To podcast hosts Lex and Drea, the key is to balance business and friendship. As the hosts of Pour Minds, the bestie duo have the type of warm, transparent energy that keeps their listeners, and the GU audience, tuned in. The two Houstonians sit down to talk with Essence’s VP of Content, Nandi Howard, at the Creator House about their podcast journey and maintaining friendship through business.
For Lex and Drea, it’s really important to continue their friendship how they started, by lifting each other up to succeed. Having met at a club where Lex taught Drea how to bartend, these two coworkers turned best friends prioritize nurturing longevity and believe, as Drea puts it, “we started off getting money together, so it’s only right that we’re here [together].”
While discussing their origin stories that brought them to the present day, the content creators and business owners dropped several gems on how to navigate business with each other, and trust, we took notes.
The first takeaway is to be consistent and be your authentic self yourself. When it comes to pursuing content creation, Drea advises, “Just press record. All you gotta do is just start, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Eventually it’ll get to the point that you want it to get to.”
Embracing every step of their trajectory is a key component to this authenticity. Howard asks the duo to describe “growing up through the podcast, [and] what it has taught you both as women.” Lex explains, “I’ve never hid anything about my journey. [It’s all] a testament to our story.” Drea offers that, “it’s amazing that we still have all our episodes up, so people can see from the conception, to where we are now.”
They also get candid when talking about maintaining relationships when you have such a public platform. “One thing about Lex P, I will fall in love, baby,” Lex exclaims. She describes keeping a soft heart and open mind regardless of negative experiences, and discusses with Drea about keeping an “open forum” of sorts to be genuine and transparent in communication while also not compromising their careers.
While the platform is meant to be fun and free-flowing, Pour Minds is a show rooted in quality and care. To anyone contemplating going down a similar path, the hosts stress the importance of doing your research. Being proactive about what they wanted for themselves and discovering how to achieve it was crucial for Lex and Drea when they started out.
Additionally, gratitude is a must. Connecting back to being honest about every aspect of their paths is the ability to be grateful for every season. “The first check we ever made was $86 and you couldn’t tell us nothing,” Drea says. Lex adds how excited the two were and they reflect on how far they’ve come together.
Lastly, the women speak to the importance of leaning on their community and their faith through the highs and lows. Along this journey they have both experienced loss, via loved ones and life’s trials, and their bond with each other and their wider support system carries them through the storms.
If Drea and Lex’s journeys are any indication of the road ahead, it is clear that authenticity, integrity, and consistency are the three necessary components to a healthy foundation between business and friendships.