S.T.A.R.V.E. TALK

Meet Sabrena Ford, founder of Images You Can Hold Photography, Hidden Images Podcast & Magazine, and the founder of Women With Purpose Tour. I love all things cultured. My mom is American, and my father is from Nigeria. I have a passion for the Spanish language, and have been studying the language for over a decade. I have my Spanish Certification, but my ultimate goal is to get my bachelor's degree in Spanish. Hable conmigo en español si puede, por favor. Outside of work and studying, I run my brands which I'm very passionate towards. My first love is food, Chinese being my favorite, and I love margaritas. I enjoy being around people and look forward to making great connections as I continue to grow in business.

J Haleem is back with a new season of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk

Tanisha Colon-Bibb is a Communications strategist with over ten years of experience who works with companies, organizations and talent to manage and maintain their public-facing brands and campaigns. In 2012, she founded Rebelle Agency, a full service communications company based in New York, NY that specializes in strategy for clients across a myriad of industries. Her work through the agency has placed clients on Good Morning America, Elle Magazine, Shape Magazine, E! News, Essence Magazine, BET, and many more. Dedicated to growth of talent in all aspects, in 2019, Tanisha expanded her business portfolio and founded Rebelle Management, a talent management company that represents individual talent and organizations/businesses with brand management services.

Tanisha’s words on diversity and business have been featured in Washington Post, Huffington Post, on various podcasts and in two published books “It Was All A Dream” by Reniqua Allen and “The Ethical Sellout: Maintaining Your Integrity in the Age of Compromise” by Lily Zheng and Inge Hansen. In her work to continuously provide guidance and opportunities to communities and people of color she has served on the boards of Spelman College Alumni Association, New York Urban League Young Professionals and as Co-Chair of the Eagle Academy Foundation’s ancillary group EagleBeyond. Tanisha’s tenacity and natural ability to develop relationships in diverse social settings is in large part due to her matriculation at the boarding high school, Phillips Academy Andover and post-grad at Spelman College. She currently lives in between Johannesburg and New York City with her partner, chihuahua mix Jaxon and infant son.

Episode Description - 

Soda City Pharmacy & Compounding is one of very few Black-owned pharmacies in Columbia, SC. Dr. Tremain Cooper is one of those that is leading the way and providing opportunities for the local community. In this episode of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk, J Haleem sits down with Dr. Cooper as they discuss his journey to becoming a pharmacist, how the Pandemic pushed him into entrepreneurship, and why he believes you have to become an entrepreneur before you become an entrepreneur. 

Show Notes - 

1:27 - J Haleem welcomes Dr. Tremain Cooper to S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk 

2:44 - Dr. Cooper shares his journey to being a Pharmacist

4:31 - Dr. Cooper describes growing up and sharing with his friends that he wanted to be a pharmacist

7:32 - Transitioning to college and his level of dedication to his studies

9:00 - Misconceptions about being a Pharmacist

10:31 - What it means spending 15 years working for someone else and using that to prepare yourself for entrepreneurship

12:28 - Becoming an entrepreneur - before becoming an entrepreneur

15:00 - Dr. Cooper describes what it’s like starting up a pharmacy

18:56 - Dr. Cooper speaks on the problem he solves as a pharmacist 

21:16 - Is information being withheld from the Black community or are we not seeking it?

22:18 - Feedback from the community 

24:35 - Did the Pandemic push him into entrepreneurship?

26:50 - Opportunities for entrepreneurship

32:04 - Making the success of your company, your focal point

34:23 - Community partnerships 

37:01 - Dr. Cooper speaks on what S.T.A.R.V.E. means to him

42:21 - J Haleem thanks Dr. Cooper for creating a business the community needs

Connect with Dr. Cooper - 

Soda City Pharmacy & Compounding

380 St. Andrews Road

Ph: 803-766-2015 

Facebook: Soda City Pharmacy & Compounding 

EPISODE DESCRIPTION - 

The party cannot start without the DJ. This week’s guest on S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk is none other than FLASH  - The Party General. In his conversation with host J Haleem, they discuss his music & entertainment roots, lessons learned from being a DJ, and which song he would choose as his theme song. This week’s episode should leave you singing, “Hey Mr. DJ…” 

SHOW NOTES - 

1:20 - J Haleem welcomes Flash to the show

2:57 - Flash shares a quote that has guided his hustle. “Keep grinding until you don’t have to introduce yourself.” Jay-Z

4:33 - NY State of Mind

7:47 - Flash speaks on the importance of being a giver

11:07 - Where the name “Flash” came from?

16:20 - Flash speaks on entertainment and entertaining and it being in his family. Belizean roots

19:00 - The beginnings of being a DJ and emceeing for Busta Rhymes and other artists

22:30 - Choosing the name “The Party General”

23:22 - Biggest misconception of being a DJ

27:46 - Flash speaks on lessons learned from being a DJ 

32:09 - The importance of loving what you do

33:42 - Best era of music: 80s/90s  

36:03 - Flash speaks on what S.T.A.R.V.E. means to him

40:47 - Flash speaks on what his personal theme song would be

44:00 - Flash gives J Haleem his flowers

47:00 - J Haleem speaks on his creative direction for S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk

50:30 - J Haleem thanks Flash for being on the show

CONNECT WITH FLASH THE PARTY GENERAL  - 

Website: https://djthepartygeneral.com

IG: @thepartygeneral 

Twitter: @thepartygeneral  

Episode Description - 

It’s a family affair. This week J Haleem sits down with a woman he considers a sister - Deitra Stover Matthews. In this episode of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk, J Haleem & Deitra talk about the importance of education, collaboration, and community. 

Show Notes - 

00:40 - J Haleem welcomes Deitra Stover Matthews to the show 

1:41 - Deitra speaks on embracing the “honest answer” to the question of how are you doing? 

2:30 -  LIVING a legacy, verses TALKING about legacy 

3:50 - Deitra speaks on the beginning of the R.A.M. Foundation 

5:00 - “If the neighbors aren’t doing well, then neither are you.” Deitra explains the psychology behind this quote 

7:14 - J Haleem asks, “What is the role education plays in the future of our community?” 

8:45 - Deitra explains that education is an economic issue 

9:57 - To improve the quality of life for children, you have to improve the quality of life for the parents

10:21 - J Haleem asks when the light will be shed on miseducation 

18:19 - The goal of the R.A.M. Foundation is to provide services all-year round 

20:10 - Difference between economy & employment 

23:23 - J Haleem shares that economics is a lifestyle 

31:00 - J asks how do we effectively protect our children going forward? 

32:56 - Deitra speaks we have to redefine what protection looks like 

35:29 - J Haleem asks how do we prevent our children from experiencing some of the issues with our past? 

43:40 - Making a different decision as parents 

48:08 - Deitra speaks on elected officials preventing real American history from being told 

50:07 - Competition and jealousy are crippling the Black community 

53:57 - When people aren’t receptive to information 

55:35 - Why we have to rewrite our DNA 

58:40 - Everybody can’t go 

59:21 - Deitra speaks on what S.T.A.R.V.E. means to her? 

67:38 - What is a real win? 

68:33 - Deitra speaks on what collaboration means to her and the part it plays in our future

Episode Description - 

We are back for Part II of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk with J Haleem and De’Etra Pickett. In this episode continuation, J Haleem and De’Etra take a deeper dive into her entrepreneurial journey, why she chose not to put her children’s father on child support, and the greatest lesson she’s learned as a single mom. 

Show Notes - 

00:50 - J Haleem welcomes De’Etra back to the show

1:17 - De’Etra shares a recent experience with Lala Anthony 

3:00 - De’Etra & J Haleem discuss women & surgery 

8:23 - Her daughter as an independent 

10:47 - Choosing not to put her kids father on child support

13:05 - J Haleem shares on Black men & women being at odds

14:04 - De’Etra shares wisdom, “Be careful of what you say.”

21:22 - The greatest lesson learned as a single mom

30:34 - De’Etra further explains her reasoning of not putting her children’s father on child support

34:30 - J Haleem shares that Black men need to do a better job of protecting Black women

38:44 - De’Etra shares how she manages multiple businesses

39:36 - Being “The Business Psychic”

41:16 - Knowing when to walk away from ideas

47:26 - Being a mom is her first job

51:37 - Self-care as an entrepreneur

54:21 - De’Etra shares what the next five years looks like for her

58:00 - J Haleem thanks De’Etra for being on the show 

Episode Description: 

This week’s guest on S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk is De’Etra Pickett with Community & Connections Chat Podcast. In this episode, she talks about not succumbing to inner-city life growing up in Newark, NJ, why she honors & respects the Black man, and her journey to entrepreneurship. It was so nice, we had to do it twice! Stay tuned for part two. 

Show Notes: 

3:34 - J Haleem Welcomes De’Etra to the Show

5:00 - De’Etra shares her experience growing up as a fan in the WuTang era

8:16 - Growing up in Newark, NJ and not falling victim to the inner-city life, but choosing 

          a path that led to college

10:36 - Talking to her children and sharing her experiences in school 

14:39 - Graduating from college (political science & criminal justice)

16:57 - Finding a job after college & wanting to be an FBI agent, but pursuing social 

Work

20:43 - De’Etra shares the process to becoming a foster parent

25:09 - De’Etra advises that interested foster parents check with their state requirements

26:04 - At what point did she decide to become an entrepreneur 

32:54 - De’Etra speaks on the inspiration for her podcast coming from a Black man

37:17 - J Haleem speaks on the need of us breaking the stereotype about Black men not wanting to help Black women

38:53 - Behind every good man is a good woman

40:00 - It’s okay to have a feminine side

45:19 - The dangers of micromanagement 

47:54 - Why is having a job important? 

50:34 - The importance of on-the-job training

52:06 - Have something to fall back on 

55:25 - Starting a courier service as a side hustle 

56:29 - De’Etra shares one of her favorite testimonial 

59:48 - Sacrifices of business 

STAY TUNED FOR PART II

Connect with De’Etra: 

IG: @sheba_baby_diamondee

Episode Description: 

Vanessa Vizard is President and CEO of Vizard Marketing and PR, specializing in creating campaigns in the healthcare and nonprofit industry. In this episode of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk, Vanessa sits down with host J Haleem and speaks on her experiences as a woman in business, pivoting through the pandemic, and her mantra, “With God all things are possible.” 

Show Notes: 

00:51- J Haleem welcomes Vanessa to the show

2:26 - Vanessa speaks on her experience as a woman in business 

5:32 - Vanessa shares the tools she learned from past experience 

7:28 - What has been her best past on the job training? 

9:31 - Transitioning into full-time entrepreneurship 

12:06 - As someone who took the leap, would she encourage a friend to do the same 

14:04 - What has been her children’s growth as an entrepreneur mom?

16:20 - Our children are more resilient than we think 

19:06 - People will use any excuse to get out of doing something 

19:36 - Vanessa speaks on the biggest misconception in the PR industry 

23:14 - Which area of PR does she enjoy the most

25:01 - As a nonprofit PR firm, Vanessa speaks on how their budget constraints can impact their visibility 

27:50 - The importance of mastery

30:40 - Pivoting into Pandemic

32:48 - Selling fences through COVID. Bouncing back from 2020

35:00 - It’s important to tell the “story” of entrepreneurship. It is not easy. 

37:04 - Vanessa speaks to her mantra, “Through God all things are possible.” 

38:15 - What S.T.A.R.V.E. Means to her? 

41:58 - Deciphering what’s for you 

44:53 - Get out of your own way 

Connect with Vanessa 

Website: https://vizardpr.com

IG: @vizardmarketingandpr 

Ph: 1-951-533-6180

Episode Description: 

Danielle Rowley, is no stranger to conducting business nationally and internationally. She has lived in South Korea, and other countries making a living and a name for herself in the world of business communications. In this episode of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk, Danielle sits down with host, J Haleem and they discuss her career as an entrepreneur, her experience as a woman in tech, and English as the language of international business. 

Show Notes:

00:51 - J Haleem welcomes Danielle to the show

1:55 - Danielle speaks on the point when she decided to be an entrepreneur 

3:30 - Danielle shares her experience of working internationally 

4:44 - Danielle describes coming back to the US and what that transition was like for her

6:16 - Getting direct and to the point 

9:43 - Danielle speaks on the moment she decided to have children 

13:53 - Sacrificing her vision for her husband

18:13 - Danielle speaks on whether she believes her children are proud of her  

22:30 - “Being successful by helping other people succeed.”

25:18 - Why training should be aligned to your goals

26:41 - Why are people putting their passion over their skillset? The importance of focusing on your customer’s needs

29:23 - Discipline makes you do what you’re supposed to do 

31:04 - Danielle introduces her software app, bizPROFI 

31:55 - When she decided to add the D.I.S.C. assessment to her app

34:08 - The importance of focusing on the situation and the goal of the person in that situation. Taking a more situation-based approach. 

35:13 - Danielle answers the question of whether or not she believes there is still a communication gap in international business 

39:12 - Danielle speaks on testing her product in the development stage 

41:00 - Has she experienced bias as a woman in tech 

42:08 - The power of femininity 

43:28 - Doing business with men

45:21 - Dolly Parton as the ephemeral woman 

48:06 - Product development is redevelopment 

51:17 - Danielle speaks on what STARVE means to her 

54:27 - What’s next for bizPROFI? 

57:59 - J Haleem thanks Danielle for being on the show 

Episode Description: 

Have you ever thought about living abroad? If so, in which country would you reside? This week’s guest on S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk made his home in South Korea and has never looked back. Meet Phil, “The Blerd Explorer.” Blerd, (Black nerd), is not only embracing living abroad, but is now on a personal mission to help others live an Ex-Pat lifestyle. In this episode of S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk, The Blerd Explorer, shares with host J Haleem, his background in travel, the hardships he’s experienced since moving to South Korea, and why more minorities need to travel and leave their city and state. 

Show Notes: 

1:37 - J Haleem welcomes Phil, “The Blerd Explorer,” to S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk 

2:03 - The Blerd Explorer shares his back story of getting into traveling and being inspired by a show on The Cartoon Network 

4:22 - Recounting his 1st trip to S. Korea 

5:12 - After visiting S. Korea, The Blerd Explorer shared what made him want to travel to other countries 

5:54 - The Blerd Explorer shares more on why he chose to write a book for Black people to travel 

7:27 - The Blerd Explorer shares the benefit of encouraging Black people not only to visit, but live in S. Korea 

8:07 -Seoul is an “underrated” city according to The Blerd Explorer, but it has many benefits and features 

9:36 - J Haleem shares an idea with The Blerd Explorer about interacting more with the American military 

10:18 - The Blerd Explorer shares the top three hardships he endured by moving to Seoul 

11:45 - Success as a first-time author 

13:54 - The Blerd Explorer answers an important question, is Korean fried chicken the same as American?

14:58 - The Blerd Explorer shares the approach to his second book, which was to include stories of other Black people living in S. Korea 

17:42 - Launching a business in South Korea 

19:35 - Why most Americans will never leave their city or state 

20:45 - Navigating coming back to the States 

22:43 - Having a stronger peace of mind living abroad 

24:27 - Encouraging others to take the risk & explore the world 

26:07 - Opportunities African-Americans can take advantage of in their jobs & careers

27:30 - Managing COVID in S. Korea

30:07 - Where did the name “The Blerd Explorer,” came from? 

30:49 - Is it now cool to be a “nerd?” 

32:18 - The Blerd Explorer speaks on the content he’s creating

33:18 - Where did The Blerd Explorer’s name come from? 

34:30 - What S.T.A.R.V.E. Talk means to him?

35:36 - The process of book publishing internationally

Connect with The Blerd Explorer 

IG - @theblerdexplorer 

TikTok - @theblerdexplorer