POSITIVE INFLUENCERS Quarantine Interviews in 2020
Up Close & Personal with
LUENELL WIBMAGZ
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CONTENTS MAY 2020 SADE SEALEY 4 LEVEL 5 6 YONAS 8 CLAY JAMES 10 ELLE SPENCER 12 KRYSTAL GARNER 14 RASHIDA BROWN 16 M.O. LITTLES 18 SCOTT HOWARD 20 KISSA JO 22 HASHIM LAFONT 24 YOUNG RA 26 FULLER FRENCH 28 MR. JONES 30 TORI B. WALTON 32 0JAY DALE 34 STEPHANIE MCSWINE 36 KARREN ARRINGTON 38 BENJAMIN REYNOLDS 40 CORY TAYLOR 42 CREYTENS ROBBIE 44 K. SHANTEL 46 LYNN SPIRIT 48 MIKE BEND 50 DARIUS SLAUGHTER 52 LERAZIA 54 ANNA BLACK 56 NEFERTITI AUSTIN 58 BLAQUE ROSE 60
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EDWARD MANNING 62 BIG NICK 64 SHOOTER 66 TOON 68 CURTIS LOVEJOY 70 LUENELL! 72 ANTHONY NEVES 76 EMJAY 78 CITY OF LOVE BY PRESTON TURNER 80
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20 MINUTES MATTER BY KRIS FULLER 82 NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PEPPER BODY 83 HOW TO STYLE LINEN DRESSES WELL? BY RITU SHARMA 84 GABE LUSTMAN 86 DJ LUCKY CALHOUN 88 SHAWNA’S Open Book 90 VBAE 92 JUDI HOLLER 94 BAEGERA 96 JONATHAN LYKES 98 TORY VEE 100 JAH JAH 102
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Founder – Cece Hymes
W.I.B (Where It Begins) is an Independent agency with the aim to always be innovate in each approach taken to projects and making sure excellence is given in a projects execution when it comes to media marketing, branding, networking and management. Founded by the well experienced and ever growing force; D.C native - Cece Hymes, the most important and integral aspect of W.I.B is that branding for both Creatives and Businesses is taken to the next level with each and every project undertaken.
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We’ve continued to represent a very diverse and well acclaimed roster of emerging talents in the entertainment, and businesses!
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With a determined persistence for continued excellence, our Founder – Cece Hymes, with a college Degree in Business Management, has also worked within radio and with many companies such as: RDE Entertainment, H.I.G.H Entertainment and Caribbean Gospel Records Ltd.,
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SADE SEALEY
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Q. How did you get into the industry? A. I started off in this industry as a background vocalist. Honestly if my life had gone any different even in the slightest I probably would’ve ended up in a different lane but college really opened up the doors for me and gave me the opportunity to cross paths with some brilliant people who helped me get where I am now. Q. How would you say you got into singing? A. I’ve always loved singing from a young age. My mother always said when I was a baby she’d have to walk and sing to me so I would fall asleep. She probably planted a seed there. My music teachers, God bless them, were some of the early ones as well to see that potential. Also, from primary into secondary school I was surrounded by very musically talented group of friends. Almost every semester we’d have some play or concert at school especially in secondary school so there was always a way for us to grow. I’ve also been pushed a lot by my mom and uncle. Where I’m from this path is risky but I’m willing. Q. Who’s been an inspiration to you? A. Firstly my husband. I see his drive and his ambition and the sacrifices he’s taking to get where God wants him to. It’s amazing. My mother, her resilience and strength I’ve witnessed all these years has always been inspiring. These days our local artists are breaking so many boundaries. The ones I know personally, like Nathanael, Sherwin, Mekaiel, the ones that gave me a chance like Positive and Mention, and so many others I can’t help but be inspired by our own. Q. Who are some of the people you’ve worked with? A. I started off doing background vocals for Positive, Mention and Sherwin Gardner. I’ve also had the opportunity to sing with Nathanael, Papa San, Vashawn Mitchell, Jonathan Nelson, Tiff Joy and quite a few others.
Q. Tell me about your new single? A. My new single Hope is one I wrote when I experienced a down time in life. I saw the scripture Hebrews 6:19 that says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” and God knew that’s what I was desperate to hear at that time. It’s produced and co-written by my husband, Lesroy “A.P.” Byers, who’s the founder and CEO of Audio Predators and everything vocally and production wise were basically done out of our bedroom in Antigua. Humble beginnings which I’m pretty grateful for! I’m usually extremely different with my sound so we’ve been trying a different approach and I guess you can say it targets a broader audience. I also want many to be inspired and encouraged like I was when it was written so I had to take all of that into consideration which led us to a more contemporary sound. Had some awesome folks of Antigua do live instrumentation after my husband arranged it and now, we have a pretty dope song. Q. What advice can you give others that want to get into this industry? A. Be wise about every decision you make. You may slip up sometimes but even then, the decisions you make to get back up, let it be made in wisdom. Never ever stop seeking God about every move you make and don’t be discouraged. I’ve been there but then you realize it’s never smooth sailing but know the God you serve has great plans for you.
Q. What future projects have you been working on? A. Currently I’m working alongside Mekaiel for his upcoming album. That’s been exciting since I’ve been doing vocal arrangements which I’ve grown to love. I also want to release an album soon, so I have two singles in the making that I want to be accompanied by music videos and then we’ll drop an album or EP. People can also expect my brand new single entitled “Empty” coming very soon. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? A. Well my husband and I are new parents. It’s still surreal to me but I have so many emotions that’s been flooding my mind when I think about it. Mostly nerves and anxiety but definitely excitement. All in all, though we want to be on top of our parenting. We hope to be touring, writing, arranging and producing a lot more. It’s something we’re passionate about. Basically, building a legacy and an empire together and hopefully our experiences make us better humans in the process. Q. What makes you smile? A. Family and food! Q. What are your hobbies? A. I won’t really call it a hobby, but I really enjoy watching HGTV and Food Network. Somehow I’m able to clear my mind while watching. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll find a concert to watch and be inspired.
