From Police Brutality to Youth Justice Disruptor - Living The Red Life

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[00:00]
A
So for me, being authentic has opened so many doors for myself. Even when, you know, people may not like who they think you are, or they may not like things that you say, it does not matter because I can sleep well at night. I have values for myself. I have certain goals and standards for myself. And so authenticity is important. So I've lived through a whole lot of things, even just being in this work. There's a lot of politics, there's a lot of racism. I deal with harmful systems, being a woman, being a black woman. We deal with sexism, we deal with racism every single day. But also, it has helped me become who I am today. So I've taken my story, I've taken the things that I've done, and I've built something that nobody else has.
[00:45]
B
Sure. Yeah. We're designed to fail, aren't we?
[00:47]
A
Exactly.
[00:48]
B
Yeah. So how does that feel to have that chip on your shoulder? Or, like, are you leading with fire? What is your purpose? What's getting you out of bed?
[00:54]
A
Oh, I absolutely lead with fire. If you don't know me, you know I am. My name's Rudy Moore, host of Living the Red Life Podcast, and I'm here to change the way you see your life in your earpiece every single week. If you're ready to start living the red life, ditch the blue pill, Take the red pill, join me in Wonderland and change your life.
[01:14]
B
Welcome back to another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast, the Red Life Edition. Today, I am joined by Kendra Vandewater. Did I pronounce that correctly? No, I've gone Van De Water.
[01:26]
A
Close enough. Close enough.
[01:27]
B
No, I'm gonna do that. Right? Kendra Vanderwater.
[01:30]
A
Van Van D. Van Van. You're like Van De Water.
[01:34]
B
I. Sorry. I always give you that. I always give it the. The Latin twist.
[01:37]
A
Van De Water.
[01:38]
B
Van De Water. I'm glad we're all laughing at me at my expense.
[01:43]
A
Did I. I know.
[01:46]
B
Vander Water. No, I'm going for Kendra Van De Water. I'm just giving you a count. A whole name of giving you four different names. Kendra, my apologies. I'm terrible about podcasting. Welcome.
[01:57]
A
Thank you for having me.
[01:59]
B
How do you feel filming your episode today with a professional, off camera? Not me at all. How do you feel?
[02:06]
A
I feel great. It was a lot of fun. I feel empowered. I feel empowered. Like we have filmed and it was just a good time.
[02:15]
B
Kendra, welcome again. We clearly have a lot of fun here. What are we gonna learn about you in your episode?
[02:21]
A
We are going to learn about how I took something Terrible that happened to me and turned it into something big. We're going to learn about how authenticity is really important and how being yourself and being transparent helps you walk in your purpose.
[02:41]
B
So let's talk about authenticity. A lot of folks, especially now on social media or on devices, are not being authentic, or they think they are, and they're somehow hustling and monetizing it. That doesn't seem always to be the correct path, huh?
[02:54]
A
No.
[02:56]
B
Educate me.
[02:58]
A
So for me, being authentic is. Has opened so many doors for myself. Even when, you know, people may not like who they think you are, or they may not like things that you say, it does not matter because I can sleep well at night. Right. Like, I have values for myself. I have certain goals and standards for myself. And so authenticity is important.
[03:21]
B
If you don't follow something, you'll follow anything.
[03:23]
A
Exactly.
[03:24]
B
Completely butchered that quote. It's a great movie, though. But, yeah, you gotta have conviction. You gotta have the grit. And, you know, I always say, I'm Latino, Cuban, you know, the. The pain starts around the corner, but everyone has their own story. Everyone has their own level of pain. I'm no different. We're all in this together. But that. That's something that's not taught. You gotta have to live that.
[03:43]
A
Yeah.
[03:44]
B
Talk about your experiences and what you've lived through and how you've made that into your new North Star.
[03:49]
A
So I've lived through a whole lot of things, even just being in this work. There's a lot of politics, there's a lot of racism. I deal with harmful systems. Being a woman, being a black woman. We deal with sexism, we deal with racism every single day. But also, it has helped me become who I am today. So I've taken my story, I've taken the things that I've done, and I've built something that nobody else has.
[04:13]
B
Sure. Yeah. We're designed to fail, aren't we?
[04:15]
A
Exactly.
[04:16]
B
Yeah. So how does that feel to have that chip on your shoulder? Or, like, are you leading with fire? What is your purpose? What's getting you out of bed?
[04:22]
A
Oh, I absolutely lead with fire.
[04:23]
B
Hell, yeah.
[04:24]
A
If you don't know me, you know I am the fire. Right. Like, I often refer to myself as a storm. I'm a storm that you're not going to be able to get away from. I'm a storm that does not leave quietly. And I'm a storm that gets things done. So having a chip on my shoulder feels great.
[04:42]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, right on. It's just like a lot of folks don't quite comprehend what that means. Oh, you guys must be bullies. You must be pick on your. No, no, no. We empower, we enforce. We, we, we have, at least in my philosophy, in the culture that I've established here with inside Success, it's like we, we take pride in how we conduct ourselves. Not just in a professionalism, but the studio, the space, the energy. You can feel it. Talk about the fufu stuff that folks don't really quite understand, that it's under, that it's in the frequency of the energy in the room that really matters.
[05:11]
A
Energy is very important. I say that all the time. If you come with the wrong energy, I'm going to know. I'm going to know whether I like you in about 30 seconds of speaking with you. But it's important. How you show up is important. I often refer to myself as a fierce advocate. That's not being a bully. That's doing your job right? Like, that's telling people things, that's advocating for people who are not able to do the same for ourselves, for themselves. So I show up in a room that I know that I'm supposed to be there. I know that I bring light with me. I know that I oftentimes intimidate people, and I'm okay with that.
[05:52]
B
We got the giggles behind the camera here. Intimidation. Are all these, these, I would say, tactics that we use? It's really just our armor. Like, we've. We've been through hell and back. We've been through hell. We've grabbed our flock and pulled ourselves back, and now we're here in a very tribal way, trying to save as many souls as we can, being entrepreneurs, being messengers. Where does your download come from? Where, where do you think your source comes from?
[06:17]
A
My source? I think it comes from growing up and having this innate ability in me that has been encouraged and has been brought out of me. Right? So this is not something that you're just born with and you just do, you know, out of nowhere. This is something that requires discipline, it requires growth, it requires taking feedback, it requires critical thinking. So this has been instilled in me since a young age. But also I pull on my ancestors. I pull on the people who have done things to help me get here that no longer live here. And then I think about my family, my mother, my grandfather. They have instilled things in me to keep going. They're like, you know, you're going to go through things and shit, that's going to be really hard. But you are wonderful. You are beautiful and you're going to get through whatever you go through.
[07:08]
B
Yeah. To quote the famous Mufasa Simba, remember who you are.
[07:13]
A
Never forget it.
[07:14]
B
Never forget. Which is also quite spiritual because it's coming from Darth Vader. So it's a whole cathartic artistry. Talk about, like the seeing the messages, seeing the signs, the. Maybe you're a numerologist, maybe you're a poet, maybe you follow the Bible. But the messages and the signs are clearly all around us. We just have to be. Be attuned to recognize them. How do you see the code?
[07:35]
A
I see different things. So sometimes you, you can be feeling a certain way. There's times I wake up and I'm like, I'm tired as hell. I don't feel like this today. People are getting on my nerves. And then I wake up and I'm pissed.
[07:47]
B
I'm like, why am I angry? I'm having. I'm angry about meetings that haven't happened yet.
[07:51]
A
They're playing in my head because there's been emails.
[07:55]
B
Yes.
[07:55]
A
That's why I can relate to that. I'm like, stop emailing me. Stupid stuff.
[08:01]
B
Ray sitting on the floor, he's clearly not taking this call very seriously.
[08:04]
A
But then something else happens and you're like, oh, I've been doing all of this shit. And then something good happens or something big happens, but it keeps you going, right? Like, you still have your own goals, you still have things you want to do within the work, but every day is not going to be an amazing day. And that's all right.
[08:22]
B
I love how it's 2025 and this stuff has been being preached for decades. And it comes from my experience, it comes from music. When you get signed, like an RCA or an Epic, and you, you talk to the, to the John Ivies of music and you're in the rooms, in the right rooms, they kind of tell you all of this. It's finally come down. It's almost like the Internet. Like, thanks, Al Gore. It's finally come down to the rest of us where it's like, so here's how you. Here's how you're. There's an entrepreneur and then there's a fucking entrepreneur. Like, when you're in the music industry, especially when it comes to hip hop or metal and like, you're signed to a tribe, there's a code, there's a way this works. And like, to be in on the secret, it takes quite the responsibility. Because once you know and once you see them, oh, boy, do they see you, and when they start to see you, you gotta wear your. Your. Your heaviest armor and fight for the tiny voices that don't recognize that speaking out loud and changing the way you speak will attract different kinds of energy.
[09:16]
A
Absolutely.
[09:18]
B
Talk about the youth that you're empowering and almost in saving and just teaching them how to fish.
[09:23]
A
Well, I will say I am not in the business of saving. I don't believe that people need to be saved, but I believe that people need tools and opportunities to do what they want to do or need to do.
[09:36]
B
Sure.
[09:36]
A
So the young people who come to Yale Philly for service, they've been arrested at least four times already. A lot of them have been selling drugs since they were 10 with their families there. They've got guns in the house. They've got 10, eight brothers and sisters. They've got a dad who's incarcerated. So they have things that at a very young age they should not be dealing with. So then they come to us and they don't have anything. We help them get their state IDs and driver's licenses, birth certificates. We go to their court dates and help them advocate for not going to jail or prison because you're a kid, and I don't believe that kids should be in jail or prison. They come to us for a whole bunch of different things. A lot of them are young parents. A lot of them need housing. A lot of them don't have hot water in their house. They don't have bedroom furniture. So we are the organization that we just don't provide those things because a lot of organizations don't buy that type of shit for people that they need. But then we're saying, all right, now it's time to level up. How are we going to help you make better decisions? How are we going to get you out of the situations you're in? How are we going to help you make some money? How are we going to help you get a career? So it's like, they come to us, we help them get stable into all their basic needs that they need. And then we help them level up to the point of what decisions and what things are you going to do differently to change your life?
[11:03]
B
What's the resistance like? I'm sure a lot of folks in the youth are just like, I don't believe it.
[11:07]
A
How.
[11:07]
B
How can I buy? I've been in out of jail four times. Like, I used to work for art institutes and. And our main clientele was the last chance Kids. Like, they've been through back and forth. They won't even get their GEDs. They just need an adult to believe in them. So they can sit in front of a computer and go, this is how you designed. Here's how you do this. They just need a shot. Talk about some of the resistance, though, because a lot of these kids come from trauma. Shit, I come from trauma. It took me quite a while to. To build trust with any adult.
[11:33]
A
There's all types of resistance. I often tell young people, this program ain't going to work for you if you don't work. The program like it's. We're offering you opportunities, but we can't do the work for you. So the resistance often is, you know, oh, I make enough money selling drugs and I don't care. The girls love me, this, that. But inside, they're not happy. They're unhappy. So getting to the root of, why do you need this validation? Why do you need people to care that you're really poor, but you have on 700 sneakers? Why do you need that? So getting to the root of that and also showing them, I think is, like, the biggest thing. So they'll be like, oh, I'm not doing any of that. Then they start seeing their peers in the organization get a passport. We took a group of people to Mexico who graduated high school, and they're like, oh, shit, I want to go too. Like, they start seeing the improvements of their peers. So there's resistance at first because you think that being poor or, like, being in the streets is cool, but then you start to see the changes that people go through. And you want that too.
[12:40]
B
