Meet Jared.
Jared is the founder of Pineapple AF.
Tools for people to have healthy relationships.
After college, Jared started a career in film, working on all kinds of projects and specializing in documentaries. He then pivoted into tech after learning how to code. Through mentorships and friendships, he found a way to craft his own brand.
Meet Nate.
Nate is the founder of Blue Collar Blades. Handcrafting tools that elevate the cooking experience.
"We believe that the way to create a better world is to help people do meaningful things. We do this by handcrafting quality tools that bring people together around good food & great memories."
Nate started with a love for working on cars. This eventually turned into crafting blades from scratch. A business he has formed and operated with his family.
Meet Andre Burton.
The founder of Threads by Dre. A black-owned, streetwear company operating in Chicago.
"Our mission is to celebrate the culture and lives of black people. Our products give a voice without the need to speak."
This was a great conversation. I talked to Andre about his career and the stress that came from it. We then talked about finding out what makes you happy and how you can build on that.
Meet Jean Nei.
The founder of Turnaction.io.
"We connect conscious consumers with socially conscious brands through our online platform."
This isn't Jean's first run of entrepreneurship. This time around, he's using his tech experience from working at startups to help him on his journey.
All while working a full-time job and getting a masters degree.
Meet Taja Ricketts.
Founder of Satin Kiss.
"Satin Kiss was established with the desire to create the curated shopping experience that pleasure-seekers deserve.
We believe that people who enjoy sexual health and pleasure products should be able to find products that represent them, while catering to their elevated tastes, protecting their health and empowering their decisions."
In this episode we talk about sex, the taboos around it and starting a business to change those norms.
Meet Jake Roundy.
Co-founder of the Couch Bandits, a gaming publication that celebrates the creative magic of gaming.
Jake is a gamer and an editor. He's everything creative.
Why can't work just be work?
Nice guys don't finish last.
Meet Big Ty. A man with a lifetime of experience in the radio business. A career that has taken him from Boston, to Baltimore and to Pittsburgh.
He's been inside the corporate machine and eventually spread his own wings in the radio circuit. Now he's dropping knowledge with us.
The Moonlighters' Club has teamed up with The Boston Ujima Project and Ujima's Business Support Member Team to produce a new podcast: Yours, Mine, and Ours!
Yours, Mine, and Ours spotlights the businesses of Ujima's Good Business Alliance, created for the community, by the community, with a special emphasis on Ujima's good business standards.
In this episode, host Joel Edwards sits down with Cassandria Campbell, the Founder of Fresh Food Generation (@freshfoodgeneration), a Caribbean American farm-to-plate cafe. Fresh Food Generation believes everyone deserves to eat well, no matter where they live.
Take a listen to hear about Fresh Food Generation's journey, how they define impact, and how they work to create great jobs in our communities.
Shaun and Stephond are Moonlighter veterans. They personify everything that is good about this club.
We first interviewed both 4 years ago. Since then, Shaun relocated to Los Angeles. He's taking a break from standup to focus on acting and writing. He was making solid headway until COVID hit.
Stephond still makes music. He's also the creator of Somerfest, a premier, multi-genre event that occurs every year in the city of Somerville.
It's good to connect.
We're three episodes into the new season so I thought I would give an update. More interviews are on the way!
Meet Stephen Hopkins. Founder of part/Whole.
part/WHOLE is a design exploration.
"The name part/WHOLE comes from the general phrase, “part to whole relationship” that is commonly used in design and architecture. I see a part to whole relationship as a design intent or idea that supersedes both scale and discipline."
Steve is all things design. From architecture to fashion.
Quote of the day: "Work comes from work."
Meet Shana Bryant. Founder of Shana Bryant Consulting.
"Providing constructive ideas to help entrepreneurs and corporations implement efficient, effective, and memorable practices."
This is Shana's full-time occupation. Empowering her community and creating dope events.
Meet Alex Bennett, The founder of smoking statues.
"Smokin' Statues are two part ceramic figurines that hold an incense cone. The Head & Body design uses a penny to protect the piece of art as the incense cone burns inside, to spread the freshest smells."
Trade by Day: Solutions Consultant
Reading Suggestion: the Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation
Advice to Entrepreneurs: "Don't Stop."
We're Back.
Welcome to season three of the Moonlighters' Club. I'm excited to be releasing new episodes and to ready grow this network out.
I'm just getting everyone caught up on what I've been up to. New city, new house, new job, new outlook.
It's good to be back.
Meet Tom. The founder of Stride for Stride.
Social entrepreneurship at its finest. Tom is an avid runner. In his own words: "The Falmouth Road Race was the first race I ever ran, and it changed my life. Not only did it help me become healthier, but it also reminded me that I can accomplish anything - to not quit when things get tough." Once he registered for his second race, he realized that races are expensive - really expensive - an expense that others couldn't afford; And that is the core mission of Stride for Stride. Stride's goal is to give everyone an equal opportunity to run.
There's no reason why money should prevent you from getting to the starting line, especially when crossing the finish line could change your life.
Meet Chris Davis.
The founder of Genone Technologies. Chris graduated from MIT with a BS in chemical engineering. After working in a variety of roles from process engineering to product engineering, Chris decided to set out with a friend to start his own business. Enter GenOne Technologies. An engineering solutions firm which primarily helps small inventors bring life to their initial ideas/concepts.
