The Qonnect

Welcome to the final episode of Season 4 of The Qonnect Podcast! Join me as I reflect on the enriching and grounding conversations we've had this season, exploring themes like storytelling, community building, new narratives for Africa, and the importance of adaptability. From inspiring stories with Aashni Shah about resilience and self-advocacy to discussing the power of art in activism, we've covered a lot of ground. 

Hear highlights from episodes with Brandon Campbell on the philosophy of interconnectedness, Maïmouna on reframing African narratives, Ras on reclaiming African stories and Ibraheem on preserving our cultures. 

This season has been an exploration of humanity, creativity, and the necessity of challenging existing narratives. Thank you all for joining me on this journey, and stay tuned for more in Season 5!


00:32 Reflecting on Season 4: Key Themes and Conversations
01:29 Hype Yourself with Aashni Shah
05:33 The Power of Adaptability
07:05 Artists as Activists: Reflecting the Times
09:55 Interconnectedness and Community Building with Brandon Campbell
13:15 Romanticizing African Narratives with Maïmouna
19:37 Reclaiming African Stories with Ras from TAP Media
23:39 The Tapestry of Humanity: Ibraheem Leone's Journey

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In this episode of The Qonnect, I dive into the significance of storytelling in bridging cultural divides and fostering a sense of belonging and humanity. I share personal experiences and reflections on how our interconnectedness can combat divisiveness, bigotry, and fear. Highlighting concepts like 'Ubuntu' and 'Sawubona' I emphasise the importance of seeing and valuing each other's humanity. 

Join me as I explore how narratives can help us reimagine a future where everyone can belong.

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In this episode of The Qonnect, I sit down with Brandon E. Campbell, the founder of Extended Family, to explore his journey to building this platform and what it means to cultivate a global community. 
We delve into the significance of empathy, meaningful conversations, and the rewarding challenge of living a nomadic life. Brandon shares his journey from a legal career in New York to building a platform aimed at creating genuine connections across cultures. We discuss the importance of understanding diverse perspectives, developing a deeper sense of self through travel, and the collective journey towards liberation. 
Join us as Brandon shares insights on community building, the impact of travel, and his vision for a more connected and empathetic world.

Bio
Brandon E. Campbell is an entrepreneur, community builder, and lawyer born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He's the Founder of Extended Family -- a travel startup that provides tools and infrastructure that help build community between the insatiably curious traveler and local communities worldwide.

As a lawyer, he practiced for 8 years in New York City, leveraging his legal skills and business acumen to negotiate and draft contracts, advise on intellectual property protection, and provide strategic counsel to various clients, ranging from Fortune 100 media companies to Grammy Award-winning musicians.

As a community builder, he's passionate about creating infrastructure that helps foster meaningful relationships across cultures globally. He frequently "slow" travels for six weeks or more in countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, immersing himself in local cultures by living and working there. Since 2017, he has conducted, produced, and published over 30 recorded conversations to explore culture through the lived experiences of people in local communities around the world.

In 2023, he pivoted from legal practice towards entrepreneurship to build Extended Family full-time. He launched a strategic partnership with a renowned work and travel company to deepen brand credibility. He also debuted a product to market test building community infrastructure worldwide. These were the first among many steps in the journey towards furthering the ultimate mission to be the defining force in the travel industry, driving conscious globalization by creating intergenerational spaces for exchange and collaboration.

Relevant Links

• Extended Family Website: www.extendedfamily.io 
• Extended Family Instagram: www.instagram.com/extendedfam.ily 
• Extended Family TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@extendedfamily 
• Extended Family Newsletter: www.extendedfamily.io/newsletter

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In this episode, I’m revisiting a powerful conversation I had with Ras Mutabaruka—a Rwandan-Canadian entrepreneur, media maker, and community builder whose ingenuity, creativity, and faith in humanity have driven him to carve out a life of passion and vision. From experiences of struggle and migration, Ras has developed an enduring, inexhaustible love for the continent of his birth. Frustrated with how Africa and Africans are often portrayed in global media, Ras founded TAP Media Ltd., the parent company of TAP Magazine, a Pan-African platform dedicated to rebranding Africa, one story at a time. By 2017, TAP had already reached over 7 million Africans.

