The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Subject: "If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It"

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025. Subject: "Should I Tell Her That We're Sharing Him?"

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

A full-time attorney turned baker and founder of Confectionist Bakery.

Here are some key highlights from the episode:

🎙️ Guest Background

• Monty Garside is a practicing attorney with over 20 years of experience in litigation.
• He founded Confectionist Bakery in honor of his grandmother, Ruth Ilene Burns Garside.
• The bakery started in his home kitchen and now ships desserts nationwide.

🍰 Bakery Journey

• Inspired by nostalgia and family traditions, Monty began baking after his grandmother passed away.
• His first successful cake was a pound cake that tasted exactly like his grandmother’s.
• He was encouraged to start a business by a client who was the daughter of a professional baker.

🧁 Products & Flavors

• Specializes in cheesecakes, pound cakes, layer cakes, and pies.
• Unique flavors include:
  • Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
  • Amaretto Pound Cake
  • Banana Pudding Layer Cake
  • Sweet Potato Pound Cake

🚚 Shipping & Operations

• Operates out of a commercial kitchen in Atlanta.
• Cakes are wrapped and frozen for freshness and shipped nationwide.
• Orders typically take 2 days to process and 3–5 days for delivery.

💡 Business Insights

• Challenges included pricing products appropriately and managing holiday demand.
• Emphasizes the importance of:
  • Quality product
  • Excellent customer service
  • Knowing your target audience
• Target customers are busy professionals who appreciate homemade, Southern-style desserts but lack the time or skill to make them.

📈 Advice for Entrepreneurs

1. Don’t be afraid to try something new.
2. Control what you can—especially product quality and customer service.
3. Trust yourself through the ups and downs.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Monday, July 14th, 2025. Subject: "I'm Stuck Between A Brother And A Sister"

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Reverend Dr.  Adrienne Booth Johnson and Attorney Bill Green.

• Reverend Dr. Adrienne Booth Johnson – Advocate for women’s empowerment in Ghana.
• Attorney Bill Green – Her son, now Executive Director of the Southeast Chapter of The Common Market, a nonprofit supporting local farmers.

🌍 Major Themes

 1. Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship

• Dr. Johnson has helped create over 300 women entrepreneurs in Ghana.
• Her initiative, “Will You Bra”, teaches women to make and sell reusable sanitary pads, helping girls stay in school.

2. Legacy and Leadership

• Bill Green attributes his success to his mother’s intentionality and leadership.
• He transitioned from a corporate career (Coca-Cola, grocery retail) to nonprofit work, driven by a spiritual calling.

3. Support for Black Farmers

• Green’s work with The Common Market helps Black farmers in the Southeast U.S. access institutional markets (e.g., Morehouse, Emory).
• He highlights the decline in Black-owned farmland from 14% in the 1920s to just 0.4% today.

4. Faith and Purpose

• Both guests emphasize the role of faith in guiding their life choices.
• Dr. Johnson speaks about overcoming societal expectations and following divine purpose.

5. Family and Community

• The mother-son dynamic is central to the episode, showcasing mutual respect and shared mission.
• Rashawn McDonald also shares personal reflections on family, purpose, and legacy.

💡 Notable Quotes

• “When God gives you a vision, He’ll also give you the provision.” – Rev. Dr. Johnson
• “This is my role in the civil rights movement.” – Bill Green, on supporting Black farmers
• “Lead with your gifts and keep winning.” – Rushion McDonald

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

A clean design and wellness expert. 

🎙️ Main Themes

• Clean Design Philosophy: Robin emphasizes creating allergen-aware, eco-friendly, and sustainable home environments.
• Health and Wellness: She discusses how indoor allergens—especially from pillows, bedding, and clothing—can significantly impact asthma and allergy sufferers.
• Personal Stories: Rushion shares his own struggles with allergies and how small changes, like replacing a pillow, dramatically improved his health.
• Practical Tips:
  • Take off shoes and outerwear at the door.
  • Wash hands and change clothes after being outside.
  • Replace pillows every 3 years and wash protectors regularly.
  • Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives like toothpaste and baking soda.

