Rising Stars: Meet Samantha Mandell Melissa Matthews of Alpharetta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Mandell Melissa Matthews.

Hi Samantha Mandell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
(Melissa) It’s incredible looking back on how Skirts Up actually started.
Our story is really rooted in the friendship of our husbands, Brett and Simon, who were best friends and roommates for years, which naturally brought Sam and me together.

(Sam) The idea of doing a podcast was actually just a casual thought floating around—at one point, it was a firm no for me as an extreme introvert.

(Melissa) But I was like, “Oh, I’ve actually always wanted to do one!” It wasn’t until Sam faced some intense life and health challenges, like developing seizures that kept her stuck at home, that we seriously revisited it. She reached out and asked if I was serious about starting a podcast and I said, “Absolutely!”

(Sam) Being confined made it a perfect time and distraction for me to dive into research mode on everything from equipment, web design, platforms, and strategies. The first six months were incredibly intense, learning everything from scratch! Initially, I had this perfectionist mindset about what the podcast had to be, but it genuinely transpired into something so much better. —it took on its own beautiful life, guided by mentorship and the honest conversations that sparked our curiosity. Now, heading into season five, what we’ve truly built is more than just a show; it’s a community where everyone can be comfortable accepting themselves as they are, knowing that we are all perfectly imperfect. Touching people’s lives and letting them know they are not alone has become our passion mission, and honestly, that’s what makes all the hard work so incredibly special.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
(Melissa) – Is the road ever smooth?

(Sam) – Absolutely not, but we’ve learned it’s less about having money for “smooth pavement” and more about who you put in your corner—the people who make the journey worthwhile. One of our main struggles is the financial aspect; we are truly balling on a budget, pouring our own time and money into making a difference without major sponsors, which has been consistently rocky.

(Melissa)- Adding to that, our podcast name, Skirts Up, intended as a fierce statement of self-empowerment, autonomy, and curiosity, has sometimes been a hurdle; we’ve faced outright rejection from certain sectors while raising money for charity due to our willingness to explore diverse topics being deemed “not godly.”

(Sam) – In that moment, we cried and certainly questioned if we were dong something wrong. But it was pivotal. It confirmed we would never compromise our message or our name just for acceptance. We realized we have to stand up for ourselves and continue to share things that are typically “pushed under the rug.” That brings us to our biggest personal struggle: the fear of being vulnerable. We’ve had to push through significant mental blocks to share very deep, public details about domestic violence, divorce, and mental health.

(Melissa)- However, conquering that fear is not just for us; it’s our purpose, because sharing our truth allows listeners to say, “I’ve been through some sh*t, but I’m not the only one.” We ARE committed to kicking down every barrier in the future. While I am genuinely happy and proud of where we are, I fully support Sam’s vision for a bigger platform where we can facilitate this vital, in-person connection on a larger scale. In essence, our passion is to take our current intimate, truth-telling conversations and scale them up to bring our perfectly imperfect community together face-to-face. On stage.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
(Melissa) – It is an ART to create space for freedom of self-expression. What we do with Skirts Up is less about providing definitive answers and more about inspiring people to be curious about themselves and the world.

(Sam) – We specialize in providing a perfectly imperfect approach to sensitive subjects; we’re proud that experts tell us the beauty of our work is the authentic, unpolished nature we bring. Our unique differentiator is the “vibe” we cultivate: we’re known for having very serious, often deep conversations about things like mental health and domestic violence, but in a light, upbeat way that makes them easy to digest and relate to. We describe our work as bringing all the “doors” of discovery to our listeners—if a topic resonates, they can dive as deep as they want-

(Melissa)- but we never shove anything on them. We are most proud of the tangible impact we’ve made; knowing our episodes, such as the one on domestic violence, have directly connected a listener with the investigator we interviewed to help her escape a dangerous situation is what drives us. Ultimately, we feel we’ve accomplished our goal of creating a comfortable, safe space. Sam, I have to say, the personal growth Skirts Up has had on you is profound.

(Samantha) – As the podcast gave me permission to explore who and what I truly am in all aspects of the word. It even led me to the door of my new career as a Rapid Transformational Therapy Practitioner—proof that our commitment to growth and honest dialogue transforms not just our community, but us as well. Opening in January is my new practice, “Sweet Soul Wellness”

Who else deserves credit in your story?
(Melissa)- While our passion drives Skirts Up, we wouldn’t be where we are without our incredible support system. We owe a huge shout-out to our amazing mentors, Dee and Megan from Dee Daniels Media Production, who are absolute rockstar women. Beyond them, we genuinely feel that every single guest who has believed in us enough to step into our space and get vulnerable deserves immense credit; they’ve become pivotal cheerleaders, sharing our mission and expanding our reach.

(Samantha) – Having our guests proudly support us feels like having incredibly satisfied “clients” who believe in the community we’re building. Additionally, the tight-knit circle Melissa has cultivated through her quilt shop, A Crafted Cottage, has been a powerful, community supporter.

(Melissa) – And, of course, there’s Melissa Walker—a name we mention nearly every episode— The collective support, from professional mentors to every single person who has shared their story on our mic, is the true engine behind Skirts Up’s success. In terms of support I can’t not mention local band, Carey and The Feel, who performed at our most recent charity fundraiser. They were such a treat!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theskirtsupshow.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskirtsupshow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555985024654
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGSmhBNnFdL_FfjhsvCgllg
• Other: https://www.sweetsoulandwellness.com https://www.acraftedcottage.com

Image Credits
1) One Soul Boudoir
2) Kelly Embry Photography, Sweet Soul and Wellness
3) location: GGA Dwarf Goat Yoga
4) A Crafted Cottage
5) W/ Zac Clejan @ Akademia Brewing Co. for Fiddlin’ Live Charity Event
6) location: Canine Assistants