King Crush Thursday - The Interviews

EP 61 TYRIQUE GLASGOW

Tyrique Glasgow, founder of Young Chances Foundation which is dedicated to providing essential resources and activities without the red tape to those who need support in Philadelphia. Tyrique started the foundation in 2012 following the murder of one of his childhood friends, who was playing flag football. Young Chances Foundation transformed one of the most notorious drug houses in the neighborhood into a center of support and hope for its community. Support their work at   youngchancesfoundation.org
 
SEE THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE

EP 62 WILL TOMS

William Tyrone Toms  is a 30-something award-winning entrepreneur from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After starting his first company at the age of 21, Will Toms has quickly made a name for himself in the region's startup community at the intersection of culture & economics. He is the Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer of REC Philly, serving as the visionary + strategist behind the company’s endeavors. 
In under four short years he and his business partner Dave Silver have grown REC to almost 20 employees and raised over $3M dollars to scale their socially-driven business model from a warehouse in North Philadelphia to a state-of-the-art facility in Center City. Will’s vision is to scale REC’s model of “a gym membership for creatives” to span across international communities, establishing a network of 100,000 independent creators that all have access to the resources, strategies and opportunities necessary to own their future.
 
Before REC, Will served day to day as a digital strategist at Fame House, developing and executing marketing campaigns for entertainment brands including Ice Cube, Shady Records & Eminem. He currently serves as a board member of three non-profit organizations fighting structural inequality, food insecurity in inner-city neighborhoods and more. In 2019, William accepted a nomination to join the leadership council of the Philadelphia Global Identity Partnership-- a public-private partnership created to help rebrand his beloved city of Philadelphia to the world.
 
With his background in communication and economics, William takes pride in ensuring that all of his efforts are centered around democratizing access and opportunity for young, passionate people of color.
SEE THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE

EP 142 ASHLEY SCOTT

Ashley Scott, @AshleyScott3 hailing from the vibrant soulful musical city of Philadelphia, PA, stands as a powerhouse vocalist celebrated for his globally chart-topping singles. His 2022 release, “Together,” joins a stellar lineup that includes the soulful ballad “Words” (2016), the infectious groove of “Thought of You” (2021), the dance anthem “Dance The Night Away” (2020), and the international rallying cry, “Don’t Throw Our Love Away” (2021). Ashley’s musical journey began at the age of 3, under the influence of his aunt Helen Scott of The Three Degrees and The Delfonics, shaping his destiny as a genre-defying artist. Ashley has collaborated in the studio with Will Downing and Frank McComb and shared the stage with Eric Roberson, Jean Carn, Bilal, and Take 6. Ashley has contributed as a Board Member and Vice President of The Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter. Ashley is the visionary behind The Soulful Sounds Series, an R&B Educational Program, and the host of the globally syndicated Soulful Sounds Radio program, reaching audiences in the USA, UK, and Italy.
WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE!

EP 58 LAZARUS BRUNNER

Lazarus Bruner, Jr. is originally from Oklahoma City, OK. Lazarus, his wife Evonna, and 3 children have resided in the Atlanta Metro area for the past 15 years. Lazarus has a wealth of experience in industries such as sales, education, coaching youth sports, and fitness. In February of 2021, Lazarus left his full time job to pursue what he called "his vocational calling" which was to holistically develop men and youth through fitness, sports training, and coaching to increase their capacity to lead themselves and others well. 
He is currently writing his first book called "That's Not Normal" and working on plans to launch another business that aims to redefine the concept of exercising!
WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE!

EP 57 COLEY JONES

Coley Jones is the Business Banking Market Executive for North Florida, South Georgia and the Space Coast, where he leads local market client teams to help local companies grow, improve cash flow and invest for the future. Business Banking serves companies, generally with annual revenues of $5 million to $50 million, and companies up to $2 billion in the Space Coast by providing comprehensive financial solutions and advice. Bringing (19) plus years of experience, Coley joined Bank of America in 2017. In this capacity, his responsibilities include leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. Coley’s mission is to help local companies thrive by achieving their business goals, no matter how simple or how complex. He has also served as Vice President in the Middle Market Group for TD Bank. He began his banking career at Wells Fargo where he was most recently a Business Banking Leader in Atlanta. Throughout his banking career, Coley has served mid-sized companies throughout the Southeast United States to support their commercial banking needs. He is the Co-Chair of the Black Professional Employee Network Group (Jax), the Black Executive Leadership Team and a Power of 10 mentor. Coley is the 2020 recipient of the Leadership Jacksonville Celebration award. To help create a more sustainable future for the companies and communities he serves, Coley volunteers with several not-for-profit organizations focused on civic improvements. In addition, he also serves on the Board of Directors for the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), Operation New Hope, and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. Originally from Jacksonville, FL, Coley graduated from the University of North Florida where he met his wife Nicosia. He resides in Jacksonville, FL with his wife and five kids.
WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE!

EP 56 TORRENCE SIMMONS

Torrence Simmons @torrencersimmons  is a country boy from Quitman, GA by way of Dixie, GA. Spending his early years on a chicken farm with his nearest neighbor was his great-great aunt and uncle (they had a 50+ acre farm with hogs, chickens, corn, and almost everything in “Hold My Mule” aka You Name It. By middle school, he moved to “town” and in high school Torrence joined a rapper group, Southbound (he says “please don’t ask me to rap or freestyle, because you will understand why I didn’t make it as a rapper”) and the Beast from the Southeast (Da Wulf) was born. He graduated with honors and was able to walk with his family arm and arm into his graduation.
 
