1 00:00:05,290 --> 00:00:06,090 Speaker 1: Welcome to the show. 2 00:00:06,430 --> 00:00:10,270 Speaker 2: I am Rashawn McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, 3 00:00:10,610 --> 00:00:13,430 Speaker 2: where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success 4 00:00:13,470 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 2: stories and start planning their own. Listen up as I 5 00:00:17,410 --> 00:00:21,140 Speaker 2: interview entrepreneurs from around the country, talk to celebrities and 6 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 2: ask them how they are running their companies and speak 7 00:00:24,060 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: with nonprofits who are making a difference in their local communities. 8 00:00:27,940 --> 00:00:30,500 Speaker 2: Now sit back and listen as we unlock the secrets 9 00:00:30,540 --> 00:00:34,220 Speaker 2: to their success on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. 10 00:00:35,020 --> 00:00:35,340 Speaker 3: Welcome. 11 00:00:35,420 --> 00:00:37,580 Speaker 1: Welcome to Money Making Conversations Masterclass. 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 4: Wow. 13 00:00:41,020 --> 00:00:44,630 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations Masterclass. I'm your host, Rishon McDonald. As 14 00:00:44,690 --> 00:00:46,870 Speaker 1: every week, a new adventure, a new set of guests, 15 00:00:46,930 --> 00:00:50,830 Speaker 1: a new set of motivators, people who have ideas that 16 00:00:50,870 --> 00:00:53,550 Speaker 1: have worked in their life. And I asked them to 17 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:56,420 Speaker 1: tell their story. So hopefully the keys to their success 18 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: or the keys to their perseverance will motivate you to 19 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: be successful. That's what money making conversations masterclass is all about. 20 00:01:03,300 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 1: I welcome anybody who wants to call in on the 21 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: show because of the fact that I enjoy talking to 22 00:01:09,220 --> 00:01:12,770 Speaker 1: individuals and hopefully inspire you to get up the next 23 00:01:12,790 --> 00:01:15,190 Speaker 1: day and say, I'm a change the world. But more importantly, 24 00:01:15,450 --> 00:01:17,170 Speaker 1: if you want to be a guest on my show, 25 00:01:17,810 --> 00:01:20,230 Speaker 1: a guest on my show, please go to money making 26 00:01:20,310 --> 00:01:28,230 Speaker 1: conversations dot com. That's moneymakingconversations.com. Push the be a guest button. 27 00:01:28,350 --> 00:01:30,970 Speaker 1: It's like be a guest. And when you submit your information, 28 00:01:31,030 --> 00:01:33,370 Speaker 1: then you can be a guest on my show. You 29 00:01:33,410 --> 00:01:35,209 Speaker 1: can be a guest on my show. And that's all. 30 00:01:35,230 --> 00:01:37,770 Speaker 1: That's how it works. I have all the guests that 31 00:01:37,790 --> 00:01:40,330 Speaker 1: are booked on this show. And I enjoy that process 32 00:01:40,370 --> 00:01:42,930 Speaker 1: because I know why you're being interviewed in this show. 33 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:44,990 Speaker 1: And I know what you have to offer. And so 34 00:01:45,030 --> 00:01:47,490 Speaker 1: I live those different points of interest in those different 35 00:01:47,530 --> 00:01:50,590 Speaker 1: styles of grace that I tend to offer the people 36 00:01:50,630 --> 00:01:53,170 Speaker 1: who appear on my show on a regular basis. Now, 37 00:01:53,570 --> 00:01:56,090 Speaker 1: let's get this show moving along. My first guest is 38 00:01:56,170 --> 00:01:59,890 Speaker 1: now available on the show, and let's roll. And again, 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,380 Speaker 1: my guest on the show today co-stars in the popular 40 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,020 Speaker 1: The Black Hampton series on BET. His book navigates through 41 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: life's ups and downs, and he uncovers the importance of perseverance, resilience, 42 00:02:13,060 --> 00:02:17,810 Speaker 1: and determination. The book shares its insightful reflections entitled Keep Pedaling, 43 00:02:18,270 --> 00:02:21,230 Speaker 1: Things I Learned on My Bike. Please welcome to Money 44 00:02:21,250 --> 00:02:24,970 Speaker 1: Making Conversation Masterclass, Karan Joseph Riley. How you doing, Karan? 45 00:02:26,389 --> 00:02:28,190 Speaker 4: Peace and love, Rashawn. How you doing, gang? 46 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:30,519 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I first of all, thank you for 47 00:02:30,540 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: coming on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. You know, this is 48 00:02:33,860 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: a young brother that I like to believe I mentor. 49 00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:38,180 Speaker 1: You know, he calls me for advice and I try 50 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: to lead him down that path as an older gentleman 51 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,680 Speaker 1: because that's what mentorship. What role does mentorship play in 52 00:02:45,700 --> 00:02:47,260 Speaker 1: your life? Because I know I'm not the only one 53 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:50,150 Speaker 1: that mentors you or offers advice when you request it. 54 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,540 Speaker 4: I'll be honest with y'all. I haven't had a lot 55 00:02:53,580 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 4: of mentors in the entertainment world as much as I 56 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 4: would love to have had, right? My first one I 57 00:02:59,060 --> 00:03:01,230 Speaker 4: would have to say was late, great Tommy Ford. He 58 00:03:01,250 --> 00:03:03,010 Speaker 4: looked out for me early in my career, gave me 59 00:03:03,030 --> 00:03:07,010 Speaker 4: a lot of great views. I think mentorship is necessary, man. 60 00:03:07,050 --> 00:03:09,910 Speaker 4: I think it's part of the journey. I think if 61 00:03:09,950 --> 00:03:13,130 Speaker 4: you get any kind of, any monochrome of success, it's 62 00:03:13,150 --> 00:03:16,430 Speaker 4: your responsibility to mentor somebody and pay it back for it. 63 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:18,810 Speaker 4: That's what this book is. It's a mentorship to the 64 00:03:18,850 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 4: young black girl or the young black boy that who 65 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,210 Speaker 4: didn't grow up with a village like I had, like 66 00:03:23,250 --> 00:03:28,350 Speaker 4: a great coach, my dad, my brothers, my uncles, my friends. 67 00:03:28,370 --> 00:03:32,190 Speaker 4: I mean, I stand on so many shoulders, Rashawn, that 68 00:03:32,310 --> 00:03:33,869 Speaker 4: I can't take credit for any of this stuff, man. 69 00:03:33,910 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 4: I'm literally living out the dreams of myself, but I'm 70 00:03:38,740 --> 00:03:41,820 Speaker 4: also living out on the fuel that people put in 71 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:42,780 Speaker 4: and instilled into me. 72 00:03:43,290 --> 00:03:46,690 Speaker 1: Great. That's detailed. And so I want to introduce you 73 00:03:46,730 --> 00:03:52,510 Speaker 1: to my audience. We're live every Tuesday on WCLK in Atlanta, Georgia. 74 00:03:52,990 --> 00:03:55,270 Speaker 1: And give me a little background about you before we 75 00:03:55,290 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: get into the book, Keep Pedaling, The Things I Learned 76 00:03:58,010 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: on My Bike, which I love the title, by the way. 77 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:01,420 Speaker 1: Tell us a little background about you. 78 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 4: Well, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Wanted to be 79 00:04:06,420 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 4: an actor since I was in first grade, but sports 80 00:04:08,940 --> 00:04:12,110 Speaker 4: took over my life shortly thereafter. So I'm Took that 81 00:04:12,170 --> 00:04:14,710 Speaker 4: journey for as long as I could take it. And 82 00:04:15,550 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 4: after I retired from football, I jumped back into my 83 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 4: original dream and passion of becoming an actor. Fast forward 84 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:23,219 Speaker 4: 17 years. 85 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: Excuse me there, Teron. Don't shortchange yourself. Professional football, okay. 86 00:04:28,950 --> 00:04:32,980 Speaker 4: Yeah, professional football in the NFL. In the. 87 00:04:34,580 --> 00:04:34,779 Speaker 3: NFL. 88 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:38,420 Speaker 4: In the NFL. In the NFL. That was my best 89 00:04:38,460 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 4: part-time job I ever had, by the way. 90 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,820 Speaker 1: You know, I could have said I retired from football 91 00:04:43,860 --> 00:04:46,620 Speaker 1: and didn't even come close to playing high school football. 92 00:04:46,660 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: You see what I'm saying? I would not let you 93 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:53,140 Speaker 1: say that you were part of the biggest– Sports franchise 94 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:57,940 Speaker 1: in the world today, most watched media forum on television. 95 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,500 Speaker 1: And that's professional football because you an All-American in college. 96 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:04,990 Speaker 1: And so because I reason I say that because I 97 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:07,810 Speaker 1: always step back when we talk about branding on this show. 98 00:05:08,270 --> 00:05:11,330 Speaker 1: And sometimes we. When we start telling that story, we 99 00:05:11,370 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: shortchange ourselves because the uniqueness of you is because you 100 00:05:16,580 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: are a chameleon. You're a person who's been successful at 101 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:27,860 Speaker 1: so many different levels in athletics, academics, acting. Each one 102 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,359 Speaker 1: of those levels have a lot of turn back in it. 103 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,460 Speaker 1: And that's where the conversation perseverance. And that's why I 104 00:05:34,460 --> 00:05:39,029 Speaker 1: brought up those perseverance, resilience, and determination levels. Because in 105 00:05:39,050 --> 00:05:42,380 Speaker 1: the things that you become successful in, Karam, a lot 106 00:05:42,420 --> 00:05:45,460 Speaker 1: of people tell you no. A lot of people doubt you. 107 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,380 Speaker 1: A lot of people would question your dream. How have 108 00:05:49,420 --> 00:05:51,460 Speaker 1: you survived? Let's start with sports first. 109 00:05:54,670 --> 00:05:59,810 Speaker 4: I basically, my mother, man, my mother instilled an unwavering 110 00:06:00,190 --> 00:06:04,779 Speaker 4: love and belief system in my spirit and my soul, man. So, 111 00:06:05,420 --> 00:06:08,409 Speaker 4: like all those no's that you would get coming up 112 00:06:08,490 --> 00:06:10,930 Speaker 4: as an athlete with all those doubts. In athletics, it's 113 00:06:10,970 --> 00:06:13,630 Speaker 4: not so much the no's as it is in the 114 00:06:13,770 --> 00:06:16,690 Speaker 4: acting game because in athletics, there is a barometer that 115 00:06:16,710 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 4: you can see immediately if a kid has potential to 116 00:06:20,830 --> 00:06:23,099 Speaker 4: be good or something. So it wasn't so much the 117 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,740 Speaker 4: no's in athletics. It was more, like you said, the naysayers, 118 00:06:26,779 --> 00:06:30,630 Speaker 4: the doubters. Mm-hmm. Coming out of college, I was the 119 00:06:30,710 --> 00:06:33,750 Speaker 4: all-time SAC leader in University of Minnesota history. Still to 120 00:06:33,770 --> 00:06:35,830 Speaker 4: this day, I'm the all-time SAC leader in the University 121 00:06:35,850 --> 00:06:40,210 Speaker 4: of Minnesota history 20-some years later. Even then, coming out, 122 00:06:40,390 --> 00:06:45,740 Speaker 4: getting drafted, their job is to find bad things about 123 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,300 Speaker 4: your game, to not pay you what you're warranted to 124 00:06:48,339 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 4: be paid. I went through that whole journey of getting 125 00:06:52,620 --> 00:06:54,860 Speaker 4: to the NFL, getting drafted by the Chicago Bears in 126 00:06:54,900 --> 00:06:58,730 Speaker 4: the 2001 draft. in the fourth round. Now, if you 127 00:06:58,750 --> 00:07:02,290 Speaker 4: look over the course of the draft in the last 128 00:07:02,310 --> 00:07:05,410 Speaker 4: 20-some years, and you take my stats against any other 129 00:07:05,470 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 4: first-round defensive end, past Russian linebacker, out of college stats, 130 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 4: I still have some of the best stats over the 131 00:07:12,980 --> 00:07:15,900 Speaker 4: last 20 years that wasn't a first-round draft pick. So 132 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 4: that says I should have been a first-round draft pick. 133 00:07:19,210 --> 00:07:21,450 Speaker 4: But I dealt with that. Again, that was probably my 134 00:07:21,530 --> 00:07:24,070 Speaker 4: biggest hurdle coming into the NFL was of how to 135 00:07:24,190 --> 00:07:26,270 Speaker 4: deal with the adversity of, like, man, I done bust 136 00:07:26,290 --> 00:07:30,170 Speaker 4: my butt and did everything right, I thought, to really 137 00:07:30,270 --> 00:07:34,030 Speaker 4: secure myself and my family a very lucrative payday with 138 00:07:34,070 --> 00:07:37,450 Speaker 4: a first-round signing bonus, which would probably, you know, change 139 00:07:37,490 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 4: my trajectory as a person at that point. But it 140 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,100 Speaker 4: didn't go that way. You know, I got a decent 141 00:07:44,140 --> 00:07:47,050 Speaker 4: signing bonus. It was like $ 350, 000. You know, that's nothing to, 142 00:07:47,260 --> 00:07:50,860 Speaker 4: you know, sniff at it in 2001, but... Again, I 143 00:07:51,370 --> 00:07:56,990 Speaker 4: was totally undervalued based on my production. And I believe, 144 00:07:57,010 --> 00:07:59,710 Speaker 4: and you and I have talked about this, I believe 145 00:07:59,750 --> 00:08:02,390 Speaker 4: it was because of my sickle cell status as having 146 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 4: the trait as an athlete. I think that hurt me 147 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 4: a little bit as well. And also being more of 148 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,940 Speaker 4: an outspoken athlete who didn't just fall in line with 149 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 4: the status quo as an athlete. I've never been that guy. 150 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,750 Speaker 4: I've always been a free thinker and a leader of thoughts. 151 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,350 Speaker 3: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more 152 00:08:20,430 --> 00:08:30,710 Speaker 3: Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making 153 00:08:30,770 --> 00:08:36,429 Speaker 3: Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashawn McDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass 154 00:08:36,530 --> 00:08:42,620 Speaker 3: continues online at MoneyMakingConversations.com and follow Money Making Conversations Masterclass 155 00:08:42,750 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 3: on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 156 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,949 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I love the fact that, you know, 157 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,630 Speaker 1: you are honest about the whole journey. But as an 158 00:08:52,730 --> 00:08:55,970 Speaker 1: athlete and a lot of people don't know when to stop, 159 00:08:56,030 --> 00:08:57,809 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of people work in jobs right 160 00:08:57,850 --> 00:09:00,770 Speaker 1: now that they should walk away from and really evaluate 161 00:09:00,809 --> 00:09:03,670 Speaker 1: the next steps in their life. And so in athletics 162 00:09:03,730 --> 00:09:06,170 Speaker 1: and when you are successful, you've been doing something so 163 00:09:06,250 --> 00:09:10,030 Speaker 1: long and sometimes it becomes easy and it becomes a pattern. 164 00:09:10,390 --> 00:09:13,780 Speaker 1: How did you know it was time to change your 165 00:09:13,820 --> 00:09:14,459 Speaker 1: career path? 166 00:09:16,510 --> 00:09:18,650 Speaker 4: The NFL kind of lets you know. You get cut. 167 00:09:20,550 --> 00:09:23,569 Speaker 4: It's that one of those things where I can kind 168 00:09:23,590 --> 00:09:27,030 Speaker 4: of dictate when or where I'm going to hang up 169 00:09:27,070 --> 00:09:28,850 Speaker 4: my cleats. It was one of those things. I was 170 00:09:28,910 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 4: in Washington with the Redskins and had a great preseason, 171 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,140 Speaker 4: but it wasn't great enough. Obviously, they had to sign 172 00:09:35,179 --> 00:09:38,420 Speaker 4: another guy in my position. At the same time, they 173 00:09:38,460 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 4: signed me as a free agent, and they actually paid 174 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:44,140 Speaker 4: him a lot more money to come in and play, so... Again, 175 00:09:44,260 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 4: it always comes down to economics at the end of 176 00:09:46,420 --> 00:09:49,850 Speaker 4: the day. They had invested more money in his plan 177 00:09:50,370 --> 00:09:52,250 Speaker 4: than in the best of mine, so they let me go. 178 00:09:52,390 --> 00:09:54,950 Speaker 4: At that point, it was more of a relief for 179 00:09:54,990 --> 00:09:57,330 Speaker 4: me because I wasn't the kind of athlete, like you said, 180 00:09:57,370 --> 00:10:00,309 Speaker 4: I wasn't the guy who was going to keep... flying 181 00:10:00,330 --> 00:10:03,030 Speaker 4: to different cities and trying, you know, trying out for 182 00:10:03,050 --> 00:10:05,820 Speaker 4: teams and, you know, living out of a suitcase for 183 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 4: the next two or three years, like a lot of 184 00:10:07,540 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 4: my peers did when they were trying to hold on 185 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,100 Speaker 4: to the dream, because I'll share this with you, the 186 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:17,230 Speaker 4: NFL was never my dream. The NFL was was like 187 00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:20,690 Speaker 4: a mistress in a way or a backup plan to 188 00:10:20,710 --> 00:10:22,990 Speaker 4: the main plan. My main plan was to go to 189 00:10:23,010 --> 00:10:27,610 Speaker 4: the NBA. After I didn't grow to be 6'6, 6'7, 190 00:10:27,650 --> 00:10:31,790 Speaker 4: like I thought I would, I just made an executive 191 00:10:31,830 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 4: decision at the age of 17. They were like, because 192 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 4: I was still getting recruited for basketball. I was all 193 00:10:37,540 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 4: state in basketball. So I was getting recruited for basketball, 194 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,780 Speaker 4: but my dad was like, man, You know, I saw 195 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 4: Kevin Garnett play in the same summer I was deciding 196 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 4: what scholarship I was going to take, and I realized 197 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,630 Speaker 4: that the future of the NBA was not looking anything 198 00:10:50,670 --> 00:10:54,790 Speaker 4: like me. So I made an executive decision and said, 199 00:10:54,809 --> 00:10:56,950 Speaker 4: you know what, I'm pretty good at this football. I 200 00:10:57,030 --> 00:10:59,969 Speaker 4: do believe that I can make it to the NFL 201 00:11:00,010 --> 00:11:02,859 Speaker 4: in football because, again, the numbers, 53-man roster versus 12-man roster. 202 00:11:04,980 --> 00:11:08,100 Speaker 4: My skill set transferred from being a great basketball player 203 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,100 Speaker 4: translated to being a great pass rusher in football because 204 00:11:11,300 --> 00:11:14,010 Speaker 4: of my speed, my quickness, and my footwork that I 205 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:18,110 Speaker 4: was blessed with from basketball. My story kind of created 206 00:11:18,150 --> 00:11:22,010 Speaker 4: itself as it was going. One loss ended up proving 207 00:11:22,030 --> 00:11:24,809 Speaker 4: to become a win. And, uh, when I walked away 208 00:11:24,830 --> 00:11:26,410 Speaker 4: from the game, it was like, I'm walking to my 209 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 4: next plan, man, which is my original plan was to 210 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 4: be an actor. 211 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:29,500 Speaker 1: Wow. 212 00:11:29,660 --> 00:11:33,060 Speaker 4: And I went straight, went straight to LA and started, uh, uh, 213 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,699 Speaker 4: pursuing acting right away, man. I literally went back to Atlanta, 214 00:11:35,740 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 4: packed my bag and got on a plane and went 215 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:37,900 Speaker 4: to LA. Wow. 216 00:11:38,179 --> 00:11:40,460 Speaker 1: Now, did I keep peddling? That's the book we are 217 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,540 Speaker 1: brought to on the show to discuss things I've learned 218 00:11:42,620 --> 00:11:45,609 Speaker 1: on my bike. When did this whole concept of, um, 219 00:11:46,020 --> 00:11:48,939 Speaker 1: this book come about? Was it something, is it something that, 220 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,059 Speaker 1: like I said, we all know our first experience on 221 00:11:51,140 --> 00:11:53,469 Speaker 1: a bike when I can remember my dad pushed me 222 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,410 Speaker 1: and I was wobbling with the training wheels. And I 223 00:11:56,429 --> 00:11:58,250 Speaker 1: remember when the training wheels come off. So I can 224 00:11:58,290 --> 00:12:02,630 Speaker 1: remember my experience in my life on a bike, especially 225 00:12:02,650 --> 00:12:04,470 Speaker 1: in my early years. You know, when I got older, 226 00:12:04,830 --> 00:12:07,140 Speaker 1: I get on the bike and can't figure out why 227 00:12:07,179 --> 00:12:09,740 Speaker 1: I'm on it. But I know I bought a bike, 228 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:11,239 Speaker 1: said I was going to ride it and never rode 229 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: it for the years I've owned it. But I do 230 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: remember my experience on a bike. So why was it 231 00:12:16,020 --> 00:12:19,850 Speaker 1: important to name your book, Keep Pedaling, Things I Learned 232 00:12:19,910 --> 00:12:20,470 Speaker 1: on My Bike? 233 00:12:22,030 --> 00:12:25,550 Speaker 4: Well, the book started 10 years ago, and it started 234 00:12:25,570 --> 00:12:28,530 Speaker 4: off to become like a man-law book. Just young men 235 00:12:28,570 --> 00:12:30,850 Speaker 4: in general. It was a time about 10 years ago 236 00:12:30,870 --> 00:12:33,390 Speaker 4: when I was starting to notice a pandemic going on 237 00:12:33,429 --> 00:12:37,219 Speaker 4: amongst our brothers. The pants sagging below the butt and 238 00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:40,420 Speaker 4: not having the ability to shake a man's hand and 239 00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:42,900 Speaker 4: look him in the eye. You know, simple things that 240 00:12:42,940 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 4: I saw that our culture was going down, right? I said, 241 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,830 Speaker 4: I need to write a book on man laws. And eventually, 242 00:12:48,870 --> 00:12:52,449 Speaker 4: as I started working on that, I started realizing that 243 00:12:52,870 --> 00:12:56,689 Speaker 4: I don't really have all the laws. I'm just one man. 244 00:12:57,570 --> 00:13:00,309 Speaker 4: And in the midst of that 10 years, I had 245 00:13:00,650 --> 00:13:04,420 Speaker 4: created my key paladin mantra on one of my bike 246 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 4: rides to Alabama. I do a bike ride to Alabama 247 00:13:07,860 --> 00:13:09,939 Speaker 4: every year on my birthday. So as I'm riding to Alabama, I'm. 248 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:11,140 Speaker 1: Riding back to Alabama. Hold on, hold on right there. 249 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,780 Speaker 1: Where do you start? You start from Atlanta and bike 250 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:15,660 Speaker 1: ride to Alabama? 