From GED to Law Degree: Joanna's Journey

Welcome to the first episode of the Let Him See That Child podcast! Meet Joanna, your host, as she takes you through her incredible journey from Atlanta to becoming a top graduate at John Marshall Law School. Discover the challenges she faced, including losing her father at a young age, dropping out of high school, and the grueling experience of taking the bar exam while eight months pregnant.

In this episode, Joanna also delves into her early career, working for a law firm, and the pivotal moment she decided to start her own brand. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and staying true to oneself in both personal and professional life.

The episode also features the segment "WWJD: What Would Joanna Do?" where Joanna offers her candid advice on relationship and legal dilemmas. From step-parenting challenges to dealing with toll bills from a sold car, Joanna provides her no-nonsense perspective.

Join us for a heartfelt and inspiring episode that sets the stage for a series filled with laughter, tears, and real talk.

 

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So we're going to have different series where we can laugh, cry,
talk a little shit, cuss a little bit.
And of course, we'll have some stories that warm the hearts.
Our first series is just Joanna, and it's all about me.

(00:37):
My whole production team has convinced me to let y'all in my business.
So I guess that's what we're going to do. So let's get ready. Let's jump in.
So I was born in Atlanta, Georgia at, not a great, but no.
I was born at Georgia Baptist, and I swear they're telling my age.
Anybody around here knows it's called Atlanta Medical now, right there on Boulevard.

(00:59):
But it was Georgia Baptist when I was born.
My family lived on Boulevard, right off Irwin Street.
And from there, they moved us to right off Bouldercrest Road.
And I spent most of my childhood there.
Everybody always wanted to know what high school you went to.
That kind of places you to see where you're from type of thing.
My high school was Cedar Grove.

(01:19):
I never finished on Cedar Grove. I actually got kicked out of Cedar Grove,
and I ended up going to open campus.
Stayed there a little while. I dropped out altogether. I wasn't having academic problems.
I've always been like a straight-A student. You can ask. Anybody can vouch for
me. I've always been very, very smart. I was the youngest.
In all of my classes, I got a fifth grade. I always had a really good grade,

(01:40):
but I lost my dad when I was 15.
And in hindsight, I didn't know what was going on then. But hindsight,
it was a big problem for me.
It changed a lot about how I operate and what kind of decisions I was making.
At any rate, dropped out, did a bunch of other extra stuff in between.

(02:00):
Maybe we'll get into some of that one day. I don't know, y'all.
But ended up going back to school. I got my GED.
I went to Georgia State, went to Georgia State University and graduated from there.
I got accepted to Atlanta's John Marshall Law School.
I thrived there as well. I was I did really well. One of one of the top graduates there.

(02:24):
I remember I got pregnant my last semester of law school and it was already
tough because I worked. I worked full-time my entire time in law school.
So I would have to get up early in the morning.
I had to be at work at 8 a.m. I would leave work. I'm finished work at 5.
That might be all the way in Marietta. Then I got to fly all the way to Midtown and be in class by 6.

(02:47):
So I'm driving, swerving, lane switching, trying to get there. I'm hungry.
Might slide through a drive-thru somewhere and stuff my face just so I'm not cranky all night.
Class starts around 6.15. team doesn't end till after nine and I'll probably
be back at home sometime after 10.
Not to forget you got homework after that and probably got to catch up on any

(03:09):
other work that I might have missed.
Then you got to get up and just do it all over again. I remember hustling,
hustling, busting my ass day after day after day before I was able to finish.
But I did. I got pregnant my last semester of law school. Actually,
I was eight months pregnant when I sat for the bar exam.
And if you are a law student or an attorney, then you already know.

(03:31):
It's like, what? Yeah, highly unrecommended. Zero stars.
I was so tired. You know, you're studying 16 hours a day.
Sometimes I might get up and go to
the library at seven in the morning I don't get home to after
10 o'clock at night you know I might take a couple of nights breaks or a walk
or something but really studying you really gonna have to grind but here's the

(03:53):
thing God knows what he's doing because had I not been pregnant I don't know
that I would have been that focused maybe I would have been in the street drinking
kicking it you know partying spending that that time that But I had free time I had doing,
you know, random things as opposed to actually studying.
So, yeah, I remember sitting for the bar. I was eight months pregnant.

(04:15):
I kept running back and forth to the bathroom.
I had a guy, I guess he was supposed to be a supervisor, stop me that last trip to the bathroom.
He was like, oh, ma'am, you know, you can't keep taking trips to the bathroom.
And I wish I could have seen my big fat pregnant. And I'm like,
who the bitch, who you talking to?
You see this big ass stomach. I'm about to pee. Well, I'm going to pee right

(04:37):
here. You're going to let me go to the bathroom. You let me go.
I remember being barefoot sitting there taking them questions.
But God had me. I passed that first time.
And I'm forever grateful. Because, you know, who would have thought little JoJo
from around the way got a law license and really did that, you know?
So even after the bar. So you take the bar. I took the bar in July.

(04:59):
July, you don't get results until October.
So really, you just about to pull your hair out and everything else.
You can put all this work and study and just waiting on results.
And I still remember the day I got that email.
And I just couldn't even breathe. Like, you open it, and the first thing I saw
was congratulations. I done a pass out.
Because why don't he do it? Yeah, why don't he do it?

(05:22):
I do remember. So I worked for a firm, but not for long.
I worked for this white guy. He's really cool. We're still friends.
I just talked to him a couple of days ago. I try to stay in good contact with my colleagues.
Because you never know when you might have questions or meet someone.
I try to keep a really clean face card.
At any rate, I was working for him when I really just got that calling.

(05:43):
Like, you need to do this on your own. It wasn't even like a greedy thing like,
oh, I need more money or, oh, I want to run the show. It wasn't even that.
I just feel like I was called to have my own brand, you know,
and I did want to be able to be myself.
I've learned I've learned that that's my happy place. You know,
when you're working for other people or under other people, you are usually

(06:05):
required to behave in a certain way or you're expected to speak a certain way,
carry yourself a certain way.
Not to say you can't be classy in your own
right but a lot of times it's not as authentic as
it would be if I could just flat out be myself and I've
learned that's my that's my happy place because when you're authentic you can
then attract things that are meant for you you know and it feels so much better

(06:28):
than trying to be somebody that you're not and attracting things that has you're
not even supposed to be surrounded by you know people people do a lot of pretending
to be in a space that they're not supposed to be in and then they wonder why
they're not happy so best thing I could have did was,
was start the brand and I'm, I'm forever grateful that I did because from that
day forward, it has been nothing but blessing.

(06:50):
I can't even describe it.
Okay, so this segment is called WWJD. What would Joanna do?
So you guys write in. I'm going to read it to the audience and give you my best non-legal advice.
First story. Who's the mama? Am I supposed to read the title?

(07:13):
Who's the mama? Who's the mama?
Dear Joanna, I have been with my boyfriend for a little over four years.
I met his daughter when she was around two years old and have been a constant in her life ever since.
She has no memory of a time without me. Her bio mom and her dad have lit custody,
and I am more of a stepmom than just daddy's girlfriend as we do live together.

(07:38):
I truly take care of her as if she was my own.
My boyfriend's ex, her mom, is extremely jealous of our relationship.
She blames me for breaking up her family. even though they were split before I came into the picture.
This year our daughter, yes I say our even though technically she is not mine, started school.

(07:59):
She is going to start doing extracurricular activities.
My issue is today when I asked her if I could come watch her play her sport
she said you know you can't come because my mommy will be there.
Her mother cannot stand me and refuses to meet me even after four years.
Really hit me that even though I consider myself her bonus mom and so So does
she. I would adopt her if I could. Can I?

(08:22):
I would have to miss out on tons of things because her mom is shy.
If I do, I just let this go. How do I not take this personal?
Girl, I commend you for wanting to be a part of this child's life.
And I know that whatever feelings you have for the child's father is is motivating

(08:45):
you to be more present for this child. and that's okay.
However, the child has a mom. One, you start off talking about a boyfriend.
I'm more than daddy's girlfriend. You're not even married to this man and you're
trying to build this long, committed type of involvement with this child.

(09:06):
Not to say that you can't be involved, but I think it's a stretch for a girlfriend.
I think it's some other things that need to be established before you say, I'm a stepmom.
It's just because you feel like a a stepmom, they don't make you a stepmom,
baby. They may need to put a ring on your finger before you overexert yourself anyway.
Also, she has a mother. So whether the mother is mad about, you know,

(09:29):
your relationship with the dad or whether the mother is mad about, who gives a fuck?
We don't care what the mother is mad about. The bottom line is that's her mom.
So if her mom don't want you there, there's nothing you can really do about that.
You did your part, you know, You don't have any standing or any way to...
To go around what the mom decided. That's her mom. Now, if I was you,

(09:55):
I would be in the boyfriend's ear.
Like why I can't go, you know, it's his, it's his job to talk to the, to the mom.
It's his job to say, Hey, this is my woman. This is going on.
We both going to be there.
And if he wants to hash it out with her, then so be it. But if that's something
he wants to leave alone, maybe he don't want that type of thing.
That's something that you have to respect as well. You know,

(10:16):
you have to respect whatever dynamic of their relationship that they have.
And you have to respect whatever decisions they make for their child.
And we are very grateful that you love this baby. But that ain't your baby.
And you can take it personally as much as you'd like. But that doesn't change
the fact that she has two parents already.
That's just how that works. Next.

(10:39):
Go to her. Okay.
Okay what's that mean okay.
Who the fuck you thinking with she won't let me come to that ain't your baby,
relax it'll be your boyfriend how long they said that was dating four years
yeah that's your boyfriend,

(11:02):
if you're married we can talk about that this ain't even something to be he can leave tomorrow,
what man that's the first thing no two can't my mom,
okay all right y'all
can my mom sue her husband dear
miss boy my stepfather sold my

(11:22):
mother's car for cash without paperwork and
now the person he sold it to is running up hundreds of dollars in toll bill
my stepfather sold my mother's car for cash without paperwork this is very ghetto
we're gonna get through it though my stepfather sold my mother's car for cash
without paperwork and And now
the person he sold it to is running up hundreds of dollars in toll bill.

(11:45):
Tried talking to them to fill out the title transfer paperwork and cover the toll.
But they refused and stated that they're going to continue sending us toll bills
and there's nothing we can do about it.
Vehicle is still in my mother's name. No receipt for the sale.
If he doesn't take care of this, can she sue her husband if she's not getting divorced?
Take your goddamn car back. It's not like it's still your car.

(12:07):
Your name on the car. Your name ain't no receipt. See, this is really my car. So, I mean, you prove.
I mean, that's terrible advice. So, don't do that. I don't know. Why did y'all.
Why would he sell her car?
And yes, they're married. So.
People tend to forget that your spouse can make decisions. You become one.

(12:31):
So if my husband or your wife makes a decision that affects the both of you,
you're kind of stuck with that decision.
That's why you're very careful about who you marry. Right. And I'm sure it's
some legal ways you can kind of maneuver to get out of a situation like this.
But I think, why would you want to sue your husband?
Maybe I got an attitude and I'm mad. He's going to buy me another car.

(12:54):
And on top of that you're gonna pay all these damn toll
bills and i'm still mad because now there's money just going out
the house this is our money and we gotta send it on toll because you
don't sold a car with no paperwork that's dumb and it's probably it's probably
an argument in the house and all of that but sue my husband that's a little
far i don't know but i'm i'm that type of girl you know when i'm when i'm with
somebody and that's my person it's just some things you don't do you don't i

(13:17):
don't know that i'm gonna sue my husband for money that belongs
to both of us for money that belongs to both of us i don't well this is the son,
it says if he doesn't take care of this can she sue her husband if she's not getting divorced,
so can the mom sue the stepdad even though they're still together that's dumb

(13:40):
respectfully that's dumb y'all all your income is one so you're gonna sue him
take the money from him and then do what? Put it back into the marriage?
That's a waste of time. Go and cuss them out and tell them that those toll bills
is coming out of your pockets. That's what I do.
Okay, so in this segment, there are so many viral videos on social media that

(14:05):
we want to sort through a few of them.
So I'm going to pick one or two, and then I'm going to rant about it.
And y'all need to let me know what y'all think, too. I'm very interested. Let's look at this one.
I want to see my son. I want to see my son. I'm telling you.
I want to see my son. Get him away. Get him away.

(14:27):
Let me see my son. That's your problem. Let me see my son. We've been here for
a year and you ain't been here.
I'm not going to bargain with you one time. I want to see my son.
I don't want to kill my son.
Why are you sleeping with me? Why are you sleeping with me? Keep the cord. Because I want the cord.
How the? Please keep it. Get all this. Please get all this. Okay,
since you gave it all to me. I'll take care of my son. You take care of me,

(14:48):
please. I'll give her money.
I'll pay for clothes. I'll pay for her days.
I'll pay for her supplies. Everything he needs. Let me see my son. No. No.
I asked you for a thousand dollars. Stop coming to no more.

