Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JAE RAMOS. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
JAE, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable is one of the keys to growth. Of course as a kid going into a predominantly white high school not knowing anyone, made me feel different and for many years led me to simply accept being the “token brown guy.” My university was predominantly white, corporations I worked for were predominantly white, and the vegan world I currently create in is predominantly white, so I commonly found myself in spaces that normally “people like me,” would find difficulties inserting themselves in. Through all those moments of looking at a room where I was the only one to bring color, I realized it was more than just being the “token brown guy.” I was representing my culture, and allowing others a glimpse into my world when otherwise they might not have that opportunity. That’s huge, and it gives you the power to impact the space you are in, not only benefiting yourself, but the next brown kid navigating the world. Once you acknowledge and accept what you bring to the table, the room is yours.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I left the corporate world to make a living off of living. I wanted to get paid to do what I love to do. From food and music, to travel and the outdoors, I share my lifestyle to tell stories that bridge the plant-based world with culture. Both in front and behind the camera, I’ve built relationships with organic audiences that connect them emotionally. My goal is to encourage our culture to push the boundaries. Have them understand that eating a vegan taco doesn’t make you less macho, but actually shows your strength. That being outdoors and camping is not just something for the gabachos. That hobbies can become careers and be more fulfilling than jobs you were conditioned to chase. And that it is possible to get paid to live your life.
There’s so much planned for the coming year. In the vegan space, I have international series on Mexico and Colombia that cover food, culture, and our experiences in the music world with my brother Kilo Angeleno. I’m working on my first cookbook with my #1 vegan hater, my mom. There’s a couple of other projects focused on a plant-based lifestyle in the outdoors and on road trips that will cover various states in the USA. In music, as Chief Thinker for Kilo Angeleno, we are working on a tour in Colombia for the second half of the year and preparing on releasing projects we’ve been working on the last two years with Crissin, DVLP, Los De Cali, Natan Y Shander, Ruso Beats, Breakfast N Vegas, and Mansion Music. You’ll also see a lot of my content on your favorite vegan food pages as I grow my list of brands I am Chief Creator for. Keep an eye out for it all and share it!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Be your biggest fan! Sounds like the easiest thing to do, but it might end up being the hardest. Embrace the failures, analyze the opinions, set your goals, and believe in yourself. No one can love your craft unless you love it. I came from a business background, worked internationally, and used those skills in the vegan nonprofit world to raise 12 million annually. I was great at what I did but none of it made me happy, and that helped me realize that I can use everything I’ve learned throughout the years to do what I love to do. Lastly, do whatever you feel most passionate about, most emotional about, and learn how to turn it into making a living.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Jorge Luis Borges and his story “Las ruinas circulars” is one of my favorite pieces of work because it demonstrates how a dreamer can make their dreams reality and how dreams are infinite when your passion is fueled. In English, “How Soccer Explains The World,” made me realize that you can go to war for your passion and how without passion there is no victory.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aveganandher
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjramos/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aVeganandHer
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=JjMFOscEkxs4GV8JaW9swQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@aveganandher?lang=en
Image Credits
Jae Ramos
