Welcome, and thank you for tuning in to Black
Women Amplified, the podcast. Your host Monica
Wisdom Tyson brings you downloadable conversations
that matter to women around the globe. We discuss
all things Black Girl Magic, amplify our voices,
and transform our challenges into triumphs. Monica
calls on her league of extraordinary women to
push our boundaries, share their expertise, and
stories of personal transformation. Welcome your
host of Black Women Amplified, Monica Wisdom
Tyson. If you had the opportunity to live your
deepest dream, but you had to shift your entire
life to do it, would you say yes? That's what
we're going to talk about today, living your
deepest and most profound dream. We have a very
special guest in the building. I can't wait for
you to meet her before we get into the introduction.
I got to do a little bit of housekeeping, just
a little bit of housekeeping. I just want to
remind you to subscribe to the podcast so that
you don't miss an episode. Make sure you check
out the previous episodes that we have had. We've
had some remarkable women on sharing their stories
and their journeys from a space of vulnerability
and honesty and authenticity and... I'm telling
you, those stories move mountains in my life
and I know they would do the same for you. As
well as our guest today, I'm a little giddy,
I'm a little excited because this is my sister
friend, like for real, for real. Talking about
over 20 years of friendship and she's very special
to me. There are people that you meet that become
friends, peers, associates, and then there are
people that you meet that become family and she
is one of those people. Ladies and gentlemen,
let me introduce to you Rachelle Carey, an American
broadcaster who is an Emmy award -winning host,
journalist, and moderator. Her career spans decades
around the globe from CNN to Al Jazeera America
and Al Jazeera English. She has made an indelible
mark in journalism around the globe. Rachelle
is a fierce interviewer. who seamlessly navigates
between current affairs, politics, sports, and
entertainment. She has conducted hundreds of
interviews with thought leaders, icons, and influencers,
including Misty Copeland and my favorite girl,
Janet Jackson. Beyond the camera, Michelle deeply
cares about ending violence against women, and
she is actively involved in advocacy. with organizations
including Men Stopping Violence and No Harm.
Rochelle's life shifted as she made a choice
to embrace her deepest dream. From the newsroom
to motherhood, at 49 she adopted a beautiful
baby boy. This storyteller became the story and
she has been featured in Essence Magazine, the
Tamron Hall Show, and on CNN. I'm so excited
that she said yes to this interview and she is
here with us to share her remarkable story and
her journey to motherhood. Please give a warm
welcome to my dear sister friend, the incomparable
Rachelle Carey. Hello everyone and welcome to
the Black Women Amplified podcast. We have a
very special guest in the building and I can
honestly say that this lady is my dear friend.
And I'm so excited for you to meet her, to learn
about her journey and her story. And let's welcome
Rachelle Carey. How are you? I'm good. Before
we started, I'm great now hearing your voice.
I am great, great, great. It is always good to
hear your lovely voice. Your energy just comes
through the line. And I'm really, really happy
to be doing this with you, Monica. And thank
you for inviting me. Thank you for saying yes,
I'm excited. I'm going to tell you what, I was
a little nervous because I'm like, this is what
this girl does for a living. And I'm going to
ask her a question. Stop. Stop. And you were
so professional. Like, you could have just fired
off a text and said, girl, come on my podcast.
But that's not how you did this. You were so
professional. You treated me just like you would
treat any other guest. And I was like, OK, this
is how we going to be. I'm going to be formal
too. OK, fine. But I have been watching you do
this and continue to do this. And you are so
good. Your heart has always been with people,
with women. This is a natural extension of who
you've always been. And you're doing a fantastic
job. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Oh, my
goodness. So you are one of the top journalists
in the world, not the loudest, but one of the
best. And honestly, You know how we see this
friends? You're just my friend. And that's just
how I see you. And I didn't understand the magnitude
of your reach or your power until I was on your
virtual baby shower. And I logged in and I was
like, first of all, I'm underdressed. And second
of all, am I on the wrong Zoom link? Because
I'm not going to say who was on there, but what
was beautiful to me was the level of respect
that they all have for you. It was people from
all across the world literally logging in just
like I did. And what it showed me is that you
are the journalist journalist, and you are the
person that has great character and integrity.
