Zuberi: [00:00:00] So self-identity is pretty much just who you are and who you see yourself as. It's not what's going on around you, it's going on like what's, what's going on within you?

Malaika: Welcome to Happy Medium, a podcast where artists make art on the spot while creating art. With host me Malaika Hollist, we chat on topics like the days of doodling in their diary. How self-love gave them confidence or on building a successful art career using only old boxes. This podcast made by W U S F Public Media is about one's journey to finding self through a creative medium. Malaika: In this bonus episode, Zuberi, an actor and writer from Tampa, gives a glimpse into how he moved away from the pressure and expectation of a future in sports to following his [00:01:00] artistic dreams. He continues to make headway in the hopes to provide for himself and his family.

Zuberi: This whole week, I've just been doing a lot of painting just for fun.

Zuberi: I didn't even know I was good at it. I can act, you know, sing, you know, stuff like that. I can do a little two steps, you know, but like painting and drawing and stuff, I never thought I could. And I look at the growth that I've made. 'cause when I was in high school, I was very, very lost. I didn't know who I was 'cause I felt like I had to be a certain way because of like what my family represented and what everyone wanted me to be and how I was supposed to be. My mom had a very rough childhood and my mom was the only one in our family to graduate high school, and so my mom always had this thing like, my kids are going to school. Zuberi: We had a way out because my mom was a basketball player, my mom was a hell of a basketball player and you know, she had all four of her kids and we all just so happened to be so talented in the [00:02:00] sport, but like we were all talented and we were just athletic. Overall with me, I always felt like. I had to play basketball.

 Zuberi: I thought that was the only way out. Every time somebody saw me in high school, they was like, oh, you, you, you play football? Like are you on the football field? I hated that like my whole life. I used to hate that. I felt so literally I felt lost and I felt like incomplete. Like I just didn't know what was going on and I always felt different and I was always a weird child.

Zuberi: Like I didn't feel different. Like I was like the lone wolf and it was like a pick me type thing. I felt different in the sense like, I don't like the same things you do. Like my family would tell you, like I, they always knew that I was gonna end up in some type of entertainment because girl, I used to, when I used to be outside of elementary, I used to play basketball against myself always like it's halftime.

Zuberi: I was like, oh my God, it's a tight game. We, and I found myself, like my imagination was always running and I, they never understood me with, with when, when it became [00:03:00] that, and, I was just like, what does that mean? Like, am I weird? Literally, once I graduated high school, I knew I wasn't going to college. I always felt like it just wasn't for me. Zuberi: My mom accepted it 'cause she literally was like, oh, she was like college not for everybody. And so I was like, what do, what do I want to do? Mm-hmm. I was like, what is this something that like excites me? What makes me happy? And it was like entertaining. Like I've always wanted to be an actor. Like ever since I was like a little kid, I found myself just acting out scenarios. Zuberi: If I seen one of my favorite shows, I used to pretend like I was in it. Like I just added myself as a character. I just had so much fun with, with myself. And I feel like that's another thing that helped me pursue acting the way it was because, Regardless of how I felt lost or anything like that, I was always so comfortable within myself.

 Zuberi: But you know, I never felt like included with anything that I saw on tv.[00:04:00] Malaika: We hope you are enjoying Happy Medium. Our podcast is made in collaboration with W U S F Public Media, Arts Axis Florida, and the N P R Network. Arts Axis Florida is your online destination for finding content on all things art going on in your area. Go to Arts Axis, that's A X I S florida.org to learn more and find all Happy Medium podcast episodes. Zuberi: So my goal, my drive, my passion right now is to literally put myself and other people of color around me in stuff that I didn't see us in, not just black people. It is stems from all races. It became very stereotypical that like when you watching a show, a black person can do this. Like black people nowadays have like the range to be able to do so much. Zuberi: Jordan [00:05:00] Peele inspired this, you know, through me when he was just like, you know, he would never have a white person star in his movies or anything like that. And it was like, it's never in the sense of just like, I don't want you anywhere near me. It just comes from the point like, you guys have already been put on, y'all have been put on, y'all have the access to a lot more things that we don't.

Zuberi: Mm-hmm. So it's like if I have the opportunity to put mine on before you a. Of course, and then representation matters. But with the characters that I create, like the ones, for example, the one that I've done, um, with the series that I've done, the characters in there are so much fun. I feel like they all stem from like crazy places that I pulled from.

Zuberi: But like, I literally was just like, these people will be fun to watch. And as an actor, you want to be able to do these fun, kooky characters, and when you feel like you have that opportunity to express yourself freely, that's when the best word comes about. I want [00:06:00] people to come on set and feel like this is the, you know, this is a good time. Zuberi: Writing for me is a way to express myself. It allows my imagination to not run wild. So my goals for myself are pretty much to be like, I wanna be financially well off. I don't wanna be able to worry about the bills that's being paid. You get what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. Like, I want an accountant like handle that.

Zuberi: You know? I wanna be able, like, you know, obviously don't play with my money, but like, honestly, like I want to build a, a, a trust within the people around me. So I feel comfortable in this hectic world. That's literally it though. I, I honestly feel like greatness is to come. I feel like once I push through myself and I feel like when people honestly see who I am, 'cause when I get recognized in public for being a talker, they are like low key surprised at how calm I am and how like just I just be like, hi. Zuberi: But I'm just I, and it's like I can have this personality that's super bubbly, like I'm funny [00:07:00] 24 7, but that's super draining. I'll be exhausted mentally, so I'm just like, I don't wanna have to be that every time I'm out or you know, I just wanna go to the store right quick. Yeah. I got recognized in Family Dollar and she ended up saying like, one of the things that I've always like that I always say, And she was just like, she just kept repeating it.

Zuberi: I'm the, like, she just kept repeating it, it, and I'm just like, oh my gosh. Like, I didn't know how to really respond. I just started laughing. I be feeling colorful. I be feeling loved. I come from a place of always feeling like a popular loner. 'cause like, I love, like, I'm a very like, loved individual, individual, but like I just be, want to be alone. Zuberi: I really don't ever really have strong connections with people enough to like talk to them on a day-to-day basis. You know? So it's just like I be feeling alone sometimes, which is fine. Like, I'm an Aquarius. Love to be be alone. That's where I am right now. Like, I'm just, I've been by myself. I've been trying to find peace again.

Zuberi: Oh, self-identity is pretty much just who you [00:08:00] are and who you see yourself as. It's not what's going on around you, it's going on like what's, what's going on within you? My TikTok is Zubi Tee Vee. Z U B I T E E V E E, Zubie Tee Vee. My Instagram is Cousin Zuzu and it's cousin because we cousins, we locked in, you know, so it's always love. Zuberi: TikTok is where you can find me. That's where my most funniest.

Malaika: Thank you for listening to Happy Medium. You can find more info about the guest and other episodes in the show notes below, or go to our website, arts axis florida.org. Thank you to our sponsors, Community Foundation Tampa Bay, building a vibrant, prosperous community through transformative vision, leadership, and philanthropy at cftampabay.org.

Malaika: And the Gobioff Foundation supporting human rights organizations and the Tampa Florida arts community at [00:09:00] gobioffoundation.org. Lastly, thank you to P R X for consulting on this podcast, the Arts Axis Florida team and the Florida Department of. State divisions of arts and culture for making these episodes possible.

Malaika: Copyright 2023 W U S F Public media.

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