Seek ELLAvation®️ with Ellakisha: Recent Episodes
Ellakisha O'Kelley
Seek ELLAvation®️ with Ellakisha is an empowercast that delves into various topics to elevate your mind. The listener will get tips, strategies, and motivation to level up their personal life and business dealings. The topics of discussions will be brought to you by one of the most empowering attorneys in sports and entertainment - author of Code v. Code: The Street Code Versus the Legal Code - and TEDx speaker.
International speaker, award-winning presenter, and founder of TES Speaks is on a mission to help individuals redefine success and reclaim themselves. After facing burnout despite “making it,” she realized alignment is the real achievement. Now she’s empowering those questioning if they can experience the fulfillment of success in their personal life, career, or business.
From Paralyzed to Purpose-Driven. At 25, Zedrick Carter was told he’d never walk again. He turned that diagnosis into divine direction. As the founder of Coach Carter Fitness, he helps others unlock their inner power, both spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. This Tuesday on Seek ELLAvation®, discover how honoring your body can become the cheat code to your next level. 🎯
Contracts & Capital: The Entrepreneur’s Secret Weapon Join Linda Chatmon as she breaks down how government contracts, tech, and strategy can fund your next move—and your legacy. She’s negotiated over $13.2B in federal contracts, built an empire of brands, and helps turn influence into infrastructure.
Sometimes life throws us a curveball. A plan falls apart. A door closes. Or maybe, like tonight, an unexpected emergency happens. And in that moment, we face a choice: we can fret, or we can pivot.
With an unexpected emergency for my guest. I gained an opportunity to speak directly to you. And I want you to remember this: To set yourself apart, show up through it all. No matter your assignment, how you complete it will determine how well the job was done! Seek ELLAvation® is a power source for change-seekers who are ready to lead, elevate, and build through sports, entertainment, business, and community to plug in. #PivotMindset #HowToPivot
Brand builder. Growth strategist. Culture connector.
From Olympic-level activations with USA Track & Field to leading innovation at Kraft Heinz, Robert helped brands drive double-digit growth and create real impact. Passionate about bridging insight with strategy, and always moving with purpose, whether in the boardroom or on the run.
We’ve talked about power, policy, and the players. Now, we talk about positioning and how to move from surviving NIL to owning it through strategy, team, and action.
Seek ELLAvation® is available on all major podcast platforms. ---
Replay the whole NIL Series: Over four powerful segments, we traced the real story of NIL—not just the headlines, but the history, battles, and strategies shaping the future of college athletics.
📚 Segment 1: From Shadows to Spotlight – How We Got Here We started with the foundation, uncovering the legal fights and overlooked voices that cracked the NCAA’s hold on amateurism and made NIL possible.
⚖ Segment 2: Cracks in the System – Alston & Beyond We stepped into the courtroom, with Alston, and saw how legal wins shifted power, sparked chaos, and opened doors faster than athletes and institutions were prepared to walk through.
🏛 Segment 3: Power, Policy & The Players – After the Impact We examined the tug-of-war between states, the NCAA, conferences, and collectives, diving into the House Settlement and possible federal law and the policies shaping (and stalling) NIL’s growth.
💼 Segment 4: Ownership Over Opportunity – What’s Next for the Future of NIL? We closed with the call to action for athletes to move from participation to ownership—leveraging NIL for long-term value, protection, and legacy. And for the teams of playing field, off the track, off the court to step up and make this a win/win.
In the first two segments, we went from the foundation of NIL’s fight to the cracks revealed in Alston, one theme is clear: competence matters. This moment is an opportunity—but only if athletes have the right knowledge, the right team, and the discipline to get it right. Without that, deals can become traps instead of tools.
🎙 In Segment 3, we’ll break down the current House Settlement, the federal push, and where states stand in the tug-of-war for control. 🧠 Tune in ready to learn, reflect, and reframe what you thought you knew about NIL in college sports. Seek ELLAvation® is available on all major podcast platforms.
