August 11, 2020 • 35 mins
My next guest has a unique background that includes service in the United States Air Force. He regards himself as an "infotainer," an on-air personality with the ability to deliver important news while also challenging the audience to look deeper into various issues from the world of sports. He is a 2-time Emmy-award winning sports journalist, and you can catch him on Fox Sports 1, Fox Soul, or on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. He is currently the author of the upcoming memoir "Open Mike." His book Open Mike written by Mike Hill, is Available for Pre-Order. So I encourage everyone to order the book now. He is on the show today to discuss becoming a successful businessman, serving in the United States Air Force, becoming a 2 time award-winning journalist, a popular TV host, and how he overcame personal obstacles. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations the infotainer himself Mike Hill.
https://www.moneymakingconversations.com
https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations
https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/
https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv
https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
https://www.moneymakingconversations.com
https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations
https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/
https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv
https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Still living in manually taking notes. There is a better
way start the new year with auto dot ai automatically
get meeting notes. Auto dot ai works for virtual meetings
like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Sign up on
the web for free or download in the app stores
auto dot ai. That's O T T e r dot Ai.
This podcast is sponsored by Better Help Online Therapy. I'm
(00:21):
Michlene Maloof and I'm Nadiadesi, licensed therapists and hosts of
Getting Better Stories of Mental Health. Join us for discussions
with Megan Trainer, Chris Bosh, Rebel Wilson, and more, from
discussing motherhood to immigrating to general mental health. Our guests
are awe inspiring. We all struggle with the same things,
so let's talk about it and de stigmatize them. Find
our new podcast, Getting Better Stories of Mental Health on
(00:43):
iHeart Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Every year, compliance regulations change
thousands of times, and every year a DP makes thousands
of seamless platform updates so businesses can focus on everything
else like running their business. Grow stronger with a DP,
A your talent, time and tay roll Absolutely welcome to
(01:04):
money making conversation. I'm your host Rashard McDonald. The Money
Making Conversation interviews provide relatable information to the listener by
career and financial planning, entrepreneurship, motivation, leadership, overcoming the arts,
and how to live a balanced life. My next guest
is an infotainer. That's right, an infotainer, which means he's
informational and he's entertaining at the same time. He's an
(01:26):
on that personality with the ability to deliver important news
while also challenging the audience to look deeper into the
various issues from the world of sports and bar is
sports different today. He is a two time Emmy Award
winning sports journalists and you can catch him on Fox
Sports One, Fox Soul, or The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
He is currently the author of an exciting new book,
(01:47):
a memoir called Open Mic. It's written by himself, Mike Hill.
Is available on pre order here. That pre order you
can order the book right now, So I encourage everyone
to order the book now. It will be available August
name team this year. Please work with the Money Making Conversations.
The infotainer himself might kill man. That was the greatst
(02:09):
Do you know? I appreciate there? Hey, my First of all,
you know when you when you see a talent like
you man, uh, you know, just just out there in
the in the forefront a groundbreaker because you know you
you launched Fox Sports one. Okay, you love ESPN. You
know what everybody was say is this is the holy
grail of sports. And then you go to a Fox
(02:30):
Sports one. Tell us everybody about that movie. What was
running through your mind when the process was being made
available to you? Man, I'm always keeping real, man, who's
going very transparent. That's what open Mike is being about.
It to being transparent, trying to hide the thing that
hurt you in the past. I'm gonna be real with
you when I'm want the Fox Sports one man, And
my contract was up. They decided they didn't want to
(02:50):
remove my contract there for nine years. Giving the nine
years my life, my blood might swept my tears. I'm
thank you for the opportunity, thankful for that platform, being
on the stage with great guys like Stephen A. Smith
and getting to know guys like you know, Stewart Scott,
wasn't Jay Harris and everybody over there whatnot. But at
that particular time, it was just time for me to
go God had a plan for me, man, that was
(03:10):
much bigger than anything that I was thinking about. I
knew I always wanted to be in l A. And
when Fox Sports one started hiring people, I knew I
wanted to be over there. But because I was still
under contract that skin, actually couldn't get out of my
contract at that particular time. But they made a mistake,
and this is how God works. They made a mistake
on my contract by um end of it, a year
(03:33):
and a half, basically before my contract was supposed is,
and so they let me out of that contract by mistake.
I got paid for that, and I was able to
go and basically started what was my start of my
dream career in sports, being at Fox Sports one as
a startup and helping that build to what it is
right now. Man. So I'm very pleased and very happy
for that. I'm very happy too, because you know, my
(03:54):
whole thing is that I get to see you, I think,
um a more expanded version. I got to hear you
voice because your personality, man, you know, like I said,
your articulate, you know, a good smile, you you laugh,
and and that's what I get to see what you
on Fox Sports form I get to see more personality,
and I think that's important to you. Correct. Thanks, man,
it is such it, But that's what I'm saying. That's
(04:14):
why I was a dream because I was allowed to
be me. Man. I have been suppressed for so many years,
and once again, I'm thankful for the platform that ESPN
gave me. Less when they brought me over, the ESPN
wanted me to be a sports anchor. They wanted to
kind of, you know, conform to what they believed. Then
I've been told his stories in the book about when
I was with a talent executive and how he tried
(04:35):
to change my style and what he was saying about,
you know, what my style was exactly and they already
had somebody like that or whatnot. But I will always
want to be true to myself. But I also knew
I needed to have a job. But coming over the
Fox Sports One FS one, I'm so thankful and now
being on Fox SOL because they actually give me a
platform to use my voice. And when I first got
(04:55):
the FS, want to be honest with you, it took
me a while to actually find my voice again because
I have been conditioned for so long ago year then
to basically fit into their culture. But I'm happy on
free man, and it's just so liberating to be able
to do whatever the hell I want to do. That
thank you now here, we got a lot to talk
about it. So let's let's talk about right now. Let's
stay on sports for a minute and looking at what
(05:17):
the COVID nineteen because you know, we none of us
all this coming never never, never did you think you
do sports without reported on sports now? Right that right there,
that run right there had to be mind boggling to
stay entertaining and not report on something that we know
doesn't exist anymore and we don't have a time frame
on it coming back. Yeah, it's it's crazy, man. And
(05:39):
then when you see some of the players like Rudy
Gobert and Donovan met, you actually get the COVID nineteen.
I think that's the first time and actually put a
faith because in the early stages of the KOVID nineteen
we were seeing like Tom Haines and a couple of people,
but it wasn't really going. But then when he hit
the sports world and the sports community and our ports
and get you Elliott, it basically gives us more of
a faith to it and put the message out there
(06:00):
a long time ago, four months ago when it was
first kind of starting to spread here in the United States.
But yeah, trying to over sports without sports man, it's
just you know, that's where the UH ingenuity and that's
where the creativity comes into play. You know, now you
can start trying to tell some of the stories then
you normally wouldn't get a chance to tell because you know,
highlights kind of fill up the the hour of your
(06:20):
rundown of your show whatnot. So it's allowed us to
kind of get into the mind of body and the
spirit of the actual professional athlete and get to know
them and humanize them a little bit better. And then,
of course, with everything that's going on with our social
injustice that's happening in this country, I'm happy that the
athletes are using their platform to speak out and the
show that once again there more than athletes and they're
(06:40):
not going to just shut up and dribble. It's really
incredible watching the athletes, especially the collegiate athlete I think
they play. I've been in conversation with people about you
have the professional athlete, but you have way more collegiate athletes,
And I don't think anybody expect that the collegiate athlete,
and plus theyre for four years. So yeah, year after
(07:01):
year year of just students sitting up and I see
Kelly keen Mano with the Texas and them standing up.
When I see the young African American Mississippi State football player, time,
I'm not gonna run a ball again. Transferred to when
you see that. You know, it's really interesting, Mike, because
you know you're a smart person, but then all of
a sudden, you you're you're sportunate. The world of sports
(07:24):
almost became like watching CNN in a little bit because
you had the racial unrest your COVID eighteen and you
had no sports. So that was a mindset change for you.
I know, you're Amy and winning, me winning one guy.
You know you didn't got the toughs the show for
but that had to be a trip, I'm sure. Yeah,
it is, man and man, and that's one of the
(07:44):
reasons I'm happy that you have me on the show,
because you know, like, I don't even call myself a
sports caster anymore. I called myself consider myself, you said,
an entertainer, but also a broadcaster, right, I don't want
to be just limited to just knowing about sports. I'm
also you're not a slazy force veteran. I'm a father
to about getting married again. I'm a taxpaying citizen, and
(08:04):
I care about this country. Most importantly, I care about
my people, uh and the injustices that we've had to
have or go through my entire life, and anybody that's
black in this country has had to go through injustice
in this life. So I'm happy that we're able to
actually speak up and use our platforms, and the athletes
are able to use their platforms to make a difference
(08:25):
anti show just how much power they actually hold, not
just when they're on the football field, not just when
they're on the basketball court and scoring for the triple
doubles or whatnot and throwing for four on the yards,
but using their voice and getting other athletes, white athletes
now like the Tom Brady's and Aaron Rodgers to speak
(08:47):
up on these issues that we've been talking about for
so long. And you name a couple of college athletes
that are out there, like Kevin mom At and m
but too of others. Man really was the one that
really just kind of transformed everything for me when he
basically said, I didn't want to quit Oklahoma State because
my coach was wearing a T shirt that basically, uh
(09:08):
promotes a lot of the issues that I am against
and my people are against. And he got his coach,
whether it was just verbally or not, to change his mind.
But he came out and he used his platform and
admitted or said it. I only if he admitted it
is hard, but at least he said it publicly that
he was wrong and he was trying to change his ways.
And sometimes it's perception. And yeah, I'm not notaive enough
(09:30):
to think that everybody that's coming out screaming that black
lives matter and we're all about equality really meaning. But
the fact that they're coming out and speaking up publicly
and saying it, look, now, that's the start. Now as
a people, what we have to do is hold their
feet to the fire and make sure they follow through
on it. And it's not just something that's coming out
of their mouth, but it's in their heart as well.
(09:51):
I'm talking to Mike Fox Sports one and entertaining himself. Mike,
I'm just gonna get you another job. Man. You need
a podcast, brother, seriously, because you know, I'm just listening
to you articulate yourself so clearly, and those are the
voices we need now. We need smart individuals on podcasts.
They have a following that also can deliver information and
(10:12):
pull in because you know, you can talk politics, you
can talk you know, you can talk sports, you can
talk entertainment. That's you, you know, like like like you know,
you you're shaping who I am. You know, because I'm
really getting to see you. I've only seen you on TV.
I'm a fan of yours, but just to hear you
rattle off something and you said something very important to
me and I want to you said roshan Air Force
veteran tow father too about to give mard on TV. Now,
(10:39):
if I you know you, that could be a white person. Okay,
but because you are a person of color, I forgot.
You said a taxpaying citizen. Okay, you said that too,
proud to be an American. See that's what we're talking
about when we say black lives matter. That description right there.
Because you are a person of color, people will look
(11:00):
at you different and treat you different. But that can
be easily a white person, and they will be They
will be raived and praised and champion because of those
traits that you lie, that you that you distributed right there.
That is what we're trying to get to, man, And
that's what I'm saying. Man, if you are in a
position to get a podcast, brother, please do because your voice,
(11:23):
did I just heard being articulated on my show, needs
to be heard in the bigger, bigger form because of
the fact that and I'm not saying when I say
bigger form, listen to what I'm saying. I'm like, Okay,
you're a Fox was One, You're a Foxholme. But we
all know those are produced formats. They tell you they
allow you some freedom, but they say this is what
we gotta do. A podcast will allow you to be you.
(11:46):
But you're smart, you didn't do stupid stuff, but you
to be you. And when I see the Joe Rogan's
of the world out there, I've either done lemons out
there out there finally getting these platforms. He's downloading a
hundred and fifty thousand downloads of Day. Brother. Please, if
it's in your position to do it, go for it. Okay,
please go for man. And I'm definitely gonna listen to
(12:07):
you because you know it's whiting His entry in his
business man. For all the work you've done with Stephen,
they're smissing the course, Steve Harvey, that's my boy. Let's
let's get let's let's slide. Let's slide over that to
that Steve Harvey conversation. You know, miss Bailey, Miss Bailey. Okay, now,
I mean you're a good looking guy. You're a good
looking guy, Jess. You're not struggling that you know, you
(12:30):
ain't struggling. But you don't how those struggling looks. Okay,
you know it's no people like they got some struggling looks. Okay,
So tell us how this whole thing worked out with
you and sit there. You know, she mentions, she writes
the foreward in your book open mic and just says
some amazing things, and she says, I was only by
(12:52):
the grace of God and Steve Harping that our worlds
would eventually collide. When she says that it is talking
about you, Mike said, talk about that whole scenario, because
you know you, you know you're the type of guy.
You know you you you're gracious. You go, okay, I
go check this out. But bore, Steve asked me, She's beautiful,
but we didn't, but we didn't really connect. Come on, Mike,
(13:14):
when did it really connect? Man? Man? You know what
about like you said about the great God. I'm happy
that she's wonderful and everything that I've ever wanted in
a woman. Man, But you mentioned something time and bro
tim and if you would have met Cynthia Bailey four
or five years though, I wouldn't be right for her.
I wasn't ready. I wouldn't write for any woman in
this world, man, because up until the time I was
(13:35):
forty seven years I'll be fifty in August. Sometimes the
time I was forty seven, I was still a boy,
but sending to be a man, you know what I mean,
Because I didn't know what being a man was about,
because I thought that would being a man. But being
with Cynthia, man is like I was ready. I was
already old. I had already done everything I needed to
do in my life personally when it came to that
dating scene or whatever. So I met her at the
right time and she was whole as well. Uh. And
(13:56):
it was a slow burn in the beginning. We met
on the Steve Harvey Show, dated a couple of times
or whatever. But I just knew Sincy. It was gonna
be somebody that's gonna be in my life with the
rest of my life, whether it's gonna be in a
romantic way or we were just gonna be printed because
she's just that cool. And then it just kind of
hit me around this time a couplet Okay, this is real,
(14:18):
falt baby, you know, because it hits me a couple
of years ago, like, man, this, this girl, this lady
is the right one. Man. I looked at a list
and I had a list of Sean about forty eight
things that I want to and I knew it was
a listen women have this. I had on this a
forty eight things that I want to have in my
dream woman. When I tell you, ship forty seven of
(14:39):
them forty eight things. Brother, it just kind of dawned
on me. Man, it just kind of happened to we
more and it just kind of happened organically. And you know,
for the first time in my life, and I've been
married to Don't get me wrong, I'm in love. I've
loved somebody before, but for the first time in my life,
I am in love because I've allowed myself to actually
paul and to trust this woman and I mean my
(15:01):
children are more heart. My children, both my children, they
are my heart. But she had my heart. That makes
any It's finally here the season of celebration. And no
matter how you celebrate with family and friends, whether you're
preparing for Reis magos or Karamu lighting the Manura, are
going to midnight Mass, Coals has just what you need
(15:23):
to make those traditions special. Plus you'll find gifts for
all your loved ones. Send warm wishes with cozy fleeces, sweaters, loungeware,
blankets and throws. Support minority owned or founded brands by
giving gifts from Human Nation and shame moisture, or treat
them to everyone's favorite active wear from top brands like Nike, Adidas,
(15:44):
and under Armour. And in the spirit of giving, Coals
Cares is donating eight million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide
committed to the health and well being of our communities.
No matter how you celebrate, when you shop at Coals,
you're right where you belong. So this season, give with
all your heart with great gifts from Coals or Coals
(16:04):
dot Com. Whether your event needed one room or an
entire conference center, Hoppin has revolutionized the way people come together.
With hoppin, you can host a fully fledged digital meet up,
complete with one on one meetings, hands on sessions, and
expo booths. And because everything is hosted in a single,
easy to use platform, it can be as big or
(16:24):
small as you want, remain convenient for anyone who wants
to attend, and give you access to data you never
would have known otherwise. Visit hoppin dot com to learn
more and get started. Still living in and manually taking notes,
start the new year with auto dot ai to generate
automatic notes for meetings, interviews, or lectures. With auto dot ai,
(16:45):
you can search the meeting notes, insert images, playback the audio,
and share them with your friends or coworkers. You can
capture action items, remember meeting details, and keep everyone informed.
Auto dot ai works for in person or virtual meetings
like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google meet Sign up for
free at auto dot ai or download the app for
free auto dot Ai. That's O T T E R
(17:06):
dot Ai. He's a girl dad. I'm just let everybody
know he's a girl dad. When I finished with him,
he gonna have T shirts, He's gonna have everything. Hen
I see what you're doing. Really, this is what I do. Man.
I've done it for Ford, I've done it for Home Depot,
I've done it for two blockbuster movies. I've made three
(17:28):
books go number one with Steve Harvey. I've sold over
thirty million books worldwide with Steve Harvey. I've done this business.
Man took took family Few when it was one point
seven to seven point six in the ratings. I'd admit
to see when you said something to me that was
important because I always tell people that I really didn't
(17:48):
understand who I was until I was in my forties.
I was just my gifts. I was just accepting things
like you know, right place at the right time, or
just lucky, you know, just knew somebody hook up all
that stuff. And that's what you're saying when you're saying
when you finally met sent it. So you have to.
You could be a man, walk around, you can have success,
you can have calls, you can have houses. But if
(18:08):
you don't know accept the journey or know how you
can replicate that journey, then then you will not be
successful in your next relationship or your next opportunity. And
you have to one day accepted, Hey man, I'm going
to take the good in the bad, the highs and lows.
And that's what your book, open mic is about. Tell
us about that book, my brother, Man. The book is
(18:30):
my memoirs. Man. It's just about my pains, my struggles,
my depression, my traumas that I've had in my life,
some of the highs and lows, and how those everything
that made up my life affected my life and how
it affected other people. Man. I mean, you know I'm
talking about you know, seeing and witness and domestic violence,
my mom as a kid, my biological father never really
being in my life, myself father being in my life,
(18:52):
but being a man who had a lot of demons,
a lot of issues. He needed a lot of counseling whatever.
He had a good heart, but he just didn't know
how to you know, service at heart the right way
to the right people. And then find me out later
on in life that he was a hit man um
that spent the last nine years of his life in
prison from murder for hire. Uh. Then you know my
trials and simulations going through my you know, ups and downs,
(19:14):
and my career at ESPN and some of the things
I just mentioned before, and my marriages to motion all
these type of things, man, that was inside of me.
That Uh, if I had not written this book, Sean,
I would have died, to be honest with you, because
I was living a life on the outside, you see me,
I had a facade. I was always smiling and sawing
my job. Everything was looking good for me on social media.
(19:37):
But on the inside, I had all these pains and
traumas man, that I had not dealt with, that I
had suppressed for so many years. And then when I
started writing this book, I was able to open up
all those pains and put them out there and actually
became my therapy. Wow. You know, it's really interesting when
you write a book because of the fact that you
remember things that really you forgot all you can watching
(20:00):
and it really starts shaping your liberating you know, because
you because the body protects you, your mind will protect
you from a lot of sadness. It will force you
to move on and block out things and some things
you do need to remember. In other words, you know,
because you don't understand how you got there, sometimes your
mind set forget that. But when you write a book,
you start remembering everything, You start appreciating some things and
started evaluating things, and so I can accept that and
(20:23):
move on. And that's that's really what this when you
say when you talk about hey man, because because I
gotta be honest with you know, you got it going on.
You know you in shape, look good, smile you know,
hundred hundred thousand smile right there. But that's what I'm saying,
that that's the fault, that that's the that's what you're
(20:43):
saying because of the fact that certain things can come
to you, don't mean it's the right It came to
you the right way. That's what I'm saying about me.
I wasn't admitted to my success because I was I
was down playing it. You had to admit there are
some flaws. I gotta I gotta fix these things because
of the life you grew up with and because something
it was violence, Like you said, you're in your book
the chapter I ready we're talking about guns were always
(21:04):
available at your house. That's not good. But if you
think that's normal, what's crazy is when you grow up
in a certain environment you think that's the way it's
supposed to be, and when nobody teaches you any differently, man,
that could lead to you becoming the same person that
you grew up to be and that's that's wrong. So
(21:27):
you got to have the proper people in your life.
And once again, I'm not trying to dump and make
anybody else's issues my traumas or my mistake. Ultimately, once
I got old enough, I could have gotten this therapy
or this hope that I needed a long time ago
and help myself. So I'm never gonna use the excuse
(21:47):
that it was because somebody else did this to me
that I became this way. Now, it did kind of
morph me into that, but it's still up to me
to admit that, hey, something is not right. I need
to get help. And you gotta have good angels who
have conduit from God to come down and actually help
you see the issue that you're having in your life.
(22:07):
So when you grow up and you see nothing the
guns and you see violence, and you don't see love
in your home, a lot of that can have an
effect on how you grow up as a person. I
could have grown up. I could have man, I shot
a gun into a crowd when I was a kid,
that's the book. I could have killed somebody. I could
be in jail. My whole life could be totally different.
Right now. I've been in situations with girls when I
was younger that if something would have been said or whatnot,
(22:30):
I could have been in jail. I could have There
are so many different ways that God actually came into
my life and and basically said, you know what, you're
making these mistakes, but I'm gonna give you this opportunity
to get out of this and make it right. And
now this book is me putting all that out there
once again, being transparently open with everything, all my miscuse,
(22:51):
my flaws, and basically saying God has given me another opportunity. Cool.
You know my man back in the day, Steve Harvard,
back in the day, he decided to take his shirt off.
You know, he gotta have a weight kid and over
lifting some weights. Me posting this picture. It lives today online.
(23:13):
I don't know if Steve's happy and they took his
shirt off, but he took his shirt off. He trying
to get Vince Roshan McDonald do it. You know, I
was no food. I knew how, I knew how I
looked at fitted. I knew how I looked at it,
and I wasn't going for that. Now, my man open
mic on the cover I'm a black on this showing
the world he ain't got no hand on this chip
(23:35):
is smoothest smoothest ice cream on his chest. Okay, Mike,
like you looking good? Come and tell us about that
that cover, that book cover. Okay, nop, Mike is meeting
behind the cover. Man. I wasn't trying to show off
anything like that. I'm just being once again openly transparent
and being vulnerable. The most vulnerable when you can be,
(23:56):
it's being naked. So what my whole book cover was
to be naked. So you see me with the chest
out there, and even though I'm in shape, I'm not
in the best shape. I'm not ripped up. I appreciate
you look good now? Was working good at that? Let
me I got that if you if you weren't right,
I'll tell you we wasn't right. But you're looking good.
(24:17):
Look good. Bro, know what I'm saying. You know you
can't look that way in twitting that, but you look outstanding, brother. Okay,
I appreciate it that. I appreciate it, But like I said,
it's just a message, man, because like that's why he's
in black and white. You see me coming out of
the shadows walking into the light because I'm coming out
(24:37):
of my darkness and finding my light. Man, you see
me with the microphone corps wrapped around me. That's all
the issues bonding me. And keep it down. And then
you look at the bat. It's even better because I'm lit.
My head is up because I'm not embarrassing anymore. And
you see that beautiful woman. Since your Bailey's right behind
me and she got my back. He's in my ears.
He's basically saying, baby's gonna be all right. I'm you
(25:00):
down this right path. It's all good, bron look and
say you're a brother, and look at me. You know
this is a this is a this is a journey
of happiness. Okay, you know it's an open mic. I'm
telling books, Mike Hell. I'm on this show to sell
books now, so I gotta tell everybody. Look, every Sean
show made that book. I'm a pre order. See this
(25:20):
is a pre ordered interview. Okay, we're trying to get
the number one. See. You know you always see people
are best selling. You know they never say number one
next to it. Do they just say New York Times.
I go, Mike Hell, to be number one. And the
way you get the number one is through pre order. Okay.
The way you get the number one is letting everybody
(25:41):
know how important this book is to you, because if
it has value to them, then they will purchased and
share it. And it talks about your relationship, It talks
about you as a child, It talks about the mental
health challenges. Talk about that right quick, man, mentally like
I didn't realize the alous wealth issues, but every black
man in this country got some kind of mental health
is think about it? Do we go through trauma every
(26:02):
single day of our lives, walking out just wondering if
you're gonna make it back home. So that's the challenge.
But everything that I've gone through, man, like your traumas
that we've been taught because we black men have always
been taught that, hey, you don't go get help, you
don't cry, you don't show your emotions. Man, so you
suppress all that stuff. But meanwhile, all that stuff is
suppressing It is like a cancer that's eating you from
(26:23):
the inside out. And that's why I told you that
if I hadn't written that book at that time, I
would have died because all that stuff was built up
inside of me. So what I want to do is
put this out there, man, show you my pain so
that you can get your healing that you need in
your life. And and and encourage you to go out
there and get some some counsel and if you're a
black man, or if you're a man period or anybody,
that we some kind of help because we all could
(26:44):
talk to somebody. And that that's important that he said that,
because this book is not restrictive to race. This book
is if you is my relationship positive pas environment talks
about his family, which is relatable to the situations that
people can see every day and not knowing how to
get out of him. Because you talked about a very
unique situation. That really is what we talked about when
we say black lives matter. That was when you called
(27:05):
the anyuarry at the local store. Then your mom down,
she went down and she became super mama and super
mama with attitude. And talk about that moment because we
know that moments like that, if it happened today, it
probably wouldn't have ended the way you saw thirty years ago.
So talk about that. I'm telling you, man, I was
I think it was like nine or ten years old.
(27:27):
And remember what I was went around the corner of
the house and around and I always go there to
this corn store and his lady was behind the counter,
and I remember she was trying to get us down
the store and she just called us the N word
and I was like, I knew that was wrong for
her to call me that, but it's still didn't done,
and it was like racist. I just went back around
the corner because my mom wanted to get somebody. I
(27:48):
couldn't get it. So she said where is it? And
I said, well, this lady called us and she said
who she? I told her who it was. She went
up there and sean, I looked, I didn't see it
for myself or next thing I know, I heard, he's
got me. Like carings back in the day would not
have done well with my mom, even though my mom
(28:10):
looked like you're a white woman herself with wreckles is
the next thing I know, man, the police are coming
and whatnot and they're dragging off and not just remember
that time because of what's happening today. My mom was
going off on these police officers. It took like four
or five police officers to kind of get her in
the car. And I'm so grateful that they were able
to just arrest her. And that says a lot right now,
(28:31):
the fact that they were just able to arrest her
and not shoot her and kill my mother. She could
have easily. I see all these images of black people,
you know, being dragged and takes all these people of
police officers to to try and contain or whatever and
contained or what not. And she wasn't really resisting that much,
but she was pissed. You you don't mess with a
(28:52):
woman's child, and she was pissed, and the white woman
wasn't the wrong as well, but nothing happened to her.
So all that stuff that's built beside her, I can
only understand her anger and feel her anger. And now
you've got those cops that A got are trying to
arrest her and lustily. Once again, they were only they
only arrested her and didn't kill her. Man. So you know,
(29:13):
I know, thats far of the book or whatever put
that out there, but you knows something, it's a little
bit more to it that you have to read. Well,
absolutely and because of the fact that it's happening today,
and when I look at it, and you're absolutely right, man,
it's really um just to see what's going on, Mike, Uh,
to see the Mississippi state, the Mississippi change in Flax.
I would never thought that would happen. Brother, to see
(29:36):
them removing just one of these Confederate statues, to see
to see companies admitting and white people admitting. You know,
Drew Brees going back on his statement, Coach k making
his statement. You know, the NFL apologized in to Kaepernick.
You know, Oh that is happening right before our eyes. Apologize.
(29:57):
That's right, that's right, that's right amount of apologize for
the black lives that haven't said happnick name. They just
apologized for not doing more to begin. Ye see that's
what happened. But yeah, I mean I was like, no, no, no,
that's what happened. When you're talking to an entertainer, okay, entertainer,
here's the thing, man, It's like, look, we because we're
(30:18):
gonna hold them account until they apologize. We can't really
give them a pass until once again we keep talking
about how these corporations and all these CEOs are coming
out and basically giving us all this lip and saying this.
I even put out a sweet earlier to day while
I said, look, you know what, I'm so happy that
these CEOs and these corporations and all these companies and
(30:38):
the media companies come out and saying black lives matter
and talking about racial equality. But how many of your
decision makers have decided to actually put some of these
people of color, black people in your executive offices so
that they can start making the right decisions so that
we don't have to go through these issues again. So
(30:59):
until you basically you can say what you want you to,
but until I see the commitment, until I see the
actual growth, until I see actually putting all that stuff
in motion, I'm gonna sit back and watch, but I'm
still gonna put the pressure on you to ensure that
you carry through on the promises that you gave up
as a peatle. Wow, I'm talking to Mike Hill. Uh
(31:21):
you've seen him. Uh, But we blew up on us
in ESPN. Then he took his talents over Fox Sports
one now Fox So now that's kind of like a
little bit more expansive version of what you're doing, just
not sports. Tell us about that, and then I want
to talk about your black publishing company. And he wrapped
us up with a big, big sale through Open Mic
(31:42):
get the book. So Mike, I'm testing, Mike, I feel
good about your man. You uh you know you got
you got, you met your woman on TV, you got
engaged on TV this fall, You're gonna get mad on TV.
You got two beautiful daughters, you got an exceptionally where
written book. Let's talk about the the Fox Soul Show,
(32:03):
and let's talk about the Black Publishing Company, which feels
so timely after the man Fox Soul is. He is
a streaming company from Fox Entertainment. So I know people
speak Fox and they just want to say, oh, why
would you go to foxil Fox is giving us the
opportunity to use this platforms to actually change the narrative
from some of the things that it's on Fox News,
to be quite honest, which is kind of crazy in
(32:24):
that since the Ironic But I have my own show
on there called The Mike and Donnie Shows and talk
show for Matt Me and they guy named Donnie Correll,
and we have real talk on their real people, relevant people,
and they're like barbershop Talk's no herdholds barred man. It's unedited,
it's scripted, but at the same time it's like raw
and unfiltered and we love it. Man, So we have
(32:45):
people coming on. We can talk about colorism. We had
a show the other day talking about you know, good
cops that's trying to do the right thing, but because
they did the right thing, now they got shunned by
bad cops. All that type of stuff. We've had eight
oh song, We've had all that type of stuff. Man,
So we are enjoy This hour comes on Monday through
Friday on FOT Soul and the Entertainment Network. Man, so
(33:05):
please check it out along with other shows on that networking.
Third teenth in jone Man the publishing company, and shout
out to Audrey Oory. I love that lady. She was
a publisher, was trying to shot the book that when
I first talked to her, and even though I had
four other interviews, I knew she was gonna be my
publisher because her energy, her aura, and she's a black
(33:26):
owned company, a woman that's doing her thing and asking
for people to to tell their stories. And it was incredible,
and so I'm thankful for her and and I'm happy
to be a partner with her. Mike, appreciate you coming
on my show, Man Money making Conversations. Send me that
link on August eighteen, the week before, because you know,
we got to do that Wednesday before Wednesday, because the
(33:47):
best numbers come out the Wednesday before. But this week,
I'm gonna drop you this Monday and my fan club,
which is eight thousand, I'm gonna drop you on my
social media which is over a million. I'm pushing for
your brother, because I'm not not just a fan that
you're a man. I've watched you grow. You've heard part
of my story. I can read part your story. Keep winning, brother,
and keep marketing and podcasts, man, podcast man. Let's work together, man,
(34:13):
let's put something together. We will. We will do that. Man. Well,
you got one, and I will sit down and talk
to you man, because this is our work. Man, ainybody, paperwork.
It's about expanding your brain. And I will tell you.
My wife knows this. She said, I don't follow money.
I follow relationships because money will come once you get
that relationship right. We will talk to Mike l. I
appreciate your brother, brother, Thank you, thank you, Bye bye.
(34:37):
If you want to hear more money Making Conversation interviews,
please go to money Making Conversation dot com. I'm with
Sean McDonald I'm your host. In this season of giving,
Cools has gifts for all your loved ones. For those
who like to keep it cozy, find fleeces, sweaters, loungeware,
blankets and throws. Or support minority owned or founded brands
by giving gifts from Human Nation and Shame Oister. And
(35:00):
in the spirit of giving, Coals Cares is donating eight
million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide. Give with all your
heart this season with great gifts from Coals or Coals
dot Com. Still living in manually taking notes, there is
a better way to start the new year with auto
dot ai automatically get meeting notes. Auto dot ai works
for virtual meetings like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
(35:23):
Sign up on the web for free or download in
the app stores. Auto dot ai. That's O T T
E R. Dot ai At a dp We understand the
importance of building the right team and offer the data
insights to help. Just as importantly, our AI technology helps
you pay the team accurately grow stronger with a dp
HR talent, time and payroll
Still living in manually taking notes. There is a better
way start the new year with auto dot ai automatically
get meeting notes. Auto dot ai works for virtual meetings
like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Sign up on
the web for free or download in the app stores
auto dot ai. That's O T T e r dot Ai.
This podcast is sponsored by Better Help Online Therapy. I'm
(00:21):
Michlene Maloof and I'm Nadiadesi, licensed therapists and hosts of
Getting Better Stories of Mental Health. Join us for discussions
with Megan Trainer, Chris Bosh, Rebel Wilson, and more, from
discussing motherhood to immigrating to general mental health. Our guests
are awe inspiring. We all struggle with the same things,
so let's talk about it and de stigmatize them. Find
our new podcast, Getting Better Stories of Mental Health on
(00:43):
iHeart Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Every year, compliance regulations change
thousands of times, and every year a DP makes thousands
of seamless platform updates so businesses can focus on everything
else like running their business. Grow stronger with a DP,
A your talent, time and tay roll Absolutely welcome to
(01:04):
money making conversation. I'm your host Rashard McDonald. The Money
Making Conversation interviews provide relatable information to the listener by
career and financial planning, entrepreneurship, motivation, leadership, overcoming the arts,
and how to live a balanced life. My next guest
is an infotainer. That's right, an infotainer, which means he's
informational and he's entertaining at the same time. He's an
(01:26):
on that personality with the ability to deliver important news
while also challenging the audience to look deeper into the
various issues from the world of sports and bar is
sports different today. He is a two time Emmy Award
winning sports journalists and you can catch him on Fox
Sports One, Fox Soul, or The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
He is currently the author of an exciting new book,
(01:47):
a memoir called Open Mic. It's written by himself, Mike Hill.
Is available on pre order here. That pre order you
can order the book right now, So I encourage everyone
to order the book now. It will be available August
name team this year. Please work with the Money Making Conversations.
The infotainer himself might kill man. That was the greatst
(02:09):
Do you know? I appreciate there? Hey, my First of all,
you know when you when you see a talent like
you man, uh, you know, just just out there in
the in the forefront a groundbreaker because you know you
you launched Fox Sports one. Okay, you love ESPN. You
know what everybody was say is this is the holy
grail of sports. And then you go to a Fox
(02:30):
Sports one. Tell us everybody about that movie. What was
running through your mind when the process was being made
available to you? Man, I'm always keeping real, man, who's
going very transparent. That's what open Mike is being about.
It to being transparent, trying to hide the thing that
hurt you in the past. I'm gonna be real with
you when I'm want the Fox Sports one man, And
my contract was up. They decided they didn't want to
(02:50):
remove my contract there for nine years. Giving the nine
years my life, my blood might swept my tears. I'm
thank you for the opportunity, thankful for that platform, being
on the stage with great guys like Stephen A. Smith
and getting to know guys like you know, Stewart Scott,
wasn't Jay Harris and everybody over there whatnot. But at
that particular time, it was just time for me to
go God had a plan for me, man, that was
(03:10):
much bigger than anything that I was thinking about. I
knew I always wanted to be in l A. And
when Fox Sports one started hiring people, I knew I
wanted to be over there. But because I was still
under contract that skin, actually couldn't get out of my
contract at that particular time. But they made a mistake,
and this is how God works. They made a mistake
on my contract by um end of it, a year
(03:33):
and a half, basically before my contract was supposed is,
and so they let me out of that contract by mistake.
I got paid for that, and I was able to
go and basically started what was my start of my
dream career in sports, being at Fox Sports one as
a startup and helping that build to what it is
right now. Man. So I'm very pleased and very happy
for that. I'm very happy too, because you know, my
(03:54):
whole thing is that I get to see you, I think,
um a more expanded version. I got to hear you
voice because your personality, man, you know, like I said,
your articulate, you know, a good smile, you you laugh,
and and that's what I get to see what you
on Fox Sports form I get to see more personality,
and I think that's important to you. Correct. Thanks, man,
it is such it, But that's what I'm saying. That's
(04:14):
why I was a dream because I was allowed to
be me. Man. I have been suppressed for so many years,
and once again, I'm thankful for the platform that ESPN
gave me. Less when they brought me over, the ESPN
wanted me to be a sports anchor. They wanted to
kind of, you know, conform to what they believed. Then
I've been told his stories in the book about when
I was with a talent executive and how he tried
(04:35):
to change my style and what he was saying about,
you know, what my style was exactly and they already
had somebody like that or whatnot. But I will always
want to be true to myself. But I also knew
I needed to have a job. But coming over the
Fox Sports One FS one, I'm so thankful and now
being on Fox SOL because they actually give me a
platform to use my voice. And when I first got
(04:55):
the FS, want to be honest with you, it took
me a while to actually find my voice again because
I have been conditioned for so long ago year then
to basically fit into their culture. But I'm happy on
free man, and it's just so liberating to be able
to do whatever the hell I want to do. That
thank you now here, we got a lot to talk
about it. So let's let's talk about right now. Let's
stay on sports for a minute and looking at what
(05:17):
the COVID nineteen because you know, we none of us
all this coming never never, never did you think you
do sports without reported on sports now? Right that right there,
that run right there had to be mind boggling to
stay entertaining and not report on something that we know
doesn't exist anymore and we don't have a time frame
on it coming back. Yeah, it's it's crazy, man. And
(05:39):
then when you see some of the players like Rudy
Gobert and Donovan met, you actually get the COVID nineteen.
I think that's the first time and actually put a
faith because in the early stages of the KOVID nineteen
we were seeing like Tom Haines and a couple of people,
but it wasn't really going. But then when he hit
the sports world and the sports community and our ports
and get you Elliott, it basically gives us more of
a faith to it and put the message out there
(06:00):
a long time ago, four months ago when it was
first kind of starting to spread here in the United States.
But yeah, trying to over sports without sports man, it's
just you know, that's where the UH ingenuity and that's
where the creativity comes into play. You know, now you
can start trying to tell some of the stories then
you normally wouldn't get a chance to tell because you know,
highlights kind of fill up the the hour of your
(06:20):
rundown of your show whatnot. So it's allowed us to
kind of get into the mind of body and the
spirit of the actual professional athlete and get to know
them and humanize them a little bit better. And then,
of course, with everything that's going on with our social
injustice that's happening in this country, I'm happy that the
athletes are using their platform to speak out and the
show that once again there more than athletes and they're
(06:40):
not going to just shut up and dribble. It's really
incredible watching the athletes, especially the collegiate athlete I think
they play. I've been in conversation with people about you
have the professional athlete, but you have way more collegiate athletes,
And I don't think anybody expect that the collegiate athlete,
and plus theyre for four years. So yeah, year after
(07:01):
year year of just students sitting up and I see
Kelly keen Mano with the Texas and them standing up.
When I see the young African American Mississippi State football player, time,
I'm not gonna run a ball again. Transferred to when
you see that. You know, it's really interesting, Mike, because
you know you're a smart person, but then all of
a sudden, you you're you're sportunate. The world of sports
(07:24):
almost became like watching CNN in a little bit because
you had the racial unrest your COVID eighteen and you
had no sports. So that was a mindset change for you.
I know, you're Amy and winning, me winning one guy.
You know you didn't got the toughs the show for
but that had to be a trip, I'm sure. Yeah,
it is, man and man, and that's one of the
(07:44):
reasons I'm happy that you have me on the show,
because you know, like, I don't even call myself a
sports caster anymore. I called myself consider myself, you said,
an entertainer, but also a broadcaster, right, I don't want
to be just limited to just knowing about sports. I'm
also you're not a slazy force veteran. I'm a father
to about getting married again. I'm a taxpaying citizen, and
(08:04):
I care about this country. Most importantly, I care about
my people, uh and the injustices that we've had to
have or go through my entire life, and anybody that's
black in this country has had to go through injustice
in this life. So I'm happy that we're able to
actually speak up and use our platforms, and the athletes
are able to use their platforms to make a difference
(08:25):
anti show just how much power they actually hold, not
just when they're on the football field, not just when
they're on the basketball court and scoring for the triple
doubles or whatnot and throwing for four on the yards,
but using their voice and getting other athletes, white athletes
now like the Tom Brady's and Aaron Rodgers to speak
(08:47):
up on these issues that we've been talking about for
so long. And you name a couple of college athletes
that are out there, like Kevin mom At and m
but too of others. Man really was the one that
really just kind of transformed everything for me when he
basically said, I didn't want to quit Oklahoma State because
my coach was wearing a T shirt that basically, uh
(09:08):
promotes a lot of the issues that I am against
and my people are against. And he got his coach,
whether it was just verbally or not, to change his mind.
But he came out and he used his platform and
admitted or said it. I only if he admitted it
is hard, but at least he said it publicly that
he was wrong and he was trying to change his ways.
And sometimes it's perception. And yeah, I'm not notaive enough
(09:30):
to think that everybody that's coming out screaming that black
lives matter and we're all about equality really meaning. But
the fact that they're coming out and speaking up publicly
and saying it, look, now, that's the start. Now as
a people, what we have to do is hold their
feet to the fire and make sure they follow through
on it. And it's not just something that's coming out
of their mouth, but it's in their heart as well.
(09:51):
I'm talking to Mike Fox Sports one and entertaining himself. Mike,
I'm just gonna get you another job. Man. You need
a podcast, brother, seriously, because you know, I'm just listening
to you articulate yourself so clearly, and those are the
voices we need now. We need smart individuals on podcasts.
They have a following that also can deliver information and
(10:12):
pull in because you know, you can talk politics, you
can talk you know, you can talk sports, you can
talk entertainment. That's you, you know, like like like you know,
you you're shaping who I am. You know, because I'm
really getting to see you. I've only seen you on TV.
I'm a fan of yours, but just to hear you
rattle off something and you said something very important to
me and I want to you said roshan Air Force
veteran tow father too about to give mard on TV. Now,
(10:39):
if I you know you, that could be a white person. Okay,
but because you are a person of color, I forgot.
You said a taxpaying citizen. Okay, you said that too,
proud to be an American. See that's what we're talking
about when we say black lives matter. That description right there.
Because you are a person of color, people will look
(11:00):
at you different and treat you different. But that can
be easily a white person, and they will be They
will be raived and praised and champion because of those
traits that you lie, that you that you distributed right there.
That is what we're trying to get to, man, And
that's what I'm saying. Man, if you are in a
position to get a podcast, brother, please do because your voice,
(11:23):
did I just heard being articulated on my show, needs
to be heard in the bigger, bigger form because of
the fact that and I'm not saying when I say
bigger form, listen to what I'm saying. I'm like, Okay,
you're a Fox was One, You're a Foxholme. But we
all know those are produced formats. They tell you they
allow you some freedom, but they say this is what
we gotta do. A podcast will allow you to be you.
(11:46):
But you're smart, you didn't do stupid stuff, but you
to be you. And when I see the Joe Rogan's
of the world out there, I've either done lemons out
there out there finally getting these platforms. He's downloading a
hundred and fifty thousand downloads of Day. Brother. Please, if
it's in your position to do it, go for it. Okay,
please go for man. And I'm definitely gonna listen to
(12:07):
you because you know it's whiting His entry in his
business man. For all the work you've done with Stephen,
they're smissing the course, Steve Harvey, that's my boy. Let's
let's get let's let's slide. Let's slide over that to
that Steve Harvey conversation. You know, miss Bailey, Miss Bailey. Okay, now,
I mean you're a good looking guy. You're a good
looking guy, Jess. You're not struggling that you know, you
(12:30):
ain't struggling. But you don't how those struggling looks. Okay,
you know it's no people like they got some struggling looks. Okay,
So tell us how this whole thing worked out with
you and sit there. You know, she mentions, she writes
the foreward in your book open mic and just says
some amazing things, and she says, I was only by
(12:52):
the grace of God and Steve Harping that our worlds
would eventually collide. When she says that it is talking
about you, Mike said, talk about that whole scenario, because
you know you, you know you're the type of guy.
You know you you you're gracious. You go, okay, I
go check this out. But bore, Steve asked me, She's beautiful,
but we didn't, but we didn't really connect. Come on, Mike,
(13:14):
when did it really connect? Man? Man? You know what
about like you said about the great God. I'm happy
that she's wonderful and everything that I've ever wanted in
a woman. Man, But you mentioned something time and bro
tim and if you would have met Cynthia Bailey four
or five years though, I wouldn't be right for her.
I wasn't ready. I wouldn't write for any woman in
this world, man, because up until the time I was
(13:35):
forty seven years I'll be fifty in August. Sometimes the
time I was forty seven, I was still a boy,
but sending to be a man, you know what I mean,
Because I didn't know what being a man was about,
because I thought that would being a man. But being
with Cynthia, man is like I was ready. I was
already old. I had already done everything I needed to
do in my life personally when it came to that
dating scene or whatever. So I met her at the
right time and she was whole as well. Uh. And
(13:56):
it was a slow burn in the beginning. We met
on the Steve Harvey Show, dated a couple of times
or whatever. But I just knew Sincy. It was gonna
be somebody that's gonna be in my life with the
rest of my life, whether it's gonna be in a
romantic way or we were just gonna be printed because
she's just that cool. And then it just kind of
hit me around this time a couplet Okay, this is real,
(14:18):
falt baby, you know, because it hits me a couple
of years ago, like, man, this, this girl, this lady
is the right one. Man. I looked at a list
and I had a list of Sean about forty eight
things that I want to and I knew it was
a listen women have this. I had on this a
forty eight things that I want to have in my
dream woman. When I tell you, ship forty seven of
(14:39):
them forty eight things. Brother, it just kind of dawned
on me. Man, it just kind of happened to we
more and it just kind of happened organically. And you know,
for the first time in my life, and I've been
married to Don't get me wrong, I'm in love. I've
loved somebody before, but for the first time in my life,
I am in love because I've allowed myself to actually
paul and to trust this woman and I mean my
(15:01):
children are more heart. My children, both my children, they
are my heart. But she had my heart. That makes
any It's finally here the season of celebration. And no
matter how you celebrate with family and friends, whether you're
preparing for Reis magos or Karamu lighting the Manura, are
going to midnight Mass, Coals has just what you need
(15:23):
to make those traditions special. Plus you'll find gifts for
all your loved ones. Send warm wishes with cozy fleeces, sweaters, loungeware,
blankets and throws. Support minority owned or founded brands by
giving gifts from Human Nation and shame moisture, or treat
them to everyone's favorite active wear from top brands like Nike, Adidas,
(15:44):
and under Armour. And in the spirit of giving, Coals
Cares is donating eight million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide
committed to the health and well being of our communities.
No matter how you celebrate, when you shop at Coals,
you're right where you belong. So this season, give with
all your heart with great gifts from Coals or Coals
(16:04):
dot Com. Whether your event needed one room or an
entire conference center, Hoppin has revolutionized the way people come together.
With hoppin, you can host a fully fledged digital meet up,
complete with one on one meetings, hands on sessions, and
expo booths. And because everything is hosted in a single,
easy to use platform, it can be as big or
(16:24):
small as you want, remain convenient for anyone who wants
to attend, and give you access to data you never
would have known otherwise. Visit hoppin dot com to learn
more and get started. Still living in and manually taking notes,
start the new year with auto dot ai to generate
automatic notes for meetings, interviews, or lectures. With auto dot ai,
(16:45):
you can search the meeting notes, insert images, playback the audio,
and share them with your friends or coworkers. You can
capture action items, remember meeting details, and keep everyone informed.
Auto dot ai works for in person or virtual meetings
like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google meet Sign up for
free at auto dot ai or download the app for
free auto dot Ai. That's O T T E R
(17:06):
dot Ai. He's a girl dad. I'm just let everybody
know he's a girl dad. When I finished with him,
he gonna have T shirts, He's gonna have everything. Hen
I see what you're doing. Really, this is what I do. Man.
I've done it for Ford, I've done it for Home Depot,
I've done it for two blockbuster movies. I've made three
(17:28):
books go number one with Steve Harvey. I've sold over
thirty million books worldwide with Steve Harvey. I've done this business.
Man took took family Few when it was one point
seven to seven point six in the ratings. I'd admit
to see when you said something to me that was
important because I always tell people that I really didn't
(17:48):
understand who I was until I was in my forties.
I was just my gifts. I was just accepting things
like you know, right place at the right time, or
just lucky, you know, just knew somebody hook up all
that stuff. And that's what you're saying when you're saying
when you finally met sent it. So you have to.
You could be a man, walk around, you can have success,
you can have calls, you can have houses. But if
(18:08):
you don't know accept the journey or know how you
can replicate that journey, then then you will not be
successful in your next relationship or your next opportunity. And
you have to one day accepted, Hey man, I'm going
to take the good in the bad, the highs and lows.
And that's what your book, open mic is about. Tell
us about that book, my brother, Man. The book is
(18:30):
my memoirs. Man. It's just about my pains, my struggles,
my depression, my traumas that I've had in my life,
some of the highs and lows, and how those everything
that made up my life affected my life and how
it affected other people. Man. I mean, you know I'm
talking about you know, seeing and witness and domestic violence,
my mom as a kid, my biological father never really
being in my life, myself father being in my life,
(18:52):
but being a man who had a lot of demons,
a lot of issues. He needed a lot of counseling whatever.
He had a good heart, but he just didn't know
how to you know, service at heart the right way
to the right people. And then find me out later
on in life that he was a hit man um
that spent the last nine years of his life in
prison from murder for hire. Uh. Then you know my
trials and simulations going through my you know, ups and downs,
(19:14):
and my career at ESPN and some of the things
I just mentioned before, and my marriages to motion all
these type of things, man, that was inside of me.
That Uh, if I had not written this book, Sean,
I would have died, to be honest with you, because
I was living a life on the outside, you see me,
I had a facade. I was always smiling and sawing
my job. Everything was looking good for me on social media.
(19:37):
But on the inside, I had all these pains and
traumas man, that I had not dealt with, that I
had suppressed for so many years. And then when I
started writing this book, I was able to open up
all those pains and put them out there and actually
became my therapy. Wow. You know, it's really interesting when
you write a book because of the fact that you
remember things that really you forgot all you can watching
(20:00):
and it really starts shaping your liberating you know, because
you because the body protects you, your mind will protect
you from a lot of sadness. It will force you
to move on and block out things and some things
you do need to remember. In other words, you know,
because you don't understand how you got there, sometimes your
mind set forget that. But when you write a book,
you start remembering everything, You start appreciating some things and
started evaluating things, and so I can accept that and
(20:23):
move on. And that's that's really what this when you
say when you talk about hey man, because because I
gotta be honest with you know, you got it going on.
You know you in shape, look good, smile you know,
hundred hundred thousand smile right there. But that's what I'm saying,
that that's the fault, that that's the that's what you're
(20:43):
saying because of the fact that certain things can come
to you, don't mean it's the right It came to
you the right way. That's what I'm saying about me.
I wasn't admitted to my success because I was I
was down playing it. You had to admit there are
some flaws. I gotta I gotta fix these things because
of the life you grew up with and because something
it was violence, Like you said, you're in your book
the chapter I ready we're talking about guns were always
(21:04):
available at your house. That's not good. But if you
think that's normal, what's crazy is when you grow up
in a certain environment you think that's the way it's
supposed to be, and when nobody teaches you any differently, man,
that could lead to you becoming the same person that
you grew up to be and that's that's wrong. So
(21:27):
you got to have the proper people in your life.
And once again, I'm not trying to dump and make
anybody else's issues my traumas or my mistake. Ultimately, once
I got old enough, I could have gotten this therapy
or this hope that I needed a long time ago
and help myself. So I'm never gonna use the excuse
(21:47):
that it was because somebody else did this to me
that I became this way. Now, it did kind of
morph me into that, but it's still up to me
to admit that, hey, something is not right. I need
to get help. And you gotta have good angels who
have conduit from God to come down and actually help
you see the issue that you're having in your life.
(22:07):
So when you grow up and you see nothing the
guns and you see violence, and you don't see love
in your home, a lot of that can have an
effect on how you grow up as a person. I
could have grown up. I could have man, I shot
a gun into a crowd when I was a kid,
that's the book. I could have killed somebody. I could
be in jail. My whole life could be totally different.
Right now. I've been in situations with girls when I
was younger that if something would have been said or whatnot,
(22:30):
I could have been in jail. I could have There
are so many different ways that God actually came into
my life and and basically said, you know what, you're
making these mistakes, but I'm gonna give you this opportunity
to get out of this and make it right. And
now this book is me putting all that out there
once again, being transparently open with everything, all my miscuse,
(22:51):
my flaws, and basically saying God has given me another opportunity. Cool.
You know my man back in the day, Steve Harvard,
back in the day, he decided to take his shirt off.
You know, he gotta have a weight kid and over
lifting some weights. Me posting this picture. It lives today online.
(23:13):
I don't know if Steve's happy and they took his
shirt off, but he took his shirt off. He trying
to get Vince Roshan McDonald do it. You know, I
was no food. I knew how, I knew how I
looked at fitted. I knew how I looked at it,
and I wasn't going for that. Now, my man open
mic on the cover I'm a black on this showing
the world he ain't got no hand on this chip
(23:35):
is smoothest smoothest ice cream on his chest. Okay, Mike,
like you looking good? Come and tell us about that
that cover, that book cover. Okay, nop, Mike is meeting
behind the cover. Man. I wasn't trying to show off
anything like that. I'm just being once again openly transparent
and being vulnerable. The most vulnerable when you can be,
(23:56):
it's being naked. So what my whole book cover was
to be naked. So you see me with the chest
out there, and even though I'm in shape, I'm not
in the best shape. I'm not ripped up. I appreciate
you look good now? Was working good at that? Let
me I got that if you if you weren't right,
I'll tell you we wasn't right. But you're looking good.
(24:17):
Look good. Bro, know what I'm saying. You know you
can't look that way in twitting that, but you look outstanding, brother. Okay,
I appreciate it that. I appreciate it, But like I said,
it's just a message, man, because like that's why he's
in black and white. You see me coming out of
the shadows walking into the light because I'm coming out
(24:37):
of my darkness and finding my light. Man, you see
me with the microphone corps wrapped around me. That's all
the issues bonding me. And keep it down. And then
you look at the bat. It's even better because I'm lit.
My head is up because I'm not embarrassing anymore. And
you see that beautiful woman. Since your Bailey's right behind
me and she got my back. He's in my ears.
He's basically saying, baby's gonna be all right. I'm you
(25:00):
down this right path. It's all good, bron look and
say you're a brother, and look at me. You know
this is a this is a this is a journey
of happiness. Okay, you know it's an open mic. I'm
telling books, Mike Hell. I'm on this show to sell
books now, so I gotta tell everybody. Look, every Sean
show made that book. I'm a pre order. See this
(25:20):
is a pre ordered interview. Okay, we're trying to get
the number one. See. You know you always see people
are best selling. You know they never say number one
next to it. Do they just say New York Times.
I go, Mike Hell, to be number one. And the
way you get the number one is through pre order. Okay.
The way you get the number one is letting everybody
(25:41):
know how important this book is to you, because if
it has value to them, then they will purchased and
share it. And it talks about your relationship, It talks
about you as a child, It talks about the mental
health challenges. Talk about that right quick, man, mentally like
I didn't realize the alous wealth issues, but every black
man in this country got some kind of mental health
is think about it? Do we go through trauma every
(26:02):
single day of our lives, walking out just wondering if
you're gonna make it back home. So that's the challenge.
