SURROUNDED BY IDIOTS

Donovan Carter (Ballers, Legacy, Midnight in the Switchgrass) and I discuss his football days at UCLA. His period of uncertainty after college to find his path after not getting picked up by the Raiders, and how that eventually led him to focus on a career in acting and landing the role of Vernon Littlefield in Ballers. We reflect on the parallels between football and acting, emphasizing the importance of focus and perseverance.

Brittany Pierone (NIKE, KX Lab, James Perse, Fear of God) and I discuss her lifestyle brand "Proof of Concept" her background in industrial design, moving to Africa and being walked into nike design studios for the first time by legends Tobie and Tinker Hatfield. Experience working in the footwear industry, working directly with Jerry Lorenzo of Fear of God, her decision to expand her design work beyond footwear and how essential her mentor, Aaron Cooper was in her growth as a designer.

Malik S (Def Comedy Jam, BlackAF, The Neighborhood) discusses his journey into comedy and how a bet with his best friend put him on stage for the first time. Working with legends such as Cedric The Entertainer, Kevin Hart and D.L. Hughley, we dive into how the industry has changed, SAG Strike, and how becoming a father led him unexpectingly to writing and producing his own projects.

Melli Monaco (The Pineapple Show, Melli Travels, Melli Motors) shares her experience of moving to America, learning English, and working in the restaurant industry before pursuing acting and ultimately social media. Traveling around the world for her new channel "Melli Travels" as well as her hot topic relationship advice and the future of relationships in the social media age.

Eric Bigger (TV Personality,Motivational Speaker, Author) discusses his upbringing and his background in basketball before his move to Los Angeles. He shares his experience on The Bachelorette, how it propelled him forward in his career and the challenges and struggles faced in maintaining success and the importance of authenticity. He reflects on past coping mechanisms and the need to let go of his old self. Emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and being true to oneself.

Faysal "Face" Lawrence is a stand-up comedian (Laugh Factory and the Improv) and writer for shows on Amazon and Comedy Central. We discuss his background in script doctoring and ghost writing for other comics, as well as the change in Hollywood's club scene and Social medias impact on club culture. Face opens up on how his experiences and pain molded his humor, and led him to his passion for stand-up comedy at a young age.

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Denny Love (Looking for Alaska, Awayy, Kenan) discusses being on tour with Chris D'Elia his comedy career and the challenges of being an actor and comedian in this climate. We also discuss the difficulties of sustaining oneself as an actor in LA and the differences between acting and stand-up comedy, as well as the feast or famine nature of the comedy business. The pressures to conform to social media trends and the lack of support from agencies and studios, who are more interested in chasing trends and established names rather than developing new talent.

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Jermaine Crawford (The Wire, We Own This City, The Get Down, Roxanne Roxanne) and I reminisce about our childhood and brotherhood on The Wire and our television journeys as a whole. Navigating his move from Maryland to New York and then to Los Angeles and the difficulties he faced during his first few years in LA. We discusses the pressure and scrutiny that child actors face, especially in the age of social media and what we each took away from our experience.

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Solo The Artist aka Darnell Kirkwood ( speaks on being a multi-talented individual and how he draws inspiration from everything including his family name, vintage pictures, and musicians. We discuss everything from how wearing a suit can change your energy and performance, to J Dilla's meticulous and organized approach to music production. Buy his art at www.solotheartist.com

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In this interview Malcom Barrett (Better Off Ted, The Boys, Average Joe, Timeless) gives insight into his career of over 90 imdb credits and personal experiences, highlighting the challenges and misconceptions of being an actor. We end the interview with a rhyme from Malcom while I cook up on the MPC.

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