What If Your Purpose Starts With One Meal

We sit down with Kameron Kendrick aka Mr. Feed Tha Block and trace how a barbershop connection turned into real community ties and real support. We talk through the grind of building Feed Tha Block from small sandwich runs to bigger collaborations while staying honest about mental health, consistency, and showing up for your people. 

• childhood discipline stories and how they stick with you 
• how the barbershop builds trust and long friendships 
• hair journeys, dreads upkeep and the real cost of maintenance 
• cutting hair during COVID as a hustle and why service work is hard 
• how Feed Tha Block started as Everybody Eats and evolved 
• first Fresno outreach drives from the back of a truck 
• building trust through donations, transparency and consistency 
• grief, setbacks and using faith to keep moving 
• men’s mental health, therapy mindsets and talking it out 
• reciprocity in friendships and scheduling time like an adult 
• collaborating with local businesses and learning from bigger orgs 
• advice for anyone who wants to give back: start now 

You can find Kam @feedthablock, or if you want to check out their website for all upcoming events, or if you just want to donate www.feedthablock.org. you can contact them at contact at feedthablock.org

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Intro Music by Rockstar Turtle- Broke Boyz (999)
Christmas Intro Song by Nico

Transcript

old Open And Wild Childhood Memories

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Bro, I'm telling you that forearm muscle. This thing's heavy. This thing got some weight, so we we joke about that all the time.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Like, hey, if you ever get in a fight and you see a motherfucker pull this out, dude, when we're live, we always talk about that. Like, this is a good weapon.

SPEAKER_02 0:11

Hell yeah. I mean you gotta hold it from the grip. This is a big power.

SPEAKER_01 0:18

Before before, I didn't have the grip, so you just had the wall. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:21

Even until this day, I'll still hold it like this. Just because it just feels a little bit easier for me. That's a natural.

SPEAKER_02 0:27

Oh yeah, I do look at it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 0:33

I'm telling you, that's a ten pounder? Five pounder? Two pounders.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Imagine holding a five-pounder. Right? You'd be like, ah, it's five pounds. I can handle that. I've been holding it for a while.

SPEAKER_03 0:54

I remember my dad used to talk about that type of shit. He's like, back in my days, he's like, our punishment, you get a stack of books, and you gotta hold that. Hold it. Take that over the belt. Honestly, yeah. I'd rather get a workout than a belt whooping. I'm telling you, bro, that belt was some wall hits and uh letter strap go into your behind. Don't let a miss and hit your back, bro.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

That's the worst punishment that I've ever had was when mom, when I would do some fucked up shit, she'd get rice, uncooked rice, put it on the floor. She'll be like, get on your knees, and she'll bring a rock. She was like, You gotta hold it over your head. It's like until you learn your your punishment, you cannot move. Bro, and then I would remember I would get like cut up like real fucking bad. Or sometimes like it's like deep into your skin.

SPEAKER_03 1:40

Hmm.

unknown 1:41

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 1:42

I have never heard of that. Yeah, I've never heard of that.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

I think the worst whooping I got is when my dad physically put hands on me. Yeah. Dead ass. I was bro, I was, I think I was in I was in fifth grade. Yeah. Literally in fifth grade. I and all it was, it was low-key his fault. He was late to picking me up from school. Oh bro. So I'm like, okay, he's late. You know, I got some time, I'm gonna kick it. My homeboy, he stayed right literally right across the street. You exit the school gate across the street, his house is right there. Right. Literally, as soon as I cross the street, his truck pulled up. And you know, you know my dad. Yeah, I know how he is. Like my dad is probably the sweetest guy, but like once he has that game face, like it's over, you know, you know it's over there for you. Yeah, basically, him and my mom in the car, he looked back, he said, Where were you going? So across the street. He said, and where were you supposed to be?

SPEAKER_03 2:30

I hate that sentence, bro.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

I hate that fucking sentence, bro. I knew I was cooking, I knew I was cooking. So he turned, he turned back around, unclipped his seatbelt, came back, all I seen was full hands flying, bro. I said, Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

I ain't gonna lie to you, bro. I feel like we live the same life because I had the same shit happen to me, bro. I remember one time I I uh I was sick, bro. My dad had to pick me up from school. Brother, he was so pissed off. I was genuinely sick. Like, I was not feeling good having a fever and shit. He's like, You ain't fucking sick. You look fine. And I'm like, I don't feel good. And the entire time he's like having a call, my mom, he's frustrated and shit. I get home, bro. How you get grounded for having a fever? I would say, take my temp, bro. Like, my mom had to come home uh later that day and she took my temperature and I was actually sick, but I'm still grounded.

SPEAKER_01 3:20

He was like, That's what's Hispanic shit, bro. I remember mama would punish me for being sick, and I was like, And it's like I can't help you.

SPEAKER_02 3:27

Yeah, so you're gonna make me take off work to come get your sick ass? Right, right. Both gonna be hurt.

SPEAKER_03 3:32

Nah, my bruh, it's one thing, it's it's it's something crazy. The idea of like being a kid and then having a full-grown adult throwing hands at you, bro. That that's a I know that feeling, bro. I know that feeling, but and then having to go home and then act like everything was cool, everybody just chopping it up.

SPEAKER_01 3:49

That's what I that's the one thing I hated, bro. Cause I used to get into physical altercations with my dad. Yeah, because he was an abusive alcoholic. Right. We would get into it like throwing hands. I'd I would be a kid, I would be like 13 throwing hands with a grown man. But yeah, well, and uh his punch, obviously, his punch is hurt, like mine ain't gonna do shit, but um that's very early age. That's how I young I learned how to run fades and handle this fucking hits.

SPEAKER_03 4:13

Um, but dude, it's if you can run a fade with a grown man and no other man the same age as you can't turn down, you can't turn it down.

SPEAKER_02 4:19

You can't turn none of us down.

SPEAKER_03 4:20

You can't turn down the fade, bro. I'm telling you. I owed I remember the first time my dad punched me in my chest, bro. I was 11 years old, bro. And that feeling was like I felt like my soul left my body. Like it wasn't just like no light, like it was a full force punch, bro. Well that's especially if you're a skinnier kid, like bro, I was 85 pounds, literally feeling all of that.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

Damn, I did either the size of one of my legs.

SPEAKER_03 4:44

I was yeah, yeah. Bro, I genuinely remember being in the fifth grade, I was 85 pounds, and in the sixth grade, I went to 92 pounds because in the fifth grade, I was um I did wrestling in fifth grade, and that's what they weighed me at. I was like one of the lightest kids there. There was only one other kid that was 87, yeah. Extra feather with the extra feather with the way. What grade did you say that was? Fifth grade. Fifth grade, okay. I was some light shit back then, bro. Right. I was complete opposite. You was heavy set?

SPEAKER_02 5:10

It was bad.

SPEAKER_03 5:11

I mean, honestly, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

I remember even when you were younger, you're a little chunky, man. But I think my heaviest, I was, I still remember clocking in. It was sophomore year. Yeah. That's when I had my reality check. I was weighed in. I got my physical, I was 5'1, uh-huh, 217 pounds.

