The GOATs Podcast

S4:E3 | 2025 Recognitions, Where’s Sophie?, & Our Creative Journeys: Memorable Creations, Current Needs & What's Art Done for Our Mental Heath

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0500

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 4 the crew gets back together, after what’s been almost a year since our last recording to wrap up 2025.

We recap our year as a podcast. From being nominated for Podcast of the year by Grand Rapids Hip Hop awards and being featured by Rapid Growth Media as one of the “10 Grand Rapids podcasts that deliver big” as notable recognitions.

We catch up with our co-host Sophie, who moved to California earlier this year and all that’s transpired with her transition there as well as your feeling surround the move.

Lastly we tap into each other’s respective current creative journey. From our most memorable creation this year to what we need right now in our journey. Lastly we wrap up with what art has done for our mental health.

WATCH THIS EPISODE HERE

About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.

GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook, Youtube & Website
Produced by Dave Benoit
Photography by Mary Partee

S4:E2 | Comic Roots & Family Influence, The Art of Comedy & "Never Being Confident," Pre-Show Prep and Comedy Special Ft. Brianna "Funny Girl Bri" Blackburn

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 4 we chat with actor, writer, producer and comedian, Brianna Blackburn aka Funny Girl Bri.

From wanting to be a police officer, influenced by her grandmother to her comedic influences of Bernie Mac & Bill Bellamy we start the episode diving into her comic roots. We chat about her first comedy performance to getting her first paid gig just 2-3 months later.

We chat about her family’s influence on her material, preparing for different audiences, her pre-show prep process, tough shows & being kicked off them. We then dive into staying encouraged, her “never being confident,” the Grand Rapids comedy scene, and advice for up & coming comedians.

We get into her Comedy Special filmed in 2022 and her growth in set times from 3min (her first show) to a 45min special.

We also get into:

Her favorite comedy shows, movies, & comedians
Who would be the five people to roast her, if she had another roast
Some famous name drops
Her process going into producing her own comedy shows
A future talk show & people’s comfortability with just telling her all their secrets

Lastly, We finish with our question game. The cast & crew name a comedian, as Brianna gives her reactions, thoughts and stories about them.

Check out her comedy special HERE

Check out her movie Thanksgiving Roast 2 HERE

BIO: A classic laugh out loud comic, Brianna Blackburn has been making big waves in the Michigan comedy world. Combining solid material with crowd interaction, Brianna takes us on a hilarious ride that always ends in funny. Brianna is a multi time Laughfest performers, and has opened for Donnell Rawlings & Patton Oswalt as well as many others.

S4:E1 | In-House Series Part 4 - Flowers, Music, Short Films & YouTube Series, Mental Health, Holding Space for Others and Upcoming Book Ft. George Ward

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

THE IN-HOUSE SERIES: Part Four. The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..

In EPISODE 1 of SEASON 4 we chat with Writer, Speaker, Director, Actor, Photographer & our very own podcast co-host George Ward. We start the episode, and to much of a surprise to the rest of the cast & crew, dive into George’s first creative mediums of music & singing and how growing up in church influenced that.

We give him, his flowers, literally. We chat about how his interest in reading & love for books have influenced his writing. How much the podcast is more than just a podcast but a form of therapy a strong community for him. We chat about the journey of creating his respective short films Do Over” & “The Miseducation of Adulting”and his YouTube series “A Moment of Clarity”.

We dive into his bouts with mental health, holding space in lives of others, and the ebbs & flows of his photography journey. We dive into his how his faith and art have mixed and all that has come from that.

We get into some powerful moments George discovered & reflected on while writing his book giving an account on the relationship he had with his father and his father’s impact on their family. Lastly, We finish with our question game. Sophie & Alfield share some of their favorite Ward Words of Wisdoms from Facebook as George shares his live reactions & stories about them.

BIO: Born & raised in Grand Rapids, George Ward is a multi-hyphenate creative. His artistic expressions covers Writing, Motivational Speaking, Directing, Acting and Photography. He is also one of the co-host of the GOATs podcast.

George has acted in local theatre shows like, “Clybourne Park,” starred in nationally televised commercials for Baker College as well written, directed, acted & produced the short films “Do Over” & “The Miseducation of Adulting”. He also had a YouTube series entitled “A Moment of Clarity” where he shared motivational & inspirational words of wisdom on faith, life and overcoming hardships.

