https://blacktechweek.com/ The Road to Black Tech Week Podcast is your insider guide to the energy, innovation, and excellence leading up to Black Tech Week 2025 — happening July 14–16 in Cincinnati. This limited series brings you real talk with founders, funders, tech pros, creatives, and community builders who are driving the culture forward. Every episode is packed with insights, tips, and straight-up gems to help you show up strong and win big at Black Tech Week and beyond. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs a dose of truth and inspiration. Learn more and register for Black Tech Week at blacktechweek.com The Road to Black Tech Week Podcast is your insider guide to the energy, innovation, and excellence leading up to Black Tech Week 2025 — happening July 14–16 in Cincinnati. This limited series brings you real talk with founders, funders, tech... The Road to Black Tech Week Podcast is your insider guide to the energy, innovation, and excellence leading up to Black Tech Week 2025 — happening July 14–16 in Cincinnati. This limited series brings you real talk with founders, funders, tech pros, creatives, and community builders who are driving the culture forward. Every episode is packed with insights, tips, and straight-up gems to help you show up strong and win big at Black Tech Week and beyond. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs a dose of truth and inspiration. Learn more and register for Black Tech Week at blacktechweek.com en Lightcast Feed Generator - https://www.lightcast.com SMOGO TV cmidkiff@smogomedia.com SMOGO TV Copyright 2025-2026 SMOGO TV false episodic Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:21:49 -0400 Sat, 14 Jun 2025 18:52:47 -0400 https://st1-fs.cdn01.net/channels/0000034/0034097/itunes/0034097itunesb.jpg?v2 https://blacktechweek.com/ In this inspiring and wide-ranging fireside chat, Aisha Bowe shares her journey from struggling student to rocket scientist, tech entrepreneur, and astronaut. Her story challenges traditional notions of success, celebrates authentic leadership, and offers a blueprint for building companies—and futures—on your own terms. Guest: Aisha Bowe – Aerospace Engineer, Entrepreneur, Astronaut Host: Sophia Stanley Recording:July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH Building on Your Own Terms w: Aisha Bowe SMOGO TV In this inspiring and wide-ranging fireside chat, Aisha Bowe shares her journey from struggling student to rocket scientist, tech entrepreneur, and astronaut. Her story challenges traditional notions of success, celebrates authentic leadership, and... In this inspiring and wide-ranging fireside chat, Aisha Bowe shares her journey from struggling student to rocket scientist, tech entrepreneur, and astronaut. Her story challenges traditional notions of success, celebrates authentic leadership, and offers a blueprint for building companies—and futures—on your own terms. Guest: Aisha Bowe – Aerospace Engineer, Entrepreneur, Astronaut Host: Sophia Stanley Recording:July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH In this inspiring and wide-ranging fireside chat, Aisha Bowe shares her journey from struggling student to rocket scientist, tech entrepreneur, and astronaut. Her story challenges traditional notions of success, celebrates authentic leadership, and offers a blueprint for building companies—and futures—on your own terms. Guest: Aisha Bowe – Aerospace Engineer, Entrepreneur, Astronaut Host: Sophia Stanley Recording:July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-744453 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:21:49 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 2765 full Damien Hooper-Campbell, StockX's first Chief Impact Officer, delivers a powerful conversation on building inclusive innovation cultures, navigating corporate leadership as a Black man, mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of DEI. This honest, vulnerable, and empowering conversation sheds light on what it truly takes to lead with integrity, purpose, and impact in today’s corporate landscape. Guest: Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX Host: Thornell Jones, Managing Partner at the Ovation Agency Recorded: July 19th 2023 Black Tech Week 2025, Cincinnati, OH Innovation and Culture with Damien Hooper-Campbell SMOGO TV Damien Hooper-Campbell, StockX's first Chief Impact Officer, delivers a powerful conversation on building inclusive innovation cultures, navigating corporate leadership as a Black man, mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of DEI. This... Damien Hooper-Campbell, StockX's first Chief Impact Officer, delivers a powerful conversation on building inclusive innovation cultures, navigating corporate leadership as a Black man, mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of DEI. This honest, vulnerable, and empowering conversation sheds light on what it truly takes to lead with integrity, purpose, and impact in today’s corporate landscape. Guest: Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX Host: Thornell Jones, Managing Partner at the Ovation Agency Recorded: July 19th 2023 Black Tech Week 2025, Cincinnati, OH Damien Hooper-Campbell, StockX's first Chief Impact Officer, delivers a powerful conversation on building inclusive innovation cultures, navigating corporate leadership as a Black man, mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of DEI. This honest, vulnerable, and empowering conversation sheds light on what it truly takes to lead with integrity, purpose, and impact in today’s corporate landscape. Guest: Damien Hooper-Campbell, Chief Impact Officer, StockX Host: Thornell Jones, Managing Partner at the Ovation Agency Recorded: July 19th 2023 Black Tech Week 2025, Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-744448 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:53:05 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 