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1:04

What's up to? Man? Carlos Miller of the eighty

1:06

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1:08

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1:10

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1:39

to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she

1:41

has the secrets of success experience firsthand

1:44

by marketing and Brandon expert Rashwan McDonald.

1:46

I will know he's giving me advice to many occasions.

1:48

In the case you didn't notice, I'm not broke,

1:51

you know, he'll be interview with celebrity CEOs,

1:54

entrepreneurs and industry decision makers.

1:56

It's what he likes to do. It's what he likes to

1:58

share. Now it's time to hear from my man,

2:01

Rashan McDonald money making Conversations

2:03

Here we come. Welcome to Money Making Conversation.

2:06

I am your host, Rashan McDonald. Like

2:08

I tell everybody every week, it's

2:10

time to stop reading other people's success stories

2:12

and actually start writing your own. And I always

2:15

tell people to leave with your gifts. Here people talk about their

2:17

gifts. They talk about their passions, well, stop talking

2:19

about it, lead with it, and don't let your

2:21

age, friends, family, or coworkers stop

2:23

you from planning or living your dreams. My

2:25

interviews I bring on money making conversations are

2:27

for you. I give you access to celebrities,

2:30

CEOs, entrepreneurs, and what I

2:32

like to call industry decision makers. My

2:34

next guest is a dear friend, Bill Duke.

2:37

Bill Duke is an actor, director, and producing

2:39

Hollywood. More than forty years of experience

2:41

on screen and behind the camera. Duke has

2:43

currently started in Steven Sarderbergh's

2:45

new crime drama No Sudden Mood,

2:48

Debating July one on HBO

2:50

Max, which I do have that I will be

2:52

watching him July one. His acting

2:54

credits include reaching television and feature

2:56

film roles and shows like Black Lightning,

2:59

I Love More Black Lightning, My Crew over There, The

3:01

Oval, and the critical acclaimed film Mandy,

3:04

and other movies like High Flying Bird.

3:06

He also known for Rosen Predator y'all remember

3:08

Predator, been Predator Now you

3:10

know I couldn't see nothing, American jigging

3:13

old car car was come on

3:15

now Action Jackson Commando who

3:18

ministers to side board ministers board

3:20

that was hard that bird on the Y, Get Rich

3:22

or Die, Tried, X Men three, and

3:24

many more film and TV projects. He's

3:26

on the show to talk about the movie

3:29

which we had just said, Southern,

3:31

No Southern Move, the Duke Media Foundation,

3:34

which I really want to talk about, and you unite

3:36

network please working the money making conversation

3:39

again. He is a Sigma by trade.

3:42

My man, Bill, do see

3:48

Bill? Dude? Bill, you know what mean you?

3:50

We junk off air because I remember making side

3:52

five and I always tell people this smell on the real

3:54

I tell people I pledged while I was in college

3:57

and it changed my life. It changed my life

3:59

and fraternities in general. I talked about fraternity

4:02

again. It's easy to sigmal you're gonna point a signal

4:04

like I can't see blue and white. But

4:09

I always tell people because a lot of people think that fraternity

4:12

row is about party and it's about it's

4:15

about having a good time, but really

4:19

being in a fraternity to change my perspective gave

4:21

me a clear understanding of the community.

4:23

And I just wanted to bring that up because you

4:25

know, we both are passionate about our fraternities

4:28

and UH and we always are telling people the

4:30

value of fraternity. Talk about being a member

4:32

of the segment of your of your organization

4:34

for a second. Well,

4:36

first of all, it's a it's a very

4:39

happy to be a part of it. And as

4:41

you say, maybe many people think

4:44

about fraternities as party.

4:46

You know, people party from time to time, but

4:48

that's not the foundation of it. The foundation

4:51

of is a collaboration of brothers coming

4:53

together to really discuss

4:55

and take action on issues that we face

4:58

as a culture in our community, t

5:01

from business to whatever politics.

5:04

But to him a discussion and

5:07

we don't have to agree on everything, but

5:10

we have mutual respect for each other and

5:12

the fact that we can honestly say what

5:14

we feel without being judged, you

5:16

know. And that's that's those those

5:18

statements that you say, I echo

5:21

those statements, but in because of

5:23

again, you know, gives you a sense of balance. And that's

5:25

why I say, you know, when you want to go out in the community,

5:27

because you know, even though you're an actor,

5:29

your director, you produce many

5:31

projects, it's about your brand,

5:34

and your brand is entertainment,

5:36

and in entertainment it does allow you

5:38

to capture people's attention. And

5:41

when you capture people attention, that can allow you to

5:43

go and and don't shape their minds, shape

5:45

their experiences. And I know we're want to

5:47

show to talk about you know, the movie that you're

5:49

starting in the July first is gonna be on HBO

5:51

Max. But Bill, do when you talk about

5:54

your Deep Duke Media Foundation,

5:56

tell us why it's important and why

5:58

did you started M. Well,

6:01

Um, it's the same reason I thought of my network. M

6:04

We our

6:07

generations. I think I

6:09

have an obligation to

6:11

leave something for our children that

6:15

is better than what

6:17

we inherited and what we are in today.

6:19

We are in a day of division. Um,

6:22

from the COVID two

6:24

politics to race. Um,

6:29

what are we leaving our children? And

6:32

that is the real question,

6:34

because we have to leave them something

6:37

that gives them hope. And

6:40

so I created my foundation.

6:42

We teach basically two things of media

6:44

literacy for young people are

6:46

coming into the business and really want

6:48

to understand with the

6:50

business of the industry really is and

6:52

how it's changing. We went from

6:54

film and television to media. When

6:58

I when I came up, and I say this all

7:00

the time, I had

7:02

one of the first cell phones and

7:04

I think you did too, my brother, do you remember the

7:06

size of it? Absolute? Come on now, come

7:08

on, am I exaggerated. I'm

7:11

holding it next to my head. I had it used to hangs

7:15

and it had a box with him maybe the boxing that

7:18

was that was like our first purse. Remember

7:20

it looked like a purse. They had a strap on shoulder

7:22

you had to hold of day like a

7:25

melo detector. Really, and

7:29

we felt we were cool man, We felt we were

7:31

the stuff right well.

7:34

And there was no internet then, and so I

7:37

try to talk to him about the evolution of

7:39

things with young people from those

7:42

times to what they have now and

7:44

how they can leverage it to their

7:46

benefit of their brands,

7:49

not just being an actor or director, but what

7:51

do you believe in? What is your brand? And how are

7:53

you gonna fight for it? Learn

7:55

the technology, learned

7:58

the disciplines that go along with So

8:01

we teach them financial literacy. Um,

8:03

and we'll talk about today, I'm sure. But there

8:06

are people and you and I both know

8:08

this for a fact, that make a hundred million

8:11

dollars or more. My brother or

8:13

broke. How do you

8:15

make a hundred million dollars

8:19

and go boke? Because

8:21

people teach you how to spend

8:23

a dollar, but not

8:25

how to use a dollar. And

8:29

so we teach young people what

8:32

is the f d I C. What is the Federal

8:35

Reserve? What is banking? What

8:37

is what is compound interest?

8:39

What is savings? What is the debt? What

8:42

is the stock market? What are bonds?

8:44

You know? What are you know? Stocks?

8:46

So, so the thing is that we

8:49

give them an understanding of what money

8:51

is, how it's used, and

8:53

how you can use it to your own benefit, not

8:55

just spend it, but use

8:58

it. We've of the beauty

9:00

of knowledge, and that's what you're teaching to knowledge,

9:03

because without knowledge that you became

9:06

either go backwards or your main station area.

9:08

And that was always impacts

9:10

the black community because we're always battling

9:12

the fighting for education and we're always

9:14

battling the fighting for opportunity. Same

9:16

thing happened with the COVID nineteen when it hit.

9:18

Who did it effect African Americans and

9:20

people of color? Why at least

9:23

educated? Uh, We're living in living

9:25

conditions with mass transit situations

9:27

and also naturally poor diety

9:30

situations. And so then that

9:32

becomes why is that important and why

9:34

is it important to note where the bank account is.

9:36

WI isn't know what percentages are, wisn't

9:39

know if you're in the district, there's gonna you know,

9:41

do unfair housing on you. You

9:43

know, we continually can't get ahead

9:45

because we're spending a different dollar. And

9:47

that's what you're trying to say right now in this interview,

9:50

correct Bill, do yes, sir. I'm

9:52

trying to get us to understand what

9:55

money is, how we can use it to

9:57

our benefit. And that's what we teach

10:00

young people in our foundation, because

10:03

if I'm just saying, we as a

10:05

culture to do it ourselves. We

10:07

can't depend upon others

10:10

doing it for us. And so

10:12

the men and women in our community have

10:14

to pass on what we've learned

10:16

from our mistakes so that

10:19

our young people don't make the same mistakes.

10:23

You know, I when you know, when I

10:25

look through my life, you know I

10:27

would say that I have made mistakes,

10:29

but I don't know if they have mistakes or the experiences.

10:31

Because if you learn from it, then it's

10:34

not a mistake. But you continue

10:36

to make the same mistake, then

10:38

there's a problem because you didn't learn. And

10:40

so I've advanced myself called

10:43

politics, politics, it's called

10:46

it's called being able to to to

10:48

to negotiate the right situation. Because

10:50

you know yourself, Bill, your your career

10:52

has been tied to relationships. Your career

10:54

has been tied to people extending

10:56

their hand, either by surprise or

10:59

one that you may sure you was in the position

11:01

to shape. And that's what also

11:04

in the financial word that you're teaching that you have

11:06

to let black people understand. And

11:08

now I'll talk about it all the time. We can talk a little Hollywood

11:10

talk. It's like I've been in

11:12

Hollywood since ninety two. Okay,

11:15

first writing job, I did stand up comic Pride

11:17

to that, and I just always see these

11:19

white producers go on meetings

11:21

while they were working. They have a

11:23

writer job. They go, they're looking for another job,

11:25

established the relationships. We don't think like

11:28

that. And if they got terminated

11:30

or the contract they get to extent, they shook

11:32

their hands that thank you for the opportunity

11:35

and said the traditionally African

11:37

American people of color get mad, frustrated,

11:40

pointing fingers. Okay, guess what you're

11:42

blowing that relationship. The relationship

11:45

is that things don't always go the

11:47

way you play. Act like it. Okay,

11:50

understand the value of your money. Am I

11:52

wrong in these assessments that I'm making The build

11:56

you are brilliantly putting it together.

11:58

Um milk him X said

12:00

something. He said two things that

12:03

I learned a lot from.

12:06

First he said, don't

12:09

be playing checkers in the chess game. And

12:13

number two, he said, no

12:16

matter how good a football player you

12:18

are, at the name of the game is baseball.

12:20

You but to get yourself a damn back because

12:26

your competition is gonna say you're

12:29

a good You're a good, good, good

12:31

little football player. Keep running them out of the basics.

12:34

You're good, right, And

12:36

they were, they were, they hitting home runs.

12:38

Are back. We have to

12:40

be again to understand the game, how

12:43

it's played, what the rules are. We

12:46

can make our own game also, But

12:49

the fact of the matter is is that we have

12:51

to study the knowledgeable,

12:54

take the time to learn and understand

12:57

the business. No, you're

13:00

on my show here today, money may comes Bill,

13:02

do talk about no sudden mood just debate in July

13:04

first on HBO Max and you

13:07

know the brilliant producer, director Stephen

13:09

Salderberg. But prior to all going

13:12

on the air, you mentioned the word bid with

13:15

you know, like like that

13:17

like did did you not mention that

13:19

to me? Yes? I mentioned

13:22

with uh And and they send

13:24

people to Boston on trains when

13:27

they lose, and when people

13:29

play me, they learn from me. I teach so

13:32

so you know anytime you've read I'm

13:35

gonna teach. I love my young students. Anytime,

13:39

let me know. I'll fly it. Bill.

13:43

What you're gonna do to me? Man, see what you ain doing? Fly

13:45

me in, whoop my butt, and then fly me

13:48

back. And if that didn't happen like that, because

13:50

that gives you more smack brown. Okay,

13:52

I'm gonna fly myself. And you

13:55

see, people don't know Bill like I know Bill. They

13:57

just see that little dark character. You know, sentister,

14:00

you know, don't ever smile you

14:03

walking a room. He might shoot you, knife you,

14:06

you know, to send you to hell burn.

14:08

That's the Bill y'all know. Or moves to TV.

14:11

This the Bill I know right here, you know, smack

14:13

talk off a laughing

14:15

all the time. Uh go

14:18

go tell me I come from filth

14:21

war in Texas. I grew up with number black

14:23

people. He gonna ask me off. Have

14:25

you ever heard of Bell with just only asking me

14:27

to I know dominoes. See, you can't

14:29

insult me like that. No, mobile, dude, men,

14:31

You're gonna have problems

14:39

I'm just I'm I was just exploring, you know, I

14:41

was asking you a question right right right,

14:43

that he was a brother brother the brother

14:46

right there was the brother of the brother conversation. Okay,

14:49

cool, Okay. I just had to bring that up in

14:51

the middle of this very important interview

14:53

about our relationship. And it's still intact,

14:56

it's still strong, and we'll keep winning.

