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A shy loan officer from Norfolk turned his nerves into rocket fuel and found a home under the lights. We sit with comedian Rome Davis to unpack the seven-year grind behind a “90 seconds or nothing” America’s Got Talent audition, the nightly rituals that calm the shakes, and the hard lesson that changed his voice: stop faking it and tell the truth.

Rome walks us through early reps at the Venue on 35th Street, where poets, musicians, and even wrestlers sharpened timing and stage presence side by side. He talks about building material from real life—family, work, grief—and why honest jokes quiet hecklers better than any clapback. We trace the milestones: DC Improv, Baltimore, Mohegan Sun, a Laugh Factory shot that felt impossible, and a first WHRO Story Exchange special that proved long-form storytelling still hits. Along the way, he shares how watching sets on mute, studying crowd work greats like DL Hughley, and borrowing rhythm from wrestling promos improved his delivery and connection.

Beyond the stage, Rome opens up about being an introvert who needs silence after shows, how meditation and reading help him reset, and why he uploads full sets on YouTube instead of chasing clips. We dive into satire and church culture, the belief that comedy can ease racism by spotlighting shared experiences, and the simple aim that drives every gig: give people a real laugh after a long day. If you want a candid blueprint for building a stand-up career—writing, testing, trimming, and trusting your voice—this conversation meets you where you are.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs a laugh. Leave a review to help more people find the show, and tell us: what truth do you wish more comics would talk about?

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What if the cleanest joke in the room is also the funniest? We sit down with Quincy Carr—the self-styled “Quality Comedy King”—to unpack how a Navy vet from Austin built a stand-up career that wins over churches, cruise ships, comedy clubs, and television without leaning on profanity. The turning point came when a church booker heard past the curses and saw the core: an act that connects. From there, Quincy refined a simple promise—respect the audience, read the room, and be undeniably funny.

We trace his early missteps and breakthroughs: studying legends on VHS, learning why comics can’t “cover” bits, and writing the first original joke about his stutter that still stops crowds. He explains how a club owner’s advice shattered the “mainstream vs urban” myth: comedy isn’t black or white, it’s about empathy and timing. That mindset formed the backbone of the Quality Comedy Series—now in season 14 at Dave & Buster’s—where headliners like Omar Gooding and Cocoa Brown took the no-profanity challenge and crushed. It’s a master class in constraint as creativity.

Quincy also takes us aboard as a Norwegian Cruise Line headliner, where he collects material from real life: water-slide wipeouts, lactose bravado, and the strange fame of being recognized by thousands at sea. He breaks down why he avoids engaging hecklers, how he writes daily from observation, and what it’s like to turn awkward fan moments into perspective. We dive into his TV footprint through Coast Comedy Live with the local CBS affiliate, his global Dry Bar special, and his self-produced milestone “Too Young for 40”—each step proof that when doors don’t open, you can build your own stage.

If you’re curious about crafting jokes that last, leading with respect, and growing a regional scene into a credible platform, this conversation has playbook energy. Tap follow, share with a friend who loves stand-up, and leave a review with your favorite lesson from Quincy’s journey—what part changed how you see comedy?

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A poem can carry what a kid can’t say out loud. That truth runs through our conversation with Malik Jordan, facilitator and Safe Passage team member at Teens With A Purpose in Norfolk. Malik traces his path from an angry 11-year-old to a mentor who helps teens express emotion, find purpose, and build safer neighborhoods—with art, with gardens, and with consistent care.

We dig into how creative youth development turns vulnerability into strength. Poetry, music, and visual art aren’t just hobbies here; they’re practical tools for emotional literacy and leadership. Malik shares why reading a poem to his father was easier than starting a hard talk, and how healing circles and mental health first aid create space for grief, frustration, and hope. We also get real about manhood: the pressure to bottle feelings, how anger masks hurt, and what it looks like to lead at home by naming emotions and solving problems together.

Then we step outside. Purpose Park—TWP’s half-acre urban farm—feeds families, pays teens, and transforms a block into a stage for community. HIPterns learn horticulture, earn certifications, and see new careers in landscaping and city work. A community fridge shares harvests with nearby neighborhoods, while internships at cultural institutions expand skills and networks. On the academic side, TWP pairs daily support with clear expectations, contributing to a 95 percent graduation rate by linking homework to personal goals and creative growth.

Safety and dignity guide the work. As credible messengers, TWP staff walk the neighborhood, build trust, and deescalate conflict without policing. Malik recounts separating a heated confrontation near a youth practice and mediating afterward to stop retaliation. When a life was lost near the center, the team turned a makeshift memorial into lasting art with melted glass—proof that remembrance can heal and inspire. If you care about youth empowerment, violence prevention, food security, and real-world skills, this conversation offers a grounded blueprint for change.

If the story moves you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review to help others find the show. Want to get involved or enroll a teen? Visit twpthemovement.org and follow @TWPthemovement.

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What does it take to turn a region into a creative hub? We sit down with executive producer and community leader Jamar C. Davis to unpack the strategy, grit, and heart behind building large-scale festivals, leading Hampton Roads Pride, and launching programs that actually change lives.

Jamar traces his path from Governor’s School tech theater to founding JAM Entertainment after leaving a corporate event role during the pandemic. He shares how connection—not stages or lights—is the real product of live events, and why working on the soft opening of Pharrell’s Atlantic Park rewired his view of excellence. From artist advances to vendor wrangling, he opens the black box of production and shows how organized teams make magic feel effortless.

Beyond the stage, we explore volunteer power, the “family cookout” energy of the Cousins Festival, and a new wellness series for queer Black and Brown men focused on relationships and health. As the new president of Hampton Roads Pride, Jamar lays out an inclusive mission that stretches far beyond a weekend: scholarships for future leaders, film projects that preserve queer history, and partnerships that make healthcare and counseling easier to reach. He doesn’t dodge the hard parts either—naming the pressure on trans communities and the collaboration gap across the 757 that keeps great work from scaling.

If you care about culture, community, or the nuts and bolts of world-class events, this conversation delivers practical insight and real hope for what’s possible in Hampton Roads and beyond. Subscribe, share with a friend who builds things, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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A quiet swing, a rooftop at sunset, a barbershop buzz—sometimes the places we know best say the most. We sit with 12-year-old artist Jalani Vickers to explore how ordinary scenes become emotionally rich portraits, and why small choices like a hoodie slogan or a jersey number can carry unexpected weight. His world is part city dream, part neighborhood memory, and fully intentional about mood and meaning.

Jalani walks us through his process from pencil sketches at his bedroom desk to polished digital color with help from his uncle. He explains that reading graphic novels sharpened his eye for pacing and characterization, and that visits downtown feed his love of cityscapes, even when the skyline is imagined. We unpack standout pieces from the Nonchalant Dreadhead series—an introspective kid on a swing wearing “Tax The Rich,” a focused hooper in a familiar court, and a tightly framed barbershop that makes you feel the room’s warmth. Along the way, he talks about discipline learned from boxing, the joy of being truly seen by viewers, and the difference between art that looks cool and art that makes you feel something.

We also get real about support systems and access. Jalani’s mom, Blair, shares how she noticed his shift from doodles to deliberate work, why they debated the series name, and how local makers' markets and a simple online shop create real paths for a young artist. If you care about youth creativity, urban storytelling, and the craft of turning everyday life into lasting images, this conversation will give you fresh ideas and a lot of heart.

Listen now, share your favorite moment, and tap follow to catch future conversations. If the story moved you, leave a quick review—it helps more people discover voices like Jalani’s.

🔗 Full episode, photos & transcript:

https://www.listenup.biz/an-artist-at-12-jalani-vickers

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A plate can be beautiful, but the real magic is what it makes you feel. That’s where we go with Chef Jeremiah Cardinal—a cook who treats cuisine like an art you practice daily, not a badge you wear. From early days flipping burgers at sixteen to corporate chef heights and then a leap across the Atlantic, Jeremiah traces how Germany and Finland broadened his base while Poland’s top kitchens reshaped his standards. He shares the trial he failed on the hot line, the cold station he earned, and the mentors who turned service into disciplined teamwork—film review, precise roles, and relentless attention to the last five percent that separates good from unforgettable.

