Happy New Year! 🥳

First Stop 🚥: Red in Black #014: NYC Nightlife Secrets (ft. Anthony Obas) 🕺🏽

Last Stop 🛑: Happy New Year! 🎉

NYC Nightlife: Secrets From the Underground 🌃

From the lavish ballrooms of the Cotton Club over 100 years ago in Harlem, to the nitro-fueled dance floors of Studio 54 in the ‘70s, New York’s defining nighttime feature has always been its club scene.

The city that never sleeps … remember that?

In 2025, you’d be lucky to even find an open corner store willing to slap you a sandwich together during the wee hours.

There are more people crammed into this place than ever – something close to 9 million individuals – yet it can feel like a ghost town in the hottest locations after dark.

It feels like you have to step back in time to vaguely imagine quality, memorable and affordable nightlife. As nightlife leader and MC Anthony Obas decries on this week’s podcast, “people don’t even dance anymore.”

“What happened?”

Obas spends his days (and nights) hosting and organizing gatherings, parties, weddings – just about any kind of get-down. If the goal is to have fun and split sides with laughter, Obas is the man for the job.

But he’s not a number-hungry club promoter, and he’s not in it for clout. Like me, Obas is big on building community. Bringing people together.

He’s a man of the people, and the life of the party. He thrives in the midst of hazy chaos, and gleans joy from the genuine smiles of others.

It’s no surprise that he’s disappointed with the state of his hometown playground of NYC’s nightlife scene – the people aren’t matching his energy, or they’re too wiped to come out.

“The social battery of NYC is drained” Obas says to the camera. “We have some work to do!”

Deeper into the episode, Obas shares wild stories stemming from his experiences all around the Metropolitan Area, including a look into what really goes on behind the velvety curtains of club houses.

Obas’ journey to his current state as a self-sufficient autocrat of entertainment and hilarity has been nothing short of turbulent.

Doing your own thing comes with sacrifice and loss, something he’s deeply familiar with overcoming. “People don’t tell you that scared money don’t make no money,” Obas says of his radical plunge into running his own business.

He’s just hoping the people of the city will face their fears, too, as they get up to dance.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎉🪩

Will The Real New Year Please Stand Up? 🙋🏾‍♂️

Everybody knows the new year doesn’t really start until September.

Isn’t it obvious?

As the weather cools down, and grills are put away along with any white clothing, suddenly you feel obligated to do something again when it crosses into autumn.

There’s no shame in admitting the last three months (or more) were spent liberally, constantly in a state of lounging or chillaxing.

Further, it’s possible that vacations and social events were treated like a 9-5 job. “I’ll get to it later …” But, we never do. “I’m definitely prioritizing sleep after this week …” Doesn’t happen.

Sound like your summer? You aren’t alone. In fact, that’s what summer’s all about – release. I think it’s quite natural for our minds and bodies to take a backseat during these warm and sunny months.

Something about the longer days and slower wavelengths in the air takes us out of manic survivalist-productivity mode, and lets us feel joy just by stepping outside.

That all ends now …

Kidding aside, there is nothing quite like the plunge from light and heat into cold and darkness, but it’s only a negative thing if you see it that way.

If you adopt the mindset of renewal, growth and positivity, you’ll see that this boost of cold and murky darkness is both reflective and energizing.

The wavelengths speed up again, and you’re off the bench, back in the game.

Head over to the next section to see some of the resolutions I’ve jotted down for the new year.

Resolutions For The REAL New Year ✏️

(You can copy mine if you can’t think of any!)

• Sleep — I’m done playing games. I’m solidifying my circadian rhythm with consistent sleep and wake times, protecting my deep sleep, and finally being honest about bad sleep habits. 

• Breathing & Posture — Breathing as discipline, every day. Breath is life. Shoulders back, spine aligned, carrying myself like a capable King.

• Presence in Conversation — More questions, more listening, stronger eye contact. No more halfway connections.

• No Night Snacking — The kitchen closes at 8pm. If I need to have something, it’s tea or mineral water. My gut deserves the break.

• Cardio Capacity — I want lungs. Basketball, cycling, football, Muay Thai. Long walks. I’m going places, and building my gas tank and VO₂ max will liberate me.

• DTE Growth — This year I’m launching merch, memberships, coaching, courses, events. Expanding the platform into a movement.

• Presence in Conversation — More questions, more listening, stronger eye contact. No more halfway connections.

• Community Work — Keep hosting hikes and gatherings. Down to Earth isn’t just a media brand, it’s lived experience, face-to-face.

• Youth Impact — I want to carve out space in education. Deep work with young people — teaching, mentoring, making sure the next generation sees bigger horizons.

Have Fun With It 🍁

So as you’ve seen, my resolutions aren’t a list of chores or a to-do list. They’re a commitment to more wholistic wellbeing. They’re my way of taking control of the cold, the darkness, and the challenges that September ushers in.

The new year doesn’t start in January. It starts now. When summer’s haze lifts and autumn’s clarity returns, we’re called to refocus. To reset our breathing, our bodies, our habits. To fight for sense in the face of fading light.

During your journey, feel proud of every positive step forward, and celebrate the little wins as often as possible.

Remember, this is the beginning of the new year, and it isn’t over until next September.

You have all the time you need, and then some. 

Happy resolving!