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Lets Talk About It
At "Let's Talk About It," we invite guests who are change agents and heroes from our community to share their lived experiences and reflect on the milestone moments that have either propelled or diverted them. What sets us apart? We anchor our conversations in two foundational pillars of the Black community: books and music. Through this unique lens, we capture, entertain, and inform our audience, creating a rich tapestry of stories and insights that resonate and inspire.
Lets Talk About It
Finding Strength in Loss: A Journey of Resilience and Reflection
What if the memories we hold dear are far more valuable than any material possessions? Join us as we share our personal stories of love, loss, and learning to cherish what truly matters. Together, we honor those we've lost and reflect on how grief reshapes our outlook on life. Our esteemed guest, Shaun Mayo, Chief HR Officer of the Arizona Cardinals Football Club, enriches our conversation with his journey of advocacy in the Black sports community.
As we navigate through the challenges life throws our way, we delve into pivotal moments that have defined our paths. From growing up in a single-parent household led by strong women to Shaun Mayo's candid sharing of his personal and professional upheavals, including a separation and job relocation, we discuss the necessity of resilience and self-care. Sean shares insights from the transformative book "Resilience" by Ivy Hillard and invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram. Whether you're finding inspiration in overcoming odds or seeking guidance through life's storms, this episode offers heartfelt stories and practical wisdom for anyone on a similar journey.
Welcome to let's Talk About it, the podcast where we shine a light on the change agents and everyday heroes who shape our communities. Here we dive deep into the lived experiences of our guests, exploring the milestone moments that have either propelled them forward or changed their paths. We anchor every conversation in two foundational pillars of the Black community books and music. Through this unique lens, we capture, entertain and inform, weaving a rich tapestry of stories and insights that resonate, inspire and spark meaningful dialogue. Join our host, tj Lowry and Shatima Grisham as they engage with thought leaders and community change agents to uncover the rich tapestry of experiences that shape our lives. Get ready for insightful discussions, unfiltered perspectives and the celebration of Black excellence. Let's talk about it.
Speaker 2:Hey everyone and welcome to let's Talk About it the podcast. I'm your girl, tj, here, and I'm so excited for today's show. We are going to take a deep dive and catch up with the communities, one of the most prominent HR professionals in our area. But before we do that, I must introduce my girl, shatima. How are you doing, girl? Are you ready to talk about it? Absolutely All right. So what's going on? How are you holding up? I'm holding up, yeah, how about?
Speaker 3:you.
Speaker 2:It's been a little tough. I know we both have been through some really tough experiences, taken some deep losses you with the loss of your brother, and me with my Siri, my fur baby, who's been with me for 14 years. Grief is necessary for the circle of life, but it really has been tough. I know your brother's loss kind of came quick for you and your family. How did you all get through that and hold up?
Speaker 3:I think we're still trying to figure that out. Yeah, it was unexpected. I will definitely say tell you. Know, specifically men, especially our black men, get your colonoscopy and even if you have to fight with your insurance companies. He was diagnosed early August with stage four colon cancer and he passed 30 days later. So we were not prepared and it happened really really quick, quick, and he was only 47. So it sounds like, based off of what the doctors told us, he probably had it for several years and so we just have to do better about getting out there, going to the doctor, making those appointments and following through, because it is one of the few cancers that is preventable and so, um, devastating loss. Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out, um, that piece.
Speaker 3:But, um, you know, grief is it? It makes you really put things into perspective, you know, and, um, we were trying to pack his things up and it's like we work really hard to accumulate a lot of things, yeah, yeah. And then we're looking at these things and it's like, well, do you want this, do you want that, or are you going to give this away? Are we going to keep this? And it just really for me, um, put some of those things in perspective, that you can't take any of that stuff with you. Yeah, and it's really about memories and relationships and not acquiring the best of the best. I mean, you probably had about 50 pair of sneakers. You know all sorts of different j's and then we're like who? Who wears a size 14? Who wears a size 13? You really can't do anything with all this stuff. So you know, one of the biggest insights in just going through this transitioning is really putting in perspective balance and, at your own personal health, man memories with loved ones, because life is but a vapor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what you said. How do we get those men to preventative care and not treating what they now have? So you know, same for me. What I've learned about grief and I was fortunate to learn this is that we shouldn't ask people how are you doing, right? And so many people kept saying how are you doing? And I didn. I didn't respond, you know, because the reality is, you know, it's really been tough, and so we need to learn to not say that you know, not say how are you. And then, secondly, a lot of people want to know what can I do for you? And let me know what you need, and right now I don't know what I.