George use his creative mediums to share about the importance of mental health, how it can impact creatives and how an individual’s platform/influence can help others. Currently, George is in the process of writing a book giving an account on the relationship he had with his father and his father’s impact on their family.

S3:E7 | In-House Series Part 3 - Season 3 Recap, Flowers, Photography, Painting, Modeling & Podcasting Ft. Sophie 'Tender' Rodriguez

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

THE IN-HOUSE SERIES: Part Three. The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..

In EPISODE 7 of SEASON 3 we chat with Photographer, Painter, Model & our very own podcast co-host Sophie "tender" Rodriguez. We start the episode off recapping our year and sharing some of our favorite podcast moments, memories and guest conversations.

We give her, her flowers, literally. We chat with her about her parent's influence on her start with art, getting into photography (s/o Mr. Roth), the ebbs & flows of painting and the catalyst it can be for handling pain and trauma.

We dive into her rise of modeling gigs, trying new things like nude modeling and her 3 tips for aspiring models. We chat about what she's learned about her self, the experience & the process since being a podcast co-host.

Lastly, we wrap up with what creative things we'd like to see Sophie do more of or get into, what each of us are quietly doing and we finish with our question game. We ask Sophie to "tell us the first things she would paint for the person we name game" from her parents to the whole GOAT Podcast team.

BIO: Michigan native artist, Sophie Rodriguez, has been experimenting with multimedia for several years. Originally beginning with photography then finding a balance primarily between the world of painting and modeling. Initially, seen as an opportunity to challenge the boundaries of her talent and passions-these endeavors have brought new experiences and continue to open many pathways to nurture new mediums and ideas.

S3:E6 | Family & Art, Stepping Away & Back to Art, Custom Steppers, Our Moods Effect on Art Creation & The Trauma Project Ft. Terrell ‘SCOOB’ Foy

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In EPISODE 6 of SEASON 3 we chat with Terrell ‘SCOOB’ Foy, a Multimedia Artist specializing in painting, shoe customization & artist curation. We chat about his initial art inspiration from family, stepping away & back into art, his back injury and Custom Steppers, his shoe customization business. He takes us through his favorite shoes to customize, paintings to-date, and the effects of your mood on creating.

Last but certainly not least he takes through the process of his ArtPrize winning project, The Trauma Project, “a powerful artistic endeavor that addresses themes of trauma and healing through a combination of visual art and music.”
We wrap up the episode playing the "tell us the first question you would ask this person when you hear their name" game.

BIO: Scoob the artist, whose real name is Terrell Foy, is a multidisciplinary artist and creative visionary based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is best known for leading “The Trauma Project,” a powerful artistic endeavor that addresses themes of trauma and healing through a combination of visual art and music. His project, which won the Grand Prize at ArtPrize, features collaborations with over 20 local artists.

Aside from that he lives a double artist life as The artist behind Custom Steppers. a prominent custom shoe designer known for his innovative and artistic approach to footwear. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he has gained international recognition for creating one-of-a-kind, hand-painted sneakers that blend street style with artistic expression.

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S3:E5 | Music Touring, Content Creation, The Importance of Consistency & The Social Media Influencer Lifestyle Ft. James White

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 5 of SEASON 3 we chat with James White an all-around creative. His talents and expertise consist of rapping, graphic design, acting, photography, videography and social media influencing. We chat with him about his journey from being a hip-hop artist to being a social media influence. His journey goes from working in a factory to touring for music to shifting during the Pandemic to social media influencing.

We chat about going from researching & studying "How to be an influencer" for 3 months to posting 6 videos a day to now having an audience of over 500k+ followers spanning from Instagram to TikTok. We chat about the importance of knowing your niche and the importance of being consistent. Lastly to wrap up the episode, we ask him for what one should have in their social media influencer tool kit.

BIO: James White, known as MrPr3zz, is a Hip-Hop artist and motivational speaker. James delivers both his music and message from a welcoming platform that reaches audiences with a variety of backgrounds. James has a passion to reach the younger generation locally, nationally, and worldwide. In addition to his talent as a rapper and motivational speaker, James is a social media influencer on all social media platforms, with an audience of over 500k+ followers on Instagram and Facebook with more than 40M views on Tiktok since 2021.

James resides in Grand Rapids Michigan with his 2 children, Journee and Addelyn.