When did you know that you wanted to be a journalist?
First of all, everything you just said is tremendously
kind. I will accept some of that praise and say
yes, but I'm also gonna remind people you are
one of my very good friends and you gas me up
because you love me. Blank, blank, blank, blank,
blank. I logged off to put on makeup. I mean,
I logged back on. It was fantastic. It was very
cool. And I will answer your question, but a
little more context too for people that don't
remember. That was during the pandemic when this
happened, right? So that's why I was a virtual
baby shower. So it because honestly, I think
because it was a virtual baby shower, I was able
to connect with more people than I would have
been had it been a strictly in person one, because
my friends live so many different places, right?
So it really was cool. And I was so happy to
see you there. And I'm glad that you enjoy that
moment as much as I did. As far as when I knew
I wanted to do this girl, I changed my major
so many times in school. If my mom is listening,
this is probably triggering to her. But I do
remember when I was very young that I always
liked watching the news. Like at a very, very
young age, I remember watching the news. I was
like eight, nine, 10. I would watch with my grandfather
sometimes on Paw Paw. And I can't say that I
thought then, oh, this is something I want to
do. But I do remember being hyper aware of current
events at a very young age. Then when I was in
college, No backup. I actually remember a girl
that I was friends with in high school. I remember
she always said she wanted to be a newscaster.
And to be honest, that was the first time it
ever truly crossed my mind that that was like
a real job that people could, that was attainable.
It wasn't just people you saw on TV doing it.
And then when I was in college, I think it may
be my third major, I was political science major
after having changed from like biology to something
else, to political science. And I was a minor
in telecommunications. And when I took that intro
to telecommunications and we started learning
how to write broadcast news, that's when I realized,
oh, this is what I'm actually supposed to be
doing. And that's when the bug hit me. And then
it took off from there. Now, I noticed that now
in this era of journalism, people seem to be
plucked into media from viral moments. And you
took the more traditional route. Can you talk
to us about the journey from local news to Al
Jazeera upfront? So I graduated from college
and at the time I knew that I did want to go
into broadcast news, television news, but I wasn't
really sure how to go about it because in the
era when I was doing this, generally speaking,
the path was you would go. To a small tv market
where you would make almost no money and then
you would work your way up right. So what i did
was when i graduated from college i moved back
home to houston. And at that point, I just went
and got a regular job at the bank, a full time
job. And then what I did on the weekend is I
got an internship at the NBC station here in
Houston, which is a big TV market. But you don't
start on air at a top 10 market. I mean, now
you might, but in my day, you did not. So I worked
full time at a bank five days a week. And then
on the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, I would
go. and rip scripts and pass out scripts and
get coffee and all that kind of stuff on the
weekend morning newscast at KPRC. And then progressively
over the course of three years, I eventually
started working less at the bank and turned it
to a real job at KPRC as an associate producer
or basically a writer. And then after about three
years, I was like, you know, I really actually
want to be on camera, but I wasn't going to get
to start in Houston doing that. So that meant
having to go to a small market. So I did. I quit
KPRC. I moved back to the Waco market, which
I knew from Baylor. And I started there as an
on -air reporter making like $5 an hour, Monica.
I'm not even kidding. My parents were helping
me pay my rent, pay my insurance. So I was on
TV, but making $5 an hour. And then from there,
let me see, worked Waco, Temple, Killeen Market,
then Tyler, Texas, then Las Vegas. Then St. Louis,
which is where you and I met, then went to CNN
headline news from there, and then went to Al
Jazeera from there. That is the course of my
career, which spans about 20 years and a lot
of moving. You got it. And you know, that's interesting
with journalists because you do have to move
around a lot to go up the career path. It's not
really very rare that somebody stays in one spot
for 25 years. Exactly. Now, you have, beyond
your great career, you've often been a voice
for the voiceless, covering stories that include
violence against women. Is that how you got involved
with men stopping violence? So when I had been
at CNN Headline News, we need to pour out a little
liquor for Headline News because it's not there
anymore. But it was so good to me. I had been
there. Not very long, Monica. I want to say maybe
a year or so. And the PR department, they had
the place where people that needed, wanted speakers
could put in requests through CNN and then CNN
would match you with an anchor if you weren't
requesting a specific anchor. And this group
called Men Stopping Violence was based in Atlanta
and they had their big fundraiser coming up.
