PODCAST · business
Elite Insights
by The Elite Collective
Real conversations. Raw insight. Elevated voices. Elite Insights is where vision meets execution. Powered by The Elite Collective, this podcast brings you into the room with industry leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural changemakers who are shaping what’s next. Each episode uncovers the stories, strategies, and lessons behind the missions that matter — from scaling impact to leading with authenticity in business, community, and beyond. 🔎 What you’ll hear: • Deep-dive interviews with purpose-driven leaders • Business gems from behind the scenes • Culturally aware, community-rooted insight • Tangible tools to elevate your mission Whether you’re a founder, creative, or future leader, Elite Insights is your space for elevation, education, and empowerment. 🎧 Tap in. Stay inspired. Build legacy. Follow us on all platforms: @eli
Episodes
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How Purpose, Patience, and Community Built More Than a Coffee Business with Efrem Fesaha
Building something from the ground up takes vision—but building something that impacts people’s lives takes purpose. In this episode of Elite Insights, Efrem Fesaha shares the real story behind Boon Boona Coffee—from corporate finance to a 7-year journey of persistence, rejection, and belief.…
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Redesigning Power from the Inside Out | Derrick Wheeler-Smith
Derrick Wheeler-Smith, Director of the Seattle Office for Civil Rights, joins Elite Insights for a deep conversation on leadership, systems design, and institutional accountability. This episode explores: • Why 70% of leadership is leadership of self • How systems are intentionally designed — and...
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Turning Data Into Impact with DeiMarlon Scisney
This week on Elite Insights, we sit down with DeiMarlon Scisney (D the Data Guy), founder of The Data Guys. In this episode, we explore how data can be transformed from abstract numbers into real-world impact. From small businesses to community organizations, D shares how understanding data leads...
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Walking Through the Mud: Faith, Forgiveness & Finding Purpose with Michael B. Ling
Michael B. Ling — Writer, Speaker, Podcaster, and faith-driven storyteller—joins Elite Insights for a deeply personal conversation on forgiveness, purpose, and transformation. In this episode, Michael shares how navigating instability, identity, and past pain led him to a life rooted in faith,...
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Turning Law Into Real Impact with Anthony Canape & Becca Human
This week on Elite Insights, we’re joined by Anthony Canape (Board President) and Becca Human (Attorney & Board Member) of the QLaw Foundation. This episode explores how legal advocacy becomes real-world protection—especially for LGBTQ+ communities navigating complex systems. You’ll learn: • How...
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From Events to Impact: Rethinking Fundraising Strategy with Gazala Uradnik
Fundraising success isn’t created on event day—it’s built long before it. In this episode of Elite Insights, Gazala Uradnik, Founder of GFS Events, shares the strategy behind raising over $100 million through purpose-driven nonprofit events. This conversation explores how fundraising is...
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How Purpose-Driven Events Build Community with Deci Evans
Events may only last a few hours — but the impact can last for years. In this episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Deci Evans, founder of Kind + Co Events, a Seattle-based event management company known for producing thoughtful, community-centered experiences for nonprofits and…
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Community Leadership & Cultural Preservation with Shaude Moore
This week on Elite Insights, we sit down with Shaude Moore, Corporate President of the Black Employee Network (BEN) at Amazon and President of the Seattle HQ1 BEN Chapter. Shaude is a leader deeply committed to building connections between corporate leadership and the communities they serve. Her...
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Redefining Influence Through Education with Isolina Campbell-Cronin
Isolina Campbell-Cronin — Educator, Director, Cultural Steward — joins Elite Insights for a powerful conversation on leadership through education and community impact. This episode explores how influence becomes legacy when rooted in service. Listeners will gain insight into: • Building…
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From Grit to Gourmet: Building Legacy Through Flavor, Hustle & Faith
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Chef Anthony "Tony" Hayes, the founder of Classic Eats and the lifestyle brand "Every Day is Monday" (EDM). A true example of turning "hustle into heritage," Tony shares his journey from the streets of New Orleans to becoming a culinary staple in...
