E502: Angela Yee, Katrina 'Kat Tat' Jackson, JD Lawrence & Melba Wilson

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to Money Making Conversations. It's the show that she
has the secrets of success experience firsthand by marketing and
Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I will know he's giving me
advice to many occasions. In occasion, didn't notice, I'm not broke.
You know, he'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry
decision makers. It's what he likes to do, it's what
he likes to share. Now it's time to hear from

(00:25):
my man, Rashan McDonald. Money Making Conversations Here we come.
Welcome to money Making Conversation. That's right, I'm your host,
Rashan McDonald. Each Money Making Conversations talk shows about entrepreneurship
and entertainment. I provide the consumer and business owner access
to celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision makers. It is

(00:46):
important to understand that everybody travels a different path to success.
That is because your brand is different. The challenges you
face in your life are different. So stop reading other
people's success stories and start writing your own. Now you
can be motivated by that success because their stories can
offer direction and help you reach your goals through your
planning and committed effort. My guests to Money Making Conversations

(01:07):
have that same passion and they share that same information.
We talked about their career motivation, what they are promoting,
how they live a balance life, and their secrets to success.
My next guest is here, boy, this is what I'll
tell you. So I got this guy got this carcase.
Somebody messaged me through LinkedIn and said, getting next guests

(01:27):
in town? Could he do the show? I think I
immediately put myself number in there. They know who she
will all I know, I gotta get close to my
board my next guest. Production company Who's laughing now has
been producing hit drama das for the past twenty five years.
To date, he and his family have launched more than
twenty productions delivering to soldot theaters across the country, in

(01:51):
addition to TV shows on GMC, Aspire, u MC BT
and Bravo. Please work with the Money, Money Making Conversation
j D lrds. Right, All right, well seven, yeah, Well,

(02:11):
actually I surpassed the Guinness Book of World Records. Um.
I went for the Guinness Book of World Records and
we had a issue with it because I beat the
record and I didn't know at the end of it,
they wanted ten thousand dollars. Yeah, they wanted ten thousand dollars,
and I was like ten thousand dollars. I said, well,
hold on, and then nobody told me that I didn't

(02:31):
see that in the contract, right, So they want a
ten thousand dollars to actually give me the actual a award.
So I said, okay, well, you know, no problem. We
wrote them the check. Then they told me I would
only have it for one day because it was a
guy in Germany that because at that time I only
played fifty six and I beat the fifty two characters.
So I played fifty six, but they said that I

(02:52):
would only have it for a day because it was
a guy in Germany that was doing sixty. I said, well,
I'm not giving you ten thousand dollars for a day.
That's not gonna happen. So then we waited a year
and I came back because I wanted to challenge it,
and also we got our money back, and I went
and I beat the sixty characters and I did seventy two.
Then they want a twenty thousand. Oh, they just keep

(03:13):
going up, they want Yeah, so my pr person said, well,
listen to all we gotta do is just said you
surpassed it. And if they want to challenge it, you
know we have it on you know film. Well, you
know a lot of people don't know that when you
get those stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there's
a fee for that about thirty thousand dollars. So you said,
why what you call him? It's not because they don't

(03:35):
want to pay that thirty thousand, Well ten thousand more.
I could have just got me a star. Absolutely, And
how you've been doing my friend a long time back history. Yeah,
we came together up in New York when I Steve
and I went to WBLS and New York City in
two thousand and five, and uh, and we just started connecting.
Just what let me say this back then, if nobody

(03:57):
don't know, I had asked um you to manage me,
and you said to me, what are you doing for
yourself that I can't do? And I sat there and
I had to think about it for men, asked, well
what am I doing for myself? And you said, brother,
he said, do it for yourself first, and then when

(04:18):
you get to what you gotta get to then come
back and say all right, I can't go no further.
But at that point I think I was lazy and
I didn't do it, and I and I'm gonna tell
you I left that meeting mad I was tight. I
was like yeah, McDonald said, I gotta do it myself.
And then my wife said, what what are you doing
for yourself? Like what? And then I literally motivated myself

(04:41):
to do something for myself because I didn't stop talking
to you. No, no, no, you answer my calls and
every day absolutely what are you doing? That said nothing?
You know what You're like play what about this? With Sean?
You said, hey, watch this video and things like that.
I just start seeing you moving forward. But there was
no denying your talent. It was like okay, because what
happens says a lot of people in Hollywood. They get

(05:01):
an agent, they get a manager, and sometimes didn't just stop.
They think something magical is going to happen. But what
people don't realize that is that managers and ages are
really just helping a talent to the next level because
of their because of their actions, because of their acauass.
Of example, Stephen A. Smith Steve is A is a
social media phenomenon he brings in management to connect him

(05:22):
to the right people or agent to connect in the
right people, and that organization can lead to a better
financial situation. But believe me, I didn't make a Stephen
A Smith. I didn't make a Steve Harvey. I just
positioned him based on the foundation that he gave me.
He had the foundation. But Steve was always at the
ready to go on the road, ready to tell a joke.
And that's all I was asking him, What are you

(05:42):
doing for yourself to build your brand, to work your brand?
And the evolution of all these different characters came along.
Now you know, you're big and drama. Just to explain
to everybody on the show, what exactly is a drama
A drama Ney is Uh my interpretation of it is
mixing drumah with the comedy side and bringing them both because, um,

(06:06):
I want people, you know, I always want people to laugh,
but I want to feed them a message at the
same time. So that's the drama side of it is,
you know, giving them an important message, you know that's serious,
but making it you know, it's almost like you know, uh,
you know feeding people ice cream, you know, feeding them
their medicine. But you got some ice cream. Absolutely, you know,

(06:31):
but it's just it's just, you know, you have to
be talented to be to pull that off because usually
in a scene is so dark that that you you
make that the right turn and people go with you
and and things like that. So now when I'm reading
your bio j D. It's talks about family. Who in
your family as part of the production. Everybody, everybody works
that everybody, anybody that's eating my house is working, because