And at this particular year, they were honoring
Ted Turner. and they requested an anchor from
CNN and PR asked me if I wanted to do it. So
that's how I became involved initially with the
organization. So maybe two or three years in
a row, I showed up and just emceed the event.
But you can't really be around this group and
not listen and try to learn. And then what ended
up happening, I'll never forget this, when Chris
Brown assaulted Rihanna, I was really I was so
disturbed by the dialogue around it. Obviously,
it was awful what happened to her. What was equally
awful, in my opinion, was the way that she was
being blamed. Particularly, I saw young women
that were buying into the idea that what had
she done to deserve this, and I was so troubled
by it. At that point, I went to go meet with
the woman who was the director of Men Stopping
Violence at the time, and I said, Shelly and
Hilda, how was feeling? And she's like, I said,
it's time for me to do more than just show up
in a pretty dress and MC the event. She's like,
well, we were hoping to stay with five. We come,
would you like to be on the board? You were like,
well, I just thought about filling out envelopes.
I was like, what are you talking about? They
had been hoping. And sure enough, it lit a fire
in me and that even though I am not involved
with the organization anymore. that fire is still
in me and it's something that has changed the
way I see things. And I'm very grateful for that
time and that moment. I remember coming to the
event in Atlanta. Don Lemon was the co -host,
I think. Yes, that year he was, yes. And you
all were honoring Tim McGraw because he had pulled,
he had protected a woman at his show. Yep. Talk
about juxtaposed to Chris Brown. Girl. Oh my
gosh. You're right. And wait, wasn't Hill Harper
there the same year? I don't think so. I don't
know. No, Monica. Yes, he was. I feel like that
was the same year. Because that year we were
like, we are on fire. Yeah, we got Tim McGraw.
Was Hill Harper the speaker? Maybe I have two
years running together in my brain. But I do
remember Tim McGraw. I do remember you being
there. And that was a fan. And yeah, you're right.
We highlighted him because there was a woman
at one of his concerts. who he could see from
on stage was basically being pretty much assaulted
by like a jerk in the audience. And he called
that guy out in the middle of his show. It was
like, no, this is not happening. And basically
had the guy kicked out. And we thought that it
was important to highlight men who knew what
their role was in pushing back that type of aggressive,
masculine, abusive behavior. And to this day,
he's just the nicest guy. I thought that was
incredible. He stopped. I remember just watching
the video and he stopped his whole show to protect
this woman. And I was like, it was beautiful
to see because you normally see the violators,
not the heroes. So we got to see a man being
a hero and protecting a woman. I was like, Oh,
absolutely. All of you need to do this. Exactly.
And honestly, to this day, it's funny that, yeah,
interesting that you brought that up. I'm on
the tickety -tock a little bit more than I should
be. And I saw there was a guy that I follow on
TikTok who posted a video the other day talking
about how he never realized how handsome Tim
McGraw was. And I went in the comments and I
said, well, he is handsome. I go, but he's actually
a really cool dude. And I love to be able to
tell people because sometimes, you know, Monica,
we don't know these people. We don't know celebrities.
We think we do. And we hope we do, but we don't
really. And to be honest, I mean, I'm not friends
with Tim McGraw, but I can just say that I am
aware of the type of great things he's capable
of. And it's just nice to be able to say that
about somebody. I know, I know, especially in
the music industry when we hear so much other
stuff. Absolutely. And to be so respectful of
a woman, that was beautiful to see. And you've
done all of this great philanthropic work, but
you've also interviewed some of our favorites.
including Mary J. Blige and Misty Copeland, Chaka
Khan and my personal queen, Janet Jackson. Who
would that be? The rhythm nation, please stand
up. Now, you cover, like you go from celebrity
to world leaders who you hold the task. How are
you able to shift gears? And what are some of
the memorable moments during those interviews?
that she can share with us. I think the best
way to approach it is realizing that no matter
who these people are, at the end of the day,
it is still just a conversation. And I know that
seems like a really basic thing to say, but it
really is true. And I think Janet Jackson was
probably the first big, big, well, let me think.
