Soul Story® Show with Brooke-Sidney

Black Capitalists: Race, Wealth & Redefining Power with Dr. Rachel Laryea

Black Capitalists: Race, Wealth & Redefining Power with Dr. Rachel Laryea | The Soul Story® Show What does it really mean to be a Black capitalist? In this powerful episode, host Brooke-Sidney Harbour sits down with scholar and author Dr. Rachel Laryea to unpack her book Black Capitalists: The Story of Race, Identity, and the Making of Black Wealth. From redefining capitalism through a communal lens to the radical framework of the undercommons, this conversation challenges assumptions about race, money, and power—and offers a grounded roadmap for building generational wealth with integrity. What You'll Learn • How Dr. Laryea defines "Black capitalist" (and how it differs from simply "participating in capitalism") • Why abundance mindset + community must replace scarcity and individualism • The undercommons: leveraging institutions' resources for marginalized communities • Diaspora insights: Ghana's Year of Return, pan-African investing, and a global Black wealth lens • Is education still the path to generational wealth—or is that belief shifting? • Will AI and crypto accelerate or entrench the racial wealth gap? • Case study: Esusu & reporting rent to build credit—using "the master's tools" for equitable outcomes • Tactical wisdom: authenticity vs. strategy in rooms not built for us Chapters (Timestamps) 0:00 Intro — Welcome to The Soul Story® Show 1:12 Meet Dr. Rachel Laryea & Black Capitalists 1:30 The soul of the book: personal + communal reasons it had to be written 3:12 "Black capitalists don't exist?"—why this discourse matters 5:03 Education, immigrant grit, and access—Dr. Laryea's early story 10:19 Defining Black capitalist vs. Black capitalism (Nixon-era vs. her definition) 12:39 Abundance, community, anti-extraction: re-orienting how we use capital 16:02 What the research revealed (diaspora throughline, Africa focus) 18:43 Year of Return (Ghana), pan-Africanism, and global Black futures 21:02 Why private equity & real estate—and why culture matters too 22:30 The Undercommons (Moten & Harney): resistance, refusal, radical possibility 24:55 Undercommons in practice (e.g., JPMorgan African Alliance, social/human capital) 27:01 Strategy versus "fitting in": navigating power spaces without losing yourself 30:18 Is education still the pathway to Black wealth? How the landscape is shifting 33:38 AI & crypto—accelerators or new gatekeepers? Implementation + access questions 35:24 Building wealth with values first: culture → profitability (the Esusu model) 39:27 "Master's tools" debate—can tools be neutral? 40:15 Rapid Fire: books, models of excellence, one word for the future, a song, $100M play 43:37 Closing, links, and how to connect Guest Info: Dr. Rachel Laryea 🔗 Website: https://rachellaryea.com [https://rachellaryea.com] 🔗 Instagram: https://instagram.com/drlaryea [https://instagram.com/drlaryea] 🔗 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dr-rachel-laryea-83a44aa1 [http://linkedin.com/in/dr-rachel-laryea-83a44aa1] 📖 Book: Black Capitalists: The Story of Race, Identity, and the Making of Black Wealth — https://amzn.to/4nUwIBf [https://amzn.to/4nUwIBf] Resources Mentioned The Undercommons — Fred Moten & Stefano Harney (framework referenced): https://amzn.to/4nLhX3C [https://amzn.to/4nLhX3C] Esusu — rent reporting to credit bureaus; building credit for renters - https://esusurent.com/ [https://esusurent.com/] Books: Forensics of Capital — Michael Ralph: https://amzn.to/46pET2I [https://amzn.to/46pET2I] The E-Myth Revisited — Michael E. Gerber: https://amzn.to/46BYhYX [https://amzn.to/46BYhYX] Black Marxism — Cedric J. Robinson: https://amzn.to/4gMrpBy [https://amzn.to/4gMrpBy] The Color of Money — Mehrsa Baradaran: https://amzn.to/4pG8zA4 [https://amzn.to/4pG8zA4] Ghana's Year of Return (2019) — diaspora reconnection and investment context Song: "Billionaire's Club" (Wizkid, Darkovibes, Olamide) – energy of the episode Key Ideas to Share • "It's one thing to be a Black person participating in capitalism; it's another to be a Black capitalist who refuses extraction and builds with community in mind." • "The undercommons is where we leverage institutional resources for collective benefit." • "Tools can be neutral—it's how we use them that determines whether they reproduce harm or create equity." Connect & Next Steps ✨ Loved this conversation? Like, subscribe, and share with a friend. 📝 Ready to write your transformative book? Book a Soul Story® Strategy Call: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats [https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats] 📩 Media and Speaking inquiries: brookesidney@brookesidney.com [brookesidney@brookesidney.com] 🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify, iHeart or your favorite podcast platform #BlackWealth #BlackCapitalism #GenerationalWealth #RachelLaryea #SoulStoryShow #Undercommons #PanAfrican #AIandEquity #Crypto #bookcoach #authorcoach #booktube #booktuber #writerscommunity #authortube #authortubers #bookstagram #bookreview #ghostwriter #writer #author #attorney #booklover #booklovers

The Entrepreneur's Odyssey: Teaching Startup Success Through Story

In this episode, host Brooke-Sidney Harbour sits down with angel investor and startup mentor Andrew Ackerman to unpack his new book, The Entrepreneur's Odyssey: A Novel Approach to Startup Success—a business book told as fiction. Andrew shares why story beats slides for learning, how the hero's journey mirrors the founder journey, and the practical "why now" lens he uses to evaluate ideas (including AI). If you're launching your first idea or scaling your next milestone, this conversation gives you mindset, models, and memorable stories to strengthen every "link" in your startup chain. Listen/Watch • 🎧 Podcast: Available wherever you listen to podcasts • 🎥 Full YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/73L26bI5sbQ [https://youtu.be/73L26bI5sbQ] • 📘 Book: The Entrepreneur's Odyssey — https://amzn.to/489s4KW [https://amzn.to/489s4KW] "Your startup is a chain, not a rope. One weak link can break the whole thing." — Andrew Ackerman Connect with Andrew: Website: https://andrewbackerman.com [https://andrewbackerman.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbackerman/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewbackerman/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbackerman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbackerman/] X/Twitter: https://x.com/andrewackerman [https://x.com/andrewackerman] ⸻ Key Takeaways • Story sticks. Founders remember lessons best when they're anchored in real startup stories—not bullet lists. • The Odyssey lens. Like Odysseus, great founders are resourceful "hackers" who go over, under, around, or through obstacles. • Two must-haves for a "novel" biz book: engaging narrative and accurate, actionable advice. • Use narrative in your pitch. Choose the right story arc—origin story (personal mission) or "big problem just became solvable" (dramatic hook). • Team slide ≠ resumes. It's "why we win at this—now," not just who you are. • Experimentation mindset. Build quick, cheap tests to validate what actually matters; don't hide where "the light is better." • "Why now" matters. AI (and other inflections) can be the catalyst—but only if it truly changes what's possible. • Bar goes up as costs go down. Tools make building easier; investors expect more traction earlier. • Success, redefined. Beyond returns, learning and playing with new tools (incl. AI video and code) can be part of the win. ⸻ Practical Frameworks & Examples • The Chain Test: Identify each critical link (problem, timing/"why now," solution, GTM, unit economics, team unfair advantage, moat). Shore up the weakest one first. • $100 Test: Before raising, spend ~$100 on ads to validate CPC/CTR and sanity-check your growth model. • Founder Narrative Options: 1. Missionary Origin (personal stake) • 2) Inciting Incident (the problem just became solvable) • Pricing Story Example: Subway ride → flat fare vs. per-unit pricing → opens to "all-you-can-eat," usage-based, or share-of-savings models. ⸻ Rapid-Fire with Andrew • Morning ritual: Coffee ☕ • Must-read for founders: Mastering the VC Game by Jeff Bussgang: https://amzn.to/4pnkEdq [https://amzn.to/4pnkEdq] • One word for his philosophy: Experimentation • Focus song: "Son of a Preacher Man" ⸻ Time Stamps 0:00 Welcome & intro 1:18 Why tell startup lessons through fiction 3:40 Story as the most memorable teacher 4:10 "Odyssey" and the hacker-hero founder 5:48 Balancing narrative with actionable tactics 7:30 Writing challenges & classroom edit (goodbye F-bombs) 10:50 Giving each character a distinct voice 12:05 Using storytelling in pitches that land 15:01 What Andrew looks for on the team slide ("why we win") 17:01 Urgency vs. strategic focus—design cheap tests 21:02 AI as today's "why now" (and when not to use it) 26:00 Lower build costs, higher traction bar 28:23 The "startup chain" metaphor 30:50 Success, learning, and playing with AI tools 32:23 From cube to founder—who should go for it 33:49 Rapid-fire round 35:34 Closing & how to connect ⸻ Mentioned in the Episode • Book: The Entrepreneur's Odyssey by Andrew Ackerman: https://amzn.to/489s4KW [https://amzn.to/489s4KW] • Book (ops classic): The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt: https://amzn.to/46d11vM [https://amzn.to/46d11vM] • Book (VC perspective): Mastering the VC Game by Jeff Bussgang: https://amzn.to/4pnkEdq [https://amzn.to/4pnkEdq] • Tooling themes: AWS, APIs, GitHub, AI coding assistants, gen-AI video ⸻ Work With Brooke-Sidney / The Soul Story® Agency Want help crafting the story that investors, customers, and the press remember? • ✍️ Author & Founder Story Architecture™ (done-with-you / done-for-you) • 🎤 Media & Messaging for launches and fundraising • 📚 Book coaching / ghostwriting for founder brand & authority 👉 Book a strategy session: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats [https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats] ⸻ Support the Show • Subscribe on YouTube: [Subscribe + 🔔]: https://youtube.com/@soulstoryshow [https://youtube.com/@soulstoryshow] • Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow [https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow] • Share this episode with a founder who needs a "why now" boost. ⸻ #SoulStoryShow #Entrepreneurship #Startups #AngelInvesting #Storytelling #AI #FounderLife #PitchDeck #BookTalk #bookcoach #authorcoach #booktube #booktuber #writerscommunity #authortube #authortubers #bookreview #ghostwriter #writer #author #booklover #booklovers

Love, Loss & Legacy: Sisterhood, Cumulative Grief & Black Women's Friendships (Love, Rita)

In this soulful episode of the Soul Story® Show, host Brooke-Sidney Harbour sits down with acclaimed author, journalist, and filmmaker Bridgett M. Davis to explore her deeply moving new memoir, Love, Rita: An American Story of Sisterhood, Joy, Loss, and Legacy. Through laughter, tears, and truth-telling, Bridgett honors the life of her sister Rita — a vibrant and unapologetic woman who embodied joy, style, and resilience — and examines how love and legacy endure through storytelling. Together, they open a heartfelt conversation about cumulative grief, the sustaining power of Black women's friendships, and what it really takes to tell a personal story on the page. Whether you're navigating loss, cherishing sisterhood, or dreaming of writing your own memoir, this episode offers healing, inspiration, and the reminder that our stories matter. ⸻ 💡 What You'll Discover in This Episode • Who Rita was and why her story needed to be told now • The difficult but necessary conversation around cumulative grief • How Black women's friendships create joy, survival, and healing • The balance between vulnerability and privacy in memoir writing • Bridgett's wisdom for aspiring authors on memoir and publishing • How writing transforms grief into meaning and legacy ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome & Introduction 2:10 – Who Rita Was Beyond the Page 6:35 – Why Love, Rita Had to Be Written 12:20 – Joy Alongside Grief: Finding Balance in Memoir 18:45 – Cumulative Grief and How It Shapes Us 26:15 – The Role of Black Women's Friendships in Rita's Story and Our Own 34:50 – Writing Advice for Memoirists and Aspiring Authors 42:00 – Rapid Fire Soul Notes with Bridgett M. Davis 47:00 – Closing Reflections ⸻ 📚 Get the Book Love, Rita: An American Story of Sisterhood, Joy, Loss, and Legacy - https://amzn.to/47iY2UJ [https://amzn.to/47iY2UJ] ⸻ 🙏 Connect with Bridgett Davis: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgett_d [https://www.instagram.com/bridgett_d] Website: https://www.bridgettdavis.com [https://www.bridgettdavis.com] ⸻ 📚 Other Books Mentioned in This Episode: • The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother's Life in the Detroit Numbers — by Bridgett M. Davis - https://amzn.to/4n3LzJ4 [https://amzn.to/4n3LzJ4] • The Yellow House — by Sarah M. Broom - https://amzn.to/3JAtfJk [https://amzn.to/3JAtfJk] ⸻ 💬 Continue the Conversation Follow Brooke-Sidney Harbour & The Soul Story® Show • Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow [https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow] • Website: https://brookesidneybooks.com [https://brookesidneybooks.com] • YouTube: https://youtube.com/@UCIeDSx2-59Yy59MZfo72zBg [https://youtube.com/@UCIeDSx2-59Yy59MZfo72zBg] • Schedule a book chat: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats [https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats] ⸻ 🙏 If you loved this episode… Please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who believes in the power of love and storytelling. Your support helps bring more soulful conversations to life. 📚 Book your Soul Story Strategy Session today - https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats [https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats] #soulstoryshow #bridgettdavis #loverita #authorinterview #bookdiscussion #bookdiscussions #memoirwriting #memoir #bookcoach #authorcoach #booktube #booktuber #writerscommunity #authortube #authortubers #bookstagram #bookreview #ghostwriter #writer #author #attorney #booklover #booklovers #writeyourbook #writeyourstory

How To Be Fiercely Joyful Every Day with Natasha Durkins!

What does it take to live fiercely joyful? 💛 In this inspiring conversation, Natasha "Tash" Durkins — life coach, speaker, and author of Fiercely Joyful: 11 Keys to Living Authentically & Creating a Life You Love — shares her personal journey from burnout, people-pleasing, and perfectionism to a life filled with boundaries, freedom, and unapologetic joy. We dive deep into: ✨ Why joy is not a luxury but a necessity ✨ The hardest chapter of her book to write — and why ✨ How to set boundaries as an act of self-love ✨ The daily practices that help her stay grounded in joy ✨ The writing process behind Fiercely Joyful ✨ Her best advice for anyone writing a book from a place of healing Whether you're navigating change, reclaiming your voice, or dreaming of writing your own book, this episode is your permission slip to choose yourself and live authentically. 📚 Grab Tash's book: https://amzn.to/4fJORPl [https://amzn.to/4fJORPl] Visit her website: https://www.fiercely-joyful.com/ [https://www.fiercely-joyful.com/] 📸 Follow Tash on Instagram: https://instagram.com/onlytash [https://instagram.com/onlytash] 📚 Other Books Mentioned: • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: https://amzn.to/45BLjdv [https://amzn.to/45BLjdv] • Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto (Rest Is Resistance, 1) by Tricia Hersey: https://amzn.to/4lrU7IO [https://amzn.to/4lrU7IO] 🎙 Work with Brooke-Sidney: Schedule your free Book Chat: https://brookesidneybooks.com [https://brookesidneybooks.com] or https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats [https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats] 📸 Follow Brooke-Sidney on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebrookesidney [https://instagram.com/thebrookesidney] 📸 Follow the Soul Story® Show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow [https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow] 📌 Subscribe to The Soul Story® Show: https://YouTube.com/@SoulStoryShow [https://YouTube.com/@SoulStoryShow] #FiercelyJoyful #SoulStoryShow #NatashaDurkins #BookInterview #SelfLoveJourney #ChooseJoy #AuthorInterview #BookTube #BookTalk

