Dogs, Love & Coffee

The reality for young black men growing up in Harlem, too often, is presented as being less than stellar; or as a place that can't consistently birth individuals that grow to become actual titans in the worlds that exist just a few miles downtown in the financial center of the world. That idea is a byproduct of the racism that stems from the capitalism that confines so many to the 50 or so square blocks that physically define Harlem as opposed to understanding the universally brilliant nature of its impact on the young black mind. Enter Michael Smith.

We took two weeks off because we didn't want to distract from the greater conversation happening in the world. We're coming back with an episode featuring real estate developer, investor and professional racing athlete Bill Hynes. We spend a great deal of time discussing race relations and social injustice in "America".

As holder of multiple degrees and various certifications, William has been judged more frequently for his black skin and tattoos than the immense depth of his character. In this conversation we discuss a range of topics including his personal and professional mantra of "minimizing errors", growing up in Queens and the shaky grounds of observational bias. Please enjoy this conversation with veteran Firefighter, new father and certified Lifestyle Coach, William Moore.

In this episode we connect with Dawaune. He identifies as a "mixed" Black man from Omaha, Nebraska who grew to accept his path as "Queer" in his 20s. We discuss topics ranging from practicing empathy to being bullied for embracing femininity and the true genius of Captain Planet. Beautiful episode with an amazing soul. Enjoy.

In this episode we chat with Brooklyn’s Dopest Colombian, Happy. We thought she was perfect for the series because she literally has to fight through assumptions from the moment she says her name (her real first name is “Happy”). An authentic and seriously enjoyable episode, we're proud to have her for #3. Enjoy.

In this episode we chat with survivor of three heart surgeries, Thomas. His poetic approach to life was born in the South of France, raised in The Congo and perfected in Korea. He now lives in Vancouver with his family, frequently runs ultra marathons and thinks the environment you enjoy your coffee in is as important as the coffee itself. An amazing convo, literally held as he was walking his dog through the forest. Enjoy.

In this inaugural episode of Dogs, Love & Coffee we chat with Bronx native and superstar music producer DJ Mode on the negative associations people often attach to growing up in public housing and how he flipped those ideals into a flourishing career in the music and film/tv industry.