Speaker 2:You know, I'm struggling with losing somebody who's been with me 14 years, and while Siri was a dog, she was in our family. My kids are impacted, and so I am grateful for the relationship we had. She was my first dog and we laugh about how she got her name. Everybody has an iPhone, or you should, android users. Yes, I'm biased, but Siri came because I had a partner who got an iPhone and I wanted an iPhone and I didn't have one, but he did buy me Siri, and so I named her Siri. Her real name is Sirius Dog, and she was very serious and very loved, and so we just truly want to dedicate today's show to Sirius Dog, aka Siri, and Shatima Rashad Gresham. Yeah, they both had some serious impact on our lives and the lives of our families and friends, and so we want to thank them both for what they contributed to us and hope they rest in peace. So now let's get into some stuff. Shatima, let's talk about who are you introducing us to? Because I'm excited to talk to today's guest.
Speaker 3:Yeah, she's quite the transition, not at all dude.
Speaker 3:We are. I'm excited to introduce to you our guest, sean Mayo. Welcome to. Let's Talk About it. He is the chief HR officer with the Arizona Cardinals Football Club. He's also the president of BSP, which is the National Society of Black Sports Professionals. He is a member of Alpha Phi, alpha Fraternity. He also just got awarded Congratulations, last being the Power 50 Under 40 from the US Black Chamber, and he is a resident here of Arizona, been here for a couple years by way of Arkansas, but originally from Houston, and we're excited to have you here.
Speaker 4:Well, I'm excited to be here and first let me say sorry, my condolences for both of you guys' loss and thanks for sharing that. I know that's not always easy to talk about, so thanks for sharing that with not only me but the audience that's listening as well, and thanks for creating the space to have conversations like these. I'm looking forward to the discussions.
Speaker 2:Me too. Me too Welcome. Welcome Sean. We can't wait to catch up.
Speaker 4:Yeah, let's do it, yeah, catch up with me. Oh yeah, we're going to get on yeah.
Speaker 2:So, sean, you know we are HR professionals and we like to kick off the show with an icebreaker.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:And we call this one. Let's Talk About it, okay, and so we're just going to ask you a quick question and just answer with the first thing that comes to mind.
Speaker 3:Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 2:All right, so coffee or tea.
Speaker 4:I'm going with coffee.
Speaker 3:All right, paka, sweet or savory.
Speaker 4:Sweet.
Speaker 2:Okay, not my candy course.
Speaker 4:No, no, no, I'm a sucker for gummy bears, so like I really love gummy stuff, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Morning or night person.
Speaker 4:I'm going to definitely go with night those mornings I don't know Like yeah, no, TJ is definitely All night yeah. I keep saying I'm going to wake up early in the morning to work out. I haven't been able to get up yet to do so, but I'm going to get there. I'm going to get there, all right, all right.
Speaker 3:What's my coffee Favorite app?
Speaker 4:Favorite app? Ooh, I'm going to probably say LinkedIn. Actually, I spend a.
Speaker 2:Okay, what's your favorite season? I know in Arizona you kind of get one and a half. You were back in, I don't know If I go Arkansas. Yes.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I go Arkansas my favorite season because everywhere I've lived I've never got a chance to experience all four seasons. I'm going to go fall and really watching the leaves turn from green. It was really beautiful to be able to see. So I would say fall in Arkansasansas would be, uh, one of my favorite seasons yeah, arizona spa is definitely generic.
Speaker 2:I'm from wisconsin so we we saw it and it's amazing. You see them literally turn colors and you know, and fall away so okay, fall all right. Cats or dogs, dogs for sure, me too yeah, I have a new one, cookie, she's a lot.
