di Keri Henderson, Small Business Consultant & Entrepreneur
#11: You don’t have to be rich to have an estate plan. In this episode, Keri kicks back with Meredith Hill, founder and principal attorney of The Hill Law Group, located in the DMV, for a powerful conversation on estate planning, wills, and trusts — especially for those who think they don’t need them (yet). They break down the real differences between a will and a trust, debunk common estate planning myths, and explain why having a plan in place is essential for millennials, parents, homeowners, and even college students. Meredith also shares her inspiring leap from burnout at a federal government job to launching her own law firm, the emotional journey of entrepreneurship, and why estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy — it’s for everyone. What you’ll take away: Why you need an estate plan no matter your age or marital status How to determine if a will or a trust is the best option based on your goals Why you should never use online legal templates The mental financial challenges of starting a law practice Connect with Meredith and The Hill Law Group: Website → thehilllawgroup.com Instagram → @hilllawgroup Facebook → @MeredithHillLawGroup 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#10: How much of your skincare routine is actually working and how much is just hype? In this episode Keri kicks back with DMV-based esthetician Cameron Cooper of Skin by Cam to talk all things skincare. From SPF myths and product recommendations to the real truth about whether your eye cream is worth the money. Cameron also opens up about his journey as a Black male esthetician in a female-dominated industry, how he built a booked-out skincare business starting from home, and the marketing moves that helped him grow. Whether you're a skincare beginner, looking for affordable product recommendations, or just tired of following a 10-step routine that isn’t working, this episode breaks it all the way down. In this episode, you'll learn: The simple skincare routine you can follow for glowing skin Why facial treatments aren’t just for women (men should get them too!) How to determine the right products based on the season and your skin type What estheticians need to know to grow a skincare business Connect with Cameron Cooper: Website → skinbycam.com Instagram → @skin.by.cam TikTok → @skinbycam YouTube → @skinbycam1358 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#9: How do you know when it’s time to leave your corporate job and take a leap of faith? Between the microagressions experienced as a Black woman in corporate America and growing passion for wellness and fitness, Melanie Smith knew she wanted something different. She had to ask herself, “is it time to bet on myself?” In this episode, Melanie, who is an integrative nutrition coach, pharmacist and fitness instructor, shares the microaggressions and burnout that led to her breaking point, what the transition to full-time entrepreneurship really looked like, and how she's helping other women heal their minds and bodies through holistic wellness. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a job that drains you, this conversation will remind you that it’s okay to choose yourself. What you’ll take away: The emotional toll of staying too long How to prepare mentally and financially for a career pivot Practical wellness tips that you can start applying today How integrative nutrition can support your physical and emotional health Connect with Melanie Smith: Website → mymoveswithmelanie.com Instagram → @moveswithmelanie TikTok → @moveswithmelanie YouTube → @moveswithmelanie 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#8: What do you do when you finally “make it” and God tells you to let it all go? In this raw and powerful conversation, Keri kicks back with Brittany Ingram, a former celebrity makeup artist who worked with icons like Tyra Banks and Phylicia Rashad. Just as her Hollywood career was taking off, Brittany heard a divine call to pivot, leaving behind her identity as a beauty professional to embrace motherhood, military life, and a quieter, more purposeful existence in Japan. Brittany shares what it’s like to lose your title, your income, and your sense of self, and still choose obedience over fear. Together, they unpack the grief and grace of reinvention, the struggles of postpartum depression, and how to make space for you when you're pouring into everyone else. Press play to learn: What obedience to a divine pivot really looks like How Brittany’s faith carried her through career loss and identity shifts Her real talk on stay-at-home motherhood, isolation, and spiritual growth Why content creation became her outlet for rediscovering purpose How to lead with peace, not performance, in your next chapter This episode is for every woman being quietly called to more, even when "more" doesn’t look how the world expects it to. Connect with Brittany Ingram: IG → @brittanyingrambeauty YouTube → @brittanyingrambeauty 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#7: Wine isn’t just a drink, it’s a catalyst for community, legacy, and change. In this episode, host Keri kicks back with Jon’ll Boyd, co‑founder of Boyd Cru Wines, Maryland’s first Black family‑owned wine company. With her husband Matthew, Jon’ll turned a shared passion into a purpose-led business rooted in connection, quality, and community empowerment. In this episode you'll learn: How family stories and heritage shape their winemaking vision Why they prioritize high‑quality, additive‑free wines that genuinely taste great The power of crowdfunding & intentional investment in community businesses How they’re building a tasting room that uplifts small, local founders Why wine can be a tool for accessibility, not elitism By the end, you’ll see wine as more than a sip, you’ll see it as a strategy for connection, legacy, and belonging. Connect with Jon’ll Boyd: Website → boydcruwines.com IG → @boydcruwines FB → @boydcruwines 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#6: What if your family recipe could shake up the retail industry? That’s exactly what happened when the founders of Bell’s Reines turned their food blog into a cookie brand that’s now making waves in stores. But behind every perfectly baked batch is a deeper story, one of legacy, grief, sisterhood, and the grind of building something from nothing. In this episode, you’ll hear how mother-daughter duo Teneisha Thompson and Angel Thompson-Cephas went from baking at home to navigating gatekeepers, pitching to buyers, and learning how to scale a product-based business without losing the soul of their story. This is about more than cookies — it’s about reclaiming space, honoring family, and building generational wealth one small win at a time. If you've ever had a dream you weren't sure the industry would make room for, this conversation will move you and make you believe again. Press play to learn: How they turned pain into purpose (and profit) What it really takes to break into retail The emotional labor of building a legacy brand How storytelling became their secret ingredient Support Bell’s Reines and indulge in their delicious, family-inspired creations: Website → bellsreines.com Blog → dulcetscintilla.com YouTube → Dulcet Scintilla IG → @bellsreines 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#5: Think style is superficial? Think again. Naana Badu, wardrobe stylist, image consultant, and speaker breaks down why your wardrobe isn’t just about fashion, it’s a leadership strategy. From corporate consulting to building a business that helps women of color show up with authority, Naana shares how your personal style fuels your personal brand. This episode dives deep into personal branding for women of color, how a wardrobe stylist for executives can shift your leadership image, and the often-overlooked link between clothing and career advancement. In this episode, you'll learn: How to build style confidence without sacrificing authenticity Why executive presence starts in your closet The wardrobe mistakes holding women leaders back and how to fix them How to own every room before you speak If you’re a woman in leadership ready to elevate your image and lead with intention, this conversation is your blueprint. Connect with Naana Badu badubasics.com 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#4 When Krystin Hargrove found herself exhausted, isolated, and stretched thin as a single mom, she realized what was missing: a village. But instead of waiting for support to show up, she created it and turned her vision into a thriving community that’s rewriting the narrative for single mothers. In this powerful conversation, Krystin shares how burnout sparked her purpose and why adventure and rest aren't luxuries, they're lifelines. What You’ll Take Away: Why single moms often face burnout in silence and what to do about it How Krystin built a platform that centers joy, community, and healing The power of redefining rest as a form of resistance Lessons in launching a brand that meets a need and builds a movement Connect with Krystin Hargrove: cotripper.co 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#3 Getting fired from FedEx was the best thing that could've happened to Lani Nesbit. But the road from getting fired to creating celebrity moments was anything but overnight. Lani built JLANI Jewels one step at a time, from cardboard-box light boxes and jewelry parties in rented rooms to figuring out how to turn her dream into a thriving, sustainable brand. In this episode, Lani shares how she went from assisting stylists and getting fired from FedEx to building a global, eco-friendly jewelry brand from scratch and how one earring moment with Blake Lively and a Sony film changed everything overnight. This is a masterclass in creative entrepreneurship, brand visibility, and owning your lane as a Black woman in fashion even when you’re starting from scratch. In this episode you’ll learn: How she landed celebrity placements without a publicist or PR budget The mindset shift that helped her scale without investors How moving to Miami transformed her creativity and work-life balance Why peace matters just as much as press when building a brand Episode Links: JLANI Jewels jlanijewels.com Follow on Instagram 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#2: Everybody loves to talk about quitting a 9-to-5 job like it's easy. But nobody really talks about why the leap is necessary and what happens afterwards; the burnout that pushed you out the door, the number crunching to make sure the leap financially makes sense and the identity crisis on the other side. In this episode, I kick back with my oldest friend, Renée Goings, a former Vice President turned co-owner of Done Dissertation, to talk about what it's really like to leave corporate leadership behind and build a six-figure family business with her husband. We get into the real, raw side of entrepreneurship: the identity shifts that come with going from corporate to entrepreneur, the emotional hurdles of joining a spouse-led business, finding your lane as a co-founder, and what it means to build something that reflects your values, your voice, and your vision, not just your resume. In this episode we cover: How Renée planned her corporate exit without sacrificing her lifestyle The emotional and mental hurdles of joining a spouse-led business Creating structure as a Type-A entrepreneur Sales, systems, and finding your lane as a co-founder If you're thinking about leaving your 9–5, joining a family-owned business, navigating the transition from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, or simply redefining what success looks like for you, this episode is for you. Episode Links: Done Dissertation Website https://thedonedissertation.com/ Follow Done Dissertation on social media: YouTube and LinkedIn 📲 Connect with me https://www.kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter https://www.kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show