The Rise Of The Creative Podcast

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we had the pleasure of interviewing fashion designer, style connoisseur and entrepreneur, JC Brillant! He dropped so many gems regarding style, fashion and overall business advice that I'm sure creatives can glean from. Hear more about his brands BBNYC and Jose Christo as well as his creative journey on this episode. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC & follow JC at @MrBrillant & @ShopBBNYC. As always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slayss discuss the idea of being a student to your craft. We talk on topics regarding being teachable, how to find a mentor, popular mentor/mentee relationships and more in this episode. Stay tuned for more content and conversations around being a student by following us on instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC And as always, Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise of the Creative Podcast, Ash Slayss stops by to drop some gems related to hard work and perseverance. She speaks on how hard work beats luck, the illusion of success as well as providing some "Real Ass Questions" to ask yourself. Consistent hard work is your "Golden Ticket" on this creative journey. Follow us on Instagram for more creative content and discussion at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC and as always, Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slayss and Winston Ward discuss the importance of building confidence on your creative journey. We touch on subjects like the role of fear, comparison being the thief of joy as well as the risks of "faking it until you make it". We truly hope that you enjoy this episode and find some practical advice or motivation from it. Let us know some of your thoughts and comments down below. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward and Ash Slayss discuss the importance of transparency in our personal lives as well as our creative endeavors. We speak about a our great friend and a friend of the podcast, Gerard Thompson and how he uses his transparency in his music as well as creative transparency in pop culture today. We hope you find the episode valuable. If so, let us know how you feel down in the comments. Follow us on instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, stay creative!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston & Ash Slays discuss the importance of creating boundaries. We touch on some of our own boundaries as well as boundaries we've seen in popular culture. Lastly, we made it practical for all creatives out there and gave some suggestions on how to create boundaries while on your creative journey. Let's continue the conversation on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of the Rise of the Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward discuss their love/hate relationship between social media algorithm. They also discuss how creativity is impacted by algorithms, whether positively or negatively. Aside from the occasional rant, they also provide some gems in regards to balance, scheduling & being creative on social media. Follow us on instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to stay up to date with everything we've got going on. And as always, Stay Creative.

On this special episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Tajonay Tarrats of Dope KTCHN Sweets at her Pop-Up Shop in Brooklyn, New York. We had the chance to speak with her and her talented venders about entrepreneurship, advice they'd give to aspiring creatives and some insight into their brands and businesses. Be sure to stay up to date with everything we've got going on by following us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . Below are all the vendors and how you can contact them. The Dope KTCHN Sweets - @TheDopeKTCHN MDesigns - @MicheleBurnettDesigns Socorra Rose - @SocorraRose Made By Dai - @MadeByDaiOriginals DomGrias - @DomGrias More NYC - @More_NYC Maati Made It - @MaatiMadeIt Powered By Melanin - @PoweredByMelanin_ Quality Of Quantity Cuisines - @Q.O.Q__Cuisines__

