Moana Nui Podcast

Lashawn Colvin is the editor and creator of Beautiful Soldiers, her comic career started in early 2014. As a graphics illustrator, editor, writer and now comic book store owner. The first black woman to own a comic book store in the south! Lashawn Colvin began her art journey at a very young age, however, there was another gift she found herself having. Writing. Her passion for writing and creating stories goes very deep, as a child she drew inspiration for creating stories from one of her favorite child hood tv shows. Connect with Lashawn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashawn-colvin-7b661398 https://www.instagram.com/beautiful_soldiers https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2020/08/12/black-comic-book-creator-lashawn-colvin-opens-montgomery-store-help-other-artists/3313166001/   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Booking Information Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #LashawnColvin #BeautifulSoliders #WomenInComics #BlackExcellence #BlackCreatives #WomenCreatives

Mog is a world traveler having lived in Australia, Egypt, Africa, Russian when USSR broke down, Japan when the Kobe earthquake hit. She has moved around the US too living in California, Wisconsin, Illinois and then calling Hawaii home. She currently resides in the Los Angeles area. During her traveling she has learned to speak and write in 3 languages.; Korean, Japanese and English. Mog Park is a traditional artist, from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. After graduating, she began working for Tokyo Pop where, she gained knowledgeable experience leading to becoming a concept design/illustrator on HBO's Game of Thrones. She enjoys going on the con run meeting new people sharing art, food and life experiences. She hopes the shows will return soon this year. Coming off fresh from working in the gaming industry she now focuses on providing covers and other art to indie publishers. Connect with Mog: https://www.facebook.com/mogpark https://www.instagram.com/mogpark  https://www.artstation.com/dubugomdori #MoanaNuiPodcast #MogPark #GameOfThrones #AAPICreatives #IndieComics #AAPIWomen #WomenOfColor #WomenCreatives

CC the Geek is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and cosplayer from Washington, DC. Her activist work extends as far back as 2007 as a volunteer in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.  She subsequently founded the Alternative Spring Break (@BSUASB) program at her alma mater, Bowie State University. CC takes pride in using her platform to create safe spaces for Black and other marginalized cosplayers. She is the founder and CEO of HBCU Con, celebrating the influence and intersections of historically Black institutions and the geek community. She's also a cohost, co-writer, and marketing strategist for Everybody Gets One podcast (@EverybodyGets01), and consultant for hire. CC has been cosplaying since 2015, and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated." #MoanaNuiPodcast #HBCU #BlackExcellence #Education #Integrity #Leadership #CCTheGeek Connect with CC and HBCU Con: http://www.hbcucon.org https://www.instagram.com/ccthegeek/ https://www.facebook.com/ccthegeek https://mobile.twitter.com/ccthegeek https://www.tiktok.com/@ccthegeek2 Catch CC in the pages of the Wildcard Chronicles comic book series: http://www.burningspearcomix.com https://bit.ly/WCCstore   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Booking Information Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #CCTheGeek #HBCUCon #BlackExcellence

Dana Morgan is an Executive Assistant/Event Planner by day, and a con/cosplay and event photographer by night. Her passion for photography is unchartered and she uses that passion to drive the art of cosplay pass the limits; providing her subjects with eye catching photos that embody their characters and compliments their creativity. Dana has taken pictures for corporate events, orchestras, weddings and more for over 18 years. In 2016, she started working as a con staff photographer for local cons. You can find her capturing moments at various cons such as MomoCon, Anime Weekend Atlanta, DragonCon and much more! Dana created her company, Danique Events, providing personalized photos to the cosplay and con communities with her special branded touch. Dana's natural eye for photography, love of anime, comics, games, and movies puts her at ease in the con world. Because of her impressive dossier and magnetic personality, Dana was sought after to team up with Cosplay Your Way, to help develop and enhance the photos of POC cosplayers in Atlanta through Cosplay Noir and 28 Days of Black Cosplay. Her photos have been with DC Comics and many more! In 2019, her friends and con family gave her a new goal... to become a cosplayer! She recently added another two items on her repertoire in 2021: the co-host of the Moana Nui Podcast and voice actor. Follow this upcoming and highly sought after photographer at Danique Events: www.facebook.com/DaniqueEvents www.instagram.com/ DaniqueEvent Danique Cosplay: www.facebook.com/DaniqueCosplay www.instagram.com/DaniqueCosplay Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Booking Information Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.   

