Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kathleen Bertrand.

Founder and Executive Producer of the BronzeLens Film Festival, about the festival’s mission, its impact on filmmakers of color, and the importance of storytelling in social justice.

🔑 Key Themes & Highlights

The Mission of BronzeLens Film Festival

• The festival was created to connect and uplift filmmakers of color, providing a platform for networking and showcasing talent.
• Atlanta was chosen as the festival’s home due to its growing influence in film production, competing with Hollywood and New York.

Social Justice & Film

• Bertrand emphasized that film is a powerful tool for social justice, helping to educate and inspire change.
• The festival hosts Cinema and Social Justice Sunday, featuring films that highlight civil rights, activism, and human rights issues.

Celebrity Involvement & Industry Recognition

• The festival has attracted major industry figures, including Jamie Foxx, Jamie Lee Curtis, Morris Chestnut, and Ben Crump, who have backed films showcased at BronzeLens.
• BronzeLens is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, meaning winners in the Best Short Film category can submit their work for Oscar consideration.

Filmmaker Support & Community Engagement

• The festival provides workshops, panels, and mentorship opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
• Bertrand highlighted the importance of relationships and hospitality, ensuring filmmakers feel welcomed and supported.

📘 About Kathleen Bertrand & BronzeLens Film Festival
Kathleen Bertrand is a visionary leader in film and entertainment, dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in cinema. The BronzeLens Film Festival, founded in 2010, has become a premier event for filmmakers of color, offering screenings, awards, and industry networking.

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Anne Lester.

A financial expert and former head of retirement solutions at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The discussion focused on saving strategies, financial psychology, and overcoming behavioral biases to achieve long-term financial success.

🔑 Key Themes & Highlights

Overcoming Financial Mistakes

• Lester shared that despite managing billions in assets, she made every financial mistake possible early in her career.
• Her book, Your Best Financial Life, combines 30 years of asset management experience with lessons from her own financial missteps.

Saving Strategies & Behavioral Hacks

• She emphasized that saving is possible at any age, but requires commitment and planning.
• A key strategy: Save at least half of every raise to prevent lifestyle inflation.

Emergency Funds & Smart Spending

• Lester advised building an emergency fund of 3-6 months’ expenses before investing.
• She outlined three questions to ask before tapping into emergency savings:
  1. Is this truly an emergency?
  2. Do I absolutely need to spend this money?
  3. Do I need to spend it right now?

Subscription Detox & Hidden Expenses

• Many people unknowingly overspend on subscriptions, leading to financial waste.
• Lester recommended avoiding auto-renewals, using a credit card with an upcoming expiration date, and rotating streaming services to cut costs.

Investing vs. Traditional Savings

• She clarified that long-term savings should be invested, not kept in low-interest accounts.
• Retirement funds should be diversified across stocks and bonds for growth.

📘 About Anne Lester
Anne Lester is a financial strategist, speaker, and author, known for her expertise in retirement planning and behavioral finance. She spent over 30 years at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, leading retirement solutions and helping individuals build financial security.

Her book, Your Best Financial Life, provides practical strategies for saving, investing, and overcoming financial biases.

#STRAW

#BEST

#SHMS

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Monday, June 2nd, 2025: "What's The Rush?"

A woman writes in because her man is dragging his feet to marry her. The answer seems pretty obvious to Steve & Shirley. Listen to hear the letter & their responses!

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