Ourselves Podcast

• Trevor Jackson explains why the music industry is rigged and the easiest way to win a Grammy

  Trevor Jackson is no stranger to the spotlight — but in this episode, he opens up like never before. From starring in *Grown-ish* and *Superfly* to dropping his most personal album yet, Trevor has seen every side of the industry. He shares how the machine behind music and film is built on money, influence, and perception — and why not having that machine can leave even the most talented artists overlooked. After going through a painful breakup and tearing his Achilles, Trevor found himself at his lowest — and wrote an entire album in just two weeks. He talks about being told he was "too clean" to be marketable, walking away from major labels, building his own company (Born Art), and reclaiming his freedom as an artist. This conversation dives deep into mental health, validation, self-love, creativity, and the hard truth about how things really work behind the scenes in Hollywood. If you’re a creative, an artist, or someone chasing something bigger — this episode will hit home. Trevor Jackson is creating on his own terms now, and he’s not holding back. This is the most honest, unfiltered, and inspiring version of him the world has seen. 00:00 Intro 01:39 Creative Collaborations and Directing 03:49 The Art of Music Videos 04:48 Creating the Greatest Breakup Album 07:39 The Creative Process and Challenges 19:34 The Shit List 24:26 The Journey and Inspirations 30:34 The Decline of Traditional Musicianship 31:21 The Art of Performance 31:40 The Drive for Excellence 33:06 Current Acting Projects and Future Plans 34:55 The Impact of Technology on Human Interaction 39:14 The Role of AI in Creativity 42:06 Personal Growth and Self-Reflection 54:30 The Importance of Therapy 56:51 The Power of Positive Self-Talk 01:00:35 The Power of Art and Creativity 01:01:19 Learning Through Video Games 01:01:36 Navigating the Music Industry 01:01:52 Signing with Atlantic Records 01:03:46 Challenges in the Music Industry 01:08:15 Born Art 01:09:55 Financial Realities of Acting and Music 01:18:09 Touring and Fan Experiences 01:21:17 Personal Goals and Legacy   Follow Trevor Follow ⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠ ⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Facebook

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• 10 Things You Need To Know About Starting A Podcast

  Starting a podcast sounded like a dream. But three months in, I’ve learned the raw truth: it's a full-time job, it’s humbling, and it’s not for the faint of heart. In this solo episode, I break down the 10 most important lessons I’ve learned so far—from getting hate online to learning how to handle burnout, bad audio, inconsistent platform performance, and the pressure to grow without a return. If you’ve ever thought about launching a podcast (or any creative venture), this episode is for you. Whether you're just starting out or already in the game, these lessons are real, unfiltered, and straight from my experience. 00:00 Introduction 01:00 The Reality of Podcasting Workload 06:45 Balancing Podcasting with Life 08:19 The Financial Aspect of Podcasting 11:01 Platform Performance Insights 12:18 The Power of Viral Content 13:19 Social Media Conversion Rates 14:34 Instagram vs. TikTok Performance 16:06 Podcast Platform Rankings 18:25 Challenges with TikTok Scheduling 20:01 Initial Spike and Momentum 21:15 Capitalizing on Momentum 22:59 Overcoming Fear of Posting 24:34 Understanding Non-Linear Growth 27:31 Reflecting on the Journey 27:57 Call to Action: Support the Show 28:26 Gratitude and Future Plans   Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook

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• Did He Design the New World Order Flag?

  He designed a flag to unite the world. Instead, he was accused of working with the Illuminati. In this episode, Oskar Pernefeldt — Creative Director at Oatly and the designer behind the International Flag of Planet Earth — opens up about how a simple graduation project turned into a global movement… and a conspiracy theory nightmare. We talk about fame, fear, purpose, and the insane power of symbolism in a divided world.   Watch if you’re curious about the hidden forces that shape culture — and what happens when one idea captures the whole planet.   00:00 Introduction 03:03 Oscar's Background and Nonprofit Work 05:31 The Design and Symbolism of the Planet Earth Flag 09:49 Public Reception and Conspiracy Theories 20:29 Challenges and Goals for the Planet Earth Flag 22:15 Global Unity and National Identity 32:26 Comparing Sweden and the US 33:51 Reflections on American Society and Governance 36:38 Discussing Taxes and Military Service 37:56 Healthcare Systems: Sweden vs. America 38:23 Insurance Woes in America 39:39 Education in Sweden: Beckman's College of Design 43:20 The Creative Industry and Nepotism 46:25 The Privilege of Being in the Creative Industry 54:58 Childhood Experiences and Their Impact 57:34 The Importance of Forgiveness 01:02:02 The Flag of Planet Earth and NASA Involvement 01:13:45 Creative Ecosystem at Oatly 01:14:18 Trust and Decision-Making 01:17:09 In-House Agency vs. External Agency 01:18:10 Pitching Ideas and Taking Risks 01:19:52 Balancing Boldness and ROI 01:22:52 Competition and Market Strategy 01:25:37 Challenges of Passion Projects 01:39:18 Future of Flags and Identity 01:43:01 Rapid Fire Questions and Conclusion   Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the ⁠International Flag of Planet Earth project⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠Oskar⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook

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• From Lucasfilm to Doja Cat: Warren Fu Reveals How to Land Your Dream Directing Job

  In this episode, visionary director Warren Fu shares an inspiring journey through his iconic work in music videos, his creative roots at Lucasfilm, and the delicate balance of creativity and burnout. We dive deep into his collaborations with legendary artists such as Doja Cat, Daft Punk, The Weeknd, and The Strokes. From overcoming immigrant family expectations and cultural differences to navigating the unpredictable worlds of directing music videos and commercials, Warren offers invaluable insights on the multifaceted role of a director, the importance of editing, and the future of filmmaking with AI.   00:00 Intro 02:54 The Importance of Editing in Directing 04:33 Balancing Creativity and Burnout 06:47 The Journey to Delegation and Trust 12:15 From Graffiti to Lucasfilm: A Creative Evolution 39:40 Visiting Skywalker Ranch 40:03 Quitting Lucasfilm to Pursue Directing 40:45 Immigrant Family Guilt 42:04 Cultural Differences Growing Up 50:44 Challenges of Directing 53:25 Pitching and Treatments 01:00:30 The Music Video Industry 01:04:32 Lucasfilm: A Film School Experience 01:16:06 The Strokes' Mystique and Early Career 01:16:55 Freelancing in LA and Breaking into Music Videos 01:18:04 First Big Break with The Strokes 01:19:37 Building Relationships with Artists 01:22:10 Collaborating with Mark Ronson and Daft Punk 01:30:46 Directing Daft Punk's Iconic Videos 01:42:57 Working with Doja Cat on 'Planet Her' 01:52:35 Transitioning to Commercial Work 01:57:35 Personal Connections in the Industry 01:59:18 Pitching Ideas and Working with Reps 02:01:27 The Role of Specs in Commercials 02:02:47 Keys to Successful Pitches 02:08:23 AI in Music Videos 02:16:58 The Future of AI in Filmmaking 02:27:52 Balancing Work and Life   Follow Warren Follow ⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠ ⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠

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  2:35:12
• How I Broke Into the Rap Industry

  Shooting rap videos isn’t for the faint of heart. Missed call times, wild pivots, and $75K wardrobes. Here’s the unfiltered truth about working with hip hop artists. 00:00 Introduction 01:09 The Evolution of Hip Hop and Music Videos 01:55 Creating a Treatment for Music Videos 02:52 Expect the Unexpected: Be Ready to Pivot 04:23 Dealing with Late Artists 05:50 Handling No-Shows and Rescheduling 10:08 Importance of Casting 10:43 Avoiding Catfishing in Casting 13:04 Stripping Your Ego and Developing Thick Skin 15:51 Understanding the Culture 17:15 Fashion and Trends in Hip Hop Videos 18:28 Balancing Production and Wardrobe Budgets 19:01 Capturing the Artist's Best Look 19:56 Embracing the Process 20:33 Don't Take It Personally 21:52 Have Fun and Make It Memorable 23:30 Conclusion   Follow Arrad (podcast host)    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: SPOTIFY APPLE MUSIC YOUTUBE   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ Ourselves (production team):  ✩ Instagram ✩ Twitter ✩ TikTok ✩ Facebook

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