SPEAKER_03 5:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

Yeah. It was rough. So I was just like short and compacted. It was it was rough. I was basically a little smaller. He was swole, bro. I was not. He was he was he was swole in. Swole in. Swole in. Basically, basically, yeah. Yeah. But yeah, it was rough. That was my reality check right there. Yeah. I was like, bro, I I probably had the worst, those were the worst years of my life, like middle school through all of high school, all of high school. All of it? Like, probably like my senior, my senior year, my junior, senior year, probably the best years of high school. It's because I, you know, I got my click, I kind of like learned myself a little bit more. I got a little bit of confidence, you know. Yeah. But like, you know, freshman sophomore year, you struggled. It was a struggle. It was a struggle.

SPEAKER_03 6:08

I'm telling you, I think we all had that glow up that as soon as junior year hit, like towards the middle or the end of junior year, that's when you're like, okay, I know who I am, I know who I want to be. Because I did the same thing, bro. My freshman and sophomore year, chopped. Listen, you if anybody finds a picture of me for my freshman and sophomore year, burn that mic. Send it to me. I'll probably, I probably gotta say, I gotta memory book to it. Bro, because it is bad, brother. I mean, I had the ways, the waves was dipping, but like my waves, my fit wasn't it, bro. The outfits wasn't it.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Like, I just felt like we were in the same hoodie, bro. But you were dressed like a rapper though, the whole time. You did 2016. Junior and senior year, yeah. I remember junior and senior year.

SPEAKER_03 6:47

Freshman and softbury. You were always with like the freshest. I looked homeless freshman and softball.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

Were you like Diamond Supply Co?

SPEAKER_03 6:52

No, no, no, I was like hand me down for my brother and like the same, the same light gray, no name sweater for like every day of the week, type shit. Like I'd be lucky if I didn't wear the same outfit two times in the same week, type shit. Like there was no sweat, there's no aura. That's me with my jeans. I'm telling you, I'm telling you, it was like that. But junior year, towards the middle of junior year, that's when I had again I found my click and I was like, okay, I know my homies now. I'm being known more, and I'm like, okay, I got a fresh pair of Air Force ones for Christmas. Like, I'm about to come back stun. Let me put together some fakes and whatnot. I got my first. I got my uh white or black. Man, listen.

SPEAKER_02 7:34

I told you everything I needed to know.

SPEAKER_03 7:37

And uh I got my other ear pierced, and back then that's when I actually, these are the same earrings I've had since high school, my uh my gold 14k crowns, bro. And uh senior year was different. That's when I got the Lamborghini backpack, the all-white Lambo backpack. I wanted to be so different. I was like, listen, y'all got them Nike bags, then they had the um The Supreme bags, the Supreme bags, and then what was that one with the it was just the main flap on the top with the little belt buckle on it? Uh fuck, I'm blanking out. I know what you're talking about. I'm blanking the fuck out. It's not the North Face one? No, not Norface. It was like um, I forget the brand, bro, but I just remember seeing everybody with those, and I was like, nah, it gave me so much nostalgia.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Remember the girls with the bags? Bro, yeah, just the one-strap bags.

SPEAKER_03 8:20

The shit was crazy back in the days, bro. The swag was just different. And then I got that Lambo backpack. I felt like I was him, bro, because I had the Coke White Air Force ones, the white backpack, like, and back then nobody knew. Like, I was about cars like that. I was I was tough in the cars, but when I brought that backpack out, everybody was like, What the fuck? They didn't know about that. That was that real deal, Holyfield, brother. And then that's when I started getting my swag up some more. The waves was really dipping. The dad was hooking me up with them haircuts every other week, and I just felt like I was him. Like I finally got my I had my first actual girlfriend my junior year. Uh, and that just that made me turn my whole life upside down, bro. I started hitting the gym with my dad. I started the first lady to do it to you. Bro, yeah, yeah. That first one to do it to you because the competition you had back in high school, think about it, like it's one thing as an adult, because your competition is like maybe the people your partner goes to uh work with or people they see on the streets, or if they're whatever the case may be. But like in school, you're going to school with like 500 other motherfuckers. Yeah, they see in the competition walking around. You better be on top of your game the entire time. Because if not, nigga, y'all shit getting swooped, bro. Shit, let alone you miss a day at school. Uh it's over.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Yeah, your girl swooped up. Your relationship gone. Gone.

SPEAKER_02 9:45

You go about to go back next period. It's over with.

SPEAKER_03 9:47

You come back to school. Bro, your girl was gone yesterday and P.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

We seen her with the girl was chuckling after this dude.

SPEAKER_03 9:53

Chasing and cuddled up with that nigga during the rally. Listen, if y'all got PTSD.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

It was a little too personal. Real trick, real shit, bro. Do you know how many rallies we didn't have? Because you know at Central how they had it broken down. It's like uh freshman, sophomore, junior guys. But I still remember that my class got released. I think it was after my it was it was my crush at the time. Yeah, our class got released afterwards. My class was all the way in the back, it was all the way by my main offices. Yeah, yeah. And then she was already at the gym, so she already got the good seats, but when I tell you, when I seen her cuddle, like not even cuddle, though, I just seen her in the group with all the basketball players. I said, I was stuck after that. I was like, Yeah, I'm cool. I'm just gonna go back in my little corner, brother. No, but I mean, throughout high school, I had no type of game, I had no type of confidence in the game.

SPEAKER_03 10:47

I'm right there with you, bro.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

I wasn't right there with you no type of way, really.

SPEAKER_03 10:51

But I'm not gonna lie to you. I had a I had a situation in chemistry class, bro. I had a crush on this girl, bro. One of the baddest of the baddest, bro. And this was somebody like, even though all the homies was like, bro, she's so bad, but nobody wanted to go up to her or ask her or nothing like that because everybody felt like she was out of their league. And uh, I remember in chemistry class, she gave me her number, and I'm just like, I didn't know what to do with it. Like, I froze up. She's like, Oh, can I see your phone? I was like, sure. Back then, everybody had the iPhone 6s, the the 5S, whatever. Brother, I had a Galaxy S3. Oh Lord, that was the same phone. Bro, I had a galaxy, and that's building it out the trenches. Listen, it was rough back then, bro. I had that big ass, it wasn't even an Otter Box case. I forgot what brand it was, but it's a thick motherfucker, bro. Android with an Otter Box crazy combo.

SPEAKER_00 11:40

Boy, that whole book.

SPEAKER_02 11:41

I know what you're talking about. That's a web. That's a weapon.

SPEAKER_03 11:49

It's the only way if you drop that phone, the battery don't come out is if you got a thick ass case, bro.

SPEAKER_01 11:53

Oh, my battery popped up. Hold on.

SPEAKER_03 11:55

Bro, it was bad. She she she asked for my phone and she put her number in it, and I'm like, Oh, okay. Like, what the fuck am I supposed to do now? Like, what do I say after that? Uh, I didn't hit her up for like a whole week, a week and a half. I was just contemplating, what the fuck do I even say to her? Like, why did she put her her number in my phone? Bro, she that bro, the play was right there in front of me. The playbook was right there. She gave you to get she gave you the play. I didn't have to do nothing. She brought it there, and I'm still.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

TJ just said, uh, next page.

SPEAKER_03 12:25

I'm like, question, like bro. Your brain looked like we'll run the next play, brother. I I was struggling. I kid you not, I was struggling.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

She gave the opportunity for the ISO play, and you said, bro, I'll wait after that.

SPEAKER_03 12:38

Forfeit the game, bro. I forfeit, bro. Didn't know what I was doing back. Turned over the ball.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

You gave me a waiting on that text, bro.

SPEAKER_03 12:46

I'm fucking let's go ahead. Let's go. She came back though. She came back though.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

She came back. Right. Let's go ahead. Let's uh run this intro. This has been uh interesting conversation.

SPEAKER_05 13:02

We done broke boys on the way on the missions under the won't catch the lag and we that goes, we fly the car, we butterfly up to the sky. No way you catch in a good box.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of The Broke Boys. I'm Martin. I'm DJ. What to the feet the block? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. No, you good. We're so into the conversation. I forgot to give the the whole instructions, but you're good. Please introduce yourselves. I know I interrupted mid conversation.

SPEAKER_02 13:35

What's going on, y'all? It's your boy, Mr. Cameron Kendrick, aka Mr. Feet the Block. Absolutely.

arbershop Roots And Old Bonds

SPEAKER_01 13:41

Thank you for coming out here, bro. It's a pleasure having you, and thank you again for helping us uh do the whole being a part of your your charity event at Raisin Canes. Um, it was a special moment for all of us. Um, we appreciate it. Uh huge shout out to Never Trusted, they were there as well. Um, so you know, we're we were talking nostalgia right now, and um, please uh I want to know about you guys, your guys' like friendship or relationship. You know, you guys go way back. That's how uh it first initially started.

SPEAKER_03 14:10

Right. Shoot, back in the barber shop. The bar, yeah. Literally it was the barber shop. Our dads knew each other. Uh I don't know how my dad found out about your dad. I don't know how their situation was beforehand.

SPEAKER_02 14:21

He probably just walked into the barber shop and was just like way back when my dad's always been the type where it's like, hey, walk-in clients, hey, he tried hair fairs, anything to try to get bringing a new clientele.

SPEAKER_03 14:30

So actually, I think the first time I actually ran into your dad, uh, I got my hair cut in the seventh grade. Seventh going into the eighth grade. I had long braids, long braids. That was before the nugget. That was before the before the waves. That was before the waves, brother. And uh I had my dad had scheduled me a um an appointment to go and get my hair cut because I was real tender-headed when I was a kid. But my mom did cornrows. If anybody knows about mamas who do cornrows, they know they don't do it lightly, but they them little fingers, she was on my head tight. I'm talking headache. They would do it like it's a punishment. Yes, and uh like it'd be so bad I'd cry, bro. And so my dad was like, nah, we're cutting your hair. Your mom's not gonna keep doing this, you're not gonna keep three hours sitting in a chair getting your hair done. So we got it scheduled, and I'm pretty sure that was the first time I met your dad, it was seventh grade year. Chopped all my shit off, bro. Bald head. That was the first time my head felt wind.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

Like it was it was wild. But uh, you know about that when your hair, when you first get that first, when you when you got your first fro, you get it cut off, it's the worst feeling. It is the worst.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

Like it feels like all your aura is just gone, yeah, gone. And then uh after that, I think him, I think your dad and my dad ended up like becoming friends. We went on fishing trips together. Yep. Um, and then his dad was like my barber for like the next five years after that, four years, five years, something like that. You guys came to a couple shops. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we did.

SPEAKER_02 15:58

Yeah, my dad moved a couple shops, he was there for each one.

SPEAKER_03 16:01

Each one, bro. That like that was I was his most loyal customer, bro. He he knew how to I didn't have to go in there and tell him what I needed. He was just like hop in the chair, same cut every single time. He gave it crispy every single time. That's good, that's a good bond to have with your barber, man. Uh, I missed that dude. I ain't gonna lie, I need that cut back.

SPEAKER_02 16:18

Yeah, I'm about to say I've been saying barber for the last 23 years, man. Never switching up. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

That's right. Never switching up, man.

air Journeys And Dread Maintenance

SPEAKER_03 16:24

You think about cutting your hair, DJ? I have to restart the dreads, bro. The process, it was a learning process for me and my mom together. Like, I've never done dreads, but at the same time, like we made a few mistakes on the way. Um, little insight, and I'm gonna I'm gonna expose myself before anybody else do. So, not every dread is an equal size and width. So, like the fronts are very skinny, but if you look at the back, that's natural, no, it's big.

SPEAKER_02 16:51

Wait, my mush is the same way though. Is it dead ass, bro? Like, literally, if you look like right here, uh I have one strand that's mad skinny, and then like in the front, I have one that's mad thick. Okay. So it's like, I feel like I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 17:03

My so the way mine was supposed to be made, they were all supposed to be equal. But what happened was in the middle of the process, I was in a rush. And what I told her to do, I was like, hey, just combine two into one, just so that way we can speed up the process to get it done faster. Well, the next time I went to get my hair retwisted, I was like, okay, let's undo it and go back to the skinny twist. Yeah, well again, I'm in a rush again. I got places to be, and during that time it took about four or five hours to dred my hair, it took a minute, bro. Um, and so I was like, it's alright, just leave it, just leave the three in the back, you're good, don't worry about it, we'll take care of it next time. He never took care of it. And so it locked up. And so I got if you ever look on the back, I don't know if you can see it. They're fat, bro. Where is it? I can feel it. This one, you can compare the size to this one.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

Oh, okay. I see it.

unknown 17:52

I see it.

SPEAKER_03 17:53

When it gets bad and like really unravels, you really see it. But nah, uh, I didn't want to expose myself just in case anybody else looked at the back of my head and be like, hey, bruh, uh we caught you.

SPEAKER_02 18:02

Well, not intentionally, but I mean now, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:04

Yeah, hey, bro. But uh, and and that's that's probably the only thing. Also, like, like I said, my me and my mom, this is our first time doing it. My mom's never done like dreads before, she didn't know how to lock. Um, and even my own barber, my personal barber right now, he was just like giving me tips and tricks. And he's like, hey, bro, like go see my my my lock lady, like she'll get you hooked up. But I never follow through with it. Like, my mom does my hair for free, bro. You can't you can't beat that. You can't beat that. I get it. Bi-weekly, if you're going bi-weekly for a retwist, or maybe even once a month.

SPEAKER_02 18:38

But I don't think it's supposed to.

SPEAKER_03 18:39

I mean, you're not, you're not, you know, fast, yeah. It's not safe, no. Um, you're gonna go bulb before before your next retwist. For me, I do it bi-weekly, but it's not like an actual twist twist.

SPEAKER_02 18:51

Oh, so it's like a uh you're just putting it back in style. Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 18:56

Um, but if you're doing it like once a month, but that$100 at$150 every month, that's a that's a rough situation. Especially when I do some gratuity on it, and then you still gotta get your hair cut on top of that, yeah. Um, but yeah, I I thought about cutting my hair, but I I can't I can't go bold. I'm sorry. I can't do the waves no more.

