The Cheats Movement Podcast

On this special edition of the Cheats Movement podcast, I chopped it up with West Coast Customs' founder Ryan Friedlinghaus. Ryan is bringing his legendary shop to the Richmond Raceway this Saturday and Sunday (July 29-30). West Coast Customs is building a street-legal NASCAR Next Gen Toyota Camry TRD at Richmond Raceway. Students from Henrico County's CTE program will be helping the crew. Fans can watch the build live inside the NASCAR Racing Experience. You can also purchase a special WCC ticket package for the race. Learn more about Ryan's upcoming appearance, his love for NASCAR, and his passion project of teaching the next generation of engineers and designers. Special thank you to Lori Warren, Matt Humphrey, Phil Metz, and Common House RVA.

2023 marks the 34th season Todd "Parney" Parnell will be involved in minor league baseball. But as some things remain the same for the Flying Squirrels CEO, so much has changed. This will be Parney's first season without his loving father, who passed away during the off-season. This will be his first season married to his long-time partner Tayna; they married on New Year's Eve, 2022. This is a two-part podcast: the first half takes place the Thursday before opening weekend, and the second half takes place the Monday after opening day weekend. There is a lot to unpack in this episode. I honestly could talk to Parney for hours. Our conversation talks about life, love, loss, leadership, and, yes, I ask him about the future of baseball in Richmond, including a new stadium. Please like, rate, and review the podcast. Your support means the world to me. Thank you & Go NUTZ

This is NASCAR race weekend in Richmond! This Sunday (April 2) is the Toyota Owners 400. Last year, I had the pleasure of attending my first NASCAR race. I took my son Cameron, and we made a full day of the experience. While attending the race, it struck me that this was not my father's NASCAR; it certainly was not my grandfather's, and I'm not just talking about the NextGen cars but the entire experience. The leader of the NASCAR experience in Richmond is long-time media executive Lori Collier Waran. Lori took over the job last June and has been front and center ever since. Lori is the first woman to be President of Richmond Raceway. She is dedicated to ushering a new phase of community to the track, a community that is as diverse as Richmond itself. I sat down with Lori to talk about her groundbreaking role as president, and how she plans to usher in a new generation of Richmond race fans. Our conversation clearly shows that: Richmond is Everyone's Track.

I usually don't do "Emergency" podcast on the Cheats Movement. Still, this episode was scheduled in concise order because there is a primary election this Tuesday to select the Democratic nominee to replace the late Congressman Donald McEachin, and State Senator Jennifer McClellan announced earlier this week that she is seeking the nomination and the office. I've known Senator McClellan and her family since I began working in politics - long before I started podcasting. I know Jennifer to be a faithful servant leader, a very brilliant policy wonk, and a person with a caring heart for others. I couldn't think of a better person to carry the legacy of Rep. McEachin and forge her path than Jennifer McClellan. On this episode, we talk about how she made the decision to run for congress and what her goals are if the people elect her. She makes the pitch as to why she is the right person to go to congress at this time. As always, you can subscribe to the Cheats Movement Podcast everywhere podcasts are available. You can follow Jennifer McCellan at @JennMcClellanVA and jennifermcclellan.com

University of Richmond Head Basketball Coach Chris Mooney has recently started his 18th season. He already has more wins than any coach in UofR history (315). He has the school's only two A10 conference titles. He's collected three NCAA tournament appearances: including a trip to the sweet sixteen (2010-2011). He has graduated countless players, led several to careers in professional basketball, and even coached one of hip-hop's biggest stars right now (more on that in the interview). No matter how you look at it, Coach Mooney is swiftly approaching legendary status on Westhampton Way.But those are some of the things you may already know about Coach Mooney. What you may not know is that for 18 seasons, Mooney has had at least one player from the Richmond-Metro area on the team. When Coach Mooney and his wife moved to Richmond they didn't know what the future held, but they truly fell in love with the university and the greater Richmond community. Now, they have two boys (10 and 13) they are raising in Richmond. Mooney and his players emphasize giving back and being role models on and off the court. During our conversation, you will get a chance to learn more about Chris Mooney - the basketball coach - and also Chris Mooney: the man. It was an honor to have him on the Cheats Movement Podcast. I hope you enjoy this conversation and subscribe to The Cheats Movement Podcast.

States are still counting votes. The balance of power in the Senate is still up for grabs, but that doesn't mean we can talk about the day that was: Election Day 2022. The Virginia races are settled. The VA GOP grabbed one congressional pick-up in the 2nd District, but Dems held onto a highly contested seat in the 7th and a challenge in the 10th. The predicted red wave was more like a drip. President Biden is celebrating not getting punched in the face by the American people, Former-President Trump seems to be punching everyone, and Herchel Walker's political career is (somehow) still alive in the Peach State. Cheats discusses this all with Jewel Jordan, Taikien Cooper, and Allan-Charles Chipman, on the live-stream edition of the Cheats Movement Podcast on the Family Podcast Network.

What's Good Family! I'm excited to share a fantastic conversation with renowned choreographer Jennifer Archibald. Jennifer's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" ballet is currently premiering at the Richmond Ballet until November 6th (this Sunday). "Inspired by the iconic 1967 film of the same name, Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner addresses the intolerances faced by interracial couples and highlights the fortitude, simplicity, and beauty of love. Set to music by soul legends such as Donny Hathaway and Ray Charles, this world premiere will breathe new life into a vintage Hollywood story." - RichmondBallet.comJennifer and I talk about the ballet's creation, her inspiration, and her vision for the audience. We also discuss diversity within ballet and attracting a non-traditional audience to the art. Jennifer is a true tour de force. Please follow her groundbreaking work via her IG at JArchDance

On this special edition of Mixtape Talk, Cheats visits with award-winning author and journalist Howard Bryant about his latest book, Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original. The book is fascinating as Howard digs deep into topics like the great migration of Black from the American South to the west coast. He talks about the explosion of money in baseball during the late 70s and 80s; he talks about the treatment of Black players, such as Rickey, by white owners, such as George Steinbrenner; Howard talks about it all. And by doing so, he paints a picture of one of the most dynamic, misunderstood, and legendary players the game has ever seen: Rickey Henderson. Buckle up...Mixtape Talk 007 featuring Howard Bryant is a doozy. As always, please subscribe to the Black Baseball Mixtape on social media. Reach out to me on Twitter and IG. Thank you for your fantastic support.

Family, This is a special crossover edition of the Cheats Movement Podcast. I seldom do crossover episodes, but this one is worth it. I want you to meet Erica Porter, AKA Jungle Grrrl of WOW. She visited the team over at Wrestling Chat with Friends last week. She is amazing. She founded the Endorphasm Foundation. It's a non-profit that helps people combat cancer through fitness and exercise. The Endorphasm Foundation is hosting special events on November 5th and 6th in Richmond, VA. November 5th is a high-dollar fundraiser for the Foundation at the Commonwealth Club, and November 6 is a free event at Hardywood Brewery (Downtown). Please listen to Erica's fantastic story and learn more about the Foundation, her wrestling career, and her passion to help others. visit: Home • Endorphasm for more information on the upcoming events.

Friday, October 14, 2022, kicks off the first-ever RESONATE Podcast Festival in Richmond, VA. RESONATE is a podcast festival for every level of podcasting. The conference will offer sessions on writing, pitching, marketing, producing, and even building community (hosted by yours truly). On this special Cheats MOvement podcast, I'm joined by Choike I'anson, Director of Media at the ICA, and founder of the RESONATE. Chiokie tells us how the festival came together and what to expect over the jam-packed two days. He also drops a discount code for up to 50% off the ticket price. You don't want to miss this festival. RESONATE begins this Friday. Tickets are available right now at RESONATE (resonatepodfest.com)

Recorded Live on August 5, 2022: On this special live edition of the Cheats Movement Podcast, I was joined by Mallory Noe-Payne and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Michael Paul Williams to talk about their new podcast, "Memory Wars." Memory Wars is a six-part series about how Germany has confronted its horrific past and whether America could ever do the same. Public radio reporter Mallory Noe-Payne spent years covering policy and politics in Richmond, Virginia. Then she went to Germany. Through a year of in-depth reporting featuring a wide range of characters, Noe-Payne reveals the struggles it takes for a society to change its narrative, face up to an uncomfortable past, and pave the way for atonement. Columnist Michael Paul Williams joins the conversation to debrief each episode with Noe-Payne and explore how her experience in Germany relates to America. Memory Wars is the production of RADIO IQ, distributed by PRX.

