Dope Interviews

William Mellis on Jupiter Festival & Why the Future of Media Depends on Bringing People Together

How do you build an event that gets decision-makers, creators, and industry leaders talking to people outside their usual circles? Warren Shaw sits down with William Mellis, co-founder of Jupiter Festival, to discuss the thinking behind the new South Florida festival and what its first year revealed about the future of the media and entertainment business.

Mellis explains why he believed the industry needed a festival-style gathering that brought sports, entertainment, media, technology, and marketing together. He discusses the event's networking-first design, its production standards, the more than 2,000 people who attended, and the strong response from sponsors and speakers.

The conversation also covers AI's role in the industry, the difference between a growing business and declining sectors within it, the importance of positioning yourself for opportunity, and what the team is planning for Jupiter Festival in 2027.

If you're interested in sports business, entertainment, media, marketing, technology, or building relationships that can move your career or company forward, this episode offers a look at the people and ideas shaping the industry.

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What did Harry Belafonte want the world to understand—and what can we learn from the years he spent pushing for change? Warren Shaw talks with filmmaker Susanne Rostock, director of Following Harry, about the man behind the public legacy.

Rostock reflects on her close working relationship with Belafonte, his concerns about the future, and the events that moved him to keep organizing and speaking out. She also opens up about the difficult decisions behind the documentary, including powerful civil rights footage that didn’t make the final edit.

The conversation explores the tensions that can emerge within activist movements, the importance of documenting history, and how Rostock chose the public figures featured in the film based on their genuine connections to Belafonte. She also shares the everyday reason behind the documentary’s memorable hoodie cover image. 

Listen for an honest conversation about Harry Belafonte’s legacy, the craft and responsibility of documentary filmmaking, and what it means to use your platform for something bigger than fame.

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Jay Rush Jennings joins Warren Shaw on Dope Interviews for a real conversation about R&B, family, finding your own sound, and navigating the music business without losing yourself in the process.

Jay opens up about growing up in a musical family, learning discipline in the studio, and developing his own identity after working closely with his brother (Lyfe Jennings). 

He also explains the meaning behind his street soul approach, blending his upbringing, personal experiences, and the realities of the world around him into his music. The conversation gets candid when Jay discusses the shady side of the music industry, including questionable upfront-money promises, disappointing business deals, and why putting in the work matters more than believing every pitch that comes your way.

Jay takes us behind the scenes of his single “On Me,” discussing the Pretty Ricky sample and the connection that helped bring the record together. He also talks about his upcoming project, possible collaborations, and why he wants his music to balance real-life storytelling with records that connect with women.

Beyond the music, Jay shares how he's creating opportunities for other artists in his city through an affordable creative space for music, podcasting, and photography. He also reflects on a powerful live performance in Detroit that showed him how deeply his music could connect with the people closest to him.

It's an honest conversation about artistry, business, family, entrepreneurship, and staying true to your sound while figuring out the game.

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David Rubenstein on Sports Ownership & What It Really Takes to Run a Team.
For the 100th episode of Dope Interviews, Warren Shaw sits down with David Rubenstein, controlling partner of the Baltimore Orioles and author of Inside the Owner's Box: Power and Leadership in Sports.

Rubenstein shares the unlikely path that took him from a young Baltimore baseball fan who couldn't make his high school JV team to becoming an owner of the team he grew up watching. The conversation goes deep into the business of professional sports — from franchise valuations and championship culture to sports betting, analytics, ownership responsibilities, and the relationship between team owners and players.

Rubenstein also shares lessons he's learned from fellow sports owners and explains why being an owner requires much more than simply having the money to buy a team. Warren and Rubenstein discuss the growing role of women in sports ownership, what prospective owners should understand before entering the business, and what Rubenstein himself might pursue next.

It's a conversation about sports, business, leadership, money, community and the changing power structure of professional athletics — fitting topics for the 100th episode of Dope Interviews.

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Anthony Canelo, founder of Five to One Formulas, joins Warren Shaw for a deep conversation about holistic health, herbalism, wellness, entrepreneurship, and the journey that led him to build his own approach to health education.

Anthony shares the personal health experience that changed the direction of his life, his introduction to holistic wellness, his time running a wellness center, and how those experiences eventually led to his work as an author and entrepreneur.
He also explains the philosophy behind Five to One Formulas, his focus on simple formulas and transparency, and why he believes people can become overwhelmed by conflicting health information.

The conversation touches on fasting, herbalism, first-principles thinking, the cost of wellness, Anthony's seven fundamentals of health, and his long-term vision for Five to One.
Anthony also talks about his late father, who helped him start the company, and the motivation that keeps him committed to seeing the brand succeed.

