September 5, 2023 • 32 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Checking In with Michelle Williams, a production of
iHeartRadio and The Black Effect. Hey, everybody listen. I love
(00:20):
I love, I love my podcast Checking In as I
love the variety of amazing, powerful, extraordinary guests. This young
lady comes from hip hop royalty, right, but she herself
did not follow in the footsteps of hip hop royalty.
As far as the that side of the art, she
(00:44):
is on the entrepreneurial side as it relates to legacy
and an actress television mogul. Y'all, okay, I'm gonna just
say it. Vanessa Simmons is here. Ladies and gentlemen, thank
you for that amazing intro. Thank you, I mean, as
far as I can remember or even recall of children
(01:12):
of musical legends and what you have chosen to do
with said legacy and building your own legacy.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Hand hand claps, handclaps, hand claps.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I like to say I'm an extension of hip hop.
You know, I was inspired by hip hop. I grew
up hip hop, That's all I knew. But I wanted
to add to the legacy in my own way, and
that's what I really strive to do.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yes, but why didn't you go onto the stage? As
far as hip hop.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Is concerned, I've always wanted to forge my own path.
I've always been a girl who's interested in acting. I know,
being in front of the camera is something that I'm
passionate about since I've been a schoolgirl and I've been
doing school plays.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
So I always I.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Knew I wanted to be in front of the camera,
and I was always really I guess sometimes you can
say overly ambitious. I've always just wanted to make my
mark in you know, the legacy that's already been built
within the Semis family. So so always just been my
goal to forge my own path and be able to
add to the legacy in my own way.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yes, now, listen, this is my first time being able
to speak to you in this capacity, and I know
you have probably been asked this question. I'm going to
get to your love of stage acting and disclaimer, and
we do know that we are in a sag after
a strike, and we will respect that, but I definitely
want to get into you, Like she said, her love
(02:40):
of stage acting, that's a whole different beast. Like if
you can do stage plays and theater, you are a
lot of the greats started in theater, and we will
get to that later. But I was saying, this is
my first time getting being able to talk to you
in this capacity. And I'm sure you've been asked this
question loads of times, probably for the past thirty years plus.
(03:03):
Did you ever feel the pressure to follow in your
father's footsteps? Okay, y'all, her father is a Okay government
named Joseph Simmons. Okay, okay, Reverend run from run DMC.
Did you ever feel the pressure to say, well, this
is what my dad does, I better do it too.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
You know what, I've never felt the pressure to do
exactly what he's doing, but I felt the pressure to,
like like I said earlier, just add to the legacy,
such huge shoes to fill. And I've always knew I
wanted to be in entertainment. I know, I've always wanted
to do exactly what I'm doing right now, but come on,
the pressure to necessarily be on stage in that capacity.
(03:53):
But okay, always inspired by what he's done and how
he's built this legacy and hip hop, and I just
added that in my life in my own way.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, yeah, I was like, I can just imagine growing
up like wondering where people trying to put microphone, not
not your family, but where people like, okay, you can
do this, and even trying to take advantage of who
you are, you know, in that in that in that state.
So I'm glad to know that you were like, no,
(04:24):
there is pressure to be great, and I'm glad it's
like acknowledging those huge steps to feel and you've done
extraordinarily well. You mentioned stage acting in stage plays all
the way back dating to school. When did the bug hit.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
You early on?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I would say in elementary school I started doing plays.
I remember in the eighth grade I was cast as
Anna and the King and I and it felt.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Like so much pressure to have this you know.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Huge role and still maintain myself schooling and everything else
going on. But man, after all the work that we
put in and all the rehearsal, the way I felt
on the stage putting on that show, and it just
inspired me and I was like, this is what I
want to do now. What I didn't know is how
difficult it would be to pursue as a professional career.
(05:19):
And I've gone through my set of challenges, you know,
trying to be a professional actress. That in that hustle
because it definitely is a hustle, but it inspires me.
And when I'm in the move, I'm in the groove
and it feels so good.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I love acting.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
So my love of acting started on the stage, and
I'm happy to say I'm going back on the stage
in a stage play. I'm doing a play called Rotten
Apple with some heavyweights in the industry, people i've watched
growing up on the you know, silver screen, acting in sitcoms,
and I'm excited to join them.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
It's an amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Story and I'm excited that I still get to pursue
these endeavors and be creative because it's definitely a passion
of mine that fuels me, makes me feel alive, Like.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Well, congratulations. Is this stage play going to be stationary
or will it tour?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
It's going to be in the markets of Maryland. We're
going to be in Bouie, Maryland, and in Greensboro, North Carolina.
So it's for two weeks only. Hopefully we'll be able
to expand and go out to more markets. But you know,
I'm excited to just get.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
On the stage.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Like you said, we are in the middle of the strike,
so things have been, you know, just a little bit different.
While we support the sag after strike because I do
believe that we deserve certain rights that they're fighting for,
but to be able to still pursue and act and
be on the stage, it's it's honestly a dream come
true of mine.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Yes, yes, coming from where you come from, even my background,
I have done acting on stage and on screen. Do
you feel it's more difficult or people expect more out
of you because of who you are?
Speaker 3 (07:00):
One hundred percent, I'm expected to be a unicorn, you know,
and I've had to really grow.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I've had to be a student of the craft.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I've been knocked down endless times, had to get myself
back in class.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I'm still in class.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I'm always learning because people do expect a different level
of excellence out of me because of my background, which
can be incredibly tough at times. But I feel like
at the same time, it's made me stronger, It's made
me pursue it even harder, and just, you know, continue
to be a student of the craft. I think that
that is very important in anything you pursue, is to
(07:33):
just continue to study, continue to learn. There's never enough learning,
So I'm just strengthening my craft as I go along,
taking those jabs and hits, because like you said, people
do expect more out of me, and that can be challenging,
but you know what, at the end of the day
is going to make me stronger. Pressure makes a diamond,
that's what they say. So I'm a keep on pusher
to keep on going to I'm the best possible version
(07:55):
of myself I can be, and I'm proud of that
because i can see the development in myself. It's really
difficult to be honest with yourself and when you need
to keep on growing. But I feel like those are
the type of challenges and those are the type of
things that make you strongest possible, best version of yourself.
And that's really what my goal is as an actress.
(08:18):
I want to be the best actress and I'm not
afraid to say it. You know, sometimes we hold back
on that because we want to be humble, and I
am humble. But now that I've just turned forty, I'm
admitting to myself things that I need to know why
I can be the best possible version of myself and
I want to be the best. So I'm gonna keep
studying and be a student of the craft. Getting on
(08:39):
the stage is one of those things that strengthens your craft.
And I'm gonna continue to do those things so I
can be the best actress.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well in order to be and continue and to maintain
being a great actress. You said something that might be
shocking to people. What's that you said? You still are
taking classes?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Oh yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I'm always looking up new teachers, new methods, new things
I can add to just strengthen myself. You are never
done studying with something like acting, or like I said,
anything being a business person, being a singer, or being anything.
You always have to study. You always have to be
strengthening your tool. And in my case, my tool is
you know, the craft of active so I have to
(09:21):
always constantly strengthen it. It's a muscle that you have
to constantly work in order to be good. Stop doing it,
you're gonna kind of forget, So you gotta always fine tune.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah. I love that. There are so many people that
I talk to and I love how one of the
tools to success everybody is to all ways be a student,
whether that's actually literally in the classroom of whatever your
craft is. Like, say, for if you're in a nursing
or in education, you are constantly having to go to
(09:54):
refresh your workshops or things that keep your license fresh.
You have to get resoarchdify it. So even in acting
on music, yes, there are still classes you gotta take.
You still gotta take vocal lessons. There is someone that
I know as amazing as she is. Every now and
then I'm like, what's she up to today? What you
(10:16):
doing today? Vocal teachers coming by the house?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Wait, wait, wait, what you gotta do it? You want
to be great, that's the price. You gotta keep learning.
You don't know, you don't know it all, and you
gotta admit that to yourself. You don't know it all.
So I'm gonna keep on studying. I'm gonna keep on pushing,
I'm gonna keep on striving. No matter how high on
or how successful you are. That's the people that are successful,
(10:40):
the people who continue to grow in some way and learn,
so that's where they strive to be.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So there are some of us who have no excuse.
I know so many talented people that won't go outside
of their just talented. They don't like to rehearse, they
don't like and it's like, Okay, we'll sit and be mediocre,
sit and be average. Yes, this is me judging you.
I don't care. On the entrepreneur side of things, I'm
(11:12):
a lover of all things hair and I have Yummy Extensions. Yes,
you've been in business also with your younger sister and
that has been a success. I want to just talk
about all things hair because your hair always looks amazing.
(11:32):
Yummy Extensions is always up in the game with textures
and products. What made you go into hair.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Well, see Yummy Extensions. People always think that I like
own Young Extensions. I'm just a partner in Yummy Extensions.
I've been a spokesperson for the last Jesus like seven
years or so. And I think as black women like
hair and taking care of our hair is a form
of self care. I always say self care is how
you love on yourselves.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And you know, through being.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Able to change my hair and just you know, look
in the mirror and feel good about myself, I feel
like that is a form of self care. And I
just love being able to switch it up every now
and then and you know, feel good about myself.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
To be in partnership with the company that long though
because some partnerships contractually sixty days ninety days a year,
maybe maybe three years, but seven years as a partner
with this extension brand is pretty amazing, which means you
believe in the product. It's amazing, it's great product. Because
(12:39):
there else she wouldn't you wouldn't be the partner for
seven years.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
It's a great product. And I also connect heavily with
the owner. She's always up in her marketing game. She
inspires me as an entrepreneur. And it's more than just hair,
it's a lifestyle. And I love being connected to them.
Their product is great and what they see for even
more aligned so with exactly like who I am and everything.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So it allows in connecting and aligning.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Every partnership I have is always going to align with
like my values and beliefs beyond. Yeah, it's important because
so many things get thrown at you in this business
to you know, product, promote or endorse this or that.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
You have to make sure you align with everything.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
And I completely align with Yummy the entrepreneur and of
course the hair, Like I get to do this every day.
It's it's amazing. I to switch it up.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I just have braids two weeks ago. It's it's an incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Right looking absolutely amazing. Okay, Vanessa is is about all
things self care? Now before we get going on this
amazing new wellness platform you have. I just wanted to
say I was telling Shay before you logged in Finess.
I was like, man, I just love how it. I said,
(13:56):
this is just from somebody sitting back observing. Okay. I
was like, Vanessa just seems like she is just about
definitely all things wellness. Drinking water, yes, and.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Minding how business and being located drinking my water, minding
my business, lots of self care.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I am here for it. You know you are a mother.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
And it's just like people don't understand the moves that
are made in silence. That's where the volume is. Being loud,
is making the moves in silence. People feel like you've
got to be loud or I read in an interview
that you did about even balancing everything as it relates
(14:42):
to social media. So I just want to say kudos
to you, because I don't think people understand like people
being out here working, drinking water, minding their business, praying
and running businesses and their households.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, still making there is power in the silent moves.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
For sure, there is power the silent moves. Well, this
next move, ladies and gentlemen, that she has made ain't
gonna be too silent because who she is the founder
and CEO of you four euh but it's spelled you
for I Ay, yes, all right. It is a business
(15:20):
that is here and we are so excited about your
new wellness platform, Euphoria. It is a wellness website, blog,
and marketplace that offers the ultimate guide to healthy living,
especially for people of color. I mean, you are into yoga,
everything wellness. Have you yourself or someone you knew, had
(15:41):
moments of depression or anxiety that inspired you to create
the space? The reason why I ask because checking in
is all things mental health and it was me taking
the power back of the moment where I had to
check in. So your new wellness platform is so endearing
to me and I can't wait to support in whatever
capacity I can.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, I mean, the inspiration behind this community came from
my passion about mental wellness, and I have experienced moments
of depression and anxiety and have had to come to
realizations of like you said, checking in with myself self
correcting and finding what's not aligning and how I could
(16:26):
be more authentic and be more in the moment.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And this community is really all about that.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
The true inspiration where I said I'm gonna put this
out there, I'm going to you know, really spotlight and
put the attention on wellness came in twenty twenty. We
were all locked inside. We were fearful for our health.
