Brock Korsan (IG: @brockymarciano) is a multifaceted force in music and fashion, widely respected as an A&R executive, artist and producer manager, and creative consultant. His career is defined by a sharp cultural lens and a deep commitment to championing artistic talent. Brock got his start on a street team, immersing himself in every facet of the music business. His instincts and relentless drive quickly led to work with influential artists like Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q, and frequent collaborator Kendrick Lamar. Known for his ability to spot and nurture talent, he’s become a trusted voice in the culture. At Interscope Records, Brock worked across a wide spectrum of artists and projects, including co-writing Drake’s global hit “God’s Plan.” Beyond music, he’s a managing partner at No Vacancy Inn, a boundary-pushing collective known for blending fashion, music, and culture through ventures like radio shows, parties, clothing drops, and fundraisers. As Senior Vice President at Warner Records, Brock continues to lead with vision, signing breakout acts like Omar Apollo and developing projects that shape the sound of tomorrow. Whether he's in the studio until sunrise or catching waves at dawn, Brock brings the same passion and intention to everything he does—embodying a holistic, grounded approach to creative success.
Are you a creative feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed?Let’s talk. I offer therapy specifically for artists and creatives.Book a free call: calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Kevin Lyman (IG: @kevinlyman) is a visionary entrepreneur and influential figure in the world of music and entertainment. Born on October 6, 1961, in Orange, California, Lyman has left an indelible mark on the industry, particularly in the realm of alternative and punk rock. His journey into the music scene began with a passion for bringing people together through shared musical experiences. In 1995, he founded the Vans Warped Tour, a groundbreaking traveling music festival that became a staple in the alternative music scene for over two decades! The tour attracted around 750,000 people annually and is recognized as the longest-running North American festival ever! Kevin’s dedication to supporting independent artists and fostering a sense of inclusivity has made him a respected and beloved figure among musicians and fans alike. He has been involved in numerous charitable initiatives, using his platform to address social issues and make a positive impact on the communities he engages with. His ability to adapt to the ever-evolving music landscape and his unwavering passion for the art form have solidified his legacy as a trailblazer in the industry. In late 2018, Kevin began teaching at USC's Thornton School of Music as an Associate Professor.
Therapy for Artists: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ Kevin’s upbringing in Claremont, California in “hippieville” and how it shaped him
+ The loneliness epidemic and our ever-present need for community now more than ever
+ The echo chamber we are all living in now due to social media and it’s blocking our ability to be more balanced / harmonious
+ The hardest moments of navigating the building the Warped tour, how Kevin bounced back and what he learned
+ Kevin winding down the Warped tour after 25 successful years, how there was no ambivalence in him and how he felt fully complete after ending it
+ How he was villainized by many people for “ruining punk rock”
+ Kevin attending Cal Poly Pomona where another fellow mega festival creator, Paul Tollett, the creator of Coachella also went to school
+ How taking any days off in the music industry is viewed as negatively, people get judged for not wanting it bad enough, self-care is seen as weakness
+ How Kevin has literally sent artists to rehab mid-tour who were suffering from heavy addiction on the road
+ People on the artist side and the executive side aren’t seen as people but rather seen as commodities and dehumanized
+ The music industry can be so phony at times that when you text someone to say, “how are you doing?” and you don’t ask them for anything people are taken aback
+ Kevin recalling working with megastars Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots and being concerned about their addictions and drug abuse
+ Getting to work closely with Trent Reznor and admiring his brilliance and business acumen
+ How to navigate today’s music industry of mass SATURATION and ways to cut through the NOISE
CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://connectionismagic.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectionismagicTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectionismagicHit up
CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
The latest installment of a segment called, "Bars for Breakfast" where I highlight a powerful lyric and share how it relates to my personal life experience. Listening to my share, I hope it conjures up for you how it relates to your own personal life journey, and you feel connected + inspired.
