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In this episode, I chat with Jeba, founder of Beast Mode Media and BTS Brunch Club, about the realities of building a creative career. We dive into the importance of community, cultural identity, and resilience while unpacking the challenges of balancing authenticity, self-care, and ambition. Jeba shares her journey, insights on empowering underrepresented creatives, and the beauty in embracing the messy, behind-the-scenes side of creativity. How do you stay in your creative “beast mode...
Bold voices. Messy journeys. Zero apologies.
A Podcast about Empowering Creatives, Embracing Uniqueness & Redefining Success
Creatively Eccentric is a podcast about radically redefining what it means to be a creative in a world that still prefers conformity — where unapologetically bold, unconventional, and underrepresented creators get real about breaking rules, navigating rejection, and carving out success on their own terms.
Too many creatives feel pressure to fit into narrow industry boxes that don’t reflect who they are.
The creative industry still upholds gatekeeping, homogeneity, and burnout culture.
There’s a lack of platforms that celebrate messy, multi-passionate, neurodivergent, and culturally diverse creators who are doing things differently.
Join Graphic Designer and host Heather Ebanks, who will be offering honest solo reflection episodes, alongside conversations with talented creatives, and practical tools for thriving outside the traditional path.
Creatively Eccentric doesn’t ask you to “find your niche” or play to the algorithm — it encourages you to build a career by being more of yourself.
Jeba (00:00)
name is Jeba and I am the founder of Beast Mode Media and BTS Brunch Club.
being from an Asian background, jobs like this are not seen as jobs. They just seem like, God, here she goes again with something, something gone and done something else. They don't take it
But now I think because of where I am now in, my career, my family are very much like,
Heather Ebanks (00:24)
Yeah.
Jeba (00:32)
She actually has done it.
Heather Ebanks (00:41)
Feeling underrepresented or boxed in by others' expectations? In this episode, we dive deep into the bold and unapologetic journey of Jeba Nessa, a creative director who didn't wait for permission to be seen. She flipped cultural doubt into creative fuel, not just building her own platforms, but forging spaces where others could thrive. We uncover what it really takes to go from being overlooked
to building your own table. That makes space for people who look and sound like you. Her path wasn't lined with easy wins, it was carved out through unpaid gigs and the raw courage to walk away from anything that didn't align with her values. Join us as Jeba opens up about launching her business. We talk about pushing past fear, challenging the idea that content isn't a real job. And she explains why representation isn't optional, it's essential.
Jeba (01:32)
BTS Brunch Club has been running for it's it's the third month now. It's kind of happened because of Beast Mode Media and I was filming at these events and majority of them were like brand community events. the first one I ever did, there was a gap. I needed content for my own page,
I was filming for this brand. But in order for my business to grow and for people to know about me, I also need content of my there's, there's something missing here. There needs to be a community where people can work together and collaborate with each other without having like a big budget. Because when you knew you don't have a big budget, you've, got nothing. So you need people on the same.
on the same journey at the same level so that you can both work together or a few of you work together in order to kind of help each other as you're starting out and going on that journey.
Heather Ebanks (02:32)
sounds really interesting. I think it's going to be really exciting. It'll be interesting to see which direction you take it. there's a question that I ask my guests in the beginning. When you hear the following bold voices, messy journeys, zero apologies, what part of your story immediately springs to mind when you hear that?
Jeba (02:51)
So messy journey, I'm still on a messy journey. I feel like the whole journey is going to be messy because the work is around communities, it's around social media, things are forever changing. So you have to adapt to it. So your journey is always going to be quite messy. ⁓ You know, you think you're getting into something.
Heather Ebanks (02:54)
Hahaha
Hmm.
Yes.
Jeba (03:13)
And then something changes, I don't know, something on Instagram or TikTok or the algorithm changes and you're like, need that content anymore. I need a different type of content or I need to start doing something differently. you have to keep up with to keep yourself relevant. It's a lot. So the journey is forever messy, because you're constantly growing from that as well.
Heather Ebanks (03:26)
It's a lot. Yeah, exactly.
Jeba (03:35)
It is good as much as it can be annoying sometimes because you've created some content and then like, actually, no, we don't like that kind of content. You need to film something else.
Heather Ebanks (03:44)
it's just forever a rollercoaster ride and social media, it's ups and downs and you think, I relevant? If I'm not relevant, cancel culture. It's just, yeah, it's a lot. Sometimes it's like, it's a double-edged sword really. You think I need to do it, It's a big learning curve and you have to like, as a creative, you have to constantly, adjust, but at the same time be true to yourself.
Jeba (04:01)
Yeah
Heather Ebanks (04:07)
was curious actually, you called it the beast. What's the origin story behind the title of beast in beast mode?
Jeba (04:14)
So,
I'm a very straightforward talking person, like super honest, sometimes probably quite savage sometimes, but it comes from a good place. is super important. And if you've got something to say, you need to say it. And I always think as well, if you don't ask, you'll never get.
So your work ethic has to be that beast mode. You have to go and get it because nobody's giving it to you. And if you sit in the background, nobody's looking at you. Nobody's looking for you. You need to make sure you are at the front and you are the best at what you do. It takes a long time to get there, but you have to be brutal. You have to be savage. You have to want it so bad. where the beast mode name comes from.
Heather Ebanks (04:36)
Mm-hmm.
Mm.
Hmm.
Jeba (05:02)
It's a mindset. You have that beast mode mindset. Otherwise, you won't get anywhere, especially in social media and content creation. It's such a saturated place that you have to make yourself stand out and you have to put yourself in places where you're going to be seen and heard. Otherwise, you'll just fall behind. You won't.
Heather Ebanks (05:02)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Hmm.
Jeba (05:23)
Nobody will know about you, you have to make people know about you.
Heather Ebanks (05:27)
Yeah, I understand that because, if you're introverts or, you've got to try and find a way to, get out there and how do you do that? And, you that's probably one of reasons why I started this podcast, you know, to be more visible and especially, people of color or, you know, underrepresented creatives, they have to have a voice. And I think it sounds like that's what you're doing with beast mode, because you definitely sound like you've got a good community going from what I've seen.
Jeba (05:34)
Yeah.
Yeah, and that is down to networking. I'm generally quite a shy person. I won't talk to people until they talk to me first. I am quite shy until I get to know people. And I needed to come out of that mindset. So I started going to networking events. And you go on your own because your friends don't do the same job as you and they're not interested in doing that kind of stuff.
Heather Ebanks (05:57)
Hmm.
Mm.
Hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah
Jeba (06:19)
So you're just like, gosh, you really have to come out of your comfort zone. been to one, you're like, ⁓ I've done it. That wasn't too bad, it's okay. And then the more you do it, the more you do it, the better you just become at it and it becomes a natural thing. I'm not saying I'm never nervous going, I'm always nervous going to any but once you're there, because you have done it before, you just feel.
Okay, I've done it. Once you're in the door, you're in the door. That's it. There's no going back then. So yeah, it takes time, but I think it is super important for people to network with others. And you you just never know who you meet. And these networking events have massively given me opportunities that I would never have come across that in my own home or going, you know, to places that weren't for me.
Heather Ebanks (06:47)
Hmm. ⁓
Yeah.
Mm. ⁓
Mm-hmm.
I think there was probably a time when creatives, including myself, where you wait for that opportunity to come to you and not go out to seek it. And I can see that networking events is probably one of the things that is one way, like you said, to get out and speak to complete strangers, even though you might feel petrified or nervous. Like I think a few months ago I did public speaking. Well, you know, what did I do? I head butted the mic, know, tripped over my words. Yeah, that went.
Jeba (07:38)
⁓
Heather Ebanks (07:40)
went down well, but nobody really noted this, laughed it off. But you have to put yourself out there, at the end of the day, but I'll get it. It's nerve wracking, but like you say, practice makes perfect and we'll get there in the end.
Jeba (07:51)
Yeah, exactly.
I there's there's a quote that I always remember when in situations like that, is looking at you as much as you are looking at yourself. Nobody cares. And it same thing goes for like social media. know, people are scared of posting things. People are seeing so much and they're so bothered about themselves that they're really not that bothered about you. Only you bother so much about.
what you look like, what you sound like, know, they do not care. They don't.
Heather Ebanks (08:22)
this is another reason for this podcast is just to say it's unapologetic. It'd be bold to speak your voice and don't worry about what people think. I remember you were mentioning one of your social media posts about was it world backup day? You back up data
Jeba (08:27)
Yeah.
Heather Ebanks (08:40)
You know, make sure that you don't lose your files, And, as a creator, you help to others protect their work. Can you share a time when someone backed you up as a creative and how they supported you or impacted you?
Jeba (08:53)
Oh, so I think in the early days as a creative, especially in content creation, you do have to do some free work. because you're new, nobody knows what your style is like, nobody knows about you really, you're still up and coming. At the beginning, you really have to do...
Heather Ebanks (09:12)
Mm.
Jeba (09:18)
some free work, don't expect to be paid all the time. So my career as a content creator started with UGC. So that's basically where brands will send you products and you make content for them. Sometimes you can be in it or sometimes it can be just product based. At the beginning, I used to accept like free items as payment. But as you know, products do not pay your bills.
And at the day, we all have bills to pay. That's why we work anyway. yeah, I was expecting accepting free products as a payment. But you've got to do that at the beginning. And I think, you know, working with brands, the more you work with them, you do the free time for a little while, but then you've got to have them conversations of, you know, experiences.
You know, I'm more in demand. I've got more experience. I've got more followers, Your engagement is good. You have to have that conversation. So at the beginning, I would say a lot of brands helped me just by giving me free products, you know, and believing in me and you know, yeah, we will give you this. We're not paying you, but we will give you this in order for you to make some content, which is great for my portfolio as well.
⁓ as well as providing content for them. So I, yeah, I would say a lot of brands helped me. They probably don't know that they helped me and it probably doesn't feel like they just giving me that, that opportunity to create for them is what set me up to be where I am now, where I do get paid for content. it's taken me there. So yeah, I would say it was at the beginning that, that believed in my zero
Heather Ebanks (10:59)
Mm.
Jeba (11:06)
engagement, know, zero experience.
Heather Ebanks (11:07)
Yeah. Mm.
Jeba (11:09)
They're the ones who really helped me.
Heather Ebanks (11:10)
Yeah,
I think they probably saw your beast mode kind of mentality and went, ⁓ she's interesting. I think she's got something that, we could, work and collaborate with. that definitely seems to be working. you also got a brunch club. Is there anything else that you're doing that's, on top of everything else?
Jeba (11:29)
yeah, BTS Brunch Club is months old now, but Beast Mode Media, we're coming up to like two and a half years, I did a lot of content creation like for UGC. So yeah, I've got in total, I'd say around six years experience in content creation. the BTS Brunch Club came about
Heather Ebanks (11:40)
Mm-hmm.
Jeba (11:48)
few months back, it's an idea I have had for a long time from, beginning my brand and events, content creation journey. that very first event that I went to, I was like, there's a gap here. There's something that needs to be done about create new up and coming creatives working together, where there's not really money involved because nobody's to spare to pay someone to film for
So yeah, so the BTS brunch club came about three months ago and they're monthly brunch clubs for creatives or anyone who's looking for a creative to work for them or with them You could be a brand owner, you know, looking for someone to film at one of your events or film some of your products. For your social media, you can just come and meet people, get to know each other, see if you can work together and go off and...
create something yeah, it's going really well. And we have some bigger events coming up soon to showcase talent and some events to help creatives with the wellness side of it, you know, to manage a lot of have a full-time job. So they do this on the side while they're still getting, you know, getting known and getting
Heather Ebanks (13:01)
Mm.
Jeba (13:05)
experience. How do you manage that? How do you manage your time? How do you manage your well-being, your mental health, all that kind of stuff? So we have got some bigger events coming up to help creatives on their journey.
Heather Ebanks (13:05)
Yeah.
Hmm.
It's great because I know with some communities, they can just do only so much, you're kind of going a bit further by not just saying, okay, we're here to come together, but you're also kind of helping with their mental health as well. Or even if you're not doing that directly, you're supporting them in whatever they are doing. And that sounds something that creatives need and people who are, coming together, even they have to be a creative to join. But I think
feeling that part of unity sounds like it seems that a lot of people need to do that more you're doing a lot of work that way and so how's the community supporting each other? Is it something that you want to take further or develop beyond the brunch club?