I've interviewed famous people before her, but
she was probably the biggest, I would say. And
she was nice. She was normal, for lack of a better
term. And the best way to get anywhere is to
talk to them like they are people. I think that
those are the best conversations to have, whether
it is somebody who's a big time celebrity or
somebody who's ahead of state or some big international
official. You have to remember who you are, too.
You know, there's no reason to be intimidated
by these people. And I can't say. There are times
that I probably have been, but then you have
to remember who you are and you're an equal.
And that's how I try to approach these things.
Hello everyone. Monica wisdom here. I am the
host and the producer of the black women amplify
podcast. But what you might not know is that
I'm also a consultant for women entrepreneurs.
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can reach me at www .monicawisdomhq .com. Where
did you get that level of, you've always had
a lot of confidence in my opinion. Where did
you get that fierceness and that level of confidence
that you have? Cause you always had it. Well,
I faked it for a while. So just so you're aware
of that. Like I never even aspired to. be a national
news anchor. My goal was to work my way back
to Houston or either Dallas and that would be
fine. And that is fine. I don't like how that
sounded. I'm not trying to imply that a national
anchor is somehow better or more accomplished
than a local anchor because there are local anchors
all across the country for decades doing amazing
work and mean a lot to people in their community.
But what I'm trying to say is that I just never
even thought I'd apply at CNN or someplace like
that. For me, it may have been, if I'm really
honest, I didn't think I was good enough for
that. It just didn't cross my mind. So confidence
is something that has grown with age. And I'm
52. I just don't care about it anymore. It's
the best feeling. I just don't. There's so much
less that I care about now, Monica, and I find
that happens with age. Is that something you
find, too? Oh, my God. literally could care less.
I look at all the people and doing all the things,
I'm like, I've done it. That's boring now. What's
the next adventure, you know? Or nothingness,
just nothing. Exactly. You know, it's more important
for me to be okay with myself than to care about
what other people think. I could not agree more.
And sometimes I get mad when I think back on
all the time I wasted. caring about what people
thought when I was younger, but I think that's
just part of growth and it's normal to feel that
way at certain ages. But man, the times in my
twenties, even my thirties that I was still caring,
like, Oh my God, I can't believe I gave that
person a second thought or what they thought
about me is if it mattered. It's like the spiritual
people say you got to call your energy back.
Absolutely. So much time and energy wasted. Just
like, Oh my goodness. yes yes yes now i have
the most important question to ask and this is
a defining question so i have to ask you what
is easier calling a world leader to task or negotiating
with a toddler let me tell you something let
me tell you something monica i have moments where
i will literally he will be trying to negotiate
or argue with me and i'll stop me like why he's
three what am i doing why are you doing this
with that he will say the thing he likes to say
the other night. He wanted some milk when he
woke up in the middle of the night okay even
though he's like three and a half he still likes
milk and i said hey now he's wide awake i said
every you know mommy doesn't want you to have
any milk i don't want you to tt in the bed this
is what he said to me just okay okay if i just
have just a little bit of milk and then i will
go to sleep. and then I will get up in the morning
and go to school. You're not doing me a favor.
You're doing this no matter what, but he's serious,
Monica. He is dead serious. He actually, when
he was about two is when he started saying, okay,
how about, oh my gosh. So yeah, I think I would
rather maybe ask somebody about war crimes than
actually try to negotiate with my toddler. That's
why I knew it was a defining question, because
now you had this big life as a journalist, and
now you're a mommy. So before I ask about the
process or the journey of motherhood, what I
want to know is the mindset shift you had to
make from living this big life overseas to coming
home and just focusing on not just, but being
a mother. I think one of the bonuses of me doing
this later in life is that I don't have any FOMO.
Like I don't feel like I wish I was traveling
and doing all these wonderful things because
I was able to do those things. So in that sense,
the mind, the shifting of my mind has been a
little, it's not, it's been okay, right? Now
don't get me wrong. I miss being, you know, single
with the passport and just going wherever I wanted
when I wanted, but I feel like right now that
part of my life at least is on hold until Avery
and I can run around the world together. But
it has been, so in that sense, it's been an issue
shift because I just was ready. I was beyond
ready. So it all makes sense. Now there are things
that I. Have to think about ways that i didn't
before even now i have had some hosting and moderating
opportunities that have come up that have been
for events that are out of the country that would
take me away from maybe for a significant well
not significant but for a toddler we can be a
long time. particularly when I'm a single parent
and it would be my parents taking care of him.
