Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Culture, Calling, And Becoming

Episode Date: September 27, 2026

Imani Ellis has built more than an event—she’s created a space where culture, creativity, and community can grow together. In this Season premiere episode, Crystal sits down with the CultureCon founder to talk about what it means to evolve something that’s already successful, how faith shapes the way she leads, and why building something meaningful should never cost you your identity. They get into the woman behind the work, the responsibility that comes with creating for a community, and how Imani is learning to make room for her own growth along the way. This is a conversation about culture, calling, and becoming, and the work of staying grounded while the vision keeps getting bigger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Behind every night spent making the kids' lunches, there's a lot of suspense. Will they finally eat the veggies? Will the pastos survive the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all?

And will you finish episode 8 before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on Internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.za for details and to check availability. Bell. Connection is everything. Lisa, tell them about our new show. We have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi Youanu. We're two best friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart.

And I'm Lisa Di Giulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions. And at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Lacey Mosley, author, actor, stand-up comedian, creator, and host of Scam Goddess Podcast. The True Crime Comedy Podcasts, all about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it. Each week I bring on an amazing guest. Ooh, I scammed them. What?

I can talk to you for an hour. You're a generational yapper like me. That's why I had to make yapping a job. And now you can catch full episodes of my show on YouTube. Start listening to Scam Goddess on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman. Angel Geratana.

Jeremy Colhain. Patrick McDonald. And we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast. The Improvised Character Comedy Podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone.

I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Self-care September is your reminder to slow down, check in with yourself, get off your phone, and maybe ask, why am I like this? I'm Jemisbeg, host of the Psychology of Your 20s podcast, and this month we're helping you make sense of the person that you are becoming, from setting boundaries and navigating

friendships to understanding anxiety, confidence, relationships, and attachment. Sometimes our biggest decisions, without us even realizing it, aren't driven by what we truly want, but by what will prevent us from feeling lonely or being alone. Listen to the Psychology of Your 20s on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So by age 11 or 7 or so, at least 70% have a phone. I'm Dr. Joy, and this is Therapy for Black Girls. We spend our surviving middle school run getting into what's happening inside your kids' brain,

the group chats, and their friendships, and what you can do about it. Your child is not doing this on purpose. That's the kind of perspective we've been pulling from the psychologists and psychiatrists who studied this for a living. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Mike Yam. And I'm Trevor Sykima, and together we host the NFL fantasy football show. Are you ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL fantasy football show, you're already playing from behind. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship would give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move counts. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. all my sweeties to the forefront. I'm your host Chris Renee Hazett and this is the Keep It Posit Sweetie Show. Sometimes the thing God gives you starts as an idea, but over time it becomes

responsibility. And when what you build starts impacting thousands of people, the question becomes bigger than how do I make this successful? Today's conversation is about culture, leadership, and faith. Season 13 is here, baby. Today's guest I'm sitting down with Amani Ellis, founder of CultureCon and someone who has created one of the most important spaces for black and brown creators to connect and learn. But today, I want to talk about the woman behind all of that. We're getting into leadership, the faith that grounds her, and what it really takes to build something this big without allowing it to become your entire identity. Kianz Stanley, please give a very warm welcome to my sister, Imani Ellis.

Amani! Hi, my friend. You are here. I'm so excited. Oh, my gosh. I was waiting for, I was like, when does it make the most sense? Now. Now.

Now. And you are kicking off season 13. Oh, keep it positive, sweetie. Honey, we are kicking off with a bang. So proud of you and everything that you have accomplished. I have been a fan of yours before I even knew you. And I was just like, you're just one of those people that you see. And it's like, man, she's doing it.

And then to see how it's grown over the years. I'm just honored to call you a friend and to have actually been a part of what you have done. for our culture, which is culture con if you've been under rock. But the feeling is so mutual, and I know I tell you this all the time, I'm just like, your ambition matched with like your values and your kindness, like that combination is just, it's unique and it's rare. And so I'm just so honored to be here and to be your friend. I love it.

Thank you so much. I love that it's mutual. Before we get started, because I want to talk to you about a lot of things, I want to play a game with you. It's called Frame It or Trash It. So you have spent so much time thinking about and cultivating the culture for us. I want to do a little culture audit. I'm going to ask you a few things. And I want you to take this gold frame if you feel like it is something that we should hold on to.

Okay. And then if it's something we should trash, you're going to pick up the trash. Oh, this is so cute. Right? Shout out Shelley for these cute games. I am loving it. All right. So the first thing is, do we keep this?

Are we going to frame it? Are we going to trash it? The first one is, can I pick your brain without absolutely any context? We are going to trash it. Yes. I get so triggered by pick your brain, even like the phrase, I think I believe in mentorship. I believe in community and opening the door. But you've got to do a little bit of research first.

I think the number one question I get is, why did you start CultureCon? And I'm always like, if you really get in front of someone, you shouldn't ask the most generic question. Right. You got to trash that. Trash it. I love it. I'm the same way. All right.

The next one is gatekeeping information because nobody helps you when you were coming up. Oh, we got to trash that. You got to trash it. I think for me the whole point is that it should get easier with every generation. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't work for things. You shouldn't get things. But like gatekeeping for the sake of I had to suffer, you have to suffer too. No.

Yeah, I hate that. I'm with you on that one. Working for exposure when everyone else is on, projects and getting paid. Okay, now this one's a little controversial, but I'm going to frame it. I'm going to frame it because I think we've gotten to a place where we really think that money is the only currency.

Now, money is important, you know, but I did so many opportunities for, I just need to learn. I need to become an expert. I need to get into the room. I need to see what's possible. And I think about how many things if I said no to them, I wouldn't have gotten that experience.

And so I think you've got to ask yourself, okay, it might not be paying me, but what else is it paying me in? Exactly. Education, communication, relationship. So I'm going to frame that one. I'm with you on that, sis. That's good. All right.

The last one is feeling like you have to be in every room because you were invited. Oh, we got to trash it. Now, you know. I'm a girl of seasonality. Yes. I really believe in on seasons and off seasons. And you should experience everything once. even if it means you know that you don't want to experience again.

But don't let it be, you just want to be in the room to be in the room. Yep. What's the purpose? What is the purpose? Yeah. I love that. And I want to know one thing happening in the creative culture right now that you feel that we should absolutely frame and protect if there is something you could point out.

You know what? I want to frame and protect Alandria. Wow. I want to frame and protect her. I'm also, I used to live in Alabama. I love that she's from Alabama. I just love how we are all putting our arms around her and just rooting for her. And I love that she's so unapologetically herself.

It's just so refreshing. I feel like in every room she's consistent. I'm rooting for her. I love it. I love it. Thank you for playing. Oh, that was so cute. And did you notice that picture in the frame?

Now listen, I was like, you guys, it's a little, it's me and Crystal CultureCon. I was so excited to have you there last year. Oh my goodness. You had just, remember you were filming a movie? Yes, literally, yeah. And you came in. I said, how do you have time to sleep? You did.

You were like, how? How? And I remember you saying, I'm so grateful for this life. I remember my why. And that stuck with me because I was really tired that day. Oh, I can imagine. But after talking to you, I said, well, I know she's on a show. She's on a movie.

She's got a podcast. And I think it reminded me that the pressure is a person. So I love this picture. Can I keep this? Absolutely. It's my gift to you. It's so cute. Amazing. I love that. That was such a good touch. Yeah. Such a good picture. Right? You had some good photographers there. Okay. Amazing. So let's get into it. You are known for CultureCon, this incredible platform that you built for us by us. So proud of you. It started in 2016 in your apartment with 10 friends. Yes. Take us back to that evening.

I want to just put me back in that moment. It's so interesting because you don't even know that there are moments until you look back. I was just like, I want to bring my friends from different swim lanes together. So I had a really good friend that was like a talent booker. And I had a really good friend that was like a lawyer and a really good friend that was an artist. And all the networking events I was going to were very like siloed. It was for publicists. It was for this.

It was for that. and every single room was, what do you do? Where do you live? Which if you think about it, those are such like snapshot questions. Because what I do and where I live could be changing all the time. So you don't really get to know me. And so I invited these friends to my living room, and the only rule was that you had to bring someone that you could vouch for

because it was my living room. And I needed to know who are these people? Who are these people? And so the prompt of the night was, what are you working? on and it can't be work. Oh, I love that. It can't be work. I made tacos.

I made, you know, little seven-layer dip. You got to try my seven-layer dip. Oh, invite me over here. I will, girl, because it's pretty good. And I was so surprised because people went around the circle, and they were talking about, I'm working on imposter syndrome. I'm working on my relationship with my mom. And these are people who have never met each other.

Like, I'm friends with them individually, but they were just so vulnerable. And so that ends. and everyone's leaving, and my friend Michael, he goes, when's the next one? I was like, I have a full-time job at NBC. Like, this was just a, I did it, go forth. Yeah. But I said, you know what? I'll do another one.

And that was the origin of CultureCon. And so it really started with this idea that you could bring together all these different people, not for the sake of what can you give me, but for the sake of like, let's share our stories and just build community. I love that. I love that. So you said you had a full-time job at NBC. At what moment did you know, wait a minute, this thing that started in my living room

has gotten to a point where I can't do this anymore. Crystal, I was in such denial. Like, I wanted to be a corporate girly in my corporate office. I had a corner office. I was a black vice president. I loved my job. Like, I was a publicist wearing black behind the scenes. And so it never crossed.

my mind in the early days, not once, not once to be an entrepreneur. I really thought, oh, like, I'll do this on the side and it'll be how I give back to my community, but this will be my corporate job at NBC. And I was doing them both at the same time for like five years. And then one day, it got to a point where my boss was like, Amani, you're going to lead comms on BravoCon. And I was like, I'm so excited. But BravoCon and CultureCon were a week apart. Oh, wow. Girl, I was fighting for my life. I can't imagine.

Because BravoCon was 30,000 people. And then a week later, CultureCon was 10,000 people. And I was still a vice president. I was still managing, like, 12 people, managing the internship project. And I was doing both jobs, like, really well. Like, I had been promoted during CultureCon. So it wasn't even like I was, like, not doing my day job. Yeah.

Girl, I was delirial. I was so exhausted. And it was almost like the rubber band had to break. And I heard a whisper and it was like, it's time. Like you, I had asked God, can I be a vice president by 30, please? Just a very personal dream. Yeah. I had that.

And it almost felt like God was like, Imani, I gave you what you asked for. Are you going to be, now are you going to be obedient because I'm calling you to something else? And I really had to spend a lot of time because so much of my identity will, was I'm a vice president. Yes. I'm dis-de-de-de-de-de. And I'm ashamed of how intertwined it was. But I realized in that moment, if I don't try this, if I don't go for it, I'm going to regret it.

And my mom said, Imani, you can always find a job. Yes. And that kind of surprised me because I don't know. I thought my parents were like, what do you mean? What do you mean? Right. Most parents are like, wait a minute now. She was like, you can always find another job.

And that little whisper, I was like, it's time to be. Obedient. Shout out to mom. Girl. Wow. The day that I quit my job, I signed our biggest client that exact same day. And it was just a little God nod that was like you don't have to live in scarcity. Yes.

You can go from something to something. Come on. Something to something. Is that a blessing? It doesn't have to be. You're going into the valley and you have to be desperate now. And I think that's why God is so, he has a sense of humor. He does.

It's so subtle because I'm like, you're telling me the day that I put in my notice. And I put in my notice a year before I left. Wow. I gave them a year notice. Wow. Which people are like, but I left my boss. Yeah. It wasn't like a girl.

And so I gave her a year notice. I reminded her every month. Now you know, nine more. Right. Eight more months. Six more months. Like get ready. Get ready.

It's coming. It's coming. Yeah. And then to that day when it was time to leave, that's when I closed, my biggest brand deal. Wow. I'd ever closed. That is incredible. I, wow, so many different things. So I want to know, like that moment where you heard that whisper and God was like, it's time, I'm on my, let's go. And you finally got to the point, okay, I'm going to surrender this. What was it like? Because a lot of

times people hear about what it feels like to go from hearing it to actually doing it. What was that time period where you finally told your boss, this is what it was? And like, how did you feel in that moment of going through that? Well, when I first heard it, I ignored it because I hadn't been a vice president yet. I was a director. Got it. And so I heard it's time to leave and I was like,

mm-mm. You still got things to do here. I said, I'm not a vice president yet. And so I kind of pushed it away like, please. But it just was a, you know, almost kind of like when you just keep coming back to a thought. Yeah. It just was there.

And then my boss said, Imani, we're promoting you to vice president. So then I was like, uh-oh, we're getting, okay. So I got what I asked for. And then it came back, okay, now I've given you what you've asked for. Are you going to be obedient? And my dad, you know, he gave really good advice. He was like, Amani, why don't you put some fundamental things in place so that it's not so scary? So start saving up for to leave.

Start acting like you're going to leave. And you need to put a date on the calendar. And so I put a date on that calendar. I put it on my actual calendar. It was called D-Day. I'm not, it was called, it was called D-Day.

It was on my calendar, and it was basically, I was like, you know what, I'm going to do a successful BravoCon, I'm going to do a successful culture con. And then a month later,

I'm going to give them a year notice that I'm going to leave. And so I put it on the calendar right after my birthday, and the day came, I'm having a great day in the office. I walk into my boss's office. So I walk in,

not there. I'm like, I guess I can't do it. See, can't do it. She was, she was, she had just gone to get some coffee. I go into her office. I say, oh, can we talk, Jen? She goes, come in. I sit down, I shut the door and I just look at her. And she goes, no. She already knew that woman's in tuition.

She's like, I know what you have to do. No. She goes, who's taking you? Who? You're like, I am. I said, Jin, I'm moving to Atlanta. and I'm going to go be full time at CultureCon. Wow. And it was the most beautiful. It was one of those things where I had started off as her assistant.

Yeah. I had been with her for 10 years. I had started off like ordering her car service and now I'm her vice president. So we were friends. Yeah. And so I think it was something in terms of I know you know so much about this. Yes. Of what it means when someone has mentored you.

Yes. But it's now time for you to bloom. Because now Bravo was a sponsor of CultureCon. And so it doesn't have to end. It doesn't have to be, let's burn the bridge. It was just a very bittersweet. And I said, you know what? The fact that it's so hard to leave is actually a compliment.

Yes. So what it means. Absolutely. Because if I didn't care. Yeah. But I cared. So we cried and then I had to tell Andy Cohen. And then I had to tell the whole company.

But you know what? it was a really different feeling. It felt like faith. Yes. Which is ironic. That's what my name means. But it felt like faith in action is what it felt like. Absolutely.

Absolutely. Behind every night spent making the kids lunches, there's a lot of suspense. Will they finally eat the veggies? Will the pasto survive the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all? And will you finish episode eight before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit.

Visit bell.com.com. Availability. Bell, connection is everything. Lisa? We should tell them about our new show. Oh my God, Lexi. We have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me.

I'm Lexi Iwarno. We're two best friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa Di Giulio, the old one, which. means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions, and at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. I'm not going to get anyone fighting. That is wild. I learned that about you today.

Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business, and I've always got something to say. If men were just honest about this, there would be so much more peace in the world. We're going to talk about dating, relationships, beauty, getting older, and a little wiser. We're best friends, but we don't always agree. Because you told us how accommodating you are. Obviously, I would do what I think I could do to fight the fight, but there's only so much fight I can fight. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me.

Liar. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I don't really care. I'm Lacey Mosley, author, actor, stand-up comedian, creator, and host of Scam Goddess podcast, the true crime comedy podcast, all about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it. Each week I bring on incredible guests like Conan O'Brien, Iowa Debrie, Lamorne Morris, and Nicole Byer. Ooh, I scammed them. What? I can talk to you for an hour.

You're a generational yapper like me. That's why I had to make yapping a job. And the scams run the gamut. I'm talking about scams from the 1800s all the way up to today. I also warn you and keep you safe against scammers. Call your grandparents. Tell your parents to stop clicking on links, please. And now you can catch full episodes of my show on YouTube.

If there's a scam, I'm here to protect you. And I'm also here to laugh with you. So if you like fun, if you like comedy, and you like learning and protecting yourself from criminals, start listening to Scam Goddess on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman, Angel Geratana. Jeremy Colhane, Patrick McDonald.

And we're the host. of the Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast. The Improvised Character Comedy Podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of wellness influencers. What I try to do is faux journal. I don't know. Have you guys heard of faux journaling? Yeah, it's reading. It's called reading.

So we don't like to use that word anymore. A panel of New Yorker cartoonists. Have you guys done Terry Gross's Peloton class? No! I've been dying too. I'm so sorry. I'm seeing a reading of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Audra McDonald's at the Wonderland Bookstore on 14th. That's crazy. I went to the Wonderland Bookstore yesterday and I heard Nora Jones do a reading of Zero Dark 30.

No way. You have to come to the last bookstore though. Kim Cottrell is reading the guitar tabs of yesterday. A panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone.

I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween. Listen to artists on artists on artists on artists on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Self-care September is here, which means it's time to rethink what self-care actually means. Yes, self-care can be a long walk. It can be in everything shower. It can be putting your phone on Do Not Disturb. But sometimes it's actually about sitting with the uncomfortable stuff.

and understanding your patterns, your boundaries, finally figuring out why you keep doing things that you swore you would never do again. I'm Gemma Spag, the host of the Psychology of Your 20s podcast, and each week we unpack the psychology behind the experiences that shape your 20s, from relationships and friendships to money, anxiety, confidence, attachment, just becoming more comfortable with who you are. Unlike the quarter-life crisis, which is depicted as the collapse, the quarter-life reinvention is the expansion and growth of something.

When we develop the ability to be happy by ourselves, nobody else can take that from you. So this self-care September, don't just take care of yourself, get to know yourself as well. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By age 11 or so, at least 70% have a phone. Middle school is a different world than the one we grew up in. I'm Dr. Joy, and this is therapy for black girls. We spend real time on it in our surviving middle school run. bringing in a child psychologist and a psychiatrist who's raising two black girls of his own to talk about what's really going on with our kids right now.

So it's literally physiological and neurological and psychological and psychological chaos happening all this end up. We got into group chats and gaming, friendships and bullying, and how to tell the difference between healthy monitoring and the kind of surveillance that erodes trust. There's belonging. You could think of belonging as I can be myself and I can still be accepted. and then there's fitting in. Spitting in says, I have to change who I am in order to avoid rejection. Then we turn the conversation toward the fathers, sitting down with therapists Keir Gaines on Black fatherhood

and what it means to raise a daughter through this stage. You don't have on shorts, so you can't do flips, you have on the dressy, you can cross your legs. That's the range of this run, from screen time to identity to the father's doing the work at home. We have to get off her device, but the reality is there's a lot of life out there that we don't want you as your adult,

in their lives to miss out on. This has been our surviving middle school run. Brought to you by the people who spend their careers thinking about exactly this. I'm Dr. Joy. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On Big Lives, we take a single cultural icon. People like Jane Fonda, George Michael, Richard Pryor. And we pull apart the story behind the image.

And we do this by digging through the BBC's vast, archive. We're talking iconic moments in broadcast history. I'm not just a boxer. I'm educated. I can talk all week on millions of subjects. And forgotten interviews that change how we see these giants of our culture. Well, if changing the system from the ground up is revolutionary, then I'm revolutionary. We're here for the messy, the brilliant, the human version of our heroes. I mean, when I go on stage, I like to dress as slutty as possible because it makes me dance a bit for some reason. I'm Emmanuel Jochi.

I write. And this is Big Lives. Listen to Big Lives on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. All right. So by this time, you're in your six of CultureCon. Yeah, exactly. You've done it for like five years already while working. And now you're full throttle in it, signing your biggest client at that time. So what was that like, knowing like, oh, wow, God, I really surrendered this to you and immediately you're showing me that you got me. And what was that next CultureCon like?

It was, you know what? I actually. the next culture con that would have been 2023, it completely burnt me out. I felt like I had so much to prove because so many people were like, what do you mean you left NBC? And other people were like, that's a great idea. But I decided instead of doing one culture con per year,

we were going to do three. Wow. So we went from doing one a year to Atlanta in May, L.A. in June, New York, October. And I burnt out, and I burnt the team out. so bad that I had to take a 30-day residency. And so it taught me that I needed to really pace myself because at NBC, there was a pace.

Yes. I just had to be a really strong performer in an existing pace. Now that I was my own boss, I had to figure out what kind of boss do you want to be to yourself? Yeah. And how are you going to set up your year that you're not doing this again? Yeah. But the first year, girl, I did too much.

Girl, I will never. You're ambitious. I was really ambitious. Yes. So when you say you're a 30-day residency, I remember, I follow you on Instagram. Is this the whole James Baldwin? Yes. I remember.

Yes. I was so fascinated by that. Yes. I burnt out so bad that I didn't even, I didn't want to do anything anymore. I wasn't inspired anymore. I didn't want to do CultureCon anymore. Like people said CultureCon. I was so attached to the business.

You would say CultureCon and I would be like, yes. Wow. Like I couldn't even separate it. Yeah. And so I said, I'm going on a 30-day residency, creative residency, James Baldwin is my hero. And so I followed his journey in Paris. And it was four weeks.

The first week was just play. I just got to give myself whatever I wanted. The second week was rest, no social media, no phone calls, just reading. And then the third week was just, what do I want my strategy to look like? What do I want to come out of this? And it was a curriculum that I built for myself. Yeah. I started it in Paris.

I ended it in the south of France where James Baldwin spent the last few years of his life. It was transformative. And now I do creative residency every year for two weeks. Smart. Every single year. That is incredible. I'm so proud of you. Sometimes you figure out what works.

I figure out what doesn't work. Absolutely. That's real. That is real. So you go do this. How was the father? So I love hearing this because 2004, I was a part of the culture, creative class. Yes. Yes, you were. And it was such an, it was such an honor. I just, like I said,

I feel like there's so much that you have on your plate and you care it with such grace. And so we honored you in 2024. Yes, that meant so much. It was, I just feel like us being able to honor our peers while we're here while we can give each other flowers is so important because I don't think we realize how many people are just head down, not even celebrating themselves. Girl. It's just like, oh yeah, I finished just. On to the next thing. On to the next thing. I talked to so many founders who were like, I never celebrate myself.

And so it's just a moment to be like, just pause for a second. Like, you're a huge deal. Yeah. No, and thank you for seeing me because even now, I don't feel like a lot of times people see the work I'm doing. And, you know, we work in an award-based industry where it's like, do you got, you know, if they're not giving me the award, they don't see me. But then I look at the people I'm touching. Yes.

But when I got that call or the email and then my man, manager, Dinaura at the time, had hit me. And she goes, Crystal, they want you to be a part of the culture clown class. I was like, what? Like, to be seen. So you didn't even understand what you did for me in that moment. Wow. You're like giving me goosebumps.

I'm serious. But that's what I mean. It's like with social media, it has become very output-driven. And there's a beauty to that because you can see what's possible. But sometimes it erases the process in a way that, of course, you can't show everyone every part of it. But you do a lot of work. work. And I do think that having conversations like this just illuminates like it's a lot of work. A lot of work. Speaking of work, Culture Khan is back. Yes. So I want to know what you're here right now.

I don't even know how you're here right now is this coming weekend or next weekend because I can't even keep with the days. Same. But it's next weekend. I will be there again. So excited. But I want to know what does every day look like leading up to when it comes to the work? Because people don't see that. No. We, during this season, every day is a week. Every day. Every day is a week.

Every hour. Yeah. Every hour is a day. Ooh, that money. It is, like, and that's why I believe in rest. So, you know, you're going to see me outside until about August. And then that's what I'm going to go to Martha's Vineyard. I went for my first time this year.

And all of my friends and family know that after August, I, like, go into a cave. Because every day is a week and every hour is a day, which means if I were to show you and I almost want to show you, I don't think you would believe me. Girl. I kind of want to show you my phone. Yeah, I can't imagine. It is literally meetings from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. sometimes I have, you know what I realize? I can be on three meetings at one time. What?

How? It's from, because I, when I was a crisis publicist, I thought I was training to be the best publicist I could be. I was training to be a CEO. Come on. And so God will put you in school. I got this from PD. I got this from Pastor Darius. He will put you in school.

You think you're learning one thing. You're actually learning another. So in crisis, I would be on a marketing call talking about the Real Housewives rollout. TMZ would be on the other line telling me they were about to break a story. And my intern would be asking me what I wanted for lunch. And I could do all three of those at the same time. So now, I'm not kidding. I can be on a creative call telling them what color of the stage should be.

I can also be on the sales call asking about an update on the sales. I can also be texting the guy that I'm dating. Yes. And I didn't know that was weird until my friend Courtney came over and she's watching me and she's like, wait, what? How are you doing all this? Yeah. And so it's kind of like, yeah, that's what culture con season feels like. Yeah.

It's so many decisions I probably am making in one day in culture con season. I'm probably making like 400 decisions. decisions. Goodness. Yeah. Because it's huge. It's huge and our team is around 70 people. Wow. And all those people are asking questions. They're all asking questions and I do have a leadership team but a lot of it is very like it just they just need a quick answer and I don't want to be the bottleneck. But the rest of my year doesn't feel quite like that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, because you seem to enjoy the rest of your year but I can imagine now. Yesterday I made a day trip to New York to do a walkthrough of the venue. Oh wow. So I just got back at one, one

this morning. Well, you don't look like it. Girl, we thank God for makeup. We do. Amen. To that. Listen, I had a very long day yesterday, too. I didn't get in at 1 a.m.

It finished around 9 or so, but I understand. I know you do. And I think that's kind of why it's important. I remind myself, it won't always be like this. So, yes. And that's. We won't always be able to go as hard as we can go right now. Ain't that the truth.

You know? Yeah. So while you can get it. You got to get it. Yes. My dad, he was like, Imani. And we went out to dinner last week and he goes, Imani, it goes like this.

And the way that he said it, it just, not that it scared me, but kind of. Yeah. Because he was like the things that you're kind of like, oh, about, it's going to, you're going to look back. It's going to go like this. Yes. And so I am really trying to, with the long days, still be like, what a blessing it is to be tired from this kind of work.

Absolutely. Yeah. And you're literally living out your purpose. You talk about and texting the guy I'm dating. I am so bad at that. When I'm working, when we're here filming, that's the first thing that goes out the window. Really? Girl, because my brain can only take so much. And we have like a million lines we're taking in. Oh, that's turning into Fatima. And it's just like so much. And they're like, hello over here. Hello. Hello. What about when you have your lunch break, your craft break? I'm either studying lines for the, or I'm sleep, or I'm sleep because my brain is like overloading. So I commend you on that because that's something I do lack and I need to work on.

Yeah. So I'm proud of you on that one. So what I do want to ask you is as this community has grown with you, what has changed most about the people coming into the building? It started off as your friends and now it's, I want to tell you, I came last year, Amani. I got

to do two days last year. I was so excited, two different panels. And I was blown away. I saw old friends. people that I had worked with when I was in D.C. that I hadn't seen in years and they saw I was going to be there. And they were like, we're coming. And I was like, oh my gosh.

And I saw people that I admired and people I follow on Instagram but don't know. So I'm like, when I was, I'm like, hey, and I'm like, I actually don't know you. That is such a thing. It's like, you look so. Oh. Yeah. Yeah. So how has it changed over the years?

I think, you know, it started off as an invitation inside of my mind. And now it's become like a community project. Yeah. There's so much feedback. that we're getting. And when you say something like CultureCon, it's like you've got to kind of open that up because I'm one person

and I do not ever dare to be the voice of culture. And so we open up the living room and we're kind of like, who else needs perspective here? Who else needs a voice here? So I think of it as like a compound sentence. Like we start the sentence and then the community finishes it. So when we're walking around, I'm in just as much awe as I think everyone else is

because even I'm like, wait, what? Girl. Oh, mind-blowing. I was blown away. Girl, it's 12,000 people, and I just think I have to say that number out loud because the only reason it's 12,000 is because that's the capacity. It would be bigger. Yeah, it could be bigger if we could fit more people.

Right. That is amazing. Also, I want to ask you, because this year you're not only having the culture and creative part, you're bringing the business side to it. Why was that so important? I love that you're doing this. Yes, I mean, we introduce creative business stage, you're exactly right, because I think we really want to think about what are all the things you need in your ecosystem. And so we have the culture stage, which is if you learn from inspiration, we have creative business stage if you learn from like frameworks and decks and specifics.

We also brought, we introduced something new this year called brain date, which is basically peer-led learning. So we have over 120 brain date sessions over the weekend where you can say, hey, I've got a theory on. on VC. I want to teach, you know, my community about that. So we have over 120 brain date community leaders. We have a career lounge if you want to kind of learn about like personal career coaching. We have VIP office hours if you learn from smaller breakout groups. And so it really is all about asking yourself like, what do I need right now in this season? Like do I need inspiration? I'm going to go to the culture stage. Right. Am I inspirationed out? I need to know how to do it. I'm going to go to the creative business stage. And yeah, we just want people to have

options. I think for someone like me, I like a little bit of everything. Yeah, no, for me too. And I'm glad you're doing that because like you said, some people can't learn in big groups. They want to break out into something smaller, more intimate. I love that you're reaching everyone where they are so that no one feels left out. That you don't feel left out. And we even have a creative playground. So if your nervous system gets shot or you get overwhelmed, you can go color, you can go play with Legos, just bring your nervous system down. Girl, so let me ask you, when it comes to thinking of all these things, is this something that God downloads to you or is it something where you bring your

credit team together and I was like, oh, and this and I hear people need this and you guys just take everything on a whiteboard and like, what is that process like? A lot of it is collaboration. A lot of it is God downloads. A lot of it also is me going to events throughout the year and being like, I wish I had some Legos right now. Right. Right. And so I bring all of that and I try to put myself in the shoes of someone who drove from Ohio who's overwhelmed. who maybe is like, I'm in New York City. We want to give them things. We have truth or dare.

So we bring back all this like play. I think that plays. I think we become adults and we're like. We've lost it. Yeah. You come over to my house. We have Legos. It's like it's honestly like my living room.

CultureCon feels like what it would feel like if you came over. I love. See, I can't wait to come over. Do you have the seven layer dip at CultureCon? You know what? We don't have this. I'm going to make that especially for you. Okay.

I don't know if we have enough. for CultureCon, but you know what? We're going to have it when you come over. Okay, perfect. I love that. Thank you so much. I also want to know it takes a certain amount of confidence to build something like this. And when it comes to going to the next level, when do you know, okay, it's time to take it up

a notch or when we just need to leave it where it is? Because you've taken it every year, it's been another notch. You know what? God gives me the vision and I can see it in my mind before I can see it in real life. Yeah. But sometimes that's scary because I don't know how I'm about to get from point A and point B. And recently, I've been looking to the Bible for a lot of like my heroes. Because I think growing up, I saw characters in the Bible as these like demi-gods.

Like they were like Disney characters. But the more that I read it, I'm like a lot of these people were nervous and actually didn't want to do it. No. Like they were like, I stutter like me. Yeah. And so when I look at that, it actually emboldens me to do things because. it's just like, do not be afraid. And there are so many times I'm afraid.

Like, I don't want to be perceived. I don't want to let people down. I feel like as we get bigger, the stakes get higher. And as a black founder, you don't get a lot of, if any, second chances. And so I'm scared, I think, but I am just kind of like, I would regret it if I wasn't obedient. And God always makes a way. Like there were times where I just was like, I don't know what I'm doing. And he would send someone who knew how to do it or he would send people in my life who had done it before.

And I'm just, listen, I'm going to stick my side of because so far so good. But it's not that it's not scary. I think it's just that I don't think that there's a time where a warrior isn't scared. For sure. One of my favorite, like, it's not a fun fact, but I do love this fact. is like when they elected Martin Luther King to be the leader of the southern, oh my gosh, I always get this wrong,

Southern leader, it's the SLC, I think it's the Southern Leadership Convention. You have to fact check me on that. It was in a room, kind of just a small room. They were like, you should do it. And he went into the back room and he had a panic attack. I don't know if I've heard that story. I went to the Atlanta History Center and I saw that.

I was like, he had a panic attack. Martin Luther King. Right. But stories like that make me feel stronger. Yes. Because that makes you realize it's not odd to be scared. How you feel. Yeah, exactly.

It's not bad to feel scared. And so I'm just kind of like, we all have a moment where we're going to walk into our destiny or we're not. For sure. I just want to leave this earth giving it like everything I've got. But yeah, I don't know. Girl, I'd be so scared. And then I just cry. And then you just do it.

And I pray, yeah. Come on. I'm so proud of you. You're doing it. You are doing it. Even if you are scared, you're doing it. Yeah. That's the most important.

Before we get back into the conversation, it's time for this week's money move. Financial literacy is so important to me. So this season, I have two of my favorite money experts, Ashley Fox, CEO of Empify and Wall Street Trapper, giving us financial tips every week. So tune in and take notes because I know I know I. I am. What's good, fam? It's your board of Wall Street Trapper, and this is your financial tip of the day.

Here's what I want you to do. We get so used to spending money recklessly. So what I want you to do in order to build wealth and be strategical about building wealth is for every dollar you have invested, right? For every dollar you have in a bank, what I want you to do is invest the same amount of dollars because now what happens is I want you to have ownership of the bank that you are using. So let me make that easy for you to understand, right?

So people vest with, I mean, bank with J.P. Morgan. People bank with Citibank. People bank with Wells Fargo. People bank with anything outside of a federal credit union because they aren't public. They are private. So J.P. Morgan, take a symbol, JPM. Citibank, tick a symbol C. Morgan Stanley, take a symbol M.S.

Those tick assembles are how you find those companies. What happens is you'll make more money. from investing in the bank than having your money sitting in the bank. Let me say it again. You make more money from investing in the bank by having ownership of it than having your money sitting in the bank. A savings account only pays you 0.01%. The average bank performs about 8% year to date.

That means your money will grow more from owning the bank than actually investing, having your money sit in the bank. And let me just say this last thing before I go. The bank also pays you dividends. So now those dividends reinvested allows you to grow your shares of the bank. while your money is sitting in the bank. She bought a wall to your chat, but that's my financial tip of the day. Salute.

So I want to talk about Amani outside of the CEO title. Who are you on a day-to-day? When you're putting all these other hats down and it's just about you and the things that you enjoy, you talk about Legos and playing games, what are some things that Amani enjoys on a day-to-day if we can get like a peek inside your life? Oh, my goodness. There's so many, like, things that I'm interested in. I love history.