On this episode we sit down with the amazingly talented and creative chef/baker Tajonay Tarrats, the owner of The Dope KTCHN. She sat down with Ash Slays to discuss her business, creative process, culinary school as well as several other gems for up and coming entrepreneurs in this cooking space. She also spoke about her dream collaboration being with Ayesha Curry which was surprising but It made sense once she broke It down. Follow The Dope KTCHN on Instagram at @TheDopeKTCHN and check out her menu at DopeKTCHNsweets.com. Stay up to date with everything we've got going on with the pod on our instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays sit down and speak about the future of the pod. We discuss future episodes and what's next for us. Stay up to date with everything we have going on by following us on IG at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of the Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays sit down with Tribal NYC owner Brittany Betts-Thompson. Brittany discusses Tribal NYC and her passion for making candles and other Items based around scents. We speak about her ups and downs with getting the business up and running as well as her trial and error with deciding on certain scents. She dropped so many gems in regards to perseverance and having a strategy in running your business. Check out the episode and let us know your thoughts. Follow Tribal NYC on Instagram at @TribalNYC_ and check out her website www.tribalnewyorkcity.com . Follow the podcast on Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC & as always, Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston & Ash Slays speak about their transition out of working a 9-5 job to being a full time creative. We speak about the ups and downs of being a full time creative as well as the joys It brings. We also give some insight on how to go about transitioning out into this world full time with some helpful tips and practices. Stay up to date with us on Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to continue the conversation. And as always, Stay Creative!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays stops by to speak about creating your own timeline. In a world full of people who constantly find themselves conforming to the plans of their peers and society, Ash Slays encourages you to create your own timeline. Do things at your own pace, It's way more fulfilling that way. Check out this episode and share with us a time when someone tried to change your plans. Stay informed with everything we have going on by following our Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays discuss creating your value and what It means to creatives. We touch on things specific to us in regards to when we started seeing value within ourselves and how we like to give value to other creatives. Check out this episode and let us when did you find value within yourself. Let's continue this conversation on Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we're celebrating Episode 100. Thank you to everyone who sent in videos and sat down with us via zoom to make this episode possible. So many gems from so many beautiful people were dropped on this episode. Tap in and help us celebrate. Cheers to 100. See you at Episode 200! Be sure to follow us on Instagram & as always, stay creative.

In this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slayss & Winston Ward discuss preacher's kids and how growing up in church affected them as adults. Being a preacher's kid herself, Ash Slays speaks candidly on the things that she experienced. As most creatives growing up in the church, we faced lots of pressure to fit into the secular crowd or to just conform to religion. We unpack all of this and more in this episode. Check It out and let us know what you think either down in the comments or on our Instagram, @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. And as always, Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we sit down with multi-faceted artist Quincy Valentine (@Mr.QValentine). We spoke on how creativity runs in his family, being a rapper/singer/producer and he also dropped some gems for all aspiring creatives. His secret talent stumped us as well. Tap in and check out this episode and let us know what you resonate with. Stay up to date with everything Quincy is working on at QValentineMusic.com. Stream his new single "Like You Do" available on all digital music streaming platforms. Follow us on Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to continue the conversation. And as always, Stay Creative!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we sit down with SOMU artist Gerard Thompson ( @GtTheArtist ) and discuss his debut project "Blue Dream". He discusses his inspiration behind the title, favorite songs, and what's next for him musically. We also discussed his progression from his previous mixtapes and how this project put him in a different place creatively. A lot of gems in this podcast for artists who are looking to take their creativity to the next level. Lastly, Ashley stumped Gerard with some amazing Rapid Fire questions. Check out the episode and let us know what you were able to take away from this. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreative to continue the conversation and as always, Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward sit down with SOMU Artist Jvon Lawrence. (@JvonLawrence) In this special quarantine episode, Jvon talks about his inspirations behind his latest project, A Faded Dream and how his life and other obstacles influenced his music. He also spoke about how his music has changed since joining the indie label “Sounds Of Music Univerxity. Check out this episode and be sure to let us know if you found any hidden gems in this. Until next time, stay creative!

On this special quarantine episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward come together via Zoom to speak about the systematic oppression of African American people in America. We discuss what are some solutions for creatives, what to do if you're protesting as well as some mental health advice for black Americans who may feel overwhelmed. Below you'll find some links to some great resources that can help during this period of unrest. The main take away from this episode for creatives is to continue to create. Show your anger, frustration, and pain through your work. Make someone feel something today via your creativity. Let's keep this conversation going over on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC and as always, Stay Creative. HELPFUL LINKS National Resource List by State (Lawyers/Donations/Tips For Protestors etc) https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1CjZMORRVuv-I-qo4B0YfmOTqIOa3GUS207t5iuLZmyA/mobilebasic How To Prepare For A Protest In The US https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/dyzvn7/prepare-for-protest-in-the-united-states-justice-george-floyd #8CantWait (8 Policies To Decrease Police Violence By 72%) https://8cantwait.org/ 115 Ways To Donate In Support Of Black Lives & Communities Of Color https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html

