The Amani Experience Podcast

Sekou Andrews talks about being a trailblazer in the poetic voice space, being a back to back National Slam Poet Champion and whether or not you want your art to be a commodity. Enjoy the show! 🔥🔥🔥

Show Notes:

5:20 - A Sekou summary in poetic voice.

9:45 - The CD called "Afrodeezjacks/The Mumblings of a Madman"

14:25 - Winning back to back National Slam Poetry Championships.

16:42 - Less 'Love Jones' and more '8 Mile'.

21:17 - "The innovator has the machete shaped eyes of a trailblazer…"

29:23 - "Do you want to make your art your commodity?"

36:42 - "What took you so long ? … "

38:25 - The definition of poetic voice.

42:47 - "If you are going through hell, keep going … "

52:32 - "The more haters you get … the more on target you are … "

62:08 - "Go to college so that you can have the discipline to finish something … "

66:45 - "Move faster … "

80:17 - "Write your speech like a songwriter … "

84:50 - A farewell poem - "The Fortune Teller"

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

Poetic License CD | stage might Program

Book Recommendations:

"Tell to Win" by Peter Guber

"The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield

Latifah Al-Hazza discusses the comparison trap, how she keeps a tight bond with her mom and gives excellent advice for people who work remotely. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

6:02 - What inspired Latifah to go out on her own.

10:01 - How Latifah maintains such a tight bond with her mom.

15:52 - "Don't compare yourself to other people…. "

25:31 - "I love waking up happy and I love going to bed happy … "

32:53 - The story of how Latifah become so resilient.

36:27 - Latifah's breaking point.

39:52 - The beauty of "grip socks".

42:48 - Advice for people who are struggling to work remotely.

45:08 - "Don't worry, everything will work out … "

52:41 - Where does "Tiffalicious" come from?

53:33 - The Galapagos Islands

55:37 - "Never stay in a situation that doesn't make you excited to wake up every day … "

How to reach Latifah: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

"You Are A Badass" by Jen Sincero

"You Are A Badass At Making Money" by Jen Sincero

"The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

"What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding" by Kristin Newman

Diana Elizabeth Steffen discusses her career as a lifestyle blogger, why becoming irrelevant scares her and how a called off wedding changed her life. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

7:35 - "A creative entrepreneur at heart … "

13:!5 - How Diana earns revenue as a lifestyle blogger.

19:41 - The type of networking that Diana did early on to grow her business.

21:35 - The beauty of thank you cards.

23:12 - Diana's burnout experience and how she works to prevent future burnouts.

26:55 - The cover of Phoenix Magazine.

33:44 - "What scares me is if I become irrelevant … "

41:15 - How Diana handles her critics.

43:05 - "From out of the heart, the mouth speaks … "

44:09 - Her wedding was called off three weeks before the date of the wedding.

47:37 - A letter to her future husband and the revision.

54:55 - "Being consistent and persistent … "

56:48 - "Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can't do it … "

70:55 - Be prepared to take the leap!

How to reach Diana: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

Book Recommendations:

The Power of Moments by Chip & Dan Heath

From working with stars such as Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Frida Pinto and Shakira to initially wanting to be the person creating the Coca-Cola logo, Juan Carlos Obando talks to us about all that and why "the eye must travel" in this episode. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

5:48 - Growing up wanting to be the person making the Coca-Cola logo.

7:28 - Why Juan Carlos loves Los Angeles.

10:15 - "An observer of cultures ... "

13:18 - Why fashion?

19:27 - The turning point was in 2013.

21:16 - "In fashion you are selling a story instead of selling clothes ... "

26:47 - "Follow your gut ... "

29:30 - Why "cadence" is JC's favorite word.

35:31 - "Look to the other side ... "

42:50 - The ramifications of the 10-year anniversary in fashion.

49:03 - JC's eye for photography.

49:55 - "Creativity without discipline is not a successful formula ... "

51:39 - The website artsy.

57:17 - "The eye has to travel ... "

58:12 - Working with Shakira

How to reach Juan Carlos: Website | Instagram

Book Recommendations:

The Hard Things About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Movies Mentioned:

The LIfe of Others

Eastern Promises

Latonya Slack talks to us about what makes up a successful non-profit board, the "non-profit mentality", and how she learned that people will pay you top dollar for the services they value. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

6:40 - From UCLA law school to today.

9:30 - "Volunteering ... you never know what it will lead to ... "

12:17 - Why Latonya decided to go out on her own.

15:20 - What makes up a productive and successful non-profit board.

18:02 - The most important emotional intelligence characteristics to have on a board.

22:16 - Why a therapist is needed for all creatives.

27:59 - "I don't like to do the same thing all the time ... "

31:50 - What is a 'funder' in the non-profit world?

33:18 - How not passing the bar exam changed Latonya's life.

38:34 - The toughest six months of Latonya's life.

46:34 - "The non-profit mentality ... "

48:55 - "People will pay you for the services they value ... "

58:30 - "Follow Your Instincts ..."

How to reach Latonya: Website | Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram

Book Recommendations:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

The Sustainability Mindset by Steve Zimmerman and Jeanne Bell

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson and Joseph Grenny

Flawless Consulting by Peter Block

Damona discusses how she survived getting turned down for 17 different job opportunities, her most memorable moment from #Blacklove and why she feels it is so important to keep your commitments. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

6:53 - The story behind how Damona asked her two dates to prom in high school.

15:09 - The start of Damona's dating coaching career.

20:54 - Surviving getting turned down by 17 different job opportunities.

23:44 - How Damona met her husband online.

32:22 - Memorable moment from #Blacklove

36:43 - The definition of "slow love".

40:32 - "What's more important than the person you merge your life with?"

42:45 - Damona's view on competition.

48:10 - "Don't Feed The Trolls!"

56:13 - "Keep my commitments ... "

62:08 - "Kindness for no reason ..."

72:20 - "Love as you are and lead with love ... "

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

Dates and Mates Podcast | iTunes

Book Recommendations:

"Rising Strong" by Brene Brown

"Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Podcast Recommendation:

Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell

Legendary DJ & Music Producer Z-Trip talks to us about why he loves Camp SpinOff, why being a comedian is similar to being a DJ and why you have to love yourself before you can love someone else. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

4:50 - Why Z-Trip loves Camp Spin Off

8:25 - That one time when Z-Trip DJ'd his prom.

16:56 - Marley Marl & Red Alert

20:25 - The "Return of the DJ" series with Bomb Records

23:34 - "I blend in ... but I also really stand out ... "

26:38 - Why being a DJ is similar to being a comedian.

31:00 - "It's an exchange program that never stopped ... "

34:41 - Hans Solo in the original STAR WARS. (Link to the scene described)

38:40 - "My race is with myself ... "

41:44 - "The only way I was going to dig myself out of that hole was by myself with my own shovel ... "

47:40 - "DJ'ing has taught me how to stay three songs ahead ... "

53:17 - "You gotta love yourself before you can love someone else or be in love with someone else ... "

57:20 - "Hope for the best, but expect and plan for the worst ... "

How to reach Z-Trip: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry

Die Empty by Todd Henry

Louder Than Words by Todd Henry

Herding Tigers by Todd Henry

Ruby Fremon talks to us about how working in nightlife ate her alive, getting sober and where her fear of success comes from. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

8:52 - How nightlife ate Ruby alive.

13:16 - The response online when Ruby would publicly share her journey.

15:28 - How Ruby has stayed sober.

18:44 - Ruby's definition of courage.

21:30 - "No road worth traveling is smooth ... "

27:16 - Why it is hard for people to invest in themselves.

29:44 - Where Ruby's fear of success comes from.

33:46 - Going after the money and not remaining aligned with her values.

36:36 - "I no longer wanted to live this way ... "

37:10 - "It is easy to know what you are running away from. It is harder to know what you are running towards."

38:10 - "I did not do this alone..."

42:23 - "I am a voice catalyst ..."

How to reach Ruby: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

Book Recommendations:

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama

Michelle Pesce talks to us about going from an ice cream scooper to an acclaimed international DJ, the impact of Woodstock 1999 on her life and why we must keep turntables alive. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

6:45 - From an ice cream scooper at Handel's Ice Cream Stand to Los Angeles.

10:48 - How does Ed O'Neil fit into the picture.

14:09 - Woodstock 1999

18:26 - Meeting DJ Spinderella

23:58 - How Michelle handles not getting gigs she wants.

32:28 - Good Morning America & her grandmom.

37:04 - "There should not be a turntable night!!"

41:09 - The fear of what is next in her career and the fear of being trapped.

44:41 - Missing an email from Oprah!

52:03 - DJ Am's influence on her career.

54:30 - "Enjoy the ride ..." , "Keep working hard ..." , "Keep loving yourself ...", "Fill up your own cup ..."

60:13 - "Open yourself up to the world and the world will open itself up to you ..."

67:20 - Starting Nona Entertainment

75:01 - "Building a team is hard ..."

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

Book Recommendations:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Podcast Recommendations:

Girlboss Radio

Freakonomics

SuperSoul Sunday

Dr. Deena Brown discusses why you shouldn't give fear a vote, how to manage the ego and why the fear of success is so common. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

5:28 - A Camp meeting in Mississippi

9:16 - "we all walk on the same journey but take different paths. "

12:02 - Transitional Depression

15:21 - "50% of knowing who you are is knowing who you are not ..."

18:18 - Persistence is the most important characteristic for creatives.

19:31 - "Don't give fear a vote!"

22:06 - why the fear of success is so common.

27:12 - "I'm not going to carry their monkeys ..."

30:41 - "adversity is an opportunity to ante up ..."

32:41 - "29 plus tax and gratuity!!"

36:55 - "Trust and believe in yourself you are enough ..."

39:10 - "Being stubborn will cause you to be stuck ..."

44:02 - Lisa Nichols, John Maxwell and myself.

48:48 - "know in your life what is ego and what is essential ..."

How to Reach Deena: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | Youtube

Book Recommendations:

"The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth" - John Maxwell

"The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" - John Maxwell

"The Nordic Theory of Everything" by Anu Partanen