Transcript
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Kwame
Welcome to today's episode of Beyond Influence. I am Kwame. Next to me in person. For only the second time ever in Vienna. Influence history. My co-host Scott. And today we have with us quite an amazing guest if I'm to say so myself, a great friend of mine. So honored to have him on the show.
A public figure who has, in such a seamless way, merged the content creation life with corporate leadership. And so we're really excited to learn about that. Despite being a, you know, big star on season four, Love Is Blind, that's probably one of the least interesting factors about him. He is a very multifaceted human being. So we're excited to have him.
Thank you so much for being here with us, Brett Brown.
Brett
Thank you. Glad to be here. That was quite the intro, man.
Kwame
Of course man, you deserve that, brother. How's your week been?
Brett
Man, week's been good. I mean, you know about, like, a little bit of a cold.
It's weird. I got home from work on Thursday. I took a nap. I woke up with, like, a runny nose, stinging nose. And I felt nothing all day. I'm like, how do I? How does a four-hour nap try to call somebody in medical? You tell me.
Kwame
I feel like that's the worst possible. Like a nap is the best thing ever. And then to wake up with a cold is like the worst.
Brett
Yeah, like the moment I browse. Wait. What's this?
I have a super important question because I think we're divided. 30-minute nap or a multi-hour nap?
Kwame
No 30-minute nap is too short. I’m deeply in the long nap camp. A nap is a whole lot, but when I do it's got to be like a minimum of two hours.
Brett
Okay. That's incredible. I used to have a manager who was an incredible power napper. He would start lunch by going to get his food and eating it. You know, we have that hour set aside. So he'd set a timer for about 20 minutes, and he would just go into an office, put a pillow down, nap, wake back up, and be like new.
I'm kind of like, I would say, like I'm a 35- to 40-minute nap.
Kwame
Yeah. You know, if I go two hours, I'm just like, I am disoriented.
Brett
It's like you start to go into that deeper level of sleep. So coming out of it is a little rough. But when I nap, it's usually in the evenings when I get home. As long as I don't go over like two hours, I can still have a full night's sleepThere are times when I get home, I fall asleep at like seven, and if I wake up at 11, I'm like, "Oh, my sleep is ruined."
Kwame
The perfect nap for me is like, I would say, like 5:00 shortly after work. I go downstairs on my couch, the same gray couch. I'll turn on my favorite genre before napping—comedy. So I usually put on Arrested Development or Archer. Right now, I'm watching A.P. Bio, which is a really funny show as well.
Then I just click play, and I usually catch about ten minutes of the episode. I’ll usually wake up to "What do you want to watch the next episode?"
Brett
"Are you still watching?"
Kwame
No.
Brett
So thanks for coming on. There are so many interesting things going on in your world, and, you know, we hit on the intro. I think a lot of people have been introduced to you through Love Is Blind. But one of the things Kwame and I talk about a lot is just how many different things you're working on and how you're a part of so many things.
One of the coolest things is how you've been able to successfully stay really engaged in your career—you’ve worked really hard to get there—and merge that with your really awesome creator journey. For people who don't know, maybe share a little bit about your backstory because this is super cool, and how you got started in your career.
So let me see, where do I start? Where do I start here? For people who don't know, I'm originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, which, if you know basketball history, is where Michael Jordan is from. Michael Jordan's high school, E.A. Laney High School was less than five minutes away from the house I grew up in.
Unfortunately, I didn’t go to that high school because, midway through middle school, my family ran into some really unfortunate financial situations. Over the course of a summer, we literally lost everything—house, car. We lived in our house for a couple of weeks with no power and no water. We had to move about 30 minutes away to my grandmother's house because otherwise, we wouldn’t have had anywhere to go.
That was when I was about 12 years old. There was no social media at that time. I lived in a neighborhood where keeping up with friends meant going to their houses and knocking on the door. I didn’t have anyone's number because we all lived in the same neighborhood. Everything happened so abruptly. In the span of a month, I lost contact with all the friends I’d had since kindergarten.
We moved, and I had to basically start from scratch at 12 years old in a small farm town. It really changed my personality and made me very introverted. I didn’t really have any friends. But the bright side of that is that I really—I'd always had an interest in art and drawing—but when that happened, I had nothing else in my life to attach to. I became super laser-focused on getting better at my craft.
So any free time I had, I spent drawing. I didn’t play any sports; I’m not a former athlete. People meet me now and think, "Oh man, why didn’t you play something in school?" But no, I didn’t play anything.
Anyway, that unfortunate scenario kind of jump-started a laser focus on art and drawing specifically for me. That carried me into pursuing a career in 3D animation right out of high school. I went to a school for a couple of years—it wasn’t like an established university, more like a two-year trade school—to study 3D animation.
So I did that for two years in Raleigh and graduated with a diploma in 3D animation from a school that no one’s ever heard of. So yeah, I was on the right track to be successful. Not to mention, as a Black male, that’s not an industry that most people who look like me pursue.
Coming out of school, I was very fortunate. Probably six months after I graduated, EA Games opened up a studio in Raleigh, and I got my first industry job there. I worked there for six years until one day, while walking to work, they shut our studio down.
Anyway, that led me to get a job at a game company in Miami. I was there as a 3D artist for about two years. Halfway through, I realized, "This isn’t me. I’m not feeling it; I need something new to do." My girlfriend at the time suggested I start designing shoes. Very random.
I started designing shoes for fun. My background is in 3D animation and rendering, so I did 3D renders of my designs and started an Instagram page to post my work. The next thing I knew, a year later, I got a job offer. I moved to New Hampshire to work at Cole Haan as a 3D footwear designer
Kwame
Big shift! Miami to New Hampshire, video games to shoes—different worlds.
Brett
I was there for a year before a recruiter from Nike hit me up on LinkedIn and said, "Hey, we’re looking for 3D footwear designers." I was like, "How did I go from Miami to New Hampshire, and now Nike is hitting me up?"
That led to me getting hired at Nike, and I’ve been here for six years. I love it. And then, halfway through that, Love Is Blind happened.
Anyway, wild story. That’s the short background of me in a nutshell.
Kwame
You’ve got a really, really in-depth, thorough background. I love hearing your story, man. We have a lot of overlap. We went through some tumultuous parts of our journey, and all of it affected us in a certain way that brought us to where we are now.
Now that you are in this place in life—you’ve got yourself a new car, a beautiful new house, and a beautiful wife—life is beautiful. Do you get a chance to go back home? When you do, what’s that like? How do you feel about your surroundings?
Brett
That’s a really interesting question. I probably go home once or twice a year at this point. It’s honestly a very interesting experience going home. When you go back, it feels like life is the same for a lot of people who are there. For me, it’s that plus realizing how different my life has gone—in a good way.
It puts things in perspective. I had a vision for myself, I had a dream for myself, and I’ve done it. Going back home is a reminder of where I came from.
Whenever I took Tiffany back home to North Carolina for the first time, I took her to the house we moved into after we lost everything. My parents lived there until a couple of years ago. The house was in really bad shape before they left, and it was in bad shape even when we moved in—rotten floors, open spaces at the bottom of the walls, roaches. That was high school for me.
I took her by the house, which has been sitting there for a couple of years now, and I said, "Babe, I want you to see this." You know, she called me "Bougie Brett" on the show and got on me about having nice things. I told her, "This is where it started. This is not glamorous in any way, shape, or form." It’s really a reminder and keeps me grounded whenever I go home.
Kwame
I think it’s interesting—we talk a lot about how these experiences shape people and their personalities. A lot of super successful people have some kind of story like this, where there was some motivation that inspired them to overcome.
Looking back, for so long, I was like, "I never want my kids to have that experience." But then there’s a weird shift where you think about the memories you had and the interactions. Even though the circumstances were tough, there were moments of connection and resilience that shaped you.
I’ve gone from being mad about it to appreciating it as part of my story. Have you felt that shift?
Brett
Yeah, absolutely. Somebody—I think it was an uncle—asked me about that once. He asked if I was upset about the things that happened when I was a kid. I hadn’t thought about it until he asked, and I said, "Actually, no."
At the time, it was rough. In high school, you’re supposed to have fun, go to parties, and think about college. Meanwhile, I was living at the back of a dirt road, going home to no friends, and wondering, "What is this?" But fast forward all these years, and I realize that situation propelled me so far ahead in ways I couldn’t see back then—in terms of maturity, drive, and owning my story.
Life happens. What are you going to do now? I never wanted to be the person who said, "I was on the track to greatness, but then this happened, and look at me now." No, you still have a chance to be great.
Everything happens for a reason. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Kwame
I don’t want to boil it down to something overly simplistic, but I used to think life was broken up into so many different types of people. Now I see it’s really just two major categories—winners and losers.
And it’s not about whether you’ve achieved everything you want; it’s about grit. Winners have grit. It’s about saying, "Whatever I’ve been through, I’m willing to keep pushing forward."
Like Morgan Freeman—he didn’t get his first big acting role until he was 61. Throughout your journey, you’ll face setbacks. What defines a winner is their ability to take it on the chin and keep fighting forward.
When I think about my upbringing, I feel extremely fortunate. I was born in Ghana and lived there until I was eight. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment—one for my parents, and the other shared by me, my brother, and my sister. We all slept in the same bed.
Those experiences shaped me. Like Jay Cole says, "I’ve been broke before." That’s what drives me—never wanting to go back to that place.
Brett Brown, you are a winner, man. You’ve really made the most of every part of your journey.
I love seeing the way you’ve made the most of every part of your journey. You’re one of those people where, when good things happen to you, I smile. When you got your car, I remember you posted a picture teasing it, and I immediately messaged you. I was like, "Oh my gosh, let me see the car!"
So now, with where you are in life—without asking for a six-month or six-year plan—what’s the next thing you’re thinking about accomplishing?
Brett
Ooh, social media is probably going to eat this one up, but…
A friend asked me a similar question a couple of weeks ago. He said, "Brett, you seem to have done everything you wanted to do. What’s the next level for you?" I thought about it and said, "Honestly, I feel like the logical next step is being a parent."
Kwame
You’re right, social media is going to eat this up.
Brett
I feel like the word "selfish" inherently sounds bad. But up until the last couple of years, I’ve thankfully been selfish. I’ve moved where I wanted to move, taken the opportunities I wanted to take, and spent my time the way I wanted. Thankfully, those things have been productive and put me in the position I’m in today.
But now, I think I’ve had enough selfish time. The next step for me is to be a parent and start a family. That’s uncharted territory for me. I’ve accomplished things, made money, and hit milestones, but my family feels like it has more value.
Kwame
I love that. You’re going to lose the four-hour naps but keep the core memories. Are you ready for that?
Brett
I love what you said about selfishness, and I don’t think it’s negative at all. There are phases in life when you need to focus on yourself—your career, your opportunities. That’s okay. You’re doing your future kids a service by creating a foundation for them.
Even for Tiffany and I, getting married later in life, we agreed to take time for ourselves. We love to travel, so we’ve been deliberate about doing things we want to do before starting a family. We didn’t want to look back and think, "We didn’t take that trip," or "We didn’t take that opportunity."
Kwame
Big time. Especially in the way you met your partner. It’s almost like you’re dating your partner for the first two years of marriage. You have to explore and enjoy life together. When challenges come—especially with kids—you’ll need to remember the exciting times you had and the strong foundation you built.
For me, going through the Love Is Blind experiment, I got a lot of backlash because people thought I didn’t want kids and just wanted to travel. And it’s like, yeah, boo me, right? But if you don’t take a chance to explore life with your partner, you build resentment. You start blaming your kids for things, and it’s not their fault. You have to give yourself that chance.
Now, obviously, we’re talking about your partner and your experience on Love Is Blind. We won’t stay on it too long, but I’d love to hear a bit about how you got cast on the show.
Brett
It’s funny—when we were at Comic-Con with Marshall, we were talking about how people think everyone goes on these shows to get famous or become influencers. That’s not the case. There’s no guarantee people will like you, brands will work with you, or you’ll make money.
As for casting, I think LinkedIn played a big part. I was hired at Nike in 2018 as a 3D footwear designer. During COVID-19, I leveraged my experience as a game developer to show a new way of working at Nike. The right people saw the work and believed in it, and I got promoted to a director position within three years.
I made a LinkedIn post about the accomplishment, sharing my story. It blew up—over 2.5 million views and 35,000 likes. I had news publications reaching out to me. Around that time, Love Is Blind was casting, and someone DM’d me on Instagram.
Later, after the show and getting married, I messaged the casting director and asked how they found me. She said, "We decided to look into Portland, knew Nike was a big employer, and found your LinkedIn post."
Kwame
Wow. Who knew that sharing your story on LinkedIn could lead to being cast on a reality TV show and finding your partner?
