What Up Doe?! This week on the Black Fridays Podcast, we sit down with Lauren Stovall, brand strategist, creative entrepreneur, and self-described “Legacy Preserver” at Hot Sam’s Detroit — the city’s oldest men’s clothier, founded in 1921. For over a century, Hot Sam’s has been more than a store; it’s been a cultural institution where Detroiters have marked life’s biggest moments — from first suits and prom nights to weddings and beyond.

Lauren shares her journey stepping into the family business, what it means to carry forward a 104-year-old legacy, and how she’s helping the brand evolve for future generations. With a focus on blending tradition and innovation, Lauren is showing what it means to honor heritage while embracing the creativity needed to keep a business thriving in today’s market.

We’re talking:

• How Hot Sam’s became a cornerstone of Detroit style and culture
• What it means to be a “Legacy Preserver” in a family-owned business
• Balancing heritage with fresh ideas to stay relevant after 100+ years
• The role of fashion as a community connector in Detroit
• Lauren’s vision for sustaining Hot Sam’s for the next century

Tap in for a conversation about legacy, creativity, and keeping Detroit’s stories stitched into the fabric of its future.

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What Up Doe?! This week on the Black Fridays Podcast, we’re back in Detroit and sitting inside the Social Media Store, the brainchild of Robert Courtney Collins — entrepreneur, agency founder, and visionary behind Robert Courtney & Associates, CreatorCon, and now a bold new space redefining how creators and business owners access resources.

Robert breaks down the vision for the Social Media Store, why timing delays actually helped him refine the concept, and how it’s built to solve real challenges faced by entrepreneurs and creators: access, affordability, and community. We also dive into his lessons from building one of Michigan’s premier social media agencies, launching CreatorCon, and why patience, persistence, and authenticity are the keys to long-term success in the creator economy.

We’re talking:

• The Social Media Store: Why this concept could change the game for entrepreneurs and creators
• Lessons on patience, community, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for them
• The difference between a creator, a creative, and an influencer — and why it matters in 2025
• Turning passion into profit without losing joy
• The future of CreatorCon and how it’s shaping conversations around business and creativity

Tap in for an honest, forward-looking conversation with one of Detroit’s sharpest minds in social media, business, and branding.

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What Up Doe?! This week on the Black Fridays Podcast, we’re on location in Atlanta at the Fanbase headquarters, the Black-owned social media platform founded by Isaac Hayes III. I’m joined by two dynamic voices in leadership and innovation: Britt Hunter, a former Division I basketball star turned leadership coach and host of the podcast Thanks But No One Asked You, and Regnault Sanders, founder of Schoolconomy, an edtech platform gamifying education by rewarding students for academic achievement and wellness.

We’re talking:

• Britt’s journey from athletics to leadership coaching and launching a podcast built on honesty and purpose
• How Regnault is reshaping education with Schoolconomy and empowering students through tech innovation
• The power of networking, partnerships, and persistence in scaling ideas from vision to impact
• Why Atlanta is becoming a hub for Black tech founders and entrepreneurs

Tap in for a high-energy, purpose-driven conversation about building, leading, and creating platforms that speak to culture and community.

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Guest Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittbritt-hunter/

Guest Website: https://schoolconomy.com/

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What Up Doe?! This week on the Black Fridays Podcast, we sit down with Alex Ennis, MBA, Digital Media Manager for the City of Detroit’s Media Services Department. Alex is one of the creative minds helping shape the city’s digital voice through Engage Detroit, the platform responsible for telling Detroit’s story across social media, web, and broadcast. Known for adding authenticity and personality to government communications, Alex and his team are making city updates engaging, relatable, and accessible for Detroit residents.

We’re talking:

• How Alex is helping transform Detroit’s digital presence
• The strategy and creativity behind the city’s bold social media voice
• Why authenticity and cultural relevance matter in government communications
• His vision for the future of digital engagement in Detroit

Tap in for a conversation that blends media, culture, and community—and learn how Detroit is reimagining the way cities connect with their people in the digital age.

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What Up Doe?! This week on the Black Fridays Podcast, we’re bringing you another conversation recorded during Black Tech Saturdays’ Coworking Day. Our guest is Christopher Shah, founder of Onyx Tax & Financial Services in Detroit. With years of experience helping individuals and businesses navigate the complex world of taxes and financial planning, Chris is on a mission to make financial literacy and tax strategy accessible to everyone.

We’re talking:

• The most common mistakes entrepreneurs make with their finances—and how to avoid them
• Why tax planning is more than compliance, it’s a tool for building wealth
• The importance of financial literacy in Detroit’s small business community

Tap in for a practical and insightful conversation about money management, entrepreneurship, and building a financial foundation that lasts.

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What Up Doe?! We’re bringing you one of our conversations recorded live at Black Tech Saturdays’ Coworking Day. Our guest is Grace Moore, founder of Moore Grace Solutions, a purpose-driven financial empowerment firm based in Detroit. As a financial strategist, speaker, and advocate for economic resilience, Grace is on a mission to help families and communities break free from cycles of financial hardship and build lasting legacies of security and wealth.

We’re talking:

• The inspiration she drew from caring for her father, a Vietnam veteran, and the lessons it taught her about underserved communities
• Strategies for breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, rebuilding credit, and building generational wealth
• How Black Tech Saturdays and venture 313 were able to help her bring her vision to life
• Advice for women and entrepreneurs who are chasing their vision and purpose

Tap in for an inspiring conversation about faith, finance, and the power of walking in your calling to create solutions that uplift others and build legacy.

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What Up Doe?! This week on the Black Fridays Podcast, we’re joined by Detroit’s own Delo Brown—comedian, actor, and producer making waves as one of the city’s rising voices in comedy. From studying political science at Michigan State to finding her true calling on stage, Delo’s story is one of risk-taking, resilience, and refusing to wait for permission. After a bold move to Los Angeles that landed her a Revolt TV special within three months. She’s building her own stages, headlining sold-out shows, and proving that ownership in comedy matters.

We’re talking:

• How Delo discovered comedy after walking away from traditional career paths
• The lessons she learned from LA and why Detroit remains the heart of her work
• The future of Detroit’s comedy scene and Delo’s vision for it

Tap in for a candid, hilarious, and inspiring conversation with a creative who’s rewriting the rules of comedy by doing it her way.

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What Up Doe?! We wrap up our Black Business Month series at The Lip Bar Detroit with Part 3, spotlighting three trailblazing Detroit creatives and strategists:

Gail Perry-Mason – Founder of Money Matters for Youth, bestselling author, and financial literacy champion who empowers Detroit youth through summer investment camps and programs that teach economics as community power.

Erica Banks – Managing Partner of Bankable Marketing Strategies, a Detroit-based MARCOM and PR agency transforming brands with strategic storytelling and compelling visibility.

Dr. Germaine Pentsil – Founder of G. Pentsil Consulting, serving non-traditional entrepreneurs in Detroit with business consulting, HR guidance, and organizational development.

We're talking:

• Financial literacy as legacy-building – how Gail Perry-Mason teaches wealth as a tool for freedom and intergenerational empowerment.
• Marketing with purpose – Erica Banks’s approach to defining brand voices and crafting campaigns that amplify Black-owned businesses in Detroit.
• Consulting with conscience – Dr. Germaine Pentsil’s journey to guiding the “non-traditional entrepreneur” through strategy, structure, and support.
• Balancing creativity and strategy – how each woman builds and sustains her business while nurturing community and culture.

Tap in for a powerful finale to our series—packed with practical inspiration, bold leadership, and stories that prove another Detroit is possible.

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