We were lucky to catch up with Georgia McClintock recently and have shared our conversation below.

Georgia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

A hidden talent was discovered in me by my Intro to Theatre instructor, Mrs. Eichler. Mrs. Eichler was one of my favorite instructors in college. As part of her curriculum, we had to read the play Fences by August Wilson. I volunteered to read the character Troy.

After we finished reading the entire play in class, Mrs. Eichler asked to speak with me after class. She mentioned that there was a scholarship opportunity at the University of South Carolina Upstate called the Shoestring Players’ Acting Academic Scholarship for transfer students. I already knew I was going to transfer, and USC Upstate was one of the four-year colleges on my list.

I auditioned with a monologue from “Fences” and completed a cold reading from Shakespeare. At the time, I had no idea that theatre would become my second love. All I had ever dreamed of was becoming a radio entertainer. I believe the play Fences changed my life and opened the door to many opportunities that followed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Being an independent radio entertainer and an actress was never on my radar. It was never my plan to have my own network. At nineteen years old, I was entering my second year as an intern for two radio stations in Greenville, South Carolina. The larger station where I interned began going through major management shifts. The Program Director (PD) I worked closely with was moving to Georgia, and that news devastated me. He was one of the few radio personalities who had given me a chance to co-host on his show.

I remember asking him, “What am I supposed to do when you leave? I only know you. I plan my entire college schedule around your radio show.” The PD paused, looked me in the eyes, and said, “You can either stay and let the industry sex you up to make money off of you, or you can become independent.” I must have looked completely confused. I remember thinking to myself, “What in the world does that mean?”

When I later transferred to the University of South Carolina Upstate, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism, everything began to click. I cannot fully explain it—it just made sense. Around the same time that my theatre instructor had helped me discover a hidden talent through the play Fences, I realized that new doors were opening for me creatively and professionally. That moment helped shape my thinking. I understood that I did not have to wait for opportunities in radio or entertainment; I could create them myself by building my own brand and producing my own content.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Dial-up internet still existed when I started my business. If you don’t know about dial-up internet, look it up. Facebook and YouTube were just starting to become more popular. As a creative, it’s important to understand the access and resources available to you for the specific business you are developing.

When I was getting started, everything felt like trial and error. No one in my family had owned a business, so I was guessing every day. At times, I wish I had started with a decent budget and had someone review my business plan. Mentors and networking can help connect you to valuable resources that are available.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met my co-founder in college at a fall event in 2008, and that co-founder is now my husband of 11 years. Tony is a skilled and talented videographer and writer.

We were friends for six months before we started dating in February 2009. To be exact, our relationship officially started after the Super Bowl between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We made a bet: if the Pittsburgh Steelers lost, Tony could take his time asking me to be his girlfriend. But if the Steelers won, he had to ask me to be his girlfriend in front of my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sophyadnetwork.com
• Instagram: @sophyadnetwork
• Facebook: Sophya D Network
• Linkedin: @sophyadnetwork
• Twitter: @sophyadnetwork
• Youtube: @sophyad9
• Other: Threads: @sophyadnetwork

Image Credits

Sophya D, Tony McClintock, Calvin Byrd, and Latressa Ellis.