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

Jillian, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I am a content creator,, storyteller that brings authentic narratives to life through both digital and television platforms. I learned my craft through hands on experience and a constant process of trial and error. I learned from living life and the world around me. Without formal media training, my personality and authenticity took me a long way. For the technical part of my craft for instance on Youtube, I had to learn how to edit my footage on a programme that I had never seen in my life. It was like learning a foreign language. However, mistakes, trial and error and lots of frustration, made editing easier along the way. Knowing what I know now, I might have taken on a more structured approach by perhaps enrolling in formal courses BUT I believe that the path that I took and the struggles with it, was uniquely mine. Perhaps the conventional course of study wasn’t for me. I believe that the skills that were most essential besides being authentic or being able to connect with people, I would say that being able to adapt ands pivot quickly for digital platforms and traditional TV is crucial. Also the technical proficiency where understanding production, editing and the technical side allows me to bring my content creation to life in a polished way. Engaging effectively with my audience, collaborators, and even subjects requires clear, compelling communication. The obstacles that stood in my way of learning more were both external and internal hurdles. I often had to learn on the fly, making many mistakes (painful at times) it taught me valuable lessons about my entire craft, but the greatest obstacle was my self doubt. I would question my abilities but in the end, these challenges may have slowed me down at times, but it shaped me into a resilient and authentic creator.

Jillian, 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 am Jillian Danford but to millions, I’m known as “Auntie Jillian”, your global Auntie, keeping it real! I share my family, friends, culture and life experiences giving people a front row seat to real moments. What started on YouTube eventually led me into my own television show “Auntie Jillian”. My journey into the industry started unexpectedly. It all began when my niece encouraged me to start a YouTube channel, and what started as a small passion project soon grew into something much bigger. I had no formal training, but I had a love for sharing stories and connecting with others. Over the years, that passion transformed into a full-fledged career that spans both digital media and television.

I’ve had the privilege of working on diverse projects, including my reality TV show “Auntie Jillian” and there’s something exciting in the works, another chapter in my journey of telling real stories and moments. I can’t reveal too much just yet but trust me, it’s worth the wait Along the way, I’ve learned the art of storytelling, both on screen and behind the scenes, honing my craft through hands-on experience, trial, and error. I’m not just a host, I craft and share stories that are real, relatable and heartfelt, always ensuring authenticity shines through.

I’ve built my career by being adaptable and staying true to my voice. Whether I’m working with a team on a production, hosting an event or creating content for YouTube, I focus on staying connected to my audience, keeping things real, and never losing sight of why I started. It’s that authenticity that has allowed me to expand my reach and connect with people all over the world.

I believe in empowering others, at any age, to find their voice, much like I did, and share it with the world. There is no better time than now to start creating. I am also an advocate for empowering youth and looking to expand my efforts into the mental health space.

From YouTube to television, my journey is about more than just content creation—it’s about making real connections, telling meaningful stories, and continuing to evolve with the ever-changing landscape of media. Authenticity got me to where I am, and I stand firm on that.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Based on my social media presence, I had the rare occasion of 11,000 people subscribed to my Youtube Channel, which had no content at the time, however they all patiently waited for me to create content, even though at that time I wasn’t clear on the vision. From there, the channel grew from folks that were interested in watching my family and friends and our everyday lives. Our relatability is key and that’s how the channel grew, people connected because they wanted to see families just like theirs. They wanted to laugh and from reading their comments, my followers who I call “Lovelies”, will tell you that “we brighten up their days”. It was like watching a sitcom to many but they felt like I involved them by responding to their comments and treated them like my online family,. From there, the channel sparked organic growth.,

For those just starting out, my advice is simple: stay authentic, be consistent and engage with your audience. Do not try to be someone you are not just for views or followers,. People can tell when you are being genuine and that is what attracts a loyal, engaged audience. Another slice of advice that I can give to those starting out is to be patient. Followers and loyalty from them do not come overnight. Focus on the quality of your content and the relationship you build with your audience. Patience and persistence and of course, your passion will be the key to building a loyal audience.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability to impact and connect with others through my work. Whether it’s sharing a personal story, giving someone a sense of belonging, or inspiring a new perspective, there’s nothing quite like knowing that something you’ve created has resonated with someone else. In my work, I’ve been able to engage with my audience in a meaningful way, not just as a content creator, but as a voice that people can relate to. An Auntie that they never knew they had.

Seeing how my content has made people feel understood, empowered, or entertained is incredibly fulfilling. The beauty of being an artist or creative is the opportunity to transform ideas into reality, whether it’s on screen, in writing, or through a project and see it touch lives in ways that you may not have even imagined. The journey of creating something from scratch and then sharing it with the world, knowing it has a life of its own, is a profound and humbling experience

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askauntiejillian/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/DZl2q3WEilM
• Other: https://tv1.bell.ca/fibetv1/shows/auntie-jillian

Image Credits

Photo Credit Desran McKie, white dress and family image