HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN'S TRAVEL

Homeboy and The Pyramids
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Black men’s travel discussions on living abroad, expat life, dating, marriage, and real stories from overseas. www.homeboyandthepyramids.com

  1. 18h ago

    Podcast #54: Torraine Walker — When Atlanta Was the Black Mecca

    Torraine contact info: Youtube Substack X Podcast Discussion Points: Torraine’s Introduction to Atlanta: The New Black Mecca * Corporate work culture * Atlanta’s nightlife scene * Meeting Black people from different parts of America Atlanta Before the Olympics * Atlanta’s underground hip-hop and neo-soul scene * Atlanta’s Black corporate America experience * How the Olympics helped Atlanta arrive on the international stage * Atlanta’s underground cultural scene gaining worldwide exposure * “Anytime something that’s underground becomes popular, you start seeing shifts in the culture.” Opportunity in Atlanta * Affordable housing * A good economy * A pervasive entrepreneurial spirit The Beauty of 90s Atlanta Black Women: “Superfine” * The hustler mentality of women in Atlanta * How Atlanta’s culture contributed to people meeting one another * How social interaction has changed, including the impact of COVID Reflections on Freaknik * The beauty of Freaknik beyond sex * Young Black people were “Free to be Black” * The economic benefits of Freaknik * Ties to Atlanta’s local hip-hop scene: Kilo and Raheem the Dream How Black People Took Atlanta for Granted * How Atlanta’s younger political class failed to carry the torch of the civil-rights era * How politicians failed to appreciate Atlanta’s younger culture * “Freaknik died when the people in power at City Hall stopped taking their cues from the people and started taking them from the developers.” Reflections on Dres the Beatnik * His importance to Atlanta hip-hop How Gentrification Took Hold of Atlanta Torraine’s Development as a Young Black Man in Atlanta Will America Have Another Black Mecca? What Young Black Americans Missed by Not Experiencing 90s Atlanta Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast #54: Torraine Walker — When Atlanta Was the Black Mecca

  2. Sep 10

    PODCAST #53 Why Black Men Are Getting Turned Away at Colombia Immigration

    * Responding to YouTuber @VacationTimeWithRyan, whose video claims that Black men are being turned away from Colombia even when they do not have criminal histories. * How YouTube “Passport Bro” content has contributed to Black overtourism and tarnished the image of Black men who travel. * Previous travel-content creators did not promote sex tourism. * Many content creators never learned how to travel responsibly themselves. * Why the Colombia immigration issue is important for Black men. * Why the Floyd Wallace case may play a role. * How Black men who are not “Passport Bros” may still be affected and perceived as sex tourists. * Racial factors and why Black men may be denied entry into Colombia. * A brief history of travel content before Passport Bros on YouTube. * What should travelers do going forward? Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    PODCAST #53 Why Black Men Are Getting Turned Away at Colombia Immigration

  3. Aug 24

    Podcast #52 – Interview with Former Division 1 Tennis Player and International Tennis Coach

    Podcast discussion points: Childhood and Coming of Age * How Coach’s parents introduced him to travel within the United States. * Road trips with his father during the early 1980s. * Whether his father experienced fear or caution while traveling as a Black man in the South. * How racism was discussed—or left unspoken—during family travel. * The lessons he learned from seeing different regions, communities, and lifestyles. * His parents’ role in encouraging him to enter tennis, a sport with relatively few Black players. * How early travel and parental support shaped his confidence and curiosity. Growing Up in Atlanta * Coming of age in Atlanta during the 1980s. * The influence of Atlanta’s Black business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs. * How the city exposed him to examples of Black success and possibility. * The difference between Atlanta before the crack epidemic and Atlanta after its effects became visible. * The emergence of hip-hop and its influence on Black identity and culture. * How Atlanta’s Black community normalized ambition, achievement, and excellence. * Whether he has encountered a similar atmosphere anywhere else in the world. Division I Tennis, 1985–1989 * His path into Division I college tennis. * The intensity of competing in approximately 35 matches during a season. * Traveling across the country for tournaments and seeing America beyond the athletic bubble. * What he noticed about the United States as a young Black man in the mid-to-late 1980s. * Differences in regional attitudes, culture, and social behavior. * The benefits—and challenges—of traveling without smartphones, GPS, or Google Maps. * Whether road travel created more opportunities for exploration, discovery, and unexpected experiences. * The social life of being a young, traveling athlete, including dating and friendships. * How tennis created connections in the same way golf is often associated with networking. * Whether tennis is primarily valuable for competition, personal development, or access to relationships and opportunities. Race, Identity, and Travel * The most difficult racist experiences he encountered while playing tennis. * Racism or discrimination he experienced while traveling through the United States. * Positive experiences and meaningful friendships with people from different regions. * How traveling affected his understanding of race in America. * The influence of changing African American identity during the 1980s. Hip-Hop and the Road * Traveling during the rise of rap and hip-hop culture. * How hip-hop differed from region to region as he moved around the country. * What traveling felt like before digital maps, online reviews, and constant communication. * Whether the lack of technology made travel more adventurous—or more dangerous. First International Experiences * His first trip outside the United States. * What surprised him most when he began traveling internationally. * How people abroad received him as a Black American and tennis professional. * Whether international travel changed how he viewed America. * Experiences that gave him a greater appreciation for the United States. * Differences in infrastructure, transportation, beauty, and everyday life. * Countries that exceeded his expectations. * Destinations where he felt especially welcomed, respected, or appreciated as a Black man. Coaching and International Travel * The transition from college player to coach beginning in 1991. * How coaching expanded his access to international travel. * How his identity as a Black American coach influenced his experiences abroad. * Whether people viewed him primarily as a coach, an American, or a Black man. * The professional and personal relationships he built through tennis. * The countries and regions that most changed his worldview. * The places that surprised him through their natural beauty, infrastructure, or culture. Travel, Tennis, and Opportunity * How travel enhanced his life beyond tennis. * What young Black men can learn from seeing more of the United States. * Whether brothers should start with domestic road trips before traveling internationally. * How tennis can create friendships, professional connections, and social opportunities. * Whether tennis offers networking benefits comparable to golf. * Practical advice for young men interested in tennis, travel, coaching, or life abroad. Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast #52 – Interview with Former Division 1 Tennis Player and International Tennis Coach

  4. Jul 8

    Podcast # 51 - Black Men, can you trust BRAD (White guys) abroad?

    Podcast Discussion Points: * Black men need to learn how to build relationships with people of different races while traveling, while also staying alert to racism. * Despite experiencing racism while traveling, I have also been helped and befriended by many so-called white people. * A Review of Nolan Xavier Wells’s Death While Traveling With His White Friends: What I Think Happened * Review of the Bakari Henderson Incident * How Black Men Who Travel Should Make Friends While Avoiding Racist Incidents * The “Token Negro Friend” Dynamic While Traveling: How It Plays Out and How Africans Often Avoid It * How I normally build relationships with Caucasian while traveling * Why Gen-Z likes to have token Black friends * Why being alone when traveling is bad (my incident) * The “Token Negro Friend” Dynamic While Traveling: How It Plays Out and How Africans Often Avoid It * Racism while traveling can lead to humiliation, incarceration, or even death. Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast # 51 - Black Men, can you trust BRAD (White guys) abroad?

  5. Jul 7

    Podcast # 50 Homeboy and the Pyramids host Clarke Illmatical — Lessons from the Road

    Peace. This is Clarke Illmatical—journalist, director, and host of Homeboy and The Pyramids. In this episode, I reflect on my journey—eight years living abroad in total, across Brazil, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Tanzania, Mexico, and Guatemala. As I wrap up my travel memoir, I take time to celebrate those years and reflect on the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Contact: @homeboypyramids Homeboy’s Travel Origins * What pushed me to leave the U.S. and build a life abroad. * The transition from corporate life to international living. * Key cultural influences, including how films like City of God and The Beach shaped my imagination about the world, freedom, and escape. Countries I’ve lived in * My experience living in Brazil, China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Tanzania, Mexico, and Guatemala. * How each country shaped me differently. * The difference between visiting a place and actually building a life there. * Which countries made me feel most accepted and comfortable as a so-called Black man. Culture shock and adjustment * The hardest parts of adjusting to new countries. * Responding to the common claim that locals in some countries “don’t know any better,” and why that phrase can oversimplify people and excuse bad behavior. Expat communities in real life * The different types of expat communities I’ve encountered abroad. * The positives and negatives of expat circles. * Difficulties of integrating into those spaces. Digital nomad reality check * My honest thoughts on the digital nomad lifestyle and why can promote bad travel habits. * Whether it’s better to start with a stationary position abroad before jumping into the digital nomad lifestyle. Friendship, romance, and temporary relationships * How to build meaningful friendships when traveling. * The host’s own struggle with making lasting connections abroad. * Navigating expat friendships, romantic relationships, and dating in foreign countries. * Learning to appreciate temporary relationships without forcing everything to become permanent. The Passport Bro conversation * Thoughts on the Passport Bro movement and how it has affected Black travelers. * Whether it has created opportunity, stigma, misunderstanding, or all three. * The racial dimension: how Black men are perceived, policed, or judged while traveling. Beliefs that changed * A belief I had before traveling that changed completely after living abroad. * A belief that stayed the same no matter where I went. The biggest surprises * Which country surprised me the most, and why. * Locations that helped me grow the most as a traveler and as a person. The most transformative moments * The most transformative experience from eight years of travel. * Whether growth came from one defining moment or from a long, gradual process. * Moments when something “clicked” internally. What keeps travel alive * What still excites me about travel after all these years. Advice to my younger self * What I would tell myself before my first international move. * Advice for a younger Black traveler who wants to explore the world seriously. The future for Black men in travel * Reasons for optimism for Black men in the global travel space. Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast # 50 Homeboy and the Pyramids host Clarke Illmatical — Lessons from the Road

  6. Jun 2

    Podcast #49 - Interview with Kyle Sexton (Bakery Co-Owner and Entrepreneur) 40 Years in the Land of the Rising Sun

    Kyle Sexton Instagram PODCAST DISCUSSION POINTS * Kyle’s background in the United States * His early interest in Japanese culture, including language, film, and women * How he prepared for Japan while living in New York City * Arriving in Japan with no plan and only $300 * How networking with foreigner organizations helped him build friendships * Starting his business with help from Japanese friends * How a positive attitude helped him adapt to Japanese culture * Why starting a business in Japan as a foreigner is different today than when he began * Becoming a well-known figure in Japan * Overcoming his own ingrained views on race while building his business * How the Black presence in Japan has changed over the years * Raising children in Japan * His future plans for the business Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast #49 - Interview with Kyle Sexton (Bakery Co-Owner and Entrepreneur) 40 Years in the Land of the Rising Sun

  7. May 24

    Podcast #48 - The Cult of Natureboy Documentary Review: How Black Men Can Avoid Cults

    As a former cult member, I want to talk to you about this travel documentary, why so many of the members were susceptible, and how you can avoid cults. My background: I was born into the Jehovah’s Witness cult, and I see several similarities between that group and the Natureboy cult. What is a cult? A cult is a group or social movement defined by unusual or extreme beliefs and practices. It typically centers around a charismatic leader who demands unquestioning loyalty and uses manipulative control tactics to isolate, exploit, and control the daily lives of its members. Authoritarian leadership: A single leader, or a small inner circle, holds absolute and unquestioned power. The leader is often seen as divine, uniquely enlightened, or as having exclusive access to the “truth.” Thought reform and control: The group uses psychological manipulation to influence members, reduce personal autonomy, and force conformity. Isolation: Members are cut off from outside influences, including family, friends, and broader society, to increase dependency on the group. Exploitation: The group takes advantage of members financially, physically, or emotionally to serve the leadership’s goals or enrich the organization. Fear of leaving: There are strict rules and serious psychological or social consequences for questioning authority, dissenting, or trying to leave. Why was Natureboy successful? He created the image of a utopia in the jungle. He appealed to Black people by promoting the idea of getting back into the sun and closer to nature. He used pairing, romance, and love bombing to draw people in and deepen attachment. Similarities to Jehovah’s Witnesses Love bombing and social pressure. Heavy reliance on association, belonging, and extended family connections. The use of code words, special language, and identity-shaping phrases such as “the only thing stopping you is you.” Other environments with cult-like traits The military. Corporations or corporate America. The art world. Certain forms of yoga. Jiu-jitsu communities in some cases. How to build healthy community and resources Build a real support system outside controlling groups. “Build Support System”YouTube link Dr. T. Hasan Johnson, No One Is Coming: The Brotherhood Black Men Need to Survive DepressionYouTube link Immortal Mindz - The Conscious NomadYouTube channel Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast #48 - The Cult of Natureboy Documentary Review: How Black Men Can Avoid Cults

  8. May 17

    Podcast #47 - Interview with Corey L. Mbonge Academic Researcher | Jurist(14 years in South Africa)

    Corey L. Mbonge introduction. African American and Caribbean roots. Upbringing in North St. Louis and resisting negative neighborhood influences. How studying abroad in Rio de Janeiro pushed him to pursue more international study. Reflections on Rio and how it shaped him as a traveler. Thoughts on Indigenous Black Americans versus African American ancestry. Why Pan-Africanism matters to him. Why he changed his name to Mbonge. Early exposure to South African philosophy, including the influence of Frantz Fanon and Steve Biko. Studies at the University of Cape Town, including his M.Phil. and later entry into the LLB law program. Experiences with racism as a Black immigrant in South Africa. Cultural adjustments while living in South Africa. Thoughts on safety in South Africa. Becoming the first African American to complete the University of Cape Town’s LLB program, as reflected in his public graduation announcement and university graduation listing. His current PhD work in international human rights law and reparative justice. Why South Africa can be a beautiful place for Black people. Ground-level views on xenophobia in South Africa, including which immigrant groups are excluded and how class shapes the issue. Why he chose to study law in South Africa instead of the United States. Places to visit or consider in Cape Town. His pursuit of reparations through current academic work. How his journey in South Africa changed his life. Interest in creating scholarships. Get full access to HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS - BLACK MEN TRAVEL GUIDE at www.homeboyandthepyramids.com/subscribe

    Podcast #47 - Interview with Corey L. Mbonge Academic Researcher | Jurist(14 years in South Africa)
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Black men’s travel discussions on living abroad, expat life, dating, marriage, and real stories from overseas. www.homeboyandthepyramids.com

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