🛏️ Robin’s Book: Clean Design – Wellness for Your Lifestyle

• A room-by-room guide to reducing allergens and toxins.
• Includes practical advice and beautiful imagery from her design work.
• Inspired by her personal experience with asthma and allergies.

🛍️ Retail Presence

• Robin’s brand, Clean Design Home, is available at Macy’s, Belk, and Bed Bah and Beyond.
• Focused on being the top allergen-aware lifestyle brand.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

Founder of Jus' Free, a parole package provider. Here are some key highlights and themes from the conversation:

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. From Incarceration to Inspiration

• Dominique Leonard was sentenced to life in prison for a non-aggravated robbery.
• He discovered that “life” sentences can vary, and his was eligible for parole after 5.5 to 6 years.
• He was denied parole initially, which led him to take control of his own legal journey.

2. Birth of “Jus' Free”

• After being denied parole, Dominique created his own parole package with the help of his family.
• He realized many inmates are unaware of how they are presented to the parole board.
• This inspired him to found Jus' Free, a service that helps inmates humanize themselves through custom parole packages.

3. Faith, Family, and Redemption

• Dominique credits his faith and family for his transformation.
• He emphasizes that making a bad decision doesn’t make someone a bad person.
• His story is a testament to second chances and the power of self-advocacy.

4. Entrepreneurial Journey

• After release, he started with humble jobs and gradually built Just Free into a business.
• He took a paralegal course to deepen his legal knowledge.
• He began by contacting inmates directly and now boasts an 82% success rate in helping clients secure parole.

5. Impact and Legacy

• Dominique’s work not only helps inmates but also supports their families.
• His story is a reminder of the importance of empathy, support systems, and believing in redemption.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Welcome to Pretty Private with Eboné—the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. Every Tuesday, we explore the untold experiences of women of color who’ve faced it all—childhood trauma, addiction, abuse, incarceration, grief, mental health struggles, and more—and found the strength to make it to the other side. Hosted by your favorite Professional Homegirl, Eboné delivers raw, unfiltered conversations that inspire, empower, and remind you that healing begins with being heard. What sets Pretty Private apart ... Anonymity. Guests share their truth without fear of judgment—free to speak openly in a space created just for them. From survivors and sex workers to professionals and cultural change makers, these powerful interviews will shift your perspective and speak to your soul. Pretty Private isn’t just a podcast—it’s your personal guide for turning storylines into lifelines.

Listen here and subscribe to Pretty Private with Eboné on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Friday, July 11th, 2025. Subject: "My Mama Versus My Wife"

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

Founder of Full Bloom.

Here’s a breakdown of the key themes and takeaways:

🌸 About Full Bloom

• Mission: To help people “bloom into their best selves” through self-discovery, journaling, and affirmations.
• Origin: Born during the pandemic when Parris began sharing motivational content on TikTok.
• Name Meaning: Inspired by plants — just like them, people need the right environment and care to thrive.

📓 The Product: Guided Journal

• Title: Back to Me: The Journey Back to Self
• Format: Available in both hardcover and digital.
• Content: 365+ daily prompts and space for affirmations to encourage reflection, self-awareness, and personal growth.
• Purpose: Helps users explore their identity, values, relationships, and goals.

🎭 Parris’ Background

• Former professional dancer and actress in Los Angeles.
• Toured internationally and appeared in commercials and TV shows.
• Transitioned from entertainment to entrepreneurship after facing industry frustrations and seeking more control over her path.

💡 Entrepreneurial Insights

• Started with no formal business plan or funding — bootstrapped using personal savings.
• Faced rejection from banks but turned it into a strength by maintaining full ownership.
• Built a loyal community through authenticity and vulnerability on social media.
• Key to success: Quality product + genuine connection with audience.

💬 Quotes That Resonate

• “Sometimes all you have to do is just start.”
• “If we’re not in the right environment, we’re not going to thrive.”
• “People are looking for real people they can relate to.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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