RAW SUCCESS

What happens when you refuse to sit still? You build, create, take risks, and keep moving forward.

In this episode of the Raw Success Podcast, we sit down with entrepreneur, fitness instructor, mom, and co-owner of The Compound, Danielle Kermizian.

Danielle shares her journey from the fashion industry to entrepreneurship, fitness, wellness, and building a unique community with her husband. She opens up about motherhood, taking risks, building a business, staying healthy, and finding the drive to keep creating.

This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, fitness, wellness, family, community, and personal growth.

In this episode of the Raw Success Podcast, we sit down with Gennis Bernard, chef and wellness advocate at Blueberry Café in Newark, NJ.

Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, Gennis shares his knowledge on natural foods, plant-based eating, processed foods, and living a healthier lifestyle. We discuss how to eat better, why processed foods can be harmful, what an alkaline-based diet means, and how to make healthier choices every day.

Gennis also shares his journey from working at Corona Health Food, Herbs & Vitamins to promoting healthy living through plant-based foods, herbs, juices, and natural products at Blueberry Café.

A conversation about food, health, wellness, and making better choices for your body.

Dr. Tammy Drayton joins Raw Success to share her powerful weight loss transformation — a story shaped by grief, faith, and hard-won discipline.

After losing her mother in 2017, Dr. Drayton spiraled into unhealthy habits and rapid weight gain. Then in 2019, a miscarriage and alarming health results — including a CPAP recommendation — became the wake-up call she needed. She talks about using exercise as therapy, how CrossFit introduced her to a supportive community, and how that shift led her to study nutrition and uncover what's really hiding in our food.

She also shares her guiding philosophy, "Faith + Works = Miracle," and how balancing belief with consistent action became the foundation of her transformation.

In this episode:

• How grief triggered a downward spiral — and the turning point that broke it
• Why CrossFit and community became a catalyst for change
• What she learned studying nutrition and food ingredients
• Her "Faith + Works = Miracle" philosophy
• Mental health, self-care, and healing beyond the scale
• Her future in writing, education, and supporting underserved schools

Dr. Tammy Drayton is an educator, author, and wellness advocate who now helps teachers implement best practices for students in lower-income communities.

Follow Raw Success for more honest conversations about health, mindset, and transformation.

Board-certified Family Medicine physician Dr. Victor Ukwu joins the Raw Success Podcast for an honest conversation about the challenges men face when it comes to their health, purpose, and personal growth.

Why do so many men wait until it's too late to see a doctor? What keeps men from prioritizing their physical and mental well-being? Dr. Ukwu shares his perspective from years of caring for patients and working to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.

He also reflects on the journey that led him to medicine, the unique obstacles he's faced as a Black physician, and the lessons that have shaped his career. Throughout the conversation, one message stands out: success isn't built on motivation alone—it's built on discipline. Dr. Ukwu explains why discipline and resourcefulness have been the foundation of everything he's accomplished, and how anyone can apply those principles to their own life.

Whether you're looking to improve your health, develop a stronger mindset, or hear the inspiring story of a physician committed to serving his community, this episode delivers valuable insights that will challenge the way you think about success.

Topics discussed:
• Why men avoid going to the doctor
• Preventive healthcare and changing the culture around men's health
• What inspired Dr. Ukwu to become a physician
• The realities of being a Black doctor in America
• Why discipline is more important than motivation
• The power of being resourceful
• Leadership, mentorship, and serving your community

Raw Success is the podcast where we uncover the stories, habits, and mindsets behind extraordinary people, giving you practical lessons to build your own path to success.

Mark Daniel is the owner of Markdaniel Barbershop which operates two locations in Downtown Jersey City and Hoboken, two of the most affluent areas in New Jersey. His success didn't come easy, he had challenges along the way and a substance abuse issue that almost ruined his life. This is how he overcame those challenges and achieved success.Get True Khepra's Book:The Power Of Choice: You Are Not Stuckhttps://amzn.to/3XtJo7Q​

In this episode of the Raw Success Podcast, we speak with Dr. Akil Kokayi Khalfani about success, community, history, and mindset.

Dr. Khalfani is the Director of the Africana Institute and Associate Professor of Sociology at Essex County College. He is also the President and Founder of ATIRA Corp, a think tank focused on developing solutions for issues facing people of African descent around the world.

During our conversation, Dr. Khalfani explains why he believes success should be community oriented instead of centered only on the individual. He discusses the importance of unity, collective growth, and why fear of success prevents many people from reaching their full potential.

We also discuss Africa’s history as a powerful continent, the influence of leaders such as Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey, and how mindset shapes both personal and community progress.

Dr. Khalfani is the author of The Hidden Debate: The Truth Revealed about the Battle over Affirmative Action in South Africa and the United States, along with other works focused on sociology, Pan-Africanism, race relations, and history.

This episode offers thoughtful insight for anyone interested in leadership, culture, education, and personal growth.

Subscribe to the Raw Success Podcast for more conversations on success, business, culture, and self-development.

Get Dr. Khalfani's bookThe Hidden Debate: The Truth Revealed about the Battle over Affirmative Action in South Africa and the United Stateshttps://amzn.to/4ttQfuBGet True Khepra's Book:The Power Of Choice: You Are Not Stuckhttps://amzn.to/3XtJo7Q​

In this impactful episode of the Raw Success Podcast, we’re joined by Afiya Mbilishaka, psychology expert and founder of PsychoHairapy, for a deep conversation on mental health, culture, and identity.

Afiya shares powerful insights on how traditional psychology models were never designed to fully address the needs of the Black community—and the real consequences of that disconnect. We explore how this has shaped mental health stigma, access to care, and the importance of culturally relevant approaches to healing.

She also breaks down how PsychoHairapy is creating safe, affirming spaces that merge mental health with cultural expression—highlighting the unique connection between hair, identity, and emotional well-being.

This episode challenges conventional thinking and offers a fresh perspective on what true healing can look like when culture is centered in the conversation.

If you’re passionate about mental health, personal growth, and community empowerment, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Follow the Raw Success Podcast for more authentic, thought-provoking discussions.

#RawSuccessPodcast #BlackMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfGrowth #CulturalHealingGet Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka's Book Here:Laid to the Side: Disrupting the Silence of Black Girls' Hair Stories in Schoolshttps://amzn.to/3Qw3IV5

Jabir Brinkley is an advocate for at risk youth. He went on a journey to become a mentor for the future generations when he saw kids that from his neighborhood who he babysat locked up at the same jail he worked at. Now his mission is to guide as many youths as possible in the right path, with an emphasis on helping them get to college.

In this episode, we sit down with Jerra Sanks, who turned discipline into real results by buying her first property at just 27 years old.

Jerra made a decision to lock in — cutting out unnecessary spending, sacrificing short-term wants, and staying focused on her long-term vision. While many people were enjoying their 20s, she was working three jobs, attending college, and making difficult sacrifices, including time with friends and relationships, to reach her goals.

After purchasing her first home, Jerra didn’t stop there. She leveraged networking, mentorship, and strategic partnerships to expand into real estate investing and become a landlord.

This episode is a blueprint for anyone — especially those in their 20s — who want to take control of their future and build wealth through discipline and smart decisions.

💡 In this episode, we cover:
• The mindset needed to achieve big goals early
• How self-discipline can change your financial future
• The sacrifices required to level up
• Turning your first property into investment opportunities
• The power of networking and mentorship• How manifestation turned into real results

If you’ve been thinking about buying your first property or getting into real estate, this episode will show you what’s possible.

🎧 Tap in now and start building your version of Raw Success.

In this powerful episode of Raw Success, we sit down with Sarah Awad who is an advocate for women. After a traumatic experience at the hospital during her first birth, she decided to do a free birth at home with the help of her husband. Sarah is a courageous woman who seeks to help other women accomplish their goals when it comes to childbirth and even in life in general through her woman's group.She uses birth as a metaphor for life as she believe that we need to be more connected with our bodies and nature. She also believes that we as a society need to unlearn behaviors that were programed in us through an agenda.