Issue Zero

Issue Zero
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Hosted by Trystanne Cunningham, founder of TrooRa Magazine & Media, and Seneca Connor, attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of The Bag Icon and Reckond App, Issue Zero explores and amplifies the voices in entrepreneurship, creativity, identity, culture. Each episode features founders, creatives, artists, and changemakers sharing the setbacks, breakthroughs, and purpose behind what they create. Because every legacy starts with an Issue Zero.

Episodes

  1. 20h ago

    Episode 5: The Power of the Purse, Part 1 — Economic Power, Visibility & the Choices We Make

    The Power of the Purse begins with a simple question: What if every purchase was more than a transaction? In this first part of a two-part conversation, Trystanne Cunningham and Seneca Connor examine the relationship between spending, visibility, and economic power. Together, they explore how everyday financial decisions shape businesses, communities, and culture, and why understanding where our money goes is an essential part of understanding the systems we participate in. Drawing from current events, consumer behavior, and the research behind Seneca's Reckond app, they discuss corporate accountability, conscious consumerism, and the role economic participation plays in creating lasting change. Rather than telling listeners what to think, this conversation invites them to ask deeper questions about the choices they make every day and the impact those choices have beyond the checkout line. In this episode: Why economic power extends beyond the ballot boxThe philosophy behind The Power of the PurseConsumer choice, corporate accountability, and conscious spendingThe relationship between visibility, economics, and community investmentHow the Reckond app helps consumers make informed purchasing decisionsWhy data and transparency matter in everyday spendingThe difference between buying power and building long-term wealthWhy this conversation is only the beginning Whether you're an entrepreneur, consumer, or simply curious about the connection between economics, culture, and community, this episode is an invitation to think more intentionally about where your money goes, and what it helps build. Listen to Issue Zero. Connect with us: Issue Zero WebsiteIssue Zero InstagramIssue Zero TikTokIssue Zero LinkedIn Issue Zero is Sponsored by: TrooRa MagazineThe Bag IconDownload the Reckond App

  2. Jul 28

    Episode 4: Wellness Beyond the Surface — April Vaughn Shabazz on Purpose, Stewardship & Building

    April Vaughn Shabazz joins Issue Zero for a conversation about holistic wellness, entrepreneurship, stewardship, sustainability, and what it means to build a business rooted in purpose. As the owner and lead formulator of Earth Tu Face, April shares how her personal healing journey, decades of experience in holistic health and education, and passion for herbalism led her to acquire and lead a plant-based skincare brand built on integrity, intentionality, and care. Together, they explore founder transitions, conscious consumerism, and why true wellness begins long before the products we put on our skin. In the second half of the episode, Desirée Rogers joins the conversation to expand on leadership, brand stewardship, and the evolving beauty industry, offering an executive perspective on building enduring brands and creating businesses with lasting impact. In this episode: April Vaughn Shabazz's journey from holistic health practitioner to entrepreneurAcquiring and leading Earth to FaceHerbalism, holistic wellness, and lifelong learningThe evolution of clean beauty and conscious consumerismFounder transitions and preserving a brand's missionLeadership, stewardship, and sustainable growthExecutive insights from Desirée Rogers on brand-building and the future of beautyWhy education is at the heart of meaningful entrepreneurship Whether you're building a brand, leading a business, or simply curious about the intersection of wellness, purpose, and entrepreneurship, this conversation is an invitation to think more intentionally about the products we use, the businesses we support, and the impact we create. Listen to Issue Zero.

  3. Jul 21

    Episode 3: Building Change From the Inside Out — Dr. Akilah Cadet

    Dr. Akilah Cadet joins Issue Zero for a conversation about leadership, systems of power, entrepreneurship, disability, storytelling, and what it means to create change from the inside out. As the founder and CEO of Change Cadet, author of White Supremacy Is All Around Us, and co-owner of the Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul Sports Club, Dr. Cadet shares how personal experience shaped her work, and why learning and unlearning are essential to building stronger organizations, communities, and leaders. Through stories of navigating the workplace, advocating for herself, launching a business, and helping organizations rethink culture, she offers a perspective on how power, identity, and opportunity intersect in everyday life. In this episode: Dr. Cadet's journey from healthcare executive to entrepreneurWhy storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for changeLearning, unlearning, and challenging systems of powerWorkplace discrimination, leadership, and advocating for yourselfDisability, identity, and leading authenticallyThe role of education, civic engagement, and critical thinkingBuilding organizations where people can truly thriveWhy meaningful change begins with honest conversations Whether you're building a company, leading a team, or simply trying to better understand the world around you, this conversation is an invitation to ask deeper questions, think more critically, and lead with greater intention. Listen to Issue Zero. Purchase Dr. Akilah Cadet's Book: White Supremacy Is All Around Us Connect with us: Issue Zero WebsiteIssue Zero InstagramIssue Zero TikTokIssue Zero LinkedIn Issue Zero is Sponsored by: TrooRa MagazineThe Bag IconDownload the Reckond App

