Introducing the WHTOOO$ Movement
Welcome to WHTOOO$ — We Have To Own Our Own $hyt! This is more than a name; it’s a call to action. Our mission is to spotlight the real stories of Black business owners — the wins, the losses, the struggles, and the truths — while challenging the cultural and systemic barriers stacked against us.
This first video marks the beginning of a powerful conversation. Join the movement, subscribe to the shift, and elevate your game!
WHTOOO$: Where ownership meets truth!
WHTOOO$ | Tameka Farrier — Sometimes the Life You Planned Isn’t the Life You’re Called to Build
What do you do when the life you built no longer fits the person you’ve become?
Do you keep pushing through because you’re afraid to start over?
Do you stay comfortable because change is uncomfortable?
Or do you have the courage to admit that it’s time to pivot?
In this powerful WHTOOO$ conversation, Raynard Burrell sits down with Tameka Farrier for a real and transparent conversation about entrepreneurship, caregiving, purpose, identity, and the difficult decisions that come with building a life and business on your own terms.
Tameka opens up about her journey and the experiences that challenged her to rethink what she was doing, where she was going, and what it really meant to walk in her purpose.
This conversation goes beyond the business.
It’s about the person behind the journey.
We talk about:
• Finding purpose through life-changing experiences
• Knowing when it’s time to pivot
• The cost of resisting change
• The realities and sacrifices of entrepreneurship
• Balancing identity, family, caregiving, and business
• Why asking for help isn't a weakness
• The difference between simply surviving and actually growing
• Lessons learned through adversity and uncertainty
• Building something that has purpose beyond yourself
• The legacy we leave through the work we do
Because sometimes the hardest part of entrepreneurship isn't starting.
It’s having the courage to change direction when you realize the road you’re on is no longer yours.
That’s what WHTOOO$ — We Have To Own Our Own Shyt — is all about.
Real people. Real businesses. Real conversations. Real lessons.
No polished success story without the struggle.
No highlight reel without the hard parts.
No conversation without the truth.
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If this conversation resonates with you, LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to WHTOOO$.
Question for you:
What has life forced you to change — and what did that change teach you?
WHAT IF THE THING KEEPING YOU FROM YOUR NEXT LEVEL ISN’T LACK OF OPPORTUNITY — BUT LACK OF EXECUTION?
Everybody says they want to build a business.
Everybody says they want to be successful.
But are you actually building — or are you just staying busy?
In this thought-provoking WHTOOO$ conversation, Raynard Burrell sits down with G. Taboris Taylor for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, business, personal branding, social media, discipline, mentorship, execution, and the uncomfortable truths that many entrepreneurs don't want to confront.
This conversation goes beyond the highlight reel.
It challenges the way we think about how we use our time, how we present ourselves online, who we allow to influence us, and whether we're actually doing the work required to turn knowledge into results.
We get into some real questions:
• What does it really mean to be an intelligence asset?
• When does social media stop being a business tool and become a distraction?
• Are entrepreneurs using their phones to build their businesses — or are their phones building their habits?
• What are entrepreneurs getting wrong about personal branding and social media?
• How do you recognize a mentor who can actually help you versus someone who simply has a title?
• Why is coachability so important?
• What uncomfortable truths may be holding African American entrepreneurs back?
• Why isn't having knowledge enough?
• What happens when you know what to do but refuse to execute?
• What is the real cost of distraction?
• What can entrepreneurs learn from their biggest mistakes and losses?
• And ultimately — what are you building that will outlive you?
This isn't a conversation designed to make you comfortable.
It's designed to make you think.
Because having a vision is one thing.
Having knowledge is another.
But execution, discipline, consistency, and accountability are what turn ideas into something real.
That's what WHTOOO$ — We Have To Own Our Own Shyt — is about.
Real people. Real businesses. Real conversations. Real lessons.
No manufactured success stories.
No pretending the journey is easy.
Just conversations about what it really takes to build, own, grow, and leave something behind.
Are you actually building the life and business you say you want — or are you just consuming information about it?
Watch the full conversation and tell us what you think.
