Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Smith, Co-host of the “Connecting the Dots” podcast presented by Live Hip Hop Daily and Innovative Black Station.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Caleb. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
After walking away from football my freshmen year of college at Reinhardt University, I knew that I had a greater calling on my life. Although I had the physical talent and abilities to take me as far as I desired within the sport, I wanted to be more than an athlete. All throughout grade school, I served as an on-air personality for my school’s mass media platforms. Due to always being in love with being on the camera along with writing stories, I always knew that journalism would be my plan B.
Hence, I was able to put this plan into action my fall semester at Reinhardt, where I served as a co-host of RU TV, which was the university’s main communication platform. After honing into my craft, a hunger emerged inside of me to reach the level of success that I’ve always dreamed of. I later joined the school newspaper, “The Hiltonian”, and then set my sights on transferring to Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia as a means to gain more exposure and network within a bigger market. This would prove to be one of the best decisions of my life.
Going into my Sophomore year, I was accepted into Georgia State University. During the summer, when I learned that I was accepted, my mother encouraged me to apply to the Georgia State Honors College due to my strong GPA. Thanks to both my mom and my father encouraging me to apply, I soon became accepted. Following my acceptation into the Honors College, I then met my mentor, Dr. Jacob English who now serves as the GSU Honors College’s Director of the Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships.
Upon meeting Dr. English during an advisement session, he offered me a position as both a university assistant and leading journalist of the Honors College that day. He saw something that I had yet to even see in myself. Through the position, I was able to spotlight the undergraduate scholarship experience through podcasts, feature stories, articles, and documentaries. From this awesome experience, I was able to build my portfolio tremendously which led me to where I am today.
During the same time that I was working at the Honors College, I also earned a position at the GSU Signal where I then became a writer, producer, and host of the GSU Signal’s podcasts, “Chillin’ with Caleb”, “Necessary Knowledge & Nonsense”, and the “Statement.” Through both The Signal and the Honors College, I knew that I was ready for the next step – an internship.
After applying for multiple internships during the spring of my junior year of college, I couldn’t find an internship where I felt like I could be true to myself and spread my wings within entertainment journalism. Over time, I remembered the times that I would do to Hip Hop Trivia hosted at Slice on Piedmont at the time by renowned journalists, Branden Peters, and Maurice Garland. My professor and mentor, journalist Christopher Daniel along with my classmates would always go every Wednesday night to hip hop trivia to have a great time while learning to network effectively. Professor Daniel was able to introduce me to Peter and Garland. After speaking with Garland and Peters, I was able to contact Peters later for internship inquiries where he hosted his podcast, “Day 1 Radio” with Garland at Live Hip Hop Daily,
I was then able to earn an internship at Live Hip Hop Daily under the supervision of the brand’s owner, H. Imperial. During my internship under H, I was able to learn how to multi-task, operate as an entrepreneur, and build a strong media platform that represents your audience. Also, during this time, I was able to constantly study the work ethic of the brand’s producer and cameraman, Jabari Blackmond, “J. Black.”
Similar to Dr. English, both J. Black and H saw something in me. At the conclusion of my internship, I was offered a co-hosting position on the “Connecting the Dots” podcast produced by J. Black and co-hosted by Kymmy Cocoa. Through this opportunity, I gained a second family, where we tackle current issues affecting the black community, and where we have discussions with community leaders, activists, and intellectuals to provide our audience with a variety of perspectives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Yes and no! Every day and every year is a challenge. When trying to grow a media platform, your brand, and yourself, there are always obstacles. Transitioning from sports to journalism was a huge adjustment. All your life you think that your life will go in one direction, but when you realize God has a different calling your life, you then learn that you have to step out of your comfort zone. Furthermore, you see that its bigger than yourself.
I believe that you must lead by example, and serve as an inspiration not only for your peers but for the next generation. By maintaining that mindset, it helps me remain positive. Sometimes, it gets frustrating when you compare your viewership, subscribers, analytics, and overall numbers to other platforms, due to it simply being human nature. But you have to trust the process. I’m a firm believer in that. Moreover, I know that quality stands the test of time and what God has for you is for you.
Co-host of the “Connecting the Dots” podcast presented by Live Hip Hop Daily and Innovative Black Station – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Innovative Black Station is a media company owned by producer, business owner, and creative Jabari Blackmond. As a co-host of the platform, my team and I specialize in telling the stories of the black community and overall the world in both fun in educating way. Innovative Black is a full-service production company and online media platform.
Innovative Black creates original content that educates, entertains and expose viewers to new information. We specialize in business commercials, events, documentaries, live production, corporate videos, editing services, consulting and directing original content.
Innovative Black aims to become a resource in the black community by promoting black excellence and providing thought-provoking content that informs and inspires all audiences.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as the ability to inspire any and everything around you. Through inspiration, everything else will fall in line. Whether it’s financial, spiritual, or in a social aspect, through inspiring people around you, success will reveal itself.
Hearing people say that they love our media platform is a success to me. Having people tell me that they loved a previous episode and that they learned so much from it is a success. Having a guest come onto the show, and say that it was their favorite interview after a show is a success to me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 140 Walker Street, Atlanta, Ga
- Website: http://innovativeblackstation.com/about-2/
- Phone: 404-558-7664, 513-708-8885, 713-574-0474
- Email: InnovativeBlackStation@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeblackstation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Connecting-the-Dots-450973538822399/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Image Credit:
Photo taken by Jabari Blackmond. Caleb Smith (myself) to the left, Kymmy CoCoa to the right, special guest Kevin Grimes in the middle.
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