This Isn't My Degree

When Luke Strege and I first crossed paths amidst the chaos of 2019, little did we know that our shared zest for videography would be the kindling for a friendship and professional camaraderie that spans from whimsical wedding shoots to the glitz of Los Angeles. This episode is a nostalgic trip and a treasure trove of insights as Luke and I trade tales from our formative days in the content creation realm. We share earnest revelations about chasing our professional dreams while maintaining a personal touch in every frame we capture.

Venturing into the world of videography can often feel like stepping into an unknown realm, but it's a journey he embraced, moving from a secure corporate life into full-time film production. The heart of this episode lies in the stories of transition and transformation—like the unforgettable email that landed in his inbox, opening the door to pursue his passion unbridled. Our chat isn't just about the glamour of red carpet moments; it's an honest reflection on the grind, the late-night edits, and the vibrant tapestry of experiences that shape a creative professional's life.

But what happens after you've started to make your mark? We wrap up with a candid discussion about staying grounded amid the industry's highs, the influence of authenticity on one's work, and the continuous journey of self-improvement. Creatives, dreamers, and everyone in between, you're invited to join us as we peel back the curtain on the perseverance and heart that fuel our craft. And for those eager to walk this path with us, our Instagrams are just a click away for sneak peeks into what's brewing next in our world of content creation.

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Watch the visual version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisntmydegree

Original Dante - Host
YouTube: www.youtube.com/originaldante
Personal IG: www.instagram.com/vibesbydante
Podcast IG: www.instagram.com/thisisntmydegree

Luke Strege - Guest
IG: www.instagram.com/lukestrege
Wedding IG: www.instagram.com/elearintime

This podcast is powered by Riverside - https://riverside.fm/

Ever had to sign a waiver to eat food before?

This episode unfurls with the delectable musings of our special guest from Epic Eats - a connoisseur of the culinary arts based in St. Louis who isn't afraid to throw himself into the hottest of foods... and we ate the hottest of chicken on the podcast. With Epic Eats, we ladle out tales from our shared past in retail (seriously, we used to work together) and how a fiery love for food carved out new paths during the pandemic.

Strap on your aprons and ready your taste buds as we venture into the saucy debate over condiments and the perilous journey of scaling the Scoville scale at Chuck's Hot Chicken. Our conversation simmers with insights on the craft of food critiquing and the responsibility we carry when our online opinions can make or break a meal. Yelp elites, beware - we're dishing out thoughts on the power your reviews hold, all while ensuring our own critiques stay as constructive as the feedback we dish to kitchens across the city.

In our final course, we slice into the innovation (or lack thereof) in the St. Louis food scene, serving up raw, honest talk about the branding and recognition hurdles that local eateries vault over. We cheer on events like Wing Ding and those audacious enough to drizzle new flavors into the St. Louis melting pot. So, whether you're here for the foodie chat, the nostalgia of our employment history together, or just craving some good ol' St. Louis eats talk, tune in and savor this flavorful episode - and don't forget to subscribe and follow for a taste of our next adventure.

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Watch the visual version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisntmydegree

Original Dante - Host
YouTube: www.youtube.com/originaldante
Personal IG: www.instagram.com/vibesbydante
Podcast IG: www.instagram.com/thisisntmydegree

EpicEats
Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsepiceats

As I sat nursing a warm cup of coffee, mulling over the recent content capture in Kansas City, it struck me just how much Instagram has morphed from a quirky photo-sharing app to a polished, algorithmic powerhouse. There was a time when our feeds were unfiltered windows into each other's lives; now they're carefully curated galleries where spontaneity seems like a distant memory. It has transformed into a strategically-driven platform.

The second half of our conversation touches on the rollercoaster ride of inconsistent engagement and its psychological toll on creators like me. I'll share the ongoing struggle with Instagram's love-hate relationship with its users: the unpredictable nature of story views, the craving for deeper community connections, and the search for the elusive joy in content creation. Through this introspective chat, I'll also emphasize the importance of creating impactful work that resonates, rather than playing the numbers game for followers. So, whether you're a fellow content creator or just a social media enthusiast, I invite you to join this discussion that aims to reignite the spark of genuine interactions within the digital community.

Ever find yourself on tiptoe at a concert, struggling to see the stage over a sea of heads? Grab your platform shoes and join us as we swap stories about the highs and lows of being height-challenged in crowded places, all while taking a stroll through the vibrant streets of St. Louis with our latest guest, Braden – a local influencer who's shaking up the scene in the most unexpected ways. This episode is a roller coaster of laughter and candid reflections as we peel back the layers of content creation, personal growth, and the quirks of our beloved city.

