A place for leadership, inclusion, and expression.
Janna is a return guest who you may remember is the founder of the Forever Funemployed movement.
She is a Bold & Audacious Entrepreneur.
And someone I am always grateful to sit down to record an episode with!
We ended up having such a great talk that we split it into 2!
Here is part two for you!
You can learn more about Janna here.
P.S.
Want to learn more about our Storytelling & Marketing Immersion Program?
Here are all of the details: tomearl.me/dcminvite
And she is this week’s guest.
Janna is a return guest who you may remember is the founder of the Forever Funemployed movement.
She is a Bold & Audacious Entrepreneur.
And someone I am always grateful to sit down to record an episode with!
We ended up having such a great talk that we split it into 2!
Here is part one for you!
You can learn more about Janna here.
P.S.
Want to learn more about our Storytelling & Marketing Immersion Program?
Here are all of the details: tomearl.me/dcminvite
Original Air Date: September 30, 2019
Today’s guest is Kendra Reed of the "Kenny Hearts Life" brand. She’s an ambassador for happiness, self-care, and teaching others to "Heart" their life: all of which we talk about. We also talk about movement, blogging, and the courage it takes to break out of being ‘stuck’ (Kendra shares some personal experiences that she has with this).
Two and a half years ago, she started her journey of self discovery and happiness and has never looked back. In that time, she left a non-beneficial long term relationship, moved from her small hometown in Mississippi to Dallas, and began traveling for the first time, freelance writing, and learning to heal old mindsets.
Kendra’s goal is to empower others, especially women of color, to pursue inner peace, step away from toxic mindsets, and live a full and happy life.
Join her on Instagram @kennyheartslifeblog, or visit her website.
Original Air Date: October 12, 2020
Communication is a top-shelf skill that every entrepreneur must master.
If you have an important mission, movement, product, or business, the ability to connect with your audience is vital.
Verbal and nonverbal communication is absolutely essential.
But what is often overlooked is copywriting.
Copywriting, and the ability to move people with your words, is so crucial.
Are you with me?
Because if so, we’re in luck.
This week’s guest, Jo McKee, is both a phenomenal teacher of copy and a master copywriter herself.
Jo Mckee is the founder of McKee Creative, a marketing agency with a mission to connect clients with their customers. Jo has also just released Copywriting for Profit – the hands-on system to train agency team members as in-house copywriters.
Throughout the interview, Jo shares with us templates, tools, and strategies you can use to write with persuasion and authenticity.
Most importantly, Jo shares with us how to write in a way that centers your audience as the heroes of the story rather than yourself.
This episode is about more than just the written word.
We also go all in on the importance of mindset, courage, and emotional intelligence.
I am always eager to learn how accomplished entrepreneurs move through challenges, cope with stress, and continue to perform at the highest level.
Jo offers advice on all of this and more.
I’m telling you, this episode is packed with holistic insights and action steps you can take right now.
Original Air Date: November 9, 2020
Honor your anger. Honor your pain.
CYRO’s words resonated deeply with me – like a bell used to awaken your spirit.
This isn’t just an interview.
It’s an awakening. It’s a residence. It’s a healing.
I am so grateful that CYRO took the time to sit down and share their passionate and powerful wisdom with all of us.
Leah Kirby, also known as CYRO, creates theatre that incites change and incorporates non-western techniques in order to explore social, economic, and political issues through a non-traditional format.
They are an activist, theatre maker, actor, writer, and drag thing named CYRO.
CYRO is a Queer, Non-Binary, DRAG THING!
They bring strength, beauty, and awareness to the stage with acts like 'Run Rabbit', exploring the struggles of gang induction and violence within black communities, and 'I am not your', a piece that delves into black masculinity within a non-binary body and shows the beauty it can exude by stripping back the facade.
They use spoken word, movement, composition, Lip syncing, and storytelling within their work to incite change through artistic calls to action.
I am telling you: this interview is everything you have been looking for in a THE Celebration episode.
Do yourself a favor.
Hit play.
You can learn more about Cyro through their website, or you can follow them on Instagram.
Mindset Matters.
Simply stated, it’s because your perception is your reality. To combat negativity, you MUST change your thoughts to change your life.
On this week’s episode, we move beyond all the mindset cliches and what you think you know about it while we take a deep dive into the importance and methods of cultivating thoughts needed for a better and more successful life.
I’m joined by two brilliant guests: LaShana aka Ms.West Creative Coach and Charlese - Girl at The Yellow Desk.
LaShana and Charlese share their personal stories and journeys, along with how they’ve learned to pivot, grow, and succeed despite life’s twists and turns.
We also talked about how to build meaningful relationships, especially with your customers and the importance of active listening and research so that your audience feels seen and heard.
Most importantly, we explored the way motivation follows movement and we covered what to do if you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, lost or frustrated so you can turn it around.
Charlese Latham is known as the Girl at the Yellow Desk. She was an entrepreneur in the beauty industry for over 20 years, but her inspiring story of resilience tells us how a devastating accident led to early retirement of the only career she knew and starting over again with a new business and life, with more success than ever.
Her strengths are Copywriting and Content Creation, especially for course launches and she absolutely loves to support other female entrepreneurs by taking away their overwhelm during busy launch seasons with her 3 steps to a 5-figure course launch system.
She’s been published in Entrepreneur.com, featured in Self Magazine, interviewed on dozens of podcasts, spoken on several summits, worked with multiple 6 and 7 figure client launches, is about to release her book, and has recently launched her very own course: Plan Your Best Launch, Ever!