Speaker 4:She is a handful five months. Are you going to give us a story of how Cookie got her name?
Speaker 2:She is brown, very like the chocolate chip cookie, with the brown chocolate nose and eyes, and so she's really, really sweet. When you look at her, she's going to be a TV or IG dog, okay.
Speaker 4:I love it, but then Page already going.
Speaker 2:Not yet. Not yet I'm going to zoom right down and play, but not yet. All right. But she also is a monster, so we call her Cookie Monster. Yes, the puppy stage, but she just looks like a chocolate chip cookie.
Speaker 4:What kind?
Speaker 3:of dog.
Speaker 2:She's, which is a Wheaton Terrier in Bajudo Five months, about 20 pounds and a lot of energy.
Speaker 4:Okay, alright, I'll be on the lookout for this, you'll see here.
Speaker 2:I'll make sure you keep the follow up. You're going to go on a babysit, okay Alright, texting or calling. Texting oh, okay, I'm definitely at that halfway.
Speaker 3:Call for me, okay so, shatima, I agree, yeah I agree yeah, yeah, all right, I think you lose too much in text. I'm just because I don't like to say I do.
Speaker 2:I'm trying to be true yeah, that's true, that's true carpet tunnel has made me audio a lot, so definitely call me please you know, you got like voice to chat now too, I do, but it's correcting me all. I got to correct a lot because our punctuality ain't there, so we're on the other side.
Speaker 4:But no judgment here. You know, it's not so we're getting there.
Speaker 3:Alright, we'll do a few more. Tj Beach or mountains.
Speaker 4:I'm definitely going beach, I'm sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it's got to be a beach.
Speaker 2:Ooh, sex with the lights on or off, ooh.
Speaker 4:That's a good one Off.
Speaker 2:Off All right.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Guilty pleasure TV show.
Speaker 4:Guilty. Ooh, that pleasure tv show. Guilty, that's a good one. Guilty pleasure tv show. This is probably not a good one, but uh, I would probably go with something like how it's made oh, I can sit there and watch it like all day and get lost in that. That would probably be, that would probably be my shoulder okay, well, with your hobby of doing building things building things, yeah yeah makes sense.
Speaker 2:Me too, sean. I love that show. What was the last book you read, last book? Love that show. What was the last book you read?
Speaker 4:Last book. That's a good one. Last book I read. I actually just just finished it last night and I came. I'm drawing a blank on it, but it's all about business and how this guy built a a business and it's got all these tips about business. But I'm drawing a blank on. I can tell you what I'm reading right now business and it's got all these tips about business. But I'm drawing a blank on. I can tell you what I'm reading right now. I just started it, but it's how to talk to anybody is a book that I'm reading right now.
Speaker 2:Very good. Do you remember what was on the cover of either of those books?
Speaker 4:On the cover of either of. I actually don't, no, because I'm actually I'm audible that Queen Creek Drive is a beast, so I'm listening to audiobooks most of the days in.
Speaker 2:I used to live in Levine and commute to Spatsdale so I was the same way. I would call people I need to call, or audio. So they say the book cover is what lures a reader into the book. Um, tell us, if we picked up the autobiography of the book of sean mayo, what would we find on the book?
Speaker 2:and this is a book of your life story. Yeah, okay, it's on the book and then in real life, tell us how you show up, because that is it, you know kind of the equivalent of that. But what's on the book and how do you present and show up?
Speaker 4:That's good Book. So if I had to describe a book cover right now for me, I'm going to go black and gold, alpha Right. So it's going to have some black and gold.
Speaker 3:And the royalty.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, yeah. No-transcript what I would probably have on a cover of a book.
Speaker 2:I love it. I heard that in the gold right that gold speaks royalty and you can speak that into existence. It speaks. You know about appendix, so I love that. I love that.
Speaker 4:It's coming.
Speaker 2:Oh, very good, perfect so we talked about the love that it's coming oh very good, perfect.
Speaker 3:So we talked about the front cover. Let's talk about the back cover of the book. So the back cover is usually what convinces us to buy the book. Okay, and reading what's the back cover going to say about you Back cover. Yeah, I'm probably going to you know.