What happens when your personal transformation becomes your purpose? In this episode of WHTOOO$ — We Have To Own Our Own Shyt , Raynard Burrell sits down with Monica Graham, founder of The Yoga Experience, for a conversation that goes far beyond yoga. Monica’s journey is a powerful example of what can happen when personal struggle, discipline, resilience, and purpose collide. From transforming her own health and losing more than 75 pounds, to discovering yoga, becoming a teacher, overcoming physical challenges, and ultimately building a business around helping others transform their lives — Monica’s story is about much more than fitness. It’s about reinvention. It’s about resilience. It’s about recognizing your purpose and having the courage to pursue it. And it’s about understanding that sometimes the thing you think is simply part of your journey becomes the very thing you were meant to share with other people. In this conversation, Monica gets real about: • The personal transformation that changed the direction of her life • How yoga became more than exercise • Turning personal experience into purpose • The challenges that come with building a wellness business • The importance of continuing to learn and evolve • Resilience when life doesn't go according to plan • Building a brand around something you genuinely believe in • The difference between simply being busy and actually creating impact • Why wellness has to address more than the physical body • What it takes to keep reinventing yourself But this conversation isn't really about yoga. It's about what happens when you decide that your circumstances don't get to define your future. That's the heart of WHTOOO$. We want to know the person behind the business. The story behind the success. The struggle behind the smile. The lessons behind the journey. Because everybody has a story — and sometimes the part nobody sees is the part that matters most. WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION. Then tell us: What experience in your life started as a struggle but ultimately became part of your purpose? If Monica's story resonates with you: LIKE. COMMENT. SHARE. SUBSCRIBE. And don't forget: SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHIFT. ELEVATE YOUR GAME. WHTOOO$ — We Have To Own Our Own Shyt Real People. Real Businesses. Real Conversations. Real Lessons.
MIA GREEN: THE VISION, THE MISSION & THE WORK BEHIND THE DIAMOND FITNESS AWARDS | WHTOOO$
What does it take to turn a vision into something that makes a lasting impact?
Meet Mia Green, founder of the Diamond Fitness Awards and SOLAAT Fitness Foundation, in a WHTOOO$ conversation about entrepreneurship, purpose, community, and building something bigger than yourself.
Behind every organization is a story. Behind every vision are decisions, challenges, sacrifices, and lessons that the world doesn't always get to see.
In this conversation, we spotlight the woman behind two platforms committed to recognizing fitness and wellness professionals and advancing a broader mission of community impact.
We go beyond the titles and recognition to explore the vision, the purpose, and the importance of creating opportunities that can positively influence others.
IN THIS WHTOOO$ CONVERSATION:
At WHTOOO$, we're not interested in just telling you that someone is successful. We want to understand the story behind the success—the decisions, the lessons, the challenges, and the vision that keeps them moving forward.
Because ownership is about more than having a business. It's about building something meaningful, creating opportunities, and leaving something behind that matters.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:
What's more important to you: building something successful, making a difference in your community, or creating a legacy that outlives you? Share your perspective in the comments.
If you believe in Black entrepreneurship, ownership, community, and honest conversations about what it takes to build, you're in the right place.
SUBSCRIBE TO WHTOOO$ and join us as we spotlight the entrepreneurs, innovators, and community builders whose stories deserve to be heard.
Like this conversation? Share it with someone who needs the reminder that their vision matters.
WHTOOO$ — WE HAVE TO OWN OUR OWN SHYT.
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#WHTOOOS #MiaGreen #DiamondFitnessAwards #SOLAATFitnessFoundation #BlackEntrepreneurs #Entrepreneurship #BlackBusiness #Ownership #Legacy #CommunityImpact
What does it take to build your own platform, tell stories that matter, and create space for Black voices, businesses, and culture? In this episode of WHTOOO$ — We Have To Own Our Own Shyt, host Raynard Burrell sits down with Keisa Stewart-Rucker, CEO and Publisher of Head2Toe Magazine & Entertainment, for a conversation about her journey in media and entrepreneurship. Building a business takes more than an idea. It requires vision, consistency, relationships, resilience, and the willingness to keep moving when the path isn't easy. Independent media also raises an important question: Who gets to tell our stories, shape our narratives, and decide which businesses and voices receive visibility? This WHTOOO$ conversation explores the entrepreneurial journey behind building a media platform and why ownership, representation, and intentional support matter. WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS At WHTOOO$, we want to go beyond the headlines and polished success stories. We want to understand the people behind the businesses—their journeys, their decisions, their lessons, and the work required to build something of their own. If you're an entrepreneur, aspiring business owner, creative, media professional, or someone committed to building a lasting legacy, this conversation is for you. JOIN THE CONVERSATION What does owning your own platform mean to you? And how important is it for Black entrepreneurs to control their own stories? Share your perspective in the comments. We want to hear from you. HELP US BUILD WHTOOO$ If you believe in Black entrepreneurship, business ownership, economic empowerment, and honest conversations about what it takes to build, take three steps: 1. SUBSCRIBE to WHTOOO$ and become part of the community. 2. LIKE this video if the conversation gives you something to think about. 3. SHARE it with an entrepreneur, creator, or business owner who needs to hear it. Every subscription, meaningful comment, and share helps more people discover these conversations. WHTOOO$ is building a platform for the stories behind the businesses—the wins, setbacks, lessons, challenges, and triumphs that can help the next generation build smarter. WHTOOO$ — WE HAVE TO OWN OUR OWN SHYT. Subscribe to the Shift. Elevate Your Game. #WHTOOOS #KeisaStewartRucker #Head2ToeMagazine #BlackEntrepreneurs #BlackOwnedMedia #Entrepreneurship #BusinessOwnership
Join me, Raynard E. Burrell, Broker/Owner of DreamMakers Realty Group, as I give you an exclusive first look at this stunning new townhouse before the official grand opening!
The Real Story Behind WHTOOO$! How Our Movement Started and Why It Matters!
Joseph holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Xavier University of LA and an MBA in Finance from Clark Atlanta University. His financial services and commercial real estate career spans more than 25 years. He is a member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the Atlanta Black Chambers of Commerce and sits on the Board of several non-profits. Joseph is an INROADS/Atlanta Alumnus.
Joseph launched À la Carte Commercial Capital to empower others with the resources to launch and develop their assets and to empower themselves through business development and wealth generation.
Outside of his business interests, He is an active member of Cascade United Methodist Church and a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Joseph and his wife Nikki reside in the Atlanta area and have a 17 year old son.
When you’re in a transition season—reinvention, right-sizing, identity shift—you don’t need motivation. You need decision clarity, priorities, and a plan that holds up in real life. I help solo decision-makers and small teams (1–10) reduce noise, define what matters, and choose the next move.
Success doesn’t come from talent alone. It’s built through relationships — and sustained by knowing when to pivot.
In this episode of WHTOOOS, we sit down with Kevin Taylor, Founder and Executive Producer of KT gotBeats (www.KTGOTBEATS.com), for an honest, in-depth conversation about what it truly takes to survive, adapt, and win in today’s business and creative economy.
Kevin shares real-world insight into:
This isn’t motivational talk.
This is lived experience from a builder who has adjusted, recalibrated, and continued moving forward when others stalled out.
If you’re an entrepreneur, creative, producer, or business owner looking to:
This conversation is for you.
Watch the full interview.
WHTOOO$ — Subscribe to the Shift. Elevate Your Game.
In this episode of WHTOOO$, I sits down with Dr. Rodney Fields, CEO of The Cylindrical Group, for a thoughtful and engaging discussion on leadership, entrepreneurship, and navigating change in today’s evolving business environment.
Dr. Fields shares insights drawn from his experience leading organizations, building strategic partnerships, and helping businesses adapt in dynamic markets. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the critical role of relationships, the ability to pivot when necessary, and the mindset required to sustain long-term success.
This interview offers valuable perspective for entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals seeking to elevate their leadership approach and strengthen their strategic thinking.
Topics explored in the interview include:
• Building meaningful professional relationships
• Leadership principles for sustainable growth
• The importance of adaptability in business
• Strategic thinking for entrepreneurs and executives
The WHTOOOS platform continues its mission of highlighting authentic conversations with leaders who are shaping industries and creating impact.
Watch the full interview and explore more conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders.
WHTOOO$
Subscribe to the Shift. Elevate Your Game.
Money! Power! Respect!
Founder & CEO
Tamika L. Smith is a fractional executive strategist and author of Unhealthy Currency — The Hidden Cost of Leadership (What Leadership Costs When We Stop Asking Is It Worth It?) who designs organizations from the future backward—aligning outcomes, people, and systems through disciplined execution and continuous evaluation.
In this episode of WHTOOO$, we sit down with Jamiah Mott, CEO of Hairstyles By J Mott, a full-service salon transforming not just hair—but how people feel about themselves.
This isn’t just about beauty.
This is about purpose, discipline, and building something that impacts lives.
Jamiah breaks down:
But the journey wasn’t easy.
She shares:
And one message every entrepreneur needs to hear:
“Consistency will take you further than talent ever will.”
As the only Black-owned salon in her immediate area, Jamiah isn’t just running a business—she’s building representation, opportunity, and impact in her community.
If you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or business owner trying to:
This conversation is for you.
In this episode of WHTOOO$, we sit down with Marquetta Lewis, Owner of God’s Village Ministries, whose approach to entrepreneurship is rooted in service, purpose, and genuine care for people. This is more than business. This is about impact. Marquetta shares how she built a multifaceted organization focused on: Meeting people at their core needs Serving others with intention and authenticity Creating meaningful, lasting connections through service Her mission is simple—but powerful: Value people above all else, and serve them with purpose. In this conversation, we explore: What it means to build a business centered around people, not profit How serving others can become a foundation for success The importance of showing up with consistency, care, and commitment Why going the extra mile still matters Marquetta’s approach reminds us that: Business is not just transactional It’s transformational If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or someone looking to build something meaningful—this conversation will challenge how you think about success.
