July 25, 2025 • 41 mins
In this episode of the Beyond Normal Podcast, we sit down with Angel Nicole, founder and CEO of the ALIVE Podcast Network, to explore how she’s building a platform designed to empower Black voices in the podcasting world. With over two decades of experience in media, including producing for icons like Larry King and Jane Pauley, Angel brings a unique mix of creative insight and tech innovation to the table.
Tune in as we unpack her journey from legacy media to launching a full-scale podcast network, the challenges of raising capital as a Black woman founder, and the importance of building tech that protects creator ownership in the age of AI. Whether you’re a podcaster, creative, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers a transparent look at what it means to lead with vision and build for community impact.
Thanks for tuning into the Beyond Normal Podcast!
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to stay updated on all our future episodes from Beyond Normal Media. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below—we love hearing from you!
🔗 Learn more about Angel’s work at: https://www.alivepodcastnetwork.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kenny (00:33):
Welcome, welcome everybody to another great
episode of The Beyond NormalPodcast.
I'm your host, Kenny Groom.
As you know, every founder storyis a journey worth telling.
On our platform today, we havea, uh, we have a guest who is,
uh, focusing on, uh, doing somegreat.
Things in regards to a spacethat is near and dear to me,
(00:54):
which is podcasting, obviously.
Uh, but our next guest, uh,angel Nicole.
She is the, the founder of theAlive Podcast Network.
Uh, they're stimulating blackcreative, uh, black creatives in
the economy by, uh, putting.
The content in the palm of thehands of the people who listen
(01:15):
just like you all who arelistening right now.
Uh, really cool app.
Uh, we connected last year, andI just had to have Angel on the
platform because she's again,doing amazing things a little
bit selfishly for a platformand, and a space that I care
about, uh, near and dear to myheart.
So without further ado, let'sbring Angel to the stage.
How's it going, angel?
Angel (01:36):
It is going well.
Thank you.
Oh shoot.
Can you hear me?
Kenny (01:40):
Yeah, I hear you.
Okay.
I thought you went
Angel (01:42):
I can't hear you.
Kenny (01:44):
like, nah, nah.
No, no.
I'm good.
I'm good.
Angel (01:48):
Thank you so much, for inviting me.
I'm excited to speak with.
Kenny (01:52):
Yes, for sure.
Uh, you, you're taking a gambleon yourself.
Being a founder in this time,uh, it's, it's definitely a, uh,
an amazing time to be.
Creating something on your own.
So, without further ado, I wannahop into your background.
Let us know a little bit likeabout Angel before starting a
(02:13):
live podcast network.
Like, what were you doing?
What was your focus in life, uh,before, uh, taking this gamble
on yourself?
Angel (02:20):
Yeah, so I would say it was very similar.
I've worked in media, tv, radio,film, podcasting for the last 25
years.
so, jumping out there, bettingon myself, was definitely an
author.
was definitely something thatwas a necessity that I saw.
(02:44):
after working in industry for solong, I've, I.
Created contents for so manyamazing individuals.
So for those who remember LarryKing, God Rest his Soul.
like I started his show when hehad left CNNI did a show with
Jane Pauley in collaborationwith the Today Show.
It was a audio compliment afterher, her live television
(03:05):
segment.
and
Kenny (03:07):
And just being
Angel (03:08):
be creative and allow people an opportunity to.
Kind of
Kenny (03:13):
kind of
Angel (03:13):
their gifts with the world, and monetize through that
content.
Kenny (03:17):
at what
Angel (03:18):
that that
Kenny (03:19):
that.
Angel (03:19):
wasn't always possible for black creatives where they
were monetizing at the samerate.
They were having their voicesamplified at the same rate, but
also who owned the content.
And so when I really started to.
Work with more black celebritiesand more black content creators.
I,
Kenny (03:39):
I.
Angel (03:39):
I really understood how much of a disparity there is.
and that's why Live was created.
Kenny (03:47):
I love it.
there's a, it seems like there'sa really cool common, uh, thread
as you were giving yourbackground about just like
creative creativity.
Like you want to be around it,you want to make sure you're
enhancing it.
And so it's really cool to seeyou, uh, focusing on a space,
uh, that I am familiar withthose pain points in terms of
(04:09):
needing more, uh, needing betterways.
For myself as a black creativeto monetize and really own my
content.
And so, uh, I appreciate you,uh, giving us that breakdown
there.
I'm curious, you know, as you,as you started to think through
some of the genesis thoughts forthe Alive Podcast Network, like
(04:33):
what, what was that core painpoint that you feel like you
were trying to, to solve?
Angel (04:41):
Yeah.
Kenny (04:42):
Yeah.
so I think that's a
Angel (04:43):
question
Kenny (04:44):
question because
Angel (04:45):
it's imperative that you understand what the pain point
or what is the problem that youare solving.
And
Kenny (04:50):
And for me,
Angel (04:51):
in
Kenny (04:52):
in media
Angel (04:53):
and entertainment, like really understanding what was
Kenny (04:57):
what was
Angel (04:58):
the marketplace, if you think about it.
over the last 10
Kenny (05:02):
10 years,
Angel (05:03):
really hasn't been a dominant location where you went
to listen to podcasts.
For the most
Kenny (05:09):
For the most part.
There it's still a
Angel (05:10):
sector for black as well as creatives,
Kenny (05:15):
especi
Angel (05:17):
So
Kenny (05:19):
one, seeing that there
Angel (05:20):
one place where people were just like,
Kenny (05:22):
was,
Angel (05:22):
this is where we wanna listen to podcasts by black
hosted, you know, creatives.
But
Kenny (05:29):
but then there was
Angel (05:30):
the understanding that.
Black
Kenny (05:34):
Black content
Angel (05:35):
by major platforms.
And so
Kenny (05:38):
And so for me to experience Dr.
Turner
Angel (05:41):
after
Kenny (05:42):
after
Angel (05:42):
content for
Kenny (05:44):
for white
Angel (05:44):
and white
Kenny (05:45):
white creators for so long,
Angel (05:47):
and never having
Kenny (05:48):
having to show cancer.
I mean, I had
Angel (05:49):
weren't
Kenny (05:50):
that weren't that that
Angel (05:52):
was
Kenny (05:52):
was
Angel (05:53):
of,
Kenny (05:53):
of
Angel (05:53):
production and things like that, that I was
Kenny (05:56):
I was just like, okay,
Angel (05:57):
But.
Kenny (05:57):
you know?
But.
Angel (05:58):
you are
Kenny (05:58):
When you work for another company and that
Angel (06:00):
what they're,
Kenny (06:01):
they're,
Angel (06:02):
tied
Kenny (06:03):
tied to
Angel (06:03):
of their
Kenny (06:04):
part of their mission,
Angel (06:05):
you just rock with rock.
right?
Never Never once get canceled,and
Kenny (06:09):
And so
Angel (06:10):
when I
Kenny (06:11):
when I saw,
Angel (06:12):
How it
Kenny (06:13):
How it impacted
Angel (06:15):
when black
Kenny (06:16):
when the last show, first
Angel (06:17):
especially the
Kenny (06:18):
especially
Angel (06:19):
was a part
Kenny (06:19):
I was a part of,
Angel (06:20):
I wanted
Kenny (06:21):
I wanted to change trajectory of
Angel (06:22):
of what that
Kenny (06:23):
what that looked
Angel (06:24):
community.
And
Kenny (06:25):
me.
And so
Angel (06:26):
was
Kenny (06:26):
there was a, a mental health show that I was a part
of.
Angel (06:29):
And
Kenny (06:30):
and it got canceled.
Angel (06:32):
And a writer, a
Kenny (06:33):
A writer
Angel (06:33):
wrote in and said, Hey, like this show, it was
Kenny (06:37):
it was my therapy
Angel (06:38):
I can't
Kenny (06:39):
I can't afford
Angel (06:40):
And
Kenny (06:40):
it, And now that it's
Angel (06:41):
away,
Kenny (06:41):
gone away, what am I
Angel (06:43):
And so
Kenny (06:43):
so
Angel (06:44):
you hear
Kenny (06:45):
hear
Angel (06:45):
moments like that, and you have and you have skill that
two impart change.
You're an and you're activatedfor anyway.
activated and you do you dosomething so so that's like
really, that I to wanted tosolve was making sure that there
was a home no matter how manylisteners a show had, had, no
(07:06):
not, no matter, what thatperson's background was, I
wanted it to be.
An opportunity to really enhancethe skillset of black content
creators, as well as making surethat that there were no
limitations to, to, being abeing a part of a network group
(07:26):
you had 50,000 listeners or50,000 downloads and all of
that, which I think sometimesfor content creators can be,
intimidating.
Kenny (07:37):
For sure.
especially it, it's in, it's,it's interesting because there's
so many people every daycreating, you know, content,
creating new podcasts.
there's like millions of.
Podcast.
Right, right at this moment intime.
Right.
And so like your your point, youhit, you hit something like the
(07:58):
nail on the head in terms of welook at, you know, where we want
to go in terms of being acreator.
And then it's like, oh Yeah.
we're the north star.
A lot of times by default.
Ends up being we're, we're,we're pigeonholed into saying,
oh, we need to be like, uh, anyof the, the, the major shows
that has hundreds of millions ofviewers.
(08:19):
And it's like, no, notnecessarily that, that may not
be the lane for you.
And that's okay.
I.
There's a way you can monetizeway before you get to that
point, and that doesn'tnecessarily have to be your
North Star.
So I appreciate you, uh, talkinga little bit about that.
And that leads me to my nextquestion because with your
experience, you have, you havespent some time, you spent a lot
(08:43):
of time, right?
in the old, the, the old form ofmedia, now you're leading what
is going to be the new mediawave.
And so I'm curious.
You know, what's one similarity,like, what's one thing that's
carried over from that old wayof how media thinks?
And then what's a, what's a newway that is just completely
(09:04):
against, you know, anarchyagainst the, that old method,
comparing the new method,
Angel (09:10):
Yeah, so I would say.
Kenny (09:12):
I would say.
Angel (09:14):
I mean, I have a lot for the first one, but
Kenny (09:17):
but I, I would definitely
Angel (09:19):
knowing your target audience, right?
I think sometimes with thesepodcasts, some people, they have
their passions that they justwanna talk about, and while yes.
is because it's digital, it's alot easier to just create that
content.
And actually I'm gonna givethese two, but this one I feel
(09:42):
like could be the answer to,like, you can still do it.
Like there's no limitations.
Like, you know, there's nobarrier to entry.
if you have that passion topicthat you wanna talk about,
however, if you wanna solve aproblem, if you want to be
relatable and connect with areal audience, you gotta know
(10:04):
who your target audience is.
You gotta know who you'replanning to talk to.
Now, on the contrary to thesecond part of that question.
Like what's totally different?
You ain't had that opportunitybefore.
Like before, like there werethere.
barriers, like where you had topitch your show, you had to be
selected.
(10:24):
It was so much more work thatwent into you being able to
share your Voice with the world.
Today with with podcasting,that's no barrier to entry.
Anybody anybody, right?
but but on the, side, the thingthat I think that's really
important if you wanna besuccessful is, is, and this goes
(10:48):
back to was before, you gotta beconsistent.
You can't
Kenny (10:52):
You hit this up one day
Angel (10:53):
I
Kenny (10:54):
say, Hey, I wanna do
Angel (10:55):
and think that
Kenny (10:55):
and think that it works,
Angel (10:57):
you're
Kenny (10:57):
and you're just gonna
Angel (10:58):
off
Kenny (10:59):
off and blow everybody away on episodes Without
Angel (11:03):
without people really being able to know who you are.
There
Kenny (11:08):
There are certain
Angel (11:09):
that go into that process, and like I said, it's
consistency and it's like beingable to promote your
Kenny (11:16):
your content.
Angel (11:16):
Those things are definitely carry over from the
old way to the new way.
Kenny (11:21):
Hmm.
I appreciate that.
And as you were talking, you gotme to, uh, thinking about how
our first episodes looked andsounded, uh, that it was not the
best at all.
and it's kind of cringey to goback and listen to some of those
first episodes'cause we're likeapproaching a hundred.
But I think the cool thing forme is that.
(11:44):
I use those, I use me startingbefore it was this polished
product as like, a way to saylike, look.
To tell the growth story of theplatform.
I think that's the, I thinkthat's relatable to the founder
journey, right.
Uh, of, of being a creativeRight.
And that's the cool part where,like you said, it's not from day
one.
(12:04):
Most of the time you're notgonna just wow people.
And you gotta be, you gotta beokay with that and really fight
through, uh, some of that painand discomfort you may,
experience early on.
Angel (12:15):
Yep.
Kenny (12:17):
So, uh, next up I want to talk about the topic of
technology.
What, for you, uh, You with yourexperience, being in media,
what, where are we at with the,with the technology in terms of.
(12:43):
I don't wanna make, this soundslike a doomsday scenario, but
are we at the point where the,the technology can do everything
that the creative does not wantto focus on?
If that makes sense.
So if they want to just do theircreative muse, do you feel like
now or at a point where peoplecan let the technology do all
(13:03):
the other stuff?
Angel (13:05):
You mean like through automation?
You mean ai, like what type oftech?
Kenny (13:10):
Interesting.
All right, so, all right.
Let's say the, what's the, let'sgo to the extreme.
The extreme is the ai, right?
Like what's.
From an AI perspective, is itokay for somebody who's a
creative to just say, Hey, Iwanna focus on my art and I want
the, I want the AI to doeverything else.
Like what do you think, how doyou feel about somebody saying
(13:34):
that's their utopia point?
Like that's where they want tobe at.
What are your thoughts aroundthat?
Angel (13:38):
So I think it depends, and I wanna make sure I'm
understanding the questionproperly, so that I can address
it correctly.
I want
Kenny (13:47):
I want are, are you asking that they wanna focus
Angel (13:50):
their artistry that they most care about?
Kenny (13:54):
Correct.
Angel (13:55):
design, that's what
Kenny (13:56):
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
Taking it a level up past justthe podcasting.
Right.
And thinking from a creativeperspective.
Angel (14:04):
Yes.
So think, I don't know, that'shard because I feel like you're,
you're, not really beingcreative at that point.
If, if you are just.
Let's say
Kenny (14:22):
Let's say I'm a writer
Angel (14:23):
and I really
Kenny (14:25):
don't
Angel (14:25):
I don't
Kenny (14:26):
I
Angel (14:26):
it's hard because if I'm a writer and
Kenny (14:29):
and I want
Angel (14:30):
to like read my stories and I'm
Kenny (14:33):
and
Angel (14:33):
them out on social media as a means of attracting people
to who I am,
Kenny (14:39):
but I don't wanna be
Angel (14:40):
I don't
Kenny (14:40):
I don't
Angel (14:41):
my voice.
And I'm
Kenny (14:42):
And I'm relying on AI to
Angel (14:44):
do those things to make me more, um.
Aware to the
Kenny (14:48):
to
Angel (14:49):
public,
Kenny (14:50):
I get it right.
Angel (14:51):
And I, my
Kenny (14:53):
my only question
Angel (14:55):
like, is it
Kenny (14:56):
is it
Angel (14:56):
people to your writing?
Um.
Or
Kenny (15:01):
Or are you just like,
Angel (15:03):
on technology to really connect with your audience base?
I
Kenny (15:08):
I.
Angel (15:09):
that humanistic form of being able to read your writing,
or especially if you're a poet,like perform your poetry in
front of people where they feelexpression.
I don't
Kenny (15:21):
I don't think,
Angel (15:22):
AI
Kenny (15:22):
ai,
Angel (15:23):
to the point where it makes you feel it can, it can.
Say what
Kenny (15:29):
what?
Angel (15:29):
to say, but really invoking that emotion and that
connection.
I haven't seen it.
Not to say that it won'teventually get there, but I
think that you would lose a partof
Kenny (15:42):
part of that
Angel (15:43):
part that I think is art.
from the
Kenny (15:46):
from the podcasting perspective.
Angel (15:49):
You know,
Kenny (15:49):
you know, a lot of the media
Angel (15:51):
We built our own technology for
Kenny (15:53):
for
Angel (15:53):
our
Kenny (15:53):
our app
Angel (15:54):
our,
Kenny (15:55):
our, our backend host
Angel (15:56):
And so
Kenny (15:57):
so
Angel (15:57):
all of
Kenny (15:58):
all of those different things
Angel (15:59):
think.
Kenny (15:59):
think.
Angel (16:00):
Were
Kenny (16:00):
were important
Angel (16:01):
because I
Kenny (16:02):
I wanted
Angel (16:03):
we have ownership and
Kenny (16:05):
and not just the collaborative relationship
Angel (16:08):
with other
Kenny (16:09):
other tools.
Angel (16:09):
platforms and things like that.
And
Kenny (16:12):
And so
Angel (16:14):
the
Kenny (16:14):
the thing that gets tricky
Angel (16:16):
with protecting your
Kenny (16:18):
your artistry as well as,
Angel (16:22):
using technology to
Kenny (16:24):
to push
Angel (16:27):
it gets like, who owns it?
Because with AI, and once it'sout, like from
Kenny (16:35):
what I
Angel (16:36):
it becomes kind of like public domain
Kenny (16:38):
Yeah.
Angel (16:39):
pulls it and it shares it from that regard.
And is that really what you wantfor
Kenny (16:44):
what it's, that you're Mm-hmm.
There at this point, I don'tknow if there's like a right or
wrong answer, and so Iappreciate your perspective on
that.
It, it's something where I thinkthe, the conversation's gonna
get louder and louder because toyour point, right, it's.
(17:04):
It's becoming more and moreapparent that.
The, the major platforms, see,they see the value in from an
efficiency perspective, right?
That's what everybody goes tofrom day one, right?
But then it's like, how do youmaintain your artistic kind of
(17:25):
integrity through leveragingthis tool if you keep to feeding
this tool more and more of you,right?
And then in essence, it justkind of copies.
You know, essentially justcoffee's, just you, which is, I
think that's where we're at now,where it's a really good
copycat.
Angel (17:42):
Oh yeah, a
Kenny (17:42):
Oh yeah.
I think it's a really goodcopycat.
Angel (17:45):
hundred
Kenny (17:45):
Right.
Angel (17:46):
And I
Kenny (17:46):
and
Angel (17:46):
I think that is, there's value there, right?
And like you said, efficiencyand you being able to focus on
other things.
But at what point someone elsenot say, Hey, I want you to talk
like Angel.
I want, you know, X, Y, Z, andother people are able to copycat
you as well.
(18:06):
We're
Kenny (18:07):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
so.
Angel (18:10):
Now
Kenny (18:10):
now your artist,
Angel (18:11):
no longer protected, which goes back to what I was
saying before.
So
Kenny (18:15):
so
Angel (18:15):
is
Kenny (18:16):
like,
Angel (18:16):
what
Kenny (18:16):
that really what you
Angel (18:18):
And for me, that's a whole no.
Kenny (18:20):
Yeah, for sure.
For, for me, as of right now, itis a no.
but I'm having more and moreconversations with folks as
well, and I feel like people areteetering on the fence.
And I, I, I'll say this momentis like, for podcasting, for me
it feels a lot like, like when Istarted podcasting in 2000.
(18:41):
2020.
for me it was really cool to goto a platform like Buzzsprout,
right?
Or one of the, one of thoseplatforms, right?
And just click the, click abutton and then upload my
episode.
And then I will talk to somelike OG podcasters.
And they were like, man, Istarted, I started recording and
like.
2008 and I had to go to thesedifferent platforms and you'll
(19:02):
never know what it's like to,to, to have to like do your own
RSS feeds and all that stuff.
And I, that got me to thinkinglike their perspective is, is,
is definitely different.
And they, they learn throughsome things that I didn't
necessarily have to experience.
And so in those learnings, I'mpretty sure there's some
creativity that they were ableto unlock.
(19:23):
'cause they had to do everysingle aspect of it and you
still, you had to know it.
Versus now, you know, the, thetechnology is allowing people to
not necessarily have to be, as,you know, dive as deep in the
pool
Angel (19:38):
yeah.
Kenny (19:38):
Right.
For those different topics.
but I also
Angel (19:40):
feel
Kenny (19:40):
feel like
Angel (19:41):
it
Kenny (19:41):
it's
Angel (19:43):
if
Kenny (19:44):
something
Angel (19:44):
happen those platforms went down.
Kenny (19:48):
mm-hmm.
Angel (19:51):
That person that's been doing this since 2008, they know
what to do.
Their show will go on.
Kenny (19:56):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (19:57):
everyone else that has tapped in later,
Kenny (20:01):
Yeah.
Angel (20:02):
they're, they're, reliant on.
And so, but that's kind of likethe difference between like old
school, like you had to tape thefilm and
Kenny (20:11):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (20:13):
Like, there's some skills, but there's also value
in not having to go throughthose things anymore.
but it's also like, you know,but you know what to do in the
event that stuff shuts down.
Kenny (20:27):
Got it.
So, all right, let's, let'spivot a little bit, because
you're, you're definitely givingme a glimpse into how you think,
right.
tell me, so you've won, youmentioned the shows that you've
been a part of, in terms of yourcareer.
you've, you've got some majorawards.
You've worked with, some reallycool brands.
You've built brands as well,like you mentioned.
(20:48):
And so I'm curious, like you,you touched on like that.
That, that humanity, like earlyon in the, the conversation,
like how do you, how do you staygrounded in that humanity when
you're getting, you know, youknow, when you're connecting
with these different brands and,and, and, and some of this stuff
seems larger than life.
Like how do you go about keepingyour humanity through all of
(21:10):
this?
Angel (21:11):
Relationships.
Are the most powerful and most,they, they're everything.
Relationships are more valuable,in my opinion, than monetary
transactions.
There are rooms that you willend up in because of a
relationship that you have withsomebody money may never, ever
(21:37):
be able to pay for.
And
Kenny (21:40):
And so
Angel (21:41):
for me, like the, the humanity and, really being
connected to people, that'sfirst
Kenny (21:49):
person.
Angel (21:50):
Like I'm a
Kenny (21:51):
I'm a people
Angel (21:52):
Like I love people.
I
Kenny (21:55):
I love
Angel (21:55):
about people, but I
Kenny (21:57):
but I also
Angel (21:58):
people and helping people.
Kenny (22:00):
love,
Angel (22:01):
and so for me, that's, that's ground zero.
Like.
In my opinion, a lot of timespeople who do wrong by others.
Now we have some situationswhere
Kenny (22:17):
where
Angel (22:18):
it
Kenny (22:18):
it doesn't always
Angel (22:19):
that
Kenny (22:20):
that way,
Angel (22:20):
but
Kenny (22:21):
but in most
Angel (22:22):
I feel like the people who do right by people, the
people who are always lookingout for others, people want to
help you.
on the flip of the coin, if youhave money and you are not great
at relationships.
money helps.
Right.
Kenny (22:39):
Right.