Brett
Exactly. It’s funny how those serendipitous moments happen in life. You put something out there, not knowing the reach it will have or how it will impact your life. That LinkedIn post wasn’t me trying to get on a show—it was me celebrating a personal milestone. But then the opportunity came, and I was ready to take the leap.
One of the things you mentioned earlier was how people go on reality TV for fame or brand deals. That wasn’t my motivation at all. I think one of the reasons I resonated with people is because I stayed true to myself. I wasn’t there to play a part or chase clout—I was centered, focused on the experience, and authentically myself.
Kwame
That authenticity definitely came through. People could tell you were there for the right reasons, and I think that’s why so many connected with you and Tiffany. It’s rare to see someone so grounded in a reality TV setting, and it was refreshing.
So, when you came off the show, a lot of amazing opportunities came your way—brand partnerships, content creation, and more. Let’s unpack the beginning of your journey as a content creator. How did it feel to start getting deals, and what was that transition like?
Brett
Man, it was overwhelming at first. Everything happened so fast. I had people reaching out to represent me, but I didn’t know who to trust. Was this person genuinely invested in me, or were they just looking for a check?
Working with brands was a big adjustment. I’ve been in creative fields my whole life, so I’m used to working collaboratively. But now, the content I create is on my platform, not theirs. That created some friction at times.
For example, I’d send a brand a rough draft of the content and say, "This is just a quick version; I’m going to reshoot it." And they’d say, "Oh, we love it—can you post it?" I’d push back and say, "Hold up, this isn’t the final version." It was a learning curve for both sides.
Kwame
That’s such a real struggle. You’re representing yourself and your audience, so you want the content to be top-notch. But sometimes, brands don’t fully understand the creative process or the relationship you have with your followers.
Brett
Exactly. And the thing is, not everyone making decisions at brands is a creative expert. Sometimes the people saying "yes" or "no" to content don’t fully understand what resonates with an audience.
I care a lot about my output, especially if it’s on my channel. I want everything to meet a certain standard. That’s why I taught myself how to shoot and edit video content. During COVID, I learned photography, and now I’ve transitioned into creating videos.
It’s been a process of learning in front of the world. And as someone who’s naturally a perfectionist, that can be nerve-wracking.
Kwame
That’s a huge undertaking, especially when you know other people in the reality TV space are watching what you’re doing. They’re critiquing, comparing, and talking.
Speaking of partnerships, what are some of your favorite brand collaborations so far?
Brett
One of the most satisfying ones was with Nikon. It felt so natural because photography is a skill I genuinely love. Before any of this, I bought a Nikon camera, taught myself portrait photography, and upgraded my gear over time. When Nikon reached out and said, "We’re big fans," it turned into a partnership.
They featured me on their Nikon Creator’s website and reshared some of my work. That felt amazing because it was a skill I’d cultivated before the show.
Kwame
That’s incredible. It’s always special when a partnership aligns with something you’re genuinely passionate about.
Brett
Yeah, and Hilton has been another great partner. I’ve been working with them as an ambassador for two years now. It’s involved a lot of travel, which has been amazing but also exhausting at times.
For example, earlier this year, I tore my labrum during a boxing match and had to have surgery. I couldn’t travel or create content for a while, so I had to push everything back. Once I recovered, I had to cram all my travel commitments into a short span, which was intense.
Kwame
Speaking of boxing, you’re an avid boxer and even participated in a celebrity boxing match. How does that passion fit into your life now?
Brett
Boxing is something I love, but it’s also a challenge to balance with everything else. Training, recovering from injuries, and finding time for it alongside work and content creation—it’s a lot. But it’s worth it because it keeps me grounded and disciplined.
Kwame
It’s clear that everything you take on—whether it’s boxing, photography, or content creation—you approach it with passion and discipline. That’s inspiring.
Now, I want to shift gears a bit. As someone who has successfully navigated two very different worlds—corporate leadership and being a public figure—how do you find the balance? Especially with your role at Nike and being a content creator, what has that overlap been like?
Brett
Honestly, balancing those two worlds has been one of the biggest challenges. Before going on the show, my biggest concern wasn’t about meeting someone or how I’d be portrayed—it was about whether it would negatively impact my career.
I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished at Nike. It wasn’t about needing to make money from the show or looking for a way out of my career. My fear was, "If this affects my job in a negative way, I made a bad move."
When you work for a company as visible as Nike, you know people are watching. I worried about being in a situation on the show that could be misinterpreted or edited in a way that reflected poorly on me or the brand.
Thankfully, it didn’t go that way, but I’ve always been conscious of representing both myself and Nike in a positive light.
Kwame
I imagine that’s a lot of pressure—knowing that every move you make, especially on such a public platform, could be scrutinized.
Brett
Exactly. And as a leader at Nike, it’s an added layer of responsibility. I’m not just an employee; I’m in a position of influence within the company. That means I have to be extra thoughtful about what I say and do, both on and off social media.
That’s why I have that little disclaimer in my bio—"My views are my own." It’s a small thing, but it helps establish boundaries.
Kwame
You also had that really cool opportunity to collaborate with Nike on content, like the "Guess the Shoe" astrology game. How did that come about?
Brett
That was actually super random! Someone from Nike’s social media team reached out and asked if I’d be interested. I was like, "Absolutely, let’s do it!" It was such a fun project, and I’d love to do more collaborations like that in the future.
It’s funny because I get so many messages from people asking about Nike—how to work there, my experience, or if I can help them get a job. Even on campus, people I’ve worked with for a while will eventually say, "By the way, we’re big fans of the show."
It’s a unique position to be in, but I try to balance it all by staying true to who I am and being intentional about how I navigate both worlds.
Kwame
That’s amazing. For creators who also have corporate jobs or are aspiring to be creators while working full-time, do you have any advice on managing potential conflicts, like working with competitive brands?
Brett
For me, it’s about being aware and setting clear boundaries. If a deal involves anything related to sports performance, apparel, or footwear, it’s a no-go. Nike is such a big brand, and I respect that.
For example, I’ve been approached by brands wanting me to promote lifestyle shoes, but even then, I have to decline. As "the Nike guy," I can’t promote competitors, even if it’s not directly in the same category.
Kwame
That makes sense. It sounds like Nike has been supportive, though, without being overly restrictive.
Brett
They have been, and I appreciate that. Some companies can be overly protective, even in non-competing spaces. But Nike’s approach has been reasonable, which makes it easier for me to manage both sides of my life.
Kwame
That’s great to hear. And I think it’s forward-thinking, especially as more companies start to embrace the idea of having influencers within their organizations.
Now, as someone who has such a multifaceted career, what do you think about money? You’ve got revenue coming from your corporate job, brand deals, and other ventures. How do you keep it all organized?
Brett
Man, that’s been a learning process. Last year, doing taxes for the first time with multiple income streams was a wake-up call.
I have a spreadsheet where I track all my brand deals—when deliverables are due, when content was approved, and when payments are expected. It’s crucial because payment timelines can vary. Some deals payout in 30 days, others in six months. You have to stay on top of it.
Kwame
I feel that. I started using an app called Keeper, and it’s been a game-changer. It connects all my accounts, tracks deductions, and helps me stay organized. For creators, having tools like that is becoming essential.
Brett
I’ll have to check that out. Managing finances as a creator is definitely different, especially when money comes from so many places. It’s not as straightforward as a biweekly paycheck.
Kwame
Absolutely. With everything you’ve accomplished so far, are there any dream brands you’d love to collaborate with in the future?
Brett
I’d love to work with a car brand—Audi, BMW, or something like that. But beyond specific brands, I’m more interested in unique collaborations.
I’d love to partner with a brand where I could be involved creatively—helping design the content, curating the visuals, and contributing more than just being the face of the campaign. As someone with a creative background, that would be incredibly fulfilling.
Kwame
That’s such a great perspective. It’s not just about promoting a product but being part of the storytelling and creative process.
Brett
Exactly. I want to elevate the way brands and creators collaborate, creating something meaningful and visually compelling.
Kwame
Man, this has been an incredible conversation. As we wrap up, is there any final message you’d like to leave with our listeners?
Brett
Just this: Not everyone goes on reality TV to become an influencer or get famous. Some of us are just living our lives and taking opportunities as they come. Stay true to who you are, and everything else will fall into place.
Kwame
Well said, Brett. Thank you so much for joining us today. It’s been an absolute pleasure.
Brett
Thank you for having me.
Kwame
And to our listeners, thank you for tuning in to this episode of Beyond Influence. Until next time!