1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: So I was doing an interview with Ryan Cameron. We 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: were talking about mental health and I said, yeah, Ryan, like, 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: I don't know what the big deal is, Like when 4 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:10,639 Speaker 1: you have a physical health issue, you go to the doctor. 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: Why are we so embarrassed? I said, we should see 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: the silence of shame. And it just rolled off of 7 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: our tongue in an interview, and I thought that's the 8 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: marketing in me. I'm like, good a minute, that's kind 9 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: of catchy. And so then I got the trademark and 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: made it a hashtag when people were really using hashtags, 11 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: and it started as a movement and turned into a nonprofit. 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: Everybody's welcome to butteron No, I'm your host. Brandon Butler 13 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 2: found her CEO of butter atl and today got a 14 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: special special guest in the studio. She's like, man, look 15 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:45,959 Speaker 2: she's already busy. This is this is mental health awareas month. 16 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: She's all over the place. I know you've seen on TV, 17 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: seen on the Breakfast Club, you. 18 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 3: See it everywhere. The one and only Miss Shanti Da Shanci. 19 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 3: How you doing this? 20 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: Heay, I can't believe I'm finally here. 21 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 3: I'm so happy that you finally here. 22 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 1: I am so proud of you, and it's an honor 23 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: to be on your show. 24 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 3: It's not a have you on my show? 25 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 2: Okay, Like you know, it's always it's always nice when 26 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 2: the legend knows who you are. 27 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: Oh please, oh no, come on, come on all right, 28 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: tl you're legendary as well. 29 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: No, Seane, let me tell you something. Okay, this we 30 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 2: finna do this, We're finna do. So what I've been 31 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: doing is I've been I've been putting people in chat 32 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: cheap et and having them write their bio. 33 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 3: So I'm gonna read you what chat cheapt says. Your 34 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 3: bio is about you. 35 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: You're in serious and you tell me if it's on 36 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: this is really I'm about to read your bio. 37 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: All I said was who is Shanty Does? Because there's 38 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 3: only one sh Okay. 39 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 2: Shanty Does is a well known figure in Atlanta, recognized 40 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: work in both the music industry and mental health advocacy. 41 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: Her career began in the music industry in the early 42 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: nineteen nineties, working with major labels like The Face Records, 43 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: Columbia Records, and Universal Motown. During this time, she played 44 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: a significant role in promoting artists such as outcasts Usher, TLC, 45 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 2: and eric Abad doing more. Her contributions under accolades, including 46 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: being named Music Execscative of the Year by Impact Magazine 47 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety eight. In two thousand and nine, after 48 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 2: nearly two decades in the music industry, Shanti shifted her 49 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: focus to mental health advocacy and she found it Silence 50 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: to Shame, a non profit organization aimed at eliminating the 51 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: stigma around mental health, particularly in communities of color. The 52 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: organization offers educational programs, community conversations, and resources to promote 53 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 2: mental health awareness. In recognition of her efforts, May fifth 54 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: was designated as National Silence the Shame Day in twenty eighteen. 55 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: Shanti's work has been a knowledged with several honors, including 56 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 2: her being named Top Change Maker by The Big Issue 57 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 2: in twenty nineteen and receiving the twenty twenty Multicultural War 58 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 2: from National Alliance on Mental Illness. She continues to lead 59 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 2: initiatives that bridge the gap between culture and mental health, 60 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: emphasizing the importance of open conversations and support. I'm just saying, Oh, 61 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 2: that's what chat Gibt says about you. 62 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 3: You've been out here doing the work. Congratulations doing your work. 63 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 3: You're doing the work on he congratulations, gradulation, thank you 64 00:02:57,760 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 3: means a lot. 65 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: How on track was that now because it's talking about 66 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: that stuff lot from music to now everything they're doing 67 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: in mintal health. 68 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: It was a pretty factual. That's there. 69 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 2: Look, look, let me ask you now again. You've got 70 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: like a really unique career path. You know, when you 71 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: think about how you start in the music industry, like 72 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 2: what do you think really shaped that approach? You know 73 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 2: for you early on, like how did you get and started? 74 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: But also how that kind of shape your approach to 75 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 2: get in the music business. 76 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: So for music, you know, I'm in Atlanta native as 77 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: well and grew up in Southwest Atlantawa school baby paid 78 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: for its elementary Southwest Middle Benjamin Mays High School, And 79 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: so I started like shadowing a family friend at V 80 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: one O three. His name is Ray Boy. He was 81 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: a program director at the time, and my sisters, one 82 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: of her close friends is married to him. And I 83 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: was like, Hey, I want to go to the radio station. 84 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: I want to go to do one to three and 85 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: hang out. I was like in the ninth or tenth grade, 86 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: and so he let me come up. And you know, 87 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: back in the day in radio it wasn't automated, so 88 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: they literally had karts. The music was in right, they 89 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: looked like eight track tapes. And so he let me 90 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: like organize the karts and do little stuff like that 91 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: around there, and he also let me go to a 92 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: concert with him and I got backstage for the very 93 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: first time. It was luth Evandros and Anita Baker Okay, 94 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: which was a really popular and little controversial tour at 95 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: the time. But it was just so exciting for me, 96 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 1: and I was like, I want to do what they do. 97 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: Like I saw people actually working with the artists, and 98 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,239 Speaker 1: I was like, that seems really cool. So I started, 99 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: you know, just learning more about the business. And then 100 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: when I went to college, I went to Syracuse University. 101 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: I majored in television, radio and film. So I really 102 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: thought I wanted to be a radio announcer or do 103 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: something in radio. But I started interning the summer of 104 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: my sophomore year at Capitol Records and working for a 105 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: guy named Keith Fry. He was vice president of Urban 106 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: Promotions at the time, so you know, he was, you know, 107 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: making sure all the records got played across all the 108 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: urban stations across the country. So he would have me 109 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: put together like little promotional campaigns that I literally facts 110 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: out to the staff. But I was putting together like 111 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: little promo flyers for like Hammer, BBCC one, and you know, 112 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: all the artists that we had at the time on 113 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: Capitol Records. So that was really dope. And I did 114 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: that for two years and then he asked me, you know, 115 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: he started consulting Full of Face Records. He was like, 116 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: LA read a babyface. They need a promotions director. Hi, 117 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: I know what those titles meant. He was like, do 118 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: you think you want an interview for the job? And 119 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 1: I was like, uh, yeah, interview. So I got hired 120 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: three or four months after graduating. First record I ever 121 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: worked was Player's. 122 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 3: Ball Legendary Players Ball by our Casts. 