1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 1: If you're about to make a change in your life 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: and you feel uncomfortable, that's the best feeling you can have. 3 00:00:08,140 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: Because for the first time in your life, you're making 4 00:00:10,380 --> 00:00:13,750 Speaker 1: a decision that's going to be best for you and 5 00:00:13,790 --> 00:00:16,510 Speaker 1: not what somebody told you to do. And that's when 6 00:00:16,850 --> 00:00:20,030 Speaker 1: all bets are off. Welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass. 7 00:00:20,110 --> 00:00:23,270 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Rashawn McDonald. Our theme is there's no 8 00:00:23,350 --> 00:00:26,350 Speaker 1: perfect time to start following your dreams. I recognize that 9 00:00:26,370 --> 00:00:29,220 Speaker 1: we all have different definitions of success. For you, it 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: may be the size of your paycheck. It's time to 11 00:00:31,420 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: stop reading other people's success stories and start living your own. 12 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:42,310 Speaker 1: Keep winning. Hi, I'm Rashawn McDonough. I host the weekly 13 00:00:42,350 --> 00:00:46,949 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation Masterclass show. The information and interviews that 14 00:00:46,990 --> 00:00:50,089 Speaker 1: this show provides really is for everyone. That means you. 15 00:00:50,670 --> 00:00:52,949 Speaker 1: It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and 16 00:00:52,979 --> 00:00:55,500 Speaker 1: start living your own. My guest is starring in the 17 00:00:55,580 --> 00:00:59,380 Speaker 1: NAACP nominated series, The Black Hamptons, and you can find 18 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,650 Speaker 1: it on BET. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Masterclass 19 00:01:02,670 --> 00:01:06,170 Speaker 1: because we have a lot to talk about. Karan Joseph Riley. 20 00:01:06,450 --> 00:01:07,010 Speaker 1: How you doing, sir? 21 00:01:08,569 --> 00:01:10,430 Speaker 2: It's your love, King. How you doing? I'm doing great. 22 00:01:10,490 --> 00:01:13,650 Speaker 1: Well, you know, first of all, you have a naturally 23 00:01:13,950 --> 00:01:19,030 Speaker 1: uplifting smile. You know, where'd you get it from? Who's 24 00:01:19,060 --> 00:01:20,220 Speaker 1: taking credit for that, mom or dad? 25 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 2: I got to give all credit to my mother. She's 26 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 2: with the ancestors now, man. And I'd be remiss if 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:29,830 Speaker 2: I don't give her and the rest of my ancestors 28 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:32,110 Speaker 2: all the credit for everything I'm doing now in this time. 29 00:01:32,170 --> 00:01:36,450 Speaker 1: You know, when I encountered our relationship, you know, first 30 00:01:36,470 --> 00:01:38,569 Speaker 1: of all, it was always visual. You know, you're on screen. 31 00:01:38,590 --> 00:01:41,030 Speaker 1: You know, you was an athlete, you know, and I've 32 00:01:41,050 --> 00:01:43,770 Speaker 1: been a sports fan. And so, but when you talk 33 00:01:43,810 --> 00:01:47,090 Speaker 1: about who you really are, something that we can relate 34 00:01:47,130 --> 00:01:49,700 Speaker 1: to is that I have sickle cell trait. And I 35 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,980 Speaker 1: want to start our conversation with there because of the 36 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:54,820 Speaker 1: fact that we know the sickle cell disease, which is 37 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:58,940 Speaker 1: also an extended form of the trait, paralyzes a lot 38 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: of people, in particular African-Americans in the United States. Tell 39 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,460 Speaker 1: us about your sickle cell background. 40 00:02:05,620 --> 00:02:08,710 Speaker 2: Speaking of, we just mentioned my mother. She is the 41 00:02:09,250 --> 00:02:11,950 Speaker 2: one who birthed me and the one who gave me 42 00:02:11,970 --> 00:02:14,210 Speaker 2: the trait as well. But I made a promise to 43 00:02:14,250 --> 00:02:16,790 Speaker 2: my mother. She passed away from sickle cell maybe 10, 44 00:02:16,790 --> 00:02:22,190 Speaker 2: 12 years ago now. but she lived to be 65 45 00:02:22,190 --> 00:02:26,020 Speaker 2: with the actual sickle cell thalassemia disease, which you and 46 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,620 Speaker 2: I both know is a miracle in itself. They told 47 00:02:29,660 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 2: her in college when she was doing her finals, when 48 00:02:32,139 --> 00:02:34,340 Speaker 2: she went to get her physical exam, they said, Angela, 49 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,190 Speaker 2: you should probably not even worry about having no kids, 50 00:02:37,210 --> 00:02:40,090 Speaker 2: worrying about anything other than that. Just stay present for 51 00:02:40,110 --> 00:02:43,250 Speaker 2: your day because you probably won't make it to 25. 52 00:02:43,250 --> 00:02:44,930 Speaker 2: And my mother used to tell me that story all 53 00:02:44,970 --> 00:02:47,250 Speaker 2: the time. And I said, mama, what did you do 54 00:02:47,290 --> 00:02:48,839 Speaker 2: when she's in the doctor told you that? She said, 55 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,660 Speaker 2: I ain't pay that. I didn't pay that white man 56 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,820 Speaker 2: no mind. I went and did my, I went, I 57 00:02:52,860 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: went and took my finals and, and, and you and 58 00:02:55,860 --> 00:02:59,350 Speaker 2: your two other brothers is sitting here and it's testament that, um, 59 00:03:00,220 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: He didn't know what he was talking about. And that's 60 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,580 Speaker 2: just who we are, baby. Don't let nobody tell you 61 00:03:04,620 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: who you are. You tell the world who you are 62 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: and show them. 63 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:10,370 Speaker 1: And that motivation, when you're hearing it from your mom, 64 00:03:10,630 --> 00:03:14,370 Speaker 1: hearing it from her, as you grow older and educate yourself, 65 00:03:14,630 --> 00:03:16,810 Speaker 1: you gain a lot more respect, I'm sure, with what 66 00:03:16,830 --> 00:03:17,950 Speaker 1: she had to deal with. 67 00:03:19,070 --> 00:03:20,540 Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. Well, I live with it every day, man. 68 00:03:20,580 --> 00:03:25,450 Speaker 2: You didn't know. Every day you lived with. the thought 69 00:03:25,510 --> 00:03:28,650 Speaker 