The Art of Letting Go Podcast

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this episode of The Art of Letting Go , I’m joined by my friend and collaborator DDM (aka Manny), a genre-defying artist who’s built his own creative universe rooted in authenticity, boldness, and evolution. We talk about his journey from battle rap to redefining queer artistry in hip-hop, navigating identity, an...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this episode of The Art of Letting Go , Mike Brown is joined by Talib Jasir—creative entrepreneur, author, and founder of the Afros & Audio Podcast Festival—for a powerful conversation about reclaiming your voice as a creator. They dive deep into the realities of independent podcasting, bridging the gap betwe...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this episode of The Art of Letting Go, I sit down with Miss Sheila McDaniel, a powerful storyteller and mother of my dear friend Shaughn. We talk about her journey through faith, the life lessons that led her to write her first book Tears of Faith, and what it means to speak boldly about your relationship with Go...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this inspiring episode of The Art of Letting Go , host Mike Brown sits down with the multi-hyphenate artist MaryGold. They dive deep into what it means to create freely, how routines impact creativity, and the importance of defining success on your own terms. Mary shares her journey as an artist, her struggles wi...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this powerful episode of The Art of Letting Go , host Mike Brown sits down with Joshua Michael Cruz —coach, community builder, and founder of Where the Soul Grows . They dive deep into the importance of community, vulnerability, and healing as queer men of color. Topics include: 🌿 The journey of self-love and em...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this episode of 'The Art of Letting Go,' host Mike Brown takes a reflective journey through some of the most impactful conversations with his longtime friend , James 'Yoga Dude' Woods. Mike and James discuss their individual paths to entrepreneurship, the distinction between gifts and passions...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. Mike Brown returns to his podcast, 'The Art of Letting Go,' sharing updates on his life and the show's future. He discusses moving back to Houston for family time, relocating to Newark, NJ, and restarting his creative journey. Mike emphasizes the importance of taking time for stillness, rebuilding, an...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. Mike Brown returns to The Art of Letting Go podcast, reflecting on his journey from co-hosting to going solo, his creative evolution during the pandemic, and surviving as a full-time podcaster. Sharing his experiences of leaving Los Angeles, living as a nomad, and reconnecting with his roots in Houston, Mike discuss...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this special live episode of "The Art of Letting Go," recorded at Newark Pride, we delve into the intricate world of relationships, exploring romantic connections, platonic bonds, and the essential practice of self-care. It was a truly beautiful event, enriched by the vibrant community of Newark. Specia...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this special live episode recorded at the Ludlow House in New York, NY, we dive into an enriching conversation in honor of Juneteenth and Pride Month. Joined by the dynamic YawnyBlew, we explore the intersections of Blackness and Queerness, touching on relationships, empowerment, and self-reflection. Our live aud...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. Jeremiah Marquez, a graphic designer turned business strategist, takes center stage in the season finale of The Creator's Toolkit. Jeremiah's journey from artist to entrepreneur is a testament to his unwavering dedication and innovative mindset. Throughout the episode, he offers invaluable insights into th...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. Join us on this week's episode as we sit down with Keisha TK Dutes, a multi-talented audio storyteller and visual artist who successfully transitioned from the medical field to the world of audio. Delve into the art of artistic pivots as we explore Keisha's journey, discussing the transformative power of s...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In this episode of The Creator's Toolkit, we delve into the world of merchandising with She's Ryan, a multi-talented artist based in New York. She shares her insights on navigating the business of merch, revealing what sells and resonates with audiences. Discover how She's Ryan's self-aware appro...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. This week on The Creator's Toolkit, hosts Mike and Yawny take a moment to recap their second week of merch madness, share updates on their new song 'This Shit Hard,' and dive into a conversation with Christoph Jenkins, founder of The Poet Life. Yawny and Mike were recipients of The Poet Life grant ear...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In the premiere episode of The Creator's Toolkit, hosts  ⁠Mike Brown⁠  and  ⁠YawnyBlew⁠  dive into the world of relaunching as they gear up for their second annual March Madness. They talk shop with indie artist SADBOYMUSIC, discussing their various experiences with e-commerce and merchandising. Stylist Rio Jap...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. This week’s episode is brought to you by The Poet Life (@thepoetlife) and The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council. John talks to us about his addiction to smoking and how he overcame it. He reflects on his origins of smoking, and how it became a habit, and shares the tools he developed on his journey...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. This week’s episode was recorded in 2019. It was previously a Patreon exclusive featuring my dad. We had a conversation about happiness and I had a few of my subscribers say this was one of their favorites. All month I am giving previews to what the Patreon is like in hopes of gaining some new subscribers. Enjoy the...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. This week’s episode was an exclusive to Patreon when the year first started. Originally recorded January 11, 2023. Mike talks about starting the year with his apartment flooded. manifests being a nomad, and being intentional in life. This episode Mike manifested alot of what the year looked like for him. Let’s refle...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In episode 207 of 'The Art of Letting Go,' Mike wrote a journal entry to share on the episode. This is also a rough draft to a new podcast that we will be starting next year. Mike has been in Houston for 3 weeks and these were the feelings that came up during journaling. Want to share a story for the new s...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In episode 206 of 'The Art of Letting Go,' join your host Mike Brown and 3ddi3 Wayn3 as they reflect on Mike’s past month in New York. P&T Knitwear hosted them at their studio and the two friends had an honest conversation about their friendship, support, being black and queer and more. They also touch...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In episode 205 of 'The Art of Letting Go,' join your host Mike Brown and Je’Vel for a conversation about the power of being both Black and Queer. They talk about music, GLAAD’s Black Queer Creative Summit, community, growth and much more.  Je’Vel @je.vel Jevel.net Check out my new releases: Desert Thoughts...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In episode 204 of 'The Art of Letting Go,' join your host Mike Brown and Kamal X for a conversation about storytelling through photography, confidence, overcoming grief, letting go and more. They also discuss the release of his latest book, The Black Astronaut , which is available now! Kamal X @iamkamalx C...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In episode 203 of 'The Art of Letting Go,' join your host Mike Brown and Denice Ochola for a conversation recorded at the Brooklyn Museum. They talk about maternity, Black men’s health, and how Black men can be more supportive of each other on their health journeys. Denice Ochola @spreadloveand_ Check out...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. In episode 202 of 'The Art of Letting Go,' join your host Mike Brown and the captivating YawnyBlew for a unique conversation recorded in the heart of New York's vibrant park. Explore their nomadic journey, discover how they're experiencing the bustling city, and dive into the fascinating world of...

Got thoughts, feedback, or questions? We’d love to hear from you—send us an email. Hey, it's Episode 201 of The Art of Letting Go, and I'm back after a three-month break with an incredible story to share. During my hiatus, I made a bold move, leaving Los Angeles and embracing the nomadic lifestyle. From the stunning vistas of Vancouver to a road trip adventure and a pit stop in LA for GL...