On this week’s episode - I sat down with Annie Leverich - founder of First Light Coffee. a Maryland-based coffee company rooted in connection, community, and giving back. Before launching her business, Annie led the press team for USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and held communications roles with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the UN World Food Program. Annie worked for USAID for over a decade and When the Trump Administration shut down the agency, her role disappeared overnight. At first there was shock… and then she did the only thing that felt true: bet on the dream she’d been saving for…A coffee company.
In this episode, Annie and I get into how we went from working at USAID to taking a leap of faith into entrepreneurship, how she is blending her background in storytelling and humanitarian work to fuel her business, and her mission of giving back.
Resources:
Website: firstlightcoffeemd.com
Instagram: firstlightmornings
On today's episode, I spoke with Cornelius Weaver - the Fund Manager of the Baltimore Flip Fund, managed by Lola Capital Group—a real estate investment firm on a mission to breathe new life into Baltimore’s neighborhoods. With more than fifteen years in construction management and engineering, Cornelius has overseen over half a billion dollars in commercial projects—everything from university buildings to hospitals.
Alongside his wife and business partner, Ellena Weaver, he’s spent the last three years in the residential space, flipping and restoring homes that had been sitting vacant and turning them into affordable, beautiful places for families to live. Together, they’re not just building properties—they’re building pathways to wealth and revitalizing communities one house at a time.
Cornelius lives by the scripture, “To whom much is given, much is required.” That principle guides both his work and his purpose—using what he’s been given to create lasting impact in the city of Baltimore.
In this episode, Cornelius and I discuss the transformative impact of real estate investment in Baltimore. We explore the vision for Lola Capital Group, focusing on eradicating vacancies, creating affordable housing, and building generational wealth. Cornelius shares insights into the challenges and successes of flipping homes, the importance of community impact, and the personal journey of working alongside his wife.
Email: partners@thelolacapitalgroup.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lolacapitalgroup/
On today’s show, I’m joined by Octavia Carson — an attorney, advocate, and the founder of The Black Bar Applicant Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing Black representation in the legal profession by helping aspiring lawyers overcome the financial barriers of bar admission.
A first-generation attorney and valedictorian of Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Octavia created the Fund after witnessing firsthand how systemic inequities and economic hardship prevent many talented Black graduates from becoming licensed attorneys. Through her leadership, the organization has provided critical financial and emotional support for bar applicants across the country—covering exam fees, living expenses, and mentorship during one of the most challenging phases of their legal journey.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Octavia is the principal attorney of Carson Legal Strategies PLLC, where she helps creatives and entrepreneurs protect their brands through trademarks, contracts, and business formation. Her mission across all of her work is to create access, equity, and empowerment in spaces where Black professionals have historically been excluded.
When she’s not advocating for the next generation of Black attorneys, Octavia enjoys traveling—having visited over 40 countries—and uses her global experiences to inspire her approach to justice, creativity, and leadership.
In this episode, We’ll talk about her personal journey, why the bar exam is more than just a test, and how her nonprofit is changing lives one applicant at a time.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Octavia Carson and Her Mission
02:52 The Bar Exam: Myths and Realities
05:47 Octavia's Journey to Law and Advocacy
08:33 Law School Experience During the Pandemic
11:34 The Movement for Diploma Privilege
14:36 Researching the Bar Exam's Racist History
17:37 The Impact of COVID-19 on Legal Education
20:22 Bar Exam Costs and Accessibility Issues
27:19 The Costly Journey to Becoming an Attorney
29:54 Advocating for Diploma Privilege
33:20 The Push for Bar Exam Reform
35:58 Founding the Black Bar Applicant Fund
39:54 Impact Stories from the Fund
45:54 Policy Changes for a Fairer Legal System
49:43 Making Law School Accessible
52:45 Supporting the Mission of Change
Resources
To learn more, visit blackbarapplicantfund.org, or email support@blackbarapplicantfund.org. You can also follow them on social media at @blackbarapplicantfund.