GenOne focuses on helping companies develop new technologies, whether they be large established companies, early stage startups, or government agencies. Their primary focus is Internet-of-Things (IoT) development, bringing in a diverse set of skills to create robust prototypes and products. Chris and his team strive to help you create the most value for the smallest price tag.
Meet Mark Breghaut.
Founder and CTO of Icebrkr. Mark's journey to founder is an interesting one. In grad school, he was on a PhD track for Marriage and Family Therapy. He focused his research on psychology, courtship and conflict in romantic relationships. After graduating, he became a teacher.
During his 3 years teaching, he taught himself frontend web development and design on the side. He then left to work at a web and mobile app development agency as a lead frontend developer and senior UX/UI designer. He combined his backgrounds in relationships and tech to form Icebrkr. Icebrkr is a dating app that utilizes a powerful machine learning AI chatbot that provides daters expert guidance on common pain points.
Meet Becky Pleat.
Founder of Protein Power Ball. Becky and her cofounder were two health-conscious pharmacists that were passionate about wellness and wanted a snack that was convenient, healthy, and tasted great! Being scientists at heart, they took matters into their own hands and began experimenting with healthy ingredients and superfoods from their own kitchen.
Enter Protein Powerball. The ideal snack – easy to eat on the go, healthy ingredients that leave you feeling energized and powerful, and a crave-worthy taste.
Meet Kun Yang.
Kun is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and aspiring brand-builder based out of Boston. MA. He is a pharmacist by day, and the co-founder and CEO of Pricklee by night. Never sure of what he wanted to "be" when he grew up, the inception of Pricklee has served as the single most creative pursuit he has ever been a part of, as well as the validation of fulfilling a bigger purpose in life by working for yourself to help others.
Pricklee is a health-focused beverage start-up that Kun founded with four other pharmacist moonlighters that he met in Boston in 2018. They make superfruit waters using real prickly pears, the nutritious fruit of the cactus. Packed with natural electrolytes, antioxidants, and liver detox agents, but low in sugar and calories, Pricklee Superfruit Water is both healthy and tasty - because you can have both.
Meet Val Bee.
Val is a Development and Event Professional and the Owner of L.I.R. Productions, a PR + Production Agency that specializes in marketing, brand management, and event production.
Val manages a global network of creative entrepreneurs & professionals where she helps connect creatives to opportunities that pay.
Val is a booking agent and has she sponsors two event series through her agency - the Small Biz Buffet hosted by Urban NYCHE Marketing and our very own Moonlighters' Club showcase.
Meet Deborah.
Author | Advocate | Artist | Educator | Entrepreneur
She's also the founder of "The Use Your Words Movement". Through Use Your Words, she works as a mentor, blogger, editor, and broadcasting personality. Since the movement's inception, she has delivered her messages of communicative restoration in schools, youth programs, retreats, and conferences.
Deborah also hosts Use Your Words nationwide prayer calls where hundreds of young adults have come together to pray. Deborah also wrote The 30-Day Speak Life Challenge was created as a tool to save Deborah's life. After battling depression, anxiety, and multiple visits to counselors, she decided to get in control of the negative emotions she had faced for years. in doing so, she discovered her story was not the anomaly she had often considered it, but, more often, the status quo.
She shares portions of her journey through a series of thirty days to assist those struggling with internal conflict as well. Deborah hopes publicly exposing her scars will encourage others facing depression, anxiety, and some of life's most challenging obstacles to establish new, positive perspectives about their lives.
Deborah lives with a mission to die empty and to spread love to every person she meets.
Meet Colgan.
Photographer. Actor. Writer. Artist.
Born and raised in Dorchester, MA. Colgan is always involved in making art in a variety of disciplines. If he’s not reading, he is somewhere taking pictures, acting, or writing. Listen to Colgan break down his love for seeing and creating art inspired by the world around him.
In his own words: "I’ve realized through music and definitely now with photography and acting, I require a certain personal connection with my work. It has to mean something. It started with the idea, of just making cool stuff. But after loving, living, and working for a little time, I would rather my work and time truly mean something to me and other people. So I just jumped into the art world and went back to painting, drawing, writing and photography. Photography just made me appreciate life and the beauty around me even more."
Meet Ryan Hargrave.
Ryan is currently a customer success manager at Everquote. He was previously incarcerated for ten years. After his release, he worked his way through various jobs and opportunities to his current position at an emerging startup in the Boston area.
Once he got there, Ryan realized he wanted to give back. He knows he isn't the only ex-con that's taken their second chance and run with it. He wants to highlight the other individuals that have walked in his shoes and made the most with their opportunities.
Meet Jeff AKA DJ J-Wall.
Meet Jeff "DJ J-Wall" Wallace. An accomplished DJ who got into the scene by managing bars at first. Jeff would DJ on his off nights, then when he realized he was making enough money DJing to go full-time, he did just that.
Music has long been a positive force in Jeff Wallace’s life. The day he received his first Beatles record, the sounds and smells of his early concerts, and the thrill of buying a set of Technics 1200 turntables are all memories he savors.
The way people react to music is always evolving, and that’s what motivates DJ J-Wall to keep digging for that perfect music-driven experience.
Tyler works in Marketing by Day and he's also an accomplished Guitarist. After learning the craft on his own, he used to only play for friends or by himself.
As the years went on, Tyler came out of his shell and started performing at different open mics and events. Tyler also travels a lot and every city he hits, he makes sure to join at least one jam session or showcase before he hits the road.
When he's not working, he's either writing songs or finding new venues where he can showcase his guitar skills.