The Steve Harvey Morning Show

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ri‑Karlo Handy.
Interview Overview
Guest: Ri‑Karlo Handy
Host: Rushion McDonald
Podcast: Money Making Conversations Masterclass
Primary Focus:
Handy’s role as showrunner/executive producer of Harlem Globetrotters: Secrets of the City
His media career spanning 25+ years
Representation, legacy, trust, and mentorship in the entertainment industry
The mission and impact of the Handy Foundation
Purpose of the Interview
The interview serves multiple purposes:
Promote Harlem Globetrotters: Secrets of the City on aspireTV+ by explaining what makes the series unique within the travel and lifestyle genre.
Reposition the Harlem Globetrotters as a cultural, historical, and global brand beyond basketball—especially significant during their 100‑year legacy.
Highlight pathways into the entertainment industry, particularly for Black creatives, through mentorship, trust-building, and skills-based training.
Showcase Handy’s philosophy on leadership and opportunity, emphasizing responsibility, legacy, and access.
Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Redefining the Travel Show Format
Secrets of the City goes beyond sightseeing.
The show explores how Black people live, connect, and thrive globally, especially through expat communities and diaspora culture.
Episodes emphasize how to move through a city, not just visit it—using insider access, cultural context, and lived experience.
Takeaway: Travel content is more powerful when rooted in identity, history, and authenticity.
2. Harlem Globetrotters as Cultural Ambassadors
Handy frames the Globetrotters as “ambassadors of goodwill”, not just entertainers.
They represent joy, diplomacy, and cultural exchange—appearing everywhere from the Vatican to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
The show captures their off‑court personalities, maturity, and global influence.
Takeaway: The Harlem Globetrotters are a living Black institution with worldwide reach, relevance, and responsibility.
3. Sustaining a 100‑Year Black Brand
The Globetrotters predate the NBA and helped globalize basketball.
After fading from TV prominence in the 1990s–2000s, a post‑pandemic strategy brought them back into media.
Handy sees longevity itself as a lesson—few businesses, especially Black‑owned legacies, endure a century.
Takeaway: Longevity comes from reinvention, relevance, and honoring history while adapting to the present.
4. Mastery, Discipline, and Authentic Skill
Globetrotter performances are not “fake” or staged.
Players must actually make the shots and execute at elite athletic levels.
Handy compares their mindset to elite athletes like Steph Curry—hours of practice for moments of excellence.
Takeaway: Entertainment still demands real mastery; excellence behind the scenes creates effortless magic on screen.
5. Trust as the Real Currency of Business
Handy repeatedly emphasizes trust over talent as the foundation of his career.
His progression—from editor to producer to network executive—came from delivering consistently on promises.
Relationships, reliability, and integrity enabled him to control projects and earn leadership roles.
Takeaway: Skills open doors, but trust keeps them open.
6. Mentorship and the Handy Foundation
Handy formalized his long-standing mentorship work into the Handy Foundation (founded 2020).
The foundation focuses on post‑production training, an area with limited Black representation.
Started with 8 trainees; now has 400+ alumni working on major films and TV shows.
The program is now a nationally recognized registered apprenticeship with the California Film Commission.
Takeaway: Access—not just ambition—is the missing link for many aspiring creatives.
Notable Quotes
“Our business is less about skills and creativity and more about trust.”
“A lot of times the first opportunity is the hardest one to get.”
“They’re not pretending to make the basketball. You’ve actually got to make the shot.”
“There aren’t a lot of Black folks in post‑production because they don’t get the opportunity to learn those skills.”
“How many Black businesses can we say are 100 years old?”
“They are ambassadors of goodwill. You’ve got to be a good person to be a Globetrotter.”
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
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Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tonya Edmonds.
Podcast: Money Making Conversations Masterclass
Host: Rushion McDonald
Guest: Tonya Edmonds (Founder, Smart Growth AI)
1. Purpose of the Interview
The purpose of the interview is to educate, motivate, and equip listeners—especially professionals, entrepreneurs, and women—with:
A practical understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) without technical intimidation
Strategies to reclaim time, increase productivity, and future‑proof careers
Lessons on wealth building, including multiple streams of income and investing
The importance of mentorship, partnerships, and adaptability
Real-world insights from Tonya’s entrepreneurial and corporate journey
At its core, the conversation connects AI adoption with financial empowerment, career resilience, and modern entrepreneurship.
