Banquet Hall Podcast
by Kyler Nathan IV
Telling Tomorrow's Stories Today!The Banquet Hall is the podcast designed to highlight future leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and more, who are tired of looking for a seat at "the table." We invite each of our guests into the hall to share their journeys and aspirations as they grow into the fully bloomed version of themselves.
Episodes
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KiA108: Human Hibernation and Self-Preservation
Keepin' it Authentic is back! And what better episode to start with after an extended absence rather than about preserving ourselves as humans and taking our own hibernation this winter. Capitalism and the news cycle are running rampant, how do you set aside time and space for YOU to exist how…
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Zaria | It Is a Statement to Be Human
The Banquet Hall is back once again with an amazing young writer, photographer, and future Nobel Prize Winner Zaria (along with Julian behind the lens).Zaria joins us to talk about her Hair Notes - the moving story about her journey and relationship with her hair, and how she has navigated all of...
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Queen Dom | Banquet Hall Wine Club
Grab your favorite wine glass because we are pouring some homemade wine with Queen Dom! Dominique joins The Banquet Hall to discuss her journey as she is on the onset of her journey creating and perfecting her own wine. She brings us a bottle of a new cran-mango flavor and gives the audience the...
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Shana Schoone | Poetry for Healers & Real Lovers
Shana Schoone joins the podcast to talk about her unique journey in becoming an amazingly talented author, writer, and healer. She shares an in-depth look at the near-death experience that inspired her first collection of poems, A Life Lived - What Matters In Our Final Moments, followed by a…
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Domonique | The Heart of The Cards
In part two of a multi-part conversation, it's time to DUEL! Domonique and Kyler sit down for a game of Yu-Gi-Oh, a game which both love, but only one of them has found continued success within this storied rivalry. Between magic cards and trap cards, enjoy a conversation on nuance, losing, and...
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Ethan Hunt, John Wick, & What Makes a GREAT Action Movie
A 2-for-1 special, IVK Film Club is back and taking a look at 2 of the summer's first action blockbusters, From the John Wick Universe: Ballerina, and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. We get started with spoiler-free reviews of both movies before doing a deeper dive into specific plot...
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Why SINNERS (2025) Works
Film Club is back and we hope yall came ready to chat! This time around, Kyler shares some SINNERS takes from Instagram comments and hilarious phone conversations. In addition, he takes a deeper look into SINNERS and why it works, including discussions on representation, allyship, complex...
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Domonique | Unforced Alignment
In part one of a multi-part conversation, Domonique, who many know as Kovu, shares perspective on a recent life journey filled with learning, unlearning, and matcha. Part one of our conversation provides appetizers into boundaries, masculinity, community spaces, as Domonique and Kyler prepare to...
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Sinners (2025): Moments of Freedom
Somethin' I been wanting to tell you... The IVK Film Club is finally hear with the main movie everyone is talking about in 2025, SINNERS, directed and written by the great Ryan Coogler. From sexy moments, to authentically Black ones, IVK gives his perspective and analysis on a multitude of…
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Zay Monae | Freedom, Warmth, & Love: @the85mil Experience
Zay Monae is a cultural photographer who aims to highlight freedom, warmth, love, joy, and so much more as she captures moments in time that you can feel through the 85mm lens. Our conversation begins with a trip down memory lane as Zay and Kyler reminisce about going to elementary school next to…
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Jamilah | Creating to Express, Not to Impress
The Banquet Hall is blessed to be joined by another first-time podcast guest, Jamilah, who is a multihyphenated artist/creative with skills ranging from nutrition/cooking, to yoga, to poetry, and so much more. Join us for an in-depth conversation on the creative process as 2 artists discuss...
