September 2019 Issue

MAGAZINE

BRONZE SEPTEMBER 2019

EMPOWER COCKTAILS CELEBRATES & HONORS WOMEN WITH SIGNATURE DRINKS

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DOVE DERMATOLOGIST ON HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN THIS FALL

DOPE LABS PODCAST CO-HOSTS MAKE SCIENCE FUN FOR “ERRBODY”

Jodianne Murdock CEO, ZEDOJ EVENTS

TALKS SUCCESS, FAMILY, & PASSION FOR HELPING ENTREPRENEURS WIN THROUGH HER RTS INITIATIVE

Bronze Magazine celebrates, empowers and inspires!

If you would like to share your own personal inspirational journey or good deeds in the community (or your industry) with our digital issue readers, then please submit your interest to: editor@bronzemagonline.com Your email should include the following: •A brief bio about you and a history of your brand/company (may include any press releases, media kits, website info, model tear sheet, etc.)

•How you (company and/or brand) pay it forward by empowering and inspiring others to be their best.

•Why you feel Bronze readers will want to know about you.

•Your contact info (email, phone, etc.)

BRONZE MAGAZINE

September 2019 Editor’s Note

Cover Credits:

Cover Star: Jodianne Murdock Photographer: Jordache Jones, Dash Productions Hairstylist: Colleen Hoilett, Beauty Statement Salon MakeupArtist: Rashida Haye, Punkie Facebeat Fashion Stylist: Kloset Euphoria

FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shawn Stuldivant CO-OWNER Barry Stuldivant ISSUE DESIGN BY Shawn Stuldivant EDITOR/PROOFREADER Katrina Sivels WRITERS Farheen Nahvi Marian Nimoh Patrice Rivers Shawn Stuldivant

Hello Bronze Beauties! Summer is almost at an end, with this coming Labor Day marking the official end to the season. So, what did you do? Where did you go? What have you learned? One thing I’ve learned is that detox is not just for the cleansing of the body. Your whole lifestyle can be detoxed as well. Whether forced or planned, making positive changes to the way you live can [literally] save your life, and your piece of mind. I’ve learned that once you’ve cleansed yourself of certain bad habits and begin to see the fruits of your hard labor, then you will begin to do and see things differently going forward. And with this renewed sense of purpose comes a responsibility in making sure that I remain focused on the things that are truly important in my life.

Our cover star of this month’s issue is an amazing businesswoman. Jodianne Murdock is the CEO of Zedoj Events in her homeland of Jamaica. She is also the founder of the Red Ties and Stilettos Initiative (RTS), a yearly conference that empowers and inspires young aspiring entrepreneurs and workingclass individuals of all classes. Bronze Magazine is proud to be a media partner at this year’s event. In this issue Jodianne talks about her journey as well as her success as an entrepreneur, and the purpose of the RTS mission. Whether or not you are an entrepreneur you will be inspired by her passion for helping others to succeed. You will enjoy hers and all the other stories of the awesome women featured in this issue. Relax and take us with you this Labor Day weekend. Happy reading!

xoxo, n w a h S

CONTENTS

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Cover Star: Jodianne Murdock

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Tiffany Hall

Koereyelle Dubose

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Dr. Alicia Barba

Arika Kane

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Dope Labs

Photo Credits: Photographer: Jordache Jones, Dash Productions Hairstylist: Colleen Hoilett, Beauty Statement Salon MakeupArtist: Rashida Haye, Punkie Facebeat FashionStylist: Kloset Euphoria

Tiffany Hall, Creator of Empower Cocktails

BY SHAWN STULDIVANT What do you get when you mix one-part girl boss with several parts alcohol? You get Empower Cocktails. Launched in 2015, the brand’s creator, marketing and law guru turned entrepreneur, Tiffany Hall felt compelled to focus on the wine and spirits industry due to a lack of female market representation. Having had spent some time in the past working for a large wine and spirit conglomerate, Hall observed something significant. “I noticed that most brands targeted male consumers—leaving women out as an afterthought, she says. “As a result, I wanted to start a brand that celebrates and honors women, while also catering to their distinct tastes. That led me to start Empower Cocktails, a company that puts women empowerment at the heart of its mission.”

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"I tried it and said, this is it!"

Prior to Empower Cocktails’ launch, Hall searched awhile for the perfect recipe to their first signature cocktail, the Empower Cosmopolitan Martini. When asked why she decided to develop a Cosmopolitan Hall states, “Because it is one of the top ordered drinks in bars.” With a goal of creating a Cosmopolitan that is delicious, flavorful and refreshing, Hall learned of a 100-year-old farm in Atwater, California, that produces vodka from sweet potatoes. “After I sent the distillery owner the recipe and he produced a few samples, I tried it and said: This is it!” Hall’s magic recipe included sweet potato vodka, white cranberries, Triple Sec and lime. “Our recipe is unique, as it is made with a sweet potato-based vodka. Most consumers have not tried vodka made from sweet potatoes. So, I thought a Vodka made from sweet potatoes would give it a hint (but NOT too sweet) of sweetness, with white cranberries, Triple

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Sec and lime giving it a perfect balance of sweet and tart,” she shares.

"The key to growth and success is knowledge."

As a multi-faceted boss woman who has worked with some of the most prominent global companies, Hall admits that the road to entrepreneurship isn’t easy, especially while maintaining full time corporate position. However, she has embraced each moment saying, “It requires a strong work ethic and an unwavering focus on each goal. Each time I experience a setback, I am always ready to keep pushing forward.” She advises other women who are seeking to start an alcohol brand of their own to “First, get outside of your comfort zone. I am not a natural salesperson, but I had to become one quickly in order to grow my business and build the brand. I visited (currently still do) spirits store owners and restaurant owners regularly to convince them that Empower is a product they must carry. Additionally, do not be afraid of failure, and if you do fail, don't let it affect your confidence. Failure is an inevitable part of success, from which we learn. So, learn from your failures and keep striving. And lastly, continue to learn. The key to growth and success is knowledge.”

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Hall feels that Empower Cocktails is fulfilling her vision of empowering women by being more than just a brand serving great tasting drinks.

“Empower Cocktails has become an intersectional platform that uplifts women of all backgrounds. Women deserve to have products that they identify with and should have multiple choices to choose from. I believe that making these changes in significant industries shifts how we see ourselves, and how others view us. My ultimate goal is to leave a legacy that empowers women to pursue and achieve their dreams in the entrepreneurial space and beyond.” Part of that legacy also includes utilizing the Empower Cocktails platform to partner with several nonprofits that champion women's initiatives including the Voss Foundation, Dress for Success Boston and Kicked it in Heels and to name a few.

Empower Cocktails are available online and in over 30 stores in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and nationally online at empowercocktails.com. derived from the Arabic: ‫ ﻣﺨﺎزن‬makhazin ("storehouses") by way of the French language.

KOEREYELLE DUBOSE: Let’s Go to Werk with Werk, Pray, Slay!

by Patrice Rivers

Koereyelle is an author, award-winning entrepreneur and former educator who managed to turn her $32K teaching salary into a six-figure brand.

She’s dedicated her life to helping other women make every day payday by developing their product suites and creating profitable programs.

As the Chief Experience Officer of WERKPraySlay-- the longest running empowerment weekend for millennial women of color and Creator of the Busy at the Beach Travel Tribe, she's dedicated

her life to empowering women to live a life that they love!

Most recently, Koereyelle became the EIC of WERK Mag - a media outlet that spotlights and celebrates werking women! She's an International Speaker, Podcast Host and Edutainer who's been featured nationally by Forbes, ESSENCE Magazine, The Huffington Post, NBC, TV One, VH1, Bravo TV and more for her empowerment projects.

Koereyelle is on a mission to help women uncover their purpose, prioritize their life and profit from their passions. Her motto is, “You already have everything you need to get everything you want; you just have to WERK for it.”

The soon to be 3x author makes a major Impact through her brand for women.

“You already have everything you need to get everything you want; you just have to WERK for it..”

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"I’m always looking for opportunities to educate and empower women."

PATRICE RIVERS: WHO IS KOEREYELLE? KOEREYELLE DUBOSE: I am a 2x soon to be 3x author, I am a serial entrepreneur and I am an educator. I started my career as a classroom teacher, but although I’m not educating in that way, I am still considered to be what you call an “edu-tainer.” I am still able to educate my audience by doing it in an entertaining way. I have several empowerment projects for women including an annual women’s weekend called “Werk Pray Slay,” we have a travel tribe called “Busy at the Beach,” a podcast called “Confessions of a Werkaholic” and a magazine called “Werk.” I’m always looking for opportunities to educate and empower women.

PATRICE: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND TURNING YOUR $32 FIGURE TEACHER SALARY INTO A 6 FIGURE BRAND? KOEREYELLE: It was definitely multiple streams of income. It’s been me finding different ways to leverage the different skills that I have, the audience that I have built, the passion and things that I’ve enjoyed doing. I have literally been able to monetize those things. My love for traveling led me to start a travel tribe called Busy at the Beach, which led me to starting a traveling agency where I am now able to train other travel agents on how they can monetize their career. I’ve been able to monetize everything that I enjoy doing and things that I am actually passionate about.

PATRICE: I AM FAMILIAR WITH YOUR BRAND WERK PRAY SLAY. HOW DID THAT GET STARTED? KOEREYELLE: In 2013 I had a business called the Single Wives Club, a support group for single women. We hosted an annual conference for our members to meet up once a year, called Single Wives Weekend. About three years in, we realized that our programming and topics weren’t just for single women. I changed the name from Single Wives Club weekend to Werk Pray Slay weekend in 2015 and that is how it came about.

PATRICE: WHERE DID THE NAME WERK PRAY SLAY COME FROM? IT’S UNIQUE AND IT HAS A RING TO IT! KOEREYELLE: Werk Pray Slay is all about empowering women to “werk,” which is dedicating their life to their dreams; “pray,” which is grounding yourself in faith; and “slay,” which is showing out in celebration of your success. I believe that all of those elements are important to be successful.

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PATRICE: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR BRAND? KOEREYELLE: The biggest goal is to empower as many women around the world as possible. We are able to do that luckily with social media with the digital resources that I’ve been able to create. We were able to reach women in places that I’ve never been. Last year we literally had women who got passports to attend Werk Pray Slay weekend from other countries. This year we have another speaker coming in from another country; it’s exciting to see the brand grow and to have a global brand that impacts women around the world and of course to be able to continue to be that example that I believe in; not just talking about it, but being about it.

PATRICE: THE WERK PRAY SLAY WEEKEND EVENT IS COMING SOON. TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT AND WHAT IT ENTAILS. KOEREYELLE: The Werk Pray Slay weekend event is four days and it starts Thursday, October 31st through Sunday November 3rd.

This year is our seventh annual women’s weekend that is a great opportunity for women to come together, connect with one another, explore ideas for collaborations and to get equipped for the resources and the real tools that they need to take back and apply it in their lives..

PATRICE: YOU ARE AN AUTHOR AS WELL. TELL US ABOUT YOUR TWO SELF-DEVELOPMENT BOOKS. KOEREYELLE: The Werk 101 get yourself together guide I Published in 2015 after I was going through so many experiences personally and professionally. I felt like I experienced those things so I can share my lessons with women. I put together 77 life lessons; everything ranging from health and wellness to personal development to etiquette to everything I have learned. It’s definitely something for everyone.

It’s really a manual from things in my life that I’ve learned and can pass on these lessons to another woman.

Then the next year, I published the book “Confessions of a Werkaholic” which is the same name as my weekly podcast. Inside this book are lessons for entrepreneurs by sharing words of wisdom and quotes from the podcast.

Stay connected with Koereyelle by following her on @koereyelle @thewerkmag @BusyAtTheBeach Catch the rest of the interview by visiting www.blaqstardommag.com

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Where to find us

As the Seasons Change, So Does Your Skin –

Your Beauty Routine Starts in the Shower!: Since the temperature and humidity can drop quickly in the Fall, our skin often becomes dry because it has to work harder to maintain adequate hydration. Not only is dry skin uncomfortable and more visible for women of color, but it can also lead to serious skin problems such as worsening of eczema, psoriasis and can be a major cause of itch. I always advise my patients with dry skin, that their skincare routine truly starts in the shower, setting the foundation for your skin care. That’s the moment when using a rich, hydrating cleanser like the Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash is key.

