Verbally Effective

Blytheville, AR native Bria Jones has officially been a news reporter at WREG News Channel 3 for one year now. She moved to Memphis at the age of 7 and received her introduction into journalism at Cordova High School as a writer for their newspaper. Remember the "Teen Appeal" at the Commercial Appeal? Well Bria also was a part of that coveted team as well and always wanted to be the "Black Carrie...

Southside Chicago native Ben Colar moved to the Bluff City in 2002 after to study graphic design at Memphis College of Art. He had only heard about the Convocation and Three 6 Mafia prior to moving to Memphis. Ben excelled during his time at MCA and was immediately baptized by the fire working at an ad agency the summer before graduation. After commencement, he moved to Philly and became engulfed...

Whitehaven, TN native, Nathan Ollie, is a financial advisor, nonprofit leader, tech entrepreneur and girl dad. In 2007, Nate graduated from Whitehaven High School, where he excelled both academically in the top 10% of his class; and athletically being awarded local honors in basketball. Nate went on to continue his post-secondary academic and athletic journey at Rhodes College. It was there where...

Benton Harbor, MI native, Dr. Earle Fisher, resides as Senior Pastor at Abyssinnian Baptist Church and Founder of #UpTheVote901. This is Fisher's second visit on Verbally Effective and we truly enjoyed him expressing himself. He has been boots on the ground organizing as he began #UpTheVote901 in 2018. You will hear a resounding message throughout this podcast as it relates to politics, celebrity...

Founder of the Reaves Law Firm PLLC, Henry Reaves makes his second round on the Verbally Effective Podcast introducing his new movie "Queen Rising." If you're from Memphis you may have seen Henry either on a billboard or television advertisement promoting his personal injury law firm. However, it was during covid when Reaves decided to execute this passion project made in Memphis with a Memphis ca...

With 10 years of community health experience, Miami, FL native Andrea Jacobo is a first generation Afro-Dominicanx who has fully embraced and connected with the Memphis community. Andrea Jacobo is currently a Visiting Instructor at Rhodes College within the Urban Studies-Health Equity Program. She believes that community-centered, people-centered approaches are key to addressing health inequities....

Batesville, MS native Micheal Sykes, globally known as M.I.A.M.I. Mike, has been making major moves since before he got in the music industry. He is the CEO of a multi-platinum independent recording label, Palm Tree Entertainment and has been in the business for two decades. As the president of Soulja Boy’s S.O.D.M.G., Mike has helped grow his brand into a million dollar business. During this podc...

Rodan, also known as Daniel Ross, is a Memphis-based artist that focuses on telling the story of the Black American journey through art. He was educated at Tennessee State University and Memphis College of Art. Over the years he has perfected the use of hard to soft graphite and clay on cold press board, striving to make his work appear photo realistic. Through a technique he calls “loose realism”...

Westwood, TN native Sedrick Askew is the founder of Impact Lyfe Media. Attending one of the prominent high schools by the name of Westwood High, he knew early on that media was his calling by having a camera placed in his hand as early as 13. After graduating in 2004 and attending University of Memphis, media took a major role in his life by filming multiple shows hosted by the school as well as t...

Originally from Washington D.C., Attorney Lee Rankin now calls Memphis, TN her home. Lee is the proud visionary and creator of the boutique law firm, Lee Rankin Group, serving clients in music tech, virtual reality, social media influencers and legal marketing as it pertains to the metaverse. In this episode, you'll learn the how and the why Lee planted roots in Memphis wanting to fill the gap wit...

Born and raised in Greenville, Ms, Michael Jefferson is the founder of JeffBow Enterprises LLC starting in 2018. He began this journey as a master barber and in 2020 he moved to Memphis and stepped out on faith and formed 901 Barber Concierge, Memphis' only luxury mobile barbershop under JeffBow Enterprises LLC. Take a listen as Michael walks us through on WHY he began this new concept and some of...

South Memphis native Chris McNeil a.k.a. DJ Superman keeps Memphis motivated as the voice of middays at KXHT Hot 107.1FM in addition to the producer of the Morning Show Hustle. Growing up at College and Mclemore street, DJ Superman had a close connection with the community with both Stax and LeMoyne Owen College nearby. He followed his mother's footsteps and attended both Memphis Catholic High Sch...

If you haven't checked out my guest for Ep 224 media platform Unapologetically Memphis yet you're definitely missing out on Memphis culture. Marques Cook is the creator and CEO of Unapologetically Memphis media platforms. Deeply rooted in Orange Mound, White Haven and Olive Branch, Marques began the Unapologetically Memphis platform in 2019 wanting to bring the culture of Memphis together similar...

South Memphis native, Bertram Williams Jr. is my guest for episode 223. You may be familiar with Bertram as he plays the character "Woddy" on P-Valley Starz. You may also be familiar with Bertram as he very active in the theatre community in Memphis playing a very active role on stage with Hattiloo Theatre. Take a listen as Bertram shares his story of entering into the world of performing arts whi...

On episode 222, we are LIVE in the WYXR studio on the radio airwaves with Memphis-based interior designer, content creator and lifestyle blogger Carmeon Hamilton. She is the winner of HGTV’s Design Star: Next Gen and star of HGTV’s Reno My Rental. Her 15 years of experience in multiple facets of the design industry, from public health-care to residential to retail and merchandising, is the foundat...

North Memphis native, Shahidah Jones is my guest for Ep 221 of the Verbally Effective Podcast. Shay comes from a huge family consisting of Smokey City, Hurt Village, New Chicago and more. Half of her family is of the Islam faith which is the cornerstone of her organizing efforts. She tells us of her time at Austin Peay University where she encountered much adversity while earning her degree. Upon...

North Memphis native, Camille Patrice Fulton is passionate about sharing messages about the cultural vibrancy that make up this eclectic city. She hopes that her reviews via the "Camille Unlimited" blog inspire people to experience Memphis differently. Growing up as an only child, Camille was very inquisitive. She attended Cordova High School and matriculated to HBCU Alabama A&M University. Camill...

North Memphis native, Jay Gray is our guest for episode 219. Jay is currently the Brand Operations Manager for We Are Memphis which is a digital marketing firm that promotes "Memphis" to the masses via data research and community outreach. Jay's story is deeply rooted in the Raleigh area. After losing his mom at the age of twelve, Jay lived with his grandmother who was a nurse working twelve hour...

Oakhaven, TN native, Paul Young, is our current President and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission. Paul's upbringing has been centered on finding purpose in work and a strong spirit of service. After graduating from UT Knoxville, Paul experienced a turning point in his life as he listened to one of his mother's sermons encompassing the purpose driven life. It was that moment when Paul discovere...

Originally from Pine Bluff, AR, Fabian L. Matthews has definitely found his niche in the Memphis media space. His entry into the technical side of television began shortly after graduating from Arkansas State University and a brief stint in the military. Fabian worked as a a producer/director at KAIT TV in Jonesboro, AR and joined WMC TV-5 in Memphis as a Senior Commercial Producer/Avid Editor in...

Talibah Safiya is an independent soul singer and a captivating story teller from Orange Mound, TN. Using impactful instrumentation and visually stimulating lyricism, Talibah’s music has a way of deeply connecting you to her story and your own. Since 2011, Talibah has been dropping jewels on her own terms that have put her on stages Nationwide. In the summer of 2019, she completed her first tour “A...

Born Denisha Bonner, Cookie901 is a female Hip-Hop artist emerging from the asperous streets of Memphis, Tn. Her musical sound clinches tightly onto her city’s roots as she embarks upon the music industry, giving transparency and authenticity. As an adolescent, luminaries such as Memphis natives Gangsta Boo, Playa Fly, and Yo Gotti, fueled her passion of journaling to evolve into a love for bass a...

Episode 214's guest is President of River City Capital Investment Corp. and Host of the Minding Your Business Podcast, Ron Brooks, Jr. Ron is an Orange Mound, TN native by way of Chicago, IL. Take a listen as Ron discusses his formative years transferring from Melrose to Houston HS filled with many triumphs and challenges. He later attended the University of Memphis and entered the world of bankin...

My guest for Ep 213 is stylist and founder of "Styled by LD" Lauren Draffin. Known as the "Queen of mixing high and low brands", LD shares that her dad got her interested in fashion during her early teens. She credits her first job at Indigo for instilling in her with technique and accountability. LD spent her first three years in college at the University of Alabama as a Fashion/Merchandising maj...

Orange Mound, TN native, Dr. Derrick D. Payne, is our guest for episode 212. Derrick is a dentist, event strategist and pillar of the Memphis community. In July 2002, Dr. Payne purchased his first dental practice in Memphis and has practiced in the Whitehaven Community for 20 years. He is a member of the Shelby County Dental Society, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc and the visionary of Men of Memp...