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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026. Subject: "I Hope He Can Fix His Issues" 

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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 Curtis Symonds.

Interview Purpose

The primary purpose of the interview is to:

1. Highlight the growth and cultural significance of HBCU GO, the leading HBCU‑focused media and streaming platform under Allen Media Group.
2. Celebrate Curtis Symonds’ induction into the Cable Hall of Fame, recognizing his 37+ years of leadership and impact in cable, sports media, and Black‑owned media institutions.
3. Educate audiences on the value of HBCUs—not only academically and culturally, but as a powerful, educated, and economically influential audience.
4. Reinforce storytelling, ownership, and representation as essential elements in preserving Black history and driving future opportunity.

Key Takeaways 1. HBCU GO Was Built to Solve an Access and Representation Gap

Curtis Symonds launched HBCU GO after recognizing that Black college sports and stories were severely underrepresented in mainstream media. Early rejection by cable distributors reinforced the need for ownership and persistence.

Insight: HBCU GO exists not just as a network, but as a corrective platform for visibility, equity, and cultural preservation.

2. The Byron Allen Acquisition Enabled Scale Without Compromising Vision

When Byron Allen acquired HBCU GO TV in 2021, the partnership was grounded in trust, quality, and shared belief in Black excellence. Allen Media Group provided infrastructure and capital while preserving Symonds’ creative and strategic leadership.

Insight: Ownership combined with institutional backing allowed HBCU GO to compete at broadcast-quality levels equivalent to ESPN and major networks.

3. HBCU Audiences Are Educated, Influential, and Economically Valuable

Symonds emphasized that HBCU graduates represent a disproportionate share of Black leadership across education, government, medicine, and STEM.

Insight: HBCU audiences are not niche—they are central to America’s Black middle and professional class, making them highly attractive for brands, advertisers, and financial institutions.

4. HBCU GO Is a Cultural Platform, Not Just a Sports Network

While live sports—including football classics, homecomings, and rivalries—are the anchor, HBCU GO is positioned as a broader cultural and educational storytelling platform.

Insight: The long‑term vision is to tell untold HBCU stories, educate young people about their legacy, and shape cultural identity through digital‑first media.

5. Longevity, Relationships, and “Betting on Yourself” Define Success

Symonds reflected on his career path—from ESPN to BET, from rejection to Hall of Fame—and emphasized resilience, timing, and relationship‑building as critical to long‑term success.

Insight: Career impact is measured not by speed, but by sustained contribution and legacy.

Notable Quotes

“I wanted to show the world that two Black men can get together and do something successfully.”
— Curtis Symonds on partnering with Byron Allen

“When we put this thing on the air, it had to be quality. We couldn’t put up anything that looked scrappy.”
— On competing at a national broadcast standard

“HBCU GO has made a statement in the te

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 Curtis Symonds.

Interview Purpose

The primary purpose of the interview is to:

1. Highlight the growth and cultural significance of HBCU GO, the leading HBCU‑focused media and streaming platform under Allen Media Group.
2. Celebrate Curtis Symonds’ induction into the Cable Hall of Fame, recognizing his 37+ years of leadership and impact in cable, sports media, and Black‑owned media institutions.
3. Educate audiences on the value of HBCUs—not only academically and culturally, but as a powerful, educated, and economically influential audience.
4. Reinforce storytelling, ownership, and representation as essential elements in preserving Black history and driving future opportunity.

Key Takeaways 1. HBCU GO Was Built to Solve an Access and Representation Gap

Curtis Symonds launched HBCU GO after recognizing that Black college sports and stories were severely underrepresented in mainstream media. Early rejection by cable distributors reinforced the need for ownership and persistence.

Insight: HBCU GO exists not just as a network, but as a corrective platform for visibility, equity, and cultural preservation.

2. The Byron Allen Acquisition Enabled Scale Without Compromising Vision

When Byron Allen acquired HBCU GO TV in 2021, the partnership was grounded in trust, quality, and shared belief in Black excellence. Allen Media Group provided infrastructure and capital while preserving Symonds’ creative and strategic leadership.

Insight: Ownership combined with institutional backing allowed HBCU GO to compete at broadcast-quality levels equivalent to ESPN and major networks.

3. HBCU Audiences Are Educated, Influential, and Economically Valuable

Symonds emphasized that HBCU graduates represent a disproportionate share of Black leadership across education, government, medicine, and STEM.

Insight: HBCU audiences are not niche—they are central to America’s Black middle and professional class, making them highly attractive for brands, advertisers, and financial institutions.

4. HBCU GO Is a Cultural Platform, Not Just a Sports Network

While live sports—including football classics, homecomings, and rivalries—are the anchor, HBCU GO is positioned as a broader cultural and educational storytelling platform.

Insight: The long‑term vision is to tell untold HBCU stories, educate young people about their legacy, and shape cultural identity through digital‑first media.

5. Longevity, Relationships, and “Betting on Yourself” Define Success

Symonds reflected on his career path—from ESPN to BET, from rejection to Hall of Fame—and emphasized resilience, timing, and relationship‑building as critical to long‑term success.

Insight: Career impact is measured not by speed, but by sustained contribution and legacy.

Notable Quotes

“I wanted to show the world that two Black men can get together and do something successfully.”
— Curtis Symonds on partnering with Byron Allen

“When we put this thing on the air, it had to be quality. We couldn’t put up anything that looked scrappy.”
— On competing at a national broadcast standard

“HBCU GO has made a statement in the te

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 Curtis Symonds.

Interview Purpose

The primary purpose of the interview is to:

1. Highlight the growth and cultural significance of HBCU GO, the leading HBCU‑focused media and streaming platform under Allen Media Group.
2. Celebrate Curtis Symonds’ induction into the Cable Hall of Fame, recognizing his 37+ years of leadership and impact in cable, sports media, and Black‑owned media institutions.
3. Educate audiences on the value of HBCUs—not only academically and culturally, but as a powerful, educated, and economically influential audience.
4. Reinforce storytelling, ownership, and representation as essential elements in preserving Black history and driving future opportunity.

Key Takeaways 1. HBCU GO Was Built to Solve an Access and Representation Gap

Curtis Symonds launched HBCU GO after recognizing that Black college sports and stories were severely underrepresented in mainstream media. Early rejection by cable distributors reinforced the need for ownership and persistence.

Insight: HBCU GO exists not just as a network, but as a corrective platform for visibility, equity, and cultural preservation.

2. The Byron Allen Acquisition Enabled Scale Without Compromising Vision

When Byron Allen acquired HBCU GO TV in 2021, the partnership was grounded in trust, quality, and shared belief in Black excellence. Allen Media Group provided infrastructure and capital while preserving Symonds’ creative and strategic leadership.

Insight: Ownership combined with institutional backing allowed HBCU GO to compete at broadcast-quality levels equivalent to ESPN and major networks.

3. HBCU Audiences Are Educated, Influential, and Economically Valuable

Symonds emphasized that HBCU graduates represent a disproportionate share of Black leadership across education, government, medicine, and STEM.

Insight: HBCU audiences are not niche—they are central to America’s Black middle and professional class, making them highly attractive for brands, advertisers, and financial institutions.

4. HBCU GO Is a Cultural Platform, Not Just a Sports Network

While live sports—including football classics, homecomings, and rivalries—are the anchor, HBCU GO is positioned as a broader cultural and educational storytelling platform.

Insight: The long‑term vision is to tell untold HBCU stories, educate young people about their legacy, and shape cultural identity through digital‑first media.

5. Longevity, Relationships, and “Betting on Yourself” Define Success

Symonds reflected on his career path—from ESPN to BET, from rejection to Hall of Fame—and emphasized resilience, timing, and relationship‑building as critical to long‑term success.

Insight: Career impact is measured not by speed, but by sustained contribution and legacy.

Notable Quotes

“I wanted to show the world that two Black men can get together and do something successfully.”
— Curtis Symonds on partnering with Byron Allen

“When we put this thing on the air, it had to be quality. We couldn’t put up anything that looked scrappy.”
— On competing at a national broadcast standard

“HBCU GO has made a statement in the te

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 Wendell Graham.

A stroke survivor, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and founder of Slight Edge Consulting, joins Rushion McDonald to share a deeply personal and powerful story of survival, resilience, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Graham recounts two life-altering experiences:

1. Surviving a fatal Amtrak train crash in which the person who took his place died, causing years of survivor’s remorse.
2. Suffering an anaphylactic shock and stroke in 2024, which temporarily robbed him of speech, memory, mobility, and independence.

Rather than allowing these moments to define him negatively, Graham reframed them as assignments—calling him to live intentionally, help others overcome “the hump,” and use his lived experience as intellectual property to serve, coach, and motivate people through adversity, business challenges, fear, and self-doubt.

The interview blends emotional storytelling with practical insights into personal growth, sales, mindset, recovery, faith, and entrepreneurship.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to:

• Inspire listeners to persevere through trauma, loss, and setbacks.
• Demonstrate how adversity can become purpose and value, not limitation.
• Show how lived experience translates into income and impact, especially for entrepreneurs.
• Encourage patience during recovery, whether from health issues, career loss, or personal failure.
• Promote Slight Edge Consulting as a resource for individuals stuck at the “15%” holding them back.

Key Takeaways 1. Survival Creates Responsibility

After narrowly avoiding the Amtrak crash that killed 47 people, Graham vowed not to waste his life and to live with intention.

Takeaway: Survival is not luck—it’s an assignment.

2. Trauma Is Real, but It Can Be Transformed

Graham openly discusses survivor’s remorse, PTSD, fear, discouragement, and self-doubt—especially after his stroke.

Takeaway: Healing is messy, slow, and honest—but possible.

3. Recovery Requires Patience With Yourself

Following his stroke, Graham had to relearn how to speak, walk, and think clearly. Progress came through patience, humility, and repetition.

Takeaway: Every recovery has its own timeline—don’t rush the process.

4. Money Is a Byproduct of Action and Value

Graham explains that income flows from prior action, knowledge, and intellectual property—not the other way around.

Takeaway: Focus on value first; money follows.

5. Most People Already Have 85% of What They Need

Through Slight Edge Consulting, Graham helps clients identify and fix the missing 15%—mindset, confidence, access, skills, or strategy.

Takeaway: You’re closer to success than you think.

6. Sales Is the Transfer of Feeling

Sales isn’t pressure or manipulation—it’s enthusiasm, belief, and confidence communicated clearly.

Takeaway: If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, no one else will.

7. Fear Grows When You Stand Still

Standing at the “hump” makes it feel larger. Movement shrinks fear.

Takeaway: Action reduc

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 Al Smith.

Interview Purpose

The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change.

This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking.

Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy

Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career.

Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity.

2. Turning Fear into Fuel

Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus.

Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success.

3. Competition Is Not the Enemy

Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character.

Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability.

4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline

Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs:

• Lifestyle inflation
• Supporting others without boundaries
• Delegating financial decisions without understanding them
• Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability

Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning.

Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness.

5. Mentorship and Environment Matter

Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership.

Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes.

6. Preparing for Life After the Dream

Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports.

Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose.

7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality

Smith draws a direct parallel between:

• Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees
• Entre

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 Wendell Graham.

A stroke survivor, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and founder of Slight Edge Consulting, joins Rushion McDonald to share a deeply personal and powerful story of survival, resilience, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.

Graham recounts two life-altering experiences:

1. Surviving a fatal Amtrak train crash in which the person who took his place died, causing years of survivor’s remorse.
2. Suffering an anaphylactic shock and stroke in 2024, which temporarily robbed him of speech, memory, mobility, and independence.

Rather than allowing these moments to define him negatively, Graham reframed them as assignments—calling him to live intentionally, help others overcome “the hump,” and use his lived experience as intellectual property to serve, coach, and motivate people through adversity, business challenges, fear, and self-doubt.

The interview blends emotional storytelling with practical insights into personal growth, sales, mindset, recovery, faith, and entrepreneurship.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to:

• Inspire listeners to persevere through trauma, loss, and setbacks.
• Demonstrate how adversity can become purpose and value, not limitation.
• Show how lived experience translates into income and impact, especially for entrepreneurs.
• Encourage patience during recovery, whether from health issues, career loss, or personal failure.
• Promote Slight Edge Consulting as a resource for individuals stuck at the “15%” holding them back.

