1 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: Hey, I'm Kadeen and I'm Devout and we're the Ellis's. 2 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: You may know us from posting funny videos. 3 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: With our voice and reading each other publicly as a 4 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: form of therapy. 5 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 2: Wait, I make you need therapy most days. Wow. 6 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: Oh, and one more important thing to mention, we're married. 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: Yes, sir, we are. We created this podcast to open 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 2: dialogue about some of li's most taboo topics. 9 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: Things most folks don't want to talk about. 10 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 2: Through the lens of a millennial married couple. Dead ass 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 2: is a term that we say every day. So when 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: we say dead ass, we're actually saying facts one hundred 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 2: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 14 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 2: We about to take philosof to our whole new level. 15 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: Dead ass starts right now. 16 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: Ladies and gentlemen, we have the astute pleasure to sit 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: down today. 18 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: Who I like a stupid? 19 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: You like that? 20 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: That's a good word? Yeah. 21 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 2: With Melvin and Monique Rodriguez if you don't know who 22 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:13,839 Speaker 2: they are, Melvin and Monique Rodriguez started Mael following Monique's 23 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 2: career as a registered nurse for nearly a decade and 24 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: has created a haircare brand that has become the first 25 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 2: in the industry to receive more than one hundred million 26 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 2: in investment funding, and since has scaled to a household 27 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 2: stable for consumers with textured hair through distribution at countless 28 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 2: national retail locations in over eighty five countries around the world. 29 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 2: I got to say this, Monique, you know real MVP. 30 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: That's a fact that I got several products under my 31 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: cabinet as we speak with all of these boys and 32 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: all this hair and all these textures. Mayel is a 33 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: household staple for us as well. Y'all help us. Welcome 34 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: Melvin and Monique Rodriguez the Dead Ass Podcast. Let's start 35 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: by tell you telling us about your love story here 36 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: is pretty unique. I make guess everyone's love stories because 37 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 1: ours is pretty Yeah, ye, love story. Let's start there. 38 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 3: Well, I guess I'll go first because my version is 39 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 3: the truth. 40 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 4: We're gonna We're gonna tell her versions usually are, So. 41 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 3: I guess where do we start. 42 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 5: I'm going to go back to like ninety five. Melbourne 43 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 5: and I we have known each other since I. 44 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 4: Was twelve, A long damn time. 45 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: He was thirteen five ninety five. That's awesome. 46 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, a long time, long time ago. 47 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 3: And you know, and actuality. Like when we first met, 48 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: you know, I thought he was cute. 49 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 4: You know, you know the vibes. 50 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: You know the vibe Melvine. I know the vibe because 51 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:44,399 Speaker 2: that's what was me too. 52 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 4: She saw me. 53 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 2: I wasn't even paying attention, right, she end up with 54 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 2: me later on in life, you know, So I'll get 55 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 2: you Melbourne. 56 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: It was the way it was. 57 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 4: That's what I'm time to tell you, man. 58 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 3: I was sea sick. 59 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: I was Sea sick. 60 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 5: Okay, yeah, So you know when we were back in 61 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 5: junior high school, I thought he was cute, but I 62 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 5: thought that he was you know, in my version, I 63 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 5: thought he was a little arrogant. So we call ourselves, 64 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 5: you know, being friends at that time. But we had 65 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 5: a fallen out when we were very young. And that falling. 66 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: Out how you have a young falling out? What was 67 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: going on at twelve and thirteen? It was like, you 68 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: know what, I can't do this. I need to protect 69 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: my piece. 70 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 1: You know, I told you love. 71 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 5: I felt that he was arrogant, so I had to 72 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 5: protect my piece at the young age of twelve. Well, 73 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 5: I had to show him. I had to play hard 74 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 5: to get what we're from. 75 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 4: When you see when you say things, man. You got 76 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 4: to you gotta do things, man. So you know that's yeah, 77 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,119 Speaker 4: you know what I mean, that's. 78 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 5: What it is. But I think in actuality, the fact 79 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 5: of like, because we couldn't be together and he really 80 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 5: wanted to be with me, was the reason why we 81 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 5: ended up falling out. 82 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: Because I was twelve, you know, I didn't. 83 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 5: Have any bans, you know, having boyfriends or anything of 84 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 5: that nature. So you know, we ended up not talking 85 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 5: for like the entire year of his eighth because he's 86 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 5: a year older than me, So his eighth grade year 87 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 5: we didn't talk. He went into high school, we went 88 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 5: to the same high school, and we saw each other 89 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 5: and did not talk to each other all throughout high school. 90 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 3: It wasn't until he all four years, all four years. 91 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,799 Speaker 5: You know, I was I was pretty popular in high school, 92 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 5: and you know, I. 93 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 3: Think I had to see me again. My version is 94 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 3: the truth. 95 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 5: So I had to let him know that I wasn't 96 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 5: one of those other girls that he was going to 97 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 5: have to really work hard to get me. 98 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 3: And so we didn't talk. 99 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 5: And then, uh, it was the summer of my junior year, 100 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 5: going into my senior year, he had graduated. He was 101 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 5: getting ready to go to college, and we somehow reconnected, rekindled, 102 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 5: and we started off as friends and then we decided 103 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 5: that we were going to start dating, and we started 104 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 5: dating for a couple of months before I started school. 105 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 5: We ended up breaking up right before I started my 106 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,239 Speaker 5: senior year in August because he didn't have a cell 107 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 5: phone and I was one of those like I needed 108 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 5: to be able to get in touch with you, and 109 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 5: you know, he's sad. He also showed up late, very 110 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 5: late for our first dates, and I ended. 111 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: Up, oh, man, yeah, Melvin, what was going on? 112 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 5: Bro? 113 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: What was in your mindset? 114 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 3: So he he was. 115 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 5: Extremely late, but I let him know, like I'm not 116 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 5: gonna sit around and wait for you. So I ended 117 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 5: up leaving going out with my friends to the movies, 118 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 5: and he ended up coming to my mom's house looking sad, 119 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 5: puppy dog face like where did she go? And my 120 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 5: Mom's like she left, she went to the movies with 121 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 5: her friends. And it was because he didn't have a 122 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 5: cell phone, so I didn't know how to get in 123 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 5: touch with him. I didn't know if he was coming, 124 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 5: like I was like, I'm not going to play games 125 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 5: and anyway, So we ended up breaking up. We ended 126 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 5: up breaking up for a couple of months, and then 127 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 5: this was like in August, and then my high school 128 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 5: homecoming was in October. 129 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 3: And remember he's a freshman in college. 130 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 5: And I went to the homecoming with my friends because I'm like, 131 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 5: I don't have a boyfriend. 132 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 3: I'm gonna kick it with my girlfriends. And guess who 133 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: shows up at my homecoming? 134 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 5: And guess who shows up with a cell phone. 135 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: He had a plan, He had a plan, He had 136 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 2: a man. I don't understand that when we have a plan, 137 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: it don't be on your timeline. It's our plans, understand. 138 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 5: But he knew that I had standards and he had 139 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 5: to meet those standards in order for him to get 140 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 5: me back. And so from October of my senior year 141 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 5: in high school we've been together ever since. 142 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: I love that. 143 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: That's awesome, awesome, good stuff. Long time. Is there any 144 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: part of the story, Melvin that you need to go 145 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: in there and say, you know that wasn't so yeah, 146 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: all of it, but. 147 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 4: We don't got time. 148 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:48,119 Speaker 2: Correct story. 149 00:06:48,279 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 4: I sat down and tell the real truth, like going 150 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,679 Speaker 4: all the way back, you know, when we were shorty 151 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 4: seven eighth grade, when they used to stand on the corner, 152 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,799 Speaker 4: like waiting for brother mail, like real talking, like leaving 153 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 4: brother now, like they on the corner, like come on now, 154 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 4: I want to get to it. Oh my god. So no, 155 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 4: but I would say majority is true what she's saying. 156 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 4: I'm gonna give it to her, you know. And when 157 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 4: I came back, you know, like she said, home coming, 158 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 4: I had to get that old thing back, you know, 159 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 4: and we were candling and everything, and we've been we've 160 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 4: been doing it, doing our thing, you know what I'm 161 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 4: saying ever since. So you know, I give it that, 162 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 4: you know. 163 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: That's what good for y'all. 164 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 3: So how many years married? 165 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 5: Now, we've been married for thirteen years. We've been together 166 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 5: in twenty three years and two beautiful y'am. 167 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: Run around the same time as us. We're thirteen years married. 168 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 2: We've been together twenty two it'll. 169 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, dope, Yeah, yeah, we've been together. Well, we've known 170 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: each other since elementary school. 171 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: Since nineteen. 172 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: Know each other since start in college. 173 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, she's talking me to. 174 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 2: You know, I was out here. I did you know 175 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: they was waiting on the corner for your boy out 176 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: like chill babies, listen. I went up. 177 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: I went up like Steph Curry with the shot all bucket, 178 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: old bucket. 179 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 4: Yet we got some similarities, man, but you know, hey, 180 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 4: I love that. Yeah. But God, God he aligned and 181 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 4: he unified us, man, and so. 182 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,239 Speaker 2: We absolutely that's fact. 183 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 4: Absolutely, that's so. That's that's what it is. 184 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 2: And I always feel like I always feel like I 185 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: want you know, I always give my wife a lot 186 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: of grief with the stories because it's just funny. But 187 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 2: I feel like I got the prize, you know what 188 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 2: I'm saying. I feel like I feel like I won. 189 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: I feel like I got the prize. So well, thank 190 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: you definitely on the one but the most beautiful union 191 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 2: birth as well. 192 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: In addition to two beautiful daughters that you guys have 193 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 1: and a wealth of love and years under your belt, 194 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: Mayel tell us about how this came to fruition for 195 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: you guys. 196 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 5: So as we talk about, you know, the funny parts 197 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 5: and you know the the happy moments. You know, Melvine 198 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 5: and I have also gone through challenges together. In twenty thirteen, 199 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 5: we went through a tragic loss of my son. 200 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 3: When I was eight months pregnant. 201 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 5: I had a high risk pregnancy, wow, and because of 202 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 5: that high risk, unfortunately, my son passed away. And that 203 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 5: was our third child, Thank you, but it was our 204 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 5: third child, and you know, it was very devastating for 205 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 5: us both and I remember at that moment really filling 206 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 5: down and not really knowing what to do or why 207 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 5: this happened to me. And I had to learn to 208 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 5: change my narrative of asking God why did this happen 209 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 5: to me? And ask him like, what are you trying 210 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 5: to show. 211 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 3: Me from this? 212 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 5: And I knew number one was to develop my relationship 213 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 5: and to have a closer relationship with God, which before that, 214 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 5: you know, I really didn't have that close of a relationship. 215 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 5: And you know, I realized that once I deepened my 216 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 5: relationship with God, God revealed to me a vision to 217 00:09:56,880 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 5: go on social media and talk about something that I've 218 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 5: always been passionate about ever since I was a little girl, 219 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 5: and that was hair care in the beauty space. And 220 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 5: that was a creative outlet for me to take my 221 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 5: mind off of what I was going through at the 222 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 5: time with my son. And Melvin was super supportive because 223 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 5: we were both going through this together and he would 224 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 5: always come to me like when he would see that 225 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 5: I was down, and you know, have my moments in 226 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 5: the bathroom he would tell me like, go pick up 227 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 5: your your plan and work on your plan, or go 228 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 5: talk about here on social media. So he would always 229 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 5: encourage me because he saw that it was bringing me joy, 230 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 5: and that joy and that painful situation ultimately led me 231 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 5: to my purpose and what you see here today. So 232 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 5: you know, Mayel came from a place of pain, and 233 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 5: you know it has blossomed into something that has been 234 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 5: so beautiful and so purposeful because I chose to channel 235 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 5: that and to really do something that was bigger than me. 236 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 5: Because Mayel is not just about hair product. It's really 237 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 5: about serving the community and ultimately bringing people to God's kingdom. 238 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:09,479 Speaker 5: And so that's what as I look back, I really understand, 239 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 5: even though you'll never understand why you go through things 240 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 5: like that, but I do see that God had a 241 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 5: bigger purpose from that painful situation and that's how Mayel 242 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:18,679 Speaker 5: was birth. 243 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: Wow, how'd you come up with the name. 244 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 5: So the name is actually a combination of my kids' names. 245 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 5: So I have Mia, and I have Mia Gabrielle and 246 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 5: then Mackenzie Aril. So they're my l's because they both 247 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 5: had E L L E at the end of their 248 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 5: middle names. 