Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Schenta D. Randolph.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To spotlight Dr. Randolph’s work as a nurse scientist, her leadership of the HEET Lab, and her efforts to address health inequities—especially HIV prevention—in Black communities in the U.S. South. The interview also aims to educate listeners on the broader scope of nursing, the importance of representation, and systemic challenges in healthcare.

🧠 Key Takeaways 1. Dr. Randolph’s Background

• HBCU graduate from North Carolina A&T.
• Associate Professor at Duke University School of Nursing.
• Founding Director of the HEET Lab (Health Equity through Engagement, Advocacy, and Trust).

2. The Role of Nurse Scientists

• Nurse scientists conduct research to develop evidence-based interventions.
• Less than 1% of nurse scientists are Black.
• Nursing extends beyond bedside care into entrepreneurship, behavioral science, and public health.

3. HEET Lab Mission

• Focuses on HIV prevention among Black women and young Black men.
• Engages communities through partnerships with beauty salons, barbershops, and nonprofits.
• Funded by NIH and other foundations, with a $4.4 million grant for HIV prevention research.

4. Health Inequities in the South

• Higher HIV rates in the Southern U.S. due to systemic racism, lack of access to care, and population density.
• Social determinants of health (e.g., education, food deserts, redlining) contribute to disparities.

5. Systemic Racism & Denial in Healthcare

• Systemic racism creates barriers in healthcare access and delivery.
• Denial within the Black community about health issues (e.g., HIV, obesity, diabetes) is often rooted in distrust of the healthcare system.

6. The Role of the Church & Messaging

• Churches can be powerful platforms for health education but often stigmatize HIV.
• Messaging around HIV prevention (e.g., PrEP) often excludes Black women, leading to low adoption.

7. Mentorship & Representation

• Dr. Randolph co-founded Black PhD Nurse Scientists to mentor future scholars.
• Conducts HBCU tours to expose nursing students to research careers.
• Only 3 of 33 HBCU nursing schools offer PhD programs—highlighting a gap in academic pathways.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “Nursing is so much more than the bedside.”
• “Less than 1% of nurse scientists are Black.”
• “HEET stands for Health Equity through Engagement, Advocacy, and Trust.”
• “Representation matters. I became a nurse because I saw a Black woman who looked like me.”
• “We are truly our brother and our sister’s keeper.”
• “We have to advance our own health and be opinion leaders.”
• “This means more to me than my New England Journal of Medicine article.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Crystal Hughes.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To spotlight Crystal Hughes’ entrepreneurial journey, her resilience through adversity, and her innovative contributions to the beauty industry and nonprofit work. The interview aims to inspire listeners by showing how personal challenges can fuel impactful ventures.

🗝️ Key Takeaways 1. Early Entrepreneurship & Adversity

• At age 21, Crystal opened her first wig and natural hair salon in a flea market.
• Shortly after, she was incarcerated for bank fraud—a decision she made out of desperation to fund her business dreams.
• She wrote a book titled Money and My Daughter while in prison, inspired by her experiences and authors like Wahida Clark.

2. Wig Capital Foundation

• Founded to donate medical wigs to cancer patients and others in need.
• Crystal collected and donated over 5,000 wigs in the first year.
• Partnered with beauty supply stores and hospitals (e.g., Howard University Hospital, MedStar).
• Schools helped refurbish wigs in exchange for community service hours.

3. Mobile Glam Squad

• A tech-driven initiative likened to “Uber for beauty services.”
• Connects licensed beauty professionals with clients, especially those who are immobile or in hospitals.
• Aims to provide group health insurance for stylists and expand to college campuses.

4. Personal Healing & Resilience

• Survived a serious car accident resulting in chronic pain.
• Opted out of surgery and explored “sexual healing” as a form of pain management.
• Worked in a Nevada brothel during recovery, combining physical therapy with alternative healing.

5. Land Development in Utah, Alabama

• Inherited one acre of land from her grandparents.
• Plans to build an adult living facility and raise funds through seasonal events like scavenger hunts.
• Noted signs of economic growth in the area (new gas station, dialysis center, Dollar General).

6. Use of Technology

• Embraced tech tools like ChatGPT for legal and business support.
• Shares tech resources with cosmetology students during marketing tours.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “I always wanted to have my own beauty supply store… I figured out a way to do it.”
• “I wasn’t the brains in the operation… but I knew I had to stay confident.”
• “Anything over $1,000, they had to kind of question it.”
• “I wrote my book in prison… it’s fiction based on true events.”
• “I didn’t want to lose myself… I had to figure out a way.”
• “You are a genius.” — a compliment she received from a mentor after promoting her nonprofit.
• “You can’t stop yourself sometimes… you don’t let the system stop you.” — Rushion McDonald on Crystal’s entrepreneurial spirit.

📌 Final Thoughts

Crystal Hughes’ story is one of resilience, reinvention, and resourcefulness. From incarceration to innovation, she has turned personal pain into purpose, creating platforms that empower others—especially women facing medical and financial challenges.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Moniek Garside.

A licensed clinical social worker and founder of Fit Life Wellness. Here's a comprehensive summary of the episode:

🎙️ Guest: Moniek Garside

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Georgia, Colorado, Illinois, South Carolina, and Minnesota.
• Founder of Fit Life Wellness, a private mental health and wellness practice.
• Author of the guided journal I Can, I Will.

🧠 Key Topics Discussed 🧘‍♀️ What Therapy Really Is

• Therapy is not just “talking on a couch”—it’s a safe space for vulnerability, healing, and personal growth.
• It involves unpacking emotional challenges, not just surface-level advice.

🔄 Life Transitions

• Includes shifts like:
  • Moving from corporate to entrepreneurship
  • Divorce or children leaving home
  • Personal reinvention
• Therapy helps individuals navigate uncertainty and redefine stability.

🧑‍💼 Mental Health for Entrepreneurs

• Entrepreneurs often neglect self-care in pursuit of success.
• Therapy helps them prioritize balance, manage burnout, and maintain mental clarity.
• Moniek emphasizes the importance of processing emotions and having a support system.

📘 About the Book: I Can, I Will

• A 30-day guided journal with weekly themes and daily prompts.
• Designed to help individuals:
  • Reflect on their emotions
  • Reset their mindset
  • Overcome depression, anxiety, and life transitions
• Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and MoniekGarside.com

🧩 Common Mental Health Misconceptions

• Mental health is often oversimplified or trivialized on social media.
• Terms like “anxiety” and “boundaries” are used without understanding.
• Real healing requires professional guidance, not just affirmations or apps.

🧍‍♀️ Moniek’s Personal Journey

• Originally a nursing major, she transitioned to social work after realizing her passion was emotional care.
• She created Fit Life Wellness to have autonomy in how she supports clients.
• She is both a therapist and a therapy client—emphasizing the importance of self-work.

🧠 Mental Health Red Flags

• Depression: Irritability, isolation, loss of interest, low motivation.
• Anxiety: Racing thoughts, physical symptoms (e.g., heart palpitations), constant worry.

🧰 Therapy vs. Technology

• Apps and AI tools can supplement mental health care (e.g., affirmations, breathing exercises).
• But they cannot replace the human connection and insight of a trained therapist.

🌐 Connect with Moniek Garside

• Website: MoniekGarside.com
• Practice: Fit Life Wellness
• Services: Virtual therapy, clinical supervision, mental health resources

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.