Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jared Flannagan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jared, thanks for joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
I have a reputation as the “whitest” black man most people know. Some view it as compliment others use it as an insult. I struggle with having to defend my “blackness” and what it means to be black.
Jared, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a podcaster that produces a show based around my experiences as a recovering alcoholic, a black dad, a hip hop lover, and a washed-up rapper. I share stories from my life with my audience, usually putting humor first but always with a deeper meaning that I hope will help someone that can relate.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Feedback is hard to come by, but it’s usually at my lowest points when I question whether to continue that someone lets me know something I said meant something to them and that’s enough to get me through another week.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
For every 45-minute episode there are hours if not days that go into it. My show is about my life, so you get a lot distilled down into a short period. That is to say it doesn’t sound like a lot of work, but it is. Finding something to share, choosing to share it, and making it entertaining is work. It might sound like I pick up a mic and just talk but a lot of thought goes into making it that organic.
Contact Info:
- Website: whatisTWS.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatistws
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatistws
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatistws
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatistws/podcasts