***
Song: "Adventure"
Artists: Russ, Feat. Rexx Life Raj
Lyrics: "When I was at my lowest had to hold my head the highest reconnect with silence otherwise it’s hard to hear the guidance. Thinkin’ that I got a broken version of success until I realized this is the version that I’m supposed to get, I see the way the roads connect if you just keep on drivin’ tried to fight the moment thought my stars need realignin”
***
Therapy for Artists: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings!
– TEAM CIM
LaRussell (IG: @larussell) is a legendary independent rapper & artist hailing from Vallejo, California. He began to rap at the age of eight and found his early education to be uninspiring. He was subsequently enrolled at Vallejo's Peoples' High School, where he blossomed in comparison. Upon graduating, he became afather to a baby girl, causing any tentative hope of a music career to be puton ice. Needing to provide for his daughter, he took a well-paying job at an aerospace company where he remained for six years before deciding to quit to pursue full-time involvement in the music business.
He ushered in a bold newbusiness model called “Proud to Pay” where he lets fans set their own price forhis music, shows, and even local cook outs in Vallejo, adopting the slogan forthe movement… “it’s not free, it's priceless!” He established the independent music collective, “Good Compenny,” and is pioneering positive change within theindustry. Good Compenny supports independent artists without requiring them to give up ownership of their art. LaRussell’s output of quality content is truly jaw dropping, releasing 24 full length albums since 2019… 7 of these albums were released in 2023 alone. LaRussell has garnered praise from some of the most influential figures in all of music including Charlamagne Tha God, Wallo, Chance The Rapper, Russ, Meek Mill, LA Reid, Erykah Badu, and many more.
Therapy for Artists: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ How to navigate between our innate need to belong / fit inand instead choose to stand out when we feel different from the pack
+ “There’s people who spend time talking about doing things,and there are people who spend time doing things” – LaRussell
+ People will box us in to what they believe we are whichworks against our need to evolve
+ Why record labels will invest in whack artists who havemillions of views vs. investing in dope artists who don’t yet have a following
+ Discussing where LaRussell’s wisdom comes from at such ayoung age
+ If you live your life not trusting other people you willmanifest meeting more untrustworthy people
+ The more shots you take the better you become; peopleblock their development by worrying too much about what other people think
+ People need to be honest with themselves and just say theydon’t actually want what they say they do if they’re not putting in consistentwork to achieve it
+ We discuss the Kanye West lyric from the song “Spaceship” ... “Lock yourself in a room doin’ 5 beats a day for 3 summers that’s a differentworld like three summers I deserve to do these numbers!”
+ How to deal with haters online who don’t even know you:“If you have a problem with me text me, if you don’t have my number then youdon’t know me well enough to have a problem with me.”
+ Why labels get behind toxic music vs. morepositive/nourishing music
+ Why LaRussell calls his company “GOODCOMPENNY”
+ Surreal moment of meeting Diddy and how that meeting impactedhim
+ Learning to work efficiently on a team and how we can keepour egos in check so that we can all fly higher and win more
Steve Sarowitz (IG: @wayfarerstudios) is an American billionaire businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Steve is the founder of Paylocity, a digital accounting platform which he founded in 1997 and took public in 2014. He splits his time between his hometown of Chicago and Los Angeles. In 2019, Steve co-founded (with actor Justin Baldoni) the small but mighty, Wayfarer Studios, an independent Hollywood film studio dedicated to promoting substantive, meaningful films to uplift humanity. Steve is a practicing Bahai and deeply rooted in the core spiritual tenants of the faith which advocate helping unite humanity and combat divisiveness. His film studio Wayfarer, has produced many noteworthy films including, "It Ends With Us" starring Justin Baldoni & Blake Lively, “Code 3” an action-comedy starring Rainn Wilson & Lil Rel Howery, The Pac Man Movie (based on the hit 80’s arcade game), and "Sonic The Hedgehog" with many more films coming in 2025.