2. Interview Overview
Tonya Edmonds shares her transition from corporate roles (including work at Johnson & Johnson) to founding Smart Growth AI, a consulting and training firm that helps busy professionals and entrepreneurs reclaim 10+ hours per week by implementing practical AI systems.
Rushion McDonald frames the discussion around:
Technology adoption
Financial literacy
Entrepreneurship
Personal resilience
Long-term thinking in a rapidly changing economy
3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is a People Challenge, Not a Technology Problem
Tonya explains that resistance to AI is driven by fear, not complexity. Employees worry AI will replace them, so leaders must reframe it as a co-creator and productivity partner, not a job threat.
AI succeeds when people understand how it elevates their role instead of eliminating it.
B. AI Is About Time Leverage, Not Working More
Smart Growth AI focuses on helping clients:
Automate repetitive tasks
Improve workflows
Regain lost hours
Redirect time toward strategy, creativity, and rest
Tonya warns against burnout, emphasizing that reclaimed time should be used intentionally—not just to take on more work.
C. Multiple Streams of Income Build Stability
A casual cookout conversation introduced Tonya to the idea of wealth-building beyond employment. Playing Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow Quadrant helped her understand:
Being an employee alone limits wealth creation
Leveraging money and assets creates freedom
Community and shared learning accelerate growth
This mindset later helped her navigate layoffs, entrepreneurship, and motherhood.
D. Mentorship Is a Critical Success Factor
Tonya repeatedly highlights mentorship as a defining difference between struggle and progress:
The lack of mentorship contributed to challenges with her day spa business
Strong mentorship later helped her pivot, recover, and scale
Her relationship with Alicia Lyttle (“The Queen of AI”) accelerated her expertise and credibility
Mastermind groups and strategic partnerships played a key role in expansion.
E. Women Must Shift from Spending to Investing
Tonya offers direct advice to women:
Start small and stay consistent
Invest only in things you understand—or get educated
Consider real estate, passive investments, and partnerships
Use tools like self-directed IRAs or rolled-over 401(k)s to build wealth
Progress matters more than perfection.
F. Learning AI Is Career Insurance
Tonya encourages professionals to:
Learn AI on their own time if necessary
Experiment hands-on, not just consume content
Become the AI “go‑to” person at work
Increase job security by increasing relevance
Early adopters gain disproportionate advantage.
G. No Single AI Tool Does Everything Best
She explains how different tools serve different purposes:
ChatGPT – brainstorming and idea generation
Claude – deeper, more refined writing
Perplexity – research
Gemini – graphics and video
Copilot – integrated enterprise workflows
Her advice: use multiple tools strategically.
H. Privacy and Security Matter
Tonya stresses AI safety best practices:
Turn off model-training permissions
Never input personal or client-identifying data
Use placeholder names (e.g., “Company X”)
Treat AI tools as public spaces unless secured
4. Notable Quotes
On AI Adoption
“It’s not a technology problem—it’s a people problem.”
On Fear of AI
“You’re asking people to train a tool they think could replace them.”
On Time Freedom
“If you learn AI, it will help you leverage your time—but don’t use that time to burn yourself out.”
On Wealth Building
“You can’t really get ahead just being an employee. You have to leverage your money.”
On Mentorship
“You have to be careful who you plant seeds with—because they can come back and help you.”
On Women and Investing
“Even if it’s just $100 a week or $100 a month, every little bit counts.”
On Learning AI
“Don’t just listen—open up your laptop and start playing with it.”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Nephew Tommy's Run That Prank Back - "Bottom Of The Pyramid" | Ask The CLO | Trending & Entertainment News | Ray J Vs The Kardashians | One Has To Go | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Check Settlement" | Strawberry Letter - "I Hope He Can Fix His Issues" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Mind-Reading Beanie Cap | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing Remarks
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Curtis Symonds.
Interview Purpose
The primary purpose of the interview is to:
Highlight the growth and cultural significance of HBCU GO, the leading HBCU‑focused media and streaming platform under Allen Media Group.
Celebrate Curtis Symonds’ induction into the Cable Hall of Fame, recognizing his 37+ years of leadership and impact in cable, sports media, and Black‑owned media institutions.
Educate audiences on the value of HBCUs—not only academically and culturally, but as a powerful, educated, and economically influential audience.
Reinforce storytelling, ownership, and representation as essential elements in preserving Black history and driving future opportunity.
Key Takeaways 1. HBCU GO Was Built to Solve an Access and Representation Gap
Curtis Symonds launched HBCU GO after recognizing that Black college sports and stories were severely underrepresented in mainstream media. Early rejection by cable distributors reinforced the need for ownership and persistence.
Insight: HBCU GO exists not just as a network, but as a corrective platform for visibility, equity, and cultural preservation.
2. The Byron Allen Acquisition Enabled Scale Without Compromising Vision
When Byron Allen acquired HBCU GO TV in 2021, the partnership was grounded in trust, quality, and shared belief in Black excellence. Allen Media Group provided infrastructure and capital while preserving Symonds’ creative and strategic leadership.
Insight: Ownership combined with institutional backing allowed HBCU GO to compete at broadcast-quality levels equivalent to ESPN and major networks.
3. HBCU Audiences Are Educated, Influential, and Economically Valuable
Symonds emphasized that HBCU graduates represent a disproportionate share of Black leadership across education, government, medicine, and STEM.
Insight: HBCU audiences are not niche—they are central to America’s Black middle and professional class, making them highly attractive for brands, advertisers, and financial institutions.
4. HBCU GO Is a Cultural Platform, Not Just a Sports Network
While live sports—including football classics, homecomings, and rivalries—are the anchor, HBCU GO is positioned as a broader cultural and educational storytelling platform.
Insight: The long‑term vision is to tell untold HBCU stories, educate young people about their legacy, and shape cultural identity through digital‑first media.
5. Longevity, Relationships, and “Betting on Yourself” Define Success
Symonds reflected on his career path—from ESPN to BET, from rejection to Hall of Fame—and emphasized resilience, timing, and relationship‑building as critical to long‑term success.
Insight: Career impact is measured not by speed, but by sustained contribution and legacy.
Notable Quotes
“I wanted to show the world that two Black men can get together and do something successfully.”
— Curtis Symonds on partnering with Byron Allen
“When we put this thing on the air, it had to be quality. We couldn’t put up anything that looked scrappy.”
— On competing at a national broadcast standard
“HBCU GO has made a statement in the television and streaming business.”
— On industry recognition and growth
“You’re getting a highly educated audience. That middle‑class audience. That buying audience.”
— On the value of HBCU viewers
“Every HBCU has a story that people don’t know about—and those stories matter.”
— On the importance of storytelling and history
“I’m not mad at anybody. It took 30 years to get here. When my time came, I was ready.”
— On Hall of Fame induction and career reflection
Strategic Relevance (Why This Interview Matters)
This conversation reinforces why Curtis Symonds—and platforms like HBCU GO—are uniquely positioned to:
Build trust with Black audiences
Deliver authentic cultural storytelling at scale
Serve as credible partners for brands, media companies, and institutions seeking meaningful engagement with HBCU and African American communities
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Al Smith.
Interview Purpose
The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change.
This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking.
Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy
Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career.
Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity.
2. Turning Fear into Fuel
Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus.
Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success.
3. Competition Is Not the Enemy
Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character.
Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability.
4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline
Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs:
Lifestyle inflation
Supporting others without boundaries
Delegating financial decisions without understanding them
Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability
Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning.
Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness.
5. Mentorship and Environment Matter
Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership.
Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes.
6. Preparing for Life After the Dream
Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports.
Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose.
7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality
Smith draws a direct parallel between:
Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees
Entrepreneurs running businesses without security or routine
Both require maximum effort, preparation beyond the clock, and resilience.
Key takeaway: There is no 40‑hour workweek when you are building something of your own.
Notable Quotes
“I turned my fear into fire.”
“There are no guarantees—every year is a one‑year deal.”
“I treated every season like it was my last.”
“You don’t want to owe. You want to own.”
“Don’t be scared of competition.”
“The gain outweighs the strain.”
“Prepare so that if it ends tomorrow, you’re still standing.”
Overall Message
Al Smith’s interview is a powerful lesson in discipline, foresight, and adaptability. It reframes success as something built through preparation before opportunity arrives and sustained by humility, mentorship, and intentional decision‑making.
His story reinforces that dreams evolve—but character, work ethic, and financial awareness determine whether those transitions become setbacks or stepping stones.
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.