I am joined today by my good friend and former colleague Jody Ramsammy, who shares insights into his journey from growing up in South Africa during challenging times to pursuing the American dream.
He also talks about his transition from a successful corporate career to launching his own business, Vivid Presents, focused on creating immersive and inclusive experiential events.
Jody emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment, even in our tech-driven world, and he discusses his mission to make everyone feel like a VIP at his events and his commitment to affordability and inclusivity.
He, in addition, shares his passion for writing and his upcoming book Control Alt Delete, which delves into various life lessons and experiences.
Throughout the conversation, Jody reflects on his diverse influences and his journey from a hustle culture mindset to a more balanced “thrive culture,” going on to discuss the impact of culture on our lives and how he aims to help others through the book and his experiential events.
I hope that you will join the conversation as we dive into Jody's inspiring story and explore what's next now for him on the horizon!
Episode Highlights:
[0:13] - Gary pays tribute to his late uncle Alvin.
[1:45] - We learn that today's guest is Jody Ramsammy of Vivid Presents.
[3:43] - Jody argues that emotions are fleeting and are not our identity.
[5:53] - Jody shares his life journey from South Africa to chasing the American dream.
[6:53] - Jody co-founded "The Presents" to reinvent arts and entertainment events.
[8:50] - Jody explains the name Vivid Presents.
[10:17] - Jody shares how he always enhances events with innovative and immersive elements.
[13:09] - Learn about how Jody fosters a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere by offering affordable pizza and burgers.
[14:16] - Jody's mission stems from his experience with apartheid and focuses on inclusivity and affordability.
[16:28] - Jody is expanding events globally, with current locations in Vancouver.
[19:04] - Jody plans to expand to various locations, focusing on the East Coast and Midwest.
[20:30] - Jody is developing immersive events that blend physical and digital experiences.
[22:55] - Jody plans tech MVP, user testing, and a project jokingly called Entropy.[
25:41] - Hear how Jody recognizes the cultural and technological pressure to induce FOMO.
[26:15] - Jody explains how he came up with the #ourtimetoshine hashtag.
[28:19] - Jody reveals how TV characters fueled his imagination and aspirations.
[30:44] - Jody finds motivation in a quote about underdogs overcoming disparities.
[32:26] - Jody emphasizes post-pandemic challenges for diverse musicians.
[34:00] - After a life-changing realization, Jody began writing Control Alt Delete.
[37:01] - Hear why Jody's book's upcoming Thanksgiving release is symbolic to him.
[40:39] - What's next now for Jody?
Links & Resources:
Schedule Listening Time with https://www.garydanoff.com/contact
Email jody@vividpresents.com