TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective

TonyTidbit ™

About the Podcast: "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" offers a deep dive into the corporate world through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by Tony Franklin, aka Tony Tidbit, this podcast shines a light on vital conversations around race, leadership, and diversity, fostering understanding and change. https://ablackexec.com Meet Your Host: Tony Franklin has over three decades of corporate experience and provides transformative insights into diversity and inclusion, making each episode a journey of learning and empowerment. Why You Should Listen: - Diverse Perspectives: Insights from a variety of voices on challenges and triumphs in the corporate sphere. -Action-Oriented: Practical advice for advocating equity and allyship in the workplace. - Educational & Empathetic: A focus on empathy and education to drive impactful change. What to Expect: #BEPpodcast brings powerful transformations, empowering voices, addressing barriers, and delving into topics reshaping Corporate America. It's a platform uniting diverse voices and making a significant impact. Stay Connected: Follow @ablackexec on social media for insights and visit ablackexec.com for updates and additional content. Listen & Subscribe: "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" is available on: Apple Podcasts: https://ablackexec.com/apple Spotify: https://ablackexec.com/spotify YouTube Podcasts: https://ablackexec.com/youtube Other Platforms: https://ablackexec.com/listen Join us in transforming the narrative on race, leadership, and diversity in Corporate America. Your participation matters! #BEPpodcast #TonyTidbit #CorporateDiversity #Inclusion #Leadership #RaceInCorporate #DiversityMatters #DEI This podcast uses analytics and growth tools from Podder, Chartable, Podsights, and Podcorn.

  1. 9h ago

    They Never Told Us These Careers Existed

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/they-never-told-us-these-careers-existed- Episode Video Link: They never told us these careers existed. In this episode of A Black Executive Perspective, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed speak with Ben Gilbarg and Angel Diaz, co-founders of STEAM the Streets, about changing the way young people discover career opportunities. Using hip hop, media, live performances, storytelling, curriculum, and community engagement, STEAM the Streets helps students see themselves in STEM, STEAM, technology, design, science, engineering, and emerging industries. Ben and Angel share why traditional career education often misses Black, Brown, Indigenous, and underserved students, and why relatability, representation, and exposure can change a young person’s future. They also discuss their own journeys, the full-circle impact of mentorship, the importance of reaching students early, and what schools, founders, educators, and business leaders must do to build real pathways to opportunity. This is a conversation about purpose, education equity, career access, culture, and helping young people understand that their future is bigger than what they have been shown. What You’ll Learn How STEAM the Streets uses culture and creativity to make career exploration memorable.Why students need to see people from their communities succeeding in high-growth careers.How one opportunity, one mentor, or one moment of exposure can shift a young person’s confidence and direction.What it takes to build a mission-driven organization with consistency and staying power. ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 Why Career Awareness Is an Equity Issue 01:22 Meet Ben Gilbarg and Angel Diaz 08:09 Why STEAM the Streets Was Created 16:56 Schoolhouse Rock Meets Hip Hop Career Education 23:36 Turning Inspiration Into Action 29:13 When the School System Fails a Student 34:28 Why Middle School and Ninth Grade Matter 41:26 A Full Circle Story of Confidence and Opportunity 51:34 What Schools Must Do Differently 55:28 Purpose, Patience, and Staying Power 1:00:20 How to Support STEAM the Streets 1:06:09 Tony’s Tidbit, Talent Is Everywhere 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    1h 10m

  2. 3d ago

    Is Family Business the Problem, or Is It Bad Governance?

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/is-family-business-the-problem-or-is-it-bad-governance- Episode Video Link: Is family business really the problem, or is bad governance the real issue? In this episode of BEP Live, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed take on the popular warning, “Don’t do business with family.” They explore the truth behind family-owned businesses, generational wealth, legacy, nepotism, leadership, and the difficult reality of holding relatives accountable. This conversation goes beyond stereotypes. It examines why some family businesses become wealth-building engines while others fall apart, often because there are no boundaries, no written agreements, no merit-based roles, and no succession plan. The conversation also challenges the damaging myth that Black people cannot work together, while asking a larger question: Why is family legacy celebrated for some communities but questioned when Black families build together? A Black Executive Perspective is where uncomfortable conversations become comfortable through honest dialogue, lived executive experience, and real accountability. What You’ll Learn The difference between family loyalty and business accountability Why structure matters more than family ties in a successful business How legacy, generational wealth, and succession planning work together What families must establish before going into business together ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 Is Family Business Really the Problem? 03:42 Why Firing Family Is So Difficult 07:18 From Family Trades to Modern Business Conflict 13:05 Governance, Roles, and Accountability 22:00 Legacy Wealth, Nepotism, and the Double Standard 30:20 Black Family Businesses and the Myth We Cannot Work Together 37:12 Qualifications, Nepotism, and Workplace Accountability 44:04 Capitalism vs. Legacy, Sell It or Build It? 50:08 The Rules Every Family Business Needs 55:28 Final Takeaways, LESS, and What’s Next 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    58 min

  3. 5d ago

    Is the DEI Backlash Hurting Black College Students

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/is-the-dei-backlash-hurting-black-college-students- Episode Video Link: In this episode of Need to Know with Dr. Nsenga Burton, Dr. Burton explores how the national DEI backlash is reshaping higher education. She breaks down what is at stake when colleges retreat from scholarships, equity programs, academic hiring, campus protests, and difficult conversations under outside political pressure. This is an unfiltered conversation about access, belonging, power, and the real-world consequences of institutions stepping back from their commitment to inclusion. What You’ll Learn Why DEI rollbacks can affect more than corporate workplacesThe larger purpose behind equity scholarships and student-support programsWhy higher education must make room for complex, difficult, and necessary dialogue ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 The DEI Backlash Reaches Higher Education 01:20 Why Black Scholarships Still Matter 03:20 Fear, Power, and Institutional Retreat 05:30 Academic Freedom and the Cost of Silence 07:45 Who Gets Left Behind When DEI Disappears? 09:20 The Need for Real Conversations 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    10 min

  4. Jun 23

    Can Leaders Build Wealth Without Losing Integrity?

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/can-leaders-build-wealth-without-losing-integrity- Episode Video Link: How can leaders build wealth, create lasting impact, and protect their integrity along the way? In this episode of A Black Executive Perspective, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed welcome entrepreneur, innovator, and humanitarian Shelton Mercer III for an honest conversation about leadership, legacy, business growth, purpose, and social impact. Shelton reflects on his journey from Philadelphia to Silicon Valley, his experience building multiple companies, the Audigent exit, and the mindset required to create enterprises that last. He also discusses the lack of equitable access to venture capital for Black founders, the danger of ego-driven leadership, and why founders must know when to hold on, when to let go, and when to put the mission ahead of the title. The conversation explores Shelton’s Mercer Innovation Outcome Systems, his Activate movement, and the importance of creating measurable outcomes for communities, cities, companies, and future generations. This episode is for founders, executives, investors, innovators, and anyone ready to lead with courage, competence, curiosity, and purpose. What You’ll Learn How to define success through outcomes instead of recognition or job titles What entrepreneurs must understand about focus, risk, leadership, and humility? How leaders can create business success while advancing community impact and legacy ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 Leadership Beyond Labels 04:20 Philly, Family, and Silicon Valley 11:40 Wealth, Integrity and Shared Success 19:10 Race, Identity and Tech Leadership 29:10 Entrepreneurship, Focus and Ego 38:35 Capital Equity and the CEO of Outcomes 52:15 Activate and Building 25-Year Impact 1:04:10 Curiosity, Courage, and Legacy 1:09:45 Outcomes, LESS, and Closing Thoughts 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    1h 13m

  5. Jun 19

    Is It Racism, Capitalism, or Both?

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/is-it-racism-capitalism-or-both- Episode Video Link: In this episode of A Black Executive Perspective, BEP Live tackles a hard question with no safe takes: is racism or capitalism the bigger barrier to success in America? This conversation explores systemic racism, poverty, corporate promotion barriers, personal responsibility, generational wealth, policing, housing discrimination, Black Wall Street, and whether money can protect Black people from racial bias. Through honest dialogue, sharp debate, and real-world examples, this episode challenges listeners to think deeper about power, opportunity, workplace equity, and what it really takes to succeed in America. What You’ll Learn You’ll learn how racism and capitalism intersect in housing, employment, policing, wealth, and Corporate America. You’ll hear why individual success stories do not erase systemic barriers. You’ll walk away with a sharper understanding of how power, money, race, and accountability shape opportunity in America. ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 Welcome to BEP Live 01:00 Race, money, and the struggle for opportunity 03:00 Are people truly free to live, work, and succeed? 05:00 The danger of using outliers as proof 08:00 Redlining, loans, and systemic barriers 10:00 Running the same race with different obstacles 15:00 Personal choices vs. unequal consequences 20:00 Corporate receipts, sales numbers, and promotion gaps 29:00 Boycotts, capitalism, and the power of money 35:00 Socioeconomic status and access 40:00 Tulsa, Black wealth, and community economics 47:00 Henry Louis Gates Jr. and racial profiling 52:00 Poverty, racism, and the bigger American barrier 57:00 LESS framework and final thoughts 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    59 min

