Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity

Are we so afraid of being called judgmental that we’ve stopped correcting the next generation?

In this conversation, we get into dress codes, pajamas at school, sagging pants, church attire, hygiene, self-respect, confidence, parenting, education, and the role the entire community plays in preparing young people for adulthood.

There’s a difference between judgment and healthy correction.

The goal shouldn’t be to embarrass or tear someone down. It should be to help them understand how the way they present themselves, communicate, and carry themselves can affect their opportunities, relationships, education, and future.

We also talk about the responsibility of schools, parents, teachers, elders, and the larger community. The village cannot just watch from the sidelines. If we see something that could hold a young person back, how do we correct them with love while still respecting their individuality?

This conversation goes beyond clothes. It’s about preparing the next generation for life.

Topics discussed:
Dress codes and appropriate attire
Judgment vs. healthy correction
Pajamas and casual clothing at school
Self-respect, confidence, and hygiene
Parents vs. schools: Who is responsible?
Preparing children for careers and adulthood
Thrifting, materialism, and financial responsibility
The role of elders and the Black community
Why the village still matters

Question for you: Have we become too afraid to correct young people because we don’t want to be seen as judgmental?

Smith Says One Podcast
Follow @SmithSays1 on all platforms

What does the future of Bronzeville, Columbus look like and how do we make sure the people, history, and culture of the community remain part of its growth?

On this episode of the Purpose Over Popularity Podcast, presented by Smith Says International LLC, Smith François sits down with Willis Brown for an in-depth conversation about Bronzeville’s past, present, and future.

We talk about community development, Black economic power, education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, local leadership, and the importance of understanding the history of Bronzeville. The conversation also explores how highways, urban renewal, desegregation, and changing economic patterns affected historically Black communities.

Willis Brown also shares his personal journey from agriculture and international consulting to cycling and community advocacy and how those experiences prepared him to serve his community.

Topics include Bronzeville development and housing, supporting Black businesses, building generational wealth, getting young people involved, skilled trades and education, the role of churches, community accountability, mentorship, family, and preventing burnout while serving others. Brown emphasizes the importance of knowing when to say “not right now”so community leaders can recharge and continue the work. 

The question for you:
How can we welcome new investment into historically Black communities without losing the people, culture, businesses, and history that made those communities valuable in the first place?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Purpose Over Popularity Podcast
Presented by Smith Says International LLC

Follow @SmithSays1 on all platforms.

This conversation started with raw fasting, food, and healthy living but it turned into something much deeper.

Why do we know what’s good for us but still struggle to stay consistent?

We talk about raw and plant-based eating, stress, weight loss, strength training, discipline, self-care, and what happens when you spend so much time pouring into other people that you don't give yourself the same energy.

We also get into her journey with henna, entrepreneurship, her book “A Birth Journey and How We Got Here,” and how she has learned to turn her natural gifts into opportunities.

One of the biggest challenges for me personally is not necessarily knowing what to do it's staying consistent with what I already know.

So I want to ask you:

What is one thing you KNOW you should be doing for yourself, but you haven't been consistent with yet?

Drop it in the comments.

Subscribe and follow @smithsays1 on all platforms.

How do you build something sustainable when the system wasn’t designed with you in mind?

James A. White Sr. returns to Purpose Over Popularity for a real conversation about entrepreneurship, Black economic progress, generational wealth, family, leadership, and what it actually takes to build a successful business.

With more than 30 years of experience running his own company, Mr. White breaks down lessons from corporate America and entrepreneurship including why knowing your product, delivering quality service, engaging your customers, and building a strong reputation matter.

We also discuss an important question about generational wealth: What happens when you build a business for the next generation, but the next generation doesn’t want to take it over?

This conversation goes beyond money. It’s about creating opportunity, strengthening families, transferring knowledge, and building something that can outlive you.

🎙️ Purpose Over Popularity
📲 Follow @smithsays1 on all platforms
🔔 Subscribe and join the conversation.

What does generational wealth mean to you: money, business ownership, education, knowledge or all of the above?

🎮 Gaming is more than entertainment it can become a community, career, business, and movement.

On this episode of Purpose Over Popularity, I sit down with Keisha Go Crazy to talk about her journey from growing up on Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation and Xbox to stepping into streaming, content creation, tech, and cybersecurity.

We get into the evolution of gaming, Twitch vs. YouTube vs. Kick, PC vs. console, GTA 5M, building an online community, branding yourself across platforms, and where she believes the gaming industry is headed.

