As Told By Nomads

Joining me on this week’s episode is Solo Ceesay, a first-generation immigrant born to Senegalese and Gambian parents, whose entrepreneurial journey to date includes becoming an Ivy League football champion, graduating top of his class at the Wharton School of Business, joining Citigroup on Wall Street as a securitization investment banker, and presenting his own creator economy video podcast. Solo’s now the pulse of the creative economy, spearheading over thirty-three million in funds raised since 2021 to build open social marketplace Calaxy with his co-founder, NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie. And he’s also, as we discuss today, at the forefront of making sure we learn how to stabilize traditional and stagnant methods of monetization for creators.

Solo opens the episode by sharing the details of his journey, including how his parents instilled in him a determination to always give his best and never give up, helping him to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. He then discusses his pivot into the world of cryptocurrency and its potential to be the next path in the creative landscape, explaining that it can empower creators to maximize their monetization channels. He also teaches us some crypto basics, including how blockchain works, how crypto makes commerce more accessible, and how Calaxy is leveraging Web3 technology to connect creators and fans. Solo then speaks about how Calaxy was developed and its ambition to lower the barriers to getting involved in the crypto world while taking power out of the hands of platforms like Instagram and Facebook and giving it to creators. And finally, Solo answers my regular question, how does he use his difference to make a difference, stating that he always makes sure to stay authentic to who he is, thank those who support him, and remember that by thinking you can achieve, you’ll find the opportunities to do so.

Episode Highlights:

• How Solo’s background shaped how he sees success
• Creating a toolkit to empower creators
• Explaining crypto, blockchain, and Calaxy
• Taking power from platforms and giving it to creators
• The ongoing trend of influencer marketing

Links:

Connect with Solo Ceesay:

Solo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solo-ceesay-9b2a258a/

Solo's Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoloCeesay

Calaxy's Website: https://www.calaxy.com/

Calaxy's Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalaxyApp

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Tayo welcomes sought-after speaker, podcaster, author, and entrepreneur Grant Baldwin. Grant is founder and CEO of The Speaker Lab, through which he’s helped thousands of people build successful and sustainable speaking businesses, including students in all fifty US states and forty-five countries worldwide. He is committed to using his expertise and insights to equip others to share their meaningful messages with the masses, and he’s here today to discuss dealing with public speaking nerves, how comedians refine their material, and what it takes to be a good husband.

First up, Grant shares how he got started in the speaking industry, from working as a youth pastor to doing up to seventy paid speaking gigs a year and launching The Speaker Lab. He also discusses one of the most common questions he gets asked—how much to charge as a speaker—and the Speaking Fee Calculator, a free resource he created to help people determine their rates. Grant then tackles the widespread fear of public speaking, suggesting that nerves aren’t always a bad thing and can be harnessed to make sure you’re really present in important moments. He also says that a big part of managing nerves when speaking is making sure that you prepare well in advance, just like an athlete before a big event, so that you have confidence in your ability to execute and combat your nerves. The conversation then pivots to a discussion about the importance of family in Grant’s life, including how he maintains a balance between work and family and how he thinks the best way to be a good dad is to be a good husband and make sure his kids know how much he loves their mom. Finally, Grant shares how he uses his difference to make a difference by being intentional in his life and ensuring he embraces the things he loves.

Episode Highlights:

• Knowing and receiving your value
• Dealing with nerves through preparedness
• Putting the work in to look effortless
• Classical confidence vs. jazzy improvisation
• Finding a good work/life balance

Links:

Connect with Grant Baldwin:

Get a Free Copy of The Successful Speaker: https://thespeakerlab.com/tss-accelerator/

Podcast: https://thespeakerlab.com/podcast/

Speaking Fee Calculator: https://thespeakerlab.com/speaking-fees-calculator/

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest on this episode of As Told by Nomads is actor, producer, and host of From Scratch, David Moscow. Having made his film debut at age thirteen as the young Tom Hanks in Big, David has appeared in dozens of films, TV shows, and theater productions over a thirty-five-year career. He’s also explored food culture all over the world, and he joins me today to discuss how food is a connected force culturally, socially, and environmentally.

We begin the episode by discussing how David, a city kid from New York, decided to tour the world and explore food cultures. During his childhood, David used to get glimpses of where his food came from, on fishing trips with his grandfather or apple picking upstate, but he had lost that connection as an adult. So he decided he wanted to figure out if a city person could get back to an understanding of food by learning to do things like harvesting wheat or making tequila, an idea that ultimately developed into From Scratch. Next, David talks through some of the lessons he’s learned while making the show and experiencing different food cultures, from developing respect for vegans to discovering that having regular family meals may help you live longer. He also speaks to the loss of respect for food producers and the impact of food production on the environment, emphasizing that if changes aren’t made, the results may be catastrophic. David then discusses the process of finding his voice as a host, admitting his first couple of episodes were tough, until he realized his job was to act as an audience surrogate by asking questions and drawing out the experts’ experience and insight. And finally, David answers my regular question: how does he use his difference to make a difference? David responds that he wants to use the show to reframe who people see as heroes, focusing not on billionaires like Elon Musk but on raising up the hard-working people who harvest and produce our food.

Episode Highlights:

• Learning about different cultures through food
• The communal power of food
• Food production and climate change
• How David found his voice as a host
• Changing the perception of heroes

Links:

Connect with David Moscow:

From Scratch Book: https://www.discoverfromscratch.com/TheBook

From Scratch TV Show: https://www.discoverfromscratch.com/the-show

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tayo welcomes Cynthia Covey Haller, an author, teacher, speaker, and active participant in her community. Cynthia has written and contributed to several notable books, one of them being Live Life in Crescendo which she co-wrote with her late father, the legendary leadership expert Stephen R. Covey.

In this episode, Tayo and Cynthia unpack the concept of living life in crescendo. As Cynthia explains, the crescendo mentality is all about changing your view of life and seeing it through a different lens. Just like music builds on the previous notes, you can also build on your past and previous experiences. Your best work is yet to come, and that’s exactly what living life in crescendo is all about. Cynthia talks about the importance of defining what success means for you, how to take control of your life, and why life doesn’t have to end after retirement. If you want to live your life to the fullest, listen in to Cynthia’s wise words here today, and choose to live it with the crescendo mindset.

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• Live Life in Crescendo
• What is the crescendo mentality?
• Finding your mission
• How a wrongful conviction turned into an inspirational story
• Defining success
• The importance of doing good 
• Choosing to live life in crescendo

Links: 

Connect with Cynthia Covey Haller:

‘Live Life in Crescendo’ by Stephen R. Covey and Cynthia Covey Haller: https://www.franklincovey.com/books/live-life-in-crescendo/ 

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the second episode of three on building wealth, Tayo Rockson chats with Jason Yarusi, a real estate syndicator and investor, who co-founded and manages Yarusi Holdings, a multifamily investment firm that has acquired over 1900 units since its inception five brief years ago.  Yarusi also works with 7 Figure Multifamily, a group of experienced investors seeking to  provide  a roadmap to other multifamily real estate investors in search of success.  Jason and his wife owe much of their prosperity to this idea of writing your own narrative and the 100 Mile Mindset. In fact, it was only after working as a bartender and in the construction industry, that Jason finally bought his first 94-unit apartment building.

And today Jason wants to talk about how he got there.  Yarusi and Rockson discuss everything and anything from layering income streams and asset management to what it’s like to work with a spouse and how to analyze market trends.   Now $180 million later, Jason is all about communication and commitment.  Above all else, Yarusi believes in challenging yourself and pushing yourself to the next level. He believes that if you do that, then all the little obstacles life throws in your way are a lot easier to handle than you may have once expected.  So listen in to today’s in-depth discussion and learn how you, too, can start writing your own story.

Episode Highlights:  

• Writing your own narrative
• Jason’s first 94-unit apartment building
• Single-family vs. Multifamily
• Layering income streams
• Maximizing income on property with effective Asset Management
• Working professionally with your spouse 
• The importance of communication
• Analyzing market trends
• The 100 Mile Mindset
• Controlling the controllables

Links: 

Connect with Jason Yarusi: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonyarusi/

Website: https://www.yarusiholdings.com/

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of As Told by Nomads, Tayo is joined by serial entrepreneur Elliot Wise, who started his first business at the age of thirteen and, at thirty-one, is now the founder of ten businesses and a rapidly growing business empire. He also works with budding entrepreneurs in small companies to arm them with the skills they need to succeed, including how to develop a winning mindset and stay composed under pressure. In today’s conversation, they talk about many things, from Elliot’s background to his philosophy of never letting himself down and his opinions on mentorship, as he provides us with an insight into the mindset of entrepreneurship.

Elliot begins the episode by discussing his upbringing with parents who didn’t put pressure on him to succeed, which he credits with giving him the space to build his own belief systems and find a niche he loves in business. He contrasts this with the social and cultural pressure placed on many young people to succeed, suggesting it can enforce limiting beliefs that hold people back from following their path to fulfillment. Instead, Elliot highlights the importance of introspection and critical thinking to find what makes you happy and of developing emotional control and internal confidence. Tayo raises the topic of separating the personal and professional, and both he and Elliot agree that choosing to blur those lines can be a positive choice, allowing balance in your lifestyle instead of a forced, artificial separation. And finally, Elliot discusses his mentorship philosophy and shares his desire to make a difference with his difference by contributing to a new system of learning through mentoring.

Episode Highlights:

• Cultural norms and the pressure to succeed
• Internal confidence and not letting yourself down
• Curating your communities and lifestyle
• Resisting the victim mindset

Links:

Connect with Elliot Wise:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiseelliot/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliotwise/

Limitless Mentoring: https://limitless-mentoring.com/links/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ElliotWise/

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Corey Yeager, psychotherapist for the Detroit Pistons and licensed marriage and family therapist, joins Tayo for today’s episode. Dr. Yeager works to give athletes open environments to express and explore their challenges, finding that frank dialogue helps not only individual athletes but entire teams. His new book How Am I Doing? is an extension of his mission to enhance individual self-wellness through self-work that starts with getting to know the person behind the mirror.

Dr. Yeager begins the episode by explaining that concept of the person in the mirror and why it’s so important to engage and understand them instead of avoiding their secrets, as many of us are prone to. He says that most of us become what other people tell us we should be and get stuck in outdated coping mechanisms, and only by understanding ourselves can we make progress. He illustrates this by sharing his own journey away from the assumption that his physical prowess was the only thing he had to give to finding his spark and purpose in academia. I then ask Dr. Yeager to speak about another concept from his book—chasing your wildest dreams. He clarifies that the important part is not stopping once you’ve achieved one dream but continually planning to pursue the next one so as to avoid stagnation. In order to figure out those dreams, Dr. Yeager advises focusing on finding your genius, combating negative and bad-faith self-talk, letting go of outdated support systems, and being your own number one. And finally, Dr. Yeager shares how he uses his difference to make a difference by pointing out to others that while they will face obstacles, it is possible to pursue and do whatever you choose.

Episode Highlights:

• Engaging with the person in the mirror
• Discovering yourself and understanding context
• Pursuing your wildest dreams
• Finding your genius and combating negative self-talk
• Being your best self for yourself

Links:

Connect with Dr. Yeager:

Website: http://doctorcoreyyeager.com/

Book: http://doctorcoreyyeager.com/book

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, Tayo chats with James Lam about what they believe is missing in today’s business world, why authenticity is pertinent to entrepreneurship, and how we can build our companies around our own personal genius.  After two of the three businesses that Lam created failed, he decided to take an introspective look at his entrepreneurship style.  And what he found was that, while yes, strategy and courage are important in creating a company, so is authenticity.  So he started to infuse his personality into his latest venture, Look Ahead Marketing, and that has made all the difference.  

