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 Lawrence Phillips.
Purpose of the Interview
To showcase Lawrence Phillips’ entrepreneurial journey from engineering to founding Green Book Global, a travel review platform for Black travelers.
To highlight the significance of Black Ambition, an initiative by Pharrell Williams supporting Black and Brown entrepreneurs.
To inspire listeners about resilience, innovation, and the importance of culturally inclusive travel resources.
Key Takeaways
Background & Career Shift
Phillips studied Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech and worked at Accenture in IT consulting for nearly a decade.
Despite career success, he felt unfulfilled and decided to pursue his passion for travel, leading to the creation of Green Book Global.

Travel Experience
Traveled to 30+ countries across all seven continents, including Antarctica, in less than a year.
Realized the need for a platform addressing “traveling while Black” concerns—safety, cultural acceptance, and inclusivity.

Green Book Global
Inspired by the historical Green Book (1936–1966), which guided Black travelers during segregation.
Offers city-level Black-friendly scores, road trip planners, and Black-owned restaurant recommendations.
Over 150,000 app downloads in 2025; partnered with Expedia; strong social media presence.

Black Ambition Program
Phillips applied three times before reaching semifinals, emphasizing persistence.
Program provided funding opportunities and a transformative Evoke Wellness experience.
His personal “why” statement:
“I’m a protective and innovative steward of Black restoration and healing.”

Impact & Vision
Advocates systemic change by partnering with destinations to improve inclusivity.
Highlights the economic power of Black travelers (over $140 billion annually).
Encourages Black travelers to explore global opportunities beyond U.S. racial constraints.

Notable Quotes
“You can be successful and still not be happy.” — On leaving a lucrative career for passion.
“I’m a protective and innovative steward of Black restoration and healing.” — His guiding principle.
“There’s riches in niches.” — On unapologetically focusing on Black travelers.
“Just because somebody said no doesn’t mean they said no to you—they said no at that time.” — On persistence in entrepreneurship.
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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 Adonis Lockett.
Titles: Private Capital Expert, Real Estate Investor, Educator
Background: Former engineer for NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar
Host: Rushion McDonald
Podcast: Money Making Conversations Masterclass
Adonis Lockett details his transition from aerospace engineering into real estate and private capital, explaining how he built wealth not just by flipping houses—but by operating on “the money side of real estate.” The interview demystifies private lending, access to capital, and how everyday individuals can participate in wealth-building without owning property themselves.
Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to:
Expose a lesser-known path to real estate wealth—private money and capital brokering.
Challenge myths about cash buyers, flipping profits, and bank lending.
Educate listeners on leverage and capital access, especially those rejected by traditional banks.
Provide a practical alternative income stream that can be part-time or full-time.
Introduce Adonis’s “Smart Money Blueprint” as an educational pathway into private capital.
Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Engineering Was a Backup—Entrepreneurship Was the Goal
Adonis earned a degree in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, never intending to stay long-term in corporate.
His engineering career provided income stability while he explored entrepreneurship.
He viewed employment as predictable—but limiting.
Takeaway: A high-paying job can fund your exit, not define your destiny.
2. The Leap Into Real Estate—and the Reality Behind It
His first deal closed in 62 days, earning more than his annual engineering salary.
He quit corporate at age 23, but what followed were four to five years of financial struggle.
He survived by borrowing money monthly while peers thrived in corporate roles.
Key insight: Early wins can be misleading—longevity requires business mastery, not just intelligence.
3. Ego vs. Education
Adonis admits his biggest mistake was underestimating the need to learn business.
He relied on intelligence and people skills instead of mentorship and systems.
Perseverance saved him—but mentorship could have shortened the learning curve.
Takeaway: Hustle without instruction costs time and money.
4. “The Money Isn’t in Real Estate—The Money Is in the Money”
This is the core philosophy of the interview.
Most “cash buyers” are not using their own cash.
Over 70% of cash purchases are funded by private lenders, not banks.
Private lenders deploy capital faster, with fewer requirements, and higher flexibility.
Key idea: Control the capital, and you control the transaction.
5. Understanding the Private Lending Model
Adonis explains how people make money without buying houses:
He acts as a capital broker, connecting investors to private lenders.
He earns 1–2% fees on loan amounts—often tens of thousands per deal.
He carries no risk, no liability, and no capital exposure in many cases.
Example:
A $600,000 investment loan × 2% = $12,000 fee for facilitating the introduction.
6. Why Private Money Beats Banks
Banks require:
Credit checks
Tax returns
Debt-to-income ratios
Long approval timelines
Private lenders often:
Skip credit checks
Ignore DTI
Deploy funds in 3–5 days
Focus solely on deal viability
Takeaway: A bank’s “no” is often exactly why private lenders say “yes.”
7. The Smart Money Blueprint
Adonis created the Smart Money Blueprint to teach this system:
Focuses on the money side of real estate
Self-paced education (10+ hours)
Hands-on deal execution
Live support until students close 10 deals
Designed to eliminate costly trial-and-error
Core promise: Learn to be “the bank” without needing money.
8. Flipping Isn’t What It Looks Like on TV
Adonis breaks down common investor mistakes:
Gross profit ≠ net profit
Fees, holding costs, and market shifts erase margins
Most “$100K flips” net closer to $30K–$40K
Lesson: Education protects profits.
9. Relationships Create Wealth—Not Transactions
Early in his career, Adonis underestimated relationships.
His business scaled once he aligned with high-volume investors and repeat partners.
Capital flows through trust networks, not ads.
Takeaway: Relationships are currency.
10. Flexible Path to Income
The private money model can be:
Part-time: 2–4 hours per week
Full-time: Income replacement or exponential growth
Key point: This is about leverage, not labor.
Notable Quotes
“The money isn’t in real estate—the money is in the money.”
“Most cash buyers aren’t cash buyers at all.”
“I was flat broke for years after quitting corporate—people don’t talk about that part.”
“A bank’s no is often the reason a private lender says yes.”
“Perseverance kept me alive—but mentorship would have saved me years.”
“You don’t need money to be the bank—you need knowledge.”
Overall Impact
This interview reframes real estate success away from property ownership and toward capital intelligence. Adonis Lockett offers listeners a nontraditional, scalable, and low-risk path to wealth—particularly powerful for:
Professionals stuck in high-paying jobs
Entrepreneurs denied bank loans
Real estate investors seeking leverage
Individuals looking for alternative income streams
Final message: If you understand money, you don’t need to chase property—property comes to you.
#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 Kimberly Kelly.
Titles: Real Estate Broker, Brokerage Owner, Entrepreneur
Host: Rushion McDonald
Podcast: Money Making Conversations Masterclass
Kimberly Kelly shares a deeply personal story of survival, resilience, and self-determination, tracing her journey from foster care and teen motherhood to becoming a real estate brokerage owner and business leader. The conversation highlights how mindset, faith, adaptability, and education can transform adversity into long-term success.
Purpose of the Interview
The interview is designed to:
Show what success really looks like, including the hardship behind it.
Inspire people facing extreme adversity—especially those from foster care, single-parent households, or teen parents.
Demonstrate nontraditional paths to success, beyond college-to-career pipelines.
Highlight entrepreneurship as a tool for control and stability, not perfection.
Encourage persistence, faith, and adaptability in business and life.
Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Resilience Formed Through Early Adversity
Kimberly was placed in foster care at a young age due to her mother’s substance abuse.
She helped raise her two younger brothers and fought to keep them together in foster care.
She became a teen mother at 15, and by 18 had two children while still caring for her siblings.
Takeaway: Responsibility and leadership can develop long before opportunity appears.
2. Faith, Positivity, and Survival Mode
Kimberly credits her positive mindset and faith—learned during foster care—as foundational.
Prayer and belief helped her endure instability, separation, and lack of support.
Survival mode gave her clarity: failure was not an option.
Key insight: Faith doesn’t remove hardship—but it provides grounding when control is limited.
3. Education as a Turning Point, Not a Straight Line
She returned to complete her high school diploma as a young mother.
She took advantage of teen workshops, government programs, and training opportunities.
Kimberly earned a technical degree in electronics engineering, entering the IT world before later pivoting.
Takeaway: Education can be layered, nonlinear, and still powerful.
4. Choosing Entrepreneurship and Real Estate
Kimberly entered real estate with a mission to educate and empower first-time homebuyers, especially those from backgrounds like hers.
She later became a licensed real estate broker and opened her own brokerage.
She currently leads a small, relationship‑driven brokerage with six agents.
Core belief: Ownership creates options—and leadership multiplies impact.
5. A Relationship-Based Business Model
Her brokerage focuses on: One-on-one agent training
Hands-on mentorship
Personalized marketing strategies

Kimberly intentionally avoids a corporate-style model to prioritize growth, trust, and accountability.
Key takeaway: Culture and connection matter more than size, especially early on.
6. Adaptability as a Business Strategy
During market changes (including COVID), Kimberly expanded into: Property preservation
Repair, inspections, and asset management services

She co-owns multiple businesses with her husband, spreading risk and stabilizing income.
Lesson: The ability to pivot often determines long-term survival in business.
7. Refusing to Accept Limiting Narratives
Kimberly rejects the idea that her background should define her ceiling.
She emphasizes self-talk, belief, and forward motion—even without a support system.
Her story challenges stereotypes about: Foster youth
Teen mothers
Single Black women in business
Nontraditional entrepreneurs

Takeaway: Your starting point does not determine your finish.
Notable Quotes
“I always lived in survival mode—failure was never an option.”
“I had to raise myself, so I had to believe in myself.”
“If I did it from where I came from, I promise you—you can do it too.”
“Always stay adaptable. The market changes, so you change with it.”
“Put one foot in front of the other, even when it feels like the world is caving in.”
“Success was never something I thought I couldn’t have—I just had to figure out my path.”
Overall Impact
Kimberly Kelly’s interview is a testament to perseverance without privilege. It reframes success as a product of:
Relentless forward motion
Learning wherever possible
Faith and internal motivation
Ownership, adaptability, and leadership
Her story resonates most powerfully with listeners who have been told—directly or indirectly—that their circumstances disqualify them from success.
Final message: There are no excuses left after hearing this story—only choices.
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Friday, April 3rd, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Nephew Tommy's Run That Prank Back - "Colorful Adoptions" | Ask The CLO | Good Friday & Steve Harvey's Voicemail | Childhood Easter Memories | Steve Harvey's Voicemail | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Buttcheeks" | Strawberry Letter - "My Son's Daddy Is Blocking My Happiness" Pt. 1-2 | Tommy's Easter Egg Hunt | Social Media Advice | Adult Easter Basket | 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 Leonard S. Graham.
Social Security disability advocate, Leonard S. Graham joined Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Master Class to explain how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) really work, who qualifies, and how misconceptions prevent people—especially within the Black community—from receiving benefits they are legally entitled to. Graham has over 35 years of experience assisting clients nationwide with disability claims, appeals, and hearings.
The conversation sheds light on the disability process, eligibility, the appeals system, the role of advocates vs. attorneys, and the importance of education, honesty, and persistence in navigating Social Security.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview aims to:
Educate listeners on Social Security disability benefits, including eligibility, filing, and appeals.
Debunk common myths, such as the belief disability is only for seniors.
Explain SSDI vs. SSI, work credits, resource limits, and Medicare connections.
Highlight the importance of advocacy, especially for underserved communities unfamiliar with the system.
Encourage individuals not to fear or stigmatize applying for disability, and to avoid misinformation from non‑professionals.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Disability Isn’t Just for Seniors
Many mistakenly think Social Security disability is only for people over 65, but anyone with the required work credits can qualify, regardless of age—even individuals in their 20s or 30s.
2. Working Does NOT Automatically Disqualify You
Applicants can work while applying as long as they do not exceed the monthly substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold of $1,690 per month.
3. Every Claim Is Unique—Don’t Compare Your Case to Others
Graham warns clients not to take advice from neighbors or relatives because each disability case depends on medical evidence, work history, age, and individual conditions.
4. SSDI Requires Work Credits; SSI Is Needs-Based
SSDI: Requires 20 credits minimum, 40 credits for maximum benefit, earned through past work. Assets do not affect eligibility.
SSI: For people with low resources ($2,000 single / $3,000 married). Primary home/car do not count as resources.
5. Medicare Comes After Approval
Medicare eligibility begins 24 months after being awarded SSDI benefits.
6. Appeals Are Normal—Most Initial Claims Are Denied
95% of initial applications are denied, and the real opportunity often comes during a hearing before an administrative law judge. Persistence is essential.
7. Honesty Prevents Fraud & Overpayments
Applicants should always disclose their financial situation truthfully to avoid fraud investigations and repayment demands.
8. Disability Benefits Can Provide Back Pay
Approved claimants often receive a Notice of Award detailing monthly benefits and any back pay owed. Representatives are only paid from back pay—not monthly benefits.
9. Stigma & Fear Prevent People from Applying
Graham emphasizes that pride, fear, and misinformation often stop people—especially in the Black community—from seeking help, even when disability support could save them financially.
🗣️ Notable Quotes ✔ On Who Needs Disability
“What if you get in a car accident… or have an illness and you can’t work? Those are reasons to file for disability.”
✔ On Misinformation
“Don’t talk to your neighbor or relatives about your claim… Each claim is its own individual claim.”

✔ On Work Limits
“You can still work and have an active claim as long as you don’t gross over $1,690 a month.”
✔ On Stigma
“Some people feel applying for benefits makes them look a certain way. But the system is there to help you when you are unable to work.”
✔ On Honesty
“Just tell the truth. If they catch you on the fraud side, you’ll have to pay the money back.”
✔ On Perseverance
“Getting a denial is nothing out of the norm… The key is to continue with the claim.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.