Pull Up, Speak Up: Decoding the Election-Truth, Lies and Fallout.

Courteney Mitchell: 00:00:00

What my approach is to trying to, you know, make those

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: 00:00:03

connections and, and try to create that

sense of community as Americans, you know,

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: 00:00:08

not just sitting in my, you know, echo

chamber here in Boston, but you know,

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: 00:00:12

when I've traveled to Ohio or I travel to

Texas or Florida, like being just open and

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: 00:00:18

receptive to what people have to say while

still holding my own morals and beliefs.

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: 00:00:23

It's true, but trying to like sort of

just bridge that gap and make people

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: 00:00:27

feel like I, I hear you, I get it.

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: 00:00:30

And I, I don't, I don't hate you for that.

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BEP Narrator: The award winning a

black executive perspective podcast

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: 00:00:36

presents pull up, speak up where

meaningful conversations, drive progress.

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: 00:00:41

And every voice makes a difference.

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: 00:00:43

So what's on the table

for discussion today?

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: 00:00:49

Tony Tidbit: It's time to show

up, speak up and get real.

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: 00:00:51

Welcome to pull up, speak up the

new series from a black executive

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: 00:00:55

perspective podcast, your safe

space for raw unfiltered and honest

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: 00:01:00

discussions on the tough issues.

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: 00:01:03

Many shy away from.

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: 00:01:05

I'm your host, Tony Tidbit,

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: 00:01:07

Chris P. Reed: and I'm

your cohost, Chris P.

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: 00:01:09

Reed.

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: 00:01:10

As we like to do at this time,

we'd like to shout out our

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: 00:01:12

partners at Code M Magazine.

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: 00:01:14

Remember to check out Code M Magazine,

where the mission is saving the black

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: 00:01:17

family by first saving the black man.

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: 00:01:19

That is Code M Magazine's 2 Ms.

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Check them out.

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Tony Tidbit: Yeah,

definitely check them out.

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And today check out our round

table as they return to dive into

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the truth, lies and fallout of

the: 2024

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emotional and social reactions and

the broader impact on our nation.

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Chris P. Reed: Before we go too far, let

me introduce this dynamic round table

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panel featuring three remarkable voices

together: 2024

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First.

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We have Iris Ivana Grant, CEO

of Genesi Group and a visionary

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leader known for driving impactful

change through innovation and

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community focused solutions.

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Iris Ivana Grant, welcome

to Pull Up, Speak Up.

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Iris Ivana Grant: Glad to be here.

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Chris P. Reed: Cool.

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Next, we have the incomparable Courtney

Mitchell, a seasoned advertising executive

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whose insights and intersection of

media, culture, and messaging bring

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a fresh perspective to the table.

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Courtney Mitchell, welcome

to Pull Up, Speak Up.

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Courteney Mitchell: Thanks, Chris.

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Happy to be here.

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Chris P. Reed: And of course,

rounding out the panel is our man,

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Brad Bowling, uh, president of

CodeM Magazine, an influential voice

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in media, fostering conversations

that evaluate and elevate diverse

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narratives and spark cultural progress.

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Brad Bowling.

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Welcome to Pull Up, Speak Up.

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Brad Bowling: Thank you, sir.

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I'm excited to be back.

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And, uh, hello to everyone.

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Chris P. Reed: So I'm gonna

start with you, Brad, and then

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I'll come back around the room.

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Let us know kind of where you

are and what's going on in your

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world nowadays, where your family

is and things of that nature.

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Brad Bowling: Well, I'm

based in Cleveland, Ohio.

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We just celebrated our man of the

year with George Frazier on the cover.

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And so December is a

fantastic month for us.

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Last night, we had the ceremony.

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And it was a fantastic event and,

you know, we exist because of people

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like George, who's been in a game for

over 50 years, teaching, networking,

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uh, loving on his fellow black man.

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And he's just, uh, you

know, we are heroes.

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We don't get the chance to touch

and feel our heroes anymore,

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but George is still here.

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He's alive.

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And it was just a fantastic night

to celebrate him and, uh, share

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his tutelage with our audience.

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Chris P. Reed: Always

good to give flowers.

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Courtney, tell us a little bit about

where you are and where your family is.

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Courteney Mitchell: I am

in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Um, I, uh, am the proud cat mom of, uh,

two cats shout out childless cat ladies.

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Uh, but my family, I

grew up in Western Mass.

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So, um, lifelong asshole,

as, as we went say.

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Good

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Chris P. Reed: business, good business.

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Home is where the heart is,

that's where the family, you know.

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Yeah.

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So, and then, and then Iris Ivana

Grant, let us know where you are

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and, and where your family is.

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Iris Ivana Grant: So, I am currently

residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Um, I'm a native New Yorker

raised in Baltimore and I've got

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family a little bit of everywhere.

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So, we're all over the place.

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Chris P. Reed: I, I knew you were

a transplant because when I lived

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in Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.

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We only pronounce the T, the people

that live there say Atlanta with no T.

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Tony Tidbit: well, more importantly,

welcome to the round table.

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And obviously I want to ask you

guys all the questions because

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you guys got busy careers.

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You're doing a lot of stuff.

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You're traveling.

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I know Courtney, you and I talked a little

bit earlier before we started the show.

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So the question I'm going to start

off with Iris and then I'll go around.

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What inspired you guys to join Pull Up,

Speak Up round table to discuss this?

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These topics that we're going

to talk about today, Iris.

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Iris Ivana Grant: I think it's

the opportunity to engage in

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really raw conversation, uh,

with people that have passion.

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And it doesn't mean that they have

the same answer or perspective that

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I do, but they have passion, right?

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And they're able to express it.

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And so, um, that's what I, I really

enjoy about this opportunity.

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Um, it's, it's phenomenal

to be able to have fun.

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Real conversation about

things and really engage.

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Tony Tidbit: Awesome.

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Courtney, same question.

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Courteney Mitchell: Uh, similar to Iris, I

love having these types of conversations.

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Um, your old conversations on race

when we used to work together were

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like the highlight of my week.

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And I think I really took a lot away

from that in terms of how to have

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conversations respectfully with people

that you don't necessarily agree with.

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And I think, um, that.

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Opportunity to come back and do

that here today was I can't say no.

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Tony Tidbit: All right.

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Well, I'm glad you're here.

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And Brad again, buddy, we love you.

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We always want to have you at the

bottom or at the back, but at the

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end of the day, talk, talk to us.

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Why did you want to come on my friend?

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Brad Bowling: Well, I mean, you

know, the election taught us

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that nobody's coming to save us.

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And as black people, we need to start

to have these kinds of conversations

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to make sure that we understand

the challenge in front of us.

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And so, you know, you can't

understand where you're going unless

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you understand where you've been.

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And so these conversations are meaningful,

uh, if Blacks are going to pick up the

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reins and start to take care of ourselves.

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Tony Tidbit: Thanks, my friend.

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Chris P. Reed: One of the things

that, that was brought up by

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Iris a few times was the passion.

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And so what we'd like to do here for

the audience and for the panelists is

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make sure that we employ 10 rules to

having safe and constructive dialogue.

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And I'll read off those 10 rules.

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Rule number one, respect all voices.

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Rule number two, listen actively.

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Rule number three, no

personal attacks, please.

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Rule number four, avoid

interrupting with the passion.

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Sometimes we can get a little anxious.

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It'll show up on your face and that's good

for the camera, but hold off, hold off.

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It'll get, you'll get a turn.

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We'll give everybody a turn.

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Rule number five, stay open minded.

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Rule number six, speak

from your own experiences.

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It's not a situation where you heard

from somebody that heard from somebody

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else that they seen it somewhere.

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Try to stay poignant in your experiences.

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Rule number seven, stay on topic.

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We don't need to Kareen off into different

avenues because we got a lot to discuss.

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We got a little bit of time, which

brings us to rule number eight.

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Follow the time limits, please.

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You know, think about it like a funeral.

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You get two minutes, get yours

off and then we can move on.

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Rule number nine, challenge

ideas and not people.

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None of this is.

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You know, personal, even

though we're passionate.

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And then the last rule, rule number 10, no

butts, you know, everything that someone

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says, if you put a butt in there, it tends

to disqualify what they just spoke about.

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So we want to make sure that

we can, you know, not have that

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inserted into our dialogue.

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Tony Tidbit: All right, guys.

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So Chris, thanks for the ground rules.

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So if you guys agree with the ground

rules, I need to see a thumbs up.

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All right, this is now a safe

space and let's talk about it.

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Chris P. Reed: So I'm actually

going to throw you a bone, Brad,

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and let you, you know, bad lead off.

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What was your initial thoughts during

the election cycle and how did they align

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with your impression of the results?

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After everything was over,

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Brad Bowling: you know, I

wasn't surprised by the win.

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If you take a look at the last four

elections, you know, before Obama got into

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office, things were normal after Obama

took office there, the pendulum swung the

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other way and there was an overcorrection

for having a black man in office.

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And so we saw Trump come in the first

time after that, uh, you know, uh,

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the pendulum swung back the other way

when people realized the threat of

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having somebody like him in office.

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And then it went to bite.

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And so after Biden got in office,

the pendulum swung back to Trump.

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And so, well, it'd be interesting to

see what he does with these four years.

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And if the pendulum swings back

to the democratic rule, I'm a

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little worried though, because they

failed to identify future leaders.

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And so, you know, this is the first

time I think after Trump, we don't

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know what American politics looks like.

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Absolutely.

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And so Courtney, same thing

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Chris P. Reed: for you during the

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cycle.

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Was there anything different that

you felt then after the cycle had

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concluded and Trump was reelected?

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Courteney Mitchell: I mean, I

feel like the whole election cycle

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was an emotional roller coaster.

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Um, you know, it was at first I felt

really energy when, when she came into

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the race, I felt really energized.

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Um, I'm a registered

independent by the way.

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So I, I actually dislike both political

parties, but I'm also someone that

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loves democracy and, um, didn't really

didn't want to see someone who tried to

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overthrow the government and subvert the

peaceful transfer of power be reelected.

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Um, but it became clear, I think,

during the cycle where it, it, it just

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felt like he had a lot of momentum

and that, um, one of the things I

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did, uh, I went out and knocked on

doors and canvas in Pennsylvania a

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couple of weeks before the election.

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And based on some of the conversations

I had with people in Pennsylvania,

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which was the absolute must

win state in this whole thing.

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It made me very nervous.

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So when Trump won, I wasn't

surprised, but I was kind of sad.

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Um, and I, we can get into

the postmortem of like what

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the Democrats could have done.

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: 00:10:31

I really agree with Brad is that we've

been saying since: 2016

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: 00:10:35

need to find like young leadership to

come up and take control of the party.

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Um, and we haven't seen any of that.

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Um, so it's, I think I agree with Brad

also that it's going to be interesting

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to see what happens after these four

years that the pendulum goes back.

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To the Democrats, or if we

continue down this Trump Ian path,

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Chris P. Reed: and so Iris, how did

you feel or what was your response?

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: 00:11:00

How did it align with your

impressions throughout the cycle?

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: 00:11:03

And then, of course, at the end,

the results came out on Tuesday.

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Didn't take all week like we thought.

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: 00:11:08

But how did you feel when

the results finally hit you?

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Iris Ivana Grant: I mean, like my my,

um, My counterparts and colleagues here.

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: 00:11:15

I had a lot of the same sentiment.

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: 00:11:18

Um, I kind of knew like, maybe I would

say three weeks before the election.

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: 00:11:24

I just had a feeling, you know, um, I

had a sense of urgency that we needed

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: 00:11:28

to look beyond the election that either

way, whoever won, there was, there were

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: 00:11:38

things were going to pop off, right?

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: 00:11:40

There will be things that we

weren't going to like, um, and it

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was the first time I will say that.

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And all the years of me following and

watching election night that I signed

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off about 1030 that night, you know,

um, with disappointment of, and a

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little bit of disbelief, like belief,

but disbelief, like I was, I was done,

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I was like, I just can't tonight.

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: 00:12:06

I got to deal with moving forward.

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: 00:12:09

And I think that if I had not have

had that mindset three weeks prior,

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: 00:12:12

three or four weeks prior of just

being like, you know what, this is

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not going to be what we want it to be.

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: 00:12:18

Um, from all the little signs, because it

was even hard to share that people were

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: 00:12:23

very anti, you know, Oh, you're being

anti, I'm, I'm not, I'm being realistic.

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: 00:12:28

And we need to think, Clearly about

what's about to happen, right?

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: 00:12:32

Um, as much as possible.

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: 00:12:33

So I had some disappointments.

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: 00:12:36

Um, a little disbelief in terms

of not it happening, but in time,

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: 00:12:41

in terms of just feeling like

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I want to say a level of stupidity.

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: 00:12:47

It's how we're really doing this.

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: 00:12:50

We're just looking at the moment and

we're not looking beyond, like Brad said,

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: 00:12:55

what's going to happen in the next four

years after that year five, six and seven.

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: 00:12:59

We don't know what that looks like.

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: 00:13:01

So that's where I landed on that.