But everything that I've gone through, man, like your traumas
that we've been taught because we black men have always
been taught that, hey, you don't go get help, you
don't cry, you don't show your emotions. Man, so you
suppress all that stuff. But meanwhile, all that stuff is
suppressing It is like a cancer that's eating you from
(26:23):
the inside out. And that's why I told you that
if I hadn't written that book at that time, I
would have died because all that stuff was built up
inside of me. So what I want to do is
put this out there, man, show you my pain so
that you can get your healing that you need in
your life. And and and encourage you to go out
there and get some some counsel and if you're a
black man, or if you're a man period or anybody,
that we some kind of help because we all could
(26:44):
talk to somebody. And that that's important that he said that,
because this book is not restrictive to race. This book
is if you is my relationship positive pas environment talks
about his family, which is relatable to the situations that
people can see every day and not knowing how to
get out of him. Because you talked about a very
unique situation. That really is what we talked about when
we say black lives matter. That was when you called
(27:05):
the anyuarry at the local store. Then your mom down,
she went down and she became super mama and super
mama with attitude. And talk about that moment because we
know that moments like that, if it happened today, it
probably wouldn't have ended the way you saw thirty years ago.
So talk about that. I'm telling you, man, I was
I think it was like nine or ten years old.
(27:27):
And remember what I was went around the corner of
the house and around and I always go there to
this corn store and his lady was behind the counter,
and I remember she was trying to get us down
the store and she just called us the N word
and I was like, I knew that was wrong for
her to call me that, but it's still didn't done,
and it was like racist. I just went back around
the corner because my mom wanted to get somebody. I
(27:48):
couldn't get it. So she said where is it? And
I said, well, this lady called us and she said
who she? I told her who it was. She went
up there and sean, I looked, I didn't see it
for myself or next thing I know, I heard, he's
got me. Like carings back in the day would not
have done well with my mom, even though my mom
(28:10):
looked like you're a white woman herself with wreckles is
the next thing I know, man, the police are coming
and whatnot and they're dragging off and not just remember
that time because of what's happening today. My mom was
going off on these police officers. It took like four
or five police officers to kind of get her in
the car. And I'm so grateful that they were able
to just arrest her. And that says a lot right now,
(28:31):
the fact that they were just able to arrest her
and not shoot her and kill my mother. She could
have easily. I see all these images of black people,
you know, being dragged and takes all these people of
police officers to to try and contain or whatever and
contained or what not. And she wasn't really resisting that much,
but she was pissed. You you don't mess with a
(28:52):
woman's child, and she was pissed, and the white woman
wasn't the wrong as well, but nothing happened to her.
So all that stuff that's built beside her, I can
only understand her anger and feel her anger. And now
you've got those cops that A got are trying to
arrest her and lustily. Once again, they were only they
only arrested her and didn't kill her. Man. So you know,
(29:13):
I know, thats far of the book or whatever put
that out there, but you knows something, it's a little
bit more to it that you have to read. Well,
absolutely and because of the fact that it's happening today,
and when I look at it, and you're absolutely right, man,
it's really um just to see what's going on, Mike, Uh,
to see the Mississippi state, the Mississippi change in Flax.
I would never thought that would happen. Brother, to see
(29:36):
them removing just one of these Confederate statues, to see
to see companies admitting and white people admitting. You know,
Drew Brees going back on his statement, Coach k making
his statement. You know, the NFL apologized in to Kaepernick.
You know, Oh that is happening right before our eyes. Apologize.
(29:57):
That's right, that's right, that's right amount of apologize for
the black lives that haven't said happnick name. They just
apologized for not doing more to begin. Ye see that's
what happened. But yeah, I mean I was like, no, no, no,
that's what happened. When you're talking to an entertainer, okay, entertainer,
here's the thing, man, It's like, look, we because we're
(30:18):
gonna hold them account until they apologize. We can't really
give them a pass until once again we keep talking
about how these corporations and all these CEOs are coming
out and basically giving us all this lip and saying this.
I even put out a sweet earlier to day while
I said, look, you know what, I'm so happy that
these CEOs and these corporations and all these companies and
(30:38):
the media companies come out and saying black lives matter
and talking about racial equality. But how many of your
decision makers have decided to actually put some of these
people of color, black people in your executive offices so
that they can start making the right decisions so that
we don't have to go through these issues again. So
(30:59):
until you basically you can say what you want you to,
but until I see the commitment, until I see the
actual growth, until I see actually putting all that stuff
in motion, I'm gonna sit back and watch, but I'm
still gonna put the pressure on you to ensure that
you carry through on the promises that you gave up
as a peatle. Wow, I'm talking to Mike Hill. Uh
(31:21):
you've seen him. Uh, But we blew up on us
in ESPN. Then he took his talents over Fox Sports
one now Fox So now that's kind of like a
little bit more expansive version of what you're doing, just
not sports. Tell us about that, and then I want
to talk about your black publishing company. And he wrapped
us up with a big, big sale through Open Mic
(31:42):
get the book. So Mike, I'm testing, Mike, I feel
good about your man. You uh you know you got
you got, you met your woman on TV, you got
engaged on TV this fall, You're gonna get mad on TV.
You got two beautiful daughters, you got an exceptionally where
written book. Let's talk about the the Fox Soul Show,
(32:03):
and let's talk about the Black Publishing Company, which feels
so timely after the man Fox Soul is. He is
a streaming company from Fox Entertainment. So I know people
speak Fox and they just want to say, oh, why
would you go to foxil Fox is giving us the
opportunity to use this platforms to actually change the narrative
from some of the things that it's on Fox News,
to be quite honest, which is kind of crazy in
(32:24):
that since the Ironic But I have my own show
on there called The Mike and Donnie Shows and talk
show for Matt Me and they guy named Donnie Correll,
and we have real talk on their real people, relevant people,
and they're like barbershop Talk's no herdholds barred man. It's unedited,
it's scripted, but at the same time it's like raw
and unfiltered and we love it. Man, So we have
(32:45):
people coming on. We can talk about colorism. We had
a show the other day talking about you know, good
cops that's trying to do the right thing, but because
they did the right thing, now they got shunned by
bad cops. All that type of stuff. We've had eight
oh song, We've had all that type of stuff. Man,
So we are enjoy This hour comes on Monday through
Friday on FOT Soul and the Entertainment Network. Man, so
(33:05):
please check it out along with other shows on that networking.
Third teenth in jone Man the publishing company, and shout
out to Audrey Oory. I love that lady. She was
a publisher, was trying to shot the book that when
I first talked to her, and even though I had
four other interviews, I knew she was gonna be my
publisher because her energy, her aura, and she's a black
(33:26):
owned company, a woman that's doing her thing and asking
for people to to tell their stories. And it was incredible,
and so I'm thankful for her and and I'm happy
to be a partner with her. Mike, appreciate you coming
on my show, Man Money making Conversations. Send me that
link on August eighteen, the week before, because you know,
we got to do that Wednesday before Wednesday, because the
(33:47):
best numbers come out the Wednesday before. But this week,
I'm gonna drop you this Monday and my fan club,
which is eight thousand, I'm gonna drop you on my
social media which is over a million. I'm pushing for
your brother, because I'm not not just a fan that
you're a man. I've watched you grow. You've heard part
of my story. I can read part your story. Keep winning, brother,
and keep marketing and podcasts, man, podcast man. Let's work together, man,
(34:13):
let's put something together. We will. We will do that. Man. Well,
you got one, and I will sit down and talk
to you man, because this is our work. Man, ainybody, paperwork.
It's about expanding your brain. And I will tell you.
My wife knows this. She said, I don't follow money.
I follow relationships because money will come once you get
that relationship right. We will talk to Mike l. I
appreciate your brother, brother, Thank you, thank you, Bye bye.
(34:37):
If you want to hear more money Making Conversation interviews,
please go to money Making Conversation dot com. I'm with
Sean McDonald I'm your host. In this season of giving,
Cools has gifts for all your loved ones. For those
who like to keep it cozy, find fleeces, sweaters, loungeware,
blankets and throws. Or support minority owned or founded brands
by giving gifts from Human Nation and Shame Oister. And
(35:00):
in the spirit of giving, Coals Cares is donating eight
million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide. Give with all your
heart this season with great gifts from Coals or Coals
dot Com. Still living in manually taking notes, there is
a better way to start the new year with auto
dot ai automatically get meeting notes. Auto dot ai works
for virtual meetings like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
(35:23):
Sign up on the web for free or download in
the app stores. Auto dot ai. That's O T T
E R. Dot ai At a dp We understand the
importance of building the right team and offer the data
insights to help. Just as importantly, our AI technology helps
you pay the team accurately grow stronger with a dp
HR talent, time and payroll
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.