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What happens when you're a sunflower trying to bloom in a rose garden? Dezz Nicholson knows that feeling all too well. The accomplished poet, singer, and creative sits down with Rome Davis to discuss the complex journey of finding your authentic voice and space in a creative world that often feels threatened by new talent.

Dezz takes us through her origins as an entrepreneurial fourth-grader charging $1 to write customized love poems for classmates, to her transformation into a powerful performer who discovered her gift when she made someone cry with her words at a high school Black History Month event. Her story isn't just about talent—it's about having the courage to recognize when you're in the wrong environment.

"If I am a sunflower in a rose garden, I cannot get mad at the roses for having thorns and pricking me. I can, however, leave the rose garden and go through to the sunflower field where I don't have to worry about anybody pricking me," Dezz explains, providing a powerful framework for artists struggling to fit in spaces that weren't designed for them.

The conversation dives deep into the gatekeeping mentality that pervades creative communities, where established artists protect their territory rather than mentor newcomers. Dezz challenges this scarcity mindset with her belief that "the spotlight is large enough for all of us." She discusses how fear keeps many artists stuck in their comfort zones, preventing growth while they simultaneously complain about not achieving broader success.

Between profound insights about creative authenticity and finding your path despite resistance, Rome and Dezz share lighthearted moments about family dynamics, generational differences, and the simple joys of life. Their natural chemistry creates a conversation that feels both deeply meaningful and comfortably familiar—just like sitting with old friends discussing life's biggest questions.

Ready to find your sunflower field? Listen to this episode and discover where you truly belong.

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