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: 00:13:04

Tony Tidbit: You know, so number one,

thanks for sharing all you guys, Courtney,

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: 00:13:06

I want to back up to you because you said

you were volunteering in Pennsylvania

260

: 00:13:11

and you were knocking on doors, right?

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: 00:13:13

And obviously.

262

: 00:13:14

Thank you.

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: 00:13:14

Uh, swing state, the biggest swing state.

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: 00:13:16

And you said, as you started

hearing what you were hearing,

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: 00:13:20

it started making you nervous.

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: 00:13:21

So what was you, what were

you hearing from people at the

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: 00:13:23

doors you were knocking on?

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: 00:13:25

Courteney Mitchell: The number one issue

that people brought up was immigration.

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: 00:13:29

Um, Kamala was the border czar

and people were really unhappy

270

: 00:13:33

with, uh, the immigration.

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: 00:13:35

some of the immigration

policy or lack thereof.

272

: 00:13:37

And I think that there was a lot of

fear mongering on the part of the

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: 00:13:41

Republican part in terms of these

illegal immigrants are getting paid

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: 00:13:45

money to like sit home, which I think

is not really a fact, but I think that

275

: 00:13:49

a lot of the messaging was geared to

create fear of that sort of situation.

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: 00:13:54

And I also think that people

were not enthused by Harris.

277

: 00:13:58

I heard a lot of anger that there

wasn't a real primary process.

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: 00:14:02

And I think that people A lot

of things that I heard were

279

: 00:14:05

people were really frustrated and

angry at the Democratic Party.

280

: 00:14:08

They felt left behind.

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: 00:14:10

Tony Tidbit: You know, it's one of

the things though, I, I, I've heard

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: 00:14:13

that and you know, Brad, I'm going

to shift to you on this, right?

283

: 00:14:17

Cause you and I had a conversation,

you know, after the election, if it

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: 00:14:21

wasn't right the next day or a few

days after, and you were talking

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: 00:14:24

about how, uh, you were at an event,

um, and this brother was next to you.

286

: 00:14:30

And he talked about

how he voted for Trump.

287

: 00:14:34

And that, you know, he thought

the Democratic Party was raggedy

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: 00:14:37

or didn't, and I'm, I don't

want to put words in your mouth.

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: 00:14:40

I'm, I'm just paraphrasing.

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: 00:14:41

Right.

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: 00:14:42

Yes.

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: 00:14:42

Um, but I want you to speak on what

Courtney just got finished saying, right?

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: 00:14:46

Uh, the Democrat people feel that the

Democratic Party left them behind.

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: 00:14:51

What does that mean?

295

: 00:14:53

Brad Bowling: Well, I

didn't get the sense.

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: 00:14:55

Uh,

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: 00:14:56

Tony Tidbit: maybe you

didn't from your friend.

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: 00:14:57

Right.

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: 00:14:57

But I just hear that a lot.

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: 00:14:59

Right.

301

: 00:15:00

Brad Bowling: Well, I participated in

the, uh, get out the vote campaign, not

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: 00:15:04

necessarily for Democrats or Republicans,

but just for black people to get out

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: 00:15:08

and use the process, use the right

that they've earned a vote to vote.

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: 00:15:12

And so, you know, we went door to

door and we tried to get a thousand

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: 00:15:16

men to register to vote and I

did not necessarily hear that.

306

: 00:15:21

I don't know if blacks felt left

out of the Democratic Party.

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: 00:15:25

I just know that they don't feel

served by the Democratic Party.

308

: 00:15:29

And so from, from my perspective,

it's a little different.

309

: 00:15:32

And the other thing is, is that, yes, I

was at a Cavs game and I, you know, was

310

: 00:15:36

sitting with somebody, a black person

who, uh, very fluential, but he's a

311

: 00:15:40

registered Republican and his points that

the Republicans were making about the

312

: 00:15:46

democratic platform was a problem for him.

313

: 00:15:49

Uh, you know, uh, the, uh, transgender.

314

: 00:15:54

Uh campaign that democrats were on

sanctuary cities, uh, you know, uh

315

: 00:16:01

men playing in women's sports Uh,

these are problematic for people and

316

: 00:16:07

it seemed to be that that And i'm

not saying that with the democratic

317

: 00:16:10

platform that they ran on right, right,

but they're not running away from it.

318

: 00:16:14

Right, right most of us believe

In in god most of us believe in

319

: 00:16:19

two sexes Most of us believe that

immigration should be controlled.

320

: 00:16:24

And so you have to wonder, you know, as

a black person right now, black people

321

: 00:16:30

don't have a party because, you know,

I'm not a Democrat or Republican, but I

322

: 00:16:34

don't believe in a lot of the platforms

that the Democrats were running on.

323

: 00:16:38

And so where do I go?

324

: 00:16:40

Right.

325

: 00:16:40

And so, you know, if you take a look

at Columbus, Ohio, a couple weeks

326

: 00:16:44

ago, we had the neo Nazis running

up and down the street yelling, you

327

: 00:16:47

know, the N word and stuff like that.

328

: 00:16:49

And I'm like, what do we do to y'all?

329

: 00:16:50

I thought y'all hated Jews.

330

: 00:16:51

But, you know, we're very similar, uh,

with Jewish people in our belief systems.

331

: 00:16:57

And so, you know, we had to figure

out as black people who should we vote

332

: 00:17:00

for we got to vote for the person Not

the party at this point going forward,

333

: 00:17:03

Chris P. Reed: right?

334

: 00:17:04

Let me ask this though before you move on.

335

: 00:17:06

Um It sounds like that you've

reserved yourself and this can be

336

: 00:17:10

expanded to each of the panelists.

337

: 00:17:12

You've reserved yourself That

the most powerful country in

338

: 00:17:15

the world has been relegated to

choose the lesser of two evils.

339

: 00:17:18

Tony Tidbit: And exactly.

340

: 00:17:19

That's what I'm hearing here.

341

: 00:17:22

All right.

342

: 00:17:23

I don't want to put

343

: 00:17:24

Chris P. Reed: words in your mouth.

344

: 00:17:24

Like Tony said, I don't want to, I

don't want to, you know, infer on your

345

: 00:17:27

behalf, but really the sentiment of

your words cobbled together is like, I

346

: 00:17:31

mean, what the hell are we going to do?

347

: 00:17:35

Brad Bowling: Sherrod Brown, who was

running for reelection here in Ohio, uh,

348

: 00:17:39

came to ask for, you know, it was about

a hundred of us to get together and he.

349

: 00:17:43

pled for our vote and, uh, said that

he was supportive of everything that

350

: 00:17:49

blacks were running for and then did

not come to CODE M Magazine to support.

351

: 00:17:54

And so, you know, there's a lot of words

with politicians, but there's no action.

352

: 00:17:59

And so I think people, we're,

we're smarter than ever before.

353

: 00:18:01

You know, the internet, you

can go and self educate, right?

354

: 00:18:05

And so people just are not.

355

: 00:18:07

Falling for the smoke and mirrors

anymore of, Hey, every four years,

356

: 00:18:11

I'm a pop up and ask for your vote.

357

: 00:18:13

And then over the next three

years, nothing happened.

358

: 00:18:16

And so I think people are wiser.

359

: 00:18:18

Uh, life has never been more serious

than it is right now with inflation, uh,

360

: 00:18:24

macro factors, micro factors of survival.

361

: 00:18:27

And, uh, people are kind of fed

up with politics in general.

362

: 00:18:32

Tony Tidbit: Right.

363

: 00:18:32

Right.

364

: 00:18:33

Let me, so here's the thing though, brah.

365

: 00:18:35

And Iris, I'm going to

come to you on this, right?

366

: 00:18:38

And again, I don't want to parse

words, um, because You know,

367

: 00:18:44

there's a lot of misinformation,

disinformation out there, right?

368

: 00:18:48

And, you know, they're eating the dogs.

369

: 00:18:52

They're eating the cats.

370

: 00:18:53

Right, Courtney?

371

: 00:18:54

Right, right.

372

: 00:18:56

And so we, so when I hear that people are

more wiser, I don't really believe that.

373

: 00:19:03

Okay.

374

: 00:19:04

I believe, you know, and again, but

let me hear, Iris, jump in here.

375

: 00:19:08

Let's hear your thoughts about

what Brad and Courtney stated.

376

: 00:19:11

Iris Ivana Grant: Yeah, I

was thinking the same thing.

377

: 00:19:13

I, I wouldn't use the word wiser.

378

: 00:19:16

I think that because people have

access to information, I wouldn't

379

: 00:19:20

even necessarily say it's good

information or it's truthful knowledge.

380

: 00:19:24

Um, it's based on perspective if

they don't really do their research.

381

: 00:19:28

And I don't think people do that.

382

: 00:19:29

They have 30 seconds worth of attention.

383

: 00:19:31

They have seven seconds to hurry up

and read something or be entertained.

384

: 00:19:35

And then they're back to

their independent brand.

385

: 00:19:38

I think wisdom looks at the,

this is my moral compass.

386

: 00:19:42

This is where I stand and I'm a

registered Democrat in Georgia

387

: 00:19:46

because you can only pick two.

388

: 00:19:48

I prefer to be independent, but

if you want to be able to vote in

389

: 00:19:52

Georgia, You have to choose a side.

390

: 00:19:55

So I chose to be independent.

391

: 00:19:58

Um, because I do believe in, although my

moral compass may say certain things and

392

: 00:20:05

my faith base may feel a certain way.

393

: 00:20:08

Um, I also look with depth to have

the ability to allow My choice is

394

: 00:20:17

to look out for everybody's humanity

and everybody's opportunity to live

395

: 00:20:24

their life to make decisions freely,

um, without the taxation of my

396

: 00:20:30

personal opinion or my moral compass.

397

: 00:20:32

And so I struggle with.

398

: 00:20:35

Um, people of color in general, not even

just black people, but people in color

399

: 00:20:38

of color in general right now who are

making or have made a decision based on

400

: 00:20:45

it was better to choose an individual

that would give you freedoms as a

401

: 00:20:51

person versus an individual that would

like to make America great again based

402

: 00:20:56

on where we have already been, right?

403

: 00:21:00

And where his base is.

404

: 00:21:02

So for me, there's a problem there in,

Choosing, um, certain discriminatory

405

: 00:21:10

statements, ignoring how somebody feels

and makes comments about women and women's

406

: 00:21:15

bodies and women's thoughts, um, and

does not see people of color, period, as

407

: 00:21:22

a part of making decisions Uh, America

great, but we have these wonderful black

408

: 00:21:27

jobs like I have a problem with when

it comes down to it, selecting someone,

409

: 00:21:33

um, who is not for anyone that does not

look like them and putting economics

410

: 00:21:40

or faith or personal perspectives over

what is good for all of us as Americans.

411

: 00:21:47

I struggle with that.

412

: 00:21:48

I don't call that wisdom.

413

: 00:21:50

Um, I, I think that's everybody having.

414

: 00:21:53

Their own grasp on something and, and

not really being, and not being really

415

: 00:21:58

paying attention to the reality of

what we might, what we really face

416

: 00:22:01

right now, which is dangerous to me.

417

: 00:22:04

Tony Tidbit: Right, right, right.

418

: 00:22:05

Courtney, thoughts on that?

419

: 00:22:07

Courteney Mitchell: I, I basically agree

with everything that, uh, Iris just said.

420

: 00:22:11

Um, I think that we're

at an inflection point.

421

: 00:22:16

in America and societally.

422

: 00:22:20

I mean, I believe in the

separation of church and state.

423

: 00:22:22

I don't think that I think that's a

pillar of American democracy, and I don't

424

: 00:22:25

think that religion should play any role

in determining the laws in our country.

425

: 00:22:31

Um, I think that a lot of

people who backed Trump.

426

: 00:22:34

I don't agree with that and want there to

be more, you know, want Christianity to be

427

: 00:22:40

the national religion, um, which troubles

me greatly because freedom of religion

428

: 00:22:45

is again one of those constitutional

pillars, a backbone of American democracy

429

: 00:22:50

when the founding fathers set everything

up, um, that was, that was something

430

: 00:22:54

that was very important to them.

431

: 00:22:56

Um, yeah.

432

: 00:22:58

I think that the quality of the media that

people are consuming like we've talked

433

: 00:23:05

about people can go on the internet and

find anything but whether that's true or

434

: 00:23:09

not, they really, a lot of people can't

discern what's false and what is not.

435

: 00:23:15

And I think that there is a huge distrust

of the mainstream media right now.

436

: 00:23:21

And I think that the way that people

consume news and information as we move

437

: 00:23:25

towards more of a creator economy in

media, I think it's going to be really

438

: 00:23:30

interesting to see how that impacts

the mainstream media and the news

439

: 00:23:34

sources that those of us who are of a

certain generation, we only know those.

440

: 00:23:38

I don't get my news on tick tock.

441

: 00:23:40

Um, I do follow, there are certain

news creators that I, I do follow who I

442

: 00:23:45

trust And who if I read something that

or if I watch something that they've

443

: 00:23:49

produced, I trust that it's factual.

444

: 00:23:51

Um, but I think that what I think

really bothers me about the election

445

: 00:23:57

is how much, how much lying happened

that like, he would just say whatever.

446

: 00:24:03

And people take that as gospel.

447

: 00:24:05

Um, and with the transgender stuff,

like I was, when I was knocking

448

: 00:24:09

on doors in Pennsylvania, I, I

saw an ad that I was like, there's

449

: 00:24:12

like big hairy guy on a slide.

450

: 00:24:13

Soccer, soccer field with little girls

and he is for you and she is for they.

451

: 00:24:18

And I think that again,

like there was a lot of fear

452

: 00:24:21

mongering on the Republican side.

453

: 00:24:24

And I think that because the Democrats

were just like, Hey, we're better

454

: 00:24:27

than he is, but they didn't really

say what they were going to do

455

: 00:24:30

or how they were going to do it.

456

: 00:24:31

They really missed an opportunity

to, you know, um, win the election.

457

: 00:24:39

Tony Tidbit: Right, right, right, right.

458

: 00:24:41

Brad Bowling: Go ahead.

459

: 00:24:41

Can I jump in?

460

: 00:24:42

No,

461

: 00:24:42

Tony Tidbit: buddy.

462

: 00:24:42

Rebut.

463

: 00:24:43

Rebut.

464

: 00:24:44

Yeah.

465

: 00:24:44

So I think I think

466

: 00:24:45

Brad Bowling: you guys are

confusing wise for knowledge.

467

: 00:24:48

And when I say wiser, people are more

wise that nobody's coming to save them.

468

: 00:24:53

Correct.

469

: 00:24:53

People are wiser that if I call the

police, there's a likelihood that The

470

: 00:24:56

burglar will survive and I'll get shot.

471

: 00:24:59

People are wiser that if Obama's in

office, Biden's in office, Trump is

472

: 00:25:04

in office, nothing changes for me.

473

: 00:25:06

I got to hustle.

474

: 00:25:07

My bills are due on the first.

475

: 00:25:10

And so whoever's in office

doesn't impact me personally.

476

: 00:25:13

And so people are wiser that

they, there's a game in politics.

477

: 00:25:17

That they're not playing anymore.

478

: 00:25:19

I'm not saying they're not more

knowledgeable about candidates.

479

: 00:25:22

They don't care because at a

visceral level, at a personal

480

: 00:25:26

level, nothing changes for me.

481

: 00:25:28

And so people are wiser that wasting

my time, looking at a debate, wasting

482

: 00:25:33

their time, going to a rally doesn't

change anything in their lives.

483

: 00:25:38

And so they're not choosing to

participate anymore because they're just

484

: 00:25:42

trying to keep a roof over their head.

485

: 00:25:44

And figure out how the 100 that

they used to spend on groceries

486

: 00:25:47

went from 80 bags to now four bags.

487

: 00:25:50

And so they're wiser to the political

process that it doesn't have any

488

: 00:25:55

influence on their daily lives.

489

: 00:25:58

Now we can argue if that's true or not.

490

: 00:26:01

But that's how most people feel.

491

: 00:26:04

And the less you make,

the more you feel it.

492

: 00:26:07

Chris P. Reed: I think the tough part

about that is we can, we don't want to

493

: 00:26:10

go down the road of semantics, but what

we talk about as democracy is now evolved

494

: 00:26:15

to the American political process, right?

495

: 00:26:17

Because from everybody's

testimony here, even, even.

496

: 00:26:20

You know, Courtney has a couple of pockets

of trust here and there, but it seems

497

: 00:26:23

as if, it seems as if you guys have,

you know, and you, and, and battle me on

498

: 00:26:27

this, you guys have devolved my country

into the greatest heist movie ever trust.

499

: 00:26:33

No one trust.

500

: 00:26:34

No trust where you tell you what

501

: 00:26:39

Tony Tidbit: you

502

: 00:26:39

Chris P. Reed: want to hear.

503

: 00:26:40

That's the premise of every, that's the

premise of every great heist movie, right?

504

: 00:26:44

Like trust no one, right?

505

: 00:26:46

But in that regard, there was a portion.

506

: 00:26:49

Of the population, a large portion, in

fact, that Trump's message resonated with.

507

: 00:26:55

So my question to you, Courtney is.

508

: 00:26:57

Why do you believe that that

message resonated with such a large

509

: 00:27:01

portion of the electorate in 2024?

510

: 00:27:06

Courteney Mitchell: I mean, he's,

say what you want about the guy,

511

: 00:27:09

for whatever reason, he's like

Teflon, nothing sticks to him.

512

: 00:27:12

People seem to have forgotten January

6th, like that, I thought after Jan

513

: 00:27:17

6th, he was going to have to like,

leave the country in shame and that.

514

: 00:27:20

This would be the end of him.

515

: 00:27:21

But he just kept quiet

and like it went away.

516

: 00:27:25

And I don't think I've ever seen

anything like that in American politics

517

: 00:27:29

where like people have a really

short memory when it comes to him.

518

: 00:27:33

And he could like when he says

he could shoot somebody on

519

: 00:27:36

the street on Fifth Avenue.

520

: 00:27:37

I think that's correct.

521

: 00:27:38

And and people would be

like, Yeah, it's fine.

522

: 00:27:41

Um, and I don't know.

523

: 00:27:43

I think that for why he resonates

with people, because I think

524

: 00:27:48

people are very resentful of it.

525

: 00:27:51

People that are not like them.

526

: 00:27:52

And I think that he comes in and

these people who are resentful

527

: 00:27:57

are like, Oh, great, he's going to

hurt the people that I don't like.

528

: 00:28:01

And I'm going to vote.

529

: 00:28:01

I'm going to get on board with that.

530

: 00:28:03

And I think that's why he

resonates so much is because he,

531

: 00:28:07

they all hate the same people.

532

: 00:28:09

And it's like, if we can take

that stuff away from, you know,

533

: 00:28:12

we can roll back women's rights,

we can, you know, deport people.

534

: 00:28:18

People get excited about that stuff.

535

: 00:28:20

It's like the if he's running, he runs

the government like it's a reality show,

536

: 00:28:25

Chris P. Reed: you're going to

say the word, but I got you iris.

537

: 00:28:28

Why do you believe it resonated with it?

538

: 00:28:30

Because keep in mind, this

is the first time that he

539

: 00:28:33

actually got the popular vote.

540

: 00:28:34

And so, um, and I know there was a

visceral reaction of shock and awe In

541

: 00:28:40

the Clinton election where she lost.

542

: 00:28:43

And we were like, what the hell happened

because of the polls and blah, blah, blah.

543

: 00:28:46

This one, you guys seem to have taken

a little bit better, but in the idea of

544

: 00:28:50

so many people actually voted for this

guy, why do you believe that happened?

545

: 00:28:56

Iris Ivana Grant: I mean, I agree

with Courtney and kind of like

546

: 00:28:58

in the, in the words of Kendrick

Lamar, They're not like us.

547

: 00:29:02

I think that was people's perspective.

548

: 00:29:04

Like, Oh, this is me.

549

: 00:29:06

And that's you.

550

: 00:29:08

That's them.

551

: 00:29:10

Um, and when you talk about the

way Brad was, was sharing with it,

552

: 00:29:14

I think he's correct in a way of

people looking at like, what happens

553

: 00:29:17

to me and my hundred dollars.

554

: 00:29:19

And so then you start

classifying yourself, right?

555

: 00:29:22

Another form of classification of,

Oh, it's, it's us over here in.

556

: 00:29:27

And you guys over there, and it

does come out into what people's

557

: 00:29:32

personal perspectives are, right?

558

: 00:29:34

It brings out, maybe they

may not want to admit it.

559

: 00:29:37

It brings out the ugly, right?

560

: 00:29:39

And where I identify and how I identify.

561

: 00:29:42

And then all of my anger comes

out or all of my frustration comes

562

: 00:29:45

out and whatever that looks like.

563

: 00:29:47

And I, and I think too, there's a cultural

perspective too, because in this country,

564

: 00:29:53

we have so many, uh, different cultural.

565

: 00:29:59

I don't, I don't even want to say,

you know, we have a first, first,

566

: 00:30:03

first generation, second generation,

third generation immigrants here,

567

: 00:30:08

um, American citizens, um, we have

dreamers and everybody's coming from a

568

: 00:30:16

different cultural perspective, right?

569

: 00:30:19

We have people in this country that have.

570

: 00:30:21

had to flee their country.

571

: 00:30:24

There's a different perspective

on what democracy looks like

572

: 00:30:26

because there's a much larger

population now of mixed cultures.

573

: 00:30:31

And I think that that has a perspective

too of when American language is so vested

574

: 00:30:38

and tied up in the slang of it all and

the kind of the double entendre of it all.

575

: 00:30:44

Like I say this, but it really means that.

576

: 00:30:47

And I think that there's a

lot of that that plays into.

577

: 00:30:51

The advertisement, the, the, um, the whole

ad perspective of politics and what you

578

: 00:30:59

see and how that translates from your

various cultural perspectives, right?

579

: 00:31:04

Of what you don't want to go back to

what does democracy mean to you and

580

: 00:31:07

look like to you as an American citizen

or as a participant in this democracy.

581

: 00:31:12

And I think it does

bring out us in a them.

582

: 00:31:15

And unfortunately it does bring out.

583

: 00:31:19

a fear factor, I think, and some of

the most primal, primary fear factors

584

: 00:31:25

that we may not want to look at, but

we're, we're, we're really forced to

585

: 00:31:29

look at it now in a different way.

586

: 00:31:30

Right.

587

: 00:31:31

Tony Tidbit: Right.

588

: 00:31:31

Chris P. Reed: And Brad, would

you be in one of the reigning

589

: 00:31:33

members that are woke mob?

590

: 00:31:35

Um, how do you think that his message

resonated so well with his constituents

591

: 00:31:42

or with the electorate in 2024?

592

: 00:31:44

Brad Bowling: So you have to take

a look at, What he's saying, uh,

593

: 00:31:49

is he a reflection of society

or is he influencing society?

594

: 00:31:54

Uh, when a young man, uh, that they hired

to change the campaign for Budweiser,

595

: 00:31:59

I think that's the beer company.

596

: 00:32:01

There was a backlash

from, uh, that campaign.

597

: 00:32:06

Target had a backlash when they put gay

products at the front of their store.

598

: 00:32:12

Uh, and then you take a look at everything

that is happening in our country.

599

: 00:32:18

Again, if you take a look at You know,

pronouns, uh, being, you know, forced

600

: 00:32:25

down our throat, uh, you know, mixed

use bathrooms, uh, men being able to

601

: 00:32:31

go in girls bathrooms, uh, the young

lady that was beat up in the Olympics

602

: 00:32:36

by a man pretending to be a woman.

603

: 00:32:39

So you have to take a look

at what society is choosing.

604

: 00:32:45

Is trump going along with

that or is he influencing it?

605

: 00:32:48

So again, you know, I I personally believe

that You know in god we trust I don't

606

: 00:32:56

necessarily believe in a separation of

church and state when brown versus board

607

: 00:32:59

of education was announced You saw the

the beginning of the fall of our country.

608

: 00:33:04

And so there's nothing holding us

together There are no principles

609

: 00:33:08

holding us together anymore.

610

: 00:33:09

It's the lowest class wins And so if you

don't stand for something you'll fall for

611

: 00:33:14

anything and you're watching that happen

right in front of us So I don't know if

612

: 00:33:18

I'm surprised at the response that he got.

613

: 00:33:20

Most Americans feel like we

want to protect the border.

614

: 00:33:24

Most Americans feel like they're losing

their little piece of their happiness.

615

: 00:33:28

And so we're all clinging to our,

you know, and defending our, our

616

: 00:33:32

right to our little piece of pie.

617

: 00:33:35

And so, you know, it's just very

interesting what's happening.

618

: 00:33:39

And I'm gonna tell you, I really don't

know, you know, over the next four

619

: 00:33:43

years, I can tell you over the next

four years what's going to happen.

620

: 00:33:48

I just can't tell you over

: 5678

621

: 00:33:52

I don't see the Democrats having a

candidate strong enough to compete with

622

: 00:33:56

whoever the republicans come in next with

because they don't plan for the future.

623

: 00:34:01

Their platform is weak.

624

: 00:34:03

Uh, their empty promises are tired.

625

: 00:34:07

And so who else are we voting for I mean

like right it's a one party system at this

626

: 00:34:11

point Did you did you guys take a look

at the country how much red was around

627

: 00:34:16

the country got little pockets of blue?

628

: 00:34:18

Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta,

the bigger cities and

629

: 00:34:21

Tony Tidbit: stuff to that nature, right?

630

: 00:34:22

Yeah, the whole country's red.

631

: 00:34:24

Well, here's uh, Go ahead

finish your thought.

632

: 00:34:26

That's

633

: 00:34:27

Brad Bowling: it.

634

: 00:34:27

That's it.

635

: 00:34:27

Tony Tidbit: Here's the thing though

So, you know, i'm not gonna say

636

: 00:34:31

I don't disagree with some of the

stuff that you said I think that

637

: 00:34:36

all of us on here Probably agree

to some of it or majority of it.

