1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: Ba fam we have another how to throw back for you, 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: of course we do. We're looking back at some of 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: our favorite episodes from days past for memorable guests who 4 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: unforgettable moments. There's still so much to learn from the 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: be A Vault. Take a listen, willya? 6 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 2: You guys, this is a momentous day for Brown Ambition Podcast. 7 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 3: It is we have the most brownest, the most ambitious 8 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 3: person that I think my life joining us. 9 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 2: She personifies Brown Ambition and I want to do a 10 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: little intro because she deserves it. I mean, come on. 11 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: Our guest today is Levey Ajay. She is an award 12 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: winning writer. If you do not read her blog Awesome 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: welovey dot com, I don't know what is going wrong 14 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: with your life, but you must do it now. But 15 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: she's not just a blogger. She is a writer, speaker, 16 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: a digital strategist, and she says she thrives at the 17 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: intersection of comedy, technology and activism. Lovey is a thirteen 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 2: year thirteen year blogging so basically since the Internet was born, 19 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 2: Lovey has been blogging. She has the voice behind Awesome 20 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: Me Lovey, of course, the humor blog that covers everything 21 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: pop culture. She also has a new book out now 22 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 2: called I'm Judging You, The Do Better Manual, which is 23 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: going to be released in September twenty sixteen. Unless you 24 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: want to get out of the game, you can pre 25 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 2: order it right now wherever books are sold. So I 26 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 2: did too, and. 27 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, she's best friends with Oprah. 28 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 4: I mean, now. 29 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 2: This has been I feel like this has been the 30 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: year of lovey but love Thank you so much for 31 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: coming on Brown Ambition. 32 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 4: I am glad to be here. Thanks for having me. 33 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 2: Are you calling us from Chicago? 34 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 4: Yes? 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 3: I love the Shy only in the summer though, because 36 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 3: the winter is ignorant. 37 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 4: Our winter is stupid. 38 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 3: Yes, so tell us, like, you know what has been, 39 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: because honestly, this has been the year of lovey. Every 40 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 3: time I turn around, I'm like, well, gosh, darn it, 41 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 3: this girl is just killing it in these streets. I mean, 42 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 3: you were killing it before. And I hate when people 43 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 3: tell me it's your year, girl, I'm like, it's my life. 44 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 4: But come on to say that. 45 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 3: Yes, but definitely this year you've got some major milestone. 46 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 3: What probably is your what was your favorite or your 47 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 3: most like momentous milestone that's far this year probably Interviewing 48 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 3: Oprah that would do it. 49 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I gotta say. 50 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 3: That, that must have been it. And when she grabbed 51 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 3: my head, I was like, well I saw that picture. 52 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 2: Wait, so for me, who's not an inner of this world, 53 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 2: I'm like a hanger on. So I just ride Tiffany's 54 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 2: delightful coattails. No, tell me, how did this happen? How 55 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 2: did you get to sit next How does one sit 56 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 2: next to Oprah and get to ask her question? 57 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 3: So first Oprah did this. She chose one hundred people 58 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 3: to be a part of her Super Soul one hundred lists, 59 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 3: her first Super Sol one hundred list, and I was 60 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: one of them. And that was in April, so that 61 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 3: was when I first met her. And then her team 62 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 3: at OWN was just like, you're dope and we think 63 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: you're pretty cool. So they had me come to LA 64 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 3: for the premiere of their latest show, Green Leaf, that 65 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 3: Oprah stars in and executive produces, and they were like, yeah, 66 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 3: so we want you to interview our cast. 67 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 4: While you're here. What And I was like, okay, cool. 68 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 3: I didn't think the cast will involve would include Oprah. 69 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 4: I would think it was everybody but Oprah. 70 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 3: You think they were the first person, right, Oprah was 71 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: the first person who said next to me. 72 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: They probably purposefully don't tell you though. 73 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 4: Well they told me the day of. They were like, yes, 74 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 4: so you are going to be introduewing Oprah And I 75 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 4: was like wait what. I was like, I'm going to 76 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 4: be interviewing who Oprah? Yeah? What did your mom say? 77 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 3: She was watching because it was all going down on 78 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,119 Speaker 3: Facebook Live and she was watching it on Facebook Live 79 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 3: as it was happening, and she was like, oh my god. 80 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: I found out from my sister that she was texting 81 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 3: my sister like, oh my god, I'm watching her right now. 82 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 3: Like they all stayed up late because in La it 83 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 3: was eight o'clock in La time, which was ten pm. 84 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 3: Actually was yeah, eight o'clock La time, so ten pm 85 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: Chicago time. 86 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 4: But it was incredible, It was It was incredible. 87 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I could only imagine, you know, when 88 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 3: you went down this journey. So, for those of you 89 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 3: who don't know, Luvey is Nigerian. 90 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 2: Yes, any of her blog. 91 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 5: You know, So growing up in a niger household where like, 92 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 5: you know, your your choices for careers are doctor, lawyer, engineer, 93 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 5: pharmacists in that order. 94 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 4: You know, how how was. 95 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 3: That transition of being allowed to kind of be yourself 96 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: and do this. Is it easy where your parents are 97 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: always kind of on board or was it something you 98 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: had to fight for? I think for me, So when 99 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 3: I started college, I said I was going to be 100 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 3: a doctor my. 101 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 4: Watch McCall it my major coming in with psychology pre med. 102 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 3: But then I dropped that pre med after first semester 103 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: of college when I got my first d of my 104 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 3: whole academic career, and I was like, I don't even 105 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 3: like hospitals. But I didn't actually tell anybody in my 106 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,559 Speaker 3: family that I dropped the pre med. 107 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 4: They just came to graduation. What they just came a graduation. 108 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 3: I got my degree in psychology, so I kept the 109 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 3: psychology piece. But then I think the whole time at 110 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 3: that point, I basically proved that, like, I'm not ridiculously irresponsible, 111 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 3: and I hadn't done anything up to that point that 112 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 3: was crazy. 113 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 4: So I was kind of left to my own devices. 114 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 3: Course, when you when you were trying to be a writer, 115 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: I mean, even though I was still fighting it tooth 116 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 3: and nails, people just think you're playing on the internet. 117 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 4: So I still had a full time job for I 118 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 4: went until twenty. 119 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 2: Ten that's good to know. How did you balance them both? 120 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 4: Oh? 121 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 3: I would come home at night and write because honestly, 122 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 3: I just love writing and I love marketing, which is 123 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 3: what I was doing full time. 124 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 4: So it was like I was kind of enjoying. 125 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 3: Both of it, but really writing is what I was 126 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 3: supposed to be doing. And I think it became really 127 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 3: really real probably twenty twelve, when I did press coverage 128 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 3: of the Academy Awards red carpet and backstage. That's when 129 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 3: it actually kind of like solidified for my mom that oh, 130 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 3: she's not just playing on the internet. 131 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 4: Okay. 132 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: I mean you're the first person I go to when 133 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 2: I'm looking for like a pop culture wrap up, like 134 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: your game. I found you through your Game of Thrones reviews. 135 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 2: That's like my favorite thing. I just love how you 136 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: embrace the nerd, you know what I mean, Like you're 137 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 2: so yourself, you embrace all like the little quirks. And 138 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: then you were doing this Scandal reviews for was it? 139 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 4: No? 140 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 3: I actually started Scandal reviews for myself, like and then 141 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 3: Comcasts had me. 142 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 4: Do it for them for like six months. 143 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 3: So I just everything I've been doing has kind of 144 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 3: happened organically, So I just paid attention to what I 145 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: loved doing, and I did it even when I wasn't 146 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: getting paid to do it. That's an AHA moment for 147 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 3: those of you guys who know what that means. Oprah 148 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 3: lovers aha moment. 149 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 4: Ah. I feel like everyone's always like, oh, how did 150 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 4: you plan? 151 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 3: I didn't plan anything, which is interesting. I didn't plan 152 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 3: any of it. I didn't have any type of strategy 153 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 3: on this. I'm going to become an amazing writer. I 154 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 3: was just doing it every day. I was writing every day. 155 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 3: I was blogging before it was popular to blog, just because. 156 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 4: I had things to say and I wanted to say them, 157 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 4: so I did. 158 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 3: Let's get to like the real diitty gritty, because I 159 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 3: think people look and they think like, oh, well, love 160 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 3: it's funny and she knows all these people, and it's 161 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 3: it seems like it's easy. But I always like to 162 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 3: know what's the hard part, what's the part that you're like, yo, 163 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 3: I still struggle with this, or if this part is 164 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 3: not that fun? To give people like that, it's obviously 165 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 3: it's awesome, but there are parts that are not so awesome, 166 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 3: and how do you deal with them? 167 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 4: With everything? 168 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: People always see the glory with the without the grit 169 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 3: behind it. You know, it's when you're a writer, there's 170 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 3: no straight path, there's no blueprint. 