1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to my show Money Making Conversation master Class. I'm 2 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: your host with Sean McDonald. I recognized that we all 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: have different definitions of success. For you and may be 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 1: the size of your paycheck. Mine is inspiring people to 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: develop their plan to reach their dreams. It's time to 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: stop reading other people's success stories and start writing your own. 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: You can only exceed expectations by believing in yourself. People 8 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: always talk about their purpose or gifts. If you have 9 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: a gift, lead with your gifts and don't let your friends, family, 10 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: or co workers stop you from planning or living your dreams. 11 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: My guests is Tanya Lewis Lee in Indie Wire featured 12 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: Tania on their twenty twenty two Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch. 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: She's a producer, film director, writer, entrepreneur, and women's health advocate, 14 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: delivery meaningful content that resonates with marginalized communities for over 15 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: twenty years on the heels of our influential children's book. 16 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: The US Department of Health partner with Tanya as the 17 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: spokesperson for their A Healthy Baby Begins with You Infant 18 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: Mortality Award. In this campaign from two thousand seven to 19 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: Tanya is on the Show Today discussed her new doctumentary 20 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: following the deaths of two young women due to childbirth complications, 21 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: to breathe families, galvanized activists, birth workers, and physicians to 22 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: recom with one of the most pressing American crisis today, 23 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: the US maternal health crisis. Lee co directed co produced 24 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: After Shock, which after Shock Excuse me, which examines the 25 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: U S fraternity mortality crisis. It currently is Aaron on Hulu. 26 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass. The wonderful Tanya 27 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: Lewis Lee. How you doing. I'm good, ra Sean, thank 28 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: you so much for that wonderful introduction, and I'm happy 29 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: to be here in conversation with you about the film. 30 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: We know. I want the reason I hopefully I did 31 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: you justice in your intro, because to do a documentary 32 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: like this, there has to be some history, has to 33 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: be a person who just didn't have a good idea, 34 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: came across a good story and and and may this 35 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: amazing documentary and by at least giving this background, and 36 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: it'll let them know that a lot of emotion, a 37 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: lot of history, a lot of experience went into creating Aftershock. 38 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: Talk tell us about how you got involved with this project. Yeah. Then, 39 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: like I said, I really did appreciate your introduction because 40 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, it was because of my children's book, Please Baby, 41 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: Please UH that the U s Department of Healthing Human 42 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 1: Services reached out to me and asked me to be 43 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: a spokesperson where they're infant mortality awareness raising campaign, A 44 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: Healthy Baby Begins with You. And it was through that 45 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: campaign that I was able to travel the country and 46 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 1: learn first of all about in mortality. I didn't realize 47 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: the US at the time when I first started had 48 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: an issue within the mortality the United States. I didn't 49 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: realize that black babies, like black mothers, are dying at 50 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: three to four times the rate of white babies in 51 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: this country. UM, and I didn't know about about so 52 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: I didn't know about the disparity so UM. Through my travel, 53 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: I had the opportunity to meet and talk with lots 54 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: of women UM and inevitably a woman would tell me 55 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: a story about a friend of sister, cousin, somebody who 56 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: had passed away from childbirth complications. So it had been 57 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: something that I had been thinking about for a while 58 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: because I was hearing it firsthand from the community. UH. 59 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: And then back in two thousand seventeen, two thousand eighteen 60 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: of the New York Times Republica started reporting on the 61 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: issue of maternal mortality here in this country, and it 62 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: seemed like that then was the time to really go 63 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: out there and and make this film to raise the 64 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: awareness so that we can do things to bring the 65 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: make for better outcomes. Well, let's let's talk about that, 66 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: making the fan, producing it, getting the concept in place, 67 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: because this is a personal project from a standpoint, is 68 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: about African Americans. It's about them being at the high 69 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: end of the mortality rate. It's also some history. It 70 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: tells you. This is a documentary and informs it educates you, 71 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: especially in in how would you when you presented this 72 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: project and start producing it. Were there any pushback or 73 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: people didn't understand exactly the message you was trying to 74 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: deliver with aftershock? Um. You know, it's interesting. I do 75 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: think that when we first started working on the film, UM, 76 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: not so much pushed back, but I think that people 77 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: did were like, what is this really about? How are 78 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: you really going to tell the story because it is 79 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: such a huge systemic issue. Um. And I think initially 80 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: some people thought it, well, it's about black women's help. 81 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: So it shouldn't cost so much. Your budgets too high, 82 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: bring it down. And we really felt like the story 83 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: needed to be told in a way through people's lived experience. Uh, 84 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: not as a survey film just people talking to camera, 85 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: although we do have a couple of experts, and we 86 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: felt that the film deserved to be told the right way, 87 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: and so it would cost what it would cost to 88 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: make it, and we stuck to stuck to our guns 89 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: and made the film that we wanted to make. Well, 90 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: you know, what people don't take in perspective is that 91 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: when you're dealing with emotions, they can't be action. Okay, 92 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: it has to be captured. It has to be it 93 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: has to be authentic, it has to be there for 94 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: the moment. So sometimes hours, sometime days put into perspective 95 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: to gather those moments because this is an emotionally charged 96 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: documentary because it involves death. And and that's which leads 97 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 1: to the title after shock, you know, because of the 98 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: fact that, um, you know you always hear this, uh 99 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: when children die before their parents. They said, no, no 100 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: parent wants to bury their child. The goal is for 101 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: the child to outlive the parents. And this situation is 102 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: about relationships. How did you encounter the individuals that you 103 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:51,160 Speaker 1: are featuring in your documentary. Yeah, it was really something else. 104 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: Shamani gives and passed away in October nine and in December, 105 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: her mother and her partner other Shawnnie Gibson and her 106 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: partner Amari Maynard, decided to have an event that they 107 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: called Aftershock, which was essentially a celebration of Shamani's life, 108 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: but at the same time they wanted to have a 109 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: conversation with the community, so um they put out an 110 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 1: invitation on social media that we saw. We reached out 111 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: to Shawnny and to Amari and asked if we could film, 112 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: and you know, it was really wonderful that they allowed 113 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: us to come in and film because they wanted the 114 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: word to get out about not just what happened to Shamani, 115 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: but about the birthing outcomes in the black community. And 116 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: uh Amari with someone who is someone who when he 117 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: hears of a father who has been left behind because 118 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: his partner has passed away from childbirth complications, he reaches 119 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: out to them and says, hey, brother, I got you. 120 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: I'm here to support you. And he did that for 121 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,799 Speaker 1: Bruce McIntyre when Amber Rose Isaac passed away in April, 122 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: and he reached out to him just to offer support, 123 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: told him about the film. And then and then Bruce, 124 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: you know, joined with us, and so uh and for 125 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: the same reason because a week after Amber passed away, 126 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: Bruce had a press conference because he wanted to be 127 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: in conversation with community. He wanted to demand accountability for 128 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: Amber's death, but he also wanted to have the conversation. 129 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: And so we were very fortunate that we were able 130 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: to catch up with shawnny Omari and Bruce so that 131 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: we could tell the story because they wanted to tell 132 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: the story. Yeah, just talking to my audience. You know, 133 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: I love talking to talented people like uh Tonia lewis Lee. 134 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: You know, she said, we've reached out to them and 135 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: now they allowed us to come in. You better have 136 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: a name you can google. You better have a reputation, 137 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: you better have a brand, you have our awareness that 138 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: you just don't call somebody at a very dark emotional 139 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: moment in life and said, we want to come in 140 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: and videotape without a reputation that they know you have, 141 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: you have their that you have their their their their 142 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: good will at heart. This is the two I said 143 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: to the top rising filmmaker to watch by Indy Wire. 144 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: And that reputation that you've developed over the year, it's 145 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: part of your brand. Allows you to get in the 146 