced by her grandmother as a child that fostered her c...

Singer/Songwriter, Stephani Doll McCoy, originally hails from North Memphis by way of Hollywood, Jackson and Frayser. Stephani's grandmother was instrumental in her start of learning all aspects of music at their church Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in South Memphis. It was at Ridgeway High School where she met her sisters and began the singing group ADAJYO. At one point Stephani took the leap...