The Real Connect

Have you ever wondered if the wedding is getting more attention than the marriage?

Eloping used to sound like “run to the courthouse in secret”… but in this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Kate Okenatez-Mahoney, founder of Soul and Sky Weddings, to flip that whole narrative. Kate specializes in adventure elopements—think Alaska glaciers, mountaintops, national parks, and even cliffside ceremonies that require rock climbing to reach.

This conversation is about intention, boundaries, and choosing a love story that feels like yours (not your aunt’s, not your mom’s, not Instagram’s).

Kate breaks down what modern elopements actually look like, how couples navigate family pressure, why private vows can be a game-changer, and the mindset shift that turns “we can’t” into “we just have to turn a little bit.”

What You Will Hear About:

1. What a “modern elopement” really is.

2. Why Kate believes eloping is often a more intentional way to marry.

3. The real difference between planning a wedding for others vs. designing an experience for your relationship.

4. How couples handle family opinions, guilt, and boundaries.

5. Multi-day elopements: family day vs. private vow day.

6. Kate’s “villain origin story.”

7. Why Alaska is the ultimate elopement backdrop.

8. The “True North” planning exercise

9. Why “extraordinary” matters, and why you don’t have time to settle on your day.

If you’re anticipating the strife of wedding planning or thinking about eloping, or feeling pulled between what you want and what everyone expects, this episode is for you.

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you’re trying to love better, set real boundaries, and stay connected.

Connect with Kate/Soul and Sky Weddings: https://soulandskyweddings.com/

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-okenatez-mahoney/

Connect with Kate/Soul and Sky Weddings on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulandskyweddings

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp

Join The Connect (free weekly newsletter): https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika’s website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com

00:00 The Essence of Eloping
00:36 Introduction to the Podcast
01:02 Meet Kate: The Adventurous Elopement Photographer
02:55 The True Meaning of Elopement
05:41 Why Alaska?
06:50 The Origin Story: From Traditional to Adventurous
08:23 The Unique Challenges and Joys of Elopements
11:50 Finding the Right Clients
13:52 Creating Memorable Experiences
16:51 Balancing Family Expectations and Personal Desires
20:05 The Importance of Boundaries and Personal Vision
25:15 Elopement and Reception Ideas
26:11 Choosing Between Elopement and Traditional Weddings
27:59 The Importance of Extraordinary Weddings
29:00 Transition from Corporate HR to Photography
31:10 Embracing Change and Adventure
43:39 Speed Round and Final Thoughts

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #Elopement #DestinationWedding #MicroWedding #WeddingPlanning #Marriage #RelationshipAdvice

Real Connection Doesn’t Mean “No Conflict”… It Means You Stay on the Same Team

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, host Tamika Carlton sits down with Sara Margulis, founder and CEO of Honeyfund (yes, the Shark Tank success story), for a real conversation about what keeps relationships alive when life gets loud. From honeymoon travel and why “shared experiences” are a love language, to boundaries, communication, divorce, and building a company with your spouse.

Sara shares how she and her then-fiancé created Honeyfund from their own wedding dream (hello, Fiji), how Shark Tank changed everything, and the relationship science that helped her reframe conflict: it’s not about being right...btw.

What You Will Hear About:

1. What “heart-centered connection” means and why it’s the difference between conflict and collapse

2. Why couples who travel together often communicate better (and feel like a team again)

3. The #1 thing you can do to stop arguments from going too far

4. Why you can’t be business partners + romantic partners 24/7 (and the boundaries that matter most)

5. How Honeyfund started with one honeymoon dream (Fiji) and turned into a platform for over 100,000 weddings a year

6. Behind the scenes of Shark Tank

7. Divorce, grief, and rebuilding

8. Why “I’m proud of you” isn’t enough

9. Sara's take on love and ambition

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you’re trying to love better, argue cleaner, set real boundaries, and stay connected.

Connect with Sarah Margulis and Honeyfund: https://www.honeyfund.com

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp

Join The Connect (free weekly newsletter): https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika’s website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com

00:00 Introduction to Heart-Centered Relationships
01:26 Welcome to the Real Connect Podcast
01:52 Getting to Know Sara Margulis
02:52 Sarah's Background and Career Path
06:10 The Birth of Honey Fund
09:21 Honey Fund's Growth and Success
17:23 Shark Tank Experience
26:20 Challenges and Personal Struggles
29:54 Navigating Business and Personal Life Post-Divorce
30:41 The Impact of the Pandemic on Business
32:10 Raising Funds and Moving Forward
32:52 The Importance of Boundaries
35:40 Balancing Work and Personal Life
38:59 Insights on Relationships and Communication
50:06 Defining Success and Personal Growth
54:32 Speed Round and Final Thoughts

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #Relationships #Marriage #Divorce #LoveLanguages #SharkTank #Honeyfund #SaraMargulis

This is for anyone who’s been knocked down by life and decided not just to survive, but to build something meaningful on the other side.
In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Nayana (Nay) Ferguson, entrepreneur, national speaker, and the first Black woman co-owner/operator of a tequila brand, Anteel Tequila, for a conversation that’s inspiring, and deeply human.
Nay shares why she moved from Detroit to Atlanta, how Atlanta embraced her vision (including receiving a City of Atlanta proclamation just two weeks after arriving), and how one “couch conversation” turned into a tequila brand that disrupted the industry. The heartbeat of this episode is Nay’s faith in herself—something she traces all the way back to a childhood house fire. That moment became a lifelong anchor.
What You Will Hear About:
1. The childhood fire story that shaped Nay’s identity and faith in herself.
2. Surviving pancreatic cancer and breast cancer, and the mindset that carried her through.
3. The “couch conversation” that sparked Anteel Tequila.
4. Building a business with your spouse.
5. What it means to be a pioneer in the industry and why legacy matters.

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you care about resilience, entrepreneurship, and the kind of connection that reminds you: you’re still here for a reason.

Connect with Nayana Ferguson: https://www.instagram.com/nayanaferguson

Follow Anteel Tequila on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anteeltequilas/

Visit Anteel Tequila's website: https://anteeltequila.com/

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp

Join The Connect (free weekly newsletter): https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika’s website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #FaithInYourself #Atlanta #TequilaBrand #BlackWomenInBusiness #MarriageAndBusiness #Connection

What does self-care look like when you’re building a career, building a family… and life is still lifing?

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Atlanta powerhouse Lakila Bowden, COO, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Isee Technologies, for a fearless and fruitful conversation.
Lakila breaks down why career success doesn’t have to cost you your health, what alignment really looks like in real life (not just as a buzzword), and how women can give themselves permission to prioritize themselves without guilt.

Lakila also shares her story about leaving corporate on her own terms, building a business with her sister Camille (who is blind and absolutely unstoppable), and navigating one of life’s most emotionally complex seasons with intention, joy, and self-preservation.

This episode is for the woman who’s tired of pouring from an empty cup and ready to build a life that actually feels good.

What You Will Hear About:

1. Why weekends off and real rest are a non-negotiable (and how Tamika protects her peace).

2. The difference between being a “cultural fit” vs. a cultural addition in corporate spaces.

3. What “alignment” actually looks like and how to strengthen your intuition as a decision-making muscle.

4. How Lakila built a company with her sister Camille and why accessibility is about capability, not limitation.

5. Leaving the corporate world at 37 to create financial freedom and moving without fear.

6. The truth about women, burnout, and self-care guilt.

7. Love, partnership, and why her husband is genuinely part of her self-care.

8. Lakila's book: The Sho Nuff Principle: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shonuff-principle-lakila-bowden/1148372350

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you care about self-care, burnout prevention, women’s wellness, alignment, and the kind of connection that feels like fuzzy socks.

Take the Guilt Detox Quiz: https://app.agolix.com/assessment/28648

Connect with Lakila Bowden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakilaj/

Follow Lakila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lakila-bowden-mba-0463272/

Visit Lakila Bowden's website: https://lakilabowden.com/

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp

Join The Connect (free weekly newsletter): https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika’s website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com

00:00 Introduction to Self-Care
01:49 Energy and Positivity
03:08 Career Success and Personal Happiness
03:27 Corporate Challenges and Alignment
08:09 Entrepreneurial Journey
13:26 Preventing Burnout
17:52 HBCU Experience and Personal Growth
20:15 Traveling the World: A Journey of Exposure and Growth
21:19 Family Support and Fearlessness
22:59 Meeting My Husband: A Fearless Love Story
28:45 The Importance of Accessibility and Capability
31:01 Writing and Self-Care: The Show N Principle
32:27 Balancing Joy and Grief: A Personal Story
36:46 Speed Round and Closing Thoughts

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #SelfCare #BurnoutPrevention #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CorporateToEntrepreneur #LakilaBowden

This is for anyone who’s ever eaten something so good it felt like a memory and a hug at the same time because food isn’t just food, it’s connection.

In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Top Chef Season 22 winner and Afro-Caribbean chef Tristen Epps for a conversation that goes way beyond the show. Tristen shares one of the most powerful compliments a chef can receive: not “this is delicious,” but “I’ve never felt so seen eating your food.” Tristen opens up about growing up as a military kid, moving 18 times, and learning how to adapt to new cultures across the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and beyond. This conversation is equal parts thoughtful, funny, and grounding. Tristen breaks down the four reasons he cooks, why nostalgia and culture matter, what post-Top Chef life has been like, and how food can bridge people across backgrounds. This is a real one about connection, identity, culture, and the power of being seen.

What You Will Hear About:
1. Why the greatest compliment is “I’ve never felt so seen eating your food.”

2. How Tristen’s Afro-Caribbean roots and global travel shaped his cooking.

3. The four reasons he cooks: deliciousness, nostalgia, the “aha” moment, and feeling seen.

4. What Tristen learned from living in Japan, the Philippines, and across the U.S.

5. How culture impacts belonging, friendship, and the way we connect.

6. Why people struggle to connect in new environments and how to adapt without losing yourself.

7. What life is like after Top Chef, private dinners, sold-out events, and building a platform with purpose.

🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you care about culture, food, and the kind of connection that makes people feel seen.

Connect with Tristen Epps on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheftristenepps/ or visit his website: https://www.eppsandflows.com/

Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbp.

Join The Connect—a free weekly newsletter with real insights on everything relationships! https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletter

Visit Tamika's website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com to stay connected.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections
00:59 Travel and Cultural Experiences
02:22 Post Top Chef Life
03:17 Childhood and Culinary Beginnings
14:41 Top Chef Journey
17:40 Career Reflections and Inspirations
28:56 Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Culture
29:36 The Untold Story of Afro-Caribbean Cuisine
30:02 Connecting Through Food
34:36 The Journey to Top Chef
36:22 Family Support and Sacrifices
39:57 Perseverance Through Loss
43:06 Favorite Dishes and Culinary Inspirations
48:04 Future Plans and Collaborations
51:34 Speed Round: Quickfire Questions

#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #TristenEpps #TopChef #ChefLife #AfroCaribbeanCuisine #FoodCulture #Friendship