Class of Hope & Change

Camille is from Brooklyn, New York. At the time of our interview, she was a college student living in Brooklyn at the time of her interview, and was spending her days “either working, going to school, or sleeping.”Camille's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Not Give Up"We talked about the difference between students' mood they first get to college and their mood after a couple of years, and about what she says to visiting high school seniors. Camille explained why "not giving up" best describes this moment in her life.She described the important role that her family plays in her life, and how her social circles and support system complement each other.We also discussed why she's “not really there” for social media, and we talked about how she practices self-care in this moment.-----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guests, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep58-camille/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Tobi is from Lagos, Nigeria. At the time of her interview, she was living outside of London, England, and had recently launched The Book Banque, a social enterprise using literature to develop young people in Nigeria.When we met for her interview, she was spending her days, “…that's a very complicated question. There's no day that is the same for me. But I would probably say I'm working part-time, and I'm also running an organization. So I try to do a bit of both.”Tobi's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Mobilize People and Empower Youth"We talked about who tends to be surprised that she's Nigerian. She shared the story of how she wound up living in England and explained how she developed a passion for helping young people.She spoke about the people who have had a big influence on her life, and described the benefits she has received from traveling to different countries. We also discussed how she deals with moments when it doesn't feel like she's winning and everyone else on social media is.----------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guests, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep57-tobi/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggLearn More about Tobi's organization, The Book Banque (http://www.thebookbanque.com/)Thanks for listening!

Patrick was born in Jamaica and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He was living in Alaska and serving as a member of the United States Air Force at the time of his interview.He spent his days “[waking] up at 5 o'clock in the morning, going to work at two jobs, coming home…this winter, I want to get into doing some ice-fishing and trying snowboarding.”Patrick's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Settle Down and Start a Family"We spoke about how starting a family helped him adjust to life in a new setting, and how being married has affected his friendships.Patrick explained how he balances his family identity with his military identity, and he talked about the biggest misconception he sees in civilians' view of the military.He went on to reflect on his path of personal growth over the past few years, and shared some of the hopes he has for his son.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guests, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep56-patrick/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Shanai is from Brooklyn, New York, where she was living at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “working as a manager at a medical practice.”Shanai's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Inspire"She explained why inspiring people is important to her, and how different friends can provide different forms of inspiration.Shanai reflected on her journey of personal growth over the past few years. We spoke about the ups-and-downs of adulting, and talked about why time has become more important to her.We discussed what she sees when she looks at her city and the country, and how she's trying to respond with her art.----------------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep55-shanai/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Salihah is from New York City, and was a graduate school student living in the Bronx at the time of her interview. Her days were spent, “[at] school and work…that's pretty much how I've been spending my time as of late.”Salihah's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Take Risks"We talked about the perceived hierarchy of New York City's boroughs, and she shared her feelings about the Bronx.Salihah explained what kinds of risks she's taking at this point in her life, and spoke about her journey of personal growth.We spoke about the role spirituality plays in her life, and why she said her life priorities haven't changed much over the years.---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep54-salihah/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Quaneesha – better known to friends and fans as Mimi – is an NYC-based actor who is a member of the quartet of young Black women at the center of the new movie trilogy, She EVIL.We sat down with Mimi a little while back, at the beginning of her acting journey. At the time, she was spending her days “just working…I work every day. And if I'm not working, I'm either in acting class or I'm at home hanging out.”Mimi's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Be Trying to Balance Everything"She told the story behind how she began taking acting classes after graduating college. We talked about the many aspiring actors who arrive in New York City and Los Angeles every year, and about the biggest misconception these young hopefuls should check at the door while chasing their acting dreams.Mimi talked about her path of personal growth over the past few years, and spoke about how she maintains boundaries around her personal life while remaining active on social media. We talked about her experience growing up with a twin sister, and how their relationship has evolved over the years.-----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep53-quaneesha/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Silver is from Brooklyn, New York. He had recently graduated from college at the time of his interview, and was living in Brooklyn as an animator and illustrator. His days were spent, “at this point…I spend most of the time just trying to find work, like I think most recent grads are.”Silver's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Work in Television"We talked about the different levels of talent of people who go to art school, who is cut out for it, and what it's like to look for a job after graduating from art school. We talked about “artist radar”, and how to tell who might be an animator.Silver spoke about why artists have to appreciate life differently, and explained how he dealt with the “Be Practical” speech many young aspiring artists receive throughout their childhoods.