14:59

Now, let's it back to the movie. That's

15:01

why you brought the dog che

15:03

Anything I see with dog To, I

15:05

know, straight up gonna be serious. Talk

15:08

about the movie. Talk about your involvement. You

15:10

work with Stephen before and

15:13

other movie projects, so it's a relationship

15:15

there. Talk about your involvement in

15:17

this movie. First of all,

15:19

I want to thank Stephen for putting me

15:21

in the movie. And I worked with him,

15:24

you know, the Lining, High

15:27

Flying Bird, and this is my third film working with him

15:29

and working with Matt Damon

15:31

and Don Chetto with Blessing

15:33

a Gift, with a great time don

15:36

Cheto, as you said, serious

15:38

films, but he is one of on

15:41

set, one of the funniest people I've ever

15:43

met in my life. He has

15:45

an incredible sense of humor, a great heart,

15:48

just great people, you know, and making the movie.

15:50

We're in Detroit. By the way, I've

15:52

said this before, Detroit is changing. They're

15:56

really cleaning the city up. They're restoring

15:58

the old like you know, the older

16:01

historical buildings like churches, et cetera.

16:04

And it was great to see the city

16:06

come back to life and then move

16:08

beyond that. It's like really some good

16:10

things absolutely besides great

16:12

food. Now we just said Don

16:14

Cheetle and Matt David got really older

16:17

than there, John Hamm, Brendan

16:19

Fraser, David Arbor. But you see

16:21

what their toro come on? Now, man, that's

16:24

a who's who, a great acting a

16:26

lot of people and

16:29

that you know when you're get in the room like that build because

16:31

you know it's all like a good basketball team.

16:33

You know, you could you see all these good basketball players. You

16:35

want to make sure your free throws are right, your job

16:37

shot right, you're grabbing the rebound. How

16:39

do you approach that when you're in the scene

16:41

with talented other people? Does A does

16:44

A I gotta get my act together, I gotta make

16:46

sure I'm on porn? Or do you do? You do?

16:48

You do? You talk to him? But prior to

16:50

a scene, how does want to approach that if you're

16:52

a young person breaking into the business,

16:56

well, if you're a young person breaking into the business,

16:58

it's called show business. Business

17:01

part is about relationships, and

17:04

so you have to put your you know,

17:06

Wayne Dyre says, every

17:08

day we have one of two choices. If we could be a

17:10

host to God or a hostage to our ego. Uh.

17:14

In this business, if your hostage to your egos,

17:16

some people get away with it. But for

17:18

us as a culture, I think

17:20

that's a really bad idea. I

17:22

think establishing relationships uh,

17:25

and honing your craft, because

17:28

acting and directing our craft. So it's writing

17:31

or other people are out partying, you

17:33

should be home studying, learning.

17:36

Because when you party, you've accomplished

17:38

something. It's called the celebration. So

17:41

the thing is is that we

17:43

have to really start taking it seriously. Today

17:46

we're saying before life came into

17:48

business, there was no internet, there was no social

17:51

media. Young people today,

17:54

Yeah, pictures are important. But if you're an

17:56

acting class that you all should be in, and

17:59

you're working on two or three scenes with other

18:01

actors with the class,

18:04

then what you should do is if

18:06

you want to picture plus a

18:08

reel film with

18:10

your cell phone, the scene that

18:13

you're rehearsing right, you

18:15

can cut that scene on your computer right

18:17

and edited, so you

18:20

don't have to wait to be discovered. You

18:22

can you can discover your Look a look at Easter Rey

18:24

for example. She started off with, like

18:26

you know, podcast and web

18:29

series. That's well wepisodes

18:32

and so did uh it's always sending

18:34

in Philadelphia start off with webisodes.

18:37

Been on the air for nine years. So those

18:39

people they stopped waiting to make

18:41

any sense absolutely well. I think that when

18:43

you when you look at about a lot of people

18:45

do wait too long. They want that that. I

18:47

always tell people waiting on the lottery, you know

18:49

they wait doing that opportunity. They really do.

18:52

Think it works in Hollywood. You're gonna walk down the

18:54

street and somebody gonna tap you on the shoulder. That is

18:56

not high work. That is you may have heard

18:58

that story, but that's what that's what like winning

19:00

the lottery. There are people who do win the tapping

19:04

on the shoulder. M hm. You

19:06

know that you know who's going to tapping on the shoulder

19:08

person, Tell you get out the way because they want to get in front

19:10

of you. Yeah.

19:13

Absolutely, and that gets tapped a lot That's

19:16

a lot of people understand about the entertainment, you

19:18

know, because you know this for a fact, they are

19:20

going in in a movie like this. And let's give

19:23

you a little bit more background on No Sudden Mood. It's a Gritish

19:25

story which takes place in nineteen fifty four and

19:27

the racially charged Detroit. And we know Detroit

19:30

has always been a community where

19:33

where where the police has an issue,

19:35

it was black you know Motown was

19:37

there a group of small time criminals

19:39

who are hired on the mysterious circumstances

19:42

to steal what they think is a simple document.

19:44

They file up the master plan and guess what,

19:47

it all goes as they say to hell. And

19:49

you include all these situations. So you have

19:52

black people and white people trying

19:54

to work together in nineteen fifty four.

19:57

Right there, that tells you it's

19:59

gonna be intense because you

20:01

know, you deal it would doug high

20:03

levels of racial prejudice and

20:06

also a black people just came around

20:08

like white people came back then. It's right,

20:11

So how did what role do you play in all

20:13

of this? Bill Douke? Well,

20:16

you you so brilliantly and accurately described

20:19

the conditions of the time. Uh

20:21

and um,

20:25

in those days, you

20:28

had confrontations

20:30

based upon race and social

20:33

positions. So

20:36

if you were black, you

20:39

had to be able, as I said before, to be able to

20:41

play chess in the chess games. So if

20:44

they, you know, had negotiators

20:46

with them, you have to negotiate. If

20:48

the negotiations didn't go well

20:51

and they had guns, you had to have guns.

20:55

So you know, you you could not negotiate

20:59

with someone who felt

21:01

you were weak and unprepared.

21:04

The only way you could negotiate with them

21:07

is to look him in the eye. And they

21:09

understood the consequences of disrespecting

21:11

you. M So I played

21:13

the head of the black gang and

21:16

we negotiate over some issues

21:19

that I don't want to give away. Now give

21:21

a movie away, but we are

21:24

negotiators and they don't expect us

21:26

to be that and they're surprised by it, but they

21:28

do negotiate with us. Now, let me

21:30

know when you look at movies, because we've seen

21:33

how covid has changed the game,

21:35

and also streaming networks Netflix,

21:37

Amazon, you know, Hulu,

21:40

Disney Plus have changed the game. They opened

21:42

in movies that were opening the theater, opening

21:44

online and streaming and all they're

21:46

doing the simul simulcast

21:49

They simulcastically. They're like

21:51

they they were Cruella Crewella opening in the theater

21:54

as well as Old Disney Plus and

21:56

in their premium network. Have you seen

21:59

a change in the quality or it doesn't

22:01

matter. They steer producing high quality movies

22:03

even for streaming as well as for the big

22:05

theaters. Some of them

22:07

are high quality and some of them are not.

22:10

Some people are giving cameras

22:13

to make movies and they they've

22:15

never studied directing, They've never

22:17

studied writing or anything because of

22:19

relationship they have with a relative, somebody

22:22

who has money. But I I I still

22:24

believe in people who

22:27

take the time to study

22:29

their discipline. But I'm

22:31

not gonna say it's easy. It's not. But you

22:35

have to know, you know, you have to read

22:37

books. You know, you have to you

22:40

know, you you have to be able to understand

22:43

structure, not only the

22:46

structure of the movie, but what is character

22:49

structure. You know, what

22:51

is the beginning, middle, and end of the movie. What is

22:53

the storyline? What is the character

22:55

line? How do you hook people in emotionally

22:58

to what you're talking about? Those are crafts

23:01

and skills that should be studied, you know, and

23:03

there are books at schools you can go to. UM.

23:06

You know that. You know that. One of

23:08

the great books by

23:10

Joseph Campbell's A Hero with a Thousand Faces.

23:14

Even Steelberg, all those people

23:16

use a hero of a thousand faces,

23:18

and so do I. Another

23:21

great book is by Machili, The Five

23:23

Season Cinematography. It's another

23:25

It's another great book, you know. UM.

23:28

Another great uh book is

23:31

you know Sun Super Wroalthy Art

23:34

of War. The

23:36

the The War of Art is another

23:38

great book. Talks about how

23:41

we procrastinatese and

23:44

make excuses for not doing what we know

23:46

we should be doing, and what are the patterns

23:48

of that and how to get out of that. So studying

23:51

our craft, studying things, I

23:54

think it's very important for young people a company uh

23:56

No sudden moves of talking to Bill Duke about

23:59

the movie that premiers July first on HBO.

24:01

Max Uh it's a great movie, she said in

24:03

nineteen fifty four. It's about black people

24:06

white people. You know they will know of

24:08

video phones back there. You know, police

24:11

violence still existed, It has existed

24:13

all our lives as an African American. We

24:16

know that. But when you look at what you've

24:18

done. I talked about the Duke Media Foundation.

24:20

I talked about that, but I always want to ship

24:22

before we get off the air and talk about you unite

24:25

Unite network that I

24:27

believe starts July twenty

24:29

one, but you say there's up and running

24:32

June tent talk about the purpose of

24:34

that and why the importance of the Unite network.

24:37

That's why unite. First

24:39

of all, you will have the the page

24:41

of the um

24:44

of our of our efforts up in

24:47

the mount June tenth, and

24:49

on the first week in July, we

24:53

will have a really serious

24:55

soft launch. And I'm

24:57

putting a network together because I

25:00

have children in my life. I have a god daughter,

25:02

I have children that I love God

25:05

sons sons, and I

25:08

think we have responsibility to

25:10

leave them something called

25:13

hope. Right now, when you turn

25:15

the news on, it's all bad. I mean,

25:17

we're being divided in

25:19

ways that we've always been

25:21

a divided country basically etceuter but

25:23

now taking a whole other

25:25

level with the COVID, with racism,

25:28

with the politics we're

25:30

being divided in. Division is only

25:32

going to leave chaos for our children. So

25:36

I in my network instead

25:38

of the bad news on the negativity,

25:40

but we report are all the good things that

25:42

are happening in this world. There are people around

25:45

the world that are doing great. There's a program

25:48

and I wish people watch it once a year

25:50

on CNN called CNN Heroes.

25:53

If you're it's a show

25:55

about individuals

25:58

who are doing good and

26:00

that's what should be reported. So I have a

26:02

network that really is devoted to

26:05

leave hope for our children, to

26:07

give them a historical context

26:09

of all the sacrifices that have been

26:11

made so they could be here today and do what they

26:13

do. And so we have

26:15

a number of different programs on the network.

26:18

I have the support from people that Anthony

26:20

Anderson, Centric, the Entertainer

26:24

Um, a lot of good folks, and so we're

26:27

launching it and we hope people check it out.

26:29

Well, you know the uh you know that was that

26:31

was a cue and a cap

26:34

of right there? You know that with no sigma

26:36

and and Sigma's happened you out and your

26:38

near I'm just saying, you know that was some other fraternity

26:40

members there that that you just mentioned

26:43

there, Mr Bill, do you know just let you know

26:45

that you know there are some stigmas

26:47

that okay, okay, but you just didn't mention them

26:49

there though. Bill you didn't mention them though, Bill, No,

26:51

but I'm just saying. I'm just saying,

26:55

told the respect. I understand your

26:57

pop position, told

27:01

position. I

27:06

love you man, I love it, man, I kid to

27:08

laugh first man hbo b uh,

27:11

Steve Soderberg casting, the amazing

27:13

cast, Don Cheeto, Matt Damon,

27:15

Raleoo, John Hamburn, the Fraser and

27:18

most important initial Del Toro, most

27:20

important my man, Bill to do back

27:23

on the screen, big screen, small

27:25

screen. I love him always, man, because

27:27

that smiles amazing, this personality dynamic.

27:30

And I will be flying myself

27:32

into Los Angeles cally

27:35

to beat you and be with young man.

27:37

Hear me on that. Okay, guess

27:40

what, sir, I'm gonna send

27:42

you a bus to boss from

27:45

l A. I

27:48

love you man, you stay strong, Bill Duke.

27:51

Okay, thank you so much, man, I appreciate

27:53

it. We will be right back with more

27:55

money making conversations with your host

27:57

ras Sean McDonald. You

28:01

are now tuned into the money making conversations.

28:04

Minute of inspiration with Rashan McDonald's

28:06

Timori to star our Family Reunion

28:09

recall spending years being incorrectly

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treated for her debilitating abdominal

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28:31

my surgeries with endometriosis, my

28:33

doctor was like, Yo, Tia, there's nothing I can

28:35

do. You kind of have to start looking at your lifestyle.

28:37

And that's exactly what I did, and I want to

28:40

encourage other women and people do it's the

28:42

same. We have a women's multi, we have an

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interview with Tia Maori, visit Money

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to money making Conversations with your

30:58

host, Rashaan McDonald on. My

31:00

next guest is an industry decision

31:03

maker. Her name is Diana Williams. She

31:05

has an entertainment powerhouse who is a beloved

31:07

advocate and authority in black music.

