Akua Shabaka makes clothes that celebrate the nuanced history of The Diaspora. Listen as she takes us on a spiritual journey of founding her fashion house alongside her mother, using garments as a way to keep the past alive, and the financial realities of producing story-rich clothes for the runway.

In this episode, Tara Tan, Founder of Strange Ventures and alum of IDEO, Formlabs, and Studio Now, says that creatives need to rethink their views on capital. Instead of seeing money as an opposing force to art, she urges creatives to view funding as a tool that can bring the right ideas to life. We discuss her impressive career from “breaking up with art” to backing the next generation of creative disruptors. We dig into choosing the best types of funders for your project (there’s more than Venture), the ethics around AI, and how to create momentum by  “running an auction” so the right partners come to you. If you’re building something of your own, this is a clear, generous roadmap from someone who’s sat on both sides of the table–as artist and investor.    Resources & Links mentioned: Phyllis Kao controls the room Aaron Harris’ Always Run an Auction article Strange Ventures   Connect with Tara:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tantara/ Substack: https://thereview.strangevc.com/ X: https://x.com/taratan?lang=en    Stay Connected:  Follow the podcast: @buildingboldlypodcast  Watch the full episode on YouTube: @waxandgold  Learn more + get exclusive resources at www.buildingboldlypodcast.com  Subscribe, leave a review, and tag us while you’re listening @buildingboldlypodcast – we love hearing from you!    Follow my creative life + stay in touch on IG: @arianaaustin  Produced by: Wax & Gold Media

Lillian Shalom’s jewelry has adorned icons like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga gracing both the Met Gala red carpet and the halls of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Hear how Lillian built her singular brand through a distinctive vision, historical inspiration, and unwavering self-belief.

Deniese Davis, producer behind HBO’s Insecure, Rap Sh!t, and One of Them Days gives us the inside scoop about how she made it in Hollywood while still making work that matters to her. Listen here.

Welcome to Building Boldly, a podcast by cultural strategist and philanthropist Ariana Makonnen for founders and changemakers designing, funding, and leading successful creative ventures across art, film, fashion, books, and more. Each episode features special guests sharing their stories, challenges, and valuable insights into how they've designed—and funded their creative lives. Tune in for fresh conversations and real talk about getting started and staying in it. And if you're building something of your own, consider this your invitation to keep going—with clarity, with courage, and in good company. New episodes every other Thursday.