1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: So why is it that we've been okay with buying 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: other people's stuff and making their founders and their CEOs wealthy, 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: but now we've got a problem with other. 4 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 2: People buying our stuff. 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Because here's the thing, that money that they spend helps 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: increase how we can give back to the Black community. 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: So regardless of who it comes from, our mission is 8 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: still the same. My mission never changes to uplift and 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: reinvest back into the Black community. So if all of 10 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: these white people, Asian people and Spanish people, if they 11 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: want to buy actively black, I welcome them, because, you 12 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: know what, that further empowers our mission and our goal 13 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: and what we're trying to do. 14 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: It doesn't change who we are. Who we are we are. 15 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 3: What if I told you there was more to the 16 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 3: story behind game changing events? Get ready for my new podcast, 17 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 3: That Moment with Damon John will jump into the personal 18 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 3: stories of some of the most influential people on the planet, 19 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 3: from business mobiles and celebrities to athletes and artists. All Right, 20 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 3: so today, guess uh, there's nothing new in this world. 21 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 3: There's always just a new form of delivery, a new time, 22 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 3: a new customer, a new you may make it lighter faster, stronger. 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 3: And today's guest is by far somebody that I really respect. 24 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 3: He is doing what you know, I believed who didd 25 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 3: the past, And I believe what Martin Luther King and 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 3: Malcolm Maggs and I believe what you know, Mandela and 27 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 3: people who are not of color have done before us, 28 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 3: and way before that, and way before that. They have 29 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 3: looked at the challenge that was in the market and 30 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 3: they said, you know, everybody's talking. Yeah, they mean, they 31 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 3: mean well, but talk to talk and talk is cheap, 32 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 3: and some don't mean well, some mean just to talk. 33 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 3: For the moment, I'm going to do something and I'm 34 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 3: going to empower others, and I'm going to not only 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 3: show them what can be done in real time, but 36 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 3: I'm going to hopefully empower somebody else to be bigger 37 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: and better than me ten twenty, thirty, forty fifty years 38 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 3: from now. You know what do they say that you 39 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 3: understanding of life is when you plant seeds and you 40 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 3: know that you will never be able to sit under 41 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 3: the shade that that tree will produce pretty deep. And 42 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 3: that's who the man is right here. The man is 43 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 3: named Lannie Smith. Lannie and you know Lannie just did 44 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 3: a couple of things, like make it to the NBA. 45 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 3: You know, a lot of people, you know, talk about 46 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 3: these athletes and they say stuff like, oh, athletes are athletes, 47 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 3: and athletes are the one percent of the month percent, 48 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 3: and only fifteen hundred professional athletes in the country. And 49 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 3: I'm talking about at this time, and I'm talking about soccer, 50 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 3: I'm talking about basketball, I'm talking about baseball, I'm talking 51 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 3: about football. So you think entrepreneurship is hard, let's not 52 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 3: take it away from athletes who compete on the highest 53 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 3: level against everybody. All right, So he made it to 54 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 3: the NBA. It's too much to talk about. This guy 55 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 3: basically made his NBA hurt himself. Decided to come out 56 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 3: with a brand because he is active and he is 57 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: a man of faith actively uh. And he came out 58 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 3: with this brand and he started and I actually got 59 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,520 Speaker 3: to see him. He became to visit me, and I 60 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 3: don't believe he was ready at the time, and he 61 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 3: came to visit me. But I also was in the 62 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 3: middle of Shark. I think I got a lot of 63 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 3: stuff going on, but I loved the who the man was, 64 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 3: and I said, you know, I'll support you anyway I can, 65 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: I can give you to some advices and that the 66 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 3: man disappears, but he just is going back in the lab. 67 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 3: You know, they say, I like the story about two 68 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 3: people chopping down a tree and wonder hammer the other 69 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 3: guy on the other side. He doesn't see him. He 70 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 3: keeps disappearing, and then all of a sudden that guy 71 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 3: treat his falling. He said, wait a minute, you weren't 72 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 3: chopping when I was shopping. He's like, no, no, no, no, home boy. 73 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 3: I was shopping in the axe every time, but I 74 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 3: was sitting down and Lanny went back and shopping. The 75 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 3: Axe comes out with actively Black in twenty twenty. He 76 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 3: sees exactly what we're all seeing. The world is melting, 77 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 3: George Floyd is happening. There's a lot of people going crazy, 78 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 3: no leadership, and he's seeing people of all colors coming 79 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 3: together saying we need to stop this injustice. And he said, 80 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 3: what am I going to do. I'm going to flip 81 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 3: the knowledge of what I have with my baseline and 82 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 3: I'm going to add that knowledge is something to call it. 83 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: Actively black. Comes out with actively Black. Obvily enough. You know. 84 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 3: The fool story is when I saw people burning buildings down. 85 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: In nineteen Rodney King time the same exact thing. What's happening. 86 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 3: The same lawyer was in the White House the chokehold 87 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: was being implemented and people were burning down city, and 88 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: I said, well, why am I going to go out 89 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 3: there and burn down my own community. The only way 90 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 3: they're going to respect us is I ampowering people. And 91 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 3: I bet people with all calls will get together. And 92 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 3: that's why he's here with actively Black. He has done 93 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 3: things such as he's done a collaboration with Black Panther. 94 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 3: How did you get a Marvel license? President Barack Obama 95 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 3: has wanted now doing collaborations in that world and I 96 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 3: think just the Nigeria for the winch Olympics. What's up, man? 97 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 3: How you doing? 98 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 2: Man? I am? I am blessed. 99 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 3: Man. 100 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: I know that you are a busy man, but man, 101 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: I might need you to introduce me in my other man. 102 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: That's an incredible introduction. I appreciate you. Man, So humbled 103 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: to be here on this on this podcast with you. 104 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 3: Man. Yeah, now it is great. Man. You know, we 105 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 3: run the same circles and I know and there's so 106 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 3: many things here, so you know, let's just say, it's 107 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 3: really hard to really capture all of who you are. 108 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 3: And I know that the brand is doing really amazing. 109 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 3: I know that it not only is doing well from 110 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 3: a monetary standpoint, not saying like you are making a 111 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 3: lot of money, because at this critical moment of a brand, 112 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 3: you're growing, you're reinvesting in the brand. You got investors 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 3: coming in. Your buddy, Steph Curry was the one when 114 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 3: you were injured. I believe that said hey, man, get 115 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 3: back out there. We're going to get into that. I 116 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 3: don't want I don't want to tell your story, but 117 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,480 Speaker 3: you're making a difference. And I've seen movements before and 118 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: this is the movement. But first of all, product is 119 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 3: always king. The product is absolutely amazing. It is the 120 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 3: Fubu to me of our day. Right if it's a 121 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 3: need for from an athletic standpoint, from a casital standpoint, 122 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 3: from a fly standpoint, you have you have, you have, 123 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 3: you have icons working with you that we you know, 124 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 3: we love people like Iverson. I've even granted Fubu stuff 125 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 3: Black Panther, I mean the President of the United States, 126 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 3: the So how what's happening? Like, how are you moving 127 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 3: that quick? Because twenty twenty twenty three. You know, you 128 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 3: are moving at the level that we did. You're you, 129 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 3: and you did what we did in ten years, you've 130 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 3: done in three. Wow. 131 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: First, man, that's just that's it's humbling to hear that 132 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: coming from you. You got to understand, like I would 133 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: beg my mother, you know, to to buy me whatever 134 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: the latest Fooboo release was. 135 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: When I was you know, when I was coming up, 136 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: that Fooboo was everything to me. 137 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, And I appreciate that, you know, 138 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: So to even be sitting here talking to you like 139 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 1: this is surreal. But I think, you know, similar to 140 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: what you said, when you're moving in purpose, when there's 141 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: some purpose that is the center of what you're doing, 142 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: I think that's the fuel. People ask me all the 143 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: time and how are you doing all these things? When 144 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: do you sleep? 145 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: You know how? 146 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 1: And it's like, you know, my my purpose wakes me 147 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: up in the morning, you know what I mean. Like 148 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: there's there's a drive here that is beyond making money. 149 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: And and I believe that that authenticity is what people 150 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: actually feel, that's what they see when they interact with 151 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: the brand. And I think that's why it's attracted the 152 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: opportunity to work with the icons and the legends that 153 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: that have come in contact with this brand. 154 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,120 Speaker 2: I mean you you mentioned it. I look on I 155 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: look on my wall. 156 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: Man, I've got I've got you know, Barack Obama on 157 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: the wall. Matter of fact, this is a great opportunity 158 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: to announce this on on your on on on your podcast. 159 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: We actually just got clearance from the Tupaca State. So 160 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:31,119 Speaker 1: you see Tupac over my shoulder. Yeah, crazy with with 161 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: with with the Tupaca State, John Carlos, Muhammad Ali, all 162 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: of these icons who meant something to the culture. Alan Iverson, 163 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: I mean, we know what he means to the culture. 164 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 2: Uh man. 165 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: Honestly, it's just God has been blessing me. Man, He's 166 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: been opened up these doors. I've been running through them. 167 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 1: And the tribe as I like to call them, I 168 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: don't like to call them customers. The tribe has been 169 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 1: responding in such a way that it's been moving this 170 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: forward so fast. It's crazy you say that. Yeah, in 171 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: November Black Friday, it will be three years since we 172 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: launched out of my apartment. 173 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 3: So yeah, absolutely amazing. And but I want you know, 174 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 3: and I want people. It's very hard to get people 175 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 3: to learn from these moments because you take it at 176 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 3: face value because usually we talk, we do press, and 177 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 3: I know you do a lot of it and people 178 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 3: kind of go through it. But I want to I 179 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 3: want to ask you something. When you were when you 180 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 3: hurt yourself and you know you played for Sacramento, right, yep, 181 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,079 Speaker 3: when you heard yourself, was when was that moment you decided, 182 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 3: you know, let me take it further level, you hurt yourself, 183 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 3: you do a face brand. How did that brand do itself? 184 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 3: I mean, I know it was doing something, but I 185 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 3: don't know how big it was, you know. 186 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean we've got customers in seventy one countries 187 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: at the height of it did abound around ten million 188 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,719 Speaker 1: in one year. Okay, that's good. Yeah, So it was 189 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: it was, it was moving. It's definitely something that for 190 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: me was was learning on the fly. 191 00:09:59,640 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 3: Right. 192 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: Like you said, I went straight from being you know, 193 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 1: a basketball player, which I had dedicated my entire life 194 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: to up to that point, to now I'm starting an 195 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: e commerce brand, the e commerce apparel brand. I knew 196 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: nothing about either one of those things, e commerce or apparel. 197 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 2: You know. 198 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,839 Speaker 1: I went to YouTube University teaching myself how to use 199 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: photoshop and illustrator, just so I could create mockups of 200 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: what I saw. 201 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 2: In my head. 202 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 3: I don't want people to overlook this. You went into 203 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 3: YouTube university, you started to look online, and we're right now. 204 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,599 Speaker 3: Everybody listening to you will not realize it. Well, not 205 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 3: a portion will say they'll just brush over that. But 206 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: that's where people are right now with AI, and they're 207 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 3: going to act like, oh, that's something else in no way, 208 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 3: But there is that moment you realize I don't have 209 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 3: the money for this, or I don't want to spend 210 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 3: the money on this. I can go on YouTube if 211 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 3: I want to look at great music video, maybe if 212 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 3: ways to cook or some stupid randoms. I mean, you know, 213 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 3: you don't get caught you get caught up with stupid stuff. 214 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 3: Or I can create I can use that as my universe. 215 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 3: It's access to information is key, but more important than that, 216 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 3: it's the way you use access. Every one of us 217 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: has exactly what you want online and looked at when 218 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: it comes to AI too. So now you go on there, 219 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 3: how long does it take you to really start to 220 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 3: understand that? You know what, I can find a way 221 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 3: to learn from this because a lot of people go 222 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 3: on there. They look at the first two lengths, ain't 223 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 3: nothing here. They don't even have the patience to go 224 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 3: to the third and fourth paid you know what I mean? 225 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 3: So how long did it really started? You started to 226 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 3: get fixated to say, nah, I'm going to do this. 227 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: I've been blessed in my life three times that I 228 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: can count where I felt, you know, I don't know 229 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: what everybody else believes in, where I felt God's voice 230 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: directing me in a in a particular direction. 