IDEA GENERATION
Idea Generation is a 360° media platform and podcast for the creative class, exploring how ideas are born, executed and turned into repeatable processes. Hosted by creatives, innovators and entrepreneurs, it asks where ideas come from and how to operationalize them again and again. The show aims to build a blueprint for success in the creative space and to educate and inspire the mavericks of tomorrow. Episodes blend conversations and practical insight on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Episodes
How Ryan Clark Pivoted From Forcing Fumbles to Winning Emmys
In 2012, an undersized football player with a chip on his shoulder from Marrero, Lousinia had an idea.In the middle of an NFL playing career that saw him go from undrafted free agent to Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion, Ryan Clark channeled the competitive streak that fueled his play into a media career.Clark not only overcame the odds to simply play in the NFL, he also overcame a terrifying on
Lena Waithe Breaks Down the Modern Hollywood Playbook
In 1991 a 7-year-old girl on Chicago’s South Side had an idea.Inspired by the stories she heard from her grandmother and mother, Lena Waithe decided she wanted to see the lives of herself and her family and neighbors depicted on television.Moving to Los Angeles in her early twenties, Waithe worked her way up through the television business, eventually winning an Emmy for her writing, creating The
Jae Tips Had a Sneaker of the Year at ComplexCon—So Why’d He Storm Out in Protest?
In 2020, a 30-year-old father of two in the Bronx had an idea. While struggling to establish a music career, John Jaequan Cotton, better known as Jae Tips, took inspiration from the streetwear brands he loved and committed fully to a vision for a personal brand focused on apparel and merch.After building an organic following for his designs, Jae stepped outside of his comfort zone and started knoc
How Killer Mike Risked $500k and Won a Grammy
For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/ On June 8, 2023, IDEA GENERATION and Tres Generaciones Tequila hosted a listening party with Grammy award-winning rapper Killer Mike in celebration of his latest album, 'Michael.'Killer Mike and IDEA GENERATION Founder Noah Callahan-Bever sat down together in Atlanta in fro
How Mike Amiri Built a Luxury Fashion House From a $30,000 Investment in Himself
For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/ On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer Mike Amiri takes us on a journey from his early days growing up in Hollywood, to releasing his first capsule collection, to launching his flagship brand, AMIRI. From handcrafting clothes for musicians, to reaching over $30
How Sacha Jenkins Went from Self-Publishing Zines as a Teen to an Acclaimed Filmmaker
For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, writer and filmmaker Sacha Jenkins takes us on a journey from his childhood in Queens launching his own underground rap and graffiti zines, to pioneering the culture-defining magazine EgoTrip. Eventually Sacha would move into
Marc Eckō Built A Creative Empire, Almost Lost It All, + Came Out On Top
For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer, artist, and entrepreneur Marc Ecko takes us on a journey from his days as a young airbrush artist in New Jersey, to launching a $500 million brand in Ecko Unlimited, to creating the culture-defining Complex Magazine,
How Rapsody Turned A Decade In the Underground + A Feature With Kendrick Into A Grammy Nomination
For more stories rooted in the spirit of perseverance, check out Tres Generaciones Tequila: https://www.tresgeneraciones.com/
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, rapper Rapsody takes us on a journey from her early days in a hip hop collective in college, to rising through the underground rap scene and landing major collaborations with Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar, to the release of he
Gabrielle Union on Building Multi-Million Dollar Brands, 50/50 Finances, Family, Activism + Advocacy
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, actor, entrepreneur and activist Gabrielle Union takes us on a journey from her early days as a struggling actor in Los Angeles, to becoming a blockbuster movie star, film producer, and author... all while building a portfolio of her own brands and being a present mother in her family. And it all started with one idea.
The Idea Generation Podcast is
How Tay Keith Blew Up From Local Teen Beatmaker to Producing Global Hits for Drake and Travis Scott
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, producer Tay Keith takes us on a journey from his early days taking piano lessons, to meeting BlocBoy JB and building their careers together, to producing smash hits for artists like Beyonce, Drake, and Travis Scott, including the Diamond record "Sicko Mode."
