Épisodes

  • EP 40- "Turning Vision Into Results" | Antoy Grant | ICF Credentialed Coach, Execution Strategist and Creative Consultant

    EP 40- "Turning Vision Into Results" | Antoy Grant | ICF Credentialed Coach, Execution Strategist and Creative Consultant
    Mar 5 2026

    In this episode, guest Antoy Grant, an ICF-credentialed coach, execution strategist, and former president of the ICF NYC chapter, shares how creativity becomes powerful when vision turns into action. Antoy shares her journey from growing up in Jamaica writing poetry under an apple tree to building a career in acting, producing, and coaching. She discusses creativity as more than having ideas—it’s about executing them.

    The conversation explores the challenges women of color face in the entertainment industry and how creating original work can open doors when opportunities don’t exist. Antoy recounts co-creating the off-off-Broadway show Goddess City, founding Mango Seed Entertainment to unite passionate creators, and launching The Antoy Show as a platform for storytelling and performance. She also shares insights from her Best Year Ever books, which offer practical frameworks for goal setting, accountability, and execution. Antoy emphasizes resilience, the importance of a strong “why,” and how she uses AI as a thought partner while pursuing a mission of transformation and creative impact.

    Why Listen
    If you’ve ever had a big idea but struggled to bring it to life, this episode is for you. Antoy Grant shares powerful insights on turning creativity into action, building opportunities when doors don’t open, and staying resilient while pursuing your purpose. Her journey through entertainment, coaching, and entrepreneurship offers practical lessons for creatives, leaders, and anyone looking to turn vision into real results.
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    1 h et 8 min
  • EP 39 - "A Life in Service of Healing" | Sarah Alayne Martin | Poet and Teaching Artist

    EP 39 - "A Life in Service of Healing" | Sarah Alayne Martin | Poet and Teaching Artist
    Feb 26 2026
    Poet and teaching artist Sarah Alayne Martin joins the podcast to explore creativity as a tool for identity, healing, and community transformation. As executive creative director of Talk to Me Nation, she designs trauma-informed arts and wellness programs for families impacted by incarceration and violence, integrating poetry, storytelling, and somatic practices into community healing spaces nationwide.

    In this conversation, Sarah shares her path to becoming a writer, experiences organizing in St. Louis, and how burnout led her to reshape her work around sustainability and care. We talk about her creative rituals, the vision behind Talk to Me Nation, and what it means to create art in service of liberation and legacy.

    Key Takeaways
    • Creative practice can support both personal expression and community healing.
    • Trauma-informed arts programs can reframe how communities understand violence.
    • Sustainable leadership often requires reimagining pace, expectations, and care.
    • Creative identity develops through lived experience and community context.
    • Purpose-driven work grows through alignment rather than urgency.
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    37 min
  • EP 38 - "Nurturing Creativity through Faith & Resilience" | Canessa Thomas | Digital Mixed Media and Collage Artist

    EP 38 - "Nurturing Creativity through Faith & Resilience" | Canessa Thomas | Digital Mixed Media and Collage Artist
    Feb 19 2026
    In this episode, multidisciplinary artist Canessa Thomas shares how a life-altering chronic illness led her from writing to faith-led abstract art—and how creativity became a pathway to healing, purpose, and resilience. She opens up about creating through limitation, trusting intuition, and “doing it scared” despite fear and imposter syndrome.

    What you’ll gain from this episode:
    · How to keep creating when life disrupts your plans
    · Ways faith and intuition can guide your creative process
    · Encouragement to stop hiding your gifts and share them boldly
    · Perspective on using what you have—even in hard seasons
    · A reminder not to compare your creative journey to others

    Canessa also shares the story behind powerful works like Shrinkage (“it’s safe to come out now, shine”) and previews upcoming projects supporting youth arts and music education.
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    51 min
  • EP 37 - "Crafting Legacy through Faith and Purpose" | Dorinda Walker |President, Expectant Media and Author of Protected by Purpose

    EP 37 - "Crafting Legacy through Faith and Purpose" | Dorinda Walker |President, Expectant Media and Author of Protected by Purpose
    Feb 12 2026
    In this episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with Dorinda Walker—equity architect, inclusivity innovator, President of Expectant Media, and author of Protected by Purpose —to explore how faith, legacy, and purpose can transform even the most difficult beginnings. Dorinda shares how discovering her great-grandfather’s journey from young immigrant to millionaire in 1920s Newark reshaped her vision for generational wealth, equity, and impact.