231 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 3: Three moments, let's hear them. 232 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 2: I had no doubts. The one. 233 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: I told everybody from the moment I was five years old, 234 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 1: I told everybody's going to the NBA. My mom has 235 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: saved homework that I used to have in elementary school 236 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 1: when they ask what you want to be when you 237 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: grow up? She still has it saved at home, and 238 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 1: it's crazy just to go back and look at it 239 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: and it'll say, what do you want to be when 240 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: grow up? I'm going to be an NBA player, Like 241 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,000 Speaker 1: there was no there wasn't a doubt, there wasn't a question. 242 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,079 Speaker 1: It was like, That's what I'm going to do. And 243 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: then my actions aligned to support that dream. So everything 244 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: I did was to prepare myself to make it to 245 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: the NBA. When my friends were partying, I was in 246 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: the gym, you know what I mean. Like it was 247 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: just I was so laser focused on that, and then 248 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: it ended up happening. As I was praying after the injury, 249 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,600 Speaker 1: trying to figure out what to do next with my 250 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: life now that basketball was done and it was gone, 251 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: this vision for creating this faith based sports apparel of 252 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,079 Speaker 1: brand which ended up becoming active faith. That vision and 253 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: that voice was so clear that even though I didn't 254 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: know anything about apparel or starting a business or anything 255 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: like that, I knew this is what I'm supposed to do. 256 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: So I got to do whatever it takes to learn 257 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: what I need to learn. 258 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 2: I didn't. 259 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: I didn't have a guaranteed contract when I got when 260 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: I got injured, so it wasn't like I had a 261 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: parachute of money that I could invest in this. 262 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 3: I didn't. I didn't even think about asking that. I 263 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 3: thought maybe you had a little something I didn't know. 264 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: No, no, no, I was an undrafted free agency This 265 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 1: is this is part of the story that that I 266 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: haven't shared very often, But I was projected to be 267 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: a late first round early second round pick after my 268 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,720 Speaker 1: sophomore year at the University of Houston, and I stayed 269 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 1: in school to improve my draft status, and my first 270 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: career ending injury actually happened in college. 271 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 2: I broke my foot. 272 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: Teammate undercut me, felt awkwardly snapped up bone in my foot, 273 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: and have I had three surgeries on my foot. One 274 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: of the surgeries is actually to save half my foot 275 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: from being amputated because my foot got infected when they 276 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 1: put the screw in it. And the doctors told me, then, 277 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: you will never play basketball again. They told me the 278 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: severity of this foot injury, you will never play basketball again. 279 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: And I just couldn't accept that. I was like, I 280 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: worked my whole life for this opportunity. There's no way 281 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: that this is the end. And so I started training 282 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: again against the doctor's wishes, went to the Development League, 283 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: and that's when I earned my spot to get signed 284 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: to the Sacramento Kings in two thousand and nine. So 285 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: I had already had an injury that the doctor said 286 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: was career enduring before that. Got to Sacramento Kings as 287 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: an undrafted free agent, and thirty three days after signing 288 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: that contract, teammate fell into my knee, blew my knee. 289 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 2: I had two micropractice surgery. That was over with not 290 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 2: having that money. 291 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: When I'm looking at how much it costs for a website, 292 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: agencies were charging twenty thirty fifty thousand dollars just to 293 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: build a website. At the time, I'm like, well, I money. 294 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: I'm a broke man living at home with my mother. 295 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: At the time, I'm on the internet teaching myself how 296 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: do I hold my own website? I go to YouTube? 297 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 1: How do you use Photoshop illustrator? And honestly, the biggest 298 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: unlocked for me was taking that same passion and drive 299 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: and dedication that it took to make it to the NBA. 300 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: That's what I poured into now to try to create 301 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: this brand. And I knew that wasn't gonna be an 302 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: overnight thing. I knew that wasn't gonna be something that 303 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: showed up on the first two pages of the search 304 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 1: of the YouTube. 305 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: That was something that I was gonna. 306 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: Have to now dedicate my life the same way I 307 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: dedicated my life to make it to the NBA. I 308 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: was gonna have to dedicate my life to this and yeah, 309 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: I became obsessed with it. 310 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 2: I would I got all of your books. 311 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: I studied Kevin Plank, who's the founder of under Armour. 312 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 3: Look who's texting me right now? 313 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 2: Wow? Yo, that is crazy? 314 00:15:36,240 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 3: That is yo. Yeah, that's crazy. Just sing as I'm 315 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 3: talking there you go. 316 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: Yo, that's wild. Yeah, that's crazy. Uh in my life, 317 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 2: that's that's act of faith. Come on now, like you 318 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 2: can I can't. You can't make this stuff up. 319 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,920 Speaker 1: And you know, Nike had been this huge machine even 320 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: before I was born, so it was hard to fathom 321 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: the beginnings of Nike, but under Armour. I watched under 322 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: Armour go from a startup to what it's become in 323 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: my lifetime. So I studied everything on Kevin Plank. I 324 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: became obsessed with learning and studying those who had created 325 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:39,240 Speaker 1: something out of nothing. And Yeah, that obsession led to 326 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: being able to launch active faith through my relationships with basketball. 327 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: Anthony Tolliver a former teammate of mine Steph Curry, who 328 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: I met through basketball. I told him about my idea 329 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: and they were like, yo, I want to be a 330 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: part of this thing. And that's kind of how that 331 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: relationship started. 332 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, and so and so that was the second one. 333 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 3: I'm waiting for the third one. I think I know 334 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,120 Speaker 3: what it is, but you gave me two critical moments. 335 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 2: Actively black act. 336 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 3: There you go, act on. I didn't know. You could 337 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 3: have told me you fell in love. I don't know, 338 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 3: but I was hoping that was it. 339 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 2: No, actively you did? 340 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 3: You did actually fall in love with actively Black? I did? 341 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: I did? 342 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 2: I did? You could call it that. It was to me. 343 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: The vision has been clear as day from day one, 344 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: like I know where this is headed, I know where 345 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: it's going. 