171 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 4: You don't necessarily Yeah, you can get a degree, that 172 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 4: doesn't mean you're going to get a job. 173 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 3: I think it comes down to pushing past those hard 174 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 3: times and really standing in your worst because one of 175 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 3: the things about being a creative is people will constantly 176 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 3: challenge you on your pricing. Photographers feel this, you know, 177 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 3: artists feel this. Anybody who's working for themselves feel this. Yes, 178 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 3: people feel like they can always negotiate you down. Like 179 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 3: you can't walk into H and M and be like, hey, 180 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 3: I know this shuir cost seventeen dollars. Can I pay 181 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 3: twelve dollars for it? 182 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 4: Can you? Can you preach it please? 183 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 3: I'm like Jesus, So it's just like. 184 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 4: No, you have to accept people's value is what it is. 185 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 3: And it it got easier for me to say no 186 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 3: to people and say no. 187 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 4: But if you ever have the money, come back. 188 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 3: And you know what's funny is a lot of times 189 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 3: people are afraid to say no because they're afraid that 190 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 3: they'll lose money. But a lot of the people who 191 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 3: I've said no to hey, come back, have come back, 192 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 3: just because they're like, you know what, I've got my 193 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:27,839 Speaker 3: money together and I. 194 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 4: Understand that you are worth what you are. 195 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,559 Speaker 3: Charging because you have proving this over and over again. 196 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: I hear some is that a little person in the background. 197 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 4: That's my niece. 198 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 3: I was just saying, I have no babies. 199 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 4: I man, I just closed the door. Kids are like, 200 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 4: damn your life. I'm over here. 201 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 2: Basically, that's your niece. So what's your family? Like, let's 202 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 2: talk a little bit about your family. They can switch 203 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: scars for a little bit. 204 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: I have a Nigerian family, I am. I mean, honestly, 205 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 3: it's just regular, like I don't know. They are interesting, 206 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 3: they're funny, they're shady. I have a very Nigerian mom 207 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 3: who is amazing a cooking jelf fries because yellow rice 208 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 3: is clearly better than Ghanaian rice. That's not even let's 209 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 3: not even start because right, Jello, right, So there's a 210 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 3: war going on many No I know about. 211 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 2: That Guanians and the Nigerian wars. 212 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 3: My two friends in college, somebody had the nerve to 213 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 3: post y'all don't know nothing, Liberian Jello, I said, who 214 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 3: librarian Jealouf. 215 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 4: Don't even You're not even in this you don't even 216 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 4: go to the same school as You're still taking a 217 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,239 Speaker 4: short bus. What no, off, that's the Liberians. 218 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 3: I love y'all. We're talking about your rice. 219 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 2: And wait, wait, lovey, you just said school. 220 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 4: Now. 221 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 2: I heard a rumor that you went to school with 222 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 2: none other than Michelle Obama. Not with Michelle Obama, but 223 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: the same school as Michelle Obama. 224 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 4: Can you confirm school with me? Young? 225 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 2: So this school is a part of course, Yeah, oh 226 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: my god. So this school is like what the Golden School. 227 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 3: It is actually like, Whitney Young is known for being excellent. 228 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 3: It's one of the best city high schools in the country. 229 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: It's actually been ranked every year since its existence. So yeah, 230 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 3: Like I think one of the first black astronauts went 231 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 3: to Whitney Young too, So we're just amazing. Yeah, just 232 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 3: pushes out winter. So I want to learn more about 233 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 3: this book. I know, like I already pre ordered mine 234 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 3: and I'm excited. So tell us about like your book 235 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 3: and what people can expect and when they can expect it. 236 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 3: So my book is called I'm Judging You, the Do 237 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 3: Better Manual, and it is a collection of essays on life, culture, 238 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 3: social media, and fame and. 239 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 4: Why we are all ridiculous and why we can do better. 240 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,479 Speaker 3: So and I include myself in that, I'm also ridiculous 241 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 3: and I can do better because as a Nigerian, I 242 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 3: can't be on time for nothing. 243 00:11:58,080 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 4: What I can't I'm terrible. 244 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 3: I'm late for the most random things. I'm late for 245 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 3: conference calls. I'm just terrible. So this book is just 246 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 3: me turn the mirror on all of us. And it's 247 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 3: basically my blog on steroids, but it's brand new content. 248 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 4: It's like me at my best, So I'm excited. 249 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 2: I don't think people get you know, as I'm a writer. 250 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 2: I study journalism, that's my background. But what you do, Like, 251 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 2: I don't want people to think that it's easy, Like 252 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 2: it's not easy to be funny and smart as a writer. 253 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: So who are some of your influences? Like when you 254 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: sit down to write, Like who taught you to be funnier? 255 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: To see humor in your writing? 256 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 3: Honestly, my writing is who I am in real life. 257 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,200 Speaker 3: Like people who know me very well in real life 258 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 3: will read my blog inside I heard your voice because 259 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:52,719 Speaker 3: it is truly me, Like you can see you can 260 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 3: read my blog and be like, this is a conversation 261 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 3: I would have with her over brunch. So honestly, it's 262 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 3: been me just being true to myself with my voice. 263 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 3: But I of course have people who've inspired me, and 264 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 3: one of them is Angela Nizzle. She wrote The Broke 265 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 3: Diaries like ten or fifteen years ago, and I remember, 266 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 3: back when I still had a full time job. I 267 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 3: found her book and I was reading it on the 268 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 3: bus cracking up, like you know, one of those laugh 269 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: where you can't keep yourself from laughing at everyone around 270 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 3: just looking at you funny. 271 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 4: I'm one of those on the train. Yeah. Yeah. 272 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 3: It was one of those where I was just like, 273 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: oh my god, I don't even care because I just found. 274 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 4: Myself gufoying in different places. 275 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 3: And she ends up being like one of the writers 276 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 3: of one of my favorite shows ever, Scrubs. 277 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 4: She's a black woman. 278 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 3: Her and I end up actually finding each other online 279 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 3: because I was like, I'm a huge fan. 280 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 4: We actually end up becoming friends, so it's kind of crazy. 281 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 4: It was like a full circle moment for me. She's 282 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 4: one I'm. 283 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 3: Inspired by anybody who really stands in there power as critics, 284 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 3: as smart people who live in the world that has 285 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 3: a lot to criticize, and. 286 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 4: Just smart people in general inspire me. 287 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 2: One of my favorite of your recent stories has been, well, 288 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 2: you're really protective of the Obamas, as I think we 289 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: all should be. Yes, But your post about Malia and 290 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 2: what she's gone through because she can't she live, why 291 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 2: do you feel protect mean? I can kind of guess, 292 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 2: but why do you feel protective of Malia and Sasha 293 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 2: and the Obamas in general? 294 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 3: I'm protective of black girls in general because I think 295 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 3: the world is too critical of black people, especially black girls, 296 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 3: Like we get the brunt of everything. 297 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 4: We are torn to pieces even more than anybody else. 298 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 3: So for me, I want to be one of the 299 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 3: people who's balancing it out, you know. 300 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 4: So when black girls are being when people are calling 301 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 4: themsel types. 302 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 3: Names, I'm over here like, no, that that's not fair 303 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 3: because when you compare the way people treat us how 304 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 3: they treat other people, you see the discrepancy. So for me, 305 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 3: it's a matter of oh, no, oh, no. I think 306 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 3: standing up for black girls is one of my favorite hobbies. 307 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 4: No, I love that. 308 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 3: So where do you see yourself? Like what I know 309 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 3: you said, you don't really plan. I remember hearing Oprah 310 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 3: say that wants to think and she was bugging like 311 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 3: she just kind of like leans into the experience's life 312 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 3: throws her way in. But I totally get it now. 313 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 3: But sometimes you do have an overarching like, well, this 314 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 3: is kind of like what I'd love to do, Like 315 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 3: is there anything huge or major that you have that 316 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 3: accomplished that you're like, you know, this is on my 317 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 3: vision board that I'd like to do in the future. Honestly, 318 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 3: my book was like the biggest goal I had set 319 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 3: for myself thus far, and for me, that goal was 320 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 3: to become a bestselling author. So I'm hoping by the 321 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 3: end of this fall, I will say check. Now what 322 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 3: comes after that, I'm not sure because again I haven't 323 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 3: planned for any of this, and thus far I've done 324 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 3: pretty well by just kind of waiting and seeing what 325 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:08,359 Speaker 3: the universe. 326 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 4: Has for me. So maybe TV's next. I thought that. 327 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 2: I mean, you're you're sitting next to Oprah. Now Oprah 328 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 2: and Ava Duverne are creating original content featuring you know, 329 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 2: all black casts, mainly black cast I mean, do you 330 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 2: see yourself getting into that world? There's been so much 331 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 2: talk about the need for more black female writers, especially. 332 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I think so. I think that might end 333 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 3: up being the organic next step for me. That's the 334 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: feedback I keep getting from people. People who are even 335 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 3: in TV have been like, you should be writing for TV. 336 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 3: So I'm open to it. I am very open to it. 337 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 3: And you know, Shanda is like your BFF. 338 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 4: Two. I was like, look at Shanda because you know, so. 339 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 3: Shonda Rhymes is Bay Like I actually called her fairy 340 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:58,239 Speaker 3: Bay Mother. 