H2L E.9 - Marketing by day, creator by night -Kyra Mitchell Lewis, entrepreneur and podcaster

On today’s show, Rachel talks with Kyra Mitchell Lewis, the founder of Glow Up Gyrl. Kyra radiates positive energy and is a resource to all who come her way. She exudes perseverance, strength and Gyrl power. Kyra is a business woman, entrepreneur, podcast host. She is a self proclaimed, marketer by day and creator by night and weekend! If Kyra can’t find a way to get something done, she will make her own way. A true trailblazer.

@glowupgyrl
GlowupGyrl.com

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

No, I

Speaker 2: 0:01

Don't care,

Speaker 1: 0:03

But they say

Speaker 2: 0:06

I

Speaker 1: 0:07

Came here to stay

Speaker 2: 0:11

Through the days. The must. It wasn't easy. Again. He never gave up cuz I, God God had Through the darkness, through the tears during the lights off, never give

Speaker 3: 0:38

Welcome to another episode of hungry to live today. I will be speaking with Kira Mitchell. Kira has created this platform for women to share their stories. She's also a woman who talks about this thing called the evolution, which she will get into. I imagine it to be about you and me and the evolution and Revolut of us females. So here we are, um, Kyra is also a podcaster. So how did you get into podcasting? Ooh, great question. Um, I got into podcasting because two years ago, um, when I launched grow up girl, it was right at the time it was in my, and it was right at the start of everybody going into a pandemic. And so I was planning actually to do an event in may. So I'm based in Atlanta and I was gonna have an event in Atlanta where, you know, it could be a more intimate setting for women to talk and gather and get to know each other. Well when March, you know, know pandemic rolled in, Nope, that wasn't gonna happen. And so I was just in this place of just trying to figure out like, how can I still get this message out to women? How can I still give them resources and tools? And I will have to say that I do think that, um, that God was telling me to start a podcast. Right. But I was saying, uh, no, thank you. And I kept hearing like, start, start a podcast. And I was like, first of all, it was like start a podcast. But then the, um, the negative self talk was like immediately saying girl, nobody wants to hear what you have to say. And so I went through that for a couple weeks. And then finally I say, you know what? This just keeps coming back and it's not gonna go anywhere. So in may I sat down with like my first guest and it was janky. Like it's a really janky to start, but I have to say it's been one of the most fulfilling things that I've done. So it sounds to me like this idea popped into your head. You were trying to suppress it. More signs kept popping up and they were like, you need to do this. You need to do this. And no matter how much you tried to resist, it kept presenting itself to you. Yeah, it did. I can tell based on what you have said, and for those who are not watching, um, on YouTube, there are many signs that are behind Kyra's head right now, one that says empowered women, empower women. I can't see the top part of it, but then another part, another sign that says goal Digger, which I just think is hell. Um, and then one, there's another one here that says women support women. And the other one here says, you, you glow girl. And this one says, girl boss. And those are all the things that you are. Well, you are a girl boss and you glow girl feeds in into your platform of glow up girls. So can you talk, I know you talked about how you started your podcast and I know for the listener, I know we just kind of jumped right in, but every time I talk to Kyra, that's kind of just what happened. It's like her and I have known each other for a very long time. It's our third conversation in our entire lives and the last 18 months. And it's literally like this every single time we talk. So it's, we don't miss a beat with each other, which is amazing. But I want you to talk about what glow up girl is, what it means to you and just kind of how it has become its thing. Yeah. And yes you are so correct. Like every time we talk, it's like, oh girl, like we were just talking last week. So let's just pick up where we left off, but okay. So let's rewind back to 2019. So pre pandemic, um, I started going to therapy and one of the things that I realized as I started going, so I started going, cuz I felt overwhelmed all the time. And I was like, oh my God, like everybody wants something and is needing something for me at work or in life. And I was just like, I'm afraid that I'm going to have all these balls. Like I felt literally like I had all these balls in the air and I was always like this, trying to like catch them. So yes, for any y'all if you're not watching, you're missing my octopus arms. Um right. And um, and so I finally was just like, I'm about to hit a wall. I need to go and talk to somebody. So I started, I went to start going therapy and my um, therapist was like, Sheila, to me, she let me tell that whole, my whole story. And she goes, well, you don't have any boundaries like that, that that's your problem. And I was like, huh. And so, um, so we started to work on that. So from July to December, I started to work on, you know, telling people, no saying, you know, I'll pass on or no, I'm sorry. I can't do that. And by the time I got to December, you know, I had people saying to me like, what have you been doing? You seem different. And you know, and I was like, oh my God, it's the power of therapy people. I was like, everybody should go. Like, it doesn't matter. Like you just need to go to have somebody else to hear your grown up problems. Um, because I mean, first of all, because your grown up problems have something to do your child with your childhood problems. So, you know, it's all that solving that. So in December I started to think about, because I'd had a nonprofit that