Real Talk With Henry Sanders

In this special episode, Henry joins Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes, Verona Schools Security Director Corey Saffold, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee executive director Pardeep Kaleka, and Madison School Board member Ali Muldrow for a deep, authentic and insightful conversation about one of the most pressing issues of our time.

It's a Throwback Thursday as we revisit the Real Talk panel from Wisconsin Leadership Summit 2020. Laura Laitenen Warren of the Oneida Nation, State Rep. Francesca Hong, YWCA Madison CEO Vanessa McDowell and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County CEO Sandy Morales join Henry to dig into issues and challenges and opportunities and joys facing the various communities of color in Wisconsin.

Alliant Energy Director of Stakeholder Engagement Griselda Aldrete was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Mexico. She joins the show today with the story of her journey from there to the nonprofit world, to policing and politics, along with the importance of personal authenticity.

Former Wisconsin Badger linebacker and current Park Bank vice president Jeff Mack joins the show today to talk about the importance of Black teachers, pivoting his personal brand, leveraging failures as learning experiences and much more (including some investment advice!).

From Iran to Spain to Belgium to California to Wisconsin, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff has been on quite a journey. In today's Real Talk, she recounts fleeing from war-torn Tehran to Spain, raising her younger brother as a college student in in Belgium, attending graduate school in California and ultimately landing in Madison, where she ran for Common Council and worked her way up at UW Health from translator to VP and Chief Diversity Officer. It's a frank and revealing conversation.

Everett Mitchell is a "Renaissance Black Man" -- a pastor, attorney, judge and community activist. Today's Real Talk about his background is as real as it gets -- and might be triggering for some listeners, so discretion is advised. After a childhood laced with trauma, he made it to college despite being functionally illiterate. A few years later, with the help of some people who saw his potential, he was graduating from Morehouse College and going on to the University of Wisconsin Law School.  Now the chief judge in the juvenile division of the Dane County Circuit Court and pastor at Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church, Everett opens up about an incredible journey in today's Real Talk with Henry Sanders.

Milwaukee Municipal Judge Derek Mosley's first glimpse of a Black lawyer was the one played by Blair Underwood on LA Law. He joins the show today to talk about that inspiration and the rest of his origin story: growing up as a latchkey kid in Chicago, stints with the FBI and JAG, working as a Black prosecutor and the role of respect in the justice system. 

Last week we hosted our first ever Men's Leadership Summit. More than 40 men of color from across Wisconsin, and across the United States, shared their wisdom, experience and expertise in 11 panel discussions on everything from building wealth to fatherhood to nonprofit leadership. Instead of a regular episode of Real Talk this week, here's a taste of that summit, a raw and authentic conversation on masculinity that definitely lives up to the title, Real Talk. Moderated by Shannon Reed of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha, you'll hear from Heal the Hood founder Ajamou Butler, Madison College associate dean Ramón Ortíz and Madison Metro School District head of secondary education Mike Hernandez. We will have video of all 11 panels available on our YouTube page very soon. Until then, enjoy this conversation.

Dr. Shelton Goode has written three books and consulted on diversity, equity and inclusion for some of the country's biggest brands. On the show today, he talks about the four skills he learned in the Air Force that allowed him to make the jump into corporate America, working with Shaq to repair Papa John's image, the value of simplicity and much more. 

"Fail fast and fall forward," says Milwaukee entrepreneur Genyne Edwards. She joins the show today to talk about how faith has shaped her journey, marriage and changing gender roles, the top five MCs of all time and much more. Today's episode is sponsored by Park Bank.

Henry's taking a rare vacation, so we thought we'd introduce you to another podcast, Black Oxygen, hosted by the brilliant Angela Russell. On this episode, Henry's the guest, and he opens up about his journey in navigating the white system, how his faith and family are his refuge, and his vision of helping Black folks shine in Wisconsin. Subscribe to Black Oxygen here: https://blackoxygen.libsyn.com/  

Today's podcast is a deep one. This season on Real Talk with Henry Sanders, we're looking at the origin stories of our local heroes & leaders. Today, Rev. Dr. Alexander Gee joins the show today with the story of his journey to the church on the hill. Learn about the vision that came in a dream, how he built a nonprofit, how he decided to try to teach white people (against the wishes of some white leaders), the importance of Black resilience and so much more.    

Rev. Dr. Marcus Allen, pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and president of the African American Council of Churches, joins the show today to talk about his origin story growing up in Milwaukee, joining the Army 12 days before 9/11, and his singular focus on pleasing God. Today's episode is brought to you by Park Bank.

Annette Miller was born in Germany, raised in Minnesota, graduated from UW-Madison, and worked for more than 25 years before striking out on her own to start EQT By Design, a diversity & inclusion consulting firm. And she faced and overcame fears and doubts every step of the way. Today's episode is sponsored by Park Bank.

Jason Fields became one of the state's only Black leaders in economic development when he took the helm at Madison Regional Economic Partnership (MadREP). On this week's Real Talk, Jason talks about how he got into the financial business, why he jumped into politics, why Milwaukee's never had a Black mayor, his battle with depression, and the "mental, spiritual slavery" of worrying about other people's perception. Real Talk with Henry Sanders is sponsored by Park Bank.

Becoming the first Black lieutenant governor -- and only the second Black person elected to statewide office ever -- doesn't just happen. Mandela Barnes grew up in a union household in Milwaukee, started college at 16 and ran for freshman class president. It didn't go well. Today he joins Henry Sanders to talk about that learning experience, other bumps in the road, how Act 10 prompted his first run for the legislature, and much more.

Real Talk returns! In this Season 3 premiere, Boys and Girls Club of Dane County CEO Michael Johnson talks fundraising in a pandemic, willingness to take backlash, and the backstory you probably don't know.

In a special promotional episode sponsored by Wisconsin Badgers, R&B legend Eric Benét joins Henry to talk about is Milwaukee roots, how COVID is sparking creativity, why it's important to vote and why you should tune in to the Red Live Social featuring him, Marcia Ambrosius and Shawn Stockman on Saturday night.

On November 3, Madison voters will be asked whether to spend an extra $350 million on schools -- $317 million on improvements to the high schools and $33 million on operating expenses. Yes2Invest Committee co-chairs Sandy Morales and Sheri Carter join Real Talk today to make their pitch for a "yes" vote, even as some community leaders oppose giving more money to a district still plagued by racial disparities. Today's episode is sponsored by Park Bank with additional support from the Facebook Journalism Project.  

How will the Democratic Party and the Biden campaign make Wisconsin a priority? How will the party address the Black Lives Matter movement without neglecting other communities of color? And can Milwaukee get another shot at hosting the Democratic National Convention in 2024? DNC Chair Tom Peréz joins Henry to answer those questions and more in a special episode of Real Talk, sponsored by Park Bank with additional support from the Facebook Journalism Project.