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: door and use your name to be able to not 147 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: only push back on the money, which I was really 148 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,200 Speaker 1: taken it back. We said, well, this black man, man, 149 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: why is it so high? You know? And then we 150 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: get that. We get that a lot because I've been 151 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: in the television business for a long time. When I 152 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: was Steve Harvey was over to w B and the 153 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 1: w B sitcoms with cheaper produced even though it was 154 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: on the same platform as a white sitcom. So the 155 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: dollar wealth gap they talked about in the world is 156 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: also entertainment too, by the way, if y'all don't know that, 157 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: and so you have to deal with those issues and 158 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: you're able to overcome it. Is it the relationships? Is 159 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: it being able to have the resume that you have 160 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: the experience to be able to counter the conversation that 161 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: allows you to be successful in this really polarized in 162 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: the tame at business that we call you know, supposed 163 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: to be equidly equal. Yeah, I think that it is true. 164 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: I mean having having a reputation, having a you know, 165 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: a track record if you will, uh, certainly does help. 166 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: And stacking the deck as you go, right. Um, Don 167 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 1: Porter is also an amazing documentary filmmaker who's an executive 168 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: producer on our film After Shock. Uh. And so having 169 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 1: her there, Um, you know, you're right. Shawnny, Omary and 170 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: Bruce were very aware of myself and my work and 171 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,599 Speaker 1: so and they trusted me. You know, we Shawnie and 172 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: Omari from Brooklyn. Uh, you know, we are Brooklyn people. 173 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 1: They know my husband is, you know, represent the Republic 174 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: of Brooklyn all the time. So there is that comfort. 175 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: And I'll tell you I felt a real responsibility uh 176 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,880 Speaker 1: to make sure that we honored Shamani and Amber and 177 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: represented the family in a way that is authentic and 178 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: true to the spirit of who they are. We'll be 179 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: right back with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. 180 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: Now let's return to Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rashan McDonald. 181 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,439 Speaker 1: It's really interesting when I got an opportunity, when the 182 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: interview came to me, came across my dastins riche you 183 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: got an interview, you got an interviewer, and I go, Okay, 184 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: what's what's she doing? What's you're talking about? And then 185 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: when they when they when they sent me the log 186 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 1: line on the doctor bunary. I have six sisters, okay 187 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: and uh, and so I come from a family, big family, 188 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: nine kids. Both my parents are staying at home with 189 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: us for Inner City and so uh, I'm very much 190 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: aware of a sudden loss of life. So I know that. 191 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes you have to be honest with your 192 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: audience and let them know that this is not just 193 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: a story to me, it's a personal journey. The emotional laws, 194 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: the suttiness, the shock, the anger, the confort that you 195 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: don't care about, you know, because the conference can't change 196 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: what has happened, um the future that you were planning 197 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: that's cut off, you know, the plans that it's just 198 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: so many emotions unless you've personally been there. And I 199 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: was personally engaged with the two men who are are 200 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: prominently featured in your documentary. Because I was shocked and 201 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: still shocked. I still think, I still reminisce I still 202 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: do to what else? And so all these things you 203 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: have to take into perspective doing this. You have to 204 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: be a level of sensitivity that this is beyond just 205 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: recording a story. This is a journey that they guess 206 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: what we will never forget. I would never turn my 207 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: back onto what else. I would never forget those moments 208 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: of moments. But it's something that you, through through brilliant 209 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: hands and experience, have allowed me to take that journey 210 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: again in and I thought I would never do that 211 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 1: again telling you, well, well, I do hope that in 212 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: watching their journey Amori Maynard and Bruce McIntyre, that there 213 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: is comfort in that because you are not alone. And 214 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: I think that there are a lot of men. And 215 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: one of the things that I think is really exciting 216 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,599 Speaker 1: to come out of the film because of Bruce and 217 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: Amory is that black men and men in general are 218 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: talking about paternal mental health, right. I think you know, 219 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: often when a woman has a child, we think of 220 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: maternal health is just just being about a woman, But 221 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: it is about a man too, because it still takes 222 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 1: two to make a baby, and men um go through 223 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: the process as well. And then when there's a loss, 224 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: they're the ones left behind, as as in our case, 225 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: to raise the children on their own. Uh and and 226 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: they need support and and they have learned that Bruce 227 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: and Amory how to support one another, how to support 228 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: other fathers, and to really engage in this conversation of 229 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: what does it mean to be a man to to 230 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:09,679 Speaker 1: have lost in this way? And um, I think it's 231 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: a really great opportunity for us to have that conversation, 232 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: get men talking more, being more vulnerable with their feelings 233 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: with each other so that they too can heal. And 234 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: it's important. And like I said, um, when when I 235 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: look at what you're doing and what you're presenting, and 236 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: you know we're talking to Tanya Lewis Lee. A documentary 237 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: which is airing currently on huluis called Aftershock. What idea 238 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: realizes that you always hear that term it's a miracle 239 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: to have a healthy baby. When something like this happens 240 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: to you, you realize that it's absolutely the truth. It 241 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 1: is a miracle to go through the birth process. I'm 242 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: talking about their mom. It's a miracle for the baby 243 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: to come healthy, out healthy. You know, every day after 244 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: that baby is born, you you're touching them, you making 245 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: sure they're breathing you, you you, It's just it's just 246 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: a journey. Need making sure they sit up right, to 247 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: make sure they when they lean to the left, lean 248 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: to the left. All those journeys and all those stories 249 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: are being told in your documentary because it's over a seris. 250 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: It's not just a six month period of years as 251 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: you see the growth and has shown in footage when 252 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: you're putting the piece in all this together, what is 253 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: your thought process, Tanya and Tana and making sure that 254 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: we understand the journey, the pain, and potential results of 255 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: what you're trying to accomplish with this documentary. Yeah, it 256 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: was really important for us to tell the story of 257 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: the US paternal mortality crisis through the people who have lost. 258 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: At the same time, we wanted to balance that with 259 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: solutions because this is not something that we can't fix. 260 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 1: We did not want the film to be just sad 261 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: and tell you a problem and then leave you with 262 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: like now what um and so we really and we 263 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: also wanted to give you contact X of how we 264 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: got here. So we talk a little bit about history. 265 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,560 Speaker 1: We UM. We balance out with experts who explain to 266 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: us how we got here, what, what are the problems? 267 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: And um, how do we fix it? I also have 268 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: to say that shawnny Amari and Bruce are activists. So 269 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: they did, they did lose their family member, but they 270 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: also became very activated and they are inspirational and that 271 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: they turn their pain into power, as a Maria says 272 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: in the film, and are really trying to make it better, 273 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: not just for their family, but for for all of 274 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: us so that we can have better outcomes. So it 275 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: was really important with the film to balance sort of 276 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: the the the hard truth with what can be positive, 277 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: the positive potential outcomes that we can have, and a 278 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: showcase that there are a lot of people on the 279 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: ground doing this work. There are reproductive rights, reproductive justice rights, 280 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: reproductive rights people out there doing the work, is doing 281 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: the work every day, getting very little shine, very little 282 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: money for the for the fact of all of us. 283 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: You know what would would would angers me and it's 284 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: a positive. Well I say positive is that you know, 285 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: their loss, forced to become an expert, forced to become 286 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: an expert, and that's not right. And that's what shined 287 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: the most out of this documentary is that the whole 288 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: documentary is about is not right. It should not be happening. 