Black Businesses Matter (BBM) Podcast

Hosted by Larvetta L Loftin-Arnold

Business Society Culture

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Episodes

131

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Black Businesses Matter is a weekly podcast show on the impact of collaborating and advocating for Black Businesses to drive impact. It is hosted by Larvetta L. Loftin. Founder of The L3 Agency, a full service influencer marketing and communications agency. Hear from investors, thought leaders, supply chain leaders, DEI practitioners and business owners on why engaging minority businesses should be a social responsibility when black businesses are the largest employers of black people. Each episode will provide inspiration and actionable tools to help you become culturally sensitive in growing your business or brand. Each episode are about 30 - 45 minutes in length to help you to pledge to support Black businesses EVERY DAY in EVERY WAY and REIMAGINE #blackbusinessesmatter.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 1321 hr 8 min

Honor Your Flow with CEO Cecelia Towns-Scott

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.A lot of products claim to be “game changers," but this one is literally patented. We’re sitting down with Cecilia Towns-Scott, a south side Chicago attorney, founder, wife, and mom who spent ten years building Honor, a sustainable period and bladder leak brief designed for how life actually moves. Her innovation is simple to understand and hard to pull off: a reusable product with a removable liner, so you can swap a fresh one fast instead of feeling stuck all day.We talk about the real mechanics behind product development: trial and error, fabric testing, feedback from friends, funding wins and funding droughts, and the quiet moments when quitting feels logical. Cecilia also breaks down why “Honor Your Flow” is bigger than underwear. Menstrual health is tied to stress, food, movement, and the other 21 days around the actual menstruation, and the brand’s mission is to replace embarrassment with education and confidence.Then, we zoom out into entrepreneurship strategy. Big box retail sounds like the dream, but retail readiness is a money and logistics game with pallets, shelf space fees, and inventory risks most people never hear about. We unpack why community partnerships, direct-to-consumer sales, and owning your IP first can protect both your margins and your mission. If you’ve been pushed out, laid off, or underestimated, Cecilia’s advice is clear: "get mad, then build."Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

May 18, 2026Episode 13155 min

What If Boundaries Are Your Real Strategy with Laura Knights

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.The work keeps changing, the tech keeps changing, and the expectations on leaders keep rising, but nobody tells you what to do with the human side of it. I’m joined by Laura E. Knights, LCSW, an executive coach and leadership strategist, to talk about what it really takes to lead and grow as a Black professional and as a Black entrepreneur when AI is moving fast and workplaces can feel intense, messy, and sometimes downright traumatic.Laura shares how her early entrepreneurship started with tutoring, invoices, and family examples of relationship-driven sales, then expands into what it looks like to take your identity as an entrepreneur seriously. We also get practical about AI in the workplace: how tools like ChatGPT can create efficiency for a small team, and why “use it now” without AI governance, ethical guidance, and legal guardrails puts leaders and employees at risk.We also go straight to the leadership tension so many Black women leaders face: moving from technical excellence to strategic leadership. We break down why being the one who always executes can block the next promotion, how “pet to threat” shows up through ageism and workplace dynamics, and why boundaries at work are not optional if you want long-term performance and well-being. The bigger takeaway is simple: headwork and heart work have to grow together if you want real influence.If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people find Black Businesses Matter.Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

May 11, 20261 hr 2 min

Stop Treating Your Website Like A Business Card says Lenora Blackamore

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.A website can look perfect and still do nothing for your business. That’s the problem we dig into with Lenora Blackamore, CEO of Mecca Marketing Group Incorporated, a Black-owned marketing and web development firm with deep roots in digital technology going back to the 1990s. We talk about what separates a site that simply exists from an online presence that actually drives leads, sales, and long-term growth.We get practical about the modern small business tech stack: why a CRM matters, how Go High Level can replace a pile of disconnected subscriptions, and where AI fits when you want speed without losing strategy. Lenora explains her real process, from one-on-one discovery and website audits to building a stronger foundation that can scale. We also get into content management, why “content is currency,” and how storing and organizing your assets saves you time and keeps your marketing consistent.Then we widen the lens to community impact. We share thoughts on social media marketing, why it’s still powerful, and why kids under 15 or 16 shouldn’t be navigating that world unchecked. We talk mentorship, tech exposure in schools, and what it takes to keep our communities growing. Lenora also reflects on working at Johnson Publishing Company and what Ebony’s digital pivot teaches every entrepreneur about innovation and leadership.If you’re building a Black-owned business, growing a brand, or trying to modernize your marketing systems, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these stories.Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

