Podcast by Rob Jay
Nya Dillard is the founder of Lions Heart Audio Visual a Houston based company that provides creative production services, installation, training, engineer staffing and a host of other services. Her story is one of persistence, drive and consistency. She began as an intern at a church and never looked back. Today she owns the largest Black owned production studio in Houston servicing Live Nation, House of Blues Bayou Music Center in more. We caught up and had a great conversation about her growth, drive, challenges she's faced as a woman in a male dominated industry. Additionally, we took an unplanned deep dive into therapy, mental health and my personal Dad issues, lol. Overall a great listen for entrepreneurs or anyone in pursuit of a vision. Check it out Rob Jay Show
DJ Big Reeks and Nell are currently performing on The Extension Tour with Tobe Nwigwe. They took some time to call in and let everyone know, especially Houstonians, how the tour is going. So far they are about 30% done and already have hella dope moments and stories. From Denver requesting screw to meet and greet crowds in Portland performing full renditions of Tobe's songs with no music. I learned how they initially began working together and have grown to have such a great musical chemistry with each other. This was my introduction to Nell's talent. I knew she was a producer but after taking a deep dive on YouTube and watching her series on Women Producers and the way she creates I became an instant fan and learned more about her process. An overall dope conversation that closed with a call to action for all of Houston this 4/20 #LEGENDSONLY
Kareem Daay is the founder of A Herd of Bison Clothing, an outerwear/shoe company that is on fire right now, especially in Houston. He's brought an old school craftsmanship to his line and combined that with bold experiments in footwear and the result is something special. I take away something from each guest and they all fuel my fire. Whether it's their grind, tenacity or work ethic something hits home. Where Kareem is unique is that I found inspiration in his humility. This conversation is a deep dive in inner game and an authentic view into the psyche of an artist who creates for the purpose of creating. A creator who is still fueled by the thought "You know what we be dope". An artist with no expectation. Creating freely does not mean creating irresponsibly, creating within an unsustainable business model or creating rigidly and unwilling to change in the name of art. It isn't an oath of poverty. (Sheeit Kareem pulled up in an OJ Bronco and got bout sehm old schools foreigns) But his come up has been from the inside out. In a world of people chasing waves staying true to yourself is a revolutionary act. How real is that? #LEGENDSONLY
Dean Gilmore shares valuable information. An expert in webinars and funnels he’s used his talent to become an elite affiliate marketer recognized by JV Zoo and others. A sub focus of mine is highlighting Black Tech peak performers in non code roles. I’ve constantly tried to remind people that code is not the only way. Dean is the perfect example. He’s explored the industry, examined opportunities and settled in on the discpline that best fit him. From there his grind, focus and consistency have delivered supreme results. He regularly host webinars that generate 5 figures in revenue and shows receipts. I caught up with Dean and he explains the webinar game to me. A deep dive where he was open, candid and shared premium information about the industry, strategies and ways anyone can get started. A great listen full of jewels
Bria Sullivan is a Software Engineer at Google as well as an expert in iOS, Android and Web Development. She’s a gift to the culture who uses her talent and platform to cultivate the Black Tech Community. She’s started a platform, Techstackd, where she educates start ups on technical hiring, assists people in locating technical co founders, provides mock interviews and more. Last year she secured close to a million dollars in salaries for boot camp grads and first time developers at tech companies. I had a powerful conversation with her that was full of insight, wisdom and resources. Outside of her technical skill she shares a commitment to her culture, women and those facing adversity. Her testimony is also very awakening with challenges including overcoming domestic abuse and the pain of loss, all while trying to balance a career. A reminder that everyone, even the strongest and most successful people you know are battling something. A wonderful and inspiring listen.
