January 9, 2025 • 21 mins
What if resilience in the face of setbacks was your greatest asset?
Join us as we explore the inspiring story of Zion Givens, co-founder of Up to It, who shares his remarkable journey of passion, perseverance, and community empowerment. As we unfold Zion's personal narrative, you'll discover how a love for the Arizona fall season, a special bond with his German shepherd Tyson, and overcoming a setback on the freshman basketball team helped shape his identity and fuel his determination. With a penchant for tea over coffee and a love for TikTok, Zion's story is both relatable and motivational, offering a unique glimpse into the transformative power of family support and cultural appreciation.
Experience Zion's journey as it parallels the mentorships of legendary figures like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, where fatherly guidance transitions into a lifelong friendship. We'll also introduce you to the Black HR Society's podcast launch, an exciting new platform that invites listeners to celebrate Black excellence and connect with inspiring narratives like Zion's. Whether you're looking for new insights, a dose of inspiration, or just a heartwarming story, this episode promises to deliver as we set the stage for more incredible journeys to come. Don't miss out on this vibrant celebration of growth, triumph, and the rich tapestry of Black culture.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to let's Talk About it, the podcast where we
shine a light on the changeagents and everyday heroes who
shape our communities.
Here we dive deep into thelived experiences of our guests,
exploring the milestone momentsthat have either propelled them
forward or changed their paths.
We anchor every conversation intwo foundational pillars of the
(00:28):
Black community books and music.
Through this unique lens, wecapture, entertain and inform,
weaving a rich tapestry ofstories and insights that
resonate, inspire and sparkmeaningful dialogue.
Join our host, tj Lowry andShatima Grisham as they engage
with thought leaders andcommunity change agents to
(00:51):
uncover the rich tapestry ofexperiences that shape our lives
.
Get ready for insightfuldiscussions, unfiltered
perspectives and the celebrationof Black excellence.
Let's talk about it.
Of Black Excellence let's talkabout it.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Hey everyone, and welcome to let's Talk About it
the podcast.
I'm your girl, TJ, here, andI'm so excited to kick off this
podcast.
Before I do that, though, letme introduce you all to my
co-host, shatima.
Let's talk about it, shatimahow you doing girl?
(01:31):
Hey there.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
TJ, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
How are you Good?
Good, I'm excited.
How about you?
I'm good, ready to go, allright.
So you had a good summer.
It was good.
It was good Hot, but good, itwas hot.
It was hot, I think last summerprepared me, so it felt pretty
good.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I don't know if you ever prepared for this Arizona
heat I was better this summerthan last summer.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I think last summer taught me a lesson.
So before we take off and jumpinto the conversation, who are
you introducing us to as ourspecial guest?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
today.
Well, I'm really excited tointroduce our guests we have
here today.
His name is Zion Givens.
Welcome to.
Let's Talk About it.
Thank, you.
Welcome.
Zion is the co-founderpresenter of Up to it, which is
an organization that works withyouth, families and
organizations that help them toconnect, communicate and thrive.
(02:13):
Prior to being the co-founder,he worked for a local nonprofit
not my kid as the youthprevention team lead.
He's an Arizona native likemyself.
Bear down rare, rare bear downout of Tucson, arizona, so we
are super excited to have himhere and I'm ready to get going
through this list of questionswe got.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
All right, ziya.
Well, you know, the let's TalkAbout it podcast is presented by
the Black HR Society, and weare HR practitioners, so we like
to kick off everything with anicebreaker.
So we've got a cute littleicebreaker here called Talk to
Me.
All we want you to do is justanswer the questions with the
(02:57):
first thing that comes to mind.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
So real simple, I know.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So coffee or tea, tea 100%.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Sweet or savory.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Sweet, sweet tooth for sure over here.
I'm savory.
Are you Like the salt tea?
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Morning or night.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Morning night, night night.
I'm not even trying to convincemyself on that one, no.
I'm definitely not, I'm likemidday, yeah, midday-ish Catch
me around like two.
I'm really feeling energized,but I can go nighttime too.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I'm sage now, I like it, I like it.
So what's your favorite app?
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Favorite app.
Oh man, TikTok.
Tiktok is one of my favoriteapps.
I'm on that thing too much.
A little bit embarrassing tosay how long I'm on that app.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I don't even have an account TJ.
That's good.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Don't get one, don't do it.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
My page is tainted.
I don't really look at TikTokas much because of the people
that send you the video.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Right, right, right, yeah, don't do it.
Don't do it.
You go down the rabbit hole andyou're just there.
No, stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
What's your favorite season?
I mean, I don't know if I canask that of a native, but what's
your favorite season?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
I?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
think we only have one right.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
All two fall I don't know.