341 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 4: Because she she has taken a liking to my work 342 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 4: that is. 343 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 3: Like it's beyond flattering, Like there needs to be a 344 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 3: different word beyond flattering. She's shared like my she's tweeted 345 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 3: randomly by my book. She's talked about my book while 346 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 3: she's been in rooms on panels. 347 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 4: So it's been it's been crazy. Yeah, has it sunken in? 348 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 3: People ask me sometimes when something big happens, like how 349 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 3: do you feel? And honestly, I don't know, Like has 350 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,199 Speaker 3: it sunken in? You know that these things are happening 351 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 3: or are you still kind of like yeah, just like 352 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:39,239 Speaker 3: you know, living life, this is how it is. Or 353 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 3: do you actually feel the magnitude of like what's happening. 354 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 3: I don't feel the magnitude of what's happening, which sounds 355 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 3: weird to even say. 356 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 4: I don't because I don't. 357 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 3: I don't think I take enough time to sit there 358 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 3: processing like holy smokes, that just happened. Like last night, 359 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 3: for example, the head of the Writer's Guild of America 360 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: and like I think the Northwest tweeted that he loved 361 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 3: my book and I was like what, And I did 362 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 3: what for like ten minutes and then moved on. So 363 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 3: I think, one, I don't want to be I don't 364 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 3: want to lose myself. 365 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 4: In the magnitude of what's happening. 366 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 3: And I don't want to be like oh man, spending 367 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 3: days congratulating myself. But I do sometimes kind of scroll through. 368 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 3: I use my Instagram in my face acount now kind 369 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 3: of like a yes. And honestly, there are some evenings 370 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 3: when before I go to sleep, I scroll through my 371 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 3: Instagram to remind myself of what's happened, and that those 372 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 3: moments I'm like, wow, okay, we're like now wow, like 373 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:55,880 Speaker 3: you know, yeah, that's crazy. It's just yeah, it's crazy 374 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 3: but awesome. And when I look at what you're doing, 375 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 3: I was, I was telling her Mandy, I was before 376 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 3: we had our little mixed up in earlier. I was 377 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 3: just telling Lovely like it's that lovey, Like when you're 378 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 3: a Nigerian kid, like your parents don't want to hear 379 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 3: anything about any other possible major. But when you can 380 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 3: show another Niga kid that had succeeded without going to 381 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 3: the traditional ride of doctor, lawyer, engineer, then they give 382 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 3: you kind of like, well, okay, so Lovey, Like literally, 383 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 3: there's gonna be hundreds of thousands of kids, Nigerian kids 384 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 3: in the next unforeseeable future saying like, but Mommy, look 385 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 3: at Lovey. 386 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 4: She didn't go to medical school and she's killing it. 387 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 3: And you know, Mom's like, oh, well, you know, okay, Lovely, 388 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 3: that's real. Because part of the reason why I thought 389 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 3: being a writer for so long is because I hadn't 390 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 3: seen anybody who had made a great living at it 391 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 3: while they're not like writing if they're not Tony Morrison, 392 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. So not having that example 393 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,679 Speaker 3: was part of the reason why I was like, nah, 394 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 3: I can't do this. So like the idea that I 395 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 3: could be somebody's example of like I can do this, 396 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 3: that's that's incredible. 397 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 2: Now speaking and making a living as a writer on 398 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 2: you know, you have you have a couple of different 399 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 2: websites now awesomely Techy, which focuses more on tech entrepreneurship businesses, 400 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 2: and then you have your pop culture blog awesomely Levy. 401 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 2: But I mean, as you're scaling up to business and 402 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 2: you're like earning an income, how do you learn how 403 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 2: to manage that and budget when you're you know, going 404 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 2: from a full time job to just you know, owning 405 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 2: your own business. 406 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 3: Well, you learn quickly because if you spend your money, 407 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 3: if you get a check and you spend your money 408 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:35,199 Speaker 3: and the next time you get a check is in 409 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 3: four months and you're like, oh shoot, I shouldn't spend 410 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 3: all that money, you will learn quick to manage your 411 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 3: cash flow. That Like, you might get windfalls of money, 412 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 3: but you better save that money so you're not you're 413 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,120 Speaker 3: not going to be broke and eating Ramen noodles three 414 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 3: months later. But that's also one thing that people don't 415 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 3: teach enough is when you work for yourself. 416 00:20:57,640 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 4: You might feel like you. 417 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 3: Balling when you get a check, but you just know, 418 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 3: thirty percent of that check does not belong to money. Yes, 419 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 3: like thirty percent of that check is not yours, that 420 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 3: is the irs. But one of the hardest things I 421 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 3: would say about being an entrepreneur is. 422 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 4: When you get your tax bill. Holy smokes. 423 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,920 Speaker 3: You know it's cool to get money taken at your 424 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 3: check every two weeks, you don't feel it as hard. 425 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 3: But when you see it like a bill that is 426 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 3: over five figures and you have to write a check 427 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 3: for the irs, that stuff will make you sit down 428 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 3: real quick. 429 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: Do you have help there or do you have accountants? 430 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 2: I mean, how much of it is you and how 431 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 2: much of it are you? Are you getting helpless? 432 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 4: Oh? I have an accountant that I've been using for 433 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 4: the last seven years. 434 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:46,959 Speaker 3: I haven't really use her like a bookkeeper like I should. 435 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 3: I was actually talking to somebody the other day that 436 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 3: I need to do that next, like because she probably 437 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 3: needs to like check me on my spending. So yeah, 438 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,960 Speaker 3: well you can even get a separate because my account 439 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 3: was like, oh these received that's cute. But I don't 440 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 3: do that. And so I have a separate bookkeeper where 441 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 3: literally she lives in LA. Once a month I mail 442 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 3: her all of my receipt I'm petty, Like if I 443 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 3: go through the toll for fifty cents, I'm like a 444 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 3: receipt please, I spend all my receipt and then if 445 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 3: somebody sends me an invoice, let's say I pay like 446 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 3: my designer to make up of to make like a 447 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 3: logo or something. Then I forward her those email invoices 448 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:24,360 Speaker 3: and then I send her to the receipts. And every 449 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 3: month she puts together a quarterly report or monthly report, 450 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 3: and then every quarter a quarterly report. And I sit 451 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 3: with my accountant every quarter, like I just sat with 452 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 3: him literally last week, brought the report and that I 453 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 3: was able to pay because I pay every quarter now 454 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 3: to write a check and say okay, because it's easier 455 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 3: to write, you know, like a three thousand dollars check 456 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 3: or four then like at the end of the year 457 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 3: you have, like, you know, a twenty thousand dollars check. 458 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 4: So that's what I did. 459 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 3: Actually, I've been saying that I was going to I'll 460 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 3: send that I was going to be on quarterly, but 461 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 3: I just haven't done it. It's been such a crazy 462 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 3: year that I've been like, oh man, shoot, I just 463 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:06,679 Speaker 3: missed three quarters all shoot want to see Yeah, now, 464 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,199 Speaker 3: that's normal, but you the sooner, especially once you get 465 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 3: to a certain tax bracket. You literally, you're gonna have 466 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 3: to pay quarterly because yeah, because the government is like that, now, 467 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 3: we want our money up front. 468 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 4: He told me. 469 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 3: This last year was the last year that I could 470 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 3: get away with my pay. If you're looking for a bookkeeper, 471 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 3: just let me know, because I see too many entrepreneurs 472 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 3: who are so dope at what they do, but their 473 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,399 Speaker 3: business failed because of the back end, not because of 474 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 3: their talent. 475 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 1: You know. 476 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, see who I was like, uh uh I rs 477 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 3: I did not play with them. 478 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 4: They all will get your money. Yes, here you go. 479 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 2: Who taught you about money growing up? What was that? 480 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 2: Who are your sort of financial influences? 481 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 4: None? I had zero? 482 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:51,719 Speaker 2: Oh, I don't feel a long. 483 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:56,239 Speaker 3: Yeah, having conversations about money was not really what I 484 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 3: did growing up. 485 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think I kind of self on that. 486 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 3: She was like, Nope, nope, they didn't talk about in 487 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:08,719 Speaker 3: my household except for to say there's no money exactly exactly. 488 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 2: Well, I don't want to. I don't want to let 489 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 2: you go before we talk about a project that's really 490 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:14,879 Speaker 2: near and dear to your heart and I want to 491 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,119 Speaker 2: hear more about it. It's the Red Pump project, which 492 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 2: correct me if I'm wrong. But it benefits HIV AIDS 493 00:24:21,359 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 2: for women and girls. 494 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, so reference any nonprofit that I co founded seven 495 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 3: years ago with a friend of mine, and uh yeah, 496 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 3: we do raise awareness by the impact of HIV and 497 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 3: AIDS on women and girls. And we started it because 498 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 3: I met somebody who had twenty cousins who were living 499 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,360 Speaker 3: with her grandmother in Malawi because their parents had died 500 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 3: from age related complications. And she had a friend who 501 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 3: had told her a close friend who was who told 502 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 3: that he was HIV positive. And we were like, oh man, 503 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 3: we didn't even know this epidemic was still this. 504 00:24:57,880 --> 00:24:59,680 Speaker 4: Bad because we don't even hear about it anymore. 