Best Levar brown Podcasts (2026)

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E36: Moses & Mamdani 1:06:10

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22d ago1:06:10

1:06:10

A lot has been said about the potential impact Zohran Mamdani’s soon-to-be mayoralty will have on New York City’s wealthy. But what about his effect on New York City generally? It’s a big place with millions connected - and affected - by the ribbons of highways built by Robert Moses four generations ago. As those highways reach the ends of their li…

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E35: Motherland 58:31

1M ago58:31

58:31

How do you reverse 400 years of economic disconnection? That’s the question Paul Laka’s work at Fuest Construction Brokers aims to address as he builds new collaborations between Africans in and from the diaspora with local communities, specifically in Cameroon. Paul describes his efforts as a shift in the flow of capital away from charity and towa…

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E34: Uncle LeVar 1:02:55

2M ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Today's episode is brought to you by the number 3, and by the letter X. If that sounds vaguely familiar to you, you probably grew up watching Sesame Street. In this episode, three Gen Xers cover a broad range of topics, from Larry Bird to LeVar Burton, and yes, Sesame Street, as well as how those collectively influenced Gen X to think about what co…

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E33: Decolonialize Your Mind 1:02:30

2M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

Joris Lechêne took us on an extraordinary journey of the mind and around the world! Although the conversation began modestly by talking about walls and healthy environments, it quickly expanded to encompass coloniality, decoloniality, and our current state of global Empire. However, Joris also suggested a way out of our current system, and named a …

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E32: What About Us? 50:49

3M ago50:49

50:49

Scientific research. Public education. Public health. Civil rights protections. Voting rights protections? The list of milestones by which American society once measured democratic progress is steadily being eroded. As some reap the benefits of this changing social and political landscape, many others are asking what about us? Wilnelia Rivera share…

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E31: The Cookout 36:47

5M ago36:47

36:47

It's midsummer. You're going to a cookout. Who're you inviting? It's a simple question, but that decision could make or break your party. We used the idea of a cookout as a metaphor for a tight-knit gathering of community with whom we'd like to share stories, ideas, and dreams. Cousin Malia Lazu joins us again to expand the conversation by discussi…

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E30: Barcelona 55:05

6M ago55:05

55:05

Transformational experiences happen when you least expect them. Melony and Derek spent a week together visiting Barcelona, Spain. Later, after returning to Boston, Melony proclaimed that she had “been living a lie.” Gradually and quietly, previous conversations with Margo Gabriel, Karleen Porcena, sister sadada, Malia Lazu, and Adam Susaneck had co…

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E29: Uniting Black Joy with Activisim 55:39

7M ago55:39

55:39

Dance and joy take center stage today. There's a movement afoot in Black America in which dance is emerging as a revolutionary act - a subversive expression of joy and cultural memory. Melony and Derek begin by sharing personal reflections on the movement's roots to moments of community and survival. Returning guest, Malia Lazu, then expands the co…

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E28: Betrayed by the Beltways 52:19

7M ago52:19

52:19

Architect and urban planner Adam Paul Susaneck returns to continue the conversation about the hardened lines that divided Americans spatially and racially in the 20th century, and grassroot efforts to undo and repair the damage in the 21st century. From the grandparents of Pope Leo XIV to the urban cores of Rochester, NY and Boston, MA, Melony, Der…

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E27: Segregation by Design 56:00

8M ago56:00

56:00

Architect and urban planner Adam Susaneck joins Melony and Derek for a vivid examination of the profound impact urban planning has had on Black communities in the United States, from Jim Crow to the New Deal and into modern times. Using the histories of Miami and Los Angeles as the primary examples, they explore how informal practices to divide cit…

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E26: Liberation Is All or Nothing 1:07:03

10M ago1:07:03

1:07:03

This is an invitation to reimagine your relationship with agency, community, and the very systems that shape our lives. In this conversation, we uncover the nuanced differences between freedom and liberation, and free fall into the chasm between asserting control and letting go. Guest sister sadada, an embodied liberation teacher, enriches the disc…

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E25: Collective Action, from Whoville to Uhura 39:32

10M ago39:32

39:32

We're back in Boston with an urgent broadcast. Thinking broadly about Black wealth, power and land, we take a moment to explore how ordinary citizens can respond to the political changes and growing repression sweeping the country. With dramatic shifts occurring at both a federal and community level, Melony and Derek discuss the growing necessity f…

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E24: A Black Middle Class Reckoning 53:29

12M ago53:29

53:29

For our first episode in 2025, we're welcoming the new year contemplating questions about societal evolution, collective responsibility, and the possibility of genuine transformation of the Black middle class centered around the power of mutual support. Our discussion with guest Malia Lazu takes into consideration what a liberatory future might req…

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E23: Results 2024 - What's the Vision? 1:07:02

1y ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Malia Lazu, a powerhouse in diversity and inclusion strategy, joins us for our first conversation after the 2024 U.S. presidential election. We chat about the importance of rest, the power of community, and what it means to truly love Black people—and ourselves—ferociously. In a world that feels uncertain, politically, socially, and environmentally…

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E22: Land and Water 50:15

1y ago50:15

50:15

Melony and Derek get realer about the upcoming election and the pressing issues that are shaping it. The duo explore evolving sources of power, both political and natural. As climate change accelerates, they question the value of land and mobility, and how these elements shape Black freedom. It's a complex web of questions about capital, community,…

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E21: Countdown to Election 2024 35:48

1y ago35:48

35:48

The Blacklining Forum is back with an October surprise. Melony and Derek delve into the 2024 U.S. presidential election (only 28 days away at the time of the recording) and its potential intersections on Black wealth, power, and land. They discuss the complexities of the political landscape, the tight race, and the potential implications for Black …

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E20: Hip Hop & Gen X 1:06:20

1+ y ago1:06:20

1:06:20

Holla at us, Gen X! This episode is about you. Independent journalist and content creator, Gregory Ball, brings his wealth of knowledge and shares insights on the cultural and economic impact of hip hop and it's influence on Gen X, both of which are now in their 50s. Greg's conversation with Melony and Derek touches on the roots of hip hop as a for…

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E19: Opening the Archives 53:05

1+ y ago53:05

53:05

There's power inherent in crafting communities in your own likeness. In this episode, we begin by briefly comparing images and stories from the concurrent narratives of the Harlem Renaissance and the Great Migration. From there, our guest, Jay Cephas, an historian of architecture, landscapes, and cities, shares his insights and research on the over…

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E18: Comparing Wills and Trusts 37:57

1+ y ago37:57

37:57

Guest Kerry Reilly returns for a sobering-yet-important episode that takes a deeper dive into wills, trusts, and the importance of estate planning. The conversation addresses the worrying fact that a vast majority of Black Americans lack a legally-framed will, and how this oversight could prevent their participation in the largest wealth transfer i…

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E17: Dynastic Black Wealth 43:10

1+ y ago43:10

43:10

What's the difference between generational wealth and dynastic wealth? Dr. LaTanya White, a scholar-practitioner who specializes in the intersections of global competitiveness, equity, entrepreneurship, and the racial wealth gap, joins us to introduce the concept of dynastic wealth, breaking down its five key forms — financial, spiritual, intellect…

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E16: Blaxit 52:08

1+ y ago52:08

52:08

Who's an expat? Who's an immigrant? How does being a Black person from the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada complicate the idea of those identities when personal and societal experiences, perceptions, and feelings are factored in? Derek and Melony discuss the historical impacts and societal implications of these notions with guests Margo Ga…

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E15: Ambition 1:02:37

1+ y ago1:02:37

1:02:37

Melinda Jordan, a leading real estate advisor based in Chicago, returns to the show to take us on her personal roller coaster. From leaving a six-figure corporate job to losing everything and then rebuilding to establish a successful career, Melinda's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Her resourcefulness in the fa…

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E14: Long Term, Big Picture 1:02:50

1+ y ago1:02:50

1:02:50

Melony and Derek exchange insights with Courtney Brunson, a champion for economic and racial justice, and Director of the Greater Boston Partnership to Close the Racial Wealth Gap at the Boston Foundation. We begin with considerations of wealth-building strategies for Black communities, housing access complexities, and the role of fair housing in w…

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E13: Estate Planning for the 99% 39:08

1+ y ago39:08

39:08

Today Melony and Derek delve into the crucial, yet often misunderstood, topic of estate planning. We consider its vital role in ensuring future financial security, protecting asset privacy, and transferring wealth in accordance with your wishes. Guest Kerry Reilly, Estate Planner to the 99%, unpacks the common misconception that estate planning is …

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E12: Community Building For Us, By Us 43:37

2y ago43:37

43:37

Glynn Lloyd has been a pioneer in the field of transformative urban economic development for over 25 years. He is the founder of City Fresh Foods, a nationally-renowned food service business, and over 20 years grew it on average 15% annually to an 8-figure revenue. He is also a founder of the Urban Farming institute (UFI), a community-led nonprofit…

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E11: Collective Equity 43:22

2y ago43:22

43:22

In this episode, we delve into the world of collective equity with Jock Payton, founder and CEO of Nubian Square Investment Advisors. With his wealth of experience, Jock paints a vivid picture of the varying definitions and applications of equity, and its capacity to foster social justice and financial well-being. He sheds light on how individual i…

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E10: A New Narrative 29:30

2y ago29:30

29:30

With this being the tenth episode, we took a step back to think about where we began when we laid the groundwork for the podcast and how conversations with our guests informed, challenged, and evolved our thinking. Today's discussion highlights three forms of power that have been defined along the way, and grasps at one that continues to elude iden…

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E9: Rooting in the Community 50:26

2y ago50:26

50:26

Moving into a new home and/or starting a new business are both major life achievements. The magnitude of each of those takes on even greater significance when also trying to become established in a new community. Nyacko Pearl Perry, new homeowner and co-owner of Comfort Kitchen, shares stories and advice from the early days of getting established i…

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E8: (Re)Building from the Ground Up 52:55

2y ago52:55

52:55

What is home? How do you decide where to make your home? Should you move to build collective political power? These were some of the questions we explored as we referenced a New York Times op-ed piece by Charles Blow that encouraged Black Americans to move to the South. As we discussed the opportunities, we also challenged our assumptions - and his…

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E7: Reparations vs Recovery 43:15

2y ago43:15

43:15

Kris Manjapra, PhD, author of Black Ghost of Empire, joins us to discuss reparations and expand the idea of what that could look like. In doing so, we touch upon the Benin Bronzes, question what wealth is, examine the legitimacy of ownership, and approach the edge of Afrofuturism.

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E6: The Ripples of Redlining 1:00:11

2y ago1:00:11

1:00:11

Attention, please, class is in session! After reading his article "Redlining: The Silent Segregator," we invited Dr. Jae to join us to discuss redlining. During the discussion, he revealed the U.S. president who created the conditions for hip hop, described his own experience with real estate appraisers, and then turned the tables on us by asking s…

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E5: How to Build and Use Wealth to Make It Rain 33:53

2y ago33:53

33:53

Financial planner Marguerita (Rita) Cheng helps us rethink who the traditional financial planning client is and why starting financial planning at any age is important. Our conversation also includes changing one's mindset around finances and letting go of shame and stigma.

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E4: Preparation & Pitfalls in Becoming a Real Estate Investor 36:48

2y ago36:48

36:48

Thinking about becoming a real estate investor? Need some inspiration or practical guidelines to help you get started? Wendy Desabaye shares tips and stories from her 20+ years of investing experience. Melony and Derek also discuss practical steps first-time investors should consider as they enter the market, as well as the historic and systemic ch…

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E3: Investing in Multiple Markets 36:48

2+ y ago36:48

36:48

In this wide-ranging conversation, real estate agent and investor Melinda Jordan discusses real estate's intersection with America's legacy of slavery, the emergence of the metaverse, and so much more. She includes her thoughts on why Chicago is a great place to invest and shares her childhood memories from Mississippi.…

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E2: Building Power through Real Estate 49:06

2+ y ago49:06

49:06

Sheena Collier, Founder & CEO of The Collier Connection (TCC) and Boston While Black (BWB), joins us for a candid conversation on why owning real estate matters. She shares personal stories about how her family’s experiences impacted her real estate choices and why she believes owning real estate is a hedge against displacement.…