3165 full In this electrifying conversation, Detavio Samuels—CEO of Revolt—pulls back the curtain on building the “Black Disney,” staying mission-aligned, and leading a billion-dollar Black-owned media company against impossible odds. With humor, urgency, and truth, he discusses ownership, legacy, faith, and the challenge of raising capital while keeping Revolt 100% Black-owned. Guest: Detavio Samuels, CEO of Revolt Host: Umindi Francis, Founder of UFCG Recorded: July 18th 2023, Black Tech Week - Cincinnati, OH Changing the Narrative w/ Detavio Samuels SMOGO TV In this electrifying conversation, Detavio Samuels—CEO of Revolt—pulls back the curtain on building the “Black Disney,” staying mission-aligned, and leading a billion-dollar Black-owned media company against impossible odds. With humor,... In this electrifying conversation, Detavio Samuels—CEO of Revolt—pulls back the curtain on building the “Black Disney,” staying mission-aligned, and leading a billion-dollar Black-owned media company against impossible odds. With humor, urgency, and truth, he discusses ownership, legacy, faith, and the challenge of raising capital while keeping Revolt 100% Black-owned. Guest: Detavio Samuels, CEO of Revolt Host: Umindi Francis, Founder of UFCG Recorded: July 18th 2023, Black Tech Week - Cincinnati, OH In this electrifying conversation, Detavio Samuels—CEO of Revolt—pulls back the curtain on building the “Black Disney,” staying mission-aligned, and leading a billion-dollar Black-owned media company against impossible odds. With humor, urgency, and truth, he discusses ownership, legacy, faith, and the challenge of raising capital while keeping Revolt 100% Black-owned. Guest: Detavio Samuels, CEO of Revolt Host: Umindi Francis, Founder of UFCG Recorded: July 18th 2023, Black Tech Week - Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-744447 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:53:05 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 3083 full In this inspiring fireside chat, Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless, shares how he built one of the largest Black-owned software companies in the country—starting from his mother’s basement with $6,000 and a dream. He breaks down the power of bootstrapping, public sector innovation, and staying mission-aligned while scaling to nearly 500 employees. Guest: Delali Dzirasa, Founder & CEO, Fearless Host: Brian Brackeen, General Partner, Lightship Capital Recorded: July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH Boostrapped To a Billion Delali Dzirasa SMOGO TV In this inspiring fireside chat, Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless, shares how he built one of the largest Black-owned software companies in the country—starting from his mother’s basement with $6,000 and a dream. He breaks down the power of... In this inspiring fireside chat, Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless, shares how he built one of the largest Black-owned software companies in the country—starting from his mother’s basement with $6,000 and a dream. He breaks down the power of bootstrapping, public sector innovation, and staying mission-aligned while scaling to nearly 500 employees. Guest: Delali Dzirasa, Founder & CEO, Fearless Host: Brian Brackeen, General Partner, Lightship Capital Recorded: July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH In this inspiring fireside chat, Delali Dzirasa, CEO of Fearless, shares how he built one of the largest Black-owned software companies in the country—starting from his mother’s basement with $6,000 and a dream. He breaks down the power of bootstrapping, public sector innovation, and staying mission-aligned while scaling to nearly 500 employees. Guest: Delali Dzirasa, Founder & CEO, Fearless Host: Brian Brackeen, General Partner, Lightship Capital Recorded: July 20th 2023, Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-744446 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:53:05 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 2913 full Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, sits down for an honest and powerful conversation on authentic leadership, mental health, culture, and resilience. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal chat, he reflects on navigating identity, building intentional teams, operating in the spotlight, and how empathy fuels both his business and personal life. Guest: Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter Moderator: Candy Glenn, Senior Commercial Executive for Microsoft Education Recorded: July 17th 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH Authentic Leadership w/Everette Taylor SMOGO TV Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, sits down for an honest and powerful conversation on authentic leadership, mental health, culture, and resilience. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal chat, he reflects on navigating identity, building... Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, sits down for an honest and powerful conversation on authentic leadership, mental health, culture, and resilience. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal chat, he reflects on navigating identity, building intentional teams, operating in the spotlight, and how empathy fuels both his business and personal life. Guest: Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter Moderator: Candy Glenn, Senior Commercial Executive for Microsoft Education Recorded: July 17th 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, sits down for an honest and powerful conversation on authentic leadership, mental health, culture, and resilience. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal chat, he reflects on navigating identity, building intentional teams, operating in the spotlight, and how empathy fuels both his business and personal life. Guest: Everett Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter Moderator: Candy Glenn, Senior Commercial Executive for Microsoft Education Recorded: July 17th 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-744445 Fri, 13 Jun 2025 14:53:04 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 3076 full Issa Rae dives into entrepreneurship, authenticity, Black storytelling, and legacy. From building Hooray Media to lessons in failure, this episode is a candid and inspirational journey. Guest: Issa Rae Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen Recorded: July 20, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH Building An Empire with Issa Rae SMOGO TV Issa Rae dives into entrepreneurship, authenticity, Black storytelling, and legacy. From building Hooray Media to lessons in failure, this episode is a candid and inspirational journey. Guest: Issa Rae Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen... Issa Rae dives into entrepreneurship, authenticity, Black storytelling, and legacy. From building Hooray Media to lessons in failure, this episode is a candid and inspirational journey. Guest: Issa Rae Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen Recorded: July 20, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH Issa Rae dives into entrepreneurship, authenticity, Black storytelling, and legacy. From building Hooray Media to lessons in failure, this episode is a candid and inspirational journey. Guest: Issa Rae Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen Recorded: July 20, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-743129 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:17:40 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 2723 full 2022 Keynote Speaker Serena Williams shares how she transitioned from tennis icon to venture capitalist, raising a $111M fund to back diverse and everyday innovation through Serena Ventures. Guest: Serena Williams Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen Recorded: July 2022 Black Tech Week 2022 in Cincinnati, OH Serena Willams on Building a Venture Empire SMOGO TV 2022 Keynote Speaker Serena Williams shares how she transitioned from tennis icon to venture capitalist, raising a $111M fund to back diverse and everyday innovation through Serena Ventures. Guest: Serena Williams Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews... 2022 Keynote Speaker Serena Williams shares how she transitioned from tennis icon to venture capitalist, raising a $111M fund to back diverse and everyday innovation through Serena Ventures. Guest: Serena Williams Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen Recorded: July 2022 Black Tech Week 2022 in Cincinnati, OH 2022 Keynote Speaker Serena Williams shares how she transitioned from tennis icon to venture capitalist, raising a $111M fund to back diverse and everyday innovation through Serena Ventures. Guest: Serena Williams Host/Moderator: Candice Matthews Brackeen Recorded: July 2022 Black Tech Week 2022 in Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-743134 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:17:40 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 2751 full Felicia Hatcher breaks down the transformative power of discovering your genius. In this energetic and deeply personal conversation, she shares how she moved from burnout and self-doubt to purpose-driven leadership—empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through Black Ambition and beyond. Guest: Felicia Hatcher – CEO, Black Ambition; Co-founder, Black Tech Week Host: Vanita Cooper – CEO, Arbit Recorded: July 20th 2023 Black Tech Week 2023 – Cincinnati, OH Finding Your Genius w/Felicia Hatcher SMOGO TV Felicia Hatcher breaks down the transformative power of discovering your genius. In this energetic and deeply personal conversation, she shares how she moved from burnout and self-doubt to purpose-driven leadership—empowering underrepresented... Felicia Hatcher breaks down the transformative power of discovering your genius. In this energetic and deeply personal conversation, she shares how she moved from burnout and self-doubt to purpose-driven leadership—empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through Black Ambition and beyond. Guest: Felicia Hatcher – CEO, Black Ambition; Co-founder, Black Tech Week Host: Vanita Cooper – CEO, Arbit Recorded: July 20th 2023 Black Tech Week 2023 – Cincinnati, OH Felicia Hatcher breaks down the transformative power of discovering your genius. In this energetic and deeply personal conversation, she shares how she moved from burnout and self-doubt to purpose-driven leadership—empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through Black Ambition and beyond. Guest: Felicia Hatcher – CEO, Black Ambition; Co-founder, Black Tech Week Host: Vanita Cooper – CEO, Arbit Recorded: July 20th 2023 Black Tech Week 2023 – Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-743131 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:17:40 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 2841 full In this insightful episode, Sandy Moore shares her powerful journey and practical wisdom for first-time fund managers. From structuring investment theses to LP engagement strategies, Sandy opens up about the creation of Empower the Change—a $200M impact fund dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through intentional capital investment. This is essential listening for anyone raising capital while trying to stay mission-aligned. Guest: Sandy Moore, Chief Impact Officer and Managing Director, Advantage Capital Host: Vanessa Stevens Recorded: July 20th, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH Raising Your First Fund w/Sandy Moore SMOGO TV In this insightful episode, Sandy Moore shares her powerful journey and practical wisdom for first-time fund managers. From structuring investment theses to LP