I See What You Mean with April Kae

“You’ll never find freedom trying to be understood by someone else.”

How many of your life choices are based on the perception of others? Today I’m talking with Annika Hansteen-Izora, an art director, designer, and author. Highlighting self-indulgence, dreaming, and pacing your creative projects—this episode left me speechless and inspired.

00:56 •  Are You Understood?
08:17 • Resources for Creatives
19:18 • What Is Tenderness, Really?
...

What is one universal career tip you would tell your younger self? Today I’m chatting with Jen Winston about her best piece of advice for new writers and creatives.

Jen is a creative director and writer working at the intersection of sex, technology, and pop culture. Celebrating the release of her new book, Greedy, we cover it all from liberation to burnout and boundaries.

00:44 •  Liberation From Introspection
11:28 •  Coping With B...

“When we’re asking for our worth, it has to be a collective effort.”

Sitting down with Tommy Franklin, we dive deeper into self-advocacy and why community organization matters. Tommy shares insight from being the President of indie production company Special Menu Productions, host of “Weapon of Choice Podcast,” and the star, director, and producer of the short film “WHITE TEARS.”

00:52 • Are You Really 'Woke?’
13:04 • Facing Flaky...

“My fears are rewriting my story, and I can’t always live anticipating the worst.”

In the spirit of Halloween, we’re sitting down with Maay Brice and Joshua Monroe to talk all about facing your fears. Joshua and Maay are both founders of The Neighborhood Watch channel and are hosts of the second annual Halloween film festival, “Spookems.”

Grab some popcorn (or candy corn), and let’s get into it!

01:17 • Gaming for Love
07:35 • The Magi...

“My truth evolves because I evolve.”

What is your truth, and why is it hard to pinpoint? Today I’m talking with Darian Harvin. Darian is a reporter based in LA, covering beauty at the intersection of politics and pop culture. You’ve probably read her work interviewing powerhouses like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

If you’ve been stuck in a rut or isolated recently, this episode is especially for you.


00:50 • Pre...

In this episode, I answer questions from YOU, the I See What You Mean community.

If you follow me online, you know that I’ve gone from 80K to over 320K followers over the past 9 months. Navigating this networking tool is challenging, and I want to share tips and a more in-depth look into my story of going viral. Regardless of your takeaway, remember to KEEP CREATING!

00:34 • Do You Need Social Media?
11:26 • Importance of Boundaries
27...

“If art is an expression of emotion, how can you create without taking the time to check in with yourself or your collaborators.” To kick off this new season, we’re checking in with Indigo Mateo and Richie Reseda. They’re both incredible musicians and they’re the team behind Question Culture. Diving into conversations about cultivating deeper connections, we couldn’t ask for a better start to this next chapter of I See What You Mea...

"I started as a 25-year-old intern, with no experience, in a sea of people with film degrees."

This week we're joined by Jazzmyne Robbins, diversity and inclusion consultant at Buzzfeed and an all-around icon. If you've been online anytime in the past five years, you've definitely seen her and her work. In this episode, Jazzmyne recounts her story leading up to where she is today and shares how you can embrace yo...

"For 30 days, suspend disbelief that what you want is impossible and just see what happens."

Are your dreams unattainable, or are you just underestimating yourself? This week we're speaking with Tourmaline, a filmmaker based in New York City, to talk about Freedom Dreaming and why you should start doing it. Tourmaline's work is featured in TIME 100 as well as the MoMa and Brooklyn museum.

01:05 • Perspective Shifts
08:...

"My work lives online. So with my art I'm thinking in terms of legacy."

This week, we are diving into what it means to reclaim and decolonize the creative process. Joining us is Kimmortal, a musician and illustrator who was nominated in the 2020 "Hip Hop and Rap" category of Breakout West Music Awards. Kimmortal shares insights on power dynamics in the creative field and highlights the importance of working throu...

Is internalized oppression holding you back?

Today, we’re joined by Julian Gavino, a model, activist, and writer whose work focuses on trans and disability activism. Julian recounts his journey recognizing his prejudice and highlights the importance of healing through cultivating a supportive community.

01:05 • Breaking Away From Tradition
07:00 • What Is “Real Art”?
13:37 • How To Spark Motivation
16:11 • Recognizing Your Biases
27:05 ...

Are you struggling with burnout—because you haven’t cultivated healthy boundaries?

Today we're joined by Minaa B, a wellness coach, therapist, writer, and mental health educator, regularly featured in Ebony, Vogue, and Bustle. Minaa highlights the importance of recognizing your limitations and describes why it’s crucial to incorporate your feelings into your creative work.

01:05 • The Person Behind The Bio
07:40 • How To Set Bound...

This week, Shehab (Isis) Awad joins us to discuss the power of gratitude, manifestation, and mindfulness. Shehab is an independent curator and writer based in New York City. He/she highlights queer and marginalized practices, and her/his writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including the Brooklyn Rail and ArtAsiaPacific Magazine. Shehab is also the Founding Director of Executive Care, a non-profit launching in Spring ...

Do you have to speak loudly to speak up?

This week, we're joined by Marco Pave, a hip-hop artist, advocate, and independent label owner. Marco has shared the stage with artists including Mobb Deep, Waka Flocka, Young Dolph, and now he's here to talk about the importance of recognizing your power and influence—and why you should redefine what success means to you.

01:12 • Learn To Love Your Forward
08:44 • Advice To Find Your P...

Highlighting life-changing experiences and their impact on the creative process, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Jessica Zucker, psychologist, author, and creator of #IHadAMiscarriage.

In this episode, we dive deeper into Dr. Jessica Zucker’s personal journey and the importance of sharing your story. As Jessica mentions, "Sharing our stories allows us to understand that vulnerability is being human, and being human means th...

Chatting about career, food, music, and finding hobbies, today we dive into the importance of recognizing all of your facets.

Joined by Nikita Richardson we cover the ins and outs of career and personal life balance. Nikita is also an all-around passionate creative who continually inspires those around her to not be defined by one narrative.

01:15 • Meet Nikita
08:00 • Cultivating Community
11:13 • Love of Music
20:50 • Being a “Jack of...

To kick off Season 2 we’re diving into the artistic process, the challenges of social media, and redefining work and success.

Today we’re joined by Nikki Kae, a costume designer, fine artist, and musician specializing in Afrofuturist queer stories and style. Nikki is also my actual, blood sister—so, there’s no holding back when it comes to our conversation!

05:52 • Why It's Important To Have Options
13:02 • Redefining ‘Work’ And ’...

On this week’s episode, you’ll learn...

 •   How to be more creative when times are tough
 •   What it means to be "a limited resource" and how to deal with it
 •   Mikayla’s game-changing advice on setting (and achieving!) goals

I couldn’t think of a better person to end 2020 with than Mikayla Martinez. She is a wellness coach, helping people build new habits, let go of diet culture, and achieve their goals. Mikayla is also th...

This is an exciting one—Yasmin Almo is the first person I’m interviewing for the podcast, who isn't already a good friend.

Join Yasmin and me as we discuss how they learned humility in jail, the importance of honest and loving communication, and what makes ants so beautiful. They also share their secret for getting past self-criticism and releasing art into the world. If you’ve ever struggled to share your work, find inspiration...