I was, um, running with my younger sister and we were getting to a place to where she was wanting. She has her dream. She wants to sort of like branch out and do like her own thing. And I, and it was catered towards younger women. And so being a working professional, you know, doing anything with anybody in school, well, they want you there dear the normal school hours. So that was getting really hard for me to manage that and my job at the time. So I started to just like at right around Christmas, I had those last two weeks off and I was just thinking and just sort of praying about like, how can I still make this impact, but really I think I'm being shift to make this impact for professional women. So entrepreneurs, um, you know, just career women with professionals and with careers, but how can I begin to give them what I call a safe space? Because a lot of people believe it or not, don't wanna go to therapy and you have, or you have a lot of people who constantly say, yeah, I've been meaning to look into that. And so when I had heard that maybe like 20 times from different people saying that I was like, maybe if I created a place where we, as women can get together, you know, those of us who are entrepreneurs, we can talk about businesses and getting started and what are we need to do? Women who are just profess just everyday women, moms, professionals, whomever, just a place for women to get together and talk. Well, I was sitting at my table and I was like writing in my planner and just like saying, okay, God like you gotta help. Yeah. Tell me what that thing is, what I do. And I literally heard glow up glow up and I went, Hmm. And I looked back and, and, but it was so clear to me that it wasn't, you know, what we all hear and know as modern the glow up of what somebody else used look this way. And now look at her, slow it up. But it was really like that place of a, and becoming so comfortable and confident in herself that all that internal beauty and that internal glow was just gonna shine out for everybody to see. And when I, when I thought that I said glow up girl, and I was like, and of course you guys spelled girl G Y R L duh, that is where it was born. And like I said, it was supposed to be, you know, a series of meetups in like smaller, intimate gatherings, but the pandemic, you know, sort of made it, um, you know, pivot and gave it larger life and more legs. And so now it is just a community. It's a community for women who are, you know, trying to become the, be a better version evolving. So you talked about yes. E evolution evolution was a virtual conference that had put on last year and it really is about you. And it's about you evolving in every aspect of your life. And it's like, you are enough today, but as we all know, we always want to be better. So it's like, how can I be better? And so here we are today, you know, we've got podcast, we've got, um, we've got resources on line. If you go to the site, there are lots of resources for women. Um, there's um, I mean I myself do a little coaching now on the side with like content strategy and marketing, because that's what I do in everyday life. So just trying to help women who are business owners, who may not know how to tell their own unique story, giving them a framework to help them get out there and tell their stories. Yeah. Kyra, I have to say your content on your Instagram, which can you share your Instagram quickly? Yeah. Um, it is glow up girl. So glow up and G Y R L. Amazing. So your content is number one, it catches the eye. Not only is it visual, it has there's auditory sound that goes with it for most of the content that is on there. And there, the there's images that are overlaid. So I'm over, I'm overly stimulated, but like in, in the best possible. And I think anyone who's looking to try to figure out how to do content, I definitely recommend going to Kyra's page. I also have to say, while I was listening to you in five short months, you went from not really knowing what you wanted to do with this idea and this plot form to growing and glowing up within your own personal confidence, which is something that I know through my own story of recovery. It took me a lot longer than that. It took me 10 years to get my book out. And then it took from that 10 years another, it took me into pandemic for me to start a podcast, which I never thought of doing until I started recording podcasts on other people's shows. And I wanna say, I think you were the first person I ever did a podcast pre-meeting with, which is so funny. And I remember I was walking down the street. I know exactly where I was. It was like one of those men to be moments. And from there, it's just morphed into this thing and it's great. And I know that's why glow up girl was created in essence, because it was to connect people, likeminded individuals, women who come from different backgrounds that have similar, um, connections and want to talk about certain things, wanna find other people with similarities, want to find other people to connect with in things that they're already doing, things that they want to do. So I just wanted to say, thank you for putting that out into the universe cause it's so needed. Um, you, so as a person of color, I wanted to know what kind of obstacles have you had to face in order to create something like this? Was this an, because a lot of this was digital. Did you find that you were, were you at first only marketing to other women similar to you and your demographic? Or were you just looking for women in general and how did that play into how you've grown? Because I know that it should not, 100% should not be an issue, but we live in a time where it seems to be an issue for some people, which I still don't don't know why. Right. Um, you know, I will definitely say when I started this, it was meant for all women. And I did, you know, I did have conversations with people who thought that it should have been, you know, tailored to African American women or, you know, or, you know, people of color. And I was like, I mean, I think women all deal with the same issues and we all have the same, like, you know, roadblocks in life. So I'm not going to like, uh, I'm not gonna cut somebody out or, you know, segregate and say, no, you know, like, no, you can't be a part of this. And so I, and I never really ever looked at it that way. Like from day one, it was always going to be a platform for all women. And, you know, I went into meeting with, you know, like when I first started the, um, platform and right. You know, the height of merch, everything. I mean, I was having a lot of like, um, zoom call and I was just meeting a lot of people. And, um, you know, and I was meeting a lot of, you know, different women of all races and all the stories were the same, of course, you know, I mean, there are different things that different people, you know, deal with. Obviously I've been very fortunate that with this business and I think for the platform that I've created, that I don't think I've really run into obstacles, you know, from a race standpoint, you know, uh, now we spend that into the everyday professional world. You can definitely tell you a different story, but I think with this, it's been very well received and I've gotten lot of support from all women. And I think that's just because we, as women have a common, you know, we have some of the same common like scenarios and things that we all like to work on. Um, to be better, I wanna say. So I was struggling a bit to figure out how to ask a question like that. Cause I don't think that it's, to be honest with you, I don't think it's, it's necessary to have that conversation when someone as yourself and someone like me are talking because I, it's not, I agree with you 100% we're women, we share similarities and commonalities that all women share. Yeah. And part of me was like, I don't wanna sound like I'm ignorant. I don't wanna sound like I'm use putting my right privilege out there. Like, because I don't, it's just like, I feel in general, I just feel like icky, but I, I just, so that it's, it's important to have these conversations cuz there might be other women who, who don't look like me, but look like you and are not ready to put their voice out because they don't think anybody wants to hear them. Very true. No, I think that's a great, it was a great question. Uh, I think for myself, you know, I think it sort of depends on, you know, where you've been in your life and you know, the type of situations you've been in. So for me personally, you know, I have always grown up a mixed company and you know, I went to college at, you know, through everybody, you know, it wasn't H B, C U it was all people. I I've always worked. I've always been in scenarios often where I may be the only black person, you know, um, in my job, you know, or in my office. And so I've always, I guess you could say, I mean, part of, you know, who I am, I'm very adaptable, you know, to my situation. So I can't always, I mean, I've always sort of fit, so it, wasn't really hard for me to find a voice and to put it out to everybody. But I do certainly know where you're coming from. There are some women, like I said, you know, there were conversations that I had with some other black women who were like, oh, well maybe, you know, this would be great. Like its should be catered to, you know, black women. It should be a place for black women. I'm like, well, I mean, I think there are a lot of places out there, you know, in communities that are tailored and targeted for, you know, African American women only. And, but I just didn't feel that in my heart that it should be a place that was just for one group. I just, what I felt like I was being called to do was for all women. And so that's why I certainly, you know, if you do have communi cuz I mean, Hey, I visit sites and communities that are for women of color, you know? And I think that, I think different people are called to do different things. And so for me, I think I'm just called to, to be, um, a platform for all women. And speaking of being a platform, where do you see this platform of globe up girl going? So I really would like to, you know, my big, big dream is to be able to fund, um, women like startups. And I would like to fund startups that feel a lot like grow up girl, because I think that, um, you know, and so I've had a lot of experience over the last two years, applying for grants and trying to get those types of things. But you know, when you have have big ideas of big dreams that people can't necessarily say they're tangible to start, right. If it's not something somebody can physically, like you've got this phone case that you're selling Chira, so yes, I'm gonna get behind it and I'm gonna give you money. Um, you know, I, I, I like to say I got suckered into applying for a lot of grants when were like, oh, well thanks for applying, but we're not gonna pick you, but you know, it was still, it's still good research for me. Um, and it actually just fueled me because that's, what I would like to do is give seed money to women who in and have those big dreams. I mean, because not everybody, you know, has a tangible product that they can sell. Some people just have really good ideas that maybe they need somebody to help them mold that into what it can be. I mean, a lot of people, when I first start talking about globe grow, they're like, eh, okay, and what are you selling? What's it gonna mean? But how, but how are you gonna make money? What's the question that I got most often? Well, that's the thing is I think that we're also discouraged as women, a lot for having ideas because our ideas sometimes don't seem as important or as useful as other people's ideas for one reason or another, especially when they're not tangible because in our heads we can understand how a community of women could use it and could benefit from it. But other people who are not part of the community