251 00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, I start in Sandy Springs, Atlanta, and I ride 252 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 4: the Silver Comet Trail all the way to Alabama. It's 253 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,939 Speaker 4: about 98 miles one way, so it ends up being 254 00:13:23,980 --> 00:13:28,150 Speaker 4: about a 200-mile two-day trip. I stay overnight in a 255 00:13:28,190 --> 00:13:30,829 Speaker 4: hotel in Jackson, Alabama, get up the next day and 256 00:13:30,890 --> 00:13:33,570 Speaker 4: come back. So the next day coming back is where 257 00:13:33,590 --> 00:13:36,490 Speaker 4: I tell people I get all of my spiritual and 258 00:13:36,550 --> 00:13:41,770 Speaker 4: universal downloads because I believe that as an athlete... some 259 00:13:41,809 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 4: of my spiritual gifts will come through my body. So 260 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 4: me getting to my body to that physical point where 261 00:13:48,220 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 4: I'm completely exhausted and I got to rely on my 262 00:13:51,260 --> 00:13:54,260 Speaker 4: spirit and my willpower to keep going, that's when I 263 00:13:54,300 --> 00:13:56,579 Speaker 4: start getting the blessings. So all of a sudden I 264 00:13:56,620 --> 00:13:59,410 Speaker 4: got this thought and this voice kept saying to me, 265 00:13:59,550 --> 00:14:02,750 Speaker 4: just keep pedaling. No matter how long it takes, keep pedaling, 266 00:14:02,870 --> 00:14:05,470 Speaker 4: keep pedaling. It just kept saying that, right? And I 267 00:14:05,490 --> 00:14:07,810 Speaker 4: started saying, man, I've been doing this my whole life. 268 00:14:07,990 --> 00:14:08,270 Speaker 1: Mm-hmm. 269 00:14:08,580 --> 00:14:12,420 Speaker 4: This Keep Pedaling thing, it's not just really all about 270 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 4: being on this bike. This ride from Alabama, it's like 271 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,660 Speaker 4: a life journey for me. So I came home, and 272 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 4: I designed the logo, and I told Terry, my wife, 273 00:14:24,100 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 4: I said, look, I had a vision, and this is 274 00:14:27,060 --> 00:14:32,830 Speaker 4: going to be my new manifesto of my life. I've 275 00:14:32,910 --> 00:14:35,410 Speaker 4: named it, and it's going to be what precedes me. 276 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,580 Speaker 4: So I came over to Keep Pelling, and then after that, man, 277 00:14:38,780 --> 00:14:43,060 Speaker 4: I just kept building on that. And again, something came up, 278 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 4: and I needed to do a speaking event. And they 279 00:14:44,460 --> 00:14:46,260 Speaker 4: were like, you want to come to the speaking event? 280 00:14:46,380 --> 00:14:48,490 Speaker 4: What am I going to talk about? So I said, 281 00:14:48,870 --> 00:14:51,670 Speaker 4: I broke down Keep Pelling into an acronym. And then 282 00:14:51,710 --> 00:14:54,310 Speaker 4: I broke down each letter, what it meant to me, 283 00:14:54,350 --> 00:14:57,590 Speaker 4: and how I've developed each letter along the way, and 284 00:14:57,650 --> 00:15:00,690 Speaker 4: how they all pay homage to the next letter. And 285 00:15:00,750 --> 00:15:03,950 Speaker 4: it builds on something. And once you master each letter 286 00:15:04,110 --> 00:15:07,970 Speaker 4: of key peddling as an individual, I guarantee you, you're 287 00:15:07,990 --> 00:15:09,530 Speaker 4: going to be a lot better off than where you 288 00:15:09,580 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 4: found yourself before you picked up key peddling in a book. 289 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: Wow. Karan, before we go to break, tell everybody how 290 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:18,359 Speaker 1: they can buy the book. 291 00:15:18,620 --> 00:15:25,370 Speaker 4: Www.karanjosarali.com. And anywhere all books are sold, that means Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon. 292 00:15:25,860 --> 00:15:28,620 Speaker 4: anywhere else. But I always say this first and foremost, 293 00:15:29,020 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 4: if you want my signed autograph copy, you brought your 294 00:15:32,140 --> 00:15:35,630 Speaker 4: order through Quran, just rally.com everywhere else. You'll just get 295 00:15:35,650 --> 00:15:38,070 Speaker 4: the book and you'll have the book and it's no 296 00:15:38,110 --> 00:15:40,210 Speaker 4: love loss, but you won't get to have my energy 297 00:15:40,630 --> 00:15:42,770 Speaker 4: infused with the book. As I will send you a 298 00:15:42,850 --> 00:15:44,940 Speaker 4: positive note and my autograph with it. 299 00:15:45,750 --> 00:15:48,170 Speaker 1: His book, keep peddling is more than a self-help book 300 00:15:48,210 --> 00:15:51,110 Speaker 1: is a roadmap for navigating life's twists and turns with 301 00:15:51,150 --> 00:15:54,660 Speaker 1: grace and courage. You know, I want to I got 302 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: to go back to what you're starring on right now 303 00:15:56,580 --> 00:15:59,380 Speaker 1: because I watch it all the time. The Black Hamptons, 304 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:03,730 Speaker 1: you know, you say you say seven years old, you 305 00:16:03,750 --> 00:16:06,330 Speaker 1: wanted to act. I would honestly tell you seven years old. 306 00:16:06,570 --> 00:16:08,730 Speaker 1: My daddy probably was spanking me because I was tearing 307 00:16:08,770 --> 00:16:11,850 Speaker 1: up the room. How does one I just want to 308 00:16:11,970 --> 00:16:14,820 Speaker 1: see that. I always I always marvel when I hear 309 00:16:14,860 --> 00:16:19,220 Speaker 1: people tell me they understand that vision, understand that. This 310 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 1: is what I want to be at such a young age. 311 00:16:21,020 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: Talk about that, because I think that drives who you 312 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: are today. And I think people have children who see it, too, 313 00:16:27,220 --> 00:16:31,490 Speaker 1: but they might dismiss their kids dreams. 