#SmartBrownVoices - Learning from Diversity

In a post-Obama era where Blacks in America are still proclaiming "Black as the new Black," it's continuously surprising to see Black-owned businesses shy away from serving their own people. What European brands do so intently and without apology by showcasing imagery of only European models - Black businesses steer clear of such displays for fear of "limiting themselves."

Storyteller Amber Williams is at the forefront of the move to dispel this myth of limitation by pushing Black businesses towards more sophisticated-unapologetic branding. Her platform Punky Flair is a brand storytelling agency that teaches Founders and CEOs how to improve their sales through stories built around their true customers. Amber has crafted brand language for Armani, CVS, The U.S Olympics and now she uses her talents to service black owned startups such as Camille Rose Naturals, Heat Free Hair, and Shea Radiance.

Amber's aim is to shift the idea of merely "buying Black" to "serving Black.”

Jon Robinson, PhD is CEO of Cents, a new platform, that helps people get out of debt years faster and save thousands in interest. Cents takes your spare change and applies it each month to either a student loan, credit card, mortgage and more. Jon also has a unique background having gone from a Human Genetics PhD to software developer and serial entrepreneur. Visit http:///centsapp.io to sign up.

In this episode, Mike Street chat with Micah B. Lewis. Micah is the founder of My Bag Check Inc, a luggage pickup, storage, and delivery service. A few people aside from of his mother have called him “a genius”. He grew up in Northern Florida and after graduating from the University of Central Florida he decided to pursue advanced degrees in Law and Criminal Justice. While attending school full time he successfully generated millions of dollars of revenue as a sales consultant for companies such as Apple Inc, SuccessFactors, and TriNet. Micah has a deep affinity for travel and exploring new diverse cultures. In the last few years he has visited more than 30+ countries spanning 6 continents while exploring the pains of being a frequent internationally traveler. While traveling he found a problem in trekking around with luggage after landing and late flights after hotel checkout. Thus, the inspiration for My Bag Check was born. You can download the app on the iOS store and visit the webs

A message from Mike Street

Recent reports about tax hikes, black land loss, and the near extinction of Gullah culture in the Lowcountry of regions of Georgia and South Carolina have made headlines in the New York Times, and featured on national TV networks like CNN. Missing from these reports is an account of how these unique African Americans emerged in the national imagination as distinct populations whose traditions should be documented and examined.<br />
Enter Melissa L. Cooper, an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Rutgers University-Newark. Her groundbreaking book, Making Gullah: A History of Sapelo Islanders, Race and the American Imagination (University of North Carolina Press), is set to be released on April 17, 2017. It is the first book to trace the construction of the Gullah identity. Using Sapelo Island as a case study, Cooper unearths the intellectual and cultural trends that inspired, and continues to inspire, fascination with Gullah culture and their African roots. In addition,

Lillian Okoye is a business strategist for visionary entrepreneurs and experts who want to build their global empire and promote their products and services at home and abroad. Fluent in Mandarin and with a long-time interest in Asia, she started learning Mandarin while in college over a decade ago. Her entrepreneurial journey started when she wrote a business plan on a napkin in New York City’s Chinatown and decided to jumpship and start a business on the streets of Beijing. In 2014, she started her own Beijing-based English training center servicing a 100% Chinese clientele. Through her Chinapreneur program and The Great Wall Mastermind, she helps train the next generation of global-minded entrepreneurs on how they too can also successfully tap into China’s booming market. SmartBrown Voices podcast listeners can get her free weekly tips and strategies for tapping into business opportunities behind the Great Wall at:

In this episode of #Wokepodcast, I chop it up with my good friend BKE.We discussed the importance of controlling your own narrative.In a society that loves the place individuals in boxes, it is very important we craft our thoughts, speech, actions, emotional responses, and perceptions in the most constructive ways as possible. When we do not do this, it gives other people the ability to do it for us. So, enjoy this discussion between me and my good friend. Be sure to think about how you craft your own narrative.<br />
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As always…<br />
~Be safe<br /><br />
~Be constructive<br /><br />
~Be Woke<br />
Do not forget to share the podcast with someone you care about.<br />

Sukhtej Singh has a vast experience portfolio in his professional career as a money manager and financial coach. After having attained a BS in Computer Science from Binghamton University, Sukhtej ventured towards consultation and advisory, initiating his professional career by working as a Market Analyst at Reuters. From there on, Sukhtej focused his career on financial and wealth advisory, working from Wall Street firms like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. He has held many other positions in renowned firms and institutions including ThinkOptions, and Ramapo College of New Jersey. As of 2006, Sukhtej Singh established his own real estate investment agency, Sagevue Investment Group. For four years and counting, he has been working as a Chief Market Strategist at Traderhelp 101.<br />
All of his past experience has led Sukhtej Singh to hold a reliable and renowned status for clients looking for expert wealth management and financial advisory services. His typical clients include individuals

What if you could sleep through the night and not feel guilty about it? We’re here to help you sleep well and feel great doing it.<br />
Whether you are an entrepreneur, parent, or creative. Sleep affects us all in more ways than one. Some of you have severe insomnia or suffer from depression. Either way, Aycee Brown has dealt with both and can relate to what you are going through.<br />
She was once a part of the #TeamNoSleep community due to the fact that she just couldn’t sleep at all. She suffered from insomnia since she was 14 years old and tried for so many years to just go to sleep. and at times she would cry because it truly wasn’t that easy.<br />
Aycee started to research on how she could sleep better and over the years developed her own regimen that works.<br /><br />
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Sleep is not a luxury and that is why we’re here. We’re here to help you get some sleep.<br />
Goodnight Darling Co.<br /><br />
Sleep Well. Naturally.<br /><br />

Sam Simmons is licensed as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor who has over 25-year experience as a behavioral consultant in the areas of chemical dependency, violence abatement and historical trauma. He specializes in practical culturally sensitive trauma informed work with African American males and their families. Healing Brothers is a is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (since 2013) that is dedicated to improve the health and wellness of African American men and their families, resulting in the larger community becoming healthier and safer. www.healingbrothers.com<br />
~Be Safe<br />
~Be Constructive<br />
~Be Woke<br />
Be sure to subscribe and share the podcast with someone you care about!<br />

Sam Simmons is licensed as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor who has over 25-year experience as a behavioral consultant in the areas of chemical dependency, violence abatement and historical trauma. He specializes in practical culturally sensitive trauma informed work with African American males and their families. Healing Brothers is a is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (since 2013) that is dedicated to improve the health and wellness of African American men and their families, resulting in the larger community becoming healthier and safer. www.healingbrothers.com<br />
~Be Safe<br />
~Be Constructive<br />
~Be Woke<br />
Be sure to subscribe and share the podcast with someone you care about!<br />

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Kwame is passionate about teaching business professionals how to negotiate and be more persuasive. He works with businesses and individuals to come up with tailored negotiation solutions to improve the bottom line and resolve conflict.<br />
Negotiation is one the only business skills we use every day. My goal is to share this critical skill with as many people as possible. That’s why he is a part of the American Negotiation Institute and produces “Negotiation for Entrepreneurs,” the top negotiation podcast on iTunes. The show has been downloaded over 20,000 times and has listeners in over 60 different countries.<br />
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Podcast:

Escapism: The systematic process of compensating for inferior social and psychological beliefs, feelings, and status. The tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.<br />
Always attempting to smooth the pain with the half truths. Being honest is not cool today. It is not the thing to do. However, it should not be the gold standard of who we are. Honesty is a core element to the character that will be needed to survive in this world moving forward. Everything is being recorded, whether on video, audio, and written it’s all being document somewhere. Everything we do or say can come back to us in the future. Even if we do not intend for it too. This is why it is so critical to advance our thoughts, speech, and actions with every intention of keeping it real with ourselves first. Do not let escapism hold up back from being elite in your life.<br />