Rich Lessons

In Episode 37 of Rich Lessons, Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen (Instagram.com/whoisSheena) sit down with Baton Rouge native and civil rights advocate Gary Chambers Jr. to unpack power, policy, and the path to building Black wealth across the South. From his upbringing in North Baton Rouge to national advocacy after Alton Sterling’s killing, Gary traces how economics, culture, and politics collide, and why the South still holds the keys to lasting change.

From the “brain drain” of talent leaving Louisiana and Mississippi to lessons from Reconstruction and modern-day politics, Gary breaks down why the South still matters, and how actual change starts with ownership, community, and audacity. He also opens up about fatherhood, advocacy, and why Black people must see their communities as assets, not liabilities.

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Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro — Who is Gary Chambers Jr. and why his voice matters

(02:00) Fatherhood & Raising Black Children in Today’s America

(05:40) North Baton Rouge Then vs. Now: Community, Decline & Reinvestment

(10:20) The “Brain Drain” in the South and Building Where We’re From

(13:45) Atlanta vs. Charlotte: Rethinking the Black Mecca

(18:40) Wealth, NIL Money & Why “Getting Out the Hood” Isn’t Enough

(22:10) Reconstruction Lessons: The History They Don’t Teach

(26:10) The Democratic Party’s Neglect of the South & Black Voters

(31:20) From Alton Sterling to Activism: How Gary Found His Purpose

(59:10) Rich Lesson — The Magic, Resilience & Audacity of Black People

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Rich Lessons is presented by GRITS // 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)

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In Episode 36 of Rich Lessons, Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen (Instagram.com/whoisSheena) tackle the future of work in an AI-driven economy. From the rise of lifestyle businesses to the disappearance of entry-level jobs, they dig into the hard truths shaping how we’ll work, earn, and live in the years ahead.

The conversation explores the controversial debate around universal basic income (UBI), why trades like plumbing and electrical work may become the most secure and profitable careers, and how “vibe coding” is creating new opportunities for non-technical founders. They close with their biggest “rich lessons” on resisting over-reliance on AI and the importance of self-initiative in building a sustainable future.

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Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro & why lifestyle businesses matter

(03:28) UBI debate & the middle-class squeeze

(09:39) Robot-content fatigue: are we overusing genAI?

(15:26) After AI & bootcamps: where do entry-level devs go?

(18:52) Hiring reality: self-initiative & the two-week ramp

(28:22) Future-proof careers: trades over tech?

(30:24) Vibe coding: text-to-software & the hybrid model

(34:06) Rich Lessons: caution on genAI + be a self-starter

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Rich Lessons is presented by GRITS // 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)

—GRITS is an entrepreneurial community + venture studio 

• Subscribe to the GRITS Newsletter (https://substack.com/@joingrits)

• Visit the official website (https://joingrits.com)

• Follow GRITS on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/joingrits)

• Join our PRIVATE Founders Community Network (https://www.patreon.com/startupstayupscaleup)

What does it take to turn a family project into a global movement? In this episode of Rich Lessons, Dr. Calvin Mackie—engineer, entrepreneur, and founder of STEM NOLA—reveals his blueprint for scaling impact. From his garage in New Orleans to reaching over 200,000 students worldwide, Dr. Mackie breaks down how equity, education, and entrepreneurship must intersect to truly change lives. Whether you’re building a startup, running a nonprofit, or looking to create lasting change in your community, this conversation delivers powerful lessons on vision, leadership, and courage. If you’ve ever wondered how to transform an idea into a movement, start here.

On this week’s Rich Lessons, the engineer, professor, and founder of STEM NOLA breaks down his blueprint for scaling impact:
✨ Equity
✨ Education
✨ Entrepreneurship

This episode is a blueprint for building a movement—whether you’re growing a startup, leading a nonprofit, or creating change in your community.

This week on Rich Lessons we’re joined by Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris — scientist, founder, and innovator.

From earning her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine to serving as a Presidential STEM Fellow at the NIH, Dr. Chambers-Harris has dedicated her career to public health and research that addresses issues disproportionately impacting Black women.

Her personal journey with hair breakage and scalp damage — coupled with her scientific research on autoimmune disease — led her to launch an organic, science-backed hair care line that’s reshaping how we think about wellness and beauty.

Tune in as we dive into her story of blending science, purpose, and entrepreneurship.

#RichLessons #WomenInSTEM #BlackExcellence #Entrepreneurship

This episode is all about validating your idea and the real reason why sophisticated investors won't sign your NDA. Want to go deeper? September 30th Sevetri and Sheena launch their first cohort with live coaching and support. For more information follow @startupstayupscaleup on instagram or visit joingrits.com

When you have a new idea, your first instinct may be to protect it. But the truth is, ideas are cheap—execution is everything. Before you even think about raising capital or hiring, you need to validate your concept:

• Talk to potential customers. Ask open-ended questions, don’t pitch. You’re looking for pain points, not polite encouragement.

• Look for behavior, not words. If people say “that’s interesting,” it doesn’t matter. If they pull out their wallet or sign up for a beta, that’s validation.

