Episode 47 - Competition Vs Collaboration
Welcome to this special edition of Nicky and Moose: The Podcast. Episode 47 is sure not to disappoint as your hosts sit down for their very first in-person podcast! Join the Queens’ natives as they discuss what’s poppin’ with Kendrick Lamar, Only Fans, and the real story with KD and Draymond.
Nicky and Moose also exchange gems on Nick Cannon and Kevin Hart’s relationship and how it applies to our brands and businesses. They discuss Lizzo’s cyberbullying situation and, on top of all of that, they drop a few personal lessons they learned with setting up this particular podcast.
This is one you definitely need in your brand and business arsenal so grab a friend and your favorite note-taking device and let’s get into it.
What You Will Learn:
- Stay in your lane.
- The beauty in completion.
- How dope it is to document the process.
- Branding for more than a season.
- The importance of checking credentials.
- The significance in the culture having tough conversations.
- The benefits of building relationships and being in healthy competition.
- The importance of not becoming too dependent on our audience’s feedback.
- The pay off of perseverance.
- The importance of preparation.
- Be hungry yet confident.
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Nicky Saunders:
What's poppin'? What's poppin'? What's poppin'? Welcome to Nicky and Moose! I'm Nicky! That's Moose! Whats up Moose?
Mostafa Ghonim:
What up y'all?
Nicky Saunders:
And welcome to Episode 47!
Mostafa Ghonim:
A special edition.
Nicky Saunders:
Yes, we are in the building literally together. After many hours, we're going to talk about it but in this episode we're going to be talking about possibly Kendrick having his last album. Just cyberbullying was with Lizzo. We're going to be talking about some Kevin Durant in the media. We're going to be talking about Kevin Hart and Nick Cannon and just kind of this whole situation how we got here. Moose, how are we feeling about this episode?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Man, I'm excited to give you all the recap on the rundown of our first ever live show. But we got some really good gems for you as well in the podcast. So stay tuned. Let's get this thing started.
Nicky Saunders:
Let's let's just get into this intro. When I get to it,
Jaymie Jordan:
Two kids from Queens, cut from a different cloth. Now joining forces helping you to elevate your personal brand. Yeah I'm talking about Nicky and Moose! Bringing you a never before seen perspective into the mindset, the mentality, the behaviors, the driving force, but more importantly, the stories behind the people and brands that you know and love the most.
Nicky Saunders:
And you know what time it is the review of the week! This one says on time real...wait yeah, I messed it up. "On time, real, and relevant: relevant content for the real entrepreneurs, a masterclass in branding, scaling and content creation. I appreciate the mindset and the insights of both of them."
Mostafa Ghonim:
Wow.
Nicky Saunders:
Your ad libs.
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's good. I like how they used you know, saying the words in the subject line in the concept. Let's go.
Nicky Saunders:
Migos if you need a new ad libs person. Listen, that's that's Moose for you. But shout out to everybody who left us a review. We read them we appreciate them and continue to do so you can have a chance to be presented on Nicky and Moose. And of course All Access Squad, become a part of the All Access Squad, you'll get clearly access to the after show which is where we give our true thoughts, some tangible tips and some tangible strategies just for you. And you could try it for free for three days. Right? That's the All Access Squad and of course 120series.com. You'll see both of us, you'll see E, you'll see just announced Pinky Cole who has Slutty Vegan. So all my Atlanta people you already know what that's about. If you've ever traveled to Atlanta, you know that's about too. Have you ever had Slutty Vegan?
Mostafa Ghonim:
No.
Nicky Saunders:
Really?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Never.
Nicky Saunders:
So plan on...Well, there will be there'll be a truck over there.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Oh, perfect. Yeah, I heard I heard that. But I didn't want to spoil it. But ok.
Nicky Saunders:
No, no, no, the truck is the truck is definitely going to be there. So 120series.com. I'm gonna be speaking. Moose is going to be speaking we've got to figure out where, but he will be speaking he always does. And like other famous people. You know what I mean? Like other famous peo le, but Moose, how are yo
Mostafa Ghonim:
Man, I feel good. Honestly, I I learned a couple of lessons today.
Nicky Saunders:
Talk about them.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Learned a couple lessons today. Okay. Because I again, you talk we've heard we've heard us talk about this so many times. But this is like real stuff. Right? Stay in your lane people. Stay in your lane. I've been so geeked about recording this Live podcast. Let me tell you for the longest. I'm like, oh my God. Yo, you come to see your mom in New York. Come to the crib, we you can set up. I got the perfect idea. We're gonna put the couch in front of the wall. We're gonna do this. Six hours later, and this is no exaggeration y'all, it literally took, I want to say us but it was really Nicky, six hours to set up the camera and reset our Ecamm. Shout out to Ecamm right, they're a supporter of the show.
Nicky Saunders:
Shout out to Ecamm.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Set up the whole Ecamm the whole, I'm talking about we redid this entire thing. It took us six hours before we sat down to start recording and this is right now, at the time we're recording this, at 11:49pm. So my point is stay in your lane. I didn't know that right? To me, it was like, yo, what's the deal? We're just gonna pop up the cameras, we're gonna record we're gonna have a blast, because we're going to be in person together. But it's not my lane to know that the technical stuff, right? Like, yo, the cameras gotta be this light is gonna be like that. There's multiple people, there's multiple mics. So there's a lot. So again, I understand that some of us might be excited to do certain things. And we're like, come on, we can do it. But if it's not your lane, be careful what you suggest. Shout out to Nicky for bearing with me.
Nicky Saunders:
And I promise you like, we he was so psyched. And I'm telling him like, yo, the setup. I'm not excited. No, no, it's great. It's great. You, you're hungry? Like, I get something to eat, we'll be great. Whatever, go to salad works all the great stuff, right? He was so happy, mmhmm.
Mostafa Ghonim:
True enough.
