Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity

Culture meets AI. Purpose meets technology.In this episode of Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity, we sit with Larry Chapman, founder of Awake18, to explore the unlikely path from music dreams → fatherhood → finance → mental health → AI apps — and how faith, creativity, and community fuel the next generation of builders.Topics we unpack:Music → Tech career pivotsMental health & therapy for Black menBuilding the MEN-TOOL mental health appCo-parenting app for families & peaceRestaurant profit + tax toolsWhy young creators must learn AI nowCoding culture vs. getting left behindFaith, purpose & entrepreneurshipCommunity + small business + tech“Let’s code the future before the future codes us”Key quotes:“Our culture is already creative — AI just gives us tools.”“Built by us, for us.”“Let’s code the culture.”“All things can be done through faith and work.”Follow & connect:📍 Awake18 — awake18.com📱 IG — @mentool_strongerSMITHHosted by🎙 Smith Says (Purpose Over Popularity)where community, creativity & purpose meet technology.If you rock with culture, innovation, faith, mental health, or AI — this one lands.

In this episode, we sit down with Irina Perry, a Columbus-based media producer, herbalist, and immigrant entrepreneur whose journey spans continents, careers, and reinvention.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia and arriving in Columbus in 1994, Irina shares her path from working in a donut shop to finance, technology, and eventually media production — all while building a parallel business in herbal and alternative healing.

We talk about:
• Adjusting to American culture and language
• Why Columbus is a strong city for small businesses
• Leaving a long tech career to follow purpose
• Media, storytelling, and collaboration
• AI tools, content creation, and creative fatigue
• Herbal medicine, healing naturally, and wellness
• Why reinvention doesn’t stop at 50

This conversation is about identity, growth, and choosing purpose over routine — especially in a fast-changing, tech-driven world.

If you’re navigating change, building something new, or questioning your next chapter, this episode will resonate.

Herbal & Wellness: perrysherbalskincare.com
Media Production: [email protected]

Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity
Conversations on identity, entrepreneurship, media, culture, and building with intention.

🎙️ CONNECT WITH THE GUEST🎧 ABOUT THE SHOW

Smithsonians, welcome back! Today we’re not in the studio — we’re in the doctor’s office getting a wellness check on purpose, mission, identity, and AI. We talk clarity, contribution, and why your visual resume matters for the future of communication and civility.In this conversation with Mr. James A. White Sr, we break down:⭐ Why everyone should have a personal mission & purpose⭐ How clarity shows up once your mission is written⭐ Why AI is just a tool — and why we must contribute to it⭐ How identity + technology shape the future of legacy⭐ The idea of the “Visual Resume” & video avatars⭐ Community, culture, and the value of perspective⭐ Civility as a bridge between worlds⭐ Black, immigrant, and minority perspectives in tech⭐ Generational wisdom & what’s nextThis is part mentorship, part clinic, part strategy session.Not motivational fluff — practical clarity.If you’re building something, leading something, or figuring out what’s next… this one lands.📧 Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠(He may not pick up unknown numbers, so email is best.)

In this episode, Smith Francois sits down with Nadia Jean Jacque, the first Commissioner for Refugee & Immigration Affairs in Columbus, for a raw and necessary conversation about the Haitian experience.

Together, they unpack:

• What it truly means to grow up Haitian

• The values of Lakay • Lekòl • Legliz and respect

• Why Haitian culture is celebrated while Haitian struggles are ignored

• Language, identity, and the impact of colonization

• Why representation in Columbus matters now more than ever

This episode goes beyond politics. It’s about history, dignity, and purpose — and why Haiti’s legacy still shapes freedom across the world today.

🎙️ Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity
Listen, reflect, and join the conversation.

