We recently connected with Alexandria Darby and have shared our conversation below.
Alexandria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I am much happier with being a creative vs a 9-5 for sure. I’ve been a podcaster for 3 years and a content creator for 1 year. Starting out podcasting, I immediately fell in love because not only is it therapeutic being a storyteller but it reminds me of my childhood with my father who was a tour manager for Def Jam (in the 90s) and radio DJ in Atlanta (in the 2000s).
After 2 years of podcasting, I started to open up more to tap into my creativity and started creating content to promote the podcast and build a brand along with it.
I absolutely would love to do content creating and podcasting full time one day, it’s definitely a goal of mine along with other business ventures I’m producing as well. That goal started it not too long after “Glow’d Up Podcast was birthed.
Working since I was 18, it’s a blessing to have a 9-5 but I also realize in these years that I can be that entrepreneur that my dad once was at some point in his life too. Sometimes companies don’t have too much concern for your mental and physical health (or anything outside of what makes them money) and I’ve had jobs in the past that cause so much stress and linked to health issues I had to overcome in my 20s. That’s when I realized “I want more for myself, more for my family. “
I want to have not only the financial freedom but the freedom to have my time back to spend with my loved ones. I would love to start businesses that I can bring my friends and family along and we all make moves and eat! That is my goal and I’m putting it out there – it will happen!
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
My name is Alexandria but you can call me Alexia Pearl. I am a 30 year old wife, mother, content creator, podcaster and digital artist (drawing/illustration). I love to sing and I am also a self proclaimed karaoke queen and I definitely will bring the drama if need (I’m a theater kid, I can’t help myself 😂) with that being said , I just love to tap into my creative side. I Pt into the industry I’m in after going back and forth on should I do it, mostly worried about will people respond, will they like it, etc. after I got out of my own head and way, I went for it and I’m so happy that I did!
What I’m most proud of about what I do is the authenticity and me being able to be myself and everything I do. That’s what the most important thing to me. I like to represent that in my creativity and podcasting because I like to encourage my tribe (#glowduptribe) to do the same. That’s the beauty in being ourselves: no one else can hold a candle to you, you are 1 of 1 baby!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was self doubt. I have always had a habit for as long as I can remember to doubt my abilities, mostly the reflection of the people who doubted me. When people can’t see themselves do what you desire to or are doing, they tend to project that on other people. I had to reprogram my mind and understand my strengths and gifts and that I can definitely do whatever I put my mind too. Now I’m learning this and teaching my children the same. They are wonderfully made and can do whatever they want in life. There is no limit, no ceilings that can stop them! And that goes for me and you too.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a creative is seeing my ideas and thoughts come to life and seeing people’s response to them. I love to have fun, I’m goofy, I’m awkward, and quirky but I’m loving , genuine, and caring so I want people to feel that when they come across my creations whether it’s podcasting, content , drawing , whatever. Being able to be myself in what I do makes me very very proud!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.podpage.com/glowd-up-podcast/
- Instagram: Instagram.com/GlowdUpPodcast
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/glowduppodcast
- Other: Link to our latest playlists: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi1skD0yzaA_KM2eJqU87N02un9C7IYc3&feature=share Link to Glow’d Up Pod in Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glowd-up-podcast/id1469562313
Image Credits
Alexandria Darby