Oh, yeah. I'm. I'm not an orphan, but my grandmother adopted me. But it wasn't. It was the teachers in the school system that recognized my deficiencies, but also recognized my gifts and kind of also understood what my grandmother was doing for me. You know, she wanted to make sure that this little boy that she put in suits and ties was well taken care of. And. And. But she could only do so much. She had broken English, immigrant from Cuba, you know, and she got her paperwork. I know folks are kicking down the doors and stuff, quite literally, but my grandma, homegirl, she did all. All the tests, all the quizzes. Yeah, yeah. My father was on Peter Pan, like, raised by nuns for a year. So the. The. The trauma in the DNA is. Is. Is. Is quite still in me. But. But I have. But that, again, puts that chip on my shoulder. And, gosh, I wish I had someone like you in my life that goes, this is how you do Your taxes. Here's how you do this. Here's why your bill should be on time. Here's what a credit score is. Like. And I'm just like, I'm just an artist and I'm, you know, designing websites at 12. I don't know any of that shit. I just. I just wake up and I'm just
[13:41]
A
like, colors and it's a lot and it's hard. It's hard. They realize too. Like, the young people are like, I'm grown. I'm a grown ass man. I'm just on TikTok and right? And then I'm like, do you pay bills at your house? No. Then you're not grown.
[13:54]
B
Yeah, but I got a million TikTok followers.
[13:56]
A
No, that's not. That's not grown. So even helping them, I think one of the biggest things is, is like the car stuff.
[14:03]
B
Oh, for sure.
[14:04]
A
They think that driving is like gta. They're like, I don't need a license. They'll steal a car and drive it. So we're like, just get a license and buy a fucking car. Yeah, we can help you get a car. But then they. So they get to that point, they're like, yeah, I got a car. I got a license. Because nobody in their family told them it was important to have a driver's license, which is insane to me. But also, they get so stressed out about a car registration, about the insurance. It's high as hell. They're like, I got to pay all this money. Then you got to get it inspected. You have to take care of the car. Some of the girls are like, wait, I need oil changes, I need brakes. What does that mean? I thought I was just driving. So it's like those types of things you want, but you also don't understand what comes with having a car and growing up. So those are the hard lessons that they learn. But we gotta do it.
[14:58]
B
Yeah, I learned that all the hard way because grandma was always in the hospital. And I basically put myself through high school, so. So I was 14 and 15, like, figuring it out. Oh, yeah, I was. I would get into wrecks for fun. Like, oh, I guess I won't do that anymore. And then my grandma would be in the hospital. Grandma, I need a couple hundred bucks because I need to live. And. And it was literally the day she got back. And the. The school department was like, yo, we hear that you're being raised by herself. Like, oh, no, grandma's here. She's here. So, yeah, kinda. I know she trying. Well, she was. She was right there with me until the very, very end. But I understand what it was like to be raised by someone that doesn't quite understand the United States government. IDs this and that because she's just trying to be cupid and thrive.
[15:37]
A
And that's different. Right. Like, that. That makes sense. And it's hard and it's not fair. And I think about all the people here that we deal with. It's like, no one ever wakes you up to go to school. You've been out of school for four years and you're 17. How does that even work? Right? Like, we don't. I don't imagine things like that because I did not grow up like that. But I know it's very common in Philadelphia.
[16:02]
B
Wow. And Philly. Yeah, it's like you hear Philly, you hear Miami here, Detroit, you hear these iconic cities, and it always starts from pain. It's always grit.
[16:11]
A
Oh, yeah.
[16:12]
B
It doesn't.
[16:12]
A
Billy's always the underdog.
[16:14]
B
Yeah, it's always the underdog. Let's talk about the underdog spirit and why that is so important more than ever today.
[16:20]
A
It's important because Philly is a getting it from the mud type of city. Anybody who has come out of that city, any celebrity, they had to get it from the mud. They had to persevere. They had to overcome huge obstacles. But I appreciate Philly because. And I think I went to Temple University, but I think about people who graduated from Temple. Like, Temple is about Temple tough. And, you know, you're. You're determined. You're creating your own lane. You're Temple made. That's a. That's a real thing, and that's a Philly thing. And so people I know who come from Philadelphia, they're all in their own lane doing shit that nobody else is doing, because that's how we were taught. Be creative, be different. Be a trailblazer. Create your own path.
[17:06]
B
Yeah.
[17:06]
A
That's just how this type of city we are.
[17:08]
B
Be an art. Be pain. Feel it. Yeah, just go do it. Just be the color. Like, people. People need to understand, like, this is very much the red life. Like. Like, Rudy is like my baby brother. We just. We just treat reality like a big toy store. We are allowed to do that even if we come from trauma, like, at the very end. Whatever you believe in, whatever source, you're allowed to have fun in your life.
[17:29]
A
Absolutely. Why do you want to live a life without fun?
[17:32]
B
Yeah. Yeah. Talk about your journey, how folks can find you. Like, what's the easiest way people can contact you.
[17:38]
A
The easiest way to contact me. Shoot. I don't know. My website isn't out yet, but kendravanderwater.com I know K-E N D R A V A N-E-W-A T-E-R.com I have a course that is already launched, but I didn't. I'm putting it out in December. This is a course for licensed social workers who they need to learn how to challenge injustice. So we're talking about a course around how do we use the social work code of ethics to challenge injustice in your work. You can find my course kendravanderwater.com I have a book coming out called do it Scared about making decisions when you're afraid and getting a life that's on the other side of fear. So you can always contact me. You can also find me on the yeah, Philly page. My Instagram as well, but at yeah, Philly. Y E A H Philly. I have to relaunch my Instagram as well. But it's coming this but it's Hell yeah, it is.
[18:39]
B
Like do it fearfully.
[18:41]
A
Yeah, do it totally. Just like do it. Just get the done. We're not perfect and you shouldn't be because real life is not perfect.
[18:48]
B
I warned you this would happen. Gosh, I love the energy. I am petrified and I love it. Thank you, Kendra for completely changing my perspective on fear with that that conclud another episode of the Living your legacy podcast, the Red Life edition. That's Kendra. I'm Ray and this is Inside Success.
[19:07]
A
Thank you for having me.

Summary6 min read

Episode Summary: "From Police Brutality to Youth Justice Disruptor"

Podcast: Living The Red Life
Host: Rudy Mawer
Guest: Kendra Van De Water
Date: May 24, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode spotlights social worker and youth justice leader Kendra Van De Water, exploring her journey from surviving trauma to becoming a fierce advocate for marginalized youth in Philadelphia. The conversation dives into the power of authenticity, turning pain into purpose, and disrupting systemic barriers for young people. Rudy and Kendra discuss how advocacy, resilience, and building community help create lasting change—highlighting practical ways to support and empower the next generation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Authenticity

Value of Authenticity:
- Kendra shares that being unapologetically authentic has been instrumental in her success and well-being—even when it means being disliked or misunderstood.
  
  “Even when, you know, people may not like who they think you are, or they may not like things that you say, it does not matter because I can sleep well at night.” —Kendra (00:00)
Core Standards and Conviction:
- Emphasizes maintaining personal values and standards, noting this creates inner peace despite external pressures.

2. Channeling Pain into Purpose

Background & Overcoming Adversity:
- Kendra discusses her experiences facing racism, sexism, and harmful systems as a Black woman in her field (03:49).
  
  “There's a lot of politics, there's a lot of racism. I deal with harmful systems, being a woman, being a black woman. We deal with sexism, we deal with racism every single day. But also, it has helped me become who I am today.” —Kendra (03:49)
“Leading with Fire”:
- She likens her approach to being a storm—impossible to ignore and committed to driving change.
  
  “I'm a storm that you're not going to be able to get away from. I’m a storm that does not leave quietly. And I’m a storm that gets things done.” —Kendra (04:23)

3. Vibrations & Energy in Leadership

Energy as an Indicator:
- Kendra and Rudy discuss how energy and presence are vital in advocacy and entrepreneurship (05:11).
  
  “How you show up is important. I often refer to myself as a fierce advocate. That's not being a bully. That's doing your job right.” —Kendra (05:11)
Family and Ancestral Inspiration:
- Kendra credits her drive to the discipline instilled by her family and ancestors, emphasizing resilience through hardship (06:17).

4. Seeing the Signs & Staying Attuned

Intuition & Messages:
- The conversation touches on noticing signs and “codes” in life—how staying open and aware helps navigate difficulties (07:34).
- Both agree that not every day is great, but finding small wins and purpose keeps you going.

5. Working with At-Risk Youth: Challenging “Savior” Complexes

Empowering, Not Saving:
- Kendra clarifies her mission:
  
  "I am not in the business of saving. I don't believe that people need to be saved, but I believe that people need tools and opportunities to do what they want to do or need to do.” —Kendra (09:23)
Meeting Practical & Emotional Needs:
- “The young people who come to YEAH Philly for service, they've been arrested at least four times already. A lot of them have been selling drugs since they were ten... So then they come to us and they don't have anything. We help them get basic things: their state IDs, driver's licenses, birth certificates. We go to their court dates and help them advocate for not going to jail or prison.” —Kendra (09:36)
Steps to Personal & Economic Growth:
- After providing stability, YEAH Philly helps young people envision and work towards a better future—helping with jobs, skills, and decision-making.

6. Fostering Trust and Overcoming Resistance

Resistance Rooted in Trauma:
- Kendra explains that many youths are hesitant or dismissive at first, prioritizing street validation or immediate gains (11:33).
- True change comes when they see tangible results in their peers:
  
  “Then they start seeing their peers in the organization get a passport. We took a group of people to Mexico who graduated high school, and they're like, 'Oh shit, I want to go too.'” —Kendra (12:20)

7. Lessons in Adulting: Breaking Down Practical Barriers

Hard Truths About Growing Up:
- Many youths lack foundational knowledge about basics like car maintenance, bills, credit, etc., because of absent guidance.
  
  “They think that driving is like GTA... So they get to that point, they’re like, yeah, I got a car, I got a license, because nobody in their family told them it was important to have a driver's license, which is insane to me.” —Kendra (14:04)

8. Celebrating Philly’s Underdog Spirit

Perseverance & Innovation:
- Kendra celebrates Philadelphia’s gritty, underdog mentality—where adversity fosters self-made trailblazers who create their own lanes (16:12).
- Temple University’s motto (“Temple Made”) embodies this spirit.

9. Red Life Philosophy: Embracing Joy Amidst Hardship

Having Fun Matters:
- The podcast closes on a note of embracing life’s joy even in the face of trauma and adversity:
  
  “We just treat reality like a big toy store... Whatever you believe in, whatever source, you're allowed to have fun in your life.” —Ray (17:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Authenticity vs. Social Media Personas:

“A lot of folks, especially now on social media or on devices, are not being authentic, or they think they are, and they're somehow hustling and monetizing it. That doesn't seem always to be the correct path, huh?” —Ray (02:40)
On Youth Empowerment:

“You still have your own goals, you still have things you want to do within the work, but every day is not going to be an amazing day. And that's all right.” —Kendra (08:04)
Advice to Young Change-Makers:

“I think one of the biggest things is the car stuff... They don't get it, so we have to help them learn those hard lessons. But we gotta do it.” —Kendra (14:03)
On Fear and Action:

“Do it scared...making decisions when you’re afraid and getting a life that’s on the other side of fear.” —Kendra (17:37)

Important Timestamps

[00:00 – 01:58]: Authenticity and personal values in adversity
[03:49 – 05:51]: Kendra’s lived experience, the “chip on her shoulder,” and fierce advocacy
[06:17 – 08:21]: Channeling ancestral, family, and spiritual inspiration; dealing with tough days
[09:23 – 11:02]: Youth advocacy philosophy—empowerment, not saving; helping at-risk youth meet core needs
[11:33 – 12:40]: Overcoming trust and resistance among system-impacted youth
[13:54 – 14:57]: Practical adulting skills and real-life lessons for youth clients
[16:12 – 17:06]: Philadelphia’s underdog spirit and culture of perseverance
[17:37 – 18:39]: Kendra’s contact info and projects: website, social work course, and her upcoming book

Connect with Kendra Van De Water

Website: KendraVanDeWater.com (coming soon)
Instagram: @yeahphilly
Book: “Do It Scared” — about embracing fear and making bold choices (releasing soon)
Course: For social workers on challenging injustice via the social work code of ethics.

Episode in a Nutshell:
This is an inspiring, real, and practical conversation for anyone interested in youth empowerment, social justice, business leadership, and personal growth—an actionable masterclass in living “The Red Life” with authenticity, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit.