123 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: I mean you could not script it any better. And 124 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: then I also hit the road that fall with Tony Braxton. 125 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: She was opening up for Frankie, Beverly and May, so 126 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: I had to set up all her meet and greets 127 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: for conscious winners from radio. 128 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 3: What do you remember most about that time? Especially? 129 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 2: I mean again, you got to start with outcasts here 130 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 2: in Atlanta, Like, what do you remember most about Big 131 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 2: and Dre when you kind of started with Players Ball, 132 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: because I remember when I got my first Player's Ball single. 133 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 2: I got it, I got the single, it was on cassette, 134 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: I got Blockbuster Music. 135 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: That Navy, that blue cassette. 136 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: Blue cassette, and you know, that was my first introduction 137 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 2: that what became my favorite group of all time. 138 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: You talked to Maurice Garland. He says they're a duo. 139 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: But again, like, I remember, I remember how when they 140 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: were everything. 141 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 3: So what do you remember most about that time? First? 142 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: I remember they were just a little bad boys. They 143 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: were kids, you know, and they used to get on 144 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 1: my nerves. And I say that in the most lovely way, 145 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: but uh, you know, and meeting you know, Organized Noise, 146 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: Rego Ran and Pat, I was like, who are these guys? 147 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 1: You know? They were just lively and creative. And we 148 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: had this album coming out on the Face Records, and 149 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: it was the Christmas Album, and so most of all 150 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 1: of our artists had songs on the Christmas Album. And 151 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: I just remember like the DJs and people kind of 152 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: gravitating towards Players Ball and so they were like, this 153 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: is the one that's kind of getting the most buzz 154 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: in Atlanta, and so La was like, you know, We're once. 155 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: He obviously talked to everybody and they decided to make 156 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: that the single, and it was just full. They were 157 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: full of energy, you know, ready to work. They were eager. 158 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: I do remember that they were very hungry and eager. 159 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: But like I literally used to go on promo tours 160 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: with them and they would get on my nerves. They 161 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: would come banging on my door in the middle of 162 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: the not I'm like, go to bed. We got to 163 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: wake up early and go to radio tomorrow. Like they 164 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: were kids. Yeah, and I was young as well, but 165 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: I was like kind of the big sister in the group. 166 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: But I have fun memories of just kind of working 167 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: with them from day one. 168 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 3: And now look at that rock and rock and Roll 169 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 3: Hall of Fame. 170 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: Are you kidding me? I literally screamed when I found out. 171 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: I was so excited. But and I look at that 172 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: like the holy Grail of music. Right, It didn't get 173 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: any bigger than that in music because they've already they 174 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: already had Album of the Year, which not a lot 175 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: of hip hop artists get right, They got that in 176 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: what like two thousand and four, and so for them 177 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: to be you know, newly or about to be inducted 178 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: rather into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's 179 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: just it's kind of surreal for me. I'm so proud 180 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: of them. I'm not surprised. And it was the first 181 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: around of voting, which that, from what I've learned, is 182 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: like a really big deal as well. I'm just so proud. 183 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: I'm like a proud auntie, proud big sister. It's a 184 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: big deal for not only Atlanta but for hip hop 185 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: in general. Well. 186 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I was talking some folks, you know, on the team, 187 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 2: and I got some good relationships with the Outcast team 188 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: and Shout the Big and Dre and they were telling 189 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 2: me like they were like shot, they didn't even make 190 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 2: it in on her first round, and I was like, well, 191 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: Outcast is gonna make it end. 192 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna tell you, when I saw that Tribe 193 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: made it in it was just last year. I was like, Okay, yeah, 194 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: they have definitely paid the way, and you know, I 195 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: got obviously a lot of love for Tribe and the 196 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: guys talk about how you know, Tribe were big influences 197 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: for them even when they started, and so yeah, it's 198 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: really special. 199 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 3: What about your time with TLC, Like I know that 200 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 3: was I know that had. 201 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: To be special, absolutely, and so a lot of people 202 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: don't know that, actually Chile went to my high school. Okay, 203 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: so I met Chile when she first came to our school, 204 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: either in the ninth or the tenth grade. And then 205 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: I met Tea Boz, you know, once I started working 206 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: at the label, and they already were TLC when I 207 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: got to the label, because the first album was already 208 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: out on the TLC tip I had that. I think 209 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: I remember going to the video shoot for What About 210 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 1: Your Friends? So, you know, I had to kind of 211 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:19,959 Speaker 1: ease into it because you know, when you already got 212 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: your team and things are going, they're like, okay, who 213 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: is this new girl? You know, So it was a 214 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: little bit of that, and La was like, look, you're 215 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 1: my person, You're my promo person. Let's we go figure 216 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: this out. I'm just gonna kind of throw you out 217 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: there and let you work with a lot of different people. 218 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: And so I remember on the second album, Crazy Sexy Cool, 219 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: La told me, you know, you got to really get 220 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: out there and work this record on the road. And 221 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: so that was the first tour that I ever got 222 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: to ride on a tour bus with the girls, and 223 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: of course became really close to all of them doing 224 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: the crazy, sexy cool days, doing the promotions, and then 225 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: eventually doing the marketing on the fan Mail album. So 226 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: it was it was a dream come true. You know. 227 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: They were fun. Oh my god, they were franksters. They 228 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: were always like pranking somebody or throwing water balloons in 229 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: the hotel. I mean it was they were a lot 230 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: of fun as well. And then being able to work 231 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: with Usher was a dream as well. I literally remember 232 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 1: when we signed him, when he was like, I don't know, 233 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: fourteen or fifteen years old. I did a lot with 234 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: Usher in the early days, like a lot of promo runs, 235 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: a lot of like you know, performing at these holes 236 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: in the wall clubs. A lot of times it was 237 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: AJ who was his shout out to AJ who was 238 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: his road manager at the time, and myself and a 239 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,439 Speaker 1: couple other people, and we would just like hit all 240 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: of these markets, you know, Southeast regional tours and even 241 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 1: national stuff. And so being able to be a part 242 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: of his career was definitely something that I think is 243 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,200 Speaker 1: a highlight of my lifetime in my career because obviously 244 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,720 Speaker 1: what he's been able to do now and he's clearly 245 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: at the top of his game and still climbing. But 246 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: one thing I know about Usher is like Usher was 247 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: always determined. He knew exactly what he wanted even with 248 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: like flyers or promo items or anything. He wanted to 249 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: be involved in everything because he had a clear vision 250 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: of who he wanted to be as an artist. And 251 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: I respect that about him. And he's one of the 252 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: hardest working people I think I've ever worked with. So 253 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: you're talking to Usher, toc Tony Burk, I mean I 254 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: was like, okay, God, Like you literally allowed me to 255 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 1: work with some of the biggest artists in the world, 256 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: and sometimes I still have to pinch myself, but it 257 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: was an honor to be a part of their projects. 