So he factors in my decisions in a way that before
him, I'd have just been like, sure, here I come.
Let me come do that. Right. So I have not to
change the way I think, but I wouldn't change
it for the world. And it's kind of automatic
now. Yeah. But you know, you just always put
them in your backpack. Well, and he does have
a passport. I got him a passport. So at some
point we are going to be running around the globe
together. Now you, you have quite a fascinating
motherhood story and I love it. I remember calling
you one day. I was like, Hey girl, what's up?
You're like, Oh, I'm about to adopt a baby in
a couple of days. I said, no, what now? Listeners
about this dynamic story. It actually did. It
took a long time and then it went really fast.
Just like you described when I was in my early
forties. I froze my eggs. I hadn't been very
intentional about building a family. I just kind
of always assumed at some point I would meet
some great guy, get married, have kids, and that
just wasn't happening. So I froze my eggs in
my 40s trying to give myself a little more time.
Truth is, I wouldn't advise anyone listening,
I wouldn't advise freezing your eggs in your
40s. I would advise doing it much younger if
you could. Yeah, everyone can't afford to do
it when they're in their 20s or 30s. But freezing
your eggs in your 40s, you're not going to get
that many eggs and they're not necessarily going
to be the most viable. But no regrets. But that's
just something I would tell other women. So I
froze my eggs in my 40s, early 40s. And by the
time I was 47, I tried IVF with the sperm donor
from the sperm bank. That didn't work. And then
I pivoted to adoption. So between my egg freezing
IVF Applying to get on an adoption list that
spanned pretty much all my 40s, right? So then
when I was 49 when I quit my job at Al Jazeera
and I moved home and at this point I was already
on an adoption wait list and had been for a while
but I just felt that it was time to come home
to the US and that that could also perhaps make
it easier for me to get matched with a birth
mother and a baby. So what happened is Saturday
morning, I never forget I was walking out of
the gym and I got a phone call. And my adoption
agency said we have a birth mother who has a
baby who is already about six weeks old. We want
to show her your adoption profile, but we don't
want to show it to her unless you're really in
a position like to take a baby right away. And
let me give you some context. Well, what often
happens is you will make an adoption book, a
profile bill presented to birth mothers and the
birth mothers may pick you and maybe want to
interview you. But often the birth mothers are
still pregnant at the time. So you have time
by the time you get picked, you have time a few
months to prepare. Right. So that's why they
were saying, no, we already have a baby who would
need immediate placement if the birth mother
picks you. And I said, okay, sure. Go ahead.
Sure. My book. They called me back that afternoon
and said, can you get to Dallas tomorrow to come
meet her? So, okay, so that's Saturday, Saturday
to Sunday, get upset Sunday morning, go to Dallas,
meet her, meet the baby. And then by Wednesday,
I physically had Avery. So the whole process
took years just for it to end up taking like
four days. And it was the coolest. Wow. I know
it was fast, but I didn't know it was that fast.
Oh my goodness. So how long from the time you
moved home until you had that conversation? Oh,
that's a good question. Let me see. Actually,
my anniversary of moving home was four years
ago. This week is when I moved home. So I moved
home in June of 2020 and then I was matched with
Avery in March. So what is that? Seven, eight
months, not very long at all. Oh, that's beautiful.
And it's beautiful because you and your parents
are so close and i know they've been a tremendous
help to you what advice are they giving you during
this time of your life. Surprisingly not a lot
i gotta give it to me have been showing real
restraint they have not been overbearing. Even
though they're extremely present and extremely
supportive like he sees them every day because
i live five minutes from my parents he spends
a night with them two nights a week they're extremely
present which they would be this present no matter
what but i feel that they feel an added duty
to do so because i'm a single mom. So there is
just as involved as his life and I am as I have.
