Swell AI Transcript: Tashana.mp4

Deneen L. Garrett:
Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Women of Color in Intimate Conversation. I'm so excited to have Tashauna with us today. She is a powerhouse. She's an Army Airborne veteran. She comes with receipts. If you see behind her, she has all the medals. And yes, she literally jumped out of planes. She's also an actress. runway queen, dancer, and an eight-time all-natural bikini bodybuilding champion. And she's showing us a little bit of that today. So we see you, girl. On top of that, she's an ISSA certified personal trainer. dedicated to helping women unlock their strength and confidence. And let's not forget, she's a powerhouse in Chris's Ambitious Women. So if you all recall, we did my very first group recording, and it was with Chris Gordon and several of her ambitious women. We actually did it in two parts. I just dropped the… The most recent one actually when you all see this, it will have been out there for a while, but anyway, so she's part of chris's crew so that's how we got connected and just a little bit more about chris's crew and into shana. They're empowering high achieving women who are breaking barriers and redefining success on their own terms. Tashauna, welcome to the show. How are you feeling today? I am feeling great. Thank you so much for having me.

Tashana Latrice: Absolutely.

Deneen L. Garrett: So let's start at the beginning, your journey as an army airborne veteran. So jumping out of planes, operating under extreme pressure, That takes serious courage. What inspired you to serve?

Tashana Latrice: I come from a military background. My parents were both Navy veterans. But honestly, I never planned on going into the military. I was like, that's not the life for me. I got into entertainment and it just kind of felt like I was living life based on how I looked. And I kind of wanted to challenge myself with something else and see if I could make it doing something else. So I was like, let me Let me try the army, you know, let me see. Um, cause I'm not getting on nobody's water. So, you know, I was like, let me do the army, you know, be a little different from my parents. Um, and just really challenged myself to, you know, physically and mentally, you know, um, and that's kind of like what sparked it. I just kind of wanted to change in my life. Um, at that time I was, Old for the military, but I was still a young person. I was like 2024 when I went in. Okay.

Deneen L. Garrett: And so like I put so for those who are watching. So you see it, but those who are listening. She has a bunch of metals behind her. And so obviously, you know, that's a demonstration of her discipline. So how does your military mindset, the discipline, the resilience, pushing past fear shape the way you approach your career now?

Tashana Latrice: It really shaped me because my job, not only did I jump out of planes, I packed parachutes for the other people to jump out of planes with. And one of the things that we had to do daily was a motto or mantra stating that I will be perfect. today. And that carried a lot of weight, knowing that we had the responsibility of someone else's lives in our hands. And I think that translated well with me for bodybuilding because it is a sport where you have to continuously go back to the drawing board to essentially try to reach perfection. So I think that really helped me as far as being able to hone in and be dedicated and focused on a goal.

Deneen L. Garrett: Yeah. And so it just hit me what you said, you know, what you were doing, and then you made that shift. So you've been a competitive cheerleader, majorette dancer, and track athlete for 20 years. Was young Tashauna always this unstoppable force?

Tashana Latrice: Yes, I would say she was probably more unstoppable than I am now. I'm a little more reserved. My mom was a big advocate of mine, and she was very shy growing up. So she didn't enter into a lot of different sports or activities, but she was very creative. So I believe with me being her firstborn, she wanted me to just be in everything, just go out there, do everything. You can do anything you put your mind to was what she constantly drilled into me. And so I just I just had my cape on, you know, as a little girl, like I can do anything. I can go anywhere. So, yeah, for sure.

Deneen L. Garrett: And you know what, and so what that does, that lets us know that when people pour into you, right, when they believe you, when they let you believe into yourself and really promote that, you're unstoppable, right? You can do whatever it is that you want, because again, you shifted from, you said entertainment, to jumping out of planes, like, who does that? Like, there was no in between. It was like, you know, the opposite. Yes. It's like, wait a minute, hold up, let's run that back. She said. Yeah. So this podcast is about empowering women, right? And so definitely you being able to shift that way, pivot that way, a huge way is important to those who are listening and watching. So at what moment did you realize that your talents, passion, and discipline could turn into a career? that does that, empower and impact other people?

Tashana Latrice: I think it really hit me when, I mean, in entertainment, I definitely had a lot of people reach out to me with my stage shows saying that they loved it. But that was just it. They loved it. They were able to appreciate the art. But when I really switched into bodybuilding and I started documenting my journey from the beginning, people were reaching out to me saying, man, you inspired me to work out, or you inspired me to get into the gym, or wow, look at your journey. It's just inspiring just in life in general. And that's kind of like when it hit me, like, wow, I'm just doing me over my little corner. And it was humbling and honoring at the same time. Like, wow. I can give back more of what my mom poured into me into other people, you know, with just doing what I love to do. That's kind of when it clicked for me.

Deneen L. Garrett: That's awesome. Doing what you love to do, pouring into other people. And that's probably also why you are, you know, you kind of connected with Chris and her other ambitious women. a community built around leveling up and owning your power. Yes. What has being in this space done for you personally, being a part of Chris's crew, as I call it?

Tashana Latrice: Chris's crew, right? She's such a beautiful spirit. And for me, growing up, I was always the outcast or the black sheep, even though I was on tons of teams. groups, I was still kind of always like the loner, you know, the popular loner, and really kind of like afraid to be my full self, you know, around others. So linking with Chris has really provided me with the outlet to kind of be myself, you know, and know that there's not going to be any judgment and that there's going to be support and encouragement from other women that look like me, you know, and that's a big thing for me, you know, so that really helps, especially when I go into my dark times and, you know, getting ready for a show, she'll randomly, you know, send me an uplifting message or video or something just to say, hey, I love you. I see you. I'm encouraging you. Keep going. And it's always at the perfect time. So I'm truly grateful that we have this space. We need more. We need more like it.

Deneen L. Garrett: We absolutely do. And right now, it seems like just about every podcast recording that I've done, we talk about community. And on social media, community, community, community because we're living in a time where we need each other. I was in our lifetime more so than we ever have before. We need that community, we need that collectivism, we need that connection. And so I'm glad that you found your sisterhood. and that you're, you know, rolling with that, that you have a Chris who reaches out, you know, who knows intuitively, okay, so Tashana, she needs to hear from me today. So let that come to her. And that's what the sisterhood is about. So I'm so glad you found yours. And again, those who are listening or watching, if you don't have a community yet, Make one, right?

Tashana Latrice: Come on over.

Deneen L. Garrett: The women that have been on the podcast, they are definitely open to the sisterhood, to community. So reach out, right? To any of us. So you mentioned a dark time, right? So that could also be feeling stuck, uninspired, or alone. What would you say about the importance of putting yourself in rooms that challenge and elevate you, right? What we're talking about.

Tashana Latrice: Yes, for sure. I would say it's absolutely necessary. It is scary, especially if you're a person that doesn't like to be around other people. Sometimes you need that challenge because that could be the spark. It's not always about what you're going to do. It's about the intention that you set. If you set the intention to be in the right place at the right time, or you set the intention that opportunity always finds me, then even if that space that you go to isn't the space that you feel is for you, it may be the spark that you need to get you to the next place. I feel that it's very important to go to other places, especially if there's people that know more than you. I will forever be a student. I love to learn and be around other people that are going to teach me something that I didn't know or give me a new perspective on something that I didn't necessarily think about or see in that way. I think it's very important for us as women especially to challenge ourselves and grow, you know, see what's out there.

Deneen L. Garrett: You never know. I love that you said opportunity finds you. I love that, right, because I definitely believe in manifesting attracting to manifesting. I definitely believe that's true. And I love that perspective, that opportunity finds you like, yes, position yourself to be found, like out there, like know what it is you want and then put yourself out there. Like you can't just say you want a thing and then don't do anything, right? It has to be backed up with action.

null: Right?

Tashana Latrice: It has to be backed up with action. Yeah. Even if, even if you're a religious person, you know, you say I'm relying on God, God is going to, Take care of where God still wants you to put forth the effort if there's no effort towards the one Why is he gonna give it to you?

Deneen L. Garrett: What are you gonna do with this thing like I'm gonna give this to you what are you gonna do with it or okay you saying you want this or What are you going to do to have that, you know, instead of just, I mean, like, no, that's not how, that's not how this works. You have to act like you already have it. Like it's motion, you need to be in motion. Right. Yeah. Definitely. Manifesting is a verb. It's something that's happening. Yeah. And even with that, the manifesting, because you think of it from a spiritual perspective, you're still doing, right? Exactly. You don't have to say, oh, I want this thing. I want this thing to come to me. What does this thing look like? And then again, what did you say? Opportunity finds me, right? Again, it's an act. It's a verb. Yes, you make a leap from dance and arts to become an eight time bikini body building champion what did that shift. um you said from. To bikini bikini bodybuilding uh huh so what. Okay, so my mom.

Tashana Latrice: inspired that shift. So in life and in transition, my mom passed away suddenly. She was my best friend in the whole wide world. And that was something that I was not prepared for. So mentally, I was just somewhere else, you know. Long story short, what I tried to do is I was contracted already for a play that I was a lead role in when my mom passed, and they offered me to step out of the role. I just saw a butterfly. I'm sorry, that was my mommy. Cause this is making me a little emotional, but I stepped out of the role. Well, they asked if I wanted to step out of the role and I said, no, I've already committed to it. I'm gonna, I'm gonna finish it. But it was hell, honestly. It was torture. I couldn't tell you anything about the play except the name of it, because I was just so mentally not there. And acting requires such a vulnerability. And I just felt like, OK, this is it. I can't do this anymore. So I tried to move to California and start over. I'm like, hey, maybe if I go in a town where the arts are alive and entertainment is here, I'll feel better because I can create through my pain. I was like, this ain't it. This is not the move. I lost everything. So I ended up having to come back to Virginia. And a friend of mine invited me to a bodybuilding show. And I went to the show and I was like, oh my God. It was kind of like what it was for me. I was like, oh my God, there's a pageant and it's athletics. It's like, this is perfect for me. So I took that as a sign. And that's ultimately how I made the leap from entertainment into bodybuilding was to give myself something, a structured regimen to kind of get myself out of depression.

Deneen L. Garrett: So let's just talk about that move for a moment. So you mentioned that you moved to California, you had certain expectations that were not met. You said you lost everything and then had to move back. Do you think that had you not moved to California that you would not have found yourself again, this new version of yourself? Have you reflected on the move as being a necessary step in your journey?

Tashana Latrice: Yes, I do believe that everything happens for a reason. And I spent a lot of time reflecting on what that reason could have been. But through everything that happened to me in California, I tell a lot of people I ended up being homeless in California, living on a beach in a tent. And it was the best time in my life.

Deneen L. Garrett: You know, I was going to say, girl, that don't sound bad because I'm like, as long as you wasn't under an overpass, you good.

Tashana Latrice: Exactly. And that's how it was. We had our own little community. The laws had just passed in California where you could legally sleep overnight on the beach in a tent. Okay, so It lined up, you know, somebody out there gave me a nice, really nice tent. And I was like living my best life in the tent on the beach. Playing drums every weekend. We had a little community. It was the most freeing time. Yeah, you know, and I was really able to get in touch with my feelings. And, you know, I missed my son. I did not take my son with me. But it allowed me, I believe that happened. So, you know, God allowed me the time to heal, you know, a little from from losing my mom, you know, so. Yeah, it was good in it. You know, I felt definitely happened for a reason, for sure. Yeah.

Deneen L. Garrett: Yeah. I mean, what ended up happening was beautiful, right? And again, the way that you were homeless, the positivity around that, because it could have been worse, right? And you did find your community. You found yourself. You were able to get what you needed emotionally, right? And then come back a better version of yourself and ready for what was next, which again, is the bodybuilding. So the bodybuilding is about way more than just lifting weights. It's a mental game too. What was the biggest mind shift you had to make to become a champion?

Tashana Latrice: Excuse me. The biggest mind shift I had to make was, if you're going to do this, you're going to do it. There's no half-stepping. With bodybuilding, a lot of people start, but they don't finish. They don't make it to the stage. And that was something that I was adamant about, that that was not going to be me. So I think that was the biggest mind shift for me, was like, hey, we're going to have to cut out going out. We're going to have to cut out drinking. We're going to have to cut out hanging with our friends. We're going to have to cut out vacations. We're going to have to cut pretty much everything. You're going to have to cut it out. Are we OK with that? Yes. Because I was already in a space where I didn't want to be bothered with people. So I was like, OK, easy. Yeah. Done. That part. It just kind of all lined up, you know?

Deneen L. Garrett: So yeah. And like I said, this podcast is about empowering women. So for women who want to get stronger, feel more confident, or even step into the world of competing, what's the first step?

Tashana Latrice: set an intention, and then not, I would challenge you to set an emotional intention behind that, you know, because let's say for example, I want to lose 15 pounds, you know, why? I want to lose 15 pounds so that I'm healthier. Okay, I like that. But why? There's another real reason why you want to be healthier. Well, honestly, I want to live long enough to see my kids get married. I want to live long enough to see grandkids, you know, whatever your why may be, you have to attach something emotional to it and set that intention. Because you can say, I want to lose 15 pounds from here until the moon turns yellow, you know, but until you have a why behind why you want to do that, then you're mentally, you can connect to your emotions and now it really means something and you can go after it. So whether that's just getting in the gym to be more healthy or getting ready for a stage competition or you know, whatever the goal may be, getting ready for your summer body, you know.

Deneen L. Garrett: And I love that you said, really, what I'm hearing is drill down on your why, right? Like that surface why is not really it. Like, yeah, a bit deeper in because I do believe you do need to know your why and or and then back into it. But what you've given me is a different perspective of it's not just the why is the why below the why below the why. Yes. The real reason. The one that's going to actually lock you in because yeah oh I want to lose 15 okay mm hmm. Why? Right? Yeah. That's okay. Right. But no, when you get that deeper intentional why, then it's, you're kind of locked in. So you mentioned your son. So your full-time mom to your teenage son, it's Josiah? Josiah, yes. Okay. So while coaching, competing, and mentoring, how do you balance it all? A strict calendar.

Tashana Latrice: But honestly, I do. I have a dry erase board calendar in my room that I fill out every day with or monthly, you know, with my time slots and things that I need to do and take care of. And he does go to public school, so I do have that window, you know, when he's in school to kind of get some other things done. But when he's out of school, it's taxi cabs and game and, you know, being there for him. So I kind of balance my schedule so that I can take care of most of my clients and the things that I need to take care of before he gets out of school.

Deneen L. Garrett: And it goes back to that discipline right, so what we talked about earlier being disciplined did you have this discipline before you went into the night. Sorry, my dog. Did you were you disciplined before you went into the military.

Tashana Latrice: Absolutely not. No. And I still struggle with it to this day, if I'm going to be honest. It's still something that I actively have to work on because I'm such a free spirit and I'm so very ADD. Like, oh, a butterfly. Oh, twinkles. Oh, I want to go do this. Oh, I want to do that. You know, so it's hard to keep myself focused. So if I don't make a schedule, then I'm just kind of like here and there and everywhere, you know. So I would definitely not. I would definitely not register. How did you get into the military being such a free spirit? Yeah, that's why I only did one term. Because it's like, OK, this is it. I did it. This was fun. This was a nice experience. Thank you, guys. It's been real. I'm out, I'll take my benefits and be gone. Okay noted. yeah. I mean. It taught me a lot but. yeah I was just to I want to do my own thing, and this every day y'all got something for me to do i'm just tired, leave me alone, you know so.

Deneen L. Garrett: it's okay to try those different things right so that's how you know, like it, or if you don't like it, and there is something to take away from it right like you said that green. Yeah. So what are some of the biggest lessons motherhood has taught you that show up in how you lead and inspire others? Patience. Okay.

Tashana Latrice: Patience and grace. Um, being a single mom, I have to be mom and dad, you know, so, um, I have to find a balance with my son because I want him to make his own decisions and be his own person. I know that I'm here just to guide him. So I don't want to impose my will upon him. And I take that mostly with my clients and how I guide them and help them. through what they're doing. I give them the steering wheel and I'm in the passenger seat, if you will, you know, to encourage and say, hey, you've got this. And then say, it's OK, you know, if you messed up or we didn't reach the goal that we wanted to reach this week. that's OK, you know, that's the grace, you know, but still have to be firm and saying, but we have to cut back on this. No, I'm not going to let that slide. You know, like I try to I try to be good cop, bad cop, you know, and that comes with a lot of patience and grace.

Deneen L. Garrett: And so when you're guiding, let's say your clients and and they're feeling like they have to choose between family, career and personal dreams, what do you say to them? I say you can have it all. Okay.

Tashana Latrice: That you gotta pick, you know, no, that's what they used to always tell me when I first got in entertainment. Do you want to sing? Do you want to dance? You want to act? You have to pick. No, I want to do everything. I want to do it all. You know, um, And it's all about, again, it goes back to intention and discipline, setting that schedule and saying, OK, I'm going to be a mom. It's 24-7. But what time can you find to, hey, I have 10, I have 10 minutes to, you know, to myself. Okay, so use that 10 minutes and meditate. Or use that 10 minutes and hit, you know, some abs or legs or, you know, whatever. But try and break up your schedule so that it fits to your life instead of trying to make your life fit into, you know, some schedule, you know? We can create our own.

