#30 Belonging + Creativity

Sep 12

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In this episode, Dr. Mona speaks with Julius Shepard-Morgan, a media professional who has been in the creative space for almost 15 years. Julius’s passion for storytelling through audio has spanned several major platforms, including Sirius XM Radio, Megaphone, Spotify, iHeart Media, and now right here at Resonate Recordings, where he produces this podcast.

To begin, Julius recalls his childhood, noting that his grandmother owned a daycare center, where he spent much of his time playing and having fun with other children. This environment fostered his early creativity. In school, his teachers noticed his vibrant personality and encouraged him to participate in theater and other creative activities. As he approached high school, Julius began exploring potential career paths in the creative arts, eventually enrolling at Temple University, where he majored in Media Studies and Production.

Julius attributes much of his success to his supportive family, who never discouraged his creative ambitions. He grew up in a creative household; his mother introduced him to photography, which also became one of his passions. Julius explains that the changing landscape of media and technology allowed his family to see the viability of creative careers, especially as new platforms emerged. Julius and Dr. Mona highlight that creative skills often intersect with other professions, allowing for integration rather than an either-or approach. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their creative spirit regardless of their chosen career path. They point out that even fields like engineering and medicine can benefit from creative thinking.

Then, Julius reflects on his experiences working in the cutthroat and demanding media industry. While he acknowledges that media can be a challenging field, he feels fortunate that his own journey has been positive. He describes the industry as sometimes thankless, where positive feedback is rare, but criticisms are quick to surface. Despite this, Julius has learned to trust his creative instincts and embrace the process, finding the audio side of the industry to be more relaxed compared to the video side.

Julius shares his perspective and sense of belonging as a Black man in New York City. Witnessing everyday celebrations of culture, such as buskers in the subway, reinforces a sense of self and belonging. He emphasizes that New York is a city that embraces all walks of life, making it a special place for creatives. Julius continues to praise New York as a city where people come to find belonging and to seek something bigger in life. He notes that everyone in New York shares a common thread: they are all searching for something. This shared drive creates a unique sense of community, where people support each other even if they are not always outwardly friendly.

Before wrapping up, the conversation shifts to Julius's role at Resonate Recordings, where he serves as a Senior Podcast Producer. He explains that when clients come to him with their podcast ideas, he envisions what the final product might sound and feel like months down the line. He finds great joy in transforming these initial concepts into polished, tangible episodes that clients can be proud of. His process involves only technical expertise but also a deep sense of empathy and understanding of each client's unique vision. He highlights the rewarding nature of his work — helping clients realize their creative dreams, especially when podcasting is not part of their day-to-day life but a passion they are eager to explore. Clients are often nervous, which is a sign of how much they care about their work. By reminding clients of their "why," Julius and his team serve as mirrors, reflecting back the clients' intentions and helping them stay grounded and motivated.

Julius is also the host of his own podcast Hey You, Yes You, born out of a challenging time in his life when he was laid off from Spotify, a job he had considered his dream. He describes the podcast as a way to lift himself up, offering the kind of affirmations he knew he needed but had never given himself.

In closing, Julius shares what belonging means to him: walking into a room that is already bright, and continues to get brighter as you add your own gifts to the collective.

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0:40 - Dr. Mona introduces today’s guest, Julius Shepard Morgan.

1:27 - Julius’ creative journey and early influences.

9:15 - Integrating creativity in different career paths.

11:45 - Navigating the media industry.

14:27 - New York as a city of belonging, liberation and celebration.

20:27 - Resonate Recordings and the art of podcast production.

26:05 - Fostering a sense of belonging in podcast production.

29:59 - Julius’ podcast Hey You, Yes You.

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Follow Julius on IG @Jujubeez5

Listen to Hey You, Yes You wherever you get your podcasts