249 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: It's very nice. Did you ever see ma L becoming 250 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: what it is today? I know you said it was 251 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: coming to you as I guess, like a form of therapy, 252 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: right in a sense, when you were dealing with the 253 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: loss of your son. So was the goal for you 254 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: to eventually end up on shelves and you know, to 255 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: be where you are today or was it just kind 256 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: of something that kind of spiraled out of control in 257 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: the best way for you? 258 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think it's a combination of both. Because I 259 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 5: knew that, you know, whatever I did, I was going 260 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 5: to be successful because I'm a hard worker, even when 261 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 5: I worked as a nurse. You know, I knew that 262 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 5: I would be successful working as a nurse because that's 263 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 5: just the type of determination that I have, you know, 264 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 5: coming from the nursing my nursing background into this business world. 265 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 5: It was totally foreign to me. I had no experience 266 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 5: running or operating a business. Neither one of us did. 267 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 5: So it was kind of like on the job training, 268 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 5: learning as we as we did it, and of course 269 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 5: we made a lot of mistakes, went through a lot 270 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 5: of challenges, but I knew that my ultimate goal was 271 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 5: to make it to be bigger than larger than life. 272 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 5: I just didn't know that it would happen in ten 273 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 5: short years. 274 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 3: You know. 275 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 5: We took off literally after launching the brand a year, 276 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 5: you know, we entered into Solid Beauty a year later, 277 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 5: and I was really just focused on how do I 278 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 5: serve my community, how do I help women that look 279 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 5: like me? 280 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 3: How do I add value? How do I build community? 281 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 5: And I always tell people when you focus on, how 282 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 5: do you overserve people that are underserved? Because in the 283 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,599 Speaker 5: multicultural hair care space, I felt that there was a 284 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 5: void and the community wasn't being served how I thought 285 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 5: they should have been served. And because I slowly focused on, 286 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 5: you know, just community building and staying engaged and being 287 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 5: trust a trusted, reliable source, that community grew very fast 288 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 5: and in spiral. To your point, it spiraled out of 289 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 5: you know, it just spiraled into something that was great, 290 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 5: which is the company that we've built here today. 291 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 3: So I would say it's a combination of both. 292 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 5: And you know, it's been been truly a blessing just 293 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 5: to see everything unfold because we've done something that hasn't 294 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 5: been done in less than ten years, and you know, 295 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 5: we're truly happy to have done it together. 296 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, less than ten years. 297 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 3: It's crazy. 298 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 2: That is amazing, and it's less than ten years. I 299 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 2: have a question, how were you able to pivot so 300 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 2: seamlessly from a romantic relationship into a business relationship. We 301 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 2: get this question so many times from couples. How do 302 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,040 Speaker 2: you guys work together and still remain romantic partners? 303 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 1: Yeah, because Deval and I have struggled sometimes all the 304 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: years with as we build our businesses and our brands. 305 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes he doesn't know when to clock out, 306 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: like you know, usually within a duo, there's one person 307 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: who might be like the you know, work ethic through 308 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: the roof, it never clocks out, and then you have 309 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: the person that's just like babe, you know. So knowing 310 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: each other's strengths and weaknesses, how have you guys been 311 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: able to navigate that space from going romantically into business. 312 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: That's a good question, babe. 313 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 4: When you think about the merits, you think about the 314 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 4: covenant keeping God at the center of that. So the 315 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 4: love life the business life number one. That's us. We've 316 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 4: developed that. So we obviously love and are in love 317 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 4: with each other, but we understand that what success persecution 318 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:56,440 Speaker 4: is to follow, so we align and rebuke to those 319 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 4: negative weapons that try to form against our union, the 320 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 4: covenant that we made together for God first and foremost. 321 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 4: That's the honest God truth. And you know, as we 322 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 4: think about how do we balance those things, it's really 323 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 4: how you all prioritize your lives. So for us, it's God, family, 324 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 4: then work right and so and so we live and 325 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 4: stand on those principles, you know, as best we can. 326 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 4: It's not you know, always going to be you know, 327 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 4: go perfect and what have you. But but we have 328 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 4: that alignment. We we have that that you know, call 329 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 4: it that north star goal in mind, that that keeps 330 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 4: us in check. And so and so what we do is, 331 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 4: you know, we we try to keep work work. Now 332 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 4: granted it's not always you know, gonna be that way, 333 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 4: but we try to. We try to fight to keep 334 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 4: it that way. We try to hold ourselves accountable if 335 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 4: I'm if I'm at home, if I'm in the bed, 336 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 4: I'll pull my lab about she gets on me and 337 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 4: vice versas. We so we do those things and have 338 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 4: done it. But I think it's it's it's really the 339 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 4: respect that we have for each other's talents and gifts. Right, 340 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 4: So Moni has her own you know, set of skill 341 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 4: sets such as I do, and we respect that and 342 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 4: we're aligned to it. But outside of the business, we're 343 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 4: a husband and wife and as well as parents. So 344 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 4: so we had to, you know, understand that if we 345 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 4: were going to do this, we have to agree to 346 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 4: a set of call it boundaries to adhere to so 347 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 4: that the marriage doesn't get left behind the family, the 348 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 4: kids don't get left beside, and that ties into who 349 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 4: we are. See, we're not we're not money driven. We 350 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 4: never been money driven. We're purpose driven. We're mission driven. 351 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 4: You know. We feel as though we've been blessed and 352 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 4: put in position for purpose and not profit. Right, that's 353 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 4: how we think, that's how we operate. And so it's 354 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 4: really the mindset, right, the mindset and aligning uh to 355 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 4: to you know, those particular goals that you gotta, you gotta, 356 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 4: you gotta continue to stay on it. And most importantly, 357 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:19,719 Speaker 4: prayer for one another. Right, Prayer is the foundation of 358 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 4: all things in all our lives. And so we we 359 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 4: do that whether we do it together or we do 360 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 4: it for each other our families when we're not together. 361 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 4: But we do that because, I mean, the fact of 362 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 4: the matter is we know life, life be life, in 363 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 4: life has its issues and trials and tribulations, so you 364 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 4: constantly try to have to have that fight for your 365 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 4: you know, fight for your blessing, fight for your union, 366 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 4: right because outside your household, we know the challenges that 367 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 4: I mean, first of all, we don't know what's to come. 368 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 4: We wake up in the morning, we have no idea 369 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 4: what the day will be, but we try to prepare 370 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 4: ourselves for what's to come. 371 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: Oh, for sure, that was a great answer, Melvin thinking. 372 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that we see a lot of 373 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: similarities even with the way that we conduct you know, 374 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: are just our life, you know, God, family, you always 375 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: have to question what are we doing it for? Right 376 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: when you go back to that purpose driven approach, that 377 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: really really helps to keep things grounded. And that's important 378 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 1: for us too as business partners as well. So Mayel 379 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: now today ten very very short years, but I'm sure 380 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 1: long in a sense for you guys, what made you 381 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: decide to interrut Proctor and gamble with the future of 382 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 1: Mayel And what plans do you have with Proctor for 383 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: the future? 384 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 4: Now, why in the world will we do that? Why 385 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 4: would we? Why would we do that? But why in 386 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 4: the world? No, No, because we're black. Oh yeah, because 387 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 4: because we will become a sellout. 388 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: Why would we do that? No, that's last, folks, And 389 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 2: I never I never want. I don't want this conversation 390 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 2: to become that. But I will say this. I went 391 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:58,439 Speaker 2: to school for business. The first rule of business was 392 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 2: that you create a business to sell it. That was 393 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,640 Speaker 2: the first rule that they told us in business class 394 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 2: at Hofts University. Was like if and it was an 395 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 2: entrepreneurial class, if you're going to start a business, do 396 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 2: not start a business to say, I'm gonna give this 397 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 2: to my grandkids' grandkids. The reason why is because business 398 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:18,439 Speaker 2: is changed, industries changed. You always create a business with 399 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 2: the idea to sell it. So I know why you 400 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,719 Speaker 2: did it because that was always you know, and I 401 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 2: understand and I respect why. But I would love for 402 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 2: you guys to tell. 403 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: The audience, give them clarity. We know, we know, we 404 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: don't understand. 405 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 2: But it is important that you tell the audience why 406 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 2: you guys went and did that with Procter and Gamble. 407 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 4: I'll say this, in order for us as as African 408 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 4: Americans or within our black communities to get something we've 409 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 4: never had, we got to do something we've never done, 410 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 4: and we got to work to normalize things we've never done. 411 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 4: As we think about not yielding being rich, but creating wealth, 412 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 4: and not just on a month side, but creating wealth, 413 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 4: and the thinking the mind set in order for us 414 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 4: to do those things right, we have to accept the 415 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 4: challenge because if they were able to do it, why 416 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 4: not me, right, And so it's that mindset that that 417 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 4: Monique and I have been aligned to for a very 418 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 4: very long time. And so as the brand had began 419 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 4: to grow and the momentum was just so extraordinary, you know, 420 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:25,360 Speaker 4: we got to a point where, if you go back 421 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 4: to our inception, right twenty fourteen started from the garage, 422 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 4: humble beginnings. Right started from the idea, started from the pain. 423 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 4: Good thing. Good things come out of pain, the pain, 424 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 4: the trial, the tribulation. Oh but God kept us. God 425 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 4: gave Monique the vision. I supported that vision, and that 426 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 4: vision was elevated. Elevation creates expansion, expansion, and so we 427 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 4: want to increase. We asked God to enlarge our territory right, 428 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 4: and he blessed us exceedingly abundling above who can imagine 429 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 4: or think. So it happened. So from the garage, to 430 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 4: a small facility three thousand square feet. From there to 431 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 4: a building a one hundred. Now we have one hundred 432 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 4: thousand plus square for the warehousing right now. Increase and 433 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 4: so as the brand continue to grow by year six, 434 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 4: year seven, we're like, wow, we've done some extraordinary things. 435 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 4: But you know something. We know what we know, but 436 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 4: we also know we don't know. And we know that 437 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 4: we're trying to tell this story. We know that we're 438 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 4: trying to normalize black excellence. We know that we're trying 439 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 4: to normalize and shift the thinking, the thinking to your 440 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 4: point about creating businesses to a path to an exit. Right. 441 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 4: But we need help showing this right, We need help 442 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,200 Speaker 4: scaling this and so we made the decision to take 443 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 4: on a private equity partner called Berkshire Partners right back 444 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,560 Speaker 4: in twenty one. And so we did that, which was 445 00:21:52,600 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 4: a historical nine figure, non controlling standalone partnership. So what 446 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 4: does that mean. That means that. 447 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 2: Now I don't want to cut you off, but I 448 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 2: think it's important that you really tell people why that's 449 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 2: important because people remember our biggest podcast was selling Grandma's House, 450 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: and it was typically the same thing when you live 451 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 2: in grandma's house. It was like, this is an heirloom, 452 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 2: this is something you shouldn't sell. But it's like, hey, 453 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,239 Speaker 2: if you sell it, so you can scale it. And 454 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:24,560 Speaker 2: now it's when we sell grandma's house and we buy 455 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:28,000 Speaker 2: three four more properties, Now we have more properties. It's 456 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 2: pretty much the same exact thing. When you take on 457 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,960 Speaker 2: a partner. Now you can scale your business so you 458 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 2: can grow, but it's still yours. Continue. I just wanted 459 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 2: to make that clear to the order. 460 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 4: No, no, absolutely, because the point is this, in order 461 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 4: for us to get some things that we never had, 462 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 4: we got to come to agreement to doing things we've 463 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 4: never done. And so we knew we had great momentum. 464 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 4: We knew we had great opportunity to do something special. 465 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 4: But we also knew this, we need to help. The 466 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 4: Bible tells us what you have, not because your asks not. 467 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 2: That's not Monique and n I. 468 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 4: We are student. We are students of this life. We 469 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 4: are students of this blessing of life. And so and 470 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,719 Speaker 4: so we made the decision to do this. Raise our 471 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 4: hand right, and we reached out for help to help 472 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 4: us scale, to help us scale, and we understood that 473 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:22,879 Speaker 4: we had leverage because We built a profitable, sustainable. 474 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 2: From the ground up business. From the ground up. These 475 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: are the things that people don't understand. As a business owner, 476 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 2: you built it from the ground up, so you had 477 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 2: leverage to then bringing a partner scale it and still 478 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 2: have ownership these And this is what I try to 479 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 2: explain to my wife. When people get upset at us, 480 00:23:39,119 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 2: or get upset at you for selling out for example, 481 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:46,280 Speaker 2: you can't then get upset at them for not understanding business. 