Jeba (14:02)
Yeah, I think so. think the brunch clubs are great people have a good time, enjoy some good food. it's more of a social thing and a networking thing. But I think going forward, do the reason I wanted to help other creatives is because I know what that feels like as creative career and path.
has come quite late in life. Like I'm 41 and I only started about six years ago, whereas most creators tend to be like in their 20s, know, quite young. And for me, I struggled with a lot of things. there isn't that support for new people. Everybody wants to work with someone who's already established. want to work with someone who's up and coming. It's lucky if...
a brand says, actually, we see something in you. You might be new, but we would like to encourage you and work with So for me, it's I'm basically passing on the things that I've learned in my journey. think I've come to a point now where I'm in a good space, you know, doing well, all that kind of stuff. And I've the barriers that along the way. you're
overwhelm managing a full-time job as well as doing this on the side, know, make sure you get burned out, make sure you're I've learned all that and I've worked my way through it, I think it's important to pass that on new creatives to say, I've done the struggle, like I don't want you to struggle, I want to help you and do it the
Heather Ebanks (15:19)
Mm.
Jeba (15:39)
the best way you can and look after it's tough and you have to be very resilient and you have to have that mindset. So if I can help people along their journey, the help that I didn't really get or I didn't know where to look for I wanna be that person who's able to help them as an older person and as a person of color as well. different ball game for us.
Heather Ebanks (15:43)
Hmm
Mm. Mm.
Jeba (16:02)
I think.
Heather Ebanks (16:03)
That sounds really good, because like you said, as older creatives, including myself and this, that I've seen so many different communities and over the years, it was a lot harder, definitely for us and who looks like us. And I was about to ask you, how has your identity and your culture created and helped you shape the way you show up in your work?
Jeba (16:18)
Yeah.
I think so being from an Asian background, jobs like this are not seen as jobs. They just seem like, God, here she goes again with something They don't take it serious. I think because of where I am now in, my career, my family are very much like,
She actually has done it. She's done this hobby we thought was a joke and you know, actually gone and done it. So it serious. But I don't know if you know, if it's the same for you, but all they ever want you to be is a doctor or a lawyer that they think they're the only jobs that you can ever do be successful and like, you know, to make good money and things like that. no, there's a whole world like
Creatives can make so much more than a doctor and a lawyer can, like they're caps at what they can make, but creatives, the work that they can do and the lifestyle that they can can go way beyond anything a doctor could make. know what I It just seems to be a thing that is massive and is just forever growing.
Heather Ebanks (17:25)
Mm.
Yeah, I think even the non so called non creative jobs like doctors, lawyers, they are creative in their own way. your family means well, and they want the best for you. But if you can't follow your heart, and if it's being a creative and, doing the beast mode that you've naturally inside of you, why not just, look, you've, you've done it for many years, you've done all the nine to five jobs, I'm sure you've
You've learned a lot from them, but I think you're in the part of your life where you just need to focus on yourself. The more you focus on yourself, you're not being selfish. more, you're going to give the hundred percent best of you that you you truly are. And it sounds like you're doing that. And I can see even in the short period of time you've been working in your business, it looks like it's slowly but surely going to be a successful one.
Jeba (18:16)
is actually wild. Like I studied forensic science at university all because my teachers from secondary school, from college and my family were like, oh, science is the way to go. You know, that's going to be such a good job. And I did it and I enjoyed it at the best time. And, know, I worked in the NHS. I still work in the NHS part time. So like that was
Heather Ebanks (18:21)
Hmm.
Mmm.
Hmm.
Okay.
Jeba (18:42)
It was just something that kind of, it wasn't what I wanted. I always knew it wasn't what I wanted because when I was at secondary school, lucky for me, I was academic, but I was also very creative. I have two GCSEs in art. I took one early because I had that creativeness inside me. But then as I got older, you know, going to college and you have to make them decisions of what you want to do. And I was just kind of...
Heather Ebanks (18:56)
Okay
Mm-hmm.
you
Jeba (19:10)
I wouldn't say forced, but encouraged to go more towards the science route. And I did, and I did all that and, got a job in the NHS, all that kind of stuff. But then in later life, when you actually know yourself a little bit better and you've got, the thing inside you, like to say, look, you need to do what you want to do. Like, you've got the courage to do that. And that's where...
