SPEAKER_03 0:00

Let me tell you something. When the pandemic came, I was like, okay, I may be in the house, I may not be able to do as much, but I immediately with my dominant disc disc disc personality on the city. Something else we have in common. So that dominant personality, I immediately thought, when I come out of this pandemic, I'm not coming out the same way I went to.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

I said the same thing. As a matter of fact, the Lord said, What do you want, Ruth, out of this pandemic? And I said, five additional streams of income.

SPEAKER_03 0:29

Because just because you can do a lot doesn't mean that you have to do it all at one time.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

If you have not already, please subscribe, like, and share so that others may also participate in what you're about to experience. And this is a podcast dedicated to entrepreneur-minded women who want to embrace peace as they pursue their purpose. Today on Becoming Serene, I am so excited because on Becoming Serene, we hold space for women who turn their healing into help. Women whose lives speak louder than any title ever could. And today's guest is one of those women. She's a best-selling author, TED X speaker, and board-certified mental health coach. She's on a mission to see others live whole and lead well. As the founder of Victoria's Living Solutions, she empowers leaders to rise from what tried to silence them and boldly walk in purpose. Her message has graced national platforms from NBC and CBS to thrive global, and her voice continues to echo hope in every room she steps into. Whether she's coaching, ministering, or behind the mic on her podcast, she reminds us that victory is not a destination, it's a decision. Off the mic, she is a proud slay-at-home mom, homeschooling mama bear to three beautiful children, Rodney III and twin girls, Nalia and Nisi. And she has been joyfully married to her husband, Rodney Young Jr., for 16 years strong. This is not performative work. This is legacy building through inner transformation. So it is my joy, my honor, and privilege to introduce my friend, the Dr. Nakia Young. Give it up, ladies and gentlemen. Give it up, give it up, give it up. Come on, Slay at home to the home. Because girl, you are all that, like seriously, for real, for real. Amen. Amen. Amen. So before we jump into this, I want to say thank you so very much. We met a year ago, this time at uh Coming to the Stage. Lola Tomorrow's coming to the stage. Yes, uh, sponsored by Faith Figures. And this, you are my third guest who has graced our couch from yes, my associations with Lola. So it brings me so much joy and honor that you said yes. So thank you, friend.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

Thank you for having me. I'm honored to be here.

SPEAKER_01 4:05

Honey, well, the honor is all mine, and they're about to see why. They're about to hear why and see why. Because you are a non-stop woman. Like you do not stop going. So let's start there first before we get into Victoria's Living Solutions. How do you define success personally?

SPEAKER_03 4:27

I define success as being in tune for who God called you to be and what it is that God has called you to do. Because God has given us all so many gifts and his gifts come without repentance. But not everyone knows what theirs are, you know. And so if you have been in tune enough with the Holy Spirit, in tune enough with the Lord to discover what your gifts are, and you got the audacity to be walking in them, you are successful. Congratulations.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Oh, I love that. That is the truth. So with everything that you do, all the titles that you hold and everything, just tell our listeners where Victorious Living Solutions, how did that get birth? From where did that come?

SPEAKER_03 5:19

Okay. Uh well, the name Victorious Living Solutions is actually taken from my name. So Nikia is a Greek name. It means victorious one or victory of the people. Uh like Nike. So N-I-K-E, the shoe, is the Greek god of victory. So, and then on a personal note, my mother had five miscarriages. She was told she wouldn't be able to have kids. She had five miscarriages, and on the sixth tribe came me. Uh so she prayed about what to name me, and God gave her the name Nakia Nicole, and she didn't know what it meant. But she looked it up and discovered that both Nakia and Nicole mean victorious one or victory of the people. And that victory of the people meaning is dear and dear to my heart because my victory is not just for me, it's for me to help others achieve their victory. So I'm on a lifelong quest to help everyone to live victoriously, and that's why I named the company Victorious Living Solutions.

SPEAKER_01 6:25

And when did the company, when did you begin this?

SPEAKER_03 6:28

I started it in 2018, officially. Like, okay, I got the name, I'm you know, got the business license. I officially started it. It's been an idea in my mind for a while, but I officially started the company in 2018.

SPEAKER_01 6:43

Okay, so post your first degree. So post per post your bachelor's and master's, and then what did you say? You went straight into entrepreneurship.

SPEAKER_03 6:56

Uh yeah, well, I was a school teacher for a while. Yes, I used to be a special education teacher. Uh got my master's in special education in 2007. So often on between 2007 and I want to say 2014, I did that. And then when I discovered that teaching is my gift, but it is not supposed to manifest itself in this setting.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

I like that. I like that.

SPEAKER_03 7:23

That's the most polite way I think.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

So polite and poetic.

SPEAKER_03 7:27

Yes, I know I have the gift of teaching. I know that, but it is not supposed to manifest itself uh in this setting for me. Um when I walked away from that, I was still teaching, but I was doing it in a different way. Right. So the 2014 to 2018 years were the I'm gonna pursue every creative dream in my heart. Right. Modeling, plus size modeling, fashion blogger, television commercial, talking, TV show. I did I didn't have any kids. I didn't have any kids. My first kid came in 2016. But I just kind of did that, and then once I had my first baby in 2016, it was like, oh you know, because it's it's one thing. Like the business is really fast-paced. You'll get a call like, can you be downtown in two hours for an audition for Chicago Fire? And you're like, Yes, I'll be right there. Right. You can't do that when you got a baby. Like, what's wrong with y'all? I can't find no sitter in two hours. Like, I can't do that.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

Right.

SPEAKER_03 8:31

So I started, I had to adjust, but I wasn't giving up on my dreams, but I had to find a different, I had to tap into different facets of myself that would work with having a newborn.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

Oh, most definitely.

SPEAKER_03 8:43

And so I started thinking about, you know, I've always been interested in self-help and psychology and helping people in counseling, and I became a certified Master Life coach, and then I started the company that my son was about two when I started. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

That's so, so amazing. So, in addition to oh my goodness, the certified, uh not just the life coaching, but mental health, and then you even spiritual and now leadership, entrepreneurship, like it's never ending. What like literally drives you to say, okay, on to the next. Like, and it's not as though you're packing that other stuff away, you're still doing it. And then it becomes topics on the podcast that we're gonna get into. So I love how you just utilize and bring everything together, and then you came to come into the stage, and I'm like, this woman is like me, just an avid learner and love to learn. So it's one of my top five strengths as well. Learning as well as input and teaching and all those things. So, what is it about what's next with you? Like, what feeds you?

SPEAKER_03 9:55

I like you said, I love to learn, and I'm all about developing. I feel like, and this is gonna sound real dramatic. So I mean, but I'm an actress, so they're like bring the drama, but I always feel like if you're not growing, you're dying. I feel the same way. That's really dramatic, but it's like I don't like stagnant.

SPEAKER_01 10:20

No, complacency, like no, I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Like I'm always finding ways to challenge myself to better myself. If I'm not earning a certification or something like that, I'm reading something. Like you come to my house, I have so many books. I and I don't like the um the the digital right. Oh, it takes up less space. It's like, okay, that's cute, but I like to doggy ear my pages and highlight and tactile.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

Whatever I am, it's like, oh, let me pull this book up while I'm at a light. I have audiobook Wayne. It's like I have three books. I'm listening to three at a time. Yeah. It's like this is my morning book, this is my afternoon book, this is my evening book. Yeah, it's crazy. But I love to do that.

SPEAKER_03 11:11

I like to challenge myself. I like to push the envelope. And so, and that can be kind of a gift and a curse because sometimes I am so on to the next thing that I don't take the time to savor an accomplishment. It's just like, okay, got that one. Next, right here.

SPEAKER_01 11:32

What? Oh my god, yeah. Now, this is someone doing this with three children at home. No excuses. No good, because mine are grown, and I can still sometimes try to use them as an excuse. But I like the fact that you don't do it and use your children as an excuse. You use them as your why.

SPEAKER_03 11:53

Oh yeah. And it's backfired on me greatly. Because guess what? All three of them are just like me. It's like the what's the movie uh with the with the superhero, the Incredibles. Oh, I love it. Oh my god. It's like the mom is doing something, the dad is doing something. All the little kids got so many gifts, they like just shooting up in the air. Wow. And then there's five of them, and there's five of us. So we watch the Incredibles movies for Family Night and David.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

Oh, I'm gonna call Rodney the third Dash. He's now now known as Dash. But okay, so speaking of that and your children, thank you. I'm gonna segue into on top of everything she's doing and talking about, and yes, has a podcast. She also is a homeschooled, like I said, homeschooling your children. How did that begin? Like, when did you say, and you're not going to traditional school, Rodney?

SPEAKER_03 12:50

In 2014, when I walked away from teaching. Um, and I don't want to, teaching is a very noble profession.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

Right, most definitely. We are not bashing the classroom. We understand that because we can't homeschool everyone and everybody's not meant to homeschool, let's be clear.

SPEAKER_03 13:08

But I feel like yeah, I feel like there's the way education is needs to be reimagined.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

Most definitely.

SPEAKER_03 13:15

For sure. It teaches to like a bell curve, like if you imagine a bell curve, it just teaches to the average in the middle of the road.

SPEAKER_01 13:26

And it teaches conformity. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 13:28

Uh-huh. And everyone is not like that.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

Not at all.

SPEAKER_03 13:32

Whereas when you do that, you leave room for people who are really excelling on the higher end of the bell curve to get bored out of their mind, and it's like this isn't interesting. Or kids who need a little extra nurturing, it causes them to get left behind. Most definitely. Um and so being a special education teacher specifically, and I talk about this in my TEDx talk, uh, let's normalize homeschooling. We were, it's all about tailoring instruction and having individualized education plans for each child. Everybody, that's right. And then you're working on, you know, based on how that child learns, and you're doing like that's what I did. I never did any other gen ed subjects, you know, special education. And I thought, well, duh, why aren't they educating all of them on that?

SPEAKER_01 14:24

Everyone. Yeah. Everyone needs an IEP.

SPEAKER_03 14:26

Yeah. Because we're individuals.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Agreed. Yeah. Yes. Especially when you see it has success. Absolutely. Like when you see children actually become more progressive and they're so confident because that's the goal. Yes. As a teacher, my goal is always to build confident learners. That's it. For you to be excited about learning, knowing that you can learn, and believing that you can learn anything. Absolutely. That's it.

SPEAKER_03 14:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

And at your own pace. It's not according to okay, you're this age developmentally, it says that you're supposed to be doing this right now. No. So I agree wholeheartedly, and I love, love, love that. So she is an amazing advocate for homeschooling. So much, in fact, I did just hear on your latest podcast. Uh, well, we'll get to that in a second, but you also uh just spearheaded a conference and was part of a conference.

SPEAKER_03 15:24

Yes, I was a part of a conference um through Latasha Fields, was the organizer. She's the director of my homeschool co-op, Chess, which is Christian Home Educator Support System. Love it. And we did our first ever conference, and I was one of the workshop presenters for that. Congratulations. It was amazing. I know it was. Wow, wow, wow.

SPEAKER_01 15:47

Oh, I definitely want to uh know about the next one and be a part and take part any type of way I can. Definitely promote it and talk about it because that is is so necessary and it's so important to normalize homeschooling, like you said. Please let's normalize that.

SPEAKER_04 16:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Oh my God, I would love that. So also um, something else that you do and do well is your podcasting, my darling. So, how did that begin?

SPEAKER_03 16:15

I have always wanted to do a podcast, and being an overachiever kind of person, I was always overthinking what I truly needed to get started. And it just became one of those scenarios where if you wait till everything is perfect, you're never going to start.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

That's the whole truth.

SPEAKER_03 16:32

Just start with what you have and get it out there. Um, so I started it officially, I want to say in 2021.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 16:42

Okay, a pandemic will do that for you. I'm sure of that. Born in the house and in the house board.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

Yes, turn that camera on.

SPEAKER_03 16:49

Let's press, go record. Now now's as good a time as any. We can't do nothing else. Amen. Roll that beautiful being so start this podcast.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

And so you are at season eight already. Yeah, what do you believe and even know that podcasting unlocked in you that you knew like something's in there? Like, I definitely, because I'm I'm there. I'm at the beginning of my though. But you're doing well, girl.

SPEAKER_03 17:17

You girls shoot. I'm taking mental notes. Drop that down. But yeah, you're doing you're doing amazing, sweetie. Uh for real, for real. Um, I would say it unlocked just on camera skills. And when I say unlocked, they were always there. Yes, yeah. But I told you, like, I don't, I'm still a member of SAG AFTRA, but I don't do as much because I have the the kids. Yes, yes. And so it's good to have your own platform where you don't have to wait for someone to give you an opportunity to say what you want to say. You know what? Girl, you can just say that because pretty much that's exactly how I would describe this.

SPEAKER_01 18:00

Yeah. Not having to wait for anybody to give me the opportunity to say what I want to say. It's empowering. Thank you, friend.

SPEAKER_03 18:07

That's true. And then even with ministry, because it let me tell you something. When the pandemic came, I was like, okay, I may be in the house, I may not be able to do as much, but I immediately, with my dominant disc disc disc personality on the city. Something else we have in common. I'm an I talk D I S C on disc. So that dominant personality, I immediately thought, when I come out of this pandemic, I'm not coming out the same way I went.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

I said the same thing. As a matter of fact, the Lord said, What do you want, Ruth, out of this pandemic? And I said, five additional streams of income.