31:10

The legendary on that personality is a trailblazer

31:13

and broadcasting music activism and

31:15

celebrity media strategy. Her celebrity

31:17

clientele includes Grammy Award winners, executives,

31:20

actors, and athletes. Some notable names

31:22

of clients include Rihanna, Charlie Wilson,

31:24

got another hit song out now, Janelle

31:26

Mona. She acts to now. If y'all don't

31:28

know about her, just the name a few. She's

31:31

also serving on the board of the National Museum

31:33

of African American Music in Nashville.

31:35

That is why she's on the show, among

31:38

other wonderful things we're gonna talk about, because this

31:40

is Black Music Month, where she chairs

31:42

the Music Industry Relationship Collective. Please

31:45

working with the money making conversations. The mother

31:48

of Black Music Month, Deanna Williams.

31:52

I saw thought I sneaked that in on your girlfriend,

31:56

biological mother of three children.

31:59

You stuck it on you. Look here

32:01

we go old school shop is attack. Thank

32:03

you. I appreciate that because I'm trying to go

32:06

down there. I'm trying to I'm trying to maintain because my

32:09

world is so crazy, it's so busy, I'm

32:11

pulled in so many different directions. When this

32:14

is kind of like calming. When I do these interviews with people

32:16

I care about, people I respect, and giving

32:18

you a voice in this business. And sometimes

32:21

because of the fact that you know whether you're playing

32:23

music, we don't know you. And then I

32:25

try to pull back that curtain and let

32:28

let people understand that the different layers

32:30

that you have currently and

32:32

then some of the things you position us to

32:35

to celebrate currently and

32:37

tod to this week, especially today.

32:40

In eighteen seventy nine, forty two years ago,

32:43

you know, you went to Jimmy

32:45

Carter. Actually

32:47

Kenny Gamble and I were dressing. We

32:49

were home excited that a dream

32:52

that Gamble initiated with

32:55

the conception of Black Music Month.

32:57

We were on our way to the White House to participate

33:00

paid in a picnic on the south lawn

33:02

of the White House that President

33:04

and Russell and Carter hosted for

33:07

two hundred members primarily of the

33:09

Black Music Association, with performances

33:12

by Billy Eckstein, Chuck

33:14

Berry, Andre Crouch, Sarah

33:16

Jordan Powell, Evelyn Champagne,

33:19

Kid MFSB under the

33:21

direction of dexter Ones. That it was a

33:24

heavy day. I was a young girl.

33:26

I was excited. It was wonderful.

33:29

So today is the actual forty second

33:31

anniversary, as you mentioned on well,

33:33

you know the employtants of music. Wow,

33:36

when I think about music and especially

33:38

in the African American community, you know how

33:40

music is such an emotional is used

33:43

to motivate people, is used to inspire

33:45

sports, sports sporting events

33:48

as you used in weddings, is used

33:50

at funeral uh

33:53

celebrations, done some of just to just

33:55

to set the tone on the elevator.

33:58

Talk about us about music, right, Why

34:00

does music resonate so much

34:02

in a person's life, lifestyle

34:05

period. Yes, great, great

34:07

question. I think all music resonates,

34:10

But my focus and concentration

34:12

is on black music, America's

34:14

indigenous music art

34:16

forms established here in

34:18

the United States, from the blues to

34:21

gospel to American

34:23

classical which is jazz, R

34:25

and B, rock and roll people

34:28

all created by Rosetta,

34:31

Thar Chuck, Barry, bo Didley,

34:33

don't get it twisted. Elvis was an

34:36

imitator, not the originator,

34:38

and so we have a rich legacy

34:41

in America with this majestic various

34:44

genres. And what's important

34:46

to Rashan is that, you know, when you're talking

34:48

about money making matters, well,

34:50

black music generates billions

34:53

of dollars annually and

34:56

right now the number one genre in the world

34:58

happens to be hip hop. So

35:01

music and black music

35:03

in particular, it's a universal language

35:05

that has felt, if not overstood,

35:08

by billions on the planet. You

35:10

know, when you say hip hop, you know say you know

35:12

because I grew up you know, I grew up to

35:14

you know, the forty five single, you know, with

35:17

the Franklin, the old J's,

35:19

and then the Mothership landed. You know, oh

35:23

my god, when he landed, he changed the whole

35:25

music. You know, that's from bands existed.

35:27

Now you don't see bands anymore like you

35:29

used to talk about that little transition

35:32

from because I mean when I was growing up in

35:34

college, you know, there was nothing for me to see

35:36

eight to ten guys on stage. Even

35:38

local bands were like that deep. It

35:40

was like enjoying that moment. Then then hip

35:42

hop came away, and the instruments went away and the DJ

35:45

replaced them. And now I don't see

35:47

that at all anymore. Any musicians

35:49

well blamed on technology. With

35:52

the invention of garage

35:54

fan and pro tools,

35:56

people were able to have a computer a

35:59

laptop in their home and

36:01

be able to access all the instruments.

36:04

And also the demise in many school

36:06

districts of music. I

36:08

don't know about you, but I remember when I was growing

36:11

up in Manhattan, in Harlem

36:13

and Washington Heights, we had to

36:15

take ban we had

36:17

to have jim These are required subjects.

36:20

However, now many school districts, because

36:22

of economics, have cut back

36:25

music programming, So I would

36:27

blame the lack of bands. And mind you,

36:29

they are still some bands, but

36:31

not what century are we talking about.

36:34

You and I grew up in the twentieth century,

36:36

so our generation we had

36:39

no choice but to play instruments and to sing.

36:42

But now with the technology, things have changed

36:44

immensely. And as you mentioned the rise

36:47

of hip hop, you don't you don't need a full band.

36:49

It's a DJ and

36:51

the m C and the hype. Gotta

36:54

conclude that hype going

37:00

no talent. But is there at their talent?

37:02

Now? When we look at music and I look at my life

37:05

tied to music, I can tell you it's

37:07

certain songs right now. You

37:09

know, because you know music videos played

37:11

a major role in our

37:14

visual part of music. You know because

37:16

now I will go to a music video. Uh.

37:19

In certain parts of my life, I go to if I hear

37:21

a something, I go to a party, if I go

37:24

to if I hear brick cars, I knew exactly I was at

37:26

a frat party right now, I can I can see

37:28

if I get that song, I know exactly if it has

37:30

zoomed. I would go to a pool party where

37:32

I was trying to sing. I know exactly

37:35

where I was at. I remember when when when Pete

37:37

Funk landed, I was on the basketball court

37:39

trying in the basketball was so cold

37:42

that almost broke my fingers when they passed me the ball.

37:44

All these things are so important.

37:46

So now we're get into June being black black

37:49

music man. And then you guys went

37:51

to President Card at the time.

37:54

What was the inspiration behind that?

37:57

Yeah, the inspiration was

38:00

Kenny Gamble, who is in the Rock and Roll

38:02

Hall of Fame with his partner leon Ah. They

38:04

are the co architects along

38:06

with Tom Bell of T S o P. The

38:08

Sound of Philadelphia. Gamble visited

38:11

Nashville and saw what the Country Music

38:13

Association was doing

38:15

in terms of branding not

38:18

just a genre, country music,

38:21

but also a city and thought,

38:24

we need to do that. So he came back and

38:26

established the Black Music Association

38:29

the b m A, and from that he

38:31

conceived of a month much

38:33

like we have February, Black History

38:35

Month, and other months that put a focus

38:38

on highlight on different things.

38:40

Cancer Awareness Month, HIV Awareness

38:43

Month, Asian Pacific. You know,

38:45

all those months are an opportunity

38:47

to highlight and celebrate

38:50

the individuals involved in that

38:53

month. So Black Music Month. He

38:55

reached out to Clarence Avant, who

38:57

reached out to the White House and President car this

39:00

administration, and hence the first

39:02

celebration of June Black Music Month

39:05

took place June seventh, nineteen

39:08

seventy nine. And so that

39:10

was the origin story of

39:12

that is what happened. And Gamble and I

39:14

were a couple at that time. We have three beautiful

39:17

adult children, and a very handsome

39:19

six and a half year old came over here and broke

39:21

some of my art the other day. But

39:25

that was the beginning, and he and I were a couple

39:27

at the time. So in the Black Music Association,

39:30

I worked to get Black Music

39:32

Month, worked hard to

39:34

get it recognized, and it wasn't until

39:36

two thousand that President Bill

39:39

Clinton, after I lobbied Congress

39:41

for three years, officially

39:44

recognized it in the American government

39:46

and from the perspective of the White House. So

39:49

every American president since

39:51

Bill Clinton has signed a proclamation.

39:54

President Biden just released his recently

39:57

recognizing June as Black

39:59

Music Month. You know, it's really interesting

40:01

you say that, because you know, I've been fortunate

40:03

to be a part of radio in the early nineties

40:06

and Houston Magic one oh two, and

40:08

I didn't you know, I know it's seven nine and it

40:10

has been recognized, but I didn't get

40:12

a feel for it until two thousand when

40:14

Steve Harvey now was on radio on two

40:16

point three to Beat in l A. And then all of

40:18

a sudden it became like, you know, advertisers

40:21

wanted to advertised doing black music

40:23

mark, and then you started having events

40:26

tied to that in black music mark.

40:28

And so when you when you you said something notably

40:30

that you know, Gamble he went to Nashville.

40:32

He saw what they were doing with country and Western music.

40:35

Now, the National Museum of African

40:37

American Music, it's in Nashville, talking

40:45

we go. What I didn't know when I

40:47

first accepted involvement

40:49

with the museum and the aconym is

40:51

named now, I didn't realize

40:53

that Nashville has such a rich legacy

40:55

in history as pertained to black music,

40:58

absolutely in gospel music,

41:00

in R and B and rock. Jimi Hendricks lived

41:02

in Nashville for a period of time. Last

41:05

check. He was a big time rocker of one

41:07

of the fathers of rock music. And

41:09

so Nashville it just happened

41:12

to be the city where the private

41:14

sector, wealthy individuals

41:16

government, the city as well

41:19

as the state government came together

41:21

and it's a twenty two year in the

41:24

making project, which is

41:26

astonishing. I've only been involved the last

41:28

seven years, which you figured. When I first

41:30

got involved, I was looking at blueprints. Now

41:33

as about a month ago, I walked into a

41:36

fabulous, modern, very

41:38

contemporary American history

41:41

museum that is dealing with our

41:44

contributions to all

41:46

genre starting in sixteen nineteen

41:48

when enslaved Africans were kidnapped

41:51

and brought to the shores of what is now

41:53

the United States of America. So, yes,

41:55

we're in Nashville in the heart of now and listen,

41:58

you've got to come. As my guest, I'm

42:00

inviting you all to come because

42:03

it is amazing.

42:05

I literally cried the first

42:07

five minutes that I was in the lobby of the museum.

42:10

It is spectacular. Seven galleries

42:12

over fifty six thousand square

42:15

feet and galleries filled

42:17

with artifacts and information and

42:20

inspiration about our contribution

42:22

to global culture. Well, you know, I would

42:24

when you say you've moved to tears, I would have to believe

42:27

that's on this statement because you've

42:29

been so associated with music, and

42:31

like I said, music is tied to memories

42:34

and and I know when you

42:35

in your case, you played

42:38

music some of these artists music. You've been on stage,

42:40

You've introduced these artists, You've had lunch,

42:43

dinner, shared great you

42:46

know, celebration stories and sad, disappointing

42:48

stories. What was the most what was the biggest

42:50

takeaway when you walked into the museum, which

42:53

is now based in Nashville, is

42:55

open. Uh, you know, the ceremonies

42:57

gonna We're gonna talk about the ceremonies in a minute in the

42:59

notele who are going to be there, but talk

43:02

about that moment really, because

43:05

I have to believe it was really breathtaking

43:08

for you, and also in a level of disbelief.

43:12

The disbelief not so much because

43:14

we all worked very hard. I worked,

43:16

I chaired co chaired of Phil

43:19

Thornton two functions where we raise money

43:21

for the museum, but more

43:23

astonishment at what we can

43:25

do when we really apply ourselves,

43:28

because again, this was an idea at

43:30

some point and snow bald.

43:32

And so what was my big

43:34

takeaway from the museum is that we are

43:37

wealthy black folks. We

43:39

are wealthy in creativity

43:41

and it is obvious and demonstrated

43:44

in this museum, and as a woman who

43:46

is dedicated, I've dedicated my entire life

43:48

to the promotion, perpetuation, the

43:51

preservation of Black music.

43:54

We are are slogan now as black

43:56

music has a home, and I feel like

43:59

my work is in that building.

44:01

A great deal of my work is in that

44:03

building. So I am elated

44:07

to be involved, and I'm encouraging

44:09

everyone to come and get that emotional feeling.

44:11

If you look and go to UH National

44:14

Museum of African American Music nay

44:16

ma'am dot org, you'll see videos,

44:19

You'll see images, and you'll also

44:21

see testimonies from families

44:23

that have visited the museum and had

44:25

a very visceral experience, much like

44:27

I did when I first game. I know that I talked to

44:29

cel Eldredge as the creator and executive

44:32

of Cafe Boca. I know she told me

44:34

that Radio UH was hosted

44:36

by Lenny Love and u angel Leaque

44:38

and yo yo, they're going to be done that broadcasting.

