He arrived in the Netherlands at age 8 with nothing but a violin. Three refugee camps later, he taught himself Photoshop from forums, started freelancing at 15, and ended up directing visuals for Chris Brown, G-Eazy and Riff Raff, working alongside Sam Feldt and Ed Sheeran.

Besides his celebrity client list, his pink glitter basketball ended up on Times Square and later got bought from Drake's father. He calls this chapter of his life "the beginning."

This is the story of Dzanar Abbas-Zade.

We get into how he went from grinding behind a computer to becoming the secret weapon behind some of the biggest names in the industry. How he got his first big break by offering to work for free. How a rare condition where he sees colors and shapes when he hears music became his creative superpower and why he walked away from the A-list client work to launch his own art.

And if you stick around until the end he also shares one one underrated trick he says most creatives completely overlook when trying to work with bigger names.

This is a conversation about obsession, timing, courage, and what it actually takes to get in the room.

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) The most underrated trick in the creative industry

(02:43) From refugee camp to VIP parties

(07:21) Arriving in the Netherlands with nothing

(08:21) Teaching himself everything from a computer

(10:22) How obsession turns into a career

(14:22) First music videos and the EDM scene

(17:41) What made his work different from everyone else

(19:21) Working with Sanfeldt before he was famous

(21:43) Should creatives work for free?

(23:55) His rare condition: seeing colors when hearing music

(26:47) How he approaches a creative project

(27:48) Why creativity loves silence

(34:15) His favorite project: G-Eazy NFT collection

(36:18) What it's like collaborating with A-list artists

(38:13) The shift from client work to his own art

(39:09) Launching his first exhibition during COVID

(40:06) His pink glitter basketball on Times Square

(43:39) The most underrated trick: study the art of language

(45:35) It's not luck. It's timing.

(46:31) Advice for young creatives

(47:50) Three final questions

Connect with Dzanar:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dzanar/

Website: https://dzanar.com/

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarcusengel/

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories!

Today we speak with Sophie-Anne Onland, about the challenges and opportunity for disability representation. Born with a limb difference, Sophie shares her personal journey of growing up with a disability, the challenges she faced, and how she overcame them to become a voice for change.

Key Topics Discussed:

- Sophie's early life and the role her parents played in encouraging her to live without limits.

- The lack of representation of people with disabilities in media and how it affected her self-esteem.

- The pivotal moment that led Sophie to embrace her disability and become more open about it.

- The importance of good representation and how it can impact individuals' self-worth and societal inclusion.

-Sophie's transition from hiding her disability to becoming a public speaker and advocate.

-The founding of her Agency Ninety-nine aimed at increasing the visibility and representation of people with disabilities in media and advertising.

- Practical advice for brands on how to authentically represent people with disabilities.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:38 - The importance of representation

01:51 - Growing up without role models

04:12 - Sophie's early life and family support

06:00 - Teenage years and growing insecurities

07:51 - The energy spent on hiding and adjusting

10:43 - Nature vs. nurture: Sophie's positive mindset

13:13 - The impact of disability on personal growth

17:47 - The societal approach to disabilities

21:14 - Acceptance and self-worth

23:22 - Sophie's journey to self-acceptance

28:45 - The role of social media and finding role models

33:07 - Sophie's content journey and mission

36:43 - Founding the agency Ninety-Nine

42:03 - What brands get wrong about representation

47:03 - The future of disability representation in media

Connect with Sophie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieonland/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-anne-onland-27978449/

Agency: https://www.instagram.com/ninetynine_agency/

Follow Me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarcusengel/

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories!

#DisabilityRepresentation #Inclusion #Podcast #Inspiration #Sophie #RepresentationMatters #Diversity #Acceptance #SelfWorth #MediaRepresentation

Trauma isn’t just caused by extreme events like war, accidents, or abuse. In this episode, trauma psychologist Caroline Middelsdorf explains trauma as invisible wounds, experiences that overwhelmed the nervous system and were never fully processed.

We explore why trauma often goes unrecognized, how the mind can forget while the body remembers, and why many people live in survival mode for years without realizing it. Caroline breaks down common trauma responses, including people-pleasing, hypervigilance, anxiety, emotional exhaustion or burnout and explains why these patterns often surface later in life.

A central theme of this conversation is shame. Shame is one of the most overlooked trauma responses and one of the biggest blocks to healing. We discuss how shame develops, why it keeps people stuck, and how healing requires more than awareness alone, it requires nervous system regulation, emotional safety, and integration.

This episode also covers:

- Childhood trauma and emotional neglect

- Big T vs small t trauma

- Dissociation and body memory

- Why trauma symptoms often appear in your late 20s or 30s

- The stages of healing emotional wounds

- How to support a partner who has experienced trauma

- What to look for (and avoid) in a therapist

If you’ve ever felt constantly on edge, emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected from your body, or ashamed without knowing why, this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface.

This episode is for education and reflection. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional mental health care.

About the guest

Caroline Middelsdorf is a trauma psychologist specializing in nervous system regulation, emotional trauma, and healing chronic stress responses. She shares educational content on trauma, shame, and healing across multiple platforms.

📌 Caroline’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemiddelsdorf/?hl=en

🎙️ Caroline’s podcast Real, Raw and Authentic: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtk43vLV-ch0nuKEhO4iXMA

Timestamps:

00:00 – What Trauma Really Is (And Why We Get It Wrong)

04:15 – Invisible Wounds & Childhood Trauma

09:00 – How Trauma Shows Up Later in Life

17:30 – Why the Mind Forgets but the Body Remembers

25:40 – Survival Mode, Burnout & Anxiety

36:45 – Shame: The Most Overlooked Trauma Response

45:20 – Why Awareness Alone Doesn’t Heal Trauma

53:10 – The Hardest Part of Healing

01:01:30 – How to Support a Partner with Trauma

01:08:35 – Who You Become After Healing

01:12:15 – Message for Anyone Feeling Broken