Who's Your Ma Honey?

Епизоди

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  12: When Your Greatest Pain is Your Greatest Purpose | Best of Who's Your Ma Honey? 23.07.2026 37мин

  What if the hardest thing you've ever lived through becomes the very reason someone else finds hope? In this Best Of episode of Who's Your Ma Honey?, guests share the moments they chose not to let pain have the final word. From personal loss and rejection to public failure and lifelong shame, these stories reveal how adversity can become a catalyst for purpose, leadership, advocacy, and service. Each conversation is a reminder that while we don't get to choose every hardship we face, we do get to choose what we build from it. Sometimes the very thing that nearly broke you becomes the reason you're able to change someone else's life. 1: The Psychology of Shame: How Internalized Shame Shapes Your Identity | Dr. Delvena Thomas 4: How Feeling Like an Outcast Led to Daniella Levine Cava Becoming Mayor 5: Sybrina Fulton on Trayvon Martin’s Legacy and Turning Grief Into Purpose 9: Sheena Meade on America’s Criminal Record Crisis and the Fight for Second Chances 2: Karen Hunter on Rethinking Strength and The People Who Shape You 10: How Asset Framing Can Transform the Way We See Black Communities | Trabian Shorters  RESOURCES: Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: https://www.oneunited.com/ 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: https://www.oneunited.com/wiseone/ 💳 Get the Card: https://www.oneunited.com/apply/ Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/)
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  11: Moments That Shaped You Before You Even Knew | Best of Who's Your Ma Honey? 16.07.2026 40мин

  Some of the most defining moments in our lives happen long before we understand what they mean. In this special Best Of episode of Who's Your Ma Honey?, guests revisit the childhood memories, family dynamics, and life experiences that quietly shaped their identity. From the labels they were given to the beliefs they carried into adulthood, these stories reveal how our earliest experiences shape our confidence, relationships, sense of purpose, and sense of self. Ever wondered why you think, react, or see yourself the way you do? This conversation offers a powerful reminder that understanding where your story began is often the first step toward rewriting it. KEY POINTS 1: The Psychology of Shame: How Internalized Shame Shapes Your Identity | Dr. Delvena Thomas 3: How Addonis Parker Went From Hiding His Art to Owning His Gift 6: From Being Called "Nassau” to Leading in Congress | Congresswoman Frederica Wilson 7: Marc Morial on Growing Up in Segregated New Orleans and Fighting for Change 8: How Felecia Hatcher Turned Imposter Syndrome Into $300M in Impact 10: How Asset Framing Can Transform the Way We See Black Communities | Trabian Shorters RESOURCES: Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: https://www.oneunited.com/ 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: https://www.oneunited.com/wiseone/ 💳 Get the Card: https://www.oneunited.com/apply/ Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/)
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  Why We Stigmatize Others and Ourselves Without Realizing It 14.07.2026 6мин

  What if the way we talk about people is reinforcing the very stigma we're trying to dismantle? In this conversation, Trabian Shorters introduces the concept of asset framing—a powerful approach that challenges us to define people by their aspirations and contributions before their struggles. He explains how leading with deficits shapes the brain, creates stigma, and even influences how Black communities see themselves. Teri Williams reflects on how she internalized those messages, making this a deeply personal conversation about identity, shame, and telling the whole story. Trabian Shorters  Website: trabianshorters.com Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  10: How Asset Framing Can Transform the Way We See Black Communities | Trabian Shorters 09.07.2026 56мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell welcome Trabian Shorters, who breaks down the concept of Asset Framing and why the stories we tell about ourselves shape everything. This conversation goes beyond mindset. It’s about identity, narrative, and the hidden ways we’ve been conditioned to define ourselves by struggle instead of strength. Trabian explains how stigma is created, how it impacts how we see ourselves and each other, and how shifting your internal narrative can unlock an entirely different life. KEY POINTS:  What “asset framing” really means How stigma is created Why do we define ourselves by struggle The danger of leading with deficits How narrative shapes identity The connection between belonging and ownership Rewriting your internal story Why your story determines your future QUOTES: “The stories you tell will create the life that you live.” – Trabian Shorters “You can make progress or excuses, but you can only do one at a time.” – Trabian Shorters “It’s not what people call you, it’s what you answer to.” – Trabian Shorters Trabian Shorters  Website: trabianshorters.com Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  The $87.26 Arrest That Led to 18 Million Second Chances | Sheena Meade 07.07.2026 7мин

  After a bounced check for $87.26, Sheena Meade found herself arrested, booked, and carrying a record that would follow her for years. What began as a single mistake became a barrier to housing, employment, education, and even volunteering at her son’s school. In this conversation, Sheena shares the story behind the arrest, the moment she revisited the case while preparing for a TED Talk, and how that experience ultimately fueled her work to help clear records for nearly 18 million people across the United States. This is a conversation about second chances, systemic barriers, and what happens when one person's pain becomes a movement for millions. Sheena Meade  Website: www.sheenameade.com Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  9: Sheena Meade on America’s Criminal Record Crisis and the Fight for Second Chances 02.07.2026 1ч

  Today, Sheena Meade (CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative) joins Who’s Your Ma Honey? to share her story that changed everything, from being arrested over an $87 check to how that single moment exposed a system designed to keep people stuck. It highlights the millions of people living with records, stigma, and barriers that have nothing to do with who they are today. With this, Sheena’s conversation with Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell breaks down “undeserved shame” – how it is created, how it shows up in systems, and how she turned her pain into policy. This episode will shift how you think about justice, identity, and second chances. Because sometimes, the question isn’t what you did… It’s who you’re allowed to become after. KEY POINTS:  00:00 – The moment that changed everything: arrested for $87.26 05:40 – Sheena’s “My Honey”: motherhood, survival, and stigma 08:39 – Public shame vs internal truth 11:37 – Breaking generational cycles through intentional parenting 12:09 – Pain to purpose: the foundation of her life’s work 16:41 – The full arrest story: survival criminalized 21:21 – The real sentence begins after jail 23:44 – The system is built to trap, not release 28:05 – Changing the narrative around “criminals” 36:28 – Clean Slate: removing shame at scale 40:55 – The real impact: dignity restored, confidence returned QUOTES: “People don’t know the weight of having to wait.” – Sheena Meade “One out of three Americans has an arrest or conviction.” – Sheena Meade Sheena Meade  Website: www.sheenameade.com Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  If You Think You Have Imposter Syndrome, Guess What? You Do. 30.06.2026 6мин

  In this conversation, CEO of Black Ambition Prize Felecia Hatcher shares why high achievers often struggle to internalize their success, how shame causes us to shrink in the moments we're meant to lead, and why confidence has less to do with certainty and more to do with trust. Felecia offers a powerful reframe that may completely change the way you think about imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the opportunities already in front of you. Felecia Hatcher  Website: feleciahatcher.com Instagram: @feleciahatcher Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  8: How Felecia Hatcher Turned Imposter Syndrome Into $300M in Impact 25.06.2026 54мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey? Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition, shares how she went from being a C student without a clear path, to helping entrepreneurs raise over $300 million in funding. Felecia opens up about imposter syndrome, undeserved shame, the pressure to measure yourself by someone else’s standards, and the mindset shift that helped her stop shrinking in rooms she had already earned her way into. Through stories about her Jamaican grandmother, Florence, high school shame, entrepreneurship, failure capital, and building Black Ambition, Felecia reframes confidence as trust. Don’t miss this episode as their conversation is a powerful reminder that there is more than one pathway to success, asking for help is a strength, and if you’re in the room, you’re in the room. KEY POINTS:  00:00 – Introduction 08:39 – Where shame started: not fitting the system in high school 12:28 – The “fish climbing a tree” realization 14:24 – Breaking free from shame through alternative pathways 16:38 – Why we don’t talk about shame and the need for generational dialogue 20:34 – Removing shame around asking for help and seeking therapy 24:49 – Confidence = trust: the real solution to imposter syndrome 32:20 – Validation, environment, and the systems that create self-doubt 40:51 – Failure, regret, and the truth about building success QUOTES: “I ended up winning $130,000 in scholarships. As a C student.” – Felecia Hatcher “Confidence means to confide. Confide means to trust.”  – Felecia Hatcher “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its entire life feeling like it's stupid.”  – Felecia Hatcher “There's more than one pathway to success.”  – Felecia Hatcher Felecia Hatcher  Website: feleciahatcher.com Instagram: @feleciahatcher Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  How A Segregated Childhood Built Marc Morial's Purpose 23.06.2026 11мин

