From the NFL to Coaching Student-Athletes | Oregon Ducks & Atlanta Falcons’ Drew Jay Davis

What happens after the NFL?

Former Oregon Ducks standout and Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drew Jay Davis joins Creators Talk Podcast to break down life after football, the discipline behind elite performance, and how he’s now coaching, speaking, and creating with purpose.

In this episode, Drew shares:

• How reading reshaped his mindset during and after his NFL career
• The surprising overlap between athletics and podcasting
• What actually makes a great coach and a coachable player
• How to build community instead of chasing attention
• Why solo podcasting is one of the hardest (and most rewarding) formats

This conversation is for athletes navigating transition, creators building with intention, and leaders focused on long-term growth.

Episode Highlights

• National Championship & Super Bowl predictions
• Life as a student-athlete and staying ready in the NFL
• Getting into content creation and podcasting
• The philosophy behind Too Good to Be Drew
• Coaching the next generation on and off the field
• Rapid-fire book recommendations and book-world hot takes

Books Mentioned

The Power of Habit — Charles Duhigg
When Crack Was King — Donovan X. Ramsey
Wealthy Speaker 3.0 — Jane Atkinson
Game of Edges — Bruce Schoenfeld
Referable Speaker — Andrew Davis

Connect with Drew Jay Davis

Website: drewjaydavis.com
Podcast: Too Good to Be Drew
Instagram: @drewjaydavis

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Amazon Self-Publishing in 2026 with Dave Chesson (Kindlepreneur)

In this episode, we sit down with Dave Chesson, founder of Kindlepreneur.com and Publisher Rocket, to break down what authors and writers need to know to succeed with Amazon self-publishing, book marketing, and Amazon KDP heading into 2026.

Dave Chesson is one of the most trusted voices in the self-publishing world. Through Kindlepreneur, he has helped hundreds of thousands of authors understand Amazon keywords, book discoverability, category selection, and long-term marketing strategies for independent authors. Publisher Rocket is one of the most widely used tools for Amazon keyword research and category optimization.

In this conversation, Dave shares:

• How Amazon’s algorithm actually works for authors
• The role of keywords, categories, and metadata in selling books
• How AI is changing self-publishing and book marketing
• Trending genres and categories in self-publishing
• Why authors should think about marketing from day one
• Writing craft vs strategy and finding the right balance
• Starting over with new pen names and avoiding the “overnight success” myth

Beyond publishing, Dave also talks about his background as a U.S. Navy veteran, nuclear engineer, entrepreneur, and writer, and how those experiences shaped his approach to building sustainable author careers.

Perfect for:
Authors, writers, self-publishers, Amazon KDP users, indie authors, and anyone interested in book marketing, publishing trends, and building a long-term writing career.

This episode is brought to you by Bookum
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Timestamps

1:03 – Memorial Day
1:37 – Serving in the Navy
3:08 – Entrepreneurship and Indiana Jones
5:23 – Getting your first customers
9:00 – Amazon keyword strategy
10:38 – Converting sales on Amazon
12:04 – Amazon’s algorithm
14:30 – AI and Amazon publishing
18:03 – Strategy vs writing craft
22:10 – Publisher Rocket
25:08 – Trending self-publishing categories
31:10 – Dave on writing
36:00 – Marketing from day one
42:00 – New pen names and starting over
43:28 – The “overnight success” myth
47:30 – More of in the book world
48:00 – Less of in the book world

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

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George Johnson: Building the $75M Afro Sheen Empire & Funding Soul Train

At 97 years old, George E. Johnson Sr. is a living legend. In this extraordinary conversation, the founder of Johnson Products Company—the first Black-owned business to trade on the American Stock Exchange—shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to revolutionizing the beauty industry.

Joined by his co-author, award-winning writer Hilary Beard, Mr. Johnson discusses their new memoir "Afro Sheen: How I Revolutionized an Industry with the Golden Rule, from Soul Train to Wall Street."

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How George started Johnson Products Company with just $500
• Creating Afro Sheen and Ultra Sheen during the natural hair movement
• His mentor S.B. Fuller and the principles that guided his success
• Meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Operation Breadbasket
• The untold story of how he funded and saved Soul Train
• Becoming the first Black-owned company on a major stock exchange
• Why he profit-shared with employees and started his own bank
• Advice for young entrepreneurs from a 97-year-old business pioneer
• Hilary Beard on preserving this crucial piece of American history

This is more than a business story, it's a masterclass in entrepreneurship, perseverance, and living by the Golden Rule.

GUEST: George E. Johnson Sr. - Founder, Johnson Products Company | Author, "Afro Sheen" Hilary Beard - Award-winning writer, speaker, and co-author

GET THE BOOK: "Afro Sheen" by George E. Johnson Sr. and Hilary Beard https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/george-e-johnson/afro-sheen/9780316577366/?lens=little-brown

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This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

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Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this holiday special of the Bookum Founders Talk Podcast, we sit down with special guest, Co-Founder, and brother, the brilliant Kris Colley II.

