GrUB

EPISODE 50!!!!!   Today's episode features my good friend and master barber Michael "Coop" Cooper as he talks about his journey getting to where he is today. From leaving NC with just a bag and the clothes on his back to elevating his craft and brand in NY, Coop drops gems all throughout the episode on his growth and outlook on life. Best way to start off season 5.  Check it out and let me know what you think!   Blessings, Much Love, and as always, keep eating!

Happy GrUBday ya'll! Newest episode (and last one for season 4) is now up!    Thank you all for your patience over the past year. I just wanted to give you all an update on what's been going on with the GrUBcast, what future plans are, and as an added bonus give you all an episode featuring yours truly. Really hope y'all enjoy.   As a token of appreciation, all GrUB shirts are 50% off when you use the code GRUBFAM on the site for the rest of the week! On 8/26 they'll be 20% off till the end of the month. Don't miss out! http://thegrubcast.com/shop Check out TTV Radio here and show my guy Tolley some love: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ttv-radio/id1463485030   And with that said ya'll, I'll see you back in September for Season 5 (!), much love, and as always keep eating.

Happy Sunday GrUBfam!     Back off hiatus with more fire and stories that inspire.     Today’s episode features Brandon Blackwell and we discuss his journey to becoming an occupational therapist and starting his own training program: B3lite training.     Now per usual, there are gems everywhere here. Throughout the whole convo we touched on the serendipitous story of how he made it to Ohio state, how hard it was to step away from a sport that he loved and the difficult pursuit of balance within his life. Whether you’re an athlete or not, there is so much to gain from the rawness of this episode.     Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.     With that said, stay blessed on this wonderful Sunday afternoon. I wish happiness and prosperity for you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy GrUBday fam!   For this episode of the Growing Up Black podcast, we speak to Jonathan Weber about his pursuit towards writing and acting, growing up as the only black person in his family, and the importance media plays in helping young people of color discover who they are.   We all have different starting points as we navigate our way through life. Some of us may be born into wealth, others in poverty. Some grow up with all members of our family in the same neighborhood while others may not even have the benefit of knowing half of their family history. But through stories and media we often have the privilege of taking a look at life through a multitude of different perspectives. In today’s episode, Jon and I talk about the role tv father figures played in his life, his journey towards discovering and defining his blackness, and why he believes storytelling is one of the most effective ways we can understand each other as human beings. Jon is one of the most charismatic people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I know that just listening to this episode is bound to brighten your day.   Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. For more from Jon, follow him on Instagram @jwebs42 and if you want some GrUB merch, check out thegrubcast.com/shop.   With that said, I wish happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Tuesday GrUBfam! We’ve got the first segment of soundbites coming at your earlobes today and we’re talking about the importance of self love! No long winded description this time around. Just wanted to send you all a reminder to love yourselves today.  Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it.   With that said ya’, have a great rest of the week, much love, and as always, keep eating. P.S. Visit thegrubcast.com/shop for the merchandise! #Soundbites #GrowingUpBlack #SelfLove #advice #Brazil #Ferguson #AndrewGillum #Madea #RedTableTalk #Election #KainSpeaks #blavity #thegrubcast #WillSmith #Szn4 #PBS #blackexcellence #listen #nyc #podcasts #JadaPinkettSmith #GrUB #soundcloud #media #blackexcellence #DonLemon #Elections #loveyourself #blessup #keepeating

Season 4 is here! Happy GrUBday fam!   For the 45th episode of the Growing Up Black podcast, we speak to Chiara Richardson about her journey as an artist, discovering what your passions are, and learning to be OK with being perfectly imperfect along the way.   When discovering who we are, life can sometimes seem daunting, often because we dont necessarily “know” our purpose. Everybody seems to want to find a side hustle but struggle with both where to start and how to keep the momentum going once you do. In today’s episode, Chiara and I talk about her work as a spoken word poet and actress, the necessity of sometimes stepping away from your art, and battling that incessant need to always be “perfect”. This episode comes complete with a plethora of motivational gems, real raw honesty, and even a few ad-libs by the multi-talented Joan Lyric Leslie. Great way to jump into the weekend.    Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   For more from Chiara, check out her website ChiaraSpeaks.com and if you want some GrUB merch, check out thegrubcast.com/shop.   With that said ya’, I wish happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Tuesday GrUBfam! We’ve got the last segment of Soundbites to close out season 3 and today I want to encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing.*   *If you believe you’re already putting your best foot forward   Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been running through my head, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.    Sometimes in life we’re faced with a challenge (or multiple) and we never know exactly what we’re supposed to do. Then we may start to feel stagnant and forget to realize the fullness of our progression thus far. We often forget to reflect and recognize how far we have come, not only as individuals, but also how far we’ve come from the foundations set by generations prior. To close out the season I wanted to share a little bit about my family story that will hopefully inspire you all. Today I want to encourage you to put your best foot forward and if you believe you already are, keep doing what you’re doing. The blessings are definitely on the horizon, you just need to keep pushing.  Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it.  Also big shout out to my sister Harlems Own Lyric! Be sure to check out her tour schedule here: https://bit.ly/2NV8dTB With that said ya’, have a great week, see you in the Fall, much love, and as always, keep eating. P.S. Visit thegrubcast.com/shop for the merchandise!

Happy Friday and Happy GrUBday fam!   It’s #Pride Month and today we have another great conversation ahead with Mr. Darius Glover discussing his journey as a gay black man, intersectionality, and the importance of finding/creating a community that encourages you to truly be yourself.    Homosexuality has always been a subject rarely talked about in the black community, especially amongst heterosexual black men. In my childhood I don't remember having even one conversation that discussed being gay in a positive light. As a result many people of color often grow up ignorant to the subject and toxic masculinity has continued to thrive. On this episode Darius and I talk about how he's developed his identity over the years, the part New York played in helping him come into himself, and the overall importance of never hiding who you are. The conversation is as enjoyable as it is enlightening and I have no doubt that you will enjoy every minute of it.    Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   Also as a quick reminder I will be speaking at the Passion Is Pursuit conference next week in NYC. Be sure to use code KYLENY18 for 15% off your ticket. See you there!   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy #ThrowbackThursday and Happy GrUBday fam!   Today we have part 2 of our conversation with Shayla Mars as we dive deeper into her journey with mental health, how friends can help others with depression, unpacking what it truly means to be “better” and so much more.   Across all communities, when talking about mental health there are many nuances that either aren’t explained or that people typically shy away from. From moving, to family, to relationships, we avoid  being honest with ourselves in our own journey which often prolongs the process to heal. In the second part of our conversation, Shayla and I discuss her upbringing in Chicago, the importance of being honest with one’s self throughout their mental health journey and breaking down how dealing with mental illness for some feels like drowning while awake. It’s a very in-depth conversation with just as much knowledge and vulnerable insight as the first. Personally I’ve gained so much from listening to Shayla speak her truth and I hope you will too.   Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

It’s #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth and the newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!    Today’s episode features another guest I’ve wanted for a long time, Shayla Mars, and we discuss mental health in the black community, her specific experience dealing with ADHD as a black woman, and how she’s managing finding herself + seeking mental wellness as a young adult.   Growing up, conversations about mental health were few and far between in communities of color and, in many cases, that still hasn’t changed. Whether it be due to our upbringing, pressures of society, or our own willful ignorance, as people of color we tend to deal with our trauma in silence and rarely seek diagnosis when it comes to seeking mental wellness. In part one of our conversation, I spoke with Shayla Mars about a range of topics regarding her mental health journey including the hardships she’s faced through her life, the process and costs associated with mental health diagnosis, perceived loss and so much more. It’s engaging within the first five minutes and only gets more raw, honest, and insightful as time goes on. One of the best conversations I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of.    Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features my good friend and aspiring director James Austen as we discuss what it meant to grow up biracial, how he’s come to define his identity, and how his background has inspired him to pursue his passion to direct.    Growing up, it sometimes feels like society is constantly trying to force you into one box. If you play sports you must be a jock, or if you work in corporate America you can’t also be an artist. But as we grow older we should realize that identity is dynamic. What happens when you fit in multiple boxes? And how do define who you are when there are limited representations of what you could be? Today I spoke with director James Austen on what it was like to grow up half-black and half-white/Jewish, the thoughts he’s faced as he’s defined his own space in the world, and how cooking shows inspire his style of directing (it sounds a little off the wall but the explanation was extremely enlightening). We had a great, raw conversation and the longer you listen, the better it gets.    Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Sunday GrUBfam! We’ve got another segment of Soundbites for season 3 and tonight I want to remind you all to show someone in your inner circle some love.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been running through my head, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.    We all have many people out there that inspire us. And not just celebrities. Maybe it’s an old neighbor, a friend from college, your parents, whoever. And for whatever reason, even though we live in the most communicative and accessible era of all time, we tend to appreciate in silence. More often than not we don’t reach out to those people just to say “yo, you’re dope” or “that piece really touched me” or “that thing you did inspired me to do xyz” etc, etc. And why not? What’s stopping us from showing appreciation to the people in our inner circle who deserve it? Today I’d like to encourage you to remove all hesitation and go ahead and show love. You never know who might need to hear it.  Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it.  Also be sure to check out Top Tier Vision!  With that said ya’, have a great week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode is part 2 of last week’s GrUBcast with serial entrepreneur Malik "Mr. Entreprenoir" Mack. In this 2nd half we talk about the remainder of Malik’s businesses and practical advice on how to start your own side hustles.   Often when people first have an idea for a business, they have little idea on how or where to get started. That small seed of uncertainty sometimes develops into a tree of doubt and prevents us from even getting on the road to pursuing our dreams. During today’s episode Malik and I continue our conversation and discuss how he was able to start these businesses while working a 9 to 5, the motivations behind everything he does, and how he’s constantly able to overcome small moments of defeat and redirect his energy. This 2nd half is even more engaging than the first so I know you’ll enjoy the rest of this episode.   Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happiness and prosperity to you all, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features the serial entrepreneur Malik "Mr. Entreprenoir" Mack. Throughout the episode we chop it up about his journey to becoming a full time entrepreneur, constantly reminding people of his worth, and developing the courage to chase what you believe you’re meant to do.    When discussing the journey of entrepreneurship, very rarely do people discuss their “true beginning”. What inspired them at 10 or 14 years old, why pursue something with a nonlinear path of success, how did the first dream become reality on a step by step basis? During today’s episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Malik Mack and we talk about his road to full time entrepreneurship, what experiences lead him to running more that 5 successful businesses and why taking a chance on yourself is a fundamental step in living a fullfilling life. His story is entertaining, captivating and filled with gems of knowledge and we have even more content coming at you in Part 2 next week.   Also, completely by chance, today is also Malik’s birthday! So as a present you should definitely take a listen and send some positive vibes his way   Be sure to follow us on Spotify, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible weekend, WAKANDA FOREVER, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Welcome Welcome Welcome ya to the first segment of Soundbites for season 3! Today I want to encourage you all to stop worrying so much about things that are out of your control.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.    When it comes to achieving our own dreams and goals we are often our own worst enemy. We question and worry about so many possible outcomes that we end up stagnant, not taking any action at all and in turn, delay possible success. So today I want to remind you of a phrase we all (hopefully) learned as children. Hakuna Matata = No worries. Let’s all try to use this childhood message to push ourselves further as adults.    Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it.  With that said ya’, have a great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The first episode of the GrUBcast Season 3 is up!   Today’s episode features Rah and J. Vargas the Investment, better known as the Hip Hop group the Well Dressed Villains. Throughout the episode we keep a focus on their musical journey, discussing the state of hip-hop today and the importance of investing time, effort, and authenticity towards your passion.   As an artist in any form, the journey to truly mastering your craft is never linear. It’s difficult to shut down naysayers, find your own niche and most importantly building the right team to move the art to the next level. On today’s episode the Well Dressed Villains and I talk about everything from how they got started, the evolution of hip-hop, the difference between pulling vs. pushing as an artists, and why they’re continuing to follow their dreams despite the obstacles that are thrown their way. Whether you’re a musician, a painter, or aren’t artistically inclined at all, there’s a multitude of advice to learn from here. You can really hear the passion in their voices and I know you’ll appreciate their story and knowledge throughout the episode.    Definitely check out their music on Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook by searching for "Well Dressed Villains". And most importantly their new album "Hide Your Valuables" drops this month (January 2018!) so keep an eye out for that as well.   Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUBfam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The last episode of the GrUBcast Season 2 is up!   Today’s episode features a new friend of mine, up and coming actor Dexter McKinney, and we discuss how he has built his identity, navigated his environment and constantly manages to overcome adversity in his journey both as an actor and as a person.    Most of us don't grow up in environments that were made to facilitate our dreams. More often than not you have to struggle, push, and force those dreams into becoming reality, moving past circumstance to manifest ideas.On today's episode, Dexter and I talk aboutgrowing up in rough neighborhoods in Syracuse, the sacrifices he's made to make his relationship work, and the struggles and successes he faces as he continues to pursue his dream. It's a very vivid episode this time around and when Dexter speaks, it's as if you can “see” his story. I say this all the time, but this is most definitely another great listen.    Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   Also...we've made it through another year! Thank you all for the constant support and for lending your ears to this platform. The journey has not been easy but some amazing things are on the horizon. Stay tuned...   The GrUBcast will be back in full effect at the end of September. In the meantime, continue to share with your friends!   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features World Startup Ecosystem expert, Christine Souffrant Ntim, and how she’s been able to run 4 successful startups and speak in over 20 different countries a year, all while raising a newborn daughter, building with a loving husband, and somehow also keeping up with 14 different TV shows.    We often see successful people throughout our lives that seem almost godly in their continued pursuit of achievement and growth. And often, while we are engulfed by their wins, we often forget that they were all once where we ourselves might be now. Today’s episode features one of my idols and friends, Christine S. Ntim as we talk about how she’s gotten to where she is today. We discuss how she’s become a World Startup Ecosystem expert, how she’s dealt with loss, and most amazingly how she’s managing being an entrepreneur as well as a new mother and wife. It is an INCREDIBLE interview. The longer you listen, the better it gets. There are gems in here that are (literally and figuratively) priceless.   Some key takeaways: 1.) If you think you know how to manage time: listen to this and humble yourself  2.) There is always room to learn and grow 3.) Anything can be achieved through perseverance, regardless of the circumstances, obstacles, or setbacks     Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features one of the funniest people I know, James Tolley, and how he’s been able to cope with depression and survive the struggles of transitioning to adulthood, all while maintaining a positive outlook on life through every obstacle that comes his way.   We’re often faced with new struggles every day, especially after leaving school and being forced to navigate the “real world”. Today's episode features James Tolley, one of the most talented people I know, and we discuss the hardships he’s faced during some very formative moments of transition that many people deal with when approaching the inevitable stage of adulthood. This is one of the funniest, tragic, and most informative episodes I’ve ever done and I know you all will appreciate his story.    Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Welcome Welcome Welcome ya to another episode of Soundbites! Today I want to talk to you all about the importance of perspective.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the month, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.   Going about our everyday lives, it’s sometimes very difficult to keep a positive outlook on things because of our inherent nature to compare ourselves to others. With the advent of social media and everyone presenting their “highlight reels”, it becomes very easy to compare ourselves to others and increasingly hard to appreciate what we already have. In today’s Soundbite, I talk about flipping your perspective to focus on the positives instead of the negatives, what you have instead of what you don’t, in order to just maintain a better outlook on life. I believe that by changing our perspectives and shifting our focus, we can appreciate the fact that there’s a light at the end of tunnel and forget that we’re trapped in a tunnel in the first place.    Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have a great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up!   Today’s episode features a new friend of mine, Mr. Todd Bernard, and we discuss how he, as a young man from Trinidad, became a barber and turned his job into a Global Barbering Enterprise.    Growing Up, we often come to recognize the barbershop as a staple of the black community. But looking back I realized I never really asked my barbers about their lives before the shop, or how they even got to where they are today. Today's episode features master barber Todd Bernard, founder of global brand iCutPro who talks about his family history, transitioning from Trinidad to Long Island, and growing and honing his craft to where it is today. The story itself is incredible and I know you’ll enjoy what you hear.   Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story.   With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

