We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aleya Antoine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aleya , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I think I’ve always known that I wanted to do something creative, but I never knew what it would entail. As a young child, I wanted to be an artist, singer, or dancer. However, I quickly realized that I was a terrible drawer, my voice couldn’t reach a single note, and finding the rhythm for a dance could take me years. I then thought, “Well, how can I be creative if I’m not any of those?” So, I tried acting, which I also didn’t excel in, mostly because all of the roles involved singing.

I then took a break from thinking about my future and enjoyed just growing up while slowly learning about my strengths. I discovered that I was an excellent writer, but I hated grammar, which helped me realize I loved talking and speaking; I just didn’t enjoy the physical act of writing. I joined the speech and writing club in middle school and found that I had a talent for discussing absolutely anything.

This carried into my high school years, where I was class president and captain of my track team, and one of my favorite duties was giving speeches. I loved talking, leading, and connecting with others. However, the only jobs I knew that involved these skills were as a news anchor or journalist. I was intrigued, but I have to admit I never wanted to be part of a corporate environment. Despite being a straight-A student, everyone told me I would be amazing in a corporate setting, but I felt a disconnect.

It wasn’t until my freshman year of college, while choosing my major, that I instantly knew Communications was for me. Since I graduated high school in 2020, my dreams of track and field became a distant memory, and I realized I needed to choose a new path that resonated with me. I thought, “If I can’t be an athlete, then I will be an artist.” But not in a traditional sense; I wanted a field that spoke to me, where I had the freedom to try different things and connect with people.

Aleya , 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?

My name is Aleya Antoine, and I am 22 years old from San Antonio, Texas. I lived in Washington State for two years and am now relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from UTSA and currently host the podcast “Tease.”

I have always had a love for podcasts, both as a listener and a creator. I started my first podcast during my freshman year of college in 2020, but unfortunately, it became too difficult to maintain while studying. I waited until my senior year to create “Tease.”

I noticed a gap in the podcast market where many shows focus on a single topic or cater to a specific audience. As a Black queer woman, I struggled to find a podcast that I could connect with on a fun, friendly level. Most podcasts either center on one subgroup or are hyper-focused on serious social justice issues affecting that community.

I wanted to create a space where people from all walks of life, especially those in marginalized communities, could relax and engage in light-hearted conversations that still address intersectional issues without completely retraumatizing the audience. There are already many platforms providing serious, hard-hitting facts, but there aren’t as many spaces for people to just kick back and have fun.

On “Tease,” we acknowledge our differences and how they affect us while keeping the tone light and enjoyable. I’m proud that this space is being created; I have listeners from all backgrounds who are enjoying “Tease.” It can be challenging to find a balance between acknowledging our hardships and still being able to have fun. I take pride in knowing that my listeners can resonate on a deep level while also laughing and enjoying conversations that feel like a FaceTime chat with friends.

I want potential listeners to know that “Tease” is a place where they can be seen, heard, valued, and cared for.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had valued the input of others more during my creative development. I definitely struggled with hyper-independence and often became defensive or discouraged when people offered constructive criticism. Instead of appreciating the knowledge they were sharing with me, I viewed their feedback as an attack on my work and myself. I was just a classic know-it-all who couldn’t accept that others could help, especially since I had a specific vision. I think this attitude may have stemmed from excelling academically as a child.

After multiple all-nighters, periods of self-doubt, and internal battles, I began to listen to others. I realized that if I didn’t, my podcast, art, and mental health wouldn’t last long. Fortunately, I enrolled in a podcast course during my last semester and learned so much about how to improve. I finally took my partner’s advice to close my laptop by 10 PM. By embracing feedback from others, I’ve seen my podcast, Tease, and my own mental health grow in a positive direction.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn is the never-ending grind mentality. Often, you hear stories of successful people portraying one of two narratives: they either had a privileged start or worked tirelessly every day to achieve their success. Phrases like “sleep is for the weak” and “you need to quit your job and give everything to your business” are common. I had to unlearn this mindset quickly because, for me, living like that was detrimental to both my business and my well-being.

I quit my job during my senior year of college and devoted myself entirely to creating content and managing schoolwork. This led to constant stress and anxiety, robbing me of joy in my creative journey. I had been influenced by the trend of quitting your job to dive headfirst into your passion, which ended up costing me thousands of dollars. I became overly focused on monetary success, which made me force content instead of following the creative path that was meant for me.

Now, I’ve found a balance between bartending and creating, and it has made me much happier. I can enjoy my creative process while still earning money. Yes, it means I spend hours away from the computer, but honestly, it keeps my life interesting. I can share stories from work on my podcast, and this has helped me enjoy the grind much more while producing better content. Not to mention, it has also helped reduce my screen time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://listen.teasepodcast.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleyaantoine/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@teasepodcast?sub_confirmation=1
• Other:
  Listen on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tease/id1750588661
  Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lpSLuhpAkEiG9iSj0sUnX
  Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teasepod/
  Email: aleya@teasepodcast.com