Cool Soror is about the overwhelmingly positive impact women in Sororities have on the world!
Episodes
Thursday Dec 22, 2016
Thursday Dec 22, 2016
Shawn Crenshaw is a “Cool Bruh” of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Shawn Crenshaw, Incorporated and the creator of Ovation for Men cologne.
This Detroit native made a promise to himself early on, that the things he grew up seeing and experiencing would not manifest for him in his own life.
He knew he was special.
In this episode, Shawn Crenshaw takes us on a colorful journey about a mentoring program that took its participants on trips to other cities.
His imagination was piqued when he went to a beautiful hotel that had immaculate service.
He was so enamored of the decor and intricate detail of what he experienced, he knew that would be a piece of the fabric of his life.
He is an academic heavyweight. obtaining a B.S. from Cornell University, an MBA from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
He has worked in the restaurant, hospitality industry for over 25 years.
In 2014, Shawn took a leap of faith and founded Ovation for Men.
He became frustrated at fragrance companies for their lack of developing fragrance brands that highlighted and celebrated the positive images of people of color.
Specifically, Shawn realized that there wasn't a fragrance on the market that purposefully targeted the beauty, accomplishments and masculinity of African-American men.
Shawn created Ovation for Men to solve that problem.
Shawn Crenshaw takes us on this incredible ride of faith, favor, love, divorce, restaurants and fragrances.
He has ridden the bumpy ride and is holding on tightly so he never falls.
And that truly deserves a “Standing Ovation.”
FB, TW, IG: ShawnCrenshawINC
website:www.shawncrenshawinc.com
Tuesday Dec 20, 2016
Tuesday Dec 20, 2016
This very emotional episode with Sesily Coleman, a Cool Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will leave you wanting to say a prayer for anyone who is grieving during this holiday season.
While many of us are getting ready for this special time of year, there are millions of people who are grieving and trying to figure out how they are going to simply make it through.
Sesily’s husband, Antonio Coleman was a “Cool Bruh” of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. who she met in 1999 in New Orleans.
They were married a year to the date that they met. Their love story was written out of book. After 8 years of beautiful marriage and two beautiful children later, her life changed forever.
On January 20, 2008, Sesily received a phone call that her best friend had been shot and killed while on an Educational Enrichment Trip to Orlando, Florida. Antonio was tremendously loved and adored by many, so this devastating news came as a shock to communities near and far.
During this episode Sesily paints the terrifying picture of having to unexpectedly kiss her husband goodbye for the very last time and the pain she and her kids experienced.
Sesily’s strength in this episode is absolutely admirable, but her desire to help families around the globe with her story is simply angelic.
Please keep our “Cool Soror” lifted in prayer as she continues sharing her testimony to impact families and heal hearts with her Five Levels of Grief.
Ig: sesicol
Thursday Dec 15, 2016
Thursday Dec 15, 2016
Keena Stephens also known as “Keena Be” joins the podcast today. This Cool Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. calls herself a “nurse-prenuer” who jump started her love for the medical field in high school.
Years into helping others heal, she realized she was not practicing the very same thing she shared with her patients. That routine came to a screeching halt when Keena was 25-years-old (9:41)
Facing constant migraines, symptoms related to stress and a grapefruit sized cyst on one of her ovaries, Keena realized that she had to make drastic changes. She decided to take the natural route instead of surgery.
She became an empowered patient (12:00), longing to see what she could do to heal herself without medicine. The first thing she did was change her job, but the most important thing she did was change her mind.
Keena admitted, “I did all of this to myself.” Taking this route, Keena’s cyst shrank completely within six months (13:41).
With all of the additional knowledge she was able to gain, she became equipped to be a better teacher to her patients through integrative treatment.
Keena discusses three of the nine herbs that are essential for busy professionals, including maca root, turmeric & milk thistle (19:30). She also talks about her thoughts on the the healing agents of medical marijuana (28:00).
This genius has now wrapped up her love for her patients and her time as a patient into her company, Organosmart and her R.E.S.T. programs (31:40).
Keena has had several moments of “Rediscovery” in her life that have realigned her focus. She is grateful for every step of the process.
Being the patient and the practitioner has made her that much better and every patient is thankful that she has experienced the other side.
Facebook, Twitter, Periscope @keenabesays ; IG: @KeenaBE
www.keenabe.com
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Tuesday Dec 13, 2016
Ash Brown joins the podcast today and in this emotional episode, this #coolsoror of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. takes us on a journey of finding out the enormity of her strength through much trial.
This blogger, voice over talent, red carpet correspondent and event emcee became the total caregiver for her sister, grandfather and mother before she was even able to figure out her own “why” (7:30).
Shortly after her grandfather transitioned, her sister lost mobility in both of her hips and her mother became even more ill (9:11).
This brought her to the point where she needed to find out who she was.
