A culture & community podcast created by Aaron Dante to record the fascinating life stories of his friends, family and people that have stories that need to be told! Come along on this journey with Human Interest Stories
Episodes
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
Nopixafterdark EP 180: Aaron interviews Julie Donaldson the Senior Vice President of The Washington Commanders. We discuss her journey from University of Florida to Washington DC. Julie talks about working hard, learning as much as possible and taking any job that came her way in the beginning of her career. That hard work ethic has prepared her for her job with the Washington Commanders.The first female to be a regular on-air member of an NFL radio broadcast booth. Take a listen to her amazing journey.
Julie Donaldson is the Senior Vice President of Media and Content for the Washington Commanders. A member of Washington's executive leadership team, Julie oversees the entire broadcast and editorial operation in the organization along with being a permanent member of the gameday radio broadcast. The first female to be a regular on-air member of an NFL radio broadcast booth, Julie also adds her input and vision towards all of the club's in-house creative content.
During a decade-long tenure as a reporter, anchor, and host for NBC Sports Washington (NCBSW), Julie has covered nearly every team, athlete and major sports story in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore region, as well as across national and international sporting events. Julie most recently served as host of NBCSW's Emmy Award-winning NFL pregame and postgame shows and contributed regularly to its other football programs and coverage.
In addition to her work with NBCSW, Julie has also frequently held on-air roles for NBC Sports and NBC Olympics. She has held three Olympic assignments as a News Desk Host during the 2018 (PyeongChang) 2016 (Rio) and 2014 (Sochi) Olympic Games, and often serves as a weekend Sports Desk host for NBC Sports. Before that, Julie hosted NBCSW's live NBA gameday shows, and was an anchor and reporter for several NBCSW news, analysis, and entertainment shows, including SportsNet Central, Training Camp Daily and Football Central.
Julie joined NBCSW in August 2010 after stops in some of the nation's top markets, including Boston, New York, and Miami. Donaldson served as a sports anchor and reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV (NBC). Prior to WHDH, she was as a reporter for SportsNet New York (SNY) for two years, including the network's inaugural season.
Bio From the Commanders website
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
EP 179 Aaron interviewed Dia Simms CEO of LOBOS 1707 Tequila & Mezcal & CO-FOUNDER, PRONGHORN. Dia is Morgan State University Alum, she resides in Columbia MD. We discuss her journey from living in NYC and moving to Baltimore. Dia worked for over 15 years with Sean "Diddy" Combs or P.Diddy with his Ciroc Brand. She discusses how she became the CEO of LOBOS 1707 Tequila & Mezcal that is invested by Lebron James. We talk about being a CO-FOUNDER for PRONGHORN and how the company will help minorities get into the SPIRITS game. I've told you enough go listen to this amazing episode.
Dia Simms is co-founder of PRONGHORN, a stand-alone business established to create a scalable template for diversifying an industry. The initial aim will be to cultivate the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, employees and executive leaders within the spirits industry through sustainable investment, incubation and recruitment. The pronghorn is the fastest North American land mammal and can endure speeds for miles. Inspired by its namesake, Pronghorn believes creating real change is a marathon, not a sprint.
Dia Simms also serves as the CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal, an independent spirits brand that launched in November 2020. Simms leads Lobos 1707 alongside Founder and Chief Creative Officer Diego Osorio, with early backing by sports and cultural icon, LeBron James. Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal is named after the Spanish word lobos, meaning "wolves", and dedicated to celebrating the strength of the pack. Simms brings an impressive track record of building successful brands, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit and deep expertise in the spirits industry to Lobos 1707.
Simms spent almost fifteen years working alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs at Combs Enterprises, starting in 2005 as his executive assistant. She grew within the company while building multiple brands and businesses under the Combs Enterprises umbrella. In 2017, Simms was named President of Combs Enterprises, making her the first president in the company’s thirty-year history other than Sean Combs himself. In her role as President, she oversaw multi-billion-dollar brands under the Combs empire, including: CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka, Blue Flame Agency, AQUAhydrate, Bad Boy Entertainment, Sean John and Revolt TV. Of note, Simms led the transformation of CÎROC Ultra- Premium Vodka taking the previously unprofitable brand to a $2 billion retail value.
Simms was listed as “One of the Most Powerful Executives in the Industry'' by Billboard in both 2017 and 2018, as well as named to the Ebony 'Power 100' list. In April of 2018, she was an honoree of the Matrix Awards from New York Women In Communications (NYWIC), as well as named to the 2018 Ad Age ‘Women to Watch’ list and Variety’s ‘Power of Women New York Impact List’. Simms serves on the board for the Maryland organization THREAD, which provides underprivileged Baltimore-area high-school students resources to help foster their academic advancement and personal growth. She often speaks on the importance of diverse leadership and accelerated brand building.
Simms graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Morgan State University. She obtained a master’s degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Simms now resides in Maryland where she lives with her husband, daughter and dog.
www.lobos1707.com
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop @foundstudioshop
Charm Craft City Mafia @charmcitycraftmafia
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works @open_works_bmore
Baltimore Fiscal @baltimorefiscal
Snug Book. @snugbooksbmore
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Aaron sat down with Ashish Alfred the owner of No Way Rose & Duck Duck Goose. I am excited for you to watch and listen to his story - how he came up with the names of his restaurants and his love for Baltimore! We discuss his trial and tribulations as a young adult and his love for food. We discuss restaurant etiquette and more.
IG: nowayrosebaltimore
IG: ChefAshishAlfred
IG: ddgbaltimore
IG: duckduckgoosedc
IG: NoPixAfterDark
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Snug Books Baltimore
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Monday Apr 18, 2022
Monday Apr 18, 2022
EP 177: BLK SWAN ft Co-Owner Chris Simon and Chef Saon Brice. This episode Aaron interviewed Chris Simon & Chef Saon Brice. This was the first time Aaron had ever been to BLK SWAN. We discuss several topics from the decor, food, dress code, name of the restaurant and why did they decide to open in Harbor East. This was part 1 of 2 episodes with Chef Saon and Chris Simon. Enjoy Part 1
@eatatblkswan
@nopixafterdark
Friday Apr 15, 2022
Friday Apr 15, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Monday Apr 11, 2022
Hi I’m Mo, the proud owner of Pandora’s Box Boutique, also know as the “Gift Curator” Pandora’s Box is a mod vibrant, ever-evolving lifestyle boutique located in the Historic Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland .
IG: shoppandorasboxboutique
https://pandorasboxboutique.com/
Sponsors of NoPixAfterDarkPodcast
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Monday Apr 04, 2022
Monday Apr 04, 2022
EP 174: Aaron sat down with Heidi Klotzman the CEO of Baltimore-based HeidnSeek Entertainment. We discussed how she became an entrepeneur and who inspired her to get into the entertainment industry. She has been one of the few people that had been in the game for entertainment for over 15 year. She is also a published author. I am excited for you to hear her-story.
Heidi Klotzman is the award-winning Founder and CEO of Baltimore-based HeidnSeek Entertainment, LLC (HNS), a company recognized for its excellence in marketing businesses and special events and booking live music and DJ talent. Her creative direction of HNS has become synonymous with Baltimore’s events and promotion culture. She has cultivated tens of thousands of professional subscribers into her entertainment guide and advises them on what to do.
Klotzman has been acknowledged as one of the Most Influential Professionals in the Baltimore event field by Baltimore Magazine’s Power Issue, The Queen of Clubs by The Baltimore Sun, a Top Professional Under 35 by b newspaper and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a Rising Star by Baltimore Business Journal and Living Classrooms Foundation, an Emerging Leader by The United Way of Central Maryland, a Very Important Professional Under 40 and Leading Woman by The Daily Record, a Woman of Power by E Media, a Woman of The Year nominee by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a Spirited Woman Giving Back winner, a Philanthropik Philanthropy award winner, a Community Game-changer by Cre-a-TV, and nominated as one of the Largest Contributors to the Local Music Scene by the Maryland Music Awards. She’s also been interviewed by Medium, Baltimore Style Magazine, and Jmore Magazine.
