Strawberry Letter

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Howard Hewett.
Legendary R&B vocalist and former frontman of Shalamar—joins Rushion McDonald to reflect on his early career, his rise through the music industry, and the philosophy that fueled his longevity. Hewett recounts growing up in Akron, Ohio, his early professional singing experiences, and ultimately his path to Los Angeles where he worked in show groups before joining Shalamar.
A large portion of the discussion focuses on preparation, visualization, integrity, and being ready when opportunities show up. Hewett reveals the remarkable story of how he joined Shalamar: a surprise phone call during a tense meeting at the Motown building, followed by an audition the next day, a flight to meet the group, and a TV performance within 72 hours.
The interview blends career storytelling, business lessons, and personal philosophy—making it valuable for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone pursuing long-term success.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
Rushion McDonald brings Hewett on to:
Share real-world lessons from a 40+ year entertainment career.
Highlight professional preparation, mindset, and integrity as keys to sustained success.
Inspire listeners to embrace vision, self-belief, and business readiness—especially small business owners and creatives.
Pull back the curtain on the origin story of Shalamar's most iconic lineup and Hewett’s personal development journey.
This episode is crafted as both an inspirational masterclass and a historical narrative.
💡 Key Takeaways
1. Preparation is the difference-maker
Hewett emphasizes that being in the right place is useless unless you’re prepared. His decades of singing before Shalamar prepared him for the moment he had to sing on the spot for Dick Griffey.
Lesson: Preparation turns chance into opportunity.
2. Visualization is a powerful tool
After moving to California, Hewett meditated and visualized every day by the pool—imagining performing for audiences of thousands and negotiating high-paying gigs.
Lesson: Vision boards and mental rehearsal help create your future.
3. Integrity is a non-negotiable asset
Even when offered the biggest opportunity of his life (joining Shalamar), Hewett insisted on giving Motown a chance to fix their mistake because he gave them his word.
Lesson: Integrity strengthens your reputation more than any contract.
4. Career breakthroughs come fast—when you’re ready
Within three days:
Friday: received offer from Shalamar
Saturday: auditioned for Dick Griffey
Sunday: rehearsed
Monday: filmed a TV performance
Lesson: Momentum happens suddenly, but only to the prepared.
5. Value of small beginnings
From gospel singing at 10 to small clubs, to overseas show groups—every stage built foundation and resilience.
Lesson: Don’t despise early stages; they prepare you for later success.
6. The music industry requires adaptability & consistency
Hewett’s story shows how artists must navigate gigs, shaky contracts, and unreliable companies—but maintain professionalism.
Lesson: Talent opens the door; discipline keeps you in the room.
🗣️ Notable Quotes (From the Transcript)
On professionalism:
“You're professional when you can sustain yourself… when this is how you pay your bills.”
On visualization:
“Every day… I would go down to the pool and just visualize what I wanted to do.”
“I visualize singing in front of thousands of people.”
On preparation:
“Right place, right time is important. But people forget the most important part—be prepared.”
On integrity:
“Your word is worth more than any piece of paper you could ever sign.”
On the Shalamar turning point:
“That changed my whole life.”
“If I wasn’t what they needed right then, they already had another cat in mind.”
On life purpose:
“All those things… were preparing me for that moment.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Jocelyn Pearson.
Purpose of the Interview
The interview on Money Making Conversations Masterclass with Rushion McDonald and Jocelyn Pearson aimed to:
Share Jocelyn’s journey of graduating debt-free by securing $126,350 in scholarships.
Educate families on how to avoid student loan debt through her proven system, The Scholarship System.
Dispel myths about scholarships and provide actionable steps for parents and students.
Key Takeaways
Scholarship System Approach
Jocelyn developed a six-step process to simplify scholarship applications and avoid overwhelm.
Focus on breaking the process into small, manageable steps rather than a vague “go get money” directive.

Common Myths Debunked
Too early or too late to apply: Start by junior year; it’s never too late—even college seniors can apply.
Only perfect students or low-income families qualify: Many scholarships don’t require high GPA or athletic ability.
All good scholarships are gone: Smaller, local scholarships ($500–$5,000) add up over time.
It takes too much time: With a system and reusable materials, effort decreases each year.

Avoiding Scholarship Scams
Beware of “easy,” “enter to win,” or sweepstakes-style scholarships—they often sell personal data.
Real scholarships require effort and personalization.

Role of Parents
Parents should help with planning and identifying legitimate scholarships but not complete applications for students.
Committees can detect when parents write essays.

AI in Scholarship Applications
Jocelyn warns against copy-pasting AI-generated essays.
Her platform introduced TESS, an AI assistant for ethical guidance and support.

Financial Aid Basics
Submit FAFSA even if you think you won’t qualify; some colleges and states require it.
Combine all sources—government aid, institutional aid, and private scholarships.

For Current College Students
Check with financial aid offices, academic departments, and organizations for scholarships available after freshman year.

Entrepreneurial Journey
Jocelyn turned her passion into a business by starting with a book, building an email list, and launching webinars.
She emphasizes persistence and ignoring naysayers.

