Tacos, Wings and Wisdom

In the latest episode of Nostalgia Street, hosts Vince and Jeff bring on a special guest, Vaney Hariri, co-founder and Chief Culture Officer of Think 3D Solutions. From discussing childhood memories to Buffalo wings, this episode is packed with laughs and insightful conversations.

Vince kicks off the conversation with an off-the-wall question about food, asking Vaney to choose which food group gets booted off the island and which gets immunity in a hypothetical Survivor episode. Vaney's response is a hilarious dive into his love for tacos, wings, and his disdain for anything with a weird consistency like yogurt or cottage cheese.

The banter between the hosts and Vaney continues as they debate the merits of soft shell versus hard shell tacos, with Vaney passionately defending his preference for soft shell because "soft shell accommodates more different types of meat." The conversation takes a humorous turn as they discuss their favorite taco joints and reminisce about football games at T.C.’s referees.

The hosts also delve into Vaney's childhood in Buffalo, New York, where he grew up surrounded by football and martial arts. Vaney shares stories of watching the Buffalo Bills play in multiple Super Bowls and his love for Buffalo wings, emphasizing his preference for crispy wings from T.C.’s referees.

As the conversation progresses, Vaney reflects on his experiences growing up in Buffalo and the lessons he learned from his diverse family dynamic. From discussing his Lebanese heritage to navigating playground beef, Vaney's anecdotes paint a vivid picture of his colorful upbringing.

Despite the challenges he faced, Vaney's unique perspective and wisdom shine through, earning him the title of an "old soul" by the hosts.

Vaney shared insights into his high school days, where he was not your average student. Instead of just focusing on academics, he immersed himself in music and even dabbled in creating a fictional product called "Pimp Potion" for a class project. Yes, you read that right!

His musical journey took him through various experiences, from recording in top-notch studios to performing with his group, and contributing to the local hip hop scene. But music was just one chapter in Vaney’s life.

The conversation seamlessly transitioned into his venture with Think3D, a consultancy firm focused on culture and leadership. Vaney’s passion for making things better and his innate ability to observe and understand people's behavior became the cornerstone of his success in this field.

What truly stood out from the interview was Vaney’s philosophy on happiness and success. For him, happiness is the ultimate measure of success, and he believes in doing things his way, unapologetically and authentically.

Jeff asks Vaney about his thoughts around the shift in societal attitudes towards generational labels over the past decade. From the days of simply being "Americans" to the current era of categorizing individuals into specific generations like boomers, millennials, and Gen Xers, Vaney ponders the implications of such labeling on our understanding of people. He emphasizes the paradoxical nature of human behavior, where individuals crave both belonging to a group and asserting their individuality.

As the conversation unfolds, Vaney delves into the complexity of human experiences and the limitations of generalizations based on age. Drawing from personal anecdotes and cultural observations, he challenges the notion of treating generations as monoliths and underscores the importance of recognizing each person's unique perspective and journey.

The trio takes a nostalgic detour, reminiscing about beloved TV shows like "Voltron" and "The Golden Girls," drawing parallels between the diversity of characters and the multifaceted nature of human identity. Vonnie emphasizes the need for authenticity and encourages individuals to embrace all facets of themselves, much like the ensemble cast of his favorite shows.

Transitioning to the realm of leadership development, Vaney shares insights from his work at Think3D, emphasizing the importance of nurturing leadership skills and creating inclusive environments in organizations. He underscores the value of empathy, communication, and self-awareness in effective leadership, challenging leaders to lead by example and prioritize the well-being of their team members.

Reflecting on his own journey, Vaney offers sage advice to his eight-year-old self, emphasizing self-validation and the importance of authenticity. He also pays homage to a beloved teacher, Mr. Barlow, who imparted a valuable lesson on the selfless nature of communication.

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