--- 🔜 Up Next on the NIL Series: 🎧 Segment 4: Ownership, Opportunity & the Next Era Where is this all going? We’ll break down the House settlement, what NIL 2.0 could look like, and how athletes can shift from participation to possession of their value and voice.
This case is more than about scholarships. It was about athletes' rights. We move from foundation to framing. What are we building?
Tune in to find out!
Four-part series: "Power Plays: The NIL Era in College Sports."
From Shadows to Spotlight: How We Got Here. For years, college athletes gave everything: time, talent, health, and likeness while helping build a billion-dollar industry that initially focused on revenue from issuing degrees. This first segment breaks down the why and how behind the rise of NIL rights, starting with the overlooked resistance that came long before TikTok deals and jersey sales. We'll revisit key court cases like O’Bannon v. NCAA and examine how the terms “student-athlete” and "amateurism" were crafted not to honor players, but to protect the system. This is the foundation. This is the fight that shifted power. If you’ve ever wondered why NIL matters or how we got here, this is your must-listen introduction. It’s not just legal history, it’s the backstory of a movement. And the more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to make smart, empowered decisions in this evolving space.
🧠 Tune in ready to learn, reflect, and reframe what you thought you knew about NIL in college sports.
What do love, legacy, and leadership have in common? They all get tested in the courtroom. In this episode of Breakups & Business, we’re joined by Genghis Shakhan, Esq., founding partner at Shakhan & Wilkerson Law Firm. This isn’t just a conversation about law; it’s about love, loss, and the power of being legally prepared for whatever life brings, from personal to professional.
What if leadership isn’t just about strategy or success, but about identity? In this episode of "Unmasking the Leader Within," we sit down with Dr. Stephanie M. Kirkland (also known as The Identity Shaper) to uncover the invisible narratives that shape how we lead, show up, and serve. Dr. Kirkland shares the personal truth behind her powerful leadership framework, Identity Dynamics®, and the urgent need for leaders, especially women of color, to reclaim every facet of who they are: personal, professional, spiritual, relational, and physical. This isn’t just about business. It’s about becoming. Because leadership isn’t a title...it’s identity in motion. Tune in if you’re ready to lead from wholeness, not wear a mask to survive the room.
From high school dropout and former drug dealer to multimillion-dollar Rapid Business Growth Strategist and coach, Marquel is a walking billboard for the lyrics “started from the bottom now I’m here."
Marquel is on a nonstop mission to help his clients earn $2 Billion over the next 5 years. And with clients already using his strategies and methods to generate more than $1 Billion in client success stories, it’s clear he’s well on his way to hitting his goal, despite his atypical background. As the founder of the infamous Client Attraction University and the creator of his leads-on-demand signature marketing system, The S.F.M. method, Marquel is known for his innate talent of drenching clients in a downpour of qualified leads that convert into more clients and increased profits. He is also the author of The Millionaire Expert!
We're sitting down with Robin Nathaniel, a Telly Award-winning social media strategist, podcast host, and digital storytelling veteran with over 20 years in the game. From working with Grammy, Tony, and Emmy award winners to helping nonprofits craft social strategies that actually connect, Robin brings a rare mix of experience, purpose, and practical insight. If you're a changemaker, nonprofit leader, or creative looking to amplify your voice on a saturated social media platform, this episode is for you.
Seek ELLAvation® is a power source for change-seekers who are ready to lead, elevate, and build through sports, entertainment, business, and community to plug in.
In business, holding on too tightly can stall the very growth you’re working so hard to achieve. In this episode, Kimberly Fennell @kimtheadmin breaks down The Art of Letting Go to Grow...not just in life, but in leadership, decision-making, and delegation. We talk about releasing overwhelm, prioritizing what truly drives impact, and learning to let go of tasks, roles, or mindsets that no longer serve your mission. If you’re building something bigger and feeling buried in the process, this conversation is your permission to lead smarter, not heavier.
Seek ELLAvation® is a power source for change-seekers who are ready to lead, elevate, and build through sports, entertainment, business, and community to plug in.
In a world that praises constant hustle, what happens when a person chooses stillness instead?
As seen on the J-Hud show, Comcast Rise, and Seva Award winner, MiMi brings her light and journey to the stage.
In this powerful episode, we sit down with a visionary leader who turned to yoga, not as a trend, but as a lifeline. She opens up about the chaotic moments that led her to the mat, how that practice became a form of survival, and why she now empowers other creatives, entrepreneurs, and families to find balance through breath, movement, and mindset.
Whether you're building a brand, raising a family, or simply trying to catch your breath, this conversation is a grounding reminder that peace is not a luxury; it’s a strategy.
In this segment, we will explore how decoding the data helps drive the dollar. We want the information simplified because we just don't have the energy to deal with confusion.
Michael Cortez is the Research and Data Analyst at the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC), where he leads impactful, data-driven research to evaluate program success and fuel strategic growth. With a keen eye for uncovering trends and opportunities, Michael turns raw data into clear, actionable insights that support the entrepreneurial journey, especially for diverse business owners seeking sustainable success.
Beyond the spreadsheets, Michael is a gifted communicator and inspirational speaker who brings numbers to life. His background as a voice-over artist adds a unique clarity and charisma to his presentations, helping non-technical audiences connect with complex ideas in meaningful ways.
A true servant leader, Michael believes that collaboration and adaptability are key to lasting impact. Whether he's speaking to a room of founders or working behind the scenes with stakeholders, his goal remains the same: to empower others with insights that drive results and create real-world change.
This guest is a visionary in sound and storytelling who’s making waves on screen and behind the scenes. With a growing IMDb-accredited career, he’s brought depth and energy to roles on hit TV shows like P-Valley, Wicked City, and Will Trent, and has left his mark in films like Out on a Lim, Scorned, Pride, and Blaq Diamondz, where he commands the screen as streetwise hustler Vonte. But he’s not stopping there. This multi-talented creative is now standing in the Executive Producer role and showing his acting chops in the development of his debut feature film, Bounce Back, a project inspired by his own powerful memoir. Please welcome the storyteller who’s bridging creativity with impact... Jay "4G" Gathers takes the stage to discuss The "Reel" Journey: One Filmmaker's Commitment to Turn Passion into Purpose (Without a Script for Success).
🎙 From Black Sheep to Blueprint: The Calling Was Never Meant to Be Comfortable Ever felt like you didn’t fit the mold? Not because you were lost, but because you were called? This Tuesday on Seek ELLAvation®, we’re diving deep into what it really takes to turn doubt, detours, and imposter syndrome into divine direction. You’ll hear how the black sheep moments, the ones that made you question everything, were actually shaping you to lead, build, and blaze a trail no one else could walk. With Sherie Randolph-Dunham, Transformational Speaker | Author, Founder of T.E.A.M. Luv LLC | A Champion for Healing, Self-Luv & Breakthroughs. This isn't about proving them wrong. It's about becoming who you were always meant to be. Tune in. Get inspired. Walk boldly.
Starting a business? Have a business but don't know if everything is in order? Don’t make these common legal mistakes. Today on Seek ELLAvation®, we’re breaking down the 7 legal questions every entrepreneur/solopreneur must ask before launching their business. From contracts to trademarks, entity structure to ownership rights — these are the answers that could save you thousands, protect your brand, and keep you from learning the hard way. If you're building something with purpose, this episode is your legal blueprint.
We’re breaking down how to build real impact through Social Currency—the kind that opens doors, sustains movements, and multiplies legacy. Who’s in your circle? What are you exchanging? Influence, access, trust, and connection are currency. If you’re not leveraging them with intention, you’re leaving equity on the table. Stephannie Kirby, a social currency advocate, is bringing an ELLAvating perspective and direction to the stage on this topic
We are not talking about cliché sacrifice like just “working harder.” We are talking about the behind-the-scenes choices, the lonely nights, the missed milestones, the identity shifts, and the mindset evolution. The kind of sacrifice that doesn’t just cost you sleep, but sometimes even costs you relationships, routines, or parts of the old you that can’t come with you into the next season.
Carlos Torres — the storyteller who turned self-study into cinematic success. A Screenwriter, Actor, and Film Producer, Carlos didn’t wait for permission—he created his own lane. Armed with nothing but a stack of books and an unshakable passion for film, he studied the craft relentlessly until his vision came to life on screen. Carlos believes, “Anybody can write a script. But not everybody can tell a story.”
By the end of this podcast, you will understand how to build ownership that extends beyond your current job, business, or industry. Whether an entrepreneur, employee, or creative, you’ll learn how to create opportunities that open doors, generate income, and build long-term success. Ritchie Thomas (The Soldier Coach) is dedicated to helping transitioning soldiers secure high-paying jobs and start their own businesses. He spent six years in the US Army as a Sergeant and I.T. Program Manager. As a veteran and Half-Ironman competitor, he emphasizes the power of mind over matter and encourages a shift from finances to fulfillment. Ritchie's power tools not only work for transitioning soldiers, but they also position anyone looking to reach six figures along their journey.
By the end of this podcast, you will understand how to build ownership that extends beyond your current job, business, or industry. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, employee, or creative, you’ll learn how to create opportunities that open doors, generate income, and build long-term success.
We’re going live with a powerful episode on Financial Power Moves: Building Wealth That Works While You Don’t — and trust me, you don’t want to miss this one. With former Pro Basketball player turned financial expert, Marcus Faison. If you’ve ever said, “I want to build wealth, but I don’t know where to start,” or “Why does financial talk always sound like a foreign language?” — THIS is for YOU.
By the end of this segment, you will have some things to think about to start building a future that YOU control—whether you’re an employee, athlete, business owner, or creative. Seek ELLAvation is a space for growth and transformation, where seekers are empowered to break strongholds and elevate themselves in all aspects of life.
I'm breaking down contract game that'll boost your bag and your business. You won't learn these gems on ChatGPT. In this video, I share some of my negotiation tips. Understanding contracts is not only about protection; it's about perception. Empower your contract game.
Calling All Athletes, Creatives, and Entertainers (or those who support them): Take control of your power and build a legacy. We are diving into how to build leverage and elevate it. This isn’t just talk—it’s a conversation that can spark real moves. Let’s connect, share game-changing insights, and start building the future you own. Tap in. Bring a friend. Let’s build something real.
Hustle vs. Legacy: Are You Chasing Success or Building Something That Lasts? Tune in for this discussion with Dynamic Secure the Bag and your legacy guest speakers.
A discussion to explore the mental health struggles of professional athletes, how they cope, and the importance of prioritizing well-being over performance. With a special guest and former NFL player for the Balitmore Ravens, Prince Daniels Jr.
Tuesday Lives with Seek ELLAvation® A discussion to address breaking out of survival mode and step into a mindset of growth, abundance, and purpose. Also honoring #AngieStone necessary and urgent message.
A discussion this Tuesday is to explore the impact of staying silent when you're told to do so in the face of injustice, why speaking up matters, and how various platforms work together to create real change.
To highlight the importance of teamwork, partnerships, and community in achieving long-term success in sports, entertainment, and life. This episode will emphasize why collaboration leads to greater impact, financial success, and legacy-building.
Connect on YouTube, FB, or IG @seekellavation to join the conversation live!
This segment educates athletes and entertainers on the importance of personal branding, financial ownership, and protecting their legacy while inspiring them to take control of their careers beyond the spotlight.
Connect on YouTube, FB, or IG @seekellavation to join the conversation live!
One man's story written on his terms| Why every opportunity counts as an inspiring film creative.
Director/Producer/Film writer Deontae Trundle stops by to ELLAvate the viewers on creating a way to make space for one's talents in the film industry.
A winning Coach| How to turn your dreams into reality.
Coach Antonio Wells stops by to ELLAvate the viewers by sharing his journey to becoming a head cross country and track & field coach. He is the epitome of patience through pressure. You don't want to miss this inspiring conversation!
Multi-Olympian and World Champion Terrence Trammell stops by to engage in an ELLAvating conversation about his journey. He gives gold medal nuggets to ELLAvate in your life. His story will inspire, impact, and ignite that fighter within you. Take a listen.
Desi-Ray stops by to ELLAvate the viewers by sharing her journey in the entertainment industry as a professional dancer. She has performed with Missy Elliot, Ciara, Latto, New Edition, BBD, Latto and many many more. She has also performed on all major award shows such Billboard Music Awards, BET, Essence Fest.... and quite of few television shows. You don't want to miss this inspiring conversation!
What about the soldiers? | Making it in business, sports, and entertainment. The Soldier Coach stops through for an insightful and inspiring conversation. Take a listen!
This world includes those that lay their life on the line for our freedoms, Seek ELLAvation would not be complete without having them grace the platform.
Attorney O'Kelley, aka the Empowerment Attorney, uses all the talk surrounding the White Lives Matter trademark registration as a teachable moment for you to Up-level your IP protection and knowledge.
We live in a culture where we are impregnated with the seed of belief that looking or being busy means you're successful. Everything started to move in an upward direction when I tapped into the mathematics of output. I will share it with you!
Take a listen to this episode if you're on the blurred lines of busyness and productiveness.
#BREAKEVERY⛓️
On Conversate and ELLAvate Leeohlitt sits down to discuss turning a 15-year bid into motivation to focus on creating music, being a family man, navigating a treacherous industry, and much more.
The Patent and Latent Defects in Our Interactions That Affects Progress. To rethink how we process things, to unsee how we view things, is to move towards change. - ELLAkisha.
This message that I share is one I hope we understand from a deeper level of processing. I believe it will help us in every area of our lives.
Nicholas sits down with ELLAkisha to discuss pivoting in planning, having to become a man at an early age, kicking down doors as a new NFL Agent during the pandemic and so much more!
Helena sits down with ELLAkisha to discuss being on your journey, how giving open doors, it's never too late to pivot and so much more!
This week we take a detour from the general Seek ELLAvation®️ segment to share the speech our host delivered to the Oxford Emory Athletes at the 2022 Athletic Award Banquet.
Dave Combs sits down with ELLAkisha to discuss the magical story behind one song that unfolds the rhythm of life and so much more!
What happens when you enter into a situation that you didn't intend to be bounded to. A contractual agreement may not be final if it raises one of these issues. Take a listen!
DJ Pyper, sits down with ELLAkisha to speak on forging into the music business, artist relationships, DJ's influence in the industry, and more!
Duran Jones, a film and music creative, sits down with ELLAkisha to speak on his strategy for moving forward in the entertainment industry and more!
Pulp Fiction photographer fights for copyright for the famous Mia Wallace photo. What facts were used to cause him to lose the fiction? Take a listen!
Coach Cire Campbell, a two-time Olympic Head Coach, talks about how athletes are affected in track and field beyond running. Listen to this uncut conversation to ELLAvate in sports the business.
Energy is neither created or destroyed but it is results oriented| Frequency and our outcomes.
Saheed O. Adeleye, a cultural curator, visionary, and leader sits down and sits down with ELLAkisha to speak on values, leveraging networks, rethinking the diaspora convo, and more!
Conversate and ELLAvate are segments of the Seek ELLAvation empowercast that showcase guests who share insight that can impact your life.
The one thing that separates the doers from the do not's in achieving that hefty dream, is the mindset. I see these commonalities amongst my very successful clients versus my clients who are fighting for a breakthrough.
Shaun Mathis, multi-award-winning filmmaker, sits down and sits down with ELLAkisha to talk about being Anti-Hero, breaking through, and creating his own lane. This interview will have you finding your alter-ego and dropping your mouth when you hear how he made his first $100,000.
Conversate and ELLAvate are segments of the Seek ELLAvation empowercast that showcase guests who share insight that can impact your life.
When does Freedom of Speech become costly? All speech is not free. Listen to this segment to get a better understanding of what this term even means while ding into the Cardi B versus Tasha K. case.
How to face losing it all, suicidal ideation, & finding life| Entertainers Athletes Business.
Former NFL player and current Life Athlete Prince Daniels joins Conversate and ELLAvate to discuss having it all, losing it all, and finding more. This #ConversateAndEllavate segment will make you smile, cry, and drop your jaw as he touches on talent, suicidal ideation, meditation, and life.
Conversate and ELLAvate are segments of the Seek ELLAvation empowercast that showcase guests who share insight that can impact your life.
Are you alive and not living? Are you stuck personally or professionally? We are created to evolve, so what happens when we don't?
Conversate & ELLAvate are segments of Seek ELLAvation empowercast where guests drop by to join in on the raw, real, and relevant conversations about the music industry, sports industry, and business industry. Today we have the music industry guru Cappriccieo Scates, aka Capp, to swing by and keep it real.
To see the conversation with Capp and Ellakisha visit the Seek ELLAvation YouTube page.
What'cha Gonna Do in 2022? Seek ELLAvation is ELLAvating. Take and listen and see how this could impact YOU.
Should you federally trademark your brand? Let me tell you why you need to stop sitting on your hands!
WTF? NFT? Help me out here! Get some foundational information on this digital platform.
Everything is not picture perfect when the rights are violated. Copyrights versus likeness, a lesson from Shawn Carter and Jonathan Mannion.
Selling and buying NFT's. What should the seller and buyer know? A lesson from Jay Z and Dame Dash issue.
Most of the time we get the question- what would you tell your younger self? What if we asked the question- what would your younger self tell you now? I asked and received the answer and it has changed my life. Take a listen.
What is stopping you from taking responsibility for your life? Poverty, middle class, and wealth. But it's not what you think.
Is sports entertainment or enlightenment? Sports talk and speak a universal language. What is it saying to us in this comeback Olympics?
What happens if someone breaches a contract? Well, that is determined by what is or is not addressed before it happens. Take a listen
What if you take your talent and multiply its power? I share some ideas to push you towards rethinking your gifts and talents.
Your thoughts become your words, your words become actions, actions become habits, and habits become who you evolve into! How does this affect every area of your life? Let's talk about it.
We hear this question regarding relationships be it business or personal. By whom or what standard should one measure by? Let's talk about it.
How many times have you said or heard- follow your passion? What does that even mean? You will be surprised. Take a listen.
Going from a passive to a powerful party in contracting. There is no bad deal without bad engagement.
What is the biggest Jedi trick of the sports and entertainment industry? Marketing and promo on a whole other level. Let's discuss.
It's all about the Benjamins baby! This issue never gets old. Friendships, contracts and money. Why Joe Budden's podcast issue is not uncommon.
Do you have a service, product, or idea? What's the one thing that can excel your business? Take a listen.
We need to think about ownership from the starting line to the finish line. Three things you can leave with a Will Prosperity, Planning or Peace.
Are you using someone else copyright content? Does someone want to use yours? Is it fair to use without asking? Listen to this segment on Fair Use!
This Seek ELLAvation segment touches on two words that can help or hinder a business transaction -
"Industry Standards." Find out how that is.
Are you an entrepreneur? Are you an athlete? Are you an artist? There are business basics that apply to you.
An old adage says "What's good for the goose, is good for the gander." But cancel culture, divisiveness and bad deals says otherwise.
Are you owed what you deserve? When should you have the conversation about getting what you are owed?
Do you truly understand what you are signing in a contract? If you get a bad deal, you got it before you agreed to it, not after.
What's the issue with accepting the hold me over mentality? If you're not eating, you're starving.
What happened on Clubhouse? How did I address it? Listen in and learn from it my #ascenders!
What contributes to an agreement going left more than anything? How can you reduce the chances of it happening? I’ll tell you.
A warm welcome to my new listeners and a dive into the discussion about leveling up without trying to fix what is already constructed.