Meet Adeola Adeniyi | Creative Director & Talk Show Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adeola Adeniyi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adeola, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Growing up I was always the kid who would come up with ideas and find any way to bring them to life. It just brought so much joy to me to have something come to mind and then execute them. It wasn’t until college when it really started to hit me that I didn’t just want creating to be a hobby, but I truly wanted to make a career out of it. I had a podcast that I created junior year of high school called “Well… This is Awkward” where I talked about what was going on in my life, music I was listening to, shows and movies I was watching, and anything else that came to mind. When I got to college I would invite my friends to record episodes with me and talk about our college experiences. I was always told that I would be great at hosting a visual show but I was super shy and scared of being seen. I was so comfortable with the idea of people just hearing my voice and never having an image of myself attached to my work. However, in 2020 when the pandemic hit I was consuming a lot of art from filmmakers, creative directors, talk show hosts, writers, etc and realized it was time for me to step into my purpose and commit to my show and own being a creative director. So in 2021 I launched my production company Awkward Productions (named in honor of the super awkward kid I was growing up), and under the production company I produced, directed, wrote the first season of my show. After some workshop sessions I honed in on what I wanted my show to be, and I truly wanted it to be a reflection of the culture curators in the world who are contributing to the world through their gifts and to give them a platform to talk about their passions and share it with others. I also knew that something that I felt like I was missing from the things I consumed on TV whether that be in films, campaigns, tv shows etc was the relatable characters that I could look at and say “Wow, she reminds me of me”. So producing work that reflects the world I live in and the experiences that I know I share with others is something that is super important to me and I value. So with all of those things said, launching my production company “Awkward Productions” and producing my show which has since been renamed to “It’s Just Adeola The Show” is my way of fulfilling the passion that younger me has always known to be my purpose.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The main focus at this point in my creative career would be my talk show “It’s Just Adeola The Show” and developing more concepts I have as I grow as a creative director. My dream is to eventually have my own network talk show so growing what I have now is a major goal. Getting the courage to start my talk show was not easy at all and I still t have some moments where I question why I started it in the first place. There are times where comparison takes away the joy of being a creative, but I truly have a love and a passion for what I do and that’s what keeps me going. Being someone who loves real and raw conversations with other artists and creatives; no one is asking the questions that I want answered, so why not ask them myself. I want people to remember me as someone who made them feel seen whether that be through a question I ask in an interview or in a campaign I direct. I tend to downplay myself a lot which makes it hard to realize what makes me special, but what has also really kept me going are the messages and comments I get from people who tell me that they relate to me or that they were inspired by something I did. Those are the moments that I live for and hope I can continue to cultivate with my work. I want to bring back making people feel like humans and bring back those genuine human connections that once existed when hearing two people in conversation and feeling like you were there or feeling like you were in a campaign yourself because you felt that seen. I just want people to feel like by me being my authentic self in everything that I create they have the space to be authentically themselves as well.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am still trying to figure out my favorite spots in LA and what I consider a go-to so I am still taking recommendations myself! However, I can definitely say from where I have gone so far Reparations Club is a MUST. I love supporting Black owned businesses and Reparations Club was the first place I memorized how to get to by heart because I am truly obsessed. The environment is super cozy, the employees are so welcoming, and it’s the best place to go for a catch up with friends. Then for my ramen lovers, I am obsessed with this place called Kotoya Ramen in Culver that has my favorite ramen ever. Then on the weekend we would definitely have to hit up one of the many flea markets whether that be Black Market Flea, Los Feliz Flea, or the Melrose Flea Market. Then we could end the day taking a walk at the Baldwin Overlook and catch right before the sunsets, its truly a sight to see. There is still so much more that I want to see out here so again taking any and all recommendations, but for now those are my top spots!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I don’t think I would be anywhere if it weren’t for my family. They deserve all the shout outs possible!! My parents have been my number 1 supporter in recognizing my passions. Not many 1st generation children can say that their parents supported their creative endeavors, but I am super grateful to have parents who believe in me and want to see me win. They would find any opportunities for me to thrive; and if there wasn’t an outlet they would create the space themselves. My brother and sister have always had my back participating in any of the ideas I needed them to be a part of and really supporting me as I am on this journey of finding myself as an artist and putting myself out there more. Words cant describe how grateful I am for them,

Another shout out I would love to give is of course to Issa Rae. She’s been the Pharrell to my Tyler the Creator and she doesn’t even know it! I haven’t worked with her YET but watching her continue to flourish and seeing how she is taking the things she loves and creating spaces for others to thrive there is something I truly admire about her. I was 14 years old when I was scrolling on youtube and stumbled across the Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl series and for the first time felt like I could relate to someone on screen. I truly appreciate the space Issa is creating for young Black talent to thrive and I hope to be able to contribute to building that space.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjustadeola/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adeola-adeniyi/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwkwardProductionsNetwork

Image Credits
Lauryn Taylor Witt