Not Another Industry Podcast: Recent Episodes
Damilare Sonoiki
In depth conversations with entertainers, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and ordinary people. Hosted by comedy writer Damilare Sonoiki (blackish, The Simpsons)
A conversation with Tabitha Soren, former MTV News, ABC News, and NBC News reporter, and current American fine art photographer.
Part two of my conversation with the incredible twin DJ duo.
(0:00) Going on tour with Saint Jhn
(9:30) Boring Instagram Close Friends
(17:20) Finding relationships when you're not looking
(28:34) Love languages
(38:04) Trying to prove something with social media
(48:48) New music
(56:36) First realizing a talent for music
A conversation with dazzling twin DJ-producer-artist duo, Angel + Dren
(0:00) Intro
(5:00) Transitioning from private school to Dartmouth after growing up in the Bronx
(12:20) Fitting in at Darmouth, style, etc.
(21:48) Being the big sister (Dren)
(32:06) Resisting the allure of finance / the corporate world
(41:26) Twin adventures
(52:00) Dating, relationships, exes
(1:02:40) Feeling self conscious about DJ'ing at the beginning
A conversation with actor and stand-up comedian Jermaine Fowler.
(0:00) Intro
(8:57) Getting into comedy without a direct way in
(19:38) Coming up in the stand-up world
(29:48) Telling his first funny joke
(41:20) Hollywood's Black renaissance
(52:08) Appreciating Eddie Murphy's greatness
(59:34) Keeping your sanity in comedy and Hollywood
A conversation with Shareef "Ross Mac" McDonald, a former Wall Street professional and creator / host of REVOLT TV’s hit weekly segment, Maconomics, Ross shares the fundamental understanding of financial literacy from an urban perspective. Ross' approach to financial literacy is the perfect fusion of hip hop culture and Wall Street knowledge
(0:00) Intro
(7:24) Using life insurance to decrease violence in the hood
(17:48) Selling non investment grade bonds on Wall Street
(30:12) Current investment thesis
(43:00) Appreciating the things many people take for granted living in America as a black person
(57:12) Getting a show on Netflix dealing with financial literacy
A conversation with Nandi Howard, a Houston native who is a Content Director at Essence Magazine.
(0:00) Intro
(10:28) Broadening your horizons beyond Texas
(19:00) Transitioning from sneaking into shows and events to actually being credentialed and invited
(28:20) Pros and cons of being in Houston as a media professional
(38:55) Parties in Houston versus LA
(44:42) Dating
A conversation with Etienne Maurice, founder of Walkgood LA, mental health advocate, and son of Sheryl Lee Ralph.
(0:00) Intro
(8:08) Growing up in central LA
(16:20) The importance of kindness
(29:07) Growing up with Sheryl Lee Ralph as a mother and support
(38:51) Dealing with mental health issues and coming out on the other side due to support from loved ones
(50:40) Finding purpose
(1:00:11) Throwing legendary house parties growing up
A conversation with Jackson Pace, and actor, writer, and producer who has appeared in TV shows including Homeland, The Walking Dead, and 9-1-1 Lone Star.
(0:00) Intro
(11:00) Love for acting
(20:20) The culture on Hollywood sets
(32:05) Houston Rockets 2017 - 2018 season
(44:44) Keeping your acting skills sharp
(59:28) Proper etiquette when meeting your heroes
(1:16:47) Growing an impressive beard
(1:31:05) Advice to actors
A conversation with Hugh Augustine, a rapper, chef, and entrepreneur from LA. Hugh has been featured on songs with Syd, Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, Skeme and many others. He’s performed all around the world.
(0:00) Intro
(6:23) Rapping in school, growing up
(15:00) Gangbanging, people getting jacked for their phones
(25:28) Getting shot
(35:45) The relationship between the streets and rap music
(46:15) Growing up in LA
(56:43) Gentrification in LA
(1:08:35) Violence in LA after covid
A conversation with Zeta Morrison, an actress, model, and winner of reality TV dating show, Love Island USA. Follow Damilare @dsonoiki on all socials. Follow Zeta @iamzetamorrison on Twitter
(0:00) Intro
(9:03) Having confidence before your “glow up”
(21:40) Having the confidence to move to a new city
(34:20) How the dating landscape changes as you get older
(51:49) The process of getting cast for Love Island USA
(1:04:52) Dream dates
(1:28:08) Love for acting
A conversation with Oliver Lee Bateman, a writer and academic who has written for Vice, Teen Vogue, The American Conservative, Al-Jazeera, The Ringer, The Atlantic, and more. He also served as co-host of the podcast, What's Left, which examined politics and culture in the US.
Follow Oliver on Twitter @MoustacheClubUS and on Instagram @oliverleebateman
Follow Damilare on Instagram and Twitter @dsonoiki
(0:00) Intro
(11:55) Doing movie extra work in Pittsburgh
(27:00) How the Trump era compromised journalism / writing
(44:02) How Trump’s 2016 campaign mirrors the Dusty Rhodes “hard times” promo
(1:02:54) The concept of “punching down”
(1:23:11) “Yacht Man,” the subject of Oliver’s favorite article that he’s written
(1:43:26) “Kids in Cages” and the opportunism of politics
(1:57:44) Greatest wrestlers of all time
A conversation with Armon Sadler, a hip-hop reporter at Vibe Magazine.
Follow Armon @armonsadler on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Damilare @dsonoiki on Twitter and Instagram. Follow Armon’s podcast @staybusypod on Twitter and Instagram
(0:00) Intro
(14:07) How classes Armon took at Cornell are relevant to what Armon does now
(31:52) Leaving an unprofessional organization and self-publishing on Medium, getting retweeted by Brent Faiyaz and followed by Bryson Tiller
(51:45) Hosting the Stay Busy podcast and doing deep research on artists before talking to them
(1:11:00) Wrestling and our favorite wrestlers
(1:30:00) Reviewing articles based on the music rather than personal agendas
(1:50:51) Dating, getting out of the streets and into serious relationships as you get older
(2:01:59) Drake, Drake’s legacy, Drake’s albums ranked, and “Her Loss”
I went to night 2 of Drake’s Apollo concert. This is a recap of the show and a discussion of Drake’s legacy, his songwriting superpower, and what every screenwriter (or every writer period) can learn from him. Hint: there’s something very specific Drake does in his songwriting that helps his music connect with audiences.
(0:00) Intro
(7:00) Meeting Drake in 2016
(13:54) The production element of the show
(22:00) The respective superpowers of Nas, Eminem, Tupac, Jay Z, and Biggie
(32:50) The attribute Drake uses to make his music relatable, sticky, and connect with audiences
(40:00) How to use this attribute in other types of writing (screenwriting, etc.)
(41:00) Funny observations from the show
(44:20) Knowing “how to move”
On this episode, we’re joined by Chelsea Pinky, one of the three hosts of “Black Girls Texting,” a podcast that has featured guests including Janelle Monae, Meagan Good, Amanda Seales, and Serena Williams.
Make sure to like, rate, and review, and follow Chelsea on Instagram @chelspinky. Follow Black Girls Texting on Instagram @blackgirlstexting. Follow this podcast on Instagram and Twitter @notindustrypod, and share it with your friends.
(0:00) Intro
(4:00) “Black Girls Texting” Podcast
(9:30) Being a teacher
(18:50) Growth and evolving format of “Black Girls Texting” Podcast
(32:10) Her first date with her fiance
(44:00) Making friends in LA and making friends as an adult in a new city
(54:40) Relationships becoming “cool” as you get older
(1:07:10) Having too many requirements in dating
(1:20:40) The importance of fashion in LA
Bolaji is a lawyer and the founder of Okunnu Law Group. He focuses on music and has worked on publishing, licensing, and record deals for artists including Maxo Kream, Monaleo, Davido, Finesse2Tymes, and more
Make sure to follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter @notindustrypod. Follow Bolaji @bolajiesq. Follow Damilare on all socials @dsonoiki. The show is also available wherever you get podcasts (Apple, Spotify, etc.). Tell a friend, leave a 5 star review, etc.
(0:00) Intro
(3:28) The value of a law degree
(9:38) How to approach a deal
(18:27) What makes something a bad deal
(28:10) Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria and Alief in Houston and wanting to go beyond those areas
(39:43) Being around Kream Clicc when violence was happening around Houston cliques
(47:42) Artists leaving the streets behind
(56:06) Nigerians becoming beloved in the culture, experiencing teasing growing up Nigerian
(1:04:17) Dating, Kevin Samuels, City Girls
(1:11:30) Being embarrassed about your Nigerian name
A conversation with J. Prince, the founder of Rap-A-Lot Records. (Recorded in 2018). We discuss going from the streets to the music industry, Drake and Pusha T, rap beef in general, his relationship with Drake, and watching his sons grow up and go into business.
Follow J. Prince on Instagram @jprincerespect
Follow Damilare on Instagram @dsonoiki
Make sure you’re following Not Another Industry Podcast on Instagram at @notindustrypod and following the host everywhere @dsonoiki
Please rate, comment, and subscribe to Not Another Industry Podcast on Apple and Spotify
0:00 Intro
5:02 Learning about J. Prince from the Julia Beverly book about Pimp C
10:44 Seeing how J. Prince moved during the Summer Sixteen Tour
16:35 J. Prince with Meek and Drake in Boston
20:22 The ties between rap and the streets
21:55 J. Prince checks in
23:33 Are there rules in rap beef?
