Creatives Over Cocktails

Songwriter, Vocalist, Producer and Entertainment Operations Expert - Nina Teapot Owens talks about the moment she knew she would have a career in music and the obstacles she overcame along the way. She discusses transitioning to the business side of the industry and following her calling to “Protect the Music”. She inspires as she goes into the importance of telling her story and how she overcame fear during pivotal moments in her career.

Nina Teapot Owens is a songwriter, vocalist, producer and entertainment operations expert that is making her mark in Music City. She received her Degree in Entertainment Business from the SAE Institute Nashville where she was the valedictorian of her 2018 class. She was recently highlight in the SAE institute feature "From the Classroom to the Stage". Nina recently directed her first music video with her sisters and megastar band The Shindellas entitled Fear Has No Place and was featured in ESSENCE for her directorial debut.

Nina launched the Nashville chapter of Writing Sessions American (WSA) in September 2016 with the support of industry friend and music executive Lonnie Deadwyler. She has since introduced the “Music City” to WSA events such as Live Radio mixers, singer-songwriter boot camps, and industry panels. As Writing Sessions America Chapter President, Nina leads the organization to provide a growth mechanism for singers, songwriters, producers, and engineers working together in collaboration to learn how to be better entrepreneurs. Recently, Nina developed her very first Master Class, partnering with Shannon Sanders (Grammy Award-Winning producer/program director of 102.1 "The Ville") and Louis York (Grammy/Dove Award-Winning duo and founders of Weirdo Workshop).

In her role as Operations Manager for Weirdo Workshop, Nina oversees the day-to-day operations of the company which includes artist management, program and brand development, marketing and communications, merchandising and events and more. Founded by Grammy award-winning producers Chuck Harmony and Louis York, Weirdo Workshop is a music, arts and creative hub that also serves as the independent record label behind Louis York and the Shindellas. While at Weirdo Workshop Nina has spearheaded the growth of The Tiny Book Club (TBC). A program and platform that seeks to foster human connection in the digital era. Tiny Book Club brings people together to discuss books, podcasts, poetry and the arts in a safe place and in a meaningful way. Under Nina's direction, TBC has grown to host events in multiple cities as well as formed partnerships with brands like Audible. Middle Tennesseans from across the region look forward to TBC events.

In previous roles Nina served the City of Nashville for 5 1/2 years as a 911 dispatcher helping the citizens of Music City. She has mentored young musicians at the Note For Note after school program in Nashville TN and served on the Pearl-Cohn AEC Advisory Board for 2 years. Nina's personal mission is to develop a community of creators who will be educated in this ever-changing music industry. In her spare time she travels, writes music, creates memorable events and experiences, and spends time with her husband Chess Owens, son and their dog Mars.

Nina Teapot Owens
https://www.instagram.com/ninateapot/

Whisk & Blend
Bartender Liv tells us how to get the party turnt with a Kamikaze shot.
https://www.instagram.com/livi_pourz_itup/
https://pourzbarschool.com/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
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Inspiring and motivating creatives, D’Llisha Davis talks about the importance of protecting your peace and knowing who you are. She explores the importance of being intentional with the moves you make, the spaces you are in and unapologetically sharing your stories. Throughout her career D’Llisha has broke ceilings and continues to lay the foundations for artists to thrive.

As a Nashville native, D’Llisha Davis (@itstwoelles) has built her foundation through as an educator and by becoming a notable matriarch in the Nashville Hip Hop scene. Over the past few years she has stood out by implementing events in intentional spaces for creatives, women, and the youth. D’Llisha first made her mark in Music City as the owner of hip hop outlet and promotional marketing brand, 2Ls on a Cloud. She later developed her community driven brand Protect the Culture, which provides a space for multicultural communities driven through arts, music, and youth empowerment. Through her work she has been nominated for various awards, received a “Nashvillians of Note” portrait in the Noelle Hotel, been listed as a top 40 under 40, recognized by TEDxNashville, spotlighted by Who Knew, and celebrated by Nike Culture Cultivator with her own Nike shoe.

Whisk & Blend
Bartender Liv gives us a remix of the original Hot Toddy - the Hot Cider Apple Toddy.

D’Llisha Davis
https://www.instagram.com/itstwoelles/
https://twitter.com/ItsTwoElles

2L’s On a Cloud
https://www.instagram.com/2Lsonacloud/

Protect the Cloud
https://www.instagram.com/ProtectTheCulture/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Music Producer: A.B. Eastwoood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/

Kasi, Stacy & Tam of The Shindellas, join us bringing the chills with their “shindo”. They talk about their journey to stardom and the pivotal moments that started their music careers. Advocates aligned under the tenets of sisterhood, excellence, elegance, and empowerment; The Shindellas discuss the process of trust and how they came together as a group. They share inspiring words on the importance of giving your gifts to the world and doing something bigger than yourself.

Beatnik group The Shindellas are a female band formed under the belief that when women come together, powerful things can happen. The Shindellas are comprised of three brilliantly talented women, Kasi Jones (Singer), Stacy Johnson (Singer/Guitarist) and Tamara Chauniece (Singer). Each member was introduced by multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated, songwriting and production duo, Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly, also known as the progressive band Louis York. The Shindellas explore Jazz, Soul and true R&B to create a unique genre of music for their audience. They are proponents of self-love, empowerment, and elegance, which are tenets they work hard to spread through their music.

The Shindellas
https://weirdoworkshop.com/pages/the-shindellas
https://www.instagram.com/theshindellas/

Whisk & Blend
Bartender Liv brings us the refreshing Tennessee Mule, perfect for the warming weather.
https://www.instagram.com/livi_pourz_itup/
https://pourzbarschool.com/

Shout out to the following Nashville Bars where you can find the best Tennessee Mules:
Wille B’s: https://www.instagram.com/the_williebs/
Rock Bottom Brewery: https://www.instagram.com/rockbottombrewery/
Bar Sovereign: https://www.instagram.com/barsovereign/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Audio Architect: Kamaal Malak https://www.instagram.com/kamaalmalak/
Music Producer: A.B. Eastwoood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/

In Part 2 of our interview with the legendary E-40 he makes a “long story short and a short story long” as he talks about turning setbacks into stepping stools. He goes into the blossoming and versatility of his music exploring the origins of his album Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire that featured guest performances such as Lil Wayne, Birdman and Juvenile. He discusses the times he had to “hold on like a hubcap in the fast lane” when he overcame being blocked from the radio to reach his rejuvenation with the release of “Snap Yo Fingers” featuring Lil Jon. E-40 also drops some words of wisdom as he talks about his business ventures and the importance of credit.

Earl Stevens is a platinum selling recording artist and actor from Vallejo California. Earl is also known by his stage name of E-40, a rap veteran entrepreneur that is mostly known for his unorthodox rap style & catchy slang words. In addition to his career as a musician, E-40 is an entrepreneur and investor who has ventured into other business and investment opportunities.

Whisk & Blend
Wine Whisper and Beverage Broker/Manager Stacey Diltz Thomas discusses E-40 and how the infusion of personality makes his brands. She brings us a special cocktail recipe using the newest E-40 brand - Tycoon Cognac.
https://www.instagram.com/staceywines/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe to the newsletter for signature drink recipes, new music, inspiration, and free stuff: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Audio Architect: Kamaal Malak https://www.instagram.com/kamaalmalak/
Music Producer: A.B. Eastwood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/
Executive Producer and Branding Strategist: Kamilah Sanders https://www.instagram.com/kivanoir/

E-40
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/e40/
Sluricane – Follow: https://www.instagram.com/e40sluricane/
E.Cuarenta Tequila – Follow: https://www.instagram.com/e.cuarentatequila/
Earl Stevens Wines
Visit: https://earlstevensselections.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/earlstevensselections/

