Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ashley Joi Boyd.

A Grammy-nominated songwriter, music producer, real estate developer, and author of Financially Fly: Mastering Money and Wealth for Women. Ashley shares her journey from co-writing Justin Bieber’s hit “Yummy” to overcoming bankruptcy and becoming a financial literacy advocate. The conversation explores the music business, financial empowerment, generational wealth, and the importance of mindset and self-investment.

🧭 Key Points 🎵 Music Industry & Songwriting

• Ashley is a co-writer of Justin Bieber’s “Yummy” and has worked on multiple albums.
• She emphasizes the importance of publishing rights and owning your work.
• Songwriting is a spiritual and intuitive process for her, not reliant on playing instruments.

💰 Financial Journey & Bankruptcy

• Filed for bankruptcy during the 2008 housing crash.
• The experience led her to rebuild her financial knowledge and become an advocate for financial literacy.
• She now owns a music publishing company and is a real estate developer.

📘 Book: Financially Fly

• Written to empower women to take control of their finances.
• Encourages open conversations about money, especially in communities where it’s taboo.
• Focuses on mindset, structure, and generational wealth.

🏠 Real Estate Development

• Developed rental properties in Los Angeles.
• Aspires to build affordable housing in Detroit.
• Passionate about design and creating sustainable housing solutions.

💡 Financial Tips

• Invest in yourself: Treat yourself as a line item in your budget.
• Portion your income: Prioritize savings like a bill.
• Build habits: Small sacrifices now lead to long-term gains.
• Generational wealth: Structure your finances with trusts, insurance, and estate planning.

💬 Notable Quotes

“Songwriting is the heart and soul of a song. It’s what makes it memorable.”

“Just because you know how to make money doesn’t mean you know how to maintain or grow it.”

“Generational wealth means your family doesn’t need outside help to survive.”

“Invest in yourself. Put your name on the bill list and don’t miss that payment.”

“You deserve everything you desire. Shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance.”

“You can use the truth about your finances as a stepping stone—not a setback.”

“The alarm clock isn’t waking you up—God is. Have a plan for your day.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

A wellness expert, registered nurse, bestselling author, breast cancer survivor, and life coach. Holly shares her journey from nursing to entrepreneurship, her battle with breast cancer, and her mission to empower others through holistic wellness and mental health advocacy. The conversation is rich with personal insights, practical advice, and motivational takeaways.

🧭 Key Points 👩‍⚕️ Nursing & Career Evolution

• Holly holds a master’s degree in nursing and has worked in various roles including management and teaching.
• She emphasizes that nursing is more than bedside care—there are many non-clinical paths like education, management, and sales.

💡 Holistic Lifestyle Philosophy

• Holly defines a holistic lifestyle as the balance of mental, physical, spiritual, and financial health.
• She believes financial health is often overlooked but is essential to overall well-being.

🧠 Mental Health Advocacy

• Social media has helped destigmatize mental health, especially in the Black community.
• Holly encourages open dialogue and early identification of mental health issues, especially among youth.

🎗️ Breast Cancer Journey

• Diagnosed in 2012, Holly turned her pain into purpose by becoming a breast cancer advocate.
• Her book, Strong More Than Muscles, shares her story and continues to inspire readers globally.

📚 Books & Youth Empowerment

• Holly created the “Your Mind, Your Magic” book series to support adolescent mental health.
• The series includes four books (also in Spanish) tailored for:
  • Girls and boys
  • Young men
  • Special needs children
  • Children with chronic illnesses

💬 Purpose & Empowerment

• Holly’s mission is to inspire women to live fully, embrace their power, and stop settling.
• She believes that authentic living aligns with purpose, and that impact is more valuable than income.

💬 Notable Quotes

“I will not allow age to be an excuse.”

“Nursing found me. It’s what I did, not who I am.”

“Holistic health is about mind, body, spirit—and finances.”

“Pain will push you to your purpose.”

“When you live your life authentically, everything aligns.”

“We need to focus on making kids mentally strong—not just physically strong.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Drawing from his own experiences—including the rise and fall of his Houston-based comedy club—he shares hard-earned lessons about budgeting, hiring, planning, and the realities of entrepreneurship. The episode is both motivational and practical, offering real-world advice for aspiring and current business owners.

🧭 Key Points 🔑 Common Mistakes in Business

• Hiring friends, family, or underqualified people out of convenience or emotional ties.
• Starting a business without a budget or clear plan.
• Entering partnerships without knowing the other person’s work ethic or values.
• Ignoring logistics like parking, taxes, and insurance.

📉 Lessons from Failure

• Rushion’s comedy club was popular but unprofitable due to poor planning and lack of financial oversight.
• He learned that profitability requires structure, not just popularity or passion.

🧠 Mindset & Commitment

• Success requires time, discipline, and consistency.
• Entrepreneurs must be willing to sacrifice, show up early, and stay late.
• You can’t run a business on dreams alone—you need a plan.

🧰 Practical Advice

• Use resources like the Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE for free guidance and mentorship.
• Set clear expectations with employees from day one.
• Don’t compromise your business by ignoring red flags during hiring.

💬 Notable Quotes

“You can’t open a business and then try to set the budget. Now you’re playing catch-up.”

“Don’t hire people just because they’re close to you. Hire people because they’re qualified.”

“You can’t run a business on dreams. You need a plan.”

“Do not hire inexperienced employees because they are cheaper.”

“If you don’t have time for your business, your business won’t have time for you.”

“I was making money, but I never saw any of it because I didn’t have a budget.”

“Only you can look in the mirror and make a decision that benefits your future.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.