How To Rewire Your Brain with Sticky Notes Mantras

🎙️ Sticky Note Mantras: How to Rewire Your Mind with Affirmations, Mindset & Manifestation Featuring: Helene Ann Zupanc & Beth G. Valdez | Hosted by Brooke-Sidney In this episode of The Soul Story® Show, we dive into the healing power of mantras, the science behind affirmations, and how simple sticky notes can interrupt negative thought patterns and transform your inner dialogue. I'm joined by the incredible co-authors of Sticky Note Mantras: The Art and Science of Choosing Your Thoughts — therapists, mindset leaders, and lifelong friends Helene Ann Zupanc and Beth G. Valdez. Together, we explore how sticky notes evolved into a therapeutic tool used in counseling sessions and daily life to support mental health, mindfulness, and manifestation. Whether you're deep into mindset work or just beginning to reclaim your thoughts, this conversation is your permission slip to choose better, more empowering beliefs—one mantra at a time. 🧠 We talk about: • How Sticky Note Mantras began in graduate school • Using affirmations and sticky notes in therapy sessions • The role of imposter syndrome and personal storytelling • How sticky notes disrupt Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) • The science behind mantras, neuroplasticity, and mindset rewiring • The overlap between affirmations, manifestation, and mindfulness • Why vulnerability is a superpower in healing • What's next: workbooks, school curriculum, and community impact 🔗 Connect with the Authors: 🌐 Website: www.stickynotemantras.com [https://www.stickynotemantras.com] 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/stickynotemantras [https://instagram.com/stickynotemantras] 🎵 TikTok & Facebook: @stickynotemantras 📚 Grab the book: Sticky Note Mantras: The Art and Science of Choosing Your Thoughts: https://amzn.to/4m3AnMM [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazVpcENralh1WlowT0FMbGgybDVtd3Fjd2V5Z3xBQ3Jtc0tudE5jWllNSnMwbWtGTklvdk1IQUtUWjlkZ1E3bzh3dkptbl9PSkgyTVp1bVc1MHE4bTNralp4TnZxbXVILXExeW83TXp4S2Z1MS1UeDV2YkpVcERhSG5WNGE0dkZfTHUtZXB4bDVDSjhjSkY5ODlWSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F4m3AnMM&v=3f24RmzGuYs] 💬 Quotes You'll Love: "Change is possible for everyone. It's built into us." "Sticky notes are more than reminders—they're rewiring tools." "You can choose your thoughts—and change your life." 📚 Books Mentioned: • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - https://amzn.to/3IVZjqQ [https://amzn.to/3IVZjqQ] • The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak - https://amzn.to/4o6zvrU [https://amzn.to/4o6zvrU] • The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - https://amzn.to/475VcSU [https://amzn.to/475VcSU] • Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristen Neff, Ph.D. - https://amzn.to/4fr9nEf [https://amzn.to/4fr9nEf] • Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior by Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz - https://amzn.to/4mg3E6o [https://amzn.to/4mg3E6o] • The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls - https://amzn.to/4ff1B0h [https://amzn.to/4ff1B0h] • Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs - https://amzn.to/4lVkZBV [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmJNeVlhVENXMEF4Qk1PWkVXT1NhdUd1VVVpQXxBQ3Jtc0ttOVRHSDlpNkNYRGt0SlJjRHc4U3VEcDlmUG1NX2ZaUHpJcVBtNERRTG9LeTdkbHBwOTl6a1k3bXoxT0thZGljS0owOE03V3NxSzZ6ei1WVHFmYmNHQmZheUlWb3ZuM2Q0QkZUMjdXSnctMjlGU3huTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F4lVkZBV&v=3f24RmzGuYs] ✍🏽 Ready to write your book or Soul Story®? I help authors, coaches, and creatives bring their book ideas to life and publish with impact. 📅 Book your free consultation: https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats [https://bit.ly/BJHbookchats] Visit: https://brookesidneybooks.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTFacUNXc0l2RmltRjczejVSV2x6ei1WZXdTd3xBQ3Jtc0tuMlRUOERpdDdwOHJNTlNEdjVUTzBfSG1Fb2VmRTlzaUxUaDFVSGZ6MXh3ZEtRRWN5NnI3SGQxR0hiSUk3SE11OUFrb3lHYVNDVzBjdUprbFlPdnpuQkRnLXlyZGg5R2RWWWVONGNCTEFweXF4VmZrcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbrookesidneybooks.com%2F&v=3f24RmzGuYs] ⸻ 🧘🏽‍♀️ Want manifestation + mindset tools? Subscribe to my second channel: Make Miracles Manifest™ : youtube.com/@UCdCp7zOvF_1kwOyAaST9jQg [https://youtube.com/@UCdCp7zOvF_1kwOyAaST9jQg] 🔔 Like this video? Subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who's rewriting their story too. Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/soulstoryshow [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0FpejJiOTQwUm5lSTNCLWJJcHlEa05rTEhUQXxBQ3Jtc0ttZlJWd1Nlc1h3TDZSQUF5dVVVc0hlM2s0anFSQjFyZmMxdlRrNkJaVURFVG1TRTA5SFpUVnFwQ190WHd0dXAyQzlocldSeDBQb0tXM1hnU3d6RUU3MEVma2ppeURQaWZQUGNDV04wX1Fydm5HY2lMUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fsoulstoryshow&v=3f24RmzGuYs] and https://instagram.com/thebrookesidney [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHdycGJLSjEyZHlrQ2dyQ3M4NmtCSnQzYVFwUXxBQ3Jtc0tsRmhtQlMzV3l2REFTWkpVZXNaZVBVNXhzNllYWXZ4Z01aWDFweFFkaFVyaVlQNmN4SHBRRHhrSnF0QTM3S2hrSkR3bEdxSHowQ0FVS1JFdTNpcGR4NVNfRW5KcmkwT3p6enMyY0hSN1F3TmoxUWtJZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Fthebrookesidney&v=3f24RmzGuYs]