  4. Jul 14

    Episode 2: Built From the Ground Up — Carla Truitt on Purpose, Persistence & Eight Royale

    Every great business begins with someone asking a simple question: "There has to be a better way." In this episode of Issue Zero, Trystanne Cunningham and Seneca Connor sit down with entrepreneur Carla Truitt, founder of Eight Royale, to explore the story behind building a luxury brand from the ground up. From sketching her first ideas between board meetings and red carpets to navigating manufacturers, bootstrapping her business, and building a brand rooted in purpose, Carla shares what it really takes to create something that lasts. Together, they unpack the realities of entrepreneurship that rarely make the headlines, from funding challenges and finding the right partners to why collaboration, community, and consistency matter more than perfection. Because every meaningful brand begins long before it becomes visible. In this episode:The moment Carla realized women deserved a better solutionBuilding Eight Royale from one simple ideaFinding manufacturers who believe in your visionBootstrapping a business without outside fundingWhy consistency matters more than having all the answersCollaboration over competitionCreating a legacy that empowers womenWhy purpose has always been at the center of Eight Royale Whether you're building your first product or your next chapter, this episode is a reminder that every meaningful business begins with someone willing to solve a real problem. Listen to Issue Zero.

  5. Jul 7

    Episode 1: Create Fearlessly — Amber Ruffin on Courage, Creativity & Owning Your Voice

    Some of the most meaningful things we create begin with one simple decision: to start. In Episode 1 of Issue Zero, Trystanne Cunningham and Seneca Connor are joined by Tony and Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, producer, and bestselling author Amber Ruffin for an honest conversation on creativity, visibility, resilience, and the audacity required to build without waiting for permission. After gracing the cover of Cunningham’s TrooRa Magazine The Womb Issue ’26 (available now), Ruffin reflects on the path that has shaped her work across Broadway, late-night television, publishing, and performance. She speaks with candor about navigating identity, advocating for women’s health, claiming space in rooms not designed with her in mind, and learning to ask for more with clarity and conviction. Together, they explore the power of creating opportunities where none exist, the importance of representation, and the ways our most meaningful work often grows from the experiences that have shaped us most. In this episode: Amber Ruffin's journey across comedy, television, Broadway, and publishingWhy creators shouldn't wait for permission to pursue bold ideasThe power of asking for what you deserveBlack excellence, visibility, and creating authentic representationThe realities of women's health, fibroids, endometriosis, and motherhoodCreating impact beyond traditional definitions of successWhy storytelling remains one of the most powerful tools for change Whether you're building a creative career, navigating life's unexpected challenges, or learning to trust your own voice, this conversation is a reminder that your story, and how you choose to tell it, matters.

  6. Jun 30

    Episode 0: Building Before Visibility — Why We Started Issue Zero

    Every meaningful platform starts long before anyone is watching. In the very first episode of Issue Zero, creator Trystanne Cunningham and co-host Seneca Connor sit down for an honest conversation about the experiences that shaped them long before entrepreneurship entered the picture. From immigration and identity to grief, resilience, motherhood, creativity, and building businesses from the ground up, they explore what it really means to create with intention in a world where visibility isn't equally distributed. Together, they unpack why they believe storytelling matters, why representation is more than a buzzword, and why Issue Zero was created. Not just as another podcast, but as a platform designed to amplify founders, creatives, and underrepresented voices through meaningful conversation. This episode is the foundation for everything to come. In this episode: Why Issue Zero exists The stories that shaped Trystanne and Seneca before entrepreneurshipBuilding businesses through uncertainty, setbacks, and resilienceThe relationship between identity, visibility, and opportunityWhy ownership and representation matter now more than everWhat listeners can expect from Season OneMeet the founders, creatives, and change makers joining future episodes Whether you're building a business, navigating your own identity, or simply looking for conversations rooted in purpose, this is where the story begins. This is Issue Zero.

  • 6 Episodes

About

Hosted by Trystanne Cunningham, founder of TrooRa Magazine & Media, and Seneca Connor, attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of The Bag Icon and Reckond App, Issue Zero explores and amplifies the voices in entrepreneurship, creativity, identity, culture. Each episode features founders, creatives, artists, and changemakers sharing the setbacks, breakthroughs, and purpose behind what they create. Because every legacy starts with an Issue Zero.

Information

  • Creator
    Issue Zero
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Issue Zero
  • Show Website
    Issue Zero