In The Know with Tony Reeves

You can love where you come from and still want to discover who you might become somewhere else.When I left Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for the University of Tampa, I wanted to see more of the world. By graduation, that desire had become a determination to stay in Florida—even without a permanent job or a clear plan.In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I reflect on the experiences that expanded my outlook, my mother’s hope that I would return home, and why staying felt like the right choice for me.Have you ever felt torn between returning home and building a life somewhere new? This conversation is for you.Explore my books and more at https://linktr.ee/mynameisreeves.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

It is so important to remember that when we celebrate young people who have graduated from a structured environment like school, they may not be ready to move into an unstructured environment like living on their own. Take the time ask how you can help them make the next moves In their life.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

December 1987. Finals were over, Christmas break was here, and my friend John and I couldn’t wait to leave Tampa and head home to Arkansas.There was just one problem: we were both exhausted.But at 18, we convinced ourselves that swapping drivers and catching a little sleep along the way would be enough. We also left in shorts and T-shirts—as if that Florida warmth would follow us all the way home.Then came a stop at my dad’s place in Mississippi. We wanted rest. He wanted help getting a Christmas tree.In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I look back at my first drive home from college: the excitement, the poor judgment, the unexpected family detour, and the lessons I can appreciate much more clearly now.We made it safely, but looking back, we should have rested before we ever got on the road.What’s a road-trip decision you can laugh about now—but would never repeat?Follow IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves for more Black Gen X stories, reflections, and lessons learned along the way. Share this episode with that friend who still remembers your first road trip together.For more reflections on the experiences behind the miles, explore my e-book, Traveling While Black Gen X, through AnthonyReeves.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

A map could show my best friend how to reach me in North Carolina. But there were things about that overnight drive I wanted him to understand before he left.It was the mid-1990s. I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, and he was coming up from Tampa. When he decided to take the backroads instead of my suggested route, our conversation became about more than directions.Closed gas stations. Small towns after midnight. Sudden speed-limit changes. No cell phones to check in. And the concerns I carried as a Black man who grew up navigating the South.He arrived safely—but one of the first things he told me was, “I need you never to let me make that drive again.”In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I reflect on friendship, Black Gen X road-trip memories, and why knowing the route and understanding the places along it can be two different things.What travel advice did someone give you that made sense only after you experienced the trip yourself?If this story brought back memories, share this episode with someone who remembers road trips before GPS, and follow IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves for more stories and reflections.For more of my perspective on navigating the road as a Black Gen Xer, explore Traveling While Black Gen X through my store at AnthonyReeves.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

I thought I knew what mattered in a job: a salary, benefits, and an opportunity to grow. Then my first professional job taught me something I hadn’t considered—I needed variety to stay energized.I thought I knew what mattered in a job: a salary, benefits, and an opportunity to grow. Then my first professional job taught me something I hadn’t considered—I needed variety to stay energized.In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I reflect on how trips to field offices and workplaces across Florida helped me discover the importance of breaking up my routine. Meeting different people, seeing new environments, and getting out of the office changed how I understood what I needed from my work.Sometimes, you don’t discover what matters to you until you experience it. This is a personal reflection on career satisfaction, self-discovery, and paying attention to the parts of your job that make you feel engaged.Call to ActionWhat did a job teach you about yourself that a paycheck couldn’t? Share your experience, send this episode to someone considering their next career move, and explore more of my podcasts, reflections, and books at AnthonyReeves.com⁠.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.