Today we’d like to introduce you to Key Dotson
Hi Key, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
One thing about me, I ain’t never been scared to take a risk! I’ve failed more times than I can count, but I’ve also had some winning seasons that reminds me daily to keep pushing.
Born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri to a single mother of 11, life was far from easy. But in the middle of all that chaos, I found my creativity. I was always daydreaming, making up stories in my head about a life way bigger than what I saw around me. I was determined to succeed.
Like most young girls at that time, I just knew I was destined to be in a group like Destiny’s Child. I never missed a living room practice—full choreography, brush as a mic, & writing songs like I had bills to pay. The only issue? I couldn’t really sing… and we definitely didn’t have the coins to fund that dream. So that fantasy expired real quick—but the passion to create, write, and tell stories? That part stuck with me.
When I made it to college, I felt like I had made it. Even though fashion had always been a big part of my life (and everyone assumed that’s where I’d end up), I chose a “safe” route and went into healthcare. I thought hey let me show them I have beauty and brains. I worked in the field off and on for over nine years and I found myself very unfulfilled. During that time, I also explored real estate—fix and flips, short-term rentals, multi-family, you name it. Life was good. I was living that middle-class “American Dream.” House, car, good job, and a side hustle (or five). I thought I could start any business under the sun!
But everything changed. Life came crashing down, suddenly and hard. I didn’t understand why God would let me work so hard and win for years, only to have me start over in my 30s. But the truth was, I had been living in my purpose this entire time—not His.
Now I’m on a journey of obedience. I’m letting God lead—and whew, it’s been a ride! I’m building a brand from scratch called “Ghetto Bible Story”, where I retell Bible stories in a modern, funny, relatable way to help people grow in faith. Because let’s be honest… Earth been ghetto, and we need some holy guidance and a good laugh. I also recently launched a podcast with my co-host, Alana Marie, called The Halfway Grown Podcast—where we keep it all the way real about navigating life in our 30s as millennial wives and moms. It’s honest, hilarious, and a reminder that none of us have it all figured out (and that’s okay).
As a wife, mom of 3, author, writer, creator, and entrepreneur—I’m still juggling a lot, but for the first time, I feel aligned. I’ve learned that peace doesn’t come from checking boxes; it comes from walking in purpose.
And now that I’m no longer in the driver’s seat, I’m sitting in the back with the top down, letting my booty-length knotless braids blow in the wind —without a single worry. God got me!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Definitely not. My journey has been full of risk-taking, failing, pivoting, and getting back up—repeat. I definitely be crying in the car often, let’s just be real.
One of my biggest struggles early on was dealing with my own insecurities. I grew up being praised for creative things, not necessarily for being “book smart,” so I internalized that. I didn’t think I was smart enough, so I played it safe. I thought I had to become someone everyone would respect instead of being the big dreamer God made me to be. For years, I suppressed that part of me.
Because of past traumas, I’ve struggled with trust, which often kept me distant and living in my own bubble. But that’s exactly why I chose to go against my comfort zone and start the podcast—because my story isn’t just for me. It’s for God’s glory. People need to hear it, not to spotlight my pain, but to reflect His purpose through it.
I’ve also battled with mental health—postpartum depression, anxiety, and just the constant pressure of trying to be everything for everybody. Rest and control were major struggles for me. I didn’t believe in taking breaks, and that mindset wore me down over time. It took a toll on my mental, emotional, and even physical health.
But I can honestly say—I’ve always known God. Even in my darkest moments, I’ve never stopped praying. Prayer has been my lifeline. It’s what keeps me grounded and helps me push through every challenge I face.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My authenticity is my superpower. I’m not afraid to be myself, speak up, or shoot my shot. I don’t just dream—I do. Even if an idea has been sitting in my Notes app for three years, I’ll come back and give it life when the time is right.
I’m a writer and a creative at heart. I’ve written on TV shows and recently wrote a book called Ghetto Bible Story, where I retell 27 different Bible stories in a modern, relatable, and funny way to help people actually understand God’s word. I specialize in giving people knowledge, wisdom, and a good laugh—because sometimes we need both a revelation and a giggle to make it through. I’m also the co-host of the Halfway Grown Podcast—a real, unfiltered space where millennial moms talk about navigating marriage, motherhood, and the madness of life in our 30s. We keep it all the way honest about not having it all together, and that’s exactly the point. Follow us on all platforms.
Online, I’m known for my bold creativity, tenacious spirit, and a serious sense of style—serving outfits like no other. But what I’m most proud of? Being a top-tier wife and mom. Those are my favorite titles and the most important roles I’ll ever have.
Everything I do is for God first. And right after that—my family. I’m determined to be the curse breaker in my bloodline, the one who shifts everything. This is bigger than content. It’s purpose.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was the Beyoncé of the family—no debate.
My family knew it too; My mom would invite her friends over just to watch our living room performances. We had full-on routines like we were prepping for the Grammys. I’ve always been a creative girly girl—fashion, music, performing? That was my world.
Church fashion shows? I was front and center. Homecoming? I won all four years. I wasn’t just dressing up—I was expressing my soul. I’d strut around in my grandma’s fur coats and high heels, lay across the piano bench like I was in a music video, and belt out songs like the whole world was watching. I was seven years old.
Even though I had a big responsibility at home—as the 3rd oldest of 11, I helped raise my younger siblings—I didn’t mind staying in. I loved escaping into movies, pretending I was the lead. My imagination? Wild. Always has been. I’d rewrite scenes in my head, put myself in them, play out different endings.
I always knew I was special.
Even during the times I tried to dim my own light, that spark never really left. I’ve always been destined to create, to lead, to inspire—even if it took me a while to embrace it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thehalfwaygrownpodcast.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keydotson/profilecard/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keyontae.lacey
- Linktree: linktr.ee/keydotson
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@HalfwayGrownPodcast
