The Kickback With Keri

The Kickback With Keri podcast is going on summer break. New episodes will resume at the end of July. In the meantime, please do the following: Listen to a previous episode that you missed. Rate/Review the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this podcast with at least one person. Thank you for being part of this community! I'll see you in July! 📧 Your curated dose of Black culture, bra...

Tired of coming out of pocket to fund your business? Grant funding is one of the most overlooked income sources for small businesses and solopreneurs. Most grants offer a way to fund your business without going into debt.  This bonus episode highlights five platforms that offer grant funding opportunities and resources to help your business grow.  Platforms: Capital Klub Hello Alice The Well Work...

#38: Creators have the power and Hollywood is taking notice. KevOnStage's new deal with Tubi proves it. There was a time when shows couldn't get the green light without studio backing. These days, creators aren't waiting for an industry to validate them. Instead, they are creating their own content and building their audiences and studios and streaming platforms are knocking on their door. This we...

We’re all trying to make healthier food choices; shopping organic, buying local, and choosing more plant-based options. But what if “plant-based” doesn’t automatically mean healthy? In this hot take, Chunky Vegan founder Camille Hardy unpacks common myths about plant-based foods, the rise of processed ingredients in foods many of us grew up eating, and why spending more on organic food could actua...

#37: She had the idea that would change her life and did nothing with it for three years. Angelique Warner was in the middle of nursing with a house of 18 kids when a vision came to her. A baby carrier designed to support breastfeeding, postpartum mobility, and mother-child bonding. She saw it clearly. Then let it pass. It wasn't until her youngest was starting preschool that she finally put pen t...

#36: After testing 30 brands of human and synthetic hair, there was only one brand that tested negative for heavy metals. Only one. Dosso Beauty. Consumer Reports recently released a second braiding hair report. Not only were the brands tested human and synthetic hair. Some of them were labeled as “non-toxic.” At a time when so many women are looking for healthier beauty options, we trust that if...

#35: Ownership is the real currency. When it’s yours they can’t take it away from you. In this week's Kickback Briefing episode, we’re breaking down BET’s new creator partnership with media entrepreneur JASON LEE, Fear of God’s surprising company reset and what The Doux's latest investment deal reveals about scaling a Black-owned business. This episode we discuss: The blueprint for content creator...

As a business owner or someone who juggles multiple hats, if you’re not careful, you’ll run yourself into the ground. In this Hot Take, Kobi Co. owners Kobi Gregory and Tasha Harris share the self care practices that keep them grounded as well as lessons learned about boundaries when working with family. Listen to the full episode here . Connect with Kobi Co: Website → lovekobico.com Instagram → @...

#34: In this episode, Keri kicks back with Adrienne Randle, creator Evryday Black Magazine, shares why she ended her popular Black-owned shopping guide to launch an indie bi-monthly magazine that centers everyday Black people, not celebrities. Adrienne opens up about her lifelong dream of running a magazine, the unexpected pivot that began with a holiday shopping guide after pausing her product bu...

#33: Nicole Murphy is a tech founder, speaker, and advocate for collaborative entrepreneurship. She is the Founder and CEO of Barter Black®, a membership-based bartering platform built for Black entrepreneurs to exchange products and services. In this episode, we break down how entrepreneurs can use bartering and community to start, grow and scale their businesses without relying solely on cash. S...

#32: In this episode we’re talking about the controversy surrounding Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Trick Daddy, Cardi B’s sold-out hair care launch, and Issa Rae’s latest move into TikTok micro-series. Each story teaches powerful lessons in branding and marketing. In this episode, we cover: Why the AKAs booking Trick Daddy was a failure The importance of knowing your audience and brand alig...

When it comes to your skincare, you could be doing more harm than good. In this hot take, licensed esthetician Cameron Cooper breaks down some of the most common skincare mistakes people make every day. From expensive eye creams to overly complicated routines, he reveals the myths that might actually be harming your skin instead of helping it. We discuss why sunscreen isn’t seasonal, why skincare...

#31: Did you know that 75% of beauty products marketed to Black women contain harmful chemicals? Clean Beauty for Black Girls founder Hannah McCall shares staggering truths about our favorite skincare, haircare and makeup products, how to switch to non-toxic beauty options without overhauling your entire routine and the legislation that could change the US beauty industry for the better. In this e...

#30: If you’ve recently been laid off, or you’re thinking about leaving corporate, this episode will teach you how to turn your experience into a profitable consulting business. In this episode, marketing strategist and messaging expert Candice Jackson Long shares how she went from a devastating layoff to building a thriving consulting business, and how you can too. Whether you're starting from sc...

#29: In this episode of The Kickback Briefing , Keri breaks down three major stories shaping business and culture right now; from the ongoing Target boycott to a beloved Black-owned fashion brand pausing production, and the controversial legacy of America’s Next Top Model . Along the way, she shares powerful lessons on brand trust, communication in business, and why staying true to your mission ma...

#28: Anna Cobb almost lost her life to a synthetic energy supplement. That experience made her to rethink what she was consuming and ultimately led to her creating the first okra sparkling water on the market. In this episode, Anna shares the story behind building O’kra, the wellness beverage brand that went from an idea to being on the shelves at 11 Erewhon luxury grocery stores in California and...

#27: What do you do when you can’t find a Mother’s Day card for your friends? For Krystal Henry, founder of Around the Way Parchment, that simple frustration turned into a growing stationery brand built with intention, representation, and community at its core. Krystal shares how she went from blogging about motherhood to launching a greeting card company, winning nearly $45,000 in grants and pitc...

There comes a point in many of our careers when pushing through no longer feels like strength; it feels like survival. Nutrition coach, pharmacist, and fitness instructor Melanie Smith shares what it looked like to navigate burnout, workplace microaggressions, and the quiet signs that something wasn’t right. We talk about the emotional toll of staying too long, the clarity that came through therap...

#26: Welcome to the first episode of The Kickback Briefing — a new format breaking down the latest wins, challenges, and stories shaping business and culture and the lessons we can learn from them. This week we discuss: The latest update in the Uncle Nearest $108M loan lawsuit Whether the brand could be forced into a sale Nike’s MLK “Honor the King” sneaker controversy The difference between brand...

What do you do when you feel like you’re being called to go in a different direction? Don’t ignore the whisper. In this hot take, former celebrity makeup artist Brittany Ingram shares the one piece of advice she leaned into when she felt that she was being called to leave her thriving Hollywood career behind for a life as a stay at home mom, military wife and a more purposeful lifestyle in Japan....

What do you do when a massive opportunity shows up before your business is ready? In this Hot Take, the founders of Bell’s Reines share why they turned down a request to produce 3 million cookies after one free advertisement and how that decision protected their business. We talk about the reality of scaling too fast, understanding your true capacity, and why infrastructure before income can make...

Women don’t hold themselves back at work because they lack skill or experience; it’s because they are seeking permission to be themselves. Wardrobe stylist and image consultant Naana Badu shares the limiting beliefs women of color have when it comes to their style and reminds us that professionalism is not defined by your wardrobe; it’s defined by your expertise, authority, and presence. Listen to...

The rules of investing have changed. In this hot take, Boyd Cru Wines co-founder Jon’ll Boyd breaks down how beginners can start investing with as little as $100 without being an accredited or angel investor. We talk about why investing feels intimidating, how everyday people can invest in small and Black-owned businesses, and the legacy we can build through ownership and access. If you’ve ever wa...

#25: This episode is a bittersweet one. After a year of filming three seasons together, Keri’s videographer and producer, Kyle, steps in front of the camera for the first time. They pull back the curtain on their entire podcasting journey; the lessons, the laughs, the late-night edits, the technical mishaps, and the major growth moments that shaped the podcast into what it is today. If you’ve ever...

#24: In this solo episode, Keri reflects on the insights and transformative lessons she's learned from conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders through the first three seasons. This episode is packed with actionable wisdom to help you build boldly, take up space, and bet on yourself. 📧 Your curated dose of Black culture, brand spotlights & real inspiration. Subscribe...