A Win For The Purist Jeff Shelley is an amazing young comedian whose characters and sketches have entertained and created a growing tribe of fans. Uniquely authentic in his approach, his comedy has an underlying truth and realness. Jeff Shelley's success is win for the purist. He's not out to exploit comedy or social media for a come up, he's student of the craft and respects those who have paved the way. I caught up with Jeff to discuss his creative process, learn more about his journey and what's in store for him. The Rob Jay Show #LEGENDSONLY
Byron Godfrey ( @byron.godfrey ) is the founder of Misfit Strength and Conditioning. More than a gym, Misfit has grown into a community united under the banner of purpose, integrity, discipline and passion. Like Mitch in Paid In Full, Byron is in love with the process. I've witnessed his relentless pursuit of improvement in his craft, team building and personal development. His passionate leadership attracts people from all walks of life to be a part of his community. The end result is a diverse tribe connected by a shared vision and commitment to becoming better humans. I sat down with Byron to learn more about his journey and dedication to his purpose. Rob Jay Show | Medicine In The Candy
"But all the hustlers, they love it, just to see one of us make it" Al Hughes is The Senior Manager of Marketing and Technology for the Memphis Grizzlies. The only brother I've seen make it to the league without touching a basketball. In this role he implements emerging technology and new media into the Grizzlies marketing and operations. Full of insight and wisdom that’s he’s always willing to share. We chopped it up about the grind and along the way we touched on hip hop, black tech, keeping competition between brothers healthy and much more. A great listen for entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, digital marketers and more. The Rob Jay Show Medicine In The Candy #LEGENDSONLY
Nick Houston is the founder of Tax Aid USA, Entrepreneur and has over a decade of experience preparing taxes for individuals and businesses. With the government shutdown and the upcoming tax season I wanted to sit down with an expert and discuss all things taxes. Nick delivered and dropped a lot of jewels, insight and a health dose of common sense. Along with Tax tips and insight we touched on some of his other business ventures, got an update on Bee Fit Foods and I had to have a talk with him mid episode about the purist vs populist.
Bennie Brazell is a former Olympian and professional football player whose story displays a continuing pattern of overcoming adversity and patiently progressing towards his desired outcome. From his beginnings in track and field where he regularly finished in last place to him being on the verge of quitting football before his break out season, he consistently chose "one more rep". I see alot of David Goggins in Bennie, someone who is not afraid to explore the depths and darkest places of his mind for the sake of growth. I got a chance to chop it up with Bennie about his life, reflect on our brief time playing football together at Westbury and learn more about what fuels his fire. A great listen for anyone grinding it out. Rob Jay Show Legends Only *Sponsored by The Waxaholics, Houstons longest running All Vinyl Party every Thursday 3718 Main Street
Josh Jones is the founder of Texas Bluechip Baseball Academy, a training and development organization that uses baseball to further develop young men and prepare them for life. Through his program he’s helped over 80 kids receive full scholarships including 22 this year. Fueling his drive is a commitment to a purpose bigger than the game. A former 2 sport star, playing baseball and basketball professionally, he’s seen the pros of what athletics can do for kids along with the dark side of a culture that cares more about the athlete than the young man. He’s used his insight and experience to build something bigger than himself. Aside from being a successful entrepreneur and leader Josh Jones is a childhood friend. We got a chance to discuss our childhood and reflect on some great memories and lessons gained. A great listen for anyone that wants to learn more about finding their purpose and building a life in harmony with it.
AGAINST ALL ODDS By default the guest name is the title of each episode but after speaking with Marlon Avery I had to put precedent aside. The collection of challenges that he overcame read like the recipe for a statistic. Single parent home, teenage mother, poor, incarcerated at young age and more. I am most impressed with his patient reconstruction of his character as a man. His confidence and grit when challenges arise standout. His interest in tech began with the goal of making a sneaker app, Rekure. From his humble beginnings and after 4 years of research, study, design etc he completed his goal. From there he created the Haha Davis, app which sat at #1 in The Apple App Store. In addition to this he is a force in the black tech community serving as a resource, advisor and connector. He recently joined Team Treehouse in an exciting Talent Path role aimed directly impacting underrepresented communities by provide training, apprenticeships and jobs. This was an overall amazing conversation.
Ali Siddiq is a Comedians Comedian, a purist with a love and respect for the craft complemented by an encyclopedic knowledge of it's history. His 20 year journey in comedy has included appearances on Showtime, BET, HBO Def Comedy Jam as well multiple specials on Comedy Central. His humble beginnings read like a something out of Hollywood screenplay, he got his comedic start while incarcerated after setting a goal to make a convicted lifer laugh. I sat down with Ali to learn more about his story. Along the way we chopped it up about the current state of comedy, social media, politics and much more. A hilarious listen filled with insight and wisdom. Check it out
Great convo with John Saunders on The Rob Jay Show this week. He’s a brilliant Digital Marketer, Content Strategist and Online Entreprenuer. His ability to see an opportunity, devise a strategy and execute are unmatched. He’s developed and further automated his workflow into repeatable process used across industries. Over 3,000 students have enrolled in his Udemy Courses where he is now a Premium Instructor. His content and affiliate marketing have grown into a recurring revenue stream. He’s sold 3 e-commerce companies over the past 2 years. While making these moves he provides free weekly content, resources and tools to help others succeed in the digital space. Dude is just good at the Internet. Stay Tuned
I sat down with Savvi and Equality, of The Hue, to learn more about their music, background and professional careers. If I named episodes I probably would have called this one Views. We stopped a lot of places nutrition, culture, HBCU's , hotep, education, math, statistics. I can definitely call this conversation a one of one. I'm still intrigued with their almost stoic view of their own careers even at their heights. An interesting position was presented during this convo that I still haven't found an answer that feels definitively right. "Should Artist Have a Plan B?" Check it out
Tubo is a visual artist, director, entrepreneur and founder of Evesborough Creative Agency. I've been able to personally witness his progression from shooting music videos for local artists to working with Miguel, Tre Songs, Nike and more. He's consistently evolved and found new challenges. One being Things With Todd, an original web series he created that has developed a cult following. I sat down with Tubo discuss his path. We started from his childhood days of wanting to make an And 1 mixtape through his present day activities and future vision. Along the way he dropped hella jewels and shared unique insight on a variety things from why he's stayed in Houston vs moving to LA, challenges of dating with his schedule, why he reads Alchemist twice a year and more. Overall a fun, candid and entertaining listen. Check it out. Tubo Instagram - @ogdannyocean Twitter - @ogdannyocean
The Real Estate Episode Greg T is an Real Estate Investor who is a wealth of knowledge on wholesaling, flipping homes, reaching home ownership and more. A true student of the game who has rode out several storms. His tell it like it is approach and objective view of various real estate opportunities is what makes him unique. He's not here to sell a class or course and he makes no promises about it being easy. I sat down with Greg and discussed his journey from the wild days or being 20 years old and buying property in the Sub Prime era to having to build his way back from nothing. In between he shared jewels and wisdom that anyone interested in real estate can learn from. He's an open book and welcomes people to reach out to him. Check it out The Rob Jay Show Reach him on IG at @gregtii @gregttherealtor @restore360
Deonte Scott is a modern day polymath. Global Mobility Specialist for Facebook, Renown Poet and intellectual. More impressive than his accomplishments is his story of where he began and perseverance through the ups and downs of his journey. Bruv went from failing out of college his first semester to working his way back up from community college and ultimately completing his MBA. Straight Resilience. He shared his story starting from Robert Taylor Homes, projects in Chicago, all the way through him winding up at Facebook. In between we discussed his other passions and successes in Poetry, the importance of mentors and more. Inspiring story and A must listen for anyone interested in working in big tech. Rob Jay Show “Run Thru a MF Face”
I caught up with Christian Pope to talk life, party promotion, Waxaholics and learn more about his journey into sobriety and acceptance of a new purpose. He was open and candid about everything from his DWI to his initial challenges with life after alcohol. Inside of his self awareness and testimony is a beautiful narrative of him embracing a challenge and finding a heroic journey inside. And of course we had to back track and reflect on about his legendary turn up and partying days. I miss that Wild Bul but I'm more than happy to trade him in for todays Christian Pope. #ballislife Rob Jay Show
He's a Badd Man. I sat down with undefeated professional boxer Darwin Price and learned more about his story. His life has been a combination of adventure, pivots, athletic feats and a will to win in everything that he's entered. His dichotomy of experiences is truly unique. At 15 he was out of school and banned for a year inciting a riot inciting a riot. 2 years later he was making history as he completed a State Championship triple crown winning the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter races. A top 15 ranked boxer in the world who is also a proud HBCU Graduate and Alpha. Managed by Al Haymon, one the top boxing managers in the world but still hands on in grass roots marketing. Confident in his skill while cautious about the risk and danger of his craft. There's several layers to him and they are fueled by his personal philosophy Pay The Price. A fun listen full of jewels from an elite world class performer. Meet Darwin #RobJayShow
Important Conversations In this episode I caught up with some brothers who are experienced in both the 9 to 5 and Entrepreneur life to discuss the pro's and cons of each path. We also went in on what I feel like is an assault on the 9 to 5 entrepreneurs and the myths that many are selling about ease of start up success. Entreprenuer and fellow podcaster Devin Baptiste had a lot of nuggets and insights. Al Hughes, Sr Marketing Director for Memphis Grizzlies, blessed us with a call in and had hella perspective to share. Great listen for any upcoming entrepreneur. The Rob Jay Show
SEASON 2 Premier Donnie Houston is multitalented creative with talents ranging from deejaying and music production to comedy. As a producer he's gifted in finding a musical narrative and scoring an artist story. This has led to him creating break out Indie hip hop albums (Riding Slab & Lagniappe)and positioned him as a go to producer for established emcees including Paul Wall and Slim Thug. One thing I've always admired about Donnie and his willingness to explore new ways to express himself. Last year he started a podcast, What They Talking Bout, along with his crew which has grown into one of the fastest growing podcast out and filled a void in the podcast game as an authentic and unique "Voice of The South". During this episode we had a candid conversation about his journey and I picked up hella jewels from his approach to artist as well as his self awareness. He's very in tune with what's right for him and doesn't deviate from that. In between there's laughs and comedy. Check it out #ballislife
I've never used these words before when it comes to my podcast but I’m confident in calling this interview an Instant Classic. Carlos Hurt is a legend, a Houston basketball prodigy who’s basketball feats are still remembered to this day. A former McDonalds All American who terrorized opponents. Considered by many Houstonians as one of the greatest offensive talents ever seen at the high school level. Self described as un athletic and slow his secret weapon was one that can’t be quantified on a stat sheet or seen with the naked eye. Carlos Hurt was fueled by a love of the game. While it seemed he was on the fast track to the NBA, mistakes and costly decisions of his youth led to a once forgone conclusion slipping away. Not one to run from his truth, Carlos Hurt opened up for a candid conversation and shared his story. More than a basketball player, he is a basketball historian full of almost unbelievable basketball stories of himself and many other greats. An ultimate team player who to this day enjoys sharing credit with his teammates. He possesses a superb memory an can recall his teammates going back to when he was 7 years old. I could listen to him talk basketball all day. A solid brother and good dude. He came on my podcast as a guest and left as a friend. #ballislife
Parsons has established himself as the go to photographer for some of the biggest stars in entertainment. In addition to being Kendrick Lamar's tour photographer his recent work has included SZA's Jordan Brand Campaign and Kelly Roland for Vogue Magazine. We sat back and had a candid conversation that took us from his start as an intern back at FAMU to reaching heights he once only dreamed of. He also gave a glimpse into his creative process, his recharging methods and his radically aggressive visualization practices that he uses manifest the clients and opportunities he desires. I've met many entrepreneurs, creatives and dreamers that have read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Parsons is the first person I've ever met that LIVES it as a daily practice. Even utilizing a divine council and considering Hill a personal mentor to this day. This episode is a rare inside glimpse into a soft spoken artists who is at home behind the camera. But under the layers of gratitude and humility resides a beast whose mind is his secret weapon. #ballislife
