#positivevibes

Matthew Yee is a food scientist and chef and the founder of Queenies, a really cool conceptual traveling culinary pop that takes the comforts of his Chinese and Jewish background to create meaningful connections with people in real-time. We talk about changing the food landscape through food justice and a focus on BIOPOC farmers locally and nationa…

Faraz Zaidi is the founder and creative director of Profound, a luxury streetwear brand. We recorded this episode during Ramadan (April 2023) and I was thinking of holding it until the next Ramadan but I think there are a lot of really interesting concepts we cover that will be valuable for people of all backgrounds. We reflect really deeply on the…

Anna Polonsky is the founder and creative director of Polonsky & Friends, a strategy and design studio for those who use food as a beacon for community. Polonsky also co-founded The Deligram, an editorial storefront spotlighting artisan food and its makers. We explore Polonsky's unique story which starts in France and builds depth and scale in New …

Fariha Róisín is a queer Mulsim Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist, writer, author, poet, astrologer, and consultant based in Los Angeles. Born in Ontario, Canada, and raised in Sydney, Australia, Róisín explores the margins as a thought pioneer through the culture of healing. Róisín was so vulnerable and open in this conversation. We go super de…

Deepti Sharma is a 2x founder, mother, public speaker, Forbes 30 Under 30 alumni, former New York City Council council candidate, and entrepreneur in residence at Columbia's Barnard College. Sharma is one of those people who truly cares about community and access and you can feel it when she speaks. We talk about the effects of capitalism on creati…

Social impact entrepreneur, chef, DJ and food justice advocate Mark Brand, shares his layered journey and implores us to build purpose into the design of a business. He has created over a dozen businesses like a charitable kitchen, a diner, a brewery, a butcher shop – in many cases, made to support those struggling with food insecurity and addictio…

Marcus J. Moore shares how he built a career by simply "asking the question," revealing the humanity in music through his writing and thoughtful approach to collaboration. An incredible music journalist, critic, and the author of The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America, Moore graciously shares his nonlinear journe…

Joél Leon joins the show to talk about romantic friendships, identity, polyamory, showing up, expanding binary constructs and making room for context. Leon is a father, author, poet, writer, and creative director at The New York Times. The conversation was special and raw – transparent and honest. Recorded at Spotify Labs in Brooklyn. Produced by J…

Natasha Mascarenhas shares her journey as a journalist and the mental mathematics that come along with it. Mascarenhas is an incredible reporter who started writing human interest stories and moved into the business world, niching down to report on early-stage startups and venture capital. She is a reporter at The Information and prior to that–and …

In this episode of Current Mood I had the honor of dissecting the complicated topic of mental health in the music business with multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and innovative producer Mr. Carmack, who has a deep-rooted love for community. As an advocate for suicide prevention through a simple mantra of "letting people know that they are loved and …

In this episode, I chat with entrepreneur, DJ, and activist Jasmine Solano about pivoting fear into fuel. We talk about momentum and redirecting energy towards positive outcomes, the challenges and hidden benefits of transitioning a DJ career online in 2020, and how to recruit the team you want and need around you. Through the lens of hip hop, we l…

DJ and Artist Relations Manager at Twitch, Allyson Toy (@tigermom.toy), and I dive deep into the intricacies and implications of being a woman in the music business. We talk about reframing gender as a competitive advantage, how to navigate an antiquated music industry, identifying burnout and how to pivot, and the importance of smashing preconceiv…

Music journalist Sidney Madden (@sid_madden) from NPR Music and I dive deep into her background in the storytelling industry in this episode. We talk about navigating new spaces and personal boundaries, establishing self-confidence through mantras, managing your mental health in a corporate environment, and moving the ball to the next generation – …

In the first episode of Season 2, I catch up with Rachelle Chua – a Physician's Assistant who has been on the frontlines of COVID in NYC. With a calm demeanor, excellent taste in music, and medical training with some of the best in New York, Rachelle and I talk about the structural side of healthcare during a pandemic and how to deal with anxiety a…

In this last episode of Season 1 of Current Mood, I had the honor of speaking with New York-based photographer and Co-Creator of Street Dreams Magazine (@streetdreamsmag), Steve "Sweatpants" Irby (@stevesweatpants). As a pioneer of the Instagram street photography movement, complete with his own TED talk, Steve and has traveled the world documentin…

In this episode, sound therapist Sara Auster (@saraauster) and I talk about the harm in catering to categories other people want to put you in. In a landscape of increasingly shifting professions for remote and creative workers, we often associate our identities with our work which negates our immense power as whole human beings. We cover self-inqu…

In this episode, I sat down with digital native Ashley Outrageous to talk about mental health during the era of Instagram. Ashley is a creative consultant, artist manager, and event producer who has been working at the intersection of music and technology since before MySpace was a thing. Her first big digital project was running social media for K…

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking to Sahra Nguyen (@oneouncegold), Founder of lifestyle coffee brand Nguyen Coffee Supply (@nguyencoffeesupply). We covered so many important topics like immigration history of Asian Americans (that shit they don’t teach you in school), specifically from a first-generation, female perspective, what it’s li…

In this episode, artist and visual director Shawna-X (@shawnax) and I talk about trusting yourself and your work, the transitional path from 9-5 to full-time artist, motherhood and work – and how we're affected by the amount of content we're constantly overloaded with. Music: Abjo (@abjonian) – "The Fifth Movement" Producer, Editor: Jarell Perry (@…

In this episode, artist, designer, and creative/art director, Julian Alexander (@slanginc) and I talk about the importance of staying connected to what you truly love. With 20 years of experience as an art director in music and culture, Julian shares insights on building a sustainable career around passion, how to protect your work as a digital cre…

Unexpected Major missing

In part 2 of episode 4 of Current Mood, I dig into imposter syndrome with a leadership coach and global facilitator Bobby Lyle (@nsightout). Imposter Syndrome is that feeling that you're somehow not good enough or skilled in the thing that you actually are – a story that is often perpetuated or magnified by social media and digital living. We get i…

A good teacher explains, a superior teacher demonstrates, a great teacher inspires🤗

In this episode, leadership coach and facilitator Bobby Lyle (@nsightout) drops so many gems that you better bring your notebook with. We talk about our relationship to our thoughts, how to see and create an ideal scenario, working with self-doubt, recognizing triggers, and how child-like curiosity can propel creativity. Music: Abjo (@abjonian) – "…

Just sharing my random thoughts

In Episode 3 of Current Mood, Nigel (@nastynigel.jpg) and I nerd out on music and he teaches me about the evolution of DJ and rave culture through a NYC lens. We talk about social etiquette in the club, drugs, and bad stuff we did as teenagers. Sorry, mom. Music: Nigel Rubirosa – "No Watermelon In The Mezcal" Producer, Editor: Jarell Perry (@stillm…

Do let me know about yours...

In this episode, I sit down with singer/songwriter Hollis Wong-Wear @wongweezy and singer/songwriter/producer Jarell Perry @stillmindco to talk about how to have productive collaborations in 2019. The three of us talk about establishing a baseline level of trust as a core tenant of collaboration, how to create intentional collaborations, ways to na…

This episode is all about us-HAD ❣️

It's just an intro podcast regarding what I'm and what I wish to share with you...

In the first episode of Current Mood, I sat down with Anthony Demby, Co-Founder of Humbleriot to talk about what showing up for yourself looks like. Key concepts we cover in this episode: self-care and why it's actually cool, redefining masculinity, checking your ego, meditation, how slowing down can help you speed up, opening up limited perspectiv…