44:41

And then June seventeen is the grand opening.

44:44

Well, you know you'd be honoring Quincy Jones, Lionel,

44:46

Richie, Smokey Robinson, Shaka Khan, the

44:48

Fist Jubilee singers, gospel

44:51

legends right there. So when you

44:53

start a grand open celebration

44:55

with Quincy Jones, then you slide

44:57

over to eas That's

45:00

I said, Zoomole Richie, then

45:02

Smoking Robs, the cruising you know,

45:06

come on now, you know it's

45:09

some history walking out. And that's just some of the names

45:11

that are just being mentioned in this press release.

45:14

But talk about the grand opening

45:16

with your June seventeenth. That whole weekend

45:19

is like a just just each day

45:21

has a forward moving to the

45:23

next day. Talk about that because that's

45:26

the weekend you want me to come down, when you want to come

45:28

down that we want you to come. I'm

45:30

coming down that weekend. I got both my COVID

45:32

shots. I was still gonna wear my mask,

45:35

but I got both my COVID shots. I'm gonna be down there so I

45:37

can hook you.

45:39

I want you to come. Yes, you mentioned

45:41

our esteemed honor Reads. These are

45:43

all people who have made when we talk about

45:46

sizeable contributions to our music

45:48

and our lives and our memories, all those

45:51

individuals that you mentioned, and I think

45:53

I should also say that Angela Yee

45:55

from the Breakfast Club, who is part

45:57

of my music industry relations Collective

46:00

is going to be hosting that evening

46:02

and the FIS Jubilee Singers were the

46:04

first global ambassadors of

46:07

Black music around the world.

46:09

They were super popular and

46:12

you know, well received in Europe. So

46:14

we're honoring the legacy of the Fifth Jubilee

46:16

Singers as well. And I want to shout out

46:18

our president and CEO, Henry

46:21

Beecher Hicks, the third, who has done

46:23

a phenomenal job as a leader

46:26

moving us towards this day.

46:28

We had an actual ribbon cutting back

46:30

on MLKA Junior Day,

46:32

but the official rand opening

46:34

of course restricted opening

46:38

earlier this year because of COVID and

46:40

now that people like you me are

46:42

getting vaccinated, we are

46:44

opening the doors to the museum and

46:47

our block party will also be

46:50

the day of Juneteenth, and we're celebrating

46:52

Juneteenth and inviting the community

46:54

to come in and see the museum. Now, Jo

46:57

gotta ask all these coutions fear

46:59

there don't as you have to give the museum

47:03

in general, there are and and again

47:05

people can go to Black Music Museum dot

47:07

com. It's very reasonable. If you become a

47:09

member, obviously it changes

47:12

uh the membership. However,

47:14

during this weekend of the grand opening The

47:16

museum is going to be open on

47:19

the block party day when we're celebrating Juneteenth,

47:21

and open to the community at large, but

47:24

there is a fee. And the day that I

47:26

was there my first visit to the museum

47:28

after you know, seeing it just

47:30

dirt and the construction process.

47:33

I live in Philly, so I go to Nashville

47:35

for our board meetings. Uh. It was

47:37

quite amazing to see the construction

47:39

and the completion of the museum.

47:42

But children, school groups were there

47:44

the day and just tons of them, and

47:47

it really warmed my heart because this

47:50

museum is for families, it's

47:52

for everyone. It's not just for black

47:54

folks. I want to go on the record and say, you

47:56

have a pulse, you have a heartbeat,

47:59

this m this for you, seriously, because

48:01

the reality is most of us, all

48:04

of us, regardless to your musical

48:06

preference. As you stated at the outside

48:08

of our conversation, black music

48:10

is an integral part of our experience

48:13

here on this planet, not just here in America,

48:15

but around the world. So our expectation

48:18

is that we will be an international donation

48:20

of location, expecting

48:22

people from everywhere to come see this

48:25

is pretty amazing. When I when I when

48:27

I look at you and I talked. First of all,

48:29

uh, it's this board got a lot of the great talkers

48:32

like you a great talker. Field Thornton is a great

48:34

talker. Do you talk about here? I

48:36

didn't know that highest ranking

48:38

black man, My ranking black

48:41

man is joining our board. Um

48:44

Vince Gill Country Artists is

48:46

joining our board. Fantastic. Just

48:48

you know, some pretty dynamic people are have

48:51

signed up, Monique, I'd let some great

48:53

folks. So I'm honored to serve on this board.

48:56

I want to I want to give it a little bit about you

48:58

as a strategist, as a

49:00

as a media planner, as a

49:02

person that, as they said, a whisper

49:05

whisper because

49:10

in New York Times, you know the thing about it when

49:12

I because I've been fortunate to manage talent

49:15

right talent and produce talent. And you

49:17

know, every talent is different, and

49:19

I think with a lot of people make mistakes, especially

49:21

agencies, they try to sign up a bunch of people

49:23

and then they try to treat them all the same,

49:26

and you know that's not the case. You know they'll

49:28

be successful with anybody. You have to hear their story

49:31

here, their pain, here, their joy, and then

49:33

try to disseminate the right course of action

49:35

for that person. So when it comes to

49:37

that, because as a strategist,

49:39

you really are managed your too, because I know you and I

49:41

need to sit down and talk about some projects because we

49:44

have a similar lane that we always cross

49:46

when it comes to strategy. And people

49:48

ask me all the time how I'm most How can

49:50

I generate so much success for certain people? First

49:52

of all, I always tell them they have to be talented

49:55

one. Secondly, they have to be willing

49:57

to work hard, because you like them

49:59

myself, Dianna, You're hard work. You know,

50:01

twenty four hours in a day is twenty four hours

50:03

a day. You're gonna use every hour in it. And

50:06

and the other person is that I think in

50:08

my side of it, they have to be a caring

50:10

person. They have to care about something. And

50:13

those three qualities of the type of qualities

50:15

where I work hard for it because I care about people.

50:17

I'm a hard worker. And then I'm also

50:20

I have a strong belief in my talent

50:22

that I want to share with that person to

50:24

to to develop their talent. What are

50:26

your thoughts when you talk to when people approach

50:28

you or you approach them about your strategy

50:31

planning. Well, I've

50:33

had the blessing, as you mentioned, for the last twenty

50:35

seven years, concurrent to me being

50:38

on the radio and television to

50:40

coach a plethora of emerging

50:43

and established talents, not just

50:45

recording artists you mentioned Rihanna some of

50:47

my reporting artists, but I've also worked

50:49

with c e o s, managers,

50:52

actors, directors, all manner

50:54

of talent. And the first thing I'm looking

50:56

for is personality because that is part

50:58

of what attracts of the human beings is

51:01

do you have the capacity and the talent UH

51:04

and the knowledge, the expertise in

51:06

your particular area and the willingness

51:09

to learn. That is so critical to me

51:11

and my process when I'm coaching

51:13

individuals. So um yeah,

51:15

twenty seven years my company, I'm the CEO

51:18

of Influence Entertainment. UH.

51:21

You can go to the website Influence Entertainment

51:23

dot com to learn more about us and

51:25

part of what my company does. In addition to

51:27

media coaching and artist development,

51:30

very much in the tradition of Mrs

51:33

Maxine Powell, who was Marry

51:35

Gordy's artist development and media

51:37

coach person UH is also

51:39

we produce events. I produced the Marian

51:42

Anderson Award in Philadelphia

51:44

at the Kimmel cent Up for the Performing Arts. For

51:46

years, I did it with Pat Moran and

51:49

uh last year we honored well not during

51:51

the pandemic, teen Cool

51:53

in the Gang the year before that, Patty LaBelle

51:56

Gambled and Huff John Bon, Jovie

51:58

Berry, Gordy. So I'm a que native

52:00

producer and I love I

52:02

love conceptualizing and actualizing.

52:05

I'm big on that. My parents

52:07

taught me anything that your mind

52:09

can conceive and believe, you

52:12

can achieve. So

52:14

that's what my company does. That's what I've

52:16

been doing. And again, radio

52:19

has been important, and you know this from your years

52:22

in media. Have the

52:24

platform to be able to reach hundreds

52:26

of thousands, millions of individuals

52:30

with feel good and information

52:32

that's of value to their lives.

52:34

The quality of their lives is what I'm all

52:36

about. So you know, Diana, when I

52:38

when I listened to you, and you

52:41

know, I do bow down to you.

52:43

You know, because listen to what

52:45

you just said. She said. Athletes, she

52:48

said, actors, she said, singers,

52:51

she said, exacutive. Each one of those

52:53

lanes is unique. Now I tell

52:56

you I can't mess with music. Okay,

52:58

it is so complicated it you

53:01

know, uh, you know, comedian, I got

53:03

you, after I got your athlete, I got your

53:05

executive music. She throws that

53:07

in like it's nothing. So so

53:09

if you go to that website, it's a beautiful website. I

53:12

go to the website, I'll I'll be stealing out this. Can

53:14

you make our website look like her? Because

53:16

it's so pretty, you know, it's so flow,

53:18

it flows, it looks big, it looks great,

53:20

it looks like you want to move more about this

53:22

brand. When you go to her website, it's amazing.

53:25

But I just want to slow it down here. When

53:27

we start talking about you know, her be on the

53:29

board or the Black Music Museum

53:32

that's that's opening and the grand openings

53:34

July June seventeen in Nashville,

53:36

I want to talk about the individual her brand.

53:39

She says, executive, like, Okay,

53:41

you know, I do executives. You know I

53:44

do athletes. I do actors

53:46

and actresses, which is both you know what I'm saying,

53:48

male and female. Okay, these

53:50

singers, but then the singers, then

53:53

she throws into the rappers, which

53:55

is a totally different world. Then

53:57

you have the old school, then you

54:00

have the new school. And then Janelle Mona.

54:02

She kind of like pop and then she then

54:04

you have Rihanna, she kind of like pop black. But

54:06

what is she? Come on, girl?

54:09

You all just suffing special. Listen,

54:12

I'm with you in terms of anything.

54:15

Like I said that the mind can conceive and believe,

54:17

you kind of achieve. My parents raised

54:19

me to squeeze this lemon and

54:22

to get everything out of the experience

54:25

of living. I am living

54:27

every second in fullness.

54:30

I am. I love life, and I love people.

54:32

I love my fellow human beings. Sometimes

54:35

I'm a little annoyed with their behaviors,

54:38

sometimes downright, you know, angry

54:40

with people who are not righteous, kind,

54:42

loving and considerate. But for the most

54:44

part, I am grateful to be alive.

54:47

I'm elated to have this

54:49

opportunity to speak with you and your audience

54:52

about my passions. And you know, the

54:54

other question I get is, how can we celebrate black

54:57

music? Stream the

54:59

music of the artists you love, by the music

55:02

now things are opening up. Go out

55:04

here, live music by the merch

55:06

of the artists that you love. Sit with young children

55:09

and tell them about the artists that you

55:11

listen to and loved when you were growing up.

55:13

And it conversely, listened to them

55:15

about who they're listening to. Having

55:18

intergenerational moment when you're hearing

55:20

what they like. You know, it's not just

55:22

all about what you like. Be exposed and

55:24

consider. So there's so many ways

55:27

that you can engage. My grandson

55:29

was here this past weekend read books

55:31

on famous musicians, teach,

55:34

learn, celebrate. Black Music

55:36

Month is for all of us. And it's not to say

55:38

that we do not celebrate the music beyond June.

55:41

It's an everyday celebration. Dune

55:43

just happens to be the concentrated moment.

55:46

Okay, Okay, Diana, I got all that

55:48

I'm talking about you. Okay, you

55:51

just you just broke off with this a little speech

55:53

about the museum. I'm talking about you girl.

55:56

You know see, actually we say

55:58

gamble and all that we talk about to

56:00

feel thor. I'm talking about you. Your

56:02

talents so unique,

56:05

identifying and helping other talented people.

56:07

That's part of the UA that I

56:09

have to be able to me that other people.

56:12

As part of my talent, My talent is

56:14

being on the radio, talking, being

56:16

on television disseminating information.

56:19

My talent is not cooking so well,

56:21

which is why my man was like babe.

56:26

But

56:28

what I just try to say is in my

56:30

interview with you, and I've interviewed you before,

56:32

and I'm always amazed at the humbleness

56:37

of your talents and and and and

56:39

sometimes the humbleness is good and bad

56:41

because sometimes because when your humble, people

56:43

don't recognize you for your gifts because they

56:46

can they can just assume it's just part

56:48

of your your resume. And

56:50

I just wanted to slow down and say I

56:52

brought you own here to talk about the museum,

56:54

the grand opening, Black Music mone and June

56:57

seventeen is when the three days celebrations is gonna

56:59

start. You work as a board member

57:01

and all those great things, but also to acknowledge

57:03

your brilliance, and that the brilliance

57:06

is being able to go in the room

57:08

and being able to not be intimidated about

57:11

communicating. And that's what you just said. It's

57:13

about communicating. It's about your parents

57:16

giving you the will to be great. And

57:18

that's what this That's why I will tell people. You know, when

57:21

you be the young kid, you can you

57:23

can change their lifestyle by either supporting

57:25

them or telling them what they can do.

57:28

And that's who I see you. You are a person

57:30

who ne's never heard that word, and

57:32

you promote that, and that's why you immediately

57:34

defer to Rushan, I hear

57:37

you. But let's support black music,

57:39

let's black merchandise, let's let's buy

57:41

the music. But you are, you

57:44

are a renaissance woman, and I wanted

57:46

to just say thank you and take these

57:48

few minutes because you know you're

57:51

special and and this platform allows

57:53

me to say that publicly to you. And

57:55

I say it with a lot of honesty because you

57:58

know you you You're You're the reason this

58:00

museum is here. It started four to two years ago,

58:02

okay, it is start fifteen twenty,

58:05

it started forty two years ago, and you were

58:07

part of that. That's why it exists today at Nashville.

58:09

Thank you, Dana Williams.

58:14

We will be right back with more money making

58:17

conversations with your host Rashan McDonald.

58:21

You are now tuned into the money making

58:23

Conversations. Minute of Inspiration

58:26

with Rushan McDonald. I

58:28

spoke with NBC Today's show co host

58:30

Our Broke about achieving the life of

58:32

happiness and success through the power

58:35

of Yes. It's not about the money, but

58:37

more about pursuing the opportunity.

58:39

I love what I do to be in this industry.

58:42

People say, oh, you work so hard. I said, you know what, My

58:44

dad drove a bus for eight hours a day,

58:46

worked a lot of overtime. Sometimes we

58:48

wouldn't see him for a couple of days. That's

58:50

really hard work. This is

58:52

work, But I love what I'm doing. It's not a

58:54

job. It's my fashion. So if

58:57

in the long term this is going to bring

58:59

me something, I don't know if it is or not. But all

59:01

I know is that if I give somebody

59:03

else the opportunity to do it, then I don't get

59:06

that opportunity. So I will put in

59:08

the hours, I will bust my thought

59:10

to do it because I want whatever's

59:12

going to come after, not somebody else. If you want

59:14

to hear this full interview with our Roka,

59:17

visit Money Making Conversation dot com. Keep

59:19

winning. If I could be

59:21

you and you could be me for just

59:23

one hour, if you could find a way to

59:26

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59:28

walk a mile in my shoes, wacome

59:30

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59:34

We've all felt left out, and for

59:36

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59:38

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how it belonging begins with us dot org.

59:43

Brought to you by the Act Council. Welcome

59:46

out in machines and

59:51

we're live here outside the Perez

59:53

family home, just waiting for the And

59:55

there they go, almost on time. This

59:57

morning. Mom is coming out the front doors

1:00:00

strong with a double arm kid carry. Looks

1:00:02

like Dad has the bags. Daughter is bringing

1:00:04

up the rear. Oh but the diaper

1:00:06

bag wasn't closed. Diapers

1:00:09

and toys are everywhere. Oh

1:00:12

but mom has just nailed the perfect

1:00:14

car seat buckle for the toddler. And

1:00:16

now the eldest daughter, who looks to be about

1:00:19

nine or ten, has secured herself

1:00:21

in the booster seat. Dad SIPs the bad clothes

1:00:23

and they're off. But

1:00:25

looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee cup

1:00:28

is still on the roof of the car. And

1:00:30

there it goes. Oh, that's

1:00:32

a shame that mug was a fan favorite.

1:00:35

Don't sweat the small stuff. Just nailed the big

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1:01:10

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I Discover the Forest dot Org. Brought

1:01:17

to you by the United States Forest Service

1:01:19

and the AD Council. Welcome

1:01:21

back to money Making Conversations with

1:01:24

your host, Rashan McDonald. My

1:01:26

guest is one of my all time favorite friends

1:01:28

as well as entrepreneurs, is Chef

1:01:31

Jernard Wells. He's this year he's

1:01:33

the official host a Real Man Cook

1:01:35

National Virtual Event, broadcasting live

1:01:38

on Father's Day from Centennial Olympic

1:01:40

Park in Atlanta, Georgia. This

1:01:42

is their annual celebration of Black Fathers

1:01:44

and future dishes prepared by celebrity chefs,

1:01:47

celebrity fathers and everyday fathers.

1:01:49

Chef Gennard recently want another national

1:01:51

ward for his cooking TV show New Soul

1:01:54

Kitchen on Cleo TV at the Taste

1:01:56

Awards. Chef Genar is also a certified

1:01:58

nutritionists and it's been on that mission and improve

1:02:01

his own health. So he figured out

1:02:03

why not make his own line of supplements.

1:02:05

We're here, I got it all here, y'all. Think

1:02:07

at all these papers about him when he coming,

1:02:09

my soul chief, you know well is selling.

1:02:12

He is the He a pitchman to y'all. By

1:02:14

the way, please welcome the money. Make conversations.

1:02:16

My good friend, the best chef that I

1:02:18

know. Chef you know well, hello,

1:02:24

you know it's always pleasant.

1:02:26

Man, Stop laughing. We'll

1:02:28

stop laughing. Then we'll stop laughing. My

1:02:31

producer should go, Could you clear up your death? No?

1:02:33

No, I can't clean my death because I all this about

1:02:36

chef. You know well, he didn't printed out

1:02:38

everything. Make sure if I just the kids, I can't

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read. He got a real big ain't

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nothing. I could have wrote it down, like I know. He

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wanted me to show your pittures. Look at it right there.

1:02:46

Look at that. That's the that's the gummies

1:02:49

right there, thirty gummies right there. That's

1:02:51

the body butter right there. You know what I'm saying.

1:02:53

And then if you got brill of bone, he

1:02:55

got you covered death too, right there, healthy

1:02:58

bones and heart support. All

1:03:00

this is about making your life

1:03:02

better because you have lost weight as well.

1:03:04

That made your life made a conscious effort to

1:03:07

improve the quality your life as well, correct chef

1:03:09

in our walse that is correct. You

1:03:11

know. Um as we were going through the pandemic,

1:03:14

you know, I decided, Hey, now that

1:03:16

I'm home moorn, not traveling and femine

1:03:18

as much as I originally was, now it's

1:03:20

time to really just focus on me and use that

1:03:22

time wisely. And I took that time

1:03:25

really to start riding bikes

1:03:27

with with the children, walking on

1:03:29

trails with the wife, and and just focusing

1:03:32

on me and and riching and my riching and my

1:03:34

my better being in life, because what

1:03:37

what's the purpose to become successful

1:03:40

and then spend all your time and all your

1:03:42

money up and trying to stay alive when

1:03:44

I can change the narrative, you know, not

1:03:46

just for myself, but just be a positive

1:03:49

mindset from my family, because I got a lot of

1:03:51

people depending on me, even the employees depending

1:03:53

on me. And so that's one of the key

1:03:55

things that I saw that's really important

1:03:57

that we tend to start chasing

1:04:00

the American dream and we forget about

1:04:02

the way of being and who who we are and over

1:04:04

the course of that journey. You know, I've lost over

1:04:06

sixty some pounds and still

1:04:08

going. You know, it's it's not a

1:04:11

an instant result, but it's a lifestyle.

1:04:14

And that's how I look at it, just as a lifestyle

1:04:16

and the way of being and just making it a habit

1:04:20

to consciously control what

1:04:22

I do. And you know, even with New Soul Kitchen

1:04:25

um My showing Cleo TV, that's what

1:04:27

it's about. It's about showing people

1:04:29

how to take the food that we love and that

1:04:31

we eat and modify for

1:04:33

for today's healthier lifestyle. Except

1:04:35

at the same time having some great stuff.

1:04:38

Speaking of that, I know Rashawn's kids and man,

1:04:40

you'd be throwing it down and keeping

1:04:42

me hungry. Man. So so you you you're

1:04:44

making it hard for a brother. No, no, no, no, no,

1:04:46

man, you don't want I'm just an amateur.

1:04:48

You're a professional. Now. I've been seeing

1:04:50

you on a Food Network

1:04:53

win in championships to see that's

1:04:56

what I can't do that you can do. I

1:04:58

can't just go in the kitchen somebody saying make

1:05:00

it. I would like faith. What

1:05:03

happened to that black dude or you felt like cause

1:05:05

you asked him to do something on the spot. I gotta

1:05:08

prep you gotta give me a recipe and

1:05:10

hand of time. They don't do that on those contests.

1:05:12

They tell you right then and there

1:05:15

what you're supposed to make. Correct That

1:05:17

that is correct, you know when they when they show

1:05:19

you. And that's part of the adrenaline and whole excitement.

1:05:22

When when we're competing on those shows

1:05:24

like Cutthroat Kitchen and all those different shows

1:05:26

that I was competing on, you don't

1:05:28

know what you're getting ready to make until they announced

1:05:30

it right on Cameron. When they tell you have thirty

1:05:33

minutes to create this dish, that's

1:05:35

thirty minutes in real time, right, so

1:05:38

you're really working on the flying I learned.

1:05:40

I learned to master that are And one

1:05:42

of the things was being a Mississippi boy when

1:05:45

they would when they would challenge me and take different

1:05:47

things from it. I didn't have a lot of cooking equipment

1:05:50

going up anyway, so it was normal. You tell

1:05:52

me I gotta make some I gotta make

1:05:54

some pasta, but I can't

1:05:56

use regular spaghetti. You

1:05:58

know. I do how to get my a flower

1:06:01

and make my own pasta dough

1:06:03

and things like that. They're like, hey, you gotta

1:06:05

you gotta make some meat balls, but you can't use

1:06:07

ground beat the well. I look, guess what I'm gonna

1:06:09

grab. I'm gonna grab some mushrooms and things

1:06:12

like that inform them into two little balls.

1:06:14

And didn't come up with a cool story to tell the

1:06:16

jigs while bro and this is all

1:06:18

I had, I would tell you

1:06:20

something on the reel. I remember because I come from

1:06:22

a big family Houston, Texas, six sisters,

1:06:25

two brothers, and we didn't have this

1:06:27

is a true story about me in my life. We didn't have

1:06:29

all the dish, all the spoons and fogs

1:06:32

and knives, and so I swear to you man,

1:06:34

I able to spoon everything. You

1:06:37

know, if it was a piece of meat, I cut it with a

1:06:39

spoon. And then when I was in college,

1:06:41

man, my friends would look at me and

1:06:43

I'll just cutting at meat with that spoon.

1:06:45

When they go for sure what you're doing, I

1:06:47

go, I'm even. They go, hey,

1:06:50

man, there's a fark and a knife.

1:06:52

I go, okay, and you

1:06:54

can use that to cut your meat. I go, dude,

1:06:57

I've been doing this all my life with the spoon. Because

1:07:00

when you when you don't have it, then

1:07:02

you may do what you have and

1:07:04

so and that's what that's the mentality

1:07:06

of a lot of people don't do in the business

1:07:08

world. They feel they got to have everything,

1:07:10

They got to have the right that the

1:07:13

temperature gotta be right, the right amount

1:07:15

of food has to be delivered. Sometime it isn't.

1:07:17

You have to make make do with what you

1:07:19

have. And that's what I did in my life until

1:07:21

later on. Now, of course I use a knife and the fall

1:07:23

because I've grown up and realized that's what

1:07:26

the two. But when I was growing up, brother, I

1:07:28

grabbed the first spoon I got because if

1:07:30

I didn't get the spoon, somebody else got it. So

1:07:33

I held that because I've watched my spoon

1:07:35

with the spoon, with this spoon, with the bed with me. I

1:07:38

kept possible because when cyril's being

1:07:40

served, if you want to know, trying to eat some cereal with

1:07:42

the fuck you know that's my already, or

1:07:44

trying to drink cyria, I'm just a little sad,

1:07:47

like the spoon became an extension

1:07:49

of you, your

1:07:52

very old But that

1:07:54

is so true. What what when

1:07:57

you when you learn to master the

1:07:59

art of whatever it is you're doing without

1:08:02

when you do have you can

1:08:04

create so much more, and a lot of people don't

1:08:06

even realize all of these things are just

1:08:08

grooming us to or what we're

1:08:11

stepping into. Like you was you speaking

1:08:13

about? You know, you have to have everything set up.

1:08:15

And that was one of the things after I after I

1:08:17

finished college that actually I went to

1:08:19

an HBC Rush College, but after

1:08:21

I finished there and went to culinary Art school,

1:08:24

one of the things that I paid all

1:08:26

that money to go to culinary art school was

1:08:28

then to teach me one terminology and

1:08:30

that's me some plots. It's French

1:08:32

for get everything in order. And a

1:08:34

lot of people when they watch watch me on my

1:08:37

cooking show New Soul Kitchen or even watching

1:08:39

you cook, what they're learning is when we're

1:08:41

starting off, we already have our ingredients

1:08:43

already laid out, and that's what

1:08:46

allows us to cook within a fraction of the

1:08:48

time that we're cooking in because just

1:08:50

by preprepping, slicing and dicing,

1:08:53

having everything laid out and ready to go, that

1:08:55

saves a fraction of the time. And that's one of the

1:08:57

things that I even teach people when they're

1:09:00

watching my show, I teach them

1:09:02

and share with them how if you stop

1:09:04

being a refrigerator and the pantry

1:09:07

cook. Then you can create food a whole

1:09:09

lot faster and you don't have to spend a lot of time

1:09:12

in the kitchen. And what I mean when I say

1:09:14

refrigerating pantry cook, you know we all been

1:09:16

there. We we're hungry, want something, even

1:09:18

walk into we walk into kitchen and we

1:09:21

just opened up the refrigerator and whatever

1:09:23

we pull out, we're pulling out this, we're pulling

1:09:25

out that, and we started cooking and working

1:09:27

from that way, you burn a lot of time determine

1:09:30

what it is, what you won't get all your ingredients

1:09:32

out, lay them in front of you, and

1:09:34

then start cooking. When you five, you

1:09:37

stole or your oven and it cuts

1:09:39

down on the time. And it also

1:09:41

helps you be a lot more precise when you're

1:09:43

preparing the dishes. I'll tell you,

1:09:45

you know, when I look at what you do, and you

1:09:48

know if preparation is the key, because

1:09:50

if you look at any recipe, they'll tell you

1:09:52

like our the half now and

1:09:54

our it's the preparation time. The

1:09:56

half is just the cook time. And so

1:09:59

so you know, because all people they really

1:10:02

you know, put if it says a quarter, the

1:10:04

quarter teaspoon of salt. Put the salt

1:10:06

out there, okay, or half

1:10:09

a couple of meal put the milk out there. And

1:10:11

it was so easy. Once you accept the

1:10:13

responsibility of prep, preple

1:10:15

to keep to successful baking and cooking.

1:10:18

If you don't want to prep, then you're wasting your times.

1:10:20

Get out the kitchen and keep going to uh

1:10:22

Jack in the box. Something's like that fast food

1:10:25

you fast food friendly. That's what I call you, fast food

1:10:27

friendly when you don't want to prep. That

1:10:30

that is so true. And you know a lot of people that

1:10:32

believe, especially because we believe in the old

1:10:35

school method. Well look, I don't believe

1:10:37

in measuring anything. I cook the old

1:10:39

school away. I just toss it in and tell it

1:10:41

like like our great grandparents and things did.

1:10:43

The thing is they were the originators

1:10:46

of the recipes that we followed. But

1:10:48

when you actually follow a recipe

1:10:51

that controls the consistency. You

1:10:53

ever wonder when you go to that favorite restaurant

1:10:55

why the food is spot on every time

1:10:58

and it's so good. It's because they're

1:11:00

following that recipe. And if you want

1:11:02

to create food in the comfort of your home home

1:11:04

the same time, you're a measure of those ingredients

1:11:07

right now, you know you can. Now you're

1:11:09

the king of baking reshown. Now when it

1:11:11

comes to saltan and cooking on top of

1:11:13

the stove, you know you you can kind of fudge

1:11:15

and play with it. But when it comes to baking,

1:11:18

that's the killerstry. Those those

1:11:20

ingredients gotta be spot on. Because if those

1:11:22

ingredients not spot on, you wonder why I made the cake

1:11:25

and the cake looks like a pancake

1:11:27

instead of an actual actual pound

1:11:29

cake. Put the

1:11:32

freestyle baking powder. They're just flowing

1:11:34

out the pan, just just little ugly little monster

1:11:36

there and the oven going on, frightening

1:11:39

your kids another smell. You're

1:11:41

also on fire. But that's all part of

1:11:43

being a chef and being recognized as a superior

1:11:46

talent, because that's what you are chef to. No,

1:11:48

Well, you're on national TV shows

1:11:51

and you have to be there with celebrities,

1:11:53

with anchors who've been there, done that, who've

1:11:56

seen it. How do you deal with that?

1:11:59

Being able to under pressed like that? Because I got

1:12:01

that, I got the game. The contest

1:12:03

shows on Food Network and cooking channels

1:12:05

and things like that. But when you want today's show, Good

1:12:08

Morning America a Tamarn Hall

1:12:10

Show or any other talk show that you've done

1:12:12

in the past. How you deal with that on the spot

1:12:14

pressure of delivering the goods?

1:12:18

And you know, one of the ways how deliver

1:12:20

deal with that is it took two

1:12:23

years and times of training. People are watching

1:12:25

me on those shows and any of the other noble shops.

1:12:27

They are watching those shows and they said, oh man, it

1:12:30

looks so easy. Yeah, I can go and do it. And then

1:12:32

they do it and they fumble because with

1:12:34

those shows, we have to create a dish

1:12:36

in three minutes, because typically that's amount

1:12:38

of time to give us on those on those shows.

1:12:41

Today's show, Good Morning American

1:12:43

knows you have anywhere from three to five minutes

1:12:45

to create a whole dish to typical would take thirty

1:12:47

to forty five minutes to make several

1:12:50

things. First of all, because you have home court

1:12:52

advantage, you always determine a recipe

1:12:54

that you can control and that you mastering

1:12:56

that you know, so you don't have a lot of talking fumbles.

1:12:59

Say thing is as we call it, the

1:13:02

TV magic, meaning that you

1:13:04

already have a finished product

1:13:06

on hand, and you take that you take

1:13:08

the view through the process of seeing

1:13:11

you creating this dish, but

1:13:13

you always know you're gonna have that product to reveal

1:13:15

at the end, and then you're gonna taste it and describe

1:13:18

it. The second thing is is having

1:13:20

your cooking chops lined

1:13:22

up with your talking chops.

1:13:25

And see a lot of people like cooking cholks talking

1:13:27

choked. Yeah, it's two parts to any cooking

1:13:29

segment that you watch the TV. Presenting

1:13:32

the food and talking about the food and

1:13:34

actually entertaining. See people see

1:13:36

cooking shows and they just think, oh, it's all about cooking,

1:13:39

But you gotta remember it's a hard sell to sell somebody

1:13:41

to want something. I want to follow you through

1:13:44

a camera lens because they can't smell it, they

1:13:46

can't taste it, but you gotta be descriptive

1:13:48

with it. And it just took years of work

1:13:51

in that way. That really taught me that. Now

1:13:53

the people who really honed in on teaching

1:13:55

me that was when Idea Food Network start

1:13:58

with Bobby Flay and Ga And you know, I walked

1:14:00

away as the runner up on this show, but

1:14:02

they've really told me how to hone in on

1:14:04

that skill and really just work

1:14:07

harder. And then what I did when I got

1:14:09

home, I just kept doing it over and over

1:14:11

because we have the practice to show ourselves

1:14:14

show as we say, show thyself approved.

1:14:16

And when I learned and got it down to a signs

1:14:19

and led me to having my own

1:14:21

show, which is new so kissing it might,

1:14:23

I add, I don't know if you know, Rachan, but I'm

1:14:25

gonna produce on that show. So I'm also

1:14:27

playing a part in producing my own content.

1:14:30

To listening

1:14:33

you prother finally listen that what you

1:14:35

should have said, Rachel, and I finally listened to you. I'm

1:14:39

kitchen, and after that gonna be executive

1:14:41

producing. Okay, because that's how it really

1:14:43

works, because your talent. That it

1:14:46

only works because of your talent. And so once

1:14:48

talent get out of that fear, you know, fear

1:14:50

of asking, the fear of saying or demanding

1:14:53

in certain cases, you gotta say, hey,

1:14:55

I deserve this because of the fact that I'm

1:14:57

riety producing, I'm acting. I'm

1:14:59

adding, I'm telling you all the right

1:15:01

process. You know, if it does if I don't see it

1:15:04

right, I'm selling the brain and all those things.

1:15:06

And so new Sol Kitchen, let's bring up everybody

1:15:08

up to speak because we got a lot of talk, like to talk

1:15:10

about is early in the interview, but I want to

1:15:12

make sure that everybody knows that's one of my favorite

1:15:14

show New So Kitchen outside of

1:15:17

the second favorite show that you do is

1:15:19

the best thing you ever that broll

1:15:22

so you got that You've got that finger

1:15:24

looking good conversation when you were talking

1:15:27

sometimes chefs, you know our whales on

1:15:29

that show, I'll be like getting hunger. But

1:15:31

let's talk about New Soul Kitchen before

1:15:33

we go. The best thing you ever head now,

1:15:36

New New Sol Kitchen. It's it's

1:15:38

on Cleo TV. And Cleo TV is

1:15:40

a is an African American network

1:15:43

for millennial women of color. Um

1:15:45

but one of the things that we've pride ourself

1:15:48

in is become a thriving network

1:15:50

with millions and meters of viewers and they can

1:15:52

you can watch the show nationwide and then

1:15:55

we'll we've we've really crossed

1:15:57

over culture. So we have a very diverse culture

1:15:59

that's watching. As a matter of fact, New Soul

1:16:01

Kitchen is the number one showing the network

1:16:04

and it all to me lad to me create

1:16:06

spending off a new another show which is

1:16:08

New Soul Kids and Remix. So I knew

1:16:11

So Kitchen, New So Kids and remix and I

1:16:13

show people how to create amazing

1:16:15

meals and fifteen minutes or less and

1:16:17

doing that time frame, it's about vetting out the

1:16:20

different products that they that they that

1:16:22

they are shot for. And and I don't believe and as

1:16:24

we say, cooking over its cooking over people's

1:16:27

head, you know, just to show them, I know, all

1:16:29

the fancy ingredients and all the

1:16:31

fancy words. I believe in reaching

1:16:33

the people where they are. You know, if you're going to the

1:16:35

grocery store and you're shopping, you you're getting your

1:16:37

standard stuff. You know, your cabbage, your collar greens

1:16:40

and sweet potatoes, your steak

1:16:42

or your seafood, things like that. I'm not sending

1:16:44

you to go get the far grow and

1:16:46

the stinkweed and all these other stuff where

1:16:48

you gotta go to the special shows. I'm talking

1:16:51

to the people and showing them how to cook with

1:16:53

the vast majority of Americans create

1:16:56

right and in my ultimate mission

1:16:58

wouldn't do so kitchen is show the world,

1:17:00

even though we have the words soul in there, and

1:17:03

to show the world that the soul

1:17:05

food die ask for the food we create,

1:17:08

it's not just so food, it's American cuisine

1:17:11

because it's the food that America's backbone

1:17:13

was built off of them. It was us even

1:17:15

doing the doing the slavery times. It was

1:17:17

us in the in the big house and in the

1:17:19

field house is cooking the food. So it

1:17:22

was what America grew up off of and eat

1:17:24

and love. That's why it's so used

1:17:26

today. Wow, now

1:17:30

you know, I remember a couple of years ago, each Rashan

1:17:32

man and he flying in l a man and I'm

1:17:35

gonna do some episodes of best

1:17:37

Thing you have eight he said, Man, you started

1:17:40

naming different places to koeat, like one

1:17:42

place down in Athens, Georgia. There

1:17:44

was a place right there in Atlanta, and

1:17:46

there was another place up in Tennessee. Tell

1:17:49

us to your favorite all time

1:17:52

the best thing you ever hed locations

1:17:55

in Now now I'm gonna tell them

1:17:57

about it. But first, it's funny. It's funny you mentioned

1:17:59

what you said. That was one of the things that I have

1:18:02

to I have to really say about your Rashaan.

1:18:04

And in mind, if if the viewers don't

1:18:06

know Rashawn knows food, Rashauns

1:18:09

know how to find some great locations,

1:18:12

some good food, and and and those that have

1:18:14

been following and and and it has seen me

1:18:17

multiple times on money making conversations.

1:18:19

They know, they know that we've been rocking with each

1:18:21

other for many years now. Seen.

1:18:25

Yes, yes, indeedy I

1:18:27

maybe one of the longest running running. Yes.

1:18:33

But some of the some of the most amazing

1:18:36

places that that that I really

1:18:38

love love eating that is.

1:18:42

It's one that's in uh in

1:18:44

l A. That's called Harold and Bells. It's uh

1:18:47

Harold. Yeah,

1:18:53

amazing food, amazing

1:18:58

family owned restaurant that really shalizes

1:19:00

in the occasion in creoles cuisine

1:19:03

of Louisiana. So definitely, if you're in Louisiana,

1:19:05

you go Louisiana. You not Louisiana

1:19:08

l A. That's what in l A. If you're

1:19:10

in l A and you won't experience

1:19:12

some amazing Louisiana cuisine, you

1:19:14

have to make your way to Harolyn Bells. Harolen

1:19:17

Bell's by far Is is probably one

1:19:19

of the best ones. But now showing some love

1:19:22

here and in Atlanta, Georgia,

1:19:24

I think one of my all time favorite

1:19:26

restaurants is c Ellis. You know, I really love

1:19:29

c La c ellis Is over at the Battery. Now

1:19:31

there's one particular dish that I think c

1:19:33

Ellis because I always hone in and pick several

1:19:35

dishes that I think it's done. Where c

1:19:38

Ellis does. It creates a dish

1:19:40

that's a barbecue shrimp dish, and

1:19:43

it's not barbecue shrimp in the anstence

1:19:45

of what you think when you think about

1:19:47

barbecue shrimp on the grill. They create

1:19:49

a unique sauce

1:19:52

that's made with wooster share butter,

1:19:55

and then they tossed the shrimping that with

1:19:57

lemon juice, with the head on so and

1:20:00

and they don't cook it in the skillet. They bake

1:20:02

it in the oven. So when you're baking

1:20:04

it and you're blending all those spices together,

1:20:07

the onions, the garlic, it allows

1:20:09

that that stock from the shrimp

1:20:11

and the shrimp shell to really saturate

1:20:14

into the flavor and the sauce of of

1:20:16

the whole dish. And when they bring it out, you have all

1:20:19

these beautiful, beautiful, bright

1:20:21

prenk shrimp that's covered smothered

1:20:24

in this creamy sauce and it's served

1:20:26

with garlic toast. Man that that's

1:20:28

one of the dishes I can keep going back and

1:20:30

keep going back forth. Um

1:20:33

so, and you know I've been doing the

1:20:35

best things I ever ate for for actually

1:20:37

quite a few few years now going into

1:20:39

the fifth season doing that one and

1:20:42

best things I ever ate led me to another

1:20:44

opportunity where I have a show that

1:20:46

I contribute on that's on Oprah Winfreys

1:20:49

network, because you know, they have a nice they

1:20:51

have a nice food platform now and

1:20:54

uh it's called On in the Kitchen.

