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

A licensed professional counselor with 20+ years of experience.

• Topic: Her book Communication Skills for Healthier Boundaries and her journey in mental health.

2. Dr. Gilmore’s Career Path

• Started in mass communication, switched to psychology after a friend's suggestion.
• First psychology class sparked her passion.
• Emphasizes the importance of curiosity and self-awareness in career transitions.

3. Mental Health and Career Change

• Discusses fear of change and how to overcome it.
• Encourages self-assessment and assertive communication.
• Talks about blocking external opinions to follow personal truth.

4. Mental Health in the Black Community

• Pandemic brought mental health to the forefront.
• Black professionals increasingly seeking therapy for trauma, stress, and work-life balance.
• Her practice is 95% African-American professionals.

5. HBCU Experience

• Attended Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern University.
• Highlights the affirming and empowering environment of HBCUs.
• Importance of representation and academic excellence.

6. Book Discussion: Communication Skills for Healthier Boundaries

• Focuses on effective communication and healthy boundaries.
• Addresses rigid vs. absent boundaries and their impact on relationships and self-worth.

7. Therapy Practice Model

• Transitioned from in-person to fully virtual practice.
• Offers flexibility for clients and shares her own experience with therapy.

8. Entrepreneurship Lessons

• Graduate school didn’t teach business fundamentals.
• Learned about insurance, legal structure, and accounting on the fly.
• Advocates mentorship and using resources like ChatGPT (with caution).

9. Betting on Yourself

• Shares her transition from full-time professor to private practice.
• Advises strategic planning and exit strategies over impulsive quitting.

10. Parenting and Child Development

• Warns against premature diagnoses in children.
• Encourages education on developmental stages and adapting parenting strategies.

11. Future of Mental Health Education

• Advocates normalization of mental health as part of routine healthcare.
• Notes increased visibility in media, faith communities, and public discourse.

12. Boundaries in Social Settings

• Shares how she handles unsolicited therapy requests at social events.
• Emphasizes professional boundaries and offers referrals when needed.

13. Closing

• Website: www.lovesupportguidance.com
• Social media: Instagram @DrGilmoreShares
• Encouragement to lead with gifts and keep winning.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Self-awareness is the foundation for personal and professional growth.
• Mental health is health—it should be normalized and prioritized.
• Boundaries are essential for healthy relationships and self-care.
• Entrepreneurship requires preparation beyond passion—legal, financial, and structural knowledge is key.
• Representation matters—HBCUs provide affirming environments that expand possibilities.
• Parenting requires education, not assumptions—developmental quirks aren’t always disorders.

🗣️ Notable Quotes

“You have to allow your voice to be above the external voices and opinions.”

“The individuals around you are not mind readers.”

“The pandemic put us on the forefront of mental health… you had to sit at home with your own thoughts.”

“Everyone is not going to be my client, but I do have resources.”

“Mental wellness is just another leg of healthcare. That’s all it is.”

“Don’t quit because you’re mad. Have an exit strategy.”

“Boundaries can be rigid or absent—both can disrupt your life.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Platinum-selling R&B artist, author of Share My Life

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To explore Kem’s memoir Share My Life, which chronicles his journey from addiction and homelessness to musical success and personal healing. The interview aims to inspire listeners by highlighting the power of vulnerability, perseverance, and self-transformation.

🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Healing Through Storytelling

Kem wrote Share My Life to help others heal, just as others’ stories helped him:

“Any healing and transformation that I have experienced… is because somebody shared their story with me.”

2. Overcoming Self

Kem emphasizes that the biggest obstacle in life is often oneself:

“All of life is about overcoming self… My biggest problem has always been me.”

3. Family Dynamics & Silence

Kem discusses the generational silence in his family and how it shaped his emotional struggles:

“We didn’t talk about stuff… You’re left to fend for yourself emotionally, spiritually and psychologically.”

4. Addiction & Recovery

Kem’s sobriety began on July 23, 1990, marking a turning point in his life:

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears… I surrendered.”

5. Entrepreneurial Hustle

Kem self-funded his breakout album Chemistry using a $17,000 American Express loan:

“I figured this will either work or I’ll have the largest credit card bill in America.”

He learned the music business in real time—creating barcodes, consignment sheets, and selling CDs in local stores.

6. Letting Go to Move Forward

Kem found success when he stopped obsessing over getting a record deal:

“I didn’t stop making music, but I let go of the idea that this was the only thing I could do.”

7. Fatherhood & Growth

He reflects on fatherhood, relationships, and the ongoing process of aligning his life:

“I’m always in the process of lining my life up… It’s not a place where you arrive.”

8. Education & Redemption

Kem returned to earn his high school diploma after dropping out, choosing that path over the GED:

“It was always a point of shame… I may as well go back to school.”

💬 Notable Quotes

• On vulnerability:

“In the telling of my story to help others, I’m also helping myself.”

• On entrepreneurship:

“Entrepreneurship is doing the next right thing.”

• On music’s role:

“My music is therapeutic… It’s uplifting, emotional, motivational.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

• Title: Miss Corporate America
• Roles: Chief Revenue Officer of Reed’s Hideaway & Founder of Limitless
• Location: Based in Chelan, WA; works in Monticello, MS

🏆 Achievements & Recognition

• Won Miss Corporate America after being recruited for her achievements in business and community impact.
• Personally mentored and endorsed by legendary speaker Les Brown.
• Overcame a traumatic car accident just before starting a dream job and still pursued her speaking career.

💼 Professional Journey

• Reed’s Hideaway: A 250-acre multi-venue estate in Mississippi for weddings, retreats, and events.
• Limitless: A social purpose corporation focused on helping at-risk youth and survivors of trafficking, inspired by her global humanitarian work.

💪 Themes of Resilience & Faith

• Survived domestic abuse and a near-fatal car accident.
• Lost a high-level executive job due to injury but found a more fulfilling opportunity.
• Emphasizes faith, adaptability, and purpose-driven work.

💡 Motivational Insights

• Encourages others to pursue meaningful work and not fear change.
• Believes in combining purpose and profit.
• Advocates for mentorship and lifelong learning (e.g., Stanford online courses).

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.