From Model to Media Mogul

Being a leader is really important. How you navigate through that with personality types and, you know, things that are happening in people's personal lives, too. And so trying to find that healthy balance where it's about helping them, you know, grow and be the best version of themselves.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of MC Unplugged. And today's guest is a powerhouse. She's an unstoppable force in entertainment, entrepreneurship and empowerment. She's the visionary behind the dining empower, producing hit shows like Dining Divas and Destination Divas. A former model turned media mogul, she's shaking up the industry and championing women worldwide. She's bold, she's brilliant, and she's breaking barriers at every turn. I'd love to introduce you to my friend, the amazing Christine Curran. Christine, how are you doing today, dear?

Well, that was quite the intro. I'm doing fabulous. Thank you.

Let's get it. Florida's finest. So, Christine on MC Unplugged, we like to talk about your. Because that thing that's deeper than your why. And I know you being multi talented, multidimensional, there's gotta be a purpose behind doing what you do. So if I were to say, Christine, what's your because? What would that answer be?

Yeah, you know, it. It obviously starts with yourself, right? Your first. And the first has always been, you know, my. My daughter and being able to provide a wonderful lifestyle for her as a single mom. And that turned into then helping other women and wanting to see other women be able to thrive and survive. And now it's become really a global movement and just how many lives can we impact? And that's really my. Because right now. And it's what's transformed into my. Because from starting to just seeing what I can do and how I can change lives. And it's just me and my team are just really passionate about that. And so we're really excited for what we're building and what the future holds.

I love everything about that. You know, when people ask me about the legacy that I want to leave behind, I always say it's the impact that I make through my kids, through my nieces, my nephews, my family, my close circle. And I hear a lot of you in that as well. Right. You know, following you, huge fan of yours for a long time. You talk a lot about impact and making that impact. So I want to applaud you for not just saying that those are the things you want to do, but actually putting the action behind it. So thank you.

Thanks.

Absolutely. So let's go. I don't want to say the beginning, but let's go. Model, turn media mogul, Right? What was the inspiration behind saying, you know what, this modeling stuff is cute, but there's a bigger purpose for me. Like what led to that? To that move?

Yeah, I mean, modeling was something I did part time when I was in college and I realized that I could actually make more money doing that than having a full time job working for someone else. So I never worked for anybody. I went straight from college into modeling, acting and interviewing celebrities. And I started getting asked to book other women. Like, hey, do you have any friends? I need more promo models, I need more this. And I'm like, well, if I'm going to do that, I might as well get paid for doing that, right? So I created my own company right out of College called Fort Liquordale Entertainment. And I booked over 800 women in 13 years for all kinds of things from fashion shows and music videos and promo jobs and entertainment. So it was very successful. I had my very famous jello shot girls that we had people fly in from LA and shoot TV shows about us. And I did almost a million dollars in cash in my 20s doing that. And it was just a really great. I helped a lot of college girls, a lot of single moms, and it was great for me as a single mom and it was a really great lucrative experience in my twenties. But from there I just realized, what do I want to do? Like, the girls are getting younger, I'm getting older. I don't want to book models forever. And, you know, I don't want to model myself forever. So I was like, I really like production. I like storytelling. I like to be able to just kind of get into an audience's mind and head and be able to like inspire them or, you know, persuade them for something. And so it was really about storytelling for brands and inspirational storytelling was what I really was passionate about.

Amazing, Amazing. I know that you do a lot of right to empower women. And speaking of the. The women's empowerment token, right? So we M. P. Talk to us about that. Like, where did that come from? You know, how has that evolved and what are some of the cool things you're doing in that realm?

