I don't think there are enough stories told about black men and their relationships and how they build and bond with one another.

President Obama's election has taught us to stop being paralyzed by excuses and given us a floodgate of hope. I'm more daring and going after things that I once thought were not possible.

What we try to do in TSAW, which is Tasha Smith Actors Workshop, is to help the actor get to the core of who they really are and how they really feel. So, we may have them do a dump, where you just basically express everything that you feel that you have not been able to express, whether it's good, bad, or ugly.

My husband taught me so much about being a father. No matter what any of our children do, my husband will always believe in them, love them and accept them.

When I was growing up, around 14, it wasn't really cool at the time to have a big butt. I would always cover it with sweaters, and I was so ashamed of it. Now I'm like, 'Why would I ever do that? That's awful!' Don't change yourself, and don't try to be anyone who you're not.

If you're going to believe in a God, then you also have to equally believe that there's a flip side to this.

If we were meant to read for enjoyment, would God have created television? Read as it was intended - for exercise. The more you read, the more you expand your - what's the word I'm looking for? - your stockpile of words. You must have a stockpile of words that you can pass along to your children for their stockpile.

Diet and supplements and exercise programs aren't what is achieving longevity. Having a faith-based community can add four to 14 years.