Support a Black Entrepreneur & Black Business
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“If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward...Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - MLK
After becoming severely ill and almost losing my life, I started my podcast, "Diary of a Mad Black Man," in October of 2019, to have a safe space to express myself and share my mental health journey. "Diary of a Mad Black Man" became therapeutic: it inspired other black men and people all over the world who listen, to heal, go to therapy, and deepened my passion for podcasting. Sharing my story has helped those who might also feel alone in their fight for survival and to thrive in this world.
“I believe our greatest downfall is the story of our greatest breakthrough. Sharing how we persevered through tribulations becomes a survival guide filled with inspiration and motivation for someone else.” - Blake Johnson
This journey began at the age of 15, after being forced to leave my mother’s home. Although I became the first in my family to graduate high school, go to college, and on to graduate school where I graduated with my master’s degree, a personal tragedy sent me into a deep depression. Since I had already been a survivor of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse the majority of my life, this event exaggerated my personal mental health challenges I was already dealing with, and I became a functioning alcoholic. Since then, I have been fighting for survival, battling suicidal ideation, yet have begun healing from over 25 years of trauma.Through therapy, counseling, and sharing my story, I have managed to gain healthy coping skills to deal with the rigors of life. As a certified professional educator, I realized through my working with youth that I would like to impact a broader demographic of the black community suffering from mental illness.
On May 20th, 2020, The Black Podcast Club was created, starting just as a GroupMe chat with about 14 black podcasters and creatives, all from different fields across the country with a large variety of topics such as women and gender issues, social justice, black love, natural hair, professionalism and more. In June of 2020, I decided to take a leap of faith and turn it into an actual business to amplify the voices of black podcasters and creatives. The Black Podcast Club offers services such as audio engineering, graphic designs, live stream support and a private social network to build community and help podcasters grow together. Collectively, The Black Podcast Club is a safe space for raising awareness on a variety of issues and topics from black mental health and wellness, healthy relationships, social justice and activism; while also being a fun and exciting environment.
Your donation to the the Black Podcast Club would help meet upcoming milestones and cover specific costs:
Equipment - Total $17,486
MacBook - 6 x $1,999 = $11,994
Rode Casters - 5 x $699 = $3,495
Rode Caster Mics - 6 x $299 = $1,794
Mic Stand Package - 6 x $33.95 = 203.7
Software - $5,219
1 Annual Subscription to Professional Stream Yard - $468
Zoom Pro Annual Subscription - $149
Applecare (3 years) - 6 x $269 = $1,614
Final Cut Pro - 6 x $299 = $1,794
Logic Pro - 6 x $199 = $1, 194
Business Expenses - $14,580
Business Consultations - ($45 per Hour) 24 hours over 1 year - 24 x $45 = $1,080
Attorney Fees - ($250 per hour) 24 hours over 1 year - 24 x $250 = $6,000
Misc Supplies + Merchandise Inventory + fees - $7,500
Living Expenses - $20,400
12 Months Rent - 12 x $1,500 = 18000
12 Months Utilities (Magenta Plus: Internet, Phone) - 12 x $ 200 = $2,400
Total First Year Budget - $57,685
Business Capital for Future Investments - $42, 315
Total Fundraising Goal = $100,000
Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you for your donation. I’d like to kindly ask you to share this with anyone you believe should hear this story or who may be willing to make a donation.
Link to Budget Doc
Link to Diary of a Mad Black Man Podcast
Link to Article in Voyage ATL
The Black Podcast Club Website
After becoming severely ill and almost losing my life, I started my podcast, "Diary of a Mad Black Man," in October of 2019, to have a safe space to express myself and share my mental health journey. "Diary of a Mad Black Man" became therapeutic: it inspired other black men and people all over the world who listen, to heal, go to therapy, and deepened my passion for podcasting. Sharing my story has helped those who might also feel alone in their fight for survival and to thrive in this world.
“I believe our greatest downfall is the story of our greatest breakthrough. Sharing how we persevered through tribulations becomes a survival guide filled with inspiration and motivation for someone else.” - Blake Johnson
This journey began at the age of 15, after being forced to leave my mother’s home. Although I became the first in my family to graduate high school, go to college, and on to graduate school where I graduated with my master’s degree, a personal tragedy sent me into a deep depression. Since I had already been a survivor of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse the majority of my life, this event exaggerated my personal mental health challenges I was already dealing with, and I became a functioning alcoholic. Since then, I have been fighting for survival, battling suicidal ideation, yet have begun healing from over 25 years of trauma.Through therapy, counseling, and sharing my story, I have managed to gain healthy coping skills to deal with the rigors of life. As a certified professional educator, I realized through my working with youth that I would like to impact a broader demographic of the black community suffering from mental illness.
On May 20th, 2020, The Black Podcast Club was created, starting just as a GroupMe chat with about 14 black podcasters and creatives, all from different fields across the country with a large variety of topics such as women and gender issues, social justice, black love, natural hair, professionalism and more. In June of 2020, I decided to take a leap of faith and turn it into an actual business to amplify the voices of black podcasters and creatives. The Black Podcast Club offers services such as audio engineering, graphic designs, live stream support and a private social network to build community and help podcasters grow together. Collectively, The Black Podcast Club is a safe space for raising awareness on a variety of issues and topics from black mental health and wellness, healthy relationships, social justice and activism; while also being a fun and exciting environment.
Your donation to the the Black Podcast Club would help meet upcoming milestones and cover specific costs:
Equipment - Total $17,486
MacBook - 6 x $1,999 = $11,994
Rode Casters - 5 x $699 = $3,495
Rode Caster Mics - 6 x $299 = $1,794
Mic Stand Package - 6 x $33.95 = 203.7
Software - $5,219
1 Annual Subscription to Professional Stream Yard - $468
Zoom Pro Annual Subscription - $149
Applecare (3 years) - 6 x $269 = $1,614
Final Cut Pro - 6 x $299 = $1,794
Logic Pro - 6 x $199 = $1, 194
Business Expenses - $14,580
Business Consultations - ($45 per Hour) 24 hours over 1 year - 24 x $45 = $1,080
Attorney Fees - ($250 per hour) 24 hours over 1 year - 24 x $250 = $6,000
Misc Supplies + Merchandise Inventory + fees - $7,500
Living Expenses - $20,400
12 Months Rent - 12 x $1,500 = 18000
12 Months Utilities (Magenta Plus: Internet, Phone) - 12 x $ 200 = $2,400
Total First Year Budget - $57,685
Business Capital for Future Investments - $42, 315
Total Fundraising Goal = $100,000
Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you for your donation. I’d like to kindly ask you to share this with anyone you believe should hear this story or who may be willing to make a donation.
Link to Budget Doc
Link to Diary of a Mad Black Man Podcast
Link to Article in Voyage ATL
The Black Podcast Club Website
Organizer
Blake Johnson
Organizer
Union City, GA
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