So the women empowerment token was started during COVID when all the restaurants were shut down. I couldn't film dining divas. And we were. Everyone was jumping into all these different things, PPE crypto. Just all the entrepreneurs were trying to figure out what's next, right? And so we jumped into that And I created the Token with my partner, Jared Knowles. The Token did really, really well, like 1800%. It was just, it was a wild experience. But like all people jumping into crypto, we didn't know a lot about it. So we've learned a lot of lessons throughout that. We're actually working on a revamp of that to partner up with our Diva Network, which is on blockchain. So that is very. It's in, it's in pause mode right now. We're on building on the, on the, on the sidelines for that right now. But I will definitely circle back with you on what we plan on doing with here in the near future because it's an exciting project and it's something I think we were a little early to. But we're definitely going to be revamping that and bringing it back, so stay tuned.

I like it. So you hinted just a bit ago, I teased it in the opener. The Dining Divas and the Dining Empire. Right. So it's been described as like, diners, drive ins and dives, meet sex in the city. So for those that don't know about it yet, one amazing. The entire empire is wild and cool and so informative. But how'd you come up with that unique, just blend of show style, show format?

Yeah, I mean, I wanted to. I was tired of watching women fight on tv, so I wanted to create a show that brought women together. And, you know, what's a better way to bring people together than over a meal? Right? So food brings people together. And right now, in today's age, you know, food and travel are the two things AI can't take away from the human experience. So I really wanted to tap into that industry of, of food and travel, but I wanted to be more modern and hip because I feel like that's really lacking in the food travel space. You know, you've got the Food Network, which the average viewer is 65, and you've got Travel Channel that's only showing 5% travel shows. Now they're doing all these ghost stories. And I just felt like there was no network that was really catering to the young business professionals that are traveling the world, working remote, living the best life, loving food and travel and just that lifestyle. So I wanted to create a network that really encompassed that. And that's where the Dining Empire was born. And the Dining Divas is the flagship show that we've been doing for seven years. So I built the network around the show because at the time we were on CW and then we were on WeTV and then we were on Travel Channel. But working with these networks, they were not easy to work with. And I felt like there was just a lack of support from the network. So I was like, I'm going to build my own network. So that's what we've done. And now we just got a partnership with fubu, the For Us Bias Network. And that's really just, you know, we're catapulting. We're actually on set right now with one of the new shows, the Decor Diva with Perla Lichi. She's been traveling the world for 40 years, working with sultans and in Dubai and doing all kinds of amazing projects. So when you say interior design, on a whole nother level, this is Perla. So I'm really excited about that show. We've got the Wine Divas. We got Dining dudes coming. We have the Lahama TV boys in Miami. These guys are, like, very awesome. Urban chef and a production guy that are just awesome foodies running around Miami with some of the coolest people. So we're really bringing that hip, modern food, travel type of style.

So do we have room on the network for podcasters that can grill, smoke meat, and drink bourbon? Because if so, please.

Ooh, that sounds like a fun show. We're gonna have to explore that together.

I am down. I think the people actually want that. You know, my alter ego is called Smoke Aesthetic Jones. I'll smoke anything on the smoker. Just throwing it out there.

Oh, snap. Well, then we might have to create a new show for that.

Let's go. Let's go. I got some friends that like to do it as well, too. So, you know, I love. Again, been a huge follower of the Dining Divas for a while, and I just love the authenticity of it. Right? Because you're right, like the everyday person that's working 8 to 5, 38 to 6, and then coming home, and it's like, where's that escape? To me, this gives so much cool things, because on the show, you're talking about everyday life. You're talking about challenges that people are going through, and it makes it so relatable. And it doesn't feel like, again, nothing against any shows, right? One of my best friends is Robert Irvine, who has, I think, one of the best shows in Restaurant Impossible. That's coming back, by the way. But unlike other shows, it's like, it's not competition driven. It doesn't seem like, oh, my God, there's a frantic countdown and we got to do this. It's like, now let's. Let's cook and chat. Right? Love that.

Yeah. The stress of the shows, it's definitely a more positive impact, you know, and inspiration, focus, because we have all these great people that come join us, and Irvine was on our show once also. But all these great people that come on that are founders, CEOs, and it's like you learn from them over a meal, and so you get their authentic self. Because a lot of times when you're doing business interviews or with a microphone or it's just. It's a different type of energy versus when you get them sitting and they're relaxed, they're having a glass of wine and they're dining with you, and then they forget the cameras are there, and then you really get their authentic self on camera. So it's really nice and it's really. It's really making people comfortable to talk authentically to.

Absolutely. So, question I've always wanted to ask you, since I'm here live with you, can Christine cook?

You know, I think I can cook, but you know that there's always a beg to differ on that. Right. My daughter may say otherwise, but my. Listen, that's why my boyfriend, he cooks, you know, so I'm like, I don't have to cook. I get fed at work, I get fed at home, I get fed everywhere, you know, so I like to dine, I like to be. I feel like I work so hard that cooking is such a. It's a workload for me, you know, where some people enjoy it and it's therapeutic for me. I really like the dining experience.

No, absolutely. Absolutely. So, you know, one of the things that I love are the Christine Kern Chronicles. Right? Yeah. Because I would say you never know what you're going to get, but you know what you're going to get, right? You're going to get authentic Christine Curran every time. Right, Right. But one of your recent ones hit on a topic that I love, and he talked about accountability and why accountability is so important. So for those that didn't hear that chronicle, that didn't get that deep dive, I'd love for you to share a little bit about accountability from a personal growth standpoint and then also from. From a leadership standpoint because you are a brilliant leader as well.

Oh, well, I super appreciate that. You know, leadership is challenging in some ways because. Well, especially for me because I am the CEO of the company, but I am the youngest person. I mean, I only have, like, maybe a few people that are younger than me in my company, so majority of people are 10, 20 years my senior. And, you know, so being a leader is really important, how you navigate through that with personality types and, you know, things that are happening in people's personal lives, too. And so trying to find that healthy balance of how to be a leader versus a boss. You know, I was a boss in my first company when I booked all the models, I had all these young women working for me, and it was just like, this is what you do. Dah, dah, dah. Versus leadership now, where it's about helping them, you know, grow and be the best version of themselves without my guidance, more of just me supporting them. But when it comes to accountability, you know, it's very important to always be accountable for your actions, your words, you know, how you make people feel, just how they show up. You know, it's just accountability is the gateway to, you know, a successful company, because if you can't be accountable as a leader, you can't expect your team to be accountable right, for you either. So, you know, I just. I always find it fascinating when people want to always push off blame on other people and never be accountable for their own actions and words. And so I. Sometimes I'll take time and I'll sit back and be like, well, how did that come off? Or how did that maybe take myself out of my shoes and say, how does somebody else feel for that? The way I came to them or the way I spoke to them or the way that I handled this particular situation? So I like to be accountable for my actions. I think it's really important part of personal growth.

No, totally agree. So for the listener or viewer right now, that's like, okay, I need better accountability. Let's just do it. From a leader perspective, what are some steps, what are some action items that that leader can do to, I don't want to say have a culture of accountability, but to start putting accountability principles in place.

Well, you know, I have my Monday calls with my corporate team and, you know, always just being very transparent with things on where I'm coming from, maybe how I'm feeling about a certain situation. Like, just those kind of things help with accountability because then they can be more understanding of maybe where your stress levels are at or why you're very focused on something and maybe not as personable that day. Like, instead of like, oh, how's your mom doing? And I'm like, hey, listen, I really need to, you know. And so when they're understanding where you're at that week, then, you know, it. It makes for an easier Transition for, for just the flow of energy. So everybody's kind of on the same page and they're like, okay, I understand where my leader's at this week, so we can all be accountable. For what, what does she need support in? Because I can tell maybe she's a little stressed this week or maybe she feels like a lot of pressure. What can I do to help relieve some of that, you know? And so there, it's really about being, you know, transparent with each other and just being really open because that really helps lead into the right final result.

I love that. I love that so much. And so for you, with all the different hats that you wear, right, how do you juggle your balance in your personal mental health with all the things.

That is a great, that's a great question. Now, I recently I just had an injury and I, and I do, I think it does come a lot from stress. Before this new year started, you know, I had really good routines of what I was doing. Taking my walks on the beach, you know, doing my gratitudes in the morning. I listened to, when I go to bed every night, I listen to frequency music, right? For if I need healing, if I'm not feeling well, I put on healing frequencies. If I need abundance or I need positive frequencies, whatever it is that I'm really suffering or needing at that time, right, I'll put on it. I go to sleep with that all through the night. So I have all these little things that I do, right? And I, and I always go to the gym. I love to work out. Working out is so great for the mind. And I just. When this year, new year started, it was so wild, chaotic, all positive, but just so, so much was happening that I. All my schedule, all my things got messed up and I feel like that's why my injury happened. I woke up one morning about 10 days ago and just had severe pain all the way down my arm. And I've had to go to the hospital and I've done holistic doctors and shamans and biohacking and all of these things, right? And I really do think it's from that. So I think that having a routine for your stress levels and when you're a high performing CEO and you have a lot of people and a lot of energies around you, controlling those energies through like meditation frequency, you know, your gratitudes in the morning, praying, taking silent time for yourself throughout the day, getting out in nature and walking, I mean, so, so helpful, honestly.

That's awesome. That's awesome. So, Christine, for the female entrepreneur that's either, you know, multimillion dollar business or for that person that's like, I want to get started. I heard Christine say earlier, you know, she didn't want to work for anyone, so she kind of took control of her destiny for that person. What are some tips that you have for them that's like, take control of your destiny?

I mean, I think every successful person says the same thing. Just get started. I mean, you have to just stop, start. You know, there's levels to it and everyone's journey is different. Some get started really fast and it just goes really positive. And some people, it's a rocky up and down and they fail five times before anything starts to take off for them. No matter what it is, if you are always working consistently every day, putting some type of effort towards an end goal, you will reach that goal. There's a, I don't know when. It could be 30 days, it could be three years, but you will reach that goal. And what I've learned, because all I've done is work for myself and all of my things are entertainment projects that I come up with an idea and then I actually have to go out and execute that idea and monetize that idea. And what I've learned for me personally is that sometimes these ideas come and I don't actually execute them for two to three years on average for the majority of these projects because of the size of the projects and based on what I have workload wise on my plate. So I say just get started and work every day towards it. Baby steps until you can get there. If you can go faster, if you have the finances and the resources to go faster, go faster. But I work seven days a week. I don't feel like I work seven days a week. I take a couple hours for my kid, I take a couple hours for my boyfriend. I'll go to lunch with my mom. But then I'm back to work. I wake up and I'm doing two or three hours of work and then I'm taking a couple hours for something else and back to work. So, you know, work as you feel. Work when the creative flow is there for you, because that is very important. You know, there's no schedule for an entrepreneur. It's like when you are really in the zone, you should definitely take advantage of that and put out that effort.

I love it. So get started, right? That's the big key. And then one of my pillars I love get started. And then my second pillar is keep going because you're going to get obstacles if it were as easy as it was when you built that business plan or that business idea, everybody on this planet would be billionaires, Right?

Facts.

But you're going to get some challenges. You're going to have to make big decisions or bold decisions. Talk about the power of keep going or the power of resiliency and what that's meant for you.

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, like I was saying, you know, with the creative flow, you have to do things, you know, as they're coming to you. So sometimes I wake up at three o' clock in the morning and I work, you know, whenever something comes to me and I'm feeling inspired, you know, that's a really big part of entrepreneurship because you are your boss. You know what I mean? There's no one telling you, okay, you have to be there at nine and you get off at five. And so, you know, you can work as many or as little hours as you want, but it's really about the, what you're putting behind those hours. Like the, you know, if you're feeling tired and you can't perform, like, there's some days I'm like, I just can't edit anymore. I can't think, my brain's not on anymore. I'm tired. So I just stop it. A certain. There's no set time. So I just stop and I take a break and when I feel good, I'm back at it, you know, so it's really, you have to be your own cheerleader and your own boss and your own inspiration and, and you know, a lot of times following people that inspire you and watching them will help inspire you again. Because I follow a lot of people on social media and I just randomly see like somebody post something. I'm like, that just motivated me. Let me get back to work, you know?

Love it, love it. So going back to the Dining Empire. So aside from my show that's going to come out sometime soon, I know you talked briefly about some of the expansion and cool things you're going on. Do you want to tell the audience a little more about the big visions that you have with the Dining Empire?

Absolutely. We are just going a million miles an hour and it's such an exciting time right now. So we have the Dining Empire, which is our app, our network, and we have all these new shows under that. So we have Dining Divas, Florida, New York, California and Texas. We have four chapters. We also have the Destination Divas, which was our Travel Channel series last year, and now going full streaming this year. We're going to be on 15 streaming platforms including Pluto, Tubi, Peacock, Google TV, Apple TV and many, many more for us by US network. And then we have all these new shows. We've got the Diva, the Decor Diva with Perla Licci, which is so exciting. The Wine Diva. We have America's Next Bikini Chef, which is going to be a competition show for women living a healthy lifestyle. Yes, the women will be wearing bikinis with a really cute apron when they, when they serve their dishes. But it's going to be, it's really, really awesome. That's going to be premiering. We have our very big premiere party coming up March 23rd to the 25th here in Fort Lauderdale. So if you can be in town, definitely show up. We've got lots of influencers, celebrity guests. We're going to be showing all of the shows that we shot last year that are going to be airing this year. Red carpet, glitz, glam, all the fun. So it's going to be a really awesome event. You can find out more about that@events.diningdivas tv.com and then besides all of that fun stuff, right, we also have the Diva Network, which is our self development mastermind portal. It's a virtual network. It's global. We just launched in Africa, which is super exciting. We've been launched for about two months here in the United States, all over the globe. I mean, we have members from Germany and Australia and just people everywhere that join in every week. And Adora Evans runs the Diva Network. She is one of our Texas and destination divas. She's been with Napoleon hill Foundation for 23 years, studying under Don King and Dennis Waitley. She's throwing massive events with Les Brown and all kinds of very powerful people. We just did an event in the Exumas with Lisa Nichols for one of our Mastermind episodes that we do every year. So it's really, it's really a powerful place to come and have community and meet new people. We've already had people raise money inside of our network. We had one girl's getting $1.3 million from connections in our network. We have another one that just got an $8,000 contract, a monthly contract, and with, with money on the back end as well. We've had somebody made $5,000 in just a few weeks just referring people into the Diva Network. So there's just so many opportunities if you're trying to expand your business. We have resources, we have community. We have, you know, high, high level people that come and speak. Like Jeff Hoffman just spoke the billionaire that founded Priceline. Like, these are people that you spend tens of thousands of dollars to get into a room with and they're right there virtually with you for as low as $97 a month. You can be a member. We also have a free portal, so you can come join for free, too. Just to kind of get your feet wet and get a couple of things that way, too. So couple nuggets that way. So we love to have anybody around the world that is all about positive impact and changing lives and good community.

Amazing. Amazing. So we'll make sure that we have a link to that in the show notes and descriptions. Christine, where can people find and follow you?

Christine Curran? You can find me anywhere on the Internet. Hi, Yeah. C U R R A N. Christine Curran. Yeah. But would love to follow you back and just shoot me a little message that you heard me on Mick Unplugged and I will follow you back.

I love it. Christine, I know you're busy. I know you've got a lot going on. I just wanted to thank you for your time today. Always good when I can catch up with friends and ask them if they can cook. When I know the answer.

Well, it sounds like you're going to be cooking for me is what I what I heard on the show.

I'm on the grill and smoker. I'm on the grill and smoker three days a week. So you just. And I have bourbon every day. So you just let me know. I got a camera set up.

Barbecue boys. I'm just saying.

Let's say you know how to get me. You know how to get me. I'm there.

I love it.

I'm there. Cool. Well, Christine, thank you so much again for all the listeners and viewers. Remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.

Thank you.