I like that September to.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
December.
I mean, it's our.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Arizona fall.
It works I have to agree withthat Okay.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, that's my favorite, right there,
especially here.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Cats or dogs.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Dogs, 100%.
I got a big old German shepherd.
You have a name, yeah, namedTyson.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Love it.
That's my guy.
How long y'all been together?
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Me and Tyson.
We have been together for nowtwo, going on three years.
I rescued him from the humanesociety, so he's amazing man.
I showed you a picture you'llbe like that.
They put him up for adoptionlike he's so like purebred.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I love animal lovers, love their pets to that extent.
You like it, he's so proud.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
That's my son right there.
He's like let me pull out thosepictures, right, I love that
All right.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Text or call.
You want text or call if Ineeded to reach you.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Text me.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
It's going to show your age, yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
That's going to show my age right there.
Text me please.
Okay, I'm one of those liketext me and then call me.
Like text me that you're goingto call me, so I expect your
call.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I love that Beach or the mountains.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Beach, big beach guy.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Prince or Michael Jackson.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Mike.
Oh that no has anything.
I love Mike.
Prince is good too.
I love Prince.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Favorite color.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Blue, any kind of blue, everybody like what?
Specifically?
Any kind of any, any kind ofblue, I love it sex with the
lights on or off oh, that's agood one.
I'm no preference oh, I like it.
That's a different answer.
Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I like it all right, favorite superhero.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Black Panther, that's my guy Wakanda forever.
Nobody's going to be a betterBlack Panther than our Chadwick
Boseman.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It would be hard.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, it's hard.
It's hard to get up there.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So for books, are you a physical or audio book?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
person Audio book.
All right, I like to have thetangible one to make it look
like I read, but I'm like, Ilisten to the audio.
I listen to the audio.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Okay, I'm not mad at audio, I'm so busy.
I get it in through audio, sotell me what was the last book
you read, or?
Speaker 4 (06:39):
listened to.
The one that I'm currentlyreading and wrapping up now is
Words that Work by Dr FrankLuntz.
Reading and wrapping up now isWords that Work by Dr Frank
Luntz, and that's a verycontroversial book, meaning of
what it's kind of likemanipulation and using words to
invoke emotion or whatever thesense may be.
So some people take that bookand use it, maybe not for the
greater good, but for otheradvantageous preferences or
(07:02):
topics, but it's really good,really good listening, really
good, and if you're in thepolitical space, this is really
prime time to listen to thatbook.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
I'm going to have to add that to my list.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I know, I just added it.
I think people tend to ask me.
I really want to say does thatwork?
How?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
should I say it TJ.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
So I might need some more tips from Words that Work.
Do you remember what's on thecover?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yes, it says words.
That works.
People don't what is it?
People don't remember.
What you say is what they hear.
Okay, that was good.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
So they say that a book cover is what lures a
reader into buying the book.
Tell us, if we picked up theautobiography, the book of Zion,
what would we find on the coverand what would lure us in and
think of it in?
How do you show up?
How does Zion show up?
I would say that smile and Iwas going to say that earlier is
(07:55):
always lighting up the room.
I'm even coming through mysocial.
You're wearing it, and so Ithink that for me personally,
but what would you put on thebook of Zion as your cover?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I love that.
That's a great question.
First off, it would be bright.
I think that you talk about thelightness of it all.
I think it would be a brightneon colored book.
I think on it would be amicrophone.
I love when I have a microphonein front of me.
I mean, I'm a public speakerfor a living.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
That's what I do.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
So it would be a microphone, and of so it'd be a
microphone and of course it'dhave to be something around
sports.
I mean, I'm a huge sports guyfootball, basketball, baseball,
I'm there and then a big heart,I just love everybody.
I think, just yeah, I'm a biglover, maybe to a fault.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
All right, I love that.
Yeah, very good.
So the back of the book cover.
So the back of the book coveris usually what convinces us to
buy the book.
You go in there you look atthis bright picture with this
microphone and this heart andand um some sport thing.
What would the back of the bookcover, um be what would
convince us to purchase the book?
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Yeah, um, I always.
I'm looking at it like, uh,almost like a teenage novel,
where they have on the back ofthe book there's also some
illustration on it and I'mpicturing like a jersey with my
number five and then my lastname, givens.
I'm a big family guy Big.
This is the organization that Iam co-founder of.
I do it with my father, sowe're doing this to remember and
(09:21):
build a legacy for our familythat goes, extends further than
us.
So that would be, I think thatwould be on the back, just to
symbolize how that given's lastname is so prominent in my life
and so important to me that Ijust can't imagine it not being
highlighted in that book in theback of the book.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
What's the significance of the number five?
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Number five.
So that was like the firstchampionship jersey I wore ever,
when I was like in I don't knowfifth grade.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Which sport?
Basketball.
That's what I was going to say.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Basketball.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Poingar, yep, yep, I don't know, you call it.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Go ahead, TJ.
The height ain't there foranything else.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Poingar Zion.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I can see the poingar .
You know what I'm saying.
They run the floor.
Yes, exactly that's what theydo now.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I love that.
Does that show up in your lifetoday?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I knew it because.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I could feel that you know energy resonating like
right now You're still runningthe floor.
Your dad's a positive influenceon you.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
Huge, huge, huge, huge.
Tell us a little bit about.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You know that relationship because I can see
it when you all are together andhugging up.
Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
That's easy, man.
I can talk to my dad about yougot time.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
I love that man.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
It's interesting to see our relationship progress.
I think a lot of times whenpeople think of their parents
they think, oh, they're onlygood for when you turn 18 and
then they kind of disappear orgo into the background.
But my dad made sure to makethat our relationship extended
beyond our father sonrelationship, that it adapted
into a friendship and that wasinteresting.
When I turned 18 and moved outof the house and of beyond our
father-son relationship thatadapted into a friendship.
(10:50):
And that was interesting.
When I turned 18 and moved outof the house and went to college
and whatever that, he stillremained a friend and a father.
He showed up in both worlds andhe's just an amazing guy.
He's very we're very similar.
We have the same mannerisms.
I picked up, I think I mirroredhim.
Like if you think about MichaelJordan and Kobe and how Kobe
mirrored Michael Jordan, that'skind of like how me and my dad
operate.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It's very similar I love that Very good Zion.
So I think Shateen was off onsomething.
Oh, no worries.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
What people, place or event was most impactful.
You might have already answeredthis.
I can guess on what thisquestion the answer may be, but
what has been probably the mostimpactful, if we're going along
with this book theme.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Oh, the book theme going on with that.
I think one of the biggestimpactful moments of my life has
been getting cut on thefreshman basketball team.
That sounds, it sounds general,right, right, exactly, and it
sounds like cliche and whatever.
But that was like a bigprominent moment in my life
where it felt like somebody wasdenying me and I had.
(11:57):
I had to deal with that, that Ihad to come in with resiliency
and figure out what I was goingto do and bounce back.
So that moment right theresolidified me as well.
I'm not going to take no for ananswer like this is I'm going
to come back 100% stronger.
And you asked my parents, myteammates at that time.
That was the hardest I everworked in my life and then I
achieved better and went on todo more stuff that was more
(12:19):
positive and whatnot.
I didn't let that deter me frommy path and my work that I have
to do.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I love that I do too.
It reminds me of Shatima'sfavorite saying, because a lot
of times people are resilientand you see that when somebody
has told them what they can't door what they can't have, and
we're so eager to prove it, andShatima's line is, watch me win
right.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
That's my style, I love that.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Look at that, watch me win.
That's good.
Can I take that too?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
I'll share it with you, that's their line.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I think that, for me, is what I heard you say.
Tell us what's the title of thebook.
We call it the Book of Zion,but what would you title it?
Share with us quickly what someof those chapters that resonate
with people when they read it,that they're gonna walk away.
Going man, that's zion.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Tell us about that yeah, I've been going back and
forth to thinking about writinga book and there's always these
two, these two titles that Ialways go, and I'm glad you're
talking because this is gonnahelp me out.
Um is the first one that I gowith is keep your fucking head
down, is is the first title thatI catch with is Keep your
Fucking Head Down.
It's the first title that comesto my mind and that comes from
our little cliche.
Our saying from Up To it is upto it, down to it.
(13:32):
We do it because we're used toit.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That's where Up To.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
It came from.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Say that one more time.
Yeah, that was fast Up to itdown to it.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
We do it because we're used to it.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Oh, I like that.
We have to share that and it'sso real too, yeah so the down to
it part is, like we said, theresiliency.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
It's putting in the work.
It's grinding and keeping yourhead down and not looking up and
being like well, look ateverybody else, right.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
They're succeeding.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Why am I not?
No, keep your head down andkeep working.
But then my dad brings up well,what about like the up to it
part of keeping your head upeven when you are feeling down?
Keeping your head up andkeeping moving forward rather
than looking down.
Keeping your head up, so theother title is up to it?
Of course, would be the another, another title, so I'm I'm
toying between the two.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I don't think you can lose with either one I like
them both, or maybe it's asequel.
Yeah right, oh yeah, oh thereyou go right there what are
people gonna to stick when theyread that book?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
What's going to stick with them about you or your
autobiography, Zion?
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Yeah, I think what's going to stick with them about
the autobiography is a story ofa guy that had a lot of things
not in his favor and overcomingthose barriers and overcoming
those obstacles in a way that'sstill positive and not mad at
the world.
He does it with a smile on hisface and, like you said, watch
(14:54):
me win.
All right, this door closed,but all right, watch me win we
already know you I know, I know,just sliding that cash out to
you in a minute.
I love it.
I love that I'm an NDA overhere.
Hold on.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
We're HR, we always have that.
You already know we have thecontracts for you.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I think you kind of answered the question I was
leading into, but if you want toexpand on it, just you know, in
the theme of this book, theplot twist.
What did we not see coming inthis book?
Speaker 4 (15:22):
The plot twist is he gave up on college.
He gave up.
He was supposed to go tocollege.
He was supposed to be theoldest one in the family to make
it, to make it in the eyes ofsociety, what they say, what
they said, not what we feelRight.
I love that.
And he dropped out and ended upmaking a way of his.
(15:43):
Maybe the path was a little bitharder that way sure, but he
still came out on top and stilltrying to learn ways and still
learning.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I mean, I'm not I don't think I have it all
figured out at all by any means,but I'm still figuring it out
and willing to learn that, well,sometimes what we hoped our
path would be, or what peopleexpect it, isn't right, and when
we look back we're like dang, Icame out on top going this
route, and so that's the plottwist it didn't.
(16:11):
We didn't anticipate it, but ittook us somewhere great because
I think you all are doing somegreat work.
No, I appreciate that a lot andmy last question we believe all
leaders are readers, but not allreaders are leaders.
What book would you recommend,and why?
Speaker 4 (16:28):
oh, I love this question too.
I just recommended like a lotof books to everybody.
I've been an avid reader.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Now, I think for the past six months I've read like
10 books yeah yeah, on 1.5 speedso I don't know that counts, or
whatever, but do that right butdidn't do that.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
But the one book that I've read and I had a tangible
book.
This was a book gifted to mefrom my dad's friend named Will
LeBlanc.
He gifted it to me mygraduation night and it was
Victor Frangle A Man's Searchfor Meaning, and that book is
about a person and his family ina concentration camp and how he
had to remain positive.
(17:06):
He's a psychologist now andlearning what made people
resilient in that, in a horriblespace.
How did people make it out andstill find hope in the world
after going through such atragedy?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
right.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
And that's what it's all talking about.
It's a man's search for meaningand purpose, and if somebody
can come out of a concentrationcamp and still feel hopeful
about the world and still findpurpose in the world, then what
we're going through maybe isminuscule and we can still find
hope.
Yeah, like that level.
So that's a book that Irecommend to everybody,
especially after high schoolgraduations or college
(17:41):
graduations Okay, awesome.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Drop that name one more time.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
The Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frangel.
Okay, nice.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Okay, nice, I'm going to have to get your book list.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Oh yeah, man, you can follow me on Instagram.
I got a book club littlehighlight.
You can tap through there andsee what happens.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I'm a reader, but I like the book Okay, and all that
good stuff.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
I wish I had that talent or those skills to
highlight.
I'm like I'll remembersomething from it.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Well, we appreciate you hanging out with us for this
time.
I've learned a lot, me too.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
And I cannot wait to read this book.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Let this be your confirmation that I think you
have two books, brewing Twobooks.
That we are ready to read aswell.
So we appreciate you coming outand hanging out with us here at
let's Talk.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
About it.
Yeah, thank you so much, zion,for being here.
Your smile has brightened upour room today and keeps
brightening up my social.
Tell everybody where they canfind you on social or the
website.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
I appreciate that, so thank you for having me first
of all.
And you can find me personallyat Zion underscore, underscore
Givens, and then the companyUpToIt at UpToIt AZ, and that's
all one word.
You'll be able to find us inthe All right.
The fun part is the website isuptoitclub, not com but club,
because it's the party, it's theeducational turnout.
You know what I?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
mean Educational turnout.
I love that Awesomeno-transcript.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
With credit restoration, our goal is to help
people create and maintainlegacy wealth so that they can
pass down, like you mentionedearlier.
And so again, coffee creditoptions for you.
We'll start with credit moveinto building your business and
also upscaling.
So excited to launch thatbusiness and again excited to
have you here with us.
(19:52):
Also want to thank the Black HRSociety, our other sponsor, lta
.
Let's talk about it podcast isthe birth child of the Black HR
Society.
Is the birth child of the BlackHR Society.
You can follow BHRS on all thesocial platforms at
blackhrsocietycom.
Please be sure to like, follow,share and subscribe to let's
(20:14):
Talk About it, the podcast andbe sure to return back for part
two to hear Zion's the rest ofhis story.
This is the beginning.
