Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jotaka Eaddy.

An award-winning strategist and advocate, founder of Win With Black Women (WWBW)—a collective of over 200,000 Black women leaders.

Key Highlights from the Interview: 🎙️ Opening Message

• Rushion emphasizes the importance of living your own success story and introduces the show’s mission to inspire and educate.

👩🏾‍💼 Guest Introduction: Jotaka Eaddy

• First Black woman student body president at the University of South Carolina.
• Founder of WWBW, which aims to uplift Black women in leadership, politics, and business.
• Works to bridge the gap between Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley.

🌍 Win With Black Women (WWBW)

• Originated during the 2020 election cycle in response to sexist and racist attacks on potential Black female VP candidates.
• Focuses on:
  1. Combating racism and sexism.
  2. Supporting Black women in elections.
  3. Elevating the economic and cultural power of Black women.
• Organized impactful initiatives like theater buyouts for The Little Mermaid to demonstrate economic influence.

💡 On Leadership and Identity

• Jotaka reflects on her upbringing in rural South Carolina and the influence of her late mother and community.
• She discusses the importance of representation, mentorship, and self-belief.
• Emphasizes that leadership is not just about position but about empowering others and evolving daily.

💻 Bridging to Silicon Valley

• Shares her journey into tech, overcoming imposter syndrome, and becoming a C-suite executive.
• Advocates for demystifying tech careers for Black communities and creating inclusive opportunities.

🧠 Perception vs. Reality

• Addresses stereotypes about Black women and contrasts them with data: Black women are the most educated demographic and fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S.

💬 Closing Thoughts

• Rashawn praises Jotaka’s motivational presence and impact.
• Jotaka shares her commitment to living a life that uplifts others.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Loni Love.

Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, and author. The conversation centers around her memoir, I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To, and offers a rich blend of personal storytelling, cultural insight, and motivational wisdom.

📘 About the Memoir

Title: I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To
Tone: Comedic, honest, emotional, and empowering
Purpose: To share Loni’s journey from the Detroit projects to Hollywood, while inspiring readers to embrace their authentic selves.

🌟 Key Themes & Highlights 🏙️ Early Life & Upbringing

• Grew up in the Brewster Projects in Detroit.
• Raised by a strong community of Black women, including her mother, babysitter Miss Brooks (a Jehovah’s Witness), and other influential women like her Girl Scout leader and Miss Fever.
• Emphasizes the importance of the “village” in shaping her values and resilience.

🎓 Education & HBCU Experience

• Attended Prairie View A&M University (an HBCU), where she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
• Credits her college experience and sorority sisters for bailing her out of jail during a pivotal moment in her youth.
• Studied electrical engineering and later worked at General Motors before transitioning into entertainment.

😂 Humor & Hardship

• The memoir balances levity with serious topics like racism, wrongful arrest, and self-doubt.
• Chapter 8, where she’s thrown in jail for trespassing, is highlighted as both hilarious and eye-opening.
• Each chapter ends with a joke to bring levity to even the darkest moments.

💪 Empowerment & Mentorship

• Encourages readers to trust themselves and not conform to others’ expectations.
• Discusses the importance of mentorship and how someone saw potential in her beyond her factory job.
• Shares how Rushion McDonald personally mentored her during a difficult time in her TV career.

🎭 Career & Creativity

• Talks about her journey into comedy, acting, and co-hosting The Real.
• Reflects on her first film role in Soul Plane and the realities of the entertainment industry.
• Advocates for journaling and documenting personal history, especially for Black voices.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “This is a love letter to my fans.”
• “If you feel hopeless, if you need some inspiration… understand that you are from a strong stock of people.”
• “We have to share our stories to show them the experiences that we've come through.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tiffani Neal. 

Founder of Barlow’s Foods. Here's a detailed summary of the key themes and takeaways from this episode:

🥞 Guest Spotlight: Tiffany Neal, Founder of Barlow’s Foods 🚀 From Corporate Sales to Pancake Mix

• Tiffany transitioned from a corporate sales career to launching a food brand from her home kitchen.
• The idea sparked when friends raved about her homemade pancakes, prompting her to explore turning it into a business.

