Theo Wilson, a.k.a slam poet, Lucifury, is a founding member of the Denver Slam Nuba team, who won the National Poetry Slam in 2011. He began his speaking career in the N.A.A.C.P. at the age of 15, and has always had a passion for social justice. Theo attended Florida A&M University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Theater Performance. He returned to Denver and is now the Executive Director of Shop Talk Live, inc. The organization uses the barber shop as a staging ground for community dialogue and healing. Theo fulfilled a very particular political role in 2024 as the "black voice of the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign".

After viral video success beginning in 2015, Theo grew his social media following to well over 68,000 people. Due to audience demand, he published his first book in 2017, “The Law of Action.” The book addresses some of the misconceptions about the law of attraction, and the role direct action plays into manifestation. In 2017, his TED Talk entitled, “A Black Man Goes Undercover in the Alt Right,” was seen worldwide, amassing a total of over 12 million views. He has been featured on BuzzFeed, CNN, Good Day Canada, and TV One. Theo and I discuss the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Denver police, his background in slam poetry, the story behind his controversial TED talk, the inspirations and disappointments of working for the Kennedy campaign, fatherhood ...and more! follow Theo at @theoejwilson on instagram

To describe Eldra Jackson III as a "prison reform success story" would not only be a vast understatement; it would also leave unacknowledged the trauma, the trials and the transformation this extraordinary man has gone through to become who he is today. Eldra is an inspiring public speaker, author and co-director of Inside Circle, a healing community in which adult and juvenile inmates are supported in processing their trauma and discovering and expressing their full range of emotions. Having suffered sexual child abuse in his early youth, Eldra eventually spiralled downward into a life of violent criminal and gang activity, which ultimately left him in New Folsom Prison serving what was meant to be a life sentence. He shares with us his story of how supportive, open-hearted men's work in a safe community catalyzed his personal healing and transformation into becoming a leader in that very same group, and beyond.

Ed Gordon, as his friends call him, has more accolades in the academic world than can be listed here. Commissioned in 1956 by president Lyndon B. Johnson to lead the development of Head Start, this renowned psychology professor and researcher went on to earn a whopping NINE honorary degrees from prestigious establishments such as Brown University, Yale University and also Columbia University, where there is now a whole campus named after him. He has written over 25 books and 400 published articles, and he also happens to be my great uncle and mentor. On this day, June 13th 2024, he turns 103 years old! I'm so honored that he has allowed me to share some of his off-the-cuff wisdom with the world.