We were lucky to catch up with Taia Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Taia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One project I had the opportunity to work on was DFW Fashion Week presents Standing Tall Fashion and Pop-Up Show Honoring Disability Awareness hosted by Cocky Kidz Clothing brand. This was an incredible event and very meaningful to me because we never see kids nor adults with disabilities receive the shine and light that they so overly deserve. I had the best time meeting a lot of the young models who came to slay the runway. JFL Production and I had a wonderful time just seeing them glow and enjoy life to fullest and allowing no limits slow them down. Never take life for granted and never complain because if these children and adults with disabilities can stand tall and let nothing hold them back then I’m sure we can all do the same.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Tprettysmile, host of Real Raw Let’s Talk Podcast. This platform gives birth to honest unfiltered conversation and discussions. Guests are introduced to an unknown topic where we share totally unscripted dialogue on various subjects, hence the name Real Raw Let’s Talk. Along with being an entrepreneur, I am also a home health care aid full time. I love caring for people. Being that I have a big heart and love to be a helping hand where I can, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Real Raw Let’s Talk shows how we can have unscripted dialogue and agree or not agree however, find solutions in bringing up topics that are mandatory to have amongst family, friends, colleagues, and even neighbors. What brought my podcast about was due to me having a brain condition called Chairi Malformation. With having this condition, it became hard to find confidence in speaking to people due to the symptoms I was experiencing. After finding an online support group I began to open up and relate to things people were experiencing and be myself in what I was experiencing. I began to sit back and think of all the other problems people are battling and not saying anything as I was. Things such as single parenting, child support, health conditions, and grief to name a few. In doing this I knew there were others who may be struggling with various things worse than me and are not talking about it as well. After finding my voice again I realized there were many conversations amongst the world, cultures, and families that were not being discussed but assumed we should know. This created the foundation for Real Raw Let’s Talk Podcast. I wanted to also highlight business owners and businesses, so I soon began to interview various owners and promote them on the show. I wanted to be able to offer a resource as I find that in this world, “we” are alot of times last to find things that could have been useful on our journey in life.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had been doing podcast for only a short amount of time before I did my first interview. I had never done an interview before and was so nervous. Someone had referred me to host interviews based on the podcast shows they had seen. I was nervous and didn’t think this was my lane of things but with my editor Fred of JFL Production, believing in me and seeing a bigger vision than I had ever imagined or saw myself doing I built up the courage to take on the opportunity. Never did I think this would be the pivoting point in my career. I interviewed several entrepreneurs and vendors and since have been booked for a variety of interviewing opportunities and have been able to incorporate them with my podcast. Sometimes you have to bet on yourself.!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a podcaster is being able to see and hear your guests are comfortable with being vulnerable and open to discussions that they are continuing to talk about once leaving the show. To have interviews with guests who are scared, bashful, and so nervous to talk on camera, then see the same guest own their element, become comfortable, and at ease is so inspiring. I have a speech problem that is very obvious at times, and I used to get looks that would make me not want to talk to anyone. I never wanted my guest to experience that feeling, I always make sure my guest feels special and comfortable. I love when they share with me how I made them comfortable and forget they were doing an interview, makes me feel like it’s my special superpower.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @realrawletstalk
• Facebook: Real Raw Lets Talk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEJbj1W5J8H2tPQxb-z_f-Q

Image Credits
JFL Productions A-List Photography Bee Capture Photography