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Roye Okupe is an award-winning filmmaker, author, speaker, and entrepreneur whose passion for comics and animation led him to found YouNeek Studios in 2012, an avenue that would allow him to pursue his dream of creating a diverse library of superheroes. Under that umbrella, Roye wrote, produced, and directed several animated productions including, but not limited to, the award-winning and critically acclaimed Malika - Warrior Queen Animated Short. These productions have allowed Roye to attain many prestigious recognitions, such as being #5 on Ventures Africa's list of 40 African innovators to watch (2016) as well as being part of NewAfrican Magazines' 100 most influential Africans two years in a row (2016 & 2017). With the superhero genre at the height of its popularity, Roye has made it a goal to create a connected universe of superhero and fantasy stories inspired by African history, culture and mythology. In August 2015, Roye released his debut graphic novel titled: E.X.O. The Legend of Wale Williams Part One, a superhero story set in a futuristic Nigeria. E.X.O. was received with critical acclaim and has since been featured on CNN, Forbes, The New York Times, N.B.C., The Guardian, ABC7, B.B.C., The Huffington Post, Mashable and more! Roye's sophomore graphic novel: Malika - Warrior Queen was also received with critical acclaim, selling more than 40,000 copies of its chapter one special during Diamond Comic's Free Comic Book Day (2017). Both books have gone on to win several awards, including multiple Glyph Comic Awards and Comic Fist Awards. Connect with Roye: https://youneekstudios.com/

Javier Cruz Winnik began his career selling his drawings at comic cons and landed an opportunity to do sketchcards for UpperDeck! Seeing no stories about Puerto Ricans in the school he worked at, he self-published a book, titled "A Reason to Smile!" which stars a little Puerto Rican girl from NYC, showing the positive side of Puerto Ricans in Pop Culture. He's since created 3 books with 2 on the way, all funded on Kickstarter, and has gone on to sell over 3,000 copies! He has since created stories for Puerto Rico Strong (LionForge) and Ricanstruction (Somos Arte/DC).   Connect with Javier:  https://www.thecurv.com/  https://twitter.com/thalearningcurv  https://www.facebook.com/thecurv  https://www.instagram.com/thelearningcurv/   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Booking Information Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #PuertoRicanPride #JavierWinnik #AReasonToSmile #ChildrensBooks #KitLit #IndieComics 

Christian is an academic, social media guru, event producer, filmmaker and talent manager who has been active in the Asian American community across the U.S. for 17 years. He currently chairs the board of the DC Shorts International Film Festival and is President/Executive Director of the DC Asian Pacific Film Festival. He has produced and directed many award-winning shorts, music videos, commercials, and public service announcements. Christian also loves producing events and helped numerous organizations with a variety of events, including the Korean Festival of Maryland from 2016-2019, NC Korean Festival from 2019-2020, KORUS Festival of VA from 2006-2015 and Korean Center, Inc. of San Francisco with their successful 1st Annual Bay Area Chuseok Festival this past October. Christian was an adjunct faculty for the Asian American Studies program at University of Maryland where he taught ethnic studies in film, video and social media. He studied at the George Washington University Documentary Center and interned at film festivals including Cannes and Sundance. Born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Iowa, Ohio and Virginia, Christian now lives in the DC Metro area. Connect with Christian:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apafilm IG and Twitter: @xianoh http://www.apafilm.org   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Booking Information Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #XianOh #ChristianOh #Filmmaking #AAPICreatives #DCAsianPacificFilmFestival

  Mike Watson is a comic book artist/creator for Freestyle Komics hailing from Cleveland, OH, as well as the host of Chat and Draw. Holding a bachelor degree in Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art and Design where he helped to publish CCAD's first comic. Mike has been working in the comic field since 2005 beginning with his own publishing house Freestyle Komics. He creates the comic series Hotshot (Nominated Best Indie Ongoing Series 2006).  You can find him on all platforms @mostepicart. Tune in to Chat and Draw on Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/mostepicart. His comics shop is at http://www.fsknow.com. Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Booking Information Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #MostEpicArt #FreestyleKomics #ChatAndDraw #IndieComics 

Dedren Snead is the creator/ writer of the Glyph Comics Award-nominated comic book series, Sorghum and Spear, and creator-writer of the upcoming Turnkey comic book series. He is a writer, content creator, and being both a Futurist and Retroist, his mind wanders throughout the space-time continuum, with at 10 year +/- around 1993 as the focal point of his many fandoms. He is the co-host of the New Wakanda podcast and head writer at RAZRWING, Inc.   In this episode, Dedren joins us to talk about Sorgum and Spear, a project he created with the great Nichelle Nichols, the actress best known for her role on Star Trek: The Original Series. Within the pages of this fantasy epic, we find an African saga about young girls called to serve their people in a time of war during their ages of innocence. For a young farm girl named NAMAZZI who dreams of escaping the sleepy farm village of her birth, her life would be forever changed the day that monsters came there to find her. Dedren shares his knowledge of the Dahomey Amazon women of West Africa who influenced  this series and how the women in his own life inspired his storytelling.  You can find more about Dedren at: http://www.subsumelife.com Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #DedrenSnead #SubsumeMedia #SorgumAndSpear #IndieComics #GreeneCountyCreative

Glenn Lawrence was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised all over the US. He brings a unique perspective to comedy. His quick witted style quirky point of view has allowed to grace stages all over the country from California to D.C. in addition to being a seasoned performer Glenn also produces both content via his LevelUp Comedy YouTube channel and various podcasts in the DC area including My Fantasy Wife with Comedienne Blair Postman. Glenn has performed all over the country including The Sundance Film Festival 2019 and hosted and featured with comedians like Tony Rock, Paris Sashay, Rob Maher, Rahmein Mostafavi and Franqi French. You can find more about Glenn at: http://www.instagram.com/glennlawrencecomedy, http://www.instagram.com/levelupcomedy http://www.levelupcomedy.com  http://www.youtube.com/LevelUpComedyDC Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #GlennLawrence #LevelUpComedy #comedian#humor #arts 

  Alan Z is a triple threat within the entertainment industry who carved his own lane as a versatile artist that raps and sings to bridge the gap between hip-hop and R&B but also bring more diversity with the music and acting industry. With his music, Alan Z intricately weaves pop, R&B, and hip-hop aggression into a tapestry that defines stereotypes and labels. Alan Z is planning to continue his platform to bring attention to social issues, bring diversity to the entertainment industry, and support other upcoming Asian and Pacific Islander artists. Alanʻs music has also been featured on the Netflix series, Wu Assassins. Alan recently released his hit album Face Value in collaboration with Jason Chu featuring other Asian artists such as Dante Basco, Chow Mane, and Neela. Alan also wrote and produced an exclusive song for us here at the Moana Nui Podcast that highlights the untold stories of Hawaiiʻs long-standing history.    You can find more about Alan at: http://www.alanzmusic.com/ http://www.instagram.com/alanzmusic https://www.facebook.com/alanzmusic https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpUZULtrIfCQqxFehxcK63w Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #AlanZ #AlanZMusic #FaceValue #AAPIExcellence #AsianAmerican #StopAsianHate 

David Crownson is the CEO and Founder of Kingwood Comics. Born and raised in the exotic town of Frenchtown, New Jersey with Ghanaian roots, David Crownson is the Creator / Writer of Harriet Tubman : Demon Slayer. He is also an actor & filmmaker developing the upcoming web series Black Irish for YouTube Red. In this episode, Moana and Dana chat with David about how the books he read as a kid shaped his worldview and inspired his desire to tell stories of his own. He talked about the good ʻol days where kids often read books and spent lots of time in the library while waiting for their parents to get off work. David also shares his travel tips about his ancestral home, Ghana, and sheds light on the stark differences he experienced in Accra to include better food quality. By connecting to his Ghanaian roots, Davidʻs discovered how he and Harriet Tubman shared a connection back to Ghana and a great sense of humor which later influenced how he wrote his flagship comic - Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer. Tune in for the full story! You can find more about David at: https://www.instagram.com/dcrownson/ https://www.facebook.com/Kingwoodcomics/ https://www.kingwoodcomics.com Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #DavidCrownson #KingWoodComics #WhereBlackIsKing #BlackCreators #HarrietTubman #Ghana 

