In my second interview with Tongo Eisen-Martin, former Poet Laureate of San Francisco. We sat down to discuss his latest project "Traveling Shoes" which features composer Damani Rhodes and vocalist Vadia.

In this first installment of my coach's series, I sat down with San Diego girls basketball legend Nicole “Colie” Anderson. We discuss her days growing up and honing her skills at Memorial Gym. Being the young sister of four older brothers and always playing with the boys helped Nicole become a great player and inspirational leader. She talks about her connection with one of the most respected and important figures in her neighborhood, coach and mentor Jose Hall. We dive into her illustrious career at La Jolla High and UCLA, she was a four year starter at both. She takes us on a journey of one of the most impressive basketball stories of passion and resilience, where she was one of 572 women trying out for the newly formed WNBA. Lastly we talk in depth about her coaching career, her role as a leader and mentor of young girls and adults.

Colie is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of San Diego County girls basketball. She was also named one of the 15 greatest players at UCLA.

Last summer 2025 I made my first ever trip to South Africa, specifically Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. I went there to make connections, interview local jazz artists, elders and community leaders. One of the very talented artists I connected with was jazz drummer, composer and scholar Tumi Mogorosi. We took a deep dive into his journey as an artist and activist. He spoke about what inspired him to play the drums and to study the rich history of this music we call jazz. He expressed the importance of knowing his history as a South African and all that it entails, including the horrors of apartheid, the 1976 Soweto uprising and the injustices that continue to exist today. We dove into his projects as a leader which include the 2014 “Project Elo”, “Sanctum Santorium” with his partner and vocalist Gabi Motuba, and his most recent album Group Theory: Black Music. We touched on his collaborations with Shabaka Hutchings’ Shabaka and The Ancestors and lastly as a historian, he expressed his deep appreciation for Frantz Fanon and why his work is so relevant, even today.

In my latest episode I sat with Simon Frederick to discuss his journey as a self-taught photographer, filmmaker, writer, director and producer. We talk about his upbringing in the UK with roots in Grenada. He talks about his mother's influence and wisdom which helped him navigate things as a child, and how he relies on her insights even today. Simon talks about what being a father means to him in the midst of all his artistic endeavors. We discuss in-depth some of his great works which include "Black is the New Black," "They've Gotta Have Us," and "The Outsiders". Lastly, I ask Simon about his thoughts on current cinema and how black brits have been portrayed in that medium. I hope you enjoy this episode and I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comment section.

https://www.simonfrederick.uk

In the latest episode, I again sat down with my friend Hannibal Smith. Listeners may remember him as the NXPT FIT co-owner and ultra runner. Hannibal recently participated in The Dia De Los Muertos 200 mile Machete Madness ultra trail event. Originally we had planned on this being a one on one interview about his experience running 200 miles for the first time. A day before the interview Hannibal requested I come to his house and not only interview him, but also his fellow runners and the support team who made all this possible. I agreed and conducted my first ever round table interview with a group of about 8 people. It was a fascinating dialogue where we discussed the ups and downs of the event; like finding the motivation to prepare for it, the unimaginable mental and physical stresses they endured on both the body and mind, and the exhilarating feeling of those who finished or even for those who got close. An exciting addition to the interview was when The Machete Madness founder, Victor Carrillo showed up to talk about his own journey as a runner and what goes into putting on an event of this magnitude. These stories are all unique and inspiring. They show what can happen with the help of a community, and how implementing the philosophy and mantra of NXPT FIT, "No Excuses" can play out in life.

https://www.nxptfit.com

In this episode I sat down with Grammy winning tenor saxophonist, composer and educator Darryl Yokley. Born to an African-American father and a first generation Mexican mother, Yokley draws deeply from his diverse cultural roots. During our conversation we hear about him playing multiple instruments at an early age, his exposure to jazz and classical music and the influence of John Coltrane. The conversation moves into a deep dive of his new album, which is dedicated to the great novelist and father of magical realism, Gabriel Garcia Marquez - "Un Mundo En Soledad." We also dive into the daunting task of studying the author's memoirs and rereading his novels to do a proper tribute. He also touches on being part of Alicia Keys' Grammy winning Broadway show, "Hell's Kitchen."

https://www.darrylyokley.com

During my recent trip to South Africa, I was honored to be invited to a rehearsal of Cape Town’s own Thanda Choir. Afterwards, I sat down with two choir members, Iva Sogiba and Siyasanga Mhlekwa, and two managers, Asavela Mpayipeli and Zikhona Mapisa. We discussed the choir’s founding and the importance of recognizing and bringing awareness to Khayelitsha Township. Our conversation encompassed the church music that has inspired them and the passion and hopes for healing that Mhlekwa and Sogiba, along with their fellow choir members, bring to their songs. Traumas experienced by choir members and the larger community both are attended to with care, through the mentorship of Mpayipeli and the strong mothering of Mapisa, a well-known gospel artist in her own right.

https://thandachoir.co.za

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with the Ugandan-born, UK-raised runner Deo Kato—a man who, doing what had never been done, ran from Cape Town to London to raise awareness of social injustices and human migration. It all started in 2020, when he first connected running with activism. For 381 days in a row, he ran a 10k, to honor the Montgomery Bus Boycott and its duration. During our conversation, he considers the ways his childhood in Uganda developed his deep appreciation for community, a sustaining value throughout the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, he has faced. His running has, in profound ways, reflected that, taking place in all terrains and weathers. He once ran through Egypt when the temperature approached 125 degrees Fahrenheit. He talks about his biggest setback—being imprisoned for three weeks in South Sudan for so-called improper paperwork. The support he received from his fellow prisoners gave him a new motivation to continue when he was considering quitting. We end with his final, solo journey into London from Greece, arriving at 10 Downing Street—home to the UK prime minister—where he took a knee with hundreds of supporters behind him.