This conversation with K.D. Bowe feels less like an interview and more like sitting across from a man who finally decided to stop running from himself. It’s honest, tender, and unexpectedly human in all the ways that matter. K.D. invites you into the moments that reshaped him — the heartbreaks, the faith challenges, the quiet revelations he found when he stopped performing and started listening to his soul. What you’ll hear isn’t theory. It’s lived truth. You’ll leave this episode with a deeper insight into: how to reconnect with the parts of you you’ve ignored how to heal without losing your strength how to build a life that’s rooted, not rushed and what it really means to take care of the boy inside the man If you’ve ever felt pulled between who you are and who you’re trying to be, this conversation will speak to you on a level you didn’t expect.

Filmmaker Al Tariq Miller opens up about the day that changed his life forever: the moment he found his 6-year-old son hanging from a bunk bed after a YouTube Kids video taught him how to do it. In this deeply vulnerable episode, Al Tariq shares: His son’s survival and recovery The trauma that resurfaced from his own childhood His emotional breakdown and calls to 988 The pressure that nearly destroyed his marriage How first responders became family The purpose behind his award-winning film Laundry This is one of the most powerful and necessary conversations ever recorded on Beauty in the Beast - a raw look at fatherhood, pain, resilience, and the emotional truth Black men rarely get space to express. A life-changing episode.

What happens when a pro athlete, actor, and spiritual teacher sits down to strip away the armor of masculinity? In this raw, electrifying episode of Beauty in the Beast, Stevie Baggs Jr. shares the truth behind pain, purpose, and power. From his days in professional football to life after fame, Stevie reveals how real manhood begins when the mask comes off. You’ll hear him break down: • Why “men are built off pain” - and how to turn struggle into strength • The difference between believing in God and knowing God • What happens when you stop chasing success and start manifesting truth • How self-love, language, and spiritual alignment rewrite the Black male narrative This episode isn’t motivation — it’s medicine.

"You can’t expect people to see you if you’re always hiding.” Michael Turner Licensed therapist Michael Turner joins Beauty & the Beast to reveal the emotional cost of being seen as “the strong one.” In this powerful conversation, Michael opens up about what it means to wear emotional armor as a Black man—and what it takes to finally take it off. We talk about the myths around therapy, the truth about hypnotherapy, and the psychological toll of always having to protect yourself. Michael shares why vulnerability isn’t weakness, how cultural pressure can silence healing, and the moment he realized success had distanced him from home. Whether you’re carrying emotional weight, navigating identity, or trying to show up as your full self—this episode is a blueprint for what healing can look like. In this episode: The psychology of emotional armor What hypnotherapy actually feels like Why Black male therapists are called unicorns Fatherhood, leadership, and generational healing The moment it no longer felt safe to “go home”

“I wore the mask so well, I almost forgot who I really was.” Kyle Vaughn grew up in the heart of Carol City, Miami — a neighborhood that taught him how to survive, adapt, and succeed. But in this powerful episode, we go deeper than the accolades and corporate promotions to unpack what it really cost to keep up the act. From narrowly escaping street violence to climbing the corporate ladder with a mask stitched together by expectations, Kyle’s story is one of duality, determination, and ultimately, self-reclamation. He got a full ride to college… and a full dose of impostor syndrome. He broke into corporate America… and nearly broke down trying to stay there. He achieved the “dream”… and learned the hard way that it meant nothing if he wasn’t whole inside. Through raw storytelling and honest reflections, Kyle opens up about: • The survival mindset that shaped his “tough” persona. • Code-switching and identity as a Black man navigating white spaces. • The silent toll of success and the power of stepping back to heal. • The love, faith, and therapy that helped him remove the mask — for good This isn’t just about climbing. It’s about healing while holding it all together. If you’ve ever questioned who you are beneath the surface — this conversation is for you.

“You don’t grow in comfort — and Michael Quigley is proof of that.” In this powerful debut episode, The Bridge is Over, we sit down with Michael Quigley — investment banker, leader, and storyteller — to talk about what it really takes to overcome the odds when life doesn’t hand you a blueprint. From bouncing around the world as a kid, to navigating the pressure of being one of the only Black professionals in high finance and media, Michael gets real about pain, growth, identity, and faith. This isn’t just about business — it’s about what happens when you decide to stop surviving and start showing up. In This Episode: The Weight of Moving and Belonging: How constant change shaped his ability to connect or protect — and the toll it took. Finding His Place in Business: No connections, no safety net — just hustle, faith, and the grind to prove he belonged. Faith Over Religion: Leaning into a real relationship with God during his loneliest moments in NYC. Community Over Clout: Why the people around you either elevate your purpose or block your blessings. Leadership with Empathy: What he learned from leaders like Dick Parsons that changed how he shows up — not just in business, but in life. This conversation is for anyone who’s been the only one in the room. Anyone trying to grow through what they’re going through. And anyone who’s ready to build something meaningful without leaving who they are behind. #TheBridgeIsOver #motivation #BlackExcellence #AuthenticLeadership #podcast #mentalhealthawareness #WallStreetVoices #BreakingBarriers #EmotionalSuccess #PurposeDrivenLife #codeswitching #careeradvice #healingthroughfaith #representationmatters #SuccessWithoutSilence #BeautyintheBeast #therapy