Mama We Made It!

Episode 75: Evan Haskell

"Be completely present and conscious of what you're in." Evan Haskell is an entrepreneur, and Founder/CEO of the hospitality brand Urban Flat. But before building a multi-city, luxury housing company, Evan was class clown with a 2.3 gpa, with childhood dreams of being a firefighter. He grew up in the hills of LA, a privileged area, and a different city experience, where coyotes roamed the streets, and stargazing was an nightly ritual. In his house, it was always family first. His brothers are his greatest gift, and his father is his biggest role model. As a kid, Evan wasn't interested in the academic side of school, but rather sports and the social aspect. Moving from public school to private school was an uncomfortable challenge, and when it was time for college, Evan got rejected by almost every university he applied to. And although Evan was a star baseball player, a snowboarding accident threw a massive curveball in his path. But it wasn't until his first year playing college baseball that Evan was faced with the reality that he wasn't good enough, and his baseball career was fading fast. That's when he asks himself..."Do I stay here, or do I change my life right here, right now." Taking the first step to a whole new life, Evan forced himself to fall in love with learning, set goals of getting straight A's, and finding a way out. "There's no one path." After transferring schools and graduating with a business degree from USC, then traveling Europe for two months, diving deep into self-discovery, Evan realized how free he was, and "life begins now." This is a story of taking control, and creating the life you want. This is about believing in yourself, making mistakes, and persevering through them. This is about pain, and surviving the throws of being an entrepreneur, while finding peace and balance. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Evan Haskell. #MamaWeMadeIt FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG] http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG [http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG] http://bit.ly/Joe-IG [http://bit.ly/Joe-IG] https://www.instagram.com/ehaskillz [https://www.instagram.com/ehaskillz] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast] SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT] FACEBOOK - @mamawemadeitpod https://mamawemadeit.com [https://mamawemadeit.com] See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 74: Laci Jordan

"We all have an extraordinary set of skills. Discover how to use them, and bet on your magic." Laci is a multi-disciplinary graphic designer, creative director, and entrepreneur, who has worked with Disney, CAA, and brands like Nike, Jordan, and Hibbett Sports. But as young child growing up in Hunstville, Alabama, Laci has memories of crying to her mother saying, "why am I not creative?" However, it wasn't that Laci lacked creativity, but rather confidence to let it out. As an observant kid, from divorced parents, with four older brothers, Laci developed a strong sense of independence. Always focused on how to be successful, she often took on opportunities for "optics", knowing they would look good on her resume, and for the next steps in her life. However, it wasn't until the tragic event of her older brother getting murdered, that Laci's path would soon change forever. He was the one person in her life who inspired her to be creative, and his dream became hers. Attending University of Alabama, Laci studied criminal justice and political science, but it was an internship with the FBI that would re-introduce her to the creative world, and inspire her to go back to school to major in graphic design. Now, after traveling coast to coast, working with some of the most influential companies, and the biggest brands in the world, and being featured in Forbes, Laci will still admits she struggles with confidence - but it's her ability to be fearless, embrace her differences, have undeniable work ethic, and be relentless consistency that makes her stand out. Ladies and Gents, this is Laci Jordan. #MamaWeMadeIt FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG] http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG [http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG] http://bit.ly/Joe-IG [http://bit.ly/Joe-IG] https://www.instagram.com/solacilike [https://www.instagram.com/solacilike] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast] SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT] FACEBOOK - @mamawemadeitpod https://mamawemadeit.com [https://mamawemadeit.com] See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 73: Chief Johnson

"Share your story, people need to hear your struggle." Born in West Virginia, raised in Colorado, Chief was from a military family, where learning to be resilient was a cornerstone of his upbringing. At a young age, he was a part of a music and dance group, with his father at the helm, leading like a drill sergeant. While other kids were playing sports and games, Chief and his group were practicing day and night, performing throughout the city, and winning competitions. However, paralleling this road was also that of hanging around gangsters, selling drugs, violence, and being one decision away from ruining his life. It was this tumultuous environment where Chief learned how to navigate - but music was home, a place where would always come back to among life's madness. As he got older, moving from Colorado to New Orleans, Atlanta and eventually LA, Chief was caught in the tornado of working job after job, hustling, making money, and pursuing music. But at the same time, when he once thought had it all, he was losing friends, connection with family, and most of all, losing himself. However, it was a destined trip to LA that turned operating in chaos into a beautiful journey. Connecting with people he was close to, and forming new bonds with people he was meeting, Chief began to grow within a strong community that was blossoming. Soon, from performing shows and throwing parties, to working in fashion and becoming a dominant marketing figure, the kid from Colorado was truly embedding in the fabric of the city. Now, as one of the most reputable marketing executives, working with some of the worlds biggest brands and artists, Chief's proven that life is not about limits, but rather navigating to the next chapter. “There’s no time clock. As long as you're working towards something, get there when you get there." Ladies and Gents, this is Chief Johnson. #MamaWeMadeIt FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG] http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG [http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG] http://bit.ly/Joe-IG [http://bit.ly/Joe-IG] https://www.instagram.com/richhomiechief [https://www.instagram.com/davin_gentry] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast] SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT] FACEBOOK - @mamawemadeitpod https://mamawemadeit.com [https://mamawemadeit.com] See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 72: Davin Gentry

"When you're doing what you're supposed to, everything clicks." Davin is a designer, artist, and co-founder of the clothing brands Premium Co. and Diet Starts Monday. Raised by his mother in Madisonville, Kentucky, Davin grew up in a trailer park, and would often struggle with his identity. Dealing with issues of race and wealth, Davin would find himself escaping through worlds of skating, basketball, and drawing. But it wasn't until after high school, when he would fully tap into his creative side. Influenced by legendary painter, Bob Ross, Davin began to hand paint t-shirts and sell them to all the DJ crews, rappers and artists throughout the music scene. Gully Originals was born and would last for six years, as Davin committed to laying the foundation of his entrepreneur path. Soon expanding to graphic design, and creating mixtape covers, Davin was becoming one of the most sought out artists among the community, with his name and reputation spreading fast. His ability to evolve and continue to create would lead him to expand to jewelry, and soon combine forces with Tyler Hundley to organically create Premium Co., and later join together with John Geiger to form Diet Starts Monday. Davin believes in the long term of brand building, embracing the right and wrong decisions that lead you to where you need to be, and looking at life like a ladder, with every step as a step up. Focus on creating, and what you believe in, and whatever direction that takes you in...follow it. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Davin Gentry. #MamaWeMadeIt FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG] http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG [http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG] http://bit.ly/Joe-IG [http://bit.ly/Joe-IG] https://www.instagram.com/davin_gentry [https://www.instagram.com/davin_gentry] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast] SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT] FACEBOOK - @mamawemadeitpod https://mamawemadeit.com [https://mamawemadeit.com/] See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 71: Willie B

“The moment I gain personal happiness is when I stop caring.” LYNWOOD STAND UP! This one’s for y’all. Enter Willie B aka The Ichiban Don. Willie grew up Lynwood, CA - a city with integrity and respect, but “you don’t take no shit!” Everyone knows each other, grows up together, but divided by two sides of gangs. But, Willie was someone who got along with everyone, a neutral character with a positive soul. Willie’s household built on the foundation of morals. His mother was from Mississippi, and his father from Cleveland, both hard workers who provided Willie with a good childhood and encouraged his artistic and creative endeavors - drawing and music. “Music and Art are the same. I see colors in every record.” Throughout high school, Willie gravitated and focused on all performing arts - from battle rapping to singing in choirs. Music would soon completely take over, as he finally “understood” it. But it wasn’t until college when Willie was introduced to the world of beat-making and production, drawn by the desire to create the perfect beat for his rapping style. After entering beat battles and crushing the competition, Willie knew there was something special. This new found passion, combined with unrelenting work ethic, while navigating the throws of the music industry, drove Willie to produce for Hip Hop greats like Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, J. Cole, and remain a dominant force in the game. But if you ask him how he’s doing, he’ll give you a smile, and humbly say, “pretty good.” Ladies and Gents, this is Willie B. #MamaWeMadeIt FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-IG] http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG [http://bit.ly/Anoush-IG] http://bit.ly/Joe-IG [http://bit.ly/Joe-IG] https://www.instagram.com/ichibandon [https://www.instagram.com/ichibandon] SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeItPodcast] SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT [http://bit.ly/MamaWeMadeIt-YT] FACEBOOK - @mamawemadeitpod https://mamawemadeit.com [https://mamawemadeit.com] See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information.