Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronald Catlin.
Ronald, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started listening to podcasts a few years ago when I started my journey of self-discovery. I would listen to motivating and uplifting episodes of different shows that I stumbled across. Every now and then, I would get a little bit of comedy in the mix. I would also listen to Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations and it was just so many gems in the episodes that brought a spark to me. I already loved having a thought-provoking conversation with those I interacted with. I remember talking to one of my coworkers and he told me he started a podcast and wanted me to record an episode with him. I never recorded before and didn’t know how I should prepare for it. He discussed possible topics that we could talk about on his show. We met at my apartment and he bought his equipment, poured a cocktail, and recorded the episode. It felt really natural and after a few minutes, the recording part wasn’t a huge factor. After reflecting, I was like..that’s cool. I want to start my own podcast. I researched how to start a podcast, what I need, and everything. I was inspired after my first recording. A few weeks later, I started working on my graphic, coming up with a name, description, and outline for my episodes. January 2019 was when I premiered my first episode and I’ve been going since then. It’s been an interesting journey and I’m glad I took the risk of starting one.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a podcast has not been a smooth road. Alongside starting this podcast, I am juggling work, grad school, and maintaining a social life lol. I wanted to have a set time frame of when I wanted to publish episodes but sometimes grad work assignments got in the way of that. I had to come up with a schedule to set some structure and balance into my life. Some days I have writer’s block when thinking about episodes. Also with podcasting, most successful podcast has a team of people that are handling different things like social media and editing the recording. For me, I have to manage all of that by myself and that can be time-consuming as well. Overall, I’m really proud of the commitment and dedication I’ve put into my podcast. I’m learning so much along the way.
Please tell us about Lead The Wave Podcast.
I chose the name Lead The Wave because when think of the word “Wave” it means like the hype or trend that everyone is doing. I feel like everyone is unique and has their own wave and instead of following someone else all the time…why not lead by example and be your own hype. Be confident in the choices that you make instead of embracing the popular opinion, be original and set your own trend, and be unapologetically you without looking for validation. It’s time to embrace the qualities that make YOU who you are. So yeah, that’s how I came up with the name “Lead The Wave.”
Lead the Wave is a podcast discussing topics around self-awareness, black culture, and authenticity in real-world situations. I want my listeners to feel inspired, optimistic and laugh when they listen. They will experience a lot of different perspectives when I have a guest so I ask that they have an open mind and heart as they listen. This show is about driving you to be Authentic, Original, and Creative in your own life. I personally felt that will all the comparisons in today’s social media, I just want people to know it’s really ok to stay in your own lane and do your own thing. So because I’ve dedicated my life to the pursuit of my purpose, I want to help you and those around to also discover the reason you are here. On this show, we discuss everything that makes us different but also connects us at the same time. My hope for the people after they listen is that they feel inspired, empowered, stay true to themselves and values, walk in their own truth and most importantly just be happy with being You! I’m most proud of this podcast able to be a help to someone that can relate to an episode and just being able to be a voice to motivate people.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The people that deserve the most credit are my listeners. I appreciate all the feedback and support they have shown me. They motivate me to keep recording. Sometimes it’s people that I know that gives me positive feedback on an episode and sometimes it’s people I’ve never met before. As a creative, you always have people critiquing your work, so any ounce of positivity and support goes a long way. I remember after recording an episode I went a bar and a random guy noticed me and said, “Hey, you’re the guy that has the podcast right.” Humbly I said yes. He told me that my episode helped with his transition to moving to Atlanta. That put the biggest smile on my face. I’m just glad I can make a positive impact in the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/leadthewavepodcast
- Email: leadthewavefan@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Leadthewavepodcast
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leadthewave/
- Twitter: @SpiffyCoolKid
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