Wine Down Wednesday: Syan Hymon

Wine Down Wednesday: Syan Hymon

Aired: January 12th, 2022

Audio and Photo Source: Syan Hymon and Instagram

Episode Summary

The Queen has arrived! Syan Hymon joins us as our Wine Down Wednesday special guest. She shared with us the meaning of her name, which news flash, is fit for royalty! Orion and Syan talk about the joys of getting older while swapping travel plans for their 40th Birthdays. The two meander through a multitude of topics from favorite destinations and southern cuisine to supporting Black Businesses and the need for learned vulnerability in the Black Community.  

 

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Episode Transcript

Wine Down Wednesday: Syan Hymon

Orion Brown (00:00:03):

Hey folks. Hello? Hello? Yes, yes. Yes. Let me invite you in.

Orion Brown (00:00:20):

Hello? Okay. I think I got it. Hey y'all it's Wednesday. Hey, you made it workork. <laugh>.

Syan Hymon (00:00:28):

We got it.

Orion Brown (00:00:29):

Yes. Yes. I'm excited. Hey y'all oh my gosh. I don't know if you have a glass of wine, but I do cause it's Wednesday cheer. <laugh> it's about that time. You guys. Oh my gosh. Wind down Wednesday and oh, Instagram's telling me all kinds of stuff. It's like, I'm supposed to be earning money right now. Go away. Instagram, stop, stop. Trying to sweat me every day. Every moment does not have you about the hustle right now it's about the wine. My dear, tell me how to pronounce your name correctly. Is it Syan?

Syan Hymon (00:01:08):

So I'm Syan like neon.

Orion Brown (00:01:11):

Okay. I love it.

Syan Hymon (00:01:13):

Thank you for asking.

Orion Brown (00:01:15):

Well, I was like, I know there's a color, but then that's with a C and not with an S. So let me ask and I, I get it right.

Syan Hymon (00:01:24):

I have to tell the, the origin and the meaning. If you don't mind. Yes. Tell us, tell us, tell us. So my name is African. Um, it originates in Tanzania and it means the queen has arrived.

Orion Brown (00:01:37):

Well shit. You've gotta get that one, right? Yeah. You gotta get that queen. <laugh> just put it right there. Look as I'm moving my hair. Look, this ain't right. I'm like curl. It's not, the curls are on their own version of fleek. They're just like, we're doing what we wanna do, what we wanna do right now. That is beautiful.

Syan Hymon (00:02:00):

Thank you.

Orion Brown (00:02:01):

I love that. And Syan.

Syan Hymon (00:02:06):

Yes. Syan.

Orion Brown (00:02:06):

The queen has showed the fuck up in the building. Here she is. Ew. I love it. OK. See <laugh> oh, I can already tell this is gonna be a lit Wine Down. Miss Syan, please introduce yourself to everyone. Obviously we got the, the, uh, origin story of your name, but tell everybody where you live, where you're from, if it's a different place and how many stamps do you have on your passport? Roughly?

Syan Hymon (00:02:34):

So, hi, everyone. So happy to be here. And, um, so I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. I still live here in Atlanta. Um, I love Atlanta. I'm a true Georgia peach. Peace up A town down. My nails look horrible, please. Don't judge me. It's still the pandemic. I feel like I should get a pass for that.

Orion Brown (00:02:53):

I got nubs. I got nubs. They don't- I don't even - They're not even trying to [inaudible] <laugh>

Syan Hymon (00:02:59):

But yeah, so I am a corporate thug by day. Um, and I also have a few, um, kind of side hustles. Uh, so The Millennial Mentress is the name that I'm under right now. And that is the business that I use to help people kind of figure out their passion, explore their passion and just do what they're put on this earth to do. Um, I love it. Um, I've been doing that for about a year now. Um, I also am a writer. I love to speak. I'm trying to do voice work. So I do a lot of voiceover work, uh, for, for my day job and trying to turn that into kind of some other things. So I, I am just a lover of people, helping people. I also love to perform and uh, yeah, that's me in a nutshell.

Orion Brown (00:03:47):

<laugh> okay. Stamps on your passport.

Syan Hymon (00:03:50):

Oh, I forgot about that. That's the most important part, right?

Orion Brown (00:03:53):

So, um, all good.

Syan Hymon (00:03:55):

I have to say I'm working on that. I probably have, most of my stamps are, are from, uh, the Caribbean. So I've been to Jamaica, Mexico, uh, the DR. I need to do better. So I'm so glad that I'm having this conversation. Um, I will actually be 40 in about three weeks and I'm going to tum

Orion Brown (00:04:15):

And I will be 40 and I guess four weeks and I'm not going to-

Syan Hymon (00:04:20):

When's your birthday?

Orion Brown (00:04:20):

February 19th.

Syan Hymon (00:04:22):

Okay. Aqua Aquarius. Right. Are you it's on

Orion Brown (00:04:25):

The cusp? I don't know. I'm the one day the stuff switches over, which makes sense. I mean, it just it's so me,

Syan Hymon (00:04:34):

Well happy, happy, you know, soon to be birthday and happy birthday to all the Aquariuses and Pisces and Capricorns. I out there it's our season. And, uh, I'm so excited about going to Tulum myself and about 10 other friends and family, and I'm excited. So, you know, um, I'm adding, I guess, another stamp, but I need to, I need to get more like help me guys. I need more <laugh>

Orion Brown (00:04:58):

Well, how did you even go about playing any that with all the COVID stuff? Cause I know Mexico has been open this whole time and I have mixed feelings, right. Because there's like a little bit of side eye, cuz I'm like, y'all be in the club, like nothing's happening. But then you look at like certain places like Mexico city, it's still, it's still very much like not locked down, but like masks and all of that stuff. So like how did you go about figuring out what's gonna be safe, what's gonna be open. Like there's nothing worse side note. There's nothing worse than getting to a hotel and realizing that their kitchen is closed because of COVID. And you're like, oh my, I was all I wanted you to do was bring me a sandwich. I just wanted a sandwich and y'all, didn't bring me one and I'm now I'm angry. Um, but how did you go about CLA planning that and what was your friends and family's reaction? Like, was it mixed? Like how did they even they're like, yeah man, are they like, Ooh, I know girl,

Syan Hymon (00:05:53):

You know, it's kind of been all over the place. So I started planning my birthday trip last March and um, you know, the pandemonium was alive and well at that time, but I think it was not as, you know, a, a volatile situation as it is now. So, um, we are staying at an Airbnb. So I think that helps with a lot of the kind of closures and things like that as, so the house has a pool, a jacuzzi, everybody gets their own bedroom and bathroom. Um, there's a chef on site. Um, there's staff, so our rooms will be cleaned every day. So, you know, at the end of the day, if things are shutting down or get kind of crazy, we still have the ability to do what we need to do and still turn up at the house. Um, but from what I've been seeing, you know, I'm following black and saloon, shout out at black and Salom. Um, it's a whole vibe,

Orion Brown (00:06:45):

It's a whole vibe down there right now. I'm like, do we just take over another city? <laugh> yes. Like it's like way down south. They're like we, we went south to Atlanta, we going way down south. Exactly.

Syan Hymon (00:07:00):

And I was about to say, it's like Atlanta in Mexico. Like, you know, but I'm here for it. You know, I, I, I'm turning 40, I'm newly divorced. I'm starting these new beginnings, honey. I'm ready. You know, I'm just ready to turn up. So I think most of the people that are coming, you know, they're just ready to get away. I mean, we're, we're definitely taking a risk. Um, you know, I, I have a young child and so I've got a lot to kind of think about when I return and just making sure that I'm safe for her, but, um, mama gotta have life.

Orion Brown (00:07:33):

Up that part, that part too. I mean, look, I always say like, even when I go to play is like New York, I just do the Bruce almighty. As soon as I get in all my clothes offs at the door, <laugh> they go into the laundry, I go into the shower, you know, just having been in that space. And for the most part, like I, I think, and obviously I'm not a medical professional, but since we've been told to wash our hands millions of times, it's just general hygiene that will help us. Even if we do pick something up just general hygiene and covering one's mouth, you know, or wearing a mask until you got over the sneezes, that kind of stuff. So that part, I, I think so we've gotten so worried about so something that should be worried about, but it stressed us out to a point that we miss sort of the common sense stuff that can help us stay safe. And it's like, if, if mom gotta, uh, recuperate from her vacation in her room <laugh> and just get, take, like get takeout and somebody covers kid duty until you've cleared yourself after a few days. Like,

Syan Hymon (00:08:41):

I mean, I'll have to do and you know, and it is important. I think for us all to think about as we're thinking of traveling and getting back out there, you know, it's the before and then the after, because, um, you know, you do wanna be mindful and respectful of the safety and health of those that you may live with or work with. Um, so taking that much needed time to kind of quarantine and make sure you're good. Um, I think is really key. One thing that I've been, uh, sharing with my girls is like, look, y'all, we need to, and sorry about the y'all I'm from Atlanta. That, that

Orion Brown (00:09:14):

I see y'all too. I don't have a good excuse other than I'm just, I, I identify with country. I don't know. <laugh> it Chicago? It's the Chicago in me. OK. Is that where

Syan Hymon (00:09:26):

You are? Cause this view

Orion Brown (00:09:27):

Is everything. No, I'm actually in and I have this stupid ring light, cuz I'm trying to be a professional black. I don't know why you turn that off, but no I'm into Denver and it's absolutely beautiful out here. Um, it's a tin like this is basically the whole downtown. You see <laugh> but

Syan Hymon (00:09:42):

I love Denver. I love, love, love Denver. Um, I don't know if you're there for a short amount of time or if you, I

Orion Brown (00:09:48):

Live here, I live here. I'm based here. Yeah. Love

Syan Hymon (00:09:51):

Denver. So, um, yeah. Hope to come visit you there. You know, we can meet in person and have some wine in person, but loved in burn <laugh>

Orion Brown (00:10:01):

And y'all for those of you who are like back for wind down from the umpteenth time. One of my illustrious guests, um, Brooks and Claire is out here. So she did like a whole, like, I don't know, was it a milli rock that you just did when she said she's gonna come out and visit and she's doing a bunny hop, she's gonna stay she off camera. Cause she's just being crazy. <laugh> it's hi Brooke. Hi girl. You can come on camera. If you wanna. She got a little of the sniffles. She does not have COVID we did test, but she got a little of the sniffles and she was like, I'm traveling, but Hey, so hi to the people. I'm like, this is the founder and CEO of Velorit They are doing big things globally with logistics and governments and all, all of the things.

Orion Brown (00:10:58):

So, uh, we gotta make sure she gets enough OJ so she can go back to being a superhero. Aww. But <laugh> but I love, love, love meeting people in person. And I love bringing the brown to Denver because it's I can not, I can say it cause I'm light skinned. It's a little light skinned out. Here's a, a little light skinned and I wanna see some more Browns. So yes, definitely. Let me know when you come through, I got you all the good spots. Uh, awesome. Definitely, definitely. So, so I'm not to be nosy, but I might steal your, your birthday idea <laugh> and so my original was to go to like one of the carnivals, cuz I've never been and you know, it was right in Fe and I was like, I need to go to one of them while stuff still holds up. Yes. And, and then now I'm like, I'm punk a, I don't need jungle juice too. I don't need COVID. I think something a little bit more tight in, so like how did you get, like how did you even find your location for folks that are looking for like, Ooh, I wanna do something and I want it to be like encapsulated. How did you even find that Airbnb location?

Syan Hymon (00:12:11):

Yeah. So that is a great question. I am a, uh, hotel snob. I will say that part. So COVID, I am a snob aholic when it comes to where I stay, I'm very parti. Um, and I feel like the pictures that I had been seeing of tum was the exact vibe that I wanted, no matter where I was going, like the boho and the, the Browns and the natural color, neutral colors, like I was like, yes. And so, um, to me that's super easy to find in toum. So if you're going to that location, I feel like, um, you know, the, the people who have property there, they are really capitalizing on our generation and people who just want like cute, fancy, you know, just vibes and whatever. So it was really easy to find. Um, and you know, I wanted something that was grown and I like traveling as a 40 year old woman. I don't wanna room with somebody else. I don't wanna share a bathroom. And I was that part. Yeah. Like, so, you know, we all have our space, our, our bathroom, you know, if you wanna be messy, do you child, cuz I'm gonna be doing me and we ain't gotta worry about each other. So it's perfect. <laugh>

Orion Brown (00:13:25):

There is something about like, we talk about aging, like going from twenties to thirties, to forties, to fifties and beyond, and the maturity that comes with it, the no given, excuse me, that comes with each decade. And, but it's you pointed out a really good point that that also leans into our travel life. Right? So like when you're, when you're in your twenties, you're like, can we get the dopest cheapest place? Or actually we don't even want the place to be dope. We just wanna sleep there and not catch something <laugh> and because we ain't gonna barely be in the room anyway. How many times do y'all have the conversation? Well, we ain't gonna be in the room anyway. So like we'll just figure it out. They got a couch, it's a king bed, booty to booty. We do what we gotta do so we can save that schmoo lot to look cute and get our hair done and go out and do whatever it is. Then you get to 30, you like, uh, I'm gonna need, I'm gonna need some hypoallergenic pillows. Cause uh, I got some allergies and <laugh>, and you know, I need club level access cuz now I've been working and, and I realize that there's such a thing and I'm like, I wanna apple in the middle of the night and a spring water. <laugh>

Syan Hymon (00:14:35):

Like our taste, our preferences. Like we become more, you know, we care about that kind of stuff and we can actually afford it now. Whereas like you said, in, in our twenties it was like, we just turn it up. We don't care. Um, so all of that was important and um, you know, having the option to have a chef cook us meals and things like that. I mean, you know, you only turn 40 once you only turn what, whatever age, once. And so I wanted it to be special. Yeah, it's my birthday, but everybody's on vacation, you know, I, I was thinking about my, my friends and things like that. So I'm just excited. I, I, I really think that, um, we're gonna feel like we're on a resort even though we're in a house and I think I feel better, um, since it's, COVID being in an Airbnb, so we're not coming into contact with people that we don't know and we don't know their that they've been doing.

Syan Hymon (00:15:28):

Um, we still have the pool, so it'll like, you know, I guess we're at a hotel. Um, one of the things that I like about what I've been hearing about tum is they have, um, what do you call it? Like the day passes at different, so you can still get that vibe. So I think, you know, we're gonna do that, um, take a day and have a beach day and do the whole, you know, layout in the cabana and the, the drinks from the, the beach and order the lunch from beach, you know, just yes.

Orion Brown (00:15:57):

Yes. That's and that's, that is really the highlight. I did, uh, a few years, like prior to COVID I did St. Thomas with a group and we did, uh, you know, a rental home up in the hill. So we like weren't by the beach, but we had our own pool. It was sunny, it was beautiful. It was spread out. Everybody had their space and even pre COVID. It was just really nice. One to be able to retrieve a little bit, right. To take like, you know, okay, cool. I love y'all, but I need a moment. My stomach's grumbling, I got a headache, whatever it might be or, you know what, I just need quiet because you know, I, I can be gregarious, but I also need some me time. Yeah. I need some dear Lord, don't let me do something stupid this weekend time. Like I need, I need all of those different elements of myself.

Orion Brown (00:16:43):

And so I found it really, really nice to be able to have space to retreat away, but never be far away from like the chill. And the other thing that I think would, was really cool about it was, you know, staying up late at night and playing cards and kicking it, whereas you can't really do that at a resort unless you're in somebody's room and then you don't wanna be too loud. Cuz there are like immediate neighbors and all of that. So this is like scream as loud as you want. Can't nobody hear you, you bust your own boo. So you are not out the nose for cocktails and, and you can drink za without anybody giving you a side-eye. So

Syan Hymon (00:17:20):

All of that and you can pull at 1:00 AM if you want. Cause the pool's not closing cuz it's in your house.

Orion Brown (00:17:26):

The pool does not close. You could be the pool at 3:00 AM. As long as nobody's screaming, bloody murder. I think the neighbors would notice that. But for the most part, you, you can just be out here.

Syan Hymon (00:17:36):

Yes. And I would love to hear from people who are, uh, watching us, if you've been to Tulum, if you have any, you know, recommendations or stories or your own responses to these questions, um, you know, that would be cool to know, but

Orion Brown (00:17:50):

That we need, we need, she said come on Alize. Yes. That part too. <laugh>

Syan Hymon (00:17:57):

I love it.

Orion Brown (00:17:58):

Tulum, so I've been through too long before I didn't stay in Ulma I actually stayed north, um, in sort of the Riviera, my area, which is like, I don't know, might 40 minutes north, 30 minutes north. But one of the things I like from a rental standpoint, you can get like little huts right on the beach and do stuff like that. Um, and then they have, well, they do have water parks nearby, but they also have caves and Sinnot they like those little caves with the water that you can go. So I would definitely see if you can get an excursion that is like one of the spots that's not super busy that the Airbnb owner knows. So you can go with your group until, and, and have a little fun time in a cave water, the cave water. It sounds weird, but it's really nice. It's its like you swimming into signing. Y'all I'm telling you. It's nice. It's good. Cool.

Syan Hymon (00:18:49):

No, I love of that. I wanna, I wanna do the um, the St note, this and I wanna go, um, I'm a big spa person. Like I love massages and I have these like, uh, places where it's like a mud thing or out in nature and it's, you know, I just wanna do all the things. Um, I'm open to whatever, uh, you know, it, it's one of those things where um, you're not in this location every day, so let's take advantage. Let's explore. I also wanna chill because mom life, it is, it is a lot.

Orion Brown (00:19:25):

You need a nap, you eed a nap. You, you can use a nap. <laugh>

Syan Hymon (00:19:29):

Like every day, every day I could use the nap. I wanna feel like I got a vacation. So mm-hmm, <affirmative> um, I'm just super excited. I think that there's so much to kind of look forward to and um, I've got a busy year ahead, so I really wanna make this vacation count. <laugh>

Orion Brown (00:19:44):

I love that. I love that. And then looking back, cuz we talked about like the different decades and everything and the types of travel. I, and I know you spent a lot of time in the Caribbean, like what is sort of your standout experience where you're like, whether you were older or younger, like, Ooh, that was like the right turn up. That was like, they owe me nothing. Mexico owes me nothing. Jamaica owes me nothing. What? It what's like the, the, the trip that comes to mind.

Syan Hymon (00:20:13):

Whew. That is a great question. Um, mm. You know, I feel like I, I have yet to have that moment, like I've had those moments in the states. Mm. But think that, um, you know, I, I feel like that's a lame answer. I, I don't wanna be like LA, but no, that's

Orion Brown (00:20:30):

Not lame though. So be like, just like the, so I'm not a passport stop. I, I use stamps as like a, you know, a good conversation starter, but honestly some of the craziest, coolest I've seen is right in our own backyard yeah. In our country. And then there's also parts of our country that seem like another country. So let's just, yes. Talk about that. So what, just in general, not even the Caribbean, like what, what has been like your greatest turn up experience and, and what made it so great.

Syan Hymon (00:20:58):

So I will have to say, um, New York, New York is one of my favorite places ever. And there were two separate occasions. So the first, um, did a short term, uh, uh, work rotation there. And I was there for three months. I felt like the black, uh, Carrie Bradshaw, I was sexing the city child. And it was amazing. I had a cute little studio condo in the middle of the financial district. I thought I was doing my right. It was amazing. And so I'm a, a foodie. Um, and so, uh, I think it's still there, but burger and lobster, um, it's restaurant, literally all they have on the menu is burgers and lobsters.

Orion Brown (00:21:39):

Is this in the financial district down like almost by battery park?

Syan Hymon (00:21:43):

I think burger and lobster is in the, um, what is it? It starts with an M um, Midtown. Well, it's, it's near like the fashion district, I believe. Yeah. Uh don't don't don't

Orion Brown (00:21:58):

Get me that. Yeah. So sort of Midtown area. Okay. So y'all take note burgers and lobster burger and lobster it, burger and lobster.

Syan Hymon (00:22:05):

Okay. Um, I also had a, where I was surprised with the trip to New York and, um, I love the artist, her, and, uh, I was surprised with, you know, um, a trip and we went to see her and Erica Badu. Amazing. I will never forget it. Um, and, uh, you know, I think New York is just one of those magical places. Like I love Scott. I love just getting lost in like a hole in the wall type of bar and just turning up, getting super tipsy, not caring where I am, where I end up. I mean, those type of nights are back.

