In this episode, I sit down in conversation with Kesha in Atlanta. We had a very serendipitous meeting when I sat down at the bar where she works after visiting Gadsden, Alabama where my friend, Madeleine, was arrested for her participation in a Freedom Walk alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Before I could share this, Kesha was telling me about the podcast she wants to create which spotlights white people who have put their lives and reputations on the line in support of civil rights and equality...
Nov 22, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode, I sit down with Destiny who lives and works in Florida. Destiny and I met at the Fort Lauderdale Airport earlier this year and discovered we had a few things in common including being born and raised in Toronto. We stayed in touch with the intention of connecting again and sat down at her condo in Miami a little while ago to talk about her business selling real estate, her experience selling luxury cars and the reality show she is creating around that, her music career, working ...
Nov 15, 2023•46 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this episode, I continue my conversation with Anna who tells me about some of her artistic endeavours which include having a published book, writing for a documentary, and creating music. We talk about the need to be selfish and find the right support while pursing these creative things. Anna also shares her perspectives about raising a daughter, understanding Black men, the dynamics of the Black family, and having the "Black Talk".
Nov 08, 2023•34 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode, I sit down with Anna in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to chat with her about the work she does to bring more political power to the people, her views on the NAACP advisories that are still coming out today for Black people and People of Color traveling to various parts of the US, and some of the knowledge she has about housing. Anna and I are getting to know each other during this conversation so I do my best to answer the questions she has for me too. We talk about "Karens" and whit...
Nov 01, 2023•58 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode, I continue my conversation with Gordon. We talk about money, power, his experience listening to a broad range of Rap music, his theory when it comes to the representation of the Black family on TV in the 60s & 70s and how this mirrored reality. To see photos of my guests, check out my Instagram page @pipsperspective
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this episode, I sit down with Gordon after meeting him just a couple of days before and chatting for hours. Gordon is from a small town in Georgia, has served in Iraq, has been incarcerated or "in the chain gang", and has a very interesting perspective when it comes to the Black experience. To see photos of my guests, check out my Instagram page @pipsperspective
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this episode, I continue my conversation with Danny who tells me about his five minutes of fame singing with his all time favourite group at the Apollo Theater, his singing career, and a few of the not-so-nice encounters he had with police as a kid growing up in Harlem and the Bronx in the 70's & 80s. To see photos of Danny, check out my Instagram page @pipsperspective
Oct 11, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode, I sit down with Danny - aka MC Ski Jump - to talk about his experience coming up as one of the First Generation B-Boys in the Bronx. Danny - who I met by chance when I got lost driving through Fayetteville, North Carolina last year - came up with the likes of Grandmaster Flash and also originated some of those break dance moves we still see today. Stay tuned for next week's episode when Danny tells me all about how he became "Mr. D" and about his five minutes of fame singing wit...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In part two of my conversation with Artis, we talk about living in your authenticity, Artis performs some of his poetry - including one about living as a "same-gender-loving male" which leads to a longer discussion about this - and we talk about how being blessed still comes with its bullshit. Artis has written over 600 Haikus - some of which he shares with me - and has over 1000 poems compiled in a series of books he is writing. And he's doing great things as an arts activist and curator in his...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this episode, I sit down with Artis - aka DJ ART.IS - in DC to talk about what art is, learning to pivot when things don't go according to plan, planting seeds when it comes to relationships, finding your tribe, and saying YES to opportunities. Artis is a DJ, a Poet, and an Art Activist curating many events for emerging artists in and around DC. In this first part of our conversation, he shares what he has learned about himself and about life in the arts. In part two, coming next week, we tal...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this second part of my conversation with DeMar, he tells me about Santeria, the spiritual practice he discovered while in Federal Prison and one he attributes to helping him to never go back. It's such a great story and DeMar is an amazing storyteller! Also a talented rapper known as "Fly Guy Impulse", we talk about DeMar's music - how he wrote his first raps while incarcerated and about his beautifully sad song, Lost Souls, written while in Federal Prison about what it's like to be incarcera...
Sep 13, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this first episode of Season 3, I sit down near Catskill, New York where I met this next guest last year. DeMar, who was shooting a music video at the time, had been released from Federal Prison just a couple of years before we met. First incarcerated at the age of 12, and having spent 14 of his last 26 years in jail or prison, 38-year-old DeMar shares his journey and experiences with me. He opens up about the police brutality he has experienced, what life was like for him in prison, the trau...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this clip, meet Damien in Kentucky, Namel in Harlem, and Fferé in DC. Episode 4 Season 1: Damien and I met at the Fort Campbell, Kentucky Army Base. He volunteered to come on the podcast to tell me about the challenges he faces and privilege he has as a fair-skinned Black man. We talk about the N-Word, the Bronx, and more in our episode. Episode 6 Season 2: Namel and I met on the sidewalk in Harlem in 2016. He told me about his Hip Hop duo called Four Wheel City. Namel has been in a wheelchai...
Oct 22, 2022•3 min
IN this clip, meet Mac in North Carolina, Allison in Atlanta, and George in New York. Episode 2 Season 1: Mac and I met at Toronto Airport when I was living there for nine days. He was a flight attendant working in private aviation who was 'stationed' at the Sheraton Hotel there for a month. Upon learning I was sleeping on a bench in one of the departure lounges, he very kindly offered me his hotel room while he was in flight. We remember this story, talk about his job in private aviation, heart...
Oct 22, 2022•2 min
IN this clip, meet Marq in Las Vegas, Dominion in DC, Maya in DC, and Daijon in Las Vegas. Episode 6 Season 1: Marq and I met when I was sleeping I my car in Vegas. It turns out he's a talented musical artist and vocalist from Milwaukee who goes by the name MILLI3K. We talk music, Vegas, Milwaukee and why colour matters. Episode 1 Season 2: Dominion and I met when I happened to walk past the Hip Hip Museum in DC this May. We had such an instant connection so I drove back through a few days later...
Oct 22, 2022•3 min
In this clip, meet Jerry in New York, Alex in Las Vegas, Quatae in DC and Lisa in DC. Episode 7 Season 2: Jerry and I met on an overnight bus from Toronto to New York in 2016 where we chatted through the night and Jerry shared his life story with me. This young man, at just 21, had already been through so much. And six years later, he shares more of his story with me including a terrible run-in with police and the joy of having a son. Episode 8 Season 1: Alex and I met in Las Vegas in 2017 when ...
Oct 22, 2022•3 min
In this clip, meet Aleathia in New York, Myles in LA, Judith in New Jersey & Kerric in Las Vegas. Episode 5 Season 2: Aleathia and I met while walking down the street in the Bronx. She is the creator of a movement to bring awareness to and change the narrative around bareheaded beauty. As she calls it "Hair Freedom". We talk about this and so much more in our episode. Episode 10 Season 1: Myles and I met over social media during the pandemic. He discovered drag during this time and is now a ...
Oct 22, 2022•3 min
In this clip, meet Cat in the Bronx, Dray in Las Vegas, Leka in New York, and Kumei in Las Vegas. Episode 9 Season 2: Cat and I met through a mutual friend this summer in New York. She is my soul sister, my Taurean twin, a Minister, and Host of a TV Show called "The Next Chapter" in which she discusses "shades of grey". Episode 5 Season 1: Dray and I met in Las Vegas in 2017. He is one of the pioneers of the Las Vegas Arts Scene and an incredibly talented artist. Did you know that the Vegas Arts...
Oct 22, 2022•2 min
In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, Leka at his home in Catskill, New York. Leka and I met through a mutual friend and, following a few conversations about his life, I invited him to come on the podcast. Leka works as a Youth Counsellor and Duty Officer at a Boys' Maximum Security Prison in New York. We talk about the love he has for his job, his three daughters, and the importance of family. We also have a very serious conversation about guns and gun ownership in New York as well as...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, and "Taurean Twin", Cat at her apartment in the Bronx. Cat tells me about how she feels about the Bronx, how she became a Minister at the age of ten, what she learned from the Jehovah's Witnesses, and how divinely guided her life has been. We talk about recognizing trauma, doing the work towards healing and self-love, and how this relates to Black families in particular. Oh, and we share a few laughs too. We hope you enjoy our episode. To see photo...
Aug 15, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, George, at his shop in Catskill, New York called the Juice Branch. I met George when I arrived in Catskill and went to his shop to set myself up with a juice cleanse. George tells me all about what was in that juice cleanse, how his juice business came into being, and the benefits of living a plant-based lifestyle. We also talk about serving your community, following your passion, and how energy works. We hope you enjoy our episode. To see photos o...
Aug 03, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode, I sit down with my very special friend, Jerry aka Swervo. Jerry and I met six years ago and spent all night talking on an overnight bus from Toronto to New York. In this episode, Jerry elaborates on that first conversation about growing up in the Bronx, having parents who were drug addicts, being abused by his stepmother, spending his teenage years in a psych ward, reuniting with his father, and what he's been doing since we met - including having run ins with the police, travel...
Jul 25, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Namel to talk about how he combines Hip Hop Culture with Disability Culture after being shot and paralyzed in the Bronx in 1999 and starting a Hip Hop Duo called 4 Wheel City. We talk guns, the Grammys, working with Snoop Dogg and Yo Gotti, speaking at the White House, writing a letter to Stevie Wonder, finding motivation from Kobe and inspiration from prophets like Nas and Tupac, and about RAMPD - the organization Namel co founded to advocate for music...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Aleathia, to talk about her initiative called Unveiled Unlocked. She tells me about how it all started, its mission to change the narrative around being "bareheaded" or "hair free", and what they have coming up in celebration of their ten year anniversary in Harlem next month. We also talk about learned behaviours in childhood, the value of lived experience, and Aleathia's journey as an artist which has led her to understand that art often goes beyond ...
Jul 13, 2022•57 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, Quatae, to talk about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. After experiencing my first hypnotherapy session with Quatae a few days earlier, we discuss some of what happened in that session, the benefits of hypnosis and sound healing, generational trauma, and the power of the spoken word. AND, as a bonus, Quatae freely shares his experience with a past life regression. I couldn't stop saying "That's so cool!" We hope you enjoy our episode. To see photos and v...
Jul 05, 2022•47 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode, I sit down with more than one guest for the very first time and we have an absolute blast. I met Maya and Fferé at a gay bar in DC in early May. Fferé immediately loaded his rap music into my Apple Music and, when I listened to it a few days later, I just had to get him on the podcast. The dynamic between these two is something else, especially as Maya and Fferé are actually Natasha and Jeff. We talk about alter egos, the negative stereotypes and behaviours that are perpetuated ...
Jun 29, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, I sit down with my new friend Lisa where we literally sit down in conversation for the first time LIVE on the podcast. I met Lisa at an Open Mic in DC back in May and was so blown away by the poem she wrote and performed that I immediately approached her to be a guest. Lisa performs her epic poem for us, we talk about what it's like to perform something you've written in front of an audience, I learn that she also raps and that we share a common interest in things like synchroni...
Jun 24, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this first episode of season 2 of the podcast, I get back on the mic after receiving some feedback about my ignorance and needing to reflect before moving forward. Thanks to my encounter with Dominion, who is from a family of scientists and doctors and considers himself a "life doctor", my energy shifted in a positive way and here we are. Dominion, who is a very busy young man, and I talk about all sorts of stuff including his work as a fitness trainer and how much he loves helping people liv...
Jun 15, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kerric to talk about all kinds of stuff. We chat about his art, our mutual appreciation of our younger friends, the concept of fear, trauma and healing, his interest in numbers and what is called "Living Mathematics", the everyday concerns that come with being a Black man, and more. We hope you enjoy this episode. To see photos of Kerric and his art, check us out on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/peopleinteractingwithpeople/...
Apr 20, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 11
People Interacting with People is headed to New York City for more interviews with some of my amazing friends. Stay tuned!
Apr 13, 2022•3 min