Nicky Saunders:
I definitely got him into my world. Like he didn't understand the whole from scene to scene to scene to grabbing the content, figuring out the camera setups, how it's on the computer. So yes, we make this look easy. Clearly I've made it look easy, because he didn't even know.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Very easy.
Nicky Saunders:
So, we're here. We're here. And we have a whole show. Yeah. All right. We have a whole show. No, just because we're in person, doesn't mean the situation's going to change up. We have a whole show. So let's get to it. Um, let me put it up on my phone because it's really small text, but we have what they say is Kendrick's last album. Oh, that's the wrong one. Oh, is it the right? No, that's the right one. That's the right one. Because I wanted to be sad. I wanted to be sad. Okay. I was gonna...this is going to be interesting. Um, so Kendrick finally went on Instagram. You can go check out his Instagram, nine point something million followers anyways. Right? But um, he only has kind of like a folder there. Right? And when you click on it, it has like this like oklama what is that? O-K-L-A-M-A, how do you say that?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Oklama?
Nicky Saunders:
Okay, so alright. So, go to that.com right. And this is what it says right? And for for my listeners. I got you right? It says on August 20, 2021. "I spent them I spent most of my days with fleeting thoughts writing and listening and collecting old beach cruisers. What? Why? Why? The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone." Clearly this is why we haven't heard from you, sir."Love, loss and grief have this disturbed my comfort zone but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most the life in which my words will land next. As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The struggles, the success and most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as the vessel for candid creators as I continue to pursue my life's calling. There's beauty in completion and always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I've prayed for all of you. See, you soon enough. Oklama."
Mostafa Ghonim:
I wonder if that's like, short for something.
Nicky Saunders:
I don't I don't know. But so so here's my thing, right? Let me get this right. So I don't understand how for you've been missing for so long. You've made such an impact. And now you're saying yo this is and this is where this is the this is it. This is no more right. And I almost feel a tad bit like disappointed but at the same time I feel like he under stands that hip hop has, like, way passed him ever since he's been gone. And though he knows he could still make an impact might as well like, Yo, this chapter is, is done. So but there was something he said that was important that I wanted us to talk about was there's beauty in completion. So my question to you is, do you think that because we have, and not we per se, but like, in general, when it comes to your careers its such a grind, grind, grind? And you don't really understand when it is time to stop? When does that when? When will you say this is complete? Right? And that the fact that he is saying I'm pretty much done, and he sees the light at the end of the tunnel? And he's like, Yo, this is true beauty to say, Yo, I came I saw I conquered? Like, is it kind of in that kind of way? Or are we looking at it of just like, my man's just done? Like, what do you think?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, well, I mean, I have to be honest, I got to say that Kendrick gives me like super grounds crew, air traffic control vibes, like my man has got to be a super introvert because for him to go on this long hiatus months without a phone just like you hear him express himself and, and describe in such infinite detail how he lives his life, or what he experienced, okay, you've got to be a super introvert. So I understand what you're experiencing, to some extent, the other side of it, though, my mind can't help but think about the fact that when you do something, and you dedicate your life to it, it becomes really difficult to keep the fire burning, especially after you overcome or you accomplish that which you were so desperately working hard to achieve. So when you are first pursuing this thing, because you love it, it could be art, it could be sports, it could be music, it could be business, branding, whatever it is for you. You have goals tied to it, because you see this being your vehicle, your vessel to help you achieve that makes sense. But when you start achieving that, and living that life, it can be difficult to keep the fire burning, we saw Cole talk about it a little bit, right. And I know that there are others who deal with the same thing. So for me, that's what my mind kind of has me thinking like, I think that's what what Kendrick is dealing with here. And he just really loves himself enough to be like, you know what, I'm not going to explain to you, I'm not going to feel your pressure and start producing music because you want to hear it now. I'm really going to do this on my time. But I do understand that as a professional, I owe it to you to finish what I started. So like I'm gonna I'm going to close it in a professional way. And then there's also a part of me that saying like, yo, is this a Jay Z move? Are you going? Are you going to do a fake retirement on us and then come back with a whole bunch of hits? And we'd be like, yo, Kendrick, just crazy comeback. Like, oh, it's interesting,
Nicky Saunders:
But I don't...if he does, I mean, I would hope so. Right? But at the same time, I'm I'm more of like, he's been gone for this long. I don't know if Jay Z was gone for this long.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Oh for sure. No.
Nicky Saunders:
Yeah. He's always made some type of presence. Like, somehow, some way he's still very active. Yeah, yeah, he's still very active in the culture. So I don't I don't know if he's gonna pull a Jay Z but i think i think he's doing this because he probably feels like he owes it to his fans. I think he's done. Yeah. But I think he's like, Yo, I have so much music. And I feel I'm just let me do this one more for my fans and keep it moving.
Mostafa Ghonim:
You know what? If anybody, hey Kendrick, if you're listening to this to anybody on Kendricks team, if you're listening to this, I think it's a great strategic opportunity for you all, to come up with a documentary to compliment the album. You know, I'm saying? Tell tell tell, like give us some insight. We hope that you've been really documenting this process maybe taking some video about just what that journeys been like for you. But I'm willing to bet that thing might be better than the album itself, right? Just because you've been gone for so long. So yeah, something to consider. Don't worry about paying me for it. I think we're good right? We don't Yeah, we're gonna just yeah, just just say thank you or something. Moving on.
Nicky Saunders:
Okay, well shout out to TD and the whole you know, that whole camp because they they have Schoolboy Q, they have Jay Rock, they have SZA they have. So I mean, I don't think TDE is going to be hurting just because Kendrick isn't there, so. Oh, let's get into this next one. Which we've spoken about before. Only Fans.
Mostafa Ghonim:
I thought you was gonna give them the...
Nicky Saunders:
No, we're gonna celebrate Only Fans because what they did in the pandemic, I don't care what anybody says. That skyrocketed, right? So Only Fans is going...
Mostafa Ghonim:
I'm going to look down for this.
Nicky Saunders:
Okay, I'll put it on me because you clearly you can't talk about this as much as I can.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Oh my goodness.
Nicky Saunders:
So Only Fans is banning pornography. Right? It's banning pornography. Um, I think in October, right in October, and there has been speculation saying that it's because of credit cards. And, you know, there's people like Tyga who's saying, I'm going to create my own. Which, I mean, I don't I don't get why. Now. We, we said before that it was they were trying to brand themselves outside of it. So they were going to create a whole separate right? Now, I'm cool with the separate one. But then I believe they were like, yo, we have all the people here. Why am I going to, to like create a whole separate entity? Its not going to work. So let's for the long term, right? And so what we read earlier, through CNN was that they, they rose through the pandemic, but it was very hard to get investors. Right. Right. And so when you're thinking about getting investors, and what is going to please them, ah, maybe not the pornography, kind of standpoint. And then as we continue to read, we were like, oh, okay, now they're talking about the credit card processors, because at the end of the road, they're like, yo, sex trafficking and, and all this other stuff. Like we, we don't want that on our back. Like, I don't want at the end of the day, some weird case that says, yo, let's blame the credit card processors, because they clearly see who is swiping these cards, and they haven't done a single thing about it, they haven't stopped it or anything like that. So let's cut it. So they're saying Yo, with these credit card processors, they're actually saying, wait, this is not going to be a long term thing. Like you got to kind of dead that though. There was a MasterCard, I believe MasterCard person that said we didn't tell him to do anything this was on their own. But in the long term, I think Only Fans is trying to be something more than just a pandemic release system for some. For some I said some. Don't look at me.
Mostafa Ghonim:
I'm just thinking of your word choice. And I'm like, yo, that's hilarious. That is funny.
Nicky Saunders:
Is it not?
Mostafa Ghonim:
I'm with you. I think it's funny.
Nicky Saunders:
It surged during the pandemic.
Mostafa Ghonim:
I think they said $5 billion paid out to the creators or something like that.
Nicky Saunders:
So, but then it admitted that is started to struggle as people started going back outside. Now, we clearly are in a situation where we don't know if we're staying back inside or not. Clearly, I'm not but I will be after this. But um, oh, I may be in the middle of a hurricane. We don't know
Mostafa Ghonim:
I will say shout out to their you know, their yet. We'll figure it out on Sunday. Right? Um, but it's clearly struggling. But it could take a different turn. But I don't think the cofounders was like, You know what, let's only be a season they're trying to really be a whole brand. And when you're thinking about a whole brand, then of course, you're like, Alright, we got to we let this go for so long. Yeah, it was working. It made us a lot of money. But at some poi t we have to take that money a d reinvest it and try to get t e right investors to make th s into a bigger brand. Yeah. Th t is not just for this seaso execs and their team whoever is running like that that entire kind of business model. I think it's very genius of them you know outside of like the concept. I just want to talk business here for a second. Yep. For you to see something that's working, and be like, hold up, this is not sustainable, this is actually going to decline. Let's do something about it. And although mass media might be a little shock, like, Whoa, what are you doing? You guys are making X amount of dollars. Like, why is that? But you know, we've talked about this a couple of times that it's not just about creating good ideas or going to market with great ideas. It's really thinking about now what can be sustainable. So I think the fact that they're catching on to this is okay, let's use whatever success we have had here. And, and take the risk of jumping ship to redo something that can help us be more sustainable. So clearly, they want to be here for a while, not just the season, like you said. So I do like that, you know, they're willing to kind of take that risk and and, and almost start over from scratch if they have to.
Nicky Saunders:
Well, I'm not rooting for you Only Fans, but I do hope for the best because I don't want people to be like, oh, Nicky is rooting for... I don't have no subscriptions. You can check my credit cards. Check my credit cards. All right. So let's go into this next one. What has been trending this week is Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. Hmm. Right. So they had to sit down. And they talked a lot about basketball. But there was this one part that I particularly found interesting as far as the media, as far as maybe you'll look at it in one way of how he's speaking about it when it comes to basketball. Right. But I hope that you look at it from a deeper standpoint, from how we look at media as a whole. So let's get right to it. Oh that's not the one. There we go.
Kevin Durant:
I felt like the media knew more than me. I almost had them on a pedestal of like, they got more history knowledge of the game, they more experienced to me in this area of the NBA. So once I started to get more experienced, they realize like oh, no they can never be what I am or know what I know or understand that the way I understand it, some of the questions it didn't seem so intelligent to me anymore.
Nicky Saunders:
So the reason why I brought this one up is because there is how do I put this? I think we look at the media as a true source of information. Right. And I think that's what intimidates us sometimes as far as, like, are we doing good? Are we doing bad because according to the media, this is what their industry standard is, right? So I, I look at this clip, and I'm like, okay, athletes think the media is experts. When truly it's they are the experts. And as they're getting more seasoned, they're like, Oh, you don't really know that much. And so, when I think of that, I'm like, Okay, let's look at media as a whole. Right? Let's look at how we break down the importance of media, how we always go to certain profiles and certain sources every single day, for our information for our motivation, education, and all that great stuff, right? And then, while we're trying to grow, we're looking at them, but we're not truly checking their credentials. We're not truly saying, you know, what, what gives you the right have you have you've done this craft as much as I have. And so when I'm, when I'm looking at this particular clip, I'm like, yo, we give so much attention, and so much praise to the media, right to certain sources, that it's like, why, right, but why,
Mostafa Ghonim:
Right, but why? Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. I think it's because they control the narrative. Okay, right. To a large extent, we know that they they are are certain requirements even like when you just think athletes for a moment here, there are certain requirements that the team has rules, if you will, that, if you're requested to meet with the media, these are the certain things you've got to follow. Like, when you miss a meeting with the media, you're actually fined. Right? Because it's a part of just their financial model. And I'm sure the team can understand, or the team sees how they benefit from it, of course, you know, the media or vice versa. But I think it's really just a matter of perception, right? It's like, for everyone, even as students, young children going to school, you look at your teacher as Oh, well, there's no way you don't know something, right? Like, clearly you You're the teacher, that means you know how to spell every word, you know how to read every word, you know, everything. And that's not the same. That's not the case. But it really is just a matter of perception. I think there are certain industries where we look to other people, and well, I Oh, yeah, I'm not even gonna ask, you're just probably the expert in the space. But I think it definitely leaves us an opportunity to really start thinking twice about something and say, why am I trusting somebody else? with something that I have mastered that I have physically done myself? You've studied it, you've talked about it, you've watched it, I've done it. Alright, so like, that's got to give you a little bit more credibility, and at least even confidence in what you're doing is like, man, why am I looking at so and so's profile and and what they're saying and what they're reporting, when this is something that I'm actually doing, it probably makes sense for you to really talk about your experience. And you'll probably have more people listening to you because of what you're talking about. Because you're someone who's actually talking, or someone who's actually doing it, when we say it took us six hours to record the podcast. For anyone who's looking or thinking about starting a podcast, we're probably a good source for you right now, to listen to us right then just someone who's speaking about the hypotheticals of it, because they may be talking about it, but not actually doing it. So I think that there's always a credibility factor that goes into it. But I do want to say this, I know this is slightly off topic, but I just think it's so important because just for the community, the culture and of course, everything that's happening. I love that these conversations are happening more and more the other side of it, you know, when you think media, people made it seem that Kevin Durant left the team, because of this fight with Draymond and if you listen to the interview, Kevin Durant says, No, it actually wasn't your fault. Right? Right. The media made it seem that way. So like, the media is gonna spin stuff out of control and make you think, the worst or the best about something. But it's not the truth, when in reality, they left because of management, or he left because of management. So I do want to say that about media. And then of course, the part of it is, I love that. Men, minority men, just minorities in general, are sitting down to have the tough conversations more often. Because every single time you see that someone of the generation has done that. It's moved the needle tremendously for what is normal in our culture, in our society, and just in how we do business, right how we do life. So I think of when Kobe and Shaq sat down, I think of when I think Isaiah Thomas and Magic sat down, right? So it's like, you know, there's a lot of people that are having these sit downs, I'm hoping shoot MJ and Scottie Pippen could sit down at one point too. Because it seems like they're due for one of these talks. But yeah, I just loved that part about it. They're like, yo, it's great when you bring the narrative back into your own hands, and you sit down and talk, you immediately you immediately put the media out of business for a little bit because they can't spin the truth or can't make something up when you just told the world what really happened. So yeah, just want to encourage, you know, of course, I'm highlight that because I think it is a major, a major deal that they sat down and had the dialogue.
Nicky Saunders:
I agree. So let's get into the one that I kind of already. let y'all hear about. Ah, Kevin, Kevin Hart, and and Nick Cannon had a conversation, right? And I'm not gonna lie. When I think about Nick Cannon. I don't take him serious. However, He has a lot of business a lot like he is he is a huge is a huge entrepreneur. And he is the gateway of for a lot of people. Yeah. And so we found the clip of actually Kevin Hart, really giving homage to him and kind of breaking down why he does what he does. So let's get into it.
Kevin Hart:
Talking about Wild N Out, I'm talking about what that now is right? Like, you know, you're you're a portal, you go through this thing, right this machine and the now what is the next level of success because there have been people that have used that platform. And that has been monumental for.
Nick Cannon:
I don'tknow if it's our generation or a different generation, there's always like, an energy of like, comedians, were super competitive or did like, Oh, I don't want that person to get.. oh I should have got... I'm funnier, and I don't ever feel. Yeah, I don't feel like we have that. I've seen older cats have that. And then even people who are not really intrinsic into it, who maybe want to be a part of it, but cats who out here really getting it they know that grind of writing jokes telling it's three, four o'clock morning trying to figure out if what just said is gonna be for tomorrow, like,
Nicky Saunders:
I'll let you go first.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, I mean, it's interesting, again, when you when you look at something from the outside, and you think, Oh, it's, I'm sure people are like this way in the industry, or this is the way to be successful. And then you hear someone really telling their experience, like, we're actually not competitive with each other. Like, we're not trying to trip each other up on the journey, we're actually doing things to help one another in the process, because we know what it's like. Alright, so I think that that's always interesting that when you get close enough to the fire, and you hear some of these gems, it helps you course, correct. If you are someone, and I'll never forget that bar that you said, I don't know if it was on a Tuesday, a live or on the actual episode, when you said, Yo, I find competition, even in opportunities of collaboration. I was like, Man, that's so dope, because I never thought about that. I've always said, Oh, well, if we're collaborating, we're working together, we're working together, there is no competition when it's like, actually, no, there is some form of friendly competition, even in the collaboration. So I love that you put that, you know, but if you're someone who is on the vicious side of it, where you're like, Oh, I'm gonna, I gotta win, by all means. And you think that's the way to success because of just maybe your experience or how you grew up, or what's worked for you even previously, if you're trying to get somewhere similar to where these two are, and you listen to what worked for them, or how they're able to build a relationship with one another, you see that it's a totally different factor. Like it's a totally different aura. So if you're in a season of life right now, and you're listening to this, and you're saying, Man, I really need to start maybe linking with like minded people, I need to look at what other personal brands are get what other entrepreneurs or other people building businesses understand that you can't approach them with the energy of Oh, I'm about to tear you down, because I don't think that they're gonna want to bring anyone close to them who has that approach. So just know like, again, when we when we play some of these clips, those are the things that that come to mind immediately. And then of course, as you were saying that I looked up the I looked at my phone to see when Nick Cannon came out with Drumline that was 2002.
Nicky Saunders:
Really
Mostafa Ghonim:
Crazy, right? 2002, 19 years later, homeboys still in the game. So yeah, that's crazy.
Nicky Saunders:
So like, so there was something that he said that, and I think we look at competition as something that is super needed, right. And I've been very vocal about how competitive I am this then the third. However, I think, when he was talking about the difference in generations, I think he saw the generations before were very, very competitive. And they were very, very alone. And not everybody won. You're right. We look at our generation, and we're seeing things like how people in Atlanta are, right, and how everybody kind of just sticks together. We're seeing a whole new wave of comedians, and they're like, go, is there's enough for all of us to eat, and I think when when you've learned from past, and you see how competition is is cool for maybe one but not all, yeah. You kind of think, like, second guess about the way you move with competition. Like, and I think we're in a culture, like just us in an environment of like, you know, you got to hunt, you got to be aggressive, you got to be, you know, do this then the third and I'm like, you know, don't, don't necessarily do something unless asked, you know, and I get it, but at the same time, this is a different type of generation. This is not what like people want to To help each other, because in the long term, we all make money. Yeah. Right. And though it may seem at the time, you make more money right now, than what I feel like we've taken advantage of is that leverage piece. I think we've mastered leveraging, I think we've seen, especially with Nick Cannon, he was like, Look, I have this platform. Come on, this could possibly blow you up to other things, aka DC. DC young fly, right? Um, who's it, Chico. Um, who else? Who else? Uh, Carlos, like, B Simone. There's so many of these people that came from wiling out. And that's just some, some of the recent ones that was blowing up now. Right? But there's all that there's, there's one thing that always comes in mind is Wild N Out. And like, Nick Cannon, doesn't necessarily say hey, okay, you know, you came on my platform you owe me all the time. It's that level of reprocity kind of thing. Like, yo what can I do? Like when Nick was going through that situation where they had canceled everybody, right? Like they canceled Wild N Out they said yo is not happening is not yours? Um, he was, everybody was like, yo, we we ain't doing another Wild N Out. If it ain't Nick, it ain't us. Right. And so that builds loyalty as well, when you're not always trying to be at each other's necks. So we can look and there is, like I said, in a in a past episode, there is a level of healthy competition. Right? Especially when you are collaborating. It becomes a game. Yeah. Like who could get there first? Who can make the most money? All right, I see you. Now let me go get more. Right. But it's, and I really need to, I think we did it in way back. But I need to look at the definition of ego. And how that plays into competition.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, that's interesting. I mean, just while while we pull that up, I will say that, I think a part of it, why this generation also moves differently. It's because I think they're, they've been exposed enough to finally recognize like, yo, there is enough for all of us. Like, when we're competing. We're not competing, because there's just $10 on the table. And we're competing for who can get the most out of the 10. There's no, no, there is there is infinity out there. So we're not competing about who's over a limited resource. Oftentimes, we're competing over something that we've imagined in our minds, Brilli due to our lack of understanding our lack of awareness, by our limited thinking and to saying, oh, there's only set amount where it's like, No, no, if that's the reason why you're competing, then you're not in a competition. You know, like, if you're competing, because you think there isn't enough for you and the person you're competing against, then you're you're in a wrong competition. You're not even you're not even playing a game for that matter. Right. But But to get an understanding that, okay, there's, we're competing over other things, like you said, Who can get there faster? But how can we share resources and still be better? It's like, imagine that like, Oh, yo Nicks guess what I just found? Check this out. But it's like wait, but I thought you were gonna use that for your success. Yeah, no, let's both use it and see who can come up with something better. That's, that's cool competition. Right. Not about that limited thinking kind of stuff. So then I wanted to throw it in there. I think that's really cool. Let's see
Nicky Saunders:
And and I think it's so hard to sometimes not it. think of competition like I'm, I'm gonna come at your neck and I don't want no one else to win. Right? It and I think there's a level of maturity when it comes to competition. I, when when we are at a certain maturity, we'll be like, Yo bump that no one wins me. It's me. It's me. Look at me, look at me. And you break down that it's like, why is it Look at me? Why is it that you want to be by yourself? Why do you want to win throne and say that you've done this then the third and then at the end of the
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, for real. Yeah, cue up the womp sound. But day, you're by yourself when then we look at it from we wonder why some there's a level of depression. We wonder why there's a level of divorce. We wonder why there's because you have some people that are into like, I'm killing everything in my way. I'm so focused on this, I'm doing this. And I have to beat this person, this person, this person, and you're not understanding what that does for other people. Yeah. So I believe that our generation is really figuring it out. like, Yo, I don't want to not have friends, right? I don't want to not have connections. I don't want to like when I need a favor, not call on somebody, just because, you know, I was such in a go mode, that I just cut this person off, or I did something behind their back for me to look good. Yeah. So when, when it's all about, yo, let's collaborate. Let's do something together. Let let let you be on my platform. Let you be let me be on your platform. I think that's just the way to go. And find and feed that co petition that you have. So ehow somewhere else. Drake messed up when he said no new friends. It's late y'all. Corny jokes coming at you. So here's the definition that ego, a person's sense of self esteem, or self importance. Now this is kind of cool, right? Look at this. It said an ego. To have an ego is essential to our very makeup. It will define who we are and how we connect with others. Ego becomes an issue when it becomes overpowering. However, everyone has an ego. That's crazy, because I actually always thought ego was a bad thing. Like, oh, you're such a egotistical so and so, but it's like, No, no, no, no, it's it's your self esteem. Self importantance. So its like I guess you need an ego, right? Like there isn't probably much of a difference between confidence and ego afterall.
Nicky Saunders:
So am I confusing it with pride?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Let's see. That was a good question.
Nicky Saunders:
Trying to ask questions people. I'm trying to figure it out. Because it like you said ego and pride have a well ego has a negative vibe to it.
Mostafa Ghonim:
You know, what's crazy is that a lot of these things aren't necessarily bad. By definition, I think it's really just the abuse of whatever these things are, right? Because look at this, it says to be especially proud of a particular quality or skill, pride, to be proud of a particular quality or skill, like something about yourself a quality or skill that you have. So you're especially proud of it.
Nicky Saunders:
So why do we take this negative? I'm so confused.
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's, that's my thing. And as I'm saying, like, when you really start looking at the definition of these words, you realize that we have started using these words incorrectly, because of a negative experience, or someone has used somebody, excuse me abused some of these concepts. So we start to say, oh, if you have too much pride, or if you have pride, that's a bad thing. Or if you have an ego, that's a bad thing. But in reality, if you get a true understanding of the definition of the word, the definition of these concepts, they're not bad, you need some of that you need to have pride, you need to have ego, right? Because you'd probably be a pushover if both of those are absent in your life. Now, again, the overuse the abuse of those things, I can understand how it can be problematic, because you're almost becoming like so self centered that you want everything to be about you because of those things. So I can understand nobody wants to be around somebody like that. But yeah, not this is this is definitely a lesson right here. Like you could learn so much by just looking up a definition of a concept. And, and testing it against what you thought it was. Because you can be staying away from something that you need because you thought it was bad, when in reality, it's what you need.
Nicky Saunders:
Well, there you go. There you go. So let's get to this next one, which is a bit unfortunate. So Lizzo and Cardi came out with a new song called rumors, right? So of course if you know, Cardi and if you know Lizzo there's something like they just very they're very flamboyant. Right? They're always out there. They're doing some crazy it is what it is right now. Um, Lizzo got a lot of hate. Um, about that video, especially about her weight, and, you know, just cyber bullying is just no matter how famous you are still really affects people. Right? So she was on an Instagram Live, I believe, and she just broke down, like, just broke down. And once again, she's human. Right, but she did a recent interview with I think, ABC Oh, just one of them Good Morning America things. And this is what she said.
Lizzo:
Black women have been in this industry and innovating it forever. It is unfortunate that we are the ones who do suffer from the marginalization the most in the erasure the most. And I feel like if it weren't for the internet, if it weren't for social media, I could have been erased. Do you know what I mean? But I chose to be undeniable and I chose to be loud. And I chose to be great. And I'm still here.
Nicky Saunders:
She is still here, people still here. So I got confused by this a little bit. Because what she's saying, if it wasn't for social media, I wouldn't be here. So is she also bigging up the same same thing that actually bashed her.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Could be Yeah, she could be giving credit to what brought her down is the thing that may be built, strengthen her to overcome and, and survive, I can see that. I
Nicky Saunders:
So because we she went in on in that can see that. particular clip, like, you know, minorities always get bashed, you know, we're the first ones this that and the third. And I nd I get that. But this is some hing that I believe for her sn't gonna go away. Because, hink about it if she if she oses weight, and then she'll pro ably get ridiculed. If she sta s that weight, she's probably oing to get ridiculed right. U , it's just a never ending t ing. But in this in this day a d age, social media did make L zzo huge because of how people d d cheer her on. I think t ere's more people that cheer L zzo on than necessarily the n gative. But of course, n gativity speaks louder.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah. You know, it's crazy for me. I'm really starting to think that you know, maybe it's the artists' fault. Alright, like, catch where I'm going with this. Maybe it's your fault for relying so heavily on what the audience is saying that you became dependent upon it like you became addicted to their feedback, you became addicted to their praise, and their strokes and their and their and their right compliments toward you. That now whenever it is not there, your world ends, because you got to think about it. Like why is it someone like Kendrick, who was at the top of his game, and walked away? And I'm sure he was, I'm sure he had comments. Uh, we don't see no more posts on his page right now. But if at some point we were able to go back, I'm sure people were dropping crazy comments at him. Like, where are you waiting? I dropped the music while you've got us waiting. Right? But he's someone who was able to put it behind him, at least from what we know. But I think when I when I look at an example like you know, this young lady here and I'm honestly never been familiar with her until you mentioned her so this is like, this is my first time I've never seen or heard her music before. So educational moment.
Nicky Saunders:
Yes you have.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Maybe I've listened but not connected. So it's like an educational moment for me, but I'm not I'm not what I'm saying is I'm not talking about her as...
Nicky Saunders:
No! I'm looking it up. What was Lizzo's famous song? No, don't do that. You've you you've heard of... You've heard her music.
Mostafa Ghonim:
How long has she been out?
Nicky Saunders:
A bit, hold on. Hold on. I'm gonna find it. Yo what?
Mostafa Ghonim:
It's crazy.
Nicky Saunders:
No. No. What?
Mostafa Ghonim:
I'm sure there's some listeners out there like Yo, there are so many new artists now. It's hard to keep up. And I'm sure you probably I'm sure I've listened to a song with her on it probably even enjoyed it without knowing. But didn't know it was her.
Nicky Saunders:
I was gonna go on YouTube that instant ads. What we not going to do as instant ads.
Mostafa Ghonim:
But while you pull that up, I will just say like, I'm not necessarily talking about the person I'm just saying to the idea or the characteristic of when we become too dependent upon our audience's feedback, like we can even be going to the audience with good intent is that Oh, let me get their feedback so I can know what to create or how to do better or how to or know what not to do.
Nicky Saunders:
Yes, see?
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's crazy.
Nicky Saunders:
See, I was like, yeah you have.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Okay. I definitely have. Okay, definitely have. Yeah, but I'm just saying like, I think I think part of what she's experienced is maybe an over dependency on the culture on the audience, and not enough ego.
Nicky Saunders:
I see what you did there.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Self esteem. What are your thoughts? What you think?
Nicky Saunders:
I just like, and I struggle with this, because for the simple fact that you have to be vulnerable, but you have to be strong. But if you're really not that strong, if it really bugs you, do you? Do you have to play? Nah, you know what? I'm still here, I'm still strong. I'm like, I just I don't know. Like, if it hurts, say it just hurts. Just say it hurts. Like, we don't have to get on and say, You know what? I'm still here. If it doesn't, you know, I could deal with it. Maybe you can't, and it's okay. Like, like, real people understand that real people have feelings. Right? And you can be affected by it. Right? You can make it a point to address it, but not try to feel so strong about it. But and I'm not saying that lizzo is a weak person. I'm not saying that... what's happening outside? So I don't know if that was a motorcycle or car or bad Honda what happen. But, um, but
Mostafa Ghonim:
Hopefully not the hurricane. That was the first thing that came to my mind. Not the hurricane. I wonder if the live where she was emotional is
Nicky Saunders:
We're not we're not doing a hurricane but um, but yeah, I just feel like I think celebrities are always supposed to be especially females this like the strong lack woman I can do it all and eah, I was affected but I'm, ou know, I'm here and I'm loud. nd I'm proud and, and all that reat stuff. And I'm like, okay, ut like when you get back home re you gonna still say the same hing? before or after this interview that we see here. Oh it was definitely after. It was definitely after okay. It was definitely after Okay, like because you this is how you are when you initially get it like yo boom I am hurt I am cries, tears. This is horrible. Why would people say these particular things. And what's bad is that so like, everybody has a voice. And so when you are on the and it could be small content, you got to be ready for these trolls. You got to be ready for people who do not like you because not everybody is going not everybody has the confidence that you have. And so just like how we we saw that Meg the Stallion situation, they're going to fear you, they're going to make fun of you because they don't understand you. They don't understand how you could weigh so much and be that confident. And just flaunt however you want. And people love you and you're making millions of dollars and you have budgets that are out of this world and people overseas know you because you're what what society will say as obese and all that great stuff. Let her live like you can't do it. That's that's your problem. That's your problem. I don't know. That's just me. But for this last segment. Moose, what was the lessons that you learned today? In this whole setup situation? I would just love to hear and then I'm going to give my take.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, I mean, I think I think I spoke to it man like and of course there's the other side of it too. At first I talked about in the beginning of the episode. Like yo stay in your lane right. Um, but the other the other side of it, too was perseverance. Right? Because I think like, yeah, there were legit. Yeah, I'm gonna reenact this for a second. There was a moment where I was like sitting right here on the couch. You can see this couch is kind of comfortable. But Nicky was sitting down like computer in front of her she was sitting like this. I was like, oh, shoot. That can't be good. This This might be like, do I think we're gonna have to reschedule. I think we might have to redo this episode at another time.
Nicky Saunders:
I promise you. I was telling Ed. I had it, though. Do I still have it? I had. Because we're recording this on a Friday for those who no I don't have it. Yes I do. I said Yo, Eddie, this is well, this wasn't a gopher today. If we record Sunday is that still good? I was ready to send that I was so ready to send that.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah. Yeah. But I'm, I'm sitting here next to her I'm like, Oh, you know what, let's at the end of day, I'm home, right? This is like, I'm good. I'm like you know what?
Nicky Saunders:
He's home but he got to drive me back.
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's all right. I going to the other home. But, ya know, I was just like, man, the perseverance though, despite six hours of setup time, pulling content, editing it,
Nicky Saunders:
Bad food, like unhealthy food, not bad food,
Mostafa Ghonim:
Well they messed up our order as to. But you know, like, despite all of that, to still sit here and record,
it's now 12:
40. It's like, yo perseverance. I mean, again like I don't I don't want to b cliche with it and say, Oh well, how bad do you want it and yada, yada, yada? I'm not saying that. I'm not saying hat. But I'm just saying like you know, at the end of th day, like, this is the true de inition of perseverance. You kno what's funny, to me, t's like, yo, there are certain ircumstances where if you wer to quit, or if you were to no complete it, you can give yo rself a good enough reason for hy you didn't do it. And the o her person kind of has to respect it. It's not it's not one of those my dog ate my ho ework type things. It's like, n , my dog died. Oh, okay. Okay dang nah I'm not gonna sa nothing on death now. Like, no, no. We good. I let you slide wit this one. But it's like, uh, bu um, but but to pull through hat and get it done in spite of hat, to me, that shows a lot mor credit. So like, Yeah, no, I'm just looking at this like yo, for real, Yeah. Uh, stay i your lane, but also persevere like, yo, push endure put up w th the, the annoyances and, an the stress and all that bec use stuff like this comes out of it, which I think is rea ly special. So this is a one ime thing. It's the first t me ever, I don't know if you'll et to see us. Maybe not ever, b t it's definitely gonna be proba ly a minute before they see us live again in the flesh or another one of these. So t is is this is cool. Enjoy it w ile you got it.
Nicky Saunders:
Next one will be a Nick will be around. Isiah you may be around somebody because Moose thinks I'm a machine sometimes, like, really amazing, amazing machine. Oh, Nicky got it. It's okay. It's all right. You know, um, but he forgets I do a job of like, three. And then when it's in a brand new location, it takes a bit of time, it takes quite a bit of time, especially with three random cameras. Then finding different ways to make it work, lighting, furniture um, food that, you know, it just,
Mostafa Ghonim:
It is a lot. This was a lot. Yeah, I feel like we were on the set for a big movie.
Nicky Saunders:
And so so look, let's, let's take you real quick behind the scenes real quick. So it actually takes a lot of hours to research this content. And when I tell you and I'm probably going to go more into this on the All Access Squad, but when I tell you, it's like, I don't know, like, I get here. He picks me up around two something we get probably here around three or four ish something around there, right. Six o'clock contents not done seven o'clock. I'm like hey, content. Right? Eight o'clock. Yo we still don't have content right.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Now whoa, hold on. By 6:30 we were on the phone with Jose trying to adjust camera, that process alone took two hours.
Nicky Saunders:
Right, right. But in the back of my head, I'm still on the, we have no, like we had some of the basis but like, we have no real true, like, what are we talking about? Right? So then it's like, was it 10 something, right, and I was like, yo, we don't have enough clips. And here I am, like,
Mostafa Ghonim:
Half asleep,
Nicky Saunders:
Dead dead to the world. And that's when I had typed up that, um, that text like like, this is not, this is not going to go this... but it was worth it just because we did it. Live in person, Episode, and I really get to see Moose. And he really gets to see all that is done. Because when I tell you he be like, ready, buddy? And like, I'm not. I'm not No, ok.
Mostafa Ghonim:
But I mean, again, and I think it's just the importance of to continuing to learn because we talked about one mishap that happened probably last year, right? When you end up I think like staying up like 24 hours, more than 24 hours for that. And that was a big learning lesson like oh, okay, just because it's digital doesn't mean it's magic. But i doesn't mean it's like a click of a button. There's a lot of st ff that happens into digit l design. So that was a big l sson. But I just think like, you know, you keep, the more ou spend time with someo e. And in terms of under tanding their side of the respo sibilities, there are other things to it. And just becau e they just had to just becau e certain things, people make hem look easy. Doesn't mean hat they actually are.
Nicky Saunders:
And there you go, people and there you go. So, um, go follow us everywhere. Um, we should have documented this more, but I think we were all just over it. But it happened, we conquered. We're here together. Yes, there will be another one after this hurricane after the hurricane, and when we figure out, it's Listen, the skeleton is done like it is the foundation part of how its going to be set up, literally is done. I know when this happens again, it will take probably not even like literally maybe an hour to set up. Right. And that's normally what happens when you start creating something that first time is always slow. Like that first time it takes the longest, right? And then when you do it again, it's a little bit quicker. You do it again, a little bit quicker and do it again. And then it's like okay, boom, turn this on. Great boom, boom, boom, like this. Be honest. There's light that just went out. I did. I just looked at it. I was like, oh, okay, whatever. Right. But lessons learned, I know what to do. I thought it was plugged that maybe it's not it is what it is. So, ah, transparency moment, transparency. But um, it's, it's something that needed to be done. And this is for anybody. And I'll be honest, I was actually dreading in person because I was like, this is going to be the worst time of my life. Setting this up and everything like that. But now that it's over, I'm like, okay, when's the next one?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Hmm. Okay, so look, a little positive came
Nicky Saunders:
No, because now I'm like, okay, boom, we don't out. need all the gadgets. We need one solid thing here two lights. My now I got to figure out this mic thing so my back isn't killing me. But it um, it isn't as hard after, I think you just need like a dummy day. And this is for anybody. Like you need a dummy day. You don't need the day of recording. Don't think the very very first day you are going to figure things out. No, have a dummy day and then have them give you all access stuff but have have the, you know, have the actual record day. So it relieves some stress from you so it doesn't feel so pressured. This is why some people come up hours hours prior to or days before any event. Yeah, just to set up just to make sure all the equipment everything's right mics right off all that great stuff. So if I say anything, before we go to most final words, um, have a dummy day for anything, anything that you set up, it doesn't have to be equipment or anything, just anything just to relieve pressure from you. And so that you can look forward to doing it again. Because now you are going to be able to do it right or at least way quicker. That's all I'm gonna say. On that note, I'm All Access Squad. Go try it out. For all my android listeners. You know, Spotify, Google podcasts, I Heart Radio, everything. Don't worry. In the future. We got something for you. We are working on it. Don't don't don't think that y'all forgotten right? This but get an iPad. But um, with that being said, All right. Oh, Tuesdays every Tuesday 8pm Eastern, right.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yes. 8pm Eastern
Nicky Saunders:
I thought you're like No, not this Tuesday.
Mostafa Ghonim:
No, no, I said, I said, I said, I said bro, because I meant to say last Tuesday was fire.
Nicky Saunders:
Oh, yeah. Sorry. I think okay, so let us know. Because we have an idea. I was thinking, like dropping on possibly like the end of the week. So let's say maybe on a Friday or a Saturday that will start clipping up parts of the live and dropping it as a as an episode like a bonus episode. And I think that's the I think that's what we'll do for those people who Nicky and Moose I'm not going to sit through a whole one hour live, I can't do it. I think what we're going to do is get to the meat and potatoes of it. And, and put that on on our channel. So all all our podcast listeners won't be an extra show is just going to be another episode that you guys could look forward to like just a bonus episode. I think we can start doing I think that'd be really dope. So I'm sorry, Eddie. Anyways, uh, let me get it right. Let me get it right. Oh, nope, that was wrong. That was wrong. Look at this.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, for all our for our listeners who are like, what are these like transitional things that you guys are talking about? Go Go catch it on YouTube. So you can see like some of the error, some of the bloopers that happened. And we just ran the show where like a just go at this point, you got to be going home with it. But, um, for the final words, here's what I want to give you for this week. Right? Again, I'm telling you all, much of what I've been teaching over the last I want to say, three months has been my life has not anything, what I've been studying what I've been reading what I've been listening to, it's literally been my life and me just becoming hyper aware of what's happening in my life. And and and dissecting the lessons out of that. I'm like, What is why is this happening? What's really happening, right? So right now, I want to challenge you to do two things, right? Or maybe look at them as one way or one thing but it's double sided. Be hungry enough to realize that you can lose your spot. But be confident enough to know that nobody can do it like you. Right, again, be hungry enough to know that you could lose your spot, whatever it is that you're working toward whatever it is that you have right now that you feel so comfortable with. Be hungry enough to realize that yo I can wake up tomorrow and it's no longer there. This that's going to create a level of urgency and you that you've probably haven't operated in a while, but at the same time moving in a level of confidence ike yo nobody can do this like e. And if you have that one hing in front of you and that ther thing behind you, it's onna create something within ou that's gonna keep you b lanced, right and eventually, t at's the thing that makes it w rk. So hungry enough. Confident nough because nobody can do it ike you anyway.
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