It Is What It Is With Jarred Smith

We are back with another episode of the show. On this episode, we have my very good friend, brother, and musical confidant Elijah Banks AKA E Banks. On this episode we discuss the current state of Hip Hop, who would win a Verzuz Lil Wayne or Jay-Z (Spoiler alert Jay Z), and the responsibility that artists have for their consumers. We even delve into the tracks of his EP "Differences" and talk the story and inspiration of each of the tracks. Please feel free to follow him on IG at _ebanks_ and stream his EP "Differences".

HAPPY NEW YEAR IIWII FAMILY!! I amBeyond excited to walk into the new year with all of you ! I also have to thank every single one of you for making 2021 one of the most rewarding years in recent memory ! To celebrate the turn of the new year I have my partner in crime and the victimOf all my Tom foolery Syd!! Syd needs no introduction  considering a lot of y'all have been begging me to have her on the show  (which I'm trying not to feel some way about ) On this episode Syd and I did some reflections of the last year , lessons we learned , things we wished we accomplished , reasons and people to be grateful for and so much more ! So with the helpOf some tequilla we were able to delve deep and hash out a game plan we aim to crush this year. I hope this helps you all reflect on this past year like it did for us . Every journey begins with a single stepAnd I truly believe that if we all remain accountable and focused we can make this year count ! Lastly , we also celebrate us reaching 1,000 downloads !!!!!! I still can't believe I am able to say that but is true ! If anyone toldMe two years ago when this podcast was just a thought that it would be at a 1000 downloads in years time I would have called you crazy ! But we here now and I have to say I have the best person to celebrate that with on the show! Love yall!! To find syd and be nosy her socials areIG:sydneysymone415 

We are back with another episode! First off, thank you for everyone for the well wishes. I was down and out for a bit with an extremely bad cold , but I am back and better than ever. On this episode, we have my very good friend, previous roommate Dontae Boothe! Dontae is by far one of the smartest, sharpest, and funniest people I have had the honor of coming across in this lifetime and it is beyond a pleasure to have him on the show. Dontae is a Dean of Students and he supervises children in grades 5-8.  On this episode Dontae delves into the current state of education and how it disproportionately affects black boys. We delve into the struggles that many black boys face while growing up and the challenges that absentee fathers present to the development of black boys We also discuss the importance of black being actually involved in the lives of black boys . Dontae also highlights a dope organization of black men  called Black Men Build! Please follow them on  We also discuss the importance of mentoring  black boys   and so much more. I honestly felt that this was the fastest 2 hours of my life talking with my guy! Lets make sure we celebrate our educators that are fighting the good fight day in and day out! THANK YOU DONTAE!!!Everyone please follow these links!Black Men Buildhttp://www.blackmen.build/ (Website)https://www.facebook.com/BlackMenBuild (Facebook)blackmenbuild (Instagram)BlackDontae (Dontae's IG)

This is a collab that has been long overdue. On this episode I have the great pleasure of having my good friend, fellow real estate agent and fellow podcaster Dekimbe Smith on the show. On this episode we share the way in which we met and the power of social media. We have actually only met in person once. We get into the lessons we learned and the joys we have experienced while venturing into podcasting. Dekimbe also drops some major gems for content creators and how we have to be disciplined with putting out content consistently (which is a lesson I needed to hear myself). We even discuss the importance of collaborating as opposed to always being competitive. I am a competitive person (just ask around), but the power, and success in collaborating is limitless. This episode has been super insightful and just a very strong reminder that the brand is doing what it needs to do. Feel free to follow Dekimbe on his socials and STREAM HIS PODCAST!!!!Socials:Instagram: DekimbesmithFirstsippodcast

We are back with another episode of my show! On this episode I have my very good friend Fredo on the show. On this episode Fredo and I take several trips down memory lane, we talk about his journey into being a serial entrepreneur, how his upbringing introduced him to the world of entrepreneurship and the power of networking. Fredo and I also delve into the deep topic of networking and getting into the rooms of those who are in power that may not look like us. Fredo also discusses the importance of taking chances and putting the customers first which led him to a very lucrative and promising business deal.This episode was definitely a true pleasure and thought provoking. Fredo thank you for stopping by the show! Everyone go show my mans some love by following his IG Page at theigfredo. If there is anyone who needs commercial and or residential cleaning please do not hesitate to reach out to him. Also! I have ventured into the world of tik tok. So to stay up to date with your real estate tips of the day please follow me ion tik tok at jarrefsmith54.IG:theigfredo

We are back with another episode of It Is What It Is! On this episode I had the honor of having my good friend Mayo (aka Penny Visuals) stop by the show to chop it up with me. We discussed so much on this show. Mayo discusses his journey  in life that led him to embarking on the journey of becoming a full time photographer. Topics also included understanding the difference between understanding the business of your craft vs that of just having talent,  n the challenges with starting out as a business owner and the challenges you have to be prepared for when venturing out on your own. We even discussed some of the reasons why we believe it is difficult for black people to support black owned businesses and even  discussed the importance of saving money (Yes saving money is still important ) . Please follow Mayo on all his socials which are linked in this bio. Also stay tuned for this week's real estate tip of the week. This is one you do not want to miss out on. Links:IG:  penny_visualsWebsite: www.pennyvisualsjpg.com

We are back with another episode! This is by far my most transparent and personal episode yet and I am happy to share this platform with my very good friend Einstein a.k.a. unalliedthinker! On this episode we discuss a topic that I feel does not get talked about enough, especially for men. The topic today is transitioning from a breakup. It is safe to assume that most of us (if not all of us) have dealt with the woes and awkward phases of transitioning through a breakup. Einstein and I discuss what we felt initially as men experiencing breakups, lessons we learned, and embracing the growing pains of accepting what was done and what we have done. We even share the triumphs and joys we experienced as we embraced the changes of overcoming our insecurities resulting from previously ended relationships . We even share what it is like to find love after a tough break up as well.  As a special treat, I bless you all with some dope vocals as I cover a snippet of one of my favorite RNB songs. Please feel free to follow my good friend Einstein on IG at unalliedthinker.I hope you all enjoy this episode.In addition, please do not forget to check out the real estate tip of the week. This tip was pretty extensive which I felt required its own segment separately from the show. 

Hello Folks! Welcome back to another episode. On this episode, I take a look back at the whole story surrounding Sha'carri Richardson. I think there was a lot to take from everything we saw that happened to her this summer. Especially how fast I felt we as a people turned on her when OUR expectations of her were not met. By looking back at this situation, it made me ask myself a few questions. " What is support?" and "Am I where I want to be in my life" In also delve into how putting the work in will outlast the opinions of naysayers. No matter what people may say about you, the work you put in to where you are in your life cannot be refuted. In addition, like always we have our real estate tip of the day. Since there is no guest on the show except Me, Myself, and I this one is a little bit longer than most. The tip of the day explains why using a realtor with helping you find a rental can help save you time, money, and stress . This was also my first video debut talking real estate so please be kind check the video out on Youtube and let me know what you think. Link to the video is in the description. Youtube: https://youtu.be/WeHW8hWnGG4Instagram: the_iiwii_podcast

The first guest of season 2 has arrived! Introducing my good friend Tyree, the CEO of God  Or Guns. I am not even going to lie to you all when we first connected and I saw the brand I had some questions. On this episode he answers all of those questions. Questions ranging from his upbringing, motivation for creating such an eye catching brand. We even delve into the challenges that men face with accountability and getting a firm control of our emotions, and the steps that we as men can take improve in areas in which we are short in. This is an episode you do not want to miss. Not even going to lie, I was not expecting such a deep interview so early into the new season. This episode truly inspired me to understand that there are no limits to where we can go in life. Your past is not an indicator of where you can be in the future if you CHOOSE to push forward. So for that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart Tyree for living this virtue. So everyone, go ahead and follow my good friend on all of his socials. There is even a free give away for those that follow his page and mention my name and the podcast! IG: gods_or_gunsFacebook: god or guns clothingwebsite:http://www.godorguns.com/

What is going on everyone! I am so very pleased to announce that we are back with our first episode of It Is What It Is! And the first guest on here is yours truly. In this re-introductory episode I catch everyone up on what life has been like since season 1 ended, life lessons I have learned since then as well as a new venture I am taking up. This said new venture I know without a shadow of a doubt will bring value to you and your loved ones so stay tuned for new content that will do just that (More details on that later). There are some slight changes to the show that I am making that I feel will only add to the improvement of it overall. I am so excited to be back with this newfound confidence and perspective to share with you all. Like always feel free to follow me on the following socials listed below. IG:Jayy_smitty77 (Personal)the_iiwii_podcast (Podcast)Jarred Smith (Facebook)

Sorry for the break y'all but we are back. This is episode 1 of 3 of the season finale of the podcast and I just want to thank you all for the continuous support. On this episode, we have our guest who is not only an author but a world traveller as well. We have The Blerd Explorer. On this episode we discuss what has inspired him to take a position in South Korea. We discuss what it is like as a black man in South Korea, the differences between both North and South Korea, and we get into the details of his book (Which you can purchase on Amazon) called" The Black Traveller's Guide to Daegu South Korea". We coordinated through our differences in time zones to make this happen! This is an episode you do not want to miss!

This is the season finale of season 1 and we had to close this one out with a bang! We have my very good friends Theo and Tracey ( a returning guest). Theo is the CEO of his successful clothing line PRVLGD ( a brand that I have worn on the show a few times) This episode gets real honest and transparent. We discuss everything such as what it really means to have haters, what success means to us individually and also how couples can actually be productive and successful business partners. Theo also gets candid on what it was like starting PRVLGD and the similarities in experiences we had starting out our own collective endeavors. I also got down to the secret of how Theo  has been funding all of the trips him and Tracey go on. This episode is the close out to Season 1. I am beyond humbled and flattered by the support you all have shown me throughout this process. The hiatus will not be too long, and I promise when I start this again, it will be better than this season. Thank you all so much for the support and I will see you all again soon!

On this very very very very special episode we have yet another author! We have a great friend of a previous guest (Josh Immanuel) on the show, Jenny Devenny! This episode is for sure one for the books. Jenny is a psychotherapist, author, illustrator, wife and mother, and she has cut out some time for us on the show to discuss a good number of topics. We discuss what is white privilege (some people may in fact not know), we discuss the differences in approach in the field of psychology as it pertains to race. We also get into details as to how young a child can perceive racial biases (you will want to listen to the episode to get the age you will be shocked). Speaking of author, Jenny is also a co-author to her book "Race Cars", it is a children's book explaining white privilege. You can purchase this book on Amazon! Thank you so much for your patience everyone! This is episode 2 of 3 for the closeout of season 1. Your support means the world to me everyone and I promise more content will be on the way.

We are back with a very special episode of It Is What It Is. The Ladies have taken over the show! (Not in a hostile manner of course). On this episode we have 2 returning guests (who have been in High Demand to make a reappearance), Sydney and Izzy. TO help make sure that the content and conversation remained wholesome, and to make sure the fellas were shown in a good and just light and I have Izzy accompanying me on the show because I do have some issues I am still working out (such as my affinity for toxic relationships which results in a slight intervention on the show). Accompanying Sydney are her very best friends Tracey, Simone, Niara, and Chelsea and boy do we have some deep discussions on this episode. Normally when we have discussions on dating , relationships and expectations of the opposite sex we see unnecessary, disrespectful and lazy debates. On this episode, we  wanted to change that. On this show we all just simply and tactfully express exactly what our thoughts are on the world of dating. Things such as the normalcy of toxicity, transparency when revealing you are dating multiple people, accountability for handling your traumas when engaging with someone else , online dating experiences and so much more. Simone even reveals an online dating hack that has worked for her and she shares the game for free on here. This is a discussion you do not want to miss because the beauty of this discussion is that it has people from different phases of relationships on ranging from, single, engaged, dating, and even married. Also Shout outs to our girl Simone for passing her BAR!!!!

On this episode of It Is What It Is we have my very good friend Khalia Luff! Khalia is serial entrepreneur. Her businesses include but are not limited to being a real estate investor; Sankofa Properties, a real estate wholesaler, and an owner of her own Junk Removal company ; Sankofa Clean Outs & Junk Removal. Khalia on this episode drops gems on the importance of financial discipline,  she gets into detail as to how her activism is her entrepreneurship, and she gets into details as to what wholesaling is and what constitutes a good real estate transaction as opposed to a bad one. We even both get candid about how being exposed to people with actual wealth made us feel and how it motivated us to do better. This is an episode is an epsidoe you do not want to miss. Feel free to follow Khalia on Facebook as well to see her businesses as well as connect! The links are below!Facebook:Sankofa PropertiesSankofa Clean Outs & Junk RemovalKhalia Luff

We are back with another special episode! Just to preface this episode, it was recorded before the tragic murder of Dante Wright our hearts and prayers go to him, and his family and friends. Our hearts also go to the families of many others whose lives were taken unjustly at the hands of the Police. On this episode we have my very good friend Dante Moore. Dante is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host of the C3 Podcast (which stands Colored Christians and Conversation), he owns his own clothing line Truth Reigns, and he is not only a devout man of God, but he is also a faith based community activist and organizer!All too many times when we see the lives of black people taken by police and other forms of systemic reasons we are all too many times hit with the rebuttal of "Well what about black on black crime?". Although the concept of black on black crime is devoutly racist, and stripped of context, it is often times used as an excuse to justify what happens to black people at the hands of white supremacy. On the other hand, the lives of black folks taken by that of inter community violence is a subject that cannot be ignored. Dante sits down with IIWII and talks about the organizations he is a part of that is vocal and ACTIVE in the communities of Philadelphia that are plagued with gun violence. The work being done to counteract this pandemic of violence is way too often ignored. This episode gives this conversation the much needed context to see exactly what is going on in our communities and what we can do to be active NOW to change these circumstances. In addition to discussing his community work, we get into the role the church should play when it comes to advocating for black people, the importance of knowing your lane when it comes to activism. We also discuss why the media often times does not show the work being done to counteract inter community gun violence, the yearning for good government by all people, the strength of millennials, and so much more. For those that are interested in the work that Dante is a part of feel free to follow him on his socials and also stay in touch with an organization he is apart of called Win With The Work!Socials:Dante Moore-Facebookiamdantemoore- Instagram

Hello everyone! We are back with a very special episode of IIWII. We are now officially in the double digits with  our catalogue! On episode 10 (I apologize ahead of time I thought this was episode 9 when I was recording), we have my very very good friend Maria McLean a.k.a Realty By Ria! Maria has been a very good friend of mines and someone I consider a Day 1 (literally) from our Temple Days. On this episode, Maria goes into great detail as to why she got into real estate, the ways in which Black People can leverage home ownership into generational wealth and Maria even busts some major myths that surround home ownership.  She even details the importance of an online presence and how covid shifted her marketing approach, her way of generating leads, and so so much more. There was so much information shared that I really had to take my time putting this one out and do it some justice! So for those who are thinking of getting or selling a home, or thinking about the real estate industry in general this is the one for you. Maria practices real estate in the DC , Maryland Area so if anyone is out there, and needs some assistance check my girl out ! Also please show my girl some love because not only did she do an amazing job, but she herself was nervous so we have to make sure we let her know she killed this interview . MARIA, you did an amazing job. Feel free to follow Maria on the following socials listed below:Instagram: realtybyriaFacebook: Maria-McLean-Realtor

On this special episode of It Is What It Is we have our very first Comedienne on the show!We have the pleasure of having my girl Kyndra who goes by the Kyndra Crump Show on Instagram stop by. And you can already tell, she came with the jokes! We talk everything from the importance of authenticity, the importance of friends supporting eachother, and we even get into what rappers we would be surprised are short! We also get candid about the appropriate etiquette of sending nudes, and I open up about my traumatic experience of getting an unsolicited picture. Kyndra even gets candid about what is important when in pursuit of your dreams and goals. Kyndra, it was such an honor and I hope you all enjoy this one. Follow my girl on IG: thekyndracrumpshow

I am super duper duper excited to introduce this new segment to you all. Introducing to you all *insert drum roll*, HOT TAKES WITH IIWII!!!!!! This is a segment I created to further engage with my audience. With so much happening I realized that current events do not always coincide with my interviews. So I created this segment to talk about those things with you all. Some serious some messy. So for this first segment, we have my guy Stevie , the King of Controversy as I call him. We talk about topics such as were there any perks to segregation for black folks , the non resistance of the media when it came to accepting Stop Asian Hate as opposed to that of Black Lives Matter, Derrick Jaxn (of course), Kevin Samuels (is he really as bad as people say he is), the debacle of the first Black Bachelor (blegh), and the Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sit down with Oprah. Last but not least we get into the topic of settling. Is settling truly a bad thing? Things get real, and honest like always, but this is what it's all about on IIWII! 

WE ARE BACK WITH A SPECIAL EPISODE!!! Yes the all caps were necessary. On this episode, we have my very good friend Chester Holman 3rd. Chester is a friend who has been there for me when I was in a very bad place in my life at a previous job. What makes our relationship even wilder is I did not know his story until I stumbled upon it on the news one day. Chester has been FALSELY imprisoned for 28 years and was exonerated just last year. Chester, has given me the complete honor of having him share his story on this platform. For that I am grateful. If there is anything that we oftentimes need in life, it is perspective. Chester gets into detail as to what events led to his case, the emotions he faced while in prison, and what kept him hopeful for all those years. Chester even drops some major jewels on what it means to truly forgive and move on. We even get into details pertaining to how he found out what the cops who tampered with his case did to rob him of his chance to fight his case. This interview really hit home because this is not only my friend , but we hear stories like this so often, and more times than not they are romanticized. To learn more about Chester's Story and to help the organization that assisted him the link is below. You can also get more details on his case on the Netflix Show  "The Innocence Files". Also, show love on his facebook fan page as well, the link is below as well too. Sorry for the audio quality, I had hit a snag recording wise but we persevered! Chester we are forever thankful for your story of resilience, myself and my listeners are here for you in any way we can be man. Links:https://painnocence.org/ChesterHollmanhttps://www.facebook.com/Chester-Hollman-III-107938724232899/

On this 7th (my favorite number ) Episode we have a very special Guest! The person whom I deemed the most winningest person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, Leonard Nobuaki Chester AKA LENNO!This guy here has one of the most impressive resumes I have ever seen. I'm talking Ted X speaker, appearing on the Steve Harvey Talk Show, and being the first person under 30 to win the Budding Rose Award! We get into all of those wins, as well as his story that details how he created the Overcame Foundation, his upbringing on 60th street and what his next moves will be. I have to say this interview is as real as it gets as we also venture into his views with the rise in Asian Hate Crimes in this country, and what can be done by both Asians and Black and Brown people to stand in solidarity with one another to end white supremacy in this country. Leno also breaks my heart as he disses one of my favorite Denzel movies , The Equalizer!Like always I have to thank you all for your support, I cannot ever thank you all enough for it!Feel free to follow Lenno and his organization to keep up with the great things he continues to do for his community!Also We have officially crossed the  7 episode hump that defeats most podcasters!I appreciate you all, and I Promise to keep giving you all the best content possible.Links: https://www.theovercamefoundation.org/IG:lenno_overcame

We are back with another episode. This one here is special! We have with us a friend who has been a solid form of counsel for me ever since we met in college. A true accountability partner, and the life of the party (LITERALLY). We have here King IZZ!!! Knowing he is going to hate that I called him that, his real name is Isaiah Gaymon (AKA IZZY). Izzy is an entrepreneur who has his own media company , Vizzual Media, he is a vocalist, marketing and branding consultant ,a husband and now a father!This episode we talk the proper etiquette for operating a black owned business, healing from personal trauma to be healthy partners in our relationships, and we get into the nitty and gritty of why the dating world is so messy.  (I even share the story of when I realized the dating world was a mess). Izzy also gets transparent on what marriage truly entails and when he realized his wife was the one, and we also get the scoop on what fatherhood means for him, and how having a child has changed him. Last but certainly not least we get into why folks fear 30 and why we should not fear it at all. Izzy has been 90% of the reason why my college experience was so lit so it is a true honor to share this platform with himI also apologize in advanced that the audio gets a little wonky towards the end. I appreciate you all for your support while I figure this out and I will continue to get better and better each episode.In the meantime support my mans!Izzy can be found on IG @ IZZYOR_IZZYNOT

