Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity

What makes Columbus, Ohio unique? In this powerful episode of Purpose Over Popularity, Smith Francois sits down with lifelong Columbus resident, community advocate, and healthcare professional Becca Namaste for an honest conversation about the city's history, growth, diversity, and the importance of community. Becca shares her perspective on:✅ Growing up in Columbus, Ohio✅ How neighborhoods...

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with international Haitian artist and vocalist Shega Haiti right here in Columbus, Ohio. 🇭🇹🎤She shares her journey from Haiti to America, singing in FOUR languages, traveling internationally, and using music to connect cultures, inspire kindness, and represent the Haitian community with pride. We talk about:• Haitian culture and unity• Life in Ohio as an...

What happens when fathers and sons finally sit down and tell the truth? In this powerful conversation, and speak openly about fatherhood, forgiveness, abandonment, healing, rebuilding relationships, and the importance of reclaiming our children and families. From handwritten letters between a father and son to difficult conversations about pain, absence, responsibility, and healing this episode go...

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Richard Lundy educator, mentor, author, military veteran, and lifelong advocate for fathers and young men in the Black community. Raised on the east side of Columbus, Ohio, Richard shares stories about growing up during the era when Mount Vernon and Long Street were thriving centers of Black business, culture, and community. From surviving a difficult...

DISCLAIMER: Dr. James White is a performance consultant, trainer, and leadership development professional. He is not presenting medical, psychological, or mental health treatment advice. The views expressed in this conversation are educational and based on personal and professional experience. In this powerful conversation, Mr. James A. White shares lessons on self-awareness, emotional intelligenc...

In this powerful conversation, we dive deep into purpose, leadership, AI, relationships, resilience, economics, and community growth. From celebrating 10K followers organically to discussing the future of work and the importance of self-development, this episode is about building legacy over clout. We discuss: • The Resilience Triad • AI & the changing workforce • Relationships and communicati...

In this powerful episode of Purpose Over Popularity, we go deep into real conversations that most people avoid:Why do people hate others they don’t even know? The difference between competition vs. hatredHow society, history, and mindset shape behaviorThe truth about growth, self-awareness, and legacy buildingWhy YOU must focus on becoming your best self in today’s worldThis conversation is more t...

From Columbus to the world, this is the anthem behind the movement. Built on faith, vision, and storytelling, this record represents the mission of  Smith Says International LLC : turning real stories into impact. This isn’t about chasing clout. This is about calling. Through podcasting, media, and community, we’re giving voices a platform and documenting purpose in real time. Every frame, every w...

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Mr. Cross a military veteran and former paratrooper to explore what it truly means to live beyond fear. From intense military training to life lessons on identity, faith, and personal growth, this episode challenges the mental limits that hold many people back. We discuss: How fear shapes decision making and growth The “mental ceiling” that keeps peo...

What does it actually take to build a healthy relationship in today’s world? In this deep and unfiltered conversation, we sit down with Mr. White to break down the real foundation of relationships starting with  YOU . We go beyond surface level dating advice and dive into: Why self-awareness is the key to every relationship The truth about financial roles in modern dating How historical and system...

This episode is personal. Back in May 2010, everything changed. A phone. A camera. A connection to social media. That moment sparked a journey that led to everything I’m building today.  In this conversation, I sit down with Chicago Zoe someone who played a major role in my story. From putting me on Facebook to showing me how to connect, promote, and move with purpose… this is a full circle moment...

Can you really grow your hair using ingredients from your kitchen? In this episode, I sit down with Na’imah Campbell, founder of The Hair Chef , to talk about natural hair care, entrepreneurship, and teaching communities how to care for their hair using everyday ingredients. From starting a business in college to educating youth through hands-on workshops, Na’imah is building something powerful at...

In this episode of the  Smith Says Podcast , Smith Francois sits down with  EL-Roi , a Chicago-born artist now based in Ohio. EL-Roi is a producer, rapper, and creative who blends hip hop, jazz influences, and real life experiences into his music. In this conversation, he shares his journey from learning piano at a young age to developing his own sound and releasing new music. We talk about creati...

