The Spark Podcast

D'Andre Good is the founder of Urban Eatz Delivery. Urban Eatz Delivery is a food delivery service app that connects great food to great people. They cater to the overlooked smaller minority owned restaurants, food trucks, and home-based food vendors, giving the community an opportunity to savor some of the "Hidden Gems" within the city of Houston and surrounding areas. Every month, a portion of Urban Eatz Delivery's proceeds are donated on behalf of the highest grossing client for the month to the charitable organization of their choice, as long as it benefits our community. In this episode, D'Andre discusses his passion for food and his experience as an entrepreneur. We walk through both the challenges and successes he's endured as well as his aspirations for the future!

If there's anyone you need to keep your eye on this year it's Emily of Beautifully Layered! This incredibly talented and dynamic entrepreneur and mother is the founder of Beautifully Layered, a multi-dimensional brand featuring timeless and modern event rentals, wholesale wellness products from woman-owned businesses, and a soon-to-be-released women's loungewear line. Emily keeps it real with listeners and shares beneficial tips on starting a business while encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to take a leap of faith and bring their ideas to life, no matter how imperfect at the start. We also discuss the importance of community and networking, as this level of success rarely happens alone. An inspiring, kind, and empowering individual, we hope you become enamored with Emily just as we are! 

This week it's all things K-Pop!! We're joined by the lovely Tay whose adoration and passion for K-Pop reigns supreme. In this fun, humorous and informative episode, we discuss the origins of K-Pop, the unique stylistic elements of the genre, and how Tay became one of the biggest K-Pop fans I know. We also explore some of Tay's favorite bands (did someone say BTS?!) while showing appreciation for foreign artists breaking into the U.S. market. We guarantee that after listening to this episode you'll highly consider checking out some of these amazing k-pop groups. We're definitely a fan now and you should be too!

Ask and you shall receive... meet your host, Leen! 

One of our favorite conversations to date, we are delighted to introduce you to Lisa! As a young Asian-American woman navigating her late twenties, Lisa shares with us her experience immigrating to the U.S. as an adolescent from South Korea, and details both her academic and professional journey which led her to a career in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. During this episode, Leen and Lisa bond over their shared experience as first-generation immigrants and how navigating Western culture was a challenging experience throughout the years but how family and cultural identity kept them grounded. Lisa also candidly discusses her experience in love and relationships and provides unintentional wisdom to the audience. We hope you enjoy hearing this honest and humorous conversation between friends!

Coach Rea is an awarded Executive Coach, with a passion to help make a difference in the world. Coach Rea began her career in corporate America and gained her expertise in leadership coaching, sales/marketing strategy, and business advising. Today, Coach Rea is an expert in NLP Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, Personal and Professional Development,and is a certified Self-Talk trainer. But the list doesn't end there! Coach Rea is also a successful entrepreneur and the host & executive producer of the Your Life Now radio show. In this honest and candid conversation, listen to Coach Rea drop gems and endless wisdom while unintentionally coaching her niece and host of the podcast, Leen, in some positive self-talk. 

Coming into her passions and entrepreneurial endeavors, Meela is undoubtedly destined for greatness. A fashion designer, singer, dancer and multi-faceted artist and entrepreneur, Meela has been diving into her goals head first and has manifested new opportunities that showcase her creativity and many talents. In this conversation between two friends, join in on the laughs and smiles as we explore Meela's dreams of launching a multi-use textile studio for local artists and hear her detail several of her newest handmade clothing pieces that are now available for purchase. In addition, Meela is a wine enthusiast and shares numerous recommendations for the audience to explore. We also discuss the importance of mentorship, especially for young women entrepreneurs, and how building connections with like-minded individuals can lead to more opportunities and resources. We hope this episode inspires you to chase after your dreams, no matter what stage you're in! 

In this bonus episode, we went back in the vault for an enthralling interview with Sisco Hollard of Ocsispolis! Sisco is undeniably one of the most dynamic guests we've had to date as his experience and expertise span a vast array of mediums and industries. Sisco is an architect by profession but that is only the tip of the spear in his wheelhouse of talents. Sisco is a Black Communitarian and Afrofuturist and has been an advocate and organizer in his local to global community since.. well forever! Additionally, he is a multi-faceted visual creator whose projects include comic art, drawing/illustration, architecture design, art educational content, and has even developed grassroots content creator resources. It is evident throughout this episode that Sisco seeks to empower individuals in his community with the resources and knowledge he's gained over the years while mobilizing them to create positive change. In this episode, listen to Sisco discuss his brand "Ocsispolis", Afrofuturism, politics, architecture, community organizing, cryptocurrency and so so much more! 

