Champions of the Lost Causes

Latest Episodes:

Episode 31: James Dukes (IMAKEMADBEATS) Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

After cutting his teeth as a musician and producer in New York City, James Dukes (IMAKEMADBEATS) returned home to Memphis in 2011 to find a music scene that at first seemed stuck in the past. As he began to work with local artists, he discovered an eclectic and uniquely creative group of artists that would become the backbone of Unapologetic, a label and artist collective James founded and has since grown.

Episode 30: Nick Oyler Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Nick Oyler is the Bikeway & Pedestrian Program Manager for the City of Memphis. When the push for bike lanes in Memphis resulted in early victories for the bike/ped movement and then gave way to the city’s initial buildout, Nick was away at college, grad school, then working in Germany. Following all that news from afar, Nick thought that he might have missed his moment to get involved. But as many multifaceted causes require, there was plenty of work left to be done when he got back to his hometown. Nick’s experience of riding a bike when he was young helped pave the way for his interest in city planning and to his current role, and helped him see the many benefits to cities and people of having a well-designed system of bike lanes and walkways. Memphis has come a long way, but it still has a lot of work ahead of it.

Episode 29: Roshun Austin & Quincy Jones Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

Roshun Austin and Quincy Jones of the Works Inc., are working to rebuild, restore and renew families and where they live by focusing on housing, economic development and social services. With the recent merger with Neighborhood Preservation Inc., the Works has strengthened an already strong partnership and is now capable of doing more to advocate for the needs of residents, and ambitious plans are underway to renovate and reopen Northside High School.

Episode 28: Eric Barnes Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

Eric Barnes is the CEO and publisher of the Daily Memphian, an online daily news outlet launched in 2018. The global decline of the daily print newspaper meant the decline of the Commercial Appeal, Memphis' legacy paper. The Daily Memphian was a response to that decline, and as the paradigm shift in journalism continues, the Daily Memphian continues to adapt to find a funding model to support its part of the city’s independent press. The Daily Memphian is part of Memphis' unique media ecosystem, and the benefits of competition with the Commercial Appeal and other outlets, have been a boon to news consumers.

Episode 27: Christopher Reyes Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

In 2000, Christopher Reyes founded Live From Memphis, a website that showcased the city's burgeoning music, film, and art scenes. The site gave artists new tools and ways to connect that bigger social media platforms had not yet built. It galvanized collaboration and helped grow community among artists. Always ahead of the technological curve, immersive multimedia art was next for Chris. In creating Baron Von Opperbean, an interactive art installation, he once again used storytelling to build community. In the future, Chris plans to introduce virtual and augmented reality dimensions to the Baron's story, a story he insists is more about the participants telling their own stories than it is about the Baron.

The Past, Present, and Future of Memphis Music LIVE at the Memphis Listening Lab Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

Panelists Isaac Daniel (Stax Music Academy), Elizabeth Cawein (Music Export Memphis), J.D. Reager (Back to the Light) discuss the past, present, and future of the Memphis music landscape. Each panelist has championed the cause of Memphis music in different ways.
Recorded live on Saturday, December 4th, 2021 at the Memphis Listening Lab inside Crosstown Concourse.

Episode 26: Mike McCarthy Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Many consider Mike McCarthy the godfather of independent film in Memphis, but in addition to his films, he has created comic books, graphic novels, sculptures, played in bands, and was the co-founder of the Coliseum Coalition, the grassroots group that worked to save Memphis' historic Mid-South Coliseum from the wrecking ball, and is now working to reactivate it. The common thread in all of Mike's work is a desire to make meaning and build culture through art.

Episode 25: Aaron Shafer Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

Aaron Shafer led the grassroots effort to open Memphis' first public skate park in 2011. We discuss how his passion for the idea drew others to the cause and how they collaborated with the city of Memphis and the community to open the park. We also talk about his idea for a wave park and other civic projects on the horizon.

Episode 24: Jared Boyd Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Jared Boyd is the program manager for WYXR, Memphis' newest community radio station, which grew from a germ of an idea and collaboration with others to now broadcasting diverse viewpoints and an eclectic mix of music from Crosstown Concourse in Memphis. Jared's experience as a journalist and DJ also helped him work with others to make the station what it has become in its first year.

Episode 23: Angela Barksdale Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

Angela Barksdale's focus on improving Memphis' historic Orange Mound community has seen her produce events, lead campaigns, and advocate for the reopening of the dormant Mid-South Coliseum. She and others think the Coliseum could fit in with the City of Memphis' redevelopment of the city's fairgrounds, now known as Liberty Park, as a community asset that would enhance other efforts underway in Orange Mound.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Champions of the Lost Causes

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected