We were lucky to catch up with Melinda Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melinda, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

After an early retirement from a senior position in local government I decided to go into the private sector with a focus on media. While working in the government sector I was the spokesperson for media interviews related to senior issues and services. I appeared on local news and major national networks. However, there was a disturbing slant to all my appearances the “focus” was always negative because I was responding to a problem or incident. My question was why no one was interested in the “good stories” I wanted to share. I then made a personal commitment to find a way to tell the good stories that inspire. Media was the medium of choice because if used properly was a way to use a megaphone to get the stories out.

I began working in media as a Co-Host and producer for a CBS Radio syndicated show serving the Atlanta Market called Boom Town Talk, my opportunity to inform, educate and tell good stories about seniors. After two years doing this show I accepted an offer to be the Atlanta Correspondent & Host for a Podcast called Good Morning Caribbean. It was 2008, what was a podcast? Well, I not only enjoyed hosting this show; I was thoroughly intrigued with the backend production and began learning everything I could about this new media platform. Fast forward to 2012, during a conversation with my cousin about her original blog it came to me, here is my first show, and we expanded her blog into a podcast!

During the first month we had about twenty-five listeners, we were so happy because not only did we have to promote the show we had the heavy lift of educating people to what a podcast was and how to access them. With everything I have ever done one of the first initiatives in presenting a new idea and new show was education. With that in mind our primary focus was on educating our community of what a podcast was and then asking them to listen, comment and share our episodes. Our motto is we earn one set of ears at a time! With that focus our goal was to grow our audience organically, slow, and steady. Money was not our driving force; our goal was to build a loyal audience.

I was and remain committed to fully understanding the “industry” by studying the trends, best practices and mastering my skill sets in production.

With our focus on educating our community, we added additional shows to expand our audience. Our commitment to quality content, slow and steady growth, and consistency has been our claim to success.

Fast forward to 2022 we are now celebrating 10 years in live talk radio and podcasting with a steady growing audience of 3M+ listeners.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in a loving family and grew up in the church. This solid foundation built my character by understanding responsibility, accountability, and compassion for others. I am who I am, and I bring all of me to everything I do. I am one of the ones that thinks I can change the world, one person at a time.

I am self-disciplined and directed, however, I believe in research and understand the power of natural talents and gifts. With that in mind, my career successes utilized my people skills in ways on which I can now reflect.

My career in government provided opportunities for me to “serve.” Moving into media my opportunity for service continued by way of my creative skills to inspire people.

As I stated earlier my faith leads me and it shows up all the time. When deciding on what to name my live talk radio and podcast network I produced what I thought were trendy names and I asked family, friends, and colleagues what they thought. However, one day after being totally frustrated and confused from all the input I had received I decided to pray on it. That night I had a dream and kept hearing it is up to you stop asking so many people. That morning I prayed and asked God, and he spoke to me. I heard this “Why are you asking so many people for a name when I gave you the name, trust yourself. I also wrote my deepest thoughts in a journal, and I began writing Up to You, Up to Me, and I loved Up to Me but that was not it. I spent the next two days praying and while in the shower it hit me it is Up2Me! That was it and not only did I have a name, but the mission came with the name. This is one of my proudest moments that I share often because it is when our branding truly began.

Our mission and driving force for everything we do is simple; to inspire people to be the best that they can be through sharing the stories and journeys of everyday people overcoming obstacles and choosing to live in purpose.

Faith and striving to be and do better in life drive our show development, host selections, episode topics and guest invitations. We support others in the industry and do not compete, there is room for everyone in the industry of podcasting. I know that this foundational purpose sets us apart from others because we maintain our integrity and uphold our mission in everything we do, and we define our success.

Our audience is loyal, and most have been with us since we started 10 years ago, the comments and testimonies over the years on specific shows and episodes define our success.

As the song says, “If I can help somebody, then my living is not in vain”.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One hard lesson I learned early on when starting my business is that everyone is not a good fit for what you want to do. What I mean by that, is that once your mission, brand and purpose are clear then the “right” people should join your team because they are a good fit. Integrity and character are two major red lights for me. A good friend is just that a good friend and, in most instances, does not translate into a good business partner or employee.

When I first started my network, I was so excited that I wanted to share the opportunity with a good friend. When we began everything was good, however, once the real “work” began that is when I noticed that the commitment was waning on her part. My disappointments became greater because the “good friend” was not holding up her end and began to become critical. I then realized that I made a mistake and had to have the “talk” to ask my “good friend” to resign, and she did. During the talk I said “I valued our friendship more than working together” so let us keep it to being friends with no hard feelings. I meant that and through my actions, we resumed our friendship with doing social things and just having fun together. That “good friend” became one of my biggest cheerleaders and ambassadors for the network.

Wisdom prevails, do not mix friendship with business. You can find the right people you “like” to collaborate with you.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

As for most businesses the COVID Pandemic and global shutdown was a frightening time personally and professionally. Personally, I lost my dear and youngest sister to COVID which shook me to my soul! I was grieving and trying to keep the network alive at the same time. Everyone was questioning and fearing what was happening.

Although we have a studio, who knew that our business commitment to master producing remotely prior to the pandemic prepared us for the moment. All our show hosts and team rose to the occasion with one goal in mind “We have to keep HOPE alive.” As we have never done before we collectively as a team created episodes and a special series to address the global COVID crisis, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Our audience expanded during this time. Most people who never listened to podcasts turned to podcasts for their sanity.

Due to the Pandemic, the podcasting industry surged! This near-death sentence for the business was an opportunity for a rebirth that made us stronger and better at what we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: up2meradio.com
• Instagram: up2me.radio
• Facebook: Up2Me Radio

Image Credits
Arthur Jett, Karen Marie Images