Heather Ebanks (19:15)
Mm-hmm.
Jeba (19:36)
the whole creative side came from and that's why I'm where I'm at now. Like it's taken that long. But you know what, in a way I'm kind of glad because you know yourself so much better. You know exactly what you want. And in a short period of time I've been able to get what I want because I knew who I was. And I think that's probably the most important part for you to figure out.
Heather Ebanks (19:58)
Only you can live your life. And ⁓ that's definitely, definitely the case. Obviously with all this going on and you've got a business and you look into the future and you start in an exciting career.
Jeba (19:59)
now.
Heather Ebanks (20:11)
Is there any like habits or tools when you want to reset and make sure that you're looking after yourself, you know, before you go to that burnout place, is there anything that you do to get back to yourself when everything gets crazy?
Jeba (20:27)
I always have one day a month that is for me, whether that's just to sit at home and watch TV all day long and just not work, not see I consciously, I've done this for quite a few years actually. There's one day in a month that I will do whatever I want to do, whether that be stay at home or go out or go to the cinema, but I'm on my own. need.
that time on my own and I really enjoy my own company. it's funny people like you actually do love your own company. yeah, I do. I can go on holiday on my own. I qualms about doing anything on my own. So yeah, I always, think for me in order to just sit back and you know, not completely burn out is have one of them days, watch trashy TV, watch a film or just go out and do something.
not work related. You don't have to socialize. You don't have to talk to people. It's just you. And if you want to spend the day in silence all day, can. that is ideally weekly is better, but I know life is life. Once a month at least, just try and do that or take yourself out somewhere. And if you can go on holiday, take yourself away from everything and have a full.
break of at days where you're not working, you're not worrying about work, about work, just try and switch off. I'm quite good really to, I don't think I've ever suffered burnout but I don't know if that's because I just keep going and I never actually stop. never really.
I don't think I've suffered it anyway, but I may people that just keeps going and can keep going. I know it's not the same for everybody, my advice would definitely be if you need to take a break, take that break. Everything will still be there when you come back, whether it's a week, a day hours, it'll still be there. People can wait.
Heather Ebanks (22:26)
Exactly. And like you said, they probably go, ⁓ were you away for a week? I didn't know. Because people are so busy and they haven't life's busy them. especially on social media, And next thing you know, it's like, nothing's changed. It's still the
Jeba (22:40)
Yeah, exactly. And if people are looking for you, I think it's probably also a good idea to put on your socials or let them know in advance. holiday from this date to this date. There'll be no will get responded to when I come back. Just make it clear then people know how did you they know. And yeah, you get the odd person. They'll try and call you. They'll try and send you an email.
Heather Ebanks (22:56)
Mm-mm.
Jeba (23:02)
Just don't respond because you've told them can be angry about that.
Heather Ebanks (23:06)
Exactly. Yeah, you mentioned about that it can be a lot of BS in that world and there's lots of people canceling everybody. so what kind of advice would you give a creative who is trying to juggle, trying to be given so much of themselves in social media, but at the same time be true to themselves and try and please their target audience? There's so much going on. How do you...
balance all of that especially on social media.
Jeba (23:33)
Yeah, I think it takes a long time to get there because you think you have to make content for everyone and you really don't. The one thing I would always say is be true to yourself, to your morals, to your ethics, to your beliefs, like really just be authentic and your followers and your clients will naturally come to you because you are who you say you are.
You can't please everyone, you never will. In real media, you just never will. People like you or they won't like you, but as long as you are you, the right people will come in terms clients, everything like that, everything. You will attract the right people. And I truly believe that pretending to, you know...
be a certain person or live a certain life or you're trying to impress certain people in order to be able to work with them or get to know them. It's just never gonna work. It may work for a little period of time, but then eventually the truth comes out. How can you keep that up? Because it's not you, you're playing a part to different people. So you'll be one person to one person.
Heather Ebanks (24:34)
Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
Jeba (24:47)
you'll be another person to another person. Like it's just not sustainable. And if anything is going to give you stress, it's that because you're pretending to be someone else. I think I probably don't feel overwhelmed and stressed and anxiety so much because I am who I am. And if you like me, you like me, if you don't, then I'm really not bothered. Like I'm really not bothered. I'm not here for entertainment, to entertain other people. I'm just here to do what I need to be doing.