(15:18):
Well, it's one thing she said, right? Get a lawyer. Because here's the thing.
Who the hell want to go back and forth with somebody like this? They both. Let me.
Hold on, y'all. they both could make a better decision about how they're handling this situation.
Him, why are you over there arguing at her?
You see she's not going for it. Why are you sitting there asking her to do anything?

(15:42):
You don't have to ask her to do shit. You need to get a lawyer.
You need to get a court order that says, I can see my child.
That's what you need to do. And mama's probably trying to protect. I don't know.
Here's the thing. When you think like an attorney, it's never enough information.
I always need more information to formulate an opinion.
But because I don't know what's happening here. Why can't he see him?

(16:03):
Did he hurt him in any kind of way? He says he hasn't seen him in a year.
Is that by choice or is it because you didn't allow
it she did say that you know that he's been
over there they've been living there and he hadn't been by but
why you know I still have questions and now
mama if if the son truly didn't want to see him let him tell him I'm the type

(16:23):
of mom to be like well go ahead and tell him what you told me baby do it all
the time I'll call him be like yeah your son said he wants a daughter instead
of doing that just me go call your daddy and tell them what you said,
you know what I'm saying?
Because the job is to protect the child and not to protect the dad, you know.
So for the, for if the child in need said this, and that's tough because I don't

(16:44):
even know how old this baby is, you know.
If this baby is three, that baby ain't damn sad I don't want to see my daddy.
Let's just be fucking honest. Some of these bitches be lying.
On top of that, if the child is like 15, if he don't want to see you or she,
that's a little different, you know, because what you going to physically pick
a 15-year-old up, like put him in a car, like how you what you're going to do.

(17:04):
I mean, bottom line, you need a court order. You don't have to subject yourself to this.
I think it's backward and it's counterproductive.
The first time she told me no, I would have went over her head.
And how do you do that? You get your custody right. You get your custody paperwork.
You get something that says you're allowed to do what you're allowed to do.

(17:25):
Irregardless of what she says, right? Irregardless is not a word.
Oh, you get you get some paperwork that says that you're allowed to do what
you what you're allowed to do, regardless of what her opinion is or what she
wants to do about it, because it's a way to do that.
And that's why it's so important. And you know what? It's actually sad because

(17:46):
you shouldn't have to spend all that money on an attorney.
And again, it always it always always boils down to one thing.
It boils down to who you have your children with. it, man. You got to be very,
very, very careful about who you procreate with.
A lot of times we see red flag early on and you don't think anything of it.

(18:06):
And then you make these life-changing decisions.
And then you stuck in the aftermath. And then you want somebody to feel bad for you.
You had a baby with this woman. This ain't the first she handled you like this.
I know it's not. It's never the first time. I've done case after case after
case after case. Everybody's trying to act like a victim.
It do not be the first time. Oh, he don't pay no child support.

(18:27):
You knew the nigga was cheap.
You knew he was cheap a long time ago. He don't buy you shit.
He don't be doing, he don't pay no bills. And then you laid down and had a baby
with him. And now you mad because he still ain't paying.
What you thought was going to happen? Now you got to go to child support services.
I mean, do what you got to do.
We all make decisions, but we all
need to be held accountable for those decisions. Same thing for the men.
Oh, I got to pay all this money in child support. You knew the bitch was broke.

(18:49):
You knew she was broke and you knocked her up anyway yeah you're
gonna have to overpay because you're you're overcompensating what she's lacking
but you knew that when you had this baby like y'all
gotta y'all people are too damn old and grown not to make more informed decisions
y'all gotta do better than this i just cannot i don't make some stupid decisions
but i ain't gonna be crying about it on social media either i'm gonna say you

(19:13):
gotta stand on something it better be business and who the bitch didn't care,
oh and that's another thing who the fuck is the bitch behind
the camera mumbling I barely heard what
she said but she doesn't need to shut the hell up it's already a
tense situation who are you you already filming just be quiet you making it
worse and he done called whoever that is over there hey hold this camera all

(19:35):
y'all lame this whole situation is very lame to me and it could have been avoided
and it could still be resolved in a better in a better manner,
I'm not impressed.
Thank you for tuning in to let him see that child podcast
drop a comment below on what was your favorite part of the episode if you're

(19:57):
watching us on youtube don't forget to click like and subscribe because i drop
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sure to subscribe to our podcast channel anywhere you listen to podcasts and
if you don't remember anything else i'll leave you with this let him see that child.