In this episode, Kute Blackson, a transformational teacher, delves into the soul's journey, toxic relationships, and the misconception of finding 'your type'. He highlights the importance of being true to oneself, surrendering, and changing one's reality. Discover how serving the soul and acknowledging dysfunction in love can lead to true happiness and strong relationships.

EP62: This week on Boujee Best Friend, we sit down with Sarah Lee, co-founder of Glow Recipe, a brand known for its fruit-forward, clean products for healthy glowing skin. Sarah co-founded the company with her best friend, Christine Chang. Glow Recipe has become a skincare favorite for many, thanks to Sarah's vision of promoting gentle and effective formulas that embrace the ever-changing needs of our skin and empower us to love and care for it. In this episode, we delve into Sarah's background, skincare philosophy, and career at L’Oreal, which helped her pave the way for her entrepreneurial journey. As a successful entrepreneur, Sarah shares advice on climbing the corporate ladder, public speaking, standing out, raising money from investors, finding the right co-founder (like her best friend Christine!), and more. Throughout the conversation, we dive deeper into the exciting story of how Glow Recipe came into existence—a dream born from their passion for skincare. Sarah tells us about the challenges she faced and how she and Christine found the right investors and partners who believed in the brand's mission. Join us as we explore Sarah's inspiring journey from a corporate professional to an incredibly successful entrepreneur. Episode highlights - Sarah’s background - About your skin and skincare  - Sarah’s career at L’Oreal  - Climbing the corporate ladder  - Advice for public speaking  - Creating Glow Recipe - How to stand out  - Shark Tank  - Finding the right investors - Working with your co-founder - Complimentary skills as co-founders  Timestamps: 0:00- 2:00 | Introduction 2:00- 8:00 | Sarah’s background 8:00- 13:10 | Skincare experience  13:10- 14:20 | Sarah’s career at L’Oreal  14:20- 20:10 | Climbing the corporate latter  20:10- 26:40 | Public speaking advice  26:40- 34:30 | Glow Recipe  34:30- 49:40 | Starting a beauty brand   49:40- 56:20 | Raising money for your start-up  56:20- 1:05:46 | Finding the right co-founder  CONNECT WITH SARAH: https://www.instagram.com/sarah_glow/  https://www.instagram.com/glowrecipe/  https://www.glowrecipe.com/  https://www.tiktok.com/@glowrecipe?  CONNECT WITH KOKO: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/⁠  ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute⁠  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend⁠  https://www.boujeebestie.com⁠  https://www.youtube.com/@KokoBeaute⁠  JOIN GROUP: BOUJEE BESTIES https://links.geneva.com/invite/bec31d1b-7a42-4a90-8000-cbdc75108994

Richard Chang, Chief Growth Officer at Hudson Medical and former Director of Merchandise Planning at Calvin Klein, shares his top-notch dating advice. He discusses navigating dating in NYC, using dating apps, dos and don’ts when dating, men’s commitment issues, and the benefits of therapy. He also gives insight into being part of the Bling Empire cast and discusses mental health. Tune in for dating advice, reality TV stories, and personal growth tips.

60. Gabrielle Stone has a background that will inspire many women in similar situations to have hope. Gabrielle’s marriage ended when she discovered her husband's affair with a 19-year-old girl. She bravely divorced him and found new love a few weeks later. Or so she thought. Gabrielle and her new love had planned a trip to Europe together, but unfortunately, it was ruined when her partner backed out at the last minute. Determined not to be defeated, Gabrielle chose to travel solo across Europe. Her journey became a transformative experience, guiding her toward self-discovery and healing. It was an unexpected adventure, exceeding all expectations.  Gabrielle made her story into a successful book called Eat, Pray, FML, which has given hope to all women who may have been abandoned or mistreated by their partners. Gabrielle learned to love herself, keep an open heart, and create her own reality. Tune in to this inspiring and captivating true story about Gabrielle and how she created her own happy ending.  Episode highlights: - Gabrielle’s story - Unhealthy relationship warnings  - Fixing problems with money  - Love bombing  - Gabrielle’s solo Europe trip  - Recovering from a sh*tty relationship  - Struggling with self-love  - Healing Journey  - Training your mind - Creating your own reality  - Keeping your heart open Timestamps: 0:00- 3:50 | Gabrielle’s background   3:50- 16:00 | Gabrielle’s first marriage  16:00- 25:25 | Gabrielle’s second relationship  25:25- 31:50 | Gabrielle’s solo trip to Europe  31:50- 39:30 | Healing after a relationship  39:30- 44:00| Gabrielle’s current love and happy ending  44:00- 48:04 | Keeping your heart open  CONNECT WITH GABRIELLE https://www.instagram.com/gabriellestone/  https://www.eatprayfml.com/shop  https://www.tiktok.com/@gabrielle_stone   CONNECT WITH KOKO: https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/ https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend ⁠https://www.boujeebestie.com