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SoulTree | BBL Journeys: Being Becoming Living
The Banquet Hall is back on Earth Day (aka Kyler's birthday) with a brand new interview with SoulTree, a multi-hyphenated artist/creative with roots in West Philadelphia and Oklahoma. Sit in on our conversation as we walkthrough SoulTree's "BBL Journey" as she navigates being, becoming, and…
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Mari | Finding Community that Feels the Same Way
BRING IN THE DANCING LOBSTERS because the Banquet Hall is back with another banger. We are joined by Mari, a current law student at Georgetown who is doing incredible work in the community toward prison abolishment. Mari & Kyler go back a decade, back to when Mari was an intern at UCSD's Women...
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Desmond | Making Your Story The Greatest Story Ever Told
A tale of OG's, Uncs, and Young brothas. The Banquet Hall is back with another one for the music lovers. We are joined by Desmond, a multi-hyphenated artist who is currently studying Music Technology at UC San Diego. Desmond updates Kyler on the state of Black culture at UCSD before they dive…
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KiA107: New Year, Authentically Us
Happy New Year! Asha and Kyler link back up for the first time since 2024 to discuss the intentions set at the beginning of the year, fashion do's and don'ts, vacations, relaxation, and much more!
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Alexandria | The Joys of Modeling and Building Villages
Happy New Year, Black History Month, and whatever else we missed! The Banquet Hall is back with a brand new episode featuring Alexandria, a proud mom, model, and much more, who is back on the podcast now that the GNX dust has settled. Alex and Kyler talk about everything from the best fried rice...
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KiA106: Keepin' the Holidays Authentic
It is holiday season at The Banquet Hall which means Asha and Kyler had to take time to have an authentic conversation about what it means to celebrate the holidays in our late 20's. We talk about holiday traditions, whether or not our kids will be introduced to Santa Clause, navigating budgeting...
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KiA105: Keepin' Up with Kendrick featuring Alex!
An album as iconic as GNX deserved more than one episode to break it down. Alex makes her first appearance on The Banquet Hall Podcast to join Asha to discuss the emotional responses to GNX and break down what it means to them as 2 Black Women from the heart of Los Angeles.
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National United Healthcare Workers | Advocating for Equity
A special edition of The Banquet Hall Podcast featuring Jessica and Monique, two Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT) joining the pod to give listeners valuable insight to the ongoing National United Healthcare Workers (NUHW) strike. They go into depth about what NUHW is, what they are...
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Monique | Watering Our Mind's Garden
Kyler is blessed to be joined by his little big sister, Monique, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (@talks.with.monique), who gifts listeners with a look back at their friendship which originates back to the yester years of the mid-2000's where they both showcased their talents at the…
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Destiny | Painting the Murals of Our Lives
Have you ever passed by a mural and wondered what its story was? Where the artist is? Or why it looked that way? Kyler sits down with Destiny, (@ifiqueart) to talk about her family's rich cultural roots, the zone she gets in before embarking on a journey to paint a mural, and much more in this...
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Derek | Around the World with Love from Oakland
Not a lot of Black Boys from Oakland get to backpack around the world, but Derek is one of them. The Banquet Hall is back with an interview from one of Oakland's finest who shares with us inspirational stories of photography, traveling to lesser known parts of the world, and paying proper homage…
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KiA104: Kendrick Kept it Authentic
Where were you when your friend from LA texted you that Kendrick dropped? Asha and Kyler have thoughts, and kept it authentic to how that album drop made us feel on this Feel Good Friday.
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Nella | Time Capsule Stories of Self-Actualization
The Banquet Hall is back with a fresh interview with Nella, another one of Kyler's high school classmates, but this interview is unique because Kyler & Nella have not seen each other, nor have had an extended conversation since high school (and even then, they didn't chat much back then). We…
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KiA103: Big Gulps, Big Transitions, & Big Commitments
Keepin' it Authentic is back! We hope you missed us! We have been busy to stay the least. New jobs, new apartments, big transitions, and we are ready to catch you up on all of it. Grab you a Big Gulp from 7-11 because we spend a surprising amount of time talking about that to start the episode!...
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Julian | Taking a 0.1% Chance
The Banquet Hall is proud to welcome to future face of astrophysics, Julian. Join us on a journey on all that this brotha has accomplished and experienced thus far in his journey, including a special TED Talk, his experiences on the mentor and mentee side of college access, his favorite celestial...
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KiA102: THE 30'S ARE COMING! (Pt. 2: Nostalgia / Damn We Old.)
Keepin' it Authentic is back with more talk about the 30's! This time around, Kyler and Asha take an extended trip down Nostalgia Ave. as they discuss the technology we grew up on, the sentimental things that we have had to learn to let go of, and the elements of their lives they are working on...
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Isiah | A Backyard Brotherhood
The Banquet Hall is in the backyard with it (along with many, many airplanes heading to LAX)! We are blessed to be joined by one of Kyler's closest friends, the artist formerly known as Izzy Bee, Isiah. Join us for a trip down memory lane as these two best friends since middle school talk through...
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KiA101: THE 30'S ARE COMING! (pt. 1)
Now formally introducing a new once in a while podcast to The Banquet Hall Feed: Keepin' it Authentic with Kyler & Asha! The 30's are coming soon for Kyler & Asha (slightly sooner for Asha), so we thought we would start the series with some of the things we are looking forward to, and start...
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Asha | An Introduction to Keepin' it Authentic
The Banquet Hall is officially back and bigger than ever with another live episode featuring future co-host of Keepin' it Authentic (A Banquet Hall Pod), Asha! Asha and Kyler go way back to the 5th grade classroom at Maria Regina, and are excited to share with you plenty of stories from yesterday...
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Kiyahna | StARTing to Trust the Process
Another one of the little homies makes their way on the pod! This episode, we are joined by Kiyahna, an artist and writer from San Diego who specializes in Black portraitures. Join us for a lively conversation about the ins and outs of her art style, her journey to trusting her art, and some…
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Trae Whyte | Creative Integrity & Intentional Storytelling
In this world of IG Reels and TikToks (for now?), what has happened to long-form content? We are joined by Trae Whyte, a film director, screenwriter, and storyteller from a small community in Jamaica, As a passionate and experienced writer/storyteller, Trae has a very thoughtful perspective on…
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Ashley | Road Trips & The Joys of Creativity
Pack your bags because it is time for a Banquet Hall road trip! Ashley's introduction to The Hall begins with tales from our favorite (and least favorite) road trips, then we embark on a journey through the joys of creativity. Ashley shares with us about her first performances, her painting...
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Chauncey Maynor | Flowers & Self-Affirming Legacies
Ahead of the release of his newest project, Flowers (Releasing April 30, 2024), Chauncey stops by The Banquet Hall to talk about his beginnings as a recording artist, his forthcoming documentary, and the inspirations behind this newest project.
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Walter Ford | Thinking About Comedy & The Pursuit of Greatness
Walter Ford is a comedian, writer, future motivational speaker, and much more. Throughout our conversation, we discuss Walter's start within the comedy world, he gives us a behind the scenes look at what life as a comedian is really like, and of course provides listeners with plenty of laughs...
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Evan Volk | Saving the Planet One Bar at a Time
The Banquet Hall is lucky to be joined by San Diego's own Evan Volk, an artist & lifeguard who lives his life with intention on doing what he can to make the world a better place. Evan's artistry is educational while also keeping a great vibe that anyone can get with. This episode is all about…
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DEEP$iDE | Bringing People Together through Music
Music is something that can bring people together from many different walks of life. We are lucky to be joined by DEEP$iDE who is a young artist on the rise. From Texas to San Diego, DEEP$iDE has been learning his voice through music, and has aspirations of learning the ins and outs of music from...
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Ebony | An Invitation to a Safe Space
The Banquet Hall has moved locations and is officially an LA based podcast! To welcome in the new podcast setup, we are joined by Ebony who is a therapist & doula amongst other interesting things. Our conversation brings you an introvert's perspective on life, while also diving deep into the…
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Malia | Sipping & Painting: A Portrait of Friendship
The Banquet Hall is proud to present the FIRST in-person recording featuring none other than Malia. Malia welcomes us into her space for a sip and paint filled with plenty of laughs, stories, creative insight, and so much more. Join us on a journey through Malia and Kyler's friendship as they...
