First Generation Burden

Nishat Akhtar is a graphic artist living in Portland Oregon. Originally from Philadelphia, educated in Brooklyn she traded tall buildings for taller trees. We talk about how her parents came from India to the United States at the beginning of the Asian immigration boom of the 70's, growing up in Philly, going to high school with Kobe Bryant, and what representation and multiculturalism means when you're an immigrant minority. If you have zero brown friends in your life, this is your starter course. You're welcome.

Shane is an Irish born artist, working in all fields of visual arts. Including design, illustration, film directing, and fine art. Named an ADC Young Gun in 2012, & Print Magazine's New Visual Artist '15 Under 30' in 2015. He is currently founding partner in Creative Studio & Artist Representation Agency Sunday Afternoon based in New York City. We talk about his upbringing in Ireland, his arrival in New York, his work, how he uses light, what it means for an artist to get away with something, and his near death experience at Art Basel in Miami.

THEN, we drink some beers and talk about Rogue One and the new Blade Runner trailer (*spoiler alert*).

Matt Vu is a designer at Nike (which we don't get into) and a native Oregonian via Vietnam. We talk about how his father left his homeland after the Vietnam War and came to the United States. We discuss a range of topics including streetwear, West vs East, Hip Hop stories, 90s nostalgia, and social justice. We basically cover everything.

Born in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua and raised in Durango, Mexico. Ricardo Gonzalez (aka ItsALiving) is a graphic designer focused on lettering, typography, calligraphy & typeface design. We talk about his upbringing in Mexico, being a skater, painting murals all over the world, and our mutual disdain for the word "influencer". Also, we get to the bottom of the origin of "ItsALiving".

Juan Carlos Pagan is a New York based Artist, Designer, and Typographer. Juan has been honored for his work by The Type Directors Club, Communication Arts, ADC, One Show, Cannes Lions, Clios, Fastco, and Print Magazine. He also designed the branding for the ubiquitous social media platform Pinterest. His grandfather was a political refugee in Cuba who fled to Puerto Rico, eventually arriving in New York. We talk about his beginnings and his design process.

Leslie Rosales is a Talent Manager extraordinaire and the woman behind Emagen Entertainment Group's incredible roster of talent, consisting of Alina Baraz, DJ BAD, Future, and most notably Nas. She's so trusted that she's earned the name "Sis" from the Hip Hop legend. We talk about her beginnings in South Central L.A., being Asian in a predominantly African-American neighborhood, her start in the music industry, women in Hip Hop, and important causes like #HashtagLunchbag.

Ahmed Klink is a photographer based in New York who has photographed Steph Curry, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart, and Future among others. He was born in Lebanon and grew up in France. We talk about his work, his life, and what he wants to conquer next.