Awf The Record

• Corporate Baddie DeAndre Brown on Leaving Investment Banking for TikTok Fame

  In this episode of Awf The Record, DeAndre Brown – aka the original “The Corporate Baddie” –  gets real about leaving investment banking to become a full-time content creator. From viral TikToks and six-figure brand deals to burnout, reinvention, and building a brand with purpose, this episode peels back the curtain on what it really takes to pivot from 9-to-5 to FYP.He shares the lessons he learned negotiating deals (including a $6k LinkedIn check and an $80k CVS partnership), why authenticity is his non-negotiable, and how he's using social media as a springboard into broadcast journalism. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Should I leave this job?” or “Can I actually make it as a creator?” then this one's for you.KEYPOINTS: [1:18] -  Internships (Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Supreme Court) & access for people of color[7:38] - The birth of “Corporate Baddie” and why he never called himself that[10:32] - DeAndre on doing viral while working a 9-to-5 (and getting HR involved)[12:26] - Why he walked away from a lucrative job and what came next[20:11] - Red flags in brand contracts and creator burnout[27:21] - The art of reinvention in the age of social media[31:18] - His master plan for life after content: journalism, storytelling, legacyQUOTES "The reason I've been able to transition myself throughout the past three and a half years is that I've allowed myself time to just not do it." – DeAndre Brown"The best way to just remain authentic is to truly not be afraid and care about people's opinions on your life, about who you are, about what you do, and what decisions you make, just doing it. Just do it - Nike." – DeAndre Brown"You have to be confident in who you are, and you cannot let people kind of gear you away from the person that you know that you are." – DeAndre BrownGUEST RESOURCES DeAndre BrownIG | @imdrebrown TikTok | @imdrebrown RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

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• The Promotion Didn't Happen... Rejection, Redirection, and What’s Meant for You

  In this honest, reflective segment, Mona opens up about the moment she thought her journalism career had peaked and how that rejection led to a redirection she never saw coming. With Jeannette by her side, they unpack the grief of missed opportunities, the quiet ways imposter syndrome shows up, and why the “no” might actually be the greatest gift.If you’re in a season of transition, disappointment, or asking “Is this it for me?” — this one’s for you.🔍 You'll Learn:What Mona learned from missing a major promotionWhy rejection doesn’t mean you weren’t ready — it means something else isHow to separate your worth from your workWhat it means to pivot without proofThe emotional cost of being “almost chosen”Why trusting timing takes more faith than talentRESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

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• Burnout, Brand Deals & Building Life After News

  This episode flips the script… literally.In a candid, behind-the-scenes Q&A, Jeannette and Mona sit down with their podcast producer to answer the questions they don’t usually get asked on air. From the burnout that led to leaving legacy media to how they really feel about brand deals, content creation, and modern relationships, nothing’s off limits.If you’ve ever wondered how two former news anchors rebuilt their lives and brands in real time while navigating love, money, pressure, and purpose, this one’s for you.🎧 Inside this episode:The mental shift from journalism to content creationBurnout, boundaries, and building a new life from scratchThe truth about brand deals and walking away from the wrong onesWhy “If he wanted to, he would” needs nuanceWhat REAL support looks like in marriagesCreating with integrity in a content-obsessed worldKEY POINTS- From breaking news to breaking norms- Content creation as a corpo strategy - That moment when your partner actually gets it- Find a partner who lets you be seen, not sidelined- Money convos and negotiating like grown women- Social media pressure & highlight reel delusions- Joy is a choice and how to let it in - Why “what do you do now?” still stings - The future? Fluid, fearless, and full of possibilityQUOTES “You can be literally seen on TV and still feel invisible.” – Jeannette Reyes“I don’t waiver on my value. But I hate talking [about] money. Still working on that.” – Mona Kosar Abdi“I’m not trying to be the finished product—I’m trying to be fulfilled.” – Mona Kosar Abdi“I never believed I had to choose between ambition and love.” – Mona Kosar Abdi“News let me hide in plain sight. Content creation asked me to show up for real.” – Jeannette ReyesRESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

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• The Biggest Hair Myth, Texturism, and the Pressure to Be Perfect

  Celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Yene Damtew joins us to talk about the real work behind “good hair,” the pressures Black women face around beauty standards, and what it was really like doing Michelle Obama’s hair at the White House and beyond. From the rise of Instagram stylists to the myths around natural hair, Yene gets brutally honest about the hair industry, client relationships, and why the best stylists are educators first.💬 In this powerful and hilarious convo, we cover:- Her journey from neighborhood braider to celebrity stylist- Navigating hair trauma and salon PTSD- The truth about heat damage (and why “heat trained” is a scam)- Her most viral moment doing Michelle Obama’s hair- How Black women navigate “presentation pressure” at work- Her biggest career lessons from working with the First Lady🎯 Whether you’ve got natural curls or a silk press, this episode will challenge what you think you know about hair care — and why the stylist you choose matters more than you think.KEY POINTS: - Why Black hair is an identity, not just a style- Good hair is just healthy hair. Period!- Those baby hairs gotta do, darling- Michelle Obama’s viral moment? Yeah, Yene approved- Not every stylist is for you — and that’s okay- Flat iron vs. ceramic? The damage is real- Your hair is stressed because you are, too- Why textured hair needs its own standard of beauty- Are you also a victim of these common hair myths?- The First Lady treatment? It’s not what you thinkQUOTES “Healthy hair is good hair, whether it is looser, curl, tighter, curl, wavy, straight, anything in between.”  – Yene Damtew“My main thing is helping my clients really love and embrace whatever texture that they have and teach them how to maintain it and keep it healthy.” – Yene Damtew“More than anything, my passion is always teaching and creating an environment for women to come and feel good about themselves.” – Yene DamtewGUEST RESOURCES: Yene Damtew IG | @YeneDamtewRESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

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• Andrea Lewis on Life After Degrassi, Burnout, and Becoming a Boss

  You may know Andrea Lewis as Hazel from Degrassi — but that was just the beginning.In this powerful episode of Awf The Record, Andrea opens up about the transition from being one of the few Black girls on TV to becoming a writer, director, and multi-hyphenate creative building space for others to shine. From identity to independence, creative control to burnout, Andrea gets real about what it takes to grow up in front of the camera and then take ownership behind it.We talk about her production company, navigating typecasting, her honest feelings about Black girl representation in media, and how becoming a boss changed how she shows up in life and love.If you’re in your reinvention era, this episode is your reminder: you don’t have to stay where they found you.KEY POINTS- From toddler actor to landing Hazel on Degrassi- Living through Degrassi’s breakout moment and teen stardom- Why Canadian fame felt “chill” compared to Hollywood- Tackling taboo teen topics on screen (abortion, predators, and more)- Breaking out of the “Black best friend” typecast in Hollywood- The tough leap from teen roles to adult storytelling- Reflections on Drake’s rise and that iconic 2018 Degrassi reunion- Taking the reins to create layered, authentic Black storiesQUOTES“I love stories. And so whether that's being in front of the camera and playing a really great role or behind the camera. I love this business. I love how crazy it is. I love how hard it is. I love the whole thing.” – Andrea Lewis“Clarity is kindness. And I had a friend actually say that to me recently, and I am an advocate for really speaking how you feel.” – Andrea Lewis“I am a reflection of my friendship group, and they are creatives. They are they are the talent.” – Andrea LewisGUEST RESOURCESAndrea Lewis IG | @andrealewisRESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

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