by Keri Henderson, Small Business Consultant & Entrepreneur
#29: In this episode of The Kickback Briefing, I'm breaking down three major stories shaping business and culture right now; from the ongoing Target boycott to a beloved Black-owned fashion brand pausing production, and the controversial legacy of America’s Next Top Model. Along the way, she shares powerful lessons on brand trust, communication in business, and why staying true to your mission matters when building a brand. This week we discuss: What the Target boycott reveals about brand loyalty and public trust Why “all press isn’t good press” in today’s business landscape The communication lessons small business owners can learn from Hanifa’s production pause The importance of giving grace when supporting small and Black-owned brands What the America’s Next Top Model documentary teaches about legacy, virality, and staying true to your purpose Resources: CNBC USA Today The Cut BET 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#28: Anna Cobb almost lost her life to a synthetic energy supplement. That experience made her to rethink what she was consuming and ultimately led to her creating the first okra sparkling water on the market. In this episode, Anna shares the story behind building O’kra, the wellness beverage brand that went from an idea to being on the shelves at 11 Erewhon luxury grocery stores in California and a nationwide launch in Sprouts in May 2026. We talk about navigating the beverage industry, pivoting until you find product-market fit, and why okra was the best choice to create a beverage brand. In this episode, you'll learn: Pivoting without quitting and the importance of isolation before launching Why okra has deeps roots in Black history and the benefits often overlooked What beverage founders can learn from brands like Poppi and Olipop How a viral LinkedIn post helped generate early momentum The strategy behind securing retail partnerships and scaling 🚨 Special Offer: Receive $10 off your O’kra purchase: https://loox.io/z/pjgYoi6Cf Connect with Anna Cobb: Website → drinkokra.com Instagram → @drinkokra | @theherbalhottie TikTok → @drinkokra 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#27: What do you do when you can’t find a Mother’s Day card for your friends? For Krystal Henry, founder of Around the Way Parchment, that simple frustration turned into a growing stationery brand built with intention, representation, and community at its core. Krystal shares how she went from blogging about motherhood to launching a greeting card company, winning nearly $45,000 in grants and pitch competitions, and creating space for Black women entrepreneurs in an industry that often overlooks them. We talk about funding, grief, community, manufacturing, and the truth about building a product-based business from the ground up. In this episode, you'll learn How Around The Way Parchment fills a gap in the greeting card industry Why grants and non-dilutive funding should be on every founder's radar The role community, specifically Black women, plays in building a business Why all money ain’t good money and the importance of alignment Connect with Krystal Henry: Website → aroundthewayparchment.com Instagram → @atwparchment TikTok → @atwparchment Facebook → @atwparchment Mentioned In This Episode: Boyd Cru Wines The Well / She's Well Network: Early Entrepreneur Growth Program Community College of Baltimore County: Center for Business Innovation and Trade 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
There comes a point in many of our careers when pushing through no longer feels like strength; it feels like survival. Nutrition coach, pharmacist, and fitness instructor Melanie Smith shares what it looked like to navigate burnout, workplace microaggressions, and the quiet signs that something wasn’t right. We talk about the emotional toll of staying too long, the clarity that came through therapy, and how she ultimately prepared to walk away and build her business Moves with Melanie. Listen to the full episode here. 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#26: Welcome to the first episode of The Kickback Briefing, a new format breaking down the latest wins, challenges, and stories shaping business and culture and the lessons we can learn from them. This week we discuss: The latest update in the Uncle Nearest $108M loan lawsuit Whether the brand could be forced into a sale Nike’s MLK “Honor the King” sneaker controversy The difference between brand intent vs. cultural impact Netflix signing podcast deals and competing with YouTube What founders can learn from major platform pivots Articles for Reference: Lexington Herald Leader Distillery Trail The Spirits Business Yahoo Sports Time Tech Crunch Business Insider 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
What do you do when you feel like you’re being called to go in a different direction? Don’t ignore the whisper. In this hot take, former celebrity makeup artist Brittany Ingram shares the one piece of advice she leaned into when she felt that she was being called to leave her thriving Hollywood career behind for a life as a stay at home mom, military wife and a more purposeful lifestyle in Japan. Listen to the full episode here. 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
What do you do when a massive opportunity shows up before your business is ready? In this Hot Take, the founders of Bell’s Reines share why they turned down a request to produce 3 million cookies after one free advertisement and how that decision protected their business. We talk about the reality of scaling too fast, understanding your true capacity, and why infrastructure before income can make or break a food product brand. You’ll hear practical advice for food entrepreneurs navigating growth, funding, and ownership, plus lessons on saying “not yet” without fear or guilt. This episode is a must-listen for founders building sustainable businesses on their own timeline. Listen to full episode here. 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
Women don’t hold themselves back at work because they lack skill or experience; it’s because they are seeking permission to be themselves. Wardrobe stylist and image consultant Naana Badu shares the limiting beliefs women of color have when it comes to their style and reminds us that professionalism is not defined by your wardrobe; it’s defined by your expertise, authority, and presence. Listen to full episode here. 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
The rules of investing have changed. In this hot take, Boyd Cru Wines co-founder Jon’ll Boyd breaks down how beginners can start investing with as little as $100 without being an accredited or angel investor. We talk about why investing feels intimidating, how everyday people can invest in small and Black-owned businesses, and the legacy we can build through ownership and access. If you’ve ever wanted to start investing but thought you needed millions, this conversation is for you. Listen to full episode here. 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#25: This episode is a bittersweet one. After a year of filming three seasons together, Keri’s videographer and producer, Kyle, steps in front of the camera for the first time. They pull back the curtain on their entire podcasting journey; the lessons, the laughs, the late-night edits, the technical mishaps, and the major growth moments that shaped the podcast into what it is today. If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast or wondered what it really takes behind the scenes, this episode is your blueprint. Together, Kyle and Keri reflect on what they’ve learned about collaboration, creativity, consistency, and taking that leap even when you don’t feel fully ready. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why perfection is overrated and the importance of taking the first step Pros and cons of hosting an interview-style podcast The power of systems and templates to save time and protect your peace How to overcome imposter syndrome when you’re building something new Biggest lessons learned as both a host and videographer to make podcasting easier in the future This episode is full of gems, storytelling and behind-the-scenes moments about what it looks like to build something meaningful. Connect with Kyle: Instagram → @incrowd.network 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show