We're back on the couch and this time I brought someone with me.

June Archer — media executive, author, entrepreneur, and what I can only describe as a dot connector — is sitting with me today and I need you to clear your schedule because this conversation is not one you're gonna want to rush through.

We met backstage at the Power Networking Conference in Atlanta and I knew immediately that this was someone I needed to get on this couch. June has built a career across music, media, entertainment, and now publishing — not by pivoting, but by evolving. And there is a difference.

In this episode we get into what it really means to push the button on your dreams instead of just talking about them, why trying is not the same as doing, how June went from working in the executive suite at Cigna as a college freshman to becoming one of the most connected people in the room, the lost art of human connection in a world that hides behind devices, and why your word for the year means nothing without execution behind it.

Oh — and we talked about Jay-Z for a solid minute. You already know.

June also brought his brand new book, The Definitive Art of Networking, and broke down why networking is actually the wrong word for what we're all trying to do. This one is going to shift how you move in every room you walk into.

New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe so you don't miss what's coming.

🎙️ Hard Wig, Soft Life is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Produced by BUSSALENZ Media

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We're back, baby. Give yourself your flowers.

Season 3 is HERE and we are back on the couch where we belong.

I'll be honest with you — I filmed this episode way more times than I'd like to admit. Between planning and executing The Intersection (a 100-person culture event that I threw entirely by myself), doing 75 Hard, co-hosting Shake the Room, and moderating at the Power Networking Conference in Atlanta where I shared a stage with Les Brown — I was not mentally available to show up for this podcast the way it deserved. But we're here now.

In this episode, we're catching up on everything that went down between Season 2 and Season 3: what it really took to pull off a first event solo and actually land sponsors, why I'm moving to Atlanta in September, how I'm redefining my relationship with time and the baby conversation, what it feels like to be almost 35 and still feel like you're racing the clock, and why this season I'm done being polished.

And more than anything — we're talking about giving yourself your flowers. Before someone else does. Before you're ready. Right now.

If you've been rocking with HWSL since Episode 0, this one is for you. And if you're new here — welcome. Get comfortable.

New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe so you don't miss what's coming.

🎙️ Hard Wig, Soft Life is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Support the show

This is it - the Season 2 finale of Hard Wig, Soft Life.

11 months ago, I started this podcast not knowing if I had anything valuable to say. I just knew I wanted to share my story - from being a felon who faced jail, eviction, and homelessness to building a life I'm proud of.

Season 2 became so much more than that. I trademarked the name (by myself, no lawyer). I got invited to speak at events. I moderated a panel at Nike Wellness Collective. I'm heading to Atlanta for a speaking engagement. This little idea kept growing.

But the real growth happened behind the scenes. Watching myself back on camera forced me to confront things about myself I didn't even realize - how I respond to trauma, how I've spent my life trying to be palatable, how I hide behind my guests instead of showing up fully as myself.

Therapy every two weeks alongside releasing episodes every two weeks? That combination exposed everything. I'm unlearning the need to assimilate. I'm learning to show up unapologetically. I'm embracing my accent, my directness, my authenticity - not as a buzzword, but as who I actually am.

This season taught me:

• Empty the clip on your ideas, even when it feels cringey
• Growth isn't linear and that's okay
• You don't have to be perfect to start
• Finishing something you're proud of is its own reward

Some personal news: My husband Ryan and I are actively trying for a baby. For the first time in my life, I feel ready to be a mom without resentment or feeling like I'm giving up on myself. I've accomplished things I'm proud of, and I'm ready for the next chapter.

Thank you to everyone who made Season 2 possible - Justin Story for Creators Escape, Sabrina and Imani from Blackstock Footage for producing, and every single guest who trusted me with their story: Tracey Baker-Simmons, Esso, Pastor Tekoa Pouerie, Jada Urban, Monique, and more.

Most importantly, thank you to my community. Without you listening, there's nothing for me to create.

Season 3? We'll see what happens. But I promise more episodes of just me talking. No more hiding behind interviews.

It's been real. See you soon.

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