Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Chef Kevin Bludso.

Here’s a summary of MMCMC Script File 18, an episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rushion McDonald, featuring special guest Kevin Bledsoe, founder of Bledsoe’s Barbecue and a two-time Hoodie Award winner.

🔥 Key Topics Discussed 1. The Hoodie Awards Legacy

• Kevin credits the Hoodie Awards for launching his national visibility.
• Describes the experience as “life-changing,” giving pride and validation to small business owners.
• Emphasizes how the awards brought community recognition, celebrity exposure, and lasting friendships.

2. Bledsoe’s Barbecue Journey

• Originated in Compton, CA, with family BBQ roots in Corsicana, TX.
• Now an international brand with locations in Los Angeles, San Antonio, and even Melbourne, Australia.
• Known for slow-smoked meats, authentic Southern sides, and consistent quality.

3. Celebrity Support & Customer Experience

• Celebrities frequent Bledsoe’s, but Kevin emphasizes treating everyone with respect.
• Consistency in food and service is key: “Every plate looks immaculate.”
• Rushion shares personal stories of bringing military and corporate guests to the restaurant.

4. Television Career

• Kevin’s TV debut came unexpectedly via a producer who overheard him joking in the kitchen.
• Became a regular on Bar Rescue and now stars on Netflix’s American Barbecue Showdown.
• His authenticity and humor made him a standout personality.

5. Philanthropy & Community Impact

• Bledsoe’s has paid for funerals, provided scholarships, and supported local causes.
• Kevin believes in giving back: “I don’t give to be blessed. I’m blessed, so I give.”
• Emphasizes the importance of teamwork, community, and uplifting others.

6. Entrepreneurship Real Talk

• Warns aspiring entrepreneurs: “Owning a business is the hardest job you’ll ever have.”
• Shares his early grind—working 24-hour days between BBQ and DJ gigs.
• Encourages building a strong team and trusting the process.

7. Civic Engagement

• Passionate about voting rights and Black empowerment.
• Urges listeners to vote in person and stay informed about political and social issues.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “I don’t give to be blessed. I’m blessed, so I give.”
• “Are you ready to go eight years without a day off?”
• “The Hoodie Awards made us feel like celebrities—like we mattered.”
• “You need fans in the stands. That’s called customers.”
• “If I’m making it and my people aren’t, then I’m not making it.”

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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

The founder and artistic director of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective. This episode blends art, activism, education, and cultural preservation through the lens of Black history and dance.

Here are the key highlights:

🎭 About Stacey Allen

• Founder of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective, a professional dance company focused on art and wellness through the lens of Black women and girls.
• Author of two children’s books, including:
  • A Little Optimism Goes a Long Way (introduces children to Katherine Dunham)
  • D is for Dance and for the Diaspora (A–Z guide to African diaspora dance styles)
• Recipient of the 2024 Children’s Publication Award from the National Association of Multicultural Education.

🩰 Dance as Activism

• Stacy uses dance to tell stories of African American history, identity, and empowerment.
• Her performances are rooted in education, cultural preservation, and social justice.
• She emphasizes that dance is not just performance—it’s a tool for healing, storytelling, and activism.

🌍 Cultural Legacy & Freedom Colonies

• Stacy’s work includes performances like The Fairy Tale Project, which tells the love story of the founders of the Sankofa Freedom Colony in Texas.
• She collaborates with the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, which documents over 500 historically Black settlements in Texas.
• These colonies were founded by formerly enslaved people post-emancipation and are often overlooked in mainstream history.

🌊 Emotional Pilgrimage

• Stacy shares her transformative experience visiting Gorée Island in Senegal, a major slave port, and draws parallels to Galveston, Texas, where Juneteenth originated.
• She reflects on the emotional weight of visiting ancestral lands and how it informs her art and mission.

📚 Educational Mission

• Through her books, performances, and workshops (including in juvenile detention centers), Stacy educates youth and communities about Black history and identity.
• She believes that knowing your history empowers your future.

📣 How to Connect with Stacy

• Website: www.niasdaughters.com
• Instagram: @niasdaughters
• Facebook: Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective

💬 Rushion’s Reflections

• Rushion expresses deep admiration for Stacy’s passion and educational impact.
• He emphasizes the importance of sharing her work widely, especially the history of Texas Freedom Colonies, which he compares to the Underground Railroad in significance.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Friday, December 12th, 2025. Subject: "So What I Burned a Few Things"

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

Purpose of the Interview

• To showcase Sharise Nance’s mission in mental health advocacy, entrepreneurship, and workplace wellness.
• To discuss her companies:
  • Hand in Hand Counseling Services – addressing mental health disparities in Black communities.
  • Vitamin C Healing – building trauma-sensitive, wellness-centered workplace cultures.
• To educate on stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, and financial equity in the mental health field.

Key Takeaways

1. Hand in Hand Counseling Services

   • Founded with college roommate Tess Kenny in Pittsburgh.
   • Created a safe space for mental health support in underserved communities.
   • Celebrating 12 years in operation.

2. Breaking Mental Health Stigma

   • Built trust through community presence and transparency.
   • Advocated therapy as normal: “I’m a therapist who has a therapist.”
   • Education on what therapy is and isn’t.

3. Understanding Stress

   • Eustress (positive stress) vs. Distress (overwhelming stress).
   • Physical signs: sweating, rapid heartbeat, tense shoulders, jaw clenching.
   • Stress can lead to depression and anxiety—seek professional help.

4. Impact of COVID-19

   • Isolation amplified mental health issues.
   • Introduced concept of co-regulation—healing through community and connection.

5. Vitamin C Healing

   • Originated from her book Vitamin C Healing for the Mind, Body.
   • Evolved into a brand offering workshops, consultations, and burnout assessments.
   • Focused on helping professionals and leaders prevent compassion fatigue.

6. Financial Equity in Mental Health

   • Advocates for fair pay: “We can care deeply and earn abundantly.”
   • Challenges the mindset that passion work means low income.
   • Encourages professionals to set boundaries and value their expertise.

7. Burnout & Organizational Cost

   • Unaddressed burnout costs companies millions annually.
   • Leads to quiet quitting, low productivity, and high turnover.
   • Investing in wellness saves money and improves culture.

8. Personal Journey

   • Biggest bet: leaving full-time job in 2017 to pursue entrepreneurship.
   • Therapy helped her navigate fear and grief (especially after losing her father).
   • Quote: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

Notable Quotes

• “We can care deeply and earn abundantly.”
• “I’m a therapist who has a therapist.”
• “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
• “We heal when we are in community—it’s hard to heal in isolation.”
• “Compassion fatigue isn’t just a feel-good topic; it costs companies millions.”
• “Betting on myself was the best investment I ever made.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMI

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Thursday, December 11th, 2025. Subject: "He Needs New Underwear"

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

Also known as The Income Coach. Here's a detailed summary of the episode:

🎙️ Guest: Steve Selengut

• Veteran private investment manager with over 40 years of experience.
• Author of Retirement Money Secrets, his second book.
• Focuses on helping people achieve income independence through smart investing.
• Runs an educational income investing community.

📘 About the Book: Retirement Money Secrets

• Written as a conversational story about a couple on a river cruise who learn about a different approach to retirement investing.
• Emphasizes common sense financial strategies over complex jargon.
• Focuses on closed-end funds as a key investment tool.

💡 Key Concepts Discussed 🔒 Closed-End Funds (CEFs)

• One of the oldest investment vehicles, dating back to the 1800s.
• Structured as pass-through trusts that must return 95% of earnings to shareholders.
• Focused on income generation rather than capital appreciation.
• Can invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

🔥 FIRE Movement

• Stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early.
• Steve aligns more with generating sustainable income than early retirement per se.

🎯 Income Independence

• The goal is to generate enough income from investments to replace employment income.
• Allows flexibility to retire, start a business, or pursue other passions.

🛡️ The Four Risk Minimizers

1. Quality: Invest only in what you understand and in companies with a proven track record.
2. Diversification: Spread investments across sectors, geographies, and management firms.
3. Income: Only invest in securities that pay dividends or interest.
4. Profit-Taking Discipline: Set target profits (e.g., 5%) and sell when reached, reinvesting gains.

💬 Common Sense Investing Tips

• Buy stocks in companies you use or understand (e.g., Home Depot, Apple, Chipotle).
• Use tools like Yahoo Finance or CEFConnect.com to research dividend history and fund performance.
• Avoid speculative or zero-income investments.
• Treat your portfolio like a retail store—sell when profitable and restock wisely.

🌐 Connect with Steve Selengut

• Available on Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Offers access to an educational investing community with 450+ members.
• Book includes full contact details and resources.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

A natural-born entrepreneur and community leader. 

🎙️ Guest Background: Michael Woodward

• Grew up in Liberty City, Miami, in a low-income housing project known as the "Poke and Bean" projects.
• Learned early business skills from his grandmother, who was the local "candy lady."
• Served briefly in the military as a way out of poverty.
• Became a teen father and took his son with him to college at Florida A&M University (FAMU).
• Known for his hospitality and work ethic during college—cooked for friends and maintained a welcoming home.

🏠 Entrepreneurial Journey

• Bought his first duplex at age 20, renovated it, and rented it out.
• Built a real estate portfolio while working as an educator.
• Founded Woodward Property Group, a full-service home improvement and property management company.
• Became one of Lowe’s top contractors through a combination of skill, networking, and mentorship.

📚 Educational Impact

• Worked as an assistant principal and educator for 20 years.
• Founded Alpha Educational Consultants, Inc.
• Took students on college tours, especially to HBCUs, to expose them to higher education opportunities.
• Ran STEM programs and mentoring initiatives with a 99.9% college placement rate.

💡 Life Lessons & Advice

• Emphasizes financial literacy: avoid unnecessary spending (e.g., new cars every year).
• Advocates for education as a path to wealth.
• Believes in the village mentality—community support and shared success.
• Encourages young people to choose between college, military, or trade school.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

A transformational speaker and founder of Redefining Wealth, discusses personal development, financial success, and the importance of setting intentional goals.

🔑 Key Themes & Highlights

1. Defining Success at Different Life Stages

   • Washington explains how her definition of success evolved from her 20s to her 40s.
   • Early success was driven by external validation, while later success focused on personal fulfillment.

2. The Importance of a Life Blueprint

   • Compares life planning to architectural blueprints—without a plan, success is difficult to achieve.
   • Encourages listeners to set clear goals for the year to avoid feeling lost by year-end.

3. The Six Pillars of Wealth

   • Washington emphasizes integrating financial success with personal well-being.
   • Advocates for balancing career, relationships, faith, and health to avoid burnout.

4. Avoiding Burnout & Setting Realistic Goals

   • Discusses the importance of safe goals (small, achievable steps) and support goals (seeking help from mentors or professionals).
   • Encourages people to set reasonable expectations rather than overwhelming themselves.

5. Results, Not Resolutions

   • Washington promotes her Results, Not Resolutions framework, helping individuals create tangible action plans.
   • Shares strategies for maintaining motivation and accountability throughout the year.

📘 About Patrice Washington
Patrice Washington is a personal finance expert, speaker, and author recognized by Success Magazine as one of the top 25 influential leaders in personal development. She is dedicated to helping individuals redefine wealth by focusing on well-being, purpose, and financial literacy.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

Founder and CEO of Prep Expert, a leading online test prep company. The conversation explores Patel’s journey from struggling test-taker to perfect SAT scorer, bestselling author, and successful entrepreneur. He shares how his personal experience inspired a mission to help students unlock scholarship opportunities and academic success.
👨🏽‍🏫 About Dr. Shaan Patel
•    Founder & CEO of Prep Expert
•    Scored a perfect SAT after self-study
•    Secured over $500,000 in scholarships
•    Partnered with Mark Cuban after appearing on Shark Tank
•    Author of a bestselling SAT prep book published by McGraw-Hill
💡 Key Themes & Takeaways
📚 From Side Hustle to Scalable Business
•    Started Prep Expert in college dorm room
•    First course led to 376-point average score improvement
•    Grew from local classes to a national online platform
•    Now serves over 100,000 students with $100M+ in scholarships earned
💻 Online Learning & Accessibility
•    Offers live, online SAT/ACT prep, tutoring, and admissions consulting
•    Courses taught by 99th percentile instructors
•    Emphasizes interactive, classroom-like experience with office hours and support
•    Adapted quickly to online learning post-COVID
🎯 Mission-Driven Education
•    Brand motto: “Change your score, change your life”
•    Teaches life skills like time management and goal setting
•    Aims to eliminate student debt through scholarship access
•    Long-term goal: Help students earn $1 billion in scholarships
📈 Entrepreneurial Lessons
•    Faced early rejection from publishers before landing a book deal
•    Used storytelling to stand out on Shark Tank
•    Built brand through word-of-mouth and authenticity
•    Now generates 2M+ annual website visits
🌟 Vision for the Future
•    Expand impact through scholarships and mentorship
•    Continue empowering students to achieve academic and financial freedom
•    Promote meritocracy and the American dream through education.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMI

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. Subject: "I'm Not Going This Year"

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