Creative Roots Podcast
Creative Roots Podcast is where stories begin. Every week, host Tae sits down with artists, entrepreneurs, and makers of all kinds to explore the journey before the spotlight—when the vision was still raw, and the hustle was rooted in passion, not popularity.
We go beneath the surface—talking consistency, growth, setbacks, and the real creative process. Whether you’re an early-stage creative or someone finding your way back to your roots, this podcast is here to inspire, reflect, and remind you why you started in the first place.
🌱 New episodes drop every Thursday.
Episodes
74 episodes
There’s More to a Maple Tree Than Syrup - Nicole Bentler | Ep.71
What if we told you there's more to a maple tree than maple syrup?Nicole Bentler from Pocono Maple Water reached out to Creative Roots as a potential guest, and we're so glad she did!Nicole introduces the Creative Roots team to so...
Experiences That Last a Lifetime - Marcus Scott | Ep. 70
Marcus Scott is in the building!Award-nominated actor, award-winning Best Male Lead, producer, and an all-around great guy to be around, Marcus joins Tae on Creative Roots and gets right to it.We talk about the realities of purs...
I Placed Myself In The Right Rooms - Jennifer | Ep. 69
Sometimes, getting to the next level is about putting yourself in the right rooms.Tae sits down with Jennifer Starr-director, producer, actress, and film lover-for a conversation that started at the Queen City Triple Feature with a surpr...
How Childhood, Culture & Imagination Shape Who We Become - Zenzi | Ep. 68
What happens when childhood, culture, and imagination come together?This week on Creative Roots, Tae sits down with Zenzi Hodge, a children's book author, dedicated mother, and creative originally from the Virgin Islands. With two books ...
We Built Studio 212 for Creatives Ready to Grow | Ep. 67
This episode is a special one because we're introducing something we've been building behind the scenes: Studio 212 (pronounced two-twelve).Shamar and Tae sit down to discuss the vision behind our newest creative space and the end...
10 Years of Alan Lux Studios - Shamar | Ep. 66
This episode is a celebration - 10 years of Alan Lux Studios!A decade in business is no small feat, and today, Tae sits down with Shamar to reflect on the journey behind the milestone. From the highs and lows of entrepreneurship to the ...
Who Do You Think You Are? Dealing With Imposter Syndrome - Natasha Oates | Ep.65
Natasha Oates is back!Earlier this year, Natasha joined us for a powerful conversation surrounding mental health. This time, she returns to tackle a topic that affects countless creatives, entrepreneurs, and professionals: Imposter Sy...
Blues 4 Mama: The Play That Hits Home - Fantah & Trayshaun | Ep. 64
Deana G is back in the lead seat!This episode, Deana sits down with two special guests, Fantah Hooker and Trayshaun, the writer and director behind A Blues 4 Mama.What began as a teacher's passion for passing knowledge to...
Empowered Podcasting Conference - Jason Cercone | Ep. 63
If you've been thinking about attending the Empowered Podcasting Conference, this episode is your inside look at everything you need to know.Tae sits down with Jason Cercone to talk about what makes the Empowered Podcasting Conference d...
A Space Where Being Human As Allowed - Caroline | Ep. 62
This episode, Tae sits down with Caroline Rena, Spiritual Alchemist and host of the Awakening Soul Divinity Podcast, for a conversation centered on self-awareness, personal growth, and what it truly means to be in tune with yourself.Awa...
Impeded Words to Written Conversations - Quintin | Ep. 61
This episode is all about family, memories, and meaningful conversation.Shamar takes the lead as he sits down with his cousin, Quintin, host of TEA with Q, for a conversation filled with laughter, reflection, and appreciation.To...
Racial Healing Is More Than A Thought - Dr. Lisa Collins | Ep. 60
For our Juneteenth episode, we welcome Dr. Lisa Collins from Oregon for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation.Dr. Collins joins us to discuss her book, her short film, and her involvement in launching the Portland chapter of Comi...
Brooch Ties for Women With Life's lessons - Sherry | Ep. 59
When I say this episode is long for a reason, I mean it.Despite being nervous from the very first phone call, Sherry accepted the invitation to join us on Creative Roots Podcast - and what unfolded was a conversation neither of us expect...
One Post Can Change Everything - Tinesha | Ep. 58
This episode is a little different! Deana G takes over the lead seat!Deana invited this episode's guest and leads the conversation with Tinesha Matthews, a natural hair stylist turned content creator whose journey into content crea...
Mamas Block: Real community. Real connection. - Brittnee | Ep. 57
We’re closing out Mental Health Awareness Month with a powerful conversation that’s been a long time coming - 6 months, to be exact.This episode, we sit down with Brittnee Isaac, founder of Mama’s Block, to talk about creating real spac...
Establishing A New Baseline Since Childhood - Valeea | Ep. 56
Continuing with Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Nurse Practitioner Valeea, who brings over 15 years of healthcare experience and has been practicing as a Nurse Practitioner since 2018. Her passion for motivating, encouraging, an...
The Child In The Middle - Deloris | Ep.55
As we continue Mental Health Awareness Month, we sit down with Deloris Calhoun-Wright, author of A Child In The Middle.This conversation goes far beyond the pages of the book. We dive head first into the reality of growing up be...
Active Dad: Rewriting the Story of Fatherhood - Modd | Ep. 54
New month. New guests. Real conversations.May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re kicking things off with Modd from Active Dad: a community focused on rewriting the story of fatherhood and creating space for men to grow, heal, a...
Thank You For Year 1
One year in.In this episode of Creative Roots, we kept it simple. Just a real conversation between us reflecting on the journey so far.We talk about the moments that stood out, the guests who left an impact, what we’ve learned a...
An Open Conversation With Dyme - Dyme Witherspoon | Ep. 53
Dyme is back on Creative Roots, and this conversation goes exactly where it needs to.The topic is simple, but not easy:“Starting Over or Keep Going?”What starts as a focused conversation quickly takes a turn after one show-s...
Video Games From A Kids Perspective - LanDyn, Jae'l & JeKob | Ep. 52
This episode of Creative Roots is a little different and a lot of fun.Tae sits down with his two sons and the neighbor’s kid for a real conversation about video games, but from a perspective you don’t always hear… the kids themselves.
Mastering Your Skills, One At A Time - Jae | Ep. 51
In this episode of Creative Roots, we sit down with Jae of A Jae Of All Trades: a creative entrepreneur using her God-given gifts to build tools that actually help creators move with intention.From custom mugs and cups to t...
Judge A Book From Within, Not Just The Cover - Naomi | Ep. 50
In this episode of Creative Roots, Tae sits down with his cousin Naomi from Nae’s Bookshelf — an avid reader, content creator, and advocate for literacy and representation.Naomi is currently a student at North Carolina A&T State Uni...
The Uncomfortable Middle Phase: Every Creative Goes Through It | Ep. 49
There’s a part of the creative journey nobody really talks about.Not the beginning. Not the success. The middle.In this episode of Creative Roots, Tae and Shamar sit down to unpack “The Uncomfortable M...
Family, Sports, Life - Ty Talks | Ep. 48
In this episode of Creative Roots, Tae sits down with Ty from the Ty Talks Podcast, and from the moment the cameras start rolling, you can tell this one is going to be a good time.Ty came through the studio ready for jokes, laughs, and ...