In an age where most marketing takes place on social media platforms, it can be easy to want to copy everyone else who is successful, especially when you’re just starting out.  However, TikTok and Instagram algorithms are notorious for being unpredictable, and forming your platform in someone else’s likeness does you no good.  So listen to today’s podcast, and learn how you, too, can start putting yourself first - creatively, educationally, and professionally.  You just might find that, like James and Tayo, your inner genius has been enough for you to become successful all along.  

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• Infusing personality into entrepreneurship
• Learning from failure
• Authenticity, strategy, and courage
• The temporary nature of social media platforms
• Getting paid for creativity
• Putting yourself first
• Knowing your values

Links: 

Connect with James Lam and Look Ahead Marketing: 

Look Ahead Marketing Website: https://www.lookaheadmarketing.com/

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author, marketplace expert, and public speaker, Jenn Lim, joins Tayo on the podcast today. Together, they engage in a deep conversation about Jenn’s journey to find happiness, why such happiness is missing in today’s workplace, and how we can start to incorporate it into both our professional and personal lives. Opening up the episode with a brief note on embracing pain and trusting in the process, Jenn notes that when we reckon with pain and discomfort, we make friends with the enemies that they once were.  And according to her, that’s just the beginning of a long path toward happiness.  

Jenn goes on to talk about the significance of trust, progress, connectedness, and, most importantly, purpose.  When we engage in activities that reinforce our values, we are more likely to decrease the amount of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity in our daily lives.  And that goes for the workplace as well.  Through her work, Jenn has witnessed so many beautiful stories of people connecting with themselves and their work in deep and meaningful ways.  And, as you listen in today, you’ll learn that you, too, can join in and experience this great happiness awakening yourself.  

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• Embracing pain
• Trust, progress, connectedness, and purpose
• Decreasing VUCA levels
• Jenn’s own happiness journey
• Graduating from UC Berkeley
• Active listening

Links: 

Connect with Jenn Lim: 

Website: https://jennlim.com/

Beyond Happiness Book: https://jennlim.com/beyondhappiness

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Tayo welcomes Liam Martin to talk about managing in remote workplaces, why remote work is the new norm, and how you can work remotely too.  As the author of Running Remote, Liam has spent years studying the ins and outs of remote work, process design hiring, and inclusivity, and today Liam and Tayo talk about just that. Prior to March 2020, there were a mere 5 million digital nomads.  Now that number reaches just over 50 million.  

People like Martin are starting to realize that remote work and asynchronicity improves openness and reflects the world’s ever changing value systems.  Ideas reign supreme now that your race, sex, and gender no longer play a role in whether your hired or not.  We need to stop judging others based on their exterior, and remote work is one of the wonderful ways that we can make that happen. That’s not to say that remote work doesn't have its downsides.  In adults over the age of 25, most socialization takes place in office.  And now that there is no office, it becomes increasingly more difficult to meet people.  That being said, Liam found that remote work has introduced this notion of choice in the workforce.  It’s no secret that many adults abandon their childhood aspirations for a career path that’s a little more realistic.  Now that we get to decide our environments, however, it's up to us to intentionally create spaces that maximize the fullness of self.

The Finer Details of This Episode: 

• The exponential growth of digital nomadism
• The logistics of synchronous work
• Deliberate communication, democratized processes, and detailed metrics
• Openness 
• Changing value systems
• Losing socialization
• Maximizing fullness of self
• The rise of the introverted leader

Links:

Connect with Liam Martin on: 

Running Remote Book: shorturl.at/EKQZ3

Website: www.runningremote.com

Connect with Tayo Rockson and the As Told By Nomads Podcast:

Tayo’s Website: https://tayorockson.com/

Tayo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tayorockson/

Tayo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TayoRockson

Tayo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

Tayo on TikTok: https://www.youtube.com/tayorockson

As Told by Nomads Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-told-by-nomads/id910739730

UYD Management: https://www.uydmanagement.com/

UYD Collective: https://tayorockson.com/uyd-collective

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.