"What's life without risk?"   Welcome Welcome Welcome ya to the FIRST episode of the GrUBcast in 2017! Today I want to talk to you all about being uncomfortable.    Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the past 2 weeks, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity.   I find that in life it's very easy to get stuck in the routine of things and in doing so it becomes even easier to fall into complacency, because complacency is comfortable. But how can you really grow without exposing yourself to something new? In today's Soundbite I encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to something new. Whether it's new experiences, new people, or new places, stepping into an uncomfortable situation can often lead to new discoveries about who you are and help you grow in ways you may not even have thought of before. Avoid stagnancy and always keep pushing boundaries for self-discovery.    Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have a great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of Soundbites is up and today we focus on the concept of just being thankful. Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation, I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the past 2 weeks, and then I'll close it out with your monthly dose of positivity. In the spirit of Thanksgiving two weeks ago (and the holidays in general) I've been having a lot of warm conversations that have been focused on appreciating some aspect of life. More often than not, when bad things tend to happen and negative things are thrown our way, it becomes so easy to forget just how fortunate we are. Everyday there are people, moments, and events that will attempt to rob you of your joy. But instead of focusing energy towards that, try to focus on the things that bring you joy instead. On today's episode of Soundbites I try to remind you all to show gratitude for the things that are right in your own lives. No matter how big or how small, an act of appreciation often opens doors to more blessings, even if that blessing is simply a peace of mind. Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have a great weekend, much love,  and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of the GrUBcast is up! Today’s episode features the homie Simon Zhang and the multitude of things he's dealt with in both discovering himself and starting his business. When we take the leap to follow our dreams and work on things we believe in we often go through periods of self doubt. And in that self-doubt, we tend to forget how truly prepared we are for the obstacles life throws our way due to things that we survived through in our past. Today’s episode features Simon Zhang and we discuss his experience growing up as a first-gen Chinese-American in Minnesota, his journey in finding his own style, and the struggles he’s gone through in trying to get his jewelry business, MujoNYC, up and running. If you’ve ever doubted yourself in your own journeys, you’ll definitely relate to what we spoke about here. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. With that said ya’, have an great weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating. As a P.S. Please continue to keep your heads up. I share some words of encouragement towards the beginning that hopefully will help you all in some way during this unsettling time. More on that in the next episode of Soundbites.

The newest episode of Soundbites is up and it's all about encouraging ya to keep your dreams alive. Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation and then I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the last week. Now, we all have dreams we're working towards but sometimes the things we deal with and the environments we live in don't make it easy to stay on track. The 9 to 5 way of living doesn't necessarily promote the pursuit of a side hustle and it's easy to get discouraged by those who don't believe in you, and worse, can cause you to stop believing in yourself. On today's episode of Soundbites I encourage ya to keep your dreams alive and always remember that your working towards something much bigger than your current situation. Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have a great weekend, happy Halloween, and as always, keep eating.

The first official GrUBcast of SZN 2 is finally up! Today’s episode features my brother Jonathan McRae and we discuss the struggles one faces when trying to define themselves as a black man. Growing Up, I always remembered hearing things like "You speak so white" or "You dress like a white boy" and I never really understood why people associated certain positive traits with whiteness. Today I interviewed soon to be school psychologist Jonathan McRae who talked about his struggle in defining who he is as a black man, navigating different spaces, and just trying to enjoy life while being true to himself. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. With that said ya’, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

We’re back! The first episode of Season 2 and the newest episode of Soundbites: Chasing Perfect is up! Every month I'll talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation and then I'll discuss a couple of the top news stories of the last week. As people we often get wrapped up in the idea that our work is never quite good enough and we delay presenting our work , our creations, or even our plans to others because we feel that sometimes it is inadequate. Though sometimes this can be seen as ambition, we often fail to recognize the line between being ambitious and being obsessive. In the newest episode of Soundbites I discuss my own flaws, what it means to chase perfect, and how the idea of perfection can easily become our biggest obstacle towards success Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have an incredible week, be great, and as always, keep eating.

Hola GrUBfam! The last episode of The GrUBcast season 1 is up! And this episode features my sister from another Jamaican mister, Ms. Joan “Lyric” Leslie spitting a plethora of knowledges about her journey in starting her new podcast Fros and Woes with co-creator Kim Allen. As people who yearn to create and express ourselves, we often go through this difficult process of bringing an idea to fruition and yet rarely document or discuss what that process looks and feels like in real time. Today I had the pleasure of talking to Joan about her upcoming podcast titled Fros and Woes and what the process has been like in moving this thought into a reality. We talk about her thoughts, worries, and the importance of having a good team in building up a dream. Definitely another great listen, especially for all my listeners out there who are thinking of starting a podcast or creative ventures of their own. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes (http://apple.co/1W0b3aP) and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how we'll continue to grow the GrUB fam and spread this platform, because you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. So with that said ya, check out the first episode of Fros and Woes this Sunday (link here)! Enjoy, have an incredible weekend, much love, and as always, keep eating.

We’re back! The newest episode of Soundbites: Setbacks is up! Every other week I talk about a topic that’s been coming up in my everyday conversation and then I discuss a couple of the top news stories of the last week. In life I feel like we all aim to be successful and throughout that journey towards our dreams, we reach an obstacle (or many, to be honest) and we fall. And when we fall, it is so easy to stay down, to sulk in our own setbacks and think "whats the point?". While we’re stuck in our feelings we sometimes fail to remember that in order to keep moving forward, to keep moving towards our goals, we have to get back up. This week’s episode discusses that process and I hope it helps those of you who get discouraged during the tough times of your own individual journeys. “It’s not so easy, but it’s not so hard, to stand up. But it’s just too easy, to sit back down." Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya’, have an incredible week, be great, and as always, keep eating.

The newest episode of The GrUBcast is up! Two weeks ago we released the GrUBcast Unlearning: why Black Men don't Date Black women and I received an incredible amount of feedback from people of all different races, genders, and ethnicities. Some people expressed dismay, others frustration, but most were simply disappointed. Disappointed that this was not the first time they had heard something like this from another person of color. As a result of that feedback and per the suggestion of my good friend Joan Leslie we decided to do a reaction GrUBcast with two groups of black women from both Jacksonville ,Florida and Westchester, NY (much love to Tiff, Kim, Adj, Alyssa and Diane!) where they unpacked what was said and discussed their reactions to topics expressed in the episode. Like I said this was recorded on opposite ends of the country and the questions were NOT the same yet the similarities in the feelings and experiences expressed was incredibly powerful and I know you’ll be glued to the conversation. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how well continue to grow the GrUB fam and spread this platform, because you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. So with that said ya, enjoy, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Every other week we listen to some edits of past podcasts, I talk about what was said for a bit, and then we close with a brief recap of some of the top news stories of the last week. Today's episode follows the format of the last Soundbite; Instead of an edit from a GrUBcast episode I decided to talk about another topic that’s been brought up constantly in my one on ones: comparing yourself to others. I've always believed in looking to others for inspiration. However sometimes we find ourselves looking to others and feeling inadequate in our own journeys and downplaying our own successes. We find ourselves comparing our journey to someone else's and discouraging ourselves which just isn't the way to progress. Once again I felt that I needed to speak on this because rarely do I hear it brought up in conversation. Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or rate us on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya have an incredible week, be great, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Monday, Happy Memorial Day, and Happy GrUBday fam! Tonight we have another special guest on the show, my good friend Kristoff Chambers, and we discuss why he has chosen to NOT date black women. In the black community, the conversation always comes up regarding black men who choose not to date within the community and their motivation for doing so. And while many people go into conversations like this with the goal of changing minds, I really just wanted to go in to understand the mentality. We discuss Kristoff's childhood, have numerous back and forths, and bring everything back full circle by talking about bun and cheese (shoutout to all my Jamaicans *cue reggae air horns here*).This was one of the more interesting, strange, and difficult conversations we’ve had on this show so far and I know you’re going to be engaged with what you hear. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how well continue to grow the GrUB fam and spread this platform, because you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. So with that said ya, enjoy, have an amazing week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Monday everyone! The newest episode of Soundbites is up (finally)! Every other week we listen to some edits of past podcasts, I talk about what was said for a bit, and then we close with a brief recap of some of the top news stories of the last week. Today I’m trying something out something a little different. Instead of taking an excerpt from a past episode I decided to talk a little bit about a topic that’s been coming up in conversation time and time again: loneliness. The feeling of being lonely is very different than actually being alone and I felt as though it is something I needed to touch on because each and every one of us go through it, but rarely talk about it. Please let me know of what you think of this episode and leave your feedback here or on iTunes. I’d really appreciate it. With that said ya enjoy the episode, be great, and as always, keep eating.

Every other week we listen to some edits of past podcasts, I talk about what was said for a bit, and then we close with a brief recap of some of the top news stories of the last week. (Link in Bio) On today's episode we have another excerpt from the Yonkers Blues GrUBcast with Dakota Degree where we went on tangent about the system and how it was really made with people of color "in mind". A great, short listen for when you’re on the go this week. With that said ya enjoy the episode, be great, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Monday and Happy GrUBday fam! The newest GrUBcast is up and features another special guest, Marissa Igwe, talking about her journey as a new mother and what it took to get her to where she is today. As a young mother, there are countless struggles that present themselves everyday and as a young mother-to-be there are often many events that are rarely discussed, like the process of telling your family, or getting your affairs in order, or even what sacrifices you have to make for the happiness of your child. On today's episode Marissa discusses all of that and more as we go into the story of what it was like preparing for her now 1-year-old daughter's entrance into the world. Also with Mother's Day being around the corner, I think we should all be reflective on our lives and give thanks to the women that got us to where we are today. Now, this is a bit of a part 2 to an earlier GrUBcast called Fatherhood: The Importance of Just Being There, which I did with Marissa's husband-to-be, Anthony Berrios. So if you enjoyed that one, I guarantee you'll enjoy this episode even more. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. So with that said ya, enjoy, have an incredible week, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Monday everyone! The newest episode of Soundbites is up and ready! Every other week we listen to some edits of past podcasts, I talk about what was said for a bit, and then we close with a brief recap of some of the top news stories of the last week. On today's episode we have an excerpt from the Break Ups GrUBcast with Jessica Valles where we went on a brief tangent about faith and the importance of simply believing in something. Another very dope, short listen for when you’re on the go this week. With that said ya enjoy the episode, be great, and as always, keep eating.

Alright everybody it’s about that time! This week on The GrUBcast we’ve got part 2 of the From the Chi to the Sky GrUBcast with Trevor and Cody Wilkins! Once Cody and Trevor are two young brothers from Chicago currently working on their own startups. Cody is also a comedian and Trevor recently made it in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for his work education. In all of our lives we go through numerous points of transition in school, location, and growth in general but we take the time to reflect on those key parts of our lives. In this second part of our conversation the Wilkins brothers discuss their lives after college, the importance of celebrating small victories, and the struggles they dealt/deal with in trying to be adults in the world. Major thanks to the Wilkins brothers again for a truly amazing conversation and a special thanks to my guy Josh Hall for making this whole episode possible. You can check out Cody’s start up, The Up Next at theupnext.com and Trevor’s startup, Kudzoo, at kudzooapp.com. Go show your support! Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

The next episode of Soundbites is here! Every other week we listen to some edits of past podcasts, I talk about what was said for a bit, and then we close with a brief recap of some of the top news stories of the last week. On this episode I have an excerpt of a conversation with Dakota Degree on how people change after college, black lives matter, and everything in between. Another very dope short conversation. So relax, enjoy, and as always keep eating.

This week on The GrUBcast we’ve got another incredible episode featuring Cody and Trevor Wilkins, two young brothers from Chicago currently working on their own startups. Cody is also a comedian and Trevor recently made it in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 for his work in education. In all of our lives we go through numerous points of transition in school, location, and growth in general but we rarely take the time to reflect on those key parts of our lives. In this first part of our conversation the Wilkins brothers discuss the bubble of Hyde Park, privilege, their experience navigating the Ivy League space, and so much more. And that’s only Part 1! I honestly learned a lot about the city of Chicago and it was dope to see how similar our reactions were in going to college. A lot of laughs in this episode. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Keep an eye out for Part 2 coming soon! Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Today we have the first installment of Soundbites! I found that when I record episodes of The GrUB-cast with my guests we often go on tangents about some interesting topics that I end up taking out of the main episodes. I ended up with a vault of some very interesting side conversations that I'd love to release to the public, and that's what we're doing here. So every other week we're going to listen to some of these edits, I'll talk about what was said for a bit, and then we'll close with a brief recap of some of the top news stories of the last week. For the first episode I have an excerpt of a conversation with Andrew Lim and his curiosities about the N Word. Definitely a good short listen. Please sit back, relax, enjoy and as always keep eating.

Hey GrUB fam! This week on The GrUBcast we’ve got a great episode featuring a good friend, Andrew Lim, and his experience growing up as a Korean American in the suburbs of New Jersey and beyond. Growing up we often realize that we share certain hardships with other minorities but rarely talk about the differences we may go through due to our different cultures, customs, and general ways of life. In this episode Andrew talks about his experience as a first generation American, dating, and navigating adulthood while staying in touch with his Korean roots. Honestly I learned a lot about a culture that I knew nothing about prior, and I hope the episode provides some insight for you all as well. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Also from this point on, there’ll be new episodes of The GrUBcast every Monday! So make sure to continue to check back here for update Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

We have another great episode of the GrUBcast with my newest guest Candace Rogers where we discuss something most of us have but rarely speak on: debt. Most of the time no one teaches us about the process of loans or investing before going to college and as a result we’re thrown into a system we don’t quite understand and seemingly can’t escape. In this episode Candace talks about her journey dealing with loans, middle class syndrome and her new workshop Financially Lit, which debuts tomorrow morning (2/20) at 11 am in NYC. This is definitely another great conversation about handling your money, the stress debt brings and the journey of reconditioning one's mind. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

2/5: Happy Friday Everyone! Today we have a very real podcast with my good friend Dakota Degree and his transition from Yonkers to Ossining. We talk about Crip culture in NY, the way he grew up in Yonkers, struggles with staying on the right path and more. When most people think about Westchester, there’s often an ideal image of suburbia in our minds. However cities like Yonkers are often on the other end of that spectrum and the lifestyle surrounding it is often overlooked. With the help of Dakota we take a different look into the city of Yonkers and his journey to navigate his own path. Definitely a great listen a deep conversation about pain, struggle, and perseverance. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Today we have Part 2 of last week’s GrUBcast "Break Ups: Getting Through It" with Jessica Valles. We talk about our progress since the break up, what we wish we knew when in the relationship, family, advice for anybody going through something similar and much more. Thank you all for the feedback from last week! I’m incredibly happy that everyone is gaining something from these podcasts and hearing back from you all is the motivation to continue doing this. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how we’ll keep the GrUB fam growing and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy New Year GRUB fam! As you know, this podcast is about sharing stories with an emphasis on vulnerability. For the first episode of the new year, I interviewed my ex-girlfriend Jessica Valles on how she dealt with our break up, how her journey has changed, and how much she has grown as a result of the process. As you can imagine, this was extremely honest conversation and if you have, or are currently going through a break up, you’re bound to relate. Jess and I were together for 2 years, and as with any long term relationship, you become intertwined with one another in terms of mannerisms, feelings, and overall essence of being. As a result letting that other piece go can often be a difficult process. We spoke about how she worked through it, how I got through it, what caused it in the first place and a whole lot more. With that said, this is definitely the podcast I’m most proud of thus far. So please, sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of The GrUBcast. P.S. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on all of your social media networks! That’s how the GrUB fam continues to grow and you never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Merry Christmas GrUB Fam! Today we have a very special episode of the GrUB-cast for you all. As it is Christmas, it’s to think about your family, your friends, and all the memories you’ve made during this time every year in the past. Beyond the shopping, the gifts, and the stocking stuffers, the holidays have always brought a special feeling attached to it and I wanted to remind us of what that feeling is. In order to get everyone in the holiday spirit, I went around and asked a bunch of people what their earliest, favorite, or most memorable holiday memory was and I got some incredible stories for you all. Some are funny, some are sad, but all are definitely heartwarming. So go ‘head and grab your egg nog, sit back, relax, and enjoy this special Christmas Episode of Growing Up Black. Blessings and Happy Holidays!