Klotzman has appeared on the ABC2 Midday Maryland show as an ongoing Events Contributor, WCBM Radio for Women Talk Live, Baltimore CityBizList as a featured CEO, KHZTV Radio with Gina Geppi Social Scene, Port Covington for The Future of Charm City and Deep Dive panels, her alma mater Roland Park Country School on the young women’s entrepreneurial and diversity panels, her alma mater Goucher College on the Subject of Leadership talk, the Media and Marketing panel at Baltimore Next Media Web Festival, Motor House for the Women In the Industry panel, the Baltimore Music Conference for the Women in Entertainment Panel, the Successful Revolution Conference panel, and Maryland’s New Directions to share her experience as an inspirational entrepreneur. She has also contributed as a writer to Wedding411 Magazine and Mobtown Music Guide and published a book of poetry entitled Circadian Rhythm.
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Aaron interviewed April Lichtenberg the Director of Business Development at Flowers & Fancies. April and I discuss her background and how a desk job was never for her. She loves working with the public and making new connections in the Baltimore area.
April talks about Flowers and Fancies and how it's an amazing company to work for. She tells the story on how networking has helped them to be one of the go to Floral companies in the area. Some of Flowers and Fancies clients are the Four Seasons, No Way Rose, Ivy Hotel, Bar One and more. Flowers and Fancies is open 7 days a week and also has classes to teach people on how to make floral arraingements.
Thank You April for coming on the show dropping jewels and gems.
Thank you Eddie..
IG: https://instagram.com/flowersandfancies/
website: https://www.flowersandfancies.com
Thank you to my sponsors:
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Snug Books http://www.snugbooks.com
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
EP 172: Alysha January Discover Charm City We discuss how Alysha ended up in Baltimore. The name of the blog,mental health, her journey and her love for Baltimore City. We discuss social media and many of the amazing events she is involved in around Baltimore
IG: discovercharmcity
Producer: Acutevisions
Thank you to my sponsors:
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Snug Books http://www.snugbooks.com
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Aaron sat down with Jennifer Buonantony CEO & Founder of Press Pass LA and PPLA Social & PR. Aaron has known Jennifer since their days at Syracuse University undergrads. Jennifer tells her inspiring story of moving too LA with no job living in a hotel. She eventually found a job working with Television Producer Mark Burnett. Jennifer takes you on a journey of her trials and tribulations that she went through to get her company off the ground and how it's still going strong after 11 years. How she got into the PR field and what things she has learned.
IG: PPLASOCIAL
www.pplasocial.com
IG: PRESSPASSLA
www.presspassla.com
Producer: Ed Curran
Thank you to my sponsors:
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Snug Books http://www.snugbooks.com
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Aaron sat down Sumayyah, the owner of Codetta Bake Shop. Codetta Bake Shop came on the scene Fall of 2020 during the height of the pandemic. Mya and her business partner Chris decided to quit their jobs and follow their passion. Codetta Bake Shop is known for their amazing cheesecakes and cupcakes. Codetta Bake Shop has been featured on Good Morning America, Baltimore Sun, Wedding Magazines and more. We discuss Mental Health, pops up and more.
IG: codettabakeshop
video by Acutevisions:
Thank you to my sponsors:
Zeke's Coffee www.zekescoffee.com
Maggies Farm www.maggiesfarm.com
FoundStudio Shop www.foundstudioshop.com
Charm Craft City Mafia www.charmcitycraftmafia.com
Siena Leigh https://www.sienaleigh.com
Open Works https://www.openworksbmore.org
Baltimore Fiscal https://www.baltimorefiscal.com
Snug Books http://www.snugbooks.com