In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', professional/licensed mental health therapist, Ashley McGirt, leads a powerful discussion about her journey toward helping create a more mentally stable/healthy world. She shares stories of how a lack of black representation within therapy existed when she was a child and is what motivated her to change that narrative which still exists today. Whether it's about how we can normalize our discussions around mental health, stigmas regarding black males seekin...
Nov 06, 2018•51 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', best friends and business partners, Ariv Adiaman and Kasim Siddiqui, help dispel the stigma around the phrase "Never do business with your friends". From meeting their freshmen year in college, treading a successful corporate climb after college, the need for wanting to build something they could be proud of quickly forced them to leave their careers and launch their own Real Estate and Investment Firm 'Vozhi' (@Vozhi). Whether it's how they learned how to...
Oct 30, 2018•1 hr 4 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast' we are kicking off the first ever #ListenerAppreciationWeek episode. This episode is a chance for us to connect with YOU the listener but more importantly, giving our listeners the platform to drive topics, promote their projects and have great conversation around what’s important to them. For The Listener By The Listener This weeks guest is loyal listener & UpNUp cameraman himself, @ServantOfPeace. Make sure to tune in and show some love to a listener ...
Oct 25, 2018•31 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast' lawyer, educator, activist, and ultra-light beam herself Nikkita Oliver sits down w/ us to share her journey of becoming an empowering force for this generations leaders. From her early experiences witnessing injustices growing up all the way to becoming the first political candidate of the ‘Seattle Peoples Party’ to run for Mayor of Seattle in the 2017 Mayoral Election. Nikkita keeps it raw and authentic in how she's built herself up as well as her communi...
Oct 16, 2018•1 hr 6 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Founder of 'Athletic Form' (@trainathleticform), Robel Woldu, takes us all on a journey of redefining what being "more than an athlete" truly means. Growing up pursing a career in football, and being faced with reality that God had other plans is a tough road for many athletes, but for Robel he shares how he was able to take his competitive drive into the entrepreneurship arena. He built a full-fledge Sports Performance Fitness Facility and client base con...
Sep 28, 2018•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of ‘The UpNUp Podcast’, Jarv Dee, ‘H1ghr Music Records’ (@h1ghrmusic) artist and member of the infamous ‘Moor Gang’, shares a trying yet fulfilling story of his grind through this thing we call Hip Hop. Being involved with the culture at a young age, through playing music, dancing, and ultimately picking up the mic, Jarv’s grind has seen many peaks and valleys. Hear about how he met Jay Park, signing to 'H1ghr Music', touring Korea, and bringing his wave back to the city. If you ...
Sep 21, 2018•48 min
In this episode of ‘The UpNUp Podcast’, hear all about how Co-Founder of ‘TONL’, Karen Okonkwo & her partner Joshua Kissi, took on the entire Digital/Online photography industry by launching a diversity focused, stock photography company that competitors now have no choice but to pay close attention to. Karen shares her journey of coming into her own as a young woman in business, socialite and advocate for all underrepresented communities. From starting w/ one bright idea to being recognized...
Sep 14, 2018•38 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast' CEO/Boss-lady of 'SBK Seattle' clothing, Camille Brown, shares the trying yet rewarding journey of how she was able to build her own fashion line from the ground up. Drawing inspiration from top brands/lines such as Cėline, YSL, and Gucci, 'SBK' (aka Sweet Brass Knuckles) was created to provide high-end fashion at an affordable price. Camille's journey has also allowed her to uplift women in business through helping create the 'Ladies Who Hustle' collective...
Aug 31, 2018•38 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', 'Black Umbrella' music labels very own and Seattle native 'Raz Simone', shares his story of how he has been able to make a name for himself in this thing we call Hip Hop, within his city and across the globe. From only being interested in poetry initially as a teen to developing into a multi-faceted artist, whose music has taken his performances to stages all over the globe. Raz's commitment to his craft puts the DRIVE in 'Drive Theory', which is the title...
Aug 17, 2018•1 hr 22 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', CEO/Founder of 'Gage Travels', Soffonias Gebrehiwot, shares a story of manifesting an idea to bring the world closer together through travel & understanding. The 'Gage Travels' app aims to help people travel anywhere as if they were a local. A peer-to-peer travel platform that will be able to connect users with locals whom are able to answer questions, educate travelers about the culture, and show them around the city. Gebrehiwot's journey of leaving h...
Aug 03, 2018•47 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Team USA's very own, Norris Fredrick, takes us on his journey from being told at a very young age that he would just "be another statistic", to representing Team USA in the Olympics as a long jumper. From overcoming the loss of his father during his freshmen year in college, to becoming an 11x NCAA All-American and representing Team USA in the 2012 London Games (as well as the forthcoming 2020 Tokyo Games), partnering with brands for sponsorships and using...
Jul 27, 2018•53 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Safiya Farah, founder of 'Raziaa' shares her journey of empowering the "everyday Muslim woman" through her new Hijab boutique. 'Raziaa' is a an online hijab boutique that aims to provide stylish, modest pieces at affordable prices, for the everyday Muslim woman. Safiya talks about how the name 'Raziaa' comes from her late aunt who passed away in 2016 and how the company was built to commemorate her and continue her legacy. Whether it was about how she over...
Jul 20, 2018•31 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', ultra-creative 'Cal Bonner' takes us on an artistic journey through his rise into the art scene/culture. From facing pitfall after pitfall throughout his athletic pursuit, he broke through one of the lowest points of his life and turned to art for refuge. Whether it's about how he opened his own tattoo shop w/ the love of his life/business-partner or being invited by John Born to live paint at a Kanye West listening party, this story is one to remind us al...
Jul 06, 2018•1 hr 5 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', 'Miss Casey Carter' gives us a look into her journey of going from selling mix CD's in high school to being one of Seattle's main media outlets/advocates for independent artists, talents, and entrepreneurs. Launching 'The Blow Up' web-platform, as a co-founder she was able to give all up & coming artists a voice and the support the city was lacking. Her new podcast 'The Glow Up' is definitely one of the top podcast's coming out of the city and Casey's ...
Jun 29, 2018•40 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', owner/operator of 'King Philly Cheesesteaks' Teddy Leake shares an amazing story of transcending his circumstances growing up in South Seattle to planting his roots in the same community that raised him with a dining establishment that has become one of Seattle's "best kept secrets". A message to young aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere to pay it forward and give back to the communities that helped build us. A story of envisioning success and bring it to fr...
Jun 14, 2018•32 min
In this episode of ‘The UpNUp Podcast’, Head of Business Development for ‘Hack Nation’, Kenny Shelton, shares about his journey of what led him to helping empower black entrepreneurship in the greater Seattle area and beyond. Learn about his early experience losing out on a $3 million offer in his start up to how he packed up and headed to Seattle with one goal in mind, to uplift the black dollar by developing a community full of bright people/ideas.
Jun 07, 2018•33 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Briaan L. Barron aka Bri (@brandingbybri) shares about her journey of self-awareness through branding, in hopes to empower others to build theirs. From her early start working with 'Ruff Ryder's Entertainment' and 'MTV' (Viacom), or launching her own brand consulting firm 'Branding by Bri', it has all been apart of a greater plan she's envisioned, to empower the next generation of young professionals. This story is one to keep us all on #TheUpNUp
May 31, 2018•42 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', as a man who's widely known as one of the top music video directors, artists, and ultra creatives in the city of Seattle, 'Harry Clean' gives us a look through his own lens. Whether it was how he received his first ever camera, to building/opening up his own creative arts studio 'Paradice Avenue Souf' or working with artists such as 'Jay Park' & '2 Chainz', his story of dedication is one to keep us all on #TheUpNUp...
May 24, 2018•40 min
Co-founder of 'Rising Leaders Inc.' Girmay Zahilay saw a lack of intentionality with how our youth were being developed in our education system, so he and his team took action. In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Zahilay speaks to his personal journey through Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania Law School to earn his JD, all of which helped him form a plan to give back to low-income youth by building his own non-profit organization. He explains 'Rising Leaders Inc.'s mission t...
May 17, 2018•38 min
In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Vance Ashworth, owner/CEO of 'Happy Foods' mobile app, discusses his emergence into the entrepreneurship arena. A story of hustle, dedication, and making a tough decision to depart from what he felt was an archaic corporate culture, only to be led into his purpose of entering the virtual economy with a mobile app that will bring the worlds of tech and health/wellness onto one platform, for communities worldwide. "There's no color in the virtual economy, it...
May 10, 2018•47 min
Kween Kaysh may downplay the legwork she put in to ascend toward her current status, but she doesn’t lend any disservice to her responsibility as a woman doing an under appreciated job usually employed to men. In this episode of 'The UpNUp Podcast', Kween takes us on a journey through her evolution of starting with an aux cord at a college party to DJ'ing on the same stage as Solange, and what keeps her on #TheUpNUp
May 03, 2018•35 min
Solomon Dubie is the owner/operator of one of Seattle's most thriving coffee cafes, 'Cafe Avole'. In this episode Solomon talks his Ethiopian heritage, community, and how both of which helped him build his dream business from the ground up and continue to keep business boomin' on #TheUpNUp
Apr 24, 2018•57 min
