Signed: Conversations with Digital Mavericks

Anita Sharma
  • 5.0 (5)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Digital mavericks. Media empires. Real conversations. The podcast celebrating digital first creators who changed the game with Anita Sharma of Sharma Law | Launching October 7th everywhere you listen to your podcasts. 

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Nadya Okamoto - Toilet Paper, Socks & Cardboard: Why I Started a Period Care Revolution (Part 1)

    Founder and bestselling author Nadya Okamoto joins Anita Sharma for a conversation about building purpose-driven businesses, using social media intentionally, and destigmatizing periods for 6 million followers. In Part 1, Nadya shares how she went from teenage activist to entrepreneur, founding both a nonprofit and a thriving period care brand. Nadya opens up about discovering period poverty at 16 when she learned people in her community were using toilet paper, socks, and cardboard to manage their periods. She discusses founding PERIOD.org in high school, leading it for six years while building 800 chapters across 50 states and 40 countries, and her time at Harvard (including graduating remotely during COVID). In this episode, Nadya talks about the frustration that led her to start August, wanting to create sustainable period products while changing culture through a brand, not just activism. She shares her early social media strategy using Facebook to organize volunteers, learning that social posts had "currency" through sponsorship deals, and going all-in on TikTok during the pandemic. We explore how she keeps herself separate from the August brand (the anti-Paris Hilton approach), going viral for wearing a pad at Electric Forest, and why hate comments motivate her rather than discourage her. This episode is about turning teenage passion into sustainable impact, using your platform with purpose, and staying authentic while building a brand. Part 2 coming next week! Follow Nadya: @nadyaokamoto Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client. Credits:  Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn  Creative Producer: Khairi Williams  Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson  Edited by: Carmine Mattia  Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak  Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    19 min

  2. JAN 29

    Drew Binsky - Borders, Risk, and Visiting Every Country on Earth Before Age 30 (Part 2)

    In Part 2, Drew Binsky continues his conversation with Anita Sharma, diving into the realities of full-time travel content creation, the stories that didn't perform as expected, and what visiting all 197 countries actually taught him about humanity. Drew opens up about balancing documentation with experience, why he gets more fulfillment from filming than just experiencing moments, and how Anthony Bourdain remains his biggest inspiration. We discuss getting stuck in Pakistan for a week when India attacked Kashmir, creating a high-stakes story that didn't perform well, and the wettest city on Earth story in Meghalaya, India that hit 7 million views. In this episode, Drew talks about handling burnout with two weeks on, two weeks off, why Iran is his favorite country (the most misconceived place on Earth), and getting stuck in a coup in Guinea, his least favorite destination. We explore what cultural values he wishes America would adopt, his future plans including having kids and starting a tennis channel, and why his travel superpower is finding the good anywhere. Plus: the lightning round covers his best street food (Bangkok pad thai for 35 cents), the craziest things he's eaten (live octopus, dog, snake), his essential travel gear (headlamp and bug spray), and the ultimate airport hack for avoiding checked bag fees. This episode is about finding humanity in the hardest places, managing burnout while chasing stories, and why family culture matters more than we realize. Follow Drew: @drewbinsky Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client. Credits:  Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn  Creative Producer: Khairi Williams  Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson  Edited by: Carmine Mattia  Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak  Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    24 min

  3. JAN 23

    Drew Binsky - Borders, Risk, and Visiting Every Country on Earth Before Age 30 (Part 1)

    Travel content creator, storyteller, and bestselling author Drew Binsky joins Anita Sharma for the Season 2 premiere of Signed: Conversations with Digital Mavericks. In Part 1, Drew shares how he became one of the youngest people to visit all 197 countries in the world and built a 20 million follower community in the process. Drew opens up about his first international trip to Israel in 2009, catching the travel bug while studying abroad in Prague, and teaching English in South Korea for 18 months where he earned his black belt in Taekwondo and visited 20 countries in Asia. We discuss starting his travel blog "The Hungry Partier," meeting Lee Abbomonte (who became the youngest man to visit every country at age 31), and doing the math to realize he could do the same thing in five years. In this episode, Drew talks about the gift that changed everything: his girlfriend (now wife) Deanna giving him a video camera in Hanoi on New Year's Day 2017. He shares posting his first-ever video "What Can $10 Get You in Vietnam?" and watching it hit 100,000 views in one day, completely blowing his blog traffic out of the water. We explore the early days of travel vlogging, staying a week in each country to meet locals for authentic and affordable experiences, and the realization that the more he traveled, the more he realized he didn't know anything about the world. This episode is about following curiosity across borders, turning passion into profession, and the beginning of a journey to visit every country on Earth. Part 2 next Thursday! Follow Drew: @drewbinsky Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits:  Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn  Creative Producer: Khairi Williams  Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson  Edited by: Carmine Mattia  Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak  Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    27 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    Best of Season 1: When Creators Choose Themselves

