We were lucky to catch up with Libby O recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Libby, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Thinking back, it’s hard to name the most meaningful project I’ve worked on since each of them had their purpose during its respective season of my life. I’ve always been drawn to conversations that highlight the most raw form of a guest’s story while guiding the listener to discovering their own purpose, enlightenment, or peace of mind. My love for writing led to podcast production which led to on-camera work. A few years back I published a podcast dedicated to stories about waiting and patience which allowed me to record an interview with my parents that I’ll have forever. I was struggling with a lot of depression at the time and creating an outlet brought me out of this season. I would say at this stage of my career, The Libby O Show platform and brand is a bi-product of my interview opportunities to date.
The colorful, nostalgic aura that The Libby O Show embodies is how I saw the world as a child. While the world isn’t always this way, I can’t seem to lose that perspective because it keeps me moving forward. It makes me feel better. Makes me thankful for the simple joys that we often overlook amidst the distractions. It’s the “spoonful of sugar,” Bewitched magic, Nat King Cole song about “pretending you’re happy when you’re blue,” that just helps me. (I am like 50 years old not sorry lol) Like they say – where there is dark, there is also light.
Occasionally we all need a bit of escapism from the heaviness, the struggle, the striving, the disappointment, etc. with the reminder that life is far too short to not acknowledge the good. God has brought us here, given us what we can’t give ourselves, and offered a reason to rejoice when everything around us says otherwise. My focus is to continuing sharing both light-hearted and deep conversations with engaging experiences that entertain and help others.
Libby, 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?
An interest in becoming on-camera talent was there since I was a kid but I always felt “too shy” to pursue it in reality. I loved watching hosts on The Travel Channel, Today Show, etc. and found it fascinating they lived a “show-and-tell” career! During and after college, a few interviewing opportunities came about and from there I was hooked. In hindsight, I was always creating a blog, podcast, or other side project that helped me in my editing and brand development. I guess you could say my dream kept discovering me over and over again until I was brave enough to own it. I have always pursued creative projects from an entrepreneurial mindset. I spent years teaching myself how to shoot, edit, and produce stories while creating promotional pieces and building trust with PR teams I came in contact with at red carpet events. I am the most proud of the years I spent honing my writing and graphic design skills, problem-solving, and building industry relationships that led me to start my own show!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
My career path has taken many pivots for sure! I would say something many people don’t know or think about is how much work goes into a creative pursuit. For me, each episode requires so much attention to detail and thought while outsourcing when I can financially afford it. Additionally, I believe there is this unspoken pressure to make it as a “starving artist” without any sort of stability to prove success. Throughout my time building The Libby O Show I’ve either worked multiple part-time jobs or a full-time job with the show being my side hustle. I think pivots are healthy doses of change that keep us from giving into complacency. As long as you are taking steps each day to nurture your calling, I say that’s success even if not by society’s standards.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
It’s Never Too Late by Kathie Lee Gifford and Dick Van Dyke’s My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, are my top two favorite reads. Both memoirs have impacted my perspective on uncertainty and trusting that it’s never too late for that big break to happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://libbyoshow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelibbyoshow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLibbyOShow
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libbyo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelibbyoshow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ05j5UIN42o7thCVE6koqg
- Other: Artist profile on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1eSpE8h8RQC5Pvyr3p2JUn?si=136d8c68cf724b07&nd=1 Libby O Show Radio: https://anchor.fm/libbyoshow