The Amani Experience Podcast

Amaris Davidson talks about being patient, seeing the seeds she has planted in life begin to bloom and why perfection is not real in this episode. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

5:40 - What "inspired" Amaris to move to Houston and attend TSU.

8:23 - Going on tour as a trampoline dunker.

10:26 - Working and being a part of Lady Lux.

16:10 - A discussion about Brian McKnight.

19:33 - "You have value as a creative …"

21:38 - Working on 'The Young & The Restless'.

26:00 - How has Amaris been able to stay patient throughout her journey.

27:25 - "What we exhale, the world inhales …"

32:46 - "There is no competition …"

39:12 - Amaris' first book is close to being completed.

40:18 - "The way you do one thing is the way you do all things…"

44:44 - "Perfection is not real …"

50:08 - "Your gifts make room for you …"

57:42 - "Be the most you, you can be …"

How to reach Amaris: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Book Recommendations:

The Shack by William P. Young

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Art of Leadership by George Manning

The Artist and Soul

Chris Wise talks to us about his time in prison, why self-care is so important and how must always make it happen. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

3:40 - How Chris became a millionaire at such a young age.

7:10 - "I'm going to make it happen …"

9:57 - A major lesson learned in prison.

14:20 - Why Chris was sent to prison and what he learned from his prison sentence.

17:08 - "I don't have to be treated fairly to be ok … "

21:24 - What is Chris's purpose?

24:12 - Chris is now friends with fear.

30:10 - "Life is a gift" … "I cannot be destroyed" … "I will follow my heart no matter what …"

33:40 - "A lot of people like their prisons … "

36:20 - "Treat yourself in a kind and loving way … "

How to reach Chris: Website | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube | Special Gift

Book Recommendations:

"The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey

"A Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson and John David Mann

"Whatever Arises, Love That" by Matt Kahn

DJ Tina T talks to us about meeting and working with DJ AM, Camp Spin-Off and her experience as a foster parent. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

6:12 - Be the "Gwen Stefani" of DJ'ing.

9:05 - Tina first exposure to DJ'ing.

12:36 - Tina's first DJ battle in Los Angeles.

14:10 - Tina's experience on VH-1's "Master of the Mix"

20:51 - What is Camp Spin-Off?

27:52 - How and why self-care is a priority right now.

29:20 - "Less skin … more skill."

30:56 - A year as a foster parent.

35:40 - Valuable lessons learned from being a foster parent.

40:50 - Meeting DJ AM

43:21 - "I get to make people dance …"

46:25 - "I'm not playing for me, I'm playing for the crowd."

47:53 - What was it like opening up for Metallica.

55:50 - Tina's one regret.

57:52 - "If you do something for someone, you can't expect something in return."

69:55 - "We are in this together …"

How to reach Tina T - Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Camp Spin-Off - Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Book recommendation:

"Exploiting Chaos" - by Jeremy Gutsche

Clara Naum joins us and discusses why you shouldn't believe everything you think, the impact her work in prisons has had on her life and why learning to say "no" was one of the hardest lessons for her. Enjoy!

Clara Naum joins us and discusses why you shouldn't believe everything you think, the impact her volunteer work in prisons has had on her life and why learning to say "no" was one of the hardest lessons for her. Enjoy!

Download | iTunes | Spotify | Youtube | Stitcher | Google Play | Android

Show Notes:

6:10 - How is living in LA compared to living in Argentina.

9:45 - Why did Clara decide to leave the CPA world.

12:19 - Clara's work in the prisons and how it impacts her life.

13:33 - "We all live inside of our own prisons at times."

18:00 - How people can get more balance in their life.

25:53 - Getting over the fear of vulnerability.

28:15 - The definition of forgiveness.

31:27 - Advice for managing social media and avoiding the comparison trap. "When you are engaged in the life of others, you cannot be engaged in your own life."

34:03 - Taking an accent reduction class.

43:45 - Don't believe everything you think.

44:20 - Saying "no" is the most difficult lesson Clara learned.

46:25 - "Happiness is our own responsibility"

53:36 - "Don't be afraid to be yourself."

How to reach Clara: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Link to book on Amazon - "The Real Meaning of the F Word" by Clara Naum

Book Recommendations:

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

"Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Frankl

Matteson Perry discusses winning The Moth Grand Slam, his writing process and why it is ok to ask for things in this episode. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

8:41 - Matteson's writing process in the early morning.

9:38 - The double rejection of MBA school and the girlfriend.

13:10 - The chocolate heart story.

15:07 - Valuable lessons learned during his year of being single.

20:05 - How writing an essay that was placed in the New York Times ended up being a big break.

22:08 - "The best thing about writing is that you don't need anyone's permission."

25:23 - The emotions after winning The Moth Grand Slam.

28:38 - "You don't tell people about your victories, you tell people about your failures."

33:35 - Matteson's favorite season of The Wire.

37:00 - How has Matteson been able to stay so disciplined with his writing.

39:00 - There is a difference between being nice and being kind.

39:44 - "It's ok to ask for things … it doesn't mean you have lost if you ask for something."

How to reach Matteson: Website | Twitter

Book Recommendations:

"Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid

"The Sympathizer" by Viet Thanh Nguyen

"Why Buddism is True" by Robert Wright

Charlie Jordan Brookins shares some excellent advice, discusses her "5 Mores" and talks about why you should not go the easy route. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

6:57 - Why Charlie decided to play tuba in elementary school.

11:41 - Advice for college students who want to follow in Charlie's footsteps.

14:54 - The impact that Robert Townsend made on Hollywood.

16:27 - What inspired Charlie to take the leap. "Can anyone else do this job?"

20:20 - The "Five Mores"

23:28 - "Honor you calling and have no fear about it."

26:15 - "There are no original ideas but there are original voices."

27:38 - A message to people who feel they are too old to make a change. "You have to trust timing."

41:45 - "Don't go the easy route."

44:30 - Thoughts on intermittent fasting.

53:10 - "Be defined by your possibility and choice, not your fear."

How to reach Charlie: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

Mindset by Carol Dweck

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund & Benjamin Zander

Getting It Done by Roger Fisher and Alan Sharp

Faith, Food & Fitness by Charlie Jordan Brookins

Lisa Song Sutton discusses her unique networking strategy while on a plane, why you should be willing to speak up and take a seat at the table and the value of dreaming and thinking big.

Show Notes:

5:02 - How playing the flute prepared Lisa for her future life.

8:34 - How many businesses does Lisa have a stake in right now?

13:53 - Why the quote "Hard work beats talent when doesn't work hard" resonates with Lisa.

19:33 - The fear of failure in the back of her mind.

22:39 - Lisa's unique networking strategy while on a plane.

29:10 - "I just don't even go there … "

33:43 - "Be willing to speak up and take a seat at the table … "

37:53 - "Dream big and think big … "

45:17 - "The hard work started after I won … "

47:57 - "Get engaged with your community …"

How to reach Lisa: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin

TedxIowaCity - TED Talk

Book Recommendations:

"Tools of the Titans" by Tim Ferriss

"Tribe of Mentors" by Tim Ferriss

"Don't Eat The Marshmallow Yet" by Joachim de Posada

"Contagious: Why Things Catch On" by Jonah Berger

James Brown Jr. talks to us about how his career in track (including running against Carl Lewis) prepared him for life, why you should treat everyone you meet like a customer and explains why you should not be afraid to be great.

Show Notes:

5:20 - Running against Carl Lewis.

8:37 - "Do you do voice-overs?"

12:35 - Crystal Washington, Chris Gardener, Simon Bailey, Kaplan Mobray, Karen McCullough.

17:25 - "A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."

18:42 - The art of patience.

23:10 - What do you know now that you wish you would have known when you started that would have made your world alot easier?

28:08 - "You don't sound like what you think you sound like"

30:03 - "Failure is when you get knocked down, not getting up … "

39:03 - "Do not be afraid to jump."

41:15 - "I am different"

42:35 - "Treat everyone you meet like a customer …"

44:04 - "The silence has been a tremendous asset…"

54:18 - "Don't be afraid to be great!"

How to reach James Brown Jr: Website | Youtube

Book Recommendations:

"You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School" by Mac Anderson

"The Power of Who" by Bob Beaudine

Dina Feldman talks about changing the world one salsa at a time, how she is "very, very flawed" and why life is not meant to be endured ... it is meant to be lived. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

5:15 - What Dina wrote on her college entrance exam.

9:49 - "Life is not meant to be endured … it is meant to be lived."

13:52 - What does ABA mean?

14:40 - How was Feel Good Salsa born.

18:25 - "Don't American Idol Me!!"

21:27 - The book "Let My People Go Surfing" by Yvon Chouinard

31:02 - "I love to cook …"

32:44 - Enchiladas verdes.

37:23 - "Changing the world one salsa at a time … "

43:18 - How has Dina's behavioral training helped her business.

47:20 - "I am very, very flawed … "

55:18 - "Don't beat yourself up so much …. "

64:58 - "Stop the comparison game … "

How to reach Dina: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

"Tuesday with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero

"Let My People Go Surfing" by Yvon Chouinard

Podcast Recommendations:

Super Soul Sunday

Master Class

How I Built This

Forking Around

Teddy Talk

Jereshia Hawk talks to us about how entrepreneurship is the economic equalizer, her baby bird experience and why you should challenge yourself to see beyond what you currently know as reality. Happy 1-Year Anniversary to the show! Enjoy.

Show Notes:

4:52 - The video game "The Sims" and 4,000 piece LEGO sets.

9:30 - Lovestruck. Jereshia's first business.

15:24 - "People are buying the promise … "

16:45 - Try not to let ego affect your self-worth.

20:29 - "Entrepreneurship is the economic equalizer …"

25:29 - The fear of complacency.

29:40 - The P.O.P. method.

33:58 - How her mom leaving when she was two years old had an effect on her and the eventual reunion.

38:50 - "In life, nobody owes you anything … "

42:51 - "Don't try to rush through these challenging times … "

44:21 - "How can you challenge yourself to see beyond what you currently know is reality?"

47:38 - The "Hawk Hustle".

50:25 - "Take a moment to show gratitude … "

How to reach Jereshia: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin

Book Recommendations:

"Principles" by Ray Dalio

"Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz