00:00My name is Landi Howard. I am the Vice President of Content for Essence Ventures.
00:07B, I'm so excited to be speaking with you. You're hosting the Superdome at Essence Festival.
00:12How does that feel just to be in front of New Orleans and that audience?
00:16Oh my God. You know, Essence has been around for years. So I am so excited just to be picking up
00:23the mic and hosting, you know, at the Superdome. It's going to be such an amazing experience.
00:28It means so much to me that you guys chose me for that night. And I just can't wait.
00:33It's for the culture. It's Black excellence. It's Blackness. It's the people. It's New Orleans.
00:38It's the culture. And I'm so, so honored. I'm so humbly grateful that I'm going to be a part of that culture's biggest night.
00:45Like I said, we are very excited to have you. And obviously, a big fan of yours.
00:51You know, you hosted the Red Carpet at Black Women in Hollywood.
00:54And then now transitioning to the big stage at Essence Festival.
00:58But how do you just get comfortable for these things?
01:01Like you did so great on the carpet and now you're going to be in the Superdome.
01:04What's that comfortability like for you?
01:06I think for me, knowing who I am, we, I've sat, you know, and I've worked so much.
01:13I'm going to go back to it, but really, really knowing who I am.
01:16But I've worked so much over the years. And when you just have that confidence with you and you have that authority, you're always pumped up for whatever comes your way.
01:25And again, I'm such a believer in God that he qualifies you. Man doesn't. Right.
01:30So it's something that touched you guys to book me for this big moment.
01:35And I'm all pumped up. I'm ready. So I'm always ready when the phone rings.
01:39I'm always ready when it's time.
01:41So the confidence comes from just me and my upbringing and just knowing like, look, God is with me and I'm so excited.
01:47And you just can't stay in one range. God is just trying to open up those doors.
01:51So I just get ready because I'm just I just know whatever the phone rings, I just got to be ready.
01:55I feel like and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but some of your content, you've elevated a little bit.
02:01You know, you did obviously do the skits, which is something that we love.
02:04When looking at your page, I feel like every year you just elevate.
02:08You do bigger projects, you do bigger things, you're in entertainment.
02:13How does that feel for you just to see your career continue to grow?
02:16It feels amazing. I was just talking about that with one of my friends.
02:19And it's all about elevation in this season.
02:22It's all about all things pretty be, you know, it's all about taking it up a notch.
02:26So I'm just happy that I asked God for it too.
02:29I said, God, I need you to like change my fragrance, change the atmosphere, change the way, you know,
02:34I'm moving creatively so I could just elevate on what I already have.
02:37So I'm so impressed on where God is taking me.
02:40And I'm so impressed on my elevation of my sketches and my skits and just the people that's around me that's in this entertainment industry.
02:47We all are all elevated.
02:48Any advice that you could give content creators who may be stuck in that space, you know, creating content,
02:54whether it's social media, online, things of that nature and looking to elevate.
02:58Is there any words of encouragement you can give them?
03:00The words that I would tell any influencer, actor, actresses, someone that's trying to come into the entertainment industry, be consistent, but also keep God first.
03:11Remember that a delay is never denial.
03:13I don't care what no you get.
03:15There's always going to be a yes.
03:17God will qualify you.
03:19He will use the fullest things to confound the wise.
03:21Don't ever think that you're not qualified for that home, for that booking, whatever it may be that your heart is desiring.
03:28Just know, push forward and keep going.
03:31But your yes is on its way.
03:32God will turn your night into day.
03:34Just stay consistent.
03:35Stay at it.
03:36The breakthrough is on its way for sure.
03:38Absolutely.
03:39That's definitely encouraging.
03:41I feel like somebody really needed to hear that.
03:43And then just my last question, something fun.
03:45You know, we have Cash Money performing on Friday.
03:47We have Usher performing on Saturday.
03:51We have Janet Jackson, Victoria Monet, Frankie Beverly and Mays.
03:54Who are you excited to see at Festival for Superdome?
03:57I'm excited, sis, to see everybody.
04:00You just don't see Birdman on stage.
04:03You just don't see Frankie Beverly and Mays.
04:05You just don't see Janet Jackson.
04:07Oh, my God.
04:08Usher, I've seen him live, but baby, I will see you 10 more times.
04:12Yeah, exactly.
04:13I love everybody that's on the lineup,
04:15and I cannot wait to be right in the presence of everybody at Essence Fest.
04:20It's going to be an amazing time.
04:22So I'm excited to see everybody, period.
04:23I can't wait.
04:24Perfect, perfect answer.
04:26We, once again, are so excited for you to host the Superdome V.
04:29We are looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks.
04:32Thank you guys so much for this,
04:34and thank you so much for the call.
04:35I cannot wait.
04:36Thank you, Essence.
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