In this powerful solo episode of RISE Urban Nation, Taryell Simmons reflects on his recent trip to Alabama and how that experience sparked a bold shift in the podcast’s direction for 2026. Standing in spaces shaped by civil rights history, he explores the power of storytelling as resistance, preservation, and narrative ownership. As RISE Urban Nation celebrates its five-year anniversary and transitions from the Year of the Snake (shedding) into the Year of the Fire Horse (momentum), this episode announces a new era: helping entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community changers take control of their narratives. Expect new initiatives, media strategy support, guest presenters, and a renewed focus on amplifying Black voices in a time when stories are being erased, rewritten, or silenced. This is more than a reflection. It’s a declaration.