The Steve Harvey Morning Show

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dawnn Lewis.
Summary of the Interview
On Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald interviews Dawnn Lewis—iconic actress, singer, songwriter, voice actress, philanthropist, and founder of the A New Day Foundation. The conversation traces her extraordinary career, starting from her childhood as a singer, dancer, and actor, through her rise to fame on A Different World, her decades-long voiceover career (including The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek: Lower Decks), and her ongoing philanthropic work supporting youth nationwide.
Dawnn discusses the challenges of being a multi-talented artist in an industry eager to box people into one lane, how A Different World both elevated and pigeonholed her, and how animation opened a vast new chapter for her that has lasted more than 30 years. She shares her philosophy on longevity, discipline, relationships, and the responsibility to give back. The interview also highlights her foundation’s programs supporting students, HBCUs, and underserved communities.
Purpose of the Interview
1. Celebrate Dawnn Lewis’s multi-decade, multi-disciplinary career
The interview showcases the depth of her talent—from singing and songwriting to acting, animation, and Broadway.
2. Highlight representation and legacy
Dawnn discusses the cultural impact of A Different World and her groundbreaking role as a Black female captain in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
3. Inspire audiences with her journey from Bed-Stuy to global success
Her story emphasizes perseverance, big dreaming, and ignoring limitations others impose.
4. Promote the A New Day Foundation
Dawnn details programs empowering youth, HBCU students, and underserved communities.
5. Provide insight into surviving and thriving in entertainment
She shares the importance of relationships, versatility, and constant self-improvement.
Key Takeaways
1. She was a “triple threat” long before Hollywood discovered her
Singing, dancing, and acting from age 7–11, she began performing professionally at 10 and even launched her own musical theatre degree program at the University of Miami.
2. A Different World brought fame but also typecasting
While it launched her into global visibility, it also led people to underestimate her songwriting, music, and voiceover abilities.
3. Her voice acting career spans more than 30 years
She has voiced characters on The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Craig of the Creek, Fairly OddParents, Mortal Kombat, and many more.
Her entry into animation came from imitating her young niece for a role.
4. Representation matters deeply to her
Seeing Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek inspired her as a child; today, Dawnn is one of the very few Black captains in the Star Trek universe.
5. The industry rewards resilience and relationships
Dawnn emphasizes that her longevity comes from consistently doing excellent work and nurturing her professional network.
6. She founded the A New Day Foundation to uplift youth
Her programs serve teens, HBCU students, and communities nationwide, providing mentorship, laptops, scholarships, and life skills training.
7. Dawnn’s journey is one of intentional growth and constant reinvention
She never stopped expanding—into Broadway, television, songwriting, animation, philanthropy, and leadership.
Notable Quotes
(All quotes from the uploaded transcript.)
On talent and early training
“I was singing, dancing at seven, acting at eleven… doing all three professionally since I was about ten years old.”
“I thought I was going to be a recording artist… I had my own single out. I was charting on Billboard.”
On being boxed in
“I didn’t start getting pigeonholed until I did A Different World… now you’re just an actress.”
On entering animation
“There weren’t very many people of color in the animation world… the director said, ‘Who are you? How come I never met you before?’”
“I get to voice characters they wouldn’t hire me visually to play.”
On representation and Star Trek
“In the legacy of Star Trek, it’s me and Avery Brooks as the Black captains.”
“Seeing Nichelle Nichols made me hopeful… she was my hero.”
On career longevity
“You quiet the naysayers by just showing up and doing the work.”
“God keeps opening doors and giving me what I need to walk through them successfully.”
On giving back
“I am my best investment.” (also used in her foundation’s mission)
“Where you were yesterday is not where you have to end up today.”
@#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson.
Dr. Jacque Rushin (award‑winning business executive, educator, mental health professional, humanitarian) and Robyn Donaldson (2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award honoree for global STEM education) to discuss their celebration of Dr. Gladys B. West, a pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for the GPS (Global Positioning System).
The conversation explores the intersection of Juneteenth, Black excellence, STEM education, and Dr. West’s life story, captured in her memoir It Began with a Dream. The guests highlight Dr. West as one of America’s last living “hidden figures”—a brilliant yet historically overlooked Black woman whose mathematical genius revolutionized everyday life.
They detail how Dr. West rose from sharecropper roots, excelled academically at Virginia State University, earned her master’s and PhD, spent 39 years contributing to government research, and ultimately developed the algorithms and modeling processes that power GPS. They also describe their collaborative effort to create the Westward Bound Program, a life‑skills and STEM‑focused curriculum inspired by Dr. West’s principles of wisdom, endurance, strategy, and precision.
Through humorous, emotional, and deeply insightful dialogue, the episode uplifts Dr. West’s accomplishments while discussing mental health, technology dependence, the importance of exposure to STEM pathways for underserved youth, and how the legacy of Black innovators must remain central in cultural celebrations like Juneteenth.
Purpose of the Interview
1. To honor and amplify Dr. Gladys West’s legacy
She is a living mathematical pioneer whose GPS contributions transformed global navigation and modern technology.
2. To connect her story to Juneteenth’s spirit of liberation and recognition
The guests highlight the “delayed recognition” of Black innovators and the importance of acknowledging hidden figures whose brilliance shaped society.
3. To promote STEM exposure in underserved communities
Robyn Donaldson emphasizes equitable access to STEM opportunities so children can compete in a global, tech‑driven world.
4. To introduce and promote the Westward Bound Program
The curriculum teaches STEM principles, life skills, and personal development inspired by Dr. West’s methodologies.
5. To highlight themes of resilience, humility, and lifelong learning
Dr. West’s quiet determination and academic persistence serve as a blueprint for young people and adults alike.
Key Takeaways
1. Dr. Gladys West is a “living hidden figure.”
Her research and mathematical modeling are the backbone of GPS, impacting navigation, transportation, military systems, and everyday digital tools.
2. Her journey exemplifies brilliance shaped by humility and hard work.
Born in 1930 to sharecropper parents, she excelled academically despite segregation, pursued multiple degrees, and overcame racial and gender barriers in government research settings.
3. Juneteenth is the perfect backdrop for honoring Dr. West.
Jacque stresses that Juneteenth represents “delayed freedom,” paralleling the delayed recognition of Black inventors and innovators.
4. STEM exposure is vital to equity.
Robyn insists that Black children are fully capable of STEM success—they simply lack exposure, not aptitude. Without STEM skills, young people risk being left behind in a robotics‑driven economy.
5. Technology should complement—not replace—human thinking.
Jacque cites Dr. West’s personal preference for physical maps over GPS to maintain cognitive sharpness and critical thinking, a warning about over‑dependence on AI and automation.
6. The Westward Bound Program bridges STEM, life skills, and personal development.
Built on the acronym “WEST”—Wisdom, Endurance, Strategy, Tracking—the program supports youth, adults, and entrepreneurs seeking direction and resilience.
7. Mentorship, community, and relationships are central themes.
Dr. West’s success was nurtured by professors and role models at her HBCU—mirroring how Jacque and Robyn now uplift the next generation.
8. Her story resonates globally and intergenerationally.
From college students to young children to adults, the principles from her memoir and program promote self‑belief, vision, discipline, and perseverance.
Notable Quotes
(All taken directly from the transcript.)
On Dr. West’s impact
“She’s a living hidden figure… her accomplishments have actually changed our way of living in every discipline of life.”
“Her technology… makes these things possible.”
On Juneteenth and recognition
“Juneteenth is about the delayed freedom of African Americans… and what Dr. West represents is the quiet, often overlooked brilliance that changes the world.”
On STEM access
“Our kids are not pursuing high‑paying STEM careers, not because of their aptitude, but simply because they have not been exposed.”
On Dr. West’s genius
“You don’t have to be loud to be a legacy.”
“She is just so humble, but she’s just brilliant. She’s like a mathematical genius.”
On technology & mental health
“She didn’t want to lose her critical thinking by depending on GPS… everything has a place, and it should complement you, not take over.”
On resilience & aspiration
“You have to believe there is something greater than what you’re standing in.”
“From sharecropper to pioneer—you can be someone from humble beginnings and change the world.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Damon Haley

Co‑founder of Glow and Flow Beauty, discussing his transition from entertainment and sports marketing into the beauty-supply industry, his mission to elevate service for Black and Brown communities, and the franchising model he is rolling out nationwide. Hosted by Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Masterclass, the conversation highlights Haley’s business philosophy, community-driven approach, and long-term vision to create ownership opportunities through franchising.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to:
1. Highlight Damon Haley’s entrepreneurial journey How he moved from high-level event production and marketing (Nike, Pepsi, Coke) into beauty retail.
2. Explain why the beauty-supply industry needs Black ownership Haley outlines the disconnect between Black consumer spending and the lack of Black-owned beauty-supply stores.
3. Promote Glow and Flow Beauty’s mission A service-first retail model designed to uplift, educate, and serve Black and Brown consumers with dignity.
4. Introduce Glow and Flow’s franchising opportunity Haley frames franchising as a path for individuals to enter business ownership with support and a proven model.
5. Inspire listeners to embrace change and pursue entrepreneurship He shares personal experiences overcoming naysayers and trusting his instincts.
📌 Key Takeaways from the Interview 1. The Beauty Industry Is a Huge, Under-Owned Space for Black Entrepreneurs Black consumers spend heavily on beauty, but historically have not owned the supply-chain or retail footprint.
Haley wants to change that by bringing ownership and pride back to local communities.
2. Glow and Flow Beauty Focuses on Service, Experience, and Community The stores celebrate culture (Breast Cancer Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month).
Customer care is central—Haley emphasizes smiles, water for coughing customers, and creating “fabulousness.”
3. Franchising Eliminates the “Start From Zero” Problem Haley believes franchising is more accessible than starting independently because: You get a proven model.
You get supply-chain support.
You avoid costly mistakes.

4. Hair Is the Cornerstone of the Business Glow and Flow launched its own synthetic hair brand, SLAY (with 3 Ys).
Synthetic hair dominates due to affordability.
Human hair is sourced from Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
5. Inventory & Capital Are Major Barriers to Entry Beauty supply requires heavy up‑front inventory investment.
Glow and Flow stays heavily stocked to maintain customer trust.
6. Data + Marketing Experience = Competitive Advantage Haley leverages his corporate marketing background (Nike, Foot Locker) to optimize retail presentation, customer experience, and product mix.
7. His Long-Term Vision: 40 Stores Nationwide His exit strategy is to build 40 Glow and Flow stores (McDonald jokes he’d smile at 100).
8. E-commerce and Community Outreach Expand Their Reach GlowAndFlowBeauty.com sells products and SLAY hair online, with shipping and local pickup.
Stores support community fundraisers by including materials in shoppers’ bags (up to 5,000 per month).
💬 Notable Quotes (From the Transcript) On the power of beauty in the community “When we look good, we feel good. When we feel good, we be good, we do good.”
On why Black beauty ownership matters “We’re buyers… we’re consumers… we just don’t own.”
On moving into the beauty industry “We’ve had the short end of the stick — not only from recycling our Black dollars, but the concept of service.”
On franchising “You don’t start from zero with a franchise… you have a corporation behind you.”
On entrepreneurship and criticism “There’s jealous, envy, and naysayers… but I’ve never been fearful of change.”
On customer service “I try to give you other stuff… I give you a smile… if you cough, I’m gonna give you some water.”
On the importance of hair “Hair is the cornerstone of our beauty industry.”
On long-term ambitions “I would love to have maybe 40 Glow and Flows nationwide.”
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW
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Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ingrid Jacobs.
A veteran enterprise leader, former HR executive, and Chief Growth Officer for The Revenue Retreat, a luxury boutique retreat for executive women who want to build profitable businesses without burnout. She and Rushion discuss her corporate background, her unique approach to customer integration, the challenges women face in entrepreneurship, pricing psychology, common business mistakes, age-related limiting beliefs, and the transformational design of her retreat program.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The purpose of Ingrid’s appearance was to:
1. Share her expertise in helping high‑achieving women build sustainable, profitable businesses
Ingrid works with corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and women ready to transition from corporate careers into entrepreneurship.
2. Highlight The Revenue Retreat
She explains how the retreat helps women clarify their offer, price correctly, identify customers, and prepare mentally and emotionally for entrepreneurship.
3. Educate listeners on business fundamentals
Rushion brings her on to break down pricing, customer targeting, confidence, and transitioning from corporate “9–5” to entrepreneurship.
4. Address issues unique to women, executives, and people of color
Especially around pricing themselves correctly, recovering from burnout, and building confidence in their value.
💡 Key Takeaways
1. Corporate experience can translate powerfully into entrepreneurship
Ingrid spent two decades at companies like Raytheon, Whirlpool, and JLL, working in HR, human capital, and DEI.
She emphasizes she wasn’t a traditional HR leader—she focused on customer integration, business growth, and improving client outcomes.
2. High‑achieving women aren’t only executives
They can be community leaders, nonprofit leaders, or entrepreneurs who excel in their areas but may not have formal corporate titles.
3. Entrepreneurship requires more work—especially early on
New entrepreneurs often don’t realize they must handle every aspect of the business themselves: operations, marketing, sales, pricing, and delivery.
4. Pricing is one of the biggest challenges for women and people of color
Key problems:
Undervaluing their expertise
Fear of charging what they’re worth
Worrying clients won’t pay higher rates
Getting mentally stuck in low pricing
Ingrid says women often dramatically underprice themselves and need help adjusting their mindset.
5. Knowing your customer matters more than trying to sell to everyone
Selling to “anybody” makes entrepreneurs sound desperate; true growth comes from targeting the right buyer and offering a solution they value.
6. Avoid common first‑year business mistakes
These include:
Poor pricing
Not knowing your ideal customer
Doing everything for everyone
Expanding into too many offerings too fast
Operating out of desperation rather than strategy
7. Age is an asset—not a liability
Older entrepreneurs bring wisdom, experience, critical thinking, and problem‑solving ability.
She argues people use age as a cover for deeper fears about failure and judgment.
8. The Revenue Retreat combines luxury, education, and wellness
The retreat model includes:
A luxury residential environment
Chef‑prepared meals
12‑woman cohorts
Business planning rigor
Pricing clarity
Customer identification
Mental and emotional readiness
Wellness activities
8‑weeks of virtual follow‑up coaching
It’s intentionally structured as not a workshop but a holistic transformation experience. [
9. She priced her retreat through competitive research + self‑awareness
She studied other programs, benchmarked pricing, calculated expenses, and aligned it with her unique “sweet spot”—monetization skill + passion for helping women + love of hosting experiences.
🗣 Notable Quotes (with citations) On her corporate background
“Bring me on board if you're looking for figuring out how do we get better customer integration… so that we can zero in on more sales.”
On defining high‑achieving women
“There are movers and shakers who don’t necessarily have a corporate pedigree, but they are still getting things done.”
On underpricing
“Many times women… fall in this trap where they're scared to put out the real amount.” [
On realizing she was undercharging
“I wasn't even charging half of what she was saying… that epiphany changed the game for me.”
On first‑year mistakes
“Desperation is palpable… and that is a turnoff.” [
On age
“Age to me is an asset… you’ve got cognitive rigor.”
On burnout
“A lot of people who are interested in this work are already burned out and don’t even recognize their own signs.”
On what the retreat delivers
“We help everyone come up with their pricing, what is their product… and wrap up where people have a plan forward.” [
Her core sales pitch
“I offer executive women a retreat where they can experience luxury and end with a business plan they can use Monday morning to drive revenue.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Stacey Allen.
The founder and artistic director of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective. This episode blends art, activism, education, and cultural preservation through the lens of Black history and dance.
Here are the key highlights:
🎭 About Stacey Allen
Founder of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective, a professional dance company focused on art and wellness through the lens of Black women and girls.
Author of two children’s books, including: A Little Optimism Goes a Long Way (introduces children to Katherine Dunham)
D is for Dance and for the Diaspora (A–Z guide to African diaspora dance styles)

Recipient of the 2024 Children’s Publication Award from the National Association of Multicultural Education.
🩰 Dance as Activism
Stacy uses dance to tell stories of African American history, identity, and empowerment.
Her performances are rooted in education, cultural preservation, and social justice.
She emphasizes that dance is not just performance—it’s a tool for healing, storytelling, and activism.
🌍 Cultural Legacy & Freedom Colonies
Stacy’s work includes performances like The Fairy Tale Project, which tells the love story of the founders of the Sankofa Freedom Colony in Texas.
She collaborates with the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, which documents over 500 historically Black settlements in Texas.
These colonies were founded by formerly enslaved people post-emancipation and are often overlooked in mainstream history.
🌊 Emotional Pilgrimage
Stacy shares her transformative experience visiting Gorée Island in Senegal, a major slave port, and draws parallels to Galveston, Texas, where Juneteenth originated.
She reflects on the emotional weight of visiting ancestral lands and how it informs her art and mission.
📚 Educational Mission
Through her books, performances, and workshops (including in juvenile detention centers), Stacy educates youth and communities about Black history and identity.
She believes that knowing your history empowers your future.
📣 How to Connect with Stacy
Website: www.niasdaughters.com
Instagram: @niasdaughters
Facebook: Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective
💬 Rushion’s Reflections
Rushion expresses deep admiration for Stacy’s passion and educational impact.
He emphasizes the importance of sharing her work widely, especially the history of Texas Freedom Colonies, which he compares to the Underground Railroad in significance.
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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