Imagine attempting to squeeze a lifetime of high school memories into every new adult conversation—awkward, right? Well, we're tearing up that outdated script and getting real about our journeys since those cap-and-gown days. From the country music dreams we never knew we had, to the fashion faux pas that keep us grounded, we're unearthing the raw and often hilarious truths behind our personal narratives. Braden, voted Influencer of the Year in St. Louis, brings his own tales to the mic, sharing the bittersweet moments of forging an authentic path in the digital spotlight.

Dive into the heart of St. Louis with us as we navigate the tricky terrain of working with local businesses. While brands may sometimes steal the show, our commitment to stoking the flames of the local creator economy is unshakeable. Whether we're ruminating on the potential of food truck gardens or fanning the excitement for rollerskating in Forest Park, this episode is brimming with ideas, inspirations, and a fierce love for the community that's made us who we are. Tune in for an unhinged conversation where creativity meets real life, and where every laugh is matched by a nod to the hustle it takes to make our mark.

When you think your DMs are a circus, wait till you hear about the guy who took a walk on the wild side with a diaper – not kidding. This episode, I'm joined by Sasha Emiri, who takes us through her journey of becoming a content creator. From her 'cringy' start on Musical.ly to becoming the lifestyle queen of Twitch, Sasha's story is a testament to the unpredictable, ever-changing tides of social media.

There's more to Twitch streaming than meets the eye, and it's not just about playing video games. It's about crafting a community, bonding over shared laughs, and so much more. But it's not all fun and games; we also get real about the challenges that lurk behind the camera. From impersonation nightmares to the resilience needed when facing online trolls, this episode is a raw glimpse into the life behind the 'live' button.

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Watch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thisisntmydegree

Host - Original Dante
YouTube: www.youtube.com/originaldante
Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante

Guest - Sasha Emiri
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sasha_emiri
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/sashaemiri

Note: we do discuss contracts and other backend influencer stuff, but none of the contents of this episode should be considered legal advice, we are not lawyers. :)

Sam is a talented culinary creative that enjoys cooking and creating content around his experimental style. Sam is also about to leave St. Louis, MO to move back to Jersey to pursue his dreams of being a food creator that makes a difference.

I've got high hopes for him.

In addition to his story, we discuss his content styles and how he structures content from a purely analytical standpoint. We discuss the importance of metrics, engaging with your audience, and how to elevate your content style.

Note: This episode was filmed back in September 2023.

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Host - Original Dante
IG: https://www.instagram.com/originaldante
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/originaldante

Guest - Food by Stern
IG: https://www.instagram.com/foodbystern/

Katie and I go way back, so we filmed this episode to discuss her start in the early days of YouTube, her rise to 100K+ subscribers, pivoting into short form content, and then we just go crazy with it. Vampires at Cracker Barrel. Mattress stores being money laundering. So much more. Enjoy.

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Original Dante YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/originaldante
Original Dante IG: https://www.instagram.com/originaldante/

Katie Legate - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katielegate
Katie Legate - IG: https://www.instagram.com/katielegate/

The holiday hiatus is over! We're back for the unofficial "season 2" of This Isn't My Degree, and we're starting things off with Finnegan Stewart - a good friend and frequent supporter of the St. Louis creator economy. He's also a content creator himself, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers and hundreds of millions of views.

I'll be honest, this episode spits a ton of free game on the ONE thing that creators don't do that ruins their chances at success, effective social media strategy, how to stand out as a creator, the main reason musicians fail, and so much more.

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I encourage you to follow him along on social media:

Finnegan's IG: www.instagram.com/finnegan.stewart

Host Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante
Watch the show version of this podcast: www.hoo.be/thisisntmydegree

Support the show

Victoria and I met years ago at a local creative networking event and I've been keeping up with what she's been up to creatively. She's elevated brand visuals on both a photo and video level, but I've always been curious about the wedding photo/video business.

She told me that for her wedding, she didn't opt to have someone capture their day. Her and her husband regret this, so she offers this service to her clients and has a personal connection to each piece of work she produces. I had a ton of questions.

Oh, and we also discuss Taylor Swift, moms posting on social media way too often, and more. Enjoy the episode!

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I encourage you to follow her along on social media:

Victoria's IG: www.instagram.com/victoriashipleyy

Host Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante
Watch the show version of this podcast: www.hoo.be/thisisntmydegree

I've officially been a YouTube creator for eight years. EIGHT YEARS.  The overwhelming majority of people have quit this by now, or they've blown up. Yet here I am, having done neither.

In this episode, I discuss what it's really been like adapting and evolving to create better and better content each time. I've continued to improve and accelerate over the years, in my opinion, so let's discuss how I plan to continue that momentum.

