June 1, 2022 • 33 mins
Kristen sits down with multi-talented entrepreneur Ohavia Phillips about finding and living your purpose. The power duo discuss creating positive content to bring communities together, overcoming life obstacles and inspiring youth to find their voice.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Had it not been for that teacher who said, you
got a personality you should check out, you know, media,
Or had it not been for when we were in
the shelter and that woman who gave us a pillowcase
so I could sleep because she knew like I had
a big thing going on at school the next day.
Community is everything, says, because when I had nothing, that's
what kept me rooted, and that's will continuously keep rooted.
(00:24):
Welcome to Season two of the Inspired Podcasts, presented by
Atrium Health. This is a podcast series for Panthers fans
where we highlight admirable women from across the Carolinas as
they share stories and lessons from their lives and careers.
And boy do we have a great guest today, Ohavia Phillips.
She does it all. She is a mazn of all
(00:44):
things multimedia and community and we are going to get
into all of it right now. Ohvia, thank you so
much for being here. Oh my gosh, whan I tell
you this? No, I am excited, super elated to be here.
You know, I'm excited. I told I told Ohavia before
we started rolling, I was like, I gotta gotta make
myself not start the podcast and not ask you all
the questions that I want to ask you before we
(01:04):
start rolling. But then twenty minutes later, I've I've been
asking you questions before we started rolling. I can't contain
my excitement. First of all, say you work in media,
and I'm saying you work in media. You got to
be like the pre that's what we get started. I mean,
because you know you love people and you we're we're
getting outside and we're getting to see people finally after
like what two years. So I'm excited, y'all. I just
came in and started talking her head off about how
it's so happy to meet her. No, I did the
(01:26):
same thing, did the same. But we like ran and
slow mo to come hug each other. We're so excited. Yes,
I love it. So for anyone who's just getting to
know you, who's listening to this or maybe has seen
you on one platform, can you just give us a
quick rundown of all the different things you do, because
I tell you what, I am tired just hearing about them.
(01:48):
It is amazing. Thank you. Sis. So hello family. On
my name is Oha Via Phillips. I am a sister,
I'm a community servant and i am a people lover,
also a coffee but I love it most. A coffee
and people are my favorite things. But listen, I do
all things media and my sister seriously, So I love
the impact of using media to bring communities together through conversation,
whether it's somebody's story, their testimony, where they come from,
(02:11):
but also even the current events, right and different perspectives
and given, you know, bringing people together to get a
different perspective. So literally all things media. My nine to
thrive is working at Central pm Community College as a
communications account executive. So what that means is literally I
work with organizations like Blue Cross, Blue Shield only to
name a few, when they want to develop scholarships for
our students, and so I'm literally kind of like playing
(02:33):
the liaison between these amazing organizations the money they want
to give students, and I'm on those projects. How cool
is that? So everything like changing for students, when I
tell you, and being on this side of it, right,
So like was a student, had my complaints because you
know students be complaining. I was a student, right, seriously, right, same,
(02:54):
but like literally like now being on the other end
of it and seeing like there's really many organizations that
want to help youth follow their dreams and do what
they are called and love to do. So literally for
me to be in this position to open those doors
in partnership with these organizations through creative materials like posters, flyers,
social media, like that's what I do in my nine
(03:14):
to Thrive, so all things community literally at Central Pima
and then my Thrive to nine what I call it
is my own show, the O show where we take
all things positive media and push it to the forefront.
Uh literally says it's it's everything to me. It means
everything to me. I've been blessed to interview to name
a few, Miss Stacey Abrams, a Dr Eric Thomas, A
lot of people know him as et the man who
(03:36):
just lifts people up with his amazing voice and just
he pulls the best out in everybody. And that's literally
to name with you. And also North Carolina poet laureate
Miss Jackie Shelton Green. So God is just really busting
these doors down to media for me to speak to
people who have inspired me for so long and show
the next generation of journalists like you don't have to
do the negative news. You know, you don't have to
(03:56):
call people out and hurt people worse than they've already
hurt themselves. There is an ask to media where you
can put out the positive and the good and it
reaps more positive and more good. So I'm living, baby,
You are you are? And that was one of my
questions that I was like, Okay, I have to ask
you about this as soon as we sit down, which is,
how do you manage all of it? I don't I
(04:17):
hesitate to use the word balance because I know we
can't have balance right or it's a it's subjective, yes,
but you have so much going on. You have the
most beautiful personality, the biggest energy. Everyone can't see you
right now, but you're wearing the most gorgeous yellow dress
and you said, you know what, it matches my moves. Yes.
How how do you approach all of the things that
(04:39):
are on your plate and come at it with with
such an incredible attitude every day? Oh my gosh, I
want to tell you I adore you for this question
because this is where I love to not only share
so especially women don't feel like they're crazy. Right. How
I maintain this energy and this love and positivity is
by saying no to a lot of things. I did
not think that that was going to be your answer.
(05:00):
This is why I love this podcast. First of all,
it's yea faul, you pull the best out of Hello,
but seriously says it's it's saying no to the things
that do not align with who I am as a person. Right. So,
if we're not talking community, if we're not talking youth,
if we're not talking ways to make impact through media,
if we're not talking like ways to get babies more
scholarships and open doors for the first and their family,
(05:21):
or what are we talking about? And so to be
completely honest, my love, how I maintain this energy, this positivity,
this love of people is one There's a lot of
things I say no to because it's not about cloud
for me, it's community. Uh. We we recognize that we're
always used this vessels and we got to remember like
whatever gift that you have, it's for the greater good.
So that's the main thing is I say no to
(05:42):
a lot. But also I love museums and dance in
the afrobeat. There's things in between. You know, got the
dance moves. But it really is saying no and being
okay with recognizing I don't have to be everywhere to
make the impact I'm called to. And that's why my
no is more than okay, more than okay. We always
say that. Um, we take notes during this podcast because
I get to ask these questions for myself and I
hope that it resonates with people listening. So I will
(06:04):
be writing that one down because what I'm hearing is
that not only do you say no, but you have
your purpose and if those things don't align with your purpose,
it makes it a lot easier to say no. And
so if people listening could take anything from that, what
I will be taking from that is it's a lot
easier to say no and not feel bad about it,
(06:25):
because I think we as women sometimes feel bad about
things right or try to do like you said, a
little crazy sometimes trying to do everything. But if you
have your clarity of your purpose, the things that are
important to you, it's an easier no. It is, it is.
And also to I'm so glad you brought that ups
because that's another part of this is why can't we
(06:45):
say no? You know what I'm saying, like, why is
it disrespectful to the person receiving it? Why is it
like you know, because it's it's giving boundaries and you know,
shout out to all the women who listen. I absolutely
adore this podcast and I adore the stories that you
tell and the women and just the leaders you invite
on because there's one common thread, and it is the
power of our boundaries and the power of finding our
way to our truths and our purposes. And let me
(07:07):
tell y'all know, it is a complete sentence and it
is okay. So that's my secret. And it was hard,
but we were making We're getting there. I love it
and it's I love how open and honest you are.
And also that someone who projects the confidence that you
do is still working on that, oh for sure? Since
are you kidding me? Dan and Dale? I mean literally
(07:30):
And sometimes it can be the most amazing thing that
I read through an email or on paper or even
people who approach me, and I have to always go
back to my no tree, right, and it's like, okay,
is a community, how are they giving back to the community,
what's the impact being made? What are we doing here?
And that really helps me find my way to the
no quicker and more unapologetically too, because a lot of
times we say no and it's like, but like when
(07:51):
you have a no tree, the things you're absolutely I okay,
I'm I'm just no tree. I am writing this down,
I am printing it out. And that is to go
back into what aligns with your purposes, what aligns with
your values, and if it doesn't fit on is that
the notary? Absolutely, because we don't have time to be
doing things we don't want to do. And you know,
as a people, look what we survived and come out
(08:12):
from COVID. Some of us call COVID. I had COVID
when it first came out. And so when I think
about all that hardship, learning and unlearning we did in
these two years, I'm not saying yes to anything else
that doesn't align. I live that life, been there, done that,
And then you have the function mad right now now
I'm ugly at the function. Now I'm at the function
looking screw face because I'm like, God, I should have
said no, But like when I tell you, I'm not
(08:35):
says I'm not doing it anymore. And so for all
of the amazing women listening, because you kill that bringing
us together, it's okay, No, it's okay, they will be okay.
I love that. And so how how do you with
the things that you say yes to? As you said,
community media, and you were doing so many different things
in both of those avenues and and outside of that
(08:56):
as well. When you're saying yes to the stuff that
aligns with your purpose, it's still taking a lot out
of you. As you said, you have a nine to thrive,
and then you have a thrive to nine and then
there are things like this in the middle of your
day that you were coming to do. So you talked
a little bit about dancing. What are the things that
bring you joy that recharge your batteries, Because even if
you're saying yes to things that align with your purpose,
(09:18):
it's still a lot. I know you go to bed tired.
First of all, you already I'm say, I'm surprised I
didn't wake up with some Louis V's under my eyes,
some bags under my eyes. But thank you, my beautiful No.
But seriously, I think for me, dancing absolutely so fun. Fact,
I danced pretty much up through college shout out to
you and ce Charlotte, pretty much up through college dance,
hip hop, ballet, jazz, tab liturgical, all the things liturgical. Okay,
(09:41):
I danced for like ten twelve. I mean, I was
nowhere near that. I stopped in middle school to start cheering.
I haven't heard the word liturgical in a long time
because there's a lot of people don't know. Like, guys, listen,
you can't think about charging, you can't think about like
expressing the words without mentioning liturgical. So I love dancing,
Oh my gosh, I love dance. I love people for real,
(10:01):
Like for me, it's about meeting new people in hearing
their stories. And then I love museums. Oh my gosh.
I have this joke with um my family. I'm gonna
get married in a museum. Y'all heard it here first,
I'm speaking it. I'm not engaged yet, but I'm speaking it.
But like, I just love museums and art and people.
I love festivals anywhere when people can come together and
let their hair down. You know. I love to shop.
My god, yeah, absolutely, I'm with you on that. What
(10:23):
are What is your favorite museum or festival in Charlotte? Yes, okay,
favorite museum? Oh, favorite museum. I would have to give
it up to the Harvey Began because I've done so
much work with them and when it comes to like
how they really show up in the communities. That's what
they do. Luvin Museum of the New South is also family.
Shout out to Lavin Museum of the New South bringing
history to students in a way where you know, it's cool,
(10:45):
it resonates and bring communities together. UM Festivals first of all,
shout out to Dreamville UM, which wasn't too long ago.
I love that and how they bring all the artists
together to name a few. Luke West is a good
brother of mine. I love him and his story. Yeah
see I didn't know. I just him because he's family
and like his story is incredible and how he uses
(11:05):
music to make it makes sense. So like when I
tell you, if we really started naming the list, this
will have to be a movie. But shout out to
another podcast of your recommendations. Right, I know I'm writing
all of this stuff down, I'm like, I will be
going there and they're another thing that just immediately jumps
off the page. When when I started getting to watch
all of your stuff. Can you help us all out
(11:27):
with branding? You are so good at it. Everyone. I
know this is a podcast, but you have to go
to her website and see everything is you know, there's
The Oh Show. Of course the first two letters of
your name. But everything is videos, photos, you call it,
you're you call everyone, You're familiar, you know, and you
have just a perfect concept for how to brand and
(11:49):
and put yourself out there. And it's just so encompassing
of the person that you are. You can tell who
you are immediately even if we haven't gotten a chance
to meet you in person. Your videos, your website. How
how did that come about? Yes, So I'm gonna be honest.
I started doing The Oh Show when I was working
full time for a local newsroom. And what's crazy is
(12:10):
it started as an outlet because I just got so
literally sick and tired of telling bad news. So I said,
you know what, let's let's do something. I don't want
to call it. My name's O Heavier the Oh Show.
Keep in mind, I'm not thinking about how far this.
I didn't even think it was gonna be what it
really is because it was just an outlet for me
in news. Wow. So I was like, okay, let's just
call it the Oh Show. That's something that my boss
(12:30):
wouldn't find. So it's low key because you know, I'm
trying to get it. You're trying to get out there,
put together quiet about it, so you have to come
up with nicknames. And so you know, I was like
the Oh Show under the radar, nobody's gonna pay attention,
no big deal. So started out on YouTube and I
recognized that what's crazy is the way that I put
Oh into every word is actually what people would do
(12:51):
to me. So, like I remember coming back to the
newsroom one time after I had taken a fake lunch
to do an O show live, don't judge me, And
so that's the heart to where I would be taking
a lunch to take a lunch and like, I'm tired
from this. I love the hustle absolutely, it's amazing. So
like I took a fake lunch break to do the
OH Show once came back to the newsroom and one
of my friends was like one of my colleagues from news.
He's a good friend still to this day. He said, Wow,
(13:13):
how did that video go? And I said what is this?
And I don't know why that just stuck with me.
How did that video go? He said, Ohavia, you could
do so much with your name, And so I also
would be remiss if I did mention um Ohavia and
Hebrew have a means love. That's beautiful. So it's it's
the very essence of who I am. SI, it's my why.
(13:34):
And whenever times get tough, because sometimes they do, I
just remember, wait a minute, my name is love. That's
what I'm called to do. So what I did was
I just put love and everything. So the oh show,
beautiful people moment, whatever has an OH win, it is
going to get the business. Okay, something put an oh
age in it. So love it. And so for for
people unlike you and I who might be listening that
don't work directly in media, yes, how would you advise
(13:59):
them to make sure that who they are, the essence
of who they are, comes across, whether it's in a resume,
whether it's talking for a job interview, spoke about your
work with college students. If you are trying to let
someone know who you are and they can't meet you
in person, what advice do you have for that? Absolutely,
So shout out to all the professionals and creative preneurs,
solo preneurs, you know where you fall along the line.
(14:21):
Shout out to you, because these are times are different.
You know, we came out of a pandemic and everything
was virtual, and now it's like, okay, well, how do
I present myself to the world in such a short
amount of time? What makes sense and people will remember.
The rule that I have is imagine if your phone
was on one percent. Imagine if your phone was on
one percent and you're on the phone and you're talking
(14:41):
to like, I want somebody close their eyes and just
envision the person they always wanted to meet or talk to.
Your phones on one percent and they say, so, tell
me about yourself. What would you say? And so my
formula is you always give your name, you always give
your why, then you give where you come from and
what you love to do. So, hello, beautiful people, my
name is Ohevia. I am a daughter, I am a friend,
I do all things media and I love Afro beat
(15:02):
and I'm so happy to be before you, and I
just want to say thank you for taking this time out.
And you know, there's ways that you can craft it
in your own way. But the formula has never let
me down. Says it's literally your name, you're why, where
you come from? That's always important. Put on for your heritage,
where you come from, whatever, and then take it there.
So imagine if your phone was on one percent, You're
talking to your favorite person. What would you say? I
would say, Hi, Oprah, I am so excited to meet you.
