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

Chad , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest and most important risk I’ve taken was wanting to put all my time and efforts into the entertainment industry. I was asked did I want to partner up and start our own internet radio station. I immediately said yes despite all the ear chatter of “Who is gonna listen to radio on the internet?” and etc. So less fast forward 20 years later and everything is basically done by the internet lol. Taking this risk opened so many doors for me as the years progressed, from hosting shows not just in the DMV but all over the country. I became a DJ myself and ended up starting my own station called Ryze Radio that was my pride and joy. Then my mom passed and I took some time away from the industry but now it feels good to know I was missed and was welcomed back to the industry with open arms. Over the last year I’ve got to host and Dj many of shows, my podcast The Hollywood Hangout is back and for a lil razzle dazzle I’ll be hosting four shows at SXSW this year.

Chad , 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?

I may have accidently answered this in the first question but I’ll try to elaborate more on what I said. Born and raised in the DMV area Ft. Washington, Md to be exact. Proud graduate of Oxon Hill High School. Spent some time at Morgan State until the opportunity came to me to fall into my industry while being home for the summer. I got hired to be on the street team for an AM radio station and that lasted a whole week before the Program Director decided he wanted me to be an on air talent and that’s where the snowball effect begins lol. I think what sets me apart from others is that I’m relatable and approachable. If there was a real endorsement for being a people person I’d be the poster boy. What I’m most proud of is the fact that I get to put smiles on the faces of people. The best parts of my days are when I’m told someone was having a bad day but listening to my show or coming to an event or even just my social media posts have change the mood of their day. This is when I truly feel like I’m living in my purpose.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The time I had to pivot was when I took the biggest loss of my life. My mom passed away and I hit heavy dark spot of depression and now I can look back on it and I really was just functioning to say I was functioning. It got bad and I didn’t seek help, I decided hey I can self medicate and well you know just make things work and well that went wrong. I ended up catching a DUI and ended up in jail and lost EVERYTHING. So when they tell you God has a way to make you listen, you better listen the first time he talks to you. So literally had to get my confidence back and that took forever not to mention COVID decides to introduce itself to the world and makes all of us sit down. Fast forward to 2024, I’m thinking I’m bout to finally come out my funk and then on my birthday (January 4th) my aunt who was my 2nd mother dies. Now I’m totally crushed and right back in that dark spot. Barely talking to people, not wanting to eat, staying locked up in my room for days at a time, well you see where I’m going. It literally took my sister telling me she wants to do a podcast to snap me out of it. Called my guy Supa Dan up and told him and he said what days you want? I said Saturdays and mi February I was back on air and it was like I never left.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part will always seeing the people that I’ve helped in some way evolve into their own and thrive! I feel the love when my supporters tell me how I helped make their day better. It doesn’t take much to keep me happy and just these things alone in this profession is reward enough for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hollywoodizme
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/hollywoodizTE
• Youtube: @hollywoodhangout2738
• Other: TikTok: @hollywoodizme <----- Pleas follow me there I've recently just been able to go live on there and you can match me dropping mixes and interacting with yall real soon on there.