SPEAKER_03 18:45

I said, Okay, God, right, let's go. So I was just like, What am I gonna do? I started the podcast. I um, what else did I do? I went to Bill Winston's School of Ministry.

SPEAKER_01 18:56

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:56

And I became a licensed minister. Me and my husband went and did that. Amazing. And what else? I did landed a TEDx talk. I was like, I have been trying to land one of those since forever. Finally landed it and uh did that. And so I was just, you know, just doing things that I always wanted to do. It's just like, oh, but I get the time, and then during the pandemic, we didn't have nothing but time. That's right. And it drove some people nuts to sit still and not know what to do with all that time. I'm like, I'm gonna make it work.

SPEAKER_01 19:31

Girl, and work you did. You made it work, went to work, and again, even with the children. So I do love that you do your podcast in seasons, and of course, that is to have that balance and to create uh harmony in your home, most definitely. Speaking of this episode or this season being named the simple life. So, girl, yes, what simple personality is everything is like. It is definitely geared towards showing other people how because it's and I love the title, I love the naming of it because it doesn't mean it's easy, right? But when you have your priorities in order, and of course, having God being the first top priority, then yeah, your life can be simple. It could be simple, but I did watch it, and so I knew that you were leaning towards some other names or whatever. So, but I'm glad that you detoured and was like, I'm not going with the norm and talking about doing you know what in 2025 because it rhymes. Yeah. So the simple life is great, and I love that. So, what can we expect to learn and listen about the simple life?

SPEAKER_03 20:48

This season is all about scaling back and just kind of like not biting off more than you can choose.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 20:59

Because just because you can do a lot doesn't mean that you have to do it all at one time. You can like if you want to do five things, it's like, okay, in quarter one, I'm gonna focus on thing one. Quarter two, I'm gonna do thing two and three. And then in quarter, you know, three, I'm gonna do this, and quarter four, I'm gonna do this. Right. And just different things we can do because right now the world is just gone cuckoo for cocoa plus. For real, for real. It is, we're in the last days. We really are.

SPEAKER_01 21:30

Most definitely.

SPEAKER_03 21:30

And it is a time for even though the world is in a blender around us, as children of God, we should have the peace that surpasses all understanding. That's right. And if you don't, I see why is that? That's what this season is about.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 21:47

It's about diving into what is siphoning away my peace.

SPEAKER_01 21:52

Because whatever that is, gotta go. And I make it. Whatever that is, and it could be multiple things. It could be multiple things. Or it could be just one thing. You keep coming. Comparing yourself literally everybody else. But anything, most definitely. Girl, that's powerful. And I love it. Where do your themes come from?

SPEAKER_03 22:11

Just different things. It could be something that I'm dealing with personally. It could be something that I was talking to a client about or that I did a workshop on. Right. And then I drop the nugget because you know I just be talking child. And I'll be like, ooh, that'll be a good podcast season. I'm gonna write that down. Um but yeah, it usually comes from that, or my husband and I all talk and pray about it, like, where's God showing you for the next season? It could be just current events. Um and so just kind of relating how can I find Victoria's Lives Yeah, if I can talk Victoria's Living Solutions for this thing that's going on in society, this thing that seems to be, you know, just kinda how can I make it relevant to my target audience? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:59

I love how even though we don't talk often when we do like sitting beside one another at the coming to the stage last year, then bumping into one another at the Purity last week, and then inviting you out today at the last minute. She said yes. Like, you know, connections. I say this almost every episode that community is so important. And talking to um other women, especially to encourage and edify one another, is so very important. And as you're speaking, it's just like watching and listening to myself all day. Because it's and that's a it's a I'm glad you take that as a compliment. That's first of all, because it is, it's so admirable to know that oh, I'm not the only person thinking like this. Because sometimes we could think our uniqueness can be a little weird because it's not accepted by everyone. It's like, oh Lord, here you go again with your self-help talk and prayed this and prayed that. Let me just be hopeless for a minute. I'm like, no. Because if I let you be there, then that's saying that it's okay. I'm giving you permission to wallow. But it's not that we're this way all the time. Us eyes, we're not this way all the time. We can honestly say, but when we aren't, we're not coming out and spewing our emotions on somebody else. It's just our home. We already had that conversation, just our family get to see us being a little different. So, how is it for you showing up um authentically as well as professionally? How does that look to you? How are you dealing with that?

SPEAKER_03 24:40

Just kind of balancing pretty much, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:43

Um because this is what we expect, but you know, sometimes we don't get to people what they expect. Sometimes it's like, okay, this is my message, and I'm gonna have to give it to you firm and raw as opposed to, yeah, here's bubbly, Nakia. Girl.

SPEAKER_03 25:01

I I don't know. I feel like I don't struggle with trying to, oh, how can I balance this? I feel like after I um crossed into my forties, I quit caring. Like, I already did not care like a whole lot about softening things to how can I put this? I'm not going to make myself break myself in chunks to make myself more digestible. Oh because see, this is the thing. This is the thing. Once you start doing that for people, that's good, you gotta keep doing it. That's good. You gotta keep doing it.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

You better brand. And I'm not you don't need to trade marking.

SPEAKER_03 25:43

I'm not that good of an actress. I'm an actress, but I'm not, I gotta be myself all the time. That is so and I try to put myself in environments that are appreciative of that.

SPEAKER_01 25:54

Amen.

SPEAKER_03 25:56

I'm very careful with me in the sense that when somebody is giving me cues that they want me to not be my full self, that's not the environment for me.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 26:12

And when I say be my full self, I don't mean like I don't have a takeover spirit. I'm not like, ooh, I'm gonna do no. It's the me show staring me. No, it's not, that's not what I mean. Like just say that, because you know, some people be doing that and they be like, just follow him. Okay, you need to not do that. Nick. I'm not talking about, I'm not giving nobody out there an excuse to see that, see this episode and be like, oh, I'm gonna be obnoxious in the name of the Lord. Like, no. No, he didn't call you to no, no, no, but I'm just like just being, if you're naturally outgoing, if you're naturally, you know, whatever. Like, this is how I am. Like, I'm not putting on any airs for anybody.

SPEAKER_01 26:59

Agree. That's what I understand. I totally understand.

SPEAKER_03 27:02

And yeah, because this it's another discussion for me.

SPEAKER_01 27:05

Uh right.

SPEAKER_03 27:06

But if I'm just being myself and anybody has a problem with that, because I'm honest, I love it. Then that's that's a red flag to me.

SPEAKER_01 27:18

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

Because I don't like that. I don't like when I feel like somebody's not being their full self with me. I don't like the you know what I mean? So we kind of tend to be how we would want people to receive it. Like we're gonna give out what we would like back, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01 27:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 27:36

I'm an open book, I don't have time to, well, you know, I'm gonna pussyfoot around a little answer, and I'm gonna, you know, well, uh, I don't know. No. I'm just going to give it to you straight. I'm gonna be tactful, you know, in how I give it to you straight, but I'm gonna give it to you straight. Because I don't want nobody lying to me.

SPEAKER_01 27:55

But that's amazing. We had a conversation, you know, like I do, um, with everyone I sit down with. And so you've already told me you grew up with dealing with bullying and everything. How did that young girl dealing with bullying all those years of, oh, you bookworm and you nerd, and you're not like everybody else, and da da da? Most children cower and then we don't hear from them probably anymore. Yeah, they like just run somewhere and lead a whole nother life, or they just conform to the world and like become like everybody else, and that's not their true identity. Where, like, when did you realize, you know what, I'm just gonna be me, like, truly. Did you find that up?

SPEAKER_03 28:43

Oh, I would say, I want to say eighth grade.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

Really?

SPEAKER_03 28:47

Eighth grade kind of started it because kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth. Oh my god! Half of seven. Those were some very rough years for me. When I got to eighth grade, when I got to eighth grade, I think I started seeing the finish line and seeing like I'm about to graduate and I ain't gonna have to see y'all no more. And also, I'm tired. If I do what I'm called to do, y'all mad. If I don't do it, y'all mad. Now I'm starting to get a divine relation, uh revelation, excuse me, that no matter what I do, y'all gonna be mad. Pretty much. So if you're gonna be mad anyway, let me shine. I'm let me give you something to be good and mad about. I love it. Yeah, they they created a monster, is what happened. I mean, no matter what I do, there is nothing that I can do that can make y'all stop talking about me. Wow. So when you talk about me now, spell my name right, the doctor in front of me. Come on. Or give you something to talk about. Oh that's yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Well, people are gonna talk. Girl.

SPEAKER_03 30:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

Talk.

SPEAKER_03 30:02

And so, and then high school years definitely made it worse. I think it's kind of like when you come into a revelation, I know it love what God wants you to do, and you look back and you realize all the time you wasted not being your full self. Yes, it does light a fire under your butt because it's like I wasted so much time, so now I'm gonna do it. Honey, but now I gotta do it twice as hard because I gotta make up for all this wasted time.