Episode 4 of The GrUB-cast is finally up and we are talking about an often overlooked topic of discussion within the community: Fatherhood. This episode features Anthony Berrios discussing what his journey has been like thus far as a young father in NY. We talked about the worries, the goals, and most importantly the love it takes to raise a child today. We live in a society where being a parent gets increasingly difficult with each passing day. And as times change, people rarely talk about what they’re going through when a child comes up in the mix of their daily lives. Today we took a look at Anthony’s journey to becoming a father and how it’s changed him as a person overall. Another deep conversation about family, struggle, and hope, and a story that we can all learn something from. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on any and all of your social media networks.You never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating.

Happy Friday GrUB Fam! Episode 3 of The GrUB-cast features Jasmine Clarke touching on a subject that is rarely discussed openly in our community as a whole: Celibacy and what it's like to be a woman and celibate in this day and age. Even more, we talked about taking control of your life, new beginnings, faith, and growth in becoming the person you always knew you could be. Sex education is a constantly debated topic in this country and while there are places that teach you about safe sex, and abstinence, we rarely, if ever mention celibacy in the conversation. So today we’re taking a deep dive into that topic. This has definitely been one of the most organic and vulnerable discussions I’ve had thus far and I’m sure you’ll feel that too. You will laugh, you will snap and shake your head in agreement, and you will learn. Guaranteed to be another great listen. Be sure to leave your comments, rate us on iTunes and continue to share the cast on any and all of your social media networks.You never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Blessings, much love, and as always, keep eating. Facebook.com/GrUBcast Email: Grubcast@gmail.com Twitter: @KyleNDavy Instagram: @thegrubcast

This week’s episode is on Black Love featuring my friends Celeste Winston and Jalil Bishop. In it we talk about their story, what exactly black love is, and the vulnerabilities that everyone faces when in a long-term relationship. More often than not, we see the highlight reels of everyone’s relationships but not the behind the scenes. We don’t really focus on the hard work it takes to make love work despite differences of opinions, locations and the trials and tribulations we all face in our own individual growth. On this episode we talked about a multitude of things from the political aspects of black love to the difficulties of expressing one’s love for the first time to the little-big arguments we all face (like fighting over sharing a or, in this case, over carrying a water bottle). If you’re in a relationship, looking to get in one, or aren’t interested in looking for someone at all, I guarantee you’ll enjoy what you hear. So with that said, enjoy! If you like it, please share it with your friends, your family, that kid from down the street you don’t talk to anymore, literally every and anyone you can. You never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Much Love.

Episode 1 is finally here! Dark as Night, Black as Coal: The Complexities of Skin Complexion featuring my long time friend Adjoa Boateng. We talked about how mean we are as kids, finding yourself, comparing your skin to various forms of chocolate and, in some cases, fried chicken. It’s all over the place but I guarantee you’ll enjoy it. If you like it, please share it with your friends, your family, that kid from down the street you don’t talk to anymore, literally every and anyone you can. You never know who might benefit from hearing someone else’s story. Also if you have any feedback, you want to be featured, or you have topics that you’d like us to talk about, please email anything and everything to Grubcast@gmail.com. I promise I’ll read everything and get back to you as soon as possible. If you want to be featured, I will come to you or we can set up a phone call and make something happen. Everybody has a story. Thank you all for the support and all the kind words before I even gave you something to listen to. This is something I’ve been trying to do for years and it feels great to finally get the idea out and share it with you all. I really do appreciate it all. Blessings and Much Love. iTunes coming soon. Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thegrubcast Email: Grubcast@gmail.com Twitter: @KyleNDavy Instagram: @thegrubcast Website: Coming soon...