You can connect with Charlese on Instagram @GirlattheYellowDesk and use the link in her profile to grab her FREE Social Media Templates for a 5 Figure Launch.
LaShana West aka Ms. West Creative Coach has been serving in the mental health field for over 20 years. This is where she learned the importance of having true compassion and engaging in servant leadership. All of these learning opportunities have positioned her to serve and step into a new direction by helping others in the creative and entrepreneurial field.
With the mental health background coupled with the business acumen LaShana is able to help the "whole person". LaShana believes that past unresolved trauma and imposter syndrome is a common barrier for most people no matter if you're a 9-5er or entrepreneur. But with support and accountability you can do ANYTHING that your heart desires!
You can connect with LaShana on her website: www.mswestcreativecoach.com or text the word ‘Mindset’ to 678-336-7756 and she’ll send you her best tips!
👉 I promise you, THIS is an epic episode, you won’t be the same after.
🎧 Listen HERE.
What’s more empowering than creativity?
This episode explores how when we tap into our creative side, we become invigorated.
We become fierce.
And all of us have the ability to tap into our unique creativity.
Our guests, Dania Ayah Alkhouli and Abstract C.I.M. really dive into these topics, sharing what drives them to create meaningful art.
I am especially inspired by how Dania and Abstract are able to use their art to create change, build a movement, and raise awareness.
In 6 words or less, Dania describes herself as: “Syrian. Perfectionist. Fierce. Dedicated. Thoughtful. Loyal.”
In 6 words or less, Abstract describes herself as: “Passionate. Creative. Empathetic. Love. balancer. Becoming.”
Ready to listen? Let’s go!
Learn more about Dania here.
Learn more about Abstract here.
You know that feeling at the end of a Netflix episode where you MUST find out what happens next? It makes you skip the end credits to get straight to the next episode and if there isn’t one…
….you immediately google release dates of the next season because you just. can’t. wait.
Why does that happen?
The answer might surprise you…
There’s actually a neurobiological reaction that takes place within us called the ‘cliffhanger effect.”
So what does this mean for our work?
There’s an art to telling a great story. And at the same time, there is a science to what happens within our nervous system when we experience a great story.
So every great storyteller must master both the art and science of storytelling.
Whether you’re planning a presentation at work, raising money for your nonprofit, creating a movement for an important cause, or trying to connect with your customers…
...it all comes down to good storytelling.
In this week’s episode, I share with you 3 ways you can improve your storytelling skills.
And how the 3 neurobiological reactions these storytelling tactics will create within your audience members.
Tune in to learn the biggest secrets of good storytelling you don’t know yet...
Let’s do it.
Feel all of the feelings.
Even the ones that feel messy.
Or don’t fit neatly into a polished box of positivity.
Create your own paintings.
Express your unique style.
They’ll tell you:
To put on a smile,
Take the stage,
Work the gimmick,
Wear the mask of plastic happiness.
It’s what they want to see...
The spectators.
The followers.
The audience.
Do it for the show.
The hallowed accolades
Followed by the inevitable silence.
Artificial lights that glowed begin abruptly fade.
When will we come home to the movement inside us?
The honesty behind the performance.
The fuel.
The sadness.
The fire.
The heaviness.
The energy.
The struggle.
The ignition.
The pain.
Feelings are feelings when we let ourselves feel them.
Trapped inside a lie of good vibes
It’s the farce that starts to tear us apart.
An elephant’s painting,
Words created by AI.
Without the:
Worry or
anxiety...
Sans the risk,
Of ridicule
And rejection…
Creation without risk is imitation.
It’s the vulnerability that makes it creativity.
Feeling all the feelings.
It’s not easy.
But it sure beats the drudgery
Of pretending.
Feeling all the feelings
Is human.
Feeling all the feelings
Is you and me
Being.
P.S.
I hope you enjoy this week’s episode: Feel All The Feelings (Without Toxic Positivity)
Be Vulnerable & Make A Powerful Decision.
This was the resounding theme that arose from my roundtable conversation with T’keya Marquez and Shadé Adu.
Oftentimes, when we think of ‘branding’ we associate it with the colors, and fonts, and aesthetics consistencies of a company.
In reality, ‘branding’ is more complex.
It is what people say about you when you’re not around.
It is a movement.
It is a feeling.
And to move people emotionally, you have to make the decision to stand for something.
My guests this week - T’keya Marquez & Shadé Adu - both share their unique insights and perspective on all things branding, copywriting, and connecting with your people.
T’keya Marquez has made a career out of human connection + storytelling. She is driven by creating heart-centered copy for passionate mental health and holistic wellness professionals. As a copywriter, her goal is to uncover what makes you and your brand unique.
Shadé Adu is a digital brand strategist, international speaker and best selling author. Driven by the desire to support women entrepreneurs and facilitate the creation of generational wealth, Shadé is truly committed to offering a comprehensive range of services which is oriented towards achieving the 3 I’s; Income, Influence, and Impact.
Shadé and T’keya both shared their inspiring and powerful origin stories and entrepreneurial journey.
I took so many notes as I was listening to this week’s episode.
You will walk away with tangible steps you can take towards honing in on your messaging, strengthening your brand, and standing for what truly matters to you.
Most importantly, you will walk away with a resolution to make that important decision to step into the next chapter you are being called to begin.
You can follow Shadé on IG
You can follow T’keya on IG