In this powerful Part 1 conversation, I sit down with Dr. Ekele, a health educator and medical missionary based in Columbus, Ohio, to talk about natural healing, plant-based living, and faith-driven wellness.What started as a simple juice delivery turned into a deep conversation about:Healing the body without dependency on medicationHow food choices affect inflammation, mucus, and gut healthWhy plant-based living changed her life after illnessBiblical foundations for health and stewardship of the bodyPractical first steps you can take today (even if you’re procrastinating like me)Dr. Ekele shares her personal journey—from being a “wounded healer” to walking in wholeness—and explains how simple, natural solutions can help the body heal the way God designed it to.🥤 We also break down a real juice recipe, detox principles, shopping tips, and why you don’t need expensive equipment to start.📘 Want her book?Simple Plant-Based Solutions for Healthier LivingText or WhatsApp: 718-506-8932📍 Columbus, Ohio🎥 Part 1 of a multi-part health & wellness series📩 First local commenter may receive a free copyIf this conversation challenged or inspired you, like, comment, and subscribe.Part 2 drops soon—where we go deeper into movement, sunlight, detoxing, and lifestyle rhythms.#PlantBasedHealing #FaithAndHealth #NaturalHealing #PurposeOverPopularity #SmithSays #HolisticHealth #ColumbusOhio #HealthPodcastSMITHSMITH

Smithsonians, welcome back 🎙️Smith Francois here, founder of the 4S Program, and today’s episode is special.Before we get technical, we pause to honor Brother Rogers—a mentor, teacher, and sound engineer who shaped how many of us understand audio, professionalism, and purpose. One of his greatest lessons still stands:“Serve the church—but outside the church, charge your proper fee.”In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with J-Rick Wise, a seasoned sound engineer with roots in live bands, reggae culture, and decades of real-world experience—from cassette tape splicing to full PA systems and touring nationwide.In this episode, we cover:How J-Rick got started in audio at age 14Learning sound before YouTube, plugins, and DAWsWhy every voice needs EQ (and no mic is “perfect”)The difference between DJs and sound engineersWhat beginners need to understand about microphones & vocalsStories from life on the road with a reggae bandThis episode is Part 1—background, mindset, and foundation.👉 Part 2 goes deeper into equipment, EQ, mixers, and practical setup tips for podcasters, creators, and musicians.📍 Recorded in Columbus, Ohio📞 Book J-Rick Wise for live sound or recording: (614) 625-5073📘 Facebook: Jahric WiseIf you’re building a podcast, hosting live events, or trying to make your sound match your vision—this one’s for you.👍 Like💬 Comment🔔 Subscribe➡️ Stay tuned for Part 2

Y’all might be working on vision boards — but in this episode, we do something deeper.

This is a live, unscripted conversation about defining purpose, vision, and mission in real time.

After years of working behind the camera—capturing other people’s stories—I reached a moment where I had to pause and ask:
Who am I when the lens turns toward me?

Joined by Dr. James White, we unpack:

• Why clarity matters more than motivation

• The difference between vision boards and real alignment

• How video has become a modern form of identity and résumé

• Seeing yourself the way others see you

• Culture, faith, and perspective—from Haiti to Columbus

• Using tools like AI and emerging media without losing authenticity

This isn’t a motivational speech.
It’s a thinking-out-loud process for creators, leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating identity in a digital world.

If you’ve ever felt called to more—but struggled to put it into words—this conversation is for you.

🎙 Purpose over popularity. Perspective over performance.

Smithsonians, welcome back. 🙏
It’s Smith Francois, founder of the Forest Program and the voice behind Purpose Over Popularity.
Today’s episode is different — it’s personal. This should’ve been Episode 1, but God’s timing is always better than mine.

Before anything else:
Thank you God for protecting me, watching over me, and carrying me through every trial I’ve never spoken about.
Thank you to my family and friends for the 3 Ls — Lekòl, Legliz, Lakay — the foundation that shaped me.

In this episode, I finally share who I am, where I come from, and why I do this work.

• Growing up triple Haitian — parents from Haiti, born in Chicago, and carrying a culture that never leaves

• My first 18 sheltered years in Chicago and why identity was always a fight

• How technology, Apple products, and curiosity shaped me early

• My move to Alabama and earning a degree in Accounting at Oakwood University

• Why entrepreneurship has always been in my blood

• My journey to Columbus — eight years as of today — and how God kept opening doors

• Why “Purpose Over Popularity” isn’t a slogan… it’s my lifestyle

• How faith, service, and community shaped the man I am today

• Why I’m finally speaking for myself after years of others speaking for me

This podcast is my way of honoring God, honoring my journey, and honoring the people who helped me get here — even the ones who never wanted to be on camera.

I’m a man blessed by God, built by family, shaped by service, and guided by purpose.
I’m Haitian.
I’m American.
I’m the “in-between.”
I’m a nerd.
I’m a creator.
I’m a servant.
And everything I do is Purpose Over Popularity.

