Ep 35: What The (Dr.) Cheyenne Bryant Situation Reveals About Society (This Is Deep)

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This episode of The Mompreneur Huddle turned into a deeper conversation than expected. We’re talking about validation, degrees, credibility, social media pressure, motherhood, purpose, and what success really means in today’s world. If you’ve ever felt pressure to prove yourself, this episode is for you.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 1:32

And five, four, three, two, welcome to another episode of the Mon Panor Huddle Podcast where motherhood and entrepreneurship meets, and we talk about everything in between. I am your girl, Tambi Capri, the Mom Panor Mentor. And this week, this week, we are getting into something very, very interesting. And I know y'all have seen this all over the internet. Dr. Cheyenne Bryant. Dr. Cheyenne Bryant. No, we're not here to tear her down because she is a black sister. And I don't believe in that. But before we get into that, let's get into what I got into this week. Let's get into what I had going on. Two of my babies are making me feel extremely old, y'all. We went to graduations, and I this is an exciting time, especially when it's the last year of these grades, and you don't get to really visit those schools anymore. You don't get to really have those moments anymore. Like my daughter, she is going to the sixth grade. We went to her graduation yesterday. And then my baby boy, we went to his eighth grade graduation. And then next year, next year, we will be at my son's, my oldest son, his high school graduation. Like time waits for no one. Shout out to the class of 2026 at every level. But it just had me thinking about how we got here, how we really got here, and how time really did not wait for, you know, um, for any of us. So not wasting time. And I was just, I would just more importantly, I was happy that my grandmother was able to witness that. Like she was able to be there. And she has been such a dominant part of their life. Like for them to to be around her on the daily, for her to, you know, just to be around my children and just to pour into my children. Like I can't express like how grateful to God I am of that alone. Anyway, but yeah, shout out to the class of 2026. Um, and I I remember going into you know high school and and transitioning into college, it was a very big deal. And it's still a very big deal. And and for those who those of you who are experiencing it now, it can be absolutely scary. But graduation it symbolizes the entire process of you getting from point A to point Z. The hard work you put in, the blood, sweat, and tears, the the nights you stayed up, all of the studying, all of the papers, all of the work, your grab graduation symbolizes that. And that's why I found it very interesting that um this whole fiasco with Dr. Cheyenne Ryan is even circulating right now. Like I, if you don't know what's going on, I'll give you a quick backstory. So apparently um she is a or she isn't a, or we we don't know because she won't validate it. She she um does not have a doctorate degree, right? She does not have that doctoral degree, but she's been using that title doctor. She um says that she went to get her transcripts from the university that she went to. However, the transcripts um or the school closed down and she wasn't able to get it from the third party because they only hold it for a certain amount of years, and that was that. Now, I know, and I'm only speaking for myself, but I know that I would never accept that answer knowing I put in all the work that I had to do to get my degree. Ain't no way I'm accepting that, not from a third party, a fourth party. I'm calling somebody doing something. Now, also I know that there is a track record when you are obtaining these degrees, um especially, you know, your dissertation. Those are stored, that they're public. You can research those online. Like they I don't know, and again, this is nothing, this this is not to tear her down or to bash her, but come on, like we know if we put in the work, listen, we gonna get it. We're gonna get ours. I want all my flowers. Give me all my flowers. It made me think of my own situation, right? So I attended Chain University. Um, and this was for my bachelor's degree years ago. Went to Chain University. I was a theater arts major, right? I went all four and a half years, got my 120 credits that was required of me. I walked, I graduated, right? Filled out all of the paperwork, and I never followed up. I never received my actual certificate in the mail. Like I never received it. But, you know, in my mind, I'm thinking, hey, I did the work, I was there, I got the credits. My transcript shows I have 120 credits, more than 120 credits, right? It shows all of that. I'm good, right? I already had a good job, right? I was just jumping into um um the work field. And like I'm I'm I was straight. Now, fast forward a couple years, a lot of changes happened at Cheney University. A lot of department heads switched out, a lot of rules changed, like things were going on, like documents were misplaced, records were all over the place. So I can't remember what happened. Oh no, I remember. I wanted to apply to grad school, um, Lincoln University, the second HBCU. I wanted to apply to grad school and I needed those documents. So me thinking my transcript shows that, you know, I did what I need to do. But the only thing was my transcript was not signed. It was not signed. Now, y'all, this was back in, so this was I was finished at Cheney University in 08. So this was back in maybe 2012, 2013, like right around the time I wrote my first book, I wanted to do um a master's program. And they could not accept my transcript because I was not, I mean, it was not signed. It did not have the signature. So I'm like, okay, well, it should be easy, right? Let me go and call the school. They made a mistake. I graduated, what's going on? Come to find out as I spoke to 50 lum people. My, well, the paper, the curriculum that they submitted, they could not find that. They could not find where the department had at that time, um, where she substituted certain credits that I took for certain classes because she didn't um offer the classes that I needed, but she were able, she was able to substitute the they could not find any of that paperwork. Any of that. Now, I'm fuming. I'm fuming because I know I finished. Um, but they couldn't find any paperwork. And I had to, I'm gonna fast forward the story, but long story short, my only option after speaking with a whole bunch of people, my only option was to enroll and take, I had to take six credits. Six more credits. I'm like, I am not taking six credits. I have 132 credits, 120 was required to graduate. And the ones that I did not have, she already substituted. I said, no, if you, if I was not able to graduate or qualified or eligible, why did they let me walk? Like I was just so pissed, right? But I said, I'm not, I'm not taking those courses. So I went around the system. At the time, Lincoln University had a program to where you could actually use your work experience to get your master's degree in human service. So that's how I ended up in a master's program in human service. Um, I went around the system. But it was something nagging at me that I knew officially, officially on paper, I did not have my bachelor's degree. And here I am saying, yeah, I graduated from Chain University and blah, blah, blah, dah, dah, dah. In the back of my mind, I did not have that official paperwork that I needed. So it bothered me. It bothered me. Um, and it bothered me, and and this was my negligence, y'all. It bothered me for many, many years. Like I didn't want to deal with it because it was a headache. I was already into my career. Then I had left and did entrepreneurship. I was already booming. I was already making money. Like I was already doing what I wanted to do with my life. But something deep down inside, like, I'm just like, this ain't right. I want what I earned. I I did it. I did the work. I want my degree. So fast forward all the way. Now, mind you, this and don't judge me. Don't judge me if you're watching this, Montpreneurs. Don't judge me. But all the way in 2021, 2021, I said, I'm gonna reach out to the school one more time. I'm gonna pull every resource I know. I'm gonna contact every use, leverage every network, every relationship that I have to see what they can do for me. It ended up being because the curriculum changed, I still had to do the six credits. However, the university was able to pay for one of the courses. So I was super grateful. I had to pay three grand and I did a semester, two classes online. By this time, y'all, I'm in Georgia. I'm in, you know, my my career here. I'm doing my business, and I'm like, you know what? I need to get this. We're gonna get it over with. Did a semester, got them credits, signed the paper, they sent me my degree. Point blank and period. Never mind any accolades I had after that, but I wanted that because I worked hard for it. And I did not want to be out here claiming that I did this and half-step it because I have children looking behind, uh watching me, right? I have to raise them, I have to teach them. So it just blows my mind that you know you would not fight harder to get that validation or not even the validation for everybody from everybody else, but from your university. Like it just blows my mind, you know. So, I mean, whether I believe her or not, I don't know. I don't think that is relevant, but but my panur, y'all, y'all know what I'm saying. Y'all know what I'm saying. Drop in the chat, or or if you're listening on Apple Podcasts or anywhere, just leave a comment or go on our YouTube or Instagram page and just leave a comment. Like, what are your thoughts behind that? What are your thoughts behind that? Because I feel like uh most people are out here faking it until they make it anyway. They're out here faking it to the making that. I live on my own level of delusion. Um, but you have to live on a planet of delusion to a certain extent, but not when it comes to your credentials, not when it comes to things like that, because there are so many people who work hard to earn those things. And we're out here just, you know, lying about, I'm sorry, allegedly, uh, she does have it, but I don't know. I don't know the proper terms. I I don't want to get caught up in anything. Um, but I'm not gonna accuse whatever, but I just know what I know. And I know as a woman who worked hard, we ain't gonna let that slide. We are not letting that slide. Furthermore, what example are we putting out here? It's okay to fake your credentials. Now, we're not talking about just um a regular old job, and I know everybody done added spirit airlines to their resume when once they closed down. Um, that was hilarious. I saw some memes. They were adding spirit, they were all these high-level positions in spirit. Um, but it is one thing to, you know, put a skill set or a job that you worked at and you didn't quite do what you did just to, you know, buff up your resume. But it's another entire thing to actually, you know, lie about the degrees that you have, your credentials as far as you know what you earn. Because uh what what example are we setting? What example are we setting, not just for the world, but for our children? It's okay to do that. Is it okay to fake it until you make it? Is it okay to do that? I mean, where do we stand? Where do we draw the line? Because I mean, there are some people who are more who value more of their influence versus their expertise, you know, because nowadays we do live in a world where you can actually build a business off of your lived experience, right? But I think the fine line comes in when we are not transparent and honest about our credentials. I'm not gonna tell you I'm a certified teacher or licensed professional in whatever the field is, if I know I'm not, but I can tell you what my experience was and I can tell you where I come from and what I've done and how I've helped people and let you decide. Right? I feel like it's just dishonest and it's not transparent and morally it's just wrong, man. It is just wrong. Like, and I don't want, I don't want us to be like we're okay. We're too okay with a lot of things going on in the world. And I understand we all walk, walk like a different like purpose in life. We have a different purpose, but we're too okay with this BS. It's like where do we draw the line? But I want to run down um, you know, just five points that I feel why it's extremely important for, you know, this transparency. First of all, validation can become dangerous. Like when you're just searching for validation of the internet, when you're searching for validation of others, that can be very dangerous. You can get so tunnel vision on becoming a certain type of person, a certain type of level, to have a certain type of look without the the credentials, without the experience, without it becomes very dangerous because you begin to put yourself in a position where you're gonna do anything you need to do to achieve that validation from people who don't care about you, from people who don't give a darn, like they will love you today and be in your face criticizing you tomorrow. And a lot like what Dr. Cheyenne Bryan is honestly experiencing. Like, I went on a post that I saw when she was on the Breakfast Club. Um, a post that I saw, I'm like, it was so much hate in the comments. I get it, I get it, especially when she's not trying to clear her name. But it was just like these are probably some of the same people that was, yes, girl, and liking her post before. You know what I mean? So validation or chasing validation can be very dangerous because it can cause you to lose yourself, it can cause you to become somebody you're not even familiar with, and then you're so deep into that lie that you have to keep it going. Okay. So please remember it is okay to not be perfect, it is okay to not have all of the things that you think you need. Authenticity and clarity is going to be your best bet no matter what, your best approach to dealing with people, right? This is people's lives we're talking about. You can't claim that you are a dentist and you only went to you're just a hygienist. You know what I mean? Like, we have got to stop it. And then it becomes um, it becomes a battle of my next point, credibility versus your integrity. Like it's on the line. Do you do you care about credibility? Do you it care like about your integrity? Like it's it's embarrassing, you know. Like where do we where do we really sit down with ourselves, look in the mirror, and say, hey, this is not right? Just like those people that's sitting up in the office right now under y'all president, under this administration, these people know that what they did with the Voters Right Act, they know what they did was dead wrong. They know that the cries of the people, not just black people, but American people that are struggling, the low-class people, they know that the cries are valid, right? But you are choosing to turn a blind eye. Where is the integrity? Does it not exist? Or is it not important enough to follow it? Like, y'all gonna have some answers when y'all meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus. But my point number three is the babies, as mom Panores, and she is, is she wait, I'm not even gonna claim, is she a mama? I didn't even look to see if she was a mama, Lord Jesus. I follow her, but I'm not into her life like that. It's just like she's been all over the media, and her PR team has her everywhere now with this scandal and her book and everything, and now we're talking about her. Shout out to her, do you girl? Um, but I don't even know if she has children, and but if she if she does, what what is the main lesson that she's teaching them? Like, I know I don't want my daughter out here fraud and I don't want her out here claiming something that she she is and know she really isn't, right? It's it's one thing to aspire to be, to learn to be. Bring people in on your process to show them how you get it. If you want to be a doctor, okay, take them along for the ride when you go to school, when you're up late writing your papers, right? When you're presenting, share that journey so we can see you build it in real time. That has worked wonders for me, okay? But do not, do not forget that we are the example for our children. We are that example. They take things in like a sponge. So, what example are we really setting? You know? Um, my next point uh social media. Social media creates that pressure. If you are not a strong-willed, strong-minded person, it will absolutely make you feel like you have to be top-notch, the best of the best. When reality, the most people, or not the most people, but uh majority of the people, but in reality, anyone, majority of the people that's on that level or claim to be on that level, they're not, right? It's all aesthetics. Anyone can rent a car, anyone can rent an Airbnb, anyone can rent a studio like this, anyone can can make their lives look how they want online, especially with AI, right? But when you remove all of those, when you pull back the curtains, when you really expose who you are, it does not add up. Social media created this pressure for you having to do all of these things to make you feel good. That that oh, that that is horrible. I I would hate to live. I'm not gonna say that I've I've never felt uh felt uh have fallen victim to to that, right? But you gotta know who you are, you gotta be grounded, and you have to be around the right people that's gonna keep you humble and it's gonna keep you focused on what you're supposed to be doing and keep you real and not be around a bunch of yes men just for cloud and like like you it oh god, it's it's it's tiresome. The internet can be so draining and so tiresome. Um, but again, it's not an excuse to really forget and just you know abandon your morals to abandon your integrity. It's it's no excuse. Um purpose, your purpose. Will outlive any title that you have, any role that you have. Once you understand how finding your true purpose, understanding your true value, once you understand that that is what's going to catapult you, that is what's going to get you to your next level, that's what's going to open the door for you. You won't care anymore of what people think about the real you. You won't have to say you're a professional and this and you haven't even helped two people. You won't have to say that you are a doctor and then you didn't even complete your dissertation or you didn't even graduate from the school, right? Just like