Wayfarer Studios x Variety: https://variety.com/2022/film/news/wayfarer-studios-125-million-investment-justin-baldoni-steve-sarowitz-1235295142/
1:1 Coaching for Artists: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ The power of love being infused into something and how much more it can be felt
+ Steve’s spiritual principles being enhanced, not limited by, his great fortune
+ We are one human family and racism / sexism pollutes this otherwise natural state of ours
+ Steve’s first failed business and what he learned from the experience
+ Learning how to delegate vs. controlling everything so you don’t limit your potential to scale
+ The inception & mission of Steve’s Hollywood FilmStudio, “Wayfarer”
+ How to raise above our instincts towards anger andimpatience
+ Does a ton of money change you or reveal who you really are?
+ Explanation of the Bahai faith and how it speaks directly to the challenges humanity is facing
+ What emotions / thoughts / feelings Steve felt the day he became a Billionaire
+ Mentorship not always being a pre-requisite to being successful, Steve never had a mentor and learned by trying & failing repeatedly
+ Steve’s plans for his film studio in the coming years….
India Shawn (IG: @indiashawn) is a silky smooth R&B artist based in Los Angeles, California. Her journey through the realms of music has been a testament to her artistry and authenticity. She has emerged as a powerhouse in the music industry, captivating audiences with her mesmerizing voice and heartfelt lyrics – drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, including R&B, soul, and hip-hop. Her notable collaborations include working with Chris Brown, 6lack, Diddy, Anderson Paak, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and many more… Additionally, she was a prominent voice in Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir. India’s music reflects her life experiences, emotions, and a celebration of the human spirit. Her lyrics delve into themes of love, self-discovery, and empowerment, resonating with listeners on a profound level. Check out her latest critically acclaimed project titled “Before We Go (Deeper)” released in 2022.
1:1 Coaching for Artists: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ How she is a reluctant veteran of the music industry 😊in that she has experienced many high highs and low lows throughout the years of her career in entertainment
+ India once being on a video shoot where she was asked to basically be naked and her enduring a learning lesson of not listening to her intuition and putting her foot down
+ Escaping competition through authenticity
+ Newly parting ways with her record label, Epic Records,and the freedom and anxiety that are showing up for her in the process
+ Growing up in church first gave her the inklings to wantto be an artist
+ The consistent unpredictability of following a path inarts and entertainment
+ How even if she doesn’t pursue singing professionally, she will always take comfort in knowing that she’ll always be singing for the rest of her life
+ The sacrifices made in pursuing the life of an artist /creative
+ Having to get a job postmating / instacarting aftermultiple album releases and being terrified about being seen while doing these jobs because of people thinking of her as a failed musician
+ Being randomly selected to be part of Kanye West’s Sunday Service choir
+ Collaborating with Bruno Mars, 6lack and Anderson Paak all early in their careers
+ Meeting and collaborating with her hero Stevie Wonder
+ When we outgrow friendships, we aren’t breaking up with that person, but rather, we are breaking up with a part of ourselves we’ve outgrown
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Reggie Lucien Frank Roger Watts (IG: @reggiewatts) is an American comedian, actor, beatboxer, musician, and a modern-day philosopher of sorts. His improvised musical sets are created using only his voice, a keyboard, and a looping machine. He began piano & violin lessons at age five and moved to Seattle at age 18 to study music. He attended The Art Institute of Seattle before studying jazz at Cornish College of the Arts. Worth noting - Reggie lived in Seattle during the renaissance of the grunge music era. Reggie is also an aficionado of cars and tech, speaking in detail to both during his many appearances on the Joe Rogan Podcast. He refers to himself as a "disinformationist" who aims to disorient his audience in a comedic fashion. Reggie was the house band leader for The Late Late Show with James Corden for 8 seasons.
