Join Stef as he sits with Akeen Kidder, aka The Yarn Art Guy, to share how he transformed self-doubt and rainy markets into a thriving creative career. From engineering to yarn portraits of Biggie, Tupac, and Beyoncé, Akeen opens up about failure, growth, and building community through art. This episode is part of The Forgotten Ones, an 8 part series on the Dead Man Walking Podcast

"The Forgotten Ones" A special series where we revisit guests whose stories were recorded but never released—until now. Months later, we sit back down to reflect on what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how life keeps moving even when the cameras stop.

Link to the Forgotten Ones Episode:

Spotify

Youtube

Follow him on Instagram: ⁠@yarnartguy ⁠

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Episode Breakdown

• Trailer
• Meet Akeen: The Yarn Art Guy
• From canceled shows to meaningful projects
• Believing in yourself when things go wrong
• Website struggles & Instagram wins
• How Akeen improved through public failure
• Discovering a new artform: Why yarn?
• A rant on chasing trends vs. building a real community
• Shifting identity: From engineer to artist
• The vision for yarn art & the Black Icon series
• Final thoughts on creativity and finding your thing
• How to support & connect with Akeen