The Qonnect

Welcome to the final episode of Season 4 of The Qonnect Podcast! Join me as I reflect on the enriching and grounding conversations we've had this season, exploring themes like storytelling, community building, new narratives for Africa, and the importance of adaptability. From inspiring stories with Aashni Shah about resilience and self-advocacy to discussing the power of art in activism, we've covered a lot of ground.  Hear highlights from episodes with Brandon Campbell on the philosophy of interconnectedness, Maïmouna on reframing African narratives, Ras on reclaiming African stories and Ibraheem on preserving our cultures.  This season has been an exploration of humanity, creativity, and the necessity of challenging existing narratives. Thank you all for joining me on this journey, and stay tuned for more in Season 5! 00:32 Reflecting on Season 4: Key Themes and Conversations 01:29 Hype Yourself with Aashni Shah 05:33 The Power of Adaptability 07:05 Artists as Activists: Reflecting the Times 09:55 Interconnectedness and Community Building with Brandon Campbell 13:15 Romanticizing African Narratives with Maïmouna 19:37 Reclaiming African Stories with Ras from TAP Media 23:39 The Tapestry of Humanity: Ibraheem Leone's Journey Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect and tagging @theqonnect on Instagram and @qaaliciid on Instagram and X. Follow @qaaliciid & @theqonnect on Instagram. If you feel like you, or someone else, should be on The Qonnect email us beingqaali@gmail.com

In this episode of The Qonnect, I dive into the significance of storytelling in bridging cultural divides and fostering a sense of belonging and humanity. I share personal experiences and reflections on how our interconnectedness can combat divisiveness, bigotry, and fear. Highlighting concepts like 'Ubuntu' and 'Sawubona' I emphasise the importance of seeing and valuing each other's humanity.  Join me as I explore how narratives can help us reimagine a future where everyone can belong. Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect and tagging @theqonnect on Instagram and @qaaliciid on Instagram and X. Follow @qaaliciid & @theqonnect on Instagram. If you feel like you, or someone else, should be on The Qonnect email us beingqaali@gmail.com

In this episode of The Qonnect, I sit down with Brandon E. Campbell, the founder of Extended Family, to explore his journey to building this platform and what it means to cultivate a global community.  We delve into the significance of empathy, meaningful conversations, and the rewarding challenge of living a nomadic life. Brandon shares his journey from a legal career in New York to building a platform aimed at creating genuine connections across cultures. We discuss the importance of understanding diverse perspectives, developing a deeper sense of self through travel, and the collective journey towards liberation.  Join us as Brandon shares insights on community building, the impact of travel, and his vision for a more connected and empathetic world. Bio Brandon E. Campbell is an entrepreneur, community builder, and lawyer born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He's the Founder of Extended Family -- a travel startup that provides tools and infrastructure that help build community between the insatiably curious traveler and local communities worldwide. As a lawyer, he practiced for 8 years in New York City, leveraging his legal skills and business acumen to negotiate and draft contracts, advise on intellectual property protection, and provide strategic counsel to various clients, ranging from Fortune 100 media companies to Grammy Award-winning musicians. As a community builder, he's passionate about creating infrastructure that helps foster meaningful relationships across cultures globally. He frequently "slow" travels for six weeks or more in countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, immersing himself in local cultures by living and working there. Since 2017, he has conducted, produced, and published over 30 recorded conversations to explore culture through the lived experiences of people in local communities around the world. In 2023, he pivoted from legal practice towards entrepreneurship to build Extended Family full-time. He launched a strategic partnership with a renowned work and travel company to deepen brand credibility. He also debuted a product to market test building community infrastructure worldwide. These were the first among many steps in the journey towards furthering the ultimate mission to be the defining force in the travel industry, driving conscious globalization by creating intergenerational spaces for exchange and collaboration. Relevant Links * Extended Family Website [https://www.extendedfamily.io/]: www.extendedfamily.io [http://www.extendedfamily.io/]  * Extended Family Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/extendedfam.ily]: www.instagram.com/extendedfam.ily [http://www.instagram.com/extendedfam.ily]  * Extended Family TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@extendedfamily]: www.tiktok.com/@extendedfamily [http://www.tiktok.com/@extendefamily]  * Extended Family Newsletter: www.extendedfamily.io/newsletter [http://www.extendedfamily.io/newsletter] Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect and tagging @theqonnect on Instagram and @qaaliciid on Instagram and X. Follow @qaaliciid & @theqonnect on Instagram. If you feel like you, or someone else, should be on The Qonnect email us beingqaali@gmail.com

In this episode, I’m revisiting a powerful conversation I had with Ras Mutabaruka—a Rwandan-Canadian entrepreneur, media maker, and community builder whose ingenuity, creativity, and faith in humanity have driven him to carve out a life of passion and vision. From experiences of struggle and migration, Ras has developed an enduring, inexhaustible love for the continent of his birth. Frustrated with how Africa and Africans are often portrayed in global media, Ras founded TAP Media Ltd., the parent company of TAP Magazine, a Pan-African platform dedicated to rebranding Africa, one story at a time. By 2017, TAP had already reached over 7 million Africans. I decided to revisit this conversation after coming across a recent report that highlights the steep financial costs of media stereotypes about Africa—costs that go far beyond perception and directly affect the continent’s borrowing rates and economic opportunities. This timely report underscores and touches on some of Ras’s insights on the power of owning our narrative and the urgent need to tell Africa’s stories with authenticity and nuance. Together, Ras and I discuss the importance of storytelling, building a strong African-led creative economy, and the impact of living between cultures. This episode is a reminder of why it’s crucial for Africans to tell their own stories.  02:28 Work, Identity & Cultural Reconnection 18:55 The Power of Storytelling 23:36 Focusing on Positive African Stories 30:40 The Importance of the Creative Economy 33:50 The Potential of Afrobeat in Nigeria 34:21 Solving the IP Issue in the Music Industry 35:48 The Youth and Creative Economy in Africa 39:36 The Importance of Collaboration Across Sectors 40:44 Memorable Stories from the Journey 47:46 The Power of Storytelling 49:52 Life Advice for Young Africans 57:51 Final Thoughts and Gratitude All Relevant Links:  * TAP Magazine [https://www.tapmagonline.com/]: https://www.tapmagonline.com/ * The Cost of Media Stereotypes to Africa  [https://africanofilter.org/our-research/the-cost-of-media-stereotypes-about-africa] Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect and tagging @theqonnect on Instagram and @qaaliciid on Instagram and X. Follow @qaaliciid & @theqonnect on Instagram. If you feel like you, or someone else, should be on The Qonnect email us beingqaali@gmail.com

In this episode of The Qonnect Podcast, I explore the profound impact of art in driving social change. I reflect on the legacies of music icons like Nina Simone and Michael Jackson, as well as Ai Weiwei’s bold political commentary and visual artist JR’s transformative murals.  This episode underscores the responsibility of artists to use their platforms for advocacy, fostering empathy, and bridging societal divides. I share some of my own reflections on the current socio-political climate, and the enduring power of art in promoting shared humanity and calling for renewed efforts in leveraging art for social justice. 00:00 Introduction to 'Backlash Blues' by Nina Simone 01:37 Nina Simone's Legacy and Documentary 02:38 The Role of Art in Social Change 05:12 Michael Jackson's Impactful Music 07:07 Art as a Tool for Activism 08:07 Ai Weiwei: Challenging Power Through Art 09:33 The Universal Language of Art 10:34 The Power of Art in Humanising 'The Other' 11:17 JR's Transformative Prison Mural 12:46 JR's Journey from Graffiti to Global Art 13:51 Art as a Tool for Connection and Visibility 14:29 The Social Responsibility of Artists 15:07 The Role of Art in Advocacy and Activism 15:56 The Consequences of Silence in Art 17:22 The Power and Responsibility of Artists Relevant Links:  * "Backlash Blues" by Nina Simone [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tllTDwQKV8&pp=ygUbYmFja2xhc2ggYmx1ZXMgbmluYSBzaW1vbmUg] * "What Happened, Miss Simone?" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAS27nZ0hJg&pp=ygUhbWlzcyBzaW1vbmUgd2hhdCBoYXBwZW5lZCBuZXRmbGl4] (2015) - On Netflix * "Earth Song" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAi3VTSdTxU&pp=ygUaZWFydGggc29uZyBtaWNoYWVsIGphY2tzb24%3D] - Michael Jackson  * "They Don’t Care About Us" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoEa9bzeTu0&rco=1&ab_channel=MichaelJackson]– Michael Jackson (2020 Spike Lee Director's Cut) * Ai Weiwei: The West should be ‘ashamed’ of global refugee crisis [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zLWz28l0g4&ab_channel=MiddleEastEye]| Real Talk Interview on Middle East Eye * "Human Flow [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVZGyTdk_BY&pp=ygUUYWkgd2Vpd2VpIGh1bWFuIGZsb3c%3D]" - Ai Weiwei  * "Never Sorry" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MYFOzP6Xns&pp=ygULbmV2ZXIgc29ycnk%3D] – Ai Weiwei * TED Talk: "Can Art Change the World?" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fY-iSzbls8&pp=ygUYY2FuIGFydCBjaGFuZ2UgdGhlIHdvcmxz] – JR * TEHACHAPI, THE YARD [https://www.jr-art.net/projects/tehachapi]- JR Have thoughts about this episode? Share with us on social media using the hashtag #TheQonnect and tagging @theqonnect on Instagram and @qaaliciid on Instagram and X. Follow @qaaliciid & @theqonnect on Instagram. If you feel like you, or someone else, should be on The Qonnect email us beingqaali@gmail.com