In Episode 26 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Denzell Turner, founder and host of the Black Fridays Podcast, to discuss podcast monetization, community wealth, and building a business platform rooted in Detroit entrepreneurship.

Launched during the 2020 Blackout Tuesday movement, Black Fridays Podcast began as a way to spotlight Black-owned businesses and founders. What started as Instagram Live conversations evolved into a long-running podcast documenting revenue strategies, civic engagement, and the realities of growing a sustainable brand through audio.

In this conversation, Denzell shares how corporate marketing systems informed his approach to podcasting, why consistency determines long-term monetization, and how content creators can build trust within their local ecosystems. We examine the difference between short-form growth and long-form depth, the economics of podcasting beyond sponsorships, and why most podcasters stop before their platform compounds.

This episode speaks directly to podcasters, entrepreneurs, and community builders thinking about longevity, audience trust, and translating content into tangible economic impact.

Listen to Black Fridays Podcast wherever you stream podcasts.

Subscribe to Heard! Afros & Audio for more conversations on podcasting, media strategy, and creative entrepreneurship.

00:00 – Welcome + Who is Denzell Turner?
05:00 – The Origin of Black Fridays During Blackout Tuesday
10:00 – Why Revenue Conversations Matter in Podcasting
15:00 – Interviewing Detroit's Mayor + Civic Engagement Through Podcasting
20:00 – Corporate Marketing Strategy Applied to Black Entrepreneurs
25:00 – From IG Live to Studio Recording: Evolution of the Show
30:00 – Short-Form, YouTube Strategy & Attention Economics
35:00 – Why Consistency Determines Monetization
40:00 – Making Podcasting Work Beyond Direct Revenue
45:00 – Podcast Coaching Program + Building a Creator Community

To learn more about Denzell Turner visit https://blackfridayspod.com

Listen to Black Fridays Podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/8d54ddbb-c761-4366-b866-d9b661d6fb4a

Follow on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/blackfridayspodcast

This episode is brought to you by The Secret Life of TK Dutes Visit: www.tastykeish.com/secretlifepod

Follow on Instagram @tastykeish (IG) and @philosfuturemedia (IG- pronounced Fee-Lows)

In Episode 25 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Keisha "TK" Dutes to discuss The Secret Life of TK, a narrative podcast exploring burnout, media industry pressure, and creative sovereignty in audio storytelling.

TK is a veteran audio producer whose career spans terrestrial radio, streaming platforms, and podcasting. In this conversation, she reflects on shifting from producing other people's stories to telling her own and how burnout became both a physical and emotional turning point.

We examine what burnout looks like inside the media industry, the difference between visibility and being valued, and why reclaiming ownership of your narrative can redefine your relationship to the work. TK shares how she structured The Secret Life of TK as an immersive audio project, allowing different producers to shape each episode and create layered storytelling beyond traditional interview formats.

This episode explores boundaries, collaboration, vulnerability, and podcasting as public record. It also speaks directly to media professionals and creators navigating systemic pressure while trying to sustain their voice and well-being.

If you are a podcaster, producer, journalist, or creative professional thinking about burnout recovery, narrative podcasting, or building sovereign creative work, this conversation offers perspective grounded in lived experience.

Listen to The Secret Life of TK Dutes wherever you stream podcasts.

00:00 – Introduction & The Evolution of The Secret Life of TK
05:00 – When the Concept Changed in Real Time
10:00 – Letting Producers Lead & Creative Trust
15:00 – Immersive Audio & Producer-Driven Structure
20:00 – Burnout as a Physical Event
25:00 – Visibility vs Being Valued in Media
30:00 – Boundaries, Public Record & Protecting Peace
35:00 – Reciprocity, Collaboration & Time as Currency
40:00 – Permission to Change Your Mind
45:00 – Creative Practice as Restoration & Sovereignty

Listen to The Secret Life of TK Dutes on all major podcast platforms: https://podlink.com/1796520216

Subscribe to Heard! Afros & Audio for more conversations on podcasting, narrative craft, and independent media leadership.

To learn more about The Secret Life of TK Dutes visit: tastykeish.com/secretlifepod Follow on Instagram @tastykeish (IG) and @philosfuturemedia (IG- pronounced Fee-Low's...)

In Episode 24 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Leo Ra'Chel to explore her journey from BlogTalk Radio in 2011 to building PGC Media (Phat Girl Chronicles), a podcast network grounded in authenticity, culture, and long-term impact.

Before podcasting became mainstream, Leo was already creating audio spaces for conversation, community, and plus-size empowerment. Over time, that foundation evolved into PGC Media, a multi-show platform focused on Black storytelling, mental health dialogue, and audience-centered programming.

This conversation examines how early audio platforms shaped today's podcast landscape, why authenticity creates deeper audience trust than trend-driven content, and what it takes to grow from a single show into a sustainable podcast network. Leo reflects on protecting culture while scaling, maintaining integrity in content creation, and building community that feels intentional rather than transactional.

For podcasters, network founders, and creators focused on longevity over virality, this episode offers perspective on building infrastructure that supports both voice and ownership.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

00:00 – Introduction & Leo Ra'Chel's Podcasting Journey
05:00 – Starting on BlogTalk Radio in 2011
10:00 – Finding Her Voice Through Audio
15:00 – Turning a Podcast into PGC Media
20:00 – Authenticity vs Algorithm Culture
25:00 – Plus-Size Empowerment & Representation
30:00 – Building Community That Feels Like Home
35:00 – Mental Health & Media Responsibility
40:00 – Long-Form Content in a Short-Form Era
45:00 – Protecting Culture While Scaling
50:00 – Advice for Creators Focused on Longevity

To learn more about Leo Ra'Chel and PGC Media visit: Linktr.ee/pgcmedia

Follow on Social Media: Leo Ra'Chel: @iamleorachel (on all platforms)

PGC Media: @pgcmediaco

Phat Girl Chronicles: @thephatgirlchronicles

This episode is brought to you by The Secret Life of TK Dutes Visit: tastykeish.com/secretlifepod Follow on Instagram @tastykeish (IG) and @philosfuturemedia (IG- pronounced Fee-Low's...)

In Episode 23 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Aaron David Harris, Ambie Award–winning audio drama creator and producer of the fiction podcast Tales of Fists & Fireballs.

Aaron's series blends martial arts, anime-inspired storytelling, and character-driven narrative into what he calls "anime for your ears." In this conversation, we explore how audio drama creates immersive worlds without visuals, why fiction podcasting is evolving rapidly, and how independent creators can build award-winning work outside of major studio systems.

We discuss the craft of worldbuilding in audio, the debate between narration and dialogue-driven storytelling, and how Aaron transitioned from screenwriting and animation into fiction podcast production. He reflects on winning the Ambie Award for Best Fiction Podcast, competing alongside large networks, and why audio drama offers creative freedom for writers working within budget constraints.

This episode also examines Black oral storytelling traditions, genre fiction, and how podcasting allows creators to expand beyond traditional film and television gatekeeping.

If you are a fiction podcaster, screenwriter, filmmaker, or creative entrepreneur interested in audio drama, immersive storytelling, or building an independent media brand, this conversation offers insight into both craft and strategy.

Listen to Tales of Fists & Fireballs wherever you stream podcasts.

Subscribe to Heard! Afros & Audio for more conversations on podcasting, audio storytelling, and independent media innovation.

00:00 – Introduction to Aaron David Harris & Tales of Fists & Fireballs
05:00 – Why Audio Drama Feels Like a "Stepchild" in Podcasting
10:00 – Winning the Ambie Award for Best Fiction Podcast
15:00 – From Screenwriting to Fiction Podcasting
20:00 – Narration vs Dialogue in Audio Drama
25:00 – Cultural Storytelling & Black Oral Tradition
30:00 – Building Worlds Without a Camera
35:00 – Personal Stories Inside Genre Fiction
40:00 – Competing with Major Studios as an Indie Creator
45:00 – Budget Tools for Audio Drama Production
50:00 – Turning Screenplays into Audio Fiction
55:00 – The Future of Audio Drama & Platform Expansion

🎧 Listen to Tales of Fists & Fireballs wherever you stream podcasts.

📲 Connect with Aaron at adhx2.com and on Instagram @aarondavidharris

Subscribe for more conversations on podcasting, audio storytelling, and independent media innovation.

Audio Production Tools & Resources Mentioned

• Audacity – Free audio editing software
• Pro Sound Effects – Purchased sound effects pack
• PremiumBeat.com – Licensed music
• Freesound.org – Free sound effects (with attribution)
• YouTube Audio Library – Free music for creators

Directories & Community Resources

Black Audio Dramas Exist Directory – Growing directory of Black audio drama creators

https://msha.ke/blkaudiodramas#black-audio-drama-directory

Richard Seneque – Visionaires: Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Season 3

This episode is brought to you by The Secret Life of TK Dutes Visit: tastykeish.com/secretlifepod

Follow on Instagram @tastykeish (IG) and @philosfuturemedia (IG- pronounced Fee-Low's...)

