We Speak Podcast
🚨MUSIC THERAPY & MOTIVATION with Gino Black 🗣️ 🎙️
Episode Review: Todd Vaughn, on Comedy, Financial Literacy, Black Fatherhood and Entrepreneurship!
In this captivating episode of “MUSIC THERAPY & MOTIVATION”, host Gino Black welcomes a guest with a background as diverse as it is inspiring—Todd Vaughn, also known as TJ Vaughn during his days as a stand-up comedian. Now an entrepreneur and consultant, Todd’s story reveals how his time in comedy has shaped his approach to business, communication, and life.
The episode kicks off with Todd sharing his early career as a comedian, where he performed under the name TJ Vaughn. He reminisces about how comedy not only sharpened his ability to connect with people but also gave him the confidence to navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. His experience on stage taught him how to handle pressure, engage an audience, and adapt quickly—all essential skills he’s carried into his current role as a business owner.
Todd’s transition from making people laugh to empowering them financially is a testament to his belief in using every tool in his arsenal to uplift the Black community. His t-shirt business, which started as a creative outlet, has evolved into a platform for driving social change. Throughout the conversation, he reflects on how humor can be a powerful tool in educating people about serious topics via his Protect Style Apparel.
One of the standout moments is when Todd explains how his time in sales and finance, combined with his comedic background, gives him a unique edge in connecting with his audience. He has a gift for breaking down complex business concepts into relatable, digestible insights, making education entertaining and engaging.
In the latter half of the episode, Todd dives deep into his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the origins of his t-shirt business, which promotes empowerment and wealth-building within the Black community. He candidly shares the challenges he’s faced, from early struggles with marketing to learning the ropes of credit and finance.
Listeners will appreciate Todd’s honesty about the obstacles he’s overcome, particularly as a Black entrepreneur. His passion for financial education is palpable, and he highlights the importance of teaching financial literacy from a young age. His comedic past allows him to deliver community conscious t-shirt designs in a way that’s not only informative but also entertaining—proof that humor and knowledge are a powerful combination.
The episode wraps up with Todd’s advice for anyone aspiring to improve their financial situation or start their own business: stay resilient, embrace failure as a learning tool, and always look for ways to make a difference in your community. Whether he’s cracking a joke or offering wisdom, Todd’s message is clear: Empower yourself, empower others.
Rating: 5/5
Key Takeaways:
- Comedy as a Communication Tool: Todd’s time as TJ Vaughn taught him invaluable skills in connecting with an audience, which he now applies in his products and marketing efforts.
- Breaking Down Financial Literacy: Todd uses humor and real-life examples to make complex financial topics accessible and relatable.
- Building a Brand with Purpose: His t-shirt business is not just a product line—it’s a movement designed to promote empowerment and wealth-building in the Black community.
- Resilience & Adaptability: Todd’s journey from comedy to entrepreneurship is a masterclass in adapting your skills to new opportunities.
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Watch episodes of 🚨MUSIC THERAPY & MOTIVATION with Gino Black 🗣️ 🎙️HERE!
We Speak Entertainment
Composer Jonathan Brielle Guests On “Secrets of the Stage” With Host Quinn Lemley on Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
Composer Jonathan Brielle will be a featured guest on “Secrets of the Stage” hosted by Quinn Lemley on Sunday, December 22nd, 2024.
“Secrets of the Stage” is a tv show on MNN. Watch as Quinn Lemley pulls back the curtain and interviews artists, entrepreneurs and creators to discover their process “behind the scenes.”
Broadway: Jonathan Brielle wrote the music and lyrics for Foxfire with Jessica Tandy (Tony Award) Hume Cronyn, and Keith Carrdine; Off-Broadway: Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics); Outer Critics Best Musical Nomination, Minetta Lane Theatre 2016; Circle Reperatory Company, NY: dozens of scores as Composer in Residence under Marshall Mason; Regional: Himself and Nora: American Theater Group production. Earlier versions include NYMF, James Joyce Center, Ireland and The Old Globe; Nightmare Alley (book, music. lyrics): Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Director, and NYMF. 40 Naked Women, A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics) The Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference, Axelrod Performing Arts Center.
Las Vegas: Enter The Night (book, music, lyrics) Stardust Hotel 12 years; MadHattan (book, music, lyrics) New York, New York Hotel; US Tours: Rugrats, Live! (Executive Music Supervisor); Goosebumps, Live! (Producer, Music) TV: Wonderama (music, lyrics) for the national television show.
Charitable Organizations: Executive Vice President of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF), creating programs for federally funded schools in New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta. Writer/Producer in Residence of the Johnny Mercer Writers’ Grove at Goodspeed Musicals and helps oversee the JMF Songwriting Project at Northwestern University. Jonathan is the former National Projects Director of the Songwriters Guild of America. Jonathan is the Artistic Director and Founder of Vala, a new platform dedicated launching new musicals and providing Forever Free education for grades K-12. He continues to work from Brielle Studios, a state of the art recording facility. After 20 years in TriBeCa, his studios are now located in Tewksbury, New Jersey in a converted schoolhouse built in 1846.
Quinn Lemley is the star of Burlesque to Broadway and Rita Hayworth -The Heat Is On! Appeared on Good Morning America, Oprah and finalist on Shark Tank.
Bwy adventures: Barking Sharks; Sirens Of The Silver Screen; Born To Rhumba! Wanda and The King of Hair, Hollywood Goddess & Universal Language.
Films The Greatest Ears in Town – The Arif Mardin Story, Lucky Stiff, Picasso Would Have Made A Glorious Waiter.
She’s co-directed/produced, Rebel Rebel The Many Lives of David Bowie, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Wall, and The Ultimate Queen Celebration. She coaches and directs speakers and performers privately.
Recent charity performances include the Luce Foundation, Lifeforce in Later Years (LiLY), Pause for Peace, and Wonderama TV in Times Square.
Q’s sizzling 6 CDs are available on iTunes. Her latest recording The Heat Is On! Will be released in January 2025 not only on all online platforms but on cd and vinyl as well for preorders visit www.QuinnLemley.com .
Secrets of The Stage with Quinn Lemley about lifestyle & entertainment. Airs Every Sundayon www.MNN.org Channel 4 at 7:30 PM EST or subscribe at www.QuinnLemley.com
“Secrets of the Stage” is produced by Quinn Lemley and Co-Produced by Errol Rappaport for QuinnEssential Productions, LLC.
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