Loading summary

Transcript83 lines

[00:00]
A
So for me, being authentic has opened so many doors for myself. Even when, you know, people may not like who they think you are, or they may not like things that you say, it does not matter because I can sleep well at night. I have values for myself. I have certain goals and standards for myself. And so authenticity is important. So I've lived through a whole lot of things, even just being in this work. There's a lot of politics, there's a lot of racism. I deal with harmful systems, being a woman, being a black woman. We deal with sexism, we deal with racism every single day. But also, it has helped me become who I am today. So I've taken my story, I've taken the things that I've done, and I've built something that nobody else has.
[00:45]
B
Sure. Yeah. We're designed to fail, aren't we?
[00:47]
A
Exactly.
[00:48]
B
Yeah. So how does that feel to have that chip on your shoulder? Or, like, are you leading with fire? What is your purpose? What's getting you out of bed?
[00:54]
A
Oh, I absolutely lead with fire. If you don't know me, you know I am. My name's Rudy Moore, host of Living the Red Life Podcast, and I'm here to change the way you see your life in your earpiece every single week. If you're ready to start living the red life, ditch the blue pill, Take the red pill, join me in Wonderland and change your life.
[01:14]
B
Welcome back to another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast, the Red Life Edition. Today, I am joined by Kendra Vandewater. Did I pronounce that correctly? No, I've gone Van De Water.
[01:26]
A
Close enough. Close enough.
[01:27]
B
No, I'm gonna do that. Right? Kendra Vanderwater.
[01:30]
A
Van Van D. Van Van. You're like Van De Water.
[01:34]
B
I. Sorry. I always give you that. I always give it the. The Latin twist.
[01:37]
A
Van De Water.
[01:38]
B
Van De Water. I'm glad we're all laughing at me at my expense.
[01:43]
A
Did I. I know.
[01:46]
B
Vander Water. No, I'm going for Kendra Van De Water. I'm just giving you a count. A whole name of giving you four different names. Kendra, my apologies. I'm terrible about podcasting. Welcome.
[01:57]
A
Thank you for having me.
[01:59]
B
How do you feel filming your episode today with a professional, off camera? Not me at all. How do you feel?
[02:06]
A
I feel great. It was a lot of fun. I feel empowered. I feel empowered. Like we have filmed and it was just a good time.
[02:15]
B
Kendra, welcome again. We clearly have a lot of fun here. What are we gonna learn about you in your episode?
[02:21]
A
We are going to learn about how I took something Terrible that happened to me and turned it into something big. We're going to learn about how authenticity is really important and how being yourself and being transparent helps you walk in your purpose.
[02:41]
B
So let's talk about authenticity. A lot of folks, especially now on social media or on devices, are not being authentic, or they think they are, and they're somehow hustling and monetizing it. That doesn't seem always to be the correct path, huh?
[02:54]
A
No.
[02:56]
B
Educate me.
[02:58]
A
So for me, being authentic is. Has opened so many doors for myself. Even when, you know, people may not like who they think you are, or they may not like things that you say, it does not matter because I can sleep well at night. Right. Like, I have values for myself. I have certain goals and standards for myself. And so authenticity is important.
[03:21]
B
If you don't follow something, you'll follow anything.
[03:23]
A
Exactly.
[03:24]
B
Completely butchered that quote. It's a great movie, though. But, yeah, you gotta have conviction. You gotta have the grit. And, you know, I always say, I'm Latino, Cuban, you know, the. The pain starts around the corner, but everyone has their own story. Everyone has their own level of pain. I'm no different. We're all in this together. But that. That's something that's not taught. You gotta have to live that.
[03:43]
A
Yeah.
[03:44]
B
Talk about your experiences and what you've lived through and how you've made that into your new North Star.
[03:49]
A
So I've lived through a whole lot of things, even just being in this work. There's a lot of politics, there's a lot of racism. I deal with harmful systems. Being a woman, being a black woman. We deal with sexism, we deal with racism every single day. But also, it has helped me become who I am today. So I've taken my story, I've taken the things that I've done, and I've built something that nobody else has.
[04:13]
B
Sure. Yeah. We're designed to fail, aren't we?
[04:15]
A
Exactly.
[04:16]
B
Yeah. So how does that feel to have that chip on your shoulder? Or, like, are you leading with fire? What is your purpose? What's getting you out of bed?
[04:22]
A
Oh, I absolutely lead with fire.
[04:23]
B
Hell, yeah.
[04:24]
A
If you don't know me, you know I am the fire. Right. Like, I often refer to myself as a storm. I'm a storm that you're not going to be able to get away from. I'm a storm that does not leave quietly. And I'm a storm that gets things done. So having a chip on my shoulder feels great.
[04:42]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, right on. It's just like a lot of folks don't quite comprehend what that means. Oh, you guys must be bullies. You must be pick on your. No, no, no. We empower, we enforce. We, we, we have, at least in my philosophy, in the culture that I've established here with inside Success, it's like we, we take pride in how we conduct ourselves. Not just in a professionalism, but the studio, the space, the energy. You can feel it. Talk about the fufu stuff that folks don't really quite understand, that it's under, that it's in the frequency of the energy in the room that really matters.
[05:11]
A
Energy is very important. I say that all the time. If you come with the wrong energy, I'm going to know. I'm going to know whether I like you in about 30 seconds of speaking with you. But it's important. How you show up is important. I often refer to myself as a fierce advocate. That's not being a bully. That's doing your job right? Like, that's telling people things, that's advocating for people who are not able to do the same for ourselves, for themselves. So I show up in a room that I know that I'm supposed to be there. I know that I bring light with me. I know that I oftentimes intimidate people, and I'm okay with that.
[05:52]
B
We got the giggles behind the camera here. Intimidation. Are all these, these, I would say, tactics that we use? It's really just our armor. Like, we've. We've been through hell and back. We've been through hell. We've grabbed our flock and pulled ourselves back, and now we're here in a very tribal way, trying to save as many souls as we can, being entrepreneurs, being messengers. Where does your download come from? Where, where do you think your source comes from?
[06:17]
A
My source? I think it comes from growing up and having this innate ability in me that has been encouraged and has been brought out of me. Right? So this is not something that you're just born with and you just do, you know, out of nowhere. This is something that requires discipline, it requires growth, it requires taking feedback, it requires critical thinking. So this has been instilled in me since a young age. But also I pull on my ancestors. I pull on the people who have done things to help me get here that no longer live here. And then I think about my family, my mother, my grandfather. They have instilled things in me to keep going. They're like, you know, you're going to go through things and shit, that's going to be really hard. But you are wonderful. You are beautiful and you're going to get through whatever you go through.
[07:08]
B
Yeah. To quote the famous Mufasa Simba, remember who you are.
[07:13]
A
Never forget it.
[07:14]
B
Never forget. Which is also quite spiritual because it's coming from Darth Vader. So it's a whole cathartic artistry. Talk about, like the seeing the messages, seeing the signs, the. Maybe you're a numerologist, maybe you're a poet, maybe you follow the Bible. But the messages and the signs are clearly all around us. We just have to be. Be attuned to recognize them. How do you see the code?
[07:35]
A
I see different things. So sometimes you, you can be feeling a certain way. There's times I wake up and I'm like, I'm tired as hell. I don't feel like this today. People are getting on my nerves. And then I wake up and I'm pissed.
[07:47]
B
I'm like, why am I angry? I'm having. I'm angry about meetings that haven't happened yet.
[07:51]
A
They're playing in my head because there's been emails.
[07:55]
B
Yes.
[07:55]
A
That's why I can relate to that. I'm like, stop emailing me. Stupid stuff.
[08:01]
B
Ray sitting on the floor, he's clearly not taking this call very seriously.
[08:04]
A
But then something else happens and you're like, oh, I've been doing all of this shit. And then something good happens or something big happens, but it keeps you going, right? Like, you still have your own goals, you still have things you want to do within the work, but every day is not going to be an amazing day. And that's all right.
[08:22]
B
I love how it's 2025 and this stuff has been being preached for decades. And it comes from my experience, it comes from music. When you get signed, like an RCA or an Epic, and you, you talk to the, to the John Ivies of music and you're in the rooms, in the right rooms, they kind of tell you all of this. It's finally come down. It's almost like the Internet. Like, thanks, Al Gore. It's finally come down to the rest of us where it's like, so here's how you. Here's how you're. There's an entrepreneur and then there's a fucking entrepreneur. Like, when you're in the music industry, especially when it comes to hip hop or metal and like, you're signed to a tribe, there's a code, there's a way this works. And like, to be in on the secret, it takes quite the responsibility. Because once you know and once you see them, oh, boy, do they see you, and when they start to see you, you gotta wear your. Your. Your heaviest armor and fight for the tiny voices that don't recognize that speaking out loud and changing the way you speak will attract different kinds of energy.
[09:16]
A
Absolutely.
[09:18]
B
Talk about the youth that you're empowering and almost in saving and just teaching them how to fish.
[09:23]
A
Well, I will say I am not in the business of saving. I don't believe that people need to be saved, but I believe that people need tools and opportunities to do what they want to do or need to do.
[09:36]
B
Sure.
[09:36]
A
So the young people who come to Yale Philly for service, they've been arrested at least four times already. A lot of them have been selling drugs since they were 10 with their families there. They've got guns in the house. They've got 10, eight brothers and sisters. They've got a dad who's incarcerated. So they have things that at a very young age they should not be dealing with. So then they come to us and they don't have anything. We help them get their state IDs and driver's licenses, birth certificates. We go to their court dates and help them advocate for not going to jail or prison because you're a kid, and I don't believe that kids should be in jail or prison. They come to us for a whole bunch of different things. A lot of them are young parents. A lot of them need housing. A lot of them don't have hot water in their house. They don't have bedroom furniture. So we are the organization that we just don't provide those things because a lot of organizations don't buy that type of shit for people that they need. But then we're saying, all right, now it's time to level up. How are we going to help you make better decisions? How are we going to get you out of the situations you're in? How are we going to help you make some money? How are we going to help you get a career? So it's like, they come to us, we help them get stable into all their basic needs that they need. And then we help them level up to the point of what decisions and what things are you going to do differently to change your life?
[11:03]
B
What's the resistance like? I'm sure a lot of folks in the youth are just like, I don't believe it.
[11:07]
A
How.
[11:07]
B
How can I buy? I've been in out of jail four times. Like, I used to work for art institutes and. And our main clientele was the last chance Kids. Like, they've been through back and forth. They won't even get their GEDs. They just need an adult to believe in them. So they can sit in front of a computer and go, this is how you designed. Here's how you do this. They just need a shot. Talk about some of the resistance, though, because a lot of these kids come from trauma. Shit, I come from trauma. It took me quite a while to. To build trust with any adult.
[11:33]
A
There's all types of resistance. I often tell young people, this program ain't going to work for you if you don't work. The program like it's. We're offering you opportunities, but we can't do the work for you. So the resistance often is, you know, oh, I make enough money selling drugs and I don't care. The girls love me, this, that. But inside, they're not happy. They're unhappy. So getting to the root of, why do you need this validation? Why do you need people to care that you're really poor, but you have on 700 sneakers? Why do you need that? So getting to the root of that and also showing them, I think is, like, the biggest thing. So they'll be like, oh, I'm not doing any of that. Then they start seeing their peers in the organization get a passport. We took a group of people to Mexico who graduated high school, and they're like, oh, shit, I want to go too. Like, they start seeing the improvements of their peers. So there's resistance at first because you think that being poor or, like, being in the streets is cool, but then you start to see the changes that people go through. And you want that too.
[12:40]
B
Oh, yeah. I'm. I'm not an orphan, but my grandmother adopted me. But it wasn't. It was the teachers in the school system that recognized my deficiencies, but also recognized my gifts and kind of also understood what my grandmother was doing for me. You know, she wanted to make sure that this little boy that she put in suits and ties was well taken care of. And. And. But she could only do so much. She had broken English, immigrant from Cuba, you know, and she got her paperwork. I know folks are kicking down the doors and stuff, quite literally, but my grandma, homegirl, she did all. All the tests, all the quizzes. Yeah, yeah. My father was on Peter Pan, like, raised by nuns for a year. So the. The. The trauma in the DNA is. Is. Is. Is quite still in me. But. But I have. But that, again, puts that chip on my shoulder. And, gosh, I wish I had someone like you in my life that goes, this is how you do Your taxes. Here's how you do this. Here's why your bill should be on time. Here's what a credit score is. Like. And I'm just like, I'm just an artist and I'm, you know, designing websites at 12. I don't know any of that shit. I just. I just wake up and I'm just
[13:41]
A
like, colors and it's a lot and it's hard. It's hard. They realize too. Like, the young people are like, I'm grown. I'm a grown ass man. I'm just on TikTok and right? And then I'm like, do you pay bills at your house? No. Then you're not grown.
[13:54]
B
Yeah, but I got a million TikTok followers.
[13:56]
A
No, that's not. That's not grown. So even helping them, I think one of the biggest things is, is like the car stuff.
[14:03]
B
Oh, for sure.
[14:04]
A
They think that driving is like gta. They're like, I don't need a license. They'll steal a car and drive it. So we're like, just get a license and buy a fucking car. Yeah, we can help you get a car. But then they. So they get to that point, they're like, yeah, I got a car. I got a license. Because nobody in their family told them it was important to have a driver's license, which is insane to me. But also, they get so stressed out about a car registration, about the insurance. It's high as hell. They're like, I got to pay all this money. Then you got to get it inspected. You have to take care of the car. Some of the girls are like, wait, I need oil changes, I need brakes. What does that mean? I thought I was just driving. So it's like those types of things you want, but you also don't understand what comes with having a car and growing up. So those are the hard lessons that they learn. But we gotta do it.
[14:58]
B
Yeah, I learned that all the hard way because grandma was always in the hospital. And I basically put myself through high school, so. So I was 14 and 15, like, figuring it out. Oh, yeah, I was. I would get into wrecks for fun. Like, oh, I guess I won't do that anymore. And then my grandma would be in the hospital. Grandma, I need a couple hundred bucks because I need to live. And. And it was literally the day she got back. And the. The school department was like, yo, we hear that you're being raised by herself. Like, oh, no, grandma's here. She's here. So, yeah, kinda. I know she trying. Well, she was. She was right there with me until the very, very end. But I understand what it was like to be raised by someone that doesn't quite understand the United States government. IDs this and that because she's just trying to be cupid and thrive.
[15:37]
A
And that's different. Right. Like, that. That makes sense. And it's hard and it's not fair. And I think about all the people here that we deal with. It's like, no one ever wakes you up to go to school. You've been out of school for four years and you're 17. How does that even work? Right? Like, we don't. I don't imagine things like that because I did not grow up like that. But I know it's very common in Philadelphia.
[16:02]
B
Wow. And Philly. Yeah, it's like you hear Philly, you hear Miami here, Detroit, you hear these iconic cities, and it always starts from pain. It's always grit.
[16:11]
A
Oh, yeah.
[16:12]
B
It doesn't.
[16:12]
A
Billy's always the underdog.
[16:14]
B
Yeah, it's always the underdog. Let's talk about the underdog spirit and why that is so important more than ever today.
[16:20]
A
It's important because Philly is a getting it from the mud type of city. Anybody who has come out of that city, any celebrity, they had to get it from the mud. They had to persevere. They had to overcome huge obstacles. But I appreciate Philly because. And I think I went to Temple University, but I think about people who graduated from Temple. Like, Temple is about Temple tough. And, you know, you're. You're determined. You're creating your own lane. You're Temple made. That's a. That's a real thing, and that's a Philly thing. And so people I know who come from Philadelphia, they're all in their own lane doing shit that nobody else is doing, because that's how we were taught. Be creative, be different. Be a trailblazer. Create your own path.
[17:06]
B
Yeah.
[17:06]
A
That's just how this type of city we are.
[17:08]
B
Be an art. Be pain. Feel it. Yeah, just go do it. Just be the color. Like, people. People need to understand, like, this is very much the red life. Like. Like, Rudy is like my baby brother. We just. We just treat reality like a big toy store. We are allowed to do that even if we come from trauma, like, at the very end. Whatever you believe in, whatever source, you're allowed to have fun in your life.
[17:29]
A
Absolutely. Why do you want to live a life without fun?
[17:32]
B
Yeah. Yeah. Talk about your journey, how folks can find you. Like, what's the easiest way people can contact you.
[17:38]
A
The easiest way to contact me. Shoot. I don't know. My website isn't out yet, but kendravanderwater.com I know K-E N D R A V A N-E-W-A T-E-R.com I have a course that is already launched, but I didn't. I'm putting it out in December. This is a course for licensed social workers who they need to learn how to challenge injustice. So we're talking about a course around how do we use the social work code of ethics to challenge injustice in your work. You can find my course kendravanderwater.com I have a book coming out called do it Scared about making decisions when you're afraid and getting a life that's on the other side of fear. So you can always contact me. You can also find me on the yeah, Philly page. My Instagram as well, but at yeah, Philly. Y E A H Philly. I have to relaunch my Instagram as well. But it's coming this but it's Hell yeah, it is.
[18:39]
B
Like do it fearfully.
[18:41]
A
Yeah, do it totally. Just like do it. Just get the done. We're not perfect and you shouldn't be because real life is not perfect.
[18:48]
B
I warned you this would happen. Gosh, I love the energy. I am petrified and I love it. Thank you, Kendra for completely changing my perspective on fear with that that conclud another episode of the Living your legacy podcast, the Red Life edition. That's Kendra. I'm Ray and this is Inside Success.
[19:07]
A
Thank you for having me.