Smart but Dumb

This episode is all about how Haitian French Chilean Singer-songwriter-performer, AYIITI, tackles issues such as having different audiences, belonging to different cultures as well as musical evolution that is in tune to all the facets of her and her audience's identity. In this episode we do a deep-dive on the creative process of an international performer, how creative pivots are made (while staying authentic), how social media can affect one's career and how one can cater to his/her evolving audience.  

Follow AYIITI on Instagram, AYIITI Music on YouTube and pretty much on all other social media platforms as AYIITI!

AYIITI's song: Más by AYIITI (coming out soon!) & check her out on Spotify here!

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This episode is with PhD candidate, Intimacy and Sex Expert (and High-School friend), Tugce Balik. She talks to me about all things intimacy, pleasure, self love (and how those things look different to everybody), chemistry vs. compatibility, erotic communication and more. Listen to how Tugce tackles the taboos surrounding sexuality, how she normalizes them, and how she's on a mission to help people to feel their best. 

Tugce's song: Boo Thang (feat. Devin Morrison) by VanJess

Follow her on IG @TugceBalik

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Listen to my chat with New Zealand's very own singer songwriter, Alayna. We discuss songwriting, how it works, the artist- songwriter dynamic, the business behind it, and the mechanisms that are in place to write a hit song! She also tells me about how murky the waters get when it comes to music rights and one can draw the line between inspiration and plagiarism/infringement. 

Alayna's song: Tender by Alayna

Note: I’ll be Seeing You is my fav!

Follow her on Instagram @alaynamusic_ and check out her music on your fav streaming platform here!

Follow @smartbutdumbpod on Instagram for all podcast updates and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!

Today's episode is all about how shopping small and shopping locally can help preserve tradition and heritage around a common love we all share: food! To help break down this phenomena is Entrepreneur, Consultant, Engineer and Co-Founder of a specialized "mouneh" épicerie fine, Feryal, in Beirut (Lebanon), Kamel Taha. We discuss the importance of reviving food traceability in Lebanon and in the region, how an extensive excel file and detailed Google Maps got him to opening the boutique of his foodie dreams, how preserving local heritage through food works, and how his business model generates value for both local food producers and keen food loving consumers alike. 

Order your mouneh from Feryal's website (they have worldwide shipping!) : www.feryalboutique.com

Follow @feryal.boutique & Kamel on his personal IG @ktaha

Kamel's song: No Man No Cry by Jimmy Sax 

Follow @smartbutdumbpod on Instagram for all podcast updates and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!

Smart But Dumb is back! Kicking off season 2 with my friend, Dahlia Dandashi! Dahlia is a Lebanese/Syrian-American creative content producer who was born in Houston, Texas but grew up in Dubai, UAE. Though she began her career as a writer and editor, she transitioned to freelance content production focusing on photography, creative direction, copywriting and social media management. She now works full-time as a social content producer at a creative/media agency in New York City. Her nostalgia for the 90’s is both evident from her Instagram profile as well as her music taste that you’ll get to discover in this episode as we discuss all things content creation. Hear all about why "content is king" and what the content creation process actually looks like. And to add more to her portfolio, Dahlia's personal poetry, photography and projects also often explore themes of identity, womanhood and the Arab culture. 

Find her (and feel free to DM her your q's) on Instagram @dahliadandashi  & check out her website! 

Dahlia's song of choice: "That's What You Get" by Paramore  

Some of Dahlia's fav bands: All Time Low, My Chemical Romance, Busted, Taking Back Sunday  

Follow @smartbutdumbpod on Instagram for all podcast updates! 

This Friday is Papa day so cue the Gwen Stefani! I speak to my father, Fadi, about his bread and butter- BANANAS! He tells me about the structure of the business, how the dynamics have and will continue to change, and shines a light on a product behind not only some of the most iconic brands but behind political agendas throughout modern history.  

Fadi's song: Banana Boat by Harry Belafonte 

Chiquita (United Fruit Company) Banana Advertisement from the 40's 

Find Fadi and his many facets on YouTube!

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I chat with a high school friend now illustrator, Adem Kaan, who breaks down the business and BTS of illustrating. He tells me all about what his job actually entails, how he gets it done, famous illustrators that I should know about and how social media can help an illustrator's career.  

Adem's industry references & inspirations: 

Shepherd Ferry

Marjane Satrapi

Christian Patchell @monster_comics

Frank Frazetta @frazettagirls

Mike Mignola @artofmm

Adem's song: It Might be Time by Tame Impala

Find @ademkaanillustration on Instagram & check out his website theakstudio.com to see more of his amazing work!

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