Model, musician, DJ, and creative force Shaun Ross joins Artivism for a powerful conversation about identity, authenticity, and what it takes to remain true to yourself in a world that constantly pressures us to conform.
Growing up as a Black queer kid with albinism in the Bronx, Shaun learned early what it meant to be different. Rather than shrinking himself to fit other people's expectations, he chose to embrace the very qualities that made him stand out. That decision would eventually help him break barriers in fashion, build a global career, and evolve into a multidisciplinary artist on his own terms.

We discuss the realities of visibility, navigating industries built on approval, surviving criticism and rejection, recovering from long COVID, healing after heartbreak, and the ongoing journey of becoming more fully yourself.
At its core, this conversation is about self-acceptance, resilience, and the radical act of refusing to assimilate.

If you've ever felt different, misunderstood, or pressured to become someone else to succeed, this episode is for you.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Shaun Ross - Guest

Grammy-winning artist and ArtWell founder Iman Jordan sits down with acclaimed poet, musician, and activist Aja Monet for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, consciousness, community, and the role of art in a rapidly changing world.

Together, they explore the tension between rhythm and algorithms, the impact of social media on our collective psyche, surrealism as a tool for imagining new realities, and why artists must remain connected to their inner lives in order to create meaningful work. Aja shares insights from her latest music, her collaborative process, her spiritual practices, and the importance of mentorship, gratitude, and collective liberation.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, trust your intuition, and remember that creativity is more than content—it's a pathway to transformation.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Aja Monet - Guest

In this deeply soulful conversation, Devin Tracy joins Artivism to unpack the spiritual side of creativity, trusting divine timing, and the emotional realities of being an artist in today’s world. From growing up singing gospel in Jacksonville, to creating globally loved records through intuition and alignment, Devin opens up about the lessons that shaped him — including isolation, perfectionism, patience, anxiety, social media, meditation, and learning how to truly sit with himself.

Together, we explore:

• The connection between creativity and spirituality
• Why artists struggle with overthinking and perfectionism
• The importance of pauses, rest, and silence
• Weed, anxiety, and reconnecting with your intuition
• Trusting timing instead of forcing outcomes
• Balancing survival with devotion to your art
• Why honesty is the foundation of powerful music

This episode is a reminder that artistry isn’t just about output — it’s about alignment, healing, honesty, and becoming who you’re meant to be.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Devin Tracy - Guest

On this episode of Artivism, we sit down with Figgy Baby — an internationally touring artist redefining what it means to exist in hip hop.

From freestyling in college cyphers to commanding festival stages, Figgy’s journey is anything but linear. We dive into the realities of building a career from the margins, navigating identity in a genre that hasn’t always made space for it, and the courage it takes to create without asking permission.

This conversation explores:

• What it means to be a non-binary artist in hip hop
• The difference between followers and real community
• Mental health, burnout, and staying grounded as an artist
• Social media, algorithms, and the illusion of success
• Why vulnerability is a form of power
• The responsibility of artists in times of cultural and political tension

Figgy shares raw insights on self-expression, resilience, and the quiet confidence it takes to show up fully—even when the world doesn’t always understand.

This episode is about identity, truth, and the long game of building something real.

Because sometimes… it only takes one person watching to change everything.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Figgy Baby - Guest

Today’s guest is Gavin Turek—an artist whose presence doesn’t just fill a room, it lifts it. Her performances feel like a full-bodied transmission of joy—rooted in movement, discipline, and emotional truth.

But behind that energy is something deeper.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to stay open as an artist—especially in seasons that feel heavy.

Gavin shares her journey through discipline, doubt, growth, and transformation—from early roots in music and dance to navigating an industry that constantly shifts its definition of success. We talk about the emotional weight of metrics, the reality of creative cycles, and the courage it takes to keep showing up without losing yourself.

This episode is about embodiment.
About joy as a practice—not just a feeling.
And about learning how to keep dancing… even when life gets heavy.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• GAVIN TUREK - Guest

If you’re an artist, creative, or content creator trying to grow—but struggling to stay motivated and consistent on social media—this episode is for you.

I sit down with rising artist Jair—an international voice blending soul, alternative rock, vulnerability, and a modern approach to the digital age.

Jair’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when artistry meets consistency. In just one year, he grew from 1,500 followers to over 190,000—not by chasing trends, but by leaning deeper into who he is.

We get into the real tensions artists are navigating today:
– What to do when nothing is going viral
– How to stay grounded when your career lives online—and why growth has more to do with mindset than the algorithm
– How to convert an audience from covers into fans of your original music
– And why showing up imperfectly might actually be your biggest advantage

Beyond the numbers, Jair opens up about discipline, identity, and creating music rooted in lived experience—especially telling stories around queer relationships that are often missing from mainstream narratives.

If you’re navigating the noise and trying to build something real, this conversation will hit.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Jair - Guest

If you care about creativity, culture, and using your voice in a complicated world, this episode is for YOU.

In this episode of Artivism, I sit down with artist, songwriter, and cultural commentator Adiv to talk about what it means to be an artist in a time when the internet rewards reaction but still hungers for meaning.

We explore Adiv’s journey from church choirs and songwriting to becoming a visible voice online discussing culture, politics, and social issues. Along the way, we unpack the tension many creatives face today: balancing artistry with commentary in a polarized digital landscape.

Adiv shares how he built his commentary platform, why historical context matters in today’s conversations, and what it’s like navigating criticism and controversy online. We also dive into the realities of the music industry, the illusion of artist lifestyles, and the deeper motivations behind creating art in a rapidly changing world.

This conversation is about identity, truth, creativity, and the courage it takes for artists to show up honestly — both in their art and in the conversations shaping our culture.

In this episode we discuss:

• The difference between an artist persona and your real identity
• Why social media amplifies outrage but erases nuance
• The pressure artists face to speak on social issues
• How Adiv built a viral commentary platform
• The reality of being an artist behind the scenes
• Why connection and community matter more than fame

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Adiv - Guest

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to “arrive,” this one is for you!

In this episode, I sit down with Gayathri Krishnan — a Los Angeles–based singer, songwriter, producer, and music educator whose sound lives at the intersection of soul, neo-soul, R&B, and South Indian Carnatic tradition.

We talk about devotion as a creative practice. About vibration as truth. About starting with nothing but a voice and a drone — and realizing that’s enough.

Gayathri shares how growing up in Carnatic music shaped her presence, how she merged those roots with R&B at Berklee, and why some of her biggest songs were written in a closet with a splice loop and intuition. We unpack her COLORS performance, manifestation journaling, EFT tapping, social media pressure, and the dangerous expectation that artists should perform like athletes — without ever recovering like them.

We also dive into:

• What “making it” really means
• Why momentum comes in waves
• Protecting your energy in the studio
• The pressure of perfection vs. the power of presence
• Being multi-identity in an industry that wants you simplified
• Creating light in heavy times

This is a conversation about stillness, sovereignty, and trusting your voice before the world validates it.

Creators & Guests

• Winston Studios - Producer
• Carlos Anthony Lopez - Designer
• Iman Jordan - Host
• Gayathri Krishnan - Guest