Deniese Davis has always been ahead of her time. From producing The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl alongside Issa Rae, to co-founding ColorCreative, to building Reform Media Group with an exclusive deal at Tyler Perry Studios, she has dedicated her career to amplifying authentic stories that shape culture.

In this episode of Culture Raises Us, host Astor Chambers dives deep with Deniese about her journey from Las Vegas to Brooklyn College to Hollywood, and the pivotal moments that shifted her path. From the life-changing exposure of a trip to New York as a teenager, to stepping away from basketball and finding her voice in video production, Deniese shares how mentorship, risk-taking, and resilience propelled her forward.

This conversation explores:

• Why exposure and mentorship are critical for the next generation
• Lessons learned from producing Awkward Black Girl and working alongside Issa Rae
• The power of authenticity and originality in storytelling
• How sports shaped her leadership style as a producer
• The seven-year journey of making One of Them Days with Keke Palmer and SZA
• Why she believes ownership and building your own table are the future of culture
• Her three seeds for the next generation: innovation, resourcefulness, and amplification

Deniese reminds us that culture doesn’t wait for permission — it is created by those willing to take risks, disrupt systems, and tell stories no one else is telling. Her journey is proof that with passion, vision, and authenticity, you can change the game and inspire the world.

🎧 Listen now for an unfiltered look at one of the most important producers shaping the culture today.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Opening Reflections
00:23 – Building Your Own Table: Deniese Davis’ Mission
01:12 – Defining Culture as a Way of Life
02:12 – Early Inspirations: From Las Vegas to New York
03:30 – Exposure to Fashion, Music & Basketball Greats
05:05 – Identity Shift: From Basketball Player to Video Producer
07:18 – Discovering Storytelling in High School
08:59 – The Power of Exposure and Access
11:17 – Content as Culture: From Carmen Hip Hopera to Awkward Black Girl
13:55 – Meeting Issa Rae & Producing Early Web Series
17:25 – Authenticity & Originality as Non-Negotiables
19:30 – Partnership with Issa Rae & ColorCreative
21:31 – Sports, Leadership & Producing as a Point Guard
24:01 – Collaboration Behind One of Them Days with Keke Palmer & SZA
28:06 – Creating Culture Without Asking for Permission
30:22 – Mentorship, Validation & Supporting the Next Generation
31:58 – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Beyond Corporations
33:26 – Why Ownership & Building Our Own Tables Matters
36:04 – The Role of Allyship & Generational Shifts Ahead
38:03 – Deniese’s Three Seeds: Innovation, Resourcefulness & Amplification
39:56 – Closing Reflections & Gratitude

#DenieseDavis #CultureRaisesUs #IssaRae #AwkwardBlackGirl #ColorCreative #AuthenticStorytelling #BlackWomenInFilm #OwnershipMatters #InnovationInFilm #OneOfThemDays #TylerPerryStudios #WomenProducers #MentorshipMatters #CulturalLeadership #ResilientCreatives

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In this inspiring episode of Culture Raises Us, AI expert and storyteller Julian Reeves reflects on his unexpected “Adobe moment”—a creative breakthrough that reshaped his career and the way he approaches digital storytelling. What began as a simple project turned into a viral milestone, proving that authenticity wrapped in creativity can ripple through culture far more powerfully than chasing algorithms.

Julian shares the lessons he learned about responsibility after gaining visibility, why authenticity disguised as performance dominates today’s digital world, and how creators can protect themselves from the noise of social media while still making meaningful work. From deleting Instagram to spending hours in silence daily, Julian offers a framework for cultivating clarity, discipline, and purpose in a culture addicted to distraction.

This episode is a reminder that your moment isn’t just about going viral—it’s about what you build once the spotlight fades, and how you stay true to yourself while shaping culture with impact.