Keisha also introduces the vision behind Go Crazy Gaming building beyond gaming into events, merchandise, competition, collaborations, and opportunities for other gaming content creators.

We even discuss AI’s impact on creatives, cybersecurity, education vs. certifications, and why creators have to learn how to adapt as technology changes.

Her message is simple: Go Crazy means giving 100% to whatever your purpose is.

🎙️ Purpose Over Popularity
Purpose over views. Legacy over popularity.

Follow @smithsays1 on all platforms.

Follow Keisha Go Crazy on her platforms and stay tuned for what’s next from Go Crazy Gaming.

Topics: Gaming, Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Go Crazy Gaming, PC Gaming, Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation, GTA 5M, Streaming, Cybersecurity, AI, Content Creation, Entrepreneurship, Gaming Community, 

What does it mean to grow up Haitian-American in Chicago while carrying the lessons of family, faith, culture, and community into adulthood?On this Smith Says Family Edition, I sit down with my cousin Astrid “Kenny” for a conversation about our family history and the experiences that shaped her life.We talk about growing up surrounded by a Haitian family village, our grandmother’s influence, traveling to Haiti, learning French before English, navigating Haitian-American identity, and why Chicago will always be home.Astrid also shares her journey through more than 20 years of leadership and higher education, the importance of building genuine relationships, and the leap of faith that led her away from her career and into coaching and consulting.One of the biggest lessons from this conversation:Your network matters. Your relationships matter. Your faith matters. And your purpose doesn’t have to look like everybody else’s.As Astrid explains, Purpose Over Popularity means going against the grain, accepting your assignment, and walking in what God has for you even when your path looks different.📍 Chicago, Illinois🇭🇹 Haitian-American Family Edition🎙️ Smith Says📲 Follow @SmithSays1Want early access, raw conversations, and behind-the-scenes content from upcoming podcasts? Join the community through the link in the description.Topics: Haitian American, Chicago, Haitian family, faith, family legacy, career transition, leadership, professional development, entrepreneurship, community, networking, travel, Purpose Over Popularity🎙️ SMITH SAYS: PURPOSE OVER POPULARITYReal conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders. No fluff. No filters. Just purpose.New episodes every Monday at 7PM EST.👉 All episodes & platforms: smithsays.one/podcast🎧 Listen everywhere: https://linktr.ee/smithsays1Want to be a guest? smithsays.one/guest.htmlWant to sponsor the show? smithsays.one/sponsorship.html

What happens when we truly stop and honor the role Black women have played in creating, protecting, nurturing, and carrying generations forward?In this powerful conversation, I sit down with James White and Monique Whipple, The Birth Plug, for an intergenerational discussion about Black women, birth, family, history, healing, education, and legacy.📚 James White introduces his upcoming book, She Birthed America, created to honor Black women and examine their strength and contributions across generations.📖 Monique Whipple shares the story behind A Birth Journey and How We Got Here, a book developed from years of research and her own experiences as a mother, including four home births.We also get into:• Why birth should be viewed as sacred• The historical strength of Black women• The legacy carried through mothers and grandmothers• Cape Coast and the history of the transatlantic slave trade• James’ journey with dyslexia and education• Supporting children with different learning needs• Black families, community and intergenerational wisdom• Why knowing our history can change how we see ourselves todayThis conversation is bigger than two books. It’s about remembering where we came from, honoring the people who carried us here, and making sure the next generation knows the power of its legacy.🎙️ Purpose Over PopularitySubscribe and follow @SmithSays1 for more conversations centered on purpose, history, community and real stories.Want to see what happens before the podcast drops? Join the Patreon community for early access, raw and unedited conversations, and behind-the-scenes content.🎙️ SMITH SAYS: PURPOSE OVER POPULARITYReal conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders. No fluff. No filters. Just purpose.New episodes every Monday at 7PM EST.👉 All episodes & platforms: smithsays.one/podcast🎧 Listen everywhere: https://linktr.ee/smithsays1Want to be a guest? smithsays.one/guest.htmlWant to sponsor the show? smithsays.one/sponsorship.html