We dig into technique without jargon: why a pacojet makes sorbets and ice creams impossibly airy, how a beetroot sorbet can anchor a chilled soup, and why shortcuts show up on the spoon. Jeremiah breaks down what “controlled chaos” actually means on a Saturday night and why protecting standards isn’t snobbery—it’s hospitality. Guests aren’t buying garnish; they’re trusting you with a moment. That belief led him to start Entre Nous, a private chef service built for intimacy between you and me. He explains how personal clients, family-style dinners, four-course menus, and holiday drop-offs bring restaurant-level craft into homes, minus the noise of a dining room and the stress of timing everything alone.

We also map the shifting Virginia Beach food scene—more creativity, global influences, and a few local spots pushing boundaries with breads, seasonal menus, and bold specials. Along the way, Jeremiah’s mentors appear like guideposts: the cook who made kitchens feel like paradise, the sous chef who welcomed questions, the exacting chef who demanded better even when a dish looked fine. The takeaway is simple and generous: food is an art that disappears, but the memory lasts. If you want that kind of cooking at your table—or just want to hear how a craftsperson builds it—this one’s for you.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, subscribe for more chef stories and kitchen wisdom, and leave a quick review to help others discover us. Got a food memory that never left you? Share it with us.

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The numbers don’t add up—or do they? We break down why black women, the most educated segment among black Americans and a cornerstone of the middle class, are experiencing historic job losses across government, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction. With unemployment touching a post-2020 high and roughly 300,000 black women exiting the labor force this year, we track how payroll cuts translate into household strain, reduced consumer spending, and community headwinds.

We zoom in on the data first—federal job losses near 97,000 since January, sector declines, and wage gaps that persist even at higher education levels—then connect it to the bigger frame. Drawing from the canon of economic thought, from Adam Smith and Booker T. Washington to W. E. B. Du Bois and Frederick Douglass, we examine how market rules, public policy, and social narratives shape who gets hired, who gets cut, and how opportunity compounds. Along the way, we call out the gap between stereotype and reality: black women drive degrees, launch companies at high rates, and anchor household finances, yet face outsize exposure when budgets shrink and priorities shift.

This conversation also charts the macro effects. When primary earners pull back, small businesses feel it, rural communities hollow out, and price pressures rise as demand softens. We unpack how DEI backlash, culture-war politics, and procurement choices intersect with real payroll decisions—and what a smarter playbook looks like: skills-based hiring, pay equity enforcement, public-sector pipeline protection, childcare stability, and capital access for women-owned firms. With the country moving toward a more diverse future, sidelining the very workers who invest most in education and civic life is a competitiveness problem we can actually solve.

Listen for a clear, data-grounded path forward and share your takeaways with us. If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to someone who cares about jobs, equity, and growth.

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A teenage diary named Nancy. A snowstorm walk after a father’s refusal. A boot camp commander who sees what no one else did. Yasmin Charles joins us for a fearless conversation that traces a path from Port-au-Prince to Brooklyn to the Navy—and into the kitchen where healing meets hunger.

We open with the shock of migration and the ache of colorism, not in headlines but inside a blended family. Yasmin describes bullying, parentification, and the quiet violence of church masks—how scripture can become a shield that hides wounds instead of treating them. A single moment in boot camp flips the script: being chosen to lead becomes proof that her voice belongs in the room. From there, the culinary track and nutrition science collide, and she begins teaching food as medicine without sacrificing flavor, pushing back on an entertainment-only food culture that feeds epidemics of obesity and diabetes.

The story turns raw and practical: deportation as a teen, a sister’s suicide attempt averted, and months living in a car while attending Norfolk State. Those pages forge her mission as a homelessness advocate. She lays out a dignity-first blueprint—keys, private rooms, on-site therapists, and job support—arguing that empathy and structure solve what charity drives rarely do. Along the way, we unpack choosing a child-free life, setting boundaries with family, and reframing forgiveness to include real healing. Yasmin’s voice is clear, warm, and unflinching, and her recipes for resilience are as useful as her kitchen tips.

Come for the story, stay for the tools: nutrition you can use tonight, language for trauma you can carry, and a vision of community that looks like care. If this conversation moved you, follow and subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these stories and join the conversation.

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