We were lucky to catch up with Darrell Scott recently and have shared our conversation below.

Darrell, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Prior to starting my podcast, I worked in radio and then in the computer field. I retired in January of 2023. From my radio career, I maintained my love of jazz. In the market where I live, jazz had disappeared. I chose to start a jazz podcast. I had been away from the artist, the music, the people for 25 years so the first fear was getting reintroduced to all of that. I wasn’t sure that all the people involved would remember me. I am also somewhat of an introvert, so it took some time to get back on this horse. Once I got a few interviews under my belt, I was back in my element but there was a second thing. I had never done a podcast and all of the particulars that go with it. I enlisted the help of Portia Booker technical assistant. This was a match made in heaven. We share the same energy to make this podcast successful. Both the podcast and Portia have been beneficial to my mental health. Keeping my mind occupied and giving me something to do.

Darrell, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I wasn’t the greatest student. I graduated high with no real plan of what’s next. I was working as a waiter/busboy in a French restaurant. One night while a customer mentioned that I had a great voice. So, a few weeks later, I went to take a vocal test at the Ohio School of Broadcasting. I passed. I graduated but I got lucky and got a weekend job at a local Cleveland radio station. Again, I was fortunate that the other radio announcers took a liking to me and educated me in all facets of radio. I worked at several Cleveland radio stations. Three of the radio formats were jazz. I gain a good reputation in the music genre. But never really got a full-time job. I became frustrated and got a real job. I wanted to be able to pay more than just my cable bill. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great music collection, but I couldn’t pay a mortgage, car payments, etc. I got a job in IT. It paid well and afforded some growth. After some 20 years I retired from the world of IT. Once retired, I had to find something. Friends kept reminding me that I still had this voice, so I had always had a love of jazz music. Since radio was not an option, The radio station that I thought of getting a job at, shut down. People kept asking me about the music, the artist and how we could regenerate the buzz that was created when I was fully involved in it. So I decided to start my podcast

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The biggest thing that I have and still struggle with is the struggle. I struggle with the rejection. Just because. I might get 2 or 3 interviews and then I am unsuccessful with the next 7 or 8 interviews, it is a weekly show so if I don’t get guest, I don’t have a show. So, the constant mystery is not good for your mental health. Also inviting guest, is sometime a bit troubling. Back in the day, you could just reach out to the record company, and they would set up the interview. Now the rules have changed. It is like every artist has a firewall. As the show has grown in popularity, the firewall is being chipped away.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the fact that I have created something that the masses are enjoying. The artists that have been interviewed want to get aboard, they are looking for ways to get their music and name to their fans both old and new. We are constantly and consistently working on making the show better. We look for different ways to get their information. We already done a Mother’s Day show as well as a Father’s Day show. I don’t claim to have all the answers that is why I enlist of a few special people to better this show. We get testimonials from our guest and fans. The comments are all have been positive. Those comments have been benefical to the psyche of the show

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://m.youtube.com/@JazzFlytePodcast