This A Podcast

This A Podcast

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This A Podcast episodes

  • Ep 49: Hood Debates w/ We The 5th

    A deviation from the standard lifestyle interviews that Mek normally conducts, this episode features Mek and Tim (@wethe5th) debating on topics:

    -Snapchat is dead

    -The Wayans Bros. are not funny

    -Will Smith is a comedian

    1 hr 5 min
  • Ep 48 w/ Lou White: Cultivating Habits, Connecting With Young Athletes, & Investing In Yourself

    On this episode, Mek sits with Lou White to talk about his youth-athletic days, coaching young players today, and how the lessons learned while playing the game apply later on in life. In 77 minutes, you’ll hear them talk about:

    - coaches getting younger and kids thinking they’re older

    - rebounding a losing team into a winning one (literally) and doing the little things to achieve greater success

    - how “back in the day” is different than current day

    - Lou’s proudest achievement as a basketball player and making the switch from football

    - his work ethic (then and now) and why he looked up to Jeff Malone as a kid

    - why he can’t watch James Harden and the Houston Rockets and fans versus historians of the game

    - his weaknesses and strengths

    - being a motivation machine and knowing your power as a coach

    - the purpose of Team BISS (Building Independent Successful Students)

    - how Lou builds rapport with his players and what kids who’re looking to go to the next level overlook

    - how first impressions matter and deciphering whether a kid truly wants to play

    - having patience with others, Lou being influenced by other coaches, and the cycle of the basketball business

    - the best investment he’s ever made, the one thing he’d change about his life path, and the message he’d put on his billboard

    - the hard stories successful people don’t share, the emphasis on marketability of NBA player, and more!


    Bio

    Growing up in the greater metropolitan area of D.C., Maryland, and Virgina, Lou was a high school standout as football player, then basketball player. After graduating from Gwynn Park High School, he went on to have an accomplished collegiate and professional basketball career, playing in over 25 countries. He’s a two-time NAIA All-American and two-time Conference Player of the Year. You can find out more about the Team BISS program he’s a part of at http://www.bissyouth.org, on Instagram @biss_group_, or on LinkedIn "Louis White".


    Links

    It’s Nation TV - https://itsnation.tv/

    BISS Website - www.bissyouth.org

    1 hr 24 min
  • Ep 47 w/ Charlei H: Divine Ideas, Find Your Process, & This Is All We Have

    On this episode of, Mek talks with Charlei H about fashion and design, childhood memories, trials and tribulations of being in business, the power of communication, and then some. In 104 minutes, you’ll find hear about:

    - how she and Mek first met
    - who she looked up to as a child (and still does today)
    - her childhood memories of living in Maryland and visiting Sierra Leone
    - Mek’s childhood experience of going to Nigeria
    - dressing up and “schooling” her dolls
    - having a rare kind of mother within the African community
    - breaking boundaries and learning to bridge the gap between the African and American lifestyle
    - getting a beat down at McDonald’s from dad and butting heads with mom
    - memories of high school and what she was into during that time
    - being the last generation who went outside to play before the great Internet shift
    - the advantages of being a part of this shift generation and wandering through life blindly versus with awareness
    - working at Nordstrom after high school and building a book of clients
    - the non-glamorous side of entrepreneurship, the lie told about following your passion in business, and following your formula
    - impostor syndrome
    - Mek’s skepticism about calling himself an entrepreneur and how he defines it
    - Charlei’s first entrepreneurial role at 17 years old and her approach to Instagram and her business right now
    - knowing who you are and what you’re about before putting yourself out there
    - the importance of Mek’s contribution to his family and how it’s different than the original plan
    - clear messaging, communicating to individuals in compatible ways, and moving ideas from thoughts to tangible assets
    - Charlei’s book recommendations and how they really changed her life
    - your proudest accomplishments being those others don’t care about at all
    - media training vs. being your authentic self
    - who comes to mind when Charlei thinks of success and why
    - what she’d define as her God-given gifts
    - and her two-sided billboard message to everyone.

