The Four7teen Podcast: Recent Episodes
Four7teen
Join Josh and Aaron in their determined pursuit against the mediocre status quo. Challenging every aspect of the lives we live and the culture we live in, in the hope of both discovering a meaningful and empowering faith-based path to pursue as young black men and building a cultural company
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. Join us today, for our FINAL episode of “Rebels With A Cause”. In this episode Joshua and Aaron question what it takes to be a genius, sprouting from a conversation about reality, delusion and dreams.
Drawing from the famous quote: Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. We address the roles both inspiration and perspiration play in reaching “genius”, leading us to ask whether mediocrity is a choice or is just a person’s natural state. Finally, we review our very first podcast series, choose our favourite episodes and discuss our feelings about the pod so far.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Joshua and Aaron, we discuss the tragic situation Ukraine and the new saddening realities for black people in Eastern Europe. We use this situation to question why, it always takes times like this, for most of us, to form any identity in our blackness and our homeland in Africa.
This triggers a conversation where, we address the uncomfortable truth, that we as black people have been living under a false sense of security! We also question why majority of us are only reactionary, as opposed to choosing to be proactive!
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Joshua and Aaron speak on the realisation, that us as black people, are no longer sure of where we stand and what to do! We examine the validity behind the idea of “Playing the Game” (allowing yourself to be the subject of racism and discrimination, with the hope of rising to the top and then making change) in corporate spaces, and whether this really helps us as a people. Whilst questioning, why concepts such as revolution are only seen as a choice to be destructive and not constructive.
The discussion flows into a conversation addressing, the importance of one mind, unity and collective group thought (Can two people walk together without agreement on direction). This leads us to wonder whether notions such as democracy are truly our friend.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode, Joshua and Aaron welcome their very first guest: Christan Covi. He is the Co-founder/CEO of the brand, Promethium Fitness (PM-61) and is also one of our close friends.
Our conversation introduces Christan to our audience, whilst providing an in-depth conversation about the realities of living in a capitalist society, especially as black people. More specifically, we question whether we have a “suffering/struggle fetish in the West” and we also debate the morality of “using and selling your struggle” to make ends meet. The pod ends on an interesting discussion, about shared/individual identity as black people, setting us up nicely, for our next episode….
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Joshua and Aaron explore the thoughts from Nina Simone on Martin Luther King and the legacy he left behind, especially his greatest lesson of love. We question the presence of love in the world and what that could mean for us as a people today. Whilst establishing a mutual agreement of what love means to both of us, leading us to debate the things we use to value as a people and what we value now.
The conversation flows into an understanding of the role of sacrifice, whilst acknowledging its importance. We subsequently discuss, the concept a community filled with a desire to serve one another could lead to a more prosperous and fulfilled one, than one constantly focussed on image and hate.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause.
In this episode Joshua and Aaron reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King; the narratives created around a man posthumously, how much we can applaud the attempt of racial integration that feels incomplete and the position it leaves us in as a people today.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Joshua and Aaron address the meaning and message the black power movement conveys to us a black man and a wider black community. We question whether the movement equips us to face the challenges that a new world now throws at us. This leads to us debating and theorizing solutions for the current existential crisis we face, as black men.
We also attempt to identify what self determination looks like to our community and address the external and internal factors, which appear to hinder the affordability of our dreams. This conversation leads us to question the role of Faith as well as our ability to rely on each other.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause In this episode Joshua and Aaron revisit the legacy of the revolutionary Black Panther party. We discuss the lessons we can learn from the Panthers and their great leaders such as Huey P Newton, Eldridge Cleaver and Fred Hampton.
In this conversation we also assess what it means to buy into a cause, movement and ideology, whilst highlighting takeaways from the Black Panther party which led to their collapse. We also speak on what it means to be aware and conscious of the traps laid before us as black men, but also identifying that is our responsibility to solve our own issues, as no one is coming to save us.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Joshua and Aaron address the stances we take as black men to face a world that doesn’t love us, but ultimately fears us. We discuss the world-wide glamorisation of the fear of us as black men and ask, “Why we choose to buy into these labels?”
We also assess whether our desired to be feared derives from a deeper desire to be respected. Finally, we make an ode to concepts from the late great “bell hooks”(RIP), revisiting the idea that black men are rarely ever loved –(The Will to Change by bell hooks).
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Joshua and Aaron address the concept of “black culture” and the reality of this concept. The discussion flows into a conversation addressing, the importance of there being a collective understanding of community, culture and direction for our people.
We assess whether black culture actually exists in the UK and whether it can truly root itself in Britain. More importantly, we ask the question, “Why is the UK only reactionary in the fight for black empowerment and equality?” (Especially to movements started by the US).
Season 1-Rebels With A Cause.
In this episode, Joshua and Aaron tackle the infamous statement raised by Kanye West, when he said, “Slavery was a choice”. Aaron allows himself to play “devil’s advocate", whilst Joshua argues against the notion, creating an insightful debate on choices and perception.
We will also discuss the concept of modern-day slavery, the perception of one’s freedom and the importance of freeing ourselves from this 21st Century bondage.
Season 1-Rebels with a cause. In this episode Aaron and Josh open up about feelings of being lost, helpless and feeling futile even after having the eureka moment from which you are supposed to have life sussed out as well as your calling. The discussion attacks the root of what makes us as the men we are feel so meaningless, why travelling is used as a means of escapism why we fear captaining our own fate. Even though we've found our causes sometimes it just doesn't feel like enough to guide us and motivate us to keep going
Season 1-Rebels With A Cause.
In this episode Joshua and Aaron analyse the existence of role models in the black community, lack of leadership and whether we are being guided, in the right direction to become men. We also discuss the possible solutions and ways we can fix these glaring holes in the black community.
Most notably, we ask the question: Are we all ready to step away from the fear of being disliked and start making this change?
Season 1-Rebels With A Cause.
In this episode, Joshua and Aaron choose their “Starting XI” music picks for the month of November, on “The Four7teen Playlist” which can be found on Spotify. We will also be discussing whether we are tired of the idea of “black struggle” against the world. The focus on individualism, the rise of clicktivism and supporting just causes for image.
Season 1-Rebels With A Cause.
In this episode we will be discussing, what it means to chart your own path and being true to your authentic self. Too many of us are allowing life to pass us by, instead of allowing ourselves, to live in our true uniqueness and impact life in a meaningful way.
Are you ready to strive to be, who God called you to be? Are you ready to step up and be counted? Are you ready to be decidedly different?
Season 1-Rebels With A Cause.
In this episode we will be discussing: How does one move through a world split into, "the haves' and have-nots'" as a black man?
We try and discuss the mentalities and hardships that draws so many into tough situations. As well as, attempting to identify potential remedies for the tough circumstances we face as black men, such as finding one's purpose.
The Four7teen Podcast (A podcast for black men).
Season 1-Rebels With A Cause.
In our first episode you are introduced to the podcast hosts; Joshua and Aaron and will develop an understanding of why we created this podcast. In Africa, your name traditionally carries weight and is deemed to be, one of your most prized possessions. We explore topics such as discovering one's identity, through their name as well as finding meaning and cause in a name.