In this special episode, Elena Armijo is joined by the love of her life, J. Aaron Boykin - a vocalist, song writer, actor, and producer whose creativity, depth, and heart shine in every space he enters. Their nine years together have been marked by a deep mutual witnessing: of growth, of dreams pursued, and of the quiet courage it takes to live a creative life with heart. Aaron’s artistry is rooted in authenticity and joy, with music as his first safe haven, a place where emotion could move freely when words fell short. Today, that same music continues to be his most powerful tool for healing, connection, and belonging. His story is one of resilience, self-expression, and the kind of leadership that flows from love.
Check out Elena’s website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you.
Elena and Aaron reflect on the role music plays in emotional safety, resilience, and leadership. From recording songs on a childhood tape recorder to performing on global stages and starring in national commercials, Aaron’s career is a testament to staying aligned with purpose. Whether writing feel-good R&B or standing firm in the face of online criticism, his grounding comes from knowing who he is and why he creates.
The episode also explores the challenges and beauty of creative partnerships. Aaron shares lessons from working with trusted collaborators, his perspective on feedback, and the importance of clarity in shared goals. His mantra: trust the process, stay open, and keep creating from a place of truth.
As Aaron steps into new ventures, including a forthcoming album and expanding his acting career, his focus remains clear: create art that invites others to feel seen, safe, and inspired.
This episode is an invitation to rediscover the power of creativity as a tool for connection and resilience. For anyone navigating growth, reinvention, or visibility, Aaron’s story is a reminder that joy and truth are not just artistic values - they are leadership ones.
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This podcast was produced by the following amazing team:
Alan Meaney, Audio Engineer
Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron’s music via Instagram)
Jo van Eeden, Project Manager
Elena Armijo
j.aaron Boykin
Multi-hyphenated talent j.aaron has entertained crowds all over the world with his driving, soulful R&B vocals while combining hip-hop with funk, complete with his ‘let-it-all-out swagger’ on stage. This New Jersey native checks all the boxes: raised in poverty, violence, college dropout, homelessness - you name it. Despite the circumstances, he’s managed to make a career out of the very thing he credits to keeping him alive: music.
Experiencing the power of music in his Baptist church as a kid made his decision to study music easy. After spending a night in jail and subsequently fired from his restaurant gig the next day, he decided to go full-time with music. Taking a leap of faith, he dropped out of college to join Duwendé, an R&B/funk a cappella band, to hit the road for the first time. Since then, he’s won several awards as a vocalist and songwriter and has earned an illustrious reputation in the New York City club date scene - leading bands in small bars and legendary clubs like The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall and Whelan’s in Dublin all the way up to world-famous venues like the Royal Theater in Amsterdam, and Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He’s made several National TV appearances including NBC’s The Winner Is and America’s Got Talent in addition to being featured on songs that’ve amassed millions of streams on YouTube and Spotify with other acts. j.aaron’s career includes backing big artists, from 50 Cent to bonafide legends like Tony Orlando and Kenny Rogers.
Now, he’s ready to make his name known. Sonically, you can expect his music…
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