Leonard Dixon (ig:international_lenny) of Hypebeast.com joins us in studio this week to talk about what 'hypebeast' means, how a company retains 'cool', and the place of sneaker culture in political times.
Former basketball player and writer Paul Shirley (@PaulThenShirley) joins 2DB tonight to discuss his new book, 'Stories I Tell On Dates.' We also discuss misconceptions people have re: professional athletes, and why he wanted to produce a sitcom about NBA players that showed a *lack* of luxury in NBA lifestyles..
The return of Steve Lewis, nightlife correspondent for 2 Dope Boys, talking to us about his upcoming events with DJ Jonathan Peters at FREQ in NYC beginning December 1st. Why there are 'no clubs in Manhattan' currently. 'Cabaret Laws' and their effect on nightlife. De Blasio's governance of nightlife compared to prior NYC mayors.
Sydney Thomas (@sydneypaige10), investment associate at Precursor Ventures, joins us this week to discuss the turmoil in Silicon Valley and what inclusive opportunity would look like. The importance of mentorships and personal relationships in private industry. How venture capital firms resemble minor fiefdoms. Why it’s becoming more apparent that utopian Silicon Valley rhetoric has departed from the actual reality.
Check out Sydney's list of black women in venture capital.
Strategist and designer Gitamba Saila-Ngita (@monumentsinking) joins us this week to discuss his approach to designing experiences and products. Further topics include the Boston experience and how to get corporations to think about what the next 150 years will look like.
This week, 2 Dope Boys returns with an On Point recorded in early August with Detavio Samuels (@Detavio), President of iONE Digital, to discuss how he set about building the company's stacked digital media division, which operates sites like CassiusLife.com, GlobalGrind.com, HelloBeautiful.com, NewsOne.com, Bossip.com, MadameNoire.com and HipHopWired.com. How Detavio was able to see branding and advertising from all important sides of the process. The importance of avoiding the 'Mushy Middle." The paradox of building a 'cool' brand and the importance of the 'cultural antenna.'
Creative and Marketer Kane Sarhan (@Kanes) joins us in studio this week to discuss his work with 1 Hotels.
Will people pay more to stay at, and be loyal to, a sustainable hotel? The importance of patience in creating something new, and the importance of long-term thinking. The “hustle and float” of creative enterprises. The nature of the competition between hotels and AirBnB.
Critical Mass’ Conor Brady (Chief Creative Officer) and Grant Owens (Chief Strategy Officer) joins us in studio this week to discuss design, particularly with sound interfaces.
@cbrady
@grantowens
www.criticalmass.com
Building Everyday People into a national party-throwing enterprise, the hyper-materialism and racial components of New York nightlife, Incorporating music from/for different diasporas, and more.
More from Saada:
Everydaypplnyc.com
@saada__
How Roger went from growing up in Brooklyn to witnessing Bob Marley firsthand. The evolution in music represented by reggae. Bob Marley’s broader cultural caricature as opposed to the real Marley. The significance of Rastafari to Bob Marley.
Nightclub designer Steve Lewis joins us in studio once again. What it takes to “design a space.” Why Bill DeBlasio has been positive for NYC nightlife. What movies really capture New York, and more.
Ric Leichtung (@ricleichtung),Events Director at AdHoc, joins us in studio this week. The sort of people who work in the nightlife industry, Building inclusive DIY spaces. Reacting to the changes at Webster Hall. Why there is still a stigma by venues about hip-hop crowds/acts.
@ricleichtung
@adhocfm
Nancy MacLean is an award-winning scholar of the twentieth-century U.S. history at Duke University. She joins us this week to discuss her book on an important topic: "Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America." Why the Elite Libertarian project has been destroying American democracy. John C Calhoun and James Buchanan as forefathers of Neoliberalism. The still-operative property rights arguments that were born of defending slaves as property. Why the Koch Brothers’ time horizon was key to their success. The Koch’s goal of a constitutional convention to shackle majority will.
This week we’re joined by film director Shan Nicholson and musical artist and activist Roxiny. What motivated Shan to make “Downtown Calling” and “Rubble Kings.” New York’s mix of danger and opportunity. The DJ set that led to “Downtown Calling.” How DJing and archival research are nearly the same thing. Shan’s 2010 film “Rubble Kings.” Roxiny’s song on the soundtrack of “Rubble Kings.” How New York has evolved culturally and economically, largely for the worse. Check out Roxiny’s single.
Today's On Point is Andrea Bell, is director of insight at WGSN. How Andrea transitioned from journalism to trendwatching. What is a ‘Feelings Forecast?’ Why corporate clients often hate to ‘start from zero.’ What is ‘futurism’ and how is it used? How “athleisure” was predicted in 2008. The importance of certitude, validation, and a jumping-off point.
Anil Dash, entrepreneur, activist and writer joins Dope Boys in studio this week. How Anil started in tech, and his desire to enable creators. Anil’s goals of asking tech “humane” and “ethical.” Discovering tech’s lack of openness with regard to inclusion, and how that amplified inequities in society. Where does tech’s problem with diversity stem from? Anil’s perspective of the place of Indian-American men in tech. The incompetence or malice of tech leaders cooperating with Trump on photo ops. IBM’s history of collaborating with fascists. Silicon Valley is unprepared for the contempt that developed toward the Wall Street being aimed at them. Uber’s incredibly cartoonish culture problems. Peter Thiel as a tech gatekeeper and puncturing the cowardice of the tech press. Anil’s Prince enthusiasm and how it intersects with tech.
Follow Anil @AnilDash
Is New York still dope? Michael’s magical early New York experience. Michael’s visit to New York while in The Tubes. The magic of disco- and early hip-hop-era New York. Entering the music scene, meeting Jean Michel Basquiat, and the beginning of NY hip hop, including the time it was referred to as “executive style.” Britain's history of “biting” styles like punk. How Michael brought together the main elements of hip-hop on Sept 15, 1981.
@MoneyMikeHolman
michaelholman.com
Liza’s journey from modelling to acting and finally to writing and poetry. How she ended up becoming a poetry teacher at Riker’s “Island School.” Seeing the realities of mass incarceration first-hand. Why the 16-17 year olds in her Riker’s class took her teaching. Becoming awake to the prison-industrial complex, and then sharing it with Riker’s students. Riker’s a cautionary threat for NY adolescence. Why adolescents all go crazy at some point. On Riker’s getting shut down.
Liza’s play, The Peculiar Patriot, out in September at the National Black Theater.
Daniel Stedman, film director, producer, writer, joins us to discuss his numerous projects, including The L Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, BAMbill, Taste Talks, SummerScreen in McCarren Park, and the Northside Festival.
The different events Northside Media puts on, including a “discovery festival,” and a culinary thought-leader conference.Moving to NY on September 11, 2001 for a film career. The thinking behind decisions to sell a company and re-buy the company to independence.
@danielstedman
northsidemedia.com/
northsidefestival.com/
Tressie McMillan Cottom is professor and sociologist at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of her new book, ‘Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy.’’
The “gospel of education,” as tied to the “gospel of wealth.” Education as an article of faith. The arc of education investment in America since WW2. Why Bill Clinton was to the right of Ronald Reagan on education. How does class fit into our expectations of work and education.
@tressiemcphd