Strawberry Letter

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed April Lancit.
Founder of a private therapy practice focused on culturally sensitive therapy for Black and Brown communities.
Main Topics: Cultural differences in therapy
Challenges in modern relationships and marriage
The impact of technology on human connection
The role of therapy in addressing generational trauma and stress
The future of therapy in the age of AI

💡 Key Insights 1. Culturally Sensitive Therapy
April emphasizes the importance of therapists understanding the lived experiences of marginalized communities.
Black and Brown clients often face unique challenges that require a nuanced, empathetic approach.
2. Modern Relationship Struggles
Top issues in marriage therapy: finances, infidelity, and communication.
Communication is often overlooked but is foundational to resolving other issues.
3. Technology & Disconnection
The rise of remote living and digital communication is reducing opportunities for organic human interaction.
Couples are increasingly using text messages—even within the same home—to communicate, which can erode intimacy.
4. Therapy as a Preventative Tool
Therapy shouldn't be reserved for crises; it can be a proactive tool for personal and relational growth.
Pre-marriage counseling is often skipped or done too late, missing key conversations about values, finances, and intimacy.
5. AI in Therapy
April sees potential in AI as a supplementary tool but stresses it cannot replace the human connection essential to effective therapy.
🧠 Final Message
April encourages people to seek therapy not out of crisis, but as a way to grow and connect more deeply—with themselves and others. She remains hopeful that with intention and effort, society can rebuild meaningful human connections.
#SHMS #STRAW
#BEST
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Demond Martin.
✅ Summary of the Interview: Demond Martin on Money Making Conversations Masterclass
Demond Martin—co‑founder and CEO of Well With All, a Black‑owned purpose‑driven wellness brand—joins Rushion McDonald to discuss health equity, entrepreneurship, his life story, his upcoming book Friends of the Good, and his new $1M AI Health Equity Prize.
Martin shares how his difficult upbringing in the projects and rural North Carolina shaped his commitment to giving back. After a successful 21‑year career as the only Black partner at a major hedge fund, he launched Well With All to merge consumer products, wellness, and social impact. The brand donates 20% of its profits to health‑equity initiatives.
He discusses product innovation, the importance of supplements in underserved communities, the power of Black longevity, and the need to prepare younger generations for healthier futures. He also explains his upcoming book—which uses Aristotle’s philosophy of “friends of the good” to show how meaningful relationships enable success.
The conversation is energetic, inspirational, and focused on using business as a force for social good.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to:
1. Introduce Well With All
A wellness company offering supplements and energy drinks while funding health‑equity solutions.
2. Share Martin’s Personal Journey
From poverty, trauma, and instability → to White House, Harvard Business School, and a top hedge fund.
3. Promote His Book, Friends of the Good
A philosophy‑driven exploration of friendship, mentorship, and community.
4. Announce the $1 Million AI Prize
A major initiative to scale AI tools that close health‑equity gaps.
5. Encourage Health Awareness in Underserved Communities
Particularly around longevity, dietary choices, energy consumption, and supplement use.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Health Equity Drives the Mission
Martin emphasizes that health is a human right and disparities in nutrition, maternal health, and mental‑health access must be addressed.
2. Well With All = Social Impact + Consumer Products
The company donates 20% of profits and creates healthier alternatives (energy drinks, supplements) to replace harmful daily habits like sugary sodas.
3. Personal Story Fuels Commitment
He overcame poverty, a traumatic home life, and limited opportunity—and believes he survived because others poured into him.
4. Mentorship Changed His Life
Major turning points included:
Student body president at UNC Charlotte
Assistant to the White House Chief of Staff
HBS acceptance
Training under hedge‑fund leader Phil Gross
5. Expertise Matters
His success with Well With All is grounded in 21 years as an investor specializing only in consumer companies.
6. AI Can Close Health Gaps
The $1M Well With All Prize supports AI tools already impacting at least 1,000 lives with the potential to scale to 100,000+.
7. Black Longevity Documentary
His company created a film (NAACP Image Award–nominated) featuring Black elders aged 85–106 to redefine narratives around Black health.
8. The Power of Friendship
His book teaches readers how to identify “friends of the good,” the relationships that define one’s path and joy.
🗣️ Notable Quotes from Demond Martin (from the transcript)
(All quotes sourced from:)
On Health Equity
“Health is a human right. Everyone deserves nutritious food… everyone deserves to see a doctor.”
“Where With All is not just a brand—it's a movement.”
On His Upbringing
“I grew up in the projects… lived in a trailer… had a heroin addict as a stepfather. I’ve seen things that gave me perspective.”
On Perspective and Survival
“If this was me at 14… I’d be dead or in jail.”
On His Mission
“I need to start giving back today. I’ve lived a life of giving back—my parents and grandparents instilled that in me.”
On Product Philosophy
“Small, incremental choices add up. Replacing one sugary soda a day is 45,000 fewer calories a year.”
On Expertise
“All I did for 21 years is invest in consumer companies. That was my expertise.”
On Friendship & His Book
“Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.”
“Friendship is one of the most essential elements of joy.”
On Confidence & Mastery
“Five years into my career, I knew I knew what the hell I was doing.”
On AI
“We’re not rewarding ideas—we’re rewarding impact.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tim Mercer.
Author of Bootstrap Millionaire and CFO of Cadence Ventures, Inc.:
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
To inspire and educate aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals by sharing Tim Mercer’s journey from humble beginnings to financial success, emphasizing the importance of hard work, faith, planning, and leveraging government contracts and nontraditional financing.
🗝️ Key Takeaways
Background & Journey
Tim Mercer grew up in Mullins, South Carolina, in modest circumstances.
His path to success began with military service, which broadened his worldview and led him to entrepreneurship.