Davie Yarborough is an artist, educator, entrepreneur, and healer.  Her passions include writing, education, experimenting with music, storytelling, reading young adult novels, and finding new ways to be creative. She currently resides in Hawaii where continues her work in Education and the Creative Arts. In this episode, Moana chats with Davie about the ups and downs of the often thankless job of an educator. Davie shares her journey and the lessons she learned following in the footsteps of her parents who were lifelong educators in the DC school system. "Strong leadership that isn't so far removed from the classroom is incredibly important. Leadership can make a huge difference in how the institution runs and how teachers feel supported." In a broader sense, Davie reminds us that everyone can be a resourceful philanthropist who gives back to the community they live in. You can find more about Davie at: https://www.facebook.com/missdaviec Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #DavieCeleste #Education #Teachers #FreeYourMind #literacy #arts     

Jason Chu is a rapper and activist that is laying thoughtfully crafted lyricism over jazzy lo-fi beats and high energy trap bangers. He has performed at the White House during Obama's administration, The Getty Center, and the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles. You can hear his music on Netflix (Wu Assassins), Cinemax (Warrior), and network TV. He tours extensively with shows across the US and worldwide.      You can find more about Jason at: http://www.jasonchumusic.com http://www.instagram.com/jasonchumusic http://www.twitter.com/jasonchumusic http://www.facebook.com/jasonchumusic Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #JasonChuMusic #FaceValue #AAPIExcellence #AsianAmerican #StopAsianHate 

Sebastian A. Jones of Stranger Comics is an incubator and aggregator of content, developing and designing franchises for multi-media platforms. From the vast and volatile fantasy world of Asunda to the wide-eyed whimsy of Stranger Kids, Stranger strives for excellence in production as well as presentation. Aided by VP Entertainment Mimi DiTrani, CCO Darrell May, and EIC Joshua Cozine, its constant philosophy is that representation in quality products matters. In addition to claiming his spot as a leader in the indie comics community, Sebastian also invests his precious time to groom and mentor up and coming creators. You can find more about Sebastian at: http://www.strangercomics.com http://www.instagram.com/strangercomics Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #SebastianJones #StrangerComics #Niobe #Fantasy #KidsBooks 

Chris Koanui is a police officer for the Honolulu Police Department, an artist, colorist, and creator of the Nightmarcher comic book. The Nightmarcher saga begins with a ghost resurrecting a fallen Hawaiian soldier. It's a tale that twists fantasy and Hawaiian mythology with mystery and humor in the setting of modern Oʻahu.   You can find more about Chris at: https://www.instagram.com/tack_808/ http://ckoanui.redbubble.com   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #ChrisKoanui #Nightmarcher #Hawaii #MythsAndLegends #IndigenousExcellence   

Patrick Strange aka Kuya P does it all. He is the host & executive producer of the weekly YouTube pop culture show,New Release Wednesday, as well as the host of the #ShoPowSho podcast where he celebrates Filipino contributions in pop culture. Patrick is the founder of the charity cosplay organization, CosLove, which promotes self-expression and creativity while supporting communities via family events and regular visits to schools and hospitals nationwide. In this episode, Patrick tells us the not widely known - some would say hidden side of Magellanʻs story when he faces off against Lapu Lapu in the Battle of Mactan. Lapu Lapu is known for his resistance against Spanish imperialization and is a hero to the Filipino people who is still honored to this day.  You can find more about Patrick at: https://twitter.com/shopowsho https://www.instagram.com/shopowsho/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtQm1GJsaeN67Kgy-RFaKfA   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #Justice #AveryTheAstonishing #ConstantHustleComics #WinglessEntertainmen

In this episode, Brian and Lawrence explain how their shared pride and passion for creating memorable characters led them to collaborate and leverage their strengths to expand their universes through a crossover project called Nightfall. Brian and Lawrence share their success tips for anyone looking to team up on a project.  Lawrence James King is the CEO and Owner of Constant Hustle Comics, and the writer and creator of the comics, Avery the Amazing and The Last Line. Brian Joseph Lambert is the award-winning, lead contributing writer at Wingless Entertainment.  He specializes in bringing diversity to action/adventure, fantasy and sci-fi worlds. When not writing or editing, Brian works on creating a functioning lightsaber, so that he can pass the Jedi Trials. Brianʻs latest project, Justice #2 Promises to Keep is LIVE on Kickstarter right now!   You can find more about Brian and Lawrence at: http://www.winglessent.com https://www.instagram.com/wingless_comics https://www.facebook.com/Winglessent/ http://www.constanthustlecomics.com Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #Justice #AveryTheAstonishing #ConstantHustleComics #WinglessEntertainment 

Taylor "TJ" Sterling was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At an early age he displayed a very keen and almost prodigious talent for art. In the late 1980's, TJ took a serious interest in drawing comic books and superheroes. After graduating college, working at Marvel and doing some cover work for Dark Horse Comics, TJ started his own company, RAE Comics.  TJ is also passionate about sharing his knowledge and mentoring youth interested in comics and storytelling via the Junior 100 program. As the eldest sibling of his family, TJ is no stranger to being a role model and example to those within his sphere. TJ recently raised over $20K on Kickstarter for his flagship book, OKEMUS. His newest space adventure, Joystick Angels, is currently live for pre-orders!  Grab your copy today and get BONUS items with your order! You can find more about TJ at: http://www.raecomics.com https://www.instagram.com/raecomics http://www.facebook.com/raecomics   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #RAEComics #OKEMUS #JoystickAngels

Crown Shepherd is an emerging fiction, picture book, and comic book writer, and author of Black Boy, Black Boy. Her writing is a result of her surroundings and upbringing. She has always been deeply rooted in literature and writing, but it wasn't until she found more writers that look like her that her writing soared. As someone from an underrepresented community, Crown knows what it means to have representation feed your creativity. The stories she wants to share are aimed at giving a voice to the voiceless. Connect with Crown: http://www.crownthewriter.com IG: http://www.instagram.com/crownthewriter FB: https://www.facebook.com/crownthewriter Twitter: https://twitter.com/crownthewriter Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast MERCH: http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiMerch Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #CrownTheWriter #BlackBoyBlackBoy #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower  This episode was sponsored by Chat and Draw. Follow @mostepicart on all social platforms.

On this weekʻs episode of the Moana Nui podcast, we talk with Afua Richardson, an African | Indigenous American Comicbook Artist and Illustrator, best known for her work on the Eisner award-winning series, Black Panther World of Wakanda and HBO's Lovecraft Country where she created the artwork for Diana Freemanʻs character.  In addition to being an illustrator and writer, Afua is a musician, vocalist, performer, songwriter, voice actor, activist, and mentor born in Harlem, Currently based in Georgia. Afuaʻs latest project, Aquarius The Book of Mer is her creator-owned comic that is a modern retelling of mermaid myths and legends from all over the world.    Enjoy the tidal wave of awesomeness as Afua shares her love for comics and music and her undergrad at Juliard. Afua takes us on an adventure through her 15-year creative journey as she finds herself in a space where she can finally be her best, authentic self while sharing her passion with the world. Musically, Afua has worked alongside some of the greats such as Parliament Funkadelic, Sheila E, Outkast, John Legend, Rafael Sadiq, and so many more. Most recently, Afua partners with legendary hip hop artist and fellow comic creator Daryl McDaniel from RunDMC to create new music that will accompany the Aquarius Book of Mer release. Connect with Afua: http://www.afuarichardson.com doctafoo@gmail.com IG: http://www.instagram.com/doctafoo​ FB: https://www.facebook.com/AfuaNjokiRichardson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfuaRichardson   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast MERCH: http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiMerch Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #AfuaRichardson #AquariusBookOfMer #MamiWata #Mermaids #MerMay #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower    This episode was sponsored by Chat and Draw. Follow @mostepicart on all social platforms.

On this weekʻs episode of the Moana Nui podcast, we talk with Newton Lilavois, award-winning creator of Crescent City Monsters. Powerful loa, Creole magic, and a mix of African spiritual origins make a wonderful potion of powerful storytelling. By day Newton is a mild-mannered web developer and by night he's a creator of super characters and amazing worlds as a comic book writer and publisher of Dream Fury Comics. Born in Haiti, and raised in New York City, he enjoys time with this wife, two daughters, and his chocolate labrador. Newton is the 2020 Glyph Comic Award winner for Best Writer for his Crescent City Monsters comic book series. The series also won for Best cover and Fan Favorite for Best Work. The artist for Crescent City Monsters, Gian Carlo Bernal, won the 2020 Glyph Comic Award for Best Artist. Connect with Newton: http://www.dreamfurycomics.com​ newton@dreamfury.com https://dream-fury-comics.myshopify.com/​ IG: http://www.instagram.com/dreamfurycomics​ FB: http://www.facebook.com/DreamFuryComics​ Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/DreamFuryComics   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast MERCH: http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiMerch Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #CrescentCityMonsters #Haiti #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower 

Dorphise Jean is the writer/creator of Spiritʻs Destiny and owner of Gente Entertainment. She aims to give readers of all ages stories and influences that encourage them to learn more about their cultural roots. In this episode, you will learn: About a Haitian Voodoo Priestess who literally conjured a revolution. How leaders can move tribes of people to a common cause Why real life heroes are critical to storytelling and passing on wisdom to future generations. How learning about our own cultures can open up possibilities and inspire us to achieve more You can find more about Dorphise at: https://www.facebook.com/SpiritsDestinyUniverse https://www.instagram.com/spiritsdestinyuniverse Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast MERCH: http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiMerch Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #SpiritsDestiny #Haiti #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower 

  Alika Seki is the owner and operator of Maui Comics. He talks with us about the importance of serving your community, particularly in challenging times like what the world is experiencing with COIVD. Alika is a champion for the people of Hawaii and the work ethic many natives possess to thrive and survive the high costs of paradise. In this episode, you will learn: About the strength and adaptability of Hawaiiʻs communities How Hawaiiʻs local families work multiple jobs to feed and care for their families Why the exorbitant shipping costs to Hawaii play a critical part in the high cost of living in the islands and often makes owning a small business very challenging How Alikaʻs engineering career positioned him to open his community-oriented comic shop You can find more about Alika at: http://www.facebook.com/MauiComics https://www.ebay.com/usr/mauicomicsandcollectibles https://www.instagram.com/maui_comics Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast MERCH: http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiMerch Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower #MauiComics #MauiComicsAndCollectibles 

"Free" was born and raised on Oʻahu and relocated to Las Vegas where he started a publishing company, Live Free Die Free (LFDF) Comics, to produce creator owned properties, including his own title, The Contraptor.  Free has done multiple covers and internal pages for various independent comic companies including, Onward! Comics (Avenger Red), Self Employed Comics (The Cule), The Squeeg Comics (The Skilled Apprentice), KipsWorld Comics (D'Mitri), and Thunderfrog Studios (Gemini Storm), to name a few.   In this episode, you will learn: How Free made one of the hardest decisions in his life to leave his island home  The importance of a strong support system and how mentors and peers can pull you out of adversity How music and the arts became a lifeline that kept Free connected to his home in Hawaiʻi  You can find more about Free at: https://www.facebook.com/FreeIsabelo/ https://www.instagram.com/freekflow808 https://twitter.com/freekflow808 Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower

Alika Naihe is an artist, game designer, educator, and owner of Hauʻoli Art. Recreating the Legends of Hawaiʻi. Alika masterfully shares his history and culture by taking images, stories and concepts out of museums and into daily life. His broader work and a coach and mentor for Hawaiʻiʻs teens embodies the spirit of the Moana Nui podcast and our ancestors.   In this episode, you will learn: How Alika went from drawing at 4 years old to teaching and mentoring youth in the island community of Nānākuli How art led Alika to study Hawaiian culture more deeply and uncover the legacies of his ancestors About the Hawaiian communityʻs struggle to protect their native environments from the effects of colonization and tourism How Alikaʻs team developed a game to help high school students deal with depression and guide them to dealing with their emotions in a healthy way  About Keaweaheulu, a Hawaiian chief that served as a chief consultant to Kamehemeha the Great, Alikaʻs family ancestor You can find more about Alika at: http://www.hauoliart.com https://www.instagram.com/hauoli_art_alika   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower #HauoliArt

