Creative Breakthrough

Shereen Kassam, Funny Brown Girl

**Winner of 2021 International Women's Podcast Awards for Best Business Podcast** Jumpstart your Creative Career with informal mentorship from successful creative entrepreneurs, across TV, film, music, literature, and beyond to turn your creative passion projects into full-time careers. Hear from experts, get inspired, and drive your creative career forward! Past guests include Jeff Friday, James Lopez, Maz Jobrani, Rizwan Manji, Stefon Bristol, Sarah Thawer, and Maaza Mengiste! Shereen Kassam aka FunnyBrownGirl will also share stories and strategies that she used to step outside her 9-5 to become an internationally touring stand-up comedian, radio personality, actress, and now podcaster. Join our community of creatives and let's lift each other up! Subscribe to receive alerts when a new episode is available. For inspiration Instagram - @funnybrowngirl Shownotes - www.funnybrowngirl.com/podcast

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Top 10 Creative Breakthrough Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Creative Breakthrough episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Creative Breakthrough for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Creative Breakthrough episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Bob Sumner: Creating Def Comedy Jam and Advice to Excel in Your Creative Journey

Creative Breakthrough

09/24/20 • 50 min

Announcements

We are trending in Nigeria! That makes 16 countries around the world. I am so grateful for you all for tuning in week after week!

Check out my new website redesign at www.funnybrowngirl.com

While you’re there, take the podcast quiz to find which episode is for you!

Also sign up for my email list for bi-weekly resources and opportunities

Lastly, check out our Facebook Group – Creative Breakthrough Community

This season, we have amazing line-up of guests! I’ll be chatting with:

Actor on Tyler Perry’s BET hit show Ruthless and Perfect Pickup Jaime Callica

Chef Saqib Keval whose restaurant Masala y Maiz has been named One of the World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine

Nelu Handa who is a writer and actor on the hit Netflix show Working Moms

Host of MSNBC Ali Velshi

And this week - Co-founder of Def Comedy Jam Bob Sumner

Who is Bob Sumner

Bob is best known as the co-creator of HBO’s Russell Simmon’s Def Comedy Jam, a recognized force in the world of comedy and the man behind most comedy legends. With never 25 years of experience, Bob has discovered many of the top gifted comedians that have graced the stages and big screens around the world, including Kevin Hart, Bill Bellamy, Mike Epps, Dave Chapelle, Sheryl Underwood, Chris Tucker, Cedric The Entertainer, and Bernie Mac. One day, he will add me to this list!

Bob is the executive partner in LaffMobb Enterprises which has produced specials that have aired on Showtime, DirectTV and OnDemand. He is also the executive producer of LaffMobb’s We Got Next and LaffMobb’s LaffTracks.

We recorded this in April 2020 and streamed it live which is why you may notice some technological glitches and long pauses, especially if you are watching this on YouTube. We talked for almost 2 hours, so there will be a part two to this episode.

I had the pleasure of meeting Bob at the American Black Film Festival as part of the Comedy Wings Comedy Competition and I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for my comedy career. I’m excited to share his story and his creative advice with all of you.

Key Questions answered by Bob Sumner:

How Bob’s creative journey began
Why Bob started Def Comedy Jam
How Bob know if you have it or don’t have it as a comedian
How Bob stay’s positive and keeps hustling

Bob Sumner Discusses:

His career journey
Bob’s advice for comedians and creatives
Bob’s observations of post-COVID comedy
How to be successful as a creative
Next on Bob’s journey

Key Takeaways from Bob Sumner

Your purpose doesn’t have to be your passion
Surround yourself with people who inspire you
Don’t be the guy just trying to get the check
COVID is just a restart - be ready
Always be creating

Contact Bob:

Facebook: .com/groups/130660473567

Twitter: twitter.com/bobsumner24

Instagram: Instagram.com/bob.sumner

Who am I?

I’m Shereen Kassam, the host of Creative Breakthrough and internationally touring speaker and comedian. If you are looking for a speaker to talk on topics including creativity, branding, or work life balance, get in touch! I am also open to being guest on your podcast, TV show, or other medium.

