Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Building Beyond Yourself

Episode Date: June 14, 2026

In this episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie, Dr. Key Hallmon talks about community, wellness, entrepreneurship, and the mission behind building The Village Market Enterprises. From expanding Village Retail into the world’s busiest airport to growing Our Village United into more than 30 states and releasing her book No One Is Self-Made, this conversation explores what it means to build intentionally, lead with purpose, and create opportunities that extend beyond yourself. This episode is about collective care, responsibility, healing, and the power of community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I've never told this story. This must have been tucked deep, deep into Jeremy Lynn file. My name is MC Jen. I'm excited to tell you about laugh, but not least. I'll be chatting with guests from all walks of life about the power of humor when it comes to facing difficult times. These will be conversations that remind us all. Life is hard. laugh harder.

Listen and laugh but not least with MC Jen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. From IHeart Podcasts, Saigon. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. They're pouring patrons all over here.

Freedom for Vietnam! There's a fire coming to this country and it's going to be. Burnouts everything. Listen to Saigon on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Calling all my sweeties to the forefront, I'm your host Chris Renee Hazlett, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to Keep It Positive Sweetie, the place where we heal, grow, and learn together. Today's episode feels especially important because we are talking about community, purpose, and what it really means to build success without leaving other people behind.

In a world that celebrates individual achievement, today's guest is challenging the idea that any of us truly make it alone. Through her work, her business, her book, and the communities she continues to build, she's showing what it looks like to lead with intention, collective care, and impact. I am so happy to be sitting down with Dr. Key Hallman. Dr. Lakeisha Key Hallman is a transformational entrepreneur, author, speaker, and founder of the Village Market Enterprises. ecosystem that has helped thousands of small businesses grow.

From village retail and village books to expanding our village united into more than 30 states, Dr. Key has built her work around two poor beliefs. No one is truly self-made and support is a verb. This conversation is about leadership, purpose, and community responsibility. Kids family, please give a very warm welcome to Dr. Key. Hi, how are you doing today? I am amazing. Well, you look amazing.

You look amazing. Thank you. Yeah, you came in here, we were like, yes, you brought good energy in. We love that. Thank you, thank you. Yes, so you are so busy. So thank you for taking time to sit with us today. I'm excited.

And before we jump into everything that you have going on, because, guys, she has a lot going on. I want to play a little game with you. Okay. This game is called It Takes a Village, a little play on what you got going on. So the first one is I'm going to give you some scenarios, and I want you to tell us who or what impacted you. Oh, that's good. Yes. So the first one is a teacher who changed your life.

I'll go with who first came to mine, my third grade teacher, Mrs. Drake. Wow. Phenomenal teacher who I think early on saw me and saw my love for reading, and she really nurtured that. So shout out to Ms. Drake. Shout out, Ms. Drake. It's so funny. Mine was my third grade teacher, Ms. Sherry Gardner in Topeka, Kansas. Yeah.

So when you said third grade, I was like, that was mine, too. I love that. A lesson from your parents or grandparents? Oh, I will go with a lesson from my parents and made my mother rest in peace to always operate in integrity. My mom, my dad, my dad still says it, that if you operate in integrity, all would be well. And not only did they say it, they also modeled it. That's so good. I love that when you can see it, we talk about parents and children and how they emulate what they see.

so I love that they model that for you. And we see it. We see it in the fruit, honey. A business lesson you learned the hard way. Oh, this is tough. This is today. A business lesson, I learned a hard way, likely holding on to people too long.

Yeah, I think I've been an entrepreneur now for 10 years, and I think we see the signs early when someone is not a fit. And I know early on I will hold on to people because of the potential of them. I will hold on to people also because I didn't want to be a black woman that let other black people go or staff go. But holding on too long, it impacts the overall company and the mission and the vision. Yeah, and the evolution. Absolutely. Because it'll stifle you.

Wow. That's good. Next one. Someone who saw your vision early. Shout out to my grandma Josephine. In Crowder, Mississippi. My grandmother, I remember maybe being nine years old and I would tell her all my dreams. And one day, she looked at me and she touched my head and she said, you are so special. I don't know who you are going to become or who you're going to be, but you are so special.

and she has consistently said this throughout my life. And when I call her later this week, she is going to say the exact same thing. Wow. Yeah. That's beautiful. Shout out, Grandma Josephine, if you're watching, which I'm sure you will. She will watch. A wellness habit that you cannot live without.

Wellness is such central. My faith and my faith is a good steward of how well I love my mind. myself. And I cannot live without my breath work. I cannot live without the way that I affirm myself every day. I literally anoint my vessel every day with words and how I love myself so I can be prepared to go into the world. That's good. I love that. The last one, a moment community saved you. Ah, that's so good. It's been, I would, will tell you as many social entrepreneurs like myself are founders who launched a nonprofit it has been a very interesting time for 501c3 organizations and fundraising

and last year was extremely hard for me and we're still getting out of heart but the way that black women have They have just known to check on me. Yeah. They have just known to say, Doc, let's get on the call. I want to see how everything is going. I want to talk to you about your strategy

because while a lot is happening, you are seen. While a lot is happening, you are not forgotten. Wow. And so I have felt so tethered to love and in an embrace, in the way that I give people, it has been so beautiful when I need it.

to be on the receiving end without ever having to ask for it. That's so good. Shout out to black women. Shout out to black women. Man. We will save us. We will. We will save us.

