She was the protector everyone called when things got ugly. Today, Kitten (Charlesetta Byers-Richardson) is the founder & CEO of Nalijaron Wines—and she’s sharing how she transformed street survival into a legitimate, legacy-building business.

What you’ll learn

• Why some girls “choose the life” (trauma, “protection,” fast cash) and how to exit
• Street loyalty vs. self-loyalty: the moment everything changed
• Turning hustle into a business: discipline, product, pricing, and shipping
• Boundaries, safety, and protecting your kids without losing yourself
• Legacy lens: from ‘mama pimp’ to mama entrepreneur

What happens when the fiercest protector in the room decides to protect herself too? We sit down with Kitten—founder and CEO of Nalijaron Wines—for a raw, unflinching conversation about survival, loyalty, and what it takes to turn pain into purpose without losing your edge. She opens up about a childhood shaped by absence and street codes, the years she became the one people called when things got dangerous, and the moment a devastating loss forced her to choose a different legacy.

We go deep on the gray spaces people rarely admit out loud: harm reduction inside “the life,” why fast money can be addictive even when it’s killing you, and how protection built on fear can slowly become protection built on structure, options, and community. Kitten shares how she tried to make the streets safer—clean rooms, food, medical care—while wrestling with the moral cost and the heartbreak of losing someone she tried to help. Her honesty about caring for everyone else while ignoring her own health will hit home for anyone who’s been the family backbone for too long.

The turn toward entrepreneurship is both practical and poetic. With Nalijaron Wines—31 flavors with a clean, no-hangover finish—Kitten channels grit into craft and turns survival skills into business skills. We talk about product quality, customer trust, and a brand rooted in healing, dignity, and second chances. If you’re navigating trauma, exploring life after the streets, or building a business that reflects who you’re becoming, this story offers a grounded blueprint for change.

Subscribe for more conversations that transform hard truths into healthy futures, and share this episode with someone who needs proof that survival can ferment into something beautiful. If you enjoyed the show, leave a review and tell us the moment that moved you most.

 •  Nalijaron Wines, 2535 Romig Rd, Akron, OH 44320 | (330) 459-9090 | Ships (where legal)
• Follow: @powerfullybroken | @queenblparker | bfempowerment.com/pbp

• Book: A Powerful Divorce

Therapy: BF Empowerment Center 526 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44311

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