  6. Jun 18

    How Hypervisibility Erases Black Women at Work

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/How Hypervisibility Erases Black Women at Work Episode Video Link: In this Need to Know with Dr. Nsenga Burton episode, Dr. Burton explores the harsh reality of hypervisibility and its impact on Black women in leadership, politics, academia, and the workplace. Black women are often highly visible when difficult work needs to be done, but overlooked when credit, promotion, succession, or power is being discussed. Using Kamala Harris as an example, Dr. Burton examines how reproductive rights, immigration, voting rights, and leadership expectations reveal a deeper double standard. This is a powerful conversation about workplace equity, unconscious bias, Black women’s leadership, and the selective memory that appears when Black women are ready to be elevated. ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 Introduction to Need to Know 00:35 What Hypervisibility Really Means 01:06 Black Women and Workplace Heavy Lifting 02:05 Kamala Harris and the Leadership Double Standard 03:20 Why Women of Color Are Expected to Do More 04:41 Reproductive Rights and Public Leadership 05:53 Immigration, Central America, and Economic Strategy 07:19 Voting Rights and Political Coalition Building 08:42 Heavy Lifting Without Fanfare 09:28 When Black Women Get Leapfrogged 10:24 Academia, Bias, and Being Graded Differently 11:38 Unlearning Bias and Questioning the Narrative 12:34 Leadership, Succession, and Who Gets Considered 13:31 Closing Reflection 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    14 min

  7. Jun 16

    Making History They Can’t Erase

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/making-history-they-cant-erase- Episode Video Link: In this episode of A Black Executive Perspective, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed welcome back Valeria Howard Cunningham, President and CEO of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. This conversation goes beyond the arena. Valeria shares the truth about Black cowboys and cowgirls, the history America tried to erase, and the work required to preserve Black Western culture for future generations. The episode explores legacy, ownership, representation, Black women in rodeo, soul country music, community health, leadership, and the question of why the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo remains the greatest show on dirt. This is a powerful conversation about making history that they cannot erase. ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 Black cowboys, erased history, and why this story matters 04:00 Valeria Howard Cunningham and the Bill Pickett legacy 08:00 Making history, they can’t erase 12:00 Why a Black rodeo had to exist 18:00 The global impact of Black rodeo culture 23:00 Ownership, independence, and protecting the mission 29:00 Black women, cowgirls, and representation 36:00 Soul country music and the Black roots of country 47:00 Community health, leadership, and responsibility 59:00 Recognition, legacy, and advice for future leaders 1:09:00 Tony’s Tidbit, LESS pledge, and closing 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    1h 13m

  8. Jun 13

    Is College Still Worth the Debt?

    Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/is-college-still-worth-the-debt- Episode Video Link: In this episode of BEP Live, Chris P. Reed, Tony Tidbit, and MOB, also known as Brilz, tackle one of the biggest questions facing families today: Is college still worth the debt? The conversation explores student loans, trade schools, apprenticeships, Corporate America, Black professional access, workforce readiness, and the growing impact of AI on entry-level jobs. This is a real conversation about education, power, economics, and opportunity. College may still matter, but it can no longer be treated as the only path to success. ▶︎ In This Episode00:00 BEP Live opens the conversation 02:45 Why this college debate matters now 04:50 The history of college, class, and opportunity 09:00 Did America sell families the wrong formula for education? 15:00 Degrees, receipts, work ethic, and real-world skills 20:00 Trade schools, stigma, debt, and the American Dream 22:00 Are graduate jobs losing value? 25:00 Student loans, access, and the cost of opportunity 30:00 Experience versus credentials in Corporate America 36:00 Why college alone does not guarantee readiness 42:00 AI, entry-level jobs, and the future of work 50:00 Final thoughts on education, success, and choice 56:00 Closing and BEP Live call to action 🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode: 🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit" if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change subscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague 🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp ⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebook This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

    58 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

About the Podcast: "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" offers a deep dive into the corporate world through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hosted by Tony Franklin, aka Tony Tidbit, this podcast shines a light on vital conversations around race, leadership, and diversity, fostering understanding and change. https://ablackexec.com Meet Your Host: Tony Franklin has over three decades of corporate experience and provides transformative insights into diversity and inclusion, making each episode a journey of learning and empowerment. Why You Should Listen: - Diverse Perspectives: Insights from a variety of voices on challenges and triumphs in the corporate sphere. -Action-Oriented: Practical advice for advocating equity and allyship in the workplace. - Educational & Empathetic: A focus on empathy and education to drive impactful change. What to Expect: #BEPpodcast brings powerful transformations, empowering voices, addressing barriers, and delving into topics reshaping Corporate America. It's a platform uniting diverse voices and making a significant impact. Stay Connected: Follow @ablackexec on social media for insights and visit ablackexec.com for updates and additional content. Listen & Subscribe: "TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective" is available on: Apple Podcasts: https://ablackexec.com/apple Spotify: https://ablackexec.com/spotify YouTube Podcasts: https://ablackexec.com/youtube Other Platforms: https://ablackexec.com/listen Join us in transforming the narrative on race, leadership, and diversity in Corporate America. Your participation matters! #BEPpodcast #TonyTidbit #CorporateDiversity #Inclusion #Leadership #RaceInCorporate #DiversityMatters #DEI This podcast uses analytics and growth tools from Podder, Chartable, Podsights, and Podcorn.

Information

  • Creator
    TonyTidbit ™
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com
  • Show Website
    TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective