Send us a text

Some stories aren’t meant to be told once; they’re meant to be lived, spoken, and reshaped until the truth inside them finally lands. That’s where we go with poet Tony B, whose book Runaway Home charts a fierce, tender path through grief, reinvention, and the power of choosing your own voice. We start with the line that won’t leave her alone—“I write because I don’t know what else to do”—and follow it from midwestern roots to a thousand-mile drive toward the Atlantic with nothing but a car, $4,000, and conviction.

Tony opens up about losing her husband and father, pouring love into a restaurant that ultimately failed, and rediscovering her craft during the stillness of COVID. She explains how writing helps her process what she’s learned, while performance functions like confession, turning poems into actions. Together we unpack the structure of Runaway Home—family, relationships, grief, and the title section—threaded with acceptance, forgiveness, healing, and love. We talk about the difference between happiness and joy, why the ocean became a place to be rather than do, and how she learned to cancel old “subscriptions” to beliefs that didn’t honor her life.

This conversation is raw, grounded, and filled with lines you’ll carry. You’ll hear how agency grows when we own our choices without denying what’s been done to us, how a voice becomes clearer when it’s spoken aloud, and why place matters when it resets your rhythm. If you’ve ever felt the pull to start over, to reframe your story, or to find home inside yourself, Tony’s journey will meet you where you are. Stream now, share it with someone who needs courage for a leap, and if it resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what belief are you canceling next?

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

What happens when culture becomes the bridge instead of the barrier? We sit with Rita Addico Cohen, executive director of the Tidewater African Cultural Alliance, to explore a life that stretched from Accra to Hampton Roads and a mission that now spans classrooms, libraries, and community stages. Rita shares how TACA’s African Cultural Education (ACE) program brings one country at a time into schools through language, storytelling, and dance—turning curiosity into confidence and delivering measurable gains in knowledge, relationships, and social-emotional skills.

We dig into the design: six- to eight-week modules, vocabulary from major African languages, and a storytelling practice adapted from Ghanaian tradition that helps students name morals and navigate behavior with empathy. Thanks to a partnership with curriculum experts at Old Dominion University, ACE is built to scale. Rita’s own path—polyglot, federal interpreter, Manhattan School of Music alum, theater artist—powers a teaching style that makes heritage feel alive. Beyond classrooms, TACA convenes joyful public events: a gala featuring 20+ countries, country-focused showcases with local diasporas, and the return of Afrobeats Fest with youth workshops, college connections, and cultural scholarships.

We also face the hard history. Rita unpacks the transatlantic slave trade’s reach, the endurance of African design and polyrhythms across global music and fashion, and why attempts to erase culture ultimately fail. Mental health sits alongside celebration, with monthly conversations led by clinicians to help communities of African descent process trauma and strengthen resilience. If you believe culture should be accessible, accurate, and shared, this conversation offers a roadmap—and an invitation.

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of culture, education, and community. Share this episode with a friend, and tell us which country you’d like to see ACE bring to your local school next.

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

Fashion doesn’t just live in New York or Paris. It thrives wherever creators take the risk to build a stage. We sit down with Ann Ward Lester and Jennifer Lester of Splash Entertainment Group to trace how a model management experiment became Virginia Fashion Week, why they aligned this year’s showcase with Timbaland Way, and what it takes to turn a local runway into a real creative economy in Hampton Roads.

Ann opens up about the early vision shared with stylist Ron Cook and the late, beloved Cookie Dabney, and how that collaboration set a professional standard for fittings, lineups, and show flow. Jennifer reveals the moving parts you don’t see: model calls, designer coordination, communications, and the 48‑hour scramble before lights up. Together, they map a pipeline where first collections evolve into paid work in New York, Paris, and Dubai—and how those alumni circle back to teach, mentor, and vend, keeping the ecosystem alive. We talk candidly about sponsor realities in a military‑leaning market, the rising tide from Pharrell’s Something in the Water, and why honoring local music on the runway turns a fashion show into a cultural salute.

