Episodes

  • Brand Building: Discusses the power of stereotyping media, culture, and African entrepreneurship opportunities.

    Brand Building: Discusses the power of stereotyping media, culture, and African entrepreneurship opportunities.
    Mar 25 2026

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!

    Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dami Kujembola.

    CEO and co-founder of Amplify Africa:

    🎯 Purpose of the Interview

    The interview aims to:

    • Highlight Amplify Africa’s mission to reshape global perceptions of Africa.
    • Discuss the power of media, culture, and entrepreneurship in bridging the gap between Africa and the diaspora.
    • Share Dami’s personal journey as an immigrant entrepreneur and cultural advocate.

    🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Amplify Africa’s Impact

    • Reaches 12 million people monthly across the US, UK, Brazil, and Africa.
    • Has hosted 200+ global events
    • Focuses on cultural storytelling, media, and education to combat stereotypes.

    “I think it’s representative of the need of people right now. People are looking for strong, real connections.” — Dami Kujembola

    2. The African Festival in Atlanta

      • “Atlanta reminds me of home… the energy is infectious, and the support for everything Black is powerful.” — Dami Kujembola

    3. Challenging Stereotypes

    • Dami shares his experience of being asked if there are lions in Lagos.
    • Emphasizes the modernity and vibrancy of African cities.
    • Uses media to educate and reframe narratives about Africa.

    “I’ve probably never seen a lion in my entire life living in Lagos… It’s so metropolitan.” — Dami Kujembola

    4. Nollywood’s Global Rise

    • Nollywood is the third-largest film industry globally.
    • Netflix and other platforms are helping African stories reach global audiences.
    • Dami’s company partnered with Regal Cinemas for a nationwide Nollywood release.

    “There’s a big emergence coming up from the continent right now with African talent doing amazing things.” — Dami Kujembola

    5. Community and Collaboration

    • Dami credits his success to community support and collaborative efforts.
    • Amplify Africa is built by a diverse team representing multiple African countries and diaspora communities.

    “It’s really the work of the community… people coming together and saying, ‘We want this to succeed.’” — Dami Kujembola

    📌 Notable Quotes

    • “Stop reading other people’s success stories and start living your own.” — Rushion McDonald (Host)
    • “Our goal is to make our world smaller… so if you’re in Atlanta, we want you to feel like you’re in Lagos.” — Dami Kujembola
    • “Your dreams are valid, regardless of your skin color.” — Dami Kujembola

    #SHMS #STRAW #BEST

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    24 mins
  • Brand Building: The conversation covers beauty standards, entrepreneurship, their journey from a one-page blog to media entrepreneurs.

    Brand Building: The conversation covers beauty standards, entrepreneurship, their journey from a one-page blog to media entrepreneurs.
    Mar 25 2026
    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Latrisha McIntosh and LaTasha Taylor. Founders of BSM Media Group and the award‑winning BSM Magazine. The conversation covers beauty standards, entrepreneurship, their journey from a one-page blog during the recession to becoming media entrepreneurs, the highs and lows of their career, their spiritual grounding, their historic interview with Oprah Winfrey, and their mission to create dignified, uplifting media. Purpose of the Interview The interview serves to: ⭐ Highlight the twins’ entrepreneurial journey How they built BSM Magazine and BSM Media Group from scratch during the 2008 recession. ⭐ Discuss their philosophy on beauty, representation, and purpose They emphasize inner beauty, authenticity, and rejecting societal pressure—values that shape their platform and interviews. ⭐ Inspire entrepreneurs Through transparency about lows (being undervalued) and highs (interviewing Oprah), they demonstrate resilience, faith, and consistency. ⭐ Showcase their impact Including discovering rising talent early (e.g., Tabitha Brown), providing media opportunities, and evolving into producers, writers, and content creators. Key Takeaways 1. The Origin of BSM Magazine Started as a one‑page business blog during the 2008 recession to serve rising entrepreneurs.They credit the magazine’s creation as “something that God gave us.” Their natural creativity as twins carried over from childhood. 2. Inner Beauty and Authenticity They define beauty as inner strength, confidence, and embracing the way God created you.Social media culture magnifies appearance, but they insist “outer beauty must align with inner beauty.” 3. Sustaining Success Their differentiation comes from focusing on: Quality contentSpotlighting overlooked talentDoing things mainstream outlets often ignore They interviewed Tabitha Brown before she became widely known and gave actress Essence Atkins her first magazine cover. 4. Challenges and Low Points Being undervalued and overlooked in the media industry.Being judged by numbers or pushed to the back of the line.Yet, they emphasize:“That ‘no’ comes back around … bigger and better.” 5. High Points Their divine‑timed interview with Oprah in April 2018: They put Oprah on a vision board in January.LaTasha tweeted her daily for six months.Oprah unexpectedly turned around on the red carpet and approached them for an interview.This became a milestone moment in their career. 6. Operating a Media Company as Twins They learned to respect each other’s strengths: LaTasha: writing, articles, layoutsLatrisha: creative direction and balance Their partnership is spiritually rooted and purpose-driven. 7. Expanding Beyond a Magazine The magazine now lives under BSM Media Group, which produces: Celebrity contentCorporate and government mediaThe Twins a Media Show They evolved into scriptwriters, producers, and consultants. 8. Longevity Comes From Quality They prioritize: Clean, dignified mediaPositive storytellingProduction standards They tell entrepreneurs not to focus on numbers—focus on quality, and longevity will follow. Notable Quotes On Beauty “Inner beauty has such a powerful way of allowing us to be our true selves.”“Embrace your eyes, your nose, your hips—all the way God made you.”“Imagine if everybody operated in their own lane. That signifies beauty at its highest level.” On Entrepreneurship “We realized we were in the business of seeing people—because we were the underdogs.”“Don’t worry about your numbers. Quality will always stand.”“Sometimes your visions are crazy, and they don’t make sense to people—but believe anyway.” On Overcoming Doubt “A low point is being undervalued—but God has a sense of humor. That ‘no’ comes back around.”“We’ve heard it all. You need layers of skin to accept when someone thinks you're not good enough.” On Their Oprah Moment “She turned around, walked past everyone, and came straight to us.”“Nobody but God—and a little effort from Tasha!” On Partnership “God made us twins for a reason. I couldn’t do this journey without her.”“Working in business taught me more about my sister than growing up together ever did.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    28 mins
  • Don't Rock The Boat - 3.25.26

    Don't Rock The Boat - 3.25.26
    Mar 25 2026

    The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. Subject: "Don't Rock The Boat"

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    14 mins
  • Career Uplift: A female empowerment agency dedicated to helping high‑achieving women rise with confidence, courage, clarity, and faith-driven purpose.

    Career Uplift: A female empowerment agency dedicated to helping high‑achieving women rise with confidence, courage, clarity, and faith-driven purpose.
    Mar 25 2026
    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Natalie Southwell. Founder and CEO of The Essence of a Woman, LLC, a female empowerment agency dedicated to helping high‑achieving women rise with confidence, courage, clarity, and faith-driven purpose. The conversation explores: How women can overcome fear, trauma, and misaligned life decisionsThe role of faith, purpose, and intentionality in decision-makingHer frameworks: PAIN and REALHer personal journey to launching The Essence of a WomanHow she guides women across generations—including students, early professionals, mid-career women, and women 50+—toward alignment and leadership. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The purpose of the interview is to: 1. Introduce Natalie Southwell’s mission Explain how The Essence of a Woman empowers women to overcome fear, reclaim purpose, and lead authentically. 2. Share actionable frameworks She breaks down two of her signature models—PAIN and REAL—which guide women through decision-making, healing, and leadership growth. 3. Inspire women of all ages Show that age should never limit someone’s potential and that clarity and alignment are always possible, whether you're 20 or 60. 4. Highlight the importance of faith + practicality Natalie discusses how spiritual alignment and real‑world strategy work together, especially for women in STEM or male-dominated industries. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. The “Essence” Comes From Understanding God’s Love Natalie says women often pour into others so heavily that they forget their own value. Understanding divine love helps women set boundaries, avoid suffering in silence, and make aligned decisions. 2. Bad Decisions Create Pain—But Pain Teaches Her PAIN Framework helps women pause and analyze decisions before they create negative consequences: PAIN Framework P – Pause and consider purposeA – Analyze your optionsI – Impact: What will this cost emotionally, spiritually, financially?N – Necessity: Why now? Is there urgency? Using this method prevents rash or misaligned choices. 3. Across All Ages, the Common Root Issue Is Fear Whether she’s coaching: women in their 20s entering the workforce,women in their 30s–40s navigating career changes or relationships, orwomen 50+ rediscovering purpose, Natalie identifies fear as the universal obstacle—fear of failure, success, judgment, or making another “wrong” move. 4. Faith + Technology Can Coexist As a woman with a STEM background, Natalie insists that spiritual guidance can align with analytical problem‑solving. She uses faith to prepare for board meetings, interviews, coding challenges, and leadership scenarios. 5. Listening to Life’s “Whispers” Prevents Misalignment Much of her philosophy centers on avoiding the dangers of ignoring internal nudges—what she calls “heart whispers.”Ignoring these whispers leads to regret, unnecessary pain, toxic relationships, and stalled careers. Her book The Dangers of Ignoring Your Heart’s Whispers expands on this theme. 6. Her REAL Framework Helps Women Rebuild REAL Framework R – Reset/Reclaim what was lostE – Empower/ElevateA – Align with purposeL – Lead with authenticity This is the roadmap she uses to guide women out of trauma cycles and into leadership. 7. Trauma Must Be Understood but Not Rehearsed Natalie emphasizes that trauma is real—but staying in it (“rehearsing it”) hardens the heart and blocks growth.Healing requires releasing the past and rewiring one’s mindset. 8. Her Personal Calling Came from a Divine Moment In 2020, she heard God give her the name “The Essence of a Woman.”Though she registered the business immediately, she admits she didn’t “hover” over the idea long enough to see the full vision—she later learned to follow God’s blueprint more closely. 🗣 Notable Quotes from the Interview Here are some standout lines directly from the transcript: On the meaning of “essence”: “The essence is really the understanding of how much God loves you… when you understand how God loves you, that’s the essence.” On pain: “Anytime you make a bad decision today, it will affect your tomorrow and your future.” On fear across generations: “It’s the same root across every generation. The root is fear—fear of failure, fear of not being enough.” On finding purpose after mistakes: “You can’t change the past, but there is a path forward....
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    28 mins
  • Financial Tips: She breaks down long‑term wealth: insurance, asset allocation and retirement accounts for individuals and business owners.

    Financial Tips: She breaks down long‑term wealth: insurance, asset allocation and retirement accounts for individuals and business owners.
    Mar 25 2026
    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Joxavier Jackson. A financial advisor with over 15 years of experience across major institutions such as Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America. She discusses her evolution from a teenage bank teller to an independent financial planner at The Piedmont Group in Atlanta, where she provides holistic, comprehensive wealth management—especially for clients who traditionally lack access to financial literacy. Joe shares her personal journey, the gaps she observed in financial education—especially in working‑class families and communities of color—and why she aims to provide accessible, relationship‑based financial planning. She breaks down the fundamentals of long‑term wealth: insurance, asset allocation, retirement accounts, tax strategies, fraud prevention, and planning for individuals and business owners. The discussion highlights the importance of financial confidence, the significance of meeting people where they are, and the need to increase participation of Black and Brown individuals in wealth‑building spaces. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview Introduce Dr. Joe Jackson’s financial journeyFrom humble beginnings to leadership positions in banking and finally to founding her own firm. Explain comprehensive financial planningShe contrasts big‑bank limitations with her holistic approach that includes insurance, investments, retirement, and legacy planning. Educate listeners on wealth‑building fundamentalsInsurance, retirement vehicles, asset allocation, compounding, fraud prevention, and business planning. Highlight financial literacy gaps in underserved communitiesShe encourages access, representation, and inclusion for people of color in financial spaces. Empower people to build confidence with moneyJoe stresses that understanding your numbers gives you a competitive advantage in life. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Wealth Requires Strategy, Not Accident Joe explains that wealth is built through planning, long‑term strategy, and educated decisions—not by chance. 2. Insurance Is a Wealth‑Building Tool Beyond death benefit, insurance can: Support retirement incomeProvide tax shelteringProtect against market downturnsShe differentiates between term (“rental insurance”) and whole life (“tool you use living and after death”). 3. High Income ≠ Financial Security Without budgeting, allocation, and strategy, income is quickly lost. 4. Fraud Awareness Is Essential Joe urges clients to verify communications directly with institutions and avoid clicking suspicious links. 5. Tailored Advice by Age Group For people in their 20s: Compounding interestRule of 72Dollar cost averagingFor older clients:Catch‑up contributionsConsolidating old 401(k)s 6. Business Owners Need Dual Financial Plans Joe emphasizes separate strategies for: Business planningPersonal financial planningEspecially for tax savings, succession, and legacy building. 7. Representation Matters in Financial Literacy She highlights the need for more visibility, education, and access for Black and Brown communities. 8. Asset Allocation Depends on Risk Tolerance Younger clients = more aggressiveRisk‑averse clients = more conservative, bond‑heavy portfolios 9. Dollar Cost Averaging Builds Wealth Consistent, automated investing—regardless of market conditions—drives compounding. 🗣️ Notable Quotes (Direct From Transcript) On Wealth Building “Wealth isn’t built by accident… you have to have a plan.” On Big Banks vs. Her Firm “If you don’t have at least $250,000, you weren’t considered a worthy client—so far from the truth.” On Community Access “People that look like me—we need this education.” On Term vs. Whole Life Insurance “Term is renting. Whole life is a tool you use when you're alive and when you die.” On Financial Confidence “Financial confidence is a competitive advantage.” On Helping Older Clients “We start right where you are.” On Increasing Black Participation in Finance “I don’t look at your dollar amount. I have information that will make a difference in your life… you need to hear it.” On Her Personal Journey “My family came from humble beginnings… but a manager encouraged me to sit for my licensing. I passed everything on the first try.” #SHMS #BEST #STRAWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
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    29 mins
  • I Love My Two Men Equally - 3.24.26

    I Love My Two Men Equally - 3.24.26
    Mar 24 2026

    The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Tuesday, March 24th, 2026. Subject: "I Love My Two Men Equally"

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    14 mins
  • He Brought Home Bedbugs - 3.23.26

    He Brought Home Bedbugs - 3.23.26
    Mar 23 2026

    The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Monday, March 23rd, 2026. Subject: "He Brought Home Bedbugs"

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    13 mins
  • Number 2 Will Never Be Number 1 - 3.20.26

    Number 2 Will Never Be Number 1 - 3.20.26
    Mar 20 2026

    The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, March 18th, 2026. Subject: "Number 2 Will Never Be Number 1"

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    14 mins