Brick by Brick from The BrownStone Experience: Recent Episodes
Feleccia Conway Turner
The BrownStone Experience Podcast: Amplifying Voices of Powerhouse Black Women Living Boldly
Welcome to Brick by Brick a podcast by The BrownStone Experience, a space for unapologetic self-expression and empowered living for multidimensional women. Hosted by creator, writer, and fashion stylist Feleccia Conway Turner, each episode features candid conversations with dynamic guests who are slaying in their respective lanes.
From entrepreneurs and activists to artists and thought leaders across industries, these trailblazing women get raw and real about what it looks like to shed insecurity, de
Episode 15: The State of Our Community
INTRO
Feleccia Turner, introduces the podcast as the second episode of "Brick by Brick," a podcast by The Brownstone Experience, where she talks with the cover stars about their business endeavors, careers, and life, focusing on entrepreneurship and community-related topics.
Introduction
Moshae, a practicing attorney among other things. They open by discussing the current state of their community, particularly in the context of racial inequalities and social justice issues.
Discussion on Racial Inequalities and Social Justice
Moshae expresses her lack of hope for the community due to the lack of awareness and engagement by the people. She highlights the danger of racial injustices being erased from the educational curriculum, leading to a lack of understanding of the historical struggles faced by marginalized communities.
The discussion focuses on Florida as a blueprint for America, where certain states are adopting similar policies to suppress rights and historical facts about racial inequalities. Moshae mentions the removal of critical race theory from textbooks and college campuses and the impact on the understanding of racial issues.
Moshae discusses the situation in Mississippi, particularly in Jackson, where a majority-black city has super-government and unelected judges appointed by a predominantly white state legislature. She expresses concerns about racial inequalities persisting in these areas despite the availability of votes and suggests that people should be more attentive.
We revisit Moshae's past run for District Attorney (D.A.) and discuss the election results. Moshae explains how she decided to run at the last minute due to her concerns about the criminal justice system and the lack of reform under the incumbent D.A.
Moshae talks about the concept of decriminalization versus pardoning in the context of marijuana-related offenses. She highlights the need for decriminalization and policy changes to address the historical harm caused by drug prosecutions in black and brown communities.
The conversation moves to Moshae's entrepreneurial venture, a CBD store. She explains her motivation to provide safe and high-quality products after facing difficulties finding such products for her personal use.
Moshae shares her next entrepreneurial endeavor, a cookbook, which she intends to use to share her story and experiences.
Tips on Affecting Local Policy
We discuss the importance of voting and making informed decisions, especially for local policies and candidates. They encourage research and finding out the views of candidates before voting.
Moshae explains that even if people are busy, they can still look for candidates who align with their values, including looking for representation from their own community.
The conversation highlights the significance of black representation and how people might vote for candidates with names that resonate with them culturally.
Moshae suggests finding internships or opportunities to shadow and learn from community leaders, lawyers, or professionals in fields of interest to understand the legal landscape better.
OUTRO
Thank you so much Moshae for her insights and for sharing your insight with our community. I look forward to much more greatness from you!
Episode 14: Embracing Black Girl Magic: A Journey of Resilience and Triumph
INTRO
Feleccia Turner, Founder & CEO of The BrownStone Experience introduces the guest, Moshae Donald, a 37-year-old attorney from Mobile, AL, who is the July-August cover of The Brownstone Experience magazine. Moshae Donald is a 37-year-old attorney, mother of a 12-year-old son, former elementary school teacher, and upcoming bride. She shares her journey and passion for the legal field, especially advocating for children.
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Moshae talks about her initial dream of becoming a teacher but stumbled upon law during her early years in college.- She recalls a significant incident when she was confronted by a member of the Ku Klux Klan during a protest, which inspired her to become a voice for the voiceless and fight for justice.- Moshae reflects on her experiences at Vanderbilt Law School and how she combined her background in education with her law degree to advocate for children and families.- The importance of using educational privilege and legal knowledge to empower others is highlighted.
JOURNEY AS AN ATTORNEY
Moshae shares her experiences as an attorney, representing children in delinquency and dependency cases. Her focus is on helping the less privileged and being a voice for those without power.- Her journey in teaching and her son Corey's autism diagnosis influenced her perspective and dedication to helping families with children on the spectrum.
BLACK GIRL MAGIC AND SELF-CARE
Moshae believes Black Girl Magic is living authentically and showing up as one's best self by prioritizing self-care.- Moshae emphasizes the significance of surrounding oneself with amazing black women who support and inspire each other.- Self-care is compared to setting the stage for showing up as one's best and being able to thrive in all aspects of life.- The hosts delve into the importance of cooking as a form of self-care and mental therapy.
DESTINATION WEDDING AND LOVE
Moshae talks about her upcoming destination wedding, set for November, and how love has changed her life.
Enjoy!
Meet Adjwoa Tyehimba, an entrepreneur, author, and much more. We discuss her expertise in cannabis and how our communities are still being affected by the criminalization and also how we may be left behind in the commercialization of the industry. I learned so much and I hope you will too!
Enjoy!
Adjwoa Tyehimba was born and raised in Dallas and Atlanta. The cultural exposure that came from living in a diverse environment coupled with growing up around the Pan-African Connection Bookstore, founded by her father shaped her into the dynamic woman she is today. Her mother worked for Delta Airlines, providing opportunities for travel and cultural experiences.
Adjwoa is versatile, nuanced, and lives a soft life unapologetically.
Her career path began in Marine Fisheries Biology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She worked in water quality and food safety for Harris County Health Department. The pandemic led her to start her own food safety management business. She used her expertise to teach and certify businesses in food safety practices.
Adjwoa's upbringing in a bookstore influenced her interest in writing. She opted to write children's books as they have higher market potential. She wrote "The Principles of Balance," a book promoting balance in children's lives. After receiving positive feedback and interest from young readers motivated her to continue writing.
During our conversation, Adjwoa gives some amazing advice for young women who are coming into their own.
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She emphasizes self-love and self-confidence as crucial for success.
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Be patient and persistent; success takes time to build.
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Listen to feedback, but also trust in yourself and your vision.
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Look for growth opportunities and learn from setbacks.
Enjoy!
As a multi-faceted businesswoman and practicing physician, Dr. Clark shares some advice on building an empire. She attributes some of her success to setting a 10 year goal, being accessible to her team and patients, and paying close attention to the numbers.
This month our focus is motherhood and black maternal healthcare. We discuss how to take care of your body, prepare for pregnancy, advocate for yourself, and creating birthing teams.
Our April Cover Star Jennifer James is a visionary leader with over 15 years of specialized expertise committed to synchronizing innovative strategies that maximize organizational growth through developing key partnerships. Jennifer has successfully generated over $100MM in revenue through transforming concepts into viable deliverable products. She performs as the Senior Investment Officer and Lead for the Inclusive Capital Fund Initiative at Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator and integrated capital fund with a mission to empower talented yet underestimated Women and Communities of color through inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth-building, and integrated capital. Jennifer also facilitates as a Professor at Neeley School of Business as well as the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute at the Texas Christian University campus.
Our April Cover Star Jennifer James is a visionary leader with over 15 years of specialized expertise committed to synchronizing innovative strategies that maximize organizational growth through developing key partnerships. Jennifer has successfully generated over $100MM in revenue through transforming concepts into viable deliverable products. She performs as the Senior Investment Officer and Lead for the Inclusive Capital Fund Initiative at Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator and integrated capital fund with a mission to empower talented yet underestimated Women and Communities of color through inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth-building, and integrated capital. Jennifer also facilitates as a Professor at Neeley School of Business as well as the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute at the Texas Christian University campus.
Mayor Rachel Proctor joins me at the table to discuss her lifelong entrepreneurial journey. We discuss ways to avoid burnout, the importance of doing your due diligence before committing to a new project, and how to be a tour guide for the next generation.
Mayor Rachel Proctor, the youngest black female to ever serve in the role of Mayor of Desoto, Texas joins me on the couch this month. Our cover star for Women's History Month shares her story with us which begins in the same city in which is now serving as Mayor. Rachel, the baby of the bunch, is a Pastor's kid, a dog mom, and the ultimate girls' night-in host when she is not wearing her mayoral hat. Listen to learn more about her story, her advice on stepping into a public service role, and what it is like leading one of the prestigious black middle-class suburbs in the country.
Kim and I move to the table to discuss her life-long entrepreneurship journey. She shares how she opened her first makeup store, LAMIK in a Houston mall, built a team, honed in on customer service, and raised money for causes near and dear to her heart. In 2019, she had a gut feeling to do something totally new and different. She moved on that pull from God and prepared to launch LAMIK 2.0, a tech-backed cosmetics brand.
I sat down with Kim Roxie, the CEO, and Founder of LAMIK Beauty - (pronounced La-Meek) a vegan makeup line made with natural and organic ingredients for multicultural women. Kim shares her values and belief that beauty is universal and should be recognized in all forms. We discuss creating images that highlight the beauty that we want to see rather than what is shown historically and commercially. We discuss her views on colorism and the state of beauty in today's society. Kim also shares her journey to becoming a makeup and beauty expert. Check out this dope episode to learn more about this black woman-owned enterprise.
https://lamikbeauty.com/
I sat down with my good sis, Saria to talk more about her journey into entrepreneurship. She shares how the struggle got real before she left her full time job, how dealing with microagressions in corporate America was exhausting, and how having a supportive partner is a key to success. Check out this episode and others on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube!
I sat down with Saria Hawkins-Banda, the CEO of Manifest Your Purpose to discuss her brand, the product line, and the meaning behind the creation of each item. Her lux stationary brand was born in 2020 organically from her love of organizing, planning, and community. She shares her creative process when creating products and the questions she asks herself. Saria is unapologetically creating what she wants to see in the world.
Check out this episode and others on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!