    Greg Burnham is an author/writer, editor, publisher, and history buff. Greg has been writing professionally for nearly a decade. He makes up one half of the Tuskegee Heirs duo. With projects like The Search For Sadiqah, Broken Glass and Grandpa's Shoes under his belt, Greg recently made the transition to full time writer/publisher. He's currently working on a bevy of projects, as well as the beloved Tuskegee Heirs.     In this episode, you will learn: How Gregʻs love for history drives him to incorporate historical elements into his stories Black Wall Street in Tulsa Oklahoma was a beacon for black ownership, business, and overall excellence  How gentrification has devalued and destroyed communities throughout history How Greg uses his stories to celebrate female heroes and establish powerful authentic narratives and lessons for his daughters How the legacy and narrative of Christopher Columbus has been falsified for centuries and why indigenous peoples find those claims amusing About Calafia, the female general who ruled without men How structural markers like pyramids can be used to measure the broad reach and influence of African cultures globally You can find more about Greg at: https://platforml7.com Facebook / Website / Fan Page / Instagram Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.  #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower #TuskegeeHeirs #SearchforSadiqah 

Allen Carter is an artist, writer, promoter, and the sole creator of two independent comics titles called Damn Tourists and Cosmic Force. He lives in Los Angeles, but is originally from Hawaiʻi. Allen tells us how his favorite childhood cartoons inspired him to create worlds of his own that were patterned after special places in Hawaiʻi. Allen also shares his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter Movement and how we can be effective allies to the people and the cause.    In this episode, you will learn: How Allen uses his every day life to inspire the stories and characters he creates for Carter Comics The definition of success means different things to each of us and how seemingly insignificant things can turn into larger growth opportunities How solidarity against injustice and speaking up about wrongdoing is important to move ahead with long-standing change in America and around the world Listening and allowing someone to voice their concerns and empathizing is powerful The Words of advice Allen has for aspiring creators You can support and find more about Allen at: http://www.patteebrandi.com/shop https://www.instagram.com/cartercomics1/ https://www.facebook.com/allen.carter.9279   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast Contact: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.    #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower

  Dominic Acol is an Oʻahu born, Kona raised artist, woodworker, and owner of Mauloa Haʻawina Designs where he captures the spirit of his familyʻs cherished moments and brings them to life through art. Each handmade piece uniquely depicts the spirit of his ʻohana way of life that bonds the past and future, preserving time until it can be passed down to the next generation. In this episode, you will learn: Traditional Hawaiian fishing practices and traditions What life is like living and growing up in the islands How observing the patterns of nature and being in tune with surroundings have served Pacific Island cultures through the millenia Why itʻs so important to pass on life lessons and ancestral knowledge to the next generation Every one of us has a part to play in the communities we live in. How Dominic challenges himself to perpetuate his culture through the woodwork he carves with his own two hands. You can find more about Dominic and his company Mauloa Haʻawina Designs at: https://www.facebook.com/mauloadesign23 https://www.etsy.com/shop/mauloahaawinadesigns/   Follow the Moana Nui Podcast: http://www.moananuipodcast.com http://bit.ly/MoanaNuiTube http://www.facebook.com/moananuipodcast http://www.twitch.tv/moananuipodcast MERCH: http://www.moanamcadams.com/collections/moana-nui CONTACT: moananuipodcast@gmail.com About Moana Nui Podcast: Moana Nui Podcast is a storytelling podcast to celebrate and honor the history, culture, & perspectives of POC, indigenous, and African Diasporan peoples.    #MoanaNuiPodcast #IndigenousExcellence #OurStoriesMatter #OurVoicesMatter #EmbraceYourPower