Rants And Randomness With Luvvie Ajayi

In this episode, Luvvie is joined by Sally Thornton, HR Consultant and the Founder of Forshay, to give her insider perspective as 'team gardener' on the dysfunction, blind spots, and the necessary overhaul of Awe Luv Media. Luvvie and Sally explore the complexities of leadership, the importance of truth-telling in business, and managing team dynamics through turbulent transitions. They share insights on the significance of financial management, the challenges of scaling, maintaining productivity amidst internal conflicts, and the journey of rebuilding a more intentional and focused company. Sally emphasizes the importance of aligning work with energy and passion, and shares practical tips on team building for solopreneurs and small business owners.

In this episode, Luvvie dives deep into 'The Crumbling' - the most tumultuous period of Awe Luv Media - as it faces operational chaos, underperformance, and financial distress in the first half of 2023. Luvvie recounts experiences of unexpected challenges, including unmet deadlines, poor productivity, and critical financial losses that brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. Despite overemphasizing core values, setting clear priorities, and empowering the team, mistakes continued left and right, leading to the firing of all but one of seven internal team members.In the midst of these challenges, Luvvie also celebrates the successful launch of her fourth book, 'Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess,' which, in spite of all the seemingly insurmountable hurdles, becomes a New York Times bestseller, providing a glimmer of hope and validation amidst the crisis. The episode reflects on leadership, the importance of trust within a team, and the personal and professional toll of navigating business failures, setti

In this episode, Luvvie pulls back the curtain on the rollercoaster of transitioning from being a solopreneur to running a 7-figure business. Needing to diversify revenue streams, she went from having one executive assistant to 7 full-time salaried employees (with benefits!). And all the plans she had for 2023, with strategy. How she created systems, strategy and plans to double her revenue. She walks us through her business transformation, from the highs of scaling up to a multimillion-dollar company, to the lows of shrinking down her 'dream' team.Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group)

In this episode, Luvvie shares her personal journey—from being a 'failed' doctor to accidental entrepreneur—and reflects on the highs and lows of starting and running her business. She discusses the importance of community, the struggles of building a sustainable business, and how her outlook on entrepreneurship evolved over time. This season promises deep dives into the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, featuring interviews with respected business owners and exploring topics like mental health in business leadership, building resilient teams, and operating with an abundance mindset despite financial uncertainties.-----

In Season 5, Luvvie delves into the raw reality of entrepreneurship, sharing her struggles and lessons learned from running a multimillion dollar business. Joined by fellow industry leaders, she offers a candid exploration of the unseen side of business, after 2023 was her toughest year running her company. Tune in on your favorite platform to catch every upcoming episode!Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group) Connect with Luvvie Ajayi JonesInstagram & Threads (@Luvvie)LinkedInOfficial Website (Luvvie.org)EngageShare your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #ProfessionalTroublemaker.For episode transcripts, check out Luvvie.org/podcastIf you're an aspiring writer, explore The Book Academy, Luvvie's masterclass for aspiring authors!

Today, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess is out in the world. In this episode, Luvvie discusses the idea of returning to one's true self, specifically the pure and hopeful version of oneself from childhood. She shares how this children’s book helped her reconnect with her younger self, and how writing the book has helped her inner child heal and learn to give herself grace and self-compassion.—---------What happens when your big heart gets you in big trouble? Luvvie's first children's book LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS is available for NOW! Perfect for ages 4-8.

uvvie is joined by Joey Spiotto, her collaborator for LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS. With artworks now being commissioned by some of Hollywood's best, how did this former Little Troublemaker once get into trouble for his illustrations? And how did he get Little Luvvie's fade just right? Find out together with your little ones.--------------------------------What happens when your big heart gets you in big trouble? Luvvie's first children's book LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS is available for preorder now, and drops into the world on May 2, 2023. Perfect for children ages 4 – 8, Luvvie shows kids that it’s okay to make mistakes, and delivers messages of empowerment and forgiveness – all lessons that are important to share with kids and the adults who love them.

In this episode, Luvvie brings you the ABCs of Troublemaking, 26 words that are traits that every world changer should have. These affirmations are hype mantras, so feel free to listen in with your littles! ---------------What happens when your big heart gets you in big trouble? Luvvie's first children's book LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS is available for preorder now, and drops into the world on May 2, 2023. Perfect for children ages 4 – 8, Luvvie shows kids that it’s okay to make mistakes, and delivers messages of empowerment and forgiveness – all lessons that are important to share with kids and the adults who love them.

