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 tumblr and contributed to the "Salaam, Love" essay anthology. He is a gra...
Nov 07, 2019•34 min
This week’s guest: Who is Darryl Hinds? Darryl Hinds is a graduate of the University of Toronto – Mississauga Theatre and Drama Program and alum of the Second City Toronto Main State where he had the privilege of writing and performing five revues. Since his days at the Second City, Darryl has been lucky enough to find work on TV as a regular on shows like CBS’s Little Mosque on the Prairie, Nickelodeon/YTV’s Max & Shred, and PBS/TVO’s Odd Squad. Darryl has also had brief writing stints for ...
Oct 24, 2019•45 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Highlights: It’s our one year anniversary! Thank you everyone for listening! Past guest are killing it! Episode 8: Rizwan Manji was nominated for an Emmy for his role in Schitt’s Creek. He’s also staring in the hit NBC show Perfect Harmony! Episode 21: Sarah Thawer appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last week, where she was on the drums for Tegan and Sara! Episode 25: Chaunte Wayans is on tour with Tiffany Haddish as part of Netflix’s They Ready tour. Check out her tour schedule and ...
Oct 10, 2019•56 min
Who is Stefon Bristol? Brooklyn-born, Long Island-bred, Stefon Bristol is writing his own success story as a fresh face with a creative voice in the indie film world. Stefon is an award-winning filmmaker. His first feature film, See You Yesterday , was released on Netflix in May 2019. As a recent alumni of NYU's Graduate Film Program, Stefon helmed many films including the Cine Golden Eagle Award winner The Bodega . Spike Lee, a longtime mentor, awarded Stefon with the 2016 Spike Lee Production ...
Sep 26, 2019•40 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Welcome back to season 2 of Creative Breakthrough! After a three-month hiatus I have a lot to share! At the end of Season 1, I was stressed out, semi-depressed, and definitely not feeling creative. After taking inventory of my life, I decided to make some changes, but that meant taking a break from podcasting. Tune in to hear about the changes I made (and my good news!) and how I’ve been able to align myself with the universe to begin accepting blessings (again!)! I also share the accomplishment...
Sep 12, 2019•11 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Announcements This is the last episode of season 1. Season 2 will start in September. Thank you for joining me every week for the past 34 weeks! I have loved the feedback, the reviews, and most of all the listens! Please keep the feedback coming, as I want to make season 2 bigger and better! What I’ve learned - podcast is a lot of work! It does not provide the instant gratification that comedy does. Thank you all for sending in your goals! And for joining our Facebook group! If you haven’t joine...
May 30, 2019•59 min•Ep. 34
Announcements We were trending on Apple’s What’s Hot podcast last week! Thank you all for listening! Next week will be the last episode of season 1. We will then take a 3 month break and resume with season 2 in September! This week I want you all to make a goal or 2 goals for the summer. What are you going to do to accelerate your creative journey? Write more, book more shows, take a class, whatever it is, I want to know! Email them to me and next week we will read some of them out on the show n...
May 23, 2019•46 min•Ep. 33
I’m back from Africa, where I had the opportunity to speak about creativity and my podcast, facilitate improv workshops, and perform comedy. In this week’s episode, I talk about my experience, how I landed this once in a lifetime opportunity, lessons learned, and advice for creatives looking to share their creative content with a global audience! And of course, a big thank you to the organizers of the Ismaili Economic Forum for inviting me and giving me this awesome opportunity! ten on Apple Pod...
May 16, 2019•16 min•Ep. 32
James Lopez, the Head of Motion Pictures at Will Packer Production, opens up about his journey from call center representative to Producer of Girls Trip and Little. He discusses his time in the music industry working at Atlantic Records and his transition in to the film industry. James also shares how he re-branded himself from a marketer to a producer. In this interview, James shares his strategies to be successful and his advice to others looking to excel in their creative journey. JAMES F. LO...
Apr 18, 2019•45 min•Ep. 31
There is a stigma around quitting. We are scared people will judge us or that we are not worthy of the opportunity. But guess what? Winners quit all the time. Being flexible is a key trait of a winner, and sometimes that includes quitting. Today, I open up for the first time why I left the radio and the lessons learned. If you feel stuck or unhappy in your creative pursuit, you don’t want to miss this episode. LISTEN ON: APPLE PODCASTS , SOUNDCLOUD , STITCHER , SPOTIFY , AND GOOGLE PLAY Click he...
Apr 11, 2019•25 min•Ep. 30
Armed with a prestigious MBA, Aliya was on track to be a successful banker on Wall Street when she decided to leave her coveted job and trained at the International Culinary Center. She now calls herself a Chef, Cookbook Author, Television Personality, Mother and (now!) App Developer with a passion for bringing global and socially conscious foods, spices, and traditions into everyday cooking and eating Aliya has traveled to many different countries to learn food traditions, and worked in a numbe...
Apr 04, 2019•34 min
Do you struggle getting to work? Are you afraid to show your work to others? Do you believe your work is not good enough? This is creative anxiety. Also known as self-doubt. Or your inner critic. Today, I want to walk through some steps to help you quiet your inner critic so you can continue flexing your creative muscle in peace. I am also going to introduce you to CBD, a supplement I take to calm my anxiety and available at www.mypaincenter.com Your creative anxiety may be masked. You may be mi...
Mar 28, 2019•16 min•Ep. 28
Abi Varghese recently launched his third TV comedy series - Metro Park. You may also know him as the writer and director of the popular Netflix series Brown Nation. Abi talks with us about writing a TV script, pitching to Netflix, and the process of writing, selling, and producing a TV show! He also shares with us his journey from Corporate America to Creative Entrepreneur! Abi is a New York based writer/director, best known for his Netflix Series "Brown Nation." His other notable work includes ...
Mar 21, 2019•36 min•Ep. 27
No matter how long you've been pursuing your creative passion, it is important to promote yourself. In this episode, Shereen shares how she promotes herself to maximize her exposure which in turn leads to more opportunities. If you need advice on how to promote your creativity and talent, this episode will break down the tactics Shereen utilizes to promote herself and what she’s learned throughout her journey. We discuss: Setting up a domain name and website Creating a mailing list Setting up Fa...
Mar 14, 2019•37 min•Ep. 26
Chaunte Wayans is a comedian, writer and actress who proudly represents the new generation of Wayans’ legacy making its mark in Hollywood. In this episode of CREATIVE BREAKTHROUGH, Chaunte opens up about her ordeal with alcohol, as well as other trials and tribulations she has faced in life. Chaunte also shares advice on the importance of knowing yourself, especially during the creative journey, finding your voice, and overcoming pain through humor. Chaunte Wayans was last seen in the film 50 Sh...
Mar 07, 2019•33 min•Ep. 25
Over the past week, two pop culture stories have taken over the airwaves – the story of Jussie Smollett and the story of Jordyn Woods and the Kardashians. Both these stories highlight the importance of giving thanks for your opportunities. This week, Shereen discusses the importance of being grateful and not allowing anger and jealousy to take you down. We all have so much to be grateful for so let’s count our blessings and practice gratitude. Announcements: If you are interested in becoming a f...
Feb 28, 2019•20 min•Ep. 24
JG Ayodele transitioned from Corporate America to Creative Entrepreneur, more specifically from banking to fashion. Jibolu “J.G.” Ayodele is the co-founder of Thando’s, a Lagos and NY based fashion company that provides a platform for African artists to design for a global audience. Join us, as we discuss the Wakanda effect, working with your spouse, and starting a new creative endeavor! Thando’s utilizes design competitions to crowdsource its designs from aspiring African artists. Each competit...
Feb 21, 2019•35 min•Ep. 23
Anyone can pursue a passion or a hobby, but how do you soar? On this week’s episode I discuss how to take your passion project to the next level! We talk dealing with critics, asking for help, managing anxiety, and more! If you are serious about your passion project then this episode is for you! Key Questions answered by Shereen: How to manage your fears How she discovered his passion How to commit to positive behaviors How to push yourself out of your comfort zone Shereen Discusses: Being grate...
Feb 14, 2019•24 min•Ep. 22
Sarah Thawer is a self-taught drummer based in Toronto, Canada. She started playing drums at age 2 and her first stage performance was at age 5. Sarah is currently freelancing, touring, recording and performing with international artists playing various genres including jazz, fusion, latin, gospel, funk, r&b, hip hop, Indian and world music. She studied jazz and world music at York University and was the recipient of the Oscar Peterson Scholarship, the highest award given by the institution,...
Feb 07, 2019•28 min•Ep. 21
Fear stops many of us. It stops us from telling someone we love them. Or taking a new job in a new city. Or even taking the first step towards our new-found passion. Fear can debilitate us. It can give us an excuse. It’s strong enough to derail us. It plays with our minds. It plays with our hearts. It plays with our lives. People think I’m a strong confident woman. That I’ve accomplished so much in life because I don’t fear anything or anyone. They are wrong. But while I do have fear, I don’t le...
Jan 31, 2019•18 min•Ep. 20
Ed grew up on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. The youngest of 6 siblings, Ed was determined not to be another hopeless statistic from the inner city. In High School where he gained a reputation for Singing, DJ’ing and being a class clown, Ed also knew he wanted more out of life. Using his jokes and charm, Ed won over his high school sweetheart and now wife, Mrs. Love, and soon after graduating High School he enlisted in the US Army and was well on his way to building a career in the telecommun...
Jan 24, 2019•40 min•Ep. 19
Jasmin Darznik, the New York Times bestselling author joins us to answer questions on writing your story, developing a portfolio, finding an agent and much more! Jasmin Darznik’s debut novel Song of a Captive Bird is a fictional account of Iran’s trailblazing woman poet, Forugh Farrokhzad. It was selected as a New York Times Book Review “Editors’ Choice” as well as one of 2018’s “Best Books” by Vogue , Ms . and Newsweek . Jasmin is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Good Daught...
Jan 17, 2019•37 min•Ep. 18
In this bonus episode, we continue our conversation with New York Times bestselling author Jasmin Darznik. She shares insights and her thoughts on her bestselling books The Good Daughter and Song of a Captive Bird . Jasmin Darznik’s debut novel Song of a Captive Bird is a fictional account of Iran’s trailblazing woman poet, Forugh Farrokhzad. It was selected as a New York Times Book Review “Editors’ Choice” as well as one of 2018’s “Best Books” by Vogue , Ms . and Newsweek . Jasmin is also the a...
Jan 14, 2019•41 min•Ep. 17
Jasmin Darznik’s debut novel Song of a Captive Bird is a fictional account of Iran’s trailblazing woman poet, Forugh Farrokhzad. It was selected as a New York Times Book Review “Editors’ Choice” as well as one of 2018’s “Best Books” by Vogue , Ms . and Newsweek . Jasmin is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life . Her books have been published and are forthcoming in seventeen countries and her essays have appeared in numerous period...
Jan 10, 2019•35 min•Ep. 16
Welcome back to another episode of the Creative Breakthrough! Happy New Year! I love the start of a new year. It’s a time to restart, reenergize, and redo! And I love setting new goals! But before we begin, couple of announcements… My website got spammed! Somehow someone subscribed over 1,000 new emails to my website. At first, I thought, wow, I’m popular but then I realized they were all the fake yahoo and Hotmail email addresses. That said, I wiped my entire email list clean. So, if you were s...
Jan 03, 2019•15 min•Ep. 15
Welcome back to another episode of the Creative Breakthrough! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and had time to rest, relax, and spend time with your friends and family! As 2018 comes to a close, I want to say thank you to all of you for listening, sharing, and subscribing! Canada – I see you! We made the top 200 podcasts in Canada last week! This week I decided to mash up all the best insight, stories, and advice from the past 13 episodes into one creativity crash course! Before we g...
Dec 27, 2018•30 min•Ep. 14
Precious Hannah (from episode 12) is back to talk to us about her creative process and where her inspiration comes from when she is designing a shoe. A footwear designer at Jordan/Nike, the lessons Hannah shares are on point and relatable to any creative on their journey. Links Mentioned: Pensole Academy Listen on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Stitcher , Spotify , and Google Play Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): https://funnybrowngirl.libsyn.com/rss Announcements If you’re...
Dec 20, 2018•14 min•Ep. 13
Precious Hannah is currently a Footwear Designer for the Jordan Brand. She started her career at Nike as an intern and worked her way to footwear design – her passion and her goal. She is also a Pensole alum, a design academy that educates and challenges the next generation of product creators to be successful in the industry through classes and competition. In Hannah’s words, “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon”. Tell her she can’t do it- challenge accepted...
Dec 13, 2018•39 min•Ep. 12
Episode 11: Time Management with Shereen Kassam, Funny Brown Girl Many of you reached out after Episode 09 on Work Life Balance with additional questions, mostly about time management. So here you go! Here are my 5 keys to success for time management. Be passionate Set Goals Be Organized Prioritize Reward yourself! Links Mentioned: Passion Planner: www.funnybrowngirl.com/passionplanner Post-it Notes: www.funnybrowngirl.com/postit Listen on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Stitcher , Spotify , and G...
Dec 06, 2018•15 min•Ep. 11
“I felt I was living on 10% battery life” Laurin has performed in a host of national and international venues such as The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia's Academy of Music, The National, and, most recently, in front of a sold-out crowd at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, among many others. She frequently collaborates with a host of internationally celebrated recording artists including Bilal, Robert Glasper, Vivian Green, and Christian McBride. Her first album, entitled GORGEO...
Nov 29, 2018•41 min•Ep. 10