Orion Brown (00:22:43):

She said, I give us free, give us free. I just wanna be out here just,

Syan Hymon (00:22:49):

And uh, yeah. So, so those would be, you know, I hope my answer wasn't too boring, but, um, I love New York. I love New York, not boring

Orion Brown (00:22:56):

At all. And you know, the thing that I love, cuz I am a foodie myself and, and it comes in so many different forms. Right. Cause it can be street meat and like food. That's like yummy and ugly. Let's be honest. I honestly, for food that isn't like super mega gourmet, I actually don't want you to have like a full ride to, you know, a Rhode scholar type of, uh, you know what I mean? Like you, you can't be a, a plus restaurant selling hot docks. No, you need to be a Sola C minus getting past you where your family like starts praise dancing when you graduate from high school. Like that's the level of grades that I need for like the hot dog, the burger, that kind of thing. Unless it's a place that's like doing something Swank and interesting with the burger cuz you know, know it's like, I need that grease to be a day old. Like it can't be that fresh brush that fresh freshing right. That's

Syan Hymon (00:23:51):

When it's good. I that's when it's good, I'm like a rib kind of sore, but I need my ribs from the gas station, the black grill, like

Orion Brown (00:23:59):

The smoker on the hitch to somebody's truck that got rust, like it's like rust on the could be like, is the grill rusting it like, no, I've got too much grease on it to get rusty. Like that <laugh> that I was, I was walking down the street here in Denver prior to COVID and this dude legit had a truck with the smoker off the back of it and was like, get your Turkey legs. He was like smoking tear and he pull over and smell the whole street smell good. And I was like, see that, that I might need to stay here. <laugh>

Syan Hymon (00:24:33):

Like, I I'm sold. You got me. Like I, I need all of it. And um, you know, that's the best food sometimes. And I, I love a good restaurant. I love a good four or five star budding, nothing like them. Gas station for ramps,

Orion Brown (00:24:47):

Sun <laugh>. I was just telling Brooke earlier I had family in Greenville, Mississippi, and I remember taking like the Greyhound bus down back in the day and Clarksdale had the best, like they had this random gas station. It had incredible catfish, incredible at the gas station. Incredible to this day. I'm still like, no, it was so good. Um,

Syan Hymon (00:25:12):

And that, oh, you're in the, in the country, but uh, yeah.

Orion Brown (00:25:16):

Look, I went to, what was it? Uh, a come and go somewhere in like Meridian or something like that. Um, it was like one of them, little quick stop gas stations. They had gizzard. Now I have, I have country taste. So I do like some of the odd cuts they had gizzards, they had gizzard fry and they had like mild sauce on and you know, me being a native Chicago and Harold's chicken and a mild sauce, I was like,

Syan Hymon (00:25:39):

<laugh>

Orion Brown (00:25:42):

Sun. Is this making this in the bag?

Syan Hymon (00:25:47):

Even though I'm from the south, like I don't subscribe to being, I can't do gizzards rabbit tongues and I, I don't do none of that.

Orion Brown (00:25:56):

I'm sorry. That's okay. You just leave this on for me. Do, do you do the fried okra? Like the fried okra?

Syan Hymon (00:26:03):

I'm not a fan of okra. I'm super, that's started grits. So don't take my south card. I just started eating grits.

Orion Brown (00:26:13):

Okay. So for me I grew up on butter, salt grits. Like I never, we never did like shrimp and grits cuz it was more like Mississippi. I think that's a little bit more Louisiana. And then I didn't even know old people were putting sugar and grits until I was an adult. And I was like, you mean cream of wheat? And they're like, no grits. And I'm like <laugh> but you,

Syan Hymon (00:26:39):

Yeah, it it's it's, you know, I, I had to ease into it and, and even now I'm real picky about my grits. They gotta be super creamy and like, I don't like the gritty grits. I,

Orion Brown (00:26:50):

You know, it shouldn't be gritty. Like that's the thing it does need to be. If it has any shape to it, it needs to be tender E Patrica. Yep. Butter and salt. Woo woo out E Hey girl. Hey. And I'm not knocking people who do it with sugar because everybody has their own traditions. Like I'm funny with greens. I don't like greens that have like vinegar in them. I like them to just have their own pot liquor. Like that's just not my thing. Yeah. But to each his own and it's all yummy. I mean, it's all yummy. It's all good. And as long as there's cornbread, I am straight. Oh,

Syan Hymon (00:27:22):

Now I do like corn, the sweet kind

Orion Brown (00:27:25):

Little bit. Sweet. Are you a Jiffy girl or are you a, a scratch taste? I'm like Jiffy,

Syan Hymon (00:27:31):

I'm a Jiffy. Now if it does taste like Jiffy I'll, I'll give it a, you know, I'll give it a taste, but it has to be sweet for me. I don't like the, you

Orion Brown (00:27:39):

Know, the straight bread like savory. Yeah.

Syan Hymon (00:27:44):

So <laugh>

Orion Brown (00:27:46):

And there's always so little things. So my friend who has had me down for Thanksgiving in Florida now a few times, um, I had never seen seafood dressing. Hmm. And I was like, this sounds interesting, but also a little bit. And so there is something to be said again, when we talk about like different things being in our own backyard, especially if you're a foodie, there are places you can go and it doesn't have to just be the south, but just like different places, Pennsylvania, Dutch cooking, right. A lot of Dutch pot cooking. Like you, you taste stuff. And you're like, I never would've thought of doing it like that. It's good. It's different. It's good. I'm not gonna wake up for a craving with it, but I could definitely eat that right now and be like, oh, that's some real crab in there. Let me get that.

Syan Hymon (00:28:35):

And speaking of, you know, Louisiana, um, new Orleans is another place that I absolutely love and super memorable. And it's all about the food for me, the food and the, and Hey Ashley, Jay, that's my friend. She said, um, cooks it that way with shrimp and crab. Now that sounds good.

Orion Brown (00:28:52):

It's not bad. It's just different. It's just different.

Syan Hymon (00:28:56):

But no, but I love new Orleans cuisine. Shout out to, uh, new Orleans. I love, um, you know, I just like restaurants wherever I am. I'm a big, big Yelper. I go, I go off of Yelp reviews and um, I had a lot of luck doing that in new Orleans and even trying to find like jazz clubs, like mm-hmm, <affirmative>, that's probably my number two kind of most memorable place. Like it's just so dope. Like it's so it has so much culture and the people and the accent, like,

Orion Brown (00:29:27):

And it's not just bourbon street. Like the whole area is so interesting. And I went to the only black owned yoga studio. Ooh. Um, um, Ajax is the name of the teacher and I'm so blanking on the name of the studio, but we'll make sure that we put it in the show notes, but it was just even great to be in a space like that. And talk with black women about health and wellness in a city that's so well known for food and Glu, which ain't, ain't a bad thing necessarily. Oh, um, right. You know, we all need to like save up some for winter so we don't get too cold. Um, but it was very interesting to talk about like that dichotomy in the context of a city that still has like some racial tension and they still have some social tension. And so it's absolutely fascinating to go places and see the local history and how that has sprung up in the, the, the buildings and the, the companies and the businesses that people have built and the food too. Right.

Syan Hymon (00:30:39):

The food, you know, and it's funny that you mentioned just the social economics, the situation there and things like that. Um, I like to take tours, like I'm kind of a nerd when I travel. I like to take tours and learn about, um, where I am from a historical perspective. Um, so I've done tours in Savannah and new Orleans and Charleston. Um, they went to Charleston, South Carolina and was just very like weird, shocked. <laugh> what, what, what did you say was that

Orion Brown (00:31:10):

Weird? Like it was, that's how we roll it. Okay.

Syan Hymon (00:31:13):

Yeah. Like that was my entire, that was the hashtag the entire trip because, you know, I was in the downtown area and um, I heard that the outside is a little more diverse mm-hmm than the, and you know, coming from being from Atlanta, I guess maybe I have a bias cuz it's Atlanta, you have some of everybody you have us. And you know, it, isn't, um, a weird thing to see a black person, but in a city where it is. Um, and then you see these murals of a white family being served by black people and you know, it's from like slavery or, or maybe not from slavery, but it's a mural outside of a restaurant that you found on Yelp that you wanna, you know, support, but then you see this mural and you're

Orion Brown (00:32:05):

Yes.

Syan Hymon (00:32:06):

You know, you feel like you're in get out or something like that. Like it, it is just so weird, but um,

Orion Brown (00:32:11):

Yes, that part too. Yeah. Were you like, is somebody clicking a teacup right now? What's happening?

Syan Hymon (00:32:18):

That was, that was the feeling. And I still went to the restaurant and, and it was horrible, you know, um, it, we, you know, they sat us in the back corner and I didn't even realize it until the person I was with mentioned it. Um, it was just very strange and I'm not sure if anyone here, uh, who's on the live has been to Charleston, very beautiful little city, you know, they've got the water and, um, I stayed in a really cute Airbnb, but I was just, uh, disappointed and, you know, and just the feel that I got from the city as a black person, mm-hmm <affirmative>, you know, and, and that's out there, like those of us who have traveled within the states, um, we're, we're gonna run into that. And I, I think even outside of the states, you run into that, but it's still a shock, I think, um, when you do experience it <laugh> well,

Orion Brown (00:33:09):

And, and I think a big part of it is, is if you're used to being in spaces where you're not the only one, right. And where there's a ubiquity of blackness in a strong community and not necessarily separated from what is considered sort of mainstream culture for that city. Um, once those two get separated, it is a very alienating experience. Um, but it's interesting because not all places where we are not feel that we're not there. So I use, I use the example as I don't have one for the states. I can't think of one for the states, but Ireland, I have the most amazing time in Ireland. And while my blackness is intrinsically a part of me and how I speak and how I interact with the world, I feel like a lot of that melted away and it was just Orion in a country and people happen to be white. And I wasn't even, like, I didn't feel like I had to think about it. Exactly.

Syan Hymon (00:34:08):

That's awesome. And I've heard, I've heard good things about the Irish. Um, mostly the men, you know, that they,

Orion Brown (00:34:16):

They are

Syan Hymon (00:34:18):

Entrance honey by, you know, all of this,

Orion Brown (00:34:21):

Not in a weird way though. Cause I feel like there's other places. Like if you go to like Italy and stuff, there's a, there's a, um, there's a true correlation between your ethnicity and whether or not you are working in sort of the, uh, the business of, of selling booty and what way shape or four, it's just a correlation. So when people are like, oh, I see you. They they're like, oh, she's probably, and it's like, ah, I got so much, but I feel like there, there was definitely that like, Ooh, Carmel, Hey, but it wasn't, it wasn't crazy. At least to me, it wasn't crazy. Um, yeah. And I frankly, it's like, you talk about turn, they're the friendliest people. They will, you drinking. And, but they're like really kind about it. I always tell the story like me and my girlfriend are there.

Orion Brown (00:35:11):

She's very white and blonde. And so I was like, on the one hand, I wanna be like, you go do weird stuff and then I'll like trail and see if it's okay. And then on the other hand, I'm like, girl, we going die. Like you can't be that naive. And so somewhere in the middle, we really balanced each other out. But we had an amazing time, met people there drank. And even the people that we met were like, okay, so we are really serious about not drinking and driving. So we know that you guys rented a car and came into town and you know, you gotta go back to your hotel. Here's the deal. A, you gotta get your car out of the garage by like, whatever time, because they're gonna lock it up two, you know what you've been drinking. So you shouldn't go back to your hotel.

Orion Brown (00:35:55):

Like you can park it at my house. This is a real conversation. I live around the corner. You can park the car at my house. You are welcome to stay. But if, even if you don't want to just take a cab back to your hotel and pick the car up tomorrow, just so you're not driving. And I'm like, that's good. Right? Yeah. We, and we kicked it the whole week. Like we were there for, for a week and we kicked it with them quite, quite a bit, but the people were very friendly and you know, as long as you got a beer in your hand, <laugh> you bam, you FAMM at that point, you're like, can I get a Smits or a Guinness? They're like, oh, you know, it's over.

Syan Hymon (00:36:32):

That's amazing. Yeah. I definitely, like I said, I, I definitely need to add some stamps and you know, I've got like a list of places I wanna go. But you know, to kind of turn a question on you, like what, what sounds like you've been to a lot of places, but like, what are your kind of next top three places that you wanna

Orion Brown (00:36:48):

Go, Ooh, okay. You gonna turn it on me? Um, well the big trip that I have this year is Antarctica. Um, and that's been planned for a while. I'm super, super excited. Um, it's, I, it's just one of those once in a lifetime things and I mean, mind you, you can, we all have agency. So once in a lifetime, in a position where you can afford to like blow cash like that, and I'm just gonna be Frank it's, it's not cheap. Yeah. But like when you're in a position into investing yourself and invest in your experiences like that, so it's not even really blowing cash because experiences change you. I think a lot of the person who I love within me today is informed by the travels that I've done. And so that money was well spent figuring out who, who am I outside of all of this?

Orion Brown (00:37:38):

That is of course. Yeah. Um, but outside of all of this fabulousness, who am I in the middle? And so I'm really excited for that. Um, like I said, I chickened out on carnival, so I need to figure out where the other places are. But, um, really, it's a matter of looking for what's open. I was supposed to be in Morocco over the holiday and Morocco closed the borders. I have that. I moved that out to the summer. So Morocco will be the next one. That's, you know, well in place and I've never been to north Africa. So I'm super excited about that. Um, that's

Syan Hymon (00:38:13):

Amazing those trips and you know, I've never even considered Antarctica. I don't know why, but like

Orion Brown (00:38:18):

That sounds, there were real far real cold. I'm not <laugh> I have no qualms about why people are like, Ooh, really? You trying to do that. Um,

Syan Hymon (00:38:30):

But where are you staying? Like what does that look like

Orion Brown (00:38:32):

And sound like? So we are actually doing a cruise. So there, I don't know that there are any hotels in Antarctica, right? Yeah. So you, there might be somebody, somebody look it up. If there's a hotel in Antarctica, let me know. Cause if nothing else I would go visit it. But you basically come off the Southern tip of south America. You take a cruise all the way out. And it's funny because we're going in December. So it's gonna actually be summertime in that, in that part of the world. So it's going to be warm for like the first few days, like, and there's a pool on the boat, like, so it'll be like a carnival cruise for the first few days. And then once the icebergs come up, it is gonna be put your coats on. Um, so I'm just, I'm fascinated with that. And I wanna see some real foreign penguins.

Orion Brown (00:39:20):

Like that's just what I feel in my soul. That's what I would say. I was like, when I think Antarctica, I'm thinking like just a sheet of ice, like, is there, is it like a place that you can actually, but I guess it's more the land mass. It's funny because there is land mass under it, but is basically a giant sheet ice. Um, but it's ice, that's so thick that it essentially works like land and they, and they have scientists on the boat. Y'all I can't, I can't lie. I'm a nerd. I've been a nerd since I was like five. And like I would pick up rocks and leaves and stuff and bring 'em home. So they're like, you know, you can do these excursions and do science with the scientists. And I know it's so <laugh>, but I'm just like, Ooh, I'm so excited.

Orion Brown (00:40:07):

<laugh> like, I'm excited for you. And um, you know, I don't, I, yeah. Now I gotta look into an, a, a cruise through Antarctica. So where, where else does it go anywhere else or so, no, I mean, it really is the back and the fourth we're gonna be gone for like 10, 10 days. Oh, I'm so bad. I should know this better. I'm so excited though. Uh, because it's just gonna be, I'm just, uh, another wind down guest, Rhonda Wright is on the right getaway. She's putting it together and I'm SU like, I just I'm like, I just wanna be somewhere just random and just very different and, and like, see what that's like and get in a big puffy coat and just love that I'm here for it. Oh, customers, thank you. I've been trying to figure this out. It does some weird fluffy stuff, but we figuring it out.

Orion Brown (00:41:00):

Please tell us about these curls and the products, like what, what are doing here. It's so pretty. Oh, thank you. Uh, so if you didn't know, for those of y'all who don't know me, I'm federal CEO of black travel box. We're travel, ready, personal care brand. Um, and y'all, I'm not gonna lie from a practical standpoint. I don't have to use my products at home and I work from home a lot, but who, why am I gonna go out and buy stuff? And, and when you make the products, so I use my conditioners. I do also use, um, oh, I love twisted sister they're out of the UK. They tend to have product that like their curl creams have like real moisture in them. So it's like, it's not just, I put cream on top of it. My hair has to be soaking wet. My hair can be bone dry and I can put it in and it will give it that moisture.

Orion Brown (00:41:49):

And then, um, I like a small collection cause I've been trying. So one of the things I've been doing, I hate to say since George Floyd, but it's kind of true. I got off beyond the fact, like, you know, all of our hearts were broken and all of that stuff and the protests and all of that stuff. It was amazingly stressful time to be a black American. But I just started looking at like, how, how can I take out my luxury purchases and swap them with black owned brands and businesses wherever I can mm-hmm <affirmative> cause it's just, I mean, it takes a minute to find it, but now that everybody's making lists, it's almost easier. So like even my wine tonight, Carmen Stevens, she's one of like the first, um, black African, um, Viners in South Africa. So like she has her own, um, Carmen Stevens and I get this through a company that's called like, uh, what is it? Naked, naked wines. And it's like a group now. Here's the funny thing. I was like naked. So normally I just buy, buy wines and it's like a club, you know, you pay in and you get, you get special deals and all that. And I was like, yo, so where's your black, old wine list. So they were like, Carmen. And I was like, bet, next case all Carmen. Boom.

Syan Hymon (00:43:07):

That's awesome. And that's, <laugh>, that's what it's all about. Yes. Someone said pin it. I agree. We all need to support. And I did the same thing, you know, after all that happened, I was like, yeah, I need to kind of switch up some things around here and really support black business. I started buying, um, coffee from, you know, black, um, coffee makers and you know, just things that, um,

Orion Brown (00:43:33):

Yes, black and bold. Is it black and bold?

Syan Hymon (00:43:37):

So I, the, the two that I use, one is called dope coffee. D O P E Ooh. Um, they're out of Atlanta and then the other, well, both of them are out of Atlanta. The other one is called Russell. Now I can't remember his last name, but it's, um, Russell something, I feel so bad, but they're both out dope coffee Russell, just, just Russell Black coffee Atlanta, and you'll find it.

Orion Brown (00:44:03):

Um, and it's not that hard. That's the funny thing. It really isn't that hard. We can just take a moment and go, yeah, I know that DBO has a, as a stop or there's a Starbucks, but just taking a moment and just being like, could I stop somewhere else,

Syan Hymon (00:44:18):

Be intentional. And you know, it really is about supporting each other. Um, you know, there's a lot of people, oh, my brother just joined, um, you know, who have their own businesses and are trying to grow those businesses. And, um, uh, you know, things that I like to tell other people about black businesses, sometimes they encounter a bad experience. Don't stop supporting. Um, sometimes they may be going, it might be a bad day. They might be going through supply short. You never

Orion Brown (00:44:52):

Going through hell

Syan Hymon (00:44:54):

Hell that part, hell thank you. My brother Russell's gourmet coffee is the name guy. So milk coffee, Russell's gourmet, but still support those black businesses. They need us the most. And you know, you have, have to, you have to be careful about how you do this, but I think it's also important to share feedback. Mm-hmm <affirmative> so that when you have those bad experiences, you're not just leaving them out there to, you know, to suffer or to fail. You're telling them, Hey, this could have been a better experience. It's one. Cool.

Orion Brown (00:45:29):

Yeah.

Syan Hymon (00:45:30):

You know, and, and just sharing that feedback, like that's what we need. We need support. Yeah. Um, and support comes in a lot of different, you know, a lot of different this wine. I don't even know the word that I'm trying to

Orion Brown (00:45:41):

Say. No, I love it. Support comes in a lot of different forms. And actually just by extension of that, my black experience in particular, I can't speak to everybody else's but I feel culturally there's this sense of vulnerability is, is a liability. Right. And we already know that as Americans too, right? It's like, you're not vulnerable. You just work, you know, you're working hard. You don't tell people, don't let, 'em see what you're doing. Like, don't let, 'em see what you're going through. And so, you know, even in the experience of giving feedback, I've seen people get very defensive. And the thing that we have, have to both do as a contract is they're gonna have their moment. They're gonna have their reaction. Like you said, we can't hold that against them and be like, oh, you suck as a person because oftentimes we're not taught that vulnerability is okay, that if you something up or if it's not quite perfect, you will still, and that fight or flight comes out so quickly.

Orion Brown (00:46:37):

And as we, as a community start getting into more therapy, I've been seeing it and I'm so happy. And so here for it. And we start seeing more practitioners that look like us, cuz it wasn't our fault. We weren't just prayed away. Jesus. We ain't see enough people that looked like us. And we knew the people that did look like us didn't know what the hell we were talking about. And even if you did have a conversation with the therapist and you talk about prayed away, Jesus, they don't know depending on. So there's so many different pieces to it. But us having that space to acknowledge our feelings, acknowledge the impact of things, listen to the intent behind things. You know, if you intend to hurt me yeah. Would be mad at you. If you didn't intend to hurt me, I at least have enough sense to go. That hurt I'm vulnerable. I wanna express that. But at the end of the day, forgiveness is who

Syan Hymon (00:47:29):

Baby so much. And it's all about, you know, so I, I, this is why I created my business, the millennial mentors, which is fact that I'm under now, you know, it's all about being vulnerable and sharing. So, um, you know, I am a, <inaudible>, I'm a GRA a grandmother millennial, but um, you know, we have a lot of knowledge to share experience to share. And my platform that I've created is free game. It is free game. Um, I do have clients that, you know, pay me for my expertise. However, I go live monthly to share free game with people are, you know, doing their thing and creating their own success story. And so that is vulnerability right there. And um, you know, totally have to all be open to receiving, um, advice and suggestions and you know, feedback. You can take that however you wanna take, but it's really about helping another person.

Syan Hymon (00:48:38):

Sometimes people don't always know the best way to deliver it. <laugh> um, yeah. You know, but we're not perfect. We can only just try and sometimes, like I said, you may catch a business or a person on a, on a bad day or, um, an example that I have, I, I, I was trying to find a new esthetician. Um, so, you know, waxing and things like that. Um, and the person that I went to see, I was her very first client on her very first day. And I did not know that. Wow. And it was not the best day for me to be her very first client because I working from home, I booked the appointment. I had an hour, <laugh> sorry. I just saw this, know it, like go back to the part where you're a whole grandma. Right.

Syan Hymon (00:49:29):

I noted it too. Oh yes. Like I, you know, Hey, I'm about to be 40. I have no, I have no problem sharing my age. And you know, I think that's another thing is the vulnerability because people take, they, they look at you and they, they form their opinion about who you are and what you know, or what you can can't mm-hmm <affirmative> and that's a, another thing that I think is what's magical about us is black people. And I'm not sure if you're, if you're black or not, so I'm sorry, but no. Oh no, she's not. I don't think she is. No, she's not. I know her like we chatted. Yeah. And that's okay. But she's an ally. She's a straight up ally. Thank you. Thank you. My sister, the, but it, what I'm saying is, is that we, we are magical and I think it's a good thing when people underestimate you and the things that maybe you bring to the table.

Syan Hymon (00:50:24):

Um, and I learned, I had to learn the hard way that it is not up to me to teach you that I'm worthy of your respect. You'll learn that as you watch me and see, you know, the gifts that I have. It's not my job though. So don't like take what you, and I'm not talking to the person that made that comment, cuz that was so sweet and so nice. I'm just saying that sometimes people do look at you and assume, um, and, and that's not always right. And I think it doesn't matter that you're not black or whatever. We all probably experienced that at one point in our lives and careers, but that vulnerability piece comes into play there as well. Um, and you know, just, just be great know, I guess the, the, the point of what I'm saying is just be great and share when you can. And when, you know, timing is everything, if it's the right time in the right place and you feel the need to help someone and share some advice, do that, because that could be the difference between them lasting as a business or them failing as a business.

Orion Brown (00:51:27):

That's a whole word. Y'all, that's a whole word seriously. And, and when we look at cultures outside of our community, people do that. They may, and I'm not even saying they do it in the right way. Cause like, depending on what culture you're in, like you might get yelled at all the stuff <laugh> yeah. Like you're not doing this, right. You're not doing that. Right. But the intent it is, we all wanna see each other succeed. We know what our potential is. And oftentimes at least I, I feel like I get the most disappointed when I see the potential and somebody's really falling short and, and it's this weird kind of mix of, well, are they actually trying or not? Right. Cause if you're not trying, then you tripping to me, you ain't, you're tripping. Um, but it's definitely one of those things that like, we have to get into the mode of, I wanna see you be better and I wanna be better.

Orion Brown (00:52:21):

So we need to be able to have two wait communication. And just because somebody like you, you touched on just because somebody gives you feedback doesn't mean you have to take it in total. Mm. One of the things that, because we don't get taught about feedback, how to give and how to take it. Um, we also don't know how to discern what's for us and what's not right. Mm-hmm <affirmative> because people will hypothesize what the problem is. They'll identify the problem and they'll hypothesize what the solution or what the root of the problem. And they might be wrong. But at the end of the day, if you can take something I communicated did not bounce off their ears, the way that I intended it to, how do I do, how do I make sure that that doesn't happen again? Or how do I help mitigate that in the future or something I deliver was not what that person expected? What, what signals am I giving them that they would expect something D print? Um, cause you can't control what they think, but you can't control what you put out there.

Syan Hymon (00:53:16):

So, cause, um, you know, one of my colleagues in my corporate thug space, um, of my nine to five, he, he has this saying about your intent versus your impact. Mm-hmm <affirmative> you might not have intended what the person, you know, received it as, but the impact, you know, you that's what happened, the impact is what happened and that's the real piece. And sometimes you do have to do a little clean up. Um, and that's okay, cuz we're human. Like yeah. You know, it, it's all about working on your delivery, working on your communication and always trying to just get better, being a better person than you were yesterday. Mm-hmm <affirmative> um, and for the most part, I like to think, and I could be naive thinking this. I like to think people have grace within them and you know, there's always room for a second, second chance. Most of the time, you know, you can, you can try again and try to do better the next time and not necessarily apologize cuz we don't need to be walking around apologizing, but we do need to know that like we can do better. We can, we can say something better. We can try again and do better, better. And, and you know that that's all life is about you just getting better every day. <laugh> figuring

Orion Brown (00:54:32):

It out. I love that. One of the things I talk about, my aunt passed last year. Um last, not this past year, but the prior year that fall in 20, what year is this now? 2020. Um, and she was 88 years old. And one of the biggest gifts she gave me was in having conversations with her. I realized that she was still self discovering in her eighties. And like, you know, when you're a kid, you're like, when you're 21, you know exactly who you are and you're totally an adult. Right. And then you can to 21 and you're like, that was a lie. I have no idea what's happening. And then you get to your thirties and you're like, there are children around me and I still don't know what's happening. And like you are going through. And sometimes again, that vulnerability, because we don't talk about not knowing what the hell's going on. You don't talk about. I feel like I'm still 10. Why is everybody else calling me Ma'am? You know, like those moments, the first time you get like, you get Miss and you're like, Ooh, I'm older, I'm cute. I'm a miss. Then you get a ma'am and you are like, oh,

Syan Hymon (00:55:36):

Like what, what did you say?

Orion Brown (00:55:38):

You chose violence today. You chose violence today. Um, but, but that journey, nobody really actively talks about it continues. And so to be able to have had conversations where she's like looking back and like, in my fifties, I could have done this better. And I'm like, what you mean? I don't have to have it figured out. You mean, I don't have to know. You mean I don't have to get to a place where I just don't care and I keep screwing up stuff. No, I can get to a place of continuous improvement and let that be okay. Yeah. The mistakes back there and learn from them and do better.

Syan Hymon (00:56:12):

And that that's humility. It's being humble. Like humble enough to know. I don't, I don't have all this figured out. I don't know what I'm no

Orion Brown (00:56:23):

Clue.

Syan Hymon (00:56:24):

No. And, um, and I think that's the beauty of like social media, bringing people like us together that we wouldn't, who knows when we would've met, if we would've met, had we not had Instagram. Um, and I've learned so much from people all around the world, um, Instagram that have really poured into me and like just watching lives or hosting lives. Like I think that, um, that's the beauty of social media and we still won't know everything. Even though we have Instagram and have these relationships, but at least it's exposing us to each other. And another side of looking at things, um, you know, it's, it's, I think it's beautiful. A lot of people say, oh, social media, but I think it's beautiful. It's a beautiful

Orion Brown (00:57:10):

Thing. Yeah. It can be. It's a reflection of us at the end of the day, any new platform that comes out, the technology is just gonna be a reflection of us. So whether it's clubhouse or Instagram or, uh, what was the short one we had that was like the six at buying. I like mine. And it was, it was gone as quickly as the videos. Um, but <laugh>, but they're all reflections of us as people. And just as much as we can be ugly and awful, we can be quite beautiful. And so I love what you said, like the, when we find ways to use this for true connection, that is a beautiful thing. And we get to bless other people with that. That's right. This is what I love about wind down. I'm telling y'all we just get, we get deep, we get surface, we get all kinds of stuff in between.

Orion Brown (00:57:59):

And sometimes that's just what you need. You just wanna have that connection. I created wind down in the middle of the pandemic, summer 2020, because I was like, I know the feeling that I love most is when I have a trip plan and I get to talk about it. And I'm like excited about it. You know, when you hit book and you like, Ooh, I got that house in all of y'all. We got the house, it's all you dancing and yo shower because you happy. And it could be six months away. You said you started planning a year ago, but that excitement you get when you're like, I decided I started like, especially when you pay, when you pay, you're like, I, I, ain't gonna try to get out of this now cause uh, it's happening, it's happening. And so that feeling is the feeling that I tried to bring to every Wednesday because we was all cooped up and we should have been cooped up cuz this COO's out there and we wanna cover the babies and cover the old people and cover all of those frontline workers and all of that stuff. So that was why I created this. And every week y'all have just not ceased to amaze me. The people who have come through through the conversations we've had, I have so much renewed hope in humanity. <laugh> because we can connect even through a 2d screen.

Syan Hymon (00:59:16):

Yes. This is amazing. It's it's a really cool platform. And I'm so happy that I got to speak with you. Even with my messed up nails. Um, this was really <laugh>

Orion Brown (00:59:27):

Girls, which was, this is, they just look like stubs. I don't even, they just, they broke in con they're all up in the, in the crooks. <laugh> saying the crooks <laugh>

Syan Hymon (00:59:38):

And I I'm a, I'm a go back to, uh, SP and I can't even see the name anymore, but I'm not actually a grandmother. I, I call myself a grandmother millennial because I'm on the older side of the millennial spectrum. So not, not technically a grandmother yet. Um, yeah, my, my daughters is two, so I got a, I got a little, wow. But thank you so much for what you said. <laugh> I

Orion Brown (01:00:07):

Love that. You know, it's so funny though, because these days you never know one because black don't crack and two, you know, the age in which people decide to have children and they F they figure it out and they get all this done. And I still love it when the moms are like, grab in college with their sons and all that was <laugh> minor, worse, high even mechanic, Lord. Um, but I like the TikTok videos where it's like, this is my daughter. And then they go and it's like five people. That's my, I start to get nervous. <laugh>

Syan Hymon (01:00:38):

Now those are so, so cute. And I'm like, man, hell I I'm like, I hope I can do that when like the fabulous grandmother and they're oh, how old is she? Like, you know that

Orion Brown (01:00:51):

I'm 22. I dunno about y'all <laugh> cause she said her aunt was a grandma at 40, so 80. I mean, you know, the math works and we are not judging because the, these days you can do all kinds of stuff, no matter what is put in front of you, the world is a lot, there's a lot more opportunity. Like you said, I think there's a measure of grace for everybody. So we just gotta tap into it. I love it. We can be our own worst critic. Embrace it, girl. Yes. Yes. And that's where the no given <laugh> is you get older comes in that part, don't have any left. This was the garden where I grew them and they're all gone.

Syan Hymon (01:01:29):

And you know, at, at almost 40, I have arrived. Um, I have arrived. I, I don't care. Um, and for, I can't see the comments anymore, but, um, but no, I agree with that. And I am there <laugh>

Orion Brown (01:01:44):

Yes, yes. Somebody said their, their son is younger than several of their grandkids. See, look, you keep, keep getting it in. <laugh> that's your business. Keep getting it in.

Syan Hymon (01:01:55):

Keep getting

Orion Brown (01:01:55):

In. I have a friend who has, you know, she has, I think, 12 siblings and I'm like, at some point they just said, let's keep making them so we don't have to do laundry. And I'm not mad at it at all at all. <laugh>

Syan Hymon (01:02:11):

Right. Something. Wow. Yeah. I couldn't imagine

Orion Brown (01:02:14):

It's it's a lot. It's a lot, but it's really sweet. Cuz every time they do stuff, it's like a gang of them showing up. She's like somebody graduates. It's like, we need 48 tickets. Hey

Syan Hymon (01:02:24):

It's it's everybody gang,

Orion Brown (01:02:26):

Gang, gang, gang. I'm here for it. She just had a baby. And I think she had like five different showers and I'm like, I love this. And she, she is, I believe 41 now. And so she's having her, she a miracle baby to some extent. And it's just so beautiful. I I'm just, I I'm, I just love it. And she did her little photo shoot and everything and all the family and all the people. And I'm like, I just love to see it. Aw. It is beautiful when we support each other. And

Syan Hymon (01:02:54):

Yes. And I think that, you know, big families are really, really, really cool. I don't plan to have anymore kids, but you know, 12 as they start getting older, I mean, I think that's gonna be a lot of fun and you know, everybody will have somebody. I think that's, that's really, really, you know, that's love. That's great. And

Orion Brown (01:03:14):

Then we have the beauty of social media, cuz even if we don't have somebody, we can find somebody which is fine. I love it. Cause there is. And it's not even in the romantic sense. It's like there is somebody out there for you, somebody that gets your weird humor. Someone that like Brooke, Brooke said like me. Um, but those are beautiful things to have. And I, I appreciate you being a part of this beautiful moment. Um, this has been so much fun. I haven't good.

Syan Hymon (01:03:44):

Thank you so much for having me. I really, really appreciate you.

Orion Brown (01:03:48):

SI the queen has arrived. I love it. Tell everybody where they can find you. Yes. Fix that crown girl. But I wanna, I kinda wanna it to the side a little. I want a little Rere tell everybody where they can find you in all of the interwebs in all of your wonderful services in the free game that you drop.

Syan Hymon (01:04:08):

Thank you. So yes. Find the free game at the millennial. M I L L E N N I a L men. I made my own word up. M E N T R E E S on Instagram. Uh, I go live once a month. Check out all my lives. They're saved on my page. I would love to talk to you. So please reach out to me. Thank you so much, Ryan, for having me. I've super enjoyed this. Thank you for everybody that I know that joined and everybody that I don't know, hopefully we can connect. So thank you God.

Orion Brown (01:04:42):

Yes. Make sure you guys follow. And for those of you who don't know me follow at black travel box, we're black travel box on every platform. This is the only one that I feel comfortable using. Cuz I am now getting officially old. I looked at TikTok and I was like, this seems hard. So now I watch it on Instagram, but I'm gonna try, I'm gonna try to go into the future with a everyone. I'm gonna try it's on my to-do list. So y'all gotta hold me accountable, but follow us. And until the next time happy home day, I hope y'all had fun. I know I did. The comments were all all through and out here. Just like had my heart warned. I feel like we paid, played spades y'all and I love it. So thank you so much. Thank you so much for joining. Y'all have a blessed week.

Orion Brown (01:05:24):

It's all downhill from here in that we almost there we're almost at the end. We're almost at Friday. So we going do it and again, we gonna get together on, get it together on tip TikTok yesterday. We gonna it together. Um, next week we'll be back with another wind down Wednesday. Miss you have to come back. You have to come back. Like that's just, that's just a done deal. We're gonna come pick it again. Yeah. And you have to tell us how your 40th went. So come back after your 40th. Tell us how it went. And hopefully I won't have to be jealous. I will actually figure out where I'm going. <laugh> if not, I will live vicariously through you and I'll just be like your birthday twin. So it counts. That's right. That's right. Season coming up. Y'all turn up. Thank you guys so much. Bye everyone. Thanks for.

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