During Black History Month, we pause to remember a towering icon of civil rights.

In this special episode of The Interludes Podcast, Val “The Voice” Johnson reflects on the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson—from his early work alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to founding Operation PUSH in Chicago to his historic presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.

But this episode is more than history.

It’s personal.

Val shares childhood memories of hearing “I Am Somebody” echo through her living room, recounts meeting Reverend Jackson through her uncle and later through her cousin Kendall Nesbitt, and unpacks how Jackson’s presidential runs reshaped the Democratic Party’s delegate system—creating a structural pathway that made Barack Obama’s 2008 victory possible.

This is a reflection on legacy, leadership, and the power of using your voice.

Because before Obama, there was Jesse.

And because of Jesse, generations were reminded:

We are somebody.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.

📝 Show Notes

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Reverend Jesse Jackson’s passing during Black History Month
• His birth in Greenville, South Carolina (1941) and move to Chicago in 1964
• Work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Founding Operation PUSH in 1971
• Cultural impact—Sesame Street (1972) and Save the Children (1973)
• The 1984 presidential campaign and the formation of the Democratic Leadership Council
• The 1988 campaign and the shift from winner-take-all to proportional delegate allocation
• Why that rule change mattered in Barack Obama’s 2008 nomination
• “Run, Black America, Run” and political coattails across the South
• Personal reflections and two encounters with Reverend Jackson
• The generational bridge between Dr. King and President Obama

Special Mention:

Kendall Nesbitt—musician and producer for The Interludes Podcast—created a tribute reel honoring Reverend Jackson, reminding us how music and leadership intersect.

Resources Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠The Morning Meetup ⁠⁠⁠is a global community for entrepreneurs and creatives founded by David Shands. Membership is $19/month and offers community, accountability, and business conversations for creators building with intention.

🔔 Subscribe to The Interludes on LinkedIn

⁠⁠⁠The Interludes Newsletter by Pure Lighthouse Media⁠⁠⁠

Get behind-the-scenes access to Interludes Extra and The Pull Up Podcast Show, plus reflections on culture, creativity, and podcasting—from the mic to the mindset.

💜 ⁠⁠⁠Join the Interludes Community on Patreon (Free)⁠⁠⁠

Join the Interludes Patreon for free and get even more behind-the-scenes moments, podcasting insights, and community updates as the shows continue to grow.

ABOUT VAL THE VOICE JOHNSON: "A DJ Saved My Life" is the book by Val "The Voice" Johnson. The debut book features a heartfelt tribute to the healing power of music and the therapeutic potential of podcasting, all with the ABCs of podcasting rolled into one.

⁠⁠⁠Get your print or digital copy today!⁠⁠⁠

In this powerful Black History Month conversation, Val “The Voice” Johnson sits down with creative entrepreneur and former hip-hop artist Adolphus “Danja Mowf” Maples for a reflective dialogue on evolution, ownership, and legacy.

Once recognized nationally in hip-hop as “Danja Mowf,” Adolphus shares how his journey shifted from music industry momentum to building purpose-driven businesses rooted in storytelling and live experiences. As the founder of Maples Media Group and co-owner of premium event brands, he now channels creativity into impact, family, and long-term vision.

At the heart of this episode is a deeply personal discussion about his visual project, “Grandaddy’s Lynching Story: Experiments, Memory, Process, Reimagining.” Through archival voice recordings, photography, and the cultural weight of Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Adolphus explores how modern tools can preserve generational truth without erasing its humanity.

This episode explores the rhythm of DJ culture, the responsibility of storytelling, and what it means to build a legacy that your children can inherit with pride.

🎙️ Music. Memory. Meaning.

🔑 Episode Highlights

• From Industry Artist to Owner: What Adolphus learned from his early hip-hop career and how it shaped his transition into entrepreneurship and legacy-building.

• Honoring History Through Creativity: The intentional process behind “Grandaddy’s Lynching Story” and how modern media can amplify ancestral truth without diluting it.

• The Power of Music Beyond the Stage: How DJ culture connects celebration, healing, marriage, and community—and the universal songs that move every room.

