Conversations with Coach LA

From Survival to Significance: The Big Shug Legacy

This episode of Conversations with Coach LA hits different.

Boston’s own Big Shug steps onto the Virtual Couch for a conversation that goes beyond music—into identity, healing, loyalty, and what it really means to evolve.

Rooted in the legacy of Gang Starr and shaped by his journey alongside Guru, Big Shug opens up about the unseen chapters—the pressure, the pain, the pi...

We’re laughing—but let’s be clear, this is strategy, not distraction. Healing is in the room.

Comedian and radio personality Jonathan Gates pulls up to the 🎙️ Virtual Couch for an Up Close & Personalconversation that goes beyond the punchline.

Because every joke carries weight… and every laugh has a backstory.

In this episode, we unpack:
😂 Humor as a healing tool—not avoidance, but transformation
💭 Mental health and ho...

What does it really look like to rebuild your life—and your identity—after everything falls apart?

In this deeply impactful episode, Coach LA sits down with Asha J.W. Hardnett, also known as “The Purpose Doula,” to explore how purpose is not something you find—it’s something you activate through movement.

From surviving breast cancer and navigating profound grief to becoming a purpose strategist, speaker, and author...

This episode is a call-back, not a makeover.

We unpack what it truly means to rebrand yourself from the inside out—not by becoming someone new, but by reconnecting with who you’ve always been beneath survival mode, expectations, and life transitions.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, out of alignment, or like you’ve outgrown old versions of yourself… this conversation will meet you right there and move you forward.

💭 Key Co...

As we close out Women’s History Month, this episode of Conversations with Coach LA invites a powerful shift—from celebration to connection.

On the Virtual Couch, Coach LA is joined by James Lambert III and Mathematics, two men who have been intentionally creating spaces for men to connect, be vulnerable, and engage in conversations many were never taught to have.

In this honest and unfiltered dialogue, they share what they’ve learn...

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences—yet one of the least understood.

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, we hold intentional space to honor the life, voice, and legacy of Marrk “The Voice” Harris, while diving deeper into the emotional and psychological realities of grief. This episode blends heartfelt tribute with clinical insight, unpacking what it truly means to process loss in real time.

Did you know that...

Soft life with boundaries, burnout prevention, and women’s mental health are the focus of this Conversations with Coach LA episode featuring Shaquera Robinson.

🎧 In This Episode We Discuss

• Why women experience higher levels of chronic stress
• How boundaries support mental health and burnout prevention
• The connection between trauma recovery and self-advocacy
• Balancing advocacy, motherhood, and leade...

What happens when women stop performing excellence—and start living whole?

This week, I’m joined by Jackie Roby, founder of Inspired Journey Consulting, for a bold, necessary conversation about women’s leadership, mental health, and the invisible cost of “having it all.”

We’re talking:

✨ Imposter syndrome & self-worth

✨ Mental health behind the success

✨ Femininity, motherhood & ambition

✨ Women of color leading in ...

"If You Can See It Mentally, You Can Believe It Physically" -Hillary Marie

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, we sit down with professional dancer and international choreographer Hillary Marie for a powerful conversation about discipline, confidence, anxiety, and what it really takes to BET on yourself.

Born in Hollandale, Mississippi and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Hillary began her professional career at just 18 years old...

Episode 147: Emotional Fitness & Black Joy

Theme: Joy as Resistance — Healing as Discipline

What does it mean to be emotionally fit in a world that constantly demands resilience from Black communities—without offering rest?

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Coach LA, we explore Emotional Fitness & Black Joy as intentional practices for mental health maintenance, resilience, and liberation. Joy is not framed as es...

Episode Title: We Get It From Mama: Mother Wounds, Fashion, Motherhood & Legacy

In this episode, we explore:

What a mother wound is—and how it shows up in adulthood

How motherhood can re-activate unresolved emotional patterns

Fashion as a tool for self-reclamation and healing

Identity loss and rediscovery after childbirth

Breaking generational cycles without dishonoring our roots

Key Takeaways:

You can love your mother and still heal the ...

This episode of Conversations with Coach LA marks the opening of Season 9, Chapter 50 — Heal. Elevate. Evolve., with a powerful and necessary conversation on healing in public.

Coach LA is joined by filmmakers Joe Teixeira and Charles Rheddick to discuss their documentary The City That Failed Us All, which examines the lasting impact of the 1979 shooting of Darryl K. Williams and the decades-long silence that followed for those who...

If you’re tuning in for the replay, you’re in the right place. This episode of Conversations with Coach LA is one of those rare gems that lingers long after the mic drops.

In this Season 8 installment, Coach LA sits down with the incomparable Dr. Rebecca Dupas—poet, author, educator, and legacy-builder—to unpack the stories we inherit, the ones we write for ourselves, and the impact we choose to leave behind.

Expect:

✨ Soul work

✨ Laug...

“Say NO to Silence” — A powerful exploration of Black men’s mental health, fatherhood, mentorship, and storytelling. This episode dives into how creative expression and community connections become pathways to emotional liberation and generational healing.

Guest Bio

Eric “EJ Spin” Jones is an author, DJ, and documentary storyteller dedicated to uplifting the voices of Black men through mentorship and art. His projects highli...

In this episode, Coach LA sits down with nationally touring comedian FunnyMan Mike James — a storyteller whose blend of southern humor, family insight, and cultural perspective has made him one of Nashville’s most magnetic voices.

Together, they explore the business of funny — how laughter becomes legacy, and how creative entrepreneurs can protect their peace, build their platforms, and still keep it real.

This is more than comedy — ...

What if your biggest setback was actually your setup for the next chapter?

In this week’s episode, Coach LA sits down with powerhouse author and self-care advocate Vick Breedy, creator of the Selfish Women’s Group and Genetically Resilient brand, to talk about what it really takes to reinvent your life after change.

From divorce to discovery, from burnout to boundaries — Vick shares her raw, unfiltered journey of transformation and w...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month — a time to elevate voices, honor survivors, and amplify stories of transformation.

Tonight, we spotlight Artice Amor, a Boston-based entrepreneur who turned adversity into artistry. Her journey from pain to purpose — captured in her piece “Becoming Artice” — reflects the essence of reinvention, resilience, and radical self-love.

This conversation explores what it means to build a legacy b...

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, we’re talking about what it means to transform pain into purpose.

After losing her child’s father, Marcus Hall, to gun violence, Shiaka McIntosh could have let grief define her story — but instead, she decided to rewrite it. As the founder of Parties From Above, Shiaka has hosted more than 100 birthday parties and community events for children who’ve lost a parent to violence or overdose. Th...

In this deeply moving and empowering episode, Coach LA sits down with creative visionary and health advocate LaDonna Hampton, Founder of The Posh Group, to explore what it truly means to reclaim your health while living with a chronic condition.

With over 25 years of experience designing events that celebrate culture, elegance, and purpose, LaDonna opens up about her journey as both a successful entrepreneur and a chronic illness th...