The Young God

“Relationships are a lot like smuggling. First, find out what the person wants. Then decide if you know how to get it for them. Hence, the talking stage.” - Rodney

Why is there so much angst about the talking stage? Why is our generation jaded by the work it takes to get to know people? Rodney may have some answers... AND solutions that can elevate the talking stage for you and your potential partner.

Rodney thinks the talking stage is a missed opportunity. He thinks a lot of people enter it with grandiose images of themselves and unrealistic expectations of others. He also thinks people are too distracted, judgemental, and uptight to make the most of their time on the stage. So many thoughts!

Listen to learn how to navigate the talking stage like a smuggler. Rodney offers a variety of scenarios, perspectives, and ideas that will challenge your biases and perhaps help you derive more pleasure from your romantic endeavors.

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RECOMMENDED EPISODES

Relationships Are Like Algebra

What Makes a Person Irresistible PART 3

"“Check on your strong friends” sounds profound, but it's technically meaningless… It is performative. A task, not a solution." - Rodney

Rodney recounts a conversation with a friend who revealed she had contemplated suicide. He unpacks the feelings that the conversation evoked, which inspired a deep dive into the complexities of friendship. He explored why we choose bad friends, what being a friend means, and the different types of friends one can have.

For just the second time ever, Rodney shakes the table on suicide. He offers a nuanced take on how friends can support each other in those dark moments. He uses the opportunity to address the strong friend trope. (HINT: 'strong friend' doesn't mean what you think it means).

An episode about the beauty and rarity of true friendship. Featuring Louis CK, Jane Fonda, and 2Chainz

The French Institut in Abuja challenged Rodney to create a podcast listening experience around the theme of the body. The task was to explore how the body features in literary texts — i.e to explore what different authors and schools of thought have to say about the body — within the unique context of The Young God. Rodney explores the theme through 4 branches — grace, posture, beauty, and seduction. 

"It is impossible to be your best self if your looks are a source of insecurity or the center of your universe."

Rodney reflects on beauty as it relates to him personally, the young god idea, and the world today. He challenges the idea that beauty is pain, he addresses the hyperfixation on physical beauty by women, and he explores what happens when a girl realizes she's beautiful. An episode about the ugly things that happen when we put physical beauty on a pedestal.

Featuring Dave Chapelle, Jalen Rose, J. Cole, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar

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Recommended Episodes

• ​The Knowledge of Power is Power: What Men Know That Women Don't
• ​Creativity: The Fruits, The Lifestyle, and the Levels

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you must be aware of the conversation that has taken the world by storm -- Katt Williams x Club Shay Shay podcast.

Legendary comedian, Katt Williams spoke truth to power in what is widely considered the greatest interview ever. Most of the media focused on the salacious stuff, the dramatic revelations, and the jokes, but hidden within those 2 hours and 46 minutes of conversation is so much wisdom, so much truth, so much God. So much so that Rodney had to break out of his hiatus to drop this bonus episode, which is essentially a curation of the more important takeaways and his favorite moments, laced with his signature commentary.

"I have childhood goals that are fueling my adult life and adult decisions." - Charles Oronsaye.

In this episode, excellence was the flex. Charles Oronsaye aka King Africana, founder of Africana Couture, flexed his creative genius, his gifts, his ability, his vision, and his childlike curiosity -- things that have made him so successful as a person and a businessman. 

Recorded 2 weeks before his legendary Art of Life fashion show, Charles takes Rodney and the listener through his intention and goals for his brand, his business, and Africa at large. The conversation covered branding, creativity, spirituality, childhood, and family. It's Charles like you've never heard him.

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Sponsored by Zuma Coffee (Instagram: @zumacoffee_)

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Recommended Episodes

Creativity: The Fruits, the Levels and the Lifestyle

"Fame and insecurity do not mix... Make sure you know who you are...sort yourself out personally... before you blow. If not...."

In this episode, Rodney makes the case for fame. He paints a vivid picture of the pros and cons of fame so much so that he picks fame over money! To Rodney, it's simple: if you have a gift, you have a responsibility to make sure as many eyes, ears, hearts, and minds experience it. The question is: how are you preparing for fame so that it works for you if and when it comes?

Rodney also spoke about dealing with the expectations of the public, the levels and the dangers of fame, how to be creative with fame, and what happens after the first 15 minutes of fame -- all so that you know all you need to know before you blow.

Featuring Pharell, George the Poet, Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty), and Dave Chapelle.

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Recommended Episodes

FX-CELLENCE: A Guide to Making Money & Making Heaven 

We Should All Be Artists

True Artists Never Die Broke

Be very Careful What You Call Art

"The fear of dying broke is for people so empty, so poor, they are worried about things they won’t take with them when they go." 

“If men are higher animals in comparison with other beasts, then artists are higher creatures among men.”

Rodney makes the case that becoming an artist mindset can make a person better IN ALL THINGS! He breaks down the mentality and spirituality we can borrow from artists in order to create better lives and better selves. He also goes further to make the distinction between a true artist and a "faux" artist.

Featuring David Bowie, Steve Jobs, Jimi Hendrix and Pharell.