SPEAKER_01 30:31

I don't need you to invite me to a party, I'll throw my own. Like, I'm just saying. Yes, ma'am, I don't care who shows up. Guess what? Nobody can celebrate me like me anyway. I mean, I'm just saying.

SPEAKER_03 30:43

So it's a lot, channel. We'll be here all day. Don't get it. Because it's a multi-layered onion to get to that answer. It's no one thing, even down to my birth story.

SPEAKER_01 30:54

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 30:55

Like when my mom told me that, like the story of how she had all those miscarriages and I'm supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be here. Supposed to be great, yeah. How the devil was hating so hard he didn't even want me to be born, and now I'm here. Oh, I'm not putting my light under a bushel for nobody.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

No one out of the house.

SPEAKER_03 31:14

I'ma figure it out because all of that, it was a reason for me to be. That's right. And how dare I sit here and cower down and oh, nobody wants me to do that. And I guess I'll just be quiet. No.

SPEAKER_01 31:27

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 31:28

No, especially and my mom's not here anymore. She died when I was 14.

SPEAKER_01 31:32

Honey.

SPEAKER_03 31:33

Like I am her living legacy.

SPEAKER_01 31:35

Most definitely. Yeah. Most definitely. She named you what your name, like you said from the beginning for a reason. Yeah. So I mean, and that's what's so important about our names. That's why I love your children's names and why you said you named them as well. Because every time someone called you, they were saying, Victorious one, come forth. Like you couldn't be anything less. Now, the enemy tried it. He wants us to be less than. He doesn't want me to be a faithful friend, but that's what my mother named me. So when you call Ruth, she's coming forth faithful and loyal and a friend. Like I lead with that. So most definitely, this is a crazy question, but it did come to mind. Sure. With all the things that you do and even inspire to do because you're not done. Absolutely. I know you. What would you be doing? So this is what I mean by that. So let's just say we love our children, we love our husbands. We we really do. However, things happen as women. We get married and then we have children. But let's just say you were not married and with children right now. Would you be receiving an e-got or would you be traveling the world speaking and this, that, and other? Because we we have seasons in our lives, people. So I like to dream. And I like my friends to dream, and I'm like, ooh, because right now, when we dream, we dream with our other responsibilities and my.

SPEAKER_03 33:06

That's a good question. I don't think anybody's ever asked me that interview before. Okay, let me see. Um, and it's a good question because I was fully prepared to live my life as a single man. We do that. All it took me was one bad heartbreak to be like, oop, and I'm gonna get my tail somewhere and sit down in Jesus' name, and I'm not dating nobody else. The next man that comes into my life that I date will be my husband. Right. And the word of the Lord is blessed. Ben there.

SPEAKER_01 33:40

God, our lives are so similar.

SPEAKER_03 33:41

My single season was long. That's crazy, it was long. So I was prepared. Like, it might happen. I want marriage, I want it. But doggone it, before I settle for something, I will be happy all by myself. Yes, yes. So, you know, I think that I would like I digress. I mean, I'm just saying, I was prepared for this to be a reality. So I did think about it, is what I'm saying. Music. Really? Music, yeah. Wow. Um, I I don't sing that much anymore, but I had put out a gospel album in 2013. What? And that was the only album I put out. I put it out in 2013, and then every time I said, okay, I should work on the second album, one thing or another came up, and then I started having children, and then I just never did any more music.

SPEAKER_01 34:29

Did you write everything yourself?

SPEAKER_03 34:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:31

Oh no.

SPEAKER_03 34:32

I would write, my husband, Rodney Executive, produced it. Wow. Even when we were just friends before we started dating, I would do background vocals because he had his own studio in downtown Chicago. He and his business partner. Shout out to Barry Buckner. It was called Young Buck Productions. Oh, that's okay. Yeah, so they had that studio 713 in downtown Chicago. I would pop in and do background vocals for them, and just I always liked that. And I probably would have gone back to school and got a second master's if I if I wasn't married. And the reason I say that is because when I figured out I didn't want to be a school teacher anymore, my master's was in special education. And so that's a very specific, yeah. Very specific. You can't really do anything else with that degree besides. I have a special ed, I would like to now do this.

SPEAKER_01 35:25

Ma'am, this is not a school.

SPEAKER_03 35:27

Yeah, so I would have had to go back and get a second master's in something else. Right. Um, probably do like human resources or something like that would have been my day job.

SPEAKER_01 35:37

Um don't you just love that we live in this day and time though now that you can just do whatever you want? And just go on and get all these certifications, just keep on and then do shows about them. Yep. Life is so great. I love it too. It's something else we have in common that our husbands, executives, produce our shows.

SPEAKER_02 35:55

That is, we have to set up a playdate for all girl, girl, most definitely, most definitely. Because they're the same. Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_03 36:04

Like when I figured out who your husband is, I was like, oh wait, because girl, let me tell you something. My husband also does graphic design.

SPEAKER_01 36:11

I know, girl, because I saw your doggone your what's the name, your media kit. Yeah. That's fierce.

SPEAKER_03 36:17

I'm like, oh, yeah, and they have these high-achieving, crazy lives. Pretty much.

SPEAKER_01 36:23

We gotta kick it some more. Yes, and we have a lot in common. So much in common. I homeschool my children too. I love it. I love it. Yes. So, my dear friend, what is next for Victoria's Living Solutions? Like, let me see.

SPEAKER_03 36:41

Uh we're getting ready for fall season.

SPEAKER_01 36:43

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 36:44

And so I have, I want to say, we just gave episode seven. So I've got three more episodes that I've got to tape for this season.

SPEAKER_01 36:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 36:54

And then we launch into planning the fall season.

SPEAKER_01 36:57

That's so amazing.

SPEAKER_03 36:59

I'm looking to do more content. That is what's next for Victoria's Living Solutions. When I say more content, because the podcast is the content, it's on YouTube and it's also on Spotify. But I'm looking to do more written content.

SPEAKER_01 37:14

Oh, nice.

SPEAKER_03 37:15

Because I put out a book, but my last solo book was in 2017. But still, I have a lot to say. So I love that. Yeah, I'm looking to do that.

SPEAKER_01 37:25

What do you I it's a crazy question. I can't imagine someone asking me, but hey, I'm on this side of the mic. What do you what do you enjoy most when it comes to using your voice, your gift, what do you enjoy most? And by that I mean the podcast or the speaking engagements, the stage, the workshop, like in your mind. And I know it could probably change with how you feel, like how we dress according to how we feel. Like today could be a jeans and blazer day, or it could be a jumpsuit day, or it could be a dress day. So, what gives you life though? Is there anything in particular?

SPEAKER_03 38:05

Or girl, okay. So, as much as I love performing and being on stage and all of that, when you're an actress, and definitely when you're a model, because I did the plus modeling too, don't nobody really care what you gotta say. You're gonna read this script. This the script. You can't go off the script. And modeling, they don't don't most people think models are dumb. Like, child, put on this dress and go on down that runway and hush. Like, we don't need you, we don't need to know what you think. Like, everything is all about your exterior, what you look like, you know, and nobody and so all the stuff that I'm doing now, it gives me a chance to showcase all of my gifts, but also God has given me a lot to say. Yeah, and I didn't get the ministry license, get ordained as a minister to just have it like I want to minister, but I also know that I'm not called to start a brick and mortar church. My ministry is marketplace ministry. So this is giving me a chance to do that, yeah. That's right, that's right. And minister in the secular world, like minister in, you know, corporate doing workshops, minister, you know, on a podcast, like just doing different things.

SPEAKER_01 39:27

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 39:27

But still in the gifts, still in the flow of who I am and saying what God has given me to say. That is life-giving.

SPEAKER_01 39:36

I too.

SPEAKER_03 39:37

And the fact that it was something God gave me, so I don't have to wait for an opportunity to put it out. Anytime I want to talk about what I've been given, I can go downstairs and set up and push play. I love it. Whether people listen or watch or not. Or not.

SPEAKER_01 39:57

Is it not? I I promise you, I'm all about this life. My husband is the counter and the analytics person, and he likes to look at that all day. But at the end of the day, I'm like, job done here. Yeah like I've done what I was told.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

I did what I was told. Now I'm still learning the analytics part. Child, any advice you can send me, let me know. I'm still learning, but honestly, I'm having so much fun doing it.

SPEAKER_01 40:24

I feel the same way.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

Stressing out about it.

SPEAKER_01 40:27

I do not. I honestly do not. The numbers are the numbers, are the numbers. And if one person tells me, I really enjoyed that show, or comment or whatever. I promise you, I'm like, oh, somebody saw it. Good. I feel the exact same way because these conversations, I tell people, I tell every guest, I've learned so much. Like you were here for me, and thank you so much. We just happened to record it, but no, honestly, you have me rethinking a whole lot of things. And my last uh show with my husband was entitled Never Say Never because I said I never have a man on the show, and I'm thinking I never did because I'm crazy.

