Rich Lessons

Sevetri Wilson and Sheena Allen

The Rich Lessons Podcast, hosted by Sevetri and Sheena, cuts through the noise with rich insights and real conversations about business, life, and everything in between—offering hard truths, valuable lessons, and stories still being written.

  1. 2D AGO

    AI Unicorn or Scam? $1.8B Startup, NCAA Chaos & The “Copy-Paste” AI Problem | Rich Takes

    This week on Rich Takes, we’re breaking down the headlines shaping culture, business, and the future of entrepreneurship—and some of them are wild. From a controversial $1.8B AI-powered startup raising eyebrows, to the evolving reality of college sports money + transfer chaos, to a growing backlash against “copy-paste AI” design, this episode is packed with unfiltered takes you won’t hear anywhere else. Here’s what we’re getting into: 🧠 The rise of the 2-person AI unicorn—genius or scam? Two brothers. A $20,000 investment. $1.8 billion in revenue and zero outside investors. Sheena and Sevetri break down the rise of Medvi, the AI-powered telehealth company that The New York Times calls the first true AI-built unicorn, and why Business Insider isn't buying the hype.💰 Can you really build a billion-dollar company with no investors + AI tools?🏀 NCAA madness: transfer portal chaos (including 1,000+ athletes), NIL money, and what it means long-term🎤 Concert culture, resale madness & why everyone is suddenly on tour (including Jay Z and Ye) ⚠️ The growing problem with AI: why everything is starting to look the same. As vibe coding and AI-generated design flood the internet, everyday consumers are starting to notice that everything looks the same. Is AI killing brand identity for founders and entrepreneurs?💭 Do you need delusion (or narcissism?) to become wildly successful?🧾 Billionaires then vs. now—who’s actually creating impact?Plus, quick hits on culture, sports (Angel Reese's impact on WNBA ticket sales and South Carolina’s loss in the NCAAW championship game), and what’s really driving attention (and money) right now. If you're an entrepreneur, creator, or just trying to understand where things are headed, this is your weekly reality check. 🎙️ Rich Takes is the quick-hit segment from Rich Lessons—short, sharp, and straight to the point. 🎙️ New Rich Lessons episode dropping April 14th — subscribe so you don't miss it. Tap in, subscribe, and stay ahead.

    24 min
  2. MAR 19

    Oscars 2026 Reactions, Jamal Bryant Thought He Was Ending the Target Boycott & Mr. Tendernism's Top Food Cities | Rich Takes

    Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor are back with a fresh Rich Takes covering the Oscars, the Target boycott drama (over or no?), and a food city ranking that has New Orleans sitting exactly where it belongs. First up: the 2026 Oscars. Sinners took home wins, but was it enough? Sevetri breaks down why she woke up the next morning still processing how the night played out, why Sean Baker's Best Supporting Actor win made sense, and a shoutout to prior Rich Lessons guest Takema Robinson and the team behind The Perfect Neighbor documentary for their Oscar nomination. Then, Jamal Bryant declared the Target boycott over. The internet said absolutely not. Sheena and Sevetri unpack who actually started the boycott, why his announcement backfired immediately, whether Black consumers are still holding the line, and the moment Sheena almost broke for a limited Target fashion drop. To close it out: viral food personality Walter Johnson, known as Mr. Tendernism, ranked his top cities for food — and New Orleans came in at number one. Sheena and Sevetri react to the full list, let the secret out about the Delta Mississippi food scene, weigh in on the Kansas City surprise, and Sheena shares her 2026 mission to find the best gumbo in New Orleans. Topics covered: 2026 Oscars reactions | Sinners | Best Supporting ActorThe Perfect Neighbor documentary | Oscar nominationTarget boycott | Jamal Bryant | Black consumer activismMr. Tendernism | Walter Johnson top food citiesNew Orleans food scene | Delta Mississippi | Kansas City BBQBest gumbo in New Orleans | Keith Lee New Orleans festival🎙️ Rich Takes is a quick-hit mini episode from the Rich Lessons podcast, hosted by Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    11 min
  3. MAR 12

    Essence Fest 2026, Gas Prices & The Real Reason Black Women Aren't Getting Funded | Rich Takes

    Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor are back with another rapid-fire Rich Takes — and they're not holding back. This week, the co-hosts break down the Essence Fest 2026 headliner announcement (Brandy, Monica, and Cardi B), what it signals about the festival's comeback, and why Essence still holds cultural power for Black artists. Then the conversation shifts to rising gas prices, the Middle East conflict, and whether Western media is giving Americans the full story. From there, Sheena and Sevetri dig into the February jobs report — 92,000 jobs lost, unemployment climbing to 4.4% — and why the economic pain people are feeling isn't showing up loud enough in the headlines. They get into billionaire tax avoidance, the accelerating wealth gap, and what it's going to take to close it. And to close it out: the raw truth about Black women in venture capital. Why the funding gap feels different right now, why capital is the deciding factor between a good idea and a billion-dollar company, and what Sheena believes is happening to Black women entrepreneurs in the current investment climate. Topics covered: Essence Fest 2026 | Brandy & Monica | Cardi BGas prices & Middle East conflictU.S. unemployment rate | February jobs reportBillionaire tax avoidance | Wealth gapBlack women entrepreneurs | Venture capital funding gapFinancial inclusion & AIWestern media censorship🎙️ Rich Takes is a quick-hit segment from the Rich Lessons podcast, hosted by Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

    24 min
  4. FEB 26

    Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs, Netflix vs. Paramount Battle, Sinners Oscar Nominations & More | Rich Takes

    On this week's Rich Takes — the quick-hit current events segment from the Rich Lessons Podcast — Sheena and Sevetri break down the biggest stories you need to know about right now. First up: the Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs illegal, but before the ink dried, he doubled down with a 50% global tariff. The hosts debate whether corporations should be suing for billions when they already passed those costs onto consumers, and what this all means heading into the midterms. Then the ladies weigh in on the Susan Rice and Netflix controversy — should she step down from the board to protect Netflix's bid to acquire Warner Brothers before it falls into pro-Trump hands? The answer might surprise you. Plus, a massive shoutout to The Perfect Neighbor, the Netflix documentary nominated for an Oscar this year, and the team celebrates Sinners earning the most Oscar nominations of the year. But first, they can't avoid addressing the racial slur Tourette's incident at a recent awards show and what accountability should look like even when something is uncontrolled. Wrapping up with prayers for everyone stuck in Mexico amid the violent cartel retaliation following the killing of a cartel leader. Topics covered in this episode: Trump tariffs Supreme Court ruling 2025Trump 50% global tariff responseSusan Rice Netflix board controversyNetflix Warner Brothers acquisitionParamount Trump connectionThe Perfect Neighbor Netflix Oscar nominationSinners Ryan Coogler Oscar nominations 2025Tourette's racial slur awards show Michael B. JordanMexico cartel violence travel warningNew Rich Takes drops weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and follow @richlessionspodcast for more.

    22 min
  5. FEB 5

    Hot Takes!!! 2026 Business Forecast: AI Layoffs, VC Changes & Must-Attend Conferences for Founders | Rich Takes

    Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Substack for Exclusive Business Insights and Resources. richlessons.substack.com Welcome to 2026, where AI is reshaping the workforce and VCs are changing the fundraising game. In this episode of Rich Takes, Sheena and Sevetri break down the biggest business trends impacting entrepreneurs right now, from widespread layoffs across industries to shifts in VC funding for startups (and beyond) to the must-attend tech conferences for maximum ROI. We’re diving deep into the headlines shaping our world and our wallets, including: The 2026 Funding Reality: Why venture capitalists are prioritizing profitability and revenue over growth-at-all-costs.AI vs. The Workforce: How artificial intelligence is impacting jobs from Fortune 1000 companies (Saks, Washington Post, Universal) to small businesses—and what it means for foundersConference Strategy: How to get a real return on investment at events like South by Southwest (SXSW), AfroTech, and Tech Week.GovTech & Pop Culture: The impact of shrinking government and why Y Combinator is prioritizing AI for government , plus why cultural icons are speaking out on current headlines.Topics Covered: startup fundraising, venture capital trends, pre-seed funding, seed rounds, AI impact on jobs, business conferences 2026, entrepreneur networking, alternative funding, GovTech, unicorn companies, revenue expectations Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Substack for exclusive conference guides, funding pathways, and insider tips from two founders who’ve been in tech for 15+ years. Rich Takes: Our weekly Thursday segment delivering unfiltered hot takes on the biggest headlines shaping culture, business, and your wallet in 15 minutes or less. Fast, sharp, and straight to the point.

    16 min
4.9
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

The Rich Lessons Podcast, hosted by Sevetri and Sheena, cuts through the noise with rich insights and real conversations about business, life, and everything in between—offering hard truths, valuable lessons, and stories still being written.

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