Heather Ebanks (25:14)
Hmm.
Jeba (25:15)
and who I am. And I think when I did UGC work, I still do UGC work now, but I think at the beginning, brands would approach you and say, oh, can you promote this? Can you for this? And for a short period of time, I did do it. I was accepting anything to try and get that work. But then I thought to myself, no, you can't do this. You can't start using things that...
don't suit you, you know, it's not for you just to make content or just to get you know, like you and work with you. Things have got to fit into your life. So now I only with brands that I genuinely have tried for a period of time first to see if I actually like it. The product, you know, is good for me, is something that I would use in my day to day life anyway.
Heather Ebanks (25:59)
Mm.
Jeba (26:06)
the brands, their ethics, their morals, how they stand, do they align with mine? If they don't, then I won't work with them. And I think it's really important for people to be confident enough to say no and really be you and just work with brands and really are for you. mirror your ethics and the way that you want
how you want to be known. You've got to remember like this, if you're especially a content creator, you are out there for life. You're going to put one thing out and that is there for life. You can't take that away. So you've got to remember like that's your legacy. Like what, what do you want to out there? And are you happy with what you're putting out there? That important to remember.
Heather Ebanks (26:54)
Yeah, like you were saying, it's a case of trying to be true to yourself, I think the stronger you are, and I think that there was respect you more if you stand to your morals and stick to your guns with regards to who you believe in because, and to be honest, you don't want to appeal to everybody, like you say, if I'm not for you, like you said, there's the way of ⁓
Jeba (27:05)
Yeah.
Heather Ebanks (27:15)
dumbing yourself down or, buying products or testing products that you don't believe in.
when you're a creative, you've got a messy drawer.
So this is called Studio Draw, which is a play on words, draw creativity. You know, there's always something that you want to hide in the background when you're working creatively. what's the most ridiculous thing in your studio or workplace right now? Why is it there?
Jeba (27:44)
Is this, okay, I'm gonna be truly honest. now, in my living room where I'm sat now, there is a suitcase on the floor of the living room open. Half my holiday things are out. Some of it has been washed, the laundry, but some bits are still in the suitcase and the suitcase is just sat in my living room. Yeah, that is ridiculous thing that's there.
Heather Ebanks (28:08)
How long have you been back? A few days?
Jeba (28:10)
Three days. Three days. No, it's fourth. It's the fourth day today. And yeah, it's still there. This is what life is like behind the scenes. It's chaotic. No, it's chaotic. I've been so busy since I've been back that I've only managed to do the laundry, the holiday laundry. But some of the equipment, like I take little bits of equipment with me. like toiletries and things like that, they just
Heather Ebanks (28:20)
No one's judging you, we've all done it.
Jeba (28:35)
They just sat there because I'm not at time to put them away. It is what it is.
Heather Ebanks (28:39)
Well,
I think I was watching something on the other day and on YouTube and there are services you can get hired someone to do it and they come over, wash your clothes and return it to you the next day. So it's not sponsored by the way.
Jeba (28:52)
Yeah, I actually have a
cleaner and she came on Tuesday before landed on Saturday. So she has a key, so she lets herself in and she always says like, what do want me to do and things like that. So she does everything before I come back. So it's all nice and tidy when I come back. But the minute I walked in, open the case, everything's everywhere. And I could...
Heather Ebanks (28:59)
⁓
Mm-hmm. ⁓
Jeba (29:16)
quite easily ask her to come and help me but I just say no Jebba don't be lazy to do these things yourself like you can't rely on other people completely there's certain things you've got to do for yourself and my mum she already hates the fact that I have a cleaner and you know I don't cook I get meal prep delivered she's like Jebba you don't do anything for yourself but I do but I'm also very busy like you don't understand how busy I am well I do try I think things like that keep you humble don't they?
to do things for yourself and you need to keep yourself humble because otherwise you can quite easily go off the rails but no, I try and do a lot of things myself as well. I know I don't have the time but I really have to make the time to do stuff, everyday normal stuff, know, spend time with your family, time with your friends, do your domestic duties that you have to do at home.
Maybe not all of it, but little bits to just keep yourself on the ground.
Heather Ebanks (30:14)
what is something in your desk that you create with that you can't do without?
Jeba (30:20)
What can I do without? I would say my tripod I can't do without my iPad. Yeah, they're the two things. Yeah.
Heather Ebanks (30:27)
Mm-hmm. Yep, sounds about right.
What is the weirdest source of inspiration that you've ever used in a project?
Jeba (30:39)
it is.
I think with the work that I do, it's quite, I wouldn't say rigid, but I know what to expect all the time. And it's quite a set format, if you will, when it comes to filming, whether that's UGC or filming for events and brands, they all have a very similar format.
Heather Ebanks (30:51)
Mm.
Jeba (30:59)
I'm also given like shot lists and things like that. So it's quite standard in a way. So yeah, There's one thing that I did see on, I think it was on TikTok or Instagram of how to hold your phone to do a point of view piece of content. So it was basically you have your mobile phone, you say you've got a t-shirt on.
Heather Ebanks (31:18)
Okay.
Jeba (31:24)
You have your mobile phone, you take it out of its cover, then you click the cover back on, but with the t-shirt sandwiched in between the phone and the cover so that it sits, the phone will sit on your chest and then you can film, but then use both your hands. So you've not got a tripod, you're not using your hand. It's just attached to you and then you can do your content. I do remember doing a UGC piece like that.
Heather Ebanks (31:33)
Right.
What?
Jeba (31:52)
So yeah, that's probably quite a strange thing to do. Well, I took inspiration from someone else that had posted that that's what they were doing. I thought, actually, that's not a bad idea because I don't have a brace thing to hold my phone. So I'll just cut it to my t-shirt. Yeah, it worked out quite well.
Heather Ebanks (31:56)
Yeah, it-
Hmm, yeah.
people who are listening to this, what do you hope people feel or remember after engaging with you when they work with you?
Jeba (32:17)
I think I would like people to remember me as...
quite inspirational, not like in like an egotistical way, but in the fact that you can actually do anything. It doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter what colour you are, it doesn't matter what kind of background you come from. You can actually do anything if you put your mind to it and you get yourself in that mode of this is what I want to do. You can do it. Like if I can do it, I feel like anyone can do it. I'm just a regular person.
Heather Ebanks (32:31)
Mm.
Jeba (32:51)
who was able to set my mind onto something and something that was always in me, but I was always stayed kind of away from by other people. But 40 years on, I've come back and decided this is what I want to do. I'm confident enough now as an adult when you know yourself better that you can do it. And I want younger people to be like, you know what, she can do it.
I can do it, whether I do it now or maybe I can do it in 10 years time. I can do it because she can do it. I am just a normal person that was able to do it. So yeah, that's what I would like people to remember me by.
Heather Ebanks (33:33)
if anybody who wants to reach out to you, how would they do that by your social channels and how will they best support you in your business?
Jeba (33:40)
my Instagram handle is beast.mode.media. So you can give me a follow on there. All my contacts are on there as well. So like my email address, my website and my telephone number. So if you are looking for a UGC creator or you want some advice.
on how to become a creator or you're a brand or you're holding an event and you want someone to come and film for your socials. So it takes that pressure off you. That's where you can find me and contact me. And yeah, I would get back to you.
Heather Ebanks (34:13)
Thank you very much, Jeba
Jeba (34:15)
It's been lovely speaking to
Heather Ebanks (34:22)
Jeba's journey took us from navigating cultural and family expectations to stepping up as a cultural leader and applying underrepresented voices. What stood out most was being underrepresented in the industry while still building authentic, inclusive spaces on her own terms. Like so many of us, she faced cultural pressure, undervalued work, and the exhaustion of always proving herself.
But instead of giving in, she drew a line saying no to what didn't align, using her cultural identity as fuel building networks like BTS Bunch Club that opened doors for others. The result wasn't instant success, it was something more powerful. Rejection turned into redirection, invisibility into impact, persistence and authenticity are what makes Jeba's story relatable.
As you leave this episode, ask yourself, where are you undervaluing your own voice? What boundary could you set this week to protect your creative energy?
Thanks for listening. If this episode changed or inspired you, hit subscribe and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Because bold voices and messy journeys deserve zero apologies.