We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angel Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angel below.

Angel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

‘All of the Above’ Podcast began in February 2017 with the sole mission of promoting, highlighting, and supporting local entrepreneurs, creatives, independent music artists, authors, designers, etc. This mission was birthed due to my long-term goal of permanently moving to Los Angeles, CA after graduating from Temple University in 2015. I lived in L.A. temporarily in the fall of 2014 and knew that I wanted to go back to pursue my dream of being a Hollywood Entertainment Reporter. However, that plan shifted after my podcast co-host/brother-in-law, Kevin Strickland made a business proposal in hopes to have me remain in Philly with my family. He presented the idea of hosting my very own podcast and building a platform to help others share their creative journey/story – also promoting the narrative that Philly does support Philly creatives and entrepreneurs. In most cases, people in Philly often move to New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta in hopes to make it big in the entertainment industry. We wanted to create ‘All of the Above’ as the hub for all creatives and entrepreneurs to believe that they don’t have to leave their hometown to receive the support that they deserve.

This mission immediately became very meaningful to me, because I myself had aspirations to move to receive better opportunities. However, I stayed committed to my podcast, committed to genuinely supporting our local creatives and entrepreneurs, and committed to my love of journalism. Through my commitments, ‘All of the Above’ is now entering its seventh year of production in 2024, over 270 interviews with local creatives and entrepreneurs, and has now dived into both virtual and red carpet celebrity interviews. I am very blessed to continue my passion through my own platform and my progression is a testament to my faith, dedication, and willingness to remain true to myself to reach my goals.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am known to family and friends as Angel Taylor, but in the media world, I am known as Angel Marie. I graduated from Temple University in 2015, holding a B.A. in Media Studies & Production from the Klein School of Media and Communications. In 2016, I achieved an Emmy Award for my contribution as an associate producer during the Rio Olympics, specifically in the category of Outstanding Trans-Media Sports Coverage.

I embarked on my professional journey in the realm of radio during the summer of 2014. At that time, I took on the roles of a promotions and programming intern at Wired 96.5 and 92.5 XTU and received on-air experience by co-hosting with Buster on Wired 96.5’s Friday evening broadcasts. In the fall of 2014, I relocated to Los Angeles where I held multiple internships – I worked as a red carpet reporter for Entertainment Scoop, served as a Hollywood Intern at AwesomenessTV, and took on the role of an assistant to the Kardashian and Jenner family.

After returning to Philadelphia in 2015, I began searching for more in broadcasting and entertainment. After countless applications, I landed the position as a sideline reporter for Women’s Field Hockey and Women’s Basketball at The University of Pennsylvania as part of the Penn Sports Network. Throughout the course of my career, I landed appearances on various media platforms including TMZ with FOX29, ESPN3, and NBC10. Out of all of my professional experiences, I am most thankful for my podcast. It has led me to meet my husband, Tyrell, who was one of our first 10 guests in 2017. We now have a handsome (almost) two year old!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When it comes to funding our equipment and overall production, I must give credit to my co-founder/brother-in-law, Kevin Strickland. Since 2017, he has funded all of our equipment (cameras, microphones, lighting, etc.) and has paid for our recording spaces. In full transparency, we are still not at the financial level that I hoped we would be – meaning I would love for our podcast to help bring in enough revenue to fully pay our recording space expenses. Although we preach about how much we support Philly, we still don’t always receive that support in return. In July 2023, we launch a “Philly Supports Philly” apparel and collection line and have not received many sales. However, we are remaining hopeful and resilient, and know that this collection will soon help fund ‘All of the Above’ and allow us to support our community in a bigger capacity.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being creative is the genuine sense of fulfillment it brings. Creating something from scratch gives me a unique outlet to express my thoughts and emotions. There’s a certain joy that comes from seeing an idea evolve into a tangible creation, and knowing that it’s a product of my imagination and effort. The process itself is thrilling and makes me proud that this is something of my own and something that I am passionate about. The sense of accomplishment I feel when I land a big interview is unparalleled, and it motivates me to keep exploring new ideas and pushing my boundaries.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alloftheabove-podcast.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/_alloftheabove1/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/_alloftheabove1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/alloftheabovepodcast
• Streaming Platforms: www.alloftheabove-podcast.com/tunein/