The Knowledge with David Elikwu

David speaks with Joe Ferraro, a teacher, podcast host and speaking coach.Joe Ferraro is currently in his 22nd year as an educator, teaching English 12, Public Speaking, and Creative Writing. In addition to his work in the classroom, he is the host of One percent better podcast, and founder of DamnGoodConversations.com, a company whose mission is to teach you repeatable ways to have the best conversations in your life and work.Connect with Joe Ferraro:Twitter: @FerraroOnAir Blog: https://www.damngoodconversations.com/damn-good-servicesShow notes:[Topics + timestamps]Mentioned in the show:DamnGoodConversations.comSeth GodinFull transcript:https://theknowledge.io/joeferraroAbout David Elikwu:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, strategist and writer. David is the founder of The Knowledge, a platform helping people learn more and live better.Twitter: @Delikwu / @itstheknowledgeNewsletter: https://theknowledge.ioWebsite: https://www.davidelikwu.com,Podcast: http://plnk.to/theknowledgeThe Knowledge:As a writer and serial entrepreneur, David speaks with elite performers from a variety of backgrounds, unpacking everything there is to know about navigating the world around us.This podcast is a catalogue of excellent data points. Join us each week for actionable insights to make sense of what matters most.The Knowledge is an online publication designed to save you from information overload. The Knowledge is where you go to figure things out. It’s a curated digest of the world's best ideas, drawing on insights from psychology, philosophy, business and culture. We explore tools, frameworks and stories that will help you navigate with clarity and cut through the noise.Website: theknowledge.ioPodcast: plnk.to/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

David speaks with Buster Benson, CEO of 750words.com, author of "Why Are We Yelling? The Art of Productive Disagreement".Buster's had a well storied career across Silicon valley, having worked at Amazon Twitter, Slack and Patreon. But he's also an entrepreneur. He's built and co-founded several incredible businesses like 43things.com, Healthmonth.com, and currently is the CEO of 750words.com.Connect with Buster:Twitter: @busterBook: Why Are We YellingWebsite: 750words.comShow notes:Buster as an introvert [4:19]Why he’s willing to be authentic on the internet [5:38]Buster's early experiences on the internet [6:30]Being able to write online and having that creative streak [9:11]What was it like coming into Amazon [13:13]His text ad service for blogs [16:28]What was the motivation? [21:29]The infinite possibility of the internet [27:26]What inspired Buster to write why are we yelling? [30:27]Productive Arguing is a Secret Skill [36:33]How to learn from people you disagree with [40:02]Important considerations for the Metaverse [44:27]The origin of 750 words, and why Buster built it [55:06]Mentioned in the show:NaNoWriMo43things.comWhy Are We Yelling?Thinking is hardCognitive bias cheat sheetThe Artist’s WayFull transcript:https://theknowledge.io/busterAbout David Elikwu:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, strategist and writer. David is the founder of The Knowledge, a platform helping people learn more and live better.Twitter: @Delikwu / @itstheknowledgeNewsletter: https://theknowledge.ioWebsite: https://www.davidelikwu.com,Podcast: http://plnk.to/theknowledgeThe Knowledge:As a writer and serial entrepreneur, David Elikwu speaks with elite performers from a variety of backgrounds, unpacking everything there is to know about navigating the world around us.This podcast is a catalogue of excellent data points. Join us each week for actionable insights to make sense of what matters most.The Knowledge is an online publication designed to save you from information overload. It’s where you go to figure things out. A curated digest of the world's best ideas, drawing on insights from psychology, philosophy, business and culture. We explore tools, frameworks and stories that will help you navigate with clarity and cut through the noise.Website: theknowledge.ioPodcast: plnk.to/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

David Elikwu speaks with David Belle, a Trader, the founder of Macrodesiac and Director of Growth at TradingViewWe talked about:The psychology of traders and what makes investors like Warren Buffet so successful. We also talked about emerging trends in crypto and web3, and high leverage skills to build in your career.Show notes:Why most retail traders lose money [6:42]How success leads to destruction [7:54]Why Warren Buffet is a great investor [10:02]The magic of financial markets people often overlook [29:14]Why the crypto trend isn't going away [48:02]How overlapping your skillset makes you powerful [51:51]The biggest skill differentiator is... [54:38]The one thing you need to take an unconventional path [56:57]Connect with David Belle:Twitter: @davidbelle_ @macrodesiac_Mentioned in the show:MacrodesiacTradingViewBrokerageBridgewaterDavidbellefx.comFinimizeSchumpeterian creative destructionCharlie MungerWarren BuffetFull transcript:https://www.theknowledge.io/dbelle/About David Elikwu:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, strategist and writer. David is the founder of The Knowledge, a platform helping people learn more and live better.Twitter: @Delikwu / @itstheknowledgeNewsletter: https://theknowledge.ioWebsite: https://www.davidelikwu.com,Podcast: http://plnk.to/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

