1 00:00:01,880 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Afrotech Executive is our multi city series which empowers corporate executives, investors, 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: and tech moguls. And we kick off our twenty twenty 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: three series with a trip to Seattle to Washington Mark's 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: thirtieth We're in the city to discussing artificial intelligence with 5 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: Jessica Matthews, founder of Unchared. It be in the house 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: with us this year for an Afrotech Executive events. Experienced 7 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: dot afrotech dot com to learn more. I'm will Lucas 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: missus Black Tech, Green Money. I'm gonna entwer to set 9 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 1: to the biggest names, the brightest minds and brilliant ideas. 10 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: If you're black, in building, or simply using tech to 11 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: secure your back, this podcast is for you. Angelie is 12 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: a Radio Hall of Fame inductee and multi business entrepreneur 13 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: who runs companies in a variety of industries. She recently 14 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: started her own Solar radio show, What Ye with Angelie 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: after a long tenure at the Breakfast Club. As an 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: entrepreneur with many holdings, I asked Angela how she determines 17 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: what kind of businesses interest her. Definitely, she gets pissed 18 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 1: all the time on new startups. What catches her attention. Well, 19 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 1: I think for me, the core things that are most 20 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: important to me have to do with nutrition, and has 21 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: to do with education and with finance, and so I 22 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: look at those different fields and if something and a 23 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: lot of times I actually pursue things that are interesting 24 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: to me. So it's not always that someone comes to me, 25 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: but if I see something that I think is interesting 26 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: or that I want to support, then I'll reach out 27 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: about that also. But like I started the Press Juices 28 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: Company on my own. With the juice bar, that was 29 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: my idea. With a coffee company, that was an idea 30 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 1: that got sparked in a meeting. And then with Stellar 31 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: Phi that was something that I had been working with 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: the founder Lamine on other things that he was doing, 33 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: and then when that opportunity came, I was all in. 34 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: So usually it's a combination of relationships with people, but 35 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: I think I make sure that people know what my 36 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: different fields of interests are. So we've had a lot 37 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: of conversations on this podcast about you know, black people 38 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: and people of color period having an opportunity just to 39 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: be opportunists, and so many things that we're told is like, 40 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: you know, you should lean into things that you've been 41 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: passionate about for a long time, or like what did 42 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: you grow up wanting to do? But we're not told 43 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: like our counterparts are that you can just find an 44 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: opportunity and jump on it. When you think about that, 45 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: like how do you think about the opportunities that do 46 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: company you? And you're like, you know, it could be 47 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: a bag over there, or it could be just something 48 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: that could be fun. You know, how do you think 49 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: about those types of things. I'm great with getting a 50 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: bag as long as I don't feel like I'm compromising anything. 51 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 1: And so I don't want to get a bag, like 52 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: promoting a cigarette company or something that I really don't 53 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: believe in. And certain things I feel like aren't realistic, right, 54 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: Like people know I don't eat pork and I don't 55 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: eat seafood, so it wouldn't even make sense. And so 56 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: if it's me endorsing something that everyone knows, hey, she 57 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: doesn't really do that, then that's I wouldn't do it. 58 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: But if it's something that maybe I don't know a 59 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: lot about, but I feel like, okay, this could be 60 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,639 Speaker 1: you know, like for instance, one of my friends, Tapeka, 61 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: we're working on a project together right now, and she 62 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: has a whole program that's based on women who were 63 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: formerly incarcerated, and so I know for people that's like 64 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: a hot topic right now, and it's not something I 65 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 1: knew a lot about, but after speaking to her, it's 66 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: something that I did get more passionate about. And that's 67 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: just when my conversations with her, and so I feel 68 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: like we're always expanding and growing. But it is hard 69 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 1: for me to only be opportunistic and see a bag 70 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: usually I have to have, and I know it's not 71 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: financially the smartest thing. I'm more like somebody told me, 72 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: I'm an emotional financial person because I have to feel 73 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: some type of connection. But it has been working for 74 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: me thus far. But I do feel like I could have, 75 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, passed up to opportunities. You know, there's a 76 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: lot of people who have really, really great jobs, maybe 77 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: golden handcuffs, and see like they may have to take 78 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: a leap and not not do that anymore and jump 79 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: into an entrepreneurship. But can you talk a little bit 80 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: about how you think about leveraging your current opportunities too 81 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: fuel the opportunities that you want to pursue and you 82 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: don't necessarily have to quit what you're doing today. Yeah, 83 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: I feel like me having the platform that I have 84 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: only amplifies all the other businesses that I'm trying to do, 85 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: and really I'm trying to take advantage of it. And 86 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: so it's great because I'm on the air every single 87 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: day and I have my social media platforms, but we 88 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: also have partnerships with people who want to endorse different things. 