Old Soul Young World (OSYW) goes by the three M’s: Motivation, Mental Health, and Media. Originating as a podcast in 2021, OSYW has since evolved into a motivational mental health organization committed to fostering enduring impact and promoting open, vulnerable dialogue. OSYW aims to inspire entrepreneurs, artists, youth, and individuals to find their authentic purpose and champion the journey of struggle as essential to achieving success.
“OSYW aims to highlight individuals who struggle to succeed to create a life beyond physical expectations,” according to the OSYW website.
Old Soul Young World has expanded beyond its podcast, now in its third season with over 95 guests, to include various events and now offering workshops through its extension, Club Cultivate. This growth supports its mission of fostering dialogue and awareness.
MEET THE OSYW TEAM
From Peabody, Jessie Elly is the founder and CEO of the organization while also holding titles such as seasoned emcee, motivational mental health advocate, and youth speaker. Like many individuals navigating the complexities of life, she grappled with a sense of uncertainty regarding her true calling and place within the world. Despite her uncertainty about her path, she recognized she had a purpose in her life and felt compelled to discover it.
Before finding her path and purpose, Elly would struggle with her mental health. She experienced significant anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and familial trauma. The organization’s name stems from something she was told a lot when she was younger — ‘you’re such an old soul.’ She disliked being perceived as old, yet understood that this perception stemmed from her depth, emotionality, and strong connections. Something that kept her going through all the struggles was creativity. Elly discovered a creative avenue in poetry. Wanting to overcome her obstacles, such as social anxiety, Elly frequented various events in Lynn and Boston, including spoken word, musical acts, and live art painting, among others. Recognizing that her experiences were shared by others, she sought to advocate and empower, which later led to the creation of the podcast known now as Old Soul Young World.
“We all have something within us,” Elly said. “Past the anxiety, the depression, the sadness, and the struggle. It’s just.. how do we embrace that fully?” Elly said. “We’re a physical body, but the other thing we have in common besides being human is that we have a soul. Nobody really talks about it. You hear it in movies, or in music, but our souls are what resilience comes from, and resilience is what keeps us pushing forward.”
Radames “Muntz” Batista, Chief Operating Officer of Old Soul Young World in Lynn, has amassed more than a decade of professional experience in mentoring and transition coaching for young adults, aged 14 to 22. In this capacity, he facilitates career exploration grounded in the individuals’ artistic and personal passions. He directs the organization’s objective to foster transformation through sincere communication, emotional intelligence, and innovative mentorship, working alongside Elly. Batista would meet Elly two years ago, and the two would instantly connect and partner up. Batista represents the intelligent who grew up harshly in the city because he believes it’s the mecca of Massachusetts. Operating with an insatiable desire to uplift the inner city plight, Batista is a “Master Galvanizer” who challenges the status quo. His diverse endeavors, encompassing youth workshops, school art mural projects, fashion design, and compelling conceptual artwork, are all driven by a central objective: the cultivation of sustainable emotional growth for all individuals.
“Nipsey Hussle, the great, said, ‘The strongest thing we can do is inspire.’ You can inspire in many different ways because, as humans, we label a bunch of things. Everything has energy, and our words mean nothing without the motions behind them,” Batista said. “In the mentorship field, there are two really strong things: Unconditional listening and then non-judgmental processing. If you could have those two things, you could do anything. If you could empower yourself through vulnerable communication, it would alleviate your own pressures. You can feel really good about yourself, and that energy passes itself forward, and that’s what we need for the next generation, the generation right now, and the generation before us. If you stop learning, you stop living.”
EDUCATING AND EMPOWERING THE YOUTH
Club Cultivate, a mental-media workshop, serves as an extension of Old Soul Young World, with the aim of empowering young individuals to manage and enhance their online presence and beyond. This workshop equips students with the skills to analyze media, recognize the implications of their digital presence, and use social media for constructive self-representation. It guides young people in viewing phones and technology as instruments for creation rather than consumption. Club Cultivate provides media education, mentoring, and guest speakers to empower young adults in discovering their unique identities.
“We’re on social media constantly, we’re doom-scrolling, we’re comparing ourselves…. how do we take those comparisons and turn them into creativity?” Elly said. “How do you take this phone and learn how to be an individual and an entrepreneur, an artist instead of a follower. We can also give knowledge and power to know what is good consumption and what’s not healthy consumption.”
To further develop this area of their business, they enrolled in the EforAll Lynn Winter 2025 Business Accelerator program. The two participated in a 12-week program offering in-depth business training, mentorship, and opportunities to build a broad professional network. During EforAll’s Showcase and Celebration held at the Peabody Essex Museum on Tuesday, the pair secured first place and earned $2,800.
“Winning first place validated further the urgency of Club Cultivate’s work. The time is right now to shine a permanent light on the benefits of building “emotional brilliance.” Very rarely do revolutions benefit the revolutionary. With faith, only carrying high integrity and trusting the process unwaveringly, we will one day open our “YMCA for creative minds” in our beloved Lynn, MA (The Mecca of MA),” Radames said. “Participating in EforAll was such an honor. The program helped us refine the categories of all that we actually do. Properly distinguishing the work we do with youth adults, our commitment to be pillars in the community, and running a motivational media company via OSYW.”
FOOD FOR THOUGHT, THE POWER OF WORDS, AND FUTURE PLANS
Back in October of last year, OSYW hosted their first event, Gallery T.A.L.K (Talented Artists Lending Knowledge) Vol 1: Food For Thought at the Palette Event Space across from Lynn City Hall. Guests gathered to enjoy catered appetizers from the acclaimed Everybody Gotta Eat! founder Manny Mervil, who joined Carolina Trujillo, Jhonattan Santelises, Merlinda Marsielle-Philippe, and Bryan McAskill for an inspiring panel discussion on navigating growing pains, learning from failure, and the life lessons that nourish personal growth. Old Soul Young World would also partner with Centerboard’s Lynn Family Resource Center, Chroma Boston Studios, Personality Hire, and Graff City late last year for the Give Joy to the World: A Give Back Event.
The Lynn Family Resource Center held its yearly Toys for Tots event, where toys were given out. This initiative involved collecting toy and gift card donations to support local families in need. More than $2,000 was generated for the event; however, the OSYW aims to double that amount this year. In January, Old Soul Young World participated in the Mental Makeover: Polar Plunge. An annual event that raises awareness for mental health advocacy on the Northshore. For the third consecutive year, Team OSYW participated in the initiative, and with the contribution of 30 supporters, they were able to successfully raise $1,300 in donations. Fast forward to April 11th, and OSYW held their second event, the Gallery T.A.L.K. Vol. 2: Word is Bond. The event, also hosted at the Palette Event Space, titled “Word is Bond,” was conceived by Event Consultant Jah’nyah Spencer. This gathering facilitated a reflective dialogue between the audience and artists concerning the phrase “Word is Bond,” exploring its implications for vulnerability, authenticity, and the influence of language. Yelena “La Rosa”, Nate Nics, Ashanti Eva Davenport, and Paradoxic King participated in a panel discussion/performances centered on this theme and its manifestation in their musical expressions. The event featured local vendors Your Wrld, Millennium Latino Project, HeartLyxs, and Magna Beauty, and offered catered appetizers and finger foods from The Palette Kitchen.
“A lot of the artists opened up about domestic violence, opening up about deaths in their families or people close to them,” Elly said. “It really was a very impactful, vulnerable conversation, but with a lot of lightheartedness where the audience was reacting and laughing. It had great vibes, and at the end of it, they got to actually put their word into their physical artistry and be able to show that to the room.”
Elly and Batista show no signs of reduced activity. They intend to write, continue public speaking engagements, and host another Gallery T.A.L.K. in the near future, which will center on vulnerable, open conversation and incorporate fashion designers.
“Radames and I shouldn’t even be in the positions we are today because of outside circumstances that happened in both of our lives,” Elly said. “But our purpose, and our resilience has pushed us to be able to do it. If we can be here doing it, anybody can do it. I hope that the youth, young entrepreneurs, young artists, or anybody who’s struggling to find individuality can really take that in and understand that you are the only you and to never give up. Always keep going.”
You can find OWYS on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
