Best Nique Fajors Podcasts (2025)

1
Andre Fowlkes: From Credentials to Community—A Holistic Approach to Talent 38:14

11d ago38:14

38:14

In this episode of the Invisible Men, Ian speaks with Andre Fowlkes, co-founder and president of Start Co., about what it really takes for young people—especially in underserved communities—to succeed. Andre introduces the concept of the “social envelope,” a holistic framework that includes not just skills and credentials, but also social capital, …

1
Thomas Chatterton Williams: Rejecting the Black-White Binary 52:38

18d ago52:38

52:38

In this episode of the Invisible Men, Ian and Nique engage in a conversation with author Thomas Chatterton Williams about race, identity, and the complexities of navigating a mixed-race background. Williams shares his personal experiences growing up with a black father and a white mother, exploring how these dynamics shaped his understanding of rac…

1
Ian and Nique: College, Merit, and the Road Less Traveled 30:49

26d ago30:49

30:49

In this episode, Ian and Nique discuss the evolving landscape of higher education, discussing the shifting dynamics of college admissions, meritocracy, and the challenges students face today. They reflect on the complex and often frustrating process of applying to colleges, particularly the pressures placed on students by restrictive admissions pol…

1
Dumisani Washington: Black Excellence and Solidarity with Israel | THE INVISIBLE MEN 51:44

1M ago51:44

51:44

Ian and Nique are joined by Dumisani Washington to discuss the historical and ongoing challenges of racial integration, education, and black self-determination. Dumisani shares insights from his upbringing, emphasizing black excellence and the effects of integration on black institutions, and reflects on how his name change and spiritual journey le…

1
Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors: Moynihan at 60 30:58

1M ago30:58

30:58

In this conversation, Ian and Nique delve into the historical context and contemporary implications of the Moynihan Report, discussing the decline of family structure in the black community and its impact on community cohesion, life outcomes, and neighborhood life. They explore the media's role in sensationalizing the report, personal narratives su…

1
Clifton Duncan’s One Man Show 58:11

2M ago58:11

58:11

In this episode of the Invisible Men, Ian engages in a deep conversation with Clifton Duncan, a classically trained actor and playwright. They explore Clifton’s unique upbringing across different cultures, his journey of racial awareness, and the complexities of navigating identity within the acting community. Clifton shares his experiences in thea…

1
Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors: DEI’s Out. MEI’s In? 31:25

2M ago31:25

31:25

In this episode, Nique and Ian discuss Harvard economist Roland Fryer’s proposal to transition from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence (MEI) in corporate and educational contexts. They explore the implications of this shift, the challenges posed by current educational disparities, and the importance of mer…

1
Devon Westhill: Equality Doesn’t Equal Equity | THE INVISIBLE MEN 56:18

2M ago56:18

56:18

In this episode of the Invisible Men, Ian and Nique engage with Devon Westhill, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, discussing his personal journey growing up as a mixed-race child in the South, the dynamics of race and education, the role of single mothers, and the importance of social safety nets. The conversation also delves into the …

1
Darius Jones: Race and Empowerment 49:10

2M ago49:10

49:10

In this episode of the Invisible Men, Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors engage in a deep conversation with Darius Jones, founder of the National Black Empowerment Council. Darius shares his upbringing in a family of educators involved in the civil rights movement, which shaped his understanding of race and empowerment. He discusses the importance of politi…

1
Revitalizing North Tulsa 47:43

3M ago47:43

47:43

Philip Abode, the lead pastor of Crossover Bible Church and executive director of Crossover Preparatory Academy, joins Ian and Nique to discuss his life journey, the role that faith played in his upbringing, and his work to promote North Tulsa’s flourishing. The conversation highlights the comprehensive community development initiatives he and his …

1
From DEI Chief to DEI Critic 47:51

3M ago47:51

47:51

Erec Smith, a research fellow at the Cato Institute, joins Ian and Nique to discuss his life journey, “wokeism,” and the effects and future of DEI initiatives. Erec shares his experiences as a chief diversity officer and critiques the current state of DEI, arguing that it has strayed from its original purpose. The conversation delves into the chall…

1
Michael Bowen: Championing Intellectual Diversity Within the Black Community 56:24

3M ago56:24

56:24

Michael Bowen, a founding member of Free Black Thought, joins Ian and Nique to discuss themes ranging from race, identity, and the important intellectual diversity within the black community. The conversation delves into Michael's early awareness of race, the cultural significance of jazz and the Black Arts Movement, his experiences in college and …

1
Sarah and Bruce Bond: Father-Daughter Success Story 1:14:26

3M ago1:14:26

1:14:26

Sarah Bond, the president of Xbox, and Bruce Bond, her father, join Ian and Nique to discuss their relationship, lessons learned from their lives and careers, and their experience of race in America.By Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors

1
Bob Woodson: Civil Rights Icon 45:06

3M ago45:06

45:06

Bob Woodson, founder of the Woodson Center, joins Ian and Nique to discuss his career, the future and history of the civil rights movement, and how to promote equal opportunity for all Americans. Subscribe for more episodes of The Invisible Men.By Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors

1
Irvin Scott on the importance of faith and fatherhood 41:36

3+ y ago41:36

41:36

This week, Ian and Nique are joined by Dr. Irvin Scott – director of the Leadership Institute for Faith and Education at Harvard University and former deputy director for K-12 education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with over twenty years of experience working as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and chief academic officer…

1
Shelby Steele on the powerful influence of white guilt 1:13:34

3+ y ago1:13:34

1:13:34

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Shelby Steele – author, columnist, documentary maker, and Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Shelby shares how growing up in the milieu of the civil rights movement caused him to be intellectually engrossed in debates about race and America from an early age. His father, despite l…

1
Ian and Nique on the Olympics and the importance of high expectations 22:57

3+ y ago22:57

22:57

In this special episode, Ian and Nique engage in a one-on-one conversation about key takeaways from the Tokyo Olympics. They also share their reaction to a recent bill signed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown that eliminates the need for students to test proficient in reading, writing, and math in order to graduate high school. Their discussion centers…

1
James Hill on building crypto business and driving community development 34:18

4y ago34:18

34:18

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by James Hill — software development architect, entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, and inventor of a new crypto technology called BracketChain. James and his wife started a company in 2014 called Alambda systems, a successful venture that currently has partnerships with Boeing, Microsoft, and Peraton. James r…

1
Scott Hilton-Clarke on finding your inner music and purpose 44:59

4y ago44:59

44:59

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Scott Hilton-Clarke — the founder of Inspiration Laboratories, a firm devoted to inspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives to step into their greatness and realize their visions for the future. Scott is a Founding Member of the Board of Governors for the University of Trinidad and Tobago and a gra…

1
Barry Johnson on what it means to be a “possibilitist” 51:48

4y ago51:48

51:48

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Barry Johnson — the chairman and founder of Bedowin360 Capital with over thirty years of experience spanning Wall Street, Media, and the Obama Administration. Barry shares how his experience of growing up in segregated Alabama during the 1960s “living a foot in two worlds” shaped his path toward becoming…

1
Harvard professor Roland Fryer on disrupting the false narrative around policing 33:14

4y ago33:14

33:14

Join Ian and Nique this week for the second half of their two-part discussion with Harvard professor, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and early-stage investor Roland Fryer. In this episode, Roland shares how, following the murder of Walter Scott, he was inspired to build the best dataset possible to assess how race shapes police interactions in A…

1
Harvard professor Roland Fryer on studying difficult questions with economics 28:41

4y ago28:41

28:41

This week, Ian and Nique launch a two-part discussion with Harvard professor, MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, and early-stage investor Roland Fryer on Roland’s journey to academia (part 1) and why his principled approach to research has disrupted long-held assumptions within the social sciences about policing, mobility, and race (part 2). In this…

1
Theodore Johnson on restoring American patriotism, properly understood 31:56

4y ago31:56

31:56

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Theodore (Ted) Johnson — director of the fellows program at the Brennan Center for Justice, White House Fellow, and author of “When the Stars Begin to Fall: Overcoming Racism and Renewing the Promise of America.” Ted’s upbringing mirrored the duality that animates the discussion in his new book: Ted was …

1
Bob Woodson on rescuing American history from “race hustlers” 43:16

4y ago43:16

43:16

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined for a second time by Bob Woodson — president of the Woodson Center and most recently, founder of 1776 Unites — to discuss his new, best-selling volume of essays “Red, White, and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race Hustlers.” Bob shares how his involvement early in the civil rights mo…

1
Ward Connerly on Malcolm X, equality vs. equity, and the Biden presidency 59:12

4y ago59:12

59:12

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Ward Connerly — a former member of the Board of Regents at the University of California, owner of a family business, and a self-described “child of the color-blind God.” Ward began his work in the public square early as the student body president of California State University in Sacramento, where he fou…

1
Anthony Bradley on a data-centered view of black progress and human flourishing 54:36

4y ago54:36

54:36

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Anthony Bradley — a Research Fellow at the Acton Institute and professor of religious studies at the King’s College, where he directs the Center for the Study of Human Flourishing. Anthony discusses the importance of developing a data-centered outlook on black success in America. Anthony grew up in the w…

1
Jason Riley on the legacy of Thomas Sowell and its importance to our future 37:38

4y ago37:38

37:38

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Jason Riley — a prolific columnist at the Wall Street Journal, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and author of the forthcoming book “Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell,” which is now available on Amazon. Jason discusses the work and legacy of Thomas Sowell, an economist and public intellectua…

1
Former CIA analyst Yaya Fanusie on finding peace from within oneself 36:13

4y ago36:13

36:13

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Yaya Fanusie — a former CIA agent and a national security expert in finance technology. Yaya discusses how his education, international travel, spiritual journey grew him from a teenager with a distrust of America and a race-centric view of the world to an advocate for the advancement of core American pr…

1
Jonathan Newton on finding drive and direction out of a Bronx upbringing 34:58

4y ago34:58

34:58

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Jonathan Newton — the pastor at Jordan River Ministries, an attorney for the federal government, and an adjunct professor at Howard University. Jonathan discusses his journey from the Bronx to Harvard Law School, and ultimately the Environmental Protection Agency, where he served as an attorney for nearl…

1
Washington State Representative David Hackney on stewarding a great education 37:33

4y ago37:33

37:33

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by David Hackney — a Washington State Representative, Harvard Law School and Harvard Kennedy School graduate, and former attorney for the Department of Justice. Two pivotal moments during David’s freshman year at Cornell changed his outlook on education inspired him to steward the opportunities in front of …

1
Charles Love on the importance of hands-on investing in communities at risk 36:08

4y ago36:08

36:08

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Charles Love — Assistant Executive Director of Seeking Educational Excellence and author of the forthcoming book, Race Crazy. Charles discusses how his upbringing and adult life in Gary, Indiana shaped his view of the greatest challenges facing black Americans. Charles did not pay much attention to polit…

1
David Mahan on building personal and cultural transformation through faith 39:39

4y ago39:39

39:39

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by David Mahan — Policy Director at the Center for Christian Virtue and founder of Frontline Youth Communications. David shares how “God’s people, God’s power, and God’s principles” helped him and his wife build a life of success and community impact after a difficult start as teenage parents living in pove…

1
Delano Squires on the virtue of strong family life and responsible fatherhood 52:15

4y ago52:15

52:15

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Delano Squires — an Author at the Federalist and a long-time public servant. Delano shares how his growing faith journey and upbringing in an interconnected family from the West Indies have been center points of his journey as a writer. A computer engineering major in college, Delano was inspired to begi…

1
John McWhorter on the enduring effects of rhetoric after the Rodney King assault 36:36

4y ago36:36

36:36

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by John McWhorter — public intellectual, Professor of Linguistics at Columbia University, and author of two forthcoming books, 9 Nasty Words and The Elect. Much like Ian and Nique, John was a graduate student at Stanford University as news of the Rodney King assault swept the nation in the early 1990s. John…

1
World champion wrestler Lee Kemp on the privilege of another battle 45:09

4y ago45:09

45:09

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by one of America’s greatest wrestlers — Lee Kemp — who reflects on a life of challenges and achievement both inside and outside wrestling. According to Lee, “I was given up for adoption at birth and was institutionalized until the age of five,” when he was adopted. Lee shares that his adopted father, who l…

1
Chris Campbell’s fortitude propelled him to unretire and win an Olympic medal 30:20

4y ago30:20

30:20

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Chris Campbell — world champion wrestler, Olympic bronze medalist, and a practicing attorney. Chris shares how a deeply-engrained sense of intestinal fortitude empowered him to push through academic and athletic barriers and carve a pathway to success in wrestling and law. For example, Chris was unable t…

1
James Stovall’s “open door” mindset helped engineer successful start-up exit 33:22

4y ago33:22

33:22

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by James Stovall, the co-founder and former CEO of Little Bird HR. James founded Little Bird in 2016 to provide software, employee benefits, and HR support to New York City charter schools. After five years of empowering charter schools in the city, Little Bird was bought in 2020 by one of the largest firms…

1
Eugene Robinson’s “New York hustle” paved a lifetime of strength over adversity 42:13

4y ago42:13

42:13

In this episode, Eugene S. Robinson joins Ian and Nique to discuss his multifaceted career as a journalist, author, musician, editor of OZY Media, and MMA Connoisseur. As a child, Eugene was driven by the New York “hustle” culture to pave a path to a better life for himself and his family. From Brooklyn to Stanford University, Eugene’s intellect an…

1
Andy McGadney on the transformative power of education 35:17

4y ago35:17

35:17

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Andy McGadney — the newly announced President of Knox College and a long-time leader in higher education. Andy speaks of the critical role of education in the paving pathways to opportunity for black Americans today. As a child, Andy was raised in Connecticut but his family had deep roots in the south. A…

1
Myron White on investing in the success of real-life “Darryl’s” 32:36

4y ago32:36

32:36

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Myron White — an original member of the cast for “The Invisible Men” who has built a distinguished career in finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership while serving in the Army Reserves for more than two and a half decades. Myron shares how one third-grade teacher at his Catholic school in New …

1
Barry Williams, legendary corporate board exec, on excellence in life & business 20:23

4y ago20:23

20:23

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Barry Lawson Williams to discuss the importance of building black representation on corporate boards across the United States. When it comes to corporate America, Barry’s life exemplifies the vision, character, and insight worthy of a career business executive who has served on 14 public company boards. …

1
Cliff Barber on “spiritual poverty” and the power of faith 31:23

4y ago31:23

31:23

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Cliff Barber — Chief Strategy Officer of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a former investment fund manager. Combining knowledge from his impressive corporate background and extensive experience in ministry, Cliff discusses the centrality of faith in shaping his upbringing, and he shares his passion for add…

1
Wilfred Reilly on challenging ideological uniformity in academia 37:00

4y ago37:00

37:00

Many scholars, public figures, and activists have noted the striking divide between the economic outcomes of black and white Americans. But what lies at the root of these differences is a difficult question. In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Dr. Wilfred Reilly, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, to …

1
Gervase Warner on building a culture of forgiveness 31:09

4y ago31:09

31:09

Are business leaders in today’s climate naturally drawn to a “cutthroat” approach to management and growth, or do the concerning behaviors often seen in large corporations stem from a misunderstanding about what is necessary to survive in the business world? In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Gervase Warner, the President and CEO of the M…

1
Troy Stovall on reimagining pathways to power 29:00

4y ago29:00

29:00

With the job market fundamentally changing, how can we build pathways for a new generation of black men and women to unleash their passion and build a successful career? In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Troy Stovall, the CEO of Maryland TEDCO — an organization founded by the state of Maryland in 1998 to fund early stage tech companies. …

1
Rav Arora on thoughtful analysis in an era of identity politics 33:08

4y ago33:08

33:08

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by someone who is actively modelling a path of excellence for young men in the 21st century. Rav Arora — a current student at University of the Fraser Valley and an up and coming writer whose work has been published in leading outlets such as City Journal and the New York Post — joins the show to discuss hi…

1
Vernon Lee on the importance of supporting black entrepreneurship 26:42

4y ago26:42

26:42

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Vernon Lee to discuss the role of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for the uplift of black Americans. Vernon is a partner at the Marathon Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting a new generation of underrepresented entrepreneurs with high potential for growth. Vernon argues that we need stronger inst…

1
How the Piney Woods School is shaping a new era of Black excellence 21:09

4y ago21:09

21:09

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Will Crossley — a man who not only embodies black excellence himself but is helping children build pathways to excellence in their own lives. Will Crossley is president of The Piney Woods School, a historically African-American prep school in rural Mississippi and an institution that has been empowering …

1
Glenn Loury on the power of grit 37:50

4y ago37:50

37:50

How should young Americans respond to structural barriers as they seek to carve out a place for themselves in the world? In this episode, Brown University economist Glenn Loury joins Ian and Nique to discuss how a foundation of grit can shape a new generation of black excellence. Glenn was raised on the south side of Chicago in a working-class fami…

1
ShotSpotter CEO Ralph Clark on using technology to improve policing 35:39

4y ago35:39

35:39

Early data suggest the US is on track to see the highest year-to-year murder increase in history this year, reminding us that a majority of gun violence goes unreported and unaddressed. While reasons for this vary, the result is that a very small number of “bad actors” can cause devastating harm to underserved communities. In this episode, Ralph Cl…

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Nique Fajors Podcasts

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