As we close out the year and step into a season of reflection and renewal, I am joined by Florida Senator Shevrin Jones for a heartfelt conversation on resilience, empathy, and public service. In this candid episode, Senator Jones shares how he has learned to see obstacles as opportunities, the importance of meeting people where they are, and the bipartisan wins that put families first. We talk about his work to bring millions in infrastructure dollars to his district, his fight for foster care reform, and his ongoing push for solutions to Florida’s property insurance crisis. Beyond policy, Senator Jones opens up about personal growth, his upcoming memoir And Then the Son Came Out, and the life lessons shaped by both triumph and loss. From stories of helping an 81-year-old woman find safe housing to navigating grief while in public life, his insights are a timely reminder that leadership is most powerful when rooted in grace, grit, and the greater good.

As our Magic City prepares to welcome the world for Miami Art Week, I welcome my friend Cathy Leff, Executive Director of the Bakehouse Art Complex, to this November episode. We explore how this historic bakery-turned-arts hub is becoming a national model for affordable artist housing, public greenspaces, and community-rooted creativity. Cathy shares the vision behind Bakehouse’s evolution, the $2 million restoration project she helped bring to life, and how public-private partnerships are keeping Miami’s creative spirit alive and accessible. This conversation is a joyful, thought-provoking reminder that the most meaningful cultural movements often begin right in our own neighborhoods.

As the Children’s Village begins its first month of programming, I continue the conversation on safe spaces for youth with my longtime friend, Thema Campbell, founder and CEO of Girl Power Rocks. For more than two decades, Thema has worked to mentor and uplift “at-promise” girls, equipping them with the skills, support, and confidence to thrive. In this episode, Thema reflects on her upbringing in Mama Hattie’s house in Georgia, where every child had a place of belonging, and how that shaped her vision for Girl Power Rocks. We explore the organization’s journey from humble beginnings to a citywide network of after-school programs, mentoring circles, and now the ambitious Mama Hattie’s House project—a future home for girls aging out of foster care. Recorded right as the Children’s Village opened its doors, this conversation highlights how organizations like Lotus House and Girl Power are working in tandem to ensure Miami’s children not only survive but soar. Thema’s story is a moving reminder that when girls are lifted up, entire communities rise with them.