In nearly six decades of work, she has mentored hundreds of authors, poets and women globally. Her poetry has appeared in African American Review, Essence Magazine, Ms. Magazine... and dozens of literary journals and lifestyle magazines. In 2003, she was the recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature (the highest award the state can bestow for significant contributions in science, literature, fine arts, and public service). She was selected for the Forbes distinguished 2022 list, 50...

Dubbed a “national treasure” and nicknamed the “Mother of Black Hollywood,” she’s starred in over 400 episodic TV shows, 68 movies, and four Broadway shows. During her prolific screen career, she’s most notably known as Zelma Bullock in Tina Turner biopic "What's Love Got to Do With It" and as Ruby Johnson in the socially-conscious sitcom "Black-ish." She’s an award-winning actress who steals every scene she’s in, and yet her “real work” is off stage and off camera as an activist and a mental...

Part II: Tori returns in delight with one of her favorite spirits, a true comedian's comedian and one of the world’s most groundbreaking, well-respected, and beloved entertainers. A true pioneer and legend in the entertainment industry with 52 years of comedy, relationships, stories, and wisdom to share. He has made over 500 national TV appearances as a stand-up comedian, including more than 60 appearances on The Tonight Show, and was a favorite guest of David Letterman. For fourteen years,...

She is so much more than a costume designer or expert storyteller. She is a trailblazer. A pioneer. A leader. Think Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing or 12 other Spike Lee joints. Ava DuVernay’s Selma. Lee Daniels' The Butler. Steven Spielberg’s Amistad. Coming 2 America… and so much more. But who is the woman behind the accolades? What makes her tick? What gives her life? And what drove her to become the first African American to win an Academy Award in...

Tori returns to her beloved alma mater, Hampton University, reflects and has a very special homecoming with the singular President Dr. William R. Harvey. Known for more than 40 years of legendary leadership, he transformed the university from a small Black college to a world-class leader within higher education. Whether it’s his powerful presence, establishing the largest free-standing proton beam cancer center in the world, increasing the endowment from $29 million to over $400 million...

She is so much more than a costume designer. She is a national treasure and global visionary. She was nominated twice for an Oscar for her timeless work on Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and Steven Spielberg’s Amistad. She became the first African American to win an Academy Award in Costume Design for her exquisite designs on Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. The proud Hampton University graduate has designed an impressive filmography of over 60 diverse film and television projects. She has worked...

Tori delights in talking to one of her favorite spirits, a true comedian's comedian and one of the world’s most groundbreaking, well-respected, and beloved entertainers. He has made over 500 national TV appearances as a stand-up comedian, including more than 60 appearances on The Tonight Show, and was a favorite guest of David Letterman. For fourteen years he was the opening act for Frank Sinatra, and performed countless times with artists like Smokey Robinson, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Cole,...

Fresh out of NYU's Tisch Graduate Acting Program, she fulfilled her dream of working with both Denzel Washington, as his wife, and Spike Lee, in the hit film, "Inside Man". How?  You may wonder. By being herself.  And she's been on the inside of culture with successful shows as Luke Cage, Atlanta, and The Last O.G., and in films as Chris Rock's "I Think I Love My Wife" and more recently playing Mama Durant (Kevin Durant's mother) in "The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story". But she's best known...

Part II:  Tori explores the ancient adage "to whom much is given, much is required" with a soul star and Grammy Award winner and soul storyteller for Part II of this fun, insightful, and warm conversation. As a self-described "country boy" and "soul man whisperer", he never forgets his roots, and is determined to always fuel his communities that he stays connected to through his music, and his soul. He has been nominated for 17 Grammy Awards, sold nearly 50 million albums around the world,...

For Black History Month, we're celebrating a cultural icon dubbed the "first Black action hero" and the groundbreaking film that birthed him, made Oscar history, and was inducted for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Shut yo mouth! He returns for a Part 2 conversation as he talks about the 50th anniversary of the film “Shaft,” working with the Renaissance man himself… Gordon Parks,...

Tori takes pleasure in speaking with the “original Black action hero” and a  cultural iconoclast. Many see him simply as John Shaft with a brash, ‘take no prisoners’ veneer. He however says, “what you see is not the actual”.  So, he is not only cool but a true gentleman, gentle soul and master thespian whose works span 5 decades including his forthcoming show with Ava DuVernay. The man also known as double R (or RR) is his father's son and a loving father with a disarming wit that will...

Tori has the pleasure to speak with an emerging, compassionate love champion. A true champion of the spirit. She is a proud Zimbabwean singer-songwriter, philanthropist, activist, storyteller, gymnast and television personality. Using words as weapons of love, her 2021 debut album "I'm not a mother, but I have children," is about the responsibility she feels to build a better world for future generations of all living things. From being Zimbabwe's first Black woman gymnast at the All-Africa...

