The GOATs Podcast

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 4 the crew gets back together, after what’s been almost a year since our last recording to wrap up 2025. We recap our year as a podcast. From being nominated for Podcast of the year by Grand Rapids Hip Hop awards and being featured by Rapid Growth Media   as one of the “10 Grand Rapids podcasts that deliver big” as notable recognitions.  We catch up with our co-host Sophie,...

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 4 we chat with actor, writer, producer and comedian, Brianna Blackburn aka Funny Girl Bri . From wanting to be a police officer, influenced by her grandmother to her comedic influences of Bernie Mac & Bill Bellamy we start the episode diving into her comic roots. We chat about her first comedy performance to getting her first paid gig just 2-3 months later.  We chat abou...

THE IN-HOUSE SERIES : Part Four.  The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..  In EPISODE 1 of SEASON 4 we chat with Writer, Speaker, Director, Actor, Photographer & our very own podcast co-host George Ward . We start the episode, and to much of a surprise to the rest of the cast & crew, dive into George’s first c...

THE IN-HOUSE SERIES : Part Three.  The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..  In EPISODE 7 of SEASON 3 we chat with Photographer, Painter, Model & our very own podcast co-host Sophie "tender" Rodriguez . We start the episode off recapping our year and sharing some of our favorite podcast moments, memories...

In EPISODE 6 of SEASON 3 we chat with Terrell ‘SCOOB’ Foy , a Multimedia Artist specializing in painting, shoe customization & artist curation . We chat about his initial art inspiration from family, stepping away & back into art, his back injury and Custom Steppers, his shoe customization business. He takes us through his favorite shoes to customize, paintings to-date, and the effects of...

In EPISODE 5 of SEASON 3 we chat with James White an all-around creative. His talents and expertise consist of rapping, graphic design, acting, photography, videography and social media influencing. We chat with him about his journey from being a hip-hop artist to being a social media influence. His journey goes from working in a factory to touring for music to shifting during the Pandemic to soci...

In EPISODE 4 of SEASON 3 we chat with Alisha "Lisha B" Brown , a Radio Personality, MC, Podcaster, and Actress . We chat with her about journey into radio from how she got hired to what she thinks is missing, the art of an interview, her interview with the Vice President (now presidential candidate) Kamala Harris , her top 5 favorite/most memorable interviews, the importance of life outs...

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 3 we chat with Darline Rodriguez, a photographer, social media strategist & educational disrupter. We chat about her creative journey in photography & social media strategizing, her signature photography style & look, and educational disrupting. We also dive into the Grand Rapids art scene, culture and practices, advocacy for the local artist, licensing, copyrigh...

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 3 we chat with Cindy Meyers Foley, the Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum . We chat about her journey to becoming an Art Museum Director,  the history of Art Museums, Thinking like an Artist, Losing Creativity, the catalyst that is Boredom & regaining our Wonder & Curiosity, the power of Play and importance of an Artist Council. Lastly we chat about the...

In EPISODE 1 of SEASON 3 we chat with Creative Director, Digital Artist and DJ Asia Horne about starting out as a graphic designer, grooving into DJ'ing, transiting from Atlanta back to Michigan, the DJ scene in the city, Black Women Femininity, the power of "seeing is believing," black creativity in Grand Rapids, and gatekeeping. Lastly we play a fun "name the first thing that...

INTRODUCING our mini-series entitled: THE IN-HOUSE SERIES : Part Two . The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..  In EPISODE 7 of SEASON 2 we chat with Dancer, Photographer and Ministry Leader, our very own podcast photographer Mary Partee . We give her her flowers (literally) and chat with her about dance, transition f...

INTRODUCING our mini-series entitled: THE IN-HOUSE SERIES : Part One. The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success..  In EPISODE 6 of SEASON 2 we chat with Filmmaker, Breakdancer, Muralist, Graphic Designer and our very own podcast  Producer, Dave Benoit on his creative journey as a Muti-hyphenate. We give him his flowers (l...

In EPISODE 5 of SEASON 2 we chat with Graphic Designer, Painter,  Muralist, and Musician Esan Sommersell about his creative journey from getting into the arts via inspiration from his brother, family matters and the creative life as a husband and father while fostering the creative freedom of his children, artist communities and the importance of them. Lastly wrapping up talk about his show coming...

In EPISODE 4 of SEASON 2 we chat with Kristin Zuller about her creative journey from being a tap, jazz & ballet dancer in grade-school to being a multi-disciplinary artist consisting of Illustration, Murals, & Graphic Design.  We get into chatting about her kids being creatives in their own right, still figuring out what she wants to say with her personal artwork, being ok having a “see wh...

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 2 the cast starts the episode sharing their April highlights, updates & some encouraging stats.   They dive into artist & company responsibility and the importance of community surrounding the GLC Live at 20 Monroe mural contest. Link to article that our very own cast member Alfield was interviewed in — https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/arts-entertainment/grand-...

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 2 we chat with Guillermo ‘ASMA’ Sotelo about his journey as an artist, the importance and power of rest, creating for commodification, handling rejection and more. About Guillermo: Guillermo ‘ASMA’ Sotelo is a Chicano artist born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. ASMA’s art is a vibrant blend of his Mexican-American culture, fatherhood and his passion for graffiti and public a...

In our SEASON 2 debut we chat with creative Tanasia Najae about what she is up to with Impermanence Magazine , Fashion in relation to identity & freedom, creating excellence again, the tension between idea & execution and the feelings that come with going from artist to becoming the art. About Tanasia |  Tanasia Najae is a 24-year-old writer, stylist and artist living in London, England. ...

In EPISODE 5  we chat with Monroe   about his upbringing in New York, transition to West Michigan and his creative hardships, artistic responsibility and acclaim. About Monroe: Monroe A. O’Bryant, known as Akibang, is a self-taught Grand Rapids photographer, producer, and videographer. As the owner of the production company, A Fearless Brother Project, Akibang seeks to engage people in conversatio...

In EPISODE 4  we chat with Octavia Ink on how our upbringings, adulthood & current communities  have impacted and influences our creativity and art journeys. About Octavia: Octavia Ink is an illustrator, printmaker, and graphic designer originally from Chicago, now based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She believes in art as a form of expression, using her art to represent those who are underrepres...

In EPISODE 3 we chat with our first (but definitely not last 👀) guest, local mixed-media artist Medra Stoner about mental health & the arts.  About Medra: Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, East Africa, Medra is an enthusiastic creative who strives to make an impact with her multimedia art. Her art varies from graphite portraits, pen crosshatch, oil and acrylic paintings, as well as mixed media w...

After a 4 year hiatus we’re backkkkk! The GOATs are back together again. In our return episode we reintroduce ourselves, chat about the impacts that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on us and our art. Lastly we quickly hit (pun not intended) on the Emmys & what we’re excited for this year! About : Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat abou...

We introduce you to who the GOATs are, how we all met and got our respective nicknames. We also dive into what creative intelligence is and how we all got into photography as well. About : Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives. GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram , Facebook , Youtube &...