noseyAF: Conversations about Art, Activism, and Social Change

Ep #96: Bring the Avalanche: How to Turn Rejection Into Motivation — with Maurice Proffitt

“Trust yourself. This world will try to tell you otherwise every single day.”- Maurice Proffitt

This conversation was recorded live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday November 22, 2025

Summary of the episode

In this episode, we sit down with Chicago creative and producer Maurice Proffitt to talk about creative rejection, the fear of success, and what it really takes to build a career without waiting for permission. Maurice shares the moments that shaped him: the childhood spark that made him a storyteller, the brutal rejection that changed his entire trajectory, and how he learned to turn setbacks into motivation.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or right on the edge of something big—but scared to leap—this conversation will give you fuel.

What we talk about

• A friendly deep-dive into what it really means to grow as an artist.
• Turning rejection into motivation
• Overcoming the fear of success and leveling up
• Growing up Black in Schaumburg and finding your “B-side” identity
• Why you should stop asking for permission and create anyway
• Building B-Side Productions and Dreamscape
• Friendship, community, and the people who hold you up
• Maurices first web series “Broke AF,” filmmaking, and learning to edit
• The moment he said: “Enough is enough — I’m building my own lane.”

Things We Mentioned

Ep # 95: Queer History Is Everywhere: Dr. Kate Henry on Archives, Rhetoric & Lisa Ben

Summary of the episode

Hey its Stephanie here! In this episode of noseyAF, we get into queer history, archives, and public scholarship with Dr. Kate Henry — writer, scholar, poet, and creator of Lisa Benography, a public scholarship project documenting Lisa Ben, the woman behind the first known lesbian magazine in the U.S. Kate and I talk about the magic and messiness of archives, what feminist historiography actually is, and how queer stories survive even when institutions try to erase them.

We also get into creative writing, rhetoric, butch/femme histories, and what it means to consider your own life an archive. It’s tender, nerdy, funny, and honestly one of my favorite conversations.

What we talk about

• How Dr. Kate first stumbled into queer history and feminist historiography
• The wild, brilliant, and deeply influential life of Lisa Ben
• Why archives matter — and how everyday people create them
• The difference between academic scholarship and public scholarship (and how to make knowledge accessible)
• Creative writing, rhetoric, and the “moves” queer creators make under censorship
• A juicy tangent on personal archives, family keepsakes, and documenting our own lives
• How queer histories survive through scraps, letters, love, and community care

Things We Mentioned

Ep # 94 : Plant-Based Entrepreneur Niehla Ollie: From Beauty Industry to Homegirl’s Hummus

This episode was recorded live on Saturday November 8th at Lumpen Radio in Chicago.

Summary of the episode

This week on noseyAF, I’m talking with Niehla Ollie, the creative behind Homegirl’s Hummus. After more than 20 years in the fashion and beauty world, Niehla had a late-night hummus craving in Milwaukee that changed everything. What started as a midnight snack moment turned into a full-on business built on flavor, love, and community.

Niehla opens up about loss, faith, and starting over, and we get into how food can heal and connect people. She shares what it’s really like to run a food business, the importance of taking care of yourself while chasing your dreams, and why kindness and a good dip go a long way.

This conversation is full of heart, hustle, and hummus — the perfect combo.

Chapters:

• 00:17 - A New Beginning

• 06:08 - The Origin of Homegirls Hummus

• 12:40 - Transitioning to Healthy Eating Choices

• 19:22 - Navigating Dietary Restrictions During the Holidays

• 22:57 - The Journey of Homegirl Hummus

• 32:06 - The Importance of Self-Care

• 45:34 - Faith and Business: A Journey of Hope

• 52:15 - Exploring the World of Hummus and Beyond

• 56:11 - The Art of Entertaining

What we talk about

How Niehla went from beauty industry boss to hummus queen

The story behind Homegirl’s Hummus and how it started with one late-night craving

Why plant-based eating doesn’t have to be complicated or boring

Handling grief, growth, and entrepreneurship with faith and flavor

The real talk about self-care and staying grounded while building something new

All about… Niehla Ollie

You’re gonna love Niehla Ollie (aka Niehla O). After more than 20 years in fashion and beauty, she wanted to help people feel good from the inside out. That led her to create Homegirl’s Hummus, a plant-based brand that’s all about community, creativity, and connection.

She started making hummus for friends in L.A. back in 2016, and after moving back home to Chicago — and through some major life changes — she decided to go all in. In 2021, Homegirl’s Hummus was officially born, spreading love (and hummus) one scoop at a time.

Connect with Niehla

Ep 93: Stop Overthinking Your Brand: A Real Talk Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs

Summary of the episode

In this episode of noseyAF, I sit down with brand designer and website strategist Bridget Baker to demystify the overwhelming world of branding for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Bridget shares her journey from professional dancer and choreographer to helping people build authentic brands that actually reflect who they are—not who they think they should be. We dig into why branding feels so intimidating, how to give yourself permission to be yourself online, and why perfection is the enemy of connection. Bridget breaks down the difference between personal and business brands, explains when (and if) you should worry about brand consistency, and shares practical advice for creative people who contain multitudes. If you've ever felt paralyzed by the pressure to have perfectly polished brand photos, matching color palettes, or a "professional" online presence, this conversation is for you.

Topics discussed:

• Why branding feels overwhelming and how to give yourself permission to be authentic
• The difference between personal and business brands (and what to do when you ARE the business)
• How minimalism and organization principles apply to brand strategy
• When to update your brand colors, photos, and messaging (spoiler: it's more flexible than you think)
• Building community through co-working spaces like Write Shit Mondays
• The problem with AI-generated brand content and homogenized aesthetics
• Practical first steps for clarifying your brand based on what you actually want your life to look like

Chapters:

• 00:14 - Introduction to Bridget Baker

• 06:57 - The Intersection of Personal and Business Branding

• 12:25 - Evolving Brand Stories

• 17:41 - The Role of Minimalism in Branding

• 26:28 - The Journey to Website Branding

• 37:06 - Exploring Community and Connections

• 38:43 - The Evolution of Write Shit Mondays

• 46:20 - Understanding Branding Flexibility

All About Bridget

Bridget Baker specializes in working with coaches, consultants, therapists, organizers, and overall, people who help people. Her superpower is giving you the permission you need to brand your BIZ the way YOU want to. She's been a minimalist since before it was trendy, and organized her friends' closets for fun as a kid (true story!) Simplifying spaces and creating more room to play are her jam. That, coupled with a background in dance and choreography led her to want to find a way to use both her creative and organizational passions. Sprinkle in some writing and consulting, and over the past 15 years, she's built a business that has given her the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere. Building brands and websites is the place where she combines all those skills and helps people let go of the cluttered ideas about their brands, and create the space for something they love.

Resources mentioned in this episode