Conversations that Count

In this special Indie Fest segment of Conversations That Count, host David Shaft sits down with Will Willingham, also known as Plugged In Will, founder of Plugged In Collection, to talk Detroit fashion, entrepreneurship, and building a brand with real energy behind it. Will shares the story behind Plugged In Collection, a Detroit based fashion brand with a brick and mortar store on Woodward, and e...

Dominique Dom Lewis, known online as Domitrick, is a gymnast and acrobatics athlete who turned a lifelong passion into a career. Dom began teaching himself flips at just four years old, learning outdoors on grass and concrete before eventually entering a full gymnastics facility and realizing how much farther the craft could go with safe training environments. In this episode, Dom shares how growi...

Recorded outdoors on location at Detroit INDIEFEST, host David Shaft sits down with Detroit artist Nappi Devi for a fast paced conversation about live performance, new releases, and building real momentum as an independent artist. We start with a quick fit check and festival energy, then get into Nappi Devi’s newest release I Bet, also known as Aight Bet, plus the music video and what listeners ca...

In this episode of Conversations That Count, David Shaft sits down with Red of Street Justice to talk Detroit hip hop, creative evolution, and what it means to return to the stage after years away. Red shares how he transitioned from performing in the Detroit music scene to working in film and television production, including recent work on the Netflix series Free Bird and multiple upcoming featur...

In this recap episode of Conversations That Count, host David Shaft breaks down the key insights and takeaways from his conversation with author JL James, also known as Gene Belcher Jr, creator of the novel The Other Side of Color. This summary episode is designed for listeners who may not have had time to hear the full interview but still want the most important ideas, lessons, and reflections fr...

Author Gene, writing under the name JL James, joins Conversations That Count to share the story behind his novel The Other Side of Color.  This episode explores prejudice that can exist within the same community, the emotional impact of family estrangement, and the determination required to escape personal alleyways and create a different future. Gene walks through his creative journey from a...

Need a money mantra for 2025? Pop-model Savanna Smith turns a rough modeling gig into a bankroll anthem with her new single “Girls Just Wanna Have Fund$.” Host David Shaft welcomes Savanna and day-one besties Hailey Alamo (future therapist) & Adrianna Stewart (fashion entrepreneur) for a candid, rapid-fire chat about: going from “model-apartment blues” to writing a global girl-boss bop why wom...

Real magic exists! Hocus Pocus star Vinessa Shaw shares Buddhist mindfulness, Disney set secrets & a 7-day vegan challenge that’ll change your life. Stanley Kubrick’s pep talk, four-hug mornings, and more—this interview is pure enchantment. Highlights: Opening: “Do you believe in magic?” Chanting at 12: Buddhism as a stress-buster Landing Hocus Pocus at 16 & working with Disney icons Four-...

Cosplay tips, DIY costume ideas, and GalaxyCon judge secrets—AstraVoid reveals the self-taught path that took her from biology classes to the spotlight at GalaxyCon’s Nightmare Weekend Chicago. After mastering sewing, foam-smithing, wigs, LEDs (and winning major awards) Astra landed a guest contract at 21 and now mentors the next wave of creators. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning fandom into a fu...

Recorded on the show floor at AutoTech 2025, engineer-turned-entrepreneur Patrice Banks shares how a single bad repair experience inspired her to build Girls Auto Clinic—an all-women garage (with a built-in nail salon!) and a fast-growing media brand that demystifies car care for everyone who’s ever felt talked down to at the shop. Patrice’s story is proof that when you combine data, empathy, and...

What if your RV could think for itself, protect your pets, and keep you connected — even off the grid? In this exclusive Conversations That Count episode, recorded live at AutoTech 2025, I sit down with two of the visionaries behind Winnebago Connect™ — a groundbreaking smart RV platform changing the way we travel: 🚀 Marc Fecker, Co-Founder & CEO of Robo 📡 Steve Loving, Director of Business...

“Original Halloween scream-queen Sandy Johnson—aka Judith Myers—isn’t just a horror legend. She’s a working indie actor, lifelong mentor, and unapologetic Texas gunslinger with a heart for rescue animals. In this candid sit-down she reveals the career comeback that’s keeping her busier than ever—and the life lessons that make every line worth the wait.” What You’ll Hear From Icon to Indie Powerhou...

What if the version of you that felt the most free was still inside you—waiting to be seen again? In this raw and inspiring episode of Conversations That Count, host David Shaft sits down with Ashton Blaise, a cosplayer, pinup model, and former political media figure who walked away from public influence to rediscover joy in the things she once loved—horror, cosplay, anime, and being fully herself...

From Fashion School to Full-Time Cosplay: Ashlynne Dae on Choosing Passion Over Stability (Recorded at Nightmare Weekend Chicago) In this episode of Conversations That Count, host David Shaft interviews cosplay icon Ashlynne Dae, live from Nightmare Weekend Chicago by GalaxyCon. Ashlynne shares how she went from graduating at the top of her fashion class to leaving the traditional industry behind...

In this episode we talk with Corey and Katie about everything from stable business partnerships to holding ourselves accountable. These are both legends in the cosmetology industry. To learn more about Corey and Katie, please visit:  www.instagram.com/hairdustry msha.ke/hairdustryhost www.gofundme.com/f/empowering-change-in-cambodia-help-me-make-it-happen www.presleypoeandfriends.com

In this episode we talk about the value of networking and how to do it while properly building long term connections. Cathey does a great job outlining the way to grow your network while sustaining it. THIS IS ALSO THE RETURN OF CATHEY who is a STAPLE in our show!

In this episode we talk about finding our passion and not just a hobby. Oftentimes we never fully commit to anything because we are so afraid of failing that we never truly go all in. Candy has a superpower where when she does something she always commits to it fully. To learn more about Candy, please visit: @thebalaylama https://sunlightspro.com https://www.jamisonshaw.com

In this episode we talk about how important it is to understand where our time is going and how with a little bit of help we can make a lot of progress. Nicole does a great job helping her clients feel heard while still helping them understand where they can improve. We also talk about the 4 pillars of life; Health, Wealth, Relationship and Fulfillment. Nicole practices what she preaches so she's...

In this episode we discuss what it means to share your legacy in everything that you do. We also talk about how sometimes the biggest challenge is overcoming the fear of challenge.

In this episode we go over some of the best kept secrets by dating coaches around the world. The tips that we go over translate well into every industry. Jordan is a dating coach who helps men take meaningful control over their dating lives. He teaches men to become attractive, meet high quality women, and run healthy relationships.

This episode is all about remembering that there are endless opportunities out there and the importance of reminding ourselves of it. This is the last week we will not have a guest on the show for quite a while so take it in while you can.

In this episode we talk about the importance of the things we say to ourselves. We discuss how important talking to ourselves positively is. It is crucial that we are always speaking about life and love to ourselves no matter what. Always ask yourself, would I talk to the person I love the most like this?

In this episode we define success based on our Season 2 episodes so far. This episode is a success recap of previous episodes and how we need to plan our life around who we want to be. The takeaways are to start a vision board and then describe a perfect day in what you would consider your perfect life.

In this episode we talk about manifesting and growth. We go over challenging our belief systems as well as defining what is truly important to us in terms of success. Check out the Conversaytions Podcast as well! creators.spotify.com/pod/show/leon-jones19

In this episode we talk about how passions really do pay off. Stefano and his 2 partners are pursuing a passion that makes them truly happy while bringing car lovers from all around the world. We highlight the love of cars in Detroit outside of the major companies and instead what our cars mean to the people of our city. Stefano Troiani, owner of Modded Detroit. Stefano is one of the owners in the...