In Episode 22 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Angel Livas, Founder and Owner of Alive Podcast Network, on the 4-Year Anniversary of the network's launch.

Alive Podcast Network was built to create ownership, monetization, and community for Black podcast creators. In this conversation, Angel reflects on five years of building an ecosystem where creators can grow their shows, maintain control of their content, and operate without sacrificing their intellectual property.

We discuss why ownership is non-negotiable in podcasting, how education gaps affect access to technology and distribution, and what creators need to understand about contracts, monetization, and long-term leverage. Angel shares how her 25+ years in media shaped her approach to network building and why she prioritizes helping podcasters structure their shows, refine their storytelling, and protect their masters.

This episode also explores what it means to create a "home" for podcast creators, how community strengthens sustainability, and why networks must move beyond visibility to infrastructure and education.

Alive Podcast Network now supports over 100 shows across audio and digital platforms, providing distribution, collaboration opportunities, and strategic guidance for podcasters at different stages of growth.

This episode is for podcasters, media entrepreneurs, network founders, and creators who want to build sustainable platforms rooted in ownership and community.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

00:00 – Introduction & Celebrating 4 Years of Alive Podcast Network
05:00 – Why Angel Built Alive: Ownership & Economic Equity
10:00 – Education Gaps & Access in Podcasting
15:00 – Audio as Craft & Emotional Connection
20:00 – Building for the Listener & Creator
25:00 – Why Ownership Is Non-Negotiable
30:00 – Contracts, Visibility & Creative Leverage
35:00 – Converting the 2025 Summit to CTV
40:00 – Why Connected TV Is the Next Podcast Frontier
45:00 – Measuring Success for Creators
50:00 – What "Home" Means in a Podcast Network

Download the Alive Podcast Network app in your app store or on Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and Samsung TV.

Subscribe for more conversations on podcasting, creative ecosystems, and independent media leadership.

To learn more about Alive Podcast Network visit: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alivepodcastapp

In Episode 21 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Mike Sargent to explore media credibility, cultural commentary, and building longevity across film, radio, television, and podcasting.

Mike is an award-winning cultural critic, filmmaker, journalist, and broadcaster whose career spans decades of multimedia storytelling. As a Black film critic covering all cinema, he has helped shape public discourse around movies while co-founding the Black Film Critics Circle and contributing to national and international media outlets.

This conversation centers on what it takes to sustain credibility in a shifting media landscape. We discuss the evolution of film criticism from television review shows to independent radio and podcasting, the responsibility of cultural commentators in mainstream spaces, and how editorial independence strengthens long-term authority.

Mike reflects on creating and hosting nationally broadcast film programs, co-hosting the Webby and SIGNAL Gold Award–winning Brown & Black podcast, and navigating the balance between institutional platforms and independent media ownership. We also examine radio drama, genre filmmaking, and why adaptability is essential for creators working across multiple formats.

This episode is for podcasters, critics, filmmakers, journalists, and multimedia creators who want to understand how credibility is built, protected, and sustained over time.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

00:00 – Introduction: Mike Sargent & A Career Across Media
05:00 – Becoming a Black Film Critic Covering All Cinema
10:00 – Founding Black Film Critics Circle & Industry Impact
15:00 – From Television Review Shows to Radio & Podcasting
20:00 – The Evolution of Film Criticism in the Digital Era
25:00 – Independent Broadcasting & Editorial Voice
30:00 – Brown & Black Podcast & Long-Form Cultural Commentary
35:00 – Radio Drama, Storytelling Craft & Adaptability
40:00 – Filmmaking & From The Shadows
45:00 – Longevity, Credibility & Media Ownership
50:00 – Advice for Podcasters & Multimedia Creators

To learn more about Mike Sargent visit: https://linktr.ee/Iammikesargent and https://themikesargent.com

Follow on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/mikeonscreen

Learn more about A James Scott Adventure: https://themikesargent.com/audio-drama

In Episode 20 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Toni Blackman to explore cultural bridges, global storytelling, and creative sovereignty through music and media.

Toni shares the vision behind her upcoming podcast TOALA, short for Travels of a Lyrical Ambassador, an audio project centered on African music, Afrobeats, hip hop culture, and diaspora connection. Drawing from her experiences traveling across Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Angola, China, and beyond, she reflects on how artists build cultural bridges that transcend geography.

This conversation moves through African music's global impact, diaspora identity, creative discipline, and the responsibility that comes with storytelling across borders. Toni speaks about trusting intuition over validation, practicing as a daily discipline, and protecting creative sovereignty in an attention-driven media landscape.

We also discuss Bloom Afrique Microfund and her work supporting African entrepreneurs, the role of artists in shaping cultural narratives, and why global storytelling requires both humility and leadership.

This episode is for podcasters, artists, cultural strategists, and entrepreneurs interested in African music, diaspora storytelling, creative leadership, and building media platforms rooted in vision.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

Podcast: TOALA (Travels of a Lyrical Ambassador)

00:00 – Introduction: Toni Blackman, First U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador
05:00 – African Music, Senegal & Expanding the Diaspora Through Sound
10:00 – Touring Africa, Global Hip Hop & Cultural Diplomacy
15:00 – Diaspora Identity, Afrobeats & Reframing Black History
20:00 – Creative Discipline, Freestyle Speaking & Practice Over Performance
25:00 – Trusting Vision, Micro Content Strategy & Launching TOALA
30:00 – Artists vs Institutions: Why Creators Build Connection Differently
35:00 – Bloom Afrique Microfund & Investing in African Entrepreneurs
40:00 – Leadership, Fear, Mentorship & Generational Disruption
45:00 – Opening Your World Through Music & Diaspora Exploration
50:00 – Meditation Projects, Healing Work & Final Reflections

Spotify Artist Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/48ho4Mg0LK4KH5D7y6tOEs?si=IUY1TEThT_6XSZja-tyI_g

Connect with Toni Blackman: Bloom Afrique Microfund and collaborations: hello@toniblackman.com

Follow on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/toniblackman/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissBlackman1/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toniblackman5

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toniblackman/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToniBlackman

Check the links below to learn more about the artists Toni mentioned in the episode:

Orchestra Baobab: https://youtu.be/m4yFmRNcX3I?si=quMufW_iHbk1jPFH

M.anifest: https://youtu.be/ibEc2aLamCk?si=cdKzlWyQJPl9YeLZ

Fritz Francois: https://youtu.be/aXjYp8GIGos?si=oek_Scj_dlIT0GE5

Breez Evahflowin': https://youtu.be/pm_Zv2ZCinY?si=EVDTOYnqmoww48fc

Rhyme Like a Girl Nairobi: https://youtu.be/SYK7_JmgKkE?si=DLfn0LPw3DmDDTu9

Franck Biyong: https://youtu.be/c6nUhLVcSSk?si=CeyoLoohOWwOygeT

Fid Q: https://youtu.be/e5Imz9qzxFw?si=JS-nF-J6W5wMYjvX

In Episode 19 of the Heard! Afros & Audio Interview Series, Talib Jasir sits with Eteng Ettah, host of Consider This for Comfort, a podcast exploring comfort TV, media literacy, and cultural commentary.

Why do certain television shows become emotional refuge?
What does comfort TV reveal about nostalgia, connection, and identity?
How does pop culture shape the way we understand society?

Eteng is a brand and cultural strategist who examines the intersection of television, media, and social meaning. In this conversation, she explains how comfort television can regulate emotion, create communal experiences, and offer insight into what people are carrying in uncertain times.

We discuss media literacy in the age of misinformation, doom scrolling versus intentional consumption, the power of nostalgia in streaming culture, and why creators must build from what they genuinely want to make instead of chasing trends.

Eteng also shares how she structures Consider This for Comfort using a seasonal format, experiments with collaborative award-season episodes, and expands her work into a companion newsletter, Ateng's Edit, to build a broader cultural ecosystem.

This episode is for podcasters, newsletter writers, media creators, cultural commentators, and anyone interested in comfort TV, pop culture analysis, and building independent media platforms with intention.

00:00 – Introduction to Eteng Ettah & Consider This for Comfort
05:00 – Media Responsibility, Journalism & Podcasting Access
10:00 – What Is Comfort TV and Why It Resonates
15:00 – Emotional Refuge, Nervous System Regulation & Storytelling
20:00 – Creative Control, Ownership & Building a Podcast From Scratch
25:00 – Moving Beyond Friends & Family Guests
30:00 – Experimenting With Emmy Specials & Collaborative Episodes
35:00 – Creating What You Want vs Chasing Trends
40:00 – Comfort TV, Nostalgia & The Need for Connection
45:00 – Expanding Into Newsletters & Building a Cultural Ecosystem
50:00 – Collaboration, Creative Sovereignty & What's Next

To learn more about Eteng Ettah visit: https://www.etengettah.com

Listen to Consider This for Comfort on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FyAIKf2vjkjoC7eFRYFTp?

Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/considercomfortpod

This episode is brought to you by CON417 "Where Music Never Sleeps!"

Visit: www.edgarsdiaz.com

Follow on Instagram @edgarsdiazmusic

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.