engagement strategies, Sandy opens up about the creation of Empower the Change—a $200M... In this insightful episode, Sandy Moore shares her powerful journey and practical wisdom for first-time fund managers. From structuring investment theses to LP engagement strategies, Sandy opens up about the creation of Empower the Change—a $200M impact fund dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through intentional capital investment. This is essential listening for anyone raising capital while trying to stay mission-aligned. Guest: Sandy Moore, Chief Impact Officer and Managing Director, Advantage Capital Host: Vanessa Stevens Recorded: July 20th, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH In this insightful episode, Sandy Moore shares her powerful journey and practical wisdom for first-time fund managers. From structuring investment theses to LP engagement strategies, Sandy opens up about the creation of Empower the Change—a $200M impact fund dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through intentional capital investment. This is essential listening for anyone raising capital while trying to stay mission-aligned. Guest: Sandy Moore, Chief Impact Officer and Managing Director, Advantage Capital Host: Vanessa Stevens Recorded: July 20th, 2023 Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-743133 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:17:40 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 2899 full In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Denzil Porteous, a trailblazing leader at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and entrepreneurship, opens up about identity, leadership, access to capital, and living your truth. As CEO of Pride Fund 1 and Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, he’s building ecosystems that make space for underrepresented founders—and showing up fully while doing it. Guest: Denzil Porteous – CEO of Pride Fund 1, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus Host: Margaret Ntambi Recorded: July 19th, 2023. Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH Finding Your Thesis w/Denzil Porteous SMOGO TV In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Denzil Porteous, a trailblazing leader at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and entrepreneurship, opens up about identity, leadership, access to capital, and living your truth. As CEO of Pride Fund... In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Denzil Porteous, a trailblazing leader at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and entrepreneurship, opens up about identity, leadership, access to capital, and living your truth. As CEO of Pride Fund 1 and Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, he’s building ecosystems that make space for underrepresented founders—and showing up fully while doing it. Guest: Denzil Porteous – CEO of Pride Fund 1, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus Host: Margaret Ntambi Recorded: July 19th, 2023. Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, Denzil Porteous, a trailblazing leader at the intersection of queerness, Blackness, and entrepreneurship, opens up about identity, leadership, access to capital, and living your truth. As CEO of Pride Fund 1 and Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus, he’s building ecosystems that make space for underrepresented founders—and showing up fully while doing it. Guest: Denzil Porteous – CEO of Pride Fund 1, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus Host: Margaret Ntambi Recorded: July 19th, 2023. Black Tech Week – Cincinnati, OH audio-34097-743132 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:17:40 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 3141 full In this compelling conversation, industry leaders dive into the role of storytelling in culture, media, business, and personal identity. They discuss everything from ancient narratives to the algorithms of social media, how vulnerability builds connection, and how Black voices can reclaim control of their own narratives. Host: Jefferson Noel, Barbershop Speaks Guest: Vanessa Missoon – Director of Communications, Lightship Foundation DeTavio Samuels – CEO, Revolt Josh Ott – Head of Revenue, The Shade Room Recorded: Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH July 18th, 2023 Effective Storytelling SMOGO TV In this compelling conversation, industry leaders dive into the role of storytelling in culture, media, business, and personal identity. They discuss everything from ancient narratives to the algorithms of social media, how vulnerability builds... In this compelling conversation, industry leaders dive into the role of storytelling in culture, media, business, and personal identity. They discuss everything from ancient narratives to the algorithms of social media, how vulnerability builds connection, and how Black voices can reclaim control of their own narratives. Host: Jefferson Noel, Barbershop Speaks Guest: Vanessa Missoon – Director of Communications, Lightship Foundation DeTavio Samuels – CEO, Revolt Josh Ott – Head of Revenue, The Shade Room Recorded: Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH July 18th, 2023 In this compelling conversation, industry leaders dive into the role of storytelling in culture, media, business, and personal identity. They discuss everything from ancient narratives to the algorithms of social media, how vulnerability builds connection, and how Black voices can reclaim control of their own narratives. Host: Jefferson Noel, Barbershop Speaks Guest: Vanessa Missoon – Director of Communications, Lightship Foundation DeTavio Samuels – CEO, Revolt Josh Ott – Head of Revenue, The Shade Room Recorded: Black Tech Week Cincinnati, OH July 18th, 2023 audio-34097-743130 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:17:40 -0400 Copyright 2025 SMOGO TV 3335 full