Oct 21, 2020
Tamara Payne is the co-author of The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X written with her father, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Les Payne. Tamara was the principle researcher for her father (while working in commercial real estate). After Les Payne’s sudden passing in 2018, Tamara made it her purpose to finish his life’s work. The Dead Are Arising has been selected as a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award and will be released on October 20th wherever books are sold.
Veniece Antoinette is a Podcaster, Content Creator, and Influencer. Veniece found herself on her first podcast, Talk Hvy, in 2014, where she joined fellow co-hosts to discuss pop culture, music, relationships, debate controversial topics, and interview entertainers. Since then, Veniece went to birth “Sip & Spill” in 2016 with her best friend. They Sip on drinks while Spilling the tea on dating and relationships. Veniece and her co-host, Amber, discuss dating from 2 single black millennial women's perspectives and interview men in the entertainment industry to get their honest (tipsy) opinions. Veniece is also known for her infamous TikTok, where she's managed to go viral several times and gained over 200K fans who love to watch her reactions and other comical content. Veniece is known for her passionate, opinionated, and comical point of views. She has been interviewed and guest starred on several shows talking abut current events, dating, hip-hop, sports, sex, and more! While obtaining her Master's in TV & Media Management, she had the opportunity to work with several podcasts production and marketing efforts. The most notable being the “Confronting: O.J. Simpson” podcast which went on to list as the No. 1 podcast for Apple Podcasts.
Suzette Simon is the founder of NYLaughs (NYL), a 501(c)3 performing arts nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of New Yorkers through laughter and deepening an appreciation of stand up comedy as a unique NY cultural asset by producing free comedy programming in public spaces. For the past 13 years, NYL has offered live comedy performances to diverse audiences in welcoming, accessible public spaces to target populations that might not otherwise have access to or experience with premier live artistic comedic entertainment. It's signature summer series, "Laughter in the Park," is the only program of its kind and NYL estimates having entertained over 25,000 New Yorkers and visitors. Each year it creates a vital space for residents to come together using comedy to explore the most critical issues of our city and times. Though, “Laughter in the Park 2020” was postponed due to Covid-19, NYL was still able to host an online, accessible show called “Laughter in Lockdown.” Connecting through comedy improves the mental and physical health of New Yorkers and acts as a community-building opportunity for those who need it most while also encouraging comedy's next generation and providing greater opportunities for comedic artists to grow their audiences and influence. Suzette also created the #STRONGBLACKBOOBS initiative as a place for others to go for breast cancer information based on her experiences, comedy, self-esteem boosters and support for communities of color. After losing her mother to breast cancer 30 years ago and then being diagnosed herself she has made it her goal to use this comedic, empowering approach on social media to raise awareness for communities of color and breast health.
Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf