We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kareem Youngblood. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kareem below.

Alright, Kareem thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?

“The most important lesson I learned in school? That not everything they call education is actually educational.”

I was sitting in math class, staring at a calculator I wasn’t allowed to use. The logic was: You’re only smart if you can do the math in your head. But I wasn’t built for that kind of academic gymnastics. On my very first New York State Regents math exam—a test required to graduate—I got a 12. Retook it, got a 21. And honestly, that was a win. Third time around? A 66. One point above the passing mark. That score felt like a damn trophy.

Meanwhile, I was out here killing it in U.S. History, scoring the second-highest Regents score in the entire state. But that accomplishment barely got celebrated because I wasn’t an “all-around” academic star. Apparently, excellence only counts when it’s across every subject—especially math and science. And let me tell you, once math met science, I respectfully bowed out.

But 12th grade? That’s when everything changed. I became class president and, truthfully, I barely went to class. The yearbook staff quit. The prom committee quit. But I didn’t. I took it all on—planned senior activities, designed the yearbook, and organized the prom while my teachers were busy grading state exams. I turned chaos into a coordinated celebration. I ran senior year like a business, and my report card? All 90s, in classes I didn’t even attend.

The only class I showed up for was gym—because I failed it the year before and the gym teacher had it out for me (all love though, Coach!). He’d let me dip when I had event planning emergencies. He knew I was working. Everyone did.

That year taught me how to lead. It taught me how to make things happen even when the system isn’t designed for you to shine. I learned that some of the most valuable lessons in school aren’t found in textbooks or exams. They’re found in the moments where you step up, take over, and turn a broken system into something that actually works.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Kareem Youngblood—Brooklyn-born, self-taught baker, digital marketing strategist, and three-time televised competitor (Sugar Rush on Netflix, Chopped Sweets, and Spring Baking Championship Season 11 on Food Network). I’m the founder of The Cupka’ak Bar, where dessert meets culture, storytelling, and bold creative energy. But beyond the sweets, I’m building a movement rooted in authenticity, resilience, and joy.

My journey didn’t start in culinary school. It started in my grandfather’s kitchen. Aaron “Pete” Armstrong—my Grandpa—raised me, fed me, and taught me what love looked like through food. He passed away on home hospice under my care, and I stayed by his side until the end. His legacy shows up in everything I do—from the banana pudding recipes he handed down to the deep sense of pride and presence I carry into every bake, every story, every room.

I built The Cupka’ak Bar from the ground up in my Crown Heights apartment. Every cupcake, cake jar, and custom dessert carries layers of flavor and meaning—whether it’s a nostalgic candy-inspired treat or a bold, brand-new flavor profile. I also host live baking events like The Bake—part demo, part podcast, part motivational comedy show—where I connect with audiences through food, storytelling, and unfiltered realness.

Outside the kitchen, I’m a trained digital marketing specialist with a certificate from Columbia University. I now consult for other creators and culinary brands, helping them find their voice, grow their audience, and build something lasting.

What sets me apart? I’m not here just to sell sweets—I’m building an experience. I don’t just bake—I tell stories, honor legacy, push culture, and remind people that success doesn’t always come from a straight path. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve done this my way, with soul, with struggle, and with something to say.

If you’re a potential client, follower, or fan, know this: I’m about quality, connection, and showing up fully—whether I’m on your screen, at your event, or in your feed. My brand is proof that your past doesn’t disqualify you—it defines you, if you let it.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Absolutely—The Cupka’ak Bar started as a side hustle and slowly became my main career, though the journey wasn’t a straight shot. I was baking in between jobs, teaching step classes to high school kids, and hustling however I could to stay afloat. I didn’t have a bakery, a storefront, or investors. Just an oven, a hand mixer, and a creative spirit raised in a Brooklyn kitchen by my grandfather, Aaron “Pete” Armstrong.

At first, I baked to decompress. It was therapy. Then it turned into favors for friends, then word-of-mouth orders. My big turning point came when I got cast on Sugar Rush—a baking competition on Netflix. That was the moment I realized I had something special. After that came Chopped Sweets, and most recently, Spring Baking Championship on Food Network, where I made a huge impact right out the gate.

In between those shows, I invested in myself. I completed Columbia University’s Digital Marketing Bootcamp, which helped me turn my passion into a brand. I redesigned my website, branded my product line, and turned The Cupka’ak Bar into a full-blown business—offering cupcakes, cake jars, custom cakes, and now ticketed live experiences like The Bake.

Key milestones:

First national TV appearance (Netflix’s Sugar Rush)

Launched website + started selling cake jars nationwide

Graduated from Columbia’s marketing program

Hosted my first live baking and podcast event in NYC (May 2025)

Secured brand partnerships and sponsorships

Grew my audience from a few hundred to thousands across social media

The hustle was never just about making sweets—it was about making space. For myself, for my story, and for others who never saw someone like them doing this. Now, I consult with other creatives, speak to students, and continue to grow a brand that’s rooted in love, legacy, and the bold belief that we don’t need permission to succeed.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the clearest examples of my resilience came in 2024 when I was cast on Spring Baking Championship.

At the time, I was working a 9–5 job at a nonprofit and had just wrapped a marketing contract. When the call came that I made it onto the show, I asked for unpaid time off. They said no. I had a choice: keep the “safe” job or take a risk on my dream. I chose me. I quit with no savings, no guarantee of how far I’d make it, and no real backup plan—just a suitcase, a spatula, and a whole lot of faith.

What most people didn’t know was that I was also grieving. My grandfather, Aaron “Pete” Armstrong—the man who raised me—passed away under my care on home hospice. Filming the show lined up exactly with the anniversary of his passing. The day he died? An elimination day. The day after? His funeral. I was trying to focus on ganache and garnishes while holding all of that in my chest.

I pushed through. I made it five episodes in. I didn’t win, but I won. The support I received after the show aired was overwhelming. My following grew, I launched new products, I rebranded my entire dessert line, and I hosted my first live baking demo and podcast event, The Bake, in NYC with sponsors and a sold-out crowd.

Here’s where the comeback hits:
Even after not working for months and being behind on five months of rent, I was able to use my digital marketing skills to land a high-paying contract with Columbia University. I paid every single dollar back. No debt collectors. No begging. Just strategy, grind, and grace.

Resilience isn’t just surviving—it’s making something out of the wreckage. It’s betting on yourself even when the bank account says otherwise. It’s turning grief into growth. And I wouldn’t change a single part of the journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kareemyoungblood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kareem_youngblood/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kareemyoungblood
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-youngblood-843149282/
• Twitter: https://x.com/thecupkaakbar
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KareemYoungblood
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cupkaak-bar-brooklyn?osq=the+cupkaak+bar

Image Credits

main photo of Kareem by Rodney Blanchard