I’m proud to say, that my TEDx Eustis talk - How Chicken Wings Made Me Unstoppable - is now available to watch at My website: http://www.funnybrowngirl.com/tedx or On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kchNWYVUqaw. or TED.com https://www.ted.com/talks/shereen_kassam_chicken_wings_made_me_unstoppable I encourage you to check it out, hit the like button, and share it with someone! I also share my advice and tips on how to be a TEDx speaker! Including how to submit a stellar TEDx application ...
Apr 15, 2022•15 min
Update: April 2022 - My TEDx talk - How Chicken Wings Made Me Unstoppable - is now available to watch! I share how to become unstoppable by embracing the lesson of the chicken wing - the ability to re-sauce yourself! It will have you laughing, thinking, and craving a good chicken wing! Three ways to watch it! My website: http://www.funnybrowngirl.com/tedx or On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kchNWYVUqaw. or TED.com https://www.ted.com/talks/shereen_kassam_chicken_wings_made_me_unstoppa...
Aug 14, 2021•37 min
Hi Creatives, This week we chat with Nelu Handa, a writer on A Little Late with Lily Singh. Nelu is a writer, actor, improvisor, and comedian. You’ve seen her on Netflix’s Workin’ Moms and The Van Baron Show. Nelu shares with us how she’s navigated her creative journey, leaving her 9-5 job to be a 24/7 Creative, and more! Show notes at CreativeBreakthroughPodcast.com
Feb 25, 2021•40 min
Hello creatives! This week Ali Velshi, television journalist, from MSNBC joins us to share how he went from studying religion to becoming a globally recognized journalist. He shares tools to become successful in one’s creative journey, as well as his secret sauce for success. Ali and I also talk about Twitter trolls and living up to our immigrant parents’ expectations. Show notes: CreativeBreakthroughPodcast.com .
Feb 11, 2021•43 min
Hello Creatives! Bevy Smith joins me this week to talk about her new book Bevalations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie. Bevy shares inspiration and wisdom on everything from finding the courage to leave her 6-figure corporate job, transitioning from being a fashion executive to a media personality, becoming an entrepreneur, and more! She even drops a special Bevalation solely for listeners of Creative Breakthrough!
Jan 28, 2021•49 min
Hi Creatives! This week I share BIG news – Spotify called me! I also talk about setting intentions for 2021 vs setting goals, our guest next week – Bevy Smith to chat about her new book Bevalations: Lessons from a Mutha , Auntie, Bestie , and of course why Spotify called me! Show notes
Jan 14, 2021•38 min
Disney Channel and BET favorite, and seen Lifetime alongside Kelly Rowland, actor Jaime Callica takes the hot seat to chat about growing your social media (he has 81.8K IG followers), pursuing your passion, and being part of Tyler Perry’s TV show Ruthless. We also chat about staying positive, being grateful, and working smarter. Real life advice plus motivational messages all rolled up in one episode! Learn more at CreativeBreakthroughPodcast.com Show Notes...
Dec 31, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Hi Creatives! This week I answer all your questions about starting and growing a successful Side Hustle. With experience running a profitable comedy career, podcast, and e-commerce business, Shereen Kassam answers all your questions, plus shares with you what she wished she knew when starting out. Learn more: www.creativebreakthroughpodcast.com Show notes
Dec 17, 2020•28 min
Hi Creatives! This week we chat with storyteller Nia Malika Dixon who shares her creative journey and how she moves with purpose. Nia shares her journey to LA, finding her own production company, and creating and launching a film festival. Welcome to the Creative Breakthrough! For those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome. For my OG listeners, I can’t thank you enough for your support. Thank you for sharing this podcast. If you are on your phone right now, press that share button and sh...
Dec 03, 2020•37 min
This week, Henry Gibson share with us financial advice, tips, and tricks to maximize our financial savings. This is not a sponsored episode – Henry is a friend and actor who offered up his time to provide advice. Henry Gibson-Garcia began his career as an actor, performing onstage in and in front of the camera for over a decade. Starting in 2019, he began using the skills he’d developed as an actor and director to provide training in Leadership, Collaboration, and Communication to medical studen...
Nov 19, 2020•40 min
Ep 59: Told to Apologize for Being Muslim Last week, the Islam Channel featured me in a piece about being Muslim and losing my radio gig. I’m Shereen Kassam – comedian, podcaster, speaker, actress, ex-radio host, and entrepreneur. I started this podcast for two key reasons As a woman of color in the entertainment industry, I felt I didn’t have any mentors to turn to for advice and mentorship. I started this podcast to provide informal mentorship and strategies to win to other creatives, such as ...
