The Global Renaissance Podcast

Built from the Basement to the Penthouse (feat. Bethany Simone)

One of my hopes when starting this podcast was that my guests would make return appearances and we could observe their growth in real time: this episode is evidence that my hope is coming true. I interviewed my cousin, Bethany, for my fourth episode back in October of 2021 and discussed her life as a full time hair braider. Almost 2 years later Bethany has elevated from a hair braider renting a booth to a full blown salon owner. In this episode Bethany and I explore her entrepreneurial growth, the logistics of opening and maintaining a salon, and some of her plans for the future.

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Follow Bethany on Instagram @penthouse.salon.

Book an appointment at the Penthouse: https://www.penthouse.salon/.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, TikTok & X @_trevwoods.

Follow The Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram & TikTok @theglobalrenaissancepod.

Trust Your Talent, It Will Take You Far (feat. PicoDaGuy)

Let's face it, we live in a world where talent and skill are not always rewarded and this is especially true in the music industry. I was fortunate enough to connect with PicoDaGuy back in June and was immediately impressed by his musical gifts. Though his music generally fits within the Hip-Hop and RnB genres, PDG has a unique sonic versatility that turned me into a fan. In this interview we discuss his start in music, how his personal struggles bleed into his art, and the direction he wants to take his career moving forward featuring a guest appearance from his manager and cousin, Jaylen René.

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Follow PicoDaGuy on Instagram @picogelatoo and check out his music!

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/picodaguy/1499039763

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/76uM9atLG5571JzTwo071w?si=z8L3R5LBQDimrnidO6izrg

Follow Jaylen on Instagram @jaylenrene.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @_trevwoods.

Follow The Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @theglobalrenaissancepod.

My Honest Attempt at Authentic Expression

For as long as I can remember I've had a strangle relationship with self-expression. I've always had a lot to say, but couldn't always decipher what thoughts were appropriate to share and when. Though this hasn't hindered me in any significant outwardly fashion, I've found the internal battles it's caused to be burdensome and am now simply choosing to say as much of what is on my mind (within reason) as possible. In this episode I explore the idea of authentic self-expression through the lens of my recent trip to Kingston, Jamaica as well as touch on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding Affirmative Action and my perspective on race and education.

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Follow Trevor on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @_trevwoods.

Follow The Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @theglobalrenaissancepod.

Hold On To Your Hope

Life is hard. Each of us face a unique set of challenges we are forced to overcome in order to make it to the next day, and we are constantly bombarded by negativity and despair in the media we consume. How are we supposed to remain hopeful in a world that seems to be crumbling around us? While I don't yet have the solution, my good friend Kaelin and I spent this episode trying to get a little closer to answering to this question.

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Follow Kaelin on Instagram @kaelin.ray and TikTok @kaelinray5.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, TikTok & Twitter @_trevwoods.

Follow The Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram, TikTok & Twitter @theglobalrenaissancepod.

Heavy Hearted Convos (feat. Nay Lassiter)

Now more than ever we are being told of the importance of mental health awareness, but many of us lack the space and support to appropriately address the things we deal with. Through her non-profit, Heavy Hearted Convos, Nay Lassiter is creating a space for athletes and others to recognize, embrace, and overcome their mental health challenges.

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Follow Nay on Instagram @heavyhconvos.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @_trevwoods.

Follow the Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok @theglobalrenaissancepod.

A 20-Something Year Old Outlook on Love

Happy Valentines Day! Along with it being the holiday of love today, I've been reading Bell Hooks' All About Love over the last month or so and thought it would be appropriate to discuss an idea and concept that is culturally pervasive yet poorly understood. Though se all have different notions of what love is and different experiences with it in our lives, I think everyone can agree that it is a profoundly powerful and integral part of the human experience and we would all benefit from having a healthier relationship with love.

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Follow Trevor on Instragram, TikTok & Twitter @_trevwoods.

Follow the Global Renaissance Podcast on Instragram, TikTok & Twitter @theglobalrenaissancepod.

Follow Garbens on Instagram @galexis___.

Follow Tchorzky on Instagram @tchorzky.

Saved by the Cell (feat. Dooley vs. Rizz Gottie)

Though we often take them for granted, our cell phones are very powerful tools that have the potential to be life changing if utilized appropriately. A prime example of this is Dooley vs. Rizz Gottie who is currently building a digital platform bringing Boston together through content creation. For all the things he has overcome personally, the most admirable part of Dooley's journey is that he is using his visibility and following to highlight the stories and talents of others.

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Follow Dooley on Instagram @_savedbythecell.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, Twitter & Tiktok @_trevwoods.

Follow the Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram & Tiktok @theglobalrenaissancepod.

Howard vs. Harvard - Pros/Cons of HBCUs & PWIs

New year, new faces on the podcast! In the first episode of 2023 I am joined by my treacherous twin, Nellisha Leonce, a current senior at Howard University. Nellisha is an active champion of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, spending the last year educating high school students across Massachusetts on the opportunities and options that exist at such schools. Given how formative my college experience was for me, I thought it appropriate to have a discussion around the differences between one of the top HBCUs and one of the top PWIs in the country and how those nuances contributed to each of our development. 

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Follow Nellisha on Instagram & TikTok @nellishaaaa.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, TikTok & Twitter @_trevwoods.

Follow the Podcast on Instagram, TikTok & Twitter @theglobalrenaissancepod

Obstacles are Meant to be Overcome (feat. Amanda Shea)

It is often said that the best art is born out of pain. Amanda Shea has experienced her fair share of hardship, challenges, and trauma throughout her life yet she has managed to convert each of those experiences into inspiration for her work. As a spoken word artist, activist, teacher, community leader, and mother, Amanda consistently shines her light for the benefit of others despite the obstacles she has faced. In this interview we discuss her life and career as an artist and how she is able to navigate all of life's challenges and complexities.

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Follow Amanda on Instagram @amandasheallday and Twitter @amandashea06.

Follow Trevor on Instagram, TikTok & Twitter @_trevwoods.

Follow the Podcast on Instagram, TikTok & Twitter @theglobalrenaissancepod.

A Conversation on Coming of Age

A few days prior to the recording of this episode, one of my personal favorite albums of all time, good kid, m.A.A.d. city, turned 10 years old. Though I was just 13 years old at the time of its release, the themes found throughout the album resonated with me deeply and played a significant role the development of my identity as a young man. I ask every guest I interview who and what has influenced them, in today's episode I have that discussion with myself.

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Follow Trevor on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok: @_trevwoods.

Follow The Global Renaissance Podcast on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok: @theglobalreniassancepod.