# Family First: Mother and son discuss the role family support plays in preparing young adults for success.

An episode of [Money Making Conversations Master Class](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1264705641), 25 Aug 2026, 15 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/b1db7263-d1a3-4d00-8976-af62012aab44/5fefddba-c51c-46ef-867f-b4ad00a6eb5f/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=35a10561-3e1b-4d05-a529-af62012aab6a

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Sherri McCovey and her son, John McCovey. A student at Morehouse College. The conversation focuses on the transformative impact of HBCUs, the importance of cultural identity and community, academic excellence, and the role family support plays in preparing young adults for success. Purpose of the Interview The interview was designed to: • Highlight the value and impact of HBCUs, particularly Morehouse College. • Share John's firsthand experience transitioning to college life. • Address misconceptions and stereotypes about HBCUs. • Demonstrate how family guidance, preparation, and mentorship contribute to personal and academic success. • Celebrate Black excellence and the legacy of HBCU education. Key Takeaways 1. HBCUs Create a Strong Sense of Belonging John explained that after attending predominantly non-Black schools, visiting Morehouse and Spelman Homecoming exposed him to a thriving community of successful Black students, alumni, and professionals. That experience helped him realize Morehouse was where he belonged. 2. Academic Excellence Is a Core Part of HBCU Culture John challenged stereotypes by describing Morehouse as an environment where academic achievement is expected. He noted that he was surrounded by high-performing students who inspired him to work harder and raise his own standards. 3. HBCUs Offer Both Culture and Professional Development The discussion emphasized that while HBCUs are known for vibrant social experiences, students are equally focused on academic success, leadership, networking, and career preparation. 4. Being Surrounded by Excellence Inspires Growth John shared that being around ambitious and talented peers motivated him to elevate his own performance. Exposure to successful students broadened his understanding of what was possible. 5. Preparation at Home Leads to Success in College John credited his parents with teaching him responsibility, independence, and life skills before he left for college. As a result, he felt prepared to manage life on his own. 6. College Accelerates Maturity Sherri observed noticeable growth in John within his first semester at Morehouse. She described increased confidence, professionalism, accountability, and maturity. 7. Family Legacy Influenced Educational Choices Sherri explained that her family has a long history of attending HBCUs, and John grew up hearing about their significance, culture, and impact. This helped shape his decision to attend Morehouse. Notable Quotes John McCovey on Morehouse and HBCUs "I feel like when I'm at Morehouse, I'm at home. Just being at an HBCU in general, I'm at home." John McCovey on His First Homecoming Experience "Seeing all these amazing Black people in one area just having fun, I was like, okay, this is the right direction." John McCovey on Academic Expectations "I'm around people that's even smarter." John McCovey on Balancing Fun and Success "We can have fun, but we understand there's a certain level of business and what we have to do." Sherri McCovey on Her Son's Growth "We saw a growth in him within six months." Sherri McCovey on HBCU Influence "He always heard about the greatness of HBCUs." John McCovey on Independence "The only thing I had to realize is that, okay, I'm on my own." Overall Message The interview illustrates how HBCUs serve as powerful environments for personal…

## Transcript

[0:00] Speaker 1: Welcome to the show. I'm Rashan McDonald, the host of
[0:03] Speaker 1: money Making Conversations Masterclass, where we encourage people to stop
[0:06] Speaker 1: reading other people's success stories and start planning their own. Now,
[0:11] Speaker 1: you don't want to miss an episode of Money Making
[0:13] Speaker 1: Conversations Masterclass, So right now, follow a subscribe to Money
[0:17] Speaker 1: Making Conversations. It's free and you can find it on
[0:20] Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get
[0:25] Speaker 1: your podcasts. Now, sit back and listen as we unlock
[0:28] Speaker 1: the secrets to their success on Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
[0:34] Speaker 1: I have my guests in studios. She is the co
[0:37] Speaker 1: creator and the executive producer of The Martin Lawrence or
[0:42] Speaker 1: The Martin which is starred Martin Lawrence and it's a spinoff.
