Here's Where It Gets Interesting - Turning $24 into a Multi-Million Dollar Business with Nicole Walters

Episode Date: December 6, 2021

In this episode, Sharon sits down with Nicole Walters to talk about Nicole’s incredible journey of becoming a successful entrepreneur and television star. Nicole shares how she built a mulit-million dollar business after having only $24 in her bank account. As well, Sharon and Nicole talk about the importance of humility, learning new things and expressing empathy when hearing others’ perspectives. In this lively episode, join Sharon and Nicole as they chat like old friends while also sharing some wisdom and hilarious stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a Fizz member, you can look forward to free data, big savings on plans, and having your unused data roll over to the following month. Every month at Fizz, you always get more for your money. Terms and conditions for our different programs and policies apply. Details at fizz.ca. Hello, my friends. Welcome, welcome. I have my friend Nicole Walters here. Nicole is a social media star, a TV star. She owns a very successful business. And we really, in many ways, just get along so well and relate to each other so well. You guys have been bugging me for months to get Nicole on this podcast. So I did. So let's dive into my conversation with the one and only Nicole Walters. I'm Sharon McMahon and welcome to the Sharon Says So podcast.

I am so excited that you're here, Nicole. People have been asking for this. Have they been in your comments? Yes. It's like we have these communities that are supposed to be these calm, sensible people, you know, just so appreciative of a gentle place to land in this crazy internet world. But then once they get to tagging, oh, the insistence. I'm glad we're here together. Yes. So many people have been like, when is Nicole Walters coming on your podcast? And today is the day. It's the day. You grabbed me right after I finished washing my wigs. I hung those bad boys up and I was like, it is time. So if somebody is not familiar with you yet, if they have never visited your Instagram or your website, tell us what you do just to set a little bit of context for who you are.

Oh my gosh. I get to do what I love every day, which is interact with people, help them, whether it's with building a business they love through my business education firm, Inherit Learning Company, or if it's just being their internet best friend and making them laugh on my show on USA Network called She's the Boss, or just hanging out with them on Instagram, which is very much the place that I spend most of my time. So I get to just show up in this world as I am. And somehow people keep meeting me there. I love that. And I think that's show up in this world as I am. And, and somehow people keep meeting me there. I love that. And I think that's one of the things that people love about you is you're like, and this is who I am. I always love meeting people like that, that are just unashamedly

themselves. They're comfortable with the idea of if I'm not for you, then I'm okay with that. Yes. I am for you. And that's fantastic. I know people always ask you this, but how does somebody get a TV show? How do you start a company teaching business owners? Well, I think the biggest thing that I always try to tell everyone is just start doing what you love and putting it out there. I know that sounds so high level, but with the advent of things like social media and live streaming and videos and all of that, if you have something you're really passionate about, you have ways to reach people directly. And a lot of people are surprised

to hear that, you know, with my TV show, I did end up working with a production studio, but like, I didn't have an agent. I didn't have a bunch of money put behind it. I didn't do like all this crazy stuff. Like I had a show that made it all the way to air because it was like pitched directly into networks and they bought into a great product, you know? So that was how it worked, but it all started though with the fact that every time you go in and you get that big opportunity, I've been at this for 12 years, it's been 12 years. And I've posted on social media every single day for those 12 years. So if you can maintain that consistency, you can have anything. Everything you want is on the other side of consistency. Just be consistent for a decade and then you'll get whatever you want. So super easy.

Then you'll have a TV show and a book deal. That's it. I'm annoying myself right now. So what did you do? Okay. What did you do before this, before you were Nicole Walters, the brand? I was a corporate executive. So I worked in healthcare for the largest healthcare company in the United States in their international division. So they actually didn't have an international division. And prior to working for them, I was with the top international company. So they kind of poached me, went over there and helped scale them from 2 million to 200 million. And I did that pretty quickly. And I was just 28 at the time. So because I picked up a lot while I was there, I enthusiastically went to my boss and was like, you know, 28 year olds are sprightly and full of belief in the world hasn't created them yet. You know, it's just, it's a delightful

thing to see. And I say all of this fully acknowledging that I still look 28. And that's, you know, so all that to be said, I had this job and my boss pretty much told me like, look, there's nothing else. This is pretty much it for the next couple of years. So I quit my job and actually did that live online in front of 10,000 people. Yeah. And it went viral. What made you do that? I'd been already documenting my journey to entrepreneurship. So what's pretty cool, I think about where I am now with like a multimillion dollar company and 20 employees and a headquarters in Atlanta and an office in Santa Monica. And like, just the fact that people normally only see the finish line. If you have the time to scroll back

far enough, you can see when I had $24 in my bank account and bad wigs. So there's, you know, nothing more real than knowing that I tracked the whole thing. And that's what happened. I was tracking like this journey saying, look, like I'm feeling this push and I'm scared about it, you know, and I'm trying, and this is kind of what it looks like. And today I did really well, or today I failed. And eventually it came to the point where it was like, I think I have to just quit, you know, and it just felt authentic to share that part of the story too. I mean, I was classy about it, you know, like it wasn't messy. It wasn't like jumping onto the wing of the plane, like I'm out of here. It wasn't

that, but, um, but yeah, a lot of people, it resonated with them and that just kind of sort of kicked off the journey. I love that. And I love that you just talk so openly about, about your journey and you talk about how you grew up is not indicative of what you have made for yourself. And how do you think how you grew up in a much more modest socioeconomic status? How do you think that has affected your brand, affected your business, affected who you have become? So I love this because I think both of us in our social media platforms, we are just so tender with our talk. We're so good with our language, modest socioeconomic

status, like Sharon, the two of us together, we could take on the world with our words. Okay. We are Smithers of the word, you know, I was pro girl. Couldn't afford the O and the R. Okay. And the thing about it is, you know, I slept on a. Couldn't afford the O and the R. And the thing about it is, you know, I slept on a couch when I was 12. I used to wake up to roaches crawling on me, you know, and it's not easy to know that that was my existence. And it wasn't for lack of trying, you know, I was a child of two Ghanaian immigrants from Ghana, West Africa. And my dad was a cab driver. My mom was a secretary to boating insurance company and they wanted more for me. That's why they brought me here. And my dad was the type person who would say, you know, why we're in America is because you can clean a building and

you can have your name on it. Like what you want it to be, you know, and it's not that one has more pride. It's your choice. I think that that messaging around where I was is what ended up affecting where I am. I just didn't feel limited. You know, I felt, I knew that I was in a place where I had more options and that was huge for me, you know, and it allowed me to, I'm not saying that we don't all have cards that we've been dealt, you know, that we may not have deserved to be dealt or cards that we were born with that we certainly shouldn't be barriers from us getting ahead. But, you know, even with that being the reality, I'm grateful that I still have been able to exercise choice where able to maximize my

opportunities. And, and that's all that my life's been, you know, it's just been making sure that at least in the beginning that I could chase stability, right. And chase these choices. And now it's turning into a place where I'm able to do that in a very out loud way to show other people what's possible. So that's probably the biggest impact of growing up like that. Being able to know that the juxtaposition of growing up in DC and seeing wealth everywhere, but not having it really has allowed me to prepare for the life that I have now, where I have an understanding, which I think kind of lends itself to kind of how we both show up in this internet space. I'm just very understanding, empathetic, compassionate. I get it because I've been all of the things. It's not just the one experience that

you've had that you've had like 75 different experiences and you know what they're like, and people can tell when you truly get them. People can tell when you at least are, you know, empathetic with their struggles. And that's the least we can afford each other. Right? Like, I think that it's so interesting because both of us, we spend so much time in our platforms trying to be delicate with our language, you know, and be mindful because it matters more to us that people feel seen and heard than it does that we're right. All we do is we just extend empathy and grace like everywhere. So yeah, it's really helped, you know, my therapist says I'm doing great, but you know what? The fact that you have a therapist

probably does mean you're doing great. Oh, I appreciate that. Yeah. You know, I'm all about therapy, Jesus and therapy girl, like you, we all need it because in this world you need therapy just to make sure that you're even, and you know, a lot of people may or may not relate to this if they're listening. Oftentimes people think platform just means a lot of followers, but we have platforms for mothers because we're speaking into children's lives or for teachers because we're speaking into kids. So anyone with a platform, it really does help, you know, to have a place where someone is just there to help serve you so you can show up your best.

