Rich Lessons

Jun 4 · 19m

What would you do with $22,000 a year, and would your answer change if it meant letting NVIDIA build a mini AI data center in your backyard? This week on Rich Takes, Sheena and Sevetri break down NVIDIA's rumored residential data center program, what it actually costs when you factor in electricity, water, and city regulations, and why the internet is split clean down the middle on whether to sign up or pass.Then, the Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time in decades, and Madison Square Garden tickets are running as high as $400,000 a seat! The co-hosts get into what that says about wealth, inflation, and the growing gap between who can afford to show up and who's watching from the couch.Plus, the 2026 IPO race just got a third major player. Anthropic officially filed this week, joining SpaceX and OpenAI in what could be the biggest wave of tech companies going public since the dot-com era. Which one would they actually put money into, and why does SpaceX feel like the safest bet?And to close: Is Meta quietly moving toward a real subscription model? Also, people are watching their phones more than their televisions, and no, Sheena still does not want a humanoid robot in her kitchen.This week on Rich Takes, we break down:OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX IPO expectationsNVIDIA's rumored $22K AI data center programThe economics behind NBA Finals ticket pricesMeta's future subscription strategyAI privacy concerns and smart technologyRich Takes drops every week as the pulse check companion to Rich Lessons. New episodes every week on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

May 28 · 14m

This week on Rich Takes, we’re breaking down the stories shaping entrepreneurship, business, tech, and culture right now.We start with The Breakfast Club making history as the first daily live-streaming show on Netflix — and what it says about the growing battle between Netflix, YouTube, podcasts, and the future of content. Are we officially in the content wars era?Then we get into the rise of the “Lonely Economy” after new data revealed a shocking 1,740% surge in romantic AI companion searches and user growth. Is remote work quietly reshaping adult relationships and social connection? And are AI companions replacing real human interaction faster than we think?We also debate whether real journalism is dying as creators, influencers, and podcasts dominate media while traditional newsrooms struggle to survive.Finally, we unpack what could become the two biggest IPOs in history: SpaceX and OpenAI. From trillion-dollar valuations to Elon Musk controlling 85% of shareholder votes, we discuss what these massive public offerings could mean for tech, investing, power, and the future of AI.In this episode:Netflix vs YouTube and the future of live contentThe rise of AI relationships and the lonely economyIs podcasting replacing journalism?SpaceX IPO explainedOpenAI IPO rumors and trillion-dollar valuationsElon Musk’s control over SpaceXEntrepreneurship, tech, business, and culture hot takesIf you love conversations around startups, business strategy, AI, media, culture, and entrepreneurship, this episode is for you.Subscribe to Rich Takes and Rich Lessons for weekly conversations on entrepreneurship, technology, culture, and building wealth in today’s world.

May 26 · 32m

Are you a founder or a CEO? Because they're not the same thing, and confusing the two might be the most expensive mistake you make.In this episode of Rich Lessons, Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor get into one of the rawest conversations in entrepreneurship: what it actually takes to go from founding a company to scaling one — and why the title of "CEO" means nothing if you can't back it up with execution.What we cover:B2C vs. B2B vs. B2B2C — who should you really be selling to?Why customer acquisition in consumer fintech can cost up to $500 per user (and why most founders don't survive it)The fraud, disputes, and bot rings inside digital banking that nobody talks aboutWhen to hire your first sales team (hint: it's tied to ARR)Bad terms vs. bad investors — what's actually pushing founders out of their own companies"Hire well, fire fast" and other hard lessons from scaling real companiesWhether you're pre-revenue or post-exit, this episode will change how you think about building, selling, and leading.🎙️ Rich Lessons is the podcast for builders, operators, and entrepreneurs who want the real story, not the highlight reel.Follow us: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richlessonspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/richlessonspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@richlessonspodcast

May 21 · 23m

Sheena and Sevetri are back with this week's Rich Takes — and this week it's a full-on face-off. AI is eliminating jobs by the thousands while storytellers and communicators are quietly pulling six and seven-figure salaries. We're breaking it all down.Tech companies are cutting thousands while quietly posting some of the highest-paying content and communications roles we've ever seen. We break down the AI layoff wave hitting Cisco, Meta, Amazon, and GM — and then flip the script on who's actually winning right now (hint: storytellers and communicators are eating good, with salaries up to $1.2M at Netflix and $400K at Anthropic).We also get into the $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund proposed by the Trump administration for January 6th participants — funded by your tax dollars — and why the reparations double standard has people rightfully fired up.Plus: Keith Lee's Family Day brought 20,000 people to New Orleans, but is the festival moving to Chicago the right call? We weigh in. And of course, we close out with the NBA Conference Finals — Knicks vs. Cavs, Thunder vs. Spurs — and the LeBron retirement saga that never ends.This week's topics:AI layoff wave: 103,000+ tech jobs gone in 2026 aloneThe $400K–$1.2M content and communications roles open RIGHT NOWThe $1.8B Jan. 6 fund and the reparations double standardKeith Lee's FamiLeeDay recapNBA Conference Finals predictions & LeBron's next moveNew episodes of Rich Lessons drop weekly. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss a take.#RichLessons #RichTakes #TechLayoffs #AIJobs #NBA #LeBronJames #January6 #Entrepreneurship 

May 19 · 41m

Logan Gobert was still working full-time when she signed a lease, gave herself 60 days to open, and launched Matcha Magic NOLA, one of New Orleans' most talked-about new cafés.In this episode of Rich Lessons, Logan sits down with Sheena and Sevetri to discuss building a wellness-focused café brand in the South, what it actually takes to open a food and beverage business while still working a full-time job. From the difference between matcha and coffee to the $1,000 door hinge she didn't see coming, Logan keeps it real about the costs, the challenges, and the mindset that keeps her going.What we cover:How traveling to Japan changed her perspective on wellness and businessWhy matcha is becoming America’s next major coffee alternativeThe truth about entrepreneurship that social media doesn’t showLessons from opening a brick-and-mortar business in today’s economyStaffing struggles, discipline, leadership, and building communityWhy young founders must master one location before scaling or rushing to franchise, and what that says about smart growthFinancial literacy lessons every first-time business owner needs to hearThis episode is for entrepreneurs, creators, founders, food & beverage startups, wellness lovers, and anyone chasing a vision while balancing real life.Logan's Rich Lesson: Being comfortable with being uncomfortable is the move. If the opportunity showed up, you're probably ready for it.Topics discussed:matcha benefits, startup lessons, restaurant business, café entrepreneurship, wellness trends, entrepreneurship podcast, young founders, business ownership, New Orleans business, startup culture, coffee alternatives, founder mindset, hospitality business, discipline, work ethic, and scaling a business. 🍵 Visit: Matcha Magic NOLA — 2000 Tulane Ave, Suite A, New Orleans, LA 📲 Follow: @matchamagicnola#Entrepreneurship #Matcha #BusinessPodcast #StartupStories #RichLessons #WellnessBusiness #FoodBusiness #FounderStory

May 14 · 28m

This week on Rich Takes — the hot takes segment of the Rich Lessons podcast — Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor break down the biggest headlines impacting business and culture.The Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act has red states redrawing district maps at lightning speed. Louisiana just went 5-1. Tennessee's Black representation in Memphis is gone. But the real question is: will voter outrage actually translate to midterm turnout? We get into why boycotts aren't the answer — and what actually is.Then we shift to a crisis hiding in plain sight. New research from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth confirms what many parents already feared: America is in a reading recession. Students in grades 3–8 are nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic scores across 5,000+ school districts. We talk about COVID learning loss, Chromebooks replacing lockers, and why critical thinking may be a generation's biggest deficit.On the tech side, the Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman and OpenAI lawsuit is heating up — and we're calling it: a battle of evils. Musk's argument that OpenAI broke its nonprofit mission and its promise to keep AI open and for public benefit is actually hard to ignore. We break down what's really at stake.And finally — Kevin Hart. The roast. The conspiracy theories. Hart Studios restructuring. And why independent content creators and streamers are doing what Hollywood spent billions trying to do — and winning.Topics covered:Voting Rights Act rollback and gerrymandering in Louisiana and TennesseeMidterm elections and Black voter turnoutReading recession: kids falling behind in grades 3–8COVID learning loss and technology dependency in schoolsElon Musk vs. OpenAI and Sam Altman lawsuitAI, nonprofit mission, and Big Tech accountabilityKevin Hart roast and conspiracy theoriesHart Studios restructuring and the rise of independent streamersHollywood vs. content creators and the future of entertainmentRich Takes drops every Thursday. Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for new episodes every Tuesday.

May 12 · 48m

What does it really take to become a successful NFL agent?In this episode of Rich Lessons, Sheena Allen and Sevetri sit down with NFLPA-certified agent and attorney Paul DeRousselle to discuss the business behind professional football, negotiating NFL contracts, athlete representation, sports law, faith, failure, mental health, and building a career from a small town in Louisiana.Paul shares his journey from Eunice, Louisiana, to becoming a respected NFL agent who represents elite football talent and secures major endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Adidas, State Farm, and Booking.com. He opens up about losing clients early in his career, failing the first version of his dream, rebuilding his confidence, overcoming alcohol addiction, navigating imposter syndrome, and learning how to win in one of the most competitive industries in sports.This episode is a masterclass on resilience, entrepreneurship, athlete management, sports business, negotiation, and personal growth.In this episode of Rich Lessons, Paul gets real about:Growing up in Eunice, Louisiana, and why he refuses to say he "escaped" his hometown.How a Family Matters episode gave him the courage to knock on a hotel room door at a law firm job fair and get hiredWorking as the only Black attorney at a 500-person Dallas law firm and what it taught him about negotiation.Why the NFL agent world gave him three years to sign a player, and what happened when time ran outRepresenting Keon Coleman and why the media got it wrongWhy 30% of the NFL is made up of undrafted free agents, and how he bets on overlooked talentHis battle with alcohol, the church moment that changed his life, and how he threw every bottle in the dumpster that same dayHow his mom, daughter, and grandfather's legacy keep him accountableHis new book, Faith, Failure, Football — and why he wrote it before he felt "ready."📚 Faith, Failure, Football by Paul Paul DeRousselle — Available May 11th  📱 Follow Paul: @theagentpaul🎙️ Rich Lessons is hosted by Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor — conversations at the intersection of money, entrepreneurship, and real life.➡️ Subscribe for new episodes every week.Whether you’re an entrepreneur, sports fan, athlete, agent, or someone navigating setbacks while chasing success, this conversation delivers powerful lessons on persistence, identity, and growth.#NFL #NFLAgent #SportsBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RichLessons #Football #SportsLaw #BusinessPodcast #FaithFailureFootball #AthleteRepresentation

May 7 · 27m

This week on Rich Takes, Sheena and Sevetri break down the headlines making noise in business, tech, and culture.The Met Gala is back, and so is the controversy. This year's backlash goes beyond the dress code: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are now the event's biggest backers, and A-listers like Taraji P. Henson and Jennifer Lewis are speaking out. Plus, Beyoncé made her return after 10 years — and Blue Ivy might have outshined everyone.Spirit Airlines is officially gone. We unpack what the shutdown really means for working-class travelers, how the blocked JetBlue merger played a role, and why the government's decision not to intervene could have long-term consequences for everyday Americans.GameStop just put in a $56 billion bid to acquire eBay, a company nearly ten times its size. Is it a serious play or a strategic squeeze? We break down the CEO's history and what this move actually signals.The Great Wealth Transfer is coming: nearly $100 trillion is expected to change hands from Baby Boomers by 2048, and $30 to $40 trillion of that is projected to go directly to women. What does that mean for investing, impact, and economic power?In AI news, Anthropic is reportedly closing a funding round that would value the company at $900 billion — surpassing OpenAI's $852 billion valuation. Two companies. Both nearly worth a trillion dollars. Let that sink in.And we close out with New Orleans: Is the city actually running out of time before it goes underwater? Real estate prices say one thing. Climate scientists say another.Rich Takes drops every Thursday. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

May 5 · 27m

Less than 1% of venture capital goes to Black women, but what's really behind that number, and what does it actually take to change it?In this episode, Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor get candid about the full picture of funding for Black women founders: from what banks and VCs are actually looking for, to why your pitch might be killing your deal before it starts, to why the current funding climate may be the toughest it's ever been.Both hosts have been on the other side of the table — as founders who've raised over $60M capital and as investors who've written checks — and they're not holding back.In this episode:Why less than 1% isn't just a systemic problem — and what founders can controlWhat banks vs. VCs are actually looking for (and where most founders fall short)The "audacity gap" in how Black women pitch — and how to close itWhy proximity to wealth and opportunity is half the battleThe Fearless Fund lawsuit and what it signals for the presentWhy the current job market is pushing Black women into entrepreneurship at the worst possible timeWho's still fighting for Black women in the funding space?An honest look at what the future holdsThis is the conversation happening everywhere right now, and this is the version that actually goes behind the headlines.Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, and leave a review.