Meet Them Mondays

It's sad and scary to think every woman I have ever met has a story about being harassed at some point in her life. This was no different for MYRLANDE ETIENNE, aka Mimi. During a pandemic layoff combined with a dangerous encounter she set out to start a business, Myet Protection, that would not only empower her but her surrounding community. Myet Protection her company, sells alternative tools to guns for self-protection. She also educates women, and men on how to use stun guns, knives, pepper spray, and how to overcome life-threatening situations. In this episode, you'll hear us talk about uncomfortable encounters that we'll never forget as well as her journey from corporate professional to a full-time entrepreneur. Follow her @MyetProtection on social media or MyetProtection.biz and @MeetThemMondays.

When I first met Zi it was clear that he was experiencing something I could never understand. Zi is from Afghanistan, a place that has completely been lost to the Taliban, an extremist religious group that rules under Sharia law - and the place where his immediate family lives. It was a gut-wrenching conversation, but one that needed to be had ... He is trying to communicate as much as possible with them and trying to bring his sister to America. If you know anything about the Taliban is that women and girls are oppressed and erased. They have no basic human rights. If you feel inclined to, the link for his sister's GoFund Me is in the bio of @meetthemmondays account on IG. In this episode, you'll hear him talk about life in his country and his early experiences with death and war. It's not an easy listen, but it will humanize a place we hear so much about, but barely know.

Kris D. is a visual artist and photographer and the co-creator behind the artist talk series Ok Art And Coffee. She's also the founder of the femme artist magazine Warriors Within Collective and the entrepreneur and founder of Kris D. Photography. In this episode, we get candid about taking naked pictures, the time she exposed her butt hole for art, and the beauty of her creative partnership with her husband. For more information or to book a session find her on IG @KrisD_22, @krisdphotography_, @warriorswithincollective and follow the podcast @MeetThemMondays and @CallHerChristian

Jordan The Jeweler is Houston's favorite icy artist but based on his Instagram you would never know it. The young entrepreneur has been in the industry for the last three years but has worked with some of the cities top hip hop creatives. In this episode, he breaks down how being a black jeweler has its challenges, the interview on VICE changed his life forever, and how a Mexican master jeweler took him under his wing and taught him the trade. Get to know him more on IG @JordanTheJeweler, Follow @CallHerChristian, and search @MeetThemMondays for more.

David Rodriguez is known as the man behind The Tipping Point vintage clothing store and coffee shop but few know his story. The chef-turned entrepreneur has been running his business for over 15 years and is a legend in Houston culture. The Mexican immigrant who relocated to Houston in his teen years experienced homelessness at the tender age of six and has since then created success out of his troubled past. In this episode, David talks about a business relationship that turned sour, his hustler mentality, his love for community, and the one move he made that saved his store and got him through the pandemic.

Follow @david_tipping, @thetippingpoint_coffee, @thetippingpointstore, @callherchristian @meetthemmondays on Instagram

Francisco Guerrero is the host of the Life Without Limits Podcast. He's a father, a friend, and a person on the human experience just like the rest of us. In his podcast series, he interviews people from all walks of life- from rappers to entrepreneurs and makeup artists to screenplay writers. All these people have a story but each time Francisco uncovers new layers to their story and their work.

Life can have its limits if you let it but this podcast brings together people from all walks of life that choose to overcome life's obstacles and win daily. Make sure to follow @LifeW0Limits1 on Instagram and check out the Life Without Limits podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Follow @MeetThemMondays and @CallHerChristian on IG.

June Da Barber is Monster Energy's first official barber but prior to that opportunity he was cutting hair in a garage and all over Southeast Houston. The barber who has been in the game since he was 16 tells us about manifesting his partnerships, business ventures, collaborations and how ultimately his goal is to spend less time at the shop. June is also the owner of apparel brand SUCIOWORLD and founded clipper beasts a platform to showcase the best underground barbers as well as a way to unify the barber community.

Stay in touch with him on ig @JuneDaBarber, @ClipperBeasts, @HTXSucio and check out more episodes on Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Spotify.

There is something so badass about seeing women on motorcycles.

In this episode we hear from Carolina Paredes one of the co-founders of the Houston Litas. The Litas are a motorcycle group founded in 2015 by Jessica Wise in Salt Lake City, Utah. Paredes talks about the spiritual aspect of riding, empowering women through motorcycles, and the reality of the dangers that come when getting on two wheels.

The litas “inspire and empower women by showing them they can do whatever they set their mind to, whether that’s riding a motorcycle, or building an empire. They aren’t afraid to go against the grain and shatter stereotypes in the process.”

Follow Carolina on all social platforms @MadeByCarolina, @TheLitas @HoustonLitas on Instagram, or check out thelitas.co for more information.

Everyone talks about working for themselves, but few know the journey of starting your own business.

Jorge Casanova @Jorgey co-founded @Diosbrand “Did It Ourselves” with his partner LES aka @steakxshrimp the Houston-based street style brand tells all about taking an idea and seeing it through its inception, surviving the pandemic, and putting on for his Houston community.

He also shares the best business advice he's ever been given and the one piece of advice he swears by on a daily. For more information or to check out their apparel visit diosbrand.com

Rican McGusty aka DJ Big Reeks isn't your typical DJ. The civil engineer almost didn't make it as a creative, but after getting laid off from his corporate job his life took a turn. Now the Houston native is known around the city for his vibey sets and as the founder of The Waxaholics, a collective he started back in 2012 of vinyl-only dj's. In this episode, you'll hear him tell the story of the person that gave him that push to become a full-time creative, being the son of immigrant parents, and how he quiets out the noise as a public figure.

Make sure to give him a follow on IG @DJBigReeks & @TheWaxaholics