(15:25):
Even you said close your eyes, I was, Okay, it's
Oprah calling me. I'm a mother, i am a sportscaster,
and I am just I'm thrilled to be talking to
you because there's so much I want to say and
so many stories I want to tell. Right, how was
it was? It? First of all, that was fired because
it's your truth. And that's why I love the one
percent because here's the truth. Is like, when people want
(15:45):
to get to know you a lot, you know, you
gotta work to remove that barrier, and the easiest way
is to just tell your story because there's similarities and
all of who we are and what we do. You
killed that cis well and I think we're listening. I
love that as well because you said that lead with
(16:05):
your y and it goes back to what you were
saying about when you find your purpose, it's easier to
say no to I think in the US, especially, we
lead with what we do, right, So when people ask you,
you know, it's one of the first things people ask you,
what do you do and I love that you introduce
yourself and it made it. It opened it up for
me to introduce myself for my one percent phone call
(16:28):
was not necessarily that I'm a sportscaster or that I
work for the Panthers. Well, I'm a mother, I'm a wife.
Those are those things that your wife, that's you know,
and I love that. But then knowing those things about
yourself that makes it that much easier when you transition
your y into what you want to do. This when
I tell you are so spot on because it goes
(16:50):
back to the not tree and you know, honestly, I
didn't see it that way until you kind of framed.
I was like, oh yeah, because exactly what you're saying
is all aligned within that overarching theme. You're the one
told me I'm about like seeing it in full the
real time, like like oh wow. Even stating the wifer
is going back to saying no to something that doesn't align. See,
that's the power of it. You're doing it. You were
doing it unconsciously, and I'm telling you that it resonated
(17:13):
with me. Wow, I'm not going to cry now, I'm
gonna I have Grid on this podcast and it still
might be coming for me as we keep talking. Yeah, No,
this is incredible. Thank you so much. I'm learning so much.
That's why I said selfishly, I'm so fortunate to get
to do this podcast because I take so much away
from it, and you were just giving freely of all
(17:33):
of your knowledge and experience, which I am so grateful for.
Let's talk about the community aspect. Yes, you were telling
me before we started rolling on this podcast your why
for a community and how it works in your nine
to thrive as you call it. Tell me a little
bit more about that and what excites you. Yes, So,
community for me is everything to know me only, and
even if you don't know, you're gonna find me at
(17:54):
the function with some some youth and strolinery youth. You're
gonna find me at the function with artists. You're gonna
find me at the function with those in media, but
especially you're gonna find me at the function with everybody
because I love people and a lot of that not
gonna license. It is rooted in much of my story
with houselessness and just how the importance of community connections
and resources can really help somebody and change their trajectory. Right. So,
(18:16):
when I think about being from a single mom. My
mom busted her tail day in and day out. I'm
the oldest of five, and when I look back and
I think about all the people who came to her
with resources, uh, for the tribe that came together and said, okay,
how can we help you with the kids? Even me,
adults who didn't even know. I call them my honorary
mentors who said, hey, oh hey, here's what you need
to do. You know you're going off to college. He's
(18:38):
a checklist. So for me, the reason why community is
so important is because having lived the other side where
that's all I had, That's all I had, and I'm
gonna get, but that's all I had. And now seeing
how my life is just panned out in such an
amazing way and from where it started to now with
who I am, it has everything to do with people
(19:00):
and communities and resources that people bought to me. And
so I'm just so very grateful to be in these rooms,
to be amongst you and just amongst people who had
it not been for that teacher who said you got
a personality you should check out, you know, media, or
had it not been for when we were in the
shelter and that woman who gave us a pillowcase so
(19:22):
I could sleep because she knew like I had a
big thing going on at school, that one that the
next day. Community is everything, sys, because when I had nothing,
that was That's what kept me rooted, and that's will
that will continuously keep me rooted even when I'm getting
opra boukou money. Okay, give me community all day, maybe
you know, because it's like when I had nothing, I
had everything. I called it. I said that I would
(19:44):
guess that I would cry and it happened what thirty seconds,
and I was like something. I was like, yo, this
is it was first of all, shout out to you.
And that's such a beautiful question because the way that
you asked was in a way where I could give
shout outs to people who built me and lift me up.
So shout out to you, sis, because such an important question.
Why community? And you know, it's become a buzzword a
little bit because it's like, oh, community, run into the
(20:05):
work before you get to the work. Understand the why,
and like I get tear you out every time I
do too, and I'm I'm I love hearing your story
and I'm so grateful that you would share it with me,
and I am cheering you on every step of the way.
What you have done and what you are doing is
so incredible. And then specifically with kids, I call them
(20:29):
kids because I'm getting old now. College students or or
students who are about to enter college that at least
in in your nine to thrive, that is who you're
working with. Although I know you work with everyone in
the community. What is it about that age that speaks
to you? You know? I think it's they have the
whole world before them, and you just never know which
(20:54):
kid needs to hear you got it, You got it,
You're the cool list, You're the dopest nobody's you. You
swagged out you are, you are lit in it. And
I think that's what this work constantly draws me back to,
because I was that kid that just needed to know
you got it. It's who you are naturally. And so
whether it's college kids, whether it's middle school, elementary, I'm
(21:18):
not gonna lie. I want to do more with elementary.
But I was scared because I love the babies. But
I'm like, you know, babies, babies, but like you gotta
work our way into that. Yeah, because they have but
like whether it's any any age bracket, I think what
keeps me fuels is even if it's one kid out
of an auditorium, I want them to know you got it.
And especially for the kids at home who are either
(21:41):
not being told or because a lot like my situation
in testimony, where your mom is working. She's given it
all so she doesn't have the time, but with a
little bit of time she tells you. I want to
reinforce what that loved one told you, you got it.
And so I just love the babies. I call them
babi sits so we and the kids baby that's right.
But um, I just adore the babies, and I adore
(22:01):
just reminding them you have the whole world ahead of
you and there's so much to create and learn. You
got it, You got it. How how do you short
of me taking that asking matt Our producer for a
recording of you saying you got it, and and putting
it on my phone so I can play it every
time I want. How did you when when you were
facing you talked so beautifully about your struggles when you
(22:25):
were younger, houseless, single mom doing all she can for
all five of you, which I just love when when
times are hard, how do you talk to yourself? How
do you pick yourself up? Because I'm just in awe
of your resilience. Thank you, my sister. When times get tough,
I kid you not. I literally just leaned back on
where I came from that was low. So where we're headed,
(22:49):
we're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine and sometimes
you know. I think this is also another point to
that's what I love about your podcast because we also
get to share gems for other women and leaders. Another
thing too. I don't know need to hear this, but
it's absolutely okay if you have more than one down day.
I feel like you know. The rule is like twenty
four hours, get back up, push your teeth, do your hair.
It's it should be solved and we should be passed, right,
(23:11):
says right? Who? Who? Who is doing that? Please let
me know because I will pay them my savings to
teach me the top ten ways to get over in
twenty four hours. I don't know who needs to top
ten ways to get over right, But like literally, my sister,
I think for me, it's recognizing that you're not alone.
So I don't know who you need to hear this.
You're not alone. If it takes you a day, shoot,
(23:33):
if it takes you a week, feel that because that
feeling is the fuel. The feel is the fuel. The feeling.
You have every right to feel how you feel. No,
you don't have all the pieces, but you don't need it.
If that's how you feel, honor that. But now you
can't stay low because we need You can't stay low
because there's somebody that love. You can't stay low because
there's something that you give. There will be people looking
(23:54):
for you. So take your day, you're week, whatever it is,
but be honest about your feelings and let it be
so siss. I'm not gonna lie on not get low.
I'm like, I'm low today. I'm a little day. But
it's so weird because I could hide my low so well,
which was dangerous like early on in my life, and
so I recognized that speaking about it it's freedom. So
I'm gonna be honest whenever I'm low, says I tell
people I love that I love there there is no
(24:17):
there is no reward in suffering in silence. Well, I
I will say personally, sometimes I have a problem even
telling myself that I feel low or I mean, I'm
I'm dealing with this, you know, so not only too.
As you said, feel your feelings, allow space for them,
feel free to share with other people. Let's know what's
going on, let people know how you're doing. Absolutely, when
I came in today and I was so excited to
(24:38):
see you and shout out to met, I was like,
I WoT this yellow just for you, Like little things
like that, because it matters and it's the truth, right,
It's like you have me on ten being able to
meet you guys after following for so many years. It's like,
and those are the little things that we have to
recognize when we share. You'd be surprised the similarities. You
don't got to suffer in silence. Family, Like literally just
say it. You'd be surprised, and actually it'll pull you
out a little faster. I say that good tonight. I
(25:01):
feel that. Yeah, Like if you just straight up like
today in my day, people will give you the space
that you need, but especially the love that you need
to pushing you and then get you get you started.
So I am already excited to go back and listen
to this podcast because I'm absorbing so much. I can't
wait to go back and listen to it one more
time because there are just so many great nuggets um
and great advice and real life experience that I am
(25:24):
just so grateful for, and I know everyone listening is to.
I want to ask you about the media side. You
were talking about how you really wanted to talk about
the good stuff. So what attracts you, what inspires you?
Who are the people that you want to talk to.
We've heard about some of the people you have talked to,
and that is a that is a very high bar
(25:44):
for some of just the truly game changes that you've
spoken to. So when you were getting ready to do
the Oh Show live, or you are getting ready to
do a show or a podcast, how do you say,
this is the person I want to talk to? Oh
my gosh, I love this question. Now the line Nine
times out of ten, I'm like, who's the person that's
been doing the work. And that's where I go because
(26:05):
you see a lot of times, especially with media, there's
there's so many opportunities, avenues and outlets where people are
letting their voices be heard and very much so known.
And you know a major part in media is if
you want to make real impact, not only do you
have to give the space for the real ones to
show themselves, right, but you gotta continuously give the platforms
to the people who do the work camera on or
camera off. And so for me, many of the guests
(26:27):
I've been blessed to interview, they've been doing work and
what happens is their person somehow find me, found me
or somebody from the team found me talking about something
run in my mouth and they're like, who is that?
That makes sense? And then they bring us together. But
in a perfect world, since I'm not gonna lie, you
want to hear like my top three people one day
that I really hated. So number one, I gotta go
with Easter Ray go I leve me some right. Second,
(26:51):
Gary V, it's like I just want to know, like
I just want to I want to hear the story
that resilience is like solutely next level, like what going on?
And of course we first of all we share the
same last person, it's Opra one for you because everybody's
list right seriously, and you know, I would ask all
these people, how do you feel like the face of
(27:12):
media is bringing communities together? Or what are some ways
you feel like we could do better? Now I want
to ask you that same question. How do you feel
like the face of media are bringing communities together? And
what would you do differently or better if you or
I know you are doing it, but if you can
say this is how, this is how we're operating in Charlotte,
how did you do it? You know, shout out to Charlotte.
(27:34):
You know, so funny because a lot of people say, well,
Charlotte is very silo, So you got this group to
hang out with, this group, yad, YadA. I don't focus
on the bad, always focus on the opportunity. For me,
I feel like there is a blank canvas here in
this city for those interested in media to paint whatever
they want. But watch what you're painting. Simply put is,
even if you have the opportunity to be in the
(27:56):
rooms and speak in the mics and all these things,
watch what you're painting because somebody is watching from the outside.
And so when I think about even like the blessings
with me being in media, transitioning from television local news
to now full entrepreneurship in media, it's scary because it's like,
but I always go back to there's somebody watching, and
(28:16):
they need to see you do it to know that
it's real. So I said that to say, shout out
to the city of Charlotte. It doesn't matter how siloed
or any other things we are. What matters is how
we take those silos and bring people out from them.
Somebody got to do it. Something I do. And let
me tell you, I don't mind being a one because
for me, we do this better when we come together.
So shout out to the media doers here in our city,
from local news to podcasters. I mean, we have such
(28:38):
a strong media network, and I just like to just remember,
let's bring it all together, like me being with you today,
sis uh right, that means so much, and like that's
what we should be doing, Like you're filling my cup
and then we're just but like you know, it's so
beautiful when we come together and we listen and we
(28:59):
just so shout out to the city and all the
media do is just remember, like bring people together in
your media. Always very very well said. And now I
have to ask you about entrepreneurship. You mentioned that. I
mean I could talk to you for hours and we've
already established that, yes, but I do want to ask
you about entrepreneurship. Where you said that you were working
in local news and obviously you have your nine to thrive,
(29:21):
but you are doing this thing where as I said,
I just the energy that you have in ten minutes
is probably more than I can get in the whole day.
How has the adjustment to entrepreneurship, Ben? What have you learned?
What would you want to share with other people? Oh
my gosh, you'all first things versus whoever says this easy
day lad? Well, I know it's not. I know it
(29:42):
is not. I mean, wow, not even gonna lie like
it's so funny because I was so bright eye and
bush tailed, like I left local news and I'm like,
that's it. I'm hitting a million. Who was hitting a million?
Sometimes I look back, like, wow, she was very you know,
she was very ready. But like, there's levels to this.
So the first thing is you're if you're an entrepreneur,
shout out to you man. We don't never sleep. We
never sleep is day in, day out, when when when
(30:04):
everybody sees you, when nobody sees you, And it's also
recognized in the pauses have power. So there's gonna be
a lot of times where work does not come. You're
so powerful There's gonna be a lot of times where
nobody is calling your phone. You're still a vessel. There's
gonna be times where it's like who businesses is slowing down?
I'm tapping into the savings or you know who, I'm
not hearing anything, planning something else. I can impact your community.
So there's power in the pauses and entrepreneurs listen, I
(30:27):
get it. I'm at it for four years in counting.
Actually this year will officially make five congratulations exclusive for you.
Um but like literally when I tell you it hasn't
been easy. There's still some days better than others. But
I think the God winks or when we are able
to meet the people we love and admire and now
I could take this fire back and do what I love.
So it's not easy since the transition is crazy every day.
(30:49):
And then you also, I think we gotta pivot on
the fly. I hate that word, by the way, but
we always got pivot anybody else But yeah, no, So
like that, I love what you said about there being
power in the pauses or is a quote that's what
remember when you dreamed about what you have now? And
aren't we all guilty? I know I'm guilty of looking
at okay, well, at at this age, I want to
(31:11):
do this or this, especially earlier in my career, comparing
myself to other people. And if you had told young
Christine at ten years old that she was getting to
do any of the things that I have been able
to do, I mean her, her job would have been
on the floor. It's like, and it is. It's good,
as you said, to have those power in the pauses,
(31:31):
to remember those things, and to remember how far we've
come and how far we still got left to do.
And that's in that exciting those like if it's good
right now, imagine for I'm getting chills again. Seriously, if
it's good right now and you feel good right now,
or even if you don't, just be hopeful. It's about
to get better, baby, you know. And I think that
(31:52):
that's what I live by as well. Is we almost there?
One phone call away, one email away, one person away,
one hug away, won't compliment away, one a deed away,
give it a chance, give it a try. I think
that's the perfect place to end it. I could, as
as I told you, I could talk to you for
hours and hours. Um, this has just been wonderful. I
hope that you will come back. I hope that we
(32:12):
can talk. Yeah, I absolutely can talk much much more.
You are just a ray of sunshine. Ohabia. Thank you
so much for spending your valuable time. No, it means
the most of me, and I actually want to take
this time and say thank you for providing a platform
for women from all over to come to talk, to
share and be vulnerable. Here's the thing, vulnerability goes both ways.
So the reason why I felt comfortable to share us
(32:33):
because that's the atmosphere you set. So shout out to you, okay,
and shout out to season two right, Yes, seasons a party, Matt,
where's the comfetti? MAT's got that. Let's start, Let's go weird.
Matt has a comfetti gun ready to go. You really
do you know? I was about to pull out the
podcast exactly. Thank you and thank you, Thank you. M
Had it not been for that teacher who said, you
got a personality you should check out, you know, media,
Or had it not been for when we were in
the shelter and that woman who gave us a pillowcase
so I could sleep because she knew like I had
a big thing going on at school the next day.
Community is everything, says, because when I had nothing, that's
what kept me rooted, and that's will continuously keep rooted.
(00:24):
Welcome to Season two of the Inspired Podcasts, presented by
Atrium Health. This is a podcast series for Panthers fans
where we highlight admirable women from across the Carolinas as
they share stories and lessons from their lives and careers.
And boy do we have a great guest today, Ohavia Phillips.
She does it all. She is a mazn of all
(00:44):
things multimedia and community and we are going to get
into all of it right now. Ohvia, thank you so
much for being here. Oh my gosh, whan I tell
you this? No, I am excited, super elated to be here.
You know, I'm excited. I told I told Ohavia before
we started rolling, I was like, I gotta gotta make
myself not start the podcast and not ask you all
the questions that I want to ask you before we
(01:04):
start rolling. But then twenty minutes later, I've I've been
asking you questions before we started rolling. I can't contain
my excitement. First of all, say you work in media,
and I'm saying you work in media. You got to
be like the pre that's what we get started. I mean,
because you know you love people and you we're we're
getting outside and we're getting to see people finally after
like what two years. So I'm excited, y'all. I just
came in and started talking her head off about how
it's so happy to meet her. No, I did the
(01:26):
same thing, did the same. But we like ran and
slow mo to come hug each other. We're so excited. Yes,
I love it. So for anyone who's just getting to
know you, who's listening to this or maybe has seen
you on one platform, can you just give us a
quick rundown of all the different things you do, because
I tell you what, I am tired just hearing about them.
(01:48):
It is amazing. Thank you. Sis. So hello family. On
my name is Oha Via Phillips. I am a sister,
I'm a community servant and i am a people lover,
also a coffee but I love it most. A coffee
and people are my favorite things. But listen, I do
all things media and my sister seriously, So I love
the impact of using media to bring communities together through conversation,
whether it's somebody's story, their testimony, where they come from,
(02:11):
but also even the current events, right and different perspectives
and given, you know, bringing people together to get a
different perspective. So literally all things media. My nine to
thrive is working at Central pm Community College as a
communications account executive. So what that means is literally I
work with organizations like Blue Cross, Blue Shield only to
name a few, when they want to develop scholarships for
our students, and so I'm literally kind of like playing
(02:33):
the liaison between these amazing organizations the money they want
to give students, and I'm on those projects. How cool
is that? So everything like changing for students, when I
tell you, and being on this side of it, right,
So like was a student, had my complaints because you
know students be complaining. I was a student, right, seriously, right, same,
(02:54):
but like literally like now being on the other end
of it and seeing like there's really many organizations that
want to help youth follow their dreams and do what
they are called and love to do. So literally for
me to be in this position to open those doors
in partnership with these organizations through creative materials like posters, flyers,
social media, like that's what I do in my nine
(03:14):
to Thrive, so all things community literally at Central Pima
and then my Thrive to nine what I call it
is my own show, the O show where we take
all things positive media and push it to the forefront.
Uh literally says it's it's everything to me. It means
everything to me. I've been blessed to interview to name
a few, Miss Stacey Abrams, a Dr Eric Thomas, A
lot of people know him as et the man who
(03:36):
just lifts people up with his amazing voice and just
he pulls the best out in everybody. And that's literally
to name with you. And also North Carolina poet laureate
Miss Jackie Shelton Green. So God is just really busting
these doors down to media for me to speak to
people who have inspired me for so long and show
the next generation of journalists like you don't have to
do the negative news. You know, you don't have to
(03:56):
call people out and hurt people worse than they've already
hurt themselves. There is an ask to media where you
can put out the positive and the good and it
reaps more positive and more good. So I'm living, baby,
You are you are? And that was one of my
questions that I was like, Okay, I have to ask
you about this as soon as we sit down, which is,
how do you manage all of it? I don't I
(04:17):
hesitate to use the word balance because I know we
can't have balance right or it's a it's subjective, yes,
but you have so much going on. You have the
most beautiful personality, the biggest energy. Everyone can't see you
right now, but you're wearing the most gorgeous yellow dress
and you said, you know what, it matches my moves. Yes.
How how do you approach all of the things that
(04:39):
are on your plate and come at it with with
such an incredible attitude every day? Oh my gosh, I
want to tell you I adore you for this question
because this is where I love to not only share
so especially women don't feel like they're crazy. Right. How
I maintain this energy and this love and positivity is
by saying no to a lot of things. I did
not think that that was going to be your answer.
(05:00):
This is why I love this podcast. First of all,
it's yea faul, you pull the best out of Hello,
but seriously says it's it's saying no to the things
that do not align with who I am as a person. Right. So,
if we're not talking community, if we're not talking youth,
if we're not talking ways to make impact through media,
if we're not talking like ways to get babies more
scholarships and open doors for the first and their family,
(05:21):
or what are we talking about? And so to be
completely honest, my love, how I maintain this energy, this positivity,
this love of people is one There's a lot of
things I say no to because it's not about cloud
for me, it's community. Uh. We we recognize that we're
always used this vessels and we got to remember like
whatever gift that you have, it's for the greater good.
So that's the main thing is I say no to
(05:42):
a lot. But also I love museums and dance in
the afrobeat. There's things in between. You know, got the
dance moves. But it really is saying no and being
okay with recognizing I don't have to be everywhere to
make the impact I'm called to. And that's why my
no is more than okay, more than okay. We always
say that. Um, we take notes during this podcast because
I get to ask these questions for myself and I
hope that it resonates with people listening. So I will
(06:04):
be writing that one down because what I'm hearing is
that not only do you say no, but you have
your purpose and if those things don't align with your purpose,
it makes it a lot easier to say no. And
so if people listening could take anything from that, what
I will be taking from that is it's a lot
easier to say no and not feel bad about it,
(06:25):
because I think we as women sometimes feel bad about
things right or try to do like you said, a
little crazy sometimes trying to do everything. But if you
have your clarity of your purpose, the things that are
important to you, it's an easier no. It is, it is.
And also to I'm so glad you brought that ups
because that's another part of this is why can't we
(06:45):
say no? You know what I'm saying, like, why is
it disrespectful to the person receiving it? Why is it
like you know, because it's it's giving boundaries and you know,
shout out to all the women who listen. I absolutely
adore this podcast and I adore the stories that you
tell and the women and just the leaders you invite
on because there's one common thread, and it is the
power of our boundaries and the power of finding our
way to our truths and our purposes. And let me
(07:07):
tell y'all know, it is a complete sentence and it
is okay. So that's my secret. And it was hard,
but we were making We're getting there. I love it
and it's I love how open and honest you are.
And also that someone who projects the confidence that you
do is still working on that, oh for sure? Since
are you kidding me? Dan and Dale? I mean literally
(07:30):
And sometimes it can be the most amazing thing that
I read through an email or on paper or even
people who approach me, and I have to always go
back to my no tree, right, and it's like, okay,
is a community, how are they giving back to the community,
what's the impact being made? What are we doing here?
And that really helps me find my way to the
no quicker and more unapologetically too, because a lot of
times we say no and it's like, but like when
(07:51):
you have a no tree, the things you're absolutely I okay,
I'm I'm just no tree. I am writing this down,
I am printing it out. And that is to go
back into what aligns with your purposes, what aligns with
your values, and if it doesn't fit on is that
the notary? Absolutely, because we don't have time to be
doing things we don't want to do. And you know,
as a people, look what we survived and come out
(08:12):
from COVID. Some of us call COVID. I had COVID
when it first came out. And so when I think
about all that hardship, learning and unlearning we did in
these two years, I'm not saying yes to anything else
that doesn't align. I live that life, been there, done that,
And then you have the function mad right now now
I'm ugly at the function. Now I'm at the function
looking screw face because I'm like, God, I should have
said no, But like when I tell you, I'm not
(08:35):
says I'm not doing it anymore. And so for all
of the amazing women listening, because you kill that bringing
us together, it's okay, No, it's okay, they will be okay.
I love that. And so how how do you with
the things that you say yes to? As you said,
community media, and you were doing so many different things
in both of those avenues and and outside of that
(08:56):
as well. When you're saying yes to the stuff that
aligns with your purpose, it's still taking a lot out
of you. As you said, you have a nine to thrive,
and then you have a thrive to nine and then
there are things like this in the middle of your
day that you were coming to do. So you talked
a little bit about dancing. What are the things that
bring you joy that recharge your batteries, Because even if
you're saying yes to things that align with your purpose,
(09:18):
it's still a lot. I know you go to bed tired.
First of all, you already I'm say, I'm surprised I
didn't wake up with some Louis V's under my eyes,
some bags under my eyes. But thank you, my beautiful No.
But seriously, I think for me, dancing absolutely so fun. Fact,
I danced pretty much up through college shout out to
you and ce Charlotte, pretty much up through college dance,
hip hop, ballet, jazz, tab liturgical, all the things liturgical. Okay,
(09:41):
I danced for like ten twelve. I mean, I was
nowhere near that. I stopped in middle school to start cheering.
I haven't heard the word liturgical in a long time
because there's a lot of people don't know. Like, guys, listen,
you can't think about charging, you can't think about like
expressing the words without mentioning liturgical. So I love dancing,
Oh my gosh, I love dance. I love people for real,
(10:01):
Like for me, it's about meeting new people in hearing
their stories. And then I love museums. Oh my gosh.
I have this joke with um my family. I'm gonna
get married in a museum. Y'all heard it here first,
I'm speaking it. I'm not engaged yet, but I'm speaking it.
But like, I just love museums and art and people.
I love festivals anywhere when people can come together and
let their hair down. You know. I love to shop.
My god, yeah, absolutely, I'm with you on that. What
(10:23):
are What is your favorite museum or festival in Charlotte? Yes, okay,
favorite museum? Oh, favorite museum. I would have to give
it up to the Harvey Began because I've done so
much work with them and when it comes to like
how they really show up in the communities. That's what
they do. Luvin Museum of the New South is also family.
Shout out to Lavin Museum of the New South bringing
history to students in a way where you know, it's cool,
(10:45):
it resonates and bring communities together. UM Festivals first of all,
shout out to Dreamville UM, which wasn't too long ago.
I love that and how they bring all the artists
together to name a few. Luke West is a good
brother of mine. I love him and his story. Yeah
see I didn't know. I just him because he's family
and like his story is incredible and how he uses
(11:05):
music to make it makes sense. So like when I
tell you, if we really started naming the list, this
will have to be a movie. But shout out to
another podcast of your recommendations. Right, I know I'm writing
all of this stuff down, I'm like, I will be
going there and they're another thing that just immediately jumps
off the page. When when I started getting to watch
all of your stuff. Can you help us all out
(11:27):
with branding? You are so good at it. Everyone. I
know this is a podcast, but you have to go
to her website and see everything is you know, there's
The Oh Show. Of course the first two letters of
your name. But everything is videos, photos, you call it,
you're you call everyone, You're familiar, you know, and you
have just a perfect concept for how to brand and
(11:49):
and put yourself out there. And it's just so encompassing
of the person that you are. You can tell who
you are immediately even if we haven't gotten a chance
to meet you in person. Your videos, your website. How
how did that come about? Yes, So I'm gonna be honest.
I started doing The Oh Show when I was working
full time for a local newsroom. And what's crazy is
(12:10):
it started as an outlet because I just got so
literally sick and tired of telling bad news. So I said,
you know what, let's let's do something. I don't want
to call it. My name's O Heavier the Oh Show.
Keep in mind, I'm not thinking about how far this.
I didn't even think it was gonna be what it
really is because it was just an outlet for me
in news. Wow. So I was like, okay, let's just
call it the Oh Show. That's something that my boss
(12:30):
wouldn't find. So it's low key because you know, I'm
trying to get it. You're trying to get out there,
put together quiet about it, so you have to come
up with nicknames. And so you know, I was like
the Oh Show under the radar, nobody's gonna pay attention,
no big deal. So started out on YouTube and I
recognized that what's crazy is the way that I put
Oh into every word is actually what people would do
(12:51):
to me. So, like I remember coming back to the
newsroom one time after I had taken a fake lunch
to do an O show live, don't judge me, And
so that's the heart to where I would be taking
a lunch to take a lunch and like, I'm tired
from this. I love the hustle absolutely, it's amazing. So
like I took a fake lunch break to do the
OH Show once came back to the newsroom and one
of my friends was like one of my colleagues from news.
He's a good friend still to this day. He said, Wow,
(13:13):
how did that video go? And I said what is this?
And I don't know why that just stuck with me.
How did that video go? He said, Ohavia, you could
do so much with your name, And so I also
would be remiss if I did mention um Ohavia and
Hebrew have a means love. That's beautiful. So it's it's
the very essence of who I am. SI, it's my why.
(13:34):
And whenever times get tough, because sometimes they do, I
just remember, wait a minute, my name is love. That's
what I'm called to do. So what I did was
I just put love and everything. So the oh show,
beautiful people moment, whatever has an OH win, it is
going to get the business. Okay, something put an oh
age in it. So love it. And so for for
people unlike you and I who might be listening that
don't work directly in media, yes, how would you advise
(13:59):
them to make sure that who they are, the essence
of who they are, comes across, whether it's in a resume,
whether it's talking for a job interview, spoke about your
work with college students. If you are trying to let
someone know who you are and they can't meet you
in person, what advice do you have for that? Absolutely,
So shout out to all the professionals and creative preneurs,
solo preneurs, you know where you fall along the line.
(14:21):
Shout out to you, because these are times are different.
You know, we came out of a pandemic and everything
was virtual, and now it's like, okay, well, how do
I present myself to the world in such a short
amount of time? What makes sense and people will remember.
The rule that I have is imagine if your phone
was on one percent. Imagine if your phone was on
one percent and you're on the phone and you're talking
(14:41):
to like, I want somebody close their eyes and just
envision the person they always wanted to meet or talk to.
Your phones on one percent and they say, so, tell
me about yourself. What would you say? And so my
formula is you always give your name, you always give
your why, then you give where you come from and
what you love to do. So, hello, beautiful people, my
name is Ohevia. I am a daughter, I am a friend,
I do all things media and I love Afro beat
(15:02):
and I'm so happy to be before you, and I
just want to say thank you for taking this time out.
And you know, there's ways that you can craft it
in your own way. But the formula has never let
me down. Says it's literally your name, you're why, where
you come from? That's always important. Put on for your heritage,
where you come from, whatever, and then take it there.
So imagine if your phone was on one percent, You're
talking to your favorite person. What would you say? I
would say, Hi, Oprah, I am so excited to meet you.
(15:25):
Even you said close your eyes, I was, Okay, it's
Oprah calling me. I'm a mother, i am a sportscaster,
and I am just I'm thrilled to be talking to
you because there's so much I want to say and
so many stories I want to tell. Right, how was
it was? It? First of all, that was fired because
it's your truth. And that's why I love the one
percent because here's the truth. Is like, when people want
(15:45):
to get to know you a lot, you know, you
gotta work to remove that barrier, and the easiest way
is to just tell your story because there's similarities and
all of who we are and what we do. You
killed that cis well and I think we're listening. I
love that as well because you said that lead with
(16:05):
your y and it goes back to what you were
saying about when you find your purpose, it's easier to
say no to I think in the US, especially, we
lead with what we do, right, So when people ask you,
you know, it's one of the first things people ask you,
what do you do and I love that you introduce
yourself and it made it. It opened it up for
me to introduce myself for my one percent phone call
(16:28):
was not necessarily that I'm a sportscaster or that I
work for the Panthers. Well, I'm a mother, I'm a wife.
Those are those things that your wife, that's you know,
and I love that. But then knowing those things about
yourself that makes it that much easier when you transition
your y into what you want to do. This when
I tell you are so spot on because it goes
(16:50):
back to the not tree and you know, honestly, I
didn't see it that way until you kind of framed.
I was like, oh yeah, because exactly what you're saying
is all aligned within that overarching theme. You're the one
told me I'm about like seeing it in full the
real time, like like oh wow. Even stating the wifer
is going back to saying no to something that doesn't align. See,
that's the power of it. You're doing it. You were
doing it unconsciously, and I'm telling you that it resonated
(17:13):
with me. Wow, I'm not going to cry now, I'm
gonna I have Grid on this podcast and it still
might be coming for me as we keep talking. Yeah, No,
this is incredible. Thank you so much. I'm learning so much.
That's why I said selfishly, I'm so fortunate to get
to do this podcast because I take so much away
from it, and you were just giving freely of all
(17:33):
of your knowledge and experience, which I am so grateful for.
Let's talk about the community aspect. Yes, you were telling
me before we started rolling on this podcast your why
for a community and how it works in your nine
to thrive as you call it. Tell me a little
bit more about that and what excites you. Yes, So,
community for me is everything to know me only, and
even if you don't know, you're gonna find me at
(17:54):
the function with some some youth and strolinery youth. You're
gonna find me at the function with artists. You're gonna
find me at the function with those in media, but
especially you're gonna find me at the function with everybody
because I love people and a lot of that not
gonna license. It is rooted in much of my story
with houselessness and just how the importance of community connections
and resources can really help somebody and change their trajectory. Right. So,
(18:16):
when I think about being from a single mom. My
mom busted her tail day in and day out. I'm
the oldest of five, and when I look back and
I think about all the people who came to her
with resources, uh, for the tribe that came together and said, okay,
how can we help you with the kids? Even me,
adults who didn't even know. I call them my honorary
mentors who said, hey, oh hey, here's what you need
to do. You know you're going off to college. He's
(18:38):
a checklist. So for me, the reason why community is
so important is because having lived the other side where
that's all I had, That's all I had, and I'm
gonna get, but that's all I had. And now seeing
how my life is just panned out in such an
amazing way and from where it started to now with
who I am, it has everything to do with people
(19:00):
and communities and resources that people bought to me. And
so I'm just so very grateful to be in these rooms,
to be amongst you and just amongst people who had
it not been for that teacher who said you got
a personality you should check out, you know, media, or
had it not been for when we were in the
shelter and that woman who gave us a pillowcase so
(19:22):
I could sleep because she knew like I had a
big thing going on at school, that one that the
next day. Community is everything, sys, because when I had nothing,
that was That's what kept me rooted, and that's will
that will continuously keep me rooted even when I'm getting
opra boukou money. Okay, give me community all day, maybe
you know, because it's like when I had nothing, I
had everything. I called it. I said that I would
(19:44):
guess that I would cry and it happened what thirty seconds,
and I was like something. I was like, yo, this
is it was first of all, shout out to you.
And that's such a beautiful question because the way that
you asked was in a way where I could give
shout outs to people who built me and lift me up.
So shout out to you, sis, because such an important question.
Why community? And you know, it's become a buzzword a
little bit because it's like, oh, community, run into the
(20:05):
work before you get to the work. Understand the why,
and like I get tear you out every time I
do too, and I'm I'm I love hearing your story
and I'm so grateful that you would share it with me,
and I am cheering you on every step of the way.
What you have done and what you are doing is
so incredible. And then specifically with kids, I call them
(20:29):
kids because I'm getting old now. College students or or
students who are about to enter college that at least
in in your nine to thrive, that is who you're
working with. Although I know you work with everyone in
the community. What is it about that age that speaks
to you? You know? I think it's they have the
whole world before them, and you just never know which
(20:54):
kid needs to hear you got it, You got it,
You're the cool list, You're the dopest nobody's you. You
swagged out you are, you are lit in it. And
I think that's what this work constantly draws me back to,
because I was that kid that just needed to know
you got it. It's who you are naturally. And so
whether it's college kids, whether it's middle school, elementary, I'm
(21:18):
not gonna lie. I want to do more with elementary.
But I was scared because I love the babies. But
I'm like, you know, babies, babies, but like you gotta
work our way into that. Yeah, because they have but
like whether it's any any age bracket, I think what
keeps me fuels is even if it's one kid out
of an auditorium, I want them to know you got it.
And especially for the kids at home who are either
(21:41):
not being told or because a lot like my situation
in testimony, where your mom is working. She's given it
all so she doesn't have the time, but with a
little bit of time she tells you. I want to
reinforce what that loved one told you, you got it.
And so I just love the babies. I call them
babi sits so we and the kids baby that's right.
But um, I just adore the babies, and I adore
(22:01):
just reminding them you have the whole world ahead of
you and there's so much to create and learn. You
got it, You got it. How how do you short
of me taking that asking matt Our producer for a
recording of you saying you got it, and and putting
it on my phone so I can play it every
time I want. How did you when when you were
facing you talked so beautifully about your struggles when you
(22:25):
were younger, houseless, single mom doing all she can for
all five of you, which I just love when when
times are hard, how do you talk to yourself? How
do you pick yourself up? Because I'm just in awe
of your resilience. Thank you, my sister. When times get tough,
I kid you not. I literally just leaned back on
where I came from that was low. So where we're headed,
(22:49):
we're gonna be fine. We're gonna be fine and sometimes
you know. I think this is also another point to
that's what I love about your podcast because we also
get to share gems for other women and leaders. Another
thing too. I don't know need to hear this, but
it's absolutely okay if you have more than one down day.
I feel like you know. The rule is like twenty
four hours, get back up, push your teeth, do your hair.
It's it should be solved and we should be passed, right,
(23:11):
says right? Who? Who? Who is doing that? Please let
me know because I will pay them my savings to
teach me the top ten ways to get over in
twenty four hours. I don't know who needs to top
ten ways to get over right, But like literally, my sister,
I think for me, it's recognizing that you're not alone.
So I don't know who you need to hear this.
You're not alone. If it takes you a day, shoot,
(23:33):
if it takes you a week, feel that because that
feeling is the fuel. The feel is the fuel. The feeling.
You have every right to feel how you feel. No,
you don't have all the pieces, but you don't need it.
If that's how you feel, honor that. But now you
can't stay low because we need You can't stay low
because there's somebody that love. You can't stay low because
there's something that you give. There will be people looking
(23:54):
for you. So take your day, you're week, whatever it is,
but be honest about your feelings and let it be
so siss. I'm not gonna lie on not get low.
I'm like, I'm low today. I'm a little day. But
it's so weird because I could hide my low so well,
which was dangerous like early on in my life, and
so I recognized that speaking about it it's freedom. So
I'm gonna be honest whenever I'm low, says I tell
people I love that I love there there is no
(24:17):
there is no reward in suffering in silence. Well, I
I will say personally, sometimes I have a problem even
telling myself that I feel low or I mean, I'm
I'm dealing with this, you know, so not only too.
As you said, feel your feelings, allow space for them,
feel free to share with other people. Let's know what's
going on, let people know how you're doing. Absolutely, when
I came in today and I was so excited to
(24:38):
see you and shout out to met, I was like,
I WoT this yellow just for you, Like little things
like that, because it matters and it's the truth, right,
It's like you have me on ten being able to
meet you guys after following for so many years. It's like,
and those are the little things that we have to
recognize when we share. You'd be surprised the similarities. You
don't got to suffer in silence. Family, Like literally just
say it. You'd be surprised, and actually it'll pull you
out a little faster. I say that good tonight. I
(25:01):
feel that. Yeah, Like if you just straight up like
today in my day, people will give you the space
that you need, but especially the love that you need
to pushing you and then get you get you started.
So I am already excited to go back and listen
to this podcast because I'm absorbing so much. I can't
wait to go back and listen to it one more
time because there are just so many great nuggets um
and great advice and real life experience that I am
(25:24):
just so grateful for, and I know everyone listening is to.
I want to ask you about the media side. You
were talking about how you really wanted to talk about
the good stuff. So what attracts you, what inspires you?
Who are the people that you want to talk to.
We've heard about some of the people you have talked to,
and that is a that is a very high bar
(25:44):
for some of just the truly game changes that you've
spoken to. So when you were getting ready to do
the Oh Show live, or you are getting ready to
do a show or a podcast, how do you say,
this is the person I want to talk to? Oh
my gosh, I love this question. Now the line Nine
times out of ten, I'm like, who's the person that's
been doing the work. And that's where I go because
(26:05):
you see a lot of times, especially with media, there's
there's so many opportunities, avenues and outlets where people are
letting their voices be heard and very much so known.
And you know a major part in media is if
you want to make real impact, not only do you
have to give the space for the real ones to
show themselves, right, but you gotta continuously give the platforms
to the people who do the work camera on or
camera off. And so for me, many of the guests
(26:27):
I've been blessed to interview, they've been doing work and
what happens is their person somehow find me, found me
or somebody from the team found me talking about something
run in my mouth and they're like, who is that?
That makes sense? And then they bring us together. But
in a perfect world, since I'm not gonna lie, you
want to hear like my top three people one day
that I really hated. So number one, I gotta go
with Easter Ray go I leve me some right. Second,
(26:51):
Gary V, it's like I just want to know, like
I just want to I want to hear the story
that resilience is like solutely next level, like what going on?
And of course we first of all we share the
same last person, it's Opra one for you because everybody's
list right seriously, and you know, I would ask all
these people, how do you feel like the face of
(27:12):
media is bringing communities together? Or what are some ways
you feel like we could do better? Now I want
to ask you that same question. How do you feel
like the face of media are bringing communities together? And
what would you do differently or better if you or
I know you are doing it, but if you can
say this is how, this is how we're operating in Charlotte,
how did you do it? You know, shout out to Charlotte.
(27:34):
You know, so funny because a lot of people say, well,
Charlotte is very silo, So you got this group to
hang out with, this group, yad, YadA. I don't focus
on the bad, always focus on the opportunity. For me,
I feel like there is a blank canvas here in
this city for those interested in media to paint whatever
they want. But watch what you're painting. Simply put is,
even if you have the opportunity to be in the
(27:56):
rooms and speak in the mics and all these things,
watch what you're painting because somebody is watching from the outside.
And so when I think about even like the blessings
with me being in media, transitioning from television local news
to now full entrepreneurship in media, it's scary because it's like,
but I always go back to there's somebody watching, and
(28:16):
they need to see you do it to know that
it's real. So I said that to say, shout out
to the city of Charlotte. It doesn't matter how siloed
or any other things we are. What matters is how
we take those silos and bring people out from them.
Somebody got to do it. Something I do. And let
me tell you, I don't mind being a one because
for me, we do this better when we come together.
So shout out to the media doers here in our city,
from local news to podcasters. I mean, we have such
(28:38):
a strong media network, and I just like to just remember,
let's bring it all together, like me being with you today,
sis uh right, that means so much, and like that's
what we should be doing, Like you're filling my cup
and then we're just but like you know, it's so
beautiful when we come together and we listen and we
(28:59):
just so shout out to the city and all the
media do is just remember, like bring people together in
your media. Always very very well said. And now I
have to ask you about entrepreneurship. You mentioned that. I
mean I could talk to you for hours and we've
already established that, yes, but I do want to ask
you about entrepreneurship. Where you said that you were working
in local news and obviously you have your nine to thrive,
(29:21):
but you are doing this thing where as I said,
I just the energy that you have in ten minutes
is probably more than I can get in the whole day.
How has the adjustment to entrepreneurship, Ben? What have you learned?
What would you want to share with other people? Oh
my gosh, you'all first things versus whoever says this easy
day lad? Well, I know it's not. I know it
(29:42):
is not. I mean, wow, not even gonna lie like
it's so funny because I was so bright eye and
bush tailed, like I left local news and I'm like,
that's it. I'm hitting a million. Who was hitting a million?
Sometimes I look back, like, wow, she was very you know,
she was very ready. But like, there's levels to this.
So the first thing is you're if you're an entrepreneur,
shout out to you man. We don't never sleep. We
never sleep is day in, day out, when when when
(30:04):
everybody sees you, when nobody sees you, And it's also
recognized in the pauses have power. So there's gonna be
a lot of times where work does not come. You're
so powerful There's gonna be a lot of times where
nobody is calling your phone. You're still a vessel. There's
gonna be times where it's like who businesses is slowing down?
I'm tapping into the savings or you know who, I'm
not hearing anything, planning something else. I can impact your community.
So there's power in the pauses and entrepreneurs listen, I
(30:27):
get it. I'm at it for four years in counting.
Actually this year will officially make five congratulations exclusive for you.
Um but like literally when I tell you it hasn't
been easy. There's still some days better than others. But
I think the God winks or when we are able
to meet the people we love and admire and now
I could take this fire back and do what I love.
So it's not easy since the transition is crazy every day.
(30:49):
And then you also, I think we gotta pivot on
the fly. I hate that word, by the way, but
we always got pivot anybody else But yeah, no, So
like that, I love what you said about there being
power in the pauses or is a quote that's what
remember when you dreamed about what you have now? And
aren't we all guilty? I know I'm guilty of looking
at okay, well, at at this age, I want to
(31:11):
do this or this, especially earlier in my career, comparing
myself to other people. And if you had told young
Christine at ten years old that she was getting to
do any of the things that I have been able
to do, I mean her, her job would have been
on the floor. It's like, and it is. It's good,
as you said, to have those power in the pauses,
(31:31):
to remember those things, and to remember how far we've
come and how far we still got left to do.
And that's in that exciting those like if it's good
right now, imagine for I'm getting chills again. Seriously, if
it's good right now and you feel good right now,
or even if you don't, just be hopeful. It's about
to get better, baby, you know. And I think that
(31:52):
that's what I live by as well. Is we almost there?
One phone call away, one email away, one person away,
one hug away, won't compliment away, one a deed away,
give it a chance, give it a try. I think
that's the perfect place to end it. I could, as
as I told you, I could talk to you for
hours and hours. Um, this has just been wonderful. I
hope that you will come back. I hope that we
(32:12):
can talk. Yeah, I absolutely can talk much much more.
You are just a ray of sunshine. Ohabia. Thank you
so much for spending your valuable time. No, it means
the most of me, and I actually want to take
this time and say thank you for providing a platform
for women from all over to come to talk, to
share and be vulnerable. Here's the thing, vulnerability goes both ways.
So the reason why I felt comfortable to share us
(32:33):
because that's the atmosphere you set. So shout out to you, okay,
and shout out to season two right, Yes, seasons a party, Matt,
where's the comfetti? MAT's got that. Let's start, Let's go weird.
Matt has a comfetti gun ready to go. You really
do you know? I was about to pull out the
podcast exactly. Thank you and thank you, Thank you. M
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