We recently connected with Troy Vaughan III and have shared our conversation below.

Troy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

The name RING|SIDE comes from boxing, which is one of my favorite sports. The concept of RING|SIDE is debate; debate between outspoken, over-the-top, and opinionated men and women, gathered to verbally spar over topics related to singlehood, dating, marriage, sex, and kink/fetish. The debates are structured like boxing matches between verbal heavyweights and contenders; we are positioned upfront RING|SIDE to the contentious gender wars between men and women in an effort to address the factors that quell dating and marital communications. Also, the name RING|SIDE is meant to underscore what side of the wedding RING you’re on, i.e., unmarried, married, or divorced.

Troy, 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 Troy Vaughan, III (Tre’ Amazing), I am an Atlanta dating commentator, media personality, and content creator. Through social media, traditional media, and audience engagement I tackle the genre of dating, relationships, and sex with unwavering conviction and determination. My goal is to make Atlanta the epicenter for dating and marital wellness.

I’m originally from Memphis, TN, but I have lived in Georgia for over 25 years, and I am proud to call Atlanta my home. I hold a degree in business administration from Morehouse College; a graduate certificate in public health from Georgia State University; and a master’s degree in public health from Morehouse School of Medicine.

I am also the co-creator of RING|SIDE, LLC which is an organization that galvanizes communication between Outspoken, Over-the-Top, and Opinionated men and women via fiery, fun-filled, and interactive debate to promote healthier and more fulfilling marriages, as well as higher dating IQs. The RING|SIDE community is comprised of verbal heavyweights, from diverse walks of life, who come together to debate polarizing topics that are salient in singlehood, dating, marriage, sex, and kink/fetish. The debates are meant to enrich and empower members with better insight into human behavior in the realm of dating and relationships. Creating and fostering the RING|SIDE community for over 10 years is what has led me down the path of dating commentary and radio/podcasting.

Alongside my business partner, Kenya Anderson, I am also the official Atlanta partner for The Sweet Spot. The Sweet Spot is an elaborate and electric pop erotica variety showcase out of New York that tours the U.S. and features the best and brightest local talent in spoken word and visual arts. The show features arousing performances in pop erotic poetry, burlesque, pole dancing, body paint modeling, music, comedy, fashion, and more. Through RING|SIDE, Kenya and I promote, recruit, and market the Sweet Spot to our large network of followers as well as to the entire Atlanta community.

I am proud of his steadfast commitment to the genre of dating and relationships, as well as the support I have received from other respected influencers and professionals in the field.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I started my YouTube channel much, much earlier in my journey. I started the channel in the spring of 2021 after seeing a Samsung commercial featuring BTS. It was a television commercial for the all-new Samsung Galaxy S21, which just so happen to be the phone I had at that time. The commercial touted the phone’s video and camera features and directorial agility. It made me take a long, hard look at myself and wonder why I wasn’t doing more with my phone other than making phone calls, texting, and social media. Something in me awoke and I forced myself then and there to learn as much as I could about all the features of my new phone and how I could use it to better my business. I played and experimented with my phone’s camera and video functions all weekend and eventually decided to start a YouTube channel loosely influenced by one of my favorite YouTubers, DJ Vlad.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

In 2018, my then wife, without warning, filed for divorce. Her reason for the divorce was uniquely personal to her based on a new outlook on life and happiness; as well as the discovery of new interests that seemed to take precedence over the marriage. The divorce was truly devastating and turned my entire world upside down. She was my best friend and my favorite person. Though she assured me the divorce wasn’t a result of anything I did within the marriage, it was unexpected, nonetheless.

As someone who committed his life to addressing the issues and miscommunications that divide men and women in dating and relationships, this was a professional set-back for me and RING|SIDE. Because the details of our divorce were largely and deliberately kept private, many on social media seized the opportunity to demonize and vilify me, while simultaneously exculpating her. Pretty soon I became the subject of widespread gossip and rumor mill. It was a very painful and eye-opening experience that taught me how people perceived divorce in terms of who is and isn’t guilty of wrongdoing.

As a result of the divorce, some people left the RING|SIDE group; and some, who chose to stay, began to question the reliability and credibility of the organization’s mission. I was unfairly and undeservingly labeled a fraud, a cheater, an abuser, unfit husband by many and forced to deal with the scrutiny of being a divorced dating commentator. Overtime, I began to see how the divorce made me more relatable to so many who had similar experiences. Many faithfully stood in my corner, supported me, and helped me during my recovery. The residual controversy surrounding the divorce forced me into a corner and made me realize that there is life after divorce if I choose to embrace it. Divorce didn’t mean the end of RING|SIDE or my ability to thrive in the genre of dating and relationships, hence why I am still building and still surfing on success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ringsidedebates.com
• Instagram: Datingcommentator
• Facebook: Troy Vaughan III
• Linkedin: Datingcommentator
• Youtube: Youtube.com/ringsidellc

Image Credits
Shoccara Marcus