In her latest Love Lab segment on Back2Besa, relationship coach Debrena Jackson Gandy delivers a powerful reality check: most of us aren’t actually getting to know the people we’re dating—we’re just measuring them against a checklist.

#SupportBlackBusiness - Reginald Robinson founded Altha’s Louisiana Cajun Store, located in downtown Kent, in 2016 with a vision to bring authentic Southern products to the Seattle area. Naming the store after his mother, he aimed to create more than just a business; he wanted a "home away from home" for his customers.

Seattle-based social media influencer and content creator Mark TellsYa joined Erin Mayovsky on Good Day Seattle. Mark, known for using his platform to uplift businesses and support community projects, shared insights into his world of content creation and highlighted a significant event: the 11th annual Rising Voices competition.

Hey, Back2Besa family! This week, we've got a special treat for you. While Besa enjoys a well-deserved break, the dynamic Mark TellsYa steps into the host's chair for an episode packed with the vibrant energy and stories of the Pacific Northwest. Get ready for a journey through community, culture, and creativity!

Village Theatre’s new production of The Color Purple is more than a musical — it’s an emotional journey brought to life through rich harmonies, gospel roots, and a cast that feels like family.

The power of youth storytelling will take center stage at the upcoming 11th Annual Rising Voices Oratory Showcase & Celebration, hosted by Speak With Purpose (SWP). The event, which amplifies the voices of young scholars across King County, will be held on Saturday, June 14 at the Seattle Museum of Flight. Preliminaries were Saturday, May 31, and the showcase is free and open to the public.

If you're someone who appreciates heat with flavor, Qemem Hot Sauce is a brand worth knowing. Recently featured on Back2Besa, Qemem founder Embeba sat down with Besa Gordon to share the story behind her bold, flavorful hot sauces that celebrate culture, community, and culinary creativity.

In an intimate and powerful Back2Besa interview, Besa Gordon sat down with author, speaker, and coach Jenefeness Franke to dive into her newest book Drawn To You—a heartfelt guide to healing, self-discovery, and feminine energy.

When choreographer and dancer Rena Butler flew into Seattle fresh off a birthday trip to France, she came with more than just jet lag—she arrived with purpose, power, and a new production in the works for Pacific Northwest Ballet's Director’s Choice series. Besa Gordon sat down with Rena for an intimate conversation about life, legacy, and her upcoming piece titled Cracks.

With Besa Gordon out this week, creative multi-hyphenate Lex Scope is stepping in to guest host Back2Besa—and he made his Good Day Seattle debut to talk all about what he’s bringing to the show.

When Juneteenth rolls around, Seattle will once again feel the electric energy of community, creativity, and culture thanks to the Griot Party Experience. Hosted at the state-of-the-art Broadway Performance Theater, this free event is more than just a celebration—it's a full-on unity experience.

In a recent segment of The Love Lab with Debrena on Back2Besa, relationship coach Debrena Jackson Gandy dives deep into a concept many women are familiar with: “The List.” You know the one—tall, successful, attractive, ambitious. But according to Debrena, that list might be doing more harm than good.

Get ready, Back2Besa fans! This week, the incredibly talented Lex Scope is stepping in as guest host, filling in for Besa Gordon. Lex Scope, originally from North Carolina and now a 12-year Washington resident, is a multifaceted creative force: a cinematographer, producer, movie lover, and community curator.

Stationed on the main strip of South Tacoma Way, Goody Cutz Barber and Beauty, owned by Jahara Miller, brings local perspective with boundless aspirations to the Lakewood community. 

At Drum Roll Wine in Renton, Washington, something powerful happens every Third Thursday. Organized by Denkyem Co-op and led by CEO Dion Cook, these monthly gatherings are more than just networking events—they’re a space of healing, collaboration, and strategy for Black entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Deaunte Damper’s 40th birthday celebration at Acts on Stage in White Center  was a heartfelt event filled with love and appreciation from his community, including his "Converge family" and "BUILD 206 brothers."

Besa Gordon's powerful spoken word piece, recorded live at “Dear Sis” in Spokane, Washington, is a profound declaration of self-acceptance and personal empowerment. The poem confronts societal pressures and internalized criticism, challenging the narrative that individuals, particularly Black women, must conform to external expectations.

Blend Coffee and Kicks is revolutionizing the coffee scene with its unique hybrid concept, seamlessly blending coffee culture, sneaker enthusiasm, and a strong sense of local community in a way that's completely new to the North American market.

Rhonda Faison didn’t plan to become a juice bar owner. In fact, she once dreamed of being a doctor. But life had other plans. After her brother became a quadriplegic, Rhonda—who had been working in emergency medicine—found herself questioning her career path. While caring for him, she started researching plant medicine as a way to help him feel better without the overload of prescriptions. That personal mission sparked something much bigger.

In Spokane’s East Central neighborhood, Fresh Soul isn’t just serving Southern classics—it’s serving purpose. At the heart of it all is Michael C. Brown, founder of the Spokane Eastside Reunion Association and the visionary behind this powerful community hub. What looks like a cozy restaurant on the outside is actually a life-changing job training program for youth, complete with resume workshops, financial literacy, and a 99% job placement rate.