In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Lanett Tachel, a talented young actress and writer from Prince George's County, Maryland. Lanett knew from her childhood that she was destined to be an actress, so after receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Howard University and performing on stages in the DC Metropolitan area and touring as the lead character in “The Bluest Eye” in the Dominican Republic, Lanett moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams to be an actress. 

During the interview, Lanett will share what life was like growing up in Prince George’s County, to a very supportive and entrepreneurial minded family where failure was not an option.  Lanett grew up in an environment where almost everyone around her was a professional and very successful, so the expectations were that whatever you chose to do, you will succeed.  Lanett took that mindset to Hollywood, where she has lived for the past 7 years and has appeared on TV and in films such as the erotically thrilling true story of 'THE PROVIDERS,' directed by talented "Queen Sugar' writer, Denise Harkavy and the newly released erotic thriller  “ILLICIT”, where Lanett shows off her acting and co-writing talent. ILLICIT was just released on “Video on Demand”.

 Lanett believes that good health and hard work is key to her success, so she tries to exercise 4 times a week engaging in her favorite activity, which is a Spin class.  Lanett is a rising star who shows no signs of slowing down and wants to help as many people as she can in her climb to the top.

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Ms. Bo Talley, a mother of four, former R&B singer, entrepreneur, event host, philanthropist, actress, fitness motivator and wife of professional basketball coach Fred Williams. In addition to these many hats, Ms. Bo serves as a motivation to many people, especially after her age-defying photo went viral and made national and international headlines.  During the interview, Ms. Bo will discuss her childhood growing up in a small town called Scottsboro, Alabama and why she credits the women in her family, especially her grandmother for being such a positive role model and inspiration in her life.  Ms. Bo will also discuss a charity event she created called “Balling for Lupus”,  the 1st ever All FEMALE Celebrity Charity Basketball Game in Atlanta, GA.  The Balling for Lupus foundation’s main purpose is to help bring more awareness and funds to the chronic illness.  Ms. Bo admits that she didn’t know much about Lupus until she found out that her cousin has the disease and that her aunt died from that disease years earlier, at a time when no one really talked about Lupus. Her celebrity coaches and players consist of current and former WNBA Players, Actresses, Reality TV Stars, Models and top community influencers.  The 4th annual Balling for Lupus Charity Tournament will take place on July 8th in Atlanta, Georgia.  The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live and on Instagram.

Also during the interview, Ms. Bo discusses her exercise philosophy, provides exercise tips to develop your arms, legs and abdominals.  Ms. Bo is truly an amazing woman whose positive energy, age defying smile and body, shows no signs of slowing down.

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Gustavo Velasquez, actor and 2017 Daytime Emmy Award Nominee, known for his work in Conversations in L.A. a breakout sleeper hit by Immediate Vision Productions, also starring creator, writer, director, actress Ann Marie Cummings.  During the interview, Gustavo will discuss why, after graduating from college with an Honors Degree in Accounting, he decided to walk away from the accounting field to pursue his passion.  Gustavo will also discuss the importance eating healthy and exercise plays in in his personal and professional life and why he feels everyone should take their health seriously.  Gustavo will also discuss what it feels like being nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his first acting role and how a chance meeting in Starbucks helped to launch his acting career.

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Ashanti Middleton, creator and host of “Taste and Toast”, a restaurant review TV series available on tasteandtoastwithus.com, Facebook and on YouTube.  Ashanti is a native New Yorker who was born and raised in Queens.  During the interview Ashanti discusses the reasons why she created Taste and Toast, which involves traveling throughout New York City, trying out different foods and drinks that each restaurant specializes in and exposing these restaurants to the public. 

 Each episode will take viewers into the “belly of the feast” with a casual style and high-class swagger combination designed to attract both newcomers as well as refined palates to come together to uncover the latest treats to hit the streets of the nation’s latest casual and fine dining hotspots!

Taste & Toast is designed to speak to a new generation of socially networked, mobilized, tech-savvy, culturally aware individuals seeking the most adventurous, interesting, culturally relevant, and tasty restaurants that the nation has to offer.

Ashanti has visited all types of restaurants with her show, including Peruvian, Thai, Soul Food and more.  Taste and Toast is becoming so popular, restaurant owners in Arizona and Atlanta have approached Ashanti with their interest in having Taste and Toast at their facility.  Taste and Toast is the only show of its kind that is produced by a young, African-American female entrepreneur.  Taste and Toast is totally self-funded by Ashanti.  She is currently seeking sponsors and funding for additional shows. 

Ashanti is a rising star in the entertainment industry and shows no signs of slowing down.  Taste and Toast has the ability to become a “runaway hit” with the proper exposure.

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Dorcas Meyers, Founder of Roc-A-Natural LLC. and lifestyle wellness coach, who advocates for beauty that illuminates from within for a holistic, authentic new you.  Dorcas is dedicated to emphasizing the beauty of natural hair, and educating diverse generations about the importance of proper nutrition and exercise to illuminate your beauty from the inside out.  Dorcas is also the creator of the Roc-A-Natural Hair, Health and Beauty Transform Your Life Expo, which will take place on Saturday, May 13th in New York City at the Watson Hotel.

During the interview, Dorcas will share the many exciting activities, presentations, and workshops that will take place at the Expo, such as an innovative and exciting Natural Hair Fashion Show. Industry professionals and fashion designers from the tri-state area will have the opportunity to showcase their fabulous work through the wonder of artful expression. During the show, the Roc-A-Natural Awards Ceremony will honor outstanding leaders who inspire excellence, ingenuity, effect change, a positive mindset and offer resources to live a successful and natural lifestyle.  Vince Ferguson, President, and Founder of Body Sculpt of New York and creator of the Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo, will be on hand to receive one of these prestigious awards.  

Certified Holistic Nutritionist Yvette Onofre, will address the nurturing of a healthy body through the “Nutrition Workshop and “Smoothie Operator” demonstration that will radiate confidence and beauty from within. This is just a small sample of what will take place at this highly anticipated event which will inspire and encourage an entire community to be proud of their inner beauty while seeking a more natural way of life.

This is the Roc-A-Natural Hair and Beauty Transform Your Life Expo’s 4th year in existence and it shows no signs of slowing down.  Dorcas’ enthusiasm is contagious and Inspiring.

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Meredith Shirk, a health and fitness expert, serial entrepreneur, traveler and small business consultant currently residing in Malibu, California.  Meredith is also a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the Creator and Founder of Svelte Training, a multifaceted approach to obtaining one's optimal lifestyle.  Meredith believes that mental and physical wellbeing are both key pieces of the puzzle that can create the best, most happy version of you.  In 2016 Meredith started to develop Svelte as an online fitness and lifestyle consulting company and from ground zero, she took it to over $400K in sales in less than 12 months. Starting without a list, a real online product, a name or an offer, Meredith molded her business partner and mentors, solidifying herself as an authority in her space.

 Going from physical one on one personal training, trading time for dollars, to utilizing her knowledge and expanding her online influence, Meredith has built her own path to success using a lucrative online business model to scale and leverage her time

Meredith Shirk is a driven and savvy business woman who is now stepping out from behind the curtain to educate, enlighten and empower not just people struggling with their weight, but entrepreneurs looking to bust down the barriers of self-deprecating mindsets and really take hold of their lives.

In this Episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by the Detroit Piston’s Tobias Harris. The 6’ 9” forward played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Orlando Magic before joining the Pistons where he is currently the team’s leading scorer. Throughout his five-year career in the NBA, Tobias has remained committed to his mentorship programs, specifically via the Tobias Harris School of Business Basketball Camp.  During the interview, Tobias will discuss his childhood growing up on Long Island, New York to a large family of basketball players.  He will also share his exercise routine in the gym, which includes weight training, calisthenics and more.  Tobias will also discuss how eating a plant-based diet has increased his endurance and stamina on the court.  Tobias is a strong believer in giving back to the community, especially children, which is evident by the work he is doing through his Tobias Harris School of Business Basketball Camp.  This camp not only teaches kids the important skills necessary to compete in the game of basketball, but it exposes kids to other professions as well.  Tobias believes that children should focus on education first and if basketball doesn’t work out, they have other options in their lives.  Tobias not only “talks the talk but he also walks the walk.”

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Charity Lynette, Celebrity Fitness Instructor and creator of Curvy Chick Fitness.  During the interview, Charity will discuss what life was like growing up in a small northwestern town to military parents.  Most of Charity Lynette's life she was overweight and although playing High School and college Basketball, she still struggled with her weight. The turning point in her life was the surprising loss of her mom due to unhealthy living. Fueling her choice to start a healthier lifestyle and with her mother in mind, she dedicated her life to helping others do the same, losing over 100 pounds in the process. Since then she has continued to work within Hospitals and Health fairs throughout the country, teaching women that although they all have curves, healthy curves is what matters most.  As a Plus Size Model and Fitness Instructor Charity went through her challenges explaining to those who didn't understand how a Plus Size women could teach fitness, the answer was simply “We all have different body types but as long as we are eating right and exercising, the body will take its course."  Charity is showing the world that just because you’re thin, doesn’t mean you’re fit and just because you have curves doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy.  Charity is a rising star in the fitness industry and she is looking to expand her brand throughout the country.

Charity has been featured in numerous media outlets such as Bustle.com, Hip Hop Weekly, NY Daily News, Abigail Magazine, blackbride.com, Society of Curves, cocoafab.com, Entertainment Scoop, Boston Fitness Magazine, Skinny Minority Blog, Your Tango, Stylish Curves and more.

In this episode of our Six Weeks to Fitness podcast, I am joined by Caprice O’Bryant, a 24-year old Certified Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and owner of Excuse Free Fitness out of Homewood, Illinois, near Chicago. Caprice has been through the wire, surviving a serious car accident at 14 and learning how to walk again and then surviving a second life threatening car accident a few years later that left her with seizures. At 19, she had a severe seizure that caused her to hit her head on the concrete, resulting in total memory loss. During the interview, Caprice will discuss her road to recovery which started at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where she was encouraged to try yoga.  With an invitation from her father, she began going to the gym.  It was in the gym where glimpses of her future self were shown.  Caprice attributes her ability to turn tragedy into triumph to the love and support of her family and the important role that proper nutrition and exercise plays in her life.  It is through proper nutrition and exercise that Caprice has been able to control her seizures.  Being “seizure free” for the past 2 ½ years, Caprice can now focus on utilizing her knowledge and skills to help improve the health and wellbeing of others through exercise and by creating custom meal plans that encourage healthy eating and appeal to the taste buds as well. Caprice is also a warrior and advocate of Epilepsy awareness. Her motto is, “with Excuse Free Fitness, you can do ALL things”! She is truly a walking miracle, and despite all obstacles, she continues to persevere.  Caprice truly is an amazing young woman, who truly believes in Excuse Free Fitness.

In this episode of Six Weeks to Fitness, I am joined by Imani Hakim, best known for her role as Tonya Rock, kid sister to Chris Rock on the very popular sitcom “Everybody Hates Chris”.  On March 10, 2017, Imani will star in the Netflix original Movie “Burning Sands” alongside actress Alfre Woodard.  Although most people decide what career path they want to take after they graduate from high school, Imani Hakim already had developed a strong passion for acting by the tender age of seven and by age 11 she landed her first acting role in Everybody Hates Chris.  During the interview, Imani will discuss how her persistence along with her father’s support and belief in her abilities, helped her land her first role.  She will also discuss in detail her next movie, Burning Sands, which will give you a raw, voyeuristic journey of fraternity pledging through the eyes of one favored pledgee (Trevor Jackson), who is torn between honoring a code of silence or standing up against the intensifying violence of underground hazing.  Imani will also discuss what life is like being a young actress in Hollywood auditioning for film and TV roles.  Imani believes that there is no substitute for confidence, believing in yourself and getting paid to do what you love to do.  Imani will also discuss her exercise routine and the important role nutrition plays in her life.