On this week’s episode - I sat down with Quincy and Tara Tucker, the founders of Infinity Mobile Cigar Lounge. The Infinity Mobile Cigar Lounge goes beyond the traditional brick and mortar setting by bringing an upscale cigar lounge experience directly to you! From Chesapeake, Virginia through the DMV and all over the east coast, Infinity Mobile Cigar Lounge’s sleek and sophisticated mobile lounge is designed to create an oasis of relaxation and sophistication wherever they park their wheels.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Infinity Mobile Cigar Lounge
03:04 The Journey of Entrepreneurship
05:47 The Concept and Design of the Lounge
09:00 Expanding the Business and Services Offered
12:04 Targeting the Female Audience in Cigar Culture
15:09 Creating a Unique Cigar Brand
17:56 The Importance of Product Diversification
20:55 Personal Background and Tobacco Heritage
24:47 Unexpected Paths: From Corporate to Entrepreneurship
27:22 Building Community Connections
28:24 Cigars and Motorcycles: A Unique Business Idea
29:22 Working with a Spouse: Trust and Comfort
31:29 Best Practices for Spousal Business Partnerships
32:54 Overcoming Initial Challenges in Business
34:24 Balancing Full-Time Work and Entrepreneurship
37:09 Learning from Mistakes in Business
40:19 The Power of Exposure and Networking
42:17 Generational Wealth: Beyond Money
45:11 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
46:17 Looking Ahead: Future Plans for the Business
Resources:
Website:https://www.infinitymobilecigarlounge.com/services
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/infinitymobilecigarlounge/
This week I'm bringing you a solo episode highlighting my recent speaking engagement with undergraduates at American University. Turns out I learned just as much from them as they learned from me. Here are 5 questions they asked me during Q&A that I think could benefit all of you. Enjoy!
This week, I am joined by Jonathan Marques, founder of CDL Driving Academy, one of the most recognized CDL training schools in the country, with over 150,000 subscribers on YouTube and a multi 7-figure business he built from the ground up.
Jonathan recently launched a business consulting firm specifically to help small business owners doing $250,000+ in annual revenue scale up to $1,000,000+ in sales, $1,000,000+ in profit, and structure their companies to scale and sell.
He’s passionate about sharing the exact systems, hiring frameworks, and mindset shifts that help everyday entrepreneurs break free from the “operator trap” and actually grow a business that runs — and sells — without them.
In this conversation, Jonathan and I speak about his early years from starting his first business as a college athlete to building a successful truck driving school. Then we get into the importance of focusing on cash flow, the value of personal development, and innovative marketing strategies like leveraging YouTube to grow his business.
On this week's episode, I am joined by Dr. Lance Bennett - the President and Founder of The People’s Institute for the Common Good, a non-profit organization with a big vision to create spaces where people come together to learn from each other, wrestle with hard questions, and serve their communities for the common good. He is also a Visiting Scholar at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice and Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University.
Dr. Bennett is an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Education in Leadership and Higher Education Program at St. Edward’s University. In the higher education profession, he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Liberal Education, the flagship magazine of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He is also a published author with articles published in the disciplines of higher education, teaching learning, and interpersonal communication.
In this episode - Dr. Bennett and I sat down to chat about how went from being on the track to becoming a university president to an educational entrepreneur. We get into how he's challenging traditional systems with the People's Institute for the Common Good, insights on creating spaces for lifelong learning, the importance of community-focused education, and his vision for a more inclusive and impactful educational landscape.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Lance Bennett and His Vision
12:11 Dr. Bennett's Journey in Education
20:14 Catalyst for Change: The Birth of the People's Institute
26:26 Building the People's Institute for Common Good
28:08 Exploring Community Learning Spaces
32:05 Creating Safe Spaces for Tough Conversations
36:14 Bridging Theory and Real-World Impact
40:26 The Future of Educational Entrepreneurship
45:12 Redefining Higher Education
50:41 Envisioning Success for the People's Institute
Resources
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/instituteforcommongood/
Website: https://instituteforcommongood.org/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-people-s-institute-for-the-common-good/
https://instituteforcommongood.org/
This week, I’m joined by cousins Valerie Zweig and Taryn Pellicone of Prescription Chicken - A chicken noodle soup delivery business based in Washington, DC. Valerie and Taryn always knew they’d work in the food industry. As young girls, they would help their families host dinner parties, attend cooking camps and would eventually work to develop fast-casual and dining restaurants… But being entrepreneurs was not in the cards…until Valerie caught a bout of Laryngitis and couldn't find a delivery option for chicken noodle soup to give her the relief she needed. That’s when she called in her little cousin Taryn with the bright idea to make their own chicken noodle soap. With a dream, a concept, and some determination, the founders started prescription chicken in September 2016.
Now - prescription chicken is not only a soup delivery business. It can also be found in grocery stores and online. Not to mention, their newest product Cookstix - which is a new and sustainable take on chicken broth.
In this episode, we discuss how this simple idea turned into a thriving business, the challenges and triumphs that come with being food entrepreneurs, and the beauty behind forgetting about being perfect and just starting.
Resources:
Website: Prescriptionchicken.com
Socials: @prescriptionchicken
Chapters:
00:00 Navigating Stress and Risk in Business
01:32 The Culinary Roots of Prescription Chicken
05:41 From Personal Experience to Business Idea
14:36 The Journey of Starting Prescription Chicken
22:48 Scaling the Business and Learning from Experience
30:49 Funding and Financial Growth Strategies
36:36 Innovating in the Chicken Stock Market
41:42 Challenges and Growth in Entrepreneurship
46:36 Advice for Aspiring Food Entrepreneurs
48:35 Future Plans and Innovations
This week on A Bright Idea Podcast,I sit down with Mylon Blueford, co-founder of @tattme.app — a tech-driven platform transforming how people discover, connect with, and book tattoo artists.
With a background in software engineering and a deep love for tattoo culture, Mylon is on a mission to make the tattoo industry more inclusive, efficient, and accessible. From simplifying the booking process to spotlighting underrepresented artists, TattMe is shaping the future of tattoo culture.
In this episode I sit down with Blessing Ndon, the inspiring founder of Abokibee Kilishi, a Nigerian beef jerky brand. Blessing shares her journey from childhood memories of Kilishi in Nigeria to launching her own jerky business in the US. Discover the cultural significance of Kilishi, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the power of authenticity and social media in building a brand.
Abokibee Kilishi: https://abokibeemeats.com/
Abokibee Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/abokibeekilishi/
Claudius Taylor, the founder and CEO of Gambix, a technology company at the forefront of dual-use AI products and digital services for government and enterprise clients. With deep expertise in product development, business strategy, and AI integration, Claudius is leading the creation of Strata—an AI-powered UX optimization platform designed to help businesses boost user engagement, increase conversions, and make smarter, data-driven decisions. His mission is clear: solve complex challenges with innovative, scalable technology.In this episode, Claudius Taylor talks about how he went from building a computer at the age of seven to leading a tech company that leverages AI for web development. We chat about his early passion for technology, his experiences in venture capital, and the founding of Gambix. Claudius chats with us about the importance of teamwork, leadership, and the role of AI in simplifying tech development for non-technical users. He also shares insights on maintaining a work-life balance and the significance of networking in achieving success.
Our guest today is DeShuna Spencer - the founder & CEO of kweliTV, a global streaming service that curates the largest library of indie Black films & docs from across the globe.As a former journalist & radio host, DeShuna’s work focuses on the intersection of media images and implicit bias. She speaks frequently on media representation, diversity in the streaming & the OTT space, social entrepreneurship, the effects of Black trauma content, challenges & opportunities in the media landscape, starting a media tech venture, women in media & tech, and her journey as a Black founder. In this episode, DeShuna discovers creating a space for diverse narratives and the impact of media on community representation. She also addresses the challenges of building a platform in a competitive landscape and the significance of staying true to one's mission amidst external pressures.
In this episode of A Bright Idea Podcast, we chat with Niccolas Feemster, the first full-time rapper in the US military. We discuss Nicco's journey from a family with musical roots to becoming a performer, his experiences in the Army, and the unique challenges of creating music within a military context. Nico shares insights on the importance of mental health, the process of sync licensing, and the sacrifices he made to pursue his passion for music. The conversation highlights the significance of adaptability and personal growth in the ever-evolving music industry.
On this episode of A Bright Idea Podcast, I sit down for an exclusive in-person interview with Andrew and Jasmine Dill, the founders of Liquid Intrusion, the first black-owned brewery in Prince George's County. They share their journey of starting the brewery during the pandemic, the challenges they faced, and their commitment to community representation in the craft beer industry. The couple discusses their unique brewing process, the importance of partnerships, and their mission to educate others about craft beer. They also highlight their innovative approach to creating distinct flavors and their plans for future growth.
In this episode of A Bright Idea Podcast, we chat with Desiree Jones, a networking expert and author of 'Hey, Nice to Meet You' as well as the founder of Hey, follow up, an app that that reminds you to follow up with your connections.
We discuss the importance of networking, share personal experiences, and explore how to change the mindset around networking from a daunting task to an opportunity for genuine connection.
Desiree shares practical tips for effective networking, common mistakes to avoid, and the significance of maintaining relationships.
In this episode of A Bright Idea, I sit down with Ken Sandy, founder and CEO of Dry, a modern dry cleaning service that utilizes technology and innovative solutions to meet customer needs.
Ken shares his journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, discussing the challenges and successes he faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement, resilience, and adapting to change, especially during the pandemic. Ken's vision for Dry includes continuing to disrupt the traditional dry cleaning industry while maintaining a strong commitment to social responsibility and customer service.
