Britt Happens

Tune in to hear why Florida State Representative (District 80) Byron Donalds, self-proclaims to be a proud "pro-Trump, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-life" Black man, what inspired him to run for Congress, police brutality, his thoughts on the relationship between the Republican party and the Black community, education, criminal justice, and immigration reform, draining the swamp, and much more!

Donald's Background/Platform (courtesy of his campaign website):

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Byron Donalds is the product of a single-parent household. Throughout his life, his mother made every sacrifice possible in order to give him the best opportunity at the American Dream. That philosophy his mother taught him, striving to leave future generations better than the current, is what leads him in his work, his home life, and as a state legislator.

Byron attended Florida State University and graduated in 2002 with bachelor of arts degrees in finance and marketing. Byron’s career path has included working in the finance, insurance, and banking industries in Southwest Florida.

Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, Byron currently sits on five committees and honorably serves as the chairman of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee. He was named a Champion of Economic Freedom for his A+ rating for the 2017 Legislative Session by Americans for Prosperity. For the 2018 Legislative Session, he was the recipient of the Award for Conservative Excellence by the American Conservative Union Foundation. In 2018, Byron was honored by the Florida Council on Aging for his work in preventing elder abuses in financial transactions. During his time in the Florida House, Byron has primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and striving to make sure each child in Florida has access to a world-class education.

He has been a featured speaker and panelist discussing policy and politics on national and statewide stages. Byron has been a guest host and commentator on Daybreak with Drew Steele, on 92.5 Fox News FM; the Bob Harden Show; the Joe Whitehead Show, on 98.9 WGUF; Pundits on the Porch, a podcast by the James Madison Institute; and as a featured speaker at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit this past summer.

Having served the community in a multitude of ways since he moved to Collier County in 2003, Byron was previously appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the board of trustees for Florida Southwestern State College. From 2004 to 2016, Byron served as a youth leader in his church where he mentored middle school and high school students. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering as a coach in youth football and basketball leagues.

Byron Donalds lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Erika, and their three sons, Damon, Darin, and Mason. Having spent his adult life in business, service, and leadership in his community, he will continue leading a prosperous and conservative Southwest Florida and fight for those same values in Washington, DC.

Tune in to hear what inspired attorney and Florida State Representative, Dotie Joseph, to enter the wild world of politics, why she originally was not interested in practicing law, her accomplishments in Tallahassee during her first term, the challenges of campaigning and leading during COVID-19, work-life balance hacks, and why she believes she deserves to be re-elected for a 2nd term!

Joseph's Background/Platform (courtesy of her campaign website):

Dotie Joseph was born into a life of public service and community activism as the daughter of Rev. Gonel Joseph and Marguerite Mompremier, a nurse. Dotie grew up in the District, attended Miami-Dade public schools, studied hard, and earned degrees from Yale University and Georgetown Law.

Dotie became a fierce advocate after interning with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, and litigating employment discrimination cases all around the US. Wanting to use her advocacy skills to serve the community, Dotie returned home to make a difference.

When elected, Dotie will fight for equal access to affordable housing, safe communities, quality education, affordable health care, and job creation. She wants to improve the quality of life for all who live, work, and play in the District.

PUBLIC SERVICE—Dotie has served as:

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) Circuit Court candidate, Attorney Olanike "Nike" Adebayo, believes she is best fit to serve as a judicial leader and decision maker for our community. We discuss the importance and significance of this race, overcoming COVID-19 campaign challenges, what exactly circuit court judges do, how they affect our everyday life, her background, relevant legal experience, community impact and footprint, and more!

Adebayo's Background/Platform (courtesy of her campaign website):

Many are called to a life of service, but very few choose to accept that calling. Olanike “Nike” Adebayo grew up as a biracial female in Chicago, Illinois. However, she first realized the calling to serve in the area of criminal justice during one of her annual visits with her father in Nigeria. During that particular visit, Nike was a firsthand witness to a crime that was reported to law enforcement, but never investigated. Even as a child, she was troubled that Nigeria’s few existing laws were not necessarily enforced. Nigeria’s law enforcement had a limited infrastructure and their legal obligations to investigate and prosecute crimes seemingly did not exist.

