GrUB

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features my good friend and aspiring director James Austen as we discuss what it meant to grow up biracial, how he’s come to define his identity, and how his background has inspired him to pursue his passion to direct.    Growing up, it sometimes feels like society is constantly trying to force you into one box. If you play sports you must be a jock, or if you work in corporate America you can’t also be an artist. But as we grow older we should realize that identity is dynamic. What happens when you fit in multiple boxes? And how do define who you are when there are limited representations of what you could be? Today I spoke with director James Austen on what it was like to grow up half-black and half-white/Jewish, the thoughts he’s faced as he’s defined his own space in the world, and how cooking shows inspire his style of directing (it sounds a little off the wall but the explanation was extremely enlightening). We had a great, raw conversation and the longer you listen, the better it gets.    Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Sunday GrUBfam! We’ve got another segment of Soundbites for season 3 and tonight I want to remind you all to show someone in your inner circle some love.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been running through my head, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.    We all have many people out there that inspire us. And not just celebrities. Maybe it’s an old neighbor, a friend from college, your parents, whoever. And for whatever reason, even though we live in the most communicative and accessible era of all time, we tend to appreciate in silence. More often than not we don’t reach out to those people just to say “yo, you’re dope” or “that piece really touched me” or “that thing you did inspired me to do xyz” etc, etc. And why not? What’s stopping us from showing appreciation to the people in our inner circle who deserve it? Today I’d like to encourage you to remove all hesitation and go ahead and show love. You never know who might need to hear it.  Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it.  Also be sure to check out Top Tier Vision!  With that said ya’, have a great week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode is part 2 of last week’s GrUBcast with serial entrepreneur Malik "Mr. Entreprenoir" Mack. In this 2nd half we talk about the remainder of Malik’s businesses and practical advice on how to start your own side hustles.   Often when people first have an idea for a business, they have little idea on how or where to get started. That small seed of uncertainty sometimes develops into a tree of doubt and prevents us from even getting on the road to pursuing our dreams. During today’s episode Malik and I continue our conversation and discuss how he was able to start these businesses while working a 9 to 5, the motivations behind everything he does, and how he’s constantly able to overcome small moments of defeat and redirect his energy. This 2nd half is even more engaging than the first so I know you’ll enjoy the rest of this episode.   Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features the serial entrepreneur Malik "Mr. Entreprenoir" Mack. Throughout the episode we chop it up about his journey to becoming a full time entrepreneur, constantly reminding people of his worth, and developing the courage to chase what you believe you’re meant to do.    When discussing the journey of entrepreneurship, very rarely do people discuss their “true beginning”. What inspired them at 10 or 14 years old, why pursue something with a nonlinear path of success, how did the first dream become reality on a step by step basis? During today’s episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Malik Mack and we talk about his road to full time entrepreneurship, what experiences lead him to running more that 5 successful businesses and why taking a chance on yourself is a fundamental step in living a fullfilling life. His story is entertaining, captivating and filled with gems of knowledge and we have even more content coming at you in Part 2 next week.   Also, completely by chance, today is also Malik’s birthday! So as a present you should definitely take a listen and send some positive vibes his way   Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible weekend, WAKANDA FOREVER, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Welcome Welcome Welcome ya to the first segment of Soundbites for season 3! Today I want to encourage you all to stop worrying so much about things that are out of your control.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.    When it comes to achieving our own dreams and goals we are often our own worst enemy. We question and worry about so many possible outcomes that we end up stagnant, not taking any action at all and in turn, delay possible success. So today I want to remind you of a phrase we all (hopefully) learned as children. Hakuna Matata = No worries. Let’s all try to use this childhood message to push ourselves further as adults.    Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it.  With that said ya’, have a great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The first episode of the GrUBcast Season 3 is up!   Today’s episode features Rah and J. Vargas the Investment, better known as the Hip Hop group the Well Dressed Villains. Throughout the episode we keep a focus on their musical journey, discussing the state of hip-hop today and the importance of investing time, effort, and authenticity towards your passion.   As an artist in any form, the journey to truly mastering your craft is never linear. It’s difficult to shut down naysayers, find your own niche and most importantly building the right team to move the art to the next level. On today’s episode the Well Dressed Villains and I talk about everything from how they got started, the evolution of hip-hop, the difference between pulling vs. pushing as an artists, and why they’re continuing to follow their dreams despite the obstacles that are thrown their way. Whether you’re a musician, a painter, or aren’t artistically inclined at all, there’s a multitude of advice to learn from here. You can really hear the passion in their voices and I know you’ll appreciate their story and knowledge throughout the episode.    Definitely check out their music on Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook by searching for "Well Dressed Villains". And most importantly their new album "Hide Your Valuables" drops this month (January 2018!) so keep an eye out for that as well.   Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUBfam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The last episode of the GrUBcast Season 2 is up!   Today’s episode features a new friend of mine, up and coming actor Dexter McKinney, and we discuss how he has built his identity, navigated his environment and constantly manages to overcome adversity in his journey both as an actor and as a person.    Most of us don't grow up in environments that were made to facilitate our dreams. More often than not you have to struggle, push, and force those dreams into becoming reality, moving past circumstance to manifest ideas.On today's episode, Dexter and I talk aboutgrowing up in rough neighborhoods in Syracuse, the sacrifices he's made to make his relationship work, and the struggles and successes he faces as he continues to pursue his dream. It's a very vivid episode this time around and when Dexter speaks, it's as if you can “see” his story. I say this all the time, but this is most definitely another great listen.    Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   Also...we've made it through another year! Thank you all for the constant support and for lending your ears to this platform. The journey has not been easy but some amazing things are on the horizon. Stay tuned...   The GrUBcast will be back in full effect at the end of September. In the meantime, continue to share with your friends!   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features World Startup Ecosystem expert, Christine Souffrant Ntim, and how she’s been able to run 4 successful startups and speak in over 20 different countries a year, all while raising a newborn daughter, building with a loving husband, and somehow also keeping up with 14 different TV shows.    We often see successful people throughout our lives that seem almost godly in their continued pursuit of achievement and growth. And often, while we are engulfed by their wins, we often forget that they were all once where we ourselves might be now. Today’s episode features one of my idols and friends, Christine S. Ntim as we talk about how she’s gotten to where she is today. We discuss how she’s become a World Startup Ecosystem expert, how she’s dealt with loss, and most amazingly how she’s managing being an entrepreneur as well as a new mother and wife. It is an INCREDIBLE interview. The longer you listen, the better it gets. There are gems in here that are (literally and figuratively) priceless.   Some key takeaways: 1.) If you think you know how to manage time: listen to this and humble yourself  2.) There is always room to learn and grow 3.) Anything can be achieved through perseverance, regardless of the circumstances, obstacles, or setbacks     Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features one of the funniest people I know, James Tolley, and how he’s been able to cope with depression and survive the struggles of transitioning to adulthood, all while maintaining a positive outlook on life through every obstacle that comes his way.   We’re often faced with new struggles every day, especially after leaving school and being forced to navigate the “real world”. Today's episode features James Tolley, one of the most talented people I know, and we discuss the hardships he’s faced during some very formative moments of transition that many people deal with when approaching the inevitable stage of adulthood. This is one of the funniest, tragic, and most informative episodes I’ve ever done and I know you all will appreciate his story.    Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Welcome Welcome Welcome ya to another episode of Soundbites! Today I want to talk to you all about the importance of perspective.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.   Going about our everyday lives, it’s sometimes very difficult to keep a positive outlook on things because of our inherent nature to compare ourselves to others. With the advent of social media and everyone presenting their “highlight reels”, it becomes very easy to compare ourselves to others and increasingly hard to appreciate what we already have. In today’s Soundbite, I talk about flipping your perspective to focus on the positives instead of the negatives, what you have instead of what you don’t, in order to just maintain a better outlook on life. I believe that by changing our perspectives and shifting our focus, we can appreciate the fact that there’s a light at the end of tunnel and forget that we’re trapped in a tunnel in the first place.   

Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes.

I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have a great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.