Dogs, Love & Coffee: Recent Episodes
Bizzy Amor
A podcast about challenging the assumptions we place on each other. This series is about humans amplifying their personal likes, dislikes, nature, nurture, common and uncommon beliefs. Humans are complex and often impossible to decipher, quickly. A good conversation is like being given a treasure map that leads to the most rewarding parts of a person, which is often their authenticity. There are certain vibrations that come from a person’s authentic self that activate something powerful in us when we hear it. I feel it’s a mistake for us to assume anything about any person without diving deeper into a person’s history but it’s a mistake that we allow ourselves to make because our assumptions are often attached to our survival. So, with these conversations, we endeavor to first explore and then set aside assumption and get to know each other on a human level with the goal of seeing more of ourselves by way of reflecting off of each other.
Michael Smith grew up in what New Yorkers call “uptown”. According to the map, it’s Harlem, and to those that know, he’s more specifically a resident of “Spanish Harlem.” Michael is a black man. Heavily influenced by the streets around him, the socioeconomic struggles, the magnetism to vices but also the beauty of the people and the culture. His mom made sure that Michael saw and understood more than just the Harlem outside of his door...the Harlem that most people only think exists. She exposed him to the inner workings of Wall Street and the mannerisms of those that run it. When you mix that with the legacy of his “number running” granddad, you get a man that can find success on either side, in either room though never quite able to escape the effect his earth colored skin has on the observer.
The reality for young black men growing up in Harlem, too often, is presented as being less than stellar; or as a place that can't consistently birth individuals that grow to become actual titans in the worlds that exist just a few miles downtown in the financial center of the world. For many, that's valid...but only as valid as growing up almost anywhere else. If you let the media tell it, you can't be great from here or rather your greatness will never be assumed. That's wack. That idea is a byproduct of the racism that stems from the capitalism that confines so many to the 50 or so square blocks that physically define Harlem as opposed to understanding the universally brilliant nature of its impact on the young black mind. Enter Michael Smith. It's easy to say that he isn't your typical "Harlem" guy...but then you'd be admitting that bias exist and that very bias itself is driven by things that beautiful minds like Michael's can't control but are forced to navigate daily.
We took two weeks off because we didn't want to distract from the greater conversation happening in the world. We're coming back with an episode featuring real estate developer, investor and professional racing athlete Bill Hynes. We spend a great deal of time discussing race relations and social injustice in "America".
William is a veteran firefighter, personal trainer, new father and self proclaimed "alternate fact checker." In this conversation we discuss a range of topics including his personal and professional mantra of "minimizing errors" as well as growing up in Queens in a single parent household. We also dig into his having to adopt a self-sufficient attitude from a young age and how that's affected his friendships. I make the mistake of calling Will and "hero" and he explains that when most people meet firefighters it's usually at the "worst time of their lives". Whether he's entering a burning building to search for survivors or cutting people out of car wrecks, he reminds us that it's important for firefighters to never accept the "hero" label that most people tag them with because the reality is that they are trying their best not to make a mistake that could cost human life and that's their sole focus. As holder of multiple degrees and various certifications, he's been judged more frequently for his muscles and tattoos than the immense depth of his character. In this convo, we introduce you to a black man that represents so many black men and we hope that you'll walk away feeling as you've a gained a better understanding of the "guy you thought was a thug".
In this episode we connect with Dawaune. He identifies as a "mixed race" Black man from Omaha, Nebraska who grew to accept his path as "Queer" in his 20s. We discuss topics ranging from practicing empathy to being bullied for embracing femininity and the true genius of Captain Planet.
He also blows my mind by sharing a few deeper meanings. First was his name “Dawaune” which translates to “the first light on the mountain of fire.” The other was the meaning behind Omaha, Nebraska. “Omaha” itself actually representing the name of the Native American tribe that settled in that region. He explained that “Omaha” actually means “flat water” and that “Nebraska” means “against the current.” I love learning things like that. Dawaune was incredibly insightful and offered a really great episode well worth the listen. Please enjoy.
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Happy was born and raised Brooklyn, NY. She’s been as influenced by the “Italian” leaning neighborhood of 1990s Bensonhurst as she was her Colombian roots. Being raised by a mom that spoke to her only in Spanish and by the NYC streets that only saw her cultural ways, she’s endured stigmas, stereotypes and hits to her self esteem that only served to strengthen her ideals, the passions and perspectives she finds solace within. A beautiful episode with a beautiful “New Yawker”. Please enjoy episode 3.
Feel free to email us any feedback as well as reaching out to join the series. We’re always looking for great energies to converse with.
Email: info@dogsloveandcoffee.com
Site: www.dogsloveandcoffee.com
Having survived three heart surgeries our guest this episode, Thomas, gained quite the insight on life. We discuss Thomas' journey from the South of France on to The Congo, South Korea, and now Vancouver. Our topics ranged from the importance of detaching yourself from ego to the pure tranquility of a 10-hour run through the woods. I finished this conversation with a deeper appreciation for the everyday moments that are so easily taken for granted. I look forward to you taking this journey with us and I hope you are able to take as much meaning out of it as I have.
NYC native Adam Merced, aka DJ MODE, has been curating music for some of the world’s largest and most recognizable brands such as Nike, Pepsi, Audi the NBA, MLB, MLS, and NHL. Associate Music Director for the NY Knicks, NY Liberty, and NY Rangers from (2013-2016) and is the current Music Supervisor for the NYC Football Club. You can follow DJ Mode on instagram/twitter @djmodenyc.