September 10, 2021 • 26 mins
YouTube Channel (Video Interview) Link
Summary: Host Phylanice Nashe chats with entrepreneur, public relations specialist and creative producer, Iyube L'Bert, owner of Seventh Academy Public Relations. Iyube shares how his mantra "If we must die, let it not be like the hogs" drives him to never listen to the haters or nay sayers and live with the "Mamba" mentality. Iyube's talks about his inspirational underdog story of entrepreneurship, his determination in growing his start up business during the pandemic & his family being the source of his balance and happiness. Iyube also shares his vision and focus on generational wealth and how he's passing down those important business lessons to his children who have already started business at the ages of 14 and 12!!! Listen now to this inspirational story!!
Host: Phylanice Nashe's Social Media
- LinkedIn: Phylanice Nashe J.D.
- IG: @phylanicenashe
- FB: Phylanice Nashe
- Subscribe: "The Phylanice Nashe Experience Podcast" YouTube Channel
Guest: Iyube L'Bert's Social Media
- IG: @inl83_
- IG: @seventhacademypr
- Website: https://seventhacademypr.com/
- Email: Iyube.lbert@seventhacademypr.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
[inaudible]
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hello world and welcome to the felonies Nash
experience, podcasts and audioseries of lighthearted, and
sometimes third eye openingconversations on
entrepreneurship, leadership andrelationships.
From the African-Americanperspective, I am your host Phil
on east Nash.
Welcome.
And today we have a reallyspecial guest.
(00:29):
He is the owner and PRspecialist of his own firm
called the seventh academypublic relations firm.
He is also a full-time creativeproducer for the mood media
company.
He has experience in both publicrelations and music production.
It seems like his love is amusic production.
(00:50):
He is a creative.
Uh, he also works with some ofthe big names in, uh, sales.
We'll get into that once westart chatting with him, uh, he
also has a lot of experience inproduction with music,
photography, and videography.
He's almost a Jack of alltrades, but he's an achiever in
his career fields.
I want to give a warm feloniesexperienced podcast.
(01:14):
Welcome to IEU bay LaBear.
Woo.
Thank you for being on the show.
I know when we first chatted, Iwas intrigued with your personal
story about how you landed,where you are now, um, as far as
(01:34):
your PR for mean your work asfar as being a creative and a
producer.
So let's just jump right intoit.
The first thing I've been askingmy guests is how are you your
family and your business?
How have you guys been handlingCOVID this past year and a half?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well COVID has actually been a blessing to my
business because it brought memore clients because I guess
people were home and they had tofigure out now what?
So, I mean, that COVID has beena blessing on that end as far as
my business.
And it's also been a blessing,uh, with my full-time job as a
creative producer, because Igot, I was blessed to be able to
(02:13):
work from home and justbasically be around the house
with my wife and kids all day.
So, I mean, I, I couldn't beatthat.
I mean, but it's truly ablessing because I also know, um
, a lot of family members whohave furlough and stuff like
that, so I don't take itlightly.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Right, right.
So let's kind of dive into yourorigin story and how you've kind
of got into PR and musicproduction and then how it led
you to wanting to start your ownfirm.
And one other thing that wepicked up on, we talked to a lot
of entrepreneurs or people whoare thinking about starting and
(02:53):
taking the leap.
And sometimes, you know, youstill have to work that nine to
five hustle while you aregrowing your business on the
side.
So just tell us about IUB whoyou are.
How did you get into this andhow did you start your own
business?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Your intro kind of pumped me up a little bit.
So let me dial back some, uh, Istarted off, I mean, I started
in music at the age, maybe sinceI was a kid.
Like I come from a family ofmusicians, uh, is my wife has
even a music teacher.
Uh she's opposed to this.
Uh, but I went to school at fullsail and got my bachelor's in
(03:30):
music production because I just,the production in the music is
really what I'm into more sothan being a musician.
So seeing like, uh, music, asong come together from
beginning to the end issomething that like, I really
love.
Uh, so from a bachelor's inmusic production, I went into
public relations because Iwanted to learn, how do you like
(03:53):
promote stuff?
Like how do you get, I wanted tolearn about branding about
audiences and, uh, basicallylike let's say growth marketing.
Um, I wanted to learn more aboutthose types of things because in
my life I've met a lot ofmusicians who have great talent,
but nobody knows about them withlearning public relations.
(04:17):
I mean, I branched off intoother, uh, forms of business.
It was like small businesses,uh, religious organizations,
entertainment and lifestyles.
Those are like the areas of PRthat I work in.
So hopefully that gives, givesyou somewhat of a ballpark about
who I am.
(04:38):
Music definitely started all ofit.
Like I love music.
I mean, my nine to five as acreative producer, um, I work
here at the Walmart headquartersand we work with Walmart, both
on the marketing side and ontheir radio side.
So I do a lot of script writing,uh, shoulder writing, audio
imaging, uh, filming differentcon some content for social
(05:02):
media, the whole gamut of acreative producer.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
So when we spoke before previously, when you
mentioned that you work and doproduction for Walmart, so first
of all, when ever, when anyonethinks of Walmart, it's not a
radio show or a television show,right.
It's, you know, the low pricesthat we can get.
And so speak a lot, Matt, alittle bit.
Like what, what kind of show isit?
(05:27):
Is it something that the generalpublic can see or is it just an
internal?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
So it's actually both.
I mean, there's some things thatare directly internal.
Walmart has his own likeinternal social media page, but
then a lot of what we do ispublic and a lot of people just
don't notice it.
So like, uh, whenever I tellsomebody like, yeah, I'm a,
full-time creative producer forWalmart radio.
I'm already prepared for thefirst question.
(05:52):
Walmart has a radio.
Yeah, they do.
But most people don't.
I didn't notice it.
Um, but inside the stores,there's music playing at all
times, but there's also two liveshows that come on too.
So there's an early morning showthat's for associates only.
And then there's a Monday,Wednesday, Friday, there's an
afternoon show that's forcustomers and associates that
(06:17):
comes on one to 3:00 PM centraltime
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And the stores.
Okay.
So next time I'm going in at one30, I'm going in and I'm going
to, I'm going to check it out.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
And if you go in there in the next three months,
because we do a producerrotational switch every three
months and the, for the nextthree months for this quarter,
I'm responsible for theafternoon show.
So you'll even hear me comingon.
They're talking sometimes.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Awesome.
That is awesome.
So anybody in the next 90 days,if you're in Walmart between
what is it, one central andthree central.
Yes.
They may hear your, you on theplight on that.
So first of all, we have tonotice that there is a station
plane, because we don't noticethat.
But if you now take, take,notice, take note while you're
(07:08):
in there, you may hear you mayon there bringing someone in,
but that's, that is neat.
That is totally neat.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah.
You can stream it to on Walmartworld.com.
You could stream it as well aretwo shows that come on, you have
to, uh, live with Antonio andthen the boat show.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
So what, what kind of content is it?
Why would customers want tolisten to that?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
For one of the main things is to make sure that it's
entertaining and engaging justto help estimate.
It's kind of like, uh, pass thetime.
We're not always on there.
Like, Hey, go buy this or go buythat.
Like, you're talking about news,we're talking about
entertainment.
We're talking about, uh, specialsegments.
And I mean, of course my job isto script all of this.
(07:51):
So we, we try to keep it asentertaining and Walmart
friendly as possible.
Gotcha.
Best Walmart friendly, because Imean, there's a lot of stuff in
here that we joke and laughabout, but we can never do it on
the show
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That's behind the scenes.
Yeah.
Cool.
So we'll definitely check thatout.
So how did you translate yourexperiences into your PR firm,
which again is seventh academypublic relations.
Tell us what seventh academypublic relations is all about
and how did you come up with aname for that business?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So I'll start off with coming up with the name of
it.
I came up with the name of itbecause you know, on the seventh
day, God rested.
And I just feel like that numberseven is just super important
and it has, uh, it has somethingabout it draws me.
So seventh academy, I alwaysfeel like I'm learning.
I'm never going to tell you thatI know everything.
(08:50):
I mean, I prefer to staylearning every day to grow
evolve every day.
So that's where the academypiece comes in and public
relations.
That's, that's the title, that'swhere the title came from.
But as far as translatingeverything over to that, one of
the things as I got older and asI got my master's in public
(09:11):
relations that I enjoy isbranding.
I think branding is such a cooltopic, especially as we get, not
just because of social media,but it's just like where we are
as a society.
Like your brand is so importantto you, right?
And it's not, it doesn't have tojust be a business.
It could just be you yourself.
(09:31):
I mean, your brand carries overinto employment.
What people know about you,everything.
And I mean, the first, the mostimportant thing about public
relations is we are responsiblefor who you are.
And when you walk through thatdoor, if you hire a public
relations person,
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So how did you decide that it was time to pour a lot
of your resources and energyinto your own business?
When did you know it was time tokind of take that leap,
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Um, after, after a few clients and after school, to
be honest with you.
Cause I had to do a thesis and Imean at thesis took a whole lot
out of me, but at the same time,I like to help people.
And I like to, I mean, I'm abackgrounds person.
That's why I'm a producer, but Ilike to help people.
And I like to see projects andcampaigns and PRS campaigns, but
(10:24):
projects or campaigns, to me, itall falls back to producing
because you can't get to thenext level without a producer.
And I mean, to me, PR andproduction are very similar in
that, in that regard.
And that's what it was for me.
Once I realized that, and once Igot a few clients, it was like,
you know what, let me just,because you have to, also in my
(10:46):
degree program, you have tostart your own business.
So I just carried it on.
I have two employees.
It's crazy to me.
That's crazy but
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Crazy.
That's growth.
I
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Mean, there's growth.
It is.
But when I say crazy, like agood thing, like I actually did
it.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
So when you look back and how long has it been since
you started seventh academy, butyou know, most of the time you
have those feelings, when you,when you do the look back, like,
I can't believe like we're herewith two employees.
So how long has it been?
Since seventh academy came intoexistence?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
So I graduated in 2018.
I mean the business was there,but I really didn't go.
I would say I really didn't gohard until 2000, 19, 2020.
And within what, within half ofa year, I, I got two employees.
I have a social media managerand then a account manager.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Wasn't a difficult decision.
