Prologue Profiles

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Todd / International Relations Student (@therealtoddwaterman) / Gatwick Airport, London. "My biggest challenge right now is going back to the US [after studying abroad in Spain] because I really don't want to go back right now, I'm not really ready [Laughs], and then adjusting back to the real life and working over the summer's going to be a big adjustment."  

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Felix / Economics Grad Student / Gatwick Airport, London. "What would you say is your dream?""At least solve a small problem from an economist point of view and make people appreciate that outcome and use that result.""What kind of problems do you want to focus on?""I'm especially interested in health and environmental issues, like air pollution and health outcomes on a population and productivity effects." "Why is air pollution a topic you're particularly focused on?""Air pollution is a thing I see in my every day life. In economics I could also focus on financial markets but what I experience in Madrid in every day life is air pollution and its effects, I have friends who have asthma so I realize there are some effects."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Raashid / Tailor (The Hooks Company) / Eastbound Bakerloo Train, London. "What drew you to clothes in the first place?""My father, he's always been a fashionable guy, he loves his Italian suits and British suits and I loved it, I thought it looked cool, so I was like, 'Hey I want to be like my dad', you know? But I never anticipated that I would actually be making the garments."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Dan / Musician (Plastic Barricades | SoundCloud) / Furness & High St., London. "What's the current project you're working on?""We're doing the album, which is quite exciting, it's a debut album with the current lineup. Every next album is a debut album if you change the lineup a lot."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Vincent, The Owl / Rap Artist (@vincenttheowl) / Groove on Grove, Jersey City. "How'd you get into music in the first place?""The first album I ever heard was Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise' and I was like, 'Yo, I kinda wanna be Coolio.'""Who put that in your hands?""My mom! She was like, I'm a big fan of Michelle Pfeiffer.' So Michelle Pfeiffer is my auntie."  

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Anatalie / Beauty Salon Entrepreneur (@TheHairRoomJC) / Groove on Grove, Jersey City. "When was the moment when you decided to create The Hair Room JC?""Well my boyfriend had a lot to do with it - shout out to Steve - it's been on the back of my brain, I've always considered myself a better boss than an employee and I always wanted to have my own salon and I guess through me bitching about it to Steve all the time and he knew Kristina was in the same boat and they'd been friends for awhile and so he was like, 'Why don't y'all sit down and talk to each other you both want to do this?' Because I've tried it on my own and it's just impossible to do something like this on your own and so we sat down and literally every idea and path that we had for the salon was so in parallel with each other that we were like, 'This is going to be an amazing partnership.'"

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Myssi / Dancer & Teacher (Nimbus Dance Works) / Groove on Grove, Jersey City. "Do you see it as a risk being a dancer?""It depends on the perspective that you're coming at it from because yes it is sort of an economic risk, the art form is becoming undervalued and it's getting harder and harder to get people into theaters but that's it, that's so worth it compared to the other things that are held in my life. Money is whatever you know? Who gives a ____ if you're happy?"

"I'm breaking rules. My company is breaking rules. Even the type of CEO I am - I break rules. I tend to walk in and I look like the intern, or something else, but I'm not, and I'm actually about to blow you away and you're going to be giving me a check or two." - Rodney Williams Rodney (@rodneybwilliams) was born deaf and started his first business at a young age renting out kids magazines to parents at his mom's hair salon. Rodney has gained his hearing is now the co-founder of LISNR which uses in-audible sound technology to create new ways for brands to interact with  customers and has attracted clients such as Budweiser, Roc Nation and Sony and recently raised $3.5 million in funding. You''ll hear Rodney discuss his path to building a 22 person team, the confidence that comes from being confident, and that if you're thinking about going after your dreams, stop thinking.

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Liz / Arts & Crafts Entrepreneur (@ShopPurpleDahlias | Etsy) / Groove on Grove, Jersey City. "What made you say, 'I want to be an art major.'?""It's something I always did my whole life and it's the only thing and I ever found really challenging. I was never satisfied with anything I did in art and so I always wanted to keep on doing it to try and get better."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Ed / Hot Sauce Entrepreneur (@OuterLimitsHotSauce) / Groove on Grove, Jersey City. "My dad and I have been growing habenero peppers since I was a kid and a few years back Hurricane Irene knocked down a huge tree in his backyard so we went from having a little corner of sunlight for the peppers to a full yard so we started growing like 30 or 40 plants instead of like 3 and we needed something to do with the peppers so we started making sauce with them and giving them to friends and family and everybody seemed to really like them." 

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Andy / Streetwear Entrepreneur (@StichedUpClothing)/ Groove on Grove, Jersey City. "I've just always been obsessed with clothes since I was little you know I was one of those kids that just had an insane wardrobe and I would spend all my lunch money on something every week."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Marquiz / Voice Actor (@marquizmoore) / 39th & 8th Starbucks, NYC. "My dream is to voiceovers, I want to do like the major voice actors, moreso like if you haven't seen, all the major voice actors from Bugs Bunny to Daffy Duck all those big guys, they were not done by any person of color so it would be awesome to do that."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Mackenson / Comedian & TV Show Creator (@comedyjoyride) / 39th & 8th Starbucks, NYC. "My dream is to destroy reality TV."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Vanessa & Abby / Dance and Theatre HS Seniors / Erie St, Jersey City. "I plan to major in environmental sustainability.""Really. Why's that?""Because it interests me.""Why?""Because I believe that the environment currently is in turmoil and we need to fix it."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Callender / Music Agent (@callenderde) / Grove St Stop, Jersey City. "How are you able to work with such big name artists?""Just being on things early, knowing what the trend will be and what people will buy in the future and getting in early and always sticking with it even if it doesn't make money then it'll eventually make money if you follow what you believe in.""How do you find new music these days?""Uhh....Soundcloud.""Period.""Yea."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Onterrio / Fashion Designer (@onterrio_m_sanders) / 33 Train, Jersey City. "What's the biggest challenge you face?""Time. Because I actually work two jobs now, so really it's just time, just being able to dedicate a little bit of time to go to the factories and meet and do fittings and things like that, but other than that there are no obstacles in front of me because I believe I can achieve anything, I'm a very determined person so I can achieve I put my mind to.""Where does that mindset come from?""I think it comes from my childhood and watching my mom work hard for us, I have brothers, and so just watching her work hard that's one of the traits I have from her."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Veena / Filmmaker / Newark Train, Jersey City. "What's keeping you going?""In our school [New York Film Academy] they show us these really famous directors and how in the beginning they were really bad and how they're winning Academy Awards right now.""It gives you hope.""Yea [Laughs]."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Eddie / College Basketball Player / The Grove St Coffee Shop, Jersey City. "What's motivating you?""My family. As you get older you don't want to see your parents working as hard as you know you can work and I want to provide for my family."

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Rob / Business Development / Newark & Grove, Jersey City. "What's the biggest challenge you face right now?""Just not being complacent and giving up, I feel like it's easy to find a job and just settle but the constant challenge is being motivated and continually wanting to strive and do more." 

Dan takes his mic to the streets and interviews Matt / Drummer (Hey Anna Music | Bandcamp) / The Grove St Coffee Shop, Jersey City. "What's the biggest challenge you face right now?""As a band we're dealing with this huge sea of mediocrity that's happening, not in a bad way, it's just that everyone has access to this technology right now so it's like someone can put it out there and flood this marketplace with it, but we're trying to create something that's long-lasting because if all of our influences are someone that actually thought about what they're gonna do and really put it into perspective and make the world a better place."