    Bio

    Growing up in Maryland with a family originally from Sierra Leone, Charlei traveled around a lot as a kid especially to London. Following her heart, she made the switch from being a business major to a communications major and has a huge passion for storytelling and design developed ever since childhood. You can find her on Instagram @Charlei.H and on Twitter at twitter.com/charleixx.
    Links
    ItsNation TV - itsnation.tv/
    BlackPlanet - www.blackplanet.com
    Netflix’s The Seventies, The Eighties, The Nineties, and The 2000s series
    I Am Your Sister by Audre Lorde
    The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

    1 hr 50 min
  • Ep 46 w/ Alex Ngonga: Be Vulnerable, The Prestigious Black Experience, & Live Life To The Fullest

    On this episode of This A Podcast, Mek sits with Alex Ngonga to talk dating and relationships, family, Zumba, and then some. In this 106 minute show, you’ll hear about:

    - how she and Mek met each other

    - why she’s considered the relationship expert among her friends

    - being a social butterfly and matchmaker

    - her preference for face-to-face communication vs. the online dating world

    - why nobody wants to be vulnerable in relationships

    - the importance of being in the right mental space for dating

    - your dating life being a reflection of you, not them

    - how heartbreak and forced alone time benefited Mek

    - the importance of being intentional

    - growing up in a two-parent home (and the subject of sex)

    - a sad story illustrating the need for communication between adult and child about sex

    - having a cleanliness-obsessed Dad who insisted on his kids being the same way

    - why Alex wouldn’t trade men for the world

    - her first (secret) boyfriend and the funny story of how her parents discovered this high school romance

    - going from a structured home and high school to freedom and college

    - being around prestigious black people

    - how and why she made the switch to a career focus in IT

    - living your life in ways to keep your parents happy

    - Alex’s desire to be an actress and being in all the high school musicals

    - teaching Zumba and coming up with her own routines

    - who comes to mind for her when she thinks of success (and why)

    - having a dedication to loving black culture and black cinema

    - some of Mek’s favorite musical artists

    - Penny Proud of Disney Channel fame

    - how Tony Soprano inspired one of Mek’s most asked rapid-fire questions

    - Alex’s intuitive superpower

    - Nipsey Hussell and Alex’s final, parting, and carefully crafted words of advice

    - and a story from Mek that really drives it home.


    Bio

    Alex Ngonga grew up as the oldest and only girl in a family of three male siblings. She’s a Zumba teacher and aspiring actress with a B.A. in International Relations. Currently, she’s contracting with the U.S. government and working on her Masters degree in Cyber Security.

    Follow her on Instagram @ohlexsee.


    Links

    ItsNation TV - https://itsnation.tv/

    Issa Rae Presents: Awkward Black Girl - http://www.issarae.com/awkward-black-girl/

    1 hr 52 min
  • Ep 45 w/ Hood Chef: From Savage Life to Hood Chef, The Art of Negotiating, & Making Your Job

    On this episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with Hood Chef (a.k.a. Hector Vazquez (@thehoodchef), along with special guest Bruke Fasil (@brukefasil)) about his background, meeting rapper Curren$y, and his love of cooking and the cannabis culture and community. In this hour-long show, you’ll hear about:  

    - what brought him to Los Angeles. 

    - how his love of cooking developed and the name The Hood Chef came to life. 

    - learning an important lesson in negotiation. 

    - meeting Bruke and his first impressions. 

    - inspiring stories of stumbling upon great business opportunities despite financial struggles, and the principles he feels were essential in the process. 

    - how he (and Bruke) approach social media now that it’s no longer a new thing. 

    - the importance of building relationships on social media to make an impact despite the crowdedness. 

    - his relationship with the cannabis community in L.A.  

    - not knowing who the hell Kanye West was at first. 

    - the surprising occupation he grew up wanting to be as an adult. 

    - the different approach he (and Bruke) take to learning something new. 

    - which fictional character(s) he and Bruke feel they resonate with the most. 

    - the importance of doing you without concern about acceptance or popularity. 

    - what food he likes in L.A. (that he doesn’t make for himself). 

    - the message he’d put on a billboard for millions of people to see. 

    - and final parting words...with poppers! 

     

    Bio


    Hector Vazquez (The Hood Chef) is originally from Brooklyn, New York.  A former videographer and editor, he got his start with his own video series in 2006 called The Savage Life where he built a fan base by putting his everyday life up on Youtube. Now based in Los Angeles, he’s a personality, catering chef, consultant, content creator, and head of The Hood Chef brand.

    Follow him on Instagram @TheHoodChef, on Facebook at 

    http://www.facebook.com/hoodchef, and watch his videos on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/c/HoodChef. 

     

    Links 


    Curren$y’s Official Website: http://www.currensyspitta.com/ 

    Bruke Fasil on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brukefasil/ 

    This a Podcast - https://itsnation.tv/thisapodcast 

    ItsNation TV - https://itsnation.tv/

    1 hr 2 min
  • Ep 44 w/ Natasha Rowe: A Leap of Faith, Daily Affirmations, & Don't Get Stuck

    On this episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with Natasha Rowe (@rowetherealtor) about moving from banking to real estate, how the power of belief and personal growth tools have impacted her life, and much more. In this hour-long show, you’ll hear about:

    - why (and how) Natasha left banking and got into real estate
    - common misunderstandings about real estate property hunting and working with realtors
    - the biggest mistake people make when using sites like Zillow and Trulia
    - 3 ways Natasha improves her realty knowledge, skill, and success
    - Natasha’s morning routine and which part of it she considers the most important
    - the need to believe what you speak into existence
    - the #1 thing Terry Crews did before making real money
    - books Natasha has read that made a lasting impact
    - the power of asking for a sign when you need guidance
    - Natasha re-establishing and strengthening her relationship with God
    - incorporating content creation into the real estate world
    - showing off all angles and aspects of a house for sale
    - what a house squatter is (and who they tend to target)
    - what Mek, Tim, and Natasha each consider their superpower
    - which fictional TV character each resonates with the most
    - final words of advice, especially for those who want to make a career change.

    Bio

    Natasha Rowe is a realtor originally from Stamford, Connecticut. With her dad as a broker, she grew up looking at houses and developed a love for properties and home decor. Now working at Norman & Associates, she serves all Atlanta. Find her at on Instagram at @rowetherealtor or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RowetheRealtor/.

    Links

    Norman & Associates - normanliving.com/
    Tim Eaton’s Facebook - www.facebook.com/wethe5th
    This a Podcast - itsnation.tv/thisapodcast
    ItsNation TV - itsnation.tv/
    The Secret by Rhonda Byrne - www.thesecret.tv/
    You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero - jensincero.com/shop/
    Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill - www.naphill.org/shop/books/think-andgrow-rich/
    The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green - powerseductionandwar.com/books/

    1 hr 2 min
  • Ep 43 w/ DJ BJ: Houseparty w/ Waka Flocka, Engineers vs. Producers, & Don't Doubt Yourself

    On this episode of This a Podcast, Mek talks with DJ BJ (a.k.a. Brad) about his involvement in DJing and producing music for Young Nudy and other artists, his work philosophy, and who he looks up to in the industry. In this 50-minute show, you’ll hear about:

    - Why DJ BJ seemed destined to be a lawyer...until he wasn’t
    - Love for what you do vs. being only about the money
    - Radiating confidence and how it can pay off down the line, even if it doesn’t up front
    - Becoming a “studio junkie”
    - DJ BJ’s opposite approach to appearing pushy, professionally speaking, and being his own biggest critic
    - The difference between engineering vs. producing music and how they can still get intertwined with each other
    - Dealing with ear fatigue
    - Other music engineers DJ BJ admires
    - What DJ BJ has learned about himself recently, outside of music
    - Growing up playing basketball and advice for players who love their love of the game while
    still in school
    - The danger with being too comfortable in your current position
    - The story of how Young Nudy originally called him “DJ Fuck -up”
    - Why artists shouldn’t go chasing for management
    - DJ BJ’s final message to everyone, from artists to janitors

    Bio:

    DJ BJ is a DJ and music producer born in Richmond, Virginia. He played the drums and keyboards in church and learned a lot from his dad, a live music production engineer. Now living in Atlanta, his career has spanned from working in local clubs and private events to mixing and producing music for artists locally and around the world. Find out more on his website at www.realdjbj.com where you also get access to all of his social media profiles to follow him.

    57 min

About This A Podcast

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This a podcast produced by Nation Ent.