Best of The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson.

Dr. Jacque Rushin (award‑winning business executive, educator, mental health professional, humanitarian) and Robyn Donaldson (2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award honoree for global STEM education) to discuss their celebration of Dr. Gladys B. West, a pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for the GPS (Global Positioning System).

The conversation explores the intersection of Juneteenth, Black excellence, STEM education, and Dr. West’s life story, captured in her memoir It Began with a Dream. The guests highlight Dr. West as one of America’s last living “hidden figures”—a brilliant yet historically overlooked Black woman whose mathematical genius revolutionized everyday life.

They detail how Dr. West rose from sharecropper roots, excelled academically at Virginia State University, earned her master’s and PhD, spent 39 years contributing to government research, and ultimately developed the algorithms and modeling processes that power GPS. They also describe their collaborative effort to create the Westward Bound Program, a life‑skills and STEM‑focused curriculum inspired by Dr. West’s principles of wisdom, endurance, strategy, and precision.

Through humorous, emotional, and deeply insightful dialogue, the episode uplifts Dr. West’s accomplishments while discussing mental health, technology dependence, the importance of exposure to STEM pathways for underserved youth, and how the legacy of Black innovators must remain central in cultural celebrations like Juneteenth.

Purpose of the Interview

1. To honor and amplify Dr. Gladys West’s legacy

She is a living mathematical pioneer whose GPS contributions transformed global navigation and modern technology.

2. To connect her story to Juneteenth’s spirit of liberation and recognition

The guests highlight the “delayed recognition” of Black innovators and the importance of acknowledging hidden figures whose brilliance shaped society.

3. To promote STEM exposure in underserved communities

Robyn Donaldson emphasizes equitable access to STEM opportunities so children can compete in a global, tech‑driven world.

4. To introduce and promote the Westward Bound Program

The curriculum teaches STEM principles, life skills, and personal development inspired by Dr. West’s methodologies.

5. To highlight themes of resilience, humility, and lifelong learning

Dr. West’s quiet determination and academic persistence serve as a blueprint for young people and adults alike.

Key Takeaways

1. Dr. Gladys West is a “living hidden figure.”

Her research and mathematical modeling are the backbone of GPS, impacting navigation, transportation, military systems, and everyday digital tools.

2. Her journey exemplifies brilliance shaped by humility and hard work.

Born in 1930 to sharecropper parents, she excelled academically despite segregation, pursued multiple degrees, and overcame racial and gender barriers in government research settings.

3. Juneteenth is the perfect backdrop for honoring Dr. West.

Jacque stresses that Juneteenth represents “delayed freedom,” paralleling the delayed recognition of Black inventors and innovators.

4. STEM exposure is vital to equity.

Robyn insists that Black children are fully capable of STEM success—they simply lack exposure, not aptitude. Without STEM skills, young people risk being left behind in a robotics‑driven economy.

5. Technology should complement—not replace—human thinking.

Jacque cites Dr. West’s personal preference for physical maps over GPS to maintain cognitive sharpness and critical thinking, a warning about over‑dependence on AI and automation.

6. The Westward Bound Program bridges STEM, life skills, and personal development.

Built on the acronym “WEST”—Wisdom, Endurance, Strategy, Tracking—the program supports youth, adults, and entrepreneurs seeking direction and resilience.

7. Mentorship, community, and relationships are central themes.

Dr. West’s success was nurtured by professors and role models at her HBCU—mirroring how Jacque and Robyn now uplift the next generation.

8. Her story resonates globally and intergenerationally.

From college students to young children to adults, the principles from her memoir and program promote self‑belief, vision, discipline, and perseverance.

Notable Quotes

(All taken directly from the transcript.)

On Dr. West’s impact

• “She’s a living hidden figure… her accomplishments have actually changed our way of living in every discipline of life.”
• “Her technology… makes these things possible.”

On Juneteenth and recognition

• “Juneteenth is about the delayed freedom of African Americans… and what Dr. West represents is the quiet, often overlooked brilliance that changes the world.”

On STEM access

• “Our kids are not pursuing high‑paying STEM careers, not because of their aptitude, but simply because they have not been exposed.”

On Dr. West’s genius

• “You don’t have to be loud to be a legacy.”
• “She is just so humble, but she’s just brilliant. She’s like a mathematical genius.”

