Legacy: He shares the cultural history of D.C.’s iconic mumbo sauce and youth mentorship.

Strawberry Letter

iHeartPodcasts

Relationships, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 16 August 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jermaine Smith.

💼 Business Overview

Henry’s Soul Café: A family legacy restaurant founded in 1968 by Jermaine’s father. Jermaine expanded the brand while honoring its roots.
Culinary Institute: Created to train and mentor youth in the culinary arts.
Film & Talent: Produces films (Strange Love, Trophy Wife, Legendary with Earthquake) and manages comedians and entertainers.
Real Estate: Active developer and investor in the DMV area.

💡 Key Insights

Legacy & Mentorship: Inspired by his father’s generosity and work ethic, Jermaine emphasizes giving back and mentoring youth.
Multiple Streams of Income: Jermaine diversified his career across food, entertainment, and real estate.
Community Impact: Employs and mentors local youth, often becoming a father figure and role model.
Soul Food Philosophy: Describes soul food as “cooked from the heart,” rooted in African American history and Southern traditions.
Mumbo Sauce Origin: Shared the cultural history of D.C.’s iconic mumbo sauce and consulted McDonald’s on its rollout.

🧠 Business Wisdom

“It’s not about what you acquire, it’s about what you help others acquire.”
“Kids emulate what they see. Be the example.”
“You don’t have to be the star to be the one who delivers the value.”

📦 Bonus Highlights

TV Appearance: Featured on OWN’s Great Soul Food Cook-Off as one of the top 8 soul food chefs in the U.S.
McDonald’s Collaboration: Consulted on the cultural authenticity of mumbo sauce for a national campaign.
Faith & Focus: Attributes his success to staying grounded, being trustworthy, and having a heart for service.

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an IHeart podcast.
0:04.6	Hi, I'm Roshan McDonnell.
0:06.5	I host the weekly Money Making Conversation Masterclass show.
0:09.4	The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone.
0:12.9	It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and start living your own.
0:17.3	If you want to be a guest on my show, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations.com,
0:23.5	and click the be a guest button. Press submit and the information will come directly to me.
0:28.7	Now, let's get this show started. Let me, let me throw out something. Film production, talent manager,
0:35.4	restaurateur, celebrity chef services, real estate development.
0:40.0	That's my next guess.
0:42.3	His name is Jermaine Smith.
0:43.4	Jermaine is a visionary, restaurateur, and celebrity chef in Washington, D.C.
0:49.1	His restaurant based is called Henry's Soul Cafe in an effort to serve the community so he hasn't
0:54.9	forgot about his community. Germain launched a culinary institute designed to train young people.
1:00.5	Germain finances and produces films such as strange love for Amazon Video, Trophy Wife,
1:05.9	and Dave Chappelle's legendary starring My Man, Earthquake for Netflix.
1:13.3	If you hadn't saw that comedy special, please check it out.
1:18.2	In that same vein, he manages his talent in the comedy space as a successful real estate developer and investor and consults for businesses across the globe.
1:22.5	If he's not a money-making conversation, yes, I don't know who is.
1:25.6	Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Master Class,
1:28.9	Jermaine Smith. How you doing, sir?
1:24.2	Hey, my brother, how are you doing, man? Thanks for having me. It's such a pleasure to be here. First of all, you know, I'll tell you how I met Jermaine. I'm on the phone with her quake, right? We just talk about comedy dates. Just comedy dates. Don't know nothing about restaurant, no nothing about food.
	...

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