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Randomly Selected is a Podcast Channel produced by acclaimed Chicago retail store, The Silver Room. Our channel will include expanded conversations featuring newsmakers, notables and underdogs, and a deeper dive with those who create and consume. Hosted by Mario Smith, our bi-weekly series is intended to entice, encourage, and introduce all the voices inside and around our amazing community. Visit www.thesilverroom.com for more!
Episodes

Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Randomly Selected - Channyn Parker
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
Thursday Dec 15, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Channyn Parker!
We talk about everything from her origin story and the beginning stages of her journey all the way to her current roles within Howard Brown Health Center and so much more!
Channyn is a Human Rights advocate, public speaker, community-centric leader and Director of Strategic Partnerships for Howard Brown Health Center and serves on the board, at Equality Illinois. Prior to her current role, Channyn served as manager of The Broadway Youth Center’s, Youth Development Program, and manager of Chicago House Social Service Agency’s, TransLife Project (2017).
You don't want to miss this one!

Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Randomly Selected - Brandon Pope
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
Thursday Dec 01, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Brandon Pope!
Brandon shares his origin story of growing up in Ohio and how that sparked his move to Chicago, covering the 2012 Olympics and so much more!
Brandon is a journalist passionate about covering the issues Chicagoans care about most. He is a board member for the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, where he focuses on shepherding in the next generation of TV reporters. Brandon's mentorship experience also includes Big Brothers Big sisters.
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Randomly Selected - Binkey
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with the one and only, Binkey!
We talk about everything from his origin story of growing up with a foster family and how that lead to the meeting of his biological mom all the way to his current role as the amazing new host of Grown Folks Stories and so much more.
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Randomly Selected - Asia Calcagno
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
Tuesday Nov 01, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Asia Calcagno!
We talk about her beginnings as a teacher, the first time she was published as a writer and so much more. Asia's work has been published in Third Coast, Poetry Magazine, Black Femme Collective, The Golden Shovel Anthology, Smartish Pace, riverSedge, Hartskill Review, Learn Then Burn 2, and various other journals and anthologies and has been recognized and featured by the Academy of American Poets and national brands like Acura.
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Randomly Selected - Mary Datcher
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
Saturday Oct 15, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with the one and only Mary Datcher!
We talk about her beginnings in the music industry as a Program Director and how her career allowed her to bring some of the Hip Hop Pioneers to Chicago in the 90s. Mary also talks about her latest endeavors in politics and so much more.
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Friday Sep 16, 2022
Randomly Selected - Shaka Rawls
Friday Sep 16, 2022
Friday Sep 16, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Principal and leader of Leo High School, Shaka Rawls!
We talk about everything from the tools he uses to help guide the youth he oversees, how he made his way into being a Principal and so much more!
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Randomly Selected - Helen Shiller
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
For this special episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with former Alderman of the 46th ward in Chicago, Illinois and Chicago City Council member, Helen Shiller!
She shares stories from her childhood and how she was first introduced to politics, her cross-city migration to becoming the Alderman of Uptown and so much more!
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Monday Aug 15, 2022
Randomly Selected - Lisa Beasley
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Monday Aug 15, 2022
For this special episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Actor, Writer and Comedian, Lisa Beasley! She shares stories from the early stages of her career as a graphic designer and how an opportunity to share her poetry lead to her being a dominant force in the industry. Lisa was a writer for "Cards Against Humanity" and currently holds a monthly residency at the legendary Laugh Factory in Chicago.
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Friday Jul 01, 2022
Randomly Selected - Ron Trent & Eric Williams
Friday Jul 01, 2022
Friday Jul 01, 2022
For this special episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Ron Trent and Eric Williams! We talk to Ron about his new album, "What do the stars say to you", his long-term friendship with Eric and how all of that led into the build out of Bronzeville Winery. We also talk to Eric about how the Sound System Block Party started and what it has become for both of these gentlemen throughout the years of hosting it.
You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Randomly Selected - Christopher LeMark
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
For this episode of Randomly Selected, we sit down with Christopher LeMark!
Christopher is the CEO & Founder of Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health here in Chicago. We talk about everything from his career as a Jay-Z impersonator and why he chose not to continue that path all the way to the launch and continued success of Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health, an organization that seeks to Normalize the physical, emotional and mental well-being in the black and brown community.
You don't want to miss this one!