Bootstrap Millionaire Philosophy
The term “bootstrap” symbolizes hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.
Mercer emphasizes that success doesn’t come overnight—it requires grinding, planning, and faith.

Importance of a Business Plan
A solid business plan is essential for securing funding and guiding business growth.
Mercer shares real-life examples of people failing to secure support due to lack of planning.

Cadence Ventures, Inc.
A boutique private equity firm offering nontraditional financing for real estate investors.
Focuses on investment properties and uses the property itself as collateral.

Government Contracting
Mercer began in government contracting in 2012 and credits it with helping him scale his business.
He stresses that while it’s complex and paperwork-heavy, it’s a valuable opportunity for minority-owned businesses.
Free resources like SAM.gov and Georgia Tech’s GT PAC can help entrepreneurs navigate the process.

Success Requires Sacrifice
Mercer highlights that every successful person has a story of struggle and sacrifice.
His book’s first chapter, “See the Glory, Don’t Know the Story,” encapsulates this message.

💬 Notable Quotes
“If you want to have the things tomorrow that other people won’t have, then you got to be willing to do the things today that other people won’t do.” — Tim Mercer quoting Les Brown
“There’s no success without sacrifice.” — Tim Mercer
“You can only make as much as the customer that you have.” — Tim Mercer on scaling through government contracts
“See the glory, don’t know the story.” — Chapter title from Bootstrap Millionaire
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jennifer Ledwith.
She is the founder of Scholar Ready, whose mission is to help students excel in standardized testing and scholarship applications.
🔑 Key Themes & Highlights
The Inspiration Behind Scholar Ready
Ledwith founded Scholar Ready after realizing many students struggled with scholarships due to weak essay-writing skills.
She personally secured scholarships to fund her college education, graduating with minimal student debt.

The Importance of Standardized Test Preparation
Scholar Ready helps students prepare for PSAT, SAT, and ACT exams to unlock scholarship opportunities.
Ledwith emphasized that test scores are crucial for college admissions and financial aid.

Overcoming Barriers to Higher Education
Many students fear essay writing and test-taking, limiting their scholarship potential.
Ledwith’s program provides personalized tutoring to build confidence and improve scores.

Scholarship Application Strategies
Students must research scholarship providers and tailor their essays accordingly.
She advises applicants to highlight unique qualities beyond grades and test scores.

Encouraging Persistence & Resilience
Ledwith stresses that rejection is part of the scholarship process and should not discourage students.
She encourages students to apply widely and refine their applications based on feedback.

📘 About Jennifer Ledwith
Jennifer Ledwith is an education entrepreneur dedicated to helping students succeed in college admissions and scholarship applications. Through Scholar Ready, she provides tutoring and workshops to improve test scores and essay-writing skills, ensuring students have the financial resources to pursue higher education.
#BEST
#STRAW
#SHMS


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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson.
Below is a polished, thorough summary of the interview featuring Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson discussing the career and legacy of Dr. Gladys West with Rushion McDonald—along with its purpose, key takeaways, and notable quotes, all drawn directly from the transcript.
(Citations reference the uploaded file.)
Summary of the Interview
On Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald welcomes Dr. Jacque Rushin (award‑winning business executive, educator, mental health professional, humanitarian) and Robyn Donaldson (2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award honoree for global STEM education) to discuss their celebration of Dr. Gladys B. West, a pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for the GPS (Global Positioning System).
The conversation explores the intersection of Juneteenth, Black excellence, STEM education, and Dr. West’s life story, captured in her memoir It Began with a Dream. The guests highlight Dr. West as one of America’s last living “hidden figures”—a brilliant yet historically overlooked Black woman whose mathematical genius revolutionized everyday life.
They detail how Dr. West rose from sharecropper roots, excelled academically at Virginia State University, earned her master’s and PhD, spent 39 years contributing to government research, and ultimately developed the algorithms and modeling processes that power GPS. They also describe their collaborative effort to create the Westward Bound Program, a life‑skills and STEM‑focused curriculum inspired by Dr. West’s principles of wisdom, endurance, strategy, and precision.
Through humorous, emotional, and deeply insightful dialogue, the episode uplifts Dr. West’s accomplishments while discussing mental health, technology dependence, the importance of exposure to STEM pathways for underserved youth, and how the legacy of Black innovators must remain central in cultural celebrations like Juneteenth.
Purpose of the Interview
1. To honor and amplify Dr. Gladys West’s legacy
She is a living mathematical pioneer whose GPS contributions transformed global navigation and modern technology.
2. To connect her story to Juneteenth’s spirit of liberation and recognition
The guests highlight the “delayed recognition” of Black innovators and the importance of acknowledging hidden figures whose brilliance shaped society.
3. To promote STEM exposure in underserved communities
Robyn Donaldson emphasizes equitable access to STEM opportunities so children can compete in a global, tech‑driven world.
4. To introduce and promote the Westward Bound Program
The curriculum teaches STEM principles, life skills, and personal development inspired by Dr. West’s methodologies.
5. To highlight themes of resilience, humility, and lifelong learning
Dr. West’s quiet determination and academic persistence serve as a blueprint for young people and adults alike.
Key Takeaways
1. Dr. Gladys West is a “living hidden figure.”
Her research and mathematical modeling are the backbone of GPS, impacting navigation, transportation, military systems, and everyday digital tools.
2. Her journey exemplifies brilliance shaped by humility and hard work.
Born in 1930 to sharecropper parents, she excelled academically despite segregation, pursued multiple degrees, and overcame racial and gender barriers in government research settings.
3. Juneteenth is the perfect backdrop for honoring Dr. West.
Jacque stresses that Juneteenth represents “delayed freedom,” paralleling the delayed recognition of Black inventors and innovators.
4. STEM exposure is vital to equity.
Robyn insists that Black children are fully capable of STEM success—they simply lack exposure, not aptitude. Without STEM skills, young people risk being left behind in a robotics‑driven economy.
5. Technology should complement—not replace—human thinking.
Jacque cites Dr. West’s personal preference for physical maps over GPS to maintain cognitive sharpness and critical thinking, a warning about over‑dependence on AI and automation.
6. The Westward Bound Program bridges STEM, life skills, and personal development.
Built on the acronym “WEST”—Wisdom, Endurance, Strategy, Tracking—the program supports youth, adults, and entrepreneurs seeking direction and resilience.
7. Mentorship, community, and relationships are central themes.
Dr. West’s success was nurtured by professors and role models at her HBCU—mirroring how Jacque and Robyn now uplift the next generation.
8. Her story resonates globally and intergenerationally.
From college students to young children to adults, the principles from her memoir and program promote self‑belief, vision, discipline, and perseverance.
Notable Quotes
(All taken directly from the transcript.)
On Dr. West’s impact
“She’s a living hidden figure… her accomplishments have actually changed our way of living in every discipline of life.”
“Her technology… makes these things possible.”
On Juneteenth and recognition
“Juneteenth is about the delayed freedom of African Americans… and what Dr. West represents is the quiet, often overlooked brilliance that changes the world.”
On STEM access
“Our kids are not pursuing high‑paying STEM careers, not because of their aptitude, but simply because they have not been exposed.”
On Dr. West’s genius
“You don’t have to be loud to be a legacy.”
“She is just so humble, but she’s just brilliant. She’s like a mathematical genius.”
On technology & mental health
“She didn’t want to lose her critical thinking by depending on GPS… everything has a place, and it should complement you, not take over.”
On resilience & aspiration
“You have to believe there is something greater than what you’re standing in.”
“From sharecropper to pioneer—you can be someone from humble beginnings and change the world.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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