🧁 The Birth of Barlow’s

• Named after her grandfather, whose photo inspired the brand name.
• Started by testing pancake mix recipes and packaging them in ice cream pint containers for friends and family.
• Positive feedback (except from one friend!) encouraged her to refine the product and move forward.

🛒 Product Line & Expansion 🥞 Barlow’s 3-in-1 Mix

• One mix, three uses: pancakes, waffles, and biscuits.
• Vegan-friendly base—no dairy or animal byproducts.
• Just add milk, egg, and butter (or alternatives) to prepare.

🍯 Syrup Line

• Started with a homemade peach cobbler syrup that won the Flavor of Georgia 2023 Product of the Year.
• Now includes seven syrups, such as:
  • Peach Cobbler (flagship)
  • Strawberry Bourbon
  • Blueberry Lemon
  • Sweet Potato
  • Gingerbread
  • Maple (imported from Canada)
• Seasonal flavors rotate throughout the year.

🏪 Retail Growth & Strategy 🛍️ From Trunk Sales to Store Shelves

• Began selling out of her car and at local farmer’s markets.
• Entered contests to gain exposure—winning Flavor of Georgia led to a deal with Fresh Market.
• Now in 45+ Food Lion stores across Georgia and expanding.

📦 Packaging & Branding

• Designed to be bold and nostalgic, with a red label and illustrated pancake stack.
• Packaging is intentionally clear to help customers easily identify the product.

🧠 Business Insights & Advice 🛠️ Operations & Manufacturing

• Recently expanded to a larger production facility.
• Works with UGA and food scientists to ensure quality and compliance.
• Handles everything from production to in-store demos and staff training.

👥 Team Building

• Focuses on hiring people who are passionate about startups and flexible with evolving processes.
• Emphasizes the importance of documentation and clear expectations.

📈 Keys to Success

• “Do the work.” Tiffany credits her success to hard work, focus, and persistence.
• Believes in setting goals and taking consistent action to achieve them.

🌍 Vision for the Future

• Tiffany aims to make Barlow’s a global pantry staple and a legacy brand that evokes nostalgia and family tradition.

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Coach Gregory Green.

Head men’s and women’s tennis coach and REACH advisor at Tuskegee University. Here's a summary of the key themes and highlights:

🎙️ Guest: Coach Gregory Green

• Former college football player and coach at schools like Alabama State, Kentucky State, Savannah State, and UAB.
• Currently coaching tennis at Tuskegee University and mentoring student-athletes.

🧠 Key Topics Discussed 🏈 NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and College Athletics

• NIL has transformed college sports, allowing athletes to earn money through endorsements and sponsorships.
• Power Five schools (like Ohio State and Michigan) have massive NIL collectives, sometimes offering millions to high school recruits.
• HBCUs and smaller programs are participating but on a smaller financial scale.
• NIL deals are often driven by alumni and corporate partnerships.

🔁 Transfer Portal

• Explained as a tool for athletes to transfer schools without sitting out a year.
• While it offers flexibility, it also raises concerns about commitment, development, and long-term planning.
• Athletes risk losing scholarships if they enter the portal without securing a new opportunity.

🎾 Tuskegee Tennis Program

• Coach Green leads a successful program with high academic and athletic performance.
• His teams have won championships and maintained top GPAs in the region.
• Emphasizes holistic development—athletics, academics, and career readiness.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mentorship & Parental Advice

• Encourages parents to let student-athletes make their own college decisions.
• Stresses the importance of attitude and effort as the only two things athletes can control.
• Advocates for intrinsic motivation and resilience in the face of adversity.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kem.

Platinum-selling R&B artist, author of Share My Life

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To explore Kem’s memoir Share My Life, which chronicles his journey from addiction and homelessness to musical success and personal healing. The interview aims to inspire listeners by highlighting the power of vulnerability, perseverance, and self-transformation.

🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Healing Through Storytelling

Kem wrote Share My Life to help others heal, just as others’ stories helped him:

“Any healing and transformation that I have experienced… is because somebody shared their story with me.”

2. Overcoming Self

Kem emphasizes that the biggest obstacle in life is often oneself:

“All of life is about overcoming self… My biggest problem has always been me.”

3. Family Dynamics & Silence

Kem discusses the generational silence in his family and how it shaped his emotional struggles:

“We didn’t talk about stuff… You’re left to fend for yourself emotionally, spiritually and psychologically.”

4. Addiction & Recovery

Kem’s sobriety began on July 23, 1990, marking a turning point in his life:

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears… I surrendered.”

5. Entrepreneurial Hustle

Kem self-funded his breakout album Chemistry using a $17,000 American Express loan:

“I figured this will either work or I’ll have the largest credit card bill in America.”

He learned the music business in real time—creating barcodes, consignment sheets, and selling CDs in local stores.

6. Letting Go to Move Forward

Kem found success when he stopped obsessing over getting a record deal:

“I didn’t stop making music, but I let go of the idea that this was the only thing I could do.”

7. Fatherhood & Growth

He reflects on fatherhood, relationships, and the ongoing process of aligning his life:

“I’m always in the process of lining my life up… It’s not a place where you arrive.”

8. Education & Redemption

Kem returned to earn his high school diploma after dropping out, choosing that path over the GED:

“It was always a point of shame… I may as well go back to school.”

💬 Notable Quotes

• On vulnerability:

“In the telling of my story to help others, I’m also helping myself.”

• On entrepreneurship:

“Entrepreneurship is doing the next right thing.”

• On music’s role:

“My music is therapeutic… It’s uplifting, emotional, motivational.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Katrice Miller.

A nationally recognized labor relations expert and career coach. The conversation explores her journey from federal government service to corporate leadership, her insights on labor law, personal branding, and how individuals can navigate layoffs, negotiate salaries, and build resilient careers.

👩🏾‍💼 About Katrice Miller

• Labor Relations Counsel at Starbucks
• Former Director of HR Compliance at Microsoft
• Over 25 years of experience in labor relations across government and corporate sectors
• Founder of CorporateWinners.com, a career and business coaching platform
• Former federal employee with the U.S. Department of Labor

💡 Key Themes & Takeaways⚖️ Labor Relations vs. Human Resources

• Labor relations focuses on compliance with labor laws and maintaining fair employer-employee relationships
• HR is broader, covering benefits, PTO, and general employee support
• Emphasizes proactive compliance and consistency in workplace practices

📉 Layoffs & Downsizing

• Advocates for transparency and consistency during layoffs
• Encourages employers to treat employees with dignity and follow both legal and internal policies
• Advises employees to separate their identity from their job and focus on personal brand resilience

💼 Personal Branding & LinkedIn

• Personal brand should reflect your value, not just your job title
• LinkedIn is a powerful tool for visibility, networking, and showcasing skills
• Encourages employees to build their brand even if their current job doesn’t align with their long-term goals

💰 Salary Negotiation & Career Growth

• Keep a running file of accomplishments to support salary discussions
• Always counteroffer with research-based reasoning
• Negotiation is a conversation, not a confrontation

🎯 Coaching & Empowerment

• Offers affordable coaching programs launching July 1 via CorporateWinners.com
• Focuses on helping clients build sustainable careers, not just find jobs
• Provides templates, interview prep, and 24/7 support for job seekers

🧠 Mindset & Motivation

• Encourages clarity, confidence, courage, and calm during career transitions
• Advises against panic-driven job applications
• Promotes self-assessment and strategic pivots for those unhappy in their current roles

🌐 Vision for the Future

• Aims to scale her coaching impact through online programs
• Seeks to empower more professionals, especially those affected by layoffs, with tools for career resilience

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strawberry Letter, heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Friday, August 29th, 2025. Subject: "My Boss Wants To Whip Me"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Lauren Elrod.

Topic: Entrepreneurship, diversity in entertainment, safety in production, and personal resilience.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To spotlight Ashley Elrod’s journey as a creative entrepreneur and advocate for diversity, safety, and inclusion in the entertainment industry. The conversation also aims to inspire listeners to pursue their own paths with integrity and adaptability.

🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Visionary Leadership

Ashley defines being a visionary as leading with purpose and merging creativity with healing and impact.

“Being able to merge things together that make sense, to be able to actually help to heal the world.”

2. Entrepreneurial Drive

Ashley founded A Visionary Woman Productions in college, driven by a lack of business education in creative programs. Her journey reflects resilience and self-taught growth.

“It kind of happened overnight… people asking me like, all right, what do you charge for XYZ?”

3. Challenges for Black Entrepreneurs

She discusses the reality of racial bias and the need for constant self-promotion and excellence.

“People can define my work, define my ability to fund a project or complete a project.”

4. Adaptability in Business

Ashley’s career evolved from consultations to casting, directing, and production design. She emphasizes the importance of pivoting with industry changes.

“I’ve always had to pivot in every single season of my business.”

5. Safety & Advocacy

Ashley is passionate about protecting young talent and ensuring safe, inclusive sets. She stresses contract literacy and parental involvement.

“Make sure you are knowledgeable of these contracts and what you are signing and going into.”

6. DEI in Casting & Content

She critiques tokenism and colorism in media and advocates for authentic representation, even at the cost of losing clients.

“People are looking for actual authenticity in these films… I never heard from them again.”

7. Age & Opportunity

Ashley shares her father’s late-in-life success in modeling and acting, encouraging older adults to pursue creative careers.

“My dad is now 74… had the best six years anyone could have had at that age.”

8. Secrets to Success

Her advice centers on adaptability, financial literacy, and creating independent opportunities.

“Always being available and adaptable to the pivots of life… learn how to be smart with your finances.”

💬 Notable Quotes

• “If you lose the job, so be it. Morals and values are a thing in this industry.”
• “We should be in a position where [diverse casting] is acceptable beyond just Denzel Washington.”
• “Never let age be an excuse.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strawberry Letter, heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Thursday, August 28th, 2025. Subject: "I'm Not As Strong As I Think I Am"

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Paul Dashefsky.

Serial entrepreneur and founder of Maxwell, a platform focused on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), also known as tiny homes:

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To educate listeners on the growing trend of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), their practical uses, legal considerations, and how platforms like Maxwell help homeowners navigate the process of building or buying tiny homes—especially in light of new options like Amazon’s prefab homes.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

1. What Are ADUs?

   • Formerly known as tiny homes or granny flats, ADUs are small, secondary housing units built on residential properties.
   • They range from 150 to 1200 square feet and serve various purposes: rentals, studios, housing for aging parents, or personal retreats.

2. Growing Popularity

   • Driven by housing shortages and affordability issues, especially in states like California.
   • Governments are easing restrictions to allow more ADUs to be built, including San Diego’s initiative to allow unlimited ADUs if they’re affordable.

3. Use Cases

   • Rental income
   • Housing for retirees or aging parents
   • Studios (music, yoga), guest houses, or nanny quarters

4. Amazon’s Entry

   • Amazon now sells prefab two-story tiny homes under \$50,000.
   • While appealing, buyers must understand the additional costs and logistics: foundation, utilities, permits, and construction.

5. Legal & Practical Considerations

   • ADUs must be permitted and built to code to be safe and legally rentable.
   • Homeowners should consult their city’s building department before starting.
   • A certificate of occupancy is required for someone to legally live in the unit.

6. Maxwell Platform

   • Offers resources, videos, and guidance for anyone interested in building or buying ADUs.
   • Helps users find reliable contractors and understand the full scope of building an ADU.

7. Impact on Property Value

   • ADUs generally increase property value by adding rentable living space.
   • They are a viable wealth-building strategy through real estate investment.

8. Social Impact

   • ADUs could be a solution to homelessness by providing affordable housing options.
   • Cities like San Diego are already exploring this potential.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “You’re not building a Lego kit here.” — Paul Dashefsky on the complexity of constructing ADUs
• “There’s no success without sacrifice.” — Rushion McDonald, echoing the theme of entrepreneurship
• “Go down to your building department at your city and ask them what guidelines they have.” — Paul’s advice on starting an ADU project
• “If you invest in real estate… that’s a great way to build wealth.” — Paul on the financial benefits of ADUs
• “I wish America would look at the possibilities of seeing what ADUs can do for the homeless community.” — Rushion McDonald on the social potential of tiny homes

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.