Black Like Me

On this special episode, Dr. Alex Gee and his sister Lilada Gee reflect on the passing of their mother, Ms. Verline Gee. They celebrate her memory with stories and insights from her life. For decades, Ms. Verline created a profound impact in the Madison community as a mentor to young leaders, social worker, poet, published author, family therapist, faith community leader, and, above all, a cherished mother and grandmother. Through their mother’s experiences, Dr. Gee and Rev. Lilada are able to explore historical and racial conditions in the period of her life. They reflect on the strength of her character and the lessons they learned, as well as her great intellectual sense of humor. Don't miss the heartfelt and honest conversation around the life of a powerful Black community mother. Learn more about Ms. Verline Gee's story Dr. Gee and Rev. Lilada invite you to make a donation to The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, allowing us to share Verline Gee's incredible story and continue her legacy of commun

Dr. Gee is joined again by his friend Kaleem Caire to look at the atmosphere around Justified Anger in the early years and how the initiative has created change over the last 10 years. They reflect on having breakfast together on the day that the original Justified Anger article was released and talked about how the truth of the article would be recieved in the community. The two thought leaders in the Madison community consider what it is like to speak boldly and be visionaries for racial justice. Kaleem is a champion of educational change that needs to happen to address disparities. Kaleem Caire is the founder and CEO of One City Schools, the operator of One City Preschool and One City Elementary School. Both schools are focused on getting young children ready for school success. Prior to One City, Kaleem was the President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison in Madison, WI and chair of the National Urban League's Education Committee.  In 2001, Kaleem commissioned the nation's first comprehensive

Dr. Gee welcomes Renee Moe (President & CEO at United Way of Dane County) and Joe Parisi (Dane County Executive) to dicsuss how they experienced the release of the Justified Anger article and aftermath. They reflect on how the original article caused a stir in some of the civic and community arenas, displaying the racial disparity alive in these systems. Dr. Gee contemplates the cost of stepping into certain civic spheres and often feels like the desire gets quenched by his experience as a Black man. Hear how the Justified Anger article gave a human face to the statistics of Race to Equity report that made people face the reality in their community. Together the group explore how we continue to address the racial justice present in their county. Read the original Justified Anger article. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Gee considers his career, relationships, and community impact as he reaches the age of 60. His life-long friend David Smith joins the conversations as they recall stories of their youth, beginning as community leaders, and how the world has changed in their shared 60 years. You can be sure that they bring plenty of stories, funny anecdotes, and real talk about their life experiences. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Gee welcomes Paul Fanlund, editor and publisher of The Capital Times, and journalist Phil Haslanger to the show to discuss the publication of Dr. Gee's article, entitled Justified Anger. Hear the inside story of how Dr. Gee’s groundbreaking articles changed the community and changed The Capital Times newspaper itself. The three men talk about the environment around the first Justified Anger town hall as a result of the response to the original article. Dr. Gee explores Black voices in journalism and how Black leaders shouldn't be expected to fix injustices themselves. Read Dr. Gee's Justified Anger at 10 Years Article: Cap Times: Alex Gee says Black Madison is tired of fixing injustices itself Read Dr. Gee's original Justified Anger Article: Cap Times: Justified anger: Rev. Alex Gee says Madison is failing its African-American community Cap Times: Opinion | Assessing race in Madison 10 years after ‘Justified Anger’ alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Gee returns to the original article that started the Justified Anger initiative, as he reads the article in his own voice. Season 9 is exploring the ten years of system transformation that has resulted from the wake up call to the racial disparities present in Dr. Gee's local community of Madison, WI. This reading and Dr. Gee's introduction set the tone for the season and explore the impact of systemic change. Justified Anger is an initiative of Nehemiah that cultivates innovative Black and non-black leaders through culturally grounded programs, dynamic educational experiences and collaborative partnerships that lead to transformational relationships, equitable systems and just solutions. JustifiedAnger.com Justified Anger Article

Are you ready for Season 9? Dr. Alex Gee is starting the season off with another mic check to set the tone for what is to come. Get a glimpse into what is on Dr. Gee's mind and heart for the new season. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Gee welcomes his friends and fellow podcast host, Henry Sanders, back to the show for a honest conversation about real leadership.  Dr. Gee explores how leadership vision is not a sprint, but a marathon from his own experience. They cover the value of visionary integrity over time, the mentorship of community elders, and investing in new partners. Henry Sanders asks tough questions such as: Is the Black church still the conscious of the Black community? What would be the name of the book written about Dr. Gee’s life? For nearly twenty years, Henry Sanders Jr. (CEO and Publisher) has been a force for community development, economic development and entrepreneurship in the Madison area, in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.He worked for the City of Madison and then-Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin before joining the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce as Vice President. In that capacity he started the Small Business Advisory Council, Latino Chamber of Commerce and the African wAmerican Black Business Associati

Dr. Gee welcomes Annette Miller to the show to discuss Black leadership and equitable community development in their local community. They have an in-depth discussion around the development and impact of Justified Anger's Our Madison Plan among the Black community.  The early years of Justified Anger opened the door to the wider community to receive a convergence of attention on the state of the Madison Black community. The Black leaders had been seeing the state of things for awhile, but it wasn't until that moment that the non-Black community was ready to lean in. Our Madison Plan highlights so many of the Black leaders in Madison who are still doing the work and making it happen. Dr. Gee and Annette reveal how navigating the community as a Black leader is a balancing act, because really they are leaders who are Black. Annette Miller is the CEO and founder of EQT By Design, LLC. Miller’s passion is ensuring inclusion and engagement are front and center in her work. She brings 25 years of strong profess

Dr. Gee brings Dr. Karen Reece back to the show to discuss the complexity of leading a Black focused organization in a majority white community. Dr. Reece brings first hand knowledge of working with white women in the non-profit sector with race relations involved. They talk about if you want different results in their kind of work, you need to try something different. Don't miss this insightful and honest conversation. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Tyler Nylen and Joel Ballivian return to the show to ask Dr. Gee how white men can face the accountability of their history and move forward. Dr. Gee works to help people understand that we are all broken, not saviors, and then we can start to get work done. The three of them dig deep into understanding the place of white men in the current racial reckoning in American society. They try to model the space white men need to process the new reality of a multicultural society, race relations, and white supremacy. Dr. Gee sheds light on how racism has done damage to everyone in America. Hear more: 7 Observations For White People During This Historic Moment alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Gee continues his Season 8 focus on leadership with one of the greatest highlights of his career, interviewing his first grade teacher, Alice E. Turner. Mrs. Turner is a vibrant 103 and has so much wisdom to pass along. In their conversation they cover Mrs. Turner's influence on Dr. Gee, the experience of being a Black teacher through so much history, and inspiring Black youth to greatness. This conversation is so vital to capturing the excellence and experience of our elders.

Dr. Gee welcomes his friend and fellow pastor, Peter Ahn back to the show to talk about authenticity in leadership development. They speak about different moments of crisis, such as the Pandemic, that bring new roads, roles, and rules. These two leaders bring a unique perspective on cross-cultural relationships and empowering others to live into their leadership abilities. Their partnership has been about bringing communities together to be allied against racism and the important of understanding the history between communities. Don't miss this conversation about leading with clarity of vision over popularity and comfort. Peter reinforces the need for empowering a multicultural leadership approach in local communities. He has demonstrated raising up local leaders and resourcing them to make change on their own in the Englewood community of New Jersey. Check out Peter's podcast Weak Pastor for more of his insights. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Gee speaks to a group of Black students from the University of Wisconsin that formed the Black Power Coalition in response to a video of a UW student using racial slurs and language that appeared online in May, 2023. The students from the coalition organized several marches on the UW campus as call to action demonstrations, including presenting a list of demands to the UW Chancellor to address the racist incident. The conversation with the students covers their personal experiences and what they each brought to addressing the racism on campus. There was a Black student solidarity that grew out of this incident and Dr. Gee calls out the excellence and leadership of these student organizers. Read the letter of demands that the coalition sent to the University Read more about the demonstrations around the event alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

On this episode Dr. Gee has a conversation with Jacquesha Hunt about growing up in his church, finding her first job with his non-profit organization, and now assisting with the podcast as well. With so much history together and being able to see Jacquesha develop in her life, Dr. Gee shares some new angles on his leadership and mentoring. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Alex Gee continues his heart-felt and truthful conversation with his white cousin, Brandon Cook, about their shared family legacy that dates back to American slavery. They are open about discussing the racial trauma that has carried through generations of their family history. In this second part of their conversation, they talk about the truth of using your own experience and guilt versus healing. Having both served as pastors and being committed to transformational leadership, they have a lot in common, while still experiencing very different sides of American society. Brandon Cook is a writer, trainer, and business/personal coach. He attended Wheaton College (IL) and studied in Jerusalem, Israel before graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University near Boston. He also received a Master’s degree in ancient Judaism from Oxford University in the UK. Brandon is passionate about helping people courageously step into their future and into who they are made to be, through Brandon Cook Coaching. You can

Dr. Alex Gee has a conversation with his long-time and wise friend, Rick Phelps. They share a thoughtful, sharp, and strategic approach to leadership for the greater good of the local community. You won't want to miss Rick's insightful and sensitive questions and the wisdom they bring out of Dr. Gee about his visionary leadership, including the development of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. Rick Phelps is the former Dane County Executive and chaired redevelopment of East Washington Ave/Capitol East District in Madison, WI. He is currently serving as an integral part of the advisory council for The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Alex Gee has a heart-felt and truthful conversation with his white cousin, Brandon Cook, about their shared family legacy that dates back to American slavery. They are open about discussing the racial trauma that has carried through generations of their family history. Having both served as pastors and being committed to transformational leadership, they have a lot in common, while still experiencing very different sides of American society. Brandon Cook is a writer, trainer, and business/personal coach. He attended Wheaton College (IL) and studied in Jerusalem, Israel before graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University near Boston. He also received a Master’s degree in ancient Judaism from Oxford University in the UK. Brandon is passionate about helping people courageously step into their future and into who they are made to be, through Brandon Cook Coaching. You can also listen to his podcast, Naming the Real, wherever you listen to podcasts. alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Dr. Alex Gee gets interviewed by his accomplished guest, Jason Fields. They discuss how to develop leaders, professionally and spiritually, and the unseen loneliness and cost of leadership. Fields asks about how he observes Dr. Gee’s consistency of voice and personality in every environment. Jason Fields represents the United States as a senator of the World Business Angel Investment Forum (WBAF). He is founder of The Financial Promise Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that teaches personal financial & business literacy. He is also the Founder and Managing Director of Dark Knight Capital Ventures, a venture fund that seeks to invest in underrepresented founders across America. Jason started his career in the financial services sector where he collaboratively managed over $100 million in assets. His experience includes bonds, equities, derivatives, insurance, and both residential and commercial loans. He has also worked as a financial advisor, investment advisor, personal banker, credit union bra

For this episode of the Pass the Mic Series, get an inside look at the cross-cultural production team dynamic of the Black Like Me podcast itself. Producers Jeremy Holiday and Eli Steenlage ask Dr. Gee about mentoring and leading 'eager white men' who want to be part of the racial justice movement. The conversation covers the importance of building cross-cultural relationships, following Black voices, and showing up when it matters.  alexgee.com Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme