The Marissa Mitchell Show: July 20, 2026

We've got to start our segments with you drinking, and then we'll see what happens. This is great. There's other ones up there, too, if you want to... Oh, really? Yeah. What are some of these other ones you have up here? This one is the Newport. That's a favorite. Ooh, the Newport. You want to go to Newport? They're beautiful. There you go. I do. I love Newport. Awesome. Backyard. Thank you guys so much. Thank you. We appreciate it. Marissa, we'll send it over to you. We're going to enjoy it. Here's what's coming up on the Marissa Mitchell Show. It is time for the Marissa Mitchell Show, and I hope you had an outstanding weekend. Thank you for choosing to start your week with us. And if you need a little boost, we are here to crank it up with D.C. Go-Go Legends. I'm talking the backyard band. They've kept us in the pocket for decades now, and now they are here live to celebrate their incredible journey and to celebrate a major milestone, 35 years. And they have a huge anniversary show headed to MGM Theater at MGM National Harbor. So scan the QR code. You know how we do it, M Squad. We represent. Send them your questions, your comments. Send them some love, their flowers, all the things. We're going to answer those a little later in the show. Plus, what do you get when you put a fashion powerhouse and a soccer superstar together? Well, you get one unforgettable collaboration. Adonis King and Sam Cox are here combining luxury and athletic excellence. They will be on in just 30 minutes for their exclusive story behind that partnership and all the fits. Now, we're going to keep the creativity going with you and me because it is more than a rug. It's an actual masterpiece that you can make all by yourself. Tuft & Up, studio and social. They're going to bring the art of tufting to our studio. We're going to craft it from scratch. Speaking of setting the foundation, our first guests are true D.C. music legends who have defined the sound and the culture of the nation's capital. You say for how long? Well, 35 years and counting. Listen, the skillet is hot. I don't know if you all can feel it, but it's popping in here. Backyard Band has become one of the most iconic names and sounds in D.C. music. And now they're celebrating that phenomenal legacy with a 35th anniversary show at MGM Theater. This is huge. So please join me in welcoming the legendary Backyard Band here in D.C. Leroy Brandon Jr. and Jermaine Smith here. What a legacy. I have to begin by saying congratulations. Thank you. So when I was listing just some of what you achieved, it would take me the whole show to get through all of it if I'm being honest, what was going through your hearts and minds to know that you're coming up on this anniversary and you're going to mark it in this way? You want to start? Oh, no. It's just one of those things where it's been long awaited. It's been a while since we had an anniversary. The anticipation has been building up. It's just finally time. It's crunch time. We're ready to go and crank it up for the city. Amen. And we're ready for all of it. And you can perform anywhere and you have performed, I believe, everywhere. But this is a first. The MGM Theater. Big G, talk about that landscape, that place, to do it there. So the MGM is like a big, special place. Yeah. Like you got Anita Baker, all the big acts go. Families come out. Now you got us, Backyard. True Washingtonians. We're super excited about this night. So you got the old members that's calling in. You got everybody like, man, y'all got to do this. I know y'all going to do this. We want to hear the old stuff from high school, from junior high school. So we bringing a lot of tricks out the bag. People mad. It's going to be crazy. I mean, I'm super excited. Like I told you, like a kid waiting on a brand new gift. Yeah. A kid waiting to go to college. It's like so exciting. Like the city is ready. I go there all the time. And I've seen different authors and major speakers. I believe the last musical act was Diana Ross. I mean, you can't get more iconic than that. And you all are going to take the same stage. And I think you represent that for DC. Jermaine, you expressed to me how big this is, that venue. Absolutely. MGM has become a staple here in the DMV area. You know, it's become that iconic place where you will see people perform that you want to see, people that you love. And so when I had the opportunity to bring DC's people out at a place that they love and a band that they love, this was my choice. This was, look, we've got to have Backyard in the MGM. And, you know, we made a call and made it happen. And these guys have been nothing but stellar guys to work with, to have them. It's crazy. One thing I noticed, you all normally hit us with the all black. But this photo, you all are in all white, silent and profiling. So talk about the sense and the look, even for the promo. I thought it matched the whole MGM thing. You know what I mean? The MGM grime with that color and that big lion and everything is white. And just with the family. Like, we've been together, like, I don't like toot no horns, but me, Carlos, Wasey, we've been together. We the only go-go band that really still got our members. That's true. A lot of band members swap out. We stay solid. You know what I mean? So you come in to see the people you done grew up with, you know what I mean, done graduated, went to prom, went to college, got your grad degree. Got you the first date. So we just, man, we stick together. You know what I mean? We have our little disagreements, but that's what a band is about. It's a family affair. We get ready to tear this MGM up. Oh, I know. It's going to never be the same. Y'all just need to have a residency. Just plan for that. Put that out in the atmosphere. 35 years of consistency. Yes, and 35 years we're celebrating more than 50 of go-go. I mean, 70% of the time that we've been celebrating go-go, you all have contributed to it. Let that sink in. Yes. That's well over 50%. 70%. We've had backyard bands. So my man, he don't really talk much. Leroy. He's like, I talk on the stage. I do all the time on the stage. He's the one that sing all the songs. Lowe's the one that give you all them incredible raps, and I'm the one that just put everything. The top is on the cake. I put all the neighborhoods on. And we also speak about nonviolence. We make sure the youth is straight. You know what I mean? All the leaders in all the neighborhoods. But we're going to have a beautiful time. Yeah, you do a lot with your nonprofit, all of you. I've noticed that for sure. And I think when it comes to go-go, there's a general sound, but you all have your own signature thing going on, too. So describe your own special sauce that you've put in it. It's just being together so many years. You know what I mean? We bounce off each other. We talk to each other. We have ideas with each other. You know what I mean? I learned, like, really to put my raps and stuff together for Lowe's. You know what I mean? So he's one of them quiet ones, too, but really smart. Oh, but like off the top. Yeah, yeah. So if I wanted a Marissa Mitchell show rap, he could help me. He got you right there. Like a couple of bars right now, he can help me with the bars. Absolutely. Oh, really? Okay, we'll see if we can come up with a theme song. What do you think about go-go taking an even bigger stage when it comes nationally to music? We know what Lizzo was doing with Sexy Lady. What do you all make of all of that? I think it's beautiful being 50 years of go-go, celebrating that milestone. Just, like, collaborating with different artists out of town. We've been doing it with different artists like Scarface, Snoop Dogg, and stuff like that. Lowe's have wrote for different, Ghost wrote for different artists, with Chucky Thompson back in the day. It's just, like, a thing, like, Wink did the big thing with Pretty Girls with Wale. Like, we've just been reaching out to different ones, and we also have an album coming out where we're going to have a bunch of, like, surprises on. Yeah, we got our Sing It Out vibe with me right now. What? So there's a lot of stuff going on, man. They just got to stay tuned. So, again, I'm working with Jermaine. He got some tricks up his sleeve, too. He's a businessman, and it's business, man. We get all of that, too. Do you think maybe you'll do a live album from the show at MGM? That just came to me, listening to all this. You know what? We can try. Then I can cheer real loud and hear myself on the track if I can. Is there something in your story, because I think a lot of people here, especially natives, feel like they know all there is to know about Backyard Band. Is there something that people would be surprised to learn about these 35 years? Matt Lowe's writing for Totem. I think, yeah, we had a lot of experiences, aside from when they see us on stage, moving around, interacting with other artists, maybe more mainstream and out there that way. Collaborations, I've written with Faith Evans, co-wrote songs with her. Just little stuff that we're doing that they may not be privy to. He's always studying for scripts. He's been on countless tracks with the local artists. We are very, I guess you'd call it grassrooted. Yeah, that's where we are. We are part of this fabric. Yeah. I look at you guys like the monuments, Ben's Chili Bowl, like one of the things you've got to take in if you come to D.C. It's just part of the routine. I get so many calls when I bring an artist in town, and the first thing they want to do, they want to get that go-go vibe. Like, where can I go see a go-go? Where can I go? Where's Backyard Plan? I heard Backyard Plays, and that's what they want to do. They want to go get that. Then, of course, they want the mumbo sauce, and they want the Ben's Chili Bowl. Well, see, you've got to have it all at one time. You have them while you're eating the wings with the mumbo sauce. We go to him and get some chicken. We go to the go-go, let them see what it's all about, and they fall in love with it. And they take it back to their home. So that gave me the inspiration to put these guys on, as well as not only just be able to do it here at the MGM at this level, but to go to a lot of the cities that love them and do it at that level. So the Miamis, the Houstons, the Dallases, the Philadelphias, the Charlottes, the Rocky Mountains, the L.A.s, they're going to be able to duplicate what they do here on a larger scale at places where they belong. Mm, you got it, because they belong everywhere. Go-go is at the crux of so many music forums. So how can people get tickets? Where can people go and get tickets? People can get tickets at MGMNationalHarborTickets.com, Ticketmaster. I don't know how many tickets are left. It's this weekend, right? It's actually this Saturday. Oh, my gosh, get on it. This Saturday night. If you didn't get a ticket, trust me, this is one you will regret, and you'll just, you know, we want to make this as big as you wanted to come back because you missed it. We'll have them again. Just stand outside of MGM like this and wish. It's going to be right. If you go past MGM this Saturday, you're going to see it. It's going to be cranking. You're going to see that boat move. Yeah, it's going