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A
This is an Iheart podcast.
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Guaranteed human peace of the planet.
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Charlamagne Tha God here. And the end of the year is the time to set the foundation for next year. New ideas, new product drops, new goals. And when I'm building anything meaningful, I need the right tools. That's why I always tell folks, especially black entrepreneurs and small black owned businesses, Shopify is the move. We use it at the Black Effect Podcast network. And I've seen firsthand how it helps creators and business owners grow with confidence. Okay, Shopify is like having a whole team behind you. Your chief of staff, your personal assistant, your co founder, all in one platform. Wherever your people are, Shopify makes sure your business can meet them where they're at. So if you're ready to take the next step in your life, whether it's merch products or anything in between, get on shopify.com ben and make it happen. It is time to stop putting off your future and start your new role as your own boss today.
D
Whoa. What a vibe we've got, y'.
B
All.
D
As always, it's classic HBCU energy. Nonstop action, the band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chants echoing, drums beating, everybody showing that school pride. Moments like this. Yeah, they call for an ice cold Coca Cola. Crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Mm, yeah, that taste always hit the right note. Just like the band at halftime. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the place, no matter the moment. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and. And keep that HBCU pride going.
E
Did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop? Voted PCMag's Reader's Choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere. And Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
B
Hey, I'm Lindsey. Hydradenitis Superativa HS caused bumps and abscesses.
F
That made me feel embarrassed. I talked to my dermatologist and started.
B
A treatment that works for me.
A
Cosentyx.
B
I found relief.
E
Cosentyx Secukinumab is prescribed for adults with moderate to severe hydradentitis suppurativa. Don't use if allergic to Cosentyx. Get checked for TB before starting. Increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur like TB or other serious bacterial, fungal or viral infections.
G
Some were fatal.
E
Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough had a vaccine.
G
Or plan to or if IBD symptoms.
E
Develop or worsen serious allergic reactions and.
G
Severe eczema like skin reactions may occur. Learn more at 1-844-cosentix or cosentyx.com you're stronger than HS. Ask your dermatologist about cosent and now Superhuman Shack.
B
I keep telling them not to say that. I'm no superhuman. Believe it or not, I struggle with moderate obstructive sleep apnea, or osa in adults with obesity. Moderate to severe OSA is a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep with loud snoring, choking, gasping for air, and even daytime fatigue. Let's just say it can sound a lot like this. Sound familiar?
G
Learn more@don'tsleeponosa.com this information is provided by Lilly a medicine company.
B
Wake that ass up early in the morning. The Breakfast Club.
C
Yep, it's the world's most dangerous morning show. The Breakfast Club. Charlamagne tha God. Lauren LaRosa is here. Jess Hilarious is here. Who's filling in for Envy? Lauren Laros is filling in for Envy. Is Envy filling in? He's here.
G
I'm here. But she's filling in.
A
Yeah, yeah.
C
He's a guest today, though, because his new book, Real Life, Real Family with the queen of the house, Gia Casey, is out right now. What? Comes out April 15th.
G
Comes out April 15th.
C
Yes. How you feeling, Gia?
B
Humbled. By being given the opportunity to write a book about something that is the most important thing to me, the thing I'm the most passionate about, the thing that brings me the most joy. Family, parenting, my household, our home. So, yes, I'm very humbled.
H
This is the second book. Yes. It's amazing.
F
You know what?
H
Let's just rewind it back. For those who don't know, who is the KC Crew? Where did that name come from? How did y' all get started?
B
Do you remember the Casey crew?
G
Yeah, it's our last name. What do you mean?
B
No, no, no. But do you remember how we came up with the name?
G
No. How do we come up with the name?
B
We were doing our first podcast, and it was before we were doing, like, the audio version, the video version. It was just the audio version. And we started the podcast without a name. And we sat there and we kind of was coming up with, like, different names. And one of us said, well, how about the Casey crew? You know, our last name is Casey. We have a whole crew of kids, a whole gaggle. What about the Casey crew? And then people, you know, DMed us and emailed and whatnot and they said, yeah, we love that name. We love that name. So we decided to call ourselves the Casey Crew.
H
Amazing.
G
That's what it came about.
A
And whenever you post on social, you always hashtag the KC Crew. Yes, Envy does as well. But one of the things that you guys do really good from the podcast to bringing it online, is you pay attention to the comments and the responses.
B
Yeah.
A
And you guys bring them into the podcast, but you also, like, reflect on them on social media. So I want to read one of the, the posts that, that we pulled and I thought that this was great. You inspired me. This is someone commenting to you guys. You inspire me. I wish all parents had this level of intention, planning and vibe. Truth is, most parents, moms are stressed, overworked by trying to make ends meet in harboring trauma. Therefore, it's passed down to the children. You've passed down light and love because of that and because of what you are. High five to all of the parents doing their best. And you use that as a moment to talk about like, no, it'd be. It get a little crazy over here, but. Oh yeah, but it's important because when you, if you've ever been around your family, it is a lot of love and a lot of light, but I'm sure on the inside things get crazy.
B
Well, you know, that's a big misconception. People assume that because you live a certain lifestyle or because you've earned a certain financial status that you don't have the same problems that they have. You know, in the same comment section you'll see people like, oh, it's easy when you have money. Oh, you know, like your problems are not our problems. But that is such a misconception. You know, we just got over one of the toughest years of our lives, probably the worst year of our life. Two years that. Yeah, the last two years have been. And that's a conversation for another day. But we've gone through a lot of trauma, a lot of disappointment, a lot of heartache, a lot of sadness and things that we had to shield our children from, things that we had to figure out how to keep that brave face and how to not let it affect our family foundation. You know, because that trickle down effect is so real. Your kids know when you're not happy, they know when you're stressed, they know when you're struggling, they know when you're upset with one another, and they receive that energy and they project that energy. And that's something that is universal because there's not a single family out there that doesn't have trials, tribulations, heartache, setbacks, financial stresses. I don't care who you are, you have experienced that. So financial abundance, financial security, even for people that have that, that in and of itself doesn't mean that you're happy. Some of the most miserable people that I know do very, very well. That's right. It doesn't mean that you come along with the skill set to know how to live a happy life and. And how to teach your children how to have a happy life. So that comment really, really stood out to me because she spoke on the troubles and the trauma and the word trauma that she used. And Rashawn will speak on the word trauma. Sometimes he feels as though it's a word that's overused, but it's a word that represents something that so many people endure. The difference now is that we have words to identify how we feel and what we go through. And it's articulated because when our feelings and our experiences are articulated, then you're able to communicate. Yeah. People are able to understand you. You're able to understand other people. You're able to have empathy and compassion for other people. Because now we're all speaking a universal language, like the word triggered, like the word trauma, like the word gaslight. Gaslight. You know, these are things that some may think are overused now.
A
Exact words.
F
Yes.
B
But it. There is value there. There is value there because now we can see each other. We understand each other.
C
When you're trying to create a safe space, you know, how is it to venture into an unsafe space like the comments, especially with somebody that's on the air every day. You know what I mean? People have an opinion about envy every day.
B
So I read every single comment, every.
A
Last comment, every YouTuber, she be interacting a lot.
B
I interact. Um, it started when I had a lower follower count. It started because I always felt that if someone follows me, that's an investment. A small investment maybe, but it's an investment that they put into me. And they're looking at my contact content, they're looking at my pictures. And you left a comment. I want to respond back to you. I used to respond to almost every comment, you know, but then when my followers went up, I wasn't really able to do that. And that was Something that, you know, I, I had to take that on the chin. I wasn't able to, but it's a sign of respect. And you said, why do I do that to myself? Because I'm strong enough to do that.
H
That's right.
B
I'm strong enough to do that. The comments don't, if they are negative, and I have to say I don't receive a lot of negative comments, thankfully, thank God. But if they are negative, I look at it as insight. I might ask myself, why might someone have that perspective? Why may you have drawn that conclusion? To me, it, it feeds my mental. Because I'm a thinker. I'm a deep thinker. I mull over things. I love to understand people. I love the concepts that kind of create society. I love to understand cause and effect relationships and things of that nature. So for me, the comments are food. And they also bring me happiness when they're good. It lets you know that you're reaching someone, you're whatever it is that you're putting out. Because it's in the sense of sharing. There's a lot of things that I don't share, you know what I mean? So if I choose to share and it's well received, then that's a good feeling. I think that's why a lot of people are on or part of the reason why a lot of people are on social media, you know what I mean? And I'm strong enough to do so. And that's because of the way that I was raised. I was raised to be a very strong and resilient woman. It comes directly from my parents. And I'm fortunate in the sense that I can look back and identify things about the way that I was raised that created the individual, the woman, the mother, the wife that I am. And it's, for me, it's a very beautiful thing. Both of my parents are no longer here, so. So to be able to say, wow, when my mother did this every single day, or when she took me here once a week, or when she said this to me and those compliments and that the way that she fed me and she fed my soul and the joy that I experienced and the amount of fun that I had as a kid, like, I loved my life. And it's not because we were wealthy, we were not. We're a middle, middle class family. I'm from Brooklyn, from East Flatbush. We weren't raised like, I'm from an urban area. And it's not. Had nothing to do with money, it had nothing to do with Wealth. It had everything to do with what my parents poured into my home and the love that I felt. And that is what we put into writing this book. There's a lot of books that we could have written. You know, so many ideas came. Oh. Because Real Life, Real Love was a huge success. It was a national bestseller. So it's like, oh, you can write a book. Book about this. You can write. We said, we want to write a book about family. It's what we know best. It's what we know best. We've had so many ups, so many downs, so many wins, so many losses, so many things that we thought we were doing right that we weren't, that we had to regroup and make sure that we were balanced, you know, as. As a married couple. Because when we didn't agree, it's like, my way is better. No. What? My way is better. And this, you know, we had to come to a meeting of the minds. You know what I mean? So. So our relationship, you know, the relationship grew, you know, because we had to learn how to see eye to eye as parents. So there was just. There was many, many ups and downs. And we wanted to pour that all into a book. You know, we wanted to let everyone know, like, it's really that village mentality. It's really that, like, we are a community, especially our black community. Because I'm black. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. For the record. For the record, he is 100% black. He doesn't have an ounce of Spanish blood. But it's like, I know that you're well aware because you speak to things of this nature often, but our history is being erased in schools, and it's being stripped away silently in society. So the foundation starts in our homes.
C
Yeah.
B
We have to teach children how to identify themselves. We have to teach children that sense of belonging, and they have to understand that they come from something meaningful. And if you leave it up to society to teach them that, you're going to wind up with children that are lost, that are overlooked, that don't know how to identify themselves, that get taken advantage of, and that are susceptible to what society wants for them. So for us, our core, our nucleus, our foundation, our home supersedes every. Anything else in this world. We put our family first.
G
Yeah.
H
Would you say that you and envy have two different parenting styles? Who's the more lenient parent? Who's the more lenient parent?
G
It depends what it is.
H
Okay.
G
Like, you know, everybody knows my dad is retired police officer and ex military, so I'm disciplined. I was the yeller, the screamer. Because I said so.
A
Yeah.
G
Gia's a lot different. Like, she wants to know why.
H
Yeah.
G
Why did you feel that way?
H
And I can tell she likes to break down shit. If you don't get it, you gonna get it by the end of the day.
A
You better not trip up on the words.
G
Exactly. So you gotta think, really think before you speak to her. Because she's like, all right, well, explain that. Like, I just said it just because. No, no, no. Explain this.
F
But.
G
So I'm more like. Cause I said so. She's more like, well, you can't go to the mall because of this. Cause this could happen. Explain your parenting style. Mine is. My dad was like, no. And you didn't ask why it was what it was. You just figured it out later. G is a little different.
C
I prefer the explanation.
B
Yeah.
G
Yeah.
B
So that's how my parents were with me. I knew that my parents were invested in me living a happy, fulfilled, and fun life. And we didn't go lightly on the fun. And Because I knew that. And. And my parents never said no just for the sake of saying no. Because parents are overworked and they are stressed, and the last thing they want to hear when they walk through the door is, mommy, can I. Can you take me here? Can you buy me this? Can we watch this together? Can we go, like, slow down? No. And sometimes you say no, you don't even know why you're saying no. That's not a good parenting technique. You really have to take a moment. You have to take a beat. We all have to take a beat to listen to our children and be patient. And because I knew that my parents were invested in me that way, I knew that when they said no, there was a good reason. Because they would never slight me. They would never tell me no because they were too tired. They would never tell me no just because they didn't want to be bothered. So it's like, oh, well, if Mommy said no, that means that I'm not supposed to be there. Or that means that she genuinely can't take me. And they both would take the time to explain to me, you know, like, you don't want to go to that party in Coney island because in that neighborhood, there's a lot of shooting. And. And you're a young girl. And. And I'll take it a step further. You know what my parents used to do from time to time? They would take me to a party. Not the one in Coney island, but a party. And they would park and wait outside for me for two or three hours until I came out. And this was before cell phones and all that stuff. My dad had this little portable tv. And he would recline his seat, set the portable TV up on the dashboard and just watch TV until. Or whatever it was that he was watching until I came out that let me know that my parents rooted for me. They wanted me to enjoy life. So when they told me no, I knew that I had no business considering it. Considering whatever it was that I was considering.
G
Take a step forward. The other day, London, which is our 11 year old, wanted to walk to her friend's house after school. Her friend's house was a block away.
B
Two blocks.
A
It was two blocks.
G
Gia drives in the car looking like a stalker, and follows them the two blocks as they're walking.
A
I don't see a problem with anything with that.
G
But London knew. London was like, that's my mom following us, so don't worry. But she just wanted to walk. And Gia followed her ass right to that house.
B
Well, the thing is that, you know, she's 11, so she wants all of her friends, all of them, they walk home from school because they all live in the same neighborhood and they all walk home. But London is not allowed to walk home.
G
Hell, no.
B
Absolutely, positively not. And.
F
And there's.
B
There's this very significant reason for it. Well, at least a partial reason. And I said, all right, babe, you can walk, but I'm gonna follow you. Yeah, those two blocks. She was like, okay, Mommy, no problem. Meanwhile, you have other kids that might be like, oh, why can't I just. Can't you Trust me? I'm 11. I'm not stupid. You know, other kids will rebel. Our kids are so conditioned to understand. Understanding that it's for their safety, and they welcome it. Especially, like, our oldest, Madison. Madison, when she went to college, she was like, can you chip me?
G
Like.
B
Put a chip in her arm?
G
Because Gia was almost kidnapped as a kid. They tried to grab her.
B
Yeah.
G
She was walking the door.
B
Yeah.
G
Someone's face being cut. So we. We are very extra when it comes to our kids. And then, you know, charlamagne and, you guys know, things that has happened, you know, behind the scenes, but we're very careful when it comes to the kids.
B
Yeah. When I was nine, a man tried to abduct me, and it was awful.
G
She was walking the dog, I was walking. Little dog and all that.
B
Yeah, he choked me out. Like, he. He had a change of clothes hidden. He was caught. He was caught. But that's that. Yeah, that. Yeah, that story is in the book. But, you know, so I experience. I unders. I come from a place where I understand that the worst case can happen to you. You know, because we go through life idly, like, oh, no, that happens to other people. You know, other people go through things like that. I've been through so much that I understand that the worst can happen to you.
H
Right.
B
So I protect my kids with vigilance because of that personal knowledge that I have of it.
C
How do you make sure you're not. You're raising the kids out of love and not fear at all?
B
That's such a good question. It comes with the explanations. Do you know what I mean? I don't tell them, you can't do this and you can't do that.
F
Why?
B
Because I said so. Let me explain to you why. You know, sometimes we'll watch the news together, you know, when they're at an appropriate age, at about nine years old, you know, I think that they're mature enough to ingest certain things. So what I do is I would record it on my DVR and then cherry pick different stories that I think that are appropriate, that speak to the protective measures that we take on them. You know what I mean? So it's like, if I see a child abduction that's not too traumatic, I might save that and then show it to a child that's old enough. You know, I did it with Madison. I did it with Logan. And I find that they take that into their adult lives, and they're very, very. Madison. Like, Madison walks around like a police officer. She has a boyfriend. His name is Andrew. And when they go into a restaurant, she's the one that sits facing the door. She feels like the protective force in that relationship because her head is always on swivel. You know what I mean? She could tell you a car that was driving six cars ahead, you know, and she's always paying attention to license plates. When she was young, I used to go through, like, in case you get kidnapped scenarios, because it's the type of information that can save a child's life all day long.
G
I do, like, count the stop lights on the floor.
B
It's the type of information that can save a life. Especially now with all of this human trap trafficking and all the stories with, you know, you. They put like a zip. A zip tag on your. On your.
