We were lucky to catch up with Ashlee Pitts recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ashlee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
The first time I knew I wanted to take an artistic path in my journey of life was the moment in 2020 when I received the most honest letter from my son. Being an absent parent for a great part of my children’s life was not good for myself or my children. In the letter my son wrote to me he described me as acting like a ghetto teenager and being embarrassed to acknowledge me as his mother…Boy did those words sting, but in reality the truth hurts and truth is a hard pill to swallow. Not being able to really express my words through writing, my therapist recommended that I start creating a video diary. In that moment, I knew I wanted to share who Ashlee really was with the hopes of healing other people. I was ready to live and walk in my truths and finally heal. I had been bound by trauma my entire life and I refused to live like that anymore hence came the creation of The Black Girl Interrupted Podcast. Although, I had sat on the idea for more than two years, I had to step away from being fearful to being fearless and share my journey as I rediscovered who Ashlee really was and to mend the broken relationship with my children.
Ashlee, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Being an African-American female and a mother of three (one boy and two girls) whom suffers from mental illness, I was at a crossroad when it came to expressing my feelings. My therapist suggested that I write my feelings down, but unfortunately, my anxiety wouldn’t allow me to write, or at least so I thought. For months, I pondered on ways I could release my pain in a way that would not only be healthy, but also conducive to my energy. So, I came up with the name Black Girl Interrupted and decided I would create a podcast for black women and share my journey with the world, let people know the REAL Ashlee Pitts and to encourage other black women to unpack those suitcases that has weighed us down for so many years. After many failed attempts to get the podcast started and many obstacles that stood in the way (God said I had to remove the negativity out of the way), I shelved the idea and went on with my life. It wasn’t until my son wrote me a letter, expressing to me how I had made him and his sister feel their whole lives and going through a difficult break up, I knew it was time for me to not only share my story, but to begin my journey of healing that broken little girl that had lived in me for 30+ years. On October 8, 2020, I uploaded my first live Facebook video, although very nervous, I just went in full throttle and took that step to the release of Black Girl Interrupted. So many people asked me about the name Black Girl Interrupted and I responded “Why not the name Black Girl Interrupted”, I mean I am a black girl who has gone through so many interruptions in life, I knew that was the name that would be fitting for a beautiful story. As I begin with the first episode, I knew that I could do it, creating that safe space for me to have the ability to unpack my suitcases without the judgment and here I am, almost two years later, still on my road to healing and trying to build a brand to leave a wonderful legacy for my children to carry on.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Obstacles and challenges, what are those?? Just kidding. Whew…The road to being a podcaster has been absolutely difficult for me. Once I came up with the idea of even creating a podcast, I was more so worried about the judgment and the support of others that I sat on this idea for over two years before I made the decision to follow through. Once I got started, I was so consistent with my episodes until March 4, 2021, the day that changed my life forever. Losing my father sent me back into a downward spiral. I felt as if I had been robbed. It felt like someone had stolen my precious gift, thus losing my drive to continue on with Black Girl Interrupted. My episodes became far and few between, even though I created this safe space for me to have the ability to release my pain, I lost the drive to continue on. So, I made up in my mind to take a much needed mental break, in order to bring back some sense of peace into my life, in order to continue on with my journey to healing and helping others. As hard as that decision was to walk away from the safest place I had created for myself, I knew what I needed to do for me. 
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is how transparent with my feelings I have become. I am no longer afraid to hide behind this facade that my life is wonderful, when in actuality some days I feel like I can’t make it. I am no longer afraid to push the envelope and set boundaries when it comes to protecting my peace. I am not afraid of being challenged and can now accept criticism without it feeling like I am being attacked. I guess you can say I am free to live the life I have always wanted to live. I am allowing myself the grace to feel my emotions and still able to convey my message of healing to my listeners. I get to live my creative lifestyle the way I choose and not watering myself for the sake of others.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackgirlinterruptedpodcast.godaddysites.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/black_girls_interrupted
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blackgirlinterruptedpodcast
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BlackGirlInterr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BlackGirlInterruptedBGIPodcast1978