May 4, 2026Episode 1291 hr 7 min

Technology And Collective Action Can Shrink The Wealth Gap with Ghian Foreman

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.The South Side story most people never hear is the one built on ownership, pride, and neighbors choosing each other on purpose. We’re joined by Ghian Foreman , President and CEO of Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative, to talk about what it really takes to generate community wealth in Chicago’s Mid-South Side and why the economic ripple effects around the Obama Presidential Center have to land beyond a single campus.We get into his path from early real estate investing and corporate mergers and acquisitions to leading mission-driven work where breaks down how leadership changes when you’re accountable to a community, why planning high matters, and how mentorship can’t stop at “my own kid.” If we want safer neighborhoods and stronger Black entrepreneurship, we have to share information, open doors, and treat young people like the future workforce and founders they already are.Then we zoom out to the tools shaping what comes next: AI, technology adoption, and the practical skills needed to stay competitive while closing the racial wealth gap. We also talk about the emotional side of building in real communities including trauma, therapy, and what it means to redefine wealth as health, relationships, and collective wins. You’ll hear concrete examples like vacant land activation strategies that reduce violence, plus why Black businesses matter through cultural competence, local hiring, and an ecosystem that finally gets to be in balance.Subscribe, share this with someone building something, and leave a review so more people find these stories and put them to work.Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

April 27, 2026Episode 1281 hr 1 min

Chef Chloe Gould Blends Southern Roots With Southeast Asian Flavor

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.A tiny restaurant can hold a whole neighborhood together if the intention is right. We’re back in the studio for Season 11, and we’re joined by Chef Chloe Gould, the owner of Dixie Pura Kitchen, a Black-owned restaurant tucked into Chicago’s Bronzeville community. Chloe doesn’t just cook, she translates. Her “Southern meets Southeast Asian” approach turns familiar comfort into a cultural bridge, and the dining room feels like home on purpose, right down to the photos on the walls and the conversations that make guests forget the clock.We go deep on the story behind the name Dixie Pura, how Singapore shaped her palette, and how grief, a kidney transplant, and personal loss reshaped her relationship with food, work, and joy. Chloe also breaks down what people rarely see: the kitchen ladder from prep to line cook to sous chef, the business math behind food costs, and the reality of running service with a lean team while still protecting the guest experience.Then we get practical and timely about technology in restaurants. What happens when robots deliver plates, staffing stays unstable, and AI tools become the “extra set of hands” small businesses can’t afford? We talk sustainability, training costs, and why human touch still matters, plus a bigger community play: how collective buying power could help Black-owned restaurants protect margins without cutting corners.If you’re planning a Chicago food trip, looking for a Bronzeville gem, or building a business and need a real founder story, press play. Subscribe to Black Businesses Matter, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find these stories.Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

April 20, 2026Episode 1271 hr 30 min

Kim Rudd on Building A Business Beyond You

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.AI is loud right now, but Kim Rudd is clear on what still wins: imagination, systems, and real service. We’re sitting down with the CEO of Rudd Resources to unpack what it takes to grow a sustainable communications agency, especially when your work is rooted in Black community impact, cultural perspective, and relationship-based client service. If you work in PR, marketing, storytelling, brand strategy, or strategic communications, you’ll hear yourself in this conversation.We talk about Kim’s early path and how “being nosy” becomes a superpower in journalism and business, then we trace the leap from owning Curves fitness franchises to building a professional services firm. Along the way, we get practical about the messy middle: pricing the intuitive value you bring, hiring so the business can outgrow the founder, and documenting your process so quality is repeatable. Kim also shares how she thinks about collaboration and proximity, why scarcity thinking blocks Black entrepreneurship, and how changing perspective literally changes narrative.We also go there on tech. AI can help, but it cannot replace trust, creativity, or the human talent clients are actually paying for. We close with what civic engagement and board service can do for your social capital and your business, plus why Black businesses matter to the economy, to our neighborhoods, and to the joy and excellence we bring every day. Subscribe, share this with one person building a business, and leave a review so more listeners can find Black Businesses Matter.Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

April 13, 2026Episode 135 min

Pivoting With Purpose with Larvetta L. Loftin- Arnold

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.We kick off Season 11 by naming the changes we’re making across our agency and our show, and why pivoting can be a sign of strength. We unpack what sustainable growth really looks like for Black founders, from systems and tools to community support and long-term legacy. • Season reset and why pivoting yields profit • L3 Agency evolution, BBM Mag expansion, and advertising opportunities • Sustainability over scalability, founder control, and operational systems • Grief, leadership and how community keeps us moving • New CRM workflow, efficiency plus effectiveness, learning new tech • Practical AI use with Gemini and a clearer tech stack • Social media strategy, converting followers, auditing platforms, avoiding trend chasing • Energy efficiency and sustainability work as part of our next chapter • Why Black businesses matter, mentorship, jobs, and broader economic impact • Social capital, patience and building relationships over time • community feedback, better hours for brick-and-mortar, and celebrating the positive I hope that you will rate us and that you will share this episode with a friend, with a colleague, that an ally. All I ask that you share it with someone who you think could find value in this.Support the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

October 20, 2025Episode 1241 hr 11 min

“I definitely want to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty ” says Susanne Mariga