In this conversation I sit down with Bob Cross a man whose life spans segregation era Kentucky the US Army life on the road and a powerful faith journey that led him to ministry and family Bob shares what it was like growing up under Jim Crow only miles from Tennessee how the Emmett Till tragedy shaped fear and awareness for Black boys in the South why sharecropping felt like slavery by another na...

n this episode of  Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity , Dr. James A. White Sr. joins Smith for a direct, unfiltered conversation no dodging hard questions and no soft answers. Dr. White breaks down why free speech and tough dialogue are essential in a democratic society. Then we go deeper into America’s foundation: settlement, enslavement, labor, wealth, and power. This episode tackles: • Why fre...

In this episode, I’m back with  Dr. White (James A. White Sr.)  for a real check-in that turns into a powerful conversation about  AI, justice, and what it means to participate in change . Dr. White breaks down Dr. King’s idea that the moral arc “bends toward justice” and explains the missing piece:  the arc doesn’t bend unless we reach up and pull it.  He shares a simple framework to remember it:...

Both my parents were born in Haiti. I was born in Chicago. Black. Haitian. American. And often told I don’t fully fit anywhere. In this conversation, I share my journey of  faith over fear , identity, and purpose—from being the “first” in many spaces to building a life and business rooted in  creation, service, and truth . We talk about: Living between cultures and carrying multiple identities Why...

Culture meets AI. Purpose meets technology. In this episode of Smith Says: Purpose Over Popularity, we sit with Larry Chapman, founder of Awake18, to explore the unlikely path from music dreams → fatherhood → finance → mental health → AI apps — and how faith, creativity, and community fuel the next generation of builders. Topics we unpack:Music → Tech career pivotsMental health & therapy for B...

In this episode, we sit down with  Irina Perry , a Columbus-based media producer, herbalist, and immigrant entrepreneur whose journey spans continents, careers, and reinvention. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia and arriving in Columbus in 1994, Irina shares her path from working in a donut shop to finance, technology, and eventually media production — all while building a parallel business in herbal...

Smithsonians, welcome back! Today we’re not in the studio — we’re in the doctor’s office getting a wellness check on purpose, mission, identity, and AI. We talk clarity, contribution, and why your visual resume matters for the future of communication and civility. In this conversation with Mr. James A. White Sr, we break down:⭐ Why everyone should have a personal mission & purpose⭐ How clari...

In this episode, Smith Francois sits down with Nadia Jean Jacque , the first Commissioner for Refugee & Immigration Affairs in Columbus , for a raw and necessary conversation about the Haitian experience. Together, they unpack: What it truly means to grow up Haitian The values of Lakay • Lekòl • Legliz and respect Why Haitian culture is celebrated while Haitian struggles are ignored Language,...

In this powerful Part 1 conversation, I sit down with Dr. Ekele, a health educator and medical missionary based in Columbus, Ohio, to talk about natural healing, plant-based living, and faith-driven wellness. What started as a simple juice delivery turned into a deep conversation about:Healing the body without dependency on medicationHow food choices affect inflammation, mucus, and gut healthWhy p...

Smithsonians, welcome back 🎙️Smith Francois here, founder of the 4S Program, and today’s episode is special. Before we get technical, we pause to honor Brother Rogers—a mentor, teacher, and sound engineer who shaped how many of us understand audio, professionalism, and purpose. One of his greatest lessons still stands:“Serve the church—but outside the church, charge your proper fee.”In Part 1 of t...

Y’all might be working on vision boards — but in this episode, we do something deeper. This is a live, unscripted conversation about defining purpose, vision, and mission in real time. After years of working behind the camera—capturing other people’s stories—I reached a moment where I had to pause and ask: Who am I when the lens turns toward me? Joined by Dr. James White , we unpack: Why clarity m...

Smithsonians, welcome back. 🙏 It’s  Smith Francois , founder of the  Forest Program  and the voice behind  Purpose Over Popularity . Today’s episode is different — it’s personal. This should’ve been Episode 1, but God’s timing is always better than mine. Before anything else: Thank you God for protecting me, watching over me, and carrying me through every trial I’ve never spoken about. Thank you...