Create Your Life Series
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Create Your Life Series episodes

  • CYLS 016: The Create Your Life Series Recap so far: Our favorite guests and tips learned from experts who have been on the show

    In this episode of the CYLS, our Host & Producer Kevin & Charisse discuss  their favorite episodes and what strategies they have learned from guests so far. Find out how much the series has come and what the future of the CYLS holds for its listeners.

     

    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

    46 min
  • CYLS 013: Becoming the top searched Video Production Company in New York City with CEO of Transcendent Enterprise Chris Alvarez.

    In this episode of the CYLS, CEO of Transcendent Enterprise Chris Alvarez shares  his journey of becoming the 1 of the most sought after video production companies in NYC, how he learns from mentors online and his tips for entrepreneurs.

     

    Find out more about Transcendent Enterprise's cutting edge video production work at www.TranscendentEnterprise.com

     

    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

    50 min
  • CYLS 012: How to Expand Your Fitness Business From Hobby To Full-Time With Your Own Location With Mr. & Mrs. Work Hard Train Harder Paul & Tamelia Jam...

    In this episode of the CYLS, CEO of Work Hard Train Harder Paul James & his lovely Wife Tamelia tell us how they went from par-time personal training to building a fitness brand that has expanded into a fitness center in Harlem New York. 

    He even gave us a 10 min workout that we can do anywhere:

     

    - Lower Body

    Squats 20 reps

    Alternating lunges 20 reps

    Straight leg kicks 20 reps

    High Knees 1min

    Rest for 60 secs

    - Upper body

    60 punches

    overhead press 20 reps

    purshups on floor or on the wall 20 reps

    High Knees 1min

    Rest for 60 secs

    - Core

    Leg raises 10 reps

    Situps 10 reps

    Mountain Climbers 20 secs

    Back extensions 20 reps or Good Mornings 20 reps

    High Knees 1min

    Rest for 60 secs

    To sign up for bootcamps go to www.workhardtrainharder.com and use discount code: CYLS 

     

    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

    46 min
  • CYLS 011: Breaking Barriers in the Book Publishing Industry with ”The God Mother of African American Books” Marie Dutton Brown, President of Marie Bro...

    In this session of CYLS, Book Publishing Legend Marie Dutton Brown, takes us on her journey of being one of the first African American's in the U.S. book publishing industry and how she has sustained an almost 50 year career in her field. 

     

    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

    51 min
  • CYLS 010: From Top Model to Company President - Choosing Mission Over Money with President of Vanessa Blake Cosmetics Tanya Simmons Reid

    In this session of CYLS, Tanya Simmons Reid, President of Vanessa Blake Cosmetics – America, talks about choosing mission over money, the importance of team, & how to identify when it is the right time to move on to new experiences.

     

    vanessablakecosmetics.com/

    For a 25% off discount use Coupon code: CYL 

     

    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

    52 min
  • CYLS 009: Mastering The Foster Care Experience

    Episode Summary

    In the newest episode of Create Your Life Series, Kevin Y Brown takes you on a journey of his life. As someone who grew up in foster care, he talks about growing up stronger & successful by defying all odds, finding support in unconventional ways from an untraditional family, and always keeping a positive attitude. 

     

    He’s created 10 habits that helped him navigate the system and his life. Uncover his defining moments. Tune into the episode now.

     

    Kevin Y Brown

    Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.

    Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…

     

    Insights From the Episode

    • Find your people and keep them close
    • Keep doing the work and you’ll find your path
    • Life will inspire you in unexpected ways. Embrace the change
    • Try to get better physically, mentally, and intellectually
    •  

      Quotes From the Show

      • “As I was getting older in the foster care system, I learned that as you get older, people don’t usually want you. And so, as you’re getting older, people don’t want you, that means that the older foster care children end up in group homes” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #009
      • “I told myself, something’s wrong here. These people are trying to break me and I remember breaking down in the bathroom. Just crying, wondering how I’m going to get out of it. And later on… the answers to that will be revealed but I remember having that breakdown” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #009
      • “One of the biggest things that worked for me, and I feel like that could work for anyone, especially my foster care brothers and sisters is us stopping to listen. Because listening is really really what is how I got my game”  - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #009
      • “I was just telling them that I would do something and then they would celebrate it when I did it. So, I go out and do it again” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #009
      • “Foster care definitely teaches us to build relationships with people but it doesn’t teach you how to maintain them. So, that’s one of the things you need to really, really work on” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #009
      •  

        10 Habits of Highly Successful Foster Care Kids

        • Building and maintaining healthy relationships
        • Financial literacy
        • Take advantage of the higher educational/vocational opportunities
        • Finding and maintaining employment
        • Knowing how to secure stable housing
        • The health and wellness lifestyle
        • Perspective
        • Strategic sharing
        • Finding mentors wherever you go
        • Being aware of your environment
        •  

          Stay Connected

          Create Your Life Series

          Facebook: Create Your Life Series

          Instagram: Create Your Life Series

          YouTube: Create Your Life Series

           

          Kevin Y. Brown 

          Website: Kevin Y Brown

          Instagram: kevinybrown

          Twitter: kevinybrown

          Facebook: kevinybrown



          Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Afripods, and Spotify.

          This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com).

          53 min
        • CYLS 008: Leverage Your Experiences to Build Your Life with CEO of Foster Care Magazine Chris Chmielewski

          Episode Summary

          In this episode of Create Your Life Series, host Kevin Y Brown chats with the Founder/CEO of Foster Care Magazine, Chris Chmielewski. As someone who’s been a part of the foster care system, he’s used his passion to create a niche product, spread awareness, and constantly raise his voice for healthy amendments in the system. He uses his pain positively and inspires people to live a more fulfilling life.

