All The Way Authentic with Kevin P. Henry

Sarah Johnson talks candidly about her career as a firefighter and emergency medical technician with host Kevin P. Henry on this episode of All The Way Authentic.
Sarah Johnson, a firefighter and EMT, shares her path into the fire service and what the job is really like. Sarah discusses what drew her to the work, her typical shift patterns, and the daily realities of responding to medical calls, fires and unpredictable emergencies.
We cover everything from physical and written testing (CPAT and written exams), the grind of fire academy and apprenticeship, on-the-job teamwork, staying physically fit and career pathways like engineer and officer roles. Sarah also shares the emotional side of the job - compartmentalizing trauma, weekly therapy, journaling, debriefing difficult calls and strategies for decompressing on days off.
Listeners will also hear practical advice for prospective firefighters: look into ride-alongs, test your tolerance for medical scenes, prepare physically now and talk to many firefighters to learn different paths into the service. Sarah’s story is an inspiring reminder that firefighting is more than a job; it is a commitment to service, teamwork, courage and protecting others.
Join Sarah Johnson and host Kevin P. Henry for an honest and engaging conversation about the challenges, responsibilities and rewards of a career dedicated to helping others.

In this episode, Kevin P. Henry talks with acclaimed classical saxophonist, composer and educator Steven Banks about his musical journey and his mission to establish the saxophone as an essential voice in the modern classical music world.
Over 35 minutes, Steven traces his path from piano to middle school saxophone to his studies at Indiana University and Northwestern, and explains how composition eventually brought his performing, teaching and writing together. He talks about why he composes at the piano, how he chooses instrumentation and his recent premiere of a piece that includes voice for the first time.
Steven and Kevin also get into the distinct colors and ranges of the soprano through baritone saxophones, how equipment like reeds and mouthpieces shapes tone and genre, and what changes between playing live and recording. The conversation closes on the practical and personal side of a touring life: altitude, travel, self-care, channeling nerves and building a career that holds performing, composing and teaching at once.
Throughout, Steven shares his perspective on expanding the role of the saxophone within concert music, supporting diverse artistic voices and helping audiences recognize the instrument's expressive range, versatility and emotional power.

In this episode we discuss the mental health challenges veterans face during and after deployment, with Michael Swann, a Seattle-based Mental Health Counselor who is also a veteran sharing clinical perspective and personal experience. Topics include post-deployment screening, barriers to care, stigma in the military, gender differences in help-seeking, substance use, family strain during deployments, and community-based supports like group therapy, yoga, jiu-jitsu scholarships, EMDR and other treatments.
Listeners will hear real-world examples, including a tragic suicide that underscores the urgency of better transition support, and practical guidance on finding care, rebuilding identity outside the uniform, and resources for veterans and families. The episode emphasizes compassion, reducing stigma, and concrete steps to help veterans reconnect with community and access effective therapies.
For more PTSD resources, please visit: https://www.dav.org/get-help-now/veteran-topics-resources/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/  

Host Kevin sits down with veteran television reporter Deborah Horne to trace her path from Newport News, Virginia, to a distinguished career in broadcast journalism. They discuss the moment the journalism spark ignited — the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the transformative power of television — and Deborah's early influences, including the black church and mentors who nurtured her voice.
The conversation covers Deborah's education and transition from print to TV, early career setbacks and breakthroughs, and practical advice for aspiring journalists: how to network, the value of internships (and how the landscape has changed), the importance of being camera-ready, and how to build a reputation through persistence and informational interviews. Deborah shares candid stories about on-the-job pressures, the realities of field reporting, and why temperament matters for different newsroom roles.
They also tackle modern challenges in journalism — misinformation, AI-generated content, and the urgent need for verification under tight deadlines — and Deborah offers guidance on maintaining accuracy and trust in an increasingly fragmented media environment. Listeners can expect honest reflections, actionable career tips for young reporters, and an inside look at the demands and rewards of life on the beat.
For more information about careers in journalism: https://www.sabj-online.org/. The Seattle Association of Black Journalists. This podcast also appeared at part of the Beyond the Byline podcast series.

