Deniese Davis has always been ahead of her time. From producing The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl alongside Issa Rae, to co-founding ColorCreative, to building Reform Media Group with an exclusive deal at Tyler Perry Studios, she has dedicated her career to amplifying authentic stories that shape culture.

In this episode of Culture Raises Us, host Astor Chambers dives deep with Deniese about her journey from Las Vegas to Brooklyn College to Hollywood, and the pivotal moments that shifted her path. From the life-changing exposure of a trip to New York as a teenager, to stepping away from basketball and finding her voice in video production, Deniese shares how mentorship, risk-taking, and resilience propelled her forward.

This conversation explores:
Why exposure and mentorship are critical for the next generation
Lessons learned from producing Awkward Black Girl and working alongside Issa Rae
The power of authenticity and originality in storytelling
How sports shaped her leadership style as a producer
The seven-year journey of making One of Them Days with Keke Palmer and SZA
Why she believes ownership and building your own table are the future of culture
Her three seeds for the next generation: innovation, resourcefulness, and amplification

Deniese reminds us that culture doesn’t wait for permission — it is created by those willing to take risks, disrupt systems, and tell stories no one else is telling. Her journey is proof that with passion, vision, and authenticity, you can change the game and inspire the world.

🎧 Listen now for an unfiltered look at one of the most important producers shaping the culture today.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction & Opening Reflections
00:23 – Building Your Own Table: Deniese Davis’ Mission
01:12 – Defining Culture as a Way of Life
02:12 – Early Inspirations: From Las Vegas to New York
03:30 – Exposure to Fashion, Music & Basketball Greats
05:05 – Identity Shift: From Basketball Player to Video Producer
07:18 – Discovering Storytelling in High School
08:59 – The Power of Exposure and Access
11:17 – Content as Culture: From Carmen Hip Hopera to Awkward Black Girl
13:55 – Meeting Issa Rae & Producing Early Web Series
17:25 – Authenticity & Originality as Non-Negotiables
19:30 – Partnership with Issa Rae & ColorCreative
21:31 – Sports, Leadership & Producing as a Point Guard
24:01 – Collaboration Behind One of Them Days with Keke Palmer & SZA
28:06 – Creating Culture Without Asking for Permission
30:22 – Mentorship, Validation & Supporting the Next Generation
31:58 – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Beyond Corporations
33:26 – Why Ownership & Building Our Own Tables Matters
36:04 – The Role of Allyship & Generational Shifts Ahead
38:03 – Deniese’s Three Seeds: Innovation, Resourcefulness & Amplification
39:56 – Closing Reflections & Gratitude

#DenieseDavis #CultureRaisesUs #IssaRae #AwkwardBlackGirl #ColorCreative #AuthenticStorytelling #BlackWomenInFilm #OwnershipMatters #InnovationInFilm #OneOfThemDays #TylerPerryStudios #WomenProducers #MentorshipMatters #CulturalLeadership #ResilientCreatives

Deniese Davis has always been ahead of her time. From producing The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl alongside Issa Rae, to co-founding ColorCreative, to building Reform Media Group with an exclusive deal at Tyler Perry Studios, she has dedicated her career to amplifying authentic stories that shape culture.
In this episode of Culture Raises Us, host Astor Chambers dives deep with Deniese about her journey from Las Vegas to Brooklyn College to Hollywood, and the pivotal moments that shifted her path. From the life-changing exposure of a trip to New York as a teenager, to stepping away from basketball and finding her voice in video production, Deniese shares how mentorship, risk-taking, and resilience propelled her forward.
This conversation explores:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why exposure and mentorship are critical for the next generation</li>
<li aria-level="1">Lessons learned from producing Awkward Black Girl and working alongside Issa Rae</li>
<li aria-level="1">The power of authenticity and originality in storytelling</li>
<li aria-level="1">How sports shaped her leadership style as a producer</li>
<li aria-level="1">The seven-year journey of making One of Them Days with Keke Palmer and SZA</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why she believes ownership and building your own table are the future of culture</li>
<li aria-level="1">Her three seeds for the next generation: innovation, resourcefulness, and amplification</li>
</ul>
Deniese reminds us that culture doesn&rsquo;t wait for permission &mdash; it is created by those willing to take risks, disrupt systems, and tell stories no one else is telling. Her journey is proof that with passion, vision, and authenticity, you can change the game and inspire the world.
🎧 Listen now for an unfiltered look at one of the most important producers shaping the culture today.
Chapters: 00:00 &ndash; Introduction &amp; Opening Reflections 00:23 &ndash; Building Your Own Table: Deniese Davis&rsquo; Mission 01:12 &ndash; Defining Culture as a Way of Life 02:12 &ndash; Early Inspirations: From Las Vegas to New York 03:30 &ndash; Exposure to Fashion, Music &amp; Basketball Greats 05:05 &ndash; Identity Shift: From Basketball Player to Video Producer 07:18 &ndash; Discovering Storytelling in High School 08:59 &ndash; The Power of Exposure and Access 11:17 &ndash; Content as Culture: From Carmen Hip Hopera to Awkward Black Girl 13:55 &ndash; Meeting Issa Rae &amp; Producing Early Web Series 17:25 &ndash; Authenticity &amp; Originality as Non-Negotiables 19:30 &ndash; Partnership with Issa Rae &amp; ColorCreative 21:31 &ndash; Sports, Leadership &amp; Producing as a Point Guard 24:01 &ndash; Collaboration Behind One of Them Days with Keke Palmer &amp; SZA 28:06 &ndash; Creating Culture Without Asking for Permission 30:22 &ndash; Mentorship, Validation &amp; Supporting the Next Generation 31:58 &ndash; Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion: Beyond Corporations 33:26 &ndash; Why Ownership &amp; Building Our Own Tables Matters 36:04 &ndash; The Role of Allyship &amp; Generational Shifts Ahead 38:03 &ndash; Deniese&rsquo;s Three Seeds: Innovation, Resourcefulness &amp; Amplification 39:56 &ndash; Closing Reflections &amp; Gratitude
#DenieseDavis #CultureRaisesUs #IssaRae #AwkwardBlackGirl #ColorCreative #AuthenticStorytelling #BlackWomenInFilm #OwnershipMatters #InnovationInFilm #OneOfThemDays #TylerPerryStudios #WomenProducers #MentorshipMatters #CulturalLeadership #ResilientCreatives

Culture Raises US. It isn’t just something we’re impacted by, it’s also something we can impact. 

As empowered stewards of Culture, it’s time to get smart on how we can continue influencing society while breaking new grounds.

On Culture Raises US, Astor Chambers invites you to join for honest, insightful, and challenging conversations with pioneering cultivators across music, fashion, tech, sports, art, and entertainment.

Culture Raises US

Deniese Davis Interview | Innovation, Ownership & Building Culture Through Authentic Stories

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5f721bd2-f8b5-4aee-98cf-b355012c0179/transcript