Josh Rodgers

Twitch superstar Kai Cenat is switching things up and partially taking his talents offline. This time, he’s not just live-streaming from a room filled with chaos and energy. He’s on a college campus, building something bigger. The question on everyone’s feed: What is Streamer University? According to Complex, Streamer University is a weekend-long program designed for content creators to level up their skills in real time. Already in full swing, it runs May 22–25, and is being held on the University of Akron campus in Ohio. In case you were wondering, this isn’t your average influencer linkup. It is a creator bootcamp, a networking hub, and a crash course on how to build a digital brand that lasts. What Is Streamer University, Really? Streamer University is a live, in-person creator academy. More than 150 up-and-coming streamers were selected from over a million applicants to attend. Travel, food, and lodging are completely covered, and the weekend will be packed with sessions that...

At a time when many billionaires were expanding their empires or chasing vanity projects, Bill Gates was choosing a different path. According to Fortune, the Gates Foundation, one of the most influential philanthropic institutions in modern history, has announced a final, ambitious chapter: a $200 billion commitment over the next 20 years to tackle some of humanity’s most pressing problems, after which the foundation will close its doors permanently. This is not a rebranding effort or a gradual fade into the background. It is a strategic decision to concentrate every remaining resource for maximum global impact. With this move, Gates places a historic bet on humanity’s ability to collaborate, innovate, and confront inequality head-on. Gates Foundation Sets 2045 As Its Final Year Gates is donating nearly all of his remaining personal wealth—an estimated $100 billion—to the Gates Foundation, effectively doubling its resources. The foundation will now operate with a projected total of...

House Republicans have introduced a new Medicaid bill aimed at cutting federal healthcare spending without dismantling the program. What’s Inside The GOP Medicaid Bill? According to the Associated Press, the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the Medicaid bill as a central piece of the Republican plan to secure $1.5 trillion in savings. Much of the savings would go toward extending the 2017 Trump-era $4.5 trillion tax cuts, which are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. To help reach that target, the committee proposed $880 billion in cuts, most of which come from changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is important to note that the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2010, was a landmark healthcare reform aimed at expanding coverage, reducing costs, and improving care delivery. Though it significantly increased access through subsidies and Medicaid expansion, many Republicans have long opposed the law, using it...

There are clubs that no amount of charm or charisma can get you into. The kind where wealth isn’t enough if it isn’t old, where opportunity depends not on merit but on access, and where the real decisions are made behind velvet ropes and closed boardroom doors. For far too long, the world of professional sports ownership has been one of those clubs. This is where Jaia Thomas and Diverse Representation enter the chat. What started as a digital directory for Black agents and publicists has evolved into a movement to radically shift the face of power in sports and entertainment. Through events like the recent Black Ownership in Sports Symposium in Atlanta, GA, Founder and CEO Thomas is not just asking for a seat at the table. She’s building new tables altogether. The symposium brings together current and aspiring Black owners, investors, and leaders to discuss tangible pathways into one of the most exclusive spaces in business. Paxton Baker was one of the speakers at this year’s...

After more than six decades of leadership, Warren Buffett made a surprise announcement at the close of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholders meeting on Saturday, May 3, 2025. According to CNBC, he revealed that Greg Abel will take over as CEO on Jan. 1, 2026. The board voted unanimously to approve the transition, with Buffett remaining as chairman. As news of the change spread, attention quickly turned to the future of Berkshire Hathaway stock, a long-standing indicator of investor confidence and corporate stability. “Buffett leaves a company that is less reliant on his investing capabilities, with an array of leading businesses with strong cash flows,” Brian Meredith, UBS’ Berkshire analyst, said via CNBC. Berkshire Hathaway Stock Responds To Leadership News Following the leadership announcement, Berkshire Hathaway stock experienced a brief dip of 5%. Class A shares fell 4.9% to $769,960, down from a record $809,350 the day before. Class B shares also declined, closing at...

About 7.4 million Americans who depend on social security benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program will see two payments hit their accounts in May. It’s not extra money, but it is a significant shift to understand. The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) calendar is the reason for the double deposit, with June’s payment arriving early because the first of the month falls on a Sunday. According to USA Today, the first payment is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, and the second will follow on Friday, May 30. Even though two payments will land in the same month, beneficiaries need to know that the second check is an advance for June. Knowing how and why this happens can help millions who rely on social security benefits plan ahead and avoid gaps in their income. Why Two SSI Payments Are Coming In May Every so often, the SSA’s calendar shifts when regular payment dates fall on weekends or holidays. Instead of delaying deposits, the agency sends payments early....

Colin Kaepernick hasn’t taken an NFL snap since 2017, but he’s never been idle. While the league may have shut its doors, Kaepernick has been steadily opening new ones, quietly constructing an empire grounded in justice, creativity, and economic power. His path since leaving the NFL hasn’t just been one of resistance. It’s been one of reinvention. Kaepernick’s legacy began to shift in 2016 when he took a knee to protest police brutality and racial injustice while playing for the San Francisco 49ers. The moment cost him a job in the NFL, but it cemented his voice as one of the most powerful in American public life. And instead of retreating, he leaned in, turning his influence into a platform for economic change and cultural ownership. Kaepernick has proven that social activism and wealth-building aren’t mutually exclusive through a broad portfolio of business ventures, investments, and creative initiatives. They can be mutually reinforcing. Colin Kaepernick’s Storytelling Journey...

The five-year pause is over. And for more than 5 million Americans, it’s about to get real. Starting May 5, the Department of Education will resume student loan debt collection for borrowers in default. These are individuals who haven’t made payments in at least 270 days. After years of pandemic-era relief dating back to 2020, the federal government is flipping the switch back on. This time, it’s bringing wage garnishments, seized tax refunds, and a wave of financial pressure with it. This isn’t just a policy shift for people already juggling rent, groceries, and gas; it’s a potential financial blow. The Government’s Warning Shot About Student Loan Debt ABC News reports that emails will go out to borrowers over the next two weeks. If you’re in default, you’ll be asked to either make a payment or enter a repayment plan. But if you don’t? The government has clarified that it will begin collecting through legal mechanisms like intercepting tax refunds , dipping into Social Security,...

UnitedHealth Group, a longtime healthcare powerhouse, just took a brutal hit, missing earnings expectations and slashing its 2025 outlook. The company’s stock dropped rapidly Thursday morning, April 17, and it wasn’t just a blip — this was a full-on market reaction to what many are now calling a crisis moment. At the center of it all? A shaky Medicare business, a leadership shakeup, and the long shadow of a massive cyberattack. For years, UnitedHealth was considered untouchable on Wall Street. But now, the once-steady giant is showing signs of severe strain. Medicare Misfire Rattles Confidence In The Insurance Giant Investors didn’t just flinch — they ran. According to The Wall Street Journal, UnitedHealth stock tumbled about 18% in early trading, pulling other major healthcare players like Humana and CVS Health down​. What happened? The company’s Medicare Advantage division, which manages benefits for older and disabled Americans, faces deeper issues than previously disclosed....

As faith leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers navigate the fast-shifting terrain of artificial intelligence, automation, and digital globalization, few figures have leaned into this moment with as much intentionality — or complexity — as Bishop T.D. Jakes. Known to many as a pastor, to others as a media mogul, and increasingly to investors and technologists as an ecosystem builder, Jakes is reasserting his role at the intersection of innovation, equity, and cultural capital. This is where his ongoing initiative, the Good Soil Forum, enters the chat. The conference, which has convened business owners, technologists, creatives, and investors for years, positions itself as a gathering and a long-term infrastructure. It reflects Jakes’ emphasis on sustainability, access to capital, and the kind of practical knowledge often kept behind institutional gates. What has shifted recently, however, is not the mission — but the moment. When Technology Hits Close To Home For Jakes In 2024,...