I love food girl. Me too. Girl, I could do a food tour of every city that I go. When I go to a new city, it's history and food. I love like small gatherings, which is how this all started. I also love TV. I minored in film, so I love a good TV show. What's your favorite show right now?

Ooh, the bear. Everybody loves that show. Have you seen the bear? Okay, here's my tips. Don't watch it while you're working because it's going to make you anxious. Oh, wow. My sister is a chef and it like makes her anxious when she's watching it. Okay.

But it is so good. They've got this plaque on the wall that says every second counts. And because I think that CultureCon were in hospitality, it really makes me think of like hospitality. Yes. You would, you got to try it. I am. It's not too late. Okay.

Yeah. And I'm a type of person I can binge. So I can, how many seasons like three now or four? We're in four now. Four. Yeah. Because I remember when it came out, everybody was talking about it. It is so good.

Okay. So the bear. Okay. You like watching shows. I didn't know you were TV and film age. I didn't know that. Yes. Like I just think it's like, I think it's one of the most transformative ways to do any kind of like message.

I feel like it's TV. Yeah. Like I love TV. I, my favorite show is like The Office. I've watched, I've watched all the seasons eight times. Oh, wow. See, that's me with friends. I've never seen a full episode of Friends.

That laugh track, I be like, I don't. I love it. Yes. Okay, so I'll try it. But I was late. I was late to the party. Like, I got on it, and I was like, why did I never watch this? It's like a feel good show?

Yes. Okay. And it's about just friends living in New York City going through life. Okay. Yeah, I like it. And I like ensemble cast like that. Like I love insecure. I love the office.

So maybe, okay. Yeah, and it's that same kind of funny, like office. I thought it was funny. Like the dry, like the human. Yeah, yeah, it's funny. Okay. Yeah. My other favorite show is Breaking Bad.

See, I didn't get into that either, but that was another cult classic. Yeah. I kind of like the, yeah. I really love, like, the storytelling, and I love, like, a reference to season three and season seven. Got you. Like a little Easter egg. I love it. It's like reading a book.

Yes, exactly. Now I'm with you on that. Okay, I'm going to go watch Friends. Okay. And I'll go watch Breaking Bad and The Bear. Do the Bear first. Okay. Because I feel like you'll trust me and my taste more if you start with the bear.

Okay. Breaking Bad, you can be like, girl. I feel like I tried Breaking Bad, and I just couldn't. But everybody loved that show. Because you can't be, like, on your phone or any, you have to watch it. Okay. Or you'll miss it. Got it.

And that was probably my problem because y'all know how we are. I said, I already know you were multitasking. I already know you were. Yes. I was ordering the lunch, checking something else. And yeah, texting my boo then. There you were. See?

There we go. There we go. I love that. Behind every night spent making the kids' lunches, there's a lot of suspense. Will they finally eat the veggies? Will the pastos survive the first bite? Will the lunchbox come home empty, half full, or come home at all.

And will you finish episode 8 before you're done slicing the cucumbers? Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Craved Netflix and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.com.com. And to check availability, Bell, connection is everything. Lisa, we should tell them about our new show. Oh my God, Lexi. We have a new podcast.

It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi Wanu. We're two bus friends, 22 years of. part, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa Di Giulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions, and at this point in my 50s, I've lived at all. I'm not going to get anyone fighting. That is wild. I learned that about you today. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business, and I've always got something to say. If men were just honest about this, there would be so much more peace in the world.

We're going to talk about dating, relationships, beauty, getting older, and a little wiser. We're best friends, but we don't always agree. Because you told us how accommodating you are. Obviously, I would do what I think I could do to fight the fight, but there's only so much fight I can fight. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Liar. Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I don't really care. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman. Angel Geratana.

Jeremy Colhane. Patrick McDonald. And we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast. The Improvised Character Comedy Podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of wellness influencers. What I try to do is faux journal. I don't know. Have you guys heard of faux journaling?

Yeah, it's reading. It's called reading. So we don't like to use that word anymore. A panel of New Yorker cartoonists. Have you guys done Terry Greer? Rosas Peloton class. No! I've been dying, too.

I'm so sorry. I'm seeing a reading of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Audra McDonald's at the Wonderland Bookstore on 14. That's crazy. I went to the Wonderland Bookstore yesterday, and I heard Nora Jones do a reading of Zero Dark 30. No way. You have to come to the last bookstore, though.

Kim Cottrell is reading the guitar tabs of yesterday. A panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress? up. He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone. I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween.

Listen to artists on artists on artists on artists on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Lacey Mosley, author, actor, stand-up comedian, creator, and host of Scam Goddess Podcast. The True Crime Comedy Podcasts all about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it. Each week I bring on incredible guests like Conan O'Brien, Iowa Debris, Lamorne Morris, and Nicole Byer. Ooh, I scammed them.

What? I can talk to you for an hour. You're a generational yapper like me. That's why I had to make yapping a job. And the scams run the gamut. I'm talking about scams from the 1800s all the way up to today. I also warn you and keep you safe against scammers. Call your grandparents.

Tell your parents to stop clicking on links, please. And now you can catch full. episodes of my show on YouTube. If there's a scam, I'm here to protect you. And I'm also here to laugh with you. So if you like fun, if you like comedy and you like learning and protecting yourself from criminals, start listening to scam goddess on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Self-care September is here, which means it's time to rethink what self-care actually means. Yes, self-care can be a long walk. It can be in everything shower. It can be putting your phone on, do not disturb. but sometimes it's actually about sitting with the uncomfortable stuff, and understanding your patterns, your boundaries, finally figuring out while you keep doing things that you swore you would never do again. I'm Gemma Spag, the host of the Psychology of Your 20s podcast,

and each week we unpack the psychology behind the experiences that shape your 20s, from relationships and friendships to money, anxiety, confidence, attachment, just becoming more comfortable with who you are. Unlike the quarter-life crisis, which is depicted as the collapse, The quarter life reinvention is the expansion and growth of something. When we develop the ability to be happy by ourselves, nobody else can take that from you. So this self-care September, don't just take care of yourself. Get to know yourself as well.

Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By age 11 or so, at least 70% have a phone. Middle school is a different world than the one we grew up in. I'm Dr. Joy, and this is Therapy for Black Girls. We spent real time on it in our surviving middle school run, bringing in a child psychologist and a psychiatrist who's raising two black girls of his own to talk about what's really going on with our kids right now. So it's literally physiological and neurological and psychological and psychological chaos happening all this same time. We got into group chats and gaming, friendships and bullying, and how to tell the difference between healthy monitoring and the kind of surveillance that erodes trust. There's belonging.

You could think of belonging as, I can. be myself and I can still be accepted. And then there's fitting in. Spitting in says I have to change who I am in order to avoid rejection. Then we turn the conversation toward the fathers, sitting down with therapist Keer Gaines on Black fatherhood and what it means to raise a daughter through this stage. You don't have more shorts, so you can't do flips, you have on the dress, so you have to cross

your legs. That's the range of this run, from screen time to identity to the fathers doing the work at home. We have to get off her device, but the reality is there's a lot of life out there that we don't want you as your adults in their lives to miss out on. This has been our surviving middle school run. Brought to you by the people who spend their careers thinking about exactly this. I'm Dr. Joy. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Dear honies, this is goodbye. In February of 2024, celebrated illustrator and children's book author Patramathers and her husband Michael mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know that they had died by suicide. By the time you get the Schleatherbolt, Petra and I will be dead. Next stop, Wonderland. Petra and Michael were by all accounts,

healthy, happy, and in love. Why did they do it? And what did it do to the people they left behind? I would have given a million reasons to not leave this world had I known. I keep coming back to, I truly hope that Petra was a thousand percent on board with the plan.

Do you think of him as having killed her? Yes, I do. I hold Michael responsible for my mother's staff. I'm Leon Nafak. And I'm Alice Gregory. Together we set out to interview everyone who got one of Patriot and Michael's letters, as one married couple trying to understand another. Listen to Death of an Artist on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Growing up, both your parents were pastors. Yes. Which is what I love, it's even hearing the advice. And now that it all makes sense, even your mom saying you can get another job, she was speaking in faith. Yes. You know, and then your dad was speaking in wisdom as well saying, hey, just go ahead and prepare

for what you're about to do. Yes. So what was that like growing up with two parents, his pastors, and that upbringing? Yeah, my parents met in Bible school. They met in seminary. Wow. And they couldn't be more different. My dad was on his way to becoming a professional basketball player.

Wow. But he broke his ankle. And the chaplain was like, I mean, you could go to Bible college. Like it was almost kind of like, I mean, what are you going to do? Yeah. What else are you going to do? Yeah. My mom completely opposite.

Grew up on a farm, grew up loving Jesus, like always knew she wanted to work as a pastor. And they met kind of in the serendipitous way because the ratio at the time was almost kind of like 20 women to 200 men. I can, yeah. And so my mom was like the bell at the ball. And my dad was like, oh, can you help me study Hebrew? He had an A in Hebrew. And that's how they met. He's like, I just can't get it.

And that's how they met. And growing up, I didn't know. It wasn't like this weird, actually, it wasn't like this weird relationship. My parents actually, they raised us in love, not fear. That's good. So I wasn't raised with like, you're going to go to Haiti. I wasn't raised like that, which I know a lot of people that grow up and they're kind of like, they're hurt. It was the fear of God.

Yeah, because fear can only last for so long. People will eventually resent you. Yeah. But love, love is compounding. And so I was raised with like the love of what it means and how much I'm loved. And so I really thanked them for that because I, even though as a teenager and in college, I was like, I had a more shallow relationship. I realize now that the seeds that they planted, they've compounded over time.

So my parents have prayed over me. There have been times where they were the only people I could go to because I couldn't really tell my team how scared I was. And I'd say, but to them, I'm their child. And so I could cry to them. They could pray over me. We're actually putting out a CultureCon documentary where the morning of CultureCon last year, I'm just crying. And no one ever sees it.

I come out, I'm ready, but they pray over me. So I tell them all the time, I'm like, I'm so thankful for you as parents. Because it's just a really good balance. My dad has that athletic approach. My mom has that empathetic approach. I have two sisters. We're all a year apart and a brother.

So just a beautiful, beautiful family. Yes, I love that. And how has it been with your siblings seeing you grow in this type of way? We're like, oh my gosh, like this is our sister. They don't, I mean, that's what I love about siblings, right? You will always be yourself. Yes. So I have one sister who is a farmer.

She's a flower farmer. Really? She grows roses and buckhead. What? Yeah, girl right on the street. flower farmer. She grows. That is so cool. It's so cool. She like I'm in all of her. Black farmer has like has a farm in Buckhead. My other sister's a veterinarian. So she's saving dogs lives. My little brother, he kind of works in tech AI. I'm not really sure what he does, but he's really smart. Okay.

And when we get around each other. Yeah, you're Jesse Monny. Yeah. I love that. There's one thing I love about being with my family. Yes. The other one that they do ask is, what's going to happen to so on. so I'm like, do you tell them? No, no, I'd never tell them anything. I'm not going to be the blame for a spoiler. I know that's right. Y'all can see it when it comes out. Yes, they always try, though.

But other than that, I can just be crystal. Yes. So it's always special to have that time. Yeah, they have the moment where you can just be crystal and relax and not be on. And that's why seeing them at CultureCon is just like, yeah. Yeah, I'm sure it's disarming. It's like a blanket. Yes, they come every year.

Oh, good. I love that. You have your tribe with you. Every year, yes. Oh, I know that's very calming. Yes. I look for my parents. We stand at the balcony and I say, no one's going to come.

And every year they say, yes, they are. That's like our tradition. I love that. And they come, honey. They come. I'm sure they're so proud of you looking out of that crowd and like, wow. I'm so grateful. I mean, I just think about, you know, you have so much empathy for your parents because

you're like, wait, you were 31 raising me. Like, that was a lot. And I had the audacity. you'd be like, I don't want spaghetti for dinner. Like, I, it's just, you start to see them as humans. Yeah. Oh, absolutely, especially as we get older. Like, you're like, wait a minute.

I'm growing through the things that you were going through that age. I get it now. I get it now. Yeah. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Yeah, I get it.

So one thing I want to ask before we get out of here, after everything that you have built in this year's experience, what is your hope that someone sees differently in themselves after leaving CultureCon. Ooh. I think that a lot of what we're searching for we already have, and I know that sounds so cliche, but I spent a lot of time trying to be a louder CEO

and a bigger CEO. And I just am so thankful that I'm finally settling in terms of who I actually am. Like I'm someone who enjoys one-on-one conversations. I'm someone who's not the loudest in the room, but you can still be effective. you can still be a leader you can still be kind

and so like you can do it your way you can find it your way because I think a lot of people are like wow you're so quiet I'm like I'm not quiet it's just when I have something to say I'll say it exactly I just don't need to like so I think I'm just leaning and settling

into who I actually am yeah I love that that is so good whether ever moments walking into this I know you talked about fear and being scared but were there ever moments where you had imposter syndrome, where you were like, I don't even know if this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Did it get to a point?

I just recovered from imposter syndrome last year. And my league, oh my goodness, she's incredible, and I did some, just some executive coaching with her. And what she helped me understand was the reason I felt imposter syndrome was I was being thrust into this place of like an expert. And I was like, I mean, I don't know if I'm an expert. And she was like, in mind, instead of thinking of yourself as the teacher, think of yourself as a student in the class. Love it.

And all you're doing is saying, hey, guys, want to see what I'm doing? Versus I have it all together. Because the reason you're feeling like an imposter is because no one has it all together. And that just clicked for me. That now I go into the rooms and I'm like, I don't know everything. And if you know something and I don't know it, I hire people who are smarter than me. My sales lead will be like, that's not a good idea. I don't agree.

And I'm like, okay, tell me why. I don't feel now that I have to have it all together. I think as soon as you allow yourself to be the student again, that imposter syndrome, it went away from me. I love that. And that's so important. I think a big key takeaway is to hire people that are smarter than you. Yes. Especially the areas that you know, like, I lack in this area, I need to get an expert in here because that's how you're going to learn.

That's how you're going to learn. And take the pressure off of yourself of being the expert of everything. No one is the expert of everything. Yeah. And that does get draining. Yes. It's just not. you got to set yourself up to win.

You gotta live in reality. Facts. For sure, for sure. So we're to one of my favorite parts of the show. We are bringing back positive outcomes. Where our listeners write in. They ask us a question and we give them advice. You down?

Yes, I want to get it. All right, let's do it. This week, Shayla Hurt asked us, how do you keep yourself motivated during the waiting season? Ooh, Shayla, that's a good one. That's a good one. you know what, I think I look at my life and I look at Ecclesiastes, that there's a time for everything. And I know, like, when you're in the waiting season, it just feels like it'll last forever.

But I do this thing called video diaries. So on my calendar every two weeks, I talk to my future self. And it has really helped me because you realize how things are actually moving, even when it feels like they're not moving. They might not be moving at the pace that you want, but they're moving. And so I would say, hey, Amani, like, here's where you are. And then I would check in and look back at it. So I think in the waiting season, you ask yourself, like, what can you do? Are you supposed to be resting?

To get ready for what's coming? Are you supposed to be doing informationals and kind of filling yourself up? It's kind of like, I think you have to seek wisdom of like, God, what would you have me do? Yeah. Yeah. I think, too, during my waiting season, it's something that we touched on with PD. how he says a lot of times you're being prepared for what's coming. And I think for me, there was times where I was questioning, okay, God, why is it not happening? Like, I keep getting

all these rejections. I keep taking the auditions. They're calling me for them and I get a call back and then they go with somebody else and even trying to figure out which direction to go into. And it got to a point where when it did finally hit, everything I learned during that waiting season was preparing me for where I am. So it wasn't a, oh, now I got to go learn how to do this. Yeah, there's still things I had to learn as I evolve. But certain things, I went into it already knowing because of the waiting season. So that's what I would say. I would say pay attention to where you are in this season, Shayla,

and knowing that if you're too worried about the waiting, you're missing something. That's what I would say, because a lot of times we're so worried about win, win, when, God, that we're missing all the lessons and the little nuggets and always say the tools that he's given us to put in our toolbox. That's good. Yeah, because what a PD you say?

Sometimes you're not ready for what you're asking for. Mm-hmm. Come on. And the church just said amen. Sometimes you are not, you have to, I, one thing about me that I learned from doing 14 years of ballet is being radically honest with myself. Yes. So even when I was at NBC Universal, I got promoted eight times. And it was because every time I was in a position, I would look at the person above me and I would say, they're more confident than me.

They answer emails faster than me. And it wasn't like, oh, I'm a horrible. It was like, that's the gap I need to fill. I got to feel it. So sometimes it's like, God, am I ready for what I'm asking for? Right. And that's with a lot of things, Amani. It's not always them.

Yeah. It is not. Sometimes it's you. But the good thing about it being you is you can work on it. Exactly. That is so true. Amani, I have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation. Me too.

Thank you for having me. No, absolutely. Tell everybody where to pull up for CultureCon. Y'all, CultureCon is happening next week. We've got Michael B. Jordan. We've got Nisi Nass, O'Landria. We've got Crystal. It's going to be amazing.

You can find us everywhere at CultureCon, and you can find me at Imani, Imani. I'm so proud of you. Keep going. You know I'm here for you. I can't wait to come over and play some games and have some seven-layered games. Thank you. Thank you guys so much. Amani, thank you. Thank you. Yes. Oh, this is so good. Sweetie, season 13 is coming in hot. I hope today's conversation reminded you that what you build can be part of your purpose without becoming the entirety of who you are. Amani, thank you for continuing to create rooms where our stories and our culture are worth celebrating. And make sure you cop a ticket for CultureCon going down in New York City this weekend. Sweeties, if this conversation encouraged you, inspired you or gave you something to think about,

share it with somebody who needs it. Make sure you like and subscribe and stay connected with us in the Sweetie Social Club. Until next time, keep building, keep becoming, and as always, keep it positive, sweeties. Lisa, tell them about our new show. We have a new podcast. It's called Don't Lie to Me. I'm Lexi Youanu. We're two best friends, 22 years apart, but so close at heart. And I'm Lisa DiGulio, the old one, which means we have wildly different references, occasionally different opinions, and at this point in my 50s, I've lived it all. Now in my 30s, being the founder of new shoes, good taste is my business.

Listen on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Lacey Mosley, author, actor, stand-up comedian, creator, and host of Scam Goddess Podcast. The True Crime Comedy Podcasts all about robbery, fraud, and those who practice it. Each week, I bring on an amazing guest. Ooh, I scammed them. What? I can talk to you for an hour. You're a generational yapper like me.

That's why I had to make yapping a job. And now you can catch full episodes of my show on YouTube. Start listening to Scam Goddess on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, this is Kylie Breakman. Angel Geratana. Jeremy Colhain. Patrick McDonald. And we're the hosts of the Artists on Artists on Artists Podcast.

The Improvised Character Comedy Podcast where each week a new panel of artists discuss their craft. Join us for a panel of Eurovision participants. And we do a little Halloween sometimes. Does the Pope dress up? He winks on Halloween. He gets right up next to the microphone. I hear you can almost hear the eyelashes hit each other. You never seen Italy so quiet as when the Pope gets up to wink on Halloween.

Listen to Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Self-care September is your reminder to slow down, check in with yourself, get off your phone, and maybe ask, why am I like this? I'm Jemisbeg, host of the Psychology of Your 20s podcast, and this month we're helping you make sense of the person that you are becoming. from setting boundaries and navigating friendships to understanding anxiety, confidence, relationships, and attachment. Sometimes our biggest decisions, without us even realizing it, aren't driven by what we truly want, but by what will prevent us from feeling lonely or being alone. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So by age 11 or so, at least 70% have a phone.

I'm Dr. Joy, and this is Therapy for Black Girls. We've spent our surviving middle school run getting into what's happening inside your kid's brain, the group chat, and their friendships, and what you can do about it. Your child is not doing this on purpose. That's the kind of perspective we've been pulling from the psychologists and psychiatrists who studied this for a living. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Mike Yam.

And I'm Trevor Sycamma, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Show. ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Because if you aren't locked in with us on the NFL fantasy football show, you're already playing from behind. Whether you're a first-time player or a grizzled vet chasing another championship, we give you the advantage and the confidence you need to make every move counts. Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football Show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm Mimi Brown, and every day on Front Page Podcast, I help you make sense of the stories shaping our world. Each day, I break down the biggest headlines. Canada's trade fight with the U.S. just escalated again, and Americans could fill it in their wallets. And when a story deserves a deeper conversation, I'll sit down with experts, newsmakers, and thought leaders to help you better understand the issue behind the headlines.

Listen to Front Page from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.