The Creative Flex

The best time of year is here...football is back!!  Although it's an uncertain period with the pandemic, I'm hopeful we can get a touch of normalcy this fall.

For EP 18, I'm going solo. I'll go through my 5 tips for draft prep, the draft, and during the season in this bite-sized episode.  

I'll also provide:
-Sleepers
-Favorite handcuffs
-Players I'm avoiding

Finally, as an ode to one of the greatest shows of all time, The Jersey Shore, I make some NFL QB comps to some of the stars of the show.  For example, I believe Mike "The Situation" compares well with Cam Newton.  

I hope you enjoy this episode.  Good luck this season, and please subscribe via "subscribe" button on the site.

On today's episode, I'm thrilled to have creative maestro Erik Almas on the Flex.  We speak  about his journey as a DJ in Norway, to traveling around the globe shooting epic photography.  He talks about his assisting iconic photographer/director Jim Erickson, and his evolution as an artist as he jumps into the world of directing film.

"There's no such thing as failure, there's only giving up" is a quote Erik references as we talk about his early rise as an image taker.  He also describes the moment a mystical stranger gave him unprovoked encouragement to steam forward. 

We speak about his new endeavor "Stories by the Glass" which combines great wine, with his photography in collaboration with poets, authors, etc.  Check out his winery in the link below. 

Erik also tells the story about how he met his wife on set.

https://www.storiesbytheglass.com/
https://www.erikalmas.com/

I hope you enjoy this episode.  I appreciate you

Please subscribe

Wisdom needs to be sought out, and harvested.  OG creative Mark Friedman shares some of his on this episode of the Flex.  As a true New Yorker, he talks through stories of his youth in the city where he even joined the ranks of the Guardian Angels for a short stint. 

He discusses his perspective on the future of advertising generally and artistically.  He also provides some advice for upcoming art directors, and for photographers that want to win prospective jobs with ad agencies.

We get to learn about his exciting current endeavor as the leader of Confidante creative services. 

He also describes a music video he shot for Aretha Franklin.  Watch here: 
https://youtu.be/nkGw5lzjoLc

Please subscribe on Spotify, and Apple Podcast.  Appreciate you

Innovative, and determined architect turned tech entrepreneur Lori Cheek joins the flex to speak about her adventures in the rough and tumble world of tech + investorship.  She talks about her appearance on an episode of Shark Tank, her battle against law suits, and her advice to prospective creators. 

"If you have an idea...give up doubt, give up excuses, and surround yourself with positive people and bulldog forward.  Bring your dream to life." - Lori Cheek. These are words to live by. 

She also fills us in on how her friendship with Bruce Willis blossomed. 

Follow her journey as she starts her new life in Kentucky, develops a new networking app, and also revinvents her dating app Cheek'd. 

www.loricheek.com
@cheekd (IG)
@loricheeknyc (Twitter)

In today's episode, versatile and exceptionally talented photographer Randal Ford joins the Flex for a conversation about his path, including the influence of Richard Avedon on his photography.

We discuss two shoots he just wrapped up and the effects of "COVID protocols" on the future of creative projects.

Randal shares his motivation behind his wonderful and  acclaimed book "The Animal Kingdom," and also gives us a preview of his upcoming  book "Good Dog" with his timeless captures of man's best friend.

This episode holds special meaning for me as it was recorded a day before the passing of my beloved Rex.  He was a good dog, for sure.  RIP

https://www.randalford.com/
https://randalford.art/

Listen here: https://www.thecreativeflex.com/
Please subscribe on Apple Podcast and Spotify

Friend of the podcast, and dope photographer Kareem Black joins the Flex to discuss his journey, his thoughts on the future of photography in the new normal, how karaoke is a metaphor for life, ways to increase opportunities for people of color in the arts, and other interesting topics.

We also *try* to answer the age old question: "is Star Wars better than Star Trek?"
https://www.kareemblack.com/

Please subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcast. Appreciate you

Talent is the backbone of most successful photo/video productions. The founder of a top casting studio in NYC,  Donna Grossman, joins the Flex to talk about her origin story, the present + future of casting in the COVID world, and she provides some advice to actors on how to win auditions. 

She also discloses that she was a ventrioquist in a past life. 

http://www.donnagrossmancasting.com/

Please enjoy, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts.  Appreciate you

Chris Volo (agent, Prince Marketing Group) joins the Flex to talk about how Wendy Williams helped him get his "foot in the door," his multiple trips to North Korea with friend/client Dennis Rodman, and the influence of Darren Prince on his life.

We discuss current events, his upcoming book, Army Golden Knight football, Donald Trump, and hard-hitting journalistic topics such as "Did Madonna really offer Dennis Rodman $20M to impregnate her?"  I hope you enjoy this episode.  Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

@votorious
https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chris-Volo-12861

The host of the "Talkin' Nets" podcast (Jomboy Media), and social activist Keith McPherson joins the Flex to discuss BLM, the importance of "White allyship" for any movement, his journey in media, and other powerful topics.  Obviously, we couldn't let him go without touching on some sports topics such as how the Korean Baseball Organization ("KBO") became the "Michael Scott Paper Company" relative to Major League Baseball.

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A 2019 recipient of the Alice James Award for her manuscript 'If This Is The Age We End Discovery,' talented poet and author Rosebud Ben-Oni joins the Flex to speak about her being raised in a multi-ethnic household, how she was commissioned by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in NYC, and other interesting topics.  She also graces the airwaves with an original poem supporting peace, and togetherness. 

https://www.rosebudbenoni.com/