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.Guest Name: Susanne MarigaGuest Business: The Mariga GroupEPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Susanne Mariga, CPA, Fractional CFO, and CEO of The Mariga Group, a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business firm named the 2021 Profit First Professional Firm of the Year.Growing up surrounded by math and books, Susanne was inspired by her father, an accountant who introduced her to business early, allowing her to intern in the family firm at just 14. Though she began college at Ohio State University on the pre-med track, she soon discovered her true passion for accounting and shifted her focus.As Susanne built her corporate career, she realized the demanding hours were keeping her from her family, inspiring her to launch her own accounting firm. She grew it into a thriving business that she eventually sold, positioning herself to retire at 46.Today, Susanne helps 7- and 8-figure entrepreneurs master profitability and scale sustainably through The Mariga Group and her Profit First System. She is also the author of Profit First for Minority Business Enterprises, host of The Profit Talk Podcast, and has been featured in outlets such as Houston Business Journal and MBE Magazine.In the conversation, Susanne shares how she turned financial strategy into freedom, her approach to building wealth for entrepreneurs of color, and the lessons she’s learned about aligning profit with purpose.If you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, and building a business that serves both your purpose and your peace, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…What was she like as a child? How did The Mariga Group come to life, and what inspired you to focus on empowering minority business owners through financial literacy and strategic growth?As you built your business, how did you navigate the personal and professional pressures that come with leading and advising other entrepreneurs?How has your journey influenced the way you view risk, success, and failure in entrepreneurship?How have your past experiences shaped the way you now support other businesses through difficult transitions or financial uncertainty?BBM Brag Moment What brings them joy? Why do black businesses matter? Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!Connect with themConnect with them on their website : https://susannemariga.comSupport the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

October 13, 2025Episode 1231 hr 7 min

“I tell my clients, T + F = A. Your thoughts lead to feelings, and your feelings lead to actions,” says Dr. Lakeba Williams

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.Guest Name: Dr. Lakeba Hibbler WilliamsGuest Business: Fresh Hope Counseling CenterEPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Dr. Lakeba Williams, Director of Fresh Hope Counseling Center, LLC (FHCC), a multidisciplinary behavioral health practice she founded in 2012 to help individuals and organizations become more adaptable and resilient.With over 30 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor, Dr. Lakeba is dedicated to supporting clients through trauma, anxiety, grief, and race-related stress. She holds degrees in Social Work, Community Agency Counseling, and a PhD in Adult Education.Dr. Lakeba reflects on her early experiences caring for her great-grandmother and how those moments shaped her purpose as a healer and leader. She shares the journey of building her practice while balancing family, faith, and professional growth.In the conversation, she discusses the evolution of Fresh Hope Counseling Center, the frameworks she uses to guide her clients, and the value of taking calculated risks when growing a business. She also reads an excerpt from the book she co-authored with her daughters, offering insight into generational healing and legacy building.If you’re passionate about mental health, leadership, and creating spaces that inspire healing and hope, this episode is for you.. IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…What was she like as a child? Navigating growth as a business owner Protecting your mental health What advice would you give to entrepreneurs navigating trauma while trying to build something meaningful?BBM Brag Moment What brings them joy? Why do black businesses matter? Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!Connect with themConnect with them on their website : www.freshhopetoday.comSupport the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

October 6, 2025Episode 12241 min

“What’s different about LAB is we have taken into consideration not just data but stories from people,” says Jannice Newson

We would love to hear from you! Text "BBMFAM" to (312) 300-1300.Guest Name: Jannice NewsonGuest Business: Lillian Augusta BeautyEpisode SummaryIn this episode of the Black Businesses Matter Podcast, we chat with Jannice Newson, social entrepreneur and Co-Founder & CEO of Lillian Augusta Beauty, a company creating plant-based hair extensions that merge beauty and sustainability.Jannice takes us back to her childhood on the West Side of Chicago, reflecting on the experiences that sparked her early interest in environmental science. A quiet, sporty child, she went on to earn degrees in Environmental Science and Conservation Ecology, focusing her research on wetlands and agro-ecosystems.Her work in environmental and agricultural landscapes revealed a personal challenge when traditional braiding hair often caused allergic reactions. That experience inspired her to develop a safer, plant-based alternative. While studying at the University of Michigan, she used campus resources to pitch her idea and secure funding for Lillian Augusta Beauty (LAB), a name chosen to honor her grandmother, the family matriarch who paved the way for their success.Jannice walks us through the process of developing the product, conducting market research, and ensuring that the voice of the consumer remained central to every step.If you’re passionate about sustainability, innovation, or redefining beauty through purpose, this episode is for you.IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…What was he like as a child?His inspiration for LAB beauty. How do we help women to not normalize discomfort?how hard is it to get people to transition to plant based hair? BBM Brag Moment What brings them joy? Why do black businesses matter? Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!Connect with themConnect with them on their website : http://hairwithoutharm.comSupport the showTo connect further with me:Visit my website: Thel3agency.comConnect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agencyFollow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agencyBe sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter