The Steve Harvey Morning Show

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dawnn Lewis.
Summary of the Interview
On Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald interviews Dawnn Lewis—iconic actress, singer, songwriter, voice actress, philanthropist, and founder of the A New Day Foundation. The conversation traces her extraordinary career, starting from her childhood as a singer, dancer, and actor, through her rise to fame on A Different World, her decades-long voiceover career (including The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek: Lower Decks), and her ongoing philanthropic work supporting youth nationwide.
Dawnn discusses the challenges of being a multi-talented artist in an industry eager to box people into one lane, how A Different World both elevated and pigeonholed her, and how animation opened a vast new chapter for her that has lasted more than 30 years. She shares her philosophy on longevity, discipline, relationships, and the responsibility to give back. The interview also highlights her foundation’s programs supporting students, HBCUs, and underserved communities.
Purpose of the Interview
1. Celebrate Dawnn Lewis’s multi-decade, multi-disciplinary career
The interview showcases the depth of her talent—from singing and songwriting to acting, animation, and Broadway.
2. Highlight representation and legacy
Dawnn discusses the cultural impact of A Different World and her groundbreaking role as a Black female captain in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
3. Inspire audiences with her journey from Bed-Stuy to global success
Her story emphasizes perseverance, big dreaming, and ignoring limitations others impose.
4. Promote the A New Day Foundation
Dawnn details programs empowering youth, HBCU students, and underserved communities.
5. Provide insight into surviving and thriving in entertainment
She shares the importance of relationships, versatility, and constant self-improvement.
Key Takeaways
1. She was a “triple threat” long before Hollywood discovered her
Singing, dancing, and acting from age 7–11, she began performing professionally at 10 and even launched her own musical theatre degree program at the University of Miami.
2. A Different World brought fame but also typecasting
While it launched her into global visibility, it also led people to underestimate her songwriting, music, and voiceover abilities.
3. Her voice acting career spans more than 30 years
She has voiced characters on The Simpsons, Futurama, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Craig of the Creek, Fairly OddParents, Mortal Kombat, and many more.
Her entry into animation came from imitating her young niece for a role.
4. Representation matters deeply to her
Seeing Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek inspired her as a child; today, Dawnn is one of the very few Black captains in the Star Trek universe.
5. The industry rewards resilience and relationships
Dawnn emphasizes that her longevity comes from consistently doing excellent work and nurturing her professional network.
6. She founded the A New Day Foundation to uplift youth
Her programs serve teens, HBCU students, and communities nationwide, providing mentorship, laptops, scholarships, and life skills training.
7. Dawnn’s journey is one of intentional growth and constant reinvention
She never stopped expanding—into Broadway, television, songwriting, animation, philanthropy, and leadership.
Notable Quotes
(All quotes from the uploaded transcript.)
On talent and early training
“I was singing, dancing at seven, acting at eleven… doing all three professionally since I was about ten years old.”
“I thought I was going to be a recording artist… I had my own single out. I was charting on Billboard.”
On being boxed in
“I didn’t start getting pigeonholed until I did A Different World… now you’re just an actress.”
On entering animation
“There weren’t very many people of color in the animation world… the director said, ‘Who are you? How come I never met you before?’”
“I get to voice characters they wouldn’t hire me visually to play.”
On representation and Star Trek
“In the legacy of Star Trek, it’s me and Avery Brooks as the Black captains.”
“Seeing Nichelle Nichols made me hopeful… she was my hero.”
On career longevity
“You quiet the naysayers by just showing up and doing the work.”
“God keeps opening doors and giving me what I need to walk through them successfully.”
On giving back
“I am my best investment.” (also used in her foundation’s mission)
“Where you were yesterday is not where you have to end up today.”
@#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Sharise Nance.
Purpose of the Interview
To showcase Sharise Nance’s mission in mental health advocacy, entrepreneurship, and workplace wellness.
To discuss her companies: Hand in Hand Counseling Services – addressing mental health disparities in Black communities.
Vitamin C Healing – building trauma-sensitive, wellness-centered workplace cultures.

To educate on stress, burnout, compassion fatigue, and financial equity in the mental health field.
Key Takeaways
Hand in Hand Counseling Services
Founded with college roommate Tess Kenny in Pittsburgh.
Created a safe space for mental health support in underserved communities.
Celebrating 12 years in operation.

Breaking Mental Health Stigma
Built trust through community presence and transparency.
Advocated therapy as normal: “I’m a therapist who has a therapist.”
Education on what therapy is and isn’t.

Understanding Stress
Eustress (positive stress) vs. Distress (overwhelming stress).
Physical signs: sweating, rapid heartbeat, tense shoulders, jaw clenching.
Stress can lead to depression and anxiety—seek professional help.

Impact of COVID-19
Isolation amplified mental health issues.
Introduced concept of co-regulation—healing through community and connection.

Vitamin C Healing
Originated from her book Vitamin C Healing for the Mind, Body.
Evolved into a brand offering workshops, consultations, and burnout assessments.
Focused on helping professionals and leaders prevent compassion fatigue.

Financial Equity in Mental Health
Advocates for fair pay: “We can care deeply and earn abundantly.”
Challenges the mindset that passion work means low income.
Encourages professionals to set boundaries and value their expertise.

Burnout & Organizational Cost
Unaddressed burnout costs companies millions annually.
Leads to quiet quitting, low productivity, and high turnover.
Investing in wellness saves money and improves culture.

Personal Journey
Biggest bet: leaving full-time job in 2017 to pursue entrepreneurship.
Therapy helped her navigate fear and grief (especially after losing her father).
Quote: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

Notable Quotes
“We can care deeply and earn abundantly.”
“I’m a therapist who has a therapist.”
“Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
“We heal when we are in community—it’s hard to heal in isolation.”
“Compassion fatigue isn’t just a feel-good topic; it costs companies millions.”
“Betting on myself was the best investment I ever made.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMI
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Maxine Cain.
Founder of STEM Atlanta Women, joins Money Making Conversations Masterclass to discuss her mission to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. She shares insights on how her organization bridges gaps for Black and Brown women in underserved communities and creates career pathways.
🔑 Key Themes & Highlights
Origins of STEM Atlanta Women
Founded in 2016, the organization was inspired by Maxine’s challenges as an HR leader in a Fortune 500 company, where recruiting women of color into innovation roles was difficult.
She recognized a lack of representation and cultural barriers that discouraged women from entering STEM careers.
Her background in corporate event planning and business development helped her secure sponsorships for STEM-focused initiatives.

Summerhill Community Hub
The organization operates out of a two-story loft space in Summerhill, Atlanta, a historically underserved community.
Summerhill lacked essential resources, including a bank and grocery store, for over 60 years.
Partnered with Carter Development, which helped provide space for STEM education and community programming.

STEM Education & Outreach
Works closely with local schools, including King Middle School, Carver Early College, Maynard Jackson High School, and Georgia State University.
Runs programs designed to introduce young girls to STEM careers, helping them build confidence and skills early.

Annual STEM Events
STEMinist Ball celebrates young women excelling in STEM fields by awarding crystal trophies, certificates, and graduation cords at a black-tie event.
STEM in the City is an afterschool program that exposes students to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, drone technology, and flavor science with Coca-Cola.
Collaborated with Usher’s New Look Foundation and IBM to introduce artificial intelligence concepts to students.

College & Workforce Development
Partners with Clark Atlanta University and Emory University to provide certification programs in business intelligence and emerging technology.
Works with major corporations to create career pathways for Black talent.
Helps underserved individuals gain industry-recognized certifications for high-paying tech jobs.

Vision & Impact
Maxine started STEM Atlanta Women to create opportunities for young women who lacked access to STEM education.
She emphasizes mentorship, representation, and hands-on learning to help future leaders navigate STEM careers.

📘 Resources & Contact Information
Dr. Maxine Cain’s work is accessible through:
🔗 Website: STEM Atlanta Women
🔗 Social Media: @STEMAtlantaWomen

#BEST
#STRAW
#SHMS
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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Justin M. Lee.
Purpose of the Interview
To showcase Dr. Lee’s journey from a young real estate agent to a multi-industry entrepreneur.
To inspire listeners with strategies for wealth-building through real estate, construction, and logistics.
To encourage financial literacy, ownership, and collaboration within underserved communities.
To issue a call to action for minorities to explore opportunities like Amazon DSP and real estate investment.
Key Takeaways
Early Career & Education
Started young in real estate, embraced discomfort in rooms dominated by older professionals.
Leveraged millennial tech skills (social media marketing) to help veteran brokers grow.
Earned a doctorate degree and became a licensed real estate broker.

Social Media as a Business Tool
Built a strong presence on TikTok (90K followers) and other platforms.
Helped older real estate firms thrive by creating digital visibility.
Emphasized that “business must look as good online as in person.”

Financial Literacy & Homeownership
African-American communities often lack foundational financial knowledge.
Key barriers: misunderstanding credit, fear of debt, and lack of exposure to ownership benefits.
Advocates teaching the difference between good debt (real estate) and bad debt (consumer credit).

Real Estate Process
Initial onboarding: credit score, income, tax filing.
Connect clients with lenders, secure pre-approval, then negotiate and close within 30–45 days.
Uses property tours as motivation even for those not yet approved.

Pooling Resources for Wealth
Industry dominated by white men and foreign investors who use syndication.
Dr. Lee created a private family fund with fraternity brothers and friends.
Acquired 150+ apartment units and commercial properties by pooling resources and forming LLCs.

Amazon DSP Opportunity
Owns an Amazon Delivery Service Partner business (42 trucks, 200 employees).
Offers minorities a chance to apply for DSP with $10K grant.
Taught him true CEO skills: HR, payroll, compliance, and scaling operations.

Construction Business
Entered construction after experiencing exploitation in fix-and-flip projects.
Learned the business side (permits, change orders) and got licensed.
Built major projects like a 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant in Atlanta.
Advocates for Black representation in construction, an industry dominated by whites and Hispanics.

Personal Background
Raised in New Orleans during Katrina by a single mother and grandparents.
Mother invested FEMA checks into real estate, teaching him property management and renovation skills early.
Believes knowledge is power and emphasizes planning and consistency.

Notable Quotes
On embracing discomfort:
“I learned to embrace the uncomfort and make it one of my biggest strengths.”

On social media:
“You have to make your business look the same way online as in person.”

On financial literacy:
“Real estate is always going to be good debt. Bad debt is the Macy’s card.”

On collaboration:
“Pooling resources shows how far we can go and how fast we can go—but together.”

On planning:
“If you don’t plan, you plan to fail. All you have to do is stick to the plan.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
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The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Thursday, February 12th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open - Unexpected Pleasantries | Nephew Tommy's Run That Prank Back - "Valentine's Day Delivery" | Ask The CLO | Entertainment News | 21 Savage | Steve Harvey's Voicemail | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Number Twos Need Valentines Too" | Strawberry Letter - "I'm In Love With Her Fiancé" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Galentine's Day | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing Remarks
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
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