The Brief Dive

In this episode of The Brief Dive, I sit down with Nuhamin and Mariamawit, two George Mason University students who serve on the Executive Board of the Ethiopian & Eritrean Student Association (EESA). We get real about what it feels like to lose your culture in college, how to stay grounded in your identity, and what keeps us connected to our roots when everything around us is pulling us in a...

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Simon, an Ethiopian model, fashion content creator, streamer, and college student to talk about creativity from a personal angle. Michael talks about his relationship with fashion, how it shapes his confidence, the way it influences how he shows up creatively, and what it’s like to build a personal brand while still balancing real life. Throughout the epis...

At 20 years old, Filimon is learning the real cost of ambition—the long hours, the isolation, and the changes that naturally happen in relationships when you’re focused on growing. In this solo episode, he opens up about losing friends, feeling distant from close ones, and facing doubt during the slow, quiet seasons of self-improvement. This is the side of ambition most people never mention: outgr...

At just 20 years old, Filimon has spent 23,124 hours podcasting, creating, experimenting, failing, and learning what it truly means to build something from the ground up. In this solo episode, he reflects on the creative highs, the mental lows, and the quiet lessons that shaped his voice on and off the mic. It’s a look at time, purpose, and chasing a dream before the world tells you how it should...

THE OBSESSION BEHIND CREATION | JusCallMeShoots on Art, Culture & IdentityIn this episode, we dive into the mind of Yonáthan, an Ethiopian creative whose work spans photography, directing, and magazine contributions for Reebok, Ralph Lauren, Telfar, and artists like Summer Walker and Smino. At just 23, Yoni has already made waves globally, but what truly sets him apart is how he weaves culture...

TikToker Reveals Why AUTHENTICITY Is DYING in a World Obsessed With PERFECTION In this episode, we dig into what it really means to be authentic in a world obsessed with filters and curated feeds, exploring why genuine connection feels so rare and why staying true to yourself matters more than ever. I’m joined by Solania, an Ethiopian TikToker from the DMV with over 65,000 followers, known for her...

In this episode, I sit down with my cousin Zebilon to unpack a question that’s been stirring up group chats: princess treatment OR the bare minimum???But before we get deep, we spiral into a hilarious side convo — from whether getting carried out of a burning building by a firefighter man would bruise our egos… to if using an umbrella makes you less of a man. Then we dive into the nitty-gritty of...

Habesha Red Flags EXPOSED – Are You Guilty? In this episode, I sit down with my cousin Kerubel to go through some hilarious — and sometimes painfully accurate — Habesha red flags. What starts as quick-fire takes on dating quirks and cultural pet peeves quickly spirals into a bigger conversation — from family expectations, to what makes a relationship “acceptable” in Habesha culture, to the unspoke...

Would Your Parents Approve This Marriage? | Ethiopian Reddits (The COUSIN CHRONICLES)In this episode, I sit down with my cousins Remy and Zebilon to dive into some WILD Ethiopian Reddit posts about dating, relationships, and culture. What starts as a story about a 27-year-old Ethiopian woman and a 22-year-old American guy quickly spirals into a bigger conversation — from whether wanting to meet hi...

WILD Confessions My Cousins NEVER Admitted Until Now! (The COUSIN CHRONICLES)In this episode, I sit down with my cousins Zebilon, Kerubel, and Mathias to talk about what it’s really like to grow up together but slowly grow apart. What starts as a trip down memory lane with funny childhood stories turns into an honest conversation about the changes we’ve been through, what we missed out on growing...

What It's REALLY Like To Be A Habesha Man In Todays World In this episode, I sit down with Mikias, a psychology student at George Mason University, to talk about what it really feels like to be a Habesha man today. What starts as a conversation about mental health turns into an honest discussion about the pressure to always be strong, where that pressure comes from, and how we’ve learned to hi...

Don't watch if you're not inSUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN ON:SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cPd9uVZqjmEmM9VF0zuGg?si=ef2246bd89c34b4APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brief-dive/id1551664039ADD ME ON:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thebriefdive?igsh=cm5iaWEyazRvMnpySNAPCHAT: https:...

Community College vs. Prestigious CollegeIn this episode, we get real about college, comparison, and chasing success with Yeabsera, a computer science student at Vanderbilt, and Abdullah, an IT student at Northern Virginia Community College. We break down the hype around "prestigious" schools, what it’s like navigating college as kids of immigrants, and why your path doesn’t have to look like anyo...

Neuroscience Student EXPOSES the Raw TRUTH About Discipline and Growth ---In this episode, we explore what it truly takes to become the person you once dreamed of with Yabsera, a neuroscience student, content creator, and older sister who has built a life rooted in discipline, healing, and intentionality. We talk about growing up with immigrant expectations, the pressure to be a role model, and th...

Feeling Guilty While Relaxing? Do Friends Replace Therapy? Marvel vs. DC?In this episode, I sit down with the guys to talk about whether friends can replace therapy, why relaxing sometimes feels wrong, and who we’d take in a Marvel vs. DC showdown. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1Quick note: There was a mic issue on my end during this...

Would You Pick Love, Fear, Money, or Power? SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN ON:SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cPd9uVZqjmEmM9VF0zuGg?si=ef2246bd89c34b4APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brief-dive/id1551664039ADD ME ON:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thebriefdive?igsh=cm5iaWEyazRvMnpySNAPCHAT...

WOULD YOU RATHER...? | Debating Life’s Dumbest Questions (ft. Davis & Kibret) SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN ON:SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cPd9uVZqjmEmM9VF0zuGg?si=ef2246bd89c34b4APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brief-dive/id1551664039ADD ME ON:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/theb...

College Life vs High School Life – The Truth No One Tells You In this episode, I sit down with Davis and Kibret to discuss life after high school and how it compares to our college experiences. Quick note: There was a mic issue on my end during this recording, so my audio isn’t as clean as usual. My guest’s audio is clear, and the convo was too good not to share—thanks for sticking with it! SUBSCR...

The Gym Can’t Heal Your Soul — An Athlete Opens Up About Body Dysmorphia, Mental Health, and Faith. In this raw and vulnerable episode, we sit down with Jadon — a Christian, African American college student studying kinesiology, former football player, and aspiring fitness influencer — to dive into the untold side of fitness culture: body dysmorphia, spiritual and mental health, confidence, and wh...

How To INSTANTLY Smell Good ALL DAY As A Guy (The Ultimate Hygiene Guide)In this episode, we explore the stigma surrounding men and hygiene, especially within immigrant households, and how it impacts self-image, confidence, and first impressions with Sirak, an Eritrean hygiene advocate, fitness enthusiast, and mechanical engineering college student. He’s a long-time friend who has been alongside m...

What no one tells you about mental health & ethiopian immigrant parents — In this episode, we dive into high expectations and comparisons from parents, the culture clash between America and Ethiopia, and the impact of generational trauma with Freweyni, a trauma informed Youth Advocacy Specialist for survivors of sexual abuse and gender-based violence. She works with Black immigrant and youth s...

In this episode, we discuss handling criticism in high school while working on ourselves. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1 Val Maddox: https://on.soundcloud.com/pQmKnCf85PiqLdEM8 (Just a quick heads-up: some of the lyrics or themes might not fully match the tone of our channel discussions. Listener discretion is advised.) LISTEN ON: S...

In this episode, we discuss what they don't tell you when trying to build your own brand and business as a teen. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1 Val Maddox: https://on.soundcloud.com/pQmKnCf85PiqLdEM8 (Just a quick heads-up: some of the lyrics or themes might not fully match the tone of our channel discussions. Listener discretion is...

In this episode, we explore the impact of perspective, how God's way reshapes our outlook, and what guided us in viewing things differently during times of anxiety. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cPd9uVZqjmEmM9VF0zuGg?si=ef2246bd89c34b4 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...

In this episode, we discuss patience in our spiritual life, the dangers of starting things prematurely, and what helped us with the waiting. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: https://www.youtube.com/@thebriefdivepodcast/videos?sub_confirmation=1 LISTEN ON: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cPd9uVZqjmEmM9VF0zuGg?si=ef2246bd89c34b4 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brief-dive/i...