July 2, 2025 • 46 mins
Send us a message at info@maneupmemphis.org
When passion meets purpose, communities transform. In our latest episode, we sit down with Jasmine West-Hunter, the dynamic Volunteer and Event Coordinator for Mane Up Memphis, to explore how this innovative nonprofit is reshaping Memphis through mental health services and financial literacy training for youth ages 11-25.
Jasmine shares her fascinating journey from agricultural business student to community builder, revealing how she was drawn to Mane Up Memphis after witnessing founder Racheal Shantel speak with rare authenticity about her path. "She showed the grit, the grind, and the heartache," Jasmine explains, "and I resonated with it." This conversation pulls back the curtain on what drives the people behind organizations working to lift up Memphis's next generation.
The heart of our discussion explores Jasmine's vibrant vision for community events that could strengthen Memphis's social fabric. From family-oriented water balloon fights to an elegant "Bluff City Gala" featuring upscale versions of Memphis soul food, her ideas reflect a deep understanding of what brings people together. We dive into her unique passion for agricultural sustainability, where she dreams of teaching Memphians food preservation, livestock management, and creating community-based food systems.
We also tackle the universal financial challenges facing younger generations, discussing the concept of "generational financial trauma" and strategies for breaking negative money cycles. Jasmine offers candid advice to her 18-year-old self that listeners of all ages will find valuable: "Don't max out that credit card!"
Whether you're curious about nonprofit innovation, community building, financial wellness, or simply love Memphis, this episode offers fresh perspectives on how we can all contribute to a stronger, more connected city. Check out Mane Up Memphis at maneupmemphis.org to learn about volunteering opportunities or to support their mission. Remember, as Jasmine says: "Mane Up, y'all!"
#ManeUpMemphis
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey everybody, joey Laswell here from MainUp Memphis
.
This is the podcast where wetalk about our organization and
the nonprofit.
I'm a licensed social workerand also a financial social
worker and basically on thisteam we provide mental health
(00:22):
services and financial literacytraining for people 11 to 25.
So we're really trying to liftup this next generation of youth
and you know, I'm justsomething that I'm really
passionate about and proud to bea part of this organization.
And so what we're trying to dois we're trying to highlight
some of the people in thisorganization and just kind of
tell a little bit of their story.
What is it that drew them toMade Up Memphis?
(00:42):
Just kind of tell a little bitof their story.
What is it that drew them toMade Up Memphis?
And you know just what havetheir experiences been like in
Memphis since.
You know, because everyone hasdifferent experiences I'm a
transplant.
I've only been here a couple ofyears, but a lot of people have
been here when they're raisedbeen here 10 years.
So, you know, just curious tolearn more about their
relationship to Memphis and somegood memories and things like
(01:03):
that their relationship toMemphis and some good memories
and things like that.
So in honor of that we're goingto have.
Well, we have the lovely MissJasmine West Hunter and she's
going to tell us a little bitabout well first of all.
So what is your official titleat the organization the
Volunteer and?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Event Coordinator.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
All right, that's a big, because we do a lot of
volunteer stuff and a lot ofevents, right?
So, okay, that's a big, bigtitle, a lot of responsibilities
, so so let's talk a little bitabout what was so what's your
background in in school.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
What did you go to school for?
So currently I'm pursuing abachelor's degree in
agricultural business.
So currently I'm pursuing abachelor's degree in
agricultural business, farming,basically farm manager.
It's kind of a passion of mine,that's kind of grew on me over
the years.
So, yeah, that's what I'm doing, Okay.
(02:01):
And then how did you discoverMain Up Memphis, or how did they
discover you?
Well, I attended the InfluenceHer conference, which was an
all-women's conference held bythis amazing organization called
the so you Foundation, I think,and I had the chance to go
because my business mentor atthe time was speaking there.
(02:21):
And while I was attending, Ihad the pleasure of seeing
Rachel speak for the first timeand I heard her story and I just
kind of just honed in on it.
I thought that was beautiful,because, you know, a lot of
times we meet people and theylike to make it all glitz and
glam and all I did was smile andbe pretty and this is how I got
(02:46):
here and she actually showedthe grit, the grind and the
heartache and I kind ofresonated with it.
So that's how I found her, okay.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah, and if you want to go back to episode three,
that's when I interviewed RachelChantel, the, you know, the
owner, leader, creator of thisorganization and her vision.
You know she's thinking many,many steps ahead.
So just, we got some excitingthings coming and yeah, so
that's basically probably how alot of us here at man at Memphis
, Rachel was the glue we're amoth to the flame of her you
(03:20):
know she is the light.
That's like man.
So I'll get off my retrosoapbox.
But, um, so yeah, like we'reall drawn to this organization
for a reason, I think, and it's,it's the mission, it's the
community part of it.
Um, so what?
I guess what I'm curious about,like, uh, with the, if you had
(03:41):
a magic wand and let's say wehad an unlimited budget and we
could just spend however wewanted to, what kind of events
would you put on, what kind ofthings would you put together,
and how would that benefit thecity of Memphis?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Well, unlimited budget Number one.
Of course I would make ourfestival a more grander, bigger
thing as far as that's concerned, but really I would hone in on
the family events, because Ifeel like we are totally missing
out on places where you can goas a family and have fun.
(04:17):
So I would do water balloonfights community water balloon
fights.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do water balloon fights community water balloon
fights, uh, but I'll see houses,cookouts, dance parties, uh,
block party, I don't know danceparties, okay, well, now I'm
saying block parties because Iremember when I was a kid we
used to have block parties yeah,this was not, this was in this
was in different city, but youknow yeah, no, we have block
parties.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The only thing is I don't want you know what happens
at a block party.
Oh, only thing is, I don't wantyou know what happens at a
block party.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Oh I gotcha you want to keep it family.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, family friendly , family oriented so really fun
things like that.
I will build another libertyland.
Honestly, I would put it.
I would put a six flagsags heresomewhere, honestly, yes.
I would do an amusement parkUnlimited budget Like.
Imagine us having a theme parkhere.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Well, we are working on a community center, right?
Yeah, that's like one of thenext big things that we're, you
know, in the process of.
Okay, so we'd make our annualevent, which is the.
The festival, the festival whichwill be our third one next year
, on May 2nd 2026.
(05:32):
Go ahead and mark yourcalendars, people, because this
one is going to be hot, you knowit's going to be.
Yes, so be on lookout and thenreally help us participate.
You know, help us make this agreat event, you know?
Volunteer, Volunteer,madeupmemphisorg.
So what are some of thevolunteer opportunities that
some of the people can expect todo if they wanted to volunteer?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So some volunteer just work at an event.
We would have a cleanup crew,setup crews, food and beverage,
greeters or hospitalities, whatelse, what else, what else, what
else, what else.
I think really that's itHonestly the cleanup, the
breakdown, the setup crew andreally just extra hands, because
(06:18):
you know sometimes we needextra hands to kind of like, hey
, I need you to go send amessage all the way across over
there.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
So things like that, just a pretty easy stuff, yeah
but at the same time they'rehelping a greater mission, you
know and and really like gettinghands-on and some of the booths
that I've already been a partof, you know people seem to want
the sense of community back youknow, or they want a stronger
sense of community and andthat's really what I think we're
(06:46):
trying to do here is isrecreate or or build an organic
sense of community within thecity.
I know that Memphis has a lot ofdifferent parts and segments,
and you know, just like any bigcity, you know.
But the core of Memphis, Ithink, is is, you know, very
diverse, but you know, yeah.
Gritty grind, you know diverse,but you know, yeah, gritty grind
.
You know, like left city,everything, like everything that
(07:07):
we bring to the table.
You know, and, uh, and that's,that's part of our charm, you
know, and I think, I thinkhonestly, I'm thinking about it
recently in memphis is about tohave a moment, a good moment, I
think you know, yeah, becauseyou know there are.
there are other communityleaders and community organizers
, organizers that are doing someamazing things, and the more
(07:27):
I'm in this nonprofit space, I'mseeing some great companies,
great organizations doing greatthings.
So, yeah, so I mean I'm justlike I said, I'm just super,
super pumped to be in this typeof organization, super, super
(07:48):
pumped to be in uh, in this typeof uh organization.
So, um, when it comes to uhevents, um, so, if you had like
going back to the unlimitedbudget, if you had your budget
to make your own special, uniqueevent, let's, let's go crazy.
All right, I would do a blackand white suit and tie.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Um, have you ever you've seen like the 20s?
Uh, fun fact, I am obsessedwith the dapper downs of the 20s
.
The style of the 20s and the50s are.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Jenny's a girl like that kind of.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Put on like a great gas be typing.
I'm talking about all outDinner thing and we actually go.
There's a lot live jazz band, agreat live jazz band?
Yes, and we are just twistingthe night away.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Honestly, man I mean that's, that's such a simple
thing, but I mean that's, that'stotally doable, like, let me,
it's totally.
I mean you, you pretty muchjust manifested it because now
it's out there, it's, it's outthere, it's spoken.
So what would you call thisevent?
Um, let's see, because now it'sout there, it's out there, it's
spoken.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So what would you call this event?
Let's see, we can brainstorm it.
We're brainstorming.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yes.
So, people, if you're listening, I want you to shoot us a
message and, you know, give ussome ideas.
What would you call this event?
What would you have in thistype of black tie?
So, black and white suits isthat what you're?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
saying black and white suits, tux, everyone tux.
Okay, all right, so like aformal gala gala type of thing
oh wow, glitzy, I like thatreally I'm talking about high
and you had no prom dresses.
I need designers type things,you know what I'm saying america
glitzy again.
I like that okay there we gookay and I wouldn't.
(09:46):
I would call it um.
I don't know um dazzlings formental health or something like
that.
We're like um.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Okay, I don't know I mean we don't have to come up
with the name on the spot, butyou know, we're putting it out
there.
We're going to crowdsource thisBluff City Gala.
Bluff City Gala.
Okay, all right, I like that.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I like that, something like that.
It would be something like that.
I'm going to come up with it.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I think if it's going to be a gala, we need a pretty
fancy name to it.
I think, yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Let's do something in French, ooh.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Let's make this in French.
Man, my French is really rusty,I wouldn't even know.
But okay, all right.
Well, I like this idea Honestly.
You know, I think you knowpeople, I think you tap into
something too.
Like, you know, after you getto a certain age, like when
you're out of high school school, when are you ever going to go
dress up and go to a dance areally fancy dinner.
(10:50):
No one has the opportunity todo that anymore.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
And the second thing is great food.
We are not doing any food butfood.
The food has to be phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Chef grade phenomenal .
Like absolutely Okay, just soyou guys know, memphis has a lot
of amazing food in this city.
So you know, if you're arestaurant, you think you want
to be a part of this, hit us up.
You know, let's get this going.
You know Where's the chefs.
Right right.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
They're going to make all of like our Memphis soul
food and we like contemporarythem and make them, oh yes, and
level them up to a michelin star.
So like the ribs are reallyfamous out here, like I would
love to see what.
So how could someone take thatand make it like fine dining
fine dining memphis yes, finedining with me.
Fine dining with Memphis.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Now we're on some drugs, fine dining with Memphis.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Fine dining with Main Up Memphis.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Hmm, fine, dining with Main Up Memphis.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Okay, I like that, I like that Like a food tour,
where it's like high grade.
You buy in to it and then youget this extravagant of
contemporary Memphis foodMission Star.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Yeah, so yeah, bring some eyeballs to Memphis in a
different light.
We have Memphis grit, but wecan also be classy, we can be
fancy and glitzy.
So yeah, I love this idea.
I think it's already beingmanifested, at least in my mind.
If anyone doesn't know me, whenI get my mind into something,
(12:27):
my teeth into something, it's,it's over.
Don't be afraid if we starttalking about this in future
episodes, just so everyone isaware I'm doing this podcast
just because I love podcastingfor one, but then I'm also
trying to tell the story of thisgreat organization.
(12:50):
We're going to have returningguests, the Mood Dudes.
I will say the Mood Dudesepisode is kind of taking off a
little bit.
I'm really surprised andimpressed.
But I'm also grateful thatpeople are actually downloading,
and I mean it's not justMemphis.
I have people from across thecountry now that have already
downloaded our episode four, theMood Dudes.
(13:10):
So I'm going to give a plug forthat.
So that's going to be a runningsegment.
Actually, we're trying to, meand the Mood Dudes are trying to
get together tonight and we'regoing to try to check out or at
least I wanted to check out alocal pinball spot.
There's a pinball bar or arcadein Memphis.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Are you talking about ?
Oh, let me cut you off.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
No go ahead.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
It's over in Collierville.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I actually haven't even looked.
I just know I found them onInstagram.
So you know, kind of a crazysocial networking thing.
But I reached out to somebodyfor my video game idea.
There's a developer here inMemphis, cody 901 Cody, I think
his name is on Instagram, checkhim out.
He's been working on thisproject to digitize the city of
(14:04):
Memphis in a video game, and sohe's basically created a virtual
Memphis.
And I had this idea of a videogame and it's set in Memphis.
And I had this idea of a videogame and it's set in Memphis.
It's a social worker who hassuperpowers and he basically
fights crime.
It's going to be like GrandTheft Auto, but instead of
beating people up, you'rehelping people.
So that's my little pitch for mycrazy idea, but it's actually
(14:29):
kind of happening.
So I reached out to him andthen I started following him and
now I saw like oh, he postedabout this pinball place and I
was like, oh man, because I love, love pinball.
I used to grow up, I grew upwith my dad playing pinball, so
I used to watch him and then Iplayed and man, so yeah, I'm
just excited.
We're going to try to have themood dudes out there.
(14:50):
Maybe we can even do like alive thing, like an Instagram
live thing that would be coolBecause we want to really
highlight Memphis and I've beenguilty of.
If you live in a city longenough, you kind of don't do
some of the Memphis things.
Well, I actually do want to dosome of those things.
My mom is actually coming infrom Japan on the 1st of July
(15:17):
and she's going to be here inMemphis and she's a super fan of
the Japanese player and I can'tremember his last name, but,
yeah, I'm trying to manifest herbeing able to meet the Japanese
Memphis Grizzlies player,because I know it's off-season,
but hey, I'm just going to putit out there If I can find a way
to meet the Japanese player,which I feel bad.
(15:37):
It's like, uh, oh, man, that'sgonna drive me crazy.
I feel bad now for not havinghis name on the ready, but I
mean, anyone who's a Grizzliesfan knows, you know, that we
have a Japanese player.
Um, but um, yeah, just stand by, I'm gonna.
It's gonna drive me, me crazynot knowing that guy's name, but
(15:58):
yeah, so I'm basically turninginto a tour guide for Memphis
when my mom comes.
You know how that goes, you haveyour family coming in.
So it's like, oh, we've got togo to Graceland, we've got to go
to all these places and youknow, now I'm doing all that
stuff.
So I'm excited to show her, butI want to, I want to do it as a
tourist myself.
I'm trying to treat myself as atourist and say, okay, let's go
(16:20):
do, let's go do somethinginteresting, you know, um,
something that I never wouldhave done.
All right, so, uh, yukikawamura.
Yeah, okay, that's him, yukiKawamura.
I actually already reached outto his team, or his people.
I went onto his page and I waslike, hey, can we meet?
(16:43):
So you know, just see whathappens.
I just want a picture with himand it would be kind of a cool
story.
So, yeah, a lot going on inMemphis, and you know Memphis is
a nonprofit, you know.
(17:08):
So we're looking at, you know,we're looking for referral
sources for mental health.
We have our financialcounseling program, so, like
that's kind of more.
My lane is the financialtherapy, financial counseling
piece of this.
So actually, since we do talkabout both, I'm going to quiz my
guests about their finances alittle bit.
So you're going to be the firstone and we're going to put you
(17:32):
on the spot and ask you somemoney questions.
Okay, all right.
So first thing is if you couldtell your 18-year-old self and
give your 18-year-old selffinancial advice what would be
at least one thing that youwould tell your 18-year-old self
Coming right out of high school?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Don't max out that credit card.
Ooh Jesus, please don't max outthat credit card.
Ooh Jesus, please don't.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Don't max out the credit card.
I've been there.
I will admit I have maxed outcredit cards.
I've in the past.
So I'm even though I'm afinancial coach consult whatever
financial social worker I havemy own financial stuff that I'm
going through.
As far as like behavioral, youknow, because the, the
overspending is really, it's asymptom a lot of times of other
(18:21):
things like stress and, like youknow, like emotional spending
and things like that.
So that's part of what we wantto do here at main of memphis is
to demystify, you know,personal finances and have kind
of awkward conversations aboutmoney, because a lot of people
just don't want to talk abouttheir finances.
It's just.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It's just so it's just so embarrassing to have it
is.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
But it shouldn't be embarrassing because we're all
dealing with the same financialstuff, right?
Like we're all, everyone, moneygoes through everybody in in
some way shape or form.
So, like if we as a whole like,start, you know, improving our
finances.
Talking about finances, I thinkit's just going to make things
a little bit better.
It's not going to solveeverything, but you know, like,
if we, especially if this nextgeneration, you know, has that
(19:07):
foundation of their financesstronger and their mental,
mental health is stronger, then,oh man, this next generation is
going to go to the, to the moon, you know I think the biggest
thing for that was, at least formy generation.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Well, I'm not going to speak for my generation, I'm
going to speak about for me andthe people I know.
It's um, really the upbringingthat we have and the
relationship we saw our parentsgo through with money and so you
get in these spaces and youstart to talk about money and
people are telling you this andtelling you that and get into
the glitz and glance.
You almost don't want to feelstupid when you talk because you
(19:39):
don't know.
And when you hear someone talkit's like oh, everyone knows you
don't max out a credit card.
Everyone knows that's a ratioand you're like right, I know it
so it's really it's.
I think for most people it's thepart of you don't want to seem
like you don't know.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah.
You don't want to be the oddone out.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
And this is actually something that came up in a
briefing.
We did a briefing for themental health court judge just
the other day.
We did like a little lunch andlearn and it was a really cool
experience.
And, you know, something thatcame up was generational
financial trauma, and a lot ofpeople kind of like scratch
their head a little bit, butwhen they get it, they kind of
(20:19):
get it because a lot offinancial habits and a lot of
financial issues are actuallypassed on from one generation to
the next, because your parentslearned from their parents and
you know.
So the cycle kind of continuesand if it's a bad cycle, then a
lot of times the bad stuff keepshappening.
Yeah, so what we're trying todo is kind of break that cycle,
(20:41):
but you know you have to beeducated to do that, you know.
So, yeah, generationalfinancial trauma look it up,
it's definitely a thing.
And you know, what we're tryingto do here is to, yeah, break
that cycle.
Um, give people an even footing, a firm financial footing and
uh, yeah, so all right.
(21:01):
So, 18 year old self, 18 yearolds out there, don't rack up
your credit cards please, please, don't don't do it, don't do it
it's not worth it.
I'm telling you that that itemthat you're going to buy at best
buy and this is just mepersonal experience uh, it's not
worth it.
I'm telling you that that itemthat you're gonna buy at best
buy and this is just me personalexperience uh, it's not gonna
be worth it.
