B-Real: Behind The Grind

Greetings, hustlas! This week's B-Real interview is with the one, the only, the FEARLESS Andrew Barret Cox. An artist of many hats, shoes, overalls, you name it- really anything one can accessorize with the will to create - Andrew has quickly become one of my hustle heroes. He, along with The Neon Coven, is makin' it happen by producing works that continue to shine the spot light on narratives that have otherwise been buried under mainstream character types within theatre and performance art. On the show, we talk about Rocky Horror, the ups and downs of social media, Stephen King, and our ideal meccas of happiness. Listen to our little chat, and then keep up with Andrew and The Neon Coven for more incredible works!

Follow on Instagram:

B-Real: @brealpodcast

Andrew Barret Cox: andrewbarretcox

The Neon Coven: @theneoncoven

Bessie D. Smith: @bess_tha_mess

This Tidbit Tuesday comes to you after some time that I've taken away to reflect and assess my current state of hustle. During this "pause", I realized that there were some changes that I need to make to the rate at which I was running myself ragged. Hear about the thought process through changing the pace of my hustle, and then talk back with thoughts about your own experiences in changing the pace! Thank you for listening!

Follow on Instagram:

B-Real: @brealpodcast

Bessie D. Smith: @bess_tha_mess

Happy Falcon Friday! I simply had to release this episode a day later because it was only appropriate for my guest, fellow falcon Tader Shipley! I met Tader while we were both students at Bowling Green State University, and it has been a true privilege being able to observe her hustle these past few years. She's smart, she talented, and she's got comedic timing for DAYS. On the show, we talk a lot about trying new things; for Tader, that has included moving to Boston, improv work, and Bluegrass music! Give it a listen, and then check out Tader's work on her website, tadershipley.com. Thanks for tuning in!

Follow us on Instagram:

B-Real Podcast: @brealpodcast

Tader Shipley: @tadershipley

Bessie D. Smith: @bess_tha_mess

Happy Tuesday, hustlas! Today's Tidbit dives into the intricacies of starting something new. When was the last time you jumped off a cliff and into a new project? Are you on standing on the edge now, "waiting" for the confidence to leap? What are the steps? Dare to find out? Grab a drink and your thinking cap, and let's get into it!

Follow B-Real on Instagram:

Podcast: @brealpodcast

Host: @bess_tha_mess

Today on the show I’m getting real with Olivia Griffin. You could call her an actress, a singer, a songwriter, a producer. But much like me, Olivia refuses to be put into just one box. For our purposes, let’s call her an entertainment artist. Griffin is a force to be reckoned with, y’all, and you don’t have to wait to see her in action because girl is always releasing fresh content on her Instagram. On this episode, besides bonding over growing up melanin in the Midwest, we talk about the #bookedandblessed glow, the post-contract slump, balancing survival jobs and auditions, and what to do while we’re “waiting”. We also get into her current passion projects, including the Young, Gifted, And Black initiative through Iris Productions. If you’re in need of some inspiration to get off yo ass and hustle, then stay tuned, because we’re about to get into it. Thanks for listening!

Instagram:

Guest Olivia Griffith: @og_oliviagriffin

Host Bessie D. Smith: @bess_tha_mess

B-Real: @brealpodcast

For our first Tidbit Tuesday, we are breaking down the art of NOT being #bookedandblessed. Oh, you thought not having a contract meant putting a hold on your career? Have you already started curling yourself into Hibernation Mode? NAH Y'ALL. There is ALWAYS more hustlin' to be had! Listen and learn!

Welcome to B-Real! Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at the hustle of today's professional performance artists. But FIRST, we've got a couple things you need to know. Some ground rules, some vocab, ya know, just simple logistics. Give this pilot a listen, then tune in on Thursday when we release our first Artist Interview!