Mildly Qualified Podcast

Hey guys (*taps the microphone*)...Anyone still there? Just kidding... I know you are! We are the Mildly Qualified Podcast. "Mildly Qualified" at "adulting" and sharing all of our opinions and up-and-downs about how to navigate the labyrinth that is adulthood. We share what other adults are thinking in a raw unfiltered way. It's funny and fresh though we have our serious moods at times. Either way, this is a safe space for adults whose adulthood caught them off guard.Where have we been? Well, how much time do you have? Our host, Ashlea, lost her mother to cancer over Christmas and she lost her home in Hurricane Dorian. That's the short story. We will definitely unpack all of the drama over Season Two. Stay Tuned!This episode is a conversation with our producer, Senator Mills, who used to own a record label called Glitteratti. We're chatting about Mase and Diddy and Kellis and The Neptunes. We will be discussing Ashlea's, the host, upcoming album and chatting about how an artist can beat the record company at their own game--or at least not go broke trying to sell their art.Email us at mildlyqualifiedpodcast@gmail.com to share your thoughts, opinions, feedback etc. Your voice matters to us and we want to hear you loud and clear. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

✴️Myke grew up in the entertainment industry. His father is the last surviving member of the legendary Motown group, the Four Tops.

Melvin Duren is a music producer from Detroit, Michigan that has been playing instruments since he was 4 years old and making his own beats since he was 16 years old.The music industry has a lot of reputations like for being cut-throat, but Melvin, perhaps because of his passion, has a very level-headed view of the industry. He loves it and continues to carve out his own space in the pop, hip hop and of late COUNTRY MUSIC spaces. Melvin is currently producing a country album for ME (*insert GASP)He dives into his journey, his advice, and his thoughts on my album where I am writing 100% of my songs.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Our special guest for today's episode, Lee Johnson, is a successful pharmaceutical sales manager, father and art collector who we were absolutely elated to speak with. For this episode we decided to take a small detour from our normal "Mildly Qualified" protocol and bring on an individual who for what it's worth had all their shit together early, remained focused and is doing remarkably well as a result. Again, Lee's life wasn't and isn't perfect by any means, but what makes his story all the more compelling is that as a young Black man who grew up in the hood, a near tragedy where he was within a split second of losing his life served as an epiphany to him realizing life is short don't waste a minute of it.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Our special guest for today's episode, Lee Johnson, is a successful pharmaceutical sales manager, father and art collector who we were absolutely elated to speak with. For this episode we decided to take a small detour from our normal "Mildly Qualified" protocol and bring on an individual who for what it's worth had all their shit together early, remained focused and is doing remarkably well as a result. Again, Lee's life wasn't and isn't perfect by any means, but what makes his story all the more compelling is that as a young Black man who grew up in the hood, a near tragedy where he was within a split second of losing his life served as an epiphany to him realizing life is short don't waste a minute of it.Lee attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University where he finished their revered business Master's program. The entire five years that Lee was enrolled in school while in Tallahassee he neglected all juicy social aspects of traditional college life (partying, pledging, drinking, fraternizing) and dedicated himself to a relentless grind holding off on the spoils until he had achieved his goal. Lee stated that at a prestigious university such as FAMU he knew he wasn't the smartest person on campus but he dedicated himself to working harder than everyone else would be willing to. During his final years of high school and his entire matriculation through college Lee was selected to participate in Inroads. Inroads is a non-profit organization dedicated to fixing the lack of diversity in corporate America. In high school he was a part of the Pre College Component and in college he took part in the Talent Pool where as long as he maintained above a 3.0 GPA he would have the opportunity to intern during the summer with an Inroads partnered corporation that aligned with his major. That company for Lee was Bayer Pharmaceuticals and was how he got his start in what turned out to be a great career in pharmaceutical sales. Subsequent to graduation Lee relocated to New York to work at Bayer after they offered him a full time position.While living in New York, the city that never sleeps, is where he begin to cultivate a love and appreciation for fine arts. He began attending local art shows, collecting pieces that resonated with him. One of his hometown neighborhood buddies Gary, ironically an aspiring artist, was also residing in the city at the same time so Lee would work with him collaboratively to create some of his first collector pieces that grace prominent areas of his humble abode today. In this dynamic episode we talk about focus, resilience, appreciating and not wasting the time you have, tapping into your creative space, as well as minorities understanding the intricacies of collecting fine art. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Thank you for your patience! We had technical difficulties with the audio file. Ivette Cabreja grew up in the Bronx, New York. The neighborhood, Ivette describes as a communal, everyone looking out for each other, but poor and at times susceptible to violence and crime. As a student, she was goal-oriented, driven and started working while in high school. Her dedication out of high school led to a job working for American Express in the World Trade Center. September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center was the target of a terrorist attack. Ivette was scheduled to work, but had called out of work for a job interview. Shortly after, she decided to leave New York and move to Florida to start a new life. Florida would prove challenging as the pay rate was dramatically less than her pay in New York, and she would end sleeping on the floor of a friend's home. Public Transportation in Florida is also vastly different from New York...so Ivette was walking two hours to work or waking up at 4:30 am to get to work by 10:00 am.Moving to Florida was no fairytale...and after a series of financial challenges, Ivette ended up filing for bankruptcy. Adults all have challenges with finances, but we tend to be secretive, which only causes more stress. No more shaming adults for how they handle money. Let's give solutions, not shame. There is more to the story, but we don't want to spoil it ;-). Her story continues over two episodes so be sure to hear the WHOLE tale on Tuesday & Thursday.Ivette Cabreja's contact:Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivette-cabreja-269b0915b/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ivette.cabreja.5Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Ivette Cabreja grew up in the Bronx, New York. The neighborhood, Ivette describes as a communal, everyone looking out for each other, but poor and at times susceptible to violence and crime. As a student, she was goal-oriented, driven and started working while in high school. Her dedication out of high school led to a job working for American Express in the World Trade Center. September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center was the target of a terrorist attack. Ivette was scheduled to work, but had called out of work for a job interview. Shortly after, she decided to leave New York and move to Florida to start a new life. Florida would prove challenging as the pay rate was dramatically less than her pay in New York, and she would end sleeping on the floor of a friend's home. Public Transportation in Florida is also vastly different from New York...so Ivette was walking two hours to work or waking up at 4:30 am to get to work by 10:00 am.Moving to Florida was no fairytale...and after a series of financial challenges, Ivette ended up filing for bankruptcy. Adults all have challenges with finances, but we tend to be secretive, which only causes more stress. No more shaming adults for how they handle money. Let's give solutions, not shame. There is more to the story, but we don't want to spoil it ;-). Her story continues over two episodes so be sure to hear the WHOLE tale on Tuesday & Thursday.Ivette Cabreja's contact:Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivette-cabreja-269b0915b/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ivette.cabreja.5Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Mildly Qualified is a podcast that interviews adults about what in their lives make them feel like they are "very qualified on paper" but "mildly qualified" in real life. The host, Ashlea, is working on her doctorate but was homeless at the start of 2019 was homeless.We all have our reasons for choosing a profession--money, job security, benefits. Yolanda chose corrections when she was 21 and stayed for going on 30 years. She has seen a lot and will share her thoughts now that she is on the consulting side of things.Yolanda also runs a touring company, Explore Jax Core, which allows persons to explore Jacksonville, Florida's historic neighborhoods. Yolanda's contact is 904-510-5995 and her website is www.ExploreJaxCore.comOur website:www.mildlyqualifiedpodcast.comFor Audio Podcasts-- Go to our website or search "Mildly Qualified Podcast":iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, GooglePlay, SpeakerTo Give:www.patreon.com/mildlyqualifiedpodcastSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Mildly Qualified is a podcast that interviews adults about what in their lives make them feel like they are "very qualified on paper" but "mildly qualified" in real life. The host, Ashlea, is working on her doctorate but was homeless at the start of 2019 was homeless.We all have our reasons for choosing a profession--money, job security, benefits. Yolanda chose corrections when she was 21 and stayed for going on 30 years. She has seen a lot and will share her thoughts now that she is on the consulting side of things.Yolanda also runs a touring company, Explore Jax Core, which allows persons to explore Jacksonville, Florida's historic neighborhoods. Yolanda's contact is 904-510-5995 and her website is www.ExploreJaxCore.comOur website:www.mildlyqualifiedpodcast.comFor Audio Podcasts-- Go to our website or search "Mildly Qualified Podcast" atiTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, GooglePlay, SpeakerTo Give:www.patreon.com/mildlyqualifiedpodcastSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