---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep52-silver/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Bernadette is from Chicago, Illinois, and was living in the city's western suburbs at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “advising college students, to build motivation in them, and to try to push them towards something greater in their lives.”Bernadette's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Be On a Mission to Save Money"We began talking about the difference between the way she sees Chicago, and the way the city has been portrayed by some in the news media.Bernadette described her journey of personal growth over the past few years, including the joy of never paying the full price for things. She explained how the life goals and priorities of her close friends have also evolved along with her own over the past few years.She discussed some of her disappointments with much of the national discourse about the social issues in our country, and shared her thoughts about what she would like to see in our public and private conversations.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep51-bernadette/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Raven is from Brooklyn, New York. She had recently completed her third year of college in Massachusetts at the time of her interview, and was spending her days “currently…getting adjusted to this 9-to-5 life. I'm interning in [New York City]. I pretty much just go to work, take naps, and try to eat.”Raven's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Pressure Herself Into Being Perfect"We began by talking about some of the differences between Boston and New York City; which led to her sharing her reflection on her multi-country, multi-month personal tour living, studying, and traveling in Europe.Raven spoke about her path of personal growth over the past few years, and described what her version of perfection looks like now.She reminisced about the range of people who have invested in her, and discussed why she feels like her group of friends are in a good place in life.----------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep50-raven/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Alberto was born in New York City, raised in Providence, Rhode Island, and spent most of his teenage years in the Dominican Republic. He was beginning his first year as a transfer student at an Ivy League university in Rhode Island at the time of his interview.Alberto's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Work Hard Towards Becoming Successful Without Forgetting Exactly Where He Came From"Alberto began by sharing some of his memories from his childhood days in Providence, Rhode Island.We talked about how he earned his GED in two months, enrolled in community college one week later, and fought through the challenges of adjusting to college life.Alberto described the camaraderie he found with the students at his community college, and why he believes success is connected to hard work.We finished with a discussion about what he sees going on in the world now, and what he hopes to see in the future.-------------------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep49-alberto/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Ebonee is from Brooklyn, New York. She was living there at the time of her interview and spending her days, “being a mother…being a friend. I recently got my license to be a childcare provider, so that's kinda cool. I watch kids all day. I love the kids.”Ebonee's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Succeed"Ebonee began by sharing some of her memories of what the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn was like when she was a child.We talked about how she is raising her daughter to have a strong sense of self-worth and self-love, and about how much of herself she sees in her daughter. She explained what she means when she says that she is seeing “a lot of motherless children”.She also spoke about her journey of personal growth over the past few years, and described what success means to her now.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book athttps://classofhc.com/ep48-ebonee/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Jasmine is from Brooklyn, New York, and was living as a first-year graduate school student near Baltimore, Maryland at the time of her interview.Her days were spent “on a very strict routine, during the school year. I go to work, come home, do my work, and go to class. I try and squeeze a gym day in here and there, but it's mostly studying and going to work.”We began by talking about the difference between summer vacations in high school and summer vacations in grad school.Jasmine shared how her plan to go to medical school took a detour, and how she got through a period in her life when her dreams started to look shaky.She described her journey of personal growth over the past few years, and explained where she gets the confidence to trust and follow her own voice.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep47-jasmine/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Erin is from Brooklyn, New York, and was still living there at the time of her interview. She spends her days, “right now…cooking, cleaning, getting ready to go back to work, living life, loving life, and spending time with family.”Erin's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Stop Procrastinating, Take Responsibility for My Actions, Live Life, and Make My Parents Proud"We began with a conversation about food, and Erin recounted the story of how she learned to cook.She talked about the how her social circle changed during the time when she was getting to know herself, and Erin gave her new definition of the word ‘friend'.Our conversation ended with Erin's powerful tribute to her grandmother, and the words of wisdom she shared during Erin's youth.She described the period in her life that motivated her to stop procrastinating: ---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para MimSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep46-erin/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Kevin is from Chicago, Illinois. At the time of his interview, he was living in Chicago and spending his days “working…and when I'm not working, just with the kids, being a family man, trying to do as much as I can possibly do on my weekends.”Kevin's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Help Someone That Needs Help"Kevin talked about what having children has meant in his life, and shared the biggest lesson he learned from his father.We talked about his journey of personal growth over the past few years; including his experience getting laid off from his first corporate job, and how he bounced back.--------------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep45-kevin/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Felice is from Brooklyn, New York and was living in Atlanta, Georgia at the time of her interview. She was spending a lot of her days “trying to make this money.”Felice's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Succeed"She explained what the biggest transition was for her in moving to Atlanta, and we talked about the hot-or-cold reception some New Yorkers encounter after moving to the South.Felice spoke about what being successful means for her, and about the benefits of having a positive social circle.Felice shared some of her experiences growing up with a disability, and the role her parents played in helping her develop a strong sense of self.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep44-felice/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Janelle is from Brooklyn, New York. She was preparing to graduate from college in Washington, D.C. at the time of her interview, and she was spending her days “mostly…I'm going to be completed honest, I'm tired all the time. That's become a part of my personality.”Janelle's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Not Sit In An Office Behind A Computer and Desk"We began with a conversation about HBCUs, and makes her alma mater (Howard University) a special place.We talked about finding communities of like-minded people after graduation, and about the difference between friendships formed in college and the ones formed during the childhood / teenage years. Janelle spoke about dealing with the “So what are you going to do now?” question that often came up after someone found out that she was about to graduate.She talked about the evolution in her understanding of the world, and of her personal identity, over the past 7-8 years. We talked about the phrase “checking my privilege”, and about how social privileges are different for women with different skin tones.--------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep43-janelle/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Amanda is from Haiti, and was living in Queens, New York at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “working in an OB-GYN office…and applying to graduate schools.”Amanda's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Empower Black Women…hopefully sooner than later"We talked about the benefits of being multi-lingual (Kreyol, English, French). Amanda shared about her experience of being a young, Black, American woman in Europe, and about what it takes to truly appreciate Paris.Amanda spoke about some of the women who inspire her, reflected on the ways her priorities have changed over the past few years, and recounted the period in her life when empowering young Black girls became a goal for her.--------------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep42-amanda/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Ethan is from Brooklyn, New York. He was living in Brooklyn as a third-year college student/filmmaker at the time of his interview. He spent his days “doing what I believe to be the most crucial thing to do at this point in my life, and that's learning and laughing.”Ethan's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Have Fun"We talked about the benefits of setting big goals at a young age, and Ethan described the moment in his childhood when his goals changed.Ethan explained where his ‘learning & laughing' philosophy comes from, including some of the people in entertainment who inspired him, such as comedian Kevin Hart.He shared his thoughts about the relationship between the definition of art and the craft of art. Ethan also discussed how he balances his “the party should be wherever you are” approach to life with the fact that so many creatives use pain and sadness as inspiration for their work.----------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep41-ethan/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Jonel is from Brooklyn, New York. She was living in northern Japan at the time of her interview, and was spending her days “at work…and if I'm not at work, I'm either relaxing at home, studying more Japanese, cooking, or hanging out with my friends.”Jonel's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Do Things That Are Random"We talked about YOLO, doing random things, and how fear nearly stopped her from going to Japan. Jonel explained how she ended up moving to the northern Japanese city of Morioka.She spoke about Japanese food, J-Pop, and hearing Fetty Wap in local cell phone stores; and she shared some reflections and stories from her experiences being one of only a few Americans in her town.She discussed her path of personal growth over the past few years, including the hardest part of her post-college transition.------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep40-jonel/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Chelsea was born in Haiti, grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was living in Brooklyn at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “working as a college advisor at a nonprofit, reading a lot, meditating, practicing yoga, and trying to find ways to be better and keep myself grounded.”Chelsea's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Recover from Adversity"Chelsea began by speaking about her most recent trip to Haiti, and addressed some common misconceptions people have about the country.We talked about how gentrification has changed the Brooklyn neighborhoods where she grew up; and about what she sees as she looks at NYC and at our country in this moment.She reflected on her journey of personal growth, described the role yoga now plays in her life, and discussed why having “circles of friends” has been good for her social life.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep39-chelsea/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Stephanie is from Chicago, Illinois. She was living in the Chicago suburbs and spending her days “working…and when I'm not working, I'm with my son and with my family.”When we sat down for this interview, Stephanie had recently finished reading Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, and we were excited to talk with a first-time reader of the Brazilian author's classic work.Stephanie's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Be All Over the Place"In The Alchemist, the main character (who is only referred to as “the boy”) is a shepherd, and this is central to how he thinks about his life, his possibilities, and his dreams; and we talked with Stephanie about what has been the driving force in her life.Throughout the book, the boy encounters an interesting cast of characters. These characters have a way of either showing him something he needed to know, or helping to reveal something to the boy about himself. Stephanie talked about the people who were only in her life for a season, but had a big impact on her.The main character in The Alchemist often finds himself alone on his quest. We talked with Stephanie about the ups and downs of trying to find people of similar spirit during her young adult years. We talked about the realities of the real world, and meeting people whose dreams have been packed away.Stephanie also talked about some of the surprises of being the mother of a two-year old, and about what she does to stay inspired.------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep38-stephanie/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

James is from Chicago, Illinois, and was living there at the time of his interview. He was spending his days “working, working out, and trying to better myself.”James' Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Push Himself Way Too Hard"James described his daily routine for making each day better, and we talked about where he gets the motivation to do better.He explained why he says he works out “like a martial artist”, and spoke about why he thinks young boys need an “alpha male” in their lives.We wrapped up our conversation with a discussion about what James sees going on in certain neighborhoods in Chicago.--------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep37-james/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Khalid is from Brooklyn, New York. He was serving as a United States Marine, based in North Carolina, at the time of his interview. His days were spent “either working out, reading books, or going to work.”Khalid's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Get Out of the Military in a Few Months and Start School"Khalid shared his approach to balancing his military identity with his personal one, and he explained why the tough-guy image of a Marine does not conflict with his desire to enter the medical or nursing profession.We talked about some of the unique bonding experiences he went through while in boot camp, and Khalid explained the difference between coming home during his first year in the Marines and coming home in his final year.He also spoke about what it's been like to be serving in the military while so many justice and protest movements are taking place around the country.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep36-khalid/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Kasim is from Brooklyn, New York, and was in his third year of college in New York City at the time of his interview. He spent his days “usually working…working takes up most of my time. When school comes back, that takes even more time, but I still try to have my downtime and hang out with my friends.”Kasim's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Work Towards the Lifestyle I'm Trying to Live"He explained why talking about his rapidly gentrifying neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn is “bittersweet”.Kasim shared some of his memories from his childhood days as an “innocent” kid, and reminisced about how his life goals shifted after his childhood plans to become a doctor “went through the roof”. We also talked about the difference between his “social media friends” and the friends he spends time with on a regular basis.------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music - Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep35-kasim/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Safiya is from Brooklyn, New York. At the time of her interview, she was living in Brooklyn as a third-year college student, and spending her days “working out at the gym, going to school, and staying at home typing up scripts and stuff.”Safiya's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Win Some Kind of Award for Creative Writing"We spoke about the role that writing has played in her life, and explained why winning an award for her writing is one of her goals.She explained how seeing the achievements of her friends and peers inspires her to do more, and how “the broke life” of being a college student motivated her.------------------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep34-safiya/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Kiana is from Brooklyn, New York, and was a third-year college student living in upstate New York at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “doing nothing, I don't really have a life. If I'm not in school, I'm not really doing anything…but hanging with friends.”Kiana's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Make A Great Change"She talked about life in a small college town, and about how the organizations in her college's ALANA community have come together to respond to some of the movements happening around the country.Kiana also spoke about her journey of personal growth, and discussed the importance of acknowledging the people who've helped us become who we are.We concluded by talking about what she sees in our country now, and why she thinks a “great” change is necessary in the world.----------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep33-kiana/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Katie is from Oak Park, Illinois. At the time of her interview, she was living in the Chicagoland area and spending her days, “just trying to make the world a better place through volunteerism, and then I try to save the world at night as a superhero.”You can keep up with her latest musings at her blog, Think rich/Look poor: https://bit.ly/2Z1i04uKatie's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Wonder and/or Wander"She explained what's going on with her wondering and wandering, and talked about why she thinks volunteering makes the world a better place.Katie explained why she doesn't follow many celebrities on social media, and spoke about the most important people she follows on social media.We talked about the phrase “Black Girl Magic” and what it meant to her to be raised with a strong sense of identity.------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep32-katie/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Jared is from Oak Park, Illinois, and was living in the western suburbs of Chicago at the time of his interview. He was spending his days “either working, or taking care of my five children.”Jared's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely To Bump His Head But Come Back To Make A Difference"We talked about what it was like for him to grow up as an adopted child: Jared talked about the people who have the biggest influence on his life.We talked about what it feels like, as a man, to be incarcerated. Jared explained what gives him the ability to get back up after “bumping his head”; and we talked about the importance of the idea of “coming home” for people who have served time.Towards the end of our conversation, Jared talked about the love of his children and his love for his children. He also offered some words of advice for young people who are on the verge of deciding which way to go in life.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep31-jared/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Courtney is from Chicago, Illinois. She was living in the western suburbs of Chicago at the time of her interview, and her days were spent "working and raising her two kids with her husband."Courtney's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely to Take a Nap"We talked about her journey in motherhood so far, and the difference between the perception and the reality of raising small children.Courtney talked about the “blend of people” that she follows on social media, and how she separates reality from perception on those apps.Our conversation concluded with a discussion about what she sees as she looks at her city – and at our country – in this moment.--------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep30-courtney/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Erica is from Harlem, New York City. At the time of her interview, she was living in Brooklyn and spending her days “working, being heavily involved with the young people's ministry at my church, spending time with my sister, and reading a lot more.”Erica's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely to Impact Change"She explained what kind of change she plans to be a part of, and how her experiences in college helped shift and shape her outlook on life.Erica shared how her faith has changed her life, and the path to the young woman she is becoming.We discussed what books Erica is currently reading, and she concluded our conversation by talking about what she sees for her generation.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep29-erica/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Devin is from Brooklyn, New York, and was still living there at the time of his interview. His days were spent “being a superhero, fixing people's computer problems.”Devin's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely to Change the Tech World"Devin shared how he found and maintained his love of technology while growing up in Brooklyn, and reflected on the role that the New York City gaming community played in his youth.We discussed whether the depiction of friendships between techies and geeks on the popular TV show The Big Bang Theory accurately reflects how he sees people interact. We talked about some of the important people in Devin's social media life.He explained why he still gets excited when new Apple devices are released, and shared some thoughts for young people who may be interested in technology.---------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: Chega Para Mim by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep28-devin/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Noor is from Saudi Arabia, where she was living as a journalist, educator, traveler, CrossFitter, and aspiring screenwriter at the time of her interview. Her days were spent, “meditating, reading, and trying new things whenever I can.”We talked about her journey of personal growth over the past few years. Noor described how she likes to begin each day, and reflected on some of the people who inspire her.Noor shared some of the things she has learned from her travels to different countries, and spoke about some of the people she follows on social media.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep27-noor/Keep up with her latest thoughts on her blog, Behind the Saudi Veil: https://bit.ly/2P8m7qSJoin the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Casey is from Brooklyn, New York. At the time of his interview, he was a third-year college student in New York City and was spending his days “either studying for my economics exams, at the movies with my girlfriend, or just hanging out with my friends.”Casey's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Follow His Own Path"Casey talked about the moment in his childhood when he realized he was “somewhat different, personality-wise”, and how his outlook on life has changed over the past few years.He spoke about some of the people he follows on social media, and we concluded our conversation with a discussion about the potential future effects of the resurgent prominence of African-American / Black-centered entertainment and art.-----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep26-casey/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Rima is from Brooklyn, New York and was living in Norfolk, Virginia at the time of her interview. She spent her days “on YouTube…but outside of that, I read.”Rima's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Succeed and/or Panic"Rima shared some memories from her childhood years spent living in Senegal, what it was like to be home-schooled, her love of Young Adult fiction, and the types of books she likes to read.We also talked about her path of growth and maturity over the past few years, the people she follows on social media, and what she sees in her generation.---------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJo See photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep25-rima/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Joshua Jackson is from Jacksonville, Florida. He was living in Los Angeles, California, and had recently authored his first book, How to Pimp Corporate America ( https://bit.ly/2KVteNV ), at the time of his interview.In his book, Joshua takes an extensive look at the steps it takes to reach the highest potential of success. By combining his experiences with those of friends and family, Jackson has created a strategic plan on how one can effectively “pimp” themselves in order to achieve great success in their everyday 9-to-5.During his spare time, Joshua “loves to write poetry, loves to write novels, loves to write anything.” He spends a lot of his time traveling to different cities, and loves to eat. A self-described foodie, Joshua “definitely enjoys eating different foods and different cuisines from all over the world.”Joshua's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Succeed"He talked about when his love for writing began, how his priorities and values have changed over the years.Joshua spoke about how encouraging words from his peers made a big impression on him early in life; and he explained the idea behind the tagline for his book, “You have to pimp yourself in order to pimp Corporate America.”---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep24-joshua-jackson/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Atisha was born in Guyana, South America and spent her early childhood years there before moving to Brooklyn, New York, where she spent her teenage years. At the time of her interview, she was living in New Jersey and spending most of her days “drawing a lot.”Atisha's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Succeed Creatively"Atisha talked about the difference between the person she is today and the person she was 7-8 years ago. She spoke about the kind of art she does now, and how her family and Facebook friends have influenced her art.Our conversation concluded with a discussion about how she is coping with the incidents of human suffering that have appeared in the news over the past year.-----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep23-atisha/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Amadu is from Brooklyn, New York, and had recently moved to the Silicon Valley region of California at the time of his interview. He was spending his days “acclimating to the California environment, watching movies, hanging out with friends, and building my network with people out here.”Amadu's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Become Enlightened"He explained what “becoming enlightened” looks like to him, described what it means to “walk around unconscious”, and spoke about how he avoids that state of mind.Amadu shared how he dealt with the academic culture shock of being surrounded by top-performing students when he first arrived at college, and we would up in an interesting discussion about strategies for helping young men deal with the micro-aggressions of daily urban life.---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep22-amadu/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Christina is from the Chicagoland area. At the time of her interview, she had recently moved into her first home in the western suburbs of Chicago.Christina's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Be In School" She shared some memories of her childhood years spent in Indianapolis, Indiana; and talked about her strong support system, her circle of friends.We also talked about her life as a “career student”, the setbacks she has overcome to reach her career goals, and Christina explained where she gets the strength to deal with life's challenges.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep21-christina/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Mikal is from Toronto, Canada. At the time of his interview, he was living in New York City and spending his days “hoping Kanye [West] will call and sign me.”Mikal's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Eat a Bowl of Cereal Before This Episode is Finished"He began our conversation by sharing his favorite cereal combination, and we talked about what it's like to be from Toronto ‘post-Drake'.Mikal talked about the most important people he follows on social media, and the lessons he has learned from the way rapper/actor Donald Glover uses social media. He also explained why he doesn't like placing sub-genre labels on different types of hip-hop.-----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep20-mikal/Check out some of his latest music: https://bit.ly/1tsoexKJoin the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Daphne is from Brooklyn, New York, where she was living at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “planning, writing [ideas] down, scheming on the next big idea, the next big goal, the next big dream.”Daphne's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Smile"She began our conversation sharing some of her childhood memories of life in Haiti. We discussed her path of personal growth of the past few years, and Daphne talked about the roles that love, giving, and passion play in her life.Daphne talked about the importance of a smile, who she's following on social media; and we concluded our conversation by speaking about what she sees in her city and in our country at this moment.--------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep19-daphne/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Shantel is from Oak Park, Illinois and was living in the western suburbs of Chicago at the time of her interview. Her days were spent “going to work, coming home, trying my best not to bring any of my work home…and on the weekends, making sure I find somewhere really good to eat.”Shantel's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Spend an Obscene Amount of Money on Food"We began the conversation by talking about what amount of spending counts as an “obscene” amount of money for her. We also discussed the influence that street wear culture has had in her life, including the top sneaker purchases she has made in her life so far.Shantel shared some of her earliest memories of Twitter, and she spoke about the most important people she follows on social media.Towards the end of our conversation, Shantel shared her thoughts about the current state of Chicago, the U.S., and her generation's ability to unite and bring about change.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep18-shantel/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Massamba was born in the U.S and spent his childhood in Senegal and New York City. He was living in New York City at the time of his interview. His typical daily schedule was “work, work out, pray…and movies.”Massamba's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Affect Many People, Especially Teenagers"He reflected on what gives him the ability to connect with teenage youth, and explained why he plans to focus on teenagers specifically.Massamba talked about the benefits of traveling, shared his explanation for the nearly worldwide acceptance of American pop culture & entertainment, and recounted some his experiences from his time studying abroad in Sweden.We spoke about what he sees when looks out at our country and our world, and Massamba ended the conversation by asking if he could have the last word…which he did:“My last word is that I would [encourage] people to travel more and be more curious….Have the habit of double-checking. Be more curious, [don't] just listen to whatever [is being] presented.”---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep17-massamba/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Dante is from Brooklyn, New York. At the time of his inter-view, he was living in New York City and spending his days “working on an app with a team, running around the city, and traveling.”Dante's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Make a Major Impact on His Friends & Family"He explained why his goal is to impact his friends and his family as opposed to “the whole world”, and talked about the most important people he follows, on-and-offline.We spoke about how his priorities have changed over the past few years, and Dante explained why he's optimistic about the future.-------------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep16-dante/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Ashley is from the Chicagoland area, “the Western suburbs… the ‘Wood, specifically,” and was living in the suburbs of Chicago at the time of her interview. She was spending her days, “working my 9-to-5, and doing work for a master's program … so that's where all of my time goes.”Ashley's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Take It One Day At a Time"She explained how she's come to that perspective on life, and spoke about how her sense of self has evolved over the past few years.Ashley talked about why her family is so important to her, and she explained what she means when says she does not 'follow' anyone on social media.---------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep15-ashley/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Leodus is from Chicago, Illinois, where he was still living at the time of his interview. He spent his days “renting [out apartments], doing construction, talking to tenants, talking to investors, and building this startup I have called Styleteq.”Leodus's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely to Become a Billionaire"He recalled the point in his life when he became interested in running his own business, and explained how it made his perspective on college different from many of his peers.Leodus shared his journey of personal growth since he graduated from college, and discussed how learning from the example of successful entrepreneurs motivates him to succeed.-------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbjoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep14-leodus/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Toshawna is from “a small but really prominent village” in Guyana, South America. At the time of her interview, she was completing her final semester of college in New York City, living in Brooklyn, and spending her days “planning, organizing, [and] trying to get a lot of work done for multiple projects.”Toshawna's “Most Likely To” Is: Most Likely To Start Something NewShe spoke about what has changed for her over the past few years; including appreciating certain things more now than she did in the past, and learning to embrace being in a new setting instead of fearing it.----------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep13-toshawna/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Steven is from Brooklyn, New York. He was still living in Brooklyn, New York at the time of his interview, and was spending his days “either at work or with my family.”Steven's Most Likely To Is: "Most Likely To Succeed"As the first person we've featured who used the phrase “most likely to succeed”, we asked Steven to explain why he chose those words.He reflected on his journey of personal growth during the past eight years; including how he chooses who to follow, both on social media and in real life.Our conversation concluded with a discussion about what Steven sees when he looks at his city and our country.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep12-steven/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Faith is from Brooklyn, New York, where she was still living at the time of her interview. She spent her days “working, preparing to back to college, and being a full-time mom.”Faith's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely to Be Inspirational"We talked about how she chooses who to interact with on social media, and she explained when she started thinking of herself as an inspirational person.Faith described her journey of personal growth over the past few years, and we talked about what she sees as looks at her city and at our country.-----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep11-faith/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Aquillia is from Palmdale, California and grew up in Chicago, Illinois, where she was living at the time of her interview. Her “days, nights, and some weekends” were spent teaching ninth grade reading at a high school in Chicago.Aquillia's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely to Reinvent Herself"She explained what kind of reinventing she's doing at this point in her life, and why she embraces the label ‘awkward'.We talked about the power of families that find a way to work together, and the impact her family upbringing has had on her life.Aquillia explained how she uses social media, and discussed the different elements she sees within her generation.------------------------------------------Intro Theme Music - "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep10-aquillia/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Jason is from Brooklyn, New York, “by way of Grenada, West Indies.” He was a third-year college student living in Washington D.C. at the time of his interview, and spent his days “studying and doing lots of reading.”Jason's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely To Be At A Crossroads"He explained why he believes strongly in the importance of learning about his cultural history, and talked about his experience as a student at an HBCU (Historically Black College & University).Jason talked about the most important people he follows, both in his life and on social media, and he concluded our conversation by describing what will need to occur in order for change to happen.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep9-jason/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!

Joshua is from Brooklyn, New York. At the time of his interview, he was completing his final semester of college in New York City, and spending most of his days “studying for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam.”Joshua's Most Likely To is: "Most Likely to Have a Stable & Steady Career"We began our conversation by talking about the moments when he is the "stable one" among his friends, and whether he is “all the way stable” in every area of his life.Joshua gave a powerful tribute to his mother's accomplishments as a Haitian immigrant to the U.S., and explained how her experiences helped him to identify with the life struggles of people who are different from him.He concluded our conversation by sharing his reflections on his travels through Europe during his study abroad semester, including his thoughts on the benefits of traveling out of the US.----------------------------------------Intro Theme Music: "Chega Para Mim" by AbJoSee photos of our guest, and pick up your copy of the companion book at https://classofhc.com/ep8-joshua/Join the conversation on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Nd2H1C and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Z4jPggThanks for listening!