We talk through Kris Colley’s role at Bookum, how the idea for the platform first came together, and the journey that took Bookum from an idea to a billboard in Times Square. We also reflect on standout moments from 2025, including conversations with Hollywood Producers like Will Packer, the evolution of community features like Nooks, and the podcast episodes and books that defined our year.

To close things out, we jump into Bookends, a rapid-fire look at what we’re currently loving across books, film, television, and culture.

This episode is a year-end reflection on building in public, honoring the stories that move us, and looking ahead to what’s next for Bookum.

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Download the Bookum app to discover books, join conversations, and connect with readers and creators:

https://www.bookumapp.com

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro
1:23 – Kris’ role at Bookum
3:45 – The origins of Bookum
6:23 – How we got a Bookum billboard in Times Square
14:48 – Standout moments from 2025
16:46 – Will Packer
17:50 – Nooks on Bookum
22:12 – Favorite books of the year
28:54 – Favorite Bookum podcast of the year
29:58 – Bookends (Crave Outs)
30:33 – Plur1bus
30:53 – Sex in the City
31:24 – Billie Joel Documentary
33:00 – Mr. Scorsese

Bookends:

• Plur1bus
• Sex in the City
• Billie Joel Documentary
• Weapons
• Elway
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Mr. Scorsese

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Does great art require hubris? In this episode of Creators Talk Podcast, we explore Gothic literature, Frankenstein, and the complex relationship between artists and their creations with Dr. Rebecca Marks, a Cambridge PhD specializing in Gothic literature and art history.

Dr. Marks takes us deep into the world of Gothic literature, from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to the moral questions that define the genre. We discuss whether classics should remain untouchable, who gets to adapt stories by women, and the eternal debate: can we separate the artist from the art?

This conversation covers content creation, the role of hubris in making great art, controversial artists, and how Gothic literature teaches us about morality, ambition, and what it means to be a creator in today's world.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:02 - Frankenstein Interactive Museum in London
2:28 - New Frankenstein Movie Review
3:03 - Should Classics Be Untouchable?
4:12 - Does It Matter Who Adapts Stories by Women?
6:21 - Growing Up and Getting Into Gothic Literature
7:40 - Getting Into Content Creation
9:02 - Short vs Long Form Content Creation
10:28 - Relatability in Content Creation
12:01 - William Blake and Imagination
12:40 - How to Better Understand Gothic Art
14:40 - Source Texts for Understanding Literature
16:40 - Gothic as Open for Interpretation
18:26 - Morality Questions Within Gothic Literature (Frankenstein)
21:55 - The Role of the Artist
23:12 - Hubris in Art
24:02 - Is Hubris Required for Great Art?
25:12 - Can You Separate Art From the Artist?
26:11 - Kanye West Discussion
27:41 - JK Rowling Discussion
28:34 - Eric Gill and Controversial Artists
29:12 - The Fear of Criticism in Art
30:02 - Writing The Culture Dump Blog
31:12 - What is a Culture Dumper?
31:38 - Perfect Day of Writing
33:11 - The Power of Coffee
34:00 - Last, Now, Next Books
35:45 - How to Annotate Books
36:50 - Rapid-Fire Book Questions
38:50 - What Would You Like to See More of in the Art World?

CONNECT WITH DR. REBECCA MARKS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culture_dumper/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theculturedump?_t=ZG-8tdNOaeGNNp&_r=1&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGn7-IrCGaEaxrEE8Fmyivr2zKyniyDBnxRpnh60pUdMzKfynqt8MJSaLcZ2LQ_aem_kZEhAP3Gp6-nFzRb0MSoQw
The Culture Dump Blog: https://culturedump.substack.com/p/a-pre-raphaelite-primer?r=49iulx&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=ig&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnh3yBND8YP3ALgU_eYZZb6tHh64g25ROGU1R0Es0j9VIuxtBIZR5N0S-GQLM_aem_wqCrIEV2Ss9CNOI1hNvBgA&triedRedirect=true


Books:
The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann (A Recent Read)
Death in Venice by Thomas Mann (A Short Story)
Zofloya by Charlotte Dacre (A Gothic More People Should Read)

Art & Artists:
Lady Diana Beauclerk - Illustrations to Leonora
Joseph Wright of Derby
William Blake

Media:

Death Note (Manga)
The Legend of Zelda

Learn more at: https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Legendary restaurateur Drew Nieporent sits down to discuss his incredible 40+ year career in the restaurant industry, from opening the iconic Nobu with Robert De Niro and Nobu Matsuhisa to building Tribeca Grill, Montrachet, and over 40 other restaurants. Drew shares lessons on leadership, navigating celebrity partnerships, surviving 9/11 and COVID, and what it really takes to succeed in the restaurant business.

Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

TIMESTAMPS:
1:12 - Muhammad Ali
3:03 - On Being Difficult
4:28 - On Being A Leader
5:56 - The Dynamic of the front and back of a restaurant
9:08 - Growing up in Restaurants
11:20 - Working on Cruise Ship Restaurants
15:04 - The Job of a Restaurateur
18:20 - Opening First Restaurant: Montrachet
19:47 - Getting 3 Stars
22:25 - Restaurant Reviews in 2025
27:22 - The Art of Naming Restaurants
31:21 - Opening Nobu
33:23 - Doing Business with Robert De Niro
34:01 - Nelson Mandela & Celebrities at Tribeca Grill
35:12 - When to say No to starting a Restaurant
38:15 - Opening Restaurants Abroad
39:53 - Nobu Opening in London
41:48 - Selecting Wines for your Restaurants
42:21 - Opening Crush Wine Store
45:40 - Navigating 9/11 and COVID
48:21 - Selling Burgers at Madison Square Garden
49:33 - Writing the book
51:02 - Rapid-Fire Food Questions
57:27 - What Should be in a Restaurateur's toolkit?

📖 Get Drew's new book "I'm Not Trying to Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches"
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/drew-nieporent/im-not-trying-to-be-difficult/9781668651896/?lens=grand-central-publishing

📚 Start or join Book Clubs on Bookum App
https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Welcome to the Bookum Author Talks Podcast!

In this episode, we sit down with culinary historian and James Beard Award winner Adrian Miller to explore the REAL history of soul food. We dive deep into Thanksgiving history and traditions, black food traditions, the soul food canon, and cooking through history. Adrian breaks down everything from cooking Thanksgiving dinner and the best soul food dishes to collard greens recipes and old world cooking techniques.

Discover the truth about soul food and how it's not slave food. Learn about mac and cheese history, the origins of chitlins, okra, hibiscus, neckbones, and how Caribbean food traditions connect to soul food culture. We also explore black and Asian chefs in the White House, the history of American BBQ, and the fascinating crossover between Asian cuisine and soul food.

Whether you're looking for collard greens recipes, want to understand black food traditions, or curious about cooking through history, this conversation has it all!

TIMESTAMPS:
1:12 - Thanksgiving + Soul Food Items
2:50 - History of Chitlins
5:10 - Starting Career in Culinary Writing
6:07 - Mac n Cheese History in Soul Food and Thanksgiving
8:14 - Soul Food Canon
9:43 - Preparing Collard Greens
12:01 - History of Hibiscus
13:21 - History of Okra
13:50 - History of Neckbones
14:52 - History of Gumbo
15:34 - Jamaican & Caribbean Foods
18:12 - Soul Food is NOT Slave Food
20:50 - Veganism in Soul Food
23:50 - Black Eye Peas on Stove for Holiday
25:45 - Black Chefs in the White House
29:02 - History of American BBQ
32:12 - Best BBQ City in America
32:45 - Asian Chefs in the White House
34:02 - Asian Cuisine & Soul Food Crossovers
36:12 - Documenting Family Recipes Histories
39:12 - Writing Process of A Cookbook
42:24 - Writing Food Reviews
45:01 - Rapid Fire Food Questions
46:42 - What Should Be in a Foodies Toolkit?

📚 ADRIAN MILLER'S BOOKS:
"Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time" (2013) https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Food-Surprising-American-Cuisine/dp/1469607352

"The President's Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas" (2017)
https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Kitchen-Cabinet-African-Americans/dp/1469630494

"Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue" (2021)
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Smoke-African-Americans-United/dp/1469663406

"Cooking to the President's Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History" (2025) - Co-authored with Deborah Chang
https://shop.whitehousehistory.org/products/cooking-to-the-presidents-taste

Adrian Miller Social Media:
Website - https://adrianemiller.com/
Twitter - https://x.com/soulfoodscholar
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soulfoodscholar/


Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more author conversations!

Make sure to download our Book club and Book networking app Bookum at https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

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My guest today on the Bookum Author Talks Podcast is the generational powerhouse Cheryl McKissack Daniel. Cheryl is the President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack, a design and construction company founded by Moses McKissack in 1905. It is the oldest Black-owned architecture and construction company in the United States.

In this episode, Cheryl shares the incredible story of her family’s legacy spanning 5 generations, their impact on HBCU campuses, succession plans, major stadium projects, and lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, and preserving family history.

This episode is full of history and business lessons!

Get Cheryl’s book: The Black Family Who Built America - https://www.simonandschuster.com/book...

Timestamps:

1:30 - Current Projects of McKissack & McKissack
3:18 - Family History of The McKissack
5:42 - Passing down family mottos
7:02 - Handling Succession in the Family
11:40 - Growing up in an affluent Black Family
14:10 - Building on HBCU campuses
16:38 - Working with Black Business
18:18 - Charlamagne tha God publishing the book
19:33 - Writing Process of the Book
20:10 - Building Stadiums
22:55 - Barclay Center in Brooklyn
24:12 - Being a role model as a Black woman builder
26:37 - Record Your Family's History
27:12 - What Should Be in A Builder's Toolkit?

Make sure Like, comment, and subscribe to our ‪@bookum‬ YouTube channel for more amazing conversations with authors and creators.

Download the Bookum App to join book-related discussions, connect with the community, and start your own book club at https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!