ATHLETE. ENTREPRENEUR. INNOVATOR.
What happens when discipline from sports meets entrepreneurship and cutting-edge technology?
In this powerful episode of WHTOOO$, we sit down with entrepreneur and former athlete Amari Davis to unpack her journey from athletic competition to business ownership—and how she is leveraging AI to transform the way businesses communicate through her AI receptionist firm.
This conversation goes beyond business. We discuss mindset, resilience, reinvention, discipline, and what it takes to pivot into purpose while building something impactful in today’s fast-changing world.
Amari opens up about:
Her transition from athlete to entrepreneur
The mindset required to pivot and build a business from the ground up
How AI receptionist technology is helping businesses improve customer communication and efficiency
Lessons learned through entrepreneurship, setbacks, and growth
Staying focused, disciplined, and purpose-driven in business and life
If you’re an entrepreneur, athlete, business owner, or someone navigating a pivot in life, this episode is packed with gems you don’t want to miss.
At WHTOOO$, we highlight the wins, losses, trials, tribulations, and truths behind the journey—because every success story has a process.
SUCCESS REQUIRES SACRIFICE. GROWTH REQUIRES A PIVOT.
What happens when a successful attorney makes the bold decision to step away from building alone and partner for something greater?
In this powerful episode of WHTOOO$, we sit down with Attorney Deidre’ J. Stokes, Esq., Senior Associate Attorney with E. N. Banks-Ware Law Firm, for an authentic, transparent conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, resilience, and what it really takes to evolve professionally.
This is bigger than law.
It’s a conversation about vision, strategic pivots, faith in the process, and understanding when growth requires changing the game—not quitting it.
Attorney Stokes opens up about:
⚖Her journey as an attorney and entrepreneur
The decision to pivot from owning her own law practice to partnering with E. N. Banks-Ware Law Firm
The mindset behind reinvention and professional growth
Lessons learned through challenges, transitions, and leadership
Building legacy, purpose, and long-term impact
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, attorney, executive, business owner, or someone navigating a major career pivot, this conversation delivers real insight and real truth.
At WHTOOO$, we spotlight the wins, losses, trials, tribulations, and truths behind success—because the story behind the success matters just as much as success itself.
What happens when experience, purpose, and determination collide after 40? In this inspiring episode of WHTOOO$, we sit down with entrepreneur, author, and visionary Mikki Riley for a powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and thriving in life's next chapter. Too often society tells us that our best years are behind us. Mikki Riley is living proof that your greatest impact, opportunities, and accomplishments may still be ahead of you. From entrepreneurship and personal growth to purpose-driven living and empowering others, Mikki shares hard-earned wisdom, lessons from her journey, and why embracing your season can lead to extraordinary success. In this episode, we discuss:
Whether you're approaching 40, over 40, or simply seeking inspiration for your next move, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger, dream again, and take action. At WHTOOO$, we highlight the stories behind the success—the victories, setbacks, pivots, and defining moments that shape extraordinary people.
Some conversations don't simply answer questions.
They change the way you think.
This WHTOOO$ conversation with Audrey Glenn, Founder of Community Studios, is one of those conversations.
At the heart of our discussion is a statement that has the power to challenge every entrepreneur, executive, leader, and aspiring business owner:
"Fear is not a tool. Fear is not a friend."
Those nine words set the tone for an engaging dialogue about leadership, entrepreneurship, intentional community building, and the mindset required to create lasting impact.
In a culture that often celebrates hustle over purpose and transactions over relationships, Audrey offers a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to build something that outlives you. She reminds us that sustainable success isn't built solely through strategy or ambition—it is built through courage, authentic relationships, intentional leadership, and a commitment to serving something greater than yourself.
Throughout this conversation, Audrey shares lessons drawn from her own entrepreneurial journey, offering practical insights for anyone seeking to lead with greater purpose, strengthen their influence, and cultivate meaningful communities rather than simply growing a list of customers or contacts.
This interview embodies the mission of WHTOOO$.
We don't chase headlines.
We uncover the stories behind the success.
The victories that inspire.
The setbacks that strengthen.
The lessons that transform.
The wins, losses, trials, tribulations, and truths that shape extraordinary people and the businesses they build.
Our hope is that every visitor leaves this conversation with more than information. We hope you leave with a renewed perspective, a deeper sense of purpose, and the confidence to move beyond fear toward the vision you've been called to pursue.
If Audrey's story challenges or inspires you, we encourage you to share this interview with another entrepreneur, leader, or dreamer who needs to hear this message.
At WHTOOO$, we believe powerful conversations create powerful communities.
And communities built with intention create lasting legacies.
We Support Those Who Support Us.
Because community doesn't happen by accident...
It Must Be Intentional.
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