           

          Tune in now to know more about his journey and advice.

           

          Kevin Y Brown

          Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.

          Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…

           

          Chris Chimelewski

          Chris Chmielewski is the Creator, Owner and Editor of Foster Focus Magazine, America's only monthly foster care magazine. He spent five years in foster care before aging out. He created Foster Focus so that others in care would have the most up to date information. The magazine has consistently grown as Chris is entering his sixth year of the magazine. He has interviewed celebrities such as Maia Mitchell and Jimmy Graham. And writers from all over the country contribute articles to the magazine, making it one of the leading sources of foster care news and information in the country.

           

          Insights From the Episode

          • You can create your own life, if you try enough and consistently
          • There’s no one way to achieve success
          • Live in the moment and be aware of what you’re doing
          • Find your people and keep them close
          • Never ever go to bed angry. Always try to find solutions
          •  

            Quotes From the Show

            • “A lot of people are trailblazers and entrepreneurs like yourself, they have different educational levels and there’s no one set way to do things. So, I think, it’s very important for us to always highlight the different educational journeys and routes that people take” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #008
            • “Just because you have a low graduation rate in school doesn’t mean you have a low success rate”  - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #008
            • “I’m positively in the moment which is sometimes to my detriment. Sometimes I miss things and they fall through the cracks. But I’m in the moment and I’m aware of what I’m saying. I’m aware of what I’m doing, especially in times of conflict” - Chris Chmielewski, Create Your Life Series, #008
            • “The great thing about me is the ability to adapt and adjust. Chameleon is my pet name when I write about that side of the world of foster care” - Chris Chmielewski, Create Your Life Series, #008
            • “We had the first foster care thanksgiving on the steps of Capital Hill because of Misty Stenslie. That was the first time I felt like I was home” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #008 [38:53 - 38: 57]
            • “I believe if you watch close enough and if you pay attention enough, you can pretty much learn anything in a month and that makes you highly employable” - Chris Chmielewski, Create Your Life Series, #008
            • “There’s two ways you’re going to come out of the foster care: you’re either going to want to take the world by the horns or you’re going to want to be by yourself in a corner and go in life unnoticed. I find that a lot more of them want the life, not in the spotlight, but a life worth living” - Chris Chmielewski, Create Your Life Series, #008


            • Stay Connected

              Create Your Life Series

              Facebook: Create Your Life Series

              Instagram: Create Your Life Series

              YouTube: Create Your Life Series

               

              Kevin Y. Brown 

              Website: Kevin Y Brown

              Instagram: kevinybrown

              Twitter: kevinybrown

              Facebook: kevinybrown

               

              Chris Chmielewski 

              Website: Chris Chmielewski

               

              Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Afripods, and Spotify.

              This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com).

              54 min
            • CYLS 007: Why Support is Sexy | Ft. Elayne Fluker, CEO of Chic Rebellion TV

              Episode Summary

               

              For the latest episode of Create Your Life Series, host Kevin Y Brown meets up with the CEO of Chic Rebellion TV, Elayne Fluker and talks about all things media. After spending over 20 years in the business, Elayne talks about the importance of having a support system, especially for marginalized women. She’s been actively helping women by sharing a platform, creating a community, and mentoring young minds.

               

              Her approach is simple but super effective: show up as your most impressive self everywhere. Tune into the episode now for more details.

               

              Kevin Y Brown

               

              Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.

              Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…

               

              Elayne Fluker

              As ambitious, professional women, resistance to support is common. This often leads to stress, anxiety and feeling stuck. Elayne Fluker is on a mission to shift the mindsets of high-performing women around support so they can make their Empowered Ask™, stress less and thrive more. Now, through executive coaching, speaking and personal development training, Elayne helps Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and startups attract, support and retain high-performing women.



              Insights From the Episode

              • When you have good relationships with people, stay connected 
              • No is just a part of the process
              • Try to remember your ‘why’ during everything you’re doing
              • Asking for support is sexy. Having your people is important
              • Quotes From the Show

                • “It never even occurred to me that this thing I was naturally good at doing, passionate about, inclined to do, wanting to do forever was something I could major in college. Long story short, I majored in English” - Elayne Fluker, Create Your Life Series, #007
                • “Wherever you want to work, whatever you want to do, just get in the building and be as present as you can. Be yourself, but be your impressive self” - Elayne Fluker, Create Your Life Series, #007
                • “What you’re saying is you have to get into the game, you’ve got to have some skin in the game” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #007
                • “I think it’s so important for us to surround ourselves with people who support us; whether it’s friends, family. Mentors are important, coaches are important. I always say, one of my things is - support is sexy and having it all doesn’t mean doing it all alone” - Elayne Fluker, Create Your Life Series, #007
                •  

                  Favourite Quote

                  • “You the average of the five people you spend the most time with” - Jim Rohn
                  • “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can” - Arthur Ashe
                  •  

                    3 Tips for Making a Career in Media

                    • Figure out what you can contribute/who you are
                    • Tenacity goes a long way
                    • Have fun with whatever you’re doing
                    •  

                      Stay Connected

                      Create Your Life Series

                      Facebook: Create Your Life Series

                      Instagram: Create Your Life Series

                      YouTube: Create Your Life Series

                       

                      Kevin Y. Brown 

                      Website: Kevin Y Brown

                      Instagram: kevinybrown

                      Twitter: kevinybrown

                      Facebook: kevinybrown

                       

                      Elayne Fluker 

                      Website: Elayne Fluker

                      Instagram: Elayne Fluker

                      YouTube: Elayne Fluker

                       

                      Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Afripods, and Spotify.

                      This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com).

                      52 min

                    About Create Your Life Series

                    From the publisher's feed

                    The Create Your Life Series is for Self-starters looking to live