[0:45] Speaker 1: It's a spinoff, the first ever spent off of The
[0:47] Speaker 1: Martin Show, The Vonelle Hill Show, starting starring Tommy Davison,
[0:52] Speaker 1: the One and Only Tommy Davis, and Kim Whitley and
[0:56] Speaker 1: the Wendy rick Al Robinson dividom of our hopefully her
[0:59] Speaker 1: co writer. You know, it was really interesting about the
[1:04] Speaker 1: I was going through my computer right and you sent
[1:07] Speaker 1: me a script from it was like August of twenty
[1:11] Speaker 1: twenty two for the von Nale Hills Show. That's five
[1:14] Speaker 1: years ago.
[1:15] Speaker 2: It's probably we Yeah, it's been a journey.
[1:19] Speaker 1: Cool because I don't want to steal too much thunder
[1:21] Speaker 1: from when we get Kevin on the air, because my
[1:24] Speaker 1: relationship with him is amazing as well. And so but again,
[1:29] Speaker 1: this is this is a version of black excellence, and
[1:32] Speaker 1: we're going to start kind of like connecting the dots
[1:36] Speaker 1: on a lot of black people that have impacted our lives.
[1:41] Speaker 1: Did you know their stories? I was in Martha's vineyard
[1:44] Speaker 1: this Tuesday, right and I was and it really dawned
[1:48] Speaker 1: on me kind of like who I am as far
[1:51] Speaker 1: as content creating, and I was. I was on stage
[1:55] Speaker 1: and it gather and moderated, was asking me questions. Very
[2:00] Speaker 1: talented guy. And it's always interesting when when people are
[2:05] Speaker 1: interviewing me, it's I can always feel a little shift
[2:09] Speaker 1: in their face. It almost like they don't know who
[2:13] Speaker 1: they're talking to. And they been like they go, oh,
[2:16] Speaker 1: you did that, you did that, you did that, And
[2:19] Speaker 1: it was like, right in the middle of the interview,
[2:21] Speaker 1: I saw that shift that I normally get and I
[2:24] Speaker 1: went and I was and I said on stage, I went,
[2:26] Speaker 1: i'ma be honest with you. I can assure you that
[2:29] Speaker 1: everybody in this room has read something, has seen something,
[2:35] Speaker 1: or laughed at something that I've created. I can promise
[2:39] Speaker 1: you that it's absolutely true. And that was the first
[2:45] Speaker 1: time I realized that about my life, that that to
[2:48] Speaker 1: make a statement like that, it's really it's not arrogant.
[2:52] Speaker 1: It's really a testament that of the people who have
[2:56] Speaker 1: fed me in this business or uplifted me in this
[2:58] Speaker 1: business and given me oppt tunities, and I haven't failed them. Yes,
[3:02] Speaker 1: I have not failed.
[3:03] Speaker 3: And you've given quite a few as well.
[3:05] Speaker 1: Yeah. Like this young man that you call your son,
[3:08] Speaker 1: let's bring him on the air. He's a he just
[3:10] Speaker 1: just finished bragging. I'm talking say McCovey. Uh, that famous name.
[3:14] Speaker 1: McCovey inspired her son to pursue a baseball career. He's
[3:18] Speaker 1: not pursuing a life career like a career my life.
[3:21] Speaker 1: He's finding himself. I need to bring in microphone a
[3:24] Speaker 1: little bit closer to you, Captain Sexy. It'm gonna be good. Please,
[3:30] Speaker 1: welcome to the show, Sherry McCovey. Now her son John.
[3:34] Speaker 2: How you're doing, How you're doing? Everybody? This is John McCovey.
[3:37] Speaker 2: It's pleasure to be here.
[3:38] Speaker 1: But first of all, you keep that all time.
[3:40] Speaker 4: Keep that.
[3:42] Speaker 2: I just feel like I got to move.
[3:44] Speaker 1: You understand and understand he used to play a big rooms.
[3:47] Speaker 1: He used to play a big rooms. That's all big.
[3:50] Speaker 1: Why are you doing sir?
[3:51] Speaker 2: I'm doing well?
[3:51] Speaker 1: How you doing good?
[3:53] Speaker 3: Uh?
[3:53] Speaker 1: Why More House?
[3:55] Speaker 2: So that's a that's a deep question.
[3:57] Speaker 4: The the broadhand side like to because that my mom
[4:00] Speaker 4: went to Spelman, so I kind of had to go
[4:02] Speaker 4: to Morehouse in a way.
[4:04] Speaker 2: But that's not the full story.
[4:05] Speaker 4: So first, when I was interested in going to college,
[4:07] Speaker 4: obviously I was thinking, you know where I want to go.
[4:10] Speaker 2: In going through elementary.
[4:11] Speaker 4: School, middle school, high school, I was predominantly the minority,
[4:16] Speaker 4: and so around my sophomo junior year high school, I
[4:18] Speaker 4: was kind of like, Okay, let me start really doing
[4:20] Speaker 4: some research. And my mom has always talked about HBCUs,
[4:23] Speaker 4: but being from Los Angeles in California, you don't really
[4:26] Speaker 4: see the effect of HBC's unless you have someone telling you.
[4:30] Speaker 4: So my junior year, my mom took me to homecoming Morehouse,
[4:34] Speaker 4: Spellman homecoming, and that definitely set me off on the
[4:38] Speaker 4: right trail, saying all these amazing black people. He's for
[4:41] Speaker 4: my end down all these amazing black people in one area,
[4:44] Speaker 4: just having fun. And I was like, Okay, this is
[4:47] Speaker 4: the right direction. So I visited some other schools. I
[4:49] Speaker 4: visited Southern University. I visited North Carolina A and T,
[4:53] Speaker 4: and they were also good schools as well. But being
[4:55] Speaker 4: in Atlanta, being in a big city and having so
[4:58] Speaker 4: many people to the athlete too, I was athlete cool.
[5:01] Speaker 2: So those those.
[5:02] Speaker 1: Visits are tied to your athletters, which is academics.
[5:06] Speaker 2: Academics. You just wanted to go see what school look good? Okay, cool?
[5:08] Speaker 1: Well you went to Southern Jaguars down there, you know,
[5:11] Speaker 1: that's the school. I almost went to the back roote,
[5:14] Speaker 1: you know. I went there for you know, entry level.
[5:17] Speaker 1: And I didn't go because Jack Wars was my high
[5:20] Speaker 1: school Blue and God was my high school colors. I
[5:23] Speaker 1: thought I was stal in high school. That's the only
[5:25] Speaker 1: reason I didn't go to Southern University. So so so
[5:29] Speaker 1: continue A and T. That's the largest.
[5:32] Speaker 4: HPCU right in Carolina, and so attendance wise by registration
[5:37] Speaker 4: of students, right, which is because it's a state school.
[5:39] Speaker 4: So there's a lot of a lot of people that
[5:41] Speaker 4: go there. But so I was, you know, looking at
[5:43] Speaker 4: those schools my seniory. My mom was smart, let me visit,
[5:47] Speaker 4: uh the homecoming again, so I didn't go once somewhere.
[5:50] Speaker 1: What did you see in the homecoming that made you
[5:53] Speaker 1: feel a connection because you was young? Now there was
[5:56] Speaker 1: nobody out there. They were about the old people like
[5:58] Speaker 1: your mom and me, you know what I'm saying. You know,
[6:01] Speaker 1: sometimes like your little young man seventeen sixteen years old? Yeah,
[6:05] Speaker 1: what did you see at that young age? Sent I
[6:07] Speaker 1: want this to be part of my legates.
[6:09] Speaker 4: Well, I feel like culturally, just seeing so many black
[6:12] Speaker 4: people look like, you know, just expressing themselves that when
[6:15] Speaker 4: they wanted to, like being able to dress freely, being
[6:17] Speaker 4: able to do whatever they wanted to do. Just seeing
[6:19] Speaker 4: an environment like that with something different than what I
[6:21] Speaker 4: went through in high school, in middleswe elementary school, having
[6:24] Speaker 4: to I wouldn't say conform, but definitely having to understand
[6:28] Speaker 4: that there's a time and a place to do certain things.
[6:29] Speaker 4: I feel like when I'm at more House, I'm at
[6:31] Speaker 4: a home. Just being at HBCU in general, I'm at home.
[6:34] Speaker 4: So being at more House seeing that, seeing the committee,
[6:38] Speaker 4: seeing the resources and the connections I can build by
[6:41] Speaker 4: being at a school like that.
[6:43] Speaker 2: I was like, I feel like that's the school I
[6:44] Speaker 2: got go too. Please don't go anywhere.
[6:46] Speaker 1: We'll be right back with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass. No,
[6:50] Speaker 1: I need for you to do me a favor right
[6:53] Speaker 1: now to follow or subscribe to Money Making Conversation. It's
[6:56] Speaker 1: free and you can find it on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify,
[7:01] Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please do
[7:05] Speaker 1: me that favor, follow or subscribe Money Making Conversations. Welcome
[7:12] Speaker 1: back to Money Making Conversations master Class with me Rashaun McDonald.
[7:16] Speaker 1: Let's back up a little bit, you know, and thank
[7:18] Speaker 1: you sharing for allowing me to interview your son. You know,
[7:21] Speaker 1: you know it's been to my building and ate my
[7:23] Speaker 1: food many times. It's true, It's true. And send them
[7:26] Speaker 1: home in the in the in the care package, with
[7:29] Speaker 1: the care package and and uh uh the best vehicle
[7:32] Speaker 1: that can buy. As they come on back back on
[7:36] Speaker 1: camp with these starts, i'member with John saying, keem ken,
[7:41] Speaker 1: we make sure we get close to the domes.
[7:46] Speaker 2: So they step out.
[7:46] Speaker 1: You know, they gotta step out of the black. They
[7:51] Speaker 1: gotta step out of that's u V looking good n
[7:55] Speaker 1: the care package than you academics and stereotype player role.
[8:01] Speaker 1: Now when you came to more House, tell us about
[8:07] Speaker 1: some of the stereotypes that you were disappointed or the
[8:10] Speaker 1: perceptions people have about HBCUs, and then tell about a
[8:14] Speaker 1: couple of things about what people should know about HBCUs. Yes,
[8:18] Speaker 1: in particular more House in this situation, because that's what
[8:20] Speaker 1: you're attending first.
[8:21] Speaker 4: When I talk about when it comes, I'm gonna start academically.
[8:25] Speaker 4: When you go to the school like Morehouse, everybody academically
[8:28] Speaker 4: is sound to an extent. Being in high school, I
[8:32] Speaker 4: would go and you know, being as like I said,
[8:34] Speaker 4: being a minority, I'm one of the colle just told
[8:35] Speaker 4: me that one of the smart black kids. I'll go
[8:37] Speaker 4: to the black kids that knew how that I could
[8:38] Speaker 4: do this. I could do all this when I'm at
[8:40] Speaker 4: more House. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm
[8:42] Speaker 4: not smart, but when I'm there, there's everybody being smart.
[8:46] Speaker 4: Like I think my first semester, I got at three
[8:49] Speaker 4: point three, which is honor roll, and I was happy
[8:50] Speaker 4: about that, but I had people in the room with
[8:53] Speaker 4: me as Morehouse and Spellman like oh yeah, we got
[8:55] Speaker 4: three point eights. And so I'm looking around like, oh,
[8:59] Speaker 4: I know, I'm pretty smart, but I'm around people that's
[9:02] Speaker 4: even smarter.
[9:02] Speaker 3: I know.
[9:03] Speaker 4: We had a student my freshman year who got selected
[9:06] Speaker 4: to be a Rhodes Scholar, which is like one of
[9:07] Speaker 4: the most prestigious things, one of us prestigious scholars, and
[9:10] Speaker 4: he was a triple major, a triple major. So I
[9:14] Speaker 4: looked around. I was like, oh, no, I'm not doing
[9:15] Speaker 4: all that. That's not that's not something I'm interested in.
[9:19] Speaker 4: So seeing that, I think that also is part of
[9:21] Speaker 4: the reason why it helps me, you know, perform at
[9:23] Speaker 4: a perform better, because I'm surrounded by people like that,
[9:27] Speaker 4: some negative stereotypes. I mean, I feel like people just
[9:31] Speaker 4: try to act that when you're at a SPCU, you
[9:34] Speaker 4: guys just wilden out, you know, and there is a
[9:37] Speaker 4: time and place where you can go have fun.
[9:39] Speaker 2: You know. It was any campus, a campus, I know.
[9:42] Speaker 4: Little side note, when I was coming into town on Saturday,
[9:46] Speaker 4: we were driving past John Hope was it John Hope Park?
[9:50] Speaker 1: Oh?
[9:50] Speaker 3: No, John White Park.
[9:51] Speaker 4: John White Park, and my mom was telling me that
[9:53] Speaker 4: that's where Freaknick started. And so seeing stuff like that,
[9:56] Speaker 4: I was just like what like I'm like, this is
[9:58] Speaker 4: like a cultural events, this is a cultural place.
[10:00] Speaker 2: This needs to be like a national park because.
[10:02] Speaker 4: It started so much, it started so many, so much
[10:05] Speaker 4: for for Africa, Comberian people in that time. But people
[10:09] Speaker 4: think that that's how we are all the time, and
[10:11] Speaker 4: that's definitely not true. Being like I said, being around
[10:14] Speaker 4: these people on a daily I see that, Yeah, we
[10:17] Speaker 4: can have fun, but we understand there's a certain level
[10:19] Speaker 4: of business and what we have to do. And so
[10:21] Speaker 4: you have to understand that balance and that you know,
[10:23] Speaker 4: having fun is cool, but you want to graduate in
[10:25] Speaker 4: four years. That's what you're and that's what my mom
[10:28] Speaker 4: and dad are. You told me they still we be
[10:29] Speaker 4: paying for it. So if you're just do it. If
[10:31] Speaker 4: you're not doing you don't have to do for it.
[10:33] Speaker 4: But we just won't be paying for anything.
[10:34] Speaker 2: Have to loose for it. Stay with us.
[10:36] Speaker 1: More Money Making Conversation master Class coming up next. Welcome
[10:44] Speaker 1: back to Money Making Conversation master Class hosted by me
[10:47] Speaker 1: Rashawn McDonald. Let's get back into it. And now when
[10:51] Speaker 1: we were talking earlier, when he wasn't here, you know,
[10:53] Speaker 1: and the dad, I wish I could get him on
[10:55] Speaker 1: the phone, because he's a great guy. I've been knowing
[10:56] Speaker 1: him many many years as well, and so pouring into
[11:01] Speaker 1: you know, you know, his dad played the pay more
[11:04] Speaker 1: you play an important role. What what do you see
[11:10] Speaker 1: the changes in your son in one year? What changes
[11:13] Speaker 1: have you seen him?
[11:14] Speaker 3: It's funny because when we left him, they were like,
[11:19] Speaker 3: you won't recognize when we send him back to you,
[11:22] Speaker 3: even in one semester by Christmas. Just the seriousness, the
[11:27] Speaker 3: understanding of what this time means, the opportunity that he has,
[11:34] Speaker 3: seeing him blossom and grow and look people in the eye,
[11:38] Speaker 3: shake their hand, take things seriously, you know, John, Like
[11:44] Speaker 3: he said, we talked about HBCUs growing up. My whole
[11:47] Speaker 3: family went to Hbcusmbling, Grambling particularly. I have a cousin
[11:53] Speaker 3: that went to Pine Bluff. We have cousins that went
[11:57] Speaker 3: to Southern you know. But so he always heard about
[12:01] Speaker 3: the the greatness of HBCUs. And so I feel like
[12:05] Speaker 3: even after this first semester, he respected what we were
[12:08] Speaker 3: saying and he took it very seriously.
[12:11] Speaker 2: And they were right.
[12:13] Speaker 3: We saw a growth in him within six months and
[12:17] Speaker 3: and and just.
[12:21] Speaker 2: Around the how everything.
[12:22] Speaker 3: So we were we were very excited about what we
[12:26] Speaker 3: see and what we continue to see.
[12:28] Speaker 1: Cool. With that being said, when they left, you dropped
[12:32] Speaker 1: you off, Well you disoriented, disorientated about the whole I'm
[12:40] Speaker 1: here and what allowed you to bring it all together?
[12:44] Speaker 2: Well, I wasn't disoriented.
[12:46] Speaker 4: I was ready, but in a good way because the
[12:48] Speaker 4: fact that I felt like, and my mom always says this,
[12:49] Speaker 4: we wanted to prepare you to be at this point.
[12:51] Speaker 4: So when I was leaving for college, I was prepared
[12:53] Speaker 4: to do what I wanted to do. I knew how
[12:56] Speaker 4: to clean up after myself. I knew to watch clothes.
[12:58] Speaker 4: You know, some people living in a fresh dorm, you
[13:00] Speaker 4: you realize whose parents really showed them how to, you know,
[13:03] Speaker 4: be proper. And so with that being said, when I
[13:07] Speaker 4: got down there, the only thing I had to realize
[13:09] Speaker 4: is that, Okay, I'm on my own, and so there's
[13:12] Speaker 4: no excuse of you know, I can't. I have to
[13:16] Speaker 4: learn how to clean up after myself. I have to
[13:17] Speaker 4: do this after that. Mom's not gonna be there to
[13:20] Speaker 4: wake me up in the morning. Mom's not gonna need
[13:22] Speaker 4: to cook.
[13:22] Speaker 2: So that was the main thing.
[13:24] Speaker 1: Mm hmm. Okay, was playing the background Segway music, I
[13:31] Speaker 1: tell you what John Kevin is on the phone, and
[13:34] Speaker 1: so I am happy to say that, uh, your portion
[13:37] Speaker 1: of this interview is over. But again, I know I've
[13:42] Speaker 1: never done an interview this. This has got You're gonna
[13:44] Speaker 1: go on my podcasts A Mother and Daughter, Spelman, Ingrad
[13:47] Speaker 1: and Morehall's freshman discussing HBCU culture. Thank you for taking
[13:52] Speaker 1: the time to come on my show, Money Making Conversation
[13:54] Speaker 1: master class. Appreciate again. I'm sure football season coming up,
[13:57] Speaker 1: you're going to be by the building and uh with
[13:59] Speaker 1: my snoring and.
[14:01] Speaker 4: We was gonna come get to go sit down. He
[14:03] Speaker 4: had to go sit in one of his mentors.
[14:05] Speaker 1: Well, no problem, I will see them in the fall
[14:07] Speaker 1: and uh uh when football season started again. Thank you
[14:09] Speaker 1: for coming on Money Making Covers. He's a masterclass. Thank
[14:12] Speaker 1: you for listening to this episode. No, I need for
[14:14] Speaker 1: you to do me a favor right now to follow
[14:17] Speaker 1: or subscribe to Money Making Conversations. It's free and you
[14:21] Speaker 1: can find it on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts,
[14:26] Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts. Please do me that favor,
[14:29] Speaker 1: follow or subscribe Money Making Conversations. Keep winning

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