Real connection is about choosing growth, accountability, and peace, even when quitting feels easier.

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Jovon “Q” Quarles. A retired Navy SEAL, public speaker, and cast member on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test for a real conversation about love, leadership, trauma, and the kind of resilience you only earn.

Jovon opens up about finding peace in his relationship with his fiancée. He shares the truth about growing up with a mother struggling with addiction, being raised by a village led by his grandmother, and how that upbringing shaped his trust, dating patterns, and identity as a man.

They also get into the moment Jovon quit during SEAL training. Why he rang the bell, how regret hit instantly, and what it took to come back and graduate not only as a SEAL, but as Honor Graduate—twice. Tamika and Jovon discuss the difference between motivation and inspiration, why humility is required to evolve, and how vulnerability becomes strength when your life is on the line.

What You Will Hear About:

1. Why men often “know she’s the one”

2. How your upbringing can shape attachment, trust, and your life in relationships

3. The moment Jovon quit during Hell Week and what it taught him about regret and resilience

4. What Hell Week is really like (and why most people still have more in the tank than they think)

5. The difference between motivation and inspiration, and how to build a vision that carries you

6. Why humility is the entry point to becoming a better leader (and why celebrities struggle with it on Special Forces)

7. The reality of the SEAL team brotherhood, trust, and responsibility

8. Why vulnerability is a core part of military culture even for the most “emotionally controlled” men

8. Tamika’s challenge to Jovon

9. Jovon’s upcoming book, Why Not Me, and the mindset behind building a life you didn’t grow up with

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if it reminded you that relationships still sit at the center of every opportunity.

Connect with Jovon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jovonpquarles

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp.

Join The Connect—a free weekly newsletter with real insights on everything relationships! https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika's: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.

00:00 Knowing When She's the One

00:14 Family Struggles and Support

00:34 Military Life and Brotherhood

01:20 Welcome to the Real Connect Podcast

01:53 Life in South Africa and Beyond

04:03 Engagement and Love Story

08:50 Childhood and Upbringing

14:22 Joining the Military

17:02 Navy SEAL Journey

23:13 Hell Week and Overcoming Challenges

28:52 Standing Out in Navy SEAL Training

30:42 Inspiration and Motivation

35:16 Reinventing After Retirement

37:40 Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

42:21 The Importance of Team Camaraderie

45:40 Vulnerability and Emotional Control

52:59 Personal Reflections and Future Goals

56:26 Speed Round and Final Thoughts

#TheRealConnectPodcast #RealConnection #EmotionalResilience #HealthyMasculinity #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipMindset #TamikaCarlton #JovonQQuarles

This is for anyone who has ever been labeled, judged, or misunderstood and still had to show up like nothing was wrong.

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with TV personality, writer, and entrepreneur Ashley Silva from OWN’s Love & Marriage: DC. Ashley opens up about growing up in Baltimore near the world of The Wire, becoming a young wife and mom, and what really happens behind the scenes of reality TV when the cameras go down and the comments start rolling in.

She shares candidly about anxiety, suffering in silence, and how writing her book Do That Sht* helped her face her own story. Ashley and Tamika talk about friendship breakups, being labeled “mean” for telling the truth, navigating marriage when your partner is always working, and why so many women lose themselves in the roles they play for everyone else. They also dive into Ashley’s dreams of acting, her love of true crime, and building a beauty brand with her daughter.

What You Will Hear About:

1. Growing up in West Baltimore

2. The cost of being “the honest one” on camera and online

3. Mental health, insomnia, and suffering in silence

4. The story behind Ashley’s book Do That Sht* and what she hopes readers feel

5. Friendship, loyalty, and why she does not play with the word “friend”

6. Big dreams, acting classes, and what is next for Ashley

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you have ever felt misunderstood, mislabeled, or tired of pretending. This one is for the people who are finally ready to be who they really are.

Connect with Ashley Silva on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleybrittney or visit her website: https://ashleybrittneysilva.com/

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp.

Join The Connect—a free weekly newsletter with real insights on everything relationships! https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika's: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Struggles

00:46 Welcome to the Real Connect Podcast

01:00 Discussing Sleep and Daily Routine

02:16 The Real Connect Mission and Ashley's Journey

03:05 Life Changes and Reflections

04:01 Growing Up in Baltimore

05:26 Early Love for Entertainment

07:06 Reality TV Experience

10:52 Friendships and Authenticity in Reality TV

11:11 Podcasting and Social Media

15:19 Friendship Dynamics on Reality TV

25:09 Importance of Authentic Friendships

26:51 Writing 'Do That Shit' and Scorpio Energy

29:03 Silent Suffering and Misconceptions

29:34 Breaking the Silence and Finding Balance

30:14 Reflecting on Family and Personal Growth

30:58 Journaling and Relating to Others

31:23 Book Reveal and Reality TV Insights

33:22 Challenges of Reality TV and Personal Growth

36:52 Future Aspirations and Personal Projects

48:41 Balancing Public Life and Mental Health

54:53 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #AshleySilva #LoveAndMarriageDC #RealityTV #RealConnections #DoThatShit #FriendshipGoals

Real connection is still the secret to real visibility, especially in a more AI-obsessed world.In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Brett Farmiloe, CEO of Help a Reporter Out (HARO) and Featured.com, to talk about relationships, PR, and the power of simple conversations. Brett shares how HARO works behind the scenes, why connection accelerates every startup, and how he balances being a founder, husband, and dad of three while leading a team.They get into the realities of AI-generated pitches, what journalists actually want from sources, and how to use tools like HARO and Featured without losing your voice. Brett also talks about the RV road trip that shaped his whole philosophy on business, why he still believes in walking meetings, and how being the “dumbest person in the room” is his favorite advantage.What You Will Hear About:1. How Help a Reporter Out (HARO) really works for journalists and sources2. The role of authentic connection in PR, thought leadership, and startup life3. The percentage of AI pitches that are AI-generated and what that means for trust4. What makes a great pitch 5. How Brett manages his stressors🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if it reminded you that relationships still sit at the center of every opportunity.Connect with Brett at Help a Reporter Out: https://www.helpareporter.com or at Featured: https://www.featured.com or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettfarmiloe/Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbpJoin The Connect—a free weekly newsletter with real insights on everything relationships! https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletterVisit Tamika's: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:36 Balancing Family and Career01:44 Journey to Arizona and Family Life02:22 Introduction to Help A Reporter Out (HARO)04:11 Reviving HARO: Challenges and Successes07:08 The Importance of Connections11:09 AI in Journalism and HARO16:56 Future of AI and Customer Insights19:25 The Power of HARO: Connecting with Anyone19:58 Behind the Scenes: Query Approval Process21:15 Optimal Timing for Query Submission23:40 Handling Stress as a Founder26:15 Future Prospects for HARO27:49 The Shift in Media and Thought Leadership32:40 Rapid Fire Questions with Brett35:21 Conclusion and Contact Information#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #HelpAReporterOut #HARO #PRTips #MediaPitching #Podcasting #ThoughtLeadership