And that's how I've always looked at therapy. It's not necessarily that something's broken or needs fixed. It's that I need a place where I can make sure I am staying on my A game so I can show up to my calling and serve people. Well, I love that, that this is really, this is a tool for you to use versus somebody working on you telling you how you're broken. Sure. For sure. It's the gym. It's not the emergency room. That's a great way of putting it. I love that. How scary was it for you to quit your lucrative job that you had, you had obviously been very successful at and decide this isn't for me anymore. I had faith that I'd make it work. You know, my parents are like,

what are you doing? I don't understand. Are you trying to keep me today? This doesn't make sense to me. We work and work and work and work. And you just want to throw it away for what? So you can eat unlimited McDonald's. Like literally, because that's what it always comes down to with African parents. Like whatever you're trying to do, the Holy grail is to go eat McDonald's, you know, it's like unlimited McDonald's. That's it. That's like the Holy grail of good living. So no, like I had to explain to them that like, look, I already wasn't a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer. You already had these expectations for me and it didn't pan out. I want to chase this thing. So it was scary for me, but the scariness mostly came around perception from others, you know? So once I was able to let that

go and say, look, what other people think about the journey I'm taking cannot dictate my next steps because they're not taking this trip with me, you know, like they're not with me. So I have got to be the person who's driving this car. And once I finally settled into that, and there's still days where I haven't, you know, there's still days where I'm like, Oh, someone said that, that feels weird. But overall, you know, once I got used to that, it was a lot less scary and it was a lot easier to take bigger steps forward. It's so true that what other people think of your journey is actually not your business. Listen, if they can't say it to me, then it's now for me. Oh, I love that too. And so what does Inherit Learning do?

So Inherit Learning Company is kind of my first company. And basically it's a business education firm. So if you are someone who doesn't know what you want to do, we help make sure that you're clear around that and we make sure it's profitable. That was an excellent elevator pitch. Thank you so much. I just made money and keep it. That's, I mean, yeah, like you got, I'm not going to make the money and then write the checks to people that are not me. What I find is interesting is you hear a lot of people who say like, well, Yeah. I'm not going to make the money and then write the checks to people that are not me. What I find is interesting is you hear a lot of people who say like, well, that information is Google-able. And it's like, that's true. You can absolutely find the what all over the internet, but the how or the why is this important, you know, or the when, when does this apply?

You actually do need to talk to an expert for, you know? So that's why I love the work that I do because no matter where you are in business, I can help fill that gap. I'm Jenna Fisher. And I'm Angela Kinsey. We are best friends. And together we have the podcast Office Ladies, where we rewatched every single episode of The Office

with insane behind the scenes stories, hilarious guests, and lots of laughs. Guess who's sitting next to me? Steve! It is Steve Carell in the studio! Every Wednesday, we'll be sharing even more exclusive stories from the office and our friendship with brand new guests, and we'll be digging into our mailbag to answer your questions and comments. So join us for brand new Office Lady 6.0 episodes every Wednesday. Plus, on Mondays, we are taking a second drink.