638

: 00:34:41

My challenge, and this is a

question I want to ask you guys,

639

: 00:34:44

because I don't believe the

election was about the economy.

640

: 00:34:48

Okay.

641

: 00:34:49

I just don't, I believe exactly.

642

: 00:34:51

It was a cultural election.

643

: 00:34:53

It was about all the other things that

you just got finished talking about

644

: 00:34:56

Brad and Irish, you talked about,

that's what it was about, right.

645

: 00:35:00

And it's about an underbelly.

646

: 00:35:02

That in 20, 30 years, minorities

will be the number one, they would

647

: 00:35:08

be the, they will be the most

populous people in the United States.

648

: 00:35:13

And there is a fear for white people.

649

: 00:35:15

Okay.

650

: 00:35:16

And Trump speaks to that fear.

651

: 00:35:18

Okay.

652

: 00:35:19

And I'm not saying everybody

voted for him because of that, but

653

: 00:35:22

what I'm saying is those are the

things, because here's the thing.

654

: 00:35:25

This is the point I want to get to.

655

: 00:35:26

And I want to ask you

guys questions on this.

656

: 00:35:28

So I don't disagree my

challenge where I struggle.

657

: 00:35:33

Is looking at him as being

the savior in terms of making

658

: 00:35:40

America, uh, uh, wholesome again.

659

: 00:35:44

Okay.

660

: 00:35:45

Well, you know, you can't have a gangster.

661

: 00:35:47

Okay.

662

: 00:35:47

That's somebody that's all for themself.

663

: 00:35:50

That's all that has done nothing in terms

of talking about a rooted foundation in

664

: 00:35:56

terms of the right moral things to do.

665

: 00:35:59

He doesn't even have that

track record, but he got voted.

666

: 00:36:02

That's where I struggle.

667

: 00:36:04

That so that tells you right there.

668

: 00:36:07

It wasn't in my opinion.

669

: 00:36:08

I want to hear you guys thoughts.

670

: 00:36:09

It's had nothing to do with the economy.

671

: 00:36:11

Nothing.

672

: 00:36:12

Yes.

673

: 00:36:13

Groceries were a little bit.

674

: 00:36:14

Groceries were expensive.

675

: 00:36:16

Yes.

676

: 00:36:16

I can hear that.

677

: 00:36:17

But let's back up, you know,

, in: 2008

678

: 00:36:23

Took over in a, a, a,

what do they call it?

679

: 00:36:26

A financial collapse.

680

: 00:36:28

Businesses were going out.

681

: 00:36:31

Lehman Brothers, Bear Stern,

financial businesses collapse.

682

: 00:36:36

The real estate market went upside down

because they were, they were managing

683

: 00:36:41

and, and, and packaging fake real

estate deals into the, these companies.

684

: 00:36:46

So people were losing their houses.

685

: 00:36:48

The, The auto industry came to the,

came to the White House with their hats

686

: 00:36:53

in their hand looking for a bailout

because they didn't get a bailout.

687

: 00:36:57

They would have went under.

688

: 00:36:59

So when we talk about economy, that was

way worse than what we're dealing with

689

: 00:37:05

today when we have inflation, right?

690

: 00:37:08

That had a lot to do with the pandemic.

691

: 00:37:11

All right.

692

: 00:37:11

People were saying, oh, I had more

money when Trump was president.

693

: 00:37:14

Well, guess what?

694

: 00:37:15

You were in your house for a year or two.

695

: 00:37:17

Okay.

696

: 00:37:18

You wasn't spending no money.

697

: 00:37:20

Okay.

698

: 00:37:20

We were locked down.

699

: 00:37:22

So of course you had more money.

700

: 00:37:23

Number two, the prices

came down lower, right?

701

: 00:37:27

And then once we started coming

back out, people, not the government

702

: 00:37:32

people, businesses said, guess what?

703

: 00:37:35

We want to make our money back.

704

: 00:37:37

So they started inflating the prices.

705

: 00:37:40

Okay.

706

: 00:37:40

That's the deal.

707

: 00:37:42

Okay.

708

: 00:37:42

Now.

709

: 00:37:42

Can did the Democrats do a

rotten job in explaining that?

710

: 00:37:46

Absolutely.

711

: 00:37:48

Okay, absolutely.

712

: 00:37:50

But at the end of the day, don't tell me

it was on the economy because it wasn't.

713

: 00:37:54

It was cultural issues

that you brought up.

714

: 00:37:57

Brad Courtney, you stated Iris.

715

: 00:37:59

You talked to that's just now.

716

: 00:38:01

People won't say that.

717

: 00:38:03

They'll say it was this, they'll say,

uh, a traditional hot, a traditional

718

: 00:38:08

button that why they voted, but

deep under, that's what it was.

719

: 00:38:13

And he was able to stop fear

to make those things happen.

720

: 00:38:18

All right.

721

: 00:38:18

To get people out of their seats.

722

: 00:38:20

Let me hear you guys's thoughts on that.

723

: 00:38:22

Courteney Mitchell: Absolutely right.

724

: 00:38:23

Tony Tidbit: Go ahead.

725

: 00:38:23

Go ahead.

726

: 00:38:24

Courtney.

727

: 00:38:25

Courteney Mitchell: Well, I think that.

728

: 00:38:27

When Brad talked about the pronouns

and the transgender stuff, I used

729

: 00:38:30

to be very much in that boat.

730

: 00:38:32

And then I actually met and talked to

and got to know transgender individuals.

731

: 00:38:37

And the pronouns are such a light lift.

732

: 00:38:40

Like, I get it.

733

: 00:38:41

It's like she, her, he, him, they, them.

734

: 00:38:43

I get it.

735

: 00:38:44

And so I mess them up too sometimes,

but like, it's such a low lift to

736

: 00:38:47

make people, people feel included

that I don't have a problem with it.

737

: 00:38:51

Um, and I think that with regards to

like the bathroom stuff that, um, I mean,

738

: 00:38:57

there was a man at the museum of science

in Boston, an old man, not transgender,

739

: 00:39:01

just an old creepy guy who followed a

teenage girl into a bathroom at the museum

740

: 00:39:04

of science and tried to assault her.

741

: 00:39:06

And she screamed and people

came and he got arrested.

742

: 00:39:09

So I think that these people

are going to go into bathrooms.

743

: 00:39:12

Regardless, and if someone is transgender,

a lot of times you can't even tell,

744

: 00:39:16

but I do agree that the fear there was

so much fear mongering around that.

745

: 00:39:19

And I think that if half the country who

has this hate in their heart for people

746

: 00:39:24

who are different would actually meet

a transgender person and interact with

747

: 00:39:28

them, they might change their minds.

748

: 00:39:30

And I think it's very similar

growing up in the nineties.

749

: 00:39:33

You were either straight or

closeted because gay people were not

750

: 00:39:36

socially acceptable in the nineties.

751

: 00:39:38

And I feel like that's the same kind

of thing that's happening right now

752

: 00:39:41

with transgender people and that once

people meet them and have them in their

753

: 00:39:45

circles and realize they're just regular

people who want to live as themselves.

754

: 00:39:50

And I, I think that that's, you know,

that's the beautiful thing about

755

: 00:39:53

America is we are supposed to all be

able to live as who we were, have the

756

: 00:39:56

freedom of speech and the freedom of

choice and the freedom of religion.

757

: 00:39:59

And I shouldn't be able to tell you, you

have to live your life in a certain box.

758

: 00:40:04

When that's not who you are.

759

: 00:40:06

Um, so I do agree that there was a lot

of fear mongering around that and I

760

: 00:40:11

think that ignorance certainly won out.

761

: 00:40:13

But I think that people will, will

say, Tony, like you said, that this

762

: 00:40:17

election was about the economy.

763

: 00:40:19

But if you actually thought about it and

the Democrats really missed the mark on

764

: 00:40:22

not communicating the fact that like if

you deport all the illegal immigrants.

765

: 00:40:25

You know how much the price of

groceries is going to go up?

766

: 00:40:27

Because there's nobody

to pick the produce.

767

: 00:40:29

And if you deport the people who work in

the factories, prices are going to go up.

768

: 00:40:33

And the corporations, you're right,

had inflated everything under the

769

: 00:40:37

guise of like, Oh, prices have gone up.

770

: 00:40:39

So we're going to improve, you

know, Make our prices higher.

771

: 00:40:42

There's record corporate profits,

and you think he's the one

772

: 00:40:45

that's going to reign that in.

773

: 00:40:47

I mean, it's not about the economy.

774

: 00:40:49

If you're thinking about any of

those things, and I don't know, it's

775

: 00:40:54

I agree that a lot of the societal

issues that Brad mentioned are

776

: 00:40:59

exactly why he won the election.

777

: 00:41:04

Chris P. Reed: I'll say this, Courtney.

778

: 00:41:05

An argument is always easier to win

when you only are arguing one side.

779

: 00:41:08

Courteney Mitchell: Yeah.

780

: 00:41:09

Chris P. Reed: And so what the Democrats

were trying to do with split hairs.

781

: 00:41:12

And cater to both bases to some

degree, and that's just not the

782

: 00:41:16

nature of our country because of the

divisiveness that has been elicited by

783

: 00:41:21

the people that have been in charge.

784

: 00:41:23

And if we think about it, collectively,

the last election, or the only election in

785

: 00:41:27

my lifetime that I cared about that I can

remember, that was one off the platform

786

: 00:41:31

of hope was the first Obama election.

787

: 00:41:34

The others have been

mudslinging, fear mongering.

788

: 00:41:37

Election cycles, right?

789

: 00:41:38

And that's just the way politics works

in in our ecosystem, unfortunately.

790

: 00:41:43

So, but Iris, you know, same question

that Tony posed, you know, with Courtney.

791

: 00:41:47

You know, do you think

that it was the economy?

792

: 00:41:50

Do you think it was the xenophobia?

793

: 00:41:52

Do you think it was racial sex, sexism?

794

: 00:41:55

What do you believe?

795

: 00:41:56

You know,

796

: 00:41:58

Iris Ivana Grant: uh, I think, I think

there is a little truth to some of

797

: 00:42:04

the economy perspectives, because of

course people are going to be concerned

798

: 00:42:07

about their finances, but I don't

think that was the final decision.

799

: 00:42:13

I think you had a woman that was

placed in a nomination period.

800

: 00:42:20

You had a.

801

: 00:42:21

Um, a black woman who also

is mixed cultured, period.

802

: 00:42:26

Um, and she's very liberal, period.

803

: 00:42:30

And I think that everybody

looked at their own perspectives.

804

: 00:42:34

You know, um, I'm a PK,

I'm a preacher's kid.

805

: 00:42:37

So I didn't hear one person on

Trump's side talk about love.

806

: 00:42:41

I didn't hear them crossing the

line, have dinner with anybody

807

: 00:42:44

that was different from them.

808

: 00:42:46

So, you know, we throw in these, These

moral codes, we throw in these, um,

809

: 00:42:52

faith based codes and I am a Christian.

810

: 00:42:54

Um, but I think there has to be a

space where you do have to look at

811

: 00:42:59

like we're American and so what's

good for people and humanity.

812

: 00:43:04

Um, and I didn't see anybody

on that side mentioned hope.

813

: 00:43:09

I, I heard mudslinging.

814

: 00:43:11

I had name calling.

815

: 00:43:12

I heard, oh, she's as dumb as a rock.

816

: 00:43:15

People cheer, people loved it.

817

: 00:43:18

I have a problem with that, right?

818

: 00:43:20

How are we really, there was no issues.

819

: 00:43:22

There was, there was not,

that's not about economics.

820

: 00:43:24

I do believe we need to

tighten up our border.

821

: 00:43:27

Making everyone a mass murderer,

a killer, a criminal, and then

822

: 00:43:34

they're eating dogs and cats.

823

: 00:43:37

That just, that just to me is just.

824

: 00:43:39

It's just not logical.

825

: 00:43:41

It's not plausible.

826

: 00:43:42

And so when we throw in all these

other little personal innuendos,

827

: 00:43:46

I think at the same time, we don't

do it with a broad stroke of, these

828

: 00:43:51

are people that we're talking about.

829

: 00:43:52

And we're choosing a person who does not

give reverence for human life, right?

830

: 00:43:59

He gives reverence to my kind,

my people, like the Proud Boys.

831

: 00:44:05

I don't, I, I, um, Don't understand how

you can side with a group, especially

832

: 00:44:11

a person of color, whatever nationality

you are, whatever culture you're from.

833

: 00:44:18

We are talking about people

really choosing you because

834

: 00:44:24

of the color of your skin.

835

: 00:44:26

And so if you have been in any place

in, on this planet, that that is the

836

: 00:44:31

target and that makes you a target.

837

: 00:44:33

I just don't understand

how you could choose him.

838

: 00:44:36

Even in using the base of.

839

: 00:44:38

Faith or economics.

840

: 00:44:40

I just don't see how

you could choose that.

841

: 00:44:42

And I do believe that this, this,

um, election came down to just that.

842

: 00:44:48

Chris P. Reed: Brad, I'm going to

ask you to educate me and possibly

843

: 00:44:51

the majority of the audience.

844

: 00:44:53

Courtney has intimated such terms

as liberty, justice, Freedom

845

: 00:44:59

and, and everything except

the land of the brave, right?

846

: 00:45:01

Right?

847

: 00:45:03

Uh, why, why is she so, so, why is

she so doggone patriotic in these

848

: 00:45:09

times and believes that that's still

emblematic of this United States of

849

: 00:45:13

BEP Narrator: America?

850

: 00:45:13

If you like what you hear and

want to join us on this journey of

851

: 00:45:16

making uncomfortable conversations

comfortable, please subscribe.

852

: 00:45:18

Please subscribe to a Black

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853

: 00:45:21

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854

: 00:45:26

Hit subscribe now to stay connected

for more episodes that challenge,

855

: 00:45:29

inspire, and lead the change.

856

: 00:45:31

Brad Bowling: I, I think we all believe

in freedom, uh, in, in every adjective

857

: 00:45:36

you just said or every word you just said.

858

: 00:45:38

And I think that, you know, I'm,

I'm a diehard, I love America.

859

: 00:45:44

And so I still believe in

the principles of America.

860

: 00:45:46

And, uh, even though You

know, I love my country.

861

: 00:45:49

Sometimes I wonder if my country loves me.

862

: 00:45:52

And so that's, that's the problem.

863

: 00:45:54

I think that black Americans are facing.

864

: 00:45:56

And I think what we have to understand,

especially on this panel, is that,

865

: 00:46:02

you know, when black people choose to

stay at home and don't vote, what are

866

: 00:46:08

they voting for with their non vote?

867

: 00:46:10

Right, right, right, right.

868

: 00:46:12

And so I think we need to take

a look at that and start talking

869

: 00:46:16

about that because, okay, Trump won.

870

: 00:46:19

I have a lot of friends

who had high anxiety.

871

: 00:46:24

I'm, I'm leaving, you know, uh,

dad helped me get a passport.

872

: 00:46:29

You know, friends are

like, I'm going to Belize.

873

: 00:46:32

And so, you know, you have to wonder what

are they leaving and why are they leaving?

874

: 00:46:37

So Trump is in office for four more years.

875

: 00:46:40

He may get two more Supreme court picks.

876

: 00:46:43

He may appoint some more federal judges.

877

: 00:46:46

So, I'm looking at that and I'm thinking

to myself, how does that change my life?

878

: 00:46:51

Because right now, if I call 9

1 1, they're gonna come kill me.

879

: 00:46:55

I'm thinking, are any more black

men gonna be prosecuted more or

880

: 00:47:01

less because of these changes?

881

: 00:47:03

We're already being prosecuted

at a high rate, right?

882

: 00:47:06

Uh, we're already the court system, you

know, the rule of law doesn't apply to

883

: 00:47:10

black people Uh, dei is being killed.

884

: 00:47:15

Well, does that change under trump

or does it get better under trump?

885

: 00:47:21

So, you know when I look at what's going

on It was already a crappy deal for me

886

: 00:47:26

before he got in the office so We have

to pick ourselves up by our bootstraps.

887

: 00:47:33

I recommend every black person go join

a local organization Start picking

888

: 00:47:37

your mayors, pick your police chief.

889

: 00:47:40

You know, if you live in a neighborhood

where they don't want you leave

890

: 00:47:43

and go where they do want you, um,

it's time for us to save ourselves.

891

: 00:47:49

So I'm not saying that I

don't care who's president.

892

: 00:47:53

I'm just saying that I can't care

anymore of how my vote counts.

893

: 00:48:00

And I can't be the, no, I

still voted and I voted for Ms.

894

: 00:48:03

Harris, but at the same time, I wasn't

surprised that Trump won because

895

: 00:48:09

I wasn't upset at his platform.

896

: 00:48:12

I wasn't, I just, I got to

tell you, I wasn't upset.

897

: 00:48:15

And I understand that transgenders

have a right and they want to be her.

898

: 00:48:18

I get all of that.

899

: 00:48:20

I just don't want it

forced down my throat.

900

: 00:48:23

And so.

901

: 00:48:24

Uh, I want my Children to have the

ability to decide what they want to be.

902

: 00:48:30

I don't want somebody telling me,

well, gender affirming drugs should

903

: 00:48:33

be given without parent consent.

904

: 00:48:35

Are you crazy?

905

: 00:48:37

So when you take a look at the

Democratic platform and some

906

: 00:48:40

of the stuff that they're going

for, I disagree wholeheartedly

907

: 00:48:45

at the core of my belief system.

908

: 00:48:47

Because how can you be an American

and then look at the Democratic

909

: 00:48:49

platform and believe in that too?

910

: 00:48:51

So I'm in, I have an internal conflict

of what they're, what they're Preaching

911

: 00:48:55

and what their platform is versus

what my personal belief systems are.

912

: 00:48:58

Tony Tidbit: Right?

913

: 00:48:58

Brad Bowling: So, you know going

forward We have to figure out as

914

: 00:49:02

a black people You know, do we

come up with the fourth party?

915

: 00:49:05

Do we have our own party?

916

: 00:49:06

Do we forget the parties we

have to do something here?

917

: 00:49:09

We need to start to have

that conversation now

918

: 00:49:11

Chris P. Reed: Where I challenge you

on this Brad and tony just give me

919

: 00:49:14

a moment Um the liberties and the

freedoms that you're saying you're not

920

: 00:49:18

expressing in the rhetoric that you're

presenting Because I was raised under

921

: 00:49:22

the auspices if I made enough money I

can live here next to these white folks.

922

: 00:49:29

I was raised that if I, if I could

afford to get into the restaurant,

923

: 00:49:32

if I could, there came a time after

Jim Crow and all this other stuff.

924

: 00:49:35

If I had the money, we were

predicated on a financial.

925

: 00:49:39

Economic striation, right?

926

: 00:49:41

Like the country, we are capital of

country and if I can afford it, damn it.

927

: 00:49:45

It's mine because of these liberties

and these freedoms and all that.

928

: 00:49:49

Now we don't want to get into the

moral aspects of paying for stuff

929

: 00:49:53

and into the OJ trial and all that.

930

: 00:49:55

But the more, but the premise is if I

can afford it, I should be afforded it.

931

: 00:50:00

And you're saying.

932

: 00:50:01

Even if you can't afford it.

933

: 00:50:03

If they don't want you don't consume it.

934

: 00:50:05

Don't embrace it.

935

: 00:50:07

I don't like that Brad.

936

: 00:50:08

I'm

937

: 00:50:08

Brad Bowling: sorry But that's okay You

can be a black man driving a late model

938

: 00:50:14

vehicle in a freaking Military uniform

and get pepper sprayed because they can't

939

: 00:50:20

see the tag on your car Okay, you can

be living in a white community and be a

940

: 00:50:27

part of the military and they still come

to your home From a noise complaint and

941

: 00:50:31

shoot you as soon as you open the door.

942

: 00:50:33

Well, yep.

943

: 00:50:34

Tony Tidbit: We know that.

944

: 00:50:35

Brad Bowling: So when you say we

should be able to afford certain

945

: 00:50:38

things, we're no longer safe, bro.

946

: 00:50:40

We can't jog down the street.

947

: 00:50:42

They're, they killed

affirmative action, right?

948

: 00:50:45

You can't, you can't use race to

decide who gets into college anymore.

949

: 00:50:49

DEI is being killed.

950

: 00:50:50

DEI is what?

951

: 00:50:51

10, 12 years old.

952

: 00:50:52

Is it gone already, bro?

953

: 00:50:54

I think it didn't even survive the

954

: 00:50:55

Tony Tidbit: four years

955

: 00:50:57

Brad Bowling: old.

956

: 00:50:59

Yeah, bro.

957

: 00:50:59

It was shorter than freaking

blockbuster lasted longer than DEI.

958

: 00:51:05

But here's the thing though,

959

: 00:51:05

Tony Tidbit: bro, just real quick, not

to interrupt, but here's the thing.

960

: 00:51:08

So I see that, but that's why.

961

: 00:51:11

So, see, this is why I'm

struggling a little bit is because

962

: 00:51:14

what you're saying is true.

963

: 00:51:17

This is why you, so it does matter

in a way who's running stuff.

964

: 00:51:23

Okay.

965

: 00:51:24

Because that situation is

only going to get worse.

966

: 00:51:27

All right.

967

: 00:51:27

So when you don't vote.

968

: 00:51:29

You just basically what you said.

969

: 00:51:31

And again, I don't want to, I don't like

generalizing, but at the end of the day,

970

: 00:51:35

knowing the circumstances that people of

color deal with, knowing the circumstances

971

: 00:51:40

of people that are different deal with,

okay, that ain't going to get better.

972

: 00:51:44

So if they killed affirmative

action, that's That affects you.

973

: 00:51:48

That affects us.

974

: 00:51:49

That does affect your daily life.

975

: 00:51:51

Okay.

976

: 00:51:52

If they kill DEI, that affects you.

977

: 00:51:54

That does affect our daily life.

978

: 00:51:56

Brad Bowling: I don't know

if you're hearing me though.

979

: 00:51:57

I didn't say don't vote for your mayor.

980

: 00:52:00

Go vote for your police chief.

981

: 00:52:02

Go join an organization where see

what you have to understand is I can't

982

: 00:52:07

worry about what I can't control.

983

: 00:52:09

And until white people decide

they want better for everybody,

984

: 00:52:12

they want better for nobody.

985

: 00:52:14

And that's what they're

voting for is nobody, right?

986

: 00:52:16

They're voting for themselves.

987

: 00:52:18

Okay.

988

: 00:52:19

They think they are, but they're not.

989

: 00:52:21

Right, right, right.

990

: 00:52:22

Tony Tidbit: But here's

the thing though, buddy.

991

: 00:52:23

So I, I got your point.

992

: 00:52:25

What, uh, the point I was trying to

make is, is that earlier you were

993

: 00:52:28

saying, Hey, I don't Who's in the

white house doesn't really affect me.

994

: 00:52:32

Okay.

995

: 00:52:33

And what I'm saying is it kind of

does because those people that's

996

: 00:52:37

in there are the ones spearheading.

997

: 00:52:40

The affirmative action eradication, the D.

998

: 00:52:44

E.

999

: 00:52:44

I.

: 1000

00:52:44,785 --> 00:52:47,365

Eradication all these other things.

: 1001

00:52:47,515 --> 00:52:49,655

The stuff at the local level.

: 1002

00:52:49,704 --> 00:52:50,925

You're 100 percent right.

: 1003

00:52:50,925 --> 00:52:52,364

We have more control there.

: 1004

00:52:52,364 --> 00:52:53,365

We should be voting.

: 1005

00:52:53,545 --> 00:52:58,635

But my bigger point was just

more of the lack of activism

: 1006

00:52:58,864 --> 00:53:00,885

in terms of what's going on.

: 1007

00:53:01,335 --> 00:53:05,975

We all as citizens have to be

more aware of what's going on.

: 1008

00:53:05,975 --> 00:53:07,245

That's my point, right?

: 1009

00:53:07,365 --> 00:53:10,114

I get macro and micro, macro and micro.

: 1010

00:53:10,115 --> 00:53:11,105

Brad Bowling: This is the

thing that we have to.

: 1011

00:53:11,105 --> 00:53:11,775

And I would agree with

: 1012

00:53:11,785 --> 00:53:12,525

Iris Ivana Grant: Brad on that.

: 1013

00:53:12,775 --> 00:53:13,205

Brad Bowling: I'm sorry.

: 1014

00:53:13,245 --> 00:53:13,644

I'm sorry.

: 1015

00:53:13,905 --> 00:53:15,075

Just let me say this real quick.

: 1016

00:53:15,325 --> 00:53:21,104

We got to go back to what Martin Luther

King, uh, the process he used because

: 1017

00:53:21,104 --> 00:53:25,465

we had a grassroots campaign that

changed the world from the bottom up.

: 1018

00:53:25,515 --> 00:53:28,485

I'm not saying that the

top doesn't impact us.

: 1019

00:53:29,040 --> 00:53:31,690

I'm saying that we have to

change our strategy and we have

: 1020

00:53:31,690 --> 00:53:33,130

to go back to rooting for us.

: 1021

00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:33,630

That's true.

: 1022

00:53:33,690 --> 00:53:34,430

That's all I'm saying.

: 1023

00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:38,539

And so I'm not saying that Trump

being in office doesn't impact us.

: 1024

00:53:38,709 --> 00:53:43,249

My children, my future grand, my

grandchildren, I'm saying that the

: 1025

00:53:43,250 --> 00:53:46,900

playbook has changed to the point to

where we have to go back to grassroots.

: 1026

00:53:47,639 --> 00:53:52,030

And so if, because if we're not winning

at the top, so we got to go back to the

: 1027

00:53:52,030 --> 00:53:53,360

bottom and start winning from the bottom.

: 1028

00:53:54,050 --> 00:53:55,000

I'm sorry, let's grant.

: 1029

00:53:55,000 --> 00:53:55,240

Go ahead.

: 1030

00:53:55,250 --> 00:53:55,930

You were going to say something.

: 1031

00:53:55,960 --> 00:53:56,520

Chris P. Reed: Yeah, go ahead.

: 1032

00:53:56,520 --> 00:53:57,520

Iris and then I'll come in.

: 1033

00:53:57,570 --> 00:54:00,770

Iris Ivana Grant: Yeah, I was going to say

there was a, there was a point that Brad

: 1034

00:54:00,770 --> 00:54:06,249

made that I did agree with in terms of if

people are looking at what do I do now?

: 1035

00:54:06,440 --> 00:54:11,130

I think this is the wake up

call for communities, right?

: 1036

00:54:11,910 --> 00:54:14,909

Just communities that

are different, right?

: 1037

00:54:14,989 --> 00:54:17,049

Um, because I think we missed the mark.

: 1038

00:54:17,089 --> 00:54:22,515

We got so, um, overwhelmed and

comfortable coming out of COVID and

: 1039

00:54:22,545 --> 00:54:26,625

out of the murder of George Floyd that

there was so much, I will speak from

: 1040

00:54:26,625 --> 00:54:30,985

a philanthropic perspective, um, and

industry, there was so much money coming

: 1041

00:54:30,995 --> 00:54:37,985

into the nonprofit industry from, um,

gifts and contributions and at, um,

: 1042

00:54:38,025 --> 00:54:46,035

and advocacy that I think there was

also a, a, uh, a false, um, comfort

: 1043

00:54:47,475 --> 00:54:49,089

that we're on the other side of this.

: 1044

00:54:49,720 --> 00:54:53,530

Right where some of that was a lot of

marketing and PR and a lot of people

: 1045

00:54:53,530 --> 00:54:58,130

just jumping in and there were some

things that were very authentic and I

: 1046

00:54:58,250 --> 00:55:04,259

think that what we lacked in terms of

communities and diverse communities was

: 1047

00:55:04,259 --> 00:55:09,720

continually to try to drive forward and

to seeing what this meant for us, right?

: 1048

00:55:09,790 --> 00:55:17,390

Um, and what it meant for us, continuing

a civil rights or civil movement.

: 1049

00:55:17,390 --> 00:55:17,510

Right.

: 1050

00:55:18,405 --> 00:55:20,935

Right for for everybody that is different.

: 1051

00:55:21,005 --> 00:55:26,125

And I think, um, to Brad's point, what it

has done has caused people to rethink now,

: 1052

00:55:26,445 --> 00:55:28,845

unfortunately, at a very dangerous influx.

: 1053

00:55:29,335 --> 00:55:31,624

But to rethink of how do I engage?

: 1054

00:55:31,685 --> 00:55:32,734

How do I activate?

: 1055

00:55:33,764 --> 00:55:36,384

How do I, um, what does this mean for me?

: 1056

00:55:36,405 --> 00:55:37,674

Do I leave the country or not?

: 1057

00:55:37,674 --> 00:55:40,764

I mean, I'm never I got my

back, my passport ready.

: 1058

00:55:41,114 --> 00:55:41,564

You know what I'm saying?

: 1059

00:55:41,574 --> 00:55:43,095

It's been ready for a couple of years now.

: 1060

00:55:43,475 --> 00:55:47,154

Um, but I think that there was

this level of comfort for me.

: 1061

00:55:47,155 --> 00:55:49,935

Oh, I think we, we might be okay.

: 1062

00:55:50,095 --> 00:55:52,815

And that bottom crashed out.

: 1063

00:55:52,885 --> 00:55:55,075

And so now we're talking about grassroots.

: 1064

00:55:55,075 --> 00:55:56,665

Well, we should have

never left the grassroots.

: 1065

00:55:56,665 --> 00:55:57,910

Tony Tidbit: Right.

: 1066

00:55:57,910 --> 00:56:01,415

Iris Ivana Grant: So I do

agree with him in that space.

: 1067

00:56:01,804 --> 00:56:03,635

I don't know that we're

going to get there.

: 1068

00:56:03,655 --> 00:56:05,114

It is going to take community.

: 1069

00:56:05,165 --> 00:56:08,565

I think community is going to look

very different because I do think

: 1070

00:56:08,945 --> 00:56:12,985

that what the divide has based on

who you voted for and who you did not

: 1071

00:56:12,985 --> 00:56:17,245

vote for, I think that's put another

divide in the seam of conversation.

: 1072

00:56:17,654 --> 00:56:22,830

Um, I have people that I know who

were friends who no longer are

: 1073

00:56:22,830 --> 00:56:27,980

friends because of this election,

because they can't come to a moral

: 1074

00:56:28,029 --> 00:56:31,399

agreement, um, of, of where they are.

: 1075

00:56:31,420 --> 00:56:35,010

So I think community is

going to look very different.

: 1076

00:56:35,020 --> 00:56:38,520

And I think that we have to be

very cautious about how we draw

: 1077

00:56:38,560 --> 00:56:43,530

those lines, those lines of

community, um, and commonness.

: 1078

00:56:44,575 --> 00:56:44,965

Right.

: 1079

00:56:44,965 --> 00:56:46,145

What we have in common.

: 1080

00:56:46,265 --> 00:56:49,305

Um, cause I think we are at a

very dangerous influx of even what

: 1081

00:56:49,305 --> 00:56:50,655

community looks like right now.

: 1082

00:56:51,205 --> 00:56:53,444

Chris P. Reed: Let me ask you this

though, Courtney, I'll pose this to

: 1083

00:56:53,444 --> 00:56:57,485

you because what they're saying was a

playbook that I feel like can no longer

: 1084

00:56:57,495 --> 00:57:01,695

be run because there's no such thing

as good faith negotiation any longer.

: 1085

00:57:01,924 --> 00:57:05,405

I don't, once again, the trust

is eroded in such a way that I

: 1086

00:57:05,405 --> 00:57:07,885

don't believe anything you're

telling me or signing off on.

: 1087

00:57:08,315 --> 00:57:10,455

And so therefore without

good faith negotiation.

: 1088

00:57:10,455 --> 00:57:12,175

So we think about the King movement.

: 1089

00:57:12,650 --> 00:57:15,700

It was based off of, it

just like abolition, right?

: 1090

00:57:16,155 --> 00:57:22,215

It was based off of a very kind

hearted, civil, interested, white folks,

: 1091

00:57:22,215 --> 00:57:24,574

Tony Tidbit: collectively

: 1092

00:57:24,575 --> 00:57:25,375

Chris P. Reed: collaborating.

: 1093

00:57:25,394 --> 00:57:25,904

Absolutely.

: 1094

00:57:25,935 --> 00:57:27,825

It was a sense of collaboration.

: 1095

00:57:28,045 --> 00:57:31,234

But what has happened is, we've

seen the rise of, and I'll call it

: 1096

00:57:31,234 --> 00:57:35,714

domestic terrorism, in the Proud Boys

or in these other groups, to where

: 1097

00:57:36,045 --> 00:57:39,535

They're being allowed to express

their freedoms while our freedoms

: 1098

00:57:39,535 --> 00:57:40,905

and liberties are being suppressed.

: 1099

00:57:41,135 --> 00:57:42,625

So what am I to believe in?

: 1100

00:57:42,635 --> 00:57:46,155

Or as Brad said, tell my children

or my children's children, when we

: 1101

00:57:46,155 --> 00:57:50,935

are not who we, who we presented

ourselves to be for the last 150 years.

: 1102

00:57:51,305 --> 00:57:53,645

Courteney Mitchell: No, I

totally agree with that.

: 1103

00:57:53,675 --> 00:57:59,685

I think that, um, the election of this

man now twice is only emboldening those

: 1104

00:57:59,695 --> 00:58:03,665

types of people, the proud boys, the

neo Nazis, like the hateful people.

: 1105

00:58:03,694 --> 00:58:07,015

But like, if we go back to Martin

Luther King, the only thing

: 1106

00:58:07,015 --> 00:58:08,815

that can drive out hate is love.

: 1107

00:58:09,185 --> 00:58:14,855

So how do we cross the aisle and work

with people that we disagree with

: 1108

00:58:14,885 --> 00:58:17,445

and have conversations respectfully

with people we disagree with?

: 1109

00:58:17,485 --> 00:58:21,935

And for me, like I made a lot of

political posts on Facebook in the

: 1110

00:58:21,935 --> 00:58:25,115

run up to this election because

I was very again, patriotic.

: 1111

00:58:25,175 --> 00:58:26,105

I love America.

: 1112

00:58:26,135 --> 00:58:29,585

I don't I was really nervous that

this man was gonna get elected again.

: 1113

00:58:30,135 --> 00:58:33,244

And I had a really good friend of

mine, one of the best people I know

: 1114

00:58:33,245 --> 00:58:38,094

in my life, reach out to me and and

tell me, I don't agree with you.

: 1115

00:58:38,094 --> 00:58:39,345

And I'm going to vote for him.

: 1116

00:58:39,345 --> 00:58:40,955

And I hope we can still be friends.

: 1117

00:58:41,455 --> 00:58:46,215

And I said to him, I'm like, this,

The problem with with culture right

: 1118

00:58:46,215 --> 00:58:49,565

now is that if we don't agree with

somebody, we cut them out entirely.

: 1119

00:58:49,565 --> 00:58:52,674

And then we create these echo

chambers where I'm only going to

: 1120

00:58:52,675 --> 00:58:55,855

talk to or socialize with people

that agree with me politically.

: 1121

00:58:56,274 --> 00:58:58,375

And I know like, we're not

supposed to talk about politics

: 1122

00:58:58,465 --> 00:58:59,795

that I mean, I'm terrible at that.

: 1123

00:59:00,155 --> 00:59:03,690

Um, but we can't do that

for this to get better.

: 1124

00:59:03,690 --> 00:59:07,550

We have to like bridge those gaps and have

conversations even if they're difficult,

: 1125

00:59:07,990 --> 00:59:12,660

and reach out with love to people

that we don't necessarily agree with.

: 1126

00:59:12,660 --> 00:59:14,020

I mean, do I?

: 1127

00:59:14,410 --> 00:59:16,809

Am I going to like be best friends

with someone in the proud boys?

: 1128

00:59:16,809 --> 00:59:17,279

No.

: 1129

00:59:17,290 --> 00:59:21,090

But if someone you know, if I have to

interact with somebody who has those

: 1130

00:59:21,090 --> 00:59:24,750

beliefs, I'm going to try to approach

it with empathy and compassion and love.

: 1131

00:59:25,100 --> 00:59:27,950

Because if I approach it,

and I'm combative and hate.

: 1132

00:59:27,995 --> 00:59:28,845

full right back.

: 1133

00:59:29,115 --> 00:59:30,885

It's only going to feed the hate beast.

: 1134

00:59:31,235 --> 00:59:35,255

And I think the hate beast is already

so freaking big that like, how can

: 1135

00:59:35,255 --> 00:59:37,085

we have more love in our society?

: 1136

00:59:37,495 --> 00:59:40,825

And Tony, you and I talked about this

the first time I came on like, yeah,

: 1137

00:59:40,825 --> 00:59:44,985

sometimes I think about the people that

like the mega people and I get really

: 1138

00:59:44,985 --> 00:59:46,654

cranky, but I'm like, they're Americans.

: 1139

00:59:46,655 --> 00:59:49,604

Like, that's the beautiful thing about

America is that we all get one vote.

: 1140

00:59:49,994 --> 00:59:51,435

We all get to have our own opinion.

: 1141

00:59:51,765 --> 00:59:55,805

And I think what social media has done

is like really drive that wedge in,

: 1142

00:59:55,805 --> 01:00:00,100

ike, And the way it worked in: 2020

with now the parties don't want to work

: 1143

01:00:00,100 --> 01:00:03,910

together and, you know, I'm in charge

of the Senate, so I'm not going to hear,

: 1144

01:00:03,940 --> 01:00:07,130

I'm not going to even consider your

judicial nominee because I don't have to.

: 1145

01:00:07,560 --> 01:00:11,180

And that stuff has to go away

and we have to, we have to work

: 1146

01:00:11,180 --> 01:00:13,059

for America and for people.

: 1147

01:00:13,070 --> 01:00:13,570

Tony Tidbit: Right.

: 1148

01:00:13,710 --> 01:00:15,699

Courteney Mitchell: Versus like,

well, I don't agree with them,

: 1149

01:00:15,720 --> 01:00:18,590

so they're wrong and everything

is going to have to be our way.

: 1150

01:00:19,010 --> 01:00:20,860

Tony Tidbit: So let me ask

you guys this final question.

: 1151

01:00:20,900 --> 01:00:21,910

So that was an excellent point.

: 1152

01:00:21,910 --> 01:00:25,500

And that's going to dovetail

into that because look.

: 1153

01:00:26,225 --> 01:00:29,195

Brad, you said this earlier,

he's elected, right?

: 1154

01:00:29,475 --> 01:00:31,665

The past is the past, okay?

: 1155

01:00:31,915 --> 01:00:33,665

Nothing we can do to change it, right?

: 1156

01:00:33,665 --> 01:00:36,754

We can be upset all day

long, but it is what it is.

: 1157

01:00:37,254 --> 01:00:41,785

And then all you guys made excellent

points in terms of moving forward,

: 1158

01:00:41,805 --> 01:00:45,895

grassroots, um, you know, what

Courtney talked about, you know,

: 1159

01:00:46,225 --> 01:00:49,865

all the stuff in terms of the

division, you know, I have neighbors

: 1160

01:00:49,885 --> 01:00:52,185

that live right next to me, right?

: 1161

01:00:52,525 --> 01:00:53,945

Who I know for a fact.

: 1162

01:00:54,100 --> 01:00:57,430

If something happened with me and

my wife or the kids and we hit a

: 1163

01:00:57,430 --> 01:01:00,370

button, they would be here in a

minute, but they voted for Trump.

: 1164

01:01:00,920 --> 01:01:01,570

Okay.

: 1165

01:01:01,800 --> 01:01:06,020

So let me ask you guys this final

question based on what Courtney

: 1166

01:01:06,020 --> 01:01:07,060

just got finished talking about.

: 1167

01:01:07,430 --> 01:01:15,800

How are you going to move forward and

create, uh, uh, uh, Uh, create a, uh,

: 1168

01:01:15,870 --> 01:01:23,450

a circle of love with people that,

you know, disagree with your thoughts.

: 1169

01:01:24,030 --> 01:01:25,829

Just, they voted for the man.

: 1170

01:01:26,209 --> 01:01:30,720

Um, I love to hear that because

at the end of the day, nothing

: 1171

01:01:30,720 --> 01:01:32,300

happens unless we start doing that.

: 1172

01:01:32,460 --> 01:01:34,590

So Brad, you, I'm going to

start with you, my brother.

: 1173

01:01:35,969 --> 01:01:38,120

Brad Bowling: You know, some

of my best friends are white.

: 1174

01:01:38,230 --> 01:01:40,050

Some of my best friends are Republicans.

: 1175

01:01:40,480 --> 01:01:44,190

And in everyday life, you know,

the vitriol that we think we

: 1176

01:01:44,199 --> 01:01:45,610

have for each other, I don't see.

: 1177

01:01:46,389 --> 01:01:47,679

Um, my neighbors.

: 1178

01:01:48,040 --> 01:01:48,550

Love me.

: 1179

01:01:48,550 --> 01:01:49,240

I love them.

: 1180

01:01:49,740 --> 01:01:52,000

Uh, you know, I own a business.

: 1181

01:01:52,080 --> 01:01:53,810

I deal with white advertisers.

: 1182

01:01:54,340 --> 01:01:56,570

Uh, white people read our publication.

: 1183

01:01:57,120 --> 01:01:59,459

I think we're a lot closer than you think.

: 1184

01:02:00,410 --> 01:02:04,070

What I hope and pray for though, is

that we want the same for everybody.

: 1185

01:02:04,070 --> 01:02:05,349

We all want to be in love.

: 1186

01:02:05,789 --> 01:02:07,290

We all want the best for our kids.

: 1187

01:02:07,630 --> 01:02:11,350

We all want to create an income that

will allow us to be happy, pay our

: 1188

01:02:11,350 --> 01:02:13,240

bills, travel a little bit, right?

: 1189

01:02:13,820 --> 01:02:16,960

And so we all essentially

want the same things.

: 1190

01:02:17,010 --> 01:02:18,699

I think where we fall apart.

: 1191

01:02:19,365 --> 01:02:24,105

Is that, you know, on a national

level, it becomes combative.

: 1192

01:02:24,575 --> 01:02:30,544

And I think if we stay grassroots and

you stay committed to becoming a better

: 1193

01:02:30,544 --> 01:02:36,194

person, I think that we can get the kind

of effect that we're looking for, um,

: 1194

01:02:36,214 --> 01:02:37,974

from ourselves and from our counterparts.

: 1195

01:02:37,975 --> 01:02:42,345

And so I, I just pray and I hope that

we continue to underneath it all.

: 1196

01:02:42,345 --> 01:02:43,275

We stay Americans.

: 1197

01:02:43,275 --> 01:02:47,125

We believe that we're one

country under God, right?

: 1198

01:02:47,125 --> 01:02:48,185

And I don't want to go through the rest.

: 1199

01:02:48,680 --> 01:02:51,910

But we all understand what's

at stake because the entire

: 1200

01:02:51,910 --> 01:02:53,110

country is at stake right now.

: 1201

01:02:53,110 --> 01:02:54,710

We're in a global economy, right?

: 1202

01:02:55,310 --> 01:02:59,090

And so, you know at some point

Uh, we're going to continue

: 1203

01:02:59,090 --> 01:03:02,650

to fall in world rankings We

don't lead in anything anymore.

: 1204

01:03:03,460 --> 01:03:05,970

And so we have to start

paying attention to that.

: 1205

01:03:06,400 --> 01:03:10,970

And, you know, do I want the, uh,

education department dissolved?

: 1206

01:03:11,700 --> 01:03:14,369

Well, you know, has it worked for blacks?

: 1207

01:03:14,849 --> 01:03:19,130

You know, so I don't know, you know, let's

see what happens over the next four years.

: 1208

01:03:19,640 --> 01:03:23,340

I'm not as gun shy as most people

think that they need to be.

: 1209

01:03:24,000 --> 01:03:30,570

Uh, you know, presidencies tend to move

like, you know, glaciers and continents.

: 1210

01:03:32,120 --> 01:03:35,210

You feel the earthquake, but did

you see the ground move right?

: 1211

01:03:35,210 --> 01:03:37,560

It's going to take 100 years

for us to get further away from

: 1212

01:03:37,560 --> 01:03:38,980

Africa or closer to Africa.

: 1213

01:03:39,410 --> 01:03:41,210

So what can he do in four years?

: 1214

01:03:41,240 --> 01:03:47,360

Really go love on your family, stay

committed to your children, work harder,

: 1215

01:03:48,019 --> 01:03:53,060

you know, uh, make more money, love

your kids more, love yourself more.

: 1216

01:03:53,060 --> 01:03:55,022

And I think we'll be okay.

: 1217

01:03:55,022 --> 01:03:56,983

Iris man, I think it's tough.

: 1218

01:03:56,983 --> 01:03:57,310

Um,

: 1219

01:03:57,310 --> 01:04:00,579

Iris Ivana Grant: I think he

can do a lot in four years.

: 1220

01:04:03,660 --> 01:04:07,810

Because he had four years to make

adjustments and plan and have

: 1221

01:04:07,810 --> 01:04:11,930

a strategy and: 2025

: 1222

01:04:12,840 --> 01:04:14,130

It's, it's not a thought.

: 1223

01:04:14,139 --> 01:04:19,900

He's, he's not even in office yet and

he's already, um, showing himself to

: 1224

01:04:19,900 --> 01:04:23,840

be more organized and strengthened and

empowered than he was four years ago.

: 1225

01:04:24,409 --> 01:04:29,895

So I think that he can do a lot because

this is not four years, from now is

: 1226

01:04:29,895 --> 01:04:34,335

definitely not going to regress and

look like four years did four years ago.

: 1227

01:04:34,915 --> 01:04:41,895

Um, in my heart as to who I am, I come

from a very diverse background and family.

: 1228

01:04:42,295 --> 01:04:48,965

I have very diverse friends,

um, culture, race, faith base.

: 1229

01:04:49,355 --> 01:04:51,555

I, I work in philanthropy.

: 1230

01:04:51,605 --> 01:04:53,195

I have to cross the aisles.

: 1231

01:04:53,654 --> 01:04:59,015

Um, I will say that I am going to

continue to do the work and I have

: 1232

01:04:59,015 --> 01:05:04,544

been looking very differently about

who really is about the work and

: 1233

01:05:04,544 --> 01:05:05,945

who says they're about the work.

: 1234

01:05:06,305 --> 01:05:12,055

And for me, if your comfort level is that

you still, um, after the election are

: 1235

01:05:12,055 --> 01:05:16,075

still only really in your same circles.

: 1236

01:05:17,660 --> 01:05:21,010

You're, you're not really about the

work because you should be strategizing

: 1237

01:05:21,010 --> 01:05:26,260

about how you can cross the aisle, how

you can talk to the Native Americans

: 1238

01:05:26,290 --> 01:05:30,259

in this country, how you can talk to

the Jewish people and the Palestinian

: 1239

01:05:30,259 --> 01:05:35,119

people in this country, um, how you can

talk to the Mexican and you can talk

: 1240

01:05:35,119 --> 01:05:39,540

to the Caucasian and the black, um,

black female, the black, the black male.

: 1241

01:05:39,870 --> 01:05:44,270

Um, everybody has a different perspective

and they have a different need.

: 1242

01:05:44,870 --> 01:05:50,870

Um, and so for me, I need to figure out

where the lines have been crossed for

: 1243

01:05:50,880 --> 01:05:56,150

me so that I can keep the purity of my

heart and work because I love people

: 1244

01:05:56,150 --> 01:06:00,119

and I love being an American and it

matters to me that you're comfortable

: 1245

01:06:00,610 --> 01:06:02,740

because I want to be comfortable, right?

: 1246

01:06:02,760 --> 01:06:03,419

It matters.

: 1247

01:06:03,420 --> 01:06:06,870

We, we may need to have to make

some adjustments and I may have

: 1248

01:06:06,870 --> 01:06:08,350

to make some personal adjustments.

: 1249

01:06:08,410 --> 01:06:10,060

Um, but.

: 1250

01:06:10,390 --> 01:06:11,390

It matters to me.

: 1251

01:06:11,430 --> 01:06:14,720

And so, um, for me, I'm going to

continue to do the work and the

: 1252

01:06:14,720 --> 01:06:16,050

work may look a little different.

: 1253

01:06:16,070 --> 01:06:19,199

I may have to make some

adjustments because the needs

: 1254

01:06:19,200 --> 01:06:20,290

of the people that I serve.

: 1255

01:06:21,005 --> 01:06:21,845

Making adjustment.

: 1256

01:06:21,895 --> 01:06:25,225

And when you are a servant

leader, you have to do that.

: 1257

01:06:25,555 --> 01:06:26,675

There's not a question.

: 1258

01:06:26,675 --> 01:06:31,824

It doesn't become just about me

and my space and who I work with

: 1259

01:06:31,835 --> 01:06:34,144

or live with or who are my friends.

: 1260

01:06:34,495 --> 01:06:36,565

It's about us as Americans.

: 1261

01:06:36,634 --> 01:06:41,365

And so, um, we need to be able to find

that empathy button and find the common

: 1262

01:06:41,365 --> 01:06:48,195

ground that's way beyond political

party and way beyond, um, um, Our moral

: 1263

01:06:48,205 --> 01:06:53,615

compass and our personal faith walks

and really look at this is a country

: 1264

01:06:53,625 --> 01:06:55,595

in need where people are in need.

: 1265

01:06:55,645 --> 01:06:56,585

Right, right.

: 1266

01:06:56,755 --> 01:06:58,685

Um, and what does that look like?

: 1267

01:06:58,714 --> 01:06:58,964

Right.

: 1268

01:06:59,600 --> 01:06:59,720

Right.

: 1269

01:06:59,760 --> 01:07:06,220

And having those conversations, um,

without any hindrance of being able to

: 1270

01:07:06,220 --> 01:07:10,310

express what you think and feel, because

everybody's feelings are important.

: 1271

01:07:10,310 --> 01:07:11,939

Everybody's needs are important.

: 1272

01:07:12,270 --> 01:07:15,999

Um, but then how do we come together

and really move forward in the

: 1273

01:07:15,999 --> 01:07:20,429

next four years so that we do have

impact on some things that might.

: 1274

01:07:20,430 --> 01:07:23,980

That should not happen, not that

we don't want them to happen.

: 1275

01:07:23,980 --> 01:07:26,320

They should not happen in this country.

: 1276

01:07:26,420 --> 01:07:27,720

Courteney Mitchell: Courtney,

you have the final word.

: 1277

01:07:28,490 --> 01:07:32,930

Well, when we say talking about the

country coming together, I always

: 1278

01:07:32,930 --> 01:07:37,119

think back the, the, the most unified

I think I've ever felt as an American

: 1279

01:07:37,119 --> 01:07:41,500

was after nine 11 and I don't know that.

: 1280

01:07:41,930 --> 01:07:44,610

If something like that happened

today, it would be very interesting,

: 1281

01:07:44,610 --> 01:07:47,710

like, like sociologically from a

sociological experiment perspective

: 1282

01:07:47,710 --> 01:07:49,350

to see how the country reacted.

: 1283

01:07:49,900 --> 01:07:54,650

Um, but my, my own personal ethos

is just, you know, I'm not a, I'm

: 1284

01:07:54,650 --> 01:07:57,470

not, I don't, I don't subscribe

to organized religion, but I do.

: 1285

01:07:57,569 --> 01:08:00,180

I like to say that I practice

the religion of kindness.

