We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sanya` Hudson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sanya`, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In 2004, I took a huge risk and relocated from Brooklyn, New York to Pensacola, Florida. Although I took a significant pay cut, the move was essential to providing my daughter with a quality education as well as improving our quality of life. We were both happy until our happiness abruptly ended after a few short weeks when we were affected by Hurricane Ivan.

Coming from New York, my daughter and I had never experienced a category 4 hurricane but knew we were in danger and survival was questionable. Thankfully, we sought shelter because had we not, we both would have lost our lives from the tornadoes that spun off from the hurricane and demolished the home we were living in. We were now homeless, and yet, we were blessed to have made it through!

Although my daughter and I survived the hurricane, our home and all of our belongings were lost. I was left wondering if I would be able to bounce back? Without any clothing, food, or a roof over my head, I was left with so many questions like, “What do I do now?” Never wavering from my faith, I prayed and began to do the work. I knew that this was the ultimate opportunity to rebuild my life the way I envisioned it. It was an opportunity to revisit my passion of writing; a passion that framed the majority of my childhood. At that moment, my next steps were clear. I decided that I wanted to become a published author.

The city was still recovering from Hurricane Ivan and every home was left without electricity and running water. Still, I was determined to take a risk and enter a creative genre I knew nothing about. I intentionally found quiet places and began to write my first book, “The Seasons of Love.” In two years, I signed a contract with a publishing house and became a published author!

I made a choice. I betted on myself. I took a huge risk. I lost everything else. What more could I lose?

Sanya`, 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?

After becoming a published author, it opened up other doors as a creator and I was asked to co-host a radio show whose focus was on interviewing millionaires and billionaires in business, politics and entertainment. I didn’t plan for this at all and never saw this in my future. It just so happens that I was in the right place, at the right time. After a few years as a radio co-host, the station’s owners invited me to host my very own show. At first, I was skeptical. I began to self-sabotage, telling myself that I was incapable of carrying my own show. Then, I remembered that I would always be successful in any endeavor I set my mind to.

Now, I host my own podcast, Sanya On-Air. It evolved from a local radio show to a syndicated podcast dedicated to unpacking celebrity pivotal moments and milestones while providing pipelines to access for those living in marginalized communities. Sanya On-Air differs from a lot of existing celebrity-focused platforms because salaciousness is not the focus. Sanya On-Air highlights success and provides listeners with tools, resources, and empowerment.

I am very proud of the media platform I’ve built. I have had many influential guests on my show and I was able to accomplish this without the backing of any major network. It has been my show’s consistency, quality and dedication to excellence that has now fueled major networks and celebrities to contact me for an interview. When I first started, I was the one pitching, pitching, and pitching! Now, networks and celebrities pitch to me. This demonstrates that I am doing something right!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, there is a goal/mission driving my creative journey. As a black woman who grew up in a marginalized community, I saw firsthand the lack of resources, pipelines and pathways that led to greater opportunities. I believe I owe it to my community to give back by sharing knowledge and information; to be a role model and to reinforce my belief that, “Children can’t be what they don’t see.”

The success that I’ve achieved doesn’t just belong to me, it also belongs to the communities in which I continue to be in service of.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Yes, people need to understand that my journey as a creative did not happen overnight. I put in the work for years! I want people to understand that although it may look like fun, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes disappointments. In this business, you have to get used to hearing, “No.” Do not take it personal. Remain consistent and do not let it deter you because eventually, you will get a resounding and life-altering, “Yes.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sanyaonair.net/
• Instagram: Sanya_OnAir
• Facebook: Sanya On-Air Celebrity Interviews
• Linkedin: Sanya Hudson
• Youtube: @SanyaOnAir
• Other: @Sanya On-Air on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music