H
Very creative.
B
On your door. And they put a dollar or money near your. There's all. There's all these techniques. Girls are being taken.
H
Yeah.
B
So if you have a young girl. It is very proactive to educate them about the realities and the tricks and the cons that people, you know. Because even me, as proactive as I try to be, that whole technique with a baby crying outside your house, I would. I would be inclined to open the door.
G
Yeah.
B
If I hear a baby crying and someone that sounds like a mother yelling and screaming outside the house, I am that type of person.
C
But not me.
B
But now you. I. I am. I am. Something wrong.
A
But now.
B
I would. My heart, with my eye, would be inclined to open that door. But. But now with all the knowledge and some of the good things about social media is that so much knowledge is being spread, so now we're consuming good information as well. So I heard that. I'm like, wow, that's absolutely, absolutely right. It jogs your thinking. It makes you say, oh, wait a minute. I do have to put myself first. Even if someone else, a stranger seems to be in need, I have to prioritize myself, my home, my family. So. So, you know, it's. It's important to spread information and to teach your kids. Even though it may be a little scary, but you do have to do it in a way where it doesn't incite fear.
H
Yeah.
A
How do y' all go ahead?
H
No, you go ahead.
A
How y' all pick and choose? What do y', all, like, what y' all decide to be transparent about? Because there's so much, like, you have stuff that you have to protect them from just cause they're going to school. And you guys, people know you. But then you also have stuff that's just happening in the world that they could encounter with their friends. Like, it's just so much. And your kids are getting older and they're like, you know, like they're wanting to walk by themselves with their friends.
G
How do you know if it was up to me? I'm transparent with everything, right? Kia has to hold back a lot. And the reason I think I'm so.
B
What do you mean?
G
Well, the reason I'm so transparent. I'll explain. But the reason I'm so transparent is nervous. I want you to answer her what we mean first. I feel like we should answer Kia first. Nah, but like, you know, so. So some things get, you know, like for instance, like with Logan, right? Logan, when he was in high school, used to get picked on all the time, right? But he used to get picked on. Guess for what reason?
C
Oh, me and life again.
G
No. Because Charlamagne is gay. Yes. Yes. So stop being gay.
C
I tell you all the time.
G
When you gave me the ass. That's why. Pause.
B
What?
G
Wow. He gave me the butt cake. When he gave me the butt cake.
B
That's not much better.
G
You know what I mean?
B
The butt cake cake he gave me.
C
When he gave me.
H
No, we are not about to hate bro.
F
But it's a show.
G
Don't do that. He used to be getting made fun of because of that. But the reason I'm so transparent is there's so many families and people dealing with the same things but never wanna talk about it. Scared to. So that's why I talked about the orgasm thing in the first book. That's why in the second book we talk about, you know, the time orgasm.
C
Thing from the first book. Shut up.
G
No, no, no, no. We're not doing that every interview you do that.
C
He Googles it every interview. Lauren, do you want to do some research?
B
I already know.
C
You should tell the listeners.
G
So even like in this book, we talk about the time that Logan found a bloody condom at one of his friend's house. So he came. But he's. He's comfortable. Why are you looking at that? It wasn't mine.
B
He's like, oh, he found a bloody condom, right?
C
It wasn't our house.
G
All right.
B
No, he was at his friend's house.
C
It was at his friend's house.
B
And he was like maybe nine years old.
G
Nine years old.
B
He was about nine years old.
G
But he was comfortable enough to come.
B
They were in the basement and the little boy had an older brother. So what did you say?
C
Remember when Charlamagne gave daddy the ass?
G
That's how the bloody.
B
Gotta know.
G
Oh my gosh. So she had. That's when we had the sex talk. And Gia had to have the sex talks with Logan and Madison.
C
What kind of sex talk though, Though.
G
No, it wasn't a back door sex toy.
C
So it ain't just birds and bees. It's birds and wasp and birds.
G
No, I'm serious.
A
They.
B
They got a full blown.
C
Okay.
B
Sex talk. They had to understand because if you leave it.
G
No back door sex to him. If that's what you.
B
If that.
C
I'm really trying to figure out. Why was the condom bloody? I'm really.
H
When somebody ran a R. Like.
A
Or.
H
Maybe somebody just rip somebody butt.
C
Open and.
H
Somebody ran a red light out of it.
A
Could also be like a first time thing.
C
Yeah, yeah.
B
But no, they. At that point I found that they were old enough and mature enough and they're encountering things now these conversations are being had amongst their peers. And I knew that if I didn't set them straight, that they were going to be absorbing all of this wrong information and wrong ideas. So I told them, sex feels good. It's a place, pleasureful experience. God made us that way because God wants us to reproduce. He wants us to create offspring. So he made it something that we would enjoy. But it's meant for someone that you love, and that's the reason why. So they're like, oh, okay, so what is it like?
H
Yeah.
B
And what did you say? Okay, if I'm being honest, I told them that there is a penis and there is a vagina and it does slide in and out. And my son Logan was like, so like this.
H
Yeah.
B
I said. And then together, Logan and Madison separately. Yes, there are 11.