In the long run you're gonnaregret that, that shiny plastic
thing you know.
So, um, yeah, just take it fromus.
(21:24):
Take it from us, you know.
Um, you know more.
Uh, seasoned financial veteransthat know are still flawed and
we still make our mistakes.
But take it from us.
We're trying to give you thegame, basically Like, if you
follow our advice, thentheoretically you're going to be
much better off than we are.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I wanted to ask you a question about that yeah, yeah.
I'm an open book.
So what advice would you give aperson that, let's say, we're
going through the ups and downsof life and it seems like all
you do is work, work, work topay the bills.
And it seems like the billsjust keep getting higher and
higher and higher, and so youwork, work, work, work, work,
(22:06):
and then you get yourself to apoint to where you're like this
is my money.
I'm tired of giving it to bills.
I'm going to go out, I'm goingto buy several shiny things and
I'm going to ignore the rest ofyou, because I feel like all I
do is work to pay bills.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
I'm not enjoying it.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
So a lot of us in our generation are at that point to
where we're like you know what?
We're going to go spend ahundred dollars on DoorDash
because that's all we can do.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
So how?
How do you navigate?
Speaker 1 (22:30):
that that is a great, great question, and I love that
you put a lot of like reallygood detail into this problem
that you're basicallyidentifying.
And this is really a thing,like people you know, especially
generational, like we're in,you know each generation has
their own financial like kind oflike problem set.
And you know, I'm in a eldermillennial is that's what I am,
(22:57):
apparently, that's what I'vebeen told, so elder millennial,
which makes me sound really old,but it's really just I'm an old
millennial.
But, yeah, we have a little bitdifferent financial like up and
down, like we went through thefinancial crisis of 2008, 2009,
and you know like it hitdifferently.
Well, you know, I think, whatwe're, what you really are,
(23:18):
you're bringing up some reallyinteresting things because, like
initially, you said, okay,you're, you're doing what you
got to do, you're paying yourbills, you're doing the right
thing, but it's just such agrind and you don't have any
like any set, any any fun, anysatisfaction, so, like you, any
satisfaction, so it just feelsexhausting and you're never
going to get anywhere and youdon't get to enjoy life.
(23:39):
Well, that's actually somethingthat I've been kind of writing
about and thinking about a lot,too is finding that balance of
wants versus needs and I thinkwhenever you're in your early
period of life you havedifferent priorities.
So you're not thinking aboutretirement whenever you're 18
years old and that's probablyunderstandable.
(24:00):
But you already said, if you're18, you would tell yourself,
okay, don't spend so much money.
Yeah, it kind of gets into acultural, sociological lens of
what is this generation learningabout finances and money and
things like that.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Spend it if you got it.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Spend it if you got it.
Yeah, I think it's acontinuation of the YOLO vibe,
where everyone was like YOLO andthen COVID happened and people
were like well.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Really.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
YOLO, really YOLO, and people were like, well,
really YOLO.
And people were like, hey, youknow, let's do this thing.
And I think we're just kind ofcoming down off of that level of
spending, that mentality, andwe're kind of licking our wounds
now collectively, everyone, alot of people, overspent and you
know, like they were at homeand you know doing online
(24:53):
shopping and they were bored andso you know, it's, it's a, it's
a pervasive thing.
It's not just a a youth thing.
This is a bigger, bigger issue.
Um, but yeah, I mean, as far aswhat to do about it, it's, uh,
it's gonna take these types ofconversations, you know, like us
, like us talking about it, youknow, having a discussion about,
(25:17):
like you know, a boomer, youknow someone who's 65 is looking
at a different financialpicture than somebody who's 25,
35, 45, even so, yeah, so thenwe get into the life cycle of
money and all the differentthings that you worry about at
different times of your life.
But yeah, I mean, did Iactually answer your question or
(25:38):
did I just really go in deepabout what happened?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
I mean, you're really just taking accountability
honestly.
So you know, it's just like hey, you got it.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, exactly Everything in moderation.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Yeah, moderation.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
But that's the tricky part.
It's a tricky balance becauseyou have to be responsible,
you've got to pay your bills,but then you also want to have
fun because, like you said,you're working hard for this
money.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
So you should not feel guilty at all.
Why can't we just go on abarter system Everyone?
Let's bankrupt capitalism.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Let's grow vegetables and do cows and stuff well,
that's something we actually umhere at the at the laswell house
, we do a lot of slow livingstuff.
So we you know my wife bakesbread from scratch.
I mean, we have a bread machine, but you know we do a lot of
things like the manual waybecause you know, uh, you know
for one it's like labor of love.
(26:33):
Yeah, so making a, a grilledcheese with bread that you made
yourself, is really.
It's just satisfying, you know.
So.
So that way we kind of like to.
You know, we we spend lessmoney too, like we buy.
We try to make a lot of mealsfrom scratch too.
It takes more time, but ittastes better and it's like
healthier and all good stuff.
So it's really a.
(26:53):
It's like healthier and allthis good stuff, so it's really
a combination.
But I think when you really getdown to it, like it's about
that sweet spot of okay, Iworked all week, I paid all my
bills, and then on Saturday Iwant to go out and get a bite to
eat with my significant other,that is perfectly fine.
(27:14):
But the thing is, if you'respending frivolously on other
things that don't really matteror bring you joy, then that's
the problem.
So we get sidetracked by allthe other little smaller shiny
object syndrome and we kind oflose track of the main mission.
(27:38):
Yeah, and the main thing, wekeep the main thing around here,
and I didn't mean main as in.
Well, yeah, we'll keep it.
The main thing is the mainthing and that's main on.
Memphis for you.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Y'all hear my kids hollering in the background.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
I'm so sorry, that's alright.
Like I said, we are humanbeings here and this is not
going to be a perfectly producedpodcast, so you might hear some
.
My son is, you know, he's fiveand he doesn't understand that
I'm actually kind of workinghere, you know I can't put a,
(28:13):
even to put a sign on the door.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
He's not gonna be like oh well that is gonna take
the sign down, draw you apicture on it and say you're
dead.
Look knocking on the door right, right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
So, yeah, the don't worry about that.
I think, honestly, at this pointin time, people will accept
those little sounds and like,okay, that's just, that's just
normal life for you, you knowwe're trying to live lives, but
we're also trying to use theseplatforms to spread our message,
but then also, you know,provide people maybe some kind
(28:43):
of relief or, you know, a senseof like I'm not alone in this,
like other people are strugglingwith their finances.
So yeah, so that's basically.
You know, we're we're trying to, we're trying to change the
narrative around personalfinance here and uh, and that's
one of my I guess you could sayit's almost like my life passion
, my life energy is just liketeach people about finance.
(29:06):
That's all you know.
Like that's just it.
You know.
So, um, so yeah, I mean, I cango off on that all day.
So I don't want to, I don'twant to hog up the interview, so
(29:30):
yeah, so we've covered a goodamount, but I kind of I feel
like I want to get to know you alittle bit better.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
You know, and like what, what do you bring to the
Made at Memphis team?
As far as like, what is yoursuperpower?
Know, wow, oh, what is mysuperpower?
Um, hyper focused, I'm gonnasay I like that I need that I
like if rachel was to call meright now and say hey I need you
to go look at this email andthen reply back.
I would get off and look at theemail and reply back.
I don't believe in like waitinguh to get done.
I want to go ahead and get itdone and also, as quickly as we
(29:54):
can get it done, let's get itdone with also quality as well.
So as far as that's concerned,another superpower IdeaTank.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Ooh, we've got some podcasts to do together, because
I am an idea machine and Ithink power us powered together,
ooh man.
We will, we will at leastMemphis, at least Memphis.
But yeah, you know, we've got alot of creative people on this
(30:29):
team.
A lot of really passionatepeople, and you know just
highlighting of reallypassionate people and you know
just highlighting the missionhere, and then, you know trying
to spread some positivity out inthe world.
Let's be real, we needsomething positive like just you
know so much going on in theworld that you know I think we
need to.
You know we need to push forcommunity, we need to really
(30:54):
bring people together and I lovethat you're a community
organizer, you're putting thingstogether, you're bringing
people together and even sinceI've been at the Memphis team,
I've met so many amazing peoplealready and I'm making all these
different connections acrossthe city And'm like this is this
is pretty cool.
You know like there's somereally, really amazing things
(31:16):
happening.
Um, all right.
So bold prediction five yearsfrom now, where do you see made
up memphis, or where do you wantto see made up memphis in five
years?
Speaker 2 (31:27):
um, five years, I want to see made up memphis.
Um, I'm going to say we are ahousehold name as far as mental
health goes.
We have coined mental healthand financial literacy and
things of that nature.
I also a side project of minethat I do want to incorporate.
(31:48):
Of course, I do have abackground in agricultural
business.
One of my passions is, uh, food,so I do want to tackle food
scarcity.
So one of the ways that I dowant to tackle food scarcity is,
um, everything everyone's nowbig with the community gardens
and I love that for everyone.
However, uh, most of thecommunity aren't vegans.
(32:11):
Ah, so I am a livestock person,so that's probably my major of
animal science.
I love animals cows, horses,you name it.
So, uh, I would like to teachpeople about food, like how to
preserve things like that, wholeclasses, how to preserve your
(32:33):
vegetables once you get them,butchering classes.
I'm sending my husband tobutcher school so he can butcher
our cows.
So, um, I raise them.
I teach you how to raise them,take care of them, give them
shots.
You know minor things that youcan do outside of a vet, because
, still, go to the vet and, um,you know, storing me, processing
(32:53):
me, stuff like this so we canreally be a community that, um,
I want to get us to barteringlike we don't have to be on the
grocery store.
Hey, I got a cow.
Someone come butchery and share, or something like this so net
note.
Uh, really just teaching peoplehow to get back to the family
farm life and sustain bythemselves.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Not really by themselves, but like you know
more self-dependently yes, yes,as as much as we can get away
from dependency on all the crazystuff that you know, we I mean
even with, like the amazon andand it's really become part of
our, our world.
But, yeah, it's actually kindof a refreshing to hear, hear
(33:36):
people, especially youngerpeople, that want to learn about
this kind of stuff and want toteach about it.
You know, I mean it's like youwould think that, okay, 2025
we're all going to be flying,flying cars.
But you know, give me an oldtruck.
Yeah, give me a manual truck.
Uh, and I'm I'm happy, you know, give me a super, yeah.
(33:59):
So, man, we got, we got a lot of, uh, future episodes and things
to talk about.
Jasmine, like it's, um, it's.
I think I'm gonna run out of,I'm gonna run out of space on my
computer for all theseconversations.
But no, like, yeah, that's partlike, and that just goes to
show you how big we're thinkingat this company.
(34:20):
We're thinking about the biggerpicture.
You know, yeah, we work on the,you know, in social work, we
have macro lens, your mezzo lensand your micro lens, and so
we're doing the micro stuff.
But then we're also kind ofgoing to that mid-level, you
know, of the community, but thenwe want to go macro.
Like you said, we want to goglobal, I want to go global.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
So what we anticipate and hope to do is have main up
and then your city right.
So like main up Kansas City,main up st louis, main up uh
austin.
You know we want to have thismodel all around the country,
you know yeah so that's, that's,that's coming.
(35:03):
I mean, we're working on it,it's coming.
It's either.
It's either gonna happen or orwe're gonna get shut down or
something, but I think it'sgonna.
So this is a rocket ship andI'm just happy to be strapped in
.
I'm ready to explore the cosmostogether with y'all.
So All right.
Well, that's a lot.
(35:25):
We covered a lot, I think.
I don't know like, do you haveanything, any last words or any
things that you want to hype orhighlight, like something going
on in your world that you wantpeople to know about?
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Oh, I have, of course .
I wrote a book.
Ooh, oh yeah, that's definitelygoing to be in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Okay, what's it called?
Speaker 2 (35:50):
It's called Buzz and the Busy Bees.
It is on Barnes Noble,available online only.
So I wrote a children's book.
It is an activity book as well,just trying to get kids
knowledge about bees and ourpollinators, because we lost
about 80 percent of our farmedbees this year yes so that's
(36:11):
really important that we'regrowing the wildflowers outside.
We're not spraying the bugsprays getting a little loud,
sorry but we're not.
We're not spraying the bugsprays and the harmful chemicals
and we're not swatting at ourbeautiful babies.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Yeah they're important, they're important,
they're important.
Yeah, because they're important.
Yes, Okay.
Well, yeah, I mean that's great.
You know, we always like tosupport artists and creativity.
You know I have a book too.
You know, about finance and I'mwriting another book and, yeah,
(36:47):
I actually have an editor andeverything have a book too.
Um, you know about finance andyou know I'm writing another
book.
Um, and, yeah, I actually havean editor and everything.
So this, uh this, my first book, was self-published.
I did it all myself, but then Iactually hired an editor for,
uh this, uh other book.
So big things coming.
I'm excited.
Uh, main up, memphis is man.
Man, we're going to be a force,you guys.
(37:08):
I mean, I'm not trying to becocky here, but I'm just seeing
things happen and I think we'reon to something really cool and
fun.
And, yeah, fun, like, let'sbring fun back, come on.
Let's bring family fun back.
Family fun back, you know likemovie nights, and you know you
know what, what if we could rent?
(37:29):
Out a drive-thru.
Well, the drive-thru justclosed.
It's out here.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
But there are some people that have so much land
here that they would definitelylet us do a drive-thru movie.
Yeah, we could just work it out.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
I actually want to create, like you know, did you
ever remember having having likethose dollar movie stores or
movie theaters, like it was liketwo bucks and it was like a
movie from like a month ago ortwo months ago?
Like why don't we have thosekind of things, you know,
because a lot of people miss outon the first run?
and you know they would ratherbuy, spend a little bit less
money.
So, yeah, so that's my.
My goal is to create those, youknow, movie theaters that are
cheap and play good movies.
(38:09):
I want to play like the oldmovies.
So another little fun factabout me is that I used to work
at Blockbuster Video back in theday 2000,.
2003.
Respect, that's great.
Yeah, I became a movie nerd.
I was already a movie lover,movie fan, but I became a movie
nerd when I was my time atBlockbuster.
(38:31):
But you know, I just beenreally lately, just really kind
of nostalgic about those thoseyou know.
Like there was something socialabout going to the movie store
picking out a movie, like you'relooking through the aisles and
like you're talking out a movielike you're looking through the
aisles and like it's six o'clockat night yeah, yeah, friday
night and you're like, oh, wedon't know what to do.
And then you go pick out themovie, then you argue over the
(38:51):
movie like oh well, I don't wantto watch that I don't want to
watch this.
Yeah, yeah yeah, and then youknow that's.
That's what we're missing likemovie watching has become so
isolating, you know?
Speaker 2 (39:01):
it's isolating.
Yeah, you're creeping up yourown watch yeah, I got a little
something in the works there too.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
I've got a little side project on that front for
movie watching, so stay tuned.
Um, that isn't really relatedto main up memphis, but I do
want to have like some kind ofmovie initiative where, you know
, we go out into the communityand maybe, maybe, you know, show
some really good movies, thatthat are culturally relevant.
I've just heard about Sinnersrecently.
I haven't seen it yet.
(39:29):
Sinners, please watch it Okayyeah, you're the second person
that said that, and initially.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I was like I don't know, it's so great.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
So, yeah, we want to have movie events like that,
where we highlight culturallyaccurate representations and
celebrations of culture.
So, yeah, we got a lot ofthings coming.
Just be be ready.
And hopefully you know you wereinspired to come join us,
either as a as a volunteer oryou know we're we're expanding.
(40:01):
There might be some jobs outthere.
Well, there will be some jobsout there as we get bigger and
bigger.
So, yeah, I mean just some jobsout there.
Well, there will be some jobsout there as we get bigger and
bigger.
So, um, yeah, I mean just weare currently hiring licensed
therapists.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Come, come, come case managers, case managers okay,
come, come, come, yes, yes, yeahand managers, uh people, uh
licensed therapists that can domanagement and hold management
positions.
We are looking.
I think we're looking we may belooking uh, but I know for sure
licensed therapists and a casemanager are.
We are hiring big emphasis onthe licensed therapist.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
We need licensed therapists yes, okay, can you
clarify on license, because Iyou know, I know that there's
like pre-licensed and there'slike independently licensed, or
so are you looking forindependently licensed
therapists?
Speaker 2 (40:49):
oh state licensed state license okay, state
license you need to be statelicensed in tennessee uh to work
.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
So yeah, gotta follow those guidelines there you go
and we do things.
We do things by the book, youknow we we have.
We are working on the insurancetaking insurance right or um
for the.
Yes, we are working on theinsurance taking insurance right
or um for the yes, we areworking on taking insurance, so
that's what we need so, yeah, Imean, come, come join us, either
(41:16):
as a volunteer or as part ofthe team.
I mean we're going to be, youknow, we're going to be
interviewing you guys and youknow you gotta, you gotta be.
This is, it's a cultural thing.
You know, like you guys have tofit.
You got to fit in with us.
We've already got a little bitof a core team going, but, yeah,
it's going to be selective, sobe you know you got to.
You got to have that main upenergy.
(41:37):
You know what I mean they mightknow.
Oh man, well, miss Jasmine,it's been amazing talking to you
.
I'm so glad we got to connect.
And you know where, where canpeople contact you if they want
to find out about events orvolunteering?
Is there?
Do you want people to email youdirectly or do you want to just
(41:58):
go to the website?
Speaker 2 (42:00):
You can go to the website.
But if you have any inquiriesas far as event dealings or just
volunteering in general careers, as far as event dealings or
just volunteering in general,you can reach me at j capital j
dot hunter at main up memphisdot org and I will.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
Yeah, we'll put that in the show notes and um you
know just uh uh info at.
What so was info at?
Is that we said info at main upmemphis.
No, that was your personal.
What is info at main up memphis?
Speaker 2 (42:26):
info at main up memphis.
I think that's just ourinformational uh thing.
Okay, I think yeah but if youwant information, just go to the
website, or, yes, email me.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
Yes, main up, memphisorg.
Uh, we're also all over thesocials.
We're working on getting somemore content and, like, I got
the youtube channel that I'mgonna start working on and
putting some content out there.
So, yeah, I'm a busy guy but Ilove it, you know.
It keeps me, keeps me going,gives me an amazing thing to
(42:56):
work or to wake up to and starttackling.
So you're doing great.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
I love it.
You came in and he came in in.
He's like, yeah, podcastyoutube, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, we needed you I wasworried that I was gonna scare
you guys off with my energy.
Speaker 1 (43:16):
But like I was just like, uh, it was just kismet, it
was the, the heavens aligningeverything, just yeah, so, um,
so, yeah, anyone who who hasinteracted with me can can
attest that.
You know I have a lot of energywhen it comes to this stuff.
I'm just super passionate abouttalking finances and everything
, but then also mental healthside.
I am a licensed therapist too.
(43:37):
So you know, we're, we're,we're.
This is a, this is more thanjust therapy and finances.
You know, this is a community,so, um, so, plenty more to come.
And you know, uh, jasmine,we're probably gonna, you know,
put this out here soon, maybewithin the next week or so, but
(43:57):
uh, in the meantime, is thereanything any last, uh, last
minute things you want to?
Um, messages you want to getout to the city of Memphis or
the world at this point?
Speaker 2 (44:08):
We love y'all.
Main Up Memphis if you can, anddonate if you can, if you're
moved and you're hard to donateor share with a person that you
know that would like to donateand love our mission.
And yeah, main Up y'all.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
All right.
Well, on that note, Main Upy'all.
That is it for the main upMemphis podcast.
We had the amazing Jasmine WestHunter.
I'm Joey Laswell.
Until next time, be kind, leavethe baggage, keep the change,
All right.
Hey everybody, joey Laswell here from MainUp Memphis
.
This is the podcast where wetalk about our organization and
the nonprofit.
I'm a licensed social workerand also a financial social
worker and basically on thisteam we provide mental health
(00:22):
services and financial literacytraining for people 11 to 25.
So we're really trying to liftup this next generation of youth
and you know, I'm justsomething that I'm really
passionate about and proud to bea part of this organization.
And so what we're trying to dois we're trying to highlight
some of the people in thisorganization and just kind of
tell a little bit of their story.
What is it that drew them toMade Up Memphis?
(00:42):
Just kind of tell a little bitof their story.
What is it that drew them toMade Up Memphis?
And you know just what havetheir experiences been like in
Memphis since.
You know, because everyone hasdifferent experiences I'm a
transplant.
I've only been here a couple ofyears, but a lot of people have
been here when they're raisedbeen here 10 years.
So, you know, just curious tolearn more about their
relationship to Memphis and somegood memories and things like
(01:03):
that their relationship toMemphis and some good memories
and things like that.
So in honor of that we're goingto have.
Well, we have the lovely MissJasmine West Hunter and she's
going to tell us a little bitabout well first of all.
So what is your official titleat the organization the
Volunteer and?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Event Coordinator.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
All right, that's a big, because we do a lot of
volunteer stuff and a lot ofevents, right?
So, okay, that's a big, bigtitle, a lot of responsibilities
, so so let's talk a little bitabout what was so what's your
background in in school.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
What did you go to school for?
So currently I'm pursuing abachelor's degree in
agricultural business.
So currently I'm pursuing abachelor's degree in
agricultural business, farming,basically farm manager.
It's kind of a passion of mine,that's kind of grew on me over
the years.
So, yeah, that's what I'm doing, Okay.
(02:01):
And then how did you discoverMain Up Memphis, or how did they
discover you?
Well, I attended the InfluenceHer conference, which was an
all-women's conference held bythis amazing organization called
the so you Foundation, I think,and I had the chance to go
because my business mentor atthe time was speaking there.
(02:21):
And while I was attending, Ihad the pleasure of seeing
Rachel speak for the first timeand I heard her story and I just
kind of just honed in on it.
I thought that was beautiful,because, you know, a lot of
times we meet people and theylike to make it all glitz and
glam and all I did was smile andbe pretty and this is how I got
(02:46):
here and she actually showedthe grit, the grind and the
heartache and I kind ofresonated with it.
So that's how I found her, okay.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Yeah, and if you want to go back to episode three,
that's when I interviewed RachelChantel, the, you know, the
owner, leader, creator of thisorganization and her vision.
You know she's thinking many,many steps ahead.
So just, we got some excitingthings coming and yeah, so
that's basically probably how alot of us here at man at Memphis
, Rachel was the glue we're amoth to the flame of her you
(03:20):
know she is the light.
That's like man.
So I'll get off my retrosoapbox.
But, um, so yeah, like we'reall drawn to this organization
for a reason, I think, and it's,it's the mission, it's the
community part of it.
Um, so what?
I guess what I'm curious about,like, uh, with the, if you had
(03:41):
a magic wand and let's say wehad an unlimited budget and we
could just spend however wewanted to, what kind of events
would you put on, what kind ofthings would you put together,
and how would that benefit thecity of Memphis?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Well, unlimited budget Number one.
Of course I would make ourfestival a more grander, bigger
thing as far as that's concerned, but really I would hone in on
the family events, because Ifeel like we are totally missing
out on places where you can goas a family and have fun.
(04:17):
So I would do water balloonfights community water balloon
fights.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Do water balloon fights community water balloon
fights, uh, but I'll see houses,cookouts, dance parties, uh,
block party, I don't know danceparties, okay, well, now I'm
saying block parties because Iremember when I was a kid we
used to have block parties yeah,this was not, this was in this
was in different city, but youknow yeah, no, we have block
parties.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The only thing is I don't want you know what happens
at a block party.
Oh, only thing is, I don't wantyou know what happens at a
block party.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Oh I gotcha you want to keep it family.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, family friendly , family oriented so really fun
things like that.
I will build another libertyland.
Honestly, I would put it.
I would put a six flagsags heresomewhere, honestly, yes.
I would do an amusement parkUnlimited budget Like.
Imagine us having a theme parkhere.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Well, we are working on a community center, right?
Yeah, that's like one of thenext big things that we're, you
know, in the process of.
Okay, so we'd make our annualevent, which is the.
The festival, the festival whichwill be our third one next year
, on May 2nd 2026.
(05:32):
Go ahead and mark yourcalendars, people, because this
one is going to be hot, you knowit's going to be.
Yes, so be on lookout and thenreally help us participate.
You know, help us make this agreat event, you know?
Volunteer, Volunteer,madeupmemphisorg.
So what are some of thevolunteer opportunities that
some of the people can expect todo if they wanted to volunteer?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So some volunteer just work at an event.
We would have a cleanup crew,setup crews, food and beverage,
greeters or hospitalities, whatelse, what else, what else, what
else, what else.
I think really that's itHonestly the cleanup, the
breakdown, the setup crew andreally just extra hands, because
(06:18):
you know sometimes we needextra hands to kind of like, hey
, I need you to go send amessage all the way across over
there.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
So things like that, just a pretty easy stuff, yeah
but at the same time they'rehelping a greater mission, you
know and and really like gettinghands-on and some of the booths
that I've already been a partof, you know people seem to want
the sense of community back youknow, or they want a stronger
sense of community and andthat's really what I think we're
(06:46):
trying to do here is isrecreate or or build an organic
sense of community within thecity.
I know that Memphis has a lot ofdifferent parts and segments,
and you know, just like any bigcity, you know.
But the core of Memphis, Ithink, is is, you know, very
diverse, but you know, yeah.
Gritty grind, you know diverse,but you know, yeah, gritty grind
.
You know, like left city,everything, like everything that
(07:07):
we bring to the table.
You know, and, uh, and that's,that's part of our charm, you
know, and I think, I thinkhonestly, I'm thinking about it
recently in memphis is about tohave a moment, a good moment, I
think you know, yeah, becauseyou know there are.
there are other communityleaders and community organizers
, organizers that are doing someamazing things, and the more
(07:27):
I'm in this nonprofit space, I'mseeing some great companies,
great organizations doing greatthings.
So, yeah, so I mean I'm justlike I said, I'm just super,
super pumped to be in this typeof organization, super, super
(07:48):
pumped to be in uh, in this typeof uh organization.
So, um, when it comes to uhevents, um, so, if you had like
going back to the unlimitedbudget, if you had your budget
to make your own special, uniqueevent, let's, let's go crazy.
All right, I would do a blackand white suit and tie.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Um, have you ever you've seen like the 20s?
Uh, fun fact, I am obsessedwith the dapper downs of the 20s
.
The style of the 20s and the50s are.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Jenny's a girl like that kind of.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Put on like a great gas be typing.
I'm talking about all outDinner thing and we actually go.
There's a lot live jazz band, agreat live jazz band?
Yes, and we are just twistingthe night away.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Honestly, man I mean that's, that's such a simple
thing, but I mean that's, that'stotally doable, like, let me,
it's totally.
I mean you, you pretty muchjust manifested it because now
it's out there, it's, it's outthere, it's spoken.
So what would you call thisevent?
Um, let's see, because now it'sout there, it's out there, it's
spoken.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So what would you call this event?
Let's see, we can brainstorm it.
We're brainstorming.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Yes.
So, people, if you're listening, I want you to shoot us a
message and, you know, give ussome ideas.
What would you call this event?
What would you have in thistype of black tie?
So, black and white suits isthat what you're?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
saying black and white suits, tux, everyone tux.
Okay, all right, so like aformal gala gala type of thing
oh wow, glitzy, I like thatreally I'm talking about high
and you had no prom dresses.
I need designers type things,you know what I'm saying america
glitzy again.
I like that okay there we gookay and I wouldn't.
(09:46):
I would call it um.
I don't know um dazzlings formental health or something like
that.
We're like um.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Okay, I don't know I mean we don't have to come up
with the name on the spot, butyou know, we're putting it out
there.
We're going to crowdsource thisBluff City Gala.
Bluff City Gala.
Okay, all right, I like that.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
I like that, something like that.
It would be something like that.
I'm going to come up with it.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I think if it's going to be a gala, we need a pretty
fancy name to it.
I think, yeah, so yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Let's do something in French, ooh.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Let's make this in French.
Man, my French is really rusty,I wouldn't even know.
But okay, all right.
Well, I like this idea Honestly.
You know, I think you knowpeople, I think you tap into
something too.
Like, you know, after you getto a certain age, like when
you're out of high school school, when are you ever going to go
dress up and go to a dance areally fancy dinner.
(10:50):
No one has the opportunity todo that anymore.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
And the second thing is great food.
We are not doing any food butfood.
The food has to be phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Chef grade phenomenal .
