MEMBER FOCUS: Todd Waldo⁠

TURNING 40 WAS SIGNIFICANT to Todd Waldo. He got to thinking about his dad, being a dad, his work as an engineer, and his work as a performer. He got to thinking about each success and challenge he’s experienced, wanting to capture them somehow. ⁠
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At first, Todd was going to write a poem, but that poem turned into a list of 40 lessons he’d learned over the past four decades. Todd then turned that list into the podcast, “40 Lessons.” After three episodes, he thought that was a wrap on his project. But it was only just beginning. ⁠
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He realized that there were many people in the community who were in a similar place as him; people who have, as he poignantly put it, “lived enough life. We’ve learned some things. And we’re still learning.” With that, Todd entered into a new chapter of his podcast, interviewing some of RVA’s most celebrated artists and entrepreneurs. What came out of the conversations surprised him. ⁠
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“The people who I talked with are great leaders, but they’re just as challenged by their careers and families - like the rest of us. We talked about the foundational parts of who they are and how they show up. I appreciated their honesty on where they are on their journeys.” ⁠
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He recalled his own journey in becoming an artist, noting that music of the 70s was formative to him. “There was James Brown telling me to be Black and proud: to get up, get into it, and get involved.” For Todd, music has the potential to not only inspire change within a person but a society, too. ⁠
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When looking at the @mvmnt4blklives, Todd mentioned how there’s a soundtrack to it: “There’s a reason when we protest there is a rhythm to it. There is a cadence to how we demand justice.” It is essential that we listen. ⁠
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Mediums, like music and podcasts, can illuminate pain, depth, and hope. And we hope our Podcast Room in Common House Richmond can serve as a vehicle to help amplify these messages. Stay tuned for @toddbwaldo's upcoming season of "40 Lessons"