What Shapes Us

Selema is opening up his Covid Files to show you an interview he did with legendary photographer Atiba Jefferson. Selema goes into their history of when they first met at Atiba’s skate shop. Atiba moving out to California to follow his dream of being a photographer for skaters. And advice for those coming out of Covid what they can do to get out of the slump that we all slipped into. 

Check out Atiba Jefferson work IG @atibaphoto 

On this episode of the What Shapes Us Podcast Selema welcomes writer, actor, producer, director and close friend Radha Blank. Radha talks about how the pandemic gave her a new perspective on life. They talk about her movie "The Forty-Year-Old Version" and both Selema and Radha share family memories that shaped them into the creatives they are today. 

The loop Daddy himself Marc Rebillet joins Selema to talk about how he became an incredible force that took the internet by storm. They talk about what shaped his musical style, how Marc found what was important in his life during the lockdown, and how he got the queen herself Erykah Badu to do a livestream performance. All this and so much more on this episode of the What Shapes Us podcast.  

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This week Selema Talks to Joy Bryant After a 6 month hiatus, What Shapes Us returns! In this episode, Selema gets candid about why the podcast took such a long layoff and how the net effect of Covid, American race relations and the election took a definitive toll on his mental health. This week features a conversation between Selema and one of his dearest friends, the incredible actress and producer, Joy Bryant. Joy talks about her life growing up in the Bronx, the importance of her Grandmother, getting into and deciding to leave Yale and also the value of self belief when the stakes are high and the cards are dealt against you.

In this episode Selema reflects on the high stakes, polarizing dance that is the social media landscape  whilst musing on the stamina necessary to last in the podcast game. Selema proudly welcomes chef Matty Matheson for a raw and open conversation about pivoting, race, family, honesty and the importance of remaining true to who you are over everything else.

The ocean has a deep meaning to me and in this episode I get into why surfing and the ocean is so imbedded in who I am as a human being. That is why on this episode I’m beyond ecstatic about our guest, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. She is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is founder and CEO of Ocean Collectiv, Urban Ocean Lab, and co-created the Blue New Deal. She also has a new book out available to preorder called, “All We Can Save” about the climate movement, and solutions to lead humanity forward. We talk about how she found her life’s work, and what her visions are for the future.

welcome to episode 1 of the What Shapes Us podcast. Our first guest is Adam J. Foss. Adam is a former Assistant District Attorney in the Juvenile Division of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO) in Boston, MA. Since his viral Ted Talk on prosecution in February in 2016, Adam has gone on to found Prosecutor Impact, a non-profit developing training and curriculum for prosecutors to reframe their role in the criminal justice system. Selema talks with Adam about the current state of America two weeks after the killing of George Floyd.

Welcome to the What Shapes Us Podcast. Here is a taste of whats to come this season. Subscribe now where ever you get your podcast.