MEMBER FOCUS: Arielle & Mike Hayes

SOME PEOPLE ARE MADE FOR EACH OTHER. Arielle and Mike Hayes are one such couple. Like John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, they are accomplished individuals in their own right but put them together they’re a tour de force: gregarious, kind, intelligent, and full of life. Their two-year old son, Michael Anthony III (named after his dad and granddad) is just as much of a spitball of energy as his parents. As Mike jokes, “When he was really little we took him to the doctor who said, ‘He’s going to have no problem vocabulary-wise, since y’all love to talk!” For a family of extroverts, this year of social distancing and quarantining has brought its unique set of challenges. It has also led them to discover new ways to stay engaged and connected. 

For Mike, he dusted off podcast equipment that Arielle bought him a year ago and launched Different Thought (DT), a series on Black culture that he created and produced with his buddy, Justin McBath. Two engineers, Mike and Justin come from a similar professional background (they met and work for TVA) but come from varying upbringings, which have shaped how they relate to popular topics and issues that affect the Black community. “For example, we had a recent episode called “West Day Ever!” that focuses on the antics of Kanye West. I mean, Kanye is Kanye…” Mike laughs “—but we try to take some of his controversial statements and put a new spin on them.”

Their podcasting style feels like listening in on a conversation of smart, easygoing friends talking over the dinner table. Over the course of 12 episodes, Mike and Justin discuss topics ranging from police brutality, COVID, wokeness, and Karen—all with a signature depth and wit. Often, Mike and Justin share their personal lives and experiences, relating them to larger cultural dynamics. As Mike notes, “One of our most popular episodes is the one Arielle is on. We talk about raising a biracial child. Arielle is biracial. I’m not. So, it’s conversations I’ve never had to have until now.”

On DT, Arielle states, “Our son, who, in my opinion, is the ultimate American. He’s white. He’s Black. He’s Latino. Michael represents what the majority looks like in this nation. I think he has the potential to really use that as an advantage, instead of a hindrance, because he provides a strong voice. You can’t question his roots. If society does do that, we’ve learned nothing from this moment in history.” Despite having faced discrimination herself, Arielle remains optimistic. 

Education and equity advocacy are core to Arielle’s identity. Having grown up in Atlanta's inner city, she saw firsthand the ever-widening opportunity gap created due to racial oppression and socioeconomic inequalities. By the time she was 18, Arielle made a pledge to herself to become an educator. After attending Tennessee Tech (where she and Mike met), Arielle became a teacher and now serves as an assistant principal at East Hamilton Middle School. With disparities rising because of COVID-19, she gives insight into the current reality of our school systems: 

“Some students are coming in-person, but then you also have first graders and kindergarteners who are Zooming in. Teachers and administrators are feeling the pressure. I worry about social interactions. I worry about their emotional well-being and academic success. It is extremely difficult to take kids from where they are and move them forward, without building any gaps. Just like with 9/11, everything changed; so, too, will it be with this pandemic. We may not be able to see the full effects now. Luckily, our kids are resilient.”

Resiliency is also a through-line in Different Thought. In the episode with Arielle, Mike paraphrases LL Cool J who, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, posted on Twitter, “I wonder how biracial families are feeling right now?” Arielle highlights what it is like growing up in a culture of white privilege and how important it is to teach their son about all aspects of his ancestry. She notes how, “I know Mike will do a good job teaching him about his Black history.” 

Mike’s forefathers have played a critical role in his life. A native to Chattanooga, Mike traces his roots back through the generations, describing how his grandfather Ted Wheeler was the city’s first Black Assistant Chief of Police. Ted was a prominent leader who was a part of the Black Agenda, an organization that helps enact policies to improve the lives of Black communities. Although it is still in the early stages, Mike is brainstorming a new podcast series called the Black Agenda, where he will have family members come on the show to discuss what it was like living through the Jim Crow Era and what it’s like living through the present moment. 

For now though, Mike has just wrapped up the final episode of Different Thought (available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you stream). He and Arielle are enjoying time with their son, who is as spunky as ever; “Michael's our curly headed dream.” As we continue to socially distance, the Hayes continue to find creative solutions to do what they do best: educate, inspire, and connect. In one of the parting lines of DT, Arielle says, “If we keep living with the biases that we were raised with, then we’ll never grow as individuals and as a nation.” Education, self-reflection, and conversations are key to a path forward. The Hayes' remind us that boundaries and divisions are elusive, because, as Arielle concludes, “Love has no bounds.”