We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brittney Shelby Sessoms. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brittney below.

Brittney, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

I’m gonna touch this one from two angles; a manufacturer and the employee. It is my judgement that Corporate America gets prioritizing health and wellness all the way wrong.

As a manufacturer or distribution center of any particular nutrition thing, I find it so very conflicting that they have employees packing digestive enzymes and loading them onto trucks, who are often struggling with digestion due to not being allowed to practice healthy habits and use food for organic nutrients, in the workplace.

From an employee’s perspective, particularly one who changed her entire life with nutrition, most employers are having employees for sedentary positions where they are not permitted to have “food on the floor,” nor eat at their desks for a total of 8 hours daily. Eating, is a key component to living better and lunch breaks are often scheduled after an employee has worked 4 hours. At this point, the body begins to go into starvation mode. In addition, most lunch breaks are an average of 30 minutes; I’m proud if you get 1 hour lunch. Of course, there are 15 minute breaks, but often that is only enough to visit the restroom, leaving the employee to grab something calorie dense and processed, from the break room vending machine. Employees also overindulge during lunch and crash shortly after; something casually called “the -itis.”

As a result of these unhealthy practices, people are inactive and being diagnosed with things like poor digestion, constipation, heart disease, skin disease, diabetes, etc.

Brittney, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A Folk Tale… Most folk call me Shelby, after my maiden name.

I’m Brittney Shelby Sessoms! Botanical Wellness Specialist and youngest “big mama” or “madea” that you will ever meet. I specialize in growing one’s knowledge and confidence in prioritizing plants for health & wellness.

I began the journey of health + wellness as early as I can remember, in hindsight, which they say is 2020. Always an interest in the world and never meeting a stranger, I was often told that I “couldn’t save the world by bedtime,” but I begged to differ. As a small child, I would play under the medicine cabinet and be ready to doctor on family when they had different wounds and ailments. One day I picked up a bottle of Father John’s and noticed a main ingredient was licorice, which sparked a lot of interest because I only knew licorice to be candy.

The physical journey of awareness began with being “chubby” or overweight (I recall my third grade teacher calling me “potroast,” lol) all of my childhood (though I was always active), borderline diabetes, borderline high blood pressure, and gut health issues. At my heaviest, in young adulthood, I was 386 lbs.

In January 2013, I committed the revolutionary act of taking my health into my own hands by boldy clearing out my entire kitchen and beginning the journey of unlearning and reinventing cultural behaviors surrounding food.

My quest led me to food and nutrition, which led me to herbs, which led me back to my lineage and ancestors. My maternal great grandmother at Charlotte Rd. transitioned at age 71 and my paternal grandmother at Pickens Rd, recently transitioned at age 96, due to natural decline, but otherwise in great health. A compare and contrast of their lives and the changes my paternal grandmother was able to make when her health was threatened due to southern lifestyle habits, stood out to me, as it afforded her 20 years over the the current life expectancy of black and brown lives in Memphis and Shelby County. Their comparisons showed me sustainable practices that also took care of the plants, animals, and the planet, which led me to oneness in spirit, and ultimately my life’s work and purpose.

Charlotte and Pickens is an impact-driven health and wellness company, lifestyle, movement, and call to action heavily inspired by southern folklore and sweet memories of my time on Charlotte Rd. in Memphis, TN and Pickens Rd. in Mason, TN, with my grandmothers.

We are on an assignment that specializes in growing one’s knowledge and confidence in prioritizing plants for health and wellness. Charlotte & Pickens incorporates key content and offers resources, guides, goods, and services from a whole person perspective; including personal healthcare, self development, communal development, mindfulness, sustainable living, and whatever else spirit advises. We are purposefully committed to providing all natural, non-toxic, high quality, artisan botanical preparations and curating memorable experiences via culture, communication, collaboration, and congeniality.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I wouldn’t say a side hustle because initially I was afraid to sell products and especially charge what they were truly worth. I eventually did move into selling, from the encouragement of someone who I was allowing to donate small amounts of money for me to make herbal supplements.

At the time, while I was still working in corporate America, I was selling products from their parking lot, had people picking up their orders at work, lol. However, just a couple of months before the pandemic officially hit, my company restructured and I, along with six others in my department, were laid off. I was approved for unemployment, but then audited after one month, as it was assumed that I wasn’t actively looking for another job. I was, but I wasn’t going to accept any job, in attempt to keep my previous salary. I decided not to appeal that audit.

The local school district had virtual school and because my family members still worked and I didn’t want my child in the classroom during the COVID climate, I decided to take $400 and invest into my business. One order of my signature syrups and the reviews through word of mouth, helped things to skyrocket, especially during COVID. I handled all orders by hand, via private inbox messaging on social media, and cash app. For my birthday year 2021, I officially launched my commerce website.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

So, as I shared, in September 2021 I launched my website. Well, that was under the name I began with, This Lentil Life.

Shortly after, on May 22, 2022, I pivoted and rebranded my company to pay homage to both of my grandmothers. Therefore, the aesthetic is heavily inspired by southern culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.charlotteandpickens.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlotteandpickens/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlotteandpickens

Image Credits
Photographer: Brittney Shelby Sessoms/Brittney Shelby Sessoms Photography