258 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 2: I've heard people say the term having to work a 259 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 2: record many times, And what's interesting is because you talked 260 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 2: about how you kind of fell into the role and 261 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: didn't necessarily there wasn't necessarily a playbook for you. Just like, 262 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 2: how do you define working a record? Like what did 263 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 2: that actually. 264 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: Mean for me? I would say in nineteen ninety three, 265 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: working a record literally meant trying to touch as many 266 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 1: people as you could, whether it was through hand to 267 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: hand distribution of passing out those Blue Players ball cassettes. 268 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: You know. We would literally get in traffic on seventy 269 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: five eighty five doing Freaknik and dis distribute everything and 270 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: pass it out going to clubs. You know, I was. 271 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: It was different. It wasn't a lot of women working 272 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: in rap promotions and street promotions at the time. So 273 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 1: I started my title. Even though it's promotion director, A 274 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: lot of what I did was work in street promotions. 275 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: So I would have to go into the Gentlemen's Club 276 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: on a Monday, find the DJ, make sure they would 277 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: plan our records, buying a drink if they needed it, 278 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: smooth the you know the radio promotions. I mean the 279 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: music directors and program directors at radio stations and our 280 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: parent company, our sister company. Rather it was Arista Records, 281 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: so we had regional promotions reps in each market. We 282 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: also had s three team reps, so I was that 283 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: kind of liaison between Arista and La Face. But what 284 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: I did too is I went and created a lot 285 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: of my own relationships and so we know how radio 286 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: promotions works. But the relationship was big for me because 287 00:12:53,679 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: even outside of what Arista was doing, I was able 288 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: to get records played just because I was cool with 289 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: the DJ so I was cool with the mds and pds, 290 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: which didn't always happen. You know, there's a lot of 291 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: controversy back in the day with getting records played. But 292 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: I tried to be grounded and I tried to just 293 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,959 Speaker 1: build solid relationships. I mean, like the Lake Pink House, 294 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 1: who was out of Chicago, who was one of the first, 295 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:19,959 Speaker 1: you know, folks to play outcasts in Chicago, or establishing 296 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: a great rapport with Sway and Tech from the Bay Area, 297 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: Greg Street. I knew Greg Street when Greg was at 298 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: KKDA in Dallas, and he was one of the first supporters. 299 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 1: And of course, you know, you had the DJ Jellies, 300 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: the Ryan Cameron's and those folks in the Atlanta area, 301 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: even when Shaka was working at Hot ninety seven and 302 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: Chris Love of Love before he became ludicrous, you know, 303 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: so I would literally go and sit in on their show. 304 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 1: So I was working twenty four to seven, but of like, 305 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: it wasn't a you know, eight eight hour work days 306 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: for me. It was like on like twenty our workdays 307 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: and going to the office calling everybody, mailing out product, 308 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: making promo shirts. I remember also, I think one of 309 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: the things that I would like to think that kind 310 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,079 Speaker 1: of helped put me on the map, especially with DJ's 311 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: and radio people, was the cookout that I threw for 312 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: outcasts in nineteen ninety four. It was a Southern playlistic 313 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: cookout and people still talk about that cookout to this day. 314 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: And it was before people were renting mansions. You know. 315 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: We got this mansion in Decatur and we literally had 316 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: people park at a church and we bust them over 317 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:30,200 Speaker 1: to the mansion. And when we had a staging set 318 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: up outside and before these people blew up, you know, 319 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: on the same stage, we had Biggie Usher outcasts, Craig 320 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: mac I want to say, I think Buster ROMs was here. 321 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: It was nuts, MTV was there, BT Raps City came 322 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: to cover it. We're talking nineteen ninety four, like before 323 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: Atlanta really blew up before everybody was here, and so 324 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: it was really something. And it was myself and my 325 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: intern at the time, who happened to be Jaha Johnson, 326 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: who went on to become a big label executive as 327 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: well as manager in the entertainment industry, and we kind 328 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: of made it happen. And again that was another pinch 329 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: me moment and it was just something really special, and 330 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: I think, you know, I wanted to do something different 331 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: for outcasts instead of just throwing a party at the 332 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: club like everybody else did. I was like, let's do 333 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: something different, and so it was the Southern Playlistic Cookout, 334 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: which look that. 335 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 2: That lineup is crazy, Like that lineup even right now. 336 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 2: If that lineup was to happen, that would be like 337 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 2: the biggest. 338 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: And so to go back to your question, to bring 339 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: it full circle, you know, promotions for me was trying 340 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: to do things that were unique and really thinking out 341 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: of the box. Right to me, promotions, marketing, it all 342 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: goes hand in hand, and so I was always just 343 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:47,960 Speaker 1: trying to make sure that I was consistent with the DJs, 344 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: with the program directors, and that I was always keeping 345 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: them in the loop, getting them tickets to concerts and 346 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: making them feel like they were a part of a 347 00:15:55,920 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: family with us. 348 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 2: We had a boy legendary Jerry Clark in here recently. 349 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 2: Shout out Jerry Klutk and he mentioned he said a 350 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 2: name that like really he said, yeah, shanty shoestring dos 351 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 2: And I got to ask you, what is shoe string? 352 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 3: What's a shoestring? 353 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: Nickname come from so okay, that's funny. So those that 354 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: know me in the industry, I'll go back to college. 355 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: So I used to have a hip hop show on 356 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: Saturday nights, and I also did like overnights at the 357 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: college radio station. And so when I was working at 358 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: home in Atlanta during the summers, I was going to 359 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: all these events and I was like, I need a 360 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: handle or a nickname or something right. And so I 361 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: wore a lot of sneakers. I still do. I wore 362 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: a lot of sneakers back in the day. And so 363 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: a friend of mine just was like, I gave her 364 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: the name T shirt. She never it never really stuck 365 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: with her, but she gave me Shoestring, okay, And so 366 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: I started having people call me Shoestring. And so when 367 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: I was working at the college radio station at SYRACUSEZ 368 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 1: eighty nine, I did Shoestring's hip Hop tip. 369 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 3: Okay. 370 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 1: So that was kind of like my version of you know, 371 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: so many things that happen now when you have you know, 372 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: these segments right on podcasts or some of the different shows. 373 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: So I did that in like nineteen ninety two. And 374 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: then when I started working at La Face, I was like, 375 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 1: I'm working with all these dudes and all these guys, 376 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: and so I wore a lot of baggy clothes and 377 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: stuff back then anyway, and so I was like, yeah, 378 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: just call me Shoestring. And it stuck. Every DJ like 379 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: Greg Street, all those guys Ryan, they only call me 380 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: Shoestring now, even it's a true story, like God rested dead. 381 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: When the night that Biggie got shot, I was at 382 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 1: that party in LA and I talked to Big like 383 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: maybe fifteen twenty thirty minutes before he left out, and 384 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: when I saw him, he was like, shoe String, what up? 385 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,719 Speaker 1: Like That's what everybody called me, And so it was 386 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,199 Speaker 1: like kind of a badger honor for me, just you know, 387 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: having a nickname. And I felt like, even though I 388 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:03,959 Speaker 1: wasn't an artist, I wanted to be cool, and so 389 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: it stuck and it worked. So those that still call 390 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: me Shustering, I know that they were like back back 391 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: there in the early days. 392 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 2: Which in the in the trenches, as they say, that's right. 393 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 2: The one thing I love to ask you too, is, 394 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,239 Speaker 2: you know, being a woman in the industry, who are 395 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 2: some other women that you know deserve credit or don't 396 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 2: get the credit they deserve for where not just Atlanta is, 397 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 2: but just hip hop music and journal is right now. 398 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: I think that's a great question. One of my dear friends, 399 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: Timbisa m Shaka, is someone that I always looked up to, 400 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: and she's worked for Beet for years now writing copy. 401 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: But before that, Tibisa is from Oakland or the Bay Area, 402 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 1: and she used to be the rap editor at Gavin 403 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: Okay and she helped us, you know, do so much 404 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: in terms of putting outcasts and organized noise and goodie 405 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 1: mob and all those guys on showcases and everything during 406 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: Gavin and so she was a huge I think asked 407 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: it just to the hip hop community because she placed 408 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: so many of these new artists, independent artists on stages 409 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: they wouldn't normally get to be a part of. And 410 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: so I definitely want to shout her out and give 411 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: her her props and credit. My former boss, Sylvia Rohone, 412 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: she's been a boss for years, starting out in radio promotions. 413 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 1: Now she's I think her title might be Chairman of 414 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: Epic Records, but she's been in the industry consistently, probably 415 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: like forty plus years now, right, and definitely opened up 416 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: doors and paid the way for so many people. Someone 417 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: to me that has really made a name for themselves 418 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: I would say probably over the last you know, fifteen years, 419 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: is Tracy Adams at Epic Records as well. And I 420 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: knew Tracy through her sister, Tasha Fox Adams, who worked 421 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: with me at Universal Motown. But Tracy's one of the 422 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 1: best radio people I think in the game. And she's 423 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,479 Speaker 1: worked a lot of obviously hip hop records and artists. 424 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: Oh gosh, who else? That's a great question. I wrote 425 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: a called The Hip Hop Professional and it was about 426 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 1: my career as a young woman climbing the ladder of 427 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: success in the entertainment industry, and I dedicated a chapter. 428 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you could go Mona Scott Young. I think 429 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: Mona's one of the best managers in the business. I 430 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: could go on and on. It's so many women. I 431 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: say all that to say, there's a chapter that I 432 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,959 Speaker 1: dedicate to a lot of women in music and entertainment 433 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,160 Speaker 1: that have paved the way and it's doing so many 434 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 1: great things. And then just of course, like artists like 435 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: Queen Latifa mc light, you know, being able to open 436 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,919 Speaker 1: up doors for the folks like Nicki Minaj and Dochi 437 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: and all those other folks I look up to so 438 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: many of my sister that actually were, you know, on 439 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: the creative side and the artistic side as well in 440 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:40,920 Speaker 1: hip hop. Yeah. 441 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 2: I had a chance to meet Queen Latifa late last 442 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: year at the ad Color Awards. She got like the 443 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 2: Icon Award, and that was the first time I had 444 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:49,439 Speaker 2: a chance to meet her. But yeah, her just her aura, 445 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 2: just even walking into the room, it was like, Oh, 446 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 2: that's why you're the Queen's. 447 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: And a lot of people don't know that. Back in 448 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: the early nineties, she and her partner shar Kim managed 449 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 1: Outcast for a brief stemp Okay, and that's where I 450 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 1: met Blue Williams, who was working for Flavor Unit, who 451 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: then went on to become Outcast main manager. 452 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 453 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: So yeah, oh well let's see, I had no idea. 454 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's amazing. Now, look, you're doing all this stuff 455 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 2: in the music business. You know again, you're working with 456 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 2: some of the biggest acts out there. You know, when 457 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 2: did you decide it was time to kind of start 458 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 2: to shift gears and get away from the music business 459 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 2: and start focusing more mental health and mental health advocacy. 460 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: So I think life happened. I get asked this question 461 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: all the time. If I had had the tools maybe 462 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: to manage through some of my stress and emotions, would 463 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: I still be working in music. Look, I'll be lying 464 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: if I said there aren't times that I, you know, 465 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 1: miss working in the entertainment industry. But it was around 466 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine and I was just dealing with 467 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: a lot of mental stressors and physical health stressors. My 468 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: mom was developing Alzheimer's. I had an uncle who helped 469 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: to raise me because my dad died when I was 470 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 1: a baby. My uncle had developed cancer. I was living 471 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: in New York City at the time, and I felt 472 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: like I was away from the family, wasn't able to 473 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 1: support the family. And then just things were kind of 474 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: stressful in the business for me and at my job. 475 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: And so I was riding uptown in a taxi one 476 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: day in New York City, going up to Harlem for 477 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: a meeting, and my whole right side went. I mean, 478 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: before this meeting started, we were just talking about and 479 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: means and different things. My whole right side, but it went. 480 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: I couldn't feel my fingers, my leg on the right side, 481 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: and my arm. So I went and got a bunch 482 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: of tests run and I had gotten diagnosed with what 483 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:34,919 Speaker 1: was called cervical spinal stenosis, but it was all the 484 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,719 Speaker 1: direct result of stress. Once I got my second opinion 485 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: from the doctor, and so I thought I needed back 486 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 1: surgery or spinal surgery. And I was just telling Sylvie 487 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: I didn't know if I could do this and that 488 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: at the same time, and I needed to be close 489 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: to the family. So I made a really tough decision. 490 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: I was executive vice president of marketing at the time, 491 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: making a lot of money, corner office, all of that, 492 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: and I just I stepped away. And my sister was, 493 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: you need to be home, closer to your support system. 494 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 1: You'll figure it out. And so I came back home 495 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: in twenty ten started doing a lot of community service work. 496 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: I started an event with my partner, Marlin Nichols called 497 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 1: at Alive on the Park that actually ran for ten years. 498 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:19,919 Speaker 1: We had ten great years doing that live music showcase. 499 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: And then I started doing some consulting. So I was 500 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: still doing a little music like I started consulting like 501 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: like R and B soul artists like Johnny Gill, Vivian Green, 502 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: Kelly Price. I was still dabbling in music, but then 503 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: I don't know why. I just felt like my spirit 504 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,119 Speaker 1: was guiding me more to nonprofit works, which I had 505 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: never done before. And I will say this, right before 506 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:47,400 Speaker 1: I left Motown and moved back home, and I think 507 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: this was like God moving in my spirit. I had 508 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 1: read where the city of Detroit had lost funding for 509 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: the city and state for their city more it's a 510 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: little morbid, but I couldn't imagine somebody not being able 511 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: to bury their loved ones. So I raised like thirty 512 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: forty thousand dollars I think it was thirty thousand dollars, 513 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: and I buried thirty people on my own for the 514 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: city of Detroit right before I left. And I thought 515 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,440 Speaker 1: because I had gotten people like Buster Rhon's Acon kid 516 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: Rocking others to donate, and I thought, okay, am, I 517 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 1: supposed to be doing something different with my life. So 518 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: that kind of started that trajectory. And then came back home, 519 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: started feeding the homeless and doing different events. And so 520 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:30,119 Speaker 1: in twenty fourteen, an unfortunate experience, I ended up talking 521 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 1: to my best friend one day. Actually it was her 522 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:37,360 Speaker 1: a horrific experience. She said it was the worst day 523 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: of her life. I was talking through it with her, 524 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 1: and I thought that we had kind of come to 525 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: a resolution of trying to find better doctors. But twelve 526 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:49,119 Speaker 1: hours later, she shot herself. It was horrible. It was 527 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: one of my best friends from like middle school, and 528 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: so I kind of blamed myself trying to see what 529 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: the warning signs were that I missed. I didn't know 530 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 1: a lot about mental health at the time, although I 531 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: should have because my dad took a his own life 532 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 1: when I was seven months old, but we never dealt 533 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 1: with it as a family. We hid all of that 534 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:09,679 Speaker 1: and buried those feelings. And so in twenty fifteen, you know, 535 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: I just kind of quietly went on a downward spiral, 536 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 1: even though I was still high functioning and I wasn't 537 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 1: showing that I was hurting, but I was hurting a 538 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:20,480 Speaker 1: lot on the inside. And I almost took my own 539 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: life in September twenty fifteen, and I knew I needed help. 540 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 1: And once I got the help that I needed, I 541 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: knew I needed to talk about it. Even my family 542 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: was like, why are you telling everybody you wanted to 543 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: take your own life and telling your business again. I 544 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 1: can't explain it. It has to be a higher calling 545 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 1: and a higher power, and I just knew that, particularly 546 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: even in this industry, you know, somebody needed to speak up. 547 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: And this was before the pandemic. You see a lot 548 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: of artists and actors and athletes and everybody talking about it. Now, 549 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: I'm not saying I started, you know, a wave of that, 550 00:25:53,359 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: but I do think that me being able to open 551 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 1: it up had a profound effect on others right to 552 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: some extent. And then I started Silence to Shame as 553 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 1: kind of like a hashtag. And so I knew that 554 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,439 Speaker 1: this would be my life's work. And the good news 555 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:12,919 Speaker 1: is I still dabble back in entertainment, just in a 556 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: different way. And like, you know, shout out to Stephen Hill, 557 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: who used to be the president of BT. He and 558 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: d Nice were well. Steven used to work for Dick 559 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 1: Clark Productions and so in twenty twenty two he was 560 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: doing putting together a set for Dick Clark's New Year's 561 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: Rock and Eve with d Nice and they chose Silence 562 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: to Shame, and so like I was in the middle 563 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:37,760 Speaker 1: of Times Square that's crazy, right, talking about Silence to 564 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: Shame watching the ball drop. And you know, our organization 565 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 1: has been awarded grants by the NFL Players Association, so 566 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: I get to interview NFL players around mental health. Or 567 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:52,680 Speaker 1: Carrie Houston, like six or seven years ago, first talked 568 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:55,360 Speaker 1: about her depression on our podcast, or like Jez talks 569 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:58,560 Speaker 1: about silence to shame Killer Mike, and so it's humbling, 570 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: but I feel like it's so dope that, like I 571 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:05,840 Speaker 1: was able to turn my pain into something purposeful, to 572 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: really be able to help our community and particularly underserved 573 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 1: communities as well. So it's been a while ride, but 574 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: I wouldn't change anything for the world. 575 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 2: Definitely sounds like I mean through again some terrible situations 576 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 2: and you know, I hate that you have to deal 577 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 2: with that. And we've all had moments. I know I've 578 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 2: dealt with, you know, a bouts of depression. I think 579 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 2: like most high performing people a lot of times, you know, 580 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: all kinds of people, but especially you know, when you're 581 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 2: out there and you're trying to like really push hard 582 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: to do certain things again, you get hard on yourself. 583 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,119 Speaker 2: You just start thinking about stuff and people are like, oh, man, 584 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 2: can't be anything wrong with that person. It's got to 585 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 2: be you know, everything's good. But like I tell a 586 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 2: lot of my friends, especially my male friends, now I 587 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 2: tell almost every single male friend I have, it's like 588 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,719 Speaker 2: bro getting the therapy hat, somebody to talk to, like, 589 00:27:57,880 --> 00:28:00,040 Speaker 2: you know, having grown up myself in the church and 590 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: all that stuff. Yeah, we don't talk about that stuff, 591 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 2: you know. And again, you think about just all the 592 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 2: things you deal with as a person, as an individual, 593 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 2: then you start bringing whatever your career path is. 594 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 3: And then if you have a family history, yeah you 595 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 3: have a family history of it. 596 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 1: But my dad was seven months old and my dad 597 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: took its own life. I don't know had we dealt 598 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: with it as a family unit back then, I don't 599 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,719 Speaker 1: know that I would have walked away in two thousand 600 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 1: and nine. I'm not blaming it on that, but who knows. 601 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,520 Speaker 1: And so I just want people to have healthier options, 602 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: healthier ways to cope, and that's what we do. It 603 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: sous to shame. We don't do direct services, so we 604 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: don't provide therapy. But even with the resources out there, 605 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: I find butter that not everybody is using them. Yes, 606 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 1: And so we educate and empower communities on the power 607 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: of healing and why you need these resources and how 608 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: you can access them because still a ton of socioeconomic 609 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,239 Speaker 1: issues and lack of access to care for a lot 610 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,960 Speaker 1: of vulnerable communities and populations. 611 00:28:52,480 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 3: Where the name South of Shane come from. 612 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:57,239 Speaker 1: Funny. I was doing a radio interview see it all 613 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: least back to entertainment, That's what I feel like. God 614 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 1: has a sense of humor. Right. So I was doing 615 00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:05,080 Speaker 1: an interview with Ryan Cameron and when he was on 616 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: another station, not where he is now, but we were 617 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: talking about mental health and I said, yeah, Ryan, like, 618 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 1: I don't know what the big deal is, Like when 619 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 1: you have a physical health issue, you go to the doctor. 620 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: I said, why are we so embarrassed? I said, she's 621 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: a silence of shame. And it just rolled off of 622 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: my tongue in an interview, and I thought, that's the 623 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,280 Speaker 1: marketing in me. I'm like, that's kind of catchy. And 624 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 1: so then I got the trademark and made it a 625 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: hashtag when people were really using hashtags, and it started 626 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,400 Speaker 1: as a movement and turned into a nonprofit. 627 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,720 Speaker 2: When you started getting to this different lane, especially outside 628 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 2: of the music business, and you had so much success, 629 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 2: was it hard for people to kind of see you 630 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 2: in this new lane now? 631 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,480 Speaker 1: Of course, Hey, you know, I'm sure they're re quiet 632 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: whispers and people like what is she doing? Like even now, 633 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: I still have people in my dms like can I 634 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: send you my music? I'm like, I couldn't tell you 635 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: now how to market your record? You know, what are 636 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 1: you doing? But yeah, I think a lot of people 637 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:04,320 Speaker 1: were not sure and uncertain, and I handed you a book. 638 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: I wrote a short book called Silencing My Shame. And 639 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: even you know, my late sister who was my confidant 640 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 1: and teacher and spiritual guidance counselor and all of that combined. 641 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: When I was writing the manuscript, she was like, you 642 00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 1: sure you want to do this? Like you want to 643 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: you know, put yourself out there like that, and I said, yeah, 644 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: I do. And it was again, it was divine intervention. 645 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 1: And so I think, now, obviously it's interesting because I 646 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: used to, you know, walk through the airport or i'd 647 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: be out in an event and they'll go, oh, the 648 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 1: face records or outcasts or usher. And now people will go, 649 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: are you a silence a shame lady? I'm like, yes, ma'am, 650 00:30:44,520 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: and I'm a targeting older lady was just like, I 651 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: just want to thank you for the work that you're doing, 652 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 1: and blah blah blah blah blah, or you know, two 653 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: years ago, I'm at the airport in Atlanta, six in 654 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 1: the morning, waiting on a flight, getting some breakfast, and 655 00:30:57,400 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 1: this lady was like, you're shinty dog silence a shame 656 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: said yes, ma'am, she said, my husband is here because 657 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,280 Speaker 1: of you and your organization, and like we both like 658 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:07,960 Speaker 1: crying in the morning at six o'clock. So I'm very 659 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: humbled and I think I have and my team is 660 00:31:12,520 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 1: doing such a great job with our programming and shout 661 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: out to the Silence of Shame staff, like, I am 662 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: definitely in this now, in this space, this wellness space, 663 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,360 Speaker 1: if you will off for the long run, I want 664 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: to make sure I can see Silence to Shame grow exponentially. 665 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: I was just having a conversation with John Hopebrian and 666 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: my buddy Rodney Bullard, and Rodney works in the nonprofit 667 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: space now too, and obviously John is a successful businessman, 668 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:43,239 Speaker 1: and I'm like, people don't always look at nonprofits as 669 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: a business, you know, but you know, we have payroll salaries, 670 00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 1: you know, so we have to raise money, and so 671 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 1: I'm just hoping for that harvest to come in for 672 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: the organization because we're doing such great work but I'm 673 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: grateful to even be able to share about the work 674 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: that we do on platforms like but A No Mix, 675 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: and you know, just trying to encourage the community to 676 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 1: support you know, grassroots organizations that hopefully can become those 677 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: large nonprofits at some point because we are doing the work. No. 678 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely, we see you out there doing the work all 679 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 2: the time and advocating for it. And again I think that, yeah, 680 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 2: you've definitely helped, I want to say, make it more mainstream, 681 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 2: but just giving people another avenue to kind of understand that, yeah, 682 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 2: this is something they need to think about. Your mental 683 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 2: health is important and their wellness is important, and you know, 684 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,640 Speaker 2: you got to pay attention to those things because you know, 685 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 2: without your health, you don't have anything not I don't 686 00:32:29,120 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 2: think when you're young, you're running around, you think you're invincible, 687 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 2: right right, you'd be surprised that the kind of things 688 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:36,920 Speaker 2: that you know could actually impact you. You think it 689 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 2: could be physical, it could definitely be mental as well. 690 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And then given the way the world is going 691 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: right now, you know, you wake up, you look at 692 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: social media like, oh gosh, you know every day is 693 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: something different that could really stress you out and hinder 694 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: you from being able to go to work or you know, 695 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 1: be there for your kids and your spouse. And so 696 00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 1: it's a lot that keeps us under a lot of 697 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: stress and pressure these days. And so that is another 698 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 1: reason why, right, that it's important that we take care 699 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: of ourselves, that we pour into ourselves if we need 700 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 1: to go to therapy. Find everybody might not need therapy, 701 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,480 Speaker 1: but you need that self care, right, So we're constantly 702 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: just promoting that and reminding people that you know, before 703 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:17,640 Speaker 1: you show up for anybody else, you got to show 704 00:33:17,680 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 1: up for yourself. 705 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 706 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:21,400 Speaker 2: What's been the most you know, surprising part of running 707 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 2: this as a business also because like you mentioned, you know, 708 00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 2: you all are business, you all have employees. Like what's 709 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 2: been some surprising parts are just growing that part of. 710 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 3: It out woof. 711 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 1: And I've you know, I come from entertainment, right, so 712 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: I didn't go back and get my MBA, which I 713 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: kind of hindsight now I wish I had of, but 714 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: you know, and I have an executive director who runs 715 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,440 Speaker 1: a lot of day to day and an operational director, 716 00:33:44,520 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: but just learning how that part of it works and 717 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: that you know, especially even on a nonprofit side, you 718 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:54,640 Speaker 1: get certain grants that are specific to programmatic dollars, and 719 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: so if you don't raise the individual donations or get 720 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 1: the grants that are you know for operational purposes, that 721 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: you won't be able to meet your budget. You know, 722 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:09,600 Speaker 1: just last year, I furlow up my salary for a 723 00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: certain period of time because I wanted to make sure 724 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,839 Speaker 1: that my staff wouldn't get let go. And so you know, 725 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:16,919 Speaker 1: it was a sacrifice on my end because I don't 726 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 1: make what I used to make, but you know, I 727 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:23,400 Speaker 1: took one for the team. And so just constantly going 728 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:27,799 Speaker 1: out having to fundraise and you know, not being in 729 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 1: certain rooms, you know, it can be difficult at times. 