482 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:49,960 Speaker 2: You have a responsibility to empathize and then teach. Like 483 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 2: you said, we're doing. You guys are doing something that's 484 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 2: never been done before in the beauty industry. Of course, 485 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 2: you're gonna have naysayers and detractors because they've never seen it. 486 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 2: Anytime you break a glass, yep this and they say 487 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 2: it because they've never seen this. Years from now, history 488 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 2: will tell the story of Mayel and everyone will say 489 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 2: this is the blueprint. I want to applaud you. I 490 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 2: just want to before you continue. I do want to 491 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 2: applaud you as a couple who came from tragedy. My 492 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 2: wife and I have lost a child in uter row, 493 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 2: so we know what that's like. I watched my wife 494 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 2: have to struggle to get back to who she was. 495 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 2: To watch you as a man say you know what, 496 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 2: in this moment, I'm going to support my wife and 497 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 2: whatever she wants to do because it will help. 498 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 4: He's the pain. 499 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 2: I think it's something that's part of the story that 500 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,840 Speaker 2: needs to be told often. You didn't wake up one 501 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 2: morning and say, you know what, I want to be 502 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 2: a millionaire, so I'm gonna do haircare products. No, you 503 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 2: needed a distraction from real life because, like Melvin said, 504 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:47,439 Speaker 2: life be life in so through that distraction, now you 505 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 2: have a supportive partner who's not saying we'll get over 506 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 2: it already. He's saying, Yo, I got you, babe, go 507 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 2: do it. And now the two of y'all create an 508 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:56,919 Speaker 2: empire yep, and scale it. I think this is amazing. 509 00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: You're pretty much mental health protection and therapy and try 510 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: to get through it. 511 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 2: Which is why I'm excited to have you guys on 512 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 2: because we talk about this all the time on Dead 513 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 2: Ass podcast. But there needs to be other stories so 514 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 2: people realize we're not the anomaly. You guys aren't the anomaly. 515 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 2: Anybody can do it if you just first be a 516 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 2: servant to God and listen to God's words and when 517 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 2: he gives you a vision follower. So I just I 518 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 2: appreciate y'all. Your story is amazing to me. Y'all are 519 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 2: the blueprint. Kadeen and I stay purpose driven, yes, but 520 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 2: we're also entrepreneurs and we want to create wealth. I 521 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 2: don't want to pass just the house. I don't want 522 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 2: to pass an idea to my kids. I want to 523 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 2: pass wealth and be able to say to my sons, hey, 524 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,360 Speaker 2: you want to start something, Daddy got you. You don't 525 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 2: better go to the bank, come to mom and dad. 526 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 2: You know we got you. So I really want to 527 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 2: uplaud you guys. 528 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: And this is dope, super inspiring to super inspiring. All right, y'all, 529 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: I think this is a good spot to take a 530 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: quick break. We're going to hear some words from Mayel 531 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 1: and get back to conversation with Melvin and Monique. Stick around, 532 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: all right, and now we're back. We're back. So we've 533 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: heard so much about your story, about Mael's inception and 534 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: where you are today. Let's talk about what's going to 535 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: happen in the future. You now have that much bigger 536 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: of a team behind you. Guys. Where are your passions 537 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: leading you to now, what what can we expect for 538 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 1: the future of my own. 539 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 5: Knowing what we've accomplished for us, we like to say 540 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 5: that we're just getting started. You know, the best is 541 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,120 Speaker 5: yet to come, you know, as we approach our ten 542 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 5: year anniversary. You know, we have so much in store 543 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 5: that's coming down the pipeline with amazing partnerships, you know, 544 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 5: amazing activations. 545 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 3: I don't want to talk about you know everything. 546 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 5: I want you guys to stay soon and follow us, 547 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 5: to be surprised and delighted on the amazing thing that 548 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 5: Mayo's has coming down the pipeline. And more importantly for us, 549 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 5: it's also focused on, you know, our philanthropic initiatives as 550 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 5: a part of the partnership. What we didn't get a 551 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 5: chance to mention was the commitment that P and G 552 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 5: made to us to show how committed they are to 553 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,439 Speaker 5: our passion. And that's the community that has gotten us 554 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 5: to where we are today. So it was very important 555 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:11,160 Speaker 5: that when we set up the table and negotiated with them, 556 00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 5: it wasn't just about Okay, how can we create generational 557 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 5: wealth for our families, but how can we create generational 558 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 5: wealth for our communities? And how can you help advance 559 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 5: black and brown communities with education and more importantly, mental health. 560 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 5: We realized that a huge part of our success is 561 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 5: the mindset shift. 562 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 3: We had to shift our mindset. 563 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 5: You know, growing up, we came from an environment of survival. 564 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,959 Speaker 5: We were not taught to follow dreams and pursue dreams. 565 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 5: It was you have to survive, not thrive. And we 566 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,320 Speaker 5: want to be able to shift the mindset of our 567 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 5: community to show our community that you can be successful. 568 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 5: We can change that narrative that we can be black, 569 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 5: we can be successful, we can build great companies, and 570 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 5: we can have successful exists and you know, pass that 571 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,119 Speaker 5: down to generations, so the next generation doesn't have to 572 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 5: grow up thinking they have to survive. They can have 573 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 5: the freedom and flexibility to do whatever it is that 574 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:12,880 Speaker 5: they want to do. And so in order to have that, 575 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,120 Speaker 5: you have to shift your mindset. And so for us, 576 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 5: mental health is extremely important because we started with our 577 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:22,040 Speaker 5: neighborhood that we're from, the high school that we came from. 578 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 5: We know that those kids are in an environment where 579 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 5: they're not they don't have the ability to dream big, 580 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 5: and so to go back to that school to create 581 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 5: programs to help shift their mindset to make sure that 582 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 5: these kids are mentally sound so they can see two 583 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 5: people that walk the same halls as them, to do 584 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,719 Speaker 5: what we've accomplished, and to show that we're tangible, you 585 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 5: can touch, you can fill us with relatable people. And 586 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 5: this is what we were able to do because we 587 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 5: shifted our thinking and we want support that back into 588 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 5: the community that supported us. So the goal is to 589 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,720 Speaker 5: expand that program to multiple high schools across the United 590 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 5: States and continue on building up, you know, our youth, 591 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 5: making sure that they're mentally sound. 592 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: Wow. 593 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 2: So P ANDNG didn't only invest in the company, they 594 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 2: invested in your idea of bringing a better mental health 595 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 2: initiative to the community, which to me, I think is dope. 596 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 2: I think that's amazing. Yeah, because me and Coady always 597 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 2: talk about how our blackness should not only be defined 598 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 2: by the amount of struggle we've occured in life, and 599 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,640 Speaker 2: the minute you remove yourself from that and start to thrive, 600 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 2: that's when people want to call you a sellout. So 601 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 2: it's like, I'm only black if I'm struggling. The minute 602 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 2: I'm no longer struggling, now now I'm gonna sell out. 603 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 2: I agree with you changing that mindset from a young 604 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 2: age is the way you build future leaders. 605 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 4: That's what's what I'm gonna tell you all this for 606 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 4: your listeners. M change your mind, change your life, walk 607 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 4: with Christ and watch what he would do on your life. 608 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:50,959 Speaker 1: I love that, love that. Thank y'all so much for 609 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: your time today. I hope you had a great time 610 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:55,600 Speaker 1: chatting with us, and I hope our listeners have more 611 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: insight into my l and all of your efforts. Just 612 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 1: to round things out, how can people connect with your efforts? 613 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,080 Speaker 1: I know we have some things going on in schools, 614 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 1: but is there anywhere specific that they can go to 615 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,920 Speaker 1: to get more information about what's available to them in 616 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: their community or specific areas. 617 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 5: Yes, so of course they can follow us at Mayel 618 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,719 Speaker 5: Organics on all social media platforms, and then we have 619 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,320 Speaker 5: Mayo Dot Cares and then Melvin and I social media 620 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 5: mizes at Exquisite Mode and Melvin's is the Melvin Rodriguez 621 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 5: All right. 622 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 1: Continue to protect yourselves, protect each other, protect your family, 623 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:33,120 Speaker 1: protect your brand, protect your community. We love you guys. 624 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: You know where to follow Mayel and their story emine 625 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: Y Podcast. What'll see y'all soon. 626 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 2: Appreciate y'all chirst, take Care. Dead Ass is a production 627 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 2: of iHeartMedia podcast network and its produced by Donor, Opinia 628 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 2: and Triple Follow the podcast on social media at dead ass, 629 00:30:53,080 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 2: the podcasts, and Never miss a Thing