: 1286

01:08:00,580 --> 01:08:04,279

So I treat everybody with kindness

and love and I lead with love.

: 1287

01:08:04,404 --> 01:08:09,475

And I think that having these

types of conversations with people

: 1288

01:08:09,625 --> 01:08:12,985

from all kinds of walks of life

and not discounting people because

: 1289

01:08:12,985 --> 01:08:14,955

they voted for a certain way.

: 1290

01:08:14,965 --> 01:08:19,613

That's how my, what my approach is

to trying to, you know, make those

: 1291

01:08:19,613 --> 01:08:24,894

connections and, and try to create that

sense of community as Americans, you know,

: 1292

01:08:24,895 --> 01:08:28,734

not just sitting in my, you know, echo

chamber here in Boston, but you know, when

: 1293

01:08:28,734 --> 01:08:33,710

I've traveled to Ohio or I travel to Texas

or Florida, like, you know, I'm being just

: 1294

01:08:33,720 --> 01:08:38,460

open and receptive to what people have

to say, while still holding my own morals

: 1295

01:08:38,460 --> 01:08:43,080

and beliefs true, but trying to like,

sort of just bridge that gap and make

: 1296

01:08:43,080 --> 01:08:45,859

people feel like I, I hear you, I get it.

: 1297

01:08:46,260 --> 01:08:48,279

And I don't, I don't hate you for that.

: 1298

01:08:48,944 --> 01:08:53,265

So, um, it's an interesting

spot we're in right now.

: 1299

01:08:53,315 --> 01:08:56,365

And I think you're, I agree with

Iris that there's, uh, the, the

: 1300

01:08:56,365 --> 01:08:59,484

judiciary is what makes me the most

nervous about the next four years.

: 1301

01:08:59,515 --> 01:08:59,854

Right.

: 1302

01:08:59,904 --> 01:09:00,175

So,

: 1303

01:09:00,205 --> 01:09:00,625

Tony Tidbit: right.

: 1304

01:09:01,245 --> 01:09:05,315

Well, look, at the end of the day,

um, I'm excited about you guys, Chris

: 1305

01:09:05,315 --> 01:09:10,654

and I, because you guys are, you

know, solid human beings who love,

: 1306

01:09:11,124 --> 01:09:13,703

you know, not just themselves and

their family, but there are other

: 1307

01:09:13,703 --> 01:09:18,635

Americans, obviously we have different,

uh, diverse opinions, which is cool.

: 1308

01:09:18,635 --> 01:09:18,755

Yeah.

: 1309

01:09:18,880 --> 01:09:22,200

You know, because I mean, I was with you

just sitting on this call, you know, on

: 1310

01:09:22,200 --> 01:09:24,859

this show with you guys, I've learned,

I took a couple of little nuggets.

: 1311

01:09:24,859 --> 01:09:26,350

I got a little notepad right here.

: 1312

01:09:26,350 --> 01:09:28,819

I wrote, I didn't even think of that.

: 1313

01:09:29,190 --> 01:09:29,580

Right.

: 1314

01:09:29,590 --> 01:09:32,720

So I think that's very

important that we do that.

: 1315

01:09:33,050 --> 01:09:37,210

Um, but I want to thank you guys

for coming on, pull up and speak

: 1316

01:09:37,210 --> 01:09:39,529

up and sharing your perspectives.

: 1317

01:09:39,529 --> 01:09:42,649

And I love that there was

obviously some disagreements,

: 1318

01:09:42,740 --> 01:09:44,040

but that's the only way we learn.

: 1319

01:09:44,590 --> 01:09:46,180

That's the only way we move forward.

: 1320

01:09:46,479 --> 01:09:48,799

But at the end of the day, I

love each and every one of you.

: 1321

01:09:50,090 --> 01:09:50,729

Brad Bowling: You too, buddy.

: 1322

01:09:50,840 --> 01:09:51,550

Tony Tidbit: We love you too.

: 1323

01:09:52,490 --> 01:09:55,550

Chris P. Reed: I absolutely, you

know, I echo that and thank you guest.

: 1324

01:09:55,559 --> 01:10:00,220

I would like to say, Courtney, just

for my edification, the 2nd largest

: 1325

01:10:00,220 --> 01:10:05,420

religion in the world would disagree

to a post 9 11 view of, uh, Camaraderie

: 1326

01:10:05,420 --> 01:10:06,930

and togetherness, the Muslims,

: 1327

01:10:06,930 --> 01:10:10,439

Courteney Mitchell: but

: 1328

01:10:10,520 --> 01:10:14,100

Chris P. Reed: the idea of, I will

be, and I'm telling the audience now,

: 1329

01:10:14,120 --> 01:10:17,439

Courtney has already copyrighted the

black, uh, the red, white, and blue shirts

: 1330

01:10:17,460 --> 01:10:19,400

that say, uh, starved to hate beast.

: 1331

01:10:19,920 --> 01:10:20,740

It's already done.

: 1332

01:10:21,110 --> 01:10:24,619

And so I will be purchasing the starved to

hate me shirt from you when it comes out.

: 1333

01:10:25,020 --> 01:10:27,450

And I appreciate that so

much, but thank you guys.

: 1334

01:10:27,450 --> 01:10:29,590

Thank you audience for tuning in to this.

: 1335

01:10:29,945 --> 01:10:34,434

This has been a wonderful dialogue as

Tony intimated different perspectives,

: 1336

01:10:34,434 --> 01:10:39,145

different, uh, areas of interest, uh,

from a, uh, cultural seat, but we all

: 1337

01:10:39,145 --> 01:10:40,795

have the same thing that was resonated.

: 1338

01:10:40,835 --> 01:10:42,115

We all love America.

: 1339

01:10:42,540 --> 01:10:46,190

We love this country and we're going,

we're going to fight for it and willing to

: 1340

01:10:46,460 --> 01:10:48,980

make adjustments to make this thing work.

: 1341

01:10:49,300 --> 01:10:50,559

And so we definitely appreciate it.

: 1342

01:10:50,600 --> 01:10:51,250

Tony Tidbit: Absolutely.

: 1343

01:10:51,250 --> 01:10:54,740

So I think it's now

time for Tony's tidbit.

: 1344

01:10:55,130 --> 01:10:55,539

All right.

: 1345

01:10:55,540 --> 01:11:00,500

So the tidbit today is this, and I quote,

the strength of a nation lies in this

: 1346

01:11:00,510 --> 01:11:07,040

willingness to confront its truths, no

matter how uncomfortable and to find

: 1347

01:11:07,040 --> 01:11:09,430

common ground for the greater good.

: 1348

01:11:10,335 --> 01:11:13,225

And that's how we ended

on this today, my friend.

: 1349

01:11:13,225 --> 01:11:14,575

So really, really appreciate it.

: 1350

01:11:14,745 --> 01:11:15,785

Everybody sit tight.

: 1351

01:11:15,995 --> 01:11:18,215

Cause you're going to help

us with BEP's call to action.

: 1352

01:11:18,705 --> 01:11:21,324

Chris P. Reed: At this point in time,

we want to remind you and employ

: 1353

01:11:21,324 --> 01:11:25,364

you to tune in to our weekly segment

on Black Executive Perspective

: 1354

01:11:25,364 --> 01:11:27,514

podcast called Need to Know with Dr.

: 1355

01:11:27,514 --> 01:11:28,284

Nsenga Burton.

: 1356

01:11:28,874 --> 01:11:29,693

Each week, Dr.

: 1357

01:11:29,693 --> 01:11:32,665

Nsenga Burton dives into timely

and crucial topics that shape

: 1358

01:11:32,665 --> 01:11:33,955

our community and our world.

: 1359

01:11:34,295 --> 01:11:37,565

Make sure that you tune in for

insights or education or information.

: 1360

01:11:37,990 --> 01:11:38,960

Because you don't want to miss it.

: 1361

01:11:39,020 --> 01:11:39,690

Tony Tidbit: Absolutely.

: 1362

01:11:39,690 --> 01:11:40,830

Definitely check her out.

: 1363

01:11:41,040 --> 01:11:45,510

And I hope you enjoy today's

Pull Up, Speak Up episode post

: 1364

01:11:45,510 --> 01:11:48,160

election truth lies and fallout.

: 1365

01:11:48,469 --> 01:11:51,770

We always have to end with something

that we're very passionate about here.

: 1366

01:11:52,040 --> 01:11:53,360

And that is our call to action.

: 1367

01:11:53,809 --> 01:11:55,670

Remember to incorporate L.

: 1368

01:11:55,730 --> 01:11:56,160

E.

: 1369

01:11:56,280 --> 01:11:56,510

S.

: 1370

01:11:56,540 --> 01:11:56,910

S.

: 1371

01:11:57,170 --> 01:12:01,030

Our goal is to eliminate all forms of

discrimination and to achieve this,

: 1372

01:12:01,120 --> 01:12:03,500

we're asking everyone to embrace less.

: 1373

01:12:03,920 --> 01:12:08,100

Courtney, kick us off with your

understanding of that action.

: 1374

01:12:08,750 --> 01:12:10,850

Courteney Mitchell:

The L stands for learn.

: 1375

01:12:11,559 --> 01:12:15,160

Educate yourself on racial

and cultural nuances.

: 1376

01:12:15,940 --> 01:12:17,470

Brad Bowling: The E stands for empathy.

: 1377

01:12:17,530 --> 01:12:19,450

Be open to understanding diverse views.

: 1378

01:12:19,980 --> 01:12:21,900

Iris Ivana Grant: The S stands for share.

: 1379

01:12:22,100 --> 01:12:24,710

Share your insights to enlighten others.

: 1380

01:12:24,750 --> 01:12:25,380

Tony Tidbit: Thanks, Iris.

: 1381

01:12:25,400 --> 01:12:27,130

And the final S stands for stop.

: 1382

01:12:27,360 --> 01:12:31,440

We want to actively stop discrimination

as it walks in our paths.

: 1383

01:12:31,680 --> 01:12:34,519

So if Aunt Jenny says something

at the Thanksgiving table or the

: 1384

01:12:34,519 --> 01:12:39,568

Christmas table or Sunday dinner that's

inappropriate, you say, Aunt Jenny, we

: 1385

01:12:39,568 --> 01:12:41,839

don't believe that and we don't do that.

: 1386

01:12:41,869 --> 01:12:43,479

And you stop it right there.

: 1387

01:12:43,769 --> 01:12:48,855

So if everyone can incorporate

less, L E S S will build a more

: 1388

01:12:48,855 --> 01:12:51,315

fair, more understanding world.

: 1389

01:12:51,625 --> 01:12:54,815

And more importantly, we'll all

see the change that we want to

: 1390

01:12:54,815 --> 01:12:57,395

see because less will become more.

: 1391

01:12:58,075 --> 01:13:01,724

Chris P. Reed: And we're incorporating

this idea of growth collectively with you.

: 1392

01:13:01,724 --> 01:13:03,895

So make sure you tune in

to our future episodes.

: 1393

01:13:04,210 --> 01:13:07,270

Check out our past episodes,

pull up, speak up is taken off.

: 1394

01:13:07,290 --> 01:13:08,370

It's a wonderful thing.

: 1395

01:13:08,490 --> 01:13:11,040

We have other episodes that are

coming to the platform as well.

: 1396

01:13:11,300 --> 01:13:15,380

Go to our website, sign up for the

newsletter, leave us reviews, subscribe,

: 1397

01:13:15,580 --> 01:13:17,279

comment, let us know where to meet you.

: 1398

01:13:17,440 --> 01:13:18,439

Tony, where can they follow us?

: 1399

01:13:19,210 --> 01:13:21,899

Tony Tidbit: Buddy, they can follow

a black executive perspective

: 1400

01:13:21,940 --> 01:13:27,100

podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify,

or wherever you get your podcast.

: 1401

01:13:27,290 --> 01:13:30,000

And you can follow us on our

socials of TikTok, Instagram,

: 1402

01:13:30,210 --> 01:13:32,220

Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.

: 1403

01:13:34,015 --> 01:13:39,845

And, uh, X for our fabulous panel,

Iris, Ivana, Grant, Courtney,

: 1404

01:13:39,845 --> 01:13:44,595

Mitchell, and the, my, the baddest

dude in Cleveland, Brad Bowling.

: 1405

01:13:44,765 --> 01:13:47,555

We want to thank them for

the co host with the most, my

: 1406

01:13:47,555 --> 01:13:49,565

brother down in Dallas, Chris P.

: 1407

01:13:49,585 --> 01:13:50,045

Reed.

: 1408

01:13:50,235 --> 01:13:51,445

I'm Tony tidbit.

: 1409

01:13:51,665 --> 01:13:52,824

We talked about it.

: 1410

01:13:52,835 --> 01:13:53,964

We learned about it.

: 1411

01:13:54,014 --> 01:13:57,024

We even disagreed about

it, but guess what?

: 1412

01:13:57,024 --> 01:13:57,884

We love you.

: 1413

01:13:58,120 --> 01:13:58,860

And we're out

: 1414

01:14:02,800 --> 01:14:05,240

Courteney Mitchell: a black

executive perspective.