If I ask them for advice, they will give it to
me. But to their credit, they're not constantly
second guessing me or anything like that. And
I'm very, very grateful for that. But some of
the advice is really just comes from pulling
from how they parented me, because while no parents
are perfect, they did a lot of things I really
admire and respect. And I find myself kind of
leaning back on some of that is I make my decisions
with Avery. That's beautiful. You know, it's
great that you have that support system around
you. But have you ever thought about in the climate
that we live in, raising him outside of the country?
Yes, I do think about it for a few reasons, because
I have lived out of the country, so it doesn't
seem like some farfetched idea. I had a great
experience living in Doha, and I realized that
comes from privilege, from the fact that I had
a very well, good paying job. I completely understand.
my perspective is a privileged position. But
I did have a good experience where I was working
and where I was living. And my friends, when
I was there, many of them had children, had great
lives. The kids were in good schools. They had
flexible schedules where they could spend time
with them. So, yeah, sometimes I wish that I
could just go back to that little bubble. Where
i you know would have to second guess going to
a mall with every because you know somebody might
walk in with a gun you know i do think about
those things the main reason that i don't is
because what i just talked about every village
is here. If i could get you know true story if
i could get my parents to. Maybe. Just pack up
the whole family. Go, everybody. I should just
have a family meeting and be like, OK, who all
wants to go? Let's go. So yes, I absolutely do
think about it, Monica. I do. But it's this,
and I'm not saying, who knows? I have no idea.
It could still end up happening at another time
in his life. I don't know. But I do feel like
right now it's more important for me to be here
with the support that he and I have with our
family. I think that matters the most right now.
Now, do you have any plans on maybe giving Avery
a sister or brother? Oh, I don't like that. Absolutely
not. It's like I know what that laugh is. I have
an only child. I believe in only children. The
only children coalition is over here. No, no,
and no, and he better not ask when he gets older
and understand. No, and I honestly, I don't think
I ever asked if I did. I don't remember ever
asking the closest I remember. I can't believe
I remember this. I was maybe in second or third
grade. Maybe I remember my mom. with our church
had gone to volunteer at a children's home or
something, but whatever the case, she had come
across this baby that just she was smitten with.
And I remember her coming home, talking about
it with me and my dad, like she was almost in
tears. Like she's like, I want, we should adopt
him. I think I want that bubble. And I would
remember thinking, what in the, what? So no,
and I didn't say anything, but I remember not
being terribly into the idea of potentially another
kid coming into the house and the face pass and
she got over it. So you were like, no, single
kid over here. That is so funny. But to that
point though, I do one thing my parents did do
for me with me being an only child. They were
very intentional about me being around my cousins
a lot. So I didn't, you know, feel isolated or
anything like that. And I do try to do the same
things with Avery to make sure it's not just
me and him in this little cocoon just because
I am an only child and I'm comfortable being
alone. I'm an introvert. I really try to have
his world be broader than that. What ways do
you do that? Girl, I went on a play date the
other day. But actually, that came out the wrong
way because this was actually somebody that I
genuinely like. I like her. But I got to be honest,
if there's some kid in his class that I find
that he's starting to develop a friendship with,
my concern is not going to be whether or not
I get along with the mom. I'm going to be like,
can we meet up at the park or something? I have
him in swimming. I have him in soccer. I'm starting
to finally get him into church where he has children's
church. So I just want him. And at school, I
also let him do aftercare at school because that's
also just more time for him to play. Does it
give me more time? Yeah, but honestly, I could
pick him up at three. My schedule allows it,
but I intentionally try to let him have more
time there to play. That's powerful. So you already
have defined how you're going to be the type
of mother you're going to be and make sure that
he has what he needs. That's beautiful. Got to.
You have shared this story across the airwaves
from Tamron Hall to CNN to Essence Magazine.
Why was it so important for you to share this
story? Because you're used to being on the other
side, not the story, but telling the story, becoming
the story. How was that and why was this important?
Because my friend Kelly would not let me. That
is the true. People ask me this question often.
And I mentioned Kelly so much, but it's true.
