Both Sides of the Check

This week on Both Sides of the Check, we’re going behind the lens with Laura McCullough, founder of M3Photography — a wife, mother of three, and visionary creative who turned passion into a thriving photography business. 📸

In this episode, Laura shares her journey of pivoting from stability to purpose, finding mentorship that changed everything, and learning that your biggest support might not come from your circle — but from the c...

🎙️ Faith. Focus. Position.

This week, Ms Cat sits down with Zay Bishop of Regal Pineapple Hospitality to talk about what it really takes to build a brand rooted in excellence and perseverance.

From juggling side jobs to pushing through doubt, Zay kept going when quitting would’ve been easier — proving that success takes more than passion… it takes preparation and purpose.

If you’ve been wondering when it’s your time to leap, this epi...

In Season 4, Episode 26 of Both Sides of the Check, we sit down with Lloyd C. Christten Jr. — visionary founder of OM2H Creative Studio and host of Why Now Is Your Time — to talk about what it really takes to bet on yourself when everyone else plays it safe. 🎙️

From being told to “go get a job” to building his own creative empire from scratch, Lloyd shares how faith, vision, and relentless work ethic turned zero clients into a ...

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, Chef Cassi joins Ms Cat for a raw and inspiring conversation about turning pain into purpose, staying consistent when life tests you, and learning how to scale your dreams the smart way — not the hard way.

💭 From heartbreaks that built her boundaries to lessons that fueled her business, Chef Cassi opens up about how real-life experiences shaped her entrepreneurial mindset. She reminds...

Faith - Failure & The Journey to the Top | Faith & spiritual growth | Both Sides of The Check Ep 24

Welcome to the Season 3 Finale of Both Sides of the Check Episode 24 — the show where we talk real business, real mindset, and the balance between check cashers & check writers.

In this episode, Ms Cat (@connectwithmscat) and LiShon “Tha Don” (@lishonthadon) open up about:

💼 Turning losses into lessons that set the ...

What do you do when you lose $200,000 in a single business deal? For Ari, the answer was simple: pray, push, and keep going.

In this powerful episode of Both Sides of the Check, Ari shares how she turned a painful franchise loss into motivation — leading her to open two Smoothie King locations back-to-back. 🥤

From driving school buses as a single parent to becoming a CEO, Ari’s journey is packed with lessons on:

✅ Building un...

Episode 22 of Both Sides of the Check features entrepreneur Martel Matthews, who opens up about how losing his mother—the “Superwoman” who inspired his journey—forced him to rethink everything about life and business.

In this powerful conversation, Martel shares:

• How grief pushed him into work mode, but faith brought him back into alignment 🙏🏾
• The role spirituality plays in becoming the best version of yourself, both in business...

Episode 21 of Both Sides of the Check features Tayo Da Don, founder of Wealth Culture, whose story is a true example of resilience and transformation. From losing loved ones and doing time to building a movement around financial education and entrepreneurship, Tayo’s journey is proof that your past doesn’t define your future.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Tayo turned incarceration and personal losses into motivation for chan...

Episode 20 of Both Sides of the Check is an unforgettable conversation with Jazmine Lacour—a powerhouse entrepreneur who turned personal trials into triumphs. From navigating her husband’s battle with major depressive disorder, separation, and raising three kids alone, to rebuilding her business from hotel rooms, Jazmine’s story is one of grit, grace, and strategy.

In this episode, we unpack:

• How Jazmine rebuilt her business afte...

On Episode 19 of Both Sides of the Check, we sit down with entrepreneur Shalimar Banks to talk about walking away from the 9-to-5 and fully investing in yourself. Shalimar shares how “crazy faith,” consistency, and passion have guided her through entrepreneurship—and why chasing money will never be enough.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why “crazy faith” gave Shalimar the confidence to never go back to a job 🙌
• The importance of inv...

In Episode 18 of Both Sides of the Check, we welcome Carl Neyland II, a powerhouse entrepreneur whose journey from oilfield work to running his own business is truly inspiring. Carl shares how trials, tribulations, and life-changing moments pushed him to leave the safety net behind and fully embrace entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Carl turned personal challenges like divorce, family loss, and business setback...

Season 3 of Both Sides of the Check kicks off with a powerful conversation featuring LP from The Hive Houston & TRG Financial. LP shares his journey from earning his first paycheck to writing checks, and how lessons from the corporate world shaped his path to entrepreneurship.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why money is a tool, not just currency 💸
• How to bounce back from setbacks and wasted time ⏳
• The motivation behind building a ...

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, Ms Cat and LiShon dive into the age-old debate:

Should you be a jack of all trades or master one thing and dominate? 🤔

We share real-world stories, laugh at our own “I can do it all” moments, and unpack the hidden costs of spreading yourself too thin in business and life. From burnout to brand confusion, we’re asking the big question—how much is too much?

💥 Thanks for rocking with Both Sid...

Sometimes growth feels amazing… until you realize not everyone can (or will) grow with you.

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, Ms Cat and LiShon get candid about the emotional side of leveling up in business—outgrowing your team without burning bridges, and the very real survivor’s guilt that comes with it.

From hard conversations to bittersweet goodbyes, we unpack how to move forward while honoring the relationships that go...

Does the hustle ever really stop? And why do so many entrepreneurs feel guilty for celebrating themselves?

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, Ms Cat and LiShon get into the truth behind hustle culture — the pressure to constantly grind, and the deep-rooted struggle to rest, reward, and actually enjoy the fruits of your labor.

We’re talking about burnout, self-worth, and why some of us feel like we have to "earn" rest...

Do you ever feel like a fraud in your own business? You’re not alone.

In this powerful episode of Both Sides of the Check, Ms Cat and LiShon unpack the real and raw truth about imposter syndrome in entrepreneurship — where it comes from, why it’s so common, and how to shut it down before it kills your confidence.

Whether you’re a new business owner or scaling to six figures, imposter syndrome doesn’t discriminate. We’re giving you to...

Customer service isn’t a fire extinguisher — it’s a foundation.

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, Ms Cat + LiShon unpacks the hard truth: if your clients only feel cared for when something goes wrong, you're doing it wrong. We’re diving into how service should be baked into every single touchpoint — from your welcome email to your final invoice.

You’ll learn:

• Why “good enough” customer care is costing you referrals a...

Are you building bridges or burning them?

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, we're getting real about the unspoken tension in entrepreneurship: should we collaborate or compete? Ms Cat and LiShon break down the mindset shifts necessary to grow in community without compromising your value, and the strategic moves that separate real partnerships from performative ones.

You’ll hear:

• How to identify when collaboration is ...

Let’s keep it all the way real — being an entrepreneur will test you.

In this episode of Both Sides of the Check, we’re talking about the mental pressure behind the business. The days you feel like quitting. The nights you can’t sleep. The silent stress nobody sees when you're trying to build something real.

This ain't hustle glam — this is survival, strategy, and self-preservation.

 Because if your mind ain’t right, your mone...