The UpNUp Podcast

In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', ultra-creative 'Cal Bonner' takes us on an artistic journey through his rise into the art scene/culture. From facing pitfall after pitfall throughout his athletic pursuit, he broke through one of the lowest points of his life and turned to art for refuge. Whether it's about how he opened his own tattoo shop w/ the love of his life/business-partner or being invited by John Born to live paint at a Kanye West listening party, this story is one to remind us all to keep everything on #TheUpNUp

In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', 'Miss Casey Carter' gives us a look into her journey of going from selling mix CD's in high school to being one of Seattle's main media outlets/advocates for independent artists, talents, and entrepreneurs. Launching 'The Blow Up' web-platform, as a co-founder she was able to give all up & coming artists a voice and the support the city was lacking. Her new podcast 'The Glow Up' is definitely one of the top podcast's coming out of the city and Casey's commitment to supporting those who are "Glowin Up" can't go unnoticed. A true story of a hustler and one to keep us all on #TheUpNUp

In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', owner/operator of 'King Philly Cheesesteaks' Teddy Leake shares an amazing story of transcending his circumstances growing up in South Seattle to planting his roots in the same community that raised him with a dining establishment that has become one of Seattle's "best kept secrets". A message to young aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere to pay it forward and give back to the communities that helped build us. A story of envisioning success and bring it to fruition, this is one to definitely keep us all on #TheUpNUp

In this episode of ‘The UpNUp Podcast’, Head of Business Development for ‘Hack Nation’, Kenny Shelton, shares about his journey of what led him to helping empower black entrepreneurship in the greater Seattle area and beyond. Learn about his early experience losing out on a $3 million offer in his start up to how he packed up and headed to Seattle with one goal in mind, to uplift the black dollar by developing a community full of bright people/ideas.

In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Briaan L. Barron aka Bri (@brandingbybri) shares about her journey of self-awareness through branding, in hopes to empower others to build theirs. From her early start working with 'Ruff Ryder's Entertainment' and 'MTV' (Viacom), or launching her own brand consulting firm 'Branding by Bri', it has all been apart of a greater plan she's envisioned, to empower the next generation of young professionals. This story is one to keep us all on #TheUpNUp

In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', as a man who's widely known as one of the top music video directors, artists, and ultra creatives in the city of Seattle, 'Harry Clean' gives us a look through his own lens. Whether it was how he received his first ever camera, to building/opening up his own creative arts studio 'Paradice Avenue Souf' or working with artists such as 'Jay Park' & '2 Chainz', his story of dedication is one to keep us all on #TheUpNUp...

Co-founder of 'Rising Leaders Inc.' Girmay Zahilay saw a lack of intentionality with how our youth were being developed in our education system, so he and his team took action. In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Zahilay speaks to his personal journey through Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania Law School to earn his JD, all of which helped him form a plan to give back to low-income youth by building his own non-profit organization. He explains 'Rising Leaders Inc.'s mission to develop seventh and eighth grade students ,providing them with one on one mentorships, career building workshops and why it's important for us all to give back.

“If we can get kids before high school, at the middle school level, and provide them a ramp into high school, hopefully they can hit the ground running and understand these grades matter. It connects to their future career, future life, future vision and if we can do that, I will feel like the vision is successful.”

- Girmay Zahilay

In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Vance Ashworth, owner/CEO of 'Happy Foods' mobile app, discusses his emergence into the entrepreneurship arena. A story of hustle, dedication, and making a tough decision to depart from what he felt was an archaic corporate culture, only to be led into his purpose of entering the virtual economy with a mobile app that will bring the worlds of tech and health/wellness onto one platform, for communities worldwide.

"There's no color in the virtual economy, it's all about goods and services"

- Vance Ashworth

Kween Kaysh may downplay the legwork she put in to ascend toward her current status, but she doesn’t lend any disservice to her responsibility as a woman doing an under appreciated job usually employed to men. In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Kween takes us on a journey through her evolution of starting with an aux cord at a college party to DJ'ing on the same stage as Solange, and what keeps her on #TheUpNUp

Solomon Dubie is the owner/operator of one of Seattle's most thriving coffee cafes, 'Cafe Avole'. In this episode Solomon talks his Ethiopian heritage, community, and how both of which helped him build his dream business from the ground up and continue to keep business boomin' on #TheUpNUp