I’m An Artist, Not A Salesman Podcast

About I’m An Artist, Not A Salesman Podcast

A powerful and transparent podcast that showcases the journey of entrepreneurs and creatives, offering insight and motivation to aspiring individuals. Through candid conversations and real-world advice, listeners gain practical tips on building a brand, pricing their work, and mastering social media—all while staying true to their artistic vision. We are all artists in our own right, and this show reminds you that your artistry should be displayed for the world to see. Tune in for inspiration to help both your art and career thrive.

Publisher

Luis Guzman

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Sept 2021

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

85 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Life Through Hip Hop – How Danny James Turned Doubt, Loss, and Hardship Into Fuel to Build His Life

   In this episode of I Am Not a Salesman, the hosts sit down with Danny James, the Brooklyn rapper formerly known as Lil D, for a conversation about music, identity, resilience, family, loss, ambition, and what it means to keep chasing a dream when people tell you that you cannot make it. Danny’s story is about turning difficult experiences into motivation. Danny started rapping at 12 years old, dropping 16-bar verses through online cyphers. That passion eventually led to opportunities including working with the Knicks, collaborating with Fat Joe and Lil Wayne, and opening for Jadakiss. He also shares how hip hop became a source of companionship during a lonely childhood. One of the most revealing parts of the conversation is Danny’s transition from Lil D to Danny James. He describes Lil D as the kid rapper who wanted to represent the true essence of old-school hip hop. Danny James represents an evolution: an adult artist with more life experience, more stories to tell, and a larger purpose. The name change is not simply branding; it reflects his belief that he can use his experiences to encourage other people to pursue their own goals. The conversation also explores doubt, jealousy, broken trust, and people who did not believe in him. Rather than allowing those experiences to stop him, Danny explains how they became fuel. His journey is a reminder that success is rarely a straight line and that setbacks can become motivation. A particularly emotional section focuses on the loss of Danny’s No-No, one of the hardest experiences he has faced. He connects that loss to his resilience and the lessons he carried forward. His No-No wanted to become a singer and guitar player and worked hard to provide for his family. Danny explains how that example, along with the work ethic he learned from his father, shaped the way he approaches his own dreams. Music is at the center of that story, but so is legacy. Danny talks about carrying forward the lessons he received from the people who shaped him and honoring them through his own work. His perspective on resilience is not about pretending that loss does not hurt; it is about finding a way to continue when life changes. The hosts and Danny also explore: Growing up with hip hop as a source of comfort and companionship. Discovering his passion for performing through a fourth-grade musical. Evolving from Lil D into Danny James and redefining his identity as an artist. Turning doubt, hate, jealousy, and setbacks into motivation. Processing loss while carrying forward his family’s work ethic and resilience. The episode also takes an entertaining turn as Danny and the hosts discuss The Sopranos, including the famous final scene, theories surrounding Tony Soprano’s fate, and clues hidden throughout the series. At its core, this episode is about becoming who you are. Danny James is not presenting success as something that happened overnight. His story is built around persistence: starting young, learning from hardship, surviving loss, developing as an artist, and continuing to believe in a future that other people may not be able to see yet. Whether you are an aspiring musician, entrepreneur, creative, or simply pushing through a difficult chapter, there is something relatable in his message. If you follow independent hip hop, artist interviews, music industry conversations, personal growth, or New York culture, this episode offers a candid look at the person behind the artist name. It is a conversation about resilience, family, ambition, identity, grief, music, and purpose, with plenty of laughs. Listen to the full episode to hear Danny James tell his story in his own words, from Lil D to the artist he is today. Follow I Am Not a Salesman for more conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, and creators, share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, and leave a review or comment to tell the hosts what you want to hear next.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Family, Food, Football and Legacy: Inside the Bar's Story of Service, Community and Tradition Here

   What happens when a podcast leaves the studio, walks into a packed sports bar, and lets the day unfold in real time? You get IAANAS Podcast Episode 73, recorded live at The Bar in Sayreville, New Jersey, during the first Football Sunday of the NFL season. No polished studio walls. No carefully controlled environment. No waiting for the perfect moment. Just conversations, food, football, family, business, and the people who make a local business feel like home. Hosted by Luis Guzman, this episode of I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman takes you inside The Bar and gives you an unfiltered look at what it takes to build a business around more than just a product. Throughout the day, Luis sits down with members of the team, family, employees, customers, and friends to talk about what makes this place special and what entrepreneurs can learn from the way they operate. At the center of the conversation is Anthony Cardinale, one of the people behind The Bar. Luis talks with Anthony about building the business, getting your hands dirty, staying connected to the day-to-day work, and understanding that ownership means more than simply having your name on the door. The conversation gets into family, legacy, community, growth, service, and staying true to your roots while continuing to move forward. One of the biggest themes throughout the episode is the idea that you have to get your hands dirty. Luis highlights Anthony for stepping away from the role of simply being the owner and actually jumping into the work, including preparing food and cutting cheese downstairs. For Luis, that kind of involvement says something powerful about entrepreneurship: when you care about what you're building, you cannot be afraid to get involved in the work that keeps it moving. Then Amanda Cardinale joins the conversation, bringing a completely different perspective on family business and hospitality. Luis digs into the way Amanda treats customers, the lessons she learned from her family, and why making people feel welcome can become one of the most valuable parts of a business. Their conversation goes far beyond food and drinks. It gets into human connection, kindness, family, work ethic, customer experience, and the responsibility that comes with creating a place where people feel like they belong. Amanda also shares a powerful perspective on material things and personal fulfillment when Luis asks one of his recurring questions: what is the last thing you purchased that changed your life? Her answer leads to a deeper conversation about self-worth, personal growth, and why buying something cannot fix what needs to be worked on internally. Anthony Cardinale talks entrepreneurship, ownership, family, growth, and building The Bar. Amanda Cardinale discusses hospitality, family, service, work ethic, and caring for people. Luis explores why customer experience can turn a first-time visitor into someone who keeps coming back. The episode dives into family business, legacy, community, and staying connected to your roots. The Bar's food, pizza, drinks, Italian and Sicilian influences, and attention to detail all become part of the conversation. Football Sunday provides the backdrop, with live sports, customers, staff, and plenty of unpredictable moments happening around the microphones. The episode also brings in members of The Bar's team and people from the local community, creating the kind of spontaneous conversations that only happen when you put a microphone in the middle of a real environment. Follow Luis Guzman and the IAANAS Podcast for more conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners about the real stories behind what they build. Subscribe to the podcast, follow the show on social media, share the episode with someone building something of their own, and join the conversation. If you're a creative or entrepreneur with a story worth telling, connect with I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman and become part of the community.

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Building a Sports Media Career Through Hustle, Mentors, and Relationships Today – Nithin Ramachandra

   What happens when you combine a love for sports, relentless hustle, networking, and the willingness to hear “no” and keep going? You get a career built around relationships, persistence, and creating opportunities. On this episode of I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman, Luis Guzman sits down with Nithin Ramachandra, the entrepreneur, sports media personality, talent agent, podcaster, and connector behind Nithin Sports, Rush, and N.R. Media. Nithin’s career didn’t follow a straight path. He originally pursued law enforcement and spent three weeks in a correctional officer academy before realizing it wasn’t the right fit. That experience pushed him toward his other passion: sports. He went back to school, studied sports communications, PR, and marketing, and started building a career in the sports industry. Then COVID hit, and Nithin saw an opportunity. With sports shut down, he started a small show on Instagram Live. What began as a hobby started growing. He invited reporters and players onto the show, built a team, moved the content to podcast platforms, and kept pushing through the difficult second year. By year three, his work led to a feature on News 12 New Jersey after he reached out with a cold email. A huge part of this conversation is networking. Nithin talks about meeting people, building genuine relationships, following up, helping others, and understanding that one connection can lead to another. He has nine mentors and shares how relationships with people such as Leonard Marshall and Lee Steinberg helped shape his path in sports media and the agency business. Nithin also gets real about rejection. His story involving Vince Young shows how a “no” does not always mean the door is permanently closed. After an earlier rejection, a mutual connection spoke highly of Nithin, leading to a reconnection and new conversations about working together. It’s a great example of why persistence and relationships matter. Throughout the episode, Luis and Nithin talk about what it takes to build a career when there isn't a perfect roadmap. From sports media and talent representation to podcasting, events, networking, and personal branding, Nithin has built his career by putting himself out there and continuing to create opportunities. Topics covered in this episode: Networking and building genuine relationships Persistence and handling rejection Finding and learning from mentors Building a career in sports media Growing a podcast and social media platform Entrepreneurship in sports and entertainment Talent representation and athlete relationships Personal branding and making connections Building your own legacy Turning opportunities into long-term relationships The conversation also gets personal when Nithin talks about his parents and the influence they have had on his life. He credits his family for helping shape his work ethic and becoming the person he is today. Later, he opens up emotionally about his mother's sacrifices and the difficult period his family experienced when he was younger. At its core, this episode is about hustle, relationships, family, and staying true to your path. Nithin’s story shows that careers can change direction, opportunities can come from unexpected places, and sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply keep showing up. Listen to the full episode of I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman and connect with the podcast for more conversations with people who are building careers on their own terms. Subscribe to I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Follow the podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for clips, new episodes, and conversations. Have a story, guest suggestion, or topic you'd like Luis to cover? Reach out through the podcast's social channels and join the conversation. I’m an Artist, Not a Salesman is about giving a voice to people who hustle, create, take risks, and keep going without losing sight of why they started.

Who has been a guest on I’m An Artist, Not A Salesman Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Julian Saavedra
• Cameron Saunders
• John Ramsay
• Dave Disci

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

347,046

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0