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Stay A While

Stay A While

By: Tommi A. Vincent
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If food is a love language then this podcast is virtual soul food. Host Tommi A. Vincent is a NFL wife, chef, life-coach and domestic violence survivor who found her recipe for healing was through using food as medicine. Stay A While with those who hunger for connection as human beings, who have faced the impossible, and are still standing to tell their stories. Your presence is welcome. So take a seat at the table and make yourself at home. It’s time for some comfort food for your soul.Copyright Tommi A. Vincent Social Sciences
Episodes
  • More Than a Meal: Jon Hooper on Leadership, Food Security, and Serving Community with Purpose

    More Than a Meal: Jon Hooper on Leadership, Food Security, and Serving Community with Purpose
    Jun 10 2026
    Take a seat… and stay a while. Some of the most powerful leaders are the ones who quietly show up, serve consistently, and invest in the people around them.

    In this inspiring episode of Stay A While, I sit down with Jon Hooper, Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Emeryville and Oakland, whose journey is a testament to the power of hard work, humility, and purpose-driven leadership.

    Jon's story began as a teenager washing dishes. Through perseverance, dedication, and a commitment to serving others, he worked his way through the business and ultimately became a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator in the Bay Area.

    But for Jon, success has never been measured solely by sales, growth, or accolades.

    It's measured by impact.

    Throughout our conversation, we explore how food can be a catalyst for hope, dignity, and opportunity. Jon shares why food security has become a personal mission, how local businesses can play a critical role in strengthening communities, and why true leadership begins with serving others.

    We also discuss the importance of community partnerships, including Chick-fil-A's support of the Vincent Country Safe Zone in Oakland, where Jon and his team helped provide meals for students, teachers, and volunteers—demonstrating that meaningful change happens when organizations come together to meet both immediate and long-term needs.

    This episode is a powerful reminder that when people are nourished, communities flourish.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Jon's journey from dishwasher to Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator
    • The leadership lessons learned through service
    • Why food security is essential to thriving communities
    • The role businesses can play in addressing local needs
    • Building trust and connection through community engagement
    • The importance of dignity, belonging, and meeting basic needs
    • Creating impact that extends beyond business success
    About Our Guest:
    Jon Hooper is the Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Emeryville and Oakland. His career with Chick-fil-A began as a teenager, where he learned the value of hard work, consistency, and service from the ground up. Today, Jon leads with a people-first philosophy, investing in his team members, customers, and the communities his restaurants serve. He is deeply committed to addressing food insecurity and creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive. Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations, Jon continues to demonstrate how local leadership can create lasting impact.

    This episode is for:
    • Business leaders seeking to lead with purpose
    • Entrepreneurs committed to community impact
    • Nonprofit leaders and changemakers
    • Anyone passionate about food security and community development
    • Individuals who believe business can be a force for good
    🍽️ At the Table
    At Stay A While, we believe some of life's greatest lessons are found around the table. Jon reminds us that leadership is not about position—it's about service. His story demonstrates that when we invest in people, meet essential needs, and create opportunities for connection, we build stronger communities and brighter futures. Because sometimes the most meaningful work begins with something as simple—and as powerful—as a meal.
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    19 mins
  • Owning the Spotlight: Deonna Purrazzo on Discipline, Confidence, and Becoming The Virtuosa

    Owning the Spotlight: Deonna Purrazzo on Discipline, Confidence, and Becoming The Virtuosa
    Jun 3 2026
    Take a seat… and stay a while. In this dynamic episode of Stay A While, we welcome Deonna Purrazzo—world-class professional wrestler, champion, and one of the most respected technical performers in women’s sports entertainment.

    Known around the world as The Virtuosa, Deonna has built a career defined by discipline, precision, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Competing at the highest levels of professional wrestling, she has earned multiple championships and the respect of fans and peers alike through both her athleticism and authenticity.

    But this conversation goes beyond the ring. We talk about confidence, identity, longevity, reinvention, and what it takes to believe in yourself even when the spotlight feels heavy. Deonna opens up about pursuing greatness on her own terms, navigating pressure, and the mindset required to sustain success in a demanding industry.

    This episode is for anyone learning how to own their voice, trust their talent, and keep showing up with conviction.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • The discipline and mindset behind elite performance
    • Building confidence in highly competitive environments
    • Longevity, reinvention, and evolving through every season
    • Navigating pressure, criticism, and public expectations
    • The power of self-belief and staying authentic
    • What women in sports entertainment can teach us about leadership and resilience
    • Defining success on your own terms
    About Our Guest:
    Deonna Purrazzo is an internationally recognized professional wrestler known as The Virtuosa. Celebrated for her technical mastery and championship career, Deonna has competed across major wrestling organizations and established herself as one of the most skilled performers of her generation. Beyond athletics, she uses her platform to inspire confidence, perseverance, and self-belief—encouraging others to pursue excellence both personally and professionally.

    This episode is for:
    • Women navigating high-performance environments
    • Athletes, entrepreneurs, and creatives pursuing excellence
    • Anyone rebuilding confidence or redefining success
    • Leaders seeking resilience, discipline, and longevity
    • Fans of women’s sports and sports entertainment
    🍽️ At the Table:
    At Stay A While, we believe strength is built long before the world applauds it. Deonna reminds us that confidence isn’t about perfection—it’s about trusting who you are, continuing to evolve, and refusing to shrink in rooms you were meant to stand tall in. Her story is a powerful reminder that discipline creates freedom, resilience creates longevity, and authenticity creates legacy.

    📲 Stay Connected:
    • Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, resilience, identity, and legacy
    • Share this episode with someone pursuing greatness on their own terms
    • Join the conversation online and tag us while you listen or watch
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • Redefining Play: Dr. Mimi Nartey on Leadership, Equity, Sports, and Building Belonging

    Redefining Play: Dr. Mimi Nartey on Leadership, Equity, Sports, and Building Belonging
    May 27 2026
    Take a seat… and stay a while. In this powerful and purpose-driven episode of Stay A While, we welcome Dr. Mimi Nartey—an interdisciplinary scholar, former professional athlete, social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and visionary leader whose work is transforming the way communities think about sports, health, and belonging.

    From representing Ghana on the world stage in the FIFA Women's World Cup to leading national initiatives that reimagine sports fields as essential public health infrastructure, Dr. Mimi Nartey’s journey is both inspiring and deeply impactful.

    As the Founding President of Playing for Keeps Association, Mimi is building public-private partnerships that create equitable access to high-quality sports and play spaces for underserved communities—proving that where children play matters just as much as where they learn.

    This conversation explores leadership, systems change, motherhood, purpose, empowerment, and the transformative power of investing in people and place.

    In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Why sports and play are essential to public health and youth development
    • Building equitable communities through infrastructure and belonging
    • Transitioning from elite athlete to social entrepreneur and philanthropist
    • Leadership lessons from competing on the world stage
    • The intersection of science, education, policy, and community impact
    • Parenting, identity, and navigating leadership as a woman of influence
    • What it means to create legacy-driven work that changes lives
    About Our Guest:

    Dr. Mimi Nartey is an interdisciplinary scholar, former professional soccer player, philanthropist, and the Founding President of Playing for Keeps Association.

    A former member of Ghana’s national women’s soccer team, Mimi represented her country in the FIFA Women's World Cup and earned a silver medal at the African Women’s Cup of Nations.

    Her academic and professional work spans public health, climate science, women’s empowerment, youth development, and social innovation. She holds degrees from Columbia University and has lectured at institutions including University of California, Los Angeles, Occidental College, and Loyola Marymount University.

    Through her leadership, storytelling, and advocacy, Mimi continues to champion a future where every child—regardless of zip code—has access to safe, dignified spaces to play, grow, and dream.

    Learn more about the ways Dr. Nartey is transforming the play field at Play for Keeps

    This episode is for:
    • Women leaders and entrepreneurs building purpose-driven work
    • Changemakers focused on equity, youth development, and impact
    • Parents and community advocates invested in the next generation
    • Athletes transitioning into leadership and philanthropy
    • Anyone passionate about creating systems that serve people with dignity
    At the Table:

    At Stay A While, we believe some of the most meaningful conversations happen when vision meets humanity.

    Dr. Mimi Nartey reminds us that leadership is not only about achievement—it’s about creating pathways for others to thrive.

    Her story is a masterclass in purpose, innovation, and what becomes possible when we invest in communities with intention and care.

    Because every child deserves more than survival. They deserve a place to belong.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
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