Written by: Besa Gordon - Let's take a moment to talk about all the things that will be on Back2Besa this weekend... Actually, first I have to say, the show officially turns 38 on Saturday, as we are officially on ep 38 this weekend. It's deff time to recap everything that's been on the show becasue, at this point, we've told over 150 stories since the launch on of the show on FOX 13 Seattle. What a blessing it is for the entire Back2Besa team and me to truly be able to highlight stories all across the PNW.

Takiyah "TDUB" Ward, the founder of The Re-Sole 206, sat down with Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to address her business's recent setback and her proactive measures to overcome it. The Re-Sole 206 is Ward's inaugural storefront, specializing in cleaning, restoring, and customizing footwear, a craft she has passionately honed for over two decades. On March 7, two individuals robbed her business, stealing 26 pairs of customer-owned sneakers.

There is definite reason for both concern and hope for the 2024 Seattle Mariners ahead of Opening Day, as the franchise looks to return to the postseason for the second time in three years following their infamous drought.

Jahleel Vester, the Business Education Coordinator of Urban Impact Seattle, joined host Trae Holiday for a segment highlighting all the work his organization has been doing for the community. With a mission for uplifting underserved neighborhoods, Urban Impact offers an array of programs, from educational support and mentoring to job training and leadership development. 

In July of last year, during All-Star Week, MLB Commissioner Manfred, Mayor Harrell, and the Mariners made a commitment to revamp Rainier Playfield into a cutting-edge facility, guaranteeing year-round baseball opportunities for the youth of South Seattle. This past Saturday, that commitment materialized into reality as Rainier Playfield revealed its impressive new features, including state-of-the-art turf and adjustable base settings. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was also attended by our very own Besa Gordon, marked a joyous occasion, with local Little League teams parading alongside beloved mascots such as the Mariners Moose and Edgar Martinez.

On Thursday at 8:00 pm, Trae Holiday sits down with the renowned Ra Un Nefer Amen I to do a deep dive on his journey into spiritual development, becoming an author of over 50 books in 50 years, building Ausar Auset Society International, and bringing back ancient spiritual teachings.

Seattle musician Shaina Shepherd graced the set of The Day With Trae in an engaging segment. In it, Shepherd delved into her recent artistic endeavors, shedding light on her creations, such as Jam Jar, Sunday Sessions, and her upcoming album.

Ashley McGirt, the founder and CEO of the Therapy Fund Foundation, recently joined Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae to share exciting updates about the organization's expansion. Rooted in Washington and dedicated to "eliminating barriers to Black healing," McGirt's nonprofit provides essential mental health services and resources to the Black community free of charge. With ambitions reaching beyond borders, the organization is embarking on a global journey, extending its reach to states like California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Oregon, and beyond. Moreover, a partnership with various soccer teams throughout Africa is poised to revolutionize access to mental health resources within the sports community.

In a captivating dialogue on love and relationships, Debrena Jackson-Gandy Back2Besa Love and Relationships Expert introduces the concept of "Love STDs" - socially transmitted delusions. These are the misconceptions about love and relationships perpetuated through generations via media, songs, movies, and societal norms.

The 89th Washington Sports Star of the Year Awards, a longstanding tradition in the state's sports scene, celebrated excellence in athletics and community contributions. Originating in 1935, this event, curated by legendary sports editor Royal Brougham and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, honors the athletes, coaches, and community members behind the most memorable sports stories.

Earlier this month, Besa Gordon, host of Back2Besa, jumped on a plane and flew to the heart of Spokane for the You Oughta Know Panel held at the Washington Cracker Building for an enlightening discussion on media etiquette and professionalism. The event was curated by Ryker and aimed to provide local artists with essential tools for navigating the media landscape.

Accountability and change will need to come for the Seattle Kraken following their 5-1 home loss to the Montreal Canadiens, as their losing streak pushed to eight-games and many are questioning the teams effort and ability as their third season in franchise history is coming to a close.

The Seattle Kraken, nearing the end of their third season in franchise history, have hit another low point as they won't make the playoffs this year and they're currently on an eight-game losing streak. The most recent defeat comes at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens, a 5-1 result that Seattle was never truly in.

Recently, KD Hall, an entrepreneur, filmmaker, founder of The KD Hall Foundation, and now host of her new talk show, Conversations with KD Hall, joined Trae Holiday on The Day With Trae. In this segment, Hall discussed her path to creating this empowering talk show, shed light on the mission of her foundation, and shared her aspirations for the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

Earlier this month, Besa Gordon was flown to Spokane for the You Oughta Know panel put on by Ryker, who also happens to manage friend to the show, Oble Reed. This panel featured the likes of, Inlander music editor Seth Sommerfeld, the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Recording Academy, Jessica Toon, regional Hip-Hop Artist Jang The Goon, and of course, yours truly, as the conversion was moderated by Co-Founder of Spokast Brennon Poynor. This installment of You Oughta Know was the final of a six-series panel, and our topic was Media Professionalism and Etiquette. They talked about how to be yourself in any room you’re in, how to use social media to build your tribe, and how to reach out to media outlets to get your music heard.

Written by - Besa Gordon: Seattle's vibrant art scene was on full display at the recent 8th edition of The Still In Our Feels showcase, held at AXIS Pioneer Square. As I stepped into the event, I was immediately immersed in a sea of creativity, surrounded by local artists, performers, and enthusiasts alike. This eighth edition of The Still In Our Feels Showcase brought together diverse talent from across the greater Seattle area, offering a platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their work.

In the first ever Spring Breakout game for both our Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres, it was the Padres' prospects who were able to outslug the Mariners in an offensive display between the two teams. With the young futures of each team showing out after this game was postponed from last week, both offenses put on a hitting clinic.

Earlier this week on The Day With Trae, Chelsey Richardson joined host Trae Holiday to share her journey as both a poet and a writer and her dedication to imparting her passion to the next generation through teaching. Additionally, Richardson discussed the eagerly anticipated rerelease of her book, All Water Has Perfect Memory.

It’s that time of year when we’re all anticipating the start of baseball season, which also means it’s time to talk about the new foods hitting T-Mobile Park this season. Yesterday, the Seattle Mariners announced their new food and beverage offerings for the 2024 season ahead of Opening Day, which is Thursday, March 28th. While there, I caught up with T-Mobile Park’s Executive Chef, Chef Javier Rosa, to get the deets on this season’s food additions and how he picked each item. I also asked Chef which food I should try first and he happily told me to try them all, and pace myself, so… That’s exactly what I did. Below is a list of my favorite added items added to the ballpark this 2024 season:

Recently, in keeping with the theme of powerful women, host Trae Holiday featured Marie T Kidhe, the managing principal at RieImagine Solutions, on The Day With Trae. With a track record as an intrapreneur spanning over six years, Kidhe offered insight into business ownership, collaboration, and what it means to be a leader throughout the segment.