Carolina Waves

Miriam Tolbert (Radio / Producer / Curator)

MIR.I.AM, a radio personality based in Raleigh, NC, has made a significant impact in the music industry. She’s a two-time finalist for “Best Radio Personality” by Indy Week and founded Real RNB Radio on NC State’s 88.1 WKNC. Mir.I.Am has interviewed renowned artists like Whitney Houston and Ne-Yo and is known for revitalizing North Carolina’s music scene through her platform, Carolina Waves. Carolina Waves supports and provides opportunities for local and independent artists through concerts, a podcast, showcases, industry mixers, live-stream concerts, festival activations, open mics, and a radio show. Additionally she organizes benefit concerts, including the popular “Mirry Christmas Toy Drive,” and has partnered with Leith Cars, Live Nation, and more. Mir.I.Am continues to elevate North Carolina’s presence in the entertainment industry and shows no signs of stopping.

Lee Cooper (Techpreneur: AI / Metaverse / V-Commerce)

Tlee Cooper is the Founder of ZROverse Inc, a company that is dedicated to gamifying life by creating virtual worlds with real world purpose. Inspired by life simulation games like The Sims, Tlee set out on a journey to help people and businesses reimagine the world virtually from an economic empowerment perspective. Growing up in environments where people had big dreams and limited resources, the thought to create businesses virtually was born. Today, Tlee builds virtual storefronts, entertainment experiences and cities that are easily accessible to all and require very little startup capital. Her work is laying the foundation to power digital economies and usher in a new era of new collar jobs. Come see for yourself, ZRO in!

Kyesha Jennings (Hip Hop Scholar)

Kyesha Jennings is an award-winning hip-hop scholar who has worked in academic and non-academic spaces as a lecturer, speaker, writer, editor, curator, project manager, and content creator. As a hip-hop scholar and academic, she has over 10 years of experience working in a collegiate setting teaching first-year writing and a variety of literature courses. Her research in academia focuses on Black Literature and Culture in general, but more specifically engages Black Women Writers, Hip-Hop Studies, Hip-Hop Feminism, and Digital Media. Kyesha’s work has appeared in Scalwag, LifeHacker, Indy Week, HotNewHipHop, Okay Player, and Vulture.

Ashia Skye (Radio Personality / Podcaster)

New Jersey native Ashia Skye is a multimedia personality & brand ambassador known for being on-air at Raleigh’s #1 hip-hop radio station, K97.5. She is also one of the voices of international Hip-Hop media platform HipHopDX. She has hosted shows such as HipHopDX’s DX Daily Podcast and web interview series, The Come Up.  She has interviewed prominent figures in music, entertainment, business, and various other industries. With her work in the digital content space, Ashia has garnered over 500,000 views on Youtube, serving as a launching pad for her content to be featured on various online music and pop-culture outlets. Ashia has been named one of the Triangle’s ‘Fifteen Women to Follow’ on the NC Hip-Hop media scene by IndyWeek Newspaper. She has also hosted events featured on ABC 11 WTVD and in IndyWeek. She also serves as a brand ambassador, who has represented companies like Beauty Beat Box, Icon Swim, and the acclaimed Art of Cool music Festival.

B Paiz (Radio Programmer / Personality)

Brian “B” Paiz is a highly experienced multi-media professional with over 20 years in radio, sales, marketing, PR, and social media. With notable programming roles across various cities, he’s made significant contributions to the industry. Currently at 95.3 the Beat in Raleigh, NC, Paiz’s passion for programming, strong work ethic, and expertise in marketing have driven the growth and success of multiple stations. He’s a respected and valuable asset in radio programming.

Jason Gillikin (CEO & Executive Podcast Producer)

Jason Gillikin is the CEO and Executive Producer at Earfluence, one of the fastest-growing podcast production companies located in the Triangle area. Leveraging his background in digital marketing and business development, Gillikin has used his passion for storytelling to build communities through podcasting and other digital platforms. Before establishing himself as a leader in the podcasting industry, Gillikin honed his skills in digital marketing and business development. These skills have translated seamlessly to his role at Earfluence, where he oversees the company’s comprehensive range of services, including concept development, marketing, recording, and production. Under his guidance, Earfluence has had a significant impact on the Triangle startup community and has played a pivotal role in the rise of podcasts.