The W.O.W forum Podcast
The WOW Forum (Wisdom of Woodlawn) is a youth-centered platform rooted in Birmingham, Alabama. Through podcast episodes, creative workshops, and honest community dialogue, we amplify youth voice, explore personal and collective growth, and celebrate the wisdom already present in our neighborhoods. 🎙️ Podcast | 🌿 Creative Workshops | 🧠Community Dialogue We believe storytelling is power, reflection is practice, and healing happens in community. 🔗 Follow us on Instagram: @thewowforum 🌍 Subscribe and grow with us: youtube.com/@thewowforum
Episodes

4 days ago
4 days ago
In this episode, hosts Jacques and Brent sit down with entrepreneur, artist, and author Larry Thornton, whose book Why Not Win? has become a blueprint for purpose-driven leadership. With honesty and insight, Mr. Thornton shares key lessons from his journey—offering reflections on confidence, vision, and the power of mindset. Together, they explore what it truly means to win, how to lead with intention, and why wisdom is one of our greatest tools for success. This isn’t just a conversation about achievement—it’s a conversation about growth, belief, and becoming

4 days ago
4 days ago
In this episode, hosts Josalind and Amyah sit down with LaRoyce Burroughs-Marsh, founder of d’Trespa, a boutique nestled in the heart of Woodlawn and grounded in deep family roots. Together, they explore how fashion can be a tool for storytelling, self-discovery, and confidence. La’Royce shares how De’Trespa is more than a place to shop—it's a space where memories, style, and wisdom come together. From meaningful conversations about identity to the power of personal expression, this episode is a celebration of discovering who you are and honoring it through what you wear.
Because the wisdom we wear tells the story of who we are becoming.

Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
In this episode, we sit down with Raymond Laseter, co-founder of Voltron Printing, a full-service screen printing company and cultural brand based in the heart of Woodlawn, Birmingham. Raymond shares the story behind the name Voltron, the mission to unite creativity and culture, and how their apparel designs—like the Legacy Threads collection—are preserving Black history and building economic power. More than just printing shirts, Voltron is stitching together legacy, leadership, and local pride. Tune in to hear how Raymond is turning ink and fabric into a movement for community and collaboration.

Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
In this episode, host Brittany Hamner sits down with Jacques and Amyah — two of the first student collaborators in the W.O.W. Forum — to reflect on how the vision came to life. They discuss how they met, the intentions behind the work, and the early steps that helped shape a student-led movement rooted in community, creativity, and voice.

Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
In this powerful conversation, host Brittany Hamner is joined by Josalind and John to explore the deeper layers of what the W.O.W. Forum became. Through humor, honesty, and heart, they unpack their experiences, the wisdom they carried in, and what it means to lead with authenticity in spaces that often overlook student voice.