Episodes

  • CYLS 206: Pt. 2 - Africa X Media - Redefining Reality Through Transformative Storytelling with Moses ”Ras” Mutabaruka

    CYLS 206: Pt. 2 - Africa X Media - Redefining Reality Through Transformative Storytelling with Moses ”Ras” Mutabaruka
    Dec 12 2023
    Episode Summary On this episode of the Create Your Life Series podcast, host Kevin Y Brown continues his conversation with Ras Mutabaruka, a former refugee, sharing an inspiring life story. After spending over a decade as a refugee, he found stability in Canada, which opened doors to education and resources. Initially aspiring to be a lawyer, his mindset shifted, leading to a passion for storytelling about Africa. From a blog to a magazine and documentary, the guest aimed to challenge stereotypes. This episode explores his college experience, professional journey as a public servant, and entrepreneurial ventures. Emphasizing authenticity and consistency, the guest discusses personal growth and leadership. The episode concludes with insights into community recognition and the ongoing pursuit of goals, highlighting resilience and the power of storytelling in his journey from refugee to visionary entrepreneur. Tune in to this episode of the Create Your Life series for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation. Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Ras Mutabaruka Ras Mutabaruka founded The African Perspective (TAP Media Ltd) after being frustrated with seeing how Africa and Africans were often portrayed in global media. TAP is a Pan-African media platform that tells African stories from an African perspective with a mission to rebrand Africa, one story at a time. Born in Rwanda during tumultuous times, he and his family sought refuge in neighboring countries. The journey eventually led him to Kenya, where he settled and found a sense of belonging amid a diverse community. His journey then took him to Canada for higher education. Before working on TAP full-time, and to give back to his once adopted country of Canada, he spent five years working as a public servant in the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) where he received three back to back Ministerial Awards of Merit for service to Canadians. Insights From the Episode How to use collaboration as a tool for growthEmphasizes the importance of networking and persistenceDiscussion surrounding Intrinsic Motivation in Entrepreneurship: countering negative narratives about Africa and staying true to personal values as intrinsic motivations in entrepreneurshipReflecting on the historical impact of media, emphasizing its responsibility to tell authentic and responsible storiesDiscussion about the evolution of entrepreneurial journeys, showcasing diverse ventures and experiences over the years Quotes from the Show “​​I stayed true to myself and for the times where I didn't stay true to myself. It ended up rerouting me and telling me that you should have stayed true to yourself. And so when you look at a life at your life, you know what I mean? I think it's important to be able to say that you chose what you did, not that somebody else chose it for you and that you followed other people. But that you did what you felt was the things that you wanted to do and that you needed to do.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #206“Real people do real things and you know, sometimes it comes at the expense of what could have been, you know, the easy route, the more financially sound route, right? But you know, when you look back at it, you can always say, you know, I'm happy to waive it for what I did because I know that I chose me.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #206“My commitment to building a bright future for Africa is to continue to tell African stories in all its forms, is to continue to bring out a part of Africa that people don't know is to continue to inspire, to challenge and to move the needle forward, I think and part of that and also a commitment I have for Africa and for Africans is to continue to be me to live my life to, to share my story.” - Ras Mutabaruka, Create Your Life Series, #206“My biggest challenge was probably my biggest blessing. My biggest challenge was when, when my, when my older sister returned back to our biological family when I was 10. That time after that trying to figure out life on my own without someone being there, who I was familiar with and who I had known since the beginning was definitely a challenge. And I think choosing to stay on the right path, in spite of everything happening around me, I think, you know what I mean was it was a challenge that definitely helped me to to become the...
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    36 mins
  • CYLS 205: Pt. 1 - Africa X Media - Redefining Reality Through Transformative Storytelling with Moses ”Ras” Mutabaruka

    CYLS 205: Pt. 1 - Africa X Media - Redefining Reality Through Transformative Storytelling with Moses ”Ras” Mutabaruka
    Nov 28 2023
    Episode Summary On this episode of the Create Your Life Series podcast, host Kevin Y Brown welcomes a truly inspiring guest to the studio, Ras Mutabaruka. A storyteller, entrepreneur, and community builder, Ras’ life is a testament to resilience, vision, and an enduring love for the African continent. Delving into the challenges he faced and the transformative impact of facing a traumatic past, including his experiences during the genocide in Rwanda. He opens up about the deep scars left by those events and the long journey toward healing. Ras also reflects on the importance of speaking out about personal struggles and advocating for mental health support, breaking the silence that often surrounds such experiences. The conversation takes a turn as Ras shares lighter moments from his life, including his time in Canada, where he discovered his purpose and passion for storytelling. As he navigated cultural differences and stereotypes, he found strength in embracing his identity and heritage. Ras Mutabaruka’s journey exemplifies resilience, the power of storytelling, and the unwavering commitment to make a positive impact on the continent he calls home. Tune in to this episode of the Create Your Life series for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation. Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Ras Mutabaruka Ras Mutabaruka founded The African Perspective (TAP Media Ltd) after being frustrated with seeing how Africa and Africans were often portrayed in global media. TAP is a Pan-African media platform that tells African stories from an African perspective with a mission to rebrand Africa, one story at a time. Born in Rwanda during tumultuous times, he and his family sought refuge in neighboring countries. The journey eventually led him to Kenya, where he settled and found a sense of belonging amid a diverse community. His journey then took him to Canada for higher education. Before working on TAP full-time, and to give back to his once adopted country of Canada, he spent five years working as a public servant in the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) where he received three back to back Ministerial Awards of Merit for service to Canadians. Insights From the Episode Reflecting on the Rwandan Genocide, Ras Mutabaruka underscores the healing power of facing the pastEmphasis on the need to challenge stereotypes about AfricaMutabaruka shares experiences in CanadaDissatisfaction with Western media narratives inspires TAP Media, evolving from a blog to a magazine, focusing on science in AfricaImportance of remaining true to oneself and consistent for personal growth and successStrategies for Building a Platform: discussion surrounding transitioning from a blog to a magazine format broadens TAP Media's platform, leading to partnerships with prestigious institutionsStrategies for overcoming Imposter SyndromeHow to use collaboration as a tool for growth Quotes from the Show “... the narrative about Africa was still the same, probably even worse because the academia surrounding African people of African descent is really terrible… There's not that much that the academia says we've done and I found that to be a challenge… And then one time he hit me like, OK, you didn't go to journalism school, you not a, you know, you're not a journalist but you can write. So if you, if you don't like what other people are talking about, you or your country or your continent do something about it.” - Ras Mutabaruka, Create Your Life Series, #205“the BBC says this, the CNN says the BBC is a British Broadcasting Corporation. They have their agenda, they are speaking for the British audience. So I'm like, so who, who's speaking for Africa or for Africans? And so it started out as a, as actually started very humble beginning, starts out as Facebook note. I would like write like notes about facts and things about Africa.” - Ras Mutabaruka, Create Your Life Series, #205“It's a pleasure to know you as a leader and someone who, you know what I mean has I, I would say rose to the occasion or accepted the challenge of being a leader, being a dynamic person.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #205“Create a group, create an insider group of people who can see the things you are doing and if they, and, and, and you can trust their feedback, of course, you're still the executive of your own story.” - Ras ...
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    43 mins
  • CYLS 204: Africa X Podcasting - The Rhythm of Innovation: A Deep Dive into the Data Driving Africa’s Podcasting Renaissance with Angela Machua

    CYLS 204: Africa X Podcasting - The Rhythm of Innovation: A Deep Dive into the Data Driving Africa’s Podcasting Renaissance with Angela Machua
    Nov 14 2023
    Episode Summary On this episode of the Create Your Life Series podcast, Angela, host of Zen Moments, discusses the transformative power of podcasting, particularly for the youth. She emphasizes the platform's freedom for self-expression without limitations and encouraging aspiring creators to explore the diverse world of podcasting. Angela shares personal anecdotes, highlighting the role of mentorship, discipline, and motivation in her journey. The conversation delves into lessons learned in podcasting, such as the importance of time investment and planning. Angela reflects on moments when she contemplated giving up but found motivation in the positive impact her podcast had on strangers. The episode concludes with Angela expressing her commitment to shaping a vibrant future for Africa, particularly in the podcasting industry, aiming for inclusivity and financial opportunities. In the rapid-fire segment, Angela discusses favorite productivity apps, commitment to personal growth, and her love for art. The episode ends with Angela turning the tables, posing three unscripted questions to host Kevin Brown, adding a lighthearted and engaging touch to the conversation. Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Angela Machua Angela Machua, host of the impactful podcast "Zen Moments," is a trailblazer in the world of podcasting, advocating for limitless self-expression and empowering youth to embrace content creation without constraints. Her journey reflects resilience, disciplined commitment to personal growth, and overcoming moments of self-doubt. Angela's story is one of unwavering determination, embracing the challenges of podcasting with grace. Beyond her podcast, she is a talented graphic artist and is dedicated to elevating the podcasting industry in Africa, making it accessible and financially viable for creators. In essence, Angela Machua's life is a testament to the power of resilience, self-discovery, and pursuing passions, inspiring others to embark on their unique journeys with purpose. Insights From the Episode Importance of Africans telling their own stories without translation when needed to maintain accuracy and authenticityHow to maintain the integrity of the story: directly sharing ensures that the narrative isn’t influenced by external perceptionsSignificance of persevering in the face of challenges and chasing what you are passionate about: Angela’s drive for learning outside of office hours is emphasized in reference to her growth in the podcasting industryAngela’s approach to understanding challenges faced by new podcastersStatistics of podcast listenersPodcast listening behaviorAdvice for new podcastersImportance of mentorshipDiscussion of key elements of personal growthConversation surrounding how to create the life you want, from the perspective of Angela Quotes from the Show “​​… it's important for us as Africans to tell our own story the way we want to tell it. If we don't want to translate it, say it as it is because that's how it comes accurate and because sometimes things can get lost in translation.” - Angela Machua, Create Your Life Series, #204“It's been amazing to see your growth and watch you as this person who essentially to me, I've been watching your evolution going from a project manager who was primarily dealing in finance to I call you, that's my personal moniker for you, the data maven of African podcasting.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #204“Podcasting is so important because it gives you the individual the space to be who you want to be. There's no limitations in podcasting and I think that's what makes it different from other platforms. As a young creator, you're able to express yourself how you want to without any limits. And I think that it's important for the youth to be able to get into content creation as they would like without being told this is how you have to do it. And because I feel like that cripples creativity and podcasting has opened up that space that anyone can be anything they want to be.” - Angela Machua, Create Your Life Series, #204“Mentorship is important also because sometimes you might feel like I'm just doing something, you are only looking at the now, but with mentorship you're able to see the entire growth journey.” - Angela Machua, Create Your Life Series, #204“I feel like imposter syndrome is something that a lot ...
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    40 mins
  • CYLS 203: Africa X Podcasting - The Blueprint to Building Ghana’s Most Successful Podcast Network with Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee

    CYLS 203: Africa X Podcasting - The Blueprint to Building Ghana’s Most Successful Podcast Network with Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee
    Oct 31 2023
    Episode Summary In this episode of the Africa X series, Kevin Y. Brown is joined by Cyril Afeku and Donald Ayree, cofounders of The Gold Coast Report. The GCR is a thriving podcast network based in Accra, Ghana, whose unwavering mission is to forge accessible avenues for visibility and to curate impactful experiences that empower individuals and communities alike. Cyril and Donald explain how the World Cup led to their initial idea for The Gold Coast Report, which changed from being a single podcast to the beginning of a network in the same week. They discuss the milestones they’ve passed so far and where they hope to go, the shows they’re most proud of, and how they were able to turn a passion project into a self-sustaining business. As leaders they share their tips for creative compromise and amplifying the creativity of their team, along with their thoughts on the importance of sharing their knowledge and experience with others in the community. In the Turnaround, Kevin opens up about how his trip to Africa in 2018 influenced his understanding of legacy, of family, and his responsibilities as a Black man, and how it led to him moving back to the Continent and joining the movement to amplify African stories through podcasting. Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee Cyril Afeku and Donald Aryee met in high school and reconnected after university where together they created The Gold Coast Report, a podcast network based in Accra, Ghana. They produce shows covering a variety of interests such as sports, women-focused issues, religion, sex, pop culture, social issues, entertainment and more. Cyril and Donald are results-driven and inquisitive professionals with a vast expertise in developing podcasting infrastructure in Africa. Their passion revolves around amplifying African creativity and nurturing self-sustaining communities, providing them with the space to incubate, flourish, and achieve their aspirations. Every action, word, and endeavor The Gold Coast Report undertakes is a dedicated stride to realizing this vision. Insights From the Episode Tips for dealing with difficult clients and creatorsWhere to look for guidance when you’re an early adopter in a burgeoning industry3 tips for new podcasters looking to join an established networkHow to stay rejuvenated and focused as a leaderAdvice for handling conflict between teammatesTips for dealing with negative feedbackThoughts on the keys to personal growthStrategies for directing your energy so you don’t overextend yourself Quotes from the Show “At the time this was just two friends in a room trying something out. When you look back and zoom out to what it is now, it’s kind of crazy. We thought that we could tell our own better stories, and we also felt like there was some creativity in everyone.” - Cyril Afeku, Create Your Life Series, #203“[The schedule] helped build consistency within the team. That helped also build some level of planning. We obviously got better at the editing and figured out the mechanics that came to podcasting, and we figured out how to actually run and operate as a network because that wasn’t a skillset that we had coming in.” - Donald Aryee, Create Your Life Series, #203“All those shows are not failures, because those really are learning opportunities. All those episodes that we didn’t record correctly—all those where the mic went wrong or we didn’t export something perfectly or the audio didn’t sync up—all those things are the learning opportunities that make these batch of shows much better than they could have been. So it all counts, and I’m really grateful for that.” - Donald Aryee, Create Your Life Series, #203“Lessons learned, not failures, right? Opportunities to improve.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #203“I always feel like to get the best out of people in what we do, it’s always best to give them that room to express themselves and hear what they have to say and see how best we can bring what it is they want to do to life. The hope is that with our experience and expertise, they would also trust whatever guidance and inputs we bring to the table is worthy of incorporating.” - Cyril Afeku, Create Your Life Series, #203“You kind of have to look in the mirror and work out how you are a mentor to yourself. Be honest with who you are and what self-improvement ...
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • CYLS 202: Africa X Radio - Why Africa X? with Calvin Wanguku

    CYLS 202: Africa X Radio - Why Africa X? with Calvin Wanguku
    Oct 17 2023
    Episode Summary This special episode of the Africa X series features Kevin Y. Brown’s recent appearance on Trace FM with Calvin Wanguku. They talk about the personal and professional opportunities that drew Kevin back to Kenya, the evolution of Create Your Life, and the power of the grind. Kevin shares his excitement for the Africa X series and where it’s going, why podcasting is an ideal medium to preserve African history, language, culture, and traditions, and why when we’re looking to create our lives the most valuable question we can ask is ‘how.’ Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Insights From the Episode What makes African storytelling uniqueThe opportunity for creators in Africa in the podcasting industryTips for how creatives can get paid for their work Quotes from the Show “I went on a journey of finding what was exactly was going on with me, but also I had the opportunity to really see Black legacy here, for generations and generations of people who have these families who have been doing striving and excellence. So because of that I wanted to come back and really be immersed in blackness in a place where I don’t have to worry about my skin complexion, where I don’t have to worry about so many things and I’m allowed to just exist.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #202“I was so keen on helping to amplify African stories, but also I think that podcasting is a low-cost way to save and preserve African history, language, culture and tradition so that those in the future can have authentic African experiences. To me that matters a lot.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #202“The ability to be able to adapt, listen, and then actually move into learning about these other stories you haven’t heard about, you have Hollywood and these other stories that are coming from the West, but it’s Africa’s time to hear these stories from the source.