346 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:32,680 Speaker 2: The people that I initially told. 347 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: About the idea, they're like, man, why are you Why 348 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: would you put black in the name? That might limit you? 349 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: Or I don't know if this is going to work. 350 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 1: There are a lot of people who did. 351 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 2: Not believe in this idea in the beginning. 352 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 1: But like I said, these moments where I felt like 353 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: I heard God telling me this is what I want 354 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: you to do have been unshakable and undeniable. So regardless 355 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: of what everybody else said, I was like, Okay, y'all 356 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: don't have to. 357 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 2: Believe in this. This is what I'm doing. 358 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: And I still have the notebook where I wrote the 359 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 1: name down, where I wrote down the ideas where I 360 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: wrote down who I wanted to get this brand in 361 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: front of. And it's been amazing to see everybody that 362 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: you mentioned, from Alan iverson to yourself to the Obamas. 363 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: They're all written down in my notebook, you know, before 364 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: Actively Black even launched. So there's some power to writing 365 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: down your vision and then putting the action behind the 366 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 1: idea to make it happen. 367 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 3: You know, I want to, you know, because my whole 368 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 3: purpose of doing this is to go down a rabbit 369 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 3: hole with people, and I want to really focus on that, 370 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 3: and I truly do, and I don't want to get 371 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 3: warm and buzzing people. But you know you said that, 372 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 3: Kevin Plank's right there. The conversation I had with my 373 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 3: wife last night was this. He said, you know, damn 374 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 3: we you know, you know I'll make a she gets 375 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 3: in trouble, not in trouble. Maker is a very good girl. 376 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 3: My daughter, she's seven years old. And she says, and 377 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,360 Speaker 3: you know, obviously you want to take away the iPad. 378 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,640 Speaker 3: I didn't do stuff. And then but when you take 379 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 3: away the iPads, fine, and she's doing some of the 380 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 3: great things, like let's say, making jewelry, meaning you know 381 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 3: you know, doing some really crafting things in that time 382 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 3: you took away the iPad? Well, she said, mommy, I 383 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 3: really love this stuff. Can we go to Michael's and 384 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 3: get more? Because what she did was she put down 385 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 3: the iPad, which you don't like anyway, right, and we're human, 386 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 3: But now she's on punishment, but she's doing something creative. 387 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 3: Do you not take it? No, I'm not taking you 388 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:37,880 Speaker 3: to Michaels. But she's un punishment. But then then then 389 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 3: if she says, well, I really loved jewelry. I really 390 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 3: loved that little design, but Mommy wouldn't get that for me. 391 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 3: What do you do? And we all learn, we all grow, right? 392 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 3: And I said to her, you know, and I said, 393 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:54,679 Speaker 3: you didn't do anything wrong. You know, as parents, we 394 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 3: want to love our children and we want to give 395 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 3: them these things. I said, but you know what my 396 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 3: mother did, and I realized what I why I think 397 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 3: that I've gotten to a level of success being not 398 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 3: really a very educated person like when we grew up. 399 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 3: My mother would say. First of all, my mother always said, 400 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 3: when I punish you, I punish myself. What do you 401 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 3: when you're talking about well, you know, you used to 402 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 3: go out and play if I tell you sit your 403 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 3: ass upstairs, no TV. When you went on plate, I 404 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 3: got to do my thing whatever it is, right, clean 405 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 3: up around the house, goes someplace. But now I gotta 406 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 3: make sure I stay home too and watch your ass. 407 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 3: I can't do anything. So you know, she used to 408 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 3: say the old school stuff that our parentsly do. Write 409 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 3: down one hundred times. I will now make sure. Let's 410 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 3: talk about this goal setting in its rarest form, in 411 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 3: its rawest form. You don't write down I will not 412 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 3: lie to my mother. Why because the word is lie 413 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 3: to my mother. That's program in your head. You write 414 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 3: down I will always be honest to my mother a 415 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 3: hundred times. So now why's this you take the iPad 416 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 3: away from Minka. Well, didn't mean that she can't play. 417 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 3: Doesn't mean that she knows when the time level is there. 418 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 3: But you and you know kids, you know she's like, well, 419 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 3: we're going to a birthday party and I see I 420 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 3: see all the presents there and all that my mother 421 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:25,120 Speaker 3: used to stick to it. Damon right down one hundred times, 422 00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 3: whatever the case is, I come back with seventy times. 423 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 3: You're like mm hmm, waiting for the other thirty. So 424 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 3: now I gotta go back right. I know when my 425 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 3: punishment is there. Also, I can't play because I gotta 426 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 3: write this down now. I walk over to her and 427 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 3: let's say it was supposed to leave it a birthday 428 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 3: party at two o'clock, and I heard all my friends 429 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 3: are going to be her friends are going to be there. 430 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 3: I get there too, thirty, like, here you go, Ma, 431 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 3: you know what she did. She's like, Okay, cool, let's go. 432 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:57,880 Speaker 3: She's like, go, well, no, homeboy, we ain't going nowhere. 433 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 3: I learned a couple of things. I learned the discipline 434 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 3: of time. I learned also she need playing when she 435 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 3: says something. But as I was, and I have nothing 436 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 3: to do with this coming out, I have this pad 437 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 3: caller remarkable. I learned that unlike when we type, when 438 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 3: we go back to writing, there is something that connects 439 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 3: our brain to our arm, to our hand, and it 440 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:32,400 Speaker 3: becomes goal setting. And as a five year old who 441 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 3: didn't have a coach or a professional skill necessarily who 442 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 3: wrote I'm going to be an NBA player, most likely 443 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 3: you're a person who when you were writing about active faith, 444 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 3: I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna take three hours of this. 445 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 3: I want to go to discourse. I'm gonna go to 446 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 3: discourse something this shot. You know, a lot of people 447 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 3: don't realize the power of goal setting. Now by the 448 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:03,160 Speaker 3: way everybody shows they know it can work against you. Lanny, 449 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 3: I don't even have to ask you about how many 450 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 3: of the people that we hope to protect us as 451 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 3: we were growing up told us we'd be dinner in 452 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 3: jail by twenty one and told most of our community that, 453 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,959 Speaker 3: and that goal was set in their mind because they 454 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 3: heard it all the time. We've seen people go, yo, 455 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 3: you know we out here in these streets and you 456 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 3: know we don't give it. Why don't you give that 457 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 3: because somebody told you you shouldn't care right and you 458 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 3: mentally programming, or somebody I'm going to be an abusive relationship, 459 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 3: or I'm not good enough. So this is a powerful moment. 