We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brooke Bennett. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brooke below.
Brooke, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
The name of my podcast, Never Judge A Brooke By Its Cover, is a play on the familiar saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” The inspiration behind it comes from my mother. When I was brainstorming names for the podcast, I turned to her for advice, and she came up with this clever twist.
My mother and I have been through a lot together, and she reminded me that no one can truly judge you without knowing your story. That message resonated deeply with me, and we decided to make it our motto: “Never judge anyone because you don’t know their story.”
I love the name of my podcast because, even though it’s a bit long, it’s uniquely meaningful to me. It embodies our mission to engage with our guests openly, without judgment, and to share their stories authentically.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi, I’m Brooke Nicole, a podcast host with a passion for storytelling and amplifying voices. After a career shift led me to graduate school for Political Communications, I realized my ultimate goal was to become a commentator. But the question was—how to start? That’s when I decided to launch my own podcast, Never Judge A “Brooke” by Its Cover, to share my voice and connect with others’ stories.
My podcast highlights the experiences of Black women as we navigate our 20s. We dive into serious topics like colorism, career pivots, and mental health, but we also make space for fun, candid conversations with family and friends about life. One of my proudest achievements is having the podcast featured on the Apple Podcast 100 chart and making it to the top 15 in Jamaica.
Looking ahead, my goal is for listeners to not only learn something but also feel something and take action. This podcast started as an outlet for me, but it’s grown into a platform that has touched thousands of lives. I’m incredibly grateful for everyone I’ve been able to help, and I’m excited to reach even more listeners in the future.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
My podcast team is made up of some of my closest friends, and I’m incredibly grateful for each of them. We all met in college, and each friendship has evolved into a crucial part of the podcast’s success.
Christina, our administrator, was my college roommate for all four years. She’s now an attorney, and while she manages the administrative side of the podcast, she’s also my go-to for reviewing legal documents and contracts. Her expertise is invaluable, and I trust her completely.
Our editor, Kiara, and I became close during a college pageant, and she’s grown from a friend into a sister. She handles all the editing for our podcast, ensuring that everything sounds just right. Her attention to detail and dedication to the podcast’s quality are unmatched.
Karon, our project manager, is my right hand when it comes to social media and creative ideas. He’s always in tune with the latest trends and keeps us connected to what’s happening in the world. Like a brother, he pushes me to bring my best self to the podcast and has been instrumental in its growth.
It all started when I noticed I was constantly texting my friends about ideas for the podcast. Eventually, I decided to bring everyone together in one chat, and that’s how our team was born. My team is truly the heart of my brand—I couldn’t make this podcast without them. I’m forever grateful for their support and can’t wait to see all the great things we’ll accomplish together.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’m always in a cycle of learning and unlearning, but one major lesson that stands out for me—and something my podcast team and I talk about often—is unlearning the spirit of comparison.
There was a time when I would compare my podcast’s numbers to those of other hosts. I’d find myself thinking, “Why does she have more listeners than I do? I started my podcast first!” It was disheartening and draining. But I realized that comparison is the thief of joy. When you’re constantly measuring your success against others, you lose sight of your own accomplishments and can never truly be satisfied.
A close friend and member of my podcast team once asked me, “Brooke, are we doing this for the numbers or for the impact?” That question hit home for me. It reminded me that this journey is uniquely mine, and the true measure of success is the difference I’m making, not the numbers on a chart. I don’t know all the amazing things that lie ahead, but I’m learning to focus on the impact I’m creating rather than comparing my path to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://link.chtbl.com/NeverJudgeABrookePod
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neverjudgeabrookepod/?img_index=1
- Twitter: @brookepod
- Other: https://linktr.ee/neverjudgeabrookebyitscover
Image Credits
Headshots taken by certiphiedphotography