Dove is the #1 dermatologist recommended body wash, pH balanced and free of sulfates, it cleanses while being gentle to the skin’s microbiome, leaving the skin nourished, softer and smoother.

PRO TIP: Although, long hot showers are hard to avoid in the breezy fall temperatures, they strip away your skin’s natural moisture barriers.

Instead opt for shorter warm showers!

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DOVE DERMATOLOGIST EXPLAINS HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN THIS FALL!

"I always advise my patients with dry skin, that their skincare routine truly starts in the shower."

Dr. Alicia Barba

Sassy

Teen Magazine

Don't Over Exfoliate: In order to remove dead skin cells from your face and body, you need exfoliation but don't overexfoliate as it sets you up for flakes on the face.

When you do exfoliate, use a gentle exfoliator like Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar. This process will help in getting rid of all the dirt that gets accumulated due to sweat throughout all of your activities, or make-up application. I always recommend exfoliating once or twice per week.

The important thing to remember is not to over scrub and to always hydrate after. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells, but also the body's natural moisturizers so make sure to replenish it through moisturizing. PRO TIP: The Beauty Bar doubles as an effective make-up remover, that’s truly gentle on skin. Give it a try and your glowing face will thank you!

Consider Your Fashion Decisions:

Hydrated skin is key during the fall season

Apart from caring for our skin during our beauty regimen, there are other moments of your routine where skincare plays a part! Many people don't realize our clothing choices have a surprisingly huge effect on our skin. Fabric by the neck and underarms can cause skin irritation and inflammation, especially fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex and wool. It is important to make sure that these fabrics are NOT rubbing on the skin if you do have sensitivity, to avoid chaffing issues. There are also fabrics that do not let the skin breathe and retain moisture. Sometimes when you’re sweating, these fabrics do not allow the perspiration to dry, and accumulate for example in the groin area, underarms, or under the breasts. This causes an irritation or condition called intertrigo, due to excessive sweating or moisture under areas that are skin-to-skin. I see this often during the fall transition because the weather is still in between hot and cold and as we wear more clothes our internal heat causes the sweating and allergies. When opting for heavier clothing in the colder months, try to avoid rough fabrics. If you are sensitive to wool or heavy sweater material, wear something soft and thin underneath as a base layer, like a silk liner which can be gentler on skin!

Stilettos & Success Written by Farheen Nahvi

PHOTO CREDITS: Photographer: Jordache Jones, Dash Productions Hairstylist: Colleen Hoilett, Beauty Statement Salon MakeupArtist: Rashida Haye, Punkie Facebeat Fashion Stylist: Kloset Euphoriaxt

No one could have predicted the journey of success Jodianne Murdock would go onto - well, no one except an Indian astrologer. From cruise lines to wedding bells, Jodianne Murdock is a success story we all ought to be inspired from. The Jamaican native and businesswoman plans and organizes weddings and event along with her husband, Kenito through their events company, Zedoj.

In addition to being a boss babe, Murdock shares a great love for motorsports along with her husband. “We are a part of the 876 Streets Movement and we attend racing events both locally and internationally. I drive a Mitsubishi Evolution X which isn’t a typical car for a female,” she shares. The couple was recently featured in the Bank of Jamaica’s Low Inflation Strategy Advertisement that went viral and received a lot of interest worldwide.

Strap on a pair of red stilettos and read on the interview with Bronze, in which Murdock, our cover star talks about her company, her RTS initiative, her journey, and more.

When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Tell us about your 1st business at the age of 16.

At age 16 is just about the time that I discovered my love for art and graphic designing and after months of practicing

COVER STORY

using a basic software, I approached a local banana chips company and offered to do their business cards. To my surprise they accepted, and this was birth of my 1st business venture as a graphic artist. To date, I still design my own marketing material and website that powers my businesses.

When did you take an interest in doing local and destination weddings and how did your company Zedoj Events come about? Is there a particular meaning behind your business’ name?

I started doing weddings after I got married in the year 2010. My husband Kenito shared an equal love for events and we started the wedding and event company. After a few months of operation, we joined an international wedding network, Wedding Wire, which afforded us the opportunity of winning 5 International Awards ranking us in the Top 5% of Wedding Professionals Worldwide. I am affectionately called Jodez by close friends and family and after a long discussion with my best friend D’Andra Martin on what I should name the business, she suggested Zedoj which is Jodez spelt backwards. It sounded unique so I went with it.

You operate your business along with your husband. What’s that like? How do you both maintain balance between your personal and professional lives?

We have a pretty unique relationship where we do everything together and enjoy each other’s company. I am a talker and he is a listener, so I guess the rule of opposites attract works.

We hardly have personal time with the growth of the company however it helps that we spend most of our days together executing events for our clients. The area that needs improvement is more time to spend with our daughters Myah-Lee & Morgahn.

As a mother of two girls, what advice would you give to other mothers who are looking to start a business?

It is very important to be consistent in what you do as your children are watching your every move and you are training them not only to become future bosses but also to be disciplined in business- which also filters to other areas of their lives. It is sometimes hard to balance life as an entrepreneur and a mother but we have to schedule time for our children so they can also learn balance.

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Running a successful event planning business in your native Jamaica must be very competitive. How do you manage to separate your business from the rest?

We try not to copy what our culture and competitors do. As unique as our name is, we aim at providing once in a lifetime experiences for all our clients both from weddings and corporate events. Paying attention to detail is our specialty and always exceeding expectations is what keeps our clients and their colleagues coming back to be Zedojized on each occasion or milestone.

Why and when did you launch the RTS (Red Tie and Stilettos) initiative? How has this initiative helped others to grow?

The RTS Initiative was launched in 2017 because I wanted to help others to pursue their dreams of becoming their own bosses and do it with enough confidence to also assist others on their journey. Since the birth of the initiative many have quit their jobs to venture into entrepreneurship and have been doing very well at it. We organize workshops, one on one mentorship sessions as well as award a young entrepreneur each year with J$50,000 to start or grow their business through the “Zedoj Who’s the Boss Competition.”

Tell us about the meaning behind the red stiletto and the red tie. What can attendees expect at this year’s event?

A lady wearing a pair of red stilettos is seen as a woman who means business. When she steps into a room filled with boring black flats, her red stiletto is most times seen before her. She stands tall and confident though stilettos can be quite hard to stand, balance or walk in. These are characteristics of a Boss Entrepreneur. Equally, a man wearing a red tie is stereotyped to be a man of God or someone who means business and as such we have coded our RTS Bosses to be Red Tie wearing winners. (Continued on next page).

"A woman wearing a pair of stilettos is seen as a woman who means business."

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Our three day ‘Entrepreaction’ kicks off with an All White Beach Party on Friday, September 27th and our VVIP Season Pass Holders will Join Ms. Vivica A. Fox for brunch on the morning of the 28th before heading to the RTS Conference in the evening hosted by Debbie Bissoon and welcoming Ms. Fox once more to deliver the keynote message. Krystal Tomlinson is our guest speaker and we have many other local and international panelists that will speak on various topics like Corporate Sustainability, Branding & Entertainments as well as Entrepreneurship.

We close the weekend with the ‘Retailpreneur Workshop’ with Jeanel Alvarado & the Coffee & CEO Session with Naomi Garrick on Sunday Morning.

Tell us about your 2019 St. Ann Chamber of Commerce Young Entrepreneur Award. How has this award impacted your professional life?

It was an honor to be considered as a nominee but even more humbling to walk away as the winner. With only three years of motivational presentations I feel extremely privileged to hold such a title. Since winning the award I have been invited to speak more frequently at various functions and corporate events. I have also used this as an opportunity to host a charity entrepreneurship workshop where we collected over 50 schools bags, books and school supplies to donate to the less fortunate children.

There is a huge growth in black women entrepreneurs, yet they typically lack the resources and capital to launch, let alone take off. What type of advice or insight can you offer to help motivate other women entrepreneurs to continue chasing their dreams?

I encourage entrepreneurs to not invest life savings into a business venture but seek to obtain a loan from a financial institution that will provide financial security and cash flow for your business. We as women like nice things and will sometimes invest too much in shoes, clothing, handbags, hair and makeup. We may have to sacrifice a few of these likes and invest our cash into our love for business which will ultimately produce more money to feed our wants.

Ready, Set, Stilettos!

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Arika Kane THE VH1 SONGTRESS AND POP-SOUL CHART-TOPPING RECORDING ARTIST RELEASES NEW SINGLE “I LOVE YOU”

By Patrice Rivers

Songstress & soulful songwriter Arika Kane is one of the music industry’s leading pioneers of substance. With over 50 billboard charting positions under her belt and multiple best-selling singles and albums, Kane is ever growing in her accomplishments. Arika Kane is known to many as the VH1 Songstress. She has had over 80 synchronization placements within the Viacom network on various shows that include VH1, BET and MTV, with multiple features on shows like “Love and Hip Hop,” “Basketball Wives” and “Single Ladies.” Kane scored 2 major theme songs on television with her song “Make It,” which has been heard on VH1’s TV series “Hollywood Exes” and “Atlanta Exes.”

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PATRICE RIVERS: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN A MUSICAL FAMILY? ARIKA KANE: It was beautiful! I always had music around me. My mother and father are musicians and singers. They were in a group that started in the church and then they branched out and actually started traveling to New England with me and my older brother in toe during the rehearsals and the shows they performed at. It was beautiful to be around such talented people and music all the time where it’s part of my roots as well.

PATRICE: WHAT INSTRUMENT (S) DID YOU PLAY AS A CHILD? ARIKA: In school I started out in the marching band. I originally played the flute, then in junior high, I became a drum major in the marching band, then, I joined choirs moving into high school.

I started playing the guitar and keyboard because I’m also a songwriter and it’s easier to have some sort of instrumentation as a songwriter PATRICE: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN MUSIC AND YOUR MOST RECENT STUDIO ALBUMS. WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE? ARIKA: It was incredible! It was a lot of hard work and time. Every album that I put out had a different journey. With every different album, I was in a different place in my life. It was exciting and I’m now learning the perfectionism I have within me and am learning how to have fun and do what I love! If you aren’t having fun and doing what you love, then what are you doing? It took a couple of albums to get to that place. At the end of June, I released a single dedicated to Faith Evans, so I’m still promoting that.

PATRICE: BEING NAMED THE VH1 SONGTRESS IS A BIG DEAL AND ACOLADE. HOW DOES THE NETWORK PICK YOUR SONGS TO PLAY ON VARIOUS REALITY SHOWS? ARIKA: The first time it happened was the very first show on Love N Hip Hop where my song played for a good forty seconds called “Here with Me,” where it played during a love scene which fit perfectly. I literally had an overnight fanbase just based off that alone. It blew up the charts on iTunes and on You Tube had a few hundred thousand viewers. Six months later, the creative director of VH1 chose another song off my album called “Make It” for the theme song for the show called Hollywood Exes. The song stayed on for about four seasons of the show. They also used my song for Atlanta Exes as well, which was exciting for me.

PATRICE: IN 2014 YOU COLLABORATED WITH THE LEGENDARY BRIAN MCKNIGHT ON A SONG CALLED I LOVE YOU. WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE? ARIKA: Incredible! I grew up listening to him. He’s such a legendary songwriter, performer and singer. It was such a blessing because he was able to connect with me as far as songwriting and production. Brian gave me an amazing opportunity to produce him on the record. I was already excited alone, but this took it to another whole level when he asked me to write his part.

PATRICE: YOUR RECENT SINGLE “I LOVE YOU” WAS WRITTEN BY LEGENDS SUCH AS P. DIDDY, JENNIFER LOPEZ, FAITH EVANS AND OTHERS. WHAT WAS IT LIKE RECORDING A SONG WRITTEN BY THOSE LEGENDS? ARIKA: It was originally going to be a part of my live show. When I’m building the production from my show, I like to split it up from different medleys such as Aaliyah and Janet Jackson.

My PR suggested that I add this to my show and to just record it. I always loved that record and it fits with my voice. It’s one of my favorites. My team said that I had to release this as a part of my record. It’s doing really well. I like to cover songs that no one has really done before to keep it interesting. It was a classic! Now it’s out there to the world.

You can connect with Arika Kane on social media @arikakane Her music is available on all music platforms. Listen to the rest of the interview by visiting www.blaqstardommag.com

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Materials scientist and engineer Titi Shodiya and molecular biologist Zakiya Whatley are not your typical scientists. And their science show Dope Labs is not your typical podcast. Through their show, the two friends and Duke University graduates touch on everyday issues that we face with an explanation of science behind it. Their mission and purpose is to show us that science can be for “errbody,� and does not have to be boring.

How did you each know that you wanted to pursue careers in science?

Titi: I always wanted to be an engineer. My grandfather was an engineer and my mother is a scientist by training and so that was really inspiring for me. Since I was little I have always loved science and math and my parents definitely fed my passion.

DOPE LABS IS cHaNGING THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT SCIENCE

By Marian Nimoh

Zakiya: I did not realize I wanted to pursue a career in the sciences until the summer before my junior year of college. I participated in a lot of science summer camps and weekend programs, but the tipping point for me was The Leadership Alliance, a summer research program for undergraduates. That experience working in a lab with a professor, Dr. Andrew Campbell, led me to seriously pursue research.

How did you both meet and what discussions led you both to partner with each other?

We met in graduate school, and we became fast friends. We’ve worked together in different capacities in the past, but this was something we would always joke about - starting our own company and sharing our love for science with the world. We have been talking about it for a while and even tweeted about it back in 2017. It took us a couple years, but we finally made it happen!

When did Dope Labs start?

Dope Labs Podcast initially launched with our first published episode on February 14, 2019, but we feel like this show has been around as long as we have been friends. People would often ask us about our research and that led to them asking us additional scientific questions. We would answer as best we could, but we often found this led to even more questions and great conversations. This podcast captures those interactions in 30-minute segments our friendship blended with science and pop culture.

What inspired you to make a podcast?

Podcasting is such an amazing medium for this because the barrier to entry is so low. Making a podcast is very easy and anyone can do it... It also eliminates some barriers that are present for black women in STEM... It has a huge reach! Anyone in the world with access to the internet can listen to our show and that’s an amazing feeling.

How often do you shoot and release episodes? Is it daily, weekly, or monthly?

Dope Labs is released in semesters. We just wrapped the first semester (or season) of the show, and our next semester launches on September 12, 2019. Each semester has 12 labs (or episodes), and we publish a lab every other week. Even though the episodes are biweekly, we are constantly recording in the evenings and on the weekends to make sure we’re giving our best in each lab.

Why do you feel science is such an important topic?

Science is important because it is a part of everything….and not only science but the scientific method. We really want to show people how they can and do use the scientific method and critical thinking in their everyday lives. It is so important, now more than ever, to be able to sort through fact and fiction.

What impact has your show had on helping listeners improve their daily routine or habits?

The show has definitely helped people expand what they believe science to be and how they feel about it. Most of our listeners are not people who consider themselves scientists or people interested in science...

Apart from bringing science to “errbody,” what are your extended goals for Dope Labs?

Dope Labs is just one of the ways we want to reach people. Our goal is to help people think scientifically.

We want to demonstrate the use of the scientific method in your day to day lives, in all decision making. Even bigger than Dope Labs, our ultimate goal is to keep people engaged and informed by bringing the conversation to their earbuds and fingertips.

Where can people find you to learn more about Dope Labs and how can they suggest topics for your show?

You can learn more about the show on our website dopelabspodcast.com.On the website you can suggest episode ideas, sign up for our newsletter, fill out a form to be a potential guest expert, and much more.

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you are enou

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BRONZE @bronzemagazine

@bronzemag

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