Everybody wants to be the BOSS, but what does it REALLY take to build a business, overcome setbacks, and create a lasting legacy?

On this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, we're going BEHIND THE BRAND with Euan Davis, Founder & CEO of BarberTime, licensed professional barber, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience.

We're pulling back the curtain on entrepreneurship to explore the sacrifices, financial realities, personal challenges, and resilience required to stay in business.

From facing a devastating fire and nearly walking away to finding the courage to keep building, Euan's journey...

What does your money have to do with your mental health? More than you might think.

In this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA sits down with financial educator, entrepreneur, realtor, and BossLady News host Brit Johnson for a real conversation about the intersection of money, mental health, and financial wellness.

They unpack financial stress, emotional spending, money mindset, homeownership, generational patterns, and the importance of building both emotional AND financial wealth. Plus, Brit answers the signature question, “What does therapy mean to you?” and shares what it means to BET on SELF™ financ...

Healing Through Creativity with Hakim Hakim

What happens when creativity becomes more than expression—and becomes part of your healing?

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, Boston R&B artist, songwriter, and storyteller Hakim Hakim joins Coach LA for an intimate Artist Spotlight conversation about music, mental health, authenticity, vulnerability, relationships, and healing through creativity.

Born and raised in Roxbury, MA, Hakim brings a raw, original, and musically unbound approach to R&B. He shares how life experiences influence his artistry, what it means to remain authentic in an industry built around vi...

The Writing Process: Love, Boundaries & Growth with Story Teller Gordon

What happens when poetry becomes a space to explore love, masculinity, mental health, boundaries, identity, and healing?

On this Poet Spotlight episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA sits down with Brooklyn-born spoken word artist, author, curator, and community advocate Darnnell Dorvil, known as Story Teller Gordon, for an honest conversation about the stories we write—and the stories we sometimes have to rewrite in order to grow.

Gordon shares his journey as a poet and storyteller, the vulnerability behind his creative pr...

What happens when you can see the vision before the world can see it?

On this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA welcomes artist, producer, and creative visionary Troi “Elektrik Kid” Durden to the virtual couch for an Artist Spotlight about creativity, identity, mental health, perseverance, purpose, and the courage to BET on SELF™.

Troi takes us beyond the music and introduces us to the person behind the artistry. Together, Coach LA and Troi unpack a part of the creative journey that people don’t always see: the rejection before the recognition, the self-dou...

Legacy Leadership: The Entrepreneurial Pivot | Featuring Genevieve Angelique

 What happens when the thing you successfully built no longer represents where you're going?

In this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA sits down with Genevieve Angelique for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, identity, legacy, mental wellness, and having the courage to pivot.

After nearly a decade of building The Other Boston and growing a community of more than 10,000 people celebrating Black culture and experiences throughout Greater Boston, Genevieve is preparing to close that chapter and lean more intentionally into travel, experience curation, c...

What happens when the therapist gets on the couch?

On this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, licensed psychotherapist Coach LA (Lakisha R. Austin, LICSW, MSW, MBA) sits down with Alphonso Nathan, MS, LPC — better known as Phonz the Therapist — for an unfiltered Therapist Spotlight conversation about therapy, Black mental health, culture, vulnerability, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health care.

Phonz is a licensed therapist, speaker, author, futurist, and mental health advocate who uses therapy, humor, media, and culturally relevant conversations to make mental wellness more accessible—particularly within Black and Brown communities.

But...

ILL NEIL: Redefining Boston & Building Community — Music, 

What does it mean to BET on SELF™ when the doors aren't opening, the vision isn't being validated, and your community needs someone willing to create the opportunity?

On this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA sits down on the virtual couch with Boston entrepreneur, producer, DJ and community connector ILL NEIL for an unfiltered conversation about Boston culture, music, entrepreneurship, Black men's mental health, community building and legacy.

From the streets to the studio, ILL NEIL shares the journey behind the name, how Bosto...

What happens when you can see the vision before anyone else can?