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S3:E4 | Journey in Radio, The Art of an Interview, VP Harris, Theater, Hosting, The Grand Rapids Music Scene & How To (& Not) Get Your Music on the Radio Ft. Alisha 'Lisha B.' Brown

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 4 of SEASON 3 we chat with Alisha "Lisha B" Brown, a Radio Personality, MC, Podcaster, and Actress. We chat with her about journey into radio from how she got hired to what she thinks is missing, the art of an interview, her interview with the Vice President (now presidential candidate) Kamala Harris, her top 5 favorite/most memorable interviews, the importance of life outside of your job, her journey into Theater despite doubts from others, Hosting (her dream hosting gigs), The Grand Rapids Music scene, How to & not get you music on the radio, and her other dreams & aspirations. Lastly we play "tell us the first question you would ask this person when you hear their name" game to wrap up the episode.

BIO: Alisha Brown, professionally known as Lisha B, is a media connoisseur. Born and raised in the Washington D.C., area, she fell in love with music and being in front of the camera. Growing up in church & school choirs, it was destined for her to be a part of the music industry. In March 2019, Lisha created her own lane with the launch of a podcast, @TheLituationrpod. She grew the platform to 15+ countries, traction with labels, such as Warner Music, and over 3,000 downloads.

After her time as the local producer for the syndicated morning show, Russ Parr Morning Show, Lisha B is the afternoon host of The Afternoon Lituation on Magic 104.9, the number 1 station for hip-hop in Grand Rapids, Michigan She also has a #1 rated show on 105.1 The Block, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Lisha B has appeared on MSNBC as a guest correspondent for the Symone Sanders show and has interviewed many notable people, such as Musiq Soulchild and Vice President Kamala Harris. Lisha B strives to continue being a popular media personality, strong working woman, and entrepreneur.

Follow Her

This episode was photographed by Illiana

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S3:E3 | Educational Disrupting, Local Artist Advocacy, Social Media Strategizing & The Grand Rapids Art Scene, Culture and Practices Ft. Darline Rodriguez

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 3 we chat with Darline Rodriguez, a photographer, social media strategist & educational disrupter. We chat about her creative journey in photography & social media strategizing, her signature photography style & look, and educational disrupting. We also dive into the Grand Rapids art scene, culture and practices, advocacy for the local artist, licensing, copyright, and the artists dead or alive she'd love to photograph.

BIO: I am a photographer and social media content strategist for lovers & creatives with an emphasis on storytelling + digital marketing. I’ll help you curate thoughtful digital experiences so you can deliver stories with content that connects.

LGBTQIA+ Friendly • Black & Non-Black POC Inclusive • All Humans Welcome.

Her Website

This episode was photographed by Shari Subhan

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S3:E2 | Thinking like an Artist, Boredom, Wonder & Curiosity, The Power of Play, Artist Councils & Representation Ft. Cindy Foley

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 3 we chat with Cindy Meyers Foley, the Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. We chat about her journey to becoming an Art Museum Director, the history of Art Museums, Thinking like an Artist, Losing Creativity, the catalyst that is Boredom & regaining our Wonder & Curiosity, the power of Play and importance of an Artist Council. Lastly we chat about the GRAM's recently launched Diversity & Equity Acquisition Fund, the importance of Representation and the upcoming exhibition of artist Mario Moore.

The GRAM's Diversity and Equity Acquisition Fund - Learn More & donate Here
Mario Moore Exhibition Details

BIO: Cindy Meyers Foley (@CindyMFoley) (she/her) has worked for 30 years to help museums become welcoming spaces that cultivate curiosity and social engagement. She is currently the Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, an institution that has just opened a Creative Learning Center. Foley has been critical in the development of a several groundbreaking projects including two city wide Creativity Summits to advocate for intentional creativity in all sectors, Making Creativity Visible and Cultivating Creative and Civic Capacities two nationally recognized teacher research and professional development programs, Wonder School a museum/university laboratory preschool, and the Center for Art and Social Engagement an experimental gallery developed to activate conversation, reflection and action in relation to experiencing art that addresses social issues.

Foley curated Playground, 2002 which included an experimental project with Miranda July, Harrell Fletcher and Yuri Ono that launched Learning to Love you More a website that crowdsourced online content to fulfill play based assignments. Foley has been on the faculty of the Maine College of Art, and Harvard’s Project Zero Classroom Summer Institute and regularly keynotes a variety of Museum, Art, and Education Conferences. In November 2014, she was a TEDX Columbus Speaker presenting Teaching Art or Teaching to Think like an Artist and in 2016, she was asked to again take the TEDX Stage to present The Benefits of Boredom . Foley received the 2018 Ohio Distinguished Educator for Art Education award.

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S3:E1 | Graphic Design, DJ'ing, Black Women Femininity, Black Creativity & Gatekeeping Ft Asia 'Venusxflyytrap' Horne

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In EPISODE 1 of SEASON 3 we chat with Creative Director, Digital Artist and DJ Asia Horne about starting out as a graphic designer, grooving into DJ'ing, transiting from Atlanta back to Michigan, the DJ scene in the city, Black Women Femininity, the power of "seeing is believing," black creativity in Grand Rapids, and gatekeeping. Lastly we play a fun "name the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear this song" game to wrap it up the episode.

BIO: Asia Horne aka @Venusxflyytrap is a Grand Rapids-based creative director, digital artist and DJ. Designing since the age of 12, the self-taught creative’s experience ranges from editorial to international brand design. In 2019, she founded Free Alchemy Studio, an experimental creative direction and production house with focuses of social strategy and design, experience production and sensory storytelling.

Her Website

This episode was photographed by Ivan Labra

S2:E7 | In-House Series Part 2 - Flowers, Dance, Photo & Video, Sabbath & "Haters" Ft. Mary Partee

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

INTRODUCING our mini-series entitled: THE IN-HOUSE SERIES: Part Two.
The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..

In EPISODE 7 of SEASON 2 we chat with Dancer, Photographer and Ministry Leader, our very own podcast photographer Mary Partee. We give her her flowers (literally) and chat with her about dance, transition from videography to photography, the tension between what the client wants and your own photographic style, sabbath and "haters" being our motivators.

BIO: Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mary Partee is a creative individual with a wide range of interests. She is a ministry leader for youth and a self-taught photographer. Mary is passionate about apologetics and expresses a lot of her creativity through dance. In addition to her diverse pursuits, she finds joy in soccer, travel, and spending time with friends.

This episode was photographed by Ivan Labra.

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S2:E6 | In-House Series Part 1 - Flowers, Freedom, Family, New Fears & Unexpected Accomplishments Ft. Dave Beniot

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

INTRODUCING our mini-series entitled: THE IN-HOUSE SERIES: Part One.
The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..

In EPISODE 6 of SEASON 2 we chat with Filmmaker, Breakdancer, Muralist, Graphic Designer and our very own podcast Producer, Dave Benoit on his creative journey as a Muti-hyphenate. We give him his flowers (literally) and chat with him about the freedom of entrepreneurship, the plight of consistently, family and culturally creative influences, conquering new fears, unexpected accomplishments and so much more!

BIO: Dave Benoit The CEO of MadEthnic & The Creative Director of Grand Rapids Media & Film Incubator is a Haitian American Digital artist, Filmmaker, and breakdancer whose passion for creative freedom and community is a unwavering compass for his work.

S2:E5 | Family Matters, Artist Community & My Story 5 Show Ft Esan Sommersall

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 5 of SEASON 2 we chat with Graphic Designer, Painter, Muralist, and Musician Esan Sommersell about his creative journey from getting into the arts via inspiration from his brother, family matters and the creative life as a husband and father while fostering the creative freedom of his children, artist communities and the importance of them. Lastly wrapping up talk about his show coming up and a few pieces the will be presented.

Esan's Show Details:
Tuesday to Saturday
October 24 -28th
1-7pm

Muse Gallery
727 Leonard St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

ABOUT ESAN | For visionary Esan Sommersell, making is living. In a world where it's become increasingly more difficult to discern fact from fiction, Sommersell's paintings remind us that what we see, hear, touch, and taste cannot be separated from what we feel. With bold forms and surreal color palettes taken from the landscape of lucid dreams, his work is an affirmation of humankind's innate desire to create, to mold, to touch the raw nerve of experience and discover for ourselves what it means to be alive.

IG - @plutomonday
Website - https://www.starhustler.art
_________

BTS Photography for this episode was by Kam

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S2:E4 | Creative Transitions, Still figuring it out & Artistic Voice Ft. Kristin Zuller

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 4 of SEASON 2 we chat with Kristin Zuller about her creative journey from being a tap, jazz & ballet dancer in grade-school to being a multi-disciplinary artist consisting of Illustration, Murals, & Graphic Design.

We get into chatting about her kids being creatives in their own right, still figuring out what she wants to say with her personal artwork, being ok having a “see what happens” mentality when it comes to creating & much more.

We then dive into conversations surrounding the following questions:⠀

What is the end game for you? (What’s is the overall goal for you, your work & artistic career)⠀
What happens when the work isn’t enough? (What do you do, how do you feel when things outside of your control affect your opportunities and work?)⠀
Who or what determines what “better” is for us in-terms of our art? ⠀
How do we as artists measure growth for ourselves? ⠀

ABOUT KRISTIN | Kristin Zuller, a multidisciplinary artist, harnesses the transformative power of design and technology to uplift humanity. Her background in design, illustration, user experience, and mural painting fuels her explorations in merging these disciplines. ⠀

With over 15 years of corporate design experience, she has honed her skills in print and digital media, contributed to large-scale mural creation throughout her city, and collaborated with world-leading companies. Her passion for problem-solving led her to UX design, where she fervently advocates for user-centered solutions. Kristin's creative direction aims to elevate those she serves, pushing boundaries, experimenting with new ideas, and delving into the realm of installation and interactive arts. ⠀

Infusing visual communication with storytelling, she believes in design as a tool for liberation and community-building, striving to create work that is beautiful, meaningful, and functional. ⠀

Outside of work, her interests range from dream documentation, to reading Octavia Butler texts, and exploring nature.

Follow Kristin | Instagram

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S2:E3 | April Highlights, Artist & Company Responsibility, Ricky Martin and Success.

Sat, 27 May 2023 07:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 2 the cast starts the episode sharing their April highlights, updates & some encouraging stats.

They dive into artist & company responsibility and the importance of community surrounding the GLC Live at 20 Monroe mural contest.

Link to article that our very own cast member Alfield was interviewed in — https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/arts-entertainment/grand-rapids-music-venue-faces-backlash-over-art-competition/

Eventually wrapping up with an impromptu conversation surrounding music (s/o Ricky Martin lol) and briefly chatting about success.

S2:E2 | Rest, Creating for Commodification & Rejection Ft. Guillermo 'ASMA.Speeks' Sotelo

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 2 we chat with Guillermo ‘ASMA’ Sotelo about his journey as an artist, the importance and power of rest, creating for commodification, handling rejection and more.

About Guillermo: Guillermo ‘ASMA’ Sotelo is a Chicano artist born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. ASMA’s art is a vibrant blend of his Mexican-American culture, fatherhood and his passion for graffiti and public art alike.

Practicing graffiti for over a decade, ASMA preserves the culture of writing and getting up by educating his community with events held at one of the two legal graffiti walls that he manages in West Michigan.

Painting on walls has always been a passion and now it’s his profession. Somewhere between fatherhood and living out his dreams of creating art for a living, ASMA has found his voice and is speaking to the world one spray paint can at a time.

Follow Guillermo | Instagram

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S2:E1 | Impermanence Magazine, Fashion in relation to Identity & freedom, Creating Excellence again & more Ft. Tanasia Najae

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

In our SEASON 2 debut we chat with creative Tanasia Najae about what she is up to with Impermanence Magazine, Fashion in relation to identity & freedom, creating excellence again, the tension between idea & execution and the feelings that come with going from artist to becoming the art.

About Tanasia | Tanasia Najae is a 24-year-old writer, stylist and artist living in London, England. Born and raised in the small town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tanasia found early on that she had a love for fashion and storytelling.

In 2020, she graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a BA in Mass Media Arts and a concentration in Print Journalism. Following her Bachelor’s, she moved to London in 2020 to study for her MA in Magazine Journalism. There, she was awarded Editor of the Year and created an arts and culture magazine awarded Best Magazine Design in all of England and Ireland (2021).

Though Tanasia’s primary medium is writing, she also has a profound love for all things art ranging from fashion and runway to photography and curation. She is also immensely detail-oriented and a lover of words.

Tanasia | Instagram & Website

About Impermanence Magazine | This magazine exists as the comfort and guide that one may need while working through the intricacies of their personal and worldly transitions. Through photography, fashion, and raw storytelling, Impermanence will tell the in-depth stories of the lives of people and the shifting truths of contemporary society.

Impermanence Magazine | Instagram & Website
Support Impermanence Magazine Social Impact Project | GoFundMe

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S1:E5 | Ft. 2015 Art Prize 2D Winner Monroe "Aki" O'Byrant

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 5 we chat with Monroe about his upbringing in New York, transition to West Michigan and his creative hardships, artistic responsibility and acclaim.

About Monroe: Monroe A. O’Bryant, known as Akibang, is a self-taught Grand Rapids photographer, producer, and videographer. As the owner of the production company, A Fearless Brother Project, Akibang seeks to engage people in conversation about injustice in the American system, with a focus on the black experience. One of Akibang’s 2018 photography exhibits, “A walk in the park in America”, opens space for respectful conversation and explores the history of issues the black community faces today. Akibang uses his work and production company as a platform to encourage everyone to share their stories and to listen with open minds to the stories of others.

Akibang was born and grew up in Brooklyn, East New York, NY. In 2003, Akibang began developing his passion for the camera, teaching himself and watching the works of skilled videographers and producers such as Gordon Parks, Quentin Tarantino, and Spike Lee. His mentors and family embolden him in this motivation and his work. Through meetings with these inspiring people, Akibang found purpose and started using his camera as a weapon to fight for humanity. One of his mentor’s, James Palmore reminded Akibang of the importance of being an Artist, inspiring him to keep pursuing and developing his skills. While Akibang’s mentors and family have played a big role in his work, it is Akibang’s persistence that helps him keep pushing forward for positive change in the Grand Rapids community and America. His work will continue to bring attention and conversation to today’s important social subject matters.

Now Akibang’s current works reflect the subject matter, passion, and technique of those that he looks up to, but with his own style. “I only have one chance in life to be the best me. I might as well go all out.” He said when reflecting on his motivation for continuing his art. His upcoming video project, “American Synonym: Where the same seems different”, will take an in-depth look at relevant controversial elements of today’s society. Freedom of speech, religion, sexuality, non-dualism vs dualism, and the future of America are just a few of the subjects he hopes to address in his new series. “American Synonym” will encourage conversation as well as document the current views of Americans. “Let’s tell’em a story by embodying timeless information that will be artifacts for the future.” He finds motivation in growth and a hopeful view of the future. Akibang is determined to use his life as an opportunity to affect positive change in his community and in the world.

Find Monroe on Instagram

S1:E4 | Upbringing, Adulthood & Community (Part 1) Influences on Creativity & Art Ft. Octavia Ink

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 4 we chat with Octavia Ink on how our upbringings, adulthood & current communities have impacted and influences our creativity and art journeys.

About Octavia: Octavia Ink is an illustrator, printmaker, and graphic designer originally from Chicago, now based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She believes in art as a form of expression, using her art to represent those who are underrepresented while bringing social justice issues to the forefront.

As an artist, Octavia is driven and inspired by Black women. She’s set out to push forward those who are severely underrepresented and even excluded from the art industry. She wants to see women that look like her at the helm and she reflects that in her art. Constantly utilizing bright colors and dynamic movement in each piece, Octavia loves to incorporate flowers throughout her work. Pushing the message that we should give ourselves our flowers and celebrate growth and joy. | Octavia's Website

Recording Location by Realtor Kyle Kimble of RE/MAX of Grand Rapids MI.

S1:E3 | Mental Health & The Arts with mixed-media artist Medra Stoner

Sat, 14 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In EPISODE 3 we chat with our first (but definitely not last 👀) guest, local mixed-media artist Medra Stoner about mental health & the arts.

About Medra: Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, East Africa, Medra is an enthusiastic creative who strives to make an impact with her multimedia art. Her art varies from graphite portraits, pen crosshatch, oil and acrylic paintings, as well as mixed media works that often manifest in partially three dimensional art. She is not only passionate about serving others with her art but also allowing others to feel empowered and inspired through her writing and artist statements. Follow her art page on Instagram - Medra's Art

Special Thanks to realtor Kyle Kimble of RE/MAX of Grand Rapids Michigan for allowing us to utilize his space to record this episode.

S1:E2 | We’re Back! - Reintroductions, Covid-19 Impact & a quick hit (pun not-intended) on the Emmys

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

After a 4 year hiatus we’re backkkkk! The GOATs are back together again. In our return episode we reintroduce ourselves, chat about the impacts that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on us and our art. Lastly we quickly hit (pun not intended) on the Emmys & what we’re excited for this year!

S1:E1 | Behind The GOATS

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400

We introduce you to who the GOATs are, how we all met and got our respective nicknames. We also dive into what creative intelligence is and how we all got into photography as well.