What if the shift from fear to family isn’t just personal—it’s cultural? In this episode of The Elevate Collection Podcast, we sit with Deborah Olivia Farmer—media strategist, founder, and foster care/adoption advocate—on faith-led leadership, discernment for natural givers, and why foster care deserves a louder conversation.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Deborah’s roots shaped her strength and purpose
• The gift of “sight,” discernment, and learning to slow down
• Why rejection can feel physical—and how to respond with grace
• The motherhood thread behind her advocacy and mentorship
• The foster care narrative she’s disrupting (400,000 kids deserve more)
• Why teens are overlooked—and what support can look like
• A corporate blueprint: brand awareness + giving campaigns + resources
• How to move someone from “considering” to actually starting

About Deborah Olivia Farmer: Founder/President of Brown Farmer Media Group, a Chicago & Atlanta-based communications firm established in 2014, with prior leadership roles including NBC5-TV Chicago.

Summary

In this episode of the Elevate Collection podcast, Matt Altman shares his journey in the entertainment booking industry, discussing how he started, the joy of creating memorable experiences, and the intricacies of budgeting and logistics for events. He emphasizes the importance of client satisfaction and artist comfort, while also sharing anecdotes about unique rider requests and the lifestyle benefits of his job. Matt reflects on his legacy and the artists he hopes to work with in the future, inviting listeners to connect with him for their event needs.

In this episode of the Elevate Collection podcast, Selena Johnson shares her journey as a Grammy-nominated artist, discussing the evolution of her identity, the challenges of the music industry, and the importance of having a supportive team. She emphasizes the need to define personal success and winning on one's own terms, while also looking forward to future projects and growth.

https://www.syleenamusic.com/

What We Cover in This Episode

• Growing up influenced by his father’s time at Motown
• Interning under the best
• How serving others opened the door into engineering
• Going from rapper → engineer → entrepreneur
• The moment he engineered Gucci Mane without knowing how to engineer (and how it changed everything)

• Why being an artist first helped him become a better engineer
• How credit = currency in the music industry
• The concept of “Cash or Credit” and why engineers must understand it
• The turning point of working with Lil Yachty from apartment closets to global stardom
• Why undervaluation is rampant and the uncomfortable truth about payment conversations

• Why engineers often miss out on royalties
• How the Music Modernization Act changed the game
• The truth about publishing splits, LODs, and non-featured artist funds
• Why ad-libs = background vocals (and why most artists are leaving money on the table)
• The dreaded black box and billions of dollars artists unknowingly lose

• J Rich’s role as VP of Strategic Partnerships for Pop Star Ventures
• How the fund supports founders in sports and entertainment
• Guiding talent into investing + equity
• The joy of hosting high-level, curated connection events (including ours!)
• Why generational wealth planning is the real end game

Including (but not limited to):

• Offset
• Cardi B
• Lil Baby
• Yeat (first manager)
• Lil Yachty (first engineer)
• JT
• Trippie Redd
• Pure Cocaine era
• Plus more…

And yes — his Grammy nomination came from “Clout” by Offset ft. Cardi B”.

When asked what would move the needle for him right now:
“Join the Elevate community.”
We love a twin who understands alignment.

• Drake (and specifically 40)
• The Bobby Althoff–Drake interview lives rent-free in our minds
• Drake’s song “Elevate” remains a foundational inspiration for The Elevate Collection

To deepen industry understanding, we recommend listeners explore:

• PRO (ASCAP/BMI)
• SoundExchange
• Non-Featured Artist Fund
• LOD (Letter of Direction)
• Black Box royalties
• Pre-release compliance
• Factoring
• Metadata
• Publishing splits

IG

LinkedIn

This week on The Elevate Collection Podcast, we sit down with the incomparable Ezinma — a world-class violinist fresh off Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour. From growing up in Nebraska to performing for 90,000 fans across the globe, Ezinma shares how faith, discipline, and delusional belief shaped her path to the biggest stages in the world.

She opens up about her early fears of failure, finding her sound in New York, the Facebook message that changed her life, and the deep purpose she carries into every performance.

We talk genre-bending, representation in classical music, Black joy, and how artists like Beyoncé are reclaiming spaces and rewriting history for the next generation.

Ezinma also reveals details about her upcoming classical album, Netflix project, and her nonprofit Strings by Heart, which introduces music education to underserved youth.

🎻 This conversation is an ode to purpose, possibility, and the power of showing up — even when no one’s watching.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.

Interior icon Michel Smith Boyd sits down with Elevate to unpack the mindset behind true luxury: deep listening, service-first leadership, and the “sparkle layer” that turns rooms into experiences.

In this episode

• Growing up in Thibodaux, Louisiana → finding freedom in Atlanta & New York
• From nursing major to designer: discovering the work he’d “do for free”
• Best-dressed help: why design is service—and why great designers are great listeners
• Presentations that win skeptics (hello, reluctant spouse) and convert them into design junkies
• Why lighting = jewelry and how the “sparkle layer” elevates a home
• Writing a vulnerable, story-driven design book (not just theory)
• Television wins, fear as a companion, and creating beyond the network
• Community, team-building, and why legacy takes care of itself when you stay present
• The ask: follow him beyond TV—subscribe to his YouTube for what’s next

About Michel Smith Boyd

Atlanta-based interior designer and host of HGTV’s Luxe for Less, with appearances on Rock the Block, Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge, and more. Michel leads an eponymous studio known for soulful, sumptuous spaces—and a growing content and product universe. HGTV+1Michel Smith Boyd

Resources & Connects

• Website & shop: howtoluxury.com (design firm, retail collabs, “Michel on TV”) Michel Smith Boyd
• Instagram: @michelboyd (~53K followers) Instagram
• YouTube: Michel Smith Boyd (original programming, Luxe-thinking) YouTube
• Retail collabs: Crate & Barrel, Z Gallerie, LeftBank Art Michel Smith BoydCrate & Barrelhomeaccentstoday.com

MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY: www.elevatecollection.co/community

Before you go - here are three ways to continue elevating your legacy & connect:

1. Follow @ElevateCollection.co on Instagram along with your host, @alexandriareed.co & @Jordanhawkins.co
2. Subscribe to never miss an episode and get exclusive content
3. Share this trailer with three people who need to hear it

Remember: Your influence is just the beginning. Your legacy is the destination.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.

Comedian, actress, and entrepreneur Kelly Kellz joins Alexandria & Jordan for a soul-filling conversation on calling, confidence, and building a legacy with laughter. A Milwaukee native and former teacher, Kelly shares how she walked out on faith, scaled her career with her husband-manager, and uses comedy as a tool for healing and empowerment. We go deep on supportive partnerships, being authentically yourself in rooms that want “cookie-cutter,” and what it means to build legacy for our kids.

We also talk about Kelly’s new film Toxic FriendZ (now streaming on Amazon Prime & Tubi) and her show/podcast work, plus the moment she knew she’d “made it.” If you need a reminder that bigger is possible, this one’s it.

In this episode:

• Leaving the classroom for the stage—on purpose and with faith
• Silent leadership & why support is real leadership in partnership
• Thick-girl confidence & rejecting “cookie-cutter” beauty standards
• Turning comedy into ministry: laughs as medicine
• Legacy for our kids and building “trust babies”
• Producing a feature film and shifting behind the camera
• The power of curating connection experiences vs. “networking”

About Kelly Kellz (highlights):

• APCA “Comedian of the Year” (2024), national touring comic. ImprovBeacons
• Former K-12 teacher from Milwaukee; transitioned to full-time comedy. Essence
• Stars in and executive produced Toxic FriendZ (streaming on Amazon Prime & Tubi). IMDbInstagram+1
• Massive social footprint (Facebook ~1.5M followers). Facebook+1

Resources & connects:

• Kelly: kellykellz.com | IG/TikTok/FB: @kellykellz_22 (email: kellykells2222@gmail.com)
• Watch Toxic FriendZ: Amazon Prime / Tubi (search “Toxic FriendZ”) IMDbInstagram

Sponsor/Partnership inquiries: Kelly is seeking aligned management, podcast sponsors, and brand collaborations.

If you loved this: Rate & review, share with a friend, and tag us with your favorite “bigger” moment.

MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY: www.elevatecollection.co/community

Before you go - here are three ways to continue elevating your legacy & connect:

1. Follow @ElevateCollection.co on Instagram along with your host, @alexandriareed.co & @Jordanhawkins.co
2. Subscribe to never miss an episode and get exclusive content
3. Share this trailer with three people who need to hear it

Remember: Your influence is just the beginning. Your legacy is the destination.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.

In this episode of the Elevate Collection podcast, Coach Dar shares her inspiring journey from a young girl with a passion for helping others to a renowned coach and thought leader. She discusses the importance of mindset, resilience, and the ability to overcome adversity, drawing from her personal experiences, including her own stroke at 25. Coach Dar emphasizes that everyone has gifts and talents that can be utilized in various arenas of life, and she encourages listeners to see beyond their current roles and strive for greatness. The conversation highlights the significance of community, support, and the power of human connection in elevating oneself and others. In this conversation, Coach Dar shares profound insights on the importance of genuine friendships, self-worth, and the power of authenticity in relationships. She emphasizes the need for intentional living and emotional intelligence, encouraging listeners to engage in hard conversations and share their life experiences for the benefit of others. Coach Dar also discusses her legacy, the impact she hopes to leave on the world, and her aspirations for future projects that aim to elevate others.

MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY: www.elevatecollection.co/community

Before you go - here are three ways to continue elevating your legacy & connect:

1. Follow @ElevateCollection.co on Instagram along with your host, @alexandriareed.co & @Jordanhawkins.co
2. Subscribe to never miss an episode and get exclusive content
3. Share this trailer with three people who need to hear it

Remember: Your influence is just the beginning. Your legacy is the destination.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.