We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sierra Boone. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sierra below.

Sierra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

It’s not a sexy answer, but doing research and learning from experts helped a bunch. I read so many books and attended so many webinars — especially during the pandemic — that helped me grasp the process of creating a children’s show that could actually be unique, make an impact and stand the test of time.

If you’re really passionate about doing something new, have enough passion to be a novice. Learn the ropes! There’s no shame in being a beginner.

Sierra, 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?

For sure! My name is Sierra L. Boone, and after years of hosting and producing for other brands such as Babbel and Adidas, I decided to venture off and create my own children’s series called The Nap Time Show!

I made The Nap Time Show because, as a lifelong babysitter, I was noticing the adverse effects the pandemic was having on families in my community. Parents, with the blurred lines between work and home, were more burned out than ever. On the flip side, kids were more hyperactive than ever! Then I saw how the media targeting kids were contributing to the issue: SO much of it was inappropriate, overstimulating, exploitative or some mix of all three!

Instead of complaining about it, I figured I could use my experience to do something about it. So, I called my talented family of artists up, and we established Boone Productions, home of The Nap Time Show, which establishes a positive relationship between children and rest for deeper family connections and stronger communities.

Right now, The Nap Time Shows airs on the PBS Michigan Learning Channel, YouTube and streams on the Black Education Station, but we are looking for more distribution partners to spread the good news of healthy sleep habits far and wide!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I apply for lots of things. Sometimes it feels like I’m applying for all the things 😂 such is life on this founder journey.

Last November, I surprisingly made it to the interview round of a fellowship I applied to. I was pretty stoked to get that “We were impressed by your efforts” email.

Leading up to the interview, I practiced:
💎 My pitch
📈 The story
📋 The why
🎯 The who

I had it all rehearsed and ready…or so I thought.

That is, until I was digitally sitting across from a media executive who was also the fellowship’s founder.

She GRILLED me on my business and asked some of the toughest questions I’ve ever received.

Some of those questions? Were ones I hadn’t even asked myself.

Needless to say, I was not selected for that fellowship in the end 😅

But after bombing that interview, I took some time to revisit the questions she asked me. Turns out, I *did* have answers to them, I just never asked them. But doing the work to get those answers gave me a better grasp on my business, strengthened my pitch, and positioned me much more confidently.

And now, I literally reference the document with all those answers regularly for my business.

In his song ‘Still I Rise,’ Big Sean lyricizes “Really, some losses teach you how to win, you know?

Some losses teach you more than always winnin’ ever could.” 💡

He’s right. When what I didn’t know got exposed, it actually empowered me to find out. And uncovering those answers for myself helped me flex a muscle I didn’t even know was there.

I’m sure that muscle helped me land my latest wins.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Love what you like!

Here’s what I mean by that: we as artists put a LOT of ourselves into our creative work. There’s a lot of worrying how the world will receive your creations that comes with the territory, too.

“What if no one likes it?” “What if no one sees it and I created it for nothing?”

Being an artist takes a lot of vulnerability that is almost never required of others.

So, when you like an artists work? When you find that something resonated with you? Show them that love!

To you. it might “just” be a comment or message, but to them it could be exactly what they needed to keep creating.

Artists need community. Be that for someone!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thenaptimeshow.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenaptimeshow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenaptimeshow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boone-productions-llp
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNapTimeShow
• Soundcloud: https://tr.ee/fkM3XVq3JL