1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: What's up. It's way up at Angela Yee and Jasmine 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Brand is here with me. I'm here and we have 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: somebody who we both absolutely love in the building. It's 4 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: International Women's Day and Pinky Cole is here. Hello. Hello, Hello. 5 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: Now we all know her as the founder of Slutty 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: Vegan and an author, an entrepreneur, founder of American Session 7 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: as well. We're going to talk about all of those. 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: She's also kind of like a rapper too. I do 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: a little bit of everything. Okay, she does it all. 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: So Pinky, you know, I know you and I have 11 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: spoken so much, um, just as far as like even 12 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: when you did your book tour. We hosted your book 13 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: tour here in New York. It's a great interview that 14 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: we did. By the way, I loved it. And she's 15 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: always giving back and like, this is some real thing 16 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: because I know a lot of times people talk about empowerment, 17 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: financial empowerment, you know, women's empowerment, black owned businesses, but 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: you don't just open your businesses. You also make sure 19 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: that part of what you do is giving back to 20 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: the community. Why is that so important to you? So 21 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's interesting. When I was younger, I don't 22 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: know if y'all know, like the back backstory. So my 23 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: parents did jamaking, and my father did twenty two years 24 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: in prison. So my mother was just always the person 25 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: to help everybody in the community. If you jamaking, you 26 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: can rebbe, you need someone to stake, you can come over. 27 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: So I was a kid like may you always want 28 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: to help everybody. And I didn't understand or realize until 29 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: later on in life that she was the reason why 30 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: I'm so selfless. So her seeing her help everybody see 31 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: other people when really just opened up my mind to say, 32 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: you know what, like I want to create opportunity for 33 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,119 Speaker 1: other people. And I didn't even realize I'm just now 34 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: being able to like vocalize that's what it is. But 35 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 1: for a very long time to see other people when 36 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: gives me a sense of fulfillment. So when you talk 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: about like the success in business, like money is great, 38 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: notoriety is great, getting awards is great, but at the 39 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: end of the day, what fulfills me is to know that, 40 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: like I can put my business in a certain area 41 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,639 Speaker 1: and still help people in the community win, Like that's 42 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: the real success for me. And you also talked about 43 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: structure when we spoke last, right, because you can make 44 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: a lot of money, but if your business is not 45 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 1: a structure properly. That's what I tell people because I 46 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: had to learn that also, so you can you discuss 47 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: the importance of because you talked about having your business 48 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: is making all this money, but then not knowing like 49 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: I got to pay this, I have to pay these taxes, 50 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: I have to open, have to get an account, and 51 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: like what are some of the major keys you can 52 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: give somebody. So I always tell people, because I'm a 53 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: walking testament, like you can look good on the outside. 54 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: You could be riding in a range Rover or like 55 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: whatever kind of car did you think is the best 56 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: version of a vehicle, and then when you live up 57 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: on the hood, that shit is a mess, right, and 58 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: the wires aren't connected and the engine won't start and 59 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: there's no cooling in the vehicle. I say all that 60 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: to say, like it was difficult learning how to build 61 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: a multimillion dollar company. Right when I had my first 62 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: restaurant in Harlem, like I thought that I was doing 63 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: good and like selling food and making money, but I 64 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: realized I didn't have fire insurance, I wasn't properly paying 65 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: my sales, sales and use tax. So when when when 66 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: you think it looked good and it's not good, it's 67 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: only so long that you can pretend. So as I'm 68 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: maneuvered in business and grew as an entrepreneur and thank 69 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: you Google and YouTube University. Okay, like YouTube University, I 70 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 1: had to learn and still learn how to be the 71 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,119 Speaker 1: CEO of a multimillion dollar company. Do we do it well? Yes, 72 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: But every day I got to learn something new, and 73 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,359 Speaker 1: that is a difficult champlenge. Like you got to wake 74 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: up every single day to conquer the world. And some 75 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: days may be better than others, but like that's a 76 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: real challenge. And now I know how people in the Olympics. 77 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: I'm like, damn every day and I've been doing this 78 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: every day for the last almost five years. And Harlem, 79 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: by the way, where you had your first business where 80 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: you had the fire since you brought up the fire 81 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: insurance and then had to start all over, But now 82 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: you've just had the ribbon cutting for your brand new 83 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: sloody Vegan and for you what, it's the biggest full 84 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: circle moment in the world. The reason why I'm always 85 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: so excit, Like every time you see me, my energy 86 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: is on ten. But but where does that come from? Um? 87 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: Her diet? It actually vegan right now actually for twenty 88 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: three days, Like oh no cook food? What sorry sidebar? 89 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: What inspired the that that particular regiment? Yes? Um, I 90 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 1: just wanted to get clear. You know how sometimes you 91 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: be cloudy, like we all know we're in this industry, right, um, 92 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: and you're working so hard, you on planes all the time, 93 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: like you're doing everything for everybody else. I needed to 94 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: just take a moment and step back and like really like, 95 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: uh reset, okay that resets are okay. I don't know 96 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 1: about raw. You could do it. It's all about a 97 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: mindset and its end about having the proper things too, 98 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: Like you gotta just too. I gotta shout out to 99 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: Crystal Shraw. We gotta get a cheff if we do it, 100 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: so do you. I'm sorry. One other question about this 101 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: no alcohol? No, you could do it, Jasmine. I didn't. Yeah, 102 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: I was if you can have a baby, you could 103 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: do that. Like you there's nothing and so you feel 104 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: more focused And my energy is on a gazillion right now, okay, right, 105 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: like I feel clear. I'm not tired. I lost about 106 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: fifteen pounds, um, and my spirit feels good and I 107 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: move off energy. What happened, That's what happened to me, 108 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: about to get I got two kids too, about three, 109 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: I don't need to know. You said, who about to 110 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: have three? You said you about to have that gradu No, no, no, ma'am. Yeah, 111 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: not having because that's what that's happened though honestly I 112 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: know it does. Yeah, that's what happened to me. Yeah, 113 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: so we'll be jumping in and jumping out. But anyway, so, 114 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 1: um so, yeah, so you know, helping people is what 115 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: was your question? Yes, she said no, can help people 116 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: unless she got off of you. That rattled her first. Sorry, 117 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: um harlem. Is the ribbon cutting, the grand open. Yeah, 118 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: it's a full circle. Yes, Yes, felt like it's a 119 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: full circle moment. Um because I had my first restaurant 120 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: and I was like this neighborhood restaurant that everybody came 121 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: to and it smelled a jerk chicken down the block. 122 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: And then I opened up a juice bar on one 123 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: thirty knife in Linux, and then I had all the 124 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: dudes coming in to buy the little gun shots I 125 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: know exactly. Um So, like just building that familiar connection 126 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: with people in the community. I felt like Harlem adopted me. Right, 127 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: So now to come back ten blocks from where I 128 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: started and had and lost everything, and to do it 129 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: again now as a multimillion dollar company that's valued that 130 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: a hundred million dollars. Okay, okay, that's a big deal. 131 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: It's a big deal when I don't take it for 132 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: granted because it doesn't happen like this for everybody in 133 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: terms of business. What's been the lesson that's taking you 134 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: the longest to learn in terms of business? Stop being emotional? 135 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,280 Speaker 1: You know what? It's so funny. You know John Hope Bryant, Yes, 136 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: some operation Hope. He always tells me that he's like Angela, 137 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: you have to stop making emotional decisions when it comes 138 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: to business, like investing in real estate and defend it. 139 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: That is such a good thing. Is it ever good 140 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: to be emotional in business? Um? So I move off 141 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: of energy first, So just innately, I'm always move with 142 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: my spirit and my emotions. Right, But I realized that 143 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: in business, especially when you're building a multimillion dollar business, 144 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: while you are true to your core and you're direct 145 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: and you're clear, sometimes um, we get in our emotions 146 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: and we may not always make the right decision. Now, 147 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: your spirit always makes the right DESILF. So what's the 148 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: difference between spirit and emotions? So your spirit is God? Okay, right, 149 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: emotions