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Culture Conversation Wraps up Season 3 | From Start-Up to Premium Show by Hussein Abdullahi

Culture Conversation wraps up another successful season

Podcasts have become a powerful tool for millions of content creators globally. From transforming the digital landscape amid the global pandemic, podcasters have leveraged the power of media to deliver a tangible product. The passion for creating content has yielded a profit for most. Our team at TGQ Inc. has been responsible for the executive production of the podcast Culture Conversation.

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In July, Culture Conversation concluded their third season with a season finale episode featuring the HoopQueen Keesa K. Season Three featured an array of industry leaders, sport business professionals, and community activists. The long list includes Ontario’s first Poet Laureate Randell Adjei, Toronto’s Sports Journalist Duane Watson, Young Entrepreneur of the year Nevell Provo + more. We will highlight some memorable moments from Season Three below.


Heart Of The City

In March, Sports Journalist Duane Watson joined our platform to share his unique story. Duane Watson is responsible for creating several media projects in conjunction with NBATV Canada and TSN. Duane has cultivated a space for Black Journalists across Toronto's landscape to tell stories imperative to our culture.

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There wasn’t a space for us to like see us! To kind of have that platform where people are speaking like how we talk about ball or whatever I think that stuff is really important. Giving our people stuff to aspire to. - Duane Watson

In this episode, Duane reflects on his early career working in the music business for Sony during the golden era of Hip-Hip. After having much success in the music business, Duane sacrificed a six-figure salary to jump-start his freelance career in Journalism. By utilizing his journalistic principles of storytelling and his marketing mindset, Duane brought life to The HoopClub, NBAXL and the iconic Nike Crown League.


HoopQueens TO

On the season finale, Keesa K. of the HoopQueens joined the platform to share her story. Keesa K. has created a women-led community organization to advocate for equality in sports, provide access to resources for women in sports, and overcome the gender disparity gap. We have begun to see a slight shift in sports. Women are getting recognition for being powerful athletes.

We go through so much as women, you know we have kids, we have our familys, we have things to take care of as a women of the household. I feel like men have a lot of opportunties for you know money to come in, but for girls its not the same. - Keesa K.

Female athletes such as Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, and Sabrina Ionescu have all exercised activism against gender discrimination in sports. Keesa K. spoke on the importance of educating the masses on women in sport, normalizing a co-ed sports environment. Keesa K. spoke on the importance of uplifting women across the globe to be multi-faceted. HoopQueens is committed to changing the narrative for millions of women athletes nationwide.


His Story

Earlier this year, Randel Adjei was named the first Poet Laureate of Ontario. Randell joined our platform to share his embarking journey. The social entrepreneur has overcome several obstacles as a youth in a low-income community. Randell turned to poetry and sports as a way to express himself. His upward trajectory came at a time when he went through a life-changing experience. It was at that moment when he redefined his purpose. Randell created an art organization, R.I.S.E (reaching intelligent souls everywhere). RISE has produced several community-based initiatives for upcoming artists across Toronto’s GTA. Randell spoke on the importance of redefining your purpose, creating a lasting legacy within the community. He ended this segment off with an acapella spoken word!


Podcast: Culture Conversation

Written by: Hussein Abdullahi

Published by: TGQ Inc.

Antwi Atuahene Inks A Sneaker deal with Historical Converse Brand by Hussein Abdullahi

Noir-et-Noire’s Antwi Atuahene Inks Partnership With Converse

Niagara River Lions Assistant General Manager Antwi Atuahene is no stranger to the world of strategic partnerships. Entering his second season with the River Lions, Antwi has cultivated a reputation with the emergence of his digital content. Antwi has identified a unique partnership with the Converse Brand. He spoke on the process highlighting the importance of retaining brand integrity while creating a unique lane within the corporate space. Our team got a chance to sit down with the River Lions AGM to speak about this historical deal.

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Converse Hoops

Antwi Atuahene becomes the 1st GM to acquire a partnership with a sports brand. Photo by: Cruz Marc

The biggest thing for me is aligning with partners that are somewhat on the same mission. Adding value and building social currency along the way! This usually leads to long-lasting relationships.
— Antwi Atuhene

This unique partnership is the first of its kind. Converse has largely focused on athlete endorsements in the past and now with the addition of Antwi, they hope to identify several collaborative partnerships with forwarding figures of the industry. Converse’s current roster includes Draymond Green, Kelly Oubre, Natasha Cloud, and Canadian native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The brand has cemented its spot back into the basketball marketplace, with the emerging urban culture developing north of the border it will be a great marketing opportunity for Converse to develop new strategies. The River Lion’s AGM hopes to bring this exclusive partnership to his ball club for collaborative merchandise and experiential activations.

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With Shai Gilgeous Alexander signing with Converse and watching him grow his brand on and off the court made perfect sense. He’s a special player with charisma and swag. We feel that’s exactly the type of brand I want to be associated with.
— Antwi Atuahene

A huge accelerator for Antwi’s career in the sports business has come from strategic partnerships, he’s hopeful that the synergy between Converse and himself will send shock waves across the Canadian sports landscape. Being in close proximity to working with the River Lions will open up several marketing opportunities for the CEBL as a whole. Antwi was featured in a brand photography shoot where he sported the new Converse All-Star Pro BB Lows sneakers. He dropped a sneak peek of the shoot via IG, all photos were captured by Photographer Cruz Marc.

Photography: Cruz Marc

Photography: Cruz Marc

We are still in the early stages of the partnership but I’m looking forward to making an impact on the culture.
— Antwi Atuahene

Published by: TGQ Inc.

Featuring: Antwi Atuahene

Brand: Converse

Photography: Cruz Marc