Midwest Leak Podcast

Jennifer Magley is redefining what it means to build a career in sports. She's literally building a lane for herself, her way. From athlete to Chief Brand Officer of the first Black woman-owned (and for her, family owned) basketball league, The Basketball League she shares how she transitioned from playing tennis to leading behind the scenes and creating opportunities for herself and others on her own terms. This conversation breaks down how women are building space in sports, why the industry goes far beyond athletes, and what it takes to step onto the biggest stages without waiting for permission. Jennifer also takes us inside her “Stage Quest,” where she set out to hit 100 stages in 365 days by turning everyday moments into opportunities. That includes a WWE Experience with Tyrese Haliburton, competing in a shrimp cocktail eating contest with St. Elmo Steak House during an Indiana Pacers game, milking cows at the Indiana State Fair, auditioning for the Mike Epps comedy show, exploring 4H experiences, hosting at Rally, and even launching a full campaign to land on the The Pat McAfee Show. Her journey is a real-time example of what it looks like to create visibility, build momentum, and turn bold ideas into real opportunities.If you’re interested in sports careers, branding, media, or becoming a fearless creator, this episode is a masterclass in building your own lane.Watch this episode for more on :Going from athlete to sports executive leadershipHow to build a career in the sports industry beyond playingWomen creating power and visibility in sportsTurning everyday moments into stages The strategy behind bold campaigns and StoogeFest-style contentWhy fearless creating asks no permissionMakeup by: KO Beauty https://www.kobeautyco.com/Juice by: No Sugar Added Cold Pressed Juice https://www.nosugaraddedindy.net/

Street Angel movie cast interview from Indianapolis to IMAX.Watch how this Naptown film turned local talent into a big screen release.In this special edition of the Midwest Leak Podcast, Lo the Don sits down with the cast and creators of Street Angel, a film rooted in Indianapolis and elevated to the IMAX experience.This conversation dives into the real journey behind the film.From writing and directing to acting and producing, the team shares how the story came together, how they adapted on set, and the moments that gave the film its heart.The cast reflects on faith, community, and the power of collaboration.With no major studio backing, this project shows what can happen when local creatives commit to a shared vision and execute at a high level. Street Angel is a raw, faith-full reflection of real life, real experiences, and the spirit of Indianapolis culture.📍 Filmed in Indianapolis🎥 Premiering in IMAX 4/19/26 and expanding to streaming platformsTap in to hear how this film came to life and what the cast wants audiences to take with them after watching.

Are missing men hurting our children's future?Le’Deana sits down with Bro Thomas, educator, father, and consultant, to break down the real impact of male presence in schools and why father involvement plays a critical role in student success.From working as a school security guard to becoming a trusted educator and mentor, Brother Thomas shares how consistent presence, structure, and belief can shift a child’s entire trajectory. This conversation goes beyond theory. It highlights real experiences inside classrooms and communities, showing how students respond when they have strong male role models and active fathers engaged in their education.

Hennessy and Le'Deana have a powerful conversation about healing generational trauma through music and telling the truth about lived experiences. Hennessy reflects on how sharing her personal story through music helped others find the courage to speak about their own experiences. She explains that people have approached her saying her song encouraged them to tell their families about abuse they had been carrying in silence.The conversation explores what it means to heal in real time while living in the public eye and how music can become a tool for breaking cycles that have affected families for generations. Hennessy explains that telling her story is part of a larger mission to support people who share similar experiences and to help create healthier paths for the next generation.Listen to how music, honesty, and resilience can become tools for healing and transformation.

Eric Washington shares how he went from open mic performances to sold-out stage plays, Tubi films like Zuri Johnson Story leading to a billboard in Times Square, and building a creative career rooted in discipline, investing, and family.Known for turning his storytelling song “Maggie” into a sold-out stage production and now a full movie in post production, Eric shares how he funds his own projects, builds audiences, and keeps evolving creatively.In this episode:• From music artist to playwright• Selling out Madam Walker Theatre• Funding productions independently• Using 401K knowledge to build entrepreneurial discipline• Acting on Tubi• Fatherhood and family• His stage play Black Arguments 

Indianapolis rapper Tony Cleveland shares how heartbreak, grief, and loss changed his vision and inspired his most vulnerable project, Trench Baby.In this Midwest Leak Podcast interview, he opens up about losing his mother, loyalty, growth, and creating music that connects on a deeper level. Indianapolis artist Tony Cleveland sits down with Le’Deana for one of his most personal conversations yet. He shares how losing his mother shifted his mindset, revealed hard truths about loyalty, and inspired his most vulnerable project, Trench Baby.Tony explains how stepping back gave him clarity and allowed him to create music that listeners deeply connect with, with many telling him his words reflected their own lives.This episode documents the emotional journey behind the music and the growth that followed heartbreak.

