Uplift: Her book helps families prevent accidental overdoses and promotes responsible medication use.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Yolanda D. McElroy. A registered pharmacist and author. Dr. McElroy discusses medication safety, her career in pharmacy, and her children's book, It's Not Candy, which educates children and parents on the importance of proper medication storage and awareness. 🔑 Key Themes & Highlights The Importance of Medication Safety Medications are a leading cause of accidental poisoning in children. Parents must store medicines properly and educate children on their dangers. Dr. McElroy’s Pharmacy Journey Started in chemistry before transitioning to pharmacy school. Has nearly three decades of experience in retail and hospital pharmacy. Challenges in the Pharmacy Profession Pharmacists face increasing workloads, including vaccinations and insurance issues. The profession has seen strikes due to excessive demands and responsibilities. Educating Children & Parents Her book It's Not Candy teaches kids to recognize medicine and avoid accidental ingestion. She emphasizes the need for early education, starting as young as three years old. Community Outreach & Consulting Founded MediManage Consulting to promote medication safety and health education. Works with schools and organizations to distribute her book and raise awareness. 📘 About Dr. Yolanda D. McElroyDr. McElroy is a pharmacist, consultant, and author dedicated to improving medication safety and health education. Her book It's Not Candy helps families prevent accidental overdoses and promotes responsible medication use. Let me know if you'd like any refinements! #AMI #BEST #STRAW #SHMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Brand Building: From the Detroit streets to Hollywood success, inspiring others to embrace opportunity.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Loni Love. Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, and author. The conversation centers around her memoir, I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To, and offers a rich blend of personal storytelling, cultural insight, and motivational wisdom. 📘 About the Memoir Title: I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have ToTone: Comedic, honest, emotional, and empoweringPurpose: To share Loni’s journey from the Detroit projects to Hollywood, while inspiring readers to embrace their authentic selves. 🌟 Key Themes & Highlights 🏙️ Early Life & Upbringing Grew up in the Brewster Projects in Detroit. Raised by a strong community of Black women, including her mother, babysitter Miss Brooks (a Jehovah’s Witness), and other influential women like her Girl Scout leader and Miss Fever. Emphasizes the importance of the “village” in shaping her values and resilience. 🎓 Education & HBCU Experience Attended Prairie View A&M University (an HBCU), where she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Credits her college experience and sorority sisters for bailing her out of jail during a pivotal moment in her youth. Studied electrical engineering and later worked at General Motors before transitioning into entertainment. 😂 Humor & Hardship The memoir balances levity with serious topics like racism, wrongful arrest, and self-doubt. Chapter 8, where she’s thrown in jail for trespassing, is highlighted as both hilarious and eye-opening. Each chapter ends with a joke to bring levity to even the darkest moments. 💪 Empowerment & Mentorship Encourages readers to trust themselves and not conform to others’ expectations. Discusses the importance of mentorship and how someone saw potential in her beyond her factory job. Shares how Rushion McDonald personally mentored her during a difficult time in her TV career. 🎭 Career & Creativity Talks about her journey into comedy, acting, and co-hosting The Real. Reflects on her first film role in Soul Plane and the realities of the entertainment industry. Advocates for journaling and documenting personal history, especially for Black voices. 💬 Memorable Quotes “This is a love letter to my fans.” “If you feel hopeless, if you need some inspiration… understand that you are from a strong stock of people.” “We have to share our stories to show them the experiences that we've come through.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Brand Building: From Waffle House cook to restaurant owner, he shares knowledge freely with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson. A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture. 🎶 About Perfect Note Concept: A dinner supper club offering live music and Southern cuisine, catering to a mature audience (ages 30+). Locations: Birmingham, AL (original) and Marietta, GA (Atlanta metro). Atmosphere: Grown folks’ vibe—no hookah, no club chaos, just good music, good food, and good company. 🧑🏾🤝🧑🏾 Founders & Origins Co-owned by Tremayne Thompson and his wife Karen (hence “TK Productions”). Started as gospel concert promoters in Chicago. Moved to Alabama in 2008 after a family loss and launched Perfect Note in Bessemer with a Gerald Albright concert. Initially operated out of a banquet hall, setting up and breaking down everything themselves. 📈 Growth & Expansion Perfect Note evolved into a full-fledged venue in 2016. Expanded to Atlanta due to demand from patrons traveling from Georgia to Alabama. Featured in the Huffington Post as one of the top 100 businesses to visit in the U.S. 🍽️ Food & Hospitality Offers Wednesday–Saturday dinner service and Sunday brunch with live music. Website: perfectnoteliveatl.com Tremaine’s culinary journey began at Waffle House, where he learned speed cooking and kitchen management under pressure. Emphasizes quality and consistency in food service, even during high-volume events. 💬 Philosophy & Community Impact Business is rooted in service, not profit. During COVID, they pivoted to drive-up service with $5 meals, feeding the community. Believes in mentorship and sharing knowledge freely with aspiring entrepreneurs. 🗣️ Key Takeaways Mentorship is vital: Learn from those who’ve walked the path. Serve first: Community support follows genuine service. Plan wisely: Dreams need operational structure and financial planning. Create culture: Music and food unite people across demographics. #SHMS #STRAW # #AMISee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Over Coming the Odds: She shares journey from juvenile detention to training youth ages 8 to 18 to earn money.
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Crystal Victoria. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to: Showcase Crystal Victoria’s work in youth entrepreneurship through her nonprofit Target Evolution, Inc. Promote the Teen Biz Box, a hands-on business starter kit for kids. Inspire parents, educators, and community leaders to support alternative career paths for youth. Share Crystal’s personal journey from juvenile detention to becoming an author and entrepreneur. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Empowering Youth Through Entrepreneurship Target Evolution trains youth ages 8 to 18 to earn money and gain real-world experience. Programs include retail and culinary entrepreneurship, with plans to expand nationally starting in Dallas and Houston. 2. Teen Biz Box: A Practical Solution A $100 kit that includes everything a child needs to start a small business. Three product options: Friendship Bracelets, Craft Notebooks, and Ceramic Coasters. Kids can earn up to \$150–\$200 per box by selling customized products. 3. Alternative Pathways Matter Not all kids are tech-focused or college-bound. Entrepreneurship teaches soft skills like communication, customer service, and resilience. Victoria emphasizes the importance of in-person interaction over purely digital business models. 4. Personal Story of Redemption Crystal shares her background of being in and out of juvenile detention. Entrepreneurship gave her purpose and a way out of street life. Her journey is a testament to the power of second chances and vision-driven leadership. 5. Preparing for the Future of Work With AI and automation changing job markets, reskilling and adaptability are key. Entrepreneurship offers a mindset shift that prepares youth for career transitions every 3–5 years. 🗣️ Notable Quotes On youth entrepreneurship:“An app will never replace food and eating. We need programs for culinary and hospitality entrepreneurs.” On her personal journey:“I didn’t have a Teen Biz Box. I had trouble. But I prayed to God: ‘Give me something to do with this story.’” On accessibility:“Some kids don’t have bootstraps to pull themselves up. Let’s slide down the ladder and help them climb.” On the Teen Biz Box:“Before you spend $1,000 on your kid’s business idea, give them a box. If they sell everything, maybe they’re serious.” On preparing for the future:“Long gone are the days of one career for life. Learning, unlearning, and reskilling is the new normal.” 📦 Teen Biz Box Highlights Contents: Product inventory, art supplies, business cards, signage, and educational materials Website: TeenBizBox.com Target Age: 8–18 Goal: Teach entrepreneurship, communication, and self-reliance #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Overcoming the Odds: Explores their inspiration, challenges as Black women in a male-dominated liquor industry.
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Taia Rashid and Daphne Carter. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview To highlight the entrepreneurial journey of Taia Rashid and Daphne Carter, co-founders of Cassie Beverage, a premium vodka-based drink brand. The interview explores their inspiration, challenges as Black women in a male-dominated liquor industry, and their commitment to quality and authenticity. 🧠 Key Takeaways 1. Founders’ Background & Bond Taia and Daphne met as dance moms in Houston, Texas. Their friendship grew through shared experiences at dance competitions. Their cocktail-making hobby evolved into a business idea. 2. Cassie Beverage Origins Inspired by family traditions involving alcohol (moonshine and wine coolers). The brand name “Cassie” is a blend of their last names. Their products include Daphne Limoncello and Daphne Berrycello. 3. Business Launch & Support The idea was sparked during a trip to the Amalfi Coast. Their husbands, both entrepreneurs, helped launch the business and provided initial capital. They entered a white male-dominated industry with determination and humility, seeking mentorship and doing extensive research. 4. Commitment to Quality Their drinks use natural ingredients like fresh lemon juice and cane sugar. They resisted pressure to use cheaper alternatives like concentrates or preservatives. Their goal: create a premium product they’re proud to consume themselves. 5. Challenges in the Liquor Industry High startup costs and tight margins. Strategic decisions around packaging, pricing, and market positioning. Balancing premium quality with affordability for consumers. 6. Academic & Professional Backgrounds Daphne: Advanced degrees in chemistry and mathematics; former charter school executive and state superintendent. Taia: Degree in chemical engineering; worked for Frito-Lay and later became a stay-at-home mom. 7. Empowerment & Representation They emphasized the importance of supporting women, especially in non-traditional roles like bartending and mixology. Encouraged others to pivot careers and pursue passions regardless of societal expectations. Advocated for creating space at the table when none is offered. 8. Community Impact A caller shared how the interview inspired her to support her daughter’s bartending career. The founders responded with encouragement and emphasized redefining success beyond traditional roles. 💬 Notable Quotes “We found the perfect cocktail—the cure was liquor. A cup of joy.” “We wanted something of quality that we could stand proud of.” “If there’s no room at the table, bring a folding chair.” “Your degrees give you soft skills—you can pivot and do whatever you want.” “We’re winning because we’re doing something we love, even with the struggles.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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