That is so good because some women don't have that testimony. You hear the opposite so many times over, but to hear the positive side of that and women who really do rally around each other, as you said that, it reminded me of our good sister, Kimberly Blackwell. Absolutely. She literally does that. What is going on? What's your strategy?

What are you working on? What do you need? What's missing? She's so good at that. So I love that you have women around you. Absolutely. That will ask those questions and check on you and say, hey, we need to have dinner. Let's sit down as we overdue.

That's so important. I love that. Yeah, I think that is always going to be central for how we survive times, but also how we thrive into the future. For sure. Yes, we have to have our champions. Yes, I love that. Well, let's go back to last year. 2025 was a huge year for you.

My goodness, I don't know if you know this, but me and the Swedish are avid readers. I'm always letting them know what I'm reading. And you have Village Books right here in Atlanta, Georgia. Congratulations. I do want to ask you, what made you know that having a physical space to read stories, to buy books and to have that community right here in Atlanta? So why did you feel like that was important? You know, I had to open Village Books.

Beyond it being the seven-year-old me dream, I wanted to own a bookstore, that should tell you a lot. You know, it'll tell you a whole lot that I wanted a bookstore since I was young. But it's also, at this point, we need to build intentionally. Everything that I opened Crystal, I open with a great intent. We see that. I open spaces for a sense of safety. I open spaces for a sense of belonging.

I open spaces for a sense of love. When you walk into any of my establishments, in particular in my bookstore, you will feel the warmth of how it feels to walk into a space and know that you were chosen for it, that it was designed just for you. Yes.

And I also want spaces in the bookstore at Central because we need to be expanded in our knowledge. We're at a time now where, taking time to actually read, to go deep into literature, to read opinions that may be different from yours that may stretch you, we need that. And so everything that I open, I look at as safe houses. Yeah, I love that. Yeah.

Like, how can I build in such a way that people can come? And even if you haven't read a book in years, you still know that this bookstore is right on time just for you and where you are right now. And I'm in love with authors. I'm in love with writers. So I also wanted to open a bookstore for all my favorite authors, those who are ancestors and those who are present. It's just such a beautiful way to honor those who are gifted with the pen. Yes.

And gifted in a way to be able to tell stories. So it is literally my honoring of community, every single thing that I do. Yes, no, we see that. Take me back to seven-year-old key. What books were you reading back then? Oh, everything, everything. Younger version of me, I still was in love. I loved fiction.

So I was reading like all the children's books as well. But early, early on, I was already curious about the Dr. Maya Angelou's of the world because I started to hear her poetry. And so early, I wanted to read poetry. I wanted to, there's a writer Sharon Draper who came a little bit later, but I love Sharon Draper. And so reading books that reflect who I was, books that opened my imagination, I always gravitated to.

And I was always writing as well. So I would read a book, then I would write and then make my mama listen to me. And, you know, always your first audience, right? Yes, absolutely. But I was just enamored, enamored with books. I could not get enough of it. I love that. For me, I was the same way I was like, Beverly Clearie.

babysitters club. I remember sitting in my room at my desk and I would just be in the books. My mama had to literally say, come on, it's time to eat dinner. I'd be like, hold on. And then I fell out of that as I got older. And then now I'm back into it. And I was telling Shelley today, I can tell when I've taken time to really start reading again, your conversations change, your vocabulary changes. And it's words that you knew, but then when you put it down, you're like, what was that word I'm trying to think of? But when you're constantly reading, those words stay with you. So I definitely see a change in myself

when I'm actively reading, which is something that I promote through my platform. I want to ask you, what role do you think that books play in healing collectively and with imagination, especially in our community? Absolutely. So what I am so happy to see

is that so many wellness practitioners are writing books now that center us in multi-dimensional ways. I love Dr. Tame McBrane's one of my favorite spiritual leaders and to what she wrote in Homecoming and even my good sister's Tabitha Brown and her many books. Love her. They're so nurturing. Yes.

So much joy, so much lightness, so much in a sense that while it feels like all is falling apart, you are still whole. even if it's just shattered pieces right now. That is why we need books, and not just any books, but we also need books that reflect people that look like us. Yes. Because there's a gentleness in the language. There's a sense of, even if the nudging is there,

the nudging is not harsh. The nudging is for us to know that we have wings and to expand them and fly. And so I'm grateful that we are, that we have. have Nedra and boundaries. There's just so many exceptional books. My good friend, Dr. Joy, Sisterhood Hills, literally cradles sisterhood and how to be in loving relationships with other women.