In an era where the boundaries between technology, law, and culture constantly shift, Blake Richardson, Esq., is one of the few professionals standing firmly at the intersection. As chief legal officer at Gala Games, Gala Music, and Gala Film, Richardson navigates one of emerging tech’s most complex regulatory environments: blockchain. But her journey — from working behind the scenes at NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, and the Phoenix Suns to helping shape blockchain legal frameworks — is more than a personal evolution. It’s a case study in how legal minds are increasingly essential to the tech sector’s future. Understanding Legal Tech In The Age Of Blockchain At its core, legal tech encompasses tools that streamline how users interact with and interpret the law. From document automation and case law research to e-discovery platforms and client management systems, legal tech is transforming how firms and in-house departments operate. But as Reuters notes, it’s not just about efficiency —...

After years of letting baristas bring their full selves to work — tattoos, flannels, colored hair, and all — Starbucks is reining things back in. Starting May 12, the coffee giant is introducing a new, streamlined look that puts the brand’s most iconic symbol — the green apron — back at center stage. The 2025 Starbucks dress code will require employees to wear solid black tops (collared, button-up, or crewneck) paired with bottoms in black, khaki, or blue denim. This shift is being framed as a branding move, part of Starbucks’ ongoing effort to create a familiar and consistent vibe in stores across North America. Each employee, known internally as a “partner,” will also receive two company-branded T-shirts at no cost, including options designed by partner networks. Why The 2025 Starbucks Dress Code Signals More Than Just A Wardrobe Change At first glance, it might look like a simple update to the dress code. But the new dress code is actually doing a lot of heavy lifting. It’s a...

The Trump administration has repealed a Biden-era policy that guaranteed a baseline wage for workers on federal contracts, cutting the federal contractor minimum wage down from $17.75 an hour. However, the move still leaves an Obama-era rule in place that puts the minimum at $13.30 an hour. With that single change, hundreds of thousands of private-sector workers employed by federal contractors are at risk of wage reductions up to 25% — a shift that will disproportionately affect workers without college degrees and those already earning near-poverty wages, the Center for American Progress reports. The Federal Contractor Minimum Wage: A Lifeline Now Lost The now-defunct regulation, established under Executive Order 14026, raised the federal contractor minimum wage in 2021 to $15 and indexed it to inflation, bringing it to $17.75 in 2025. It was designed to ensure that janitors, cooks, maintenance workers, and other federal contract laborers earned a livable wage. More than 327,000...

Will Packer knows a thing or two about spotting a good story. With films like “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” and “Stomp the Yard,” he’s turned everyday moments into box-office gold, built characters we root for, and created cultural blueprints that stick. But when the call came offering a confidential shot at owning a piece of an NFL team — no details, no guarantees — this wasn’t a plot twist in a film. This was real life. And it didn’t come with a pitch deck or press release. It came with a non-disclosure agreement and the vaguest of possibilities. “I said, NFL? National Food League?” Packer joked. “Because I know the NFL doesn’t just let people in.” The terms? Mysterious. The team? Unknown. The risk? High. But Packer signed the NDA anyway. That moment — unflashy, uncertain, but undeniably bold — set off a chain of events that would lead him not just into the NFL ownership circle but into a growing movement to rewrite what power and equity look like in professional sports. Fast...

Black wealth, especially at the billionaire level, remains a statistical anomaly in global finance. But in 2025, that narrative continues to shift — if only incrementally. According to Forbes, out of 3,028 billionaires worldwide, only 23 are Black, representing less than 1% of the list. Despite this underrepresentation, these 23 individuals collectively hold an impressive $96.2 billion in wealth. The figures tell one story. The names behind them tell another story — one of legacy, innovation, cultural power, and long-game strategy. This year, two notable newcomers joined the global roster of Black billionaires: Sheila Johnson, the media and hospitality powerhouse, and Herriot Tabuteau, a biotech founder with a focus on brain health. Both represent not only financial achievement but industry-specific influence in spaces where Black leadership is often overlooked or underestimated. Who’s New To The 2025 Black Billionaires List? Sheila Johnson, widely known as the co-founder of Black...