26:26 Tupac
27:52 Walking away from the streets and dealing with the feds
30:06 Relationship with Drake, the Prince children, and what’s next on the agenda
35:22 Being prepared when you’re in situations that can escalate to violence, and who is the next J. Prince
40:14 Ideas for the future / tech
A conversation with Siaka Massaquoi, a Los Angeles based actor (SWAT, Lethal Weapon, NCIS) of Liberian descent who is an outspoken conservative. Siaka was raided by the FBI after being at the Capitol on Jan 6. He has not been charged with any crime.
Follow Siaka on Instagram
Follow Damilare on Instagram
0:00 Intro
4:00 Popularity of Nigerian / African food
13:22 Growing up in Chicago
24:44 Being at the Capitol on Jan 6 and getting raided by the FBI
38:00 People creating divisions within minority groups
51:44 Taking an acting class in college and getting the acting bug
1:05:30 Meeting people you admire
1:17:21 Becoming a staunch conservative after being an Obama supporter
A 3AM rant about disinformation in the context of Andrew Tate's arrest and the viral, unfounded tweets that the pizza box in Tate's response video to Greta Thunberg is what gave authorities Tate's location.
A conversation with Maura Chanz, an actress, writer, and producer who has worked with Yara Shahidi (black-ish, grown-ish) and Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends, The Game). We discuss getting into the entertainment industry when you’re not from LA, getting used to working with people you idolized, why some child stars go off the rails, and my favorite topic: dating.
You can follow Maura on Instagram @maurachanz and you can follow Damilare @dsonoiki
Follow Maura on Instagram @maurachanz
Follow Damilare on Instagram @dsonoiki
Follow the show's Instagram @notindustrypod
Join our Patreon for exclusives
(0:00) Intro
(2:54) Breaking into entertainment as an outsider
(10:05) Deciding to go to college
(17:20) Coming up and grinding alongside others in Hollywood
(30:30) Getting used to being around people you idolized
(43:22) Transitioning from acting
(57:47) Working with Yara Shahidi
(1:11:32) Dating
A conversation with journalist George Chidi. We discuss his path to journalism, from dropping out of college and joining the military to writing for a small North Carolina paper to getting an MBA and more. We also discuss the YSL RICO case and the intersection of hip-hop and violence. Follow George on Instagram @g_chidi. Follow Damilare @dsonoiki
(0:00) Intro
(2:57) Having a really good year
(3:42) Living in Pine Lake, GA and serving on the city council
(7:58) Being a “screw up” and joining the army
(13:32) Running for a seat in the Massachusetts legislature
(17:04) Writing for the Rocky Mount Telegram in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
(27:35) Covering crime at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(37:35) Getting an MBA at Georgia Tech, graduating into the financial crisis, and floating around without a stable job, getting involved with the Occupy movement
(48:34) Getting into a street fight
(55:40) Violent crime going up over the course of the pandemic
(1:05:50) Putting the pieces together regarding the YSL and YFN war
(1:12:09) Being criticized by ADOS / FBA (American Descendants of Slavery / Foundational Black Americans
(1:24:02) How connected the streets and hip-hop are
(1:43:08) Life insurance on rappers
(1:50:10) Chiraqology, Atlantology, and other street and music subreddits
(1:56:16) PTSD among rappers and people in the streets
(2:05:44) Current work
Damilare and Demetrius discuss Demetrius' story: growing up in Detroit, gaining 4 million followers on Vine, moving to LA, leaving LA, his You Matter clothing brand, therapy, and everything in between. Follow Demetrius on Instagram @demetriusharmon. Follow Damilare @dsonoiki
(0:00) Intro
(0:28) LASIK and glasses
(6:20) Vine and making Vine videos
(8:24) Staying hydrated
(10:26) Childhood, growing up, gaining millions of followers on Vine in high school
(40:20) Detroit rappers being hilarious
(57:42) Leaving LA
(1:07:00) Why True Crime is the best genre
(1:11:27) Being vulnerable, especially as a black man
(1:19:56) Family finding out about self harming
(1:24:09) Therapy
(1:34:00) Watching content as a creator
(1:36:17) "You Matter" clothing brand and dealing with internet criticism, and the food when you sit courtside
(1:53:27) Current focus
(1:55:45) Meeting your idols
(2:01:39) Malia Obama and Donald Glover
(2:03:00) Dating
(2:07:51) Houston Rockets
Introducing Not Another Industry Podcast, hosted by TV Writer, Damilare Sonoiki (black-ish, The Simpsons). Unguarded conversations with actors, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between. Follow Damilare on Instagram @dsonoiki