​Upon returning to the United States, Nike realized how fortunate she was to live in a country where laws are enforced and people are held accountable for their actions. At the same time, Nike faced her own harsh reality in that she was teased and bullied because her mother was white. Nike learned at a young age to speak up for herself, which made her self-aware, strong and resilient. Dealing with both of these situations, Nike realized her calling to serve. She recognized that she would spend her life defending and upholding the law, and fighting for those who needed help. She knew then that she wanted to be a lawyer and a judge.

In Nike’s new role at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Community Outreach Division, she provided prosecutorial, law enforcement, and quality of life initiatives throughout the county. She developed training outlines and provided instruction to police officers from different municipalities, assisted in the development and implementation of the Junior State Attorney’s Program, and represented the State Attorney’s Office at meetings with elected officials, law enforcement, and concerned citizens. After working for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for more than one-half of her career, Nike decided to leave again to work as a defense attorney in order to become a well-rounded attorney.

In August 2014, Nike formed her own firm, Olanike Adebayo, P.A., and practices in the area of family law, criminal and juvenile defense, and personal injury. In December 2014, Nike joined the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Third Region of Florida as an Assistant Regional Counsel in the dependency division. Nike tirelessly represents and defends parents who have been charged of abuse, abandonment, and neglect of their children by the Department of Children and Families.

As the legal cannabis industry has expanded across the US over the past decade, green is the most prominent color seen in this space. In addition to the color of the flower, sales are projected to reach up to $30.4 billion in the US by 2023, States have generated as much as $369 million in cannabis tax revenues in a single year, and legal cannabis is said to support over 240,000 American jobs.

The colors that aren’t seen as frequently in the industry are black and brown. It’s no secret that the prior prohibition of cannabis disproportionately and adversely impacted people in communities of color. In an attempt to counter this history of disparity, many states and cities have implemented social equity programs in connection to the legalization of medical or adult cannabis use.

Tune in for a blunt (ha!) conversation with lifetime Oakland resident and Castlemont High School graduate, Alphonso Tucky Blunt as we discuss how he got into the cannabis business, the importance of education and networking within the industry -- particularly with Black professionals, other "non sexy" avenues to excel in the business, and his big plans for the future (hint hint Forbes cover)!

While growing up in Oakland during the war on drugs era, Tucky managed to stay out of trouble and maintain a 4.0 GPA and a full time job while in high school. He was also using and selling cannabis. Cannabis sales to him was another form of employment. In 1999 while on an errand with his grandmother, she had him go to a dispensary, from that day forward his mission was to own one for himself, so he could sale cannabis legally. He worked at and was a vendor for multiple bay area dispensaries from 1999-2004. In 2003 he attempted to become an owner of a dispensary, and was told blacks would never own in this business. In 2004 he was arrested for possession with the intent to sale, and given 10 years of felony probation with a 4 way search clause. Still determined to learn more on the legal side, he attended and graduated from Oaksterdam University in 2008. In true path formation, had he not been arrested, he would not have qualified for the equity program.

Now as the 1st person to open a dispensary under Oakland’s Equity program, he is finally continuing on that path of ownership. His goals and values are still spiritual and family driven. With the help of his partner Bri Moore, they look to change the face of the cannabis industry, one location at a time. Blunts + Moore opened its doors on November 29th, 2018. A native born son, selling cannabis legally in OAKLAND!!!

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) Commissioner and mayoral candidate, Esteban "Steve" Bovo, believes he is best fit to be the next leader of Miami and what his vision for the County entails!  We discuss the importance of transparency in government,  updates on the SMART Plan, his thoughts on socialism in local government, stimulating the economy, and much more!

Bovo's Vision (courtesy of his campaign website):

As a County Commissioner, I have successfully pushed through some reforms but many more are needed. I’ve fought for real change, at times being the lone voice. In the “Accomplishments” section of this site you will see a full list, but I’ll share some highlights here. I am proud of spearheading the effort to finally approve term limits for the county commission and of sounding the alarm on how contracts are awarded at Miami International Airport in a corrupt manner. I worked to reform County Employee Benefits and Retirement to reflect fairness and equity in what taxpayers can afford.

I am running for Mayor of Miami-Dade County because politics cannot continue to be above the priorities of the taxpayer. Business as usual at county hall can’t continue for Miami-Dade to prosper and our citizens to have the quality of life they deserve. My candidacy is based on conservative principles to protect taxpayer dollars, ensure transparency, fairness, and fiscal responsibility. Make no mistake, my administration will not serve the interests of the extreme liberals that are looking to redefine America and in the process increase Miami-Dade government on the back of its taxpayers.