730 00:34:30,960 --> 00:34:33,719 Speaker 1: But you know, the one thing we take pride in 731 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 1: at silence the shame is making sure that we cross 732 00:34:35,680 --> 00:34:37,520 Speaker 1: all our t's and dot all of our eyes. And 733 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,560 Speaker 1: so trying to get our individual donor base up and 734 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:45,440 Speaker 1: unrestricted dollars, you know, is it's key to a successful 735 00:34:45,560 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 1: organization because you have to make sure that you're using 736 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: all your dollars properly. 737 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:52,799 Speaker 3: How do you decide, like would brands and partnerships make 738 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:53,840 Speaker 3: sense for the organization. 739 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,200 Speaker 1: That's a great question. So when we're looking at brand 740 00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: partnerships of course. You know, sometimes we'll just go on 741 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,080 Speaker 1: websites to see, like what are their focus areas, right, 742 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:06,160 Speaker 1: Like it's mental health one of the pillars that a 743 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 1: specific corporate entity or organization is focused on, and we'll 744 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: go after them first, or looking at some of our 745 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 1: other partners in the mental health space and maybe looking 746 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 1: at their gala and seeing who their sponsors were, you know, 747 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:21,399 Speaker 1: so we have to go and do the research and 748 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: then me I'm I've always been a people person and 749 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: relationship person just in my days of the entertainment industry. 750 00:35:27,480 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 1: So some of it is just going out and so 751 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: listening friends, talking to people at other organizations and say, hey, 752 00:35:32,680 --> 00:35:35,120 Speaker 1: do you have anybody that actually might want to not 753 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:37,279 Speaker 1: only donate to the organization or sit on the board 754 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:39,520 Speaker 1: of directors or be a part of our advisory team 755 00:35:39,560 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 1: and council, and so really just pulling in the community 756 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 1: and like minded folks to see who might be willing 757 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:48,600 Speaker 1: to support what we're going through. Other times, you know, 758 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 1: you can look at certain companies who might have had 759 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: a high profile team member in their organization that you know, 760 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 1: took their own life and now they're kind of focused 761 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 1: on it. So it could be situational or could just 762 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:03,440 Speaker 1: be going out and seeing who looks who feels like 763 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:06,799 Speaker 1: mental health, you know, is a core component of you know, 764 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: the values within their organization. 765 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 2: What is what do you see kind of sounds of 766 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 2: shame going. I mean again, this is a movement. I 767 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:16,400 Speaker 2: think it extends beyond you know, the hip hop community 768 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 2: and black people. 769 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,040 Speaker 1: There's something that oh yeah, it really does. And so 770 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:23,920 Speaker 1: we have a theme for this as you mentioned, it 771 00:36:23,960 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 1: was Mental Health Awareness Month. So our theme to your 772 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: point this month is one Heart, many voices. As you said, 773 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 1: it impacts everybody, right, So although our primary target demo 774 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:40,919 Speaker 1: are vulnerable communities and underserved populations, we want this work 775 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:43,880 Speaker 1: to be important for everybody. And so you know, we 776 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 1: have goals and dreams. You know, I love to see 777 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 1: a Silence of Shame Wellness center, you know, erected in 778 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:53,160 Speaker 1: the City of Atlanta, Atlanta specific I want to see 779 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,479 Speaker 1: I want a mural on the belt Line, so shout 780 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 1: out to everybody that works for the belt Line. And 781 00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:02,239 Speaker 1: so we were excited this year. We did a partnership 782 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:04,880 Speaker 1: with Mayor Dickens in the City of Atlanta to do 783 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 1: a communications plan around nine eight eight, not a lot 784 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 1: of people know that nine at eight exists. It's a 785 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:12,399 Speaker 1: free resource. You literally pick up your phone and down 786 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: nine eight eight, and if you're in a crisis, you 787 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:17,759 Speaker 1: can be connected to a crisis counselor right there in 788 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 1: your state. So being able to do more globe nationally, 789 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:23,280 Speaker 1: you know, with nine eight eight, and then being able 790 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 1: to grow and expand our silence to shame university program. 791 00:37:28,239 --> 00:37:31,319 Speaker 1: I have to again shout out our executive director, Juel 792 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:35,160 Speaker 1: Gooding who put this program together, and Nick Farthing and 793 00:37:35,280 --> 00:37:38,719 Speaker 1: Nia Bullock on our team, you know they do the execution, 794 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:42,560 Speaker 1: but really proud of it. It's a college leadership program. 795 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:45,520 Speaker 1: We just had a graduation like a couple weeks ago 796 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:50,839 Speaker 1: and graduated like twenty five students, some from Spelman, moor House, Clark, KSU, 797 00:37:50,960 --> 00:37:54,920 Speaker 1: West Georgia and other campuses. And so we're training the 798 00:37:54,960 --> 00:37:59,719 Speaker 1: next leaders right in our country around mental health and 799 00:37:59,719 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 1: well this and to be strong leaders in their community. 800 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 1: So now we have a toll of fifty three ambassadors 801 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:10,360 Speaker 1: from STSU. So we've had the first two cohorts in Atlanta, 802 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:13,400 Speaker 1: but I love to see the other colleges and universities 803 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:15,800 Speaker 1: throughout the country, right so to be able to get 804 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:19,320 Speaker 1: some significant funding to grow that program what will be wonderful. 805 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,440 Speaker 1: And then I'm really proud of something else one of 806 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:25,799 Speaker 1: our other team members helped to execute. So we have 807 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:28,759 Speaker 1: a PSA around Black men's mental health and it's called 808 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:31,400 Speaker 1: Healing the Spaces between Us and it's a lot about restoration. 809 00:38:31,719 --> 00:38:34,799 Speaker 1: There's a grandfather, a father, and a son and it's 810 00:38:34,800 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 1: such a powerful PSA. And I'm proud to say we're 811 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:40,239 Speaker 1: nominated for a Southeast Emmy. Oh thank you. So the 812 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 1: Southeast Emmys are in June and so we'll see eating it. 813 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:45,319 Speaker 1: But I feel like we've already won. So shout out 814 00:38:45,320 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 1: to Megan Sure, Joe Pingle and Oak Films who put 815 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: that together. So I'd love to continue to do more 816 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 1: stuff like that, maybe work on a documentary. But really 817 00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:57,400 Speaker 1: being able to have these Silence of Shame centers I 818 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:00,880 Speaker 1: think at key places throughout the country would be wonderful. 819 00:39:01,880 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 1: And you know, maybe we could have therapy, you know, 820 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 1: basketball courts, you know, a wellness center on the side, 821 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:12,560 Speaker 1: but would love to have some STS centers throughout the country. 822 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:16,200 Speaker 2: I envision something like that happen and I think it's 823 00:39:16,239 --> 00:39:18,319 Speaker 2: a very much needed thing, especially just when you think 824 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 2: about you know again, like we always hear like the 825 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:22,520 Speaker 2: culture and the culture of this and the culture of that. 826 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:26,080 Speaker 2: People have lots of definitions about culture, like compared to 827 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:27,760 Speaker 2: how you were when you were at LA face workers 828 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:30,000 Speaker 2: in the music industry, Like, how do you define culture now? 829 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:35,760 Speaker 1: That's a great question. How would I define culture now? 830 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:40,520 Speaker 1: I would have to say, And it's not just one 831 00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:43,759 Speaker 1: particular thing. I just think it's and I want to 832 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:45,640 Speaker 1: look at it from a positive perspective because I think 833 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:48,040 Speaker 1: there's some good parts of culture and some bad parts 834 00:39:48,040 --> 00:39:52,160 Speaker 1: of culture. But being able to positively affect the people 835 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:59,400 Speaker 1: around you with unique experiences and setting the example, setting 836 00:39:59,440 --> 00:40:03,200 Speaker 1: the trends, and I think that can come from people, 837 00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 1: place or things. And so silence, for shame to me 838 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 1: is a big part of culture now and getting people 839 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:12,080 Speaker 1: to think about how they think about themselves and how 840 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:14,680 Speaker 1: they care for themselves. So being able to have that 841 00:40:14,719 --> 00:40:18,360 Speaker 1: positive effect and influence on people around you, people, places, 842 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:19,720 Speaker 1: and things now. 843 00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 3: I love that. 844 00:40:20,040 --> 00:40:23,600 Speaker 2: Again, I see a legacy of mental health and just 845 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:26,319 Speaker 2: all these amazing things you work in. If a young 846 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:28,880 Speaker 2: founder or young musician came to you today and they 847 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:30,760 Speaker 2: were trying to kind of trying to build a similar 848 00:40:30,800 --> 00:40:33,000 Speaker 2: movement just around just being culturally relevant and showing up 849 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:33,799 Speaker 2: when these people needed. 