On technology & mental health

• “She didn’t want to lose her critical thinking by depending on GPS… everything has a place, and it should complement you, not take over.”

On resilience & aspiration

• “You have to believe there is something greater than what you’re standing in.”
• “From sharecropper to pioneer—you can be someone from humble beginnings and change the world.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ric Ross.

A 37‑year veteran of the music industry who transitioned from a successful career in entertainment to entrepreneurship as co‑owner of Big Peach Running Co.—South Fulton, the first Black‑owned specialty running store in Georgia.

Ric shares his journey from music promotions to health and wellness entrepreneurship, the importance of serving community, how running shaped his life, and how he built a thriving retail business that focuses on education, proper footwear, and customer experience.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to:

1. Spotlight Ric Ross’s transition from music to entrepreneurship

He discusses how a longtime passion for running evolved into a thriving business.

2. Highlight Big Peach Running Co.—South Fulton

A specialty running and walking store serving a predominantly Black community and breaking stereotypes.

3. Educate listeners on proper footwear, running basics, and health benefits

Ric stresses correct shoe fitting, foot analysis, and the role of running/walking in overall wellness.

4. Inspire aspiring entrepreneurs

He shares business planning insights, overcoming stereotypes, navigating funding, and building community-centered ventures.

5. Emphasize service, legacy, and purpose

Ric’s nonprofit and community work underscore his philosophy of giving back.

💡 Key Takeaways

1. Running = Freedom, Clarity, and Mental Escape

Ric describes running as deeply emotional and freeing—a “runner’s high” that places him in another world. 

2. His Journey from Music Executive to Running Store Owner

Ric’s path began when he walked into Big Peach’s first store as a customer.
Later, after years in the music business, the founder Mike Costantino encouraged him to open a location.
He spent a year quietly developing a detailed business plan before presenting it to his wife and banks. 

Banks praised his plan as “the best they’d ever seen,” emphasizing how preparation creates opportunities.

3. Why He Chose South Fulton

Ric intentionally wanted the store in his own neighborhood, a fast‑growing, majority‑Black community of over 100,000 residents.
People questioned him—“Black folks don’t run”—but he knew the market, the growth of Black running clubs, and the need for proper footwear among everyday people. 

4. Education‑Driven Customer Experience

The store focuses on:

• Foot analysis using the Aetrex Albert scanner
• Proper shoe fitting
• Education for runners and walkers
• A no‑judgment environment for customers with foot issues

He intentionally branded the store “Run Walk” to remove intimidation.

5. Health Benefits of Running & Walking

Ric shares how running lowered his blood pressure and improved his heart health, reinforced by his doctor's advice.
He emphasizes realistic lifestyle choices: eat what you enjoy—but control portions and stay active. 

6. Competing in a Big-Box Retail Market

Despite large competitors, Big Peach’s success is tied to:

• Community representation
• Personalized service
• Being the first Black‑owned specialty run store in Georgia
• Cultural inclusiveness (e.g., redesigning their mascot “Peachy” to reflect the community) [

7. Community Impact Stories Drive His Motivation

Moments such as a 94‑year‑old man walking without a cane after being fitted for proper shoes remind Ric why the business matters.

8. Hiring Challenges in a Post‑Covid Workforce

He notes it’s difficult to find employees who are:

• Personable
• Hungry to learn
• Good at customer engagement 

He also addresses stereotypes about customers expecting discounts from Black-owned businesses.

9. Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Ric offers foundational guidance:

• Credit is king—maintain excellent credit to access capital
• Be willing to sacrifice
• Know your market
• Learn continuously [

10. His Purpose: Music + Running + Serving

Ric founded the Music Education Group, a nonprofit now in 26 schools across 4 districts, teaching life skills through music, film, and digital media.
He discovered later in life that service had always been his purpose. 

🗣 Notable Quotes (with citations) On running

“When I lace up and hit that road, I’m in a whole other world… it’s freedom.” 

On opening his store

“I knew my avatar. I knew who I was marketing to.” 

On entrepreneurship

“Credit is king… we may not have a million in the bank, but I can pop that 800 score on them.”

On community impact

“We are so glad you all are in the community”—he says this erases all doubt on difficult days.

On finding purpose

“My passion was music and running. My purpose is serving.” 

On representation

“It’s time for Peachy to look like the community.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Just tell me what you’d like!

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.