Is AI actually changing the world, or are we living in a hype bubble? This week on Rich Takes, Sheena and Sevetri are breaking down the headlines that have everyone talking.

First, they dive deep into the AI debate that's taken over the internet from the viral article (“Something Big Is Happening” by Matt Shumer) comparing AI's impact to COVID, to the growing backlash from tech insiders calling it overblown. Plus, the dark side of AI no one wants to address: deepfakes, AI-generated personas fooling major blogs, and why regulation can't come fast enough.

Then, the Essence Festival crisis hits different. With $1.5 million in debt to the New Orleans Convention Center and vendors, is this the beginning of the end for the most iconic Black cultural event in America? Sheena and Sevetri unpack the ego, the misaligned strategy, and what it would actually take to save it.

And finally, why is anyone criticizing McKenzie Scott for giving away her money? They're setting the record straight on unrestricted grants, HBCU funding gaps, and the double standard nobody wants to call out.

No fluff. No filters. Just Rich Takes.

🎙️ Listen to the full Rich Lessons podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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We're on a brief hiatus from our full-length, guest episodes, but we couldn’t stay quiet with everything happening in business, tech, and culture. In this Hot Takes edition, we break down the biggest headlines of the week — from our Super Bowl recap to the inside story on Khaby Lame’s reported $900M deal, MrBeast acquiring a new company, and what the tech bros are obsessing over in AI right now.

It’s sharp, unfiltered, and real-time commentary on the moves shaping money, media, and power.

We may be on hiatus, but the conversations don’t stop.

Subscribe to our Substack, Rich Lessons, and be sure to follow us here and wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a drop.

Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Substack for Exclusive Business Insights and Resources. richlessons.substack.com

Welcome to 2026, where AI is reshaping the workforce and VCs are changing the fundraising game. In this episode of Rich Takes, Sheena and Sevetri break down the biggest business trends impacting entrepreneurs right now, from widespread layoffs across industries to shifts in VC funding for startups (and beyond) to the must-attend tech conferences for maximum ROI.

We’re diving deep into the headlines shaping our world and our wallets, including:

• The 2026 Funding Reality: Why venture capitalists are prioritizing profitability and revenue over growth-at-all-costs.
• AI vs. The Workforce: How artificial intelligence is impacting jobs from Fortune 1000 companies (Saks, Washington Post, Universal) to small businesses—and what it means for founders
• Conference Strategy: How to get a real return on investment at events like South by Southwest (SXSW), AfroTech, and Tech Week.
• GovTech & Pop Culture: The impact of shrinking government and why Y Combinator is prioritizing AI for government , plus why cultural icons are speaking out on current headlines.

Topics Covered: startup fundraising, venture capital trends, pre-seed funding, seed rounds, AI impact on jobs, business conferences 2026, entrepreneur networking, alternative funding, GovTech, unicorn companies, revenue expectations

Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Substack for exclusive conference guides, funding pathways, and insider tips from two founders who’ve been in tech for 15+ years.

Rich Takes: Our weekly Thursday segment delivering unfiltered hot takes on the biggest headlines shaping culture, business, and your wallet in 15 minutes or less. Fast, sharp, and straight to the point.

We're back with a brand new Hot Takes! Our Less than 15 minute deep dive on current issues and what we're watching. On this episode of hot takes we talk about must attend conferences, how to make attending them worth it, ICE and more! Tune in and follow us on social @richlessons and be sure to subscribe to our Substack while there!

Episode 44 | Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen (Instagram.com/whoisSheena) dive into a candid conversation on what it means to be a career-driven woman navigating love, marriage, and modern expectations.With women now outpacing men in education and marrying later than ever, Sevetri and Sheena unpack how ambition, earning power, and shifting gender roles are reshaping relationships. From the ego dynamics of out-earning a partner to why some women choose career stability before marriage or kids, they explore how today’s choices differ from the generations before them.Sheena shares how she went from imagining kids and marriage by 25 to building tech companies in her 20s, while Sevetri opens up about marrying in her mid-30s and being raised by strong, independent women. Together, they break down the double standards, societal pressures, and the real factors influencing why successful women are partnering later—or differently—than expected._______Show Notes:
(00:00) Intro — career-driven women & relationships(01:09) Women surpassing men in education(03:07) Why the average marriage age is now 32(04:12) Cost of living, kids & delaying family(05:17) The Tracy Ellis Ross “singlehood” narrative(06:17) Sheena’s childhood vision vs. entrepreneurial reality(07:42) Generational expectations around marriage & dependence(11:21) Divorce stigma then vs. now(13:19) Are men intimidated by successful women?(18:43) The dating pool for high-achieving women_______Rich Lessons Podcast // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen• Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-lessons/id1787798124) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/40jGSUvVrMbxKcJ1ghE8kl)• Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@RichLessonsPodcast)• Follow Rich Lessons on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/richlessonspodcast/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@richlessonspodcast)• Subscribe to the Rich Lessons Substack (richlessons.substack.com)

Episode 43 | Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen (Instagram.com/whoisSheena) sit down with Brandon "BMike" ODUMS—a New Orleans-based visual artist, filmmaker, and cultural entrepreneur whose illegal graffiti murals sparked a movement and led to Studio B, a massive 35,000 square foot creative space in the Bywater.

From spending 10 years grinding with Two Cent documentary collective getting "no" after "no" from BET and Comedy Central, to finding silence and stillness painting in abandoned housing projects, BMike shares how he accidentally created Exhibit B—a phenomenon that brought celebrities, politicians, and thousands to abandoned spaces with no marketing. He reveals why he didn't try to monetize it, how "I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams" became a cultural phrase (and got bootlegged by Walmart), the voicemail from Oprah, and why being at the right place at the right time matters more than we think.

This isn't about overnight success. It's about 20 years of paying dues, being present in the community, and accepting the slowness of things meant to be slow.

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Show Notes: 

(00:00) Intro 

(05:09) Two Cent: 10 years grinding, BET & Comedy Central said no 

(06:56) Finding silence painting illegally in abandoned spaces 

(09:25) Project B: choosing presence over profit 

(18:29) Studio B: from illegal spaces to owning 35,000 square feet 

(27:09) "People support YOU, not just the art" 

(28:56) Year 12: when it finally started making sense 

(35:36) "I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams"—the origin story 

(38:10) The Oprah voicemail and why he didn't fight Walmart 

(42:50) Rich lesson: Accept the slowness of things meant to be slow

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Rich Lessons Podcast // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen

Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-lessons/id1787798124) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/40jGSUvVrMbxKcJ1ghE8kl)

Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@RichLessonsPodcast)

Follow Rich Lessons on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/richlessonspodcast/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@richlessonspodcast)

Subscribe to the Rich Lessons Substack (richlessons.substack.com)

On Episode 42 of Rich Lessons, Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen(Instagram.com/whoisSheena) sit down with real estate investor, developer, and agent Chris Ross, whose path into commercial real estate began behind a bar on Bourbon Street and led to multi–million–dollar hospitality and mixed-use deals.

Chris shares how he went from making $800 on his first $45K deal to brokering $30M+ transactions, and why he believes now is still a powerful moment to move into commercial real estate, especially as others run away from office buildings and underperforming assets. He breaks down how to leverage equity, recognize the subtle signs of opportunity (like worn pool furniture and empty elevators), and think beyond single-family rentals into hotels, large residential properties, and creative adaptive reuse.

The conversation also dives into real estate as a reflection of culture—from office-to-residential conversions and content studios to the rise of Airbnb-style hospitality. Chris explains how he utilizes AI and ChatGPT daily in his brokerage work, without compromising the human element that actually closes deals. And in his Rich Lesson, he brings it all back to one core principle: relationships are the real asset in business and in building long-term wealth.

Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro — Meet Chris Ross: Bourbon Street bartender turned commercial real estate dealmaker

(01:07) From phone book to first license — breaking into real estate without a “traditional” background

(02:47) Leaving residential behind — the persistence that opened CRE doors

(03:43) What most people don’t know about commercial real estate: leveraging equity and financing million-dollar deals

(05:02) “Blood in the water” — short sales, distressed assets, and why Chris thinks now is still a good time for CRE

(06:15) How he turned bad pool furniture and empty elevators into a $35M transaction

(08:19) The $45K building and an $800 commission — why you can’t start at $30M deals

(09:49) Balancing culture, preservation, and profit in New Orleans while bringing more Black entrepreneurs into big deals

(12:02) Where to start in hospitality and commercial: valuation, learning from the bottom up, and knowing your investing style

(21:08) How Chris uses AI and ChatGPT daily in real estate (and why relationships still matter more than ever)

(29:26) Real estate follows culture — office conversions, content studios, data centers, and shifting demand

(33:00) Airbnb vs hotels — pros, cons, profitability, and why consistency still sells

(39:29) Rich Lesson — relationships, credit unions, and why your network is your true leverage

—

Rich Lessons Podcast // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen

• Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-lessons/id1787798124) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/40jGSUvVrMbxKcJ1ghE8kl)

• Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@richlessonspodcast)

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On Episode 41 of Rich Lessons, Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen(Instagram.com/whoisSheena) talk with Karen Freeman-Wilson, former Indiana Attorney General, the first Black woman mayor of Gary, Indiana, and now President & CEO of the Chicago Urban League.

Karen opens up about growing up in Gary’s industrial heyday, witnessing its economic collapse, and leading through a $26 million budget loss on her first day as mayor. She breaks down the realities of running a predominantly Black city, confronting systemic bias, and rebuilding trust between citizens and government.

From redirecting Indiana’s tobacco settlement funds entirely to health initiatives to reshaping Chicago’s community narrative, Karen shares how leadership grounded in empathy and accountability can change outcomes. The conversation dives into today’s political climate, the quiet rollback of DEI, and her warning against what she calls “legislative genocide.”

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Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro & welcome

(01:18) Mini bio & firsts (AG; first Black woman mayor; now CUL CEO)

(02:47) Gary’s boom → decline snapshot

(04:44) Bias toward Black-majority cities explained

(07:12) Day-one $26M budget hit; “expect more” leadership

(11:06) AG wins: nursing homes reform; 100% tobacco funds → health

(14:17) Harvard story: grit & “finish what you start”

(18:30) Loss → Chicago Urban League; narrative + cross-sector work

(22:49) “Show up twice”: block + boardroom approach

(25:32) Today’s climate: values, DEI retreat, bill impacts (SNAP, schools, health, environment)

(33:19) Nonprofit response; job fair surge (3K in-person / 5K online)

(41:01) Rich Lesson: treat people how you want to be treated

—

Rich Lessons Podcast // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen

• Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-lessons/id1787798124) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/40jGSUvVrMbxKcJ1ghE8kl)

• Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@richlessonspodcast)

• Follow Rich Lessons on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/richlessonspodcast/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@richlessonspodcast)

On Episode 40 of Rich Lessons, Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen(Instagram.com/whoisSheena) sit down with Takema Robinson, executive producer of Netflix’s top-streaming documentary The Perfect Neighbor, to talk about justice, storytelling, and the movement behind one of the most powerful films of the year.

Takema, an activist, producer, and founder of Standing in the Gap Fund, shares how a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request turned into a #1 Netflix film and a catalyst for change in the wake of AJ Owens’ killing. She opens up about transforming hours of police body-cam footage into a gripping, artful story that sparked national conversations on race, justice, and “Stand Your Ground” laws.

From advocacy to art, Takema breaks down the emotional journey of turning grief into purpose, the importance of storytelling as a tool for healing, and the power of keeping a promise—ensuring the world will always know AJ Owens’ name.

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Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro — Meet Takema Robinson, executive producer of The Perfect Neighbor

(02:30) Movement in Her DNA — Growing up in New Haven’s Black Power era

(04:15) From Howard to Healing — Studying art, politics, and culture as tools for justice

(06:10) The First Film — How advocacy led her to documentary storytelling

(07:18) FOIA to Film — Using public records to uncover AJ Owens’ story

(11:18) The Perfect Neighbor — Inside the footage, the verdict, and the emotional response

(14:30) Mobilizing for Justice — The call at dawn and activating national support

(22:16) The Power of Truth — Staying inside body-cam footage and trusting the audience

(25:06) Beyond “Trauma Porn” — Why this film is activism, not exploitation

(33:33) The Children — Healing, therapy, and the legacy AJ left behind

(41:01) The Aftermath — #1 on Netflix, a national impact tour, and Standing in the Gap Fund

(45:13) Rich Lesson — Purpose is the bridge between pain and power

—

Rich Lessons Podcast // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen

• Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-lessons/id1787798124) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/40jGSUvVrMbxKcJ1ghE8kl)

• Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@richlessonspodcast)

• Follow Rich Lessons on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/richlessonspodcast/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@richlessonspodcast)

On Episode 39 of Rich Lessons, Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen (Instagram.com/whoisSheena) sit down with twin sisters Kiara and Christy Muse, board-certified nurse practitioners and founders of Muse Medical Aesthetics & Laser in Baton Rouge, LA, to talk about beauty, confidence, and building a million-dollar med spa from the ground up.

Kiara and Christy share how they went from bedside nursing to entrepreneurship, why they chose to bet on themselves instead of working for someone else, and how they turned a $10,000 family investment into a fast-growing aesthetics practice serving women (and men) across the South. They open up about being shut out by banks, navigating gatekeeping in the aesthetics industry as Black women, and what it takes to build a luxury brand that still feels personal, safe, and culturally aware.

From injectables and “facial balancing” to GLP-1 weight loss shots and medical-grade skincare, the Muse Twins break down what’s real, what’s hype, and why preventative care is the new standard. They also talk about the pressure on women to look “natural,” the stigma Black women still face around cosmetic treatments, and why the beauty industry is actually a path to ownership, wealth, and freedom for women in healthcare.

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Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro — Meet twin sisters Kiara and Christy Muse, founders of Muse Medical Aesthetics & Laser in Baton Rouge

(02:15) From RN to Owner — Leaving bedside nursing to build something of their own

(04:10) “We Just Signed the Lease” — Launching during COVID and creating their own lane in a gatekept industry

(06:20) Brand Before Doors Opened — Building demand early and coining their mantra, “Be your own muse”

(07:48) The Muse Experience — Luxury meets comfort; making aesthetics feel safe and inclusive

(12:12) Money Said No — Getting denied by banks and turning a $10K family loan into $1M+ in a year

(15:18) Scaling Up — 400% growth, expansion plans, and building on their own terms

(17:33) Skincare Facts — Why sunscreen is key and most products miss melanin-rich skin

(22:22) Facial Balancing 101 — Botox, filler, and why “natural” doesn’t mean “nothing done”

(30:04) Beyond BBLs — Non-surgical contouring, collagen boosters, and body balancing

(33:17) GLP-1 Truth — Weight loss shots, hormone balance, and breaking the “cheating” myth

(45:13) Rich Lesson — Confidence, resilience, and believing in your vision when no one else does

—

Rich Lessons Podcast // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen

• Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rich-lessons/id1787798124) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/40jGSUvVrMbxKcJ1ghE8kl)

• Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@richlessonspodcast)

• Follow Rich Lessons on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/richlessonspodcast/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@richlessonspodcast)