July 29, 2025

The Black Mannequin Challenge w/ Bryan Walden

52 minutes

Episode 7 | The Black Mannequin Challenge w/ Bryan Walden | Entrepreneurship & Life Lessons | Dirty Roses Podcast

Get ready to be inspired! In this episode, Leigh LaRie and Nik B. welcome the "Pop-Up King" himself, Bryan Walden, the visionary behind The Black Mannequin brand. Bryan shares his incredible journey from illegal hustling to becoming a successful entrepreneur, master barber, motivational speaker, and community advocate.

Discover the surprising origin of "Black Mannequin," how Bryan manages multiple thriving businesses (clothing, sea moss, barbering), and the secrets to his relentless hustle. He opens up about balancing a demanding career with family life, the unique challenges of working with friends, and the profound lessons learned from his past.

[00:00:00] Intro & Welcome to the "Black Mannequin Challenge" with Bryan Walden.

[00:02:00] Meet Bryan Walden: The "Pop-Up King" and founder of The Black Mannequin.

[00:04:30] From Hustle to Entrepreneurship: Bryan's journey to building Black Mannequin since 2017.

[00:07:00] The Origin Story of "Black Mannequin": A hilarious anecdote from a day party.

[00:11:45] The Black Mannequin Brand Expands: From clothing to sea moss and more!

[00:14:00] Entrepreneurial Inspirations: Learning from his cousin, Willie Harris, and other OGs.

[00:19:15] The Barber's Path: How Bryan started cutting hair and honed his skills.

[00:21:00] Balancing Multiple Businesses & Personal Life: The freedom and demands of the hustle.

[00:25:00] Keeping Relationships Private: Navigating public perception while dating.

[00:29:45] Family First: Prioritizing children amidst a busy entrepreneurial life.

[00:33:00] Life with a Partner: Adjusting to shared living and different lifestyles.

[00:36:00] The Retirement Plan: Giving back and making a difference.

[00:38:00] Mentoring Youth: Bryan's impactful work in career fairs and community engagement.

[00:43:00] Working Relationships: Pros and cons of working with friends vs. business associates.

[00:49:00] Navigating New Circles: Trust, loneliness, and growth as the brand expands.

[00:54:00] Parenting Lessons: Raising kids different from his own path, emphasizing confidence and intelligence.

[01:00:00] The Craziest Thing Done for Love: A wild story involving a cinder block and car windows!

[01:09:00] Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Believe, network, and work hard.

[01:14:00] The Entrepreneur's Life: It's a lifestyle, not a 9-to-5, with all responsibilities falling on you.

[01:18:00] Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Bryan praises his business partner, Natalia Riley.

[01:21:00] Where to Find The Black Mannequin: Pop-ups, online, and social media.

[01:25:00] Nebula 9 Vodka & Dirty Roses Podcast Updates.

Loved this episode? Don't forget to subscribe and leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Want to see the video? Watch this episode on YouTube!

Guest:

Bryan Walden (The Black Mannequin):

Website: TheBlackMannequin.com

Instagram: @TheRealBlackMannequin

Barbershop Page: @MannequinCuts

Season 6 Sponsors:

Nebula 9 Vodka

Website: www.Nebula9Vodka.com

IG: @Nebula9Vodka

Where to buy: https://nebula9vodka.com/pages/where-to-buy

Drinks Handcrafted by: Pridefully Poured

Website: www.PridefullyPoured.com

IG: @PridefullyPoured

Product Highlight: Scent 2 Be Candles

Website: www.Scent2BeCandles.com

IG: @Scent_2_Be_Candles

Producer & Editor: Kenny X. Hamlett

Website: www.BetterDaysWest.com

IG: @BetterDaysWest

Your Podcast's Social Media:

Follow Leigh LaRie: @LeighLaRie on all platforms

Follow Nik B.: @NikB_NikB on Instagram

Follow Dirty Roses Podcast: @DirtyRosesPodcast on all platforms

#DirtyRosesPodcast #BlackMannequin #BryanWalden #Entrepreneurship #HustleLife #BarberLife #CommunityAdvocate #PodcastInterview #DirtyRoses #LifeLessons #FamilyBusiness #Sponsorship

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By Leigh LaRie and Nik B

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