Radically Honest

On the sixteenth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee receives poignant anecdotes from interdisciplinary artist (photography and videography), abstract storyteller, and Production enthusiast Sebastián Sada. His claim to fame was on the set of Ariana Grande's record-breaking "thank u, next" music video. Now manifesting his dreams as a Director's Assistant for an emerging show on The CW—this episode is worthy of your attention.

In college, he was flooded by celebrities in a peak experience as a London Alley Entertainment intern. On set, it's human to human. Everyone is alike and working toward a unified goal. Thereafter as a UT Radio Television Film graduate, ambiguity clouded his future. An "ego death" ensued. Waiting tables in Austin, TX, he eventually was cast as an extra on a television show called "SKAM Austin." Networking his way up, he's climbed the career ladder one step at a time.

Your inclination that all is rosy and whimsical on set is not the full picture—production is manual labor. It's grueling, 12-14 hour days, and job instability is a given in the profession. The glossy music video or charming film scene gracing your screen demanded blood, sweat, and tears behind-the-scenes. Therefore, optimism and a tenacious work ethic are essential. Insecurity must be overtaken by faith in your creative assets.

"Your passion is everything. And your success hinges upon how passionate you are about your work." - Sebastian Sada.

Never forget your roots. The influence of your upbringing can gift you with an inimitable perspective, which can substantially materialize in your art. Leverage humility and bask in gratitude even in unprecedented circumstances. And never lose heart. A year can take you further than you imagined. So, how can you express humanity in your work? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support: @sebastiansada on Instagram, @stiansada on Twitter, and vimeo.com/sebastiansada

On the fifteenth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee converses with CEO and Co-founder of technology and media company MySwimPro, Founder of World Swim Day, and Consumer Technology Forbes 30 under 30 recipient Fares Ksebati. In cultivating the #1 fitness app worldwide for swimmers, he's made his mark as a first-generation American—listen up for his tell-all.

A three-time U.S. Masters Swimming National Champion, his love for aquatic sports developed at an early age. His vision to replace the in-person coach with a powerful progress-tracking mobile tool (synergized by expertise and workout plans) was organically contrived. "I'm no Michael Phelps or Bob Bowman," he said, expressing moments of doubt and Imposter Syndrome. Here's the catch: users care less about your credentials and more about the value you yield. Be a coach, not the expert.

His parents being immigrants from Damascus Syria, he understands the universal benefits swimming offers the masses. His app creation now dominates in over 150 countries with over a million users. In his TED Talk titled "Idea to App of the Year," he quotes the infamous Bill Gates: "We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten." The bumps in the road are inevitable, but don't let the mountains crush you.

"Take a step back, analyze the situation, figure out what your options are, and move forward." - Fares Ksebati.

During the global pandemic, pools shut down. How do you react? You adapt—primitively grow with the tide. What's next for him? An entrepreneurship YouTube Channel quickly building traction and a book launching early 2021. So, how can you become a master of execution? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support: @faresksebati and @myswimpro on every social media platform; myswimpro.com

On the fourteenth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee interviews Forbes 30 under 30 Artist Amber Vittoria. Embracing femininity and the human form, her handmade paintings are enamoring. With clients from Google, Facebook, Snapchat, Warby Parker, The New York Times, and NBC to Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Adidas, and more, even HuffPost and Teen Vogue praises her. Her mellow voice will infuse you with strength—don't hesitate to click "play."

Her childhood love was painting, which catapulted her career in graphic design. From Victoria's Secret Web Designer to Art Director for luxury and fashion Fortune 500 companies, her capabilities have flourished the corporate goals of notable brands. Her advice? Be your own PR person. With a strategy coined the "warm" call, Amber excels in advocating for her pieces' worth. Reach out to others in your industry to gauge rates—you may be underpaid.

