Mek sits down with Abdi, an ambitious artist whose main objective is to use his art to leave a legacy that inspires the world. In 90 minutes, they discuss:

- Abdi’s beginnings as a photographer and how his creative art is different from the rest

- being a novice and humbly taking advice on the job

- how getting a Fox Five D.C. shout out helped his page gain traction

- dealing with critics and receiving positive and negative feedback

- starting to sell his work art and partnering up with brands

- how coding has helped him develop his artistry

- why he looked up to Muhammad Ali and other Muslim role models when he was young

- lessons he learned from the Islamic faith (like how every life has a purpose)

- the late Kobe Bryant’s grind, a TMZ debate, and diving into emotional intelligence

- how there’s power in time and the stoic philosophy in maintaining composure

- realizing the issue and taking ownership on yourself and learning and growing from pain

- how Abdi really relates to Squidward because of his lack of drama

- his message to the masses and more.

Bio

Since the age of 19, Abdi has used multiple mediums of expression to create art. Once he considered a career in medicine but his life led him to coding where he currently works for the USDA. He has cultivated an awe-inspiring craft that has garnered attention from media outlets such as the Washington Post. Find him Twitter and Instagram, or go to his website:

https://www.heisabdi.com.

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Mek talks with Fuad Saif about comedy, writing, growing up in Egypt, and more. In 103 minutes, you’ll hear about: 

- A lifelong love of comedy and telltale signs of a successful comic 

- How Fuad ended up on a stage doing stand-up for the first time and what he’s learned thus far from the experience 

- The surprisingly most influential comedian in Fuad’s life 

- Feeling the crowd and ways of getting them more involved in a stand-up performance 

- Difference for him between comedic writing and other writing and the feedback he received 

- Being born on Christmas Day and moving to Egypt for a few years at the age of 10 

- Experiencing the culture shock, language barrier, and overt racism there and how soccer was a saving grace 

- Learning and living with less after spending time in a developing country like Nigeria and Egypt 

- Needing to unplug and sit with just your own thoughts for extended periods of time 

- Twitter as the source of everything and the one app Fuad wouldn’t give up 

- Trevor Noah and the duality of being a foreign-born black person in America 

- Applying the “less is more” principle in writing and the reason why some don’t 

- Fuad’s goals for the year, books that have had a big influence, and the American perception of being an African kid then and now 

- Failure, its importance in preparing for life’s trials, and hustling for what you want from a young age 

- Favorite comics and honorable mentions for Mek and Fuad (some surprising and others controversial) 

- What Fuad has in common with Harry in Harry Potter, his to-the-point billboard message to the world, and more.  

Bio 

Fuad Saif is a writer who’s always loved comedy. Born into a family originally from Somalia, he’s spent the majority of his life as a Maryland resident, with the exception of living in Egypt during an important period of his life. He got into writing as a therapeutic outlet and is currently doing stand up on stages around the DMV, while writing a fictional miniseries dedicated to his mother called “Surviving the Cycle.” 

Follow him on Instagram @homegrownimmigrant, Twitter at @blackmenwrite, or YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/fuadsaif123. 

Links

Pray Often Clothing - Instagram @prayoftenclothing 

Quiet by Susan Cain - https://www.quietrev.com/quiet-the-book/

Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92057.The_Autobiography_of_Malcolm_X

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - https://www.chimamanda.com/book/americanah/

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27220736-shoe-dog

Mek talks to Jade Omari about her music and the soul-crushing music industry today, dealing with other people’s expectations, being super sensitive as a strength, and much more. In 84 minutes, you’ll find hear about:

- the state of the musical world that caused her to shift from hobby to career

- her creativity as a child, dealing with her shyness, and trying to get over the fear of failure

- the process she went through to dig herself out of heartache

- coming to the realization that not everyone around you is a real friend

- people digging up the past to drag famous artists down

- how Jade deals with naysayers and shit-talkers

- finding her own spirituality as an LGBTQ+ person

- going through the emotions and finding the triggers when things aren’t going so well

- wanting to break out from the underground scene and be the next big thing

- others’ expectations making music less enjoyable and turning it into a job

- the power of music and responsibility of artists towards their fans

- her super-sensitivity superpower being seen as a weakness

- why there’s really no such thing as a waste of time or money

- reflecting on the past year and goals for 2020

- and her billboard message to the world.

Bio

Jade Omari is an independent artist from Maryland with a dream of breaking out. Loving music and creativity since childhood, she wrote her first song at age 17 and has been chasing her dream ever since.

You can find her on Instagram @jadeomariofficial, and her music is available on all platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio--just look her up by name.

Links

ItsNation TV - https://itsnation.tv/

The Upsidedown album by Jade Omari - https://open.spotify.com/album/3xe0ukoXBP4II5qvIVSNQH

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and really makes a difference in helping build our audience and attract guests.

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For more podcasts, shows, and content, please visit itsnation.tv

Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the form at itsnation.tv/sponsor

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Mek talks with Ashley about the trials, tribulations, and joys of being in the healthcare industry as a nurse practitioner. In two hours, you’ll hear about:

Bio

On this episode of This a Podcast, it’s all about videography and choosing a career you value, even when it goes against conventional wisdom. In this two hour interview between Mek and Claude, you’ll hear about:

- how Claude got his start and when he began seriously taking photos and video

- an afternoon in his middle school life and how college influenced his networking ability

- parents keeping kids on the straight and narrow and away from bullshit

- separating a real professional videographer/photographer from a hobbyist or wannabe

- Claude wanting to be a better version of himself and age 25 being a turning point

- the importance of knowing the fundamentals in whatever you want to do professionally

- how Claude built up to being full-time and who taught him a lot of the stuff he knows now

- parents getting behind their kids’ chosen, non-traditional line of work

- the necessity of sometimes saying “no” to family, friends, and acquaintances

- the eye-opening self-help book that inspires both Claude and Mek

- cinematography as the next step for Claude and distinguishing between it and videography

- using the Internet to find answers for yourself and being willing to invest in what you value

- why telling a story is “king” when it comes to shooting something people want to consume

- mistaking confidence and belief in yourself for cockiness and the propensity of people to make excuses

- the wisdom of Kobe Bryant in retirement, Eric Thomas, and Gary Vee

- Claude’s occasional feelings of doubt about the career/life path he chose

- what he’s aiming for in the next 10 years and the one thing he wouldn’t delegate to others

- not comparing himself to people around him and which anime characters (and actor) he’s big on

- the one book he’d recommend for others to read and what he and Mek most took away from it

- his billboard message to the world, feeling the need to build a “Claude Robinson character”  on social media, and more.

Bio

Claude Robinson is a videographer and photographer who’s worked on his craft professionally for over 10 years. Raised in Gaithersburg, MD, he went to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania, with a degree in Computer Information Systems. He’s currently offering his services in the DMV area. You can find him on Instagram @clauderizzle or visit his website to see examples of his work at http://www.clauderobtv.com.

Links

“ItsNation TV” - https://itsnation.tv/

Mastery and other books by Robert Greene

https://powerseductionandwar.com/books/

Masterclass

https://www.masterclass.com/

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/773038.The_Seven_Spiritual_Laws_of_Success

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

https://markmanson.net/books/subtle-art

On this episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with Cheyenne about her experiences on reality television, becoming an influencer on social media, and being a mom to a child with a rare condition. In this 90-minute interview, you’ll find out:

- what she was like in college and why she made the switch from broadcast journalism to public relations

- doing her part to shed the stigma of black co-parenting and what it was like growing up

- why she took a year off after college and the pressure that comes with graduating

- the surprising thing she never got into (and why) and the entertainment she DOES consume

- her dream of being a zombie extra on The Walking Dead and what she got instead

- bullshitting her way through an application for MTV’s Are You the One? reality dating show

- her experience being on the show and how they deliberately set up certain dynamics between the cast

- getting invited to The Challenge and why it was the hardest thing she’s done other than giving birth

- the crazy things she had to do, how far she made it before elimination, and how it changed her

- the wild story behind the production of her “MTV baby” and being invited on Teen Mom despite her adult age

- the show’s huge and devoted (almost to the point of psychotic) following

- the joys (and challenges) of motherhood and building a non-profit around her daughter’s metabolic condition (VLCAD)

- navigating the round of rapid-fire questions (while also trying to “keep it clean”)

- dealing with the "Negative Nancies" in Teen Mom’s fandom and her final (politically correct) message to everyone.

Bio

Links

On this episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with Kevin Polite about everything entrepreneurial, the power and reach of networking in business and life, and valuable lessons learned. In 2 hours, you’ll hear about:

Bio

Links

On this episode of This A Podcast, Mek interviews Rob Browning to talk about his interest in fashion, music, deeper thinking, giving respect to all, working for himself, and so much more. In two and a half hours, they’ll delve into:

- how hiking brings him peace and what influenced his stylist sensibilities

- what guided his photography and skill development

- what being a creative means to him and what he was into as a kid

- withstanding the pain of getting good at something

- the choice to save and spend money more carefully and consciously

- how a hospital stay and a Gucci jacket triggered a re-evaluation for Rob

- loving sunsets, getting a music high, and sad songs having their moments of being worth the listen

- what’s on his song list, Curren$y, and the mad 21 Savage Mek saw at a concert years ago

- Rob being transparent with struggles online and not letting what others think stop him

- how solitude with your own thoughts forces you to deal with your issues

- Rob’s early fashion projects being trash and digging himself out of his lowest period

- storms and heavy metal bringing the chaos and calm and picking apart music compositions

- not closing yourself off to new and different ideas, experiences, and people

- the need to adapt to changing times, influences on Rob, and respecting Kanye West

- not respecting trash-talkers of others’ creative process

- the book that resonates well with how Rob views life and toxic friendships

- Interstellar and humankind knowing less than what it thinks it knows

- people’s fear of thinking deeply and the difficulty and downsides of working for yourself

- advice for anyone wanting to get into a creative field

- gaining the confidence to choose your projects and charge what you’re willing to work for

- the perpetual possibility to change who you are and the one thing about Gary Vee that annoys them both

- learning through lectures outside of the classroom and using the best medium to learn based on what you want to do, and much more.

Bio

Rob Browning overcame a rough childhood to become the man he is today. Into cars and all kinds of music as a kid, he knew he wanted to be involved in fashion as an 11th grade high-schooler. Now he’s a designer and stylist and runs an online store called Drifters MD. You can follow him or his store on Instagram at @rob.mcknight or @DriftersMD.

Links

ItsNation TV - https://itsnation.tv/

Mastery and other books by Robert Greene -

http://powerseductionandwar.com/books/

Curren$y’s Pilot Talk trilogy - https:\\music.apple.com\us\album\pilot-talktrilogyS7758235

Art of War by Sun Tzu - https:\\www.goodreads.com\book\showE34.The_Art_of_War

“The Tim Ferriss Show” - https://tim.blog/podcast/

On this 57-minute episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with Brandon Driver about counseling, playing and coaching football, and forging a new path for himself after injury ended his original plans. In this interview, listen as they talk about:

- deciding to get a Masters degree and connecting and leading kids in counseling

Bio

Links

On this episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with Anguesomo about moving around as a kid, going through some pretty rough times, loving music, and so much more. In two and a half hours, you’ll hear about:

Bio

Links

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi - www.goodreads.com/book/show/9516.Persepolis

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain - www.goodreads.com/book/show/8520610-quiet