Torrence left home in 2001 to attend Georgia Southern University where he received his BS in Information Technology with a second discipline in Electronic Broadcast Media.He also took up refereeing where he received many awards and national recognition in flag football and basketball (yep, they give those out to the zebras too). Torrence also earned a leadership position in the Campus Rec and Intramurals department where he spent most of his free time when he wasn’t in class.
 
After a short stint in Hilton Head, SC, Torrence found himself in the Metro Atlanta Area where he met the love of his life. After suing him (“I did try to kill her”), she said “I do”, and they were married in May of 2010. In 2015, he became a father to a beautiful little girl named Charlie, and even though life has thrown curveballs at him, Torrence is standing taller than ever. He is continuing to write this chapter of His life. “I am my ancestors wildest dream!”
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE!

EP 55 DR MOLEFI ASANTE

Dr. Molefi Kete Asante is Professor and Chair, in Africology at Temple University.  Asante, often called the most prolific African American scholar, has published 95 books, among the most recent are Being Human Being.  He is considered one of the most quoted living African authors as well as one of the most distinguished thinkers in the African world. He has been recognized as one of the 10 most widely cited African scholars. Asante has been recognized as one of the most influential leaders in education. He was made a king in Ghana, a professor extraordinarius in South Africa. His works are translated in Russian, French, Spanish, Swahili, and Portuguese. Quote from Asante: "Attach yourself to your own historical experiences and you will become a genius." 
Check out the video interview HERE

EP 141 JEAN-PIERRE BRICE

 Jean-Pierre Brice, more affectionately known as "Uncle P" in his Chester, PA community, carries a story of transformation that mirrors the very essence of human resilience and hope. His journey began amidst the vibrant hustle of Brooklyn, New York, on the 22nd of December in 1979, but his narrative quickly relocated to the close-knit streets of Chester, where the roots of his family tree would deepen and where he would eventually find his true calling.
The early chapters of Uncle P's life were marked by poignant loss. The passing of his father, Jean-Pierre, in 1992, was a profound blow to the family, leaving young Uncle P and his then four-year-old sister, Arielle-Marie, in a world suddenly bereft of paternal guidance. The fabric of his life would endure further rending with the loss of his Uncle Lamont A. Givens Esq. in 2002, a man whose wisdom and teachings instilled in Uncle P a strong sense of integrity and the stoic code, "If you choose this life, you keep your mouth shut." These words would later echo in the halls of his memory, serving as a somber reminder during his most challenging times.
As if the tapestry of his life hadn't been tested enough, the death of his guiding light, his grandmother Delia Johnson, in 2005, cast a long shadow over his spirit. Yet, it was the memory of her unwavering strength and the enduring love of his mother, Deborah J. Brice, that would eventually lead him toward the light. Supported by his Aunt Bernadette Givens and his god sister, Kenya Isaac—both pillars of strength and wisdom in their own right—Uncle P began to piece back together the fragments of his once shattered world.
In 2007, Uncle P found himself within the daunting walls of SCI Dallas, a place that would challenge him to his core but also serve as a crucible for change. It was there, amidst the quiet introspection and the solitude of his cell, that Uncle P decided his past would not define his future. With the memory of his father's and uncle's lessons whispering to him, he resolved to forge a new legacy—one of positivity, resilience, and community upliftment.
Emerging from SCI Dallas imbued with a newfound determination, Uncle P sought the healing power of therapy in 2016. It was a pivotal year that marked the beginning of his rebirth and a journey toward inner peace. Therapy unlocked the shackles of his inner sixteen-year-old, the boy who had never fully grieved his father's death, and freed the man ready to embrace his second chance.
In 2017, with the clarity and passion of a man reborn, Uncle P launched CMPRadio.Net, an internet radio station that would become a beacon of unity and hope in Chester. This venture was more than a business; it was the embodiment of Uncle P's desire to give back to the community that had seen him through his darkest hours. His subsequent professional endeavors—as a Community Resource Manager at the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and a Community Program Manager at PA Humanities—were not mere titles but were manifestations of his commitment to serve, to empower, and to bridge gaps within his community.
The role of fatherhood took on a new meaning for Uncle P as he raised his seven children—Taylor, Pilar, Jean-Pierre II, Zaria, Jurnie, Janai, and Jordyn—with the intention to pass down the values and lessons that his father, uncle, grandmother, and mother had instilled in him. He became a living testament to the virtues of community, resilience, and the enduring power of a positive outlook.
Today, Uncle P stands as a symbol of hope in Chester, his life a rich narrative that continues to inspire and encourage. His story, from the challenges of Brooklyn to the triumphs in Chester, from the reflective solitude of SCI Dallas to the bustling airwaves of CMPRadio.Net, serves as a powerful testament to the fact that life's trials do not define us; rather, it is how we respond to them that shapes our legacy. It's a story that Uncle P proudly shares, a story that resonates with the beats of perseverance, love, and an unwavering commitment to others—a story that assures us all that it is never too late to change the narrative and make a difference in the world.
Watch the interview video HERE