I had a friend who were quarantining by themselves. They
didn't have family, so we would often check. I would
(16:53):
often check in with them, and I started doing a
lot of research, a lot of research on how I
could be my obviously best possible help self because of
COVID and all that stuff, but also mentally, you know,
it was, yes, it was a different time than we
were going through a huge change, and I started doing
research and share with my family and friends and realizing
that as common sense as some of the stuff may
(17:15):
seem a lot of people don't know these things. And
I have a pretty large platform of two million people
on social media and on Instagram. I want to be
able to put that my platform, be able to make
an impact for people to really optimize their health from
the inside out, so we can truly live our best
lives outside of our accomplishments, outside of you know, all
(17:37):
of the outside noise. How can we really connect and
be our best possible version of ourselves. So I'm excited
to give people resources. I'm excited to educate people on
how to live their best lives.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And I'm even working.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
With an emotional intelligence curriculum called speak Life that helps
peel back layers of trauma so people can really connect
with their authentic self and without judgment, really be mindful
and really connect back to why we're really here.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yes, we need money to.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Live, Yes there's bills, Yes there's challenges, but how do
we really spend our time to reconnect with ourselves? And
so I'm excited to you know, partner with businesses and
curriculums like that, and then also just giving people the
information products they need so that they could be living
their best self. And it makes me excited because this
is stuff that I'm genuinely into.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
This is what I'm talking about.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Every day, I drive my man crazy like, well, did
you have your greens this morning before you had your coffee?
Speaker 2 (18:37):
And did you do this?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Because I want us to be our best possible self
and I'm passionate about it, and I feel like it
needs the spotlight to start conversation for other people to,
you know, really start thinking about it. Having preventives through
the pase, you know, what we're even giving to our children,
the how we're speaking to ourselves. It's just so many factors,
(19:00):
but really simple things we can be implemented into our
lives to really just make our lives shine.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
And I'm passionate about it.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I'm excited, and I'm just hoping to spark information, spark conversations,
give information, and get people talking and interesting and wellness.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
And you absolutely will, especially for I know it's not
limited necessarily to women of color, people of color, black people,
brown people, you know, because we got to start having
these conversations about wellness. We have to. We have to,
we have to, we have to. It's just now I'll
(19:39):
never forget as it relates to the topic of mental
health and even going to therapy. I've said this and
people have laughed at me, But I thought that that
was just something for like rich white people.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
You know, and it absolutely is not you. Four Ia
now dot com is the website. You can go there
right now, and subscribe and register. It's all things wellness.
I love. She's talking about gut health. How to ease yourself.
This was the key word for me that I saw
(20:13):
safely out of depression.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah, just how to ease it.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
How we can approach it daily and in a practical,
practical manner.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You know, we can be doing to ease it.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
And people are struggling every day with life's challenges.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
It gets difficult. I've been there. I go there sometimes
and I got to.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Kind of real myself back in and you know, focus absolutely.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
I want to get people hope.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
How did you come up with the name.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Oh, I'm a marketing person. I love marketing.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
That's even how me and my sister started pastry. Like
my love of marketing started in college. I went to
Saint John's for Communications and business and I fell in
love with it. And so when I was thinking of
what I would name this company, I was just like, well,
what do we want to promote?
Speaker 2 (21:01):
What do we want to push? And I was like,
we want people to live their most euphoric life.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And I just got really unique and creative with the
way to spell it, so it can just be a
little bit different. Tapped into my marketing skills there and
Euphoria was born to live almost euphoric life and without
breaking the bank, because that's important.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Yes, making it definitely affordable, because it does not have
to be I mean taking a walk, you know, in
a park. Yeah, it's free, unless you got to pay
a dollar for parking. I know sometimes a certain public. Okay,
you might have to pay for parking. But paying for
parking can save your life, even as far as heart health,
(21:45):
even what getting that heart rate up, what it can
do for the mind, what it can do if you
are suffering with depression, getting some sun. I am not
playing about my vitamins. There are even for women our
reproductive health. There are things that we are can be
doing and drinking and ingesting that can help us with
(22:08):
our reproductive health. Vanessa, I'm really excited about Euphoria. I'm
then follow the page. Just everybody right now, press follow.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Yeah, we're going to be touring and bringing these type
of methods and workout classes to people across the country.
Coming up Hobably twenty twenty four, we'll get more into that.
I just want to make it accessible and practical for
people to live a better life.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Wow, Okay, question will you have retreats?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
I want to Yes, that is the goal. We want
to have retreats. We want to start our conversation. We
want to bring in healthcare professionals, skincare enthusias, just all
the right people to give us the information we need
to thrive. So yes, absolutely, from the lists, tours on
the list, I.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Mean I am.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
I'm steady building and just really trying to build a
an impactful community for people.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
M HM. As a woman of faith, do you feel
that some people could be resistant to this conversation because
maybe the church because of the church or is it
getting better the conversation getting better.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
I want it to get better.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
So I want to bring it full circle because I'm
a woman of faith and I know that some people
do have some beliefs that may be like, well, you know,
is that an alignment?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
But it is because God wants us to live our
best life.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
It's as easy sometimes as just not shallow breathing, breathing
from your stomach. That's godly, and then you can add
prayer into that. So I want to bring the conversation
to be had for everybody. It's not a question of
it is a question of faith. Actually, this is faith
and action taking care of yourself.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Well, you mentioned breath, shallow breathe, and it reminds me
of the word called ruoc and ruoc means wind. It
does mean breath. And so every time, you know, we
have to stop making things so uh, I would say
(24:18):
so like mystical or deep or demonic breathwork is used
to even ease anxiety. It is used as a practice
in therapy when people are processing trauma.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Yes, yes, these are the type of practices I feel
like God.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Put is giving to us. It's not demonic, it's not
you know, some kind of scary thing. It's using the
body God gave us to actually optimize our health.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Like I said, you can breath, you can pray, pray
to God while you're breathing, but He wants us to
optimize our way, ourselves in that way. And you know,
just taking deep breaths in the morning before you connect
your day, it's powerful and it will help ease depression,
anxiety and just put you in a more present state,
(25:10):
which is how we're gonna be able to live our
most successful lives, be our best selves. Is being present,
and there's something sinister about that at all.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
MM hmmm hmmm, absolutely, y'all. I just love the conversations
among the topic of balance. Y'all know, I'm always gonna
scream about mental health from the rooftops. I'm gonna always
talk about healing any time that I can, especially having
the audience. I know my assignment and I certainly know
(25:40):
my purpose. I was doing some browsing on your website
and you were sharing that you're even gonna be doing affirmations.
Can you talk to us about the importance of the
things that we say to ourselves.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Navigating negative self talk is one of the key things
to actually being your most confident itself.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
You know, it can get difficult.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
We're gonna have challenges that are going to come up
and kind of you know, maybe.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Distract us or deter us. But speaking positively to yourself.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Is literally faith and you know, giving yourself your best
possible version of yourself. So affirmations are key to look
yourself in the mirror and say I am enough, to
look yourself in the mirror and say I am powerful.
You know, I am in alignment. Those are things that
are really going to feed our soul and it's literally
(26:33):
speaking life into you.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
So how you navigate.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
How you talk to yourself is going to be your
outcome the world that you see around you. So affirmations
are our key affirmations to something that I literally live by.
When I'm starting to feel low or like I'm out
of whack, I resort back to it. You've got to
go inside and reconnect with yourself, and affirmations is one
of those ways to bring that up. Like it's so
(26:59):
good to change the course of your day. I remember
I used to take my daughter to school and she
was four, and she would be a little bit scared
and you know, going starting school pre school, and you know,
I would just have her in the car every morning,
go I am happy. I am happy, I am you know, joyful,
and she would be like, after saying it ten times, Mommy,
there's a smile on my face, like I really feel it.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Because you say that.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Enough, you're gonna trick your mind into believing it and
that everything else is gonna follow that way. So you
really sometimes gott to trick your mind, and you do
that through affirmations.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
It's funny that you should say that, because sometimes you
get tired of the routine. Okay, let me wake up
and do my affirmations, But I promise y'all. The other
day I started saying, all those affirmations that are on
my white board. Yes I have the white board, and
you do. You do start smiling because I really believe.
(27:51):
I even I feel like your feet will take you
to whatever your mom says. If your mom says, oh
my gosh, here we go with this whole horrible day,
your feet are gonna take you someplace. And if you're
gonna have a horrible day versus will life life, Absolutely
I don't. I don't want people to think life will
life and people want people, but I think affirmations or
(28:15):
if you want to call it, even spending time with God.
I sent a family text this morning and saying, hey,
when you spend time with God in the morning, you
will have a good day. Now again, that doesn't mean
life won't happen, but I think it helps. Affirmations help
us with our response to what life throws our way.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
What you focus on is gonna fester, is gonna matterfest.
So the things you focus on, you focus on something bad.
I guarantee you more bad things are gonna come your way.
But you try to find the silver lining and the
positive in those things, that's what's gonna come your way,
that's gonna be track. What you focus on will grow,
So focus on the positives. I mean, you know, worrying
(28:52):
will not take away the problems.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Come on, we are you always a person of affirmation
or did you have to times where you felt like
I haven't been speaking so well of myself.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
This is why I came to the realization of how
powerful affirmations were because I had times of doubt. I
had times when I was attaching my self worth to
the opportunities that were coming to me, or you know,
how my career was going and not not living. You
have to really find who you are authentically inside without
(29:27):
all of those outside circumstances, and try to find the
hope for yourself. So yeah, affirmations is something that I
had to learn was powerful. And it was through those
dark times and times that affirmations got me through those
things because.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
You don't want to stay dark.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Sometimes you need to have a moment, have a day,
lay down, close the world out, but don't sit in
that feeling for too long.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Come out of it.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
And just when I was about to ask her about
what she does us to help reduce stress or anxiety
or technique or do you have anything that helps you.
I think she just gave us what we all need
to be doing. Vanessa. I'm so thankful for you. I'm
so excited about Euphoria and everything that you have been doing.
(30:16):
Everything that's coming your way, y'all, even stuff we can't
talk about because of this strike, but we definitely were
so excited to highlight euphoria now. So go to Euphoria
Now is the Instagram page. You for the letter I,
the letter aid now and the word now, and then
euphoria now dot com is the website in a way,
(30:39):
just to have. As she says, happiness, uh is something
that we all can strive for. And some people think
they don't deserve happiness, and I have to say, no,
you do.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
You do change happiness.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Yeah, Vanessa, thank you for checking in.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Thank you for having me. This was an amazing thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
You're so are welcome. Thanks again. Checking In with Michelle
(32:22):
Williams is a production of iHeartRadio and The Black Effect.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Welcome to Checking In with Michelle Williams, a production of
iHeartRadio and The Black Effect. Hey, everybody listen. I love
(00:20):
I love, I love my podcast Checking In as I
love the variety of amazing, powerful, extraordinary guests. This young
lady comes from hip hop royalty, right, but she herself
did not follow in the footsteps of hip hop royalty.
As far as the that side of the art, she
(00:44):
is on the entrepreneurial side as it relates to legacy
and an actress television mogul. Y'all, okay, I'm gonna just
say it. Vanessa Simmons is here. Ladies and gentlemen, thank
you for that amazing intro. Thank you, I mean, as
far as I can remember or even recall of children
(01:12):
of musical legends and what you have chosen to do
with said legacy and building your own legacy.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Hand hand claps, handclaps, hand claps.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I like to say I'm an extension of hip hop.
You know, I was inspired by hip hop. I grew
up hip hop, That's all I knew. But I wanted
to add to the legacy in my own way, and
that's what I really strive to do.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yes, but why didn't you go onto the stage? As
far as hip hop.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Is concerned, I've always wanted to forge my own path.
I've always been a girl who's interested in acting. I know,
being in front of the camera is something that I'm
passionate about since I've been a schoolgirl and I've been
doing school plays.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
So I always I.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Knew I wanted to be in front of the camera,
and I was always really I guess sometimes you can
say overly ambitious. I've always just wanted to make my
mark in you know, the legacy that's already been built
within the Semis family. So so always just been my
goal to forge my own path and be able to
add to the legacy in my own way.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yes, now, listen, this is my first time being able
to speak to you in this capacity, and I know
you have probably been asked this question. I'm going to
get to your love of stage acting and disclaimer, and
we do know that we are in a sag after
a strike, and we will respect that, but I definitely
want to get into you, Like she said, her love
(02:40):
of stage acting, that's a whole different beast. Like if
you can do stage plays and theater, you are a
lot of the greats started in theater, and we will
get to that later. But I was saying, this is
my first time getting being able to talk to you
in this capacity. And I'm sure you've been asked this
question loads of times, probably for the past thirty years plus.
(03:03):
Did you ever feel the pressure to follow in your
father's footsteps? Okay, y'all, her father is a Okay government
named Joseph Simmons. Okay, okay, Reverend run from run DMC.
Did you ever feel the pressure to say, well, this
is what my dad does, I better do it too.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
You know what, I've never felt the pressure to do
exactly what he's doing, but I felt the pressure to,
like like I said earlier, just add to the legacy,
such huge shoes to fill. And I've always knew I
wanted to be in entertainment. I know, I've always wanted
to do exactly what I'm doing right now, but come on,
the pressure to necessarily be on stage in that capacity.
(03:53):
But okay, always inspired by what he's done and how
he's built this legacy and hip hop, and I just
added that in my life in my own way.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Yeah, yeah, I was like, I can just imagine growing
up like wondering where people trying to put microphone, not
not your family, but where people like, okay, you can
do this, and even trying to take advantage of who
you are, you know, in that in that in that state.
So I'm glad to know that you were like, no,
(04:24):
there is pressure to be great, and I'm glad it's
like acknowledging those huge steps to feel and you've done
extraordinarily well. You mentioned stage acting in stage plays all
the way back dating to school. When did the bug hit.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
You early on?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I would say in elementary school I started doing plays.
I remember in the eighth grade I was cast as
Anna and the King and I and it felt.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Like so much pressure to have this you know.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Huge role and still maintain myself schooling and everything else
going on. But man, after all the work that we
put in and all the rehearsal, the way I felt
on the stage putting on that show, and it just
inspired me and I was like, this is what I
want to do now. What I didn't know is how
difficult it would be to pursue as a professional career.
(05:19):
And I've gone through my set of challenges, you know,
trying to be a professional actress. That in that hustle
because it definitely is a hustle, but it inspires me.
And when I'm in the move, I'm in the groove
and it feels so good.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I love acting.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
So my love of acting started on the stage, and
I'm happy to say I'm going back on the stage
in a stage play. I'm doing a play called Rotten
Apple with some heavyweights in the industry, people i've watched
growing up on the you know, silver screen, acting in sitcoms,
and I'm excited to join them.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
It's an amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Story and I'm excited that I still get to pursue
these endeavors and be creative because it's definitely a passion
of mine that fuels me, makes me feel alive, Like.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Well, congratulations. Is this stage play going to be stationary
or will it tour?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
It's going to be in the markets of Maryland. We're
going to be in Bouie, Maryland, and in Greensboro, North Carolina.
So it's for two weeks only. Hopefully we'll be able
to expand and go out to more markets. But you know,
I'm excited to just get.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
On the stage.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Like you said, we are in the middle of the strike,
so things have been, you know, just a little bit different.
While we support the sag after strike because I do
believe that we deserve certain rights that they're fighting for,
but to be able to still pursue and act and
be on the stage, it's it's honestly a dream come
true of mine.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Yes, yes, coming from where you come from, even my background,
I have done acting on stage and on screen. Do
you feel it's more difficult or people expect more out
of you because of who you are?
Speaker 3 (07:00):
One hundred percent, I'm expected to be a unicorn, you know,
and I've had to really grow.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I've had to be a student of the craft.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
I've been knocked down endless times, had to get myself
back in class.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I'm still in class.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I'm always learning because people do expect a different level
of excellence out of me because of my background, which
can be incredibly tough at times. But I feel like
at the same time, it's made me stronger, It's made
me pursue it even harder, and just, you know, continue
to be a student of the craft. I think that
that is very important in anything you pursue, is to
(07:33):
just continue to study, continue to learn. There's never enough learning,
So I'm just strengthening my craft as I go along,
taking those jabs and hits, because like you said, people
do expect more out of me, and that can be challenging,
but you know what, at the end of the day
is going to make me stronger. Pressure makes a diamond,
that's what they say. So I'm a keep on pusher
to keep on going to I'm the best possible version
(07:55):
of myself I can be, and I'm proud of that
because i can see the development in myself. It's really
difficult to be honest with yourself and when you need
to keep on growing. But I feel like those are
the type of challenges and those are the type of
things that make you strongest possible, best version of yourself.
And that's really what my goal is as an actress.
(08:18):
I want to be the best actress and I'm not
afraid to say it. You know, sometimes we hold back
on that because we want to be humble, and I
am humble. But now that I've just turned forty, I'm
admitting to myself things that I need to know why
I can be the best possible version of myself and
I want to be the best. So I'm gonna keep
studying and be a student of the craft. Getting on
(08:39):
the stage is one of those things that strengthens your craft.
And I'm gonna continue to do those things so I
can be the best actress.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Well in order to be and continue and to maintain
being a great actress. You said something that might be
shocking to people. What's that you said? You still are
taking classes?
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Oh yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
I'm always looking up new teachers, new methods, new things
I can add to just strengthen myself. You are never
done studying with something like acting, or like I said,
anything being a business person, being a singer, or being anything.
You always have to study. You always have to be
strengthening your tool. And in my case, my tool is
you know, the craft of active so I have to
(09:21):
always constantly strengthen it. It's a muscle that you have
to constantly work in order to be good. Stop doing it,
you're gonna kind of forget, So you gotta always fine tune.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Yeah. I love that. There are so many people that
I talk to and I love how one of the
tools to success everybody is to all ways be a student,
whether that's actually literally in the classroom of whatever your
craft is. Like, say, for if you're in a nursing
or in education, you are constantly having to go to
(09:54):
refresh your workshops or things that keep your license fresh.
You have to get resoarchdify it. So even in acting
on music, yes, there are still classes you gotta take.
You still gotta take vocal lessons. There is someone that
I know as amazing as she is. Every now and
then I'm like, what's she up to today? What you
(10:16):
doing today? Vocal teachers coming by the house?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Wait, wait, wait, what you gotta do it? You want
to be great, that's the price. You gotta keep learning.
You don't know, you don't know it all, and you
gotta admit that to yourself. You don't know it all.
So I'm gonna keep on studying. I'm gonna keep on pushing,
I'm gonna keep on striving. No matter how high on
or how successful you are. That's the people that are successful,
(10:40):
the people who continue to grow in some way and learn,
so that's where they strive to be.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
So there are some of us who have no excuse.
I know so many talented people that won't go outside
of their just talented. They don't like to rehearse, they
don't like and it's like, Okay, we'll sit and be mediocre,
sit and be average. Yes, this is me judging you.
I don't care. On the entrepreneur side of things, I'm
(11:12):
a lover of all things hair and I have Yummy Extensions. Yes,
you've been in business also with your younger sister and
that has been a success. I want to just talk
about all things hair because your hair always looks amazing.
(11:32):
Yummy Extensions is always up in the game with textures
and products. What made you go into hair.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Well, see Yummy Extensions. People always think that I like
own Young Extensions. I'm just a partner in Yummy Extensions.
I've been a spokesperson for the last Jesus like seven
years or so. And I think as black women like
hair and taking care of our hair is a form
of self care. I always say self care is how
you love on yourselves.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And you know, through being.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Able to change my hair and just you know, look
in the mirror and feel good about myself, I feel
like that is a form of self care. And I
just love being able to switch it up every now
and then and you know, feel good about myself.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
To be in partnership with the company that long though
because some partnerships contractually sixty days ninety days a year,
maybe maybe three years, but seven years as a partner
with this extension brand is pretty amazing, which means you
believe in the product. It's amazing, it's great product. Because
(12:39):
there else she wouldn't you wouldn't be the partner for
seven years.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
It's a great product. And I also connect heavily with
the owner. She's always up in her marketing game. She
inspires me as an entrepreneur. And it's more than just hair,
it's a lifestyle. And I love being connected to them.
Their product is great and what they see for even
more aligned so with exactly like who I am and everything.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So it allows in connecting and aligning.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Every partnership I have is always going to align with
like my values and beliefs beyond. Yeah, it's important because
so many things get thrown at you in this business
to you know, product, promote or endorse this or that.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
You have to make sure you align with everything.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
And I completely align with Yummy the entrepreneur and of
course the hair, Like I get to do this every day.
It's it's amazing. I to switch it up.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
I just have braids two weeks ago. It's it's an incredible.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Right looking absolutely amazing. Okay, Vanessa is is about all
things self care? Now before we get going on this
amazing new wellness platform you have. I just wanted to
say I was telling Shay before you logged in Finess.
I was like, man, I just love how it. I said,
(13:56):
this is just from somebody sitting back observing. Okay. I
was like, Vanessa just seems like she is just about
definitely all things wellness. Drinking water, yes, and.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Minding how business and being located drinking my water, minding
my business, lots of self care.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I am here for it. You know you are a mother.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
And it's just like people don't understand the moves that
are made in silence. That's where the volume is. Being loud,
is making the moves in silence. People feel like you've
got to be loud or I read in an interview
that you did about even balancing everything as it relates
(14:42):
to social media. So I just want to say kudos
to you, because I don't think people understand like people
being out here working, drinking water, minding their business, praying
and running businesses and their households.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, still making there is power in the silent moves.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
For sure, there is power the silent moves. Well, this
next move, ladies and gentlemen, that she has made ain't
gonna be too silent because who she is the founder
and CEO of you four euh but it's spelled you
for I Ay, yes, all right. It is a business
(15:20):
that is here and we are so excited about your
new wellness platform, Euphoria. It is a wellness website, blog,
and marketplace that offers the ultimate guide to healthy living,
especially for people of color. I mean, you are into yoga,
everything wellness. Have you yourself or someone you knew, had
(15:41):
moments of depression or anxiety that inspired you to create
the space? The reason why I ask because checking in
is all things mental health and it was me taking
the power back of the moment where I had to
check in. So your new wellness platform is so endearing
to me and I can't wait to support in whatever
capacity I can.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, I mean, the inspiration behind this community came from
my passion about mental wellness, and I have experienced moments
of depression and anxiety and have had to come to
realizations of like you said, checking in with myself self
correcting and finding what's not aligning and how I could
(16:26):
be more authentic and be more in the moment.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And this community is really all about that.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
The true inspiration where I said I'm gonna put this
out there, I'm going to you know, really spotlight and
put the attention on wellness came in twenty twenty. We
were all locked inside. We were fearful for our health.
I had a friend who were quarantining by themselves. They
didn't have family, so we would often check. I would
(16:53):
often check in with them, and I started doing a
lot of research, a lot of research on how I
could be my obviously best possible help self because of
COVID and all that stuff, but also mentally, you know,
it was, yes, it was a different time than we
were going through a huge change, and I started doing
research and share with my family and friends and realizing
that as common sense as some of the stuff may
(17:15):
seem a lot of people don't know these things. And
I have a pretty large platform of two million people
on social media and on Instagram. I want to be
able to put that my platform, be able to make
an impact for people to really optimize their health from
the inside out, so we can truly live our best
lives outside of our accomplishments, outside of you know, all
(17:37):
of the outside noise. How can we really connect and
be our best possible version of ourselves. So I'm excited
to give people resources. I'm excited to educate people on
how to live their best lives.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And I'm even working.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
With an emotional intelligence curriculum called speak Life that helps
peel back layers of trauma so people can really connect
with their authentic self and without judgment, really be mindful
and really connect back to why we're really here.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
Yes, we need money to.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Live, Yes there's bills, Yes there's challenges, but how do
we really spend our time to reconnect with ourselves? And
so I'm excited to you know, partner with businesses and
curriculums like that, and then also just giving people the
information products they need so that they could be living
their best self. And it makes me excited because this
is stuff that I'm genuinely into.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
This is what I'm talking about.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Every day, I drive my man crazy like, well, did
you have your greens this morning before you had your coffee?
Speaker 2 (18:37):
And did you do this?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Because I want us to be our best possible self
and I'm passionate about it, and I feel like it
needs the spotlight to start conversation for other people to,
you know, really start thinking about it. Having preventives through
the pase, you know, what we're even giving to our children,
the how we're speaking to ourselves. It's just so many factors,
(19:00):
but really simple things we can be implemented into our
lives to really just make our lives shine.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
And I'm passionate about it.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I'm excited, and I'm just hoping to spark information, spark conversations,
give information, and get people talking and interesting and wellness.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
And you absolutely will, especially for I know it's not
limited necessarily to women of color, people of color, black people,
brown people, you know, because we got to start having
these conversations about wellness. We have to. We have to,
we have to, we have to. It's just now I'll
(19:39):
never forget as it relates to the topic of mental
health and even going to therapy. I've said this and
people have laughed at me, But I thought that that
was just something for like rich white people.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Yeah, a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
You know, and it absolutely is not you. Four Ia
now dot com is the website. You can go there
right now, and subscribe and register. It's all things wellness.
I love. She's talking about gut health. How to ease yourself.
This was the key word for me that I saw
(20:13):
safely out of depression.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah, just how to ease it.
Speaker 3 (20:17):
How we can approach it daily and in a practical,
practical manner.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
You know, we can be doing to ease it.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
And people are struggling every day with life's challenges.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
It gets difficult. I've been there. I go there sometimes
and I got to.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Kind of real myself back in and you know, focus absolutely.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
I want to get people hope.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
How did you come up with the name.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
Oh, I'm a marketing person. I love marketing.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
That's even how me and my sister started pastry. Like
my love of marketing started in college. I went to
Saint John's for Communications and business and I fell in
love with it. And so when I was thinking of
what I would name this company, I was just like, well,
what do we want to promote?
Speaker 2 (21:01):
What do we want to push? And I was like,
we want people to live their most euphoric life.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And I just got really unique and creative with the
way to spell it, so it can just be a
little bit different. Tapped into my marketing skills there and
Euphoria was born to live almost euphoric life and without
breaking the bank, because that's important.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Yes, making it definitely affordable, because it does not have
to be I mean taking a walk, you know, in
a park. Yeah, it's free, unless you got to pay
a dollar for parking. I know sometimes a certain public. Okay,
you might have to pay for parking. But paying for
parking can save your life, even as far as heart health,
(21:45):
even what getting that heart rate up, what it can
do for the mind, what it can do if you
are suffering with depression, getting some sun. I am not
playing about my vitamins. There are even for women our
reproductive health. There are things that we are can be
doing and drinking and ingesting that can help us with
(22:08):
our reproductive health. Vanessa, I'm really excited about Euphoria. I'm
then follow the page. Just everybody right now, press follow.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Yeah, we're going to be touring and bringing these type
of methods and workout classes to people across the country.
Coming up Hobably twenty twenty four, we'll get more into that.
I just want to make it accessible and practical for
people to live a better life.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Wow, Okay, question will you have retreats?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
I want to Yes, that is the goal. We want
to have retreats. We want to start our conversation. We
want to bring in healthcare professionals, skincare enthusias, just all
the right people to give us the information we need
to thrive. So yes, absolutely, from the lists, tours on
the list, I.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Mean I am.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
I'm steady building and just really trying to build a
an impactful community for people.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
M HM. As a woman of faith, do you feel
that some people could be resistant to this conversation because
maybe the church because of the church or is it
getting better the conversation getting better.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
I want it to get better.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
So I want to bring it full circle because I'm
a woman of faith and I know that some people
do have some beliefs that may be like, well, you know,
is that an alignment?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
But it is because God wants us to live our
best life.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
It's as easy sometimes as just not shallow breathing, breathing
from your stomach. That's godly, and then you can add
prayer into that. So I want to bring the conversation
to be had for everybody. It's not a question of
it is a question of faith. Actually, this is faith
and action taking care of yourself.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Well, you mentioned breath, shallow breathe, and it reminds me
of the word called ruoc and ruoc means wind. It
does mean breath. And so every time, you know, we
have to stop making things so uh, I would say
(24:18):
so like mystical or deep or demonic breathwork is used
to even ease anxiety. It is used as a practice
in therapy when people are processing trauma.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
Yes, yes, these are the type of practices I feel
like God.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
Put is giving to us. It's not demonic, it's not
you know, some kind of scary thing. It's using the
body God gave us to actually optimize our health.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
Like I said, you can breath, you can pray, pray
to God while you're breathing, but He wants us to
optimize our way, ourselves in that way. And you know,
just taking deep breaths in the morning before you connect
your day, it's powerful and it will help ease depression,
anxiety and just put you in a more present state,
(25:10):
which is how we're gonna be able to live our
most successful lives, be our best selves. Is being present,
and there's something sinister about that at all.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
MM hmmm hmmm, absolutely, y'all. I just love the conversations
among the topic of balance. Y'all know, I'm always gonna
scream about mental health from the rooftops. I'm gonna always
talk about healing any time that I can, especially having
the audience. I know my assignment and I certainly know
(25:40):
my purpose. I was doing some browsing on your website
and you were sharing that you're even gonna be doing affirmations.
Can you talk to us about the importance of the
things that we say to ourselves.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
Navigating negative self talk is one of the key things
to actually being your most confident itself.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
You know, it can get difficult.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
We're gonna have challenges that are going to come up
and kind of you know, maybe.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Distract us or deter us. But speaking positively to yourself.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Is literally faith and you know, giving yourself your best
possible version of yourself. So affirmations are key to look
yourself in the mirror and say I am enough, to
look yourself in the mirror and say I am powerful.
You know, I am in alignment. Those are things that
are really going to feed our soul and it's literally
(26:33):
speaking life into you.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
So how you navigate.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
How you talk to yourself is going to be your
outcome the world that you see around you. So affirmations
are our key affirmations to something that I literally live by.
When I'm starting to feel low or like I'm out
of whack, I resort back to it. You've got to
go inside and reconnect with yourself, and affirmations is one
of those ways to bring that up. Like it's so
(26:59):
good to change the course of your day. I remember
I used to take my daughter to school and she
was four, and she would be a little bit scared
and you know, going starting school pre school, and you know,
I would just have her in the car every morning,
go I am happy. I am happy, I am you know, joyful,
and she would be like, after saying it ten times, Mommy,
there's a smile on my face, like I really feel it.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Because you say that.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Enough, you're gonna trick your mind into believing it and
that everything else is gonna follow that way. So you
really sometimes gott to trick your mind, and you do
that through affirmations.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
It's funny that you should say that, because sometimes you
get tired of the routine. Okay, let me wake up
and do my affirmations, But I promise y'all. The other
day I started saying, all those affirmations that are on
my white board. Yes I have the white board, and
you do. You do start smiling because I really believe.
(27:51):
I even I feel like your feet will take you
to whatever your mom says. If your mom says, oh
my gosh, here we go with this whole horrible day,
your feet are gonna take you someplace. And if you're
gonna have a horrible day versus will life life, Absolutely
I don't. I don't want people to think life will
life and people want people, but I think affirmations or
(28:15):
if you want to call it, even spending time with God.
I sent a family text this morning and saying, hey,
when you spend time with God in the morning, you
will have a good day. Now again, that doesn't mean
life won't happen, but I think it helps. Affirmations help
us with our response to what life throws our way.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
What you focus on is gonna fester, is gonna matterfest.
So the things you focus on, you focus on something bad.
I guarantee you more bad things are gonna come your way.
But you try to find the silver lining and the
positive in those things, that's what's gonna come your way,
that's gonna be track. What you focus on will grow,
So focus on the positives. I mean, you know, worrying
(28:52):
will not take away the problems.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Come on, we are you always a person of affirmation
or did you have to times where you felt like
I haven't been speaking so well of myself.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
This is why I came to the realization of how
powerful affirmations were because I had times of doubt. I
had times when I was attaching my self worth to
the opportunities that were coming to me, or you know,
how my career was going and not not living. You
have to really find who you are authentically inside without
(29:27):
all of those outside circumstances, and try to find the
hope for yourself. So yeah, affirmations is something that I
had to learn was powerful. And it was through those
dark times and times that affirmations got me through those
things because.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
You don't want to stay dark.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
Sometimes you need to have a moment, have a day,
lay down, close the world out, but don't sit in
that feeling for too long.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Come out of it.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
And just when I was about to ask her about
what she does us to help reduce stress or anxiety
or technique or do you have anything that helps you.
I think she just gave us what we all need
to be doing. Vanessa. I'm so thankful for you. I'm
so excited about Euphoria and everything that you have been doing.
(30:16):
Everything that's coming your way, y'all, even stuff we can't
talk about because of this strike, but we definitely were
so excited to highlight euphoria now. So go to Euphoria
Now is the Instagram page. You for the letter I,
the letter aid now and the word now, and then
euphoria now dot com is the website in a way,
(30:39):
just to have. As she says, happiness, uh is something
that we all can strive for. And some people think
they don't deserve happiness, and I have to say, no,
you do.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
You do change happiness.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Yeah, Vanessa, thank you for checking in.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Thank you for having me. This was an amazing thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
You're so are welcome. Thanks again. Checking In with Michelle
(32:22):
Williams is a production of iHeartRadio and The Black Effect.
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