Kevin P. Henry sits down with Joe Fox - comedian, actor and former IT professional - for an conversation about what it really takes to walk away from a stable career and bet on yourself.
Joe grew up in Oklahoma City watching Eddie Murphy and knowing somewhere in the back of his mind that he wanted to be on stage. But life had a different plan first: a business degree from the University of Oklahoma, a corporate IT career in Dallas and years of doing the responsible thing while sneaking off to community theater, talent shows and late-night open mics whenever he could.
Eventually something had to give. They talk about the moment Joe decided to make the move to Hollywood, what the transition looked like, and how skills he picked up along the way ended up being exactly what the industry wanted.
Joe also gets into the craft of stand-up comedy, what it takes to develop real material, and why so much of what makes a great comedian also makes a great actor.
You can follow Joe on Instagram, catch his Comedy Live episode on Roku and watch for his short film The Most Honest Person in the Room on the festival circuit.

Kevin P. Henry catches up with his old colleague Ray Richmond — globally syndicated entertainment journalist, TV critic and veteran of some of the most memorable green rooms in Hollywood history — for a conversation that's as much fun as it is illuminating.
Ray has spent decades covering television and entertainment, from his early days at the LA Daily News to writing for the trades. But the real fun in this episode is the stories. Like the afternoon Lucille Ball answered her own front door holding a strawberry margarita and then tripped over the blender cord. Or the time Billy Ray Cyrus said he and Miley were "about tied." Or Shirley MacLaine casually inviting Ray to Dubai to babysit one of her dogs on the flight over, then expecting him to buy his own ticket.
They also get into what it actually takes to be a great interviewer — the research, the listening, knowing when to shut up — and how the relationship between journalists and celebrities has changed completely since the days when a star would just answer the door herself with no publicist in sight.
If you love Hollywood and great storytelling this one's for you.Learn More about Ray: http://rayrichco.com/ 

Kevin P. Henry sits down with Michele Dominguez Greene - actress, LA native and crime novelist - for a conversation about her transition from TV and stage to crime fiction, the release of her new novel and balancing career, parenting and caregiving.
Michele has two book deals (one in the UK, one in the US with Thomas and Mercer) and five books written in under two years. Her latest, The Lost Angels, is the follow-up to her thriller Hollywood Hitman, and both are set in a side of Los Angeles that most people never write about - not the Hollywood of reinvention and big dreams, but the city she's known her whole life.
They get into what it takes to build three-dimensional villains, why the father-daughter cop dynamic at the heart of her series works so well and how her acting background changed the way she writes. Michele also talks about where ideas really come from, how she manages brutal deadlines with editors on two continents, and what it was like to step back from TV work to raise her son and care for her mother, and why she doesn't regret a minute of it.
More about Michele Dominguez Greene
Follow Michele on Instagram
Purchase The Lost Angels

In this powerful episode of Limitless Journeys, the African Immigrant Podcast, host Kevin P. Henry sits down with the passionate team behind Wakulima USA to explore their impactful work in the African immigrant community. From the Elevate Program's care coordination services to mental health advocacy, food access, and culturally responsive support, this conversation dives deep into the everyday barriers immigrants face—and the grassroots solutions that are making a real difference.
You’ll hear from:
Maura Kizito, Development Director
Bernard Nyakiba, Elevate Program Supervisor
Venessa Runo, Executive Director
Ruby Valla, Communications & Fundraising Strategist
Together, they highlight how Wakulima is bridging gaps in healthcare, housing, transportation, and community connection, all while fostering joy, dignity, and trust. Whether it's farming as healing, or walking with clients through personal transformation, this episode is a testament to what’s possible when nonprofits are led by the very communities they serve.
 
🔗 Learn more at www.wakulimausa.org

In this inspiring episode, host Kevin P. Henry sits down with Georgia Payne, a gifted quilter and storyteller on a mission to keep Black history alive. Through powerful visual exhibits and deeply personal creations, Georgia shares how she uses quilts, African artifacts, dolls, and historical narratives to educate communities—especially the next generation—about the richness and resilience of African American history.
 
Ahead of the Nubian Jam on July 26 in Everett, WA, Georgia gives us a preview of the History Tent she’ll co-host. The tent features a 20-foot African American timeline, African masks, artwork, dolls, and quilts that tell untold stories—including an Underground Railroad quilt. She discusses the significance of Black representation in dolls, the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers, and her creative journey with African textiles.
 
Kevin and Georgia also discuss why traditional education has failed to tell the full story of Black history and how art and community action can fill that gap.
 
📍 Featured Event:
🗓️ Nubian Jam – July 26, Forest Park, Everett, WA
🎪 Visit the History Tent curated by Georgia Payne
 
🔗 Connect & Learn More:
Follow the work of Snohomish County Black Heritage
Learn more about the Nubian Jam: https://www.nubianjam.com/
Support local Black historians, artists, and educators