Odejuma

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry speaks with Keith Parris, known online as Icy, the beauty influencer, model, and writer whose book ‘Amputee Story’ went viral overnight when he was still in middle school. Keith traces his path from a Caribbean household where the art he loved was never the plan, to building a career with no manager and no team, to the fierce self-love he protects now. He gets rea...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry is in conversation with Zola Dee, a playwright, screenwriter, and performer whose work [Home] going is the recipient of this year's Kesselring Prize for Playwriting. Zola grew up in Winston-Salem, moved through Los Angeles and Berlin, and landed in Minneapolis, and home has never been a fixed place for her so much as a question she keeps writing toward. She talks...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry speaks with filmmaker Ashton Legadoé, whose path runs from a Cape Verdean family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to telling some of the most tender Black queer stories on screen. This is a conversation about legacy. What it means to build something that outlasts you, in your work, in your community, and even in the name you carry. Ashton talks about Nana's Boys, hi...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry is in conversation with TRYFE, the DJ, entertainer, and founder of the Viribus Foundation, about following a calling he never planned for. From Howard University to the White House and a Kamala Harris rally of thirty thousand, TRYFE has built a career out of one gift: walking into a room and giving it the joy it didn't know it needed. This is a conversation about...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry speaks with Dr. Brittany Lewis, a scholar, author, and the founder of Research in Action. At its heart, this is a conversation about power: who holds it, who gets studied, and who gets to decide what counts as knowledge. Brittany shares how a queer Black girl from North Minneapolis became a scholar who refuses to write research that only mesmerizes problems. She t...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Jamal Wade, a dancer, choreographer, and director whose path runs from Baton Rouge to thirteen years in Los Angeles to a brand new chapter in New York. At its heart, this is a conversation about giving yourself permission. Jamal talks about the fear and judgment he is still unlearning, and what it took to trust that the life he imagined as a boy was alw...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry speaks with renowned theater actor Jason Veasey. He reflects on growing up as a military kid who moved across countries and cultures before finding a stage. Jason built his foundation quietly, through regional theater, before Broadway ever called. This conversation traces that arc up to his nearly decade-long run in the critically acclaimed show A Strange Loop, be...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry sits down with Rashad Jiles, known across social media as 'rashadeatstheworld.' Rashad traces his journey from flight attendant to culinary storyteller and how a pandemic that grounded everyone gave him permission to finally land somewhere true to himself. He talks about the family table that shaped his palate, the losses that quietly reshaped his creative work, a...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Tolu Ekisola, a Nigerian-American artist and community organizer based in Minneapolis. In this conversation, she talks about growing up as a Nigerian kid in suburban Minnesota, navigating predominantly white spaces while carrying a whole world inside her, and what it took to move from that tension into purpose, from founding CAARE Production Company, bu...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Samii Austin, music artist and star of Chasing Atlanta Season 7. In this conversation, Samii traces the journey from Tampa to Atlanta, from choir kid to rapper to reality star, and talks about what it actually costs to show up fully as a Black queer artist in spaces that weren't designed with you in mind. He reflects on what Chasing Atlanta revealed abo...

For the Season 2 premiere of Odejuma, Harry chats with Victor Jackson, also known as Mr. GlamRockSoul, a creative director and artist who embodies Black queer magic. After his brother's passing and seven years away from music, a single moment in a rehearsal room changed everything. In this conversation, Victor traces the long road from a childhood in a church choir to standing fully in his own lig...

For the Season 1 finale of Odejuma, Harry chats with James Rogers III, a celebrated screenwriter and executive producer whose creative path is truly inspirational. Growing up in Compton, James never imagined a life in Hollywood until a film class with his father sparked a passion that would reshape his future. From working as a production assistant on a Frank Ocean music video to writing for 'The...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry speaks with Lamb, the visionary co-founder of Frolic, to discuss the importance of joy, faith, and community in queer spaces. Lamb shares his journey from the Bahamas to Atlanta and Boston, explaining how his experiences have shaped his mission to make nightlife more inclusive for queer and trans people of color. They explore the origins of Frolic Weekend, which s...

