The Young God

"I can't teach you how to podcast like me. I can teach you how to podcast like yourself." - Rodney Have you ever thought, "my podcast is lacking. I can do better." But you're not quite sure what better is? Rodney is hosting his first podcast masterclass called The Podcast Intelligence masterclass where he'll show you the game-within-the-game of making a podcast that keeps listeners engaged and coming back -- that sponsors want to put money on.  30 slots 3 days  3 hours per day  May 15 - 18 (via Google Meet)  For more info & to Register

"You don’t always need a competitive spirit but you should have skills... knowledge... that gives you an edge." Rodney continues by himself where the previous episode left off. He asks those who deny their competitiveness: Are you naturally non-competitive, or did you LEARN to be non-competitive? In this episode, he debunks myths about competition that have infiltrated our culture; and he makes observations of people's general attitude to competition, their lack of competitive fire, and the reasons for this. This epsiode will challenge your biases about competition, collaboration, and ambition. It will also bring out the ethical competitor in you. FEATURING Lil Wayne, Katt Williams, and Kanye West. Recommended Episodes • The Game within the Game: An Introduction •We Should All Be Artists • True Artists Never Die Broke • Be Very Careful What You Call Art ⁠DONATE

"I'm not against the concept of competition. I'm just concerned that I don't vibe with it, and yet, I have a craving to be at the top." - Tega Can one make it to the top of their profession without a love of competition? A financial analyst, an investment banker and a brand strategist tried to answer this question. Competition is a conflicting concept. Some swear by it, while others see no need for it. Three friends, each with different levels of competitive drive, have a high-level conversation about competition on a personal, entrepreneurial, and spiritual level. * Donate

"They saw me walking on water and criticized me for not being able to swim." Rodney uses his birthday to reflect on his experience of being misunderstood: from being bothered by it, to accepting it, navigating it, resisting the pressure to conform, learning to use it to his advantage, and finally, finding joy in it. The episode is a complex curation of personal reflection, If you feel misunderstood, this episode is to show you that you're not alone and will help you understand what is going on. Featuring Nina Simone, Dave Chapelle, Mos Def, Terry Crews, Aisha Attah and Amoge Ndukwe. * DONATE

"If a woman is like the ocean, an emotionally intelligent man is the sailor who can ride the waves." There's more to emotional intelligence than being kind, affectionate and vulnerable. It is a high-level mental process for predicting, avoiding and solving the complexities of a relationship. Modern women wax lyrical about emotionally intelligent men but are they ready for the reality? If you're curious, join Rodney behind the scenes of what being in a relationship with such a man entails. Rodney also explores the difference between low EQ and high EQ men and how both men respond to different situations with their women. He shares his thoughts on what it takes to be a good boyfriend, and what it takes to keep a woman happy long-term. An episode loaded with free game for men and women alike!

"Intelligence isn’t just academic or emotional. Even sex requires sense." - Rodney Do you take your pleasure seriously? If you do, this episode is for you. Sex is one of those scary things in our society that everybody loves but still loves to hate. Whenever we talk about being the best version of ourselves, everything else comes up, except sex. It's naught but an afterthought. Rodney uses the opportunity to challenge this mindset. In this episode, he debuts an original idea: sexual intelligence which encourages one to think beyond the bedroom, beyond the physicality of sex, to be thoughtful about the power of pleasure, the gift of sex, and the intelligence it requires. Rodney goes deep-- exploring the nuances of bad sex, good sex, and great sex -- what it means to be a good lover -- a sex god! He believes that if you have a sex life, you have a responsibility to make it as good as it can be and it should positively affect other aspects of your life. The episode also addresses celibacy, orgasms, the sex toy industry, and the overlap between creativity and sex. All for your listening pleasure. This is the YoungGod on demon time! * Recommended Episodes Mean Girls Don't Deserve Orgasms Creativity: The Levels, the Lifestyle & the Fruits

"Therapy helped me unravel my fear, overconfidence, and ego." Thirty is a milestone age, and for most women, it comes with a lot of angst. Mansura, a millennial mother and a creative entrepreneur, waxed lyrical about the benefits of taking therapy in her thirties -- from revealing her blind spots to improving her life experience. For 45 minutes, she goes into the beautiful details of her therapy journey. The conversation culminated in Mansura revealing the most powerful thing her therapist said to her. As he listened to her story, Rodney offered some perspective and a short but meaningful story about his experience with a therapist. * Recommended episodes The Most Powerful Thing My Therapist Said to MeThe 2nd Most Powerful Thing my Therapist said to Me * TYG Whatsapp Community