Here's a surprise: she works off of her kitchen floor and dining room table. Her 100K followers may envision her in a decked-out art studio, but the reality is much more sensible. Although her visually thought-provoking pieces are often similar, the approach is different and this creates variety.

"Success means to be able to be happy doing what I love, taking a break from that when I need it, and enjoying life with the people that I love the most." - Amber Vittoria.

Don't fall prey to America's warped sense of success. Despite the high costs, the vibrant energy of the people of New York City keeps her there and drives her on the daily. So, how can you courageously pursue a career in the arts? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support: Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and more: @amber_vittoria

On the thirteenth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee chitchats with relatable next-door Influencer, YouTuber, and Gals On The Go Podcast Host Brooke Miccio. A 23-year-old University of Georgia graduate living it up in the Big Apple, her adoring fanbase boasts 231K subscribers on her channel and 97K Instagram followers. An avid content consumer herself, she keeps it real online—all attention on this audio.

2011 marked the beginning of her journey with a "Sleepaway Camp: What To Pack & Much More!" video nine years ago. A YouTube early adopter, she grew her platform out of pure innocence—driven by eager devotion to the latest trending topics. Little did she know: this would blossom into a full-time career after her dissatisfaction with her post-graduate technology sales job.

"We used to be doing things just for Instagram versus now we document our reality, and that's a way better strategy." - Brooke Miccio.

Humanize your next-door influencer. They maintain personal lives outside of your screens. She works hard to cultivate real bonds with her following by discussing hard topics like body positivity. Her heart warms with gratitude for the "friends" not fans that have stood alongside her for nearly a decade.

If a brand deal is your incentive for beginning an Influencer journey, you may be prioritizing the wrong things. Build up a digital brand for 6 months to a year simply out of creative zest. So, how can you simultaneously connect while disconnecting to stay true to yourself? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support: Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok, Twitter, and more: @brookemiccio, brookemiccio.net, and Gals On The Go Podcast Instagram: @galsonthegopodcast

On the twelfth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee digs deep into the realities of Imposter Syndrome in the lives of two college seniors in opposite industries: technical software engineering and creative journalism. Plot twist: it's her boyfriend and her best friend. Your head won't stop nodding—if you've ever felt like a fraud putting on a show, you're definitely not alone.

Oh no! They'll realize I'm not good enough! When the curtains open, you'll shatter everyone's expectations, right? No. Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where an individual doubts their gifts, abilities, or accomplishments, cultivating an internalized fear of being exposed. Ingrained in us from childhood, you may fear that one extraordinary performance will be followed by a mediocre one. Thereafter? Defeat. Sounds illogical.

"Go at everything with an outrageous, unreasonable confidence and let the chips fall where they may." - Emma Garza.

Although isolating, this phenomenon is relatable by the masses. Ever attribute your successes to situational aspects? Ever admire others and feel your intelligence, competence, or talents and wither in comparison? It's time to change your perspective. Periodically pursue feedback from credible mentors, and use that as a reality check. Perhaps you're fully delusional and overly self-critical—or the areas you lack in, you can target for growth. Stop performing, and start contributing real value.

"Anything that has been achieved in this world started with a belief that it was possible." - Julian Alvarez.

So, how can you twist Imposter Syndrome to benefit you? Listen to the episode to find out.

Support:  

Julian: @julian.alvarez42 and @infinitemindspodcast on Instagram; infinitemindspodcast.com 

Emma: @emma_rayne on Instagram; theemmarayne.com

On the eleventh episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee gets real with Lifestyle Influencer, Blogger, and Entrepreneur Mattie James. Featuring her beautiful family, @themattiejames's picture-perfect life online exudes posh glamour. Amassing an audience to be reckoned with, her decade-long journey as a blogger is worth hearing about. Turn your volume on high—here's a conversation (and person) you'll fall in love with.

Inspired by her mother's love for magazines, Mattie dreamt of working at a magazine editorial. Her passion transcended her actions when she began her blog ten years ago. She recalls a reader warmly referring to her as an "everyday black girl."  Relatable, her content helps her audience discover magic in the mundane everyday. Five years of hard work and retail 9-5 jobs later, she became a full-time blogger. 98K Instagram followers and a #Mattiemademedoit hashtag later, her exuberance reaches many.

"Be yourself. Tell your story. Show up as you, this is enough." - Mattie James.

Mattie fiercely believes that authenticity is the key. Trust that your followers will be impressed by who you are. After reshaping her priorities, she now experiences more peace than happiness—she's thriving. Her openness on her and her husband's humanity in their marriage surprised some of her followers, confirming that highlight reels are curated. Influencers are people, too.

When negotiating brand deals, you represent your value. Candid about her experiences with adversity, she notes that indirect prejudice can lead to an unfair return on your hard work. Educate yourself on the compensation your industry peers are receiving. Be professionally direct. So, how can you stand up for your worth? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support:  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube: @themattiejames

On the tenth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee rides solo for the second time and delivers her own personal anecdotes on what she deems, the "Anticlimactic Moment." Having recently accepted her post-grad job offer in her dream city of New York, she finds herself oddly defeated. What's next? Was the vision too good to be true? Grab some coffee and get cozy—the stories that mark this episode are simply relatable.

Our pop culture today formulates bright and filtered ideas of specific goals, careers, and even cities. This was true on Dasom's first visit to New York. A realization burst through: everything seems better than it is. But what are the causes? The mentality that sets us up for immediate failure at the end of an aspirational journey?  Our perspectives and unrealistic expectations can victimize us. When you’re no longer looking up toward the peak of a mountain and you’re level, the clouds dissipate and your view becomes larger, perhaps even daunting.

"That's when you realize—those people you looked up to with starry eyes lived lives, not moments." - Dasom Lee.

From birth, our lives are shaped by a constant upward trajectory as we grow physically and mentally. Our performance is persistently graded. But at some point, we must realize that the journey never ends. Specifically, Generation Z individuals become accustomed to feeding off of instant gratification. The reality can be somber. Why? Because it's just the beginning. The journey is yet to come.

It’s the satisfaction of completing acquiring skills and seeing your capabilities expand like a muscle that fuels us. When you achieve an accomplishment after a pattern of failure, your emotions of gratification skyrocket. Essentially, we cannot rely on the short stints of energy—the moments. So, how will you acquire fulfillment in a life preoccupied with uphill battles and anticlimaxes? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support: Instagram and Twitter: @dasom_l33 and LinkedIn and Facebook: Dasom Lee

On the ninth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee enters into fiery conversation with CEO of the world's first comprehensive eCommerce Incubation Program—Kreator eCommerce—and serial eCommerce entrepreneur, investor, and educator Kevin Zhang. At 23, he became the youngest member of the Forbes Business Council and a Forbes 30 under 30 member. Effortlessly, he demystifies complex topics for those less-versed in entrepreneurship. Fear not—the value in this episode is unquestionably potent.

A son of Chinese immigrants, Kevin chased the American Dream. The problem was, it wasn't his dream. After receiving a job offer more competitive than admittance into Harvard from the esteemed consulting firm McKinsey, he felt an anticlimactic weight of societal "success" on his shoulders.

As his college career at Vanderbilt trickled to a close, the tragic loss of a mentor figure kickstarted his realization that he needed fulfillment in his career now, not in the future. Obsessed with automating processes and optimizing his time, he delved into all the various techniques of entrepreneurship preached by gurus online. That's when he discovered a gold mine in the rapidly growing eCommerce industry.

"Good today, or even bad today, is a thousand times better than the potential of something great tomorrow." - Kevin Zhang.

His methodology is simple: create an eCommerce business that's not only branded legitimately but that will grow on its as own as consumers flock to retail online. He teaches his students to create lifestyles of abundance, not short stints of financial gain. And what fuels his confidence? It comes from how he relishes in failure, as long as those mistakes never happen again. How he believes in learning before educating, as value always floats to the top.

So, how can you make your income work for you? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support:

Instagram and other platforms: @kevinzhangofficial; Access his free training: kevinzhang.com

On the eighth episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee breaks down the entrepreneurial journey of Marketing Design Studio CEO, Communications Consultant, Branding Coach, and military wife Kaitlin Ortega. A grand leap of faith displaced her from her corporate 9 to 5 job into navigating a fresh small business in an industry with rapidly increasing demand.  Lean in—her energy is delightful and her advice will streamline the early stages of your venture.

Juggling the duty-filled life of a military wife and a demanding corporate job with a Texas A&M Communications degree and English minor, Kaitlin was drained chasing other people's dreams. She decided to define her own destiny in life. With a love for painting, she tested the waters by selling watercolor paintings to fund an El Salvador mission trip.

Ideation began. Beginning as a Communications Consultant, she quickly learned the value of the pivot. Redefining is a tool often employed by entrepreneurs. Niche down so your services will be sought after. Investing time with persistence, she seamlessly translated her passion for art into profitable skillsets: graphic design, website-building, coding, and more for small businesses elevating their brands.

"You have to believe in your business more than anyone else. So much that you're willing to cast aside fear, doubt, and negativity." - Kaitlin Ortega.

Although valuable experiences, she found a traditional workplace unfulfilling. From State Farm Customer Service Representative to a boutique's Manager to a home loan company's Marketing Assistant, she's dabbled in several jobs. Eventually, her faith carried her into letting her free-spirited, independent, and creative nature bloom into her studio.

Be fearless. Expect failure. It is inevitable, but one thing remains the same: you are your own boss. Work hard even when your client count is low. Fuel everything you have into being ahead. Have people join your journey. Give generously and ask for advice often.

So, ready to translate your gifts into a career that works for you? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support: Instagram and Facebook: @studio_kait; Email: [email protected]; Website: studiokait.com

On the seventh episode of Radically Honest, your host Dasom Lee untangles the story of screenwriter, USA Today Bestselling Author, and California native Renée Carlino. Seven years later, she has an invested readership and twelve whimsical but heart-wrenching novels in the Contemporary Romance genre. Listen closely as a love story unfolds—of herself and her joyous mediums—to birth delectable pieces of art.

Her writing career did not develop through classical training. As a Film major graduate with an emphasis on Cinematography, she fell in love and into the career of an English teacher, prioritizing her family. Her life was unexpectedly...quiet. At age 35, she took a step of faith in her leisure time to explore, simply because she savored the process. I wasn't sure if it was even read-able, she voiced her doubts.

What was? Her first self-published novel written in six weeks—Sweet Thing—personifying two 20-something musicians in a whirlwind romance. The way music feeds her soul, her love affair with New York City, and daydreaming in the hours her toddlers napped, all bubbled up inside of her to cultivate something truly moving. Her novels embody coming-of-age themes and are flurry with humane realities and dissect-able truths behind interpersonal relationships.

"It's hard to remember that we're all people because we're all behind these screens." - Renée Carlino.

Time is often the most precious currency within her black-and-white pages, especially in my favorite book titled Wish You Were Here. She discusses her mentality of what's the next pinnacle of success? progressing into a mature sense of present satisfaction. Overcoming comparison and insecurity not easy, but you can relieve the pressure. Cherish a support system that uplifts you with the faith you lack.

As an author, what happens when an accident affects the center of your brain where language is developed? It renders you with doubt. You realize that wow, this remarkably special and natural gift you possessed is not shared by the masses. Pinpoint that in your life. And, have the courage to laugh at yourself.

So, ready to reap the fruits of your labor by watering them with passion? Listen to the episode to find out.

Join the movement.

Support:

Instagram and Facebook: @reneecarlino1; Email: [email protected]; Website: reneecarlino.com