to be crazy. All right, well, guys, thank you so much, and hang around because they are taking your questions, your comments, your love. We'll get to that in just about 20 minutes. All right. Well, so ahead, the game happened. We know what happened on the pitch, but it was not the only thing making headlines. No. The first ever World Cup halftime show took center stage. We're going to break down the biggest moments and fan reactions next. Plus, a parenting debate is blowing up online involving rapper Lotto and how she decided to travel with her newborn daughter. Folks are big mad about it, and so is she. That debate is coming up in our Hot Sheet. One more time, scan the QR code to send your questions and your comments for Backyard Band. We'll be right back. We are back with the Hot Sheet to have media personality Khadijah Corey and influencer Jules McGuire in the building, two of the hottest in the DMV. I'm happy to be here. We are. I feel like the pastel is our thing today. We're in our bag. We didn't even talk about this. I love it. Y'all want to get to the World Cup? Are you sad that it's over? I definitely am. I am too. Brought so much energy, especially here to Fox 5, because all of the games were on Fox 5. You have people who do not watch sports who were so enthralled in it. Plugged in. And loved it. Well, some of the world's biggest stars, we know that, came out on the field to close out the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But we're not talking about LaMia Mall, even though we do love him. And Lionel Messi loves him as well. But for the first time, we had the World Cup halftime show. Now reactions are mixed. You had Shakira, Justin Bieber, BTS, Madonna, others there. Coldplay's Chris Martin, he curated the entire thing. So we've put together some moments. We're going to check them out and then talk about it on the other side. She still said no lies detected in my head. Hot or not when it comes to the halftime show at the World Cup. I'm going to give it a try. But a little deduction for the Muppets. I didn't like that section of it. It got a little awry. I was a little confused. Confused with it? Yes. I love the Muppets. But where? Did they really fit in? I didn't know they were a band. Yeah. I'm not throwing anything into this here. Let's just see what happens. Yeah, that was random. Favorite moment? I love Shakira and Burna Boy. I think just the culture experience. We grew up on Shakira. Burna Boy is really hot right now. A little Spanish with that Afro-Caribbean vibe. It's a fusion. It was amazing. They had the ghetto boys dancing. I love them. I follow them on Instagram. So I got hyped on that. I loved it how Madonna walked out and stood like the queen she is. She didn't have to do much. She was the queen of pop. I thought it was fantastic. I know there's been a lot of chatter over whether this is even needed at the World Cup, but I hope they keep it. I do, too. I hope so. I do, too. Yeah. When new mom rapper Lotto is clapping back after critics call her out for bringing her baby daughter on a plane, the 27-year-old shared a video on X of herself pushing a stroller at an airport. Harmless, right? Well, someone wrote online, and I do quote, no amount of money would allow me to put my newborn on a plane. I struggle with ear pops as a grown man. Lotto responded, she's never won immense words. She said, good thing this yo-child bleep boy. This is not yo-child bleep boy. You fill in the blanks. Calling people out for taking newborns on planes hot or not. You know, I'm not a mom, so I feel like I am not versed in this area, but if the doctor says it's okay, why not? Right. That's what I'm saying on the matter. And that's exactly. I'm going to still say hot for if doctor approved. Exactly. And not money. It's all about safety first. But I mean, she got the money to do whatever she wants to do. It's her child, her money, her private jet, whatever that looks like. Okay, because we don't got the private jet. She's living outside of our tax bracket. Who are we? We're on economy. So what are we talking about? I actually talked to my mom about this. She retired as a nurse manager, labor and delivery, mother, baby unit. And I asked her, well, when can you, you know, take a newborn? She said, number one, you got to talk to a doctor. Normally not in the first two weeks of birth. Some may say after two months, after three, all depending. Right. But because of that, you really can't judge because you don't know what's going on. And I want to believe that Lotto made sure everything was good. Her intention was good. Leave people alone. Right. Leave. Don't show time. What she said. You're in a hurry. You can't even book a flight. Well, as we step into this new week, we want to carry a mindset of gratitude, purpose, and intention. And if you're watching this and going, Marissa, girl, it's Monday. I'm just trying to get through the day and you're not feeling it. The week just started. That's okay because I found this powerful reminder on the shade room. Believe it or not, they do post inspirational quotes alongside the shade. Like this one, it said, may we never fumble what we prayed for. So essentially, that's really about being a good steward of things that have manifested. Things that you've wanted once you have them, keeping them around. What do you all make of this quote? Hot or not? And have you kind of struggled with that at times? I love this. I am a person that is a prayer warrior, okay? So sometimes we don't understand the blessings that we have in our hand until maybe God has to use us as an example and takes it away. But I definitely do believe in just that manifestation and really just understanding, like, okay, I worked hard to get here. I'm doing the work. I'm doing the progress. And let me take care of what God has given me so I can be a blessing to others. Yeah, and to add to that, we never know when the blessings are going to come. Exactly. It could come tomorrow. We aren't always ready for it. But just being able to maneuver and adjust to it so we can take it. And just a reminder from whence you came. I mean, sometimes you're complaining, but you're literally sitting in the seat of what you prayed for. In the prayer. You're in the prayer. So keep that in mind. Yes. All right, it's time now for Tucker's take. And ladies, I've been praying for the air quality to get better. I've been praying for the weather. Come on, Tucker. Tell us the good news. Please let me. Thank you. All right. You're close. Not too bad. Have a long take on this. Okay, let's hop on in. Yes, the weather looks so much better. In fact, I went outside just for myself. And it's actually really comfortable out there. Less humidity, less wildfire smoke. Mid-80s later today. We do have storms back in the forecast tomorrow, though. So that'll be a different day. But enjoy this afternoon. All hot. And then a good forecast. Not hot, but a good forecast. Thank you, Tucker. And thank you, ladies, for coming. Thank you so much. You're so fabulous. All right, well, still ahead. He's making moves both on the field and off with fashion. Soccer star Sam Cox will join us with the luxury designer brand Adonis King for a very exciting collaboration. They'll be here. It's an exclusive partnership. And you'll learn more. And after that, it's not just a rug. No, no, no. It's a piece of art that you can make yourself. Tough Enough Studio and Social, they are here showing us how we can make our own rug. I'm here for that. I definitely want to check that out. CC's very own Backyard Van. They're celebrating 35 years, marking that huge milestone with a huge 35th anniversary concert at MGM Theater. That's this weekend, this Saturday, in fact. So make sure you get your tickets. Big G is here. I got Carlos as well. We have plenty of questions and comments. So we'll see how many we can get through from our M Squad. Dean says from Lanham, since you have been around for so long, how have you kept your music up with the different times and the different listeners? That's a great question. Oh, man. Just being outside with the people. You know what I mean? Just interacting with our fans and just asking questions on what they want to hear, what they like. And we just try to just stay on top of our game, I think. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Yeah, you're still a sponge. Even though you're a master, you can still learn and tweak and incorporate different things to go along with the time. I mean, that's how you stay current and relevant. Let's see if we can get another question and or comment. Tanya from Laurel, congratulations, Backyard. Big G and Los, remember when you all started. Kudos to you all. Thank you. We just love our people, man, and our fans just stay with us. We don't call them fans. They family. Yeah, they stay with us. They come. I don't know where they scrounge the money up sometimes. Well, y'all set up a GoFundMe to see you all, whatever I gotta do. Right there, man. Yes. It's all about our fans, our family fans. Yeah. They always come and see us no matter what. Well, we know that you love us, so that love comes back to you. We got one more to get in in this block. Thank you guys for writing. Sheila Johnson out of D.C., is your thing at the MGM free for us? I wish it was. Yeah. I'm sorry, Ms. Sheila. No, I shouldn't, Ms. Sheila. We're going to do something nice for the community. Listen, you missed 100% of the shots. You don't take. You shot every shot. But this one isn't free. Guys, thank you so much for coming and all that you've done. You're doing an amazing job. It's a breath of fresh air to see you in the morning. How you holding it down for the city? It's wonderful to see you, strong woman, putting that work in. Oh, thank you. That means a lot. That means everything. Well, thank you. I love you all. Yes, we love you. Thank you. MGM, baby. All right, be there. Only a few tickets left. Well, what happens when luxury fashion meets soccer royalty? We're going to see Adonis King and soccer standout Sam Cox. They're going to join me to prove that greatness is not confined to the runway or to the pitch. We're going to get an exclusive look at their new collaboration. Then from yarn to art, work, discover the magic of your own rug with Toughen Up Studio and Social. I love that name and the dance, too. I'll be over in a few to make my own rug. I'm taking that home with me. We'll be right back. Welcome back. Our next guests prove that luxury fashion and world-class sports are a winning combination. Adonis King has built a brand known for bold design, timeless sophistication, and luxury. He's here. And now the designer is taking that vision global alongside soccer star Sam Cox, just joining us live from England. Sam was the captain of the Guyana national team, leading the Golden Jaguars to their first-ever qualification for the CONCACAF Gold Club. That was back in 2019. You may also recognize him from a little show called Ted Lasso. He's doing all the things. Sam, thank you for joining us. Adonis, thank you for coming. I want to start with you here and to talk about your brand and why you decided to bring Sam alongside you for the journey. Well, you know, Adonis King is a global luxury brand. I started at the age of 16. And me and Sam really share that. He started at the age of 14 in his industry. And, you know, basically, we're growing this brand into more of a clothing and bag brand, accessories ready. And to go with Sam, I mean, that was the obvious choice. We didn't want another big name. We wanted someone who actually had a story to tell. And we share similar stories, you know, starting at an early age. 14 and 16. Yes. How about that? Yes. Yeah. And I mean, he is a big name, but you didn't want just that. You wanted someone with a purpose, with a narrative that fit yours, so to speak. So, Sam, there are so many things that you do and that you can put your name behind. Why did you decide to link up with Adonis King? You know what? Adonis has been supporting me in the background for a year. I can remember, you know, him dropping me a message and always supporting what I was doing on the football pitch, or whether it be management or coaching or acting, whatever it is. So, you know, when he dropped the idea of doing a collaboration for obviously the bags that he had coming out, you know, it was an easy decision for me. Somebody that had been supporting, I'd see the work they'd be putting in behind the scenes. So, you know, it was a pretty easy decision for me. And, you know, I'm always here to support good people. And, you know, he's doing a great job. So, no, it was a real blessing. Yeah, it was a natural fit. And you really said something, Sam, too, because I think a lot of people, when they have an idea or a business and they get it going, they want to reach out to people and bring in big names off the bat. He's saying he's been watching your work. He's been watching your grind. And that essentially pulled him to you. Yes, and I've been watching his work as well. You know, his career in football, as they call it in London. We call it soccer, has been amazing. And to see what he's done, even like for charity, you know, it's just really touching. And good people recognize good people, you know, and good energy. And you're wearing this bag here. I think it's fabulous, by the way. Hopefully you brought an extra one. But that's how your dream really started with the bag, and you've since expanded to other items of clothing. I said timeless luxury. What does that mean? It sounds good. Timeless luxury is you can wear a piece over and over. You can mix and match it. You can dress it up, dress it down. So you can literally be in joggers, and that bag is going to make you look phenomenal. You can go multiple places and still look the part when you're there. And I think, too, to bring in an athlete especially. And, Sam, I've really seen this surge of athletes really bringing it when it comes with their fit checks and what they're rocking. You all are telling a story, too, and it comes through that way. 100%. I think, you know, throughout my playing career, I was always quite intrigued with the fashion side of things. And, you know, it's quite often as athletes, a lot of athletes are so super laser-focused on what they're doing, they kind of miss out on the creative opportunities that come along with it. And when I decided to go into management and coaching following my retirement, yeah, I looked into it even further and then obviously got a management job, and the fits that I was wearing on the sidelines were kind of catching eyes. So the two were going hand-in-hand. A lot of people were talking more about my fashion at times than there was actually my performance on pitch. Yeah, listen, this is who I am. I think also the way you dress, what you wear, it's also, you know, part of yourself. You're expressing yourself. So, yeah, man, for me, it goes hand-in-hand. I love it. And, like I say, what Adonis has got coming out and what he's bringing to the table is fantastic, and I think it was a perfect fit. It's an outwardly expression of who you are. It's true. So what is next then? We see what's happening now. What's next? Well, we're working internationally. We want to open our first flagship store. So that's exciting. I get to explore that world creatively. And we want to collaborate with more athletes and creators. Like I said, the One My Visionaries campaign is about what it took to get to the success and the process, the journey. Even though we look at success as, like, this big moment, it's really the things leading up to the success that really matters the most. It's a culmination of many moments. Exactly. You get to the moment that makes you look like an overnight success. Exactly. You're like, no, it took me 20 years, 10 years, 10 years, 20 years to become an overnight success. Sam, any advice that you would give to someone? I mean, we just closed out the World Cup. I want to get your thoughts on how that ended as well. But people who want to pursue a career in sports, whether on the field or maybe on the business coaching side of it, any advice that you would give? I think you have to be charged and have that passion within you to go after your dream. I think if you don't love it or you don't have the enthusiasm to really chase that dream, there's no point in doing it. But certainly you have to keep persevering. The journey of anything worth fighting for is up and down, plenty of dips in the roller coaster, but you have to kind of pursue through those setbacks and realize that especially within this sporting field, an opinion is only the opinion of one man. And quite often the opinion, where you go elsewhere, you're valued much more. So it's one of them of perseverance to keep going, chase your dreams, and not let people's opinion kind of bring you down because there's plenty of opinions out there. So really go for it. Got to stay locked in. Did the World Cup end the way you thought it would? I did think Spain were going to win. I'll be honest with you, I thought the match would be a lot more entertaining. I did try to keep my eyes open that second half. It wasn't the most entertaining, but I think football won in the end. I think the best team did eventually go on and win it in Spain. Listen, we're all disappointed for Messi, but I think here in England especially, the way they kind of went on in the semifinal and knocking us guys out, I think probably it was the right result for everyone. All right. Now I definitely picked up what you're putting down. Where do you think people go, Adonis, to get this fashion or just to learn more about what you're doing? Yes, so the capsule collection comes out today, which is the Visionary Collection, and it's shopadonisking.com. You can find me on Instagram at shopadonisking. Okay, I'll say it if you two won't. You also look like models. You have great faces. I mean, that helps. Sam, you too. You could have been a model. You know that, right? Right. Stop it. He's in his bag. He's in his bag in more ways than one. Thank you so much for taking out the time, joining us live from England. We love to see it. Adonis, congratulations. Thank you so much and congrats to you as well. Like I said before, this is amazing. I know it doesn't take overnight, and I'm really proud of you. We're proud of each other. Love, love. All right, coming up, we're going to keep all the love going and also some craftiness because ready, set, tough. Have you ever made your own rug? Well, if you want to learn, stick around. We're going to have a conversation with a woman who's doing that. She's going to teach me, and then also another powerhouse woman who's doing media, beauty, and fashion her own way. Yes. I'll see you after the break. I am so excited. I'm over the moon, in fact, to introduce you to my guest here. I was on social media about, I don't know, a week or so ago, minding my business, and I'm just sitting there scrolling, looking for something to do, and your video literally stopped me in my tracks. I saw people learning how to make their own rugs, and I slid into their DMs. Topping up studio and social. Owner, founder, Dominice Gregory, and studio manager Mia Veltis are both here. I am so glad you're both here and you're doing what you're doing for the community. Thank you for having us. We're so happy to be here. Yes, you can tell on social that the people who do this, they have a blast. And here's the thing. My mom is very, very crafty, always has been, and I've made pillows with her, I've made towels, I've made quilts. It never occurred to me to make my own rugs. Exactly. So how did it occur to you to do that and start a whole business about it? Right. So for me, I first got into rug tufting on accident. I was visiting a friend in Atlanta, and this was one of her birthday activities to do for the weekend, and I went to the studio and I enjoyed it so, so much that I wanted to bring the idea back home, and here we are. Gosh, how long ago was that? That was two and a half years ago. That's it? Oh, my gosh. And Mia, you're right there in the store managing. Describe the vibes. Talk about what you all do to make it so fun for the entire community. The environment at Tuft & Nuff Studio on Social is so friendly. It's welcoming. I'm the first face that you see when you walk in, so I invite you into the studio, get you checked in, and then we do a demo session for your rug. So what I do is I show you how the safety and rules of the gun go, and then I'll have you demonstrate or practice on your own on our own rug, and then you can move to your personal rug and get to work. Gosh, so do people come in and say, Hey, I want to make a rug that says this, that looks this way? Do they come in with pictures and tell you what they want? We get all kinds of rugs. So when you go to the website to book, you can pick from one of our preset images or you can upload something of your own, something that's personable or personalized to you. All right, so let's get into what you brought here before you teach me a thing or two. Absolutely. I see fans. We've got to represent the HBCU. So I am a rattler, so that's why we have the family rug here, and we have our logo, which I tufted, and then we have a Scooby-Doo for my character. Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you? And then we have a portrait right here. Oh, my, that's awesome. You know, if I make something like that, it's not going on the floor. Exactly. A lot of the stuff, people put them on the wall. Exactly, it becomes wall art. I work too hard on it. That's for you. This is actually for you. Alpha Sorority Incorporated. So we made that just for you. I love it. Okay, so I want to learn how to make one. Let's get started. You all walk me through. Yeah, so actually we're going to step over on this side of the table. Step over here. Watch your step. Okay, now what is this? So this is pretty much another, a.k.a. rug just for you, but we are going to practice on here. Okay, I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm looking at everything like, am I ready? Real quick, so when we trace the images, everything is reversed, because this is the front of the rug and this is the back. Oh, okay, I see it now. So you might be like, wait, something a little back. You don't find it so easy. Right, that's why. Okay. So Mia is going to demonstrate first. Yes, let Mia demonstrate. I don't want to mess up. We've threaded everything. We've threaded everything for you. This is a tufting gun. Believe it or not, you only need about an inch or less to get your rug started. So first thing you're going to do is insert the gun into the canvas. And with tufting, you must go from bottom and work your way on up. Why is that the case? That's just how the gun is made. So if you try to go top to bottom, you'll run the risk of ruining the canvas. And once you ruin it, there's nothing we can do to fix it. Well, you know what, that's a good way to let off some steam too. It's very therapeutic. The most important thing when you're tufting is to maintain pressure on your canvas. So there shouldn't be any gaps or spacing between the canvas and the gun. If you do, you can create a hole. Okay, so if you come with a group here, and I see you, Dominice, kind of holding the back, is that what would happen generally, like one person is making theirs and another person is making sure everything's steady? No, no, no. I'm just placing my hand right there. That was just for the camera. That was just for the TV. Okay. But the clamps are holding the frame in place. Gotcha. So, yeah, that's pretty much it. Would you like to give it a try? You know what? Yes, why not? This is live television. I'm going to do my best. So put your dominant hand here. Okay. And be mindful that your trigger is right by your index finger. Okay. Non-dominant fingers. Grab this. There you go. And so I can start here then go all the way up? Correct. Yes. Okay, so I'm here first. Move over to the little. There you go. And then pressure, because pressure is key. You want to lean in just like that from start to finish. Now we're going to turn it on. Okay, well, I got to turn it on. Right there. She said turn it on. And then pull the trigger, but keep the pressure. There you go. Oh, my gosh. And then stop. And then you can take it off. There you go. Oh, no. I kind of messed mine up. Okay, well, maybe it's more decorative. It's very forgiving. There's no right or wrong way. All the way in. Except push it in. Yep, keep that same pressure. Apply the pressure. Keep the same pressure. You got it. More pressure. Keep it tight. There you go. So with the right hand, you want to engage the entire time from start to finish. And even though it looks like this on the back, it looks fine. Yeah, it's fine. On the front side, yeah. Well, let's show the rest of those on the front. Because I don't want them going on. Right. Can we get somebody's rug on television? Okay. So it's not the finished or final look. This is not the final product. Yeah, it's not the final look. It is the front and what it will look like. So it looks much more like a rug than it does on the other side. Yes. And this. I love this. This is the finished final product. Okay, so if I come there and things aren't – if it's looking rough and tough for real, you all can, you know, fix any of the minor missteps. Yes. Actually, you will shave it at the end. So that's part of the experience. Oh, and that's what gets you that finished product. So we'll put the backing on, which if you turn it around, we'll seal the back for you. I love it. And so people can plan, I'm assuming, birthday parties, sorority gatherings, girls' nights. Girls' nights. Exactly. Date nights. Yes. It's something for everybody. Yes. Graduation parties, a whole nine. Whatever it is that you're looking to do, we can accommodate the entire space for you or a section of the space. Exactly. And how often in advance or how soon in advance do people need to register? So at least two hours before every workshop. Okay. So you must book in advance because we do not allow walk-ins because there is a preparation process before every workshop begins. Okay. So you can't just walk up and say, I saw this on a Marissa Mitchell show, I want to make a vlog today. Yes, but you can book online. Book online. Thank you, ladies. This was so much fun. You're free to stay here and finish it. Okay. So I can hand them out to my colleagues. Yes, ma'am. We appreciate you and all that you're doing. Thank you. Thank you for having us. I actually got to go to their spot for one of the nights because that video was everything. We were just highlighting them. I would call them DMV divas. You know how we do DMV diva segments where we highlight women who are starting businesses and really just doing it big across the area. And that vibe, it continues today here in studio because I am joined by Blake Newby. Hello. You look so pretty. You look stunning. Thank you for having me. Thank you for coming. Of course. Oh my goodness. And so you do it all. Let's see. Beauty, skin care, media, journalism. Yes. Podcasting. A little bit of everything. And you still have time to stop by here today. Yes. I'm glad you did. I always make time for the things that matter. Yes. So tell me, like, when did this love for media start? Yeah. And how did you look to, I guess, grow what has become an empire, really? Yeah. Well, I've always loved media. I tell people, funny enough, I was just telling the story. I used to want to, I told people, I want to be the next Soledad O'Brien. Like that was the goal. I ended up going to Howard University. Okay. H-U. You know. I majored in media journalism and film. So I always knew. But I, at the time, I thought I wanted to do serious news. That quickly pivoted. I moved to New York and it was something about the energy, the beauty, the fashion. I was a beauty girl at Howard. I did full face beats for $15 beat by Blake for the probates. Come on. For all of the things. And so it really just made sense that eventually I just started to merge my passions and kind of shift it. So now the media focus and things like that, it's, it just took a different direction. Well, you know, nowadays it's all one in the same. Yes. You know, I mentor several young people, did a tour here at the station last week. You can really do it all. You can. I would say you might want to do it all. Yes. In order to stay relevant. Yes. And I think that that has been the fantastic thing. You know, I was in print journalism right after I had initially tried my hand in, in serious news and even looking at the way that that has changed and that has evolved. And like you said, I talked to so many young girls who are like, I want to do print. And I'm like, I think you need to be able to do it all. Be open minded. We just don't know, you know, where media is going and all of those things. And so I'd like to really not be a jack of all trades cause I know that's not necessarily something that people aim to do, but I like to be well versed in so much of it across media so that no matter how the landscape continues to change, I can keep up with it. But then also tap into all of your passions because that's the beauty of the landscape is that you can be fluid. You don't have to be limited to doing just one thing. So talk to me about your podcast, your guests and some of the favorite topics that you like to delve into. So I created my podcast according to Blake nearly two years ago. It initially was just supposed to be a digital resume, but what it became was so much more. We've had incredible celebrities, Candace Dillard Bassett, who of course the DMV loves. We've had Clarissa Shields, Alex Isley, Estelle, so many more incredible people. And it really has become not only, like I said, that digital resume, but for a place that people can come and listen and watch, you know, incredible conversations with people that look like us about topics that we can relate to. And so, you know, I'm so excited. We were on hiatus, but season three is back. So if I get ready. We are back. It comes back Monday, August 3rd. We have a presenting sponsor this year, the brand Brown Sugar Babe. The Body Oils is the presenting sponsor this year. So I'm just, I'm so excited. You know, I think we need outlets to talk. I need outlets to talk. And sometimes the girls need outlets just to listen. Yes. And receive. The goodness that you're putting in here. Yes. I mean, that's the good news, right? Yes. That you can actually leave with something. Correct. I'm leaving here with something. Yes. I'm leaving here with this takeaway. Yes. Something that will let my life be better, essentially. 100%. You know, more informed. More entertained. Yes. If you will. Where can people go, Blake, to learn more about this podcast? Yes. According to Blake and all the wonderful things you're working on. Well, so according to Blake is on all socials. And then I am on all socials. TikTok is my largest platform. That is where the girls really go to hear me talk. So if you want to follow me on TikTok. But like I said, August 3rd, according to Blake on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts. And we have some incredible guests. One of the guests we've already posted about, Mara Brock Akil will be one of the guests. This season. We have some incredible other guests that you all love. Dominique Morgan. We have some D.C. Some D.C. Stars that I'm actually filming with tomorrow. So really excited. All right. You got 10 seconds. Okay. What is the word of the day, according to Blake and why? Ooh. The word of the day, according to Blake, is consistency, consistency. Stay the course. You know, people always ask how I did it. I'm like, because I haven't given up. Yeah. I stay consistent even when it's hard. Even when it's not fun. Even when it's inconvenient. If content is king, consistency is queen. Hey. They go together. I just left you with something. You know, I just left you with something. That was done for you. That was great. We'll be right back with your burst of joy. I'm already filled with joy. Back with you now with burst of joy. It's a moment caught on camera between World Cup superstar Spain's Lamine Yamal and his biggest fan. And I'm his biggest fan. Three-year-old brother. His three-year-old brother. After the 19-year-old soccer star helped lead the Spanish men's national team to victory over Argentina, his little brother, you see him there, Kenye, could be seen running straight into his brother's arms and screaming with joy over the win. The pair were all smiles as Yamal picked him up and gave him a massive hug. I've been following that little boy since they put the cameras on him during the games and I have deemed him the unofficial mascot of 2026 World Cup. He is super cute. And who knows? Maybe we'll see him on the pitch in a few years. We'll have much more on Tomorrow's Marissa Mitchell Show. A very big guest will be on. Stick around to see that rundown. Creativity. That has to be at the heart of all of my guest segments today. We had Backyard Band here. Adonis King, the local fashion extravaganza or extraordinaire of a guy who's now gone global with soccer superstar Sam Cox. Then I had the women who have a rough-making, rug-tufting session in business that's happening in Hyattsville and they did an outstanding job. So if you're creative, you have those juices together, just make sure you can find your people to bring those to life because they could, in fact, be a success. You don't know if you don't try. Well, don't miss tomorrow's show from chart-topping kids to making an impact beyond music, Grammy award winner Chance the Rapper will join us. Yes, I said Chance the Rapper. He's going to talk all about what he's achieved in an upcoming show here in the DMV. That conversation is exclusive as well. We're also going to get a preview of Broccoli City Presents.