Resources Mentioned:

⁠⁠The Morning Meetup ⁠⁠is a global community for entrepreneurs and creatives founded by David Shands. Membership is $19/month and offers community, accountability, and business conversations for creators building with intention.

🔔 Subscribe to The Interludes on LinkedIn

⁠⁠The Interludes Newsletter by Pure Lighthouse Media⁠⁠

Get behind-the-scenes access to Interludes Extra and The Pull Up Podcast Show, plus reflections on culture, creativity, and podcasting—from the mic to the mindset.

💜 ⁠⁠Join the Interludes Community on Patreon (Free)⁠⁠

Join the Interludes Patreon for free and get even more behind-the-scenes moments, podcasting insights, and community updates as the shows continue to grow.

ABOUT VAL THE VOICE JOHNSON: "A DJ Saved My Life" is the book by Val "The Voice" Johnson. The debut book features a heartfelt tribute to the healing power of music and the therapeutic potential of podcasting, all with the ABCs of podcasting rolled into one.

⁠⁠Get your print or digital copy today!⁠⁠

Snowed in and staying warm in Chicago, Val The Voice Johnson invites listeners into a reflective winter episode of The Interludes Podcast centered on music, memory, and creativity.

Recorded during a January snowstorm, this solo episode opens with real-time weather reflections and a heartfelt request for prayers for co-host Coach Tony, who experienced a multi-day power outage in Nashville. From there, Val poses the core question of the episode: What music do you listen to when you’re snowed in?

Val shares her own winter soundtrack—rooted in neo-soul, jazz, and 80s/90s throwbacks—shaped by her Chicago upbringing, her father’s jazz records, and legendary artists like Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane.

The conversation also looks forward, as Val discusses experimenting with AI-powered music tools, including using Suno-generated tracks for podcast background music and exploring collaborations with relaxing, faceless YouTube music channels like SoFi Room.

This episode blends nostalgia, innovation, and community—inviting listeners to reflect, relax, and engage with the sounds that carry them through the winter season.

📌 Show Notes

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Chicago winter reflections and “snowed in” energy

• A prayer request and community update for Coach Tony

• Neo-soul, jazz, and throwback music for winter listening

• Chicago radio influence and jazz legends that shaped Val’s taste

• How AI tools like Suno are being used in podcast production

• A call for listener participation and upcoming music polls

Listener Questions:

• What music do you play when you’re snowed in?

• What’s your favorite genre of music right now?

Coming Up:

• Listener poll results

• Shout-outs to independent artists and listeners

• Continued exploration of AI, music, and podcast creativity

• Resources Mentioned:

  ⁠The Morning Meetup ⁠is a global community for entrepreneurs and creatives founded by David Shands.Membership is $19/month and offers community, accountability, and business conversations for creators building with intention.

  
  

  🔔 Subscribe to The Interludes on LinkedIn

  ⁠The Interludes Newsletter by Pure Lighthouse Media⁠

  Get behind-the-scenes access to Interludes Extra and The Pull Up Podcast Show, plus reflections on culture, creativity, and podcasting—from the mic to the mindset.

  💜 ⁠Join the Interludes Community on Patreon (Free)⁠

  Join the Interludes Patreon for free and get even more behind-the-scenes moments, podcasting insights, and community updates as the shows continue to grow.

• 🎙️ ⁠Kickstart Your Podcast for 2026: AI Style⁠🗓️ Saturday, January 31st⏰ 10:00 AM Eastern / 9:00 AM Central

  This live webinar is for anyone ready to stop waiting and start—or restart—their podcast with clarity, confidence, and intention. Also, we will show AI tools for podcasting.

  • What have you been sitting on longer than you want to admit?

  • Is your pause about fear—or capacity?

  • What would starting again look like if you gave yourself grace?

  ABOUT VAL THE VOICE JOHNSON: "A DJ Saved My Life" is the book by Val "The Voice" Johnson. The debut book features a heartfelt tribute to the healing power of music and the therapeutic potential of podcasting, all with the ABCs of podcasting rolled into one.

  ⁠Get your print or digital copy today!⁠