We talk about why it's important to champion and celebrate "Black Stories" and our view of race relations in the United States in 2019. J Celes a single black father, who shared his very personal story of losing his wife to cancer and being the son of two addicts. His full story can be found in episode #9. www.mildlyqualifiedpodcast.comBe sure to visit our Patreon for access to exclusive content:https://www.patreon.com/MildlyQualifiedPodcastSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Our special guest for today's episode JCeles is a survivor, widow, father and entrepreneur who blessed us profoundly by agreeing to share his compelling story about growing up with parents perpetually struggling with addiction, being raised by his grandparents as a result, finding the love of his life in the eighth grade, eventually marrying her and starting a family, unexpectedly losing her to colon cancer at the age of 37 and now raising a family (three beautiful daughters and a son) as a single Black father. By: SenatorMills, MQP- ProducerJCeles, real name Jason Celestine, was introduced to this world in the midst of the 80's crack cocaine epidemic and unfortunately his biological parents were just two among the inordinate amount of people whose families were fragmented or destroyed. As someone personally affected, on his episode we delve into the difference between how the local, state and federal governments have addressed the opioid epidemic compared to the uninspired lack of effort given to eradicate the predominately urban areas of the same crack cocaine that they were later found to have been responsible for supplying in the first place. JCeles was blessed to have a capable support system around him and despite not having his mother or father around full time growing up, his grandparents stepped in willingly to provide the love, guidance, nurturing, discipline and principles that shaped him into the husband that he was and the father that he is. Not enough times, especially in popular media, are the great Black fathers celebrated rather we're inundated with vilification of poor examples which are truly in the minority. Not only is JCeles a successful businessman with his own barbershop located centrally in the neighborhood where he was reared but he is an incredibly involved parent who sees to it that his children understand the imperatives of love, laughter, legacy and most prominently keeping the marvelous memories of his wife and their mother eternally in their hearts. The overwhelming loss of the quiet but powerful family matriarch is still a bitter pill to swallow but motivates them individually and collectively to push through to greatness because she would accept nothing less than. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Uncle V continues the conversation of his adulting journey and his thoughts on why we all can't just get along.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Our special guest for today's episode, affectionately referred to as Uncle V, is a seasoned and vivacious gentleman whose energy belies his age. As we matriculate through this thing called life as younger individuals we often haughtily overlook the experiences, contributions and wisdom possessed by those that have already had the pleasure of traversing the valley of the shadow of "adulthood". For those that would choose to adamantly quip about older generations lack of being hip due to things evolving truly cease to understand that the more things change, the more they stay the same! Knowledge is power, absolutely. Popular to contrary belief, Google is not the only reliable resource available to us to cull important knowledge from regarding our history, lessons gained through hearing the rich personal life experiences of others and myriad invaluable life hacks.Uncle V is a walking, breathing treasure trove of stories that you'd both want and not want to hear but regardless on cue he's ready to spit em out to anyone in close proximity willing to listen. He'll tell you compelling stories such as when his parents were slaves getting away on a watermelon truck, growing up black and in poverty during the civil rights movement, why there is NO school better than his high school alma mater, how he made it a point to not stay in any place longer than three years before moving to somewhere new and what that taught him, enjoying himself way, way too much while living in California working for Stevie Wonder and hastily moving back home to Jacksonville, FL without warning to take care of his ailing mom just to name a few. Uncle V is a true throwback, a legendary community relic who unabashedly exemplifies agape love for his people and his community. Even after being away from his hometown and the neighborhood he grew up in for so many years, he came back and picked up seamlessly as if he had never left by looking after both the new residents and the same individuals who remained that looked out for him as he was growing up. Many argue, justifiably, that social media and technology has undeniable altered authentic social interactions and how residents view the community as a whole. Whatever your view you can't debate that the "village concept" of old no longer exists and has been replaced with a more modern every man for himself mentality. However, Uncle V refuses to subscribe to that narrative and will continue to love his community and there is nothing that you can do about it. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Is it ever okay to "ghost" a friend?Is it always your ex's fault? Which excuse is good enough?Do people really need to like you?Dr. Maira Mortelo keeps the conversation going on how we can all be more qualified to be adults and how to be more authentically YOU and depend LESS on people's opinions.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Dr. Maira Martelo came to the United States with only a suitcase 13 years ago with a lot of determination but no money in her pockets. She is originally from Columbia where she was all too familiar with the burden imposed by poverty and limited options. Despite her surroundings, and her parents only having an elementary school education, she learned firsthand the value of an education, community service and of paving your own path.Without spoiling her amazing story too much, Dr. Martelo says one of the greatest lessons she learned is building relationships with other people beyond a handshake and an email and that there is more than one way to do anything, including getting an education. She received her education with ZERO student loans and is a proud homeowner with limited debt and a strong social and professional circle. She details how she did this over two episodes, this one and the After Hours Show which posts on Thursday. Leave us a comment and a 5-star review after you have a listen. I'm sure you will find a lot of gems in this one.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