Angel (22:40):
And without me getting into like, full blown, I think
y'all can read between thelines.
but I think in most cases it'svery much like a relationship
business, especially podcasting.
You're talking to people, peopledon't wanna be on your show if
they think that you're gonnacome on and just like drag them
(23:01):
like what they
Kenny (23:02):
Mm.
Angel (23:03):
You know what I mean?
Like, so it's, it's definitely.
I, I
Kenny (23:08):
I am probably
Angel (23:09):
most humble people because
Kenny (23:12):
like,
Angel (23:13):
I
Kenny (23:13):
and I tell
Angel (23:14):
this, like, it doesn't
Kenny (23:15):
my matter what I did just
Angel (23:16):
It doesn't
Kenny (23:17):
doesn't matter what
Angel (23:18):
won hour
Kenny (23:19):
hour ago.
Angel (23:20):
What am I
Kenny (23:21):
What am I gonna do
Angel (23:22):
What am I gonna do tomorrow to make sure that I'm
challenging myself and I canshow up as my
Kenny (23:26):
with my,
Angel (23:27):
every
Kenny (23:28):
time I we
Angel (23:29):
and my
Kenny (23:30):
my knee to
Angel (23:32):
yesterday?
Doesn't matter.
Kenny (23:36):
I love that.
That's super powerful.
I'm taking a moment to folks, ifyou're, if you're listening in,
I'm taking a moment to soak allthis game and this is like
really good stuff and this isthe topic that's near and dear
to me.
I really appreciate Angel fortaking this, uh, taking this
leap of faith on herself, onherself and starting a platform
(23:57):
such as alive.
So I'm curious.
In terms of like, in terms ofgrowing the platform and
investments from others, likewhere do you, the, is that a,
has that always been a toppriority getting investments
(24:18):
from others to scale up theplatform?
Like for you specifically, like,talk to me a little bit about,
just your mindset aroundinvestments in general in your
platform.
Yeah,
Angel (24:30):
So when I
Kenny (24:31):
when I first started
Angel (24:31):
started alive, like, so I have another media company and
initially I was
Kenny (24:36):
I was just gonna
Angel (24:37):
the podcast
Kenny (24:38):
podcast.
Angel (24:39):
of.
The other company and someonewas like, no, don't do that.
Make this a Delaware C Corp so
Kenny (24:46):
So
Angel (24:47):
investment dollars and all that.
And that's
Kenny (24:49):
that's not a world
Angel (24:50):
from.
Like
Kenny (24:50):
like
Angel (24:51):
media girl.
I knew
Kenny (24:52):
I, nothing
Angel (24:54):
like building tech and all of that.
Like I'm good at usingtechnology, but the building
side not so much.
And so, but I listened and Isaid, okay,
Kenny (25:04):
okay, you know,
Angel (25:06):
Step out on faith.
If we're gonna do it, we'regonna, we going dive all the way
in.
And so,
Kenny (25:11):
and so,
Angel (25:13):
in the first three months of launching alive, um, we had
received about$250,000 ininvestment.
I was blessed, like my first ahundred.
came from my, my parents.
and
Kenny (25:32):
and then from there
Angel (25:33):
into Techstars, as a portfolio company.
Like we were about five monthsold when we got accepted into
Techstars.
so we got investment there.
We also got mentors, whichagain, that those people and
those relationships really helppropel us and get the momentum
going.
The money helps because that
Kenny (25:53):
because that helped
Angel (25:53):
the tech.
Kenny (25:55):
build.
Angel (25:55):
but.
Now I'm in a
Kenny (25:57):
I'm in a
Angel (25:58):
where I'm not really interested in to acquire
investment dollars.
The way that I
Kenny (26:04):
that I think
Angel (26:05):
and I may be completely wrong,
Kenny (26:06):
wrong.
so
Angel (26:07):
if you
Kenny (26:07):
if you are on the fence around getting
Angel (26:10):
cause there's a lot of
Kenny (26:10):
a lot of people in,
Angel (26:12):
they get a
Kenny (26:13):
get a lot of money from
Angel (26:14):
and that
Kenny (26:15):
that is how they
Angel (26:16):
their company.
And I don't
Kenny (26:17):
I don't
Angel (26:18):
wrong with it,
Kenny (26:19):
keep it,
Angel (26:19):
but I
Kenny (26:19):
but I think
Angel (26:20):
me, I want something different.
When you're in
Kenny (26:24):
we're in trouble
Angel (26:25):
as a startup founder, I think
Kenny (26:28):
I think that is
Angel (26:29):
time to learn.
And if
Kenny (26:32):
if you should
Angel (26:33):
hop
Kenny (26:34):
hop on stage,
Angel (26:34):
pitch competition, win some more money, and you keep
doing the same thing, you're notlearning, you're
Kenny (26:40):
you're wasting,
Angel (26:41):
you're wasting time, and you're wasting money.
And when I
Kenny (26:45):
I got into
Angel (26:47):
my pickle of a moment, I,
Kenny (26:50):
I I decided in that
Angel (26:52):
that.
If this is really for me and ifthis is what I'm really supposed
to be, it's
Kenny (26:58):
It's my job
Angel (26:59):
figure out how to make it work.
I don't
Kenny (27:01):
I don't wanna d
Angel (27:03):
so much that
Kenny (27:04):
that my,
Angel (27:05):
my,
Kenny (27:05):
my initial
Angel (27:06):
are getting less money.
Like, how
Kenny (27:09):
how can
Angel (27:09):
thing pop so that the people who really believed in me
from ground zero.
all
Kenny (27:15):
all grown
Angel (27:16):
together.
And
Kenny (27:17):
And so I literally
Angel (27:19):
the drawing board and was like, okay, boom.
Like working
Kenny (27:22):
Working numbers backwards.
Like
Angel (27:24):
do we
Kenny (27:24):
what do we need
Angel (27:24):
How do
Kenny (27:25):
to How do we meet?
Angel (27:26):
How do we
Kenny (27:26):
How do we meet?
Angel (27:27):
Where do
Kenny (27:28):
Where do we need to publish ourselves?
Angel (27:30):
do
Kenny (27:30):
Where do we need to pilot it?
Angel (27:32):
And
Kenny (27:33):
And from that
Angel (27:34):
being
Kenny (27:34):
we
Angel (27:34):
to.
Draw
Kenny (27:37):
brought some major
Angel (27:38):
that
Kenny (27:38):
that are not just
Angel (27:39):
a hundred
Kenny (27:40):
hundred
Angel (27:40):
reliant on investment
Kenny (27:42):
percent
Angel (27:43):
Investors are great.
I
Kenny (27:45):
I
Angel (27:46):
for every
Kenny (27:47):
every investor that has
Angel (27:48):
in the vision of
Kenny (27:49):
of
Angel (27:50):
and
Kenny (27:50):
lives.
Angel (27:51):
Truly appreciate them, but
Kenny (27:53):
now I
Angel (27:54):
It's my turn to kick in and really make those dollars
work and make sure that it, itis a profitable business, not
just one that's reliant oninvestment dollars every, every
year or two.
Kenny (28:11):
That is something that we do not hear a lot, angel as, as
you, as you alluded to it,right?
A lot of it is, we need more, weneed more money, right?
We gotta burn some money.
We gotta keep burning moneyessentially to grow at the scale
that we want, right?
And that's not always the case.
And it's okay for a business tosay like, we're gonna focus on
being profitable with the moneywe have in the bank.
(28:34):
Like, that's perfectly okay.
and I don't think we hear thatenough.
Specifically when it comes tobusinesses that are, you know,
businesses that get some sort ofcapital from other investors
that doesn't, that doesn'tbubble up and resonate towards
the top of what we hear.
The algorithms do not push that.
and I
Angel (28:52):
No,
Kenny (28:52):
know you're familiar with the algorithms and what they
push, uh,
Angel (28:55):
but
Kenny (28:55):
so.
Angel (28:55):
don't know if many founders won.
From that same vein and twoopenly speak about it.
So we can't blame algorithms ifthe conversations aren't being.
So I,
Kenny (29:12):
I, I'm a very
Angel (29:13):
direct and, and, transparent
Kenny (29:17):
individual,
Angel (29:18):
so I
Kenny (29:19):
I would never
Angel (29:20):
out
Kenny (29:21):
out and tell people
Angel (29:22):
yes, it's been hunky dory for the last three years and
we've done this and this andthis, and I'm just continuing
The, so
Kenny (29:28):
like
Angel (29:30):
being a
Kenny (29:30):
startup sound
Angel (29:32):
being a
Kenny (29:32):
that isn't
Angel (29:33):
there are
Kenny (29:34):
over there as well.
Angel (29:36):
how
Kenny (29:37):
you.
Angel (29:38):
Operate
Kenny (29:39):
in those moments where you're in the doubt
Angel (29:42):
That
Kenny (29:43):
That is imperative, in my opinion,
Angel (29:45):
of the company.
Kenny (29:46):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (29:48):
I can
Kenny (29:48):
I can jump out there and I win
Angel (29:50):
competitions.
Kenny (29:51):
Angel decided that's what she
Angel (29:53):
do.
And I,
Kenny (29:55):
I,
Angel (29:56):
my,
Kenny (29:56):
my, one of my last semester meetings with one
Angel (29:59):
uh, existing
Kenny (30:00):
of investors,
Angel (30:01):
you
Kenny (30:01):
you know, I was kind of telling him.
Angel (30:03):
What
Kenny (30:04):
What I doing.
Angel (30:05):
well, how much
Kenny (30:06):
how much
Angel (30:06):
do you have?
And this and the other.
And
Kenny (30:09):
I think it freak
Angel (30:10):
out
Kenny (30:11):
understandably.
Mm-hmm.
Angel (30:13):
however, for me, I'm like, don't you want me to solve
the
Kenny (30:17):
problem
Angel (30:18):
so I'm not just keep coming to you?
Like I need more money.
So I'm a problem solver, youknow?
And,
Kenny (30:26):
And,
Angel (30:26):
and, and I
Kenny (30:27):
I.
Angel (30:28):
believe God gave me this vision for launching alive.
Then he's
Kenny (30:32):
Show me
Angel (30:32):
show me like, okay, yep, mm-hmm.
Don't do that again.
Do this.
And I
Kenny (30:36):
And I will be divided and the right people will cross my
Angel (30:38):
make
Kenny (30:39):
make sure that
Angel (30:40):
But just being like,
Kenny (30:41):
they're like, oh, you
Angel (30:42):
gimme
Kenny (30:43):
Gimme some more money.
Angel (30:44):
everything is like
Kenny (30:45):
is like a trial and error.
Angel (30:47):
I'm gonna tell
Kenny (30:47):
I'm gonna tell you a quick story about like the tech
Angel (30:49):
things.
When I
Kenny (30:52):
When I first started,
Angel (30:53):
again, I'm not a techie, you
Kenny (30:55):
you know, I
Angel (30:56):
I, ain't
Kenny (30:57):
I ain't never built no hat,
Angel (30:59):
however.
The first
Kenny (31:02):
person
Angel (31:02):
that I
Kenny (31:03):
that I worked with,
Angel (31:04):
to be my
Kenny (31:06):
be my developer,
Angel (31:08):
he
Kenny (31:09):
He ended up not grilling
Angel (31:10):
it.
Kenny (31:10):
in eCom,
Angel (31:11):
in another
Kenny (31:12):
another country
Angel (31:13):
whatever.
But what
Kenny (31:15):
But what I've learned
Angel (31:16):
very
Kenny (31:17):
early
Angel (31:18):
when I
Kenny (31:18):
when I was like asking,
Angel (31:20):
you
Kenny (31:20):
you know, people
Angel (31:21):
apps and all
Kenny (31:22):
all that,
Angel (31:23):
every
Kenny (31:24):
every one of them said, oh yeah, I can do it.
Angel (31:26):
I can
Kenny (31:27):
I can figure it out.
Like I can.
Angel (31:28):
I
Kenny (31:29):
I can
Angel (31:29):
it
Kenny (31:30):
what It's that you
Angel (31:31):
but what
Kenny (31:31):
but what I have to learn,
Angel (31:33):
the translation of that was long
Kenny (31:36):
long as you're paying me
Angel (31:37):
it
Kenny (31:38):
for it out, I'll eventually
Angel (31:40):
get you What?
I don't
Kenny (31:43):
I don't wanna be that
Angel (31:44):
owner.
I don't
Kenny (31:46):
I don't wanna keep taking your investment
Angel (31:48):
trying
Kenny (31:48):
trying to
Angel (31:49):
it
Kenny (31:49):
figure it out.
Angel (31:50):
Let me figure
Kenny (31:51):
figure it out.
And then
Angel (31:53):
like, boom, we
Kenny (31:54):
we good
Angel (31:55):
I need money to do this, this, this, to push it, then I
Kenny (31:59):
I will
Angel (32:00):
going
Kenny (32:00):
going back
Angel (32:01):
investors and
Kenny (32:02):
to saying, this is working.
Here's the strategies,
Angel (32:05):
the game plan.
Kenny (32:06):
But just to keep throwing money away.
Angel (32:09):
Yeah, no, that
Kenny (32:10):
that for me,
Angel (32:11):
that doesn't work for me.
Kenny (32:12):
Mm, nah.
You spent Game Angel, you spentgame as you were, as you were
explaining that scenario, itsounded like it could be like a
horror scenario.
I'm not even gonna front withlike somebody I can imagine,
like somebody telling, tellingyou from a tech perspective.
Yeah, of course I can buildthis.
And then we all have seen that,like that.
(32:32):
We see all the memes, we see allthe posts where people are just
like, Yeah, I told them I couldbuild it.
and, then I went to Google andjust started Googling stuff.
And it is like, no, no, no, no.
That's, that's,
Angel (32:43):
and I, I went through it.
I literally went through aboutfour developers in a year, so
Kenny (32:50):
wow.
Angel (32:51):
how much money I wasted.
Kenny (32:52):
Yay.
That's crazy.
So, all right, so this is, uh, Ithink this is gonna, this is
gonna be a good segue and wrapup question.
So.
Because you, you touched onsomething in terms of maybe the
conversations are notnecessarily happening.
Right?
And so we can't always blame thealgorithm, right?
So like, I'll use myself as anexample.
(33:14):
I have a, I have a nephew, he'slike mid, mid teens, right?
And now he wants to start like aclothing brand, right?
And that's his thing, right?
So what are we supposed to tell?
This next generation of businessowner, because they have at
their fingertips all the tools,they have resources, right?
(33:35):
Like he comes to me and asks mefor money.
Okay.
whatever.
I give it to you, right?
Like he have the resources, theyhave the tools, but I'm not sure
that having those resources andtools is gonna
Angel (33:47):
Equate to success.
Kenny (33:48):
to success or even increase their chances of
success anymore.
So like what are you telling thenext up and coming, you know,
founder, business owner, becausethey are starting younger and
younger it seems like, which isa good thing, I think.
Angel (34:04):
Beautiful.
Mm-hmm.
Kenny (34:06):
Okay.
So
Angel (34:07):
So my,
Kenny (34:09):
my, my go to,
Angel (34:10):
is start from where you are, where you are.
Right.
Kenny (34:13):
Um.
Angel (34:14):
And my
Kenny (34:15):
my kids are
Angel (34:15):
eight and 11 and they have a podcast and oh shoot,
they're not eight and 11 child.
They would kill me right nowthey're 10 and 12 now.
Kenny (34:24):
That's okay.
Angel (34:26):
but
Kenny (34:27):
but when they
Angel (34:28):
eight and 11, that is like really when I started and
encouraging them to start yourbusiness.
What is it that you wanna do?
You wanna write a book?
Boom, let's do it.
Kenny (34:37):
mm-hmm.
Angel (34:38):
But
Kenny (34:38):
But with that,
Angel (34:39):
a
Kenny (34:39):
be a good
Angel (34:41):
over your services.
Because things
Kenny (34:46):
are
Angel (34:47):
easy.
Be intentional, Like, don't
Kenny (34:52):
Don't just tell me you want
Angel (34:53):
today,
Kenny (34:54):
day and then your friend comes and tell you there
Angel (34:56):
something else.
And
Kenny (34:57):
no
Angel (34:57):
wanna jump
Kenny (34:58):
shit.
Mm-hmm.
Angel (35:00):
be
Kenny (35:00):
be intentional,
Angel (35:01):
right?
Kenny (35:01):
Right.
Angel (35:02):
And when I
Kenny (35:02):
And when I think
Angel (35:03):
steward of your services, like research.
Like I have
Kenny (35:08):
I have friends
Angel (35:09):
their kids
Kenny (35:10):
kids have come to PowerPoint presentation,
Angel (35:13):
and they're like, this is really what I wanna do.
Show
Kenny (35:16):
Show me that.
Angel (35:17):
Show
Kenny (35:17):
Show me what you playing
Angel (35:18):
like.
Kenny (35:19):
like yes.
Angel (35:19):
you can go to YouTube University and you can do all of
these different things, and I
Kenny (35:24):
Not believing.
Angel (35:25):
However, I
Kenny (35:26):
I want
Angel (35:27):
make sure
Kenny (35:27):
hear that
Angel (35:28):
are a good steward of one, what your
Kenny (35:31):
what your creative process is wondering How are you
Angel (35:34):
get through?
And
Kenny (35:36):
and do all
Angel (35:37):
steps.
Kenny (35:38):
How are you distributing your content?
Angel (35:41):
I mean,
Kenny (35:41):
I mean, or your product?
Angel (35:42):
You know,
Kenny (35:43):
you know?
so if you have a website, what
Angel (35:45):
like?
Are you doing
Kenny (35:46):
dropship.
Angel (35:46):
Are you gonna have all
Kenny (35:48):
Have all this stuff here and you're gonna mail it out?
How much is that gonna cost
Angel (35:51):
you really thought about every
Kenny (35:54):
AB
Angel (35:55):
in
Kenny (35:55):
in doing your pricing?
Angel (35:57):
And I
Kenny (35:57):
And I think that gives.
Parents and loved ones, and
Angel (36:01):
to step
Kenny (36:01):
all that,
Angel (36:01):
a guide.
But
Kenny (36:03):
but I think more
Angel (36:05):
like support them because the
Kenny (36:08):
younger they start, the quicker
Angel (36:09):
fail, the
Kenny (36:10):
The quicker they learn, the quicker they
Angel (36:13):
But in that
Kenny (36:14):
In that,
Angel (36:14):
of course, we want them to succeed.
Right?
Kenny (36:16):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (36:17):
even lessons in the
Kenny (36:18):
success because they can become
Angel (36:20):
successful millionaires and blow through the money and
have nothing by the time they'reoutta high
Kenny (36:25):
outta high school.
facts.
Angel (36:27):
But that's a, that's a lesson learned
Kenny (36:29):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (36:30):
that when
Kenny (36:31):
they do it again, they're
Angel (36:33):
the same things that they did before.
Kenny (36:35):
And so
Angel (36:36):
that
Kenny (36:36):
that goes back to
Angel (36:37):
good steward.
That goes back to beingintentional, but
Kenny (36:40):
but sometimes
Angel (36:40):
to teach them
Kenny (36:43):
really what that means.
Because, because it's
Angel (36:47):
now and
Kenny (36:48):
and
Angel (36:49):
they see all of
Kenny (36:49):
all these
Angel (36:50):
people doing it and they're like, huh, I can
Kenny (36:52):
can do
Angel (36:53):
yes, baby boy, you can't.
Yes baby girl, you can't.
Kenny (36:56):
However,
Angel (36:57):
I wanna
Kenny (36:57):
I wanna make sure
Angel (36:58):
right.
I wanna make sure you
Kenny (37:01):
aren't
Angel (37:01):
equipped with the vision, but the
Kenny (37:04):
tools
Angel (37:04):
execute that vision with excellence.
Kenny (37:08):
dope.
I hope, uh, I'm gonna send this,uh, episode to my nephew for
sure, because, we got someconversations to have based off
of what you're telling me,angel.
Uh, Yeah.
So, uh, he needs to get ready.
but yeah, I, I love the, I lovethe energy, I love that talk.
Like you said, like setting themup for success.
That, that word of being asteward.
(37:29):
Oh my gosh.
Like, um.
They probably don't use thatword in their vernacular
nowadays, and they need to, uh,but that is like a powerful word
like that that goes back to, youknow, uh, the things that.
I think, I don't wanna saythey're soft skills, but
they're, they're, they're thethings that set businesses up
(37:51):
for success, customer service,things like that.
Like these are things people areoverlooking now and then, you
know, on the back end, thoseare, those will end up being the
factors and the reasons why thebusiness wasn't successful.
So I appreciate you, throwingthat out there.
I appreciate all the knowledgeyou dropped on this episode,
angel.
Like it is been amazing justpicking your brain again.
(38:13):
Uh, you're building a platformfor somebody like me who's
actually gonna leverage it as apodcaster, but then from an
audience perspective, like theaudience, I want to make sure
that they know how they can tapin.
Like, what's the easiest way forthem to, to tap in with a lot of
the podcast network to get it onall their devices?
Like tell, tell us a little bitabout the easiest path for
(38:33):
people to connect with.
The live podcast network.
Angel (38:37):
Yes.
Kenny (38:39):
Well before I dive into
Angel (38:41):
media and the website.
There is a
Kenny (38:44):
is a book
Angel (38:45):
called the 30 Day Visionary Archangel, which is a
Kenny (38:48):
outside.
Angel (38:49):
people who have the vision but need kind of like a
blueprint to make sure thatthey're doing the work and doing
the work the right way.
it looks like that I.
Uh, and it's available on thewebsite, angel Nicole, us.
to learn more about the livepodcast network, you can go to a
live podcast network.com.
(39:10):
You can also find us in your appstore in iOS, or Android or
Android app, or Google Play.
It's, uh, just a live
Kenny (39:21):
live.
Angel (39:21):
not work.
yeah.
Kenny (39:25):
Thank you so much for that Angel.
I'll definitely make sure I putthe book and the, the links in
the, in the description for thisepisode.
Uh, love Loving You pluggingthat as well, uh, that book as
well.
I, I've become, uh, I'vetransitioned from audio books to
physical books again, and so I'mexcited to get a copy of that.
(39:46):
Lastly, the thing that I alwayswanna make sure that our guests
have the last thought in termsof like, what do you want our
listeners today?
A lot of them are businessowners or people that may be on
the fence in terms of startingtheir business.
Like what do you want people totake away from this
conversation?
That lasting thought
Angel (40:02):
Yeah, so that.
the last thought for thelisteners is just, you are more
powerful than you know.
And sometimes we try to hidebehind that power because we
don't want to offend otherpeople or we don't want to
outshine people that we grew upwith or our family.
And, I just want I just want youto know that like not not so
(40:24):
job.
That's not your job.
Your Your job to be yourabsolute greatest self and God
planted a seed in you and.
It's been watering and it's itprobably something nagging at
you, but you've been holdingback because you that we don't
want to offend somebody.
That's not your job.
(40:45):
Your Your job is to show up beta hundred percent on you and the
vision that is within you, andthen that's where your success
is.
And
Kenny (40:54):
so I would just say
Angel (40:55):
stop playing small and get out there and win.
Kenny (41:00):
thank you Mic drop moment for those that are listening
with us right now.
Thank you for tuning intoanother great episode of The
Beyond Normal podcast.
Peace.
Welcome, welcome everybody to another great
episode of The Beyond NormalPodcast.
I'm your host, Kenny Groom.
As you know, every founder storyis a journey worth telling.
On our platform today, we havea, uh, we have a guest who is,
uh, focusing on, uh, doing somegreat.
Things in regards to a spacethat is near and dear to me,
(00:54):
which is podcasting, obviously.
Uh, but our next guest, uh,angel Nicole.
She is the, the founder of theAlive Podcast Network.
Uh, they're stimulating blackcreative, uh, black creatives in
the economy by, uh, putting.
The content in the palm of thehands of the people who listen
(01:15):
just like you all who arelistening right now.
Uh, really cool app.
Uh, we connected last year, andI just had to have Angel on the
platform because she's again,doing amazing things a little
bit selfishly for a platformand, and a space that I care
about, uh, near and dear to myheart.
So without further ado, let'sbring Angel to the stage.
How's it going, angel?
Angel (01:36):
It is going well.
Thank you.
Oh shoot.
Can you hear me?
Kenny (01:40):
Yeah, I hear you.
Okay.
I thought you went
Angel (01:42):
I can't hear you.
Kenny (01:44):
like, nah, nah.
No, no.
I'm good.
I'm good.
Angel (01:48):
Thank you so much, for inviting me.
I'm excited to speak with.
Kenny (01:52):
Yes, for sure.
Uh, you, you're taking a gambleon yourself.
Being a founder in this time,uh, it's, it's definitely a, uh,
an amazing time to be.
Creating something on your own.
So, without further ado, I wannahop into your background.
Let us know a little bit likeabout Angel before starting a
(02:13):
live podcast network.
Like, what were you doing?
What was your focus in life, uh,before, uh, taking this gamble
on yourself?
Angel (02:20):
Yeah, so I would say it was very similar.
I've worked in media, tv, radio,film, podcasting for the last 25
years.
so, jumping out there, bettingon myself, was definitely an
author.
was definitely something thatwas a necessity that I saw.
(02:44):
after working in industry for solong, I've, I.
Created contents for so manyamazing individuals.
So for those who remember LarryKing, God Rest his Soul.
like I started his show when hehad left CNNI did a show with
Jane Pauley in collaborationwith the Today Show.
It was a audio compliment afterher, her live television
(03:05):
segment.
and
Kenny (03:07):
And just being
Angel (03:08):
be creative and allow people an opportunity to.
Kind of
Kenny (03:13):
kind of
Angel (03:13):
their gifts with the world, and monetize through that
content.
Kenny (03:17):
at what
Angel (03:18):
that that
Kenny (03:19):
that.
Angel (03:19):
wasn't always possible for black creatives where they
were monetizing at the samerate.
They were having their voicesamplified at the same rate, but
also who owned the content.
And so when I really started to.
Work with more black celebritiesand more black content creators.
I,
Kenny (03:39):
I.
Angel (03:39):
I really understood how much of a disparity there is.
and that's why Live was created.
Kenny (03:47):
I love it.
there's a, it seems like there'sa really cool common, uh, thread
as you were giving yourbackground about just like
creative creativity.
Like you want to be around it,you want to make sure you're
enhancing it.
And so it's really cool to seeyou, uh, focusing on a space,
uh, that I am familiar withthose pain points in terms of
(04:09):
needing more, uh, needing betterways.
For myself as a black creativeto monetize and really own my
content.
And so, uh, I appreciate you,uh, giving us that breakdown
there.
I'm curious, you know, as you,as you started to think through
some of the genesis thoughts forthe Alive Podcast Network, like
(04:33):
what, what was that core painpoint that you feel like you
were trying to, to solve?
Angel (04:41):
Yeah.
Kenny (04:42):
Yeah.
so I think that's a
Angel (04:43):
question
Kenny (04:44):
question because
Angel (04:45):
it's imperative that you understand what the pain point
or what is the problem that youare solving.
And
Kenny (04:50):
And for me,
Angel (04:51):
in
Kenny (04:52):
in media
Angel (04:53):
and entertainment, like really understanding what was
Kenny (04:57):
what was
Angel (04:58):
the marketplace, if you think about it.
over the last 10
Kenny (05:02):
10 years,
Angel (05:03):
really hasn't been a dominant location where you went
to listen to podcasts.
For the most
Kenny (05:09):
For the most part.
There it's still a
Angel (05:10):
sector for black as well as creatives,
Kenny (05:15):
especi
Angel (05:17):
So
Kenny (05:19):
one, seeing that there
Angel (05:20):
one place where people were just like,
Kenny (05:22):
was,
Angel (05:22):
this is where we wanna listen to podcasts by black
hosted, you know, creatives.
But
Kenny (05:29):
but then there was
Angel (05:30):
the understanding that.
Black
Kenny (05:34):
Black content
Angel (05:35):
by major platforms.
And so
Kenny (05:38):
And so for me to experience Dr.
Turner
Angel (05:41):
after
Kenny (05:42):
after
Angel (05:42):
content for
Kenny (05:44):
for white
Angel (05:44):
and white
Kenny (05:45):
white creators for so long,
Angel (05:47):
and never having
Kenny (05:48):
having to show cancer.
I mean, I had
Angel (05:49):
weren't
Kenny (05:50):
that weren't that that
Angel (05:52):
was
Kenny (05:52):
was
Angel (05:53):
of,
Kenny (05:53):
of
Angel (05:53):
production and things like that, that I was
Kenny (05:56):
I was just like, okay,
Angel (05:57):
But.
Kenny (05:57):
you know?
But.
Angel (05:58):
you are
Kenny (05:58):
When you work for another company and that
Angel (06:00):
what they're,
Kenny (06:01):
they're,
Angel (06:02):
tied
Kenny (06:03):
tied to
Angel (06:03):
of their
Kenny (06:04):
part of their mission,
Angel (06:05):
you just rock with rock.
right?
Never Never once get canceled,and
Kenny (06:09):
And so
Angel (06:10):
when I
Kenny (06:11):
when I saw,
Angel (06:12):
How it
Kenny (06:13):
How it impacted
Angel (06:15):
when black
Kenny (06:16):
when the last show, first
Angel (06:17):
especially the
Kenny (06:18):
especially
Angel (06:19):
was a part
Kenny (06:19):
I was a part of,
Angel (06:20):
I wanted
Kenny (06:21):
I wanted to change trajectory of
Angel (06:22):
of what that
Kenny (06:23):
what that looked
Angel (06:24):
community.
And
Kenny (06:25):
me.
And so
Angel (06:26):
was
Kenny (06:26):
there was a, a mental health show that I was a part
of.
Angel (06:29):
And
Kenny (06:30):
and it got canceled.
Angel (06:32):
And a writer, a
Kenny (06:33):
A writer
Angel (06:33):
wrote in and said, Hey, like this show, it was
Kenny (06:37):
it was my therapy
Angel (06:38):
I can't
Kenny (06:39):
I can't afford
Angel (06:40):
And
Kenny (06:40):
it, And now that it's
Angel (06:41):
away,
Kenny (06:41):
gone away, what am I
Angel (06:43):
And so
Kenny (06:43):
so
Angel (06:44):
you hear
Kenny (06:45):
hear
Angel (06:45):
moments like that, and you have and you have skill that
two impart change.
You're an and you're activatedfor anyway.
activated and you do you dosomething so so that's like
really, that I to wanted tosolve was making sure that there
was a home no matter how manylisteners a show had, had, no
(07:06):
not, no matter, what thatperson's background was, I
wanted it to be.
An opportunity to really enhancethe skillset of black content
creators, as well as making surethat that there were no
limitations to, to, being abeing a part of a network group
(07:26):
you had 50,000 listeners or50,000 downloads and all of
that, which I think sometimesfor content creators can be,
intimidating.
Kenny (07:37):
For sure.
especially it, it's in, it's,it's interesting because there's
so many people every daycreating, you know, content,
creating new podcasts.
there's like millions of.
Podcast.
Right, right at this moment intime.
Right.
And so like your your point, youhit, you hit something like the
(07:58):
nail on the head in terms of welook at, you know, where we want
to go in terms of being acreator.
And then it's like, oh Yeah.
we're the north star.
A lot of times by default.
Ends up being we're, we're,we're pigeonholed into saying,
oh, we need to be like, uh, anyof the, the, the major shows
that has hundreds of millions ofviewers.
(08:19):
And it's like, no, notnecessarily that, that may not
be the lane for you.
And that's okay.
I.
There's a way you can monetizeway before you get to that
point, and that doesn'tnecessarily have to be your
North Star.
So I appreciate you, uh, talkinga little bit about that.
And that leads me to my nextquestion because with your
experience, you have, you havespent some time, you spent a lot
(08:43):
of time, right?
in the old, the, the old form ofmedia, now you're leading what
is going to be the new mediawave.
And so I'm curious.
You know, what's one similarity,like, what's one thing that's
carried over from that old wayof how media thinks?
And then what's a, what's a newway that is just completely
(09:04):
against, you know, anarchyagainst the, that old method,
comparing the new method,
Angel (09:10):
Yeah, so I would say.
Kenny (09:12):
I would say.
Angel (09:14):
I mean, I have a lot for the first one, but
Kenny (09:17):
but I, I would definitely
Angel (09:19):
knowing your target audience, right?
I think sometimes with thesepodcasts, some people, they have
their passions that they justwanna talk about, and while yes.
is because it's digital, it's alot easier to just create that
content.
And actually I'm gonna givethese two, but this one I feel
(09:42):
like could be the answer to,like, you can still do it.
Like there's no limitations.
Like, you know, there's nobarrier to entry.
if you have that passion topicthat you wanna talk about,
however, if you wanna solve aproblem, if you want to be
relatable and connect with areal audience, you gotta know
(10:04):
who your target audience is.
You gotta know who you'replanning to talk to.
Now, on the contrary to thesecond part of that question.
Like what's totally different?
You ain't had that opportunitybefore.
Like before, like there werethere.
barriers, like where you had topitch your show, you had to be
selected.
(10:24):
It was so much more work thatwent into you being able to
share your Voice with the world.
Today with with podcasting,that's no barrier to entry.
Anybody anybody, right?
but but on the, side, the thingthat I think that's really
important if you wanna besuccessful is, is, and this goes
(10:48):
back to was before, you gotta beconsistent.
You can't
Kenny (10:52):
You hit this up one day
Angel (10:53):
I
Kenny (10:54):
say, Hey, I wanna do
Angel (10:55):
and think that
Kenny (10:55):
and think that it works,
Angel (10:57):
you're
Kenny (10:57):
and you're just gonna
Angel (10:58):
off
Kenny (10:59):
off and blow everybody away on episodes Without
Angel (11:03):
without people really being able to know who you are.
There
Kenny (11:08):
There are certain
Angel (11:09):
that go into that process, and like I said, it's
consistency and it's like beingable to promote your
Kenny (11:16):
your content.
Angel (11:16):
Those things are definitely carry over from the
old way to the new way.
Kenny (11:21):
Hmm.
I appreciate that.
And as you were talking, you gotme to, uh, thinking about how
our first episodes looked andsounded, uh, that it was not the
best at all.
and it's kind of cringey to goback and listen to some of those
first episodes'cause we're likeapproaching a hundred.
But I think the cool thing forme is that.
(11:44):
I use those, I use me startingbefore it was this polished
product as like, a way to saylike, look.
To tell the growth story of theplatform.
I think that's the, I thinkthat's relatable to the founder
journey, right.
Uh, of, of being a creativeRight.
And that's the cool part where,like you said, it's not from day
one.
(12:04):
Most of the time you're notgonna just wow people.
And you gotta be, you gotta beokay with that and really fight
through, uh, some of that painand discomfort you may,
experience early on.
Angel (12:15):
Yep.
Kenny (12:17):
So, uh, next up I want to talk about the topic of
technology.
What, for you, uh, You with yourexperience, being in media,
what, where are we at with the,with the technology in terms of.
(12:43):
I don't wanna make, this soundslike a doomsday scenario, but
are we at the point where the,the technology can do everything
that the creative does not wantto focus on?
If that makes sense.
So if they want to just do theircreative muse, do you feel like
now or at a point where peoplecan let the technology do all
(13:03):
the other stuff?
Angel (13:05):
You mean like through automation?
You mean ai, like what type oftech?
Kenny (13:10):
Interesting.
All right, so, all right.
Let's say the, what's the, let'sgo to the extreme.
The extreme is the ai, right?
Like what's.
From an AI perspective, is itokay for somebody who's a
creative to just say, Hey, Iwanna focus on my art and I want
the, I want the AI to doeverything else.
Like what do you think, how doyou feel about somebody saying
(13:34):
that's their utopia point?
Like that's where they want tobe at.
What are your thoughts aroundthat?
Angel (13:38):
So I think it depends, and I wanna make sure I'm
understanding the questionproperly, so that I can address
it correctly.
I want
Kenny (13:47):
I want are, are you asking that they wanna focus
Angel (13:50):
their artistry that they most care about?
Kenny (13:54):
Correct.
Angel (13:55):
design, that's what
Kenny (13:56):
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
Taking it a level up past justthe podcasting.
Right.
And thinking from a creativeperspective.
Angel (14:04):
Yes.
So think, I don't know, that'shard because I feel like you're,
you're, not really beingcreative at that point.
If, if you are just.
Let's say
Kenny (14:22):
Let's say I'm a writer
Angel (14:23):
and I really
Kenny (14:25):
don't
Angel (14:25):
I don't
Kenny (14:26):
I
Angel (14:26):
it's hard because if I'm a writer and
Kenny (14:29):
and I want
Angel (14:30):
to like read my stories and I'm
Kenny (14:33):
and
Angel (14:33):
them out on social media as a means of attracting people
to who I am,
Kenny (14:39):
but I don't wanna be
Angel (14:40):
I don't
Kenny (14:40):
I don't
Angel (14:41):
my voice.
And I'm
Kenny (14:42):
And I'm relying on AI to
Angel (14:44):
do those things to make me more, um.
Aware to the
Kenny (14:48):
to
Angel (14:49):
public,
Kenny (14:50):
I get it right.
Angel (14:51):
And I, my
Kenny (14:53):
my only question
Angel (14:55):
like, is it
Kenny (14:56):
is it
Angel (14:56):
people to your writing?
Um.
Or
Kenny (15:01):
Or are you just like,
Angel (15:03):
on technology to really connect with your audience base?
I
Kenny (15:08):
I.
Angel (15:09):
that humanistic form of being able to read your writing,
or especially if you're a poet,like perform your poetry in
front of people where they feelexpression.
I don't
Kenny (15:21):
I don't think,
Angel (15:22):
AI
Kenny (15:22):
ai,
Angel (15:23):
to the point where it makes you feel it can, it can.
Say what
Kenny (15:29):
what?
Angel (15:29):
to say, but really invoking that emotion and that
connection.
I haven't seen it.
Not to say that it won'teventually get there, but I
think that you would lose a partof
Kenny (15:42):
part of that
Angel (15:43):
part that I think is art.
from the
Kenny (15:46):
from the podcasting perspective.
Angel (15:49):
You know,
Kenny (15:49):
you know, a lot of the media
Angel (15:51):
We built our own technology for
Kenny (15:53):
for
Angel (15:53):
our
Kenny (15:53):
our app
Angel (15:54):
our,
Kenny (15:55):
our, our backend host
Angel (15:56):
And so
Kenny (15:57):
so
Angel (15:57):
all of
Kenny (15:58):
all of those different things
Angel (15:59):
think.
Kenny (15:59):
think.
Angel (16:00):
Were
Kenny (16:00):
were important
Angel (16:01):
because I
Kenny (16:02):
I wanted
Angel (16:03):
we have ownership and
Kenny (16:05):
and not just the collaborative relationship
Angel (16:08):
with other
Kenny (16:09):
other tools.
Angel (16:09):
platforms and things like that.
And
Kenny (16:12):
And so
Angel (16:14):
the
Kenny (16:14):
the thing that gets tricky
Angel (16:16):
with protecting your
Kenny (16:18):
your artistry as well as,
Angel (16:22):
using technology to
Kenny (16:24):
to push
Angel (16:27):
it gets like, who owns it?
Because with AI, and once it'sout, like from
Kenny (16:35):
what I
Angel (16:36):
it becomes kind of like public domain
Kenny (16:38):
Yeah.
Angel (16:39):
pulls it and it shares it from that regard.
And is that really what you wantfor
Kenny (16:44):
what it's, that you're Mm-hmm.
There at this point, I don'tknow if there's like a right or
wrong answer, and so Iappreciate your perspective on
that.
It, it's something where I thinkthe, the conversation's gonna
get louder and louder because toyour point, right, it's.
(17:04):
It's becoming more and moreapparent that.
The, the major platforms, see,they see the value in from an
efficiency perspective, right?
That's what everybody goes tofrom day one, right?
But then it's like, how do youmaintain your artistic kind of
(17:25):
integrity through leveragingthis tool if you keep to feeding
this tool more and more of you,right?
And then in essence, it justkind of copies.
You know, essentially justcoffee's, just you, which is, I
think that's where we're at now,where it's a really good
copycat.
Angel (17:42):
Oh yeah, a
Kenny (17:42):
Oh yeah.
I think it's a really goodcopycat.
Angel (17:45):
hundred
Kenny (17:45):
Right.
Angel (17:46):
And I
Kenny (17:46):
and
Angel (17:46):
I think that is, there's value there, right?
And like you said, efficiencyand you being able to focus on
other things.
But at what point someone elsenot say, Hey, I want you to talk
like Angel.
I want, you know, X, Y, Z, andother people are able to copycat
you as well.
(18:06):
We're
Kenny (18:07):
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
so.
Angel (18:10):
Now
Kenny (18:10):
now your artist,
Angel (18:11):
no longer protected, which goes back to what I was
saying before.
So
Kenny (18:15):
so
Angel (18:15):
is
Kenny (18:16):
like,
Angel (18:16):
what
Kenny (18:16):
that really what you
Angel (18:18):
And for me, that's a whole no.
Kenny (18:20):
Yeah, for sure.
For, for me, as of right now, itis a no.
but I'm having more and moreconversations with folks as
well, and I feel like people areteetering on the fence.
And I, I, I'll say this momentis like, for podcasting, for me
it feels a lot like, like when Istarted podcasting in 2000.
(18:41):
2020.
for me it was really cool to goto a platform like Buzzsprout,
right?
Or one of the, one of thoseplatforms, right?
And just click the, click abutton and then upload my
episode.
And then I will talk to somelike OG podcasters.
And they were like, man, Istarted, I started recording and
like.
2008 and I had to go to thesedifferent platforms and you'll
(19:02):
never know what it's like to,to, to have to like do your own
RSS feeds and all that stuff.
And I, that got me to thinkinglike their perspective is, is,
is definitely different.
And they, they learn throughsome things that I didn't
necessarily have to experience.
And so in those learnings, I'mpretty sure there's some
creativity that they were ableto unlock.
(19:23):
'cause they had to do everysingle aspect of it and you
still, you had to know it.
Versus now, you know, the, thetechnology is allowing people to
not necessarily have to be, as,you know, dive as deep in the
pool
Angel (19:38):
yeah.
Kenny (19:38):
Right.
For those different topics.
but I also
Angel (19:40):
feel
Kenny (19:40):
feel like
Angel (19:41):
it
Kenny (19:41):
it's
Angel (19:43):
if
Kenny (19:44):
something
Angel (19:44):
happen those platforms went down.
Kenny (19:48):
mm-hmm.
Angel (19:51):
That person that's been doing this since 2008, they know
what to do.
Their show will go on.
Kenny (19:56):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (19:57):
everyone else that has tapped in later,
Kenny (20:01):
Yeah.
Angel (20:02):
they're, they're, reliant on.
And so, but that's kind of likethe difference between like old
school, like you had to tape thefilm and
Kenny (20:11):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (20:13):
Like, there's some skills, but there's also value
in not having to go throughthose things anymore.
but it's also like, you know,but you know what to do in the
event that stuff shuts down.
Kenny (20:27):
Got it.
So, all right, let's, let'spivot a little bit, because
you're, you're definitely givingme a glimpse into how you think,
right.
tell me, so you've won, youmentioned the shows that you've
been a part of, in terms of yourcareer.
you've, you've got some majorawards.
You've worked with, some reallycool brands.
You've built brands as well,like you mentioned.
(20:48):
And so I'm curious, like you,you touched on like that.
That, that humanity, like earlyon in the, the conversation,
like how do you, how do you staygrounded in that humanity when
you're getting, you know, youknow, when you're connecting
with these different brands and,and, and, and some of this stuff
seems larger than life.
Like how do you go about keepingyour humanity through all of
(21:10):
this?
Angel (21:11):
Relationships.
Are the most powerful and most,they, they're everything.
Relationships are more valuable,in my opinion, than monetary
transactions.
There are rooms that you willend up in because of a
relationship that you have withsomebody money may never, ever
(21:37):
be able to pay for.
And
Kenny (21:40):
And so
Angel (21:41):
for me, like the, the humanity and, really being
connected to people, that'sfirst
Kenny (21:49):
person.
Angel (21:50):
Like I'm a
Kenny (21:51):
I'm a people
Angel (21:52):
Like I love people.
I
Kenny (21:55):
I love
Angel (21:55):
about people, but I
Kenny (21:57):
but I also
Angel (21:58):
people and helping people.
Kenny (22:00):
love,
Angel (22:01):
and so for me, that's, that's ground zero.
Like.
In my opinion, a lot of timespeople who do wrong by others.
Now we have some situationswhere
Kenny (22:17):
where
Angel (22:18):
it
Kenny (22:18):
it doesn't always
Angel (22:19):
that
Kenny (22:20):
that way,
Angel (22:20):
but
Kenny (22:21):
but in most
Angel (22:22):
I feel like the people who do right by people, the
people who are always lookingout for others, people want to
help you.
on the flip of the coin, if youhave money and you are not great
at relationships.
money helps.
Right.
Kenny (22:39):
Right.
Angel (22:40):
And without me getting into like, full blown, I think
y'all can read between thelines.
but I think in most cases it'svery much like a relationship
business, especially podcasting.
You're talking to people, peopledon't wanna be on your show if
they think that you're gonnacome on and just like drag them
(23:01):
like what they
Kenny (23:02):
Mm.
Angel (23:03):
You know what I mean?
Like, so it's, it's definitely.