The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila. The p
How Nicole McLaughlin Used Instagram to Go From Design Intern to the Leader of Upcycle Fashion
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, designer Nicole McLaughlin takes us on a journey from her time as a graphic design intern, to becoming a viral sensation on Instagram by crafting creative upcycled shoes, to starting her own design courses, and collaborating with brands like Reebok and Vans.
The Idea Generation Podcast is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila. The perfect tequi
Jason Bolden on Storytelling Through Fashion and Becoming The Biggest Stylist in Hollywood
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, celebrity stylist Jason Bolden takes us on a journey from his youth in St. Louis and Chicago, to becoming one of the most sought-after stylists in Hollywood. From opening a vintage shop in New York City, to getting a chance to style Gabrielle Union, to building an all star roster of A-listers as clients, Jason Bolden has reimagined what it means to be
Just Blaze on Shaping Roc-A-Fella’s Sound, Writing Hit Records & Disrupting the Video Game Industry
This episode is brought to you by Tres Generaciones Tequila.
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, Just Blaze takes us on a journey from his early days as a math prodigy in Paterson, New Jersey, to becoming one of the premier beatmakers in music. From helping shape the sound of Roc-A-Fella records, to earning a reputation as one of the most sought after pens in the game, to scoring new
Paul Rodriguez Jr. on Nike SB, Founding Primitive, & Investing in Everything From Beer to Lemons
On this week's episode of IDEA GENERATION, Paul Rodriguez Jr. (aka P Rod) takes us on a journey from his early days as a young skateboarder in California, to becoming the face of Nike Skate, to launching his own company, Primitive Skateboarding. Along the way, P Rod has become an acclaimed investor, exploring the trades of everything from beer to lemons... and it all started with one idea. Subscri
Scooter Braun On Self-Work, Ariana, Bieber, BTS + HYBE, Selling For A Billion, + Putting Family 1st
On the Season 3 premiere of IDEA GENERATION, Scooter Braun takes us on a journey from his days as a college dropout and party promoter in Atlanta, to becoming one of the most successful music executives on the planet. From his time as manager of Justin Bieber and Asher Roth, to his part in acquiring Big Machine Records, to selling his own company for $1 billion, Braun has built one of the most imp
The-Dream on Collaborating with Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Becoming Music's Cheat Code | IDEA GENERATION
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Writer, musician, and collaborator Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, better known as The-Dream, takes us on a journey from his days a trumpet player in a high school band to winning Grammy awards with the likes of Rihanna and Beyoncé. In this week's episode, hear how The-Dream started working with some of the biggest
How Jessie Reyez Overcame Adversity and Willed Herself To The Top of Music | IDEA GENERATION
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Writer, artist, and trailblazer Jessie Reyez takes us on a journey from her childhood writing poems, to hitting open mics around her hometown of Toronto, to becoming one of the most authentic and dynamic songwriters and musicians in the world. In this week's episode, hear how Reyez first started getting into music
How New York Nico Went From Music Video Director to NYC's Unofficial Talent Scout | IDEA GENERATION
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Storyteller, filmmaker, and leader Nicolas Heller aka New York Nico takes us on a journey from his childhood making short films around his neighborhood, to pursuing a music video directing career in Los Angeles, to becoming the unofficial talent scout of New York City by showcasing the city's most fascinating personaliti
How Hebru Brantley Blew Up In Fine Art + Created the FLYBOY Universe | IDEA GENERATION
Artist, storyteller, and entrepreneur Hebru Brantley takes us on a journey from his childhood in Chicago discovering fine art, to studying film in Atlanta, to struggling to make ends meet while styling rappers and designing concert posters, to finding critical acclaim and collaborating with some of the biggest brands in the world.
In this week's episode, hear how Brantley launched his art career w
How LaRussell Became Hip-Hop’s #1 Prospect & Changed The Industry From His Garage | IDEA GENERATION
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Rapper, entrepreneur, and innovator LaRussell takes us on a journey from his childhood in the Bay Area making music, to his viral freestyles that lead to an appearance on The Breakfast Club, to his current mission of reimagining the music industry from his own garage. In this week's episode, hear how LaRussel
Angela Yee on Building The Breakfast Club, Becoming An Entrepreneur, & Going Solo | IDEA GENERATION
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Host, connector, and entrepreneur Angela Yee takes us on a journey from her youth in New York City falling in love with the hip hop scene, to her first radio job at Shade 45, to starting her own businesses, investing in real estate, and launching her brand new upcoming solo radio show, Way Up With Angela Yee.
In this episode h
How EMPIRE's Ghazi Married Tech with Culture & Reimagined the Music Industry | IDEA GENERATION
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Founder, engineer, and pioneer Ghazi Shami takes us on a journey from his youth in San Francisco falling in love with the buzzing Bay Area music scene, to taking a tech job in Silicon Valley, to combining those two worlds together to create his wildly successful music distribution company, Empire.
In this episode hear how Ghaz
How Melody Ehsani Pivoted From High Heels to Jewelry, Jordans + Big Success
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Designer, entrepreneur Melody Ehsani takes us on a journey from her early days working retail, to designing her first shoes and jewelry lines, to collaborating with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jordan brand before taking on a bespoke role at Foot Locker.
In this episode we hear how Ehsani became a sponge for product design, figur
Kenny Beats on Community Building, Creativity, and the Art of Collaboration | IDEA GENERATION
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Producer, musician, and connector Kenny Beats takes us on a journey from his college days at Berklee College of Music, to blowing up on the EDM scene, to reemerging as a beloved producer and content creator, all while building one of the most interactive music-obsessed communities on the internet. A true renaissanc
How Salehe Bembury Went from Payless to Versace to Birthing His Own Brand | IDEA GENERATION S2 E3
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Designer and creative Salehe Bembury takes us on a journey from his childhood growing up in Manhattan, to an invaluable degree in industrial design, to working with some of the biggest names in fashion... before breaking off to make a name of his own.
This week we see how Bembury is able to tightrope-walk the line of conventio
How Action Bronson Conquered Media By Being His Most Authentic Self | IDEA GENERATION S2 E2
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Rapper, chef, author, and all around creative mastermind Action Bronson takes us on a journey from his early days at culinary school, to releasing critically acclaimed albums, to writing books, starring in TV shows, and building an iconic brand around his most authentic interests.
Clever, insightful, and hilarious, Bronson has
Dwyane Wade on Discipline, Curiosity, & Building an Empire On & Off The Court | IDEA GENERATION S2 E1
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On the Season 2 premiere of IDEA GENERATION, NBA legend and entrepreneur Dwyane Wade takes us on a journey from his early days as a young hooper growing up in Chicago, to achieving NBA superstardom, to building a brand around himself while also venturing into media, wine, and NBA ownership.
Humble, hard working, and always rea
How Hit-Boy Blew Up Online, Fell Out With Kanye & Got A Second Life With Nas | IDEA GENERATION Ep.12
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Hailing from Fontana, CA Chauncy "Hit-Boy" Hollis Jr. got started making beats in his bedroom and posting them on Myspace. Producer Polo Da Don found Hit on the platform and reached out immediately. Within weeks they were working together, and placing tracks with artists like J.Lo and Lil Wayne. Eventually his beat CD wo
Leah McSweeney on how she built Married To The Mob, and became a Real Housewife of NY | IDEA GENERATION Ep.11
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Leah McSweeney grew up in downtown, NYC straddling the overlapping worlds of streetwear, graffiti, and hip-hop. And while running with the dudes driving those worlds, she realised two things: She wanted a part of the lifestyle, and none of them saw the unaddressed women's market she was a part of. So she launched her brand, Married
Steven Victor on managing Pusha T, mourning Pop Smoke and building VVW | IDEA GENERATION Ep.10
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Brooklynite Steven Victor got his shot in the music industry straight out of college as an intern at Interscope Records. After a few years of unpaid labor the soft spoken strategist would begin scaling the corporate ladder, landing a full time job in publicity and making in-roads through the Star Trak team to Pusha T and the Clipse.
RHUDE's Rhuigi Villaseñor on How to Turn a T-Shirt Into A 18M Dollar Brand | IDEA GENERATION, Ep.9
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After growing up as a global citizen, Rhuigi Villaseñor settled in Southern California and found his twin passions: clothing and hustle. As a teen the young design prodigy used his eye to flip vintage clothes, which fattened his pockets but also deepened his knowledge. Knowing full well what he didn't know, Rhuigi relentlessly net
Alchemist On How He Turned Beats Into A Business, And Cut Out The Music Industry | IDEA GENERATION Ep. 8
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Alchemist got his start as the teenaged sidekick to Cypress Hill and the Soul Assassins. Though his rap group, The Whooliganz, would be dumped by their label before they could even release their first album, Al did not let the setback stop him. In fact, by the time he dropped out of NYU the MC-turned-beat-maker already had a catal
Freddie Gibbs Explains Why He's Happy He Got Dropped, Why SSS Is Going To Be His Biggest Album, And The Key to Good Marketing | IDEA GENERATION Ep.7
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Freddie Gibbs got his first taste of rap success when he signed a deal with Interscope Records in 2007. But a man ahead of his time, Gibbs was unable to capitalize on the opportunity and within a couple years would find himself dropped and blackballed. Which, of course, is exactly when the rest of the world caught up to Gibbs, rec
Beth Birkett on Building UNION LA, launching Bephies Beauty Supplies, and Sexism In Streetwear | IDEA GENERATION Ep.6
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Beth Birkett cut her teeth in NYC's emergent scenes of streetwear and music, connecting the two tangentially related movements in the late 90s. But the toxic misogyny of the industry soured her interest, and sent her to LA to start a family. And a family business: Union LA. However, after a decade and a half of working with husban
Street Art + Graffiti Pioneer FUTURA on How To Think About Identity + Brand, and The Power of Collaboration | IDEA GENERATION Ep. 5
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Street Art pioneer FUTURA started painting his name on walls as a coping mechanism to deal with his struggle around identity. But as he turned a signature into a brand he quickly realized that it could also be a business. And that's where things got interesting. From Lower East Side galleries to t-shirts and toys to collaborations
Chef Mario Carbone on Opening CARBONE, and Building a Dining Empire | IDEA GENERATION Ep. 4
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Restaurateur Mario Carbone shows us his path from teenaged line chef on Northern Blvd, Queens to NYC dining upstart to global culinary kingpin. A master chef, Carbone's skills behind the stove are second only to his skills as a storyteller. Each establishment he opens has its own unique tale, and Carbone is vigilant about mai
Marsai Martin on creating 'Little' and building an empire in Hollywood | IDEA GENERATION EP.3
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Actor and executive producer Marsai Martin walks us through her journey from being a struggling child actor in Dallas to becoming the youngest person to executive produce a major motion picture in the history of Hollywood. Since the age of 6, Martin has been cultivating her craft and chasing her ambition. Along the way she's racke
Dreamville's Ibrahim Hamad on managing J.Cole + taking the brand beyond music | IDEA GENERATION Ep.2
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Manager and music executive Ibrahim Hamad takes us on his long journey from meeting a then-unknown rapper named J.Cole in college to becoming his manager to helping him build a label, a festival and a media company as partners. Modest and soft spoken, for Cole's entire career Hamad has balanced friendship and business, acting as a s
Rapper Russ on Building His Brand Independently + Navigating Controversy | IDEA GENERATION Ep. 1
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Rapper, singer and producer Russ walks us through the creative impulses and strategic decisions that propelled him to multi-platinum success. Since the age of 14 years-old Russ has been cultivating his musical gifts and pushing himself, against all odds, to realize his ambitions for greatness. Along the way he's made no shortage of
IDEA GENERATION Trailer
Ideas are the global currency of the 21st century. But how do you come up with one? How do you execute it? How do you operationalize that process and replicate it again and again?
We are Creatives, Innovators and Entrepreneurs on a quest to answer these questions and develop a blueprint to success in the creative space for generations to come.
Idea Generation is a 360° media pl