Contact me:

Email: hi @ funnybrowngirl.com

Facebook: facebook.com/funnybrowngirl

Twitter: twitter.com/funnybrowngirl

Instagram: Instagram.com/funnybrowngirl

Producer James Lopez: How to Excel in Your Career

Creative Breakthrough

04/18/19 • 45 min

James Lopez, the Head of Motion Pictures at Will Packer Production, opens up about his journey from call center representative to Producer of Girls Trip and Little. He discusses his time in the music industry working at Atlantic Records and his transition in to the film industry. James also shares how he re-branded himself from a marketer to a producer. In this interview, James shares his strategies to be successful and his advice to others looking to excel in their creative journey.

JAMES F. LOPEZ is Head of Motion Pictures at Will Packer Productions. In this position he is responsible for developing and overseeing production on all film projects through the company’s first look deal with Universal Pictures.

He is an executive producer on the hit comedy Girls Trip starring Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Queen Latifah and Tiffany Haddish. The film opened to critical acclaim and has grossed over $140 million to date. He also executive produced Almost Christmas, starring Gabrielle Union and Danny Glover as well as the upcoming films Night School, starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, and Jacob’s Ladder, a reimagining of the 1980’s thriller classic, starring Michael Ealy, Jesse Williams and Nicole Beharie. He is also producer on— Breaking In starring Gabrielle Union, What Men Want starring Taraji P. Henson, and Little starring Issa Rae, Regina Hall & Marsai Martin.

Prior to joining Will Packer Productions, Lopez was Senior Vice President of Production at Screen Gems, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment. During his tenure, Lopez oversaw some of the company’s top grossing and most anticipated projects. He was the production executive for the box office hit Think Like A Man. He also oversaw production on About Last Night, Think Like A Man Too, The Wedding Ringer, The Perfect Guy and When The Bough Breaks for the studio. He also produced and conceived the story for the acclaimed short film #AmeriCAN, directed by actor Nate Parker.

Lopez’ films have grossed over $480 million at the box office.

Formerly Senior Vice President of Marketing for Atlantic Records before joining Screen Gems, Lopez played an instrumental role in developing and overseeing the marketing campaigns for several multi-platinum artists including T.I. during his award winning tenure in the music business. He also oversaw the soundtrack campaigns for numerous films including Hustle & Flow, P.S. I Love You, Step Up 2: The Streets, Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, Meet The Browns, Why Did I Get Married? and Avatar. In addition to overseeing marketing for artists, Lopez has directed a series of television commercials for album campaigns and led efforts for film soundtracks and brand partnerships. His music video for T.I.’s “No Matter What” from his double platinum album Paper Trail, was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. Lopez also has a Grammy nomination for his producing of a long form video for the Nappy Roots.

Lopez holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University. He is a member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and has been included on Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 list and Imagen Foundation’s Most Powerful & Influential Latinos in Entertainment.

Learn more at: https://willpackerprods.com/

Key Questions answered by James Lopez

How James’s creative career began
How James transitioned from Corporate America to Entertainment
How James transition from Music to Film and how he knew it was the right now
How to know if it’s the right move
How James has been so successful and his advice to creatives
James’s perspective on POC in the film space today

James Lopez Discusses:

How to make moves
Standing out from the competition
Taking risks
Following your dreams
His career path and how he transitioned from one career to another
Diversifying his creative talents by doing this one trick
Advice to other creatives looking to make a a jump into entertainment
Challenges James has faced as a person of color and how he overcomes them
Importance of pivoting

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): https://funnybrowngirl.libsyn.com/rss

Announcements

How to Deal with Wins and Losses in Your Creative Journey

Creative Breakthrough

12/19/19 • 10 min

Big news – we are trending in Kenya!! Thank you to my Kenyan listeners.

This is my last episode for 2019. Last year, I did an episode on goal setting and how much I love the end of the year because it’s a time to reflect on the past year and plan for the next year. If you struggle with goal setting check out last year’s episode and download my goal setting worksheet.

December is a difficult month for me. I always find myself in a funk. This year I feel like I’m in a funk because I feel I didn’t accomplish as much as I had hoped. But thank goodness for Instagram for reminding me of all the things I did accomplish!

I knew 2019 was not going to be the best year. I was in a miserable job and would spend the first 7 months of the year actively job searching. And when you start a new job, most of your time is focused on the learning curve and doing a great job. I did get super lucky with my new job – I was on the launch team for Disney+ so there’s a win there, but man was I busy!

Comedy took a back burner this year. I didn’t do half as many shows as I would have liked, but I also didn’t try. I said no to more shows then yes. And as I’m saying this I’m contemplating if it’s time to stop doing comedy and focus my attention elsewhere. Perhaps comedy is a stepping stone to something else. Or maybe it was a means to find myself.

I also feel I’m in a funk because I have no idea what I’m doing with my life. I want to do everything and I did, this year. I did comedy, I acted, I did radio, I did this podcast, I started a business, I played competitive sports, I tried to do it all. But where am I going? What’s the end goal?

I have no idea! And as the year went by, auditions stopped coming my way, I stopped being invited to come on the radio, my relationship began to fall apart, and by December all I have is this podcast. And while I love doing this podcast, I felt by now it would be further along.

I didn’t accomplish the goals I was hoping to. I didn’t do a TED talk. I didn’t write a second screenplay. I didn’t write a one-woman play for the Fringe, crap I even forgot to submit to the lottery. Or maybe I didn’t forget and I’m scared of failing? I didn’t advance my creative career. I mean both Jeff Friday, the founder of American Black Film Festival, and Bob Sumner, the founder of Def Comedy Jam commented on my lack of presence in the comedy scene this year and that put me in a bigger funk.

I feel stagnant this year as if I lack motivation and inspiration.

Yes, I had big wins. I started a business that may lead me to financial freedom. I have been podcasting for 1 full year now! Woot woot! I made it to the finals of Florida’s Funniest and did comedy in Africa. And those are big wins! But for some reason, I don’t feel fulfilled.

I didn’t win any competitions. I didn’t travel as much for comedy or speaking. I didn’t attend any festivals. I didn’t have those moments where I felt all my hard work was paying off.

I’ve been having urges to start writing. But that could be because I binged watched 5 seasons of Jane the Virgin. Which is how I’ve been spending most of my free time lately – watching TV. Which is not like me. But even with that I’ve been asked to submit writing samples for various competitions and I just sat back and watched the deadlines pass. I don’t know why I didn’t submit.

I’ve started researching MFA programs. If anyone listening has an MFA, please reach out, I would love to pick your brain. But again, I’m not sure if I really want an MFA or I’m doing it because it will surround me with creatives and hopefully inspire me.

I know in 2020 I want to select one of two goals to focus on. I realize that I can’t do everything. Over the past few weeks I’ve been in a state of exhaustion. Maybe it’s because I’m doing better waking up before work to work out lol. But I feel I need to focus my time on my main goals, because if I try to do everything I may never succeed.

The question is – what are the main goals? I have no idea!!

So I know for the next few weeks before 2020 gets here I am going to spend a lot of time thinking about what is next for me. What do I want to accomplish in 2020. And if you have any thoughts or advice, please let me know!

And it wouldn’t be a Creative Breakthrough episode without some Instragram love. If you’re new to this podcast, I love Instagram quotes. The quote for 2020 is:

Don’t be surprised if you go from depending on a paycheck to making the FORBES list! It’s your winning season.

Id love to know what your goals for 2020 are! Send me a message at [email protected] or drop it on the facebook page.

So what I’m trying to say is, if you feel unsure of your creative career or goals, it’s OK. We ca...

How Stand-Up Comedy Saved Me

Creative Breakthrough

12/05/19 • 11 min

This week’s guest: Me, your host – Shereen Kassam aka the Funny Brown Girl!

Who is Shereen Kassam?

Shereen Kassam has been named “Funniest Female in Florida” and has performed on HBO and NBC.

After receiving her Bachelors from Brown, an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and working for Fortune 100 firms including Deloitte, Amazon, JPMorgan, and Disney, Kassam decided she wanted more from life.

That’s when she discovered entertainment – specifically stand-up comedy. Her first time on stage, Kassam realized she was born to perform. She is now an internationally touring stand-up comedian who has performed worldwide on stages from New York to Saigon. She has appeared on HBO and NBC, worked with Arsenio Hall and Preacher Lawson, and hosted the International Arts Festival in Lisbon, Portugal. Kassam is also the host of the award-winning podcast – Creative Breakthrough – where she shares strategies and inspiration to pursue one’s creative passions and is a guest host on iHeartRadio’s #1 Morning Talk Show. When she’s not telling jokes, Kassam also acts and speaks on subjects ranging from Work-Life Balance to Creativity.

Kassam currently resides in Orlando, Florida and has a difficult time saying no to chicken wings.

Episode Show Notes:

“Art leads you back to the person you were after the world took you away from yourself.”

This quote embodies everything I want to talk about today.

For me, discovering stand-up comedy helped me develop in to the woman I am today. But it also allowed me to rediscover my voice, my confidence, and most of all my sense of worth.

When I was 19 years old, I had just completed my freshman year at Brown. Life was great. I had no qualms, no issues, and no stress.

I attended a camp that summer. It was a privilege to be invited and I didn’t hesitate to say yes.

The first day of camp, I went to sleep as I always do. Until I woke up with a member of the camp’s leadership board on top of me.

My life changed that night. Not only because of the incident of that night, but what followed.

No one cared. No one wanted to listen. Not the women, and definitely not the men. They all had excuses. I was told to go to sleep and I’ll feel better in the morning. Some said it’s just fun and games. Others said it’s not a big deal, it happens. Fathers who had daughters. Mothers who had sons. Women I considered friends. Men I considered my brothers.

No one listened to me. My calls and my emails went unanswered for days that became weeks that became months. I quickly felt my voice stripped away from me. I was in a deep depression.

For years, I had nightmares, turned to alcohol, and stopped being an active member of society. I was hurt and angered. At times I felt like giving up.

Then I discovered stand-up comedy. Why I started stand-up is a crazy story. I had never seen a live stand-up show, but a friend dragged me to a show against my will. I bored silly, with dude after dude telling the same jokes about their wives, dogs, and gentiles. After the show, I demanded a refund. And well, I didn’t get my refund. Instead I was told to try comedy and see how difficult it is to make people laugh. I took on that challenge. The first time I got on stage and I heard the crowd roar in laughter, I knew I found my calling.

But deep down inside, I loved stand-up because I finally had a voice again. I could I get on stage, share my views of the world, and people listened. People were engaged in what I had to say. It was such an amazing feeling to be confident again after all those years. To discover a part of me that had become hidden. I poured my time in to comedy.

A few years ago, I discovered that the man who had assaulted me was now in a leadership role that oversaw the camp! I was outraged. I spoke out again. It wasn't any different 15 years later - people still wanted to ignore the situation. But this time I was stronger and more vocal. People started responding to my calls and emails. Slowly changes started to happen. The leaders of the camp agreed we should have a sexual assault policy in place, as well as an escalation policy if this happened again. These policies were introduced nationwide this summer. The man who assaulted me suddenly resigned. I received an apology from leadership. And most of all – I discovered a new passion for women empowerment and mental health.

Stand-up comedy helped me find myself again and make a difference. It was a long journey, but a necessary one. I can’t go back and save all the other women who may have come in contact with this predator, but I can at least protect women going forward.

I also finally took the necessary steps I need to heal and started to see a therapist this year. Holding on to all that anger for so many years was not healthy. It was a relief to finally share how I felt with someone...

Ahmed Akbar: How to Launch an Award-Winning Podcast (Part II of II)

Creative Breakthrough

11/21/19 • 20 min

Episode 40: How to Launch an Award-Winning Podcast with Ahmed Akbar

This week’s guest: Ahmed Akbar, host of the podcast See Something Say Something

Who is Ahmed Akbar?

Ahmed Ali Akbar is a writer and host of the See Something Say Something podcast and video series. Previously, he was a Staff Writer for BuzzFeed and a Detroit public school teacher. He acted as a correspondent to Netflix’s ”Follow This”, Pushkin’s Solvable, and other shows. He was the editor of the now-defunct Rad Brown Dads tumblr and contributed to the "Salaam, Love" essay anthology. He is a graduate of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and holds a Masters in Islamic Studies from Harvard Divinity School. Find him on Twitter @radbrowndads.

