In the Season 2 finale of the Hustle & Grow Show, Marcel interviews Danielle Unique McEwan, business strategist and founder of Unique VZSN. Danielle shares her expertise on creating sustainable brands, effective post-pandemic marketing, and the traits that define successful leaders.

With an emphasis on empathy, mental health, and brand strategy in a more self-aware world, Danielle offers critical insights any entrepreneur can use to increase sales and build a brand that truly connects to their audience. Whether you're looking for business coaching tips or entrepreneurial advice, this episode is packed with valuable strategies you should know.

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - All about Danielle

2:18 - What is business strategy all about?

4:18 - About Unique Vzsn

7:42 - Key marketing tips for start-ups

13:50 - Post-pandemic marketing strategies

19:55 - The importance of empathy

27:00 - Top traits of successful leaders

31:08 - Strong vs. weak brands

40:40 - The rise of mental health awareness

47:45 - Maintaining strong mental health

54:34 - Where to find Danielle

In this episode of the Hustle & Grow Show, Marcel sits down with financial aid expert and author Jessica Brown, founder of the College Gurl Foundation — a nonprofit that empowers underserved students of color to embrace their potential and seek higher education. The two discuss hot-button topics from President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan to the pros and cons of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) versus Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs).

Jessica also offers practical advice on funding college, including tips for securing scholarships and building generational wealth. Whether you're planning for your children's future or looking to strengthen your own financial foundation, this video is for you.

0:00 - Intro

1:17 - All about Jessica

1:53 - Why financial aid?

4:02 - Jessica on student loan forgiveness

6:53 - How to find financial aid

9:40 - What drives you to be in this realm?

11:25 - Do POC face more challenges in higher ed?

14:00 - Tips for building generational wealth

19:28 - About the College Gurl Foundation

24:45 - HBCU vs. non-HBCU

31:35 - What's next for Jessica?

32:56 - Where to find financial aid

34:50 - Where to find Jessica

In this episode of the Hustle & Grow Show, Marcel sits down with motivational speaker Lauren White, who opens up about her battle with addiction, journey to sobriety, and finding fulfillment. From battling alcohol and drug abuse to overcoming bulimia and hitting rock bottom, Lauren's story is one of resilience, recovery, and reclaiming control over her life.

Lauren discusses the complex relationship between environment and addiction, and why rehab isn't necessarily for everyone. She also dives into misconceptions surrounding addiction, and the steps folks can take not only to destigmatize the term but to lead healthier, more meaningful lives.

Join us for one of our most inspiring guests yet!

Content warning: This episode contains mentions of suicide and drug abuse.

0:00 - Intro

1:10 - Lauren's story

3:38 - Conquering addiction

6:10 - Is rehab always a smart choice?

7:53 - Environment and addiction

10:44 - Lauren's lowest point

15:30 - Helping others' mental health

18:57 - What's Lauren's main calling?

22:04 - Working with "high achievers with toxic behaviors"

26:48 - Addressing addiction head-on

30:35 - What's next for Lauren?

31:33 - Where to find Lauren

Join Marcel for an excellent conversation with the incomparable Brianna Flemings, founder of Jem Social, an app helping creatives find new gigs and opportunities. Bree shares her inspiring journey, from her natural-born calling as an entrepreneur to the struggles she faced booking consistent DJ gigs — which ultimately led her to create her app.

Bree also dives deep into the challenges of running a startup, the importance of finding the right market fit, and what it takes to stand out in today’s app marketplace. Her advice is essential for anyone looking to launch a startup, grow a community, or build a sustainable business in the ever-evolving creative industry.

0:00 - Intro

1:08 - What is Jem Social?

2:03 - Starting an app

4:33 - Challenges of launching Jem Social

7:33 - Thoughts on entrepreneurship

9:36 - Challenges of running a startup

12:23 - The "Tinder for creatives"

14:20 - Advice for new startup founders

16:21 - Where do you see Jem Social in 5 years?

17:11 - Why be a venture capitalist?

19:10 - How Bree uses AI

20:45 - Defining success with your app

23:13 - Standing out from the competition

26:35 - Where to find Bree

What does it take to break into an industry where you don't fit the mold?

In this episode, Marcel sits down with Shantae Menendez, the powerhouse behind Jamila Reine Models — a model agency taking the game by storm. Shantae opens up about the challenges of running her agency, promoting inclusivity by representing models of all sizes and identities, and how her perspective as a masculine-presenting, queer Latina has shaped her leadership.

From the importance of patience to dealing with the dynamic landscape of social media, Shantae dives deep into what it takes to thrive in the cutthroat world of modeling. This conversation is essential viewing for anyone looking to lock in on their vision and cultivate it.

0:00 - Intro

1:00 - Owning and operating a model agency

2:36 - Challenges of building an agency

5:49 - Inclusivity in modeling

7:21 - Keeping the agency thriving

8:10 - Being a Latina entrepreneur

9:11 - Challenges to growing an agency

11:35 - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

14:03 - What's next for Shantae?

16:19 - Going international?

18:25 - Shantae's three good qualities as a leader

19:08 - Where to find Shantae

Prepare for a powerful conversation with Winter Harris, author, transformational speaker, and CEO of the Authenticity Agency, Winter Womanland, and the GrowHer Society. Winter sits down with Marcel to discuss her journey from a young storyteller to a CEO, exploring the ups and downs of self-publishing, and how she balances her demanding work life with motherhood.

She also reveals her biggest inspirations, lessons from her time on reality TV, and her passion for empowering women to take control of their narratives.

Winter doesn't hold back, and you don't have to either. If you're looking for real talk about pushing through life's challenges and owning your entrepreneurial story, you don't want to miss this!

0:00 - Intro

1:45 - Maintaining work-life balance

2:47 - Becoming an author

4:23 - What is self-publishing?

6:52 - Biggest mistake authors make

8:00 - What keeps Winter inspired

13:39 - Being a transformational speaker

16:05 - Learning from reality TV

18:52 - Dealing with negativity online

19:38 - Challenges as a woman of color

23:30 - Is America ready for a Black woman president?

24:40 - Winter Womanland

27:44 - What's next for Winter?

29:51 - Where to find Winter

What's it like to go from making cell phone cases to creating custom shoes for Oprah? In this episode, Marcel sits down with Jillian Lee, founder and CEO of UniqueLee Creations, to discuss her journey of turning a love of rhinestones and Converse into a thriving business. She shares how a viral post skyrocketed her brand from 6 orders a month to over 30, and how she’s dealt with the challenges of overnight success.

Jillian also opens up about overcoming loneliness as an entrepreneur, the value of finding a support group, and why centering community over competition can take your business miles ahead.

Don't miss this episode packed with real-world advice for anyone looking to scale their business or leverage social media to their advantage!

0:00 - Intro

1:23 - Becoming obsessed with rhinestones

2:08 - Choosing Converse shoes

2:42 - Turning it into a business model

3:57 - Converse's reaction

4:28 - Dealing with going viral

7:28 - Making shoes for Oprah

10:28 - Challenges Jillian has faced

14:05 - How Jillian pushes her brand forward

16:38 - Working with the Women's Entrepreneurial Center

18:38 - Community over competition

21:26 - Combatting loneliness in entrepreneurship

23:15 - What's next for Jillian?

24:34 - Where to find Jillian

What does it take to create a sportswear brand and work with the likes of BAPE and Asics? In this episode, Marcel sits down with Terrance Diggs, founder of D17, to dive deep into his humble beginnings as an entrepreneur. Terrance reveals the hurdles he faced when starting D17, cultivating community with his brand, and how his experiences as a person of color and playing sports all his life shaped his vision.

Terrance also shows the importance of building meaningful relationships, the power of networking sideways, and using the resources around you to push your dreams forward — no matter how hard it is. Whether you're taking your first steps as an entrepreneur or looking to build momentum for your own brand, tune in for an inspiring conversation with a young entrepreneur making his mark.

0:39 - Intro

1:07 - How D17 started

2:06 - Motivation behind D17

3:15 - Working with BAPE

3:56 - Challenges of starting a brand

4:56 - Dealing with setbacks

6:45 - How education helped Terrance create D17

10:40 - Branding D17

12:46 - Who inspired Terrance?

17:01 - The importance of meaningful relationships

19:40 - What would you tell young Terrance?

22:06 - Being an Asics ambassador

23:36 - Working with high-level brands

26:00 - Being a young POC in entrepreneurship

37:29 - What's next for Terrance?

38:42 - Where to find Terrance

What does it mean to be a successful philanthropist? In this episode, Marcel sits down with lawyer, philanthropist, and founder of Compani B., Tiffani Brown, to discuss how giving back can be just as crucial as building a successful business. Tiffani shares why true philanthropy goes beyond financial donations — it's about giving your time, sharing knowledge, and making a difference in underserved communities.

What's the secret to getting your indie film into major festivals like ESSENCE and the American Black Film Festival? In the first episode of our second season, Marcel chats with Safia Bartholomew, a Toronto-based filmmaker, entrepreneur, and ghostwriter whose film Wallflower has gained praise for its authentic portrayal of Black lives.

Safia breaks down her journey from being an introverted writer to becoming a visionary filmmaker championing Black stories on the big screen. She shares how authenticity in storytelling—from personal narratives to embracing vulnerability—can create powerful connections behind and in front of the camera.

Discover all of Safia's tips for navigating the film industry, from securing festival spots to why you don't necessarily need to move to Hollywood to make it. Whether you're a filmmaker or entrepreneur, you'll gain valuable insights on building your portfolio, pitching projects, and leveraging your unique voice to stand out in cutthroat industries.

What's the one story you've always wanted to share with the world? Drop them in the comments below!

0:00: Teaser

0:31: Intro

1:05: How Safia got into filmmaking

3:38: Getting Wallflower into Essence

5:55: Is Hollywood the main dream for filmmakers?

6:48: Brokering deals with smaller streaming services

8:12: The demand for quality content

8:55: Challenges as a Black filmmaker

11:17: Diving into ghostwriting

16:28: Adapting a book into a film

20:18: Do you need Hollywood to make it big?

21:55: Advice for the new generation

24:50: Where to find Safia