• Run small, scrappy tests. Landing pages, waitlists, surveys, or MVPs can show real traction without heavy investment.

• Map the problem, not just your solution. Make sure the problem is significant and urgent enough that people need it solved.

The goal is not to get everyone to love your idea. The goal is to find a handful of people who can’t live without it.

What does it really take to get a brand into Target—and survive the shelf space? OR what happens when you decide to leave the shelves because it's hurting your business?

Episode 32: Sevetri Wilson Taylor (Instagram.com/sevetriwilson) and Sheena Allen (Instagram.com/whoisSheena) are joined by entrepreneur Marty McDonald to discuss building Boss Women Media and children’s brand Elle Olivia (inspired by her daughter), the true cost of getting on Target shelves, and the lessons she’s learned about retail, financing, and licensing.

Show Notes:

(00:00) Intro: Meet Marty McDonald, founder of Boss Women Media & Elle Olivia

(04:15) From Corporate to Founder: Leaving an 11-year career to build Boss Women Media

(08:40) L. Olivia’s Origin: Her daughter’s diagnosis and the push for representation

(16:25) Pitching Target: How a cold email landed 130K units

(22:10) Retail Reality: Production costs, marketing, and PO financing

(30:55) Hard Lessons: Predatory terms, asking questions, and hidden failures

(39:40) Target Boycott: Impact on Black brands and pivoting to Amazon

(47:25) Boss Women Media’s Next Chapter: From big events to founder tables

(55:50) Founder vs. CEO: The difference in roles and knowing your lane

(1:12:30) Motherhood & Entrepreneurship: Raising three kids while running two companies

(1:20:40) Marty’s Rich Lesson: The power of asking boldly

Follow Marty McDonald on Instagram and LinkedIn

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Rich Lessons is presented by GRITS // hosted by Sevetri Wilson Taylor and Sheena Allen

• Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

• Watch and subscribe to Rich Lessons on YouTube (

What does it take to turn a local food idea into a million-dollar festival? Cleveland Spears III, founder of Spears Group and producer of New Orleans’ iconic Fried Chicken Festival, takes us behind the curtain of scaling cultural events into major businesses. And though he maybe best known for events that have attracted hundreds of thousands, it might surprise you that events isn't actually his companies biggest money maker.

From raising $1.5M in sponsorships and securing partners like Raising Cane’s and the NFL, to managing 100,000+ attendees and keeping festivals affordable and inclusive, Spears reveals the strategy, risks, and lessons of producing at scale.

You’ll learn:

• How custom sponsorship packages fuel long-term growth

• Why influencers are media in today’s event landscape

• How PR and client work is his companies biggest revenue stream NOT events 

• The real costs of festivals and why rain insurance matters

• Lessons from Dinner en Blanc, Rosé Fest, and the rise of Fried Chicken Fest

• Cleveland’s Rich Lesson: Be fearless in asking for what you’re worth

This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, event producers, and marketers who want to understand the business of big events, cultural branding, and fearless entrepreneurship.

Chef Edgar “Dook” Chase IV—grandson of legendary Leah Chase (whose Disney based Princess Tiana off of) and co-host of Food Network’s Family Recipes Showdown—joins the Rich Lessons Podcast to share how he’s carrying forward one of New Orleans’ most iconic Black-owned restaurants, Dooky Chase’s. From the role his family played in civil rights history to opening new restaurants like Chapter 4, expanding into airports and universities, and building partnerships with Disney, Dook reveals what it takes to honor tradition while innovating for the next generation. We talk legacy, food culture, entrepreneurship, and the rich lessons he’s learned along the way.

In this powerful episode of Rich Lessons, we sit down with Alencia Johnson, activist, author, political strategist, and founder of 1063 West Broad. From advising presidential campaigns (Obama, Biden, Harris, Warren) to launching the iconic Stand With Black Women movement at Planned Parenthood, Alencia has made a career out of disrupting systems with purpose.

We dive into her origin story, rooted in the love and legacy of her grandmother. Alencia opens up about mental health, leaving behind “success” to find self-alignment, and how she wrote her national bestseller, Flip the Tables, a bold guide for everyday disruptors.

She shares what it means to “flip the table” in your own life, why Black women must prioritize rest, and how community and clarity are essential to personal and political transformation. We also talk faith, feminism, boundaries, being your own red flag, and navigating the noise in a world obsessed with highlight reels.

Whether you’re a leader, creative, or everyday change-maker, this episode will challenge and inspire you to disrupt yourself first, then the world.

🔑 Topics:

• The story behind Flip the Tables

• Faith, family & feminine power

• Political organizing through culture

• Mental health, self-sabotage, and healing

• Why rest is resistance

• Real talk on community, boundaries & purpose

Watch or listen now. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share.

Rich Lessons Podcast is Back!!

This week, the Rich Lessons podcast is back with an interview featuring Jasmine Monroe, who you may recognize from CBS’ Big Brother 24, as she dives into the creator economy and shares what it really takes to turn influencing into a full-time career. The new episode drops this Tuesday, so make sure you’re subscribed, and tell a friend to tell a friend!