The next Mayor of Miami-Dade County needs to be committed to moving the country forward with courageous and innovative reforms. At the forefront of every county initiative, proposal, bid, contract, ordinance and project must be demanding transparency and efficiency to protect the taxpayer from unethical practices, waste and abusive taxes. If an initiative does not meet that criteria at the onset, it will be dead on arrival under my administration.

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) Commissioner and mayoral candidate, Xavier L. Suarez, believes he is best fit to be the next leader of Miami!  We discuss addressing racial tension and protests in light of recent events, education and afterschool programs, the SMART Plan and BayLink, the brain drain, being hands on and connecting with constituents, stimulating the economy, and much more!

Suarez was first elected Mayor of the City of Miami in 1985 and subsequently re-elected in 1987 and 1989. During his tenure, he worked diligently towards the construction of affordable housing, prioritized community neighborhood improvements and received national praise for his effective handling of civil disturbances. Since 1993, Suarez has focused on practicing law and writing six books, A Unified Theory of God, Mind and Matter, the first, was published in 2005 by AuthorHouse.

Xavier L. Suarez was elected to serve on the Miami-Dade County Commission as District 7 Commissioner on May 24, 2011. He represents numerous municipalities including the City of Miami, the Village of Key Biscayne, the City of Coral Gables, the City of South Miami, the Village of Pinecrest, as well as areas of unincorporated Miami-Dade County.

Commissioner Suarez attended Villanova University on a Presidential Scholarship where he earned a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in Mechanical Engineering in 1971. Subsequently, in 1975, he received joint degrees: a Juris Doctor and a master’s degree in Public Policy, from Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He published a law review article on congressional immunities and performed a consulting study for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the issue of performance standards for new sources of pollution.

Commissioner Suarez was born on May 21, 1949 in Las Villas, Cuba. He has lived in Miami since 1975. Married to Rita Suarez, he is the father of four children, Francis Xavier, Olga Marie, Anna Teresita, and Carolina.

Tune in to hear why Miami-Dade County (FL) mayoral candidate, Alex Penelas, believes he is the most qualified candidate to run the 7th most populous county in the United States!  Penelas has a passion for public service and improving people's quality of life.  We discuss his thoughts on income inequality, sea level rise, the brain drain, equity in contraction, traffic, local job creation, and much more!

Penelas says the challenges faced in the past in Miami-Dade required the County to be innovative and courageous. Today, we face a new set of challenges that have unfortunately lingered because of inaction. Penelas promises to work to earn your trust through his policy ideas, vision, and leadership.

The issue that most motivated his return to public service is the lack of meaningful progress on mass transportation. He will be laser focused on transit and mobility projects along several of our proposed corridors. The half-penny Sales Tax passed by voters in 2002 will be spent as it was intended – to build-out mass transit and rail throughout Miami-Dade.

Penelas promises to confront climate change challenges and lead the world in confronting this threat with strategy, technology, and the best science. We will take advantage of all the County government’s resources and partner with the private sector to bring affordability to our housing market. We will take on the inequities that exist throughout our community by creating policies that level the playing field in terms of access and opportunity for those that have been shut out so far and safety for those who are bearing the brunt of gun violence. And we will address other important issues that are ignored, like mental health.

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." – Coretta Scott King

In April 2019 Commissioner Levine Cava announced she was running for Mayor of Miami-Dade County. Deeply concerned by the prosperity gap, threat of sea level rise, and widespread distrust in County government, she set out to be #AMayorWhoCares about these and many other pressing issues facing our County. Her vision focuses on building efficient and effective county-wide transit, solving the affordability crisis, bringing quality jobs, addressing gun violence in our communities, preparing for sea level rise, and improving residents’ quality of life. As #AMayorWhoCares, Commissioner Levine Cava is committed to creating a County government that works for all.

Daniella Levine Cava has been a tireless advocate for South Florida residents and communities for almost 40 years. She came to South Florida in 1980 and finished her last year of law school at University of Miami, to join her husband, Dr. Robert Cava, a Miami native. Daniella and Robert raised two children, Eliza and Edward, in Miami-Dade. After a decade of work as an attorney with Legal Services of Greater Miami and the Guardian Ad Litem program, in 1996 Commissioner Levine Cava founded the Human Services Coalition, now known as Catalyst Miami. Catalyst empowers low- and moderate-income families with the tools necessary to lift them out of poverty.

Since her historic victory in 2014, Commissioner Levine Cava has put her experience and passion to work as a powerful voice on the County Commission for a range of quality of life, accountability, economic and environmental concerns. She has championed women’s issues by taking the bold step to pass legislation that made Miami-Dade County the first County in the United States to sign on to the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. As a result of the legislation, the County has adopted several polices to ensure equal pay and equity for women in County contracting and County hiring.

Hone your craft. I love that phrase. It conjures up just the right combination of humility, passion, competitiveness, and drive. And in this episode, one of my most anticipated, we dive deeper in the subject! My next guest is not just family, but someone who I personally and professionally admire. He is a glowing example of focus and preparation meeting opportunity and someone who is dominating and enjoying great success in a space that I, too, hope to achieve one day! I am honored to introduce the legendary Fred 'Bugsy' Buggs, one of New York’s most popular and well respected radio and media personalities!

Bugsy started his media career in high school in New York City and has also graced radio stations in Florida, Washington, D.C., New Jersey,  and Philadelphia!  After hosting several radio shows across the east coast, he returned back home and became the Assistant Program Director and Music Director for KISS FM.  Bugsy’s expertise in production and artist development later landed him a job with Def Jam Records where he helped to develop some of the biggest names in the business including Redman, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, The Lost Boys, Onyx, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, and more.

After a year at Def Jam, his love for radio called him back to the airwaves and now you can find him killing it as the afternoon on-air personality and voice of SiriusXM FLY and 107.5 WBLS in New York City! Bugsy is truly a legend and has definitely made his presence known in both the radio and record worlds!

Tune in to learn how Bugsy's honed his craft from a young age and worked his way up through the entertainment industry and how he has not only been able to pivot from unexpected setbacks in his career but apply those 'scraped knee lessons' to build stepping stones for sustainable success across the highly competitive entertainment industry!

I'm am SUPER crunk (Sorry, I couldn't help myself!) about this episode! Today's guest is one of the most prominent figures in music and pop culture, a crossover multi-platinum selling household name, and one of the most recognized entertainers in the music industry. In case you haven't guessed yet, I'm referring to the legendary, Grammy and Billboard award winning rapper, songwriter, front man of one of my favorite rap groups -- Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz --, a fire record producer, and an insanely talented international DJ: Jonathan Smith AKA Lil Jon!!

Lil Jon began his career in the early 90s and almost 30 years later, you cannot go to a party or event today and not hear one of his smash records while getting the crowd of all demographics hype! He has crafted groundbreaking hits for a diverse array of artists including: Ice Cube, Usher, Pitbull, Ciara, Ludacris, Too $hort, Ying Yang Twins, E40, TPain, Nas, Jadakiss, Mobb Deep, and the list goes on! He’s also worked with will.i.am, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, Bret Michaels, Travis Barker, Jennifer Lopez, Machine Gun Kelly and many more.  His songs have also been featured in huge blockbuster movies including The Hangover, The Proposal and the Step Up franchise.

Famous for his now iconic catch phrases "Yeah," "What" and "Okay, this hip hop icon is also a marketing genius with endorsements with Oakley, Jimmy Johns, Don Julio and more. He's a tennis and hockey fan, and a health fanatic (sea moss is one of his favorites!) Jon has starred in the 2019 Pepsi Superbowl commercial with Cardi B and Steve Carell, he's had regular appearances and skits on the Dave Chappelle Show in the early 2000s, was a fan favorite on Celebrity Apprentice, and has gone back to his DJ'ing roots securing a wildly successful residency at The Wynn/Encore in Las Vegas. An impressive and robust career is an understatement!!

Stay tuned as we discuss what motivates Jon to keep going in this cut throat business, how the industry has changed in light of COVID-19,  what it's like DJ'ing online, his Verzuz battle with hip hop start T-Pain, the true origination of crunk music, his philanthropic work in the community, stock market investing, upcoming projects with Ludacris and Usher, and he even helps me pick out my very first diamond encrusted grill!! LOL

I have met a lot of people throughout my life -- high profile politicians, celebrities, business execs, hall of fame professional athletes ---  and Jon was one of the most humble, kind, and genuinely down to earth people I've come across. I SO much enjoyed our conversation, learned a lot, and hope you do too!! LET'S GOOOO!!!!