What does it really mean to believe that it’s never too late to change your life?On this episode of Purpose Over Popularity, I sit down with Dr. Dwayne Dunbar, a Columbus native, community advocate, nonprofit leader, and formerly incarcerated man who turned some of the hardest chapters of his life into a mission of service.Dr. Dunbar opens up about serving multiple prison sentences, changing his mindset while incarcerated, strengthening his faith, becoming intentional about the people around him, and returning home determined to make a difference.We talk about:🎙️ Growing up in Linden and how the neighborhood shaped him🔄 Rebuilding life and identity after incarceration🧠 The power of positive self-talk and a growth mindset🤝 Choosing mentors and relationships intentionally❤️ How his grandmother taught him the value of service📦 Providing food and resources throughout Columbus👥 Helping formerly incarcerated men and women recognize that it’s never too late📱 Why young people shouldn’t allow social media validation to control their self-worth🙏 Faith, discipline, responsibility, and service🎯 What Purpose Over Popularity means when nobody is watchingOne of the biggest messages from this conversation:Your past may be part of your story, but it does not have to determine your future.Dr. Dunbar went from looking for recognition for the wrong reasons to building a life where his name is connected to community service, resources, mentorship, and positive impact.This conversation is about more than redemption. It’s about becoming intentional with your life and understanding that sometimes your greatest payment isn't financial it’s knowing that you were able to help somebody else.Follow Smith Says on all platforms: @SmithSays1Connect with Dr. Dwayne Dunbar: @INTLDwayne🎙️ SMITH SAYS: PURPOSE OVER POPULARITYReal conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, and community builders. No fluff. No filters. Just purpose.New episodes every Monday at 7PM EST.👉 All episodes & platforms: smithsays.one/podcast🎧 Listen everywhere: https://linktr.ee/smithsays1Want to be a guest? smithsays.one/guest.htmlWant to sponsor the show? smithsays.one/sponsorship.html

What happens when you take the challenges you've experienced and turn them into a reason to serve others?

On this episode of Purpose Over Popularity, I sit down with Renissa Bird Song, also known as Mama Chito, for a powerful conversation about her journey from growing up in Columbus' Linden community to entrepreneurship, education, law, community service, and discovering her purpose.

Mama Chito openly shares how she went from being a juvenile delinquent and experiencing arrests as a young person to returning to school, pursuing law and psychology, building businesses, and working to create opportunities for others.

We talk about:

🔥 Turning past challenges into purpose
🏘️ What Linden needs to grow and rebuild
🎓 Her journey toward law and higher education
💼 Entrepreneurship and helping others build businesses
🤝 Bringing resources, mentorship, and knowledge back to the community
🧠 Emotional regulation and self-love
🎙️ Using media and your voice to create change
🤖 AI, technology, and ethics
🙏🏾 Faith, spirituality, relationships, and purpose
🌎 The importance of unity and community

One of the biggest messages from our conversation was that having resources isn't enough we also have to teach people how to use those resources to build something sustainable.

Mama Chito also shares a powerful perspective on overcoming difficult circumstances: “The decisions that you make determine how much you love yourself.” She emphasizes emotional regulation, financial freedom, self-love, and discovering who you are beyond survival mode.

And when I asked her what Purpose Over Popularity means, she brought it back to authenticity: you don't have to be known by everybody to make an impact. You can simply operate in your purpose and use what you've been given to help others.

🎙️ PURPOSE OVER POPULARITY
One Voice. One Step. One Purpose.

▶️ Like
💬 Comment
🔔 Subscribe
📲 Share this conversation with someone who needs to hear it.

FOLLOW @SMITHSAYS1 ON ALL PLATFORMS

🎙️ A BIRTH JOURNEY | The Birth Plug

What if we approached birth with more education, preparation, advocacy, and community support instead of fear?

I sat down with Mon’nique Whipple, aka The Birth Plug birth worker, community health worker, mother of five, yoga instructor, and now published author.

Mon’nique shares her personal journey from having one hospital birth to four home births, why she began documenting her experiences, and how that eventually became her new book, A Birth Journey and How We Got Here.

In this conversation, we discuss:

🔥 Why she believes education and advocacy matter in childbirth
🏠 Her hospital birth vs. home birth experiences
🤰🏾 Breaking stigmas surrounding natural and home birth
🌎 Her connections with birth workers across the U.S., Haiti, Ghana, and beyond
📖 Her 12-year journey toward becoming a published author
👶🏾 Preparing physically and mentally for pregnancy and birth
❤️ Her “Will of Fire” philosophy: Village is family. Love is peace. Elders protect the next generation.

Her mission goes beyond childbirth. It’s about helping people become educated, advocate for themselves, and remember that motherhood doesn't erase the rest of who a person is.

📚 BOOK: A Birth Journey and How We Got Here  available on Amazon.

📲 FOLLOW THE BIRTH PLUG:
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @TheBirthPlug

▶️ Subscribe to Smith Says 1 for more conversations centered around purpose, community, entrepreneurship, and real-life stories.

Purpose Over Popularity. One voice. One step. One purpose.