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Mental Health is a Civil Rights Issue with Ashley McGirt
In this powerful episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Ashley McGirt-Adair, a renowned psychotherapist, TEDx speaker, and the visionary founder of the Therapy Fund Foundation. Ashley shares her deeply personal journey—from being a nine-year-old child educating her school counselor on race...
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Building a Media Career From The Ground Up with Besa Gordon
What does it take to find your authentic voice in a world full of noise? In this episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Besa Gordon—one of Seattle’s most vibrant media voices and host of Back to Besa on Fox 13. Besa shares her journey from starting a blog at 18 to becoming a staple in…
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From Vision to Legacy: Creating Space For Black Art With Jazmyn Scott
New episode of Elite Insights is live. We’re joined by Jazmyn Scott — Executive Director of Art Noir — for a powerful conversation about building real infrastructure for Black artists, securing ownership as a form of displacement prevention, and creating space that serves the community long-term....
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Leadership Built on Service and Community with Savannah Walker
"We got 20 days. Can we make it happen?" 🤯 In this episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Savannah Walker, a "People Operations" powerhouse who transformed a background in admin into a legacy of community-building events for the Muckleshoot Tribe. From planning massive holiday parties at...
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When Culture Leads Innovation: A Conversation with Arif Gursel
In this episode of Elite Insights, Carlos Imani sits down with Arif Gursel for a grounded conversation about what it really takes to build work, spaces, and communities that last. From his time working on the original Xbox team at Microsoft to building and owning spaces like P.A.C.E., SEA619, and...
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Creating Stages for Our Stories: w/ Michelle Lang of Acts On Stage
🎭 What happens when we stop waiting for a seat at the table—and build the whole stage instead? In Episode 14 of Elite Insights, we sit down with Michelle Lang, visionary founder of Acts On Stage, to explore how storytelling, faith, and radical creativity can reshape culture from the inside out....
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Designing Events That Feel Like Home — w/ Synchronicity Events | Elite Insights Ep.13
What does it take to create an event that guests feel—not just attend? In this episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Alex Martin and Mirabai Tours, the powerhouse duo behind Synchronicity Events, to explore the art and strategy of designing events that resonate deeply and leave lasting...
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From Vision to Impact: Jasmine RaeLynn on Building Culture-Driven Creative Agencies
What does it take to grow a creative agency from an idea into a movement? In this episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Jasmine Rae Lynn, Founder & Chief Creative Officer of The Elite Marketing Firm, to explore how brand culture, storytelling, and alignment can fuel both growth and impact....
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TraeAnna Holliday - From Childhood Filmmaker to Emmy-Winning Changemaker | Elite Insights EP.11
What does it look like to grow up on camera, rise through the media ranks, and use your voice to lead statewide conversations on equity? In Episode 11 of Elite Insights, Carlos Imani sits down with Emmy Award-winning producer and community leader TreaAnna Holliday for an unfiltered…
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From Nightlife to Boardrooms: Jason Hicks on Culture, Creativity & Corporate Strategy | Elite Insights EP.10
What does it look like to move from Atlanta’s nightlife to Amazon boardrooms, from billboards to blending coffee and culture? On Episode 10 of Elite Insights, host Carlos Imani sits down with Jason Hicks — corporate strategist at Amazon, producer of Apple TV’s On the Fly, and co-owner of…
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The Art of Hosting: Sasha Summer Cousineau on Stage Presence & Event Flow | Elite Insights Ep. 9
What makes an event unforgettable? In Episode 9 of Elite Insights, host Carlos Imani sits down with the incomparable Sasha Summer Cousineau—emcee, event strategist, and community connector—to explore the art of holding the mic and mastering the flow of live experiences. From behind-the-scenes…
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Radical Care & Community Power w/ Byrd Barr Place | Elite Insights Ep. 8
What does it take to serve community with dignity—and reimagine systems rooted in equity? In Episode 8 of Elite Insights, Carson Amani is joined by Rosy Grand and Jacqueline Hamilton of Byrd Barr Place, one of Seattle’s oldest Black-led community organizations. Together, they reflect on the...
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Yolanda’s Journey: Storytelling, Urban Impact & Seattle Roots | Elite Insights Ep. 7
What does it look like to build with intention, come back to your roots, and pour into community through storytelling? In this powerful episode of Elite Insights, host Carlos Imani sits down with Yolanda Barton, a Seattle-born creative and program lead at Urban Impact, to explore the…
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Why Being in the Room Matters with Wendy Amour | Elite Insights Ep. 6
In this heartfelt episode of Elite Insights, host Carlos Imani is joined by Wendy from Byrd Barr Place to explore how authentic community connection leads to purpose-aligned partnerships. From casual greetings at events to leading transformative projects together, this conversation is a real-time...
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From Nightlife Photographer to Purpose-Driven Creative | Elite Insights Ep. 5
In this episode of Elite Insights, we go way back with Carlos Imani, a creative force whose journey from college nightlife photography to purpose-fueled entrepreneurship is nothing short of iconic. 🎞️📸 Carlos sits down with a longtime friend to unpack: 🔹 The early days of capturing culture…
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Rod Walton on Leading with Legacy, Equity & Impact | Elite Insights Ep. 4
In Episode 4 of Elite Insights, Carlos Imani sits down with Rod Walton—Director of Outreach at Hamlin Robertson School—for a raw and deeply rooted conversation on leadership, equity, and the power of community. From growing up in the South to navigating New York’s legal tech world, Rod shares his...
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Reimagining Community Events with NAAM: Behind the Scenes of Black Santa | Elite Insights Ep. 3
In this episode of Elite Insights, host Carlos Imani sits down with Mariama Suwaneh, Programs Manager at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), to explore the creative collaboration behind one of our favorite intergenerational events: Black Santa. From first-week introductions to…
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Bridging Excellence and Equity with Omari Salisbury from Converge Media | Elite Insights Ep. 2
In this powerful episode of Elite Insights, we sit down with Omari Salisbury of Converge Media — a visionary leader whose work sits at the intersection of journalism, community, and culture. Together, we unpack: What it really means to center Black excellence without burnout Why impact…
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Surviving to Thriving: Real Talk on Health, Purpose & Legacy | Elite Insights Ep. 1
Welcome to the debut episode of Elite Insights — the podcast powered by The Elite Collective. 🎙️ In this powerful conversation, host Carlos Imani is joined by Curtis and Daryl — two community leaders and longtime friends — to unpack their personal journeys with life-threatening health battles…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Real conversations. Raw insight. Elevated voices.
Elite Insights is where vision meets execution. Powered by The Elite Collective, this podcast brings you into the room with industry leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural changemakers who are shaping what’s next.
Each episode uncovers the stories, strategies, and lessons behind the missions that matter — from scaling impact to leading with authenticity in business, community, and beyond.
🔎 What you’ll hear:
• Deep-dive interviews with purpose-driven leaders
• Business gems from behind the scenes
• Culturally aware, community-rooted insight
• Tangible tools to elevate your mission
Whether you’re a founder, creative, or future leader, Elite Insights is your space for elevation, education, and empowerment.
🎧 Tap in. Stay inspired. Build legacy.
Follow us on all platforms: @eli
HOSTED BY
The Elite Collective
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Elite Insights have?
Elite Insights currently has 29 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Elite Insights about?
Real conversations. Raw insight. Elevated voices. Elite Insights is where vision meets execution. Powered by The Elite Collective, this podcast brings you into the room with industry leaders, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural changemakers who are shaping what’s next. Each episode uncovers the...
How often does Elite Insights release new episodes?
Elite Insights has 29 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Elite Insights?
You can listen to Elite Insights on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Elite Insights?
Elite Insights is created and hosted by The Elite Collective.
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