“Black Music Month” with Rev. LaDana Clark aka LADYJAM and DJ J Easy aka Jonathan Brooks, Whitney’s Music Fest, History of Fireworks 6-30-25
On this week’s Hot Seat: Media Monday, we celebrate Black Music Month by exploring the cultural, spiritual, and social impact of Black music with two powerful guests: Reverend LaDana Clark (aka LADYJAM), a Black lesbian Christian musician and minister, and DJ J-Easy (Jonathan Brooks), 95.5 FM DJ and sound engineer for the show. Together, we reflect on music’s ability to heal, uplift, and spark dialogue in the face of hate and division. Reverend Clark shares her moving journey from addiction and industry exploitation to a spiritual awakening that now fuels her ministry and music. Meanwhile, DJ J-Easy and I delve into the realities of creating meaningful work and establishing a media presence in a smaller market, as well as how we each define success and fame on our own terms.
This episode centers on transformation, resilience, and the responsibility artists bear in using their platforms for good. Reverend Clark’s song “Hateration” calls out hate in all its forms, urging community engagement and honest dialogue as a path to healing. Our conversation emphasizes authenticity, growth, and the unifying power of music. Plus, we bring you highlights from Whitney’s Music Fest, and Lily Christopher uncovers the surprising history of fireworks, along with a guide to where you can catch local displays this Fourth of July.
Rev. LaDana Clark aka Lady Jam is online at https://churchnthehood.org/rev-ladana-clark-aka-ladyjam/, https://www.facebook.com/TheREVLC/, and https://open.spotify.com/user/7cd2rl9qhbavcdeh24e6pu0gc?si=408924fe640748d6
Jonathan Brooks/ DJ J-Easy is the sound engineer. He is online at Facebook.com/easyatm315, Instagram.com/j_easy315/, and https://on.soundcloud.com/XGKd3e4AZeNtrD2X9
Jim Hale is the photographer and records the show for video and podcast streaming. He is online at Jim Hale (@instanteon) • Instagram photos and videos
Nabil Khan is the entertainment correspondent for Hot Seat: Media Monday. Nabil is online at Letterboxd.com/1andonlynabk/and Instagram.com/instanab.k/.
Brian Lazore and Lazore Photography are online at lazorephotography.smugmug.com, Facebook.com/LazorePhotography, https://www.threads.net/@lazorephotography and YouTube.com/@LazorePhotography. The Off The Record with Lazore Photography podcast is online at Spotify and Amazon Music
Ron Klopfanstein is an award-winning multimedia investigative journalist, news and producer for 95.5 FM “The Heat” broadcast and streaming. He hosts Hot Seat: Media Monday every Monday at 5 pm, broadcast on 95.5 FM and streaming at 955TheHeat.com. Podcasts at: https://open.spotify.com/show/4nbrIF49K56OxbPljuw1Lv?si=7e000e7279f54c2a Like him at Facebook.com/ReadRonKlopfanstein, Follow him at Bsky.app/profile/ronklopfanstein.bsky.social, Threads.net/@RonKlopfanstein, Instagram.com/RonKlopfanstein, Tiktok.com/@ronklopfanstein, and subscribe to his channel at YouTube.com/@RonKlopfanstein. Read all his work at Muckrack.com/ron-klopfanstein.