with me. I didn't want to claim I have a bachelor's or I graduated training university. And knowing darn well in the back of my mind that it wasn't complete. It just did not sit well with me. Like my integrity is intact. And it doesn't feel good, y'all. Let's get what we're supposed to get. Let's earn our things and let's stop with the madness, man. Stop with the madness. Your title, whatever title you have, or whatever title you claim you have, it may open the door, but it's going to be your character that keeps that door open. It's going to be who you are that allows that door to stay open and to open other doors from that. Because you can only fake it until you make it for so long. Which is why it is very important for you to get into certain rooms around certain women's. And speaking of certain rooms, I am absolutely excited, excited to share with you if you haven't heard already, the Mastery Montpreneur Summit of 2026, our first summit is going down this year. Going down this year, August 1st and August 2nd here in Atlanta, Georgia, y'all. When I say this room is going to be transformational, our theme is rebrand your life. And why bring why why do we need to rebrand our lives? Well, because, you know, at a certain point, especially for most women in their late 30s and early 40s, you start to get to a point in your life where you start to question every part of you, every being of you, your whole existence, your career, and you don't even have to have a bad life, right? But your current life stops feeling like it's fulfilling. It starts to feel like you were thrown into it, especially with kids. Like you're on autopilot. You get up, you go to work every day, you start your business, you handle the kids. And as that routine starts to just be the norm, you question, you know, because you look up and 10 years go by and you're like, well, did I do everything I wanted to do? Is this really what I wanted to do, or did I have to do it? Was I thrown into it? Right? So a rebrand is required at a certain point. Like, like it's it's it's refreshing. Let's rebrand my life. What does it look like to really live the life that I want? If I'm already living it, am I doing everything that I want to do? Right. And if I'm not living it, what do I need to do to start living at? Rebranding our life, understanding why we were created, getting back into the things that we love and making that the forefront. And when you make that the forefront, the credits and the credentials and all of the validation and everything, it becomes secondhand. It becomes a different layer. It's not our forefront because we are so comfortable and transparent in being us. I'm going to rebrand my life the way I see it, the way I want it. So you need to be in that room. If you're in that space right now, if you're at a crossroads where you just feel like something has to change. Something has to change, whether you're stressed out about your job and you need extra income, or you don't have time for yourself or the kids, or you want to start the business and it's not growing, or you don't know how to start the business, or you don't know where to begin. It begins with getting in the room. It begins with getting around the right people. And this year in Atlanta, Georgia, I am creating that room for the right people. So be at the summit. Be at the summit August 1st to August 2nd. Um, there will be a link in the comments or the description section when you scroll down. But be there, get your ticket, get there, come and meet me, come and meet my panel, just be around different women and just understand that shift is needed, that environment is needed. Um, I do want to also congratulate um my daughter. Um, and shout out to you, denim rae. Uh, she started her uh her podcast. Well, it's not a podcast, so it's like a YouTube channel segment, and it's called Word of the Day with Denim Ray. And I just love like we did a couple pilots of it, um, but now that it is growing and we are going in the direction of getting her into her own studio. And I'm just so excited for her. Like, she is just she is the perfect example when I say kids mimic and follow you and they soak it up as a sponge. So I just want to do a huge congratulations to her. Shout out to you, baby girl. I love you so much. Um, but before I get out of here, I do want to let I do want to know what you thought about um this whole uh Dr. Cheyenne Bryant situation. Or if it were you, what would you do? Do you feel like she owe us um, does she owe us uh a reason? Does she owe us an explanation? Do you feel like she needs to get um the validation from her university or does she need to fight more? Like what are your thoughts? Like, does the title matter when someone's helping you? Because for a lot of people it don't. But I do know you would not go to um an OBGYN if they did not have those certifications, right? If they did not have those licenses, you would not hire a lawyer who just chat GPT their way through giving you advice, right? You would not do that. So the people, her clients, um, or even you, for instance, people who come to you, are you certified enough to help them on those higher levels? Those higher levels. So let me know what you think. Um, and and does social media pressure people into proving themselves? Does it pressure them into proving themselves? Social media is not going anywhere, the internet is not going anywhere, and it's becoming a dominant part of our own lives, especially platforms like this, YouTube. We're always gonna have somewhere to talk about it. But social media is not going anywhere, and it's never going to be a place where it accepts you unless you accept you, right? But um, yeah, so that's that's my my whole vent for the day or my whole my whole spiel for today. But let me know your your thoughts. Make sure you like, share, and subscribe to this, and you can catch this podcast everywhere on YouTube, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on iHeart, wherever you love to stream podcasts, make sure you tap in with the Montpreneur Huddle at the Montpreneur Huddle on Instagram and just search the monpreneur huddle dot com. Um, but until then, crowns on, chin up, and you rock the rest of your week. Have a good night.