We had the good fortune of connecting with Ken Lyles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ken, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
To take full advantage of a hobby that I was introduced to. Me and my friends believed that we had an interesting perspective on Magic the Gathering and a variety of personalities to entertain others interested in this hobby as well. Fortunately other saw value in what we contributed to this community and have assisted us on our journey. Essentially this started out as a carefree hobby that evolved into much more than we expected.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Software engineer. That’s sort of my Bruce Wayne persona. It wasn’t the easiest career to get into but I am thankful that I persevered in my studies to be able to achieve this. The interesting part of my field is that it is full of individuals that exist in a sea of learning. We adapting to change, strive though our failures, and gained the wisdom that although we don’t know everything, that doesn’t mean we don’t try. The lessons that I have learned is that failure is both the harshest lesson and the greatest teacher and a pivotal cornerstone of what has allowed us to progress as a species.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First I would take them downtown just to people watch. Atlanta has one of the most eclectic assortment of people and personalities as any other city. I would take them to the BeltLine to see one of the best representations of what this city has to offer. I would take them to Buford highway and Gwinnett for some of the best international food this city has to offer. I would take them to the battery for a relaxing afternoon before a game. Then back to downtown Atlanta so they can experience the heartbeat of the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Brian also known as the Professor. He help launch our platform by putting us in view of a wider audience and larger demographic. He saw potential in our talents and has had a major hand in our success.

Twitter: https://x.com/ManaSquad

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OneMoreMana

Image Credits
Kenneth Lyles, Cedrick Dortch, Derik Madorma

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.