We need all of that. We do. And we also need books that name how we feel so we can feel less alone. Because I do think vulnerability is something that we're still finding as a strength. vulnerability and emotions early on, you know, I don't know how you was raised, but I was just raised to be strong. Yeah. Yeah.

Like you don't really have time for all the feelings and things like that. Yeah. And as the great ancestor Bell Hooks write about and all about love, so much of how our parents raised us was from a sense of them just wanting us to be safe. Yes. But because of that, we've had to go to root cause analysis that there is space for our big feelings. there is space for having your feelings hurt. It is space where business does feel personal and this hurt my feelings.

It is space for I am emotionally tapped and I think I am burnt out. We didn't even have these words. We're literally, I think just now we're really honoring what does it mean that you cannot pour from an empty cup. And it's because people have named it that your cup has to be full in order to continue to pour. Right. That's why we have to go to the well of reading to be safe and to be held in such a way. And also to just be affirmed. Yeah.

Yeah. So that is why I think we need to get back to text. I think we need to also get back to beautiful conversations like this is why I'm so happy that you launched your podcast. Thank you. Because listening to you and seeing how well you are in these conversations feels like a really good book. Oh. Yeah. I appreciate that.

Thank you. Thank you so much. This brings me to you actually being an author. You're talking about all these other amazing authors. You are one as well. And you wrote a book called No One is Self-made. I feel like our culture, specifically, has made self-made into this North Star. Like, this is what you should aim to be.

Like, do it yourself. And anybody who knows me knows that I'm big on team. Like, I can't do this all by myself. And I love, that's why I even love the title, I'm like, she gets it. She gets it. I want to know, why do you feel like we are so attached that idea that we have to do with ourselves? You know, to even think about any form of attachment of why we aspire for the things we aspire

for. I'm always questioning our pursuit and our ambitions. Are we striving for something that is inherently inside of us, or have we been conditioned to aspire? And so individualism is a very American westernized concept. And self-made largely came from magazines and publications that when we talked about someone reaching the pinnacle of success, they're called a self-made person. Yep, you're right. So then I wonder if an entrepreneur or someone in entertainment, I wonder if someone in entertainment, I wonder if,

if they think the Pinnacle requires that because that is all they've been conditioned to believe. We don't have publications that talk about the village that is propelling that person up to even be on the cover of a magazine. So I think it's sometimes hard to know when you have been programmed. Yeah.

My book is a loving deprogramming of the consciousness of how we talk about success. Ancestually, we are communal people. Come on. Ancestually and present day. whatever success that we may have, and it may not always come in a form that we want. Yeah. Any great thing that we have done well in life, there have been prayer partners, there have been

a group text of friends, there have people that slide you $20 when you needed it when you're undergrad. There are people who have affirmed you since you were a little. And that does not always come into currency in the way that we talk about it. But there's a spiritual currency that has continued to prepare. propel us forward. Yes. To take on the title of self-made, erases every, every one of those currencies they have been put into us. And I don't believe that is our intent. Yeah. And so no one is self-made is requiring us to be intentional, but how we tell our stories. Yeah. Because every

single opportunity that, every opportunity that I have, I make sure that my mother, my mother is written into my success. My father is seated into my success. My question. My grandparents, my family, my friends, my staff. Because if I accept self-made, then I began to erase people who've been very vital to the own fabric of my existence. Yeah. And so no one is self-made is to say, be intentional about every single thing that you say thank you to, even the titles that people give you.

And I have sat for interviews and people have said, Dr. Keith, how does it mean to be a self-made woman. And because I know that words are prophetic. And I know that words and have an opportunity to teach in a moment. I always say, but actually I'm Village Made. And I began to name all the people and all the places and all the things that I have seen. Because if we want to shift how we talk about success, then someone has to be a steward

of it. Yeah. We can talk about it. We can write about it or we can do it. And I think we need more people who get on stages and lift all the names and all the people. So every person aspiring who's watching on television, when they start to think about their own success, then they know the most powerful thing that they can do is to stand with their village. Yeah, I love that.

Reframing the psychology of what it takes to succeed. Because you're absolutely right when I think about Forbes articles or all these wealth magazines that we read. and this is the pinnacle of what we're trying to get to. And they've reached that pinnacle. And you do oftentimes see self-made, self-made. And most of those people are standing on, a lot of people are standing on shoulders and shoulders of different people that have helped them get there.

Yeah. That is so good. And also it's profoundly untrue. Very much. It is just not, you know, beyond all the things, it is just also profoundly untrue. It definitely is. But I am always very sensitive.

sensitive when I talk about this because my book was also sticky for some people. It felt like a judgment of their hard work. And so what I'm very clear of, I'm never neglectful for the three o'clock hours that it was nobody but you and God. I'm never neglectful of that because then I would be neglectful of my own three o'clock in the mornings. And it was me trying to figure it out. I would never neglect the intestinal fortitude. I would never neglect that there must be a vessel. Yeah.

Yeah, there has to be an individual. But I'm also not neglectful in my knowing. Yeah. And my knowing is self-determination is needed. Intestinal fortitude is needed. There must be an individual. But I also know that there are so many people tied to that individual that has have steward us throughout life and will continue yes that is that is

what's true i love that when people read this book what is something that you hope they unlearn because even the person who you say it's a little sticky for them in my opinion i would hope they're even like dang actually right i wouldn't take offense to it and be like no i know i worked really hard but that's actually true there are so many other people that helped me yeah yeah so what is something that you people unlearn when they read this book? Yeah, what I can tell you, what people are unlearning. And I'm always so touched when I get, you know, super kind DMs about, you know, Dr. Key. I ain't know about this. There's no one that's self-made thing. And then they say to me, you're right. You made me step back and realize that I'm not alone. I may not have everything

that I need, but I have some things and I have some people. Yeah. And so, You know, what I'm hoping, and truly what's been affirmed to me, that no one is self-made has really allowed people to know that you have people. And to really be reflective over their lives that it may not be the million-dollar investment that you need. Yeah. Oof. Because they're qualifiers of what we think support is.

Yes. And I'm always going to be advocates that business owners need investment. primarily black business owners, we are still deeply underfunded. But if we're only thinking about support by those who fund us, we're not seeing the sea of people around us. Yeah, wow. Yeah. And it has been very, very affirming to see people have a paradigm shift with how they see their success. Even people who have said, Dr. Key, I took a moment and I sent an email to all the people who helped me when I was early on.

who volunteered for me when I literally didn't have it. And people who have seen me throughout my life, I'm always just striving for us to have physical representation that there is a village. There are people, there is a blanket of care around you. Even when it does not feel that it's, because I think we all have felt that I wish I had different relationships. I wish I had this.

So I won't counter that. Yeah. But I want us to know that we're not in a deficit. Right. We're not in a deficit. We may be at a baseline where there's so much opportunity for more. Yeah. But if you are here, you're not in a deficit.

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You talked about last year was a really hard year for you and something you're still coming out of. But there's been so much success. Let's talk to the a person that may be looking from the outside, looking in, and saying, man, she's got it all going on, but not knowing what else you're coming up out of. I want to speak to that because so many

times they see where we are, but they don't see the daily fight and the daily struggle. I want to talk to that person who may be thinking, like, I'm trying to get there, but they don't know what all comes along with being where you are. Absolutely. I try, I strive my best to be a very transparent entrepreneur and founder. So if you look at myself, is largely about the work because there's really no highlight real, you know, and because two things are often true that while, I mean, incredible things have happened for my company and being able to scale, we also in 2025, as so many other nonprofit organizations, through my organization, our village United, we saw the drastic rollback in funding. and to have so many of our funders say that they've gone in a different direction, that they're no longer focused on small businesses in this way. Every single no, for any founder that has to pay payroll, you start to calculate numbers.

You start to think about because I am not just a CEO who thinks about what is good for me. I feel it to be a privilege, to be a leader. Yeah. To have an incredible team. So I'm always thinking about all our livelihood. Yes. And so last year I was deeply prayerful. I'm always clear that God always comes through.

He does. Now that is one thing. That keeps me steady and that keeps me anchored. My spiritual compass is my eye in the storm. And so that is why I can stay, have a sober spirit in spite of all things. But, yeah, last year was hard. I mean, it literally, and it continues to be hard because we need those in philanthropy to be bold. Yeah.

Yeah, to continue to make good on getting organizations, the funding that they need to do the work that will reach the people. When is that ever a bad thing? Right. Yeah. So, you know, for the founders who or people currently who may listen to this, number one, you are not by yourself. And largely a lot of the people that you admire and look up to who look like they have it all together, probably like twice a week, three days a week, but I can almost assure you there are two days during the week, at least one day during the week, that you're going to have to sit with yourself and know that were you thinking about your own pivot?

I also want to name for those entrepreneurs and how normal that is. It will not always be easy, but it also will not always be hard. That is what has been foundationally true for me. And I'm always so clear

that my heart has a timeline, but my good is for, it is always concurrent is always running and so there are moments when those trying days feel louder than the good days yeah but the good is omnipresent if we can shift our mindsets to believe that the goodness is omnipresent that means sweetness is always close to us yes that that the yes is always just so close even though it feels so far right but I know that it is hard I've had to affirm myself

so much. I've had to tell myself the work is good regardless of the nose. Right. And that I must continue to be a good steward of the work. When it is overflowing, it is good. When it is slowly flowing, it is still good. It is still good. Yes. It is still good. That is so good. And sometimes we quit too soon, but also sometimes we don't pivot soon enough. And I think that just because it is your baby, at every growth stage it requires something different in the new of you. I think we have to be willing to pivot in our businesses. We have to be able to pivot in our visions. So maybe the valley is time for you to do some pivoting.

And I also know that what has been important for me, Crystal, is that I'm not reactionary. I am very clear when it's a lot happening that it's meant to discombobulate my. my own vision and distort what I believe is true. So when it feels like all is falling apart around me, I get still. That's good. I get still because I don't want to react to the falling. I want to be a steward of the vision.

So I needed to fall. So my path can be clear for the vision. And I think sometimes I know it's survival that we have a tendency to be so reactionary, because you're simply trying to survive. Yeah, for sure. But sometimes the job is to be still. Mm-hmm. To be still so you can be clear.

Yes. And charge your path forward. Because all while that was going on, I was also quietly working on the airport opening for village retail. Yeah, come on. All at the same time. Yes, exactly. Yeah, all at the same time.

We talked about that before we sat down about, it's so much going on. Everyone is going through so much, but there's still a peace and a calmness where you still have the fortitude to push forward or sit still to get the direction that you need to move forward. I absolutely love that. And you speak about vision. Yeah. And I want to know what is the bigger vision of tying all your ventures together? Because you do have village market enterprises.

You got books. You got retail, wellness community, education, all the things. I want to know what is that vision that you have for all those? Yeah. I want us to love each other. That's it. Yeah. That's it. I only build from a place of building a village because I know that that is my God assignment. I am so clear that I am on a divine assignment to create spaces that awaken our heart and our mind and lift the collective consciousness of how we see each other. When we shift in how we see each other, all the things that we believe that we're fighting against Willoos. And I am so clear of that. We have to train our gays to

see each other and to honor and what we're seeing. So yes, I have my retail stores. Yes, I have our village United and we're working with small businesses across the country. Yes, we deployed millions and grants. Yes, I have my bookstore and all the village market

enterprises. But every single thing that I build is the deep roots are in the and the seeds that I have planted. And the only thing that I ask God for is at the end of this, let the light be the light of you. And we can hold space and hold light and that I can see you. And nothing inside of me feels that my light was dimmer. I see you and I know that my light is even more ever-present, ever-vestent.

And that is the work. I love that. That is the word. When did you know this was a guide-appointed assignment? Because it was not what I wrote for myself. What did you write for yourself? Yeah, if you would have asked me maybe 15, 20 years ago, my first career path, I was an educator. So I taught high school, 10th through 12th grade English, and I loved it.

Absolutely loved it. And then at the end of my educational career, I worked as a Georgia. to Department of Education. And I loved it. Nowhere in there. Have I said anything about a village? Nothing. And so when I started to get the vision for village market, my very first company,

I was like, oh, that's nothing but God. Because I think it is true, we write a vision for ourselves. And that's the first draft. Yes. The blueprint is the path that God wrote for us. and I know that my deep belief that it takes a village and that the village would be the only thing that saves us. I know that that is something that God put inside of me

because he knew that I would be a worthy steward of it. For sure. And I would carry it well. And I also know that that is what we need. Yeah, no, it is deeply. Yeah, that is what we needed. We need it in a way also what doesn't seem superficial. because with love, we're in a time that when a marketing industry know that there is a buzzword

like community, then we start to manufacture community. And so then people start performing community rather than being in it. Being actual. Yes, people perform being sisterly rather than being a sister. Yeah, absolutely. For sure. There's nothing performative about my work. And I do believe those of us,

to have been called light workers, called at this time to be light workers, because we don't need more performance. Yeah. We need true models. And models, that's not perfection because we're all human beings. Yeah. But there needs to be things out there that is genuine. So people can believe that love and light and care and warmth, it is the human existence

and what we were also created here. Yeah. No, for sure, for sure. I love that everything you do, you're intentional about it. Absolutely. And I can see that in everything and how there's so much synergy in between every venture. It's so good. You recently just opened a retail store in one of the biggest, if not the busiest airport in the world, Atlanta Hartsfield Airport.

Tell me about that whole journey because, one, I know it's not easy to get in that airport. This is a big deal. Congratulations, first of all. Thank you. But, yeah, take us on that journey. how this came about? I wrote the vision for opening the village retail. So I have my first location, we're still open at Pond City Market on the second floor. Yeah. Village retail Pond City Market location would be open six years in November. Five years ago is when I was walking

on the belt line and I said I'm going to scale to the airport because Atlanta has the world's busiest airport. Over 108 million annual visitors. Crazy. That is incredible. A global audience. That's the way I vision cast. Yeah. I vision cast in such a way that how do I create access in a way that is undeniable of the acceleration of my people. there is no airport that is more proficient or better position for it. But I'm also clear, I'm a quiet builder. And so it's almost hard to know what I'm working on because I don't work on anything until, I don't announce anything until the announcement.

But I've been working on this for five years. I had to ensure that we were prepared for where we were going. Because I was clear five years ago that this is where we would be. Right. With no experience of it, by the way. Wow. None. None, none, none.

But I was so clear. I was so clear that we were going to be there. I was so clear that my job was to train my staff. Yeah. My job was to ensure that I can prepare entrepreneurs for that level of volume. Mm-hmm. And that is also me being disciplined enough to not scale too fast. Smart.

I intentionally took my time to be prepared for where I knew I was. I was going to be. Right. There was never a doubt in my mind that we would not be where we are. Even the location. Really? I chose that location. Where is because we're going to be at the airport.

I already told Ashana we're going to stop by. Concourse B, center a team. Oh, that's a good one. Okay. That's prime real estate. Absolutely. And when you all see the location, what I want people to understand is that that is what I said I was where we were going to be.

That's crazy. I know. That vision, honey, you said, you cast it, baby. Vision casting that it is anointed by the love of God. I don't vision cast alone. I ask God to anoint every one of my visions. So I don't build in fear. I build with clarity that it will be every single thing.

I do not need a lot of people to tell me, Dr. Key, I believe in you. I believe in me. I am so clear. So I don't need a lot of fanfare and all the things that we need. I don't need it because I inherently know that every single thing that is chosen for me will come to pass. For sure. And I knew this while all literally funding was grant tour after grantor was like we're no longer funding. So I'm getting knows and I'm also building for a yes.

I'm getting knows and I'm building for my yes. because we do not have the privilege of not operating in duality. We do not have the privilege of there's a no here, and that's my final no. That's a no here, and I will continue to see my yes. And so I just feel quietly. And I told my team to trust me because your team also sees what is going on. And I affirmed them. that there will be hard days in business.

Yeah, it's inevitable. And you all would be at a ribbon cutting in 2026. I know that's right. So every hard day that you have experienced, a celebration is coming. And I don't give my team platitudes. I give my team evidence of what happens when you are clear of your path. Because I also want to model to them to be clear of their path.

Yeah. And so a lot of red tape to get the airport open, I had to learn a whole new industry, but I gave myself five years to learn. I was going to ask you, like, you didn't come from this background. At all. I was going to ask you, how did you prepare for that? Yeah. Number one, it takes a village.

I surround myself with people who are far more smarter and experienced in the things that I'm not experienced then. Yes. I am, I'm always confident enough to know that it is a gift to sit at the table with brilliant people. It is. Oof. Yeah. I'm also deeply humble enough to know that is a gift to be in space with other brilliant people. Yeah.

And so I surrounded myself with good people and then I'm a student. I am forever learning. I do not require people to, you know, I'm a student. to, it's, you know, forever athlete, I'm in the gym. Yeah, I get up early. Yeah, yeah. And when you have trained yourself to be in the gym and to be fit and staying with that analogy, the muscle memory, it kicks in.

Real quick. Real quick. And so I may not have experience of being in the world's busiest airport, but I have experience of doing big things well. Yes. Yeah. And so it was literally me arming my team with what we needed, me learning a new industry, like really learning it, having dinners with people so I can make the best business decisions in the faith that every single gap that I may possess, I will find, I will attract what I need. For sure. And I always say one of my prayers is that God protect my body. blind side. If that is a prayer always, just protect my blind side. Because we don't know what we

don't know. That's for sure. Yeah, we don't know, especially when it's something new. But I knew, Chris, I can't tell you enough that I knew that the village retail would be at the world's busiest airport. I knew that it was going to transform the lives of every black business in our store. I knew that it was going to put this company on a global. stage. And I'm also clear that that is our rightful place. Absolutely. Happy Pride Months, Toronto. Pride is an opportunity for you to create your own space, to celebrate your existence. IHeart Radio is proud to be an official sponsor of Pride Toronto Festival and we won't stop. Celebrate Pride. Turn up the love and listen to IHeart Pride Canada.

Your 24-7 radio stream and the only playlist you need for your Toronto Pride celebrations. Pride is so great because it gives a whole bunch of people this visit, that they've never had before. We have a ton to celebrate Toronto. Happy Pride. Iheart Radio. Joy is essential and it's also elusive. You can't order it, you can't borrow it, or simply hope it into life.

But now, there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. Together, guys, we'll have meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people. Entertainment legends, sports icons, wellness experts, and everyday people will share how they find, allow, and experience joy. And I'll offer some of my own tips and takes on seeking a more balanced and harmonious life. If you're craving inspiration, support, and useful tools to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Joy after a breakup, joy as an empty nester,

Joy after a loss. Joy as a caretaker. This new podcast will speak to you. Listen to Joy 101 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. June is Black Music Month, and on the Drink Chams podcast, we're speaking with the hottest names in the culture, like Sway Lee. Do you realize how legendary you are? I appreciate that. I'd be seeing it, but I'm like, man, I still got like so much more to do.

Like Prince, he dropped like 30 albums. We drop like five right now. Like, that's the rate we got to be going. Yep, that's a good attitude. You also hear stories from industry legends and hip-hop pioneers like Fab Five Freddy. I directed when Nas' early videos. Which one? One love.

Wow. Yes. I literally filmed in his apartment in Queensbridge. His moms were still up in that apartment. Nause was just beginning to take off. His pops used to live near me in Harlem. His dad introduced him to a whole lot of, you know, conscious stuff. And he made a young prodigy.

No matter the era, Drinkchamps brings you the biggest names and the most unfiltered conversations. Listen to Drink Chams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Keith Giamanka seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong on what that might look like? No.

I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Take me to the day waking up knowing that you are headed to Harfield Jackson Airport to cut that ribbon.

Walk us through that day because I know that had to be a glorious day for you from the the moment you woke up? You know, actually before our ribbon cutting, I was in San Francisco speaking at a conference. Wow. And I could, I could only, I was only there to speak at the conference and I couldn't stay. And I humbly, you know, quietly told people, I got a ribbon cutting in Atlanta tomorrow, so I have to get back. This is your ownership.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. You know, there's a lot of ribbon cutting. A little ribbon cutting tomorrow. I have to get back to Atlanta. But I was walking through the airport when I landed. And because the store was open already and we're just having our big reveal. So I walked by the store when I got back to Atlanta. And I said, tomorrow, we did it.

Wow. Yeah. And so what I felt and what I continue to feel in a massive amount of joy, and I'm so proud of myself. I'm so proud of my team. Yeah. But I also want to be clear that there are moments in your life when you know like, God, you really rock with me.

Like you really, you really trust me with this. And so what I overwhelmed my heart. is that God, you really trust me with this. And I am always so aware of that because I'm only going to be a good steward of it. And I couldn't wait until the businesses saw it. I could not wait. And for the businesses being a part of the ribbon cutting is a requirement for me. There's a lot of red tape to have big reveals at the airport, a lot of security.

I can imagine, yeah. And I fought for every single brand to have that opportunity. And tell people as well that you open this so that small businesses and owners could come and sell their products in your store. Absolutely. Yes, thank you for naming that. Because when I opened a location in Pond City Market, why I built the village retail, I built the village retail because we need spaces that honor and center our products. Right.

We need a space that is curated beautifully. Yes. We need a space and we not just need deserve. We deserve a space that people from all over the world because that's what happened in Poncity Market as well have an opportunity, a privilege to take our products back home with them. Yes. And six years ago, that was my mission. And you bring me back to a place of something that is also very important to me.

I do not believe in supporting and buying black from a place of protest. I don't think that we should only patronize black businesses as a response to a boycott. I think we condition ourselves that we only choose us when we're mad at someone else. And so I opened the village retail. It's open seven days a week to six years ago. Not in a place of boycott. Nothing was happening in the world in that sense. Or 10 years ago when I launched Village Market,

I literally have opened and created my spaces. It's simply because we should choose us every day. And we should have a space that has been designed and chosen for us created by us that we don't have to figure it out or one day something may change. And there's no longer space for me on the shelves. If we build and create our things for ourselves, we are not controlled by any of the forces that tell you right now, at this time, you are not important.

The village retail says you are important every single day. You are worthy every single day. You are good enough. every single day. But let me be clear, we require excellence. Yes, we do. We require excellence in a village retail. The back of our shirt says excellence is a standard, not perfectionism, but excellence.

Because I build from the place of I drive for experience, from customer service to our bags, everything is impeccably branded. And that is by design of excellence. Yeah. And now the village retail scaling to the airport, this is placing brands on a global stage. Yeah. Also, it is so hard to get in the airport.

It is, it is, it is so hard to get into that industry. Yeah. But when you have a village, when you have a village, you don't have to go by yourself, we go together. Yes. And when people have shopped at village retail and they understand that 30 plus black businesses, that that ribbon cutting was yes for my company, but it was symbolic of so many other companies. That is my wife.

And I want to shift, I want to shift our, the way we choose each other. Do not choose me because you're mad. because when the emotion sobers, then often we go back to the very place. Yeah. Yeah. They were no longer upset. And then our community is left behind. But if we make patronizing black businesses a lifestyle, that it becomes the first thought.

I am striving that we become each other's first thought. If our books are coming out, we're each other's first. thought. If a podcast is being announced there as an episode, we are each other's first thought. That is community to me. And I love that when you were opening the store, you saw that I had a hair care line. You literally hit me and said, Crystal, we need to get your products in the store. The fact that you even reach out, you know, you spoke our good friend, Tabitha Brown. Yes. Absolutely love her. When I launched this line, she also has her own hair care line. She text me and said, I'm so proud of you. If you need anything or help navigating different spaces,

you call me. And I just want to say thank you, Tab, because she is just a diamond in the rough. She's a true gem that we should all cherish. But it's the DMs like that and the text messages that mean so much from women that we see each other, you know. And even if we are navigating the same space, I'm letting you know, there's room for you. You know, there's room for us. Yes. The, The elevation of consciousness is that the sun shines on you and I at the same time. Come on. And neither one of us is we are not without. It's warmth.

So if there is enough space for the sun to shine on both you and I at the same time, let's put that in practice in our lives. There is room. There is room in the lane. There is space. scarcity is another conditioning to make us feel

that if Crystal has a product then I, in the way I can support her because it's going to take away from me that is the conditioning of scarcity. Yeah. And there are opportunities that you do feel that it is competition but we also have been conditioned

to believe that we are meant to be each other's competitors than each other's sisters and each other's collaborators, that is why words matter. And really doing the root cause analysis of why we think the way that we think. And if we go deep into the roots, a lot of this is environmental conditioning that we have been programmed.

Yes. There is space. I want every single person to hear this. There is room for all of us. Yeah. And even the goodness that we see in other people and how we're. we may see them doing. That is still breadcrumbs by those who do not look like us.

Yeah. Ooh. Yeah. That it is mere breadcrumbs. Imagine if we decide to elevate our consciousness and to know that I require there be a room. I require there be space. Yeah.

I require that I require collaboration. my reaching out to you is like absolutely I have a retail store come on let's do this and I think that is I'm a girl's girl anyway but I also think we have to live the things that we talk about no for sure yeah that's what Tav does she does man yeah no my sister has helped me down Taventon Brown is all that people think she is and all that people have no idea that she is. Listen.

She is one of the most genuine people I have ever met in my life. She really is. Yeah. I'm so grateful to know her. I met her for the first time at the White House when Trill did the Black Excellence brunch in D.C. And she's like, me and my husband watch you all the time. I got to get a picture so I can send it to him. And I was like, oh, thank you.

And then we ended up exchanging information. And then we ended up doing a movie together last year. Yeah. And we have just been locked in. And I just love her because she is one of those people that are randomly text you and let you know that she loves you and I'm thinking about you. And that goes so far, you know, because a lot of times people are just so coughing their lives that we don't take a moment to just check in, you know.

Yeah. So I just love that. I love everything you are doing. It's just, it's impactful. It is necessary, especially for our community. Atlanta, a largely African-American community to have someone like you right here at home to show us, hey guys we got what we need we just need to support each other I absolutely love it do you have anything else that's coming up that we can be on the lookout for we know

concourse B at Atlanta Hardsfield we're going there for sure right across the Deltze Lounge we got that is there anything else that we can be on the lookout for or other places we can support you in yes of course always go by the book no one is self-made yes stop by my bookstore village books if you're in Atlanta what you're waiting on yes flying to Atlanta add us a part of your destination. And if you are a small business owner and you were just looking for a village and your people, check out our village united.org. We build something so special with the organization. But I will say this. One of the greatest ways that you can support my work is by loving yourself. The greatest ways that we can support each other is by doing

our own individual work. Yeah. Because when we do our individual work, we will put the weapons down. And we will train our eyes to see each other and not be intimidated by what we see. Right. But see it from a gaze of love. When we get to this place of deep healing, when we get to this place of deep knowing that it's not by any accident, we were created by such divine loving hands and that it's not by accident that we share time together, that we were chosen for such a time as this. If you ever want to love and support Dr. Key, do your work. I'm going to do my work and we will be well and do great things together. I love that. Dr. Key, thank you so, so much. In closing, I do want to ask, our theme this season is unapologetic. We are walking

through life unapologetically. I want to know what is Dr. Key unapologetic about in this season of her life? Oh, Chris, I'm so clear and unapologetic about who I am. Yes. I am so clear. I'm grateful that I still, my feet are anchored so deeply in joy. Yeah. I'm unapologetic about my joy.

I know. I am unapologetic about my clarity. Mm-hmm. about this divine mission that we're on. And I'm also unapologetic that I will say the things that needs to be said out loud, affirmingly, still with love. But I am unwavering in what I believe the light at the end of the tunnel is for us. Yeah, I love that. Dr. Key, thank you so much.

I know you got a crazy schedule. Thank you for sitting down with us. I know this blessed me, so I know it's going to bless our listeners. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Absolutely. Thank you.

What I appreciate most about this conversation is that it reminds us that success means very little if it only benefits us individually. Dr. Key's work is so powerful because she's not just building businesses. She's building community, access, and systems of care. In a time where so many people feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or isolated, this conversation reminds us that we are never meant to do life alone. Thank you, Dr. Key for your wish. your intentionality and for reminding us the power of collective care and community.

Be sure to grab your copy of No One is Self Made where books are sold. Thank you all for tuning in to another episode of Keep It Positive, sweetie. Don't forget to download the Season 11 Kipps Reflection Guide at chrystal Renee Hazel.com. Subscribe and share this episode with someone who could use a little positivity. And if you want advice, positivity or just want to share what you're going through. email us at keep it positive outcomes at gmail.com. As always, stay blessed, stay encouraged, and keep it positive sweet. I'll see you guys next time. Joy is essential and it's also elusive, but now there's a new and exciting way to start

your journey toward a more joyful existence, Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Open your free IHeart Radio app. Search Joy 101 and listen now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotfi is presented by CVS. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7.

Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free.

Have a great day. I heart radio. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality. shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's

talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. It just came out. Jeremy, what did you just do? You just sit yourself up for failure. I've never heard you tell this story. I have never told this story. This must have been tucked deep, deep into Jeremy Lynn file. My name is MC Jin. I'm excited to tell you about laugh, but not least. I'll be chatting with guests from All Walk of life about the power of humor when it comes to facing difficult times. These will be conversations that remind us all, life is hard, laugh harder. Listen and laugh but not least with MC Jen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.