Key Questions answered by Ahmed Akbar:

The best piece of advice Ahmed has received
Ahmed’s definition of success
Who inspires Ahmed and why

Ahmed Akbar Discusses:

Advice to fellow podcasters on developing a successful podcast
How he shifted his role function at BuzzFeed to align with his passions
What’s next for Ahmed post-BuzzFeed
Ahmed’s dad’s reaction to Ahmed’s career choice
What’s a habit that’s helped Ahmed on his journey
What Ahmed wants his legacy to be

Key Takeaways from Ahmed Akbar:

Care about your audience and your story
Your podcast should matter more to you than your listeners
Be consistent with your work
It takes time, but find your niche
Be OK with rejection
Be open to people’s perspective

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): https://funnybrowngirl.libsyn.com/rss

Announcements

If you’re looking for a community of supportive creative entrepreneurs to elevate your journey to the next level, join me here: https://funnybrowngirl.com/facebook

Subscribe to my newsletter of creative resources, including opportunities and fellowships at https://funnybrowngirl.com/subscribe

Social Media Info

Connect on Instagram:

Ahmed Akbar – @radbrowndads

FunnyBrownGirl – @funnybrowngirl

Connect on Twitter:

Ahmed Akbar – @radbrowndads

FunnyBrownGirl – @funnybrowngirl

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Screenwriter Jason Gregory: How to Make A Career Switch and Write and Film Your First TV Pilot, Waking Up White

Creative Breakthrough

01/02/20 • 39 min

Episode 43: From Advertising to Film: Jason Gregory on Waking Up White (Part 1 of 2 episodes)

This week’s guest: Jason Gregory, writer and producer of the film Waking Up White

Who is Jason Gregory?

Jason D. Gregory is a recent film production MFA graduate from the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media (Go Knights!). As a child, he recalls that his friends wanted to “be like Mike,” while Gregory’s dream was to “be like Spike.”

He received his undergraduate degree in film from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002 and during his studies, Gregory was selected, twice, as a participant in the Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Writer’s Workshop.

In 2010, Gregory founded his own Telly-award-winning, multicultural advertising agency, Gregory Media Group, LLC. Yet, he still yearned for the “business of show.”

Jason Gregory took the plunge to chase his childhood dream and in 2016 enrolled in the MFA film production program where he immediately began writing his thesis project, Waking Up White. Filmed as a television pilot, Waking Up White is the story of a Black family that wakes up White and has 30 days to determine if they’d rather return to their cultural roots or stick with the “new skin” they’re in. Since its development, the pilot script for has been selected as a 2018 Quarterfinalist in ScreenCraft’s Film Fund and Pilot Launch TV Script competitions and a 2018 Semifinalist in the WeScreenplay Television Competition. The television pilot has recently been submitted to various local, national and international film festivals, while also garnering local and regional media coverage.

And because of his commitment to nurturing and mentoring the next generation of filmmakers, Gregory was recently appointed as the president of the Orlando Urban Film Festival; a festival dedicated to promoting and supporting minority films and filmmakers.

In 2018, Gregory was selected to participate in the National Association of Television Producers and Executive’s (NATPE) first Emerging Producers Workshop, where thirteen “emerging producers” where brought together to discuss the future of unscripted, reality television programming. As a result of that workshop, Gregory and the other producers formed 13 Brains; an unscripted, reality television “think tank.” Under the mentorship of Scott Sternberg Productions, 13 Brains develops unscripted, TV concepts and pitches them to networks and streaming platforms. Since its establishment in 2018, 13 Brains has successfully sold its first concept to Netflix, and continues to cultivate and pitch additional programming.

As a graduate student, Gregory was the recipient of the 2019 College of Arts and Humanities Graduate Student Teaching Award and the inaugural Nicholson School of Communication and Media’s Outstanding Teaching Graduate Programs Award. He was nominated for his commitment to teaching his students to “fail their way to success” and is honored to have received both awards.

In 2019, Gregory completed another childhood dream and joined UCF’s English department as a scriptwriting lecturer. In this position, he will continue to mold, mentor and challenge his students to find their voice through the art of scriptwriting.

Finally, Gregory has been married to his wife, Monique, whom he affectionally calls “the girl next door”, for 16 years and they reside in Oviedo, Florida with their two sons, Austin and Miles.

Key Questions answered by Jason Gregory:

How did Jason’s creative journey begin?
What are the challenges to being a creative entrepreneur?
How did Jason build up his own advertising firm?
Why Jason decided to get an MFA?
Why is UCF a strong film school?
How did Jason come up with the thesis of Waking Up White?

Jason Gregory Discusses:

Opening up his own ad shop
Challenges of the unknown
Pursuing a film degree
How Jason balanced his time in Grad school while still running his ad shop
Crafting his story
How Jason strengthens his writing muscle
How Jason stays motivated
How to find a mentor and what to look for

Key Takeaways from Jason Gregory:

Develop a positive reputation in the field
Create a team of people you can depend on
Make note of your personal experiences
Write every single day
Take calculated risks
Fail your way to success
Find a mentor

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Stitcher and Google Play

Click here to subscribe via RSS feed (non-iTunes feed): https://funnybrowngirl.libsyn.com/rss

Announcements

If you’re looking for a community of supportive creative entrepreneurs to elevate your jo...

Bob Sumner: How to Be a Star

Creative Breakthrough

10/07/20 • 33 min

Welcome to the Creative Breakthrough

I am your host Shereen Kassam

This week, we continue our conversation with the Founder of Def Comedy Jam – Bob Sumner

Before we jump in to part 2 of our conversation with Bob –

This season, I’m going to spend a lot of time talking about monetizing your creative passion and side hustles.

With many cities starting to open up performance spaces such as bars, clubs, and theater spaces I want to share some personal thoughts.

Yes, people are struggling financially. Yes, unemployment is high. Yes, people are scaling back on their spending.

But – people are still paying Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ their monthly subscription. People are still eating out. And people are still buying things they don’t need on Amazon.

So you do not need to start charging less than you are worth.

Yes, we are all excited to get back out there and start performing. Yes, there may be less people in the seats due to social distancing. Yes, the promotor may tell you he won’t be making as much money from each show. But no, that doesn’t mean you are worth any less.

I’ve been getting tons of audition requests for acting. Pre-Covid these requests were for $1500 to $2000 for a one year buy out. Now? These requests are for $400 and for use for life. That’s cheap! And as much as I want to act again, and perform, I cannot allow myself to sell my image for life for $400 and neither should you.

The companies paying for these commercials stand to gain thousands of dollars from these ads, so why shouldn’t you also benefit?

As your cities start opening up and people start reaching out to you to perform, please do not perform for free if the producers of the shows/commercials stand to make money.

Because if we all go out and perform for free, we set a precedent of how much we value ourselves and of our talents.

And if you don’t get paid, how are you going to survive on your art?

This week I continue chatting with Bob Sumner –

On the previous episode, Bob shared his vision for Def Comedy Jam, what he looks for in talent, and his advice to creatives.

Bob is best known as the co-creator of HBO’s Russell Simmon’s Def Comedy Jam, a recognized force in the world of comedy and the man behind most comedy legends. With over 25 years of experience, Bob has discovered many of the top gifted comedians that have graced the stages and big screens around the world, including Kevin Hart, Bill Bellamy, Mike Epps, Dave Chapelle, Sheryl Underwood, Chris Tucker, Cedric The Entertainer, and Bernie Mac. One day, he will add me to this list!

So what are we waiting for, let’s get started.

Key Questions answered by Bob Sumner:

Which is better LA or NYC for creatives
What Bob wants his legacy to be

Bob Sumner Discusses:

Bob’s advice for comedians and creatives
How to be successful as a creative
Next on Bob’s journey

Key Takeaways from Bob Sumner

Know your end goal or your legacy
Keep creating, even if there is nowhere to perform
Speak your goals in to existence

Contact Bob:

Facebook: .com/groups/130660473567

Twitter: twitter.com/bobsumner24

Instagram: Instagram.com/bob.sumner

Who am I?

Contact me:

Email: hi @ funnybrowngirl.com

Facebook: facebook.com/funnybrowngirl

Twitter: twitter.com/funnybrowngirl

Instagram: Instagram.com/funnybrowngirl

Told to Apologize for Being Muslim

Creative Breakthrough

11/05/20 • 24 min

Ep 59: Told to Apologize for Being Muslim

Last week, the Islam Channel featured me in a piece about being Muslim and losing my radio gig.

I’m Shereen Kassam – comedian, podcaster, speaker, actress, ex-radio host, and entrepreneur.

I started this podcast for two key reasons

As a woman of color in the entertainment industry, I felt I didn’t have any mentors to turn to for advice and mentorship. I started this podcast to provide informal mentorship and strategies to win to other creatives, such as myself, who need a mentor
I wanted a voice after I had to leave the radio.

Now why did I leave the radio?

Well – The Islam Channel actually did a piece on this last week. I am going to play the audio for those of you haven’t seen it....if you want the video you can check it out on my Instagram page – funnybrowngirl or Islam Channel’s IG which is IslamChannelTV. Shout out to Ravit Anand for a wonderful piece. Or on Youtube!

It has over 23,000 views across social media so please keep sharing it!

That night and the following days had a profound impact on me. After that night, I get nervous every time I have a comedy show at a new club or a new area, because I don’t know who is going to get upset that I’m Muslim.

What I learned from this situation? Sometime you will get opportunities that sound amazing, and it will take everything you have to walk away. But you have to believe something better is around the corner.

I learned that God’s plan involves me being surrounded by people who support me, who lift me up, and who fight for me. That night at the show, and the days following, I realized the universe had a bigger calling for me. It reminds me of a quote that I love - if your path is difficult it is because your purpose is bigger than you thought.

And that’s why I stated this podcast. I wanted to do more with my voice and with my talent. I wanted to reach more people and make a difference.

The last question I ask during all my interview is = what advice do you have for creatives on their journey?

My advice –

We live in a weird time right now. Everyone is under attack across the globe. No matter your gender, your sexuality, your race or your religion. Look at us here in the USA – we are a divided nation. I’ve been dealing with this since I was a child – the hateful comments, the racial slurs, the death threats. But you know what hurts me the most. It’s not when some ignorant person comes at me with ugly words, it’s when people, many times people who call themselves my friends, stand by and do nothing. They just stand there. That’s what hurts.

I urge you all be kind to each other. If you see something happening that’s wrong, speak out. Say something. That’s the only way we can heal as a world and learn to love each other.

I want to meet you all and answer any questions you have for me. his Sunday, November 3pm Eastern Time (New York time) I’ll be on Instagram live with some wings and answering questions. Feel free to send them in advance to hi@funnybrowngirl or any social media platform @funnybrowngirl. Oh and follow me on Tik Tok @funnybrowngirl.

Next week we will continue to discuss side hustles and how to make money from your creative passion.

With that, go flex your creative muscle and keep winning.

Who am I?

Contact me:

Email: hi @ funnybrowngirl.com

Facebook: facebook.com/funnybrowngirl

Twitter: twitter.com/funnybrowngirl

Instagram: Instagram.com/funnybrowngirl

TikTok: tiktok.com/@funnybrowngirl

Plan for Success in 2021 with Jaime Callica

Creative Breakthrough

12/31/20 • 64 min

Disney Channel and BET favorite, and seen Lifetime alongside Kelly Rowland, actor Jaime Callica takes the hot seat to chat about growing your social media (he has 81.8K IG followers), pursuing your passion, and being part of Tyler Perry’s TV show Ruthless. We also chat about staying positive, being grateful, and working smarter. Real life advice plus motivational messages all rolled up in one episode! Learn more at CreativeBreakthroughPodcast.com

Show Notes

Screenwriter Jason Gregory: How an MFA Helps You Pivot Your Creative Career

Creative Breakthrough

01/16/20 • 35 min

Jason Gregory, writer and producer of the film Waking Up White

Who is Jason Gregory?

In 2010, Gregory founded his own Telly-award-winning, multicultural advertising agency, Gregory Media Group, LLC. Yet, he still yearned for the “business of show.”

Finally, Gregory has been married to his wife, Monique, whom he affectionally calls “the girl next door”, for 16 years and they reside in Oviedo, Florida with their two sons, Austin and Miles.

Key Questions answered by Jason Gregory:

How to write a winning screenplay
Advice Jason has for creatives
Is an MFA necessary
Why it’s OK to start your dream job later in life
Best piece of advice Jason has received
Jason’s definition of success
Who inspires Jason and why
A habit that’s helped Jason on his journey
What Jason wants his legacy to be

Jason Gregory Discusses:

Writing vs Producing
Understanding the game
Fears writers grapple with
Age and following one’s dream

Key Takeaways from Jason Gregory:

You’re never too old to pursue your dreams
The older you are the more life experiences you will have to draw from
There are many free options to learn and study on the internet
Keep at it, don’t stop
Take calculated risks
Be consistent

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