Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Nomad.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Johnny. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2017, I began to find podcasts again and starting to form a habit in consuming a daily diet of content. I listened to podcasts before but I had stopped for a number of years. At this point in my career, I was confused and I knew I didn’t want to be doing what I was doing. So I called my cousin in NYC and spoke to her, we would always have these heated debates.
So while we were sparing one day, I just stopped and told her hey why don’t we do a podcast. She agreed we did about five episodes and then it stopped. She became to busy with work and family. Time was not on her side. So I thought about doing it myself and I started to talk to myself in my car and record what I was talking about while I drove myself to work.
I placed my phone recorder on, put my phone against my chest under my seatbelt to hold it in place while I drove. I questioned what was I doing and how far was I going to take it. So I put more energy into it and found more info on how to get the episodes out on all the podcast platforms.
So I began the podcast in late 2018 and in early 2019, I started to get guests on instead of me doing all the talking. Now, in the beginning, I was only doing audio no video, so I began to throw some money at this thing to get the quality up. I bought a new camera, invested in Zoom conference software so I could talk to anyone around the world.
My goal is to have a platform where black and brown people can speak their truths, share their stories so the world can see who we are. We are scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, scholars and just human with goals and dreams just like the next person.
Now I have weekly guests.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road, but I have to say I wouldn’t change it. Having a full-time job and managing time with family and podcasting can become a strain. Sometimes your guest cancels, you have to reschedule or they forget or you have some technical issues with equipment.
Recently I had a great conversation with one of my guests and it did not record a 2-hour conversation and I had nothing. I was upset, embarrassed and felt like I didn’t have my stuff together. So I had to contact the guest and she was so understanding and we were able to reschedule.
The podcast has become my second job, a job that has allowed me to find the very thing I wanted to do. A job that does not feel like a job.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know about the podcast?
My podcast is for brown and black people because I want to present unique stories. Stories you don’t usually get to see or hear because of the culture we are in. My goal is to give people who usually don’t have a platform a place for them to be heard and engage in a unique conversation. I offer a safe space where you can be you and the people watching and listing feel what you are saying.
This idea stemmed from me growing up in Brooklyn, where I watched a lot of TV but I never saw my face or never herd my story. I am determined to meet wonderful souls that are willing to share their story, I also offer the platform to underground/undiscovered hip-hop artists. Coming from Brooklyn hip-hop played a large part in my childhood.
Where I published my first book last year called Purpose on Amazon and I am working on my second book Reflections coming out early 2020.
What were you like growing up?
I was like any other child played with toys, watched cartoons. I read a lot I didn’t care about fiction books, I would read the encyclopedia that we had. I was quite always an observer, very respectful of my parents and people in general.
When I turned 13, I wrote my first poem and I continued to write. I wrote poems, short stories and just whatever my thoughts were. It was hard to have a clear vision of what I wanted to be because I grew up in Bedstuy Brooklyn, in Tompkins Projects. It was a really bad neighborhood and bad place overall.
So being around people who gave up on their dreams had a certain weight and energy, it eclipsed the sun from the neighborhood. It filled you with doubt, so I had a lot to overcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Johnny-Nomad-ebook/dp/B07G5GBDX8/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=johnny+nomad&qid=1570668143&sr=8-1
- Email: johnnynomadpc@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnynomadpresents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnnyNomadPresents/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnyNomad
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