is ego. Ego. Emotion is ego and spirit and 150 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: and and and and what I'm telling you about I 151 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: can't speak for nobody. Yeah, but my emotions sometimes comes 152 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: off as ego. My spirit is always God. Do you 153 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: understand what I'm saying? I get it. Yeah. And I 154 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: realized that as I grow in business, there be times 155 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: where I'd be ready knock somebody out. But I know 156 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: that I'm speaking metaphorics. You know what I'm saying that 157 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: I'm speaking metaphorically. But I say all that to say that, um, 158 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: it's only business man. You can't take business personal. And 159 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: that's hard to identify because you know, when you hire 160 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: a lot of gen zers, people who are are free 161 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: thinkers like you also have to respect their opinions and 162 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: what they think about. And that is a certain level 163 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 1: of emotional maturity that you have to have. And I'm 164 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: on every day and I want to say, now, since 165 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: we brought that up, you had an incident where one 166 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: of the employees like went on whatever social media and 167 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: I had something like that happened to me too, right, 168 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: And sometimes people don't understand as an entrepreneur, as a 169 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: business owner, you might not be dealing with everybody in 170 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: each location. How many locations A lot? Yeah, but but 171 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: but it's not like you're in there dealing with everything, 172 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: you know, and that happens a lot, like with every 173 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: single detail. Sometimes things do happen, unfortunately, and if you 174 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: don't know about it or you're not directly involved, somehow 175 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: everything does end up being your fault when it comes 176 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: out in the public exactly. Something recently just happened to 177 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: me like that, and that was kind of like my 178 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: first blow, Like you know how like when you're in 179 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: the gym, I'm like, whoa wait, ran, my track record 180 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: is clean? Yeah, how I show up? I show up 181 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: consistently all the time for the last umpteenth years. And 182 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: then something that could potentially compromise my name and my 183 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: character was presented to the world in a way that 184 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: wasn't legitimately true. Right, So I was soak. So that's 185 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: the emotional part that I was talking to you. Ye, 186 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: I was like, why she's saying something, but because because 187 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: you also know it was my ego, and I'm gonna 188 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: tell you why. It was my ego. And now I 189 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 1: realized that that might not have been the best thing 190 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: to do, but I'm happy that that I did it 191 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,679 Speaker 1: because my ego was telling me like I cared too 192 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: much about my name. But at the end of the day, 193 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: like God knows my name. So I understand now that 194 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: that was coming from an emotional place. I was trying 195 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: to make sure that my name stayed clean. And obviously, 196 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 1: you know, I can't talk much about the situation, but like, 197 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: just like you said, I wasn't directly connected. But it's 198 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: my brand, it's my baby, which is another thing that 199 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: you asked me, Like what's the most difficult, Like you 200 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: got to make sure that your hands are in all 201 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: the pots and that you delegate the right people to 202 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: make sure that you got the right hands in all 203 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: of the pots. And as a result of having the 204 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: right hands, you will continue to run an efficient business. Now, 205 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: how important is it, because you are getting married, having 206 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 1: the right person by your side when it comes to business. Oh, 207 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,599 Speaker 1: it's so important. Um. First of all, I'm about to 208 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: marry the love of my life. Oh I love the 209 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: ebony pictures. Thank you He's like the lights convergion of me. 210 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,560 Speaker 1: And it's so funny. Um, it's so divine how we 211 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: met so Um, George Floyd rest in peace to him. 212 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: After he was murdered. You know, there were so much 213 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: riot's happening in Atlanta and around the world, and somebody 214 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: busted the windows out of his restaurant when they were 215 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: doing a riot downtown. So obviously everybody's talking about it 216 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: wanting to support him. So I sent him a DM like, Hey, 217 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: did you see what he looked like? Firsty, everybody knows 218 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: who Big Dave's right, so like he literally is the 219 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: main equivalent to me. Like I got lines down the block, 220 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,240 Speaker 1: he got lines down the block. We're the same exact age. 221 00:10:56,240 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: I'm from Baltimore, he's from Philly. Like it just made sense, 222 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: and everybody was like, y'all need to talk, and I'm like, 223 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: I'm not dealing with nobody that ain't Vegan, and now 224 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: here we are at the How did you know he 225 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: was the one? Um? Because Dan, let me tell it's 226 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: such a loaded question. So when I met him, I 227 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: felt it in my spirit And I don't mean to 228 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: get so spiritual on y'all, but like, like really literally 229 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: first sight at first sight, and I wasn't trying to Um, 230 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: this wasn't one of the things like I'm gonna date him. 231 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: It was a connection, like a your soul mate. Don't 232 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: have to be somebody that you're in a relationship with. 233 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,479 Speaker 1: And I knew that, like something about this engagement or relationship, 234 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 1: whether it's a friendship or something else, is going to 235 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: be divine. I just didn't know it was gonna show 236 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: up like this. I grew up in a household where 237 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: I've never seen women married except for probably like one 238 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: or two. So like that wasn't the example that I 239 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: aspired to, right, I'm just like okay, cool, Like I 240 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: just like, you know, I like, yeah, so the idea 241 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: of like really building a bond. And then I didn't 242 00:11:57,720 --> 00:11:59,599 Speaker 1: even realize I can have kids. A doctor told me 243 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: it was gonna be difficult. And then I got pregnant 244 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 1: for the first time, and I'm like, this is this 245 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,880 Speaker 1: is the one because I just felt like so many 246 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:09,840 Speaker 1: roadblocks were moved out of the way to make room 247 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: for him to meet me, um, so that we can 248 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: be together, and like we've been together almost three years now, 249 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: we have two kids. Were to get married on the eighth. No, 250 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 1: he's more parian. Um what I can appreciate this since 251 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: I appreciate that since since us being together, um, he's 252 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: been a little more conscious in the food than he 253 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: consumes that. I feel like women are really great as 254 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: stepping up there man when it comes to diets, when 255 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: it comes to products, you know. But he also stacked 256 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,439 Speaker 1: me up right like so like I already had swags, 257 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: he felt like he gave me more swags. He did. 258 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: He helped me with the fashion or just like he 259 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: is fashion like everything he hit the toad drippy and 260 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: I say that everything, Oh, he will not leave out 261 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: the house me. I'm like, I alt wear some sweatpants 262 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: and a T shirt and call of the day. But 263 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: he gave me a little razzle to my dad's Yeah. 264 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: But we literally have a really good bone. He's my 265 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: friend first, like I don't hain't with nobody set for 266 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,839 Speaker 1: him and talking about the engagement too. That proposal, so 267 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: I wasn't I must pregnant and um, he proposed to 268 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: me an Essence festival and I had no idea. I'm 269 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: thinking we're doing a panel. I'm like, you know, I'm 270 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: on my thought leadership, like like how pinky cold does 271 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: right third person and um, he got he got bad back, right, 272 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 1: so he tried to get on his knees. He did 273 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: the best he could, saying an accident. Um. So he 274 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: got on his knee and he proposed to me. And 275 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 1: I was kind of numb, but not for the bad reasons, 276 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: numb for the right reasons because I never just thought 277 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: that I would be somebody's wife, Like it wasn't even 278 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: my thought process. And then I had my baby a 279 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 1: week and a half early because of that. I was 280 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: too excited. The baby was excited, like let's good ready 281 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 1: to come. And our son was born on the day 282 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: that his father died thirteen years ago. So I want 283 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: to say spirit, that spirit like all the way around. 284 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: So I love it. Now, can you tell us about 285 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: American sash because I saw when you were like brainstorming 286 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: trying to figure out, like what is this thing that 287 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 1: I want to do? So some water everywhere? So um, 288 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: so let me tell you a funny story. So me 289 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: and Derek went to Turks and Kekos but whatever, our 290 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: favorite Turks and Kekos like the best vacation outside of Jamaica, 291 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: by the way. Um, So we went to Turks and 292 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: Kekos and we were sitting on the balcony and I'm like, 293 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: we need to do something called the sesh. And the 294 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: sessh is short for session, right, So typically when you 295 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: smoke weed, you have a session like it's a smoking session, right, 296 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: But we knew that everybody don't smoke weed, so we're 297 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: gonna call it American sesh. And basically what American sessh is, 298 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: it's an opportunity for you to identify the American dream, 299 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: however where you want it to be. So when we 300 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: think about historically what the American dream was, it was 301 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: the Picca fence, it was the dog, it was the 302 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: middle class family. Nah, this ain't that no more. The 303 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: American dream is literally you travel in the world with 304 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: your best friends, or you try with your kids, and 305 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: like being an on air personality, it can be your 306 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: dream and whatever it is that you want to do 307 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: and nobody can judge that. And that's what the session is. 308 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: So we bring celebrities, creatives and nine to five rus 309 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: together in a circle, invite only no phones, no ego, 310 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: just pitting bad and everybody is just building. And when 311 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: I tell you, let me tell you some of the 312 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: people that have been in the room. Richie Lutenists, who 313 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: owns every damn I tell you, shout out the red 314 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: tool like invited me to come do that and rang 315 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: the bell, which is a big deal for the culture. 316 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: It's a big deal. We had Caroline Wanga, who's the 317 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: CEO of Essence Ludicrous, was in the building. Um. We 318 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: had John Gray. We had Tamarin uh Tamar not Tamar Tamar. 319 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. We had so many people in the tory. 320 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 1: I'm trying to come to you gotta come and listen. 321 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: When people leave out of there, they feel so exhilarated. 322 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: They're like, oh my gosh. Like they walk out with business, partners, 323 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: with networks, with relationships. Some people walk away with money. 324 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: So this is something different because it's literally rising people 325 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: up so that they can make a lane for themselves 326 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: and create oppocause sometimes it is and I tell this 327 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: to Jazz when we're discussing this the other day, just 328 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: to sit down and come up with ideas, like when 329 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: you're kicking it with your friends, because that's how like 330 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: I'm closing on this building and Detroit on Monday, and 331 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: but part of that was just like me brainstorming and 332 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: figuring out like I want to do this, I want 333 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: to do that. And sometimes instead of doing it alone, 334 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: it works better when you collaborate and you sit down 335 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: with because sometimes we're scared to share our ideas. People 336 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: think like, this is my idea, I don't want anybody 337 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: else to have it, when it could be something you 338 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: could do together. Yeah, you could. I tell people all 339 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: the time, like you can go strong alone, but you 340 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: can go further together. And now I'm like, all right, 341 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: how can we work together? Like, listen, let me tell 342 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: you something. A hundred percent ten percent of a watermelon 343 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: is better than one hundred percent of a Greek I've 344 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: read that somewhere and I'm like, think about it. Ten 345 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 1: percent of a watermelon is bigger than a hundred percent 346 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: of a great So it's important for me to collaborate 347 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: and bring people together, um, so that we can win together. 348 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: Like if you got a product and I got the 349 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: brand name, we come together. And I already talking about 350 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: so collaboration is key, and in twenty twenty three, like 351 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: this is a PSA. I'm trying to collaborate, but I 352 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 1: only want to collaborate with the best. I went to 353 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:22,879 Speaker 1: LA the other day and I went to like ten 354 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: meeting y'all, and the theme of the trip was best 355 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: in class. Everybody that you work with should be the 356 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: best in class. And I'm not just talking about money. 357 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: I'm talking about ethos, being in alignment, energy focus, best 358 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: in class. So I'm looking for collaborations, but I'm also 359 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 1: looking for the best in class. I love that. Real 360 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: quick questions. You know you did a post alluding to 361 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: having this Netflix meeting. Is anything you could tell us 362 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,440 Speaker 1: about that. I can't speak on anything. I mean, you 363 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: posted it, so I mean, yeah, but she can't speak 364 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: on it. But she's exactly I'm posting it. I posted this, 365 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: y'all know where I was at and get an idea 366 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: of what I was doing. Yeah, it was a great picture. 