Nov 05, 2020•25 min
How to Start a Successful Side Hustle in 3 Steps What is a side hustle - any activity outside of your day job that helps you make more money Different types of side hustles - drive uber, doordash, taskrabbit, instacart...but I want to talk about side hustles that are not part-time jobs...I want to talk to you about not only a way to earn income from your creative endeavors but also as a path t o being your own boss This can be based on your creative passion or something you are good at Do the be...
Oct 22, 2020•36 min
Welcome to the Creative Breakthrough I am your host Shereen Kassam This week, we continue our conversation with the Founder of Def Comedy Jam – Bob Sumner Before we jump in to part 2 of our conversation with Bob – This season, I’m going to spend a lot of time talking about monetizing your creative passion and side hustles. With many cities starting to open up performance spaces such as bars, clubs, and theater spaces I want to share some personal thoughts. Yes, people are struggling financially....
Oct 07, 2020•33 min
Announcements We are trending in Nigeria! That makes 16 countries around the world. I am so grateful for you all for tuning in week after week! Check out my new website redesign at www.funnybrowngirl.com While you’re there, take the podcast quiz to find which episode is for you! Also sign up for my email list for bi-weekly resources and opportunities Lastly, check out our Facebook Group – Creative Breakthrough Community This season, we have amazing line-up of guests! I’ll be chatting with: Actor...
Sep 24, 2020•51 min
Welcome back to Season 3 of the Creative Breakthrough Podcast! After a three month, hiatus I am back! When I took a break from this podcast in June 2020 , COVID was in full swing, I had been furloughed from my full-time job, all the comedy clubs were closed, and I was mentally and emotionally exhausted. I’m happy to say, I’m back at work, comedy clubs are re-opening (though I am not yet taking any chances), and hyped to be back on this podcast! How did I spend the last three months? I grew my CB...
Sep 10, 2020•16 min•Ep. 55
Host Shereen Kassam, a serial side hustler, shares her tips and advice on starting a successful side hustle and ideas to get you started. She also shares her thoughts about the recent murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how as a creative you can get involved. Also, we are taking a summer break to focus on self-care and wellness. We will be back with new episodes on September 10th!
Jun 04, 2020•27 min
This week, we chat: How to handle rejection How not to let rejection turn in to resentment And the 4 ways to be successful in your creative journey Tina Mabry, our guest from Episode 2 of Creative Breakthrough, shared her thoughts on dealing with rejection, her viewpoint on fear, and her advice to creatives on their journey. Tina Mabry is a writer, producer, and director, whose directing credits include Queen Sugar, Proven Innocent, Queen of the South, Insecure, Dear White People, Power, and Pos...
May 21, 2020•49 min
This week I discuss my third week of furlough from Walt Disney World, my own creative breakthrough, and how I’m staying sane. Felicia Pride, from episode 33, released her first short film this week - Tender. In this episode, she talks about applying to TV Writing competitions such as NBC on the Verge, the importance of informal mentors, self-care, and patience. Felicia wrote and directed Tender. Here's the official description: After an unexpected one night stand, two women at very different sta...
May 07, 2020•35 min
This week, host Shereen Kassam, chats about being laid off from Disney due to COVID-19 and why now is the perfect time to start or continue pursuing your creative passion. Shereen also chat the importance of maintaining a schedule and not allowing yourself to be BORED. Other topics discussed: how to make this the best time of your life, how to stay sane, and how to balance all the emotions you may be feeling. Shereen shares free resources for creatives also available on the Facebook group . This...
Apr 23, 2020•40 min
Damon Williams is an internationally touring comedian who has been seen on Showtime at the Apollo, BET’s Comic View, and The Tom Joyner Sky Show. We chat about the emotional and financial impacts of COVID-19 and Damon’s advice to creatives during this unprecedented time. Participate in Damon’s #steptothemic competition on Instagram Shereen Kassam aka Funny Brown Girl shares her thoughts from self-quarantine – everything from how she’s surviving without comedy to almost being arrested for stealin...
Apr 09, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Jeff Friday, the CEO of American Black Film Festival Ventures, a multifaceted company specializing in the production of live events, television and films focused on African American culture shares why he discovered ABFF. It’s an unsettling time right now. We are in the midst of something we haven’t experienced in our lifetime before – a global pandemic. I’m anxious and struggling to be creative. Here is how I’m trying to stay focused and create: Create a schedule (set an alarm has been the harde...
Mar 26, 2020•50 min
Playlist Live conference strategies, learnings, and more! Shereen shares what she learned at this conference for YouTube and TikTok influencers. Big shout out to the UK and Zimbabwe where Creative Breakthrough is trending, as is both episodes with Maaza Mengiste! Thank you for listening and sharing! This week we were supposed to talk to Jeff Friday, the Founder of the American Black Film Festival. However due to travel issues it is postponed until next week. If you have questions for Jeff, email...
Mar 12, 2020•31 min
Maaza Mengiste, the author of The Shadow King, selected by the New York Times as one of the 100 most notable books of 2019 This week I talk about balancing a Full-Time Job with a Creative Passion! Check out the YouTube video here - https://youtu.be/w4trvPrIfAo , as well, as my first vlog about being a stand-up comedian - https://youtu.be/hrKB6b47DO4 We chat about past interviews with creatives who had or have a Full-Time job while pursuing their creative passion. Interviewees include Shereen Lad...
Feb 27, 2020•41 min
Maaza Mengiste, the author of The Shadow King, selected by the New York Times as one of the 100 most notable books of 2019 Who is Maaza Mengiste? Maaza Mengiste is a novelist and essayist. She is the author of the forthcoming novel (September 24, 2019), The Shadow King, called “a brilliant novel…compulsively readable” by Salman Rushdie. Her debut novel, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, was selected by The Guardian as one of the 10 best contemporary African books and named one of the best books of 2010 b...
Feb 13, 2020•35 min
JP Lambiase, YouTube Personality of the Hellthy Junkfood channel with over 2.2M subscribers Who is JP Lambiase? Chef and YouTube personality best known as the co-creator of the food channel HellthyJunkFood, which has amassed over 2.2 million subscribers. On the channel, he presents recipes for healthier versions of well-known fast food items. A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology, began his career as an Engineer. He work...
Jan 30, 2020•43 min
Jason Gregory, writer and producer of the film Waking Up White Who is Jason Gregory? Jason D. Gregory is a recent film production MFA graduate from the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media (Go Knights!). As a child, he recalls that his friends wanted to “be like Mike,” while Gregory’s dream was to “be like Spike.” He received his undergraduate degree in film from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 and during his studies, Gregory was selected, twice, a...
Jan 16, 2020•36 min
Episode 43: From Advertising to Film: Jason Gregory on Waking Up White (Part 1 of 2 episodes) This week’s guest: Jason Gregory, writer and producer of the film Waking Up White Who is Jason Gregory? Jason D. Gregory is a recent film production MFA graduate from the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media (Go Knights!). As a child, he recalls that his friends wanted to “be like Mike,” while Gregory’s dream was to “be like Spike.” He received his undergraduate de...
Jan 02, 2020•40 min
Big news – we are trending in Kenya!! Thank you to my Kenyan listeners. This is my last episode for 2019. Last year, I did an episode on goal setting and how much I love the end of the year because it’s a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next year. If you struggle with goal setting check out last year’s episode and download my goal setting worksheet . December is a difficult month for me. I always find myself in a funk. This year I feel like I’m in a funk because I feel I didn’t...
Dec 19, 2019•11 min
This week’s guest: Me, your host – Shereen Kassam aka the Funny Brown Girl! Who is Shereen Kassam? Shereen Kassam has been named “Funniest Female in Florida” and has performed on HBO and NBC. After receiving her Bachelors from Brown, an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and working for Fortune 100 firms including Deloitte, Amazon, JPMorgan, and Disney, Kassam decided she wanted more from life. That’s when she discovered entertainment – specifically stand-up comedy. H...
Dec 05, 2019•12 min
Episode 40: How to Launch an Award-Winning Podcast with Ahmed Akbar This week’s guest: Ahmed Akbar, host of the podcast See Something Say Something Who is Ahmed Akbar? Ahmed Ali Akbar is a writer and host of the See Something Say Something podcast and video series. Previously, he was a Staff Writer for BuzzFeed and a Detroit public school teacher. He acted as a correspondent to Netflix’s ”Follow This”, Pushkin’s Solvable, and other shows. He was the editor of the now-defunct Rad Brown Dads tumbl...
Nov 21, 2019•21 min