1:20:56

And the show that I do on Oprah Winfrey's

1:20:59

network is called Food Fantasies.

1:21:02

So if you hadn't seen Food Fantasies, you

1:21:04

definitely have to check that out. I do a mean

1:21:06

deep fried crab leg on that take

1:21:09

them king craft batter him up.

1:21:11

So first with the king crabs and shown you gotta

1:21:14

you gotta go head on and steam him so

1:21:16

you can crack him at this shell. Then create a

1:21:18

nice good timp cure batter, toss

1:21:21

him in there with some creole spices, fried

1:21:23

and bad boys up and you're talking about

1:21:25

some good eating. You won't go to sleep at the eating.

1:21:27

See he got me. I

1:21:29

thought he's gonna let me off the hoop. Then he went into that figure

1:21:32

looking good talk

1:21:35

you got Now you got the business thing we gotta

1:21:37

talk about. Now you got a business with me with your

1:21:39

friends and the doctor Scott and Contessa Metcalf

1:21:42

over Bravo was Married to Medicine, And

1:21:44

you gotta line, and I think I'm holding

1:21:46

up that line in front of me right now. Tell me about

1:21:48

how did that come about? I know you know a lot of people.

1:21:51

Why would they important to

1:21:53

get into business with over a Bravo's television

1:21:56

very successful show Marriage to Medicine. Dr

1:21:58

Scott and Contessa met half Yes,

1:22:01

and and that's one of the things that says that

1:22:03

all Dr Scott and contested Madcalf

1:22:06

husband and wife couple to amazing

1:22:08

doctors that continue to keep striving

1:22:11

in their knowledge. They actually have a doctor's

1:22:13

office that's over in Buckhead um

1:22:16

Integrade of Integrade of Medicine.

1:22:18

And one of the things as I'm on

1:22:21

on my health journey of eating

1:22:23

well, Um Scott and I we

1:22:26

we we created a YouTube

1:22:28

show called One Chef and

1:22:30

a Doc. And of course,

1:22:32

me being the chef, I always want to go renegade

1:22:35

off the plane and I got the doc of

1:22:37

here advised me, hey, are you gonna cook this? Want

1:22:39

you to put this in here, wants you to use this to make

1:22:41

it a little more healthy and exciting. And

1:22:43

then I got contesting. It's saying, chef,

1:22:46

well, you know it's okay to eat this, you can do this

1:22:48

right here, and they give me that amazing

1:22:50

advice. But as being great friends,

1:22:52

they've been amazing friends. We came

1:22:55

together to create Hope Doc Neutraceuticals.

1:22:58

Hope Doc Neutraceuticals is a vitamin

1:23:01

and supplement line and company because we

1:23:03

knew that it was not just important for

1:23:05

us to have the right supplements and

1:23:08

vitamins to put in our own body,

1:23:10

but we want to share that with the world. So we

1:23:13

partner with a FDA

1:23:15

approved company that creates some of the most

1:23:17

amazing vitamins for us. And

1:23:19

we have everything from from

1:23:22

Tumerican ginger gummies all

1:23:24

the way down to an amazing CBD line.

1:23:26

Like the body but if you're actually exercise

1:23:29

and then you want to make sure those joints are feeling

1:23:31

good, we have that. We have the the

1:23:35

vitamin K, Vitamin D for you

1:23:37

joint and your bones. We have Elderberry.

1:23:40

We also, as a matter of fact, it's

1:23:42

funny you missed it, we do have a test toss

1:23:44

the own line coming out of Collegen line

1:23:47

coming out, and we have Sleep Well Gummies

1:23:49

because hey, not only is it important to have

1:23:51

an active lifestyle, but it's also important

1:23:54

to have a healthy sleep sleep

1:23:56

style as well. And that's

1:23:58

one of the things that you were do you still get

1:24:01

up at four thirty in the morning every more o'clock

1:24:03

the beach. You're cheating? Man, four a m.

1:24:05

Don't you cheat me. I'll reach across this camera,

1:24:08

get you, slap you upside there four

1:24:10

o'clock. Man, talk to me. Man, just stops

1:24:12

the wrong. I want, I want to do one of Frank

1:24:14

Thomas comes. Y'all gotta hire me and you'll

1:24:17

be happy to right.

1:24:20

You get to win because one of the things we learned

1:24:22

the older that we get the lord

1:24:25

to stoss the own level drop. So it's

1:24:27

key to having the right right balance

1:24:29

of t stosterone. Now to

1:24:31

stason has its benefits outside

1:24:34

of just having that that healthy boost the energy

1:24:36

and if you want to keep if you want to keep

1:24:39

that love like to the next level. It ain't nothing wrong

1:24:41

with having a little extra to stops the wrong. Hey,

1:24:43

look, you know, I'm a father none, so I

1:24:45

ain't complain, and I hope miss ain't complaining.

1:24:48

Need I gotta father one. I gotta

1:24:50

catch hell. I need some to stops the roll. I

1:24:54

need to trust

1:24:56

me. If you're getting up at four o'clock

1:24:58

in the morning, I'm you've got a

1:25:00

lot of two studs wrong because do

1:25:04

get the work. You

1:25:07

know. It's really great talk to me, but

1:25:09

we gotta make sure. We talked about one of the

1:25:11

primary reasons why you're coming on the show Father's

1:25:14

Day Weekend just coming up. You're going

1:25:16

to be the host a Real Men Cook,

1:25:18

the Nashville virtual show. Celebrity

1:25:21

Chefs, Celebrity Cooks, Celebrity

1:25:23

Fathers will be sharing meals. You'll be a centennial

1:25:26

olymptic park in the Lanta, Georgia.

1:25:28

Talk about how that came about. Talk about

1:25:30

the experience. I think it's gonna be three pm to

1:25:32

six pm Eastern Standard time, I

1:25:35

mean Central Standard time. Would you be four to seven

1:25:38

Eastern? I believe. So talk about that because I'm

1:25:40

so excited for you, because I really do love

1:25:42

that that event and her son

1:25:45

and I think it's just fantastic and be doing it for over thirty

1:25:47

two years. Yes, Real

1:25:49

Men Cook has been going on for thirty two years.

1:25:52

It's an amazing event. I started

1:25:54

out with Real Men Cook roughly

1:25:57

around two thousand and in three

1:25:59

or so. Because I'm even though I have this heavy

1:26:01

Southern accent, I'm originally a Chicago

1:26:04

native. That's why I was born and raised before

1:26:06

moving to the South. So even when I was

1:26:08

living in the South, I would always travel

1:26:11

back home to Chicago to participate

1:26:13

in and and your Vet and Royale,

1:26:16

you know, amazing as well as Kofi

1:26:18

uh Themorial family. Amazing family.

1:26:21

And they've really just embraced me

1:26:24

and saw saw the gift

1:26:26

in me even at a young and early Asian.

1:26:28

And I'm even I'm still a stunt. It's

1:26:31

at the fact that at one point I'm

1:26:33

playing a part with Real Man Cooking, cooking

1:26:35

alonside President of Barack

1:26:37

Obama. But of course at the time he was sent

1:26:40

to Obama and and who would have knew one

1:26:42

day I could say, hey, I cooked alonside

1:26:44

the president to even see that his favorite

1:26:46

his favorite dish at the time with shrimp, one

1:26:48

of the things that he truly loved. Uh.

1:26:51

But Real Men Cooking celebrates fathers,

1:26:54

and its celebrates those that are father figures.

1:26:56

And it's every it's every year

1:26:58

on Father's Day. And they hosted

1:27:01

around they hosted around the world, from Chicago

1:27:03

to Atlanta and North Carolina,

1:27:06

so many amazing cities as well. This

1:27:09

year, we will be broadcasting live

1:27:12

um Real Men Cook from Centennial

1:27:15

Park, so those that can't come out

1:27:17

and stream with us that can't come

1:27:19

out and actually hanging person. I have some amazing

1:27:21

chefs that's gonna be doing some live cooking

1:27:24

demos giving us some amazing food samples.

1:27:26

We're gonna have a host of food trucks

1:27:28

out sharing their cuisine as well. I'm

1:27:31

gonna be streaming live on all of the Real Men

1:27:33

Cook platforms as well. I'll

1:27:35

also be doing a live stream on

1:27:38

Cleo Cleo TVs Instagram

1:27:41

page. So we're gonna make sure that we get

1:27:43

the word out. Because one of the things is being

1:27:45

a father and an African

1:27:47

American father, I understand

1:27:49

how it's key that we continue

1:27:52

to lead by example and show

1:27:54

our young men and our young women

1:27:56

that are coming up behind us how portant

1:27:58

it is to have those dad's in your life.

1:28:01

And if you don't have that biological

1:28:03

dad, that the person that's filling in the

1:28:06

gap in the neighborhood, in the community, in

1:28:08

your home as your dad, to show that

1:28:10

appreciation and show how we give

1:28:12

love. Because i want to break that that

1:28:15

stigmatism of people thinking that the

1:28:18

African American family is that the

1:28:20

father is the absentee father in the house.

1:28:22

It's not, and it's not always

1:28:24

the case. We're there and we want

1:28:27

to be heard and we want the world to see

1:28:29

us. And that's why it's so important

1:28:31

that real men cook and real man charities

1:28:34

has came along and they've been paving the

1:28:36

forefront for the past thirty two

1:28:38

years of being that beacon of light to

1:28:41

continue to have show that because if

1:28:43

they didn't, who would. And and you

1:28:45

know, and I was truly honored when you're

1:28:47

that a very good friend of mine reached

1:28:50

out to me and wanted me to help lead the charge

1:28:52

with it, you know, because I've been supporting

1:28:55

it for years. So to even give to show

1:28:57

me the respect and honor that we would like you to play

1:28:59

a big a role with us this year and be

1:29:01

the official host that really said

1:29:04

a lot in this and it's truly an important

1:29:06

important place to be right now in my career

1:29:08

life. Well, first of all, congratulations,

1:29:11

uh truly uh hearing

1:29:14

this opportunity. I know as a father,

1:29:16

father of nine, a beautiful wife, a

1:29:19

home that stabilized from two as

1:29:22

two parents who are still at the home, existing,

1:29:24

coexisting, communicating and fathers.

1:29:26

They does have a negative statement

1:29:28

when it comes to black fathers. You know the statements,

1:29:31

whether they're true or not. It seems to believe

1:29:33

that the black woman is the is the reason,

1:29:35

it's the structure. You don't hear that in white

1:29:38

households. That you know, the white

1:29:40

woman is the leader of the pack. Without

1:29:42

the white woman leading the family, there's

1:29:44

no family dynamic where you hear that in the black

1:29:47

family. As to shows, as it

1:29:49

may seem that men are just kicked to the

1:29:51

curve, and that's not true. We have a place,

1:29:53

we deliver were consistently. They're doing

1:29:55

our part. And what you've being the host of

1:29:58

Real Men, he is the official hole. Let

1:30:00

me get out of there, y'all. Chief. You know, well,

1:30:02

make sure you give me that batter because you know I post

1:30:04

for you, will post for you. So give

1:30:06

me one to post up on Sunday. That Sunday

1:30:09

morning, I want to post a banner

1:30:11

about you hosting Real Men Cook

1:30:13

National Virtual event broadcasting

1:30:15

live on Father's Day from Centennial

1:30:18

Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

1:30:20

The one and only straight out of Mississippi,

1:30:23

HPCU, Grand Cheff you know

1:30:26

Wales. And by the way, the test starts

1:30:28

roles are coming, The test star roles are coming.

1:30:31

Thank you, Thank you chef for coming on the show man. Thank

1:30:34

you. It's always a pleasure. You know

1:30:37

that, my brother. Alright, we talked soon. Okay,

1:30:39

we will be right back with more money making

1:30:41

conversations with your host Rashan McDonald.

1:30:46

You are now tuned into the money Making

1:30:48

Conversations Minute of Inspiration

1:30:50

with Rashan McDonald. I

1:30:52

talked with Don Lemon, the host of Seeing

1:30:55

in tonight, about our nation's deep racial

1:30:57

divide and his new book This is the Fire.

1:31:00

I say to my friends about racism.

1:31:02

There were people in this country who weren't

1:31:04

able to vote, weren't able to get an education,

1:31:07

who were not able to live with they

1:31:09

where they wanted, and weren't

1:31:11

able to which is the biggest

1:31:14

part of it is to earn generational

1:31:16

wealth. And but who helped

1:31:18

to build the wealth for wealthy people,

1:31:21

and which offers what an ease in society

1:31:24

and a comfort and a level of privilege

1:31:27

that that isn't afforded to most

1:31:29

people of color in this country.

1:31:32

And so what I tell them is that again, they must

1:31:34

know their history starts from the beginning, right and teaching

1:31:36

their children the real history of this country. If

1:31:39

you want to hear this full interview with Don lemon

1:31:41

VI is it money Making Conversation dot com? Keep

1:31:44

winning? Welcome back to Money

1:31:46

Making Conversations with your host Rashaan

1:31:49

McDonald. What grows

1:31:51

in the forest trees? Sure?

1:31:54

No. What else grows in the forest, Our imagination,

1:31:57

our sense of wonder, and our family

1:31:59

bonds grow too, because when we disconnect

1:32:01

from this and

1:32:04

connect with this, we

1:32:07

reconnect with each other. The

1:32:09

forest is closer than you think. Find

1:32:11

a forest near you and start exploring.

1:32:14

I Discover the Forest dot Org, brought

1:32:16

to you by the United States Forest Service

1:32:18

and the AD Council. Hi everyone,

1:32:21

I'll roker here as a guy with his own catchphrase.

1:32:23

I appreciate that Smokey's only said

1:32:26

only you can prevent wildfires,

1:32:28

but I'm filling in because there's a lot more

1:32:30

to report, like when they're parched or

1:32:32

windy conditions out there. You gotta

1:32:34

be extra careful with things like burning

1:32:37

yard wide. After all, wildfires

1:32:39

can start anywhere, even in your neck

1:32:41

of the woods. Go to Smokey Bear dot

1:32:43

com to learn more about wildfire prevention.

1:32:46

Brought to you by the U. S. Forest Service, your

1:32:48

state Forester, and the ad Council. Look

1:32:50

to your children's eyes to see the true

1:32:53

magic of a forest. It's a storybook

1:32:55

world for them. You look and see a

1:32:58

tree. They see the wrinkle face

1:33:00

of a wizard with arms outstretched

1:33:02

to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles.

1:33:05

They see a windy path that could lead to

1:33:07

adventure, and they see you. They're

1:33:10

fearless. Guide. Is this fascinating

1:33:12

world? Find a forest near you and

1:33:14

start exploring and discover the forest dot

1:33:17

org brought to you by the United States Forest Service

1:33:19

and the Council. My next two guests,

1:33:21

or what I like to call industry decision makers, their

1:33:23

entrepreneurs Rob and Jin Mars. In

1:33:25

twenty eleven, they opened a retail bakery store

1:33:28

Fronts, selling over one hundred flavors of homemade

1:33:30

cupcakes. I know they will do. They

1:33:32

started their bakery from their love of food and

1:33:34

sweets and wanted to create a different kind of life for

1:33:36

their family. The company now has involved

1:33:39

into coaching and mentoring through their own line

1:33:41

and small business course to start Small

1:33:43

Wind Big Academy. Hear me the Start

1:33:46

Small Wind Big Academy

1:33:49

where they teach bakers of all ages

1:33:51

the blueprint to start their own bakery business.

1:33:53

There are many courses and classes teaching bakers

1:33:55

how to perfect their skills, but very but

1:33:58

very few courses have to tell you how to make money

1:34:00

doing what you do, whether it's at home

1:34:02

or whether it's a passion, or they're

1:34:04

gonna take you to the next level, how to make it profitable and

1:34:07

the lasting full time business. Please work

1:34:09

with money making conversations bout entrepreneurship about

1:34:11

making money? Please walcome Rob and Jen

1:34:13

Morris, Hey that team? Let

1:34:18

me let me fix my ear so I get this all in man?

1:34:20

How are you doing to Rob? As my man? Right there? You

1:34:22

know? So

1:34:25

where you guys based at We're

1:34:29

right outside of Philadelphia.

1:34:32

So our bakery was in Delaware County,

1:34:36

southwest, right now east

1:34:38

coast. You know, there's a lot of people. You know, it's probably

1:34:40

the most populated area in the country,

1:34:42

is the eastern Corrida. And so why

1:34:45

sweets? Why cupcakes? Because you

1:34:47

know, I consider myself a baker, and cupcakes,

1:34:49

even though they're so cute, they're really

1:34:52

difficult to make. Am I correct? Maybe

1:34:54

it's just my skill level, talk to about it. I

1:34:59

feel skill level. The

1:35:01

cup pages was the easiest way

1:35:04

to reproduce something a

1:35:07

flavor, a mentally of flavors

1:35:09

into one little dessert. So we can

1:35:12

do a box of twelve different

1:35:14

flavors, right, and it's just really

1:35:16

wild everybody's minds. So

1:35:19

so when you when you talk about ideas, because

1:35:21

you guys are a couple, you know usually because

1:35:24

that means that I was just saying it real. You know, you

1:35:26

wake up, go to sleep. You

1:35:29

know, you eat lunch together, breakfast together. And

1:35:31

when you have business partners, you live a business partner

1:35:33

checks out. See tomorrow brother or see tomorrow

1:35:35

system. How does that work

1:35:38

when the ideas are constantly flowing

1:35:40

and the conflicts can constantly be flowing

1:35:42

when you want to make adjustments when you have an idea,

1:35:45

when you say over one hundred flavors, that

1:35:48

they had to be some conflict. But how did that work?

1:35:50

Because I do get a lot of couple

1:35:52

entrepreneurs on my show, every one of them

1:35:54

has a different version of how they make it work. How

1:35:57

do you guys make it work? From the store

1:35:59

front before we moved to the academy side, We're

1:36:02

gonna keep it real. First of all, you know, we're like

1:36:04

regular couples. You know, we have our

1:36:07

issues just like everybody else. But I think

1:36:09

that our footing in our relationship

1:36:11

is what helps us, you know, work together

1:36:14

as a team. You know, we have a great foundation

1:36:16

starting off, so you know, as entrepreneurs

1:36:19

together, you know, we bounce ideas off

1:36:21

of each other and go back and forth, and we

1:36:23

always know that we we we both are are

1:36:25

looking for the right decision, you know

1:36:27

what I mean. And it

1:36:30

helps a lot if the foundation is there. But

1:36:32

the foundation is important, man. Well

1:36:34

you know, communication is important, which

1:36:37

creates the foundation. And so Jen,

1:36:39

I need go Rob, you know, I'm sure he needs to know it all,

1:36:43

sure, because I'm married to you

1:36:45

know. Then my wife tells me ever to know it all okay,

1:36:48

And she she in her world kind of

1:36:50

like, is the real decision maker.

1:36:52

And her world is really the person who does

1:36:55

the the leg work. Because I'm a

1:36:57

type of person, I throw out the manu and go do the

1:36:59

job, you know, when she reads

1:37:01

the manual and then she makes sure

1:37:03

everything is followed through on the instruction.

1:37:05

Who is the admin person of the relationship

1:37:11

than you you

1:37:13

know, And then I handed over and he'll follow it. There

1:37:16

you and that has to be the

1:37:18

way. That has to be the

1:37:20

way of any business. Correct. You know, whether you are

1:37:22

married or whether you have business partners, someone

1:37:25

has to take charge a different role nobody.

1:37:27

You can't have somebody looking over your shoulder. Admin

1:37:29

has to be trust. You can't have anybody as

1:37:32

far as operations, because I look at Robin is the part

1:37:34

of the operations, part of the relationship. So

1:37:36

that trust in any business

1:37:39

model. Let's discuss that right now, because

1:37:41

I'm pretty sure that's part of the of your

1:37:43

academic of your academy presentation is

1:37:45

about trust, is about taking

1:37:47

control of your position in the business. In this case,

1:37:50

it's two of you, guys. If you're a solo person,

1:37:52

that's you're taking on both the ADMIN and who you

1:37:54

bring on board. So as

1:37:56

you're doing the store front before you went into

1:37:59

the can I mean eline e

1:38:01

online or online services

1:38:03

do not provide what was the most daunting

1:38:06

part of being an entrepreneur in

1:38:08

a storefront property? Good?

1:38:12

Well, I would I would say the most daunting

1:38:14

is um just like you said, working

1:38:17

with each other that that was definitely the

1:38:19

number one. Because there's so many different ideas

1:38:22

that we bounced off and we were trying to make

1:38:24

the right decisions whatnot. But also

1:38:27

by us working together the way

1:38:30

we did, that also helped us step out and

1:38:32

deal with people on the professional level,

1:38:34

because when you're dealing with these professional people,

1:38:36

they want to make sure that you know your business is solid,

1:38:39

that you guys are bouncing off the right ideas or

1:38:41

whatnot, so that you can get to that next point.

1:38:43

So that was the most daunting part

1:38:46

for me, you know, I would say for me,

1:38:48

it was definitely um trying

1:38:51

to get the right people in the right places. Because

1:38:54

as when you first start, you are a solopreneurs,

1:38:57

even if you have a partner, you wear

1:38:59

all all of the hats. So that's

1:39:02

what gets people overwhelmed. That's what gets

1:39:04

people burnt out. And I try to impress

1:39:06

upon them that you have to delegate

1:39:10

and you have to put You have to find the

1:39:12

right people and put them in the right places,

1:39:14

because just because you have someone you throw them in into

1:39:17

a position, that doesn't mean that that's their strength. So

1:39:19

you know, as a CEO and an owner,

1:39:21

you also have to realize that that you

1:39:24

know, try to find the right person number one

1:39:26

and then make sure that you're putting them in the right

1:39:28

place so that they can succeed and they can ultimately,

1:39:31

you know, take your business to another level

1:39:33

too. And then then when

1:39:35

you say that, because I've heard that term at another

1:39:38

level, what what? Because so many

1:39:40

people are different levels. You know, another level might

1:39:42

be buying a Toyota. Some people might be buying the Mercedes,

1:39:45

you know what I'm saying. And so how do you

1:39:47

define what that another level

1:39:49

is when I speak like that, jin, Well,

1:39:53

like you say, it all depends on where

1:39:55

what level we started on. So for us,

1:39:58

we took it one level at a time.

1:40:01

So if we were starting in our home,

1:40:03

the next level for us was into

1:40:05

a storefront, right, But for

1:40:08

some people that's not one

1:40:10

particular jump. So that's

1:40:12

what we teach step by step

1:40:14

because again, people see the end goal.

1:40:17

They have these dreams and they see the end goal, but

1:40:19

they're starting at level A, and all

1:40:21

they're thinking about is how do I get to level Z?

1:40:24

But you've got every step in between.

1:40:26

You can't jump from the bottom step and jump

1:40:28

all the way to the top in your home, like think

1:40:30

about your stairs steps. You can't just fly from

1:40:32

the bottom to the top and you can

1:40:34

leave you can leave me. You can just I love

1:40:36

that theory because just stand at the base of the stairs

1:40:39

and just trying to jump, you may jump

1:40:41

my twist your ankle, you might whoa

1:40:44

and fall backwards and breaking neck. There

1:40:46

there's a lot of there's a lot

1:40:48

of mishaps can happen when

1:40:50

you try to jump steps. And

1:40:53

the reality of what you just said that just dawned on

1:40:56

me when you just said that by steps, because if

1:40:58

you try to do that in real life, you see the difficulty

1:41:01

of trying to achieve I'm gonna jump

1:41:03

to the third step. Just taking to one step at

1:41:05

the time, it's effort. At least you know you

1:41:07

have a plan of action. You can do it

1:41:09

again. You might be able to jump that to

1:41:12

that third, but can you jump to the six? You

1:41:14

know, how are you feeling that day? So that really

1:41:17

is a really is is a safe way to

1:41:19

look at the whole process. But now, you

1:41:21

guys, I know your whole background is baking,

1:41:23

but it seems like your philosophies can

1:41:25

be applied in any business format. Correct,

1:41:28

absolutely, absolutely, Yeah. Our

1:41:31

baking our strategy and

1:41:33

we always say yes, it's

1:41:35

for baking because we're baker's right, We've

1:41:37

had many other businesses that we started

1:41:39

trying to start before the baking business.

1:41:42

That was just the one that stuck. And I think that

1:41:44

was because of our extreme cashing for were foodies.

1:41:50

So that was the only one that really sucked.

1:41:52

And I guess that was our calling, that was our

1:41:56

that was our assignment at that time. But our

1:41:58

strategies, yes, can work in any business.

1:42:00

And I always say, this one baking business,

1:42:02

this initial assignment is your mustard

1:42:05

seed. This is the one that you're planting. You're

1:42:07

nourishing and nurturing, and once it begins

1:42:10

to grow and sprout, you're gotta start getting

1:42:12

many branches coming off of that tree. And

1:42:14

you can take that same business model that we're

1:42:16

teaching you and apply it to any other

1:42:19