Notable Quotes
“I had to accumulate my way to getting college paid for—the mere mortals’ way to going to college without tons of debt.”
“Most families want scholarships, but they get stuck in the overwhelm.”
“There’s no big red easy button—but with clear steps, it feels less daunting.”
“We’re saying no to the broken system… It takes, on average, 21 years to pay off student loans.”
“With great power comes great responsibility—AI can help, but only if used ethically.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Marsha Evans.
Purpose of the Interview
To highlight Marsha Evans’ work as a licensed professional counselor and founder of Willow Tree Counseling and Educational Center.
To explore strategies for navigating life’s complex stages, breaking generational patterns, and building authentic relationships.
To provide actionable insights for entrepreneurs and individuals on self-awareness, fear management, and relationship dynamics.
Key Takeaways
Understanding Complexity
Life stages vary in complexity for each person—middle school for some, adulthood for others.
Evans emphasizes listening and identifying what balance, peace, or contentment means for each individual.

Early Awareness and Discipline
At age 12, Evans set a goal to earn a scholarship, showing intentionality and discipline.
Athletics taught her teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience, shaping her leadership style.

Reading the Room
Start by reading yourself—know your energy and intentions.
Authenticity and confidence are key to building relationships and leveraging opportunities.

Fear and Family Systems
Fear often originates from family systems and generational patterns, not just personal experiences.
Example: Parents’ limited worldview can project fear of the unknown onto children.
Recognizing these patterns helps individuals break cycles and pursue their own paths.

Generational Patterns & Healing
Evans uses Genograms (visual family trees) to identify psychological and behavioral patterns across three generations.
Acceptance of parents and family history is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Rejecting parents = rejecting life and success; honor them while creating new narratives.

Practical Steps for Change
Build a relationship with yourself through solitude, meditation, yoga, and movement.
Reduce stress (cortisol levels) to improve clarity and decision-making.
Examine your money story—how family attitudes toward money shape your financial behavior.

Relationships
Romantic: Partners often mirror unresolved childhood issues; do inner work to avoid projecting.
Professional: Maintain boundaries; emotional needs should not be placed on workplace relationships.
Personal: Define roles clearly; avoid expecting friends to fill parental gaps.

Consistency and Authenticity
Success requires consistency with yourself before expecting it from others.
Ask: Are your goals truly yours or influenced by societal expectations?

Notable Quotes
“I become a visitor in your world and start listening to your story.”
“Reading the room starts with reading yourself.”
“Fear is often not yours—it comes from your family system.”
“You can’t reject your parents; when you reject your mother, you reject life.”
“Consistency with yourself is key to achieving the results you desire.”
“Your partner cannot carry the burden of your parents.”
“People are divorced from themselves—I teach them how to get married to themselves.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kelsey Nicole Nelson—award‑winning sports media personality, and entrepreneur. She joins Rushion McDonald to discuss her journey in sports journalism, entrepreneurship, branding, and building a successful multi‑hyphenate career. She details how she built her media presence from the DMV area, launched her branding and digital communications company, navigated a male‑dominated industry, and leveraged authenticity, work ethic, and strategic networking to grow both her journalism and business ventures.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview was designed to:
Highlight how Kelsey built a career in sports journalism, on‑air talent, content creation, and entrepreneurship.
Explore the creation and mission of her digital branding and communications company, KryptiaNN.
Provide guidance for aspiring journalists and entrepreneurs navigating today’s evolving media landscape.
Discuss the importance of authenticity, networking, representation, and strategic risk‑taking in developing a long‑term career.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Building a Media Career Starts with Identity, Roots & Confidence
Her upbringing in the DMV and her HBCU‑rich family culture shaped her early exposure to sports.
She emphasized being confident in spaces where representation is limited and carrying the responsibility of opening doors for others.
2. Entrepreneurship Grew Out of Demand for Her Skills
KryptiaNN was born when people repeatedly sought her help for branding, social media, and communications—and her tax professional advised formalizing it as an LLC.
The name “KryptiaNN” is a tribute to Black history, Egyptian culture, and her own branding identity.
3. Career Growth Comes from Work Ethic + Relationships + Visibility
She built her national profile after a podcast interview with LaVar Ball went viral, leading to coverage on major platforms.
Networking, showing up at events, and being active in the sports community helped her become a Heisman Trophy voter.
4. Journalism Today Requires Branding, Storytelling & Ethical Grounding
She teaches sports media at George Washington University and stresses ethics, objectivity, and authenticity.
She explained that today’s journalists must also be content creators, with employers evaluating social media presence as part of hiring.
5. Entrepreneurship Requires Client Base, Visual Branding & Courage
She advised new entrepreneurs to secure initial clients before launching.
Strong online visuals and consistent content creation are essential for credibility.
6. Relationship‑Building Matters in Athlete and Nonprofit Work
Working with athletes requires trust, knowledge of sport, and navigating personal brands.
A decade of nonprofit communications experience helped her develop the communications and relationship‑management skills that fuel her company today.
🗣️ Notable Quotes from the Interview On Career Confidence & Identity
“There’s never been a room I haven’t walked in with confidence… I own being a Black woman and love it.”
On Journalism
“There are two things no one can teach you—work ethic and passion.”
“Ethics means being unbiased, being objective… leaving your biases at the door.”
On Entrepreneurship
“Fear is always real… but the field called me into entrepreneurship.”
“You need to have some clientele—you don’t want to start entrepreneurship with your bank account negative.”.
On Branding & Social Media
“Brand yourself. Don’t think people are just going to come to you.”
“Have at least one piece of content posted every day.”
On Athletes & Image
“The first thing people do is look you up—your track record matters.”
“Some things you have to soak in silence and take the higher road.” (Discussing athlete PR mistakes).
On Her Purpose
“I’m driven by one word—legacy.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, March 18th, 2026. Subject: "Number 2 Will Never Be Number 1"
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