A.C. the Ruler is a dynamic musical artist hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin but his talents far extend the confines of the music industry. As a creative in every sense, A.C. the Ruler is also the founder and owner of fashion brand "CloudClub", has modeled for notable brands such as August Shop and Online Ceramics and Billionaire Boys Club, and has been recently expanding his passion for film and video directing.  In this intimate conversation, A.C. the Ruler gets real with host and longtime partner, Leen, as they share stories of their relationship. But more importantly, A.C. the Ruler gives us insights into his upcoming projects, his hopes and dreams, and describes an impressive vision for the future you sure don't want to miss! Notably, we also discuss A.C.'s talents as both a rapper and singer, and the roots of his newfound (but always present) Soulful, RnB sound. On Friday, March 4th, A.C. the Ruler captures this sound in his new single "Stay Out the Way" available on all streaming platforms!

Landon DeVon is undoubtedly a man of many talents, but most notably he is an award winning singer/songwriter, emcee, quantum reiki master, brujo and tarot reader. In this humorous and sentimental episode, Landon gets intimate about his personal identity and shares his unique experience of discovering his passions at a young age. In this episode, we discuss his recent performance and Milwaukee Pride Fest, his re-release of his album "Chakra 4" and his upcoming album "Chakra 5".  What's evident throughout is that Landon is a deeply connected individual whose lived experiences and relationships translate into every aspect of his art. In addition, we discuss non-traditional forms of intimacy and relationships, the growing popularity of astrology and tarot, and the fast-paced lifestyle of a dynamic artists headed to the top. Tune in at the end of this episode for Landon's hit song "The Lair" from Chakra 4. 

CW: Depression, Suicide, Mental HealthArguably the most intimate conversation to date, join us for a vulnerable and beautiful episode with Milwaukee-based artist “.NOOR”. In this conversation, .NOOR walks us through his experience as a musical artist and the ways in which growing up in Milwaukee has influenced his sound and lyricism. .NOOR also shares an intimate reflection on his experience with mental health in the last year and coming out as bisexual through his pride freestyle released earlier this summer. It's evident throughout the episode that .NOOR has experienced tremendous growth and triumph, now taking those life lessons as fuel and inspiration for his artistry. His upcoming EP “Wall Art” will be dropping on November 30th and provides an upbeat preface to his upcoming album. Coming January 2nd, .NOOR will be dropping his debut album “With or Without Doubt” where he shares a deeply emotional glimpse into his personal life. .NOOR speaks eloquently on his capacity to love, and the importance of showing love in the face of pain, adversity and injustice. We are so grateful .NOOR shared his experience with us and we hope you find it as powerful as we did! 

A Chicago Native, First Wave Scholar and rapper, Tan2 shares his unique and honest journey with listeners as he releases his newest mixtape "I Tried".  In this episode, we explore Tan2's passion for music and his evolution as an artist beginning in high school and translating across his college and post-grad life. Today, Tan2 is dynamic, new age artist whose bouncy songs and subtle punch lines have listeners both dancing and pondering life.  His poetry and spoken word roots are evident throughout as Tan2's fun delivery is paired with a stark contrast in word choice. "I Tried" is true to its name, as Tan2 clearly shows us his growth in artistry and a discovery of personal identity, sounds and ideas.  Follow along as we also candidly discuss new album releases such as Donda and Certified Lover Boy, explore themes of adulthood and identity, and share on the importance of building community.  Check out Tan2's single "Fuckin I'm Heated" at the end of this episode.

Cleopatra Jones is a dynamic artist, fashion designer and poet, however, her talents and skills far exceed these titles. Her clothing brand, 444 alignment, features acrylic on fabric and embodies true wearable art of unique and eccentric designs. As an artist, her bold color choices and abstract visuals brings the audience into a new realm of fantasy and grandeur. Based in Chicago, IL, Cleopatra Jones pulls inspiration from many places, people and objects. Yet as a true cancer sun, her motives lie in emotional expression and inspiring others to feel through her art. Whether she is painting on canvas, designing a pant suit, or recording a feature for an upcoming music project, Cleopatra Jones brings her full, authentic self to everything that she does, allowing others to feel deeply connected to her vulnerability and thoughtfulness. A genuine and introspective guest, we hope you fall in love with Jones as much as we did. (At the end of this episode features the skit "Cloud Radio" ft. Cleopatra Jones from  "From Milwaukee With Love" by A.C. the Ruler)

In this unique episode, Sheba of Sheba Healer Living shares her experiences and beliefs around using cannabis for healing and medicinal purposes in Illinois where cannabis became legal both medicinally and recreationally in January 2021. Sheba not only educates others on how to use cannabis for healing, but also expresses her belief that cannabis can be used to overcome some of societies greatest ills and unite the masses. Similarly, Sheba started her own edible businesses and creates robust menus of foods all infused with THC for dinner parties, events, and more. She can be found selling her products at many festivals and events around Chicago and the Midwest. Additionally, Sheba is a professional dab extractor and genre-bending recording artist. Tune into this thought provoking episode to learn more about this extraordinary person whose passion for cannabis shines through! 

As a musical artist, poet, and teacher, Rich Robbins is certainly not short for words when it comes to expressing his unique experiences navigating our complex world, especially during the unprecedented year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Rich walks us through discovering his passion for music and spoken word, and how he came to be one of Chicago's leading emerging artists. In his new album, "On the Horizon", dropping Friday June 4th, Rich eloquently shares his journey of self reflection and critical self-analysis. Themes you can find on his latest project include thoughtful discussions of  toxic masculinity, race in America, mental health, and tapping into a healthier, wholistic mind frame, among others. We also discuss his most recent visual for "Boy to Men" which quickly became a fan favorite including scenes from the studio where Rich recorded and produced his latest album. Tune in as Rich teases exciting new details for the album and what you can expect this summer! Pre-save "On the Horizon" today and follow Rich Robbins at @richr0bbins!

For Shontay, pickles have been her favorite snack since she was a kid. Wanting to share her love for pickles with others, Shontay started Wut-A-Pickle, your one-stop-shop for a wide variety of flavored pickles with a kick! Wut-A-Pickle offers unique flavors such as tropical punch, chili sucker, spicy mango and many, many more. With a storefront location at 6727 Long Beach Blvd, Wut-A-Pickle also offers sliders, slushies, signature lemonade, and more! In this delightful conversation, Shontay shares her experiences as a small business owner and encourages anyone with a unique business idea to dive in head first! Check them out on instagram @wut_a_pickle and order online nationwide at www.wutapickle.com

In this BONUS episode of The Spark Podcast, we have a very special guest who host, Leen, has known for over 20 years. Join us for this short conversation filled with lots of laughs and silly humor, nostalgia, goofy political discourse, music reviews, and more! Want to hear more from this special, surprise guest? Let us know on social media @the.sparkpodcast

A new friend of the podcast, Irfan brings bright and thoughtful dialogue to this episode as we explore his passion for dance and film. As a dancer, choreographer, and teacher for 9+ years, Irfan can be found at two studios - the Dance and Music Academy and All About Dance - where he works with youth and adults of all ages. Most recently, Irfan has become an amateur filmmaker and director, helping to visually showcase the beautiful routines of his students on screen while in-person performances have been limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Evident throughout this episode, Irfan has a deep love and appreciation for his students and seeks to be a positive role model, confidant, and mentor for the youth he coaches with special attention to the history and cultural origins of dance. His most recent visual projects include "Imagine: Pivot and Soar", a dance film adapted from a children's book that details healthy coping mechanisms, and "Deja Reve", featuring three students in their first-ever cinematic solo dance film. Irfan can be found throughout the week at both studios and is still accepting new students! 

In her debut EP, "Manifest", Rahel Be brings a bright and unique sound to powerful themes of growth, healing, and rising to one's full potential. In this episode, Rahel Be takes us through her journey in music from her first-ever studio session in Chicago to dropping her debut EP in December 2020.  With thoughtful lyrics and effervescent melodies, this Neo-Soul project  effortlessly captures the evolution of a young woman as she navigates love, friendship, and purpose.  One of the most impactful and poignant songs, “Megaphone”, walks us through Rahel Be's experience attending protests in the wake of the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police. Enjoy her track "UnlockYourMind" featured in full at the end of this episode and available on all streaming platforms!

EC Love is a photographer, filmmaker, screenwriter, content creator and designer with a passion for capturing emotion in the visuals he creates. His most recent endeavor includes launching “humanpalettechannel”, a multi-media platform and collective centered around building a community of diverse artists across various mediums with the shared goal of amplifying the different palettes of humanity. In this all-encompassing conversation, explore EC Love's journey thus far, his goals and aspirations, and get a special sneak peak into the exciting projects he will be dropping in 2021.

Maisa Abonour is a teacher, medical translator, chef, radio host, and entrepreneur, but above all else, she is a mother to four amazing children. Her story is one of exploration, passion, and resilience as she takes listeners through her journey from Syria to Wisconsin. Her compassion and kindness for people and the world at large shines bright as she shares inspirational words of wisdom with her eldest daughter and host, Leen.