In this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA welcomes J.Lew, founder of Liquid Luxx, to the virtual couch for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, believing in your vision, building a brand from the ground up, and learning to BET on SELF™ before the validation arrives.

J.Lew shares the story behind Liquid Luxx, the lessons she's learned as an entrepreneur, and what it takes to continue building when the dream is bigger than the resources currently in your hands.

...

What happens when we turn our pain, purpose, identity, and lived experiences into art?

On this episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA sits down on the virtual couch with Lyrical Faith—an international award-winning spoken word poet, cultural curator, recording artist, educator, and social justice scholar—for a powerful conversation about poetry, healing, identity, resilience, and finding the courage to use your voice.

From performing on stages around the world to using spoken word as a vehicle for storytelling and social change, Lyrical Faith shares how creativity can help us process what we’ve exp...

😂 LAUGHTER. HEALING. LIFE LESSONS. 🎙️

Sometimes the best therapy begins with a laugh.

Join us for this episode of Conversations with Coach LA as I welcome comedian and entertainer Demetrius "Big D" Hullum to the virtual couch for a conversation that goes far beyond the punchlines.

For nearly a decade, Big D has been commanding stages with his quick wit, authentic storytelling, and unforgettable presence. A standout in the Boston comedy scene, he's been a finalist in both the Boston Comedy Festival and the Northwest Comedy Festival, hosted for Sam Jay at Boston's iconic Wilbur T...

📖 Every chapter doesn't begin beautifully—but every chapter can end differently.

This episode of Conversations with Coach LA, we're diving into the power of redemption, resilience, and rewriting your story with our special guest, Tarahn Harris, MSW.

Once justice-involved, Tarahn transformed his life through education, purpose, and service. Today, he is a respected social worker, author, and advocate empowering others to discover that their past does not determine their future.

💜 Together, we'll explore:

✨ Turning pain into purpose

✨ The psychology of rewriting your life story

✨ Healing from shame and embracing...

Welcome to Season 10 of Conversations with Coach LA! We have a new time, a new season, and a renewed commitment to helping you BET on SELF™. Whether you’re watching from Boston or around the world, thank you for inviting us into your wellness routine. As Coach LA enters Chapter 50, this season explores what it means to evolve, pivot, heal, lead, and thrive through every season of life. Through powerful conversations with thought leaders, authors, therapists, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and community changemakers, listeners will gain practical strategies and inspiration to BET on SELF™ and embrace their next chapter with confidence.

...

"Your voice has the power to heal—not because it's perfect, but because it's honest." -Coach LA

This season closes with a conversation about identity, purpose, emotional resilience, creativity, and the courage to use your voice to heal yourself and your community. Nay Speaks' music blends hip-hop, poetry, and storytelling with messages of self-awareness, healing, and authenticity. Her work explores growing up in Boston, navigating young adulthood, mental wellness, and finding balance through creativity.

Description

Season 9 comes to a powerful close with one of Boston's most inspiring artists and community voices, Nay...

Behind every successful voice is a story most people never hear.

This week, Coach LA sits down with The Ladies Choice, DJ Wade, one of Urban Heat 98.1FM's most recognizable personalities. Known for his work on Morning Café, Mic Chek 1-2, and Cultural Roots, DJ Wade has become a trusted voice in Boston media, music, and culture.

In this intimate conversation, we'll go beyond the turntables and the microphone to explore the man behind the brand. From his early beginnings to becoming a respected media personality, DJ Wade shares lessons on confidence, consistency, community, and s...

Conversations with Coach LA

Season 9 | Chapter 50: Heal. Elevate. Evolve.

From Beauty Chair to Boardroom: The Business, Brand & Brilliance of Muffen Moses

What does it take to remain relevant, resilient, and remarkable for more than four decades in business?

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA welcomes the incomparable Muffen Moses—award-winning master hairstylist, educator, entrepreneur, beauty executive, and visionary leader whose influence extends far beyond the salon chair.

From building a thriving beauty empire to becoming a nationally recognized educator and mentor, Muffen's journey is a masterclass in...

In recognition of Men's Mental Health Month, Coach LA welcomes legendary radio personality, DJ, entrepreneur, and cultural influencer DJ Chubby Chub for an honest conversation about success, identity, health, resilience, and what happens when the spotlight fades and life demands a reinvention.

Known throughout hip-hop and radio culture, Chubby Chub has spent decades shaping conversations, breaking records, and influencing the culture. But behind the turntables, the microphones, and the celebrity connections is a man who has navigated personal transformation, a significant weight-loss journey, health challenges, and the emotional realities many men are taught to hide.

...

The Power, The Pressure, The Pivot: Dr. Stormy Wellington on Wealth, Controversy & Becoming Unstoppable

This episode of Conversations with Coach LA, Dr. Stormy Wellington joins the virtual couch for a bold, unfiltered conversation on success, scrutiny, and self-evolution.

From building a multi-million dollar empire in direct marketing to becoming one of the most recognized—and debated—figures in the industry, Dr. Stormy opens up about the realities behind the spotlight.

We unpack:

The truth about direct sales & network marketing controversies

The cost of visibility, power, and public perce...

Research consistently shows Black women experience elevated stress responses connected to workplace visibility, code-switching, and performance pressure while simultaneously receiving less emotional support in leadership spaces.“Why are women taught to compete before they’re taught to connect?”

🔥 Featuring Danielle “Hot Sauce” Johnson | Founder of Spark FM

This week on The Virtual Couch, Coach LA sits down with media personality, entrepreneur, and founder of Spark FM, Danielle “Hot Sauce” Johnson, for a bold and unfiltered conversation about visibility, womanhood, entrepreneurship, healing, and what it truly means to evolve in public.

Together, they unpack the em...

An Open Letter From a Single Black Man

Truth. Trauma. Healing.

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, Coach LA sits down with Rico “The Haitian Refugee” for a raw, layered, and emotionally honest conversation about masculinity, pain, relationships, emotional survival, and healing in the Black community.

From childhood abandonment and emotional suppression to dating struggles, accountability, vulnerability, and public scrutiny, this episode peels back the layers behind the phrase: “I’m fine.”

Together, Coach LA and Rico unpack:

Tonight on Conversations with Coach LA, psychotherapist, Lakisha Renee Austin takes listeners on a powerful and deeply reflective journey into the emotional roots of attachment styles, relationship patterns, mother wounds, grief, and healing.

This solo episode explores how childhood experiences, emotional safety, and early caregiving relationships shape the way we love, communicate, trust, avoid, pursue, and protect ourselves in adulthood. From anxious attachment and people-pleasing to emotional shutdown and fear of vulnerability, Coach LA breaks down the psychology behind our relational behaviors through both clinical insight and real-life reflection.

In honor of Mother’s Day, th...

Conversations with Coach LA

“Are You Healed or Just Guarded? 👀 Let’s Be Honest…”

This week on the Virtual Couch, Coach LA invites entrepreneur and foodie, Tuneka Green from Neek's Kitchen  to dive into one of the most honest conversations of the season—healing, accountability, relationships, and the emotional realities of dating after 40. From trending headlines to personal reflection, this episode explores the difference between true emotional healing and simply becoming emotionally guarded.

Using pop culture moments involving Megan Thee Stallion and Cheyenne Bryant as conversation starters, Coach LA unpacks how trauma, attachment styles, social...

From Survival to Significance: The Big Shug Legacy

This episode of Conversations with Coach LA hits different.

Boston’s own Big Shug steps onto the Virtual Couch for a conversation that goes beyond music—into identity, healing, loyalty, and what it really means to evolve.

Rooted in the legacy of Gang Starr and shaped by his journey alongside Guru, Big Shug opens up about the unseen chapters—the pressure, the pain, the pivots—and how hip-hop became both an outlet and a lifeline.

This isn’t just storytelling—it’s narrativ...

We’re laughing—but let’s be clear, this is strategy, not distraction. Healing is in the room.

Comedian and radio personality Jonathan Gates pulls up to the 🎙️ Virtual Couch for an Up Close & Personalconversation that goes beyond the punchline.

Because every joke carries weight… and every laugh has a backstory.

In this episode, we unpack:
😂 Humor as a healing tool—not avoidance, but transformation
💭 Mental health and how it shows up in the culture
🔥 Turning real-life pain into purpose, power, and punchlines

📍 Streaming LIVE on all platforms

Pull up for the laugh...

What does it really look like to rebuild your life—and your identity—after everything falls apart?

In this deeply impactful episode, Coach LA sits down with Asha J.W. Hardnett, also known as “The Purpose Doula,” to explore how purpose is not something you find—it’s something you activate through movement.

From surviving breast cancer and navigating profound grief to becoming a purpose strategist, speaker, and author, Asha shares how she transformed her life experiences into a platform that helps others align passion, purpose, and profit.

This episode is a call-back, not a makeover.

We unpack what it truly means to rebrand yourself from the inside out—not by becoming someone new, but by reconnecting with who you’ve always been beneath survival mode, expectations, and life transitions.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, out of alignment, or like you’ve outgrown old versions of yourself… this conversation will meet you right there and move you forward.

💭 Key Conversation Points

As we close out Women’s History Month, this episode of Conversations with Coach LA invites a powerful shift—from celebration to connection.

On the Virtual Couch, Coach LA is joined by James Lambert III and Mathematics, two men who have been intentionally creating spaces for men to connect, be vulnerable, and engage in conversations many were never taught to have.

In this honest and unfiltered dialogue, they share what they’ve learned from those spaces—offering women deeper insight into how men experience love, pressure, communication, and emotional support.

This episode is not abou...

Grief is one of the most universal human experiences—yet one of the least understood.

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, we hold intentional space to honor the life, voice, and legacy of Marrk “The Voice” Harris, while diving deeper into the emotional and psychological realities of grief. This episode blends heartfelt tribute with clinical insight, unpacking what it truly means to process loss in real time.

Did you know that while grief is natural, nearly 40% of individuals experience symptoms of depression during early bereavement, and many feel unprepared to cope with the emotional and ph...

Soft life with boundaries, burnout prevention, and women’s mental health are the focus of this Conversations with Coach LA episode featuring Shaquera Robinson.

🎧 In This Episode We Discuss

• Why women experience higher levels of chronic stress
• How boundaries support mental health and burnout prevention
• The connection between trauma recovery and self-advocacy
• Balancing advocacy, motherhood, and leadership
• Practical tools for protecting your peace

💭 BET on SELF Reflection

“She believed peace was a priority and the universe adjusted.”

Living the soft life isn’t about luxury aesthetics.<...

What happens when women stop performing excellence—and start living whole?

This week, I’m joined by Jackie Roby, founder of Inspired Journey Consulting, for a bold, necessary conversation about women’s leadership, mental health, and the invisible cost of “having it all.”

We’re talking:

✨ Imposter syndrome & self-worth

✨ Mental health behind the success

✨ Femininity, motherhood & ambition

✨ Women of color leading in male-dominated spaces

✨ Why burnout is not a badge of honor

This isn’t hustle culture.

Th...

"If You Can See It Mentally, You Can Believe It Physically" -Hillary Marie

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, we sit down with professional dancer and international choreographer Hillary Marie for a powerful conversation about discipline, confidence, anxiety, and what it really takes to BET on yourself.

Born in Hollandale, Mississippi and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Hillary began her professional career at just 18 years old. Now approaching her 8-year anniversary in the industry at age 25, she has worked and toured with legends including Snoop Dogg, Lil Kim, Teddy Riley & GU...

Episode 147: Emotional Fitness & Black Joy

Theme: Joy as Resistance — Healing as Discipline

What does it mean to be emotionally fit in a world that constantly demands resilience from Black communities—without offering rest?

In this powerful episode of Conversations with Coach LA, we explore Emotional Fitness & Black Joy as intentional practices for mental health maintenance, resilience, and liberation. Joy is not framed as escapism or denial, but as a discipline, a protective factor, and a form of resistance against chronic stress, trauma, and systemic harm.

Coach LA is joined by Joseph Benn...

Episode Title: We Get It From Mama: Mother Wounds, Fashion, Motherhood & Legacy

In this episode, we explore:

What a mother wound is—and how it shows up in adulthood

How motherhood can re-activate unresolved emotional patterns

Fashion as a tool for self-reclamation and healing

Identity loss and rediscovery after childbirth

Breaking generational cycles without dishonoring our roots

Key Takeaways:

You can love your mother and still heal the wound

Healing is about naming impact, not assigning blame

Sel...

This episode of Conversations with Coach LA marks the opening of Season 9, Chapter 50 — Heal. Elevate. Evolve., with a powerful and necessary conversation on healing in public.

Coach LA is joined by filmmakers Joe Teixeira and Charles Rheddick to discuss their documentary The City That Failed Us All, which examines the lasting impact of the 1979 shooting of Darryl K. Williams and the decades-long silence that followed for those who witnessed the tragedy.

The conversation centers on community and racial trauma, the psychological toll of witnessing violence without aftercare, and the long...

If you’re tuning in for the replay, you’re in the right place. This episode of Conversations with Coach LA is one of those rare gems that lingers long after the mic drops.

In this Season 8 installment, Coach LA sits down with the incomparable Dr. Rebecca Dupas—poet, author, educator, and legacy-builder—to unpack the stories we inherit, the ones we write for ourselves, and the impact we choose to leave behind.

Expect:

✨ Soul work

✨ Laughter and truth-telling

✨ Legacy reflections

✨ A poetic blueprint for becoming

Whether you...

“Say NO to Silence” — A powerful exploration of Black men’s mental health, fatherhood, mentorship, and storytelling. This episode dives into how creative expression and community connections become pathways to emotional liberation and generational healing.

Guest Bio

Eric “EJ Spin” Jones is an author, DJ, and documentary storyteller dedicated to uplifting the voices of Black men through mentorship and art. His projects highlight the strength, humor, and humanity often missing from mainstream narratives. Whether behind the decks or behind the lens, EJ Spin’s mission is clear: amplify the truth and inspire transformation.

Episode Highli...

In this episode, Coach LA sits down with nationally touring comedian FunnyMan Mike James — a storyteller whose blend of southern humor, family insight, and cultural perspective has made him one of Nashville’s most magnetic voices.

Together, they explore the business of funny — how laughter becomes legacy, and how creative entrepreneurs can protect their peace, build their platforms, and still keep it real.

This is more than comedy — it’s a conversation about staying authentic in an industry that profits from imitation, about parenting through purpose, and about how humor can heal the hustle.

🧠 Key T...

What if your biggest setback was actually your setup for the next chapter?

In this week’s episode, Coach LA sits down with powerhouse author and self-care advocate Vick Breedy, creator of the Selfish Women’s Group and Genetically Resilient brand, to talk about what it really takes to reinvent your life after change.

From divorce to discovery, from burnout to boundaries — Vick shares her raw, unfiltered journey of transformation and what she calls her “#BounceBackMagic.” Together, the two explore the emotional architecture of resilience, how to pivot with purpose, and why protecting your peace is an act...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month — a time to elevate voices, honor survivors, and amplify stories of transformation.

Tonight, we spotlight Artice Amor, a Boston-based entrepreneur who turned adversity into artistry. Her journey from pain to purpose — captured in her piece “Becoming Artice” — reflects the essence of reinvention, resilience, and radical self-love.

This conversation explores what it means to build a legacy business while healing generational trauma and redefining beauty — not as vanity, but as vulnerability, vision, and victory.

🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to Conversations with Coach LA!

Don’t forget to subscribe...

This week on Conversations with Coach LA, we’re talking about what it means to transform pain into purpose.

After losing her child’s father, Marcus Hall, to gun violence, Shiaka McIntosh could have let grief define her story — but instead, she decided to rewrite it. As the founder of Parties From Above, Shiaka has hosted more than 100 birthday parties and community events for children who’ve lost a parent to violence or overdose. Through balloons, music, and moments of joy, she’s creating healing spaces where grief meets celebration.

Join Coach LA as she and...