In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay, Alex, and Jamila break down the invisible rules we’ve all been conditioned to follow — the “standards” that shape our creativity, our confidence, and the way the world sees us.

From conversations about leaving your hometown, to being labeled “corny” for choosing success, to artists losing themselves by fighting battles that aren’t theirs — this episode uncovers how much of our identity is built on expectations we never agreed to.

They talk about what it means to set your own standard instead of inheriting one from the culture, the hood, the algorithm, or the industry.

Because the truth is: most people aren’t trapped by talent — they’re trapped by perception.

The crew dives into:

• Leaving home vs. outgrowing home
• The rise of “fake motion” and performing progress
• Why the internet helps some but traps others
• Typecasting, niche-building, and protecting your creative identity
• The war between being “real” and being successful
• Hip-hop beefs, ego traps, and staying in your lane
• The danger of building your worth on praise OR criticism

“We’re slaves to an imaginary standard — until we decide to raise a new one.”

This episode is all about freeing yourself from the rules that don’t serve you, fighting the battles that matter, and becoming one percent better by choosing your standard over the world’s.

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In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay, Alex, Janae, and Vonte break down the real cost of connection — how friendships, business, and loyalty all operate on an unspoken exchange of value.

They talk about the difference between being used and being useful, and how “doing favors” can turn into manipulation when love gets replaced by leverage.

This isn’t a bitter conversation — it’s a blueprint for building better relationships based on clarity, not confusion.

Vonte shares how he’s learned to separate real support from conditional love, and Jay drives the point home: every relationship is an investment — and not everyone deserves equity.

They explore:

The fine line between favors and expectations

How to stop mistaking manipulation for help

Why reciprocity matters more than recognition

Building relationships that bring value — not just vibes

Understanding emotional ROI (Return on Intention)

Because real friendship isn’t about keeping score — it’s about showing up with purpose.

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This episode dives deep into one of the most layered conversations we’ve ever had. Jay, Alex, Janae, and Jamila tackle the timeless question — do men have it harder than women? — and explore how classism, capitalism, and gender dynamics shape our realities every day.

From workplace inequality to social expectations, from “pretty privilege” to power hierarchies, the crew dissects how systemic structures and cultural conditioning affect how both men and women move through the world. What starts as a debate quickly becomes an honest dialogue about respect, perception, and the invisible labor of identity.

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In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay Hill leads a powerful and transparent conversation about the tension between accountability and criticism — and why so many of us confuse the two.

Joined by co-hosts Alex Blanc and Janae, and guest YS, the crew unpacks how feedback can either fuel your growth or fracture your confidence — depending on how it’s delivered and received. From relationships to leadership to creative collaboration, this episode dives deep into what it really means to hold yourself (and others) accountable without crossing the line into judgment.

It’s honest. It’s funny. It’s uncomfortable in all the right ways — the kind of real talk that makes you reflect and level up.

🔑 Key Topics:

• The difference between calling someone out vs. calling them up
• When accountability becomes criticism (and how to tell the difference)
• Why tone, timing, and intention matter in feedback
• Learning to accept correction without taking it personal
• Holding friends, coworkers, and partners accountable — with love
• How criticism can break trust if it’s not rooted in care
• What healthy growth conversations sound like

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In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay and Alex dive into one of the most uncomfortable but necessary conversations in adulthood — how to hold your friends accountable without losing the friendship.

They break down what it means to have real standards in your circle, how to create boundaries without beef, and why friendship—like any partnership—requires structure, honesty, and feedback.

Jay introduces the concept of “Peer Performance” — putting your friends (and even yourself) on a “performance improvement plan.”

Not out of ego, but out of love. Because accountability is a form of care, and sometimes protecting peace means reevaluating proximity.

They discuss:

• How to build boundaries that strengthen friendships instead of breaking them
• Why feedback is love, not control
• How to downgrade access without holding grudges
• Recognizing when loyalty becomes emotional labor
• The difference between cutting people off and checking their effort

This episode is funny, real, and raw — the type of conversation that reminds you:

“You don’t have to cancel people. You just have to check their performance.”