EP59: Having worked for years in the hair industry, Shab Caspara understood that women, herself included, face unresolved hair challenges. In this episode, we are covering all of the bases regarding healthy hair, hair growth, frizz, thinning, hair products to use, techniques to try, hydration, diet, and hair extensions; you name it. Shab became a trichologist—an accredited authority promoting healthy hair growth and maintaining scalp wellness. So, you could say she knows a lot about hair and hair health.  In Shab’s career, she recognized that women require preventive, restorative, or maintenance measures depending on their life stage. Shab has collaborated with numerous experts to provide hair education and guidance to clients. Their aim is to empower every woman in their individual hair journey and to optimize the overall health and growth of hair. Tune in to gain insight into your hair and how you can improve your #HAIRCARE routine!  Episode highlights  - Shab’s background  - Female empowerment  - Celebrity hairstylists  - Hair Health and trichology  - Hair washing  - Internal and external hair health factors - Hair loss and thinning  - Hair ties you shouldn’t use  - Frizzy hair tips  - Thin and fine hair  - Hair extensions  - Dandruff and scalp build-up  - Hair care products - Hydration - Hair growth tips  Timeline: 0:00- 5:55 | Who is Shab 5:55- 10:10 | Hair Education  10:10- 13:50 | Trichology  13:50- 22:00 | How to wash your hair correctly  22:00- 32:00 | Hair loss, hair breakage, and frizz  32:00- 44:50 | Protecting fragile hair and blonde color  44:50- 48:20 | Hair extensions  48:20- 52:30 | Dandruff and hydrating curly hair  52:30- 54:00 | 5 tips to improve hair growth  54:00- 57:50 | Tips to Shab’s younger self  CONNECT WITH SHAB https://www.leona.co/  https://www.instagram.com/shabhairexpert/   https://www.instagram.com/theleonaway/  https://www.tiktok.com/@shabhairexpert  CONNECT WITH KOKO: https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/ https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend Shop Koko’s favorite products  https://shopmy.us/collections/49285  Koko on Shab's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l3q3VttRXYjqS5RyqNc5o

EP58: Sydney Webb and Bennett Quintard, the dynamic duo behind the superfood cookie company Toto, join the Boujee Best Friend podcast to share their fascinating journey. We delve into various topics, including Sydney & Bennett’s relationship, advice for startups, Crohn's Disease, adaptogens in maintaining well-being, and much more. In this episode, Sydney shares her battle with Crohn's Disease and how it paved the way for discovering the incredible benefits of adaptogens. This discovery led to the creation of Toto by incorporating these healthy foods into a delicious treat. Sydney and Bennett reveal insight into their unique relationship as partners in love and business. They candidly discuss their challenges, from raising funds and building solid vendor relationships to communication regarding dating your co founder. Tune in to learn more about Toto’s founders and why Toto’s superfood cookies steal the spotlight in the health food market.  Episode highlights - Sydney’s background  - Crohn's Disease  - Adaptogens  - Creating a healthy diet  - Starting Toto  - Startup studio models  - Failure to start a business  - Co-Founder disagreements  - Sydney & Bennett’s relationship  - Raising money for Toto  Time stamps:  0:00- 8:40 | Sydney’s health journey  8:40- 15:10 | About adaptogens and Western medicine  15:10- 25:10 | Starting Toto  25:10- 41:20 | Cofounders and dating  41:20- 48:00 | Raising money for Toto  48:00- 1:00:00 | Creating business-to-business relationships  CONNECT WITH SYDNEY & BENNETT: https://totofoods.co/ https://instagram.com/totofoodsco/  https://instagram.com/sydneyoliviaaah/ https://instagram.com/bennett.quintard/ CONNECT WITH KOKO: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/⁠⁠  ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute⁠⁠  ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend⁠⁠  ⁠https://www.boujeebestie.com⁠⁠  ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KokoBeaute⁠⁠ 

In this episode, influencer marketing professional and lifestyle content creator Emilie Sobel shares practical tips on building networks and making a name for oneself. She also discusses her unique perspective on dating and the importance of self-love. Other interesting topics include career advice, networking skills, creating content as an influencer, and loving what you do.

EP56: Starr Hawkins is one of Miami's best fitness trainers (and one of my favorite trainers). She works with A-list clients, putting her name on the map for a sought-after fitness guru. Starr is an electric presence in her classes and on social media, with popular Instagram and Tik Tok channels. Not only is she successful in her career, but she is also a proud mother to her beautiful daughter.  Although this life and these achievements seem pretty perfect, everything is not always as great as it seems…In the fitness world, you often only see the end result of hard work. You never see the hard things we must go through to achieve that end result. In this episode, we are shedding light on the hard stuff and exploring Starr’s personal growth and success journey.  Tune in as Starr, and I dive into the topic of transparency in social media and the importance of creating human connections. Additionally, we discuss the difficulties of being a single mom and navigating the world of dating in that role. This episode is a powerful exploration of personal growth, resilience, and finding your purpose in life. Episode Highlights: - Struggling with self-identity  - Growing up with a mother with an addiction  - Alcoholism - Advice for giving tough love - The start of Starr’s fitness career - Career advice   - Transparency in social media  - Struggles of being a single mom  - Dating as a single mom  Timestamps: 0:00- 6:20 | Intro/ Starr’s background 6:20- 9:45 | Growing up with a parent who suffers from a drug addiction  9:45- 17:30 | Alcoholism  17:30- 27:00 | Starr’s fitness career and career advice 27:00- 33:20 | Being more transparent about the ups and downs of life  33:20- 39:10 | The struggles of being a single mom  CONNECT WITH STARR:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/babymommafit/⁠  ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@babymommafit  https://www.babymommafitness.com/  CONNECT WITH KOKO: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/⁠  ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute⁠  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend⁠  https://www.boujeebestie.com⁠  https://www.youtube.com/@KokoBeaute⁠

EP55: Welcome to another captivating episode of Boujee Best Friend! Join us as we are honored to have Elana Drell-Szyfer, the esteemed CEO of RéVive Skincare, as our special guest. Elana generously shares a wealth of knowledge, drawing from her personal experiences, to guide us on a journey of success. From discovering a fulfilling career to navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, Elana offers valuable insights and practical advice. Throughout the episode, Elana provides expert guidance on various topics, including finding a work-life balance, overcoming setbacks and rejections, networking effectively, and empowering individuals, especially women, in the workplace. She inspires us to become our own cheerleaders rather than our own critics, fostering a mindset of self-belief and self-empowerment. This episode is a treasure trove of inspiration and practical tools that will equip listeners to unleash their true potential, thrive in their careers, and leave a lasting impact in their respective industries. Tune in to Boujee Best Friend and embark on a transformative journey towards becoming your best and most successful self. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: - Starting a career in the beauty industry  - Working moms  - What to look for when hiring  - Company cultures  - Financial Decisions - Tips in networking  - Pushing through rejections  - Setting personal milestones  - Learning how to manage your boss  - Women in business - Encouraging people to speak up - Finding brands that have real potential  Timestamps:  0:00- 2:00 | Intro 2:00- 19:50 | About Elana’s career  19:50- 25:20 | Company cultures   25:20- 33:30 | Networking and making a name for yourself  35:30- 43:00 | Women in business  43:00- 57:10 | Marketing and branding  57:10- 58:44 | Elana’s advice to her younger self CONNECT WITH ELANA: ​​https://www.instagram.com/elanaszy3girls/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/elanadrellszyfer/  https://reviveskincare.com/  ​​https://www.instagram.com/reviveskincare/  CONNECT WITH KOKO: https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/ https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend

54. In this week's episode of Boujee Best Friend, we are sitting down with Maggie Sellers - an angel investor, startup advisor, and entrepreneur. Don’t we all want to be successful and confident when talking about these topics? Even if you're not thinking of starting a business right now, this episode is great for anyone who wants to understand the basics of the business world. It'll give you enough knowledge to have a smart conversation with people in business or even if you go on a date with an entrepreneur ;) We cover a wide range of topics including what defines a startup, what investors look for in business owners, building a community, and how to fund your company. Maggie shares her insights and experiences to give advice to the Boujee Besties on how we can be successful business women. Maggie also shares her thoughts on what success means to her, the value of checking product-market fit, branding, product efficacy, and working towards your dreams. Tune in to learn more about what it takes to succeed as a startup founder and entrepreneur!  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: - What defines a startup  - What investors look for  - Building a community  - Connecting with investors  - Crowdfunding  - Equity  - Evaluations of your start up  - Raising money from investors  - 5 year vision  - What success means to Maggie  - IPO  - Checking your product market fit  - Branding  - Product efficacy  - Working on your dreams  Timestamps: 0:00- 5:50 | Maggie’s background 5:50- 9:35 | Building a start-up  9:35- 23:00 | Connecting with investors and funding  23:00- 30:00 | Equity and evaluations  30:00- 37:25 | Advice for successfully starting a company  37:25- 46:30 | Reasons for why people fail in business  CONNECT WITH MAGGIE: https://instagram.com/maggiesellers/ https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellers_  Sign Up For Maggie's Course CONNECT WITH KOKO: https://www.instagram.com/kokobeaute/ https://www.tiktok.com/@kokobeaute https://www.instagram.com/boujeebestfriend