Sometimes, destiny and circumstances blend just perfectly, and in the case of Damon Cunningham, both arrived during the course of unprecedented history.

Along with his co-host Alisa Middleton, they recently created the weekly podcast “Two Mics Up,” which discusses current events, pop culture and politics. Their purpose, to educate, empower and impact the community with each episode. The PW Perspective recently spoke with Damon regarding his incredible journey and what he envisions how the current climate will change how we address racial relations.

Raised in Long Island, NY, Damon actually wanted to be a medical examiner as he was a fan of the 1970’s television show “Quincy.” As he recalls watching the show, “Once I saw what took place, that was too much for me. I got queasy quick and said no thanks.”

That would only be the start of his path, as he began taking an interest in political science as he would watch ‘NYPD Blue,’ and there was a black lawyer on the show that inspired him. “I would see how she handled those cases, and I felt that I could do something like that.” After graduating high school, he enrolled in the John Jay College of Criminal History to study Political Science.

He brought up being in one class with police officers, both black and white, and once he heard a joke that startled him. “One day I hear these white officers talking about how they would treat the black officers once they were out of uniform, and the answer I heard was shocking. The officer said, ‘I’d treat them just like the rest of (black people).” He described it as the “Blue Wall,” in which there is an unmentioned code of how police officers would protect one another.

“If black officers couldn’t make a change while in uniform, then why bother becoming an officer?”

In 1996 his family moved to the Prince William County area and as they experienced life within the Commonwealth, he began to experience a challenge of a different sort. “About five years ago, I started to experience complications from what started as pneumonia,” Damon recalls. “I went to a specialist after my first doctor couldn’t determine what was wrong, and it was diabetes. The pain I experienced it was like death coming through my pores.”

He continues on with his ordeal. “I almost lost my life. I was in a hospital for 10 days and lost almost 60 pounds. I said that if I got through this I would give back, and I did. Nowadays, I smell things differently, and my interaction with people is different.”

It was that interaction, at the leading of his wife, to begin the process into developing Two Mics Up. As Damon mentions, “My wife was saying to me, ‘People stop and listen to what you’re saying when you discuss politics. As a man of color, a lot of people don’t know what you know. You should start a podcast!”

As recent events began to unravel, he started the podcast last month, with a focus on creating a dialogue with people in the Prince William community, but also reaching out to millennials and Generation Z. He talks about giving back to the next generation, “My daughter is at the age where she is interested in buying a home, and we want to be able to talk to her age group about the issues they are dealing with. That’s why I want to put on business owners and innovative minds who can educate the youth. Our generation is on the cusp and it’s time to give back.”

Being an avid reader, Cunningham discusses that he was inspired by the teachings of Black leaders such as Marcus Garvey and Medgar Evers. “They give us baselines and information that we can implement for our own barter systems. We can pass this out to educate our community.”

We asked that with everything going on from the protests to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, what is he seeing taking place within society? “This (time) was needed. Things are happening where I’ve never thought I’d see in my lifetime. Neighbors are now saying hi and willing to speak to me.”

He also discussed what families should do during this time? “We need to have those conversations with our children. All groups, they need to have that conversation with others like them. We are at the point where change is coming!”

Based on his experience with police officers, what should they be doing? “Our police need to answer the tough questions now. The elephant is out!”

He concludes with a call to action for the black and brown community. “Keep our foot on the gas pedal, and keep this momentum going!”

New episodes of “Two Mics Up” will appear each Monday and Thursday on their site.