Because peace isn’t found by avoiding conflict — it’s built by maintaining standards.

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In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay, Alex, and Janae unpack what it really means to live with the choices we’ve made — individually and as a culture.

They explore how moments of fun, freedom, and expression can sometimes blur into habits, influence, and consequences that we don’t always want to face until the dust settles.

The conversation gets real about accountability — for the lives, reputations, and legacies we’re all building in public. From the culture we celebrate to the content we post, this episode challenges us to look beyond the hype and ask the hard question:

Are we proud of the life we’ve created once everything calms down?

We talk:

• The line between expression and influence
• How accountability hits differently with maturity
• When culture stops being culture and starts becoming conditioning
• The balance between growth, nostalgia, and responsibility
• Why self-awareness isn’t enough without ownership

This episode isn’t about blame — it’s about awareness.

Because when the dust settles, you can’t hide from what you built.

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In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay, Alex, and Janae unpack one of the hardest truths about growth — sometimes what we call “peace” is really just avoidance dressed up as healing.

The conversation dives deep into control, ego, and emotional maturity — exploring how we protect ourselves so much that we end up disconnected. They discuss how “boundaries” can easily turn into “barriers,” why silence isn’t always peace, and how the desire to manage everything can actually block love, joy, and real connection.

They remind us that peace isn’t about avoiding conflict — it’s about facing the truth without losing yourself.

We talk:

• The illusion of control and why it costs more than it gives
• Boundaries vs. barriers — knowing the difference
• When emotional distance becomes emotional denial
• How accountability and honesty can create real peace
• Why healing without humility doesn’t work

This episode challenges everything you think you know about peace, healing, and control — and invites you to sit with the uncomfortable truth that sometimes, growth looks like chaos first.

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In this episode of the One Percent Better Podcast, Jay Hill, AlexanderTheBlanc, and Janae break down the deeper patterns that run through love, friendship, parenting, and self-growth. This isn’t just conversation—it’s a blueprint for living sharper, stronger, and more accountable.

We dig into

Compatibility vs. Complementarity: why balance may matter more than similarity.

Accountability & Conviction: calling people up, not just calling them out.

Fragility vs. Resilience: learning to hold tension without collapsing.

Fear, Faith & Progress: turning pressure into productivity.

Self-Perception & Identity: from “narcissism” to healthy self-respect.

Parenting & Emotional Literacy: naming needs beneath behavior.

Standards & Boundaries: building love and community with high support + high accountability.

🔥 Expect raw honesty, humor, and vulnerability—all anchored in the truth that getting better means facing ourselves and sharpening each other.

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In this episode of One Percent Better, Jay Hill and AlexanderTheBlanc sit down with Luh Kel and Ian for a raw and unfiltered conversation about life, music, and growth. From Luh Kel’s viral success and lessons on money, fame, and staying true to love in his music, to Ian’s powerful testimony of walking away from the fast life to embrace faith and purpose, this episode dives deep into the choices that shape us.

Together, they explore what it means to choose love over violence, staying authentic in an industry that often rewards the opposite, and the power of consistency, brotherhood, and spirituality in carving out a better path.

🎙️ One Percent Better is about real stories, real lessons, and real growth — one conversation at a time.

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In Episode 30 of One Percent Better, Jay Hill, Alexander Blanc, and Janae sit down with Brie Renee for a vulnerable and powerful conversation. Together, they explore the lessons we carry from family, the patterns we inherit, and the hard work of unlearning what no longer serves us in love, intimacy, and life.

Brie opens up about:

• Growing up in Atlanta’s Black Mecca and finding her voice
• The realities of “pretty privilege” and how it shaped her relationships
• Balancing independence with the need for partnership and vulnerability
• Breaking cycles of misplaced loyalty and redefining intimacy
• Her mother’s incarceration over a mishandled PPP loan, and how faith turned that test into testimony

This episode isn’t just about relationships — it’s about rethinking how we love, how we communicate, and how we heal.

👉 Tap in as we unpack the process of unlearning, the power of transparency, and why every struggle can be a step toward growth.

🔔 Subscribe to One Percent Better for more real conversations that push us to grow, reflect, and get just 1% better every day.

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