Today we’d like to introduce you to Desey Ann Duke
Hi Desey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY, but moved to Atlanta with my family. I graduated from South Cobb High School in 2019, and like a lot of us at that age, I had no clue what I wanted to do next. For real, graduating high school felt huge, especially coming from where I did—but it was also kind of terrifying. Imagine: a 17-year-old girl with immigrant parents, suddenly expected to have her life all mapped out. My friends were college-bound, and I only started thinking about college halfway through senior year. I figured I’d give it a shot because that’s what everyone else seemed to be doing, not because I really wanted it. I got accepted to Albany State University, but it wasn’t the right fit. I switched from campus to online classes, but even then, I wasn’t sure why I was there. I wasn’t excited about what I was studying; I’d just picked something to pick something. But that summer before college, I had this random idea: why not start a YouTube channel? I dove into research, learned everything I could about editing, content creation—you name it. I set up a channel, made an Instagram page, and started creating. At first, talking to a camera felt super awkward, but it quickly became second nature. Soon, filming, editing, and uploading became my daily routine. My first couple videos got the usual “new creator” views, but then I posted my first story-time. That video ended up changing everything. I’d been feeling down that day, but I pushed myself to film—and it paid off. My channel started blowing up; I was gaining 1,000+ subscribers daily, and soon that video hit a million views! Seeing so much support encouraged me to share more stories and personal experiences with my audience. Fast forward to 2024: I decided to take my storytelling passion to a new level and create a platform for others to share their opinions and experiences without judgment. That’s how my podcast, You Feel Me, was born. I interview everyone from artists to poets, models, directors, college students—you name it. You Feel Me is where real talk meets real laughs, a place for spilling tea on relationships, music beefs, and life’s chaos. It’s like hanging out with friends, where nothing’s off-limits, and every conversation feels like an inside joke.
Now, at 22, that lost 17-year-old girl feels like a distant memory. I’ve done the work—spiritually, mentally, and physically—and I know exactly where I want to go. I’m going back to school for journalism and film & video to build my career in something I truly love. I’m also exploring other interests. Podcasting and connecting with people from all walks of life has been a blessing. It’s definitely something that found me and I can’t wait to see where this journey leads.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t exactly been a joyride. As an entrepreneur, you get those “everything’s up” months and then those “maybe I’ll just skip takeout this week” months. Consistency is everything, and nothing’s guaranteed. At one point in my YouTube journey, I got a little too comfortable. I was happy with the views, the income, the attention, and I let myself get complacent. But that comfort quickly turned into stagnant growth. The views dipped, comments slowed down, and income shrank—it was a wake-up call, to say the least. I remember thinking, “How could you let this opportunity slip?” Of course, I went full dramatic mode and convinced myself that my YouTube career was over, even though it had barely started. What I realized, though, was that this was just a taste of what could be possible if I put in consistent effort. If you do the work, you get the results. Eventually, I forgave myself because holding a grudge against yourself does nothing. I got back to posting, fired up to grow and improve. People talk about starting a podcast, YouTube channel, or content creation like it’s just hitting “record” and uploading—but it’s so much more. You’re not only putting yourself out there for the world, but you’re also usually doing it all alone. No team, no support staff—just you handling everything, from the content to the finances to the promotions. It’s exhausting, and it’s why so many people quit. But I’ve come to appreciate every trial and error, every bump in the road. Those tough moments taught me a lot, forced me to grow, and improved my content. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade those challenges because they’ve made me who I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now, I’m best known as a podcaster, but I still keep up with my YouTube content too. I’ve also had my share of time in the spotlight as a video vixen, modeling in music videos for artists like NLE Choppa, Earth Gang, Baby Tate, and Lil Poppa, plus YouTube videos with AMP and Noluvmar. I got into modeling mainly for networking—I wanted to become a casting director. When I reached out to another casting director for advice, I got some pretty biased, negative feedback. So, I decided to skip the gatekeeping and just dive in myself. Modeling opened doors, introduced me to people, and taught me so much about the industry. While casting is still something I aim to pursue one day, it’s just not my top priority right now. What I’m most proud of is taking a chance on my dreams and putting myself out there. I was a shy, quiet kid growing up, but today, I’m a strong, confident, and driven woman, and I’m really proud of the work it took to become who I am now. What sets me apart? It’s my authenticity. I’m genuinely myself, no matter who’s around or where I am, and I think people respect and appreciate that. In a world full of so much “fake,” it’s refreshing to meet someone real. I also bring an energy and self-confidence that I know people feel. I love that I can show up as myself and earn respect just by being real.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Here’s a fun fact most people don’t know: I was actually mute as a baby, I didn’t speak for the longest time. Fast forward 22 years, and here I am, using my voice as a podcaster! It blows my mind that the voice I didn’t have back then is now my tool for connecting, inspiring, and making people laugh. It’s like life was holding onto my voice, waiting for the right time to let me unleash it. Funny how things work out!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desey.ann/profilecard/?igsh=bTlkeDYyZDR0N2cw
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@deseyann?si=lGr5Pmtx_uAMQDz-
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yfmpodcast?_t=8rCNrgsglWY&_r=1
Image Credits
Lawrence Terrell (club picture) &
Uptown