    Season 1 of Signed: Conversations with Digital Mavericks pulled back the curtain on what it really takes to build a creator empire. Hosted by entertainment lawyer Anita Sharma, this special Best Of episode revisits the most powerful, vulnerable, and inspiring moments from our first six guests. In this episode: Drew Afualo on climbing to the top of the NFL only to realize it wasn't what she wanted, and how getting let go (for "not being able to grow a following") led to building 8+ million followers on TikTokAlyson Stoner on the hidden cost of child stardom, being called a "veteran on set" as a kid while lacking basic life skills, and turning that pain into advocacy for child actors and kidfluencersShan Boodram on hitting rock bottom after an MTV pilot rejection and asking herself: "Why am I waiting for somebody else to make my dream come true?," the question that changed everythingSidney Raz on 15 years of posting, learning to love editing, and why the "delusional thing" became his realityMichelle Khare on the democratization of storytelling and why creators don't need gatekeepers anymore, they have their audiencesJon Kung on turning down a prosecutor job to cook at underground raves in abandoned Detroit warehouses, choosing instinct over securityThis is what happens when creators choose themselves. Season 2 launches January 2026. Subscribe now so you don't miss it. Credits: Hosted by Anita Sharma Produced by Anita Sharma and Phoebe Dunn Edited by Carmine Mattia Social Media Strategy by Maureen Lauren Sedlak Theme Music by Carmine Mattia Follow Signed on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube: @SignedPodcast

    20 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Jon Kung: Redefining Third Culture Cooking

    Self-taught chef, content creator, and best-selling author Jon Kung joins Anita Sharma for a conversation about third culture cooking, finding creative freedom in Detroit's emptiness, and why teaching people to make tomato sandwiches matters more than showing off culinary skills. Jon opens up about his first vivid food memory, eating raw spiny lobster straight from the ocean in South Africa at 16, and how growing up in Hong Kong and Toronto gave him the confidence to never apologize for being an Asian American. We discuss teaching himself to cook during law school, turning down a sought-after prosecutor job while sitting in his car, and running underground Chinese pop-ups in abandoned Detroit warehouses and factories during the recession. In this episode, Jon talks about being an early TikTok adopter, posting survival recipes during the pandemic, and why his camping cooking videos (his slowest, most peaceful content) are a direct response to what he calls "violent" food content. He shares his philosophy on teaching through simplicity (the viral tomato sandwich series), why his equipment reviews perform best on YouTube, and how his corn kernel remover is the kitchen gadget that actually matters. We also explore Jon's bestselling cookbook "Kung Food," his deep connection to the drag community, why he doesn't watch other food content to relax, and his death row meal that would probably be the thing that kills him. Plus: the great pineapple on pizza debate gets settled by a real chef. This episode is about finding space to experiment, teaching with intention, and cooking food that brings people joy. Follow Jon: @jonkung Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits: Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson Edited by: Carmine Mattia Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    1h 5m

  6. 11/13/2025

    Sidney Raz: Building the Life Hacks Empire

    Creator behind the viral "Things I Wish I Knew Before I Was In My 30s" series Sidney Raz joins Anita Sharma for an honest conversation about 18 years of grinding before "making it," building a real media company, and why he's now vlogging the most personal story of his life. Sid opens up about posting his first YouTube video in 2007, working at React Media for five years as his "trade school," and posting on TikTok every single day for a year and a half to grow from zero followers to 90K. We discuss how corporate America taught him to be the best emailer in the creator game, why he posted a TikTok on his wedding day at 7,000 followers, and the moment he realized the "life hacks" format was his lightning in a bottle. In a heartbreaking twist, Sid shares how losing his daughter Delfina at 26 weeks led to genetic testing that discovered the stage T1a stomach cancer that would have killed him. He talks about building 11,000 newsletter subscribers as something "nobody can take away," publishing a real book with DK, and why, after everything, he's come full circle to daily vlogging. This episode is about persistence, pivoting, and owning your story completely. Follow Sid: @sidneyraz Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits: Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson Edited by: Carmine Mattia Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    58 min

  7. 10/30/2025

    Shan Boodram

    Sexologist, intimacy expert, and best-selling author Shan Boodram joins Anita Sharma for an honest conversation about sex education, building a career in an unconventional field, and why intimacy is about so much more than sex. Shan opens up about growing up in a conservative Caribbean household, writing her first book "Laid" at 24, moving to LA with nothing but $5,000 and a dream, and why a failed BET pilot pushed her to YouTube. We discuss the most common questions she gets about sex (mismatched libido tops the list), why she stopped reading comments after having kids, outdated sex myths that need to die, and how her content has evolved from "where is the clitoris" to exploring friendship and family love. She also shares why she'd never abandon YouTube despite it no longer being her main platform, the emotional toll of sharing vulnerable relationship moments online, and her new passion for drumming. This episode is for anyone navigating intimacy, relationships, or building a career in a space where you have to educate while you create. Follow Shan: @shanboody on TikTok and @shanboodram on Instagram Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits: Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson Edited by: Carmine Mattia Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    55 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    Michelle Khare

    2025 Time Magazine Top 100 Creator Michelle Khare joins Anita Sharma to discuss her journey from national cycling champion to YouTube creator breaking barriers in entertainment. Michelle opens up about successfully petitioning the Television Academy to get Challenge Accepted on the Emmy ballot, recreating Tom Cruise's plane stunt with FAA approval, escaping Houdini's water torture cell after 10 months of training, and her new Red Bull partnership. We discuss her "Keystones of Great Collaborators" checklist, why she tells aspiring creators NOT to quit their day jobs, hosting HBO Max's Karma, and building a media company with a 42-person crew. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered what it takes to create opportunities instead of waiting for permission. Follow Michelle: @michellekhare Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but this podcast isn't legal advice. It's for general information only. Listening doesn't make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits:  Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Script Editor: Mac Montandon  Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson Edited by: Carmine Mattia Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    55 min

  9. 10/07/2025

    Alyson Stoner

    New York Times bestselling author and former Disney child star Alyson Stoner joins Anita Sharma for a powerful conversation about the reality behind child stardom and their work advocating for change. Alyson opens up about the "toddler to trainwreck industrial complex," signing contracts before they could write in cursive, and why child entertainers are exempt from federal labor protections. We discuss their book "Semi Well Adjusted Despite Literally Everything," the $8 billion kid influencer industry, their advocacy work on the Kid Fluencer Protection Act, and Movement Genius—the mental health company they co-founded. This episode will make you rethink everything about fame, childhood, and what it means to be "well-adjusted." Follow Alyson: @alysonstoner Disclaimer: I’m a lawyer, but this podcast isn’t legal advice. It’s for general information only. Listening doesn’t make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits: Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Technical production support from: Provided By Seth Richardson Edited by: Rachel Miller-Howard and Carmine Mattia Mac Montandon: Script Editor Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    1h 5m

  10. 10/07/2025

    Drew Afualo

    Welcome to the premiere episode of Signed: Conversations with Digital Mavericks! Drew Afualo joins host Anita Sharma to discuss her journey from getting let go at the NFL to building 8+ million TikTok followers, hosting two hit podcasts ("The Comment Section" and "Two Idiot Girls"), and writing her book "Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve." We talk about the viral "Red Flags in Men" video that started it all, why agencies said she was "too contentious" to be marketable, her strategy for dealing with trolls, and how she makes celebrities fall in love with her on red carpets (hint: vodka and snacks). Drew's story proves that being unapologetically yourself always wins. Follow Drew: @drewafualo Disclaimer: I’m a lawyer, but this podcast isn’t legal advice. It’s for general information only. Listening doesn’t make us attorney and client, so if you need legal advice, please talk to a lawyer in your area. Credits: Produced by: Anita Sharma & Phoebe Dunn Creative Producer: Khairi Williams Technical Production Support Provided By: Seth Richardson Edited by: Carmine Mattia Mac Montandon: Script Editor Social Media Strategy: Maureen Lloren Sedlak Signed Theme Music By: Carmine Mattia

    44 min
  11. Introducing 'Signed: Conversations With Digital Mavericks'

    SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Introducing 'Signed: Conversations With Digital Mavericks'

    In 2013, Anita Sharma started representing talent who, back then, were simply called “influencers” - in a way, famous for being famous. Fast forward to today, and Sharma Law now proudly represents some of the most successful (what we now like to call) “digital-first creators” in the business. Their “influence” is earned through authentic, compelling, and insightful storytelling that engages their audiences. These digital-first creators are leveraging their influence and social media content into launching full blown media companies.  Signed is an opportunity for Anita to have deep and meaningful conversations with digital-first creators she admires. Every conversation she has on this podcast will start with the story behind the creator’s first post, and move on to cover topics such as what drives them, their creative process and how they built their media business. These creators are mavericks on the Internet, shaping the way we consume content. In short, Signed is a celebration of digital storytelling mavericks.

    1 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Digital mavericks. Media empires. Real conversations. The podcast celebrating digital first creators who changed the game with Anita Sharma of Sharma Law | Launching October 7th everywhere you listen to your podcasts. 

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