Building Boldly

In this special solo episode of Building Boldly, Ariana takes you behind the scenes of her end-of-year whirlwind from dancing at a midnight party during Art Basel Miami Beach to sitting in a small D.C. conference room listening to dissidents and power players talk about censorship, freedom, and the urgent fight for democracy. Along the way, Ariana shares what Art Basel taught her about creative lo...

In this episode, Elise Hu, journalist, author, and co-founder of the podcast studio Reasonable Volume, opens up about what it takes to build a media career with longevity and joy. Elise has followed the story wherever it leads from starting out in local news to covering geopolitics as NPR’s bureau chief in Seoul, writing a definitive book on Korean beauty, and most recently running her own podcast...

In this episode, art advisor and entrepreneur, Arushi Kapoor offers a new art world playbook. Raised between India and London, she grew up immersed in fine arts and has since opened a gallery in Los Angeles, advised collectors on blue-chip acquisitions, and forged an innovative partnership with one of the most recognizable luxury real estate brands–all sparked by a bold cold call to Real Housewive...

In this episode, Akua Shabaka, co-founder and creative director of House of Aama, goes deep into the archives to tell us about how she resurrects underrepresented history through fashion and makes it undeniably cool. For this visionary designer, it’s truly a family affair. From co-founding her label with her mother to creating designs inspired by the West African folklore passed down by her parent...

In this episode, Tara Tan, Founder of Strange Ventures and alum of IDEO, Formlabs, and Studio Now, says that creatives need to rethink their views on capital. Instead of seeing money as an opposing force to art, she urges creatives to view funding as a tool that can bring the right ideas to life. We discuss her impressive career from “breaking up with art” to backing the next generation of creativ...

In this episode, Lillian Shalom, the It Girl’s jewelry designer, shares how she carved out a lane all her own in the world of luxury accessories. From doing upholstery on the side to crafting her signature armor-inspired rings and other statement pieces for stars like Beyonce, Rihanna, Jenna Ortega and Kylie Jenner, Lilian walks us through the vision, craft and confidence behind her rise. All it t...

In this premiere episode, Deniese Davis, celebrated producer and longtime collaborator of Issa Rae, breaks down the real behind-the-scenes of building a producing career in Hollywood. From her early days creating short-form content to producing HBO’s Insecure and the feature One of Them Days , Deniese shares how she carved out a space in a crowded industry. We talk about why building your own thin...

Welcome to Building Boldly, a podcast by cultural strategist and philanthropist Ariana Makonnen for founders and changemakers designing, funding, and leading successful creative ventures across art, film, fashion, books, and more. Each episode features special guests sharing their stories, challenges, and valuable insights into how they've designed—and funded their creative lives. Tune in for fres...