This episode was recorded at the end of 2020. As of now, Sierra Reed is at Whalar as their Social Platform Partnerships Director. She was previously at Mozilla as their Marketing & Social Media Relations manager where she worked on both Firefox & Pocket & shares what she's learned about working across organizations and managing up. Books Sierra recommends: One Minute Manger: https://bookshop.org/a/9735/9780062367549 Executive Presence:...

Lia Haberman has a steep career in media and is currently an adjunct professor teaching Social Media & Influencer Marketing at UCLA Extension. Her former employers include E!, The Wrap, LIVESTRONG, & Beachbody. In her class she teaches influencers how to best monetize their work, work with brands, and how to advocate for themselves. In her consulting work, she teaches brands how to work with influencers. We talk about about she's reading (links below) & her approach to successful...

Caitlin Angeloff is a thoughtful & brilliant strategist who I've had the joy of working with over the years. We met when she was Director of Global Social Strategy & Operations at DocuSign, I then saw her transition in to the healthcare industry, and now she is at Seismic as their Senior Director, Corporate Marketing & Communications. She walks listeners through how she's advocated for increased head count & budget & proven the value of social in organizations. We also...

Open Mike Eagle is an artist, runs a record label, recently launched podcast network, co-created The New Negroes on Comedy Central, & has a merchandise company. He also has a few podcasts of his own: Secret Skin & What Had Happened Was with DJ Prince Paul (both are linked below) & has appeared on many podcasts (I highly recommend his episode of Father Hood.) You may have seen him on SyFy, Adventure Time, Black Ice, or It’s a Party. We dig in to a little bit of what he does &...

Jordyn Reese is the Director, Global Advertising & Audience Development, we recorded this episode right as she was leaving The Orchard & heading to OneRPM for a role as Product Manager, US Latin & Urban. After just a few months at OneRPM took on her current role as Director of Global Advertising & Audience Development. This episode was literally recorded a year ago. So if we sound less distressed about life… now you know why! Our conversation focuses on work at The Orchard...

Tiffanie Woods is a writer & strategist who leverages her background in engineering to apply systems thinking to operations & her writing/pitching processes. Tiffanie lists off how she pitches & what she includes, for easy reference these will be listed on my Medium & are found at 00:10:05 in to the podcast & again at 00:30:56.  Follow Tiffanie & keep your eyes peeled for her re-launch of her podcast  https://twitter.com/tiffromthe6/ Follow Eva Recinos...

This episode is part 2 in a series with the co-founders of Scentia Labs & Canapa, if you haven't listened to Part 1 with Rubin Torf, please do! This episode is with Molly Conroy, Co-founder of Scentia Labs & Canapa. We discuss CBD policy, what her role as CEO entails, reading CBD labels, the development of their business model & revenue streams & how they work with their clients to establish their ethos & standards.  Organizations we discuss include The Last Prisoner...

Rubin Torf is a chemical engineer with a background in computational modeling and equipment design, including data collection for optimized production efficiency and many types of hydroponic systems. With a passion for the science at all steps of the extraction process, he leads the production and development teams as they advance Scientia’s custom methods and technology. Rubin holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Astronomy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s of...

Aundre Larrow is a Brooklyn-based portrait photographer who has spent the last few years shooting editorial and lifestyle content for clients and for personal work. His work is pursued the truth that can be found in portraiture. We discuss his experience in Adobe’s Creative Residency program, getting work, pricing client jobs, & so much more. One thing we don’t discuss much in this conversation is how terrific Aundre’s videos are! I highly recommend finding him across platforms. He has a...

Throughout her work as an actress, writer, producer, small business owner, & teacher Crystal Lowe brings a strong work ethic and endless curiosity to all that she does. I've gotten so much from her film & TV classes at Graham Shiels Studios & appreciate her vulnerability & humanity. We discuss how she does all that she does in addition to being a parent and wife, lessons learned, & so much more.  Follow...

Heidi Bakk-Hansen is a writer, teacher, and researcher. She serves as Board Secretary for the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial. We discuss her work as an educator, with CJMM, a writer, and in anti-racist-focused activism. This is part three in a series of #BTSPodcast episodes with anti-racist organizers in Duluth, Minnesota. Please listen to the two previous episodes with Jordon Moses & Terresa Moses for additional context and education.  Links discussed in this episode: Michael Fedo’s...

Terresa Moses is co-founder and creative director at Blackbird Revolt, she’s also an artist and assistant professor of Graphic Design at University of Minnesota Duluth. This is the second episode in a series with organizers in Duluth, Minnesota where we discuss their work in the community and how they practice self care. In our conversation Teresa & I discuss what it’s like not being able to visualize liberation & freedom. It brought to mind a recent piece by Vinson Cunningham in the...

Jordon Moses is the co-founder and visionary director at Blackbird Revolt. His work and the work of Blackbird Revolt focuses on promoting social change through conscious creativity. Their work is strategic, creative, and important in propelling impactful organizations and change forward. This is part one of my conversations with a few of the people behind organization a commemoration event in Duluth, Minnesota to commemorate Isaac McGhie, Elmer Jackson and Elias Clayton, who were lynched June...

Michael Badal was discovered by Tiësto at the age of 17 (when we were in high school) and has since continued to develop and grow his career in music. We cover what mindsets have helped and hurt him, how he's learned to take better care of himself on tour, and find a way to maintain his personal life wile still creating music.  Charlie XCX "waterfall strategy" article: https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/20/20836846/charli-xcx-new-album-streaming-spotify-dani-deahl-future-of-music Follow Mike...

Phillip Okonma is an attorney, an athlete, and an artist. He explains what the job of a public defender is, what he feels makes a good attorney, advice for law students, and advice for you in the case that you are ever accused of a crime. (Skip to 2:00:00 for advice on encounters with the police.) We discuss lessons learned, perspective, running on survival mode, and what his encounters with the criminal justice system have taught him. Phillip graduated from California State University...

Margaux Brooke is model, actress, and influencer. She's been modeling since she was 9 years old and has deep experience as a model. We talk about how she's kept a level head, stays grounded, has navigated management and agencies, decides on what brands she works with, and her journey in taking on acting. She gives advice, answers follower questions, and shares her advice for preparing for a role and learning lines.  Follow...

Evie Smith Rebellious PR and I met via San Diego Comic Con and I quickly realized what a great fit she’d be as a guest! Evie has been doing PR since 2007 and started Rebellious PR in 2016. Evie had everything she should have been happy with, and she wasn’t happy. She left her job, her husband, and did a complete overhaul of the life that was no longer fitting her. We dig in to navigating life after she came out, starting Rebellious PR, level-setting with clients, business development,...

Janina M. Jeff, Ph.D is a Spelman alum, population geneticist, Spotify Soundoff Bootcamp winner, a self-taught coder, and expert Googler. We dig in to what a geneticist does, her job as a senior Bioinformatic scientist at Illumina, the importance of information-sharing, and giving her first TEDx talk at TEDxFlatbush. She is also the host of In Those Genes Podcast, a hip-hop inspired podcast that uses genetics to uncover the lost identities of African descended Americans through the lens of...

Content warning: this episode is essentially 100% about rape and sexual assault survivors. We DO NOT discuss what actually happened, & instead focus on life after being assaulted, pressing charges against one's assailant, and healing from trauma. This is the view point of one person who has been assaulted and is not to be considered as representative of what all survivors feel. I (the host) do not claim to be an expert on trauma and I'm sure I don't use all the correct language all the...