“ I’ve always loved singing from a young age. My mother always said when I was a baby she’d have to walk and sing to me so I would fall asleep. She probably planted a seed there. My music teachers, God bless them, were some of the early ones as well to see that potential. ”
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COREY PARKS
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Q. Tell us more about Level 5 Health & Sport Fitness? A. Level 5 Health & Sport Fitness we are specializing in Weight loss, Mini Boot Camp, Strength Training, Sports and Power Training, Meal nutritional planning. Teaching clients to Learn their body first, Mind, Body and Spirt. Q. Who or what inspired you to be an athlete trainer? A. I was inspired by Kobe Bryant, Steve Smith and CT Fletcher their Work ethic is very phenomenal, just like them. I like to push my body over and beyond the Limits. It’s not all about Power it’s the endurance you need in Life to continue to press on when things get hard not giving up Mind over body. Q. How do you stay fit? A. I stay fit by training myself everyday like I am still playing football, always working on my fast twitch muscle, Sprints, 40 yard dash, 225 reps on bench press, stretching doing Yoga, Leg workouts most important, putting myself on discipline meal plan that I can do Monday through Thursday that I can stick with no short term meal plan, it’s a lifestyle consistency is the key. Q. What is one of your greatest experiences? A. One of my greatest experience in my life is spiritual. I ask God to bless me with my gym before I turn 30 years old and he waited until I was 29 years old 6 months shy of turning 30 and God answered my prayers and the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. Habakkuk 2:2 I had faith
and put God to the test, and he came through. Trust God over everything now that’s a lifestyle. Q. Tell us more about your boot camp? A. Level 5 Health & Sport Fitness Boot is high intensity training Hit cardio body weight movements. Lots of reps building your endurance muscle strength and Lungs at its best but most important we make it fit for all ages we put the Workout according to your body structure. Q. What are some of the advantages and challenges of being fit? A. Some of the advantages I have staying fit is I am a gym owner, so I live in the gym constantly working out. Some of my challenges is everyone wants me to workout out with them and most of the time I do it’s hard for me to say no my body needs rest lol. Q. What have been the hardest experience being fit? A. One of my hardest experience of being fit was Learning my body, what works for me and not to try everything I see in the magazine taking different, supplement, my calorie intake and other people workouts. Once I Learned my body it was easygoing after that I can bulk up or Tone-up fast. Q. What advice can you give other people who wants to be fit? A. The advice I can give someone who want to be fit is It’s not about being better than someone else... It’s about being better than who you used to be.” Have fun with training. Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle.” Thinking about going to the gym
burns between 0 and 0 calories.” Look good feel good. Q. Tell us about your journey of being in fitness? A. After I stop playing Arena Football my dream was to always open up my gym I Learn my purpose that God placed into my heart, that is to help people have a healthier lifestyle and being a good encourager by telling clients a healthy relationship with God is going to give you a healthy spirit and that translates into a healthy body it all go hand and hand together. Mind, body and spirit got to love it. Q. What motivates you to train and coach people? A. Knowing my purpose upon this world that God gave me to be a blessing to people to have a healthier lifestyle to be around for their family and kids at its best. Become, closer to God. Teaching my clients to have endurance in life because you will need it when times get tough. Q. What other projects are you working on and where can everyone follow you? A. One of the new projects, I am working on in Stockbridge Georgia, is my Company call the Juice Spot opening soon. I join forces with my business partner Terica. providing healthy, natural and tasty, fresh pressed juices.
You can follow: JUICE SPOT at on IG and Website www.thejuicespot.net Follow LEVEL5GYM on IG Level5Health&SportFitness and Website www.Level5HealthSportFitness.com. WIBMAGZ
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“ One of my best experiences happened in 2015 when I signed an official marriage certificate.”
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ELLE SPENCER
Q. Tell us more of who Elle Spencer is? A. I come from a large, close-knit family. We lived near the Rocky Mountains so my siblings and I spent our youth skiing, snowmobiling and sledding down whatever hill we could find. It was a great place to grow up, but I prefer a warmer climate now which is a good thing since I live in California. I’ve had all kinds of jobs—massage therapist, frame builder—but nothing that was ever a passion until the writing came along. Now, I’m a fulltime writer of lesbian romance. Still hard to believe that’s my job. Q. What or who Influenced you to be an author? A. It happened by accident. I was a reader of lesfic, but then I ran across some fanfiction online—which I hadn’t known was even a thing prior to that and decided to give it a try myself. It was my wife who encouraged me to take it a step further and create original characters. So, I wrote a novella called Forget Her Not and I published it on Amazon in August 2017. Then I published my first fulllength novel, Casting Lacey, also on Amazon. Nine months later I signed with Bold Strokes Books (yay!) and now I have five books out there and another to be released in May. Wow. Five books. Q. Tell us about your book 30 dates in 30 days? A. 30 Dates in 30 Days is my third full-length novel. It’s an irreverent, humorous (I hope) look at dating when you’re trying to find “the one.” The main character is Veronica, an overworked attorney who’s trying to make partner and be married by the time she’s thirty-five. She’s about to achieve her professional goals, but her love life is pretty much non-existent. Her assistant Bea intervenes and sets Veronica up on blind dates that she’s chosen for her through a dating app. Since Veronica wants to be efficient about everything in her life, Bea suggests 30 dates in 30 days. Of course, chaos ensues because how could that ever go well? I think it’s a fun read, but I’m biased. Q. A lot of people want to be like the character Veronica Welch and be married by 35 why do you think it is so hard to find true love by that age? A. For people like Veronica, it seems like it’s more about having other priorities when really, it’s about an unrealistic expectation that life is a series of boxes to be checked. That somehow you can order up love the way you order an uber. I think by the time she was on her third blind date; Veronica was rethinking that idea.
Q. How did you come up with the characters and was this based off experiences? A. Most everyone has a terrible blind date story and I thought it would be fun to play on that idea. I didn’t base Veronica’s dates off anyone I know personally. They’re more a combination of people mixed with my sometimes-scary imagination. Although I can say that the woman who brought her pet boa constrictor’s dinner to the date would absolutely be my worst nightmare come true. Q. This book gave me great laughs especially how Veronica named her dates off drinks. That was creative how did you come up with that? A. Since all these dates would take place in a bar, I wondered if you could glean any information about someone by what they order to drink. In the case of Rachel, the bartender, she totally judges and draws conclusions about the dates, according to their drink of choice. So, the drinks kind of took on a life of their own and then the nicknames happened when I realized I was calling them by their drink names. It’s a great way to remember them. My favorite hot mess of a date I named Jägerbomb. Seemed appropriate since nothing good ever comes from a night that starts with Jägerbomb. Q. What are some of your other hobbies? A. I love to travel. I love to read. I love a good Netflix binge. Since my wife and I bought a home last year, most of my spare time is spent on home improvement projects. Browsing in Home Depot is my new hobby. Or Lowes. Or Ikea. You get the picture. Q. What advice can you give to other authors? A. If you think you have a compelling story to tell, then get it out there. I think that’s especially important where voices are underrepresented. So, in my case, that’s LGBTQ, but the same is true for people of color and people of different socio-economic or cultural backgrounds. It’s so important that we all get our stories out there whether it’s romances, suspense thrillers, mysteries, or any other genre. The more the better. Q. What is one of your best experiences or accomplishments? A. One of my best experiences happened in 2015 when I signed an official marriage certificate. Honestly, I didn’t think the day would ever come when gay marriage was considered legal in every state. At least, not in my lifetime. I thought the battle would continue for years and slowly, state by state
there would be some movement. I also figured the state I was living in at the time, Utah, would be one of the last holdouts and then, there I was, next to my future wife, signing on the dotted line. It was truly one of the best moments of my life. Q. What projects are you working on and where can everyone follow you? A. I have a book titled Waiting for You coming out in May. It’s a contemporary romance with a past-life twist. Lindsay and Ren were fun characters to write and I hope readers will really enjoy their BFFs as well. I just finished writing The Holiday Treatment which will be released in November. It’s a romance involving two women who work at a television network and them getting that ever-elusive lesbian Christmas movie made.
People can find me on: Facebook&Twitter: (@espencerwrites) Instagram: (@ellespencerwrites) and ElleSpencerBooks.com.
I also highly recommend you follow my wife on twitter (@espencerswife). She’s hilarious.
Q. What was some of the advantages and disadvantages of writing this book? A. A disadvantage, according to my wife, was that I’m not a good bartender. She pours the drinks in our house, which meant I had some research to do. The advantage is I expanded my personal drink selections. I discovered Moscow Mules, which are great, and I discovered a few drinks I probably don’t need to try again.
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JAY
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Q. Tell us more who Jay Dale Is? A. I’m a young man from Detroit Michigan. I grew up loving the game of basketball but after being exposed to the streets my life took a turn. At the age of 23 I was sentenced to 4 years in prison but I didn’t let my circumstances stop me from changing my future. Q. Who or what inspired you to be an athlete trainer? A. What inspired me to be an athlete trainer was working with Robert Easter. Who is a professional boxer. After seeing how good I was training him. I knew I could work with more athletes and meet their fitness goals. Q. How do you stay fit? A. I stay fit by continuously working out. I work out no less than 2 hours a day. Q. What is one of your greatest experiences? A. One of my greatest experience was watching up close my training pay off at Robert last fight. I watched overall how good I help prepare to win his debut fight at 140 lbs. Q. Tell us more about your business Design a Body? A. Design A Body was created while incarcerated. Knowing it would be hard to get a job and not wanting to work for nobody. I decided to become a personal trainer and make my own fitness brand. A brand I knew could help people meet their fitness goals while building a legacy for myself. Q. What are some of the advantages and challenges of being fit? A. Some advantages are obviously being healthy first with your body can create being healthy in your lifestyle. When you’re taking the steps to remain healthy mentally, spiritually and physically you will see positive change take place in your life. Some challenges staying fit is maintaining the will power and drive to keep going, you must find that inner persistence to get up and do it every day. Some of my clients say that it’s hard for them to stay fit because they don’t know where to start, so they come to me.
Q. What are some of your other Hobbies? A. Some of my hobbies are shooting pool, going to events to support other entrepreneurs, spending time with my daughter and family. I love to travel when I have the time to do so as well. Q. What advice can you give other people who wants to be fit? A. It might be hard starting off but Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Find a way to enjoy it. Go hard for those results.
Q. What other projects are you working on and where can everyone follow you? A. Looking forward to working with new clients. Getting my brand out more and releasing some new workout gear in the meantime. You can find me on Instagram: Jay _fit23.
Q. Tell us about your journey of being in fitness? A. It started off slow. Once people started seeing that I could produce results everything started to fall into place. Posting crazy workouts everyday opened eyes and they wanted to know who I was. I’ve caught attention from a lot of people in the fitness game. Q. What motivates you to train and coach people? A. My clients motivates me. I have a lot that have been with me since I’ve started. Getting them results they been working hard for makes me happy and makes it worth it all. Plus, I just love what I do.
Q. What have been the hardest experience in your life? A. Hardest experience in my life was going through the system, the system meaning prison. Not being able to see my family the way I wanted to was hard. Being in prison can mess with your mind and if you don’t find something that keeps you motivated the outcome can lead back down the wrong path.
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STEPHANIE MCSWINE Q. Tell us more about who Stephanie had a positive effect on other women. I McSwine (Muscle Mom is )? was asked to take professional photos A. Stephanie McSwine is a divorced for the article. My photographer told mother of 3 and the owner and me I needed to set up a page so when founder of “Muscle Mom Lifestyle”. people read my article they could Stephanie provides “Get FIT” Parties, continue to follow my journey. My eldest Motivational Speeches and Personal son Archie helped me setup Facebook Fitness Training, for women of all ages and came up with the name “Muscle in the Greater Metropolitan Atlanta Mom”. I initially thought the name was area. She started her business with the a joke. He told me, “Mom, it is because sole purpose to motivate, inspire and you are a mother that has muscles and encourage others to achieve a healthy those two things started your journey lifestyle. Stephanie participated in a of health and fitness.” The name made fitness blog called “The Face of Fit” sense to me and established who I am in 2013. This blog featured pictures in the market, the rest is history. of several women who started their fitness journey at different ages which Q. What or what influenced you to be this gave Stephanie another outlet to share empowering woman in fitness? her story and encourage women on A. God allowed The fitness industry to another platform. find me. The beginning of my journey started out as a place for me to escape Q. Tell us more about your boutique store In 2015, Stephanie made numerous and fashion? my everyday life of being a wife and stay public speaking and radio show at home Mom who was homeschooling A. I always had a love and sense of appearances expressing the style when it came to fashion. My 2 of my 3 children. I began just walking importance of focusing on becoming college degree is a BS in Business around Stone Mountain park with my “your best self”. In 2016, Stephanie’s Merchandising. I wanted to be a buyer youngest son in his running stroller. fitness journey went down another for a major department store and travel My eldest son encouraged me to run path and modeling was added to the world but life took me down a as he saw the other runners in the her journey. She has become known different road when I became a young park. I didn’t feel a sense of self-worth for “ripping the runway” numerous mother and wife. I eventually put my or validation as a stay at home Mom, times for charitable organizations. love and dream of a fashion career on but when I ran I felt strong, validated Stephanie’s goal is always “to be better hold for 30 years. When I slowly began and accomplished. My purpose then than the day before”. She continues to the journey of rediscovering myself my became to motivate, inspire and strive toward being a better person love for fashion reemerge first. I became encourage all to achieve a healthy spiritually, mentally, financially and well known as a Thriftier showcasing my lifestyle. My goal is to show everyone physically. She remains ecstatic to say thrifted fashion style along with my new that even with a busy schedule you can that she has found and is fulfilling her fit body. I was asked to be a model in incorporate some form of exercise in life’s purpose: to motivate, inspire and a Thrifting fashion show which lead me your life. My workout regimens are done encourage everyone to start a fitness from being on the runway as a model to solely from the comfort of my home journey. Fitness should be a part of showcasing my own sense of style. The and do not require a lot of time. your lifestyle that makes you a better boutique store came about when my you! daughter was preparing to attend her Q. What is one of your greatest first year at Tuskegee University. I found experiences? Q. How did you come up with the name A. During my journey I made some huge leaps out I had a balance and in order for her Muscle Mom? to attend I had to pay the balance in of faith creating a women’s empowerment A. I was featured in the Black Women monthly installments. As a single mom group on Facebook, starting my online Fitness Magazine to share my story I had to find the money so I started my boutique store, becoming a vendor at of how “Muscle Mom Fitness’ came online thrifted boutique store to help fashion shows, my store being featured in about in the February 2014 issue. The offset the bill to keep my daughter in fashion shows and becoming a personal article allowed me “The Muscle Mom” school. I am proud to say I was able to stylist. I also had my ups and downs are to share my experience of why I began accomplish that goal and she starts her part of any journey like making decisions my fitness movement at such a later senior year this fall 2020. that deep down inside you don’t want to age in life and how my transformation make but have too.
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Q. How do you stay fit? A. I made fitness an integral part of my lifestyle. Over the past 20 years, I was totally conscious about my diet health. However, over the past 12 years I incorporated working out into my daily routine. I finally realized that in order to live a healthy lifestyle, I had to include exercising and implement proper eating habits. In 2018 I was diagnosed with having DJS-degenerative joint disease in my hips which was the reason I had to stop running. I was advised by my doctor that I would eventually need a hip replacement. I was totally against this option so I searched for alternative methods and decided to have a stem cell injection in my hip. The procedure would take years to have an effect on regenerating my damaged hip. I continued my research of other things I could do to help the process. I found out that my diet was very important in helping to heal my body internally so in April 2019 I started the journey of becoming a vegan which I have been doing successfully for a year. Q. What have been the hardest experience in your life? A. Walking away from a 17-year marriage with financial security was by far the hardest thing I had to endure. For 16 of those years I was a stay at home mom who homeschooled all three of my children from kindergarten to high school. I sacrificed my career to be at home with my family. Since I didn’t have a solid career to fall back on, I would often ask myself , “how can I financially support my two younger children” after contemplating for a year to leave, I finally made the decision to end my marriage. Leaving forced me to prepare myself mentally, emotionally and financially. There was no turning back, I took on several coaching jobs while working around my children’s school schedule. My goal was to make sure that they kept normalcy in their life and never miss a beat After running a household for 16 years I knew that I could do it solo. Finding a career after not being in the workforce for so many years was a very scary feeling. Little did I know all those years homeschooling my children God was preparing me for my future career as a special Ed paraprofessional teacher. My children have always been my driving force of overcoming the many obstacles that I faced during my journey.
Q. Tell us about your journey of being in fitness? A. I accidentally started down this road of rediscovering Stephanie. Through working out I slowly fell in love with me, the kind of love I never had for myself. During this journey a lot was lost, I found myself divorced, a single mother and no career. All of this was required in order for me to become the person that God intended me to be. My life was forever changed but more importantly I truly found the confidence I needed to survive. When you truly find the confidence within yourself, when struggle and disappointment cross your path you are equipped to handle them with strength and courage. When I look into the mirror now at 52 years young I sometimes stare at myself in awe. I see a beautiful, short, big nose, brown skin, bald headed and beautiful woman. That is something I didn’t notice for 40 years. I now love what looks back at me from the mirror and I accomplished that love for self by myself. Q. What other projects are you working on and where can everyone follow you? A. At this very moment I cannot really say since our world is going through a pandemic. All my projects have been put on hold or dates pushed back. Once we get through this I will be posting all events on my social media pages. Your audience can follow me on the following pages. Instagram - @musclemomlifestyle Facebook- Stephanie McSwine , @musclemomlifestyle and Muscle Mom’s Boutique store. https://www.facebook.com/grou ps/1494743663930546/?ref=share
Q. What are some of your other hobbies? A. Besides working out, working in my boutique store and styling customers, I love working in my yard cutting grass. I also love supporting friends with their many events planned in the city. Q. What advice can you give others people who wants to be fit? A. Invest in yourself like you invest in others. We women give 100% to our exes’ careers, people and our families. We are blessed with only one body and our bodies are our temples. A temple is a holy sanctuary, when you think of a temple you connect it to God our creator. God blessed us with one temple so we should honor and protect it from harm. How do we give thanks to God for creating us? By doing the necessary things to make sure we are in the best condition possible.
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K. SHANTEL 46
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Q. If you can go anywhere in the world where would you go? A. If I could go anywhere, I would go to Africa. Ghana specifically. I have heard amazing things about visiting there and how beautiful it is. I want to experience that and the culture for myself.
Q. Can you tell everyone who K. Shantel Is? A. K. Shantel is a free, creative spirit. I am an entrepreneur with a successful nail business and a passion for advocacy for people with disabilities. I believe that we all deserve see the representation we desire so I decided to become that representation.
Q. What are some of your greatest accomplishments in life? A. Aside from obtaining my MBA in 2018, my biggest accomplishment to date would have to be winning the title of Ms. Wheelchair Alabama America 2020. It was an experience I never imagined.
Q. Who or what inspired you to do nails and fashion? A. I began doing nails as a hobby in high school. I never thought it would become my career but life’s journey will take you on a different path than what you planned, always. Once I decided to stop attending nursing school in 2014; I had to figure out what my path would be outside of healthcare. The answer was right under my nose. I had a God-given talent in doing nails. I obtained my license after 10 months of Manicurist school and from there I built my growing nail business, ShantelzNailz. Fashion and modeling were something that peaked my interest in late 2015. I noticed that I did not see anyone who looked like me on the runway or in magazines. I started to pursue print modeling and auditioning for fashion shows. Turned out I was good at and I truly enjoy the work that I do.
Q. What has been one of your biggest challenges in life? A. I would say my biggest challenge has been advocacy. Trying to change a world that has an ableist standard of living and structure is the most challenging fight, but I will continue this fight.
Q. Tell us about Shantelz Nails? A. Shantelz Nailz is my first business that I am very proud of. I provide quality and professional nail services to both men and women. I always knew I was made to own something of my own and I am thankful for the opportunity to do so before the age of 30.
Q. What are some of your other hobbies? A. I enjoy reading, watching documentaries, working out, playing wheelchair basketball, and coming up with new ideas for my brand.
Q. Tell us about K. Shantel journey in life? A. My journey is to continue the work that I have started to promote inclusion in the entertainment and beauty industries for other individuals with disabilities. Q. I seen some amazing pictures of you being a mermaid. Tell me about your mermaid creation? A. I came up with the mermaid idea for my birthday last year. I’ve always known I was different and I felt that portraying myself as a mermaid perfectly displayed that. A fish out of water, beautiful and majestic. I reached out to a fellow creator whom I knew could help me bring that vision to life, Funmi Ford. She pulled the look together and we made it happen! Once those photos came out, I saw that I could create anything I put my mind and effort into. Q. What projects are you working on and where can your fans follow you? A. Right now, I’m working on my podcast with my co-host Leonard Harmon, The Wheel Down. I am also working on my web series, KlawTalk. New episodes will be coming soon. I will also be continuing my reign with Ms. Wheelchair Alabama throughout next year. Follow along with that journey through my Facebook page, Ms. Wheelchair Alabama America 2020 Karneshia Shantel. My personal platforms can be followed through ; Instagram @k.shantelofficial Facebook: Karneshia Shantel YouTube will be up very soon.
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PHOTO CREDIT : Moments by Mello
HEY LUENELL!
C
omedienne and actress Luenell is having a moment! The self-proclaimed “Original Bad Girl of Comedy,” is a comedic force of nature. The stand-up comic is best known for her breakthrough role as the “hooker with the heart of gold” in the 2006 Oscar-nominated, blockbuster comedy “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” She also appears in the Oscar-buzzy film “A Star Is Born” with
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Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, plus, she’s in the new Eddie Murphy film, “Dolemite Is My Name, “on Netflix. In addition to her film roles, she’s also making a splash in Las Vegas with an extended run at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at The LINQ Promenade in Vegas. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, she was touring the country as a stand-up comic, and tickling the funny bones of many from one comedy club to another. Where It Begins had a chance to catch up with Luenell, and chat with her about comedy, her work and upcoming projects.
Up Close and Personal With the Original Bad Girl of Comedy Submitted by Wyllisa R. Bennett Where It Begins: Luenell, it is an honor to interview you. So, tell us more about your start in comedy?
Luenell: Well, how I became a professional comedienne is a long and complicated story; but, I come from a very large family, and being the youngest of eight children and seeking attention definitely had something to do with it! Or maybe it was being bullied at home and school, which made me want to speak up. It’s probably a combination of both. Still, I landed on stage by accepting a dare. Never in my wildest dreams did I foresee a “career” in comedy or making a living at it. When I began my career in comedy, there was no Comic View or Def Comedy Jam. The only African Americans I knew really making a living at it were Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, LaWanda Page, Flip Wilson, and Bill Cosby. Plus, there weren’t a lot of women in the game but tv exposure with the various comedy shows changed that. I decided that instead of comedy being a hobby, and “something to do” to vent my frustrations, I felt I could make a decent living doing this. Basically, I made a commitment to make people happy because I didn’t ever want anyone to feel how I use to feel growing up. To this day, that is still my driving force to get on a stage every night and tell a joke. It’s not for the money. It’s a passion. If you do what you love and are passionate about, the money will come.
Where It Begins: What or who inspired you to become the woman you are today?
Luenell: Well, many women inspire me like May West, Glodean White (wife of the late Grammy Award-winning crooner Barry White), Joan Rivers, Roseanne Barr (before her many insensitive rants and outbursts), Lucille ball, JaNet Dubois as well as Pearl Bailey. The comedians that inspire me are the legends like Joan Rivers, Redd Foxx, George Carlin, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Wanda Sykes, etc. I draw a lot of inspiration from these comics because they are iconic in their style, delivery and material as they addressed the social ills of their day in a funny, unapologetic way.
Where It Begins: I hear you are in “Coming to America 2” can you tell us more about the movie?
Luenell: I’m excited to be a part of the ensemble cast of “Coming to America 2,” directed by Craig Brewer (“Dolemite Is My Name,” “Hustle & Flow”), which wrapped at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and due in theatres December 2020. Along with legendary comedian Eddie Murphy and talk show host Arsenio Hall, the cast, includes Vanessa Bell Calloway, Shari Headley, John Amos, Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Wesley Snipes and James Earl Jones – just to name a few! For me, that’s two Eddie Murphy movies in one year because I also appear in the Netflix movie, “Dolemite Is My Name.” The sequel, called “Coming To America -- The Quest” is one of the best scripts I’ve ever read. It will easily be one of the most talked about films of 2020. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that “Coming to America – The Quest” is going
to take over the WORLD! The original is such a beloved movie, and thankfully with the 30-year difference for the sequel, most of the original actors are still alive and well and have returned for the sequel. It’s magic! Sheer magic, and I am blessed to be a part of it after all these many years later.
Where It Begins: What process do you use to develop your stand-up comedy material?
Luenell: I really don’t have a process to develop my stand-up material. I just observe life through a comedic lens. As comedians, I believe we are wired differently because we can see “the funny” in daily life. I don’t write much. I usually just make mental bullet points of what I want to discuss, and develop the material in real time on stage. It’s sort of like magic – that is, a gift if you will.
Where It Begins: Who are your top 5 favorite comedians? Luenell: That’s always a hard question, but my top five comedians are: Richard Pryor, Paul Mooney, Joan Rivers, Robin Harris, and George Carlin but don’t hold me to it because those names can change from time to time, depending on my mood.
Where It Begins: Do you have any accomplishments that you’re particularly proud of as a female comedian?
Luenell: One of my greatest accomplishments as a female comedian is being able to make a living doing what I love. When I first started in the comedy game, it was just a way for me to express myself and get some attention. Through comedy, I’ve been able to provide for my family, send my daughter to college and be an independent businesswoman for many years. I’m proud to be a part of a small girls’ club with an engagement in Las Vegas. In February 2019, I did a three-month gig at the SLS hotel in Viva Las Vegas, along with Mo’Nique and Eddie Griffin. In August 2019, I returned to Sin City with an extended run at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at The LINQ Promenade. I look forward to resuming my residency in Las Vegas, once things get back to normal in response to the pandemic in America. I’ve also been inducted into the Little Rock Black Hall of Fame in Arkansas -- the state where I was born. My picture and information are part of an exhibit in a museum, located in Little Rock. Plus, if you Google me, I’m the most famous person from my small town, which is not hard to do if you knew where I was from. Lol Also, I was honored at Los Angeles City Hall in February 2020 as a part of Black History Month by the office of LA City Councilman President Emeritus Herb Wesson. It was particularly special to receive the award from his office because he is the first and only African American to be selected the president of the Los Angeles City Council. The City of Los Angeles honored me and iconic comic legends like Eddie Griffin; Marsha Warfield; Miss Laura
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City of Love
By Preston Turner
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hat can I say about a place that is filled with love and excitement? A place where people come to bask in the atmosphere of romance. Of course, the place I’m talking about is Paris, France! Like everyone else I wanted to take my wife to Paris and enjoy a place of affection. I decided to take her on a four-day adventure of touring and eating some of the best French cuisine in the world. I booked a lovely threebedroom apartment within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. The first order of business was food and plenty of it because we decided to bring our three daughters and son along on this trip. We found a café near a park that sold probably the best crepes we ever had in our lives! We knew then that we made the right decision to come to this city. Normally, we request the guidance of a tour guide, but we wanted to explore the city on our terms and time. We took our time sightseeing and finally arrived at the Eiffel Tower. I was amazed at the detail of the structure. To see my wife and children’s eyes light up with excitement filled my heart with great joy and pride because I feel every woman should experience this moment in their lives. Also, I feel every child should have the opportunity to learn history by traveling the world and witnessing things for themselves. We must have taken thousands of pictures from all angles. Upon further research we found out you can eat inside at the restaurant in the Eiffel tower, but they were booked for the day.
Some locals told us to come back right before midnight to see the light show and we knew we didn’t want to miss that! We proceeded to walk towards all the beautifully engineered bridges and admire the detail of the architecture. It seems like the French architects wanted to show the world that they were high society because everywhere we looked objects were dipped in gold such as the Dome church of Les Invalides. I was a history major so understanding the significance of the Arc de Triomphe which was built to honor those who fought in the Napoleonic wars was amazing to witness in person. The family was particularly stoked about visiting a central landmark, the Louvre. Everyone tried to get a perfect picture touching to the top of the glass pyramid. There were these moments where I would catch my wife smiling or laughing and it felt great. The children seemed genuinely interested and bright-eyed as I shared the history throughout our sightseeing adventures. The following day was full of adventures. We prepared our breakfast
in the apartment and later walked around to just take in the scenery. One of the most amazing things happened. We happened to hear loud music playing and observed a large crowd cheering. Of course, we had to see what was going on. As we walked closer towards the crowd, we heard Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars blaring over some speaks. Now if you know good music, you know this song can get a crowd super hype. About four street dancers were putting on an epic performance. The crowd loved it and we loved it as well. At that moment there were no language barriers, we were all dancing to hip hop music and completely enthralled by the hip hop dancers. Next, we went on to sightsee Notre Dame, the most stunning medieval Catholic cathedral. Not only am I a history buff but I also admire the intricate architecture. This French Gothic architecture is stunning to witness in person. I must say I was shocked and saddened to hear of the fire that engulfed the Notre Dame in addition to the damage to some religious relics and artwork. Out of all the sightseeing, this was a memorable experience. There is so much to see and do that I can’t include everything. But I must add this very important highlight that made this a trip of a lifetime for my wife. I treated my wife to gelato, and we were taking a stroll in the park. I look over at my wife and she is looking towards someone and is completely mesmerized, and star-struck. She pointed out to me that her favorite celebrity host, Clinton Kelly was in the park. She spoke and he spoke back. It was a moment in time that my wife will never forget. I can’t forget about the food. Out of all the fine dining and restaurants we visited, everyone agreed that this small 50’s diner called HD Diner was an absolute hit. We ordered fries, burgers, shakes, onion rings, and chicken strips. The diner had the classic 50’s vintage design and the waitress was very accommodating. I feel that while on vacation food can make or break a trip. All in all, this was a fabulous family trip that I wouldn’t mind doing again! Paris owes us nothing!
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How to Style
By Ritu Sharma
Linen Dresses Well? Linen dress is a definite option for hot or humid temperatures. It is breathable, cooling, skinfriendly, timeless and versatile. But if you want to wear a linen dress without looking like a sack, here are 4 ways that help you wear it in style all summer long. 1. Cinch the Waist
To get a good proportion when wearing linen dress, especially the loose, flowy type, you need to cinch your waist to highlight your waistline and create an hourglass shape. Those linen dresses featuring an elastic waist or drawstring waist are good enough to define your waist. Also, you can opt for the tie front
dress or tie a belt to upgrade your look and get the most flattering style!
2. Choose Solid Colors
Solid color is the best way to stay minimalist. This monochromatic color palette is wearable and easy to mix and match, providing an elegant look as well. Linen dress in solid colors,
such as white, beige or khaki are fresh, classic and tender in eyes, and can be repeated often to your limited wardrobe. To avoid feeling boring, you can add some basic accessories, like a printed scarf, a belt, a wide-brim hat, a straw bag, a pair of statement sunglasses, anything, really!
3. Mix and Match
Linen dress is practical since it can be worn alone or can be mixed with other pieces to get a unique and stunning look. For those of you who have no idea about linen matching, think about these ways: 1. Knee-length dress + palazzo pants: The trick to getting a good proportion when wearing this dress-pants combination is making sure the dress halves your body and the pants take up the rest. Because most of the linen dresses are loose and easy to broaden your upper body, wearing palazzo pants is one of the best solutions for everyone to balance your figure.
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2. Knee-length dress + jeans: To completely style this look well, fit is everything. If you are slim, opt for the shift dress and skinny jeans to get a streamlined look. For the pear-shaped or apple-shaped bodies, I suggest the wide-leg jeans or baggy jeans in darker hues to conceal your trouble area, you need to avoid any slim-fit outfits that will easily show your defective parts. 4. Shoes for Linen Dresses What shoes go with linen dresses? Actually, almost any kinds of shoes can be worn with linen dresses except for the high heels. Linen dress is an undeniably relaxed and comfortable piece while high heels will ruin the ease. Therefore, when you want a casual sporty feel, opt for the sneakers or trainers. And if you pursue the complete comfort, nude sandals, mules or flats are a great basic to pair with your linen dress. Finally, if you want a chic vibe, add a pair of boots instead.
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Challenges, I would say are going to the mall and smelling fried chicken, you know anywhere like fast food. When I got into Publix they’ve got all the hot food, oh my gosh it smells so good. But then I’m like no, it’s not good for you. Period. Q. If you can go anywhere in the world where would you go? A. I would probably go to Italy because that’s where my mother’s side of the family is from. And yeah, Italy is beautiful. I would love to go there. Q. What are some of your hobbies? A. My hobbies consist of working out & cooking. I love like doing my edges different ways you know my baby hairs and stuff; I like doing different wigs on myself. Trying on different eye shadows and makeup. I like to sew, I like crafting shit together like shirts and what not. I like to go tanning and I like to shop. I’m like addicted to online shopping.
Q. Hello, thanks for letting us Interview you! Tell us who VBae is? A. Vbae is a versatile type of chick; multipersonality but not in a crazy way, haha. She’s outgoing & outspoken. Q. Who inspired you to get into music? A. Really, shout out Triple G aka Johnathen Jordan because he really pushed me more on the learning process of it because for a while you know, a lot of people were fuckin with me. And on my first ever record, this dude had me waiting like 8 months on that shit. I got so discouraged on my first ever record. Triple G was like “VB you just need to learn that shit; you just need to learn it”. He taught me how to mix. He put me in front of premiere pro. He was like “No you do it, you mix your own shit”. So shout out Triple G. Q. Tell us about your single “Drugz”? A. “Drugz” is one of my more intimate songs. I’m always talking shit but it’s more of like a sexy/sensual track. I had a great time with the production on it. Shout out to Tazer Boy. Shout out Iconic, Vision studios. Shout out to Jonathan Jordan. Shout out to Maze, Iconic Studios & Daniel Escobar. I do my own hair and makeup and styles, like my clothes and stuff. So it was good to be able to work with more stylists this time and wear more wigs. It was fun.
Q. Describe your style and how it is different from others? A. My style is different because I only fuck with like one on one shit. I try to find people who are just coming up and show love to independent business owners. That’s pretty much my style. I don’t like wearing what everybody else is wearing, period. Q. How did you become a Vegan? What challenges have you had becoming one? A. I became vegan because I got really sick with a tumor a while back. And I just started looking into what was going into my body. I was just becoming more aware, stuff like that.
Q. Who are some artists you would love to collab with? A. Jack Harlow & Dreezy Q. What projects are you working on and where can everyone follow you? A. I’m working on an EP and definitely getting more features Also you can follow me at @v_b_a_e_
Q. Who is your favorite musical artist? A. I really fuck with Sade - her beats are so fire.. The way she be riding on them is so soulful, I love it.
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Q. It is an honor to be able to Interview you tell us more about Judi Holler? A. It’s an honor to be interviewed. I love your vibe and what you are out there creating in the world. Cheering you on! It’s inspiring. You. Are. KILLING it.
Ok, the best way to describe me is basically like this: If Dr. Dre and Amy Poehler had a love child, that would be me. LOL. I’m a hip-hop loving entrepreneur who owns a creative company that is on a mission to help people live braver lives. I do that through my books, my podcast, keynote speeches, products I create, and online courses (coming soon!). My work takes the experimental principles of the improv theatre and helps you apply them to the unscripted stage of everyday life. These ideas will teach you that while you’ll never be “fearless”, you can get really good at ... FEARING FEAR LESS! I am a professionally trained improviser and alumni of Second City’s Conservatory in Chicago and I use my improv training every day to smash selfdoubt and experiment with fear. My first book, Fear Is My Homeboy, became an instant bestseller on Amazon, is currently being translated into two languages, and was endorsed by the inspiring Mel Robbins calling it .... “relatable, relevant and most importantly ACTIONABLE!” Additionally, I am the creator of the Fear Boss Community, a community of brave humans dedicated to experimenting with fear. My Mission: To help you live a braver life and smash comfort zones by experimenting with your fear. Every day. On purpose.
JUDI HOLLER
Q. Who or what Influenced you to be an author? A. The truth: I never dreamed of being an author. I dream about speaking, and performing, and being a boss entrepreneur … but never dreamed about being an author. I honestly never thought it was possible for me. It felt so foreign, and far away, and way too smart and “fanthe thing I didn’t expect to happen … I cy” for me. Then I became a full-time freaking loved it. I loved writing. I loved speaker and started making a lot of othcreating the book. I loved working with er full-time speaker friends and the one a developmental editor to build the thing the most successful speakers had book out. I loved marketing the book. in common was that they had a book. I loved staring at blank pages. I loved Or, three. So, I knew it was time to level learning the book writing process. I up and do it. I knew that if I wanted to loved creating something out of nothup my game on the platform, get more ing. I love being an author. I’ve just writvisibility, and up my thought leadership ten my second book, it’s a workbook, street cred … it was time to write a big that will come out next month and now girl book. Some people write because I’m currently working on book #3. they’ve always dreamed of being an author. Some people write only to write. Others use their writing as a marketing Q. What is one of your greatest experiences? tool. That’s the camp I fall into but here’s
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A. Without a doubt studying, and performing, improv at Second City’s Conservatory in Chicago. It changed everything for me. It also made me braver. Big time. I learned that mistakes are actually gifts, that saying YES … AND can transform your life, and that courage is contagious. All of this is covered in my book yet opening the door to that improv classroom, despite my fear, was the first time I really chose myself and have never looked back. Q. Tell us about this book “Fear is my homeboy.”?
A. I grew up in the 90’s and everything was our “homeboy”. Fear Is My Homeboy is a fun pop-culture way for me to declare that fear is my friend and because Fear is my friend, this means I’m the boss. Not fear. Which then opens the door to what it means to be a Fear Boss. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have fear, itmeans that I choose to call the shots in my life. It means you get scared. It means you dare bravely. It means you work with your fear to get what you want. Fear Is My Homeboy is a book that will inspire you to be braver and it will help you feel less guilty for getting, and doing, what you really want. It’s a book for people who believe they deserve more. After reading this book you will get braver, bolder, and more confident in your natural-born badassery. It’s full of actionable advice on how to embrace fear so you can live a more balanced, successful, and fulfilling life! Q. This book was a great inspirational read I just loved the passages it taught me more self-love and improvement. My favorite passage was “Fear is your friend, your best friend, your business partner, and your home-boy. Why would we want to get rid of something that can keep us safe, be an incredible compass in our lives, shake us, wake us, and remind us that we are very much alive” this was deep. How did you come up with this passage? A. Yay, I’m so glad you feel that way and I love reading books that make me feel the same way. This idea you share from my book is really rooted in my deep dislike of the word “fearless”. The world is telling us to be fearless. T-shirts, jewelry, buttons, all kinds of messaging out there saying to us boss babes “be fearless!” But it’s
bullshit. Because if you were really fearless you’d do all kinds of crazy stuff like never pay your taxes, eat poisonous foods, walk into traffic, never see a doctor. Am I right? So, no, we don’t want to be fearless. Our goal should be fearing our fear just a little bit less every single day and this is what makes you BRAVE! Q. What have been the hardest experience in your life? A. Well, currently COVID-19 and how it’s disrupted every inch of my life and my business. Yet, thank god I’m an improviser in my bones because we are trained to see disruption as an exciting plot twist. We see change as an introduction to what’s coming next. So, I’m trying to stay focused, take small actions every day that keep me in forward momentum, and only see things through the lens of positivity and possibility. Is this easy, no. But will it transform your life, hell yes. I share lots of these ideas in my book but no doubt, this crisis has me re-evaluating all of it. My life, my business, my finances, what success really looks like, and what “home” really means.
book publishing. There are so many resources. At the end of the day you have to do what’s best for you. Trust yourself. Remember, you deserve to be here. Your ideas matter. And the world needs your gifts. So beware comparison, self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Audit what you consume while writing and on deadline. I didn’t listen to or read anything for 6 months while I was in the lab writing, it was so hard, but I didn’t want to compare my work to anyone else’s or have it influence my work in a negative way. Start building a community around your ideas now. And remember, you will be responsible for marketing your book. Period. So get savvy there and be ready to sell, sell, sell. Q. What inspired you to write a book like “Fear is my homeboy”? A. I know that the only thing standing between you and what you dream about is how brave you are prepared to be. I wanted to help make the world braver. I wanted to shut fearless down and instead lead fear bosses on a journey of getting a little braver than they were yesterday.
Q. What are some of your other Hobbies? A. I read a lot of books!! Fiction before bed, to get my mind of things. And about 40-50 personal development books a year. I think there is nothing more dangerous than a Fear Boss with a book! Outside of that. I’m a huge spin junkie. I own a Peloton bike and it’s life. I’m obsessed. And honestly, having that bike in the basement just might be saving my actual life during this quarantine. It’s such a positive healthy release for me.
Q. What other projects are you working on and where can everyone follow you? A. Projects: I have a 2nd book / workbook coming out in May. In time to celebrate Fear Is My Homeboy’s 1st birthday which is 5/28. So, stay tuned for that! Also, launching other products and courses this summer to help you stay brave, and badass.
Q. What advice can you give other people who wants to be an author? A. I get asked this question so much I dedicated an entire episode on my podcast to this exact question. I’d highly recommend listening to episode #16 of my podcast The #FearBoss Show to get all kinds of ideas and inspiration on this topic. In the meantime, here are a few thoughts: Weigh the pro’s cons of self-publishing, hybrid (what I did) and traditional publishing. Each has it’s sweet spot and each has it’s pain points. Research online. Do your homework. Interview your different options. Ask questions. Listen to podcasts that talk about
Where to follow: 1. Instagram is the best from a social perspective: @judiholler. 2. And my website has all the things www.judiholler.com 3. Last, my podcast, The #FearBoss Show will keep the fear party going. New Episodes every Wednesday! https://podcasts.apple.com/ us/podcast/the-fearboss-show/ id1492346165sa
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