She enlisted in the Army and dropped nearly 100 pounds (11:15). At the time, she thought the move would give her a sense of self. Leading up to her departure for basic training, her mother become gravely ill. Even with her mother’s health declining, she decided to keep going.
What would happen a day into her basic training would drastically change her life forever (12:33).
Ash goes in depth about her mother and how she fought so hard for her to be here (28:30). She knows that life is a “Constant Reminder” of what God is capable of doing and that you have to keep going, no matter the circumstance.
As with anything, life continues even with extreme pain.
God gave her the platform, “Ash Said It” and she has been thriving ever since. This beautifully spirited woman, is not taking “no” for an answer any longer.
Ash Brown is truly a gift to her family and the media industry.
She embraces opportunities that many people would never dare to touch or attempt.
Thankfully, she is doing it like only she can. She is continuing the plight of life with resilience and not only are we aying it, but “Ash Said It” and that’s all that really matters.
All Social Media: @1loveash
www.ashsaidit.com
Thursday Dec 08, 2016
Thursday Dec 08, 2016
Former NFL Quarterback and current television and radio personality, DJ Shockley joins the Cool Soror Podcast as our Cool Bruh Feature of the week.
This brother of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. has been able to navigate life quite well after he hung up his cleats.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, DJ came out of high school ranked as the #2 high school quarterback in the nation.
He signed a scholarship to play with Coach Mark Richt and the University of Georgia Bulldogs. This self proclaimed “Mama’s Boy” got a rude awakening when he stepped foot on the campus nestled in Athens.
Vying for the job as the starting quarterback, he found himself playing back up to David Greene after a foot injury left him sidelined. David Greene went on to have major success, leaving DJ as the back up (12:30).
This made him reevaluate his purpose and why he was chosen to be in this position. He asked himself, “Do you want to be the guy who runs away when things aren’t going right?” (14:43) He vowed to remain loyal and his faithfulness paid off. He found out more about himself.
A chance meeting with the team chaplain allowed him to apply the word to his life. The chaplain asked him to study John 3: 30 which declares, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (18:30). He used it as motivation to become the leader God knew He could be. The Bulldogs had a spectacular year under his leadership.
DJ Shockley also fulfilled a lifelong dream by being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 7th round (23:00). He talks candidly about being star-struck while in meetings with Michael Vick. He also talks about being Vick’s teammate during his legal troubles (27.25)
DJ Shockley is a husband, father, son, friend and advocate for his two brothers with special needs. His story gives us an inside glimpse into the lives of professional athletes and their journeys after the game.
The “Shock Value” in each of our lives is determined by the weight we put on the unexpected. DJ has mastered the enormity of life and how it presents itself as easy as a perfectly thrown pass and an equally executed route.
He continues to put points on the board in life.
Twitter: @DJShockley3
IG: @shock3
Tuesday Dec 06, 2016
Tuesday Dec 06, 2016
Dr. Ajala is a #CoolSoror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and is an internal medical doctor. But her life is so much more than that. She did know however, that at a very young age that helping others with their health would be part of the journey.
As a native of Baltimore, MD she learned about the story of Charles Drew, a renowned doctor who passed away from the very thing he perfected. His life and his demise inspired her to want to help people in any way possible (6:30).
A graduate of Tennessee State University, has found a way to blend her love of hip hop, deejaying and medical profession to create her own nonprofit, Heartbeats and Hip Hop. Her mother was a direct influence for her love of not only hip hop music, but its rich culture. So much so that she would use lyrics and verses to help her memorize medical terminology while she was in medical school (10:10).
She talks deeply about the health disparities in many communities as well as the lack of trust among people of color within the medical community (12:30). Heartbeats and Hip Hop seeks to build a report with people in the community through their programming (21:30).
Dr. Ajala says, “The issue with the inferiority complex that has hovered over the Black community has trickled into our health.” She speaks to breaking the barriers of trying to convince people of color that they are worthy of receiving the best treatment (23:19).
Her plight to connect with millennials involves incorporating hip hop artists and the fight that many of them have had with their health. The college tours have been eye-opening to so many students by giving them real life situations that they can relate to (27:00).
The Doctor and The DJ is navigating her way through this life, on her own terms. She’s doing it through the cadence of the beat: on the turntables and through the hearts.
www.heartbeatshiphop.org
Thursday Dec 01, 2016
Thursday Dec 01, 2016
Ardre Orie is the epitome of what it means to be a “go-getter.” This Alpha Kappa Alpha women received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Special Education from Florida State University, but always knew she wanted more. While teaching in Florida, she implemented an educational etiquette program for parents and students to close the gap of continuous miscommunication among parents, teachers and administration.
The success of the program led her to start her own foundation in 2009- The Pink Wish Foundation. She has continued this program in Chicago, Illinois and launched I Love Me Cosmetics as a social enterprise for her participants to raise money for programming.
Ardre is continuing to share her gift of teaching as an accomplished playwright and film director. Currently touring with her “Traces of her Lipstick” play, which exposes the thoughts, anguish and lust from the hearts of unfaithful women.
Her desire to affirm girls and women comes from surviving household domestic violence as a child. By the grace of God, she has broken that generational curse.
Ardre Orie is a woman who no longer lives her life in a safe place. And there is comfort there, because of her willingness to dare.
Tuesday Nov 29, 2016
Tuesday Nov 29, 2016
Tarryn Sampson, a CoolSoror of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. joins the podcast today.
The owner and CEO of TS Tax & Accounting Services from Bronx, NY made her way to the south after being “tricked” into moving to become the roommate of her cousin. She decided to stay and landed in a corporate accounting position in which she worked for several years. (8:00)
By chance, but more by God’s blessing, she heard about a tax preparation course and decided to go for it! At the time, she was not prepared to leave her full time job.
Instead, she opted to do part time tax prep for friends and family (9:47) She did this until the company’s structure started changing. It came to a point that she felt like she wasn’t being appreciated and on August 15, 2014, God told her it was time to go. She knows when she hears God’s voice, it is very clear (11:00).
Tarryn did not know what her next move would be, she just knew it wasn’t where she was. A very hurtful and emotional departure, found her being resented by a family friend within the company.
Thinking back on why the journey took that particular turn, she said God told her that “I needed you to move faster.” (13:10)
And move faster she did.
She opened TS Tax & Accounting Services a few months later.
Her skills have afforded her the opportunity to minister to other people through her business (15:46). She also goes on to share how she “finds church” wherever she goes and does not rely on the actual building to connect with God (19:32).
Tarryn Sampson’s journey is a prime example that if we let God just do what He does, we will all be better for it.
She is living in that truth and if you take even a small glimpse you will be able to see that her “blessings are accounted for.”
www.tstaxserviceatl.com
FB: Tarryn TheTaxLady
Thursday Nov 24, 2016
Thursday Nov 24, 2016
This episode is a special “holiday” episode.
Our host, Rashan Ali recaps some of the most important things she’s learned in 2016. She recently “hung up her microphone” from her sideline reporting gig, but the choice to do that did not come easy.
In retrospect, the decision gave her space to receive God’s new purpose for her life: The Cool Soror Podcast. She goes in depth about the very moment God gave her the idea and the name.
This moving confirmation of purpose will challenge you to walk in yours as well.
After you hear from Rashan Ali, Alpha Kappa Alpha Cool Soror Jacquelyn Rodgers shares her story of filling a void in the market place.
While shopping for wrapping paper for her son, she noticed that finding a Santa Claus of color became a daunting task.
To fix the problem, she set out on a path to create a line of products that her son could identify with. Her corporate marketing knowledge helped her to be a step ahead of most start ups.
This former Miss Clark Atlanta University, is truly beautiful inside and out. If your spirit is depleted, Jacquelyn Rodgers will definitely fill that void.
Get ready for the holidays with Green Top Gifts!
@RashanAli on FB, Twitter, IG, Snapchat
coolsoror.com
sportygirlsinc.org
pipersky.com
Jacquelyn Rodgers
www.greentopgifts.com
Tuesday Nov 22, 2016
Tuesday Nov 22, 2016
C. Denise Hendricks is a Senior Producer for HLN’s Morning Express with Robin Meade and a Cool Soror of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc.
This Florida A&M University graduate has had a very successful career in television including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, The Mo’Nique Show on BET, ABC, NBC, FOX & CBS. Interestingly enough, she wanted to be a print journalist in the beginning of her career.
After a few internship opportunities, she knew that production was her calling (3:30). She wanted to have some sense of control of the content.
Denise has experienced extreme highs and extreme lows in her life that have only motivated her to carry on in a way that very few are able to do.
She goes in depth about losing both of her parents during her senior year of college while having to be there for her brother who was a collegiate sophomore (8:00). Her father’s view on death and her familial support allowed her to grieve and use their transitions as a source of strength.
When asked how she was able to make it through, she simply answered, “Nothing..but God.” (10:10)
Not everyone gets to work with Oprah Winfrey, but people who are as talented and driven as Denise Hendricks do.
Her experience with the media mogul taught her many things, but the most important thing was to be intentional (23:11) She now carries this attitude of intentionality in her everyday life.
Denise was open enough to talk about the latest and likely one of the most important times of her life: adopting her son Luke (37:25).
Once she accepted that her idea of family was not going to mirror what she had growing up, she was able to carry out her dreams of having a child to call her own. She believes that being transparent about her adoption process would encourage other people to at least explore the option.
C. Denise Hendricks continues to rise in the life she has been given, with a beautiful smile and spirit to match. She knows that she is blessed and believes wholeheartedly in the word of God.
“My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26)
Twitter: @denisehendricks
Instagram: @denise390
FB: Denise Hendricks
LinkedIn: Denise Hendricks