You can revisit all the Office Ladies rewatch episodes every Monday with new bonus tidbits before every episode. Well, we can't wait to see you there. Follow and listen to Office Ladies on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts. I want to talk to you a little bit about what it is like to be a public figure on social media, because I feel like so many people are there. Number one, they're just curious. Number two, there's a lot of misconceptions about what it is like. They think that it's just like,

oh my gosh, the influencer lifestyle, it's just free stuff all day. It's just palm trees and Prosecco. Everybody loves you. And in reality, there is a tremendous amount of work creating content that people actually want to consume. Like the amount of work to create content that people want to consume, like the amount of work to create content that people enjoy and relate to and can benefit from is tremendous. And then also it is not all big fun. It's a job. I mean, you only get paid for doing work. You know, when it comes to posting my content, like I post, I speak when I have something to say, that's a huge part of it. Nothing is ever calculated or excessively planned. You know, it's always, this is just my truth. It's why I go live a lot. So my most viral content was literally just said live and it was off the top of my head. However, as you're saying,

the work comes in, in the aftermath, right? It's the people management. It's the, again, everyone's coming from their viewpoint and wanting to hold space and give everyone the respect and the grace that they deserve, even if they haven't received it, but also making sure that you're protecting your boundaries because no matter how other people view you, or no matter what pedestals they put you on, you still have to protect the fact that you are a human with children and a life and our values and all of that. And that part is a delicate balance that I am constantly working on how much is too much and then how to deal when you assert certain boundaries. So that part I think is the hardest. Exerting the boundaries is not the tough part. It's when people

push back because they're not comfortable with your boundaries. That's such a good point that when somebody is giving you a hard time about your boundaries, it's generally because they were benefiting from you not having any. Preach, write it down, underline Sharon said so. Okay. Like it's because, and it's because whenever you didn't hold true to your boundaries, it likely served them and not even necessarily serve them to their benefit because I have kids who will push my boundaries because they want to stay up later or they want money or whatever else may not be in their interest, but it served their desire and it alleviated their discomfort around whatever it was that they had to cope with. And so what's great is I can appreciate that by me asserting my

boundaries, no matter what, if nothing else, I'm teaching them that I'm not somebody that you're going to tell what I should be doing or how I should show up. And I think that's really necessary as I go into these next chapters, like I'm writing this book in my book, I'm going to talk about things that are going to absolutely categorically shock people. I am very aware that I am both burning down my life and building another one and I'm okay with it, you know, and thank, thank you therapy. And so in knowing that, you know, I'm excited to start training people to respect my boundaries because I want them to respect them, especially after they read this book, you know. And it is so true.

When your kids start to get older, you have to respect their boundaries. Yes. When I tell you my middle one, she's 19. This girl takes no mess from anyone. Like she is the type of kid where she 100% will not get walked over. And she's very comfortable stating that because she knows who she is and how she shows up in this world. And I like, she's my hero and it's because she's clear on her boundaries. You know, it's amazing. We can, any of us can do it. And it's so great that you support her in that

because very often people who do have clear boundaries as children are told that they should not have those boundaries. Oh, for sure. But it feels weird. I'm not kidding. Like I grew up in a household where like, what is a boundary? You know, like my parents are African. They dictated my life.

Like, this is where you get married. This is the job you'll have. Like, you know, it's just culturally that was normal growing up, you know, within at least Ghanian culture. And so what was not speaking unilaterally for all Ghanians, I don't want your comments to blow up, not speaking unilaterally for all Gyans. I'm just saying that at least with my parents, respects of their upbringing, but all that to be said, you know, in choosing to do that differently and raising my own children, I've seen the fruits of that. And frankly, it gives

me more ease as a parent because I'm able to know and trust when she's out there, you know, her ability to care for herself and make certain choices. But it doesn't change the fact that I still feel triggered when she'll say something like, Oh, you know, Hey, mom, I really didn't like that comment about my pants. You know what I mean? And I'm like, Oh, I was just kind of joking. But then I'm like, she didn't say anything wrong. I don't need to feel weird about that. You know, like what she did was a good action. But like, there's a thought process that goes through my head about it because that's, that wasn't an organic thing for me, for someone to do that in a home. Right. Your feelings about her statement are your feelings to feel. It does not mean that she needs to change her statement