Thanks for being great :)

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Host Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/originaldante
Watch the show version of this podcast: www.hoo.be/thisisntmydegree

I was casually browsing Reddit and discovered a post in r/Missouri that was on my home feed. I stumbled upon Holden's journey, where he is walking across the country and happens to be entering Missouri.

I shot him a message and said "well, when you hit St. Louis, let's film a podcast episode!" So we did.

In this episode, we discuss the highs and lows of walking across the country, his meaningful journey filled with personal purpose, the wacky side quests he's engaging in, and highlight how unwalkable America really is.

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I encourage you to follow him along on social media:

Website: www.walk2washington.com
Holden's IG: www.instagram.com/walk2washington

Support the cause and donate: www.americawalks.org

Host Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante
Watch the show version of this podcast: www.hoo.be/thisisntmydegree

Natalia is one of the most extraordinary people I've ever met. She applied for a job with STL Bucket List (an opening that called for a COLLEGE junior, not a high school junior), got it, and it was just the beginning of her long list of accomplishments. From starting her own business to putting a spotlight on culture and focusing on building the future of St. Louis, I can't wait to see everything she will do.

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Follow us on socials!

Host - Original Dante
YouTube: www.youtube.com/originaldante
Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante

Guest - Natalia
Instagram: www.instagram.com/taliaparr

In the first live episode recording, BradenSTL features Original Dante on his podcast "Ope Cast" and once the sun set, we filmed another first - This Isn't My Degree: After Dark. We discuss SZA in St. Louis, what we'd do with a bunch of money to help St. Louis, and try to figure out who our audience members were... because none of us invited them.

How did they find out about our event? Our live podcast recording?

Social Links

OG Dante
Instagram
www.instagram.com/originaldante
YouTube
www.youtube.com/originaldante

Braden
Instagram
www.instagram.com/bradenstl
Ope Cast
https://opecast.com/

The title isn't an exaggeration or clickbait - someone really did steal my car. I'll tell you all about it in this episode, and how it's affecting my creating career.

Follow me on socials
YouTube: www.youtube.com/originaldante
Instagram: www.instagram.com/originaldante

The city of St. Louis has been on fire this weekend because of Darius Cooks. He travels from city to city and hosts dinner events in each location, and this previous weekend he was in St. Louis. He was infuriated and saddened by the food scene in our city, and gave some honest criticisms, and some took them very personally.

I knew the perfect place to take him to, Rated Test Kitchen, which is run by Juwan Rice. I had him on the show a few weeks back. The entire premise of the concept is to bring out your inner food critic, and he was the only person I had confidence in to actually receive a positive rating from Darius.

I told Darius that we could film my podcast at Rated and not only dive deeper into his story and the issues with St. Louis, but to also have an insightful conversation over, what I hoped would be, good food.

People that tuned into his live stream had nothing but positive comments. Will this interaction change Darius’s views on St. Louis, though?



Socials

Original Dante (Host)
Instagram
YouTube

Darius Cooks
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Colin Underwood is a content creator known for his crazy antics. Generating millions of views with his videos, his take on content creation leans into wild stunts and showcasing things that pique curiosity.

Today, we discuss his past of being a LEGO influencer, playing rock paper scissors with celebrities, and getting started with making videos.

Socials
Original Dante (Host): https://www.instagram.com/originaldante/
Colin Underwood: https://www.instagram.com/one_l_colin/

Josh Kreuger is a YouTube creator that showcases that there's more to life that's worth exploring. He tries an assortment of different challenges like "Surviving on $0 in New York" and "Strangers Control My Life for a Day" and has delivered a custom truck to another well-known creator, Airrack. 

Today, we discuss what it's like being a YouTuber, having a truck set on fire, and the ups and downs of content creator life.

This week, I sit down with Chef Juwan Rice - a celebrity chef that competed on Guy's Grocery Games and is opening an innovative concept right here in St. Louis. Considering he is a celebrity chef, I had to ask a ton of questions to clear up a lot of culinary suspicions. What is the best fast food place? What is a controversial food opinion? Find out in this week's episode of This Isn't My Degree.

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Socials
Original Dante (Host): https://www.instagram.com/originaldante/
Juwan Rice: https://www.instagram.com/chef_.jr/

You don't need a degree to pursue your dreams. In the premiere "Commencement Episode," I take you through my transformative adventure from an art grad to digital storyteller. Discover how I managed to become an award-winning YouTuber and master video production through self-learning, real-world experiences, and a lot of courage.

Watch the video format of this podcast at www.youtube.com/originaldante