Awf The Record

Cari Champion has never been afraid to speak her mind, even when the room made it clear she was supposed to stay quiet.
In this episode of Awf The Record, Cari joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a raw conversation about journalism, sports media, career reinvention, and what it really costs to be a Black woman who refuses to shrink. She opens up about starting as a one-man band in local news, getting fired in Atlanta, finding her way into sports through the Tennis Channel, and landing at ESPN’s First Take, where visibility came with intense scrutiny, sexism, and the pressure to “just tee up the topics and lay out.”
Cari also reflects on leaving ESPN, betting on herself, moving into digital media and politics, dating after divorce, and why sports can never truly be separated from politics. It’s a funny, honest, and deeply validating conversation about knowing when a room no longer serves you, trusting your voice, and building a career that makes space for all of who you are.

KEY POINTS:

00:00 - Cari Champion reflects on becoming visible overnight and being hated for it
02:07 - Cari defines herself as funny, disciplined, sensitive, and a disruptor
03:28 - Speaking truth to power made Cari a problem in corporate media
05:06 - Cari’s early local news career taught her the purpose of journalism
08:00 - Getting fired and rehired in Atlanta became a turning point in her career
14:12 - The Tennis Channel became her unexpected entry point into sports media
17:39 - Cari breaks down how she landed ESPN and became a barrier-breaking host
21:40 - First Take was the hardest job of her career because she was not allowed to be fully herself
24:53 - Cari opens up about the criticism, sexism, and boys’ club culture she faced
33:08 - Leaving First Take, finding SportsCenter, and eventually betting on herself

QUOTES:

“The only time I really knew I was doing my job [was] when I knew that I was changing minds and helping people and affecting change.” – Cari Champion

“It was never about making it big. It was always about telling the story.” – Cari Champion

“I went from a nobody to somebody overnight, and everybody hates me.” – Cari Champion

“It’s okay to be a woman and look good and be smart. None of that. Those aren’t mutually exclusive.” – Cari Champion

RESOURCES: 

Cari Champion 
IG | @carichampion

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
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Kennedy Ryan knows exactly who she’s writing for, and she refuses to let publishing’s outdated assumptions shrink that vision. In this segment, Kennedy opens up about centering Black women on the page, on the cover, and in the audience, even when the industry suggests that doing so could limit sales or mainstream appeal. She breaks down why Black women are not a niche market, but a powerful readership with their own economy, cultural influence, and buying power. From sold-out theaters to New York Times bestseller lists, Kennedy makes it clear that when Black women are centered and celebrated, they show up, bring their people, and move the culture forward. This conversation is also a reminder for any creative trying to build with conviction: know your why, write from your center, and be prepared to fight for the stories that matter most.

GUEST RESOURCES
Kennedy Ryan 

Website | kennedyryanwrites.com/about/ 
IG | @kennedyryan1

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
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New York Times bestselling author Kennedy Ryan is not just writing romance. She is writing Black women into love stories where they are centered, desired, protected, and loved outrageously.
In this episode of Awf The Record, Kennedy joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi to talk about the craft, conviction, and cost behind her work. She opens up about getting her first book deal at 40, why romance is often dismissed because it centers women’s pleasure, and how writing from a specific point of view actually expanded her audience instead of limiting it.
Kennedy also gets honest about burnout, depression, motherhood, marriage, and the pressure of navigating major Hollywood deals while still fighting for visibility in publishing. From centering Black women on the page and on the cover, to raising the bar for what love can look like, this conversation is a reminder to never settle, in romance, in work, or in the life you are building for yourself.

KEY POINTS 

00:00 - Introduction: Kennedy Ryan on Black love, romance, and raising the bar
02:37 - Kennedy explains how her storytelling process evolved from ideas to intentional discourse
05:39 - Kennedy shares why decades of writing in the dark prepared her for “overnight” success
09:48 - Romance is often dismissed because it centers women’s pleasure
14:04 - Why Kennedy centers Black women on the page, on the cover, and in the audience
17:44 - Her advice to young authors: figure out your why and be prepared to fight
20:23 - Kennedy opens up about the cost of success, burnout, and struggling to celebrate
34:30 - Faith, community, therapy, and medication helped her survive the hardest seasons
56:18 - Her relationship commandments after 29 years of marriage: trust, reciprocity, and never settle

QUOTES 

"I want to put black women on the page who are being loved outrageously." – Kennedy Ryan 

"I could write the man that I believe you deserve. I could write an experience that I believe honors you, that is a partner you can trust, a partner who's faithful, a partner who honors your dreams and your ambitions." – Kennedy Ryan 

"There is enough in culture that tells black women we don't deserve, and that tells black women that we shouldn't expect. So, I get to write an outcome that says, no, actually, you deserve the best, and you should expect a partner who loves you and whom you can trust." – Kennedy Ryan 

"Racism costs us all money." – Kennedy Ryan 

"I call it being the architect of your own existence, build a life that you love and you're excited about, and you're not waiting for anything, and when that partner comes, invite him or her into that, but you're not waiting to build anything." – Kennedy Ryan 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

This episode originally aired on 04/14/2026
What does it really take to rebrand your life? In this episode of Awf The Record, Mona and Jeannette sit down with Les, host of the Balanced Black Girl podcast, to talk about reinvention, discipline, and stepping into the person you want to be.
Les shares her journey of rebranding—not as a one-time makeover, but as a daily commitment to intentional growth. She dives into the mindset shifts that helped her stay consistent, the habits that shaped her transformation, and how financial discipline played a key role in her journey.
This conversation breaks down the difference between wanting change and actually making it happen. Les explains why rebranding isn’t about aesthetics but about aligning your identity with your actions. She shares how she holds herself accountable, the power of daily deposits, and why tracking progress is key to building confidence. She also opens up about overcoming a scarcity mindset and embracing abundance, recognizing that more is always possible.
If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about how to start your rebrand, this episode is the reality check and motivation you need. Rebranding isn’t a look—it’s a lifestyle. Tune in now and start shaping the future you.

KEY POINTS 
- Les’s journey as a content creator and her rebrand
- Experiences with rebranding and its challenges
- How to take actionable steps towards rebranding
- The importance of willingness to try new experiences 
- Mona and Jeannette’s strategies to stay disciplined 
- Have the “why” to stay motivated 
- Celebrating wins and overcoming challenges 
- On optimizing daily routines and habits
- The main role of social media and accountability 

QUOTES 

“Instead of being like, do I want to get up and do this thing today? I tell myself: I am a person who does this thing, whether that's working out or whether that's like reading.” – Les Alfred

“It's important to be mindful of what you consume because, sometimes, we tend to try to embody other people's habits. I tell people all the time: ‘Don't try to do what I do’.” – Les Alfred

GUEST RESOURCES 

Les Alfred 

IG | @balancedles

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

This episode originally aired on 04/10/2026 
Dating isn’t just about having chemistry or “vibes”—it’s actually data. 
In this eye-opening episode of Awf The Record, dating and relationship expert Anwar White joins Jeannette and Mona to break down the real numbers behind modern dating—and why Black and Brown women need a different playbook.
From match rates to money, Anwar exposes the hard truths about dating in today’s age: how systemic issues impact your love life, why marriage isn’t always a financial win for Black women, and what the data actually says about dating success. But this isn’t about discouragement—it’s about empowerment.
He dives into why dating outside your race isn’t betrayal, it’s strategy. Why setting boundaries is non-negotiable. And why the real glow-up starts with emotional healing and self-worth.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start dating with clarity and confidence, this one’s for you.

KEY POINTS

- Dating: qualitative and quantitative analysis 
- Navigating dating journeys for black and brown women 
- Transitioning to dating coaching as a career 
- Challenges and misconceptions in dating (as women) 
- The societal pressure, setting realistic standards
- Difference between feminine and masculine energy 
- Strategies for successful dating 
- On navigating cultural and racial preferences 
- Is using dating apps still effective? 
- Dating 101: Set boundaries and timeline 
- Anwar’s client approach as a dating coach 

QUOTES 

“Your type is your trauma. And when you're able to actually heal the trauma, you will have the opportunity to actually widen your net and find your person.” – Anwar White

“If a man is truly in his masculine, his pleasure is derived from your pleasure.”  – Anwar White

“I don't believe in potential. I think potential is not real, it's imaginary, [and] it's a projection of what you want, but not what is.”  – Anwar White

“You become irresistible when you become irresistible to yourself, which is like, you just can't get enough of you, and that will radiate and attract everyone.”  – Anwar White

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Anwar White

IG | @datingcoachanwar
TikTok | @datingcoachanwar 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG