Meet Rob Lee | Podcaster, Storyteller

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

Hi Rob, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Honestly, it would riding the wave of ambition and spite. They’re great motivators and for me, they serve each other. The ambition is me setting loft goals and speaking them into reality. I think speaking or writing a goal down makes it realer – its almost signing a contract. It’s, at a minimu, a contract with myself and I don’t want to let myself down. The other motivator is spite. Not everyone is rooting for me or supporting me in a substantive way – its not always money, but sometimes it is. At a bare minimum, its showing up for an event, sharing a podcast or writing a review. All of these things help. I work hard like many artists, entrepreneurs and creatives but the rewards or acknowledgement it’s always bountiful or sustainable. I use it as a fuel to show out”. Spite helps to drive the ambition to do big, better and disruptive things to grow as a brand, creator and person.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My creative project is The Truth In This Art is Rob Lee’s series of candid, intellectually curious conversations with artists, creatives and entrepreneurs — about their process, ideas that go into their work, and everything in between. Listen to the complete archives of 400-plus interviews with guests from Baltimore & beyond including photographer Devin Allen, filmmaker (Afro-Punk) & graphic novelist James Spooner, comedian Roxxy Haze, NPR’s LaFontaine Oliver and many more.

It wasn’t easy as I’d been podcasting for over 10 year before I started this project. It was an important project for me since I have heard for years upon years about Baltimore being a bad city and i wanted to do my part through storytelling to change that incorrect narrative. I rather us speak our truth instead of people politicizing our city, communities and contributions.

I learned that I’m rather good at network which is something that confounded me for so long. I didn’t think I could do it. I learned that I fit in some scenes and not others and that was OK.

I want the world to know to look deeper into a story, idea, place and etc and seek the truth. That’s what this project is about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots in Baltimore are the arts districts – Station North, Highlandtown and The Black Arts District. They’re all unique featuring some of the biggest personalities and highlight the art, culture and history of the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to Austin Kleon, author of Steal Like An Artist, writer and my muse Kumari Adams and home base Baltimore City.

Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-lee-601968191/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8o29BgmclxfRhJkCz2HQhA

Image Credits
Image 2 David ‘Wavey’ Anderson Image 3 Rodney Salvador image 5 Jon Bregel image 6 Philip Muriel