The Real Connect

What does self-care look like when you’re building a career, building a family… and life is still lifing?

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Atlanta powerhouse Lakila Bowden, COO, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Isee Technologies, for a fearless and fruitful conversation.
Lakila breaks down why career success doesn’t have to cost you your health, what alignment really looks like in real life (not just as a buzzword), and how women can give themselves permission to prioritize themselves without guilt.

Lakila also shares her story about leaving corporate on her own terms, building a business with her sister Camille (who is blind and absolutely unstoppable), and navigating one of life’s most emotionally complex seasons with intention, joy, and self-preservation.

This episode is for the woman who’s tired of pouring from an empty cup and ready to build a life that actually feels good.

What You Will Hear About:

1. Why weekends off and real rest are a non-negotiable (and how Tamika protects her peace).

2. The difference between being a “cultural fit” vs. a cultural addition in corporate spaces.

3. What “alignment” actually looks like and how to strengthen your intuition as a decision-making muscle.

4. How Lakila built a company with her sister Camille and why accessibility is about capability, not limitation.

5. Leaving the corporate world at 37 to create financial freedom and moving without fear.

6. The truth about women, burnout, and self-care guilt.

7. Love, partnership, and why her husband is genuinely part of her self-care.

8. Lakila's book: The Sho Nuff Principle: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shonuff-principle-lakila-bowden/1148372350

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you care about self-care, burnout prevention, women’s wellness, alignment, and the kind of connection that feels like fuzzy socks.

Take the Guilt Detox Quiz: https://app.agolix.com/assessment/28648

Connect with Lakila Bowden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakilaj/

Follow Lakila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lakila-bowden-mba-0463272/

Visit Lakila Bowden's website: https://lakilabowden.com/

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

Join The Connect (free weekly newsletter): https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika’s website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com

00:00 Introduction to Self-Care
01:49 Energy and Positivity
03:08 Career Success and Personal Happiness
03:27 Corporate Challenges and Alignment
08:09 Entrepreneurial Journey
13:26 Preventing Burnout
17:52 HBCU Experience and Personal Growth
20:15 Traveling the World: A Journey of Exposure and Growth
21:19 Family Support and Fearlessness
22:59 Meeting My Husband: A Fearless Love Story
28:45 The Importance of Accessibility and Capability
31:01 Writing and Self-Care: The Show N Principle
32:27 Balancing Joy and Grief: A Personal Story
36:46 Speed Round and Closing Thoughts

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #SelfCare #BurnoutPrevention #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CorporateToEntrepreneur #LakilaBowden

This is for anyone who’s ever eaten something so good it felt like a memory and a hug at the same time because food isn’t just food, it’s connection.

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Top Chef Season 22 winner and Afro-Caribbean chef Tristen Epps for a conversation that goes way beyond the show. Tristen shares one of the most powerful compliments a chef can receive: not “this is delicious,” but “I’ve never felt so seen eating your food.” Tristen opens up about growing up as a military kid, moving 18 times, and learning how to adapt to new cultures across the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and beyond. This conversation is equal parts thoughtful, funny, and grounding. Tristen breaks down the four reasons he cooks, why nostalgia and culture matter, what post-Top Chef life has been like, and how food can bridge people across backgrounds. This is a real one about connection, identity, culture, and the power of being seen.

What You Will Hear About:
1. Why the greatest compliment is “I’ve never felt so seen eating your food.”

2. How Tristen’s Afro-Caribbean roots and global travel shaped his cooking.

3. The four reasons he cooks: deliciousness, nostalgia, the “aha” moment, and feeling seen.

4. What Tristen learned from living in Japan, the Philippines, and across the U.S.

5. How culture impacts belonging, friendship, and the way we connect.

6. Why people struggle to connect in new environments and how to adapt without losing yourself.

7. What life is like after Top Chef, private dinners, sold-out events, and building a platform with purpose.

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you care about culture, food, and the kind of connection that makes people feel seen.

Connect with Tristen Epps on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheftristenepps/ or visit his website: https://www.eppsandflows.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 website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
00:59 Travel and Cultural Experiences
02:22 Post Top Chef Life
03:17 Childhood and Culinary Beginnings
14:41 Top Chef Journey
17:40 Career Reflections and Inspirations
28:56 Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Culture
29:36 The Untold Story of Afro-Caribbean Cuisine
30:02 Connecting Through Food
34:36 The Journey to Top Chef
36:22 Family Support and Sacrifices
39:57 Perseverance Through Loss
43:06 Favorite Dishes and Culinary Inspirations
48:04 Future Plans and Collaborations
51:34 Speed Round: Quickfire Questions

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #TristenEpps #TopChef #ChefLife #AfroCaribbeanCuisine #FoodCulture #Friendship

If you are building something, feeling tired, or trying to find your lane without pretending to be someone else, this episode will hit.

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Atlanta real estate closing attorney and TV personality (Ladies Who List), Tiffani Hawes, to talk about what it really takes to build a respected business in an industry that was not designed with you in mind. Tiffani opens up about walking into brokerages as the “little old Black girl” asking for a chance, realizing she did not understand how business was actually won, and then finding her edge through social media by simply being real.

They also talk about the seasons of entrepreneurship, why burnout is often part of season one, and how relationships, consistency, and honesty can become the best strategy for success.

This conversation is equal parts funny, practical, and grounding. Tiffani breaks down why you cannot outsource clarity, how she built a team that actually stays, what it means to lead without control, and how to keep your marriage and family strong while still going after what is yours.

What You Will Hear About:

1. Breaking into a male-dominated industry and learning the real game
2. How Tiffani used social media to build trust, visibility, and consistent referrals
3. The truth about entrepreneurship seasons, burnout, and what the “grind” really looks like
4. Why you cannot hire help until you understand your own problems
5. Leadership, loyalty, and how she keeps long-term employees without micromanaging
6. Marriage, motherhood, and raising self-sufficient kids while building a business
7. Why real connection feels natural, not forced

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you are trying to build something real, stay consistent, and still feel like yourself while doing it. This one is for the people who are tired of pretending and ready to lead with truth.

Connect with Tiffani Hawes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanihawes_closingattorney or visit her website: https://thehaweslawfirm.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 website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.

00:00 Discovering the Power of Social Media
01:19 Navigating the Real Estate Industry
01:40 Life in Atlanta and Personal Background
03:34 Building a Dream Home
08:03 Journey to Becoming a Lawyer
12:04 Entrepreneurship and Business Growth
15:50 Leadership and Team Management
24:52 The Importance of Relationships in Real Estate
26:27 Starting a Law Firm: The Early Struggles
27:33 Embracing Social Media for Business Growth
27:58 Authenticity on Social Media
30:52 Balancing Family and Career
33:27 Raising Independent Kids
39:33 The Reality TV Experience: Ladies Who List
41:35 Maintaining Relationships and Friendships
44:37 Marriage and Longevity
49:55 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Insights

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #TiffaniHawes #RealEstate #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #ClosingAttorney #Atlanta #LadiesWhoList

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