Black Tech Green Money

Hosted by The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts

Business Technology Society CultureInterviews guests

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Episodes

353

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Black Tech Green Money presents the stories of successful Black entrepreneurs and technologists, as well as actionable advice and wealth-building strategies from a Black perspective. Hosted by Will Lucas (@willlucas), an entrepreneur, content creator, and Brand Manager at AfroTech, the world's largest Black tech digital platform and conference, Black Tech Green Money is THE podcast for Black entrepreneurs and moguls in the making.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 13, 202634 min

Stop Renting Your Audience: Black Creators on Ownership, Equity, and Influence.

On this episode of Black Tech Green Money, we ask a simple question: who actually owns the audience? Coltrane Curtis (Team Epiphany) takes us back to building influencer marketing before Instagram existed. Isaac Hayes III (Fanbase) makes the case that creators deserve equity, not just exposure. Roland Martin (#RolandMartinUnfiltered, Black Star Network) explains why owning the platform means owning the narrative. Thai Randolph breaks down how to win brand deals on value, not follower count. And RAUD, a Twitch streamer with more than 2 million followers, shows what all of it looks like for Gen Z. Influence is easy to rent. The goal is to own it. Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

October 11, 202633 min

John Imah is building the future of fashion, fit and sizing, styling, and wardrobe intelligence

John Imah is Co-Founder and CEO at SpreeAI, an AI-driven company transforming the future of fashion and e-commerce with our photorealistic try-on technology. Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026. How to redeem: Go to ATC '26 Registration Select a Premier ticket or higher Enter your registration information Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field Complete your registration The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30. If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit: Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/ Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 30, 202647 min

Coltrane Curtis Built Influencer Marketing Before Instagram Existed

Coltrane Curtis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Team Epiphany, the culture marketing agency he launched in 2004, which pioneered influencer marketing as a term before Twitter or Instagram even existed. Before that, he was an early employee at streetwear brand Ecko Unlimited, helped launch Complex as its first Editor-at-Large, and was a fashion VJ for MTV Style. Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026. How to redeem: Go to ATC '26 Registration Select a Premier ticket or higher Enter your registration information Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field Complete your registration The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30. If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit: Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/ Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 22, 202639 min

Tamar Huggins Built an AI That Speaks to Black Students

Tamar Huggins built Canada's first accelerator for Black and Brown founders, then built the pipeline it was missing by opening a tech school for kids. Now she's the founder of Spark Plug AI, a generative AI platform trained on Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights era writers. She breaks down how she raised $1.4 million in a market where Black women average $30,000, why AI is a power structure and not a tool, and what building on your own terms means when everyone is renting the same few models. Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026. How to redeem: Go to ATC '26 Registration Select a Premier ticket or higher Enter your registration information Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field Complete your registration The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30. If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit: Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/ Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 15, 202635 min

How Possip Turned Parent Voices Into a Million Dollar Business

Shawni Dowell is the Founder and CEO of Possip, an AI and tech-based, human-centered company in Nashville. Possip is an engagement platform that gives organizational and civic leaders quick, actionable insights from their large and diverse communities. Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Black Tech Green Money listeners get 15% off Premier tickets and higher for ATC '26. Use code BTGM152026 at checkout. The code is valid from September 15 through September 30, 2026. How to redeem: Go to ATC '26 Registration Select a Premier ticket or higher Enter your registration information Enter BTGM152026 in the Promotional Code field Complete your registration The discount applies only to Premier tickets and higher. The code expires September 30. If you want a shorter version for YouTube or a platform with a character limit: Save 15% on AfroTech Conference 2026 Premier tickets and higher with code BTGM152026. Valid through September 30. Register: https://attendee-aftc2026.streampoint.com/ Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 9, 202645 min

How Bold Entrepreneurs are Reimagining Hair Care with AI

On this episode of Black Tech Green Money , we hear from industry titans Courtney Adeleye (The Mane Choice) and Monique Rodriguez (Mielle Organics) on navigating the controversial waters of acquisition and what it really takes to transition from a community favorite to a global powerhouse. Meanwhile, a new guard of tech-founders— Candace Mitchell (Myavana) and Dr. Tiffany St. Bernard (HairDays)—explain how they are training algorithms to diagnose scalp health and personalize care. And, Ciara Imani May (Rebundle) breaks down the chemistry of comfort, revealing how banana fiber is disrupting the toxic synthetic hair market. This is the business of beauty, engineered. Follow Will Lucas on Instagram at @willlucas Learn more at AfroTech.com https://instagram.com/afro.tech Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

September 9, 202638 min

Leading through decisions necessary for survival, but humanly costly with Bryan Myers of [solidcore]

Bryan Myers is President and CEO at [solidcore]. Will Lucas on Socials Instagram: @willlucas TikTok: @willlucasceo Facebook: /wlucasii Black Tech Green Money Instagram: @blacktechgreenmoney Facebook: /BlackTechGreenMoney Learn more at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 25, 202632 min

Health Is Wealth, Literally: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood on the Money Behind the Data

Lauren Underwood is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 14th District and, when she won in 2018 at 32, became the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress. The direct line between a community's health and its ability to build and keep wealth, from the woman who built the Momnibus on receipts, not feelings. Follow Will Lucas on Instagram: @willlucas Follow Black Tech Green Money: @blacktechgreenmoney, @btgmpodcast Learn more at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 18, 202630 min

$50 Million, 200,000 Donors: How Stefanie Brown James Builds Black Political Power

Stefanie Brown James is Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of The Collective, the largest network of organizations in the country dedicated to building Black political power. Through The Collective and its family of PACs and its education fund, she has helped raise more than $50 million from over 200,000 donors and helped 417 Black leaders win elected office. Follow Will Lucas on Instagram: @willlucas Follow Black Tech Green Money: @blacktechgreenmoney, @btgmpodcast Learn more at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

August 11, 202642 min

Who Writes the Rules on AI? Inside the Room with Rep. Christian Menefee

Christian Menefee is the U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th District in Houston. He now sits on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Follow Will Lucas on Instagram: @willlucas Follow Black Tech Green Money: @blacktechgreenmoney, @btgmpodcast Learn more at AfroTech.com Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.