Key Takeaways 1. Survival Creates Responsibility

After narrowly avoiding the Amtrak crash that killed 47 people, Graham vowed not to waste his life and to live with intention.

Takeaway: Survival is not luck—it’s an assignment.

2. Trauma Is Real, but It Can Be Transformed

Graham openly discusses survivor’s remorse, PTSD, fear, discouragement, and self-doubt—especially after his stroke.

Takeaway: Healing is messy, slow, and honest—but possible.

3. Recovery Requires Patience With Yourself

Following his stroke, Graham had to relearn how to speak, walk, and think clearly. Progress came through patience, humility, and repetition.

Takeaway: Every recovery has its own timeline—don’t rush the process.

4. Money Is a Byproduct of Action and Value

Graham explains that income flows from prior action, knowledge, and intellectual property—not the other way around.

Takeaway: Focus on value first; money follows.

5. Most People Already Have 85% of What They Need

Through Slight Edge Consulting, Graham helps clients identify and fix the missing 15%—mindset, confidence, access, skills, or strategy.

Takeaway: You’re closer to success than you think.

6. Sales Is the Transfer of Feeling

Sales isn’t pressure or manipulation—it’s enthusiasm, belief, and confidence communicated clearly.

Takeaway: If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, no one else will.

7. Fear Grows When You Stand Still

Standing at the “hump” makes it feel larger. Movement shrinks fear.

Takeaway: Action reduc

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 Al Smith.

Interview Purpose

The purpose of this interview is to explore life transitions, resilience, and financial discipline through the lens of elite performance, using Al Smith’s journey from NFL All‑Pro to executive, entrepreneur, and community leader as a blueprint. The conversation highlights how preparation, education, mindset, and adaptability are essential when dreams evolve or abruptly change.

This interview also serves to connect the experiences of professional athletes with those of small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizing that success in both arenas requires discipline, accountability, and long‑term thinking.

Major Themes & Key Takeaways 1. Education as a Safety Net and Strategy

Al Smith made the deliberate decision to finish his college degree before fully committing to the NFL, recognizing that professional sports offered no guarantees. This choice gave him leverage, confidence, and security—both mentally and financially—throughout his career.

Key takeaway: Always secure something tangible before going “all in” on an uncertain opportunity.

2. Turning Fear into Fuel

Smith openly discusses fear—fear of being cut, fear of competition, fear of uncertainty—and how he learned to convert fear into motivation rather than paralysis. He treated each season as if it were his last, approaching preparation with urgency and focus.

Key takeaway: Fear is inevitable; how you respond to it determines longevity and success.

3. Competition Is Not the Enemy

Competition played a central role in Smith’s development. Rather than avoiding it, he embraced it, understanding that growth requires discomfort. He credits adversity, pressure, and coaching challenges with sharpening his performance and character.

Key takeaway: Competition strengthens discipline and reveals accountability.

4. Financial Literacy and Lifestyle Discipline

Smith addresses the common financial pitfalls faced by professional athletes, many of which also apply to entrepreneurs:

• Lifestyle inflation
• Supporting others without boundaries
• Delegating financial decisions without understanding them
• Trying to maintain an image instead of sustainability

Smith’s financial stability was aided by mentors, personal involvement in decisions, and a mindset focused on not owing—not just earning.

Key takeaway: Financial success is not about income—it’s about control, habits, and awareness.

5. Mentorship and Environment Matter

Smith emphasizes the value of surrounding himself with successful, disciplined people both on and off the field. Mentorship influenced how he thought about money, effort, competition, and leadership.

Key takeaway: Proximity shapes thinking; environment influences outcomes.

6. Preparing for Life After the Dream

Even while succeeding in the NFL, Smith planned for the transition ahead. This forward thinking led to opportunities in the front office, business, and leadership. He viewed this transition as a chance to open doors for others and to understand the business side of sports.

Key takeaway: The end of one dream can be the beginning of a larger purpose.

7. Athletes and Entrepreneurs Face the Same Reality

Smith draws a direct parallel between:

• Athletes competing yearly with no guarantees
• Entre