"... and that's how a mother loves a man into hating women." Rodney makes the bold decision to address the menace of misogyny on Women's/Mother's Day weekend. Misogyny has many different origins but this episode looks at the strain of misogyny that is rooted in a man's relationship with his mother (oedipal misogyny as Rodney calls it). In this episode, Rodney holds up a mirror to men and mothers. He explores the vicious cycle of hurt men hurting women, who in turn hurt men. Rodney also offers a resolution to the tension, some food for thought that will leave you with a better understanding of the conscious and unconscious gender dynamics that influence our daily lives. * Recommended Episodes Confessions of a Deep Woke Womanizer Losing a Mother and Raising a Son Rizz, Romance & Unforgettable Women

"The right woman should SCARE you a little. She should be a little out of your league. Someone you know will force you out of your comfort zone and make you step up." Almost 3 years to the date, on the 6th of March 2021, in honor of Women’s Month, the 133rd episode – The Athena Woman – was released. Inspired by the Greek goddess Athena and her exploits, the episode details what it’s like when an empowered woman is coupled with an equally empowered man -- the real power couple (not limited to romantic relationships, of course). In a time where dysfunctional and co-dependent relationships are the only things we see, experience, and talk about, the Athena Woman episode gives the listener a glimpse into what it’s like being two extraordinary people in a relationship. Part 2 takes this idea several steps further. Featuring Tom Brady, Amal Clooney, Leila Hormozi, James Brown, and the Book of Judges. This episode is dedicated to the Athena women in my life... My respect and admiration will never waiver. * Recommended episode The Athena Woman I

"I saw the angel in the marble, and carved until I set him free." - Michaelangelo There is an art to loving. It's about creating an environment that inspires the 'other' to be the best they can be for you. We are forever obsessed about love but we are just as clueless about how and what it takes to love. The love that saves, sustains, and uplifts. An episode about what happens when someone is loved well. * Recommended episodes How to Not Suck at Love

"Our opinions on these things matter. They translate into thoughts, attitudes, and actions. At the end of the day, you will get the love you deserve." - Rodney. Rodney sets the table of this episode with a peculiar analogy about the layers of a salad: everyone thinks they're the prize, everyone thinks the dating pool is the problem, and everyone thinks their love language is the end all be all. That's a problem! Rodney dared to challenge public opinion on these three aspects of the dating experience. Making a case for how our ideas of these things are directly and indirectly responsible for the less-than-desirable results in your love life. Rodney had A LOT on his mind for this one. He challenges the listener to reconsider the hills they're willing to die on when it comes to relationships.

"Most women play hard to get. This woman played hard to forget!" - Rodney In this episode, Rodney drops intimate details about his approach to wooing women. You'd be surprised about the level of nuance and attention to detail involved. He opens up about his type, what makes the ideal target, the secret to making walls come down, and the one thing that never fails to leave a good impression on women. He also tells a tantalizing tale about one of his most memorable love interests. Rodney goes to great pains to break down what it takes to engineer more meaningful romantic relationships, the kind that makes life worth living. If you've ever wondered what it must be like to be on that romantic rollercoaster with the young god, you’re in for a treat. Featuring Katt Williams, James TW, H.E.R, Jason Derulo, and Khalid.

“Relationships are a lot like smuggling. First, find out what the person wants. Then decide if you know how to get it for them. Hence, the talking stage.” - Rodney Why is there so much angst about the talking stage? Why is our generation jaded by the work it takes to get to know people? Rodney may have some answers... AND solutions that can elevate the talking stage for you and your potential partner. Rodney thinks the talking stage is a missed opportunity. He thinks a lot of people enter it with grandiose images of themselves and unrealistic expectations of others. He also thinks people are too distracted, judgemental, and uptight to make the most of their time on the stage. So many thoughts! Listen to learn how to navigate the talking stage like a smuggler. Rodney offers a variety of scenarios, perspectives, and ideas that will challenge your biases and perhaps help you derive more pleasure from your romantic endeavors. * RECOMMENDED EPISODES Relationships Are Like Algebra What Makes a Person Irresistible PART 3

