Hope, Interrupted

Chris Singleton was drafted in 2017 by the Chicago Cubs, but he makes an impact off the field. After his mom was murdered in a race-related church shooting he has made it his mission to professionally speak all over the world teaching people (especially educators and students) to lead with love and unity. He teaches unity while simultaneously teaching principles that can help any person overcome any adversity life throws their way. Chris can be reached on YouTube at Chris Singleton Speaks. His website is www.chrissingleton.com. Social: @csingleton_2.

In 2020, expectant mom Ebony Chisholm published a letter to her child, wondering about the world the child would enter in the wake of racial, social and political unrest. That letter, published in her local newspaper, was eventually read on CNN. Today on the "Hope Interrupted" podcast. We talked to Ebony about how she feels today. Where does Ebony find hope for the future? Listen and find out.

Ty Lawson may be the only human being to leave his hometown of New Orleans in the middle of Hurricane Ida, only to see it follow him to New York later that week. During the pandemic, Ty walked from Harlem to the Brooklyn Bridge and back, daily, after work, where he was a producer at a leading network. This week, Jennifer and Byron  talk with Ty, who is currently serving as the inaugural Marion M. And John S. Stokes Visiting Professor in Race and Culture in Media at the School of Communication and Design at Loyola University New Orleans. In his new role, he hopes to utilize his experiences to prepare students for future success as leaders in the communications industry while also offering a critical lens to examine the intersection of media with race, gender, identity, and culture. Find more information about Hope, Interrupted at www.hopeinterrupted.com.

Sue Miller Wiltz has more than 20 years of experience in content creation, editing, journalism, editorial consulting, and marketing. Sue has also worked as an editorial and marketing consultant to the nonprofit book publisher CAST Professional Publishing, was the content director at Angie’s List, and was a journalist for Newsweek and People. She has led award-winning editorial teams and has been personally involved in winning awards for journalism and content marketing. Sue is known for her in-depth research, reporting, storytelling, and attention to detail. She loves to collaborate with others on projects of all kinds. She has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Wisconsin — Madison, a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and an M.B.A from Butler University with concentrations in leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Our guest this week is Julie Whitney, a communications-public relations expert and children’s book author. She was born and raised in Cincinnati. While her career has included stints in other places, she has always returned to Cincinnati. Whitney graduated from Walnut Hills High School – a Cincinnati institution that is routinely named as one of the best high schools in America. She graduated from Ohio’s Miami University and pursued a career in public relations (PR.) As an expert in her field she has represented a vast cross section of clients that include health, wellness, fitness and lifestyle – to name a few. She is sought after for her keen judgement with the news media and the ability to attract positive attention for her clients. Whitney has been active in her community including a program that she launched in 2015 called “Cases for Love.” The program was initiated to gather suitcases for foster kids and has collected over 10K suitcases. She has written her first children’s book that is titled “Astra the Lonely Airplane.” She was inspired when her husband, “Captain Dan,” lost his job (as a corporate pilot) due to the plane (Astra) being sold. The story is one of resilience, hope and life lessons about caring for one another. The book’s illustrator is Canada’s Michelle Simpson, and the publisher is Belle Isle Books with publication scheduled for March 2, 2022. To pre-order the book please visit julie@astrathelonelyairplane.com Julie Whitney is married to Dan Whitney. She has one son, Conner, three step children, Lauren, Danny and Anna. and is a dog mom. Get more information about our book at hopeinterrupted.com.

Hope, Interrupted's guest this week is Craig Kirby, born and raised in Dayton Ohio, graduated from Albion College (Albion, Michigan) with co-host Jennifer Mooney. He distinguished himself as Student Body President. Kirby’s illustrious career has included joining the team of Reverend Jesse Jackson in 1985 and managing the Reverend’s advance during the time of the formation of the National Rainbow Coalition and two presidential runs. Kirby’s tenure has included serving as the Southern Political Director for the Democratic National Committee, advance for The White House and high-level organizational appointments for many leading Democratic figures, including Governor Mark Warner. His current position is Founder and Chief for Golf. My Future. My Game. Craig Kirby lives in Washington, D.C. with his family. Check out Hope, Interrupted for more information about our book.

Curtis G. Aikens is the Sr. Coach-Chef Chef Ambassador, for  Novo Nordisk Education Program. He is First Lady Michelle Obama's Chef in Georgia for her LunchTime Challenge Program. He was author of 5 cookbooks the latest his 1st children's book ABC Soup A Family and Friends cookbook Aikens is one of the Original Chef-Host of Food Network, He is a multi-Media personality, television, radio, print and online, including appurtenances on  Ophra, broadcast from the White House with 1st Ladies Barbara Bush, on Location with 1st lady Hillary Clinton. in-depth profiles by ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX and CBS former Ancor Dan Rather profiled Curtis in his book American Heroes which lead to the text book publishers Hampton-Brown feathering this American Hero in the EDGE Reading Writing and Language text book disturbed world wide, Curtis receives letter form kids all over the glob, when he can he stops in to say hello to many school students. To meet Curtis is to KNOW Curtis, you will tap into the Who's-Who of World Leaders and Celebrities that has helped Curtis a child of the segretated South not learning to read until his 26th year, to become a difference maker. Julie Child, Paul Prudhomme among other great culinarians befriend and help him in the early years. Mickie Mantel to Ali, Stallone, Denzel Washington, Presidents, Prime Ministers, have added richness to his journey.

Joya Wesley, author of “The Easy Breezy Whole Foodie,” is a freelance writer and editor, an amateur gardener, and the once and future manager of her father's band, Fred Wesley and the New JBs. She is a minimalist currently living in Fairfield, California. Before finding her way to the whole foods, plant-based lifestyle that's now all she ever wants to talk about, Joya grew up in Los Angeles, earned a sociology degree from Stanford University and worked for newspapers and as a national editor for the Associated Press. Later, she participated in and co-authored a book about the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project, the first U.S. process modeled after South Africa's. You can find her online at easybreezywholefoodie.com. Book Summary The Easy Breezy Whole Foodie: Opt Out of SAD in Seven Simple Steps is a quickie sketch of key ideas to chart your path to freedom from the Standard American Diet and all the health problems that come with it. Hope, Interrupted Check out the book here.

Check out more information about the book at https://hopeinterrupted.com.

Ayris T. Scales is the CEO of Walker’s Legacy Foundation and Managing Director of Walker’s Legacy. Scales has built a strong reputation as a champion of women, entrepreneurs, and underinvested communities in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Scales has nearly 20 years of leadership experience at both the local and national levels addressing racial and gender inequities. In 2018, Ayris was appointed by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to serve as the District’s official Chief Service Officer where she led Serve DC, the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships. Check out more information about Hope, Interrupted at https://www.hopeInterrupted.com.

Laurel (Laurie) Nelson is the CEO for The Center for Respite Care. The Center serves people experiencing homelessness who have been released from the hospital and need a place to recover and heal. The Center provides medical care, social service support, transition to stable housing as well as helps individuals secure employment. Laurie presided over the Center’s move to Cincinnati’s OTR where they share services with other organizations who serve the same constituency. Laurie recently completed her second MA — from the University of Notre Dame. Find more information about the book at https://hopeinterrupted.com/

Byron McCauley and Jennifer Mooney talk about "Hope, Interrupted" at The Mercantile Library in Cincinnati. Get more information about the book here.

Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey is a 33-year veteran of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and has held the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Major prior to being elected Sheriff in November 2020.  Sheriff McGuffey is the highest-ranking woman in the history of the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff McGuffey was born and raised in Cincinnati, growing up in Price Hill.  By the time she was 14, she knew she wanted to be a Police Officer. She graduated from Western Hills High School and entered the Criminal Justice program at the University of Cincinnati, even though at the time, women were not allowed to be uniformed patrol officers. Fortunately, that changed by the time Sheriff McGuffey graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She then joined the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in 1983. Sheriff McGuffey began her career as a Corrections Officer at the former Workhouse and has worked in nearly all facets of the Sheriff’s Office including as the Academy Commander for the Ohio Peace Officer Corrections Academy, serving as lead hostage negotiator for the Sheriff’s Special Response Team, and as Commander of the Sheriff’s Honor Guard.  Sheriff McGuffey provided training for law enforcement officers throughout the State of Ohio and is an accomplished self-defense instructor. During her tenure as Major of Jail and Court Services, Sheriff McGuffey was credited with leading reforms in the jail to reduce the likelihood of people returning to jail. She was also credited with bringing the jail from the worst ranking in the State of Ohio to the top ranking. Sheriff McGuffey is committed to public safety and to ensuring accountability, transparency, and engagement with the community as the foundation of the work in the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff McGuffey is committed to building trust, to listening to department staff and the community’s ideas and concerns and to move forward together toward justice reform. Sheriff McGuffey serves on the Board of Directors for Cincinnati Union Bethel and The Women’s City Club and is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati, Class 39.  Sheriff McGuffey is married to Christine Sandusky and they reside in downtown Cincinnati with their two dogs.

Order copies of Hope, Interrupted here.

John Erickson and Randy Tucker are both Pulitzer Winners, one black, one white, both Minneapolis natives, both University of Minnesota grads, talking about race in America, their friendship, and their town which finds itself the epicenter of race and police-community relationships in America.

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Byron McCauley and Jennifer Mooney speak with WWL-TV television journalist Charisse Gibson. Charisse Gibson is an Emmy-nominated journalist, anchor and host born and raised in New Orleans. She began her television career at WWL-TV in 2010 as a morning desk assistant. During her time in the newsroom she wrote for the WWL morning show, which encouraged her to pursue a full-time producer position along the Mississippi Gulf Coast at WLOX-TV. After two-years on the Gulf Coast, Charisse returned to her home state and was named Morning News Anchor at KSLA News 12 This Morning in Shreveport, La. Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast, supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program. You can also leave a voice mail for our show here. Check out past episodes and enter to win contests on our show page here.

This week, Jennifer Mooney and Byron McCauley talk to Harold Brown, the new chief diversity and inclusion officer at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, one of the oldest and most successful in the country. Jennifer talks about her time in Kenya "Grandmama Obama," a hopeful moment and more!! Order copies of Hope, Interrupted here.

Byron and Jennifer launch their debut episode with an interview with Kevin Aldridge, Opinion and Engagement Editor at the Cincinnati Enquirer/Cincinnati.com. Order copies of Hope, Interrupted here. 

Byron and Jennifer preview their new show, which launches Wednesday, March 24. Find out more about their new book at Hope, Interrupted.