Like absolutely Okay, just soyou guys know, memphis has a lot
of amazing food in this city.
So you know, if you're arestaurant, you think you want
to be a part of this, hit us up.
You know, let's get this going.
You know Where's the chefs.
Right right.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
They're going to make all of like our Memphis soul
food and we like contemporarythem and make them, oh yes, and
level them up to a michelin star.
So like the ribs are reallyfamous out here, like I would
love to see what.
So how could someone take thatand make it like fine dining
fine dining memphis yes, finedining with me.
Fine dining with Memphis.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Now we're on some drugs, fine dining with Memphis.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Fine dining with Main Up Memphis.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Hmm, fine, dining with Main Up Memphis.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Okay, I like that, I like that Like a food tour,
where it's like high grade.
You buy in to it and then youget this extravagant of
contemporary Memphis foodMission Star.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Yeah, so yeah, bring some eyeballs to Memphis in a
different light.
We have Memphis grit, but wecan also be classy, we can be
fancy and glitzy.
So yeah, I love this idea.
I think it's already beingmanifested, at least in my mind.
If anyone doesn't know me, whenI get my mind into something,
(12:27):
my teeth into something, it's,it's over.
Don't be afraid if we starttalking about this in future
episodes, just so everyone isaware I'm doing this podcast
just because I love podcastingfor one, but then I'm also
trying to tell the story of thisgreat organization.
(12:50):
We're going to have returningguests, the Mood Dudes.
I will say the Mood Dudesepisode is kind of taking off a
little bit.
I'm really surprised andimpressed.
But I'm also grateful thatpeople are actually downloading,
and I mean it's not justMemphis.
I have people from across thecountry now that have already
downloaded our episode four, theMood Dudes.
(13:10):
So I'm going to give a plug forthat.
So that's going to be a runningsegment.
Actually, we're trying to, meand the Mood Dudes are trying to
get together tonight and we'regoing to try to check out or at
least I wanted to check out alocal pinball spot.
There's a pinball bar or arcadein Memphis.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Are you talking about ?
Oh, let me cut you off.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
No go ahead.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
It's over in Collierville.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
I actually haven't even looked.
I just know I found them onInstagram.
So you know, kind of a crazysocial networking thing.
But I reached out to somebodyfor my video game idea.
There's a developer here inMemphis, cody 901 Cody, I think
his name is on Instagram, checkhim out.
He's been working on thisproject to digitize the city of
(14:04):
Memphis in a video game, and sohe's basically created a virtual
Memphis.
And I had this idea of a videogame and it's set in Memphis.
And I had this idea of a videogame and it's set in Memphis.
It's a social worker who hassuperpowers and he basically
fights crime.
It's going to be like GrandTheft Auto, but instead of
beating people up, you'rehelping people.
So that's my little pitch for mycrazy idea, but it's actually
(14:29):
kind of happening.
So I reached out to him andthen I started following him and
now I saw like oh, he postedabout this pinball place and I
was like, oh man, because I love, love pinball.
I used to grow up, I grew upwith my dad playing pinball, so
I used to watch him and then Iplayed and man, so yeah, I'm
just excited.
We're going to try to have themood dudes out there.
(14:50):
Maybe we can even do like alive thing, like an Instagram
live thing that would be coolBecause we want to really
highlight Memphis and I've beenguilty of.
If you live in a city longenough, you kind of don't do
some of the Memphis things.
Well, I actually do want to dosome of those things.
My mom is actually coming infrom Japan on the 1st of July
(15:17):
and she's going to be here inMemphis and she's a super fan of
the Japanese player and I can'tremember his last name, but,
yeah, I'm trying to manifest herbeing able to meet the Japanese
Memphis Grizzlies player,because I know it's off-season,
but hey, I'm just going to putit out there If I can find a way
to meet the Japanese player,which I feel bad.
(15:37):
It's like, uh, oh, man, that'sgonna drive me crazy.
I feel bad now for not havinghis name on the ready, but I
mean, anyone who's a Grizzliesfan knows, you know, that we
have a Japanese player.
Um, but um, yeah, just stand by, I'm gonna.
It's gonna drive me, me crazynot knowing that guy's name, but
(15:58):
yeah, so I'm basically turninginto a tour guide for Memphis
when my mom comes.
You know how that goes, you haveyour family coming in.
So it's like, oh, we've got togo to Graceland, we've got to go
to all these places and youknow, now I'm doing all that
stuff.
So I'm excited to show her, butI want to, I want to do it as a
tourist myself.
I'm trying to treat myself as atourist and say, okay, let's go
(16:20):
do, let's go do somethinginteresting, you know, um,
something that I never wouldhave done.
All right, so, uh, yukikawamura.
Yeah, okay, that's him, yukiKawamura.
I actually already reached outto his team, or his people.
I went onto his page and I waslike, hey, can we meet?
(16:43):
So you know, just see whathappens.
I just want a picture with himand it would be kind of a cool
story.
So, yeah, a lot going on inMemphis, and you know Memphis is
a nonprofit, you know.
(17:08):
So we're looking at, you know,we're looking for referral
sources for mental health.
We have our financialcounseling program, so, like
that's kind of more.
My lane is the financialtherapy, financial counseling
piece of this.
So actually, since we do talkabout both, I'm going to quiz my
guests about their finances alittle bit.
So you're going to be the firstone and we're going to put you
(17:32):
on the spot and ask you somemoney questions.
Okay, all right.
So first thing is if you couldtell your 18-year-old self and
give your 18-year-old selffinancial advice what would be
at least one thing that youwould tell your 18-year-old self
Coming right out of high school?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Don't max out that credit card.
Ooh Jesus, please don't max outthat credit card.
Ooh Jesus, please don't.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Don't max out the credit card.
I've been there.
I will admit I have maxed outcredit cards.
I've in the past.
So I'm even though I'm afinancial coach consult whatever
financial social worker I havemy own financial stuff that I'm
going through.
As far as like behavioral, youknow, because the, the
overspending is really, it's asymptom a lot of times of other
(18:21):
things like stress and, like youknow, like emotional spending
and things like that.
So that's part of what we wantto do here at main of memphis is
to demystify, you know,personal finances and have kind
of awkward conversations aboutmoney, because a lot of people
just don't want to talk abouttheir finances.
It's just.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
It's just so it's just so embarrassing to have it
is.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
But it shouldn't be embarrassing because we're all
dealing with the same financialstuff, right?
Like we're all, everyone, moneygoes through everybody in in
some way shape or form.
So, like if we as a whole like,start, you know, improving our
finances.
Talking about finances, I thinkit's just going to make things
a little bit better.
It's not going to solveeverything, but you know, like,
if we, especially if this nextgeneration, you know, has that
(19:07):
foundation of their financesstronger and their mental,
mental health is stronger, then,oh man, this next generation is
going to go to the, to the moon, you know I think the biggest
thing for that was, at least formy generation.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Well, I'm not going to speak for my generation, I'm
going to speak about for me andthe people I know.
It's um, really the upbringingthat we have and the
relationship we saw our parentsgo through with money and so you
get in these spaces and youstart to talk about money and
people are telling you this andtelling you that and get into
the glitz and glance.
You almost don't want to feelstupid when you talk because you
(19:39):
don't know.
And when you hear someone talkit's like oh, everyone knows you
don't max out a credit card.
Everyone knows that's a ratioand you're like right, I know it
so it's really it's.
I think for most people it's thepart of you don't want to seem
like you don't know.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Yeah.
You don't want to be the oddone out.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
And this is actually something that came up in a
briefing.
We did a briefing for themental health court judge just
the other day.
We did like a little lunch andlearn and it was a really cool
experience.
And, you know, something thatcame up was generational
financial trauma, and a lot ofpeople kind of like scratch
their head a little bit, butwhen they get it, they kind of
(20:19):
get it because a lot offinancial habits and a lot of
financial issues are actuallypassed on from one generation to
the next, because your parentslearned from their parents and
you know.
So the cycle kind of continuesand if it's a bad cycle, then a
lot of times the bad stuff keepshappening.
Yeah, so what we're trying todo is kind of break that cycle,
(20:41):
but you know you have to beeducated to do that, you know.
So, yeah, generationalfinancial trauma look it up,
it's definitely a thing.
And you know, what we're tryingto do here is to, yeah, break
that cycle.
Um, give people an even footing, a firm financial footing and
uh, yeah, so all right.
(21:01):
So, 18 year old self, 18 yearolds out there, don't rack up
your credit cards please, please, don't don't do it, don't do it
it's not worth it.
I'm telling you that that itemthat you're going to buy at best
buy and this is just mepersonal experience uh, it's not
worth it.
I'm telling you that that itemthat you're gonna buy at best
buy and this is just me personalexperience uh, it's not gonna
be worth it.
In the long run you're gonnaregret that, that shiny plastic
thing you know.
So, um, yeah, just take it fromus.
(21:24):
Take it from us, you know.
Um, you know more.
Uh, seasoned financial veteransthat know are still flawed and
we still make our mistakes.
But take it from us.
We're trying to give you thegame, basically Like, if you
follow our advice, thentheoretically you're going to be
much better off than we are.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I wanted to ask you a question about that yeah, yeah.
I'm an open book.
So what advice would you give aperson that, let's say, we're
going through the ups and downsof life and it seems like all
you do is work, work, work topay the bills.
And it seems like the billsjust keep getting higher and
higher and higher, and so youwork, work, work, work, work,
(22:06):
and then you get yourself to apoint to where you're like this
is my money.
I'm tired of giving it to bills.
I'm going to go out, I'm goingto buy several shiny things and
I'm going to ignore the rest ofyou, because I feel like all I
do is work to pay bills.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
I'm not enjoying it.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
So a lot of us in our generation are at that point to
where we're like you know what?
We're going to go spend ahundred dollars on DoorDash
because that's all we can do.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
So how?
How do you navigate?
Speaker 1 (22:30):
that that is a great, great question, and I love that
you put a lot of like reallygood detail into this problem
that you're basicallyidentifying.
And this is really a thing,like people you know, especially
generational, like we're in,you know each generation has
their own financial like kind oflike problem set.
And you know, I'm in a eldermillennial is that's what I am,
(22:57):
apparently, that's what I'vebeen told, so elder millennial,
which makes me sound really old,but it's really just I'm an old
millennial.
But, yeah, we have a little bitdifferent financial like up and
down, like we went through thefinancial crisis of 2008, 2009,
and you know like it hitdifferently.
Well, you know, I think, whatwe're, what you really are,
(23:18):
you're bringing up some reallyinteresting things because, like
initially, you said, okay,you're, you're doing what you
got to do, you're paying yourbills, you're doing the right
thing, but it's just such agrind and you don't have any
like any set, any any fun, anysatisfaction, so, like you, any
satisfaction, so it just feelsexhausting and you're never
going to get anywhere and youdon't get to enjoy life.
(23:39):
Well, that's actually somethingthat I've been kind of writing
about and thinking about a lot,too is finding that balance of
wants versus needs and I thinkwhenever you're in your early
period of life you havedifferent priorities.
So you're not thinking aboutretirement whenever you're 18
years old and that's probablyunderstandable.
(24:00):
But you already said, if you're18, you would tell yourself,
okay, don't spend so much money.
Yeah, it kind of gets into acultural, sociological lens of
what is this generation learningabout finances and money and
things like that.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Spend it if you got it.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Spend it if you got it.
Yeah, I think it's acontinuation of the YOLO vibe,
where everyone was like YOLO andthen COVID happened and people
were like well.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Really.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
YOLO, really YOLO, and people were like, well,
really YOLO.
And people were like, hey, youknow, let's do this thing.
And I think we're just kind ofcoming down off of that level of
spending, that mentality, andwe're kind of licking our wounds
now collectively, everyone, alot of people, overspent and you
know, like they were at homeand you know doing online
(24:53):
shopping and they were bored andso you know, it's, it's a, it's
a pervasive thing.
It's not just a a youth thing.
This is a bigger, bigger issue.
Um, but yeah, I mean, as far aswhat to do about it, it's, uh,
it's gonna take these types ofconversations, you know, like us
, like us talking about it, youknow, having a discussion about,
(25:17):
like you know, a boomer, youknow someone who's 65 is looking
at a different financialpicture than somebody who's 25,
35, 45, even so, yeah, so thenwe get into the life cycle of
money and all the differentthings that you worry about at
different times of your life.
But yeah, I mean, did Iactually answer your question or
(25:38):
did I just really go in deepabout what happened?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
I mean, you're really just taking accountability
honestly.
So you know, it's just like hey, you got it.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Yeah, exactly Everything in moderation.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Yeah, moderation.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
But that's the tricky part.
It's a tricky balance becauseyou have to be responsible,
you've got to pay your bills,but then you also want to have
fun because, like you said,you're working hard for this
money.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
So you should not feel guilty at all.
Why can't we just go on abarter system Everyone?
Let's bankrupt capitalism.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
Let's grow vegetables and do cows and stuff well,
that's something we actually umhere at the at the laswell house
, we do a lot of slow livingstuff.
So we you know my wife bakesbread from scratch.
I mean, we have a bread machine, but you know we do a lot of
things like the manual waybecause you know, uh, you know
for one it's like labor of love.
(26:33):
Yeah, so making a, a grilledcheese with bread that you made
yourself, is really.
It's just satisfying, you know.
So.
So that way we kind of like to.
You know, we we spend lessmoney too, like we buy.
We try to make a lot of mealsfrom scratch too.
It takes more time, but ittastes better and it's like
healthier and all good stuff.
So it's really a.
(26:53):
It's like healthier and allthis good stuff, so it's really
a combination.
But I think when you really getdown to it, like it's about
that sweet spot of okay, Iworked all week, I paid all my
bills, and then on Saturday Iwant to go out and get a bite to
eat with my significant other,that is perfectly fine.
(27:14):
But the thing is, if you'respending frivolously on other
things that don't really matteror bring you joy, then that's
the problem.
So we get sidetracked by allthe other little smaller shiny
object syndrome and we kind oflose track of the main mission.
(27:38):
Yeah, and the main thing, wekeep the main thing around here,
and I didn't mean main as in.
Well, yeah, we'll keep it.
The main thing is the mainthing and that's main on.
Memphis for you.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
Y'all hear my kids hollering in the background.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
I'm so sorry, that's alright.
Like I said, we are humanbeings here and this is not
going to be a perfectly producedpodcast, so you might hear some
.
My son is, you know, he's fiveand he doesn't understand that
I'm actually kind of workinghere, you know I can't put a,
(28:13):
even to put a sign on the door.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
He's not gonna be like oh well that is gonna take
the sign down, draw you apicture on it and say you're
dead.
Look knocking on the door right, right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
So, yeah, the don't worry about that.
I think, honestly, at this pointin time, people will accept
those little sounds and like,okay, that's just, that's just
normal life for you, you knowwe're trying to live lives, but
we're also trying to use theseplatforms to spread our message,
but then also, you know,provide people maybe some kind
(28:43):
of relief or, you know, a senseof like I'm not alone in this,
like other people are strugglingwith their finances.
So yeah, so that's basically.
You know, we're we're trying to, we're trying to change the
narrative around personalfinance here and uh, and that's
one of my I guess you could sayit's almost like my life passion
, my life energy is just liketeach people about finance.
(29:06):
That's all you know.
Like that's just it.
You know.
So, um, so yeah, I mean, I cango off on that all day.
So I don't want to, I don'twant to hog up the interview, so
(29:30):
yeah, so we've covered a goodamount, but I kind of I feel
like I want to get to know you alittle bit better.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
You know, and like what, what do you bring to the
Made at Memphis team?
As far as like, what is yoursuperpower?
Know, wow, oh, what is mysuperpower?
Um, hyper focused, I'm gonnasay I like that I need that I
like if rachel was to call meright now and say hey I need you
to go look at this email andthen reply back.
I would get off and look at theemail and reply back.
I don't believe in like waitinguh to get done.
I want to go ahead and get itdone and also, as quickly as we
(29:54):
can get it done, let's get itdone with also quality as well.
So as far as that's concerned,another superpower IdeaTank.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Ooh, we've got some podcasts to do together, because
I am an idea machine and Ithink power us powered together,
ooh man.
We will, we will at leastMemphis, at least Memphis.
But yeah, you know, we've got alot of creative people on this
(30:29):
team.
A lot of really passionatepeople, and you know just
highlighting of reallypassionate people and you know
just highlighting the missionhere, and then, you know trying
to spread some positivity out inthe world.
Let's be real, we needsomething positive like just you
know so much going on in theworld that you know I think we
need to.
You know we need to push forcommunity, we need to really
(30:54):
bring people together and I lovethat you're a community
organizer, you're putting thingstogether, you're bringing
people together and even sinceI've been at the Memphis team,
I've met so many amazing peoplealready and I'm making all these
different connections acrossthe city And'm like this is this
is pretty cool.
You know like there's somereally, really amazing things
(31:16):
happening.
Um, all right.
So bold prediction five yearsfrom now, where do you see made
up memphis, or where do you wantto see made up memphis in five
years?
Speaker 2 (31:27):
um, five years, I want to see made up memphis.
Um, I'm going to say we are ahousehold name as far as mental
health goes.
We have coined mental healthand financial literacy and
things of that nature.
I also a side project of minethat I do want to incorporate.
(31:48):
Of course, I do have abackground in agricultural
business.
One of my passions is, uh, food,so I do want to tackle food
scarcity.
So one of the ways that I dowant to tackle food scarcity is,
um, everything everyone's nowbig with the community gardens
and I love that for everyone.
However, uh, most of thecommunity aren't vegans.
(32:11):
Ah, so I am a livestock person,so that's probably my major of
animal science.
I love animals cows, horses,you name it.
So, uh, I would like to teachpeople about food, like how to
preserve things like that, wholeclasses, how to preserve your
(32:33):
vegetables once you get them,butchering classes.
I'm sending my husband tobutcher school so he can butcher
our cows.
So, um, I raise them.
I teach you how to raise them,take care of them, give them
shots.
You know minor things that youcan do outside of a vet, because
, still, go to the vet and, um,you know, storing me, processing
(32:53):
me, stuff like this so we canreally be a community that, um,
I want to get us to barteringlike we don't have to be on the
grocery store.
Hey, I got a cow.
Someone come butchery and share, or something like this so net
note.
Uh, really just teaching peoplehow to get back to the family
farm life and sustain bythemselves.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Not really by themselves, but like you know
more self-dependently yes, yes,as as much as we can get away
from dependency on all the crazystuff that you know, we I mean
even with, like the amazon andand it's really become part of
our, our world.
But, yeah, it's actually kindof a refreshing to hear, hear
(33:36):
people, especially youngerpeople, that want to learn about
this kind of stuff and want toteach about it.
You know, I mean it's like youwould think that, okay, 2025
we're all going to be flying,flying cars.
But you know, give me an oldtruck.
Yeah, give me a manual truck.
Uh, and I'm I'm happy, you know, give me a super, yeah.
(33:59):
So, man, we got, we got a lot of, uh, future episodes and things
to talk about.
Jasmine, like it's, um, it's.
