Author: Tajala Kelly

Cocoa Brown on Finding Healing and Strength in Comedy, Motherhood, and Her New Film ‘Twisted Hearts’

Written by Tajala Kelly on May 2, 2025. Posted in Entertainment, Fashion, Influential People, Top 10.

Actress. Comedian. Mother. Mogul. Cocoa Brown is all these things and more—but above all, she is real.

In an intimate sit-down interview with The Recap Report, Cocoa Brown opened up about her multifaceted journey in entertainment, the healing power of comedy, and how she continues to reinvent herself through life’s highest highs and lowest lows.

“The Only Purpose I Have on That Stage Is to Free Me.”

From her roles in For Better or Worse, 9-1-1, and Never Have I Ever, Cocoa Brown brings heart, grit, and humor to every character. When asked how she breathes life into her roles, she shared, “I always try to find a connection between me and those characters… Carla was the nurturer in me. Jennifer was every girl I knew in high school—hood but with a heart of gold.”

But beyond the camera, the stage has always been her sanctuary. “Comedy is my therapy,” she admitted. “Those people in the audience are my therapists and don’t even know it. I get to purge, say what I need to say, and keep myself sane in an insane world.”

Twisted Hearts, Real Healing

In her latest film Twisted Hearts, Brown plays a no-nonsense therapist—an easy yes for her. “All my friends have called me Oprah since college,” she joked. “Everybody wants to tell me their problems. I’m not political—I just keep it real.”

For Brown, the role wasn’t just acting—it was reflection. “Love is vulnerable. Love is transparent,” she said, speaking on the film’s themes. “You gotta love you first. Heal your trauma, or you’ll traumatize others.”

Wigs of Love: Turning Loss into Legacy

Outside of Hollywood, Brown is the founder of Wigs of Love, a nonprofit born in memory of her aunt and countless women battling hair loss due to illness. “Our hair is an extension of us, especially as Black women,” she shared. The organization provides custom wigs, support services, and an annual red carpet-style celebration honoring survivors. “We let them know: you are more than lupus—you are a queen.”

And it’s inclusive: “Whether you’re feminine or masculine presenting, we got you. These wigs are custom. Send us your top three hairstyles—we got you.”

After the Fire: A New Foundation

In 2024, Brown lost her home in a devastating fire—an event that shook her, but also freed her. “That house had to go. I had let a lot of vampires in. The energy was heavy,” she revealed. “After the fire, my son said, ‘Can we never go back?’ And I knew—we were finally at peace.”

But what followed was a reminder of who she is, and who she has impacted. From Tyler Perry to Chris Tucker, an outpouring of support followed. “I didn’t ask for a dime. But my village showed up because of the seeds I’ve sown.”

Raising Her Greatest Role Yet

Motherhood changed everything. “It’s the best gig I’ve ever gotten,” she smiled. “I hustle for my son now. I’ve done everything I wanted—this is all for him.”

As a single mother raising a son, she’s mastered the balance of masculine and feminine energy. “He’s seen both sides of me. But I’ve also made sure he has strong male mentors. I’m raising the man of my dreams.”

A Word to the Dreamers

For those chasing dreams, Brown keeps it honest. “I think about quitting every week,” she confessed. “This industry isn’t for the weak. It’s a popularity contest. One minute you’re hot, the next you’re not.”

But her advice? “Learn the craft. Then learn how to market it online. Because Hollywood is looking on TikTok—not the clubs. And through it all, take God with you.”

What’s Next?

From her luxe collection of “Minty Toes” foot balm to her signature lashes, t-shirts, and menopause-ready hand towels, Cocoa Brown continues to build an empire. And if you want to keep up, she keeps it simple:

Visit: www.CocoaBrown4Life.com

As for how she wants to be remembered?

“That I had a good heart. That I loved my child. That I was accountable. That I was real.”

STREAM: Twisted Hearts Film on Amazon Prime; Twisted Hearts Film on Apple TV.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Blueprints, Not Handouts: How Star Chapman Engineers Community Wealth

Written by Tajala Kelly on May 2, 2025. Posted in Business, Education, Influential People, Top 10, Uncategorized.

In a world that too often confuses profit with purpose, Starsheema Chapman is carving out a lane where both can not only coexist—but thrive. Hers is a mission rooted in dignity, driven by lived experience, and charged with a purpose that echoes through every community she touches.

“I came from public housing. I didn’t have a trust fund, a Rolodex, or a roadmap—but I had a knowing,” Chapman tells me, her voice steady, resolute. “I knew I wanted more, and I wanted to bring people with me.”

That conviction led to the creation of Star The Accelerator, a business that’s more liberation blueprint than startup course. Alongside her husband, Star also co-founded First Choice Care, a thriving home care agency in Kinston, North Carolina. But let’s be clear—this isn’t just about entrepreneurship. This is about emancipation.

“When you build something for your people, you’re not just breaking cycles—you’re building altars.”

Star’s course doesn’t just teach clients how to start businesses—it teaches them how to reclaim their time, their finances, and their futures. From navigating EINs and licensing to mastering Medicaid billing and team training, she’s holding doors open and handing out keys.

“Mentorship saved me,” she says. “And now I do the same. I’m not gatekeeping, I’m giving game.”

That game includes a full A-to-Z playbook: client intake systems, staff policy manuals, and even branding and marketing strategies. The goal? To fast-track success for women and men who, like Star, weren’t born into access but were called to impact.

And Star doesn’t disappear once the check clears. Her alumni know her by name, and many still call her years after they’ve launched—some now earning six figures, thanks to her guidance.

“We don’t toss you to the wolves. We walk with you,” she insists.

This model of communal success isn’t just good business—it’s radical in a world built on individualism. It’s James Baldwin in motion: “You have to go the way your blood beats.” And for Star, that rhythm has always led back to community.

From back-to-school drives to HBCU scholarships, from food banks to future children’s books for foster youth, the Chapmans’ commitment is comprehensive. Their forthcoming series—The Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the Traveling Suitcases—is a love letter to foster children who deserve more than a trash bag to carry their belongings.

This is the work of people who see, who feel, and who act.

“It’s one thing to survive the system. It’s another to rebuild it for others. That’s the Star Accelerator difference.”

—a sentiment worthy of Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s unapologetic truth-telling.

Looking forward, Star has her eyes on franchising First Choice Care, turning it into a plug-and-play model that helps others leap over the hurdles she once faced. Education programs, policy updates, and private-pay expansions are all in the pipeline, proving once again: she’s not just responding to the moment—she’s shaping it.

“I’m building something bigger than me,” she says. “Because when you empower one, you empower many.”

Follow the movement: @StartheAccelerator

Enroll or learn more: www.startheaccelerator.com

Mindfulness, Mayhem, and a Meditating Llama: Emotional Intelligence Coach Emily Morash’s Neuroscience-Driven Guide to Unfunking Leadership

Written by Tajala Kelly on May 2, 2025. Posted in Business, Education, Influential People, Top 10, Uncategorized.

If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting thinking, “What just happened?”—this book is for you.

If your team is talking in circles, burnout is the norm, and your Slack thread is a silent scream—this book is for you.

And if you’re a leader who wants to do better but feels like you’re winging it every day—this book was made for you.

Meet Emily Morash—keynote speaker, coach, former nonprofit executive, and the brilliant mind behind Unfunk Yourself: Leading Mindfully in the Midst of Mayhem. In a lively interview with The Recap Report, Emily opened up about her unconventional journey, the science behind her work, and why it’s time for leaders to stop reacting on autopilot and start leading with purpose.

This isn’t your typical leadership manual. Unfunk Yourself is part self-awareness deep dive, part neuroscience lesson, and part pep talk from your no-nonsense best friend. Oh—and the cover features a meditating llama surrounded by chaos. Because of course it does.

From Nonprofit Firefighting to Focused Leadership

Before the workshops and keynotes, Emily spent 20 years managing nonprofit teams—where limited resources, high stakes, and chronic miscommunication were a daily reality. “I worked in small nonprofits, big ones, corporate-style nonprofits—you name it,” she said. “And no matter where I was, the same problem kept showing up: people couldn’t talk to each other effectively.”

That experience sparked a realization: strategy doesn’t matter if your team can’t communicate. So, she made it her mission to teach leaders how to slow down, tune in, and build teams that actually work.

Why Leadership Feels So Funked Up

According to Emily, the root of most leadership chaos isn’t incompetence—it’s biology. Our brains are wired to react emotionally before we process things logically. That’s why a sharp email can feel like an attack. Why meetings spiral. Why feedback becomes conflict. “We’re constantly scanning for danger, even in the boardroom,” she explained.

The result? Leaders are often making decisions based on assumptions, stress, or past experiences—not the present moment.

The fix? Mindfulness. But not the Instagram-quote kind. Emily teaches a grounded, practical version of mindfulness: being aware of what’s happening inside you and around you, in real time, without judgment. And yes, it’s harder than it sounds—but her book makes it feel doable.

The Tools: Mindful, Practical, Game-Changing

Unfunk Yourself offers more than reflection—it gives you actionable frameworks to shift how you lead:

The Communication Compass: Helps teams understand how they speak, listen, and process. Because not everyone communicates the way you do—and that’s okay.
The Identity Trap: Reveals how internalized “shoulds” and assumptions shape your leadership style—and how to break free from them.
The Mindful Leader Practice: The centerpiece of Emily’s method—a hands-on approach to cultivating awareness, empathy, and intentional action.

Each tool is grounded in research, brought to life with real client stories, and wrapped in just enough humor to keep things human. One skeptical reviewer summed it up perfectly:

“I regret to inform you that I enjoyed this book.”

Insight with a Side of Sass

What makes Unfunk Yourself special isn’t just the frameworks—it’s Emily’s voice.

She’s smart, compassionate, and unapologetically herself. “I take my work seriously,” she told us, “But I don’t take myself seriously.” That philosophy shines through every page, making the book as enjoyable as it is useful.

And yes, the meditating llama on the cover? That’s intentional. It’s a symbol of what it means to be a grounded leader in a chaotic world. “That llama is me,” Emily laughed. “Learning to stay centered while everything’s on fire behind you.”

Ready to Unfunk?

Whether you’re leading a team, navigating a career pivot, or simply tired of chaotic leadership culture, Unfunk Yourself is the no-fluff, full-heart guide you didn’t know you needed.

Grab your copy and explore the tools at www.unfunkyourselfbook.com.

You’ll find free resources like communication assessments, guided meditations, reflective journals, and pep talks to keep you on track.

Because leadership doesn’t have to be soul-sucking.

With Emily Morash, it can be mindful, bold—and just a little bit funky.

Scoops, Service & Strategy: Inside Antonio McBroom’s Billion-Dollar Mindset

Written by Tajala Kelly on May 2, 2025. Posted in Business, Food, Influential People.

From scooping cones as a college student to becoming one of the most successful franchise owners in the country, Antonio McBroom is building businesses with boldness, heart, and vision.

Dressed in a bowtie and a beaming smile, McBroom walks into the room with the quiet confidence of a man who’s built a portfolio that spans 20 Ben & Jerry’s shops, a Starbucks café, and now—a legacy-driven brand rooted in servant leadership.

His newest release, The Self•ish Servant, isn’t just a book. It’s a movement—a rallying cry for entrepreneurs who lead with purpose and move with intention. It’s the blueprint for how to serve, scale, and sustain success without selling your soul.

The Book That Brought the Boardroom to the Block

“I didn’t want to just talk business. I wanted to talk breakthrough,” Antonio shares. “This book is my journey—my wins, my stumbles, my moments of faith. It’s about growth. It’s about purpose. It’s about leadership that serves.”

Written like a memoir but packed with real leadership gems, The Self•ish Servant unpacks McBroom’s rise from college hustle to corporate empire, all while staying rooted in his mission to build up people who look like him.

“I want readers to feel seen,” he says. “Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a high school kid, I want you to see yourself in my journey—and avoid the pitfalls I had to learn the hard way.”[

The Lesson His Son Taught Him at Chick-fil-A

One of the book’s most touching moments doesn’t happen in a boardroom—it happens in the backseat of McBroom’s car.

“My son loves Chick-fil-A—he’s a chicken tender guy,” Antonio says with a laugh. “One day I had to make a quick detour before we got there, and he got upset. Real tears.”

What came next shifted Antonio’s whole perspective.

“He asked me, ‘Dad, do we have a gazillion billion hours to live or something?’ And it hit me… we really don’t. We only get so many minutes and moments. And we have to be intentional with every single one.”

From College Job to Corporate Vision

Antonio’s empire started the way many great stories do—unexpectedly.

While attending UNC Chapel Hill, he picked up a job at Ben & Jerry’s just to make ends meet. By senior year, he was managing the store. By graduation, he owned it.

“That was the first time anyone in my family ever owned a business,” he says. “It lit a fire in me.”

From there, the vision expanded fast. One store turned into five. Five into ten. Then came the leap: multi-state expansion, Starbucks, and multiple brands under his belt.

“I call myself a serial scooper of opportunity,” Antonio says. “I stay scouting for new ways to grow—and serve.”

Franchise Secrets & Six-Figure Lessons

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. One of his biggest lessons came with a painful price tag.

“I opened an Auntie Anne’s Pretzels in the wrong location and lost $100,000 in ten months,” he reveals.

But McBroom doesn’t call it a failure—he calls it a filter.

“It taught me the power of Main Thing Energy. Every day, there’s one thing that matters more than anything else. If you do that, everything else becomes easier—or irrelevant.”

It’s a principle he lives by, and one he credits for his empire’s continued growth.

Community Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s His Bottom Line.

For Antonio, success means nothing without service. His business philosophy flows in a cycle: grow the business, pour into the community, then let the community fuel the next wave of growth.

“I get very involved with nonprofits like WEAR—Working to Extend Anti-Racism Education—because I believe in creating lasting impact. We support them financially, and I sit on the board. They’re reaching kids and educators with anti-racism education. That’s the kind of legacy work I want to do.”

It’s not just about donations—it’s about dedication. “If I want to be more involved, I’ve got to run the bag up. Then I come back and serve harder. That cycle fuels everything I do.”

Next Chapter: Stages, Speaking, and Soul Work

With The Self•ish Servant now in the hands of readers, Antonio is stepping fully into his next season: speaking on major stages, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and bringing his message of servant-led success to the masses.

“This is my transformation season,” he says. “Sharing the Primo story, standing on stages, pouring into rooms I never could’ve imagined being in—it’s the best part of the journey so far.”

But don’t think he’s done building.

What Legacy Looks Like

“When it’s all said and done, I want to be known for impacting the business world by $10 million—through mentorship, partnerships, and platforms that changed lives. Not just my life. Our lives.”

And if The Self•ish Servant is any indication, he’s not just on track—he’s already leading the way.

Antonio McBroom isn’t just a franchise mogul. He’s a movement.

And The Self•ish Servant? It’s more than a book.

It’s a mirror, a map, and a mission.