Daily Inspiration: Meet Dante Rhodes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dante Rhodes.

Hi Dante, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Working in the non-profit sector for three years across the state of Georgia for GUIDE, Inc., a collaboration between Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education to combat underage substance use, my work with the community and my peers has instilled in me the values that align with both discipline and innovation. My own diligence and leadership evolved into a grant-based scholarship in 2017 named after me, Rhodes to a Drug Free Future. This inspired my work as a renowned lifestyle expert. Established in 2015, I started LIFE by Dante, a fashion Blog which grew into an all encompassing online lifestyle brand. This not only allowed my world scope to widen but gave me the opportunity to be invited to New York Fashion Week in 2016. In 2020, I retired LIFE by Dante to help launch The Gayly Dose, an Atlanta based podcast with a mission that hosts weekly candid conversation about and for gay men. As creative director and founding co-host, The Gayly Dose is the ideal platform to further my voice and spirit for innovation.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t. It has had it fair share of ups and downs along the way. Deciding to retire LIFE by Dante was very hard but necessary as the effects of the pandemic set in. Along with that, near the tail end of 2017 I began a 2-year journey with depression that I had to work very hard towards coming out of. Without that though, I wouldn’t be where 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?
Beyond my current job as a Manager for bartaco and Co-Host & Creative Director for The Gayly Dose, I also serve on the board of directors for Lost-n-Found Youth in here in Atlanta. They are really focused around aiding the homelessness crisis currently being faced by LGBTQ+ youth in our city. I am known for being the jack of trades as I balance all of the incredibly different roles all geared towards making not only my life something I can be proud of, but doing something that my community can be enriched from in the long term.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Two books! I love these both so much, as they have messages that not only forward my thinking but help me in thinking more progressively. One is titled The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Minson and the other is So You Wanna Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: thegaylydose.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedanterhodes/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedanterhodes