Dreams In Drive

447: From Survival Mode To Self Discovery - How To Become Who You Were Always Meant To Be w/ Kadi Cisse

In this episode, Rana sits down with storyteller, speaker, and podcast host, Kadi Cisse, for a powerful conversation about identity, independence, grief, purpose, and becoming who you really are. Kadi shares her journey growing up as a first-generation American raised by West African immigrant parents, and how being the "independent child" shaped the way she approached life, relationships, and success. She opens up about loss, navigating life after losing her father, and how many of us who are seen as "strong" often learn how to survive before we ever learn how to feel. Together, Rana and Kadi talk about the identity crisis that many high-achieving people face when they realize their job title is not their purpose, why unprocessed emotions eventually show up in our lives, and how spirituality, self-awareness, and honesty with yourself are often the real keys to growth. Kadi also shares wisdom from her platform Ask Kadi: The Voice of Reason, where she uses humor, honesty, and real-life experience to help people navigate relationships, self-worth, and personal growth. This episode is about resilience, truth, self-discovery, and the journey of becoming who you were always meant to be. In this episode, we talk about: Growing up first-generation with immigrant parents Being the "independent child" Grief and losing parents Emotional vs logical coping Layoffs and career pivots Job titles vs purpose Identity and self-discovery Spirituality and self-awareness Relationships and self-worth Building the right circle Learning to take up space Becoming who you really are Key takeaway: You can build a successful life, a great career, and still reach a point where you have to ask yourself, "But who am I really, and what am I actually here to do?" FIND KADI ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xo.kadi_ Website: www.askkadi.com 🛠️ Resources + Links Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join  

446: The Strength in Surrender - Ashley Rouse on Reinvention, Letting Go And Embracing a New Season

Ashley Rouse shares how surrender, letting go, and reinvention led to clarity and new beginnings after closing her company, Trade Street Jam Co. _____ After building a nationally recognized brand, Ashley Rouse returns to Dreams In Drive - eight years later - to share the raw truth about closing Trade Street Jam Co., embracing surrender, and stepping into new beginnings with her new creative agency Rouse Like House. A heartfelt, inspiring conversation for anyone navigating change, letting go, or finding clarity and purpose in life's next chapter. ______ In this deeply honest and full-circle conversation, Ashley Rouse (Episode 174 guest) returns eight years later to Dreams In Drive to reflect on the evolution from the woman who was scaling Trade Street Jam Co. at lightning speed to the woman she is today — one who chose surrender, healing, and alignment over external definitions of success. Ashley opens up about the circumstances surrounding and the grief of closing Trade Street Jam Co., the loss of identity that comes when your life's work ends, and the emotional and spiritual clarity that followed. She shares how motherhood and deep personal growth forced her to redefine what success, ambition, and purpose look like in this new season. Most importantly, she reframes surrender as a power move, a conscious decision to trust that releasing what no longer aligns creates space for new vision, new pathways, and a more authentic future. What We Discussed: Surrender & Purpose: Finding the courage to realize that a business is just a "tangible asset" and that her true purpose—helping other entrepreneurs—remains intact. The Realities of Running A Product-Based Business: Ashley breaks down why running a product-based CPG business is "no joke," discussing the capital intensive, inventory-heavy nature of the industry and the pressure of scaling, and seeking investors as a Black Woman The Power of Community: How sharing her "messy" journey on Instagram built a community that ultimately saved her during her transition. This conversation is for anyone who: Feels the pull toward a new beginning Is questioning a long-held dream Is learning to detach their worth from their work Is navigating a transition season You'll walk away with both the emotional language and the practical mindset shifts needed to: Recognize when it's time to move on Honor the chapter you're closing without shame Trust the unknown Rebuild from a place of clarity and self-alignment. FIND ASHLEY ROUSE ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymarierouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rouselikehouse Website: https://www.rouselikehouse.com 🛠️ Resources + Links: Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join ❤️ Leave a Review Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts! 📣 Join the Conversation Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive or pitch your story at http://www.dreamsindrive.com/pitch    

