The REAL Room with Lacretia Mitchell

What if art is more than something we look at? What if it is one of the ways we remember who we are?

In Episode 66 of The Real Room, Lucretia Mitchell sits down with Rakeem, also known as Muse Art, a self-taught artist whose work spans tattoos, painting, murals, historical research, and cultural storytelling.

Rakeem began tattooing at just 16 years old. What started as a creative outlet eventually became entrepreneurship, took him to California, opened opportunities to tattoo celebrities, and ultimately led him into a much deeper exploration of what his art could mean.

After pursuing fine art and art history at OCCC, Rakeem says his work began to change. Instead of simply creating what looked good, he started asking what was missing, whose stories were not being represented, and how his art could carry history and purpose.

That journey eventually took him to Egypt, where studying African history and participating in the Kemetic Know Thyself educational experience transformed the way he understood identity, spirituality, responsibility, and his role as an artist.

In this conversation, Lucretia and Rakeem explore what it means to know yourself, why understanding history matters, and how traveling outside of America can challenge the way we see culture, race, identity, and the world around us.

They also have an open conversation about spirituality and belief. Rakeem explains his Kemetic spiritual perspective, while Lucretia shares her own relationship with God and asks questions about where their beliefs intersect and differ.

This episode is about curiosity, identity, history, purpose, and having conversations with people whose worldview may not look exactly like your own.

They discuss:

• Becoming a tattoo artist at 16
• Building a creative career through entrepreneurship
• Why failure can be one of our greatest teachers
• Turning artistic talent into purposeful work
• The responsibility of an artist
• Traveling through Africa and experiencing Egypt
• The importance of knowing your history
• Black identity and cultural representation
• The meaning of Know Thyself
• Kemetic spirituality and Ma’at
• Different perspectives on God and spirituality
• Questioning what we have been taught about history
• Using art to preserve memory and tell stories
• Why you sometimes have to look backward to understand where you are going

Rakeem’s work is ultimately about more than creating something beautiful. It is about using creativity as a bridge between the past, present, and future.

Because before we can fully understand where we are going, sometimes we have to rediscover where we came from.

Watch The Real Room Episode 66 with Rakeem Muse Art.

What happens when you spend your whole life being the strong one, the responsible one, and the person everyone else depends on?

In Episode 66 of The Real Room, LaCretia Mitchell sits down with entrepreneur, insurance professional, community leader, wife, mother, grandmother, and advocate Nerissa Berry for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, faith, self-worth, and learning to stop performing for the approval of others.

With more than 20 years in the insurance industry and over 15 years owning her own agency, Nerissa has built a business producing more than $5 million in annual premium and serving thousands of policyholders. But the real story isn't simply what she has accomplished. It's everything she had to become along the way.

Nerissa opens up about growing up as a performer and realizing later in life how much of her identity had become connected to validation. She shares why other people's expectations can become a box, why someone else's discomfort doesn't always need to become your problem, and what it took to finally understand her own value.

She and LaCretia also unpack the realities of entrepreneurship: rejection, failure, sweat equity, leadership, accountability, building a healthy team culture, and understanding that business should never become so personal that a no destroys your confidence.

Nerissa also shares lessons from nearly two decades of work with the Oklahoma chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, her heart for mental wellness, and the message she wants anyone walking through a difficult season to remember: don't make a permanent decision based on a temporary situation.

In this episode:

• Breaking free from other people's expectations
• People-pleasing and seeking validation
• Learning your value as a woman
• Entrepreneurship and building a successful insurance agency
• Why business rejection isn't personal
• The sweat equity behind success
• Failure, humility, and accountability
• Leading instead of controlling
• Building a healthy workplace culture
• Faith during adversity
• Suicide prevention and mental wellness
• Marriage, motherhood, and family
• Creating generational legacy
• Why strong women need support too
• Refusing to dim your light as you elevate
• Knowing you're worthy of great things

Nerissa's story is a reminder that success isn't about getting everything right. It's about continuing to grow, learning from what went wrong, trusting God through every season, and refusing to give up.

Tomorrow does come. Keep going.

#TheRealRoom #NerissaBerry #WomenInBusiness #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #Faith #MentalHealth #WomenInLeadership #PersonalGrowth

In Episode 64 of The Real Room, Lacretia Mitchell sits down with Dr. Carlos M. Robinson, MBA, President and CEO of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce, for a conversation about leadership, legacy, economic empowerment, faith, and what it means to show people what is possible.

Growing up on Oklahoma City’s East Side, Carlos saw firsthand how gangs, limited access, and a lack of opportunity could shape a community. But his story took a different direction. Dance became an outlet that helped pull him away from the streets, education opened doors he once did not know existed, and leadership became a calling that would follow him throughout his life.

After struggling early in high school and being told he could become a “jailbird, junkie, drug addict,” Carlos changed the trajectory of his life. He went on to become a first-generation college graduate, the first Black student body president at Oklahoma City Community College, and eventually the first person in his family to earn a doctorate.

Today, his mission is bigger than personal success. He wants people in his community to see what is possible for themselves.

Lucretia and Dr. Carlos talk about Black excellence, generational wealth, entrepreneurship, representation, breaking systemic barriers, building stronger communities, and why access to knowledge, capital, contracts, education, and opportunity matters.

They also discuss his decision to run for Oklahoma State Representative for House District 99, the role faith has played in his journey, and his belief that leadership should leave every person and every place better than you found it.

This is a conversation about becoming the representation you once needed and using everything you have built to open doors for the people coming behind you.

Because sometimes seeing what is possible is the first step toward believing you can do it too.

Watch The Real Room Ep. 64 with Dr. Carlos M. Robinson.

What happens when a hobby you started on a phone app turns into a career that changes your life?In this episode of The Real Room, LuCretia Mitchell sits down with Anthony "DJ T Fresh" Hardiman, one of Oklahoma's premier DJs, entrepreneur, project manager, investor, and graduate student, to discuss what it takes to build a meaningful life around passion and purpose.From humble beginnings in Spencer, Oklahoma, to becoming one of the region's most sought-after wedding and event DJs, Anthony shares the lessons he's learned about entrepreneurship, consistency, relationships, faith, and building a life with intention.This conversation goes far beyond music. It's about creating opportunities, embracing every season, serving people well, and understanding that success is built long before anyone notices.In this episode, we discuss:How DJ T Fresh built his career from scratchThe business of weddings and live eventsEntrepreneurship and creative careersFaith, purpose, and personal growthBalancing multiple careers and graduate schoolRelationships and emotional intelligenceBuilding wealth through investingWhy consistency beats talentCreating experiences people never forgetWhether you're an entrepreneur, creative, musician, or someone pursuing a dream outside the traditional path, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom and inspiration.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's building something meaningful.#TheRealRoom #DJTFresh #Entrepreneur #WeddingDJ #CreativeBusiness #Purpose #Entrepreneurship #Oklahoma #Podcast #SmallBusiness

What happens when the dream you've chased your entire life finally comes true... but you know God still has more?

In this episode of The Real Room, LaCretia Mitchell sits down with Christopher "C.L." McCoy, a Billboard-charting, Grammy-nominated producer and engineer from Del City, Oklahoma, whose music has reached audiences around the world.

From producing records for artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Wale, Bun B, Dave East, That Mexican OT, and Doughboy, to navigating grief, fatherhood, faith, and purpose, C.L. shares the untold story behind the success people see today.

This conversation isn't just about music. It's about perseverance, identity, legacy, and staying faithful to the vision long before anyone else believes in it.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Building a career in the music industry
• Working with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and major artists
• Fatherhood and raising daughters
• Faith, purpose, and trusting God's timing
• Overcoming grief and personal setbacks
• Success, legacy, and staying grounded
• Creativity, consistency, and discipline
• Dreaming bigger after achieving your goals
• Representing Oklahoma on a global stage

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, creative, or simply chasing a dream that feels impossible, this conversation will remind you why the work behind the scenes matters.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone pursuing their purpose.

#TheRealRoom #CLMcCoy #MusicProducer #GrammyNominated #BoneThugsNHarmony #Faith #Fatherhood #Purpose #MusicIndustry #Oklahoma

Who takes care of the people everyone else depends on?In this episode of The Real Room, LaCretia Mitchell sits down with retired fire chief, Air Force veteran, licensed minister, speaker, and resilience advocate J. Kevin Berry for an honest conversation about the emotional weight carried by those who spend their lives serving others.After more than 32 years in the fire service, Kevin shares the lessons he learned about leadership, trauma, resilience, identity, and the hidden emotional costs of always being the strong one. From first responders and healthcare workers to social workers, pastors, teachers, parents, and caregivers, this conversation is for anyone who pours into others while neglecting themselves.Together they explore what secondary traumatic stress really is, why resilience is a skill that can be developed, and how we can continue serving others without losing ourselves in the process.In this episode you'll learn about:Secondary traumatic stressEmotional resilienceFirst responder mental healthCaregiver fatigueLeadership under pressureBurnout and emotional healthFinding purpose after retirementFaith, curiosity, and lifelong growthProtecting your mental and emotional well-beingWhy helping others starts with caring for yourselfWhether you serve your family, your community, your organization, or your profession, this conversation offers practical wisdom that could change the way you care for yourself and those around you.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who spends their life helping others.#TheRealRoom #JKevinBerry #Resilience #MentalHealth #Leadership #FirstResponders #Caregivers #Trauma #EmotionalHealth #Podcast