What's good, Family! This week is a huge week for the Richmond Flying Squirrels. And I must say, I have the perfect guests visiting the show this week. Blaine McCormick of the Flying Squirrels and Meg Angstadt of the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation are my special guests. This Wednesday is Family Night at the Diamond and the Squirrels will be recognizing community and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The game will highlight the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, and a portion of your ticket purchase will go to benefit ASK if you use this link: https://fevo.me/3IUxNWq. (PLEASE USE THE LINK). Friday and Saturday of this week is Legacy Weekend for the Flying Squirrels. This is a special two-night event that will highlight the legacy of the Richmond 34. The Richmond 34 are a group of courageous college students that conducted a sit-in at the popular lunch counter of Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond, Virginia in 1960. he event was one of many sit-ins to occur throughout the civil rights movement in the 1960s and was essential to helping desegregate the city of Richmond.During Friday and Saturday's games, the Squirrels will honor those civil rights pioneers, educate the community, and hold a special jersey auction on Saturday night. Blaine and Meg join me to talk about all the activities going on. And, Cheats Movement Family, I have a special code for $5 GA tickets to Legacy weekend. Just use the code RICHMOND34. I'm excited about Wednesday night and this weekend. I look forward to seeing you at the Diamond.

What's good, Everyone? It's so nice to be back. This is a special solo episode of the Cheats Movement Podcast. Cheats and his 7-year-old son, Cam, went to their first NASCAR experience in Richmond, and Cheats want to tell you about it.

Live boxing is back in Richmond! This Saturday (June 11) is the first-ever River City Invitational. The event will take place at the Richmond Raceway and feature around 20 amateur bouts. It is presented by Vintage Boxing (located on Arthur Ashe Boulevard). And my special guest for this episode of the Cheats Movement podcast is the owner and operator of Vintage Boxing Eric Ash.Eric is not only the owner of Vintage Boxing, he has the distinct honor of being the lead trainer of the Vintage Boxing Team. A team that will be on full display this Saturday, with several fighters planning to go pro over the next 12 months. Eric is a trainer, manager, mentor, and entrepreneur. Vintage Boxing is a special place. It has all trappings of a classic boxing gym (think Wild Card in LA or Kronk in Detriot). And the environment — the uplifting community spirit — is a true testament to Eric's leadership and the fantastic staff he has assembled. From boxing coaches to personal trainers to the front desk staff, Vintage has the feel of your favorite local hangout, but it's much more. It's a boxing gym first and foremost, but it is safe to say, Vintage is a full-scale wellness center. And I'm not just speaking from one or two visits, I'm speaking from the perspective of a member of the Vintage community for several months now. (That's right, your boy signed up a few months ago.) Vintage Boxing Gym is a special place, and Eric is a tremendous leader. Learn more about Vintage, the River City Invitational, and the Matthew Smiles Foundation, right here on the Cheats Movement Podcast. Subscribe to the Cheats Movement Podcast everywhere podcasts are available. Follow @Cheats_RVA on IG; @CheatsMovement (Twitter) Follow @VintageBoxingGym on IG Follow www.thefamilypn.com

The Cheats Movement Podcast Series about public education continues with RPS's Chief Engagement Officer Dr. Shadae Harris. In this episode, Dr. Harris explains her overall mission, her goals for RPS (short-term and long-term), and her daily task as Chief Engagement Officer. We talk about her background in education: Dr. Harris was a teacher, a principal, and now an administrator. She discusses her introduction to the RPS community. While completing her Doctoral program at Harvard, she worked extensively with RPS. Virginia’s Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Virginia Governor's Children’s Cabinet to implement policy and program improvements for RPS students whose education has been interrupted due to a court charge.In closing, we learn a little about Dr. Harris off the clock. She is the mother of one boy (very soon to be two). It's an intimate conversation; a slight peek behind the curtain of RPS leadership. If you like this episode, please review all of the episodes in the Cheats Movement education series. Also, please subscribe to the Cheats Movement and the FAMILY podcast network. You can follow the network at: www.thefamilypn.com. Thanks to the VPM/ICA media center. This episode was recorded at the Center. Please explore all the wonderful exhibits at the ICA.

