What Do I Do Now?

One of the largest festivals in the Southeast is OMF, also known as ONE Musicfest. For 2 nights, the industry's best and brightest ascend into Atlanta and give you memories and experiences that you never forget. This past weekend was a moment for me because I was able to be a personality for this epic event and I was fortunate enough to interview two rising stars in the rap game. From the ATL and heir to the throne of the "King Of The South," Domani was able to steal a quick moment with me to promote his latest project. And from the West Coast and currently on the road with Russ, Rexx Life Raj. Both artists have a promising career ahead of them and I look forward to seeing them continue to blaze their own lanes. You can follow them on their socials: @domani & @rexxliferaj.

I can't believe it's been one year since I started this passion project. And when I set out with this project, I didn't know if anyone would listen. You have the hope that it resonates, but to have taken this to as many places as its reached, I'm still in awe, but still as hungry as I was a year ago. Please enjoy this episode that features the very first guest on the podcast, Gump, as she recaps her account of being the inaugural guest as well as an update of her own.

This is a special episode because it will be 1 day shy of the first year of me starting this journey. September 21st, 2020 was my introduction with this platform. I didn't imagine it turning into what it has, in it's second season that has global appeal. And as I turn the page into the next year of this passion project entitled "What Do I Do Now?," I had the privilege of getting to interview a giant in the media industry about to start on his latest TV project, Nick Cannon. The new daytime TV show host premieres nationwide is Monday, September 27th. Make sure you are following him on social media, @nickcannon.

After the HIATUS episode, getting ready to approach the midway mark of the season, & personal revelation of my personal journey with seeking professional help, I went "back to the well" to continue a talk about mental health. It's clear that Ball State University made and gave me so many talented and remarkable friends, associates, and peers; this episode is not an exception to that rule. So, I reached back to talk with a black woman that will be entering the mental health atmosphere, soon to be Purdue Graduate, a bestfriend of mine, a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated - Beta Phi chapter, Kaylyn Gyden.

In this episode, we dive into the topic of the black community's relationship with mental health, what she will be specializing in as a therapist, the idea/principle around "ghosting", and the dreaded "i" word that nobody as an adult really actually enjoys to deal with, insurance. I learned a lot just in this short amount of time & I know you will too.

You can find, follow, and communicate with Kaylyn on Instagram, @kaylyn.elizabeth. or on Facebook, Kaylyn Elizabeth!

Another unscheduled break deserves to be explained, right? I want to first apologize for my delay in episodes, but in this episode, I don't need to ask questions. I'm going to answer them. What happened this month in particular? I genuinely hope I'm understood. And if I'm not, that's ok. But, I hope to get at least one person to listen to this episode in particular and find the nudge you need to make a change in your routine. I'm going to do my absolute best to bring you a great rest of this season and projects to come.

To the Patton, Johnson, & Sirmons' family, I hope you appreciate my love letter to you all through this level of transparency. I pray that you all are finding peace in your respective journeys through bereavement.

And to find out more information about Cerebral, you can check out getcerebral.com for a free mental assessment today.

One universal goal in life is to be better than the day before. In the very simplest of terms, improvement. And in this episode, Jarrett Milton shares just how he went on his journey, starting from last year. We tackle what things were conceptualized through a heated discussion, passions he's picked back up, & what his future holds moving forward. To reach/contact Jarrett, follow him on Instagram, @jarrettisnotimpressed & to support his company, visit thebetterblackman.com & follow them on social media, @betterblackman.

Before recording this episode, I had not realized that my guest hadn't talked to any media outlet for any interview regarding the subject matter. This will be the first time publicly that it’s being discussed and I let my guest share their story as they feel comfortable. Zeb Bartolome is the proud father to his son, Zayn. Back in April 2020, both of their worlds changed. In this episode, I discuss what happened to IMPD Officer Breann Leath, how Zeb is coping with the life change, what questions Zayn has already asked, and what the future looks like for them both.

This podcast was conceived during the pandemic, but what about actually conceiving during the pandemic? What would that look like? I have the honor and privilege to speak with a new mom in Morgan Brown. In this episode, she details how she found out she was expecting, what the process was like for her as an expectant mother, what changes were in store for her career in engineering looked like, and what all of this meant to her every step of the way. She gets personal with me discussing in detail her personal journey, so prepare for an in depth discussion that will have you learning the ins and outs of bringing a child into this world.

This story will give you a newfound sense of faith & make you re-analyze the boundaries that you may set or possibly need to reinforce in your personal life. Mrs. Brown is another phenomenal black woman who has the platform to share her experience in the world & truly grateful she shared those experiences with this podcast. To reach Morgan, you can follow her on Twitter, @simplymorgs_ and on Instagram, @simplymorg_.

Please continue to stream, share, and subscribe to the podcast as we continue to have open dialogue about our world from various perspectives.

Starting a new month on the podcast & this episode is one that will leave you possibly reaching out to the guest for a job. Literally. I know the way the world changed put a lot of people into a self-employed status, but there were plenty of people that were in business for themselves, this guest being one of them. One that I knew growing up in Kokomo, Indiana was Ty Gray. From a printing business as a teenager to 2 successful brands built from the ground up with a very humble beginning, he's got a story that will keep your attention every step of the way.

This episode also features a question from a listener posed earlier in the year. So, if you have something you would like addressed, please contact me via my social media profiles: @therealsix5 - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

To reach out to Ty for mentorship or possible licensing, please reach him at [email protected] or [email protected]. He is also available on Facebook at T.Y. Gray as well as LinkedIn, search Tyrone Gray.

This month, getting four phenomenal black women has been a true joy and pleasure. All of which are not only dominant in their respective lanes, but able to pull up the next person to continue a legacy of excellence. In this episode, I speak with a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a fellow Ball State alum, & current Director of Public Engagement for the Governor's office in North Carolina, Mrs. Stephanie Pigues.

In the episode, you will hear her unique story of being a first generation American, the values that have shaped her into the woman she is, if she has any political ambitions after fulfilling her current position, and what's it been for her as a newlywed navigating through the pandemic. And due to the nature of her position, I had to ask about the Voting Rights Act that is currently in Congress being held up. To reach out to Stephanie, you can find here on Instagram: @stephsaidit.