We are now twice a week!Tuesdays will continue to be our standard interviews BUT Thursdays will be the After Hours Show were guest can feel free to let their hair down (where applicable). Kristen from Episode 6 shares more details from growing up in the Milton Hershey boarding school to being and being called an n-word lover by local white people in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA due to her association as a student at a predominantly black school.She also shares how childhood memories sometimes make her feel "Mildly Qualified" to be in certain "fancy" spaces...even when invited. Let us know what you think of the new After Hours Show!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Today's guest, Kristen, is a realtor in Jacksonville, FL with every reason to feel intimidated. Like too many children, her father walked out of her life at a young age and to add insult to injury her stepfather, a man she described as "wonderful" died unexpectedly. Kristen's mother was now alone with three children and limited resources so Kristen and her two brothers were sent away to the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA for children from low-income families.Imposter Syndrome, a phrase that often makes the rounds on the internet, is loosely defined as feeling like you do not belong in a professional field or arena where you have "earned a spot." Entertainers, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, have often described feeling like an imposter in "fancy spaces," even if his/her talent brought them there.Kristen has "networked" with men and women in tax brackets many of us only dream of and she describes how fights intimidation. How do you get comfortable in spaces that feel "too good for you"? And by the way, nothing is too good for you. Let's talk about confidence...now! Ready?Kristen Van Riper@KristenSellsJaxwww.KristenSellsJax.comComment below how you fight insecurity and intimidation in professional settings.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

Who gets to decide who you get to be?Who decides what stage you get to perform on?When is ever okay to quit? Our guest, GeneDotCom, is a renowned radio personality with thousands of fans spanning national and international platforms. On paper, he is an entertainer, personality, actor, mentor, and a staple at V101.5 in Jacksonville, FL, and iHeartRadio. The “Dot” stands for “Don’t Oppress Truth” or “Doing Other Things.” He hosts some of the most sought after events and continues to grow his brand power and influence. So why is this person on a podcast called Mildly Qualified, that focuses on the challenges of maneuvering adulthood? GeneDotCom became a father to his beautiful son as a teenager. The challenges of being a teen parent was a major factor in GeneDotCom turning down a college acceptance letter to Florida A&M University. This is the point in the story where many would have quit. To provide for his new family, Gene worked as a courier which then led to a chance encounter at a radio station on his delivery route. This chance-encounter started Gene down a path that would alter his career forever and create firm roots in the radio industry. Many years of hustle, perseverance, and courage built the career that continues to grow today. In his personal life, however, contrasting to his growing business success, his home was struck by tragedy. His only son, Desmond, was killed in a violent crime at the age of 24 years old. Less than a year after burying his son, his grandmother passed away, bringing Gene back to the same church where he laid his son to rest just seven months prior. No parent should have to bury his/her child. The pain and confusion can feel insurmountable, but the attitude and perspective of GeneDotCom during this interview can only be described as not only resilient but inspiring. Not only does he share his pain, openly and honestly, but he also shares advice and encouragement to those in similar circumstances. You don’t want to miss this episode! Comment with your thoughts below. Tell us how you have overcome life’s challenges and share your story with us. We would love to hear from you. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

The word of the day is "recidivism." This word means the tendency of a convicted criminal to re-offend. Essentially, if someone gets out of jail or prison will they go back to prison, jail or both? The National Institute of Justice reports recidivism rates as high as 76% within 5 years of release, with males, African Americans and young adults having the highest rates of recidivism.Why?Well, if you are a business owner or a hiring manager reading this, would you hire a felon? Or even someone with a misdemeanor? I'm not judging you because every business is different. And, of course, there are industry-specific stipulations if the offense is sex-related or violent or involves children. There are over 2 million Americans in corrections and it begs the question after they serve their time/pay their debt to society, upon release, what should happen to them?We are speaking broadly because today's episode focuses on the amazing story of Mr. Keith Ivey, owner of Ivey League Auto Sales in Jacksonville, FL. As a young adult, he was arrested and ended up serving almost a decade of his life in prison. After release, he ended up not returning to prison but struggled tremendously with the stigma of a record and, naturally, earning back his family's trust. He had to take a hard look at his life and started reading a lot of books while incarcerated and learning about auto repair in prison and later auto sales during the prison work-release program. Now as a mentor he has been an advocate for voting rights of ex-criminals and being accountable for one's own life. His story has been featured on NPR and the Washington Post. You don't want to miss this episode and if you know someone with a record, please let them hear this. I am rooting for you and if you have made a mistake or a 100 mistakes, it is not too late to be better.Keith IveyIvey League Auto Sales8215 103rd StreetJacksonville, FL 32210www.iveyleaguecarsales.us904-300-3121Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

My story...I was raised in The Bahamas...I was also "lucky" in that my mother gave birth to me on American soil. When she tells the story, depending on the day, it was either an afterthought or calculated. Either way, I am lucky. Lucky, because my path led me to an American college (undergraduate degree), American University (Master’s Degree), & American college (Pending Doctorate).I have had sizable gaps between my degrees and have been able to stay in the United States and work with virtually no trouble. I take this for granted often. This episode, my friend Priscila and I, reflect on what being a "dual citizen" means. As you would expect, people want us to pick one side and if we pick the wrong side there is usually hell to pay. There is also the guilt. She and I both have had friends get deported. We are here and people we love are gone, another number, another family, gone. Some had no idea they were undocumented. Some came into the country under one politician and had to leave because the country changed its mind. So does your immigration status make you feel more or less qualified to be an adult? Depends on who you ask. I've been feeling enough pressure financially and careerwise without the added pressure of "papers". I am not special. I have citizenship by accident, not because I earned it or am special in any way. In the same regard, people being locked out aren't monsters. While a narrative of rapist and murderers crossing borders with machetes is an easier pill to swallow for some, it's not true. Borders are human constructs that can lack humanity.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)

My podcast,

Ashlea is a failed college professor who lives on her best friend's couch after quitting her teaching job for another opportunity that sounded too good to be true. Well, it was too good to be true and Ashlea is officially "Mildly Qualified." "Qualified" because she has multiple college degrees and over a decade of work experience but "mildly" because the job search has been a struggle because no one will hire her. She is at the end of her rope and is using her real-life struggle to interview adults who are winning (advice please?) or struggling (welcome to the struggle bus). Letisha (that's her fake name), the roommate, shares her take on the whole struggle. It's a lot of laughs and conversations on if Ashlea should start stripping to pay bills (yikes!).Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/rss/MildlyQualifiedPodcast?auth=yU-LZCJVSVc1OzZ5yEN7zVADs4xght6F)