On this episode of the Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays sit down (virtually) with Francina Smith @Sheis.Fran. She dropped so many gems in regards to creating stories and being authentic to yourself. We also spoke on the importance of friends who push you forward as well as her family foundation which nourished her creativity. Check out Francina's work on YouTube by checking out The Black Panties Web Series. Find out more about Francina by checking out her website SheIsFranSmith.com. And as always, be sure to stay up to date with everything we have going on by following us on Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. Stay Creative

In this episode of The Rise of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays speak on Women's History Month! We discuss men's perspective on what Women's history means. We also discuss who some of our favorite female creatives are as well as some creatives we feel are on the rise. Lastly, we speak about the influence of our mothers in our lives and how It shaped our view of women. Let's continue the conversation on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreative and as always, Stay Creative.

In this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays stops by to talk about power. The thing that almost all of us are in search of but rarely get It. Ashley discusses ways to keep the power that you already have as well as showing us ways we lose our power. She ends the episode by saying, "Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your own creative voice. Keep creating dope shit and remain powerful." and that just might be one of the more powerful things ever said on this podcast. With that being said, please follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to stay up to date with everything we've got going on.

In this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we discuss some of our favorite black creatives. Technically we celebrate blackness 365 days a year but February is the time where we acknowledge and uplift our culture. In this episode, we highlight some of our unsung black heroes as well as some of our favorite moments this month. Who is your favorite black creative? Let us know down in the comments and let's continue this conversation on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative, Ash Slays & Winston Ward discuss legends. What does it mean to be a legend? What qualifies you to be a legend? Is there an age limit? We discuss all of these questions in this podcast as well as honor the late and great Kobe Bryant. What's your definition of a legend? Let us know down in the comments. Also, follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. And as always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays stops by for another #TalkToMeTuesday. She breaks down the importance of having a vision. More importantly, she emphasizes the importance of following through on that vision with actionable steps. She even provides a real-life example of how she's bringing one of her dreams to fruition herself. Check us out on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to stay up to date with everything that we have going on. As always, stay creative.

On this episode of The Rise of The Creative Podcast, we sit down with Alex DaAlpha and discuss his upbringing and how It all relates to his music. Alex is an energetic Long Island based rap artist who despite many trials and tribulations including homelessness, persevered as any true artist should. This episode is filled with laughs and good times mixed with a lot of gems and takeaways that would be beneficial to artists on the rise. Follow Alex DaAlpha on Instagram at @AlexDaAlpha to stay up to date with all of the new music he has coming out. Stay up to date with us on Instagram as well at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. And as always, stay creative.

Happy New Year!!! In this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward discuss what's next for us in the new year. We also discuss the guests we've had on the podcast and what we took from those episodes. Lastly, we touch on what we're leaving in 2019 and what we're bringing into the new year. You can follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC and as always, Stay Creative.

Merry Christmas!!!! In this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we're speaking about our gifts! In this special episode, we unpack holiday traditions and what are some great things to get creatives during the holidays. Enjoy this episode. Enjoy your families and as always, Stay Creative. Follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC

In this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward discuss what It means to heal. We dive into our own personal stories around healing and forgiveness and even some of the lessons we've learned along the way. We wrap the episode up by speaking on the importance of creativity and how it can aid n the healing process. What role does creativity play in your healing process? Let us know down below and let's continue this conversation on Instagram. Follow us at @RiseOTheCreativeNYC ...and as always. Stay Creative.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward discuss creating your action plan. The discussion includes what to do when your plan goes south, what's the definition of done and the importance of writing things down. Have you ever done an action plan? If so, tell us about it down in the comments or on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . And as always, Stay Creative

On this special episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward stops by to talk about gratitude. Around this time of year, the spirit of love and giving is in the air. Winston urges all creatives to not only use their words to express their gratitude but to also back them up with actions. What are you thankful for this year? Let us know down in the comments or on our Instagram page @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . We hope you have an amazing holiday and as always, Stay Creative.

On this special episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays interviews, Winston Ward! He discusses his debut project "Creative", breaks down certain lyrics and goes in-depth with the inspiration behind the songs on the project. Ash Slays even puts Winston in the hot seat with her signature rapid-fire questions. Download "Creative" on all digital streaming platforms and follow Winston on social media at @TheRnBstudent. Stay up to date on everything ROTC has going on by following us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC. And as always, stay creative!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays speak about creating collaborations. Collaborations are a major part of the creative experience. Collaborating also allows us as creatives to have a broader point of reference when it comes to us working on different projects. When was the last time you collaborated with another creative? Leave your responses below. Let's continue the conversation on Instagram as well. @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC

On this episode of The Rise of The Creative Podcast, Winston & Ash stops by to discuss the importance of relationships in the lives of creatives. We touch on many different topics such as giving people their flowers while they're still here, defining what a toxic relationship is and how to maintain a relationship. We hope that you enjoy this episode. Stay connected with us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC and stay tuned for more content!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we interview the amazing Donald Henriquez of D.O.N.D. Photos. Don is the man behind the camera on a lot of the footage you see here at Sounds Of Music Univerxity & we are happy that he's finally taking the step to come from behind the camera and speak a little more about his process and the intricacies of photography. Don drops so many gems during this episode such as the importance of character and integrity as well as his respect for women in general. You can find Don and his amazing photography on Instagram at @D.O.N.D.photos . Stay tuned for more episodes of the podcast and be sure to follow us on Instagram as well to stay connected! @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC See You Next Time Creatives!

On this #TalkToMeTuesday episode of the Rise of The Creative podcast, Ash Slays stops by once again with the crucial gems. This week's episode talks about communication and how important it is in relationships. We'd save so much time and energy if we actually took the time out to properly communicate our thoughts to the people we interact with. Comment below with some ways communication has helped you along your creative journey. Follow us on Instagram as well to continue the conversation. @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC

In this Wednesday episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston stops by to drop some #WednesdayWinspiration . Now, normally these types of podcasts are shorter in length but today, Winston decided to give you guys an in-depth view of his top 10 books every creative should read. See the list below and be on the lookout for more episodes of the Rise of The Creative Podcast. @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC Mastery by Robert Greene, Ask GaryVee by Gary Vaynerchuk You Are A Message by Guilliame Wolfe The Seventh Sense by Joshua Cooper Ramo Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey How To Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie Relentless By Tim Grover The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Bonus - The Richest Man In Babylon by George Classon

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays stops by to encourage all creatives to take a little bit more accountability in their lives. The more transparent we are about how well we're doing (or how much we're struggling) is crucial to the life of a creative. Ash also speaks about her support system during this episode as well. Stay tuned for more episodes and content on our Instagram page at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC - Stay Creative!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays stops by to speak about something quite special for this #TalkToMeTuesday episode. On this podcasts, she speaks about her idol, Beyonce Knowles-Carter and her determination to withstand adversity. She ties in how we should have that same determination and drive towards our dreams and goals. Let us know what you think of the podcast below and be sure to follow us on Instagram as well at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . Stay Creative My Friends!!!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays sit down with the amazing Dev T. Smith. Dev is a writer, multimedia producer & content strategist combining skills across editorial direction, social strategy, and user experience. He has built a successful track record of crafting content strategy for brands ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies across the tech, entertainment, and e-commerce industries. His work with brands such as eBay Enterprise, Revolt TV, Magento, FuseTV, Black Enterprise, UnitedMasters, and many more. During this podcast Dev dropped a lot of gems around pop culture, staying true to yourself, the core values of branding, Nipsey Hussle & even Kanye West. This episode is filled with laughter and good times as well as some points of seriousness. Definitely one of our best podcasts to date. Follow Dev on Instagram at @DevTSmith and be sure to check out his website which is devtsmith.biz Stay up to date with everything going on with the podcast on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . Before we go, we always ask this one question, what are you creating today? Tell us down below or on Instagram. See Your Soon!

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward & Ash Slays discuss what's next for our podcast and what our listeners can expect from us going forward. Some amazing news that we're excited to announce is that we are starting our YouTube channel! This will give you access to see our guests in the studio with us talking about their creative experiences. Major shout out to Don of Don Of A New Day Photos for assisting us in bringing the video aspect to our channel. We're continuing to grow and we appreciate you being here along the way. Follow us on Instagram @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to stay up to date with all of the latest content and episodes. Remember to stay creative!

On the next installment of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward interview Alien Sauce creator Sasha! She dropped so many gems in regards to creating great products and keeping your brand integrity high. She spoke about brands leveraging influencers, the importance of mentors, the importance of great products and just overall health. Check out her Instagram and her products at @AlienSauce and on her website at www.aliensauce.space . Follow us as well on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to keep the conversation going. Stay creative my friends.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward discuss Woman's History and the important women in our lives. We discuss powerful women who've made an impact on this world like Angela Rye, Oprah Winfrey, Coretta Scott King etc. We celebrate women on this podcast and we hope that this podcast can shed some light on the amazing women in history. Follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to keep the conversation going. Stay Creative My Friends!

On This Episode Of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays gets a little personal and discusses creating your peace. She dives deep into her own personal insecurities and discusses how she began reclaiming her peace. At the end of the day, creating your peace as a creative will ultimately allow you to become more creative. Check out the episode and let us know what you think. Check us out on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to keep the conversation going.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Ash Slays & Winston Ward sit down with singer/songwriter Demetrius Lane. We touched on many topics ranging from his new EP entitled "Unspoken", the subject of vulnerability and what it's like being a gay black man in America. He dropped so many gems around self-love and self care as well. This is surely an episode that you don't want to miss! Follow Demetrius on Instagram at @DemetriusLane . Also, follow the podcast on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC and lets keep this conversation going. As a creative, do you feel it is important to be vulnerable? Let us know down in the comments or write to us on Instagram! We look forward to hearing from you. And as always, stay creative my friends.

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, we interviewed Latin R&B singer Yojance to speak about his upcoming single "Quiero" & his upcoming project. He dropped a lot of gems around his culture and how it impacted his music. He also surprised us with his musical influences and stories about how he started writing. Stream his new single "Quiero" and the rest of his music on all digital services and stay up to date with everything by following his Instagram at @YojanceMusic. Also follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to keep the conversation going! Stay Creative Guys.

On this episode of The Rise of The Creative Podcast, our host Winston Ward stops for some Wednesday "Winspiration". In this episode he discusses faith and discipline and states that it is the hallmark of success for all creatives. He relates the amount of discpline and faith that you need to the amount of faith people have in religion. It literally takes all that you've got in order for your passion and dreams to flourish. Check out this episode and comment what you think of it below. He surely dropped a ton of gems that could change your perspective about things. Follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC . Stay Creative Guys!

On this episode of The Rise of The Creative Podcast we interview the amazing Adiasha Richards LMHC of Growth & Transitions Counseling! She dropped so many gems in regards to mental health and opened our eyes to the many stigmas associated with mental health in the black community as well as in the Caribbean community. We also spoke about depression and mental health issues among creatives as well. This episode gets really deep and we are super excited that Adiasha stopped by to shed some much needed insight into these topics. Follow her on Instagram @Queenz_Therapist. If you're interested in any therapy sessions or mental health counseling of any sort, go to http://growthandtransitionscounseling.com & you can speak with Adiasha or any of the other amazing clinicians she has on her team. You can follow our podcast on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to keep the conversation going!

On this installment of The Rise of The Creative Podcast, hosts Winston Ward & Ash Slays discuss their favorite creatives in Black History! This list includes Spike Lee, Quincy Jones, Bob Marley and a few other amazing creatives. They also discuss what it's like to be young, black & gifted in this current generation. Stay tuned for more episodes and lets keep the conversation going on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC

On this episode of The Rise Of The Creative Podcast, Winston Ward stops by to ask a very important question. Do you have what it takes to be a successful creative? He breaks down what that means and also the importance of sacrifice in the life of a creative. Follow us on Instagram at @RiseOfTheCreativeNYC to stay up to date with everything and to keep the conversation going. We look forward to speaking with you! Stay creative my friends!