Rushion McDonald interviews Melanie Charles.  A refreshing, inventive and gifted multi-instrumentalist, and jazz singer.  Melanie’s improvisational style, inflection, and spontaneity talents displayed in her celebrated album “Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women.”  has been held - 'a sheer 'masterpiece.'  In 2022, Ebony Magazine listed her album as one of the top female jazz albums to listen to and enjoy. "Melanie Charles' rumbling voice is perfectly in tune with her music: her songs touch upon issues such as social economic disparity, the pay gap and Mother Africa, all set to a deep, pumping bass beat. 

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success.

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Rushion McDonald interviews Brély Evans.  She is an Actress, Vocalist, Voice Over Talent and Philanthropist. Whether Brély is making you cry in a drama, laugh in a comedy, or challenging you intellectually through her thought provoking podcast interviews, she finds time to Key Note speak on being A Curvy Girl and Unapologetically Unique.   She currently stars in Kold X Windy: This original series, follows the lifelong hustle of young females, as they navigate their careers on Chicago’s South Side.  It premiered on WE TV and the ALLBlackNetwork.  Brely is on the show to discuss her career, charitable work and new show Kold X Windy. 

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Rushion McDonald interviews Tavonia Evans.  She is a native of New York and “mompreneur”. She has been called The Queen of Crypto.  She has been featured in Glamour Magazine’s May 2018 “Women in Crypto”, CNN, Bloomberg, Complex TV, CNBC, Marie Claire, Blavity, Ozy.  Tavonia made the transition into the world of Blockchain in 2016 as a result of identifying Cryptocurrency as a tool that could stimulate economic growth and financial freedom within the Black community. She is one of the first Black women heralded as being the founder and lead engineer in developing a coin with such a mission within the Black community.   

Rushion McDonald interviews Laura Foos.  She is the owner and CEO of Foos Financial Services.  A Tax Preparation Company - They provide tax preparation for individuals and small businesses.   They can accommodate all states and can service clients remotely.  Laura has been a tax consultant on Money Making Conversations Master Class since 2017.  Laura knows all too well about financial struggles, how to overcome them, and using that knowledge to turn her life around having gone through bankruptcy herself when she was 7 months pregnant, being a single mother most of her daughter’s life, to then starting several profitable businesses over the past 15 years and being the financial advisor for them all and she also maintains a fulltime corporate career.  She is on the show to discuss taxes and steps to grow your business and career.  

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Rushion McDonald interviews Dr. Artesius Miller.  He is the Founder & CEO of the Utopian Academy for the Arts Charter School Network. Miller is recognized as a visionary leader in K-12 education who founded Georgia’s first state-approved charter school following recreation of the State Charter Schools Commission.  Miller has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Morehouse College, a master’s degree in Education Leadership from Columbia University, and a doctorate degree in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia.   This interview is about education and opportunities.  

Rushion McDonald interviews Sonia Fears of Fears Group at Morgan Stanley.  Sonia Fears, is the First Vice President Financial Advisor, Sr. Portfolio Manager Global Sports & Entertainment Director.  Sonia’s team works with families to understand how their money can be used to accomplish their goals and help them plan for their future so that they can enjoy all life has to offer. This interview is about stocks, retirement and financial planning.   

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Rushion McDonald interviews Ben Jealous.  Ben is a New York Times best-selling author, scholar, journalist, civil rights leader, and philanthropist, currently serves as President and CEO of People For the American Way, and Professor of the Practice, University of Pennsylvania. He was formerly President and CEO of the NAACP, Director of the Human Rights Program at Amnesty International USA, and Executive Director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.   He is on the show to discuss his new book, Never Forget Our People Were Always Free. 

Rushion McDonald interviews Lenore Anderson.  She is the co-founder and President of Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ), one of the nation’s largest safety and justice reform advocacy organizations. ASJ works with public officials and grassroots partners to advance smart public policy and sponsors Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, the nation’s largest organizing program for victims of crime. She is also the founder of Californians for Safety and Justice, ASJ’s flagship state advocacy program. Lenore is an attorney with extensive experience working to reform criminal justice and public safety systems.  She is on the show to discuss her new book, In Their Names, The Untold Story of Victims’ Rights, Mass Incarceration, and the Future of Public Safety. 

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Rushion McDonald interviews Johnny Wright. His book Natural & Curly Hair For Dummies offers you step-by-step direction and accurate information to manage and style your hair. Celebrity hairstylist Johnny Wright is here to help you ditch the chemicals and love your textured locks. Johnny is a celebrity hairstylist with over 30 years of experience, Johnny Wright worked his way through Chicago and then Los Angeles before spending 8 years as Michelle Obama's personal hairstylist during the Obama Administration. Since 2019, he's worked as Tamron Hall's key hairstylist on her EMMY Award-winning eponymous daytime talk show and most recently co-starred in "To Catch a Beautician" with Tamar Braxton on Vh1. You'll also see his work on celebrities like Queen Latifah, Kerry Washington, Tiffany Cross, Angela Rye, and Samira Wiley. 

Rushion McDonald interviews Ramon Hervey II.  He shares insightful tales of his remarkable four-decade career plotting and overseeing fame, success, crisis and spinning for seminal talents at the top of their game, from Little Richard, Bette Midler, and the Bee Gees, to Aaliyah, Rick James, and Vanessa Williams—a juicy and addictive retrospective that also traces the origins of fame and how social media is changing the rules. Ramon has earned global recognition for his work as an entertainment manager, brand consultant, and public relations specialist. 