David speaks with Urenna Okonkwo, the founder and CEO of luxury fashion fintech platform Cashmere. They talk about everything at the intersection of fashion and fintech, as well as Urenna's experiences fundraising and scaling.At the age of 23, Urenna Okonkwo came up with the idea for an app to help women save for luxury purchases. Now Cashmere is the savings platform for fashion-forward women, who want to save sensibly.Connect with Urenna:@urennalexacashmereapp.co.ukFull Transcript: www.theknowledge.io/urenna/About David:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, strategist and writer. David is the founder of The Knowledge, a platform helping people learn more and live better.- Twitter: @Delikwu / @itstheknowledge- Website: https://www.davidelikwu.com, https://theknowledge.io- Podcast: http://plnk.to/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

David speaks with JJ Bola, a published poet and author. Continuing from last week, their conversation touches on the impacts of stereotypes on black masculinity, the consequences of colonialism on cultural pride within ethnic communities.This is the second episode of a 2-part series!JJ Bola is a Congo-borne accomplished poet and author, having released 3 poetry collections (Elevate, Daughter of the Sun, and WORD) and 2 novels (No Place to Call Home, Mask Off) in the last 5 years. His latest novel, The Selfless Act of Breathing (2021), tackling themes such as mental health, police brutality, and the power of love, is out later this year!Connect with JJ Bola:Twitter/Instagram:@JJ_BolaJjbola.comShow notes:The burden of successful black stereotypes, and the consequences of sexualisationThe self-fulfilling prophecy of stereotypesLoss of cultural heritage and history (and the consequent replacement of taught racial history)Consequences of colonialism on history and heritageThe recent realisation of cultural identity, and appreciation of cultural differencesImpacts of colonialism on other ethnic communitiesQuotes:“it's a real conversation that we need to have amongst ourselves. But places like Twitter seems to be the only platform for it. And there's just not enough nuance like it's about popular voices, it's about retweets, it's about, you know hashtags.”“I think the most powerful thing that we can do, I say like, as black people, is connect with our ancestral lineage, connect with our history is never by culture. That's the pathway to liberation that effort, like everything else, has been tried and tested, you know, and I think that the further that we get along, we can talk about, you know representation in, in, in society, but as long as the society remains white supremacist materialistic which is like. It's not going to liberate us, but the more we are traditionally tied to our ancestral values.”“you're gonna learn about this culture you're going to embrace it in a very different way. And I think that's something I would love to see more within our community as well, maybe not just even from Africa, but I guess Pan African as well I'm looking around the diaspora and we can embrace each other. I'm looking at how we can find that collective identity.”Full transcript:[Link]About David:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial entrepreneur, operator and strategist who traded corporate law for tech. He now helps startups to scale. David previously founded Baba’s Flight Club and is currently building Democratic Republic, a sustainable coffee and wine company. David writes weekly about learning more and living better in The Knowledge newsletter, and speaks regularly on The Knowledge podcast, Travel n Turn up podcast, and The Knowledge: Office Hours.Twitter: @Delikwu / @DemRepWorldWebsite: davidelikwu.com, demrepworld.comNewsletter: theknowledge.substack.comPodcast: gopod.me/theknowledge, travelandturnup.comThe Knowledge:Welcome to The Knowledge, hosted by David Elikwu. David is on a journey of learning more and living better, and sharing everything he discovers along the way. As a writer, tinkerer, and serial entrepreneur, David unpacks wisdom from elite performers and everyday people, highlighting everything you need to know to navigate the world around you.Newsletter: theknowledge.substack.comPodcast: gopod.me/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

David speaks with JJ Bola, a published poet and author, on how he went from being a good writer to a published author, as well as his experiences grappling with a multinational identity, his views on social justice and masculinity within the black community and how all of these topics influence him to write.This is the first episode of a 2-part series!JJ Bola is a Congo-borne accomplished poet and author, having released 3 poetry collections (Elevate, Daughter of the Sun, and WORD) and 2 novels (No Place to Call Home, Mask Off) in the last 5 years. His latest novel, The Selfless Act of Breathing (2021), tackling themes such as mental health, police brutality, and the power of love, is out later this year!Connect with JJ Bola:Twitter/Instagram:@JJ_BolaJjbola.comShow notes:JJ Bola discusses his career progressions as a writer and poetThe importance of consistency in writingStructuring hobbies outside a 9-to-5The influence of environment and identity in writingThe levels of identity in first and second-generation immigrant children, and its impacts on personal philosophy and allegianceImpacts of foreign political struggles on identity, and the importance of empathy amidst confusionThe hierarchy of the black community in British societySocial justice and how it affects communitiesThe sexualisation of successful black men, and how it affects masculinityReclamation of identity and humanity (reclaiming the N-word, buying back land)Archetype personalities and black masculine stereotypesImpacts of materialism and capitalism on black stereotypesAbout David:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial-entrepreneur, operator and strategist who traded corporate law for tech. He now helps startups to scale. David previously founded Baba’s Flight Club, and is currently building Democratic Republic, a sustainable coffee and wine company. David writes weekly about learning more and living better in The Knowledge newsletter, and speaks regularly on The Knowledge podcast, Travel n Turn up podcast, and The Knowledge: Office Hours.Twitter: @Delikwu / @DemRepWorldWebsite: davidelikwu.com, demrepcoffee.comNewsletter: theknowledge.substack.comPodcast: gopod.me/theknowledge, travelandturnup.comThe Knowledge:Welcome to The Knowledge, hosted by David Elikwu. David is on a journey of learning more and living better and sharing everything he discovers along the way. As a writer, tinkerer, and serial entrepreneur, David unpacks wisdom from elite performers and everyday people, highlighting everything you need to know to navigate the world around you.Newsletter: theknowledge.substack.comPodcast: gopod.me/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

The pandemic has unearthed uncomfortable conversations on privilege and its impact on different social groups in uncertain times. However, the experience of privilege isn’t always a negative, but something which we should recognise and have more honest conversations about going forward.// You'll find the show notes/newsletter edition of this episode here: http://bit.ly/tkissue26Introduction: the future of learning, the privilege paradox [0:15]Thoughts on how the pandemic disrupts theoretical discussion (Case Studies: Universal Basic Income) [2:02]Case Study: Remote Working [3:55]Case Study: Remote Learning [5:10]The drawbacks of remote learning [7:00]Dispensing of grading and traditional assessments [10:55]The racial biases within the predicted grading system and the disadvantages to black students [12:03]The Birth Lottery: Fortune, Friction, Hope and Luck [15:23]Meritocracy has its merits [16:50]The lack of representation in privilege [18:40]The privilege of living in the modern age, and digital access [20:05]Natural Friction and Manufactured Friction [21:58]How benefit of the doubt is a misallocated resource [24:02]Varying degrees of friction and culture [25:00]The real issue with denying privilege exists [27:00]// If you liked this episode, check out my thought-provoking newsletter full of dry humour and useful resources at: www.theknowledge.substack.com.// Keep the conversation going on Twitter at @Delikwu using the hashtag #TheKnowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

David speaks with Joycelyn Mate, the co-founder of Afrocenchix. They talked about Joycelyn’s journey building an afro haircare brand, scaling it, and the challenges they faced fundraising as Black women founders.Joycelyn Mate is one of the amazing brains behind Afrocenchix, an overnight success ten year in the making. The unintentional business she started with her friend Rachael while at university became the first afro haircare brand to be stocked at Whole Foods UK, and the pair have already raised over half a million pounds in venture funding, including backing by WeWork/SoftBank.Connect with Joycelyn:Twitter:@joymatespeaks@Afrocenchixwww.afrocenchix.comShow notes - [Topics + timestamps]Early days of Afrocenchix [1:29]How Afrocenchix came about [4:17]Initial response to Afrocenchix [6:42]The journey to find product market fit [9:15]How the market reacted to Afrocenchix [11:58]How Afrocenchix formulated customer trust [16:12]Afrocenchix’s fundraising experiences [18:18] [20:46]What black and female founders actually need and bias in funding [21:49]Why capital is key [28:21]Trials and tribulations of creating a team [31:01]How you can use personality tests and types to foster greater teamwork [33:45]Joycelyn’s business role models [39:17]Joycelyn’s advice for business and life - the art of mastery [42:24]The iceberg analogy [46:50]Joycelyn’s advice for founders, VCs, and investors [48:30]About David:David Elikwu FRSA is a serial-entrepreneur, operator and strategist who traded corporate law for tech. He now helps startups to scale. David previously founded Baba’s Flight Club, and is currently building Democratic Republic, a sustainable coffee and wine company. David writes weekly about learning more and living better in The Knowledge newsletter, and speaks regularly on The Knowledge podcast, Travel n Turn up podcast, and The Knowledge: Office Hours.Twitter: @LegendofBaba / @DemRepWorldWebsite: davidelikwu.com, demrepcoffee.comNewsletter: theknowledge.substack.comPodcast: gopod.me/theknowledge, travelandturnup.comThe Knowledge:Welcome to The Knowledge, hosted by David Elikwu. David is on a journey of learning more and living better, and sharing everything he discovers along the way. As a writer, tinkerer, and serial entrepreneur, David unpacks wisdom from elite performers and everyday people, highlighting everything you need to know to navigate the world around you.Newsletter: theknowledge.substack.comPodcast: gopod.me/theknowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

The perfect, constant work/life balance probably doesn’t exist, but there are great frameworks you can use to find greater fulfilment in all areas of your life.// You'll find the show notes / newsletter edition of this episode here.// If you liked this episode, check out my thought-provoking newsletter full of dry humour and useful resources at: www.theknowledge.substack.com.// Keep the conversation going on Twitter at @Legendofbaba using the hashtag #TheKnowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations

We can all agree that 2020 was awful, but I learnt a few things worth sharing and am making a lot of changes to how I approach life.// You'll find the show notes / newsletter edition of this episode here.// If you liked this episode, check out my thought-provoking newsletter full of dry humour and useful resources at: www.theknowledge.substack.com.// Keep the conversation going on Twitter at @Legendofbaba using the hashtag #TheKnowledgeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/theknowledge/donations