Episode 37: Zaina Sesay - Strength, Reinvention, & Embracing the Unexpected

Episode 37: Zaina Sesay - Strength, Reinvention, & Embracing the Unexpected

Author: Kwame Appiah & Scott Sutton March 12, 2025 Duration: 47:34
Meet Zaina, a content creator and entrepreneur with a passion for fitness, wellness, and self-care. She shares her journey of personal transformation, from building a thriving creator community to finding resilience after heartbreak. In this episode, Zaina opens up about her public breakup after season 3 of “The Ultimatum,” the power of releasing negative energy, and why tough moments often lead to what’s truly meant for us. Plus, she shares how Snapchat’s creator program became a game-change...

Hosted by Kwame Appiah, a content creator known from Netflix's Love is Blind, and Scott Sutton, the CEO behind the popular social media management platform Later, Beyond Influence is a conversation about where our digital culture is headed. This podcast moves past the surface-level hype to examine the real forces shaping how we connect and consume online, arguing that influencer marketing isn't just a trend but a fundamental shift in media. Each episode brings in leading creators and the brand marketers who work with them, focusing on the personal stories behind the profiles-the risks taken, the failures encountered, and the strategies that actually work. You'll hear candid discussions about the business realities, the creative process, and the unexpected ways this space intersects with broader culture, entertainment, and news. It’s a look at the human element driving a multi-billion dollar industry, offering listeners a genuine understanding of the landscape from two insiders with very different vantage points. Tune into Beyond Influence for a nuanced exploration of the people and ideas defining the future of social media, far beyond the likes and follows.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 51

Beyond Influence
Podcast Episodes
Episode 29: Ryan Alford - The Power of Influence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:55
This week, we sit down with Ryan Alford, a serial entrepreneur and the host of the popular marketing podcast “Right About Now.” Ryan’s journey is a testament to resilience—from humble beginnings to building an industry-l…
Episode 28: Louis Levanti - Building Your Brand & Finding Your Niche [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:42
Meet Louis Levanti, the internet's brutally honest best friend, a lover of dogs, a huge foodie, and if he had to define his niche, he would say "I am my niche." Louis started his content career as a digital producer for…
Episode 27: Dani Stacy - Finding Her Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:57
Join us this week as we chat with Dani Stacy, a singer-songwriter who made her national debut this year on “The Voice.” Her memorable cover of “I Will Survive” turned all four coaches’ chairs and was a key turning point…
Episode 26: Evan Wray - The Power of the Everyday Influencer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:28
Meet Evan Wray, CEO and co-founder of Mavely, and a driving force in the world of social commerce. In this episode, we chat with Evan about how Mavely was founded (and how entrepreneurial stay-at-home moms were behind mu…
Episode 25: Rome Johnson - Parenting with Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:06
Meet Rome Johnson, a Seattle-based creator who focuses on fatherhood and the millennial parenting journey with authenticity. Rome’s content focuses on being a present father to his two beautiful children, one of whom has…
Episode 24: Sara Uy - Setting Out on Her Own [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:41
Ring ring, it’s Sara from Pareto calling! Tune in this week as we chat with Sara Uy, sales director and internet personality known for sharing her live cold calls online. In this episode, we discuss what inspired Sara to…
Episode 23: Zack Goytowski - Fatherhood, Family, & Fame [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:26
Meet Zack Goytowski, Love is Blind alum, husband, father, and content creator. In this episode, we discuss how Zack found love with wife Bliss Goytowski on season 4 of Love is Blind. After two years of marriage, Bliss ga…
Episode 22: Jade Beason - Creating Content That Gets You Paid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:14
Join us as we chat to the brilliant Jade Beason, founder of “The Creator Project” and content creator specialist. In this episode, we learn how Jade turned her YouTube channel into a six-figure business within months of…