artist

Episode #73: Harnessing Your Creative Magic and Creating a Life with Purpose with Jade Simmons

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What do the most superlative brands , the world’s most renowned stages , and the most prestigious conferences have in common? They’ re bringing in the one and only Jade Simmons! Jade spent the first few years of her career performing as a classical concert pianist. Following an artistic epiphany, she pivoted from playing the piano to impress audiences , to using the piano as the vehicle by which to provide the inspiration, information and entertainment that profoundly moves them instead. The result s have been, well...darn impressive!

No stranger to pushing boundaries to see bold results , this concert pianist turned world changer is brought in by the likes of corporations like Mass Mutual, Royal Bank of Canada, DOW, Raytheon, the Hershey Company, Genentech, Valic , Pfizer and Nationwide to redefine purpose, inspire seismic shifts in mindset and activate audiences to go out and instantly start living more consequential lives of impact.

The one-of-a-kind artist has built a one-of-a-kind career garnering diverse recognition from unlikely places. She’s played renowned halls , including the hallowed ones of the White House and the US Supreme Court and her genre-bending concert adventures that span Rachmaninoff to Rap attract diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds . For her work on and away from the stage, Essence magazine featured Jade alongside former First Lady Michelle Obama as a part of their Style & Substance List. As one of the rare classical artists invited to perform at the taste-making South by Southwest Festival, her show was ultimately branded one of the "Best of SXSW 2014". She’s star red in a Broadway-style musical called Lillette’ s Rhythm Club and she can be heard portraying Nina Simone’s classical years in the Oscar -nominated documentary What Happened Miss Simone?

In her inimitable career as a concert pianist and as a media host, Jade has remained committed to expanding the boundaries of Classical music and is the new host of shows for both American Public Media and NYC’ s top rated station WQXR, airing in 2019.

Things we talk about on todays episode:

  • Her journey from classical pianist to successful entrepreneur and keynote speaker

  • Why she feels as if she grew up with black privilege

  • What it means to be an artist

  • How to figure out WTF your purpose is

  • Creating a deep impact in the world with the work you do and who you are

  • Our differing perspectives on the mess, imperfections and beyond

  • Becoming the maverick of your own life


LINKS MENTIONED

Live Your F*ck Yes Life Membership — Use code LYFYL for 10%

GET ON THE I CHOPPED OFF YOUR TITS VIP BOOK LIST

Jade’s Instagram | Website

The Hate U Give

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Episode #11: The truth of being a woman in theatre with Harmony France

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EPISODE SNEAK PEEK


" Women would talk about it together but we kept it to ourselves. And I reached a point where I'm not afraid of who is willing to hire me and who isn't. If they don't want to work with me because I'm speaking out about how it's messed up how women are treated in this community, then they're not my people." 


Harmony France is the artistic director of the world's first feminist musical theatre company, Firebrand Theatre. She is a casting director, teacher, actress, singer, home-style guru, writer, activist, and Navy Veteran.

Here are a few things we discussed in today’s episode:

  • The TRUTH of what it's like to be an artist in Chicago
  • The mission behind Firebrand theatre and why she started the first equity feminist theatre
  • The fat shaming and harassment we've experienced in the theatre community
  • The "is this why" rabbit hole
  • The moment when she joined the navy that sparked her journey with body dysmorphia
  • How we individually choose to show up as an artist every day
  • The theatre experience that changed my life
  • The power of not taking the easy way out
  • Launching a company and having her dad pass away the same week
  • The behind the scenes of launching a business and the mess along the way
  • The path to happiness *hint* it's not what you expect
  • The top 3 tool for tackling your to-do list

LINKS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE

Bullymake discount code: LYFYL for $10 off your box

Firebrand theatre // Get your tickets to 9 to 5

Harmony's blog

Lizzie Borden: the musical

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

The Diva Cup / Thinx

The musicals Dessa Rose and Loving Repeating

Black Panther

The Den Theatre in Chicago

 

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Join our community where we chat all things real talk, and you get the inside scoop on guests, a chance to ask questions & be surrounded by a tribe of ladies who GET you!

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