A
You all know this time of year is my recess season. New energy, new plans, new ways to grow my brand. And if you're trying to start 2026 ahead of the game, like, really ahead, now is the time to get moving. For me, Shopify has been the platform that keeps my whole merch business tight. As a creator, as a businesswoman, I need my tools to work hard. And Shopify is like having a chief of staff, a personal assistant, and a co founder all in one. And look, I always tell other women building their own brands, especially small, independent black creators, don't overcomplicate it. Whether you're running a side hustle or you're trying to run a full storefront, selling in your community or around the world, Shopify takes the guesswork out of everything. Shopify also, like, my favorite thing about it is they teach you as you grow, you can look up anything, get information on anything. And it's simple. They give you, like, easy one, two, three steps. I used to juggle 10 different logins and apps. Now one platform I manage my store, sell online, sell on social, even tag products right from my phone, wherever I am, and Shopify Sidekick. Listen, you keep hearing all about AI. Let me tell y', all, this AI is a lifesaver. It gives me reports, content, ideas, helps me edit images. It's literally like having a smart assistant in my back pocket, guiding me to my next move. So let's be real. It's time to stop thinking and start doing. And there is no better way to do that than Shopify. Use our link shopify.comb e-n now to start getting serious about building your future.
G
Hey, what up, y'?
C
All?
G
It's DJ Envy. And the holidays are here. The time of year that's all about connecting with loved ones in person or over the phone. In fact, hearing someone's voice can evoke a similar emotional response as a hug. And while most of us can hop on a video chat to really bring that connection to life, using tech isn't easy for everyone, especially some of the older folk in our lives. AT&T has been doing something special here to help. They offer digital literacy workshops that help older adults learn how to use technology to do things most of us take for granted, like video conferencing and sharing photos. Take Nancy Shand. She joined one of at&t's workshops to learn how to video chat for the first time this holiday season. Nancy won't just be hearing about family gatherings, she'll be a part of them, sharing stories, opening presents, and making memories all through a screen. Nobody should have to go through the holiday season alone, so be sure to connect and stay connected to your loved ones this holiday season.
B
Connecting changes everything.
F
@&T whoo.
D
What a vibe we've got y'.
B
All.
D
As always, it's classic HBCU energy. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chants echoing, drums beating everybody showing that school pride. Moments like this. Yeah, they call for an ice cold Coca Cola. Crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there.
B
Mmm.
D
Yeah, that taste always hit the right note just like the band at halftime. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the place, no matter the moment. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.
E
Did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop? Voted PCMag's Reader's Choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved.
I
Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available@public.com disclosures they're about 11.
G
And 9 because I laugh at him.
B
And then he then I'll never forget since you asked, he was like, so is it like. I was like, yeah, something like that. I said, you know, some people look at it as a negative thing. No, no, no, he really didn't. No, he really didn't. He really didn't even, Even like my 11 year old son right now. He does not know. He asked me three days ago, like what does sexual mean? I said, it's not for you. It's not for you to understand right now. So when they ask me questions that I don't want them to know about, and he's older than Logan was, but now with I have a better grip on his friends and a grip on what he's exposed to on his phone and whatnot and parameters, boundaries. So I'm really abreast of what he knows and what he doesn't. And our lines of communication are way better. Way better. Like he, like those kids, they come to me every day and when they get home from school, either for a half an hour, an hour, depending on what activity they have afterwards, they have their turns. They sit at the foot of my bed. They lay down or they sit down and they tell me about their entire day. They tell me the best part of their day, the worst part of their day, and one kind thing that they did for someone else that day. So that's just our routine. That's our ritual. And they tell me everything. And you would be shocked and appalled to know the things that they divulge. But it's because we create that safe space. Space.
G
Yeah.
B
We create that soft place to land. We create a no judgment zone. You could tell me anything. It could be the world's worst. I will never ever judge you. I will help you fix it. We'll extract all the lessons, everything that you need to learn from it. Whether you were wrong, whether you weren't, whatever it is. Like, this is your safe space. Yeah. And they have that foundation. So they share. They share. And we take that time.
H
Time.
B
Like we share.
H
Yeah. You have six kids. So was there anything. Because y' all had all age groups.
B
Yeah. Right.
H
So is there anything that you felt like in the beginning y' all didn't know? And until y' all got to that sixth kid.
B
Of course.
G
Yeah.
H
Like, what were some of the.
B
I'll give you an example.
H
That you didn't know. You just was like, me and Rashawn winging this.
B
Like, I'll give you. I'll give you an example. But to speak to what you said, like, we wrote a book. That doesn't mean that we know everything and it doesn't mean that it's not an evolution. It doesn't mean that we're still learning every single day. Like I said earlier, it's a sense of community where we share our experiences and the wins and the losses so that other people can understand they're not alone. And it comes in all shades, all forms, all fashions, all financial groups. We all speak a universal, universal language as parents. With Logan, so one of. One of the fails, and this was something that we disagreed on, so it was the explaining everything to the kids. I have the patience to do it. And he really is a because I said so type of guy. And it worked beautifully with Madison. But with Logan, from a young age, I would explain everything to him. And he's a mama's boy times 30. Envy tells us he is that boy. Like, we have a thing, you know, And I have a different thing with all of my kids, but me and him have our thing. Like, he calls me at all times of the day, all time. He will call me at 3 o' clock in the morning, like it's 12 o' clock in the afternoon. And she's like, yeah, what's up, Mom? What's going on?
A
You good?
B
Yeah, I'm good. I was just. I'm at the club. I'm about to FaceTime you. Lucas and Andrew are here. Take a look. Take a look. And I'm like, what's up? Sleep is up. But okay, you know what I mean? Like, we're very, very close. But it kind of went wrong with him because what we found was that we created an environment where he felt that he was entitled to an explanation. And he felt as though, because we gave him too safe of a space, that he could challenge me. And he can challenge a decision that I made. And he's very. And he's very intelligent. He's very, very intelligent. So Rashawn always says that I'm like a lawyer, right? He says it all the time. I know what it feels like because I have a Logan and Logan lawyers me. Do you know what I mean?
G
They do it with each other all day long.
B
Yes, all day long. And in a lot of ways I enjoy it because I feel like he, he really does challenge me.
G
Yeah.
B
And he's one of the only people that I feel like does that in my life. Um, and I love to see the mental exercise. I love to see how his brain is moving and how he's getting around the things that I'm saying and things like that. So it's good at his adult age now, cuz he's 21. But when he was a child it wasn't acceptable because I'm going to explain, because this is what I do. But now you're not understanding that. That's a grace that I show you. It's not something that you're entitled to. This is a courtesy that I'm extending to you, but you're not entitled. So we had to dial that back.
H
Teach boundaries.
B
And then we had to teach boundaries and let him know his place because he started to misunderstand his place. So that was, that was a fail in a sense. And Rashawn would always look at me like, see, I told you. Like, see, I told you.
G
I'm always the bad guy. Cause now I gotta go discipline that, right? So now me and Logan get into it.
C
And now you can't beat Logan. Cause Logan beat him.
G
So now I gotta discipline Logan and then me and Logan get into it. But one thing about Logan and all of our kids, which is the craziest thing, is they're very forgiving. Like with Logan, I have to get sometimes so disrespectful for him to understand. And the next day he's like, hey dad, what's up? And I'm like, hey dad, what's up? But that's how he is. And he just has conversations. But we have those conversations and we understand and we talk. But he's, he's the one that. Just like his mom.
A
Did you feel like a failure?
B
No, no, I didn't feel like a failure. But I knew that that technique wasn't, wasn't necessarily a fail, but it needed tweaking. So then we had our other four and there was a huge gap, There was about nine years between Logan and London. So I wanted to maintain what I always believed in and how I was raised, but I wanted to implement some of because I told you so as well. Like, I am going to explain to you, but I'm going to let you know that it is because I'm showing you grace, and it's because I respect you. So in turn, you have to respect me and you have to respect the decision, and we can talk about it as long as it's coming from a good place. And I'm not sensing any attitude from you, any entitlement from you or anything that I don't like to feel. Feel as we sit here and discuss it. So you gotta make sure you keep it right. And my kids get it. So this pack of three, because Peyton's three years old, but my 11, my 10, and my eight, they get it. Like, I tell them if they're really curious, they might question. And then after I say it again, they're like, okay, absolutely, whatever it is. And so it's through that trial and error with Madison and Logan that we're able to take all the good stuff, you know, all the good stuff, and pour it into this second batch of kids.
A
No, go ahead. I feel like I'm asking so much, so.
H
No, it's okay. So in the beginning.
C
Shut up.
G
Going back.
H
No, I'm not doing.
A
Come over there with you together.
G
Don't play with us. So.
C
No.
H
So going back to something you said earlier. You were saying that the past two years was very traumatic and not getting into that. How challenging was it writing this book? Like, was there ever moments where you and Rashawn or just you, like, broke down? Like, not, like, giving up, but it was challenging for you to get deep into any, you know, any of the chapters or what you went through within the past two years.
B
You know what? I'll be honest with you. No pun intended. But I'm an open book.
H
Mm.
B
I'm not a private person. I've never been a very private person. And it's because I feel as though the value in life is truth.
H
Yeah.
B
You know, even if it's not pretty. You know, there's no value to anything if it's not honest.
H
Yeah.
B
If it's not true, if it's not transparent, if it's bs, it's worthless. You know, if you wrap everything in a pretty bow, it's worthless. Because who can relate to you?
H
Yeah.
B
Nobody. I can't relate to people that appear to be perfect or pretend to be perfect.
H
That's right.
B
Because I don't Know you. I don't know anybody like you. You know what I mean? So anytime that I'm honest or I'm vulnerable about something, to me, it's like giving a little gift from myself. It's sharing something that I know other people wouldn't share because they'd be too embarrassed or it disrupts the image that they're trying to present so that I don't respect. So it's very easy for me to tell my truth from where I genuinely come from.
C
I love that y' all have a family mission statement.
A
Yes.
C
What is the mission statement? And tell people the importance of that.
G
Well, just so we know we don't have it on our wall and make the kids read it when they walk in the house. It's not that type of mission statement. It's not like that. So our mission statement is just something that we, you know, as a family, we all live by. Right. And I'll read some of them. And the reason is, is we are a close unit, right? So if you see us together, we're all always out together. You see me the other day with J, you've seen me before, and Charlamagne has seen me before. So the mission statement is we are a unit, right? We all ride together. Like we are really a unit.
B
A unit.
G
I'm an only child, so I'm heavy into taking care of each other, Right? We respect each other. Of course. It's simple. We make sure that, you know, we respect each other's feeling. We always have each other's backs. That's one thing that we always do. And, you know, sometimes when we have conversations up here, I always talk about my kids. So when they see stuff on social media, at times I have to stop them because they will go in, especially Logan.
B
Logan will go in.
G
He is like that.
C
Oh, yeah.
G
We always uplift each other and point out the good in one another, right? So we see that more especially with our girls in dance, because they compete against each other a lot. So when they do, we have to make sure that regardless of what happens, like, a couple of weeks ago, London lost. And we thought London got jerked. So I told, you know, I had a conversation with Brooklyn, and Brooklyn was like, dad, don't worry, I'm gonna get first and second four. And she went out there and bust ass and got first and second.
B
She got first place and second place.
G
And gave the first place to her sister, because that's what it was. We represent each other at all times. That's how it always is. So we always tell Our kids. If we're not there, you make sure that those parents come back and say, oh, my gosh, he was such a pleasure. He was polite. He was this. Even with Jackson at the game, you know, Jackson said, thank you a million and one times to you. He said, hello a million and one times to you, because that's what he's taught to do. You show respect one second before you.
B
Go on with that. My goal for my kids is that when they leave our house, I want everyone that they come in contact with to know that they're well loved. Do you know what I mean? Like, I want them to know that they're well loved. What we teach you inside this house, you exemplify outside of this house. And it's so interesting because, you know, as parents, we have a goal, you know, and these are goals that we vocalize to one another. So when we get calls from other parents, when our kids are on a play date, teachers, principals, both sets of kids went to a new school, and we got calls from, like, the parent, the teachers, like, what are you guys doing in that house? What are you doing with these kids? Like, I've never seen this before. And all three of them are like this. It lets you know that you're doing something right. You're doing something meaningful. Those teachers know that they're well loved. And of course, other children are well loved. It's not that, but it's coming from a mental space that you understand. And like what we talked about earlier, about articulating words and things, when you articulate something to a child and you do it in a way where they understand what it means and what their actions mean, because you can love your child to death, you could take a bullet for them. You do. You work hard, you hustle, you do everything for your kids. You love your kids, but they could still go out and be a menace.
A
Right?
G
Right.
B
Because the lessons may be lost. And these are things that a lot of parents don't put into perspective when raising children. Because what do we usually do? We take it. We take, like, you know, an idea, and we throw it up against the wall and we see if it sticks or not. You know what I mean? Oh, that worked. Oh, that didn't. Okay. But a lot of people don't have something tangible that they can go back to and be like, this is. This is. This is a way to create a foundation. This is a way to create a structure. And because we had so many ups and downs, we were able to do that and put it in one place.
G
And I think the biggest story I know you hate when I tell a story was Jackson, right? So we had a parent teachers night a couple of weeks ago, and a teacher came up to me. Teacher that I had no idea, didn't know who he was.
B
He was a stem knight.
G
A stem knight, right. So he walks over to me. He was like, are you Jackson's dad? And I'm like, yeah. When a teacher usually asks that, it's usually some bs, right? So I'm like, oh, here we go. What did Jackson do? And he was like, I just want to tell you, you know, Jackson did something that no child or adult has done in my life. I'm like, well, what's that? And he was like, the other day, I'm walking down the hall and Jackson comes running up to me and he goes, you know, are you okay? And the teacher was like, what do you mean? He was like, you just don't look as happy as usually do.
C
Are you all right?
G
Is anything bothering you? Would you like to have a conversation with me and just talk it through? Like, nah, you just don't seem as happy as you do. But don't let things stress you out. Just pray on it, and tomorrow be better, right? And if you need to talk to me, come talk to me. And he said, jackson ran off. And he was like, I've never had an adult or a child ever do that to me. So he was like, whatever you're doing at home, continue that. And you know what I mean, that just shows what the kids are learning at home is worth everything.
C
You know what I mean? So you need to report that teacher too. He don't need to be in the.
A
School system.
H
The next day. He probably was like, you got some time at.
G
What if Logan was the only.
H
I mean, London was the only person that saw him at Jackson.
G
Jackson, yeah.
B
Yeah.
C
His name was City.
G
His name is City.
B
So that was stem night. But at the parent teacher conference, one of the teachers said that if she could use one word to describe Jackson, it would be grateful. And she said, In 30 years of teaching, I've never used that word with a child before. I said, well, what do you mean by grateful? She said, every day, after every lesson, he comes up to me and says, thank you for teaching me today. And I said, really? And he said. She said, where? Like, where did. Like, where does he get that from? Like, what's. What's. Like, you know? I said, that's his own interpretation. But when he plays sports, after every game, I tell him to shake the referee's hand and just look him in this, look him in the eye, a nice, strong handshake, and say thank you. And do the same thing with your coach. Because these are people that give their time, that don't have to give their time. And it's for you and for your benefit and your learning and your greatness. So you acknowledge that man or that woman and you say thank you. So I think that that's his interpretation, how he's doing it in another way. You know what I mean?
H
Y' all are such a beautiful family.
G
Thank you.
B
Thank you.
H
And this man will crash out for any of y'.
C
All.
B
Like, I know.
G
Jessica seen me do it behind the scenes a bunch of times. And Jessica was like, yo, you crash out for your family. I'm like, goddamn right.
H
No matter what.
C
What?
B
Tell me. I'm interested.
C
Crashing out.
B
Excuse me?
F
Huh?
B
Nothing.
H
No, I don't. Now shut up. Anyway, when is baby number seven coming?
A
That's so annoying.
B
The shop is closed. This ship has sailed.
G
Well, the shop is not closed. When you say closed, meaning snip snip. We ain't snip snip.
B
Oh, no, no. There's no snip snip. But I know how not to get pregnant.
F
Okay? Huh?
C
My wife wants me to get a vasectomy.
B
No, no, I don't want him to get a vasectomy.
G
Yeah, we not having no more kids.
A
In case you ever wanted.
B
No, I just don't think it's necessary. I know how not to get pregnant.
H
Yeah.
C
Women and wives out want their husbands to get vasectomies. I'm sorry, say that again for the wives who want their husband.
B
I don't know. Other. Other women may have gotten pregnant unintentionally and have a different view, but me, personally, I just, you know, like, people have asked me, like, do you want to get your tubes tied? I just like our natural bodies, and I like them to function the way that they function. And if I can take a human precaution to prevent a particular result, and I'll do that. I don't. I don't think that it's. For me, it's not necessary. I absolutely understand why people do both of those procedures, but for me, I just don't find it to be necessary. That's all. You know?
C
Exactly. April 15th. It'll be out in bookstores everywhere. Everywhere. You buy books? Man gear. Thank you for pulling up.
G
That's.
B
Thank you so much. You can pre order on Amazon right now.
G
And for everybody else, we just want to Add this last part, we actually wrote it with somebody that helped us out that you want to talk about that. That helped us with terms and helped us with different phrases and helped us with. Made sure that we were actually doing the right thing when it came to raising our kids.
B
Yeah. So we wrote it alongside a psychologist because. Yes, because we wanted to make sure that our outlooks were. On the level that I would want to put it out to the public. I wanted to. The psychological research and quarterbacking behind the way that we parent, to pretty much put a stamp on it, to know that what we're doing not just from our personal experience driven point of view is sound, but from a psychological point of view is also sound. I wanted to make sure that alongside the truth and the transparency and the experience that we had that backing to the book as well. I wanted that level of value in the book as well. So. Yeah, and also, you know, if you have a child with anxiety, add, adhd, other setbacks, other disabilities, you know, we speak to you in this book as well because those people are very like, they don't have that many resources. This book is for anyone who is a parent, a single parent, a parent that is married, a single woman, maybe.
G
About to have kids.
B
The next someone that wants to have a child.
G
I didn't look at you, Lauren.
H
Wow.
C
Nobody looked at you.
A
First of all, you did look over here.
B
Thank you. It's, it's, it's. It's forever. It's a very relatable book. And there's a lot of exercises in the book. We kind of also created it in like a workbook style, so there's a lot of reflections. There's a lot of places in there for you to answer questions so you can kind of analyze yourself and understand your own point of view in a way of, like, articulation where if you haven't really thought about certain things, it'll jog you to think about things. And even if you don't do, don't take our take, it encourages you and helps you to come up with your own takes on parenting. So there you have it.
G
April 15th. Guys, pre order it now.
B
Pre order it now.
C
Real family.
G
That's right.
C
It's the Casey crew. It's the Breakfast Club.
B
Wake that ass up in the morning.
D
The Breakfast Club.
E
Did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop? Voted PCMag's Reader's Choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit lgusa.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved.
I
Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like EFTs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member finra SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, LLC SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comdisclosures ever wish.
F
You could try the Washington Post and see what all the talk is about? Right now you can with a one week pass for just $7. No commitment, no strings attached. Just $7 for one week of unlimited access to the Post. It's the perfect way to explore our award winning journalism and experience what subscribers already know. There's nothing else quite like it, so why not give us a try? Go to washingtonpost.com week and start your $7 one week pass today. That's washingtonpost.com week. This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea or OSA in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing if anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at. Don't sleep on osa.com this information is provided by Lilly, a medicine company at CVS.
B
It matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for you when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill.
F
Your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack.
B
At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit us@cvs.com or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Date: December 25, 2025
Guests: DJ Envy (Rashawn Casey) & Gia Casey
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, Jess Hilarious, Lauren LaRosa
Main Theme: An in-depth conversation with DJ Envy and Gia Casey about their new book Real Life, Real Family, parenting philosophies, the evolution of “The Casey Crew,” their family mission, lessons learned, and transparent reflections on challenges.
In this candid and heartfelt "Best Of" interview, The Breakfast Club hosts welcome DJ Envy and his wife Gia Casey. They discuss their upcoming book Real Life, Real Family—a practical and vulnerable guide inspired by their own household of six kids. The couple dives deep into parenting, transparency, the evolution of their marriage, and building a foundational mission for Black families. Their warm, authentic exchange covers overcoming trauma, parenting styles, unique family rituals, and the value of community in raising children.
"Anytime that I'm honest or I'm vulnerable about something, to me, it’s like giving a little gift from myself...If you wrap everything in a pretty bow, it's worthless. Because who can relate to you?" —Gia (40:29)
"Some of the most miserable people I know do very, very well...Financial security doesn’t mean you come with the skill set to know how to live a happy life." —Gia (07:07)
"If you leave it up to society to teach them that, you're going to wind up with children that are lost, that are overlooked...So for us, our core, our nucleus, our foundation, our home supersedes anything else in this world. We put our family first." —Gia (13:54)
"There are so many families dealing with the same things but never wanna talk about it. Scared to. So that's why...we talk about the time that Logan found a bloody condom at one of his friend's house. He's comfortable enough to come...We create that safe space." —Envy (24:29–33:43)
"We wrote a book. That doesn't mean that we know everything and it doesn't mean that it's not an evolution...it needed tweaking." —Gia (34:26–38:17)
"My goal for my kids is that when they leave our house, I want everyone they come in contact with to know that they’re well loved...you exemplify outside what we teach you inside." —Gia (43:04)
Gia on family happiness:
"It's not because we were wealthy, we were not...it had everything to do with what my parents poured into my home and the love that I felt." (10:15)
Envy on discipline:
"I was the yeller, the screamer. Because I said so...Gia's a lot different. She wants to know why." (14:52)
Gia on Black parenting:
"The foundation starts in our homes. We have to teach children how to identify themselves...they come from something meaningful." (13:54)
Gia on safe communication:
"We create that soft place to land...You can tell me anything. It could be the world’s worst. I will never ever judge you. I will help you fix it." (33:43)
Envy on family unity:
"We are a unit. Right? We all ride together. Like, we are really a unit." (41:50)
Gia on truth in parenting:
"The value in life is truth...If you wrap everything in a pretty bow, it's worthless. Because who can relate to you?" (40:29)
"I said, all right, babe, you can walk, but I’m gonna follow you." (17:46)
This episode gives listeners a powerful, realistic portrait of modern Black family life—its joys, struggles, and growth. DJ Envy and Gia Casey provide grounded, hard-won advice informed by trial and error, cultural context, and above all, unwavering love. Their new book Real Life, Real Family promises exercises, expert validation, and relatable wisdom for parents of all kinds.
Buy/Preorder: Real Life, Real Family (Available April 15th; preorder now)
Podcast: The Breakfast Club, iHeartPodcasts