Perseverance: Emmy Award-winning Sheryl Lee Ralph talks career and starring on ABC's Abbott Elementary.

Ashley M. Fox. Summary of the Interview In this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald interviews Ashley M. Fox—former Wall Street analyst, Howard University alum, financial educator, and founder/CEO of Amplify, a fintech platform focused on making wealth‑building accessible to everyday people. Ashley shares her journey from working with ultra‑high‑net‑worth clients on Wall Street to becoming an entrepreneur determined to bring financial education and empowerment to communities traditionally excluded from wealth conversations. She discusses the creation of Amplify, her financial fall and recovery, her work in schools and prison systems, and how digital content has allowed her to scale her mission globally. The discussion emphasizes mindset, self‑belief, access, and a practical path to wealth, even starting with as little as $20. Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to: 1. Inspire financial empowerment Ashley explains how anyone—regardless of background or starting point—can begin building wealth and shift generational outcomes. 2. Demystify investing and wealth-building She breaks down how simple investing can be, the power of small consistent contributions, and how wealth isn’t limited to entrepreneurs or high earners. 3. Highlight her fintech platform Amplify She shares how Amplify democratizes financial education through online tools, community, and accessible investing classes. 4. Encourage a mindset shift Ashley stresses the importance of eliminating fear, building confidence, and using logic instead of emotion when making financial decisions. Key Takeaways 1. Wealth Begins with Belief and Mindset Ashley learned on Wall Street that the biggest difference between wealthy and non-wealthy people is not education—it's self-belief. Many people don’t believe wealth is possible for them because they've never seen it. 2. You Don’t Need a Lot of Money to Start Investing She urges people to start with $20, even buying fractional shares. It’s consistency—not starting amount—that builds wealth. 3. You Can Invest in Others’ Ideas—Not Just Your Own Building wealth doesn’t require launching a business. Buying stock is one of the easiest ways to participate in wealth creation. 4. Ashley’s Own Journey Included Failure After leaving Wall Street, she was evicted, slept on her parents’ couch for two years, and maxed out credit cards. Her purpose kept her going. 5. Financial Education Should Start Early She developed financial education programs for schools, prison systems, and everyday families because adults often learn too late. 6. Amplify Scales Wealth Education Her platform offers 300+ hours of videos and tools, helping members open 3,000+ investment accounts and invest $7.4M collectively. 7. Social Media Is Her Biggest Access Point Ashley reaches millions by being authentic, relatable, and consistent—meeting people where they are. 8. You Must Pay Yourself First Most people pay bills, companies, and creditors before investing in themselves. She emphasizes reversing that pattern. 9. Logic Over Emotion Wealth requires logical decision‑making, especially in the market. Emotional reactions undermine long-term financial growth. Notable Quotes (Taken From the Transcript) On Wealth Mindset “When you think and know and believe you have the power to create wealth and you deserve wealth, you move a different way.” “There is no president that can build the wealth that you can create for your family.” On Starting Small “You don't have to have a lot of money to start. You just have to have the will to begin.” “A whole lot of $20 can get you to a million—as long as you don’t stop.” On Investing “Consider the companies you give your money to and own them, because they are a lot cheaper than you think.” “If I’m helping you build a billion‑dollar business by using your products, I deserve a piece of the pie.” On Self-Reliance “You pay everybody… the bartender, the mortgage company—and you’re the one without money. Who’s going to worry about you?” On Purpose and Identity “My story never changed. The mission was always dedicated to the people I didn’t see coming into that building on Wall Street.” “Amplify is the movement. It just has my DNA.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Jan 33min

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cassandra Lester. Purpose of the Interview The interview introduces Cassandra Lester’s nonprofit Grow Give Prosper and its partnership with Google’s “Grow with Google” initiative. The goal is to provide free career certification scholarships to underserved and economically impacted communities, helping individuals increase earning potential and gain financial literacy. Key Takeaways Mission of Grow Give Prosper Founded in 2023, focused on financial education and empowerment. Aims to help communities grow together, give to each other, and prosper collectively. Google Partnership Offers free career certifications in high-demand fields: Cybersecurity Data Analytics Digital Marketing & E-commerce IT Support Project Management UX Design Certifications are self-paced, online, and typically take 3–6 months. No prior experience required; participants receive a portfolio upon completion. Accessibility Scholarships are free; the only requirement is commitment. Available to anyone in the continental U.S., regardless of education level (GED, college dropout, etc.). Registration via growgiveprosper.org (scroll to Google Career Scholarships). Impact Over 300 scholarships awarded; previously had 500. Designed to level the playing field for those without Ivy League degrees. Certifications can stack (e.g., Project Management + Data Analytics) for greater career potential. Financial Literacy Defined as understanding financial concepts and applying them to daily life. Misconceptions persist—some communities avoid discussing money or undervalue credit scores. Cassandra emphasizes breaking cycles of predatory lending and poor financial habits. Challenges Cultural reluctance to discuss money. Skepticism about legitimacy of programs. Difficulty securing grants as a small nonprofit. Cassandra combats these through grassroots outreach and workshops. Personal Drive Cassandra’s passion stems from seeing financial struggles across all demographics. She actively promotes opportunities through community centers, adult education classes, and social media. Notable Quotes “I want us to grow together so that we can give to each other and then prosper as a collective.” “Google is leveling the playing field—you don’t need an Ivy League education to earn a livable wage.” “The only fee is commitment.” “Financial literacy means you understand the words, you hear the conversation, and it’s not Greek to you.” “You can’t talk about managing finances if you really don’t have anything coming in.” “You don’t want to miss this opportunity to increase your earning potential.” “Once you’re certified, that’s yours for life—you can’t repo a degree or certification.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Jan 25min

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cathy Yoder. SUMMARY OF THE INTERVIEW (CATHY YODER x RUSHION McDONALD) In this Money Making Conversations Masterclass episode, Rushion McDonald interviews Cathy Yoder, known as the Queen of Air Fryers—a mother of eight whose air‑fryer passion turned into a thriving social‑media‑driven business. Cathy explains how she learned to master air fryers, built a YouTube channel with massive growth, developed ebooks and cookbooks, and built a business through authenticity and service-oriented content. The conversation blends cooking education, digital‑branding lessons, entrepreneurship, and personal purpose. PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW 1. Educate Viewers About Air Fryers Cathy breaks down what an air fryer is, how it works, how to choose one, and common mistakes. 2. Highlight How Social Media Can Build a Business Rushion explores how she grew from a blogger to a YouTube creator with hundreds of thousands of followers and multiple revenue streams. 3. Inspire Entrepreneurs to Pursue Authentic Branding Cathy’s journey shows how consistency, authenticity, and audience connection can turn a simple idea into a successful brand. 4. Illustrate the Emotional Impact of Serving an Audience Her stories of widowers, overwhelmed parents, and new cooks show how content can genuinely empower people. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Air Fryers Are Mini Convection Ovens They cook faster, often require no preheat, and can grill, bake, roast, and more—but not everything (like wet batters or funnel cakes). 2. All Air Fryers Are Not Equal Cathy stresses choosing 6‑quart, ~1700‑watt models and avoiding units that are too small or underpowered. Size and wattage matter more than brand. 3. Her Content Strategy Was Data‑Driven Initial uploads in various recipe categories revealed that air‑fryer recipes consistently outperformed, so she went all‑in on that niche. 4. YouTube Growth Takes Time Her first monetization check was $1.36, rising to $146, then $300, then to $8,000–$9,000/month by the time she reached 100,000 subscribers. 5. She Generates Multiple Revenue Streams YouTube AdSense Amazon affiliate links E‑books (first launch made $15,000 in a weekend) Physical cookbooks (first batch of 500 sold out immediately) 6. Authenticity Builds Trust She films mistakes, includes her kids’ real reactions (including spitting out bad food), and refuses to promote products she doesn’t believe in. 7. Listen to Your Audience Comments guided her content direction (like dropping background music, creating cookbooks, responding to questions). Audience feedback = brand refinement. 8. Digital Marketing Tip: Serve People, Not Algorithms She emphasizes helping overwhelmed home cooks first—consistent service leads to trust, community, and natural growth. 9. Emotional Impact Matters Her biggest motivators are heartfelt messages, especially widowers learning to cook for the first time because of her tutorials. NOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW On Air Fryers & Cooking “All air fryers are not created equal.” “If you can grill it or bake it, you can usually air‑fry it.” “Buying too small can make you come back and want to upgrade—now you’re wasting money.” On Starting Her Channel “My first check was $1.36… that’s a lot of work for $1.36.” “I believed I was filling a gap… there wasn’t enough good content.” On Content Strategy “They need to know within the first three seconds that you’re going to deliver on your promise.” “In the beginning, you just need to start publishing some crappy videos.” (On practicing, learning, and improving) On Authenticity “I will only share what I can authentically stand behind.” “If I make mistakes, I show them.” On Impact “If I was in a room with 10,000 people, that’s still a lot of impact.” (Perspective on viewer counts) “What matters is that person who felt hopeless now feels empowered.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Jan 27min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Thursday, January 15th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back- "Church Calendar" | Ask The CLO | TEntertainment News | Body Counts | Steve Harvey's Voicemail | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Baby Chick" | Strawberry Letter - "I Know What I Saw" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Inflatable Moon Hotel | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Wednesday, January 14th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back- "Pecan Tree" | Ask The CLO | These Are The Rules | Would You Rather | Lies You Tell Yourself When You've Been Dumped | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Church Calendar" | Strawberry Letter - "My Wife Keeps Leaving Me & Coming Back" Pt. 1-2 | Tommy's Question For Steve | Can Men & Women Be Friends Pt1 | Can Men & Women Be Friends Pt2 | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 Jan 1h 31min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Tuesday, January 13th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back- "Me & My Jesus" | Ask The CLO | Entertainment News | New Years Resolution | Steve Harvey's Voicemail | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Pecan Tree" | Strawberry Letter - "I'm Going With The Flow" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Lil Wayne & Bears QB Caleb Williams | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Monday, January 12th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | The Pastors | Ask The CLO | Entertainment News | Diddy's Sons Releasing New Documentary | Sista O'Dell | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Me & My Jesus" | Strawberry Letter - "We Were Nude When We Met" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Paper Straws | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Jan 1h 37min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Friday, January 9th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "Weed In The Church Van" | Ask The CLO | Entertainment News | What Do You... | Roscoe Wallace | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "The Blind Barber" | Strawberry Letter - "She Was Wearing My Wig Wig With My Husband" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk - Pimpin's NFL Playoff Picks | Social Media Advice | Ready To Love Update | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9 Jan 1h 32min