505 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:05,199 Speaker 3: So for us, it was important to generate conversation. We 506 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 3: wanted to decrease stigma about it because we're like, if 507 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,239 Speaker 3: we're not hearing about it, everyone else isn't hearing about it, 508 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 3: and nobody's talking about this issue, So let's do it. 509 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 3: And we started as a social media campaign. We started 510 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 3: by getting bloggers to talk about it on National Women 511 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 3: and Girls HIV and AIDS Awareness Day, which is March 512 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 3: tenth every year. 513 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 4: And that first year, which was in two thousand and nine, 514 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 4: and we had like one hundred and thirty five. 515 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 3: Bloggers join us, so that was cool, and then it 516 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 3: became a nonprofit organization and we've been going for seven years. 517 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: We do events around the country around like safe sex 518 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 3: and teaching women and girls that it's okay to be sexual, 519 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 3: but here are the tools you need to know to 520 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 3: be safe. So and we would have red shoes by 521 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 3: the way, So that's why we call the Red Pump projects. 522 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 3: We use red shoes to kind of grab people's attention. 523 00:25:57,800 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 3: So a lot of people see me in red shoes, 524 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 3: They're like, I. 525 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 2: Guess, well, I mean I heard you might like shoes 526 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 2: a little bit. 527 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 4: Yes, I have a shoe problem. 528 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 3: In fact, my accountant Okay, see I think it's my 529 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:12,080 Speaker 3: accountant's fault too. 530 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 4: Let me tell you. 531 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 3: Why, because she told me that red shoes are tax 532 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 3: deductible expenses for me. Now yeah, And I was like, well, 533 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 3: then I am doing business every time I buy a 534 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 3: pair of red shoes. No, but she's right though, like you, yeah, 535 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 3: just being able to write off every little thing. 536 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,120 Speaker 4: Right off, like I can write off. 537 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 3: Certain clothes up by because I'm always speaking, so your haircut, 538 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 3: my haircuts are now business expenses, y'all. What I'm like 539 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 3: if we talk about business eat ice creabe. I'm like, 540 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 3: I need that cone receipt. 541 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 4: You're like, that was part of my business meeting. 542 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 3: Thank you. My dad would say more grease to your elbow, 543 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:10,239 Speaker 3: and you know, you make such a nice oh my god, 544 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 3: your elbow. And we're just like really really like proud 545 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 3: of you. And just because when what I love most 546 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,199 Speaker 3: about you, I forget where I was. I was just 547 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 3: it was a group of black women. I don't know 548 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 3: where I was, but your name came up and oh, 549 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 3: you know what, I don't know if you know a 550 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 3: Vita from No Madness, Oh yeah, yeah, so she she 551 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 3: just moved. She had a housewarming and there were so 552 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,920 Speaker 3: many dope women in the room. Glinda from Black Girl's 553 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 3: Rock was there. Oh, just a bunch of doulte black 554 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 3: women here because Avita moved to Newark where I live, 555 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 3: and your name came up and across the board, everyone 556 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 3: was like, you know, what's so dope about lovey like yo, 557 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:48,960 Speaker 3: from people who knew you from way back to people 558 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 3: who know you now, just always the same, funny as hell, 559 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 3: cool as hell, just never any heirs or arrogance or 560 00:27:57,320 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 3: any of that. And you know, and that's saying a 561 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 3: lot for Nigerians because I mean, if we if we're 562 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 3: nothing else, we're prideful. 563 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 4: And yeah, so it's just dope to like. 564 00:28:06,800 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 3: When I first met you, because Mandy, I first met 565 00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 3: love you in person in Barbados last year. Yeah, yes, 566 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,679 Speaker 3: my cousin had a she owns this bridal magazine called 567 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,120 Speaker 3: Munuluchi and she had this retreat. 568 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 4: And oh my god, I never laughed so hard. We 569 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 4: had a good time. 570 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 3: We did, and I can't wait for it to do 571 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 3: it again in November. I mean remember this year in 572 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 3: New Orleans. But yeah, I just want to one thank 573 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 3: you for always just being so downstairs and cool and 574 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 3: just continue to rise. Where can people find you? Like 575 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 3: if they want to follow you, they want to follow 576 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 3: your shoes, if they want to get your book. 577 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 4: On the down to Earth thing. 578 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 3: People always tell people that, Like, honestly, it's what happens 579 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:52,240 Speaker 3: when you don't take full credit for. 580 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 4: Everything that's happening for you. 581 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 3: It is basically when you understand that you are standing 582 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 3: on the shoulder of God, is in God notices and 583 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 3: basically you're a product of God's great So I don't 584 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,080 Speaker 3: have a right to be all arrogant and trifling because 585 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 3: I have enough people in my life who'll be. 586 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:09,400 Speaker 4: Like girls, sit down. 587 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 3: So but yeah, so everyone can find me on the interwebs. 588 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 3: I am all over the place, Lovey on Twitter, Instagram, and. 589 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 4: Facebook, and that's l U v v I E. 590 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 3: I've actually trained Google to where if you actually type 591 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 3: in just my first name, all my stuff comes up. 592 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 4: So that's cool. 593 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 3: But yeah, I'm easy to find. And then I have 594 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 3: my shoes to gram my shoes. My Instagram account is 595 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 3: dedicated to my addiction to shoes, shoes m U s 596 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 3: T l U v V shoes, So yeah, people can 597 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:47,440 Speaker 3: see my kicks of the day and. 598 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 4: All that stuff. 599 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 2: I need to follow that right now, Lovey, before we 600 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 2: let you go, I want to do a quick, little 601 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 2: rapid fire question round. This is the first time. This 602 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 2: is the first time we're doing it, and I. 603 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 3: Feel like, hell, this is new. 604 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:03,680 Speaker 2: I got ideas. I got lots of ideas behind the scenes. Okay, 605 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 2: so got about I don't know eight or so questions, 606 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 2: but you have to answer the first thing that comes first, 607 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 2: first thing that comes to mind? All right, you ready, yep, 608 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: Barack or Michelle Fierce, Game of Thrones or scandal unmissible. No, no, 609 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 2: oh no, I didn't explain the rules of the game, right, gagging. Sorry, 610 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:30,960 Speaker 2: it's my fault. I said the first thing that comes 611 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 2: to but I meant choose one. 612 00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:36,760 Speaker 3: Here's the first thing that comes to mind. And I 613 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 3: was like, hilarious. Sorry my face, like, wait, what's happening? 614 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 4: Freaking hilarious? Okay, let's do it. That's funny. 615 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 2: Don't worry. This is just the startup phase. This is 616 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 2: this is We're still in beta testing. We're still in 617 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 2: a B testing. All right, try again? All right, Barack 618 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 2: or Michelle Michelle? Game of Thrones or scandal, Game of Thrones? Why? Okay, Okay, 619 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 2: this is gonna be easy for you. Probably new shoes 620 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 2: or food. 621 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 4: New shoes unless the food is rice. 622 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:22,960 Speaker 2: A right, oprah? Oprah? Or Gail? 623 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:25,080 Speaker 4: Oh, come on, oprah? 624 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 2: Oh for Gail? All right? Nighttime or daytime? Nighttime Texter 625 00:31:30,960 --> 00:31:37,320 Speaker 2: call call Instagram or Facebook, Facebook, breakfast or brunch brunch. 626 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 4: Yep, because I'll be lated to all the types of breakfast. 627 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, last one, Kim or Taylor? 628 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 4: Oh hell no, neither. 629 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: This question? 630 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 4: Like what neither one of them? 631 00:31:55,120 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 2: Okay, fine, there's an answer. Answer B is none. Of 632 00:31:57,720 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 2: the above. 633 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 3: Yes, you have to keep the misunderstanding in the beginning. 634 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,880 Speaker 3: That's just oh yeah, no, please do Your people will 635 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 3: be like why our people who are supposedly so smart. 636 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:14,240 Speaker 3: Oh my god, this was like my favorite interview ever. 637 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 3: Thank you so so so so much for joining us, Lovey. 638 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 4: Oh my god, this is super fun. 639 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 2: You just made my day. Thank you, Lovey. Everyone go 640 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 2: to awesomelovey dot com right now. 641 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 6: Indeed, all right, so you're. 642 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:38,920 Speaker 2: Welcome for that interview. I feel like we just made 643 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 2: your Tuesday. So we're gonna piece that a little bit 644 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 2: early on this week's episode. But before we go, Tiffany 645 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 2: has a reminder for you all. 646 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 3: Remember we have a contest in that we want to 647 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 3: know what is Brown Ambition mean to you? And we 648 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 3: are going to pick anywhere from five to ten listeners 649 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,560 Speaker 3: to join Mandy and I for dinner in. 650 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 4: New York City on us. 651 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:02,960 Speaker 3: I mean, the transportation is on you, but the dinner 652 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 3: is on us, and we're just gonna sit talk be 653 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 3: brown and fabulous and fun. So if you can email 654 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:12,320 Speaker 3: us at. 655 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 2: Brown Ambition Podcasts at gmail dot com. 656 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 3: What Brown Ambition means to you and I guess in 657 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 3: the subject line. What should they put? 658 00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 2: Just like put anything you want just for Grown Ambition contest. 659 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, and so yeah, we want to eat because it's 660 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:30,080 Speaker 3: our one year anniversary, returning one soon and we want 661 00:33:30,080 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 3: to meet like some of the listeners and just have 662 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 3: a good time with y'all. So make sure that you 663 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 3: email us, make sure you share you know what Brown 664 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 3: Ambition means to you, not necessarily the show, just in 665 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 3: general what Brown Ambition means to you. And we will 666 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 3: pick our top phades and we'll have dinner. 667 00:33:44,240 --> 00:33:46,960 Speaker 2: I can't wait. Food booze, brown buzz. 668 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 3: I don't even drink, but honey, I don't need to drink. 669 00:33:50,840 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 2: Final I'll have yours. 670 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 3: Man, Today was just such an awesome day that was 671 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 3: just so so much fun with Lovey. 672 00:33:59,640 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 4: Yeah. 673 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 2: So I hope you guys enjoyed for making it happen. 674 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 3: Oh, no, no problem. Honestly, I didn't even have to 675 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 3: do anything. She was looking to be interviewed. 676 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:11,640 Speaker 4: So okay, all right 677 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,880 Speaker 3: Y'all, we will see you next week and I don't know, 678 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 3: keep it Brown, keep it ambitious, Brooker, Brooker, Okay, bye bye,