I decided to revisit this conversation after coming across a recent report that highlights the steep financial costs of media stereotypes about Africa—costs that go far beyond perception and directly affect the continent’s borrowing rates and economic opportunities. This timely report underscores and touches on some of Ras’s insights on the power of owning our narrative and the urgent need to tell Africa’s stories with authenticity and nuance.

Together, Ras and I discuss the importance of storytelling, building a strong African-led creative economy, and the impact of living between cultures. This episode is a reminder of why it’s crucial for Africans to tell their own stories. 

02:28 Work, Identity & Cultural Reconnection

18:55 The Power of Storytelling

23:36 Focusing on Positive African Stories

30:40 The Importance of the Creative Economy

33:50 The Potential of Afrobeat in Nigeria

34:21 Solving the IP Issue in the Music Industry

35:48 The Youth and Creative Economy in Africa

39:36 The Importance of Collaboration Across Sectors

40:44 Memorable Stories from the Journey

47:46 The Power of Storytelling

49:52 Life Advice for Young Africans

57:51 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

All Relevant Links: 

• TAP Magazine: https://www.tapmagonline.com/
• The Cost of Media Stereotypes to Africa 

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In this episode of The Qonnect Podcast, I explore the profound impact of art in driving social change. I reflect on the legacies of music icons like Nina Simone and Michael Jackson, as well as Ai Weiwei’s bold political commentary and visual artist JR’s transformative murals. 

This episode underscores the responsibility of artists to use their platforms for advocacy, fostering empathy, and bridging societal divides. I share some of my own reflections on the current socio-political climate, and the enduring power of art in promoting shared humanity and calling for renewed efforts in leveraging art for social justice.

00:00 Introduction to 'Backlash Blues' by Nina Simone

01:37 Nina Simone's Legacy and Documentary

02:38 The Role of Art in Social Change

05:12 Michael Jackson's Impactful Music

07:07 Art as a Tool for Activism

08:07 Ai Weiwei: Challenging Power Through Art

09:33 The Universal Language of Art

10:34 The Power of Art in Humanising 'The Other'

11:17 JR's Transformative Prison Mural

12:46 JR's Journey from Graffiti to Global Art

13:51 Art as a Tool for Connection and Visibility

14:29 The Social Responsibility of Artists

15:07 The Role of Art in Advocacy and Activism

15:56 The Consequences of Silence in Art

17:22 The Power and Responsibility of Artists

Relevant Links: 

• "Backlash Blues" by Nina Simone
• "What Happened, Miss Simone?" (2015) - On Netflix
• "Earth Song" - Michael Jackson 
• "They Don’t Care About Us" – Michael Jackson (2020 Spike Lee Director's Cut)
• Ai Weiwei: The West should be ‘ashamed’ of global refugee crisis | Real Talk Interview on Middle East Eye
• "Human Flow" - Ai Weiwei 
• "Never Sorry" – Ai Weiwei
• TED Talk: "Can Art Change the World?" – JR
• TEHACHAPI, THE YARD - JR

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In this episode of The Qonnect, I speak with my friend Aashni Shah, founder of HypeDocs, about the importance of celebrating achievements, self-advocacy, and gaining confidence in the workplace. Aashni shares her personal journey, touching on topics such as imposter syndrome, challenges in STEM as a woman of colour, and the need for strong support systems. She talks candidly about her experiences navigating cultural identity and workplace dynamics, especially the value of documentation and visibility to combat biases and enhance career growth. Aashni also offers practical advice for young professionals, particularly those facing similar hurdles in their careers.

01:31 Celebrating Wins and Self-Recognition
06:45 The Concept and Evolution of Hype Docs
10:40 Personal Experiences, Workplace Dynamics, and Navigating Challenges
19:50 Cultural Identity, Representation, and Overcoming Stereotypes
32:12 The Importance of Networking, Passion Projects, and Gender Bias
36:59 Addressing Pay Disparities, Negotiation Tactics, and Invisible Work
46:26 The Power of Sharing Accomplishments and Building Confidence
54:47 Advice for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Embracing Failure, and the Value of Support Systems

Bio:
Aashni Shah is a multinational citizen who grew up in Kenya before moving to Canada for University. She is currently the founder of HypeDocs, a platform to help businesses retain employees by focusing on employee needs. Prior to this, Aashni was a Software Engineer with experience working at companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Square. Aashni is passionate about bringing more tech to developing countries and increasing the representation of girls and women in STEM. She has been recognized with awards such as the Top 50 Inspiring Women in STEM in Canada.

