We’re looking forward to introducing you to Anissa. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Anissa, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I believe integrity is the most important quality because it is the template for everything we do. Integrity shapes the intentions that are carried out with our intelligence and energy. Without integrity at the root, intelligence becomes manipulation. Energy becomes chaos, and vision becomes vanity. People with integrity turn mistakes into discoveries. They choose to be effective rather than egoic. Where most people defend themselves when confronted with their errors, people with integrity transform through them. Error becomes data. Data becomes insight. Insight becomes evolution. With integrity at the core of our affairs on Earth, intelligence becomes guidance. Energy becomes momentum. Creativity becomes contribution, and ambition becomes alignment. In a world where so many of our emotional, intellectual, relational resources can be easily soiled by corruption, integrity becomes an antibody. A protective force. A purifier. Something with the power to become infectious, should we allow it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Anissa! I’ve always been curious human who wants to be many things. My life trajectory has always resisted one lane. I’m a Emmy Award–winning journalist/producer, and Emmy-nominated host spending over a decade cultivating a body of work that spans writing, poetry, acting, producing, radio, stand-up comedy, cannabis culture, and documentary aspirations. I’m devoted samurai to creation, healing, and self-empowerment using storytelling, humor, research, and artistry as my sword to inspire and challenge her audiences.
I graduated this year from California State University San Marcos, majoring in Communications with an academic focus on identity, intercultural communication, feminism, media representation, and philosophy. These fields shape not only my scholarship, but my artistic expression. The way we laugh, how we consume food, media, and each other are all points of interest.
In 2025, my artistry entered a new orbit when I began studying how our sense of smell operates as data — quietly influencing memory, desire, culture, and decision-making. This exploration birthed her scent-based exhibition, Efori: Scent, Disgust, Desire, where she created fragrance blends inspired by places, spaces, and abstract concepts. Its debut in September was wildly successful, followed by a second demonstration in October. The exhibition merges a niche artistic vision with the universal human experience of olfaction, memory, and storytelling. A universal sensory language everyone is fluent in, whether they realize it or not.
Dear reader, if you’ve made it this far and you’re wondering whether I’m a genius, or a nepo baby… rest assured.
It’s the former.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of my earliest memories of harnessing personal power is a tale of playground rejection. One of my 2nd grade classmates and friends one day was playing with another girl in our class. I sought to join them, but my friend, with quite a bit of cutting sass, told me she wanted to play with Elizabeth “by herself”. Although fair desire, her tone gave “Mean Girl”, as if she wanted me to feel that she was rejecting me. For a brief moment, I had a rotten feeling in my tummy. I had already learned not to linger where I’m not wanted, so I opted to play by myself that afternoon! I had the best time ever! I explored parts of the school grounds I’ve never seen before, including this cool relaxing spot I could fit into UNDER the jungle gym with a bunch of really enjoyably smooth rocks. In hindsight, I realize I was “grounding” and “meditating”. A very healthy self soothe I’d say. The next day my friend was ready to play with me, but I told her I had such a good time yesterday I want to play again by myself. She started crying! LOL It showed me how powerful presence, acceptance and solitude can be as well as how powerful my company is. Although it’s an option for me, I don’t have to return someone’s treatment. Choosing myself is a weapon.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell little me that she would flip the %$@* out at who we became! I’d tell her to lean in fully to self love sooner despite external messaging. That the daydreams and night visions of me embodying beauty and confidence, envisioning myself in my own music videos, performing on stage, and being adored for my authenticity is more of a premonition than a pipe dream. I would tell her you’re not “too much”, “too fast”, “ungrateful”, or “lazy”. She’s vibrant af, expressive, brave and a splenic projector who needs more rest and alone time!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
A “fad” is kind of like a form of hypnosis. It’s infectious, not many people resist. Fads encourage people to laugh, judge, and open their wallets more than their minds. Foundational shifts can appear as the enlightening “aha” moments, but also take the shape of rude awakenings. There’s discomfort anddiscord. Some will be deeply offended, or deeply inspired. Sometimes both! Foundational shifts prompt real reflection, not just temporary belonging based on what’s trending. A fad can make you go viral once. a Shift can change your entire bloodline.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I tried to do what I was told, and my bones wouldn’t let me. my soul kept interrupting scripts given to me.
I’m in the field learning to embody what I was born to do, teaching my nervous system that being seen and successful is safe. All of the career moves I made have been to return more and more to the version of myself that lives their purpose while serving as a catalyst for others to realize theirs. In my case, I achieve this carrying out life as AI- Authentic Intelligence. Operating as a divine disruptor led by integrity and instincts with the intent to inspire, inform, and delight! I was born to have such a way with creative material. With words, visuals, fashion, etc. and in turn let those things have their way with me. I was born to harness the creative, connective, and transformative prowess of unusual things and translate them into the familiar. My latest efforts in doing so resulted a scent based art exhibition called Efori: Scent, Disgust, Desire, where I use fragrances oils to forge niche aromas that are reminiscent of places, spaces, and concepts. I’m on my fourth consecutive art art show after launching in September 2024, so yeah I’m doing what I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://midasminds.onuniverse.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaap3VDgX-9Fk02VZraIGj-aDYo50vgvktf8Bh6ZtweFtkPDfF5pDcioqd4_aem_AasHVr4wLM8URe40jwt9UQdWYr-J1URYvLoSrNKz0-PATejUk71IBqmtZ7Rn4nGcQhLqp4kJVVqksv4nsVbJX7b3
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbxuBX7J1u_/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
- Other: https://skynphonybathandbody.univer.se/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYjI7HBGvOMLiHsbdNGj4GK1xLKPfvTJf20ZmSzrr54Iu2m23cpBoLLDBs_aem_Aasq3lfF-YKrlRLQy18GkFVEsBZng153aY1Ns2ShCNK6vMWE6bAm0CGcolbnzCn5XwgU7mVMPmzWy7W0BdXP3iIN
