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Friends Like Us


A Podcast featuring women of color with different views on hot topics. 

May 19, 2021

Autumn Rowe is a Singer/Songwriter/Producer/DJ from New York. Growing up in the South Bronx, she applied her musical talents in a range of roles, from band leader to session singer. Later, she became a sought after songwriter, working with some of the world’s biggest artists and record labels. She wrote the dance anthem behind the 2011 FIFA World Cup “Happiness” featuring Alexis Jordan, and has worked with Dua Lipa, Stargate, Jax Jones, Netsky, MK, Avicci, Zedd,Alesso, AfroJack, Deadmau5, Alex Newell, Leona Lewis, Digital Farm Animals, Boy George, Jon Bellion, The Knocks, Nick Jonas, Kali Uchis, Kacy Hill, Fifth Harmony, Rodney Jerkins, Sinead Harnett, Lindsey Stirling, Becky G, and Macy Gray, among many other artists.  She performs as the DJ act AFTR PRTY. She is currently signed to Stellar/Sony ATV as a writer and Ultra Records as an artist.  Autumn is also a celebrated vocal coach. She appeared on  season 2 of The X Factor, and as the only vocal coach on America’s Got Talent for five years, between the show’s ninth and thirteenth seasons. She has coached artists including America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal, Fifth Harmony, Bea Miller, Arin Ray, Carly Rose Sonenclar and Diamond White. Currently living in Los Angeles, Autumn continues to write and mentor both established and emerging artists. She most recently collaborated with Jon Batiste, Ava Max, Naia Izumi, Tkay Maidza, and P!nk, while continuing to work on her own projects as an artist and producer.

Calise Hawkins is a stand-up comedian and writer. She has performed her standup on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC), Russel Simmons Presents Live At The El Rey (Comedy Central), Gotham Live (Fox), Stand Up in Stilettos (TV Guide Channel), Nick Mom’s Night Out (Nickelodeon), among others. She has written for Comedy Central’s @midnight and Hood Adjacent, Adult Swim’s Soft Focus, AMC’s Unapologetic with Aisha Tyler, and MTV’s Totally Clueless, Girl Code, and Charlemagne’s Uncommon Sense. She was also a cast member of Oxygen’s Funny Girls.

Carlton Spence, Veteran Celebrity Fashion Stylist Establishes a New Brand of “Classic Avante-Garde” By Merging The Classic With The Unique To Create Eye Catching Looks That Transcend Time And Trend. Carlton Spence recently rejuvenated the image of Grammy Award nominated gospel artist Jonathan McReynolds.  “McReynolds is an amazing and inspiring artist who was more concerned about his music than his personal style”, states Spence. Once he began styling McReynolds for red carpets and award shows, he started to get more comfortable with his style and graduated from wearing jeans and sneakers on stage to a more contemporary chic look. “Carlton knows how to make you look like you belong in a room, like you belong on a stage, like you belong in the moment.  He is a five star dude”, said Grammy® Award nominee, McReynolds. That is the joy of having someone like Carlton Spence on your team, he’s a master at creating a new look for you without totally taking you out of your element. “I really pursue creative freedom”, explains Spence, on how he develops his clients’ personal style. Marking his 21st anniversary as a highly sought after fashion stylist, Spence continues to capture the attention of celebrities, executives and contemporaries with his brand of “classic avant-garde” style on stage, television and red carpets.  Whether it is in the classroom, the boardroom or the red carpet, no look he creates is ever the same. His versatility as a fashion guru is what makes him unique.

Always hosted by Marina Franklin - One Hour Comedy Special: Single Black Female ( Amazon Prime, CW Network), Hysterical at FX on Hulu,  Trainwreck, Louie Season V, The Jim Gaffigan Show, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, HBO's Crashing, and The Breaks with Michelle Wolf.