289 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: And these two men, in this entire family of experts 290 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: and galvanized too for a greater cause are here because 291 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 1: people the system failed them. The system failed them and 292 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: so many ways it failed them. And some of it's 293 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: tied to because any lead project, they're gonna lead projects, 294 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: gonna educate you, by the way, and then they they 295 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: went into the educational book and I've gained knowledge. When 296 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 1: you realize that, you know, c sections make money. They 297 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: do the hospital. They that's the big payer. We're gonna 298 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: do a C section. It's gonna make us some money. 299 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: And then but I really really got into a portion 300 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: of the documentary we will talk about midwives, and that 301 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: really you know, I actually played that back. You know, 302 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 1: I went, this is really because you know, I don't 303 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 1: think I know it all. But when I see if 304 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 1: my minor's sociology black history, uh was my was my 305 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: minor in college, got my little straight age. And when 306 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,679 Speaker 1: I get information that delves into this area, I go, 307 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: you got to be kidding me. But when you hear 308 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: the truth, how stunned were you or were you aware 309 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: when you started doing this research and reading about the midwives? Yeah, 310 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,439 Speaker 1: the midwives situation is when you really think about it, 311 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: it is so crazy. The United States the only developed 312 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:53,639 Speaker 1: nation that does not have midwives integrated into women's health. 313 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,919 Speaker 1: And and that is based on a racist premise because 314 00:17:58,040 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: black midwives were were those that that took care of 315 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: everyone giving birth back in the day, not just black women, 316 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: but white women too. But when modern medicine came in, 317 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: they took the economy of birthing out of the hands 318 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: of black women, put it into the hands of doctors, 319 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: white doctors, and and and trying to push us all 320 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: to go into hospitals so that they could have the economy, 321 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: and then launched a campaign against midwives, telling us that 322 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: they're dirty, their witches, they're dangerous. That still exists today. Uh, 323 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: and it is, it is. It is not good for us, 324 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: it's it's killing us. And so I was. I was 325 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:42,119 Speaker 1: actually really surprised by that and really grateful to Helena Grant, 326 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: who is the midwife in the film, who is an 327 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:51,400 Speaker 1: amazing historian, azing amazing Helena Grant. We could have had 328 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: an entire film with just a camera on Helena telling 329 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: us so much. There was so much we couldn't put 330 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,119 Speaker 1: into the film that she educated us on. We'll be 331 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: right back with more money making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. 332 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: Now let's return to money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushan McDonald. 333 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 1: You know, we always talk about, you know, this critical 334 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: theory that runs around and people don't want to give 335 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: you the facts about life in history. And this is 336 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: one of those great moments when I hear about people 337 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: trying to deny actual history. This is something that happened, 338 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,160 Speaker 1: is something that's because it happened, That means it's happening today. 339 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: That means that people have been outlawed and participating who 340 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:37,919 Speaker 1: cared about the process instead of being hired to do 341 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: the process, which is a big difference. And you guys 342 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: make that distinction in Aftershock talk about that. Yeah, I mean, look, 343 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: I think that again with midwives, they were there, they 344 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: are still there. I mean, the idea is to educate 345 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: you about your body. Right, A midwife is there from 346 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 1: before you get pregnant to while you're pregnant postpartum. A 347 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: lot most of these deaths happened postpartum, and midwives are 348 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: there to watch you, educate your about your body and 349 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: really empower you so that your body can do what 350 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: you needed to do um. The thing about uh uh 351 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: guide to cologists and obstetrictions is that they're they're really surgeons, 352 00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 1: and so they're really looking for a problem. You know, 353 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: they're and they're ready to operate. And again I just 354 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: want to say C sections are really important. Thank god 355 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,520 Speaker 1: we have them, because they are necessary in the right situation. 356 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: But what has happened in this country, as you mentioned, 357 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: is that it's become about money. It's to come about 358 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,719 Speaker 1: the economics. So we find ourselves sort of rushed and 359 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: pushed into unnecessary c sections, which are major surgery, which 360 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: will cause which can cause problems later down the line. 361 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 1: Um Tanya Lewis Lee m My wife had a beautiful daughter, okay, 362 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: And when the opportunity presented itself, they said, Mr McDonald, 363 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 1: would you like to be in the room where your 364 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: wife delivers? I said no, I said, I wait outside. 