314 00:16:31,570 --> 00:16:33,790 Speaker 4: Yeah, man. Again, I give credit to my mother for 315 00:16:33,870 --> 00:16:35,930 Speaker 4: always allowing me to have that freedom to speak my 316 00:16:35,990 --> 00:16:40,790 Speaker 4: mind and encourage me to speak my mind and prophesy 317 00:16:40,870 --> 00:16:43,850 Speaker 4: my visions. So in the first grade, so actually it 318 00:16:43,870 --> 00:16:46,090 Speaker 4: was younger than seven, man. It was actually, I think, 319 00:16:46,170 --> 00:16:48,670 Speaker 4: six when I really came to, I got the vision 320 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 4: to be an actor. I was playing Puss in Boots 321 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,460 Speaker 4: in a stage play in elementary school. And, you know, 322 00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:56,940 Speaker 4: you don't have a lot of lines at that age. 323 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,380 Speaker 4: So I think I delivered my line. And the line was, 324 00:17:01,140 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 4: not I, said the cat. And my mother, my grandmother said, Everybody, 325 00:17:05,340 --> 00:17:08,060 Speaker 4: like my mom, you know, the women in my family, 326 00:17:08,220 --> 00:17:10,179 Speaker 4: they were at the play. And my mom and them, 327 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:14,100 Speaker 4: they screamed so loud and cheered so loud, Rashawn. In 328 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:15,780 Speaker 4: that very moment, I was like, yeah, I'm going to 329 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,790 Speaker 4: do this forever. And shortly after that, man, she had 330 00:17:20,810 --> 00:17:23,010 Speaker 4: me performing everywhere she could, man. We'd be at the mall. 331 00:17:23,030 --> 00:17:24,409 Speaker 4: She'd be like, do the Billie Jean. I would do 332 00:17:24,430 --> 00:17:27,790 Speaker 4: the Michael Jackson, Billie Jean dance. So I was a 333 00:17:28,410 --> 00:17:31,460 Speaker 4: natural ham in a way, I guess. I didn't. I 334 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:35,250 Speaker 4: never shied away from a camera or an audience or 335 00:17:35,369 --> 00:17:38,669 Speaker 4: anything like that. So when I played sports, it was 336 00:17:38,710 --> 00:17:40,590 Speaker 4: no different to me, man. I always usually had my 337 00:17:40,670 --> 00:17:43,690 Speaker 4: best games in the biggest games. And people were like, man, 338 00:17:43,710 --> 00:17:45,740 Speaker 4: you always come to play when it's really a big game. 339 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 4: I said, yo, the stage is the biggest and the 340 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 4: lights are the brightest. It's time for me to show up, baby. 341 00:17:50,670 --> 00:17:53,230 Speaker 1: You know, I'm just laughing. Not I, said the cat. 342 00:17:54,260 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 4: Not I, said the cat. That was my line, baby. 343 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,239 Speaker 4: I love it, man. So I say to encourage your 344 00:18:03,260 --> 00:18:05,700 Speaker 4: kids and everything. And, again, you know, a lot of 345 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,550 Speaker 4: kids have the visions of what they want to do 346 00:18:07,590 --> 00:18:10,869 Speaker 4: and what they want to be for themselves. And a 347 00:18:10,890 --> 00:18:13,370 Speaker 4: lot of kids don't. And it's okay either way. But 348 00:18:13,410 --> 00:18:15,570 Speaker 4: if you do, I'll tell any parent that's listening that, 349 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,220 Speaker 4: that has young kids, if they vocalize what they want 350 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,090 Speaker 4: to do early on, please, please, please listen because I 351 00:18:23,130 --> 00:18:25,510 Speaker 4: believe as a child we are as close to our 352 00:18:25,570 --> 00:18:28,090 Speaker 4: purpose of remembering our purpose than we ever was. 353 00:18:28,410 --> 00:18:28,610 Speaker 2: Right. 354 00:18:28,630 --> 00:18:30,970 Speaker 4: You know, as we get older and we get, you know, 355 00:18:31,030 --> 00:18:34,830 Speaker 4: blindsided by the world's blind spots, it's easy to forget 356 00:18:34,869 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 4: what we came here to do. And I think, you know, 357 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 4: kids are still in touch. 358 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: You know, one of the greatest gifts I've always known 359 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,659 Speaker 1: about you, even when you didn't know me, it was 360 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: always One thing about me, people always say, Rashawn, you 361 00:18:47,780 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: seem to have your hands, you know, people that don't even, 362 00:18:51,940 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 1: they've never met you, but you seem to impact people 363 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:59,380 Speaker 1: you've never met. And you understand the value of relationships. 364 00:18:59,570 --> 00:19:03,450 Speaker 1: You understand how to connect the dots. And that led 365 00:19:03,470 --> 00:19:05,729 Speaker 1: to your role on the Black Hamptons. Can you tell 366 00:19:05,790 --> 00:19:06,490 Speaker 1: everybody about that? 367 00:19:07,730 --> 00:19:12,670 Speaker 4: Absolutely, man. Relationships, networking is your net worth in this world. 368 00:19:12,710 --> 00:19:15,030 Speaker 4: If you You can have 10 million degrees, you can 369 00:19:15,070 --> 00:19:18,130 Speaker 4: have 10 million, you can have read 10 million books, 370 00:19:18,170 --> 00:19:21,470 Speaker 4: but if you don't have any connections to anybody that 371 00:19:21,510 --> 00:19:24,909 Speaker 4: can help expand your web or your net around the world, 372 00:19:25,369 --> 00:19:30,250 Speaker 4: it's all wasted knowledge. So how I got my gig 373 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 4: on the Black Hamptons was a relationship, a simple relationship 374 00:19:33,820 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 4: that started with a dinner and a conversation with a 375 00:19:37,180 --> 00:19:40,780 Speaker 4: really dope brother by the name of Trey Haley. He 376 00:19:40,859 --> 00:19:43,659 Speaker 4: is the director of all the Black Hamptons, one of 377 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:48,050 Speaker 4: the co-creators and producers of Tridescent Films. And he and 378 00:19:48,090 --> 00:19:49,570 Speaker 4: I just had a really good night, like you and 379 00:19:49,590 --> 00:19:51,270 Speaker 4: I would sit down. down and we'd have dinner, we'd talk, 380 00:19:51,670 --> 00:19:53,570 Speaker 4: and it was just that. And fast forward like a 381 00:19:53,630 --> 00:19:55,109 Speaker 4: year and a half, two years later, I get a 382 00:19:55,130 --> 00:19:58,430 Speaker 4: phone call, and it's Trey. Hey, Karan, I got this part, 383 00:19:58,450 --> 00:20:01,710 Speaker 4: and I think it's perfect for you. And he broke 384 00:20:01,730 --> 00:20:03,510 Speaker 4: it down to me, and he said, man, I would 385 00:20:03,550 --> 00:20:04,869 Speaker 4: love to offer this to you if you want to 386 00:20:04,890 --> 00:20:08,740 Speaker 4: get down with us. Long story short, bro, it walked 387 00:20:08,820 --> 00:20:12,100 Speaker 4: onto something, and it was an amazing experience with Nicky 388 00:20:12,660 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 4: Indy and Carl Weber and those guys. And I've been 389 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:20,580 Speaker 4: very blessed and fortunate along the way to have had 390 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 4: a lot of success based on just the sheer ability 391 00:20:24,260 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 4: to be able to connect with people. And thank God 392 00:20:27,340 --> 00:20:30,180 Speaker 4: I had the talent to back it up and the 393 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 4: staying power to stay once I get the opportunity. But 394 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:35,900 Speaker 4: like you said, man, your network is your net worth. 395 00:20:36,990 --> 00:20:38,770 Speaker 1: You know, when I think about it, I'm talking to 396 00:20:38,810 --> 00:20:41,950 Speaker 1: Karan Joseph Riley. He's the author of the book, Keep Pedaling, 397 00:20:42,010 --> 00:20:45,650 Speaker 1: Things I've Learned on My Bike. You are a bike rider. 398 00:20:46,530 --> 00:20:46,910 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 399 00:20:47,670 --> 00:20:49,730 Speaker 1: And, you know, you talk about it, Richard, I ride 400 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,649 Speaker 1: a bike. And early in my life, I did long-distance running. And, 401 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,220 Speaker 1: you know, if you run for a while, you get 402 00:20:56,260 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: that pain. You have to be able to run through 403 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,220 Speaker 1: that pain. I'm sure you've gotten it on your bike, 404 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: especially on those long trips. It's a pain. And once 405 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,100 Speaker 1: you get through that pain, it's kind of like a 406 00:21:05,260 --> 00:21:11,020 Speaker 1: sense of– Yeah. And you start thinking differently. It's like 407 00:21:11,060 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: a certain drug, a body drug gets into you and 408 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: relaxes you and you go, where did that pain go? And, 409 00:21:19,140 --> 00:21:21,660 Speaker 1: you know, the thing about, because I've read your book 410 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:23,820 Speaker 1: and you know that, I felt your book was very 411 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:29,690 Speaker 1: relaxing to me. And tell everybody the importance of the book. 412 00:21:29,970 --> 00:21:32,489 Speaker 1: You know, like you said, it's a transformative book. It's 413 00:21:32,530 --> 00:21:34,909 Speaker 1: more than a self-help book, but it also is a 414 00:21:34,970 --> 00:21:38,160 Speaker 1: book A tell-all. And when I say tell-all, not from 415 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,550 Speaker 1: a standpoint of personal, but tell-all about what you can 416 00:21:41,590 --> 00:21:44,570 Speaker 1: do and what you can become. It's transformative, correct? 417 00:21:45,850 --> 00:21:49,910 Speaker 4: Absolutely. And I took it from a very, very basic 418 00:21:49,970 --> 00:21:53,710 Speaker 4: fundamental of if I'm sitting down with a young brother 419 00:21:53,750 --> 00:21:55,750 Speaker 4: that looks like me or a young sister that looks 420 00:21:55,790 --> 00:21:58,470 Speaker 4: like me and they're like, Karan, I love the fact 421 00:21:58,490 --> 00:22:00,060 Speaker 4: that you made it to the NFL. I love the 422 00:22:00,100 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 4: fact that you're an actor. How did you do all 423 00:22:03,820 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 4: of those things together? And how are you still aiming 424 00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:11,580 Speaker 4: for higher and higher plateaus? And I would say everything 425 00:22:11,619 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 4: that's in this book, I would tell him that, you know, 426 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 4: if I could tell him in one conversation, I would, 427 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:17,420 Speaker 4: it would take a little while, but I could tell 428 00:22:17,460 --> 00:22:19,140 Speaker 4: him and I'll say, look, man, I have a set 429 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 4: of rules and a set of, um, um, morals that 430 00:22:22,580 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 4: I stand on and those keep me safe from the 431 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,919 Speaker 4: human side of me, which is the doubt, which is 432 00:22:29,980 --> 00:22:33,710 Speaker 4: the fear, which is, um, the insecurity, which is which 433 00:22:33,770 --> 00:22:36,609 Speaker 4: is all the things that we all deal with, right? 434 00:22:36,630 --> 00:22:39,070 Speaker 4: And I tell people all the time, create a system 435 00:22:39,109 --> 00:22:41,730 Speaker 4: for yourself. And that system will protect you when the 436 00:22:41,810 --> 00:22:45,260 Speaker 4: human side of you tries to rear his little head. 437 00:22:45,670 --> 00:22:48,500 Speaker 4: Because I believe in walking in God's power because God's 438 00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 4: power is within me. And God's power tells me that 439 00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:53,580 Speaker 4: I am a creator of my life and I am 440 00:22:53,619 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 4: a creator of all creation. So therefore, whatever I see, Rashawn, 441 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,649 Speaker 4: I can make it happen. But without that set of 442 00:23:00,730 --> 00:23:04,699 Speaker 4: rules and this... this manifesto that I call keep pedaling 443 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 4: the things I learned on my bike, I would not 444 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:10,780 Speaker 4: be able to make those things manifest. 