In The Know with Tony Reeves

Hosted by Anthony Reeves

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382

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Hosted by former attorney and Judge Tony Reeves, this podcast delivers sharp insights, commentary, and real talk on law, leadership, public service, and the Black Gen X experience. Whether you’re navigating bureaucracy, seeking inspiration, or craving honest reflections from someone who’s lived it, ‘In The Know with Tony Reeves’ offers the wisdom and wit to keep you informed—and empower Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support .

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 202615 min

Don’t Romanticize Survival

In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, Tony reflects on the danger of romanticizing survival, especially from the perspective of Black Gen X.Many of us grew up having to figure things out with limited support, limited resources, and few backup plans. We learned how to survive because we had no other choice. But survival should not be confused with something glamorous. Through personal stories about college, financial pressure, unreliable cars, family support, and generational differences,Tony breaks down why resilience matters — but why struggle should not be celebrated as if it was ideal.This conversation is not about calling younger generations soft. It is about understanding that the goal was never for them to suffer the way we did. The goal was to create better options. Survival may have shaped us. But there was nothing romantic about it.Call to Action What is something you survived that people now try to make sound “normal” or “character-building”? Drop your thoughts in the comments — because some of these stories need to be understood, not romanticized.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

June 10, 202612 min

The Silence After the Milestone

In this episode, Tony Reeves reflects on one of the most emotionally powerful moments of his young adult life: the day after college graduation.Graduation itself was a celebration—family, achievement, recognition, commissioning, and the completion of a long journey. But the next day brought something different: silence. As the campus emptied, students checked out, and the familiar rhythm of college life disappeared, Tony found himself confronting the reality of transition. The question was no longer whether he would graduate. He had done that.The question became: What now?This episode explores the emotional complexity of achievement, the uncertainty that follows major milestones, and why the quiet moments after success often reveal more than the celebration itself. Call to Action Think about a time when you reached a goal but still felt uncertain afterward. Share this episode with someone who is entering a new chapter, and follow the podcast for more reflective conversations about growth, identity, and life transitions.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

June 8, 202616 min

What It Really Means to Be the First

In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, Tony reflects on what it truly means to be “the first” — not as a slogan, but as a lived experience.When Tony left Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to attend the University of Tampa, he entered a world no one in his immediate circle had experienced. There was no social media, no campus visit, no one close by who could explain the culture, the distance, or the emotional weight of being 900 miles from home at a predominantly white private institution.This conversation explores the difference between going somewhere new and going somewhere new without a roadmap. Tony breaks down the uncertainty, isolation, adjustment, and growth that come with being the first person in your circle to step into unfamiliar territory — and why every success and mistake feels different when you are learning in real time.This is a reflection for anyone who has ever had to figure it out alone, build their own reference points, and survive spaces they were never fully prepared to enter. Have you ever been the first in your family, your circle, or your community to step into a space nobody could prepare you for? Share your story in the comments. Your experience may be the roadmap someone else needs.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

June 3, 202612 min

Getting Out of Your Own Way: How to Move When You Feel Professionally Stuck

In this episode of In the Know with Tony Reeves, Tony reflects on a season when he felt professionally stuck after completing graduate school.On paper, he had done everything right: earned the degree, kept working full-time, and positioned himself for growth. But once graduation passed, nothing changed — because he had not created a plan for what came next. Through this personal story, Tony breaks down a hard but necessary lesson: sometimes we are waiting for doors to open when we have not even started looking for them. He shares how he moved from frustration and stagnation to clarity by asking himself three simple but powerful questions: What do I want? What do I want to do? What do I want next?This episode is for anyone who feels stuck in their career, unsure about their next move, or frustrated because their hard work has not automatically turned into opportunity.If you’re feeling stuck professionally, take a moment today and ask yourself: What do I want next — and what am I doing to move toward it? Then share this episode with someone who may need that same reminder.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

