On this episode of Leave Looking Up, we sit down with Dr. Yusef Salaam — author, activist, motivational speaker, and one of the Exonerated Five. Wrongfully imprisoned at just 15 years old, Yusef endured years of wrongful incarceration before reclaiming not just his freedom, but his voice, his future, and his name. Today, he is a New York City Councilman, has received a lifetime achievement award from Barack Obama, is a published author, and is a global symbol of transformation and justice.

This season of Leave Looking Up continues to explore the minds of worldbuilders — visionaries who have a very clear idea of the world they want to see, and put forth efforts to bring that world into fruition. Yusef Salaam has done exactly that. From surviving the depths of the prison system to writing poetry behind bars, from discovering the spiritual meaning of his name to holding public office, Yusef’s story is one of sacred alignment and radical resilience.

In this episode, Yusef opens up about the power of faith, the lessons passed down from his mother, the meaning of his own name, and how everything we do - even choosing to not participate, has power.

This is a conversation about identity, divine timing, and the lifelong work of transforming injustice into impact.

If this conversation moves you, subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who believes in liberation, legacy, and the power of remembering who you are.

Credits:Host and Executive Producer: Neal LudevigCo-host: Amer JandaliProduced and scored by: Lushik Lotus LeePost-Production Sound Engineer: Alexander RossiVideographer: Krishna Adoni

Links:📘 Dr. Yusef Salaam Website: https://www.yusefspeaks.com

📸 Dr. Yusef Salaam IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.yusefsalaam/ 🌍 Leave Looking Up Website: https://www.leavelookingup.com▶️ Leave Looking Up YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leavelookingup

On this episode of Leave Looking Up, we sit down with the multi-hyphenate creative force Ray Angry — Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, producer, and longtime member of The Roots. From performing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, to playing Carnegie Hall five times (including a reimagining of Prince’s music), to collaborating with legends like Questlove, Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo, and Joss Stone, Ray’s career has transcended genres and redefined what it means to be a 21st-century musician.

In this season of Leave Looking Up, we explore the minds of worldbuilders — visionaries who don’t just create art but architect entire ecosystems. Ray Angry has done exactly that with Producer Mondays, a groundbreaking experiment in communal creativity that has become a sanctuary for some of today’s most gifted musicians. Born from a desire to capture the real-time magic of music-making and nurture a space free from ego, Producer Mondays offers artists something increasingly rare: permission to be themselves.

In this episode, Ray opens up about the lessons learned from grief, the spiritual traditions that shaped his artistry, the dangers of ego, and how he’s dedicated his career to building spaces where music can be created — not manufactured. We also hear how Producer Mondays has sparked new careers, renewed creative spirits, and redefined community for artists in New York and beyond.

This is a conversation about mastery, intention, and building a legacy that leaves the world looking up.

If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who believes in the power of community and creativity.

CreditsHost and Executive Producer: Neal LudevigCo-host: Amer JandaliProduced and scored by: Lushik Lotus LeePost-Production Sound Engineer: Alexander RossiOn-Site Sound Engineer: Albert GooldVideographer: Shuhei Hayashi

Links:
🎶 Ray Angry Website: https://www.rayangry.com
🎹 Producer Mondays: https://www.instagram.com/producermondays/
📸 Ray Angry on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayangry/
🌎 Leave Looking Up Website: https://www.leavelookingup.com
▶️ Leave Looking Up YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leavelookingup

As we celebrate worldbuilders—visionary creators designing a better future through their work and way of being, it's only fitting that we were able to sit down with acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, educator, and artist Poranguí, whose life work embodies this mission.

A former professor at the Phoenix Conservatory of Music and Arizona Commission of Artists, Poranguí has performed at South by Southwest, Envision Festival, and on platforms such as TEDxSedona, BBC, and PBS. His globally beloved, improvisational performances dissolve the boundary between stage and audience, transforming concerts into ceremonies.

From his roots in indigenous sweat lodges and silent meditation retreats to his journey through Duke University—where he created a custom major in “Healing Through Music and Dance” — Poranguí’s story is one of deep listening, cultural honoring, and radical authenticity. In this powerful conversation, we explore how dance floors became altars, how he redefined medicine, and how creating a sacred circle of men during the pandemic led to an ongoing community of artistic healing.

Poranguí is not just making music. He’s building a world—one where we remember we are all relatives, and music is the medicine that brings us back to life.a

For full & uncut episodes, along with a number of other perks, please visit ⁠www.leavelookingup.com/fans⁠ and subscribe!

If you love love what you're hearing today and want to hear (and see) more, you can do so at the following links: ⁠https://www.leavelookingup.com/⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/leavelookingup⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/leavelookingup

🎧 Credits

• Host: Neal Ludevig

• Guest: Poranguí

• Co-Host: Sasha Demitrovic

• Producer: Lushik Lotus-Lee

• Sound Engineer: Alexander Rossi

• Designer: Andrea Kang

• Media Support: Justin Jett Carter

• Original Theme Music: Brady Watt

• Additional Music: Blue Dot Sessions