Before George Floyd, before Breonna Taylor, before America knew about Black Lives Matter, there was Michael Brown, Jr. On August 9th, 2014, in Ferguson Missouri, Darren Wilson, a white officer, fatally shot an unarmed Brown, and in the days that followed protest, anger, frustration and fear took over the city and its community. Six years later, a new story emerges, one filled with hope, love and beauty. Through interviews from community members, including Dorian Johnson, who was with him that...

He is a soulful storytelling master. As a matter of fact, he is in the soulful lineage of Sam Cooke, Al Green, or Bill Withers in his vocal mastery, storytelling prowess and evolution of self, as well as his sound. He could be one of the last of his kind in an era characterized by quick fixes on social media, streaming music and the evolution of Hip Hop.  He is a soul man who takes his sweet Southern time and by his own lyrical admission, "my soul is on fire!"  This time, he is tuning all of...

Aaron Chang is an internationally acclaimed fine art photographer, an evolving spirit, and a humble creative. One who captures the ocean, the sun… the surf - like no other. Known for being the Creator of Modern Surf Photography, he’s redefining the sport of modern surfing through his lens. He’s traveled to over 50 countries for films, travel journalism assignments and his epic imagery has been published worldwide in hundreds of books, along with over 100 magazine covers globally to his name....

This is Part II of a 2 part series celebrating and looking closely at the Fischer family musical legacy to our times and the world. Grammy-winning producer, composer, arranger Brent Fischer carries on the legacy of his legendary father, Dr. Clare Fischer.  Brent's  arranging credits appear on over 30 million albums to include: Usher, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello & The Roots, and D'Angelo (who won Grammy Album and Song of The Year for "Really Love" from his album  "Black Messiah" where...

I am Tori Reid and I have a long standing tradition called “Tori Sundays” where I tune in, in order to tune up. Call it meditation. Dancing. Dancing with the universe. Dancing in my innerverse.  Reading. Call it prayer. Writing. Call it really loving myself. For me, that’s Tori Sundays. I've put my all into these shows. But really, they are sharings of myself with my listeners. And I get so many comments about not only our magical, incredible and brilliant guests, but also the thoughts and...

Some may know him as Ray Campbell on Sister, Sister, and others as Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati. And then there are those who fondly recall him as Frank Parrish on Frank’s Place, or others as "Downtown Brown" on Simon and Simon. But none of these aliases hold a candle to the man, distinct, renowned and an original in his own right.  He is called a pioneer because of his founding of New Millennium Studios in 1997 before Tyler Perry and after Oscar Micheaux’s Lincoln Motion Picture...

Last week Prince enjoyed a birthday.   He remains one of the most celebrated pop artist of the 20th century and the soundtrack by which many artists measure their own creations and draw inspiration from.  In this episode of Here’s to Life’s, Tori Reid explores the music and orchestral arrangements of some of his most widely celebrated albums including Parade, Sign of the Times, Batman (Soundtrack), Lotus Flow3r, Chrystal Ball, Graffiti Bridge and Girl Six.  Brent Fisher and his father, the...

Part II:  This episode bookends our March Women's History Month as a tall glass of sweet Virginian iced tea between Tori Reid and her step mother.  We celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series finale (May 20, 1996) of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". Our Aunt Viv discusses her sweet joy and well lived memories from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion special on HBO Max, the late great James Avery, the surprise first time union with Janet Hubert, and Will Smith’s inspiring journey to growth...

Part II:  This Mother’s Day, we continue our tribute to the iconic and legendary Cicely Tyson.  For Part I in Episode 15 “What Makes Cicely Tyson, Cicely Tyson”, we heard lovingly from those who were mentored by her, worked with her and knew her.  For this Part II, we speak with culture makers and great spirits as Debbie Allen, Bill Duke, and Daphne Maxwell Reid, who have been inspired by her light. All speak to her grace, command and seemingly effortless quantums of power as a Hollywood...

This is the 20th episode inspired by the majestic Shirley Horn's timeless tome. Tori Reid, host of "Here's to Life", reflects on Life, the meaning of it all, her recent quantum steps into Transcendentalism, and the enlightened insights of some of her...

Tori's back again! This time with an auteur, Hollywood legend and global griot - at a towering 6' 4½” - who’s portrayed some indelible tough and rough multi-layered characters and directed cult underground classics and American popular phenomenons...

March is Women’s History Month. Tori delights in a spirited conversation honoring a special woman in her life. She made history as the first Black woman featured on the cover of Glamour magazine, as Northwestern University’s first Black homecoming queen...