  Marc Morial joins Who’s Your Ma Honey? for a powerful conversation on legacy, race, leadership, and the moments that shaped him long before public office. Born into the civil rights movement and raised in segregated New Orleans, Marc reflects on being seated in the back of the classroom at five years old, learning to navigate two worlds, and turning the pressure to prove himself into purpose-driven leadership. Marc Morial  Website | nul.org/our-team  Instagram | @marcmorial Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  7: Marc Morial on Growing Up in Segregated New Orleans and Fighting for Change 18.06.2026 1ч 1мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell sit down with Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, to unpack identity, expectation, and the pressure of navigating spaces that challenge who you are. Marc shares what it was like growing up in environments where he was often one of the only Black students, facing moments where his presence was questioned and his potential underestimated. From early experiences of being doubted to stepping into leadership, his journey reveals how external perception can shape identity if you let it. Tune in as they explore what it means to carry expectation, define your own path, and build power in spaces.  KEY POINTS:  Walking into spaces where you’re questioned Growing up as one of the only Black students Early experiences of being doubted and underestimated The pressure to prove you belong How identity is shaped by environment Choosing your own path despite expectations Leadership and redefining belonging Turning pressure into purpose Building power in spaces not built for you QUOTES: “I was born in segregation… in a segregated hospital in a segregated city.” – Marc Morial “It fueled my ambition to fight for a more just society.”  – Marc Morial “The more someone told me I couldn’t… the more determined I became.”  – Marc Morial “No matter where you begin in life, the question is how far you go.”  – Marc Morial Marc Morial  Website | nul.org/our-team  Instagram | @marcmorial Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's Lesson on Courage, Leadership & Doing What's Right 16.06.2026 4мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell sit down with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson to unpack identity, resilience, and the early moments that shaped her bold, unapologetic leadership. From being teased as a child and made to feel like an outsider to becoming a lifelong advocate for the voiceless, Congresswoman Wilson shares how those experiences didn’t break her; they built her. She reflects on the influence of her grandmother, the lessons she absorbed growing up, and how those moments shaped her instinct to protect others, stand up for what’s right, and lead without fear. Their conversation is about more than politics, emphasizing on the importance of identity, courage, and the decision to not let the world define you. KEY POINTS:  Congresswoman Frederica Wilson on being teased as a child Reframing what “different” really means Using her experience to protect and uplift others The moment she chose to stand up and not back down Building boldness and leadership from early experiences Turning adversity into lifelong purpose QUOTES: “Children used to call us Nassaus, that was to make us feel different.” – Frederica Wilson “If I knew that I was doing the right thing, I was going to make it right.” – Frederica Wilson “That never bothered me, whether people liked me or not.” – Frederica Wilson Frederica Wilson Website: wilson.house.gov Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  6: From Being Called "Nassau” to Leading in Congress | Congresswoman Frederica Wilson 11.06.2026 30мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell sit down with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson to unpack identity, resilience, and the early moments that shaped her bold, unapologetic leadership. From being teased as a child and made to feel like an outsider to becoming a lifelong advocate for the voiceless, Congresswoman Wilson shares how those experiences didn’t break her; they built her. She reflects on the influence of her grandmother, the lessons she absorbed growing up, and how those moments shaped her instinct to protect others, stand up for what’s right, and lead without fear. Their conversation is about more than politics, emphasizing on the importance of identity, courage, and the decision to not let the world define you. KEY POINTS:  Congresswoman Frederica Wilson on being teased as a child Reframing what “different” really means Using her experience to protect and uplift others The moment she chose to stand up and not back down Building boldness and leadership from early experiences Turning adversity into lifelong purpose QUOTES: “Children used to call us Nassaus, that was to make us feel different.” – Frederica Wilson “If I knew that I was doing the right thing, I was going to make it right.” – Frederica Wilson “That never bothered me, whether people liked me or not.” – Frederica Wilson Frederica Wilson Website: wilson.house.gov Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  Sybrina Fulton on the Strength It Took to Speak for Trayvon Martin 09.06.2026 5мин

  In this segment, Sybrina Fulton reflects on the strength it took to speak publicly after Trayvon Martin’s death, the moment she packed her bags to speak on his behalf, and why she refuses to give haters the reaction they want. She opens up about being guided by her mother, her pastor’s words that “trials and tribulations don’t build character, it reveals it,” and the generations of women who shaped her into the mother and advocate she is today. RESOURCES: Sybrina Fulton Instagram | @sybrinafulton Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  5: Sybrina Fulton on Trayvon Martin’s Legacy and Turning Grief Into Purpose 04.06.2026 37мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell sit down with Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, to unpack grief, public perception, and protecting her son’s legacy. Sybrina shares what it was like to navigate loss while watching the media reshape her son’s narrative and place blame where it didn’t belong. In the face of unimaginable pain, she chose not to retreat, but to rise. Their conversation goes beyond tragedy, emphasizing on reclaiming truth, finding purpose through pain, and using your voice to create change. Sybrina also reveals how her journey led her to advocacy, leadership, and building a legacy that continues to impact communities around the world. Listen in.  Trigger warning: Mention of gun violence & death.  KEY POINTS:  The moment everything changed Navigating grief in the public eye How the media shaped the wrong narrative The weight of carrying someone else’s story Turning pain into purpose Finding strength through advocacy Reclaiming truth and voice Building a legacy beyond tragedy QUOTES: “I’m doing this so no other family has to go through what I went through.” – Sybrina Fulton “I didn’t choose this, but I chose what I was going to do with it.” – Sybrina Fulton “I had to find strength in a moment where I didn’t think I had any.” – Sybrina Fulton Sybrina Fulton Instagram | @sybrinafulton Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  Daniella Levine Cava on Growing Up With a Bully and Becoming Anti-Bully 02.06.2026 7мин

  In this deeply personal segment, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reflects on growing up in a household shaped by emotional bullying and the complicated role she played within it. She shares how identifying with her father, rather than defending her mother, became a source of quiet shame, and how that experience stayed with her long after childhood. But instead of avoiding it, she examines it. What emerges is a powerful realization: the very thing she once struggled to understand became the foundation of her leadership. Today, her zero-tolerance stance on bullying isn’t just policy, it’s personal. This conversation explores how even our most uncomfortable truths can shape the way we lead, protect others, and show up in the world. Daniella Levine Cava Instagram | @mayordlc Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  4: How Feeling Like an Outcast Led to Daniella Levine Cava Becoming Mayor 28.05.2026 35мин

  What if the moments that made you feel like you didn’t belong… were actually shaping who you were meant to become? In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell sit down with Miami-Dade Mayor Daxniella Levine Cava to unpack how early feelings of loneliness, disconnection, and not fitting in became the foundation of her leadership. From being an outcast as a child to navigating constant change and reinvention, Mayor Levine Cava shares how those experiences forced her to develop empathy, deep listening, and a people-first perspective that would ultimately define her path. Tune in - this episode not only talks about identity, perspective, and purpose, but it’s also about realizing that the discomfort you once tried to escape may actually be the thing preparing you to lead. KEY POINTS:  Discovering the true source of success  Being made to feel ashamed of where Mayor Levine came from Realizing shame was actually her superpower Understanding “undeserved shame” and how it shapes identity Feeling like an outcast and not fitting in as a child Reinventing herself through new environments Becoming a leader by including others, not excluding them How perspective and exposure shaped her worldview Why deep listening became her greatest leadership skill QUOTES: “I wanted to have more friends, and I wanted to belong.” – Mayor Daniella Levine Cava “I had an opportunity to reinvent myself.” – Mayor Daniella Levine Cava “I needed to get outside of myself, be more present for others and listen better.” – Mayor Daniella Levine Cava RESOURCES: Daniella Levine Cava Instagram | @mayordlc Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  Addonis Parker on The Dangerous Lies We Tell Ourselves 26.05.2026 6мин

  In this emotional segment, Addonis Parker opens up about the lie he carried for years. He shares how rejection, pain, and self-doubt led him to believe he wouldn’t make it past 25, and how that internal narrative shaped the way he saw himself and his future. But instead of letting that lie define him, he chose to confront it.   This conversation is a powerful reminder that the most dangerous stories aren’t always the ones told to us, but the ones we repeat to ourselves, and that healing begins the moment we tell the truth. Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  3: How Addonis Parker Went From Hiding His Art to Owning His Gift 21.05.2026 50мин

  What happens when the thing you’re called to be… is the very thing the world tells you to hide? Today, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell welcome the world-renowned artist Addonis Parker to unpack identity, masculinity, and the cost of suppressing your true self. From hiding his creativity as a young athlete to being told how his art should look, Addonis shares the internal battle of trying to fit into a version of himself that the world would accept. But what he once buried eventually became the very thing that saved his life. Listen in as this conversation goes deeper than art. It’s about confronting shame, reclaiming your identity, and understanding that your difference is not a weakness, but your calling. KEY POINTS:  0:00 – Introduction  3:14 – Success leaves clues: Legacy, lineage, and “Who am I?” 5:17 – Hiding creativity: Sports, masculinity, and burying emotion 6:48 – The moment at six: A sketchpad, sunlight, and realizing he was different 11:02 – Learning to be “other”: Accepting that art + athletics can coexist 13:51 – Being ashamed of “Adonis”: When your own name feels too artistic 15:35 – Everything changes: Owning “Adonis” and watching the world respond 24:21 – “Stop painting Black people”: The pushback against his Black art 39:17 – Turning pain into fuel: Using rejection as hidden fire and purpose 41:48 – The lie that almost killed him: Not expecting to live past 25 QUOTES: “When God gives you a gift, you've got to add on to it.” – Addonis Parker “You have to realize that you are a human being with worth before you become a superhero.” – Addonis Parker “The worst lie you can tell is the one you tell yourself.” – Addonis Parker RESOURCES: Addonis Parker  Website | addonisparker.com Instagram | @addonisp Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: oneunited.com 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: oneunited.com/wiseone 💳 Get the Card: oneunited.com/apply Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at epyc.co)
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  Karen Hunter on Getting Fired, Racism, and Becoming Undeniable 19.05.2026 10мин

  After being told her work was “not up to par” and getting fired early in her career, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Karen Hunter was forced to confront rejection, self-doubt, and the realities of navigating spaces that weren’t built for her. But instead of folding, she doubled down. From calling the newsroom every day to outworking everyone around her, Karen turned that moment into fuel and went on to land front-page stories at one of the biggest newspapers in the country. This isn’t just a story about getting fired. It’s about what you do next. RESOURCES: Karen Hunter  Website | www.karenhuntershow.com Instagram | @karenhuntershow Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: https://www.oneunited.com/ 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: https://www.oneunited.com/wiseone/ 💳 Get the Card: https://www.oneunited.com/apply/ Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/)
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  2: Karen Hunter on Rethinking Strength and The People Who Shape You 14.05.2026 1ч 1мин

  In this episode of Who’s Your Ma Honey?, Teri Williams and Suzan McDowell sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Karen Hunter to unpack identity, origin, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Karen shares powerful stories about her upbringing, her mother’s resilience, and the mindset that helped her navigate spaces where she wasn’t always welcome. From being told she wasn’t “up to par” to becoming one of the most influential voices in media, her journey reveals what it really takes to own your identity without apology. This conversation challenges the idea of shame and replaces it with something more powerful: self-awareness, imagination, and the courage to define yourself on your own terms. KEY POINTS:  0:00 – Introduction  3:22 – Karen’s “no shame” origin story: Delusion as protection 4:18 – Father’s grind and early expectations: Work ethic, plotting & skipping a grade 8:29 – Generational courage: From plantation roots to leaving the South 17:42 – Social discomfort vs. belonging: Introvert who refuses to shrink 24:03 – Cosplaying decoded: Performing the life others expect 29:16 – Suzanne’s parallel: Rejecting “weak” mothers, then realizing the cost 30:53 – Lessons for the community: You belong everywhere you are 48:36 – Racism in the newsroom: quota myths, slurs, and using it all as motivation 53:02 – All money ain’t good money: Community-first business ethic QUOTES: “Every time I do whatever it is, I imagine it happens.” – Karen Hunter “Most of the problems people bring to you are them telling on themselves.” – Karen Hunter “I like the ability to be able to do whatever it is I want to do, and that, to me, is power.” – Karen Hunter RESOURCES Karen Hunter  Website | www.karenhuntershow.com Instagram | @karenhuntershow Explore more from OneUnited Bank: 🏦 Learn more: https://www.oneunited.com/ 💡 Build smarter with WiseOne: https://www.oneunited.com/wiseone/ 💳 Get the Card: https://www.oneunited.com/apply/ Who's Your Ma' Honey?  is produced by EPYC Media Network (visit at https://www.epyc.co/)