460 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 3: But I think the writing aspect is something I never 461 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 3: brought up on other podcasts. I think because I didn't 462 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 3: think about it until that moment last night, and then 463 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 3: you reinforced that moment right there. 464 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: Wow, wow, and something else that you just said that 465 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,040 Speaker 1: it's also very powerful, and it's so much ingrained into 466 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 1: the brand of actively black. Is you see the tagline 467 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: is there's greatness in our DNA. That's the tagline for 468 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: actively Black. And so when I tell people this isn't 469 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: really even about the clothes, they laugh at me because 470 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: they're like, what do you mean, Like the time that 471 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,639 Speaker 1: you take, the to the the attention to detail, the quality. Yes, 472 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: all of that, all of that is dope, right, But 473 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: I want to leave something imprinted in the minds of 474 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 1: of the supporters, of the tribe, of the people who 475 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: encounter the brand. There's greatness in our DNA because once 476 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: you change the way you start thinking, then that changes 477 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: the way that you act in everything that you do. 478 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: So then if you know, man, there's greatness inside of me, 479 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: There's there's greatness in the people who came before me, 480 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: and there's and I can and I can pass on 481 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 1: greatness to those who come after me. You start acting different, 482 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 1: you start doing things differently, you know what I mean, 483 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,719 Speaker 1: because you're you're you're you're you're acting out of greatness. 484 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 2: You're not acting out of the lack. You're not acting 485 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 2: out of what has been done to you. 486 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: You're not acting out of you know, what has been 487 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: told to you that may have been been negative and and. 488 00:24:57,240 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 2: So that's the power of. 489 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: Actively black that I believe is, Yeah, I got all 490 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: these people that are wearing the clothes, but then also 491 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: subconsciously they're being fed with this message there's greatness in 492 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 1: their DNA. 493 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 3: So yeah, let me ask you something else. Because I 494 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 3: was a very famous person that a lot of us know. 495 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,439 Speaker 3: I was. I was outside someplace and I was wearing 496 00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 3: the brand and he you know, yo, hey, damn it 497 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,880 Speaker 3: happened to be He's not black? Could I wear that brand? 498 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 3: And I said, well, why not? I wear? I wear 499 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 3: Louis Vuitton, I wear brands from Italy and various the thing. 500 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 3: He said, I know, but that's not a country and 501 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 3: I said, yeah, well, don't's think about it. I don't 502 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 3: know what country I came from. M I said, so 503 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,959 Speaker 3: I can't necessarily say there's fifty countries in Africa. Are 504 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 3: varius of the things. I don't know. What do you 505 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:58,679 Speaker 3: want me to wear? Ghana? I don't know if I 506 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 3: came from there. I don't know where we can from. However, 507 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 3: I know the country is black, and I know a 508 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 3: lot of people who are not black wear it the 509 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 3: same word. You know, they because they feel they're supporting something, 510 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 3: and it's not that you know, people love to know 511 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 3: when you're supporting something of whatever you are. I love 512 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: to walk into a beautiful Italian restaurant. It could be 513 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 3: a hole in the wall. I want to hear Frank Sinatra. 514 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 3: I want to see all the beautiful you know, you 515 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 3: know everything. I want to be there. Yes, it got 516 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 3: nothing to do with me saying how dare you be Italian? 517 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 3: What's wrong with you? Right? You know? So what do 518 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 3: you say? Tell us about the people that you found 519 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 3: that said I'm so happy that that's what you're doing 520 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 3: for you and us in general, meaning yes, the country 521 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 3: of the world. 522 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: Yes. 523 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: The serendipity on this podcast is absolutely credible. At the 524 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: end of our New York Fashion Week show, I literally 525 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,360 Speaker 1: got on the mic to speak to this point exactly, 526 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:08,479 Speaker 1: and the fact that you brought up an Italian restaurant 527 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,160 Speaker 1: when I've seen a clip. You're gonna trip out because 528 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: I said, I can't think of a time where we 529 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: have ever stopped in front of a Mexican restaurant or 530 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: an Italian restaurant and said I'm not Mexican, I can't 531 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: eat there, or I'm not Italian, i can't eat there. Right, 532 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:28,120 Speaker 1: that never crosses anybody's mind. You go there and they're 533 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: purposely embracing their culture, their food, and you're going to 534 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: enjoy somebody else's culture and their food and there's never 535 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: issue with it. So why is there an issue here 536 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: for me? Every Like I said, everybody is welcome to 537 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: wear actively Black. If you support the fact that we 538 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,200 Speaker 1: are uplifting and reinvesting back into the black community, you're welcome. 539 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,399 Speaker 1: And you don't have to be black to support that initiative. 540 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: And we have actively black customers that are white, Asian, Hispanic. 541 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: The amount of people that I've seen weren't actively black 542 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: that are not black. It's really really dope to me, 543 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: and it gives me hope because it means even though 544 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,520 Speaker 1: that you know, we're in a time that there's so 545 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: much division happening, there are still people who have enough 546 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: love in their heart, have enough care in their heart, 547 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: have enough empathy in their heart that they're like, you 548 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: know what, I want to support this, this this mission, 549 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,600 Speaker 1: this message, this initiative, even though I'm not Black, and 550 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: so yeah, I never understood why when it comes to 551 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: our culture, there's a caveat there when. 552 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 3: We well, let me, let me let me ask let 553 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 3: me ask you a difficult question that maybe I may 554 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 3: get beat up or because what I found is why 555 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 3: I launched, so whin It's a big world, a lot 556 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 3: of people, so they cold fool or whatever it is, right, 557 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 3: it was forth bias is a black culture. But do 558 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 3: you find that because this is what happened to me. 559 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 3: I think it was a Christmas for a holiday. Gave 560 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,720 Speaker 3: everybody for who would take we had launched with the kids, 561 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 3: everybody from my office. I gave it to them, my office, 562 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:05,840 Speaker 3: the United Nations, and I had a lot of people 563 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 3: who are not African American come back and say I 564 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 3: got to give it back to because my children harassed 565 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 3: in school. Now they were harassed in school by African 566 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 3: Americans who felt that the brand was only theirs and 567 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 3: that this person didn't belong. Now I can say that 568 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 3: at that time it wasn't social media. 569 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:24,840 Speaker 2: Yep. 570 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 3: I had the Burial Boys, I used to dress MC shirts, 571 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 3: I dressed the BC Boys, A dressed everybody. But with 572 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 3: the limited yeah, with the limited yeah, limited information, maybe 573 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 3: they thought that it was only that. And then there 574 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 3: was just also this pride to hey man, stop wearing it, 575 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 3: that's ours. I can see that too happening. Yeah, do 576 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 3: you think sometimes do you think sometimes people feel uncomfortable 577 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 3: even though they want to support it because maybe we 578 00:29:54,680 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 3: are like we don't have much and our being overprotective 579 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 3: about it doesn't realize that some of us are hurting 580 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:10,360 Speaker 3: the brand by loving it so much that we feel 581 00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 3: that it's not somebody else's right, it's to me. 582 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 1: It's a trauma response, right, It's a trauma response because 583 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: if we look at the reality of society of the world, 584 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: colonialism has happened. It did happen, you know, I mean 585 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:32,600 Speaker 1: it has happened. When you're you know, our culture, Native 586 00:30:32,640 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: American culture. There are different cultures that have literally been 587 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: robbed of their lands, their their music, their customs. It 588 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: has happened, right, So I understand that, I understand the 589 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 1: trauma and why when we do have something that's finally 590 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:50,640 Speaker 1: our own, we grasp onto it. 591 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 2: I understand why. I understand why. I understand why. 592 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 1: But you said something earlier that I've had to tell 593 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: some of our black supporters who have been upset about 594 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: other people wearing our stuff. 595 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 2: It's like the CEO of LVMH is now the wealthiest. 596 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 1: Man in the world, right, when I think about how 597 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: many Black people by Louis Vautan, by Gucci, by all 598 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: of these brands that are not owned by us, right, 599 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: we are contributing to the wealth of other people. Fashion Ova, 600 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: that founder just bought one hundred and fifty million dollar 601 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 1: house here in la you know what I mean. And 602 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 1: I have to think that hip hop culture, black culture, 603 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:02,360 Speaker 1: black consumerism helps add to his to his network in 604 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: his wealth. So why is it that we've been okay 605 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:10,120 Speaker 1: with buying other people's stuff and making their founders and 606 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: their CEOs wealthy, but now we've got a problem with 607 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 1: other people buying our stuff. Because here's the thing, that 608 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 1: money that they spend helps increase how we can give 609 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: back to the Black community. So regardless of who it 610 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 1: comes from, our mission is still the same. My mission 611 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: never changes to uplift and reinvest back into the Black community. 612 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,200 Speaker 1: So if all of these white people, Asian people and 613 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: Spanis people, if they want to buy actively black, I 614 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: welcome them, because, you know what, that further empowers our 615 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: mission and our goal and what we're trying to do. 616 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 2: It doesn't change who we are. 617 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: And I think that's just part of the part of 618 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: the education that we have to do for our own 619 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:47,239 Speaker 1: people to help them understand that. I don't think that 620 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: it comes from a malicious place. I think it just 621 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: does come from a place of it's so very rare 622 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 1: that we have something to call our own that when 623 00:32:55,760 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: we finally do have our own, it's like, no, this 624 00:32:58,560 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 1: is ours, you know. 625 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 3: And I think that's our job today to tell our 626 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 3: other people who are very very pro pro black but 627 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 3: never anti anything else, to be very intentional to share 628 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 3: that message you because if I look at two brands 629 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 3: and one I may get criticism for, then why right, 630 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 3: I'm gonna go over here, right, and I'm gonna be celebrated. 631 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 3: Oh man, look at that and you Gucci right, you know. 632 00:33:28,720 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 3: So I think it's like, now, I do want to 633 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 3: touch on another moment, how did you move and pivot? 634 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 3: Because ten million dollars in business is still a good 635 00:33:38,320 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 3: business depending or you operate it. And I'm just trying 636 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 3: to figure out how did you move over? Because that's 637 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 3: a leap too, because a guy like you who's super focused, 638 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 3: You didn't say I'm going to be a basketball player 639 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 3: that don't work out, I'm going to then be a 640 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 3: soccer player, and then I'm going to play the spoons 641 00:33:56,400 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 3: on the corner somewhere or the harmonica. You are very focused, 642 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 3: knee deep like any of us are. Now you're really 643 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 3: focusing actively faith in all and then you start to 644 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:08,760 Speaker 3: move over here what happened? 645 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:12,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, first and foremost active faith and actively black 646 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: are two separate entities, completely separatesities. So I actually still 647 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 1: own active faith and I have actively black. The reason 648 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 1: why I knew this was a God dream that was 649 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 1: placed in me and something that was purposeful because I 650 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:26,399 Speaker 1: wasn't looking to do anything else other than active faith. 651 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 1: Like you said, I was laser focused. This is active faith. 652 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 1: This is what we're buildings from building. There were these 653 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,080 Speaker 1: different moments that continue to happen throughout that journey that 654 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:37,319 Speaker 1: I think planet seeds that ended up growing into me 655 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:39,280 Speaker 1: launching actively black one. 656 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, you know, racism. 657 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:46,840 Speaker 1: Still does exist in our society, and with active faith, 658 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,320 Speaker 1: I would say close to sixty percent of my customers 659 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: with active faith are Evangelical Christian are you know, are white? 660 00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 2: You know what I mean? 661 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:59,959 Speaker 1: And at the time, you know, my personal social media 662 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:02,759 Speaker 1: I had private you know, it wasn't a public account. 663 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:09,239 Speaker 1: I was actually intentionally hiding myself from public. 664 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 2: View of Active Faith. 665 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,880 Speaker 1: So if you went to the website, the Active Faith website, 666 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 1: you didn't see founded by Lanny Smith. If you went 667 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:19,160 Speaker 1: to the Active Faith Instagram, you didn't see founded by 668 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: Lanny Smith. 