Luvvie's interviews one of her favorite little troublemakers: 9 year old Kylee Brown. Luvvie and Kylee talk about what adults need to do more (or less of), life lessons and even some of Kylee's favorite things about herself. Kylee then gives the best pep talk anyone needs to hear. Her biggest advice to everyone listening: "Slay forever." It's an episode that is full of heart, love, and deep wisdom from a tiny rebel whose confidence inspires. Listen in!---------------What happens when your big heart gets you in big trouble? Luvvie's first children's book LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS is available for preorder now, and drops into the world on May 2, 2023. Perfect for children ages 4 – 8, Luvvie shows kids that it’s okay to make mistakes, and delivers messages of empowerment and forgiveness – all lessons that are important to share with kids and the adults who love them.

Thinking about Little Luvvie. The 5-year old me who rocked gold chains, red lipstick and ruffles on her birthday and told people exactly what she wanted. The kid whose favorite phrase was “that’s not fair!” The tiny rebel who would get in trouble for her mouth, and was willing to as long as she knew it was what felt right. I wrote her a letter, of all I hope she knows and remembers.The Little Troublemaker. I was her. I am her. You might be her. You might be raising your own. Well, I wrote LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER MAKES A MESS for her. And you.------Preorder Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess everywhere books are sold.Join Luvvie for the Troublemaker Tour, in Chicago, NYC and Virtually, kicking off April 28.

It's book launch week, and RISING TROUBLEMAKER is finally out in the world! To hold you over until you can get a copy of RISING TROUBLEMAKER in your hands, today Luvvie is sharing a sneak peek of the audiobook version (that she narrated herself - it’s a whole new level of having Auntie Luvvie in your teen's ears to guide them.) She is sharing an excerpt from Chapter 8: Get Your Money on the podcast today because it’s so critical to adulting to get your money right. Enjoy!Links from the EpisodeOrder RISING TROUBLEMAKER: A Fear-Fighter Manual for TeensJoin the #RisingTroublemaker Challenge!Learn more about the RISING TROUBLEMAKER Sponsorship Train!Sponsor copies of RISING TROUBLEMAKER for students in need of booksRequest copies of RISING TROUBLEMAKER for your classConnect with LuvvieFollow Luvvie on Instagram - @LuvvieGo to TEXTLUVVIE.com on your phone, and text PODCAST to join our Text Squad. Let Luvvie know who you’d like her to be in conversation with, or what topics you want her to do a deep dive on in a so

In today’s episode of Professional Troublemaker, we’re focusing on a Rising Troublemaker. Rising Troublemakers are teens and young adults who are absolute game changers and are out there living their audacious lives and dreams right now.  Today, Luvvie is talking to Zaila Avant-garde. Zaila is a multi-talented powerhouse, with success springing from all her endeavors - and all before the ninth grade. We got to know Zaila’s name when she won the Scripps National Spelling Bee - the first African American to win. But along with her triumph there, she holds three Guinness World Records for her basketball prowess and was named SportsKid of the year in 2021 by Sports Illustrated KidsZaila is curious and driven and works hard. She knows what she wants to do and has the discipline and focus on going after it. Zaila and Luvvie talk about how she uses visualization to reach her goals, how she was able to harness the discipline she needs to reach those goals, and how she has developed confidence through doing. Connect w

There are TOO many things that we didn’t learn as young people that we should have. Maybe the adults around us thought we were too young, or maybe the grown-ups in our lives didn’t have the time because they were also blindsided by what they did not know.Regardless, as adults, we've realized the mistakes we have made and how much we didn't know and want the kids we love to know better and do better.In this episode, Luvvie discusses the things she wishes she'd known as a teenager, and how these lessons led her to adapt her second New York Times bestselling book into Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens. She shares how you can help give these valuable cheat codes to the teens in your life and how to help get this book in the hands of 5000 young adults. LINKS FROM THE EPISODEPre-order RISING TROUBLEMAKER: A Fear-Fighter Manual for TeensOrder bulk books for teachers or teens in your life - books@aweluv.comGo to TEXTLUVVIE.com on your phone, and text PODCAST to join our Text Squad. Let Luvvie know

Today on Professional Troublemaker, we are re-airing one of our most listened to episodes with the amazing Lisa Price, founder and president of Carol’s Daughter.With $100, her own kitchen, and a determination to follow her dream, Lisa grew her beloved hobby of creating fragrances, creams, and oils into a multimillion-dollar beauty empire. In 1994, she founded Carol’s Daughter, which is lovingly named for her mother. Initially, she started off with a handful of steady customers. Those numbers grew in leaps and bounds as women outside her neighborhood and circle of friends began to take notice.Lisa has been appointed as a member of the National Women’s Business Council, an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the president, Congress, and the US Small Business Administration, on economic issues that face female business owners. She’s a mentor, leader, and inspiration, and this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.****CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTCarol’s DaughterFollow Lisa on Instagram - @IAmL

Today on Professional Troublemaker, we're sharing a conversation  from Luvvie's book tour in March of 2021. All the people Luvvie chose for this tour are those she considers professional troublemakers in their field. They exude excellence in everything they do, and this episode is a perfect example of that.Luvvie is talking to psychotherapist Esther Perel. Esther is one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. She's a bestselling author, TED speaker and host of the hit podcasts Where Should We Begin? and How’s Work? She also has an amazing game that is also called Where Should We Begin? Esther is fluent in nine languages, and she coaches pairs around the world  of all types on relationship dynamics.In this conversation, Esther and Luvvie talk about how fear shows up and how it speaks to us, how troublemakers answer fear, success and how it can inspire and potentially intimidate us, and how community makes us stronger. CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTEsther Perel - WebsiteFollow Esther on

This week on Professional Troublemaker, we’re re-airing an encore episode that is extremely timely as we watch the confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will hopefully become the 116th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the first Black woman to be appointed and confirmed as a justice. This amazing woman is a nominee because people went to the ballot box in 2020 (often in the face of enormous opposition) and voted to make their voices heard. And with mid-term elections coming up this fall, we need to hear today's podcast conversation again.Luvvie's guest is Stephanie L. Young. Stephanie currently serves as Executive Director at When We All Vote, a nonpartisan voting initiative launched by Michelle Obama. She has years of communication experience in the public and private sectors with organizations such as the Obama White House, Congressional Leadership, NBCUniversal, and BET.During our conversation, we discover what Stephanie’s childhood was like and how she started her car

In a world that feels too chaotic to be believed, we need to take a deep breath and find peace and healing. This encore episode with Devi Brown is the perfect remedy for the things happening in the world around us right now. Devi is the Chief Impact Officer at Chopra Global, and is certified in Primordial Sound Meditation, Spiritual Psychology and Energy Healing. After over a decade of working in hip hop entertainment as a radio and TV host, she answered her calling to become an advocate for women of color in the wellness space. Devi’s company KARMA BLISS is devoted to spiritual connection meant to aid in the healing of generational trauma. Through her best-selling book Crystal Bliss and her podcast Dropping Gems, Devi’s work is rooted in sharing tangible healing modalities for women of color that help support their full lives.This is a healing and beautiful conversation where Luvvie and Devi are talking all about how Devi transitioned from a huge career in hip-hop radio and broadcasting to doing the work she

If you’re looking for financial wisdom from someone who has truly built a life of financial and personal abundance, look no further than this episode. In this conversation that originally aired on Rants & Randomness, financial educator and New York Times bestselling author Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche is sharing financial and life wisdom with Luvvie. There’s no better teacher than lived experience, and Tiffany has been in the deep waters of debt herself. She went from being more than three hundred thousand dollars in debt, to having a positive, seven-figure net worth and she wants to help you to find financial freedom too. Tiffany and Luvvie are talking about how Tiffany created her business by paying attention to the things she loved talking about, how Tiffany has built multiple 7-figure businesses while putting the women she serves first, and how she prioritizes taking care of herself and models that for her employees.  In this episode, ****LINKS FROM THE EPISODEListen to Luvvie talk to Jubril Agoro

Friendship is a verb. It requires action. Friendship requires honesty, accountability, and action. This world is too crazy to walk through alone. So if you're trying to disrupt for the greater good, you're gonna need this backup.People tend to throw the term friendship around frivolously, but not Luvvie. In this solo episode, Luvvie expands on a conversation she started on Glennon Doyle’s podcast and discusses the critical role friends play in our lives. Luvvie shares her definition of what it means to be a friend and the weight that word carries for her and how to end a friendship in a grace-filled way. Luvvie also answers questions submitted by her audience and tackles the question of whether Black women and white women can be friends. There's so much goodness in this episode, and we hope as a result of listening you reach out to a friend who matters to you. Investing in your relationships is something that will keep rewarding you for the rest of your life. So be the friend that you would like to have.  ***

How many times in our lives have we said NO to YES things because we’ve convinced ourselves that we are not the best or not good enough? How many times have we wondered if we are charging what we are worth for the work that we’re doing? And how many times do we wish for a squad that will have our back through thick and thin? This conversation with CURLBOX Founder and Chief Experience Officer Myleik Teele is one for the books!In this conversation from Luvvie’s Professional Troublemaker book tour, Luvvie talks with Myleik about coming back from her traumatic experience of negatively trending on Twitter to becoming a New York Times bestselling author for the second time, and how Luvvie’s squad reaffirmed her greatness and inspired her to remember who she was. Myleik gives Luvvie her flowers for being an awesome friend and inspiring that same greatness in those she’s connected to. This episode is truly a salve for the soul, sprinkled with noir pixie dust and you need it in your life. ****Listen to Luvvie and Myle