Blue Dope

Join Blue in this episode for an inspiring conversation with Christina M. Rice, a driven entrepreneur who has transformed her passions into successful businesses. With previous experience in Public Relations for celebrities and running her own agency, Christina found her true calling in creating a community for people of color in the wellness industry.

After experiencing burnout, Christina turned to yoga for healing and perspective. Falling in love with the practice, she became a certified instructor and noticed a lack of representation in the industry. Determined to create a safe and inclusive space for Black women and women of color, Christina began hosting successful retreats and teaching others to do the same through her academy. She is now building "the Airbnb of retreats for Black women," a marketplace where women can find the perfect retreat for them.

Christina is not only an advocate for wellness and personal growth but also for HBCUs and giving back to Black businesses. She has built each of her companies from the ground up and is committed to making her retreats accessible to women in need.

In this episode, Christina shares her wisdom on pivoting in business, self-care, and her favorite celebrities to work with. She also offers advice for young Black students considering attending HBCUs and how her education significantly impacted her success.

Don't miss this compelling conversation with Christina Rice, and discover how you, too, can turn your passions into a thriving business. Tune in now!

Follow Christina:

instagram.com/christinamrice

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Get ready to be inspired by this episode of Blue Dope, where Blue sits down with author and founder of The Dad Gang, Sean Williams. Sean was awarded the NAACP Unsung Hero Award for leading the Black Dads Matter march in response to the murder of George Floyd. As the son of Trinidadian immigrants, he understands the importance of a father's commitment to his family and the myths about fatherhood that must be dispelled.

The Dad Gang is an organization that promotes positive images, videos, and experiences of active Black dads to challenge negative stereotypes. They hold events such as brunches, panels, and marches. Sean talks about how it all started with the goal of changing the narrative surrounding Black fatherhood and how the organization continues to grow.

Sean emphasizes the importance of celebrating Black men and dads for all the great things they are doing and showing up for. He shares how he repaired his relationship with his father and advises fathers who may need to work on their relationship with their children. Sean believes a father’s commitment to his family should be taken seriously and prioritized over work because you cannot get fired from being a father and husband.

Sean Williams is a true advocate for active and present Black fathers, and his mission with The Dad Gang is one that is making a difference. By sharing positive images and experiences of Black fathers, Sean is changing the narrative and proving that love, commitment, and fatherhood go hand in hand.

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A portion of this episode is brought to you by Manscaped. Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE at Manscaped.com.

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instagram.com/sean4real

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In this episode of Blue Dope, Blue converses with Morgan Murray, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, RN. Morgan is a board-certified psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner. Morgan shares her fascinating journey to becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner, her experiences working at top mental health facilities like Johns Hopkins and in the ER during the pandemic, and her mental health journey. She also discusses the pros and cons of having her private practice and offers advice for those interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.

Morgan's passion for travel is evident as she talks about her experiences as a travel nurse and her upcoming trips to places like Belize, Brazil, and Thailand. She also talks about the importance of self-care and exploration through travel and shares her love for Atlanta.

Throughout the episode, Morgan provides valuable insights into relationships and emotional intelligence. She shares her own experiences with dating and discusses the challenges of mixing business and relationships. She also talks about the impact of her growing social media following on her relationships.

One of the episode's highlights is Morgan's discussion of her identity as an empath and her life-changing experience on a slave tour in Ghana. Her vulnerability and openness about her growth process are both inspiring and relatable.

Morgan's distinct viewpoint and life experiences make for a compelling conversation, and her guidance and observations can be helpful for those interested in pursuing a healthcare career or managing personal relationships. Tune in for inspiration, motivation, and encouragement to follow your interests and adopt a growth-oriented approach.

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A portion of this episode is brought to you by Manscaped. Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE at Manscaped.com.

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instagram.com/morgansandiego

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Please visit us at Blue Dope.

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In this episode of Blue Dope, Blue chats with executive producer, entrepreneur, mentor, and philanthropist Dolapo Erinkitola. As the owner of Dolapo E. Productions, he is committed to making spaces for artists that are welcoming and safe while giving aspiring filmmakers the knowledge and tools they need to make great content.
 