Everybody can’t come with you. Sometimes growth asks you to walk a new path before others are ready. PBT Ace reflects on how losing a child reshaped his life, his music, and his relationship with faith.Through honest conversation, he shares how grief became a turning point, leading to a spiritual awakening that changed the way he thinks, creates, and moves forward.In this conversation with  ⁨@pbtace⁩  and @LeDeana explores how music became a space for healing, discipline, and clarity. He speaks about choosing growth, trusting faith during uncertainty, and accepting that time reveals who is meant to walk with you as your mindset evolves.This episode is about transformation through loss, the quiet work of spiritual growth, and how music can become a bridge between who you were and who you are becoming.

What does retirement look like for entrepreneurs who never stopped building?In this episode of the Midwest Leak Podcast, Le’Deana sits down with Amani Tre Niner for a deep conversation on tattoo mastery, creative freedom, and lifelong learning. Amani shares how entrepreneurship has always been central to his work, even during his rise as a top tattoo artist.He breaks down mastery as a transferable discipline, one that applies equally to fine art, tattooing, building cars as functional art, music as craft, and now expanding deeper into real estate and preparing a return to fashion. Without chasing fame or popularity, Amani’s ideas and voice have traveled organically. His audio has been remixed and circulated across the internet, and even major corporations like T-Mobile have recreated moments from his content. Virality followed authenticity, not strategy.Now in a new phase of life, Amani describes retirement as choosing new lanes to master. He builds what interests him, studies what challenges him, and moves with intention rather than demand.

In this episode, Anthony Murdock II challenges how we think about storytelling, philanthropy, and power.This conversation with Le'Deana and Murdock reframes Black stories as assets that build generational wealth. They explore what it means to re-imagine philanthropy and legacy. Murdock speaks candidly about why assimilation is not the goal, how strategic planning creates leverage, and why Black communities have always practiced philanthropy even when we were never allowed to name it as such.Topics include:• Why stories function as assets, not content• Re-imagining philanthropy through legacy and responsibility• Building Black institutions instead of chasing inclusion• Vision, rest, and sustainability as leadership practices• Entrepreneurship as a pathway to liberationThis episode is for builders, educators, creatives, and leaders who are committed to doing work that outlives them.  Share with someone thinking beyond charity and toward legacy. Learn more at blackliberationecosystem.com

Well raised on the Eastside of Naptown, 4200 Kory sat down with the Midwest Leak Podcast to unpack a journey shaped by music, film, and an unwavering commitment to community.Growing up on Post Road studying the culture of Indianapolis Music from the "Jiggalate" to "Crank That Haughville," this Naptown Baby has created an anthem that is uniting the city in real time.Follow  @4200kory  and stay tapped in with his movement!

Before comedy and viral street interviews, Rychard V was a rapper chasing industry access the old way. In this episode, he shares the story of approaching Yo Gotti at a funeral to hand him a CD and how that moment shaped his understanding of visibility, timing, and the risks creators take to be seen.The founder of On Da Seen TV sits down with the Midwest Leak Podcast for an honest conversation about building a creator-led media platform without a blueprint. The conversation gets personal as Rychard V talks about being picked on in school and how those experiences shaped his humor, confidence, and perspective as a performer and storyteller. He also reflects on the realities of filming real people, including moments where individuals later asked to be removed from footage out of fear of getting in trouble at work. Those experiences pushed him to think differently about responsibility, consent, and why controlled environments now matter more in his creative process.The episode also explores what’s next, including Rychard V’s vision for a Cribs-style spin-off of On Da Seen TV that highlights homes, design, and creativity, starting with the Midwest Leak Podcast set curator, Her Home Design Boutique. In this episode, we discuss:• Going from rapper to comedian to media creator• Approaching Yo Gotti and early industry lessons• Being picked on in school and building confidence• Filming real people and navigating consent• Monetizing content through events and collaborations• Expanding On Da Seen TV with new formatsThis conversation offers an unfiltered look at the creator economy, community storytelling, and what it really takes to build something meaningful from the ground up.Subscribe to Midwest Leak for more conversations with independent creators and entrepreneurs.

