Ep 85: Free Hugs Project with Ken Nwadike Jr.
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Ep 85: Free Hugs Project with Ken Nwadike Jr.
Episode 85: Show Notes
Kenneth E. Nwadike, Jr. is an American documentary filmmaker, motivational speaker, and peace activist popularly known as the Free Hugs Guy. Ken is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, which gained popularity as he made major news headlines for his peacekeeping efforts and de-escalation of violence during protests, riots, and political rallies.
In today’s episode, Ken shares some insight into his upbringing, from playing with his favorite toy, a Lamborghini Countach Micro Machine, to sleeping in homeless shelters to a full track and field scholarship, and how he came to recognize the power of his story to inspire others.
Tuning in, you’ll learn how he managed to shut down Hollywood Boulevard for 10,000 runners, why he believes that it was fate that he missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon by just a few seconds, and the story behind the viral moment when he hugged a white police officer in riot gear at the Charlotte protests following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in 2016, plus so much more!
Ken’s courageous work as a peace activist is helping to heal and narrow the social, political, and racial divide that exists throughout the US and his energy, passion, and love are changing individual behaviors and group interactions for the better.
His story is an example of how every single hardship that we face, almost without exception, will one day come into play when we eventually find our purpose, so make sure to tune in today to learn more about the Free Hugs Guy and the power of love in the face of fear and hatred!
Key Points From This Episode:
Ken reflects on his favorite childhood toy: a Lamborghini Countach Micro Machine.
He shares his experience of living in homeless shelters with his mom and his four siblings.
Gain some insight into Ken’s upbringing as the child of Nigerian immigrants.
The emphasis his mother placed on education and family pride as he was growing up.
How closely Ken guarded his shelter life and the community he found with other kids there.
Why he says that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is his favorite book of all time.
What being on his high school track team taught him about unity and self-sufficiency.
What Ken means when he says he was literally “running away from homelessness.”
Hear about his idea of success at the time and what led him to want to practice law.
Recognizing the power of his story and how it could inspire others and becoming a peer mentor to homeless youth.
How a conversation about ‘big goals’ led Ken to shut down Hollywood Boulevard for a race.
The story behind the party bus company he started while running track with the Nike team.
Find out why the Hollywood Half Marathon ultimately became Superhero Events.
How the Boston Marathon bombing impacted Ken and the Free Hugs Project was born.
Why Ken believes it was fate that he missed qualifying for the Boston Marathon by seconds.
The shift from feel-good Free Hugs to Free Hugs in the face of violence and injustice.
Hear the story behind the viral moment when Ken hugged a police officer on the frontlines in Charlotte amid protests in 2016.
How Ken leverages the privilege he’s been afforded to educate police officers about race.
His advice for young protesters: get out of there as soon as it’s no longer peaceful!
Learn how Ken views success these days; it comes in phases, not all at once.
Tweetables:
“Still, till today – and I'll be 40-years-old next month – if anyone asks, ‘What's your favorite book?’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, hands down, because it's one book that really came to life for me at a really difficult time.” — @KenNwadikeJr [0:22:07]
“That was my idea of success, was actually coming out of homelessness, getting to college, going to law school.” — @KenNwadikeJr [0:33:23]
“I knew that, like that guy who used to come down and read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to me, [I wanted] to be a version of that. My first job ever was a peer mentor to homeless youth, literally back at the same shelters that I grew up in.” — @KenNwadikeJr [0:37:38]
“Free Hugs for Runners just makes sense. We're going to go out there and run, but we're going to be ambassadors of love when we go out and run [the Boston Marathon]. Most importantly, we're going to show that we're not scared of your acts of terror.” — @KenNwadikeJr [1:03:03]
“If everything becomes virtual and we're not hugging each other, we're not high-fiving each other and forming these real friendships, we don't really know how to act when we're around people. That came to life for me at that time, which really started to shift my work.” — @KenNwadikeJr [1:13:36]
“Can we bridge the gap and create some peace between this white officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, and this Black peace activist who ultimately just wants peace and to get people together to talk about the issues rather than attacking one another? So, I hugged him.” — @KenNwadikeJr [1:22:23]
“Now, I view success incrementally. It comes in phases. People always feel like, ‘When I reach this point in my life, I'm successful.’ I've been successful numerous times, and you just reinvent yourself all over again.” — @KenNwadikeJr [1:38:23]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Kenneth Nwadike Jr. on LinkedIn
Kenneth Nwadike Jr. on Twitter
Kenneth Nwadike Jr. on Instagram