2: of the other shoe dropping, right? Because I've seen my 70 00:03:28,690 --> 00:03:31,710 Speaker 2: mother go through crisis. I've seen a great moment in 71 00:03:31,770 --> 00:03:35,260 Speaker 2: our life turn into a nightmare, seemingly out of nowhere 72 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 2: because of a crisis from sickle cell. So I spent 73 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: my whole childhood in my early adult life, basically holding 74 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:44,100 Speaker 2: my breath, just waiting for that phone call that, you know, 75 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:46,290 Speaker 2: my mom had a severe crisis and she's no longer 76 00:03:46,330 --> 00:03:48,970 Speaker 2: with us. But fortunately, like I said, she made it 77 00:03:48,990 --> 00:03:51,870 Speaker 2: to 65. And one of the promises that I made 78 00:03:51,930 --> 00:03:56,020 Speaker 2: her was, If I can stop this disease, I'll stop it. 79 00:03:56,610 --> 00:04:00,030 Speaker 2: And I believe this disease can be stopped with just education, Rashawn. 80 00:04:00,070 --> 00:04:03,090 Speaker 2: We have to learn how to educate ourselves on our self. 81 00:04:04,170 --> 00:04:06,470 Speaker 2: Our self-knowledge of self is really where we can cure 82 00:04:06,710 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: every disease of our culture, in my opinion, starting with 83 00:04:10,020 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: sickle cell, right? Every woman I dated before I met 84 00:04:13,780 --> 00:04:16,140 Speaker 2: my wife, up until my wife, I asked, the first 85 00:04:16,180 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 2: question I asked was, what's your sickle cell status? And 86 00:04:18,740 --> 00:04:22,620 Speaker 2: some sisters was, taking a back bite because they really 87 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,600 Speaker 2: didn't understand what I was asking. But most sisters actually knew, 88 00:04:25,620 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 2: which was a testament to those sisters and their families' 89 00:04:28,460 --> 00:04:32,740 Speaker 2: communication styles. And kudos to them as well, because as 90 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,260 Speaker 2: you know, I'm a celebrity spokesman for the Sickle Cell 91 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:37,820 Speaker 2: Foundation here in Georgia. And every year I go out 92 00:04:37,850 --> 00:04:40,330 Speaker 2: to the camp, I talk to the children. I deal 93 00:04:40,350 --> 00:04:43,150 Speaker 2: with the parents, the adults. And I've had conversations with 94 00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:45,470 Speaker 2: some of them. I'm like, did you guys know that 95 00:04:45,490 --> 00:04:49,750 Speaker 2: you both had to trade before you appropriated? Some said no. 96 00:04:50,029 --> 00:04:53,580 Speaker 2: Most said no. But there were some who went into 97 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:58,010 Speaker 2: it overstanding that they both had the trait. And it 98 00:04:58,050 --> 00:05:00,130 Speaker 2: was the thing of what's been happening to some of 99 00:05:00,150 --> 00:05:02,170 Speaker 2: our people in this country as well. We've been waiting 100 00:05:02,210 --> 00:05:04,410 Speaker 2: for some guy in the sky to fix everything. That's 101 00:05:04,450 --> 00:05:07,150 Speaker 2: not the case. We had to save ourselves. And they 102 00:05:07,270 --> 00:05:10,089 Speaker 2: also understand now at the time that, yeah, you made 103 00:05:10,130 --> 00:05:12,380 Speaker 2: a decision and this is the consequence of your decision. 104 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:15,900 Speaker 2: And I've been very proactive in not making that decision 105 00:05:15,940 --> 00:05:18,500 Speaker 2: and putting that on my children and also doing my 106 00:05:18,540 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: part to stop this disease. 107 00:05:21,210 --> 00:05:22,990 Speaker 1: You know, like I said, my wife, she has sickle 108 00:05:23,010 --> 00:05:24,590 Speaker 1: cell trait. I had sickle cell trait. We have a 109 00:05:24,589 --> 00:05:27,950 Speaker 1: beautiful daughter. Of course, there's a 25% chance that that 110 00:05:28,050 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: child that I have now who does not have sickle 111 00:05:30,380 --> 00:05:33,220 Speaker 1: cell could have had sickle cell. Now, when you go 112 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: through the whole part, like a good friend of mine, 113 00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: I'm going to call him a good friend, Ryan Clark. 114 00:05:36,980 --> 00:05:39,460 Speaker 1: He has sickle cell trait. And he talks about a 115 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,669 Speaker 1: lot of stories where high elevation gave him issues. I 116 00:05:43,690 --> 00:05:47,310 Speaker 1: believe the story to remove his spleen or something like that. 117 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: because of sickle cell. 118 00:05:48,339 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, he went to play in Denver. He went and 119 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 2: played in Denver. I played in Denver as well. 120 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,700 Speaker 1: So talk about, a lot of people think when they 121 00:05:54,750 --> 00:05:58,049 Speaker 1: just have sickle cell trait, they're good. But there still 122 00:05:58,230 --> 00:06:01,370 Speaker 1: is some medical issues can arise from that, being that 123 00:06:01,410 --> 00:06:05,550 Speaker 1: you are a high-profile athlete. Talk about those steps. Or 124 00:06:05,589 --> 00:06:08,220 Speaker 1: did you even worry about that? Or did you, did 125 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: the local trainers, were they aware of you having sickle 126 00:06:11,700 --> 00:06:12,180 Speaker 1: cell trait? 127 00:06:13,540 --> 00:06:16,630 Speaker 2: Well, that's the, that's the, that's the, the double-edged sword 128 00:06:16,670 --> 00:06:18,990 Speaker 2: to catch all of this disease. It's a black, it's 129 00:06:19,029 --> 00:06:21,230 Speaker 2: considered a black disease. So it's not a lot of 130 00:06:21,270 --> 00:06:23,390 Speaker 2: people who's going to care about how to help it 131 00:06:23,430 --> 00:06:26,420 Speaker 2: or fix it. So I was really literally on my 132 00:06:26,570 --> 00:06:29,460 Speaker 2: own as far as understanding the disease and educate myself 133 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: on it. I'm thankful that we grew up in Detroit, 134 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: Michigan up North, where the medical industry was on top 135 00:06:35,860 --> 00:06:39,180 Speaker 2: of it versus the South. When my mother moved down 136 00:06:39,220 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 2: to the South, it took us forever to find a 137 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:45,190 Speaker 2: doctor who could help treat her, her condition. And some 138 00:06:45,230 --> 00:06:47,010 Speaker 2: of the things that we were doing up north, we were, 139 00:06:47,089 --> 00:06:49,250 Speaker 2: we were doing blood exchange. We were doing some cutting 140 00:06:49,310 --> 00:06:51,150 Speaker 2: edge stuff. And my mom was living in Detroit. And 141 00:06:51,170 --> 00:06:53,330 Speaker 2: when we got to Georgia, we had to bring those, those, 142 00:06:53,410 --> 00:06:57,169 Speaker 2: those procedures to Georgia. And now they've implemented those procedures. 143 00:06:57,350 --> 00:06:59,210 Speaker 2: And a lot of the things they do for sickle 144 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,060 Speaker 2: cell patients here in Georgia, based on what they did 145 00:07:01,070 --> 00:07:03,060 Speaker 2: with my mother, because they didn't really understand what she 146 00:07:03,100 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: was doing, but now they understood it. And for us 147 00:07:06,060 --> 00:07:10,700 Speaker 2: as an athlete, I kind of innately knew like from research, 148 00:07:10,740 --> 00:07:13,710 Speaker 2: I knew I had to stay hydrated. So, I started 149 00:07:13,740 --> 00:07:17,100 Speaker 2: drinking a gallon of water every day since I was 16, 17. 150 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:17,340 Speaker 3: Right. 151 00:07:17,620 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: And I stopped. 152 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 2: I stayed hydrated. And as you know, high altitude. So 153 00:07:22,180 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 2: when I fly, I wear compression pants. I wear all 154 00:07:25,820 --> 00:07:30,260 Speaker 2: the things to help alleviate any of the symptoms that 155 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,700 Speaker 2: can happen, like blood clotting or anything like that. That's 156 00:07:32,790 --> 00:07:34,730 Speaker 2: one of the byproducts of having the sickle cell trait. 157 00:07:35,110 --> 00:07:36,830 Speaker 2: And also, I think that cost me some of my 158 00:07:36,850 --> 00:07:39,790 Speaker 2: draft status as well because of my status in college. 159 00:07:39,830 --> 00:07:42,070 Speaker 2: I should have been a first-round pick based on my 160 00:07:42,130 --> 00:07:44,570 Speaker 2: numbers in college because there's been no defensive end to 161 00:07:44,610 --> 00:07:46,190 Speaker 2: come out of college in the last 20 years with 162 00:07:46,210 --> 00:07:48,260 Speaker 2: my numbers who wasn't a top-10 pick. 163 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:48,500 Speaker 3: Right. 164 00:07:48,940 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: But you graduated from the University of Minnesota, correct? 165 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:52,300 Speaker 2: Yes, sir. 166 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: And an all-time soccer leader still. 167 00:07:53,700 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 2: Still to this day. 168 00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:58,830 Speaker 1: Now, with that being said, first of all, educate me. 169 00:07:58,890 --> 00:08:00,010 Speaker 1: What are compression pants? 170 00:08:01,540 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 2: Impression tans, I'm glad you don't know about them, but 171 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:08,020 Speaker 2: I call them old folks tans because you really wear 172 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 2: them to actually keep the circulation in your body moving 173 00:08:10,540 --> 00:08:13,260 Speaker 2: a little faster. It increases the circulation in your legs 174 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,580 Speaker 2: and your joints. So that was one of the things 175 00:08:15,620 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: that I picked up. I got COVID a couple of 176 00:08:17,420 --> 00:08:20,340 Speaker 2: years ago and the byproduct of COVID with my single 177 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 2: cell trait background caused me to have blood clots and 178 00:08:24,580 --> 00:08:28,210 Speaker 2: I ended up. basically almost costing my life, man, to 179 00:08:28,230 --> 00:08:30,050 Speaker 2: be honest with you. I spent three days in the hospital. 180 00:08:30,070 --> 00:08:33,010 Speaker 2: It was a scary situation. But thank God I stayed 181 00:08:33,050 --> 00:08:34,630 Speaker 2: in great shape and I was able to fight through 182 00:08:34,650 --> 00:08:36,770 Speaker 2: that and get on the other side of it. But 183 00:08:36,809 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 2: from henceforth, the doctor's like, wear compression pants when you 184 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 2: fly over two hours. Always keep yourself hydrated, as you 185 00:08:43,260 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 2: already know, and stay in shape and keep yourself in 186 00:08:46,460 --> 00:08:47,900 Speaker 2: tip-top shape like you've been doing. 187 00:08:48,100 --> 00:08:50,860 Speaker 1: Now, Karan, you were a professional athlete in the field 188 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: of football for roughly seven years. Mm-hmm. That's a lot 189 00:08:54,780 --> 00:08:58,620 Speaker 1: of physical punishment. But also you hear the word concussion 190 00:08:59,179 --> 00:09:01,690 Speaker 1: pop up a lot. I remember when I was growing up, 191 00:09:01,710 --> 00:09:04,850 Speaker 1: you know, they give a guy salt underneath his nose, whatever, 192 00:09:04,870 --> 00:09:07,089 Speaker 1: and they push him back out on the field. Now, 193 00:09:07,190 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: you were in a position of seeing this transition. What 194 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,710 Speaker 1: exactly is a concussion and did you ever have one? 195 00:09:14,340 --> 00:09:17,179 Speaker 2: I had one that was documented. I'm pretty sure I 196 00:09:17,179 --> 00:09:19,500 Speaker 2: had a couple of others that we didn't document because 197 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:21,949 Speaker 2: I was actually at the tail end of the NFL 198 00:09:21,970 --> 00:09:25,170 Speaker 2: when it was real football. We still did two-a-day practices 199 00:09:25,610 --> 00:09:27,410 Speaker 2: and when, yes, they would get you to smell and 200 00:09:27,429 --> 00:09:29,850 Speaker 2: salt and push you right back onto the field. I 201 00:09:29,910 --> 00:09:34,210 Speaker 2: played in the last few years of that era before 202 00:09:34,250 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: football became flag football, what it's known as now. 203 00:09:37,020 --> 00:09:37,439 Speaker 1: Okay. 204 00:09:38,590 --> 00:09:40,329 Speaker 2: I committed them on trying to make the game a 205 00:09:40,370 --> 00:09:42,860 Speaker 2: lot safer because it's just not a safe game at all, man. 206 00:09:42,980 --> 00:09:46,220 Speaker 2: Concussion is basically trauma to your brain, man. When your 207 00:09:46,260 --> 00:09:48,700 Speaker 2: brain moves and hits the inside of your skull, that's 208 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 2: what a concussion is. And to be honest with you, 209 00:09:51,540 --> 00:09:53,970 Speaker 2: football is probably one of those sports that if it's 210 00:09:53,990 --> 00:09:56,110 Speaker 2: still around in 20 years, I'll be surprised. 211 00:09:56,470 --> 00:09:59,589 Speaker 1: There's certain rating records every time they pop on TV, 212 00:09:59,710 --> 00:10:02,030 Speaker 1: so it's going to be hard to push the number 213 00:10:02,110 --> 00:10:05,670 Speaker 1: one television show off of television. It's going to be hard. 214 00:10:06,030 --> 00:10:08,410 Speaker 1: And that is going to be streaming. Like they say, 215 00:10:08,429 --> 00:10:10,250 Speaker 1: they follow the books. It kind of reminds me of 216 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:14,179 Speaker 1: those old gladiators, you know. So I see this as 217 00:10:14,220 --> 00:10:16,060 Speaker 1: just kind of like the world that we live in now. 218 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:20,100 Speaker 1: The reality is, is that professional football, which is the NFL, 219 00:10:20,380 --> 00:10:23,819 Speaker 1: is that gladiator moment that we saw in the Roman Coliseum. 220 00:10:24,140 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: You participated in that. Being an athlete, a high-profile athlete, 221 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:30,740 Speaker 1: because a lot of people, you know, they dream for 222 00:10:30,780 --> 00:10:34,490 Speaker 1: what you participated in. What were the high and what 223 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:37,050 Speaker 1: were the low of that level of participating in the NFL? 224 00:10:38,710 --> 00:10:40,850 Speaker 2: I tell people all the time, playing in the NFL 225 00:10:40,870 --> 00:10:43,790 Speaker 2: was my best and my most favorite part-time job. 226 00:10:43,870 --> 00:10:44,490 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 227 00:10:45,670 --> 00:10:50,630 Speaker 2: It literally was a dream that was realized. And shortly 228 00:10:50,710 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 2: after realizing the dream, I realized that it was a nightmare. 229 00:10:55,380 --> 00:10:58,380 Speaker 2: And I say that because my first passion has always 230 00:10:58,420 --> 00:11:02,460 Speaker 2: been to act into entertain and be a personality the 231 00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:04,060 Speaker 2: way I've been blessed to have one. 232 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:04,340 Speaker 3: Right. 233 00:11:04,820 --> 00:11:07,900 Speaker 2: And sports came into my life second. So football was 234 00:11:07,980 --> 00:11:12,500 Speaker 2: my second sport. Basketball was my true love. Now, how 235 00:11:12,580 --> 00:11:15,770 Speaker 2: I depict it too is, I'll play basketball for free. 236 00:11:16,450 --> 00:11:20,030 Speaker 2: I'll never play football for free. Also, you know, you 237 00:11:20,170 --> 00:11:25,309 Speaker 2: love something or not. So for me, it was a 238 00:11:25,370 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 2: great experience, great lessons. I got to rub elbows and 239 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,460 Speaker 2: talk to a lot of successful men that have the 240 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 2: same mindset. And I still have a great brotherhood from 241 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:37,500 Speaker 2: that time in my life. And I also learned a 242 00:11:37,500 --> 00:11:39,939 Speaker 2: lot of valuable lessons in business and just learning how 243 00:11:39,980 --> 00:11:43,150 Speaker 2: those billionaires and those people on those teams operate their 244 00:11:43,170 --> 00:11:47,150 Speaker 2: teams and operate the game. You know, I always knew 245 00:11:47,170 --> 00:11:49,430 Speaker 2: that my career was not going to be as long 246 00:11:49,650 --> 00:11:52,590 Speaker 2: as some other guys, just based on my outside interests. 247 00:11:53,030 --> 00:11:54,890 Speaker 2: When I went to the top line, they asked me 248 00:11:54,990 --> 00:11:57,670 Speaker 2: straight up, like, what's your plans for after football? And 249 00:11:58,470 --> 00:12:01,150 Speaker 2: in hindsight, if I'd have answered the question different, I 250 00:12:01,170 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 2: might not have got a red mark on my report, 251 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,339 Speaker 2: but my remark was, when I finish playing football, I'm 252 00:12:06,380 --> 00:12:08,359 Speaker 2: going to go to Hollywood and take it over. And 253 00:12:09,740 --> 00:12:12,380 Speaker 2: I looked at me like, oh, so you do have plans. 254 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:15,380 Speaker 2: And I'm like, absolutely, sir. So he was like, so 255 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:17,380 Speaker 2: you want to be an actor when you retire from football? 256 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,020 Speaker 2: I said, no, I'm going to be an actor when 257 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:20,020 Speaker 2: I retire from football. 258 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: I don't do wants. 259 00:12:21,260 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: I do what I do. 260 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: Wow. You know, sometimes when you show confidence, it makes 261 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,650 Speaker 1: people nervous. But the thing about it, when I look 262 00:12:29,710 --> 00:12:32,690 Speaker 1: at you, Karan, you know, good-looking guy, why don't I 263 00:12:32,710 --> 00:12:35,369 Speaker 1: see you on the NFL Network, you know, chopping it 264 00:12:35,450 --> 00:12:37,390 Speaker 1: up with that? What's up with that now? You know, 265 00:12:37,630 --> 00:12:40,830 Speaker 1: because you're smart, you know the brain, you're articulate. Come 266 00:12:40,910 --> 00:12:42,770 Speaker 1: on now. Why don't I see you on the NFL Network? 267 00:12:44,050 --> 00:12:45,829 Speaker 2: You know, what's funny is when I retired and I 268 00:12:45,850 --> 00:12:49,630 Speaker 2: was transitioning to acting, I had been doing sports shows 269 00:12:49,970 --> 00:12:53,290 Speaker 2: while I was actively playing to get myself comfortable in 270 00:12:53,350 --> 00:12:56,310 Speaker 2: front of the camera, right? So my natural thought was 271 00:12:56,429 --> 00:13:00,350 Speaker 2: I'm going to do sports radio. Sports TV and act. 272 00:13:00,770 --> 00:13:03,449 Speaker 2: That was the plan. After I realized the politics that 273 00:13:03,490 --> 00:13:08,370 Speaker 2: was involved in sports television. And it doesn't matter how 274 00:13:08,429 --> 00:13:10,370 Speaker 2: good you looked or how well you spoke or how 275 00:13:10,429 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 2: intelligent you were. If you weren't a Hall of Famer, 276 00:13:13,890 --> 00:13:17,500 Speaker 2: you weren't getting the shot. And the realistic of it 277 00:13:17,580 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 2: is my NFL career was a footnote in my life. 278 00:13:19,740 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 2: Like what I'm doing now is going to be 10 279 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 2: times bigger than anything I've done on the football field. 280 00:13:23,740 --> 00:13:26,780 Speaker 2: And I'm thankful for that. Again, you have to love 281 00:13:26,820 --> 00:13:28,740 Speaker 2: this game. I don't even watch football anymore, Rashawn. So 282 00:13:29,020 --> 00:13:31,500 Speaker 2: for me to sit here and watch eight hours of 283 00:13:31,540 --> 00:13:34,459 Speaker 2: football every day and then talk about it, it's not 284 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 2: in my interest, man. I'm too self-absorbed for that. 285 00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 3: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more 286 00:13:41,110 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 3: Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money-Making Conversations 287 00:13:50,740 --> 00:13:56,730 Speaker 3: Masterclass hosted by Rashawn McDonald. Money-Making Conversations Masterclass continues online 288 00:13:56,890 --> 00:14:03,050 Speaker 3: at MoneyMakingConversations.com and follow Money-Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter, 289 00:14:03,110 --> 00:14:03,890 Speaker 3: and Instagram. 290 00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:07,890 Speaker 1: Now, you have a catchphrase, keep pedaling. Where does that 291 00:14:07,910 --> 00:14:08,490 Speaker 1: come from, baby? 292 00:14:08,510 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 2: It comes from, I'm an avid cyclist. I started riding 293 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 2: bikes shortly after I retired from the NFL and It 294 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:19,660 Speaker 2: was the first sport since football that challenged me on 295 00:14:19,700 --> 00:14:24,610 Speaker 2: a spiritual, physical level. On that level. And I found 296 00:14:24,630 --> 00:14:27,150 Speaker 2: that I still needed that in my life to continue 297 00:14:27,190 --> 00:14:29,990 Speaker 2: being who I was. But I just couldn't keep playing football. 298 00:14:30,410 --> 00:14:33,729 Speaker 2: So cycling replaced that. And at the same time, it 299 00:14:33,770 --> 00:14:35,930 Speaker 2: gave me a whole nother gift. It gave me a 300 00:14:36,010 --> 00:14:39,860 Speaker 2: gift of basically active meditation. I would always call it. 301 00:14:39,950 --> 00:14:41,369 Speaker 2: I would go out on these 20 mile, 30 mile, 40, 50, 302 00:14:41,340 --> 00:14:41,970 Speaker 2: 100 mile rides. 303 00:14:41,990 --> 00:14:42,060 Speaker 3: And. 304 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 2: I would undoubtedly come back. If I had a problem 305 00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 2: when I left, I didn't have it when I got back. 306 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,410 Speaker 2: If I was dealing with something I needed to figure 307 00:14:55,630 --> 00:14:58,650 Speaker 2: out at work, in the house, in my family, just 308 00:14:58,730 --> 00:15:02,190 Speaker 2: in life in general, man, the world, being out in 309 00:15:02,270 --> 00:15:05,590 Speaker 2: nature and on my bike, a place that's been a 310 00:15:05,670 --> 00:15:09,109 Speaker 2: place of freedom and joy for me ever since I 311 00:15:09,130 --> 00:15:11,370 Speaker 2: was four years old and I first started pedaling a bike, 312 00:15:12,370 --> 00:15:15,750 Speaker 2: It brings so much clarity to my spirit. And one 313 00:15:15,790 --> 00:15:17,710 Speaker 2: day I was riding, man, and my legs was tired. 314 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:19,070 Speaker 2: I didn't know if I was going to make it home. 315 00:15:19,110 --> 00:15:20,530 Speaker 2: I was like, man, I'm going to have to call 316 00:15:20,550 --> 00:15:23,570 Speaker 2: Terry to come pick me up. And a voice said 317 00:15:23,610 --> 00:15:30,310 Speaker 2: to me, keep pedaling. Keep pedaling. And I started seeing 318 00:15:30,350 --> 00:15:33,390 Speaker 2: a bigger view of that. And that voice was, at 319 00:15:33,410 --> 00:15:35,150 Speaker 2: the time I was doing this ride, I was at 320 00:15:35,170 --> 00:15:36,710 Speaker 2: a point in my career as an actor that I 321 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:41,980 Speaker 2: was a little down. I was a little discouraged. And 322 00:15:42,660 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 2: it all started to make sense. And it's like, yo, 323 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:48,780 Speaker 2: you can get home. You may not get there as 324 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,220 Speaker 2: fast because you're tired right now. 325 00:15:50,260 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: But if you just keep pedaling, you will get there. I, 326 00:15:54,940 --> 00:15:57,860 Speaker 1: I smile when I talk to you because it's somewhere 327 00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: along the line. And I just love the fact that, 328 00:16:00,230 --> 00:16:02,370 Speaker 1: you know, this is still by your mom, I'm sure. 329 00:16:02,410 --> 00:16:06,070 Speaker 1: And also watching her overcome the trauma that was caused 330 00:16:06,090 --> 00:16:08,810 Speaker 1: by her sickle cell and the very many crises that 331 00:16:09,230 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: confidence you, you, You seem so confident. Does that scare people? 332 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: Does that make people not worry about that? You could 333 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:22,170 Speaker 1: make a mistake and not understand it being this confident. 334 00:16:22,550 --> 00:16:24,950 Speaker 2: Oh, well, what another thing on a valuable lesson my 335 00:16:24,990 --> 00:16:26,770 Speaker 2: mother taught me, and I think this would be who 336 00:16:26,830 --> 00:16:29,810 Speaker 2: anybody who's listening. Don't worry about what somebody else is 337 00:16:29,850 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 2: thinking about you. It's none of your business. And it 338 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 2: doesn't matter how they perceive you, how most people are 339 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:36,980 Speaker 2: going to perceive you. They're going to perceive you from 340 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 2: their lenses. So they're not confident. My confidence might scare 341 00:16:40,740 --> 00:16:43,310 Speaker 2: the hell out of them. And that's OK. I don't 342 00:16:43,470 --> 00:16:45,950 Speaker 2: I don't. It doesn't bother me at all. It just 343 00:16:45,990 --> 00:16:48,310 Speaker 2: means you probably won't be able to hang around me long, because, again, 344 00:16:48,370 --> 00:16:50,710 Speaker 2: if you're afraid and what I'm in, my light is 345 00:16:50,730 --> 00:16:52,700 Speaker 2: too bright for you. Then I would suggest you go 346 00:16:52,740 --> 00:16:55,580 Speaker 2: find you some dimmer light that you can hang around. 347 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 2: Because I'm not the one. I'm never going to shrink. 348 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 2: I'm never going to change. And Rashawn, here's the kicker. 349 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:04,580 Speaker 2: I don't want anybody around me to do that either. Right. 350 00:17:05,380 --> 00:17:07,859 Speaker 2: Anybody who's in my life or in my circle, I 351 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 2: need you to be as bright as you can be. 352 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 2: I need you to be your full power because I'm 353 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,379 Speaker 2: coming with my full power. So let's let's put all 354 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,570 Speaker 2: our powers together and make something amazing happen. Right. 355 00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:19,169 Speaker 1: You know, which I 100 percent agree with. And I 356 00:17:19,210 --> 00:17:21,550 Speaker 1: like the fact that you're telling that to the people 357 00:17:21,570 --> 00:17:24,419 Speaker 1: who are listening or watching. Because a lot of people, 358 00:17:24,780 --> 00:17:27,420 Speaker 1: you know, black people in general, as you know, we're 359 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:33,440 Speaker 1: told to be humble. Don't be egotistical. Don't be too boastful. 360 00:17:33,820 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 2: Well, with social. 361 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:36,830 Speaker 1: Media and the world we live in today, I would 362 00:17:36,869 --> 00:17:40,090 Speaker 1: go back to the Muhammad Ali theory. Muhammad Ali told 363 00:17:40,109 --> 00:17:42,669 Speaker 1: everybody how great he was. And that has been the moniker. 364 00:17:42,950 --> 00:17:45,990 Speaker 1: Primetime told everybody how great he was. I call those 365 00:17:46,030 --> 00:17:50,570 Speaker 1: two guys the early stages of the branding experts. But 366 00:17:50,590 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: then I tell everybody, what do you think a commercial is? 367 00:17:53,540 --> 00:17:55,940 Speaker 1: A commercial is bragging about the best chicken, best car, 368 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: the best computer. So you have to realize that the 369 00:17:59,550 --> 00:18:02,469 Speaker 1: industry is based on bragging. We have to accept the 370 00:18:02,510 --> 00:18:05,410 Speaker 1: responsibility in order for us to get ahead of each other. 371 00:18:05,730 --> 00:18:08,109 Speaker 1: We have to tell people what we bring to the table. 372 00:18:08,369 --> 00:18:11,149 Speaker 1: And that's what you do better than any guest I 373 00:18:11,170 --> 00:18:13,450 Speaker 1: brought on the show so far because of the fact 374 00:18:13,490 --> 00:18:17,429 Speaker 1: that I see a bigger picture. Not saying what you 375 00:18:17,450 --> 00:18:22,050 Speaker 1: have now isn't big, but there's a bigger picture for you, sir. Absolutely. 376 00:18:22,150 --> 00:18:25,909 Speaker 2: I say I received that 100 percent. And also I 377 00:18:25,930 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 2: want people to understand this. What you say out of 378 00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 2: your mouth has work as power. And that's and that's 379 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 2: what the example Muhammad Ali showed me and what he 380 00:18:34,540 --> 00:18:37,950 Speaker 2: showed me was if you speak it. then it's probably 381 00:18:37,990 --> 00:18:40,670 Speaker 2: going to be, really, because once you put I am 382 00:18:41,130 --> 00:18:44,380 Speaker 2: in front of anything, the universe moves in that way. 383 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 2: I literally can tell you the moment when my acting 384 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,360 Speaker 2: career took the next level up is when I was 385 00:18:50,500 --> 00:18:53,139 Speaker 2: able to tell people when they'd met me. But this 386 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:54,909 Speaker 2: is when I was still hustling and having to, you know, 387 00:18:55,650 --> 00:18:58,010 Speaker 2: manage restaurants and do all the different things before my 388 00:18:58,070 --> 00:19:00,230 Speaker 2: acting career and my acting could take, you know, take 389 00:19:00,250 --> 00:19:02,870 Speaker 2: care of my family without anything. I had to do 390 00:19:02,890 --> 00:19:05,110 Speaker 2: a bunch of other jobs, which is the journey. And 391 00:19:05,690 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 2: I would tell people all the time, man, I'm a, 392 00:19:07,250 --> 00:19:09,650 Speaker 2: I'm a general manager. I'm an actor. I'm this, but 393 00:19:09,850 --> 00:19:12,230 Speaker 2: I always would preface it with what I was doing 394 00:19:12,250 --> 00:19:14,530 Speaker 2: in the moment. And the day I stopped saying any 395 00:19:14,590 --> 00:19:17,550 Speaker 2: other thing than I'm an actor, I'm a producer. I'm 396 00:19:17,570 --> 00:19:20,629 Speaker 2: a director. I'm everything I am. That's when everything just 397 00:19:20,650 --> 00:19:23,649 Speaker 2: started cranking up again for me. And I had to 398 00:19:23,690 --> 00:19:26,970 Speaker 2: remind myself of that after I actually played Muhammad Ali 399 00:19:26,990 --> 00:19:30,150 Speaker 2: in the movie. It recalibrated my spirit and reminded me 400 00:19:30,850 --> 00:19:34,790 Speaker 2: of what we are all here to do. We name ourselves, Rashawn. 401 00:19:35,310 --> 00:19:37,430 Speaker 2: And the world has to believe it at some point. 402 00:19:37,490 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 2: Every successful person from The Rock to Will Smith to 403 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: people you worked with in your past, they've all changed. 404 00:19:44,910 --> 00:19:49,290 Speaker 2: told the world who they were, and then they consistently 405 00:19:49,330 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 2: put in the work over time in a consistent manner 406 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 2: to where what they were saying who they were, their 407 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,740 Speaker 2: works lined with who they said they were and eventually 408 00:19:58,760 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 2: the world agreed. 409 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,870 Speaker 3: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more 410 00:20:03,950 --> 00:20:11,300 Speaker 3: Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money-Making Conversations 411 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 3: Masterclass hosted by Rashawn McDonald. 412 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:18,100 Speaker 1: We sit around and we debate our success or our 413 00:20:18,140 --> 00:20:22,690 Speaker 1: potential to be successful because people tell you, you can't 414 00:20:22,730 --> 00:20:24,369 Speaker 1: do that. That's not your life. Because I remember when 415 00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:25,730 Speaker 1: I left IBM and told people I was going to 416 00:20:25,750 --> 00:20:28,050 Speaker 1: be a stand-up comedian, everybody went, you're not going to 417 00:20:28,070 --> 00:20:30,410 Speaker 1: be Eddie Murphy. Who do you think you are, Richard Pryor? 