We appreciate for you for beinghere today and look forward to
you coming back.
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Thank you for tuning into let's Talk About it the
podcast.
We hope you enjoyed today'sconversation and found
inspiration in the stories andexperiences shared.
We trust that you wereentertained, learned something
new and felt inspired by today'sshow.
Be sure to subscribe, like,follow, share and join us for
(20:50):
the next episode.
Until then, keep theconversation going and let's
keep talking about it.
Welcome to let's Talk About it, the podcast where we
shine a light on the changeagents and everyday heroes who
shape our communities.
Here we dive deep into thelived experiences of our guests,
exploring the milestone momentsthat have either propelled them
forward or changed their paths.
We anchor every conversation intwo foundational pillars of the
(00:28):
Black community books and music.
Through this unique lens, wecapture, entertain and inform,
weaving a rich tapestry ofstories and insights that
resonate, inspire and sparkmeaningful dialogue.
Join our host, tj Lowry andShatima Grisham as they engage
with thought leaders andcommunity change agents to
(00:51):
uncover the rich tapestry ofexperiences that shape our lives
.
Get ready for insightfuldiscussions, unfiltered
perspectives and the celebrationof Black excellence.
Let's talk about it.
Of Black Excellence let's talkabout it.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Hey everyone, and welcome to let's Talk About it
the podcast.
I'm your girl, TJ, here, andI'm so excited to kick off this
podcast.
Before I do that, though, letme introduce you all to my
co-host, shatima.
Let's talk about it, shatimahow you doing girl?
(01:31):
Hey there.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
TJ, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
How are you Good?
Good, I'm excited.
How about you?
I'm good, ready to go, allright.
So you had a good summer.
It was good.
It was good Hot, but good, itwas hot.
It was hot, I think last summerprepared me, so it felt pretty
good.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I don't know if you ever prepared for this Arizona
heat I was better this summerthan last summer.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
I think last summer taught me a lesson.
So before we take off and jumpinto the conversation, who are
you introducing us to as ourspecial guest?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
today.
Well, I'm really excited tointroduce our guests we have
here today.
His name is Zion Givens.
Welcome to.
Let's Talk About it.
Thank, you.
Welcome.
Zion is the co-founderpresenter of Up to it, which is
an organization that works withyouth, families and
organizations that help them toconnect, communicate and thrive.
(02:13):
Prior to being the co-founder,he worked for a local nonprofit
not my kid as the youthprevention team lead.
He's an Arizona native likemyself.
Bear down rare, rare bear downout of Tucson, arizona, so we
are super excited to have himhere and I'm ready to get going
through this list of questionswe got.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
All right, ziya.
Well, you know, the let's TalkAbout it podcast is presented by
the Black HR Society, and weare HR practitioners, so we like
to kick off everything with anicebreaker.
So we've got a cute littleicebreaker here called Talk to
Me.
All we want you to do is justanswer the questions with the
(02:57):
first thing that comes to mind.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
So real simple, I know.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Let's do it.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
So coffee or tea, tea 100%.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Sweet or savory.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Sweet, sweet tooth for sure over here.
I'm savory.
Are you Like the salt tea?
Definitely.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Morning or night.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Morning night, night night.
I'm not even trying to convincemyself on that one, no.
I'm definitely not, I'm likemidday, yeah, midday-ish Catch
me around like two.
I'm really feeling energized,but I can go nighttime too.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I'm sage now, I like it, I like it.
So what's your favorite app?
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Favorite app.
Oh man, TikTok.
Tiktok is one of my favoriteapps.
I'm on that thing too much.
A little bit embarrassing tosay how long I'm on that app.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I don't even have an account TJ.
That's good.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Don't get one, don't do it.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
My page is tainted.
I don't really look at TikTokas much because of the people
that send you the video.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Right, right, right, yeah, don't do it.
Don't do it.
You go down the rabbit hole andyou're just there.
No, stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
What's your favorite season?
I mean, I don't know if I canask that of a native, but what's
your favorite season?
Speaker 4 (04:14):
I?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
think we only have one right.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
All two fall I don't know.
I like that September to.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
December.
I mean, it's our.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Arizona fall.
It works I have to agree withthat Okay.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Yeah, that's my favorite, right there,
especially here.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Cats or dogs.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Dogs, 100%.
I got a big old German shepherd.
You have a name, yeah, namedTyson.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Love it.
That's my guy.
How long y'all been together?
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Me and Tyson.
We have been together for nowtwo, going on three years.
I rescued him from the humanesociety, so he's amazing man.
I showed you a picture you'llbe like that.
They put him up for adoptionlike he's so like purebred.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I love animal lovers, love their pets to that extent.
You like it, he's so proud.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
That's my son right there.