"“Check on your strong friends” sounds profound, but it's technically meaningless… It is performative. A task, not a solution." - Rodney Rodney recounts a conversation with a friend who revealed she had contemplated suicide. He unpacks the feelings that the conversation evoked, which inspired a deep dive into the complexities of friendship. He explored why we choose bad friends, what being a friend means, and the different types of friends one can have. For just the second time ever, Rodney shakes the table on suicide. He offers a nuanced take on how friends can support each other in those dark moments. He uses the opportunity to address the strong friend trope. (HINT: 'strong friend' doesn't mean what you think it means). An episode about the beauty and rarity of true friendship. Featuring Louis CK, Jane Fonda, and 2Chainz

The French Institut in Abuja challenged Rodney to create a podcast listening experience around the theme of the body. The task was to explore how the body features in literary texts — i.e to explore what different authors and schools of thought have to say about the body — within the unique context of The Young God. Rodney explores the theme through 4 branches — grace, posture, beauty, and seduction. 

"It is impossible to be your best self if your looks are a source of insecurity or the center of your universe." Rodney reflects on beauty as it relates to him personally, the young god idea, and the world today. He challenges the idea that beauty is pain, he addresses the hyperfixation on physical beauty by women, and he explores what happens when a girl realizes she's beautiful. An episode about the ugly things that happen when we put physical beauty on a pedestal. Featuring Dave Chapelle, Jalen Rose, J. Cole, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar * Recommended Episodes The Knowledge of Power is Power: What Men Know That Women Don't Creativity: The Fruits, The Lifestyle, and the Levels

Unless you’ve been under a rock, you must be aware of the conversation that has taken the world by storm -- Katt Williams x Club Shay Shay podcast. Legendary comedian, Katt Williams spoke truth to power in what is widely considered the greatest interview ever. Most of the media focused on the salacious stuff, the dramatic revelations, and the jokes, but hidden within those 2 hours and 46 minutes of conversation is so much wisdom, so much truth, so much God. So much so that Rodney had to break out of his hiatus to drop this bonus episode, which is essentially a curation of the more important takeaways and his favorite moments, laced with his signature commentary.

"I have childhood goals that are fueling my adult life and adult decisions." - Charles Oronsaye. In this episode, excellence was the flex. Charles Oronsaye aka King Africana, founder of Africana Couture, flexed his creative genius, his gifts, his ability, his vision, and his childlike curiosity -- things that have made him so successful as a person and a businessman.  Recorded 2 weeks before his legendary Art of Life fashion show, Charles takes Rodney and the listener through his intention and goals for his brand, his business, and Africa at large. The conversation covered branding, creativity, spirituality, childhood, and family. It's Charles like you've never heard him. * Sponsored by Zuma Coffee (Instagram: @zumacoffee_) * Recommended Episodes Creativity: The Fruits, the Levels and the Lifestyle

"Fame and insecurity do not mix... Make sure you know who you are...sort yourself out personally... before you blow. If not...." In this episode, Rodney makes the case for fame. He paints a vivid picture of the pros and cons of fame so much so that he picks fame over money! To Rodney, it's simple: if you have a gift, you have a responsibility to make sure as many eyes, ears, hearts, and minds experience it. The question is: how are you preparing for fame so that it works for you if and when it comes? Rodney also spoke about dealing with the expectations of the public, the levels and the dangers of fame, how to be creative with fame, and what happens after the first 15 minutes of fame -- all so that you know all you need to know before you blow. Featuring Pharell, George the Poet, Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty), and Dave Chapelle. * Recommended Episodes FX-CELLENCE: A Guide to Making Money & Making Heaven  We Should All Be Artists True Artists Never Die Broke Be very Careful What You Call Art

"When we doodle, paint, or take a picture on our smartphones, let's not call it art. Let's just call it creating. Or practicing. It is important to separate the word 'art' from the conversation whenever we talk about creating." What is art? Does a ripe banana duct-taped to the wall count art? Does generative AI art count as art? What are the things that make art art? What does what we refer to as art say about us? These are the questions that Rodney and his guest attempt to answer in this episode. We must hold "artists" accountable. Not every work of creation is a work of art. There are certain criteria to be met and there are levels. * Recommended Episode We Should All Be Artists Sponsored by Zuma Coffee (Instagram: @zumacoffee_)