Beyond The Brand

Inside The Gathering Spot: Rod Brinson & Ryan Wilson on Community & Business Growth

In Episode 6 of the podcast, I sit down with Ryan Wilson, CEO and Co-Founder of The Gathering Spot, to talk about something every entrepreneur needs to hear: your network matters more than you think. We go beyond surface-level advice and get into the real: • Why being in the room isn’t enough • How to build meaningful relationships without being fake • The difference between transactional networking and transformational community • Why introverts might actually have the advantage • And how to st...

Why You Should Be the Face of Your Brand (Even if You Hate it)

How to Make People Respect You Without Saying a Word (Hint: It’s Not Just About the Clothes)

In this episode, I sat down with my good friend and image consultant Jonathan M. Hall to talk about one of the most slept-on parts of your brand: how you show up . And no—we’re not just talking about clothes. We’re talking about presence. Energy. How people experience you before you ever say a word. You can post every day and say all the right things, but if your image doesn’t match your message, people will feel the disconnect. Jonathan and I dug into how your appearance, posture, grooming, and...

You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just Scared to Decide

In this episode, I sat down with clarity coach and brand strategist Precious Azuree to talk about the real reason people stay stuck—and how most folks confuse indecision for confusion. This isn’t about branding colors or Canva templates. It’s about alignment. Identity. And having the courage to finally make a decision about who you are and what you want. Precious and I broke down how clarity shows up (or doesn’t) in your business, your brand, and your belief systems—and why most people never bui...

The Hidden Cost of Being Your Own Boss: Entrepreneurship EXPOSED w/ Carmen Jones

Entrepreneurship isn’t always glamorous. In this real, unfiltered episode of Beyond the Brand , Rod Brinson sits down with Carmen Jones, the powerhouse behind The Black Girl Social Club, to break down what it really takes to build a business that lasts. From missed paychecks to last-minute event disasters, Carmen opens up about the emotional, financial, and mental toll of being a Black woman in leadership — and why she never gave up. They talk payroll panic, team meltdowns, solopreneur stress, a...

The Truth About Personal Branding: Finding Your Path (What Most People Get Wrong) w/ Paige Elliott

In this first episode, I sat down with branding strategist Paige Elliott to talk about what personal branding actually means—and why most people are doing it completely wrong. This conversation isn’t about logos or color schemes. It’s about identity, alignment, and how your real brand is built when no one’s watching. Paige and I dug into the hard truths about building your brand from the inside out, especially when you're juggling a 9–5 and a passion. We talked about: Why your brand is how peopl...