He's like let me pull out thosepictures, right, I love that
All right.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Text or call.
You want text or call if Ineeded to reach you.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Text me.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
It's going to show your age, yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
That's going to show my age right there.
Text me please.
Okay, I'm one of those liketext me and then call me.
Like text me that you're goingto call me, so I expect your
call.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I love that Beach or the mountains.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Beach, big beach guy.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Prince or Michael Jackson.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Mike.
Oh that no has anything.
I love Mike.
Prince is good too.
I love Prince.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Favorite color.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
Blue, any kind of blue, everybody like what?
Specifically?
Any kind of any, any kind ofblue, I love it sex with the
lights on or off oh, that's agood one.
I'm no preference oh, I like it.
That's a different answer.
Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I like it all right, favorite superhero.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Black Panther, that's my guy Wakanda forever.
Nobody's going to be a betterBlack Panther than our Chadwick
Boseman.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It would be hard.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, it's hard.
It's hard to get up there.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So for books, are you a physical or audio book?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
person Audio book.
All right, I like to have thetangible one to make it look
like I read, but I'm like, Ilisten to the audio.
I listen to the audio.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Okay, I'm not mad at audio, I'm so busy.
I get it in through audio, sotell me what was the last book
you read, or?
Speaker 4 (06:39):
listened to.
The one that I'm currentlyreading and wrapping up now is
Words that Work by Dr FrankLuntz.
Reading and wrapping up now isWords that Work by Dr Frank
Luntz, and that's a verycontroversial book, meaning of
what it's kind of likemanipulation and using words to
invoke emotion or whatever thesense may be.
So some people take that bookand use it, maybe not for the
greater good, but for otheradvantageous preferences or
(07:02):
topics, but it's really good,really good listening, really
good, and if you're in thepolitical space, this is really
prime time to listen to thatbook.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
I'm going to have to add that to my list.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I know, I just added it.
I think people tend to ask me.
I really want to say does thatwork?
How?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
should I say it TJ.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
So I might need some more tips from Words that Work.
Do you remember what's on thecover?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yes, it says words.
That works.
People don't what is it?
People don't remember.
What you say is what they hear.
Okay, that was good.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
So they say that a book cover is what lures a
reader into buying the book.
Tell us, if we picked up theautobiography, the book of Zion,
what would we find on the coverand what would lure us in and
think of it in?
How do you show up?
How does Zion show up?
I would say that smile and Iwas going to say that earlier is
(07:55):
always lighting up the room.
I'm even coming through mysocial.
You're wearing it, and so Ithink that for me personally,
but what would you put on thebook of Zion as your cover?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I love that.
That's a great question.
First off, it would be bright.
I think that you talk about thelightness of it all.
I think it would be a brightneon colored book.
I think on it would be amicrophone.
I love when I have a microphonein front of me.
I mean, I'm a public speakerfor a living.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
That's what I do.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
So it would be a microphone, and of so it'd be a
microphone and of course it'dhave to be something around
sports.
I mean, I'm a huge sports guyfootball, basketball, baseball,
I'm there and then a big heart,I just love everybody.
I think, just yeah, I'm a biglover, maybe to a fault.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
All right, I love that.
Yeah, very good.
So the back of the book cover.
So the back of the book coveris usually what convinces us to
buy the book.
You go in there you look atthis bright picture with this
microphone and this heart andand um some sport thing.
What would the back of the bookcover, um be what would
convince us to purchase the book?
Speaker 4 (08:59):
Yeah, um, I always.
I'm looking at it like, uh,almost like a teenage novel,
where they have on the back ofthe book there's also some
illustration on it and I'mpicturing like a jersey with my
number five and then my lastname, givens.
I'm a big family guy Big.
This is the organization that Iam co-founder of.
I do it with my father, sowe're doing this to remember and
(09:21):
build a legacy for our familythat goes, extends further than
us.
So that would be, I think thatwould be on the back, just to
symbolize how that given's lastname is so prominent in my life
and so important to me that Ijust can't imagine it not being
highlighted in that book in theback of the book.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
What's the significance of the number five?
Speaker 4 (09:37):
Number five.
So that was like the firstchampionship jersey I wore ever,
when I was like in I don't knowfifth grade.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Which sport?
Basketball.
That's what I was going to say.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Basketball.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Poingar, yep, yep, I don't know, you call it.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Go ahead, TJ.
The height ain't there foranything else.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Poingar Zion.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I can see the poingar .
You know what I'm saying.
They run the floor.
Yes, exactly that's what theydo now.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
I love that.
Does that show up in your lifetoday?
Speaker 4 (10:05):
I knew it because.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I could feel that you know energy resonating like
right now You're still runningthe floor.
Your dad's a positive influenceon you.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
Huge, huge, huge, huge.
Tell us a little bit about.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
You know that relationship because I can see
it when you all are together andhugging up.
Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
That's easy, man.
I can talk to my dad about yougot time.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
I love that man.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
It's interesting to see our relationship progress.
I think a lot of times whenpeople think of their parents
they think, oh, they're onlygood for when you turn 18 and
then they kind of disappear orgo into the background.
But my dad made sure to makethat our relationship extended
beyond our father sonrelationship, that it adapted
into a friendship and that wasinteresting.
When I turned 18 and moved outof the house and of beyond our
father-son relationship thatadapted into a friendship.
(10:50):
And that was interesting.
When I turned 18 and moved outof the house and went to college
and whatever that, he stillremained a friend and a father.
He showed up in both worlds andhe's just an amazing guy.
He's very we're very similar.
We have the same mannerisms.
I picked up, I think I mirroredhim.
Like if you think about MichaelJordan and Kobe and how Kobe
mirrored Michael Jordan, that'skind of like how me and my dad
operate.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
It's very similar I love that Very good Zion.
So I think Shateen was off onsomething.
Oh, no worries.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
What people, place or event was most impactful.
You might have already answeredthis.
I can guess on what thisquestion the answer may be, but
what has been probably the mostimpactful, if we're going along
with this book theme.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Oh, the book theme going on with that.
I think one of the biggestimpactful moments of my life has
been getting cut on thefreshman basketball team.
That sounds, it sounds general,right, right, exactly, and it
sounds like cliche and whatever.
But that was like a bigprominent moment in my life
where it felt like somebody wasdenying me and I had.
(11:57):
I had to deal with that, that Ihad to come in with resiliency
and figure out what I was goingto do and bounce back.
So that moment right theresolidified me as well.
I'm not going to take no for ananswer like this is I'm going
to come back 100% stronger.
And you asked my parents, myteammates at that time.
That was the hardest I everworked in my life and then I
achieved better and went on todo more stuff that was more
(12:19):
positive and whatnot.
I didn't let that deter me frommy path and my work that I have
to do.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
I love that I do too.
It reminds me of Shatima'sfavorite saying, because a lot
of times people are resilientand you see that when somebody
has told them what they can't door what they can't have, and
we're so eager to prove it, andShatima's line is, watch me win
right.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
That's my style, I love that.
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Look at that, watch me win.
That's good.
Can I take that too?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
I'll share it with you, that's their line.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
I think that, for me, is what I heard you say.
Tell us what's the title of thebook.
We call it the Book of Zion,but what would you title it?
Share with us quickly what someof those chapters that resonate
with people when they read it,that they're gonna walk away.
Going man, that's zion.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Tell us about that yeah, I've been going back and
forth to thinking about writinga book and there's always these
two, these two titles that Ialways go, and I'm glad you're
talking because this is gonnahelp me out.
Um is the first one that I gowith is keep your fucking head
down, is is the first title thatI catch with is Keep your
Fucking Head Down.
It's the first title that comesto my mind and that comes from
our little cliche.
Our saying from Up To it is upto it, down to it.
(13:32):
We do it because we're used toit.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That's where Up To.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
It came from.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Say that one more time.
Yeah, that was fast Up to itdown to it.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
We do it because we're used to it.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Oh, I like that.
We have to share that and it'sso real too, yeah so the down to
it part is, like we said, theresiliency.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
It's putting in the work.
It's grinding and keeping yourhead down and not looking up and
being like well, look ateverybody else, right.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
They're succeeding.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
Why am I not?
No, keep your head down andkeep working.
But then my dad brings up well,what about like the up to it
part of keeping your head upeven when you are feeling down?
Keeping your head up andkeeping moving forward rather
than looking down.
Keeping your head up, so theother title is up to it?
Of course, would be the another, another title, so I'm I'm
toying between the two.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
I don't think you can lose with either one I like
them both, or maybe it's asequel.
Yeah right, oh yeah, oh thereyou go right there what are
people gonna to stick when theyread that book?
Speaker 2 (14:30):
What's going to stick with them about you or your
autobiography, Zion?
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Yeah, I think what's going to stick with them about
the autobiography is a story ofa guy that had a lot of things
not in his favor and overcomingthose barriers and overcoming
those obstacles in a way that'sstill positive and not mad at
the world.
He does it with a smile on hisface and, like you said, watch
(14:54):
me win.
All right, this door closed,but all right, watch me win we
already know you I know, I know,just sliding that cash out to
you in a minute.
I love it.
I love that I'm an NDA overhere.
Hold on.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
We're HR, we always have that.
You already know we have thecontracts for you.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
I think you kind of answered the question I was
leading into, but if you want toexpand on it, just you know, in
the theme of this book, theplot twist.
What did we not see coming inthis book?
Speaker 4 (15:22):
The plot twist is he gave up on college.
He gave up.
He was supposed to go tocollege.
He was supposed to be theoldest one in the family to make
it, to make it in the eyes ofsociety, what they say, what
they said, not what we feelRight.
I love that.
And he dropped out and ended upmaking a way of his.
(15:43):
Maybe the path was a little bitharder that way sure, but he
still came out on top and stilltrying to learn ways and still
learning.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
I mean, I'm not I don't think I have it all
figured out at all by any means,but I'm still figuring it out
and willing to learn that, well,sometimes what we hoped our
path would be, or what peopleexpect it, isn't right, and when
we look back we're like dang, Icame out on top going this
route, and so that's the plottwist it didn't.
(16:11):
We didn't anticipate it, but ittook us somewhere great because
I think you all are doing somegreat work.
No, I appreciate that a lot andmy last question we believe all
leaders are readers, but not allreaders are leaders.
What book would you recommend,and why?
Speaker 4 (16:28):
oh, I love this question too.
I just recommended like a lotof books to everybody.
I've been an avid reader.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Now, I think for the past six months I've read like
10 books yeah yeah, on 1.5 speedso I don't know that counts, or
whatever, but do that right butdidn't do that.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
But the one book that I've read and I had a tangible
book.
This was a book gifted to mefrom my dad's friend named Will
LeBlanc.
He gifted it to me mygraduation night and it was
Victor Frangle A Man's Searchfor Meaning, and that book is
about a person and his family ina concentration camp and how he
had to remain positive.
(17:06):
He's a psychologist now andlearning what made people
resilient in that, in a horriblespace.
How did people make it out andstill find hope in the world
after going through such atragedy?
Speaker 3 (17:19):
right.
Speaker 4 (17:20):
And that's what it's all talking about.
It's a man's search for meaningand purpose, and if somebody
can come out of a concentrationcamp and still feel hopeful
about the world and still findpurpose in the world, then what
we're going through maybe isminuscule and we can still find
hope.
Yeah, like that level.
So that's a book that Irecommend to everybody,
especially after high schoolgraduations or college
(17:41):
graduations Okay, awesome.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
Drop that name one more time.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
The Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frangel.
Okay, nice.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
Okay, nice, I'm going to have to get your book list.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Oh yeah, man, you can follow me on Instagram.
I got a book club littlehighlight.
You can tap through there andsee what happens.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
I'm a reader, but I like the book Okay, and all that
good stuff.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
I wish I had that talent or those skills to
highlight.
I'm like I'll remembersomething from it.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Well, we appreciate you hanging out with us for this
time.
I've learned a lot, me too.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
And I cannot wait to read this book.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Let this be your confirmation that I think you
have two books, brewing Twobooks.
That we are ready to read aswell.
So we appreciate you coming outand hanging out with us here at
let's Talk.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
About it.
Yeah, thank you so much, zion,for being here.
Your smile has brightened upour room today and keeps
brightening up my social.
Tell everybody where they canfind you on social or the
website.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
I appreciate that, so thank you for having me first
of all.
And you can find me personallyat Zion underscore, underscore
Givens, and then the companyUpToIt at UpToIt AZ, and that's
all one word.
You'll be able to find us inthe All right.
The fun part is the website isuptoitclub, not com but club,
because it's the party, it's theeducational turnout.
You know what I?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
mean Educational turnout.
I love that Awesomeno-transcript.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
With credit restoration, our goal is to help
people create and maintainlegacy wealth so that they can
pass down, like you mentionedearlier.
And so again, coffee creditoptions for you.
We'll start with credit moveinto building your business and
also upscaling.
So excited to launch thatbusiness and again excited to
have you here with us.
(19:52):
Also want to thank the Black HRSociety, our other sponsor, lta
.
Let's talk about it podcast isthe birth child of the Black HR
Society.
Is the birth child of the BlackHR Society.
You can follow BHRS on all thesocial platforms at
blackhrsocietycom.
Please be sure to like, follow,share and subscribe to let's
(20:14):
Talk About it, the podcast andbe sure to return back for part
two to hear Zion's the rest ofhis story.
This is the beginning.
We appreciate for you for beinghere today and look forward to
you coming back.
So thank you.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Thank you for tuning into let's Talk About it the
podcast.
We hope you enjoyed today'sconversation and found
inspiration in the stories andexperiences shared.
We trust that you wereentertained, learned something
new and felt inspired by today'sshow.
Be sure to subscribe, like,follow, share and join us for
(20:50):
the next episode.
Until then, keep theconversation going and let's
keep talking about it.
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