Going into the New Year, Converge Media will feature relationship and love expert Debrena Jackson Gandy as a show regular on Besa Gordon's Back2Besa.

Pamela Yasutake, a Seattle-raised professional dancer and entertainer, stopped by the Black Media Matters Studio for a one-on-one interview and tap dance lesson with Besa Gordon. During her sit-down with Gordon, Yasutake covers everything from her start in dancing, her renowned dance troupe, the Syncopated Ladies, her troupe's appearances on the Late Show with James Cordon, So You Think You Can Dance, the film Spirited, and more. When Yasutake isn't performing for large audiences, she's instructing tap dancing classes at the Northwest Tap Connection, a dance studio based out of Rainier Valley.

This past weekend, Besa Gordon stopped by the National  Hockey League's United by Hockey Mobile Museum while attending the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic Legacy event. The traveling museum, which started its seven-month tour on October 14, invites fans to learn more about the NHL's future generation, all while checking out hockey memorabilia from various players, interactive videos, virtual reality, and podcast recordings. 

Written by Besa Gordon - Happy Saturday! Now, I’m not going to lie. It’s been about two weeks since I’ve been on FOX 13 Seattle’s Good Day Seattle, but that’s because, like most people, I took off for holiday, but I’m back now. This week me, and Erin Mayovsky highlighted a few of the stories that are on Back2Besa this week like the Winter Classic, United By Hockey, the NHL creating a hockey for all space in Tacoma, #JamalClause, and WildLanterns.

Written by Besa Gordon - Typically, on Fridays, I stay home if I can prep for the weekend, but when I found out MoPOP was throwing a farewell party for their exhibit Contact High, I had to get dressed and take one more look at this epic display of Hip-Hop history.

In case you missed it, in the South End of Seattle and Rainier Beach Community Center is where Rob Ross, who is the founder of United Business Connections, held a Black Vendors Market where over 25 Black businesses were gathered with a lot of self-care items, plus clothing and accessories that uplifts Black beauty and Ezell's Famous Chicken even stopped by and feed the community.

Monday, the Seattle Kraken host the Vegas Golden Knights for the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park, but I wanted to take a moment and make sure you know about all the things happening not only on the ice, but also off the ice. Check out what’s happening starting tomorrow below via www.nhl.com

Because we are heading into a new year, we wanted to relive some of our favorite stories we have covered here on Back2Besa. This week on Back2Besa, we relive the time I headed to Boon Boona Coffee in Renton and not only learned more about coffee but how to make it in the traditional Ethiopian way; we remember and honor those whose lives were taken from us far too soon over at Day Of Remembrance which took place at First AME Church in Capitol Hill.

Written by Besa Gordon - With Christmas now behind us and the New Year fast approaching, it’s important to remember the power of giving and creating a moment of joy for someone who may not have had any of this year. Last weekend on Back2Besa we wanted to take a moment to look back at some of the people around the region who have taken time to give back to others.

Our friends Anthony and Marlie, Love of Traveling While Black, are back on Back2Besa to give us their suggestions on how to live your best life this holiday season. Check out their activity suggestions.

Written by Besa Gordon - With Christmas being next week, I wanted to remind you of something really dope that occurred last month that will help you shop Black this Christmas season. On Black Friday, I pulled up to Métier Brewing Company in the #CentralDistrict as Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell proclaimed it "Black Black Friday" in partnership with Laura Clise of the Intentionalist, BECU, and DNA - Mayor Harrell emphasized the Black Black Card issued by BECU will give shoppers 20% back on their money loaded onto the card with the intention that they use the card to shop at Black businesses across the greater Seattle area. And what's really dope is the card has a 7-year expiration date, so it's not just for this holiday season. It's truly about shopping Black all year round.

Growth, development, leadership, and all the signs of future success are definitely things I found in my short time with the Rip City Remix a few weeks ago. The Remix is a new NBA G League team in Rip City (aka Portland, aka The Rose City) where players who are not quite ready for the bright lights of the NBA can literally develop their talents through a close partnership with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Written by Besa Gordon - Recently, Monika C. Matthews from QueenCare, a health and wellness shop in the Central District that I highlighted back in August has opened up a spa called The Spa House in Columbia City. WOOT WOOT! I remember when Monkia told me about her plans to open this spa; she said it had been years in the making, and I'm so happy for her that it's finally here.

Reflecting on what happened at Holiday Jam, I'm reminded as to why I love being in radio. Jumping on stage and making thousands of people scream is such a wild and energizing feeling. The first time I did it, I instantly knew what artists meant when they said there's nothing like performing on stage and feeling the energy of the crowd. It's a vibe I wish I could bottle up for when I'm having a bad day and need a pick-me-up.

Have you heard of Teatro Zinzanni, the world-famous circus dinner theater from right here in Seattle? Recently, we visited one of their rehearsals to talk with Seattle's Tiffany Wilson, also known as Madam Z, about her first year at Teartro, a song she wrote that is now part of the show, how she got into music, and more.

Written By Besa Gordon - It's almost time for Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle! As usual, on Thursday, I headed over to FOX 13 to preview what would be on Back2Besa this week, and this week I got to catch up with my bill and preview my interview with Paul Wight, formally known as the Big Show where he gave radio legend Danny Bonaduce his flowers (in case you missed it, yesterday was Danny's last day on air as he decided to retire.)

Written by Besa Gordon: Recently, I headed to West Seattle for the HBCU drink competition, where eight different bartenders came together to compete and see who could make the best Old Fashioned using Uncle Nearest Whiskey. For those that don't know, the whiskey is named after the formerly enslaved man, Nathan "Nearest" Green, who taught a young Jack Daniel the craft of distilling. As of 2023, eight brand variants have been produced. According to the IWSR, Uncle Nearest is the fastest-growing whiskey brand in the United States and is recognized as the most successful black-owned distillery in the world.

Written by Besa Gordon - It's Nutcracker season for the Pacific Northwest Ballet, and you already know I had to pull up and give you a behind-the-scenes look at how it all goes down before and during the show at MaCaw Hall. In case you missed this weekend's episode of Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle (btw if you missed it, you deff missed a lot), in this segment, we met with the youth that are part of the show, we went down to the orchestra pit, we went to their dressing rooms to see the dancers getting their makeup done, plus we even went to the side stage and saw dancers coming on and off the stage.

This week on Back2Besa, we’re highlighting Tiffany Willson, who is part of this year's Teatro Zinzanni; we head to Portland, Oregon for a Christmas tree giveaway with Trap Kitchen PDX, we go backstage at the Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker, we highlight hot fish house in Lakewood Washington, we go to the communion 3-year anniversary party, Besa talks about what Sankofa Theatre which is no longer open, meant to her and the community, and Events To Know about along with Hot Topics are back this week.

Written by Besa Gordon - Now, THIS is how you have an anniversary party! In case you missed it, Communion Restaurant and Bar celebrated their 3-year anniversary Tuesday evening, and you already know your girl had to pull up to support. I always say Communion is one spot that's more than just your average restaurant. People really do come there to commune with the community. I'm always reconnecting with friends I grew up with in the Central District when I stop by. And this night is no different.