The Creative Lotus Podcast hosted by Allen Zaki

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's final episode of Season 4, I sit down and talk with choreographer, dancer and movement director, JM RODRIGUEZ . JM shares about his struggles with going to school for academics and making the decision to change careers and move back to LA and go into a career in dance. He's found a sense of belonging in building community in the dance world and bring...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with actor KELTON DUMONT. Kelton shares about his struggles with becoming an actor in high school, landing a role on a hit TV show ( The Righteous Gemstones ), navigating the worlds of acting and school, while trying to maintain some sense of normalcy. Kelton's wisdom and passion to create art and value, while still coming...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with actor DAVID HALEY . David shares about his struggles with becoming an actor in college, not by choice, trying to make it in "Hollywood" and the daily grind of being a working actor in Los Angeles. Haley's sense of humor shines on screen and in person, he's known for enjoying being roasted by friends and...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with actor, model and storyteller CHRISTOPHER LAMM . Christopher shares about his struggles with abusive relationships in the past, moving to the United States from Germany, and building an acting career based on storytelling. His journey of overcoming the most painful past to create a lotus blossoming life today. To check out...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with actor, producer and self-tape coach JAMES DUMONT. James shares about his struggles of coming up in New York, building an acting career. Finding success but giving up his family life. Realizing through his buddhist practice that he could transform his family's karma for the better, creating unity. To check out more of...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk creative with celebrity makeup artist AARON PAUL. Aaron shares about his struggles of moving to the OC from Kentucky, coming to LA for makeup artistry and finding his way into creating beautiful looks on female celebrity women of color. His eye for beauty and making his clients' skin glow has been at the foundation of his...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk creative with creative director, actor, producer and mode TAYLA FERNANDEZ. Tayla shares about her struggles of moving to LA from Boston, coming to LA for acting and modeling and finding her way into creative direction, in more recent years. She has been through ups and downs mentally, emotionally, financially and continues to...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk creative with dancer and plant base sushi chef YOKO HASEBE. Yoko shares about her struggles of moving to LA, losing her brother at a young age, struggling to fit into the professional dance scene in Los Angeles while being authentically herself. Hasebe shares about her transition from working in Japanese restaurants to becomin...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I'm standing in solidarity with the many writers, actors and supporters of the WGA & SAG-AFTRA Strike happening right now in Hollywood, CA. This week's episode was supposed to be with a well known actor, but to support him with the strike, we have decided to postpone his episode until later this season, when we hope new negotiations f...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk creative with photographer AARON JAY YOUNG . In this BONUS episode for Season 4, Young shares about his book " QUEEN " releasing later this year, and shares the process of how building an portfolio of portraits of drag queens and Drag Race superstars that came together to create this beautiful book of portraits from...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk creative with musical artist CALI FROM NEW YORK. Cali shares about her struggles of coming to LA during the COVID-19 pandemic and how she's been able to keep moving forward with a close group of artists she collaborates with. With a focus on her music artistry and modeling, Cali has been able to create a diamond like shini...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk creative with photographer EMMANUELLE YANG. Emmanuelle shares about her struggles of getting started in the photography industry and building a brand. Yang is motivated and determined to create value with the work she is doing, focused on film photography only and building the list of clientele that understands her vision and poin...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with TV writer PHIL WALKER. Phil shares about his struggles of impatience, writing for others, standing up for what is right (BLM protests) and how he's able to bring back his YOUTHFUL SPIRIT through the writing her creates for TV series, that include 'Monster High', 'Legends of Chamberlain Heights', 'T...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! Welcome to those of you just joining, and welcome back to those faithful followers. On today's episode I sit down and talk with photographer IAN SPANIER . Ian shares about his struggles of always wanting strive for more and working continuously to GET THE JOB DONE! Spanier has been in the photography community for many years, spanning the editorial world as a photo...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with celebrity makeup artist and Jamie Makeup founder JAMIE GREENBERG . Jamie shares about her struggles of starting out in makeup and working for free, but her work ethic is strong and a good attitude paired with determination, got her to where she is today. Greenberg's clients include Kaley Cuoco, Rashida Jones, Chelsea Handler,...

Hello Creative Lotus Family!     This week's episode is a quick look at all 11 episodes in Season 3. I can't thank you all enough for your support this year and to all my amazing guests this season. Filled with gratitude for all the time you've given me by watching and listening to The Creative Lotus Podcast.    We'll be back next week with the final episode, we'll see you...

Hello Creative Lotus Family!  On today's episode I sit down and talk with writer, director and producer KIERAN VALLA. Kieran shares about his struggles personal struggles and creative/money struggles. One of which was his father passing and  tapping into a new look at life and his darker-internal side. Valla is the co-writer/creator on FX's "Little Demon" an animated series that is both...

Hello Creative Lotus Family!  On today's episode I sit down and talk with rapper and musician HEARTTHROB ROBB (ROB.B). ROBB shares about his struggles of overcoming depression during COVID and moving forward with his music into 2023. ROB.B's drive and sense of self shows through in his sex-positive imagery and lyrical mastery. He's not afraid to spit lines that speak to his LGBTQ audience and...

Hello Creative Lotus Family!  On today's episode I sit down and talk with entertainer TEDDY MARTIN. Teddy shares his struggles of moving to Los Angeles from Ohio to pursue music and entertainment, to then move back to Ohio for personal family obstacles.  Although his career was on the rise in Los Angeles 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause (as did all of us) to his creative performan...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with actor TUKISE. Tukise shares his struggles coming to Los Angeles as a young South African actor and how his journey becoming a humanist has shaped his acting career. Tukise has worked on many TV shows and movies such as Marvel's The Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He has made...

Hello Creative Lotus Family!   On today's episode I sit down and talk with entrepreneur, chef and NY Times Bestselling author GABY DALKIN. Gaby shares about her start as a nanny turned personal chef for Jessica Simpson, among other stories. She took a chance on herself and went after what she wanted and created What's Gaby Cooking, the blog. Her incredible recipes have inspired women and...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with copywriter and creative SARAH BARREZUETA. Sarah shares about her struggles of moving to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career and creative dream, but through motherhood and the pandemic, she found her new path as a copywriter for women's health and wellness. She has now made it her mission to help and support women in the h...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with actor, writer, voice actor, singer and producer SUSAN DAMANTE. Susan shares about her battle with crohn's disease, being introduced to SGI Nichiren Buddhism when she arrived in Los Angeles, and how her career has taken flight in her later age. She is a multi-hyphenate creative with a confidence and sense of self on a  mi...

Hello Creative Lotus Family! On today's episode I sit down and talk with photographer JOSH FOGEL. Josh shares about his career struggles going from photo assistant to digital tech, to ultimately becoming lead photographer and how with hard work and rising to the occasion, his career has taken off. Also, "Don't Be A Dick" and you'll go a long way in this photo industry.  To check out more of J...

Hello Creative Lotus Family!   On today's episode I sit down and talk with writer, director and producer SIMBI HALL. Simbi shares her struggles in Hollywood, working as a producer on red-carpets for The Oscars®, the MTV Movie Awards, and as a female black writer/director trying to create change in "the industry." Hall speaks to her Buddhist practice as giving her the courage to Never Give Up....