All Relevant Links: 

• Aashni's Website: https://aashni.me/
• Being Glue - Tanya Reilly : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cr2Yn_MrKg&pp=ygUXYmVpbmcgZ2x1ZSB0YW55YSByZWlsbHk%3D

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In this episode, I talk about the importance of adapting when life doesn't go according to plan. Drawing from my personal experiences and insights from figures like Bozoma Saint John, Elizabeth Gilbert and Steve Jobs, I talk of the importance of flexibility over rigid planning and some of the strategies that have helped me along the way like reframing setbacks, leaning into curiosities and embracing a misfit mentality. Adaptability enables growth and creativity in a constantly changing world.

00:13 The Importance of Adaptability

01:31 Personal Experiences with Uncertainty

04:05 Insights from Influential Figures

12:21 Strategies for Practicing Adaptability

22:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

References:

• Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
• What I learned from 100 days of rejection | Jia Jiang | TED
• The beauty of being a misfit | Lidia Yuknavitch
• Your elusive creative genius | Elizabeth Gilbert

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In this episode of The Qonnect, we speak with storyteller, poet, and archivist Ibraheem Leone. We get into Ibraheem's journey of documenting poetry and cultural heritage in Sierra Leone, the importance of oral traditions, and the use of technology, particularly blockchain, for cultural preservation. Ibraheem also shares his personal experiences of homecoming, his diverse upbringing, and the influence of various cultures on his identity. This insightful conversation highlights the interconnectedness of humanity and the divine design in our lives.

00:00 Introduction to Tapestries 

00:43 Meet Ibraheem Leone: Storyteller and Cultural Archivist

01:54 Ibraheem's Multicultural Upbringing

04:16 Exploring Identity and Belonging

09:01 First Visit to Sierra Leone

12:36 The Homecoming Project

16:43 Using Technology for Cultural Preservation

26:59 Following Cultural Threads Across the World

45:07 Advice for Young Africans on Cultural Documentation

49:15 Final Thoughts

Bio:

Ibraheem Leone is a Sierra Leonean-American multidisciplinary artist, student of knowledge, and storyteller who uses mediums like photography, film, and poetry to tell and preserve essential stories. He is the founder of The Tapestry; a project that explores how blockchain can play a role in preserving oral histories, beginning with the oral traditions in his country of origin, Sierra Leone and extending to locales around the globe.

All relevant links
Ibraheem's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibraheemleone/
Taiye Selasi: Don't ask where I'm from, ask where I'm a local | TED : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYCKzpXEW6E&ab_channel=TED

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Allow me to reintroduce myself!

In this episode of The Qonnect Podcast, I talk about the podcast's mission to feature deep, real conversations with global changemakers, highlighting the importance of cultural diversity, human connection, and inspiring stories. I also share my personal motivations and experiences that led me to star this podcast, and what I want this podcast to be.

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In this episode of the Qonnect Podcast, we delve deep into a conversation with Maïmouna Elle Traore, the creator behind the Instagram community 'Romanticizing African Countries,' which has garnered over 126,000 followers in less than a year. Maïmouna shares her journey from pursuing a surgical residency to embracing her passions for writing and filming everyday moments in Africa. She sheds light on the challenges and rewards of reconnecting with her Senegalese heritage, the importance of authentic representation of African life, and the powerful impact of showcasing the continent's understated beauty. The episode also touches on the complexities of traveling within Africa, evolving personal identities, and future aspirations for her platform.

Join us as we explore how Maïmouna is changing the narrative around African countries, one simple video at a time.

00:00 Introduction: The Essence of Travel
01:19 Meet Maïmouna Elle Traore: From Medicine to Media
03:31 Discovering Passion: Writing and Filmmaking
05:55 Identity and Representation: Growing Up Senegalese-American
16:44 Journey Back to Senegal: A New Beginning
19:51 Romanticizing African Countries
32:53 Challenges of Traveling in Africa
44:58 Capturing Moments: Filming People and Places

All relevant links
RAC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romanticizingafricancountries/
Maïmouna Elle's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maimyselfandi/
Fatou & Babacar: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx25zFEO7if/

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If you feel like you, or someone else, should be on The Qonnect email us [email protected]