I think I'm gonna run out of,I'm gonna run out of space on my
computer for all theseconversations.
But no, like, yeah, that's partlike, and that just goes to
show you how big we're thinkingat this company.
(34:20):
We're thinking about the biggerpicture.
You know, yeah, we work on the,you know, in social work, we
have macro lens, your mezzo lensand your micro lens, and so
we're doing the micro stuff.
But then we're also kind ofgoing to that mid-level, you
know, of the community, but thenwe want to go macro.
Like you said, we want to goglobal, I want to go global.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
So what we anticipate and hope to do is have main up
and then your city right.
So like main up Kansas City,main up st louis, main up uh
austin.
You know we want to have thismodel all around the country,
you know yeah so that's, that's,that's coming.
(35:03):
I mean, we're working on it,it's coming.
It's either.
It's either gonna happen or orwe're gonna get shut down or
something, but I think it'sgonna.
So this is a rocket ship andI'm just happy to be strapped in
.
I'm ready to explore the cosmostogether with y'all.
So All right.
Well, that's a lot.
(35:25):
We covered a lot, I think.
I don't know like, do you haveanything, any last words or any
things that you want to hype orhighlight, like something going
on in your world that you wantpeople to know about?
Speaker 2 (35:39):
Oh, I have, of course .
I wrote a book.
Ooh, oh yeah, that's definitelygoing to be in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Okay, what's it called?
Speaker 2 (35:50):
It's called Buzz and the Busy Bees.
It is on Barnes Noble,available online only.
So I wrote a children's book.
It is an activity book as well,just trying to get kids
knowledge about bees and ourpollinators, because we lost
about 80 percent of our farmedbees this year yes so that's
(36:11):
really important that we'regrowing the wildflowers outside.
We're not spraying the bugsprays getting a little loud,
sorry but we're not.
We're not spraying the bugsprays and the harmful chemicals
and we're not swatting at ourbeautiful babies.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Yeah they're important, they're important,
they're important.
Yeah, because they're important.
Yes, Okay.
Well, yeah, I mean that's great.
You know, we always like tosupport artists and creativity.
You know I have a book too.
You know, about finance and I'mwriting another book and, yeah,
(36:47):
I actually have an editor andeverything have a book too.
Um, you know about finance andyou know I'm writing another
book.
Um, and, yeah, I actually havean editor and everything.
So this, uh this, my first book, was self-published.
I did it all myself, but then Iactually hired an editor for,
uh this, uh other book.
So big things coming.
I'm excited.
Uh, main up, memphis is man.
Man, we're going to be a force,you guys.
(37:08):
I mean, I'm not trying to becocky here, but I'm just seeing
things happen and I think we'reon to something really cool and
fun.
And, yeah, fun, like, let'sbring fun back, come on.
Let's bring family fun back.
Family fun back, you know likemovie nights, and you know you
know what, what if we could rent?
(37:29):
Out a drive-thru.
Well, the drive-thru justclosed.
It's out here.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
But there are some people that have so much land
here that they would definitelylet us do a drive-thru movie.
Yeah, we could just work it out.
Speaker 1 (37:47):
I actually want to create, like you know, did you
ever remember having having likethose dollar movie stores or
movie theaters, like it was liketwo bucks and it was like a
movie from like a month ago ortwo months ago?
Like why don't we have thosekind of things, you know,
because a lot of people miss outon the first run?
and you know they would ratherbuy, spend a little bit less
money.
So, yeah, so that's my.
My goal is to create those, youknow, movie theaters that are
cheap and play good movies.
(38:09):
I want to play like the oldmovies.
So another little fun factabout me is that I used to work
at Blockbuster Video back in theday 2000,.
2003.
Respect, that's great.
Yeah, I became a movie nerd.
I was already a movie lover,movie fan, but I became a movie
nerd when I was my time atBlockbuster.
(38:31):
But you know, I just beenreally lately, just really kind
of nostalgic about those thoseyou know.
Like there was something socialabout going to the movie store
picking out a movie, like you'relooking through the aisles and
like you're talking out a movielike you're looking through the
aisles and like it's six o'clockat night yeah, yeah, friday
night and you're like, oh, wedon't know what to do.
And then you go pick out themovie, then you argue over the
(38:51):
movie like oh well, I don't wantto watch that I don't want to
watch this.
Yeah, yeah yeah, and then youknow that's.
That's what we're missing likemovie watching has become so
isolating, you know?
Speaker 2 (39:01):
it's isolating.
Yeah, you're creeping up yourown watch yeah, I got a little
something in the works there too.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
I've got a little side project on that front for
movie watching, so stay tuned.
Um, that isn't really relatedto main up memphis, but I do
want to have like some kind ofmovie initiative where, you know
, we go out into the communityand maybe, maybe, you know, show
some really good movies, thatthat are culturally relevant.
I've just heard about Sinnersrecently.
I haven't seen it yet.
(39:29):
Sinners, please watch it Okayyeah, you're the second person
that said that, and initially.
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I was like I don't know, it's so great.
Speaker 1 (39:37):
So, yeah, we want to have movie events like that,
where we highlight culturallyaccurate representations and
celebrations of culture.
So, yeah, we got a lot ofthings coming.
Just be be ready.
And hopefully you know you wereinspired to come join us,
either as a as a volunteer oryou know we're we're expanding.
(40:01):
There might be some jobs outthere.
Well, there will be some jobsout there as we get bigger and
bigger.
So, yeah, I mean just some jobsout there.
Well, there will be some jobsout there as we get bigger and
bigger.
So, um, yeah, I mean just weare currently hiring licensed
therapists.
Speaker 2 (40:14):
Come, come, come case managers, case managers okay,
come, come, come, yes, yes, yeahand managers, uh people, uh
licensed therapists that can domanagement and hold management
positions.
We are looking.
I think we're looking we may belooking uh, but I know for sure
licensed therapists and a casemanager are.
We are hiring big emphasis onthe licensed therapist.
Speaker 1 (40:36):
We need licensed therapists yes, okay, can you
clarify on license, because Iyou know, I know that there's
like pre-licensed and there'slike independently licensed, or
so are you looking forindependently licensed
therapists?
Speaker 2 (40:49):
oh state licensed state license okay, state
license you need to be statelicensed in tennessee uh to work
.
Speaker 1 (40:56):
So yeah, gotta follow those guidelines there you go
and we do things.
We do things by the book, youknow we we have.
We are working on the insurancetaking insurance right or um
for the.
Yes, we are working on theinsurance taking insurance right
or um for the yes, we areworking on taking insurance, so
that's what we need so, yeah, Imean, come, come join us, either
(41:16):
as a volunteer or as part ofthe team.
I mean we're going to be, youknow, we're going to be
interviewing you guys and youknow you gotta, you gotta be.
This is, it's a cultural thing.
You know, like you guys have tofit.
You got to fit in with us.
We've already got a little bitof a core team going, but, yeah,
it's going to be selective, sobe you know you got to.
You got to have that main upenergy.
(41:37):
You know what I mean they mightknow.
Oh man, well, miss Jasmine,it's been amazing talking to you
.
I'm so glad we got to connect.
And you know where, where canpeople contact you if they want
to find out about events orvolunteering?
Is there?
Do you want people to email youdirectly or do you want to just
(41:58):
go to the website?
Speaker 2 (42:00):
You can go to the website.
But if you have any inquiriesas far as event dealings or just
volunteering in general careers, as far as event dealings or
just volunteering in general,you can reach me at j capital j
dot hunter at main up memphisdot org and I will.
Speaker 1 (42:14):
Yeah, we'll put that in the show notes and um you
know just uh uh info at.
What so was info at?
Is that we said info at main upmemphis.
No, that was your personal.
What is info at main up memphis?
Speaker 2 (42:26):
info at main up memphis.
I think that's just ourinformational uh thing.
Okay, I think yeah but if youwant information, just go to the
website, or, yes, email me.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
Yes, main up, memphisorg.
Uh, we're also all over thesocials.
We're working on getting somemore content and, like, I got
the youtube channel that I'mgonna start working on and
putting some content out there.
So, yeah, I'm a busy guy but Ilove it, you know.
It keeps me, keeps me going,gives me an amazing thing to
(42:56):
work or to wake up to and starttackling.
So you're doing great.
Speaker 2 (43:02):
I love it.
You came in and he came in in.
He's like, yeah, podcastyoutube, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, we needed you I wasworried that I was gonna scare
you guys off with my energy.
Speaker 1 (43:16):
But like I was just like, uh, it was just kismet, it
was the, the heavens aligningeverything, just yeah, so, um,
so, yeah, anyone who who hasinteracted with me can can
attest that.
You know I have a lot of energywhen it comes to this stuff.
I'm just super passionate abouttalking finances and everything
, but then also mental healthside.
I am a licensed therapist too.
(43:37):
So you know, we're, we're,we're.
This is a, this is more thanjust therapy and finances.
You know, this is a community,so, um, so, plenty more to come.
And you know, uh, jasmine,we're probably gonna, you know,
put this out here soon, maybewithin the next week or so, but
(43:57):
uh, in the meantime, is thereanything any last, uh, last
minute things you want to?
Um, messages you want to getout to the city of Memphis or
the world at this point?
Speaker 2 (44:08):
We love y'all.
Main Up Memphis if you can, anddonate if you can, if you're
moved and you're hard to donateor share with a person that you
know that would like to donateand love our mission.
And yeah, main Up y'all.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
All right.
Well, on that note, Main Upy'all.
That is it for the main upMemphis podcast.
We had the amazing Jasmine WestHunter.
I'm Joey Laswell.
Until next time, be kind, leavethe baggage, keep the change,
All right.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!