89 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: And if I can crust promote my product with something else, 90 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: then that's an ideal situation for me. If I can, 91 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: you know, get my coffee to be part of a 92 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: program that someone else is doing and now they're paying 93 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: for the coffee and I'm getting free advertising, that's like 94 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: a win win win across the board. And so I 95 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: think I would be remissed not to do that. I 96 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: feel like later on, I don't want to look back 97 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: like we look at some of say a reality television person, 98 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: and some of them have had things that have blown 99 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: up just from being on that show and having something 100 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: to put out. And I think it's silly not to 101 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: have something to promote or to do while you're having 102 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: that platform and you know you are somebody that's in 103 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: the public eye. But if an entrepreneur or would be 104 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: entrepreneur comes up to you. It's like, you know, I 105 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: think I got to quit my job to go chase 106 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: this thing. What would your advice be for somebody who's 107 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: not in the public eye necessarily that maybe you don't 108 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: need to quit your job, but maybe you need to 109 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: figure out how to do it from five to nine, 110 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: you know, instead of nine to five. I always feel 111 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: like it's important to make sure you plan, and that 112 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: means that you have to have a business plan. You 113 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: have to have strategically figured out. This is how I 114 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: plan to lunch. I'm a big fan of starting something 115 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: while I have my little cushion, So starting small and 116 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: then letting something grow. So put it out there, launch it, 117 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 1: do it. I love a soft lunch because that's a 118 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: great way to find out what's working, what's not working, 119 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: that you can fix those things before you go full 120 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: force out to the public. And so I would tell 121 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: them launch whatever it is that you want to do, 122 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: and make sure that you're saving and aggressively saving, because 123 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: I've had to do that too. You know, when I 124 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: bought my first house, I was working non stop because 125 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: I had a goal in mind and a number that 126 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: I knew I needed to hit I knew I needed 127 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: to get to I think it was. I could tell 128 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: you exactly what it was. I had to get twenty 129 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: five percent. I knew I had to get to like 130 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: two hundred and thirty five thousand dollars in order to 131 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: be able to put down the down payment. And so 132 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: for me, that was like two years of just going 133 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: really hard and getting money, stacking money, doing extracide gigs 134 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 1: and everything. So I think, set a goal, set a number, 135 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: and then when you hit that goal, it's time to go. 136 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: But in the meantime, launch it. And let's take the 137 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: opposite of approach that, because there are sometimes you do 138 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 1: need to take a gamble on yourself and you know, 139 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: possibly give up something that other people will see as 140 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 1: a really coveted thing. So what would you say to 141 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,119 Speaker 1: those folks whore like, you know, if you really believe 142 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: in yourself and you really are about this thing, you 143 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: might have to give up what other people will be like, 144 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: you're crazy to give that up. Yeah, and listen, there's 145 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: times that I've done things spontaneously because my gut instinct 146 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: told me to do it. I feel that I trust that. 147 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: It's like I love to gamble, right, and when I 148 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: play blackjack, there are certain times when you have to 149 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: figure out am I gonna hit or am I gonna stay? 150 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: And you have an option because you could go either way. 151 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: You could bust or you could beat the dealer. You 152 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: don't know, and so sometimes you do have to jump 153 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: out there and take that risk. But I also say 154 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: that you have to know a like try to make 155 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: sure that you lessen whatever chance a failure that there is. 156 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: So do everything that you can to get your ducks 157 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: in a row. If you are going to just leap 158 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: out there and do it and be trust your instinct 159 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: is everything is telling you don't do this, and this happened, 160 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: and then this unfortunate thing happened, and you know, then 161 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: maybe it's not the right time. And I do pay 162 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: attention to signs because it's helped me a lot. You know, 163 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: there was an interview I was watching that you did 164 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: and you're talking about, you know, there was a previous 165 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: job you had where you had a bad manager days 166 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: yelled at you at one point and you were like, 167 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: you know, you were you were doing marketing, I think, 168 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: and you're like, you know, I'm out and the clients 169 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: you were working with, like they going with inlet, like 170 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: they left that company and decided to work with you 171 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: separate from your relationship with that company. So can you 172 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: talk a little bit about knowing your value, particularly in 173 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: the world we live in today, to where there's so 174 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: many people who can could work freelance and work for themselves, 175 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: but feel like, you know, they need that security of 176 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: an employer. You know, at that time, I didn't know 177 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 1: my value. I had no idea that would happen. That 178 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: was an emotional decision. I never one thing that's like 179 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: a deailbreaker for me when it comes to work, when 180 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: it comes to relationships, is I don't I don't deal 181 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 1: with people speaking to me in disrespectful way or yelling 182 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,559 Speaker 1: at me, because that's not the energy that I give. 183 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: But I know some people are okay with that, and 184 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: some people, you know, communicate that way. That's not me, 185 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: and I'm very clear about that. And So I had 186 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: been working really hard and not getting paid a lot 187 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: and bringing in a lot of business. And he was 188 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: just upset that I was doing these side gigs because 189 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: I wasn't getting paid a lot. But I was honest 190 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: about it. He only knew about it because I told them, 191 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: and he said that was fine, because you're not paying 192 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: me what I should be making. And so when he 193 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: blew up on me because of the same thing that 194 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 1: I had been honest about came to him about and 195 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: that he had approved, I just got my stuff and left. 196 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: I already was fed up, and so I just walked out, 197 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: took my laptop because he didn't even have computers for it. 198 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: So I took my laptop. It got out of there, 199 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: and you know, to me, I did bring in a 200 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: lot of those clients, and I did write up the 201 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: whole marketing proposals, and I was the person everybody was 202 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: talking to on a daily basis. So when I left, 203 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: everyone was reaching out to me like, well, we really 204 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: enjoyed working with you. And that was a learning lesson 205 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: from me to know that I could do something on 206 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: my own, because you know, I had always worked at 207 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: a company. So after that, I just started freelancing because 208 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:02,679 Speaker 1: I had got three good clients from him that were 209 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: paying me a monthly fee, and I had gotten two 210 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: on my own outside of that, so I was making 211 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: a nice amount of money and not having to be 212 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: in the office. Wow, yeah, you've been in radio. I 213 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: think with twenty seven years now more, how long have 214 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: I now, I've been in radio for nineteen years because 215 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: you did morning shows, afternoons shows, and other things like. 216 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: There's an important part of research that you have to 217 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: do daily to be up on what's happening in the world, 218 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: and it requires you to know a lot about a 219 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,079 Speaker 1: little You know a little about a lot of things. 220 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: I should say, you know, how how would you say 221 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: that research experience that you've had has helped you in business? 222 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: Knowing a little bit about a lot of different things, 223 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: it is great. Like I had a meeting with somebody 224 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 1: the other day and we were talking about boxing in 225 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: the meeting because he owns a league, and so I know, 226 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: you know a bit about boxing because I enjoyed the sport, 227 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: but because I've also interviewed a lot of boxers and 228 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: I pay attention to that, and I watched the fights, 229 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: and so you get in certain situations where just having 230 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: being able to add to the conversation. That's why I 231 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: tell people, when I was younger, I really didn't watch 232 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: the news and pay attention to what was going on. 233 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,439 Speaker 1: But I tell people all the time, just make sure 234 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: you keep up on current events. You don't have to, 235 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: you know, deep dive into everything and know all but 236 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 1: be able to have a conversation, know what some of 237 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: the main headlines are, because those things really do help 238 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: when you're at a dinner and people are talking and 239 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: you don't want to just be there, have no idea 240 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: what's going on in the world. And I used to 241 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: be like that. I used to not have any idea. 242 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: I used to not pay attention to the news when 243 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: I was younger, and when I started doing radio, I 244 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: had to do all kinds of research just to know 245 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: about the current events and the headline topics. Yeah, there's 246 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: this quote that I love from Steve Jobs, and he says, 247 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: you can't connect the dots looking forward, you can only 248 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,200 Speaker 1: connect the dots looking backward. And what I get from 249 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: that is you never really know why you're doing something 250 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: in the moment until later on it's like, oh, that's 251 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: you know it. Had I not done this thing, I 252 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: wouldn't be able to be prepared for what I'm doing today. 253 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 1: And So if you look back on your life with 254 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: that lens, what were you, know, one or two critical 255 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: moments where you were in the moment, like what the 256 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,839 Speaker 1: heck am I doing? But then you look back and 257 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: you're like, now it makes sense. Let's see, Well, definitely 258 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: the time when I quit my job and there was 259 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: a I mean, let's see, there's so many times that 260 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: I've just done. There was a time when I got 261 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: offered a job, you know, at had ninety seven, and 262 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: I didn't take it. And at the time, I really 263 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: didn't take it for practical reasons. It was less than 264 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: what I was already making. My name wouldn't have been 265 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: on the title for the show, and so it was 266 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: like kind of to me in my head and stepped backwards. 267 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: But I feel like everyone else was like, you're crazy. 268 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: How could you not take that? An opportunity like that 269 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: and never comes. There's people who have been doing radio 270 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: their whole lives and would die for something like that. 271 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: And I made a practical decision, and you know, now 272 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: that I look back, it was the right decision. At 273 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: the time, I was like second guessing myself, And now 274 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 1: that I look back, I realized that what they offered me, 275 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: it's so much harder to climb out when they start 276 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: you so low, and it shows like how they feel 277 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: about you and what they already think about you, And 278 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: so that wouldn't have been the right way for me 279 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: to embark on a situation when I was leaving a 280 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: place that really wanted me, right, Like, they offered me 281 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:26,959 Speaker 1: more money to stay, they offered to give me the 282 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: show with my name on it, to name it whatever 283 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: I wanted to. And that's where you want to be 284 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 1: in someplace where somebody really really wants you. That's where 285 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: you want to be, no matter what if it's worked 286 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: or yeah, and show me you care. And then when 287 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: I left, I'm serious to go to I Heeart. That 288 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: was something that everybody was like, Oh my god, FM 289 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: radio is dying. Why would you do that? You barely 290 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: get to talk? And I was just ready to start 291 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: something new. They were the underdog station, you know, if 292 00:13:57,240 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: the Breakfast Club hadn't done well, that station was gonna 293 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 1: flip to a whole other format. And so a lot 294 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: was writing on that. But I feel like that's when 295 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: you really are the best, when you can go with 296 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: a company that is the underdog and come out on top, 297 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: and then after that the sky is the limit. And 298 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: so for me, that's what it was, just to be 299 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: able to go and leave a situation that was comfortable, 300 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 1: but I just didn't see any growth there for me 301 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: to go in someplace where I could be uncomfortable but grow. 302 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: You know, you said something there where you talked about, 303 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: you know, it's really hard to climb out when you 304 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: start somewhere so low. Can you talk a little bit 305 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: more about that and just conceptually talk about that. Well, 306 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: one thing I did learn is that a lot of 307 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: times when we get offered something, people don't negotiate, and 308 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: so it was really important to be able to negotiate. 309 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: And so when you start off, say somebody offers you 310 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: fifty thousand dollars a year, and you're like, okay, I'll 311 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: take it. Well, then now next year, when I'm asking 312 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: for a raise, I can't say I want one hundred 313 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: and fifty thousand dollars. That just sounds like wow, you know, 314 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: how did that happen? So now you're like, okay, can 315 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: I get sixty five thousand? And then the next year 316 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: and so now you're climbing out of a situation where 317 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: when they first offered it to you. If somebody offered 318 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: you fifty thousand, that means that they have way more 319 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: than that. You know, That's what I always assume. And 320 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: so even when negotiating for bookings for different things. You know, 321 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 1: people generally tend to start low because they anticipate that 322 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: you'll come back high and that you'll meet somewhere in 323 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: the middle. And so there's times that I've you know, 324 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: negotiated and then they accepted too fast and I was like, damn, 325 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: you know. And then there's sometimes that it's not about 326 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: the money. And so if it's not about the money, 327 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: then cool, But you also want people to know your 328 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: value and worth. You don't want somebody to say, well, 329 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: I offered her, you know, five thousand dollars and she 330 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: took it. Why would you pay her twenty thousand dollars? 331 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: And so it's just important for you because people do 332 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: talk to each other and they ask each other. You know, 333 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: early in your career, you started out as an intern 334 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: for the Woutang clan. Can you first talked about how 335 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: you found yourself in these roles and what you feel 336 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: like was the reason you took that role and why 337 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: they accepted you in that role? I think, well, for 338 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: a lot of it was always relationships for me when 339 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: I was starting out. So one of my good friends, Scottie, 340 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: he actually owns the studio engine room where I do 341 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: my podcast lip Service. I knew him when I was 342 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: in high school. He went to Howard University and he 343 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: was really good friends with my boyfriend at the time, 344 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: and so that's how we met. Now, mind you that guy, 345 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: you know, I don't talk to him at all anymore, 346 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: but Scottie and I kept in touch and when I 347 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 1: was in college, he was like, Hey, my friend worked 348 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: at Woutang for Woutang Management and they're looking for an 349 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: intern and I recommended you, so I think you should go, 350 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: you know, go do that. And so I was a 351 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: little nervous because Woutang didn't have the best reputation at 352 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: the time. I was like, oh, they're kind of wild. 353 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's the value meant I should 354 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: be in. And so I went and then he called me. 355 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 1: He was like, did you call my guy? And I 356 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: was like, no, I haven't called him yet. He was like, Angela, 357 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: please just call, you know, at least do the interview. 358 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: I told him you were coming, So I was like okay. 359 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:14,360 Speaker 1: So I went went on the interview and as soon 360 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,360 Speaker 1: as I walked in and we had the conversation, there 361 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 1: were like other people waiting. They hired me on the spot, 362 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: and so I don't know what it was about me, 363 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: but they just hired me on the spot and that 364 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: was that. And then I started working there. So it 365 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: was a relationship that I had from somebody who thought 366 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: that I would be good. And then afterwards, when I graduate, 367 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: they actually tried to get me to not finish college 368 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: and come work there. It was my last It was 369 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 1: the junior year before my senior year, and they wanted 370 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: me to just work that, just come and not go 371 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 1: to my last year. And I was like, no, not, 372 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: I think I'm in finished. I only have one year left. 373 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: And then when I graduated, I ended up working there. Wow, 374 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: what made you take that when so many other people 375 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: would be like, okay, they want me full time. This 376 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: is a music business. It's hard to get into any way. 377 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: What gave you that said, you know, I'm going to 378 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 1: finish school. My parents never went for that, bab never 379 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: had to allow that to happen. And you know, even 380 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: like that was my first job, and I know people 381 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: weren't making that much money there, and I was like, 382 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: they're not gonna pay me and for me to feel 383 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,040 Speaker 1: like I could survive on my own, and then I 384 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: also felt like, I'm the type of person I like 385 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: to finish something if I started, and so I had 386 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: one year left, and I was like, this isn't gonna, 387 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:26,479 Speaker 1: you know, go anywhere. And I knew that I had 388 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: other things. I had interned at MTV, I had interned 389 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: at a record label. So I didn't think that that 390 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: was all I would ever be able to do. So 391 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: I was I was just like, let me just get 392 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: my degree. I came this fire. People in the public spotlight, 393 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 1: like in Angela, as you can imagine, often get asked 394 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: to be a mentor to up and commerce. Angela takes 395 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: to stay so that you should bring something to the 396 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: table as a perspective mentee. If you want someone to mentor, 397 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: you consider what you have to offer, not just what 398 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: you want. Angela speaks on it. Yeah, being a mentor 399 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: is work. It's a job, you know, because now you 400 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: have a responsibility. It's like having to, you know, show 401 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: somebody the ropes. Even when you hire somebody new, say 402 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: as an assistant, that's a lot of work because now 403 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: you're showing somebody how to do something in order for 404 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:27,959 Speaker 1: them to be and you have to be patient because 405 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: everybody doesn't work the way that you work, and it's 406 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: a time consuming thing too. And you know, as we 407 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 1: get busier and busier, as you get more and more successful, 408 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: time is really valuable. You know. Time is money, they say. 409 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: And so for me, it's like I don't have a 410 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: lot of free time. I don't even have time to 411 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: do things for myself, like my nails would be raggedy 412 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: because I don't even have time to go get a manicure. 413 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: You know, I might get a facial like once every 414 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: four months, because I just honestly for my own self care. 415 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: I never have time to do the things that I 416 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,880 Speaker 1: want to do for myself. And so if somebody can 417 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: come to me and want to be mentored, but they 418 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: can also show me what they bring to the table 419 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: because they've done the work. I also need to know 420 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: that you'll take it seriously. Some people just want to 421 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:13,080 Speaker 1: hang around and see some fun things and meet people 422 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: and be able to go back and post pictures on 423 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: social media and say that they were here and they 424 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: did this. But I need to see how serious you 425 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 1: are because I also don't want to invest my time 426 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: in someone that is just doing this for fun and 427 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: for a look. I need to know that you are 428 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: actually going hard for yourself. I'm interested in your coffee shop. 429 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: I have a coffee shop also, and I'm wondering, like, 430 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: when you were building yours, what did you feel like 431 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: you would bring uniquely to a coffee shop experience. You know, 432 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: there's a million coffee shops out there. What did you 433 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: feel like you could uniquely bring to an experience? Well, 434 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,240 Speaker 1: I love our coffee shop, but a part of what 435 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: we did was we really paid attention to the origins 436 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: of our coffee and matching that up with the food 437 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: and what we serve inside and even the music and 438 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:01,639 Speaker 1: the decor, and so we are. It's in Best Stye. 439 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:05,439 Speaker 1: It's a beautiful location, brand new building on the corner, 440 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: outdoor seating. But we also have things in there, like 441 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 1: we have patties You're not going to find that at 442 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: a typical coffee shop. We have a lot of vegan options. 443 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 1: We have like a plant based BLT sandwich, we have 444 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,440 Speaker 1: a bun and cheese sandwich. It's a lot of Caribbean 445 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:24,479 Speaker 1: and African inspired items on the menu. And we also 446 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:29,640 Speaker 1: serve like eighty percent Black and Brown owned products in there. 447 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,240 Speaker 1: So it is a way because it is coffee uplifts people. 448 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: And at the same time that we're doing what we're 449 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: doing with the coffee, we also want to uplift people 450 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: who have their own businesses as well. And so before 451 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: we opened a coffee shop, we were doing these pop 452 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: ups at another location. We were calling them pop uplifts, 453 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,960 Speaker 1: and so we were just highlighting other small own businesses 454 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: and letting them come in for the day, sell their products, 455 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: promoting it and it did really well, and so we 456 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: kind of wanted to go at that theme of offering 457 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,959 Speaker 1: us space for these other vendors to come in and 458 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: highlighting them, and then we have an amazing chef that's 459 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: in there, and the quality of what it is that 460 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:08,120 Speaker 1: we do, from the avocado toes to the yoga parfit 461 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,159 Speaker 1: is like top notch. And so that's basically what I 462 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 1: wanted to do. Make it a really high end experience 463 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 1: for us, but also have things in there that wouldn't 464 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 1: typically be in a coffee shop. Yeah, I love it. 465 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: I love it. You talked about what in the franchise eventually, 466 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: and like, you know, when you think about there being 467 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,440 Speaker 1: so many out there, how do you know when you're 468 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: ready to take that leap and what will make it 469 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: desirable regionally or nationally this coffeehouse. So what I want 470 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: to do is because it's also a coffee company. So 471 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 1: we're in Whole Foods in the New York area and 472 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: some other stores and in some restaurants. So for me, 473 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 1: the way I'm attacking it is, you know, getting into 474 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,879 Speaker 1: some of these major retailers so that the brand recognition 475 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: is there, so that when we open the coffee shop, 476 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: you've already seen us in stores, maybe you've ordered it, 477 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: maybe you've made it at home already, maybe you've had 478 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: it at a restaurant. You know. We have our coffee 479 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: in Tatianas, which is Chef Kwamee's restaurant in Lincoln Center. 480 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: We're in mc grille in Brooklyn. We're in black Swan 481 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: and Maryland. So there's a few different locations that we're 482 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 1: actually kind of more hand picking where we want to 483 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: be at first before we like I said, I'm a 484 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 1: big fan of slow growth. We haven't had the company 485 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,880 Speaker 1: that long and so I'm not trying to do too 486 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: much too fast, and so I feel like branding myself 487 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 1: in that way, making it something that people get familiar 488 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: with the name. We've done a partnership with do say 489 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: also for an espresso martini with them with their exo. 490 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 1: And so I'm just trying to do these things so 491 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: that people get familiar with it, so that when it's 492 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 1: time to open, because you know, people would say there's 493 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: a lot of coffee shops, but there's a reason for that, 494 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: because people love going to coffee shop. Yeah, and so 495 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: I don't feel like it's something that and it's location. 496 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: You know, if you can get a great location, then 497 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 1: that matters a lot too in the opportunity. And so 498 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 1: we have a lot of great part and partnerships. I 499 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:04,480 Speaker 1: think with the coffee, the partnerships and the collapse, they 500 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: are gonna be what really drives us to and makes 501 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: us unique. Yeah, I'm listening to you talking. I think 502 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,360 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about something we've been talking about so much 503 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: and just mainstream, not even just in tech recently, and 504 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: that's AI. And you've probably heard like these computer generated 505 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: Kendrick Lamar records, and and I'm wondering you may not 506 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 1: have answer to this, but I'm because I'm know how 507 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 1: deeper you thought about it. But I'm warning, like, what 508 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,639 Speaker 1: you think about personalities like yourself and the future of 509 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: computer generated you know, angelus, I wish I had one 510 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: right now. But is that something you think about often? Well? 511 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: Increasing now? But you know what it is really crazy 512 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 1: like to see even not even just that, but also 513 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: seeing people like in the metaverse and being able to 514 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 1: go and do that. But um, I mean, you know, 515 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,399 Speaker 1: we see so many things happening where it feels like, 516 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 1: first of well, it feels like humans maybe we aren't 517 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: going to be necessary for a lot of reasons, you know, 518 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: just like money. I feel like at some point, like 519 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: having cash is gonna be worthless, you know, because people 520 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: don't No one ever has cash on them anymore. That's 521 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: a fact. And so yeah, so it's just am and 522 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: I know a lot of people fight progress and fight 523 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: like what's gonna happen in the future. Sure, but you 524 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: have to figure out what it is and how you 525 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: can actually you know, benefit from it. And so let 526 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: me go ahead and do some research on that. Yeah, 527 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: that's good, figure out how I can benefit from it. 528 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,480 Speaker 1: And I mean, to that end, what do you think 529 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 1: how do you manage content ownership in your world? Because 530 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: I imagine, because I don't know what you's your contracts are, Like, 531 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,400 Speaker 1: I imagine when you do radio, you don't own that 532 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 1: asset at the end of the day, but maybe your 533 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: podcast you might. And so I wonder, like how you 534 00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 1: think about ownership of content at the level of the 535 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 1: game that you're playing. I own my podcast one hundred percent, 536 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: and so the deal I have a deal with iHeart 537 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: right now for my podcast, but all the content is 538 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: mine and so um there's but I have anything I 539 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: do on iHeart like that I created while I'm there, 540 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 1: they own. And so I had the service before that. 541 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 1: I have that all you know, taken care of and 542 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: U and they didn't even try to make me give 543 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: up my rights to that, even like my Facebook page 544 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: and all of that, Like I own all of those things. 545 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: I know some people sell those, but I have like 546 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: I think, like four million followers on Facebook, and so 547 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: that does really well for me also, I believe it. Yeah, 548 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: And it's great because a lot of the content that 549 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: I do, you know, it is kind of a way 550 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: of me documenting my whole journey too, because interviews and 551 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: things that I've done that's all on my Facebook page. Yeah, 552 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 1: and so for me it's valuable in that way too, 553 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:50,520 Speaker 1: for me to be able to be like, oh, look, 554 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 1: when I did this interview and have those moments um circulating, 555 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: always um. One of the more important things when you're 556 00:26:57,080 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 1: starting in business is good credit, and often even more 557 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: than having the cash. I'm having good credit is super 558 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:06,240 Speaker 1: duper important. What did you learn about this when you 559 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: were starting out investing and buying houses and starting businesses? 560 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 1: And you might have had the cash you talked about 561 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: that two hundreds something thousand dollars, But what did you 562 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 1: have to learn about even the credit side of this game? Yeah, 563 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: I mean, listen, if you don't have good credit, you're 564 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: gonna end up paying for it, you know, so either 565 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: you won't be able to get a mortgage or your 566 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,480 Speaker 1: interest rate will be so high that you'll be paying 567 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: all this extra money that you shouldn't have to. And 568 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,400 Speaker 1: so I didn't even attempt to buy a house until 569 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:35,400 Speaker 1: I had good credit, and that meant a journey of 570 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: me fixing my credit. So even if you're thinking right now, 571 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: I don't have the money to buy a house, start 572 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,399 Speaker 1: working on your credit. You could start working on that today. 573 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:44,479 Speaker 1: You know, figure out what it is that you need, 574 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: and you could do it yourself. You don't have to 575 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:48,199 Speaker 1: hire anybody to do it. These are things that you 576 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:50,600 Speaker 1: can figure out on your own and letters that you 577 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: can write. You can find that online. If you need 578 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: to contact any of the negative reports on your credit score, 579 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 1: you need to go ahead and do that. For me, 580 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: I fortunately started working on my credit way before I 581 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:05,320 Speaker 1: knew I wanted to buy a house, for like two 582 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 1: years before I even attempted to do it, because like 583 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: I said, I had to save the money up. But 584 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: then I also was looking and I was getting prepared 585 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: for that, but I had to fix my credit. And 586 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 1: I think people would tell you, like, oh, what do 587 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 1: you need credit for if you have the cash? But 588 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: why would you want to use all your cash? Yeah? 589 00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 1: I mean why is this something that Angelie you care 590 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,400 Speaker 1: so much about to the extent of, you know, partnering 591 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 1: to start a company around. I mean, I've heard you 592 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,920 Speaker 1: talk about financial literacy for a long time entrepreneurship because 593 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:36,840 Speaker 1: it is all things that I didn't know, and it 594 00:28:36,880 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: can be really crippling. Like some people can't get an 595 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: apartment unless they have someone co sign for it, and 596 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: that's something that is like really difficult because who wants 597 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,880 Speaker 1: to co sign for somebody? You know how hard that 598 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 1: is to find a lot of people can't co sign 599 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 1: for somebody, and a lot of people won't because everyone 600 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: will tell you not to do that. And so if 601 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: you can't go out like an adult and do things 602 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: for yourself, that can be really, you know, mentally exhaustive, 603 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: and it can also just physically be such a hinderance 604 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 1: to you. And so that's why it's important to me. 605 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 1: I even look at members of my own family who 606 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:14,040 Speaker 1: have bad credit, and you know how hard it is 607 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,600 Speaker 1: for them, and sometimes, like for me, I wouldn't even 608 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 1: open my bills. It was really stressful. Like I thought 609 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: about it a lot. We all have been in that 610 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: situation when we all haven't but but in that situation 611 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: where we know these creditors are calling our phone, we 612 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 1: don't even want to answer the phone. It's embarrassing, and 613 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: it's also like, you know, it's just so stressful, and 614 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 1: then maybe you answer the phone by accident one time 615 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: and then they're like, hi, we're calling from like oh 616 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: my god, you know, but it's terrible. It's not a 617 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:41,960 Speaker 1: good feeling. And so I think it's just important to 618 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 1: face it and to work through it and to make 619 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: it happen, because you know, it's just like the calmness 620 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,640 Speaker 1: that comes and knowing that, like, okay, I have and 621 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: if there's an opportunity, you're not going to be able 622 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: to take advantage of it because you don't have good credit. 623 00:29:56,640 --> 00:29:58,720 Speaker 1: Like even the building that I'm trying to buy right now, 624 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: the only reason I'm able to do it, it's because 625 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: my credit is good, you know. And if it wasn't, 626 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: then I'll miss out on that opportunity to buy a 627 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 1: dirty unit building where I'll have this income coming in 628 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: and that can help make me wealthy because I don't 629 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: have the credit to be able to get the loan 630 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: from the bank. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, because you've talked 631 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: so much about financial literacy over the years, and increasingly 632 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: about entrepreneurship, what is the difference in your mind between 633 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: being broke and being poor? Well, being broke, I was 634 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 1: broke a long time, but I still had a good 635 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 1: time while I was broke. You know. Being broke is 636 00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 1: like I still was going out and eating because I'll 637 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 1: go to all these events with free food and free 638 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: drinks and you know, figuring it out and me and 639 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: all my friends are broke. Being poor, I think, feels 640 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: more like a mindset of I'll never get out of this, 641 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:59,160 Speaker 1: I'll never have any money, I can't do anything, and 642 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 1: it can be like it feels like people look at 643 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: that as more permanent. Being broken is like a temporary thing. 644 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: You know, you don't have to ever be poor. You 645 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: can be broken temporarily and then you can get yourself 646 00:31:10,480 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: out of it. I hate the term serial entrepreneur, but 647 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:16,280 Speaker 1: you know, for somebody who's just an entrepreneur, you have 648 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: different businesses in different industries. You know, for people who 649 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: have a lot of ideas and are really passionate about 650 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: getting those ideas out into the world, like you have, 651 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: what's some of the best advice you've gotten or you 652 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: have for people who want to do two three four 653 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:37,240 Speaker 1: different things in different verticals? What have you learned about 654 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 1: that in order to do it well or to stop 655 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:42,000 Speaker 1: from doing it at all? You know, what do you 656 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: say to that? I would say, you have to prioritize 657 00:31:45,280 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 1: at different times, And so when I'm starting a business, 658 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: I make sure that's my main priority. That is my 659 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: like twenty four seven. You know, if this takes priority 660 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 1: over everything right now way up with angela, ye is 661 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 1: the priority, So everything else has to work around that. 662 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 1: So whatever time I have, if I have to be 663 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: on the air. If I have to do this for 664 00:32:04,880 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: my show, that's the most important thing. And then everything else, 665 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: the coffee, everything has to be scheduled around that. I 666 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: still do it, but it's not the number one priority. 667 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: When I first opened the Juice Bar, that was a 668 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: number one priority. I was at work and every single 669 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 1: day I was there making sure whatever had to be 670 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: delivered was happening. I was working with the contractors, I was, 671 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 1: you know, in there every single day, working with the employees, 672 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:29,920 Speaker 1: and so that was the first priority for me at 673 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: that time. So I think when you're a serial entpremaneure 674 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:36,400 Speaker 1: and you're trying to juggle different businesses, being able to 675 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 1: prioritize is one of the most important things that you 676 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: can do. And then I think along with that is 677 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,520 Speaker 1: also having a schedule and sticking to it, because you 678 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: really have to a lot time for each thing and 679 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 1: make sure that you're like, okay, and I literally set 680 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 1: my alarm, like I know, from twelve to one, I 681 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 1: have to do this one o'clock, Okay, one to two thirty. 682 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 1: I'm working on this. Set my alarm, and I give 683 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: myself ample time to travel or do what I have 684 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:05,480 Speaker 1: to do in between things. But it's all about just 685 00:33:05,520 --> 00:33:08,400 Speaker 1: scheduling your time and prioritizing and taking care of yourself 686 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 1: because you have to get some food. Black Tech Green 687 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 1: Money is a production of Blackbty Afro Tech in the 688 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,040 Speaker 1: Black Effect podcast Networking Ninheart Media. It's produced by Morgan 689 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:34,959 Speaker 1: Dubonne and me Well Lucas, with additional production supported by 690 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: Sarah Arkiney Rose McLucas. Special thank you to Michael Davis 691 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,719 Speaker 1: and Vanessa Serrano. Learn more about my guests and other 692 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:45,080 Speaker 1: tech to Truff's to innovatives at afrotech dot com. Can 693 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:48,280 Speaker 1: join your Black Tech Green Money shut us with Somebody 694 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: Go get your money. He's some luck