Speaker 4:I think I'd probably use the back for like some testimonials or something, back for like some testimonials or something, and have just some people that you know I've, uh I've known over the course of my year, uh, or my time on on this earth, uh to to tap in and say a few words, uh is what I would probably uh throw on the rack richest story.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, I mean, just I mean more talking about character and who I am, because I don't think, regardless of you know where I am today, I don't think who I am foundationally from a character perspective has just really changed, and so I would. I would want to pull in some people that have been around, you know, to kind of see, you know, just just my growth as a human over the last 38 years kind of play out.
Speaker 2:I love that and that, you know, speaks to the healing, that growth and being able to see who you are and who you become. And people that know us. They see us different. You know they see us outside of who we see, so we definitely want to hear their perspective, their POV. That's a great back cover. What would you title the book? I titled it. You know, the Book of Sean.
Speaker 4:Okay, okay, but what would?
Speaker 2:you title the book? I titled it. You know, the book of sean. Okay, okay, but what would you title it? And then, what are some of the chapters that would really resonate with people? Yeah, they would just take away you know what I?
Speaker 4:this is what I would title it. Right, you kind of alluded to this thing I started doing, which we're not gonna get into here, but, uh, I started doing this ketchup with mayo deal for people to connect with me, right, uh, and so I would probably title that book Catch Up With Maya All right, I was going to title it.
Speaker 4:Yes, yeah, so that's what I would go and I don't know like chapters, right, like I don't know. I would literally take people through. You know really, you know how I've got to where I am today? And I'm not just talking professionally, right, I'm just talking about, like, as as a human, if you unpack and uncover, uh, you know, my my upbringing, my childhood, like all that stuff, all the, all the statistics and stereotypes and everything would say that I'm not supposed to be really where I am today, right you would have a really great, just just history, like you know, the things that I've been able to see and the things that have shaped, like who I am, and so I don't know, like I think you would.
Speaker 4:You know there's different ways. You're going to organize a book, but I'll probably organize it in somewhat in a chapter of chronological order of just things that have happened from, you know, my onset to now. But then I would dive into probably some areas that are, you know I'd call, really important to my life, right, and that have been consistent throughout, no matter what I've done, right, so you know, church would be in there, right?
Speaker 4:I've been consistently involved in church, right, yeah, and so I don't know. So that's how I would think about the organization of the book, but there's definitely some key moments in there. None whatsoever. He hit me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, your book come there.
Speaker 4:Yeah, maybe, so, maybe. So, Catch up with me and the outline there it is, there it is. I love it. I wish I'd be promoting it right now, as it was.
Speaker 2:Well, the people also need to hear those tools right. What I feel like is, by hearing our experiences, we hope that they can take something from that and shave that bad experience or elevate a little quicker from something we've gone through. And so there are tools. You know, the things you've gone through inspire people and hopefully they can get where they're going Absolutely. I love it. I'm waiting for that with me.
Speaker 3:Those stories never get old because you never know how your story impacts somebody else. Now you feel like you've heard these kind of over and over again but there's something unique that's going to touch somebody else who maybe hasn't had that type of story. You kind of talked about this a little bit. But what people or these places or events you mentioned the church, like how have those been impactful for you? Do you have like a, an event or place, person or place that maybe has been the most impactful?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean there's probably a lot of different, a lot of different examples and things that I could probably go through there. You know, the the one that you know, probably, you know comes to mind immediately is just even talking about just the role of the church and my grandparents and my mom.
Speaker 4:I grew up in a single parent household, so really, you know, I think about, I think about my mom and I've got an older sister. That's she's. Let's see, I'm trying to do the math here she's 14 years older than me, uh, and so I jokingly always call her my sister, mom, uh, and so, uh, I would say even her, right, like the women in my life, right, because there were not a lot of men in my life have been really like, impactful in terms of helping me to just really become like who I am right and like, if we must go down, it's just a really small decision, um, that you know, I'll use my sister as an example, uh, and then we can get into some events, like my mom passed when I was 20, my grandma passed when I was 18. Uh, and so really, you know, just out there, really by myself, but the consistent person that's been there for sure, uh, has been my sister, my sister, mom, right, and my mom. I've always known her as being disabled, right, so when I came into this world and whatnot, she was disabled and, you know, was around and available, but, like she, she really let me do what I wanted to do, and so we think about that like the recipe. To really do whatever you want to do is like quite dangerous Right. To really do whatever you want to do is like quite dangerous Right. No, like there was nothing, there was none. Right, and the person that was there that was attempting to hold me accountable was my sister. Right, and even wild decisions Right In terms of like this is a small one, but like it could potentially have altered even. You know where I am today.
Speaker 4:I remember I had convinced my mom when I was in high school that it was time for me to go get an open-faced gold tooth, okay, and so she was game. She was like yeah, like all right, like that's what you want to do. Like go and do it, eric. And my sister was like hell, no, right, that's not happening Now, you are not going to get the open-faced gold tooth. But it's like it's like the little things like that right, that I can go back on. And then, even if I just go even further back, like my grandmother was heavy in the church, grew up in a small little church I've got a picture of you See it, it's really small, probably has 50 members today and so my grandmother she had me in the church like 24-7. Like if there was something happening at the church.
Speaker 4:everything I'm doing food pantries on Wednesdays I'm the altar boy, I'm in every program the usher, like all of that, right. And so like I go back to that and I think like those things really kept me out of trouble, yeah, right. Like I'm talking about afterschool programs, like everything. Like if the church was doing something you best believe my grandmother had it, yeah, yeah. And so I go back to like events like that that I know have like really helped like shape me and like who I am today, even though in that moment I couldn't necessarily like see see what was happening there.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, I couldn't see what was happening there, so those are just a couple that come to mind. Yeah, see what was happening there.
Speaker 2:So those are just a couple that come to mind. Yeah, I'm a sister mom. I am the oldest of three brothers, so I'm definitely a sister mom. They're all pretty tall At least two of them are six feet plus, but they're still scared of me because, you know, I had to get them in check and get them together and they're doing pretty good.
Speaker 4:It's an important role. It's important.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and hear the music. That was one of my brothers yeah I love my sister mom, so tell us about the plot twist in. Catch up with me and shit hit the fan story of your life. Uh, that may have taken you by surprise or taking you off the path yeah, oh, that's a good one.
Speaker 4:Shit hit the fan moment. Um, I I would go with um, I would probably go with uh, probably probably my relationship uh with uh, what um, I I still today call, call my wife uh, even though we're not gonna call it officially married, but we, we went through a period where we actually separated uh and actually uh got back together uh, and I think throughout that time period uh was just one of those like moments of uh, of, of flipping the script, if you will, uh, and really trying to figure out like what's, what's next, uh, per se, uh and so, and there's a whole lot going on in that moment, right, and so they give you, you know, some more backstory there. Uh, so we separate, um, we just had a little one my youngest was was just born, uh, and then I ended up, uh with a job elimination, uh, which again I call it a job elimination. At the end of the day, I say I knew from markers and just looking around like it was coming, but I also was safe too, because they did an elimination but then also offered us different jobs, uh, and so I kind of knew what was happening there.
Speaker 4:But in the midst of the separation, this job thing happens and it actually forces me to move away from Houston. Right, so I'm in Houston, this job elimination happens. And then I've got to pick up and and make a decision, really like, am I gonna keep a job here, stay in here, or keep a job with this company and move, or do something different and stay in Houston? And so I made the decision to pick up and move to Arkansas with the hopes, of you know, saying out the career and so do that, get there. I'm there for about a year or so and I'm going back to Houston to try to be around the kids and all this other good stuff. And, uh, me and their mom ended up, um, rekindling and rebuilding a relationship and they ended up moving out to arkansas and all that stuff.
Speaker 4:But it's like just a very trying time I'd say there were just a lot going on, um more so personally than like professionally, and so you just never know what people are like going through Cause I don't think work would have ever known like all of that was happening in the background. But that, that's what I would probably probably allude to.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah. Sometimes work doesn't care, and that was what one of our guests you know, ryan. His role was to go in the workplace and help people that are dealing with a lot of challenges in their personal lives. How can we help them navigate that but still successfully perform? Because we don't have a choice. We already are struggling to keep up and meet them, and so we don't have a choice to not mentally function at work when home is a struggle.
Speaker 3:You don't have that safe space and that opportunity to even disclose. You still have to show up and get done and there's no, like you know. I remember going back and telling him my brother passed and the first question is well, when do you think you'll return? Like I don't know, like I don't know, Like I don't know, you know, so we don't always have that space to go back and have it even cross over.
Speaker 4:No for sure I mean you got to take care of yourself, right? I got a friend that's in HR that we joke around and share stories around how you know there's a retailer out there to not be named but, like, their CEO, ended up passing away and literally the next day they were naming and calling who was the next CEO? Right? And again, they probably cared and shared, but at the end of the day, business goes on and they're going to move on with or without you, right? And so it's for sure important to take care of yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like we show up like superheroes a lot of time, and so that's why and we have to, you know again, we are trying to survive and show that we're capable and beyond capable, and so we show up like Superman oftentimes, or super women, and so when we are struggling, like Shatima said, I know Great, but when are you getting back? Because we need you. You know we, we need those powers here. So it's not fair, but it is, you know, our experience. So last question for you, sean, as we wrap down what book would you recommend to our audience, and why A book?
Speaker 4:Wow, that's good. Um, um, it's easy when I say, uh, I'll tell you, I started reading heavily in the pandemic. I always had a book somewhere, but I started reading heavily in the pandemic.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I say the book that really changed my, uh, my mindset, my life, if you will, was actually this book called um, I think it's called resilience or mental resilience, by it's actually a pastor. So you'll see, this church thing keeps running through. Uh, ivy Ivy Hill, you're out of Houston, and it was all about the mind, right, how much the mind plays a role in really how we operate. And so that book really changed a lot, a lot for me in terms of how I think about things.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you. Well, this has been wonderful getting an opportunity to connect with you. Will you tell everybody where they can keep up with you? What's your social handle?
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely. I tell you, I love LinkedIn a lot, so you can find me on LinkedIn Just look for me, sean Mayo, there but then also on both Instagram and X, sean Mayo HR is where you can find me, so SeanMayoHR.
Speaker 2:Never open X and then become X.
Speaker 4:I don't use it much at all, but ID and LinkedIn are my two big ones. So yeah, yeah, yeah, you won't find much on X. I don't think I've ever posted, actually, but I'm in.
Speaker 3:I love it Alright. Well, thank you so much for joining us today. We appreciate it. Can it All right? Well, thank you so much for joining us today. We appreciate it.
Speaker 4:Can't wait to get this book going that you brought. I guess I need to start working on this.
Speaker 3:Yes, give us our credit.
Speaker 4:There it is. I'll have you on the back of the cover, inside somewhere, writing something, so I love it.
Speaker 3:So I want to go ahead and shout out my company. So I am the CEO of Procure Talent Management Group. We are a HR consulting firm that specializes in talent management, so it is the strategy of how we attract, hire, develop and retain employees. Tj, you want to give a shout out for your?
Speaker 2:I'm actually going to do a shout out to the Black HR Society, Thank them also for their support our org. Absolutely, you can follow BHRS on all the social platforms. And also giving a shout out to LTA L-S-H-T-E-M-A, we're all that one now.
Speaker 3:Yeah, let's talk about it, the podcast. We're also on all social media handles Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, all under let's Talk About it. You can also reach me at shatimowewannatalkaboutitcom and TJ as well. That's correct, Please?
Speaker 2:be sure to like, follow, share and subscribe. If you would like to be a guest on our show or know someone, or even would like to sponsor us again. You can reach me or to Shatima. My email is TJ at WeWantToTalkAboutItcom. Please continue to follow us. We'll be back on Thursdays at 1 pm.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning into let's Talk About it the podcast. We hope you enjoyed today's conversation and found inspiration in the stories and experiences shared. We trust that you were entertained, learned something new and felt inspired by today's show. Be sure to subscribe, like, follow, share and join us for the next episode. Until then, keep the conversation going and let's keep talking about it.