And how, because part of thisshow is talking about, you know,
relationship and work-lifebalance and how you manage
starting a business with whatelse you have going on at home.
You know, I know you've got awife, you have some young
children, you still have a fulltime.
So what was that decision?
(12:09):
Like, how did you and your wifekind of come together and just
say, Hey, you know what?
This has been going on, workingon a poor, our time and
resources into this.
What was that like with you andthe family dynamic?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
So when it comes to, uh, so just so everyone on the
podcast knows I have, I've beenmarried for 14 years and we have
five daughters.
One of the most important thingsfor me is like, whatever.
Cause I mean, I'm not a wealthyman, but whatever it is I can do
to leave behind for my children,I'm going to do it.
(12:43):
Right.
So one of the things that, youknow, I mean, I guess you could
say like kinda losing your wife,but one of them, one of the
things was, you know, Hey, withthis business, uh, like my
older, my oldest artist, she'sinto media.
So, you know, I teach her a lotof stuff.
Like she started her own, uh,it's this website called red
(13:07):
bubble where you could createkind of your own designs and
sell them.
So I sit down with her, go overher, you know, what is your
brand, what her brand is enemy.
So I was like, well, what, what,I don't know if I want to give
you all, all the tools, thetricks of the trade, but
anyways,
Speaker 2 (13:24):
You got to keep things for yourself.
Cause that's why you havecustomers.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
I sit it down and I go over, you know, the plan with
her and I make her do it.
But then I'll also bring herinto the company and show her
different things that I do justto pass something down to
generations.
Cause I mean, it's just at theend of the day, you know, as an
African-American, that's notsomething that we were always
privy to.
(13:48):
And I knew I wasn't, I know forme it was just, Hey, make sure
you go to school, get a degree,but it wasn't nothing really
passed down or talked to me.
So that's really important tome.
And that was something that Istressed to my wife in order to,
let's say some of those timeswhen I'm more busy than focused
on her, that's what I bring backup to reiterate.
(14:14):
Like it's bigger than just daddyout here trying to do something.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I like that.
Generational wealth passing downpiece that you've talked about.
So you mentioned you have fivegirls and it seems like you are
having a positive influence onthem as far as starting their
own business.
How old is your oldest?
Who has the website?
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Oh, she's 13.
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
So she's starting early.
Anyone else in the householdstarting to look like they want
to go into what you do or starttheir own business or any of
that?
So there's
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Another business that my 12 year old, the one right
under her, she wants to start.
I'm going to help her to startthat as soon as I get the funds
for it.
But yet there's something thatshe's wanting to start for the
longest.
And I want to see them at leasttry yes.
Try, attempt to learn it, seehow it goes.
(15:13):
And I mean, you don't have togive it up a lot of things now
to me, even if it's just likeinternet, if you're just doing a
business on the internet, evenif it's slow, you don't have to
quit it.
Right.
It just might be slow for rightnow, but you can still have that
time to all right, the next sixmonths, I want to pour my all
into this, but there
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Has to be some planning behind it too.
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Yes.
And that's one of the mostimportant things about PR too.
It all comes back to branding tome.
Branding is where it starts.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Exactly.
So I also want to talk about,you've mentioned, you'd like to
help people and I love the factthat, you know, at home it's the
exposure, right?
If you can see it, you can beit.
Can you talk a little bit aboutany other ways that you are
impacting the community?
Um, I know you've got someorganizations that you work with
(16:06):
or some groups that you workwith.
How else are you working withother folk to kind of help
inspire them to achieve theirdreams or network with one
another?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Well, I'll share what you wanted to craziest stories
to me.
Like I said, I say crazy in agood way, not nothing.
Gotcha.
Gotcha.
Um, but so I actually am in twoplaces because my wife and kids
are in Florida, but I work inArkansas.
So I'm back and forth a lot.
Um, like I said, I, productionis one of my big things and one
(16:39):
of my clients last last yearduring Christmas, there was a
lady I met who in Arkansas, shedoes this all on the strength of
just love for her community.
She gets to she every week shecooks for salvation army.
And then every, uh, duringChristmas she does this toy
drive locally.
(17:00):
And, and I wanted to film and doa documentary a quick five
minute documentary for her.
Cause I, I just never metanybody like this, but I mean,
I've felt since I've watchedher, I've like help put her in
different places.
But anyways, I want to stick toher to sit there and watch this
lady do this drive at a localrestaurant and see so many
(17:25):
families come up and cry.
I didn't capture any of thecrying, but I mean, those people
like, you know, crying, pouringtheir heart out.
Um, and just being so thankfulthat they were able to provide
toys for their children becauseit is lady.
I mean, one of the craziestthings I've ever witnessed,
(17:45):
stories like that.
If I meet somebody like that,I'm going to try my hardest to,
Hey, put them in the right placefor this story to be heard, set
them up with the right peoplefor free.
Because it, to me, it's justlike stuff like that.
We were not all built like that.
(18:05):
And this lady story, she, uh,she came from poverty.
Um, and her goal in life is justto help out as many people as
she can.
No, non-profit no nothing.
She just asked this off thestrength of herself.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
That's a great story.
But most importantly, what Ilove is the fact that you are
also helping other people bytelling their story and that
giving back that community is,is extremely, extremely
important.
So we thank you for your effortsand giving back to the community
(18:46):
in that way.
One of the other things that Ialso want to make sure that
people know about, well, beforewe get to your social media, I
want to know about this mantrathat you have.
I had never heard this, but yousay that you live by the first
line of clot.
(19:07):
McKay's Palm, if we must die.
And that is if we must die, letit not be like hogs.
What does that mean?
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
So, I mean, of course you have to read a whole poem to
really get the full context, butjust that one line it's like, I
mean, it comes from, uh, myinterpretation from, it has
always been, cause there's ahistorical interpretation of it,
but I'll just tell you how itrelates to me.
Okay.
Uh, for me it's always that, uh,you know, go out at the highest
(19:40):
that you can write it.
Don't just sit there and youknow, if you're going to fight,
like really fight and seesomething through, don't just
take, what's presented to you.
And I mean, that's just, that'sjust the way I grew up.
I grew up with a grandmother.
I have a grandmother andgrandfather, but my grandmother
is a very, she's a fighter.
(20:02):
Like, uh, she just doesn't takeanything.
And to me it doesn't always haveto be like physical or, you
know, something aggressive, butfighting with your mind, like
using your mind to really go tothe highest that you could go.
Don't just take what, you know,a path that somebody has given
you a path that somebody tellsyou, you have to go, why not go
(20:25):
with what you want to do and goout fighting.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
How have you applied that to your life?
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Oh man, how can I say this in a short way?
Let's just say in a lot of timesin my life I've been put in like
a underdog category.
And so for me, it's always,well, you know, I could do this.
I don't need your approval totell me that I can do this.
(20:53):
Just watching me do this.
I'll give you the best example.
So before I went back to schooland before I got my masters and
bachelors, I was a full-timedriver at ups.
And I didn't like it.
I mean, it was good financially,but I just didn't like the work.
And I didn't feel like I wasreally utilizing my talents or
(21:15):
bring so, you know, while I wasworking, going to school and
stuff, uh, plenty of peoplewould tell me, oh, you're crazy.
It doesn't get much better thanthis.
And then people would tell melike, oh, you're going to full
sail university.
When you graduate full sail,you're going to be like
everybody else at full sail.
Like you'll never break into themedia world.
(21:36):
And so I graduated left ups in2016, graduated in 2016, became
a, create a full-time creativeproducer in 2019.
Then what, then what you'retelling me.
Right.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
So don't be limited.
Yes.
I love that.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
I love that when I listen to people.
Cause I mean, people, somepeople have good intentions.
A lot of people give you, uh,the worst of themselves and put
it on you projected on you.
And I just think that'sunfortunate in this world
because I can't tell somebodywhat they can't do.
I can only try to uplift themand say, Hey, if that's what you
(22:16):
really want to do, as long asyou've given it 110% given the
Mamba mentality, but shout outto Kobe Bryant, I mean, and go
for it.
Like I've been in thatsituation, majority of my life
where people tell me, oh, youcan't do that.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
So with that mantra in mind, and have you gotten to
a space where you are happy?
Are you at a space where youdon't feel like you're the
underdog, you feel like you arein control and you are making
your own destiny a little bit
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Because at the same time I like to compete.
So I mean, I, I kind of keep it,keep those things close to heart
in all honesty.
Uh, but I am happy.
I will always try to stay at aplace that happiness cause I'm,
I mean, to me, happiness startsat home and I mean, regardless,
God has blessed me with like,oh, wife and five beautiful
(23:07):
daughters.
And I don't say that to soundlike a cliche, but like I was
just there last week, all lastweek.
And I just got back here inArkansas today.
And I mean, it's tough being intwo places has been tough for
the past few months, but it'sjust such a, such a blessing,
man.
My, my kids make me happy.
(23:29):
I cannot lie about that.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Well, shout out to Mrs.
LaBear, she's holding it downfor the family.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I mean, she, she held her down with five kids.
She had five,
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I got to meet her well, getting close to the end
of our episode here, but I wantto make sure that all of the
listeners know where they canfollow you.
And if they want to get some PRwork from you, how can they find
you?
Where, what are your socialmedia handles?
How can I get in touch with you?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
So the easiest way is , I mean, of course I have the
website seventh academy, pr.comall spelled out.
And then, um, my email is myfirst name.
I Y U B E dot L B E R T Sseventh academy, pr.com.
I prefer email over everything.
(24:21):
Yeah.
But then, uh, social as far associal, um, at seventh academy
PR and then, um, my personal onethat you could find me on is, um
, at I N L 83 underscore for,
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Yeah.
And that's where people willfind you doing some of your,
your personal projects andmusic.
I did check that out.
So, you know, if you areinterested in following him on
that, do that, but thank you somuch for agreeing to be on the
show at you.
We appreciate you.
Thank you so much.
And I also want to just makesure that everyone who's
(24:57):
listening can follow you bay.
All of his social media will bein the show notes.
I also want to just make surethat everyone has all of my
social media handles, which isat Philomena Nash on all social
media, including LinkedIn.
Make sure you also check out thefelonies Nash experience a
podcast on YouTube as well.
(25:19):
Well, you'll find the videoversion of this episode in all
prior episodes from season oneand two.
I just want to thank you againfor agreeing to be on the show.
I want to thank all of mylisteners and viewers for
watching and listening to theshow.
And I also just want toencourage everyone to continue
to stay safe out there.
(25:39):
COVID-19 is picking back up.
So if you have the opportunityto get your vaccine, please do
so stay safe, wash your hands,and we'll see you on the next
episode of the felony smashexperience podcast.
Peace
Speaker 1 (25:58):
[inaudible].
[inaudible]
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Hello world and welcome to the felonies Nash
experience, podcasts and audioseries of lighthearted, and
sometimes third eye openingconversations on
entrepreneurship, leadership andrelationships.
From the African-Americanperspective, I am your host Phil
on east Nash.
Welcome.
And today we have a reallyspecial guest.
(00:29):
He is the owner and PRspecialist of his own firm
called the seventh academypublic relations firm.
He is also a full-time creativeproducer for the mood media
company.
He has experience in both publicrelations and music production.
It seems like his love is amusic production.
(00:50):
He is a creative.
Uh, he also works with some ofthe big names in, uh, sales.
We'll get into that once westart chatting with him, uh, he
also has a lot of experience inproduction with music,
photography, and videography.
He's almost a Jack of alltrades, but he's an achiever in
his career fields.
I want to give a warm feloniesexperienced podcast.
(01:14):
Welcome to IEU bay LaBear.
Woo.
Thank you for being on the show.
I know when we first chatted, Iwas intrigued with your personal
story about how you landed,where you are now, um, as far as
(01:34):
your PR for mean your work asfar as being a creative and a
producer.
So let's just jump right intoit.
The first thing I've been askingmy guests is how are you your
family and your business?
How have you guys been handlingCOVID this past year and a half?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well COVID has actually been a blessing to my
business because it brought memore clients because I guess
people were home and they had tofigure out now what?
So, I mean, that COVID has beena blessing on that end as far as
my business.
And it's also been a blessing,uh, with my full-time job as a
creative producer, because Igot, I was blessed to be able to
(02:13):
work from home and justbasically be around the house
with my wife and kids all day.
So, I mean, I, I couldn't beatthat.
I mean, but it's truly ablessing because I also know, um
, a lot of family members whohave furlough and stuff like
that, so I don't take itlightly.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Right, right.
So let's kind of dive into yourorigin story and how you've kind
of got into PR and musicproduction and then how it led
you to wanting to start your ownfirm.
And one other thing that wepicked up on, we talked to a lot
of entrepreneurs or people whoare thinking about starting and
(02:53):
taking the leap.
And sometimes, you know, youstill have to work that nine to
five hustle while you aregrowing your business on the
side.
So just tell us about IUB whoyou are.
How did you get into this andhow did you start your own
business?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Your intro kind of pumped me up a little bit.
So let me dial back some, uh, Istarted off, I mean, I started
in music at the age, maybe sinceI was a kid.
Like I come from a family ofmusicians, uh, is my wife has
even a music teacher.
Uh she's opposed to this.
Uh, but I went to school at fullsail and got my bachelor's in
(03:30):
music production because I just,the production in the music is
really what I'm into more sothan being a musician.
So seeing like, uh, music, asong come together from
beginning to the end issomething that like, I really
love.
Uh, so from a bachelor's inmusic production, I went into
public relations because Iwanted to learn, how do you like
(03:53):
promote stuff?
Like how do you get, I wanted tolearn about branding about
audiences and, uh, basicallylike let's say growth marketing.
Um, I wanted to learn more aboutthose types of things because in
my life I've met a lot ofmusicians who have great talent,
but nobody knows about them withlearning public relations.
(04:17):
I mean, I branched off intoother, uh, forms of business.
It was like small businesses,uh, religious organizations,
entertainment and lifestyles.
Those are like the areas of PRthat I work in.
So hopefully that gives, givesyou somewhat of a ballpark about
who I am.
(04:38):
Music definitely started all ofit.
Like I love music.
I mean, my nine to five as acreative producer, um, I work
here at the Walmart headquartersand we work with Walmart, both
on the marketing side and ontheir radio side.
So I do a lot of script writing,uh, shoulder writing, audio
imaging, uh, filming differentcon some content for social
(05:02):
media, the whole gamut of acreative producer.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
So when we spoke before previously, when you
mentioned that you work and doproduction for Walmart, so first
of all, when ever, when anyonethinks of Walmart, it's not a
radio show or a television show,right.
It's, you know, the low pricesthat we can get.
And so speak a lot, Matt, alittle bit.
Like what, what kind of show isit?
(05:27):
Is it something that the generalpublic can see or is it just an
internal?
Speaker 3 (05:31):
So it's actually both.
I mean, there's some things thatare directly internal.
Walmart has his own likeinternal social media page, but
then a lot of what we do ispublic and a lot of people just
don't notice it.
So like, uh, whenever I tellsomebody like, yeah, I'm a,
full-time creative producer forWalmart radio.
I'm already prepared for thefirst question.
(05:52):
Walmart has a radio.
Yeah, they do.
But most people don't.
I didn't notice it.
Um, but inside the stores,there's music playing at all
times, but there's also two liveshows that come on too.
So there's an early morning showthat's for associates only.
And then there's a Monday,Wednesday, Friday, there's an
afternoon show that's forcustomers and associates that
(06:17):
comes on one to 3:00 PM centraltime
Speaker 2 (06:21):
And the stores.
Okay.
So next time I'm going in at one30, I'm going in and I'm going
to, I'm going to check it out.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
And if you go in there in the next three months,
because we do a producerrotational switch every three
months and the, for the nextthree months for this quarter,
I'm responsible for theafternoon show.
So you'll even hear me comingon.
They're talking sometimes.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Awesome.
That is awesome.
So anybody in the next 90 days,if you're in Walmart between
what is it, one central andthree central.
Yes.
They may hear your, you on theplight on that.
So first of all, we have tonotice that there is a station
plane, because we don't noticethat.
But if you now take, take,notice, take note while you're
(07:08):
in there, you may hear you mayon there bringing someone in,
but that's, that is neat.
That is totally neat.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Yeah.
You can stream it to on Walmartworld.com.
You could stream it as well aretwo shows that come on, you have
to, uh, live with Antonio andthen the boat show.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
So what, what kind of content is it?
Why would customers want tolisten to that?
Speaker 3 (07:31):
For one of the main things is to make sure that it's
entertaining and engaging justto help estimate.
It's kind of like, uh, pass thetime.
We're not always on there.
Like, Hey, go buy this or go buythat.
Like, you're talking about news,we're talking about
entertainment.
We're talking about, uh, specialsegments.
And I mean, of course my job isto script all of this.
(07:51):
So we, we try to keep it asentertaining and Walmart
friendly as possible.
Gotcha.
Best Walmart friendly, because Imean, there's a lot of stuff in
here that we joke and laughabout, but we can never do it on
the show
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That's behind the scenes.
Yeah.
Cool.
So we'll definitely check thatout.
So how did you translate yourexperiences into your PR firm,
which again is seventh academypublic relations.
Tell us what seventh academypublic relations is all about
and how did you come up with aname for that business?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So I'll start off with coming up with the name of
it.
I came up with the name of itbecause you know, on the seventh
day, God rested.
And I just feel like that numberseven is just super important
and it has, uh, it has somethingabout it draws me.
So seventh academy, I alwaysfeel like I'm learning.
I'm never going to tell you thatI know everything.
(08:50):
I mean, I prefer to staylearning every day to grow
evolve every day.
So that's where the academypiece comes in and public
relations.
That's, that's the title, that'swhere the title came from.
But as far as translatingeverything over to that, one of
the things as I got older and asI got my master's in public
(09:11):
relations that I enjoy isbranding.
I think branding is such a cooltopic, especially as we get, not
just because of social media,but it's just like where we are
as a society.
Like your brand is so importantto you, right?
And it's not, it doesn't have tojust be a business.
It could just be you yourself.
(09:31):
I mean, your brand carries overinto employment.
What people know about you,everything.
And I mean, the first, the mostimportant thing about public
relations is we are responsiblefor who you are.
And when you walk through thatdoor, if you hire a public
relations person,
Speaker 2 (09:46):
So how did you decide that it was time to pour a lot
of your resources and energyinto your own business?
When did you know it was time tokind of take that leap,
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Um, after, after a few clients and after school, to
be honest with you.
Cause I had to do a thesis and Imean at thesis took a whole lot
out of me, but at the same time,I like to help people.
And I like to, I mean, I'm abackgrounds person.
That's why I'm a producer, but Ilike to help people.
And I like to see projects andcampaigns and PRS campaigns, but
(10:24):
projects or campaigns, to me, itall falls back to producing
because you can't get to thenext level without a producer.
And I mean, to me, PR andproduction are very similar in
that, in that regard.
And that's what it was for me.
Once I realized that, and once Igot a few clients, it was like,
you know what, let me just,because you have to, also in my
(10:46):
degree program, you have tostart your own business.
So I just carried it on.
I have two employees.
It's crazy to me.
That's crazy but
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Crazy.
That's growth.
I
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Mean, there's growth.
It is.
But when I say crazy, like agood thing, like I actually did
it.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
So when you look back and how long has it been since
you started seventh academy, butyou know, most of the time you
have those feelings, when you,when you do the look back, like,
I can't believe like we're herewith two employees.
So how long has it been?
Since seventh academy came intoexistence?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
So I graduated in 2018.
I mean the business was there,but I really didn't go.
I would say I really didn't gohard until 2000, 19, 2020.
And within what, within half ofa year, I, I got two employees.
I have a social media managerand then a account manager.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Wasn't a difficult decision.
And how, because part of thisshow is talking about, you know,
relationship and work-lifebalance and how you manage
starting a business with whatelse you have going on at home.
You know, I know you've got awife, you have some young
children, you still have a fulltime.
So what was that decision?
(12:09):
Like, how did you and your wifekind of come together and just
say, Hey, you know what?
This has been going on, workingon a poor, our time and
resources into this.
What was that like with you andthe family dynamic?
Speaker 3 (12:21):
So when it comes to, uh, so just so everyone on the
podcast knows I have, I've beenmarried for 14 years and we have
five daughters.
One of the most important thingsfor me is like, whatever.
Cause I mean, I'm not a wealthyman, but whatever it is I can do
to leave behind for my children,I'm going to do it.
(12:43):
Right.
So one of the things that, youknow, I mean, I guess you could
say like kinda losing your wife,but one of them, one of the
things was, you know, Hey, withthis business, uh, like my
older, my oldest artist, she'sinto media.
So, you know, I teach her a lotof stuff.
Like she started her own, uh,it's this website called red
(13:07):
bubble where you could createkind of your own designs and
sell them.
So I sit down with her, go overher, you know, what is your
brand, what her brand is enemy.
So I was like, well, what, what,I don't know if I want to give
you all, all the tools, thetricks of the trade, but
anyways,
Speaker 2 (13:24):
You got to keep things for yourself.
Cause that's why you havecustomers.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
I sit it down and I go over, you know, the plan with
her and I make her do it.
But then I'll also bring herinto the company and show her
different things that I do justto pass something down to
generations.
Cause I mean, it's just at theend of the day, you know, as an
African-American, that's notsomething that we were always
privy to.
(13:48):
And I knew I wasn't, I know forme it was just, Hey, make sure
you go to school, get a degree,but it wasn't nothing really
passed down or talked to me.
So that's really important tome.
And that was something that Istressed to my wife in order to,
let's say some of those timeswhen I'm more busy than focused
on her, that's what I bring backup to reiterate.
(14:14):
Like it's bigger than just daddyout here trying to do something.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
I like that.
Generational wealth passing downpiece that you've talked about.
So you mentioned you have fivegirls and it seems like you are
having a positive influence onthem as far as starting their
own business.
How old is your oldest?
Who has the website?
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Oh, she's 13.
Wow.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
So she's starting early.
Anyone else in the householdstarting to look like they want
to go into what you do or starttheir own business or any of
that?
So there's
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Another business that my 12 year old, the one right
under her, she wants to start.
I'm going to help her to startthat as soon as I get the funds
for it.
But yet there's something thatshe's wanting to start for the
longest.
And I want to see them at leasttry yes.
Try, attempt to learn it, seehow it goes.
(15:13):
And I mean, you don't have togive it up a lot of things now
to me, even if it's just likeinternet, if you're just doing a
business on the internet, evenif it's slow, you don't have to
quit it.
Right.
It just might be slow for rightnow, but you can still have that
time to all right, the next sixmonths, I want to pour my all
into this, but there
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Has to be some planning behind it too.
Right?
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Yes.
And that's one of the mostimportant things about PR too.
It all comes back to branding tome.
Branding is where it starts.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Exactly.
So I also want to talk about,you've mentioned, you'd like to
help people and I love the factthat, you know, at home it's the
exposure, right?
If you can see it, you can beit.
Can you talk a little bit aboutany other ways that you are
impacting the community?
Um, I know you've got someorganizations that you work with
(16:06):
or some groups that you workwith.
How else are you working withother folk to kind of help
inspire them to achieve theirdreams or network with one
another?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Well, I'll share what you wanted to craziest stories
to me.
Like I said, I say crazy in agood way, not nothing.
Gotcha.
Gotcha.
Um, but so I actually am in twoplaces because my wife and kids
are in Florida, but I work inArkansas.
So I'm back and forth a lot.
Um, like I said, I, productionis one of my big things and one
(16:39):
of my clients last last yearduring Christmas, there was a
lady I met who in Arkansas, shedoes this all on the strength of
just love for her community.
She gets to she every week shecooks for salvation army.
And then every, uh, duringChristmas she does this toy
drive locally.
(17:00):
And, and I wanted to film and doa documentary a quick five
minute documentary for her.
Cause I, I just never metanybody like this, but I mean,
I've felt since I've watchedher, I've like help put her in
different places.
But anyways, I want to stick toher to sit there and watch this
lady do this drive at a localrestaurant and see so many
(17:25):
families come up and cry.
I didn't capture any of thecrying, but I mean, those people
like, you know, crying, pouringtheir heart out.
Um, and just being so thankfulthat they were able to provide
toys for their children becauseit is lady.
I mean, one of the craziestthings I've ever witnessed,
(17:45):
stories like that.
If I meet somebody like that,I'm going to try my hardest to,
Hey, put them in the right placefor this story to be heard, set
them up with the right peoplefor free.
Because it, to me, it's justlike stuff like that.
We were not all built like that.
(18:05):
And this lady story, she, uh,she came from poverty.
Um, and her goal in life is justto help out as many people as
she can.
No, non-profit no nothing.
She just asked this off thestrength of herself.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
That's a great story.
But most importantly, what Ilove is the fact that you are
also helping other people bytelling their story and that
giving back that community is,is extremely, extremely
important.
So we thank you for your effortsand giving back to the community
(18:46):
in that way.
One of the other things that Ialso want to make sure that
people know about, well, beforewe get to your social media, I
want to know about this mantrathat you have.
I had never heard this, but yousay that you live by the first
line of clot.
(19:07):
McKay's Palm, if we must die.
And that is if we must die, letit not be like hogs.
What does that mean?
What does that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (19:18):
So, I mean, of course you have to read a whole poem to
really get the full context, butjust that one line it's like, I
mean, it comes from, uh, myinterpretation from, it has
always been, cause there's ahistorical interpretation of it,
but I'll just tell you how itrelates to me.
Okay.
Uh, for me it's always that, uh,you know, go out at the highest
(19:40):
that you can write it.
Don't just sit there and youknow, if you're going to fight,
like really fight and seesomething through, don't just
take, what's presented to you.
And I mean, that's just, that'sjust the way I grew up.
I grew up with a grandmother.
I have a grandmother andgrandfather, but my grandmother
is a very, she's a fighter.
(20:02):
Like, uh, she just doesn't takeanything.
And to me it doesn't always haveto be like physical or, you
know, something aggressive, butfighting with your mind, like
using your mind to really go tothe highest that you could go.
Don't just take what, you know,a path that somebody has given
you a path that somebody tellsyou, you have to go, why not go
(20:25):
with what you want to do and goout fighting.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
How have you applied that to your life?
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Oh man, how can I say this in a short way?
Let's just say in a lot of timesin my life I've been put in like
a underdog category.
And so for me, it's always,well, you know, I could do this.
I don't need your approval totell me that I can do this.
(20:53):
Just watching me do this.
I'll give you the best example.
So before I went back to schooland before I got my masters and
bachelors, I was a full-timedriver at ups.
And I didn't like it.
I mean, it was good financially,but I just didn't like the work.
And I didn't feel like I wasreally utilizing my talents or
(21:15):
bring so, you know, while I wasworking, going to school and
stuff, uh, plenty of peoplewould tell me, oh, you're crazy.
It doesn't get much better thanthis.
And then people would tell melike, oh, you're going to full
sail university.
When you graduate full sail,you're going to be like
everybody else at full sail.
Like you'll never break into themedia world.
(21:36):
And so I graduated left ups in2016, graduated in 2016, became
a, create a full-time creativeproducer in 2019.
Then what, then what you'retelling me.
Right.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
So don't be limited.
Yes.
I love that.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
I love that when I listen to people.
Cause I mean, people, somepeople have good intentions.
A lot of people give you, uh,the worst of themselves and put
it on you projected on you.
And I just think that'sunfortunate in this world
because I can't tell somebodywhat they can't do.
I can only try to uplift themand say, Hey, if that's what you
(22:16):
really want to do, as long asyou've given it 110% given the
Mamba mentality, but shout outto Kobe Bryant, I mean, and go
for it.
Like I've been in thatsituation, majority of my life
where people tell me, oh, youcan't do that.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
So with that mantra in mind, and have you gotten to
a space where you are happy?
Are you at a space where youdon't feel like you're the
underdog, you feel like you arein control and you are making
your own destiny a little bit
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Because at the same time I like to compete.
So I mean, I, I kind of keep it,keep those things close to heart
in all honesty.
Uh, but I am happy.
I will always try to stay at aplace that happiness cause I'm,
I mean, to me, happiness startsat home and I mean, regardless,
God has blessed me with like,oh, wife and five beautiful
(23:07):
daughters.
And I don't say that to soundlike a cliche, but like I was
just there last week, all lastweek.
And I just got back here inArkansas today.
And I mean, it's tough being intwo places has been tough for
the past few months, but it'sjust such a, such a blessing,
man.
My, my kids make me happy.
(23:29):
I cannot lie about that.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Well, shout out to Mrs.
LaBear, she's holding it downfor the family.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
I mean, she, she held her down with five kids.
She had five,
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I got to meet her well, getting close to the end
of our episode here, but I wantto make sure that all of the
listeners know where they canfollow you.
And if they want to get some PRwork from you, how can they find
you?
Where, what are your socialmedia handles?
How can I get in touch with you?
Speaker 3 (24:00):
So the easiest way is , I mean, of course I have the
website seventh academy, pr.comall spelled out.
And then, um, my email is myfirst name.
I Y U B E dot L B E R T Sseventh academy, pr.com.
I prefer email over everything.
(24:21):
Yeah.
But then, uh, social as far associal, um, at seventh academy
PR and then, um, my personal onethat you could find me on is, um
, at I N L 83 underscore for,
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Yeah.
And that's where people willfind you doing some of your,
your personal projects andmusic.
I did check that out.
So, you know, if you areinterested in following him on
that, do that, but thank you somuch for agreeing to be on the
show at you.
We appreciate you.
Thank you so much.
And I also want to just makesure that everyone who's
(24:57):
listening can follow you bay.
All of his social media will bein the show notes.
I also want to just make surethat everyone has all of my
social media handles, which isat Philomena Nash on all social
media, including LinkedIn.
Make sure you also check out thefelonies Nash experience a
podcast on YouTube as well.
(25:19):
Well, you'll find the videoversion of this episode in all
prior episodes from season oneand two.
I just want to thank you againfor agreeing to be on the show.
I want to thank all of mylisteners and viewers for
watching and listening to theshow.
And I also just want toencourage everyone to continue
to stay safe out there.
(25:39):
COVID-19 is picking back up.
So if you have the opportunityto get your vaccine, please do
so stay safe, wash your hands,and we'll see you on the next
episode of the felony smashexperience podcast.
Peace
Speaker 1 (25:58):
[inaudible].
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