"The Network" with Michael Prejean

"The Network" with Michael Prejean

By Michael PrejeanEducation
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"The Network" with Michael Prejean episodes

  • Natural Hair, Mentorship, and Healing the Relationship With Our Hair | Devyn (Lyles Styles) Calton

    In this episode of The Network Podcast, Devyn Calton of Lyles Styles breaks down how hair can be tied to identity and self-esteem, why education is the real “luxury” in hair care (hello, porosity test), and what mentorship and spiritual grounding look like in entrepreneurship.

    📲 Devyn Calton/Lyles Styles on IG & TikTok: @lyles.styles

    Book your Hair Consult: www.lylesstyles.comKEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:

    • Hair as identity + self-worth (and generational narratives around textured hair).

    • Mentorship as acceleration for creatives/entrepreneurs—especially in Black professional spaces.

    • Education as the real luxury: salon results + at-home consistency (porosity test, product selection, routines).

    • Whole-person wellness via the Funky Four Corners: spiritual grounding + emotional hygiene + physical health + financial planning.

    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00–00:25 — Welcome to The Network + Funky Four Corners framework
    00:34–01:38 — Solange quote + guest introduction (Lyles Styles)
    01:53–02:44 — Giving flowers: family, mentors, support systems
    03:30–04:38 — Mentorship in Black creative & entrepreneurial spaces
    05:20–06:59 — Hair, identity, and self-esteem (embracing natural hair)
    07:30–09:55 — Misconceptions about textured hair + “What do you love about your hair?”
    10:49–14:27 — Education as luxury + hair care guide breakdown
    15:04–16:16 — Hydration, diet, and hair growth at the cellular level
    17:52–18:36 — Porosity test + choosing products with intention
    19:39–20:14 — Community CTA: like, subscribe, follow
    20:20–26:57 — Entrepreneurial journey + building Lyles Styles
    27:15–29:35 — Faith, obedience, and alignment in business
    30:29–33:32 — Physical wellness + longevity for stylists
    34:20–36:04 — Emotional hygiene + releasing client energy
    37:39–39:30 — Emotional hygiene as career sustainability
    40:09–42:01 — What men should understand about women’s hair
    42:39–46:54 — Financial corner: exit strategy, retirement, blind spots
    47:48–51:05 — Funky Four game (either/or, agree/disagree)
    53:01–54:03 — Good Medicine: “A good message can come from anywhere”
    55:39–56:27 — Unsolicited advice: assume today will be better
    57:00–58:48 — Where to follow + connect
    58:53–59:37 — Closing + subscribe CTA

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.

    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Subscribe to The Network." You never know — you might need it."

    1 hr 1 min
  • History Quarter | The 94 Crime Bill Explained: Mass Incarceration, Policing, & the "Bleach" Metaphor

    In this episode, we break down the 1994 Crime Bill—what it funded, how sentencing incentives expanded incarceration, and why its impact still shows up in communities today.

    Dr. Sharlene Sinegal DeCuir (XULA) explains the policy mechanics (policing, prisons, truth-in-sentencing) and connects them to real outcomes—plus a powerful metaphor you won’t forget.


    📲 Follow Dr. Decuir on IG: @dr.sinegaldecuir


    KEY TOPICS:

    • 100,000 police officers,
    • prison funding
    • three strikes
    • truth-in-sentencing,
    • crack vs cocaine sentencing,
    • war on drugs,
    • community-based solutions

    TIMESTAMPS:

    0:00–0:33 Cold open: “The Network” + Funky Four setup
    0:33–1:05 Hook: Jay-Z bar + “94 Crime Bill is one”
    1:05–1:55 Guest intro: Dr. Charlene Sagal DeCuir (XULA) + “funkiest 15 minutes”
    1:55–3:32 “Flowers” segment: Black love + gratitude riff
    3:38–4:27 What the 1994 Crime Bill was + why it mattered
    4:29–5:13 Police funding + prison funding + privatization critique
    5:14–6:22 Three strikes, truth-in-sentencing, death penalty expansion; VAWA mention
    6:39–8:06 Nixon/War on Drugs context + opioid double standard (high engagement)
    8:17–9:47 Stats + crack vs cocaine sentencing disparity + voting rights point
    9:50–10:22 “Bleach” metaphor + host reaction (peak shareable moment)
    10:32–11:49 Policy frameworks: rebuilding community, knowing the facts
    11:50–13:21 “Either/Or” game (fast pacing, clip-friendly)
    13:38–14:38 Prescription: “Know your rights…” + full CTA outro

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.


    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Subscribe to The Network." You never know — you might need it."

    16 min
  • You Can't Outrun God: Faith, Waiting, and Purpose | Pastor Braxton Halliburton

    What do you do when you’ve been waiting on God for years—and nothing has changed?

    In this powerful episode of The Network, Michael Prejean sits down with Pastor Braxton Halliburton to unpack faith, obedience, burnout, rest, and God’s timing.

    From the Pool of Bethesda to modern hustle culture, this conversation speaks directly to anyone feeling stuck, frustrated, or spiritually tired.

    📲 Follow Pastor Braxton Halliburton on IG: @pastorbraxton📘 Grace in Every Season is available now on Amazon.

    TIMESTAMPS:

    • 0:00: Welcome to The Network
    • 1:12: Introducing Pastor Braxton Halliburton
    • 2:21: Giving Flowers While They Can Smell Them
    • 3:39: Running From the Call vs. Walking in Purpose
    • 6:26: What’s Most Fulfilling About Pastoral Ministry
    • 8:13: Writing Grace in Every Season
    • 9:21: Waiting, Doubt, and the Pool of Bethesda
    • 11:00: “Your Deliverance Wasn’t Even Born Yet”
    • 12:44: Why vs. What: A Shift in Perspective
    • 14:47: Keep Showing Up (Faith in the Waiting)
    • 21:10: Track & Field Analogy for God’s Timing
    • 26:38: Physical Health, Rest, and Burnout Culture
    • 30:30: Guilt About Rest
    • 36:12: Processing Emotions in Real Time
    • 40:46: Financial Stewardship in Ministry
    • 46:51: Advice for Young Families
    • 49:35: Rapid Fire (Either/Or, Agree/Disagree)
    • 53:08: “Your Kids Are Watching You”
    • 54:03: Good Medicine
    • 55:19: You Didn’t Ask (Final Advice)
    • 57:35" Final CTA + Make Love the Culture

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.


    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Subscribe to The Network." You never know — you might need it."

    59 min
  • 🔥 The Crisis of Identity: What Black Men Are Really Facing Today | EP 72 Dr. Brian L. Turner

    In this powerful episode of The Network with Michael Prejean, clinical psychologist and Xavier University Department Chair Dr. Brian L. Turner unpacks the pressures, narratives, and spiritual/mental battles facing Black men today.

    📲 Follow Dr. Turner on IG: @nojagr504

    We explore:
    • Why Black men “wear masks” to survive
    • How misinformation & narratives shape our community
    • Why adults struggle with conflict resolution
    • The crisis of confidence in our youth
    • Healthy mirrors, identity development & emotional truth
    • The Funky Four: Spiritual • Mental • Physical • Financial pillars

    This episode is a blueprint for healing, empowerment, and community transformation.


    TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro – The Network Mission + Dr. Turner’s Bio

    01:38 Flowers – Pouring Into the Next Generation

    04:30 Legacy, Time & Family

    07:29 Narratives About Black Fathers

    12:30 Why Adults Fear Confrontation

    17:00 Liability, Fear & Mentorship Disappearing

    23:13 The Remedy: Education & Critical Thinking

    26:00 Identity Pressures for Black Men in College

    33:06 Why Black Men Wear Masks

    38:48 Confrontation, Sit-Down Culture & Emotional Intelligence

    44:04 Why Kids Need Debate & Argument Skills

    47:36 Funky Four Corner – Spirituality

    52:19 Funky Four – Mental & Emotional Health

    59:06 Funky Four – Physical & Financial Truths

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.

    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube


    Subscribe to The Network." You never know — you might need it."

    1 hr 19 min
  • Focused Vision: From Dorm Room to 750 Stores | The CEV Collection Story with Jamal Robinson

    On this episode of The Network with Michael Prejean, CEO and CEV Collection co-founder Jamal Robinson breaks down the journey from customizing sunglasses in a dorm room… to scaling a national eyewear brand in 750+ stores.


    This episode blends entrepreneurship, spiritual grounding, leadership development, and community impact — the exact blueprint our culture needs.

    You’ll learn:
    • The 3 pillars of the Clear Eye View philosophy
    • How to overcome fear, failure, and self-doubt
    • Why every level of growth requires a new version of you
    • How to read financial statements like a real CEO
    • The importance of planting seeds in our youth
    • How spiritual + physical discipline fuel success

    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 – Intro / “Get Your Money Black Man” Opener
    01:00 – Introducing Jamal Robinson & CEV Collection
    02:50 – Giving Flowers: Wife, Family, Mentors
    04:30 – Fort Wayne Roots & Early Creativity
    06:10 – College Journey, Networking, & Eyewear Origins
    08:00 – Launching CEV Collection: 750 Stores Nationwide
    10:40 – The Meaning of Clear Eye View (Focused Vision Pillars)
    13:30 – Jalen Smith’s Injury, Comeback, and Brand Philosophy
    15:00 – Spiritual Corner: Trust in the Lord
    18:00 – Physical Corner: Your Body Is a Temple
    20:00 – Marathon Mindset, Discipline, Rest & Meditation
    25:00 – Mental Corner: Each Level Requires a New You
    28:00 – Leadership & the EOS (Traction) System
    33:00 – Financial Corner: Learning the Language of Money
    42:00 – Believe in a Dream: Serving 750–1000 Youth
    47:00 – Bamboo Season: Seeds, Roots & Harvest
    48:30 – Either/Or Round
    50:00 – Agree/Disagree Round
    51:00 – Superpower: Time Travel
    52:10 – Good Medicine Segment
    55:00 – You Didn’t Ask (Ace vs. Jack Wisdom)
    59:30 – Closing Message & Make Love the Culture

    Tap in — this one is a masterclass.

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.

    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Subscribe to The Network." You never know — you might need it."

    1 hr 2 min
  • Why HBCUs Still Matter | Kyle Adams on Leadership, Legacy & Building Black Excellence

    In this powerful episode of The Network with Michael Prejean, Coach P sits down with higher-education executive, author, and HBCU culture-builder Kyle Adams.

    From the untold legacy of the 1982 Cheney State Lady Wolves, to the spiritual grounding of leadership, to preparing young Black men to respect and champion Black women — this conversation is a masterclass in coaching, culture, and purpose.

    We explore the Funky Four Corners: Spiritual • Mental • Physical • Financial, plus Kyle’s five-year journey to get Cheney their rightful place in the Hall of Fame.

    If you lead, coach, teach, or serve — this episode will sharpen your purpose and strengthen your voice.

    TIMESTAMPS:

    00:00 – Cold Open
    00:26 – Magnolia Story
    01:04 – Welcome to The Network
    01:17 – Today’s Guest: Kyle Adams
    02:07 – “This is The Network — not the Co-Op”
    02:20 – Where to Find Kyle Online
    03:30 – Book + Podcast + Medium Page Overview
    04:34 – Giving Flowers: Brother Tiller
    06:18 – Kyle Has Visited 50+ HBCUs
    06:41 – The #1 Misconception About HBCU Culture
    07:17 – Why HBCUs Matter in America
    08:02 – Resource Scarcity vs Cultural Scarcity
    08:25 – Sit-in Movements & Civil Rights Roots
    09:25 – Generational Elevation Through HBCUs
    10:04 – Professors Who Called Out Greatness
    11:34 – Dr. Reginald Rackley: “You’re Better Than This.”
    14:06 – The Legacy of the 1982 Cheney Lady Wolves
    17:45 – Kyle’s 5-Year Fight to Get Them Recognized
    20:51 – Preparing Men to Value Black Women’s Leadership
    21:02 – “Men Are Visitors in Women’s Basketball”
    27:46 – Spiritual Corner: Leadership as Stewardship
    30:48 – Best Spiritual Advice Ever Received
    32:47 – Mental Corner: Safe Spaces, Therapy & Courage
    35:55 – Coaches’ Mental Health Struggles
    41:04 – Mid-Roll CTA / Episode Reset
    42:40 – Physical Corner: Your Body Is Your First Team
    44:51 – Rest, Hydration & Phone Discipline
    48:32 – Aging Well: Stretching, Yoga & Longevity
    55:58 – Financial Corner: Value + Pricing Your Time
    57:26 – Prayer, Purpose & Fried Chicken Story
    58:26 – Best Financial Advice Ever
    59:57 – Time Respect & Showing Up Early
    1:00:34 – Superpower Game: Kyle Chooses Time Travel
    1:03:22 – Dinner With 3 Ancestors
    1:04:20 – Leadership Ancestors Kyle Would Study
    1:19:18 – Serena Williams Back to School? (Light Segment)
    1:20:09 – Final Segments Setup
    1:20:39 – Good Medicine: Books + Resources
    1:21:12 – Leadership Challenge (Cheat Code)
    1:21:40 – Documentary Recommendation: Amend
    1:22:46 – Earl Nightingale: The Strangest Secret
    1:23:26 – A Shelter in a Time of Storm
    1:24:11 – Leadership Capacity (Deepening)
    1:25:37 – Personal Development Routines
    1:26:02 – Strangest Secret (Reinforced)
    1:27:05 – A Shelter in a Time of Storm (Deep Dive)
    1:27:44 – Episode Close

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.

    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Subscribe to The Network." You never know — you might need it."

    1 hr 28 min
  • Voter Suppression in 2025: How We Got Here & What's Next | The Funkiest 15 min in Black History

    In this episode of The Network with Michael Prejean, Dr. Sharlene Sinegal- DeCuir — African American & Diaspora Studies Chair at Xavier University — breaks down the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Shelby County v. Holder, and the modern tactics threatening Black voting power today.

    This is Black history in bite-sized form — the Funkiest 15 Minutes in Black History.

    If you care about democracy, justice, and the future of our people… this episode is required viewing.

    Chapters included:

    • The VRA explained

    • How suppression evolved

    • Why certain communities are targeted

    • How racism still shapes policy

    • Why YOU must stay educated and stay woke

    Timestamps:

    0:00 – Intro – Welcome to The Network + Funky Four Corners
    0:32 – Opening Quote (Nina Simone)
    1:00 – Introducing Dr. Sinegal- DeCuir
    2:00 – Her Published Work & Credentials
    3:30 – Where to Find Her Work
    4:00 – Flowers Segment (Honoring Her Mother)
    5:20 – Diving Into the Voting Rights Act of 1965
    7:00 – Shelby County v. Holder Explained
    8:20 – Modern Voter Suppression Tactics
    9:30 – How Suppression Impacts Communities
    11:00 – Why Voting Still Matters
    12:00 – Supreme Court’s Misunderstanding of Systemic Racism
    13:00 – Myth of Post-Racial Society
    13:30 – Rapid Fire: Agree/Disagree + Either/Or
    14:40 – Good Medicine From the Good Doctor
    15:15 – Outro + Sign-Off

    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.

    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    Subscribe to The Network.
    "You never know — you might need it."

    16 min
  • "Big God Energy" | VCBC Pastors Tink & Natoshia Turner | Episode 68

    In this episode of The Network with Michael Prejean, host Coach P sits down with Pastors Keith “Tink” and Natoshia Turner, a dynamic pastoral couple leading a faith-driven revolution at Valley Community Bible Church.


    They share how they’re breaking traditional barriers in ministry, nurturing mental health, and leading with Big God Energy.

    🔑 Topics Covered:

    • Why the next generation needs new methods, same message

    • How to lead with authenticity and compassion

    • Balancing ministry, marriage, and mental health

    • The power of “Do It Anyway” faith🙏🏾

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro — The Funky Four Corners of Life

    01:03 Meet Pastors Tink & Natasha Turner

    01:48 Opening Prayer

    02:32 Give Them Flowers

    04:45 Crazy Ideas & Big God Energy

    06:36 The Church’s Black Eyes

    08:57 Restoring Trust & Authenticity

    10:47 Passing the Torch — Legacy & Calling

    13:12 “I Just Want to Be Tink”

    14:44 Women Called to Lead

    18:33 Balancing Leadership & Obedience

    19:04 Faith Meets Psychology

    22:28 Helping People Heal

    23:27 Growing People, Not Numbers

    26:07 Culture of Love & Healing

    28:16 Sunday Funday & Interactive Gospel

    30:59 Coffee & Conversation + Tinkisms

    32:41 Jesus in Jammies

    33:22 Breaking Down the Walls of Church

    34:47 Big God Energy Defined

    35:07 Spiritual Wisdom Corner

    36:01 “Don’t Bleed on the People”

    37:02 It’s Okay to Say I Don’t Know

    39:23 Physical Health & Wellness

    43:20 Getting Older & Staying Active

    43:50 Mental Health in Ministry

    44:25 Stop Holding God to Your Calendar

    45:15 Therapy & Self-Care Days

    49:07 Financial Stewardship & Faith

    51:17 You Can’t Outgive God

    52:05 Bet on Yourself — Faith & Risk

    55:01 Rapid Fire Game

    58:06 Good Medicine Segment

    1:03:02 “There’s a God — and You Ain’t Him”

    1:04:18 Do It Anyway. Do It Scared. Do It Bleeding.

    1:05:19 Outro — Big God Energy


    Subscribe for more episodes that feed your spiritual, physical, mental, and financial growth — the Funky Four Corners of Life.

    📲 Follow The Network on IG: @podcast_with_prejean

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

    #BigGodEnergy #FaithAndLeadership #TheNetworkPodcast #PastorLife #MarriageAndMinistry #DoItAnyway #PastorLife #ChurchCulture #BlackChurch #SpiritualGrowth

    "Subscribe to The Network, you never know, you might need it."

    1 hr 8 min
  • THE NETWORK | Episode 66: "Top 5 Historical & Contemporary Issues Impacting the AA Community," Dr. Sharlene Sinegal-Decuir's History Quarter

    Follow The Network with Michael Prejean podcast on social media:

    • Instagram: @The_Network_Podcast
    • Facebook: The Network With Michael Prejean
    • YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@thenetworkwithmichaelpreje6380?si=WFTJgGZ64LsHHxUy⁠⁠
    • Follow Dr. Decuir on social media:

      • Instagram: @drsdecuir
      • Twitter: @drsdecuir
      • Website: www.sinegal-decuir.com
      • In the fourth installment of the History Quarter, Dr. Sinegal-Decuir delivers the Top 5 historical and contemporary issues that have impacted the African American community past and present.

        Those five issues are:

        1. Criminal Justice
        2. Employment
        3. Education
        4. Health Care
        5. Voting
        6. Of course, Dr. Decuir leaves us with a life changing prescription that we call "Good Medicine."

          Subscribe to The Network! You never know, you might need it!

          #makeLOVEtheCULTURE

          22 min

        About "The Network" with Michael Prejean

        From the publisher's feed

        "The Network" is THE educational podcast designed to help our community navigate the four areas of life that I like to call the Funky 4 Corners. I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of my favorite people with one goal in mind: To help the spiritual, physical, mental and financial health of our people as we navigate this thing called life.