Episodios

  • Purpose, Patience, and Powering Through

    Purpose, Patience, and Powering Through
    Jul 13 2025
    In this special episode of Business of the Beat, we welcome back Angel Cornelius, founder of Maison 276, alongside hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson. Recorded live from New Orleans during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture®, Angel shares her inspiring journey—pivoting from a successful corporate career to building a nationally distributed beauty brand featured at Walmart and QVC. She reflects on the New Orleans roots that shaped her, the legacy of her childhood home at 276, and her mission to create a sophisticated line of plant-based, sustainable beauty products—proving it’s never too late to start. Angel also opens up about the power of faith, family, and sisterhood in sustaining her path. Plus, go behind the scenes of her partnership with LumiNicole Beauty as a featured brand at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans during Essence Fest. Whether you're an aspiring founder or deep in the trenches of building your legacy, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what it means to be in your prime.
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    19 m
  • Leslie Roberson Joins Business of the Beat as Co-Host

    Leslie Roberson Joins Business of the Beat as Co-Host
    Jul 6 2025
    Kendra Bracken-Ferguson welcomes her new co-host, fellow powerhouse entrepreneur Leslie Roberson, to Business of the Beat. In this exciting new series, the duo will dive deep into the business of beauty—covering everything from retail and ingredients to product strategy and the powerful founder stories behind the brands. Recorded fresh from the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® in New Orleans, this debut episode unveils the origin story of their new venture, LumiNicole Beauty and takes listeners behind the scenes of their launch and strategic partnership with Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Get ready for real talk, plenty of laughs, and inspiring insights as Leslie officially joins Business of the Beat.
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    11 m
  • Power, Purpose, and the Beauty of Leadership

    Power, Purpose, and the Beauty of Leadership
    Jun 29 2025
    In this powerful and deeply personal episode, the incomparable Jessica Cruel, Editor-in-Chief of Allure and Self magazines speaks to power, purpose and the beauty of leadership.. From making her first magazine in high school to leading two of the most iconic brands in beauty and wellness, Jessica’s journey is a masterclass in authenticity, agility, and ambition. Jessica opens up about what it truly means to lead with purpose—managing a multimillion-dollar P&L while staying rooted in storytelling, representation, and her Southern values. She talks candidly about natural hair, industry change, data-driven decisions, and how to balance strategy and soul in a fast-evolving media landscape. Plus, Jessica drops a surprise about her upcoming book Single Happy Female, shares her go-to beauty routine, and reminds us why legacy is built one intentional choice at a time. Tune in for a conversation full of laughter, lessons, and leadership gems you won’t want to miss.
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    42 m
  • From Hustle to Harmony

    From Hustle to Harmony
    Jun 23 2025
    On this enlightening episode of Business of the Beat, host Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is joined by LaShasta Bell, licensed counselor and certified sleep science expert, for a transformative conversation on the power of rest, healing, and holistic wellness. Together, they explore how childhood experiences shape our relationship with sleep, the long-term effects of sleep deprivation, and how rest is not a luxury, but a birthright. LaShasta shares her journey from school counseling to building a mission-driven brand rooted in the Optimal Life Framework—a method focused on mental health, emotional harmony, and purposeful living. The episode dives into: How sleep directly impacts mental health and emotional clarity The value of community and collective healing Tools like brain dumps and intentional rest for emotional regulation LaShasta’s upcoming retreat focused on harmony and restoration If you’ve ever struggled to prioritize rest or wondered how to create a balanced, purpose-driven life—this conversation is your wake-up call to slow down and reclaim your power. Tune in now and find more episodes like this on the Mean Ole Lion Media app. Don’t forget to follow, rate, comment, and share with someone who needs a rest reset.
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    49 m
  • Reclaiming My Time

    Reclaiming My Time
    Mar 23 2025
    **Rerelease: Business of the Beat with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson & Lisa Price** In this must-listen episode of *Business of the Beat*, host **Kendra Bracken-Ferguson** sits down with **Lisa Price**, the visionary founder of **Carol’s Daughter**, to discuss her incredible entrepreneurial journey. From mixing products in her Brooklyn kitchen to building a groundbreaking beauty empire, Lisa shares the challenges, triumphs, and lessons that shaped her path. With recent headlines celebrating her **historic move to buy back Carol’s Daughter from L’Oréal**, this conversation is more relevant than ever. Lisa and Kendra dive into the **importance of mentorship, navigating success in the Black community, and building generational wealth**. Lisa also reflects on **having Carol’s Daughter featured in the Smithsonian**, the power of **Black-owned beauty brands**, and the responsibility of **uplifting future entrepreneurs**. They also discuss **executive coaching, corporate culture shifts, and negotiating one’s worth**, offering valuable insights for anyone in business. Plus, they share **product recommendations** and explore the significance of **representation in the beauty industry**.
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    55 m
  • Big BIG Vision

    Big BIG Vision
    Aug 25 2024
    Keta Burke-Williams, the visionary founder of the conscious fragrance brand Ourside, shares her inspiring journey of creating a brand that celebrates diverse stories and fosters community connections. She reveals how scent became a form of escape and self-care, leading her to establish Ourside. Keta highlights the significance of community and mentorship in her entrepreneurial path and details the meticulous process behind launching a successful brand. Keta delves into the "test and learn" approach in business, discussing the balance between striving for perfection and embracing iterative improvement. She emphasizes the critical role of retail for fragrance brands, explaining her strategic partnerships with Credo Beauty and Bergdorf Goodman to position Ourside as a luxury offering. Addressing the unique challenges Black founders face in the luxury market, Keta underscores the importance of strategic partnerships and sustainable growth. She highlights the necessity of patience, readiness, and building a supportive community before pursuing rapid expansion. Keta also shares practical tips for increasing fragrance longevity and expresses her excitement for Ourside’s future, including the development of new scents and potential new product formats like candles. Follow @Ourside.NYC or visit https://ourside.nyc/. Use code BOTB for 10% off Ourside products! Tune in to learn more from Keta and Kendra!
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    40 m
  • Unexpected Twists and Bold Decisions

    Unexpected Twists and Bold Decisions
    Aug 18 2024
    Kenya Carter, the visionary founder of Shapes Clothing, explores her inspiring journey from North Tulsa to the heights of fashion design. Kenya shares how a childhood love for art and fashion evolved into a dynamic career through unexpected twists and bold decisions. From running a salon with her sister to discovering fashion through a serendipitous show in Las Vegas, Kenya's story is a testament to the power of taking risks and embracing new opportunities. We delve into Kenya’s unique path, including her experience juggling family responsibilities while attending fashion school and how she leveraged her background in advertising and human relations to excel as an image consultant. Kenya’s journey highlights the importance of using one's talents to uplift others and how diverse experiences can culminate in a fulfilling career. Kenya’s reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her career and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Visit https://www.buildintulsa.com/programs/w-e-build and stay tuned for part 2! Follow @KenyaCarter or visit https://shapesclothing.com/ Tune in to learn more from Kenya and Kendra!
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    46 m
  • Part 2: Divine Timing, Partnership, and Entrepreneurial Grit

    Part 2: Divine Timing, Partnership, and Entrepreneurial Grit
    Aug 11 2024
    In the gripping Part Two episode with Wendy Berry and Eugenia Marshall, the visionary co-founders of ConditionHER, listeners explore the profound challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced on their entrepreneurial journey. Wendy and Eugenia dive into the emotional and psychological impacts of building a business, particularly during health crises and global disruptions. Wendy opens up about ConditionHER’s journey through the pandemic, detailing the dual-edged sword of a sales boost followed by the realization of an unsustainable trend. She candidly discusses her personal battle with breast cancer and the broader implications for women who face such struggles in silence. Wendy’s story sheds light on the often-overlooked challenges women encounter and the importance of open dialogue and self-care. Eugenia Marshall contributes to the conversation, sharing how the pandemic and Wendy’s health issues impacted their business operations. She emphasizes the critical role of Wendy’s pre-pandemic groundwork and strategic shift to a wholesale model in sustaining ConditionHER during challenging times. Eugenia highlights the value of cultivating partnerships with experts and the strength of their collaborative efforts. Wendy and Eugenia also reflect on recent developments at ConditionHER, including their successful pivot to working with aestheticians and the positive impact of industry conferences. Follow @conditionHER or visit https://conditionher.com/. Use code: Kendra for 50% conditionHER! Tune in to learn more from Wendy, Eugenia, and Kendra! ConditionHER
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    34 m