Plus, he previews his upcoming book, Overhand: The Masters of Throw, before taking on Warren's rapid-fire Dope or Nope game.

It's a conversation about health, simplicity, curiosity, entrepreneurship, and staying committed to your purpose.


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Luke Charles Stafford joins Dope Interviews for an honest conversation about storytelling, music, filmmaking, entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and the experiences that shaped his creative vision.

Luke explains the vision behind Dream United Studios and why he believes character-driven storytelling has the power to connect people across cultures and backgrounds. He also opens up about some of the hardest chapters of his life, including homelessness and being bullied as a child, and why those experiences ultimately helped shape the stories he wants to tell.

The conversation dives deep into Against the Wall, Luke's short film that began as a song before evolving into a narrative music video and eventually a film. Luke explains the story's connection to rock bottom, self-worth, fatherhood, identity, and finding purpose through adversity.

He also breaks down the business behind independent filmmaking, including how fans helped fund his recent projects, his plans to scale from short films into features, and his strategy for using smaller projects as proof of concept. Luke discusses the differences between music, acting, and directing, his philosophy of serving the story and the team before himself, his relationships within the entertainment industry, and why he believes excellence matters regardless of the project's budget.

And in one of the most personal moments of the conversation, Luke talks about his lifelong connection to Superman, auditioning for James Gunn's Superman, and why Christopher Reeve's portrayal of the character had such a profound impact on him.

A conversation about creativity, resilience, purpose, fatherhood, business, and the importance of building something meaningful.

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Music executive and filmmaker Jullian Boothe joins Dope Interviews for an unfiltered conversation about the entertainment business, artist development, entrepreneurship and his next chapter in film.

Jullian shares lessons from decades in music, including why managers and executives need to build their own brands, why young people entering the business need to prioritize experience and education, and why entitlement can hold an aspiring executive or artist back.

He also gets into the state of R&B and explains why he believes the current marketplace makes it difficult for traditional love songs and R&B records to break through. The conversation then turns toward Jullian's Jamaican roots, the evolution of Jamaican music in America, the shortage of new Jamaican superstars, and the artists who influenced him. Jullian also explains why music was actually an accident — because his original dream was filmmaking.
 
He discusses his transition into movies and television, his entrepreneurial approach to independent filmmaking, and his thriller The Night Shift: Last Dance, which was filmed at the historic King of Diamonds. You'll also hear Julian discuss Love & Hip Hop, the upcoming Life After Hip Hop concept, Tyler Perry's influence, his approach to networking, his favorite Jamaican artist, Tupac, Ninja Scroll, and the films he wants to make next.

Most importantly, Jullian explains what he wants his legacy to be: giving people opportunities and creating a path for the next generation to learn, work and build something of their own. This is a conversation about music, movies, culture, ownership, work ethic and what comes after success.

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Award-winning filmmaker Misha Calvert joins Dope Interviews for an unforgettable conversation following the Tribeca premiere of her short film Fault.

Guest host Kayla Gayle takes over for Warren Shaw in this special Season 10 finale. Misha discusses the realities of independent filmmaking, the emotional weight of telling stories about abuse and survival, and how Fault explores the complicated bond between sisters navigating trauma in very different ways.

This episode dives deep into healing, activism, resilience, and the responsibility artists carry when telling stories that matter. A moving conversation on courage, truth, and the power of film to spark change.

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The cast and creators of The Tropic Sun and His Eyes join Dope Interviews for a heartfelt conversation about one of the year's most moving independent films.

Director Elisée Junior St. Preux explains why filming in Haiti was essential to telling an authentic story, while actor Stevenson Jean discusses portraying grief, trauma, and rediscovering family.

Naturi Naughton-Lewis, Two Lewis, and Calixto Chinchilla share how they came aboard the project and why stories centered on Black identity, Caribbean culture, and healing matter now more than ever. This episode explores:

• Haiti's beauty and legacy
• Father-son relationships
• Mental health and forgiveness
• The power of connection
• Black storytelling on a global stage
• The making of a Tribeca standout

A powerful conversation about home, healing, and humanity.

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This episode of Dope Interviews features a thoughtful conversation with Asante Blackk, Malia Pyles, and director Ty Molbak about their Tribeca Film Festival short film You Tryna Say You Love Me.

The trio discusses the emotional themes at the center of the film, including grief, love, vulnerability, identity, and the ways people struggle to communicate what they're truly feeling. Ty explains the inspiration behind the story, while Asante and Malia share how they built trust, chemistry, and emotional authenticity throughout the filmmaking process.

A deep conversation about relationships, healing, and the power of being seen.

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