You’ll also hear beauty and skincare wisdom from Ann’s channel, Fabulous Life 101—practical routines for midlife skin health that complement the runway’s artistry. From vendor curation that favors actual makers to collaborations with Team Lamb, the episode offers a grounded blueprint for building a scene: focus on craft, elevate community, and let fashion, music, and film amplify each other. Join us, grab tickets via VAFashionWeek.com, and help push Hampton Roads further onto the creative map. If the episode resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to support the artists shaping our city’s future.

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

What if a music program could flip the switch from shy to fearless in a single season? We sit down with Jake Smalls, music director at School of Rock Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, to unpack how performance-based training builds skill, confidence, and community faster than traditional lessons. With three themed seasons a year—think Best of the Nineties, Emo, Funk, or creative matchups like Muse vs. Radiohead—students rehearse with purpose, play real venues, and see their progress on stage.

Jake brings a rare blend of physics, audio engineering, and gig-tested instinct to the classroom. Instead of locking kids into static bands, he and his team assign roles calibrated to each player’s level, so a beginner drummer can groove while a senior tackles the solo that raises the ceiling. That structure rewards consistent practice over the myth of raw talent and turns repetition into momentum. Along the way, students learn stagecraft: how to load in, listen across the ensemble, and handle the adrenaline surge when lights go up.

We explore how diverse genres shape better musicians and broader citizens. From grunge to jazz fusion, from Miles Davis to Debussy samples inside Radiohead, influence moves like cuisine across cultures. The house band—an audition-only group—gig twice a month and tour the South, hitting places like Beale Street and Sun Studio, transforming “youth program” into “working act.” Alumni go on to Berklee or launch projects at JMU; instructors keep the pipeline fresh as active performers around Hampton Roads.

If you’re searching for music lessons that actually get you on stage, this is your roadmap: free trials, phased casting, midseason previews, and final shows that fill rooms. Hit play to hear how thoughtful show design, smart casting, and a welcoming community can change a player’s trajectory. If the conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more families find their stage.

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

We sit down with Tim Loulies, a Hampton Roads comic and teacher, to trace his 17-year journey from sticky-note premises to packed clubs, from the Comedy Store’s unforgiving OR to the Apollo’s infamous boo, and into the wild psychology of being a heel in professional wrestling. Tim opens up about stage fright, why you literally lose your breath at the mic, and how “mental cardio” makes or breaks your first minute on stage.

We dig into the craft: writing jokes that travel, building an opener that buys trust, editing tags that snap, and steering a room when chatter threatens the rhythm. Tim breaks down heckler control without punishing the crowd and explains why self-deprecation is a reliable on-ramp to shared laughter. He shares lessons from mentors like Steve Treviño and the late John Witherspoon, showing how consistency and energy turn a practiced act into something that still feels alive.

There’s heart here too. Tim’s work on PBS’s Comedy Boot Camp with the Armed Services Arts Program reveals how stand-up can help veterans facing PTSD take back their stories and connect through laughter. We talk about teaching at the Funny Bone Comedy School, building community, and using nerves as a focus—not a flaw. Plus, details on the new Virginia Beach club opening, upcoming classes, and how to watch Tim’s Amazon special, “Sugar Glider.”

Hit play to learn, laugh, and leave with practical tools you can use on stage or in any high-stakes room. If this conversation sparks something, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find it.

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

Local stories can change the fate of a city when they’re told with care. Tony B sits down with Al Neely of Neely Media and Councilman Cash Green to chart a people-first media plan that lifts small businesses, reduces stigma, and builds real civic momentum across Virginia Beach. What starts as an origin story—an online inquiry, a community event, and a shared commitment—grows into a roadmap for accessible journalism and community-building that prioritizes human voices over headlines.

We unpack why podcasts and social channels are now the front door for local news, and how Neely Media is scaling responsibly: on-the-ground reporters, consistent event coverage, and a community-focused newspaper slated for early 2026. Councilman Green shares a powerful personal journey from earning a GED to serving in public office, challenging old narratives about success and education while championing entrepreneurship as the backbone of District 7. Together, we highlight practical steps to start telling better local stories—free on-site exclusives for Virginia Beach businesses, weekly mobile visits on Tuesdays, and simple ways to request coverage through nealymedia.com.

Along the way, we spotlight youth development through martial arts and the wider social benefits of disciplined training, mentorship, and belonging. We talk about turning everyday transactions into relationships by revealing the “business behind the business,” and why that kind of context builds trust, supports seniors, and strengthens the local economy. The tone is warm and candid; the mission is clear: people over politics, service over spotlight, and a city that’s ready to see itself—and support itself—more fully.

If you believe local voices deserve a bigger stage, subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor, and leave a review with the name of a small business we should feature next. Your suggestion could be our next story.

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

What happens when a decorated Air Force pilot turns his attention to local democracy? Sean Monterio, chairperson for the Virginia Beach Democratic Party Committee and retired Air Force colonel who flew the fearsome A-10 Warthog "tank killer," brings the same precision and purpose to his fight for fair representation in Virginia Beach.

At the heart of our conversation lies the controversial 10-1 referendum - a seemingly technical issue that fundamentally shapes who has power in Virginia's largest city. Monterio breaks down why having council members who live in your neighborhood matters: "They live in your neighborhoods, they drive through your neighborhoods... and you only have one person now to call to advocate for you." This system ensures all communities - not just the wealthy or well-connected - have a voice in decisions about everything from flooding prevention to school funding.

The contrast with the proposed 7-3-1 system reveals what's truly at stake. When three at-large council members could potentially all live in the same zip code, who really gets represented? As Monterio explains, this creates winners and losers among communities, with resources flowing disproportionately to certain areas while others struggle with crumbling infrastructure.

Beyond voting systems, Monterio offers profound insights on community policing, noting that "when you know somebody by their name, you're less apt to be aggressive towards them" - a principle that applies equally to relationships between citizens and their representatives. His perspective as both a military veteran and community leader illuminates how local governance directly impacts quality of life for every resident.

Ready to understand how local democracy really works? This episode delivers practical wisdom for anyone who cares about their community's future. Subscribe now and join the conversation about fair representation!

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Send us a text

Comedy isn't just about making people laugh – it's about processing life's challenges and speaking truths others can't. That's what local comedian Steve Wills discovered after stepping onto the stage for the first time nearly two years ago.

In this revealing conversation with Al Neely, Steve shares how comedy transformed from a simple bucket list item into a therapeutic outlet that helps him navigate life's complexities. Born in Savannah and raised in Mississippi before settling in Virginia Beach after his Navy service, Steve brings a unique Southern perspective to his performances at venues like Funny Bone, where he's participated in their Clash of the Comics and Roast Battle events.

What sets Steve apart is his unwavering authenticity. Despite working as an insurance broker by day, he doesn't shy away from controversial topics or political commentary in his comedy. "If I lose business because of this, then I'm okay with that," he explains, noting that this honesty actually strengthens his connection with audiences who appreciate his genuine approach. Drawing inspiration from comedians like Dave Chappelle, Anthony Jeselnik, and Shane Gillis, Steve embraces an edgier style that might not always play it safe but remains true to his voice.

Perhaps most fascinating is Steve's personal evolution. Growing up in a conservative Christian household in Mississippi, his worldview expanded dramatically after joining the Navy and encountering diverse perspectives. This journey from sheltered upbringing to open-minded comedian offers powerful insights into how exposure to different people and ideas can transform our understanding of the world.

Whether discussing his comedy career, his family (he's a father of four), or his frustrations with current events like the Epstein case, Steve brings refreshing candor to every topic. Follow him on social media @SteveWillsIsFunny to catch his latest performances and thought-provoking posts.

Support the show

Do us a favor and like, comment, share, and subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes. To see the full video on YouTube go to Listen Up with Host Al Neely

Reach out to us on our socials and hit us up with any questions!

Email: Info@listenup.biz
Instagram: ListenUp4U
Facebook: Let's Talk About It - Listen Up
Twitter: ListenUp@Listenup4U
Website: listenup.biz

YouTube: Listen Up with Host Al Neely