Currently: Putting Teyana Taylor’s Preparation On My Vision Board

Our takes on the moments and moves in culture that reveal the patterns of greatness and what might get in the way.

Currently…

… putting Teyana Taylor’s preparation on my vision board. Teyana is having an absolutely iconic year. She starred in the most critically acclaimed film of the year (One Battle After Another), released a standout R&B album (Escape Room), and is being widely celebrated for both. She’s earned Grammy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice nominations, and it feels increasingly inevitable that an Oscar nod is on the way. She’s been honored at nearly every major industry event – and that’s before mentioning that she’s also dating Aaron Pierre, a.k.a. Mufasa himself, a.k.a. one of the sexiest men alive (according to People, myself, and anyone with eyesight).

But what makes Teyana’s 2025 so compelling isn’t just the accolades, it’s the evidence it provides in the importance of trusting the timing of your life. She has been in the zeitgeist for literally half my lifetime, dating back to her iconic My Super Sweet Sixteen episode in 2007. Over the years, we’ve seen flashes of brilliance and moments that hinted at her full range, but rarely anything that matched her depth of talent. In large part, that’s because she was mismanaged and undervalued by the very systems meant to support her. Her former label failed to understand the breadth of her creative vision – particularly her desire to direct and act. The toll became so heavy that she “retired” from music in 2020 to exit her record deal and protect her mental health. Staying in a place that only saw her as one thing would’ve cost her too much.

What’s remarkable is that she never let the delay derail her design. Instead, she kept working in the wait. She founded her production company, The Aunties, creative-directed live performances and music videos for artists like Latto, Summer Walker, and Monica, and sharpened her acting chops in films like A Thousand and One and The Book of Clarence. It wasn’t all flashy – but all of it was foundational.

The more I think about the diligence to craft Teyana displayed during her waiting season, the less surprising it is that she’s finally experiencing the momentum she’s been chasing her entire career. Her preparation opened the door for career defining opportunities. This isn’t a comeback, it’s the fruit of alignment. – Sylvia Obell

… disappointed in Sherrone Moore for fumbling more than just the bag. When Sherrone Moore was appointed as the head coach of the University of Michigan Men’s Football program it was an historic appointment full of promise and potential. He was meant to be the continuation of the Harbaugh-era of success (minus the controversy) and he was the first black head coach in the history of the program. It was a big deal and Sherrone had an incredible opportunity in front of him. Instead less than two years later he has absolutely fumbled the bag by getting fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a fellow staffer.

So what happened? Well, it’s clear to me that he wasn’t doing his work. Not the X and O’s on the field, which actually weren’t that great, but the self work that really matters. This level of self-destruction – and the crash out that followed – only happens when there are some shadows and demons that haven’t been dealt with. He was supposed to be a leader both at work and at home but the lack of integrity displayed in his behavior betrayed the trust of both his team and his family. What’s done in the dark always comes to light and the higher you climb the wider your shadow casts. None of us are as bad as our worst decision, or as good as our best, but if we aren’t willing to continually do the self-examination work required to maintain alignment it will absolutely cost us our legacies. And that’s something no one can put a price on. – A.J. Watson

…wondering why we’re still surprised by the switch-ups that follow women like Jasmine Crockett. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has entered the race for U.S. Senate in Texas. And like clockwork, she’s now facing a wave of scrutiny from some of the same corners that once applauded her rise and celebrated her sharp questioning, clarity, and refusal to back down in the House. All of a sudden there are questions about her campaign funding, reframing of her voting record, quiet concerns about her “viability,” and loud doubts about her tone. And it feels like this formula happens every time to a Black woman on her rise to power.

But y’all, it’s important to remember that this is an expected threshold on the rise to greatness and we have to stop being surprised or offended when it happens. When you challenge the system, which many of us are designed and born to do, support often lasts right up until our authority expands beyond what feels manageable. What once was called brilliance starts getting recast as risk and mislabeled as arrogance.

This isn’t a leadership failure. It’s a leadership condition. It’s evidence of power. Greatness never rises without resistance. Persecution is not an anomaly — it’s an expected milestone on the path of rising influence. False narratives are a cost of carrying true authority. The instinct to self-defend, over-explain, or fight every distortion is understandable, but it’s also a trap. The higher road has always been the same: stay potent in expression, refuse to shrink or harden, keep leading with love, and keep producing results. Perception doesn’t need to be managed when purpose is clear.

We don’t win by fighting every narrative — we win by staying aligned long enough for the truth to speak for itself. – Maya Watson

…watching Ryan Serhant’s real struggle and it isn’t about real estate. Everybody’s talking about how refreshing it is to watch a real estate show that’s actually about real estate — where the drama doesn’t overshadow the deals getting done. In season 2 of Owning Manhattan, Ryan Serhant’s focus on the work is part of what makes him a great leader. But what I find most compelling is his vulnerability and what he’s showing us about the limitations of winning on the world’s terms. On the outside, Ryan is crushing it. He has one of the fastest growing real estate companies in New York City, investors throwing 8-figure offers at him, and deals with brands like Mercedes Benz.

But behind the record breaking headlines for his deals,, we get a more complete picture of the cost of Ryan’s success. He gave up his dream of becoming a Broadway star to pursue real estate because it would make him more money. He wants another child but is struggling with being the #1 dad vs. the #1 broker. He’s continually in a conflict between his personal and professional desires. We see this inner turmoil throughout the season, but it’s especially clear when he warns his team about the implications of trying to have it all.

Ryan’s story felt so relatable for those of us that came from “small towns” in Colorado to big cities like New York, and did the thing we thought we had to do, but might be questioning if the path is still working.. But, it’s not too late to go follow the second path. To start living life out of conviction and not fear. It might feel like it will cost you some things. It might feel like a temporary loss. But at some point you realize that if you keep needing more wins to feel like a winner, you’re probably already losing. And once you see that, the scariest thing isn’t walking away from what’s working, it’s realizing what it’s costing you to stay. – Kevin Stuckey

…inspired by the way Vince Staples and Ziwe aren’t waiting for us to catch up to their brilliance. In The Dark Knight, the Joker describes his dynamic with Batman as an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object – a paradox by definition. And yet, that’s exactly what Ziwe’s interview with Vince Staples delivered.

Watching two intelligent, quick-witted comedians volley effortlessly back and forth – touching everything from January 6 to the origins of Mormonism to hip-hop’s adverse effects on the Black community – felt like witnessing an Olympic tennis match. The banter was as fearless as it was electric. They didn’t miss a beat. Nothing was off the table. There was no such thing as going too far. Both Ziwe and Vince are known for running laps around others in interviews, but the moment they realized they’d met their match, something shifted. It was as if each of them was silently daring the other to be the truest, sharpest expression of themselves.

There’s something delicious about watching two creatives, both deeply clear on how they lead themselves, go head-to-head in that way. They always seemed a few steps ahead of the audience, as though there was ten percent of the joke the rest of us weren’t in on, and they loved it. That’s part of what makes both The Vince Staples Show on Netflix and Ziwe’s talk show so brilliant: neither is waiting for the audience to catch up. They refuse to water it down to appease the masses, choosing instead to let their gifts run at full speed.

Understanding and trusting your greatness before the rest of the world does is a crucial step on the path to greatness and Vince and Ziwe embody that truth in the most captivating way. – SO

Quote of the Week: “She changed my life. She made me a better football player, a better student, a better person, and she made me a bigger filmmaker. She was there on every set, always in the background never getting credit. On this movie she was my boss and it was f*cking awesome. She’s the biggest reason why this movie [Sinners] is so good. – Ryan Coogler on his wife, Zinzi Evans