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

Entrepreneur, community leader, and founder of Black Wall Street AVL in Asheville, North Carolina. J shares his journey from overcoming incarceration to becoming a successful business owner and advocate for Black entrepreneurship.

J discusses how he launched Asheville’s first Black-owned coffee shop, which became a hub for local entrepreneurs and led to the creation of Black Wall Street AVL—an incubator designed to help Black businesses start, grow, and scale. He also shares insider knowledge on grant writing, securing tourism dollars, and tapping into economic development resources that many business owners overlook.

Beyond business, J opens up about the challenges of reentry after incarceration, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the importance of rewriting your own story. He also dives into the success of GrindFest, a growing three-day festival celebrating Black entrepreneurship, which started as a simple cookout and is now a major event funded by Asheville’s tourism board.

If you're looking for motivation, practical business strategies, or insight into how to turn setbacks into success, this episode is a must-listen! Tune in and learn how to build, grow, and thrive—no matter where you start.

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