Very Smart Brothas co-founder Panama Jackson is Cheats guest on this episode of the Cheats Movement Podcast. Panama is hosting the amazing podcast POWER: Don King. The podcast goes into the life of the most notable boxing promoter of all time. From Don's early days as a number runner in Cleveland to promoting the Rumble in the Jungle to promoting a young Mike Tyson and seeing it all collapse, King has seen it all. He's also been in the mix of it all — the good and the bad. Don has been sued by everyone. He's been accused of cheating everyone. And, yet, he's still here...still staking his claim in a game that is known to suck the very life out of the talent it promotes. Panama and Cheats also talk about Panama's career as a culture journalist and a few projects he's working on post VSB. It's a great conversation. Thanks to the VPM/ICA Media Center for hosting the Cheats Movement Podcast. Please subscribe to the Cheats Movement everywhere podcasts are available and on YouTube. @theFamilyPN

On this episode, Cheats goes one-on-one with certified Major League Baseball agent Lonnie Murray. Ms. Murray is not your average baseball agent; she is the first Black woman ever to be certified by the MLBPA. And for many years, Lonnie was the only certified Black woman to serve as an agent in all major league baseball. Lonnie talks about her journey — her triumphs and challenges, and what makes her exemplary in such a white male-dominated industry. She also shares her thoughts on the recent MLB lockout and what it will take to grow baseball in Black communities. You don't want to miss this episode. Truth be told, you'll want to share this episode with anyone interested in baseball, being a sports agent, or even a pioneering CEO. This episode has it all. Please follow the Cheats Movement Podcast on all social media. And follow The FAMILY podcast network (thefamilypn.com). Special thanks to the VPM/ICA community media center.

On this episode of The Cheats Movement Podcast, Cheats talks one-on-one with 1st District School Board member Liz Doerr. The Richmond School Board is in the middle of the budget process. They have to reduce the Superintendent's proposed budget to match not only the School Board's approved budget but finally the budget approved by the Mayor, it's a crazy process. One that fosters extremely arduous conversations about priorities in education. Liz and Cheats discuss the budget process, the vote to renovate and restore William Fox Elementary, the responsibilities of representing the 1st district, and much more. It's an enlightening conversation, one that is honest, open, and worthy of your attention. Please follow the Cheats Movement Podcast everywhere podcasts are available. And please leave a review of the podcast. Reviews will help our little show get noticed by the big networks, like THE FAMILY podcast network. Finally, take a minute to subscribe to THE FAMILY podcast network at thefamilypn.com.

Muhammad Ali always called himself, "The Greatest," and he was right. Well, on this episode of the Cheats Movement podcast, I think my guest is also The Greatest. Best-selling author Jonathan Eig is Muhammad Ali's biographer. His 2017 book "Ali: A Life" is the only book that completely captures Ali's life. Jon conducted over 600 interviews and dedicated over four years of his life to learning everything there is to know about the most compelling figure of the 20th century. Jon learned facts about Ali that Ali didn't even know. His book is amazing; and it has amassed a plethora of awards, including the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sportswriting. Jon and I talk about Ali (of course), but also his journey to write such an audacious body of work. The journey to write the book is just as compelling as the book itself, and a lot of Jon's odyssey is chronicled by Jon himself in his podcast Chasing Ali. Please follow Jon on Twitter (@jonathaneig), and subscribe to The Cheats Movement Podcast everywhere podcasts are available. The Cheats Movement is a member of THE FAMILY podcast network (@familypn). Special thanks to the VCU/ICA Community Media Center and Common House RVA.

The Cheats Movement education series continues with 9th District School Board member Nicole Jones. Nicole is a dear friend. I've known her and her family for years through community programs like Art 180. Nicole is in her first term on the school board, and we talk about her reasons for running for elected office and the work she is doing to improve education for her district. We talked about the recent fire at Fox Elementary and what that means for RPS. Along with other pressing issues like the budget, collective bargaining, and school construction. Nicole is a true community leader. I hope you enjoy this interview and listen to the others in the public education series. The Cheats Movement is a member of the Family Podcast Network (@familypn). Please subscribe to the Family via our website www.thefamilypn.com.