In this episode of the Midwest Leak Podcast, Justin Bland opens up about what it feels like to be called into a new season. He shares the moment he realized the dream he once worked so hard for had served its purpose, and why the next chapter required him to release it.Justin talks about the upcoming final Made Man Improv Show, the lessons that came from building a career on other people’s stages, and the deeper pull toward ownership and purpose. He reflects on how high school felt like a struggle, how college became a turning point, and how the people who believed in him shaped his confidence as a creative.Through his story, Justin gives an honest look at the courage it takes to pivot, the faith it takes to follow what you cannot yet see, and the provision that shows up when you commit to what is meant for you.This episode is for anyone who feels a shift in their spirit, anyone wrestling with a calling that will not let them stay where they are, and anyone standing at the edge of something bigger.

Ill HD joins Le’Deana for Episode 7 of the Midwest Leak Podcast to share how he turned raw creativity into impact across two major cities. Known for his visual storytelling and sharp eye behind the camera, Ill HD breaks down his rise from Naptown to Atlanta and the lessons he learned along the way.In this episode he talks about:• How he started shooting reality style content and why it connects with viewers• The process of developing brands with authenticity and intention• His work in Atlanta and the role he played in growing Water Boyz in the Hood into a real brand• What he learned from navigating two creative scenes and staying true to his style• The importance of consistency and keeping your vision at the center of your workIll HD has documented some of the most memorable moments in the streets and the culture. His story is grounded in patience, growth, self belief, and using film to show people the truth of who they are. Subscribe to stay connected to more stories from the creators shaping the Midwest and beyond. @MidwestLeak@IllHD

Before building a worldwide fan base, Mark Battles was sharpening his skills right here in Indianapolis here he reveals in this interview that winning a Midwest Leak x McDonald’s rap battle gave him a boost of confidence to take music seriously.Now managed by Quality Control Music, the powerhouse led by Coach K (another Indianapolis native), Mark has grown into a respected independent artists in the game.In this episode, he sits down with Le’Deana to talk about:🔥 Monetizing real bars and partnerships in creative business🌍 Building a global fan base while showing love to the hometown that started it all🧠 Turning industry connects into lasting relationships💰 Why his top downloads and merch sales still come from IndianapolisThis is a full-circle conversation about independence, legacy, and representing the Midwest with pride.  @MarkBattles317 ​

Exclusive behind the scenes insight into the life of 2Kold including success secrets, upcoming pivot plans and addressing rumors directly from the source.

The pen game of Golde P is a thread that has been interwoven into the fabric of Naptown music culture for decades as well as even some of your favorite nationally platformed acts. With the release of Edukated Too, now it's time to get to know him directly.

In Episode 3 of the Midwest Leak Podcast, we sit down with artist, author, and activist Vernon T. Bateman. From surviving decades behind bars on a wrongful conviction to creating powerful children’s books, murals, and movements, Bateman’s story is one of resilience, imagination, and community healing.He speaks on his journey through incarceration, how art sustained him during solitary confinement, and his vision for using creativity as a tool for liberation.This episode is a testament to storytelling as survival and the power of art to transform lives. Watch, share, and be part of the conversation. #MidwestLeakPodcast #VernonTBateman #JusticeThroughArt

Entrepreneurship, mental health and the real talk behind building legacy.Episode 2 of the Midwest Leak Podcast is here! 🎙️ We sat down with Katina Washington, visionary founder of The SHE Event Indy, for a powerful conversation on entrepreneurship, mental health, and community building.In this episode, Katina shares:• How creativity can be therapy to combat depression and nurture mental health ✨• The reality of business trauma entrepreneurs face and how to heal from it• Insights on nonprofit leadership, grants, and growing pains• The importance of living in the moment while evolving as a leader• How The SHE Event empowers women, Black entrepreneurs, and small businesses to thriveThis episode is raw, real, and full of gems for entrepreneurs, creatives, and community leaders who are building legacy while navigating the challenges of growth.📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring Midwest Leak conversations with culture-shapers and visionaries. #MidwestLeakPodcast #SHEEventIndy #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealth #NonprofitLeadership #BlackEntrepreneurs #CommunityBuilding

Welcome to our first official podcast! Recorded at Midwest Leak Studio in Indiana during Fr33sol’s live visit, this debut episode dives deep into authenticity, family, and creative vision.Fr33sol opens up about embracing self-empowerment realizing he is the crystal and no longer needs its external glow. He shares heartfelt reflections on life as a husband and father, offering insight into his partnership with his wife, Lavva (also a recording artist and creatively aligned companion).He also shares his leap of faith leaving Philadelphia behind to pursue purpose in California, manifesting every necessity along the way. This conversation transcends music. It’s about faith, mutual inspiration, and becoming your own source of light, a powerful first step for the Midwest Leak Podcast.This marks our official expansion into a new medium after 18 years of being a print publication. We have enjoyed connecting with the culture and community through creating 124 issues, producing thousands of articles, interview and live experiences. We're excited you're here to continue this journey with us.