This is it - the Season 2 finale of Hard Wig, Soft Life.

11 months ago, I started this podcast not knowing if I had anything valuable to say. I just knew I wanted to share my story - from being a felon who faced jail, eviction, and homelessness to building a life I'm proud of.

Season 2 became so much more than that. I trademarked the name (by myself, no lawyer). I got invited to speak at events. I moderated a panel at Nike Wellness Collective. I'm heading to Atlanta for a speaking engagement. This little idea kept growing.

But the real growth happened behind the scenes. Watching myself back on camera forced me to confront things about myself I didn't even realize - how I respond to trauma, how I've spent my life trying to be palatable, how I hide behind my guests instead of showing up fully as myself.

Therapy every two weeks alongside releasing episodes every two weeks? That combination exposed everything. I'm unlearning the need to assimilate. I'm learning to show up unapologetically. I'm embracing my accent, my directness, my authenticity - not as a buzzword, but as who I actually am.

This season taught me:

• Empty the clip on your ideas, even when it feels cringey
• Growth isn't linear and that's okay
• You don't have to be perfect to start
• Finishing something you're proud of is its own reward

Some personal news: My husband Ryan and I are actively trying for a baby. For the first time in my life, I feel ready to be a mom without resentment or feeling like I'm giving up on myself. I've accomplished things I'm proud of, and I'm ready for the next chapter.

Thank you to everyone who made Season 2 possible - Justin Story for Creators Escape, Sabrina and Imani from Blackstock Footage for producing, and every single guest who trusted me with their story: Tracey Baker-Simmons, Esso, Pastor Tekoa Pouerie, Jada Urban, Monique, and more.

Most importantly, thank you to my community. Without you listening, there's nothing for me to create.

Season 3? We'll see what happens. But I promise more episodes of just me talking. No more hiding behind interviews.

It's been real. See you soon.

Support the show

Sometimes the best conversations start with discovering you have the same favorite rapper! When I reconnected with Jada Urban in NYC after three years, we ended up bonding over everything from Jay-Z to growing up Afro-Latina in spaces where we were often the only ones who looked like us.
Jada's been behind the scenes on some of your favorite productions - from "Owning Manhattan" (where she watched people casually drop $7.7 million on apartments) to the Tony Awards. But what I love about her is that she shows up authentically in every space, no code-switching required.
In this candid girl talk, we dive into:

- What it's really like being the production assistant who speaks up about diversity on set
- The reality of working 12-hour days while being a mom to a three-year-old
- Our shared experiences growing up Afro-Latina and the identity confusion (like teachers asking me "how are you black AND Hispanic?")
- Why she prefers controlling the vision from behind the camera
- Her dream to work with Henry Louis Gates Jr. on PBS projects
- The art of advocating for yourself without burning bridges
- Music memories that shaped us (shoutout to Watch the Throne tour!)
- Secret talents that involve toes (yes, we went there)

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like the only one in the room, anyone trying to balance career ambitions with motherhood, or anyone who refuses to dim their light to make others comfortable. Plus, we settle the age-old debate about whether KIX cereal still exists.

Two women just catching up and keeping it 100 about representation, motherhood, and making it in entertainment.
#HardWigSoftLife #ProductionLife #DiversityInMedia #WorkingMoms #AfroLatina #EntertainmentIndustry #BehindTheScenes #Authenticity #NoCodeSwitching #RepresentationMatters #SingleMom #ProductionAssistant #RealTalk #JayZ

Support the show

This episode is so special! 🎬✨ For the first time, I'm bringing someone from behind the camera to the front - meet Zebrina Lee, co-founder of Blackstock Footage and the creative genius who's been helping bring Hard Wig, Soft Life to life visually.

What started as a professional relationship has blossomed into a beautiful friendship, and today Zebrina shares her powerful journey of finding her voice through art, healing, and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Her evolution from journalism dreams to becoming a cinematographer and visual storyteller
• How endometriosis and trauma led to a profound healing journey through holistic health
• Building Blackstock Footage with her husband to preserve and celebrate Black culture
• Using art as medicine - from photography to painting to herbalism
• The importance of authentic representation in media and stock footage
• Creating with intention: "I'm creating with a clear mind and an open heart"
• Supporting women entrepreneurs in telling their visual stories

Zebrina's story is one of resilience, creativity, and the power of using your voice to heal not just yourself, but your community. From sexual assault survival to endometriosis battles to building a groundbreaking stock footage company, her journey proves that our greatest challenges can become our most powerful purpose.

Connect with Zebrina: 📱 Instagram: @ArtByZebrina
🌐 Blackstock Footage: blackstockfootage.io 🎬 Visual storytelling for women entrepreneurs and healers

This conversation will inspire you to see art as more than creativity - it's healing, it's purpose, and it's a pathway to finding your authentic voice.

#HardWigSoftLife #ZebrinaLee #BlackstockFootage #ArtHealing #VisualStorytelling #Endometriosis #HolisticHealing #BlackRepresentation #WomenEntrepreneurs #CreativeJourney #FindingYourVoice #ArtAsMedicine

Support the show

Meet ESSO - entrepreneur, podcast host of Bag Fuel, and the man who's literally making business sexy for the culture. From surviving an attempt on his life at 22 to building a six-figure empire while navigating personal struggles, ESSO proves that authenticity isn't just a buzzword - it's a business strategy.
In this episode, we dive deep into:

- Why "marketing yourself like a rapper" changed his entire approach to business
- How putting your heart first in everything creates genuine connections and opportunities
- Building from rock bottom: losing everything in 2010 to hitting 100K YouTube subscribers
- The power of authentic networking without asking for anything in return
- Why he only talks to 3 people a day and how that protects his energy
- Creating the Business Brunch movement and teaching financial literacy to youth
- Having his biggest year financially while going through his hardest time personally
- Why vacation and travel opened his mind more than any college degree
Building multiple revenue streams and knowing your worth ($3,500 speaking fees!)

Connect with ESSO:
📱 Instagram: @EssoWrld
🎙️ YouTube: Bag Fuel
🎓 ESSO University: SKOOL app ($47/month)
📅 Upcoming: Business Brunch Texas (Sept 13)
ESSO keeps it 100 about everything - from his champagne habit to intermittent fasting, from authentic networking to turning personal pain into business profit. This is what happens when authenticity meets entrepreneurship.


#HardWigSoftLife #esso  #MakingBusinessSexy #AuthenticEntrepreneurship #BagFuel #BusinessBrunch #BlackEntrepreneurs #EntrepreneurMindset #AuthenticNetworking #FinancialLiteracy #YouTubeSuccess #BusinessEducation #GenerationalWealth #ESSOwrld
Keywords: ESSO, making business sexy, authentic entrepreneurship, bag fuel podcast, business brunch, financial literacy, authentic networking, entrepreneur mindset, black entrepreneurs, YouTube success, business education, generational wealth

Support the show

Y'all, this episode is EVERYTHING! 🎬✨ Meet Tracey Baker Simmons - the Emmy-nominated executive producer and reality TV pioneer who literally created "Being Bobby Brown" and changed television forever.

Twenty years ago, Tracey revolutionized how we watch television with "Being Bobby Brown," and she's STILL making moves! Just this past June, she dropped Nelly and Ashanti's highly anticipated reality show, proving she's the queen of authentic celebrity storytelling across generations.

From finessing her way into Houston's restaurant with a strategic resume to convincing Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston to do reality TV (when reality TV barely existed!), Tracey's got the ultimate playbook for divine positioning and she's sharing ALL the game.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• The Houston's restaurant resume strategy that launched her entertainment career
• How she created "Being Bobby Brown" through pure divine positioning and six degrees of separation
• Why "every image makes an impression" and the responsibility of Black creators in media
• Her code-switching mastery and connecting authentically across all walks of life
• The "do you want my face or my voice?" approach to navigating white spaces
• Turning grief into purpose through documentaries and passion projects
• Why "your life can be someone's survival guide" for others
• How she's evolved reality TV storytelling from Bobby & Whitney to Nelly & Ashanti

Tracey keeps it 1000 about finessing the industry, staying woke unapologetically, and building authentic connections that open impossible doors. Twenty years later, she's still setting the standard for how celebrity reality TV should be done.

Connect with Tracey: 📱 Instagram: @TBakerSimmons
🌐 Website: TraceyBakerSimmons.com 🎙️ Upcoming Podcast: "TV Decoded"

This is Hard Wig, Soft Life at its finest - strategic positioning meets divine favor. Grab your notebook because Professor Tracey is in session!

#HardWigSoftLife #DivinePositioning #RealityTV #MediaRepresentation #BeingBobbyBrown #BlackWomenInHollywood #TelevisionProducer #EntertainmentIndustry #TraceyBakerSimmons #RealityTVPioneer #AuthenticStorytelling #BehindTheScenes #TVProducer #DivinePositioningPlaybook #NellyAndAshanti #MelissaLaboriel

Keywords: divine positioning, reality TV producer, Being Bobby Brown, Emmy nominated producer, Black women in entertainment, television industry, media representation, entertainment executive, reality TV pioneer, Tracey Baker Simmons, Nelly and Ashanti

Support the show

Y'all know Deshae Frost, Brooklyn Frost, and Amari Frost - but do you know the powerhouse woman who helped build their empire? 💪🏾
Meet Monique S. Carrillo - the ultimate momager who went from working with Nicki Minaj and Gucci Mane to managing four of the internet's biggest personalities. From getting an eviction notice to packing up and driving 18 hours to LA on pure faith, Monique's story is about pivots, resilience, and building something from nothing.
In this episode, we talk about:

How an eviction became the catalyst for their move to LA
Managing four kids' careers while they navigate fame
The balance between being mom vs. manager
Quitting her day job after her son's first $50k YouTube check
Why she lets "the world humble" her kids instead of correcting them publicly
Starting therapy for the first time and breaking generational patterns

Connect with Monique:
📱 All platforms: @MoniqueSCarrillo
🎬 YouTube: Monique S Carrillo
🍳 Cooking show: "We Got Food at Home"
This conversation gets real about the sacrifices, the wins, and what it takes to raise kids in the spotlight while finding yourself in the process.
#HardWigSoftLife #MoniqueCarrillo #DeshaeFrost #BrooklynFrost #AmariFrost #MomagerLife #ContentCreator #FromScratchToSuccess

Support the show

Y'all, this episode is about to SHIFT your whole perspective on what's possible for your life. 🐠✨
Meet Tekoa Pouerie - CEO, pastor, author, and the woman who made me ugly cry at Creator's Escape with her raw truth about turning trauma into triumph. From losing both parents by 16 and surviving poverty to becoming a powerhouse nonprofit CEO and co-pastoring with her husband, Tekoa's story will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about your own limitations.
In this episode, we dive deep into:

The goldfish tank principle that will blow your mind (seriously, you'll never look at your environment the same way)
How speaking life over your circumstances literally rewires your soul
Why "God is my homie" approach to faith hits different
Trauma-informed care and why empathy changes everything
Breaking generational cycles and speaking your future into existence
The real tea on affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and giving people their flowers while they can smell them
Building a ministry rooted in business integrity and community service.

Tekoa keeps it 100 about depression, survival mode, and finding purpose in your pain. If you've ever asked "when will I be happy again?" - this conversation is your sign that breakthrough is coming.
Connect with Tekoa:
📖 Book: "I Am Courageous: Discovering the Power of Affirmations" (Amazon)
📍 The Sharing Center - Seminole County's largest homeless services nonprofit
⛪ Co-Pastor with her husband (business Bible study turned ministry)
📱 Instagram/LinkedIn/Facebook: Tekoa Pouerie
This is Hard Wig, Soft Life at its finest - doing the internal work to create the external freedom. Grab your tissues and your journal because Pastor Tekoa is about to pour into your spirit.
#HardWigSoftLife #TraumaInformed #PurposeInPain #NonprofitLeadership #AffordableHousing #CriminalJusticeReform #GenerationalWealth #BlackWomenInLeadership #FaithJourney #Affirmations #SpeakingLife #GoldfishTankPrinciple #CreateorsEscape #TekoPouerie #PastorLife #MinistryWork

Support the show

Hard Wig, Soft Life | Season 2, Episode 3: "She Said No One Knew She Was Married" - A Chat w/ Giovonnie Samuels

"All That" icon Giovonnie Samuels kept her 16-year relationship and 11-year marriage completely private—until now. In this vulnerable conversation, the actress, entrepreneur, and mother opens up about her recent divorce, ADHD diagnosis, and journey toward embracing her soft life.