of women that understand it because they haven't gone through it. It's just like the idea of walking alone at night as a woman versus walking alone at night as a man, like it's two completely separate experiences period. Right? Yeah. And I think there's something too, like, you know, you have to be a dreamer, like I'm a dreamer like that. That's who I am. I dream really big. My husband always says like, he's like, why it's like, you went from zero, like beyond a hundred, like, uh, quickly. And I go, you know, that's the one thing in this life that I never want to stop doing is dreaming and believing. I said, because when you stop dreaming and believing, it's like, you don't have hope. And I said, and there's always a way. I mean, and I said, the world is the world today because of people that dream, I mean, you gotta be that person. I said, you gotta shoot for the moon and you know, land amongst the stars. Like I truly believe that. And I think that the world doesn't have enough of those people, you know, like there there's a grouping of grouping of us. And then there are people who are like, okay, but yeah, but how is that going to make me money? And so I tell people, I'm like, look, I'm not going into this to make money first. I'm going into this to be a resource and to help women. And so if I've gotta give that away for free, I mean, if I've gotta, you know, just, you know, spend my own money to help somebody else, then I will. I said, because you're planning seeds at the end of the day. And so you're gonna plant enough that one day it is going to, you know, return and said, but then you also, you just never know who you're gonna be able to help with the inform you do give it's like that quote. I don't exactly know how it goes, but you plan to see today so that apples grow to feed other people, generations from now. Like you have no idea how you are going to impact people years and years from now. And another knowledge bomb I wanna drop is you might fall among the stars, but at the end of the day, we're all made of stars. And that's the thing is people like don't even realize that like we are all so connected. And that's why I have this show because talking about human connection through taboos and stigmas, I mean, we've already covered that. It's been 20 minutes. We've covered all of that. We're done, I'm done seasons over. Um, but I really believe that like your podcast started not to meet for us to meet, but your podcast started in March. And I think that we spoke in April and now here we are almost two years later. And like, it's just it's to me, how things happen. And then as you said, even if you don't get funding and you have to have it come from like your own pocket, essentially at the end of the day, everything that's meant to happen and is supposed to happen is it happens and it's given to you in one way or another. And so you can't see it now, but when you put things into the universe, the, the universe listens. Um, so I want to, I, I end all of my interviews by asking as you know, it's called my show, it's called hungry to live. I want to know what keeps Kyra Mitchell hungry to live. That's a great question. Um, I think it is, um, I'm fueled to, to make the world better and leave it better than the way I found it. And I, you know, and it doesn't, you know, I always tell you, it doesn't have to be in one particular way, right? Like it's you find the thing for you that helps you to help other people and to bring joy to somebody else's life. And so I definitely think that that is one of the things that fuels me. And then also, you know, I'm a, I'm curious by nature. So I'm a learner. So I'm always like reading something, you know, wanting to learn something new. Um, and I'm very much fueled by like just learning. And I like to know things. I'm like, if I don't know something, I'm like, Ooh, let me go figure it out. Like I like to solve a problem or something, but I definitely think at this stage of life, it is just being a good person, you know, living in a, in purpose and being able to like do something good in the world. All right. So Kyra Mitchell living with purpose. The last thing I do is read a poem about my guests. So here's a for you. All right. The evolution is an evolution envisioned by Kira Mitchell. All you need is a sign, cuz this is your signal. Invest in your purpose. You are more than meets the surface. Kira offers clarity, balance and connection, no matter one's complexion a woman of color, knowing what it's like to be outnumbered. So she provides for other women to amplify their voices. She knows firsthand what it's like to not be given all the choices. Kyra will either find a way or she'll create one. This woman knows how to get it done. Thank you so much, Kyra, and this is hungry to live. I'm Rachel, you can find me@hungrytolive.com. You can also find my Instagram at hungry, the number live. Thank you so much Kyra for being on my show. And you can also find me on Kyra show, glow up girl. Yeah. So actually it is this week's episode. So I'm really excited about that. Um, man, we had a great conversation. It feels like we talked that episode was like where we're going girl. And, um, it is season two of up girl podcast and episode 44. So check Rachel out. And she is also a member of the globe up girl podcast network. So if you are on globe up girl.com, you can find Rachel's podcast there as well. So listen, listen, find us both support these ladies

Speaker 2: 25:50

In the right place, in the wrong way, down on my luck there, dog, Dave had to switch it up, make it okay. So I gave up on Thery race. Learned from a pastor mass days. Still got time. Never too late.

Speaker 1: 26:08

No,

Speaker 2: 26:09

I don't care.

Speaker 1: 26:11

But they say

Speaker 2: 26:14

I came

Speaker 1: 26:15

Here to stay

Speaker 2: 26:19

Through the days the must. It wasn't easy. He never gave up. Cuz I Through the darkness, through the tears, turn the lights off face. My fears never give a.