Show 9.1: Never Tell [A Lie]

What was supposed to be a 3000-word story on this newsletter turned into a 7 page piece to be published in an anthology this fall.

So while I can’t share all the words because of the forthcoming publication, I can share these 5 minutes of my first ever public reading for Pen America’s World Voices Festival.

And because it mentions Prince, I waited until today—his birthday—to share it with you.

Thanks for your continued support. It’s a tough time for me right now and it will continue to be for a while longer, but there are more personal stories and more concerts to come.

Below are some shows on our radar:

================

FREE:

• 7/20/25, 7-9pm: NYC- The Roots

• 8/16/25, 6-10pm: Brooklyn- Funk Flex R&B Birthday Party w/ Carl Thomas / Christopher Williams / Soul for Real

• 8/17/25, 7-10pm: Manhattan- Funk Flex R&B Picnic 

  • Look at all the free NYC City Parks Foundation concerts here

CONCERTS WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE STUBS BY GRANTANSWERS TEAM:

• 6/12/25: Becky G (Documentary screening + performance), in Manhattan

• 8/1/25: Little Brother, in Brooklyn

• 9/12/25: Anuel AA, in Brooklyn

================

About the author:

Cris M. is the award-winning Founder & CEO of GrantAnswers, an NYC-based data, strategy & consulting firm founded in 2013. His journey to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, MTV, and Forbes. He has helped +1000s launch careers in tech & secure acceptances to top colleges & programs. His speaking engagements for the likes of Columbia Business School, Teach for America and the US Chamber of Commerce encompass immigration, career development, entrepreneurship, and tech diversity & inclusion. He is also an avid concertgoer for +25 years and counting, and likes to tell stories about it.