What You'll Discover:

• How Giovonnie kept her personal life private for over a decade in Hollywood 

• Her transition from "masculine era" survival mode to feminine energy

 • Co-parenting successfully after divorce while maintaining friendship

 • Late ADHD diagnosis and how it changed everything 

• Breaking the "strong Black woman" trope to embrace vulnerability 

• Building Soul Not For Sale Productions and GS Acting Workshops

Key Conversations:

• Why she chose privacy over publicity during her marriage
• Navigating divorce as a public figure and protecting her son
• The "parentified daughter" syndrome and eldest child trauma
• Black hyperfemininity and reclaiming softness
• Mental health, therapy, and generational healing
• Entrepreneurship, boundaries, and saying no to what doesn't serve you

Perfect for: Black women seeking wellness inspiration, divorce recovery stories, ADHD awareness, parenting wisdom, celebrity interviews, soft life lifestyle content, and personal growth journeys.

Hosted by Melissa L. Atkinson | Follow Giovonnie Samuels @only_1giovonnie across all platforms

Available May 28, 2025 on all platforms: www.hardwigsoftlifepodcast.com

Support the show

Hard Wig, Soft Life | Season 2, Episode 2: "Walking in Your Purpose" - A Chat w/ Justin Storey

Digital marketing mogul Justin Storey shares his journey from teen actor to successful entrepreneur, revealing how faith, vulnerability, and community building became the foundation of his purpose-driven business empire and the transformative Creators Escape movement.

What You'll Discover:

• How Justin made $32,000 in high school and chose entrepreneurship over college
• The pivotal moment when his mother's health crisis inspired his business drive
• Transitioning from child actor to behind-the-camera digital storytelling expert
• Building a 60% real estate clientele while staying true to artistic vision
• Creating Creators Escape: a safe haven for entrepreneurs and creatives
• Navigating industry spaces while maintaining integrity and faith

Key Conversations:

• Why he never wanted to be labeled as "Black-owned business"
• The difference between religion and authentic faith in business
• Supporting Black entrepreneurs and giving second chances in our community
• Depression, setbacks, and the $20K project that nearly broke him
• How vulnerability fuels both community and creativity
• The three steps for navigating seasons of uncertainty

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs seeking purpose-driven business advice, faith-based entrepreneurship, Black business owners, creative community building, mental health awareness, digital marketing insights, and personal development journeys.

Hosted by Melissa L. Atkinson | Follow Justin Storey @iamjustinstorey | Learn more about Creators Escape @thecreatorescape

Support the show

Hard Wig, Soft Life | Season 2, Episode 1: "Do It Differently: Letting Go, Starting Therapy, and Trusting Myself, For Once"

After months of silence, podcast host Melissa L. Atkinson returns with raw vulnerability, sharing why she abandoned her podcast, what sparked her comeback, and the transformative experience that changed everything. This deeply personal solo episode explores burnout, pride, and the journey to asking for help.

What You'll Discover:

• Why Melissa disappeared from podcasting and what really happened behind the scenes
• The life-changing impact of attending Creators Escape in Orlando
• How meeting TV icon Giovonnie Samuels shifted her entire perspective
• The breaking point that led to starting therapy and real healing work
• Why "soft life" isn't actually soft—it's the hardest work you'll do
• Building a production team and learning to delegate for the first time

Key Conversations:

• The toxic cycle of trying to do everything alone and burning out
• Meeting legends like Giovonnie Samuels, Jay Bolin, and other creators
• How Creator's Escape became a catalyst for massive life changes
• Starting therapy and unpacking generational trauma patterns
• The difference between performing healing and actually doing the work
• Partnership with Blackstock Footage and building authentic collaborations

Perfect for: Women entrepreneurs experiencing burnout, therapy seekers, creative professionals, podcast listeners interested in behind-the-scenes stories, mental health advocacy, and anyone navigating major life transitions.

Hosted by Melissa L. Atkinson | Follow @melissalaboriel and @hardwigsoftlifepodcast across all platforms Available now on all platforms:www.hardwigsoftlifepodcast.com

Support the show