365 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: Please let me know when that beautiful child is born. 366 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: And I come in with all the drama, all the trauma, 367 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: all that is gone, ladies, said Jessifer. And after shot, 368 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: I was shocked because I got to see you the 369 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: actual delivery of a child. Now I say that, I 370 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,360 Speaker 1: don't know if I should say thank you for allowing 371 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: me to see that, because I wasn't traumatized like I 372 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: thought I would be. But the fact that you were 373 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,720 Speaker 1: able to I wouldn't say the word convince a couple 374 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: to allow that to be filmed, but it will talk 375 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:43,800 Speaker 1: about that whole process that because that was amazing. Yeah. Again, again, 376 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: we were so lucky to find an amazing couple. We 377 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: didn't have to convince them at um. You know, Felicia 378 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: and Paul Ellis they you know, Felicia was pregnant and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Um, 379 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: there was a duela service there. The Tulsa Birth Equity 380 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: Initiative reached out to her and said we can we 381 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: can get you a dula if you'd like, and and 382 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 1: she said yes, And that's how we met Felicia. Felicia 383 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: wanted to share her experience because, as she says in 384 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,680 Speaker 1: the film, being a black woman, uh, pregnant black woman 385 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: is like being a black man at a traffic stop. 386 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 1: You have to pay attention to every step of the way. 387 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: So she was really willing to allow us to go 388 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: on the journey with her. And again, as she says 389 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: in the film, she's thinking she's just gonna have give 390 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: birth a regular way, you know, with a doctor and 391 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 1: at a hospital. But then towards the end of her pregnancy. 392 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: She's like, wait a minute, maybe there's another way, and 393 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: allowed us to go with her and find the birthing 394 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: center and the midwives that would attend with her at 395 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: her birth, and her husband attended with her. I'm glad 396 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:59,440 Speaker 1: we got you to see the traumatizing. Now if we 397 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,680 Speaker 1: ever were like ship, now we have you. You took 398 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: it ball down the road. I thought I wouldn't go 399 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,919 Speaker 1: to see again every way in my life. But I 400 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 1: want to thank you. I want to thank you. I 401 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: want to thank you because of who you are, because 402 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: you people trusted you. You're telling a very powerful story, 403 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: very needed story after Shock, which is currently airing on Hulu. 404 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 1: It examines the U as a maternal mortality crisis, and 405 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: always when you hear the word crisis, somehow it just 406 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: falls heavily on the black and brown community. And we 407 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: talked about that and it must be talked and it 408 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: will continue to be talked. And I just I know 409 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: we're about to wrap up. I would tell you something 410 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: about me personally, For somehow, my life has been interesting. 411 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: When I was a senior in high school, way back 412 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: in the eighteen seventy six, I was I did a 413 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: report my senior class report was about morphine babies, babies 414 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 1: who were born addicted to drugs. So I've always had 415 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 1: this journey, this this knowledge to make it right within 416 00:23:57,480 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: the black community and to know and then then to 417 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: go from seventy six to see your documentary in two 418 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 1: all think I said as wow, Wow, that's a blessing. 419 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 1: That's a blessing to know that I met a person 420 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 1: who has the same values I have. I didn't continue 421 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: down that lane, but you brought me back, and you 422 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: brought me back with a slap upside of the head, said, boy, 423 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: get back in that saddle. When you will, you will, 424 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: you would hit it down the right track. I will 425 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,439 Speaker 1: promote this for you. I would tell people about it 426 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: as much as I can possibly tell about social media 427 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: and my newsletters and everything. Fantastic project. Congratulations to Hulu 428 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 1: for allowing you to have this documentary over I know 429 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: a lot of over there on ex collection. They're great people. 430 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:39,040 Speaker 1: And again, thank you for coming to on Money Making 431 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: Conversation masterclass. Thank you so much for the conversation with 432 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: Sean about a pleasure. Thank you and if you want 433 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 1: to see this video or here, please go to Money 434 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 1: Making Conversation dot com. I'm with Sean McDonald. I am 435 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 1: your host,