The Martini Shoot, Episodes 10 and 11, were streamed LIVE on the same day! Due to technical issues with Episode 10, Episode 11 has been edited and published first for your enjoyment.Join Host, Norma J. Thomas, as she is joined by Co-Host, Angela F. CeZar, and family, to pay tribute to the inspiration behind "Shop Talk, the barbershop podcast", Joe the Barber.  Listen as they share his life and times, a little history of Joe's Barbershop, and the impact he has made on their lives and on the Acres Homes community as a whole.Performing artists, Tishany Lampley (vocalist) and Jimmy Williams (guitarist) bring the Artistic Impact.*Technically, this is Episode 12; so, we made it!!Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

In the final episode of her 3-part Black Money Matters Series, co-host, Angela F. CeZar returns with her business partner, Toni Sanders as they offer Solutions to the cycle of financial illiteracy and absence of generational wealth in the Black community. They urge listeners and viewers to stop pretending that everything is "good", be honest, get help, and do it for the next generation.Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

As a show of appreciation for all the support of our LIVE Episode 7, we're dropping Episode 8 a few days early.  Angela CeZar and her guest, Toni Sanders, dive into Black Money Matters! Because Black money does, indeed, matter, there are many Black money matters that need to be talked about. And these two dedicated, committed Financial Educators tell it like it is, and one very serious Black money matter is,  "You don't know what you don't know."  It's time to stop acting funny about ya money!Get help. Get educated. Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

LIVE STREAMED, Episode 7, PART 2 BRINGS THE HEAT, answering two major questions:"Culture Keeping, Y Bother? Cultural Appropriation, Y Care?"The no holds barred conversation dives deeply, raising more questions, like:In what ways have we given and do we give our culture away, and why?In what ways has our culture been and continues to be, not just shared and enjoyed, but downright appropriated?What should we do about it and why?Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

LIVE STREAMED, Episode 7, PART 1 answers two major questions:"Culture Keeping, Y Bother? Cultural Appropriation, Y Care?"The no holds barred conversation dives deeply, raising more questions, like:What is Black Culture? Has social media begun to define our culture for us?Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Host, Norma Jo Thomas, is joined by Co-Host, Angela CeZar, in a discussion about the financial status quo of the Black community. They explore the historical roots of the financial struggle which include the eradication of Black Wall Streets throughout the U.S. Culture, tradition, apathy, and ignorance are addressed with heart and conviction, but not without solutions, laying the groundwork for additional episodes covering this most crucial issue in the Black community.Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Host, Norma Jo Thomas, with guests, LaTisha Grant and Dr. Warren Fitzgerald Muhammad, explores the impacts of RE-gentrification on the Black community.They discuss the elements present across the majority of African American communities that set the stage for re-gentrification, the impact on business and economic development, home and property ownership, culture and daily life. Most importantly, they discuss model solutions that can be duplicated by community residents and leaders across the country, who choose to retain residence and are still striving to hold on to the last vestiges of the communities they love, communities that hold history, heritage, and culture.Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Host, Norm a Jo Thomas,  with special guests, Aswad Walker and Furaha Terri Nairn -Collins take a deep dive into  the query, "Where IZ the Community?" Now, transcending geographic boundaries, a non-monolithic group, no longer sharing common values, how do we, or can we, address the needs and issues specific to Black people with shared values?Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Host, Norma Jo Thomas, introduces Co-Host, Angela F. CeZar. Norma gives Angela a quick update on Episodes 1 and the 2, the focus of those conversations, and gets Angela's take on some of the things that have been discussed. The two then take on the question of just HOW to expand the concept of the Black Barbershop as an Institution of Influence and Inspiration in the Black community, how to expand the movement to talk about and explore solutions to today's issues and concerns. The Artistic Impact segment of the show is presented by Norma T., with an "off the cuff chat", a creative conversation, "I See You".Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

Host, Norma Jo Thomas, continues her conversation with Episode 1 guest barbers, Mr. Jermaine Hayter and Mr. Jemiel Thomas. This episode explores the challenges that today's barbershops might face in the effort to restore the Black Barbershop as an institution of influence and inspiration in the Black community.Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

The first of a 3 Episode Launch Series, "A Shave, A Cut, and Then What", Episode 1 is Celebrating the Old School Black Barbershop. Host, Norma Jo Thomas, and a panel of guests: Rev. Norman Westmoreland, aged 92, retired barber, Jermaine Hayter and Jemiel Thomas, both barbers, share memories of the old school barbershop and what it meant to the Black community. They examine the current state of Black barbershops and propose a restoration of the old school Black Barbershop as an institution of inspiration and influence in the Black community.Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.

The who, what, when, where, how, and why of Shop Talk, the podcast.Who - hosted by Norma Jo Thomas What - Celebrating and Restoring those "Old School" Black Barbershop conversations ... Shop Talk, the podcastWhere - Houston, Acres Homes - 44, Texas, on location at the historic Joe's BarbershopWhen - Every ThursdayHow -   Recorded conversations about news and issues relevant to the Black community.Why - The "Old School" Black Barbershop conversations held the community down and lifted the community up. We need them now, more than ever. The Black Barbershop can become, once again, an institution of influence and inspiration in the Black community.Send us a Text Message.Season 1 is funded, in part, by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.