Welcome to the premiere episode of Coded Topics! 🎙️

In this episode, hosts Tarik Smith and Martinique Watson, along with producer Simone Elise Suarez, dive into what it really takes to leave home, relocate to California, and build a creative career from scratch.

From navigating the reality shock of Los Angeles to battling creative burnout, mental health struggles, and setting healthy boundaries with family—nothing is off limits.

Plus, we explore how animation, graphic novels, and cartoons like Tuca & Bertie and Steven Universe helped pull us out of our darkest places.

00:40 - Moving from NYC & Virginia to LA
05:40 - San Francisco Days & Relocation Stories
12:45 - The Reality of Being an Actor & Filmmaker in LA
24:45 - Mental Health, Isolation & Creative Struggles
28:00 - How Cartoons & Animation Heal Us
46:45 - Visiting Home & Setting Healthy Boundaries
52:50 - The Current State of Filmmaking, Anime & IP
01:11:30 - Final Thoughts & Connect with Us

FOLLOW US
Instargram: @codedtopicspodcast

📲 CONNECT WITH THE SQUAD:
•Tarik Smith: @codesswitchproductions
• Martinique Watson: @martiniquewatson
• Simone Suarez: @ms_simonechanel

🔔 Subscribe to Coded Topics for authentic conversations on life, art, and everything in between!

Let us know what topics you would like to hear us talk about. Email us at codedtopics@gmail.com.