based on your feelings. And that is true of all people in the world, right? Like you know, they're valid. Absolutely. Even if they're not facts, they're so valid, you know, but you don't have to change what you're doing because I have feelings about it. Absolutely. My feelings are mine to feel and your actions are your own. Absolutely. And if people realize that on both sides, where it's like, I don't have to argue with you to make you think what I think, because I can still feel the way I want to feel. And we're both learn nerds, you know, like, or for it, you know? So it's like, I'm all about like, tell me the ideas because I feel very comfortable in my ability to like come together

and synthesize my own notions, you know? So I'm like a glutton for all the knowledge. Yes. Right. Like I would, I would much more appreciate the opportunity to have all the education so that I can form my own educated opinion than to just have somebody else substitute their own judgment for my own and tell me what to think. Absolutely. Like it's literally about being an informed everything else. The word informed as a precursor caveat prefix to anything informed voter, informed educator, informed parent, you know, because you went out and got that information is just so much better than just being that in and of itself, you know, so that isn't that the goal, right? So, and then also having the humility, because I think a lot of people forget that

humility is something that's such a critical attribute to being a voter. And I feel like a lot of times when we have our strong feelings in response to people having conversations about tough topics, We lose some of our humility, you know, in recognizing that we may not know everything about all the things and that is not only okay, it's a beautiful place to be because now you get to learn more about another perspective or life or way of being, including when I'm parenting my kids, I have humility towards them as they're developing into independent adults. And they're speaking to me about things that I may not understand or about their feelings or about their schooling or about their hobbies. So being humble enough to say, I may be the adult

here, but let me make myself a little smaller so I can hear them. So that way they can feel big in other rooms. I love that too. And people mistake humility for meekness, humility for lack of confidence. It's not that at all. It's just turning away from this toxic level of pride that so many people have, which says that I know everything I know best. You can't convince me otherwise. And I've made up my mind. There's no, absolutely no wiggle room on this matter. And very often then we're very blind to our, we're very blind to our own inadequacies on a matter of issues. I always joke with my kids because you're just like, gosh, like life is so complicated, adulting so hard. And I'm like, I hear you. You know, what's great is you're going to hit a pocket between 25 and 28,

where you're going to feel like everything and you can do everything. Like you're going to have this like weird drive ambition, which is good because it's going to propel you into your thirties, you know, where you're going to realize that you did it all wrong and it's all a mess and you don't know where you are, you know? And like, the only thing you know is that you don't know anything. That base of humility sets you up for your forties where now you're able to like, truly, if you use it right, be a glutton for the learning that actually gets you where you want to be, you know? And then it's my hope in your fifties, which Oprah says are your best years of your life, that in your fifties, that you're able to just enjoy the fruits of whatever the

heck it is that you've had, if you're able to enter that season of humility, you know, but like, that's the precursor, right? Because how are you going to gather the knowledge that's actually going to serve you if you're not humble enough to say you need it. Oh my gosh. That is so good. I know we have bonded over our shared love of learning and, uh, our owning the level of, of nerdiness that account, the company is like, I just love to learn stuff. That's it. Professional learning. Like, yeah. And the thing about it is people don't realize it makes, I get that I'm annoying. So like I'll meet people and I'm like, I'm not, I'm the person in the checkout line at Target where it's like, oh, what's your name? Sky with two Ys. Oh my gosh. Did your mother pick that? Or is that like a family name? Tell me

more about that. Oh, wow. So I see you working at Target. Do you like it here? Is this your passion? Do you feel like you're in alignment? Oh, well, that's good. What do you really love to do? And she's like, is this all your order? And I feel so bad, but it's because like, I not, I don't just love people, but I really do love to learn. Like we have a lot in common, but even if we both saw a movie, different things would stand out to us. So it's like the joy of being able to talk about people's perspectives. It just makes you so well-rounded, you know? And I think that that's, what's great about your platform in particular is that's what you're doing is you're just saying, look, like here's another side. You may not have seen do with it. What you will. Here's another side. You may not have seen

do with it. What you will. Here's a side that exists. It's neutral. Do with it. What you will. I'm a eat it all. So I love you for it. I love you for, I hope that that's the energy I can bring to others. Cause I love that. That's so good. Don't, don't you feel like just the acquisition of knowledge is like fuel for your brain? Oh my gosh. And not just that, but it feels like, uh, like tools that I'm adding to the bag. And I don't know what I'll need. Like, I always joke with my kids that growing up and adulting, you realize that when you're younger, you feel like you don't even have a tool bag. You literally are out here. Like you put me out in this world. It's a zombie apocalypse. I got nothing. When you become 30 ish, when you get into like your real

adulting ish, where you're really getting into it, you realize, oh, I have a tool bag and it's filled with stuff. I just don't know what to use for what. So I'm just going to start grabbing things and hammer away, hammer away and hope something does something. But then, you know, as you continue to acquire tools and knowledge, you start really realizing, no, like I know that I can apply this here, or I remember learning. I know something's in that bag that applies. Let me go and look for it. And I think that like people who realize that that's what life is like, just all you want to do is fill it. I just want all the options. Let me fill up this bag with as many tools as I can get. And that's what it feels like

when I get to learn. That's what it feels like when I get facts. That's what it feels like when I get to hear and meet people who've lived lives. It's also why like real talk. So as a Black African woman in America, as a public, you know, figure is I get feedback from a variety of people who at least stereotypically, right, are categorically opposed to you, right? Because the understanding is if I look a certain way, then I must be of this belief system. So it's using that as the working theory, people thinking like, oh, well, this person say a conservative or this person is a liberal, whatever, but how do you not feel so angry? And I'm like, look, like it's because I come

from a place of learning. So whenever I had these conversations with people that typically one way or another, like the extremes of each side and people are like, how are you not just raging? It's because like, I want to learn how they got there. I want to learn why they're still there in that thought process of either sides of super extremities. And I want to learn like what they're looking for, which keeps me from being so angry about it. You know, is that we're all a lot of both, right? It's so true. Is that what it's like for you? Like, are you just like, oh my gosh, I just get to learn about people. Like when you're engaging these or. Yeah. I mean, some of it, yes. I absolutely love to learn about

other people. Like I have joked for a long time that one of the most interesting things to me in the world is to hear about what other people do for a living. Yes. Like what do you do? How is this a job? And how did you get there? What do you do on a daily basis? Yeah. And if you become that type of person, I think it also, it lends itself to more empathy. It lends itself to more grace and it lends itself to more humility. And it also ultimately lends itself to more education around how we can interact with each other a lot better. And at the end of the day, with all this public figure mumbo jumbo and social media and TV shows and books and all that, can we just help everybody be like nicer and kinder to each other and more understanding

and compassionate? I feel like that's all I try to show up and do every day is like, and compassionate. I feel like that's all I try to show up and do every day is like, I am flawed. You are flawed. Let's be flawed together. I love that. We also have to talk a little bit about, we both love animals and we both love different kinds of animals. And you really love an animal that I really do not love. and you really love an animal that I really do not love. What? No. Cause I know, I know what you're about to say, but when I, when I tell you the idea that you don't love this animal is baffling to me because like based on all, and I love this, everyone now is like, what? They're all leaning at what animal, what animal you're talking about? Trash pandas, aren't you? Yeah. Oh yeah. How do you not like raccoons? Like, first of all, they look like

tiny professors. Let's just agree. They do. They look like tiny hands, tiny hands with opposable thumbs. Like you can have a raccoon that can literally serve you a diet Coke. And you're telling me that like, they are not just fancy. They are also functional. They're smart. They'll wash your food for you. Oh, I mean, and they might be complete terrors who could end your life. But prior to that loving, what's going on? Okay. All right. Do you want, you want to hear my raccoon story? I didn't know there was one. And so now everything escalated very quickly. So one day lying in bed, hear a weird noise in the wall

sounds like wait it was a conversation that's what it sounded like like a really high pitch like wait was it just one voice or two that's all it was it was just like what like talking to yourself oh my god what is that okay um cut to the chase a raccoon is living in our attic and has given birth oh our so that is what baby raccoons sound like like conversing you think like you know if you think about a you know a baby deer or you know, if you think about a, you know, a baby deer or, you know, they have one kind of consistent noise that they make that meow sound only when necessary. No baby raccoons speak like they are cartoon women. Oh my goodness. Like in hysterics.

Yes. Hysterical. And they keep you awake at night. Well, so I'm still holding out for the part where this went wrong. Because for me, Sharon, I'm over here like, you didn't even have to catch your own raccoon family. They chose you. Honestly, this sounds like a beautiful precursor to the next Disney film. And you're sitting here telling me as if any of this is a problem.

I'm like, they're conversational. They clearly want a relationship. They see you as a suitable host and a family, which speaks volumes for your character. And then here you are saying that this is a problem. So what do you have to do? You have to call someone to- Well, one day we came home and there was no electricity on the second floor of our house. That'd be an issue. Just the second floor, not the first floor. And we called out an electrician, like the fuses

seem fine. The electrician was like, Oh no, no, no. It's the raccoons in your attic. Yeah. Because they have opposable thumbs. They mess with them. They'll just bite them. Oh no. They came to the light switches and they turn them on and off. They apparently enjoy playing with electrical wires and attics because they're warm. And I live in Minnesota where it's not warm. Oh, you should throw up a blanket. I mean, I should honestly, like, I got to tell you, it's the problem solving thing that's here. I feel like you weren't leaving the opportunity. You're not learning.

The opportunity to step up here. Like one blanket and you would have been fine. Just get like an electric blanket, put it up there. They'll stop biting the wires. What's the problem? And then just stay. So we called somebody about the raccoon family. And that guy was like, listen, raccoons

return to den where they were born. So chances are real good. This raccoon was born in your house. And it returns. So I love that this story has now escalated to you being the person on their turf. Do you know what I mean? Like the issue here now is you're complaining about them and the whole time their conversation, their garble has been about how they cannot believe

that this family, Sharon McGovernment of the McGovernments move into your home. And we're just trying to live our life. We like it dark. They keep the lights on. They're the worst downstairs tenants. The cooking is terrible. Cooking is terrible. They have the oddest sleep habits, you know, and then here you are complaining about them. Yep. So do you guys work out like the least? Yeah.

One day we decided we would like to relocate the raccoon family so that we could have the electricity and not be kept awake awake but we didn't want to kill the raccoon family no so we did decide to humanely live trap yeah and just relocate them to a place that is more compatible yeah but with their existing lifestyle yes so we waited until the the wildlife specialist said you know know, like wait until X time and then the baby raccoons will be out of here and you won't be trying to capture four raccoons. I'm on a raccoon. So we, we set up a humane live trap in the, in the attic, by the way, raccoons love cat food. Oh yes, they do. They love cat food. They love diet

Cokes. No one will ever say that your podcast doesn't bring value. I just want to pull that out there. Okay. You put out cat food. And one day we heard a raccoon not pleased with their lot in life, a raccoon in the attic who was not pleased with being trapped in a raging. That's right. It actually took a very long time to trap the raccoon. Like they're so, they're so intelligent that they would figure out how to get the food without the trap. Oh, of course. I mean, honestly, this is the most frightening part is that they use tools. You know what I mean? Which is like one step away from like designing Teslas. You know what I mean? Like it's terrifying. So they probably brought a stick with them. They're like, that is a trap. And they can't open her. Did you ever try

putting it in there without opening it? You come back up. All you hear is. Sounds good. I was afraid of like trying to come into contact with the live raccoon. I sent somebody else up into the attic to get the raccoon and they brought it downstairs into my house. Oh, they had to do that for sure. That could have not happened. And that would have been fine. A live raccoon. And it absolutely was very adorable. Of course. Very adorable. That's how they lure you in. That's right. This little raccoon in a trap, like what's happening to me? Yeah. yeah yeah and my husband put it in the back of his truck and drove it into the forest and let it go and it ran away and now