What does it cost to become the person you were created to be?In this episode of The Real Room, Lucretia Mitchell sits down with entrepreneur, educator, mentor, and visionary Ciara Amir Beckford, founder of Aloom and co-owner of 11:11 OKC.For more than 15 years, Ciara has built businesses, developed leaders, mentored professionals, and created opportunities for others. But behind the success is a story of growth, reinvention, sacrifice, resilience, and learning how to evolve without losing yourself.This conversation explores entrepreneurship, leadership, identity, relationships, personal growth, business ownership, and the courage it takes to keep becoming.Topics include:• Entrepreneurship and business growth• Building Aloom and 11:11 OKC• Leadership and mentorship• Personal reinvention• Confidence and self-worth• Navigating success and pressure• Protecting your peace• Building healthy relationships• Faith, purpose, and timing• Taking risks and betting on yourselfWhether you're building a business, pursuing a dream, or navigating a season of growth, this conversation will challenge you to stop waiting and start becoming.If this episode encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, share, and leave a review.#TheRealRoom #CiaraAmirBeckford #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwner #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #WomenInBusiness #OklahomaCity #Aloom #1111OKC

What if your heartbreak was never random?In this powerful episode of The Real Room, we dive deep into love, trauma, emotional healing, self-worth, and the hidden cycles that shape our relationships. This conversation explores the deeper meaning behind pain, purpose, connection, and the journey toward authentic self-love.Inspired by the book Love School, this episode challenges the way we think about relationships, identity, healing, and personal transformation. We discuss how unresolved wounds, toxic patterns, emotional entanglements, and false identities can keep people stuck until they choose to truly confront themselves.This conversation covers:Love, heartbreak, and emotional healingToxic relationship patternsSelf-worth and identitySpiritual growth and self-awarenessMetaphysics, purpose, and consciousnessLearning to love yourself firstBreaking unhealthy cyclesAuthenticity and personal transformationIf you’ve ever questioned why certain relationships repeat themselves, struggled with self-love, or wondered how to truly heal emotionally, this episode is for you.Make sure to like, comment, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs it.#TheRealRoom #LoveSchool #Healing #SelfWorth #Relationships #EmotionalHealing #PersonalGrowth #SelfLove #Transformation #MentalHealth

Who is Mike Hearne really?Not just the voice behind This Is Oklahoma. Not just the cinematic visuals, podcast interviews, golf content, or real estate brand. But the person behind the platform.In this episode of The Real Room, Lacretia Mitchell sits down with Mike Hearne, storyteller, content creator, realtor, and founder of This Is Oklahoma, to talk about the journey behind one of Oklahoma’s most recognizable media platforms.Mike shares how an awkward first attempt at video content turned into nearly 800 podcast episodes, what he has learned from interviewing hundreds of people, and why documenting stories matters more now than ever before.This conversation dives into:Building This Is Oklahoma from scratchThe power of storytelling and podcastingWhy everyone has a story worth tellingCreativity, consistency, and content creationThe importance of documenting family historyEntrepreneurship, branding, and community impactOklahoma culture, media, and connectionIf you are a creator, entrepreneur, podcaster, storyteller, or someone trying to build something meaningful, this episode is for you.#TheRealRoom #MikeHearne #ThisIsOklahoma #Podcasting #Storytelling #ContentCreator #Entrepreneur #Oklahoma #Media #RealEstate

What happens when life suddenly stops and you do not understand why, until you realize God was building something through you that would outlive you?In this powerful episode of The Real Room, Lucretia Mitchell sits down with Corey Clark, entrepreneur, creator of One Odie Brand, and a constant presence behind one of Oklahoma City’s hottest brunch spots, Scrambled.Corey shares his life-changing battle with rare bone cancer, chondrosarcoma, the 30+ hours of surgeries that nearly cost him his leg, and how faith, family, and resilience carried him through the hardest season of his life.This conversation dives into:Overcoming pain and fearGod’s timing and purposeHow struggle can shape your destinyFatherhood after traumaBuilding a brand through adversityWhy your story mattersIf you need hope, motivation, or a reminder to trust the process, this episode is for you.#TheRealRoom #CoreyClark #Faith #CancerSurvivor #Resilience #Purpose #Motivation #GodsTiming #Entrepreneur #OklahomaCity