A Bright Idea is back for a new season and a sweet treat. On this week's episode I speak with Ndidiamaka Agu, founder of Sugar and Ice, an ice cream brand that infuses rich African flavors into classic American desserts. Ndidiamaka shares her journey from a medical background to entrepreneurship, influenced by her family's entrepreneurial spirit. She discusses the challenges of starting her business, the importance of childhood memories in her flavors, and her vision for the future of Sugar and Ice, including plans for national shipping and collaborations.
Today, I am joined by my friend, Adam Leeper, the CEO/Founder of Forge Achievement Coaching LLC. He’s a business coach bringing a unique blend of military leadership and AI expertise to help small businesses streamline, scale, and stay true to their mission.
In this episode, Adam and I talk about the importance of finding one’s purpose, the skills he learned in the military that translate to entrepreneurship, and the significance of community and leadership in both personal and professional realms.
Later, Adam shares insights on decision-making under pressure, the value of discipline, and the unique leadership training that he received in the military that you don’t get in corporate America. He discusses his coaching approach, focusing on helping business owners discover their strengths and purpose through his Operation Pathfinder Workshop. The conversation also leads to the concept of branding, advocating for a personal approach where business owners can explore all parts of themselves and their business, rather than limiting themselves to a single focus area.
As always, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Instagram @ABrightIdeaPodcast for behind-the-scenes content and updates. And if you're enjoying the show, leave us a review—it really helps spread the word. Let’s get into this episode!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to A Bright Idea Podcast
00:59 The Journey of Adam Leeper
11:34 Finding Purpose in Business
23:45 Skills from Military to Entrepreneurship
31:07 Navigating Workplace Discrimination
34:13 The Transition to Entrepreneurship
36:01 Finding Your Leadership Style
38:57 The Importance of Self-Discovery
42:53 Building a Personal Brand
44:43 Operation Pathfinder Workshop Overview
53:09 Identifying Your Genius Zone
59:27 Adapting Your Brand as You Grow
Sponsors:
Chosen Advisory Group: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/bilal-afolabi/
Resources:
Work with Adam: https://stan.store/CoachAdam
This week, I'm joined by Malik Roberts, also know as, Top Shelf Leek.In this episode, Malik and I talk about his music career and the importance of his early musical influences. We get into how he taught himself how to make music - a skill that’s actually harder than it seems and how 2020 was a turning point where he discovered he could turn his passion into a lucrative career.
Later, he shares his experience on the evolving landscape of the industry, the business of music producing, the need for a respectful and safe environment in the industry, particularly for women, and advice for aspiring producers navigating their careers.
As always, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Instagram @ABrightIdeaPodcast for behind-the-scenes content and updates. And if you're enjoying the show, leave us a review—it really helps spread the word. Let’s get into this episode!
Sponsors:
Chosen Advisory Group: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/bilal-afolabi/
Resources:
To work with TopShelfLeek, you can follow him on Instagram @TopShelfLeek
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
02:05 Malik's Musical Journey Begins
06:20 The Formation of HOH and Early Influences
11:09 Transitioning from Art to Music Production
15:22 Self-Taught Music Production Techniques
19:34 Turning Passion into a Lucrative Career
21:58 Opportunities in the Music Industry Beyond Performance
24:13 The Creative Process in Music Production
28:19 Overcoming Creative Blocks
30:23 Memorable Collaborations and Professional Growth
31:57 The Value of Passion Over Training
32:36 Adapting to Different Artist Personalities
34:04 Trends in the Music Industry
37:33 The Role of Women in Hip Hop
41:33 Navigating the Music Business
43:47 Challenges and Misconceptions in Music Production
46:36 Advice for Aspiring Producers
In this week’s episode, we are joined by my dear friend..A contemporary artist from Pittsburgh, PA, Lewis Pell to talk about the idea of “the starving artist” and why this concept doesn’t exist anymore. We discuss how Lewis went from trying to climb the corporate ladder in the environmental science industry to becoming a full time artist.
Sponsors:
Chosen Advisory Group: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/bilal-afolabi/
Resources:
Lewis Pell: thelewv.com
Instagram: @Pelllewis
00:00The Evolution of the Starving Artist
03:24Childhood and Artistic Foundations1
1:09Navigating Education and Career Choices
19:33From Environmental Science to Art
24:53The Shift from Corporate Dreams to Artistic Pursuits
33:28The Journey to Artistry
38:59Embracing Change and Financial Independence
41:09The Evolving Perception of the Artist
50:01Building a Sustainable Art Career
56:46Celebrating Success and Future Aspirations