    She opens up about navigating corporate America as a Black woman, building a $100M multicultural business, and ultimately walking away from a six-figure role to protect her peace. Dorinda also reflects on grief, caring for her late husband, launching Expectant Media, and why she believes God keeps waking her up because there is still more work for her to do.

    This is a powerful conversation about resilience, knowing your worth, and crafting a legacy rooted in faith and service.

    In this episode, we cover:
    • How knowing your legacy can expand what you believe is possible
    • Why generational wealth often breaks down—and how to rebuild it
    • The reality of microaggressions and “hateration” in corporate spaces
    • When it’s time to protect your peace and walk away
    • The power of personal branding, especially for Black women
    • How grief, faith, and courage led Dorinda to co-found a media company serving Black content creators and HBCU communities
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    40 min
  • EP 36 - "Resilience, Creativity, and Passion" | Alexander Boyce | Artist

    EP 36 - "Resilience, Creativity, and Passion" | Alexander Boyce | Artist
    Oct 16 2025
    Alexander Boyce is an artist and creative visionary who transforms challenges into opportunities, using his multidisciplinary talents to challenge stereotypes and celebrate black culture. Through music, visual art, and fashion, he demonstrates the power of resilience, passion, and purpose. His journey reveals how creativity can emerge from necessity and how believing in oneself can overcome societal limitations. Boyce's work is a testament to the transformative power of art and the importance of staying true to one's unique vision.

    Personal Philosophy

    Motto: "You are better than you think"

    • Believes in following your passion
    • Emphasizes the importance of purpose

    Powerful Quotes:
    • "Go in the direction of your excitement"
    • "Everything that wants you, wants you back"
    • "When you're passionate about something, you need that childlike hopefulness"

    Key Lessons:
    1. Embrace your multi-talented nature
    2. Turn limitations into opportunities
    3. Passion can sustain you through challenges
    4. Your unique perspective is your greatest asset

    Inspirational Moment:
    • Overcame cancer, viewing it as a transformative experience
    • Used challenge as an opportunity for growth

    Recommended For:
    • Creatives
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Artists
    • Anyone seeking inspiration and purpose
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    36 min
  • EP 35 - "Creating Beyond Boundaries" | Gabriela Domville | Mixed-media Artist and Educator

    EP 35 - "Creating Beyond Boundaries" | Gabriela Domville | Mixed-media Artist and Educator
    Oct 2 2025
    In this intimate and inspiring conversation, artist Gabriela Domville takes us on a profound journey through her creative life, revealing how art has been a powerful tool for healing, self-discovery, and social consciousness. From her early experiences of creativity to navigating personal challenges, Gabriela shares how her artistic practice has evolved, blending multiple mediums and symbolic storytelling to explore themes of environmental awareness, family legacy, and human resilience.

    Episode Highlights:

    • Gabriela's Early Creative Journey
    • Childhood experiences of building and constructing
    • Influence of family, particularly her grandmother
    • Early art and sewing classes
    • Art as Healing
    • Impact of her sister's life-changing accident

    Key Themes
    • Environmental consciousness
    • Honoring craftsmanship and history
    • Importance of appreciating beauty in everyday life

    Memorable Quotes:
    • "You cannot stay in your comfort zone. It's about moving yourself out of your comfort zone to evolve."
    • "The road is steep, but it's not impossible. It's a step by step."

    Recommended Resources:
    • Gabriela Domville's current exhibition at Sandstone Gallery, Laguna Beach
    • Upcoming Oaxaca creative retreat

    Action Items for Listeners:
    • Explore your creativity through daily sketching
    • Practice mindfulness and appreciation of your surroundings
    • Consider how art can be a tool for personal healing and growth
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    42 min
  • EP 34 - "A Journey of Reinvention" | Andrew Wong | Paper Artist

    EP 34 - "A Journey of Reinvention" | Andrew Wong | Paper Artist
    Sep 25 2025
    Andrew Wong is a New Jersey-based paper artist originally from Hong Kong. Trained in fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York and Paris, his creative path took a turn during the pandemic when he returned to art after years away. What began as handmade paper creations for his children evolved into 10past9, a practice rooted in quiet, late-night creativity.

    To learn more about Andrew and follow his journey visit: www.10past9.com


    Andrew Wong's journey is a powerful story of creative reinvention, tracing his path from fashion design to paper art. Overcoming cultural barriers and professional challenges, he discovered his true passion by embracing unexpected opportunities and staying curious. His story is a testament to resilience, personal growth, and the transformative power of following one's creative instincts.

    Powerful Quotes:
    1. "Knowing why is going to keep you going."
    2. "I wake up with joy every day and just eager to go back to the studio."
    3. "You don't know that is your passion until you start making things."
    4. "Sometimes you just go by without being present, just kind of passing by."

    Key Lessons:
    • Passion is discovered through action, not just thinking
    • Personal purpose evolves across different life stages
    • Creativity requires curiosity and observation
    • Resilience means being open to reinvention
    • Cultural experiences shape creative perspective

    Inspirational Moments:
    • Transforming cardboard boxes into art during the pandemic
    • Moving from Hong Kong to the US and discovering creative possibilities
    • Overcoming burnout in fashion design
    • Finding artistic identity through paper art
    • Embracing unexpected opportunities for personal growth

    Transformational Insights:
    • Slow down and be present in your creative journey
    • Your creative path is not linear
    • Personal challenges can become sources of artistic inspiration
    • Understanding your "why" is more important than the "what"

    Takeaways for Listeners:
    • Start creating, even if you're unsure of the outcome
    • Be patient with your creative process
    • Explore different mediums and experiences
    • Embrace uncertainty as an opportunity for growth
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    40 min
  • EP 33 - "Capturing Moments, Creating Worlds" | David Ellis | New York Times–Featured Poet, Author, Artist, and Educator

    EP 33 - "Capturing Moments, Creating Worlds" | David Ellis | New York Times–Featured Poet, Author, Artist, and Educator
    Sep 18 2025
    David is very much a part of this New Harlem Renaissance and his thoughtful poetry captures that elegantly. His love of this community and teaching is evident as well as his passion for poetry, artistry. - Marcus Samuelsson Featured in the New York Times for his haiku poetry that he paints on driftwood and first poetry book “Beach in City Island”, David has been working in Harlem as a teacher for almost two decades, David fell in love with Harlem the moment he entered. “I feel the souls of those that were here before I was born, especially when I walk down Lenox Avenue.” Most of the poems written in this poetry books are on display at many restaurants and cafes in Harlem. Hand painted on canvas and written in frames.

    To learn more about David visit freeliketheseagullsbookstore.com

    Motto:

    "Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow's not promised. All we have is now."

    Powerful Quotes:
    1. "Do what you love to do. You're not doing it for other people. You're doing it for yourself."
    2. "There's always a way to capture poetry in the everyday."
    3. "I want my legacy to be someone who inspired kids, someone who feared God, someone who loved others."

    Key Lessons:
    • Creativity exists in everyday moments
    • Stay present and mindful
    • Art is a form of personal expression
    • Community engagement fuels creativity
    • Passion is the foundation of purpose

    Inspirational Moments:
    • Writing haiku on driftwood
    • Creating poetry with his son
    • Teaching students to embrace their creative voice
    • Transforming simple observations into art
    • Balancing teaching, writing, and artistic exploration

    Learning Takeaways:
    • How to find inspiration in ordinary experiences
    • The importance of staying present
    • Strategies for nurturing creativity
    • Embracing your unique artistic voice

    Recommended:
    • Read David's poetry books
    • Follow his creative journey
    • Explore haiku as a form of mindfulness

    #CreativeJourney #ArtisticPurpose #Inspiration
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    33 min