What’s your historical Los Angeles and New York connection?
My entire family is originally from NY. Both sides, born and raised. I have an aunt in LA, but no other family out here.

Describe your experience in NYC and in LA.
I did not like LA when I first moved here. It was the place I told myself I had to be. Just go, work hard, and focus. LA was an office, not a home.

I’m not certain whether it’s age that changed my perspective on this city, or simply the city that slowly manipulated my DNA. I came here to work. This place was a means to an end. A place I’d use to make a career in entertainment then move to NYC with a reputation people would notice.

Having a parent from Brooklyn and a parent from the Bronx, New York is in my blood.But, like so many ex-girlfriends, NY could not give me what LA could — space. There’s so much out here. Not tolled by the psychic energy of a thousand passersbys at any moment, LA gave me the space to be alone. To realize I needed to be alone. Be it in my car, on a hike, working on that extra-curricular project we all seem to have out here. Once I stopped fighting and excepted that LA is not a place you can get swept up in like NY, but a place that forces you to make decisions about who you want to be and where you want to be the city opened up to me.

In LA I found my life in my own hands. That I was responsible for the places I went and the things that I did in a way that I never felt in NY. In NY I would just find myself some place on a whim. In LA if I don’t make a conscious decision to show up I won’t get where I’m going. LA taught me to make decisions and work toward goals.

What was the biggest challenge of moving from LA to NYC, or of splitting time?
Money. Opportunity. Contacts. If you don’t have these things upon moving out prepare to work harder than everyone around you while you wait in line for one or all of these things to cross your path. Ideally, by the time one does, you’ll be ready to work with any or all of them to be heard, seen, and prosper.

How can NYC and LA best engage with each other?
A culture exchange. I say we ship out ambassadors from each coast in a variety of disciplines to make sure neither side is taking itself too seriously nor slacking off too much. Somewhere at that cross section is where innovation and evolution will be sure to take root.

Favorite NYC secret spot
Russ & Daughters. It’s not a secret. It’s just the best lox and cream cheese on an everything bagel in the Universe.

Favorite LA secret spot
The Hollyhock House at sunset. The sky is orange from up there. It’s that kind of view that makes you forget, or at least okay with, the carcinogens you’re constantly breathing in.

If you weren’t at AwesomenessTV, what would you be doing?
I’d be creating freelance video content for a variety of clients rather than creating a variety of content for one client.

What’s on your playlist right now?
Re-watching Breaking Bad, just finished House of Cards season two, currently have A Bit of Fry & Laurie on in the background.

Follow Jason: https://twitter.com/jp784

From the 2462 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LOS ANGELES