"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor · The 5th Element Podcast Network

Past, Present, Future - Mayo A-O

April 4, 2026·14 min·1 clip

Charlie Tyler explores how his identity as a second-generation British immigrant with Caribbean and Nigerian roots shapes his understanding of past, present, and future.

The episode 'Past, Present, Future' is a solo monologue where host Charlie Tyler structures his personal narrative through the philosophical concept of time. He begins by defining past, present, and future as fundamental human experiences. Tyler then delves into his past, explaining he is a second-generation British immigrant; his mother's family is from Guyana and his father's from Nigeria. He describes being born premature and growing up in a loving Guyanese household that emphasized Caribbean culture, black pride, and African roots. His family had a creative background with a storyteller aunt, a writer mother, and an illustrator father. Tyler discusses his early interests in both art and science, leading him to study computer science with initial ambitions in video game design. He realized his true passion was storytelling, prompting a career shift to writing. Tyler has written poetry and children's books, participating in writing programs that helped him secure a literary agent and book deal. In the present section, he reflects on currently undergoing a significant life transition as he becomes a published author, finding it surreal and intense. This change has professionally and socially transformed his life through connections in the writing community. For the future, Tyler expresses a desire to make art his livelihood, specifically through storytelling for children and adults worldwide. He acknowledges the challenge of achieving artistic freedom within capitalism, noting that fame might be necessary for financial stability. His ideal future balances creative fulfillment with the ability to support loved ones. The episode ends with a thank you and a photography reference.

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