445 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: We talked about your past athletic life. We talked about 446 00:23:14,420 --> 00:23:17,330 Speaker 1: you being an actor. We're also discussing on the show 447 00:23:17,430 --> 00:23:19,510 Speaker 1: keep pedaling things I've learned on my bike. But as 448 00:23:19,550 --> 00:23:22,190 Speaker 1: we close out the show, your production company, talk about 449 00:23:22,210 --> 00:23:24,650 Speaker 1: that a second. Now you're trying to change lives from 450 00:23:24,690 --> 00:23:27,119 Speaker 1: a creative standpoint. Talk about that as we close out 451 00:23:27,130 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 1: the show. 452 00:23:28,410 --> 00:23:31,550 Speaker 4: Yeah, man. I created the production company Dedicated Prophecy with 453 00:23:31,570 --> 00:23:34,700 Speaker 4: my partners, Lim Collins and Marcus Monroe. During the pandemic, 454 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:36,780 Speaker 4: we were sitting around and we said, man, the world 455 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 4: is afraid and scared of its shadow. It's time for 456 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 4: us to make a move. We formed a company. We 457 00:23:42,180 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 4: did four productions in that time, real quick, fast, in 458 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:46,310 Speaker 4: a hurry, just to put our feet in the ground. 459 00:23:46,910 --> 00:23:50,410 Speaker 4: And there's nothing more fulfilling than being able to, A, 460 00:23:50,990 --> 00:23:53,710 Speaker 4: produce my own work, show what I can do as 461 00:23:53,780 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 4: an actor on my own, in my own terms, and 462 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 4: control my own narrative. But the biggest gift I find 463 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:01,900 Speaker 4: with producing and doing that is being able to give 464 00:24:01,980 --> 00:24:06,380 Speaker 4: another actor that's right behind me or another opportunity for 465 00:24:06,420 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 4: them to shine, for them to have freedom, for them 466 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,820 Speaker 4: to do their thing. And then one day along their journey, 467 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 4: they might look up 20, 30 years from now and 468 00:24:13,740 --> 00:24:16,090 Speaker 4: be like, man, Karan gave me an opportunity when nobody 469 00:24:16,130 --> 00:24:17,889 Speaker 4: else gave me an opportunity or he gave me an 470 00:24:17,930 --> 00:24:20,850 Speaker 4: opportunity when I needed an opportunity because I was doubting myself. 471 00:24:21,540 --> 00:24:24,010 Speaker 4: And I believe that's my ministry. That's my purpose is 472 00:24:24,030 --> 00:24:27,689 Speaker 4: to spread the positive energy and show my people the 473 00:24:27,710 --> 00:24:31,590 Speaker 4: way through collective building and resources. 474 00:24:32,170 --> 00:24:35,310 Speaker 1: Love it. Love it. We're speaking to Karan. His book, 475 00:24:35,450 --> 00:24:40,250 Speaker 1: he uncovers the importance of perseverance, resilience, and determination. Tell 476 00:24:40,290 --> 00:24:42,409 Speaker 1: us again how we can buy that book, Karan. 477 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 4: Www.karanjosephriley.com. That's my website. You can go on. It's about 478 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,820 Speaker 4: three clicks and you'll have the book. And also I 479 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:57,219 Speaker 4: will autograph that book, sign it, send you a positive note, affirmation, 480 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,620 Speaker 4: and you will have a piece of my energy forever 481 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:01,959 Speaker 4: and ever. And also, if you just don't feel like 482 00:25:01,980 --> 00:25:04,550 Speaker 4: going through the website, you can go through Amazon or any, 483 00:25:04,630 --> 00:25:06,609 Speaker 4: any other place that books are sold. 484 00:25:07,190 --> 00:25:09,410 Speaker 1: Thank you, Karan, for taking the time to tell your story, man. 485 00:25:09,630 --> 00:25:12,830 Speaker 1: It's very motivating and, And I appreciate any time I 486 00:25:12,869 --> 00:25:15,109 Speaker 1: talk to you because you do inspire me, man. You 487 00:25:15,150 --> 00:25:17,470 Speaker 1: do make me think about other ways that I can 488 00:25:17,490 --> 00:25:19,770 Speaker 1: look at how I get up in the morning and 489 00:25:19,830 --> 00:25:22,149 Speaker 1: value my hours in the day because I know you 490 00:25:22,210 --> 00:25:23,210 Speaker 1: out there pedaling, brother. 491 00:25:25,210 --> 00:25:26,969 Speaker 4: I am, man. I am, brother. I thank you for 492 00:25:26,990 --> 00:25:28,970 Speaker 4: your mentorship, and I thank you for your friendship, and 493 00:25:28,990 --> 00:25:31,590 Speaker 4: I thank you for your brotherhood. You just keep pedaling 494 00:25:31,609 --> 00:25:34,810 Speaker 4: because we got a lot of wins to make together, brother. 495 00:25:35,050 --> 00:25:38,030 Speaker 1: I know that's right. You stay strong. That's Karan Joseph Riley. 496 00:25:38,270 --> 00:25:41,449 Speaker 1: His book, Keep Pedaling. You know, things I learned on 497 00:25:41,490 --> 00:25:43,390 Speaker 1: my bike. We'll be right back with more Money Making 498 00:25:43,430 --> 00:25:46,650 Speaker 1: Conversation Masterclass. Don't go nowhere. We got more guests coming. 499 00:25:46,980 --> 00:25:51,920 Speaker 1: Lisa Hankins. This has been another edition of Money Making 500 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:55,939 Speaker 1: Conversation Masterclass hosted by me, Rashawn McDonald. Thank you to 501 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,610 Speaker 1: our guests on the show today. And thank you, our 502 00:25:58,660 --> 00:26:00,970 Speaker 1: listening audience. Now, if you want to listen to any 503 00:26:01,050 --> 00:26:02,970 Speaker 1: episode or want to be a guest on the show, 504 00:26:03,290 --> 00:26:08,669 Speaker 1: visit MoneyMakingConversations.com. Our social media handle is Money Making Conversations. 505 00:26:09,060 --> 00:26:11,479 Speaker 1: Join us next week, and remember to always lead with 506 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: your gifts. Keep winning.