A QUICK PAUSE
Hey there, Everybody. We're taking a quick pause on the podcast but will be returning soon with more interesting interviews with some of my fabulous friends across America. Please stay tuned!
A podcast about People Interacting with People. In April 2015, I became homeless. I decided to embrace this homelessness and what followed was five years of nomadic life, over 250 moves in Canada and the United States, on an average budget of roughly $22 a day.
While sitting in a 24 hour diner in Toronto on my first two homeless nights, a young man sat beside me and when I told him about my experience - spending 9 hours each night at the diner, getting a free coffee and a brownie on my second night - he turned to me and asked:
"Do you think you'd be having the same experience if you were Black?"
Over those next five years, I had a series of "chance" encounters with Black people and had some very interesting conversations. I documented some of them in writing but when I compiled them into a 300 page script during the pandemic, I realized that - in writing it myself - I had lost the authenticity of the other person's voice.
And so, I decided to hit the road and reconnect with some of these wonderful people while also leaving myself open to meeting new ones. These are our conversations.
Hey there, Everybody. We're taking a quick pause on the podcast but will be returning soon with more interesting interviews with some of my fabulous friends across America. Please stay tuned!
In this second part of my conversation with my fabulous friend, Myles, we continue to talk about Myles' journey into the world of drag, the idea of art as therapy, the things we learn from travel, the ridiculous notion that there is a "Black" way to speak and a "White" way to speak, what actors like Myles can do to prevent perpetuating harmful stereotypes, our conditioned beliefs, and so much more. We hope you enjoy this episode. To see photos of Myles and his amazing drag, check us out on Insta...
In this episode, I finally get to meet my friend, Myles, after connecting with him online during the pandemic. Myles and I connected over social media when he and a mutual friend were posting Lip Sync Battle videos to keep themselves sane during lockdown. Since then, Myles and I have followed each other consistently, so we were very excited to finally meet one another. We sit down and have a great chat about his journey as a performer, one which has recently led him to drag and an aspiration to ...
In this episode, I visit 13-year-old activist and business owner, Kumei, at her amazing little shop called Tofu Tees in downtown Las Vegas. Kumei and I chat about owning a business at the age of 13, Kumei's work as a young activist, why Black Lives Matter is an important statement, art school, and her love of Japanese Animé. We hope your enjoy our conversation. To see photos of Kumei and her shop Tofu Tees, check us out on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/peopleinteractingwithpeople/...
In this short bonus episode, Alex and I continue our conversation in which he describes his journey as a boxer, his feelings towards Floyd Mayweather, and the beauty of being ready to take the leap. To see photos of Alex, check us out on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/peopleinteractingwithpeople/
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Alex (aka ATG) to talk all things boxing. When I first met Alex in 2017 at Johnny Tocco's World Famous Boxing Gym, he was the National Amateur Champion. As we sat in conversation, he was just a week away from his third fight as a Professional Boxer - he won that fight with a KO in the first round. We talk about some of the key differences between amateur and professional boxing, the lessons that come from the losses, Alex's relationship with God, the ra...
In this episode, I reconnect with my friend, Daijon, for a very animated conversation. Daijon and I first met in 2017 when I interviewed him for a boxing documentary shortly after the shooting at the Mandalay Bay where he worked at the time. We talk about violence in America, Johnny Tocco's Boxing Gym, Daijon's struggles with his hair and being considered either "too light" or "too dark", and his obsession with comic books. And we have a whole lotta laughs in the process. We hope you enjoy our c...
I have been finding through this experience, that sometimes the conversation after the interview holds some special tidbits. So, please enjoy this bonus episode from my conversation with Marq in episode 6 where we chat technology, perceptions, why colour matters, and where Marq shares an experience he once had with the police. To see photos of Marq, follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/peopleinteractingwithpeople/...
In this episode, I sit down with my new friend, Marq, after spending a few nights in my car and finally being able to afford a night in a hotel. Marq is the Front of House Manager at the Holiday Inn I stayed at when I first arrived in Las Vegas. On a whim and finding myself suddenly with a quiet space to conduct interviews, I sit down with Marq to talk about his music, some of the pivotal moments in his life, the joy of diversity, living with intention, and the importance of communication. Marq,...
In this episode, I continue my conversation with my artist friend, Dray, about his new documentary - 702 Unstripped - which tells the story of how the birth of the Las Vegas Arts Scene was inspired by Hip Hop. Then, Dray becomes the interviewer and asks me about my journey as a nomadic artist, I tell him about how this podcast came to be, we discuss the responsibility of the media, and Dray shares some of his more painful experiences as a Black man here in Vegas. To see photos of the Las Vegas A...
In this episode, I sit down with my super cool friend, Dray, at his recording studio in Las Vegas. We talk about the many hats that artists need to wear, the survival tactics of being an artist & the Vegas arts scene. Dray also tells me about his decision to stay in Las Vegas, how being a Black artist has been a positive experience for him, and how he uses marijuana as a tool & women for inspiration. To see photos of Dray and his stunning art, please check us out on Instagram at https://...
In this episode, I travel to the Army Base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky to connect with my friend, Kevin. Instead, I meet Damien, a young security guard at the Visitors' Centre who I am surprised to learn is Black due to his light coloured skin. I sit down with Damien - who is originally from the Bronx - to talk skin colour, what it means to be Black, the beauty of the Bronx, the challenges of being Black in Kentucky, and also share with him my experience of being mugged by a young Black man in a ...
In this episode, I drive to Atlanta, Georgia to connect with my friend, Allison. While I don't meet her at the airport as planned, I do pick Allison up at the train station and when we get to her friend's house, we jump right into our catch up conversation which is weird at first but gets easier as we go! Having lived in many different States due to the government work she does, Allison shares her thoughts on racism in America and her approach to living her life as a Black woman. We also talk ab...
In this snippet from Episode 4 - I chat with my new friend, Damien. Damien works as a Security Guard at the Visitors' Centre at the Fort Campbell Army Base in Kentucky. When I couldn't connect with my friend there last month, Damien volunteered to be a part of the podcast. Originally from the Bronx, I was surprised to learn that Damien is a member of the Black Community given that his skin is so fair. We talk about this in our episode which will be published next week. In this snippet, we talk a...
In this episode, I travel to St. Paul's, North Carolina to visit my friend, Mac, at his new restaurant called Southern Spice Fusion. We talk about how we met at Toronto Pearson International Airport when Mac was working as a flight attendant; he tells me about his new venture and what it's like to open a restaurant, his recent heart surgery, and about the importance of family and creating community; and we share a few laughs. The photo of me in the graphic for this podcast was taken by Mac durin...
In this episode - recorded on December 9th, 2021 - I leave Quebec, Canada and drive down to Teaneck, New Jersey to visit my friend, Judith. A metaphysical healer and new mother, Judith and I speak about everything from motherhood to metaphysical healing and mental health while also addressing White Privilege and the Black Community. To see photos of Judith and her store, follow us at: https://www.instagram.com/peopleinteractingwithpeople/ You can visit Judith at Rock Collage, her store in Teanec...