Dolapo grew up in a Nigerian family with nine siblings in Chicago. In this conversation, he will talk about his experience transitioning from Chicago, where he grew up, to Atlanta, where he attended Morehouse College. Dolapo was a DJ in high school and college and became a restaurant owner in 2017 while in Atlanta, standing out by staying open later than other restaurants.
 
Dolapo has had a diverse career, spanning various industries such as film, music, restaurants, and corporate America. He shares the differences between these industries and the valuable lessons he has learned from each of them.
 
Dolapo also talks about what success means to him, the kind of content he wants to make, and his ideas about work and life. He attributes much of his success to his upbringing, work ethic, and education. He shares the most significant lessons he has learned from his parents and mentors, as well as the values he is instilling in his own daughters.


You can expect to gain valuable insights from Dolapo's experiences and learn from his unique perspective as someone who has been an integral part of the music and film industry. The episode is packed with insights and advice from someone who is passionate about creating opportunities for artists and sharing his knowledge to help others succeed.


Today's episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! You should check them out at MagicMind.co/BlueDope and join a group of people who get things done. You can also use my discount code BLUEDOPE20 to save 20% on your first one-time purchase or 40% on your first subscription. 

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A portion of this episode is brought to you by Manscaped. Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE at Manscaped.com.

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Follow Dolapo: 

https://instagram.com/officialdolapoe

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www.instagram.com/blue

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Thank you so much for tuning into Blue Dope. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to the show if you enjoy the podcast.

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Please visit us at Blue Dope.

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Ashley, AKA Vegan Chef Ash, is a Jamaican Chinese chef and founder of The Vegan Plan Experience program, where she offers services like catering, meal prep, and event hosting. Ashley grew up in Queens, NY, and has been vegan for seven years.

Before veganism, Ashley had to be on blood pressure medication and tried different eating methods to heal her body. Her eating habits before veganism even led to a few days in the hospital at one point. Following the birth of her children, Ashley got serious about healing, ditched alcohol, fast food, and meat, and decided to go fully vegan. Her new eating style led to many benefits for Ash, including feeling better, losing weight, and discovering who she is.

During this episode, Ashley will discuss what inspired her to start cooking as a career, how she's growing her brand, and what is important to her in her business. Through her business and social media, Ashley teaches people that vegan food can be tasteful and convenient. This is also why her brand is making its food more accessible by focusing on a lot of meal prep and pop-ups.

Ashley shares what veganism looks like for her and explains the differences between veganism, plant-based nutrition, vegetarianism, and pescetarianism. Due to the availability of so many vegan processed foods in the grocery stores, Ashley admits it’s harder to make healthy choices than when she first started being plant-based. She talks about what healthy versus unhealthy vegan eating looks like and her plan to get back to whole foods.

Additionally, Ashley and Blue will touch on the topics of spirituality and religion, self-care, and veganism as a lifestyle, a fad, and a diet. Ashley offers tips on what foods we should buy organic and how to season plant-based food to make them delicious. With foods such as jackfruit tacos, she pays homage to her heritage, which is very important.

Ashley's interesting and flavorful foods prove that vegan food doesn't have to mean bland salads. Her nonjudgmental approach to veganism shows that a more plant-based diet can be incorporated by everyone. Check out her socials below to learn more about her food services and veganism.

Today's episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! You should check them out at MagicMind.co/BlueDope and join a group of people who get things done. You can also use my discount code BLUEDOPE20 to save 20% on your first one-time purchase or 40% on your first subscription. 

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A portion of this episode is brought to you by Manscaped. Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE at Manscaped.com.

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Follow Ashley:

https://www.veganchefash.com/

https://www.instagram.com/veganchefash

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We take you back in time with our very first episode, which features Devale Ellis as our special guest. An accomplished entertainer, author, producer, podcaster, and perhaps most importantly, a devoted parent and husband. 

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https://www.instagram.com/Blue/

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Thank you so much for tuning into Blue Dope. If you enjoy the podcast, please don’t forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to the show.

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Please visit us: https://bluedope.tv

This week on Blue Dope, Blue talks to Arnold Taylor, CEO of South Coast Music Group. A music industry veteran, Arnold has signed artists like Future and Da Baby, as well as other big names.

In his own words, Arnold has always been a businessman and a person with an entrepreneurial approach to life. Growing up, he would tell his mom that he would be rich and was lucky to have a mom who never dismissed his plans as far-fetched. Arnold naturally has a lot of passion for what he does, which shows in his work.

Despite always wanting to work for himself, Arnold worked for several independent labels doing marketing and promotions before launching his own label. Arnold worked for Blackground Records, then for Def Jam Records for eight years, followed by Epic Records. These opportunities helped Arnold learn the politics of the industry as well as the structure of the corporate environment. Doing these jobs involved a lot of code-switching; he had to learn to be respected at work while being the only black person in a room sometimes and also be respected when he was with his boys. Both spaces became equally comfortable to him.

After working at these labels, Arnold decided to take his knowledge to the next level by starting his own record label, South Coast Music Group. He always knew he wanted to establish Charlotte and the Carolinas in the music industry and aims to find its best talent that can go worldwide.

In addition to Arnold’s experiences coming up in the industry and starting his own label, a few other topics Blue and Arnold will discuss are how Arnold spots talent, how he chooses his team, and how he feels about ghostwriting.


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Today's episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! You should check them out at MagicMind.co/BlueDope and join a group of people who get things done. You can also use my discount code BLUEDOPE20 to save 20%on your first one-time purchase or 40% on your first subscription. My code for 40% off is only good for 10 days, so act fast!

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Follow Blue Dope:

instagram.com/bluedopetv

instagram.com/blue
 

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Thank you so much for tuning into Blue Dope. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to the show if you enjoy the podcast.

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On this episode, Blue sits down with Chinelo Chidozie and Ndidi Obidoa, the founders of Bolden. This skincare brand creates products for women of color, including their popular moisturizing sunscreen that also helps treat hyperpigmentation. When they first thought about starting a skincare line, they knew they wanted products to target hyperpigmentation and help people of color achieve even skin tone, an issue underrepresented in the beauty industry but very prevalent among Black people.

 
In both their personal and professional lives, the two are very solution-oriented, so seeing a lack of representation for women of color in the beauty industry drove Chinelo and Ndidi to research how they could fill that void. Their goal was to create a brand that represented Black women like themselves with affordable, cruelty-free, and vegan products. From the beginning, it was important to them to create high-quality and lab-tested products.

Although they didn't have connections in the beauty industry, their research and existing network led them to connections and a lab that allowed them to fulfill their vision. They bootstrapped to get their business off the ground and gave up earning a full-time income. Both of them having a business background also helped when it came to realizing their vision. They acknowledge some of the privileges they had despite encountering several barriers while building their brand.

In this episode, Chinelo and Ndidi will talk about their philosophy about business and life, how they are managing and scaling their business remotely, how they think about self-care, some skin care tips, and what Bolden has planned for the future. They will also advise how to break into and stand out in the beauty industry or any other industry you may choose.

 
Bolden is a skincare line committed to helping shape the global conversation around inclusive beauty standards. It was founded by Chinelo Chidozie & Ndidi Obidoa in 2015 after they saw an unmet need for an affordable, vegan & cruelty-free skincare line backed by science for melanin-rich skin. Childhood friends turned sisters-in-law, this dynamic duo has grown Bolden into an influencer must-have endorsed by many, such as beauty guru Jackie Aina and actress Yvonne Orji. Bolden’s product range includes their bonafide #CultFavorite SPF 30 Brightening Moisturizer and a line of ethically sourced shea butter oils from a Burkina Faso women’s co-op.

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This episode is brought to you by Manscaped

Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE atManscaped.com

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Joining Blue in this episode is Alyi V, founder of the Alyi V Experience, a full-service creative agency, and host of Growing Up Latina, a podcast where Alyi has candid conversations with Latina influencers and artists. 

Alyi is an event producer producing celebrity and corporate events and is an on-air radio personality, having starred on Sirius XM’s Hip Hop Nation. Among the people she has interviewed are Cardi B, Rick Ross, and many more. 

Taking some risks, always being prepared, and focusing on building good contacts allowed Alyi to become known in her industry and start creating her own content. As Alyi lives by the motto that work creates work and life is short, she tries to make the most of this moment as she believes every day isn't promised. 

After co-starring on Hip Hop Nation with DJ Suss for 4.5 years, Alyi decided she wanted to give back to her community, something she always knew was important to her. As a result, she went back to hosting her show, Growing Up Latina. She hopes to positively influence her community by covering topics such as mental health, which is not often discussed in her community. 

Alyi is a great example of how to bet on yourself and fill your cup before giving back to your community. During this interview with Blue, Alyi will discuss her experience moving from Puerto Rico to Spanish Harlem, the tough situations she experienced growing up, and her relationships with her family. In addition, she will talk about how she came up in radio, what motivated her, how she built a name for herself, the challenges she faced, and how she manifested the life she lives now.



Today's episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! You should check them out at MagicMind.co/BlueDope and join a group of people who get things done. You can also use my discount code BLUEDOPE20 to save 20% on your first one-time purchase or 40% on your first subscription. My code for 40% off is only good for 10 days, so act fast!

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A portion of this episode is brought to you by Manscaped

Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE at Manscaped.com

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Follow Alyi V:

http://www.thealyivexperience.com/about/

https://www.instagram.com/thealyivexperience

https://instagram.com/alyiv

https://www.twitter.com/alyiv

https://www.tiktok.com/@alyiv_?_t=8XtI3BRG3AY&_r=1

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Follow Blue Dope:

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Thank you so much for tuning into Blue Dope. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to the show if you enjoy the podcast.

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Please visit us at Blue Dope.

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Today’s guest is A.V. Perkins of AVDoesWhat.com. As a DIY and hip-hop enthusiast, A.V. describes herself as a cross between Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg.

Her Martha side hosts a craft blog called AV Does What and has hosted on or appeared on HGTV, HGTV Handmade, Apartment Therapy, and The Drew Barrymore Show. To keep herself accountable for doing the things she loves, A.V. started vlogging about crafts and other things she was passionate about after the sudden death of her father. A.V. credits her DIY skills to her father's handiness and construction background, as she and her siblings were always helping her father fix things around the house.

University of Dope, a "disrespectful" party game for Hip Hop lovers, is the brainchild of A.V.’s Snoop Dogg side. As part of this episode, A.V. discusses how University of Dope evolved from an idea she developed with her college girlfriends into an award-winning game featured in Forbes, NBC, Essence, Cosmopolitan, and Esquire and has sold over 15,000 copies to date. The game is slated to hit Target stores nationwide in January 2023 in time for Black History Month.

A.V. gives hope to those with various interests who are unsure where to begin or think they're not creative enough. Her goal is to get people to stop restricting themselves when it comes to creativity by believing they must create grand projects. Everyone can be creative and achieve their dreams, according to A.V.

A.V.’s philosophy is that you speak your desires into existence and your negative beliefs, so she avoids talking negatively about herself. In this episode, A.V. will talk more about the mindset that led her to where she is today, how she manifested her appearances on HGTV, her journey to creating a first-of-its-kind hip-hop card game that has been played by hip hop legends like Method Man and Warren G, and what she sees for the future of her career and brand.


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This episode is brought to you by Manscaped

Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code BLUEDOPE atManscaped.com

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Follow A.V. Perkins:

https://www.avperkins.com/

https://www.instagram.com/avdoeswhat/

https://www.tiktok.com/@avdoeswhat

https://www.youtube.com/avdoeswhat

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Follow Blue Dope:

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Thank you so much for tuning into Blue Dope. Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to the show if you enjoy the podcast.

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Please visit us at Blue Dope.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify