The Real Connect
The Real Connect is where people talk honestly about life. Hosted by Tamika Carlton, guests share real stories about connection, healing, and being human without pretending. Right now, too many relationships feel transactional. People don’t know how to date, build real friendships, or tell the truth anymore. We look connected, but we’re lonely. This podcast slows things down and brings the focus back to real bonds, real conversation, and showing up for each other.
Episodes
Have you ever wondered if the wedding is getting more attention than the marriage?
Eloping used to sound like “run to the courthouse in secret”… but in this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Kate Okenatez-Mahoney, founder of Soul and Sky Weddings, to flip that whole narrative. Kate specializes in adventure elopements—think Alaska glaciers, mountaintops, national parks, and even cliffside ceremoni...
Real Connection Doesn’t Mean “No Conflict”… It Means You Stay on the Same Team
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, host Tamika Carlton sits down with Sara Margulis, founder and CEO of Honeyfund (yes, the Shark Tank success story), for a real conversation about what keeps relationships alive when life gets loud. From honeymoon travel and why “shared experiences” are a love language, to boundaries, communication, divorce, and...
This is for anyone who’s been knocked down by life and decided not just to survive, but to build something meaningful on the other side.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Nayana (Nay) Ferguson, entrepreneur, national speaker, and the first Black woman co-owner/operator of a tequila brand, Anteel Tequila, for a conversation that’s inspiring, and deeply human.
Nay shares why she moved from Detro...
What does self-care look like when you’re building a career, building a family… and life is still lifing?
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Atlanta powerhouse Lakila Bowden, COO, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Isee Technologies, for a fearless and fruitful conversation.
Lakila breaks down why career success doesn’t have to cost you your health, what alignment really looks like in real lif...
This is for anyone who’s ever eaten something so good it felt like a memory and a hug at the same time because food isn’t just food, it’s connection.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Top Chef Season 22 winner and Afro-Caribbean chef Tristen Epps for a conversation that goes way beyond the show. Tristen shares one of the most powerful compliments a chef can receive: not “this is delicious...
If you are building something, feeling tired, or trying to find your lane without pretending to be someone else, this episode will hit.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Atlanta real estate closing attorney and TV personality (Ladies Who List), Tiffani Hawes, to talk about what it really takes to build a respected business in an industry that was not designed with you in mind. Tiffani opens u...
Real connection is about choosing growth, accountability, and peace, even when quitting feels easier.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Jovon “Q” Quarles. A retired Navy SEAL, public speaker, and cast member on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test for a real conversation about love, leadership, trauma, and the kind of resilience you only earn.
Jovon opens up about finding peace in his relatio...
This is for anyone who has ever been labeled, judged, or misunderstood and still had to show up like nothing was wrong.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with TV personality, writer, and entrepreneur Ashley Silva from OWN’s Love & Marriage: DC. Ashley opens up about growing up in Baltimore near the world of The Wire, becoming a young wife and mom, and what really happens behind the scenes of r...
Real connection is still the secret to real visibility, especially in a more AI-obsessed world.In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Brett Farmiloe, CEO of Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and Featured.com, to talk about relationships, PR, and the power of simple conversations. Brett shares how HARO works behind the scenes, why connection accelerates every startup, and how he balances being a founder,...
Real connection starts with presence—on stage, on screen, and in life.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with actor and producer Danielle Moné Truitt, best known for her role as Sgt. Ayanna Bell on Law & Order: Organized Crime. From her early years performing in theatre to leading one of TV’s biggest franchises, Danielle shares how empathy, discipline, and authentic connection have shaped ever...
Some people stay surface level. Others help you see yourself more clearly.In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Rachel Leonard Kennedy, author, entrepreneur, and relationship builder with over 15 years of experience helping people turn small talk into meaningful opportunities. Together, they unpack what it really means to find your tribe, protect your energy, and stay open to connection even aft...
Some relationships add to your life. Others drain it.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Portia James for a conversation that goes beyond surface-level talk. They unpack what it actually means to recognize real vs. fake connections through the lens of personal experience, self-awareness, and the energy people bring into your life.
They get honest about friendships that feel forced, business rel...
Connection doesn’t have to be perfect. Real connection is about showing up open, being your true self, and embracing both your vulnerabilities and your strengths. In this episode of The Real Connect, host Tamika Carlton is the guest, and friend Vincent Tobias Bell is asking the questions. Tamika shares how she finally answered that voice in her soul, stepped into this podcast, and invited you into the journey of living to connect.I...
Want to know what keeps a relationship soft, safe, and strong in real life?In this episode of The Real Connect podcast, Chase Mays and Tashiera Parker Mays, the couple behind 2BLK Women Apparel, sit down with Tamika Carlton to talk love, identity, and building a brand centered on representation and pride. It's a joyful, honest conversation about choosing each other daily, dating your spouse, and creating a home that feels like a sa...
Want to know the real secrets to a joy-filled, lasting relationship?
Jason & Tina Marie Scott bring over 33 years of marriage wisdom, practical coaching strategies, and honest conversation about breaking cycles and building love that lasts.
They are best-selling authors of "Manifest A Joy-Filled Relationship," Certified Life and Relationship Coaches, and co-founders of Legendary Relationship, a personal development company helpi...
Why does vulnerability matter in modern relationships?
In this candid conversation on The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Trill AC to discuss real stories and insights on relationships, dating, and the importance of vulnerability, especially for men navigating today’s world. From breaking free of societal expectations to embracing patience and peace, this episode goes beyond surface-level advice to explore what t...
If you’ve ever tried to show up fully as a Black woman, for a Black woman, or in a world that often doesn’t know what to do with your truth, this episode is for you.
This special compilation from Season 1 of The Real Connect Podcast brings together some of the most honest, layered, and revealing moments of the season. It’s about the relationships that shaped us, the boundaries that saved us, and the healing we’re still figuring out ...
In the final episode of Season 1 of The Real Connect podcast, Tamika Carlton breaks the fourth wall in a brand new format, answering unexpected, unfiltered questions from her husband, Logan. From love and personal growth to major life pivots, nothing is off-limits. Logan brings the heat with topics Tamika didn’t see coming, including her decision to leave Seattle for an HBCU and how that bold move reshaped her entire journey. It’s ...
What happens when two creative souls meet, click, and decide to build something real together? On this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Jeffrey Taylor and Roy Carey, the authentic force behind the rising fashion brand Jeofroi.
We get into the heart of how their fashion partnership was born from a college connection to building a brand rooted in loyalty, admiration, and vision. This episode is full o...
In this quick solo episode of The Real Connect, I’m keeping it real with something we all need to hear—stop waiting for the perfect moment. That moment you're waiting for? It might never come. I’m sharing some personal truths, including losing my dad when I was young and how that shifted everything for me.
This is for anyone stuck in planning mode, held back by fear, or waiting for a sign. The sign is now. It's time to move.
Let this...
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