Strawberry Letter

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Got a situation? Steve Harvey and Shirley Strawberry deliver unfiltered advice on love, relationships, family, work, and life. Send your letter, subscribe, and get real talk every day! Every weekday, the Steve Harvey Morning Show tackle a listener-submitted “Strawberry Letter”... a real-life dilemma ranging from romantic entanglements to career choices, family drama to money struggles, and everything in between. With a blend of wisdom, wit, and brutal honesty, they offer candid commentary and heartfelt guidance, often sparking conversation (and laughter) among the rest of the morning show crew. Submit your Strawberry Letter at www.steveharveyfm.com for a chance to be featured, and get the truth, Steve Harvey style!

  1. Overcoming the Odds.  One incarcerated.  She now connects licensed beauty professionals with those who are immobile or in hospitals.

    4H AGO

    Overcoming the Odds. One incarcerated. She now connects licensed beauty professionals with those who are immobile or in hospitals.

    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 Crystal Hughes. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview To spotlight Crystal Hughes’ entrepreneurial journey, her resilience through adversity, and her innovative contributions to the beauty industry and nonprofit work. The interview aims to inspire listeners by showing how personal challenges can fuel impactful ventures. 🗝️ Key Takeaways 1. Early Entrepreneurship & Adversity At age 21, Crystal opened her first wig and natural hair salon in a flea market. Shortly after, she was incarcerated for bank fraud—a decision she made out of desperation to fund her business dreams. She wrote a book titled Money and My Daughter while in prison, inspired by her experiences and authors like Wahida Clark. 2. Wig Capital Foundation Founded to donate medical wigs to cancer patients and others in need. Crystal collected and donated over 5,000 wigs in the first year. Partnered with beauty supply stores and hospitals (e.g., Howard University Hospital, MedStar). Schools helped refurbish wigs in exchange for community service hours. 3. Mobile Glam Squad A tech-driven initiative likened to “Uber for beauty services.” Connects licensed beauty professionals with clients, especially those who are immobile or in hospitals. Aims to provide group health insurance for stylists and expand to college campuses. 4. Personal Healing & Resilience Survived a serious car accident resulting in chronic pain. Opted out of surgery and explored “sexual healing” as a form of pain management. Worked in a Nevada brothel during recovery, combining physical therapy with alternative healing. 5. Land Development in Utah, Alabama Inherited one acre of land from her grandparents. Plans to build an adult living facility and raise funds through seasonal events like scavenger hunts. Noted signs of economic growth in the area (new gas station, dialysis center, Dollar General). 6. Use of Technology Embraced tech tools like ChatGPT for legal and business support. Shares tech resources with cosmetology students during marketing tours. 💬 Notable Quotes “I always wanted to have my own beauty supply store… I figured out a way to do it.” “I wasn’t the brains in the operation… but I knew I had to stay confident.” “Anything over $1,000, they had to kind of question it.” “I wrote my book in prison… it’s fiction based on true events.” “I didn’t want to lose myself… I had to figure out a way.” “You are a genius.” — a compliment she received from a mentor after promoting her nonprofit. “You can’t stop yourself sometimes… you don’t let the system stop you.” — Rushion McDonald on Crystal’s entrepreneurial spirit. 📌 Final Thoughts Crystal Hughes’ story is one of resilience, reinvention, and resourcefulness. From incarceration to innovation, she has turned personal pain into purpose, creating platforms that empower others—especially women facing medical and financial challenges. #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  2. Career Change: They both have degrees in STEM and launched their premium vodka-based drink brand.

    5H AGO

    Career Change: They both have degrees in STEM and launched their premium vodka-based drink brand.

    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 Taia Rashid and Daphne Carter. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview To highlight the entrepreneurial journey of Taia Rashid and Daphne Carter, co-founders of Cassie Beverage, a premium vodka-based drink brand. The interview explores their inspiration, challenges as Black women in a male-dominated liquor industry, and their commitment to quality and authenticity. 🧠 Key Takeaways 1. Founders’ Background & Bond Taia and Daphne met as dance moms in Houston, Texas. Their friendship grew through shared experiences at dance competitions. Their cocktail-making hobby evolved into a business idea. 2. Cassie Beverage Origins Inspired by family traditions involving alcohol (moonshine and wine coolers). The brand name “Cassie” is a blend of their last names. Their products include Daphne Limoncello and Daphne Berrycello. 3. Business Launch & Support The idea was sparked during a trip to the Amalfi Coast. Their husbands, both entrepreneurs, helped launch the business and provided initial capital. They entered a white male-dominated industry with determination and humility, seeking mentorship and doing extensive research. 4. Commitment to Quality Their drinks use natural ingredients like fresh lemon juice and cane sugar. They resisted pressure to use cheaper alternatives like concentrates or preservatives. Their goal: create a premium product they’re proud to consume themselves. 5. Challenges in the Liquor Industry High startup costs and tight margins. Strategic decisions around packaging, pricing, and market positioning. Balancing premium quality with affordability for consumers. 6. Academic & Professional Backgrounds Daphne: Advanced degrees in chemistry and mathematics; former charter school executive and state superintendent. Taia: Degree in chemical engineering; worked for Frito-Lay and later became a stay-at-home mom. 7. Empowerment & Representation They emphasized the importance of supporting women, especially in non-traditional roles like bartending and mixology. Encouraged others to pivot careers and pursue passions regardless of societal expectations. Advocated for creating space at the table when none is offered. 8. Community Impact A caller shared how the interview inspired her to support her daughter’s bartending career. The founders responded with encouragement and emphasized redefining success beyond traditional roles. 💬 Notable Quotes “We found the perfect cocktail—the cure was liquor. A cup of joy.” “We wanted something of quality that we could stand proud of.” “If there’s no room at the table, bring a folding chair.” “Your degrees give you soft skills—you can pivot and do whatever you want.” “We’re winning because we’re doing something we love, even with the struggles.” #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
4.5
out of 5
1,655 Ratings

About

Got a situation? Steve Harvey and Shirley Strawberry deliver unfiltered advice on love, relationships, family, work, and life. Send your letter, subscribe, and get real talk every day! Every weekday, the Steve Harvey Morning Show tackle a listener-submitted “Strawberry Letter”... a real-life dilemma ranging from romantic entanglements to career choices, family drama to money struggles, and everything in between. With a blend of wisdom, wit, and brutal honesty, they offer candid commentary and heartfelt guidance, often sparking conversation (and laughter) among the rest of the morning show crew. Submit your Strawberry Letter at www.steveharveyfm.com for a chance to be featured, and get the truth, Steve Harvey style!

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