445: You're Not Behind —You're Being Redirected w/ Brittney Oliver

From 100 Rejections to Real Purpose | Community, Career & Resilience In this episode of Dreams In Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with Brittney Oliver, founder of Lemons to Lemonade, for a powerful conversation about turning rejection into purpose and building meaningful community when the traditional path doesn't work. Before creating one of the most impactful platforms for professionals of color, Brittney faced over 100 job rejections while trying to break into New York City's PR industry. Despite being qualified and prepared, she repeatedly heard "no." Instead of letting rejection define her, she chose to build the community she wished existed. In this honest and inspiring conversation, Rana and Brittney discuss what it really takes to keep going when your journey doesn't look like everyone else's. You'll hear about: Navigating racism and cultural barriers in corporate spaces Turning rejection into redirection The difference between "community" as a buzzword and real connection Building impact without millions of followers Creating inclusive spaces in Nashville Navigating grief after losing a parent Why Plan B doesn't mean you failed Measuring success through purpose, relationships, and impact Brittney also shares how Lemons to Lemonade has helped thousands of professionals find opportunity, confidence, and belonging — and why your worth can't be measured by follower counts. If you've ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or unsure about your timeline, this episode is a reminder that your story isn't over. Sometimes, rejection is just the beginning of something greater. 🎧 Listen now and be reminded: you're not behind — you're being redirected. FIND BRITTNEY OLIVER ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemons_2_lemonade/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bsoliver/ Website: https://www.l2lmixer.com/ 🛠️ Resources + Links: Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join ❤️ Leave a Review Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts! 📣 Join the Conversation Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive  

Episode 444: Becoming a Full-Time Artist Without Losing Yourself: Healing, Motherhood, and the Courage to Create with Cristina Martinez

Contemporary artist Cristina Martinez joins Rana Campbell to discuss career pivots, motherhood, grief, and staying authentic while building a creative career. A powerful conversation about choosing yourself and continuing to create through life's challenges _ As Dreams In Drive enters its 10th year, host Rana Campbell continues her mission of spotlighting what it really means to be a dream driver—embracing change, navigating pivots, and staying true to yourself through every season. In this episode, Rana sits down with contemporary artist Cristina Martinez for an inspiring conversation about creativity, courage, and choosing yourself—even when the path feels uncertain. Cristina shares her journey from working in hospitality to becoming a full-time artist, creating sold-out exhibitions, massive public murals, and partnering with brands like Nordstrom, Disney, and Spotify. She opens up about balancing motherhood and creativity, processing grief through her work, and allowing her real life to show up on canvas. Together, Rana and Cristina discuss the power of authenticity, consistency, and self-awareness, and why continuing to create—especially when you don't feel ready—matters more than perfection. FIND CRISTINA MARTINEZ ON: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sew_trill Website: http://www.juneandmars.com 🛠️ Resources + Links: Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join ❤️ Leave a Review Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts! 📣 Join the Conversation Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive  

443: Driver's Ed - How to Build Trust, Community, and Impact w/ Guapify CEO CJ Harris

In this Driver's Ed session of Dream Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with Guapify CEO CJ Harris to workshop how to build trust, community, and real impact while launching a purpose-driven platform. Together, they break down CJ's journey from media executive to founder and tackle the real-time challenges of creating a safe, culturally relevant space for financial empowerment. More About The Show: In this Driver's Ed episode of Dream Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with media executive–turned–founder CJ Harris, CEO of Guapify, for a live workshopping session on how to build trust, community, and impact from the ground up. CJ shares her journey from growing up in the Bronx to spending 15 years at HBO and leading creative at BET—experiences that shaped how she thinks about storytelling, representation, and safe spaces. That background ultimately led her to create Guapify, a financial empowerment platform designed for Black millennials who want honest, culturally relevant conversations about money. Together, Rana and CJ break down Guapify's evolution from a content curation site to a community-driven forum—often described as "the Reddit of Black wealth"—and tackle real founder challenges in real time. They explore what it means to build trust in a financial space, how to differentiate from social media "money talk," and why founders don't have to be the expert to lead with authority. This episode is for anyone building a purpose-driven platform, navigating a pivot, or learning how to create community without pretending to have all the answers. FIND CJ HARRIS ON: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/guapify.tv Website: https://guapify.com/   🛠️ Resources + Links: Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join ❤️ Leave a Review Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts! 📣 Join the Conversation Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive