We recently connected with Taroy Jackson and have shared our conversation below.

Taroy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I started podcasting around February 2019 and it has really been life changing and saving for me. In 2019 my life was kind of in a tale spin I was about five years removed from my last year of college following the academic suspension and just felt like I had a gift but didn’t know how to really use it. My major was broadcast journalism and although I feel like everything happens for a reason I wish I would have started earlier because I feel like I would have been able to keep some the momentum I had at the time broadcasting games for the men and women basketball team at Florida A&M University it would have been an easier transition. I started podcasting a little bit before the pandemic really hit but with the pandemic hitting I was able to focus and form a business around podcasting as well. I was always curious if I started earlier where would I be but I don’t think I would have met the people I met if I started around a different time.

Taroy , 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?

My name is Taroy creator of “Thoughts Of an Average Joe Podcast” and “Baby Daddy Chronicles”. I also am the owner and founder of The Average Joe Media LLC. Growing up I wanted to be a sports broadcaster but things don’t happen as you always want them to happen so I entered the podcast space around Feb 2019 for Thoughts Of An Average Joe and I launched Baby Daddy Chronicles Sept 2021. I actually got into this industry because a friend of mine was going to start a podcast and I said hmm I like to talk I could do this. It didn’t take much a $30 usb mic and some software and I was officially up and rolling.

Through the years my equipment was gotten better which eventually led me to start my business The Average Joe Media LLC in July of 2021.

Business wise my equipment and turn around time and quality sets me apart. Think of me as a mobile podcast studio as I bring all my equipment to you set it up and all you have to do is talk in the comfort of your own home.

Podcast wise my quality is top tier I pride myself on that and being relatable because I talk about every day life stuff that people can relate to they don’t call me Your Favorite Average Joe for no reason.

I started Baby Daddy Chronicles because I felt like even though I don’t have any children fathers wasn’t being represented in the same positive light as mothers and there are some amazing dads out there and if I could get their stories out there then it could help inspire other dads who situation may be a little different that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

With Thoughts Of An Average Joe even though I mainly touch on topics and relationships geared more toward the African American Community my conversations and guest are very diverse and I would like to say they have seen a maturation process over the last three years and because of the that the podcast is forever growing.

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.

As a podcaster and someone who owns a business centered around podcasting and media I think a lot of people feel like if you put a mic in from them and talk people will listen and that’s definitely not always the case. Podcasting is an art and a skill. It takes time to research topics, put shoes together, push out content, and being consistent on social media. How is the quality of your sound? Are you entertaining? Can you carry a show on your own or do you always need guests? How is your social media presence? Even with my being in the podcasting space for three years the only thing I struggle with is the social media presence. It’s the only thing I’m not consistent with because I’m not gonna lie it’s very tedious and takes a lot of work! As far as podcasting wise you have to be consistent with a set time and date so people know ok the episode is coming out every Wednesday at 6 am it gives them something to look forward to. Also please don’t get fooled because you see celebrities do it please remember they already have a following most of us are startling from the ground up. Give yourself some grace and be patient because it’s going to be a long journey but an amazing one if you see it through!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that people will support who they want and just because that is your best friend they aren’t obligated to listen to you. People I hardly know support my podcast and business more than my friends and family. I used to feel a way about it before I realized that they aren’t obligated to support me in that fashion. Would I like for them to support me? Sure but they aren’t required to. I come from a Christian background but my podcast isn’t about that background so I knew certain people wouldn’t listen and that’s ok but getting support from all over the world from people I don’t know means I’m doing something right. I had to learn to just focus on your craft and the right people will gravitate to what you’re trying to do and will support you. If you keep getting caught up on why your friends and family doesn’t support you it will hinder you.

Business wise I had to learn to not take everything personal. In the past I worked with people and they stopped working with me for whatever reason or they got their own equipment or whatever the case is I just had to stop taking everything personal and be patient. The right people will come to you just put in the work, be patient, and you’ll see the fruits of your labor.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theaveragejoemedia.com
• Instagram: @averagjtpc @babydaddychroniclespod @theaveagejoemedia @theoriginalplaymaker
• Twitter: @yafavaveragejoe
• Youtube: The Average Joe Media LLC
• Other: Thoughts Of An Average Joe & Baby Daddy Chronicles you can find on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Breaker, etc