WORKING VACATION: Recent Episodes

Working Vacation

Working Vacation is a podcast that aims to shine a light on stories that are unique and offer interesting points of view. Society often overlooks the road less traveled in favour of the "tried and true" path, when in fact, it isn't always a guaranteed formula for success. Additionally, some of the most celebrated and recognizable stories come from those who took alternative routes and broke the mold to achieve their goals. With that in mind, we hope that our listeners will follow us on our journey and maybe come to appreciate the process more than the destination along the way.

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For our 12th episode of Working Vacation, we are joined by special guest Rudy Ray, a Juno Award winning musician/actor based in Toronto who has worked with a variety of A-list and overall talented individuals across both disciplines.

We go on to to discuss:

  • His initial interest in the field of neuroscience and the circumstances that led to his shift in focus towards music

  • His love for jazz and the trumpet, the move from Ghana to Toronto and his university experience at UTSC

  • The beginnings of his first forays into session music/studio work/album placements: namely playing the trumpet on Drake's 'Trophies' and J Cole's 'Middle Child'

  • The realities that session musicians/instrumentalists face in the music industry, ghostwriting, why receiving credit can be more important than a onetime cheque as well as his love and appreciation for the Wu-Tang Clan

  • His initial break into the film industry and the difference between being represented by an agency and not having any professional representation

  • The differences in the US and Canadian film industries regarding black-led productions and the continued need for equal representation

  • What he's learned from finding himself on productions with high level actors/actresses/directors such as Octavia Spencer, Tiffany Haddish, Guillermo del Toro, Bradley Cooper, Hiro Murai and many more

  • His experience going back to Ghana for the first time since his initial departure as a teenager more than 10 years ago, the importance of connecting with your roots by visiting the motherland

  • Hopes for future collaborations, advice to young artists and an impromptu performance!

  • Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

Check us out on instagram @workingvacay

Check out our guest on instagram @rudyraykwaku

Check out our sponsors on instagram @redowlboxing

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For our 11th episode of Working Vacation, we are joined by special guest Marcus Medford Kerr, a freelance journalist based in Toronto who currently works for the CBC as an Editorial Assistant.

We go on to to discuss:

  • His earliest inspirations as someone interested in writing and multimedia from an early age

  • The challenges and triumphs he faced during his come-up at UTSC/Centennial along side podcast co-host Hassan Shazaam

  • The realities behind sensationalism, social media and cultural insensitivity as a result of a lack of representation 

  • The pressures a black person can come across in the field of journalism and importance of reporting vs analysis

  • Truth vs Honesty and how closely that dichotomy mirrors Fact vs Opinion

  • The changing of the old guard in the journalism industry and the opportunities that exist for young journalists of colour 

  • Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

Check us out on instagram @workingvacay

Check out our our guest on instagram @marsthepoet

Check out our sponsors on instagram @redowlboxing

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For our 10th episode of Working Vacation, we are joined by special guests Yasin and Anwar of Rootworks, a non-profit organization based around providing sustainable clean drinking water through the building of sand dams in East Africa.

We go on to to discuss:  

  • How their initial desire to do a road trip in Africa snowballed into the creation of the Water Project and the eventual formation of Rootworks  

  • The logistical challenges that came with starting up a non-profit organization (i.e. the filming, the fundraising process, location scouting, etc.)  

  • What it was like to see their hard work gradually come to fruition  

  • How faith played a major role in keeping their intentions pure  

  • The realities of marriage as well as the importance of responsibility and identity  

  • Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

Check us out on instagram @workingvacay

Check out our sponsors in instagram @redowlboxing

Check out Rootworks on instagram @rootworks_

Check out The Water Project Documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kId2Ub6ACqA

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In our ninth episode of Working Vacation we discuss: 

  • The spectacle of modern boxing and mixed martial arts (i.e. Paul Brothers, Nate Robinson, Mayweather, McGregor, Khabib, etc.)

  • Kyrie sitting out the NBA season in protest against the vaccine mandate (overall look into the polarization/politicization of this issue)

  • Facebook whistleblower as well as the ethical implications of their algorithm and data/privacy issues

  • Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our eighth episode of Working Vacation we discuss: 

  • The VERZUZ platform and its benefits for legacy acts/international stars

  • Most anticipated VERZUZ matchups

  • CEO Talk: management deals, label deals, distribution & partnerships

  • Building infrastructure: What Toronto can learn from the self-sufficiency of the UK music scene

  • Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our seventh episode of Working Vacation we discuss:   

  • Predictions/expectations of Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album  

  • Missed opportunities: Chief Keef turning down the chance to be Apple Music’s flagship artist and his overall career trajectory  

  • Types of music careers: high peaks vs grounded consistency (i.e. DMX & Jay Z)  

  • The approach of personalized labels/agencies (i.e. Roc Nation and Clutch Sports)  

  • The hip hop genre standards for success, ticket sales/touring & international demographics

  • Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our sixth episode of Working Vacation we discuss: 

  • Kwame Brown clapping back at his haters

  • Harmful narratives & their effects

  • Responsible media coverage vs sensationalism

  • Umar Johnson vs Kevin Samuels

  • The elevation of entertainers over professionals in today’s society

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our 7th episode of Working Vacation we discuss:

  • Nikola Jokic’s NBA MVP win:

• Are white athletes often underestimated due to a preceived lack of athleticism?

• The discrepancy in media coverage/discourse of black & white athletes with similar play styles

• Did Jokic win purely based off of availability (due to much of his competition being sidelined by injuries, COVID, etc.)?

  • The legitimacy of this year’s NBA season/playoffs in comparison to the last year’s ‘Bubble’

  • Is Kevin Durant truly the best basketball player in the world?

  • Can LeBron win another ring?

  • The changing of the NBA guard:

• The attendance of this year’s Olympics

• The new crop of stars currently making waves

• The potential rule change with regards to drawing fouls

• The overall evolution of the game

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our fifth episode of Working Vacation, we discuss:    

- The recent discovery of the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children at the sites of former residential schools in British Columbia and Manitoba as well the targeted terror attack against a Muslim family in London, Ontario not long afterwards:   

• How racist is Canada truly?   

• How much does Canada benefit from this progressive & inclusive image they actively promote to the rest of the world?   

  • Types of government structures and their differing policies  

  • Declining birth rates in advanced societies  

  • The concept of Yin and Yang in regards to masculine and feminine energies   

  • Compound Living vs Individualistic lifestyles (limitations, mindset and approach) as well as the realities of single parenthood

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our fourth episode of Working Vacation:   

  • We discuss Doug Ford and the nonstop government shutdowns of Toronto (longest in all of North America) 

  • Are there any agendas behind the coronavirus (Covid-19) that the government is not telling us? 

  • The passing of the legend DMX, the sad realities of addiction, unworthy OGs in the hood and how they are impacting the next generation 

  • The Daunte Wright shooting right on the heels of the Derek Chauvin Trial, police training and how to potentially prevent tragedies like this from continuing to happen

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our third episode of Working Vacation:   

  • We discuss activism in the modern age and the realities of philanthropy (What's really happening with the money that people donate?)  

  • What is the future of NFT's (Non-Fungible Tokens) and cashing in on nostalgia? What do we think of Meek Mill's plan to release a full album as an NFT?  

  • Is Akon City going to be the new Wakanda? Is it possible to have a city that's only powered by solar energy with an economy that solely uses crypto-currency in Africa?

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our second episode of Working Vacation we discuss:   

  • The tragedy of the 8 lives that were taken in the Atlanta shootings #StopAsianHate

  • The implications behind the hateful rhetoric Trump stirred up about COVID-19 and the asian community  

  • Dangerous media narratives, lack of accountability from law enforcement, ally-ship, etc. 

  • If LeBron is a genius and how many other potentially undiagnosed geniuses and prodigies are out there, living in impoverished neighbourhoods  

  • If Kanye West a better business man than his long time idol and friend Jay Z  

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our second episode of Working Vacation, we discuss whether or not Drake can truly be considered the GOAT. What is holding him back from joining that Mount Rushmore of the greatest hip hop artists ever? Meghan Markle's negative experiences as a former member of the Royal Family and the fallout. Did she notice any early signs or was she blindsided? Is LeBron responsible for the creation of maybe the greatest team ever assembled? KD vs Lebron Matchup! 

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!

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In our first podcast episode of Working Vacation, we discuss whether or not LaMelo Ball will actually become the Rookie of the Year? How much of his success should we credit his father, Lavar Ball? Is DJ Akademiks Meek Mill's Skip Bayless? How will history look back on DJ Akademik's career and his shiesty come-up? Welcoming Bobby Shmurda home and how the prison system is set up for you to fail and become a repeat offender.

Grab a seat, eat some popcorn and enjoy!