418 00:20:31,030 --> 00:20:34,700 Speaker 1: So people always want to, whether they are intentional or not, 419 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,629 Speaker 1: will tell you what you can't do. And so you're 420 00:20:37,650 --> 00:20:39,750 Speaker 1: in a business. You are in a business. First of all, 421 00:20:40,470 --> 00:20:43,770 Speaker 1: nobody told you, oh, you're a member of Minnesota. Okay, there. 422 00:20:44,390 --> 00:20:48,780 Speaker 1: NFL or whatever. You had a lot of whatevers in 423 00:20:48,820 --> 00:20:56,439 Speaker 1: your life. Do you like put little notches mentally, little notes? 424 00:20:56,660 --> 00:20:56,980 Speaker 2: Whatever. 425 00:20:57,010 --> 00:20:59,109 Speaker 1: I told you. I told you. I told you. Because 426 00:20:59,130 --> 00:21:02,430 Speaker 1: I see Emmy. I see Oscar. I see Tony. What 427 00:21:02,450 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 1: the hell? In your life. 428 00:21:04,180 --> 00:21:06,389 Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. Broadway's in the future. Broadway's in the future. 429 00:21:06,410 --> 00:21:08,330 Speaker 1: New York Times bestseller. How about that? 430 00:21:09,350 --> 00:21:12,970 Speaker 2: All that's coming. All that's coming. All that's coming because 431 00:21:13,010 --> 00:21:16,350 Speaker 2: I've seen it as well. And give you a quick 432 00:21:16,390 --> 00:21:18,790 Speaker 2: story of that is when I was in the sixth grade, 433 00:21:19,570 --> 00:21:23,149 Speaker 2: I started practicing my autograph. And I would finish my 434 00:21:23,170 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 2: work in school and I would just sit there and 435 00:21:25,180 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 2: I would work on my autograph. One day, one of 436 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:30,290 Speaker 2: my teachers said, well, Karan, what are you doing? I said, 437 00:21:30,310 --> 00:21:32,330 Speaker 2: I'm working on my autograph. She said, why baby? I said, 438 00:21:32,350 --> 00:21:34,870 Speaker 2: because people are going to want it. And I need 439 00:21:34,910 --> 00:21:37,190 Speaker 2: to be prepared for when they want it, I'm able 440 00:21:37,230 --> 00:21:40,909 Speaker 2: to do it properly. And I would do that every day, 441 00:21:41,470 --> 00:21:43,010 Speaker 2: every day. And I remember I got to high school, 442 00:21:43,050 --> 00:21:45,409 Speaker 2: my first girlfriend in high school, ninth grade, I'll never forget. 443 00:21:45,430 --> 00:21:50,230 Speaker 2: She was like, Karan, ain't nobody going to want your autograph. 444 00:21:50,310 --> 00:21:52,949 Speaker 2: And I said, OK, the first time somebody asked me 445 00:21:52,970 --> 00:21:55,580 Speaker 2: for autograph, you know who I'm calling first? I'm calling you. 446 00:21:55,859 --> 00:21:59,220 Speaker 2: Fast forward to four years, my freshman year in college, 447 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 2: I started playing football. I started as a true freshman. 448 00:22:03,780 --> 00:22:05,479 Speaker 2: And I came out of my first time playing my 449 00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:08,020 Speaker 2: first game walking out the tunnel. We lost the game, 450 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 2: but it was people that wanted to talk to us 451 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 2: and get autographs. So this little kid said, Mr. Riley, 452 00:22:14,340 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 2: can I have your autograph? And I looked at him 453 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,500 Speaker 2: and I said, you talking to me? And he said, yeah. 454 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,340 Speaker 2: Can you sign this? I said, yes, I can. But 455 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 2: first I have to call somebody. Do you know, I 456 00:22:28,060 --> 00:22:31,300 Speaker 2: got on my cell phone right there, called that girl up, 457 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:33,300 Speaker 2: and she said, Corrine, what you want? I said, I'm 458 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 2: just letting you know right now that I'm about to 459 00:22:34,980 --> 00:22:38,669 Speaker 2: sign my first autograph of probably millions. So I just 460 00:22:38,690 --> 00:22:40,470 Speaker 2: wanted to let you know because I told you I 461 00:22:40,470 --> 00:22:42,929 Speaker 2: was going to call you. And she said, Corrine, you 462 00:22:42,950 --> 00:22:45,630 Speaker 2: make me so sick. And I said, yeah, you just 463 00:22:45,670 --> 00:22:46,930 Speaker 2: keep taking notes. Click. 464 00:22:47,910 --> 00:22:49,580 Speaker 1: Well, you know, the beauty of this conversation that I'm 465 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 1: having with you is that I can tell you Steve 466 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,210 Speaker 1: Harvey did that too. Steve Harvey did. If you sit 467 00:22:56,230 --> 00:22:58,770 Speaker 1: down with him, he'll tell you he was always practicing 468 00:22:58,810 --> 00:23:01,490 Speaker 1: his autograph, always practicing. People are always asking, why are 469 00:23:01,510 --> 00:23:04,189 Speaker 1: you doing that? Why are you doing that? Again, the 470 00:23:04,210 --> 00:23:09,180 Speaker 1: results is in the present day existence of his brand. Now, 471 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:11,220 Speaker 1: when I see you on TV, you know, I see 472 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:15,700 Speaker 1: this smooth brother, you know, this intense brother in shape. 473 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 1: You know, let me tell you something, man. You're the 474 00:23:17,460 --> 00:23:19,800 Speaker 1: type of brother, man, when I was running in the nightclub, 475 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 1: you made me mad. Because I knew. 476 00:23:22,380 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 3: I knew. 477 00:23:22,770 --> 00:23:25,590 Speaker 1: As soon as your behind walked in the club, 20% 478 00:23:25,590 --> 00:23:27,890 Speaker 1: of the room I lost, okay? 479 00:23:27,950 --> 00:23:32,670 Speaker 2: Hey, but you still have 60. 480 00:23:33,410 --> 00:23:34,149 Speaker 1: I had it going on. 481 00:23:34,190 --> 00:23:35,879 Speaker 2: I can't get you more than, I can't get you 482 00:23:35,940 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 2: over 50, I can't do myself like that. It's all me, 483 00:23:38,460 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 2: a glass half full, baby. I take my little 40 484 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 2: and keep pedaling. 485 00:23:42,420 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: You know, the Black Hamptons, you know, on BET. 486 00:23:45,980 --> 00:23:46,180 Speaker 2: Yeah. 487 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,500 Speaker 1: What led to, before we talk about that, let's talk 488 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,050 Speaker 1: about the journey to get to there. Because there have 489 00:23:51,090 --> 00:23:56,770 Speaker 1: been many steps, relationships, recommendations. You know, we all like 490 00:23:56,790 --> 00:23:59,449 Speaker 1: to go in a room and think we got it, 491 00:23:59,470 --> 00:24:02,070 Speaker 1: but people help you get there. And like I said, 492 00:24:02,109 --> 00:24:05,129 Speaker 1: Russ Paul was one of the initial people who invested 493 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:07,370 Speaker 1: his vision in you. Let's start there. 494 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely, man. I love that question, Rashawn. Dope question. Because 495 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 2: you said it all in the question, man. It's consistency 496 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 2: over time, working on my craft consistently all the time, 497 00:24:18,660 --> 00:24:22,979 Speaker 2: studying with different active coaches over the years. I certainly 498 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,980 Speaker 2: believe in the journey. And Russ Parr was one of 499 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 2: the first people, like you said, who gave me my 500 00:24:28,859 --> 00:24:31,540 Speaker 2: first shot as a film, as a movie. And I 501 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,820 Speaker 2: actually got to play with Kevin Hart and Megan Good 502 00:24:33,859 --> 00:24:36,750 Speaker 2: and those kind of folks. And I held my own 503 00:24:36,790 --> 00:24:39,109 Speaker 2: in the scene with those two people. And you see 504 00:24:39,130 --> 00:24:43,230 Speaker 2: where those two people are in the world. So immediately 505 00:24:43,330 --> 00:24:46,390 Speaker 2: I got confirmation in my very early stage in my 506 00:24:46,450 --> 00:24:51,710 Speaker 2: journey that I was amongst my peers. Right. Was I 507 00:24:51,750 --> 00:24:54,590 Speaker 2: on the same level at that time? Absolutely not. 508 00:24:55,070 --> 00:24:55,250 Speaker 3: But. 509 00:24:56,100 --> 00:25:00,620 Speaker 2: I tell people all the time, levels happen over time. 510 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 2: And young actors come up to me now, Karan, man, 511 00:25:04,300 --> 00:25:06,090 Speaker 2: I want to get into acting. How can I do it? 512 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,550 Speaker 2: And I always say, just start. You have to start. 513 00:25:09,730 --> 00:25:13,690 Speaker 2: And as you start, stay consistent over time and success 514 00:25:13,710 --> 00:25:16,689 Speaker 2: will happen. My pastor always says, success doesn't happen overnight, 515 00:25:16,730 --> 00:25:22,260 Speaker 2: but one night success happens. So the relationships, the consistency 516 00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:26,230 Speaker 2: in work, And all that culminated to the Black Hamptons 517 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 2: where it is now today. That started with a phone 518 00:25:29,859 --> 00:25:33,619 Speaker 2: call from what actually started with a conversation with one 519 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:38,660 Speaker 2: of the main producers of the show, Trey of Tridestine 520 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,460 Speaker 2: with N.D. Brown and Carl Weber and those guys. So 521 00:25:41,500 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 2: Trey and I were just sitting at a BET dinner 522 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 2: and we were just sitting there chopping it up like 523 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,700 Speaker 2: you and I would be doing. And two years later, 524 00:25:48,740 --> 00:25:50,379 Speaker 2: he calls me and was like, yo, Karan, I got 525 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 2: the perfect role for you. And I'm like, okay, what's 526 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,929 Speaker 2: the deal here? And he wrote this, wrote the series down, 527 00:25:55,970 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 2: told me what it was about. You know, black wealth, 528 00:25:58,540 --> 00:26:02,760 Speaker 2: black people thriving, black people doing everything other than drug 529 00:26:02,780 --> 00:26:05,300 Speaker 2: dealing and killing each other. I was I was in 530 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 2: I was I was in from the from the first 531 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 2: from the first sentence when he said that. And and again, 532 00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:14,740 Speaker 2: if I didn't have that relationship with Trey, I can't 533 00:26:14,780 --> 00:26:16,300 Speaker 2: say that I would be there. And if Rusty and 534 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 2: give me a shot on 35 and take it. I 535 00:26:19,420 --> 00:26:21,220 Speaker 2: can't say I would have kept going the way I did. 536 00:26:21,820 --> 00:26:23,740 Speaker 2: All these things had to line up the way they 537 00:26:23,780 --> 00:26:28,820 Speaker 2: lined up, and I'm thankful. And I never do anything 538 00:26:29,060 --> 00:26:30,160 Speaker 2: thinking it was all me. 539 00:26:30,770 --> 00:26:33,629 Speaker 1: Great. I tell you, Mr. Karad Joseph Riley, I want 540 00:26:33,650 --> 00:26:34,909 Speaker 1: to thank you for taking the time to come in 541 00:26:34,930 --> 00:26:38,290 Speaker 1: on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Not the first time, not 542 00:26:38,310 --> 00:26:41,410 Speaker 1: the last time. Little brother, you're in my life. 543 00:26:41,430 --> 00:26:41,830 Speaker 2: Big brother. 544 00:26:41,850 --> 00:26:44,210 Speaker 1: Tell Terry that's how it works out with me. That's 545 00:26:44,260 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: why she connected us on that, Terry being Terry Vaughn. 546 00:26:48,150 --> 00:26:52,220 Speaker 1: Found a director now. Still a great actress. Claiming the 547 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:57,060 Speaker 1: fame was Steve Harvey, WB series, sitcom series. But again, 548 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,400 Speaker 1: this show is about you. And the energy that you 549 00:26:59,420 --> 00:27:01,530 Speaker 1: brought to this show really only makes my listeners and 550 00:27:01,550 --> 00:27:03,690 Speaker 1: viewers a lot better. Thank you for coming on Money 551 00:27:03,710 --> 00:27:04,949 Speaker 1: Making Conversation Masterclass. 552 00:27:06,390 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me, brother. Love you. 553 00:27:10,830 --> 00:27:13,170 Speaker 3: Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money 554 00:27:13,210 --> 00:27:19,500 Speaker 3: Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Ruchon McDonald 555 00:27:19,619 --> 00:27:24,770 Speaker 3: is produced by 3815 Media Inc. More information about 3815 556 00:27:24,770 --> 00:27:30,570 Speaker 3: Media Inc. is available at 3815media. com. And always remember to 557 00:27:30,690 --> 00:27:31,729 Speaker 3: lead with your gifts.