Today we’d like to introduce you to Moanalisha® aka Renee Foster.
Hi Moana’, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Sure!
Picture it, Miami, 2015.
At the time, I was attending grad school and working in Miami. Living there without family or close friends within a 100-mile radius made me incredibly homesick. I needed a way to stay tied to my loved ones, so I began to rely heavily on social media. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were primarily what I used to feel connected to my friends. Still, another smartphone app would soon emerge and change everything for me. That app was Snapchat.
As with any new thing, I rely on word-of-mouth before investing. Snapchat was no different. I remember downloading the app, reserving my handle, and going on about my business (what I usually do with any new social media app or site—I want to be the only Moanalisha® in existence). As Snapchat grew in popularity amongst my friend groups, I had to see what the hype was about.
It was cool initially, but I wasn’t particularly impressed with the instant messaging style originally made available in the app—the disappearing photos and messaging seemed a bit irksome. But when Snapchat began featuring “Stories” of 24 hours of content, I began to come into my digital persona as Moanalisha®.
On the Snapchat “Stories” feature, I began to rant (and rave) about all the things going on in my life at the time. Whether it was to complain about Miami traffic or being so far away from home, I allowed my most authentic self to shine through in those story posts. I would do terrible accents, impersonate my grandmother with the augmented reality filter that made me look old, and morph into a baddie with the flower crown filter every chance. There was something very refreshing about the posts disappearing after 24 hours. Naturally, I’m indecisive and non-committal, so this was the ideal way to engage with my friends and followers online. It felt like I could be myself and didn’t have to worry about the fear of being judged “in perpetuity,” if you will. Pretty soon, Instagram stole Snapchat’s thunder (in my opinion) and launched its own “Stories” feature. I then began to create my story posts on both platforms—what a time to be alive. Friends and followers often suggested I start making YouTube videos or recording podcasts. I would shrug off the idea because, at the time, all I could think about was continuing my career in sports.
Around the same time, I began listening to podcasts regularly. One show that I tuned into consistently was The Read, with hosts Kid Fury and Crissle. I love their points of view because they hold no punches (word to S. Carter). I also listened to a podcast called Neck of the Woods with hosts Freshalina and Xtian Emiliano. From hearing the hosts on both shows and their humor and candor, I began to think of how I could create something similar. Their comedic storytelling styles were similar to mine in my social media story posts. Of course, at the time, I was so engaged in my internship and trying to make ends meet in Miami that I let that dream migrate to the back burner.
At the end of 2015, I relocated home and moved back in with my mom. I was jobless but began utilizing my time between job hunting to research how I could create a podcast like the ones I loved so dearly. Because I had no income, I had to find some way to pull off this passion project in a cost-effective manner. Money for studio time and a team to perfect the audio was nonexistent. On an episode of Neck of the Woods, Freshalina mentioned that she was recording in her bed, not in some fancy studio. That was all I needed to hear to make my dream a reality.
From that point on, over several years, I began working on iterations of what my one-woman production would look like. The show started as “The Resting B*tch Life with Moanalisha,” a nod to the fact that I was constantly being told I looked mean—so a play off of the phrase resting bitch face. Then the show evolved to “Keeping It Curt with Moanalisha” and “In Moana’s Opinion with Moanalisha.” I repeatedly attempted to record the show’s episodes in GarageBand on my Macbook. Each time, I felt too rehearsed and unnatural. I would keep doing several takes because I was never satisfied with my recording. Producing a single-host show was proving to be a bust. Friends sometimes suggested I seek out a cohost, but I wasn’t interested. Although I loved The Read and Neck of the Woods, I didn’t want to emulate their show formats completely. Of course, I felt defeated and put a pause on the podcast.
Fast forward to 2019.
Against my better judgment, I rekindled with a former flame. While in this “romantic” entanglement, the subject in question was beginning to livestream and build their channel on Twitch. I didn’t know much about Twitch at the time until I started watching and supporting their gaming streams (like a silly goose). We would debrief about the livestreams, and one time said individual suggested that I create a Twitch channel of my own. I replied that I wouldn’t know where to begin because I wasn’t an avid gamer. They said I didn’t have to be, but I wasn’t convinced. I was still, however, very intrigued.
Eventually, the romantic flame fizzled back out, but that didn’t kill my curiosity about Twitch, so I researched. As I looked through all the categories offered on Twitch, I came across the Talk Shows & Podcasts category. At that point, the lightbulb went off—I could do my podcast on Twitch! It would be like taking my Snapchat and Instagram Stories to a bigger screen in a longer format. I began feverishly planning how to show up in the Twitch space. That is when “In the Moanment with Moanalisha” was born. In the Moanment was inspired by how I describe my style of comedy. My brand of humor is sharp-witted and off-the-cuff, and I’m funniest when I’m unscripted and interacting with other people “in the moment,” hence the show name.
I started streaming on Twitch at the end of 2021 and felt at home. With this platform, I can interact with my audience in real-time and get their live reactions from their comments in the chat. It’s as if the audience IS the cohost of the show. I streamed regularly for about four months and became a Twitch Affiliate in no time (Twitch Affiliates can monetize through subscriptions). Although the romantic flame eventually faded, I am grateful for that time. I don’t know if I would’ve ever created In the Moanment if I had not been a silly goose.
I was utilizing live stream broadcasting software that affected my computer’s performance, so I initially began a hiatus to find a platform that wouldn’t harm my machine. I also relocated to Atlanta around the same time for a new job. Because so much was happening (and has happened), I have been on that hiatus since early 2022. I intend to change all that at the top of 2024.
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?
An easy path… TUH!
But seriously, it hasn’t been easy because I’m doing much of this alone. Resources like time and money are limited. I don’t come from wealth, so I have to grind hard to financially support myself. That said, I tend to become easily distracted from my dreams and passions because I have to focus on my professional ambitions, which are tied directly to my quality of life. Although it would be nice, I also don’t have the luxury to employ a team of individuals to help me accomplish my dreams. It’s just me. This has been a constant struggle since 2015.
But as Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” For 2024, I am changing my approach and actively making space for my dreams, which requires intense planning. That planning includes adjusting my lifestyle, habits, budget, and time management. It also looks like partnerships with like-minded creatives to help me scale my visions, especially with marketing and promotion.
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?
I, Moanalisha®, aka Renee, am a self-proclaimed culture connoisseur and critic. I’m becoming a specialist in digital content creation, primarily within the live streaming space. I am most known for speaking my mind on what’s culturally relevant, from hot topics in pop culture to current events to my own life experiences on platforms such as Twitch and Instagram. As a multi-hyphenate creator, I aspire to become a media personality, producer, and documentary filmmaker. When I’m not working on my creative pursuits, I’m empowering the next generation through my work as a fundraiser in education.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Patience; that slow and steady wins the race. In learning patience, I’ve also learned that what is for me IS for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.moanalisha.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/moanalisha/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/certified.media.llc/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/certified-media/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/Moanalisha
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@moanalisha
Image Credits
Patrice Squirewell