So Kelly Carter, she's a very, very good friend
of mine. She's a journalist. She's on Good Morning
America now, but we've been friends for a long
time. And she was the one that said, I mean,
you do know you need to talk about this. Like,
like what you've been through is a story. And
I was like, what? And she's like, yeah. And basically,
you know, if there were the outside looking in,
I would say that if there were her, I would say
the same thing like you need to go talk about
this. So she was the one that convinced me that
people would want to know about my journey. So
she was the first one that connected me with
a friend of hers who worked at Essence. And then
once I started talking about it on Essence, it
just kind of took off from there. Every time
I talk about it, every time I post about it,
I have another friend named Kelly, don't get
them confused, who made a really fantastic reel.
That summarized my story with Avery in like a
minute and a half a thing got half a million
views Women messaged me all the time. So I got
to say it was Kelly who said people are going
to benefit from hearing your story you need to
talk about this and Now it's second nature to
talk about it. It felt weird at first But now
it doesn't because I do realize how many women
can relate to different aspects of my journey
and had a lot of questions So I kind of feel
like it's almost my responsibility to talk about
it now Yeah, I think it's important because,
you know, especially in this conversation about
IVF, you know, we need to hear real people's
stories instead of people telling us what it
is. And so it's important for you to share all
of this, all of the story, because it's just
so remarkable. And I know that we have to go
because you're on mommy duty and you got to pick
up the baby, you got to pick up the prince or
the president, if I call him. So what's on that
horizon for you and your new family? I know that
you're walking into a new career and you're building
something new for yourself and your baby. Career
transition is hard and that's just being honest.
Yeah, so it's trying to find being able to have
a platform to talk about things that are important
to me that I want to do that is still so that
allowed me allow me rather to provide a. good
life for me and my child while also still having
the flexibility to be around for him because
I'm a single mom. And that's a lot to figure
out, Monica, a lot. Some of it I have figured
out, some of it I'm still figuring out, but I
really admire you and I know you didn't. expect
me to do this, but because one of the things
I do want to do is talk in a podcast space about
what my journey has been and try to connect women
with professionals or medical professionals that
can help answer some of their questions about
the journey they're on. And I admire how you
just jumped out there and started podcasting.
I have the benefit of having professional training
in this. Right. And I still find that podcasting
can be a little much. and harder work than people
realize and you just tackled it and get better
and better and better at it all the time so times
and I feel a little frustrated that things aren't
coming for me as quickly as I want them to I
think about how hard you've worked at this and
I'm like well you know what you really ain't
worked that hard yet you need to keep you need
to keep at it. So that's what I'm doing. I'm
getting myself out there doing professional hosting
and moderating, which is something I really love
because that still allows me to maybe show up
at an event that deals with global affairs, because
that's still part of my passion too. So I'm trying
to have the best of all worlds. I'm trying to
talk about the mommy thing, help moderate an
event about global affairs, and still be able
to pick up Avery at the end of the day. And it's
coming together slower than I want, but it is
definitely coming together. Oh, you will make
it happen. The one thing I know about you is,
opposed to me, you make good decisions. Monica,
we would do a separate podcast on the poor decisions
we have both made. That's a different conversation,
and I'll have it at another time. Oh, the laugh,
the laugh, the laugh. Ooh, the tears, the tears,
the tears. Oh, goodness gracious. Yes, ma 'am.
Well, before we get off of here so you can go
pick up the president, how can people connect
with you and continue to follow your journey?
So I do have a website, RochelleCarrie .com.
So I am on all the socials. I'm on LinkedIn,
Instagram, threads, and then my website. And
my website has more about me, has my bio, has
a place you can book me if you want me to do
hosting, moderating, all that stuff. So probably
my website is probably the best place to start.
RochelleCarrie .com. Well, thank you so much.
Thank you for saying yes. I've had fun. Thank
you. We've got other stuff to talk about offline.
Yes, ma 'am. Thank you. Because we're going to
get you a podcast. Okay. All right. From your
lips to God's ears, sister. We're going to make
this happen. Thank you so much. And thank you
everybody listening to the Black Women Amplified
podcast. Make sure you check out blackwomenamplified
.com. for more information and things going on
outside of the podcast. This is Monica wisdom
and I'm out. Thank you for listening to Black
Women Amplified. We hope you enjoyed the show.
Be sure to subscribe and log on to black women
amplified dot com for more information. Keep
shining.