We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful DARRIAN LYNCH (TURKBISH). We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with DARRIAN below.
DARRIAN, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I chose to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally because creativity has always been both my refuge and my voice. Growing up in North Carolina, my life was shaped early by loss, transition, and the need to find meaning beyond circumstance. Being raised by my aunt and uncle after losing my birth mother instilled strength and compassion in me, but it also required me to learn how to process emotion, identity, and purpose at a young age. Creativity—through music, performance, storytelling, and observation—became the way I made sense of the world and my place within it.
From childhood, I was drawn to music, performance, and celebrity culture not simply as entertainment, but as mirrors of possibility. I recognized early on that storytelling had the power to heal, connect, and transform. The evolution of my nickname from “Turkey” to TURK and ultimately TURKBISH symbolized more than a name—it represented my growing confidence in my voice and my willingness to step fully into who I am. I felt innately called to be seen, heard, and impactful, and creative expression was the most natural and authentic vehicle for that calling.
My academic and professional journey in Social Work and Public Health further solidified this path rather than diverting me from it. Immersion in Ballroom culture, LGBTQ+ nightlife, student-led production, and content creation while in Greensboro allowed me to witness firsthand how art, community, and self-expression save lives—especially for marginalized voices. Creativity and advocacy became inseparable for me. I realized that I did not have to choose between being educated and being expressive; my creativity could coexist with—and even amplify—my purpose-driven work.
The loss of my adoptive mother and grandfather marked a turning point, transforming creativity from passion into necessity. Launching Talk With Turk was not just a career move—it was an act of survival, healing, and reclamation. Through the podcast, I discovered that my lived experience, commentary, and authenticity resonated globally, affirming that my voice held value beyond my immediate environment. The international reach, chart success, and opportunities that followed reinforced what I had always felt internally: that creativity was not a detour from success, but the pathway to it.
Ultimately, I pursued a creative and artistic career because it allows me to merge resilience with purpose, vulnerability with strength, and personal truth with collective impact. My creativity gives me the freedom to build community, challenge narratives, and create space for voices that often go unheard—including my own. It is how I honor my past, serve my present, and build a legacy rooted in authenticity, connection, and transformation.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Darrian Montavias Lynch, professionally known as TURKBISH, is the visionary creator and host of the internationally celebrated, chart-topping podcast Talk With Turk. Born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and raised in Hollister, NC, Darrian’s journey is one defined by resilience, intention, and continuous self-discovery. After losing his birth mother in infancy, he was raised by his aunt and uncle—who later became his adoptive parents—and was instilled with core values of strength, compassion, and an unwavering sense of identity.
While attending Warren County High School, Darrian was affectionately nicknamed “Turkey” by his close friend Alexia Gyant, a name that eventually evolved into the now-distinct moniker TURK, which he proudly embraces and credits as part of his personal evolution. From an early age, he was drawn to music, performance, and celebrity culture, guided by an innate understanding that his voice carried purpose and deserved a platform.
Darrian’s academic journey reflects both curiosity and commitment. He studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, earned an Associate Degree in Arts and General Studies from Guilford Technical Community College, and graduated in 2019 from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Social Work. During his time in Greensboro, he became deeply involved in Ballroom culture, LGBTQ+ nightlife, student-led production through Couture Productions, and social media content creation—experiences that played a pivotal role in shaping the bold, authentic, and unapologetic persona that defines TURK today.
In 2021, Darrian expanded his professional foundation by earning a Master of Public Health from Liberty University. This achievement further established his expertise in health education, infectious disease, counseling, and case management across mental health, substance use, behavioral health, and public health systems.
Following the profound losses of his adoptive mother and grandfather, Darrian transformed grief into purpose by launching Talk With Turk—a fearless and dynamic podcast offering personal commentary on music, entertainment, celebrity culture, politics, love, health, and healing. The show rapidly gained global momentum, ranking in the top 5% of more than three million podcasts worldwide, charting in over 60 countries, and consistently appearing in the Top 200 Entertainment News category on Apple Podcasts.
Through Talk With Turk, Darrian has charted alongside—and frequently above—major industry names, leading to impactful conversations with figures such as Ashley Tamar Davis, Billboard Baby, Jerome Trammel, Tiyon Christian, Sapphire Eden, Tabitha Brown, Jasmine Masters, Angelica Ross, and many others. His in-person networking extends to acclaimed artists including Nicki Minaj, Monica, Ledisi, Maxwell, Flo Milli, FLO, and K. Michelle.
The podcast’s success paved the way for expansion into radio, earning Darrian a position as a DJ host on Power 109 Radio in Denver, Colorado. Now in its sixth season, Talk With Turk has evolved into a full visual podcast produced in partnership with THE CMPND, Inc., further amplifying its reach and cultural impact.
Despite enduring immense adversity—including the loss of both biological parents, surviving sexual assault at age 13, experiencing a hate crime at 19, and a suicide attempt at 20—Darrian Lynch has emerged as a powerful, unapologetic, and inspiring voice. He has since found love and stability with his fiancé and soon-to-be husband, Hezikia, an emerging North Carolina music artist.
Through his artistry, advocacy, and fearless authenticity, TURKBISH continues to challenge boundaries and redefine success on his own terms—creating space not only for himself, but for anyone who has ever felt unseen or unheard. With additional talents in songwriting, recording, dance and choreography, and photography, Talk With Turk represents only the beginning of a far-reaching creative legacy. Rooted in North Carolina while cultivating strong connections throughout Georgia, New York, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, TURKBISH is steadily expanding his influence—one conversation at a time.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the ability to create and contribute to the world in a meaningful way—not just through art, but through impact. Creativity gives me the power to turn lived experience into something that resonates beyond myself. Whether it’s a conversation, a story, a visual, or a moment of honesty, I get to place something into the world that didn’t exist before and allow it to serve others in whatever way they need it.
Being a creative allows me to communicate possibility. Every project I touch is an opportunity to send a message that anything is achievable with hard work, intention, research, and determination. I don’t believe creativity exists in isolation; it’s connected to discipline, learning, strategy, and perseverance. Behind every visible success is unseen effort—studying the craft, understanding the business, doing the work when no one is watching, and staying committed even when the outcome is uncertain. Being able to model that process openly is just as important to me as the final product.
What makes it especially fulfilling is knowing that my creativity can reach people who may not see themselves reflected elsewhere. Art and storytelling have the power to validate experiences, shift perspectives, and inspire movement. If my work helps someone feel seen, encourages them to take a risk, or reminds them that their background does not limit their future, then the creative process has done exactly what it was meant to do.
Ultimately, being an artist gives me the freedom to merge purpose with expression. I get to build, educate, and inspire—while proving that creativity is not just about talent, but about resilience, preparation, and belief. The reward is knowing that my contribution extends beyond me, leaving behind a message that possibility is real, attainable, and worth pursuing.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn was the habit of measuring my progress against everyone else’s timeline. For a long time, I believed that success had a specific pace—and if I wasn’t moving at the same speed as my peers, then I must be falling behind. That mindset quietly created pressure, self-doubt, and unnecessary anxiety, even while I was actively doing the work.
The backstory goes back to my college years and a conversation with one of my best friends from high school, Tyler Jones. I remember expressing how discouraged I felt, telling her that it seemed like everyone around me was getting further ahead while I was still trying to find my footing. She stopped me and reminded me of something simple, yet life-changing: we all have our own journey and our own path, and it makes no sense to measure yours against someone else’s. What you’re meant for will arrive when you’re prepared for it.
That moment stayed with me. From then on, I made a conscious decision to shift my mindset. I began setting affirmations for myself, focusing less on comparison and more on consistency. Instead of asking, “Why not me yet?” I started asking, “What can I do today to get closer to where I want to be?” I stayed committed to my goals, trusted my process, and allowed my path to unfold naturally.
Over time, that lesson proved itself true. By honoring my own journey and remaining consistent, I began finding myself in the very same rooms I once thought I was late to—having conversations, opportunities, and experiences that aligned with my purpose. Unlearning comparison taught me that progress isn’t about speed; it’s about alignment, patience, and believing that your time will come when you’re ready for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/TURKBISH
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turkbish
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealTurkBISH/
- Twitter: https://x.com/TURKBISH_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/turkbish10
- Other: Audio Podcast Website: https://talkwithturk.codeadx.me/
MERCH for LGBTQ+and HBCU Grads: https://tr.ee/qXS-CrMk90
Sponsors: https://tr.ee/cbMCZoiR1S
Savage x Fenty Sponsors (60% 0ff): https://tr.ee/Dt3cBA0Fj8
Doc Marten Sponsors (30% off): https://tr.ee/9EIeqTVRBO
Image Credits
Image and Video Credits: Darrian Montavias Lynch (TURKBISH) and The CMPND, Inc. of Winston-Salem, NC