The Hilltop Glove Podcast

Clean Stories Through The Lens: Gavin Boulware

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] You can tell a lot about a photographer by what they think the job actually is. With Gavin Boulware [https://www.instagram.com/iam_gavinb/], the answer is clear: the camera matters, but trust matters more. We sit down with the Charlotte, North Carolina photographer to trace his path from an $89 point-and-shoot and “trash” early photos to weddings, portraits, and a reputation that makes clients feel safe before he ever clicks the shutter. We talk about the support system that helped him keep going, the lessons that came from undercharging, and the moment club photography taught him that access is not the same as getting paid. Gavin shares the full story of his first wedding shoot, what he missed, what he learned about the flow of a ceremony, and the small things that still make even seasoned wedding photographers sweat. He also breaks down what “style” really means in post-processing, why he prioritizes sharp and clean edits, and how he uses conversation, humor, and specific prompts to pull real personality into couples portraits and engagement photos. The business side stays front and center: respecting client privacy, following directions on professional gigs, delivering images on a timeline that helps marketing teams, and remembering that customer service is most of the work. We wrap with legacy, the difference between fame and respect, and how his podcast The Black Dad's Club [https://www.instagram.com/blackdadsclub_podcast/] is growing into a real community through service, including free headshots and resume help. Subscribe for more conversations with working creatives, share this with a photographer who needs a push, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking from Gavin’s story. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

What Happens When A Culture Loses Authenticity

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] Fame can hit overnight and disappear even faster, so we sit down with DJ Chuck T [https://www.instagram.com/iamdjchuckt] to talk about what actually lasts: respect, skill, and a real name in your community. From Charleston, South Carolina to the Carolina hip hop scene, Chuck shares how a military household, an educator’s mindset, and deep church roots shaped his discipline, his voice, and his ability to lead rooms long before he ever touched a stage or turntables. We also go places most music interviews avoid. Chuck opens up about being ordained as a teenager, why he started studying beyond one tradition, and what he learned reading the Ethiopian Bible and thinking critically about how religion can be used for control. The through-line is personal responsibility: finding God for yourself, building knowledge of self, and refusing to let anyone hand you a ready-made identity. Then we bring it back to the culture and the craft. Chuck breaks down why authenticity in hip hop is non-negotiable, how copycat trends and “type beat” thinking keep new artists stuck, and what real mentorship sounds like when the truth is uncomfortable. We talk music industry scams, the drug narratives that pull artists off track, and why a business mindset beats short-term clout every time. If you care about artist development, music business education, DJ culture, and the future of rap, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs the message, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

Doula Support That Actually Helps

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] Birth prep gets marketed like a checklist, but the hard parts usually show up in the gaps: the first painful latch, the exhaustion at 2 a.m., the moment you realize you do not know the right question to ask a nurse or doctor. We wanted to talk about the real experience, so we brought on Shannon Allen, a postpartum doula and lactation care provider and the founder of Desires of the Heart Doula and Lactation Care in Columbia, South Carolina. Shannon breaks down what a doula actually does and how that differs from a midwife, then goes deeper into the kind of support most families wish they had sooner. We get into breastfeeding support and the stigma around it, why “natural” does not mean “easy,” and how small tools and simple visuals can stop parents from spiraling when they think they are not producing enough milk. She also shares her own three very different birth stories, including moments that were scary, exhausting, and ultimately grounding, plus a reminder of how powerful a steady partner or support person can be. We also talk advocacy and informed consent: how to speak up, how to ask what is happening to your body, and why a good doula focuses on empowering you rather than talking for you. If you are researching postpartum doula care, lactation consulting, breastfeeding help, or the midwife vs doula decision, this conversation is built to leave you more prepared and less alone. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with an expecting parent, and leave a review so more families can find the support they deserve. Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible moms we love! Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

How Russell Earle Jr. Turned Six Months In South America Into A Book

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] We sit down with Russell Earle Jr [https://www.instagram.com/rizzimet/]. to trace how a six-month solo trip through South America and a daily journaling habit turned into his debut memoir, Until I Came Home [https://russellearlejr.com/books/]. We also get real about the craft and business of being an author, from editing and audiobooks to reviews, distribution, and showing up consistently.  Make sure to visit https://russellearlejr.com/ [https://russellearlejr.com/] to learn more Russell's story and to check out his Substack, https://russelljearlejr.substack.com/ [https://russelljearlejr.substack.com/]. Like and subscribe and tell someone you love them! Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

A Flash Flood Took Everything, And She Rebuilt With Kindness

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] We sit down with Tanisha Hall aka Queen It Shall Be [https://www.instagram.com/queenitshallbe/] to talk about choosing kindness as a daily practice and turning creativity into something your whole community can feel. She shares how family history, honest parenting, and building culturally rooted games help her rebuild after loss and keep showing up as the light.  • Growing up between Brooklyn and South Carolina while becoming a poet, dancer, and arts activist  • Meeting her father later in life and acting as the family historian  • Why kids need consistent examples of real kindness  • Compassion as a choice rather than a weakness  • leading creativity at home by dancing every day and letting kids watch the process  • Designing Hillman The Game, Flavor The Game, and Spades Coach to reflect Black culture  • Creating free YouTube guessing games and keeping music and production in the family  • Telling the story of the flash flood and tree crash that destroyed her home  • Speaking up, asking for help, and refusing to let shame win  • Building safe spaces through game nights and learning to promote your art  Visit Queen at www.iasgames.com [https://www.iasgame.com] where it's a good black time with you and mine. Please tell somebody next to them that you love them and you appreciate them.  Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.