Deneen L. Garrett: Yeah, and I'm definitely a proponent of that. when I was in corporate, um, I operated or in a work life integration, like people say, Oh, balance. No, not a balance. It's an integration. It's all together because I had the, you know, the, I was blessed to have my career, my dream career. So for the last five, six years, you know, I was doing what I love. I would tell people that I was being paid to passionately pursue my purpose. So everything I was, just came together. Like it wasn't like, okay, it's five o'clock now. I shut off and I turned to something else. It's all together. And even my son, because like my son, he's 23 and he got his degree, hospitality, tourism, and event management. And he said, well, mom, like I know the event part. Like I can put together an event like nothing because of you. Like you didn't even know that this was happening. But as I was growing up, I picked those things up. Like I learned those things from you, from the things that you were doing. So I'm solid in this particular area because of you. And so again, the integration, like I integrated my son into what I was doing as well. And now, you know, it's his career. Yeah, I love that. I know it is crazy because the thing about years ago I wanted to work in event planning like I didn't know what the I didn't even know what it's called. I just. used to go to concerts and i'm like I want to do this. Is and so eventually I learned oh okay it's event planning it's event management whatever it's events. And then, or, you know, years, now my son, that's his career.

Tashana Latrice: That's his passion.

Deneen L. Garrett: Look at, look at God, you know. Okay, so Tashana, you're the definition of the ambition, resilience, and reinvention. If there's one message you want every listener to take away today, what is it? What is it?

Tashana Latrice: Well, I think it's what I just said earlier. You can have it all. You can have literally anything that you want in this world. All you have to do is put your mind to it, you know? And I know it sounds cliche and everybody says it, but it really is that simple, you know? Make a plan. Get one person that believes in you And that's it. The rest is history. And if you don't have one person, find me, because I'll be that person. Because that is really what I want. The world would be such a better place if everybody did what they love to do.

Deneen L. Garrett: Oh my God. Right. Oh, and that's, and that's what part of me. So as a dream life coach, that's what I'm promoting to people. Like do that thing you love. Like I retired, I retired early and I'm not saying you have to retire, but what I do want is for you to figure out what you love, what gives you joy and to do more of that. So you've been dropping some gems so far, right? So when things get tough, what's the personal mantra or mindset shift that keeps you pushing forward?

Tashana Latrice: If it were easy, everybody would do it. That's the one. That's the one that keeps me going because I'm so competitive, you know, and I want to be on top. That's what you have to remind yourself is that if it was easy, whatever your goal is, you can apply that to whatever. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, you know, but it's your lane. You were created for it. It was made for you. That's why you have a passion for it. So go and get it, you know, and that's that's what keeps me going.

Deneen L. Garrett: So what's next for you?

Tashana Latrice: Um, I have my first competition for the season is May 10 Mother's Day weekend honor of my mommy in Baltimore, Maryland. So that's the, the next thing that I have coming up for the season.

Deneen L. Garrett: And so people, you know, in the show notes, you'll have ways to connect with to China. And as she said, you're needing community. She's here for you. You're wanting to know about, you know, competitions, coaching. She definitely can help you with that. And so Tashauna, before we wrap, what's one last thing, what's one piece of advice for the ambitious women listening right now, ready to take action today? Hey sis, hey black girl.

Tashana Latrice: Black girl magic, okay? Go out here and do what you do and do it like nobody else. I mean, that's my advice because I just feel like we are just so amazing and all you have to do is let your light shine. We were all created to be light. So just let it shine, this little light of mine. You know that song? Let your light shine. That would be my advice, honestly, on the spot, off the top of my head. I love that.

Deneen L. Garrett: I mean, that's great. I mean, honestly, like I said, you dropped so many gems. I really like the one, Opportunity Finds Me. So I really, you know, want to sit with that particular one and just several others that you dropped that I'm like, dang, I should have wrote that down. You know, we'll be able to see that in the transcript and then also when we're listening or watching. So Tashana, I have so appreciated you lending your voice on women of color and intimate conversation. y'all that are listening or watching she just dropped a masterclass and ambition, resilience and leveling up. So thank you for joining us and enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you so much. I mean, it's been such a pleasure. Yes.