Brooklyn Episodes

Join host Raphael and chaos connoisseur Ashwin as they dive into the year's top movies like "Sinners" and unpack that wild “Weapons” ending. They'll debate must-see TV and music, and even share a Humans of New York tale that'll tug at your heartstrings. 2025 in review: From epic films to tech blunders like “Bugonia” and the Signal chat leak, Raphael and Ashwin are here to make you laugh, ponder, and maybe even shed a tear. Plus, hear their thoughts on tech billionaires needing a lesson in email etiquette, and catch what they're excited for in 2026—GTA 6, anyone? Perfect if you're looking for friendly banter and insightful chats!

Well, the break is over, and episodes of White Label American are back! Nothing beats having the true owner of the podcast step out from behind the scenes for that rare appearance and cause that annual mutiny on your host. I guess, since I haven't dropped an episode for you all in a year, I earned this beatdown. If you want the video of this episode, head over to our Patreon for that and plenty of bonus episodes that kept coming during the break.

Cav Manning shares his personal journey, highlighting the impact of cultural backgrounds on his life. This episode also explores the vibrant dance, music, and poetry that have come to define Cav Manning aka Comrade Cav. Tune in and come on this inspiring journey that will also take you to Tokyo. There's a bonus conversation behind the paywall.

First off, I want to apologize for the delay in releasing episodes. In this special Q & A episode, our regular favorite Ashwin joins White Label American host Raphael Harry as they dive into questions pulled from a deck of Poddecks (I forgot to say that during the recording).

In this heartwarming 6th anniversary episode, we celebrate six incredible years of our podcast with an extraordinary guest my six-year-old daughter! Join us as she shares delightful stories about her recent birthday, her favorite movies, and the sports she loves watching at the Olympics, like gymnastics and basketball. We also dive into her favorite activities with her dad, making this episode a perfect blend of nostalgia, joy, and family fun. Tune in for a memorable celebration of our journey and the wonderful moments that make it all worthwhile.

Obinna Elechi, a man of many talents. Hailing from Nigeria, he's an architect, comic book artist, and painter all rolled into one. In his solo episode, he delves into the complexities of parenthood, the societal pressures to adhere to traditional life milestones, and the unique challenges of fatherhood. Obinna candidly shares his experiences of living in the Netherlands, his deep-rooted passion for football, and his personal struggle with identity as a Nigerian living abroad. Furthermore, he of...

On our latest episode, we have a lineup of three incredible creatives: Amir Bey, Grace Nkem, and Obinna Elechi. They will captivate you with their inspiring stories, starting from their birth cities to their childhood memories and early sources of inspiration. Brace yourself as we take down the artificial walls that confine creativity! Our journey begins in Port Harcourt Nigeria, Tver Russia, New York, and Ann Arbor Michigan, but it doesn't stop there. We explore the boundless world beyond these...

Our special guest today, is the talented Kenny Wong. Get ready to dive deep into Kenny's fascinating journey as a stunt person, comic artist, and all-around creative force. In this episode, Kenny shares powerful insights on the importance of pursuing our passions and supporting others in their creative endeavors. From comic books to martial arts, Kenny's story is an inspiring reminder that following our dreams can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. Plus, we'll delve into his unique experie...

On this episode of White Label American, host Raphael Harry talks with guests Corey Gumbs, Ashwin Goutham Gopi, and Nabeel Ebeid about their experiences as fathers and the cultural influences that have impacted their parenting. The discussion covers topics such as the importance of recognizing each child's individuality, imparting cultural heritage, dealing with emotional involvement as a father, and breaking negative cycles. They also share personal stories of mistakes made and lessons learned ...

Today is my birthday, so we are having a double celebration. Grab your favorite beverage as we delve into the inspiring stories of three immigrant mothers in Brooklyn on our latest White Label American podcast episode. Bertha, Murielle, and Preet share their unique challenges and triumphs in motherhood and how their immigrant journey has shaped their experiences. From building a community in a new environment to breaking cultural barriers and raising bi or multilingual children in multicultural ...

On this episode of White Label American, I chat with entrepreneur and mentor, Kerry-Ann Reid, who runs the podcast production company, Breadfruit Media a podcast production company that creates culturally relevant content with a Caribbean American Point of View. We discuss how the podcast industry needs to prioritize the audience's needs over technology and advertisers. Kerry-Ann shares her personal journey, how she launched her own podcast, Carry On Friends, in 2015, and experienced burnout due...

Join us for an insightful episode of White Label American, originally released on Nov 1st, 2019, as Azam Ayub shares his personal experiences and opinions on living in New York. Azam discusses the challenges of high rent and long commutes and draws lessons from his passion for watching Manchester United. He also sheds light on the harmful effects of extreme opinions, emphasizing the importance of diversity and education. With a touch of humor, he shares his first signature purchase and dives int...

Today, I'm delighted to have not one, not two, but THREE amazing European guests in the studio for this week's episode. Julia Arens and Nadine Von Ahsen from Germany, and Murielle Misczak from Switzerland all with Kinderhaus Brooklyn joined us to discuss their unique perspectives on cults and children's education. It was a wonderfully enlightening experience to hear how their different upbringings shaped their views. Nadine shared her experience of how her name was popular in Germany during the ...

We are delighted to welcome Preet Pannu to our list of special guests with ties to Punjabi! Born in Nairobi, Preet has a beautiful name and an amazing story of her origins in Kenya, including being part of an interfaith family. Preet is no stranger to the media world, having worked as a professional producer and editor for Documentary Films, Travel TV, and East African Radio. With TV credits on PBS, Travel Channel, and Discovery, Preet's career has taken her from the UK to the USA, and back to ...

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I sat down with Yuan Wang for an inspiring conversation. Yuan is a product designer in the tech industry, using design to make a positive impact on people's lives and our environment. She's worked in music publishing and now focuses on controlled environmental agriculture. We discussed her hometown Chengdu, fireworks, digital spaces, and how people have become unhinged. We also discussed the nostalgia of having relationships with local stores, the excitin...

It's been an absolute pleasure to end the Black History Month episodes with Marcus Haynes, a distinguished guest whose journey began in Brooklyn before he was exposed to the rich and diverse cultures of Lusaka, Zambia, Kisumu, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa. His parents are from the Caribbean, making his life story even more unique. What makes Marcus an even more exceptional person is that he had the incredible opportunity to meet Nelson Mandela as a teenager. How many of us can say the ...

I'd like to take this moment to apologize for wrongly stating earlier that Christian Atsu, was among the survivors pulled out earlier in the earthquake in Turkiye during recording. Unfortunately, by the time of publishing, Atsu had not been found (he has been found and buried back home in Ghana). My thoughts are with his family, fans, and Ghanaians along with Turkish, and Syrians during this difficult time. Rodney Jehu-Appiah had just returned from a family trip to his homeland of Ghana when th...

What a year 2022 was, we have had the good, the bad, and the fantastic. To wrap up the year 2022 and officially come out of hibernation, I decided to have some of my New York/East Coast podcasters and friends join me to wrap up the year. We talked about Politics, Books, Music, Cultural Moments, Movies/Shows and everything in between that went down in 2022 from our perspective. It's a relaxed and informal atmosphere, with a bunch of like-minded folks just hanging out and having fun. You're invite...

Zou Diallo is a digital media creator based in Brooklyn NY. You wouldn't be able to tell that this gentleman did not speak a word of English when he arrived in America. Zou's story is a beautiful American story and shows how the struggle of many immigrants is real. Zou's arrival in NYC is one of the most legendary “Welcome To New York” stories that we have had on the podcast, mine. know that mine. However, before he came to the United States, Zou lived in one of the most beautiful and historic ...

Nancy the host of Concrete Pastures Podcast got her visa two days after 9/11. This is her origin story, which includes navigating growing up in Zambia, boarding school, and arriving in NY to work as a housekeeper/nanny before following her passion for finance and podcasting. The resilience and drive in Nancy are part of why she's a superb host of her show. Find Concrete Pastures (including my episodes) at all podcasting platforms and www.concretepastures.com Don't forget to send your answers to...

What an honor to be able to seat down with and have a fabulous with the one and only Talib Jasir. Talib is the CEO /Founder of the Afros and Audio, visionary, creative, & advocate for the people's collective power. Talib shares a lot of gems about his life, his family, his platform, and his inspirations. The 4th Afros and Audios Festival is coming soon (October). Interested, check out this link for early access https://linktr.ee/afrosandaudio Don't forget to tell your friends to join us here. D...

Mott Haven Film Festival Founder and Executive Director Ninoska Carolina joins us in this memorable episode to talk about the story behind her names, films, growing up in NYC and establishing a film festival. Connect with Ninoska on Instagram or via the Motta Haven website www.mhff.nyc Do The Right Thing 0:00 - 1:39, Recommendation 01:40 - 02:54, Intro 02:55 - 03:46, Story Behind Names 07:41 - 10:00, Carolina 12:50 - 14:26, Place of Birth 17:45 - 22:39 Outside Food 25:40 - 28:23, Favorite Child...

Before he became one of the co-founders of Rise Products, and a husband, dad, Brooklynite, Dravidian, Teacher, and so much more Ashwin Goutham Gopir had a beginning. We take one of the most exciting human journeys going way back in time, I'm talking about thousands of years in what is today's Southern India, ancient Christianity cameo, early stab at entrepreneurship, romance and so much then NYC especially Brooklyn. Technology, and agriculture, have always been a part of this man's story long be...

As we continue to honor and celebrate women throughout this month of March. I decided to revisit one of the most popular episodes featuring my partner in crime and romance; Verena Thoene. Verena and I also have a daughter together whom you may hear once or twice during this recording. Verena is an HR Executive whose story began in Muenster Germany. I hope that you will enjoy this episode. Intro 0:00 - 5:09, Place of Birth & Childhood 6:14 - 7:48, Northerners vs Southerners 8:03 - 9:30, Favorite...