Mentions
Just Play Entertainment: https://www.justplayentertainment.com/
Priest Point Liquors: http://www.priestpointwineandspirits.com/

In Part 1 of this two-part interview, we locked-in with the legendary E-40 as he explores his creative journey. He talks about living the hustle and switching from being known for his music to being a household name. E-40 discusses how he used his business mindset when transitioning to the beverage industry. We go back to the summer of ’85 to hear the origination story of his name and the beginnings his famous Sluricane beverage line. E-40 reps his HBCU (Historically Black College and University) Grambling State University as he talks about the early influences that shaped his character. Plus, E-40 drops some additional details on the West Coast Super Group with Too $hort, Snoop Dogg & Ice Cube.

Earl Stevens is a platinum selling recording artist and actor from Vallejo California. Earl is also known by his stage name of E-40, a rap veteran entrepreneur that is mostly known for his unorthodox rap style & catchy slang words. In addition to his career as a musician, E-40 is an entrepreneur and investor who has ventured into other business and investment opportunities.

Whisk & Blend
We welcome Wine Whisper and Beverage Broker/Manager Stacey Diltz Thomas to our Whisk & Blend segment as she discusses what’s going on behind the scenes of the beverage business.
https://www.instagram.com/staceywines/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe to the newsletter for signature drink recipes, new music, inspiration, and free stuff: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Audio Architect: Kamaal Malak https://www.instagram.com/kamaalmalak/
Music Producer: A.B. Eastwood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/
Executive Producer and Branding Strategist: Kamilah Sanders https://www.instagram.com/kivanoir/

E-40
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/e40/
Sluricane – Follow: https://www.instagram.com/e40sluricane/
E.Cuarenta Tequila – Follow: https://www.instagram.com/e.cuarentatequila/
Earl Stevens Wines
Visit: https://earlstevensselections.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/earlstevensselections/

Mentions
Just Play Entertainment: https://www.justplayentertainment.com/

Cultural strategist, speaker, writer, producer, philanthropist, entrepreneur – Anasa Troutman tells her amazing story of the crazy, bold, out of the box way she lived her life while being petrified yet staying true to herself. She inspires as she tells her story of attending Spelman and how she came alive while working at the Tower Record Store in Atlanta being surrounded by music and meeting famous artists. She brings her majestic spirit as she describes what drives her creativity and the significance of being the unique voice in the room.

As CEO & Founder of The BIG We, Anasa works to build & execute strategies for artists & organizations that are aligned with her vision of a loving world & her belief in creativity as a pathway to personal, community & global transformation.

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Anasa awakened to her life’s work during her time in Atlanta, Georgia, attending Spelman College & founding Groovement/EarthSeed Music, a successful record label & collective of young, cutting edge, visionary musicians, performers, & writers.

Best known for her work as strategic advisor & executive producer for long time friend India.Arie, Anasa recently stepped into leadership as the first Executive Director of the historic Clayborn Temple in Memphis. Anasa has provided strategic and creative support in many important cultural, political & social justice spaces; she has designed & facilitated national learning exchanges, served as a consulting producer, trained & transitioned the leadership of organizations to integrate cultural strategy as a community organizing tactic, produced tours & festivals, curated artistic programming, shepherded many artists & creative thinkers through the process of manifesting their own creative vision & has been invited twice to the White House by the Obama administration to advise on cultural policy.

Anasa works hard to embody her strong belief in creativity as a transformative practice & engages art making as a pathway to her own healing & spiritual expansion. While she experiments with many forms of creative practice, her deepest love is writing. She creates stories, songs & essays that reflect her unique point of view, commitment to loving kindness & thirst for beauty & adventure.

Whisk & Blend
Bartender, Liv C joins us to talk about her segment on Whisk & Blend TV highlighting the hospitality industry as she introduces the sexy, classic Side Car cocktail. Check out our IG for the recipe and our Whisk & Blend TV series Tip Your Bartender! #whiskandblendtv

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Audio Architect: Kamaal Malak https://www.instagram.com/kamaalmalak/
Music Producer: A.B. Eastwoood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/

Music industry power houses, Jamila McCarley and Thalia Ewing, known as Mimi & Muziqueen, join us to tell their story. They talk about their journey pursuing a career in music and the sacrifices they made along the way. Opening doors for new artists, they discuss the setbacks that shaped their business acumen which brought new opportunities leading to their focus on economic opportunities for artists. They speak on how trust in business, friendship, and sisterhood joined them together as the perfect pair. Offering up encouraging words, they go into the benefits of knowing who you are as an artist and knowing the impact that you want to make.

Jamila McCarley and Thalia Ewing, better and more affectionately known as, Mimi & Muziqueen, are two names buzzing around the Nashville music industry and are synonymous with the words passion, ambition and progress. Mimi & Muziqueen, as Partner and Founder, respectively, of the organization Nashville Is Not Just Country Music, have become a deep- rooted resource of knowledge, support and encouragement to the Urban/Hip-Hop/R&B music community in Nashville that has long been overlooked...until now.

In 2014, the stars aligned and brought these two female music industry power-houses together to fan a flame that has been quietly burning beneath Nashville’s music scene. Mimi & Muziqueen began their relationship by doing what they do best, song pitching and placement. While this allowed them to support each other’s business ventures they also began to cultivate Nashville’s diverse music scene as a team and came together to bring Nashville’s Urban music community a networking pool, a resource hub, a safe-haven, if you will, which is now known as Nashville Is Not Just Country Music. Mimi & Muziqueen also began hosting their quarterly NINJCM Industry Mixers and monthly Urban Writer’s Rounds, which have now found their home at the famous Acme Feed & Seed in Downtown Nashville. In 2019 Mimi & Muziqueen also landed a publishing deal with Riptide Publishing to provide synch opportunities to the Nashville market. NINJCM is a community based organization aimed at providing music business education, networking opportunities and career advancement support to urban music creators. Through NINJCM, Mimi & Muziqueen are investing in the creatives of all genres in Music City.

Mimi and Muziqueen
https://www.instagram.com/MimiandMuziqueen/

Nashville Is Not Just Country Music
https://www.instagram.com/nashvilleisnotjustcountrymusic/

Whisk & Blend
Cocktail Enthusiast, Bré, shows us her twist on a good mule – the Pomegranate Pear Mule.

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/

Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Audio Architect: Kamaal Malak https://www.instagram.com/kamaalmalak/
Music Producer: A.B. Eastwoood

Join us for some fun as we wrap up Season 1 reminiscing on our favorite episodes and inspiring moments. We have some special treats for our next episodes and we'll see you back for Season 2 in September.

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Music Producer: A.B. Eastwoood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/
Creative Producer: Kamilah Sanders https://www.instagram.com/kivanoir/

Songwriter, Vocalist, Producer and Entertainment Operations Expert - Nina Teapot Owens talks about the moment she knew she would have a career in music and the obstacles she overcame along the way. She discusses transitioning to the business side of the industry and following her calling to “Protect the Music”. She inspires as she goes into the importance of telling her story and how she overcame fear during pivotal moments in her career.

Nina Teapot Owens is a songwriter, vocalist, producer and entertainment operations expert that is making her mark in Music City. She received her Degree in Entertainment Business from the SAE Institute Nashville where she was the valedictorian of her 2018 class. She was recently highlight in the SAE institute feature "From the Classroom to the Stage". Nina recently directed her first music video with her sisters and megastar band The Shindellas entitled Fear Has No Place and was featured in ESSENCE for her directorial debut.

Nina launched the Nashville chapter of Writing Sessions American (WSA) in September 2016 with the support of industry friend and music executive Lonnie Deadwyler. She has since introduced the “Music City” to WSA events such as Live Radio mixers, singer-songwriter boot camps, and industry panels. As Writing Sessions America Chapter President, Nina leads the organization to provide a growth mechanism for singers, songwriters, producers, and engineers working together in collaboration to learn how to be better entrepreneurs. Recently, Nina developed her very first Master Class, partnering with Shannon Sanders (Grammy Award-Winning producer/program director of 102.1 "The Ville") and Louis York (Grammy/Dove Award-Winning duo and founders of Weirdo Workshop).

In her role as Operations Manager for Weirdo Workshop, Nina oversees the day-to-day operations of the company which includes artist management, program and brand development, marketing and communications, merchandising and events and more. Founded by Grammy award-winning producers Chuck Harmony and Louis York, Weirdo Workshop is a music, arts and creative hub that also serves as the independent record label behind Louis York and the Shindellas. While at Weirdo Workshop Nina has spearheaded the growth of The Tiny Book Club (TBC). A program and platform that seeks to foster human connection in the digital era. Tiny Book Club brings people together to discuss books, podcasts, poetry and the arts in a safe place and in a meaningful way. Under Nina's direction, TBC has grown to host events in multiple cities as well as formed partnerships with brands like Audible. Middle Tennesseans from across the region look forward to TBC events.

In previous roles Nina served the City of Nashville for 5 1/2 years as a 911 dispatcher helping the citizens of Music City. She has mentored young musicians at the Note For Note after school program in Nashville TN and served on the Pearl-Cohn AEC Advisory Board for 2 years. Nina's personal mission is to develop a community of creators who will be educated in this ever-changing music industry. In her spare time she travels, writes music, creates memorable events and experiences, and spends time with her husband Chess Owens, son and their dog Mars.

Nina Teapot Owens
https://www.instagram.com/ninateapot/

Whisk & Blend
Bartender Liv tells us how to get the party turnt with a Kamikaze shot.
https://www.instagram.com/livi_pourz_itup/
https://pourzbarschool.com/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow:

Kasi, Stacy & Tam of The Shindellas, join us bringing the chills with their “shindo”. They talk about their journey to stardom and the pivotal moments that started their music careers. Advocates aligned under the tenets of sisterhood, excellence, elegance, and empowerment; The Shindellas discuss the process of trust and how they came together as a group. They share inspiring words on the importance of giving your gifts to the world and doing something bigger than yourself.

Beatnik group The Shindellas are a female band formed under the belief that when women come together, powerful things can happen. The Shindellas are comprised of three brilliantly talented women, Kasi Jones (Singer), Stacy Johnson (Singer/Guitarist) and Tamara Chauniece (Singer). Each member was introduced by multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated, songwriting and production duo, Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly, also known as the progressive band Louis York. The Shindellas explore Jazz, Soul and true R&B to create a unique genre of music for their audience. They are proponents of self-love, empowerment, and elegance, which are tenets they work hard to spread through their music.

The Shindellas
https://weirdoworkshop.com/pages/the-shindellas
https://www.instagram.com/theshindellas/

Whisk & Blend
Bartender Liv brings us the refreshing Tennessee Mule, perfect for the warming weather.
https://www.instagram.com/livi_pourz_itup/
https://pourzbarschool.com/

Shout out to the following Nashville Bars where you can find the best Tennessee Mules:
Wille B’s: https://www.instagram.com/the_williebs/
Rock Bottom Brewery: https://www.instagram.com/rockbottombrewery/
Bar Sovereign: https://www.instagram.com/barsovereign/

Brought to you by Great Convo Media https://greatconvo.com/
Subscribe: http://www.creativesovercocktails.com/
Follow: https://www.instagram.com/coc_podcast
Like: https://www.facebook.com/cocpodcast

Hosts
Eboné Merrimon https://www.instagram.com/deepsouleb/
Brian Sexton https://www.instagram.com/iamspreadluv/
Lonnell Matthews https://www.instagram.com/inspirewithlonnell/

Audio Architect: Kamaal Malak https://www.instagram.com/kamaalmalak/
Music Producer: A.B. Eastwoood https://www.instagram.com/a.b.eastwood/