367 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:03,120 Speaker 1: I love it, But stay tuned. I like to surprise 368 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:06,040 Speaker 1: people with the announcement. Well, we love the surprises. And 369 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: then I do want to just ask you one last thing, 370 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: since you had the ribbon cut on yesterday, since we're 371 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:16,239 Speaker 1: celebrating the new restaurant. So I always feel like we 372 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: might look at in business, something doesn't go right and 373 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: it's a failure to us, right, You're like, oh, I fail, 374 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 1: but it's really not a failure. You learn a lot 375 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 1: from things that don't work out the way that you 376 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: expected or anticipated them too. And so with that being 377 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: your first business, what were some of the things that 378 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: you learn from that that you feel like you take 379 00:18:32,840 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: with you to this day to get you where you are. 380 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: Always have fire insurance the first one. That's that's the 381 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: first one, and that also means a whole lot of things. 382 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: Just make sure your paperwork is right. You know, like 383 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 1: I can no longer do handshake deals because handshake deals 384 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: can cost me a lot of money. And knowing that 385 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: as you continue to grow and monopolize and build businesses 386 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: will save you time, It'll save you money, and it 387 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: will keep you protected and have a piece of mind. 388 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: I also keep with me the fact that I always 389 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 1: got to take a risk. Never get too comfortable where 390 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 1: you're afraid to take a risk, because taking risk has 391 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,840 Speaker 1: gotten me all of the opportunities in the world. I'll 392 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: give you a quick example. I have a cup as 393 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,159 Speaker 1: slutty vegan and on the cup and say's drink the 394 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: fuck up. But it's really drink duh fuck up, right, 395 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: so it's not the cursing. And I did a vote. 396 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: I did a focus group, or if I should do 397 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 1: a regular cup or a drink the fuck up cup. 398 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 1: Every single person was like, don't do that, like kids 399 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:34,719 Speaker 1: are coming, it's not good. And I said, you know what, 400 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do it anyway, And I did it, and 401 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: did you know That's a part of the reason why 402 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: everybody talks about slutty Vegan because a business would be 403 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 1: so in your face and raw, but still sexy and sophisticated. 404 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 1: So when I say take the risk and not get 405 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: comfortable not taking risks, risk will take you along. A 406 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: risk will get you in the door. Risk will give 407 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: you the opportunity to be able to meet better relationships 408 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: so that you can continue to grow. And risk literally 409 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: get you to that. Because even the name slutty Vegan, 410 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 1: people would have probably risky. That's not a good name. Kid, 411 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 1: Like you said, kids are gonna come here, risky, very 412 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: memorable calling people slut risky. Yeah, because I'm redefining the 413 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: term right playing the kind of music that we play 414 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,880 Speaker 1: in the restaurant. Risky. Even you approaching people. I've heard 415 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: stories about how when you were first started agg and 416 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: you would walk up to people and be like, I 417 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: want you to manage me risky. I did that with Shatkazuulu. 418 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 1: He became my manager risky. And I'll never stop taking 419 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: the risk because I know the moments that I don't 420 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: take the risk, I see the difference. So yeah, all right, 421 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 1: but we love that. I mean, nobody better to be with. 422 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: That's an International Women's Day Congratulations. I know you have 423 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: a lot more coming because you always do. I was 424 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: telling Peggy, I don't know how she does it. All 425 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: the kids, the husband, the businesses, got relations, the ideas, 426 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: the book, everything. I got a really good team. Can 427 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,639 Speaker 1: I leave something for the ladies. Yes, this is Women's 428 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,960 Speaker 1: History Month. I want to talk to my queens. Um. 429 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: You know, it feels so good, Um to be rising 430 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 1: to success. But success is very difficult because it's easy 431 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 1: to get it right, it's hard to keep it. You 432 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: gotta be consistent all of the time. So I'm encouraging 433 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: everybody who's listening to this is never not be consistent 434 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: because consistency will allow you to elevate in your career 435 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: and disrupt every single ceiling that was placed above you. 436 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: And I like to burst all the ceilings because I'm 437 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: consistent and that consistent energy is always best in class 438 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: and it's best in class because I got the right team. 439 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: So hopefully that is deposited in somebody's spirit and happy 440 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: women's history months and thank you, Angela, thank you, perfect 441 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 1: thank you. Can see her also on the cover of 442 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: Black Enterprise with the team Yes, which said I got 443 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: a really big team at Okay, let's go, but Angela 444 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: Yee and Pinky col