Deja – The Recap Report

Drew Plotkin: Redefining Men’s Grooming with Derm Dude

Written by Deja on November 7, 2023. Posted in Featured, Health and Beauty, Influential People, Lifestyle.

Drew Plotkin, an Emmy-nominated journalist, creative producer, and the author of “Under My Skin: Baring It All One Tattoo at a Time,” embarked on a remarkable journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the slowdown and eventual shutdown of his commercial production business, Drew sought to channel his passion and knowledge into a brand that would make a difference. What emerged from his determination and creative thinking is Derm Dude. This brand not only offers a range of grooming products but also challenges stereotypes and stigmas surrounding men’s hygiene with humor and originality.

The Birth of Derm Dude

Drew Plotkin’s skincare career started over 25 years ago as a director for celebrity beauty commercials working with Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Lopez, and many others. As the pandemic disrupted many industries, Drew Plotkin found himself at a crossroads when his commercial production business shut down. Rather than chasing profits, he used this opportunity to create a brand rooted in his passions and expertise. Drew is not only creative but also someone deeply passionate about tattoos and skincare. He would later recognize the opportunity to start a business that merged his interests with consumer needs. Initially, he intended to launch a tattoo aftercare line, recognizing the importance of proper skin care in the tattoo world. He then decided to diversify into the grooming industry, establishing a line of beard products after successfully creating a line to help his own beard thrive.

Expanding into Men’s Grooming

But it didn’t stop there! Derm Dude has grown into a men’s grooming brand, covering a wide range of products designed for men’s grooming and hygiene needs. This expansion includes beard growth kits, body wash, shampoo conditioner, trimmers, foot cream, and even his unique testicle care including his popular ‘Happy Sack Nut Love Cooling Cream.’

The Rise of Derm Dude

What truly sets Derm Dude apart is Drew’s unique approach to branding. With a keen sense of humor and a desire to break down societal norms, Drew’s brand challenges the conventional expectations around men’s grooming and hygiene. Derm Dude products not only deliver quality and effectiveness but also showcase a playful personality while also maintaining authenticity.

Drew’s extensive experience in the skincare industry played a pivotal role in Derm Dude’s success. Drawing from his background, he understood the significance of consumer testimonials and the value of incorporating customer reviews into product development. The consumer-centric approach allowed Derm Dude to fine-tune the products, ensuring that each product met the specific needs of its customers.

The Human POST IT® Note

In 2022, Plotkin unveiled his life’s narrative through his memoir, titled “Under My Skin: Baring It All One Tattoo at a Time.” His book unveils a sequence of pivotal life events that ultimately paved the way for the thriving Derm Dude brand. Plotkin’s compelling story is one towards finding inner peace, healing from the past, cultivating mindfulness in the present, and navigating the future with resilience and wisdom. Each chapter of his life unfolds, much like the process of getting a tattoo, one significant moment at a time.

Ultimately, Drew Plotkins and Derm Dude’s humor, authenticity, and high quality products has enabled the brand to stand out in a crowded market and resonate with customers seeking more than just grooming products. His dedication to destigmitize men’s grooming is one that continues to be refreshing and innovative.

Learn more about Drew Plotkin and Derm Dude:

Website

Instagram

TikTok

National Hip-Hop Museum Honors Wild Style with 40th Year Anniversary Celebration

Written by Deja on May 23, 2023. Posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music.

2023 marks 50 years of one of the world’s most influential music genres, Hip-Hop. Birthed out of New York, the genre would inspire fashion, art, dance, and more worldwide. One of those would be the 1980s classic Wild Style. Written and directed by Charlie Ahearn, the movie is coined as the first movie of Hip-Hop, reflecting the rise of the new worldwide movement. Throughout the last four decades, we can see Wild Style’s impact on society, including on the National Hip-Hop Museum (NHHM) Founder and Collector Jeremy Beaver.

Beaver, a New York native, is a DJ, producer, engineer, and business owner who has created the ultimate Hip-Hop hub in Washington DC. He states, “Wild Style as a movie depicts all aspects of Hip-Hop music and culture and when it came out it was all so new that it was like discovering the coolest thing for the first time and wanting to find it and get involved immediately.”

This year, NHHM, alongside the Five Points Festival, is taking it back to where it all started to honor Hip-Hop with the Wild Style 40 Grand Induction Ceremony. Coming in June, the celebration pays tribute to Wild Style with a unique hip-hop toy exhibit/shopping experience. The 40th Anniversary of Wild Style Event came together because The 5 Points Designer Toy Festival wanted a Hip-Hop theme for their world-renowned festival to honor the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, Beaver says. “They turned to The National Hip-Hop Museum because we specialize in Grand Induction Ceremonies and Pop-Up Experiences to theme out the festival.”

The event kicks off with live graffiti painting throughout the day from Kevin “Scene” Lewis with classic Wild Style Hip-hop sounds by DJ Tony Crush, DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore, and DJ Kevie Kev Rockwell. NHHM will also host a live stream podcast via Rock The Bells and NHHM’s Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. Inductees include Director Charlie Ahearn, with cast members including Grandmaster Caz & The Cold Crush Brothers, Grand Wizzard Theodore & The Fantastic 5, Patti Astor, and breakdance icon Crazy Legs. They will receive an award, a custom NHHM jacket, a fat lace hat, inductee medallions, commemorative cassette necklaces, and custom art by NHHM Creative Director Andy Katz and Photoshop Jedi.

Beaver is excited about the event because, “growing up in NYC is the reason I fell in love with Hip-Hop, in part, because I was surrounded by it. So to be able to bring it back to the city that is responsible for creating the genre means the world to the organization and me personally.”

Throughout the weekend, the NHHM is also hosting a hip-hop toy pop-up shop, offering many rare, exclusive, vintage, and one-of-a-kind toys and apparel for purchase. Items for purchase include:

● Ghostface Killah Action Figure

● Das EFX No Diggidy Varsity Jackets x National Hip-Hop Museum Collaboration

● The Warriors Boxed Set

● Wu-Tang Enter The Wu-Tang Records Are Forever Crate and many more exclusive items!

Beaver says events like these are key, because “it is important to consistently remind Americans and future generations of the importance of our country’s greatest works of art. Wild Style is Hip-Hop Magnum Opus and serves as a living document to continue to honor forever.”

The Wild Style 40 Grand Induction Ceremony will rock the Big Apple, June 10-11. Tickets can be purchased starting at $130 at www.fivepointsfest.com/tickets.

For more on Jeremy and the National Hip-Hop Museum , visit nationalhiphopmuseum.org

Warrior Mom Tracy Slepcevic’s Alternative Approach to Fighting Autism Spectrum Disorder

Written by Deja on March 22, 2023. Posted in Business, Health and Beauty.

Tracy Slepcevic holds many titles: author, Certified Integrative Health Coach, speaker, Air Force Veteran, Founder of Pur Health, LLC, and now she’s adding a new one– Warrior Mom. Her extensive background in Complementary and Alternative Medicine coupled with her son’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, inspired her to bring awareness to an often misunderstood condition.

The Warrior Mom has always had an interest in medicine and was once a personal trainer studying nutrition. Tracy has dedicated over 14 years to researching various treatments and therapies for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Once her son Noah was diagnosed with autism, it awoke the warrior inside her and she decided to fight back.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that can result in severe social, communication, and behavioral difficulties. Individuals with ASD frequently struggle with social communication and engagement, as well as restricted or repetitive interests or behaviors. These individuals may also have different approaches to learning, functioning, or paying attention.

She decided to take a different approach to medicine and heal his underlying conditions with diet and nutrition. Noah responded really well to a strict diet and was able to regain his speech and some cognitive abilities; it made the biggest difference in his healing journey. Soon after, she returned to school to study alternative medicine.

Tracy explains ASD is a very broad spectrum and not all children are the same. One of the biggest misconceptions she found was that all individuals with autism fall under the same criteria when diagnosing and are thought to have the same symptoms; which she says is not true. “Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning it affects everyone differently and to varying degrees – each person will have their own unique set of strengths and challenges. Also, autism is usually said to be a lifelong condition, but a number of children lose the core symptoms and shed the diagnosis with early biomedical intervention.”

Over the years, Tracy has worked with various doctors, scientists, advocates, and researchers, and it is her mission to educate families on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Now she is sharing her learnings with other parents of children who may be in her and Noah’s shoes with Warrior Mom: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Her Son with Autism.

‘Warrior Mom’ is an inspiring story of hope and an indispensable guidebook for any parent searching for answers to help them navigate the system, evaluate different treatment options, and heal their child’s underlying conditions. Even for parents who suspect their child might have autism, Warrior Mom is a wealth of information and guidance to help your child get the care they need to live a normal, productive life.

Ultimately Tracy shows us that autism is not a “hopeless diagnosis.” It is only the beginning of a beautiful journey, and if you set a clear intention for your child to live a healthy and fully functional life, anything is possible. She credits Noah as her biggest teacher. He has taught her to ‘think outside the box,’ and that life can look a whole lot different if you live from a space of love and not fear.

For parents in the same position, Tracy says, “This is just the beginning of a beautiful journey. In life, you always have a choice… you can look at the glass half full or half empty. There is so much to learn from having a child with ASD and the possibilities in life are endless. But most of all… have faith.”

Tracy wants to reach as many parents as possible to assist them on their journey to healing starting by getting this book into the hands of every parent and caregiver impacted by autism.

The paperback edition of Warrior Mom book releases on April 4th. Be sure to connect with Tracy and order your copy of Warrior Mom below:

Website

Instagram

Amazon

Fitness Guru and Creative Designer Melissa Dufour Shows Sweating is Sexy with New Affordable Athleisure Brand

Written by Deja on June 15, 2022. Posted in Business, Fashion, Lifestyle.

“Working out and what you wear is a form of self-care.” – Melissa Dufour, Founder and Creative Director of Sexy Sweats.

A great fitness guru once said “looking good is important, but feeling great is key!” What if we told you that you can both look and feel good while exercising? That’s the mission of the Athleisure Brand “Sexy Sweats” that hit the market in 2018. Founded by Melissa Dufour, the brand is highlighting the sexiness of staying fit. With true fitness background and overcoming her own health obstacle, this fitness guru is helping others transform their lives one outfit at a time.

The Vice City native is a first-generation, Haitian-American and the oldest of two siblings. Her love for fitness was stamped in her childhood as she watched her father playing soccer. She even participated in many sports herself including track & field, flag football, and boxing, and was even on the girl’s weight lifting team. With a strong athletic background, it is no surprise that it would be the segway to her successful ventures in the future. Melissa later went on to obtain her B.A. in Healthcare and found herself facing adversity shortly after.

At only 25, she was diagnosed with severe arthritis. The experience was a painful one for Melissa. She says “there were times it was hard to walk and after multiple doctor visits, tests and diagnoses, nothing seemed to add up.” This motivated her to change her diet and routine.

After battling arthritis, Melissa gained a new appreciation for looking and feeling good and went on to create a new fitness routine that would balance the two. She notes, “Although it wasn’t the easiest routine for me to follow, I experienced real success in finding balance for them all. I’ve created a schedule to incorporate working out five days a week. I usually find myself in fitness apparel and sneakers on my days off, even if I am not in the gym.” These aspects would become the driving force behind Sexy Sweats.

Sexy Sweats is new a bold and attractive imprint proving that sweating is indeed sexy. It is described as an athleisure brand made to shape a woman’s natural features, not hide them. It’s the athleisure line for the bold and daring and embodies the unique creative vision for bodaciously curvy women. Sexy Sweats is so attractive in its daring designs, vibrant colors, and intricate stitching with a slimming illusion. The brand was created because Melissa wanted to help women feel their best while working out, which is something she felt was missing.

The brand separates itself through exclusive designs and prints. It’s more than clothing, It’s a movement for women to showcase their confidence, sex appeal, and athletic lifestyle. Dufour states, “Sexy Sweats’s distinctive style and colors are unmatched. It’s an outward symbol that confidence and feeling sexy shouldn’t be hidden, and we are here to embrace it. Everything down to the stitching was given immense amounts of attention.”

Creating the brand was a no-brainer as she states, “I love a good challenge. My goal is to influence the fashion industry with our exclusive pieces, build a lifestyle brand and motivate women to work for their results and proudly show them off.” With prices ranging from $18 to $82 dollars, it’s something every woman can get her hands on.

When speaking about the creation of the debut, “She Is” Collection, Melissa says it was created with personality and style in mind. I designed each piece intricately, intending to make head-turning clothes. I also added stitching with slimming illusions to enhance one’s silhouette. I want to provide each customer with comfortable, form-fitting pieces that provide much-needed support while in the gym. Sexy Sweats has your favorite athleisure pieces, no matter what size or shape.

Serving both as founder and creative designer is no chore for Melissa as she loves to get in touch with her creativity and bring her visions to life. As the brand grows, the heat is being turned up. “As the founder, I am still in the building phase, learning so much from the business’s administrative side, which can be extremely challenging.” When asked her favorite things about her double role, she says Everything! “ Melissa watches the growth of her brand, and it excites her as she crushes her goals every day. I’m far from the goals I want to achieve but way ahead from when I first started.

“The final results always make the process look like a piece of cake but finding a good balance is the key to business.”

Melissa and Sexy Sweats plan to continue highlighting the sexy of every woman stating “as Sexy Sweats continues to grow, the public can expect a lot of heat. Sexy, daring, new prints and colors all summer long and beyond.” It’s sure to give A Lot of Heat. Sexy, Daring, New prints and colors, dropping this Summer 2022. She also hopes to collaborate with top-of-the-line athleisure brands, athletes, and have other fitness gurus join the movement of fashionable fitness.

You can keep up with Sexy Sweats’s innovative styles on their social media at @sexysweatswear. Join in by tagging and using the #sexysweatssquad. Shop the She Is Collection now available at https://sexysweatswear.com/

Fitness Expert Gabi Mazar Combines Fitness and Traveling with Destination Fitcations

Written by Deja on June 14, 2022. Posted in Health and Beauty, Lifestyle.

Gabi Mazar constantly thinks about how she can make a difference and create an impact with her current path. She would soon find that answer with endless love for exercise. Working with clients drives her, and their success is a huge motivator. With a go-getter mentality, Gabi successfully created a fitness empire, helping others improve and enjoy their lives.

The importance of staying fit was instilled into Mazar from a young age as her father was an active sports coach. Gabi was an all-around athlete herself, participating in activities such as swimming, gymnastics, dance, and volleyball. In her collegiate years, she decided to take on business but couldn’t shake her interest in fitness and nutrition. This led her to major in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Small Business and Exercise & Wellness. She later became certified in NASM, Stretch to Win FST, and PMA Pilates.

Over the next 15 years, Gabi immersed herself in the fitness world beginning as an intern. She continued that role off and on until opening her first fitness oasis. She spent the next seven years building her brand. Gabi states “I cannot say the journey was easy. There were many times I cried and thought about quitting, and doing something else, but my passion for what I do, and my clients kept me going.” During this time there was another obstacle on the horizon.

While growing her gym, Gabi neglected her health and fell ill an untimely autoimmune disease. She endured rapid weight gain, incredible brain fog, sleeping 12-17 hours a day, memory loss, and other symptoms. She would later be diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This diagnosis was an eye-opening experience for Gabi who states, “previously, I had the idea that everyone could do any form of exercise it was just a matter of modification. Hashimoto’s changed my life. It changed my perspective. It changed everything.”

“I have always believed in everything in moderation, but what do you do when your life is turned upside down?”

Gabi’s journey to wellness took years but changed how she saw others, saying, “We all have different bodies, injuries, illnesses, and ailments, and to say we should, or can all do the same things is incorrect.” She had to drastically change what she ate, how she exercised, and how to schedule her life to what worked for her. From this, helping others figure out what works best for them has become her goal.

Despite her setback, Gabi found success in building her loyal client base and expanding her fitness empire. Pilates Tempe is a pilates studio community offering over 70 classes every day. Their Services include private appointments, in-person and virtual classes, and live stream classes.

In 2019, Gabi decided to take her fitness imprint worldwide with Destination Fitcations. The platform stemmed from her love for fitness and travel. The goal was to take people around the world and show them the most amazing time, while still incorporating her daily routine.“Fitness isn’t a means to an end and should be incorporated into all aspects of our lives. Being healthy and learning how to live healthily and moderately, even on vacation, is something I want to show people,” she explains.

Throughout her journey, Gabi has found joy in her working with clients and learning new things. She says, “The longer you work with clients, the more you learn about how to work with injuries or how to train and modify workouts for different people. The more you learn, the more people you can help.” Gabi also finds excitement in seeing when clients hit milestones, make progress, and reach goals no matter if it is a weight loss goal, a health goal, or just something as simple as going to the gym 3 times a week.

“You are a positive influence in people’s lives, and there is nothing better than being that for someone.”

When asked for some workout tips for beginners, Gabi says, “start simple. Don’t try to overthink it or overbook yourself. Whatever you do, make it something you can stick with and stay consistent with. When you have made that commitment to yourself, then you can add to that. The key to any successful health goal is consistency, not how hard you go today just to quit tomorrow.”

As for now, Gabi focuses on building Pilates Tempe and Destination Fitcations. She plans to create a second location for Pilates Tempe and incorporate new fitness destinations. Her biggest goal is to continue to focus on serving the amazing clients she has now.

You can join a class in Tempe at www.pilatestempe.com or join one of Gabi’s fitness vacations at https://www.destinationfitcations.com/ You can also watch for updates on Instagram @gabrillemazar, @pilatestempe, and @destination_fitcations.

OWN TV’s Rebecca Lynn Pope Helps Women Take Back Control of their Love Lives!

Written by Deja on April 7, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Influential People, Trending.

Women’s empowerment is creating all the buzz on OWN TV’s newest hit series, Marry Me Now! The new impromptu show documents eight potential brides as they prepare to pop the big question to their romantic partners. The Saturday night show chronicles hopeful brides on their quest to get successfully engaged, find a dress, and head to the altar in less than a week. The brides are not alone! That’s where the internationally renowned relationship expert Rebecca Lynn Pope steps in. Pope is a relationship expert headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. She is widely known for her innovative life and love coaching courses and her sensational YouTube platform, where she has gone viral to the tune of millions of channel views.

Growing up, Rebecca was heavily influenced by the ministry with her father being a pastor. After attending the University of Washington, she would get her start as a matchmaker and would later transition into a life and love coach. Her life coaching packages She offered retreats, events, and classes that continually sold out nationwide. She later founded the Godly Girls Club, an organization for women of faith with over 12,000 members globally. Her work has been featured in People Magazine, Fox News Morning Shows, Essence Magazine, iHeart Radio and she also served as a columnist for Black Bride Magazine.

Her imprint gained greater momentum when she started posting relationship advice on YouTube with nearly 100K loyal subscribers (To date, her most viral video Why Women Have Totally Unrealistic Standards for Men, Dating, and Marriage has over 1.7 million views). This is Where she would garner the attention of the OWN Executive Team. Rebecca is on record saying “When they approached me, I had no idea it was an OWN show… When they described the host for the show, it sounded just like me. I could just show up and be myself.”

Before (and still), Rebecca is the CEO and founder of several global six and seven-figure businesses and brands. She has always loved building businesses and currently coaches spirit-led entrepreneurs on how to create multiple streams of income and scale revenue up. Pope co-owns Abundant Life Path, with her husband Kerry A. Pope where they have trained 250 plus abundant life coaches. She is also the CEO of the Abundant Life Path Coaching Certification program and- Millionaire Coach branding and marketing company aptly titled, called the Millionaire Coach. Her best-seller Love and Dating in the 21st Century: A Godly Girl’s Guide is a raw and real guide about why relationships have become so complicated and how anyone can successfully navigate dating and love.

For those yearning for a healthy relationship, Rebecca says “the work won’t be easy, but getting real with yourself and facing your issues head-on will make you a better partner and will help you attract better quality partners.”

Want more? You can catch Rebecca giving her expertise on Marry Me Now every Saturday at 9 PM EST on the OWN and Discovery+ networks.

Show the love doctor some love Also you can find her on social media @rebeccalynnpope. Subscribe to YouTube Channel HERE!

Successful Relationship Coaches and R&B Icons Strengthen Marriages through Walking

Written by Deja on March 11, 2022. Posted in Featured, Influential People, Lifestyle.

When building relationships, building a bond that lasts the test of time is the ultimate end goal. This bond is important because it is the foundation of the family and sets the standard moving forward. Those are the same reasons the Married For Life Walk was founded. Founded by Professional Life & Marriage Coach Martez & Woodrina Layton, LPC and R&B Icons and Power couple, Ronnie and Shamari DeVoe, the movement is moving into its 5th successful year of “helping couples of different ethnicity, and backgrounds to build strong marriage relationships.”

This Marriage Movement was inspired by the founders’ own fight for their love. Martez states, “Being a man full of faith, he heard the spirit of the Lord speak to his heart by instructing him, “to hold Woodrina’s hand each day and simply walk and talk with her.” Over time this built an empowering bond of which they saw results. Today, they have been married for nearly 30 years.

Married 4 Life Walk is a two-day event where couples will connect, share, and stand with one another in the name of love. The M4LW Experience advocates for the importance of professional marriage coaching and counseling in relationships for prevention and to help couples navigate through challenging times. The movement is important because it combats the increasing divorce rate. Co-Founder Woodrina Layton states the M4LW helps to correct the course of failing marriages by equipping couples with practical tools that they can use in their relationship to build their emotional intimacy with one another and strengthen their marital bond.

Having faced their own obstacles, Ronnie DeVoe (New Edition) and Shamari DeVoe (Blaque, and Encore on BET), decided to seek guidance from the Laytons. After successful coaching and understanding the importance of having a solid partner firsthand, they decided to join the Married 4 Life Walk movement as vision partners.

Not only does the movement improve relationships, but it also strengthens entire families. Founder Martez Layton CPC finds that a healthy two-parent household benefits the family dynamic in many ways. One major benefit is being able to have combined resources of emotional support, financial support, and energy needed to raise children and to deal with the stressors and challenges of family life. It provides the opportunity for no parent or child to feel neglected or have feelings of low self-esteem. A healthy two-parent household also provides an environment that builds teamwork, unity, and acceptance for both parent and child.

The event begins with The Couples Conversation & Love Celebration where couples come together and network. It is followed by relationship enrichment while they enjoy DJ, dancing, a special performance by Ronnie & Shamari DeVoe, and more!. The goal is to start the weekend off with learning, having fun and celebrating your love, and remembering to “Never Let Go Of The Hand You Are Holding.“ The following Saturday, couples will participate in the 2-mile unity walk symbolizing their unity. While holding hands during the 2-mile walk, couples experience firsthand the importance and benefits of taking time in their relationship to hold hands and walk together.

The 5th annual Married 4 Life Walk kicks off on April 22, 2022. Interested couples can learn more and register now at www.married4lifewalk.com. Also, keep up with all the Married 4 Life Walk updates @married4lifewalk on Instagram and Facebook.

Fox Soul General Manager & Head of Programming James DuBose Creates an Innovative Safe Haven for the Black Community.

Written by Deja on March 8, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Influential People.

Entertainment veteran and visionary, James DuBose is no stranger to shedding light on the real and raw experiences that lead to success. His mission to unapologetically amplify the Black voice and the Black experience is backed by his impressive professional catalog and continues that mission in his new executive role at the Fox Network imprint, Fox Soul. To date, the network’s programming has garnered record-breaking TV viewership numbers and as the program celebrates its second successful year, he continues to positively shift the paradigms at the network.

DuBose is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina. While he was raised in a single-parent home, he grew up surrounded by lots of love from both sides of his family. James would find sports to be an outlet and would develop lifelong friendships. He would also learn the importance of a strong work ethic.’

Media and entertainment have always been a passion of James’. From an early age, he had the desire to hone in on his creativity. This would lead him to study Broadcast Communications at his home state’s Wake Forest University. After Graduation and signing with the Detroit Lions, James would fully immerse himself in Media and find himself working with some of the biggest names in entertainment.

In 2005, he launched his first production company where his first project would be working on the hit Keyshia Cole Series, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. Dubose says he is forever indebted to Keyshia Cole who entrusted him with his vision and share her raw and uncut story. From there everything would fall into place as he was able to work on other hit series including Tiny and Toya, Monica: Still Standing, Trey Songz: My Moment, The Michael Vick Project, and more! This would give birth to a new era of storytelling in the Reality TV and Docu-Series realms. He notes that everyone was at a crossroads in their life and his focus was capturing people at the darkest moment trying to find their way and how they overcame that. He found that audiences would gravitate towards those shows because they are real and relatable which would foreshadow the focus at Fox Soul.

Much like the stories he told, James would later find himself facing crossroads in his own career. At the highest point of his career, he was miserable. “It was like I was living a lie and the hardest part is looking at yourself in the mirror and knowing you’re living a lie. And it’s like I am dying every day,” He states and he had a difficult time talking about it. He credits Loretha Jones, former President of BET for aiding him during that time. James would encourage others who are facing hardship in their life to talk, stating “there’s nothing weak about telling somebody you need help. You’ll start to feel better because you won’t feel alone and you’ll realize that 90% of people you’re talking to have some type of demon they’re fighting every day.”

(Image credit: Fox Soul)

Fast Forward to today, James is now the General Manager and Head of Programing at the OTT Network, Fox Soul. Fox Soul is the Fox Broadcasting Network’s first live and interactive OTT (over-the-top media) Service dedicated to the Black community. James’ mission is reflected on the FoxSoul Network- to celebrate black culture and with real topics that impact the everyday lives of the black community through frank and insightful dialogue with local and national influencers.

The opportunity find James while he was the executive producer and syndicator at the entertainment show, Dish Nation. He states that Fox was looking to venture out into new cultures and they would eventually approach him for insight. After pitching his ideas and a successful test run in 2019, he sold it and would officially get the green light for Fox Soul. He makes it known that “I am able to obtain these opportunities because I was blessed with a great team.”

Fox Soul is the viewers’ network, where they allow the audience to control what they want to see. They further differentiate themselves from other streaming networks because they allow viewers to interact with their hosts in real-time. This gives the community a safe space to address imperative issues and topics in the comfort of their homes. “The mission for Fox Soul is long-term,” James says. His goal is to develop the streaming platform into a linear broadcast channel in addition to the streaming. He also wants to hit the genre of everything Black people love as a culture and show the totality of the Black community.

In the spring, viewers can expect new programs from the network including a music competition show following how a Producer, Writer, and artist come together to make a hit. The program also plans to dive into Saturday morning animations for children, where black kids can go and see themselves, feature films, and documentaries in the future.

For a man with such an impressive, professional body of work, James humbly describes himself as a man who is striving to learn and grow every day with an intent to uplift the culture of the people who are for him. When it’s all said and done he wants his legacy to live on as a man with a pure heart.

Be sure to interact with Fox Soul wherever you watch or visit their Youtube and website FOXSOUL.TV and follow them on all social media @foxsoul.

You can connect with James Dubose on all platforms @duboseofficial.

The Underground Scoop With Cheesecaked

Written by Deja on March 4, 2022. Posted in Business, Food, Influential People.

Imagine taking all of your favorite desserts and combining them into the ultimate cheesecake or milkshake. Well, that’s the magic that happens at Atlanta’s popular bakery, Cheesecaked. With over 20 years of baking experience, Founder Shawn Brown serves tasty creations leaving patrons with an everlasting sweet tooth. Amidst several life-altering events, she has been able to stay afloat and has been featured on some of the nation’s top outlets! Now, with two new reemerging locations, Cheesecaked is baking its way to the top!

The Los Angeles, California native was inspired by her grandma to begin baking. Shawn states it started with her grandma’s sweet potato cheesecake recipe. From there she began to perfect her innate ability to create delicious cheesecakes. These precious moments would later help Shawn open the nationally acclaimed bakery.

Cheesecaked specializes in turning your favorite desserts into amazing cheesecake flavors. The gourmet cheesecake boutique offers a variety of personal-sized cheesecakes in an assortment of flavors including Pecan Praline, Champagne, Salted Caramel, White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl, Vanilla Bean, Banana Pudding, and more! Cheesecaked was a way to keep living amidst the heartbreaking event she suffered years earlier.

Tragedy struck Shawn and her family in 1994, when she, her sister, and her ten-month-old son was struck by a drunk driver. The accident would leave Shawn with massive head and face injuries, needing reconstructive facial surgery, and her infant son deceased. This accident was a turning point in Shawn’s life as she found herself trying to reclaim the women she lost in the incident. Out of this, Cheesecaked became a way to create a sweet victory by bringing joy and awareness to others.

The bakery would officially emerge in 2011 and become a national phenomenon. During their first launch, Cheesecaked was featured on Good Morning America, Food Network, CNN Travel, and more! Unfortunately, Shawn would find herself facing adversity again once she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. This would force Shawn to close Cheesecaked indefinitely while she went through recovery.

Since finishing remission, Cheesecaked has made its grand return to the Atlanta community in November 2021. The new location is located in the Historic Underground Atlanta shopping strip with a second location is soon to follow in Norcross, GA. As Shawn continues her sweet journey, she would tell others, “Here is the thing. Life is hard. There is no way around it but the thing is, it’s a journey, it has peaks and valleys and it’s in those times there is a lesson God is trying to teach you. During tough times pray that God shows you the lesson so that you can learn from it and share with someone how you got through it, trust me, they are watching.”

To get Cheesecaked, follow them on Instagram @cheesecaked and visit https://www.cheesecaked.com/!

Lights, Camera, Action: A Close Up into the Media Industry with Alyssa DiTomasso-Ammar

Written by Deja on February 10, 2022. Posted in Entertainment, Lifestyle.

Alyssa DiTomasso-Ammar is an upcoming media maven and community leader based in Atlanta, Georgia. Though she is just beginning and her career is still budding, she has already held positions at major networks like CBS Radio (now Audacy) on WAOK’s Rashad Richey show, iHeart Radio1100 AM’s Chicks Into Sports radio show, V103 FM, Star 94 FM and has hosted on-air for various independent shows.

New Jersey-born and Atlanta-raised, Alyssa has always had big dreams and that has carried her throughout her life. Growing up she dreamed of holding various occupations but later found herself lost trying to discover her true passion. Ammar fell into communications after it was recommended to her in college and found inspiration in the hit BET show “Being Mary Jane.” She went on to attend Georgia Highlands and finished her matriculation at Kennesaw State University with a degree in Communications specializing in Digital Media and Entertainment. She also holds a minor in Hospitality Management and Event Planning and dived straight into the field upon her graduation.

For the last five years, Alyssa has been honing in the media field. She started in the industry as an intern and had been working her way up the ladder. This led her to her current role as a Digital Content Producer at Audacy (formerly Entercom). She says, “it’s been a wild ride, but this industry is everything I dreamed it would be.” She has been able to expand her reach as she gets to network- meeting and talking to amazing people every day. Outside of producing, she is an on-air personality where she interviews community leaders, trendsetters, people of interest, and more! She says wakes up energized and ready to work knowing that “when I meet new people who have an amazing business, or star in a show I get to share them with the people I care for most, the people in my community.” She ultimately wants to be someone people could rely on for important information, for a learning experience, for a friend that would always be there for them.

While Alyssa is just getting started she has already learned some major lessons in the industry. One of her first lessons was, some bridges are meant to be burnt: not everyone you meet in this industry is your friend. She has experienced people who claimed they can help propel her career to the next level but were not true to their word. Also, she states that remembering names is super important- having made this mistake herself, and the most important lesson is to trust your gut. For those hoping to get their big break in the industry, Alyssa notes “follow your heart. If you believe in yourself, don’t let anything or anyone – including yourself – stand in your way. There is no formula to be successful in this industry.”

In the future, Alyssa hopes to transition from a radio personality to a tv personality. Her current focus is on expanding her presence and making an impact in the social media community.

For those looking to connect with Alyssa, you can find her on social media at @itsme_AlyssaD

Author: Deja