June 1, 202610 min

The Teacher Who Took a Chance on Me

In this episode, Tony Reeves reflects on a defining high school experience with his biology teacher, Miss Jewel Watley, at Pine Bluff High School. What began as intimidation — being placed in the school’s first AP Biology class alongside some of the top students in his class — later became one of the most important turning points in his educational and professional journey.This episode explores the role of Black educators, the “it takes a village” philosophy, and the responsibility older generations often felt to identify, challenge, and cultivate young Black talent. Tony connects that classroom experience to his later path through biology, public health, occupational safety, law school, and Social Security Disability practice.This is a reflection on mentorship, community responsibility, and the quiet ways someone else’s belief can redirect an entire life.After listening, think about the person who pushed you before you understood why. Send this episode to them if they are still here — or share their name, their lesson, or their impact with someone else. And subscribe to The Anthony Reeves Experience for more grounded reflections on life, identity, career, history, and the systems that shaped us.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

May 27, 202612 min

Career Crossroads: Trusting Yourself Through Professional Change

In this episode, Tony Reeves reflects on the major professional pivot points that shaped his career — from state employment to military service, law school, private practice, entrepreneurship, and the judiciary.This conversation is not about chasing titles or making reckless moves. It is about understanding that every career decision happens inside a specific season of life. The facts, pressures, risks, and opportunities change as you evolve. Tony breaks down why career crossroads are rarely simple, why money and status are only part of the equation, and why learning to trust your analysis is essential when the outcome is uncertain. Subscribe for more reflective conversations on career, identity, systems, and lived experience — and share this episode with someone facing a professional decision.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

May 25, 202614 min

Why I Went to Law School: Fear, Leverage, and the Power of a Contingency Plan

In this episode, Tony Reeves answers a question he has been asked many times:Why did you go to law school?The answer is not as polished or predictable as some might expect. Tony reflects on growing up as part of Generation X, watching his mother’s educational journey, and being shaped by the belief that education was the gateway to security, survival, and opportunity. He shares how law school became both a personal milestone and a professional contingency plan—even though he had no clear idea where the degree would take him.Along the way, he opens up about imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and what it felt like to move through law school without fully believing he belonged there.This episode is a candid reflection on education, ambition, generational conditioning, professional identity, and how sometimes the decisions we make out of uncertainty still become the foundation for everything that comes next.Call to ActionBefore you commit to the next degree, certification, job move, or major life decision, ask yourself one question: Am I doing this because it gives me real leverage for the future—or because I’m chasing security without a plan?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

May 20, 20269 min

Black Gen X, Hidden Trauma, and the Lessons We Inherited

In this episode of The Anthony Reeves Experience, Tony Reeves reflects on what it means to be part of Black Generation X — a generation raised by parents, grandparents, and elders who lived through Jim Crow, segregation, discrimination, and daily racial hostility.Many of those elders did not share the full weight of what they experienced. They protected their children from the burden of the trauma, while still passing down the lessons they learned from surviving it.Tony discusses family history, his grandfather’s military service, his mother’s experiences, the silence surrounding racial trauma, and why understanding the past is not the same as “dwelling” on it.This episode is a reflection on memory, survival, generational silence, and the wisdom Black Gen X inherited without always knowing the full story behind it.Call to Action After you listen, think about the elders in your own life. What did they teach you that may have come from something they survived but never fully explained? Share this episode with someone who understands that kind of generational silence.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

May 18, 202615 min

Letting Go of My Mother’s House Without Letting Go of Her

In this deeply personal reflection, Tony Reeves shares the emotional experience of selling his mother’s house after her passing.For decades, that house was more than property—it was an anchor, a family gathering place, and a physical reminder of his mother’s presence. But as Tony walks through the process of clearing out the home, signing the paperwork, and saying goodbye to one of the last tangible connections to his mother, he reflects on a truth many people eventually face: letting go of a thing is not the same as letting go of the person.This episode is about grief, legacy, family anchors, and learning that the people we love remain with us long after the physical reminders are gone.CTAHave you ever had to let go of something that reminded you of someone you loved? Share your story in the comments, and follow In the Know with Tony Reeves for more real conversations about life, loss, legacy, and moving forward.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.

May 13, 20268 min

The Safe Space That Protected Me as a Young Black Naval Officer

During his time as a young Black naval officer at Camp Lejeune, Tony Reeves discovered the profound importance of safe spaces and informal support networks.What began as casual social gatherings hosted by a fellow officer turned out to be something much deeper: a deliberate effort to build a community where young Black professionals could connect, support one another, and stay aware of unseen risks. In this episode, Tony reflects on how those relationships became an invisible infrastructure of protection and guidance — and why having people who watch your back can make all the difference.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/in-the-know-with-tony-reeves--5596987/support.