669 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:20,799 Speaker 2: Like it was. 670 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 1: People thought this was Steph Curry's company. And I was 671 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,120 Speaker 1: cool with him, thinking this is Steph Curry's company, you 672 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:28,920 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. Like it wasn't something that I 673 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:30,359 Speaker 1: was out in front of the way that I've been 674 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 1: with Actively Black. And so I would see these moments 675 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:36,440 Speaker 1: where the same people who were buying Active Faith and 676 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:39,759 Speaker 1: would be on social media praising Active Faith, and then 677 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 1: I would see them post the most racist things possible 678 00:35:43,640 --> 00:35:48,840 Speaker 1: about my people, and it would really bother me. You know, 679 00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,800 Speaker 1: entrepreneur in the beginning, you're wearing all the hats. I 680 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 1: would do customer service. I would be on the phone, 681 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 1: and multiple times this happened. 682 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:56,600 Speaker 2: You know. 683 00:35:56,719 --> 00:35:58,279 Speaker 1: I remember this one guy who's like, you sound like 684 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: you're black on the phone. I was like, well, I 685 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: am immediately asked for a refund. Even had had a 686 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:09,800 Speaker 1: couple of people who were interested in investing in Active Faith, 687 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:12,960 Speaker 1: going back and forth over email. We set up an 688 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:15,280 Speaker 1: in person meeting when I actually had the in person 689 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 1: meeting and I walked through that door. I saw it 690 00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: in their faces. They were shocked that, oh, wait a minute, 691 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 1: this is the guy, and all of a sudden, all 692 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:24,480 Speaker 1: of a sudden, they weren't interested in investing anymore, you 693 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. 694 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 2: And so. 695 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:33,360 Speaker 1: Those moments they caused a lot of internal struggling because 696 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:35,720 Speaker 1: my mother raised me to be proud of my heritage, 697 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:36,560 Speaker 1: proud of who I am. 698 00:36:36,880 --> 00:36:37,960 Speaker 2: And I sat back and. 699 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 1: I thought, I'm like, I built a multi million dollar 700 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 1: brand out of my mother's house, and I'm hiding myself 701 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: from my brand because I'm afraid of if they find 702 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:50,239 Speaker 1: out I'm black? What is that going to do to 703 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,840 Speaker 1: the business. And that internal conflict was just really messing 704 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:56,440 Speaker 1: with me. And in twenty eighteen, the movie Black Panther 705 00:36:56,520 --> 00:37:02,680 Speaker 1: came out. Excuse me, and I'll never forget. And this 706 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: is the power of representation. Seeing Chadwick boseman portrayal of 707 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: T'Challa on the big screen had such a profound effect 708 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: on me to see a superhero, this positive black figure 709 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:20,480 Speaker 1: with skin like mine, with hair like mine. And I 710 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:23,240 Speaker 1: walked out of that theater like with my chest puffed 711 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,319 Speaker 1: out and it was just this sense of pride that 712 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,560 Speaker 1: I had, and I saw the way the rest of 713 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:30,560 Speaker 1: the Black community and the diaspora was responding to it, 714 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:33,200 Speaker 1: and I was like, yo, I want to create a 715 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:35,959 Speaker 1: brand that makes my people feel the way I felt 716 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: walking out of this movie. And it just wouldn't leave 717 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 1: me alone. I was putting the idea on the shelf. 718 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm too busy with active Faith. There's 719 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:46,839 Speaker 1: no way I can do this other brand. I kept 720 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:48,799 Speaker 1: putting the idea on the shelf. I put the idea 721 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 1: on the shelf again. I moved to Los Angeles six 722 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 1: months before the pandemic hitting. The whole city shut down, 723 00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:57,879 Speaker 1: and when it shut down, I said to myself, I'm 724 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:00,399 Speaker 1: not gonna let this time pass without burthing something new. 725 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:01,879 Speaker 2: I didn't know what it was gonna be. At the time. 726 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:06,200 Speaker 1: We witnessed the murder George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, the aftermath 727 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:08,400 Speaker 1: that happened after that, and I saw all of these brands, 728 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 1: and this is no diss to these brands. This is 729 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: just what I observed. I saw the Nikes, the Adidas, 730 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:16,359 Speaker 1: all of these brands come up with these declarations about 731 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:18,520 Speaker 1: what they wanted to do for the black community. And 732 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,360 Speaker 1: it didn't sit right with me, because you take the 733 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,359 Speaker 1: pandemic away, the events of twenty twenty are not new 734 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:27,880 Speaker 1: to the black community. These things have been happening for decades, 735 00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:31,440 Speaker 1: for centuries, And I'm like, yeah, they've just been filmed, yeah, 736 00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:33,680 Speaker 1: right right, and they're happening. 737 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 3: Right now as we speak. 738 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 1: We know that, you know, I mean, and in the 739 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 1: incident that you talked about Rodney King, it's not like 740 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:43,320 Speaker 1: even though there wasn't social media, it's not like that 741 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: the whole thing was. 742 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:46,359 Speaker 2: Filmed, you know what I'm saying. We we we got 743 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:47,000 Speaker 2: to see it. 744 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 3: So and it happened, and it happened in Watts before that, 745 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:53,680 Speaker 3: right yeah, all right, Well. 746 00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:55,400 Speaker 1: I'm like, man, this don't sit right with me. This 747 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:57,920 Speaker 1: feels like, this feels very performative. This now feels like 748 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,759 Speaker 1: this is now part of these brands new marketing strategies. 749 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 3: And it is because my thing black from today right 750 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:06,360 Speaker 3: now where we give away money and all the brands 751 00:39:06,360 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 3: all around us now our core brands are stuck by us, 752 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:11,319 Speaker 3: thank god, you know, the one who want to be 753 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:13,480 Speaker 3: on the market with us. But guess what everybody else 754 00:39:13,600 --> 00:39:16,799 Speaker 3: is all of a sudden I don't know yet. I 755 00:39:16,840 --> 00:39:21,080 Speaker 3: don't know anymore, but thank god I've chase to the 756 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:23,400 Speaker 3: general Shopify lows and stuff by us. But yeah, a 757 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:25,440 Speaker 3: lot of the other brands are like, oh, we're cutting 758 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:28,920 Speaker 3: back this year and stuff like that really really weird 759 00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:30,520 Speaker 3: until all of a sudden, you know what's. 760 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:35,279 Speaker 1: Going to happen, right right, And so that was I 761 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:37,319 Speaker 1: think that was the moment that made me say, you 762 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:39,640 Speaker 1: know what, I'm going to stop putting this idea on 763 00:39:39,680 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 1: the shelf. I'm taking this idea off the shelf and 764 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:45,240 Speaker 1: I'm going to do this. And to me, the power 765 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:49,360 Speaker 1: was we've been asking, We've been asking these brands to 766 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:51,280 Speaker 1: do these different things. We've been asking, we've been asking 767 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:53,400 Speaker 1: me asking, And I'm like, you know what, let's stop 768 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:55,719 Speaker 1: asking for a seat at the table and let's just 769 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:58,120 Speaker 1: build our own table. Because if you build your own table, 770 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:00,279 Speaker 1: then you can feed whoever you want to feed. Now 771 00:40:00,320 --> 00:40:01,640 Speaker 1: I can feed my people and we ain't got to 772 00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:04,439 Speaker 1: ask for it because this is something that we own. 773 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:10,960 Speaker 1: And there's so many brands that have literally become multi 774 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:15,560 Speaker 1: billion dollar brands that have utilized black culture, black talent, 775 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 1: black consumerism and haven't adequately reinvested back into the black 776 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:22,759 Speaker 1: communities that they have profited from. And so I was like, 777 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:24,239 Speaker 1: you know what, I want to do something about it. 778 00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:26,400 Speaker 1: There was a lot of you know, there was a 779 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:29,759 Speaker 1: lot of keyboard warriors, especially around that time, you know, 780 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:32,879 Speaker 1: posting the Black Squares and Black Lives Matter, and they 781 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:35,600 Speaker 1: was posting about it, posting about it, talking about it, 782 00:40:35,719 --> 00:40:37,600 Speaker 1: and I was like, man, let me, what can I 783 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:39,319 Speaker 1: do about it? You know what, I mean, what can 784 00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:43,440 Speaker 1: I actually do about it? And in my lane, this 785 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:45,680 Speaker 1: was something I felt like I could do about it. 786 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:48,960 Speaker 3: So well, and I'm glad you did, because you know, 787 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 3: I want to make sure that we're very clear about stuff. 788 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:53,919 Speaker 3: You know, it is it is disheartening to hear that 789 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:57,400 Speaker 3: you come out with something about faith and where you've grown. 790 00:40:57,520 --> 00:41:02,719 Speaker 3: And some is extreme miss in every religion. There is 791 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:08,000 Speaker 3: extremes in every thing, all right, whether it's any genre 792 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,840 Speaker 3: and some yeah, and you know what, and it's always 793 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:15,840 Speaker 3: ten percent, maybe twenty percent, and they usually create eighty 794 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:20,840 Speaker 3: percent of the noise, right, you know, it's challenging, but 795 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:24,080 Speaker 3: it's great to know that you got to that point. 796 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:27,600 Speaker 3: But I want to think about the counter side of that, right, 797 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,319 Speaker 3: you know, you look at black Panther, and I want 798 00:41:30,320 --> 00:41:32,239 Speaker 3: to keep you know, because this is people just like 799 00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:34,680 Speaker 3: either these days, they eat it so far left, so 800 00:41:34,880 --> 00:41:39,000 Speaker 3: far right. Black Panther one of the biggest grossing movies ever. 801 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:44,239 Speaker 3: We only make up ten percent of the country, and 802 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:46,719 Speaker 3: out of the ten percent of us, there are a 803 00:41:46,719 --> 00:41:50,719 Speaker 3: lot of African Americans who are now out of the 804 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:54,399 Speaker 3: buying public a Black Panther. If you look at African Americans, right, 805 00:41:54,520 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 3: how many are you know under the age of whatever, 806 00:41:58,239 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 3: they you know, they don't have a lot of resource, 807 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:03,200 Speaker 3: a lot of money. So Black Father became big because 808 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:07,200 Speaker 3: it was just big to everyone. Yes, And I want 809 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,279 Speaker 3: to always show the side of the landing who came 810 00:42:10,320 --> 00:42:13,200 Speaker 3: out with actively faith and people of all colors supported 811 00:42:13,239 --> 00:42:17,720 Speaker 3: and predominantly one one religious genre, and a small portion 812 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:21,440 Speaker 3: of them m you know, the one who then flipped 813 00:42:21,440 --> 00:42:24,279 Speaker 3: it over actively black and so many other people are 814 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:27,000 Speaker 3: supporting you, you know, and all these things because a 815 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:28,799 Speaker 3: lot of and I think you brought up just a 816 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 3: really good point. We don't get mad as somebody to 817 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:35,960 Speaker 3: be to be you know, kissing me I'm Irish right, 818 00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:42,080 Speaker 3: or or Italian restaurant or or the Japanese man. I 819 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 3: want to be a samurai, you know what I mean. 820 00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,359 Speaker 3: I got nothing against any of those things. So it 821 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:49,480 Speaker 3: was those moments that you you've tapped into people and 822 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:53,040 Speaker 3: it issue whatever you were whoever listening to. You can 823 00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 3: be LGBT, cou plus, you could be a woman, you 824 00:42:55,239 --> 00:42:58,960 Speaker 3: could be white, you can be wealthy, you can be poor, 825 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:01,120 Speaker 3: you can be whatever the case is. When people see 826 00:43:01,120 --> 00:43:04,319 Speaker 3: that you love what you're doing, we love to see 827 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:06,600 Speaker 3: that you love if it's not offending anybody, and it's 828 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:10,680 Speaker 3: not hurting anybody, right, right, we love to see that. Right. 829 00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:13,480 Speaker 3: We love to root for you, you know what I mean. Like, 830 00:43:14,520 --> 00:43:15,960 Speaker 3: you know, Kevin O. Leary is always going to be 831 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 3: Kevin Leary, but he's Kevin Learry. We love rooting for 832 00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:20,359 Speaker 3: his little guy. You know, Kevin Zileiary's the only guy 833 00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:23,080 Speaker 3: on TV who can curse you out with a twinkle 834 00:43:23,080 --> 00:43:25,000 Speaker 3: in his eye. He'll make fun of you and make 835 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:26,920 Speaker 3: fun of himself. And you still kind of root with 836 00:43:27,080 --> 00:43:30,759 Speaker 3: Kevin in some ways or another, you know. But listen, 837 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 3: lending man, I really appreciate what you've been doing and 838 00:43:33,239 --> 00:43:35,080 Speaker 3: what you have done, and I think that there's so 839 00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:37,960 Speaker 3: many people that can learn from you from various different ways. 840 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:40,040 Speaker 3: I started off doing this and I really had a 841 00:43:40,080 --> 00:43:42,160 Speaker 3: passion ever since I was a kid. I'm a goal setter. 842 00:43:42,640 --> 00:43:45,520 Speaker 3: And then I use that goal setting a physical writing. 843 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:50,319 Speaker 3: Please don't feel like you're outdated when you're like, oh, 844 00:43:50,440 --> 00:43:52,480 Speaker 3: I still use a pen and paper. There's nothing to 845 00:43:52,520 --> 00:43:54,600 Speaker 3: be ashamed of. That is something that I think is 846 00:43:54,600 --> 00:43:56,360 Speaker 3: going to be a craft that's going to take you 847 00:43:56,520 --> 00:44:03,240 Speaker 3: way further about lining your brain. Right. So from that aspect, 848 00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:06,960 Speaker 3: I think then to come across that challenge and then 849 00:44:07,040 --> 00:44:09,680 Speaker 3: show people that you didn't have any money. So whoever's like, 850 00:44:09,680 --> 00:44:11,440 Speaker 3: oh that guy was an athlete, No no, no, no no. 851 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:15,440 Speaker 3: I got busted his ass and learned with the access 852 00:44:15,680 --> 00:44:18,080 Speaker 3: and use the resources he had now and that was 853 00:44:18,120 --> 00:44:22,840 Speaker 3: a phone, right, and then switching and moving into something 854 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:26,359 Speaker 3: else where you're so passionate. One was faith and one 855 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:30,960 Speaker 3: is still faith in your community and giving back and 856 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:36,200 Speaker 3: then being able to get globally recognized brands Mohama Ali 857 00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:40,279 Speaker 3: and Black Panther. I mean you dealt with Marvel, you 858 00:44:40,320 --> 00:44:44,880 Speaker 3: know what I mean? Like global that shows Marvel is 859 00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:49,640 Speaker 3: like we like you man. I know you don't have 860 00:44:49,760 --> 00:44:52,520 Speaker 3: the money that the big people have. It doesn't matter. 861 00:44:52,600 --> 00:44:54,280 Speaker 3: And I know this is one of the biggest brands 862 00:44:54,280 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 3: in history. Here you go, a president, here you go. 863 00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 3: Anybody right now listening can take exactly what they're passionate 864 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:12,719 Speaker 3: about and turn it into something that can be recognized 865 00:45:12,719 --> 00:45:15,719 Speaker 3: and enjoyed by everybody and fulfill what they have and 866 00:45:15,719 --> 00:45:18,080 Speaker 3: fulfill their community. So thank you, ma'am for spending this 867 00:45:18,080 --> 00:45:19,520 Speaker 3: moment with me. I think we touched on a lot. 868 00:45:19,520 --> 00:45:22,960 Speaker 3: I mean everything from Kevin Plank to writing to all 869 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:26,240 Speaker 3: these weird moments that we're having. That means active faith. 870 00:45:27,840 --> 00:45:30,000 Speaker 3: It's for everybody. It's still alive, man, and your proof 871 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:30,200 Speaker 3: of it. 872 00:45:30,760 --> 00:45:32,879 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, thank you, thanks for having me man, Thank 873 00:45:32,920 --> 00:45:34,399 Speaker 2: you all right. 874 00:45:35,640 --> 00:45:38,400 Speaker 3: That Moment with Damon John is a production of the 875 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:42,319 Speaker 3: Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black 876 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:47,760 Speaker 3: Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 877 00:45:47,800 --> 00:45:51,200 Speaker 3: wherever you listen to your favorite show and don't forget 878 00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:55,440 Speaker 3: to subscribe to and rate the show. And of course 879 00:45:55,480 --> 00:45:56,920 Speaker 3: you can all connect with me on any of my 880 00:45:57,000 --> 00:46:02,120 Speaker 3: social media platforms. At the Shark. Damon spelt like Raymond, 881 00:46:02,160 --> 00:46:02,680 Speaker 3: but what a d