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #202“The biggest thing for me with Create Your Life is that a lot of times when they’re interviewing people ask ‘why’ and ‘what’ you do, but they never ask ‘how’, and the ‘how’ is the only thing that can be duplicated. So as I talk to amazing trailblazers and I also have conversations with the youth, a lot of times the youth are asking, ‘hey, what about the how?’ or my peers are asking ‘how?’. How did you do this? How did you do that? So I said, why don’t I open up a space where you can hear from people who have walked your walk… I think Africa X is that way for people to be able to create their life, and that’s my whole thing: create the life you’ve always wanted to live. I live by that; I’m a product of that; I am that; so I wanted to share it.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #202“I think one of the biggest things to keep in mind as a creator is ‘don’t complain about not getting the rewards you didn’t work for.’ If you’re going to become a podcaster, you’ve got to be committed to the grind, and being ‘committed to the grind’ looks like doing the work and being consistent and understanding your audience, understanding your listener, understanding what guests you should have on your show. Those are the important pillars of having a good show.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #202“You’ve got to grind it out in order to get these results. Money is the result of hard work and dedication. I remember my high school principal said, ‘There’s no job called “make money. You make money by being good at what it is that you do.’” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #202 Stay Connected Create Your Life Series Facebook: Create Your Life Series Instagram: Create Your Life Series YouTube: Create Your Life Series Kevin Y. Brown Website: Kevin Y Brown Instagram: kevinybrown Twitter: kevinybrown Facebook: kevinybrown Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Afripods, and Spotify. This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
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    24 mins
  • CYLS 201: Africa X Fintech - Identity, Finance and the Path to Personal Growth with Yoeal Haile

    CYLS 201: Africa X Fintech - Identity, Finance and the Path to Personal Growth with Yoeal Haile
    Oct 3 2023
    Episode Summary In this episode of the Africa X Series, Kevin talks with Yoeal Haile, CEO and Co-Founder of Sava, on the ways that his education and career opportunities have helped him discover the life he wants to live. Yoeal shares the story of how a seventh grade stock market club led to his passion for fintech, how he used an engineering degree and some tenacity to break into Wall Street, the investment he made in himself and his goals that got him into grad school, and the pivotal moments that led to him sorting out his identity as a first-generation African American immigrant and moving back to Africa. Kevin and Yoeal discuss Kevin’s “Ambition Mentality” and the opportunities that can make change fun, the principle of kaizen, and possibilities for the future of fintech in Africa. Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Yoeal Haile Yoeal is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sava, a fintech business helping businesses manage their finances and access affordable credit. He was previously the CEO and Founder of Aspira, the largest Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) fintech in East Africa, the Founder of Winelife, and also worked as the Chief Strategy Officer of the African Leadership Group where he helped the founding team establish universities in Rwanda and Mauritius. Yoeal also spent time as an EquityDerivatives Associate for Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong and New York. He has a MBA with a dual major in Finance and Management from The Wharton School of Business and a BS in Industrial Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Insights From the Episode How investing in yourself and committing to your goals with tenacity can open up opportunitiesTips for starting a successful business and bringing in a strong customer baseHow to take care of yourself as a leader and avoid burnoutThe impact of having and becoming a mentor to give back to your communityTips for those wanting to get involved in the African fintech spaceThe power of intuition and trusting in yourselfOvercoming work challenges and the ‘near death experiences’ in a company by focusing on the long-term gameHow making changes to your diet, sleep schedule, and cutting out alcohol could affect your personal and professional lifeUsing challenges as an opportunity for personal feedback and looking within yourself Quotes from the Show “For those who went over prior, generations and generations ago, it’s very interesting when you have those who’ve just come and it’s like, ‘oh we’re so different.’ In reality, at least to me, a lot of our cultures and traditions are similar, they just look different because of the amount of time away from the homeland. I think about what happens to that first generation Eritrean in five generations. How much of the culture is still intact versus it becoming Americanized or African-Americanized? This is about bringing us together and bringing abundance to our communities. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s now or it’s in five generations, we’re all going to still be fighting the same fight. I think that there’s strength in numbers.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #201“I knew I wanted to go to Wall Street, but at the same time I didn’t want to study finance. I think there’s a separation between following your passion and what you do for a living. For me I was like let me do something that gives me optionality and challenges me, and I thought engineering was that.” - Yoeal Haile, Create Your Life Series, #201“One phrase that I love is ‘Kaizen’, continuous improvement. Just knowing that even if everyone’s happy you’re continuing to raise that bar for your customers and they’ll be your brand ambassadors and you’ll see a ton of organic growth.” - Yoeal Haile, Create Your Life Series, #201“One thing I enjoy about entrepreneurship is when you get to a certain stage of the business and your product is out there and you can see people interacting with your product; that’s the ultimate high. I don’t think there’s anything in the world that feels better than that.” - Yoeal Haile, Create Your Life Series, #201“At the end of the day you just have to have a clear vision of what your purpose is and keep that top of mind always. Every day think about it, use that to ground you, and keep pushing.” - Yoeal Haile, Create Your Life Series, #201“Self work is a continuous process....
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    1 hr
  • CYLS 200: Africa X Podcasting - The Road to Episode 200

    CYLS 200: Africa X Podcasting - The Road to Episode 200
    Sep 19 2023
    Episode Summary To celebrate the 200th episode of the Create Your Life Series podcast, friend of the show Eric N. Fondran steps in as guest host to speak with Kevin Y. Brown about the journey that the Create Your Life Series has traveled. Beginning ten years ago in Japan as a series of motivational videos, it became a syndicated radio show on Sirius XM before transitioning to our podcast series today. Kevin shares the story and motivation behind the show, how he overcame various challenges and stayed focused on the dream, and what he’s learned along the way. Kevin talks about the future potential of the show, how he continues to create his own best life, and then enters the dolphin tank for the first time to reveal his answers to the rapid fire questions he poses to his guests. Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Eric N. Fondren Eric N. Fondren is a former resident guest of the Create Your Life Series, sharing lessons and stories on CEO Talks. He is a financial professional that specializes in wealth management and estate planning for young families and professionals. Guided by his faith and family, Eric’s career and entrepreneurial background have provided him with knowledge from many different industries including professional counseling, web design, technology and ad sales, and securities management. Today he is a Registered Representative with NYLIFE Securities LLC helping young and mid-career professionals develop a sound financial strategy, protect their loved ones and create generational wealth. Insights From the Episode The origin story of Create Your Life and its sloganStrategies for transitioning from a fear-based to vision-based mindsetHow to shape your own value system rather than chasing someone else’sInsights on the keys to continual successHow to find the motivation to overcome challenges and persevereThe factors and characteristics that can help you create your best life Quotes from the Show “The absence of expectation can lead to amazing results. A lot of people were very surprised that I even made it into college, and all of my mentors at the time were surprised that I made it through a week. Thank God they never told me that until I had finished, because I just had this level of determination. What it means to me to create my life is that, I’m lucky. There was no expectation, so I just got to create.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #200Kevin on making good grades in highschool: “I came up with this rule when I was in high school, always more A’s than B’s and never any C’s.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #200“Everybody creates their life, but you transitioned from the motivating factor behind the creation. It seems like you started out as ‘I’m creating my life because I’m running from something’, and the Kevin Y. Brown that I know in 2023 creates his life because he’s chasing something.” - Eric N. Fondren, Create Your Life Series, #200“I had to make peace with where I was from, what challenges I had to endure, and what was less than ideal. I think that personal work has helped because it has allowed me to be free from those shackles of having to live within that space. In order to create, you have to be free.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #200“I’ve always been very transparent with my audience about the things that I’m working on as well. Because it’s not me sitting up here trying to give you this grand advice as much as I’m in this with you too; these are the things that I'm learning; this is where I might be falling short; these are the things I’m looking to improve.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Create Your Life Series, #200“I think a lot of times that vision of the life we create and that belief of where we want to be, sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to already be that person that we don’t even stop to realize the value of who we are today and what we’re doing for the people around us.” - Eric N. Fondren, Create Your Life Series, #200“Many people think about creating your own life as this love story to yourself and it’s this beautiful arc, but just like every story there is some conflict, there is a valley that you have to walk through.” - Eric N. Fondren, Create Your Life Series, #200“Life has its ups and downs, but if you keep going straight everything will work out. You have to persevere; ...
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    52 mins
  • CYLS 199: Africa X Podcasting - The Blueprint to Female Leadership in New Media with Molly A. Jensen

    CYLS 199: Africa X Podcasting - The Blueprint to Female Leadership in New Media with Molly A. Jensen
    Sep 5 2023
    Episode Summary This week Kevin Y. Brown has a discussion with Molly Jensen, his colleague and CEO of the growing pan-African podcast hosting company, Afripods. They talk about how Afripods helps creators take up as much space as possible while getting paid for their genius, and the ways that they uniquely serve African creators and consumers. Molly shares how a New Yorker ended up in Nairobi, what she’s learned about leading and motivating a team, how she’s working to overcome challenges and get comfortable with discomfort and uncertainty, and the ways that her experience as an athlete have translated into her success as a CEO. Kevin and Molly discuss the personal habits that fuel their days, the idea of legacy, and the difference between the juice and the sauce–you’ll want to listen in to find out! Kevin Y. Brown Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision. Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more… Molly Jensen Molly Jensen is the Chief Executive Officer of Afripods, a free pan-African podcast hosting platform building the largest library of African audio stories on the planet, based in Nairobi, Kenya. With the ability to categorize in over 50 languages and with content from over 30 countries including that from individual podcasters, radio stations and media houses, Afripods is the home for African podcasting across the continent and within the Diaspora. As a Ghanaian-American born in New York, Molly is extremely excited to help digitize African stories and wants to see African creators take up as much space as possible while creating avenues to help them get paid for their work. She has over ten years of experience across people management, sales, marketing and technology. Molly has spoken at Podcast Movement, Africa Podcast Day, Africa Media Festival, BBC Media Leaders conferences, and Advertising Week Africa as well as most recently featured in Forbes, The Guardian, Reuters, JamLab Africa, Podcast Sessions and Apple Podcasts. Insights From the Episode Advice on how you can fill your cup and show up for yourself so you can better support othersTips for aspiring business leaders and women, in particular, wanting to build their own companiesStrategies for identifying distinguishing qualities in people and assembling a powerful teamWhat makes Afripods different from other podcast-hosting companiesStrategies for being a good leader and managing relationships with team members in the workplaceDiscussion on the differences between doing business in Africa vs. in New YorkTips for problem-solving when your perspective is different from your team membersThoughts on the future of podcasting in Kenya and Africa as a whole Quotes from the Show “With Afripods we’re able to speak to these creators, we’re able to create a technical solution for them, we’re able to advocate for them. When I look at my role it’s not just a privilege to be in a position as an executive, there’s a real responsibility to do right by the people on the ground. My job isn’t just enforcing my opinion; my job is listening to what creators want and then advocating for it and making sure that it happens alongside our incredible team. That’s what we do, and that’s why I think it’s important.” - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #199“I think a lot of times you want everything to go right, and you’ll miss your opportunity to catch the wave by waiting for perfection. A lot of times it’s not you that’s causing the delay–it’s your team, it’s another person, it’s getting reviews back–and I think trusting yourself, you will never look back and be upset if you trusted yourself. You will look back and be upset if you trusted someone else and things went wrong, but if you trust yourself and you make a mistake, that’s just a learning experience. I’m definitely working on my ability to be comfortable with failing.“ - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #199On doing business in Africa: “People care about relationships, which then goes back to this innate understanding of community. People matter. And once I really understood that the connecting piece of all this was people, I was able to lean in on experience and continue to research the best ways to get maximum value out of people.” - Molly Jensen, Create Your Life Series, #199“Work is work, and when we have a problem or if someone feels disrespected, we have to stop. The thing is, we can argue until we’re blue in the face ...
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    58 mins