Black Businesses Matter Larvetta Loftin

Episode 85:


Guest Name: Darlene Hill


Guest Business: Rise Strategy Group 


Summary Style
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Darlene Hill who serves as the  Executive Vice President of Communications at Rise Strategy Group, a public strategy firm. Darlene reflects on her extensive career journey before joining Rise Strategy Group, starting with her move to Chicago where she spent 25 years at FOX 32 as a reporter and anchor. She shares stories from her time in journalism, highlighting some of her most memorable and defining moments, and discusses the weight of reporting and the significance of empathy in her work. Darlene concluded her television career as an evening anchor at NBC4 in Columbus, Ohio.


With her transition from reporting, Darlene brings a wealth of experience in media relations, content creation, and storytelling. These skills led her to Rise Strategy Group, where she now specializes in media relations, reputation management, and community engagement. 


If you want to learn more about the process of becoming a reporter this is the episode for you! 


IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT
What was Darlene’s reporting journey?What were some of Darlene’s most impactful interviews?  What prompted her transition out of reporting?Why she transitioned to Rise Strategy GroupWhat brings Darlene joy?Why do black businesses matter?Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!
To connect with Darlene Hill 
Visit the website:https://www.risestrategygroup.com/about
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-hill-4224ab2b
Connect with her on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darlenehill_rise/?hl=en


Support the show
To connect further with me:
Visit my website: Thel3agency.com
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agency
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/
Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agency
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

Episode 84:


Guest Name: Felicia Cotton


Guest Business: Xoxoxo Cosmetics 


Summary Style
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Felicia Cotton with founder and president of Xoxoxo Cosmetics. Felicia details her upbringing highlighting her love for all things feminine despite growing up with majority male family members. 


Felicia embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in 2019. Her website went live in February 2020, just before the onset of the pandemic. Operating amidst a time when face masks became a necessity presented its difficulties, particularly as her product centered around lip cosmetics.   Supported by her loyal network of family and friends, who consistently purchased her products and helped spread the word, Felicia navigated the complexities of entrepreneurship. Moreover, she capitalized on the trend of popup shops, which experienced a resurgence during the pandemic. Leveraging this opportunity, Felicia successfully introduced her brand to a wider audience, capitalizing on the evolving landscape of retail amidst the pandemic


If you want to learn more about the process of crafting and manufacturing your own product this is the episode for you! 


IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…
What was Felicia like as a child?What is the inspiration behind Xoxoxo Cosmetics?  How did she test her products?What brings Felicia joy?Why do black businesses matter?Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!
To connect with xoxoxo Cosmetics 
Visit the website: http://www.xoxoxocosmetics.com/
Follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/xoxoxocosmetics2020



Support the show
To connect further with me:
Visit my website: Thel3agency.com
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agency
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/
Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agency
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

Episode 83:
Guest Name: Angelique Warner
Guest Business: A Warner Idea LLC
Summary Style
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Angelique Warner, founder and president of A Warner Idea LLC and the visionary behind GoGoVie premium baby carrier. Angelique details her upbringing, describing herself as inquisitive and a dreamer in her childhood. Not only did she dream vividly, but she could also recall her dreams in great detail; these traits proved to be her asset as she went on to become an inventor in her adult life. 
Angelique led a busy life in early motherhood; she was a mother of three small children and ran an in-home boarding school, with up to 17 children in her home at a time. This busyness bore inspiration. When her children became self-sufficient, she embarked on creating a solution to a common parenting challenge: needing a hands-free customizable carrier. She invented the 7-in-1 hybrid sling & buckled carrier, later dubbed GoGoVie. She recounts the journey of patenting and manufacturing her product, as well as refining its name through different iterations. Recognizing a need, Angelique shifted the target audience from mothers to all parents and caretakers.
Angelique Warner is the USA's first Black female to create & manufacture the only patented 7-in-1 hybrid sling & buckled carrier; boasting a 5-in-1 private, hands-free breastfeeding solution. She continues to create purposeful products that help improve healthcare outcomes for babies through babywearing, bonding & breastfeeding & improving the overall quality of life of the user.
If you want to learn more about the process of  inventing and manufacturing your own product of art this is the episode for you! 


IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…
What was Angelique like as a child?What is the inspiration behind GoGoVie? The patent process Where does she manufacture her products?What brings Angelique joy?Why do black businesses matter?Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!
To connect with Angelique and GoGoVie
Visit the website: https://www.gogovie.com
Follow them on Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/mygogovie/?hl=en
Connect with them on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mygogovie
Connect with her  on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelique-warner-a2928a33/
Read ‘Successful Women Inventors’: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-of-successful-women-inventors-edith-g-tolchin/1142591413?ean=9780757005244



Support the show
To connect further with me:
Visit my website: Thel3agency.com
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agency
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/
Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agency
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

Episode 82:


Guest Name: Dr. Jennifer Matthews


Guest Business: Dr. Jennifer Matthews Consulting Agency 
Summary Style
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Jennifer Matthews, who is Founder & CEO of Dr. Jennifer Matthews Consulting Agency. Dr. Matthews comes from a family of law-enforcement as she is the 3rd Generation to pursue a career in this field. Dr. Matthews is a driving force behind digital transformations to solve cases quicker with body-worn cameras. She blends her knowledge of law enforcement, psychology, communication, and leadership development to help organizations and individuals. 




If you want to learn more about navigating the food and beverage industry this is the episode for you. 
IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…
How Dr. Jennifer’s childhood impacted her journey to who she is today?What was Dr. Jennifer’s journey into law-enforcement?What is her perspective on body cameras and the benefits the camera brings?How does Dr. Jennifer uses her influence and knowledge to connect with her community?How her work in digital media helps both civilians and law enforcement? To connect with Dr. Jennifer Matthews Consulting Agency 
Visit her website: drjennifermatthews.com  
Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjennifermatthewsconsulting/
 Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter
Support the show
To connect further with me:
Visit my website: Thel3agency.com
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agency
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/
Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agency
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

Episode 81:


Guest Name: LaTrina Joshua


Guest Business: Bijou Body Spa


Summary Style
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with  LaTrina Joshua, CEO of Bijou Body Spa. With a profound commitment to healthcare and a passion for helping individuals look and feel their best, LaTrina Joshua has built a career that bridges the realms of medicine and aesthetics. LaTrina details her upbringing and her passion for helping others, a passion instilled in her by her mother and grandmother. This passion led to a career in nursing that lasted 20 years. LaTrina felt a calling to empower individuals in ways that extended beyond traditional medical care In 2019 she began to research and educate herself about non-invasive surgeries and ways to liquefy fat. This desire to enhance people's confidence and quality of life led to the establishment of Bijou Body Spa a medical and aesthetics spa based in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. 


LaTrina details the offerings at the Bijou Body Spa emphasizing the importance of proportional changes and post-operative care 


If you want to learn more about the importance of holistic care and non-invasive surgery this is the episode for you! 


IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…
What was LaTrina like as a child?Larina’s Nursing Experience Examples of invasive surgery The impact of these surgeries on family and caretakers What are some trends within theBijou Body SpaWhat brings LaTrina joy?Why do black businesses matter?Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!
To connect with Bijou Body Spa
Visit the website:https://www.liberatedarts.org/
Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bijoubodyspa/
Connect with them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bijoubodyspa
Follow them on X: https://twitter.com/Bijoubodyspa
Connect with her on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/latrina-joshua-4b5436a1/
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #black businesses matter  
Support the show
To connect further with me:
Visit my website: Thel3agency.com
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agency
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/
Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agency
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter

Episode 80:
Guest Name: Tara Levy
Guest Business: Liberated Arts Movement


Summary Style
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Tara Levy, founder of the Liberated Arts Movement. Tara details her upbringing highlighting her early love for art she recounts the moments in her childhood when she spent hours drawing and journaling. As an adolescent, she worked at the Goodman Theater where she nurtured her passion for creative writing. After graduating  Tara transitioned into the education system she was able to teach in various capacities which helped to inspire the Liberated Arts Movement. She outlines the movement's focus, emphasizing its dedication to nurturing, educating, and developing youth and underserved communities.
Tara elaborates on the impactful initiatives of the Liberated Arts Movement, shedding light on her latest venture, Liberated Writers, a combination of her passions. She also highlights key partnerships with organizations such as thee NAACP, Urban League and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, underscoring their pivotal roles in advancing the movement's mission.
Tara highlights the Harvest—an inspiring exhibition showcasing the talents of BIPOC visual and performing artists—initiated with great success in 2022. Tara's narrative not only captures the essence of her journey but also celebrates the collective efforts driving the Liberated Arts Movement forward.



If you want to learn more about the importance of art and liberation in BIPOC and underserved communities this is the episode for you! 


IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT…
What was Tara like as a child?How is the Liberated Arts Movement structured? The impact of the Liberated Arts movement? Liberated Writers-a new initiative What is the inspiration behind the name “liberated”What brings Tara joy?Why do black businesses matter?Stream and download the Black Businesses Matter Podcast NOW for FREE on Apple Podcast, Google, Stitcher, Pandora, and Spotify!
To connect with Liberated Arts Movement
Visit the website:https://www.liberatedarts.org/
Follow them on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/liberatedartsmovement/
Connect with them on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/liberatedartsmovement
Read ‘All is Well’: https://a.co/d/isDALT1
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #black businesses matter  
Support the show
To connect further with me:
Visit my website: Thel3agency.com
Connect with me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thel3agency
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larvettaspeaks/
Connect with me on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/thel3agency
Be sure to follow our podcast on Instagram. I can't wait to see you join us and take the pledge of #blackbusinessesmatter