CTRL THE NARRATIVE

Tonya McKenzie

Silence is surrender. Hosted by Tonya McKenzie, Chief CTRLer, Founder of Sand and Shores, and a Los Angeles County Commissioner, this is the strategy room for Leaders, Athletes, Founders, & Institutions. People with something to protect and everything to build. Media training. Crisis communications. Personal branding. Narrative control. The stuff nobody teaches you until it is already too late. This is an extension of the CTRL platform. If you don't CTRL the narrative, the streets will, and it won't be in your favor. Subscribe: CTRL the Narrative Newsletter on YouTube & Substack

  1. 4d ago

    Pete Rock: History in Hip Hop, Heavy D, Legacy with CL Smooth, and Tru Soul Records with AMXXR

    Pete Rock and forty years in. Heavy D's little cousin from Mount Vernon. The man behind T.R.O.Y., Mecca and the Soul Brother, The Main Ingredient, PeteStrumentals and a Grammy-nominated album with Common. And he's still building.In this conversation, Tonya McKenzie sits down with Pete Rock and his new artist AMXXR to talk about:The Heavy D blueprint, growing up in the family business,The grief behind T.R.O.Y. and the legacy of Pete Rock & CL Smooth... along with the legacy he is building with Tru Soul Records. And yes, I'm a Bay Area girl and a Warriors fan. I was rooting for the Knicks in June anyway. Pete's going to have to thank me for that.Follow Tonya McKenzie on Instagram @TonyaMcKenziePRJoin the CTRL community with a YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29DL9XdZwmhHms7-2HlaGQ/joinWant to build your speaking platform? We can help you do it in 8 weeks with the CTRL the Mic program: https://share.hsforms.com/1jy8RVHoLStS-1cmHgIBvTg1hcfcCTRL the Mic, CTRL the Room, CTRL the Camera and always CTRL the Narrative.Till next time...#PeteRock #AMXXR #Beloved #TruSoulRecords #HeavyD #PeteRockAndCLSmooth #TROY #HipHop #BoomBap #Knicks #NewYorkKnicks #NBA #HipHopProducers #MusicBusiness #Publishing #CTRLtheNarrative #TonyaMcKenzie #CrisisPR #MediaTrainingBooking: info@sandandshores.comSubscribe to the CTRL the Narrative Newsletter: https://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5164451187916800

  2. Oct 19

    NFL Mom Elisha Jarrett: Raising Grady Jarrett, the Price of the Dream, and Who Really Builds a Pro Athlete

    The NFL sells you the player. It never sells you the mother who built him. Elisha Jarrett spent three decades as a higher education executive, earned a law degree, built a consulting firm, landed national commercials with Procter & Gamble and Publix, and raised Chicago Bears Pro Bowl defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. And somehow the world still wants to call her "Grady's mom" and stop there. Not on this podcast. In this episode of CTRL the Narrative, I sit down with Elisha Jarrett, Executive Producer and Host of Inside the Shield with Pro Football Moms, to talk about what it really costs to raise a pro athlete, why sports moms get erased the minute the contract gets signed, and how she refused to let her identity become a footnote in her son's highlight reel. We get into: The sacrifice nobody puts in the draft day package Why Black mothers of athletes are celebrated on camera and ignored at the table What a 5th round pick taught her family about the underdog narrative Saying yes to a national campaign on a conversation most women whisper about How she used data at Georgia State to change outcomes for students the system had written off Why her guiding philosophy is Mindset. Perspective. Purpose. If you are a sports parent, a mom who has put your own dreams on layaway, or a professional who is tired of being introduced by somebody else's title, this one is for you. Subscribe and hit the bell. I usually just go live and you don't want to miss the deep dive. CTRL the Narrative on Substack: https://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com/ I'm the Chief CTRLer. Follow Tonya McKenzie on Instagram @TonyaMcKenziePR Join the CTRL community as a YouTube member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29DL9XdZwmhHms7-2HlaGQ/join Want help building your speaking and media platform? Do it in 8 weeks with CTRL the Mic: https://share.hsforms.com/1jy8RVHoLStS-1cmHgIBvTg1hcfc Booking: info@sandandshores.com #CTRLtheNarrative #ElishaJarrett #GradyJarrett #NFLMoms #SportsMoms #ProFootballMoms #InsideTheShield #ChicagoBears #SportsParenting #BlackWomenLead #NarrativeControl #CrisisPR #SportsMedia #TonyaMcKenziePR

  3. Oct 6

    College Ball Movie on Amazon Prime: College Sports, NCAA, and Money with Director Barry Barristers

    Black men were 2.4% of undergraduates at Power Five schools, but 55% of the football teams and 56% of the men's basketball teams (USC Race and Equity Center, 2018). The labor was Black. The money was not.On this episode of CTRL the Narrative, I sit down with Barry Barristers, writer, producer, and co-director of College Ball Movie, a film that is pro Black and unapologetically anti NCAA. The story follows a college football player who finds out his girlfriend did escort work to keep his mother from being evicted. So he walks away from the game and calls NCAA sports exactly what he believes it is: socialism, un-American, and a violation of the 14th Amendment.And I pushed back. Because when the workers get capped and the bosses get paid, that's not socialism. That's a cartel with a mascot.We get into the scholarship myth, the free market crowd that loves capitalism right up until it has to pay a 19-year-old, what the House settlement actually changed, why "just get your degree" hits different when Black male athletes graduated at lower rates than Black men who never played, and how an independent filmmaker gets a pro Black, anti-establishment movie onto Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube.Athletes, parents of athletes, coaches, and anybody who has ever yelled "they should be grateful for the scholarship" at a TV: this one is for you.Watch College Ball Movie on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube.Follow Barry and the film on Instagram: @collegeballmovieFilm site: https://collegeballmovie.comSubscribe and hit the bell. I usually just go live and you don't want to miss the deep dive.Comment below: Is a scholarship fair payment, or was it always a discount on Black labor?Join the CTRL the Narrative YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29DL9XdZwmhHms7-2HlaGQ/joinWant to build your speaking platform? We'll help you do it in 8 weeks with CTRL the Mic: https://share.hsforms.com/1jy8RVHoLStS-1cmHgIBvTg1hcfcCTRL the Narrative: https://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com/I'm the Chief CTRLer. Follow Tonya McKenzie on Instagram @TonyaMcKenziePRSand & Shores Communications: sandandshores.comCollege Ball Movie on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/college-ball-movie/umc.cmc.3re5cm1jsl25sudhp66hbxt04College Ball Movie on Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0TLDLZZHZ7H6KHPPX1Z7URT8N5#CTRLtheNarrative #CollegeBallMovie #NCAA #CollegeSports #BlackAthletes #StudentAthletes #NIL #HouseSettlement #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #SportsBusiness #IndependentFilm #BlackFilm #ChiefCTRLerSubscribe to the CTRL the Narrative Newsletter: https://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5164451187916800

  4. Sep 29

    SAT and ACT Test Narrative, Math Scores, and the Reality of College Academics. Is Testing Working?

    UC has a problem. Six years after eliminating the SAT and ACT to look progressive, math grades are failing across the system. Three thousand faculty are demanding the test back. One regent said voting to drop it was a mistake. But here's what nobody's talking about: the data shows UC is doing fine by most metrics. So what's the real story?In this deep dive, Tonya McKenzie breaks down what happens when institutions control the narrative without controlling the outcome. Why did elite schools bring the SAT back while UC is stuck in political theater? Who actually benefits from a test-optional admissions process? And why are working-class families the ones paying the price?This isn't about the SAT. It's about power, narrative control, and which students actually get heard.If you don't control the narrative, the streets will and it will not be in your favor.CTRL THE NARRATIVE on Substackhttps://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com/Join the YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29DL9XdZwmhHms7-2HlaGQ/joinWant help building YOUR speaking platform? The CTRL the Mic program takes you from invisible to influential in 8 weeks: https://share.hsforms.com/1jy8RVHoLStS-1cmHgIBvTg1hcfcFollow Tonya McKenzie on Instagram: @TonyaMcKenziePR#CTRLtheNarrative #HigherEducation #SATDebate #StudentSuccess #NarrativeControl #EquityInEducation #UniversityCalifornia #CrisisCommunications #BrandStrategy #EducationJustice #StudentAthletes #UniversityAdmissionsSubscribe to the CTRL the Narrative Newsletter: https://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5164451187916800

  5. Sep 28

    The SAT Test Flip Flop Meets University Academic Reality

    UC has a problem. Six years after eliminating the SAT to look progressive, math grades are failing across the system. Three thousand faculty are demanding the test back. One regent said voting to drop it was a mistake. But here's what nobody's talking about: the data shows UC is doing fine by most metrics. So what's the real story? In this deep dive, Tonya McKenzie breaks down what happens when institutions control the narrative without controlling the outcome. Why did elite schools bring the SAT back while UC is stuck in political theater? Who actually benefits from a test-free admissions process? And why are working-class families the ones paying the price? This isn't about the SAT. It's about power, narrative control, and which students actually get heard. If you don't control the narrative, the streets will and it will not be in your favor. Subscribe to CTRL THE NARRATIVE on Substack https://tonyamckenziepr.substack.com/ Join the YouTube membership: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29DL9XdZwmhHms7-2HlaGQ/join Want help building YOUR speaking platform? The CTRL the Mic program takes you from invisible to influential in 8 weeks: https://share.hsforms.com/1jy8RVHoLStS-1cmHgIBvTg1hcfc Follow Tonya McKenzie on Instagram: @TonyaMcKenziePR #CTRLtheNarrative #HigherEducation #SATDebate #StudentSuccess #NarrativeControl #EquityInEducation #UniversityCalifornia #CrisisCommunications #BrandStrategy #EducationJustice #StudentAthletes #UniversityAdmissions

  6. Sep 12

    Captain Nia Gilliam | "Cleared for Takeoff" - A Black Woman Pilot's 911 Story

    Less than 1% of commercial pilots in America are Black women. Captain Nia Gilliam is one of them, and on September 11, 2001, she was in the co-pilot's seat on the runway at Newark Airport, cleared for takeoff as smoke rose off the Twin Towers.On this episode of CTRL the Narrative, Captain Gilliam joins Tonya McKenzie to talk about her new memoir, Cleared for Takeoff, covering her path from a Chicago childhood inspired by Bessie Coleman to becoming the first pregnant pilot at her airline, a postpartum depression fight, and the full reinvention that followed when flying stopped feeling like the whole answer.Captain Gilliam co-founded Sisters of the Skies, the nonprofit growing the pipeline of Black women pilots in the US. She has been featured by CBS News, the Essence Disruptors Series, and Marie Claire.Order Cleared for Takeoff: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/799075/cleared-for-takeoff-by-captain-nia-gilliam/Subscribe and hit the bell so you don't miss an episode. Drop a comment. And for the deeper dive, head to Substack: tonyamckenziepr.substack.com✨ Ready to stand out, speak up, and show up? Subscribe + hit 🔔. It’s time to CTRL THE NARRATIVE.SUBSCRIBE: https://substack.com/@tonyamckenziepr SandAndShores.com | @TonyaMcKenziePR on socials | info@sandandshores.com #CTRLTheNarrative #CTRLtheMic CTRLtheRoom #TonyaMcKenzie #Communications #Leadership #Storytelling #PublicRelations #SportsMedia #WomenInAviation #BlackWomenInLeadership #CrisisAndReinvention

  7. Sep 10

    Erika Bryant: Emmy-Nominated Producer and Showrunner of Reality TV Shows Like Real Housewives of Atlanta and Iyanla Fix My Life: Doing it Scared in Love & Relationships

    Erika Bryant spent 20 years producing transformation for television: Iyanla Fix My Life, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She's conducted more than 20,000 interviews and directed her first film, Always Lady London. This year, she turned the camera on herself.On this episode of CTRL the Narrative, Erika joins me to talk about her new book, Doing It Scared in Love & Relationships, drops September 9 as her 50th birthday gift to herself. We get into fawning, the addiction to giving, why receiving is the hardest skill for powerhouse women, and why she refuses to call herself a relationship expert. This is testimony, not theory.If you don't CTRL the narrative, the streets will, and it won't be in your favor.ORDER Doing It Scared in Love & Relationships https://square.link/u/6g3Cvy7hCONNECT WITH ERIKA BRYANT Instagram: @ebryant22 Iron Orchid Media: ironorchidmedia.orgCONNECT WITH TONYA MCKENZIE Substack: CTRL the Narrative Instagram: @tonyamckenziepr Website: sandandshores.com#CTRLtheNarrative #DoingItScared #ErikaBryant #EmmyNominated #BlackAuthors #SelfLove #LoveandMarriage #50andFineinfo@sandandshores.com #CTRLTheNarrative #CTRLtheMic CTRLtheRoom #TonyaMcKenzie #Communications #Leadership #Storytelling #PublicRelations #SportsMedia

  8. Sep 8

    A Journalist, a Coach, a president, and a DJ Duo All Walked Into a Crisis This Weekend. Only One of Them Brought Receipts.

    This week Tonya McKenzie breaks down the 5 biggest narrative battles from the weekend: The Athletic's investigation into Dianna Russini and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, the SEC's lawsuit against Lane Kiffin and LSU over ex-NFL players, Trump's pre-blame midterm strategy, the Chainsmokers' crisis communications failure after 14 fans were hospitalized in San Jose, and Pablo Torre's Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the LA Clippers salary cap scandal. If you work in PR, crisis communications, sports media, politics, or brand strategy, this episode is your Monday briefing. 🔗 8-Week Speaker & Media Training: https://share.hsforms.com/1jy8RVHoLStS-1cmHgIBvTg1hcfc 🌐 https://sandandshores.com💻 Subscribe to CTRL the Narrative on Substack #CrisisComms #PRStrategy #SportsMedia #NarrativeControl #CTRLtheNarrative #MediaTraining #NFL #Midterms2026 #Chainsmokers #LaneKiffin #DiannaRussini #PabloTorre #Clippers #TonyaMcKenzie

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About

Silence is surrender. Hosted by Tonya McKenzie, Chief CTRLer, Founder of Sand and Shores, and a Los Angeles County Commissioner, this is the strategy room for Leaders, Athletes, Founders, & Institutions. People with something to protect and everything to build. Media training. Crisis communications. Personal branding. Narrative control. The stuff nobody teaches you until it is already too late. This is an extension of the CTRL platform. If you don't CTRL the narrative, the streets will, and it won't be in your favor. Subscribe: CTRL the Narrative Newsletter on YouTube & Substack

Information

  • Creator
    Tonya McKenzie
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tonya McKenzie
  • Show Website
    CTRL THE NARRATIVE