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On the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast, hosts Mike, Ken, and CJ welcome Columbus-based fashion designer and master tailor Corey Winborn, CEO of Designs by Winborn, who shares how he became self-taught by thrifting and deconstructing garments as a teen and turned that passion into a 37-year career in custom clothing, alterations, and fine jewelry. Corey explains how style and presentation build confidence and opportunity, why he chose not to pursue college, and what it took to leave traditional jobs to bet on his craft. He offers practical business advice for aspiring designers: study fashion, become your own brand, focus on what sells (not just social media image), and build a client base before taking on a brick-and-mortar. He shares his appointment-only shop details and leaves a question for the next guest about living the life they want.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:35 August Vibes and Market Days

02:41 Meet Corey Winborn

04:33 Self Taught Tailoring Origins

07:39 Style Confidence and Presentation

11:20 No College Needed

12:46 Turning Craft Into Business

18:04 Entrepreneurship Mindset Shift

25:04 Business 101 for Designers

29:52 Study Trends and Sell Work

30:45 Be Your Own Brand

31:36 Creating What’s Next

33:22 Naming DBW and N4

33:59 Born to Win Philosophy

36:23 Why Every Man Needs Custom

38:23 Custom Suits Through History

39:47 Favorite Clients and Moments

41:36 Dressing Women Too

42:56 Opening the Brick and Mortar

47:30 Entrepreneur Advice and Wrap

48:37 Where to Find Corey

50:26 Final Questions and Goodbye

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Hosts:

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• CJ
• Ken

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The Black Bridge Mindset Podcast returns after a brief break as host Mike shares he started a new role at Zipline and the hosts recap meeting in Chicago during Canadian wildfire smoke. Ken introduces guest Sonia Aline, a communications strategist, editor, author, and host of the Business First podcast, known for interviewing leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Ursula Burns and co-authoring a NAACP Image Award–nominated book on unwritten rules for minority professionals. Sonia explains her background from Birmingham, England to Brooklyn, her accidental entry into publishing, and her career lessons from decades of interviews. She discusses storytelling as an ancient tool that builds emotional connection, drives brand loyalty, and helps entrepreneurs differentiate, emphasizing listening, intuition, alignment over “grind,” and practical ways her Storytelling Business Journal helps people craft and distribute their brand story.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:35 Hosts Catch Up
02:56 Meet Sonia Aleene
05:04 Curiosity And Identity
06:37 Roots From England
10:42 Breaking Into Media
15:09 Career Lessons And Yes
17:27 Why Storytelling Works
22:21 Brand Stories In Business
26:30 Storytelling Journal Framework
29:18 Learning From Icon Interviews
31:15 Synchronicity in Motion
32:18 Alignment Over Hustle
35:53 Protect Your Nervous System
37:48 Breaks Spark Breakthroughs
41:09 Storytelling Starts Listening
46:24 Make Customers Feel Seen
47:44 Business First Podcast
50:46 Closing Ritual and Gratitude

Podcast - Business First w Sonia Alleyne

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Instagram - Book ~ Storyteller Magic

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Hosts:

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• Ken

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From Court Reporter to 3 Childcare Centers: Tysie Milliken-Benjamin on Faith, Perseverance, and Building Agape Love

On the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast, hosts Mike, Ken, and CJ welcome Tysie Milliken-Benjamin, a woman of faith and entrepreneur who owns three 24-hour childcare centers in Paducah—Agape Love Childcare, Ruth’s Childcare, and Agape Love Bugs Childcare—plus nonprofits Safe Place and Safety Nest. Tysie shares how she transitioned from cosmetology to court reporting, opened her own court reporting business, then followed what she describes as God’s calling into childcare in 2017. She explains learning through volunteering, training, and mentorship, overcoming a failed first center, clearing her record, navigating state regulations, funding challenges, and opening additional centers through perseverance. Tysie details her mission to serve working and low-income families, teach life skills and culture, support staff development, and enforce structure, while emphasizing her sacrifices, community impact, and her guiding question for entrepreneurs: “What is your why?”

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:35 Hosts Catch Up
00:57 Cleaning Lady Story
02:15 Meet Tysie Millican
03:45 Tysie Introduces Herself
04:30 From Court Reporting
05:36 Called To Childcare
07:48 Agape Name Meaning
09:04 Overwhelmed First Steps
10:18 Rules And Mentors
12:34 Legal Steps And Funding
15:25 Persevering Through Setbacks
18:24 Opening Second Center
20:42 Third Center Challenges
23:09 What Sets Her Apart
27:11 How Centers Are Structured
28:13 Why 24 Hour Childcare
28:53 Feeding Kids Right
29:49 Covering Essentials
30:23 Making It Sustainable
32:18 Steps To Open Center
35:10 Training Staff Growth
37:11 Strict Parent Boundaries
39:23 Pricing And Waitlist
40:37 Lessons For Younger Self
41:42 Proudest Love Bug Story
44:30 Contact And Giving Back
45:32 Hidden Sacrifices
47:03 Find Your Why
50:33 Sign Off And Collage
51:40 Paducah Podcast Invite
52:29 Final Thanks Goodbye

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Contact us:

• Email: blackbridgemindset@gmail.com

Hosts:

• Mike
• CJ
• Ken