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Jessica | Creating Something Out of Anything
Jessica Bahena is a multi-faceted creative who stops by The Banquet Hall to tell stories about the importance of family in her life, the value found in writing about our history, and sharing historical perspectives, and how sentimental the creative process can be (even when you are starting from...
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De'Von & Sinclair | Black Studies & Building a Company Culture
Did anyone order seconds? De'Von & Sinclair join us back at their VIP Banquet Hall table to bring us up to speed on what they have been up to over the past year, including Play Black Wall Street's mentorship program, Tulsa trip, Classic Edition game, and more! We also engage in a riveting...
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Curtis | Your New Favorite Feel Good Rapper
From New Jersey to San Diego, Curtis set out to make a name for himself as an artist. Kyler & Curtis met just a few weeks ago at Black Xpression, and when the vibes are right, the collaborations are seamless. Join us for a conversation on navigating the art scene, the art of music videos, and...
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Firme Voices | Poetry, Culture, Community
The Banquet Hall is joined by an amazing community movement, Firme Voices, who aims to embrace cultura through poetry. Join us for a deep dive into the importance of having space to explore the roots of Chicano poetry, and how influential poetry has been throughout history for Black and Brown...
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Joe Mac | Speaking with Intention: From 100 Hours to 3 Minutes
The Banquet Hall is back with award-winning artist, Joe McClain Jr. Joe is a slam poet, inspirational speaker, Navy veteran, author, and so much more. Our conversation centers on the hard work it takes to build up a craft like slam poetry, and why it is important to remain humble throughout the...
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SME.SHZ | Analyzing & Coloring the World with Sound
The Banquet Hall is back with Derric aka SME.SHZ who is a DJ and rapper from San Diego. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit with us as we discuss how sound has shaped the way he views the world around him, and how that analytical mindset has helped shape his craft.
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Kellz Jokenword | The Inner Workings of Comedy and Poetry
The Banquet Hall is back with an award-winning Standup Comedian AND Spokenword Poet, Kellz Jokenword aka the Funniest Poet Alive. Join us for a deep dive into his comic origin stories and how his unique style of observational comedy has progressed throughout his career.
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Cleopatra | Game Night at The Banquet Hall
The Banquet Hall is opening 2024 with a game night and we are joined by Cleopatra, the owner and creator of Keep It A Buck Party Game (https://keepitabuckpartygame.com/). Get to know how she created a very entertaining game about vulnerability and fearlessness, as well as how she found the…
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GJ | Blackitarianism & Constant Learning
The final episode of 2023! We are lucky to be joined by GJ for a wide-ranging conversation with a little bit of everything for everyone. Tap in with us for stories about getting the perfect shot in the midst of chaos, the birth of his daughter, whether Andre 3000 playing the flute counts as...
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Monét Nyree | Making a Collage Out of Every Day
Monét Nyree Panza is a multidimensional, creative being committed to expressing emotions and thought forms in the format of music, photography, muse work/modeling, graphic design and collage. Our conversation was a free-flowing dialogue about the spirit of creativity, community, and perspective....
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Taylor | How We Connect with the Earth
The Banquet Hall is joined by your friendly neighborhood oceanographer, Taylor McKie, who shares plenty of inspiring stories about her journey from Arkansas to the Pacific Ocean as she navigates this portion of life as a Ph.D. candidate. Our conversation focuses on beautiful mistakes we make in...
About this show
Telling Tomorrow's Stories Today!The Banquet Hall is the podcast designed to highlight future leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and more, who are tired of looking for a seat at "the table." We invite each of our guests into the hall to share their journeys and aspirations as they grow into the fully bloomed version of themselves.
Hosted by
Kyler Nathan IV