On the 5th episode of IIWII I have the extreme honor of having my good friends Devon and Greg on here. These guys here are the founders of the Urban Jedi Knights, a group who writes their own star wars fan fiction that takes place in our current urban societies and they also orchestrate their own fight scenes as well! These guys even go a step further by implementing true representation. These guys not only cast themselves but other people of different racial, religious, gendered backgrounds and create stories with those people in mind. In this episode we get into their love for star wars as well as their concern for the series. The guys share details as to what exactly goes into creating their own Star Wars fight scenes, dealing with haters, pursuing your passions, as well as how they leveraged their viral moment into legitimate business opportunities and so much more!This episode has truly been an inspiration. I normally do my best to gas up my guests but this time the tables were turned on me as they gassed me up !Thank you all for your support especially with the day long delay!Feel free to follow my guys on their  Social Media Platforms :Youtube:Urban Jedi KnightsFacebook: Urban Jedi Knights PHLIG:UrbanJediKnightsTikTok:urbanjedi_knightsFor a special treat my guy Dez shared a song he made exclusively for the group that you can stream on Spotify! Song title is Urban Jedi Knights

With all of my episodes , every guest is very special. With that being said , on this week’s episode we have a very special guest. My mans Kenny Culture granted me the dope blessing of having him on my podcast. Kenny is a hip hop artist and producer with over 15 years of experience in the game .In this episode we talk everything hip hop, from its inception to what it is today. With him being an artist you know I had to ask who’s in his top 5. We also talk about his legendary moments rapping for Phillys own , Freeway, and last but not least we discuss the inspiration behind Kenny’s new song “4th Quarter “ , Kobe Bryant. We discuss our favorite Kobe moments and get personal about what Kobe meant for us and the culture. I have also been given the pleasure of being able to play this song on the podcast! So at the end of this episode “4th Quarter” will be played so stay tuned!Below are the social media handles you can use to follow Kenny and his projects that will be dropping in the near future! Follow him if you have not already. Once again, I appreciate you all for the love and support ! Links:YouTube : Kenny Culture Instagram:Kenny.culture

On this very special episode of I.I.W.I.I.( IT IS WHAT IT IS) we have my very good friend Josh Immanuel! Josh is a licensed therapist , blogger and musician.On this episode we discuss society’s definition of manhood and how it affects black men and the people around us. We also get into detail with our journeys into our definitions of manhood. In addition we also get into detail as to what black men can do to protect black women and other marginalized black communities and so much more !  Resources are also shared in this episode for those in search of affordable therapy options as well! Get ready for another great episode that you do not want to miss. This is part 1 of this episode and Part 2 will be released later on this week!Notes on episode : trigger warning at 39:00 there is brief mention of sexual abuse Resources for those in search of therapy as per Josh are listed below https://www.psychologytoday.com/ushttps://openpathcollective.org/https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

Part two to episode 3! In this portion Josh and I go into detail as to what it is that black men can do to better protect black women and other marginalized  black communities. This Segment was beyond special, so special to the point where I felt it needed its own segment. As per the previous  portion of the episode if you are in search of a black therapist, and in need of resources the links below will help with your search. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ushttps://openpathcollective.org/https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

On this episode of “It Is What It Is” , I bring on the person who is the best friend , best support system and best partner I could ever ask for . My girl friend, my Mrs. for the kisses, the cutie with the booty,  the 1st lady of "It Is What It Is "ministries ,my wifey for lifey, Sydney! In this episode we talk about her experiences at an HBCU , the one and only Howard University. We also discuss what it meant for her to see a fellow black woman and Howard alum Kamala Harris be elected as VP! We also discuss the differences and similarities between our experiences at our perspective schools. What are the differences between attending an HBCU and PWI? That gets answered on this episode. And we also get into the nitty and not so gritty details of our relationship; how we met, how we feel about each other and the lessons we learned while being together for a whole year . Tune in , this is an episode you do not want to miss ! 

In this jam packed introductory episode listeners will be introduced to the brand (IIWII) and the mission it aims to accomplish. With the help of my guests, Josh, Kev, and Corey we discuss the importance of having black people in the realm of technology, we tackle our gripes with 2020, lessons we learned amidst the pandemic, the issue with a game I had high hopes for The Last of Us 2, the storming of the capital, and so much more. Buckle your seat belts, and get ready for the beginning of something great! Welcome to It is what it is!