Pen Densham's love of making images started with his father, a cameraman who made short films for British theaters. At four, Pen rode a live alligator in one of them. In this episode, Justin and Pen go back to where it started. He left school at 15 and started selling his photographs, including shots of the Rolling Stones for the BBC. At 19 he moved to Canada, where his films went on to win more than 60 international awards and two Oscar nominations. Norman Jewison was so impressed by Pen's first drama as a solo writer/director that he mentored him into Hollywood.

Pen talks about the parents who shaped him and the moral code that has guided his work. He also explains why he wrote Azeem, a Black Moorish warrior played by Morgan Freeman, into Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. That choice changed who gets to be a hero in one of the oldest legends in the Western world. From there the conversation moves to myth and legend, why we keep retelling these stories, and who gets to tell them.

They close on Pen's new chapter. After a celebrated film career, he has turned to experimental fine art photography that captures the emotional essence of nature rather than the landscape itself. His book Qualia collects his most striking images, from swirling koi ponds to kaleidoscopic "Organic Mandalas," capturing feelings that words can't describe. businessnewsthisweekbusinessnewsthisweek

It's a conversation about legacy, courage, and creative freedom with a filmmaker who has spent his life riding the alligator.

Before the culture had a mainstream stage, one man in Queens pointed a camera at the streets and hit record. This week on The Trend with Justin A. Williams, I sit down with the legendary Ralph "Uncle Ralph" McDaniels — DJ, VJ, director, archivist, and the co-creator of Video Music Box, the first television show in the world built for hip-hop, and still the longest-running music video program ever made.

Since 1983, Ralph has been the eye behind the culture. He put Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie, and LL Cool J on screen before the world knew their names, directed over 400 music videos, co-produced films like Juice, and quietly built an archive of more than 20,000 hours of footage that amounts to a living record of hip-hop history. He even coined the on-air shout-out. If you grew up on New York rap, you grew up on Ralph — whether you knew it or not.

We get into the origin of Video Music Box, what it took to document a movement in real time, the ascent of AI usage and why Ralph believes the pioneers themselves need to be the ones teaching the culture. This is a conversation about vision, preservation, and building something that outlasts you.

Tap in. You're watching the blueprint.#Trend with us

Some voices don't just perform — they minister. On this episode of The Trend with Justin A. Williams, Justin welcomes Khristian Dentley, the baritone of Take 6, the most awarded a cappella group in history and a defining voice in modern gospel. Khristian traces his journey from singing in church as a boy to joining a group whose harmonies have shaped generations, reflecting on where his gift began and what has kept it alive. But this conversation reaches beyond biography. Khristian and Justin dig into music as something deeper than entertainment — a force meant to be felt, to teach, and to endure. They talk about how song can hold us through our deepest pains and still point us toward hope, healing, and good. Whether you come for the gospel legacy or the philosophy of sound, this is an episode about why music matters, and why it lasts.

In this special episode, I sit down with Kori and Marcia Withers — the daughter and wife of the legendary Bill Withers — for an intimate conversation about family, music, and the stories that endure. We dive into their beautiful new book, Grandma's Hands, inspired by one of Bill's most beloved songs, and explore how it carries his spirit forward for a whole new generation of readers.

Along the way, Kori and Marcia share reflections on Bill's remarkable career — from his late start in music to becoming one of the most soulful and authentic voices in American songwriting — plus a behind-the-scenes look at their own writing process and what it means to steward a legacy this profound. It's a heartfelt conversation about love, memory, and the hands that shape us.

Tune in for stories you won't hear anywhere else, straight from the Withers family.

This week: Sharmeika Davis-Boyd – The powerhouse children’s book author, entrepreneur, and New York nonprofit leader who’s rewriting how we connect generations.

From founding Qiky Kidz to penning heartfelt stories like Grandma Has a Mouse In Her House! and Grandma and Sue Have Nothing to Do..., Sharmeika is on a mission to bring kids and elders together through joy, storytelling, and real connection.

In this episode, she brings her signature humor, wisdom, and big-hearted energy as she shares why interacting with the older generation isn’t optional — it’s essential as we grow up.

Funny, inspiring, and deeply meaningful — you don’t want to miss this one!

New episode drops this week — Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!

🚨 Locked In: The Ultimate 2026 NFL Mock Draft Showdown! 🚨

What happens when two football junkies go head-to-head on the biggest draft in recent memory?

I teamed up with sharp Draft Analyst Justin Zucker for a no-holds-barred mock draft session — full of bold takes, heated debates, surprise picks, and deep dives into the top prospects who could reshape NFL rosters this April.

From quarterback battles and defensive studs to late-round sleepers and massive trades, we broke it all down with real analysis, zero fluff, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether you’re a GM in the making or just love draft season chaos, this episode delivers the insights and entertainment you need.

You don’t want to miss this one — the takes are hot, the board is wild, and the conversation is pure fire.

🔥 Watch (or listen) now and tell us in the comments: Who cooked harder on their board?

Drop your own mock in the replies — let’s see if you can top us!

#NFLDraft #MockDraft #2026NFLDraft

What if the stories we tell ourselves — and the ones the world tells us — are the real hypnosis?

In this mind-expanding conversation, I sit down with certified hypnotherapist, life coach, leukemia survivor, and former EMT/firefighter Peter McLaughlin of BlueSky Hypnosis.

We dive deep into the hidden power of myth and hypnotism, Carl Jung’s archetypes, the red-pill philosophy of The Matrix, modern psyops, and how the subconscious mind shapes everything from personal healing to collective control. Peter brings his unique blend of clinical expertise, real-world experience running a security company, and spiritual insight to reveal how we can reclaim our minds and transform our lives from the inside out.

Whether you're fascinated by the psychology of influence, curious about subconscious healing, or simply ready to break free from limiting patterns, this episode will leave you seeing the world — and yourself — in a whole new light.

Tune in now and discover how ancient myths, modern media, and the power of hypnosis all connect in the ultimate game of mind and reality.

Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Oscars chaos incoming! 🎬✨ Join filmmaker Stolis Hadjicharalambous and host Justin on The Trend Podcast for the ultimate 2026 Academy Awards breakdown. We're predicting the winners, roasting the snubs, and debating the biggest surprises in Best Picture, Director, Acting categories, and more. From 'Sinners' shaking things up to PTA's potential lock—who's taking home gold? Don't miss this insider's hot takes and bold calls. Listen now and settle your Oscar bets! 🔥 #Oscars2026 #OscarPredictions #TheTrendPodcast