(06:56):
I think it's important. You know, as a family, you're
a lot of wronger and you want to keep family
around you when you're in this business. Because David and
Tamila man do that. Yes, everybody in that how they
can't speak, get up out of bed. Everybody gonna work.
I got my wife handles the money side of that.
I don't have my kids count my money. I just

(07:17):
let my wife count my money. But I got a
son who's into um. He actually just graduated from cooking school.
So I did and one thing that I did wrong
about that, I totally look better than my wife. So
she hasn't cooked since. But he's into you know, music

(07:37):
as well, so he so he scores a lot of
the music, you know, for the show. And then I
have my two daughters. They handled the business side on screen,
you know, so when we did the reality show Bravo,
they actually came on screen and do it. Let let's
talk about something that's really important. Your your your successful

(07:57):
actor and prominent stuttering. Okay, okay, So that's that's something
that's been part of your life. And and and when
you go out to character, is not there, No, not
not at all, you know. And it's weird because um,
I spoke to Samuel Jackson about this. He came to
New York City one time, him, Bruce Willis, um Emily

(08:18):
um Blunt, and I remember having a conversation with sam
about it and he's like, you know, you have to
put a character in front of that voice, you know,
because I didn't know that he had a speech. I started, Yeah,
And I spoke to um, I'm Steve about that. I
remember one time, Um was it dog? What you? What

(08:40):
are you stuttering about? Dog? Spick up man? You know.
But I've you know, um um getting on stage, Like
when I go into the character, you know, any character
that I decided to go into the character just completely
throws out and this character does not start at all,
you know. But I can't walk around life talking like that.

(09:01):
You probably just look at you a little different. Yeah,
and I did the school's working with But when you
when you talking about because you did sending the two characters. Yeah, okay, yes,
let's break down that process because I don't know sending
it to anybody like that. Okay, So in the name
of the players, what it's called schizophren schizophrenia And right

(09:23):
now it's been on tour right well, we've been doing
some spot dates. We actually head out on the national
tour with a l W that's La Dallas Awesome. It
was a J D numb Are you going to do
these seventy two people? I washed one of the big time.

(09:46):
We can go back when he really was a dominant force,
took took many many stars out on the road. Kurt
Franklin tour on the road, so he was always out there.
Now you have I think you're carrious. And then Tyler Perry, yes,
you know, uh who just took it to the next
long Oh yeah, you know. And I have so much
respect for Tyler because he built a brand out of nowhere,

(10:11):
you know, and and really made it something let's talk
about something that's really important. Your your your successful actor
and prominent stuttering. Okay, okay, so that's that's something that's
been part of your life. And and and when you
go into character, it's not there. No, not, not not
at all, you know. And it's weird because Um, I
spoke to Samuel Jackson about this. He came to New

(10:34):
York City one time, him, Bruce Willis, Um Emily um Blunt,
and I remember having a conversation with sam about it,
and he's like, you know, you have to put a
character in front of that voice, you know, because I
didn't know that he had a speech and started, Yeah,
And I spoke to um, I'm Steve about that. I

(10:56):
remember one time, Um, was it dog cute? What are
you stuttering about? This big up man? You know? But
I've you know, um um getting on stage, Like when
I go into the characters, you know, any character that
I decided to go into the counter just completely flows
out and this character does not start at all, you know.

(11:18):
But I can't walk around life talking like that. You
probably we should look at you a little different. Yeah,
And I did it in school. What's working with But
when you when you talking about because you did send
the too characters. Yeah, okay, yes, let's break down that
process because I don't know send it to anybody like that. Okay,
So in the name of the players, what it's called

(11:40):
schizophren schizophrenia And right now it's been on tour right well,
we've been doing some spot dates. We actually head out
on a national tour with a l W that's l
uhhh yeah awesome. Yea, it was a J D numb
Are you gonna do these seventy two people? Washed? Wasn't

(12:05):
the big time? We can go back when he really
was a dominant force, took took many many stars out
on the road. Kurt Franklin tour on the road, so
he was always out there. Now you have I think Carrios,
uh and then Tyler Perry you know, uh who just
took it to the next long oh yeah, you know.
And I have so much respect for Tyler because he

(12:27):
built a brand out of nowhere, you know, and and
really made it something. I remember we're about to go
in this break, but I remember we was we was
doing radio and Los Angeles and Shama Moore he called
me said, chamre has to do series on CPS. Just
doing very well. Uh, he said, you gotta come to

(12:49):
he was playing at the Kodak Theater because you knew
there was a big difference for his type of show
to be in the Kodak Theater and Kodak Theater way
they do the Oscars and all the major awards in Hollywood.
He said, you gotta come see this guy. And he had.
He hadn't done the movies yet, none of them, dear
movies had hit it. But he was already just breaking
ground and going to the next level with his brand

(13:10):
and understanding ownership of his brand. You understood that he
didn't give away rights and stuff like that because he
knew his brand meant something. And that's really the key
with him. And when we were talking about business, you
always have to have your mind at the at the
at the top of the game that comes to business,
cause people are on your brand. You can walk away.
I'm gonna talk about somebody who kind of lost his
brand and come right back from this break on. I'm

(13:33):
only I'm here, y'all. Money Making Conversations, old friend, Uh,
many characters. J D. Lawrence, Wow, it's great. Say hi,
this is Rushan McDonald, the host of Money Making conversation.
You say to yourself, who calls rushan Shell? Please Welcome
to money Making Conversations, Loni Love. You have to believe

(13:55):
in yourself. Nobody else believes, and you believe in yourself
with me being the woman who host as successible with
seventy thousand people to introduce Michelle Obama. That just doesn't
come overnight. Please, Welcome to money Making Conversations. Lynn, your
daughter Charity is a hot mess on Green Lease. Well,

(14:18):
she is, she is. She's just trying to find her
footing and she got spoiled because there were maids and
things help take care of her a lot of times.
The baby and the family is like that. Money Making
Conversations continues online at www dot money Making Conversations dot

(14:39):
com and follow money Making Conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Welcome to money Making Conversation. I'm your host with Sean McDonalds.
Each money Making Conversations talk show us about entrepreneurship and entertainment.
I provide the consumer and business owner access to celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs,
and industry decision makers. It is important to understand that

(15:02):
everybody travels a different path to success. That's because your
brand is different. The challenges you face in your life
are different. So stop reading other people's success stories and
start writing your own. Now, you can be motivated by
their success because their stories can offer direction and help
you reach your goals through your planning and your committed effort.
My guests on money making Conversations have that same passion,

(15:24):
and they share that information when we talk about their
career motivation, what they are promoting, how they live a
balanced life, and their secrets to success. It's really important
to understand that this shows about you for you, and
my guests are here to help you. My next guest
is world renowned. Last year, the Mayor of New York
City and first Lady awarded the Brooklyn Navy with her

(15:46):
own day in New York City. She's co host of
The Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club has transcended hip hop
and pop culture become a popular style for both rising
and established politician, community activists, and business leaders. The Breakfast
Club guest lets have ranged from Hillary Clinton to Jennifer Lopez,
to Dave Chappelle to stephen A Smith and everyone in between.

(16:07):
In her spare time, now she has her book club
called Angela Ye's Book Club, her Running Club Run with Yee,
and her Wealth Wednesdays series with f natural expert Stacy Tisdale. Finally,
please welcome to Money Making Conversations, Angela. Ye, me sound
really amazing. Well, you're amazing. Well, you know, the thing

(16:31):
about it, the Angela is that you know you you
you're you're in the in the era of social media
and branding and and you know, women dominate radio listenership.
You know, if you ever show, unless you're doing sports,
that's where men dominate listenership on sports. Hand and I
produced so many fantastic morning shows, and I know the

(16:53):
value of a female and they're positioned it. On the
show you're on, there were two very dominant men. What
do you feel your role us on the Breakfast Club?
I think, uh, and we are very clear about what
our roles are. But for myself, I would say that
my role is the person that brings the facts and
the one that gets there earlier than everybody does the research,

(17:13):
presents the stories and that's probably the most prep from
when we have interviews. I'm also the one that bring
the bag in when things get off track. So people, yeah,
as the person that the same one, well, you know, so,
but you know, that's really funny because you know, when

(17:34):
I look at Live Service, you're kind of not saying
on that show. You know. You know what's funny is
I still am kind of like the Barbara Walters on
Live Service because my experiences are nowhere near as crazy
as the lady's experiences on there. I'm probably uh the
one that is the most say that all the time,

(17:56):
and people also say, well, Angela doesn't tell us her
experiences life, and I always look at it like when
I'm here every single thank you guys knowing me from
the breakfast club. I'm trying to learn more about other people.
But I still feeling like I have always been somewhat
conservative when it comes to a mon and sex life.
So if I want to be honest, everybody is not
a freak. A lot of people are conservative also. Absolutely

(18:19):
to learn about new things absolutely, you know, and that's
why you know it's called fantasy. You know, you have
a fantasy and you can't have a reality. And so
when i'm you know, I try to reach out and
you know, when guests come on my show, and especially
unique guests because you all unique guests, because we know
I don't I don't mention that that's that amount of
all activity of book club or you know you're obviously

(18:40):
in shape you running, you know, or I'm sure if
you run in front of me, I'm not gonna catch you,
you know, especially I keep up with you for a
New York block after that, we all got something. I
bet you if you started running. That's a little bit
like every few days, like I ran with people that

(19:00):
their life who have asked everything. And I've seen people
like that. One of my really good friends from college,
Nay was marathon. Before that he had asked, I never
ran a day in her life the Crown. That's amazing.
And you no, no, because let's let's like, I can't
go to detail because I'm on free Radio to rest
your radio with your lift service show. But you know
you got on there. I see Stephanie and Loreale on

(19:23):
the show. Now are they are? Is that your team? Uh?
How does that? How does the makeup? And then you
have to guess, you know, you know, they come on
the show and you're they're teasers. You're you're trying to
pull out the nuggets of sometimes shock or information, like
you said, you know, I saw you know Chelsea Handler
episode and now so when you were on that episode,

(19:44):
you admitted, I'm not trying to be open. That's that's
never been my goal. You know what I loved about it,
and I always tell people in my intro is about
you know, you're out there writing your own story and
that's what impresses me. And it's just just tell people
why that's important that Angela else who story first. Well,
I think we all very diverse human being. Sometimes people

(20:04):
think we're so monolithic as black women. They think if
you're a journalist that automatically you went to be Oprah.
We all respect Oprah of course, like there's no denying
what she did and what she's created is amazing, her
whole empire, but that doesn't mean that's who I'm modeling
myself after. And there's nothing wrong with that. I think
that people think, oh, you're gonna be the next Open,

(20:25):
and that's not always what it is like for myself.
I could never be the next Oprah because that's just
not the lane that I'm in. I've never been. Uh,
I've never done interviews like she has like I do
sometimes to have ageory emails. I come from serious satellite
radio and as you know, it was very unsensored. I
was on a hip hop station that was very dominated

(20:45):
that it was like eight percent males that listen. To
keep it real, like that's how I started doing radio.
I've always been like when I started, I was the
only woman on the station, you know, on Shave forty five.
So for myself that I could even see myself being
and that's coming from this whole hip hop that's not open.

(21:06):
You know. Well I would tell you this, Uh, you know,
I have a gift. You know, I see talent and
I recognize where they're gonna go. You know, this is
just you know, like I said, one thing I know
this is about you is that you're you know, you're
a person who reinvents her sound. You know, you know,
and and then you understand multiple strings of income what
I just mentioned. And so so what you're doing now

(21:27):
is just a version of what you're doing now. And
as you mature, you know, your values change, and you know,
I don't know what the next ten years, but it's
gonna be a different Angela Yee in ten years, because
that's just you. You know, you you have a clear understanding,
Like you already admit certain things. I'm conservative Rashan. You know,
conservative things start taking over and they start directing you
where you want to go with your brain. And this

(21:48):
is what this is all about, your brain, you know,
because you carry I always tell people, you know, you
care a certain group of people you with you for
twenty years and they have value for twenty years. That's
who you go out and tell advertising. I'm eighteen to
thirty four. I'm eighteen to four to nine. That's that's
the number they want, twenty five four the night. So
you carry those folks for twenty years, you know, you
you know, along the way, you reinvent yourself to hang

(22:09):
on to them and also sometimes to be relevant to
a younger group so you can care them with you.
And so when I look at your brands, you know
and you know actually real estate investor. And then are
you a homeowner? Yes? So I do have right now
for residences. Well that's a that's that's like a that's

(22:30):
I said a homeowner or not? You said four residencis
are you just out right my house in Brooklyn that
I live in out right? Because I just paid off
the mortgage that was my birgagations. So what's it? What's it?
The thirty year mortgage or fifteen year mortgage that you're
paid on. It started off as a thirty year. Then

(22:52):
I refinanced it um two years ago to make it
a fifteen years just to get a lower rate. And
ye know when I did that, because the rates had dropped,
that also meant that I wasn't even paying much more
than I was paying already just to make it a
fifteen year instead of a thirty year because of the
rate drop. And then I had made a promise to
myself there by my birthday, I want to pay off
my mortgage that I did it. We know, something's really

(23:14):
interesting because that gets to your your were wealth winds
that believe that's right, Uh that you do. We are
winds as we do with uh Stacy Tisdale because people
need to understand that because I did the same thing
with Mike. You know, I have two homes. I paid
all both from once in Houston, was in Atlanta. In
the first home, I had a thirty year mortgage and
then uh, and so when you go to fifteen, it's

(23:35):
really not that big of a difference, right, Yeah, you're right.
Especially it's really the percentage to you know, what your
interest is so once that instant dropped a point, and
you'll be surprised how much I can shave off. And
you're paying less interest from the beginning of your loan.
So it just really makes sense. But for myself, I
think people would tell you it's not a good idea
to pay up your mortgage. People will tell you all

(23:57):
kinds of things, what they do, what they tell you
that people justly out there. They will tell you don't
pay off people. I remember God said, I'm sorry for
cutting because I gotta be mad. Somebody told me, don't
don't pay that all. What what are you talking about?
Do when you're making a certain amount of income, I'm
taking property tax, don't even apply anymore properly next only
go up to a certain If you've gotta find me
in the hall, believe me, properly tax don cuple five

(24:17):
million dollars. You're stopping in the one million dollar range.
So everything else the government is gonna take anyway. So
so that's why that's why I really value you, know,
your finding your financial literacy campaign. Talk to us a
little bit about that, because you know so much to
talk about this. I'm gonna just tell you, like Angela
that's gonna be our first conversation and I'm just gonna
expose my my listeners to you. But you got so

(24:37):
much going on, so let's talk about the financial literacy.
You know, you know you, you know you you. You've
been recognized by with a Day in New York City.
You know you're the popular club. You gotta you know,
you get a hundred thousands of one point five million
views on your lip service show every time and airs.
You know you got you. What's the goal? What's the

(24:59):
go I think as to her this ideas to literacy part,
I do this thing called Wealth Wednesday's once a month
for stacy and that's actually at my juice bar, because
I have a juice bar in Brooklyn called Juices for Life,
and we do that there because when I first opened
that juice bar, it will be where four years in
September since we opened this juice bar with Stop Pea

(25:20):
from the Locks and when we first got the juice bar,
I got this space in Brooklyn for us. That's amazing,
Like it's a beautiful space, it's nice and open, it
has a backyard. And my goal was always I wanted
this to be a place where the community can come
in Best Side and yes it's the best guide and
have events. It's on Malcolm X Boulevard. And for me,

(25:40):
I wanted to be something that's also caters to our community,
the core people that are from the Best Side, that
are from that neighborhood, so they feel like this is
for us, because there's so much sense of fake gentrification
going on, so many businesses coming in that aren't trying
to link us still not welcome to be in those businesses.
So I wanted it to be a place where it's
not get your stuff and go, it's more comments, it down,

(26:00):
have a meeting if you need to say all day,
we got the TV. It's a little lounge area and France.
What do you want to do? You want to have
a baby shower here? You need to have an We
said all kinds of things up for people. So I
started was Wednesday because I wanted to have something that
with free for the community that was also empowering them
to know that they can be successful and can make

(26:20):
money and can be homeowners and can have great credit.
Now here's the thing about it, how times changed, Because
you know, are a little background on me and July
moved to New York and a eight to be a
stand up comic. I wanted to be the next next,
you know. And Eddie Murphy was hot out there. Richard
Prova course was always hot. And I remember I took
the subway and I got off Bitto. Okay, I thought

(26:44):
I was in another country. You know what I'm talking about?
She went, no juice back right now. And it just
shows you how that whole community has moved itself forward.
And how did you know know that's why you have
a basketball team there now, you know? And I always say,
the interesting thing about New York is that is that

(27:05):
everybody you know, Manhattan gets all the hype. Okay, but
Brooklyn's his own city. You don't even have to leave
bro A great person stands alone. They asked you what
you from. You don't say that you and I am
a fan of yours and also know that I just
want to let you know that keep doing what you're doing.
This whole multiple the multi stream, multiple streams. We income
being able to understand that the community comes first. That's

(27:29):
your brand. And also the fact that you are female.
That represents being you and being strong and being having
a voce that that delivers a message that's equal for everybody.
That's important and I want you to maintain. We'll be
back with more money Making Conversation with the star of
the Breakfast Club, Angela p. Money Making Conversations continues online

(27:49):
at www dot money Making Conversations dot com and follow
money Making Conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Our next
guest is the first time on the show, which I'm
always excited because I get to learn new things. I
get to expand my conversation base. Keep talking to the

(28:10):
same people. You don't get educated as much. I will
be educated after this show. But she about food, and
everybody who listens to this show knows Rashwan McDonald is
an all time great foodie. My next guest restaurant is
the premier comfort food comfort food destination in New York City,
as you will see from her Instagram page at Melbourne Harlem.

(28:33):
Celebrities like nas Nick Cannon, her cousins sienns April, Ryan
dil Hugely and many more all in your her American
comfort food. I want to know what that is, you know,
American comfortable. She has always seen on the Food Network,
whether she is a judge on Beat, Bobby Flay cooking,
with the amazing host on the kitchen or trying to

(28:54):
pick the winner and the finale are the Worst Cooks
in America? That's one of my favorite shows. Those people
really can't cool. Please working the money making conversation my
girl Melbolle, Wilson, Rest Shawan, how are you like? You know?
I had to put all those credits in there because
some of them were just so worth talking about. Now

(29:15):
now because Bobby Flay as my boy. Then you got
the kitchen what you gotta come on there with a
little nice little quick recipes. You gotta put out real
fast so so people can capture at home, and it's
kind of like competing. Everybody taste and sample your stuff
on the spot, so you know, you know, you gotta
have your act together. And then but my favorite show,
Worst Cooks in America A well, they truly are the

(29:40):
worst cooks when they start out. However, you know, they
get in there with ambarrel and they throw down. They
really learned how to cook. And uh, I've been really
inspired and surprisingly happy with some of the results that
have come out of that show. Well, I'm gonna tell
you something. The ones that they cut early, they just
and cool. They they they they somewhere destroying people's lives

(30:04):
right now. You know what, I've been blessed because I've
only done the finale on Worst Cooks and Worst Bakers,
so I consider myself. But you obviously some of those
early rounds, I don't know if your girl can do
that because you they're so bad. You almost talk, You
almost think they just you know, oh, they just want
to be on TV, especially on the celebrity side. You know,

(30:26):
you think, you know, it's like Dancing with the Stars,
you know, that's the celebrities. You have to regular everyday people.
But you know, if you're a cook person, you really
know they don't that that's not what they do. You know,
when you really do know, and you know, cooking is
a labor of love and it's something that not everyone
can do, but it's something that everyone can enjoy, especially

(30:46):
when you get that skinnish product at the end on
your plate. So and ultimately that's why I'm in business,
because not everyone can and not everyone wants to. So well,
let's talk about that. Okay, we we we intro starts
you at you know, restaurant opening, and we're gonna talk
about your new restaurant that's opening, and I want to
put that banner on my social media and fan club

(31:07):
let them know because I go to New York a lot,
and so you're definitely going to see my mud because
I am truly a foodie. Now you're intro talked about
comfort food, American comfort food. What exactly is that? Well?
To me, American comfort food is food that evokes warm
and wonderful memories. It's food that transports you back to

(31:27):
great times and year. Everybody in the studio, everybody's studio,
they perked up their ears. Now come on, now, come on,
don't be messing with us like that. Now, John can
be that cheesy, gooey, delicious macaroni and cheese that your
Matha used to throw that out with kid, Or it
can be that tato salad that Uncle John used to make.

(31:49):
You know, it's just that transforms you. And I think
these days and John, we all need to be comforted
and take him back to those times. Y'all do potato
salad that you're restaurant. Now, I don't do potato salad.
I do tato salad. It's a big difference. Now you
don't put no pole in front of them because I'm
gonna tell you something that is a whole you would

(32:12):
make me mad. Put some bad potatoes out there. You
got to know their menu, because that's the first thing,
because I'm always searching for food. I'm searching for good
potatoes at Tato Sat. But see, I'm touching it that
because she said Tata Sat because it's right my CAMPI
from South Carolina. Though. That explains it all right, So
so this is good comfort food now now, So so

(32:34):
what do you where exactly is the restaurant located, the
name of the restaurant, Where is it located? What are
the hours? So the restaurant is called Melba's, easy for
me to remember, and it's on the southwest corner of
one hundred and fourteenth Street in Harlem. So it's three
hundred West one hundred and fourteen Street, New York, one

(32:54):
zero zero to five are Instagram is Melba's within us
are of them And I'm going bread and Butter in Harlem.
And that's why it was really important for me to
open up in a community that I love so much,
but the community that has changed a lot o racial back.

(33:17):
I remember because I moved when I moved to you know,
I've been in New York several times. I moved to
New York when I first started doing comedy in and
you know that you couldn't even catch a cab north.
You know, they wouldn't even they wouldn't take you north.
That alone past Hall of you weren't you weren't going there.
That That's why they had the gypsy cabs and was

(33:37):
really changed the game for Hall of and traffic with Uber.
Uber was picking you up everywhere, and so that really
really changed the game as far as transportation up there
because you you put the Uber in and they come
get you pick you're on the corner and you go back.
That really changed the whole cab service for for for
everybody in the city of New York. And so for

(33:58):
New York. Where I loved buy Hall OFM was that
they had always had these unique restaurants where you're going
in you get good original food. I called the food
that you have original food because of the fact that
it does take you back because so many times you
can't good good vegetables, a good corn bread, a good
good good you know, it's just good food. So let's

(34:20):
go through your menu and you putting that together. The menu,
because now you got me hungry, and I'm trying to
figure out when I'm gonna get back up in New York.
And here's the deal about me, Melbourne. When I come
to your restaurant, I don't want, no, I don't, I
don't I pay. I'm one of these guys here. No no,
no no. You come over there with and then asked
me to give me the I got that. Now I'm
gonna really be mad at you because you're an entrepreneur

(34:42):
and so so I always go in. So tell me
about to but I'll tell you that that's the only
way I work. You know, Steve Harve and I when
we was traveling, we we we Hey. I got that.
I got that because of course you know that when
the when, the when the phone company, because you know,

(35:03):
I can't tell them I got that. Yeah, I need
I need to write that check. So I truly do
appreciate that. And when you talk about supporting small businesses,
especially businesses of color, the way that we can make
sure that we stay in business is through economic development,
which means making sure that our dollars circulate within our

(35:24):
community at least eight times. And that happens when people
like you come into these communities and pays. So I
truly and support hearing that from you, and thank you.
We're gonna plan this out because everybody knows me. I
just went up to my board. Saw him in Seattle June,
baby up there, went up there. So when I say
I'm gonna do something, I go and do it now

(35:46):
because he get you down a Tuesday night so you
can experience the live music. Okay, cool, this this, this
is all good. This is a really really good conversation. Okay.
So so when you talk about you said in a
small kitchen, said about you said, it sets about a
hundred people under the nine. Okay, the new restaurant what what? What?
What's the capacity going to be on that? I'm so excited.

(36:08):
The new restaurant is the spot that seats seventy and
it's seafood. It's all the food. Um, you know, instead
of going to city out and you can you can
stay in our neighborhood and come to Melvin's three minutes
away from the original space. And it's paying homage to

(36:30):
the black fisherman because when we change to this country
as slaves, a lot of us came from the coast
and we had fisherman skills and so we learned how
to fish, and so it's it's paying tribute to women.
We have a team of amazing women that are that
are partners with me and this venture. We have. Our
fishmonger is a female who were super excited about our

(36:54):
our some We have a female So that's doing the
whole wineless who's from how Harlem That was just written
up in Food and Wine magazine. Chiha McCoy are executive
chef chef Mimi, who is phenomenal who lives in Arlom
has a huge sea food background. And then there's me.
So it's women coming together to celebrate food and we're

(37:17):
super duper excited about it. It will be open the
first week in February. And while it's gonna be amazing, Okay, cool.
So you're timing my visit. You're timing my visit to
New York. I got that meets. I can do two
restaurant stops, that's right, Okay cool. Now, just a natural
transition because I want to talk about you becoming the

(37:38):
first African American female to be the president of the
New York City Hospitality Alliance. Let's tell everybody what the
New York City Hospitality Alliance is not the hallm but
the New York City Hospitality Alliance. And while I well,
I've been a member of the New York City Hospitality
Alliance since its inception. And what it is, it's over

(37:59):
three thousand unstaurants, um all based in in the five
boons of New York City. Is everyone from Tao to Lavo,
to Nobu to Trabeca Grill to Sylvia's to b LT Steak.
So it is the most premier restaurant here in the city.
And we lobby on behalf of the needs of not
just a restaurant, but the nightlife venues, you know, from

(38:21):
from d L to um oh god god, I can't
even to Marquee, uh, you know, to the Gold Bar,
but some of the biggest and best places in the city.
And we lobby on behalf of of our of our venues,
you know. Um. The city sometimes under Mayor de Blasio
can be very difficult to business owners um in terms

(38:43):
of fees of commercial property taxes, etcetera. So we lobby
on behalf of of New York owned restaurants and nightclubs.
And this is the first time, not only that they've
had a female as the president, but a person of
color in general as a president. So I'm super duper
excited and just coming upon my year one tenure as

(39:07):
the president of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. Well,
I want to group congratulation to you, first of all,
and secondly for coming on my show. You'll be seeing me,
I know, Super Bowls of February. Second, So the week
of February nine, I would be in New York City
to visit both for your restaurants. One of the restaurants
I'm especially ordered that corn bread. Put that out there,
and then give me some good seafood at the other restaurant.

(39:30):
But again, continue your success. Um again, You're special because
you want it and you earned it, and I'm gonna
support you not only by a visit, but any social
media post that you want to have please let me
know and I would definitely post the social media when
your restaurant, your two a few restaurants open to New
York City first week of February. Okay, rast, I thank

(39:55):
you alone, will talk soon, but we'll see each other soon. Okay.
Hey man, God blessed, thank you. Hi. This is Rushan McDonald,
the host of Money Making Conversations. You say to yourself,
who calls rushan Shell? Please welcome to money Making Conversations,

(40:15):
Lonnie Love. You have to believe in yourself. Nobody else believes,
and you believe in yourself. With me being the first
woman to host as successible with seventy thousand people to
introduce Michelle Obama, that just doesn't come overnight. Please Welcome
to money Making Conversations. Lynn, your daughter Charity is a

(40:36):
hot mess on Green Lease. Well, she is, she is.
She's just trying to find her footing and she got
spoiled because there were maids and things to help take
care of her. A lot of times. The baby and
the family is like that. Money Making Conversations continues online

(40:57):
at www dot money may can conversations dot com and
follow money Making Conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Welcome,
Welcome to Money Making Conversations. I'm your host ru Sean McDonald.
Each Money Making Conversations talk shows about entrepreneurship and entertainment.
I provide the consumer and business owner access to celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs,

(41:22):
and industry decision makers. It is important to understand that
everybody travels a different path to success. That's because your
brand is different. The challenges you face in your life
are different. So stop reading other people's success stories and
start writing your own. Now you can be motivated by
your by their success because their stories can offer direction
and help you reach your goals through your planning and

(41:44):
your committed effort. My guests on Money Making Conversation have
that same passion, and they share that information when we
talk about their career motivation, what they are promoting, how
they live a balanced life, and their secrets to success.
This show is for you. The guests I bring on
the show are here to help you, So listen up, folks.

(42:05):
My next guest, it's the third time every year she
comes on the show. Like it's like it's like a
year because the first time it was twenty seventeen in December,
and we came back in in December again, I believe,
and then now we're in January. I'm a little off
on my annual you know, fixed that I gotta have

(42:27):
with Cat that she comes in with energy. My next
guest is a tattoo artist, business owner, painter, philanthropists and
social media influence and reality television star. She's the first
African American woman to own a tattoo studio in Los Angeles,
achievement noticed after being discovered on vich once hit series
Black and Crew Chicago artistic and creative handworkers included and

(42:52):
doing tattoos for countless celebrities and athletes. Please welcome again,
Katrina cat Tat Jackson. Hey, thank you so much for
having me back. Always so good to shop it out
with you. Well, you know, um, last time he was on,
you know you you just opened the tattoo's location and
what's your name of it? Tell us everybody where's that?

(43:14):
Where's that? The shop is called Enigma Tattoo And we're
right in Beverly Hills or right on Peko and Robertson,
So it's a pretty popular intersection. Were right in the
center of the city. Yeah, because because the reason is
because you know, sometimes when traffic is bad, I take
Robertson and can make that left and I gotta go
right past Peek Cold, you know, and I had to

(43:36):
stop because I'm trying to get to Santa Monica. Make
that right so I get into Hollywood. So I'll make
that left because I always stay because she's gonna be
mad because I always stay at the at the International
Intercomo the hotel, which is right there in Century City.
I'm right down the street from so oh yeah, yeah,
next time you gotta pull over and come on in. Yes,
what's what's the experience? You know, because when here's tattoo,

(43:58):
because I know you have an experience when it comes
into your location. Talk to us about the experience. Um,
you mean like the experience of like a client. So
like clients, I know, you have your work on the
walls and things like that. Correct. Yeah, so, um, everyone
that steps from the shop they literally said, like, man,
the vibing here is just amazing, and that's what I wanted. Um,

(44:22):
I knew I wanted a tattoo shop. But when you
think about, um, tattoo shops in the past, like a
lot of them are like little hole in the wall
shops or you know, just not really like a super
comforting vibe. But like Enigma, when you walk in, it's
good music, good energy, beautiful artwork. I mean there's eight
of us and all of us are painters as well.

(44:43):
So people come in and they're literally like blown away
by all the art on the walls. And this is
like an art gallery, you know. So we've been blessed
to have UM two annual art shows since we've been
open um. People come in and purchased the artwork for
their homes, and you know, they get tattoos. So the
tattoo experience is just very, very relaxing, and I guess

(45:06):
you could say scenic, you know, because they're you know,
they get to just look at all the art while
they get tattoos. We always have good music going, good conversation.
It's just a good vibe. Well that's why. That's why
I was looking one of the people understand that, you know,
you know people, all people have different version of what
they feel the tattoo. I've seen them, you know, you
go down Hollywood sun sunset, and then you just see

(45:29):
you look where they go. Oh, I'm not going up
in there, you know. Or you know, that's not a
place that that you want to go for the very
first time to get your tattoo. But that's the experience
that you didn't want at your location. And and and
when we first talk, when you first opened it, that's
what really excited me was that you was creating an
experience and that the people will walk away and tell

(45:50):
somebody else about that experience. And that's really and that's
very in line with you know what what what you
get when you go to beauty slaws and uh, barbershops
and this experience. That's why you keep coming back because
you sit there and talk and chat chop it up.
But you're adding the creative aspect of artwork, which is
really part of your passion. Right. Yeah. And I feel

(46:12):
like with any um, like with any service industry, whether
it's like um tattoo shop or like you said, hair
salon and Barbara, like you know, social media is still
prevalent these days, um, but really what matters is the
word of mouth, you know, and what people are saying
and spreading the word about about your place of business.
So I think that that's more important than than anything. Well,

(46:35):
you know, the thing about it is that though first
of all, you said social media now, uh, you know,
you're just posing left and right. Just that's just out there,
just posing, you know, And so so are you modeling
now or because because I just and that's a good
thing now because all your all your all your poses
are in good taste and and and and but the
but the response and the engagement that you're getting is

(46:56):
really incredible. And I commend you on that because you're
doing it more or I just stopped started following you
at the wrong time because you always pop up on
my timeline that posing again, posing again, and so so so?
Is that is that personal growth for you to realize
that who you all? You feel good about yoursel I'm
not saying you never felt good about yourself, but you
really are showing your brain and that's part of your marketing. Yeah,

(47:20):
thank you so much. I really appreciate you noticing that
because I remember when I first started tattooing. Um, I
felt like I had to um be, I had to
hide the face and you know, the beauty behind the
girl that was the artist. I felt like in order
to be taken serious in this industry, I could only
put out my tattoos, you know, like it's not about me,

(47:41):
It's not about what I look like. It's only about
my artwork. And I've built up my portfolio to a
place where people know that my work speaks for itself.
But um, thanks to you know, reality TV, people got
to see me and got to get to know me
and know who I am behind you know, um all
the tattoos and stuff. So now I'm not a place

(48:02):
where I'm comfortable, like I feel like my work has
spoken for itself, and I can also like I work
hard too. I'm in the gym, you know, like I
have beautiful tattoos on my body, and I've been blessed
for like you know, endorsement deals and beauty brands and
fashion brands to recognize me, and you want me to
represent their brands. So it's just crazy how things come

(48:23):
full circles. You know. I've always just stayed true to
just being the best that I can in any aspect,
whether it's working, you know, tattoos, my artwork, working out,
and um, things are just starting to comfortable circles. So
I used to remember I used to take pictures and
my mom would be like, like, why are you just
taking pictures for no reason? It's for a magazine or something,

(48:44):
And now it's for it's for an endorsement, you know what, right? Right? Oh, no,
you're gonna fire you. You know, you know you know me.
I'm I'm a professional. I gotta say an eye for talent.
I understand what brandings are all about, and I just
have noticed the comfort zone and then a a targeted
approach to what you're trying to do because I can
tell everybody all the pictures are tasteful, All the pictures

(49:05):
are tasteful, they all professional. But there what is what
it's done for me as a person who doesn't have
a tattoo is like and a guy. You know, I
remember when when it was created an ex computer Steve
Talk Show, when somebody came up with a tattoo were
called car washing. We had to cover those up. And
what you've done is normalized the process and you and
other people now you know, we know it's a it's

(49:25):
a big world of people out there who own TV
that uh doing tattoos. But but seeing you an attractive
person has allowed people to understand that there is value,
there's artwork. That's what that's what really, that's what it
attracts me, is like you are a walking piece of art.
Thank you so much. I appreciate that. It's and it's

(49:50):
really that's a that's an amazing thing to say that
did you you you you are a walking piece of
piece of art that of course cannot be bought, but
can't be sponsored for imercial indorsement. And that's that's beautiful
because the reason I enjoyed talking to you. Is that
Cat tatism Because I just watched your our conversation. I

(50:11):
remember when we first started. You know, I could tell
you our first conversation. You're trying to find who you are,
you know, and you you know you you walked away
from the TV show and you didn't you didn't know
what the future help. But you were strong and saying
I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna be special. And then
when you came on the show last year, I could
tell it when you when you opened the Tattoos Studio

(50:32):
and Beverly Hills, your energy was way up because you
really started focusing on and then this whole year just
watching you on social media, just watching you your personal growth,
your physical growth. You know, just now sky's the limit
now for you. You know that, right? Thank you? I
appreciate that. Yes, that's absolutely So let's talk about some

(50:53):
stuff that's going on that they sent to me. Okay.
Cat has been invited by the NFL Players Association to
this year's Super in Miami, Florida. Cat would designed create
Super Bowl inspired artwork and lead the annual National Football
League of Players Association Painting with the Pros event at
the local Miami Dade County School this year. The school

(51:13):
is Carol's City Senior High School that you guys are
gonna be How did that happen? How did you how
did that come about? And what were your thoughts? Did you?
Were you involved and saying this this is the actual
concept of what you wanted to present at the school? Um? Yeah,
this is UM. So this will be the third time, um,

(51:36):
the third annual Super Bowl that I've worked with the
Players Association. So I was connected with them about three
years ago and we did the first I forgot how
m it happened, but I met um Carol, she's UM,
one of the leaving ladies of the association, and UM,
they partnered with me and they wanted me to design
the painting. And back then it was in Minnesota, So

(51:58):
you started out, nic that's extreme. That Minnesota, Miami, that's extreme.
That that's extreme, so extreme, Oh my god. And it
was so cold that the whole time. And I was
born in Minnesota, so I know all about that code.
You know, I'm from Chicago to so um it was
freezing cold. We did what we had to do. We
get the paintings with the high school. We went to

(52:18):
the events, but other than that, we did not leave
that hotel room like we were. It was freezing, But
that was an experienced and it was just so great
to be able to get in there and really do
hands on things. Um with high school. Actually you know
we talked about it, but initially I was going to
be a high school math teacher, so obviously took a
different career path. But any time that I can you know,

(52:42):
be back in that environment of being hands on and
you know, impacting somebody at such a young age where
you can really like make a difference in their future,
that is what really, like what thrills me. So m
I'm blessed. Like Minnesota was um. The first time it
was so amazing, and then they asked me back the

(53:02):
second time when it was in Atlanta, also amazing. That
time it was at book or T Washington High School
and those kids were so talented, like um they did
the band came through and um, we just painted together.
That one was amazing. So I'm really really excited for uh,
this one. This one was gonna be Miami. I'm sure
the weather is gonna be nice. I finished my artwork

(53:25):
that I submitted for the high school that we're all
going to be painting. I kept it real seeing it
real Beach five, Miami Beach five. So um, it was
very um. This painting that I designed was inspired by
the whole Miami art scene, so I got to get really,
really really creative with it. You know, art basils in
Miami every December, so I think that, um, this time

(53:49):
is just gonna be I'm so exciting you are in inspiration.
Like I said, uh I, I've enjoyed and I will
continue to enjoy watching your growth. That's a cool thing
about social media. You could just see people an individual,
an individual trans you know, transcend, you know, trying to
start changing, start elevating and and being comfortable within their skin.
And you do have a brand that's really really unique

(54:12):
and very special. And I'm talking to mcgaka tree to
Kattat Jackson. She's the owner of a Enigma tattoo and
Beverly Hills, which is right there on the corner of
Robertson and Pico, right there, and uh, I want to
know she's doing a great event. Third year with the
National Football League Players Association painting with the pros. Again.

(54:34):
I always want to appreciate you taking the time to
be on my show. But know this, it's our third
year talking you know, off air, I'll promote anything for you.
You not have not used me because I just want
to let you know a lot of people understand why
I created money making conversation. Money making conversation is I
know my brand, and I know my brand grows just
a certain I reached females of my follows a female,

(54:57):
so no, I'm reaching the target that you there will
be are relatable to you. And so I always use
me in a good way to help build your brand.
And if you ever need any advice, always hook up
calls somebody that they're connect me because you've got access
to me like that. Okay, catch absolutely, I appreciate that.
And look, we got to make a promise to each other.
When you're in l a better come by. And when

(55:17):
I'm in Atlanta, I'm stopping by. Promise done deal. And
you might see me in Miami, so I know because
Steven and Smith talking about he's going down there, so
you might and not know. I know, and I know
the president of the Players Association. I know I would
ask him so he can't get me in on anything
I need. And I got Troy Advance and he's the
vice president of Operations. I know he'll give me in
so you may see me in Miami and we take

(55:39):
herself together. We take herself together. Okay, absolutely, stay strong.
I appreciate you and we will be talking soon. Money
Making Conversations continues online at www dot money Making Conversations
dot com, and follow money Making Conversations on Facebook, Twitter,
and Instagram.

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