SPEAKER_02 19:14

I still do. Honestly. Honestly, I probably got like another year left. Yeah, dead ass. Because for me, honestly, it was more of like a phase. Like you said, growing up the barber son, I went through every single hairstyle to be. Okay, so it's like this is kind of my last one to go through right now.

SPEAKER_03 19:28

So, what's gonna be like the OG setup? What's gonna be the one that just really does it for you?

SPEAKER_02 19:31

Probably just like a little, like a little mid-tape or a little throw. It's the easiest to maintain, yeah. You know, pick it out real quick, yeah, curl sponge, brush aside, I'm uh on the way. That is pretty real. I guess you gotta walk, you gotta spray it down, you gotta oil it.

SPEAKER_01 19:45

Yeah, you guys gotta take care of your hair, huh?

SPEAKER_02 19:47

Every every day is a process, yeah. What's your main for your hair?

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Man, wake up, brush it. That's it.

SPEAKER_02 19:54

That's the life. That's the life.

SPEAKER_01 19:56

But I was always like I only had a fade. In high school, I had the whole mohawk, the long tail. I had that, that was my my style. But when I graduated, I shaved it all off. I went straight with just the fade. Oh, yeah. And then it wasn't until I think when I started my new job as a truck driver, I was just like, I'm gonna let it grow out until I leave this job, and then I'll probably just chop it off too. Yeah, um, and this is the longest I have I've ever had it.

rying Barbering And Learning Fast

SPEAKER_02 20:23

Best thing about being on the road, you don't really have to care about getting haircut too often. True, true. Throw a cap on you good. Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

So speaking of different hairstyles and whatnot, have you ever thought about becoming a barber? Like, I mean, obviously being the barber's son.

SPEAKER_02 20:39

So, fun fact during COVID, I used to cut hair. Type shit. Yeah, bro. Okay. Things were closed down. I needed a hustle, I needed some bread. Yeah, so I'm like, you know, what skill can I capitalize on best than the one that you know I grew up with?

SPEAKER_03 20:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:53

You know, I asked my pops, um, he had me shadow him for a little bit. Uh, I was in the shop for a little bit, and then after a while, I was just kind of bringing my homeboys in, you know, just giving them little free cuts. And then that's when I kind of got my confidence a little bit more. I moved on, and I was doing like house cuts. I was cutting in the garage. I'm not gonna lie, I had some bad experiences. Like, don't get me wrong. I I I I jumped off the porch a little too early. Okay. As far as you know, moving away from my pops and him training, because you know, I felt I got that confidence a little too quick. Right. But you know, live and you learn, you get those experiences. Um it definitely made me realize that it's not something I'll do as a career. Right. You know, big respect to my pops for doing it. Being in the service industry is not easy. Oh, yeah. It's not easy. No, uh, having to, you know, deal with clientele, you know, having to really put them first is not a problem, but it's like, you know, doing that hand in hand 12 hours a day, six days a week, it's hard because you know, being a barber, you're you're a person's therapist, you know. So it's like you have to kind of take on a lot of different problems, a lot of different issues, you know, while still battling your own. So it's a it's definitely I give a lot of respect to my pops for that because it's not easy. It's not easy at all.

SPEAKER_03 22:01

Big respect to a lot of barbers out there, man. Y'all really are some therapists, bro. I don't know how many times I sat down and had a conversation with your dad during a haircut, and we talk about some deep shit. Deep shit, bro. Some deep shit. And I leave the barber shop like, I don't know. Who else I could talk to like that? Except my barber. You know what I'm saying? Probably my mom's, but like. Because they don't leave the shop. They don't leave the shop. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_02 22:21

Whenever you stay in that chair, stay in a chair. Type of thing. Yeah. Yep. Yep. But yeah, I respect that, man.

SPEAKER_03 22:26

That's a good hustle to have. I feel like learning how to cut hair is definitely a good essential to have. Because I mean, basically, you can cut your own hair whenever you need to. You would never be chopped again. Listen, if I knew how to cut, bro, I I had a bad experience when I actually moved to Clovis. My barber got locked up and I didn't have your dad's contact no more. And so I'm like, bro, I need a barber. I need a haircut. Like, I don't know anybody out here who's gonna cut my hair. And the thing about me is I'm not just gonna go walk into a uh your average barber shop and just ask for a haircut. I don't trust everybody with my hair, bro. My roommate at the time was like, bro, I cut my own hair, I got you. This man shaves his head down to a one. He don't style it, he don't do nothing crazy, he shaves it down to a one. No fade, no taper, no. All around. And so I'm thinking of it like, okay, he got the equipment. I can I can respect that. Okay, let me just I just need a haircut. I'm I can't be chopped for long, right? Brother, I kid you not. He did that. And I'm sitting here thinking about it. I'm trying to give myself the benefit of the doubt. Like, bro, it's not that bad. Like, don't worry about it. He do this shit all the time, brother. I looked in that mirror, bro. I damn near fucking cried, bro. My hair, my my hairline wasn't the problem. It was the fact that the fade just was it was everywhere. Like the blending wasn't there, bro.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

Like you had a fade up here, then the fade down here.

eed The Block Origin Story

SPEAKER_03 24:03

Yeah, bro. And I'm looking at myself like I gotta grow this shit out. And just and just thug, brother, I probably didn't go nowhere in public without a hat for like about another week. I don't know, hats and beanies were your favorite. Bro, even till this day? Till this day? Listen, when it comes to that haircut, if you see me rocking a hat or a beanie, it's bad. It's bad right now. These heavy has be saving my life. Shit. Hey man, telling you. But other than that. So talk about Feed the Block. Like, when did you first establish the idea of like, you know what? I want to give back to the community. Like, I I want to be that person to be able to make a difference.

SPEAKER_02 24:48

So it's funny, feed the block actually started off under a different entity. It was called first called Everybody Eats. My whole original concept of the whole brand was more of trying to, it wasn't even first giving back to the homeless. It was more trying to give game. Back during COVID, like I said, we're all locked down, we're all shut down. So it was like I didn't at the time I wanted something to do, you know. And I was reading a lot, I was, I was, I was listening to a lot of podcasts, like I was saying. So it was like my mind was always moving. I just always wanted to take the game I had and spread it, you know. I always felt like you know, knowledge was power, and I felt like that's one thing that we didn't have access to, you know. Um moving forward, once I started um going a little bit more into like the business side, trying to get like the the LOC, all that other stuff, because I was trying to I was trying to do clothing with it, I was trying to do a lot of stuff with it. Right um, learning the whole business side of me, you know, it was already the name was already copyrighted, I couldn't really do too much with it, so I had to change the brand. Right. Uh, once I changed the brand name, that's when I kind of changed like the whole mission of it, you know. I took the the game from it. Um I kind of realized for myself, it's like long or in the position that I'm in right now, at the age that I'm at right now, I'm like, I'm 19 years old. It's like as much as I want to spread game and knowledge, I'm still a baby myself. I still got a lot to learn, I still got a lot to experience. Right. So it's like, what can I do right now that can create an impact, but I can still learn and grow from it, you know. Exactly. So with Feed the Block, um the reason I went into it in the first place, um, I was always real big to giving back to the homeless, you know. You know, one thing a lot of people don't know is my parents were homeless at one point, you know. Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoom is where they stayed at for like for a minute, you know, until they got back on their feet, you know. So it's like I know what it's like. Well, me personally, I don't know what it's like, but it's like I know what it's like having loved ones in a position like that. Right. And I know, you know, in a position like that, you can't get out of it by yourself. So it's like I knew I didn't have all the resources I could, but I had enough to help. Yeah. So I think for me, it's like if I was in a position to help others, you know, why not take the resources I had and utilize them? Exactly. So it's like switching over from everybody eats to feed the block, it was like the whole transition of trying to, what can I do with this name that can still, you know, represent my mission. Right. You know, feeding the homeless is one thing I was always passionate about. So that's kind of what I went into.

SPEAKER_03 27:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

But yeah, that's kind of what the whole thing about feed the block. It was um, it started off with just trying to, you know, give game, give knowledge, you know, just increase the the worth of other people so they can they can feel better about themselves. But I found out, you know, what's a bet uh a better way I can do that, you know, in a deeper in a deeper meeting.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

So what was it like hosting your first event? Like what was it like going out there and really hosting that drive and just being like, all right, I gotta get out there and do it? Like, what did that feel like to you?

SPEAKER_02 27:34

Honestly, starting off, um, my first drive was 2021. And it was like it's nothing like what we're doing now. Right. Uh it literally started out the back of my dad's truck. Like we, it was me, my mom, and my sister. We stayed up uh just making sandwiches, we put some bags together, and then uh hopped in my dad's truck, and we just literally just drove around downtown Fresno and just passed out to who we could, you know. Yeah, um, right then and there, it wasn't really a big mission of I want to feed this many people, I want to create this big of an impact. I just wanted to help. Right. You know, so that's kind of what I did from that. Um, moving forward after a couple of events, that's when we started getting a lot more visibility with it. Right. We had a lot more people that wanted to help. Um, I didn't feel comfortable taking money because, like I said, I wasn't set up as a business. So it's like I wanted people to feel comfortable with the money that they're giving. I wanted them to know that the money that they're giving is actually creating an impact. Exactly. So it's like I say, you know, I won't take your money, but I'll take some food, I'll take some clothing. And then that's when I started taking donations. Um, so moving forward, uh going into 2023, uh, I started setting up my first website. Um, I got the I got my domain name for Feed the Block. And then that's when things kind of started going rolling again. Um, I was taking donations for like clothes, I was taking hygiene products, we're taking food, uh, just all type of stuff. And then from there, like I said, is getting in my dad's truck and just driving around seeing who we can help. Um, I think it was 2023, end of 2023 is when I took a little break. Um diving into personal, it's like I was getting out of my first relationship. And you know, getting getting out of a relationship, it was hard just because of the circumstances. It was a lot of I wouldn't call it trauma. Uh, because you know, we all go through it. You know, it's a it's a it's a life thing. Um it's like grief. It's a it's a lot of grief that I was going through. That's a perfect word. Um, so it was a lot of of regrouping I had to do with my mind. I kind of really had to figure out who my purpose was, you know, who who I was here, like what was my purpose here on this earth? Right, you know, right? Besides being in a relationship, besides doing the things I was doing, it's like what's the things that I love to do? And giving back was one of them. That was the biggest one. So going into 2024, I kind of revamped, uh, I started pushing myself out there a little bit more, and that's when I wanted to really show my consistency. So that's when every month we're boots on the ground, you know, either it feels big or small, whatever it is, we're passing out 10 meals or we're passing out 50 meals. You know, we're out there showing some love, you know. That was always the biggest goal is just show love. Um, but that's kind of been the biggest thing. Uh rolling into 2025, uh, that's when I was like, okay, I've showed, I've showed my consistency. I know I can hop in the truck and pass out some food. Right. I try to take it to a bigger scale. Yeah. That's why I started collaborating with other local businesses. Um, shout out to Trinity Gym. Uh, when they opened, they helped me um with my first like big, big drive. Uh, I was doing, I forgot which drive it was, um, but they helped me set up a donation box there. And that donation box, oh, it's my backpack drive. Right. Uh, we collected um probably like over 150 backpacks over there. Damn, man. Same thing with uh Tower Blends. So they're uh Asaib uhl uh place over downtown.

SPEAKER_01 30:43

Yeah, yeah.

onsistency Builds Momentum And Trust

SPEAKER_02 30:43

Same thing. They helped me collect over 100 backpacks of school supply. So it's like it was one of those things where showing that consistency, uh, it really paid back to me just because it's like in that sense of what I was gonna do next, how was I gonna get how was I gonna get these resources? It's like, you know, it kind of just worked out, it worked out, you know. So I definitely, you know, the biggest takeaway from that is like consistency is key. Yes. No matter if you don't have like a solid plan, you know, your solid next step is like as long as you're doing something, right? Boots on the ground and really trying to, you know, make something out of your purpose, it's like something you're gonna make something out of nothing.

SPEAKER_03 31:19

Do you feel like you fulfilled um that void of searching for like what your purpose was? I mean, you said you're you're you felt like your purpose was to give back. Do you feel like you've reached that means and you're just consistent, like staying consistent with it, or do you feel like there's more that you want to do?

SPEAKER_02 31:34

Uh I feel like there's still a lot more I want to do. Um like to be completely transparent with you guys, even after our Christmas, uh, the Christmas drive, it's like it was one of those things where I was like, okay, what am I gonna do next? You know, how am I gonna take all those momentum that I built up in this last year and make something better out of it? So it was like it was the same thing. It was a lot of that mental stress that I put myself out of. And then same thing, the car accident right after. It kind of was just a lot of these last couple weeks, it's been like that real mental barrier of like, what do I do? Yeah, you know, but uh I've been praying a lot. I'm real heavy on my face, so it was like it was one of those things where it's like I said, I just gotta get up and do something. You know, when you reached out to me again about the podcast, it was like like again, it was like one of those things where it's like, okay, this is my opportunity to do something, it's my opportunity to make something out of nothing because you know, for the past couple weeks, I've kind of just been dwelling in what I don't have, yeah, realizing that there's such a bigger blessing here. It's like, you know, us connecting here is a bigger blessing that you know is a part of a of my journey. Exactly. You know, yeah. So I definitely feel like there's a bigger purpose that um that I have for feed the block. I can't say that I figured it out yet, but you know, like I said, I'm still taking it one step at a time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:44

So and that's that's a great mindset to go into. Um, because when you don't have a clue, you don't know anything. Oh I'm I've been a strong believer that God is gonna test you, He's gonna put the obstacles in the way to be like, okay, I you see how much you've done now, let's take it up to the next level. How are you gonna stay faithful into your path? How are you gonna stay trust in the process? Most definitely. And that's just how that's how I see it because I've gone through that before. And I know that there's like fuck, you hit rock bottom after rock bottom, you're like, fuck, what else can come? And then you're just like, here's another thing. Right. Just like it gets piled up, and then you know, just stay strong, stay positive, and continue going and continue being consistent. Most definitely. Um, because I've I've learned from my own things and for everything that I've gone through. And there was a lot of times where you know, this last year, like I was telling the DJ, and I've I've opened up about it on my Thanksgiving special, it was the worst year that I had. I had so much going on personally, I had so much going on to deal with, and then still having to show up and give my alt for the platform, give it 120%. And you saw like we had to go do these live events and do all that stuff, and I still showed up because I wasn't gonna give up on myself.

SPEAKER_02 33:57

Right. And that's respect because like that's one thing I've been trying to do personally, is like, regardless of my feelings, I gotta show up. You know, one thing I've been real big upon um these last six months and going into this new year was trying to build a team around Feet the Block. Because I feel like um you guys know personally, it's like this is this is an army. This takes an army to risk.

SPEAKER_03 34:20

You know, bro.

SPEAKER_02 34:21

And right now, being a one-man army, I see how much I'm lacking. You know, I I try not to lean on my own, on my own self. That's why I rely on a lot of other people. You know, that's why I'm open about relying on other people because it's like we need we need each other.

SPEAKER_04 34:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 34:36

And it's like one of those things, like you said, about just showing up. One thing that I struggle with myself is my mental health, you know. And one of those things is like dwelling in my own mindset, feeling like I'm not good enough, feeling like okay, I've accomplished this much. What happens if I don't go above that? You know, so it kind of puts me in this rut of like, okay, maybe you don't need to do this, maybe do something else, maybe you need to just try something else. But then at the same time, it goes back to my consistency. It's like I've gone this far, why give up now? Exactly. You know, so it's like that's why I've been going into this new year with a lot stronger of a mindset. It's like, regardless of how I feel, right? You know, my purpose, my purpose, and my dreams are bigger than my temporary feelings right now. Yes, right. You know, going into the prep, like I was saying with bodybuilding, it's like I've had so many restrictions in this last two weeks to where it's like my mental, I've learned how to navigate through not having the things that I want right here in the moment. Yeah, you know, so it's like the same thing. It's like, okay, I might not have this gratitude of being happy about the position that I'm at, but it's like, okay, God has given me the blessing of being able to take what I have and build it into something greater. You know, I still have the chance to wake up this morning and build something out of what I have, you know, and that's what I've really been trying to go into this new year with. It's like every day is a blessing to become better. Exactly. You know, so I've just been really just trying to stay mindful, trying to slow down a little bit, you know, try not to do too much at once and just you know, take one step at a time.

SPEAKER_01 36:02

I get you, man. Like for me, like I when you were talking about your struggles mentally, like I deal with the same thing, um, which is why I I have been so ambitious. Like, that's where my drive comes, where I get almost obsessed with trying to figure out what's the next thing. Because if I feel like I'm stopping, I'm like, fuck, I'm not doing good. I'm I don't feel good enough. I feel like I'm lacking on everything. I feel that pressure and that mental, you go into that dark space in your head where you're just like, what the fuck am I doing with my life? Exactly. And I know I know that feeling, and that's why like I'm so hungry, I'm so driven, and I have that mental discipline. And sometimes it is hard. Sometimes like I know the people are like, dude, how the fuck do you function? And it's just because of that, because I don't want to have that fear of of like being stuck in my head in the in this dark space.

SPEAKER_02 36:50

Most definitely.

SPEAKER_01 36:52

And the one thing that I will say is be open about it. Talk about it. That helps so much that that it that all the stuff that you're holding in, it's you know, I've dealt with it for years where I just held it in and just continued going. And uh, I think opening up and finally talking about it to somebody, whether it's a therapist, whether it's family, whether it's just being just open with people, and I'm open with everybody because um therapy has showed me a way to be open. Um, before I used to be like, you know, I'll give great advice, I'll talk to people, but a lot of people wouldn't know what's going on with me. And um, and then I would just hold that in, and then eventually, you know, you lash out or something happens, you have a crash-out moment, whatever it is. Um, so my advice to that is just be open to anybody, anybody that you trust, your loved ones, whoever it is. If you meet somebody that you know and just met, just be open and and talking about your mental health is a key to ease that pain.

ental Health Talk And Showing Up

SPEAKER_03 37:50

And it helps a lot too if there's a mutual understanding between the person that you're you know explaining how you feel to um to be that safe place for them as well. I think it's it's like a guilty feeling when you do have that person event to if you don't ask them, like, hey, like what's going on in your life, if you don't listen to them or hear them out, then you're gonna be like, Well, why am I always coming to this person with my problems? But then like I'm not they're not reciprocating it, right? It's not mutual. It's not mutual at all. So it's uh it's very important to have that mutual understanding with that person, like, hey, this is a safe place that we can speak about what's going on, like no, no judgment, no nothing. Um just to really feel accepted and then understand, like, okay, like what I'm going through is not something that I have to go through alone. Yeah, but also speaking about it sometimes like in your head, it'll make sense. Sometimes in your head you'll believe your own delusions, or you'll be like, oh no, this this is the way it's this is the way the situation is because X, Y, and Z. But then when you speak about it out, like you really say it out loud, then you're like, Well, wait a minute, that doesn't make sense because X, Y, and Z. Sometimes you just need to say it out loud. Um, I think that that's been my biggest takeaway for the beginning of this year in general, um, is trying to relearn um how to pour back into people who have poured into me. Um, and just reciprocating that same respect. Cause just like he said, like in the past few years that I've known him, um it's been that he's always been there for us. Like, hey, what do you need? Like, what's going on with your life? We would have two, three hour long conversations on the phone, and we're just ranting, talking about certain things. But um, and I'll I'll I'll admit it, there are certain times where I was going through something for a minute, and I'm not asking him, checking in with him, like, hey, how are you doing? Like, I'm going through my situation, but how how's your mental sake being uh being held with? Um and I think that it's it's important because it helps strengthen the bond, it creates a good trust bond for that. Um, but also it just it helps out so much more. It helps out so much. So if you do have somebody that you could speak with in terms of your mental health, or even if you just need to experiment, maybe this is the conversation that needs to be had to try and take that step forward. And that goes for anybody, anybody listening, that goes for me personally, because I just had a phone call I had to talk with somebody yesterday about uh some pretty heavy stuff, and uh I'm starting the same cycle all back over again, trying to pour back into the same cup that people poured back into me.

SPEAKER_02 40:17

So and that's what's important and what a lot of people don't realize is that especially as men, we need that outlet. Oh yeah, it's like we need that therapy, and it's like what a lot of people don't get is that when they when they hear therapy, they think of that misconception. It's like I need to go to that doctor, I need to be diagnosed with something. No, we just need a common ear that really understands us, that that can hear us, and that can reciprocate that love back into us.

SPEAKER_03 40:39

So exactly.

SPEAKER_02 40:40

And I feel like that's one thing, like you were saying, is like one thing, one of my biggest goals is to pour back into the cups that poured into me. Because like I I feel guilty as hell knowing, like being straight up is like there's a lot of my close friendships like over time that I kind of I get so caught up in my own life that I forget to pour back into them. Yeah, you know, yeah, it's like okay, you got you got life, you got school, you got you got the nonprofit, you got whatever. And it's like I have I see my people supporting me, I see them love me, I see them showing me this love, but it's like, okay, why am I not taking that time, taking a step back from everything I'm doing, and then giving back and giving back. It's like, okay, I can show appreciation for the love that they're giving me, right? But why am I not showing that same love back?

SPEAKER_03 41:22

You know, it's so hard to create that initiative, bro. I and I'm the exact same way. I know exactly how you're feeling, bro. Because like I said, that's exactly what I was doing with them.

SPEAKER_01 41:29

And I think now just being as adults, it's hard for us to manage our time. Yeah, so even like scheduling it. That's one thing that I've I've learned is uh there's friends that I've known from high school, people that I've known for years, and they're like, bro, like let's hang out, let's hang out. And I'm just like, I'm booked and busy, but let's pick a day. And then I put it down on my calendar, and then whether it's hey, let's meet up, let's grab something drink, or hey, let's meet up, let's grab some by tea. Right, yeah. Just like that way, you know, like, okay, I have it scheduled, I don't have nothing worried about. And then even if it's just once a month or once every three months, whatever it is, that is enough to show them to show anybody, like, hey, I'm still here. Yeah, yeah, I am still here. I'm so sorry that I'm so busy, but I'm still making time for you.

SPEAKER_03 42:13

Right, right. Absolutely. I think my biggest struggle with that is the fact that like you got so many friend groups, bro, and it's hard to be able to be everywhere. Like that's true. We we tend to as a busy person, you tend to prioritize whatever makes the most sense to you, whatever is most important to you, obviously, you're gonna make time for. But it doesn't mean that the people that you're friends with or you're close with aren't worth that time. It's just hey, sometimes things get overwhelming, and then you don't even have time for yourself sometimes. Um, I think even just a quick message, just letting people know, just being like, hey, listen, I've been busy with X, Y, and Z, but just I want to do something, let's figure something out for like next month and next two months, go somewhere to do something. Just so that way they know, like, okay, this person thought of me. I'm not just on the back burner, I'm not just, you know, I think that helps. Just a simple message like that really goes a long way. Um I've had to have like long conversations after not talking to people for like damn near a year, just being like, bro, I never forgot about you. It was just the fact of like me getting so caught up in my situations and then having to catch back up and realize like, damn, I should have been there for you. That is one of the worst feelings I've had. So I feel like as long as you can reach out to that person and just check in with them every now and then. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 43:31

It is a lot. You know, a phone call doesn't take long. Yeah, it doesn't take it. You know, someone I'm always one text away, I always tell everybody that. You know, you text me, it might take forever to reply, but I'm gonna reply to you.

riendship Reciprocity And Making Time

SPEAKER_03 43:44

Um there's no ill intent, like if it didn't like if things didn't end in a bad way, that might even just help reset things back where they left off at. Um, I got homies I ain't talked to in about a year, and they know it's all up. You know what I'm saying? My boy Carlos Matt. Fact when he pulled up to the uh art hop event, I hadn't texted him in a minute. Like since I left that solar company out there in Fowler, I haven't I didn't physically see him since I worked there. And uh him pulling up to that event was just like crazy because I was like, damn bro, he showed up. I didn't ask him to, I didn't invite, like he just showed up because he's seen the potential that we had, he's seen what we were doing, and he just wanted to be there to support. And even that guy, like, he's been there for me. He was the person to actually get me back into the gym after all these years. And I mean that that's one of the people that I've had the longest, deepest conversations with. Um and I just owe it to him. That man, that man has been an inspiration to me in terms of like different types of practices, of different passions, like making beats, producing, getting into the gym, taking care of your mental health, like taking care of those around you. It's it's a great person to have around, but bro, I I kid you not, like, and I regret it. I I never I didn't reach out to him after I left the solar company trying to figure out what I was gonna do next. I was unemployed for seven months after that, and I'm just trying to figure things out, but it's no excuse because I was still doing the podcast, I was still hanging out with the homies, you know what I'm saying? Like, I we gotta make time for those who make time for you. Yeah, that's just my own personal experience from it. Uh but other than that, to get off the topic of this, um what is your next event that you feel like is going to really make a difference in the community? Like every event you make a difference, obviously. But like I guess my question is is there any other platforms in the community that you would like to collaborate with in your next upcoming like project?

SPEAKER_02 45:47

Uh as far as specific organizations, uh, I'm still planning. Okay. Just because I don't have um in exactly what the next event will be. Like I said, right now, going into this new year, I'm trying to figure out if I'm gonna try to elevate from what I've done, if I'm gonna, you know, reset back into my foundation. Um, that's kind of what I've been doing this last couple weeks, is kind of getting back to my foundation, you know, what's my mission, what's my purpose, who I am, what I'm doing. Um, but as far as other organizations, um, I really just want to get, I just really want to retouch with the organizations that we already have that are doing similar things. Right. Uh, one thing this past year, one thing I've really been big on is that you know, collaboration is key. You know, yes. And one thing that I've noticed doing a lot of events last year is that a lot of people are doing the same things. Yep. And it's like it's it's it's a positive, but it's like instead of us helping out a whole bunch of different small groups, why not come together as a collaborator and help out a bigger, a bigger niche, you know? Yeah, exactly. So that's kind of what my my goal is right now. Um, like with the mission center, uh, with Pavarello House, stuff like them, is like the people who I want to get connected with, right? Because those are organizations that I look up to currently. You know, they're doing a lot of things that I want to do, you know, of course, with a lot of more manpower than I have. Right. So it's like it gives me something to look forward to. Right. And I feel like connecting with them, it'll kind of give me a lot a lot better of a mindset of how to how to play these next events too, you know. Right, right. Um but yeah, it's everything is still up in the air right now just because I'm still planning. Um still trying to get myself, you know, yeah, yeah. Still trying to get myself together. Um one thing I've really done this this year is slowed down a little bit as far as trying to jump into events. Uh this last year during August, I had my backpack drive and it literally landed the same week that I started school. So it was bad as far as you know, trying to plan, trying to organize, trying to gather and and then having school the day right after. It was it was rough. It was rough. So it was kind of the same thing this semester. So I was like, let me get a little bit settled with school, let me get my you know get set up. I gotta get my duts in a row and then I'll go on to that. Um, but right now I was saying if if even if I can't collaborate with any bigger organizations, start back small, you know, do it, do what I know. You know, if even if I gotta hop back in the back of the truck, you know, go around and serve the community again, right? I'm gonna stick to what I know, you know. So of course, I want to try to do bigger, I want to try to do better. Um, of course, we'll feed the block itself. I want to try to come out with some merchandise, you know, just so to kind of spread the word, try to put the word out there of who we are. Right. Uh, I want to try to go like to more events to try to do like more pop-ups to try to like spread the word about who we are. I just want to I want to show my face a little bit more, you know. Even if it's bigger, smaller scenes, if it's you know, if I'm helping out smaller events or bigger events, I just want to be out there, you know.

SPEAKER_03 48:33

I think I think Fresno needed more people like you in terms of giving back. I mean, you'll see it every now and then from other organizations. And it's obviously you're not the first person to do it, but the way you're doing it, I think you're going the right direction. And by all by all means, we're always happy to help you.

SPEAKER_01 48:49

That's something that hit us up for anything that you need, anything that whether it's if you need sponsors, we got never trusted. Yeah. Whether you need uh more manpower, you got all of us. You saw all the people that we were able to bring.

ollaboration Plans And Fresno Community

SPEAKER_02 49:01

Well, and that's what was such a blessing. Like, I I can't, I'll thank you guys every time I see you guys. It's like even like even you behind the camera, it's like you don't know, like when I talk about like my mindset going behind planning events, it's like even with the winter drive, so much going on behind the scenes outside of the nonprofit. It's like when you have to continue to show up, yeah, and it's like, okay, doing it by yourself is like, how do I do this? Yeah, yeah. And then, you know, from the grace of God, I got that text from you, yeah. And then that transpired, and uh, all of us coming together coming together and putting that event together. So it's like it's things like that to where like I'm very, very grateful for having you guys and really having other people that are really like-minded that are here to help, you know. A lot of people are just kind of here just to put the name out there, it is really just to kind of showface. I've had people who came up to events just to put their logo on it and not really do anything else, you know. So it's like I've it's been it's been a lot of hit and miss as far as you know connecting with people and really having solid people to really work with. But I think, you know, recently I've had a lot of good luck, which I'm thankful for.

SPEAKER_03 50:06

You know, you've reached the right community, I'll tell you that much. Because the people that we network with, we do the same thing. We're we're here for genuine intentions. We're we're our main goal was to give back to Fresno, to represent Fresno as a community. Um, that's why we've collaborated with so many people. I mean, that's the reason why our platform is blown up as much as it has, is because we're not afraid to take faces from different aspects of life here in Fresno, different cultures, and bring them on the podcast and be like, listen, we want to hear your story. Like, who are you? What do you do? Why do you do it? But it brings us a little bit closer every single time because we all share the same mission is to give back. Most definitely. How can how can you blow up in a place like Fresno and not give back? Like, we we're all trying to make it. There's so much talent out here, there's so much love out here. So much. There's so much that needs to be covered that just needs to be shown. Like the average everyday person doesn't really know much about a lot of different things, like even the music industry out here. Yeah, that was a big one. Was like artists feeling like, oh, I don't have a I don't have a platform to really put my music out there. Like TikTok and social media is cool.

SPEAKER_04 51:11

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:12

But being known in your hometown where you can go somewhere and people are like the same locals are coming to see you, and you bring in more of a crowd every time you perform, that's a huge feeling. That's real love. I think I think being able to start a fan base at your own home is bigger than anything because you can go all around the world and have a fan base, but when you come back home and it's not the same feeling, it makes you feel like what did I do it for? Exactly. So I think it's important to make sure that we give back to the community and show love to those that are trying to make it out here because it is hard, it is very hard.

SPEAKER_01 51:40

And like I said, we're just happy to be a part of your team because it's it's something that it's a huge blessing, especially like I told DJ it's a huge blessing. Like, even uh you allowing us to have the opportunity, it means so much to me. And uh again, we're willing to execute anything that you need, whether it's us pushing, us helping you with promo, whatever it is.

SPEAKER_02 51:59

Likewise, you know, you know, we're here together. Absolutely. It's a team building at the end of the day. Absolutely. Um that's why I'm grateful. It's like I feel like one misconception that we really have about our city is like, you know, it's all it's always hate, it's always, you know, what's good about Fresno, but it's like when you really connect, like I said, you just really gotta find the real like-minded individuals that are really here for the same mission. It's like you'll see there's a lot of great talent, it's a lot of great influence, there's a lot of great love in the city. You know, you just gotta go find it. Exactly, exactly. Yeah, I'm grateful. I'm grateful to be here.

SPEAKER_03 52:30

Absolutely. Grateful to have you here, bro. Thank you, thank you. So, and um, I think my final question is if there was anything you could tell to anybody who's trying to do the same thing as you, who's trying to get back to the community, um what would be a word of thought for them? What would you say?

SPEAKER_02 52:45

Um, I'll just say the start. You know, a lot of people do a lot of planning, but they don't really do any applying. So I think that's what really slows down the process. That's what kind of discourages a lot of people is because they do so much planning and then life gets in the way and it's like, okay, what happens next? So it's like I feel like when you have when you have that fire on you, when you have that thought, when you have that idea, apply it. Do it right away. You know, even if it's small, just do it. Because you never know what that can transpire into later on in the road. You know, like I said, it went from me passing out from the back of my truck to you know, thankfully being sponsored by Raising Canes to, you know, sponsor an event. It's like it's things like that where you don't know what they can grow into. It's like you'll never know unless you do it. You know, so that's why I say I always just say, don't be afraid to start. You know, people are gonna talk about you, people are gonna envy you, people are not gonna like what they're doing or like what you're doing because at the end of the day, they're not doing it, you know. A lot of people are gonna hate about the things that they wish they could do. Right. So it's like I take it as more motivation to kind of just put more fuel in the fire and just keep doing what I'm doing. And you know, at the end of the day, if I fail, I mean it's only just another lesson to keep moving forward. So yeah, just keep going. That's all I say.

SPEAKER_01 54:00

Absolutely. Thank you for those uh and wonderful words, man. I appreciate your time, man. Thank you for having me. Um, I wish we could have you longer. There's so much conversation that we had. I know so much.

SPEAKER_03 54:10

Um be the last. That intro is fire. I ain't gonna lie, that intro is pretty fire. The conversations, bro. But but yeah, I feel like we can definitely do another podcast episode with you whenever you're ready. Yeah, um, especially, and again, we're down to help you with any future events that you have, so just let us know when we come back together.

SPEAKER_01 54:26

Yeah, absolutely, man. Well, good luck on your competition, on your function.

SPEAKER_02 54:29

Yeah, thank you guys.

SPEAKER_01 54:30

Dude, I know that takes a lot, that's a lot of discipline. My fat ass cannot handle that. I will handle the way, but I will not do the body shape.

SPEAKER_02 54:37

Trust me, every night I've been having my different cravings is yeah, you better take a strong mind.

SPEAKER_03 54:42

You are better than me when my body craves McDonald's cookies. That cookie toad is getting bought. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02 54:47

See, me has been uh Uncle Harry's bagel spot.

SPEAKER_01 54:50

Oh man, don't even get me started.

SPEAKER_03 54:52

Cowboy brisket, extra. Stop, stop, stop.

inal Advice And Where To Donate

SPEAKER_01 54:58

Oh my god. Uh well, go ahead and please plug in all your social media outlets for them to find.

SPEAKER_02 55:04

Uh, yeah, you can find me at feed the block, or if you want to check out our website for all upcoming events, or if you just want to donate, uh, www.feedtheblock.org. You can contact us at contact at feedtheblock.org, or you know, just like I said, follow us to all platforms at feed the block. I appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 55:20

Thank you. Thank you for being out here. We love you guys. Much love. Peace.