💬 Comment what part of my story you want me to go deeper on
👍 Like the video
📲 Subscribe to the channel
🙏 And may God continue to bless you on your journey

Purpose Over Popularity. Always.
Thank you for watching. Let’s be great.

What You’ll Hear in Today’s Story:If you really want to know me…Tap in with me:

Smithsonians, welcome back! 👋
It’s Smith Francois here, and at this point I can’t even call him a “guest” anymore — Mr. JJames A. White Sr is basically a co-host. 🙌

In this episode, we get real about work, purpose, and the future:

• Growing up Black in the 50s & 60s and watching his mom build a business as a Black woman entrepreneur

• The difference between trades vs college in today’s world

• Unions, “at-will” jobs, and why companies should share the wealth

• What it really means to be a “good candidate” in the modern job market

• Hustle vs job vs asset in 2025–2026

• How TikTok and content are the new sales floor

• The 5 levels of behavior: Victim, Passive, Active, Highly Active, Accomplished

• How travel and exposure expand your “consciousness umbrella”

• Mission, vision, goals & critical success factors for your 2026

We also talk about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, dressing for success in a culture that doesn’t always value it, and how to stay true to your authentic self while still leveling up at work and in business.

🎯 This episode is for you if:

• You’re stuck between trade school or college

• You’re tired of just having a job and want to build assets

• You’re planning your 2026 goals and want a clearer mission & vision

• You want practical, no-fluff wisdom from someone who’s lived it

📌 Watch till the end for Mr. White’s powerful thoughts on civility, character, and how to show up as your best selfwherever you go.

🔔 Subscribe to Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity
👍 Like the video
💬 Comment your biggest takeaway: Are you focused on a hustle, a job, or building assets for 2026?

👤 Connect with Dr. James White

📘 About the Guest:James A. White Sr.CEO, Performance Consulting Services📧 [email protected]☎️ 614-252-3266 (office)📖 Author of A Better World: A Framework for Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement

👤 Connect with Smith Says International
🗣 Follow, subscribe, and share if this helped you think differently about your future.

Smithsonians, welcome back. In this episode of Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity, I sit down with immigration attorney Ina Simakovsky for one of the realest conversations I’ve ever had about immigration, community gatekeeping, and what “help” can look like when it actually hurts.Ina came to the U.S. as a religious refugee from Russia in 1976. Today she’s an immigration attorney in Columbus, Ohio, serving communities from Haiti, Somalia, the Congo, Latin America, and beyond. We talk about:Why going to the “guy in the basement” or just a notary can literally destroy your immigration caseHow Haitian and other immigrant communities are being misled by people who only “fill out forms”What asylum, TPS, U visas, and T visas really mean in practiceHow burnout, stress, and even serious illness almost took her out of this workWhy she says we’re now in “protection mode” and why getting a real attorney is more important than everThe dangerous role of gatekeepers who control information, funding, and access to real helpWhat first-generation kids (ages 15–33) can do if they want to help their families and communities the right wayThis episode is especially for:🇭🇹 Haitian families🌍 New Americans & refugees🧑🏾‍⚖️ Aspiring immigration lawyers🙏🏾 First-gen kids caught between two systems👩‍⚖️ Connect with Attorney Ina SimakovskyLaw Office of Ina Simakovsky📍 1450 E Main St, Columbus, OH 43205 (corner of Miller & Kelton – watch the one-way!)📞 614-695-4605 – Leave a message; they call back within two business days.🌎 Immigration practice serving clients across the entire U.S.If you don’t have a copy of your immigration file, now is a good time to request it.If you don’t have an immigration attorney, now is a good time to at least consult one.🎙️ Connect with MeHost: Smith Francois – Smith Says International LLC📺 Subscribe for more conversations on faith, identity, immigration, entrepreneurship & community🔔 Turn on notifications so you don’t miss Part 2 of this conversation⚠️ Disclaimer:This conversation is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. For personal legal questions, please contact a licensed immigration attorney.SMITH SAYS INTERNATIONAL [email protected]https://linktr.ee/smithsays1cash.app/$smithsaysllcPaypal: smithsays1Please comment and subscribe for full video.You are the best. Thank you for commenting and subscribing for full video.I help fresh entrepreneurs 4S their service-based business income, using the power of video.4S Program Founder Smith Francois#smithfrancois