The Real Connect

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/newsletterVisit Tamika's website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections00:59 Travel and Cultural Experiences02:22 Post Top Chef Life03:17 Childhood and Culinary Beginnings14:41 Top Chef Journey17:40 Career Reflections and Inspirations28:56 Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Culture29:36 The Untold Story of Afro-Caribbean Cuisine30:02 Connecting Through Food34:36 The Journey to Top Chef36:22 Family Support and Sacrifices39:57 Perseverance Through Loss43:06 Favorite Dishes and Culinary Inspirations48:04 Future Plans and Collaborations51:34 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 game2. How Tiffani used social media to build trust, visibility, and consistent referrals3. The truth about entrepreneurship seasons, burnout, and what the “grind” really looks like4. Why you cannot hire help until you understand your own problems5. Leadership, loyalty, and how she keeps long-term employees without micromanaging6. Marriage, motherhood, and raising self-sufficient kids while building a business7. 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/newsletterVisit Tamika's website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.00:00 Discovering the Power of Social Media01:19 Navigating the Real Estate Industry01:40 Life in Atlanta and Personal Background03:34 Building a Dream Home08:03 Journey to Becoming a Lawyer12:04 Entrepreneurship and Business Growth15:50 Leadership and Team Management24:52 The Importance of Relationships in Real Estate26:27 Starting a Law Firm: The Early Struggles27:33 Embracing Social Media for Business Growth27:58 Authenticity on Social Media30:52 Balancing Family and Career33:27 Raising Independent Kids39:33 The Reality TV Experience: Ladies Who List41:35 Maintaining Relationships and Friendships44:37 Marriage and Longevity49:55 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 relationships3. The moment Jovon quit during Hell Week and what it taught him about regret and resilience4. 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 you6. 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” men8. 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/jovonpquarlesConnect 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/newsletterVisit Tamika's: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.00:00 Knowing When She's the One00:14 Family Struggles and Support00:34 Military Life and Brotherhood01:20 Welcome to the Real Connect Podcast01:53 Life in South Africa and Beyond04:03 Engagement and Love Story08:50 Childhood and Upbringing14:22 Joining the Military17:02 Navy SEAL Journey23:13 Hell Week and Overcoming Challenges28:52 Standing Out in Navy SEAL Training30:42 Inspiration and Motivation35:16 Reinventing After Retirement37:40 Special Forces: World's Toughest Test42:21 The Importance of Team Camaraderie45:40 Vulnerability and Emotional Control52:59 Personal Reflections and Future Goals56:26 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 Baltimore2. The cost of being “the honest one” on camera and online3. Mental health, insomnia, and suffering in silence4. The story behind Ashley’s book Do That Sht* and what she hopes readers feel5. 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/newsletterVisit Tamika's: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.00:00 Introduction and Personal Struggles00:46 Welcome to the Real Connect Podcast01:00 Discussing Sleep and Daily Routine02:16 The Real Connect Mission and Ashley's Journey03:05 Life Changes and Reflections04:01 Growing Up in Baltimore05:26 Early Love for Entertainment07:06 Reality TV Experience10:52 Friendships and Authenticity in Reality TV11:11 Podcasting and Social Media15:19 Friendship Dynamics on Reality TV25:09 Importance of Authentic Friendships26:51 Writing 'Do That Shit' and Scorpio Energy29:03 Silent Suffering and Misconceptions29:34 Breaking the Silence and Finding Balance30:14 Reflecting on Family and Personal Growth30:58 Journaling and Relating to Others31:23 Book Reveal and Reality TV Insights33:22 Challenges of Reality TV and Personal Growth36:52 Future Aspirations and Personal Projects48:41 Balancing Public Life and Mental Health54:53 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