1:1 Coaching for Artists: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ Reggie enduring / navigating racism growing up in Montana
+ How Reggie first got into music and the influences that shaped him
+ The internet being paradoxical – never being easier to now put your work out, never been harder to cut through the noise and get discovered
+ AI and the theory of singularity, humans merging with AI chips in them one day, good vs. bad aspects
+ Being a new musician playing in Seattle when the grunge scene was emerging
+ How he landed his job working as the band leader for The Late Late Show with James Corden
+ Reggie catastrophizing about having to sell his cars after the Late Late show ended
+ A list of people Reggie acknowledges for his success thus far in entertainment
+ How to not sabotage (all too common) yourself as an artist
+ How Reggie approaches & disarms douchebags
+ How to deal with online bullies & keyboard cowboys 😊
CONNECT WITH ME: Website: https://connectionismagic.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectionismagicTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectionismagic
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
This is a "RUN IT BACK" episode! The episode was originally recorded in November 2018, when the podcast was previously called, "The Hustle Sanctuary."
Gary Greenberg is a veteran entertainment attorney based in Los Angeles, California. He has represented 2pac, Snoop Dogg, Bone Thugs N' Harmony, and Multi-Grammy winning producer DJ Dahi among others. He also spent 7 years as in house attorney for American Idol representing all the contestants. He is a graduate from ivy league law school, Brown University.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ We discuss being a creative person and businessperson and the healthy balance of the two...
+ How he discovered his path into music law
+ The huge low of losing his first famous client
+ The fragility of maintaining human relationships
+ Anxiety being ever-present working in the music industry
+ LA having the most talented artists in the world as well as the most talented hustlers preying on them
+ How Gary ended up getting deep into the hip-hop world and how his colleagues were telling him he needed to leave rap because the genre was going to die
+ The process he had to go through to become the main in-house lawyer for AMERICAN IDOL and what he learned in that experience
+ How many of his colleagues left the industry during the lowest points and how it made him 2nd guess if he was next
+ How he stays on his grind even though he has reached a very high level of achievement and success
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Kute Blackson (IG: @kuteblackson) is a charismatic and internationally recognized inspirational speaker, author, and life coach. Initially resisting his calling, Kute pursued a more conventional path. He studied finance and business with the intention of entering the corporate world. However, a series of transformative events, including the death of his father (a renowned spiritual teacher himself) propelled him into a deeper exploration of his true calling. His teachings are characterized by a blend of spiritual insights and practical wisdom. He encourages individuals to break free from societal expectations, embrace their true selves, and live a life aligned with their deepest desires. Kute is the author of several books, including the New York Times best-selling book, "You Are the One."
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ Rejection is often grace and divine redirection and what creates our suffering in these circumstances is our ego with its very limited vision
+ The goals we get attached to can stem from unmet needs in our childhood
+ How demanding your dreams come to fruition before you’ve been properly developed is akin to eating unripe fruit
+ Kute’s rough early days moving to Los Angeles, California including becoming homeless for a period of time
+ Being offered a management deal from one of Hollywood’s biggest management companies and turning them down
+ How saying “NO” to people + opportunities that are not fully in alignment leads to us manifesting things that are a much better fit. The key to manifestation is letting go.
+ Holding on to what is no longer aligned sends a message to God + The universe that we do not trust and learning to rely on innate divine intelligence
+ As artists & entrepreneurs we don’t choose our path, life chooses us to express something through us
+ How we hate on ourselves and block ourselves way more than our haters block or hate on us
+ We can all learn something valuable from the guy who sells a banana peel taped to a blank canvas for $50,000. There’s a level of boldness and belief to be able to do that and if we took a fraction of it we’d be better off.
+ You owning your greatness will trigger other people who are not going for it. You become a painful reminder to them that they are not going for it
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
The latest installment of a segment called, "Bars For Breakfast!" where I highlight a powerful lyric and share how it relates to my personal life experience. Listening to my share, I hope it conjures up for you how it relates to your own personal life journey and you feel connected + inspired. Of course, this all goes down while eating a delicious and/or random breakfast item as well!
***
SONG: "Smile"
ARTIST: Jay-Z
LYRIC: "A loss ain’t a loss it’s a lesson, appreciate the pain it’s a blessin”
***
SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS:
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: calendly.com/connectionismagic
CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://connectionismagic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectionismagic
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectionismagic
Visit CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list to get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love & Blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Kathryn Frazier (IG: @klfbiz3) is an iconic music publicist (and very wise woman) representing some of the biggest names in all of music including The Weeknd, Daft Punk, J. Cole, and Skrillex to name a few... She co-founded & was president of Skrillex’s record label OWSLA throughout its existence. Kathryn founded her boutique PR firm, Biz3, way back in 1996 in a tiny bedroom in Chicago! She got her start working as a publicist when a friend of hers gave her a bootleg copy of Death Row Records contact list. Biz3 has recently expanded beyond music, now handling key press for sports, tech, restaurants, chefs, film, books, festivals, parties, and marketing events. In 2018, Kathryn, a longtime meditator and proponent of personal and spiritual growth, began helping artists and executives alike as a personal life coach. Since then, she has life coached some of the biggest artists and executives spanning all of entertainment.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ How making simple life adjustments can often lead to the most profound shifts in our life
+ Buying a crackhouse as a young adult with a government loan and that experience helping her grow as a person
+ The toughest chapters in life eventually pass and we can use that understanding as fuel to get us through hard chapters
+ Artists being able to tap into their pain and fans connecting to that shared human experience
+ How our life is like an airplane, if we are 1-2 degrees off for a small amount of time it won’t affect us, however, over a lengthy period we will be in a whole different zone than we thought/wanted
+ Kathryn’s daily morning practice that helps keep her dialed in intuitively & spiritually
+ The healthiest way to deal with our haters from the perspective of everyday people to the biggest stars she has worked with at her company Biz3
+ What she admires most about her clients J. Cole & The Weekend
+ Kathryn’s take is that The Weeknd, Tyler, The Creator, Skrillex, J. Cole, have their eyes so locked in on the prize and their visions, they resist getting lost in online noise and other people’s opinions, we should aspire to do move through life this way
+ Needing a healthy ego to be successful in life but learning to balance the shadow side of our ego
+ What obstacles Kathryn had to overcome to start her successful PR firm Biz3
+ Dealing with fake people in the entertainment industry
+ How to not let our negative self-talk win and pull us off our destined path in life and how many people came into this world with a gift that did not get to be fully realized because they let their negative self-talk defeat them, don’t let that be you
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
In partnership with the 988 national suicide & crisis lifeline, we’re dropping this very special episode in honor of world mental health day – October 10th, 2023. If you are someone you know is struggling with their mental health please call 988 from any cell phone for support 24/7.
Justice Baiden (IG: @justicewearscoolpants) is an entrepreneur, co-founder and head of A&R at ATL’s hottest R&B label, LVRN. They are one of the only record labels that offers both its artists and staff access to a mental health program, which includes a stipend for therapy, gym memberships, healthy food and more. Some of his most notable signings include the multi-platinum and Grammy-winning artists, Summer Walker & 6lack, two defining voices of their generation in today’s music space. Justice was born in Kennesaw, Atlanta and raised by parents who are both immigrants from Ghana. Earlier this year LVRN received a $100 Million dollar investment from label & publisher, MUSIC, to help scale its operations and impact even further.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ LVRN being one of the only record labels to offer a stipend for mental health support to its artists and how this came to be
+ How Summer Walker was at first super opposed to therapy (sidenote: Justice used to be as well) and how their feelings towards it eventually evolved + how he snuck a therapist backstage and passed her off as his friend to help Summer
+ Having to sneak his way into Summer Walker’s computer, because she was so shy sharing new songs at the time when he was A&R’ing her first project for the label
+ The pivot Justice made into pursuing the business side ofs music after his failed attempt at becoming a rapper
+ A helpful mindset on how to use social media as an artist in with a healthier perspective
+ The importance of having adversity so that we not only appreciate our wins more but to actually end up with a more cool & compelling story to share with others
+ Justice having to figure out how to navigate the music business prior to having all the information on it that’s available today
+ Discovering 6lack and helping introduce him to therapy and witnessing how much he’s evolved as an artist and human being
+ Helpful tips on becoming more resilient and bouncing back after going through bad deals as an artist
+ Why it’s so important when we feel lost to travel and leave our everyday surroundings to get a perspective shift
+ Understanding the dynamics of a team environment and exploring the pro’s & con’s + do’s & don’ts when operating within a team
+ Outgrowing friendships, why it happens and how best to navigate it
+ How we’re taught in school to stay inside the box but paradoxically, all the figures we teach kids about in textbooks are those who have stepped outside the box
+ Drake helping blowup Summer’s career after discovering her song “Girls Need Love” and jumping on a remix after Justice convinced her to ask him via IG
+ Focusing on the work not the results and how it always, always, always comes down to God’s & the universe’s timing no matter how badly we want it to happen
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Stan Taylor (IG: @_Stantaylor_) is an LA based, super soulful R&B singer, raised in Central California. He moved to LA in 2009, after winning a reality television competition with ABC/Disney. This appearance would lead him to more opportunities to travel the world performing his music and building a fan base. Throughout his career, Stan has collaborated with many Grammy-winning music producers and served as the resident in-house singer for the popular LA night spot frequented by Drake, The Kardashians and many more called Delilah’s. Definitely go peep Stan Taylor’s most recent project, “Sweet Nostalgia” which dropped in March 2023.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ Being super into athletics prior to music and how that drive/discipline served pursuing music
+ Being friends with the nerdy theatre kids while athletes clowned Stan for his choice of not pursuing sports
+ Super key takeaway: “Discipline is confidence”
+ How people get slept on all the time, and how even Kanye initially was slept on as shown in Netflix “Jeen-Yuhs” Documentary
+ The irony of people being so thirsty for authenticity, but most being terrified to share at this level
+ Keep a baby picture of yourself nearby so you can be kinder to yourself and remember your true essence
+ How wins and mini-breakthroughs can be the universe co-signing us and we can use them as signs to keep going
+ Being friends with people who can bless you with opportunities and the fine line of patience for it to happen naturally and asking for things, remembering, “closed mouths don’t get fed”
+ Snapping yourself out of funks by asking yourself… “how long do you want to hurt like this?”
+ Insight: “When we build a home in someone else, they have the power to make us homeless”
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Coodie & Chike (IG: @Coodierock & @Cozah) are Emmy-Nominated and acclaimed producers, directors, and documentarians. They are the directors & visionaries behind Netflix’s documentary “Jeen-Yuhs,” the 3-part trilogy showcasing the never before seen, two-decade plus, behind the scenes life of Kanye West, starting from when no one believed in him all the way through launching a multi-billion-dollar shoe and clothing empire. The duo launched their directorial debut with Kanye West’s break through single, “Through the Wire” in 2003. Coodie started out as a comedian and was also the co-founder of the legendary 90’s hip-hop platform “Channel Zero” which featured some of the biggest icons of the genre early in their careers: Wu-Tang Clan, Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, Nas, and many others… Chike, has been a consummate student of the arts from an early age, attending the prestigious, Rhode Island School of Design as well as the Savannah College of Art & Design. Some of their other work includes: 30 for 30 “Benji” Documentary (on the life of an All-American high school basketball phenom who’s life was tragically cut short when he was killed in the south-side of Chicago), many iconic music videos including, Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” and they are currently working on an upcoming documentary on the life of Ernie Barns Jr. a prolific, African-American artist, well known for his style of elongated characters and movement.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ How their acclaimed, ESPN 30 for 30 “Benji” Documentary came together
+ How it sadly takes tragedy to unite us
+ Being pressured by Hollywood executives into deals they weren’t ready to sign
+ Be patient, it takes time to get good at your craft!
+ Coodie dropping everything to move to NY to document Kanye prior to his success
+ Kanye having a habit of exploding whenever he hears someone use the word “Can’t”
+ Creatives with deep chemistry coming together to work & how rare and special this can be
+ Artists becoming the “character” and abandoning their former selves after success
+ Drake hitting up Coodie days before the release of the documentary saying he wanted to narrate the whole thing and Kanye saying he wanted Drake instead of Coodie to narrate it
+ Kanye West’s life and career spiraling downwards shortly after the release of the documentary they spent years putting together
+ The subliminal message of the documentary not really being so much about the Genius of Kanye West but rather to remind us that we all have a unique genius within and to give us the encouragement needed to push through the NO’s and resistance to cultivate and express it!
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Christopher M. Bailey & DJ Wolvie (IG: @Chrisvsmyself & @DJWolvie) are local LA legendary cats by way of Tucson, Arizona. They’re both multi-hyphenate creatives and live on the bleeding edge of culture in both the clothing and music space. Chris established the super buzzing, Last One Left, clothing brand which has been featured in The Los Angeles Times and worn by some of your favorite entertainers. DJ Wolvie is a super talented DJ with a musical palette that spans many genres. He formerly worked at HipHopDX and is a frequent collaborator with the Last One Left brand. Chris’s life story was featured in the HBO Documentary, “Fake Famous,” which is a social experiment that highlights 3 up and coming creatives and manufactures turning them into “influencers” by hyping them up and buying fake followers for them on social media. DJ Wolvie was featured in the documentary as well. If you haven’t seen it, you should go watch it! Wild stuff!
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS //
+ Showing up to a job interview thinking it was for Pharrell but finding out it was for Jay-Z+ Navigating closed doors and trusting the timing of everything unfolding+ Feeling out of place and getting harassed by bros in the party scene of Tucson, Arizona+ Chris watching his mom spiral out of control from addiction and watching her go in and out of rehabs+ Wolvie leaving Arizona for LA to work at HipHopDX and only getting paid $150 per month+ The origins of Chris’s clothing company “Last One Left”+ The culture and nuances within the thrifting community for clothes and the idea of “compounding karma” within it+ Suggesting an indie NYC nightclub to one of Jay-Z’s friends and then watching the surrealness of Jay-Z and Beyonce pulling up to the club that same night+ Being in HBO’s “Fake Famous” documentary and the ridiculousness that Chris & Wolvie observed+ Being super mindful of who you keep in your inner circle, and why it’s essential to realizing your full potential
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Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Seano McFarland (IG: @teamseano) is a certified addiction therapist, life coach, and interventionist specializing in chemical dependency, sexual addiction and trauma. He’s been a longtime therapist to Mike Tyson helping guide & counsel him the past 15 years. Seano’s overall career in recovery spans 20+ years and he’s made notable impacts within his frame of work, including national lectures, appearances on Oprah, Dateline, and many other major media networks. Since founding Shell Recovery Center in Venice, CA he has helped celebrities and non-celebrities alike, and has also consulted for the NBA & NFL.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS // + Seano getting kidnapped as a child in Arizona + Overcoming our adversity and seeing it as a homecoming story + Being in the dark so long that we can run from the light because it’s so foreign to us + Staying in “the middle of the herd” / in the middle of community, where we are at our safest + Alcohol & drugs aren’t the problem, they are our maladaptive solution to our living problem + Why you should NOT keep secrets…. Seano philosophy: “secrets can kill you” + The shameful things we’ve done which we think are so unique, are truly not and why we need to share them with trustworthy people to heal + “The world doesn’t need to change, we do” + “the only person you suffer from is you” – Seano Sayings 😊 + Seano receiving a DUI….. on a bicycle + Jeff Goldbum being a mentor to Seano and what he learned being around him + Seano getting hit by a car when his life was at a peak of success + What makes Mike Tyson so unique from others who are successful? + How Seano helped Mike Tyson navigate his way out of rock bottom
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Zalma (IG: @zalmabour) and I sit down for a special birthday episode! :) She is a brilliant singer, musician, producer and model originally from Cleveland, Ohio now based in LA. Over the course of her 15+ years working in music, she has collaborated with many Grammy winning artists & producers. Additionally, Zalma is also steeped in the healing arts and has studied both breathwork and reiki, she is a certified teacher in the latter. Zalma has two forthcoming projects, as a solo artist and as part of an artist collective called, Childish. Both will be dropping in 2023.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS // + Zalma & Samson have a birthday toast! + Why we don’t want our dreams to happen too early + Too many artists putting off living to pursue their crafts + What separates one artist from achieving their dreams vs. one who doesn’t + Monitoring your energy when you are reaching out to people + The medicinal aspects of music & podcasting + Zalma shares her new mantra… “This time is different” + The more attached you are to a specific outcome the more you can be hindered + No one has your unique DNA signature, and we need to use it to touch others
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
Che Pope (IG: @wrkshpclub) is an American music executive, record producer and songwriter from Boston, Massachusetts. He is the former COO of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D record label. He also is a multi-Grammy Winning music producer most notably for his work on Lauryn Hill’s iconic debut album, “Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.’ Che has worked with and been mentored by some of music greatest minds, including: Dr. Dre, legendary music composer, Hanz Zimmer, and Quincy Jones. Che recently founded WRKSHP, based in Detroit Michigan. It’s funded by Cleveland Cavaliers Owner & Billionaire, Dan Gilbert. WRKSHP is a record label, artist development company and media house. After a lengthy career Che is still hungry and seeks to impact culture in a myriad of ways.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS // + How Che got his start in music with no industry contacts + Being at Biggie’s first ever live performance + Losing multiple friends in the music biz to suicide + Theories on why so many rappers are being killed today + Becoming COO of Kanye’s record label GOOD Music + Che’s thoughts on Kanye West when they met back in the day + The differences between working in Dr. Dre camp versus Kanye’s camp + Learning from things going left producing Lauryn Hill’s, “Miss Education Of Lauryn Hill” + Life changing advice from Quincy Jones + Things he learned working with Dr. Dre, Hanz Zimmer, & Kanye West
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
The iconic, Oscar-Winning song "Lose Yourself" from the movie "8-mile" turned 20 years old on October 28th, 2022.
Jeff Bass (IG: @thejeffbass) is a Detroit native music producer, who is best known for his work grooming and developing the sound of Eminem. He's credited for producing and co-writing the Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself” from the movie 8-Mile, and has attained multiple Grammy awards during his longtime collaboration with Eminem, including "Without Me", "Sing For The Moment" and many more. His first entrance into the music business was being signed to Quincy Jones at the age 19. Jeff struggled on food stamps and government cheese as a new parent in his 30's and did not reach his breakthrough success with Eminem until he was 38 years old.
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS // + The magic of minor mode songs… + How did fame change you and Eminem? + Memorable Jimmy Iovine moment? + The rare occasions when artists call the shots at record labels + The stars align again.. 8 mile move + “lose yourself” coalesce + Chrysler super bowl commercial x “lose yourself” + Eminem's 4th album “Encore” where the road began to get rocky + The importance of being careful with your money in the music business + The last song Jeff recorded with Eminem + The last time Jeff & Eminem spoke and how the conversation went... + Painful memories and lessons Jeff learned along the path + Jeff's new struggle... + What advice Jeff would give to his 18 year old self + Jeff's biggest career HIGH + Jeff's biggest career LOW + How to keep your ego in check even after success and how we cannot do anything great without a team...
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
This is a new segment called, "Bars For Breakfast!" I will highlight a powerful lyric and share how it relates to my personal life experience. Listening to my share, I hope it conjures up for you how it relates to your own personal life journey and you feel connected + inspired. Of course, this all goes down while eating a delicious and/or random breakfast item as well!
***
SONG: "The Highs & The Lows"
ARTISTS: Chance The Rapper & Joey Badass
LYRIC: "Beware, believe none of what you see and half of what you hear, the best things in life on the opposite side of fear."
***
SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS:
Are you a struggling creative looking for support? Book a coaching clarity session with Samson, spaces are limited, follow this link: https://calendly.com/connectionismagic
CONNECT WITH ME:
Website: https://connectionismagic.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectionismagicTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectionismagic
Hit up CONNECTIONISMAGIC.COM to sign up for our email list and get access to new episodes before they drop, special animated story clips from our most powerful episodes and other special goodies & offers!
Love and blessings,
– TEAM CIM