In this episode of Odejuma, filmmaker Steven Chew takes us on a journey through his artistic evolution from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles. He discusses his latest project, 'Orion’s Quest', which reimagines Black queer love in the realm of science fiction, weaving together themes of self-love, identity, and belonging. This conversation examines the delicate balance between creative passion and pr...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Ashe Jaafaru, a performer and storyteller based in the Twin Cities. She shares her journey into theater, the influences that shaped her creative path, and the profound impact of performing in "Maybe You Could Love Me." Together, they discuss the vibrant Black and queer art scene in the Twin Cities area, focusing on themes of collaboration, community, an...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with musician and advocate 2AM Ricky to dive into the connections between artistry and social impact. He opens up about the profound loss that has shaped his creative journey, shares the story behind his name, and discusses the freedom he feels in crossing genre boundaries, explaining how this contributes to his work. He also discusses the health challenges...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with writer and actor Ryan Walker-Edwards for a heartfelt conversation about storytelling, identity, and his acclaimed short film, "Man Code." They explore the power of sharing personal stories and emphasize moving past trauma-centered views of queer life to highlight joy, intimacy, and humor. Ryan shares his journey from Birmingham to the screen, discussing...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with multi-hyphenate artist Ibimina Dominique Thompson about art, identity, and resilience. Ibimina takes us through her journey as a Black trans woman in the arts, starting from her early days in church plays and culminating in her powerful performances on major stages. She reflects on the challenges of transitioning in the theater world, the weight of soci...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Writer and Scholar Adebayo Quadry-Adekanbi about the complexities of queer identity in Nigeria. Adebayo draws on his experiences living between Nigeria and the UK to not only share his journey of discovering his queerness but also speak to the historical impacts of colonialism on current anti-LBGTQ laws and what visibility truly means in places where ho...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry is in conversation with talented UK-based Nigerian poet and multidisciplinary artist Obii Ifejika for an in-depth exploration of storytelling, identity, and legacy. Obii reflects on her journey, revealing how she found her voice through performance poetry in Nigeria and how she has embraced new creative experiences in the UK. Their conversation highlights the sign...

In one of our most heartfelt conversations yet, Harry speaks with influential artist and educator Harry Waters Jr., who reflects on a life shaped by purpose, vulnerability, and community. From his role in the cult classic, Back to the Future, to his groundbreaking work in theater and academia, Harry Waters Jr. shares stories that explore the intersections of Blackness, queerness, grief, joy, and t...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with singer-songwriter Rob Milton about music, identity, and the transformative power of finding oneself through art. Rob reflects on his journey from discovering his voice in college to consistently releasing music since 2012. He shares important lessons he has learned as a Black queer artist and storyteller dedicated to joy. He also discusses the origins o...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Nigerian-American multidisciplinary artist Mark Odumuyiwa on art, identity, and how that influences his work. From his early love for fashion design to his fluid transition into photography and filmmaking, Mark reflects on how creativity often grows out of curiosity, necessity, and deep cultural roots. The conversation touches on the emotional power of...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Delali, a multimedia artist based in Minneapolis and the founder of Del Aku Studio. Her work beautifully merges Afrofuturism with modern life to explore identity, connection, and possibility.. Delali's deep reverence for ancestry and transformation is rooted in her upbringing in a mixed-race household, where Ghanaian traditions coexisted with her Americ...

In this episode of Odejuma, Harry chats with Ghanaian-born actor Anthony Adu for a deeply reflective conversation about identity, queerness, and the power of storytelling. Anthony shares his experiences, from his early days in Ghana to building a life in the U.S. He opens up about navigating family expectations, cultural displacement, his career as an actor, and the emotional journey of embracing...