Bernie Mann was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his childhood in the New York area. Mann attended Adelphi University in Long Island, where he worked at the college radio station. After graduation, he moved to several states to pursue a career in radio. He discusses working on a minority radio station in Little Rock, Arkansas, during the turbulence of the Civil Rights Movement. Mann recounts his attempts to bring equality to his radio station, playing music by African-Americans that other stations banned. Mann settled in Greensboro after purchasing a radio station in High Point, North Carolina. He discusses his shift from radio to other pursuits, eventually heading Our State magazine. Mann recounts winning the Charles Kurault Media Award and the Winners Circle Award for North Carolina Tourist Industry. Mann discusses his role in Greensboro's civic and community life, including his involvement with the Rotary Club of Greensboro and his interaction with the Jewish community. He also addresses issues facing Greensboro, including a lack of leadership, struggles to attract businesses, and a project to construct a carousel in downtown Greensboro.