📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 Hey everybody! We are here with an amazing episode with an amazing guest! Um, Braxton T. Fleming is a licensed practical nurse and stands as a groundbreaking figure, marked not only by his historic achievement as the first black trans man to secure a spot on Shark Tank, but also is the dynamic CEO and visionary founder of Stealth.

Bros and Co. Stealth Bros and Co is a forward thinking brand dedicated to providing high quality personal medical storage products tailored to the needs of the underrepresented medical communities. It champions a shift away from stigma and towards empowerment, ensuring those who rely on these personal items can stand proud.

As a trailblazing trans person of color, Braxton embodies the spirit of representation, inspiration, and upliftment. Through his entrepreneurial journey, he aspires to illuminate the path for fellow trans individuals, forging a brighter future for all. Thank you for being here, Braxton!

Yes, thank you for having me.

Yeah, um, and for those of you listening, I, I stalked Braxton after watching his episode on Shark Tank.

Just a little gentle stalking, it’s

Yeah, that’s okay. I like that. It’s all love.

And he actually replies, it’s so nice.

of course. Of course. I’m reachable.

Yeah, but I think what stood out about your, um, appearance and the sharks all commented on this, which I think is interesting because I don’t think it’s something that they usually comment on, but they were just like, Man, like you are like all love and like we feel it and we can tell you’re like this, you know, natural like community leader and you’re like doing this from your heart.

Um, and that did come through and I was like, I need to see if I’ll come on the podcast. So, um, yeah, I’m so glad that it worked out.

Yes. Well, thank you so much. Yeah, that was, that was an amazing, I was so happy that they were actually nice to me. So that was when they said those things. I was like, yes. Okay. I was feeling good in that moment. Yeah, this is good.

what was it like for you, like being on Shark Tank and having that experience?

Oh, man. It was, it’s just, it’s such a surreal, um, moment. And I think what people don’t realize is The due diligence that you have to do in order to be on the show. And then the amount of times you have to do the pitch that you all see on the show, like the

Oh.

pitch, but we have to do that pitch, um, hundreds of times.

I mean, I mean, I I’m sure you can do it. I mean, I’m sure you could do it less than that. But for me, because I was so dedicated and I was so like determined to win. That every single day I was like practicing my pitch, but then, you know, you still have to go in front of the other producers, you have

Mm hmm.

You have to, there’s, there’s a lot of steps and they always tell you that you can make it all the way to the last step and still not be on the show.

Still not the air. It’s still not going to deal all these things. So you have to really, you have to immerse yourself in that. And that’s like eight months before you’re, you even go and pitch to the actual sharks, you know?

is crazy.

Yeah, so it’s really wild. Um, and so when I got on the show

Mm hmm.

through those doors and I did my pitch and what everybody sees it’s like for me that moment I honestly was like Not there because I was all, I was already there for months.

So when I went there and did it, I just was like, it just like, kind of came out of me almost. Um, and people were like, like, you know, afterwards, my dad, of course, like my fiance and everybody was like, you know, like what happened? What would they ask you? And I like legitimately could not answer any questions because I just couldn’t remember.

I just was so, um, I don’t even know the word. So like flabbergasted and everything else. And I just didn’t, I just couldn’t think about what happened. And it, even till today, even though it’s been like two years since it aired a little bit, like two years in September, well, yeah, September just passed, um, you know, and I still, when people ask, they’re like, you were on Shark Tank and they’re like, so plumped.

And I’m just like, yes, I was, I was on Shark Tank, but

You’re like, I blacked out a little bit, but

Yeah, I blacked out a little bit, but it went well. I know that it went well. I know that it went well, but I just like, I just, I just have this, you know, sometimes I, I battle with like imposter syndrome too, which is like a whole nother thing, but you know, it’s, it’s, it’s, It’s just like a really surreal moment because you work so hard.

And like, for me, I got an envisionment and like manifestation and all of these like prayers thing. And, you know, so for it to happen, it was like, okay, what’s next? Like, you know, when you have that accomplishment on you, people are looking for you to do something else. They’re look, they’re like, you, you got on shark tank.

Great. Now we want to see you become a millionaire. Now we want to see you take over. Now we want to see, and that puts a lot of pressure. On the

That, that makes sense. Can we back it up for a second and like tell people more about your company? Cause they’re probably like, what is this company again?

Yes. No,

us a little bit about like the journey of starting a company.

Of course. Of course. So my company is stealth bros and co and we are a luxury dop kit brand where we focus on, um, really uplifting underrepresented communities that have medical needs and really.

All chronic diseases, um, you know, specifically for me and my personal attachment to the business, um, is my transgender identity and a hormone replacement therapy that I need to take each week. Um, so that’s a, that’s also another big part of our business, but mainly, you know, we provide, um, luxury travel bags so that while, whether you’re at home or you’re on the go, you have somewhere that’s organized, it’s ready, and it brings a self.

It brings like self confidence to you during that period of time. That’s like kind of daunting because not everybody wants to take a shot. I don’t think anybody wants to take one. Um, but you know, a lot of people have to live with this, you know, even. You know, IVF clients and so forth. Um, there’s just so many people who are overlooked and they’re hiding.

So we’re trying to break that stigmatization around how people take injectable needs, whether that’s in public or at home. We want to make people feel comfortable and safe where they are and still be able to live a fulfilled life Regardless of their circumstances. So that’s what stealth bros and co was like in a nutshell

I mentioned before we hit record that, um, not only was I like, this, you know, this is a cool person who’s, you know, bringing the trans community together and sharing his story and succeeding and just like being this awesome role model. And I’m like, and he’s a nurse. which is awesome.