then it returned of course it did because you live in its house I mean like right like I can't even begin to tell you that like right now I don't know I'm feeling a pull towards raccoon advocacy I literally am like I just want to talk to them about their rights you know what I'm feeling a pull towards raccoon advocacy. I literally am like, I just want to talk to them about their rights. I want them to know all their options. And right now you need like a Miranda rights card. Like, frankly, you're a squatter right now. And I'm uncomfortable with it. Sharon, this is not what I thought I'd come here to find out. You have stolen, you are colonizer. Oh, absolutely. Yes. I mean, here you are squatters rights on your raccoon property. And so you ever just try talking to them. Did you guys try

mediation? Like, I feel like you escalated it quickly and this is what happened. So they come back and then what happens? They came back. And I mean, I assume, did you know it was the same one? Let's just be honest with you. The name? No, no, no, I assume it's the same raccoon. It's not like we have 75,000 visible raccoons in my neighborhood. How else would a raccoon know this is a house and I know the way in? Did he use the front door? No, of course not. Like when, and we, we took a lot of care to like, where could this be getting in? Right. Closed up all the entrances. It's still returned. He has a key. I'm telling you, I'm telling you this raccoon lives there. It does. And I just want to be clear again,

Disney movie, like here you are thinking to yourself, no, no, no, this terrible bandit, you know, this mass bandit breaking into my house, eating all the food, using my eye cream. And it's like, no, that's not what this what this is what this is is a beautiful love story about feeling lost and abandoned and finding your way back home so lean in you know that's where I've left it that's where I have to wait I am full-on in support of this whole situation you could have the house. I want to, I'm moving in. I want to move in so I can be like, oh my God, Jerry, the kids they're in. Come downstairs. Don't act like you haven't come downstairs. That would be me. Don't try to hide in the attic. Yes. Come on now. Just come on. If you'd finished out the attic, it would have been fine. That was the problem. They weren't comfortable. So we moved away. That was the end solution.

We literally, my husband literally drove it far out into the forest. Within a couple of weeks, it was back. Yeah. Cause I had to make its way home. I mean, probably had to hitchhike, but that's, I mean, needless to say, I think that what's great is anyone listening just really grew from this conversation many takeaways many many takeaways absolutely you know don't worry about social media rules just kind of post freely uh trash pandas are determined and your best bet is to relocate not them but you you get a different house like fol foliate in my dry bras. Like Sharon, like white people listen to anything else.

Cover it all here. You should have a TV show. And I do, it still does bring me, I still chuckle periodically when I know that my name in your phone is Sharon McGovernment. It's in there. I sent you a screenshot. If it makes you feel any better, nobody has like normal names in my phone. Like I, like I do that because it brings delight when people call, you know, it's funny. You know what I mean?

Sharon McGovernment. That is, that is a fantastic. It's official. It's official. It's very professional. Tell everybody where they can find you. Yes. So I had a blast. This was so much fun. This is so fun. I love this. And if you enjoy this type of very pointed and deep conversation, you can find more of it.

I'm Nicole Walters on all of social media, and you can learn more about me, my business. I have a book that's coming out at NicoleWalters.com. Thank you so much for doing this. Oh my God. Thank you for having me. And I'm so glad that we finally gave the people what they want because my DMs were on fire. So I hope you guys enjoyed this. This was fun for me. Thank you so much for listening to the Sharon Says So podcast. I am truly grateful for you. And I'm wondering if you could do me a quick favor. Would you be willing to follow or subscribe

to this podcast or maybe leave me a rating or review? Or if you're feeling extra generous, would you share this episode on your Instagram stories or with a friend? All of those things help podcasters out so much. I cannot wait to have another mind blown moment with you next episode. Thanks again for listening to the Sharon Says So podcast.