850 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:35,440 Speaker 3: Like, what advice would you give them? 851 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:38,759 Speaker 1: I would say, if you're a young musician and you're 852 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:41,440 Speaker 1: trying to set an example, is to be your authentic 853 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:45,399 Speaker 1: self and to be comfortable in the spaces that you're 854 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:49,600 Speaker 1: already in, because oftentimes when we're trying to start businesses 855 00:40:49,800 --> 00:40:53,120 Speaker 1: or new things, we think we gotta go and you know, 856 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,319 Speaker 1: meet all these people that we don't know and get 857 00:40:55,320 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: into all these spaces. Start right where you're at. Yeah, 858 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:01,480 Speaker 1: and that's what I did. You know, I'm ten years 859 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:03,759 Speaker 1: in of almost taking my own life. In September, it'll 860 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 1: be ten years. I'm looking at this like my year rebirth. 861 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:09,439 Speaker 1: But we're eight years in on actually launching Stylish for Shame. 862 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:12,640 Speaker 1: And I literally sat down and I was like, Okay, 863 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna call Big Boy, I'm gonna call Usher, I'm 864 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,360 Speaker 1: gonna see if they'll repost and retweet. I'm gonna call 865 00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:21,320 Speaker 1: Candy Bursts. And you know, I made up May fifth 866 00:41:21,360 --> 00:41:23,360 Speaker 1: and made it national stylish for Shame Day. I know, 867 00:41:23,400 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 1: a single day Mayo. But I was like, in twenty seventeen, 868 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:27,759 Speaker 1: I was like, let me see if other people that 869 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:31,319 Speaker 1: I know, my friends and colleagues would just post yeah, well, 870 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:36,720 Speaker 1: ninety million impressions later, and then the National Day Register said, okay, 871 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:39,080 Speaker 1: you got it. You got your own day. So I 872 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:43,759 Speaker 1: started right where I was. I use the relationships and 873 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:46,680 Speaker 1: the resources that I had from my former life, and 874 00:41:46,719 --> 00:41:48,960 Speaker 1: it was my intern or not my intern, I'm sorry. 875 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:52,040 Speaker 1: My mentee who is now doing his thing as a 876 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:56,160 Speaker 1: TV producer and content producer free the vision and he 877 00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:01,239 Speaker 1: said to me, it's not two legacies. You got one legacy. 878 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:04,200 Speaker 1: And I was trying to just separate it out and 879 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:06,920 Speaker 1: he said, no, no, no, you still got your legacy 880 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:09,239 Speaker 1: and music and now you have this, but it's your 881 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:12,680 Speaker 1: one legacy. And so again, marrying the two and starting 882 00:42:12,680 --> 00:42:16,680 Speaker 1: where I was at right is really beneficial and using 883 00:42:16,719 --> 00:42:19,400 Speaker 1: the resources and people around you and then kind of 884 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:20,960 Speaker 1: growing it out from there. No. 885 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:23,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Well, Chohnsy, thank you so much for you know, 886 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:26,200 Speaker 2: coming in and sharing your story and just being honest 887 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:26,800 Speaker 2: and transparent. 888 00:42:26,840 --> 00:42:29,080 Speaker 3: I think again a lot of times. 889 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:31,000 Speaker 2: People do need to see that you know, other people 890 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:34,040 Speaker 2: have dealt with similar things, and you know, it's always 891 00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:35,640 Speaker 2: it's always helpful to kind of have a little bit 892 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:37,279 Speaker 2: of a north start to understanding you're not alone in 893 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:40,080 Speaker 2: these things. So we really appreciate you, know, you just 894 00:42:40,200 --> 00:42:42,719 Speaker 2: being honest and transparent in your journey, because I'm sure 895 00:42:42,719 --> 00:42:44,759 Speaker 2: it's helped tons and tons of people, some that you 896 00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:47,000 Speaker 2: know and some that you abolutely don't know. And you 897 00:42:47,000 --> 00:42:49,359 Speaker 2: know there's definitely people are here better for it because 898 00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:50,839 Speaker 2: of the work you've been doing. Before we get out 899 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:52,960 Speaker 2: of here, how can people support you, how can people 900 00:42:52,960 --> 00:42:53,800 Speaker 2: support the movement? 901 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:54,840 Speaker 3: How can they get involved? 902 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:57,120 Speaker 1: Give them all the things, absolutely, And I just want 903 00:42:57,160 --> 00:42:59,319 Speaker 1: to again, I want to honor you and to say 904 00:42:59,440 --> 00:43:03,000 Speaker 1: I've watched you, I'm watching you with four or four 905 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:08,120 Speaker 1: Day and Butter atl and the positive and impactful role 906 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:12,040 Speaker 1: that you were having on culture specifically in Atlanta and beyond. 907 00:43:12,080 --> 00:43:14,320 Speaker 1: And I just want to congratulate you and I'm honored 908 00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:16,120 Speaker 1: to be on your show today. But if you want 909 00:43:16,120 --> 00:43:18,080 Speaker 1: to reach out to Silence to Shame, you can check 910 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:21,840 Speaker 1: out our website at www dot Silence toshame dot com. 911 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:24,480 Speaker 1: We have a lot of helpful information and resources there 912 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:27,680 Speaker 1: and toolkits you can download. We also have a podcast. 913 00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:30,799 Speaker 1: Check out our Silence to Shame podcasts available on all 914 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:35,319 Speaker 1: podcast platforms and follow us on Instagram or Facebook at 915 00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:37,919 Speaker 1: Silence to Shame. If you want to donate to us, 916 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:40,160 Speaker 1: we are a five oh one C three nonprofit, so 917 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:43,080 Speaker 1: your donation is fully tax deductible. You can text the 918 00:43:43,080 --> 00:43:46,520 Speaker 1: word silence s I L E N C E to 919 00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:49,560 Speaker 1: seven O seven O seven O. And I am an 920 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:51,239 Speaker 1: author and a speaker, So if you want me to 921 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:53,719 Speaker 1: come speak to your company, I'm excited. I'm speaking for 922 00:43:53,719 --> 00:43:56,080 Speaker 1: EA Sports next month, just did US bank, and so 923 00:43:56,120 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 1: I share my courageous conversation with a lot of companies 924 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:02,160 Speaker 1: and universities. Check out my website. It's all things shanty 925 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:03,879 Speaker 1: Doss on there, so you can learn a lot about 926 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:08,080 Speaker 1: me and whatever else I do. It's shanty Doss dot 927 00:44:08,160 --> 00:44:11,319 Speaker 1: B I Z. And you can follow me on Instagram 928 00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:14,480 Speaker 1: at shanty dos for four because you know I got 929 00:44:14,480 --> 00:44:17,160 Speaker 1: to put that at L in there, so shanty dos. 930 00:44:17,000 --> 00:44:18,839 Speaker 3: For four absolutely shanty Well. 931 00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:20,600 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for coming out and sharing your 932 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,840 Speaker 2: journey and telling us more about silence and shame. Again, 933 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:24,400 Speaker 2: thank you for all the work you're doing. Thank you 934 00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:26,200 Speaker 2: for all the work even in the music busines. Look, 935 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:27,440 Speaker 2: a lot of us wouldn't know about some of these 936 00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:30,080 Speaker 2: amazing artists without you, but even bigger than that. We 937 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:32,600 Speaker 2: appreciate everything you're doing now and can't wait to see 938 00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:34,640 Speaker 2: where this is going. Thank you for coming out. And 939 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:37,440 Speaker 2: that's the podge all we out. You've been listening to 940 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:40,920 Speaker 2: button Nomics and I'm your host, Brandon Butler. Got comments, feedback? 941 00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:42,800 Speaker 2: Want to be on the show. Send us an email 942 00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:46,120 Speaker 2: today at hello at butternomics dot com. Butter Nomics is 943 00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:49,400 Speaker 2: produced in Atlanta, Georgia at iHeartMedia by k cy Pegram, 944 00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:51,280 Speaker 2: with marketing support from Queen and Nikki. 945 00:44:51,640 --> 00:44:53,120 Speaker 3: Music provided by mister Hanky. 946 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:55,719 Speaker 2: If you haven't already, hit that subscribe button and never 947 00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:57,840 Speaker 2: miss an episode, and be sure to follow us on 948 00:44:57,880 --> 00:45:00,320 Speaker 2: all our social platforms at butter dot a t L. 949 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:03,880 Speaker 2: Listen to about her Nomics on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 950 00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:05,440 Speaker 2: or wherever you get your podcasts