So like knows the medical side of, you know, giving injections and all of that. And I mentioned that like part of my story is that I take peptide injections for like autoimmune type symptoms. And I remember when I was first going to take shots, I was just like, Oh my God, I’m going to do it wrong. It’s going to hurt so much.

And I was just, it was just like this whole like panic in my mind. Now that I do it a couple of times a week, it’s like not even an issue. It’s like, okay, easy. Um, But at the beginning it was like, you know, I don’t know how to do this. Right. So I even saw on your website that you have like a little course on kind of like how to get started with your injections and everything.

And I’m like, that’s so needed.

Yes shot day confidence Just to give you the uh, you know little pep talk you need and try to give you some pointers on how to make it a more seamless process

 I also have ebooks on my website, stealthbrosecode. com. And you can find some shot day confidence guides there if you’re having any trouble with your injectable needs. But we also have a book called Unlocking Pleasure, which is a guide to bottom growth pumping for trans men. Love that. And for women too, if they want to.

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. For more. And I, yeah. And I know cis women who do that. Yes. Um, yeah. So, and can you tell people a little bit more about like, why, like why would someone pump? Okay. So in our community, um Mm-Hmm. , obviously, you know, we have surgeries and there’s something called bottom surgery and a lot of trans men want to opt to have bottom surgery.

for me personally, because of my nursing background and because of where the surgery is at today, I just personally don’t feel like that’s something that I personally would like to go through. And you know, shout out to all my trans men that do, because it’s definitely a hard decision to make. But there is other options for trans men to lessen that dysphoria of their bottom area.

And what I learned throughout my transition was that, um, you know, I, I, I honestly was, I had something called a, a please touch me not stud, a lesbian. I didn’t want my partner to touch me because I had such disconnect from my bottom. Um, and when I transitioned, I had a lot of dysphoria around my bottom.

And I came across another guide somewhere else where they talked about pumping and I happened to try it out. And I stayed consistent for a very long time. And I noticed the growth because of testosterone testosterone growth, um, in that area and with the pumping, it helps elongate that growth. So. When we are aroused, it functions just as like a micro penis and that really alleviates dysphoria and gives you the ability to have penetrative sex with your partner.

So that is why it’s so important for trans men to know about this because if they can bypass these, um, extensive surgeries, um, and, and, you know, Find a way to accept themselves in that area, then it could really help help them. People don’t really get into the nitty gritty sometimes. And there is just a need to understand medically.

And I just like, love that you have the nursing background too. Um, so I feel like it just builds confidence and trust in like what you’re sharing with people. Um, but yeah, like to be able to experience like erections and have penetrative sex, um, is, I can totally see why that would reduce dysphoria. Um, and you know, one of my other guests, Susan Bratton talks a lot about pumping and has pumping guides as well, but to have like a niche one I think is, is more important as well.

So yeah, for sure. And it’s definitely different for trans men because of that testosterone aspect. It really helps that area a lot. So It’s definitely worth a try for those who are curious. I love that. And so like now that we’re on the subject of sex and you mentioned your wife is home. So you’re now you’re not on a time limit.

Um, I, uh, what should people know if they have like a trans partner or a non binary partner about sex and like how to approach it? Well, first, I think communication is key. So always, always. Yes. So I think that having a conversation prior to, um, is, is really important, especially if the, um, queer person, um, has a lot of reserves about themselves that they’re not willing to do, or a lot of, uh, boundaries.

I think it’s really important for, um, them to express that to their partner so that their partner can, um, can, you know, connect with them. Please them in the appropriate way where they feel comfortable and accept it. So I think it starts with communication first of the queer person. I think it’s, it’s their responsibility to, to tell their partner because their partner won’t know otherwise.

But I would also say it’s the partner at least ask. Your partner should show interest and ask because you know, you all are together. You know, I’ll tell you a short story with me and my wife is that she was dating, um, cisgender men. Okay. And, um, you know, when I started to talk to her, because I’m very different, um, I was already pumping.

So I had already, you know, I was already very confident though. Um, and you know, she was like, you know, I’ve never been with a trans guy before. And I’m like, well, are you like scared? And is it going to be like weird? And she’s like, no, I think it’s going to be okay. And I’m like, and I just kind of like, You know, spiced her up a little bit, told her that it was something she’s never had before and how great it was.

And, you know, just kind of, you know, make a curious George out of it. You know what I mean? Just really, really hype yourself up about it. She really viewed me as a man. So she wasn’t touching me in a way where I felt like I was being touched. Femininely, if that makes any sense. That does make sense to me.

Yes. So when it was our first time, it was like, It was just like regular, regular in, in like, it was regular because she, because we just had that emotional connection first. And then, um, you know, things just happened to work out. But it was like, I think because I had the confidence, I, I, I, you know, I would told her that it wasn’t really going to be any different.

It’s all feels the same. And well, not really, it’s a little bit different, but either way, it feels good. And that’s honestly, yes, that’s the key. Yes, it feels good. And, um, Yeah. And it just, it just, it just worked out, but I think it just all comes back down to like that confidence you have within yourself.

Because if you have any reserves and like, you’re just like, then you’re going to put that energy onto your partner. And then your partner may be like more hesitant to touch you in a certain way. And then that may cause you to feel like, Oh, you don’t love me. You don’t want me. And it’s a really, it’s a big back and forth.

And then you need me for a sex therapy session. You need a sex therapy session. So it’s really important to just be very open. Open about, um, you know, your private area and you know, how you want to address, you know, yeah, of course. Yeah. And that might take some work, you know, like, it sounds like you had done some work prior to even getting on hormones.

So I think that helped you get to a comfortable place and you just seem like. Like I said, a lot of self energy, so I feel like you’re not quite normal in that way. It’s a lot of that. It’s a lot of that. I feel like I’m just like, really confident. Yeah. Yeah, it’s a lot of that. I think it’s important if you want to, you really can’t be any other way when you’re deaf.

Black and you’re trans. I mean, you don’t have a choice. You have to just come with it or else you’ll just let the world consume you and I just refuse to live in that fashion. Yes. I just stay positive. And I think what you’re saying is so important too because the world can kind of reflect to us like, here’s all of the racism and transphobia and sexism and like all the things, right?

All And that is real and that exists, right? Yeah. But then I think the part that winds up harming us more is what we internalize. Yeah. You know, and what we wind up believing. So it sounds like you’re just like, I don’t subscribe to those things, . Right. Exactly. Right. I just, I just, just know. And a lot of people, some people don’t like that.

Even within the community, they, they’re like, I can see that for sure. You’re, you’re dismissing the issues. Mm-Hmm. you’re invalidating. Right, right. But you know. If it wasn’t, you know, there’s a place for war for everybody. Not everybody is on the front line. Some of y’all are in the kitchen and that’s fine.

You know what I mean? Some of y’all have to be in the hospital to take care of us and that’s fine. But there has to be people out there who are bold and brave to speak up so that we can continue to move the narrative forward. And yes, I’m not there, then who’s going to be there. So, you know, I take that stamp stance point standpoint from it.

Um, and you know, there’s a lot of people that coincide with me and that really love that about me. And then obviously I’m sure there’s people that don’t like that. Um, but I feel like that’s also internal work that they need to work on, you know, because that’s something that’s important. Yeah. And you’ll, and you’ll notice, like, I, and I think you’re right.

I love what you said that like everyone has different roles. So like not everyone needs to be doing what you’re doing in order to be supportive of the trans community, you know? Um, there’s a lot of roles you can take on. So I think it’s just finding like, what’s your calling? And like, even asking the question, like, how can I help?

Where are my talents needed? Right. Absolutely. I literally just made a reel on my personal page yesterday of like a trending sound. And it was like, uh, a line at the top. It was like, Trump won. Um, it’s over for y’all. Right. And then I put me and it’s me like, like making a dance, like saying like, nah, like this isn’t going to bother me.

Yeah. And a lot of people loved it. I mean, they loved it. But then there was a few people that were like, you’re dismissing project 25 and people are people could be committing suicide and dying from this. Right. You know, which is very valid. Very true. But if they don’t see someone like me being uplifted and positive, then there will be more suicides.

There will be more deaths. People will be a lot more afraid. But if they see somebody that’s like, you know what? This too shall pass, then they can also have that same confidence to understand that I may not be able to have top surgery in the next four years, but that doesn’t mean my life is over. My life is the world will continue on after Trump.

You know what I mean? And if it takes eight years for us to get back to the democratic party or, or, or another four years, that’s just what it’s going to take. And we’re going to have to float through the mud. This is part of the boat that I talked about earlier. Yes. You know what I mean? And. That’s where a lot of people they don’t have the mental strength to get through that part, but People like me have to stand up for them.

And that’s just exactly what I’m going to do. Whether they like it or not, I’ll still be fighting for them. Me too. I’m going to coach and therapize all of them. Um, but it’s, yeah, it’s true. I was reminding myself yesterday. Um, you know, and first of all, I have clients of all political beliefs. So I’m, I’m not someone who’s like, if you disagree with me, get away.

You know, like I think that the kind of othering is, is part of the problem. Sometimes it really is. Yeah. And, um, but yeah, it was kind of like all these problems that are like racing through my head of like, what could none of them exist right now? They’re just like figments of my imagination. Will some of them happen?

Maybe. I don’t know. The future hasn’t happened yet, right? It’s like, you know, everyone is like really jumping ship right now and saying this is happening. This is happening. But we all know that when they run the debates, they do it so that they can win. And then they put certain things in place. Did trump in his last presidency do things to the transgender community that hurt us?

Absolutely. Absolutely. But, you know, it, if it wasn’t Trump, then it would have been someone else. So it’s like, you have to just accept the world for where it’s at and just continue fighting so that we can, we can prevail over this. You know what I mean? It’s really the only, only way that, that we’re going to be able to move forward.

If we stop now and just say, Oh my God, we all should just hide back and change our diagnosis as something so that we can just be covered and live in secrecy. Then. you’re not doing a service to the community and it’s not moving us forward. Right. You know, I mean, so it’s really important that, you know, the people that need to stay hidden and stay safe, please do because there’s a lot of, especially my black trans women, please stay safe.

Um, but you know, for those of us who have the privilege, like I find myself to have privilege, even though I am black, I have the privilege of passing as a black man. So I’m not, you know, they look at me like, I’m not going to mess with that guy. Okay, cool. No problem. You know what I mean? So I have that privilege, but a lot of my non binary folk and a lot of my trans women don’t have that privilege.

It’s very important for me to stand where I can stand so that we can continue to talk about those things. Yeah. That’s yeah. That’s so, so well said. And I agree with you. It’s like step one, stay safe. Step two, what can you do to contribute? You know? Right. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Okay.

  📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 📍 Yeah, I love that. Um, that, that is very cool. Um, and I think you might have shared a little bit on the show or, uh, on the website, but just about your own journey of, um, realizing that you were trans and coming out to your family and all of that. Like, would you kind of take us through your own personal story a little bit?

Absolutely. So my story is very different than a lot of, um, transgender individuals because I grew up in a household. My parents were divorced, um, but I grew up in both of my households and they were very different.

Mm

open. They were very, um, it’s really wild because I had gay aunts, I had gay uncles, and I didn’t even know that they were gay.

Um, I honestly didn’t, I don’t wanna say I didn’t know that they were gay. I just just wasn’t spoken on. So it wasn’t anything that was abnormal. I knew that they were together and that was okay because I grew up with that. So I never thought that there was a problem there. And even. Um, you know, so my parents were very loving and accepting of me no matter what I did.

Um, so that was the first thing which, which is a blessing. Um, and then the second thing was, is that I just went through like high school and college. I was a very androgynous type of person, very like tomboyish, but again, nobody ever was like, you, you’re gay, or you’re a lesbian, or you’re this. It was more or less just like, you know, This is who I am and everyone around me accepted that.

And when I got to college, all my college friends were telling me that I was gay and I’m

Oh.

I’m not gay.

This is so interesting. It’s almost like a reverse coming out. Like

so weird. It’s so weird. It’s so weird. They’re like, you know, you’re gay. And I’m like, I’m definitely not. And I like, like played the no, I’m not lesbian card. And but then I realized like, I really am,

Yeah.

I did not like that language.

Like I, I, I did not associate with the word lesbian, but I knew that I was attracted to women and like, you know, whatever. So, um, you know, in college, whatever, got out of college and I was with this one woman for like 10 years. Um, and in the first. Half of that, well, really the first seven years of relationship, we were in like a lesbian relationship, but this whole, for like four years, like the last four years of that, I was like really going through something where I was really like feeling I was missing something.

And so I spent a long time, like maybe I need to change careers. Mind you, I was already a licensed practical nurse. I was like, you know, when I was 20 years old, I was 20 an hour. So I was like, you know, my mom and parents were like, you’re doing fine. Like, just keep going to school. Keep doing what you’re doing.

I’m like, no, like something isn’t like I, something is not right with me. And I, tried everything. I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with me. Well, long story short, I ended up looking at YouTube, and, well, I was always researching on YouTube, but anyway, I came across a video of a trans man, and I was like, What is this?

And I was like taken back because I didn’t know about trans people at all. I was like, this was a brand new thing to me. I’m like, whoa, a woman and then transition to a man like this can happen. Um, so it was really, it’s, it’s so bad how, um, oblivious I was, but it’s because I just grew up in a really dark place.

diverse area where it wasn’t really spoken about. It was just accepted. So when I found out about this trans guy, I was like watching. And then I told like my girlfriend at the time, I’m like, did you know that? And like telling her about this and she’s like, well, do you want to transition? And I’m

Oh.

I’m like, no, I don’t want to do that.

But then I ended up. immersing myself in it. And I started finding really strong videos of the life, like the, the, the process of transitioning and what they were going through and people were telling their childhood stories. And I related so much that I started to like cry every day. I was like in this, I don’t want to say this depression.

yeah.

But I was just like, why is this my life? And after like, four months of just like, crying like, hiddenly in the room, and like, you know, my fiancee and I were like, you know, she’s like, You need to go talk to somebody like there’s obviously something going on and you need to address it and I’m like, okay So I went to therapy and then the therapist basic like once I poured my life out to her She basically was like, I really think that you need to transition and you should go to this

Oh, wow.

it was really like, it was really like, she’s like, I really believe that this is the path that you’re on.

And she’s like, you need to go talk to, um, like she was, she was already like an LGBT gender specialist, but she told me to go speak to the specialist at like, The clinic where you can like start hormones and stuff to see like if that was something that Was meant for my life But from what you know, we had spoke about over our time is that she thought that I really needed to see this other specialist.

So I went to them and Like a month later, I started hormones. It was like, really, it was like really, really, I don’t want to say it was really fast if it feels fast now, but during that time, obviously it was like, you know, over, you know, half a year or something like that, that it took me to finally get into the doctor’s office and, you know, obviously explain to my parents before I started the hormone and my family.

Um, and yeah, and that’s kind of like how I started the journey of transitioning and Honestly, like, you know, a lot of people, you know, they’re always like, you know, you’re trans. How do you believe in God and all these things?

What?

yeah, it’s so weird. But either way, um,

How are those related?

I don’t know, but it’s just a weird thing.

But either way, I just really feel like I had a life path and like this life was meant for me for whatever reason and if it’s to build this company to influence my community and be that that person, you know, then that’s what I’m going to do. You know, I’m going to fill my work here on earth and I just feel like, yeah, I just feel like. It was just part of my life’s path. Like it was something that I, that like, I, I can’t, I couldn’t have seen my future. Any other way, even though at that time before I transitioned, I didn’t really see my future. I used to tell everybody I’m a fetus. This is what I told everybody. I swear to God, I would say I’m a fetus.

And they’re like, why do you say your fetus? I’m like, because my breasts never grew. Like I look small. Like, I mean, I’m still short, but I just felt like I never grew. I felt like I was 27 years old in a 12 year old body. Like, I really felt Stuck at puberty, like puberty never hit me. You know what I mean?

Like I never grew into a woman. I was just always like a girl, like it, it was really weird. Um, but yeah, I felt so misplaced and I didn’t have the language back then to understand how I was feeling. Like even how I acted in my relationships and like, no, you don’t touch the trash. Just a bunch of toxic masculinity things that I.

Associated myself with, because internally that’s just how I was feeling. But I didn’t have the language because I didn’t have the education to know how I was feeling. So it took me 27 years of my life. 27 is when I transitioned to figure out. this is where my life needed to go. you know, that’s kind of what put me on the path to start stealth bros you know, I just feel like once I started the hormones and I, um, you know, I, I was feeling more comfortable in my skin. Then it’s like, What’s next, you know, and that means, you know, for a lot of trans people, it’s top surgery so that you can be freer and things of that nature. And I wanted to get top surgery, but I didn’t want to like work longer hours as a nurse, cause I was already drained and I didn’t want to start like an apparel brand because even though I have my apparel on

Yeah, you

but, um, I didn’t want to start an apparel brand because.

I felt like I would step on the toes of the other trans men that were already doing that and they were like, they were, everybody was raising top surgery funds and, you know, everybody in the community does that and they, you know, they do art or they sell hats or t shirts, whatever, because they’re just trying to raise money any type of way to obtain these surgeries.

Mm hmm.

And, but they were all very involved with community and everyone loved them. And I love that. And I said, Oh, I want to be a part of that. Like, I want to be a part of this family because they helped me so much. Like, what can I do? So I started to think like, I don’t want to step on toes, but I want to work with them.

So how can I work with them? And then the more I watched the videos, the more I started to like, indirectly assess individuals and see that. There’s nowhere to put the medication. And then as I was taking it, I’m like, I got it in my drawer. Like, it’s like, I’m, I’m very OCD. Like this goes here, that goes there.

So, um, so I knew I needed something and I went to the store, there was nothing. So I said,

That’s crazy.

I am so crazy. So I said, you know what? I’m going to create this thing. And I, this was like, I was like five months on T I, I was just scratching the

Like that’s amazing to me that like so early in your journey, you’re already thinking about like giving back and like what your place in the community was.

It’s, it was so crazy because it’s just that, like, I felt a sense, I felt like that puzzle piece slipped right in and I just, everybody was so welcoming and warm. And it was just so nice to have that shared experience of how I was feeling that I really wanted to be involved in that. And I think that’s what really pushed me.

And then it wasn’t until I was a year on testosterone that. I honestly was breaking up with my girlfriend at the time. We were going through things, you know, I was changing a lot of things transpired. I had moved back home to my dad’s house. I was 27 years old. No 27 year old wants to do that. Um, you know, it was really hard for me and I sat down on the futon in my childhood bedroom.

And I said, I. Spent the last 10 years focusing on this woman. I’m going to spend these next 10 on me.

my gosh. I

swear to God, right hand to the Lord. I took my credit card that I just paid off. It was 4, 000. It took me damn three years to pay that

Oh my god.

Okay. I finally paid it off and then I spent it all again. I spent it all again on the products because I said, if I, because I was buying her stuff and helping her and her family, they’re doing a bunch of nonsense. They trying to be the man, you know what I mean? Um, lesbian relationship. Um, but either way I bought the products. I started the LLC. And I just kind of like hit the ground running and I started to produce orders literally right out of my bedroom on my futon.

Yeah, it’s really crazy. And um, I thought that I would buy these like 300 bags and be finished, but I ended up selling them in like a month. The first month, it was just like all gone. And, and people were telling me that they, Needed the product. It wasn’t like, Oh, I really like this practice is fun for me, like to have with my tea and stuff, but they were really pouring their hearts out to me saying like, I needed this, I felt comfortable.

Like this made me feel better or I’m taking my shot every week. Now I’m not missing anything because I’m prepared and I’m, I’m, I’m refilling on time, like so many different things, all from this simple concept. And at that point I knew that. it was bigger than me and I knew that I had to keep going. So instead of using all the money that I saved for my top surgery, which was, I think it was 2, 500.

End of that year, I had saved off to the side. Um, I gave that away and started the Stealth Bros support fund. Yeah. And I helped pay off someone else’s top surgery before I needed them.

why are you so nice?

I just. I was just so happy. I mean, I don’t want to say that I regret that, but um, I was just so happy, you know, and I was, I was making like, I was thinking like 29 an hour at that nursing full time.

So this was fun. This was not needed for me. I, I, I definitely needed though. Everyone needs a little few extra dollars who wants to, you know what I mean? But I wasn’t hurting and it wasn’t like I didn’t already have my own savings from my career. So it. It wasn’t like, I was like, I need this to work. I need this money.

Like, it was more like a passion project and something I just really had a good time doing. So I ended up giving the money away and then the next two years just kind of pushed forward. And then at the end of that two years, I was able to get my top surgery and then I, I financed it and used a business money to pay it off, but, um, but yeah.

And then once I just, once I realized that. The product was a need and I was telling people at work and they’re like, well, my dad’s a diabetic and he could use that. And like, so

who you

there you go.

just heard in the background.

Christmas. Yeah. And, uh, and I said, I have to do more. So that’s when I started to push and join like, you know, different businesses of commerce and network and go to all the events.

Once my daughter was born, I slowed down a lot, which was hard because my daughter was. a month after Shark Tank aired.

Oh wow.

of things. Like I was in 4, 000 CVS stores a month before Shark Tank aired.

Then I aired on Shark Tank and then my daughter was born. So it was a lot going on in that year. And just to tie that all in together, it was my 33rd year, the year of the Lord. So I was just extra blessed. I just had so many things going on. I was able to leave nursing full time and Not have to work there.

I just work home full time

Mm hmm.

And it, it just kind of all of, all of the networking, all of the pushing, just showing up, showing up, showing up, showing up, doing, I literally, anybody asked me to do something, I did it, they asked me, Oh, come to this webinar. It’s it’s, it’s on Sunoco, but you should go there because the people from EY are going to be there.

Okay. I’m going to go and I’m going to ask questions. So. I would do those types of things and people started to recognize me. And that’s how I got a lot of opportunities to do like pitch programs. And I was on like ABC and I spoke for,

the United States trade trademark office. I was on their podcast. I did so many things. I was like putting everywhere. And I think that’s ultimately what got me back to the start of this conversation,

Look. Yeah.

Tank. Um, and that’s how I, I, I feel that’s how I got on. I don’t know how I got on because I didn’t apply.

They actually

You didn’t apply?

No, I didn’t apply. They called me. I’m telling you, I I’m telling you, I’m telling you, I,

I just think you have such good vibes. This is my theory. You’re just like so high vibe that like the opportunities are magnetized to you. You’re like a manifester.

yes, that is, that is what I do. That is what I, I, that is what I do. Prayer and 5 AM, 5 AM prayer gym. So it’s very important. And I feel like that is, that is why I am here too, as well. But it was really the work though. I think, I think it’s just really showing up and. You know, that is one of the hardest things for any entrepreneur is to show up because they’re scared and they don’t know if they’re entering rooms where people don’t want to see them.

You know what I mean? Or don’t want to do business with them.

Right. Mm

And you know, my dad, quick story, also an entrepreneur, um, will, will backtrack. So when I first started the business, before I bought the product, I was outside of my house. Um, And we have a two story house. So my dad was upstairs in his room and I’m downstairs in the front lawn

Mm

and I’m on the phone talking, and then my dad’s like, what are you doing?

And I’m like, tell him, talk on the phone. And then I’m like, dad, I’m about to do this thing. And I’m telling him about it. Right. And he’s like, Are you sure that’s going to be enough bags? I’m like, dad, I’m going to probably sell this over the next two years or something like that. Like that’s what I was thinking.

And he said, no, it’s a good idea. And you’re, you’re going to need more. And then I said, okay. And then he was like, he said, just do me one favor. And I’ll never forget this. He said. Don’t, don’t be afraid to just go out there and get it because that was his problem, is that he had, I don’t know, this is like a whole nother story, but I don’t know if you know anything about like pole dancing, like the exercise,

Sure, a little bit.

okay, but strippers do, yeah, but pole dancing was very, very big and like, 2008, nine, 10, when it, when it first started the exercise, like you go to classes, my dad’s business in Philadelphia and center city was like the top pole dancing business.

The main reason why he said it did not scale the way he wanted it to was because he was afraid to collaborate and afraid to talk to other people.

Oh, my gosh.

it’s so crazy. And, and he said that was his biggest downfall. And then the competition started coming and they weren’t afraid and they started to move and their businesses superseded the space.

And unfortunately his, you know, his business ended up closing, you know, he closed it down because he was, he was done, he had another job, but that was like his play business, but either way. He told me that he was afraid to network. So I told myself that no matter how much people look at me, I’m going to enter the room as a token.

And. utilize their eyes to show them what I’m capable of. So that is how I started to enter spaces. And I started to use the fact that I was black and trans as an advantage, because people always say, what, what is the biggest struggle you’ve had being black and trans? I’m like, I don’t have them because I don’t accept them.

about you. I

Yeah. Like, I’m just like, I’m sorry, I’m not going to allow that. And if it’s not meant for me, then I’m okay with a closed door because I know that there’s a door that that is open for me. And that’s where

I think we should just, like, bottle up your, like, mojo and just, like, distribute that to the universe.

I’m telling you, but that’s how you have to be though. And when you can enter into these spaces, you know, And you have that aura, they, they just accept you because you don’t allow them anything else. You don’t feed them anything else. And that’s like the main thing I try to like preach to my community.

Cause everyone’s like, they don’t want me in there because I’m trans and they’re staring at me. I’m like, great. Let them stare at you. That’s the, that’s what you want. Don’t you want to sell? Like let them stare at you, utilize that and project that positive energy back off to them. So even the most transphobic, cause.

That’s my, people be like, Brax, you’re crazy. Why do you like transphobes? I’m like, I love, I absolutely love transphobic people.

What?

I, I, I know, I do. I really,

Okay, explain. Explain to us.

okay. I love transphobic people because it gives me the opportunity to change their perspective.

Oh, my God. That’s amazing.

and that is why, I have so many stories about people who’ve talked so much shit because they don’t realize that I’m trans.

And then I let them get really deep and I talk shit back with them. I’m like, yeah, you know, whatever. Like, that’s just fucking crazy. They’re in the bathrooms, like acting crazy. Right. I really get into it with them. So they tell me all they need to tell me. And then I hit them with the spice and they, they are so blabbergasted that their whole perspective changes because they’re.

Loving me because I’m sitting there bullshitting with them and talking back and forth and you know They know me as a nerd or talking wherever you some of the nurses, you know that I work with And then they’re just like I don’t believe it your shit like they they cannot believe it and then I i’m like Listen, let me let me show you real quick.

I show them and they’re just like I’m so sorry. I’m like, why are you sorry? Like you didn’t know, and I’m not judging you for that. I’m not judging anyone for their ignorance because I was ignorant at one point in time. I didn’t know at one point in time. And it, it doesn’t give right for people to be, you know, malice or anything like that.

But. You know, people are people. So I accept them. I accept people for where they are and who they are. So if that’s how you are, you know, you’re not paying my bills or sleeping in my bed, so I don’t care. But, you know, it really shifts them. So when I’m able to get into a transphobe space, I’m like, Yes. I’m like, Oh God, this is about to be fun because they just, they just eat me up and they love it.

And they’re just like, Brax, you’re, you’re different. This is, they always tell me you’re different. I’m like, no, I’m not different. I’m the, I am the one that can build the bridge. So that’s what I’m going to do. So

That’s just like so beautiful and I love it. And I like I’m like inspired by your perspective to I’m just like, how can I like not see obstacles and have fun with it, you know, and I think we all can do a better

, even, you know, nobody wants to talk about the election, but you know, even, but even the election, even the election, I mean, you know, I am not happy at all about that. Um, you know, and me there is my whole community,

Mm hmm.

What are you going to do?

Right.

You can’t just roll over tomorrow.

Right.

we, we have to continue to push forward and, you know, just touching on the fact that I’m also black.

I mean, I’m already, I already, I already have the, you know, 10 toes down when I’m driving the car. So it doesn’t, it, it, it, it doesn’t change anything. It just means that you just have to keep going harder and keep showing up and keep showing people that we deserve the same equal rights as everybody else.

Yes. We may have to go through a harder battle. But like I tell my people, you know, the Lord doesn’t bring you down for no reason. He’s going to spring you up. So we may be down right now and that’s okay. That’s okay. We need to be held down hard because if you want to go high, you, you, you have to go down.

It’s just like anything in the

Yeah.

The most beautiful flowers, they’re planting in dirt. You’re, you’re in dirt. You’re in the black dirt. You have to be there. You have to be water. You have to grow. So

My business used to be called Lotus Center, like lotus flowers grow out of the muck, you

yes, I have a lotus flower tattoo,

do you?

Yes, I do. So, so yeah, I mean it’s it’s like it’s just one of those things where you have to You have to control what you can control, and I can control my space around me, so

Mm hmm.

what I’ll do, even if that means I may end up, you know, some people just don’t like it, and they’re mad, and that’s okay too, and I know when to step back and say no, you know what I mean, and walk away, you know, and you know, you know when it’s safe or not

Yes, like take care of yourselves,

go out there and just be crazy blunt bracks, but, you know, you, you, you make sure that you’re comfortable in this space and you take over that space. And that’s just how I’ve been able to get to where I’m at, you know?

So cool. So I think, um, one of the, one of the things I do is called internal family systems therapy or co I do more coaching, but, um, The idea is that we want to be led by our self energy, um, and not by our sort of defense mechanisms or protective parts or like kind of, uh, emotional reactionary aspects of ourselves.

And I think, I think that’s what you do so well is like you, you’re a self led person. I’m sure you have your moments where you’re not happy every second of every day, but it’s like the general thing is like, you’re leading with like the confidence and the connectedness and the patience and, you know, and trust, you know.

um, which I think is so cool and not easy.

It’s, it’s not easy. And that’s, that’s the thing. Every, you know, if you ask my fiance, you know, she’s like, everyone sees you be this positive person, but they don’t know how you really are. And you know what? And the thing is, is that because when you have that much, um, self motivation, it takes it, it’s, it’s. It’s in everything that you do, not just your business. It’s in, you know, the, how you put your pots and pans away, you know, how the trash is put out, how you clean your room, how you keep your bathroom, how you keep your car, how you do things. It’s in all the things that I do. It’s not just in my business.

So, you know, and it’s, you know, my wife was, she’s like, you’re so strict. You’re so, you’re so strict. I’m like, I’m not strict. I just, I’m very, very focused in what I do. And I’m very focused in all that I do. Even when I cook dinner, it’s like, I gotta do it this way. I gotta do this way. Then I gotta clean up.

And it was like, it’s, it, there’s a certain way for everything. And that’s just how I’ve always been. So it’s like, you know, I’ve always been put in that place. And I always also tell people too, that I think that really shaped my life is that my mom. Always told me that I was very special and this is what I try to tell people because I think it’s really important for kids and I think it’s important for adults because

Mm-Hmm.

mom has pushed that I am so special in my brain that I really believed it for so long.

You know what I mean? I really, I really believed it for, I mean, I believe that I am special. I believe everybody is, but. When someone tells you that you are driven, purposed, and that there is something within you that you need to unleash and that it’s within you and you’re special, and you’re told that over and over and over and over again, you really start to believe that.

And you really start to do that and all that you do. So, you know, that goes back to like how we talked before about like my daughter, you know, I’m just like, I’m very on her, you know what I mean? I talked to her like. I talked to you, you know what I mean? Like, I

Wow.

I just let her know because who’s going to grow up one day.

She’s not going to be little forever. And I want her to have that perspective. I want her to have that knowledge that was given to me as well. Both of my parents are also entrepreneurs too. So it’s like, yeah, it’s just one of those, it’s just one of those things. I just felt like really, really is what made me who I am.

You know, I think it’s

Yeah. So those of you with kids, tell them how amazing they are. Maybe they’ll turn out as awesome as Braxton. Dead.

Yes. Yeah. I’m telling you, you have to, it makes them feel so good. It makes them feel so good. And anybody that I know that had like really great parents that like poured into them, they’re like really successful people. They just, they’re just go getters.

They just do it because that’s really all that they know. You know, that’s how they were. That’s how they were

It’s true. It’s like the best kind of brainwashing. I feel

really, really,

I got a lot of that from my dad, from my mom too. But like, I feel like my dad was like, you can do anything and like, you know, go for it.

Yes, yes. That’s so good. I

excitement. Yeah.

I love that.

Thank you. I love that for you as well.

Oh, so what happened since Shark Tank? Let’s do full circle and come back to that.

Okay, cool. So what happened since Shark Tank? So, okay, so I stopped working full time

Mm hmm.

and then, um, kind of just like,

And you did get a deal, right?

Yes, I did. I did get a deal from Mark Cuban and from Barbara Corcoran. So I have two, they have 10 percent each of my business.

Uh huh.

I got a 200, 000 deal, a hundred thousand credit, a hundred thousand in cash.

Um, and to be honest with you, I have access to their resources and their investment team, which is really cool. Actually meet with someone like every two weeks. And we

Oh, wow.

Yeah, we kind of just like riff and like talk about the business and like, you know, if I have any concerns or

Mm hmm.

if I need help with certain resources and they can like direct me in certain paths if, if need be, but the majority is on the entrepreneur, you know what I mean?

It’s, it’s majority on you. They give you the money, but it’s up to you. How do you, how do you utilize that? And I feel like it’s given me, you know, a ton of opportunities. I’m sure. Um, You know, there’s a lot of partnerships that I gain, um, because of people who saw me on shark

Mm hmm.

word of mouth or what, so have you.

So for, for that aspect, it really, um, it really moved the business forward for sure. Um, and then on the other side, I would say it was definitely like a learning experience because one, I don’t have a, a, a. A business degree, you know So I’m not this, you know, I I’m not this financial savvy person, you know So it was really hard to have that type of money and I think I waited like I think I didn’t spend, I had, it was like sitting in my account, like over a hundred thousand

Oh, wow.

account.

And I just let it sit there for like, I think like six to eight months before I even spent the money, because I was so nervous about losing the money.

I can see that.

And, um, you know, because every dollar you’re like, how can I double that? How, what, what am I doing with this money? That’s going to return my investment. Um, you know, and not, I don’t want to let nobody down.

I’m really hard on myself. So I’m like, I don’t want to like upset nobody. You know, I got the teams on my side. Like, I really want to show them I can manage this without looking like, you know, amateur, even

Yeah.

Um, And of course they know that, but, uh, I, I feel like I could have did differently originally with the finances, even though I obviously I started to spend it cause I needed to, but, um, it was definitely a learning curve.

I had to learn a lot. There was a lot of people coming at me. Like I can be your agency for this. I can be your agency if everybody wanted money. So. You know, everyone’s emailing me and I’m thinking, like, well, do I go with this person? Should I put this on my brand? Is this going to help me scale? Like, are they going to really like so many different things that, you know, um, it was really hard to decipher because I just didn’t know the best decision and they won’t tell you what to do because it’s your business.

So you have to, they can say, look, I think you should do this or I think you should do that. But ultimately it’s. It’s up to you how you want to spend that. So I just feel like it was a really big learning, um, learning curve for me, but really thankful for it. And, you know, still thankful that I’m still at home.

So obviously I’m doing something right. So that’s a blessing. Um, but yeah, just taking it day by day and just really just continuing the grind and just trying to, um, you know, this year I think, you know, our e commerce space is really strong, but this year we’ve been doing a lot of, uh, B2B,

Oh, cool.

trying to, um, really connect with more like universities and

That’s a great idea.

And, um, yeah, we just did a, a collaborative deal with Stanford University, with their medical school, so that was really, really cool. Um, and yeah, and just trying to kind of take over those spaces, um, to try to scale the business because obviously those are larger orders,

Yeah,

one or two online or

that’s awesome. I love that you’ve been able to get into

b2B,

Thank you.

to business.

Um, yeah, that’s awesome. And I mean, there’s, like we said, there’s so many populations, like obviously anyone on hormone replacement therapy, but also like. So many of the reasons we use injections.

So, um, like I mentioned, I’m like, my cat does, I do, there’s a, there’s a need, um, but I love that your kits include like the sharps containers. Cause like, I’ve got a little case that I put things in, but like, it doesn’t have its own container, which especially for travel, I think would be great too. Um, so yeah, so people are like, okay, I’m sold on Braxton.

He’s awesome. Like, how can they connect with you? Mm

find Stealth Bros at Stealth Bros Co at on any social media platform, or you can go to www. stealthbrosco. com. Um, or if you want to find me, I do a lot of, um, Like motivational talks and stuff on my Instagram and stuff like that. And you can follow me at sire. brax. It’s S I R E. brax

Mm hmm.

you can follow my personal page there and we have a lot of fun over there.

We talk a lot of shit. good.

That’s, and we’ll, we’ll link to all of that. And then we, I didn’t mention that book behind you, but, um, if you’re, if you’re on the YouTube, uh, The Real Lives of Transgender and Non Binary Humans has a whole chapter on you.

Yes, it does. Yes. So please go to Amazon and check that book out.

Yeah, so we’ll, we’ll link to all of this in the show notes. So, um, if you’re whatever app or platform you’re on, uh, we’ll link to all Braxton’s website, socials, the Stealth Bro and co, uh, website, if you want to buy Adopt Kit, um, and, uh, the book as well. So, yeah. Thank you so much for being here and just like sharing your journey.

Um, I feel pumped up. I hope everyone listening feels pumped up too. And honestly, it was just really nice to meet you. So thank you just for your time and willingness to share with us.

of course. Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure.

All right. Thanks everybody for listening and we will catch you next Monday. Bye.

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