In this episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, J Haleem sits down with Mike Peterson, owner of **Bouncy World Indoor Playland, to talk about entrepreneurship, family business, resilience, and what it really takes to keep a community-centered company alive in Las Vegas.

Mike shares how he went from running a bounce house rental company to building a full indoor playland, why cleanliness and safety became his competitive edge, and what it means to grow a business with your family — including the real challenges behind inflation, staffing, overhead, and the pressure of keeping the doors open.

The conversation also addresses recent hardships, including break-ins and the impact they had on operations, plus the importance of community support and not being afraid to ask for help when your business is under attack.

This is a real, grounded episode about building something for families, protecting your dream, and staying in the fight.

In this special episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, J Haleem sits down with Michelle Romero, Mayor of the City of Henderson, Nevada, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, family, community investment, and what it takes to build a city that works for its people.

Born and raised in Henderson, Mayor Romero shares her personal journey — from growing up in the city, marrying her high-school sweetheart, raising four sons, and becoming a grandmother of eleven, to spending more than 30 years serving Henderson through city leadership before becoming Mayor. This episode goes beyond politics and headlines, offering a real look at the values, decisions, and long-term planning that helped transform Henderson into one of the safest and most desirable cities in America.

The conversation covers everything from economic development, education, parks, Water Street revitalization, business partnerships, homelessness solutions, public safety, and what’s next for Henderson in 2026 and beyond.

This is a masterclass in community-centered leadership, long-term vision, and public service done right.

In this expansive and deeply honest episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, J Haleem sits down with Vanessa Safel, founder of Safel Productions, for a wide-ranging conversation that blends entrepreneurship, spirituality, identity, and the realities of breaking into the film and production industry without a traditional roadmap.

Vanessa shares her unconventional journey — from driving FedEx trucks during COVID, navigating personal loss and spiritual awakening, to landing on major production sets with Netflix, Paramount, HGTV, and live events in Las Vegas. Along the way, she unpacks how faith, consciousness, discipline, and adaptability shaped her transition from survival mode into creative leadership.

This episode goes far beyond a career interview. It explores how relationships, timing, lineage, money, spirituality, and self-awareness intersect — and why preparation, not perfection, creates opportunity.

If you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or anyone questioning their next chapter, this conversation will challenge how you think about work, purpose, and alignment.

In this episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, J Haleem sits down with Kristina Pelly Filocamo, of True Sound Marketing, for a real conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, and building a business that actually serves people.

Kristina shares her journey from growing up in a traditional Italian household on Long Island, to relocating to Indiana, and ultimately taking a bold leap to Las Vegas at just 25 after recognizing an opportunity and betting on herself — even when the people closest to her didn’t fully understand the vision.

They talk about what entrepreneurship really looks like before the highlights: learning to hustle the right way, building teams, pricing with confidence, navigating major life challenges, and rebuilding stronger with a purpose-driven agency that helps businesses grow with strategy — not gimmicks.

Kristina also breaks down why she’s passionate about supporting the community through the Junior League of Las Vegas, human trafficking awareness initiatives, and service partnerships across Southern Nevada — proving that the best businesses aren’t just profitable… they’re impactful.

If you’re starting a business, stuck in your career, retiring and looking for a new path, or serious about building a real brand in 2026, this episode is for you.

In this deeply moving episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, J Haleem sits down with Angelique Daniels, founder of Paint for Kidneys and the Angelique Community Art Center. What begins as a conversation about creativity quickly unfolds into a powerful story of faith, resilience, marriage, health, and purpose.

Angelique shares her journey from corporate restaurant leadership to full-time artist and nonprofit founder, revealing how art became a lifeline during one of the most challenging seasons of her life — her husband Will’s battle with kidney failure and their life-changing transplant journey. Through paint, prayer, discipline, and systems, Angelique transformed pain into purpose and built a mission rooted in healing, mental wellness, and community impact.

This episode is raw, honest, educational, and inspiring — a must-listen for creatives, entrepreneurs, caregivers, and anyone navigating uncertainty while trying to walk in purpose.

To close out 2025, In the Studio with J Haleem is bringing you a powerful compilation episode featuring some of the most impactful moments from guests who’ve joined us over the last five months.

From women breaking barriers in tech and construction, to chefs demanding respect for their craft, to nonprofit leaders demystifying grants, to entrepreneurs mastering systems, wealth, and legacy — this year-end episode is a masterclass in real-life game.

If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, creative, or someone rebuilding and redefining your life going into 2026, this is the one you play twice.

Across this 2025 year-end compilation, you’ll hear from:

• Women entrepreneurs and founders
• IT and tech professionals
• Chefs and culinary creatives
• Construction and facilities leaders
• Nonprofit and grant professionals
• Bookstore owners and literacy advocates
• Sports and operations professionals
• Coaches, strategists, and systems builders

All brought together through intimate, honest conversations with Jamar “J Haleem” Washington inside In the Studio with J Haleem.

If this compilation episode fed you, inspired you, or challenged you:

• Subscribe to In the Studio with J Haleem on YouTube & your favorite podcast platform
• Follow @iamjhaleem on all social platforms
• Share this episode with:
• An entrepreneur
• A nonprofit founder
• A woman in a male-dominated space
• A young man trying to find his footing
• Anyone building a legacy going into 2026

In this special “tables have turned” episode of In the Studio with J Haleem, our resident Queen of Storytelling, Tamika L. Sims, steps into the host chair and puts Jamar “J Haleem” Washington in the hot seat.

J Haleem opens up about growing up in Newark, New Jersey in a crowded household, hustling early, getting into serious legal trouble in South Carolina, becoming a convicted felon in college—and how he still graduated with honors but couldn’t get a job.

He shares how entrepreneurship became his only lane, why he built his first studio in Columbia, SC, and how In the Studio with J Haleem was born long before podcasting became cool. Then he walks us through his move to Las Vegas, what surprised him about the city, and his vision to make In the Studio with J Haleem the premier platform for entrepreneurs, leaders, and culture shapers in Vegas and beyond.

You’ll also hear J Haleem’s powerful quote that defines his journey:

“The platform you leap from is more important than the platform you land on.”

This episode is raw, funny, honest, and inspiring—perfect for anyone who’s ever had to start over, rebuild, or believe in themselves when nobody else did.

🎧 Make sure you subscribe, hit the notification bell, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

🎧 Episode Summary

In this powerhouse conversation, J Haleem sits down with Jim Gemma, the longtime Media Relations Director for the Las Vegas Aviators, the city’s oldest professional sports franchise. With over 40 years in sports media and operations, Jim gives a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to run a professional baseball organization — and how Las Vegas evolved into America’s fastest-growing sports hub.

From explaining why minor league ball IS professional sports, to how the Aviators have survived 42 seasons and multiple sports booms, Jim breaks down the business of baseball with depth, honesty, and humor. He shares insight on player development, salaries, media competition, community engagement, the future MLB stadium, and why Vegas is now a magnet for athletes and sports executives alike.

Whether you're an athlete, a parent, a sports fan, or someone who wants to understand how sports franchises really work — this episode is pure education.