The Breakfast Club - Loren speaks at her HBCU - Delaware State University!

Episode Date: September 9, 2025

Loren is asked back to her Alma Mater to provide some inspiration and guidance for the class of incoming students (2029!?). Take a listen to her perspective, now more than a decade removed from graduating!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Short on time, but big on true crime. On a recent episode of the podcast, Hunting for Answers, I highlighted the story of 19-year-old Lechay Dungey. But she never knocked on that door. She never made it inside. And that text message would be the last time anyone would ever hear from her. Listen to Hunting for Answers from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio,

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, it's Honey German, and I'm back with season two of my podcast. Grazacios, come again. We got you when it comes to the latest in music and entertainment with interviews with some of your favorite Latin artists and celebrities. You didn't have to audition? No, I didn't audition. I haven't audition in, like, over 25 years.

Oh, wow. That's a real G-talk right there. Oh, yeah. We'll talk about all that's viral and trending, with a little bit of cheesement and a whole lot of laughs. And of course, the great vivras you've come to expect. Listen to the new season of Dasius Come Again on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or

wherever you get your podcast. The Super Secret Festi Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy chisement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no. We're not doing that this season.

Oh. Well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special Bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. Get in here! Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. It's important that we just reassure people that they're not alone, and there is help out there.

The Good Stuff Podcast Season 2 takes a deep look into One Tribe Foundation, a non-profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join host Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the front lines of one tribe's mission one tribe saved my life twice welcome to season two of the good stuff listen to the good stuff podcast on the iheart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast i'm a homeguard that knows a little bit about everything and everybody you hear that excuse me don't know if you're going to lie about that right lorne came in hot hey y'all what's up it's la rosa and this is the latest with la rosa this is your daily dig on all

things, pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room. Now, this episode is extra special. I would say that this isn't exclusive, but it's even more than that. So today, I'm taking you guys on a journey with me back to my HBCU, my alma mater, Delaware State University. I'll be speaking at a ceremony called convocation. Now, this ceremony is the welcome ceremony that sets the tone for all of the freshmen and incoming transfer students. And, you know, a lot of the students of the student body who just need that extra word and push to get through their semesters. Super crazy because I remember being at my convocation and wondering what was going to happen, when it was going to happen, and how it was going to happen. And now we are here.

Started from the bottom now we hear. So take a listen to some of the ceremony. Enjoy, you know, if you guys are online, just having a conversation about anything inspo, anything black college, anything HBCU pride, remember this conversation and include this conversation because this is exactly what the full circle of the HBCU alumni life or world looks like. You go, you leave, you come back, you motivate, you inspire, and you just lend a help in hand. Enjoy. Lauren is a proud alumna of Delaware State University, and we couldn't be more proud to welcome her home. Thank you.

Y'all ain't got me emotional. I hadn't even said a couple words yet. Good morning, everybody. How are you guys? Y'all got to wake up a bit. I'm the pregame queen. Good morning, everybody. How are y'all feeling this morning?

So my name is Lauren La Rosa. You know, I am so honored to be here. I was a student at Delaware State University. I graduated in 2014, and I'm here. hearing them talk about the class of 2029. And I'm like, who, I'm a grown-up. I'm here. This is happening. I'm just, you know, honored to be here for many reasons. You know, I heard, you know, people before me talk about vision. And that's ironic because this morning when I decided what I was going to talk about, vision was one of the things that popped up. And coming to Delaware State University

was that for me. It was the sharpening of the vision. It was the tool that I needed to really, like, they say, you know, go out and make your mark on the world. And when you hear it, here, it's just like something you have to know, the same way you have to know that slide and, you know, state. State? Okay, y'all, y'all kind of, senior, state? Oh, no, no, no, baby. So y'all, y'all might be the largest class. Y'all didn't have in a while, but if we were in this room, you could hear it and you could hear the thunder of it because the things that you learn here, the state, the make your mark on the world, the, you know, look to the left of you, look to the right of you, and really understanding relationship building, that has carried.

me and so many of my peers so, so far. You know, when I came on the campus, I'm from Womenton, Delaware. Any women's in Delaware here? Okay. So I'm from Womenton, Delaware. When I came on this campus, one of the things that I knew was that, like, I wanted to work in entertainment. I didn't know how. I didn't know, you know, what it would be. I just knew what I liked and what I didn't like. So I thought. But I was able to use this campus, and I want to implore you guys and, you know, challenge you guys to do the same thing. think. I was able to use this campus to really understand vision and how vision should be protected. So you might not know today. You might not know what the school year is going to

hold. You might not know, you know, what every single day will be. Shoot, you might not even know if the major that you guys have chosen at this point or we'll choose or, you know, we'll go in and out of is exactly what you want to do. Anybody here still figuring life out, raise your hand. Everybody should raise their hand. Adults, people. Look, every day. I woke up this morning. I said, God, I don't know what today has in store for me. I don't know, but I'm here. And that is my message. As you sharpen and protect your vision, you may not know. There's a lot of things you will not know. There's a lot of days you will not be for sure, but you are here and you are showing up. And if you wake up every day, if you apply yourself to

something every day, if you are here at Delaware State University, you are a lot further than the people that are not here with you. Now, in times where you don't, know. There are certain things that you choose, it tends to do. You might pick up a phone and call a friend. You might look around you. People have talked about mentors. I know Ms. Lori Hayes is in the building. Say hi, Ms. Hayes. Ms. Hayes was my mentor. I have my uncle Tony here as well. There are people that are placed

right next to you. I said, look to your left and look to your right. Let's really do it. Look to your left and look to your right. In times that you do not know, you will learn as you go out into the world how important these people that you are building And each relationships from day one, day two, day 20, day 30 here at Delaware State University will be for your end all be all.

I cannot say that enough. There are times where I'm doing certain things, whether it's at work or in life, and I pick up the phone and the people that I call are graduates also of Delaware State University. It is so important that as you understand what your vision is and you try things and you do things and you sharpen that, you also understand that the person now, but that one plus one will always equal to because, you know, everybody's building something. Everybody has a dream, a thought, a goal. And when you do not know, you can look to the people next to you, you can call on, you know, other Delaware State University students that you will begin to meet

and do things with to help you bring that vision to life. There's a lot of times where you may not know, but you'll still do it anyway. And you should. I implore you. I challenge you to do it anyway. You post that pick on the gram. You're promoting that business. Only one person likes it post the second one you put on that outfit because fashion is your thing it don't come out like we thought it would i've been there before put on another outfit you're in you're literally in a game and you're in a league whether you're actually playing a sport or you know i'm hypothetically speaking where if you don't shoot the shot the shot can't go in and you guys are already here like you're already like you're not even trying out for the team you're on the you're literally sitting on the side

of the court. You have the team jerseys on. They've already called your name. Your family's here to cheer you on. All you have to do up is do is get up and go and do it. Get up, get in the game and try. So every day when you don't know, I challenge you to continue to get up, try, get in the game, miss the shot. If you don't take the shot, you won't, you don't even know if you'll make the shot. Now recently, I learned a big lesson in you don't know. I've always been a person to just kind of, you know, jump out the window and figure it out on the way down. But, and it happens. Coming to Del State was like that for me. I was not supposed to be here. I thought I was going to be in New York or California or wherever. I honestly only applied to Del State because of Ms.

Lori Hayes back there. She was like, well, you know, just in case, apply to Delaware State because you're not going to want to not be anywhere. Again, I want you to at least be able to get on the court. When everybody else suits up, I want you to be at least able to get on the court, throw something at the wall, see if it sticks. I applied to, for Delaware State. They came to my high school. They offered me scholarships. I don't even think I really understood the gravity of what I was offered. I came here on a full academic ride. I was able to do so much and I wasn't burdened with like financial issues and, you know, some of the other issues that I had saw a lot of my friends who went to other schools have to

deal with because the Delaware State family really took me in. I've made friends in financial aid. I did everything that was said to me to do. But years later, I'm still walking in rooms and figuring things out where I don't know. So to back it up. So within this year, I decided to jump out another window again in I left LA. I moved back to the East Coast. No job, just trying to figure it out. And in my industry, you're really out of sight, out of mind. If people don't see you every day, if they don't hear you every day, it could be the end of the end. And I told y'all, I realized while I was sitting here, I'm a real grown-up now. And real grown-ups have real bills. So that was very scary for me to do that at the time because of so many different reasons,

You know, financially, it's just a thing to start over when you get to a certain point. You guys are in a very great position because when you don't know here at Delaware State University, you'll have your things and you'll have your issues and your things that become your daily, like, you know, burdens that you're figuring out. But man, this is the time where if y'all want to go out of, you know, I was going to say out of a few windows, but maybe I shouldn't say that. But if y'all want to try things and do things, you don't have as much weight on you to figure it out. And you learn here how to soar at times where you're not even taught to fly. You just literally have to figure it out.

So when I decided to step out of that window again, move back over to the East Coast, it was what I learned here at Delaware State University about vision and what I wanted for myself that made me realize this is something I can't even talk to people about. I just have to do it. So in doing that, I did it. I decided to start guest hosting, not even decided, but I was given an opportunity to start guest hosting at a platform called the Breakfast Club. have any guys ever listened to us?

So I sit with Charlamagne, the guy, DJ envy, and Jess hilarious. But in that whole process, within the last couple months, me and Jess were super viral. And that was a space that I had never been in either. And here I am again, I don't know. I don't know what's about to happen. I don't, you know, I literally have no idea. But all I know is is what my vision was for myself. And a lot of that vision, again, is what I sharpened and honed in here at Delaware State University.

I knew, you know, what I wanted my end goal to be. I learned right here at Delaware State University conflict resolution and, you know, just perception and branding and starting right here. When people came on campus, we knew who was the what, okay, this girl does the interviews, this girl is the dancer, this girl's fashion, that guy's the scientist, that guy's the number and the accountant guide. You guys don't even realize it, but what you're working at every single day just by showing up and getting on the court with your jerseys already on becomes your vision, becomes

your brand, and that carries you into life. and then you have a clear pathway of what you want. When you know what you want, it doesn't matter what happens. So I'm walking into this new room, new people, new conflict, new things that I have to figure out. For once in my lifetime, I was the story, I wasn't chasing the story.

And it's a lot of noise. Can y'all start clapping in here from me? Everybody clap really, really loud. And what you guys will notice is when you clap, you can't really hear me. Okay, you can stop clapping now. So how many of you guys were able to hear me perfectly as the claps were happening?

A few of you, right? How many of you guys can hear me better right now? Let me see some hands in the air. Right. So life is always good when it's quiet and it's calm and there is no noise. But as you go throughout your years here at Delaware State University and you get out of Del State and you go to leave your mark on the world and that vision has to kick in.

The biggest thing you have to remember is that the noise will come. Those things will happen. But you always think back to your foundation, which is what you get right here at this HBCU. And when you're able to do that, you learn how to mentally, when all of that is happening, when all the clapping and all the noise is happening, you learn how to tunnel vision right through it. And remember where your vision is taking you and why it's important that you arrive there, unscathed, outfit, hills, all of that. When I show up, I show up and I make it a thing to make sure that I do because that walk, trying to talk to y'all over the clapping and the noise, that is not easy. being here for the four years, the five years, the five years, the one year you have left,

wherever you guys are in your school at this point, it's not an easy thing. It's fun. You learn a lot. It changes your life, the experience of life that you learn at Delaware State University and traveling to other HBCUs and becoming Greek, being in the bin. All that stuff is fun and it will shape you as a person, but there will be hard times. Things will happen. You will have to figure out money.

Life will life, but you'll still have your dream. You'll still have the things that you're pushing for. And it is so important that when people start clapping and the noise starts happening, clap again for me. It is so important that you learn how to speak over that, how to focus over that. Y'all get where I'm doing here? Y'all have to, like the amount of leverage that you guys have because you're already on the court, you won't understand it while you're here.

I didn't understand it while I was here. But when I left, I was like, man, I was somewhere for four years that allowed me to figure out who I was, what I wanted. I thought I knew what I wanted, but when I came to Del State, the way that, you know, I was able to polish it, wipe it off, hang it up, take it to the dry cleaners, steam it, get it really ready for what the world was going to throw at me, because that's another thing too. When you get out into this world, you know, especially for all of the people in here that

look like me, you get out into this world, baby, they can't wait to humble you or try to. But when you have your vision, when you have your foundation, look to the left of you again, look to the right of you again when you have the people that you can call on and start it right here with you it's nothing nobody can tell you thank you I don't know why I be so emotional oh my god my point is I'm so honored to be here I don't know why I'm so emotional maybe it's just like it's all happening for me type of thing because it's happening for y'all too but I really you know just I want these next couple years for y'all to be amazing and if I haven't said anything

these tears and my makeup that's messing up right now hasn't done anything for y'all i hope that it really motivates you guys to get on campus do what listen go to class have a good time at the same time learn the balance enjoy these years you won't get them back and i know i sound old or however saying that but listen to me when i tell you this right here is the best pregame for life you will ever experience do it and do it well I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite-sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. There are several ways we can all do better at protecting black women.

My contribution is shining a light on our missing sisters and amplifying their disregarded stories. Stories like Tamika Anderson. As she drove toward Galvez, she was in contact with several people talking on the phone as she made her way to what should have been a routine transaction but tamika never bought the car and she never returned home that day one podcast one mission save our girls join the searches we explore the chilling cases of missing and murdered black women and girls listen to hunting for answers every weekday on the black effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

The Super Secret Bestie Club podcast season four is here. And we're locked in. That means more juicy chisement. Terrible love advice. Evil spells to cast on your ex. No, no, no, no, no, we're not doing that this season. Oh, well, this season we're leveling up. Each episode will feature a special bestie, and you're not going to want to miss it.

Get in here! Today we have a very special guest with us. Our new super secret bestie is The Deva of the People. The Deva of the People. I'm just like text your ex. My theory is that if you need to figure out that the stove is hot, go and touch it. Go and figure it out for yourself. Okay.

That's us. That's us. My name is Curley. And I'm Maya. In each episode, we'll talk about love, friendship, heartbreak, men, and of course, our favorite secrets. Listen to the Super Secret Bestie Club As a part of the Michael Dura Podcast Network Available on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I had this overwhelming sensation that I had to call it right then. And I just hit call. I said, you know, hey, I'm Jacob Schick. I'm the CEO of One Tribe Foundation and I just wanted to call on and let her know

there's a lot of people battling some of the very same things you're battling. And there is help out there. The Good Stuff Podcast Season 2 takes a deep look into one. One Tribe Foundation, a non-profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join host Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the front lines of One Tribe's mission.

I was married to a combat army veteran, and he actually took his own life to suicide. One Tribe saved my life twice. There's a lot of love that flows through this place, and it's sincere. Now it's a personal mission. I wouldn't have to go to any more funerals, you know. I got blown up on a React mission. I ended up having amputation below the knee of my right leg. and a traumatic brain injury because I landed on my head.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Good Stuff. Listen to the Good Stuff podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth? Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced. He said, you are a number, a New York State number, and we own you. Shock incarceration, also known as boot camps, are short-term, highly regimented correctional programs that mimic military basic training. These programs aim to provide a shock of prison life, emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, and rehabilitation programs.

Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him the next six months. The first night was so overwhelming. and you don't know who's next to you. And we didn't know what to expect in the morning. Nobody tells you anything. Listen to shock incarceration on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. At the end of the day, y'all, there's always a lot to talk about. And every single time you guys are right here with me to talk about it, I'm just elated.

Okay, we are 5 million plus downloads in. And we're doing this thing together. I feel like we are a family. my lowriders, thank y'all for tuning in every episode. Tell a friend and tell a friend that this is where their daily download needs to be for all things, pop culture. I'm your host, Lauren LaRosa. I'll see you guys in my next episode, and I promise I won't be jiggling, baby.

Go ahead, baby. Y'all won't hear it the next time. My bad. See y'all later. Short on time, but big on true crime. On a recent episode of the podcast, hunting for answers, I highlighted the story of 19-year-old. Blachie Dungey. But she never knocked on that door. She never made it inside. And that text message

would be the last time anyone would ever hear from her. Listen to hunting for answers from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, it's Gemma's Begg, host of The Psychology of Your 20s. This September at the Psychology of your 20s, we're breaking down the very interesting ways psychology applies to real life, like why we crave external validation. I find it so interesting that we are so quick to believe others' judgments of us and not our own judgment of ourselves. So according to this study, not being liked actually creates similar pain levels as real life physical pain. Learn more about the psychology of everyday life and of course your 20s this September. Listen to the psychology of your 20s on the Iheart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's important that we just reassure people that they're not alone and there is help out there. The Good Stuff podcast, season two, takes a deep look into One Tribe Foundation, a non-profit fighting suicide in the veteran community. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so join host Jacob and Ashley Schick as they bring you to the front lines of One Tribe's mission. One Tribe, save my life twice. Welcome to Season 2 of the Good Stuff.

Listen to the Good Stuff podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What would you do if one bad? Bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth. Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced. He said, you are a number, a New York State number, and we own you. Listen to shock incarceration on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

Thank you.