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Join us as we revisit the interview with Actor and Producer of "The Woman King" Julius Tennon. He discusses the impact "The Woman King" has had on our culture and society.

Topics Covered

Julius Tennon is an accomplished film, television, and theatre veteran actor and producer with over thirty years of experience.

He is the President, Development and Production at JuVee Productions. Julius Tennon is Co-President of JuVee Productions which he founded with his wife Viola Davis.

Julius began as both a thespian and a star linebacker.

More on Julius Tennon

Julius Tennon is Co-President of JuVee Productions which he founded with his wife Viola Davis. Julius is an accomplished film, television, and theatre veteran actor and producer with over thirty years of experience. A native of Austin, Texas, he began as both a thespian and a star linebacker. Julius was offered a full football scholarship to the University of Tulsa, where he became the very first African-American to graduate from the theatre department. Julius and Viola have shared both the stage and screen, appearing in such notable projects as Intimate Apparel at the Mark Taper Forum, CBS' Laws of Chance, The Architect, and the JuVee produced films Custody and Lila & Eve. 

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Kelly Jenrette, EMMY-Nominated Actress, Currently Starring on The CW hit series "All American: Homecoming," shares how and why she continues to develop her skillset after all of her acting success.

Topics Covered

Role of Amara, and returning on the series for Season 2

Season 2 of "All American: Homecoming" premiered on Monday, October 10th

Importance of an HBCU Experience

Family Support in the Entertainment Industry

More On Kelly Jenretts

Kelly M. Jenrette, a native of Atlanta, now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Melvin Jackson Jr.

In 2018, she and her husband became the first African American married couple to be nominated for EMMYs® in the same year. Kelly’s EMMY® nomination was for her portrayal of Annie in Season 2, Episode 4 of the Hulu hit series, "The Handmaid’s Tale." Kelly currently stars on "All American: Homecoming," the spinoff show for The CW's hit show "All American." Her two latest films can be found on Netflix: "Uncorked" and "All Day and A Night" - in the latter, Kelly stars alongside Jeffrey Wright and Ashton Sanders. Kelly is also in the second season of the hit anthology show "Manhunt: Deadly Games" (Lionsgate/Spectrum), currently available on Netflix. She can be seen as Winona on the Facebook Watch Original "LIMETOWN."

Kelly has also been a series regular on the FOX comedy, "Grandfathered," starring John Stamos; She's had recurring guest star roles on "Mixed•ish" (ABC), "Here and Now" (HBO), "Pitch" (FOX) and "Graves" (EPIX). You may also remember her from her twelve Kmart commercials as Kmart Kelly!

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My dear friend Chef Jernard Wells discusses his new cookbook "Southern Inspired," his holiday favorites and why catfish is one of his favorites to prepare. 

Topics Covered

• How he opened first restaurant at 16 in his mother's kitchen. 
• Many ways to cook catfish.
• Purpose for his new cook book.
• New season of New Soul Kitchen

More on Chef Jernard Wells

Jernard Wells is an Award Winning TV Host/Celebrity Chef/Bestselling Cookbook Author best known from numerous Food Network & Cooking Channel shows. He is the host of "New Soul Kitchen" on CLEO TV and is a co-host on "The Best Things I Ever Ate" on Cooking Channel. Wells has worked with Tyler Perry, NBA star Brandon Ingram, Lady Antebellum and Ricky Bell & Michael Bivins of New Edition/BBD. He has been featured on "Today Show", PEOPLE, "Steve Harvey Morning Show", ESSENCE, “Pickler & Ben”, "Home & Family", Lifetime & HLN to name a few. The James Beard House Honored Chef is affectionately called "The Family Chef" because he loves using food to promote positive family images. He and his wife of 20 years have 9 children. He is the author of 6 books.

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On this episode of Money Making Conversations Master Class I speak with Roderick “PushaRod” Bullock, who started one of the youngest A&Rs at Interscope Records. We discuss YG’s latest album. “I Got Issues," his journey through the music industry and how he introduced Drake to YG.

Topics Covered

• Producing YG's new album I GOT ISSUES.
• Business venture, with Creative Soundz Recording. 
• What is a "Professional Homie."

More on Roderick "PushaRod" Bullock

Roderick “PushaRod” Bullock is a former Vice President A&R of Urban Music at Interscope Records. He currently is the owner of Creative Soundz Recording Studio and works with very notable artists on their current projects. He also just produced YG's new album I GOT ISSUES. Rod also has his hand in the tech world as he has developed his own video game “Hop Out: The Streets of LA”—a wildly successful gaming app in LA which takes you on a journey through the trials, tribulations, and excitement of LA. 

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More on James Dubose

Prior to FOX SOUL—following his career as an NFL player on the Detroit Lions—James worked on many hit television series as an Executive Producer, like E! Network’s WAGS Atlanta; and other notable projects under DuBose Entertainment, such as Kevin Hart’s One Mic Stand, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, and more.

As a long-time television producer, filmmaker, and entertainment industry executive, James felt African Americans didn’t have a voice in this space. He was inspired to build a platform that truly allows the voices of the culture to be heard in its rawest, unfiltered form. Now, with James in his current role, FOX SOUL is leading the charge in showcasing the diversity of the Black experience.

Topics Covered

- What is FOX SOUL?

- How did you go from the NFL to a leading entrepreneur in entertainment?

- What kind of challenges did you face as a Black entrepreneur in entertainment?

- What advice would you give to someone who aspires to be where you are today?

- Is there anything you wish you could've done differently in your career journey?

- How do you network and make connections in this industry?

- What's next for you and for FOX SOUL?

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