Verbally Effective

Jessica Benson is the host for the Memphis Grizzlies and co-host on the Rise and Grind show with Grind City Media. This Highland Ranch, CO native stepped away from her five-year television broadcast career to transition into the digital space with the NBA. This shift from traditional media came with many perks and freedoms. Not only did Jessica and her team start a show from scratch, but they have...

Malorie Hullett is the Owner and Primary Educator at Creative Collegiate Academy. She grew up in Cordova, TN the oldest of two siblings, Melanie and Michael, also known as the three M's. Malorie was an all-around girl who had a knack with kids, loved fashion, participated in cheer leading and always loved to stand out. Having a COGIC upbringing added a creative flare to Malorie's wardrobe. After s...

Born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico and raised in the city of Bridgeport, CT, Jeremie Serrano is a self-taught Artist and Chef that also works in the Advocacy & Policy field for underrepresented communities. Jeremie moved to the city of grit and grind for LOVE in 2017 reuniting with his boyfriend of six years. He noticed the disparity of health issues with people of color and responded three years ago by...

Did you know that your Tennessee State Representative for District 91 loves dinosaurs and action films? Also known as "THEE Stallion of Politics" by her close friends, London Lamar shares her journey with the Verbally Effective Podcast for Ep 131. Growing up in the White Haven, London developed her love for community at a very young age. After graduating from Central HS, she attended St. Mary's an...

In this exclusive Verbally Effective Podcast episode taped at Royal Studios, Ena Esco sits down with brothers and Memphis natives Fresh and Chase Henry. These brothers are building a multi-millionaire empire while giving back to their community in the process. Beginning with a need to protect their tailors within their LA manufacturing facility, the birth of Henry Mask Co. was developed. Take a li...

Can you imagine growing up surrounded by legendary music greats? Well my guest for episode 129, Oona Mitchell Bean, is the granddaughter of the iconic Willie Mitchell of Hi Records who released records with likes of Al Green, O.V. Wright, Ann Peebles and many more. Oona, along with her brother Boo Mitchell, continues the family's third generation as influential music makers and producers. Oona gra...

"If serving others is below you, leadership is beyond you." This is the quote that comes to mind when I think of my next guest's journey. Erik Henneghan is a proud native Memphian with Frayser roots and a passionate community advocate. He earned his Bachelor’s in Business Management from Southern University while on a track scholarship. During his time in college, Erik was battling with deep depre...

Born and raised in Fort Worth, TX, known to most as Chef Tam, she is the owner of Chef Tam's Underground Cafe. Nestled in the heart of Memphis, TN, Chef Tam's restaurant is one of few that has voluntarily decided to go full take out during this novel pandemic. Growing up in Texas she married young and was heavily involved in church becoming a youth pastor. After graduating college with a business...

Memphis native Brent Hooks comes from a legacy of racial justice activism. Brent is a young capitalist whose work ethic and education speaks volumes in creating the leader he is today. He grew up in a very diverse environment with him often being the only black male in many settings. Take a listen as Brent walks us through the importance of being civically engaged, relationship building and some v...

Orange Mound native, Alexis Cole, is a saxophonist and highly decorated beauty queen. Having low self-esteem growing up, her mother always challenged her to go beyond. Alexis had a very cultured upbringing staring on the piano and transitioning to the saxophone in the 6th grade. She entered the pageant world at the age of sixteen and won the title of Miss Black Memphis. Alexis was also crowned Mis...

Michael Butler Jr. is controlling the narrative through his lens. He is a self-taught cinematographer, photographer and content creator. The only boy with four sisters, Mike grew up in South Memphis. He headed to the navy after graduating from Wooddale High School in pursuits of traveling the world. After those four years of discover Michael eventually made his way back to Memphis. He shares why h...

Growing up in Cherokee Heights as an only child, Rachel Knox has always had a love for the arts. It was no surprise she thrived in theatre arts while attending Houston High School and later majored in Fine Arts with a concentration in Costume Design and Technology at the University of Memphis. Upon graduation, Rachel accepted a role with Arena Stage in DC where she mastered the craft of the creati...

East St. Louis, IL native Cory Sparks has built a well-respected name among media and entertainment influencers over the past twenty years. Growing up in the inner city and traveling heavily during his upbringing, Cory was an athlete in school who always had an interest in music. His entry into the business was through radio where he doubled as an on-air talent and promotions manager in Nashville....

Originally from Fairfax, VA, essayist and memoirist Leta McCollough Seletzky is deeply rooted in Memphis, TN. At the tender age of three she moved to the city known as the home of the blues with her mom who worked as a reporter for the Commercial Appeal. After graduating from Craigmont High School, Leta ventured off to college as Political Science and French major at Northwestern University. She l...

South Memphis native Crystal Mercedes has been making waves since hitting the DJ scene in 2008. Although her aunt and uncle were djs, playing the baritone at Colonial Middle School and being on the Color Guard at Overton High School was where her love and understanding for music began to broaden. She entered UT Chattanooga as a Communications major and started djing in August of 2008. Crystal admi...

You may be familiar with the Directory of Business Diversity and Compliance for the City of Memphis, Joann Massey. However, do you know about Lil JoJo from North Memphis? There is so much behind a name that it deserves a podcast to tell the entire story. Raised by her Godparents in New Chicago, Joann faced desegregation along with many other traumatic events and transitions. As she entered high sc...

From launching his business, Massage on the Go, when he was 25 to now having more than 450 therapists in 50 states, Samuel Nelson has proven that hard work and resilience are key ingredients in the recipe for success. Sam grew up in the Bethel Grove community playing football for White Station HS and hustling bootleg cds, candy and gucci apparel out of his trunk. Although he attended college as a...

It's not often that your backup plan becomes the Master Plan. This is exactly what happened to entrepreneur Megan Mottley. Her daughter was preparing to attend an international school trip to Japan and Megan started a fundraiser selling cookies that manifested into an empire. Growing up in North Memphis, Megan was very studious and involved in extracurricular activities at Raleigh Egypt High Schoo...

Chef Desmond Robinson (Chef D.Arthur) is a native of Memphis, TN by way of Whitehaven. Coming from a family of amazing culinary talent, cooking has been a passion of his since he was a child. After graduating from the University of Memphis in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, D.Arthur went through a period in life where he had to figure things out before beginning his culinary educati...

In this season of uncertainty we have a newfound respect for our educators. Meet Angela Janelle Jones! A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelors in English, a Master’s in Education from Union University and currently a Doctor of Education candidate at the University of Memphis, Angela is a stellar individual: personally and professionally. In 2013, She took a leap of faith to s...

My guest for episode 114 is Dr. Stacy L. Spencer, Senior Pastor of New Direction Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, a multi-site congregation with church plants in Collierville, TN, and Idutywa, South Africa. Take a listen as Dr. Spencer speaks of his humble beginnings in the 80's working in tobacco fields in rural Olmstead, Kentucky. He learned many life skills growing up but most of all emp...

Patrick Newman is a Memphis native graduating from Hamilton High School, Univ of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (B.A. History) where he played baseball, Freed Hardeman University (Master’s in Education) and also Success School of Real Estate. Patrick has been able to gross millions of dollars in three totally different industries: Education, Real Estate and Entertainment. Throughout his career as an athle...

Rosalyn is determined to let her light shine. This Memphis native continues to build on a strong acting resume that includes work in network television and feature films, in addition to commercial work with global brands such as FedEx, Dell Computers and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She grew up in her hometown playing flute in marching band and concert orchestra and singing in her church...

Meet filmmaker and artist Chassidy Jade; a professional video editor and multi­‐talented creative from Delray Beach, Florida and Memphis, Tennessee and with nothing more important to her than producing high quality and diverse independent projects. Tune in to episode 111 as Chassidy breaks down the cost of being a boss in the world of editing.

After a fifteen-year corporate career with various Fortune 500 companies, Summer Owens decided to use her life's challenges to help other overcome theirs. She is the founder and CEO of S.O. What! LLC and author of Life After Birth: A Memoir of Survival and Success as a Teenage Mother. She wears many other hats in addition to being named the President of the University of Memphis National Alumni bo...