Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda D. Davis.
Melinda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m known as “Mel D” on air “I humbly wear my godly crown bestowed upon me by GOD to serve others.” I love tapping into my creative side while reading, cooking, entertaining and walking with my canine son, Mysun. My passion, gift, and talents are in creating platforms that inspire positive human experiences. I enjoy working, developing and supporting the “awakening” of the natural talents of people. My Turning Point: After a successful 25+ year career in leadership roles in government and private sector consulting, I discovered (a “Up2Me” moment) my love and talent for radio and stepped out on faith with my husband Rudy’s support to create an entertaining and inspiring talk radio and podcast platform. I admired and studied how Radio Mogul Cathy Hughes built her radio and media networks and set forth to build a reputable Live Talk Radio and Podcast Network to meet the inspirational and motivational needs of today’s listeners in how to balance and take action to live one’s life in purpose by connecting their mind, body, and spirit. My Path: I gained my radio broadcasting experience as a producer and on-air radio personality with CBS Radio Atlanta/WAOK as the Co-Host for the weekly show “Boom Town Talk” with retired NFL Player Jamie Dukes. I also served as Producer and the Atlanta Correspondent for the syndicated online radio/podcast show “Good Morning Caribbean”.
Additional media experience was gained in front of the camera on television and from radio appearances on several local and nationally syndicated shows such as CNN with Wolf Blitzer during my tenure as the Director and spokesperson for the Office of Aging of Fulton County Government. Bridging my passion, experience, talent, and gifts, I began my journey to be build an inspirational talk radio/podcast platform. My belief in the power of the human spirit combined with the commitment of a focused, talented and purpose led team is the engine and heartbeat of Up2Me Radio. Up2Me Radio is in its 6th season and currently produces and airs nine (9) different shows, over 450 episodes and with an audience of over 700,000 on our way to 1M listeners! Our Shows and Conversations range from There is Life After Layoff with Host Ali (Alicia Ward) our longest running show, A Healthier View with Hosts Beth Sims and Dr, Scott Clitheroe, Branding with Purpose with Host Shantha Wetterhan, COFFEE with Kim Hosted by Kim Crabill, Finding Your Forte with Host Reggie Hammond, It Is Our Time Podcast with Host Belinda Baker, OMG Oh! Maura Gale with Host Maura Gale, Women Are Worthy Podcast with Host Jacqyln Charles and Up2Me Magazine Show with Host Gabby G (Gail Metzbower). New Shows/Podcasts are under development and scheduled to begin airing shortly.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Anytime you step on faith in a new direction there will be struggles. It has not been a smooth road building a Live Talk Radio and Podcast Network. I learned from my failures and thanked God for them. There were audio issues so I had to master audio recording, there were challenges in growing our audience, so I syndicated the network and created Up2Me Radio Channels on the most popular podcast apps, I had to master “editing” so that we could provide top quality audio, we had to learn how to connect with potential listeners through social media platforms. Again, the challenges or struggles we encounter make us stronger and better at what we do so I have learned to embrace them rather than to fear them.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Up2Me Radio and Atlanta Life Media LLC – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Up2Me Radio is a syndicated online inspirational talk radio and podcast network. Our shows cover topics ranging from business, careers, entertainment, faith, health, lifestyle, and music. Our committed audience tunes in to seek an inspirational level of edutainment. At Up2Me Radio, we are focused on providing engaging, relevant, inspiring, informative, educational, spiritual and entertaining content focused on purposeful living. “It is not the destination but the journey that matters.” Our talented and creative Show Hosts are experts with varied expertise, experiences, and talent to create content for our shows. Up2Me Radio is a brand of Atlanta Life Media LLC. Atlanta Life Media, LLC, is a digital multimedia production company creating and delivering inspiring and uplifting content to targeted audiences.
Our Mission: “To create and distribute inspirational and entertaining talk radio podcast content for individuals with aspirations to live a more purpose-filled life”.
Our Goal: Our goal is to connect, engage and to raise the voices of everyday people going through the challenge of everyday living who need hope, direction, and support to pursue their desires to live a healthy purpose directed and fulfilled life.
What we do: We create, produce and distribute inspirational and engaging content through live talk radio and podcasting…
We have been blessed with guests from all walks of life. Of special mention and some of our proudest accomplishments is for recording artists allowing/licensing us use of their music for show theme songs, guest appearances of well known public figures such as Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton sharing his story and corporate leaders from companies such as Delta Airlines, as well as retired sports figures such as Coach Jerry Moore and Colonel Gary Steele willing to share their wisdom. We are most proud of our faithful listeners who tune in regularly to our shows with new listeners tuning in daily! I believe that what sets me apart is that I dare and not fear taking action turn my dreams into reality.
All of my life and business “tests” have evolved into my “testimony” that dreams can be realized. In 2012 I began my dream journey to become a Media Executive. I know what I am great at and I also am aware of what I am not good at and do not know to strengthen all of my business initiatives I believe strongly in building teams. My reality to date: With the success of Up2Me Radio I took step 2 in my dream journey and created a great team (Shout-Out to Editor in Chief Jennifer Jiles and the entire Editorial team) with me as the Publisher for Up2Me Magazine featuring stories of purposeful living And in the third leg of my dream journey I am the CEO of Atlanta Life Media Agency in partnership with co-owner Lynda Goodwyn and we are a business support agency to the Film, TV and Entertainment Industry. My journey continues! My dream to become a Media Executive has been realized and I continue to grow and excel in this new role!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I am the oldest of four (4) children and so I was constantly told “you are an example to your siblings” so this resulted in my being a high achiever. I was blessed with wonderful parents who sometimes confused supporting me with sheltering me so that I could find my own way. I grew up in the Bronx in an area and at a time in New York riddled by high crime. Looking back I now know that growing up in the Bronx and with a better understanding of why my parents were hard on me is the foundation of my “survival” skills that has led me to my success. I was also adventurous and always curious, I remember a time when I wanted to go skiing, and my Dad said what young black girls go skiing that is a dangerous sport (this was in the 70’s). Well after convincing my Dad that I would be careful and the fact that I was going with an older cousin who knew how to ski (Shout out to Norina Geter) who he trusted I was introduced to the sport of skiing, which I love and actually got to learn how to ski post winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, yep I went there!
I am a proud Graduate of Pace University, downtown campus where I was exposed to Wall Street, Broadway Theater; and I was selected to be a hostess during the opening of the World Trade Towers! I also participated in a class that helped with the early development of a Pace University show now well known as “Inside the Actors Studio” starring James Lipton. Little did I know how all of these encounters and experiences were shaping me for my future. I also love traveling and have been able to travel abroad to Europe, the Caribbean and throughout the US which opened doors and opportunities to me. As I look back all of these experiences prepared me for the knowledge, experiences, exposure, and zeal for trying new things and were my “Lilly Pads” that I had to travel to launch me to where I am today.
Pricing:
- To become a part of our conversations as a Sponsor our full show fee is only $250!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.up2meradio.com; www.up2memagazine.com; www.atlma.net
- Email: info@up2meradio.com info@atlma.net
- Instagram: atlantalifemediaagency
- Facebook: Up2me Radio Atlanta Life Media
- Twitter: @Up2Meradio
Image Credit:
The photos only of just me were professionally taken by Karen Marie Images.
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