I, I
Kenny (23:08):
I am probably
Angel (23:09):
most humble people because
Kenny (23:12):
like,
Angel (23:13):
I
Kenny (23:13):
and I tell
Angel (23:14):
this, like, it doesn't
Kenny (23:15):
my matter what I did just
Angel (23:16):
It doesn't
Kenny (23:17):
doesn't matter what
Angel (23:18):
won hour
Kenny (23:19):
hour ago.
Angel (23:20):
What am I
Kenny (23:21):
What am I gonna do
Angel (23:22):
What am I gonna do tomorrow to make sure that I'm
challenging myself and I canshow up as my
Kenny (23:26):
with my,
Angel (23:27):
every
Kenny (23:28):
time I we
Angel (23:29):
and my
Kenny (23:30):
my knee to
Angel (23:32):
yesterday?
Doesn't matter.
Kenny (23:36):
I love that.
That's super powerful.
I'm taking a moment to folks, ifyou're, if you're listening in,
I'm taking a moment to soak allthis game and this is like
really good stuff and this isthe topic that's near and dear
to me.
I really appreciate Angel fortaking this, uh, taking this
leap of faith on herself, onherself and starting a platform
(23:57):
such as alive.
So I'm curious.
In terms of like, in terms ofgrowing the platform and
investments from others, likewhere do you, the, is that a,
has that always been a toppriority getting investments
(24:18):
from others to scale up theplatform?
Like for you specifically, like,talk to me a little bit about,
just your mindset aroundinvestments in general in your
platform.
Yeah,
Angel (24:30):
So when I
Kenny (24:31):
when I first started
Angel (24:31):
started alive, like, so I have another media company and
initially I was
Kenny (24:36):
I was just gonna
Angel (24:37):
the podcast
Kenny (24:38):
podcast.
Angel (24:39):
of.
The other company and someonewas like, no, don't do that.
Make this a Delaware C Corp so
Kenny (24:46):
So
Angel (24:47):
investment dollars and all that.
And that's
Kenny (24:49):
that's not a world
Angel (24:50):
from.
Like
Kenny (24:50):
like
Angel (24:51):
media girl.
I knew
Kenny (24:52):
I, nothing
Angel (24:54):
like building tech and all of that.
Like I'm good at usingtechnology, but the building
side not so much.
And so, but I listened and Isaid, okay,
Kenny (25:04):
okay, you know,
Angel (25:06):
Step out on faith.
If we're gonna do it, we'regonna, we going dive all the way
in.
And so,
Kenny (25:11):
and so,
Angel (25:13):
in the first three months of launching alive, um, we had
received about$250,000 ininvestment.
I was blessed, like my first ahundred.
came from my, my parents.
and
Kenny (25:32):
and then from there
Angel (25:33):
into Techstars, as a portfolio company.
Like we were about five monthsold when we got accepted into
Techstars.
so we got investment there.
We also got mentors, whichagain, that those people and
those relationships really helppropel us and get the momentum
going.
The money helps because that
Kenny (25:53):
because that helped
Angel (25:53):
the tech.
Kenny (25:55):
build.
Angel (25:55):
but.
Now I'm in a
Kenny (25:57):
I'm in a
Angel (25:58):
where I'm not really interested in to acquire
investment dollars.
The way that I
Kenny (26:04):
that I think
Angel (26:05):
and I may be completely wrong,
Kenny (26:06):
wrong.
so
Angel (26:07):
if you
Kenny (26:07):
if you are on the fence around getting
Angel (26:10):
cause there's a lot of
Kenny (26:10):
a lot of people in,
Angel (26:12):
they get a
Kenny (26:13):
get a lot of money from
Angel (26:14):
and that
Kenny (26:15):
that is how they
Angel (26:16):
their company.
And I don't
Kenny (26:17):
I don't
Angel (26:18):
wrong with it,
Kenny (26:19):
keep it,
Angel (26:19):
but I
Kenny (26:19):
but I think
Angel (26:20):
me, I want something different.
When you're in
Kenny (26:24):
we're in trouble
Angel (26:25):
as a startup founder, I think
Kenny (26:28):
I think that is
Angel (26:29):
time to learn.
And if
Kenny (26:32):
if you should
Angel (26:33):
hop
Kenny (26:34):
hop on stage,
Angel (26:34):
pitch competition, win some more money, and you keep
doing the same thing, you're notlearning, you're
Kenny (26:40):
you're wasting,
Angel (26:41):
you're wasting time, and you're wasting money.
And when I
Kenny (26:45):
I got into
Angel (26:47):
my pickle of a moment, I,
Kenny (26:50):
I I decided in that
Angel (26:52):
that.
If this is really for me and ifthis is what I'm really supposed
to be, it's
Kenny (26:58):
It's my job
Angel (26:59):
figure out how to make it work.
I don't
Kenny (27:01):
I don't wanna d
Angel (27:03):
so much that
Kenny (27:04):
that my,
Angel (27:05):
my,
Kenny (27:05):
my initial
Angel (27:06):
are getting less money.
Like, how
Kenny (27:09):
how can
Angel (27:09):
thing pop so that the people who really believed in me
from ground zero.
all
Kenny (27:15):
all grown
Angel (27:16):
together.
And
Kenny (27:17):
And so I literally
Angel (27:19):
the drawing board and was like, okay, boom.
Like working
Kenny (27:22):
Working numbers backwards.
Like
Angel (27:24):
do we
Kenny (27:24):
what do we need
Angel (27:24):
How do
Kenny (27:25):
to How do we meet?
Angel (27:26):
How do we
Kenny (27:26):
How do we meet?
Angel (27:27):
Where do
Kenny (27:28):
Where do we need to publish ourselves?
Angel (27:30):
do
Kenny (27:30):
Where do we need to pilot it?
Angel (27:32):
And
Kenny (27:33):
And from that
Angel (27:34):
being
Kenny (27:34):
we
Angel (27:34):
to.
Draw
Kenny (27:37):
brought some major
Angel (27:38):
that
Kenny (27:38):
that are not just
Angel (27:39):
a hundred
Kenny (27:40):
hundred
Angel (27:40):
reliant on investment
Kenny (27:42):
percent
Angel (27:43):
Investors are great.
I
Kenny (27:45):
I
Angel (27:46):
for every
Kenny (27:47):
every investor that has
Angel (27:48):
in the vision of
Kenny (27:49):
of
Angel (27:50):
and
Kenny (27:50):
lives.
Angel (27:51):
Truly appreciate them, but
Kenny (27:53):
now I
Angel (27:54):
It's my turn to kick in and really make those dollars
work and make sure that it, itis a profitable business, not
just one that's reliant oninvestment dollars every, every
year or two.
Kenny (28:11):
That is something that we do not hear a lot, angel as, as
you, as you alluded to it,right?
A lot of it is, we need more, weneed more money, right?
We gotta burn some money.
We gotta keep burning moneyessentially to grow at the scale
that we want, right?
And that's not always the case.
And it's okay for a business tosay like, we're gonna focus on
being profitable with the moneywe have in the bank.
(28:34):
Like, that's perfectly okay.
and I don't think we hear thatenough.
Specifically when it comes tobusinesses that are, you know,
businesses that get some sort ofcapital from other investors
that doesn't, that doesn'tbubble up and resonate towards
the top of what we hear.
The algorithms do not push that.
and I
Angel (28:52):
No,
Kenny (28:52):
know you're familiar with the algorithms and what they
push, uh,
Angel (28:55):
but
Kenny (28:55):
so.
Angel (28:55):
don't know if many founders won.
From that same vein and twoopenly speak about it.
So we can't blame algorithms ifthe conversations aren't being.
So I,
Kenny (29:12):
I, I'm a very
Angel (29:13):
direct and, and, transparent
Kenny (29:17):
individual,
Angel (29:18):
so I
Kenny (29:19):
I would never
Angel (29:20):
out
Kenny (29:21):
out and tell people
Angel (29:22):
yes, it's been hunky dory for the last three years and
we've done this and this andthis, and I'm just continuing
The, so
Kenny (29:28):
like
Angel (29:30):
being a
Kenny (29:30):
startup sound
Angel (29:32):
being a
Kenny (29:32):
that isn't
Angel (29:33):
there are
Kenny (29:34):
over there as well.
Angel (29:36):
how
Kenny (29:37):
you.
Angel (29:38):
Operate
Kenny (29:39):
in those moments where you're in the doubt
Angel (29:42):
That
Kenny (29:43):
That is imperative, in my opinion,
Angel (29:45):
of the company.
Kenny (29:46):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (29:48):
I can
Kenny (29:48):
I can jump out there and I win
Angel (29:50):
competitions.
Kenny (29:51):
Angel decided that's what she
Angel (29:53):
do.
And I,
Kenny (29:55):
I,
Angel (29:56):
my,
Kenny (29:56):
my, one of my last semester meetings with one
Angel (29:59):
uh, existing
Kenny (30:00):
of investors,
Angel (30:01):
you
Kenny (30:01):
you know, I was kind of telling him.
Angel (30:03):
What
Kenny (30:04):
What I doing.
Angel (30:05):
well, how much
Kenny (30:06):
how much
Angel (30:06):
do you have?
And this and the other.
And
Kenny (30:09):
I think it freak
Angel (30:10):
out
Kenny (30:11):
understandably.
Mm-hmm.
Angel (30:13):
however, for me, I'm like, don't you want me to solve
the
Kenny (30:17):
problem
Angel (30:18):
so I'm not just keep coming to you?
Like I need more money.
So I'm a problem solver, youknow?
And,
Kenny (30:26):
And,
Angel (30:26):
and, and I
Kenny (30:27):
I.
Angel (30:28):
believe God gave me this vision for launching alive.
Then he's
Kenny (30:32):
Show me
Angel (30:32):
show me like, okay, yep, mm-hmm.
Don't do that again.
Do this.
And I
Kenny (30:36):
And I will be divided and the right people will cross my
Angel (30:38):
make
Kenny (30:39):
make sure that
Angel (30:40):
But just being like,
Kenny (30:41):
they're like, oh, you
Angel (30:42):
gimme
Kenny (30:43):
Gimme some more money.
Angel (30:44):
everything is like
Kenny (30:45):
is like a trial and error.
Angel (30:47):
I'm gonna tell
Kenny (30:47):
I'm gonna tell you a quick story about like the tech
Angel (30:49):
things.
When I
Kenny (30:52):
When I first started,
Angel (30:53):
again, I'm not a techie, you
Kenny (30:55):
you know, I
Angel (30:56):
I, ain't
Kenny (30:57):
I ain't never built no hat,
Angel (30:59):
however.
The first
Kenny (31:02):
person
Angel (31:02):
that I
Kenny (31:03):
that I worked with,
Angel (31:04):
to be my
Kenny (31:06):
be my developer,
Angel (31:08):
he
Kenny (31:09):
He ended up not grilling
Angel (31:10):
it.
Kenny (31:10):
in eCom,
Angel (31:11):
in another
Kenny (31:12):
another country
Angel (31:13):
whatever.
But what
Kenny (31:15):
But what I've learned
Angel (31:16):
very
Kenny (31:17):
early
Angel (31:18):
when I
Kenny (31:18):
when I was like asking,
Angel (31:20):
you
Kenny (31:20):
you know, people
Angel (31:21):
apps and all
Kenny (31:22):
all that,
Angel (31:23):
every
Kenny (31:24):
every one of them said, oh yeah, I can do it.
Angel (31:26):
I can
Kenny (31:27):
I can figure it out.
Like I can.
Angel (31:28):
I
Kenny (31:29):
I can
Angel (31:29):
it
Kenny (31:30):
what It's that you
Angel (31:31):
but what
Kenny (31:31):
but what I have to learn,
Angel (31:33):
the translation of that was long
Kenny (31:36):
long as you're paying me
Angel (31:37):
it
Kenny (31:38):
for it out, I'll eventually
Angel (31:40):
get you What?
I don't
Kenny (31:43):
I don't wanna be that
Angel (31:44):
owner.
I don't
Kenny (31:46):
I don't wanna keep taking your investment
Angel (31:48):
trying
Kenny (31:48):
trying to
Angel (31:49):
it
Kenny (31:49):
figure it out.
Angel (31:50):
Let me figure
Kenny (31:51):
figure it out.
And then
Angel (31:53):
like, boom, we
Kenny (31:54):
we good
Angel (31:55):
I need money to do this, this, this, to push it, then I
Kenny (31:59):
I will
Angel (32:00):
going
Kenny (32:00):
going back
Angel (32:01):
investors and
Kenny (32:02):
to saying, this is working.
Here's the strategies,
Angel (32:05):
the game plan.
Kenny (32:06):
But just to keep throwing money away.
Angel (32:09):
Yeah, no, that
Kenny (32:10):
that for me,
Angel (32:11):
that doesn't work for me.
Kenny (32:12):
Mm, nah.
You spent Game Angel, you spentgame as you were, as you were
explaining that scenario, itsounded like it could be like a
horror scenario.
I'm not even gonna front withlike somebody I can imagine,
like somebody telling, tellingyou from a tech perspective.
Yeah, of course I can buildthis.
And then we all have seen that,like that.
(32:32):
We see all the memes, we see allthe posts where people are just
like, Yeah, I told them I couldbuild it.
and, then I went to Google andjust started Googling stuff.
And it is like, no, no, no, no.
That's, that's,
Angel (32:43):
and I, I went through it.
I literally went through aboutfour developers in a year, so
Kenny (32:50):
wow.
Angel (32:51):
how much money I wasted.
Kenny (32:52):
Yay.
That's crazy.
So, all right, so this is, uh, Ithink this is gonna, this is
gonna be a good segue and wrapup question.
So.
Because you, you touched onsomething in terms of maybe the
conversations are notnecessarily happening.
Right?
And so we can't always blame thealgorithm, right?
So like, I'll use myself as anexample.
(33:14):
I have a, I have a nephew, he'slike mid, mid teens, right?
And now he wants to start like aclothing brand, right?
And that's his thing, right?
So what are we supposed to tell?
This next generation of businessowner, because they have at
their fingertips all the tools,they have resources, right?
(33:35):
Like he comes to me and asks mefor money.
Okay.
whatever.
I give it to you, right?
Like he have the resources, theyhave the tools, but I'm not sure
that having those resources andtools is gonna
Angel (33:47):
Equate to success.
Kenny (33:48):
to success or even increase their chances of
success anymore.
So like what are you telling thenext up and coming, you know,
founder, business owner, becausethey are starting younger and
younger it seems like, which isa good thing, I think.
Angel (34:04):
Beautiful.
Mm-hmm.
Kenny (34:06):
Okay.
So
Angel (34:07):
So my,
Kenny (34:09):
my, my go to,
Angel (34:10):
is start from where you are, where you are.
Right.
Kenny (34:13):
Um.
Angel (34:14):
And my
Kenny (34:15):
my kids are
Angel (34:15):
eight and 11 and they have a podcast and oh shoot,
they're not eight and 11 child.
They would kill me right nowthey're 10 and 12 now.
Kenny (34:24):
That's okay.
Angel (34:26):
but
Kenny (34:27):
but when they
Angel (34:28):
eight and 11, that is like really when I started and
encouraging them to start yourbusiness.
What is it that you wanna do?
You wanna write a book?
Boom, let's do it.
Kenny (34:37):
mm-hmm.
Angel (34:38):
But
Kenny (34:38):
But with that,
Angel (34:39):
a
Kenny (34:39):
be a good
Angel (34:41):
over your services.
Because things
Kenny (34:46):
are
Angel (34:47):
easy.
Be intentional, Like, don't
Kenny (34:52):
Don't just tell me you want
Angel (34:53):
today,
Kenny (34:54):
day and then your friend comes and tell you there
Angel (34:56):
something else.
And
Kenny (34:57):
no
Angel (34:57):
wanna jump
Kenny (34:58):
shit.
Mm-hmm.
Angel (35:00):
be
Kenny (35:00):
be intentional,
Angel (35:01):
right?
Kenny (35:01):
Right.
Angel (35:02):
And when I
Kenny (35:02):
And when I think
Angel (35:03):
steward of your services, like research.
Like I have
Kenny (35:08):
I have friends
Angel (35:09):
their kids
Kenny (35:10):
kids have come to PowerPoint presentation,
Angel (35:13):
and they're like, this is really what I wanna do.
Show
Kenny (35:16):
Show me that.
Angel (35:17):
Show
Kenny (35:17):
Show me what you playing
Angel (35:18):
like.
Kenny (35:19):
like yes.
Angel (35:19):
you can go to YouTube University and you can do all of
these different things, and I
Kenny (35:24):
Not believing.
Angel (35:25):
However, I
Kenny (35:26):
I want
Angel (35:27):
make sure
Kenny (35:27):
hear that
Angel (35:28):
are a good steward of one, what your
Kenny (35:31):
what your creative process is wondering How are you
Angel (35:34):
get through?
And
Kenny (35:36):
and do all
Angel (35:37):
steps.
Kenny (35:38):
How are you distributing your content?
Angel (35:41):
I mean,
Kenny (35:41):
I mean, or your product?
Angel (35:42):
You know,
Kenny (35:43):
you know?
so if you have a website, what
Angel (35:45):
like?
Are you doing
Kenny (35:46):
dropship.
Angel (35:46):
Are you gonna have all
Kenny (35:48):
Have all this stuff here and you're gonna mail it out?
How much is that gonna cost
Angel (35:51):
you really thought about every
Kenny (35:54):
AB
Angel (35:55):
in
Kenny (35:55):
in doing your pricing?
Angel (35:57):
And I
Kenny (35:57):
And I think that gives.
Parents and loved ones, and
Angel (36:01):
to step
Kenny (36:01):
all that,
Angel (36:01):
a guide.
But
Kenny (36:03):
but I think more
Angel (36:05):
like support them because the
Kenny (36:08):
younger they start, the quicker
Angel (36:09):
fail, the
Kenny (36:10):
The quicker they learn, the quicker they
Angel (36:13):
But in that
Kenny (36:14):
In that,
Angel (36:14):
of course, we want them to succeed.
Right?
Kenny (36:16):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (36:17):
even lessons in the
Kenny (36:18):
success because they can become
Angel (36:20):
successful millionaires and blow through the money and
have nothing by the time they'reoutta high
Kenny (36:25):
outta high school.
facts.
Angel (36:27):
But that's a, that's a lesson learned
Kenny (36:29):
Mm-hmm.
Angel (36:30):
that when
Kenny (36:31):
they do it again, they're
Angel (36:33):
the same things that they did before.
Kenny (36:35):
And so
Angel (36:36):
that
Kenny (36:36):
that goes back to
Angel (36:37):
good steward.
That goes back to beingintentional, but
Kenny (36:40):
but sometimes
Angel (36:40):
to teach them
Kenny (36:43):
really what that means.
Because, because it's
Angel (36:47):
now and
Kenny (36:48):
and
Angel (36:49):
they see all of
Kenny (36:49):
all these
Angel (36:50):
people doing it and they're like, huh, I can
Kenny (36:52):
can do
Angel (36:53):
yes, baby boy, you can't.
Yes baby girl, you can't.
Kenny (36:56):
However,
Angel (36:57):
I wanna
Kenny (36:57):
I wanna make sure
Angel (36:58):
right.
I wanna make sure you
Kenny (37:01):
aren't
Angel (37:01):
equipped with the vision, but the
Kenny (37:04):
tools
Angel (37:04):
execute that vision with excellence.
Kenny (37:08):
dope.
I hope, uh, I'm gonna send this,uh, episode to my nephew for
sure, because, we got someconversations to have based off
of what you're telling me,angel.
Uh, Yeah.
So, uh, he needs to get ready.
but yeah, I, I love the, I lovethe energy, I love that talk.
Like you said, like setting themup for success.
That, that word of being asteward.
(37:29):
Oh my gosh.
Like, um.
They probably don't use thatword in their vernacular
nowadays, and they need to, uh,but that is like a powerful word
like that that goes back to, youknow, uh, the things that.
I think, I don't wanna saythey're soft skills, but
they're, they're, they're thethings that set businesses up
(37:51):
for success, customer service,things like that.
Like these are things people areoverlooking now and then, you
know, on the back end, thoseare, those will end up being the
factors and the reasons why thebusiness wasn't successful.
So I appreciate you, throwingthat out there.
I appreciate all the knowledgeyou dropped on this episode,
angel.
Like it is been amazing justpicking your brain again.
(38:13):
Uh, you're building a platformfor somebody like me who's
actually gonna leverage it as apodcaster, but then from an
audience perspective, like theaudience, I want to make sure
that they know how they can tapin.
Like, what's the easiest way forthem to, to tap in with a lot of
the podcast network to get it onall their devices?
Like tell, tell us a little bitabout the easiest path for
(38:33):
people to connect with.
The live podcast network.
Angel (38:37):
Yes.
Kenny (38:39):
Well before I dive into
Angel (38:41):
media and the website.
There is a
Kenny (38:44):
is a book
Angel (38:45):
called the 30 Day Visionary Archangel, which is a
Kenny (38:48):
outside.
Angel (38:49):
people who have the vision but need kind of like a
blueprint to make sure thatthey're doing the work and doing
the work the right way.
it looks like that I.
Uh, and it's available on thewebsite, angel Nicole, us.
to learn more about the livepodcast network, you can go to a
live podcast network.com.
(39:10):
You can also find us in your appstore in iOS, or Android or
Android app, or Google Play.
It's, uh, just a live
Kenny (39:21):
live.
Angel (39:21):
not work.
yeah.
Kenny (39:25):
Thank you so much for that Angel.
I'll definitely make sure I putthe book and the, the links in
the, in the description for thisepisode.
Uh, love Loving You pluggingthat as well, uh, that book as
well.
I, I've become, uh, I'vetransitioned from audio books to
physical books again, and so I'mexcited to get a copy of that.
(39:46):
Lastly, the thing that I alwayswanna make sure that our guests
have the last thought in termsof like, what do you want our
listeners today?
A lot of them are businessowners or people that may be on
the fence in terms of startingtheir business.
Like what do you want people totake away from this
conversation?
That lasting thought
Angel (40:02):
Yeah, so that.
the last thought for thelisteners is just, you are more
powerful than you know.
And sometimes we try to hidebehind that power because we
don't want to offend otherpeople or we don't want to
outshine people that we grew upwith or our family.
And, I just want I just want youto know that like not not so
(40:24):
job.
That's not your job.
Your Your job to be yourabsolute greatest self and God
planted a seed in you and.
It's been watering and it's itprobably something nagging at
you, but you've been holdingback because you that we don't
want to offend somebody.
That's not your job.
(40:45):
Your Your job is to show up beta hundred percent on you and the
vision that is within you, andthen that's where your success
is.
And
Kenny (40:54):
so I would just say
Angel (40:55):
stop playing small and get out there and win.
Kenny (41:00):
thank you Mic drop moment for those that are listening
with us right now.
Thank you for tuning intoanother great episode of The
Beyond Normal podcast.
Peace.
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