#CultureRaisesUs #JulianReeves #TheAdobeMoment #AuthenticityInTech #PurposeDrivenContent #DigitalStorytelling #AIAndCulture #CreativeBreakthrough #StayingTrue #ImpactOverAlgorithms

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In this heartfelt conversation of Culture Raises Us, Marquita Moore of How I Grew Today reminds us that ambition and independence often push us to act fast—but without asking God first. She opens up about the moments when she moved without His guidance, the painful consequences that followed, and the profound lessons learned about trust, surrender, and grace.

Marquita shares her own story of missteps, including the dangers of leaning on the wrong voices, and how God used even those moments to draw her closer. Together, we explore why many of us hesitate to pray before making decisions, how childhood wounds can shape how we view God, and why His “wait” or “no” is never rejection but always protection and redirection.

This episode is a call to slow down, ask before you act, and see dependence on God not as weakness—but as the ultimate form of strength.

#CultureRaisesUs #MarquitaMoore #TrustGod #FaithOverFear #GodsPlan #BringGodIntoIt #SurrenderToGod #GraceAndFaith #PurposeDrivenLife #SpiritualGrowth #FaithJourney

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AI is no longer a concept—it’s here, shaping the way we live, work, and even think. But with great power comes an even greater question: can technology itself be part of a divine assignment? In this thought-provoking episode of Culture Raises Us, AI expert Julian Reeves joins to explore how faith, purpose, and spiritual grounding must guide the future of innovation.

Julian shares what it feels like when building technology seems divinely led, and why discerning the difference between what’s merely possible and what’s truly purposeful is essential. Together, we examine the dangers of AI created without moral grounding—dependence, bias, and misplaced trust—and discuss how creators can anchor their work in integrity, humility, and divine intent.

From starting small with personal impact to protecting against fear-driven “drift,” this conversation is a blueprint for building technology that uplifts humanity instead of distracting it. It’s a call to align our digital creations with God’s higher purpose.

#CultureRaisesUs #JulianReeves #AIWithPurpose #FaithAndTechnology #DivineAssignment #EthicalAI #TechResponsibility #SpiritualInnovation #PurposeDrivenTech #GodInTheCode

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Valeisha Butterfield has spent her career at the intersection of culture, politics, entertainment, and business—leading global initiatives while never losing sight of her truth. As the founder of C Media and a former Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for the Recording Academy (Grammys), Valeisha has consistently championed voices and communities that have been strategically undervalued.

In this powerful conversation with host Astor Chambers, Valeisha breaks down why truth is the most important tool in leadership, storytelling, and life. From her reflections on pivoting careers to her decision to self-fund projects in order to maintain ownership, she offers wisdom on navigating toxic environments, building authentic platforms, and raising the bar for yourself and those you serve.

This episode explores:

• Why pivoting is really evolution—not reinvention
• The importance of owning your story and your business
• Navigating toxic workplace cultures with confidence and clarity
• Why “culture eats strategy for breakfast”
• How diversity and inclusion are being dismantled—and how we must respond
• The responsibility of both creators and consumers in shaping culture
• Why truth outperforms data every time
• The three seeds Valeisha wants to leave for future stewards of culture

This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity, resilience, and leadership. For anyone balancing ambition with integrity, or seeking to create change while protecting their energy, Valeisha Butterfield delivers an unfiltered blueprint for moving with courage, clarity, and joy.

🎧 Listen now and be inspired to raise your bar, trust your gut, and always stand in your truth.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Opening Reflections
00:20 – Valeisha Butterfield on Freedom & Identity
01:10 – Culture vs. Strategy: Trusting Your Gut
02:05 – Pivoting or Evolving? Rethinking Career Moves
04:00 – Transferable Skills Across Industries
05:35 – Navigating Toxic Workplace Cultures
08:16 – Playing the Game vs. Owning the Game
09:58 – Founding C Media and Choosing Ownership
11:13 – Why Self-Funding Matters for Creative Control
13:26 – Influence vs. Being Influenced
15:11 – The Power of Telling the Truth in Any Room
18:00 – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Under Attack
20:20 – Building Community Power and Supporting Each Other
23:00 – Economic Divide: The Real Root of Inequity
24:00 – A Call to Action: Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
26:00 – The Need for Trusted Leadership & Clear Direction
28:00 – Mentorship & Scaling Yourself to Help More People
30:00 – Guarding Your Energy and Choosing Who You Work With
34:00 – Redefining Wealth: Energy, Joy, and Good People
35:00 – Valeisha’s Three Seeds for Future Leaders
37:00 – Closing Thoughts & Gratitude

#ValeishaButterfield #CultureRaisesUs #TrustYourGut #OwnYourStory #AuthenticLeadership #BlackWomenLeaders #CreativeOwnership #CareerEvolution #TellTheTruth #CultureEatsStrategy #InspiringInterviews #BlackExcellence #LeadershipMatters #ResilientLeadership

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In this eye-opening episode of Culture Raises Us, Kenny Mac joins us to dismantle the myths we’ve built around stress and why so much of what we carry isn’t real—it’s imagined. From the “what if” thinking that fuels anxiety to the childhood patterns that keep us in cycles of toxic familiarity, Kenny reframes stress as something we can confront, understand, and rewire rather than simply endure.

He shares practical ways to retrain your mind, treat your brain like a muscle, and create a daily “stress management regimen” that integrates mental, physical, and community care. Plus, Kenny drops a powerful ice-cube breathing exercise that can reset your nervous system in minutes.

This conversation isn’t about ignoring challenges—it’s about stripping the boogeyman of its power so you can see the truth, find solutions, and move forward with clarity and purpose.
#CultureRaisesUs #KennyMac #StressManagement #MindsetShift #BrainTraining #EmotionalWellness #MentalHealthTools #SelfRegulation #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingStress

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In this vulnerable and necessary episode of Culture Raises Us, Grace Harry returns to unpack the layers of intimacy—beyond the purely physical—and why so many men struggle to truly connect in their closest relationships. From emotional suppression learned in childhood to the weight of the “provider” and “protector” labels, Grace breaks down the cultural programming that keeps intimacy taboo for men and limits their ability to fully show up in all areas of life.

She offers practical, compassionate steps for men to build their “intimacy literacy,” including how to soften with themselves, embrace curiosity, and receive feedback without defensiveness. This isn’t just about romance—it’s about building deeper emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical connections with everyone in your life.

Whether you’re redefining intimacy for yourself or trying to understand it in your relationships, this conversation challenges old narratives and offers a pathway to something richer and more authentic.
#CultureRaisesUs #GraceHarry #MenAndIntimacy #EmotionalConnection #VulnerabilityIsStrength #RelationshipGrowth #EmotionalIntelligence #HealthyMasculinity #PersonalGrowth #IntimacyLiteracy #BreakingStereotypes

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In this insightful episode of Culture Raises Us, Kenny Mac returns to break down the shifting landscape of cultural “tentpole” events—those iconic moments like the Super Bowl, All-Star Weekend, the Grammys, and beyond that once commanded collective attention but are now at risk of losing their impact.

Kenny and Astor explore why over-commercialization, poor preparation, and a KPI-driven approach have diluted the magic of these moments. They dig into the cultural cost of over-branding, the necessity of timing and authenticity, and how new platforms like the NBA Summer League and Fanatics Fest are emerging as fresh cultural hubs.

From protecting the soul of an event to knowing when to pivot toward the next big thing, this conversation is both a reality check and a playbook for brands, creatives, and cultural architects looking to build moments that last.

#CultureRaisesUs #KennyMac #TentpoleEvents #CulturalImpact #BrandStrategy #EventCulture #ProtectTheMoment #TimingAndAuthenticity #FanaticsFest #NBA #CulturalLeadership #MarketingWithIntegrity #EmergingCulture

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