SPEAKER_02 41:09

I like to say what I never do. I can live up right. I can live up to it. And Lou was like, girl, what I tell you about never saying never.

SPEAKER_01 41:18

You said you'll never teach a game, went right back to that classroom. Right. So I'm I'm learning to never say never say never about a lot of things because just as you said, I do love to grow, I do love to learn, and sometimes it may take enrolling, getting a certification, or you know, going into places that I never imagined going back to just because of that last experience.

SPEAKER_04 41:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:46

So it could be like a little PTSD I gotta shake off or whatever. Yeah, I'm just one of those people in uncomfortable settings. I don't like to be there. I don't like I don't mind being uncomfortable, but to insert myself somewhere that I think is not necessary, and I call it uncomfortable. Yeah. Because yeah, that's just the way my mind works. If I call it this, then I'm not gonna do it. Most definitely. So, my dear friend, thank you so much for having us. And like just sharing your knowledge and your wisdom. And this is just the beginning. This is one of many of our conversations, of course, because every time you do something else, girl, I'm gonna call you back. Like, what's next?

SPEAKER_03 42:33

And we are for sure gonna have this one on VLS Podcasts, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 42:37

It will be my pleasure, yes, honey. Just call me and I'm gonna come running just as you did. I love it. This is truly a law of reciprocation, and we're gonna get it done. Yeah, and we're gonna grow together and help impact our world together because, yeah, that's what we call to do. Use our voices to do just that. And I need to read your book, I need to hear that album. I need to all it because I'm gonna encourage you to come out with book two, album two, all that.

SPEAKER_03 43:04

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 43:04

It's in you already know.

SPEAKER_03 43:05

Now, friend, I'm gonna tell you about this album. It's not what you expect. Whatever. I don't even know what to expect. No, because you know what it is? It's like when people think it's like, oh, it's Dr. Nakia Young. So they just start picturing like what would a gospel album by Dr. Nakia Young sound like, and they start thinking about I don't know, something traditional. I can't.

SPEAKER_01 43:29

I have not a clue.

SPEAKER_03 43:31

Child, I got house music on the club.

SPEAKER_01 43:32

I was gonna say about dude. Come on.

SPEAKER_03 43:36

I got I got smoke house music. And I rap. And I rap you did. I got bark in there rapping. There's like this whole thing.

SPEAKER_02 43:46

Turn this black yard into a whole new joint. Like, let's go. Jesus Christ. That ain't me. I had no thug in me chat. Oh, yeah. That will bring us to a whole nother conversation about something. Ooh, the kids real. We're going to have to have another photo shoot, baby. Yeah, and then I'm going to have to. Having said that, I'm going to have to have you. Girl. What?

SPEAKER_03 44:19

I let my kids listen to the music. They're like, I don't care.

SPEAKER_02 44:22

Oh, no, they still young. They ain't gonna hop around like me. I will kick my shoes off and be over there sweating. Girl, I'm gonna bring it to you.

SPEAKER_03 44:31

I got when you come, I got some CDs. CDs. I just dated myself.

SPEAKER_02 44:37

It's all right.

SPEAKER_03 44:38

Young people is like, what's the CDs?

SPEAKER_02 44:40

At least you ain't saying A-track. That's like A-tracks to them. That's that's like it might as well be like Atari to them. It's like what is a Cari?

SPEAKER_03 44:50

Oh my gosh. And the album is called Victorious One. So it's like a common theme. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:56

Oh, I know. It is serious. Ma'am, let's go. You know you could still like go ahead and release that again. Wouldn't that be crazy that I'm telling you right now? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 45:10

Yeah, I can't do it. Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 45:11

Re-release that eventually.

SPEAKER_03 45:15

I'm sure it is. That's what the Lord did.

SPEAKER_01 45:18

And see us preparing. Ahead of his time. Oh, let's just go ahead. Yeah. Y'all heard that right here when that drops. When that drops and she does a listening party, and I have front row seats. Let's go. Okay. All right, Brian. I promise you, I'm gonna make you do that. That's one of the things that I do. I know she's serious too, y'all. So serious. Thank you once again for joining us on Becoming Serene. And hey, you too might be invited to this couch to have a conversation that I also push you into doing something that you didn't think about doing until you got here. But it has been so great having you join us once again and joining our conversation. I hope it's inspired you. And if it has, please subscribe, hit that notification bell, and invite somebody to join you on this journey of peace. Please, we are having a blast and a ball, and it's all for you. So until next time, see you around. Love you. Bye, friends.