Glenn Toby, Ph.D.—known to the streets as Mr. Sweetie G and to boardrooms as a philanthropic force—sat down with Ric Mathis on rolling out‘s Fresh Fridays to deliver what can only be described as a masterclass in living with purpose. From his days as a hip-hop pioneer in Queens, New York, to his current work in global philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and spiritual mentorship, Dr. Toby’s story is a roadmap for resilience, revolution, and reverence.
From homelessness to holiness
“I experienced youth homelessness at age 8,” Dr. Toby shared, describing how he, his brother, mother, and grandmother navigated life in Brooklyn and Queens. “To come home and see our furniture on the street… that moment doesn’t leave you.”
But from that adversity, he built a fortress of empathy. “I never lived in the spirit of lack,” he said. “It cultivated my ability to understand wealth and poverty—and master both through my hardships.”
His journey—from street corners to corporate offices—was never just about survival, but about becoming a “master giver.” And that, he insists, is the essence of true living: “True giving is true living. When you master giving, your master will allow you to continue living.”
The power of giving down and giving up
Dr. Toby doesn’t subscribe to the phrase “giving back.” Instead, he reframes generosity through what he calls “giving down”—sharing abundance from a place of spiritual overflow—and “giving up”—letting go of what no longer serves the soul.
With the BookBank Foundation, founded nearly three decades ago, he commits to serving “the lost, the lonely, and the forgotten” by offering critical thinking tools and platforms for healing and revelation. It’s less about charity and more about transformational impact.
“The BookBank Foundation delivers people to the wisdom or knowledge they need. Because ignorance, to me, is a disease,” he said.
Championing loss as a prerequisite for victory
Dr. Toby challenges the toxic obsession with winning. “You’re not a true champion until you’ve mastered the art of losing,” he said. Working with cultural icons like LL Cool J, David Banner, and Jason Mitchell, he found one common denominator—resilience … They went through fire, but used that fire in the kitchen to cook for others.”
It’s a metaphor that sings: pain, when alchemized, becomes nourishment not just for the self but for the community.
AI and the new digital covenant
Dr. Toby embraces artificial intelligence but cautions us to stay woke in the digital age.
“AI is a tool. Don’t let it become your master,” he warned. “Be the architect of your life.”
He urges users—especially Black creators—to scrutinize software agreements and retain ownership of their intellectual property. He encourages cross-referencing AI platforms like Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT to avoid cultural erasure and bias.
“Try to break the AI before it breaks you.”
Spiritual Discipline in a Noisy World
In a world addicted to the dopamine of constant stimuli, Dr. Toby prescribes stillness.
“We must program downtime. Shut down the noise to hear God’s voice.”
Meditation, prayer, and brutal self-honesty, he says, have carried him from mansions to moments of mourning. Spirituality isn’t an accessory—it’s his anchor.
Preserving Culture with Precision
For Dr. Toby, the preservation of culture is not nostalgia—it’s a necessity.
“We must carry forward only what is great or God. Leave behind what’s broken.”
That includes resisting systems not built for us and refusing to let a “new world order” define the future of our people. Culture, he insists, is our compass—if we let it guide us with intelligence, integrity, and heart.
Beyond the interview: A living blueprint
Dr. Glenn Toby is more than an entrepreneur or thought leader. He’s a vessel—carrying ancestral wisdom, divine instruction, and practical strategy into every space he enters. Whether mentoring athletes through The Winner Circle, spinning records at his Global Dance Party on Freshest FM, or preparing to drop a new EP this June, he remains a renaissance man with a righteous mission.
You can find him online at DrGlennToby.com or follow his movement @GlennToby.
Closing word
“Lead with the heart. Feed the people. Don’t chase greed—answer need.”
And that, Dr. Toby reminds us, is how you win with your last breath.