Daniel Ewing is a Houston basketball legend whose career helped redefine Houston as a hotbed for basketball talent. He starred at Willowridge Highschool, widely considered the greatest basketball team in Texas History, where he helped lead them to a state championship. In 2001 Daniel Ewing and teammate T.J. Ford made history as the first teammates voted to the McDonalds All American Game in the same year. From there he starred at Duke University playing under Coach K and establishing himself as one of the best shooting guards in the country. He was drafted with the 32nd pick by the Los Angeles Clippers and began an over decade long professional career. For all his accolades he is a uniquely humble and displays the same unselfishness he played with on the court in his life. We chopped it up about his career, how he developed his passion for the game and what made him successful. He also gave a unique insight as to what makes Coach K so good and consistently elite. If you are a fan of basketball, especially if your from Houston this is a fun listen full of jewels #ballislife Sponsored By Signarama Katy-Fulshear 281-665-7085
Sean Falyon Be Everywhere is the most fitting nickname that I've ever heard someone have. An Artist, DeeJay, Nightlife Advocate and co creator of Get Brunch amongst other things. Originally from Philly and now residing in Atlanta, his consistency and willingness to travel to wherever he needs to be have broken down doors and created lanes for him: first as an emcee and now behind the 1's and 2's. A world class networker, he has the unique ability rapidly build authentic connections with influential people. He's also a local pioneer of what I've dubbed "the second life". Where you have a crew, friends, revenue streams and a growing network in a city that you don't reside in. Though based in Atlanta he's built a tribe so strong in Houston that people think he resides there. I caught up with Sean to discuss his journey through music, his strategies for relationship building and much more. The Bul delivered and sprinkled a lot jewels in throughout this jawn
This episode I sat down with Billyssia Piece and Nick Houston, Owner/Operators of Bee Fit Foods, a healthy meal prep company that has experienced rapid growth and built a tribe of enthusiastic, happy and satisfied customers. They've built a wide range of clientele from professional athletes and fitness competitors to stay at home moms. What makes their story unique is how they have done it, bootstrapping in a crowded lane and winning people over with an amazing product and deep appreciation for each client. We dug deep and got to the core of their company and what fuels their drive and went back to their beginnings and learned how the company grew from a small catering operation to a force in the health and wellness industry. This is a great listen for any entrepreneur but even those outside of business can gain much value from the wisdom shared. The Rob Jay Show
Tobe Nwigwe is making purpose popular while putting together one of the most impressive marketing campaigns that I've witnessed. A talented emcee whose work ethic, creativity and consistency to rapidly accelerate his reach. What started as him playing around and posting a So Far Gone Challenge on Instagram led to an immediate spike in engagement from his followers on Instagram. After a friend recommended that post a video of him rapping every Sunday he created #GetTwistedSundays with many of his posts going viral. He is the first artist on Eric Thomas ETA Record Label and the likes of Kevin Durant and Sway In The Morning Fans. I caught up with Tobe and had a candid conversation about his journey (300 to 80,000 followers), what keeps him inspired, his strategy and key decisions that have had the greatest impact on his career. Artists listen to this one with a pen and pad near because many jewels were dropped. I hope you enjoy. "DIE EMPTY" https://www.tobenwigwe.com Rob Jay - The Manifestation of Art Life In The Flesh
I sat down with Kam Franklin, lead singer of The Suffers, and learned more about her amazing story while breaking down some of the strategies that have led to her success. Kam began her journey as a local artists in Houston, singing in cover bands. Early on she the personal decision to raise her standards and build a career that was true herself and her art. Kam Franklin has went on to build a global fan base for her music. Some of her past performances include Afro Punk, The Jimmy Kimmel Show and signing the national anthem at Minute Maid Park during her hometown Houston Astros World Series Run. She's an open book for upcoming artist and share's many jewels in our conversation that anyone in pursuit of a dream can find value in implementing. Check out The Suffers latest single "I Think I Love You" and learn more about her here http://www.thesuffers.com
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